Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: Rise of the Sith
Admiral Mon Halen relished war, loved it, in fact. Ever since he had entered into the Naval Academy at Carida and first looked upon the holo of old battles fought during the Galactic Republic's era of expansion-such as the Pius Dea Crusades-He'd become enamored of conflict, its study, its application and the attainment of victory
Now, there was a new war coming, a war to sweep away a rotting, stagnant society and replace it with one of strength, with the leaders this galaxy needed to survive. The Galactic Republic had become weak, no he corrected himself, it had always been weak, as the near success of Mandalore the Ultimate during the recently won Mandalorian Wars had shown. Only intervention by the Jedi, those vaunted warrior-Mystics, wielders of the ever mysterious Force, had saved the Republic. Mon knew it well, having fought in the Wars themselves as a junior officer
He had been in the Republic Navy, stationed aboard the Everpeak, a storied Dreadnought dating back to the war with Exar Kun, being proud to serve the will of the Supreme Chancellor and the Senate, but over time became disillusioned with the government he served after participating in one lost battle after the other. He had seen worlds burn. Friends died. Hope died. But then a brilliant man, a Jedi Knight known only as Revan had emerged to lead the Republic to Victory. Revan and hundreds of Jedi who had left the Order with him to save the Galaxy turned the tide. Even now, the Admiral smiled to himself, to be under the command of the man who had personally led the Republic to victory, to see his tactics and strategy,
There had been no finer tutor, no better mentor as Mon Halen rose through the ranks and employed Revan's military genius against the enemy, occasionally adding to them and changing them according to his whims and being recognized for it. Soon Mon Halen had been given command of a flotilla, winning decisive victories. Finally, as the war neared its end, his fleet had been called to regroup with all available Republic forces at a world known as Malachor V. A damn fine battle, Admiral Halen thought to himself, a near run thing, but in the end, Shadow had destroyed the Mandalorians, just as it now would the Republic, and he would be the shadow, as his new masters dictated, it was all for the greater Good.
Breathing deeply, taking a moment to come out of his reflections, Admiral Halen picked up his pace briskly walking down the corridors of the Everpeak to the secondary Command Information Centre located deep within the Dreadnaughts mid-section , a precaution that would enable the ageing warship to keep fighting even if the main bridge was destroyed in battle. His destiny awaited him there, and he would not be late.
Waiting for him in the CIC were three figures, each at the top of the coming New Order. First and foremost was the Dark Lord of the Sith, the newly christened Darth Revan, Self-Proclaimed Emperor of the Sith Empire. Clothed in black robes and blacker armor, Darth Revan cut an imposing figure, features hidden under a Mandalorain mask, taken during the Wars. Halen darted a quick glance towards his master's ornate gold-inlaid light saber, hanging from a belt. This weapon marked him a force-user, and while Admiral Halen knew somewhat of the Force, having studied the history of the Jedi Order, he was nevertheless intimidated by one who could wield that power; especially someone as powerful as Revan .Standing to the Dark Lords right, was Darth Malek, apprentice and right-hand man, as it had always been. The Sith Lord was also formidable, looming large and radiating threat, though that threat had been tempered not too recently. Halen knew Maleks cybernetic jaw had been earned after challenging Lord Revan to a duel for who would be master over their new endeavor. Malek had been humbled and rendered subservient to Darth Revan's indomitable will to succeed at all costs. And finally, made meek by the two Sith Lords dominating presence, was General Derred of the new Sith Army. He had turned on the Republic just as Halen had, believing in the cause of Revan and swayed by his charisma and passion for a strong galaxy, one ready to face the true threat that their leader had often spoken of. Together the men in this room would reshape the galaxy and this was their opening move.
"Do we stand ready for Operation Reclamation?" Darth Revan directed at Admiral Halen, who nodded
"Yes, my lord, we are ready, though there may be a small issue, one I have learned of recently, but can be remedied. Our spies in the Feorost Shipyards have discovered the presence of the Jedi. They were recently dispatched to the Shipyards to investigate criminal activities in the system, a smuggling ring tied to the Exchange Syndicate. Apparently they were using newly built ships to move large quantities of stolen ship parts. The Supreme Chancellor was personally alerted to the situation and has dispatched two Jedi Knights to the system to put an end to the operation. When we begin our attack, these Jedi may be able to escape in time, alerting the Republic at large ".
The Admiral paused, waiting on the Dark Lord' reaction. Revan merely nodded, saying" All the better that the Jedi be amongst the first to feel our wrath. They deserve noting but retribution for their willful ignorance, an ignorance that nearly led to the galaxy's collapse .They will join us or die defiant fools!" Derrend and Halen exchanged looks. The General, resplendent in his blue and grey uniform, his fair looks a marked contrast to on Halen darker visage; spoke up after a considered pause.
"Sire, if I may be so bold as to interject, isn't the plan not to alert the Jedi to our coming invasion? They will be our greatest enemies in this conflict. The longer we hold onto surprise, the greater will be the impact of our overall opening efforts in the coming war. I suggest we send in a strike team before the main push into the system. It would be made up of picked commandos, the Jedi hunters we've recently finished training. They are well trained, as per your instructions, but field experience is priceless. They could either capture or kill the two Jedi in the system, eliminating the problem at hand."
Admiral Halen winced at General Derrend' s boldness. Darth Revan had been known to punish presumptuous officers and failures with their lives. If Derrend was afraid, he hid it under a professional stoicism cultivated over years of command expertise during two major wars. Halen saw the Dark Lord shift his masked face to the Imperial General. Derrent remained impassive as ever, and Darth Revan mearly sighed. 'Very well. Dispatch the strike team, organize the operation as you see fit, but be forewarned, I am attaching two of my Acolytes to oversee the mission. They will have command and will represent my vision for this endeavor of yours. This is ultimately a war of the Force and will be decided between the Jedi and the Sith in the end. Darth Malek, you will select the Acolytes. I want the Jedi Alive. I will either sway them to our cause if they prove worthy or kill them myself. Meeting adjourned."
Darth Malek grunted his assent, saying "It will be as you say master. We will capture these Jedi and begin the war for the galaxy's salvation. Power will be ours, in the hands of the righteous as you always intended." With that, both Sith Lords made their way out of the CIC and towards the Hanger bay, where their shuttle waited to take them back to the Behemoth, Revan'ss personal flagship. The Corrupt Republic and the Arrogant Jedi didn't know it yet, but the war had begun. Admiral Mon Halen smiled.