It was a plan that was developed over a year's time. There were so many subtle kinks and problems that had to be resolved for it to work. When all was said and done, Darth Revan and Darth Malak stood before the Dark Jedi and the newly armored and christened Sith troopers that had been selected. Though his expression was unreadable through the mask, his voice showed pride, confidence and urgency that assured the massed disciples that what was going to occur was absolutely necessary. More than necessary, it was vital. "You have been chosen for a specific purpose;" said the Dark Lord, his voice amplified by the force. "That purpose is likely going to be our greatest assistance in the future. Beyond the Outer Rim lies the Sith Empire - a Sith Empire that has existed in secret since the Great Hyperspace wars of a thousand years ago. While the Republic has been struggling against powerful enemies, the Sith Empire has been growing stronger and building its power without opposition. Our only hope is to become them - fierce, powerful, merciless and deadly. To that end, you, my best Dark Jedi and most elite troops will be placed in perfect carbonite hibernation to be awakened when you are most needed, whether it be a year, a decade or a century. Prepare what you need for us to travel. There is a little known planet on the very edge of Wild Space. It is there you will be entombed in hibernation."

When all was said and done, Talvon gathered his belongings and prepared to board the Centurion-Class cruiser that would take them to their final destination. Beside him was Xaset, who was lost in thought as he often was these days, thinking about his lost lover Meetra Surik, the Exile of Malachor V. Talvon smiled and nudged him. "Control to Xaset, do you read me?"

The younger man snapped out of it and he chuckled dryly. "Yeah, I read you, Talvon. Going into this hibernation - I dunno. It's just making me think of Meetra. Sometimes I just want to leave and go find her wherever she is. Try to convince her to come back or to stay with her."

The older Dark Jedi Master gave a low chuckle. "She would not come with you. We have taken a plunge that she, even when her faith in Revan was at its height, would never have taken. No, she was still too attached to the ideals of the Jedi."

"Then perhaps losing her connection to the force saved her;" mused Xaset. "She will not be fighting against us while the Master begins his conquest of the galaxy."

"Not conquest, Xaset," corrected Talvon. "Securing. He is securing the galaxy, eliminating any key political figures and the Jedi who would oppose us. They refuse to understand and they are a dangerous liability. We cannot fight this true Sith Empire if the Republic is resisting us and impeding the war effort."

Xaset nodded in agreement but he still looked wistful. Turning to him, Talvon took him by a shoulder. "Xaset, she is doing whatever she thinks is right for her to do in her life and for the galaxy and so are you. It was the will of the force that you and her were separated. Think on this, do you think Revan would have sealed the two of you away? I don't think so. You and I would have been frozen in perfect hibernation and she would have gone on to help Revan lead his Sith forces. That would have been even more painful for both of you, don't you think?"

Xaset nodded slowly and they both turned to the ship. Ahead of them, the finest and most elite Sith Troopers of Darth Revan's Sith Empire were marching rank and file into the ship where their commanders were assigning them quarters. Tens of thousands of war droids were also being locked away, the most advanced models freshly produced in the Star Forge's internal factories. That station was a technological marvel and it was millennia old. All one had to do was to put in the necessary schematics and the droid, weapon, armor, stubfighter, capital ship or what have you would be quickly and efficiently created and assembled. It was fully automated as well and powered by the system's sun. Beneath it was a planet that had formerly not been on any star charts. What it's name was seemed to be a mystery but, after an ancient conquering civilization, Revan had taken to calling it Rakata Prime. On Rakata Prime was a massive energy shield emitter that would protect the Star Forge from the largest fleet assault. On the planet below were rancors and the remnant of the ancient Rakata, warriors who were deadly and guarded the temple which housed the energy shield emitter.

The Star Forge, more than the Academy of Korriban or Malachor, was the foundation and backbone of the entire cause.

The planet was the soul world in the system and had no moons orbiting it. An advanced battalion of combat engineers had been sent ahead to cut into the mountains, opening up a massive cavern into the side of the mountain range. Blast doors would be set there as well as a door triggered controlled by a special Sith Holocron that Darth Revan himself was constructing. Even after they arrived, it was still several long months before the carbon freezing machines, created by the best in the business and utterly perfected by Darth Revan himself, were in place. Every trooper and Dark Jedi stood on pedestals that would lower into the carbon freezers. A pair of Zabraks and a Sullustan stood at the controls. Talvon, Xaset and the Dark Jedi Masters watched as the troopers and Dark Jedi were lowered into the machines. The chamber echoed with hisses, clangs and whirs as they rose again and tens of thousands of rectangular blocks or carbonite stood, safely holding the occupants.

Talvon turned to Darth Revan. "It seems that you were successful, my lord. Do you have any orders for us?"

The Dark Lord placed a hand on his old friend's shoulder. "Whoever awakens you will hold the holocron. When you wake, find me or my heir and they will direct you."

There was a long pause before Talvon had the courage to ask one final question. "And my Lord, what happens if there are no descendants or heirs or there are none of your Empire left?"

A long silence filled the still air. Talvon knew that Revan would not take offense. He was a man who considered every option carefully. "If that is the case, Talvon Esan," said the Dark Lord, "then you will be the heir of Darth Revan. You will rise as the Dark Lord of the Sith and my Empire will become yours. However, I do not expect that to happen. I suspect we will need you much sooner than that."

Talvon nodded and he and his fellow Dark Jedi Masters stepped up to their pedestals. With a loud hiss, the pedestals lowered. Talvon felt the liquid closing around him and his closed his eyes, taking one final breath before everything ceased around him.

Epilogue

Darth Diabolis watched as the New Republic fleet dropped into the system and he smiled grimly. "Begin battle meditation. Even if Leia Organa Solo has help from a few fellow Jedi, she will not be able to keep up with ours. Launch fighters and attack. We will crush this fleet and fade back into the stars, corrupting and conquering one planet, system and sector at a time. Once the Jedi are dead, we will slowly strangle the New Republic."

The New Republic fleet launched its fighters and advanced on them at full speed. Diabolis could sense the enemy Jedi and his smile became savage. They would die. They would all die. He would not give them a chance to fall to the dark side. Every one of them, especially the Skywalkers, would be one with the force before the end of the next rotation.

Updated 10/16/2018