Chapter 11
(Coruscant, Imperial Palace)
The shuttle had entered into Coruscant's atmosphere some time ago and was now settled nice and quietly on one of the many landing pads of the Imperial palace. It's passengers were few however, as only those of importance were returning to the capital of the galactic Empire, and those of more importance still, were to go to the palace itself and meet with the Emperor Palpatine. There were three in total one dark lord, one grand admiral, and a scientist of dubious nature, but brilliant mind. Vader of course was, along with Grand Admiral Zaarin, to meet at once with Palpatine about the situation with the Moffs. Both had been imparted upon little information as to what was going on, being in constant hyperspace for about a week takes one out of the loop so to speak. The third passenger was not one that the other two did not know. He was some scientist by the look of him. Lord Vader was the more informed about this scientist named Kalev Zalliste. He was put on-board his flagship by the Emperor to be dropped off at Alderaan or transferred there by some means while he was out destroying the "rebelling," Moffs. However, due to the Dubrava incident and now war itself, the good doctor had not been delivered as promised, and Vader found it most odd that he could not easily sense this mans feelings or intentions even though he was right there next to him in the small lambda shuttle.
Nonetheless, the good doctor thanked lord Vader for his hospitality aboard the Exactor and bid him and the admiral a good day before dragging a case off into the palace while Vader and Zaarin made for the throne room in quiet haste. Upon arrival two red clothed guards silently made small bows and allowed them past. Upon entering the grand throne chamber the two men silently acknowledged that many senior officials of the Empire's military and in particular the Imperial Navy were gathered. Man of whom both men recognized as the highest and most well regarded admirals of the imperial fleet. Whether these men were actually talented commanders was debatable but their power and court statuses were not. Vader also recognized that the Emperor was speaking with the director of Imperial Intelligence Armand Isard. Vader however was not concerned with the man or anyone else in the room, though he did find it odd that lord Kun was not present, and decided to ask the Emperor of the Sith lord's absence. As such he kneeled before the throne before speaking his usual mantra of a servitude.
"What is thy bidding, my master?" Vader ever obediently greeted with. All in the room had noticed the mighty entrance of Vader, but now as he spoke all eyes were upon him, and his interaction with the elderly but all powerful Emperor Palpatine. "Ah, my old friend, please let us dispense with the usual pleasantries. We have much work that needs doing, no further delay need halt us any further." The Emperor declared as he climbed down from his throne and made for Vader to rise to a stand.
"As you will, master. To what, might I ask, is of such great importance that I have been called immediately before you my master? I have not been given all the details it would seem." The dark lord declared to which the Emperor let loose a small cackle in amusement. "No, that you have not my apprentice. It would seem that despite our best intentions and our attempts to quell the Moffs from uprising and treason a coalition of them has been formed under Grand Moff Vellam, and they have united to declare war upon the Empire, upon ME!" The Emperor said with anger quickly entering into his voice before just as quickly subsiding. "Then it would seem that I have failed in my endeavor to quash the Moffs my master." Vader declared in what he knew to be mock and insincere apologetic tone, and no one else caught it, even the emperor waved his 'concern,' aside.
"It does not matter lord Vader. The Moffs were becoming far too bold as of late, and it is better that we confront this problem head on perhaps rather than through espionage." Palpatine said before his glowing yellow eyes settled upon Grand Admiral Zaarin.
"Ah, admiral Zaarin it is good to see that you are well. Did you enjoy your campaign with lord Vader?" The slightly graying man seemed to become more uncomfortable before bowing. "Yes your majesty it was…an enlightening experience into how to deal with renegades like the Moffs." Once again the Emperor cackled in glee.
"Yes, it certainly should have been. Now as the Moffs need dealing with more directly I believe everyone here can learn something from Lord Vader's recent extermination campaigns against some of the wayward Moffs." Vader bowed slightly at what he and everyone else perceived to be a compliment by the aging Emperor and the gathered men made mumblings that were unanimously in agreement with the Emperor. 'Like all good officers you must agree with your Emperor at all times.' Vader thought as he knew many men here probably thought little of the Supreme Commander of the Imperial forces. Vader did not care of course, but merely thought it trivial that the Emperor make them agree with his every thought, but Vader long ago accepted it as his master's way.
"Come now, all of you join me at this conference table I had prepared." Palpatine declared as he walked over to an ornate yet simple long black table that seemed to be made of some marble like stone material and was exquisitely cleanly and glistened in the mid day sunshine of Coruscant's star. The Emperor like the patriarch that he was took that seat at one end of the table, and all the officers took seats in no particular order, while Vader took to standing beside his sitting master and crossed his arms.
"Now that everyone I wanted here, is indeed here we can begin preparation in earnest for this war." Palpatine said as he waved over an off to the side set of servant droids that began putting down wine glasses and filling them with expensive wine for the assembled men in their usual clunky and slightly noisily but non-speaking manner of droids. The men, all garbed in their finely done and cleanly admiral uniforms silently took their glasses and each one of them sipped before retuning the glasses to the table and awaiting the dark lord to speak; only after taking a fine sip himself did he do this; and with Vader of course he was not even bothered by a droid for a glass of his own.
"Now, what I want to first comment upon is that the Moffs have already launched a bold plan and have begun an attack deep into the Core Worlds at Abregado-rae, perhaps some of you know this by now." Some admirals nodded while others looked around concernedly. Vader did not know this, but mentally applauded Vellam for enacting such a bold plan. "To counter this I have ordered three additional fleets under the command of an admiral by the name of Merris Nolik. I will be diverting you there as well in due time my apprentice." Palpatine said as he addressed Vader without turning to look at him, and Vader merely bowed once again in quiet and obedient acceptance. "It is believed that the Moffs have launched this attack to cut off Imperial supply of Bacta from Thyferra and take command of the Shapani Bypass as all of Tapani has fallen into Moff hands under the command of Laird Gustavu." Palpatine spat the name as if it were poison and many officers made similar sounds of displeasure as they realized that Tapani was gone, and that massive collection of planets and systems was going to be very troublesome in the future. "We can not nor shall we allow the Moffs anywhere near Thyferra and thus, Abregado-rae must and will hold." Palpatine declared with all the men agreeing through mumbles.
"Now on to other pressing matters at hand. Imperial Intelligence has been in constant communication with agents we have across the galaxy which means Moff space now as well, and have concluded that the Moffs have gained control over almost the entirety of our Outer-Rim territories, the same can be said of the Mid-Rim but not as many. We have lost a sizeable amount of Expansion region sectors and also some sectors in the inner Rim have openly defected to the Moff Alliance." The Emperor calmly listed off while Vader noticed all the man visually become more and more concerned and uncomfortable at the sheer amount of space they would need to conquer to defeat the Moffs and now what was a massive military under their command. "Intelligence has also informed me however, that though the Moffs have openly declared lordship of these vast territories there are indeed many planets and systems who have openly rebuked Moff rule and have called for immediate assistance from the Core to fight off imminent Moff attacks to secure their territories before launching an all out assault into the Inner Rim, which is now our border and first line of defense."
The Emperor clasped his hand together on the table before continuing. "That will be our first objective gentlemen. Alongside the protection of our Bacta supplies in the Shapani Campaign I want the opening up of three more additional theaters and I have; along with Imperial Intelligence, and the Imperial Security Bureau, come up with a model for our initial strike against the Moffs." Palpatine informed them as they all seemed rather shocked and just as some seemed to be ready to object the emperor spoke again and cut them off. "Recognize this gentlemen, the side that becomes the attacker first must be brutal and efficient otherwise we will be put on the defensive, and when that happens it will take a long time for us to gain enough traction to counter attack while the Moffs plague the galaxy and our Empire. Swift and critical action needs to be taken now if we are to quash this rebellion in good time. The Clone Wars lasted four years and devastated this galaxy let us hope that we can end this war in less time, and with less damage inflicted." Seemingly unable to formulate any responses or merely too scared to do so all the man remained quiet or nodded their understanding to the Emperors words, and Vader merely watched and silently began planning on how to council Moff Vellam to counter what his master was planning.
"Now as I was saying, the Shapani Campaign is one I want fought to secure our Bacta needs, and on top of it I will be ordering the opening up of another theatre that coincides with it into the Tapani Sector. It is absolutely crucial that the Tapani Campaigns be fought from the very beginning for us to secure our own borders within the Colonies region and the Inner Rim." The military men all nodded with understanding and agreement before one man named admiral Octavian Grant spoke up rather boldly.
"I request that I be the one that you put in command of this theatre your majesty! I will reclaim the honor of the noble houses of Tapani and bring ruin upon Gustavu for subjugating the noble houses into what I am sure is obedience through threat of death!" The Emperor cackled and waved for Grant to sit once more.
"No need for dramatics Grant I already considered you as the prime admiral for this campaign. However, you will need to know, along with all of you as well gentlemen," he said addressing all gathered, "that I will be placing lord Kun in command of carrying out the Tapani campaigns abroad." All the men gathered once more looked confused and now Vader too looked over to his master in mild surprise though it was nothing to get worried over he believed, as Kun would most likely wish to be a part of the battles and the war itself.
"The Sith are making a more official return one could say." Palpatine said only confusing the men more, but Vader knew what is master meant. After all it was Kun who planted the idea in Sidious's mind in the first place. "In time more Sith like lord Vader here, and lord Kun will be a part of our Empire, as the Moffs have proven that they can no longer ever be trusted as suitable leaders of the galaxy. I expect you all gathered here to welcome them when they join in our ultimate and united quest to destroy our collective enemies against the Empire, and be at ease in the fact that your positions will not be questioned or changed. Only that you will be at the service of the Sith in replacement of the Moffs system which I believe is safe to say has been a failure." Their fears seemed more at ease and the admirals once more nodded their understanding.
"So with that revelation out of the way I want to direct everyone's attention back to the matter of campaigns and the war that is most pressing at hand." Palpatine stated with his usually oily voice taking a mild dip into clear annoyance with having to put the fears of these admirals at bay. "Now as I was saying, on top of the Shapani and Tapani campaigns I want a theatre opened to exploit the non-Moff aligned worlds and systems in 'Moff space," which we will merely call the Mid to Outer Rim Campaigns, to save on overly complicated names. Lastly I will be appointing Lord Vader, after the securing of Thyferra of course, commander of the greatest front we will be opening which will be a general one along the entirety of the Inner Rim as we push into the Expansion region and fully reclaim all territory that is rightfully ours." Palpatine declared with the utmost authority and assurance in his voice, and all the men more loudly than usual agreed with him, and made small remarks in support of the ideas laid forth by their Emperor.
"Furthermore I do hope gentlemen, that those of you gathered here save for myself, lord Vader, and director Isard, have noticed that you are some of the most well respected and highly recommended and commended admirals in the naval echelons of our Empire." The men looked about quickly and all nodded that they did indeed recognize one another from being in similar circles on renown and power within the Empire.
"Good," Sidious declared in his usual oily manner. "The reason for this is that I am establishing henceforth from this day a small group of officially recognized and named top tier naval commanders within the empire. I was planning on doing this at a later time, but now that we are at war I have been forced by fate it would seem into doing so now." The Emperor informed before addressing them once more. "As such I am officially making the rank and offices of Grand Admiral a military title that can be achieved and only given by myself solely. As such, gentlemen, you all are to be congratulated for all that are here can now officially consider yourselves Grand Admirals of the Galactic Empire. As for you Grand Admiral Zaarin you may now consider your rank and title officially recognized and you are open to seeing yourself as senior Grand Admiral of the 'Circle of Twelve.'" The twelve newly appointed Grand Admirals began congratulating one another, clapping, and making their thanks obviously known to the emperor who waved them off as the old man enjoyed playing politics, as Vader noticed and this was one of the days where he recognized his master was playing leader while wearing a more approachable mask than his usual.
"Now I want all of you to get your individual assignments and orders from the good Director Isard here, while I speak to lord Vader privately, and I will return afterwards." the elderly Sith lord said as he rose to a stand and directed for the hulking and ever quiet Lord Vader to follow him away from the table as Armand began handing then admirals datapads, and started laying out orders to them. Palpatine and Vader walked some ways away from the group until the Emperor led Vader out onto a small veranda that was just off to the side of the throne itself. Once outside The Emperor looked out over the vastness of Coruscant before addressing his apprentice.
"My old friend it would seem that the whole of the galaxy has been dragged into a war that is I suppose in the mind of billions in the galaxy partly my fault." The elderly Sith opened with and his apprentice did not show any physical signs reacting to his master, but in his mind these words by the Emperor surprised him in earnest.
"The politicians of the galaxy would be completely foolish to try and put blame upon us, and in particular you master. The Moffs have broken away from us and it was bread out of fear and desire for power through their own uncontrollable greed. I will hunt them down and eliminate every threat to the Empire, my master. As you command me." Vader declared as he hoped to placate his master and continue building up his grand façade.
"Very good my old friend very good indeed. You are correct in that the Moffs must and will be hunted down and paraded through our streets like the vermin that they are, however I have a different matter of concern that requires your attention." Vader bowed his head and maintained silence as he listened.
"Lord Kun is at this moment singling out our enemies within the senate to show the galaxy that any blatant attempt at succession, and any power they think they have; they do not have at all. In effect I will finally have a reason to purge the senate of all those who have opposed our rile from the very beginning and in the eyes of the scared public I will be in the right." Palpatine laughed before continuing. "As such I think that despite Kun's best intentions and abilities a new rebel will be made more apparent in the coming near future. One that both us and the Moffs will need to deal with now, and it will be a new breed built upon the ideas that politicians cannot be trusted thanks to our dear Bail Organa." Sidious then pointed his bony finger towards Vader. "Despite all of this I want our new ally Kun watched. He is no doubt plotting to remove us from power, and I want him kept under close watch. He has his uses for now but in time we will need to dispose of him. For now I will allow him the time to train some new acolytes and impart old Sith knowledge upon these new Sith of our order, but when I want him taken care of I will need you to do that, and our prize will not only be his knowledge of Sith alchemy, and certain lost techniques, but also those Massassi of his will make fine additions to our fledgling Sith order as well." Vader bowed more deeply than usual. Although if the dark lord could he would have laughed at this moment. Not out of pure spite for his master, though that was tempting. No it was the irony of his master wanting to and attempting to pit Vader and Kun against one another. 'Perhaps,' Vader thought, 'perhaps he is beginning to worry over our mutual cooperation with one another. After all I have not shown him the same level of disdain I have other cronies of you master. It would appear, however, that you are too late.'
Nonetheless Vader rose from his bow and replied as always, "It will be done, my master." Palpatine nodded in satisfaction before he made a face that seemed to show that he just remembered something. "Wait there is one other thing that I need to discuss with you my apprentice." Vader inclined his head and the Emperor continued. "With the Moff takeover of the Outer-Rim a hard fact it would seem that the Death star is put into quite the precarious situation as it is not yet nearly done." Sidious said and Vader too just remembered that Despayre, or the world above which his masters toy was being built above, was dead smack in the middle of what was now Moff controlled space. He had not let the Death Star be known to Vellam as even he knew that it was a foolish idea to do such as the Moffs may have felt emboldened enough to try and seize it. Vader did recognize that distinct possibility that he could be rid of that technological terror through a Moff attack, but also did he recognize the fact that the Moffs may not intend to destroy it and Tarkin was after all in command there, and if Tarkin were to in some way be swayed to the Moff cause, it would be disastrous for the Empire and he and Kun's plans.
"What is it that you want done my master?" Vader inquired as the Emperor pondered himself for a moment over the situation.
"Despayre is still a well kept secret from the majority of the galaxy save for you, me, Tarkin, and those who are working on the Death Star of course. However that is not much of a guarantee for it's protection. We will need that weapon more than ever to strike fear and obedience into the hearts and minds of the galaxy in the future lest this Moff Alliance embolden even more of our enemies into open rebellion." Sidious reasoned and Vader; though not in full agreement, nodded that it was bets to not let the death Star fall into the wrong hands.
"Mygeeto has recently declared their continued loyalty to the Empire. They are the closest Imperial aligned planet to Despayre, as the whole of the Atrivis Sector has pledged allegiance to the Moffs." Palpatine declared before thinking something over before addressing Vader once more. "I will require you to lead a fleet from Mygeeto into the Atrivis Sector soon after you take care of Abregado-rae my apprentice. You will take this fleet to secure Despayre, and then as part of the Mid to Outer-Rim Campaigns I will direct our forces to cut a swath through Moff territory until we secure Atrivis under the pretense of the war and of our re-conquest of territory." The Emperor declared and Vader; unable to com up with a better way, nodded his agreement, and both he and the Emperor made their way back into the throne room. The men were still being briefed in depth by Isard on what their objectives were to be, and the Emperor informed Vader that he was no longer needed and should get to work preparing a third of his grand fleet to make for Abregado-rae in due time. However Vader did leave the palace, only he first returned to his little palace on Coruscant, his little get away on the capital as provided by the Emperor. For he had a meeting that was overdue.
Upon the landing of his shuttle which he himself had piloted, Vader marched quickly into his own palace, which by his, masters standards was tame, but it was his and it was more akin to a spire with several offshoot building surrounding it and connected by walkways, but Vader was not concerned with his palace today. Indeed his strides were quick and long as he zeroed in on the target of his mind, and soon enough he came to one of his training rooms, and insides was his apprentice, and his agent. Starkiller. The boy was in deep meditation and apparently trying to get more in touch with his ability to concentrate through the force as he had seemingly deconstructed his own light saber and was attempting to put it back together through the force as was customary of both Jedi and Sith. However Vader was lacking in more patience than usual today and stomped his boots upon the fine and clean metallic floor of this training room, and with a snap of his eyelids Starkiller awoke from his concentration and much to his own embarrassment his light saber fell apart before him. He bowed his head and greeted Vader with a whispery, "My, master."
Vader placed his hands upon his buckle as was a usual stance for him and a more comfortable one and addressed his apprentice. "I see that my instructions on coming here, and remaining silent and out of sight were followed competently apprentice." Vader greeted and Starkiller sunk his bowed head closer to then floor. "Yes master, I did as you commanded with the Moffs and arrived here as ordered, and I have not so much as spoken until this very moment as so to please you." The budding Sith declared and Vader bowed slightly in acknowledgment of such a feat without having to nor feeling the need to say a word in reply to his pupil.
"Very good then, apprentice." He complimented before casually beginning to walk circles around the boy, which seemed to be a silent command for Starkiller to feel free to stand before his master and no longer kneel. "There is still much we yet have to do if we are to accomplish our goal of defeating the Emperor. Only combined can we do this, and even so we will need allies. I have already acquired us the allies necessary for this endeavor." Vader said and his apprentice raised an interested brow but did not speak. "The Sith lord known as Exar Kun is to be considered our ally for now as we both desire the destruction of the Emperor, and the utter collapse of his authority and image throughout the Empire, and the galaxy as a whole. This war is but the first and greatest step to doing this besides his very death of course." Vader said in monologue as he then came to a stop, and glanced over to his apprentice who had both hands behind his back and stood tall and firm.
"The time has come for you to be far more utilized than ever before. With this war budding forth, and the Emperor about to allow more than just two Sith to be active in the galaxy I will present you forward as a 'candidate' for the new Sith order that is forming, and thus allow you to be a more integral part of this war as my frontline agent. Here I will make you not just a Sith, but a commander of wars and armies." Vader declared as he came to stand before his apprentice whom bowed his head deeply.
"As you command master. It will be a pleasure to serve you more directly and now that a war is upon us as well." Starkiller replied with a hidden smirk of excitement and even pleasure at this revelation before him.
"Indeed. You will have to get used to lord kun then as well. As he will be an integral part of our mission. In time he and I will come to a head, no doubt. However, not until the Emperor is dead will he or I make our move, so we may relax our guard if only a little when we are working with him, and his agents. No one else shall we yet give such privileges to. Am I understood?" Vader asked, and Starkiller nodded. "Yes, my master, of course."
"Very well." Vader intoned. "Now I must prepare a fraction of my fleet for departure at once. I will be meeting with Kun before I leave however and I will require you to stay with him until I return. He will find a way to keep you occupied until he and I can logically explain your presence to the Emperor. Until such time is at hand, commit yourself to whatever task he has for you in silence and swiftness, for the agents of the Emperor are in a frenzy to seem competent over the failure to sniff out the Moff rebellion." Vader warned with a pointed gloved finger. "Remember this as well apprentice. Though you may let your guard soften ever so more around Kun. Never allow your guard to fully drop, and never commit yourself to any task that you feel I would not command. Though I will stick to my end of our bargain a Sith can never one-hundred percent trust another. I expect the same level of observatory caution from you, apprentice." With that order Starkiller bowed once more his understanding, and in a few moments after gathering up his saber pieces, PROXY, and a few other items such as clothing, the budding Sith followed Vader aboard his shuttle. Where the dark lord sent a message to Kun who informed him by via all text messages that he was at the Imperial senate, and thus that was their destination. Where the great plot would no doubt thicken in due time.
Author's Long Note: I hope you guys are happy that I am updating more frequently, I am anyways. :) So this chapter is pretty wordy as well but you guys need to be clued in as to what is going on after all right? Not everything can be battles and war related. I hope you guys appreciate I haven't forgot about dear Starkiller as I do indeed have plans for him. ;) Also I was wondering what you guys would rather see in the war and battles department of my story. You have several options, and PLEASE guys tell me what you would prefer otherwise I will have to do it all my way which may or may not be what you guys would like. Option one is a wikipedia styled couple of chapters or one really big one that informs you about the yearly progression of the war and all the battles and what not or at least the important ones, and give you guys a grand scale vision of my wars. Or would you prefer the war be in passing mention and we focus solely on what the main characters are doing. No matter what i will write about the war and what the main guys are doing, but I want to see what you guys may prefer and I will make my judgement afterwards if anyone decides to let their opinion be heard at all. :s So yeah, please point out or excuse typos, and enjoy, and if any questions are had by you guys feel free to ask and i will message you any details you may have missed or need confirmation on! :D