Author's Note:I am kind of posting this prematurely but I really wanted to get started on it so be aware that it may be a while between updates at first. I generally struggle to get through writing the first act of my stories (typically the first 5-20 chapters) though once I break through that barrier I will be posting regular updates on this one as time permits. This will be an AU and not follow either the main SW canon or the EU as I am trying to merge what elements I can from each of them together without ending up with a total clusterfuck. Any suggestions, comments or advice are always welcome.
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Prologue
Following the defeat of Grand Admiral Thrawn and the reborn clone of the fallen Emperor Palpatine the Galactic Empire continued to splinter and shrink. In the wake of the Empire's retreat the New Republic swelled in size and influence, liberating system after system from the clutches of Grand Moffs, Generals and Governors. At the battle of Jakku an alliance of Imperial remnants was soundly defeated by the Republic fleet and thus ushered in the end of a tumultuous era. Meanwhile Luke Skywalker, hero of the rebellion and first of the resurgent Jedi Knights had returned from his journey into the forgotten reaches of space to bring back those Jedi, who had escaped his father's purge. Along with Skywalker these Old Masters and the controversial Grey Jedi reestablished a New Jedi Council and began to take on the task of training the a new generation of Jedi. Among these new padawans were the twin siblings of Luke's sister Leia and her husband and Luke's dear friend Han Solo.
However while the Republic and the New Jedi Order enjoyed the onset of a period of peace and prosperity in the galaxy all was not well. Deep in the Unknown Regions a zealous young former Imperial General was determined to reclaim the galaxy for his own and restore the iron-fisted order that had been lost.
Eclipse Class Star Destroyer Vendetta
Uncatalogued System – Unknown Regions
The Vendetta and its escorts hovered in orbit in the shadow a large frozen world behind a yellow sun. It was the last of the gargantuan capital ships the Empire had built in its heyday, a relic to the strength and power it once possessed. The new fleet being constructed in secret now focused on more compact, higher end designs trading quantity for quality in the process. The world beneath this, the largest of the last Imperial fleets was also being transformed for battle. A massive undertaking had begun here while the Republic was distracted with the other Imperial remnants buzzing about its edges like flies as well as its own internal politics. The man who had begun this undertaking was General Hux, son of Brendol Hux, the last commandant of the Imperial Academy before its fall to the Republic. Hux had been left in charge of the planetary base, named Starkiller after the infamous Sith Lord, by Grand Admiral Thrawn prior to his return to challenge Coruscant and recapture the seat of power himself. After Thrawn's defeat what had been started as a weapon of last resort was now the Empire's only hope. With this operation Hux had hoped to create something so terrifying it would eclipse even the Death Star in the fear it induced throughout the systems once held by the Empire. In that fear those who had turned aside from order and denied his will would have no choice but to submit.
"Oh my beloved Emperor how your children have warred against each other while the loathsome Republic has waxed strong in the years since you have left us." lamented Hux as he stared out the windows on the Vendetta's bridge onto the planet below.
"We need someone with your vision, your power and your will to impose order on the galaxy once more." Hux continued.
"You're speaking of yourself aren't you sir?" Vice Admiral Rathamon, his second in command questioned him. "You know have a long way to go before you can claim the title of Emperor Hux" he continued.
Hux unfolded his hands from behind his back and placed them on his hips. "Nonetheless I will rule. Soon none shall oppose us." Hux said confidently without shifting his gaze away from the window.
"Even as our ultimate weapon nears completion the Republic has groomed a new breed of Jedi Knights under the tutelage of Master Skywalker. Though they are young and yet unskilled in the Force they will sniff us out so that their precious Republic can stop us before our designs are complete." Rathamon cautioned him.
"It's always the Jedi with you. I swear you wet your bed thinking about the Jedi all night." Hux grumbled.
"They are not to be trifled with sir; how else do you think our mighty empire had fallen?" Rathamon reminded him.
"Then we have to dispose of the Jedi so that we can go on to reclaim he glory that is mine by right." Hux asserted boldly, wheeling around on the ball of his foot to face the Vice Admiral.
"And how exactly will we go about doing that? A Jedi does not fall easily and this is Skywalker we are talking about not some common Force user. We will need the power of the Dark Side and that Order has been vanquished." Rathamon again questioned his judgement.
It turned out Hux had thought of just the contingency plan they needed should the Jedi return to known space before their plans were complete. "The Force seeks balance always. The light only appears bright in the presence of the darkness. Before he died the reborn Emperor spoke of a place, a sacred place, a dark place. A nexus in the Force from whence it was foretold the Dark Side would reassert itself when banished so completely. This knowledge was handed down since the beginning of the Sith Order down all the way to Darth Plagueis who handed it down to Palpatine who handed it down to me." Hux informed him.
As much as he despised the notion of sharing his throne with some new reincarnated Sith Lord he knew it had to be done to counter the threat posed by the Jedi. Once that task had been completed he could deal with his new master much as his beloved Palpatine had dealt with his, with strong poison.
"I mean no disrespect sir, but what if that turns out to be little more than a mere fable?" Rathamon inquired.
Hux snorted out a condescending laugh. "The Force was a fable to some. Now here we are." He stated.
"Nonetheless should we fail to bring a reborn Sith Lord back from the nether regions all we have to do is take one of those whelps Skywalker is training and turn them to the dark side. Apart from their master's guidance any young Jedi could be turned. Passions are so easy to inflame." Hux answered.
"Should their passions be provoked the road to the dark side becomes wide indeed." Hux said with a broad grin. Something about this aroused him greatly; he liked the idea of twisting some poor boy or girl to his will in spite of their power in the Force. He could train them to be his own personal dog. He had to stop thinking about it for a while lest his composure be broken and his own lusts for power and dominance became inflamed. That was really all that it was about in the end. While he claimed to preach order it was really dominance that Hux craved. The greater the dominance he exerted over a greater number the more it thrilled him. Indeed he would make the Jedi his bitch and thus the resurgence of the Empire would go unopposed.