I named this chapter after two featured ships since most of it will take place on one or the other. The Executor part is not a mistake.
Chapter 19: Eclipse and Executor
The Imperial citadel on Byss was like something out of an ancient holochron. It was black, had a circular base and rose up like a spire, there were landing pads at the bottom. Commander Kratas maneuvered them through civilian buildings and military bases to the platforms where several more Lambda class shuttles sat as well as some gunboats and even a TIE fighter which was odd, though the ships were structurally capable of sitting on their wings they were usually attached to grates when landed. It didn't matter.
Kratas brought the shuttle down smoothly, the wings folding and landing struts ejecting, it landed shakily on the platform and Daala, Traya, Kratas, and several honor storm troop guards filed out walking into the citadel.
They entered a grand reception hall that really only Palpatine could enjoy, black marbled floor, black walls with spikes of red crystal streaking down in decorative patterns. In the middle of the hall sat on a huge red center stone (which distinctly reminded Traya of her academy) was a reception desk. A droid painted black (and whoever had done it was a horrible painter) sat behind the desk. Daala approached it.
"State your name." The droid said in a boring old man type voice.
"Admiral Daala." Daala answered.
"Ah yes, Admiral Daala. You are expected to attend the Emperors meeting. I will grant you access to the turbo lift."
"Thank you droid."
Admiral Daala took a step toward the lift in the back, a long black shaft it flew up, and looked like the barrel of a blaster rifle.
"Wait a moment." The droid said as Traya and Kratas followed. "Your companions will have to wait here I am afraid."
Traya turned to the black droid, it's paint seemed to peel even more when it saw her black eyes.
"What purpose would that serve, we waiting here. If there is to be a meeting then it requires strong minds, the more there are the better the outcome of the discussed topic of the meeting. Many eyes can see what one alone cannot."
"That doesn't compute, many eyes…" The droid stuttered, it seemed at a loss for words. If its head could have spun from Traya's cryptic phrase Daala had no doubt it would have.
"Very well." It agreed, still trying to make sense of the metaphor 'many eyes can see what one alone cannot.' "You and your companions may attend the meeting."
Traya smiled. "Why thank you."
The droid didn't reply, Traya, Kratas, and Daala stepped into the turbo lift, Daala pressed the top floor button and the lift shot up into the black spire. When it stopped and opened ten seconds later they stepped out into a dimly lit waiting room. It had a black marble floor (don't they all?) high rising stone walls more suitable for a throne room and two doors. One in front that probably led to an actual throne room and one to the left where the meeting would be held. It helped that Traya could sense the people behind the left door as well. Daala seemed to know too.
She strode up to the door confidently, her copper hair blazing like fire behind her and the door opened in front of her. She stepped in to an oval shaped room, the floor here was not marble but very shiny and polished black plasteel, the same as the walls and the ceiling. Centered perfectly in the room was an oval shaped black marble and plasteel table with a number of chairs going around it. All ending with two spikes at the top except for two chairs one on each end. The Emperor himself sat on one, he was no longer ancient looking, his face was smooth there were no deformations, his eyes though, they didn't change still yellow with evil. Today he wore a crimson robe, plain and simple made of red silk. He gestured with one long clawed hand for her to sit down at the chair opposite of him which didn't look at all like the chairs on the wider edges of the table which as we know ended with two spikes.
This chair split in two at the top, snaked up and bent making it look as though it had horns. Daala sat but Traya and Kratas remained standing.
"I did not know," The Emperor said in a deep Sidious like voice. "That you would be bringing guests, Admiral."
"I did not know that you would have no other guests."
"Other guests? Of course not, everyone else are mere captains and commanders, you are the only Admiral there is, with the siege of Carida there is no one left." The Emperor said which meant I am putting aside the fact that you are a woman because you are my only choice. "And as I asked you before, who are your guests."
"My name is commander Kratas." Kratas said. "My Emperor, I am second in command of Admiral Daala's fleet and captain of the Gorgon."
"You will make a nice addition to my fleet then." Palpatine replied. "The hooded woman, I sense you are strong in the Force, very strong."
"Indeed, my name is Kreia, but a title you would better know me by is Darth Traya." Traya said.
"Darth Traya?" Sidious asked, now perking up and highly interested. "Darth Traya, so you are a Sith Lady, hmm, interesting and what is your purpose here?"
"I ask only one thing Lord Sidious." Traya replied knowing his name. "That is that if I help you regain your Empire, you help me hunt down the last of the beings that can manipulate the Force, Padmé Amidala Skywalker."
Sidious clawed the arms of his seat.
"Vader married her?"
"Indeed, but now he is dead and she will follow him to the grave." Traya said, leaving out the children.
"You killed him?"
"Yes, and the entire band of Jedi he had. The Jedi order is no more."
"I would have liked to kill him myself, I confess I am somewhat disappointed, but no matter. You may join me Darth Traya, Admiral Daala, and Commander Kratas and we will retake the Empire! But now for our meeting and then I will give you a tour of my capitol star destroyer, the Eclipse."
XxX
Daala really couldn't see what was so special about the star destroyer Eclipse, it was like any other Imperial class star destroyer. Triangular, somewhat bulky, and gray. The only modified thing about it was a throne room located in the bridge tower and the shields were much stronger than a normal one. Daala stood on the bridge gazing out at the hull of the Eclipse and the distant triangular form of the Gorgon. How she wished she was there instead. Kratas was striding around behind her eagerly checking out the ships systems and asking for diagnostics from computer technicians. The resurrected Emperor walked up beside her and turned his gaze to the Gorgon. Daala felt no fear of this man, not even curiosity at how he managed to still be alive when the traitor Vader killed him.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" The Emperor asked referring to the Eclipse. "And she's our flagship, she is your ship. Yours to command."
"With all do respect my Emperor." Daala said turning her head to him. "I would like the command the Gorgon, that is my ship and that is my crew."
"No, you will command the Eclipse, the Gorgon, Maticore, and Basilisk will remain part of the fleet."
Daala felt a twinge of pain at no mention of the Hydra, her fourth ship that was indeed lost in the battle with the Executor.
"If that is what you wish my Emperor. Perhaps we should finalize battle plans."
"Yes, but first I would like you to meet my new apprentice." The Emperor said. "The successor of Darth Vader. Aurra Sing."
Just then a… woman, or so Daala thought stepped between her and Sidious. She was chalk white and it seemed as though she had no blood. She was completely bald except for one crimson/orange pony tail in the middle of her head. Her lips were red, pure red, matching the tight red pants she wore and the red leather tank top. On her hands were overly large fingers, with very sharp nails. She had two blaster pistols holstered on either side of her hips and a number of lightsabers clipped to her belt.
"Hello Admiral." She said in a silky voice.
"Greetings lady Sing, I must know how you acquired so many lightsabers."
"By killing Jedi of course."
XxX
Anakin stood aboard his new super star destroyer, originally called the Guardian which he had now renamed Executor II. Piett was Admiral of it now.
Since the ship was originally General Antillies's ship he had been given a new one, a Mon Calamari cruiser named the Dodonna after a line of famous generals. It was also Ackbar's ship as well, he being Admiral, and Wedge being captain though he was still a General.
Anakin's ship flew in orbit over Coruscant, ready to attack hostiles at a moments notice. His fleet was with him, it consisted of fifteen Imperial class star destroyers, and twelve victory class cruisers. Ackbar's fleet was also with him which consisted of ten Mon Calamari star cruisers, as well as a number of Corellian corvettes, roughly thirty. It was a strong defensive fleet, especially Anakin had an ion cannon mounted to the Executor II and it was potentially crippling to any star destroyer that might come to cross him. Now all he could do was wait.
Next Chapter: Prepared