Chapter 4
"Settle down, settle down, you rotting bantha hides", a rather irritated Molker pushed his way through the crowd of students in the small quarters and caught the head of one of the unfortunate ones blocking his way with the butt of his lightsaber.
"You all heard, move aside you scum", Labrias the devaronian called out from the center of the room. The small crowd parted and Molker hurried to the center where Labrias and Karala were already waiting for him.
"Shut up and listen, all of you", Karala snapped and the small group suddenly stopped talking,
"Do you want us to get caught". Molker had reached the center and placed his lightsaber with Karala's and Labrias' on the circular table that stood there, a symbol of how they were not enemies to each other.
"As you all would have heard by now a student by the name of Hapurn is dead. Some of you knew him well and some of you knew that he was asking for trouble. Either way if you feel what we are doing is a mistake, now is the time to go". All of the students remained where they were seemingly more determined then ever before. The door opened and Drogan slipped in quietly into the chamber, he then proceeded to stand at the back of the room, without being noticed, to listen to the rest of what his brother had to say.
"Others of you are shocked to learn that our master could in fact be capable of such actions and are worried if such a thing could occur again". There were several concerned nods of agreement and one young sith expressed these concerns.
"So what's stopping it from happening again, any one of us could be next". The statement hit home on Molker as he realized in fact that every one of them was at risk.
"This is why you have elected us your leaders", Molker gestured to himself and then to Karala and Labrias, "We will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of every one of you". The speech was met with a murmur of agreement through the crowd, at this point Drogan considered telling his brother of the conversation he overheard but thought better of it. There was no need to create fear and panic. Not just yet.
"How do we know that we are safe, none of us can hope to defeat the masters", one particularly zealous sith spoke up. Karala stepped forward and started to speak, the crowd fell immediately silent.
"We have devised a plan of action against the masters. While none of us alone can hope to defeat them if we attack as a group we can destroy them in one swift blow. I am, in fact, referring to a rebellion as one we will move against the masters and when we are in control we will move against the jedi. Ultimately when we are all that remains we will attempt to defeat the true enemy, the masters behind our masters, Lords Dooku and Sideous and we will prevail". The gathered body of students gave their biggest reaction yet.
"Do you know what you are actually talking about Karala", Drogan spoke up for the first time after entering, "No matter how many of us there are, you are talking about killing the most powerful being in the galaxy". Labrias shot him a look of poison and continued to talk.
"While we recognize the risk involved this may be our final act in a long plan of battle. Only after we have overthrown the masters and the jedi will we move against the true enemy and by then we will be more experienced in the way of the force. Powerful enough to destroy both Dooku and Sideous".
"But why is it necessary to do this, we could escape and go into hiding no one will ever know".
"Do you really think that a being as powerful as Sideous will allow it? Even if we run he will hunt us down, it is the way war works, if we strike first we stand a chance of victory". Drogan nodded and receded back into his corner of the room where nobody saw him except Molker who always kept one eye on him afterwards.
"When will we see the effects of this plan of yours", another call went up from a young sullustan.
"We can't rebel yet we are not all prepared and the time isn't right but in three days we will let the masters feel our wrath. We have observed the masters movements and that is the only time when they will be completely isolated from each other, unable to come to one another's aid", Molker was interrupted by cheers from the crowd, "Silence, we do not want to be found out, go back to your personal quarters and spread the word, in two days we meet again the day after we will strike". The speech was met with a final great cheer and as quick as it had began the meeting scattered as students hurried back to their separate quarters. A few select sith stayed behind to discuss the attack with the three ringleaders but it was when they left that Drogan emerged from his corner.
"Well done you three, you have an entire army of sith at your disposal", he said as he moved to meet them.
"What is it, we don't have time for more delay, if we are caught here", Molker's voice trailed off. Drogan shook his head at his brother.
"Don't you think that it's a bit bold to suggest a move against Sideous and Dooku?"
"It's just what we're telling them for now giving them something to believe in. after we revolt we will probably be at half strength. With some work on training and some new recruits we could have that kind of power. This facility is designed as an automated training ground for thousands, just try to imagine that kind of power when we are only a few score".
"That is assuming that your plan will work"
"Well that is the problem isn't it"?
"I'm afraid that your problems are worse than that, Molker", Drogan warned his brother
"And what would you know of our problems young Drogan", Karala questioned.
"I would know that Lord Sideous plans to eradicate us with the jedi"
"This would complicate things, I wish you would have told me before, when you had the chance"
"I didn't want to spread panic"
"Good thinking brother"
"This would require a readjustment of our plan", Labrias announced calmly, "What would you suggest, Drogan". Drogan sighed realizing that his idea probably would not get the credit that it deserved.
"There are a large number of infiltrators in the hanger bay, we evacuate all sith into them and destroy the Academy during our escape taking out the masters in the process".
"How would that help us in the long term", Karala mused aloud, "our real foes Sideous and Dooku would still be there despite our victory however small".
"More to the point", Labrias spoke up, "what would we do then Drogan, when Dooku and Grievous come after us we can try to escape with only a handful of infiltrators. No, we need this ship more than you realize. If we use your tactic we may be able to survive a few weeks in the depths of space or if we land on any civilized planet we will be recognized by our vessels. If we can get this ship we could survive for years in space and when we are short on supplies we can raid a trade run or something but none of that will be possible without this ship".
"Even more importantly", Molker stood now, "we are talking about going into hiding. Why waste time with such talk when you could control the whole galaxy under the power of the sith".
"It seems that you have thought this through more than I gave you credit for. I suppose I see your point, even if it is a stubborn one, goodnight my friends and good luck", with that Drogan turned and left the meeting room.
There was no way that Molker could be right Dooku would find a way to stop them while they were weak. He had a plan but his stubborn brother and his lackeys would never have resorted to it. The jedi, were their only real hope. They were a thousand fold in numbers and could easily overthrow the sith lords.
No, it was up to him now. He could warn the jedi of the treachery going on around them and fight the true enemy together. Drogan glanced once over his shoulder at Karala who picked it up straight away. Drogan had to hurry now, he quickened the pace. If only he had more time.
Karala turned to Molker and leaned in to be level with his ear.
"Molker", Karala said softly, "Watch him closely"
"Don't worry, I mean to", his voice like ice and his gaze now firmly on his brother.