Vermilion stood at the bridge of the Harrower that she had designated as her flagship, looking on the pathetic ice ball of a planet that was known as Rhen Var. From the information gathered it reminded her a lot of Hoth, cold, barren, and in the right places, war-torn. She looked down at the ground map, noting the locations of the 811th Sith Empire forces and the 332nd Sanguine Empire forces. After much thought and almost a week of reconnaissance she knew how to remove them, a ground assault on their headquarters from the rear with one legion while simultaneously leading the other two legions on an attack from the rear of the 811th driving them into the 332nd. The 811th would kill the 332nd as they tried to flee and both would be massacred by her troops as clean up. She also decided that she would dedicate ship to ground fire to begin while she was landing her troops as a distraction, the thought of the deaths made her lick her lips in anticipation. This was her choice to kill in joy, not of friends like before, but those who deserved to be removed. Her yellow eyes looked at the view port, remembering how she had been forsaken by all her former masters, from the Jedi on Tython, to that pathetic excuse for a man who attempted to train her in a former house, forsaken by even those she thought loved and cared for her, even her own family. Now it was the chance to show them all what someone who actually saw potential in her and had trained her made her capable of. She made her way to the hanger to brief the troops. When she arrived they were just finishing up final preparations, she walked to the gangway overlooking the hangar bay, drew her saber and ignited it. The red black saber echoed across the bay with the iconic snap hiss and every head turned her way then all the troops came to attention as one.

Part XXIII-

"All of you here have come here because you are loyal soldiers of the Sanguine Empire!" The troops cheered as one with enthusiasm. "We have come to this planet, by the name of Rhen Var, to take what some of your fellow troops could not. The Three Hundred and Thirty-second Strykers have stained the snow with its blood in their attempts to take this location, overwhelmed by the Eight Hundred and Eleventh Sith Empire Legions. They fought to the last man, but were massacred." She could hear the sharp intake of breath from some and feel their fear, she knew it was time to fully motivate them. "But fear not, for we are stronger, we shall take them on the rear flank as we also take their base surrounding the manufacturing area. Trust in your Commanders and trust in me, we shall succeed together! But take heed, DO NOT attempt to fight or engage the Darth on the field, you WILL perish, leave her to me. Now, to battle, for the glory of the Sanguine Empire!" The troops answered in a resounding roar.

Vermilion made her way to the command drop ship, leading from the front, the ship took off and began its descent towards the planet, "Gunners," she said over her task force comms, "Blow any ship that is not ours out of the sky, no hesitation." She received acknowledgments across all channels, the ship shook a bit as it made entry into the atmosphere and then began to descend even faster for the rear of the 811ths lines. As it landed everyone disembarked…and then the slaughter began, the Sanguine Empire's troops and Vermilion began to tear through the communications area like a scythe through wheat. Vermilion was using her saber to eviscerate the troops, not even noticing their screams, she had a singular goal in mind, kill Darth Bactris. She felt something noticeable in Darth Bactris's style, it reminded her of two men she hated, ones who had trained or attempted to train her, Darth Niryks and Darth Jathonis, followers of the old ways. The hate focused her and she gave in to being an instrument of destruction in the dark side of the force as she cut a bloody swath through them, moving like red lightning, a smile under her mask.

After the destruction of the communications base she commed the other two legions under her direction and gave orders to their commanders, "Annihilate them," she stated and then cut the connection. She began walking towards the base that Darth Bactris called sanctuary and drew her blade with her left, the Krath steel singing as the wind whipped around the razor sharp edge. The cold wind blew across the ice covered plain as the Twi'lek Darth came out to face her in one on one combat. Darth Bactris had not drawn her weapon yet but instead clapped her hands mockingly to try and get a reaction from Vermilion. "So, Ava'kra does not have the spine to face me, she sends her little mewling pet instead?" she says with arrogant distaste, "Is she trying to give me a new apprentice? Well, let us see how long you survive and I might consider it, if you are still worth my time." Vermilion continued to wait as Bactris drew her saber and ignited it, she then sheathed her sword on her back, moving into a very mobile stance, her yellow eyes watching Bactris like a nexu eyeing its next meal. She waited for Bactris to make the first move, their sabers crossing and sparking when they connected with the first strike. She then moved back, reading Bactris's moves with a practiced eye, even for her young age. Bactris then brought her saber in a low slash which Vermilion leapt over, bringing her saber in for a quick strike on Bactris's left lekku, caressing it with the heat of the blade, causing Bactris to scream in pain. The Twi'lek then swung wildly at the human which was blocked with a palm and a grin, causing Bactris' eyes to widen with just a hint of fear. Bactris slowed just a little allowing for Vermilion to roundhouse kick the Twi'lek right across the neck with a thud as the armored boot met the neck plating of Bactris's helmet.

Bactris stumbled back as Vermilion removed her mask with her left hand, a triumphant sneer of contempt crossing her face as an icy wind gust blew her hood back off, exposing her red hair. She moved into a waiting stance, and beckoned with her left hand, tauntingly urging Bactris to attack her. Bactris roared at her in rage and begin attacking blindly with fervor, overwhelming Vermilion for a few moments, the saber slicing off part of her ponytail, filling the icy cold air with the smell of burned and singed locks. Vermilion acrobatically moved to about 2 meters away from Bactris and growled, partially at her opponent but mostly at her own arrogance and hubris for allowing the blade to get through her guard, her Mistress would not be pleased. She then deactivated her saber, Bactris triumphantly crowed at her as she did, "Giving up and joining me against the traitor, are you? Admitting who you are loyal to?!" Vermilion said nothing as she clipped her saber to her belt, then reached into the scabbard on her back and drew out the Krath steel sword once more. Vermilion then dashed forward, augmented by the Force and with one lightning fast strike severed Darth Bactris's left lekku. An almost animalistic scream ripped across the ice fields and tundra as blood began to stain the white ground, Vermilion then swung the bloodied blade again, removing the other lekku with no remorse. She then brought the blade back up into a guard as she threw a holocomm onto the ground that called Ava as soon as it made contact. After a moment, Ava's holo stood there as if normal sized, gazing down at what was once a rival, now nothing more than a broken woman. There was some conversation between the women, it was not for Vermilion to care about, so she only registered the parts that mattered, "Apprentice, kill her and bring me the head and lekku as trophies.""Yes, my Empress and Mistress," she answered, before swinging the sword in an execution chop that severed the neck of Darth Bactris between the vertebrae. She then took the head and the lekku, bagging them in the woman's own cape before turning to her soldiers, "See to the body, kill all the troops that are not ours and report to me when it is done." "Yes, my lord!" The field commander answered, and without another word Vermilion boarded the ship, heading back for her flagship to directly speak to her Empress in private for her Mistress's critique of her actions and battle tactics.