[Approximately 1 year BA]

Starsystem: Ra'gna

It had been nearly twenty years since the events of the Fallen War which had ravaged the galaxy and ultimately shattered the powers that had been. From that chaos he had formed the Dominion on the ashes of those that had fallen with a new view on the galaxy. At its head Rie Basoar named Protector...formally Premier of the Dominion and its protectorates. Since its formation it had been aggressively recruiting member planets and systems to its cause with a war weary galaxy abroad most just wanted a semblance of order of peace even if it came by the hand of military might.

Standing on the bridge of the Titan's Fist, an Imperium Ultra-Class Super Star Destroyer, Rie clasped his hands behind his back as he watched the swirl of hyperspace through the forward view ports. Alarian the Titan's Fist's AI counted down the last ten seconds before they emerged from hyperspace. In front of them a backwater system with a couple habitable planets.

"Begin deep scans of the system...I want to know if there are any signs of advanced civilization in this system." Admiral Tiet spoke as he walked up next to Rie. Tiet was the second in command and was also Rie's closest friend.

"What are the reports from the other fleets?" Rie asked.

Tiet held up a data pad and called up the information. "So far we have successfully negotiated ten more systems to join our Protectorate status. Most are lush in resources we desperately need for our shipyards."

"Any findings on our alternative search?" Rie asked.

"No...we have not found any signs of them. Yet. You know how hard it can be to locate their ruins so its going to take time."

Rie nodded slowly his orange eyes moving across the status monitors in front of him as he looked down to the main bridge from the slightly elevated command deck.

"Sensor reading sir!" Called out the sensor chief.

"Bring it up."

"Traces of hyperspace activity and ion trails. Coming from the single planet just beyond the asteroid belt. Looks to be a out of the way space hub."

"Move the fleet forward slowly...see if any official holonet traffic is emitting from that planet."

Turning to Tiet. "Launch our welcome forces."

Tiet nodded and walked to the communications station issuing orders for the fleet to break into a three prong wedge formation and to launch its first wave of fighters. They had no intent on being hostile but they would defend themselves if needed.

"There is communication traffic sir. A welcome message has been sent to us but appears to be automated."

Rie looked over the sensor data that was in front of him. Rubbing his chin he sighed.

"Ready a shuttle...I am going down to the planet."

"The Council...." Tiet began.

Rie cut him off. "The council does not dictate how I carry out my mandate."

Nodding with a smile Tiet turned and continued with his work. Rie left the bridge and headed down to the secondary hangar where a small contingent of black armored troops had gathered. His BlackHand Guardsmen. They boarded the shuttle and launched with a three fighter escort the rest of the Dominion force halted their advance leaving the shuttle and fighters alone in the space between them and the planet.

They would be making planet fall in about 30 minutes their target the largest city they had identified as the central hub of activity on this planet.