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1

Time: 2547 years BBY

Time passed. When she first arrived, Phobos caused quite the stir among her peers at the academy, as Darth Alienatus had never taken an apprentice before then. However, the doubts eventually vanished, and Phobos proved herself to be an adept Sith. Under Darth Alienatus, she advanced in her tutelage for the next eighteen years, becoming more and more powerful as she did so. His apprentice was everything he had ever dreamed.

He was asked by her one day what was going on with the Sith Ascendancy and what the war was doing. Alienatus gloated at the opportunity.

"The Sith Ascendancy was formed one hundred years ago, though it truly begins one hundred and fifty years ago. Darth Anarchy was the apprentice of a Dark Jedi. When his master was killed during a Jedi ambush, he vanished into obscurity. The Jedi in their complacency believed his threat to be over. It was not. He fled here to Korriban, determined to find a master who could finish his tutelage. He however found a set of old Sith holocrons that not only completed his training, but inspired him to take war back to the Republic. Emerging from Korriban years later, he travelled around, finding other Dark Jedi. When he had a small group behind him, he declared himself Darth Anarchy, made the others all Sith Lords and began his war on the Republic.

Using several mercenary bands, he fermented distrust and dissent throughout the Republic. The clincher came with Borosk. The Republic had brought it in because of one of it's natural resources was very scarce elsewhere. When another planet was found with larger deposits of Balirite, Borosk's economy collapsed, unable to support itself because the Republic had withdrawn all the funding. Borosk, in a rage, declared independence from the Republic. With that, Anarchy moved into the open and declared the Sith Ascendancy.

While the Republic and Jedi were certainly shocked that a new Sith Lord had appeared from nowhere and had taken the newly independent world of Borosk as his throne, very little else happened. Until Anarchy spread the news of why Borosk's economy had collapsed. Other such worlds immediately took the money of the Republic and joined the Ascendancy. Anarchy now had a small following of planets with him, but not enough for the Republic to overtly worry about. At first. However, more and more people were starting to listen to his arguments that the Republic was totally corrupt and had to die. More worlds joined him, and many higher-ups began to lead towards him. The final straw came when a General deserted the Republic with a force of about twelve warships. Anarchy's small group of discontent planets had now become a major rebellion, with arms to back up it's claims.

However, the Republic still did not act, convinced that negotiation would solve the problem. They wilfully ignored the fact that the Ascendancy was growing every day, that credits were flowing into it from major companies that wished to be rid of the Republic, that members of their military and the Jedi were deserting left, right and centre and that weapons and materiel for a war were flooding the Ascendancy's new worlds. Underneath Anarchy a military was formed and the new Sith Lords declared a Sith Council, and awaited their time.

The time was not far off. Hiring mercenaries and pirates all over the place, he had raids executed on Republic supply convoys and holdings across the galaxy. People began crying out that it was him, and that war was not far off. The Republic, which had been relatively peaceful since the conclusion of the Galactic Sith War a millennia previous, refused to believe this and decided to try negotiation again.

While they slowly moved, Anarchy's Ascendancy was growing stronger and larger with each passing day. In the two years since he had declared himself, he had amassed a massive following. The pirates were chipping away at the strength of the Republic and Anarchy was reaping most of the reward. While the Republic was preaching diplomacy, he was gearing up for war with his allies.

That was when the Grand Master of the Jedi Order changed. A Caamasi woman by the name of Sahara Pelura took over, and while her superiors in the Senate tried to use diplomacy, she guessed that the Sith Ascendancy was gunning for a war. Contacting the leader of the Republic Military, she saw to it that weapons, ships and troops were slowly amassed for a war that she knew would engulf the galaxy.

This was a clever plan, bur rather backfired. Anarchy construed it as a pre-emptive display of aggression, and declaring that the Republic was after a war, made his move at long last. Taking his rather strong starfleet, he launched a daring raid on the shipyard world of Sluis Van.

That was the beginning of the Deadlock War. Taking over the ships at the shipyards, he had himself an instant fleet, and a legion of people prepared to use them. The Republic, defeated by their own cleverness, were now made into the bad guys and a host of other worlds joined the Sith. Anarchy, saying how regretful he was of the Republic's actions, said he felt he had to declare war to stop the Republic' warmongering. The people, who were scared that he'd had the audacity to attack a Republic world, cried out for the Republic to protect them. War was officially declared.

Ever since, we've been at a stalemate. Neither side has the advantage, as we're both too evenly matched. Both sides control a third of the galaxy, and the other third have nothing to do with it at all."

Alienatus finished this part of his lecture, and took a drink.

"But how did that happen? I thought Lord Anarchy was meant to be a genius." Phobos said in confusion.

Alienatus snorted.

"At first he was. But he let the Republic fight back. After Sluis Van, he should have pressed the advantage. He failed to do so, and thus allowed this to go on."

"But as the situations so bad, why hasn't anyone deposed him?" she asked.

Alienatus grinned.

"Because there's no one in a high enough position to do so.

Darth Alienatus formed the Sith Council to rival the Jedi Council. But he has sole say on who goes onto it. As such, he's made the entire Council full of his supporters.

Darth Outrage is a wily old Duros, and is the Supreme Commander of the Ascendancy military. He was Ascendancy's first supporter, a Jedi who turned traitor and joined him as soon as he announced the Ascendancy. As such, he is a great supporter of Anarchy, and will do nothing against him. His tactics, like Anarchy's, were good at first, but when he suggested new tactics, Anarchy would refuse as he didn't like them, and so Outrage got lured into the trap of trying the same old tactics, helping us get into the state we're in now.

Outrage is reported to by three other Sith Lords. Darth Ember is in charge of the Fleet. She's a human woman, who was formerly an apprentice to Outrage. As such, she does what he tells them to do. Initiative is needed on the Council, and very few have it. Her tactics are basic, and by the book, which does not help us in this situation.

Darth Ragus is a powerful Feeorin Sith Lord, and is in command of the army. He still wins occasionally victories but they are negated by Outrage and Anarchy's politics of war, and by their foolishness. He has it in him to defy Anarchy and take us out of the deadlock, but lacks the support to do so.

Darth Contest is a Ho'Din, and he rules the land navy. He is a tactical genius, but fails in one area: anarchy always knows what he is doing. Contest was trained by Anarchy himself, and their bond is such that he can always guess what his former apprentice is up to. As such, Contest, who understands our situation, is powerless to oppose Anarchy and his machinations.

Darth Muteium on the other hand, is directly opposed to Anarchy, and always protests that we should change our tactics. She is a Togruta, and directs the Intelligence of the Ascendancy. She is opposed to him, but as she cannot get any military support, cannot make any moves.

Darth Lore leads our magicians. She is a moderate member on the Council, and doesn't like the war in the first place. A curious trait for a Sith, but as such, she will not move against Anarchy. She is tepid by nature, but her magic is strong. But she is another one who cannot raise their hand against the deadlock tactics we have fallen into since this war began.

Darth Perfida is the leader of our spies. A Nautolan, she commands the Force to a great degree, and is responsible for getting spies into places they are not meant to be. Yet she does not report to Muteium, though the two are certainly linked together. She is very quiet on the Council, but I suspect she sides with Muteium on the Anarchy matter.

Darth Eliminyra is the leader of our assassins. A Zabrak, she is opposed to Anarchy's tactics, but is unable to do anything, as she owes everything to Anarchy, who was her master. He knows of her feelings, but refuses to heed her warnings. I suspect it is only a matter of time before he has her removed, because unlike Muteium, she can be easily replaced.

Darth Irritynt is a Twi'lek, and is in command of all the terrorism tactics we use. She is too enamoured by her own schemes and plots to pay much attention to the war, and as such, doesn't care much about the state of the Ascendancy as long as she has bombs and things to blow up with her bombs.

Darth Sapius is a Trandoshan, and is in command of our Dark Jedi, who serve under the true Sith. He is always a source of discomfort for Alienatus, as he is unable to be read in the Force. As such, spies follow his every move, that are loyal only to Anarchy. No one knows his true intentions.

Last but not least is our headmaster, Darth Delvus. He is responsible for training a new generation of Sith Lords every year. As you know, he is a Rodian, and likes the state of things too much to act against Anarchy, as he has grown very powerful, and has the ear of many on the Council.

The Council members often betray or humiliate others to improve their own standing, so as to better further their own ends. Manipulative is what the Sith are. Any enemy of ally of the Sith must understand that to succeed.

Make no mistake Phobos, many of us do not want Anarchy dead. He is a useful figurehead, and understands the politics of war very well indeed. Deposing him is not the trouble. Getting support to remove him is the problem, as many are afraid of his assassins and those loyal to him. The military is full of his narrow, dogmatic favourites, who will not raise a hand, political or military, against him."

Phobos frowned.

"So, removing Anarchy needs the support of one of the Council?"

"If we are to do it 'legally'. However, it would be inadvisable to go against him illegally also without the support of at least one of the Council."

Phobos grinned. Alienatus nodded approvingly.

"Ah, you see flaws in our makeup. Excellent. You my apprentice, will shake the Sith up. Destiny swirls around you. If you understand our power plays and our machinations, you have a chance of going far in the Ascendancy, even all the way to the top." he said confidently.

Phobos nodded.

"Good girl. But for that to occur, we must make you the Dark Lord of this year. With you, I sense our time has come.

As you know, there are nine opponents you must face, but there are also their masters, who will try to entrap and befuddle you.

Darth Delvus you know of.

You also know of me, and I will give you all the support I am able to make you the leader of this year's candidates.

Darth Calculus is the female Chagrian. Her knowledge of mind control is unsurpassable. She will not like you as you ascend, and can make matters very difficult. She too is also a deputy of the Academy, like myself, and she, like myself, would prefer that there was only one. I will keep an eye on her and her antics.

The only other ones you must worry about are the three assistant heads, as they are the only other ones with students.

Darth Literus is the Sakiyan, and wishes to be the only assistant head. He is relatively unambitious aside form that, so should pose little threat.

Darth Foren, the Nimbanel, is a little more adventurous and wishes to be head. As both Calculus and myself covet that position, she can get in the queue. Her teaching is sound however, so that could present difficulties later on.

Lastly Darth Legian, the Arcona, is a different sort. He wishes to rule Korriban, not just the academy, and could prove an impediment to everyone's plans, so we shall watch him closely too."

Phobos nodded in understanding.

"However, it is their students I need to worry about isn't it?" she asked callously.

Alienatus smiled.

"Indeed. I shall watch the teachers. You can deal with the students.

Darth Despotus is currently the best in your year. A Bothan he has the cunning an arrogance to match. His master is Delvus, so he is virtually untouchable. For now. He and his little band of sycophants could prove dangerous indeed if you do not deal with them. Bide your time before you go after him.

Delvus' other student is Darth Gloatium, the Phuii. He is part of Despotus' group, so an attack on him would be most unwise. As before, bide your time.

Calculus also has two students, Darth Tempariz being the most lethal. He is a Tunroth, and therefore should not be directly engaged if you wish to keep your limbs intact. But he is her weaker one, and so should be one of your priority targets. However, do not rush out and challenge him. Though competition is encouraged, direct killing is not, and I may not be able to protect you. An opportunity will present itself.

Darth Dismus also belongs to Calculus, and is the Devaronian, and her better pupil. His precognitive abilities make him wary of all the other students, and he will be on the lookout for you. I sense that his fate is tied to that of his master. Removing him will benefit both of us I suspect.

Literus' student may also prove a threat to our plans. Darth Coveta is another of Despotus' cronies, and she is very clever. As before, moving against her before we are ready could set us back a considerable amount.

Foren's students are unknown factors. Darth Drout, the Chiss, keeps mostly to himself. He is unfathomable to me, which I dislike. Be wary of him. Friend or foe, he can be made to work to our advantage my pupil.

Darth Envi is a loner, the Wroonian boy. He too could be either friend or foe. We would do well to keep an eye on this pair as we set up your ascent.

And lastly, there is Legian's students. Darth Assundir, the Aqualish, is another crony of Despotus, so be wary of him.

The last one of your year, Darth Undesira, is another goon of Despotus, and her mind reading makes her a dangerous enemy. The Ikotochi can be outdone however, if you keep to yourself."

Phobos nodded.

"I will heed you my master. Then one day, we will become the rulers of the Sith Ascendancy, and remove our enemies from power. When that is done, the Republic and Jedi will follow. Then…the galaxy."

Okay, here's another tester chapter. I know I was meant to wait for five reviews, but I suppose this is also a prologue so it's been added in. Hope you like. And I will accept three reviewsx before I consider doing another chapter, as the story really kicks off next time, as Darth Phobos begins her rise to power.

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