Star Wars
The Eternal Enlightenment
Act 2
While the rest of the known galaxy remains ignorant to the ever-shifting politics of Wild Space, the Eternal Empire of Zakuul celebrates as it welcomes its first member, the colony world of the newly-named Westeros, after the continent. For his valor, diplomatic service, and military genius, the Immortal Emperor Valkorion has made the young Knight-Commander Silas Tirall the first of the Exarchs.
As the first Exarch, Silas Tirall bears a heavy responsibility of overseeing the planet's transformation into a proper resource planet, but he has proven that he is up to the task; Silas has reformed the governments of Westeros to a more centralized and self-maintaining system, while also removing much of the power inherent to former lords of vast territories. Although many native Westerosi and Essosi lords and burghers resent the Zakuulans for changing their way of life, some have started to cooperate with their new overlords and have already become influential members within Westeros, chief among them is House Lannister.
However, not all goes well for the Zakuulans: there are rumors of a secret rebellion that seeks to drive them from the planet for good, and while most of Westeros and Essos has fallen to the might of the Eternal Fleet, the vast plains of the horselords, the Dothraki Sea, remains the last stretch of land that is not part of the Empire.
From his newly gifted Star Fortress, Exarch Tirall keeps a close eye on the politics of all of Westeros. However, he has sensed a disturbance within the Force, and he has summoned his council to learn what could have caused such a shift of power...
Star Fortress above Westeros - 297 AC
"-are pleased to report that the fuel refineries ahead of schedule, your Excellency. We estimate that by the end of the month, we will have the entire fleet ready for the next run back to Zakuul."
"And the tributes?"
"All sectors report green, your Excellency. Coordinates for their designated pick-up location has been given to their corresponding ships."
In the command center of the Star Fortress, Silas sat in his meditation pod while using his private holo-terminal with several of his overseers on the monthly status report. In the short time that Zakuul has been here, all of Westeros has changed: after it was announced that Silas was made the Exarch and Overlord of Westeros, he had wasted no time in draining the planet's vast natural resources. From the Westerlands, Stormlands, and Vale lied many great quarries and each day precious minerals were mined out of the earth to be sent back to Zakuul. After a small rebellion led by the Tyrells of the Reach, Silas demonstrated the full power of his Eternal Fleet and had the Hightower along with most of Oldtown turned into a ruin. He then turned both the Reach and Riverlands into vast plantations, while in the North and Dorne lied many precious oils and fuel, thus Silas had ordered many oil-drills and fuel refineries built. Unfortunately for the native Westerosi, this has greatly changed the face of their realm, and it is not only the western continent that has changed under Zakuul's rule.
In Essos, many of the Free Cities were more than willing to submit to the Eternal Empire after witnessing the Star Fortress entering the planet's orbit. The pirates of the Stepstones once tried to attack a Eternal warship on route from the Summer Isles; now there are no Stepstone left, with all of the pirates either dead or long-gone. For the most part, the Zakuulans left Valyria alone. Grand Scion Heskal had requested to lead an expedition, but Silas denied it, stating that Valyria held little significance for Zakuul in terms of resources.
However, not all has changed for the worst: realizing that their new subjects needed better transportation along with a faster, more safer route, the Zakuulans had retraced the old Kingsroad and Valyrian Road, established multiple cities between them and had begun training the natives in basic military training. Initially, Exarch Silas considered giving the natives modern weapons such as the vibro-blade and blasters, but ultimately decided against it, and had the standing armies of Westeros be trained in every weaponry that the Zakuulans could teach.
As a symbolic gesture, he had made Tywin Lannister his chief advisor and liaison between Zakuul and Westeros, leaving him with many of the administrative and judicial duties required to run the planet. In return, Tywin, his family, and most loyal subjects were given priority to anything about the modern galactic custom that Silas deemed them ready for. As agreed, Silas let the Lannisters keep their home of Casterly Rock, but kept a close eye on them from his Star Fortress - the mighty space station that no native was allowed in.
At a request from his new Knight-Commander Delothrea, Silas has authorized several academies built around the world with teaching droids to educate both current and future generations of natives in the basic principles, language, mathematics, history, etc. about the Eternal Empire. It wasn't a major success for obvious reasons, but since most of those academies were self-run and maintaining because most of the staff were droids, Silas allowed the schools to continue.
Realizing that the Zakuulans needed a planetary base of operations, Silas turned the castle of Harrenhal into their private fortress, outfitted with a small skytrooper factory, and a massive barrack for the Knights or Zakuulan military to use. Because the original castle's stones and layouts have fallen into disrepair over the years before their arrival, the Zakuulans essentially tore the entire castle down, but rebuilt their new base in the same image as the old Harrenhal, except made out of durasteel and aurodium. Now, Harrenhal rebuilt and serving as the central base of operations on the planet, while also holding the Star Fortress' primary shield generator - as a extra measure of precaution - all of Westeros may now see the glory under Zakuulan rule.
"Very well, overseers. If there is nothing to report, you are all dismissed," said Silas.
"Thank you, your Excellency," murmured the overseers, except for one: the overseer of Pentos.
"Overseer Nilraan. Do you have something else to report?" asked Silas, turning back around to the holo-terminal.
"Forgive me, your Excellency, I would not dare to take up more of your time. I am afraid that we have a situation that requires your attention," said the projection of Overseer Nilraan. "During my weekly inspection of the city, one of my patrols have reported that they have recently felt a... disturbance in the Force. When I went with the patrol to see for myself, I too felt the great shift, specifically, in one of the magisters' palace."
Silas pondered on this piece of news before he replied. "Do you believe someone in the palace is Force-sensitive?"
"That was my suspicion, your Excellency. However, when I arrived at the palace in question, the disturbance instantly vanished, but later reappeared after we inspected and left the palace," said Overseer Nilraan.
"Hmm. If this is true, then his Immortal Majesty will want to learn of this as soon as possible," said Silas. "I will contact the Emperor and will let you know what he commands. In the meantime, I will send one of Heskal's Scion to help further understand this situation."
"Yes, your Excellency," said Overseer Nilraan's projection before it turned off.
Silas, making sure the room had complete privacy, turned on the holo-terminal for Emperor Valkorion. After a few seconds, the holo-projection of the Emperor appeared.
"Your Glorious Majesty, forgive me for my disturbance," kneeled Silas.
"Speak, child of Tirall."
"Your Immortal Majesty, I have recently learned of a situation that warrants your attention. One of my overseers has reported feeling a disturbance in the Force, but stated that when he went further to inspect the matter, the source of the disturbance vanished, only to reappear after he left. I have reason to believe that this is the cause of some native recently discovering their force-sensitivity."
"...Who?"
"We currently do not have an identity, and we could be entirely wrong about the situation, your Immortal Majesty. However, we wanted to know of your desire before we proceed any further."
Silence. The holo-projection of Valkorion closed his eyes for a moment, only to reveal his flashing bright, orange eyes.
"Interesting... Exarch Tirall, find this girl and bring her to me."
"At...at once, your Immortal Majesty."
And with that, the holo-projection of Valkorion switched off.