Lord Frennus' Headquarters

Darth Komo had contacted Darth Nox, telling him via holo-transmitter, "Dark Lord, I've instructed my apprentice, Lord Frennus, to arrange for quarters for you and your servants. I hope you will find them adequate."

The huge, luxurious condominium didn't have the splendor of his penthouse palace on Dromund Kaas.

"It's barely adequate," Nox thought.

Nox had wanted to see how well he was going to be treated before going to Frennus' headquarters. He took a detour to the luxury residence, before going to the headquarters. He had learned over the years that how lavishly he was showered with gifts, from his potential rivals and enemies, was a telling gauge for how much resistance he would have to deal with from the gift givers.

Already, Darth Nox could tell he was going to have to be extra careful when dealing with these Sith. Darth Komo was one of Darth Acina's people, serving in her Sphere of Technology. Despite Komo's good manners in his office as he hosted Nox, he could see from this heavily veiled insult, that he was not especially welcome on Taris.

Not only did Komo not give him accommodations worthy of his station, specifically a mansion of his own, but they moved him into a condominium. Nox, was terribly offended.

He thought aloud, "I've been lumped together with commoners as my neighbors."

To be sure, they were wealthy, powerful industrialists, merchants, shippers, and government officials, but they were commoners.

This also left Nox to wonder, "He didn't expect me to bunk with my servants, too. Did he? Where will my servants stay?"

Nox had dismissed the droids that were appointed to the third story condominium and told his ship droid, "Sweep this place for bugs, electronic and otherwise. Maintain the security here at all times, and see to my personal needs while I reside here."

2V-R8 replied, "It will be my pleasure, Master. I shall begin immediately." Then, off he went.

Khem Val, having returned from scouting the luxury condominium for assassins, traps, and spying devices, stood before his master and reported, "Master, this hovel is safe. I will scout the rest of this building and learn who lives below you."

Nox, sensing Khem's irritation, replied, "Do not overly inconvenience the occupants. Keep a low profile, for now."

Khem Val replied hotly, "That fat one with the dead eyes should have given you this whole building! You are a Dark Lord on the Dark Council!"

Nox warned his servant, "Khem, don't eat anyone without asking me about it first, understand?"

Resigning himself to postpone his next hunt, Khem Val spoke glumly to his master, "I hope I shall battle soon at your side, my master. I am famished."

Nox, himself suddenly becoming irritated, replied impatiently, "Let us waste no more time here! Let us go to Frennus' offices. You can scout the building later."

"As my master wishes," Khem Val replied, bowing his head.

Nox had decided to make Komo pay for his insolence later, but he quickly put such thoughts on the back burner as he and Khem Val made their way to the condominium's exit.

Frennus was most anxious. He most dreaded his coming encounter with the Dark Lord, now on his way to his offices. A signal chimed from his holo-projector. Lord Frennus got up from behind his desk and walked out of his office. He walked down the corridor to the lobby of his headquarters and found his military staff already gathered and in formation, as well as his apprentice.

Just as he reached his place in front of his staff, the door slid open and in walked a hulking green beast in heavy armor. He looked the place over briefly, and then stepped to one side. Then, in walked the Dark Lord of The Sith, a member of the Dark Council, and overseer of the Sphere of Ancient Knowledge, Darth Nox.

Lord Frennus stepped forward and bowing deeply, said, "I am deeply honored by your presence, my august Dark Lord. Command me, and I will serve! What is your will?"

Darth Nox snapped testily, "Of course you will serve! What other choice have you? Take me to your office. We will speak there."

Frennus was stung by Nox's brusqueness and stirred uneasily, shifting his weight back and forth slightly from foot to foot, but he replied with reverence in his tone, "This way, my Dark Lord."

Nox effected not to notice Frennus' fidgeting, but instead looked at the Imperial officers in formation and asked, "Are you Black Ops or regular forces?"

The commanding officer, a Human in his late fifties with greying hair, a well kept, bushy mustache, mutton chop sideburns, and clean shaven chin, answered, "My dark lord, Darth Nox, I am Colonel Igus Nann, commanding the 256th Imperial Infantry Brigade."

Nox replied, "Then return to your duties."

Nox quickly forgot the colonel, putting him out of his mind, as he proceeded to follow Frennus to his office.

Colonel Nann replied to Nox's receding back, "As you command, Dark Lord."

He returned to attention and waited for all of the Sith to exit the lobby before commanding his subordinate officers to return to their posts.

Frennus opened the sliding door to his office and stood to one side, to let Nox pass, saying, "Please, enter, Dark Lord."

Nox wasted no time, nor words, and walked straight to the back of Frennus' desk and sat in his chair. Nox, then, immediately began accessing Frennus' computer. Nox, shook his head in the negative, disgust showed on his face.

He thought disapprovingly of Frennus' computer, "It's not even pass-phrase protected."

Frennus labored to mask his outrage at Nox's audacity to sit at his desk and rifle through his computer. However, he labored even more to mask his growing fear at what Nox would find. Nox read Frennus' most recent reports and noticed there were several iterations of the same report, with each iteration white-washing the severity of the situation until the final version was so convoluted that, unless you'd read the original version, you'd miss the nuggets of truth buried in the sea of verbiage.

Frennus, drenched in his own sweat, worked to keep his breathing under control. His apprentice was standing quite a ways away from his master, also apprehensive, but not to the extent of his master. Nox was about to speak, but stopped when he noticed that the author of the original report was not Frennus.

Nox asked, "Who is Vulgren?"

Now the apprentice stirred with anguish in his eyes.

He said, "I am, Dark Lord."

Frennus became annoyed that his apprentice answered before he did, but he kept silent.

Nox nodded in realization, having gotten the gist of what was happening.

Looking at Frennus, he asked to confirm his suspicions, "So, your apprentice submits a report to you. Then you rewrite it, and then submit the updated version to your master, Darth Komo. Is that about right?"

Frennus replied, "My apprentice's writing style is too plain, Dark Lor..."

A blinding flash of light accompanied by an ear splitting crack saw to it that Lord Frennus never got to finish what he'd intended to say. Darth Nox, sitting at the late Frennus' desk, lowered his finger and began to softly tap the desk top with it, as he shifted his eyes over to Vulgren.

Nox challenged him, "Your master is dead, Vulgren. What are you going to do about it?"

Vulgren, a Human in his early thirties with light brown hair, turned his eyes down toward the smoldering body of his dead master.

He thought to himself in great awe and in growing fear, "Killed with a single bolt of Force Lightning from the Dark Lord's finger!"

Then, returning his eyes to Nox, he said with a slightly quavering voice, "I am unworthy to even consider asking for a promotion, Dark Lord, but until my dead master's post is filled, I shall do what is required until his replacement arrives."

He could see from Darth Nox's expression that the dark lord was dissatisfied with that answer.

Hoping to evade what he felt was his own impending death, Vulgren added, "Unless my dark lord wishes me to return immediately to Darth Komo for reassignment..."

His tone dripping with disdain, Darth Nox said, "For the time being, you are in charge until Darth Komo decides what to do about a replacement for that pile of filth staining the carpet."

Vulgren, suppressing a sigh of relief, only replied, "As you say, Dark Lord." To himself, Vulgren thought, "I have escaped death."

Nox, remembering that Khem Val was hungry, shifted his eyes towards him and asked, "Do you want it?"

Khem Val looked at the master-less apprentice and said, "That little one smells tastier than his master." Then, pointing to the still smouldering corps of the late Lord Frennus, said, "This one will not do. It is overcooked."

Nox replied with slight irritation in his tone, "Suit yourself." Then returning his attention to Vulgren, commanded, "Order this mess cleaned up, then take me to your office."

Vulgren replied as he bowed, "As you wish Dark Lord."

He hid his surprise that the Dashade had turned down a chance to eat a Force user. Then he began to worry, as he realized that the Dashade had said, that he smelled tastier than his late master. Vulgren took out his personal holo-transmitter and summoned a few droids to clean up the mess.

Then, bowing deeply, he said, "Follow me, Dark Lord. This way to my office."

Darth Nox got up from behind the deceased Sith lord's desk and followed Vulgren out the door and down the hallway to another suite of offices. There were military staffers inside pouring over reports and updating computer generated maps with known enemy locations, estimated enemy numbers, and suspected enemy activities. Vulgren led Nox past the busy hive of officers to an inner office. He then offered Nox his own seat behind his desk.

Nox sat behind Vulgren's desk and immediately commanded, "Hold nothing back. Tell me the situation and what can be done about it, or what should have been done about it. Then tell me what is actually being done."

Vulgren replied, "As you wish, Dark Lord. Permit me to summon the intelligence officer."

Nox nodded his approval. Vulgren turned about and opened the door to his office.

Then he called out, "Captain Mels, get in here! Now!"

An Imperial military intelligence officer, a Human in his forties with black hair and mustache precisely trimmed to thin black angled lines above his lip, entered the office. He stood to attention before Vulgren's desk and stomped his boot.

He reported crisply to Darth Nox, "Captain Rannesh Mels, Military Intelligence, reporting as ordered, Dark Lord. How may I serve?"

Vulgren, standing at the side of his desk, told him, "Darth Nox, Dark Lord of The Sith, has asked for a complete briefing. Tell him everything on enemy unit strengths, locations, and activities."

Rannesh said, "As you wish, my lord." Then turning to Nox asked, "Dark Lord, do you wish a brief assessment, or do you wish a comprehensive report?"

Nox replied, "Comprehensive."

Rannesh replied, "We have a conference room, complete with maps and holo-projectors which is more suitable for that. If the dark lord wishes a comprehensive report, please follow me to it. Or I can do my best to give that report here, if it is the dark lord's desire."

Darth Nox hid his growing frustration and said, "Give it to me here." Then, sensing a storm of nonsense coming, said with slight irritation in his tone, "I've changed my mind. Give me a summary."

Rannesh sensed Nox's growing impatience and replied crisply, launching into his report, "As you say, Dark Lord. The enemy comprises of local militia, estimated at about twenty thousand rebels. They are supported by Republic Commandos behind the scenes. We do not have a firm fix on their numbers, Dark Lord. This is because there is increasing evidence that many of the militia are actually Republic Commandos disguised as locals.

"If that is the case, then it would explain why the militia seemed so much better than our Imperial forces operating in the field. We estimated..."

Nox interrupted the captain, incredulity in his voice, "Did I just hear you admit that Republic forces are superior to Imperial forces?"

Vulgren winced, and Rannesh stammered, "Wha- what I-I me- meant was that we have co- common infantry f- forces in the field, which wo- would be adequate to put down an ordinary rebellion or regular Republic f- forces," Rannesh swallowed hard, then continued, "but we are facing a large number of elite Republic Commandos, Dark Lord."

Nox let the silence that followed stretch a bit as he considered whether the Imperial officers stationed on Taris were cowed by the enemy.

He said in a tone bordering on disgust, "Very well. Continue."

Rannesh was greatly relieved to be allowed to remain among the living. A few moments before he was called into Vulgren's office, three droids had come out of Frennus' office with his corps on a hover gurney and cleaning equipment. Fear and dread that a purge had just commenced, had spread throughout the headquarters like a wildfire.

Rannesh resumed his report. "Yes, Dark Lord. Our original estimate was for a few dozen Republic Commandos on the planet supporting up to twenty thousand local militia. We are starting to get evidence that suggest there are actually at least several hundred, perhaps up to a thousand commandos. We have come to believe that they are actually the ones conducting sabotage operations against our facilities throughout the Imperial Settlement Region, and not the local militia forces, as we had originally believed.

"Meanwhile, the local militia carry out ordinary ambushes and combat patrols in the forests. They've been attacking our security patrols and stealing military weapons, supplies and munitions."

Nox interrupted again, asking in disbelief, "How long have you had this information?"

Rannesh, sweat running down his temples, answered, "Dark Lord, we began to suspect this was the case starting a few weeks ago, but this is the first hard evidence that we've obtained to substantiate our suspicions."

Nox demanded, "What evidence?"

Rannesh gulped, then answered, "Dark Lord, we were able to recover some of the corpses of the enemy that were killed in a few of the operations conducted against some of our bases, and we found that they were not locals. We were able to identify some of them as known Republic Commandos, and we found identifiers on the corpses that suggested they belonged to several different units."

Rannesh's heart pounded in his chest as he worked to control his breathing.

Nox, disbelief showing on his face and shaking his head, asked, "How long has this been going on, these commando attacks?"

Rannesh answered, his right eye and cheek twitching, "For the last six months, Dark Lord."

Nox turned his head to look at Vulgren, incredulity on his face, and asked, "And it's just now dawning on you that you've been facing strong Republic activity, here?"

Vulgren was, himself, quite a bit nervous, but he replied coolly, "Dark Lord, this was the first evidence that we've been able to obtain to make the case for more substantive Imperial military support."

Nox, shaking his head in the negative, said, "Then the two Imperial Black Ops teams sent here by Darth Komo are insufficient, and also not needed. What are needed are shock troops, but you have none on-world, nor are you likely to get any. The war is spreading throughout the galaxy, and Taris is just not important enough to warrant additional military assets."

Rannesh won Darth Nox's grudging approval when he spoke up despite his great fear and said, "Forgive my impertinence, Dark Lord, but we could use those Black Ops teams to track the Commandos to their bases. If we knew where, then we could launch attacks on their own bases."

Vulgren added, "It would also help us figure out which local settlements are supporting Republic operations. Not all of the locals are rebelling. If we could figure out which, we could punish the rebels without losing the support of those loyal to the Empire."

Nox thought a moment before giving his approval, then said, "Very well. I'll let you keep the Black Ops teams. I don't know what Darth Komo had to do to get them to come to Taris, but at least it won't be a complete waste." Nox turned to Rannesh and said, "Dismissed, Captain."

Rannesh, already at attention, stomped his boot again and shouted, almost joyously, "My life for yours, Dark Lord!"

He turned about and marched out of the office. He was immensely relieved to have survived the purge.

Nox turned to Vulgren and asked, "What have you been doing up until now," He effected forgetting his name, "uh..., what was your name?"

Vulgren replied, careful to pin the blame for the failed policies to his dead master, "My name is Vulgren, Dark Lord. Lord Frennus' plan of action was to increase the military's presence at the settlements, and to conduct door to door searches for evidence of rebels, weapons, munitions, etc."

Nox leaned back in Vulgren's chair and settled in to listen as Vulgren continued his report, "All that has managed to accomplish has been to stretch our forces very thinly and to earn the ire of the locals loyal to the Empire. The citizenry don't like our troops breaking their pottery and their windows."

Vulgren meant the part about the broken pottery and windows as bit of humor. He wanted to lighten the mood a little. However, Vulgren's weak smile faded away entirely as Darth Nox's dour countenance told him that his humor was not very well received.

Again, pretending having difficulty remembering his name, Nox asked, "What do you plan to do now, uh... Vulgeron, was it?"

Vulgren replied, carefully ignoring Nox's attempts at provocation, "As Captain Mels suggested, I'd like to locate the commandos' hidden bases and conduct simultaneous attacks on all of them with our forces. Then I'll turn my attention to those settlements that have been supporting the commandos against the Empire. I'll smash their rebel militia, and conduct investigations to ferret out the agitators among the citizenry." Then he added, as politely as he could manage, "It is Vulgren, Dark Lord. Vul-gren."

Vulgren tried to hide his growing fear. For the life of him, he could not fathom why the Dark Lord seemed to be taunting him.

Then he wondered to himself, "Or is the dark lord really that bad at remembering names?"

Vulgren didn't believe that for one instant.

Nox thought to himself, "These men delude themselves! First they say there are up to a thousand Republic Commandos, and now they think that a couple of Black Ops teams could ferret them all out for a simultaneous attack. Will that not also stretch our forces thinly?" Aloud he said, "Notify me when you've found the commandos. Do not conduct any operations without consulting me, first."

The fact that Darth Nox had given him orders meant that he would have to be alive to carry them out.

A great wave of relief washed over Vulgren, as he replied, "Yes, Dark Lord."

Nox thought, with slightly less disdain, "He fears me, but he is not afraid to correct me. At least he is no coward."

Without preamble to indicate a change in the subject matter, Nox commanded, "Summon the local ranking officer of the Imperial Reclamation Service."

Vulgren was taken off balance from the sudden change in the discussion. He also became dismayed, because he had nothing good to say about that either.

Regretfully, he reported to Nox, "I'm deeply sorry, Dark Lord. Those fellows are deep in the ruins of Taris. They're very far from the reclaimed areas. It will be a few days before she could get here."

His patience gone, and his irritation fully expressed, Nox snapped, "Even by shuttle?! Don't they have a local office nearby?!"

Vulgren, a look of deep regret on his face, shook his head slowly in the negative and said, "No, Dark Lord. I'm very sorry that I cannot give a more satisfactory reply to that. Shuttles are in short supply and are primarily used to ferry equipment, supplies, and personnel down from the orbital station, and then back up again. Also, they don't have an office anywhere in any of the settlements. They just keep to the deep ruins doing what they do."

Nox, shaking his head in disbelief and frustration, thought to himself, "Acina is too tightfisted with her support for this operation! Stupid wench!" Aloud, Nox ordered, "Tell the ranking officer to report to me at my quarters. Be sure she knows it is I who summons her."

Vulgren replied with resolve in his tone, "As you wish, Dark Lord. I shall do what I can to get her here, to you, quickly."

Nox didn't acknowledge Vulgren's pledge to accomplish his wish, but simply moved on to the next item on his agenda, saying, "There is another matter."

Vulgren nodded his head, signifying he was ready for Nox's next commands, and asked, "Yes, Dark Lord?"

Nox commanded, "I want you to make available an office for my servant, Darth Xalek. He will be conducting a search through a massive pile of data that will be made available to him from Darth Komo and needs someplace he can work."

Glad that for the first time he had something positive to say, Vulgren suggested, "Dark Lord, if it pleases you, Darth Xalek can use Lord Frennus' office."

Nox, nodding his approval, said, "That will do." Then he ordered brusquely, "Now, leave me. I must consult with Darth Komo."

Vulgren bowed deeply and said, "As you wish, my lord. I am deeply honored to be of use to you."

He then turned about and left his own office, letting the door slide shut behind him. He was just glad to have survived the purge, and didn't care about the indignity of being ejected from his own office.

Nox contacted Komo. When Darth Komo replied to the holo-transmitter, he seemed deeply annoyed, thinking the call was from Vulgren.

He fumed, "How dare you dial my frequency directly, you..."

Komo, realizing in horror that it was Darth Nox on the holo, quickly changed his tone.

Speaking quickly, he said, "Oh! Forgive me, Dark Lord! I thought it was the apprentice of that fool of a servant, Frennus."

Then he quickly changed the subject so that Nox would have no chance to chastise him, adding, "Since you are calling from Vulgren's office. I take it the fools are dead, then?"

Since Komo quickly corrected himself, Nox let Komo's initial disrespect towards him pass, and simply replied, "Frennus is out of the way. He'd been lying to you. The situation is a lot worse than you had understood.

"The Republic has committed a strong commando presence on Taris, and has probably turned some of the settlements against the Empire." Nox concluded with disapproval in his tone, "You have a full rebellion about to explode from under your very feet, Komo."

Darth Komo remained silent. He didn't know what to say to that. Darth Nox caught the surprised expression that briefly flashed on Komo's face when Nox told him the news.

Nox spoke without waiting to see what Komo would say, telling him, "I've left Vulgren in charge until he proves himself, or until you find someone better suited to run this operation. His reports to his former master were succinct and accurate. He listens to his officers, and he has better sense and a better grasp of what needs to be done, than his dead master. It is why he still breaths."

Komo, finally finding his voice, replied, "I'll leave him at his post until he's proven himself or until I see the situation is beyond his abilities."

Nox nodded his approval, then asked, "What does that say about the rest of your operations on Taris?"

Komo answered, "I'm going to go on a tour and have a personal look, for myself. If my apprentice has been lying to me, so may be my other servants."

Again, Nox nodded his approval.

Suddenly changing the subject, and speaking as though his feelings were hurt, Nox said to Komo, "As a Dark Lord on the Dark Council, I did not realize I only rated a single apartment in a tiny three story building..."

Komo's face became a mask of stunned shock, and harrowing dismay. He was filled with a sense of sinking dread, and shook his head slowly as his mouth dropped open. Komo raised his hand to his face, and rested his face in its palm, his head still shaking slowly from side to side.

Nox, not letting Komo speak, continued in that hurt feelings tone, saying, "Are the occupants living below my apartment so important, that I can't have the rest of the building for myself?" He didn't give Komo a chance to reply as he stated the obvious in a business-like tone, "I need more space for my staff. They'll need accommodations while I'm here on my own personal business."

Komo, recovering his voice - again, said, "If Frennus had still lived, I would have tormented him for days on end until he finally succumbed to his wounds. I beg your forgiveness, Dark Lord. I will correct his blunder, personally."

Nox added, "My servants shall work from Frennus' old office. Send the data I've asked for, there."

Nox cut the transmission without giving Komo a chance to reply.

Darth Nox thought for a bit, and speculated, "He is either a masterful liar, or Frennus completely mishandled the matter of my accommodations."

Nox got up from behind Vulgren's desk and walked out of his office. Khem Val followed his master out, silently.

Nox saw Vulgren in consultations with Colonel Igus Nann and said to him, "I'll see myself out. Get to work. You should start by bringing Darth Komo up to speed with what's really been happening around here."

Vulgren bowed deeply, glad to have survived the inquiries of an angry Dark Lord of The Sith, and answered, "As you say, my dark lord, Darth Nox."

Nox left the headquarters.

"My headquarters!" Vulgren thought to himself.

He was finally able to relax – a little bit, and revel in the fact that he now commanded in the stead of his failure of a master. He was under no illusions however that the situation would last, but he figured that if he showed some results, Darth Nox might not kill him and Darth Komo might keep him as commander.

Komo complied with Nox's requirements for additional quarters by giving Nox the rest of the luxury condominium building he now occupied, in addition to the only other luxury condominium building in the cul-de-sac on the hill overlooking Imperial Settlement Number Three. Within the hour, the remaining occupants of both luxury condominium buildings were hurriedly evicted with all of their belongings. There was nothing they could do as Imperial soldiers, battle droids, and professional movers quickly and expertly packed the owners' belongings and hauled it all to storage – all at government expense.

The previous condominium owners would have to look for new homes on their own. They didn't raise any objections, either. How could they? The Sith were behind the loss of their homes. At the very least, the Empire covered all of the expenses to have their things packed and moved to storage, and they were given fair market value, in Imperial credits, for their confiscated homes.

Darth Xalek, Captain Talos Drellik, and Khem Val would soon occupy the condominiums in the second building, leaving Nox with a three story luxury condominium building to himself. All six condominiums in the two buildings were lavishly refurnished – all at government expense. Later that evening, Nox would charge 2V-R8 with managing both condominium complexes.