Chapter 1: The Rule Of Two
Now let me set the scene: when all the factions and the planets appeared in the rift galaxy, by a stroke of luck the majority of the planets were occupied by the republic, therefore only hours after appearing in the rift galaxy the enraged empire launched a massive assault to "re-claim" the planets that the empire believed should be under their rule, starting with the galactic capital: Coruscant.
However the republic was able to hold off the imperials until reinforcements came and the imperial forces orbiting the planet were defeated. However before that happened the imperials landed thousands of ground troops and many Jedi and republic troops were killed, Including Anakin Skywalker. Many buildings including the senate were destroyed by imperial bombing runs and turbolaser strikes. This inadvertently killed the supreme chancellor and all the senators except Bail Organa and a few others. Eventually the republic was able to hold Coruscant. Then striking quickly before the empire had a chance to regroup, the republic forced back the empire into the north-eastern and north parts of the galaxy. They also regained most of the galactic shipyards, who when forced with either the choice of suppling the republic and being protected in turn or being left to the ruthless, destructive hate of the Necrons or the unrelenting devastation of the flood, simply choose to supply the republic with the best ships possible as fast as possible. With so many shipyards all producing for them, the republic quickly doubled than tripled the original size of it's navy and through the discovery of millions of clone troopers in stasis on an abandoned alternate Kamino, so did the size of its army. The Empire overcame this obstacle by seeking out, finding and utilizing the Star Forge. A massive automated shipyard fed upon dark side energy, capable of producing hundreds of spacecraft a day.
But now months latter after a long and bitter war both the republic and the empire are evenly matched and have been thrust into an uneasy alliance, established in the heat of battle between only rank commanders with no permission from their higher echelons. A alliance established only to keep both sides from being annihilated by an even greater force of Necron battleships that appeared seemingly out of nowhere, threatening to destroy both sides.
Together the massed battlefleets of both the empire and the republic were able to just conquer the enemy but not without sustaining a great many losses, alongside those already suffered from before the Necrons arrived. For before the enemy arrived the opposing fleets had been tearing each other apart.
But that was over.
Now there was peace.
For now.
Latter when both fleets have gone their separate ways and the commanders involved have debriefed their superiors, a ship silently wings it's way from the empire's secret fortress world of "Bastion" to the Republic capital: Coruscant.
The ship glided through the patrols with ease but it seemed to hesitate when facing the sealed opening in the planetary shield, however after a moment it opened, it seems they were expected. It's unusual (some would say ugly) shape was hidden from vision and all but the most advanced scanners by an experimental cloaking field. The Rogue Shadow (for that was the name of the ship) headed towards the temple district of Coruscant past the burnt out remnants of the senate building and it's ruined surroundings. A trail of rubble and destruction lead to the Rouge Shadows destination: the Jedi Temple. The ruins that passed below were pockmarked with craters unique to the proton bombs used by imperial TIE bombers.
The Rouge Shadow headed towards the Eastern spire of the Jedi temple. As it approached it a landing platform slid out of hangar area allowing the rouge shadow to land. After it had landed a ramp slowly lowered down from the belly of the ship, bellowing steam and gas like an angered salamander. Seconds later a hooded figure emerged from the dark Bally of the ship. He stopped a moment at the base of the ramp and looked around, observing and memorizing his surroundings. Then he started towards the door leading away from the hangar to the temple proper, however he found his way blocked by a Jedi guardian- a heavily armed and armoured Jedi. Another guardian emerged from the shadows behind him igniting his emerald lightsaber to point menacingly at the small of the figure's back. The figure fingered his own crimson bladed lightsaber before deciding against such action, instead the figure started following the first guardian, who led him through the temple.
As the figure emerged into the council chambers, the council wasn't in sesion and there were only a few Jedi masters sitting down and four of the elite Jedi temple guard standing around the circumference of the room. The guardian that was standing behind the figure extinguished his lightsaber and joined the other guardian in bowing to the council. After they bowed the two guardians left and two more temple guard entered to stand near the entrance.
The figure moved into the centre of the room, which was ironically the same spot on which young padawans stood to be tested.
But the figure was no padawan learner but a Sith apprentice sent to deliver a message to the Jedi from the dark lord of Sith himself.
The figure didn't bow to the council, but immediately began speaking, all attempt at reverence abandoned.
"My master wishes to offer you a proposal both generous and wise, I recommend you listen to what he has to say." His voice was fresh and young, but at the same time it was also silken and filled with evil.
"We do not want to listen any proposal your false emperor has to say" Mace Windu spoke loudly the distain evident in his voice. "We were told you were here to barter on behalf of the empire not deliver a lecture from the tainted lips of your sith emperor"
"But I do not come on behalf of the emperor!" said the figure calmly, pulling his hood back to reveal his face. "If i served the Emperor you would all be dead and precious temple would lie in smoking ruins. No, I serve Darth Vader and I come on his behalf and on behalf of *his* empire"
Eyebrows were raised around the room
"Darth Vader's secret apprentice you are? You too would be dead If know of you the emperor did." said Master Yoda his mind as sharp and as insightful as ever.
The apprentice flinched visibly, his actions speaking for him. He scowled at Master Yoda and adjusted his cowl, regaining his composure and ignoring the comment "My master, Darth Vader proposes an alliance: between Imperial and Republic forces, between himself and the Jedi council."
At this the assembled Jedi went into a shocked silence. Master Obi-wan Kenobi broke the silence saying:
"An alliance for what purpose, exactly?"
The apprentice leaned forward leering at the Jedi. "An alliance to dethrone the emperor and once that is complete to utterly annihilate all that oppose us."
There was silence from the assembled council as Mace Windu stood up and walked towards the apprentice, circling around him as if he were an interesting specimen in a lab.
"And why would Darth Vader wish to kill your master, boy?"
"The emperor is not my master!" shouted the apprentice "I owe my alligence to Darth Vader!" his voice straining with both anger and pride as he ignited his blood red lightsaber and brandished it at the council. At this the temple guard swung in, four aiming their, gold bladed lightsaber staffs at the apprentice's thoat while the remaining two stepped in to defend Master Windu, who looked calmly at the apprentice through the crossed blades of the Temple Guard's lightsaber staves.
"Always, betrayal there is, always treachery, the way of the sith this is." said Master Yoda quietly as Galen Marek slowly lowered his lightsaber
"Why should we help you?" mused Obi-wan as the room fell silent.
Suddenly a voice emanated from the shadows, sinister, metallic and twisted, accompanied by the sound of mechanical breathing.
"Because Obi-wan, you and your republic would be utterly destroyed by your enemies without the help of the my empire. But together our combined might would crush any opposition that dare oppose us." Darth Vader stepped forward as he ignited his lightsaber and pointed at the Jedi with it. The Temple Guard who had be barricading the apprentice stepped forward to intercept him and if required cut him down with their whirling golden saber staffs.
"Wait!" Mace Windu's voice rang through the chamber, "let him speak!"
The four temple guard pulled back, their robes rustling as the amalgamation of fabrics and materials that made up their amour and robes brushed up against each other. They took up guard positions around Darth Vader, each positioning thier lightsaber staff across their body diagonally, from where it could easily be used to block and deflect as well as slash and stab. The other two temple guard retreated to the edge of the room from where they could monitor all the proceedings.
Around the room the Jedi waited for Darth Vader speak, for although they didn't wish to admit it, they saw the truth in Vader's words.
"You know I speak the truth, Jedi." Darth Vader condescendingly addressed the Jedi as if he had read their minds.
"An alliance would be beneficial to both sides, The Empire and the republic are both struggling against enemies not from our galaxy! Not even from our own own dimension! Enemies who both have immeasurable power and ruthlessness. We need this jedi, the imperials need it... I need it." Darth Vader paused as the humiliation of begging for help curdles what was left if his temper "Also, Jedi" he said the contempt and malevolence in his voice evident. "If you help me defeat the emperor and his loyalists, the prejudice that stops the empire's forces from working with the republic, in situations where help would have been… beneficial, for both sides, that will die with the emperor, but" he stoped talking for a moment, choosing his words carefully "I cannot defeat him alone, i need... Your help"
He paused waiting for his words to sink in and take effect.
"If you decide to accept my offer, which you will, meet my fleet at the outer planetary edge of the Yinnchor system in one galactic week, with the largest fleet and as many Jedi as you can muster. From there we will crush the Emperor,"
"How do we know that it's not a trap, Darth?" asked Plo Kloon
Darth Vader turned towards the Jedi master and spoke
"You don't"- and his image dissolved into the shape of the droid, PROXY. The apprentice caught the droid as he fell and prepared to leave.
Before he left he addressed the council one final time:
"An officer from the imperial fleet will arrive in eight hours time exactly and debrief you on the tactics and strategy on Yinnchor as well as the main objectives and the precise coordinates of the rendezvous. You will accept this offer, I guarantee it." his voice had faded away as his eyes swept the council, he paused as his gaze lingered on Obi-Wan then swung around and made to leave the council chambers
"Boy!"- Obi-wan's voice was quiet but strong bringing the apprentice to a halt.
"Do you have a name?" he said to the back of the apprentices head. The apprentice hesitated before turning around and saying: "Galen Marek"
Then he stalked away down the walkway as Obi-wan called out to him: "Galen, there is good in your heart, I can sense it! Don't fall to the dark side."
He kept walking