Don't expect to see any of the main characters, of this story, in this chapter. I don't plan on having them. Though, I may change my mind at some point, while writing this one.
Imperial Advances
The day that the Republic warship dropped out of hyperspace, and after their search of the vessel was completed, Coruscant high command sent out a warning message, to all corners of Republic Space, to be ready. However, the message didn't reach every corner of the territories, and a few places were completely unprepared for the Sith.
Half a week later, in orbit of Raxus Prime...
The Republic had built a base on the surface of the planet, hazardous as it was to do so. They meant to experiment with what all was on the planet, in an effort to come up with new technologies. It also proved to be a good training ground, for special forces soldiers. A small fleet guarded the planet, as it was doubted that the Sith knew of the world's existence. If only they had known.
The Sith dropped out of hyperspace, a fleet of thirteen warships, and eight frigates. They began firing within seconds of dropping out of hyperspace, and the Republic's ships were too slow to respond. No Sith warship sustained any significant damage, and only one of the frigates had any sort of significant damage, with fire coming from one of the engines. With the fleet destroyed, the Sith moved around the planet, jamming the sensors of the Republic base, on the planet. The Republic ships had no time to send a warning to the planet, and so the base never had time to react to the bombings of the Sith bombers. Explosions riddled the base, as the troopers scrambled to try to fight back, but there was just too many bombing runs. All that the Republic could do, was let Coruscant know of what all had happened. The message ended with a loud explosion, and the death of the Republic commander. Ziost was the first planet the Empire took control of, Raxus Prime was second.
Malastare, the same day...
A massive Sith fleet, the same size of the one that just hit Raxus, dropped out of hyperspace, in orbit of Malastare. The fleet was under the command of Darth Angral. No Republic Fleet awaited them, but a massive Military force was planetside. It wouldn't be enough. Angral ordered the bombers to take charge, with the Gunships following close behind. A Republic Base was around each major point, and the planet's capital, adding up to seven, all across the globe. Chaos rained down upon the world, but the Republic response on Malastare was better organized, then on Raxus Prime. The final Republic base shot down the bombers and Gunships, before they could hit, or land, respectively. But the other bases were being hit harder, and harder, with their forces dead, dying, or mobilizing. They launched starfighters to counter the bombers, and troops were arming up. But they didn't have enough starfighters, and not nearly enough time to organize a proper counterattack.
Republic starfighters, and even anti-aircraft turrets, were being shot down by Sith Orbital strikes. Now bringing down even more troops, and tanks onto the planet, charging at the burning Republic bases. Tearing through the Republic forces, soon the one Republic base that was able to mount a defense fast enough, was the only one standing. Darth Angral left the bridge of his ship, to see to the base being cleared out, personally. With Angral leading these forces, it was a mere matter of time before the base was filled with the burning corpses of Republic troopers.
Before long, yet another Republic base was lost to their oldest enemy.
On Cademimu V..
By far, the Empire's most dangerous initial target, the Sith took a very strategic approach to this conquest. Using Darth Baras spies, they entered the planets missile control station, and shut it down completely, silently killing everyone in the building. Not one inhabitant of the planet knew of what happened. And they wouldn't know until it was far too late. Their automated planetary defenses served as their radar, and with the control station shut down, they never saw the Sith fleet coming.
Under the command of the Empire's two best war strategists, Darths Marr, and Malgus, a Sith fleet the same size as the two sent to Raxus Prime, and Malastare, dropped out of hyperspace on Cademimu V, having been given the all clear, from Baras's spies. Not able to realize that the Sith were their, until their ships entered orbit, Republic forces panicked, and sent orders to the station to fire the missiles. But the orders were heard on the ears of spies, and not one missile was fired. Bombers hit the city, Sith forces landed on the ground. Republic troopers were either blown up, shot down, or cut down by lightsabers. Malgus and Marr entered the planet's capital, and confronted the governor, who surrendered almost immediately. As per rules of conquest, Darth Malgus executed the governor. Three of the Republics most important strategic planets were now under Sith control. The New Sith War had now truly begun.