Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars, even though I am an avid fan of it. Star Wars and KOTOR belong to George Lucas and BIOWARE.

Chapter 3: The Preparation

The elevator door opened to the clang and hiss of a droid factory as battle droids, maintenance droids and droids whose use was so unique that Revan couldn't even classify them were being built. He and HK-47 marched through the organized chaos to the factory's only workstation, where the Star Forge's droids would receive new programs and upgrades.

HK-47 stepped into the workstation's upgrade chamber, a maintenance droid that had the look of a multi-limbed spider hung from above. Revan took the workstation's operator seat and began to type in requests for the programs used in the Star Forge Battle Droids that Malak had tried to destroy him and Bastila with when they assaulted the Star Forge to take it from him. He set those to be downloaded into HK, and then while that was loading up he reactivated the droid's assassination protocols. The copper droid powered down and the spidery maintenance droid above it began its work.

As HK was being upgraded Revan searched the Star Forge's computer for any interesting programs that Malak had not yet found. While, he searched Revan found several interesting files. The first was and old program that was used by the Rakatans to create sparring droids with which to train with, though none had been built in years. Revan quickly had the program to load on HK and with it a pair vibroswords from the Star Forge's armory. The programmers of this program had made it very adaptive; while it was loaded onto HK it adjusted to fit the copper droid's construction and abilities in combat. The spidery maintenance droid lowered more arms as it attached two vibroswords in their sheaths to HK's back and simultaneously replaced to droid's servomotors with new more efficient ones that were built to take the strain that they would take when HK fought in a melee fight.

Another file Revan found was one experimental ship designs that the Rakatan engineers had created to form a new Rakatan Battle Fleet. The ship was eight times larger then the Destroyers that made up the bulk of the Sith Fleet and the Rakatan engineers had given it the class of designation of Battlecruiser. The massive warship was five kilometers long, carried ten squadrons of fighters and could hold eight regiments of ground troops beside the Battlecrusier's crew, which numbered at 125,000 soldiers.

Revan let a predator's smile cross his face as the holographic image of the Battlecruiser floated above the workstation computer. He typed in orders with an eager pace, putting the request to build this mighty warship at the top of the Star Forge's building list, and while he was at it Revan named his new warship the Vengeance.

The last file gave Revan information that gave him hyperspace coordinates to several unknown planets where he could stage attacks on the Core Worlds, he had this data downloaded into the Vengeance's navigation computer.

By this time HK-47's modification were complete, but before he reactivated the droid, Revan used the upgrade chamber's scanning equipment to create a blueprint of HK-47. Revan then turned HK's designs into a regular battle droid, by removing the assassination programs and the personality programs, but other than that he left the designs the same. With the click of a button Revan replaced the Star Forge's old battle droids with the HK-inspired designs, which Revan designated HK-Alpha Battle Droids, or Alphas for short.

Then Revan awakened the assassination droid from his slumber, its golden eyes glowed brightly as HK's head turned to look at it Master, "Query: Are my modifications complete, Master?"

Revan nodded, and the copper plated droid exited the upgrade chamber while he scanned is new programs, "Statement: It feels optimal to have my assassination programs operational and the new 'Jedi-Killer' programs that the Star Forge has seem to be very efficient indeed," The droid seemed to pause in surprise as it scanned its last upgrade, "Astonishment: Master, have you given me programs that allow me to use melee weapons?"

Revan chuckled as he nodded to the baffled droid.

HK reached behind him and drew the two vibroswords looking at them as the dim factory lights shined off their humming blades.

With another predator's grin, Revan rose to his feet and readied his lightsabers, "Well, HK how about you test you new programs out on me."

HK-47 seemed to hesitate, "Query: Are you sure Master? I am now designed to destroy Jedi in hand-to-hand combat, I would not wish to harm my Master."

Revan responded by activating his orange-red and aquamarine lightsabers, "Don't worry HK, you are designed to destroy Jedi in hand-to-hand combat, but I am no mere Jedi, I am the Dark Lord of the Sith."

HK nodded and took a battle stance with his two vibroswords held at the ready.

Suddenly, with amazing speed HK attacked Revan, to first attack shook Revan as he was shocked at how fast, yet still powerful the copper droid's attacks were. The attacks from both of HK's arms were equally powerful, giving the droid an obvious advantaged over most Jedi; most melee fighters were weaker on one side than the other, but HK, because he was a droid had perfect balance and flexibility on both sides.

The copper droid drove Revan back with one powerful attack after another, though Revan was staying defensive for the moment he was still hard pressed to hold back HK's assaults. With this though he smiled, he prided himself in his strength, it was the only reason he was able to stop HK's attacks, but most Jedi were not as strong, HK-47's attacks would blow past any average Jedi in the first few blows.

Finally Revan went on the offensive, but HK managed to hold him at a standstill as the droid somehow was able to stop Revan's attacks and continued to attack with the same relentless drive as before.

After a few more minutes HK stopped and stepped back, "Query: Should we stop Master? I know you have to return to the planet to repair the damage done by your Meatbag apprentice."

Revan nodded, returning his lighsabers to his belt, "Yes HK, go to the Ebon Hawk and wait for me, I have one more thing to take care of before I leave."

The copper droid left the maintenance level, while Revan typed at the workstation computer.

The droid factory slowed to a stop as Revan's new orders were uploaded; after w few minutes the factory began to power up and started building an army of Alphas.

Revan stood from the workstation and typed in the frequency for Master Guan's comlink, "Master Guan, report to the Ebon Hawk immediately."

With that message sent the Dark Lord entered the elevator leading the Ebon Hawk's hangar, while his new battle droid army began to form.

EBON HAWK'S COCKPIT

Sitting in the pilot seat of the Ebon Hawk, Revan watched Master Guan approach the freighter. The bald Dark Jedi walked up the ramp and came to its cockpit. He stopped in the cockpit's doorway when Revan turned the pilot's chair to face him.

Revan interlaced his fingers, "Master Guan, give me a report on the outcome of the battle with the Republic Fleet."

The Dark Jedi Master nodded, "Once we launched our attacks, the Republic Fleet was scattered and we destroyed three of the Republic Cruisers. Admiral Dodonna's flagship was also destroyed, however a transport and four Jedi Starfighters escaped the Cruiser before it exploded and they used the Cruisers explosion to cover their escape.

"With their flagship destroyed the Republic Fleet fell into confusion and began to fall back, then they made on last desperate stand against at the edge of Rakatan's gravity well." Guan gulped for a moment, "I regret to report that despite our best effort, one Republic Cruiser and two Dreadnaughts did, however, escape us without taking any major damage."

Revan nodded, "The transport and Jedi starfighters that escaped the Republic flagship landed on the Star Forge and abducted Bastila, would you care to explain how they penetrated the Star Forge's defenses?"

Master Guan nodded reluctantly, "Well, the Star Forge's lower decks are too close to the sun for there to be any mounted defenses, the solar heat would cause them to overheat after the first few shots. Three squadrons of Sith Fighters were assigned to guard the unprotected area, but it appears that they failed to guard it effectively."

Revan growled, "They will be reprimanded for their failure," he stopped to think for a moment, "have all of the survivors executed at once."

Guan bowed slightly, "As you command Lord Revan."

Revan waved a hand to dismiss the matter, "I assume the transport and Jedi Starfighters were on one of the escaping Republic ships?"

Guan shook his head slightly, "Yes my Lord, the Republic Fleet made a foolish move that doomed most of their Fleet in the process, but it did allow the transport and the two Starfighters that had survived our attacks to dock on the Republic Cruiser before it escaped. However, with the exception for those three ships, every Republic ship was destroyed by our forces."

Revan snarled in humiliation, the Republic had bested him; Admiral Dodonna and Master Vandar had escaped and now they had Bastila and her Battle Meditation in their control.

With an exasperated sigh he turned to begin take-off for the Ebon Hawk. Master Guan took the copilot seat, while HK-47 and Canderous manned the freighter's turrets; just in case a surviving Republic fighter tried and suicide attack in an effort to assassinate the Dark Lord.

The Ebon Hawk shook unsteadily as Revan took her into the planet's atmosphere, he growled at how his piloting skills were out of shape. Carth Onasi had always insisted on flying the freighter, but now Carth was stranded on the planet below, along with the Twi'lek girl Mission Vao and her Wookiee friend, Zaalbar after they had decided to betray him when he reclaimed the title of Dark Lord of the Sith. Revan tightened his hands on the piloting controls in anger, causing the Ebon Hawk to toss more at his rough handling.

With a slight jolt Revan landed the freighter on the Rakatan Temple's landing pad. As he walked down the freighter's ramp he saw the corpses of the Jedi Juhunai and Jolee Bindo. The two foolish Jedi had tried to kill him after he had chosen to become the Dark Lord again; they had been no match for Revan and Bastila.

All of the Ebon Hawk's crew followed him out, only Canderous seemed to take notice the dead Jedi, nodding respectfully to their fallen forms.

Revan looked to T3-M4, "T3, go and find out how to modify the Hawk so that the Star Forge's dampening field no longer affects her, then reactivate the field."

T3 responded with a series of chirps and whistles. HK translated for him, "Translation: The maintenance droid says he will be pleased to obey, it says that he disliked repairing the damage to his systems after the last landing on this miserable planet." HK's eyes seemed to glow brighter, "Query: If you are displeased with this small scrap heap, I would happily blast it for you, Master."

T3 blatted something that sounded most unflattering before it rolled of to fulfill Revan's command.

Revan chuckled, but before he could answer the bone-chilling cry of a Rancor filled the Temple plaza bellow. Everyone, except T3, moved to the edge of the landing pad to see what was happening.

When Revan reached the edge he saw four Sith apprentices engaged with a Rakatan War Band. One of the Rakatan's Rancor Beasts and five of their warriors engaged the apprentices as they stood at the base of the Temple's ramp, stranded outside the Temple force field. The Temple's force field must have reactivated when the Star Forge came under attack even though Revan a deactivated it with the dampening field.

The four apprentices fought against the War Band, killing the Warriors and the Rancor as well. Then another pair of Rancor cries filled the air as the smell of death attracted more, wild Rancors.

One of the apprentices, a young woman with blonde hair and obviously the group's leader, stepped forward and shot both Rancors with small bolts of lightning from her hands. The first Rancor roared out in pain before it collapse, but the second was only slowed by the attack.

The apprentice stopped her lightning assaults, exhausted at the effort it required to use Force lightning at these early stages of her training, and readied her ruby double bladed lightsaber. The other three apprentices all threw their lightsabers at the charging Rancor, using the Force to call the weapons back to their hands.

With steaming lightsaber wounds the Rancor gave another roar and charged forward.

The four weary Sith apprentices raised their lightsabers and ran to attack the beast. Within the first opening minutes of the battle the Rancor stomped on one of the apprentices, leaving only a bloody smear to mark the apprentices.

The three remaining apprentice attack the Rancor in a blind rage, hacking the beast's hands and legs off in minutes, leaving it to thrash around, spraying its foul smelling blood everywhere. The apprentices still didn't stop though; they continued to hack at the creature until it was nothing but a bloody smear as well.

Then suddenly two ruby bolts of energy flashed out and hit two of the apprentices, the first took the bolt in the face and dropped dead before he even realized he was in any danger. The second Sith had begun to dodge, but the bolt still took him in the right elbow. The energy burned through the apprentice's robed and, in a flash, severed his forearm from his body.

With a cry the apprentice fell to the ground beside his dismembered arm and his now dormant lightsaber, clutching his bleeding arm.

The last apprentice held her lightsaber ready; watching for what ever had attackers her fellows to attack her. Another pair of blaster bolts flew at the apprentice, who calmly blocked them into the ground.

Then four bolts came at her from two different directions, she managed to block the first two, but in doing so exposed her left side to the second pair. However, instead of trying to dodge the bolts the apprentice used the Force to bring the wounded apprentice's severed forearm in to intercept the shots. The arm fell to the ground, charred completely, while the apprentice backed up the ramp to the Temple doors.

Revan watched the apprentice's efforts at blocking these shots and was surprised to feel a familiar presence in the distance. A single word escaped Revan as a low growl, "Carth." Apparently Carth, being stranded on the planet had been delegated to sniping off any Sith that left the Temple. In an angered haste Revan pulled a fragment grenade from Canderous's utility belt and, with a push for the Force, threw it at the distant hill where Carth was hiding.

A small fountain of dirt appeared on the hill and Carth's pain flashed through the Force though not strong enough for him to be mortally wound, but the blaster fire ended.

The Sith apprentice looked up at the landing pad, trying to see who had saved her, but Revan and everyone else stepped back before she could make out anyone clearly.

Revan turned to HK-47,"HK-47 go and open the force field, but allow only that apprentice inside," he pointed to the sole unharmed apprentice, "if the wounded apprentice tries to enter the Temple, terminated him. However, if the apprentice tries to bring in the wounded one I want you to terminate them both."

HK nodded, "Statement: I hope they do try, Master, I would enjoy the opportunity to use my new programming on a disposable Meatbag." With that the copper plated droid walked away.

Revan looked to short Dark Jedi standing beside him, "Master Guan, once this is taken care of," Revan gestured to the apprentice below, "you are to gather a small force of droids, clean the Temple's ramp and set up force fields by the two paths leading to the Temple plaza. Also, when this meeting is over I will be sending down a new army of battle droids for you to command. With this army you are assigned to conquer the Rakatan people; by any means necessary, including wiping their pitiful race from the planet completely."

The Dark Jedi Master bowed, "It will give me great pleasure to serve you in this regard, Lord Revan."

Below the Temple's doors opened and the force field dropped as HK-47 walked out, the droid spoke to the apprentice and then waited for the woman to join him before moving. The apprentice walked up the ramp until she stopped beside the wounded apprentice. The wounded man said something, though Revan couldn't hear what, but instead of helping him the apprentice picked up his own lightsaber and decapitated him with it. As the lifeless body fell to the ground she dropped the now dead apprentice's lightsaber beside his headless body and walked into the Temple.

The Temple doors closed behind them and the force field reactivated automatically.

Revan grabbed his comlink and contacted HK, "HK-47, bring the apprentice to me at once."

The assassination droid's mechanically generated voice responded quickly, "Statement: At once Master."

With a slight bow Guan excused himself, "If you will excuse me Lord Revan, I will see to gathering the supplies necessary to prepare the Temple grounds for the arrivals of the officers of the Sith Fleet."

Revan held one hand up to stop him before he walked off, "One more thing Guan, have your droids plant mines in the area where the officers will assemble to meet me and key their detonation sequences to my comlink," Revan smiled cruelly behind his red and black mask, "if these officers are as lazy as the other officers Malak put in charge of the mighty Sith Fleet I may have no choice but to dismiss them all from their duties."

Guan paled slightly, hesitating as he realized what the Dark Lord was implying, and then quickly bowed, "As you command Master Revan." Still afraid of the Dark Lord the bald Dark Jedi hurried off.

Revan chuckled at the retreating Dark Jedi as he turned to look at the settling dust where Carth Onasi had been. The ex-pilot for the Republic had fled the Ebon Hawk when Revan returned from the Temple without Juhunai or Jolee and as the Dark Lord of the Sith. He had swore to save Revan from himself as he and Mission and Zaalbar had followed him to the abandoned Elders settlement, which Revan had exterminated in exchange for the help of the One, a Rakatan war leader, to enter the Temple.

Now it appeared that Carth had let himself be delegated to sniping any Sith apprentices who left the safety of the Temple. Revan tapped the surface of his mask lightly as he thought about these turn of events; leaving Carth and the others alive on this island could be costly, as they were bound to try and damage the Sith operations on Rakatan, but still they would make an interesting challenge for Sith apprentices who wanted to test their skills.

The sound of HK-47's approach and the tremor he felt from the apprentice accompanying him broke Revan's concentration; he turned to look at this promising youth.

The apprentice's blonde hair fell to the middle of her back, while fiery red eyes looked at the Dark Lord nervously; on her belt hung her double bladed lightsaber. As she came to him Revan saw that she was a beautiful young woman with elegant features and an exquisite body, but as he cataloged all this that should have at least made Revan lust for he found the pure anger and hatred pouring from her to make her alluring, but dangerous; with sufficient training this girl could become a powerful Sith Master, perhaps even strong enough to kill Revan himself as the Dark Lord aged.

She stopped before Revan, stiffed-back and poised, ready to respond to anything that might happen.

Revan smiled, yes this girl could go far, "I have been watching you, and your skills are very impressive apprentice. What is your name?"

The apprentice starred at Revan faceless mask and bowed deeply, "My name is Shalla Uln, Lord Revan."

Revan crossed his arms slowly and nodded, "Well Shalla Uln, I'm not sure if you have heard, but my apprentice, Bastila Shan, has been captured by the Republic and I will need a new apprentice. Your have good skills, but without firm guidance they will falter and you will fall to someone weaker than you. If you are willing to take the risk, you shall be my new apprentice and I will teach you in the dark arts of the a Sith Lord."

Shalla bowed deeply, her blonde hair falling beside her head, "You honor me with your request Lord Revan. I will gladly accept the risks in becoming your apprentice, my Master."

Revan nodded, "Now return to your room and wait for me to send for you. Ready yourself for your training for I will push you to the edge of your abilities and beyond."

Shalla bowed again and walked away.

Revan followed Shalla's shapely form through his mask's eye holes, with an evil smile on his hidden lips. Shalla would make an excellent apprentice indeed, until he recaptured Bastila; then Bastila's Battle Meditation would make her too valuable to the Sith for Revan to trust her with any other Sith Master than himself and Shalla would have to be disposed of.

A loud roar overhead announced the arrival of the first Sith transports carrying the officers of the Sith Fleet, with grim anticipation Revan thought to himself, So it begins, my final step to reclaiming my title as the Dark Lord of the Sith and the leadership of the Sith Empire. He smiled wickedly; This day will go down in history as the day when the Republic heard my name a shook itself to its very foundations.