[Mid Rim, Count Dooku's Providence-class carrier]
Savage Opress
"Hahahahahahaha"
I can't believe that really fucking happened.
Things have gotten so out of hand that all I can do is laugh. My knowledge of the future is useless now. But it doesn't matter, what is important is my knowledge about the past.
Visiting the moon of Onderon, Dxun, just became a priority. There is knowledge waiting in the tomb of Freedon Nadd. I doubt Exar Kun took anything when he was taught by Nadd himself, even if it was in ghost form. And since he killed him it is relatively safe.
I just have to bypass whatever traps are there and I'm all good.
Besides Onderon is still part of the CIS…I think, if it isn't taking it just became a priority. But before I do that, there are some things I should do.
I think I have a plan now, I must move quickly. Contacting Nute Gunray should be my first step, but first let's retrieve something from my master, his lightsaber and his comm.
"TX-20, This is Commander Savage Opress, what were Count Dooku's last orders to you?"
I'm not really a commander, like Ventress before me. The droids simply follow my orders but I can call myself whatever I want. Since I'm not yet Grandmaster of the Sith, the title of commander will do.
"The last order from Count Dooku was to kill any organics other than him on the ship"
Damm, that old man! This could go badly. He really was an asshole.
"Count Dooku is dead. As the highest-ranking member of the CIS in this sector I'm taking command, and my first order is for you to cancel the Count's last order"
Please work… If it doesn't, I'm gonna be so fucked.
"…Very well commander, I await further orders"
Yes!
"I will be going to the communications platform, I want it to be ready to contact Nute Gunray. Also, be prepared to send this message to the separatist senate stating: Count Dooku was assassinated by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker while holding a discussion with King Katuunko about the neutrality of Toydaria. His corpse was allegedly taken from the planet"
"It will be done, commander"
Fuck, yeah! I love how that sounds.
I should use this walk to the comm center to examine my strength in the force. The constant hate I felt for Ventress has now subsided, I feel a bit weaker but not by much.
I still feel angry, hateful; but now it's distant. Like a storm on the horizon that could arrive at any moment.
Perhaps coming back from my rampage ensured I could keep my strength. Besides, now I feel exhilarated. I killed Count Dooku and Asajj Ventress. I have control of a ship and all the droids in it… but I want more. I desire more.
Ah, my thoughts are being responded to by the force. I hear it now.
That lovely whisper…
PEACE IS A LIE.
THERE IS ONLY PASSION.
THROUGH PASSION, I GAIN STRENGTH.
I'm closer to being a true Sith, what it whispers is correct. Now that I've fulfilled my goal of revenge, I just want more, and I shall have more.
Finally I get inside the comms room and I'm greeted by TX-20 who is waiting to put Nute Gunray on.
"Contact him now"
The device turns on and the Neimoidian appears.
"Count Dooku, I was not… You are not Count Dooku"
"I am not. I'm his apprentice but perhaps my face is familiar to you. Many years ago you met my brother."
"It's True! You look very similar to him."
"Then, listen to me, something terrible has happened. Something has put the plan Lord Sidious had in jeopardy. It is imperative you do as I say, or you will feel his wrath. Besides, despite any complications, we can still turn this into an advantage"
It worked. My words have the intended effect, his semblance has changed to a more serious one.
"What happened, then?"
"Count Dooku has been killed so-"
"Count Dooku is dead!"
"Silence! Listen to me, don't talk"
He is properly cowed by my voice. He hasn't forgotten he is dealing with a Sith.
"Right now, you need to call a meeting with the rest of the Separatist Council in person. You will repeat to them what I say here.
Since Count Dooku is dead, for the moment we will halt any new invasions and consolidate the worlds we have. If it comes down to it and peace is brokered with the Republic, we will make sure any wrongdoings committed by the Separatist Council are forgotten. Our war would move to proxy wars, maybe even a race to arm as many worlds as possible before we start the war again.
Your profits and interest will still be relevant so there is no cause for alarm. We will have to put up a new head of state, preferably a puppet of ours. But for now we will allow Bec Lewise to ascend as interim Chairman of the CIS.
I will soon pay a visit to General Grievous in person, so he will not be a problem. Afterwards, I will make some errands entrusted to me by Lord Sidious.
Once you have relayed this message and my meeting with Grievous has ended, we will all meet to plan further. Tell them to prepare some options for the position of Chairman.
I will also need the codes to control the droid army, send them to me."
He is dumbfounded by all this information, but I can clearly see his anticipation. After all, a shaky peace is even better than war for their profits. The promise of violence can last longer than a war and with my assurances of his wrong doings being forgotten, he seems pretty content.
"Did I make myself clear? Or do you need me to repeat it for you"
"There is no need my Lord, just one last thing. What is your name?"
"I am Savage Opress"
And it's done, the connection has ended. The fool didn't even ask how Dooku died, but what else could I expect from someone like him.
"TX-20, send General Grievous a message to meet us on Onderon, and to stop his offensive for now. Once we are close enough to his ship send out the message I prepared to the separatist senate."
"Understood, Commander"
"Also, I need you to send a retrieval team to the Watza sector, galactic grid coordinates I-9, in the planet Lotho Minor there is someone we need. Contact me once the team is there, also, once the codes for the droid army are received send them to me. I will also require your aid as I study the tactical situation of the war."
"Very well, commander. I am at your service."
[Japrael Sector, Count Dooku's Providence-class carrier]
While I study the situation of the galaxy, I'm also playing with the corpse of Assaj. Moving it around with the force like a puppet, truly it is the little things that make life worth living.
Having it do a little dance is fun, I should have it preserved for my amusement.
Speaking of preservation…
Count Dooku's body is being prepared for his burial and is currently preserved on the ship. We are closing in on Onderon and I still haven't decided what to say to Grievous, well mostly.
I'm sure that a show of force and the promise of more dead Jedi will make him stay on my side and ignore Darth Sidious. After all, even if Sidious' ultimate goal is Jedi annihilation, he will accomplish it through the clones. And I'm sure Grievous would prefer killing them himself in his version of glorious combat.
Speaking of the old devil, Sidious never contacted anyone besides Dooku and Grievous while the war was on. The risk of discovery was too great, so there is no worry in him contacting anyone other than maybe Nute Gunray. I'm sure that, with the Cyborg on my side, the toad will not listen to him.
Worst comes to worst, I kill them all and blame the republic. I will need to force the new leaders to join me, but at least this way I curb the machinations of the old man.
And if he dares and tries to kill me, I just need to stall in order to escape while making sure his face is visible. I'm making sure there is video evidence of Palpatine being a Sith by having my moves recorded by all the cameras the droid army has.
This war could get out of hand and leave me without time to study but I believe Amidala can create a period of peace. Perhaps not permanent, but I just need a few months while I learn everything I can from the tomb in Dxun.
Retrieving Maul is also of great importance. By having him take control of the criminal underworld I'm denying Sidious any opportunity to grab more power and it has the added benefit of distracting not only him but the Jedi as well.
This sure is going better than expected. I have to wonder though what Sidious is doing now that he has felt the death of Count Dooku.
Well, no matter. I'll just keep playing with the corpse of Asajj and revel in my well-earned victory.
[Orbit of Onderon, Count Dooku's Providence-class carrier]
Since Dooku's office/room was damaged a bit in the fight where I almost lost myself to the dark side, I've elected to meet Grievous at the bridge of the ship.
The asthmatic cyborg is almost here and from what I hear he is resentful that we've halted our offensive. He sure is in for a surprise.
"Welcome, General"
His presence in the force is delightful. The bitter bouquet of rage, pain and spite is very unique.
"Where is Count Dooku?"
Aha, so Sidious hasn't contacted him. Perfect!
"He is dead and that is the reason for your summons."
He takes the news calmly, but I feel his surprise.
"How did he die?"
"I killed him"
Silence stretches out for an eternity after my declaration. Filled only by each raspy breath he takes.
I feel his surprise and wariness for me. He knows how strong Dooku was and now he knows how strong I am. I didn't kill Dooku in a fair fight, but he doesn't know that.
"He betrayed us along with Darth Sidious. You and I are nothing more than pieces on a Dejarik board."
I sense his confusion and make a placating gesture with my hand.
"Count Dooku never planned to win this war. This was all a sham to weaken the Jedi order and you were to be killed off in the end as a way to clean himself of his sins. After all, your reputation precedes you General."
I feel his rising anger and the moment he arrives at the right conclusion.
"That is the reason we didn't finish this in the first months after Geonosis isn't it?"
His battle prowess may be lesser than that of the legends version of himself, but he is still a very tactical mind. Like I did after reading the reports, he probably realized that if they were really playing to win, this war would have been over in the opening months of it. He, more than likely, didn't say anything because he got to kill Jedi, but now the situation is different.
"Yes, I had hoped you suspected it. I can feel your certainty now that you have some more facts. I propose an alliance between us, we will take control of the CIS and wage a true war against the republic. No more nonsensical attacks or taking worlds as useless as Naboo."
"How would we take control of it? I'm aware of the dislike the politicians have for my methods and me."
"We will simply take what matters most, the droid army and the Separatist Council. I have already started on it Nute Gunray believes I'm Sidious new apprentice and is gathering the rest of the council so we can decide what happens next, and you command a sizeable portion of the droid army, which I don't have the codes for"
As soon as I have the codes, I can start planning how to get rid of him should it become necessary. Hopefully it never comes to that, or I will have one less distraction for the Jedi.
"So, you called me here to make sure I can still play my role as leader of the droid army. And those who supply us think nothing has changed, very clever. I have some conditions before I accept."
"Name them. As long as they aren't unreasonable, I will comply"
"You will consult me in strategic decisions pertaining to the planets we will take; you will give me more advanced droids to hunt down Jedi instead of the useless ones I have and, when the opportunity arises, I will cleanse the Galaxy of the Huk once and for all."
Accepting immediately could be seen as weakness so I better look like I'm pondering his points for a few seconds…
There, enough.
"Very well, I accept. My name is Savage Opress, it will be quite fun working with you"
"Savage, how fitting. That is a strong name. Then from this moment, let our alliance be born. Let's teach Sidious that we are no mere pieces on a board."
"Gunray should contact us both in the coming weeks to meet with the Separatist Council. Meanwhile, I will meet with Onderon's senator and do some research while we reinforce our borders and prepare for our next move."
With that said, Grievous leaves. Leaving me to contemplate my success.
"TX-20, get me a meeting with the local senator and prepare some droids for an honor guard. I also want you to scan for structures in the nearby moon Dxun as well as prepare some teams to recover and salvage anything of value down there."
"Yes, commander. Right away."
Yes, everything is going according to plan.
Author notes: Hello you great people who live on my screen, once more i'm here to deliver entertainment to you and as always it is my sworn duty to remind you that the next chapter can be found on my p-treon for a dollar, i will see you next time in fifteen days so with that goodbye
P-atreon: /KalJc