Dromund Kaas: Imperial Control
The analyst squinted at her readout. Still there, and approaching fast. "Sir!" she called out to the officer standing in the center of the room, datapad in hand, "Anomaly detected!"
On nearly every other world within the Empire, this would be no cause for alarm. As far as the Empire's reach was, it was incapable to detecting every single movement.
But this was Dromund Kaas.
This was the heart of the Sith Empire. This was where the Dark Council convened. This was where the headquarters of Imperial Intelligence were located. This was where the richest, the most influential and the most powerful beings in the galaxy congregated. Nothing happened without the Sith, Intelligence, or the Armada knowing about it. Anomalies simply didn't exist on Dromund Kaas.
Until now it seemed.
An officer strode over, her face betraying nothing. "What do you have?" She asked.
The analyst pointed toward her screen which displayed the sector of space she observed. "Approximately three minutes ago there was a disturbance, much like when a ship drops out of hyperspace. I didn't remember any ships scheduled to arrive in this sector and checked the schedule."
"And?" the officer prompted.
The analyst shrugged, "Nothing outside of standard supply drops, and none of those were scheduled for the specific entry point. Regardless, when I went to check on the disturbance, it had vanished."
"So it wasn't a ship then." The officer stated, relaxing slightly.
"Unlikely," the analyst answered carefully, "it could be cloaked, but it takes at least a few minutes before even out best cloaking generators start working."
"Where is it now?" the officer asked, leaning over to look at the screen.
"I believe it is here," the analyst pointed to a section of the screen, the part that was slightly more illuminated than the rest of the display.
"How are you tracking it?"
"It's giving off a small heat signature, normally associated with engine propulsion."
The officer nodded slowly, bringing her hand up to her chin as she thought, "You don't believe that it is a ship yet say you are tracking its engine speed. That either means that it is a fighter with a hyperdrive or a satellite of some kind."
"It's unlikely to be a fighter, sir." The analyst offered, "The anomaly is moving too slowly to be a fighter or any kind of spacecraft outside of Imperial-class cruisers."
"A satellite then." the officer said slowly, "Good work. Whatever it is I'll let Armada Command know of it, I'm sure they can handle –"
"Sir! Anomaly detected!"
"What!" the officer spun around and strode towards another analyst who was gesturing frantically at his screen. "How are you tracking it?" she demanded as she walked up.
"Heat signatures sir!" he quickly responded, "Normally associated wi-"
"I know what they are associated with, analyst!" she growled, then pointed at the display, "Watch that, and let me know about any up-"
"Anomaly detected, sir!" another analyst called out. The officer swore and quickly strode over to the center of the room, where a hologram Dromund Kaas was display. She turned to face the room of analysts.
"All analysts who have detected anomalies upload real-time data to the central display, now!" She commanded. There were shouts of acknowledgement as she turned to face the display. In a few seconds three small red dots appeared across the planet displayed. Then four. Then six. As more dots appeared she felt an emotion she never expected to feel within the heart of the Empire.
Fear.
She couldn't deny it any longer. Dromund Kaas was under attack or it soon would be. She turned to her aide. "Get me the Minister of War."
Dromund Kaas: The Sith Sanctum
Darth Marr observed the glowing hologram of the Minister of War. The man seemed utterly composed from the outside, hands clasped behind his back, standing tall and looking into the emotionless mask that covered Marr's face. Though his composure would certainly falter if the Minister had come in person, Marr did have a sliver of respect for him. Few could look him in the eye and remain composed. "I trust you have a good reason for interrupting me." He demanded, putting just enough anger in his voice to make the Minister understand that he was annoyed.
"Yes, my lord." The Minister answered, "About fifteen minutes ago, Imperial Control observed a disturbing amount of anomalies approaching Dromund Kaas' atmosphere."
Marr felt a surge of annoyance, was this all of what the Minister had to say. "I assume that you have the situation under control. Is there anything else?" The Minister seemed caught off guard with the blatant dismissal.
"My lord, I do not believe you understand the implications." He stammered out, "There is a high chance that Dromund Kaas will soon be attacked!" Marr observed the Minister, then reached out with the Force. The man felt nervous. Afraid. But not of the supposed attack, Marr realized, he was afraid of being ignored.
That gave Marr pause. The Minister was certain that an attack was coming, Marr could sense that. But the very idea itself seemed preposterous.
Who would, or even could attack Dromund Kaas?
"I sense you are certain." Marr finally relented, breaking the silence, "Very well, if you believe a threat exists what would you ask of me?"
For a second time the Minister seemed caught off-guard, though this time it was because Marr was being, well, generous. Marr had to remind himself that the Minister often spent time talking to Sith that simply used the Minister for their own power or forced cooperation by using pain or simple humiliation. Darth Jadus in particular had enjoyed terrorizing his minions. Marr considered it something of an accomplishment that the Minister of Intelligence was still sane after all the times he had spoken to Jadus.
Still, this was a matter that Jadus would have undertaken willingly. Marr had never seen any Sith take such an interest in the other stations of the Empire as Jadus had. They served their purpose. But in the end, they were just tools. Marr hadn't understood his motives then and now that Jadus was dead, still didn't understand them.
The Minister of War regained his voice. "I have recalled several capital ships to the Kaas system. Warn the other Council members that Dromund Kaas may be attacked. The more we are prepared, the less damage will be caused."
"Very well." Marr replied, "Eliminate this threat quickly." With that he cut the connection.
Dromund Kaas: Imperial Intelligence Headquarters
Watcher 3 walked up to Keeper, who was observing a massive hologram of Dromund Kaas, complete with red dots indicating anomalies. "Sir, some of the objects have entered the atmosphere." He reported tentatively, "Data from Imperial Control indicates that there are twenty-one of these objects. Armaments have not yet been determined." Keeper appeared not to have heard him, "Sir?" Watcher 3 prompted. Keeper sighed and turned toward the young Watcher. Watcher 3 put the datapad he was holding down and clasped his hands behind his back. "What are your orders?"
Keeper then noticed that everyone in the room was standing and waiting. He tried not to look as defeated as he felt. Unlike the rest of the Empire, everyone in this room had the knowledge that an attack could happen and they had done their best to prevent it.
Unfortunately, it seemed like it hadn't been good enough.
"We have to assume that Cipher Nine has failed."
That one statement was the hardest to get out. Within the past year, Cipher Nine had become quite possibly the best operative within the Empire. He'd nearly single-handedly destroyed terror cells on multiple worlds, secured alliances with various factions and faced scenarios that would break most people. He had become the best Imperial Intelligence had to offer and yet only a few within the Empire would know of his contributions.
But they had to move on, they had an Empire to defend.
"The Minister of War has recalled several capital ships to defend against this unknown attack. For now it seems as though this is a targeted attack on the capital but we cannot rule out the possibility of other planets coming under this attack."
"Is it the eradicators sir?" One voice asked. Keeper nodded to Watcher Three who answered.
"We believe so, we don't have a visual yet, though that will probably change within the minute."
"Everyone will be apprised of further developments." Keeper assured everyone, "I want to have visuals on the objects within the next few minutes as well as armaments."
"Do we have nothing to defend the planet with?" Another voice called out incredulously.
"Nothing that can target objects this small." Keeper stated grimly, "The capital ships will arrive within the hour and will bring their full complement of fighters."
There were nods of acknowledgement as everyone in the room returned to work, all working at a furious pace. Keeper also turned to the hologram as he watched the red dots grow ever closer to the planet.
Dromund Kaas: Imperial Control
"We have a visual!" An analyst shouted out.
"Onscreen." The officer ordered, the hologram of the planet vanished and she turned her eyes upon the massive screen behind it. An image appeared on the screen. It was far away but everyone could see a basic shape. From what the officer could tell, it appeared to be mostly in the shape of a cylinder, the color was black. If she had to speculate, it seemed as though one end of the object was a main engine and the other was…well it had to contain a weapon of some kind. She also noted that it had small thrusters on the front end, possibly to reposition itself.
"It's stopped moving!" An analyst called out, "It's holding position over sector 12."
"Confirmed." Another called out, "Another holding position over sector 8."
"Do we know anything more about these objects?" the officer asked.
The analyst who had spotted the first anomaly answered, "It appears to be unmanned. It will likely have to wait for commands before it will do anything."
"How much longer until reinforcements arrive." The officer asked her aide.
"Forty-five minutes." He replied. She became increasingly nervous. A lot could happen within forty-five minutes. She brought the hologram of Dromund Kaas back up. All of the objects were now in the atmosphere and seemed to be holding position on various sectors.
"Do we have any other visuals?" She called out.
"Negative." Another analyst called out, "The storms are interfering with visual equipment." The officer clenched her fist. Why, she thought, did the Imperial Capital have to be a planet bombarded with storms and in a state of perpetual night?
"Are they in range of our AA guns?" She asked, turning to the gunners who were manning the only means of defense the planet currently had.
The lead gunner shook his head, "Five meters outside the effective range of our best AA guns. Whoever programed them was smart, they knew our equipment."
"Could you get an accurate shot?" She demanded.
"Possibly," the gunner admitted, "Though it would take a good deal of –"
"Get started." She ordered, "We have no means of defense at the moment, this is our best chance."
The gunner snapped off a salute, "At once, Sir!"
"Good." The officer nodded, turning to her aide she continued, "Now –"
"Energy buildup on the object over sector 41!" An analyst shouted.
Then the object fired.