Chapter Summaries

Ling Liang recalled how Tang Xiao forced Operation Zero through despite its low credibility, then reviewed the preparations and deception efforts that had begun more than a year earlier. The Galactic Empire had started probing the Duchy of Dawn’s apparent setbacks in the Unknown Regions, but its attempt to infiltrate Umbrella Pharmaceutical Group had failed.

• Tang Xiao rejected objections from Francis Underwood and Matt Hona, finalized Operation Zero, and set its offensive date as June 22, year 12 of the duchy calendar, known as Zero Day.
• Ling Liang observed that the Duchy of Dawn had sent more than a hundred capital ships into the Unknown Regions while concealing the operation’s true purpose behind reports of trouble on two fronts.
• The Duchy of Dawn leaked accounts of the Second Exploration Fleet’s dispute near Chiss territory and the First Exploration Fleet’s encounter with Mongal-Mongal to mislead Galactic Imperial Intelligence.
• The Galactic Empire’s intelligence agencies sought contact with Chiss territory and planned to obtain Mongal-Mongal samples and implicate Umbrella Pharmaceutical Group in an outbreak.
• Alexia Ashford exposed and killed Imperial agents, while her clones secured Umbrella Pharmaceutical Group’s classified areas and thwarted further infiltration.

Ling Liang confronted the political split over Operation Zero after Francis Underwood dismissed Hari Seldon, and she prepared a report as Helmut Zemo explained why he supported the plan. The chapter left Ling Liang reflecting on the plan’s true objective: killing Palpatine.

• Ling Liang recognized that supporters of Operation Zero, including herself and Hari Seldon, were being branded as sycophants, deepening the Duchy of Dawn’s political divide while Tang Xiao remained away.
• An official told Ling Liang that Francis Underwood had dismissed Hari Seldon as Governor of the Hoth Sector and ordered him turned over to the judiciary.
• Ling Liang and Helmut Zemo agreed to confront Francis Underwood over Operation Zero’s production targets, with Zemo welcoming the conflict with the Prime Minister’s Office.
• Zemo told Ling Liang that killing Palpatine, rather than defeating the First System Army in a surprise attack, was the plan’s critical objective.
• After the call ended, Ling Liang opened a document and titled it “Ling Liang Report.”

The narrator reviewed the Duchy of Dawn’s industrial zones and planned how to restructure them to support Operation Zero. Vaxian Planet was assigned as the main warship production center, while Dawn Star Planet shifted toward building battlecruisers, Titan projects, and precision components.

• The narrator described Vaxian Planet’s surplus raw materials and rejected a proposal from Xu Yan to build another Dyson Ring or a Dyson Sphere.
• The narrator vetoed Adele-Ulan’s shipyard upgrade plan and designated Vaxian Planet to produce 1,800 kilometer-class capital ships and 30,000 smaller warships within five years.
• The narrator planned to move precision-component processing from Vaxian Planet to other industrial zones and convert Vaxian Planet’s industrial Star Ring into advanced shipyards.
• The narrator reviewed Dawn Star Planet’s industrial facilities, including the Salarians’ Project Avatar and the Vasari’s secret Kultorask-class dictator project.
• The narrator planned to reserve Dawn Star Planet’s capacity for Divinity-class battleships and the two Titan projects while devoting its remaining production to components for Hell Angel-class and Paladin-class battlecruisers.

The narrator described plans to expand the Duchy of Dawn Navy with Paladin-class battlecruisers and outlined the constraints and production priorities for Rendili Planet’s industrial zone. The chapter left Adele Ulan dissatisfied with Rendili’s assignment to build small and medium-sized ships, despite the ambitious five-year target.

• The narrator praised the Paladin-class battlecruiser’s improved energy output and Particle Beam Lance performance, and noted that Calamity-class ships could be refitted into Paladin-class ships in six months.
• The narrator estimated that five years could upgrade all 170 serving Calamity-class battlecruisers and produce around 200 new Paladin-class vessels, if the Dawn Star Planet Core Industrial Zone supplied high-precision components.
• The narrator explained that Rendili Planet’s factories faced shortages of raw materials and aging equipment, and that at least half its factories remained mothballed to protect the stargate’s secrecy.
• The narrator asked Peggy Carter to find a way to move raw materials from the Vaxian Core Industrial Zone to Rendili Planet without alerting the Galactic Empire’s Imperial Security Bureau.
• The narrator redirected Rendili Planet from building Victory II-class Star Destroyers to producing small and medium-sized warships, including Steadfast-class Cruisers and Fanatic-class Assault Cruisers.
• Adele Ulan objected that the decision misunderstood her standing with Grand Duke Tang Xiao, and the narrator set a five-year goal of building at least 60,000 small and medium-sized warships.

The chapter described the Celeste Triangle and Makito Core industrial zones, including their production, strategic roles, and the corporations and groups operating them. It ended with the Trade Federation and InterGalactic Banking Clan receiving core technologies from Grand Duke Tang Xiao.

• The narrator explained how Darkknell, Sluis Van, and Salust formed the Celeste Triangle Industrial Zone, developed by SoloSub Corporation, Citadel Standard Light Industry, and Halo Weapon Systems Company.
• The Celeste Triangle became the Duchy of Dawn’s leading supplier of infantry weapons and a major producer of armed space stations, star bases, frigates, and destroyers.
• The narrator said the dangerous Eriadu system was unsuitable for building capital ships because military simulations showed it would fall early in a Galactic Empire attack.
• The Muuns, Geth, and Trade Federation expanded the Makito Core Industrial Zone into a diverse industrial and droid-production base along the Braxant Run.
• Grand Duke Tang Xiao gave San Hill and Nute Gunray core technologies, including the Gallente Federation database for the Trade Federation and the Caldari Republic database for the InterGalactic Banking Clan.

Ling Liang reviewed how the Trade Federation and InterGalactic Banking Clan used Fourth Civilization shipbuilding technology, and planned their limited roles in future fleet operations. He also reported a promising Minotaur-class cruiser design and described the industrial challenges in the Hoth Sector.

• Ling Liang explained that the Trade Federation and InterGalactic Banking Clan accepted Fourth Civilization support and technology, while remaining financially independent and loyal to Tang Xiao.
• Nute Gunray began mass-producing Undertaker-class Light Cruisers, while San Hill chose the Osprey-class light cruiser, prompting Ling Liang to plan guidance for both fleets.
• Ling Liang assessed the difficulty of breaking through General Gilad Perine’s Northern Defense Line and planned harassment fleets to attack Galactic Empire supply routes.
• The Fourth Group and Tyran Heavy Industries developed the 550-meter Minotaur-class cruiser, and Ling Liang hoped to produce at least one thousand before Operation Zero began.
• Ling Liang described the Hoth Sector’s damaged and outdated industrial base, as Hari Seldon handed the Bomis-Koori industrial zone to the Vasari to manage.

The narrator reviewed the Vasari’s secretive industrial growth, the Duchy of Dawn’s shipbuilding and logistics, and the prospects of allied industrial worlds ahead of Operation Zero. The chapter ended with plans for a new industrial zone centered on Lothal Planet, Dak Planet, and Semirres Planet to support General Sefrans Tann’s operations.

• The narrator concluded that Harry Seldon had likely offered the industrial planets’ inhabitants to the Vasari as slaves, while the Vasari kept their development secret under Tang Xiao’s authority.
• Shadi Li named several Vasari warships and technologies and said the Keltu Destroyer would be ready for Operation Zero.
• The narrator said Golden Nyss Shipyard would refit Leviathan-class passenger liners into cargo ships, while Salatan Morse reported that four rescue attempts for Willix Blythex had failed.
• The Semirians endured Imperial exploitation and were expected to bring their factories to the Duchy of Dawn when Operation Zero began.
• The narrator assessed the Quarren’s loyalty and Dak Planet’s industrial potential, while noting the Mon Calamari’s improved standing under Imperial rule.
• The Givin began relocating to Lothal Planet, where their factories and docks would join those of Dak Planet and Semirres Planet in a future industrial zone.

Ling Liang learned that Hari Seldon had been dismissed and then arrested for dereliction of duty, while he continued working on Operation Zero. As the Duchy of Dawn’s media debated the arrest, Zemo urged Ling Liang to withstand the pressure and keep the operation moving.

• Ling Liang told Hari Seldon that Francis Underwood had removed him as Hoth Sector Governor, and Hari calmly accepted the decision while affirming his commitment to the Fourth Civilization.
• Ling Liang watched news footage of Hari being arrested on Woosterley Planet as he used its computational array to calculate Operation Zero.
• Ling Liang threatened to send Ghost Agents after Francis Underwood, but Helmut Zemo advised her to leave the matter to the Grand Duke and push Operation Zero forward.
• News outlets covered Hari’s arrest and began challenging the accusations against him, with Professor Luo arguing that unrest in the Hoth Sector had been inevitable.

Francis Underwood faced a growing media and public backlash over Hari Seldon’s arrest and his administration’s policies, while protests and loyalist groups spread across the Duchy of Dawn. Helmut Zemo revealed to General Ling Liang that the turmoil served their purposes, with Francis’s actions helping them indirectly.

• News outlets and experts condemned Francis Underwood’s administration and supported Hari Seldon, while the Prime Minister’s Office stayed silent before announcing a renewed balance between armaments and people’s livelihoods.
• Francis Underwood held a press conference to explain Hari Seldon’s arrest and promise to avoid war, but reporters challenged him until Douglas Stamp accused them of serving Zemo’s private equity funds.
• More than a hundred news outlets filed charges against Douglas Stamp, demanding evidence, an apology, or legal sanctions.
• Members of the public besieged striking factories in the Hoth Sector, while nearly a hundred pro-Tang Xiao associations formed, including radical groups and aspiring political parties.
• Protesters marched outside Francis Underwood’s office, condemning him as a traitor and displaying images of Tang Xiao and the handcuffed Hari Seldon.
• Helmut Zemo told Ling Liang that the media was a formidable weapon and that Francis Underwood had helped them by doing things they could not do themselves.

Francis Underwood planned to blunt Helmut Zemo’s political campaign by promoting economic reforms and having Douglas Stamp resign after a public apology. Meanwhile, Emperor Palpatine’s council judged the Empire unready to attack the Duchy of Dawn and discussed its fleets, industrial plans, and hidden resources.

• Francis Underwood told Douglas Stamp to focus on defensive policies and public prosperity while presenting new economic policies to counter Zemo and Ling Liang.
• Francis ordered Douglas to hold a press conference, apologize, resign, and return to his side after preparing a speech about his beliefs.
• Harus Ison reported Tang Xiao’s absence and the unrest in the Duchy of Dawn to Emperor Palpatine and the Empire’s senior leaders.
• Wilhuff Tarkin and Octavian Grant explained that the Empire lacked enough mobile warships for an immediate invasion, while Dunn Vesex argued that Imperial forces could defeat most Dawn ships.
• Blackhole described the Empire’s investigation into the Star Ring and the Duchy of Dawn’s mysterious mining operation, but admitted they had found no results.
• Palpatine ordered Blackhole to focus on the Duchy of Dawn’s secrets while Arden Lyn and the Inquisitorius hunted Jedi Knights.

Palpatine ordered the Empire to investigate the Geth and exploit political turmoil in the Duchy of Dawn, while Douglas Stamp’s drunken missteps strained his relationship with Francis Underwood. After Douglas returned home and resolved not to drink, an unseen visitor spoke to him from inside the room.

• Palpatine told Dunn Vesex to find powerful species in the Unknown Regions and had Wilhuff Tarkin report that the DS-1 battle station would be completed in five years.
• Blackhole said Inquisitor Mas Sirrah was targeting Douglas Stamp as an entry point for influencing Francis Underwood.
• A disguised man escorted the drunk Douglas out of a bar, while security teams watched him and followed the stranger.
• Francis Underwood reprimanded Douglas for drinking without protection and sent him home, and Douglas accused Francis of fearing Hari Seldon would take his position.
• Douglas concluded the political struggle centered on who would become Imperial Chancellor and worried that Hari Seldon’s Operation Zero could threaten Francis’s standing.
• As Douglas reached for his liquor cabinet, an unseen visitor told him where to find a bottle.

Douglas Stamp reported a Galactic Empire agent’s offer to Francis Underwood, then endured an Internal Affairs Department investigation while the agent escaped a capture attempt. Twilight Covenant’s Sky squad examined the dead Ghost Agents and discovered that a third person had watched the fight.

• A shadowy Galactic Empire agent offered Douglas Stamp wealth and power in exchange for intelligence, then left him coordinates to an asteroid containing one hundred million Imperial credits.
• Douglas called Francis Underwood to report the encounter, while the agent was intercepted on a street and killed five Ghost Agents before escaping.
• Solomon Lane questioned Douglas, explained that the agent’s offer was meant to tempt him, and learned that the capture operation had failed.
• Xiao Yan, Talia, and Zhang Xucheng examined the scene, and Zhang reported that a third person had watched the fight without joining it.

Talia and Sky Squad planned to draw the infiltrating Dark Jedi Knights toward military personnel so Zhang Xucheng could track them, despite Shen Yuanhao’s concerns about confronting the dangerous enemies. The squad deployed, and the Duchy of Dawn’s media reported that its youth team had raided a spy den and captured more than ten spies.

• Talia proposed making Sky Squad the Dark Jedi Knights’ target to limit their movements, while Shen Yuanhao warned against direct confrontation.
• Zhang Xucheng sensed that the infiltrators’ next target would likely be military personnel.
• Shen Yuanhao agreed to proceed, warned the students not to engage the enemy unless necessary, and arranged support from the National Security Bureau and Peggy Carter.
• Sky Squad boarded its spacecraft and collected Kryster from the monitoring center.
• The Duchy of Dawn’s media reported that a youth team had destroyed a spy den and captured more than ten spies.

The Inquisitors Casares, Angell, and Mas Seren discussed Sky Squad’s raid on their contact point and planned to counter the Duchy of Dawn’s investigation. Seren ordered Angell to find Talia while he pursued Minister of Defense Cheng Shitao.

• Talia told reporters that Sky Squad and the National Security Bureau had uncovered a spy network, while keeping the squad’s department classified.
• Casares and Angell watched the broadcast and speculated that Sky Squad had traced the contact point through retrocognition.
• Mas Seren arrived and warned them not to underestimate Judgment and the Priestess, then learned that Casares had moved the Imperial credits from the asteroid.
• Seren and Casares agreed that the missing credits could turn the Internal Affairs Department against Douglas Stamp and potentially push him toward the Inquisitors.
• Seren ordered Angell to locate Talia, Casares to reinforce him if needed, and announced that he would approach Cheng Shitao.

Angell and Casares killed two N.S.B. agents to draw attention away from Mas Seren’s plan to target Cheng Shitao, while Casares laid a trap on one corpse. At the scene, Zhang Xucheng traced the attackers’ movements and discovered the hidden Dark Side Force trap as the group realized Cheng Shitao was in danger.

• Angell beheaded two N.S.B. agents, while Casares planted a trap on one of their corpses to catch anyone sensing the past.
• Shen Yuanhao, Xiao Yan, Talia, and Zhang Xucheng arrived to investigate the overpass and its battlefield.
• Zhang Xucheng used the Force to hear that two attackers had stood at the scene and that Cheng Shitao was their target.
• Shen Yuanhao concluded that the killings were a diversion meant to create an opening for a third attacker.
• Zhang Xucheng touched the corpse and drew out a stream of Dark Side Force.

Zhang Xucheng absorbed the Dark Side Force strand to track Casares, and Talia ordered the team to exploit the opening despite Xiao Yan's objections. Casares followed the signal to an apartment and attacked Zhang, but Xiao Yan and the others had prepared an ambush; Casares recognized Xiao Yan and overwhelmed her with Ataru.

• Zhang Xucheng absorbed the escaping Dark Side Force strand, allowing him to sense Casares while Casares sensed him.
• Talia decided to launch the operation, despite Xiao Yan's warnings that Zhang was a poor fighter and would be used as bait.
• Casares and Angell pinpointed the target's location on a holographic map and planned a surprise attack.
• Casares slipped into an apartment and broke through the floor to attack Zhang, but a hidden Xiao Yan intercepted his strike.
• Casares sensed Xiao Yan despite her Force stealth and unleashed Form IV Ataru, driving her back.

Xiao Yan and Talia fought the Inquisitors Casares and Angell while Zhang Xucheng escaped and Karina arrived as Sky Squad’s finisher. Karina killed Angell, and Casares realized the fight was a trap as Xiao Yan’s stealth attacks grew harder to track.

• Xiao Yan fought Casares with dual lightsabers and Force stealth, while Zhang Xucheng fled the room and Talia confronted Angell outside.
• Talia used Shien/Djem So and controlled metal fragments to wear Angell down, then revealed that Sky Squad’s real finisher was still coming.
• Angell sensed danger and tried to flee as Karina burst through the collapsing building and killed him with a single punch.
• Karina turned toward Xiao Yan and Casares, while Xiao Yan’s attacks became faster and harder for Casares to perceive.
• Casares sensed Angell’s death, realized Sky Squad had trapped him, and understood that it was already too late.

Karina killed Casares while protecting Xiao Yan, and Talia confirmed that the Galactic Empire’s Inquisitors had begun operating within Duchy of Dawn territory. The Priestess explained the growing threat to Cheng Shitao as a Ghost Agent captured an informant, while Talia and Xiao Yan confronted High Inquisitor Mas Seren.

• Karina charged through the collapsing apartment building and split Casares in half before he could surrender.
• Shen Yuanhao, Xiao Yan, Talia, and Zhang Xucheng regrouped, and Talia confirmed that Casares and Angell were Inquisitors.
• The Priestess told Cheng Shitao that the Empire’s expanding ranks of Dark Side Force-sensitives would bring more attacks and that the Twilight Covenant and other groups were formed to respond.
• Mas Seren ordered his informant to flee, but a Ghost Agent intercepted and captured the informant with a psychic blast.
• Talia and Xiao Yan confronted Mas Seren, who asked whether they were hiding a giant monster to use as a surprise weapon.

Karina, Talia, and the others fought High Inquisitor Mas Seren after he threatened their operation in the Duchy of Dawn. They killed him with a coordinated trap, discovered he had planted a bomb, and celebrated their first victory while the Priestess watched from a nearby inn.

• Karina charged Mas Seren, but he outmaneuvered her, wounded her wrist, and nearly struck Xiao Yan as she attempted an ambush.
• Shen Yuanhao treated Karina's wound with regenerative medicine, allowing her to grow larger and stronger as Talia held Mas Seren back.
• Mas Seren feinted toward Talia and charged Zhang Xucheng, but Xiao Yan ambushed him from stealth and Talia severed his right arm.
• Karina cornered the wounded Mas Seren and killed him with a four-barreled rocket launcher.
• Kryster reported finding a manually triggered bomb in the No. 3 cargo container, and the informant confessed after learning the truth.
• The Sky Squad celebrated their victory while the Priestess watched them from a nearby inn.

The Priestess and Judgment discussed Operation Zero, their resolve to kill Darth Sidious, and the risks of the war. At Inquisitorius headquarters, Darth Vader confronted Grand Judge Hydra over the unauthorized use of Imperial Security Bureau informants and killed a High Inquisitor.

• The Priestess told Judgment that Casares and Mas Ceren were tests for the children of Sky Squad, then vowed to kill Darth Sidious and end the war for their generation.
• Judgment revealed that Darth Malthael had ordered her to turn Coruscant’s population into Rakghouls if the attempt failed, and she said she would kill him afterward.
• Darth Vader arrived at Inquisitorius headquarters and seized two High Inquisitors for questioning.
• Grand Judge Hydra said Mas Ceren’s mission had been ordered by the Emperor, while Darth Vader blamed the Inquisitorius for exposing forty informants and agents.
• Darth Vader dragged one High Inquisitor back and crushed his throat, killing him.