Fate of the Empire

Chapter 1: Marr VS Malgus

The Empire. A stagnate beast whose tremendous power could have once known no limitations, yet was eventually victimised by the petty squabbles of those who dared anoint themselves as Lords of the Sith. A tragedy, Malgus believed, that transcended the most renowned of the Republic's Operas -though he would admit that many of the so-called 'Darths' possessed a shallowness that rivalled even the vainest actors known to the galaxy.

Yet these Sith Lords were not deserving of the title… their incompetence in both the battlefield and preference in the realm of Sith politics was admittance to this- their continued existence was fuel to Malgus' omnipresent rage.

A rage that fed Malgus' power, and that was a power that would see the vermin at the height of the Empire eradicated.

For Malgus' hatred of these parasites was not caused solely by the stupidity and martial vulnerability of his supposed 'equals' and 'superiors', but was directed also at their misplaced bigoted views and often-times pointless, invalid and self-detrimental rage-these being showings of incompetence that would see the Empire, mighty and invulnerable as it should be, fall… and Malgus would not allow this vision to come to pass.

For the Empire was power, yet it was a power that was being poisoned by those who boasted of controlling it, and the cure for this poison was the antithesis of what the Dark Council, the former Emperor and the hundreds of short-sighted, self-absorbed aristocratic pure-bloods and humans would allow themselves to accept:

The resources and skills- the abilities and the powers of the alien species in both the ranks of the Sith and beyond that those in power squandered… they were the secret to ultimate victory over the Jedi and the Republic they defended. But only a unified Empire free of the prejudice that plagued it could hope to defeat a foe that was as resilient as the Galactic Republic, and it would take more than the pathetic politics of the Empire that currently existed for that utopia to become a reality.

Malgus would make it so, for his power was not limited to a single power-base, or even a collection of them that he had gained through black-mail or assassination, but an army of individuals and groups with a wide array of skills and powers that combined into a force capable, with the aid of the captured Foundry and the Stealth armada, of overthrowing the Council, and securing his status as the new Sith Emperor!

This was done, not due to ill-conceived notions of superiority, but recognition of the fact that the Empire required new leadership if it was to grow and prosper as was needed to avoid the otherwise inevitable failure of the war effort, and the downfall of the closest personification to war itself.

Despite this, there were those who would take action to not allow the Empire to grow; individuals such as the strike force that had been fighting its way through Malgus' trusted allies and soldiers in order to reach the Emperor's throne room… a destination they were reaching now

BA-THOOM!

The impact of a Force push pounding against the many-times reinforced durasteel doors rang out across the vast room. Newly christened Imperial Guards strengthened their grips on their weapons as secret sweat began to move down their concealed faces.

A crunching, grating roar started to form, as the great doors started to bend and twist, to compress and fold in upon themselves until all that remained was one small, horrific ball suspended in the air by the limitless power of the Force. Malgus briefly considered how great potential was too-often wasted on the unworthy, when the ball fell to the floor with a crash, and the few dozen Imperial Soldiers that had survived the previous incursions charged into Malgus' current stronghold.

And there, striding in with his crimson Lightsaber lit, was Darth Marr himself.

Before the invading forces had made any noticeable amount of progress into the room, red-clad defenders had formed a line of soldiers willing to die to protect their Emperor and his ideals.

Marr held out his hand, and despite many of the invaders not being able to see their leader, they dutifully stopped their progress a significant amount of metres away from the defence.

"The Leader of the Council. Fitting that we meet within your master's chambers. He was kind enough to keep his throne warm for me." Malgus threw back the hood from his pale head, its colour having lost itself to the Dark Side long ago.

A commanding wave of his hand towards the Guard, and they started moving towards the exit that Marr had destroyed. The Soldiers seemed hesitant and wary, but Marr raised his hand again, and their fears seemed to be put to rest.

A few moments passed, and now Malgus was left only with people wishing his imminent death.

Marr placed his now deactivated blade upon his belt, and moved forward, his allies staying dutifully back, but with their weapons aimed at the Sacker of Coruscant.

Malgus continued, "Welcome to my throne room… So much history. So many glory days that slipped away from us.

"The Emperor is dead." Malgus raised from his seat on the elevated podium. "Long live the new Emperor."

Marr's voice betrayed no emotion, his body showed no fear, but the Force radiated from him in waves, and in those waves, Malgus felt a danger he had from few others.

"You're perseverance must be respected Malgus… but the actions you have taken to cement your power is an insult to the very foundations of the Empire you claim to serve!" Marr's words were cool and calm, but they rang with a furious power to Malgus. He sat once more, his golden eyes staring into the Dark Councillor's masked ones.

"You're not as foolish as I believed… The Empire is withering away. Soon it will be obliterated by decadence and antiquated ideals. Yet still you struggle to keep it from healing.

"Don't you see? Our survival demands a new Empire, tempered by alien alliances and strengthened by tolerance!"

"I am not blind to the Empire's weaknesses Malgus, but obliterating the Empire as we know it would leave us open to attack from the Republic- you are weakening the Empire!" For once, Marr's fury was made known as his voice rang with frustration.

Malgus didn't express any emotions as he said, "You are perceptive, but you still have much to learn." He rose.

"My stealth armada will destroy your fleet… and I will destroy you."

As the words left Malgus' mouth and were transmitted through the respirator, the entire station seemed to shake.

Malgus' head shot up to stare at the roof, as alarms started their wailing.

'WARNING: CRITICAL EXPOLSIONS DETECTED ON THE FOUNDRY LEVEL. GENERATORS MANUALLY OVERLOADED BY USER ID ARKIS WODE.'

Marr's blade sprung into his right hand and ignited upon impact. The Soldiers seemed to take this as their queue to attack, and fired upon the false Emperor.

In an instant, Malgus' Lightsaber leapt into his palm and created a circle of pure red, the blaster shots reflecting of it harmlessly.

"Enough!" Malgus announced, and gestured towards a computer of no apparent significance.

'EMERGENCY WARNING. POWER CORE OVERRIDES ENGAGED. SELF-DESTRUCT INITIATED.' Explosions sounded towards the sides of the throne room, and smoke started billowing into the air; the Soldiers, black as death and supposedly just as formidable, jumped back in either nervousness or fear.

In the comparative silence, Marr rang out, "Malgus the Betrayer, in the name of the Empire, I will end you!"

Malgus stared at Marr for a fraction of a second- and then jumped of the podium. The force with which he landed created cracks upon the floor.

"Die, or defeat me. Either way, the Empire is reborn."

"Life is the enemy Malgus… death is our solace."

Malgus ran, and as he reached the top of the steps, he strengthened himself with the Force, and leapt forward. Upon landing, his arms spread out, and a burst of energy that he had been preparing since Marr had entered the room burst from his fingers.

Darth Marr raised his blade and his active defences strengthened, but even a Sith as powerful as he was blown backwards. He landed upon his feet and again raised his blade, as the remains of his now near-liquefied companions rained down upon him, decorating the grey of his armour with specks of blood.

Marr raised his head from his crouched pose, and his eyes, hidden as they were, met those of Malgus. They stayed still for the fraction of a second- and they charged.

Their blades met.