Chapter 10
(Coruscant, Senate Building, Senate Rotunda)
There was a sudden upheaval of commotion amongst the gathered men, the 'bootlickers,' as they were, were arguing amongst one another yet again. Exar had found it amusing the first time around, but now it was beginning to way heavy upon what patience he had left. 'Just remember.' He would think to himself, 'They live to this.' He thought and would usually chuckle to himself.
"Gentlemen please." Kun pleaded with his voice growing booming and mighty. "We have not the time nor the will to argue like this for hours on end today." Kun said more so speaking for himself then for the whole of the senate; which in hindsight probably could argue all day and night over the color of the sky, but that was besides the point to the Sith lord. "This meeting amongst us was called by the Emperor for me to address any and all questions that may arise from our new enemy in the Galaxy. I am also to lay forth some new…measures that will be put into place now that we are in fact in a state of full-scale war and not mere rebellion counteractions." Kun said, and gained the silence he required as the men were mulling over just exactly what 'measures,' meant and what they could be.
"Now," he said with an air of annoyance leaking into his voice. "Can I have one question directed at one time please?" As soon as he asked about, fifty or maybe a hundred people began loudly calling out their own questions to which Kun angrily shoved his hands into the air to quiet them. "I see that I need to be more clear." Exar said once they quieted again, and he put a hand to his mouth in contemplation. "Ah I got it!" He said with a snap of his fingers. "we shall conduct this with your voting terminals. All of you with questions hit your voting terminals; it need not matter if you hit yay or nae, and from there I will decide who hit the terminal first and thusly answer their question first." The Sith lord declared as if he were speaking to a group of schoolchildren about some new game he created for them. It was really condescending, but the senators did well not to say as such.
Kun made the signal for them to go about setting their 'votes' in and soon his terminal began lighting up which booths were voting yes or no, but that didn't matter as all the Sith lord was looking for was who pressed their terminal first. A one named Gabrial Antanna from Esseles, seemed to be the lucky first one to get their question answered. Exar looked to where his terminal said the senator was seated and he had to turn a full 180 in the central booth to see the man was not too far above him. "Mr. Antanna of Esseles you have first rights to a question sir." Kun said in all the faked propriety he could muster forth. The repulsorpod detached and the senator had it lowered to be more at eyelevel with the Sith lord before he spoke.
"Thank you my lord Kun." He opened with. "I think I speak for many of my fellow senators with what I am about to say here and I am sure your answer to my little rant will satiate many of us." He continued and Kun could only raise a brow at the mild boldness of the senator as Kun began to believe it was the sound of condescension in his voice. "With the recent Powers Limitations act declared by his majesty directed to the Moffs to return to Imperial Center, and surrender themselves I think it is safe to say none would dare that now." Kun gave a stiff nod knowing this was not a question but more a statement of fact.
"As such the act in my mind is a little flat in terms of power and authority now, and while that is not too big of an issue, I wonder just how will the power of political authority be spread out amongst both the governor and senatorial sectors of the imperial bureaucracy?" Kun gave another nod and cleared his throat before answering.
"Good senator, I have been instructed by his majesty to assure you and all your fellow senators that the limitations act upon the Moffs while moot, still maintain the policy in which power will be spread out amongst yourselves and the system governors. The fact that the Moffs have declared open war upon us does not mean they can delegate how political power and authority is maintained." Kun said adamantly. Seemingly satisfied with Kun's answer senator Antanna nodded and returned his pod to its holding place. Allowing Kun to see who he would have to answer next.
The next person up was a rather new and young senator by the name of Pooja Naberrie, who represented the Chommell sector which included her home planet of Naboo, and with what Exar knew he could only smile and shake his head at the irony, before he announced that Ms. Naberrie was allowed to ask her question. She gave the usual senatorial thanks before addressing the senate and Kun. "No one is doubting that the Moffs are a threat certainly," Pooja trailed off on, and Kun continued to listen where she was going as she addressed everyone quite elegantly.
"My main question is thus, how is it that the Moffs of all people in the galaxy gained enough traction, enough power, and enough freedom from the eyes of the Empire's many intelligence and security bureaus to become such a threat as they are now?" Exar knew that this question could have come up, but he wished that it hadn't as any excuse he made up would be a lie to the senate and surely the Emperor would know this and want to hear the "real," reason the Moffs were allowed to gain power. A question he wouldn't need to answer but nonetheless the security bureaus would begin snooping, and that was the biggest threat as of now to Kun and he and Vader's plans.
"An excellent question Ms. Naberrie, one that I can attest to has been plaguing many within the circles of our fair Empire." He smoothly replied. "However, as of yet we have only scarce information as to how the Moffs have duped the Empire. What we do know however," Kun interjected himself before giving Pooja time to possibly respond to him, "is that the Moffs are operating under the assumption that the Empire cannot function without them to maintain order. Though it is quite clear that within the past several months they have become more corrupt, as is evidenced by the sudden and daring surge in Moff assassinations prior to the Moff threat being made publicly known by their leader Nox Vellam." Pooja interject this time however, "Yes, and that is another question that requires answering. How is it that the Moffs were supposedly allowed to commit wanton assassination upon one another and to what ends was the purpose of these attacks?"
Kun had a momentary moment of annoyance flash through him but subdued it and answered the good senator. "To what end, milady, is quite simple as we are now aware if this fact at least. The Moffs were being murdered by one another as they were preparing for their ultimate goal; which as we all know is to attempt to seize the Empire from the Emperor, and those whom did not agree and join with Vellam were ordered killed by the Moffs who went along with this egregious plan of treason." Exar said as he crossed his black robed arms and swung his cloak about as he scanned across the senate to gauge the senators reactions. They seemed to be doing the usual mumbling and grumbling that senators did when they were let in on previously unknown information however, and Kun decided to continue.
"Why this was allowed to happen milady, is an answer that will not nor cannot satisfy anyone here, but it is the answer nonetheless." He warned before continuing, "The Moffs were allowed to act upon their mission of attempting to maintain their secrecy as lord Vader had come across information that pointed to the recent assassinations leading back to several Moffs in the Outer Rim, and it was unclear as to who was behind what and just exactly how big this conspiracy truly was." Kun gave a shrug before going on with a small smile on his face that none could see, "It was decided that lord Vader was to…cleanse the Empire, of what Moffs we did know were part of this conspiracy and trace the leadership through these eliminated Moffs, and the good lord Vader got close, but not close enough it would seem, as the Moffs merely pushed their plans ahead of their intended schedule, and now we have seen the end results." kun decided to add a little shock to the senators just to get a reaction from them, "So it was also decided that since we knew the Moffs were doing this to one another and that they were planning something that we should allow them to kill one another until those that were left would be the obvious one behind it, and thus our perpetrators." Kun declared and now this got a reaction as some senators started loudly barking questions and calling such a practice outrageous, as Ms. Naberrie was oddly quiet and seemingly mulling over Kun's answers to herself. After all it was not often that the Empire openly declared that it was allowing Moffs to kill each other just to find out who the Empire would have to kill afterwards.
"This is completely outrageous!" Called a female senator and it caught not only Exar's attention but many others as well as it got oddly less loud in the senate hall after the outburst. Kun scrambled to see whom was talking and finally found the source of a rather angry looking and known for being at times outspoken senator from Chandrila, Mon Mothma. Crossing his arms in an obviously annoyed manner Kun awaited what this senator of fame would say to him. "I believe that this senate and this galaxy has had to deal with quite a bit in regards to Imperial policy towards filtering out 'traitors,' and so called 'rebels,'" she said quite obviously finding it necessary to stress the words 'rebels' and 'traitors' to show she didn't think of them as such. "Now we learn that the Empire actively knew that the Moffs were planning at the very least something serious that would lead to some form of violence, and not a single thing was done to prevent it. Merely a small subjugation campaign by lord Vader, and the silent go-ahead by all the Imperial security bureaus and ministries!" She angrily and rather loudly reiterated more for the rest of the senators than for Kun himself who merely stood still, arms crossed and with an apathetic look upon his face.
"What other acts of terror, and atrocities have been committed with silent Imperial sanction?! What right does the Emperor give to these men whom we call killers the ability to kill innocent citizens and then blame them for doing so; if and when knowledge beforehand of the coming attack is already in his hands?!" The demand was quite blatant and bold even for one as outspoken as the Chandrilan senator, and everyone knew it, as many senators were mumbling in aghast of Mothma's outburst amongst themselves.
"Well milady you ask much of me and the Emperor in your demands to know what right was given to allow others to take life." Kun opened his reply with. "It is however by his very title as Emperor of the Galactic Empire that our Emperor Palpatine was and is given rights to commit time, energy, and credits to the Empire's many ministries and sectors to do what is necessary to ensure peace, security, and law-abidingness. To ensure the greater good it is at time prudent and necessary in certain situations to allow the lesser of two evils to be committed." Exar retorted with, standing firm and arrogantly defiant of the senator from his place in the central podium of the senate as all the other senators, like clockwork, began their mumbling.
"Look," Kun added before another rebuttal could be thrown at him or an interjection loudly cried out. "There is no doubt nor any denial that the issue concerning the Moffs and this rebellion must be looked upon with critical eyes as a clear example of how Imperial intelligence and security ministries failed in the prevention of full-scale war, because that is where we find ourselves. For the first time in over a decade the whole of the galaxy is being driven towards just that." Exar declared as everyone got just a bit more quiet as that fact was allowed to sink in just a bit more.
For the entire senate meeting Sate Pestage had been sitting comfortably and silently in the same podium as Kun and was content not to say a thing lest he felt it necessary to interject on behalf of the Sith lord, but he received a transmission for Kun over a small comlink of his and as such arose from his sitting position and whispered the news to the dark lord who craned his neck to listen and gave a nod of understanding when he was done, and could not suppress a tiny smile from forming upon his face.
"If everyone of you fine senators would grant me a small amount of speaking time you may find that what I have to say will pertain to some very key information as to how this war will be fought on our part." Exar informed rather grandly. Forcing all senators to, once more, mumble in slight confusion. Though to accommodate the dark lord all senators remained where they were, Mothma stayed silent and Naberrie had already returned her pod to its place along the senate wall. "For my part this war will be played out swift yet ruthless. There will be a great change that crawls across the known galaxy. Of this you all can be assured…" Kun declared with a louder and commanding voice that seemed to make the whole of the senate strangely quiet. "This great Empire of ours will arise from the ashes of war renewed through battle, emboldened through assured victory, and reinvigorated by the collapse of all our enemies across the galaxy. There shall be none that can deny Imperial glory, power, and rule from this wars outcome!" Many people while intrigued and even of like wishes they couldn't understand what made the dark lord suddenly feel the need to boast like this, and what did it have to do with the war plans as he said it did?
"Thus to ensure that the Empire remain as it is now, and to assure us all and the populace that the senate is not of like mind as the Moffs I must impart upon you all a sense of self preservation, and push those of weak will into submission." With that Kun pressed a small button upon his terminal and it automatically opened all doors to all senate pods, and entering them all were two Stormtroopers and a single Massassi, or two depending on who Kun decided was more likely to get intimidated by more of his hulking servants.
All the senators jumped up or backwards depending on if they were sitting or standing. Some began crying out about how outrageous this was, and some merely yelped out of fear, and some, well some were so quiet from fear one might think them already dead. "Calm, please everyone stay absolutely calm!" Exar demanded more than asked, and soon all were brought to silence as two Imperial troopers stared them down with at least one Massassi staring yellow eyed daggers into them as well. "Now I know what most if not all of you are thinking, and no I am not about to liquidate the entirety of the senate." Kun said with a chuckle though he was alone in doing so. Even Pestage just sat silent and observant as ever though he did not seem surprised at all.
"No, I merely, as I said earlier wish to impart on all you good senators a sense of how the Empire will maintain loyalty and peace at all costs. I am as are many people of the galaxy aware that during the Clone Wars many within this body of government sought to change sides on a whim, and while in all reality you as a senator have little control on what side your world or sector joins we can't have any senator suddenly rallying his people on some separatist craze now can we?" Kun mock asked as he seemed to be enjoying himself much more than before. "You see, you senators here represent people from across the galaxy, and while the Moffs may have commanded the Empire across the galaxy it is you who represent your people, and they would and do feel more inclined to follow your lead and listen to your voices much more than some Moff on a power trip." All were still deathly silent and awaited the Sith lord to continue his little show.
"As such it has been imparted upon me by the Emperor the ability and power to arrest all of you who would feel inclined to aid the Moffs in some vain hope of freeing yourself from Imperial rule, or oppression depending on your personal view of things." Kun added and sent Mon Mothma a knowing look with a grin plastered across his features. "Those of you who harbor no feelings that would and could be construed as traitorous or separatist in nature will be allowed your freedom from this senate hall. On the other hand those of you whom harbor perhaps even a modicum of sympathy towards the Moffs, or feelings that you could make a move now that the Moffs have, and you wish to separate your world or system or even sector from imperial rule will have to be kept here for your and your peoples safe keeping, and others whom we cannot…rehabilitate will need to have to have more drastic measures done upon them to make you all see the truth of the galaxy and the path to righteousness and then…ultimate victory for the Empire that you deep inside yourself, you know you love and care for you just cannot see it, yet." Exar dramatically announced and all remained deathly quiet as he chuckled to himself as so many here looked to be absolutely terrified. After all they had tried to placate this new Imperial lackey of the emperor just a short few days ago when he decimated the rebel grouping on Dubrava. Certainly that had made them friends in the eyes of Kun right? Well they were proven wrong here as kun was proving himself to be ever the arm twister like Vader only now with a more human face to him, and at times even a charming personality. Only rarely though did Kun let a small glimpse of the real him come out in small laughs, grins, or deadly glares as the true Sith lord, the monster beneath was always there, and it was by the hard way that all senators here would learn, he was not one to be trifled with, and in kun's mind they would be seeing a lot more of him in the coming years and because of that fact alone they surely needed to get used to him now rather than later.
"So at the cost of having to answer more well founded and well intentioned questions I am afraid that I must put an end to today's senate session. If you will please follow your trooper escort along with my fine Massassi warriors I will have them take you to the main hall and from there I will proceed to evaluate you all on a person by person basis. Thank you in advance for your utter cooperation." Kun finally said as he abruptly adjourned the senate session and quietly and quite dejectedly all the senators and political delegates were forced to slowly drag themselves behind their trooper escorts as the hulking warriors they now knew as Massassi stalked behind them and watched their every step with their glowing yellow eyes. For it was only Kun and a select few others; including the Emperor, who knew that this was absolutely a purge of the senate. Though the senate was still needed and Palpatine did not have the Death Star to leverage upon them yet, they needed to be purged at once to show the galaxy that the Empire was not the Republic and this was not the Clone Wars. A war it will be indeed, but, not one that one could so easily change sides in, and not a war that Palpatine was willing to allow defiance and treason to run rampant. For he had already played his game during the Clone Wars, and this time he didn't need to pretend. No, this time he would show the galaxy the true face of warfare, the Sith way of warfare, and Exar was more than happy to play by these rules, because in his mind they ultimately led down the path he needed the galaxy to travel for his own designs.
So as the masses of political nothings left the rotunda, Kun and Pestage lowered the central podium until they reached ground level into a small office. Where both men bid each other farewell and luck in the coming maneuvering that was to come in this new Imperial political climate, and from there Exar made his way slowly towards the hall where the senators were being gathered.
"That was quite theatrical if I may say so myself, but perhaps that is what eases the Emperor at times; toying with the politicians I mean." A familiar voice said and Kun turned to see Armand Isard walk from behind a random pillar in one of the many halls of the Imperial Senate building. He was wearing the red uniform usual of his seat as director and had no discernable expression upon his face, but Kun merely shrugged with a smile plastered upon his face.
"Perhaps it was, but I had to get all these bootlickers into the senate hall to hear the oh so grand statement formed by myself and the Emperor, and well, I did add an extra bit of flair to the whole things didn't I?" Exar said as it was obvious he was pleased with himself and Armand nodded to himself in agreement with the Sith lord he had come to see more often as of late. "Nonetheless my lord, the Emperor sent me here personally to bring you up to date on current situations that are unfolding in our fair Empire." To this Kun cocked a brow in interest and a mild sense of confusion.
"What exactly is happening then Director?" Isard made a sweeping gesture with his hand that beckoned the Sith lord to walk with him, and Kun complied and as both men got into step alongside one another the Director spoke with all seriousness he could muster in his voice.
"Approximately an hour ago, standard time, while you were still busy here at the Senate building we lost contact with Abregado-rae. All attempts to reestablish contact have failed and we must assume the worst has happened." Armand said and Exar though interested wanted to verify the Director was telling him what he thought he was.
"So you're saying that the Moffs have launched an attack on a planet this deep into the Core Worlds already?" Armand nodded slowly as if thinking something to himself as well. "It would seem so. We have received information through various intelligence operative still operating out of the Tapani sector, that Moff Laird Gustavu has signed over his and the vast sector's allegiance to the Moff alliance. As such there can be only one credible reason for attacking Abregado-rae, either Grand Moff Vellam is far more stupid than I gave him credit for, or," Armand trailed off, "the Moffs are launching this attack to directly and quickly seize control of the Shapani Bypass, or the "Bacta Run," as it is sometimes called."
Kun had quickly learned since his arrival what Bacta was and how important it was during a war, and so this made the Moff attack all the more potent when he began thinking about it. "So Vellam wants to try and seize Abregado-rae as a means of launching a full assault upon Thyferra then?" Exar asked, and Isard nodded.
"It would seem the only likely option as Abregado-rae is the only non-Tapani world left on the bypass run, leaving us already in a delicate situation where the Moffs command the shortcut to acquiring Bacta. If Abregado-rae falls and Thyferra should be attacked, Bacta supply will dwindle even if we manage to hold the planet and we will see a crisis unfold across the whole galaxy unless we hold Abregado-rae now." Kun pressed a hand to his chin in thought as the two men slowly continued their walk own a senate hall.
"Have we received any contact with Thyferra, or attempted any warnings as of yet?" Exar finally asked and Armand nodded. "yes we have sent word to the planetary governor and he has informed us that on top of mobilizing the local garrison, our two planetary companies; the Zaltin, and Xucphra corporations, have begun stockpiling Bacta and doubling production. Local populations should not be a problem to handle, they are merely bugs after all." Isard said and Kun gave a small chuckle in reply.
"Are we sending a secondary defensive fleet to help in the defense of the system should it come to that?" The Sith lord asked and again Isard nodded. "The local system defensive fleet, the neighboring one from the Tauber system are making themselves ready for an imminent attack. The Emperor however is rerouting two fleets from within the Jaso sector to make for patrol in the nearby space surrounding Thyferra. Also three fleets from here in the core are making way to Abregado-rae to reestablish communication for us and assess the situation and deal with the threat until lord Vader arrives later today, where I presume the emperor will send him to personally deal with the problem." to that Kun nodded his understanding. "What is it the Emperor wanted of me then director?" Armand stopped and looked at Kun a very small smile now on his face. "Why, to allow you to impart upon these blathering fools we call the senate the situation we are in and the seriousness. Let them see that the Moffs are proving to be quite tenacious and fast to launch attacks. Make them see that you, and thus we, are just in our decision to purge them of their malcontent ranks." to this Kun smiled and made a small bow of his head.
"That I can do director Isard, that I can do indeed." From there the two men parted ways and Kun made for the hall once more, and with greater speed. Isard was to make back for the palace, and neither men knew, but would soon, that the grand fleet of the empire had just returned to Coruscant. Lord Vader had returned.
AN: Hello all, I am sorry this one may seem a bit wordy but what is in this chapter is critical for setting the mood of future chapters on the slow transformation the whole galaxy will undergo...an Exodus you might call it, :D Ehem, but anyways I hope you all like this one, and excuse any typos that you may come across I tend to write these late at night when the inspiration hits me, so it may seem a little jumbled here and there, but please tell me what you guys think, and please enjoy!