I do not own Star Wars, or Endless Onslaught, by supremechancellor8991. I was given permission to make this. All credit goes to supremechancellor8991 for his tale, and also to Lucasfilms for making the Star Wars franchise. If you haven't read Endless Onslaught yet, then why are you still here? Go read it. Seriously. It's great.
Anyway, on with the tale.
1433ABY
Core worlds
Coruscant
Former kingdom of kings
"Once, this world supposedly was the seat of all galactic powers in history. A thriving Ecumenopolis that was home to hundreds of trillions of lifeforms, and a haven for the rich and the scum", said Ajax.
"And the rich scum", said the Kel Dor standing next to him, his mask gurgling his voice, "Where might you be going with this?"
"You already know where", said Ajax, as he pointed to the world around him, "Now, it... It's this."
"Yeah", said the Kel Dor, "I feel you."
"Mm", grunted Ajax, "What a waste."
Coruscant was no longer the great city world that it once was. Now, it was a wasteland. Sometime in the last few hundred years, the massive grid of air purifiers that kept the air of the mega city clean just turned off. No one knows how. No one definitely knows why. They just did. Without the air purifiers to keep the air clean, the pollution that the planet was constantly kicking up began to fill the atmosphere. The planet was suffocating in a matter of weeks. And, well, you can't exactly evacuate a planet of hundreds of trillions in just a few weeks, and so, the result was catastrophic. Only 23% of the planet was able to get off world before it became uninhabitable. The rest of the living populace choked to death on the smog. The Galactic Alliance gave up trying to count the dead long ago. There was just too many. The only things that could survive in this kind of environment were the droids, and now, it was confirmed by either the Galactic Alliance or the Fel Imperium that a few hundred of them had banded together and formed their own little community near the old Corusca Hall. They called it the 'Banded Community for the Survival of Coruscant Droids', or BCSCD, for short. It was a mouthful, and rather unoriginal, but they seemed to like it, so they stuck with it.
Ajax turned on the spotlights on his EVA suit, and began to have a curiosity look around him. The half Korun human was still surprised that GAIA (Galactic Alliance Intelligence Agency, by the way) allowed him to come down here, and take a look at the smog levels, though he really wasn't surprised that they had one of their agents- the Kel Dor- monitor and guard him, so he wouldn't do anything suspicious. Not that he was going to, but still, Ajay figured that they had a right to be suspicious.
Ajay reached down to his holographic reader, that dangled from his belt, and pulled it into view. Wiping away the dirt that had started to gather on his domed helmet, he pressed a sequence of buttons on the holographic display of the device, to which it then began to quietly beep.
"Are we almost done here?" impatiently asked the Kel Dor, quickly shaking himself off, creating a cloud of dust amidst the smog, "I can literally feel the dirt and gasses weighing me down."
"Almost", said Ajax. He would be lying if he said he wasn't a tad bit jealous of the Kel Dor species. Sure, Korunnai humans were highly tolerant to poisons, so that was cool, but that didn't mean that they could survive in the vacuum of freaking space without a stupid helmet on! Like the one he was wearing right now, to clarify.
Then, Ajay heard a familiar tune, and looked down to his reader to see a little green light flashing on one of the buttons on the metal piece of the device. Once more wiping the accumulating dirt off of his helmet, he pressed the flashing green button, and then a series of holographic numbers flashed before him, giving off a blue glow amidst the sickly yellow smog.
"Well? asked the Kel Dor, "What'd you find?"
"The atmosphere's cleaning up", said Ajax, almost giddy like.
"Huh? Sorry, what?"
"The atmosphere's cleaning up! It's- the planet's finally healing! I- I don't know how, but the Oxygen level's risen!"
"Wha- seriously! Did someone figure out how to turn on the air purifying grid, or something?"
"No, no no no no. There's not enough oxygen in the air for it to be the purifiers, and if it was, then you lot in the GA would've noticed."
"Oh, well i guess you have a- Wait. Not enough oxygen in the air? How much has the O2 level risen?"
"3.5%"
"...Errr-"
"If it keeps up at this rate, Coruscant will be habitable again in about 536 years!"
"...what?"
"If it keeps up at-"
"I heard you, I heard you. It's just that... 500 years?!"
"536 years."
"Don't be snarky with me!"
"No time for whit!" said Ajax as he turned around and began to walk back to the shuttle- a Star Commuter 7500, designated as ST75-DX/2649- with a spring in his step, "We've got history to write!"
Ajax giddily walked up the steps of the ramp, and onto the shuttle, but stopped in his place when he felt something in the force. Korunnai humans were all naturally linked to the force, and though he wasn't strong enough in it to lift stuff or control people's minds, like the tales of the Je'daii of old, Ajax could still sense the emotions of others, and their presences. And something was telling him in the force that the Kel Dor who had accompanied him was in a saddened state.
Ajax looked behind him, to the Kel Dor, to see that he had stopped in place, and was looking down. Ajax looked to where the Kel Dor was looking, and saw that in front of him, there was a decaying body, shrouded by the sickly yellow smog. It was an Ithorian, judging from the bone structure, though there was little flesh left. Most of the organic tissue must've rotten away by now, and been added to the smog, and the clothing was torn, stained, and rotten.
Ajax didn't really know what to say. What was he suppose to? He figured that he was a little insensitive to it all, so he was really unsure of what to do in these kinds of situations. However, it looked like the Kel Dor was saying something to the corpse. An eulogy, maybe? Ajax thought so, but didn't really want to ask, in fear of offending him in any way.
The Kel Dor eventually composed himself, and walked back up to the shuttle, and up the ramp.
"Come along! Chop chop!" chirped Ajax, trying to lift the mood, as he closed the ramp door, which automatically vented all of the poisoned air out of the shuttle, reactivated the oxygen tanks, and took off his helmet, shaking himself off. Muttering to himself that he'd clean it up later, he went off to the pilot seat, set the autonav computer, and began to take off through the smog and dirt, "We've got places to be!"
"What's the rush?" asked the Kel Dor.
"Oh, not much. I've just got a meeting to be at, and I can't be late!"
Core Worlds
Brentall IV
Capital of the Galactic Alliance
"Oh, for goodness sake, Chief Of State", went the hologram of a large, overweight man called Okord Plutt, Assemblyman of Ganthel, "Our shipyards running on less than sufficient funds-"
"You have more than enough funds, Assemblyman Plutt", responded Chief of State Ellie Rentana, who sat at her desk in the Assembly building, the lush blue walls and carpeting giving off a feel of comfort and security, "You only wish to raise taxes for your own personal wealth, and make more ships to show off to the Fel Imperium."
"Preposterous!" shot back Plutt, "If you were not aware, the threats from the Unknown Regions and the Outer Rim has never been higher in Galactic Alliance! The Alliance needs more funds for it's military, in order to stave off these threats!"
"I am well aware of the Unknown Regions and the dangers it poses", responded Rentana firmly, "As well as the ones from the Outer Rim. However, unlike those in the Assembly, I, like most others, am confident that we can deal with them, diplomatically and politically, as well as military wise. Unlike you claim to be."
"Claim to be!? Do feel free to explain."
"Don't use that tone of voice with me, Plutt. I know what your kind are like. Always seeking to increase your own wealth and power to satisfy your own greed. My family has been dealing with people like your for centuries, so don't think that I'm not aware of your political manoeuvrings", Rentana then got up from her simplistic swivel chair, and placed her hands on her desk as she leaned over, to look at the fat human's rounded face, "You're not the only one who can go toe to toe with the party line."
"Yes, I agree, the Galactic Alliance is at it's peak", said Assemblyman Plutt, "But it's not enough, for force's sake! Right now, we are at war-"
"With the Keepers of the Light and the Corporate Union. Yes, I am aware", retorted Rentana, "I am harshly reminded of it every time I need to write a letter telling a mother and father that their sons and daughters aren't coming back. But, do you know what we're doing. I'll tell you: We're winning. After 2 damn years of pointless bloodshed, we're winning, and now, you want to build more weapons of war, and further your own wealth!"
"For the safety of our Alliance!" harshly responded Plutt, "We don't know how many-"
"The Empire of the Hand, the Pineath, the Chiss Ascendancy, the Killiks, and several others. We've made peace with them, not with the sword, but with the pen. Our military is powerful, but so are our words. Our words, and our politics. Once this war is over, the galaxy will once again know peace, and I can't have people like you in the Assembly ruining those chances."
"...This isn't over, Chief of State", rasped Plutt, "There are those who will agree with me. Kuat, Rendili, the Five Brothers, to name a few. They'll support me. And when this war is over, I will-"
Rentana turned off the hologram as soon as he started making threats. He wasn't the first to make threats against her, and he definitely wouldn't be the last. She had little need for pointless threats at the moment. Right now, she needed to write at least 8 more letters to the families of the deceased, approve the bill to divert more funding to rebuilding efforts, and then she needed to-
A knock on the door interrupted her. Rentana beckoned whoever was outside to come in, and when the door slid open, and she could see who was outside her office, her frown changed to a warm smile. Her Secretary/Advisor/loving wife, Aisha Tano, stood outside, holding a few datapads, and wearing an inviting smile on her lips. She started off a conversation by asking, "Trouble in paradise, madam Chief of State?"
"Oh, of course not, Secretary and Advisor Tano", teased the Chief of State, "I was merely having a little chat with Assemblyman Plutt."
"And how did that go?" sarcastically asked Aisha. Neither she or her wife had any respect for the pompous Assemblyman. From all that they had seen of him, he, his equally overweight wife, and their bratty little daughters had been nothing but selfish, arrogant bastards whom cared only for themselves and themselves alone. If any of them had a heart attack from all of the fat that they had consumed, neither Aisha or Ellie would miss them.
"As well as one could expect", replied Ellie, as she stood up from her desk, and put her hand on her hip. At this point, Plutt's pointless attempts at increasing his own wealth had become rather predictable, and the lies that he used to cover it all up were see-through to the point of being none existent.
"He tried to get more money for himself", Aisha stated. Stated, not asked. In the 5 years that Ellie had been Chief Of State, and Aisha and the others had been part of her administration, she had become versed in the different motives and methods of many of the Assemblymen and women in the GA Assembly. Plutt was no exception.
Ellie neither confirmed, nor denied, "He's a fat, pompous bastard, who's only in it for himself."
"We've dealt with people like him before. Others have dealt with people like him before", said Aisha, as she put the datapads in her hands on the desk, and looked Ellie in the eyes, "If they could slog through people like that, then we sure as hell could."
"I know", smiled Ellie, before she looked to the datapads that had been added to her desk, walked around her desk, and picked one up, "I want to suspect this is bad news, but because of the recent spade of wins that'd we've had over the last year, I've been lulled into a sense of victory over our enemies and am always expecting good news to be what is given to me."
"Well, the good news Subtram ain't slowing down anytime soon", said Aisha with a grin, "Our secretary of defence and Chief Admiral just got word from Admiral Holst. The Corporate Union tried to attack Bastion."
"Bastion? As in-"
"The home world for the entire Fel Imperium? Yep. That Bastion. Not surprised to say, they got their asses whopped."
"Really?" asked Ellie, with a wide grin on her face.
"Yep again. The Corporate Union threw everything they had at the planet, and they lost big time. The GADF and the Imps then went over to the Tion Cluster, and completely flattened them. The Corporate Union is no longer a functioning state, and High Admiral Phara Pellaeon will be sending you a transmission on how to divide up the Union's assets, planets, and banks."
"Wow, this is- I need to make a speech about this, don't I?" giddily asked Ellie, already knowing her answer.
"Mm-hm", nodded Aisha.
"Oh, I could-" Ellie didn't even finished her sentence before she grabbed her wife's cheeks, and planted a kiss on her lips. They stayed like that for a single moment, though to them, it was a heavenly hour. When that moment ended, Ellie released the Togruta in front of her, and said, "I gotta call Kade. Tell him to set up a press conference."
"I was just about to say that", responded Aisha, a happy smile on her lips, as the lipstick stain from Ellie's own lips stayed on her own.
"Well come along then", said Ellie, as she grabbed Aisha's arm, and began to pull her along, out of the office, and into the small hall before them. However, as soon as she started, she stopped, and looked back to Aisha, "Wait, did Holst say if there were any survivors from the Corporate Union?"
"Um, no, ma'am. He said that the Union's allies just abandoned them, and they all fought to the last man."
Outer Rim
Tion Cluster
Lianna
Capital of the Corporate Union
"NO! WAIT! I SURRENDER! I-"
Mason gave the mercenary no chance. He shot the Nikto Union Merc point blank in the head, a blue blast of plasma burning through the merc's head. The merc slumped to the ground, joining the bodies of his squad around him.
"That was a tad bit uncalled for", said Caleb, who stood next to Mason.
The GADF trooper looked at the 42nd Battalion FI Stormtrooper, and said, "I've seen what these people had done over the war. Looting and killing civilians. Raping men and women alike. Destruction of civilian and military instillations. These people didn't show mercy to anyone. Why should we to them?"
"...'K, I'll give you that one", said Caleb. He then looked over the ruins of the ecumenopolis around him, seeing the downed Union AT-BE- an ancient war machine by modern standards- next to the 2, and sighed, "We've got a lot of rebuilding to do once this war is over."
"Let's not get carried away, just yet", went Mason, as he looked to the horizon, "The fight's not over yet."
He pointed to the horizon, and Caleb looked to see that there was still Union AA fire ravaging GA and Imperial air power. Ancient T-70 and T-85 X-Wings danced in the sky against TIE V5 Harrower and Predator fighters and Z-140 R-Wings and T-208 X-Wings, and several Galactic Alliance Redemption-Class Frigates flew next to a Fel Imperium Ascendancy-Class Star Destroyer, which itself was battling an ancient Presidential-Class Star Destroyer, with blue and green plasma blasts from the Alliance and Imperials flying against red beams of energy, in a symphony of colour and fire.
"Hm. Guess so", replied Caleb, as he put his white helmet back on, and started casually jogging to the battle, his blaster holstered to his belt, clanking on his armour as he jogged. Mason followed him at a steady pace, his blaster rifle in hand, and at the ready, in case of any more distractions.
Such readiness would be justified, when the 2 stopped in place, seeing a damaged AT-M6, in Union green and brown, march down the road, along with several squads of Union mercenaries, and at least 4 Mobile Assault Walkers, whom looked to be retreating from the battle. The Union forces noticed them, as they trained their old E-11s and F-11Ds on the pair, and the gargantuan walker trained it's cannons on them. The damaged Walker began to charge up it's weapons, emitting a loud humming noise, and the mercenary squads and one man walkers began to march on Caleb and Mason's position.
"Huh", said Caleb, "We might need bigger guns."
"Very true", replied Mason, as the 2 then ran back to the fallen AT-BE, and took cover in the damaged hide of the walker, grave robbing the dead for their guns and grenades.
Caleb then reached for his comm link, and dialled a sequence of buttons, to which the device beeped for a second, before it went silent, and Caleb went, "Golden Krayt, this is Hunter X 2-1, how copy?"
"Solid copy, Hunter X 2-1? Sitrep, over?" went a voice on the other side.
"Golden Krayt, we've got Union forces moving on our position at grid RT1V5. I say again, we've got Union forces moving on our position at grid RT1V5. Requesting bombing run, over."
"Solid copy, Hunter X 2-1. Directing air support to your location. Be advised, will need you to mark position with beacon, over."
"Roger. Be advised, friendlies in the AO, over."
"Copy that. Out."
Caleb then placed his comm link back on his belt, and looked at Mason, "You got anything we could use as a beacon?"
"Er, I've got a flare", said Mason as he pulled out a thing stick, and presented it to the fellow soldier.
"Heh, works for me", responded Caleb as he took flare stick, and readied himself to move out, "You ready?"
"I was born ready."
"Cliché, but still, hell yeah."
The 2 soldiers then ran out of the downed walker, and began to run across the street, igniting the flare and chucking it into the middle of the street, before ducking behind a crashed Airbus for cover. The mercenaries saw them, and began to fire on their position, red plasma fire flying past them from their cover. One of the Mobile Assault Walkers ended up shooting a gas canister on an old Gain-211 patrol speeder, igniting it, and creating a fireball, sending shrapnel everywhere, and even sending a bit of shrapnel into the throat of one of the mercenaries, killing him.
Caleb and Mason responded to the gunfire by launching their own volley at them, chucking grenades at them, and throwing laser fire onto them. Mason was able to snipe one of the MAW pilots with his EL-70 heavy blaster rifle, while Caleb was able to cut several foot soldiers down with his FI-11B blaster rifle. Considering how most of the mercenaries working for the Corporate Union were untrained militiamen with outdated gear and vehicles, a few of them alone were hardly a threat. However, they made up for this in their numbers, which right now, they had the advantage in.
"It's a bit manic, isn't it?" casually asked Caleb, as he shot down another Union merc, while the AT-M6 fired it's MegaCaliber turbolaser near their position, destroying speeders and any mercenaries who were unfortunate enough to be in the blast's vicinity, as well as shaking the nearby buildings, shattering their windows, and sending glass raining down onto the ground.
"Yep", replied Mason, "Almost like-" he quickly stopped himself to aim his blaster up to behind him and headshot a Gran mercenary who had flanked them, "-Almost like the Battle of Coruscant."
"Hm?"
"You know, the Battle of Coruscant? Where 2 Je'daii went and rescued the Chief of State from the first Rebellion during the First Galactic Civil War?"
"Oh yeah, the Clone Wars", replied Caleb, as he chucked a grenade over to the mercenaries positions, killing 3 of them, "You know, there's actually a bit of evidence which contradicts what the few official records left."
"Really?"
"Yeah. There's proof that say's that both the Old Republic and the First Rebellion were being manipulated by a single guy."
"Really?" Mason said, now with more sarcasm. Never figured an Imperial to be a Clone Wars Truther.
Outer Rim
Zygerria
Throne world for the Zygerrian Slave Empire
Zygerria was burning.
Across the former Corporate Union fortress planet, slavers and slaves alike burned, as the planet cracked open, and fire engulfed the entire hemisphere. The very core of the planet became visible, and magma began to spew up to the surface, and swallow everything in it's path. The world became the literal incarnation of hell: a land of sinners, where they were scored and burned, tortured for their sins, their souls left to wander across the red hot world, forever in torture and torment.
Meanwhile, aboard the Galactic Alliance Valkyrie-Class Star Dreadnaught- a massive Mon Calamari ship, just over a third of the size of an ancient Super Star Dreadnaught- the Serinna, Vice Admiral Kaice, a Sullustian tactician, spoke in his native language, "{What the hell has just happened!? Someone get me a status report! NOW!}"
"We not sure yet, sir", said an Anx crew member, who stood next to him, "But I think the Corporate Union or the Keepers set off some kind of bomb in the core of the planet. The resulting blast might've triggered a cataclysm that... well, yeah."
"{Well, does it matter right now?}" sarcastically asked Kaice.
"Um, no sir."
"{Then get to your station and find out what just happened, man!}"
"Y-yes sir", said the crew member, who then ran back to his post.
"Must you be so hard on those under your command?"
Kaice turned around to see a elderly Human male in an high ranking officer's uniform behind him, and immediately stood to attention, "{Oh, um, Admiral Joyce, sir!}"
"Oh, at ease, Kaice", said Joyce, as he walked up to next to the Sullustian, looked out of the window, and sighed, "Damn. The hell is going on?"
"{Oh, that's what I was trying to find out, sir-}"
"And I appreciate that, Kaice, but you don't have to chastise your own men for just doing their jobs", softly, but firmly said Joyce.
"{I know, I know. It's just that... the Galaxy hasn't seen the destruction of an entire planet like this since the old Imperial Remnant used the Dark Reaper to destroy the Parchuverda System back during the Imperial Dark Ages.}"
The Imperial Dark Ages. It's a name given to the time period in galactic history between 24BBY and 30ABY, between the First Galactic Civil War, or the Clone Wars, and the Imperial Crisis, the war between the Imperial Remnant, the New Republic, and the 3rd Rebellion. During the Imperial Dark Ages, the Imperial Remnant used their Dark Reaper weapon to completely obliterate the Parchuverda System, which nowadays, had a space station called New Parchuverda orbiting the remains of the planet, housing what was left of the once great society. No one really knows what happened for the next 500 years after that, as there aren't really any reliable pieces of information left which can properly say. Some say that the New Republic won that war, some say it was the Imperial Remnant, some infer that it was the 3rd Rebellion that won the war, while a few adamantly say that the war ended with a draw, seeing as how the galaxy has their supposed successors today.
"I know, son", said Joyce in an attempt to comfort Kaice, "But we have to look at this practically. From what I've learnt, the Corporate Union has fallen apart, and is practically gone now, but the Keepers are still a dangerous threat. If the planet was deliberately destroyed, then this is either an act committed by Union remnants to deny us any intelligence, or by the Keepers for whatever reason. What matters now, is finding out what happened to the planet, and if there are any other planet destroying weapons out there that could inflict serious damage to any other worlds out there."
"{Hm. Yeah. Yeah. For sure}", said Kaice, who just leaned against the bridge glass, and gazed upon the planet sized fireball in front of him.
"Atta boy", said Joyce, who then turned to leave. Before he did, he drily commented, "Hey, if all else, most of the people down there were slavers. No one's exactly gonna miss them."
Kaice was too distracted gazing at the burning world to hear Joyce as he walked off. Nor did he hear the admiral talking to a black ops team and a demolitions expert...
Outer Rim
Dantooine
Old Sterling City
Rai was not having a good day.
"INCOMING!"
Case in point.
As a mortar shell impacted with the ground next to them, sending 3 212th men flying, Rai just sighed to himself, and went back to manning his turret, and spraying blue laser fire across the already ruined cityscape at the Keepers of the Light's forces. After a few moments, he felt someone grab his shoulder. Thinking it was his fellow gunner next to him, Rai turned around, only to see that it was his commander, FISL-4983, or Storm Lieutenant Voss Cracken, though he could only tell through his helmet's HUD. He then yelled through his helmet, and through the explosions and laser fire, "Gunnery Sergeant Rai! I need you to lay down covering fire on that building over at bearing 159! We've got Hand Demolition troops moving in, and they need covering fire!"
"Yes sir!" yelled back Rai, as he turned back to his turret, turned it to the right position, and began spraying fire at the Keepers that were there, "COME AND GET ME YOU FUCKING SAVAGES!"
His fellow gunner next to him, Ay'e'nathrilokole, or 'Ayena' for short- a Chiss and gunner for the Fel Imperium's allies, the Empire of the Hand- lifted up her protective helmet, revealing her blue skin and red eyed face, and spoke in Sy Bisti, "{I believe the saying that you use is 'Calling the kettle black'.}"
"Oi, I'm not in the mood for your snark, Ayena", retorted Rai, as he continued to spray fire down on the Keepers' position.
"{Gunnery Sergeant Rai, do not just spray laser fire onto the enemy. Instead, use precision, and pick your targets}", calmly said Ayena, firing off 3 blasts from her turret, picking off one Keeper soldier, then another 3 blasts at another, and then another 3 blasts at another, proving her point.
"Hey, aiming is hard, okay?"
"{Really? After this battle, we could go to the firing range in one of the-}"
"That was a joke. I was joking."
"{Oh.}"
"Yeah."
"{It was not a good joke.}"
"Sod off."
"{I cannot. This is my designated-}"
Their mid battle conversation was interrupted by a Keeper mortar impacting with the ground near their position, sending shrapnel, dust, and rock near their position. The 2 received little punishment from the blast, since they were at an elevated position, but they did hear someone screaming out in pain.
"Well, I've seen better days", drily said Rai.
"{We cannot move up with those mortars targeting us.}"
"We'd need our air to take them out."
"{Not with that line of anti air.}"
A few hundred yards in front of them, through the smoke and fire, there was a line of Keeper anti air cannons and artillery, that shot down any Hand or Imperial fighters that tried to shell their position, with several mortar positions another hundred yards behind them, shelling the Imperial and Hand joint forces. The higher ups had considered orbital bombardment of the location, but that was not on the table, considering the fact that the old city had become a refuge for civilians, refugees, and the homeless, meaning that there still could be civilians inside the city. They would have to take it back the hard way.
"How the hell are we suppose to break through that line?" hastily queried Rai.
"{I am not sure}", said Ayena, "{Though I suspect the commanders have a plan.}"
"You think so?"
Suddenly, the bottom floor of a massive, burnt out skyscraper near the Keepers' triple A line erupted into flames. The building began to shake, and then, it began to topple over. It fell onto the enemy triple A line, crushing it, and causing a chain reaction which lead to a huge explosion, detonating the unexploded ordnance from the Keepers' triple A line, completely destroying anything near it's vicinity. The buildings around it shook, and Rai and Ayena had to hold on to the wall around them just to stay standing up as the shock wave hit them, while another skyscraper near it, already weakened by years of neglect and damage, collapsed into a cloud of fire, dust, smoke, and debris.
"...Are we dead?" asked Rai, as a thin cloud of smoke began to envelop his position.
"{I do not believe so}", replied Ayena, "{I am quite confident that we are still alive}", then, a quiet, but increasing, whistling could be heard, "{But I am not sure for how long.}"
The 2 gunners looked up, to see 3 of Keeper Fyrefly fighters soaring down, baring down on their position. Unlike the Corporate Union, which used mostly salvaged old tech, mostly from before the days of the Galactic Alliance and the Fel Imperium, the Keepers made their own equipment, from starships to uniforms to fighter craft. And now, 3 of those crafts looked to be on a strafing run, and were going to kill even more of Rai's brothers in arms.
Rai aimed his turret up at the Fyreflies, and began to spray laser fire at them, in a futile attempt to shoot them down. He assumed that he would hear Ayena calmly say that it wouldn't work, and that they would need to retreat to a safer location, but he didn't. Maybe she did say, but he just didn't hear her. He didn't care. Maybe, if he got a lucky shot, at least one of them would-
[KA-BOOM]
Eh?
One of the Fyreflies erupted into a ball of flames, shattering into a million pieces, and tumbling into the battleground below. Then, green laser blasts began to tear into the other 2 Keeper fighters, shredding them, and causing them to detonate.
Rai was confused as to what was happening, until he saw a pair of Nissis-Class Clawcrafts- Starfighters belonging to the Empire of the Hand, which crossed Chiss technology with tech from the old Imperial Remnant- soar across the battlefield, using their position targeting systems to destroy the Keepers' mortar positions, and clear the way for the joint ground forces to move up. Rai figured that with all of the AA fire from the Keepers' triple A line gone, the joint forces fighters could now get through without any hassle, and give the joint forces some air support at last.
Rai looked to Ayena, feeling almost disappointed, "Huh. So much for 'Do not go gentle'."
"{Live to fight another day, Gunnery Sergeant Rai}", calmly, as always, responded Ayena, as she detached her turret from it's fixed position, and lifted it up.
"Yeah, I know", said Rai, as he did the same, and held his turret like a rotary blaster, "Let's finish this."
Deep Core
Typhon
Birthplace of the Je'daii order
"I suppose you are all wondering why I called you here", said Juine Takari, a male human with medium, wispy white hair, as he looked to the dozens of people before him. Most of the people here, like himself, were force sensitive to some degree, apart from the Kel Dor, who had come along with the late arrival, known archaeologist and explorer, the half Korun human Ajax Aphra, as well as a few of the parents of force sensitive children who had been called as well.
"Uh, because we've all got magical powers, or something?" asked a Falleen female, whom Juine knew was called Xara Zemetris. Juine had taken his time in researching every single one of the people whom he had called to Typhon, before actually sending the message out, so he now knew the names of every single person that was gathered at the steps of the old temple of the ancient Je'daii order.
"No, it's because we've all got push powers", said a Xento male, called Cavari Nacovaw.
"You mean Force powers", said a Kage female called Colman Sharde, whom was herself a prominent Kage Warrior in the Inner Rim.
"Those too."
"I can make stuff float", said a Caamasi male called Ragnarr Ko'Voll, whom was the planetary leader of the Caamasi home world, "Just thought I'd let everyone know."
A Wookiee male, called Rahgarrah, let out a short series of loud growls in response, which was actually one of the 3 languages of the Wookiees, being Shyriiwook
"Very true. Very true indeed", said a Zeltron female called Veego Ratare, who preached that her profession was a 'free lance privateer', even though anyone could tell that she was just a mercenary with an ego.
Fearing a derailment from the original topic, Juine continued from with what he was saying, "I've called you all here today, because something is coming. Because I felt something. Something in the force. A new threat to the galaxy. Something more powerful than the Keepers, the Corporate Union, and even the Galactic Alliance and the Fel Imperium. And if I felt it, I'm sure you all did too."
There was a cold silence as Juine finished his sentence, a quiet shroud falling on those before him. While the non force sensitives looked on in confusion and intrigue, all those whom felt the force looked to the ground in darkened silence. Juine could sense their worry. Their fear. They had sensed it too. So Juine had been correct in his statement.
"Something is coming", said Juine, "Or rather, something is already here, in the galaxy. A new enemy is rising. Something more powerful than the Yuuzhan Vong, or the Fel Imperium, or maybe even anything the galaxy has even encountered before. And if that threat rises, then everything that we have, now, and in the future, will be taken away, and destroyed before our very eyes."
"What's the point of all of this?" asked a Twi'lek female, called Drey Ranzar.
Juine let out a quiet sigh, before continuing, "In the times of both old Republics, the Je'daii order of old protected the galaxy from all manner of threats. The Dark Je'daii, the First Rebellion, the Separatist Syndicate, the Imperial Remnant, to name a few."
"I know where this is going", muttered a half human and half Devaronian female called Remeeres Mors.
"Now, we must follow in their footsteps. Rebuild their legacy. I am proposing that all of us here join together, and-"
"No."
"Huh?"
The elderly Juine looked to the origin of the sound, and saw that it was a human woman from Akiva called Mare Wexley, whom was clinging on to the hand of her 3 year old son, Cayne Wexley, with her husband, Marten Wexley, staying close to their child, and an ancient B1 Battle Droid made by the First Rebellion over a millennia ago, whom the Wexleys had called 'Mister Bones'. Mare then said, "No. Just... Just no. I'm not giving up my son to a cult of magic using demigod wannabes!"
"Miss Wexley", began Juine, "Please-"
"I read about the Je'daii. How they kidnapped children from their families. How they brainwashed them into becoming child soldiers, and sending them off to die in their wars. How their arrogance and selfishness got their order wiped out twice. TWICE!"
Juine began to approach Mare, "Miss Wexley, just listen to my-"
"No! No! Hell no! I'm not giving you my child! He's only 3 years old, for God's sake!"
Juine stopped in place, "But Miss-"
"I suggest you back off", stepped in Marten, "Because this can ever go 2 ways: 1, we send the blood thirsty, bone breaking killing machine after you, or 2, we send Mister Bones after you."
"ROGER ROGER. VERY GOOD JOKE, MASTER TEMMIN'S MANY GREAT GRANDCHILD", said the black and red droid in what could only be considered glee. At least, for a monotone droid, "YOU WERE REFERING TO THE FACT THAT MASTER TEMMIN'S MANY GREAT STEP-GRANDCHILD LIKES VIOLENCE LIKE ME WHEN CONCERNING MASTER TEMMIN'S MANY MORE GREAT GRANDCHILD. I LIKE VIOLENCE. MAY WE PREFORM VIOLENCE TOGETHER?"
"Maybe in a bit, Bones", coolly said Marten, not even breaking a sweat, "Maybe if this guy tries anything, you'll get your fill."
"ROGER ROGER. I CAN PREFORM VIOLENCE. MASTER TEMMIN'S MANY GREAT STEP-GRANDCHILD AND I CAN PREFORM VIOLENCE TOGETHER. WE CAN RIP THE BONES OUT OF THIS UNKNOWN MEATBAG AND FORCE FEED THEM TO HIM AND TURN HIM INTO A RED PASTE WHILE SINGING 'SHINE ON ME' BY CARA DE-DERERO. IT WILL BE FUN."
"Well, that sound's like a lovely idea, Bones", said Mare.
Juine was smart enough to know that the discussion was over now, and took a cautious step back.
"Guys, I'm scared", said a Duros male called Lamser Brax, obviously referring to the murder bot and it's owners.
"Dude, we're all scared", muttered Cavari in response.
"Well", said Veego as she stood up, "As much as the scary people and their pet killer droid make me want to soil myself, I'm gonna have to ditch on your little magic boyband that you're setting up."
Juine looked at her, and began, "Wha- but-"
"Dude, I've got a life", began Veego, as she adjusted her goggles on her head, "I'm getting good money as a Privateer. I've got a husband and wife waiting for me back home, and said wife is a month into pregnancy. I'll admit, it's not exactly 5 star, but it's my life, and I'm happy with it. But now, you, some weirdo who I've never met, wants me to drop everything and run off and fight some 'threat' who almost everyone here only knows exists through a weird waking dream, or something. I'm not just going to sever my ties and join up with a fan club for a dead cult."
"Did she say that she's got a husband and wife?" muttered one of the people there to another.
"Huh, I always though polygamist relationships were only allowed for Cereans", muttered another.
"I'm out of here", said Veego, as she began to walk down the steps, and to the array of parked ships in front of the abandoned temple.
"But", began Juine, "What about-"
"The 'threat'? If something which you said is true, run and hide. If it's real, I ain't fighting it, 'cause, unlike you apparently, I like living."
As she walked down the large steps, others began to follow. First, it was the Wexleys, and the other families, and then, it was the other individuals. After a minute, almost everyone had left Juine, and were now walking down the steps of the ancient temple, and were boarding their ships, and going home. Ragnarr Ko'Voll was the only one who was still standing with Juine, and even he wasn't planning on staying. He looked at Juine, and said, "They're right. The old Je'daii orders fell apart, and there hasn't been a proper force order in centuries. If there really is an evil so powerful that it would... I don't know, something stereotypically evil, then it's probably safer for us force users to bunker down, and just wait it out. Plus, you know, I've got a planet to run, and all."
"You would let evil soar it's flag into the heavens?" queried Juine.
"It's not a problem if you don't look up."
"Bu-"
"Like I said, stranger, there hasn't been a force order in centuries. Maybe even a millennia", said Ragnarr, as he began his own descent down the steps, leaving Juine to wallow in his loneliness, "Maybe it's for the best."
Core Worlds
Chandrila
Nina Sella University
Home to the great minds of the next generation
"So", said well known Professor Megi'na Eroto to her class, as she stood in front of the many students that sat in her lecture hall, with a large whiteboard behind her, and a pen in her left hand, "Beyond the fact that the Imperial Dark Ages existed. What do we know about it? Answer, hardly enough, as the few records of that age, as well as the next 500 years, are either vague, or non existent at all. So, tell me, what do we know specifically?"
"Oh", went a student- a Twi'lek transsexual female called Temi Yarra- as she put her hand up, "There were at least 4 major civil wars during the age."
"Correct", said Professor Eroto, as she began to write on the board behind her, "Who were the main combatants in those wars, Ms Yarra?"
"Oh, um", went Temi, "The first was between the Old Republic and the First Rebellion. The second was between the First Empire and the Separatist Syndicate. Third was between the New Republic and the second Rebellion, and the fourth was between the New Republic, the third Rebellion, and the Imperial Remnant."
"Well, reports about the 4 wars were sketchy and unreliable, but that was been generally agreed on, so I'll give you that one", said Professor Eroto, as she finished writing on the whiteboard, and turned back to the students sitting in the hall, "Now, why were these wars fought?"
An uncomfortable silence entered the room. No one knew the answer.
"Ah, I take it the silence means that no one knows", said Professor Eroto, "Well, from the few records that exist that inform us about that era, most scholars and fellow professors can agree that these wars were fought in such a short amount of time due to the constantly changing and volatile politics and economical and social climates. However, there are those out there, calling themselves 'Clone Wars Truthers', who say that all of these wars were fought because of a single or a small grouping of individuals who were manipulating both sides into gaining more power for themselves."
"That doesn't seem possible", said a human student.
"Yes, I am aware. However, since we are here today to examine this particular era, and try to weave a narrative out of the ever changing political climate out of this age, as well as the constant wars that plagued it, we must look at all sides of the argument. Now, I'm not a Clone Wars Truther, let me assure you. I am merely suggesting to see things from their perspective. So, now, let's see things from their perspective. Who are the leaders of the various main governments that we know of who existed during this era? Those whom we know off are Mon Mothra, Serinna Vilantis, Petar Casterof, somebody called Irisonos, Leia Starkiller, and Ray Sloane. Whoever this Mon Mothra was, it is widely believed that he or she lead the Old Republic during the few years between the first and second civil wars, before she was killed and someone else took over the Old Republic and remade it into the First Empire."
"Who ruled the First Empire?" asked Temi, with a look of genuine interest on her face.
"No one knows, although it is suspected that this Serinna lady, along with a cabal of selected others ruled it, before Serinna took over and created the New Republic."
"{The Clone Wars Truthers' theory}", said a Rodian in his native language.
"Well, it's just that. A theory. There's no real evidence to support it. So, back on track. The third civil war then started, between Serinna's New Republic and the second rebellion, and since the New Republic still existed till the fourth war, and this Serinna woman is reported to have still lived to this time, it is safe to assume that the New Republic won that war. However, this war must've been bloody, as during the conflict, the Imperial Remnant supposedly used a weapon called the Dark Reaper to destroy an entire sector, namely the Parchuverda sector, and, the ancient order known as the Je'daii order was wiped out during this war, only to rebuild itself again under the service of the New Republic. Anyway, after a few more years, it is said that Serinna was removed from power, and she was then replaced by 2 others leaders. Petar Casterof, and then someone called Irisonos. It is said that their stints as rulers was brief and uneventful, until they were replaced with Leia Starkiller, a member of the ancient Je'daii order, and twin to another Je'daii, called Mark Skywalker. It is actually rumoured that this Mark and Leia had a bit of a thing going on with each other, even though Leia was supposedly married."
"""""Ew."""""
"Yes, yes, it is gross. I completely agree. Now, what happened next is sparse, and sketchy. It is said that with Leia's tenure as leader, the New Republic was split. First between 2 factions, the Populists, and the Centralists, and then, during the second half of her leadership, she made a third faction, called the reformists, who would then become the third Rebellion. Then... no one knows."
"Er, what does that mean?" asked a Kaleesh student.
"Well, I should elaborate. There are a few details that people can agree on, but this small period of time, no one really knows. It is widely agreed that Leia Starkiller was removed from power by Ray Sloane, who took over herself. It is then agreed that the third Rebellion were ousted from the New Republic themselves, and were forced to become their own independent faction. And it is also agreed that the Imperial Remnant had reorganised themselves, and began a bloody war against both the Republic and the Rebellion, known as the Imperial Crisis. But, other than that, no one has any clue what happened. And it's no different for the next following 500 years. In fact, it's even worse. No one at all has any clue what happened during that time period. There are hardly any records that survived that period, and the very few that have are all contradictory of one another. One record says that the New Republic won the war, and continued to prosper, until it's collapse. One says that the Imperial Remnant won, and ruled over the galaxy until another Rebellion rose up and became the next galactic government. Another record says that the third Rebellion won the war, beat back the Imperial Remnant, and reformed the New Republic. However, one significant record says that neither side won the war, and the conflict was fought to a bloody draw."
"Well, that seems the most realistic", said a Harch student.
"What's that mean?" asked a Muun student.
The Harch student let out a short series of clicking noises from his mouth, before saying, "Look to the state of the galaxy now. We've got the Galactic Alliance- possibly a descendant of this New Republic government- and the Fel Imperium- most likely a descendant of this Old Empire- existing together in the galaxy. The Alliance in the core and colonies, and the Imperium in the Outer Rim. If these 2 governments- again, most likely descendants of these other governments of all- are coexisting together in the galaxy, about 1400 years after the Imperial Dark Age, then wouldn't it make sense to entertain the notion that this war was fought to a draw between all sides?"
"Well, that makes sense."
"Exactly."
A Sephi student raised her hand, and asked, "What about the third Rebellion? What happened to them?"
"No one knows", continued Professor Eroto, "Like the Je'daii order, no one knows. The fact that the galaxy hardly remembers them should say something about their impact of the galaxy, so it is widely believed by scholars who research into this era that the third Rebellion may have contributed almost nothing to the Imperial Crisis, meaning that they might've been killing people for no reason other than to kill people."
"Oh."
"Yes. Oh, indeed."
"So, where does that leave us?" asked an Arkanian Offshoot student.
"Well, it leaves us with hardly any information about the Imperial Dark Ages, both with what happened, and the people who ran it. We have no idea who the people who lead the various changing governments, or their motivations, or their methods. We're in the dark more about this era and the next half a millennia, than every other period of history. But what we are here to do today, is to take what we do know, and then to fill in the blanks. We shall work together, and create a story from all that we do know, and that story, will be the truth."
A few students looked to each other with confused glances. No one had any idea what their professor just said.
"Hm. Let's get to work."
Outer Rim
Bastion
Capital of the Fel Imperium
"You ruin the name of the Sith! Disgrace it with your filth! Your dirt and muck! You trample over my life, and then you-"
"Mock you? Yes, well, you deserve it, Vindys", said the armoured figure to the crimson force ghost of Darth Vindys, "After all, you were always a pathetic little weakling."
"How dare you! I was all powerful! I had it all!"
"No you didn't. You threw it all away. When Zaoku over there didn't let you have your way, you threw a temper tantrum and charged at the capital of the Republic, hoping to take over with a few dozen knockoffs, thinking that you'd somehow win. Honestly, did you really think that the Republic wouldn't steamroll you almost immediately? Did you really think they'd just throw down their guns and laser swords and say 'Oh no, he's got a bunch of politicians hostage. Guess we have to give up now'?"
"I had a plan!"
"You had a cowardly little assistant and a bunch of acolyte wannabe clones, fresh out the box. You're not a master planner, you're an idiot."
"How-"
The armoured figure closed the Sith holocron, sealing Vindys' spirit away in the glowing red triangular object. Slowly, with a sadistic smile on his face behind his helmet, the armoured figure began to apply pressure onto the object. The figure knew that with a force spirit trapped inside a holocron of any kind, it there was pressure of any kind applied to it, it would cause the spirit great pain. However, the figure also knew that the only way to release a spirit from a holocron was to destroy it, thereby releasing the spirit to the afterlife, so the figure stopped squeezing on the fragile object, and put it back down on the floor of his chamber. He could practically hear Vindys screaming out in pain to be released from his eternal torment. The armoured figure was sure that, in due time, Vindys would come to relish the pain, seeing as it was the only thing that he could ever feel. Then, and only then, would the armoured figure never touch the holocron, and leave Vindys to his own personal madness. It would be quite entertaining to watch.
"You enjoy his pain?", said the blood red force ghost of Zaoku. Next to him, the Sith force ghost of Palpatine floated above the ground, a hole in his chest, and a black mass where his hands should be.
"Of course, Zaoku", said the armoured figure, "It's entertaining to watch."
"Good, good", said the ghost of Palpatine, his face wrinkled, and his eyes dancing with madness, "Use your-"
"Silence yourself, Palpatine", said the armoured figure as he stood up, and looked at the ghosts, "You are a mad raving ghost who is long dead and forgotten. I shall no the told what to do by the likes of a forgotten insect."
"No no no no no no no no. I shall not be forgotten! I am Darth Sidious! I am the one true Lord of the Sith!"
"The Sith are dead", said the armoured figure, enjoying the sight of the Sith Lord's madness and torment, "They died with Zaoku. Your legacy is dead, as is the Jedi's. You're forgotten, and no one will ever remember you."
"No! NO! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO-"
The armoured figure forcefully closed Palpatine's holocron, and threw it across the room, hitting the wall, and then falling to the ground with a thud. The armoured figure chuckled, but then was brought out of his moment of satisfaction by Zaoku, "You mock me. You mock the Jedi and the Sith."
"Yeah, I do, because you deserve it. You were all narrow minded fools who thought that you had the force nailed down, with your stupid philosophies and practises. 'Dark side', 'Light side', you were so eager to paint things as just black and white, that you all never had the balls to look at the bigger picture, and accept that both sides were right and wrong at the same time."
"Let me teach you", said Zaoku, "There is much you can-"
"Learn?! Don't make me laugh. There's a reason I'm here and you're not: Because I'm smarter than you. I always have been. I knew that to achieve one's goals, one had to look at the force as a whole, and not as the narrow minded ways of the Jedi and Sith. And now, because of that, I have it all."
"I had it all, too."
"Yes, but unlike you, I'm not going to waste it. Do you know why? Answer: I'm going to give the galaxy what it wants. Peace. Security. The things you never did."
"And still, you will lose it all."
"Hah. Please."
"I know you, boy. You're just like me."
"We are nothing alike. I'm going to win. You lost, like the rest of your kind."
"Oh, but on the contrary, we are everything alike. You have power, like I once did. You are a ruler, like I once was. And you believe that you are superior to everyone else, like I once did."
"I am superior to everyone else. I didn't make it through over a millennia just surviving on luck-"
"I'm not done. You have an empire at your feet, like I once did. However, I will admit, there is one significant difference between us. Do you know what that is? Let me tell you: It's your motivations."
"..."
"You are weak. A blithering mess of emotions and self loathing. Your emotions rule you like gods, and your mind is nothing but a shamble of madness and hate. And to top it all off, your entire reasoning for doing all of this is laughable."
"Shut... Up..."
"You are pathetic! You are a coward that hides behind a suit of armour, because you are weak, and completely useless! Your entire life's goals are hiding away in the shadows, and crying yourself to sleep over all of the mean people doing all of the mean things! I hid in the shadows, yes, but at least I had a plan! At least I wasn't going to hide away forever like a weak little coward!"
"Shut. Up."
"And deep down, you just wish that a girl from millennia ago had loved you..."
"SHUT UP!" yelled the armoured figure, as he used the force to pull his light-cross to him. It was an elongated hilt, that was half the size of his body, and was also collapsible. It was made out of a mixture of cortosis metal and Mandalorian iron, and each end of it had a spike that was stained red with rust and dried blood. The armoured figure pressed down on the pressure pads on his staff, and the crimson red blades ignited. The end facing to his front birthed a single blade, glowing red with rage, but the end facing to his behind, there were 3 angry red blades in a cross guard formation, humming with power. If one were to put it lightly, it was either a weapon made to look like the cross of some ancient God...
Or his equal in the devil.
The armoured figure began to slash his light-cross at the ghost of Zaoku in anger, hoping to somehow banish the spirit, and be rid of it, while inadvertently slashing up his small chamber, leaving burning hot slashes and cuts across the walls and floor. The armoured figure then screamed, "I'LL SHOW YOU! I'LL SHOW YOU ALL THAT I'M STRONG! THAT I'M RIGHTOUS! THAT I AM THE ONE IN THE RIGHT! THAT I SHOULD'VE BEEN THE ONE TO HAVE HER IN THE FIRST DAMN PLACE! I WILL FUCKING SHOW YOU ALL!"
The armoured figure then ceased his violent outburst, and began to huff underneath his helmet. Looking up, the armoured figure could see that the spirit of Zaoku was gone. Good. He really hated that Sith. One of these days, he would find Zaoku's resting place, and spit on his grave. He was the one Sith spirit that he didn't have in a holocron, and right now, he had no way of tormenting the Sith ghost. However, in due time, Zaoku would find his way into a holocron, and join with every other Sith spirit that had ever existed, whom were now in their prisons.
The armoured figure then looked to a mirror that he had in his room, which had been saved from his outburst. He looked in the mirror, and examined his reflection. The armoured figure's suit of armour was bulky, and black and red all over. The armoured figure wore a jet black helmet on his head, with 2 glowing red slits where the eyes should be. Across the armoured figure's body, there were many glowing red lines, and wirings and tubing that danced across the armour plating. Between the armour plating, there was what looked like organic puss, that had hardened to form a flexible glove that protected the weak points in the armour, and armour was also crowded with slashes and burns. A few of these slashes and cuts lived on the wrists of the armoured figure's wrists, though he didn't really like talking about those.
The armoured figure then looked to a little box on a shelf, and opened it with the force. Pulling the object out of the box, and force pulling it towards him, the armoured figure slumped to the ground, and curled himself into a ball, while holding the object in question.
An Akul-tooth headdress.
"Oh, Ahsoka", mourned the armoured figure, with a tone of sadness and regret in his voice, "Why didn't you just stay away? Why couldn't you have just let Barriss' damage be done, and stay away. You could've been safe that way. We could've been together, that way. No Clone Wars, no Lux, no Jedi, no Sith, no nothing. Just you and I, together forever..."
"This isn't what she would've wanted."
The armoured figure knew that voice.
"How would you know, Vakara? You never even spoke to her. You didn't know her. I did. I knew her when we were both brought into the Jedi Order when we were fucking babies for god's sake! I knew her when we were put in the same clan, and trained together!"
"And you fell in love with her."
"Is that an accusation, or a statement?" the armoured figure looked to the sound of Vakara's voice, to see a glowing white image of the spirit of Vakara, with pale skin, glowing green eyes, pure white robes, and a grey circle in her chest. The armoured figure then continued, "Yeah, I fell in love with her. Of course I did. Guess the Jedi didn't do a good enough job of brainwashing me into a mindless machine, did they?"
"I'm sure that they-"
"What? Didn't view me as a machine? Didn't think that I wasn't going to object to the absolute dogma and spiritual bollocks that they'd try to shove down my throat? Yeah, great people. I'm sure that they deserved a medal for surrogate parenting."
"..."
"Yeah, you understand what I'm saying. You knew what it was like to love. You knew that the Jedi were wrong in trying to block it out. Hell, you started the New Sith Order in order to express love, and all of the other emotions that you wanted to, whenever you wanted to."
"That's... not entirely true."
"Yeah, probably", said the armoured figure as he got up, still looking at the spirit of Vakara, "But still, you knew that the Jedi Order was wrong. That it was corrupt and weak. Just like me. Right now, the only difference between us is that I stuck around a bit longer, because unlike you, I had no one to take me anywhere, and nowhere to go", Vakara didn't say anything, so the armoured figure continued his rant, "You were the lucky one. You had Zaoku to run away with. To give you a home. Me? The Jedi took me away from the person that I loved, and tossed me with Pong Krell as my Master. Pong fucking Krell! I'm sure you can tell how that went! When he died, I did a happy dance, and ran away. I finally had the balls to leave that cult of sadist morons."
"You should've gone back. Tried to tell the Jedi Council-"
"What would they have done? Hm? What. Would. They. Have. Done. Listen to a flimsy former Padawan, who's master was a psychopathic traitor? Yeah, they had a great track record of listening to their students. They sure listened to Ahsoka when she was framed for terrorism, didn't they? Oh please, I thought you were the smart one, for god's sake."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
"Like I said before, this isn't what Ahsoka would want. Ruling the galaxy through tyranny? Ahsoka wouldn't love you. She'd fight you till the end. We gave our lives fighting monsters who wanted to rule the galaxy."
"And now, look at you, Vakara. You're forgotten. Not even a myth, or a legend. The Knights of Vakara are a forgotten order of wannabe heroes and idiots, who tried to free the galaxy from a mean group of equally stupid idiots. You think I'm going to take advice from a has-been? No. You can go burn, for all I care", the armoured figure then turned to the door, and placed his hand on the door panel.
"You'll be forgotten too", said Vakara, "Just like Grievous, Snoke, and every other tyrant. Even Legends can die."
"...That is where you are wrong, Vakara", said the armoured figure, as he pressed a button on the door panel, opening the sliding door, and walked out of his chamber, "Because unlike them, I will not fail."
The armoured figure walked down the expansive grey hallways of the central tower of Bastion, deep within it's capital city. Around him, Stormtroopers, officers, and civilians alike, all loyal and obedient to the Fel Imperium, bowed to him, like subjects to their king, while members of the Royal Guard walked alongside him, their black and crimson armour shining and glistening against the light. The armoured figure remembered the days when the old monarchs of the Fel family would rule over them, with names like Jagged Fel, and Roan Fel hanging over all. Oh, how the armoured figure respected the Fel lineage, for their honour, and righteousness. However, the armoured figure still felt that he was in the right when he took the throne from Vaturi Fel. He was a fat, lazy, and incompetent ruler, who sought greed only for himself. Disgusting. Still, the armoured figure had been surprised when most of the Imperium supported him in overthrowing the fool. Sure, there had a few members who supported the old Emperor, but they had all been dealt with, now. What the armoured figure had found particularly amusing was how little he had to do. The people of the Imperium were practically begging for emancipation. All he had to do was walk in, and they all pretty much flocked to his feet.
That's the thing about being an opportunist: You always know when to find an opportunity.
Still, there were threats to his rule. The Corporate Union was done now, but the Keepers of the Light still remained a threat. And the Galactic Alliance... they would fall apart, by their own hands. Rentana was weak, and an incompetent leader. In due time, the GA Assembly would tear itself apart, and the Imperium could just walk in, and bring everyone into the fold. It would be the armoured figure's favourite kind of revolution: A bloodless one.
The armoured figure and his Royal Guard then reached a large door, which opened up, to reveal the expansive throne room of the Fel Empire. It was a large, circular room, and grey and red colours with towering pillars reaching up to the ceiling, and blood red lights scattered across the chamber. Across the edges of the room, members of the 501st legion- the most loyal soldier to the Fel Imperium, and the best of the best- stood guard of the throne room, in shining white and blue armour, with the most advanced weapons to date. In the middle of the room, there was a single throne, and a red cloth pathway that lead up to the chair. Across the sides of the red pathway, there were about a dozen Royal Guards on each side, all painted in crimson red and black, each one having a unique light weapon made by themselves, and having a strong connection to the force. Yet they weren't Jedi, or Sith. Like the last Sith Order, and the Knights of Vakara of old, they dabbled in both sides of the force, finding a balance within themselves, something that the armoured figure had yet to find himself. These Royal Guards weren't originally part of the Fel Imperium before the armoured figure took over. As a matter of fact, they had actually come with the armoured figure when he took the throne from Vaturi. The armoured figure had dubbed them all as the 'Children of the Ascended', and they were all fiercely loyal not to the Imperium, but to the armoured figure himself, and no other.
The armoured figure saw someone standing next to his throne, and noted that it was High Admiral Phara Pellaeon, the armoured figure's most trusted and loyal advisor, his second in command, and the leader of the Imperium's entire military. As the armoured figure sat on his throne, the admiral bowed, and then she spoke, "Emperor Corvix."
"High Admiral Pellaeon", said Emperor Corvix, "Tell me, how goes my Empire?"
Aaaaaaaaaaaand boom! A new era in the universe of Endless Onslaught begins!
Just to repeat myself, I don't own Endless Onslaught in any capacity. All rights to the story goes to supremechancellor8991. If you're reading this, mate, thanks a lot for letting me write this. If you want to use this in your own stories, well it's technically yours now, so who the hell am I to say? Do whatever you want, man! Don't let me say otherwise!
Anyways, with all that done and dusted, go read Endless Onslaught if you haven't done so already, and I'll be seeing you all later!
Titanmaster117 out!