Moff Sundo Mako stood talking to Veru Panaka and Degro Serro when Gith Seergah entered the Council room. The tallest member of the group rolled his eyes as he looked around him. "None of you bothered to get into a uniform?" He asked derisively. "This is an emergency meeting." Mako said, glaring at Seergah. "It's three o'clock in the morning. And we've been kept waiting almost half an hour for you to get dressed. If you can't take your role in the Empire seriously, resign and return to Burlin. Now let's hear what good Admilla here has to tell us." The older man said of the wife of Moff Serro. "Why is she here?" Seergah demanded. "Isn't this about the fleet action against the hyper matter reactor?" "Pellaeon and his people are too busy trying to go through everything that's happened today to send anyone, so he asked me to give this briefing." "What do you mean, all that's happened today?" Panaka asked. "Did the 2nd fleet carry out it's mission?" "No." She said. "When they arrived, the reactor had already been destroyed an hour before. Destroyed by a single ship, of unknown design." "How do they know this?" Mako asked. "They captured a badly damaged A-Wing as they were leaving. The pilot told them." "So someone did our dirty work for us." Seergah said with a laugh. "What's wrong with that?" "Because the remains of the Republic 14th fleet that had been guarding the reactor were at battle stations when our ships dropped out of hyper space. And ten minutes later, the 54th fleet dropped out as well. They killed a third of our ships, while another ten percent were too badly damaged to jump back into hyper space to escape. They were forced to surrender." "What of Fist Of The Empire?" Seergah asked of his son's flagship, and the last of the Executor class Stardreadnaughts. "We might lose it." The beautiful brunette told him. "They had to drop out of hyper space when a reactor threatened to go critical. Unfortunately, they are in the middle of the Republic, inside the Chommel sector. If we're lucky, they can repair it and jump back for home." "Almost half the 2nd fleet is gone?" Degro asked in shock. "Yes. And it gets worse." "How can it get worse?" Gith asked, angry at the loss of so many ships that were loyal to him. Particularly Fist Of The Empire. "The Republic just tested a new weapon. And they tested it on the 147th squadron of the 82nd fleet. Every ship was vaporized except a single vitory, which they allowed to flee. And this was done using a single Nebulon-B class frigate." "What kind of weapon is it?" Mako asked. "Some kind of new fighter?" "We think it's a torpedo." "This sounds like the Republic has not only given us a successful demonstration of a new weapon system, but also an ultimatum." Moff Kinter said from the edge of the group. "Peace or death." "Well I for one refuse to surrender." Sergah growled. Zan Dodonna laughed at this. "Who said anything about surrender? We are just going to end this war. And it will be the Moff Council that will decide this. And I for one want this wasteful war to end while we are still alive. All those in agreement?" All the Moffs present voted in the affirmative but Seergah. "Well, I guess that's decided." Serro said to to others. "Is there anymore bad news for us my dear?" "No. But then again, the day is young."