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"Hurry up and wait. That is what they tell you back in basic. You hurry to where the enemy will be and you wait. Sometimes you only wait for scarce moments before you see the enemy or it can be days… weeks… even months. War isn't fast, it isn't cheap and it isn't ever easy. Don't forget that, son. Don't forget what it can cost you."

~Commander Carth Onasi to Dustil Onasi during the Revanchist evacuation of Korriban~

Chapter 37: Maneuvers

Sleheyron wasn't much to look at. Like most Hutt worlds the natural beauty of the planet was all but gone, replaced with machinery, industrial waste and the filth of the massive aliens that controlled the populations of their worlds through vice, terror and pain. When, by galactic standards; a small fleet appeared from hyperspace, little was done immediately. Several of the smaller, less associated smuggling craft tried to initiate their hyper drives, only to find that the small, twelve-ship strike force descending upon them was equipped with Interdictor cruisers.

Panic immediately followed as thousands of small transports and freighters tried to escape the approaching Sith capitol ships. Flashes filled the space around Sleheyron as dozens of other ships appeared, all forming a sphere of nearly two hundred Capitol ships, their hulls painted a terrifying blood red and black that seemed to match the backdrop of space.

The Revanchists had come to Sleheyron and on the bridge of the Leviathan; Yuthura Ban inhaled deeply, her body tense and nearly trembling at the sight of the world that had enslaved her body and soul for so long. A general order was passed through the fleet and the Twi'lek Dark Jedi smiled grimly as Revan Qel-Droma's voice filled the ears of every Revanchist, Sith defector, Hutt, smuggler and slaver in the system.

"This is Darth Revan. Your system is now under the control of the Revanchists. Any resistance will be met with lethal force. Surrender your cargoes, your crews and yourselves and prepare to be judged for your crimes."A cheer rose up from the Revanchists, unheard over the vacuum of space as the only response was only chaos. Dozens of ships collided with one another in an attempt to escape while smugglers dumped their cargoes, living or not to try to hide their crimes.

Advanced sensors from the Sith ships catalogued each ship's identity and their cargoes before the panic had taken hold and Revan watched with a grim line to his lips as many of the life signs present in the system vanished abruptly.

"Revan to all ships, launch fighters to intercept all vessels. Disable only. Let the scum meet their ends at out blades, not our guns."Affirmations were broadcast from thousands of Sith fighters as the small, nimble craft shot from the fleet and launched ion-based charges at the fleeing and resisting freighters and transports.

Hours passed before the blasts filling the space around Sleheyron died down and the net of Revanchist ships closed tightly over the Hutt world, the Revanchist leader standing on the bridge of the flagship as he eyed the world's decaying surface critically.

Tibanna gas was produced in vast amounts on Sleheyron and if the Revanchists were to continue operating their weapons and ships, fuel was needed for the engines and weapons As a renewable resource, excreted from imported Beldon from Bespin, the state of Sleheyron's natural environment was not too dire for Revan to worry over the matter.

Everything Revan Qel-Droma needed to fight a war was on Sleheyron and the Hutt-controlled forces that moved to protect the mining platforms were sign enough that Revan did not have to worry about sabotage. The Hutts thought only of profit and there was no profit in fighting a war themselves. The defenders would be well-trained and likely equipped better than most of the Sith.

It was that reason that Revan was sending the Dark Jedi and the Elite Revanchist forces to secure the platforms.

"Begin maneuvers for planetary assault. You all have your targets, good hunting."

The space around Sleheyron was dead aside from the Revanchist fleet. Packs of Sith fighters hovered in stationary patterns as they kept the disabled smuggling and slaving craft under their guns, prepared to end the battle for those crews swiftly should the order come.

"Milord, the Hutt clan-leader is again attempting to contact us. He demands to know why the Sith are assaulting Hutt space and promises swift retribution."

Revan sneered briefly before the flash of an emotion passed and he merely waved away the communications officer's report. He wasn't running or interested in negotiating. The Hutts were strong when united, but they'd devolved into feuding clans since the Mandalorian Wars and without a strong threat, they would not be a threat.

"Within a few short weeks the Hutts will be nothing more than refugees, fleeing my empire like the cowards they are."Despite the political backlash of attacking the Hutts, which Revan did not care about, there was the underworld element to consider. The Exchange and the Genoharadin would likely start sending assassins to eliminate him, but that would be nothing new and Revan allowed himself a small smirk as he watched his forces take the tibanna mining platforms one by one, the highly-skilled and highly trained former Sith overcoming the Hutt's mercenaries with professional expedience.

There were casualties, yes, but it was a small price to pay for what was to be gained. A silent signal passed from each platform as the Revanchist special forces units took them and small gunboats and corvettes from the Revanchist fleet moved ahead to protect the captured assets while the heavier Interdictors targeted the planet's defense grid.

"Knock out their power first. I want as much chaos as possible. When the dust clears, pick your targets and eliminate anything that even points in our direction."

Orchestrating an invasion verbally over a communications network was not precisely what Revan was doing. Each ship's commanding officer had a sealed and hand-delivered packet of the battle plan and Revan was merely following the strategy he'd planned out days before verbally to coordinate better between the fleet.

It went off without a hitch and that was when Revan began to worry. As if summoned by his dark thoughts, a small group of heavily armed ships broke from the surface of Sleheyron, red-lining their engines as they tried desperately to escape.

"Please tell me those are the slugs running away."Revan muttered, his arms crossing over his chest as he watched the ships fall from the sky, crashing down to Sleheyron's surface as Ion-cannons mounted on the Interdictors took them out of the sky.

"Hostile ships have been disabled. Shall we send a retrieval squad?"Revan pondered the situation for a moment before nodding and ordering a legion of regular Sith infantry into the field. While not as well-trained, the Revanchists had plenty of grunts willing to fight and it was the drive to free those crushed beneath the corruption of the Hutts that gave the Revanchists something to strive for. Something more than galactic domination.

Of course, Revan still wanted to hold dominion over the Republic and Sith Empire, but he knew it would be a long and complicated road to travel when the resources of the Star Forge were to intangible.

"Mission had better come through. For her own good. Bastila will rip the message I implanted in the girl's mind out easily enough and cooperation will ensure her continued survival."

Brushing his left hand over the base of his mask, Revan ran his fingers over the Mandalorian metal thoughtfully. Carth and Kaera were too predictable. They'd call in everything the Republic had to take the Star Forge and Malak would do the same to defend his prize.

The battle would hinge not upon who had more soldiers or ships or who was better trained. The fate of the Republic and the Sith Empires would rest in Bastila Shan's hands and Revan closed his eyes briefly, reaching deeply into the Force as it flowed with him, pressing deeply into his mind and feeling the connection he shared with the young woman.

Bastila was closer now and Revan sent a calming reassurance to the former Jedi Padawan that could have been mistaken for comfort, thought Bastila would know precisely what it was.

Awakening with a start, Bastila Shan, Sith apprentice of Darth Malak gasped as she hastily checked her surroundings. An alien feeling had pressed upon her mind and while she should have felt violated, the sensation had warmed her cold heart briefly.

Revan had opened his mind to her, had brought himself close enough to her so that they could share their feelings and with an excited sigh, Bastila melted into the comfort of Revan's mind. It had once been a dark and terrifying place, filled with nightmares and torments that now seemed so trivial.

Bastila had survived the tortures of the Sith and had come out stronger than ever and the Dark Lady of the Sith allowed a cold, cruel smile to grace her lips as she returned Revan's message with one of her own, one that reciprocated the mutual necessity and respect they had developed in their travels together.

She might have called it love, if it had not felt so formal in Revan's thoughts. It was more respect than passion, more an acknowledgement than adoration. Bastila had forgotten love in her years as a Jedi, but she knew what she felt for Revan and what he had felt for her was as close as she would ever get to the emotion, as close as she wished to be.

Revan had saved her mother, had given her family peace by recovering her father's remains and his holocron and no matter how deeply Malak's tortures had twisted her, Bastila knew Revan did not do such things out of selfishness or a means of tricking her.

Revan had genuinely felt the need to honor the man who had brought her into the galaxy and the woman who had carried her within her womb. Family had meant everything to Bastila as a child and she had clung to that shred of light, to that glimpse of love and normalcy and family and had felt a primal, almost overwhelming need to share that with Revan. To know that Revan did not want her as an apprentice but as an equal, as a partner in all things had filled Bastila with what had been stolen from her by the Jedi and the Sith.

She loved him, even if he was unaware of love himself. Even if he was incapable of feeling it as deeply as she, Bastila knew Revan held an affection and attraction for her that would not be tainted by lust or greed or power. Revan would come, and Bastila would give the Empire of the Sith back to its rightful leader before taking her place at his side, as his equal, his partner, his lover and his Empress.

Doubts were crushed swiftly when they surfaced, the connection with Revan's mind filling Bastila with the certainty that had driven Revan's trust for her. Their bond allowed them to see the truth of the other's thoughts and feelings and Bastila knew with absolute certainty what was required of her and she would not hesitate when the time came.

Days had passed since the siege of Sleheyron had begun and the Revanchists had risen victorious if not a little bloodied from the encounter. Several Dark Jedi and special forces units had been slain along with the gunboat protecting their mining platform when a ground emplacement had fired upon the captured station and the wreckage and bodies of Sith fighters and soldiers floated in space or lay in the streets of the former Hutt world as slaves were brought from the captured ships in orbit and the mines, shipyards and hovels covering the industrial world's surface.

On every monitor in the system, across every communications grid on the planet, Darth Revan spoke to the slaves, offering them a dream that few of the weary and downtrodden masses even hoped to believe.

"You are free of your servitude to the Hutts. I leave the fate of your former masters and slave drivers in your hands… at least those that survived your liberation. I welcome you all to join the Revanchist cause. Should you chose to fight you will be provided with armor, weapons and the training and food needed to become a soldier in my army. Should you choose to remain here and work, you will be provided food and payment for your service. Your lives are yours and I ask nothing of you except that you remember the tyranny you suffered here. Such filth cannot be allowed to exist and I ask that you not contribute further. Chose your path, for you are all free and masters of your own fate."It was short for a speech, but Revan did not wish to get long-winded. There was little to be said to those freed except what had already passed through his lips. They would make their own choices and hopefully it would not interfere with his plans for the galaxy.

Meeting with the ship's commanders and a dozen Dark Jedi and Special Forces soldiers, Revan decided to leave the system under the control of Yuthura Ban. The former slave would see that justice was served and would not allow the system and world to degenerate into the cesspool of crime, torment and evil that it had been.

Nothing so noble drove Revan, though. To him, slavery was a weakness. Forcing others to do the work for you made one lazy and unskilled. It offered little rewards aside from simple vices that he had long ago denied himself. Revan liberated Sleheyron simply due to the world's combination of resources. Former slaves made excellent soldiers and workers when they felt they owed it to their liberator or they were given the freedom to choose. Revan cared little for the Hutts anyways and soon the former Jedi Knight and deposed Dark Lord of the Sith would unite the Revanchist stronghold of Roon with the nearby Hutt-controlled systems as the fleet liberated world after world.

So long as the former slaves were treated in a reasonable manner, Revan knew his plan would work to his advantage. With the ability to unite the Hutt system's resources without the corruption of the Hutts interfering, the Revanchists would soon be a power to be reckoned with.

"Milord, a moment."Revan turned to see a Sephi man approaching him. The man was tall and graceful as most of the eleven-like sentients were and his blonde hair was pale white in some parts, telling of his advanced age. It would not have surprised the Revanchist if the man was a veteran of Freedon Nadd's war centuries before.

"May I help you?"Revan asked. The Sephi paused and stared for a long moment into the slit in Revan's faceless mask before he spoke, his voice as calm and collected as a Jedi's.

"My name is Tarak Val'kar. I was a Jedi learner centuries ago before I fell in love with another of my kind and chose a life on Bandomeer."

Already bored with the man, Revan crossed his arms impatiently and fell back on Jedi training to maintain his calm. It wouldn't do to kill a man on the streets just for having a conversation with him that bored him.

"I am sorry, Mister Val'kar, but I am needed on my flagship within the hour, would you mind getting to the point?"Pausing with uncertainty, the Sephi lowered his head a moment before raising his green eyes to meet Revan's faceless mask once more.

"The Genoharadin do not appreciate interlopers."

The sense of danger within the Force strangely didn't come and Revan frowned at the Sephi, reading deeply into the man's aura before realizing it was not a threat, but a warning.

"I thank you for your concern, Tarak. I will be wary."

Tarak shook his head, his eyes flashing in concerned annoyance.

"You do not understand, Milord. I offer my skills to your cause. You freed not only I, but my daughter from a life of horror and I can think of nothing else I can do to honor you. I- I was once a member of the Genoharadin in my reckless youth and I know how they operate. Allow me to serve you… allow my daughter to serve you. I ask you, one man to another. Let us repay our debt to you."Revan felt a flash of shame for his earlier impatience and frowned as the Sephi knelt before him.

"No debt is owed. You show yourself to be an honorable man and I say go home and care for your daughter-"The Sephi smirked, laughing lightly at Revan and shook his head, continuing to kneel before the Revanchist.

"My daughter is a grown woman, Milord. Before you turn us away so quickly, allow us a chance to bring justice to the galaxy."

Revan felt the Force shifting and turned to see a Sephi woman with light red hair and pale green eyes that matched Tarak's approaching him. The Force was certainly strong with the girl and Revan frowned as he considered the pair.

"Fair enough. Welcome to the Revanchists."Revan offered his hand to the man, pulling him to his feet while offering a slight nod of greeting to the man's daughter.

"What is your name, my dear?"Revan asked as he turned and made his way to his transport. The Sephi turned to her father, raising a brow before answering when her father offered a small nod, his fingers brushing against a concealed hilt in his waist-line.

"Aleco, for my mother."Aleco Stusea was the only Sephi Revan knew with that name and the Dark Lord blinked in momentary confusion before he turned, light saber in hand to deflect Tarak's strike. Taking the Sephi man's weapon-hand, Revan replaced his light saber to his belt, staring down at the man as he groaned in pain, holding the stump of his ruined hand while his daughter looked on with a frightened and agonized expression.

"A mistake to make this personal, Tarak."

Revan stated, using the Force to strangle the life out of the Sephi while his daughter watched on in horror. Feeling nothing for the execution once the Force took Tarak, Revan turned to the man's daughter.

"War took your mother and Revenge your father. Should you choose such a destructive path your end will be no different. I am the Lord of Revenge and should not be approached lightly. I am not one to be given Revenge so much as I am one to deal it out. Had I wanted your father to truly suffer it would have been you to die first."

Without waiting for a response, Revan used the Force to sever the vertebrae in Aleco Val'kar's neck. The Sephi woman joined her father in the Force and the Dark Lord stared down at the pair of corpses for a moment before turning and continuing on to his transport.

It was unfortunate to lose two potential Dark Jedi, but a vendetta such as the one the pair would have given him would hardly be worth the trouble. Before reaching his transport, Revan was again accosted, though this time by a Sith soldier in silver armor.

Even though the soldier was interrupting Revan's train of thought, the deposed Dark Lord welcomed the intrusion from the unwelcome hint of guilt that tried to fight its way to his conscious mind.

"What is it, soldier?"Revan asked calmly, offering a salute to the Sith as he gave one to Revan. The soldier paused at the gesture before voicing his purpose.

"Milord there was a smuggling vessel on its way to Nal Hutta transporting some spice and other contraband. The crew was interrogated and one claims to know you. She says her name is Taya Kenobi and she wants to know what the Hell is going on."Revan Qel-Droma's mind derailed momentarily in surprise at the familiar name. Taya had been a passable General and a decent strategist. She'd have made a fine Sith had she not lost her powers over Malachor V and Revan considered his options. Taya often relied on the Force when finalizing her battle plans, but her tactical mind was sound and she would make a reliable officer within the Revanchist ranks, should the exiled former Jedi General prove trustworthy.

Smirking at the prospect of seeing an old comrade again, one that knew Alec almost as well as he did and would likely feel the sting of betrayal and pain just as harshly, Revan gave the soldier an order for the smuggling ship, the crew and Taya to be brought to the Reclaimer before he boarded his transport and made his way to the flagship.

Sleheyron had proven to be a wise decision and the Lord of Revenge allowed his mind to drift to the possibilities once he recovered Bastila from Rakata Prime. Everything was going according to plan and unless Carth and Kaera were successful on Rakata and defeated Bastila, Revan had nothing to worry about.

Well, nothing until the True Sith got bored waiting around the Unknown Regions and finally attacked.