The Eidolon-class Cruiser Eidolon – one of the Vessels procured in the Felucia system – moved elegantly through a lifeless Star System that despite being ripe with resources didn't seem capable of harbouring any type of life, but what was at the heart of the system orbiting the northern pole of the system's Primary Star was far more important, cloaked in a crimson armour material that shined in the sun's glow and from its spherical surface producing massive towers out of its sides going up and down. Darth Illusio had seen the design before from, an ancient Rakata Holocron that had been used to create the Sun Razer and to update the Razer's design into the current Star Harvester, before him was a Star Forge – a massive Space Station that served as a terrifyingly productive Space based Factory that could create the greatest military the Galaxy had ever seen.
Incidentally, the Star Forge in design based itself around the mass production of space Vessels and the minor production of other necessities: producing Droids in minor numbers and crafting garments that would enhance the wearer's connection to and protection from the Dark side or even other objects and possibly food stuffs, the limit of a Star Forge's production – like the Foundry – was unrecorded but both were said to be capable of dominating worlds and changing the Galaxy itself. For Lord Piras, during the fall of the Rakata Infinite Empire, to have decided to craft this as a gift to Lord Stygius was unheard of and yet he had had to have set the construction of it in motion it could be assumed that the only attempt of surviving its armament and Droid forces would be the droid beside him that had been programed with the information required to enter the station safely.
"Commentary: It has been so long since I've been to a station of this design," commented HK-80, remarking at its 'memories' when it was known as HK-47.
"I assume you are talking about the time that you served under the Sith Lords Darth Revan and Darth Malak, their research into the ancient Rakata at the time was truly inspirational to our efforts," announced Darth Illusio, as he continued to stare out the viewpoint. "One could say that the Star Harvester is a detrimental example of the assimilation of Rakatan technologies."
"Statement: Do cease all small talk, I am currently attempting to connect to the Space Station's main computer," sniped HK-80, as it continued to stare out the window. "However you may prepare the Eidolon for docking with the… 'Chaos Forge', I require complete independence and privacy if I am to ensure the survival of your boarding party meatbags, and to ensure that the Forge sides with our Empire."
Darth Marr smirked behind his helmet as he stepped off the Turbolift and onto the bridge of the Insidious-class Dreadnought: Insidious, a three thousand meter long Star Destroyer design based identically off the Harrower-class Dreadnought used by the Sith Empire of Marr's Era and was therefore a larger, longer armed equivalent of the Gladiator-class Star Destroyer. It was surrounded outside by a small fleet of Eidolon-class Cruisers and Corona-class Frigates, its small fleet also had the two thousand meters long Predator-class Star Destroyers that stood guard on either flanks of the large Dreadnoughts, all together there were at least thirteen Vessels that made up the small fleet including the Insidious and its Star Destroyer escorts.
"My Lord, we have gotten the ship underway and the fleet awaits your command," announced Captain Tavon, as he stepped forwards.
"Our mission is to secure and blockade the Belsavis system for an unspecified period of time, the mission may not seem relevant but it is vital to the Emperor's long-term plans," explained Darth Marr, as he walked the gantry followed by Tavon. "Am I understood?"
"Cleanly, sir," announced Tavon, with a bow, before turning to the rest of the bridge. "Bring all systems up and contact the fleet, coordinate the jump coordinates for Belsavis's orbit and prepare all Vessels for a coordinated jump to Lightspeed, eta five minutes. Once all Vessels have dropped out of Lightspeed, power up all weapons and energy shields, launch all Fighters!"
Ben wandered a familiar landscape and he stood in the shadow of a Volcano that stood overhead like a pillar of rock and fire, down two different paths with one that led to a courtyard sat the Font of Power while down another path was a dank grotto that Ben knew held the Pool of Knowledge, and as Ben turned around he saw Dhor Kutla standing there calmly as though awaiting an old friend despite the deadly terrain they stood in.
"Greetings Ben, I have a question," announced Dhor seriously, before pointing his arms in two different directions. "Which would you choose if given the choice, Power or Knowledge?"
"Both," answered Ben, without hesitation, promoting a brief clap of hands from Dhor.
"I am very glad that you are learning, if you consider that Knowledge is of the Light side and Power is of the Dark side," complimented Dhor, with a smile. "Then you have learned a vital lesson, one should strive to gain Power and Knowledge – gain mastery over both the Dark side and the Light side, to reach one's ultimate potential."
"Is all this theory talk relevant to what is happening with the Sith?" asked Ben, and Dhor made a dismissive wave.
"This information is relevant to your awareness beyond the Jedi teachings and the following of your own path, the Jedi of the Old Republic fell because they were unable to adapt beyond their strict moral code," explained Dhor, calmly. "Even if you don't become a Jedi anymore, you understand the base principles on walking your own path, I complement that skill."
"Thanks, I suppose," thanked Ben and Dhor nodded, turning away but looked over his shoulder once again.
"Don't worry, we'll meet again soon, sooner than you think. The Sith are moving throughout the Galaxy and you should meet up with your father and go to Ziost, there you shall find a Dark Lord of the Sith. Think of it as a… test of your abilities," announced Dhor, and then the vision faded away.
Darth Stygius stepped out of Ship with elegant ease as he stepped down on the former capital world of the Sith Empire back when he terrorized the Stygian Caldera under the name Tulak Hord, Darth Plagueis stood waiting off to one side as the dark masked Stygius crossed over to his fellow Dark Lord of the Sith and the two of them calmly walked the ruins of this once mighty capital world, rumors had reached the Sith of a Holocron on the planet Ziost that would lead the Sith to a hidden stash of Sith and was another lead to finding the successor to Darth Nox.
"What do you think, on the likeliness of finding this rumor, to be true?" asked Stygius, provoking Plagueis to shrug.
"It isn't so much a rumor, many Lords of the Sith sought out to find this legendary Holocron and its treasures," announced Plagueis, calmly. "However… none returned, there must be some truth to the rumor, to cost so many lives and waste so much potential resources over the centuries for the last two millennium."
"Then I hope we are successful," agreed Stygius, as he motioned for Plagueis to continue on ahead. "I must make a Holocall, excuse me."
Ben Skywalker sat up from the sofa he lay on and found himself surprised when he saw that he was currently in a hotel on Corellia with a bleeping Holocom on the table, reaching over he looked at the time and noticed that it had exactly been a day since he had been placed in the claws of Lady Aprepeia to be a guinea pig in her experiments, not caring about his apparent nakedness he activated the Holocom causing the very familiar and real – for a Hologram – form of Dhor Kutla in the not-so flesh.
"I trust you enjoyed your nap, sorry that I could not be there when you finally awoke," announced Dhor, through the Holocommunication, he seemed to be wearing ruffled Black robes that could be worn by either Jedi or Sith. "Regardless, that Penthouse Suite is yours to do as you wish under an alias name of course and the people in control of that hotel are people who have my complete faith and trust, I have also contacted your father anonymously and ensured that he knows you are on Corellia and will be here to pick you up."
"Down to business already, huh?" asked Ben, a bored expression on his face, hiding his disappointment.
"Don't worry, I promised we would meet soon and I keep to my word, trust me. I'll see you soon," dismissed Dhor calmly, before deactivating the Holocommunication from his side.
Admiral and current Galactic Alliance Chief of State, Natasi Daala sighed quietly as she stared out of the window of her office, watching the day-to-day activities of the Galactic City that sat as the Capital of Coruscant and the seat of the Galactic Alliance's power. Her chair was turned away from its desk and a number of vital reports lined the screen of her desk computer, suddenly the small HoloNet transceiver beeping to indicate she had an encrypted transmission coming from across the Galaxy to her location, with a frown and wondering who it could be the Chief of State turned around her chair and pressed the activator causing the Hologram of a black robed man wearing a black mask to appear.
"Who are you? How did you get this private contact address!?" questioned Daala annoyed, glaring at the small hologram.
"Who I am is relevant. How I gained contact with you is irrelevant. I suppose you wish to know my name, I am Stygius and I am in a position to help you with your… Jedi problem," announced Stygius calmly through the Holocommunication, motioning with his holographic right hand. "I know you have been having trouble with them."
"Very well, I am willing to receive opinions of my leadership," agreed Daala calming down, as she sat back in her chair. "But I do not trust you, you are a private source, how do I not know that you are attempting to fulfill your own goals and agendas?"
"I hope, in time Chief Daala," stated Stygius, his hologram flickering lightly. "That you will come to trust me, and I you, as our partnership develops."
"Very well, now tell me what you require I am to know…" motioned Daala, and the Hologram nodded slightly, as their pact was formed.
Plagueis pressed buttons on the control panel as he activated the unfreezing process for a number of Carbonite encased Sith and Sith troopers in the Hanger-like concert hall that had been waiting to be awakened for over three and-a-half thousand years, Plagueis had found it by will alone as he sensed for presences in the Force that still existed on the planet and eventually sought out Midi-Chlorians that had resided here until eventually he had sensed the Midi-Chlorians struggling to escape inactive in their Carbonite prisons, finally having arrived here he had prepared for the unfreezing of the Sith and had been well on his way just as Stygius walked through the doorway.
"Consider, Plagueis," requested Stygius suddenly, after a moment of silence. "Why there is one Carbonite casing recently lacking its prisoner?"
Plagueis flounder for an answer but Stygius answered instead when he activated his Lightsaber and raised it above and behind him in time as a Red-skinned Dathomirian Zabrak wearing Armour from the Sith Empire during the time of Vitiate and wielding a Double-bladed Lightsaber struck out at Stygius, Stygius answered this with a kick to the brute's gut but it seemed that a single kick would not have the desired affect due to wall of defined muscle that the Zabrak was made of, Stygius grunted lightly as he flipped over the Zabrak when it had swung up its secondary blade up in an attempt to cleave Stygius in two.
The Zabrak stabbed backwards at the last moment and Stygius cursed as he moved slightly gaining only the edge of a slice of a lightsaber on his left side, the Zabrak suddenly fluttered out of existence as he engaged Force stealth and moved around to prepare to attack the Lord of Chaos and Plagueis was impressed by the Zabrak's Mastery of the Darkside immediately dismissed his original chain of thought where he believed that it was just an imitation of his own apprentice's first apprentice: Darth Maul, but considering the storm of power raising in Stygius the new Dark Lord of the Sith was about to be domesticated as tradition demanded and brought to heel by his new master.
The Zabrak charged from behind Stygius but the Ruling Dark Lord of the Sith turned and surprised the Zabrak with a punch to the face, Stygius then followed up by slicing the handle of the Double-bladed Lightsaber in two so that it became useless to the red skinned Sith before kneeing the Zabrak in the stomach as Stygius smacked the Zabrak across the back with a metal crate with such surprising strength thus causing the Zabrak to spin over Stygius' kicking leg and fall to the floor on his back.
"That is enough, forgive Darth Sicarius, my Lord. He did not recognize a Lord of Chaos when he saw one," announced a Pureblood Sith, as he entered the room, much to Plagueis and Stygius' surprise. "I am Darth Vowrawn."
"As in the Darth Vowrawn that sat beside Darth Marr on the Dark Council?" asked Plagueis, and Vowrawn nodded.
"Forgive me, my Lord," announced Darth Sicarius, who had rolled away and stood up. "I was trying to prove to my Master that I am capable of being his equal."
"I never doubted that, my apprentice," huffed Vowrawn, annoyed.
"Indeed, then if you would be willing Vowrawn, I would have you and your apprentice on my Dark Council. We need powerful Sith," commanded Stygius, as waved outside the viewpoint towards not only Soldiers but members of the Sith species, awakening from Carbonite. "If you will take the rank, I would have you Vowrawn return as the Head of the Sphere of Production and Logistics, and you Sicarius I would have as the Head of the Sphere of Mysteries and therefore Master of the Empire's assassination efforts."
"It would be our honor," bowed Vowrawn, Sicarius following suite.
"Good, now Sicarius will remain with me here on Ziost while the two of you ferry our new subjects up to the Black Talon," directed Stygius, as he walked towards the entrance, pausing only to look over his shoulder. "Be prepared, we have guests coming."