Star Wars: A Galaxy in Crisis | IC | OPEN

[Azanaire]

Drumond Kaas



As Camira studied Shaal's otherworldy features, she noticed the magnificent beauty of the mysterious outsider. For some reason, she was extremely attracted to Shaal's personality and presence. This was extremely unusual for her. However, she put those thoughts away and focused on the conversation beforehand,

"I'm here on Drumond Kaas as a bounty hunter looking for bounties and whatnot. You, madam Shaal, seem to be a strong, independent woman. Have you ever intrigued about such a life as a bounty hunter?"

She smiled and took a sip of her juice, pondering the universe.

Quermia



Master Prost and Isiaa stood on the platform as the Quermian Governor Oiunman Laal approached the latter,

"Welcome, fellow Jedi. Is it disheartening to hear of Master Sarlin's passing at the hands of Sith Acolytes. He was a great leader for our people and well respect all over Quermia."

A somber Prost shook hands with the Quermian Governor and nodded, "He was a great friend of mine and will always be remembered for his outstanding heroism and swift friendship despite the Galaxy's cruel nature. He is one with the force now, and we have returned his body to his homeworld so his people may properly give him a farewell he deserves, Madam Governor."

Governor Laal gently shook the Jedi Master's head in agreement, "Please, this way, friends."

The Governor led the Jedi to a small shuttle, where they flew to the Northeastern village of Renil, the birthplace of the late Vaj Sarlin. Renil was a village off the coast of a large lake, with dark brown sand and oak trees covered the landscape of the area. It was peaceful with small Quermians watching as they entered the village.

Isiaa studied the terracotta hutts as the shuttle stopped in front of a large hut. A male Quermian wore a chieftain-looking necklace and a large oak staff. The entourage piled out of the shuttle and introduced themselves to the chieftain.

"This is Chieftain Aeqo of Renil, my friends." stated the Governor, gesturing to the Chieftain who gave a welcoming nod.

"What an honor to meet you Chief Aeqo," smiled Isiaa, adjusting her silk robes.

"Vaj was an honorable man and a very good friend," boomed Aeqo, "Please follow me so we can begin the burial."

The Chieftain led the Governor, Isiaa, and Dasha to a large circular stadium on the west lawn of the hut. A large hole was dug up, presumably for Sarlin's body. Dozens of fellow Quermians sat in the corresponding rows with flowers and other sorts of memorabilia. Isiaa and Dasha sat in the middle row, with the Governor next to them.

As Master Vaj Sarlin's body was placed in the grave, numerous flowers and tokens were placed with this embalmment. Dasha was the last to approach the burial place of her friend and placed his lightsaber in the hole with a glance to the sky.

He was one with the force, she thought.

[Magnolixie]

...you must realize that there aren’t enough Jedi to protect the Republic. We’re keepers of the peace, not soldiers. - Mace Windu

Malindii Malogaan, Jedi Master
Jedi Temple, Ahch-To

Meditation.

If one were to ask the average passerby on Coruscant of what they thought in regard to the activity, the responses would fit neatly into two categories; utter apathy or a sense of wonder. The former believed that the Jedi ruminated only the distant past, the latter that they instead projected their spirit into the near future for the benefit of the Order and the galaxy at large.

These thoughts could, perhaps, be described as correct for some Jedi in more peaceful times, who had the resources to spare for pondering the finer parts of philosophy. This could not be said accurately for Master Malogaan, who focused her mind instead on questioning precisely why the present had come to be the way it had; the Jedi returning to their antediluvian home of Ahch-To, rejected by the galaxy they swore to protect.

The Sith.

Though she had spent much time coming to this conclusion on why the Jedi fell to such a sad state of affairs, it would seem akin to common sense to deduce that the Sith were behind the Order's exile to Ahch-To. But to Master Malogaan, the image that came to mind for the Sith that had so thoroughly beaten the Jedi was not of a maniacal sorcerer ejecting lightning from his hands, nor of a berserk saber-wielding butcher whose dark robes were illuminated by a blood-red saber. No, these foes the Jedi had vanquished time and again. But what Sith, then could not only defeat the Jedi, but break the Republic as a whole?

The answer was simple, yet to any outside the Order (and a few within), it would be utterly terrifying to reveal publicly. The issue was not that a mysterious Sith had pulled the right strings to pull the old galactic order apart, but that the definition of Sith was far too narrow for the Jedi to act decisively against the forces of darkness. For far too long, the Council had believed that the Sith were only comprised of the Force-sensitive servants of the Dark Side, soldiers of corruption that sought to tap into powers beyond their knowledge to better themselves. Malogaan was deciding upon a new definition of Sith to better prepare the Jedi for the war to save the galaxy, but how could she define it?

Were all of the anti-Jedi grassroots movements part of the Sith, through their rejection of the Order's mission?

Was the old Republic Military, time and again relying on technology over the Force, merely a strain of techno-Sith acolytes?

Or, perhaps most horrifyingly of all, was all secular order inherently in the hands of Sith, by their inability to be guided by the Light?

Though she may hide these feelings from the Council and the galaxy at large for the time being, Malogaan will privately view non-Jedi governments as little more than pawns of the Dark Side. May the Force have mercy on the Galaxy should she ever lead the Jedi Order.

[Ovesa]

Dromund Kaas

Shaal had never envisioned a life outside of Korriban, much less the Sith Order. Such a prospect would have been unthinkable just a few years prior; no, just a few days prior. But here, at this dimly lit bar, she found herself imagining living a life abroad, leaving the Order and all of its strife behind, travelling across the endless and infinite starscape with a certain someone...

Just as she was about to answer, her comlink began beeping, glowing with a steady, white pulse. "I'm sorry, it's my boss. Mind if I go outside for a minute?"

With Zakira's approval, Shaal shuffled out the door. Outside, she noticed, the building was well hidden by the looming towers and maze-like alleyways of the lower levels; a perfect hideaway, in every sense of the word.

Shaal activated her comlink, summoning a hand-held image of Darth Glasyr. "Apprentice, how was your first meeting with the Dark Council?"

"Terrible." She said, bluntly. "I'm a little preoccupied right now. Can we talk later?"

Glasyr was taken aback. "Why, Apprentice, this is highly irregular. What are you doing that is so important right now?"

"That's a story for another day."

"Wait, Apprentice, I need to tell you about Cami-"

It was too late: she had already hung up. As she re-entered the building, she didn't notice the men in grey uniforms patrolling the streets, asking passersby if they had recognized the person in the photograph. Her mind was elsewhere.

"Sorry about that. Anyway, I haven't thought about it before. It's a fascinating line of work, or so I've been told." A spark of excitement illuminated her eyes. "You've probably seen so many worlds. Tell me, what are some of the places you've visited?"

[Azanaire]

Drumond Kaas



Camira, intrigued, and fascinated with this young lady named Shaal, gave her approval as she left the bar, walking into the street. She had suspected that the police might tip her off, and hastily placed her hand on her left hip, where the brim of her orange lightsaber laid hidden underneath her belt. A few moments later, a rather stressed out Shaal returning, asking a few questions,

"Well, I've been to numerous planets throughout the Galaxy - from the beautiful Corellia to the deserts of Tattooine. It is a thriller to explore so many planets, to have that freedom and not have anything tie your hands behind your bac you know? it's revitalizing and so refreshing to the soul."

She smiled and placed her hand on her new friend Shaal's shoulder,

"Ma lady, have you ever had those freedoms before? Would you want those freedoms?"

Camira would usually hastily kill an outsider like this, but there was something more here - it was a connection that was meant to be.

[Ovesa]

Dromund Kaas

Very few people had managed to make Shaal speechless, but this mysterious woman did so with a simple question. All these years of reflecting, and she had never asked herself anything close to what she had just heard. She could only dream of achieving such a great level of freedom, far from the strife and scheming and pettiness of the Empire.

"I..." What was she to say? It was dizzying, having a whole new world of possibilities unfold. A wanderlust that began as a mere whisper became a compulsion, a battle cry, an awakening.

Of course she wanted those freedoms.

"I've never quite experienced the type of freedom you speak of, but it sounds wonderful." She suddenly found her hand entwined with the woman's free hand.

How did that happen?

"If it wasn't for the...underlying circumstances surrounding my work, I'd love to experience that kind of life."

With each passing second, she could feel a connection in the force growing stronger...

[Intellectual Beauty]

Snip

[Azanaire]

Drumond Kaas

Camira was adamant on getting this woman to join her on an adventure, this outsider was meant to be betrothed with her presence. Her smile turned into a slight frown when Shaal became cautious about her offer,

"Miss Shaal, I can assure you that this line of work is more suitable than a bunch of political schemes at the Sith Capital, Come on, I'll take you over those magnificent gardens on my ship,"

She took the ladies' hand and led her outside, across the street, and through a few hallways to where a large hangar emerged. Her ship, the Crown Princess, was an older Sith Freighter with a polished gold look. She smiled and laughed as amazement struck Shaal,

"Do you want me to show you the inside?'"

[Ovesa]

Darth Glasyr's Personal Ship, Korriban

Darth Glasyr had experienced a handful of problems with apprentices in the past, but this was the first time that Shaal had acted in such a brash and unapologetic manner. Sure, he was a little upset about being brushed to the wayside, but the old man was more confused than anything else. What, exactly, had gotten into her?

Just then, Glasyr's comlink started beeping. Was it Shaal? He reached to activate the device, holding it in his open palm.

The holographic figure that formed in front of him was one of an old friend; a Dathomirian Zabrak, broad shouldered and imposingly tall. Tall horns adorned her head like a jagged crown, her bright red eyes illuminated with passion. A skull-like outline of a tattoo covered her entire face; she was a sight to be feared. "Glasyr." She greeted him with a deep voice and a slight nod.

Glasyr was taken aback. It had been ages since they had last spoken; back when Kiolan re-united the fractured Sith Empire, she and Glasyr worked closely together to extinguish petty quarrels and coalesce a strong, unified Sith Empire. "Oskya, it's been so long since-"

"This isn't a social call." Darth Oskya said, sternly. "I wanted to talk to you about Solein."

Solein was once one of their closest friends, also from the re-unification days. Unfortunately, he had recently died under, shall we say, mysterious circumstances. Darth Glasyr was deeply saddened when the news first came out. "Yes, what happened was a tragedy."

"What happened to him was an intentional attack on us, and everything we stand for. When we first set out to unify the Empire, we wanted things to change for the better. But look around us, Glasyr! Don't tell me that you can't see the stagnation and infighting rotting through the Empire." Her voice was harsher now, burning with rage.

Glasyr took a deep breath. "Oskya, I understand your frustration. But we can't allow this conflict to tear the Empire apart, especially now with the Mandalorian Confederation an-"

"Spare me your lecture on politics!" Oskya stood defiantly, ready to let out a tirade---

But she didn't. "I'm sorry, Glasyr. I just can't stand to watch the Empire we dedicated our lives to crumble in a matter of weeks."

"The Empire isn't going to fall anytime soon." He assured her. But he wasn't entirely sure if he believed his own words.

Oskya sighed. "If the Council continues to follow on its current path...I hope you are willing to do what needs to be done."

Glasyr paused, reluctant about how to respond. After what felt like ages, he answered her. "So do I, friend. So do I."

Just as she was about to hang up, she stopped herself. "Glasyr?"

"Yes?"

"The next time you see Vayne..." By the stars, she hated that name. A psychotic, self centered harpy who desecrated Oksya's homeworld with her presence, whose reckless ambition threatened to destroy her beloved Empire, whose mere existence offended Oskya to her very core. "Tell her to hang her personal banner below the Empire's. We wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong impression."

And with that, she hung up.

Dromund Kaas

When 'Zakira' took her hand out of the bar and through the streets of Dromund Kaas, she had no idea what to really expect. But here, standing in front of the magnificent golden ship, she was amazed.

She could sense the woman's disappointment with her initial apprehension, so she internally vowed to be more open minded, and to throw herself into adventure when the opportunity presented itself. "I would love to see it."

[Newrey]

Orbit over Ahch-To, Galo Varlaar

Galo's stood with his usual rigidity, his chest stuck out and his back straight, his arms comfortably resting by the small of his back.His eyes were trained at nothing in particular, perfectly content with staring far out into the vastness of space. His mind played out a thousand scenarios of what was happening on those countless systems that surrounded the stars he could see, of how ships filled to the brim with crew would go about their lives, unknowing of the admiral that stood staring out to nothingness. He briefly wondered if there was a ship, just out of view, being piloted by another Varlaar, before he pushed it quickly from his mind. That man was nothing to him and would remain as such. He let his shoulders sink slightly. He had been thinking more and more of his father as of late and he disliked it immensely. He turned around, spinning smartly as all good Admirals should, and walking with purposeful grace to one of the monitors that clung to the large Venator window's, manned by a relatively new face.

"Lieutenant, I want an update on those cruisers the Council ordered. How can they expect a recommended posting when they don't keep me regularly updated with the construction" he ordered, his voice quiet and modulated, a matter like this hardly needed to be announced to the entire bridge.

"Aye Sir, right away Sir" the Lieutenant, Terarn as his nameplate read, replied nervously. It was clear he wasn't expecting to be placed into the upper echelon of the ship's command as soon as he had, and his demeanour reflected it. Galo also thought as much, he was forced to depart with much of his experienced crew to reassign them to more important postings on account of the fleet lacking many officers of combat experience. Had Galo had his way, this officer would still be serving on diplomatic vessels to better come accustomed to live in the Navy, not thrown headfirst into the workings of a warship.

"Admiral, urgent news" a nasally voice called, yet Galo ignored it, instead looking intently at the Lieutenant's screen.

"You have you orders, get to them" he added, before walking with remarkable intent for someone with no intent.

"Admiral?" the voice asked, confused by the Admiral's ignorance. He could hear the sharp sounds of the black leather boots smacking against the ground as he marched towards the Galo. Then, with all the regality that he years spent socialising with Galactic Senators that he could muster, he spun about face quickly, bringing the Lieutenant's brisk walk to a equally brisk halt.

"Ensign, this may shock you, but this is the bridge of a Venator starship, and you will act in a way becoming of that honour. Information is not to be shouted in the general direction of the intended recipient, but it is delivered accordingly and with, most importantly, respect, am I understood?" he asked, adding a bite to his final words.

The Ensign gulped nervously "Y-Yes, Admiral, apologies"

"I thank you for them, and I pray I don't see such flagrant disregard for protocol again. Now, as you were saying"

"It's Master Malogaan, Admiral, she's coming aboard" the Ensign reported. Galo let a small indicator of disapproval flash across his face before bringing it under control. Openly making known his displeasure of the Jedi was foolish, but some things he had difficult controlling.

"Thank you, Ensign, back to your station" Galo replied, allowing the Ensign to salute before doing so. He stood for a few moments at the centre of the bridge before striding towards the rear, where the elevators were, a much quicker way of greeting the Jedi. He could tell his crew were not overly excited, Malogaan and Galo were well known for their open quarrels, but Galo felt it was something else. Something much deeper. Unfortunately, he could not begrudge her on her military mind, she was one of the few Council members that was open about her militaristic views and this in turn helped keep the fleet alive, even if it was not as large as he would have liked, especially in comparison to their much larger contemporaries.

[Magnolixie]

Jedi Temple Hangar, Jedi Temple, Ahch-To
Master Malogaan

An echoey, large, and relatively open space such as a hangar was not what Master Malogaan had in mind for a private message for a military official. Nevertheless, it was certainly better than dropping in unannounced, lest such unprofessional and dangerous conduct be normalized among the ranks of the Order. After entering the code for one of the military commlink channels, she awaited patiently for the Admiral's crew to pick up on the other end.

Malogaan, a firm believer in the idea that Jedi ought to have the final say in worldly matters, often bickered with Admiral Varlaar over military strategies and implementations; indeed, these arguments had generated a reputation of their own among the Jedi and their non-Force-sensitive counterparts alike. At the end of the day, however, she recognized that the Admiral held the same basic view on the necessity of military strength, and as such could be a reliable, if not agreeable person to work with in delicate matters as this.

Following a moment of delay, Admiral Varlaar's torso and head appeared on her commlink, thankfully still attached.

"Admiral, this is Master Malogaan. In a few moments, I and the shuttle I will soon be aboard will land on your vessel, the Visionary. We shall be en route to Mandalore as soon as possible."

Though she felt it less diplomatic in tone than intended, Malogaan recognized that it was only natural that the Jedi were above. They were the closest to the Light, and as such it was their duty to guide those who could not feel the touch of the Force.

Malogaan will shortly arrive on the Visionary, and thenceforth will prepare for travel to Mandalore.

[Newrey]

Orbit over Ahch-To, Galo Varlaar

Galo brought himself to attention when the holoprojection of Jedi Maser Malogaan appeared, he had appreciated the courtesy of her call. He almost felt like greeting first, something he felt would cause one of their famed disagreements over precedence, but pushed down the childish thought. He had just berated an Ensign for improper conduct on his bridge, it would be beyond unreasonable for him to act in a similar manner.

"Admiral, this is Master Malogaan. In a few moments, I and the shuttle I will soon be aboard will land on your vessel, the Visionary. We shall be en route to Mandalore as soon as possible" she spoke authoritatively, he knew by her tone that there was no room for disagreement, even if he didn't agree with the mission. He nodded in response;

"Yes Ma'am, I'll have the ship begin preparations immediately. We should be able to jump to Mandalore by the time you arrive" he replied, his words slowing ever so slowly by the end, he turned off the holoprojector quickly and took a step back. Mandalore? he thought to himself, it had been a few years since he had last been there, ever since that incident with...Tiva.

He mentally smacked himself. These thoughts were unbecoming of an Admiral, he knew it, but he knew suppression was harder than one would like. If only he had been a Jedi, then he could do so easily. He shook his head, he assumed there was only one such reason for such a destination and he was eager to see it underway. He marched to the Navigator's station;

"Set a course for Mandalore, I want us ready to leave by the time Master Malogaan's shuttle is aboard" he ordered curtly.

[Azanaire]

Central Sundari, Mandalore


Master Prost stands in the Sundari Metropolitan Park, announcing the Jedi Order had betrayed the Mandalorian people

Rage, anger, and loss were just a few emotions that filled Dasha's veins. She had been a largely unknown Jedi Master to many throughout the Galaxy - quietly taking orders and obediently following them with no reluctance or dispute whatsoever. However, times had changed. Obedience and blind loyalty have led Dasha to a crossroads and the beginning of a new path. Her friend and fellow Master Vaj Sarlin - a gifted diplomat - had noted that the Jedi Order was weak without a Grand Army and allies loyal to the establishment of a Grand Republic. Vaj had been murdered by a Dark Acolyte under Camira, in an attempt to assassinate her friend - Duchess Tiva of Mandalore.

Dasha slipped out of the Presidential Palace in light gray robes similar to a lower income Sundari resident. She boarded a small transport and headed towards one of the most popular places in the Capital of Mandalore - the Sundari Gardens. The simulated weather today was cloudly - the air was crisp with small raindrops then and there.

As she exited the transport, she followed a small group of teenagers and descended upon a large stone theatre that had been used for plays and musicals for decades. Several families sat on the accompanying grass with picnics and other businesses. Small pets from across the Galaxy littered the southern plain of the grass, adding to a diverse collection of humanoids, aliens, and pets.

She stood on the stone pedestal and ignited her lightsaber in the air,

"Mandalorians! The Jedi Order has betrayed you once again! My name is Dasha Prost - former Jedi Master on Ahch-To. I have firsthand seen the treachery and betrayal of the Jedi upon your people again! While the Sith attempt to invade your homeworld and insinuate chaos, the Jedi sit on their hands fumbling over old texts that have lowered the ability to bring our peoples to greatness! Duchess TIva cannot say this openly, so I will - down with the Jedi Order, down with the Empire! For Mandalore!"

Groups of people had swelled up in groups, cheering for Mandalore. Dasha smiled and rose her fist as the crowds swelled chanting various things against the Sith and the Jedi...

Sundari Royal Palace, Mandalore

Tiva sat on the throne of House Qynoorst, watching Padawan learners Yorna Asquach, Niam Poil, and Tero'l Bevos test their combat skills, when her aide, Marhsella, entered the room with urgency. She rushed to grasp a breath of air. Tiva sat up and ran to her aide,

"Madam Marhsella, what is it?" she asked, placing her hand on her shoulder.

"Your majesty, the Admiral Galo Varlaar has requested permission to land in Sundari, and Madam Prost has caught some publicity in Central Sundari," she blurted, beginning to regain her breathe.

"What do you mean Admiral Varlaar is requesting permission to land? He hasn't - he hasn't been here in years malady. And what do you Master Prost has caught some publicity, she was supposed to help me train these padawans!" questioned Tiva. confused.

"I have no idea why the Admiral wants to land in Sundari, madam Qynoorst. However, Miss Prost has spoken against the Jedi Order and the Sith in the Sundari Park in the central sector of the city. She states that the Jedi have betrayed Mandalore, is that true, Tiva?" replied Marhsella, looking at her friend.

Tiva froze for a second and replied, "When we were above Concordia, the Jedi High Council announced they would not help the Confederation militarily if we were to be attacked. Prost and Sarlin resigned from the Council in protest right before we were attacked, Sarlin didn't make it. Prepare for the Admiral's arrival and make sure Dasha is safe. I will make a statement soon."

the Crown Princess, Drumond Kaas

Camira smiled when the reluctant Shaal opened her mind up to the possibility of being free, "Come on let me show you the ship!"

She led Shaal to the interior of the ship, which had various items from across the Galaxy placed in the interior. A banner of the Sith Empire hung above an large couch, with a hole in the middle. She approached the cockpit of the ship and ordered her pilot droids to begin take off towards Rosio Gardens, where large amounts of Sith flowers were grown for exploitation.

Unbeknownest to the duo, Imperial Fighters had tracked the Crown Princess, and began to open fire on the ship.

[Ovesa]

Imperial Citadel, Dromund Kaas

Oskya's philosophy was simple; diligence and discipline were the backbone of what made an individual truly strong. Regardless of their status, if one was willing to put forth the effort to become stronger, they had earned Oskya's respect. This was especially true when it came to her apprentices; for those who were willing to undergo her intense training regiment and live up to her standards, they would prove to be some of the most formidable combatants in the Empire.

She was puzzled as to why Glasyr had granted his apprentices such excessive levels of freedom. What purpose did it serve? Wouldn't they become weak or misguided? Although they were friends, Oskya and Glasyr had quite different philosophies regarding a myriad of topics. Diplomacy or the blade, alliances or self sufficiency, and more. Still, they were lifelong friends, with a bond that had been forged on a battlefield. She owed him her life, and she would pay back that debt however she possibly could.

Even if it meant babysitting Glasyr's apprentice during her stay on Dromund Kaas.

After Shaal's first impression with the Dark Council, Oskya begrudgingly admitted to the fact that she would, in fact, have to get involved and assist the young apprentice adjust to her new role. Oskya searched for the Togruta, but she had scurried away, nowhere to be seen.

Damn it, she thought.

Oskya scanned the area around her; perhaps someone who also attended the meeting had seen her. Unfortunately for her, the only other person in Oskya's immediate vicinity who had attended the meeting was none other than Darth Vayne. With a frustrated sigh, she walked over to speak with her nemesis. "Vayne. I'm looking for Glasyr's apprentice." Oskya said, curtly. "Did you see where she went?"

The Crown Princess, Dromund Kaas

It was certainly a risk coming aboard the ship of a stranger, but the moment she boarded, Shaal knew that she made the right choice. The Imperial banner, the worn-out couch (that was surprisingly more comfortable than it looked), the friendly pilot droids: the ship radiated with a warmth and familiarity Shaal had never experienced before.

As it turned out, the old couch was situated ever so nicely that Shaal could get a perfect view of the gardens below. Vines, bushes, and trees illuminated the ground below in a beautifully landscaped kaleidoscope of vibrant yellows and soft pinks, bold reds and gentle blues.

It was a mesmerizing view.

Shaal felt a strange sort of comfort being on board the Crown Princess. It was warm, inviting, spontaneous, and she could escape from all of the galaxy's conflicts, even if it was for only a single moment.

Is this what home feels like?

Suddenly, she heard a loud bang, accompanied by the sound of blaster bolts. Not knowing what to do, she hastily ran over to the cockpit where she found Zakira, trying to maneuver through the air without getting hit by the barrage of lasers. "What's going on?"

[Newrey]

Imperial Citadel, Dromund Kaas
Darth Vayne

Dark Council meetings were rarely a source of enjoyment, but they were certainly a feast of information. What Darth was on the rise, which on the decline, and, most importantly, who was absent and who was not. It was in the quite irregular meeting that she could see that Darth Glasyr, the optimistic dullard that he was, was curiously among those ranks, instead replaced by her inept apprentice. Curious she thought to herself, the presence of an apprentice on the council would have been basis for death for the dishonour, but in the shaky Sith Empire, that couldn't be afforded. Well, not openly.

She found her interests piqued when the apprentice spoke, her attention had admittedly been much more sharply focused on Darth Khyron, but this was certainly a surprise, her eyes darted at the other Darths reactions to it, but half of them had decided on ridiculous facial decorations, making it hard to read, but she could see their apprehension. Feel their disgust. She let a small smirk sit on her face, certainly an interesting character, naive and foolish in the workings of the Council, but not without courage. Almost admirable, she signalled for one of her guards to follow her when the meeting was concluded, to find out what other details made her so stand out to Glasyr he'd risk insult to send her in his place. Maybe the information could be useful to her in future, who knew, it never hurt.

She'd remained seated when the other Dark Lords began to shuffle out, likely to their strongholds, but Vayne enjoyed her seat at the Council, she could feel the dark energies of Dromund Kaas flow through her, rejuvenating her much more effectively than the red mists of Dathomir. She gritted her teeth slightly when she could sense a familiar presence approaching;

"Darth Oskya" she said, hiding the sneer on her face as she swivelled in her chair, her voice making up for the lack of sneer "I hope your extended stay at our capital has been...suitably pleasant. As for Glasyr's apprentice, I cannot say, though her little outburst is unlikely to have won many friends, maybe enemies..." she let her voice trail off, leaving her meaning suitably vague. Her comlink crackled to life and she smiled slightly "Oh my, she has gotten herself into trouble"

[Ovesa]

Imperial Citadel, Dromund Kaas
Darth Oskya

To Oskya, Vayne's mere existence was an attack on everything she stood for. Losing her homeworld to this ghoul was punishment enough; the nerve she had to mock her so nonchalantly in the middle of an unrelated conversation was insult to injury.

Why did Oskya lose control over Dathomir? Petty politics. Darth Kiolan was eager to find a way to keep Vayne complicit with her station, and Dathomir was the perfect bargaining chip. It still angered her to this day. Losing her first choice of apprentices on her own planet (most of whom Vayne had tossed to the wayside like old rags), having her personal base get demolished, and the construction of Vayne's palace; that horrible, jagged scar of a monument, desecrating her sacred homeworld-

No, now was not a time to embrace her fury. Darth Oskya listened closely to Vayne, hoping to pick up on a decent hint as to where Glasyr's wayward apprentice had wandered off to.

Vayne's comlink crackled to life; for a split second, Oskya's eyes widened, before she regained control of them. She couldn't afford to display any signs of fear.

"Just what exactly do you mean by trouble?"

[Newrey]

Imperial Citadel, Dromund Kaas
Darth Vayne

"My, my" Darth Vayne said, a mocking tone snaking its way into her voice "Your time here hasn't impressed upon you the manner's of a Darth". Vayne finally rose from her chair, her tall figure hidden by an expansive dress of deep red, with two reflective metallic plates curving over her sharp shoulders and began to take several steps past Oskya, her dress giving an impression that she was gliding across the floor. She almost respected Oskya, most other Sith would have long perished after losing their world, be it destitution or a fruitless gamble to kill Vayne herself, but Oskya hadn't. But Vayne knew it wouldn't last, she would be scheming in background, if she was a proper Sith. But scheming with whom?

She stopped abruptly, turning her head "If you must know, the apprentice seems to have run off with a scoundrel from a bar, it's almost romantic" she said, before continuing her walk toward's the Council chamber's exit;

"Follow the sound of blasters" she added, stifling a small laugh. So was Oskya's game, to curry favour with that dullard Glasyr, starting by keeping an eye on that Togruta. To Oskya's credit, it was clever and risky, especially when Glasyr's own consolidation of power was taken into account. She was well down the steps when she had alerted her spy to alert Darth Glasyr. The one downside of attempting to curry favour against Darth Vayne, as Oskya would learn, was Vayne was faster. She hadn't been given Dathomir through complacency.

She let herself chuckle, dwarfed by the sound of the pouring rain, she could already see the battle lines being drawn amongst the Darth Council.

[Ovesa]

Dromund Kaas
Darth Oskya

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. That foolish girl had been on Dromund Kaas for less than a day, and she had already gotten herself wrapped up in trouble.

She could practically see the utter contempt dripping from Vayne's voice. She knew that by raising her own voice in protest, the only thing she would accomplish was giving Vayne another satisfaction, yet another small victory to feel proud of. As lousy as it was, this interaction meant that Oskya was one step closer to her ultimate goal. The Empire would be removed of all weakness, arrogance, and incompetence, and be reforged in the crucible of conflict into something stronger and more powerful than the galaxy had ever seen. In Oskya's mind, Vayne would be one of the first to burn.

After enduring yet another barrage of insults, she silently took off to the streets of Kaas City, the arhythmic pounding of the rain only masked by Darth Vayne's stifled laughter. On the streets that carved through the city's surface, puddles reflected the neon signs of the various restaurants and other venues of the city, turning the wet ground into a wash of fluorescent yellows, pinks, and blues.

It was an unusual sight, a Dark Lord of the Sith running through the streets of Kaas City. Although she had limited information regarding the whereabouts of Glasyr's apprentice, Oskya was not going to return to the Citadel for directions. Hopefully, her instincts, along with the sound of blaster fire, would bring her to where she needed to be...

Private Mansion, Naboo, Ornitek
Darth Glasyr

"Hmm. Yes. This is certainly troubling." Glasyr stood on a balcony overlooking a white sand coastline. In one hand, he held an ornate wine glass, half filled with Alderaanian wine. In the other, he held his comlink. "How did she get there again?"

As he listened to the informant's response, he entered the mansion through an arched opening that led to a massive central room adorned with lavish decor and fine furniture. A chandelier hung at the center of the room, a shrine to its owner's opulence.

Darth Glasyr was not a fool; he knew fully well that Vayne would not allow information to be shared with him unless there was something in it for her. He took the information her agent offered with a grain of salt; there was no doubt a slant to the words being shared, or a detail or two left out. He knew that Shaal and Oskya must've had a valid explanation for what had transpired. Surely they were as careful and competent as he believed them to be...

"Ah, yes. Thank you for your time."

As he hung up, he walked over to a large window. Down below on the surface, beyond the acres of freshly trimmed lawn was the start of a massive tent city; a makeshift slum, with hundreds of thousands of occupants. Thanks to Ruinar's ambitious renovation plans, billions of people across dozens of planets were now displaced with nowhere to live.

Glasyr pondered for a moment. Ornitek could not continue developing this way; sooner or later, the people would reach their breaking point, and everything would implode before the galaxy had time to react. The Dark Council would be ecstatic; many Dark Lords were upset about the Ornitek Alliance, and they'd be more than happy to distance themselves from the fallout.

However, Glasyr felt entirely different about the matter. This area would soon become highly contested, and if the Sith could stake a claim without upsetting the inhabitants of their respective worlds, the Empire would have an even more abundant supply of resources.

As he sipped the last of his wine, he strolled through the mansion before finding his way to the exit. As he left, he passed by the owner of the mansion; an Ornitek factory owner, lying dead on the tile floor. The man had been stealing goods from Imperial shipments, and selling them across a handful of markets for a marked down price. Darth Glasyr had attempted to reason with him, even bringing one of his favorite wines as an offering. But the man was paranoid; believing Glasyr's offer to be a trap, he pulled a blaster out from inside his coat pocket.

That would be his last mistake, one that would be answered with some of the most powerful force lightning in the galaxy. With the factory owner's smoldering, lightning scarred corpse lying face down on marble tile, Glasyr made his way back to his personal ship. No matter what happened here, in this soon to be Wild Space, it was going to affect the galaxy for decades, perhaps even centuries to come...

[Azanaire]

Drumond Kaas

Zakira took a swift turn and pivoted under a large bridge, causing one of the fighters to crash into the structure. She grunted as Shaal maneuvered from the other room into the cockpit,

"Madam Shaal, when I told you that I was a bounty hunter - that means that everyone, yes everyone, is constantly after me. Now we need to get out of orbit and head for Dathomir. If I am caught and you are seen with me, you will most likely be executed. Can you get to the guns?"

Zakira turned her face towards the Togruta for a quick glimpse of Shaal's face. "Please, I will tell you everything when we land."

Central Sundari, Mandalore

Master Prost smiled as the protestors chanted several different slogans against both the Jedi and the Sith. Capital Defense Forces remained cautiously in the distance to make sure mass protests and riots would not destroy the city. However, a large broadcast blared on someone's comlink near Dasha. She got closer to see a hologram:

BROADCAST : MANDALORIAN CONFEDERATiON-

"Greetings, fellow citizens. We have received reports that massive rebellions have formed in response to the Conglomerate of Ornitek's authoritarian measures against Ornitek's citizens. This also comes with the assassination of Head Boardmember Runiar Gillman and its fellow board members after a large revolt in the Geonosis System resulted in the bombings of the Capital's main government infrastructure. Dozens of Planetary Systems have been set free as the Ornitek has collapsed into obscurity, with very little survivors of the former government.

It is expected that the Interstellar Mineral Trade Federation will reclaim its systems of Hypori and Konak, which were illegally invaded by the Sith Empire and the Conglomerate several weeks ago.

We have to report another dissolution of another Galactic Entity - the Greater Calculus. The Greater Calculus has been disbanded following concerns of internal debt and financial ruin as well as corruption in the higher ranks of the Rationalismus, it is unclear what factions will arise to form an new government in the sectors.

This leaves the Interstellar Trade Federation, the Royal Galactic Commonwealth, the Sith Empire, the Mandalorian Confederation, the Jensaaarai, the Black Sun Syndicate, and various small factions in control of the galaxy.

This is all to report as of now. Bless the Confederation!

As the broadcast ended, Dasha felt a warm feeling of excitement. Orntiek - the Confederation's fierce rival- had internally collapsed and their leader was dead. She needed to get back to the Royal Palace of Mandalore and begin planning possible annexations of the Core Worlds. "Mandalore is going to form a new entity," she thought as she sped up to the transports, jumping in right before they left for Eastern Sundari.

[Ovesa]

Dromund Kaas

For just a split second, Shaal was struck with confusion and fear. She had never even used a blaster before, let alone a ship's turret. How would she ever explain any of this to Darth Glasyr?

She snapped out of it; there wasn't any time she could afford to waste. Quickly, she situated herself behind the turret and got to work. Maneuvering the weapon was awkward at first, but she quickly caught on.

As Zakira wove though the complex cityscape, Shaal aimed at the fighters trailing them and opened fire. The pilots were surprisingly agile, dodging the barrage of blaster fire without hitting any buildings. However, a well placed shot to one of the ship's wings sent it and its accompanying ship spiraling to the ground in a fiery spectacle that could be seen from several blocks away.

One fighter remained. It was gaining on them, with unparalleled mobility. Try as she might, Shaal was unable to hit the last ship with the turret. They were closing the distance: it would only be a matter of time before the fighter would catch up to them and finish off their damaged ship.

Left. Right. Over. Under. No matter what they threw at the pilot, he was able to handle it. Shaal could see his face clearly now; he wore a malicious grin as he flew closer.

Shaal could sense a growing hatred rising within her. She had just experienced true freedom for the first time, without answering to anyone, and she was about to lose it all. Her mind grew darker and darker with each passing second. There was no past and no future; just raw, unfiltered hatred. Taking her hands off of the gun's controls, she raiser her hand forward, allowing the hatred to consume her. As she locked eyes with the pilot, her hand clenched.

The glass on the ship's exterior instantly shattered, the fast-moving shards slicing the pilot's face and body. Bleeding and disoriented, he veered down to what he thought was a landing platform. It was, in fact, a landing platform; however, he overshot his target, and subsequently plummeted to his demise.

After the initial shock, Shaal felt strangely empowered. Maybe it was her newfound independence, or her strength in the Dark Side. Whatever it was, it caused something new ignite within her, something she had never experienced before.

On the planet's surface, Oskya was running with all her might, pushing aside pedestrians and knocking over market stalls. That strange golden ship was in her sights, just barely out of her reach. She could sense that Shaal was inside of it, and that no matter what it took, that ship could not leave.

In her younger days, Oskya could have jumped onto the ship with limited difficulty, and sliced her way inside. Sadly, that was out of the question. With her extended hand, Oskya used the Force to keep the ship at a standstill, pulling it closer and closer to the ground.

The ship was putting up more resistance than she had anticipated, but she was dead set on holding it down. Closer, closer, yet closer, she could feel the ship being pulled to the surface...

Suddenly, the ship lunged out of Oskya's grasp, escaping Dromund Kaas in a matter of seconds. Oskya was humiliated; she had done everything she could, and yet she still let down one of her closest friends. With defeat and regret lingering in her mind, she made her way back to the Citadel, preparing for that dreaded call to Glasyr...

Naboo

Sith banners were hung along the sides of the relief tents that had just been constructed by Imperial forces. Some of the Sith B1s were unloading crates and handing out rations to the overwhelmingly long lines of desperate people, while others were giving basic first aid to those who needed it. The B1 medical droids were marked with a white arm band, which made them easily identifiable, even from several meters away.

In the distance, crews of maintenance droids worked around the clock, removing dangerous debris left from incomplete demolition. Eventually, the cities of Naboo would be rebuilt under Glasyr's watchful eye. But for now, the main priority was keeping the civilians safe and healthy.

While Glasyr was wrapped up in thought, one of the B1s approached him. "Sir, our shipments have been delayed. What should we tell the civilians?"

While others in power treated droids with disdain and contempt, Glasyr was patient with his droids. "Be honest with them." He instructed "If anyone asks, you tell them that we will receive more rations tomorrow afternoon."

Just then, Glasyr received an alert from his comlink. "Ah, it must be Shaal. Excuse me, but I have to take this."

The droid nodded. On the other end of the transmission was, once again, Oskya. Uncharacteristically, her head hung low and she initially avoided eye contact. "Darth Glasyr, I have some bad news."

Glasyr's smile vanished. "What happened? Is Shaal safe?"

"Shaal left Dromund Kaas with a bounty hunter." Her voice was low, her mind strangled by shame. "There's little information regarding the circumstances before she got on board. Imperial intelligence suggests that they may be travelling to Dathomir, but it's unclear. After their initial escape, we lost track of them." She held her breath, waiting for the backlash.

Darth Glasyr was quiet. "Anything else?" He asked.

"No, that's it."

"...very well. Keep me updated on the situation." He ended the call before she could respond. In a fit of rage, he crushed the comlink in his hand, throwing the bloodied shards to the ground.

The B1 was alarmed. "Sir! Do you need me to-"

"That won't be necessary." He barked. With his badly cut hand, he pointed to his personal ship. He spoke quickly and angrily as he walked away from the camp. "Prepare that ship for takeoff, I need to make an emergency trip to Dathomir this instant."

"Yes, Sir!" The battledroid hastily ran over to the transport ship. Naboo would have to oversee itself for the time being; Glasyr had a mission to attend to...

[Azanaire]

Dathomir

Zakira smiled in relief as the ship successfully not only evaded capture - but also destroyed several Sith Imperial Fighters in the process. "Good job, malady!" exclaimed an exhilarated Zakira. She placed the ship on the auto-pilot and approached Shaal, who had climbed back to the main lobby of the freighter. They were a great duo fighting together.

She sensed anxiety and confusion from the beautiful Togruta. She decided it was time to reveal the truth. She reached for a bag, which she revealed a polished bronzium lightsaber, with elements of Dathormir tree bark embalming the metal. She then took off her robe and emitted her lightsaber to show Shaal,

"I am not who you thought, Shaal. I am Darth Camira - or Camira, the daughter of Emperor Kiolan."

She hoped that Shaal would not resist their connection and doom the Sith entirely...

Crown Princess jolted for a moment as the ship landed on Dathomir.

[Ovesa]

Dathomir

The success of their first battle together left Shaal in an adrenaline-induced euphoria. It was obvious that the two synergized well, both in and out of combat. Now they were out of Dromund Kaas, and on their way to Dathomir, beyond the Dark Council and the obligations and the scheming.

But even in this moment of joyous celebration, a fear crawled through the back of her mind. How long could they survive the Empire's wrath? Did Shaal truly have the capacity to live outside of the Sith, always on the run? And just who was this mysterious stranger she was travelling with?

The mysterious woman sensed Shaal's inner turmoil, and decided to identify herself. As the bronzium saber ignited, Shaal felt her heart stop. Camira? The one who led the assassination attempt on Duchess Tiva? The exiled Crown Princess who plotted with her acolytes to take the Imperial throne for herself?

The Crown Princess jolted to a stop on the surface of Dathomir. Panic began to set in. How would she ever be able to return to the Empire? If she could just turn back time, back to when she felt a sense of normality, before the galaxy as she knew it could dissolve overnight. If only she was on her homeworld, she was still sifting through the ruins of Korriban. Maybe it wasnt too late to return, and forget that any of this ever happened. If she turned back now, the Dark Council would surely reward her greatly for the capture of their main adversary.

But as she looked into Camira's eyes, Shaal realized how horribly she would regret turning in Camira, the one person who had made her feel validated and worth more than her title. In just one evening, Camira had opened her eyes to a world beyond her servitude, a life of independence and spontaneous adventure. Why would she throw it all away for the Dark Council? Those bickering old men would despise her no matter what Shaal did. Did she truly want to abandon her one companion, for a chance of a life filled with backstabbing and paranoia?

"Camira, I...want to thank you, for your honesty. No, for everything. I don't know if now is the time to say this, but I wasn't completely honest with you back on Dromund Kaas." She took a deep breath, before continuing. "I'm not just someone who pushes papers at the Citadel. I'm Darth Glasyr's apprentice. You've probably seen him before, in the broadcasts."

From her robe pocket, she pulled out the saber gifted to her by Glasyr. It had a sleek, curved hilt that resembled ebony, with mother-of-pearl inlays forming an elaborate eight-pointed star on two opposing sides of the hilt.

Her voice became faster, and more expressive. "Glasyr sent me to Dromund Kaas to take his place at a meeting with the Dark Council. And I hated every second of it, but it's not like telling Glasyr changed anything. He has this whole great plan layed out for me, and I just have to put my head down and go along with it, even if I end up feeling miserable and everyone resents me for existing."

Shaal looked to Camira, her voice becoming softer and more controlled. "And then I met you. You're adventurous, and strong, and charming, and beautiful, and you showed me that I don't have to live out somebody else's life. What I'm really trying to say is that I don't want to turn you in to the Empire, I want to help you."

Shaal seldom spoke her mind in such an open and vulnerable way. She stood by, anxiously anticipating Camira's response...

Darth Vayne's Palace, Dathomir

While a droid piloted his personal transport, Glasyr seethed in all of his pent-up rage and frustration. The cuts on his hand had just begun to heal; accelerated by rage, the wounds sealed themselves in a matter of seconds, skin, bone, and all. All that remained of his injuries was the faint outline of a single scar.

Confusion, fear, and hatred swirled like a gathering storm in the back of his mind. Normally, he would put effort into maintaining his kind-hearted persona. But now, with the stakes being this high, there was no time for charades.

As he exited his ship, the planet's Dark energy rejuvenated his mind and body, filling him with a new level of strength and determination. Above the palace, the blood red skies of Dathomir stood like an omen, enveloping the landscape in a dark shroud.

From the palace entrance, Darth Vayne glided over to Glasyr, with a smile that could almost pass as genuine. "Darth Vayne, I cannot tell you how grateful I am for you allowing me to arrive on such short notice. As much as I would like to catch up, there are dire circumstances that simply must be addressed..."

[Azanaire]

Aboard the Crown Duchess, Dathomir

Camira listened intently as Shaal identified herself as Darth Glasyr's apprentice. Glasyr, one of the wiser Masters on the Dark Council, was an ardent supporter of reformist teachings of the Sith, ones that her father Kiolan had somewhat adhered to before the death of her mother. She turned off her lightsaber and walked closer to Shaal, hugging her in a deep embrace. Shaal's warmth felt so good to Camira, as she had never had someone to care for, someone to love. She broke the embrace and murmured with a tear racing down her cheek,

"Shaal, no matter what we are together till the end. You have my word, the force would not have let this connection come together if it wasn't to last. It's time to bring back the Glorious Sith Empire, with you right by my side - you hear? Now, we have an audience with some other Sith Lords, follow my lead and don't let them intimidate you"

She kissed Shaal's hand and grabbed her robes that had laid on the ground, she pressed a button which decompressed the ship and opened the landing platform, from which the two Siths departed the ship. The air was eerie and the red stone illuminated the large base that Camira had led. She turned to Shaal,

"This is what freedom looks like, Shaal."

As they entered the hangar bay of the base, several droids repaired fighters and other small ships, while various Sith Troopers armed up and ready for war. They entered a large meeting room, where various leaders sat in a circular fashion. She led Shaal to her seat and instructed her to sit.

"Darth Camira, who is this scoundrel and why is she here?" boomed a large anomid Sith Lord, slamming his fist on the dark stone table.

"Lord Escragus, this is Shaal, a friend of mine. She recently defected from the current regime," snorted back Camira, gesturing to her lover.

"This Shaal seems mysterious, who was your master miss?" said Darth Uero, studying Shaal's features.

[Dentali]

Coruscant, Alliance of Free Planets



The once capital of the Republic was still going strong if it didn't shine quite as brightly as it had a few hundred years ago. Factories still boomed, markets thrived, people bustled and the Alliance Senate convened.

Today the conversation was regarding the incorporation of Humbarine into the Alliance. The heavily industrialized system housed an ecumenopolis and commercial hub. By a supermajority or Senators their petition to join the Alliance was accepted and elections for their Senator would proceed in the next 6 months.

The planet was a founding member of the Republic and had a population of 100 million people, and sat near several major trade routes. It was hoped that this planet would be able to greatly expand the revenue of the Alliance and provide a bulwark against aggression from the Galactic East.

[Ovesa]

Camira's Base, Dathomir

Shaal had never felt so close with anyone before. Before everything had happened, she was never one to believe in the power of love, much less love at first sight. But experiencing it first hand had opened her eyes to a world she never thought was possible. A future at Camira's side, leading their Empire into a new era...

The base was a sight to behold. As she walked through the base, Shaal took note of its occupants. Some were curious, others were more apprehensive of her arrival. There were so many Sith, from acolytes to Dark Lords, who were concentrated within one single place. How had they gone undetected for so long? Perhaps the Dark energies of Dathomir clouded their presence from intruders, or maybe there were other forces at play.

Shaal was surprises at the hostility of Lord Escragus's initial greeting. Obviously, one had to be cautious during a time of war, but really? A scoundrel? Another Sith spoke, asking her about her master. She could sense his power in the Dark Side; she was clearly speaking with a Darth. "I served under Darth Glasyr, sir." She did her best to speak cordially. As she surveyed the room, she anxiously anticipated their responses...

[Azanaire]

Camira's Base, Dathomir



Camira placed her lightsaber on the table in front of her, which was meant to signal that she was in charge here. Several Lords looked to the Emperor's daughter in respect and quieted down after the uproar. However, Lord Escragus held a firm grand in cautioness to Shaal's defection,

"Camira, I respect your decisions most of the time. However, if we are to overthrow Kiolan we cannot allow the apprentices and known sympathizers to this cause. Her presence can lead to the Empire locating this base and adverting our plans forever!"

Lord Esccragus began to storm out of the room, flanked with several diplomatic droids. However, before he could completely leave, Camira raised her fist and force choked the Lord. He collpased to the ground in agony and screamed in pain, pleading for help. Camira turned cold as she kept using the force, harder and harder until a loud snap was heard, and Escragus' screams became eerie silence.

"Anyone else want to insult me and our newest member?" yelled Camira, grabbing Escragus' lightsaber and placing it on her belt. "Now, that's get to business!"