Chapter 33
(Tapani Sector)
Exar stepped off of his lambda shuttle and was greeted with the grand sight of an entire honor guard of Stormtroopers with blasters held tightly to their chests in a rowed manner on either side of his walking path. As he came down the shuttle ramp, with two Massassi guards at his side, including Mattizz, he was greeted by the immediate figure of admiral Kinti, a slightly shorter man than he with graying hair and a just as deeply gray mustache across his middle-aged face, the admiral stood with hands clasped behind his back and bowed at the sight of Kun's arrival.
"We here aboard the Valiant IV are honored to welcome you, my lord Kun." Exar nodded and fully descend and shook the admiral's hand as his Massassi came up behind him.
"It is pleasure to be your guest admiral Kinti. As you may know I just came from a meeting with admiral Ulan, and we are on track to begin offensive operations." The olden admiral inclined his head.
"Very well my lord. We here in the 687th tactical of Tapani will do our part lord. We have received out reinforcements from the 68th and we are armed and ready for immediate battle-readiness upon reentry from hyperspace jump. Only thing left is our designated target lord." Exar smiled, and motioned for them to begin walking out of the hanger, and the admiral dismissed the trooper honor greet, and began walking with Kun through the halls of the Stardestroyer with officers and troopers all running around and getting ready for a fight.
"Admiral Ulan has already been informed of his target and will be leaving in just a few moments when I give the final order, and thus you may be able to conclude that I have come to assign you and your fleet's target, yes?"
"I thought as much indeed, my lord." Kinti said and bowed his head slightly as they walked forward down sterile hall toward the bridge of the ship.
"Perhaps then it is high time I clue you in to your target. Admiral Refflet and Grand Admiral Grant will be attacking Don II and I have give the task of Achillea to admiral Ulan, so I believe you know your task then admiral." Kinti stopped and looked at Kun and it was obvious he was shaken, as the admiral realized he was being assigned the judged hardest world to attack thus far, Tallaan.
"My lord Kun, you are assigning the 687th the task of attacking and retaking Tallaan?!" He asked incredulously and Kun nodded once with his ever present smirk still on his face, and Kinti thought him insane for a moment.
"Admiral Ulan is a bit of a coward I am afraid admiral Kinti, and for this reason I have assigned him an easier target for him to deal with, and admiral Refflet and Grand Admiral Grant I feel are better suited to take the easiest target of them all at Don II and make sure minimum losses are attained there, as we may need the 68th actual to send reinforcements to either us or the 203rd when the time comes." Kun smiled some more and patted Kinti on the shoulder in an unprofessional manner.
"Not to worry admiral Kinti, I shall be joining you! After all, that is why I am on your ship! I will make the jump orders to the rest of the armada from your bridge if you don't mind, and we can get this show on the road, as they say." Exar said and began walking down the hall once more, and admiral Kinti had to shake the shock from himself and jog to catch up with Kun down the hall as they neared the bridge of the Valiant IV.
"Forgive me my lord Kun, but I must speak out of term, and express my deep concerns for the fleet if we are to attack Tallaan." Kinti declared in his oh so proper voice, and Kun chuckled as he continued to walk. "Oh, and what may these concerns be admiral? Surely you're not trying to worm your way out of fighting and doing what military leaders are supposed to do in war!"
"No, not at all my lord, but there are...complications with my fleet attacking Tallaan." Kinti said with an air of deep seeded worry about him and Kun could sense the man's fear, and it was to be expected. However, Kun was not going to stop a campaign just because of a few scared admirals, now was he?
"Complications or not, admiral, we need to begin the attack, and throw general Morlin and his Moff master Gustavu off balance here, and now, and keep them on the defensive. If we allow them to strike out now and even take Fondor from us, the consequences would be dire for the Empire, and I am sure you don't want to be the one responsible for the fall of the Empire over a little bit of fear. Now do you admiral?"
"N...no my lord not at all!" They reached the door right outside the bridge and Kun stopped and turned to face Kinti with arms crossed and a half-serious look on his face.
"Then what is the problem admiral?"
"The 687th tactical, we are a primarily defensive fleet for the Tapani sector lord Kun. We were not fully versed in offensive operations, and we never expected to be involved in a battle of Tallaan's proposed magnitude! We, unlike admiral Ulan and the 203rd have lost at least two dozen ships entirely while the 203rd has only received cosmetic damage to their fleet. I had been...hoping for the Don II assignment lord Kun."
"Sadly, this is no longer an option." Exar retorted with a voice not of anger but of matter-of-fact nature to it. "The fact is, you have been assigned with several of the 68th's fleet more powerful and up to date ships, and my personally selected divisions are onboard many of these newly assigned ships admiral, it is far too late to reassign them, admiral. There is no room for cowardice and second guesses. We act now, or not at all and allow the Kath hounds to surround and eat the Empire admiral. If you find yourself to be the bigger coward than I thought of you that I shall assume direct naval command of the fleet myself, and allow you to sit the battle out in peace and comfort in your quarters."
"No, lord Kun, that will not be necessary. Forgive my display. I shall do as ordered to the best of my and my crew's abilities." Exar inclined his head and smirked.
"That is all I ask of you admiral, but don't worry. I think you underestimate the power within your men and the fleet. We will wipe these Moff dogs from the system."
"Yes, my lord." The old man replied and then motioned for them to continue into the bridge. When the two men and two Massassi entered the officer crew all turned, stopped, and saluted them, and the admiral put them at ease.
"Welcome back admiral, and greetings from the bridge crew of the Valiant IV lord Kun."
"Greetings captain." Kinti replied, and turned to Kun. "My lord, this is my captain, and good friend, captain Looron Kiell. He has more offensive combat history and skill than probably half my crew." Kinti informed and in sort of backwards attempt to inform Kun once more of his fleets lack of experience but the Sith lord ignored him, and inclined his head to the captain.
"Good to meet you captain. Is the ship and fleet in order for the coordinates to begin our counterattack upon Moff forces?"
"The ship is at full battle-readiness now my lord, and admiral. The fleet and both Vice admirals have give us green status for their sub-fleets and everyone else has reported similar battle-readiness."
"Very good indeed!" Exar said happily and pushed past both men, and made for the front viewport of the bridge, and the two men followed while the Massassi did as well but hung back in full honor guard mode. The two massive crimson aliens did get plenty of stares though, but they expertly ignored them and kept their yellow eyes plastered forward and watched for the slightest moves against their lord and master.
"Now gentlemen," Kun said loud enough for the bridge to hear and everyone paused once more and gave the Sith lord their full attention. "We will be making for Tallaan to strike back at the Moffs and their feeble attempt to destroy the peace and order the Empire has fought and bled for, for years now! They will be en-mass and they will be prepared for a grand defense against us, and though this may breed ideas of defeatism in your minds know this, we will defeat the Moffs and their Freeworld allies here in Tapani, and we shall strike the fear and terror of the Empire back into the Moffs and their commander Morlin, and remind them why the Empire is the sole power in the galaxy, and that we shall always strike back at our enemies, with a might vengeance that they could never anticipate!" Exar declared and the gathered men erupted into a very controlled cheer and clap typical of uptight Imperials, but Kun could sense that they were indeed invigorated, and so, now was the time.
"Captain."
"Yes my lord?" The captain replied and stood at full and regal attention with chin held high and hands clasped behind his back. "Prepare the fleet for immediate jump for Tallaan, and sound the battle readiness alert!"
"At once lord Kun!" The captain replied and immediately went to work ordering the command bridge officers around and readying everyone as Kun stood at the viewport with admiral Kinti.
"Forgive me admiral, but I must sound the alert to admirals Ulan, and Refflet for their green-light."
"Of course my lord." The elder admiral said and simply stared out at the massive Imperial armada outside. Kun nodded and pulled out his comlink and dialed up the frequency for Refflet.
"Yes my lord Kun?" Refflet greeted and came up as a small holo-image before Kun in the palm of his hand. "Admiral Refflet, inform Grand Admiral Grant that the time is now. Ready your fleet and troops and make for Don II, keep me up to date, as well as Coruscant Naval Command, and fight well admiral."
"As you will my lord Kun." The man replied and Kun immediately ended the transmission and then dialed in for admiral Ulan. Similarly, the admiral answered Kun and his miniature holo-image appeared before his lord, and Kun inclined his head in greeting.
"Hail, lord Kun. Is now the time?"
"Indeed it is admiral." Kun said and slightly smirked at the admirals greeting. "You have your orders, and know to keep in contact with I and Coruscant at all times and specified intervals. Fight hard and fight well, and we shall see the Moffs pushed back."
"As you command my lord." The man bowed and Exar ended the transmission and pocketed the comlink.
"Fear not admiral Kinti." Exar said and folded his arms and joined the admiral in staring out the viewport toward the armada that suddenly began moving ships into position for jump to hyperspace. "We shall have victory this day, and perhaps once that happens your faith in me shall be attained?"
"I do not doubt you and your command lord. I doubt the ability of my men, and our ability. Tapani is front-line in this new war and if it falls the Moffs will have a clear entry-point to the Colonies and Core. I shall not be the man responsible for the fall of the Galactic Empire my lord, and will gladly die first before baring such shame."
"Then be sure to either attain victory or die before the battles end admiral." Exar commented dryly as his tone finally shifted to a serious one and his gray eyes narrowed and hardened as he delved into the dark side of the Force, and called it around him and the fleet.
"We are fully ready, and all ships report green-light for entry into hyperspace my lord, admiral." Captain Kiell said coming up behind the two men and bowing deeply. Exar watched as the other two fleets began jumping to hyperspace before his eyes and a wicked smile overtook his still hardened features.
"Very well captain. Make the jump, and make ready for battle." The captain nodded and silently inclined to the navigation's officer to begin entry, and the coms officer to send out the mass jump message.
"Trust in me admiral, and I promise you a mighty victory. One worthy of remembrance for many years to come." The admiral looked to the dark lord confusedly but then slowly nodded before both men turned to silence and stared out the viewport as they entered into hyperspace.
For soon they would be thrown into the heat of battle and of war.
(Coruscant, Vader's Palace, Darth Vader)
"Reports are streaming in from the Outer-Rim, my lord, a large scale attack upon Moff holdings is happening across the board. Droid armies of Clone Wars era make are swarming over several key sectors." Vader was standing in his war room inside his palace, choosing to not go to Naval Command in person and choosing to operate from his palace. He was attending a holo-meeting between himself, directors Isard and Vandron, Grand Admirals Zaarin, and Miltin Takel who was recently assigned to the Outer to Mid-Rim theater to be assembled. Vader could only sneer under his mask as reports were flooding in from all over that a recent surge from these rebels calling themselves the URM taking place all across Moff Outer-Rim territories, and this was most definitely NOT what he and Kun wanted, and was now a wild-card in this war, and now they had a true enemy to deal with and that made things all the more real and serious.
"What regions are under URM attack, and what type of resources are we looking at?" Vader demanded and it was Vandron who looked through some unseen report he had.
"The Calamari sector is under full rebel-droid siege, and the Moffs are in chaos in that sector. Reports from agents in the field are saying that just moments after the broadcast by the Jedi woman Kellia Nelrain, who is acting Supreme Commander of the rebel armies, a fleet of Imperial, and CIS make together jumped in to the sector and went about taking control of surrounding regions around Dac, which we now know the Mon Calamari are using as a rebel staging point in the Norther quadrant of the galaxy fro the URM. We don't know how she attained Imperial warships but we attempting to track odd fleet movements taking lace near Taris some days before initial rebel attacks took place to deduce what world broke away from both the Empire and Moffs and sided with this rebel movement." Vader nodded, bit didn't reply as there was obviously more than just hat, or if there wasn't he needed to seriously review the competency of the intelligence ministries of the Empire.
"The Arkanis sector has fallen under full rebel domination as droids are flooding every world from their origin point of Geonosis, to Tatooine as well. We have blacklisted the Corellian run to the Arkanis sector due to rebel seizure of the zone, though we would have done this even without the rebels as the Moffs controlled that sector before that. However, we have also noted that the massive Moff naval buildup outside the Chommell sector has ended and all ships have been redirected to reinforcing or defending Moff territories under rebel attack in the Outer and Mid Rims." Armand coined in as he too looked at a report before giving a hard look to all the gathered men as the seriousness of the situation was clear on his face. Vader sighed behind his mask, but no one noticed as he silently looked over a holo-image of the Outer and Mid rims with small beacons being placed on every war hotspot their intelligence had and the map was lighting up like Coruscant's downtown district.
"What is the approximate size of the URM fleet, and its make up?"
"I have some approximates for you lord Vader, however, information is sketchy at best, and comes from Naval intelligence." Grand Admiral Zaarin spoke up, and Vader inclined his head for him to continue.
"Besides a very small sum of Imperial class warships and designed vessels the main fleet of the URM is of old Clone Wars era CIS warships that we assume came from worlds like Muunilinst, or possibly from worlds like Skako who intelligence believes are secretly working with the rebels. It is also believed the old players in the Separatist council from the CIS are signing on to providing more droids and ships. Moreover, the Mon Calamari, Sluis Van, and Sullust shipyards are already working in mass production and will have several dozen ships ready for immediate use in two weeks time." Vader silently noted that grand admiral Takel was rubbing his forehead in what looked to be horror at what was happening while the two directors nodded along to what Zaarin was reporting and checking in on their own Intel off screen somewhere.
"Maintain all Intelligence gathering operations for both Moff and rebels forces, and attempt to inject several agents into the rebels forces. We are going to get nowhere with the rebels if we cannot accurately predict and track troop movements." All four men nodded, and Vader inclined his head once.
"Now, I want update on Moff movements not concerning the rebels. They are still in a strong enough position to fight both us and the rebels." Vader declared and once again it was Isard who spoke up.
"Lord Kun has begun the reconquest of that Tapani sector with three fleets at his disposal, but he has not sent current data in yet, but we did receive a message indicating a triple pronged attack on three Moff worlds within Tapani, and were promised updates being sent periodically."
"Moff forces within the Roche asteroids are fully removed and are not attempting any counterattacks my lord, and I am happy to say that the Verpine here in the asteroids have fully committed themselves to repairing and constructing new ships for the Empire." Zaarin reported after Armand as he was still stationed within the Roche asteroid system after successfully expelling Moff forces.
"Beyond this, our intelligence services have reported Moff movements into battle ready positions inside of Tapani as they are expecting an opening for full scale invasion of the Colonies, and are mounting several feints within our Inner Rim and Expansion region holdings that we have sent reinforcements to hold the Moffs at bay. However, we feel confident that if and when Lord Kun pushes the Moffs back in Tapani they we reevaluate their strategy to a purely defensive one on both their fronts with us and the URM. If lord Kun fails however-"
"He shall not fail Isard." Vader interrupted the director. The man looked slightly shocked at the statement but sat back in his seat and nodded.
"Of course lord Vader. Forgive me I was only speaking in hypothetical situations and terms."
"Hypothetical situations and assumptions do us no service. Rather they only lead to too many questions, and fears that may or may not be probable. Focus on the now, and on what must be done. Failure is out of the equation. If you all have not noticed the Galactic Empire is facing an unparalleled crisis." Vader intoned darkly. His mask only doing more to instill a sense of dread in the gathered men.
"The Empire has been pushed back to the Inner-Rim and we hold but a few territories in the Expansion Region and lesser still in the Mid-Rim while the Moffs are at the Core's doorstep with the Tapani sector being their doorway in. Exar Kun is the only thing we have standing between us and a full-scale invasion of the Colonies and Core regions unseen even in the Clone Wars!" The man all looked extremely uncomfortable but remained deathly silent.
"Do not speak to me in hypothetical terms until what was once hypothetical in your minds becomes reality. We cannot afford to even dare plan for a situation where the Moffs puncture the Inner-Rim. If, and this is the only time I shall speak of this, if lord Kun fails to hold the Moffs at Tapani the Galactic Empire will be at an end of its thirteen year lifespan, and all that we know will come crashing down, and society, will turn to anarchy, and order into chaos. We shall hold Tapani, or die trying. There is no in-between gentlemen."
"Yes, lord Vader." They all oddly said in unison, and Vader slowly looked each man over and all of them were very uncomfortable at the blunt and harsh reality Vader just instilled within their minds.
"Good. Now, everyone return to your currently assigned duties and keep me and Naval High Command up-to-date on any and everything you come upon. This is the pivotal moment in this Galactic Civil War as it is being called, and we have no room for second guesses or defeatism." All four of the men nodded and signed off, leaving Vader alone with his maps and constantly streaming military Intel in silence and contemplation.
For this war had suddenly turned to one fabricated for his and Kun's own plans of ascension to a very real one. Even the Moffs have become more of an enemy as they would seek to fight for dear life and survival, and Vader doubted Vellam would keep them all in line with great ease now. Indeed the only thing Vader believed to be going his way at this moment was his two, twin children, and those two certainly made him feel very un-Sith like feelings at times, but he would never admit to such. Luke and Leia were actually acclimating to their new lives quite well. In the few days since their return to Coruscant the twins had only become closer, and were being watched over by two Noghri and Starkiller, who was integrating himself into their lives also, and aiding in teaching Luke...although for whatever reason Leia was still refusing to train with Starkiller, but not out of rudeness, or dislike for his Sith apprentice.
Rather she just seemed to not feel motivated for whatever reason and it was proving to be another irritant about his daughter that drove Vader up the durasteel walls of his palace from time to time. "The girl has far too much of her parents stubbornness in her for her own good. She will learn respect and how to not try my patience in time. I will make sure of that.' With that Vader went back to looking over some of the many naval reports streaming into his palace from Naval Command, and sending back orders. All the while formulating a plan to get Leia more open to training in the ways of the Force and the dark side.
(Expansion Region, Ghost Nebula, Umbara)
Several days still since leaving Roon, Viathan found himself on what had to be the darkest world he had ever set foot upon. Not in terms of the Force, but literally lacking in light save for the big cities which had almost mystifying green glows to them. Umbara as far as Viathan was aware was on of the few worlds still inside the Empire in the Expansion Region, and so did not feel nervous, but even if the Moffs dominated here he doubted they would pose him a problem as few outside the palace even know about him. So he had landed with relative ease and paid for the simple landing fees and angled his way out of the capital city as he had to work doubly hard to mask his presence in the Force as every Umbaran looked at him oddly as he assumed they were not used to non-Umbaran's being on their homeworld, but he paid them no mind and lifted his hood over his head and spoke to no one and kept away from everyone.
Viathan had walked alone and silent through the terrain of Umbara, and it was...odd to say the least. Dark, twisted plants were sprouting all over and the constant shroud of inherent darkness clouded everything and through the Force Viathan could sense a deep seeded darkness within the world, but it was not like Korriban or Lehon, or even Roon. It was a natural darkness. Not one born of corruption, but rather seemed natural, as if Umbara was a world that was meant to always be within darkness whereas Roon was corrupted, or Lehon was corrupted. However Viathan didn't think too much on it. He was becoming far more tired than ever before. It was well over a week without sleep and his body was screaming at him, and begging for rest as his mind would sometimes wander and he would snap out of it to find himself staring off and not moving. It was an odd effect of sleep-deprivation. However he was all the more deepened into the dark side of the Force. He didn't need to go over it with himself again, but the lack of sleep and the pain still incurred and felt by the duel on Tatooine made him grind his teeth in pain and frustration, so much so that he could practically bathing in the dark side, but it was well worth it. The whispers of the Force, and the dark side were always present within his mind, and directing him. The more he wandered into the dark terrain of Umbara the more he found himself less thinking about where he was going and instead 'feeling' where he was going. The pendant taken from Roon doing nothing but doubling his connection to the dark side, and soon Viathan found his target and that's where he stood like Roon he didn't expect it, but when he found it he knew that this is where he was being directed.
A large temple built in stone, and surrounded by the twisted roots sprouting from the Umbaran soil it stood out only visible by the greenish lights that shone forth from the temple spires that were within a walled of structure, and before the door stood robed Umbaran males who didn't acknowledge him, but through the Force he sensed them touching his mental walls and testing him.
"I have come brothers of Darkness and Ruin baring an invitation from another of like mind." Viathan declared in a low scratchy voice from lack of rest and produced his pendant from around his neck. The two deathly pale Umbaran men looked slowly to one another and the nodded to Viathan as one stepped forward.
"Greetings brother of like mind. Have you come in search of knowledge of darkness and Ruin, or to join the Followers of the Darkness?"
"I have come in search of knowledge ad wisdom from the life and lessons of Darth Ruin." The two Umbaran did not seem disappointed and nodded, as one motioned for him to proceed into the fortress as the automated door flew open for him, and the Umbaran followed him in. The halls were dark and modeled obviously in a way to inspire the ancient structures of old. Stone castles or fortresses, but there were light fixtures all about the halls. Like outside they illuminated a pale green glow that made the stones of the hall glisten, and Viathan found the atmosphere oddly invigorating to be in and around, as his booted feet reverberated the halls and the footfalls of the following Umbaran did the same.
They passed in silence through these halls for some time, and a few times did they meet fellow Umbaran who, like the one that was behind Viathan, were garbed in either dark and deep black almost coal like robes and hoods, or a deep red crimson color. Whatever the difference may be, Viathan did not know, but it didn't matter. All that did matter was finding the relics of Darth Ruin, and making the old Sith lords power his, and maybe then, Viathan hoped, he would finally have power enough to be worthy of his master, and worthy of the title, Darth Viathan.
"Stop here new-brother." The Umbaran spoke in a hushed whisper, and Viathan had to admit the place did make you feel as if you were in a library and needed to be absolutely silent. Stopping in place, he turned to the Umbaran who stood by a durasteel door he had just passed by.
"Through this door brother." Viathan looked to the door and then the Umbaran and nodded, before silently approaching and using the Force to slide the door up and open. When the door slid open Viathan was greeted with the sight of a great chamber lit by a dim light flooding in from windowpanes on the roof of the room, that allowed in dim starlight that was amplified to give the room a bluish and gloomy glow. Inside the room was a collection of great books and flimsy made tomes, mounted on a wall was what appeared to be tattered clothing, and Viathan could feel darkness beckoning to him from these very worn down and ripped cloths.
However Viathan withdrew his attention from those tattered and ancient cloths and watched the Umbaran who led him here lead him toward the center of the room.
"We keep the greatest treasure here, young brother in darkness. It is here we ca learn from the master himself, and all those who seek his knowledge are welcome to indulge in it, to obsess over it, and become greater because of it."
"I see..." Viathan responded, but in reality was confused as he watched the Umbaran approach a pedestal built and coming from the center of the room.
"No, you do not see...but you shall." The man said cryptically as he waved his hand over the pedestal and Viathan sensed the Force twitch, and from the pedestal came a rumbling. A stone like structure with odd carvings on it, it would seem nondescript to anyone else, but to those that could feel and use the Force, Viathan sensed great darkness flowing from it and inched closer to the pedestal and the Umbaran. Both watched as from the pedestal rose a central pit from inside the stone structure, and encased in thin glass, seemingly too fragile to even breath on, Viathan could see a dimly glowing triangular shaped device stripped in gold and black make, but the ever present red glow was ominous but oh so invigorating. Even though Viathan hadn't a clue what the device was.
"Have you spoken to a dead man before, brother?"
"Can't say that I have..." Viathan responded in a low and still scratchy voice, and the Umbaran smirked beneath his hood, as he lowered the glass surrounding the device that Viathan was now able to see was pyramid shaped. The Umbaran held it within his hands as if it were a newly born babe, and smiled wickedly as he stroked the sleek metallic seeming surface, before looking up to Viathan.
"Then today shall be an education indeed brother of darkness. Tell me, do you know what this is?" Viathan shook his head and the Umbaran smiled wickedly again. "This is a holocron, great keepers of knowledge and power from the ancient masters of darkness. They are in a way, an imprint of those who leave their power and knowledge within it." Viathan eyed the device, slightly skeptical, but then again, his master, Kun, had said he was over four-thousand years old at one point, so who was he to question such power?
'With the Force, anything is possible.' Viathan reminded himself, and nodded.
"Me and my brothers all indulge in meeting with the master at least once every year, and lord Ruin is a great teacher and holder of power. You too can learn and grow mighty from his wisdom's." Viathan continued to knowledge as the holocron did indeed hold a deep and dark pull to it. It was far darker than anything else in the room, and it whispered to him, the dark side beckoning him to reach out and give into the darkness of the holocron.
"Now that you have come to us brother, and with the backing of another brother far from us we willingly and freely open you to the power and wisdom of lord Ruin." The Umbaran man declared and Viathan smirked to himself at remembering how he erased the other Umbaran's mind on Roon.
"Now...take hold of the masters holocron and be taught his wisdom and power. The power of Darth Ruin." Viathan didn't need anymore direction and reached his hands out to have the holocron laid carefully in the palms of his hands, and the Umbaran did such, and immediately Viathan was struck by the power rush that was sent chillingly up his spine, but as with before it served only to invigorate him.
The metal was cold, and smooth and felt like ice almost in his hands. Which was odd considering that Umbara was naturally cold from lack of natural light in comparison to most other worlds. He sucked in his breath as the holocron began to glow brighter and he felt a prickling in his mind as if the darkness was testing him, and so Viathan narrowed his eyes and took in a new breath, before steadying himself fully and extending the holocron out before him with one hand and concentrated the dark side into the small pyramid. Only casing the thing to glow brighter and then the very tip of the pyramid glowed and forth came into sight the figure of a hooded man. An Umbaran of course, as even with the figure being in a blue glow similar to a holo-image, but only fully made and not chopped up into segments.
Atop the beings head was a metallic circlet that ran deep and to the very top of his nose. Then along his jaw was a metal piece of armor that Viathan didn't see the reason for but figured it had a reason. The being was hooded and robed in a very elegant yet dominating manner that seemed to command you to take notice of the presence. Even through this holocron Viathan couldn't explain how, but he could almost...'feel,' the man's eyes were a deep and lowing yellow that would make one sick merely by looking at their sickly gaze as it fell perhaps upon them.
"I am Darth Ruin. Dark Lord of the Sith and Founder of the New Sith Empire. Hear my teachings, and know power." The voice of the Umbaran male called Darth Ruin was deep and rich. It seeped out oil, but was caressing and hard to not want to listen to. It was spellbinding and Viathan found himself bowing his head to this ancient Sith lord, as the other Umbaran bowed as well, but quickly made for the exit to leave them alone.
The figure of Darth Ruin cocked his head to the side and studied Viathan. Then tilted his head to the other side in what looked to be a bored fashion before he, or rather, 'it,' spoke again.
"At last. Someone powerful, and worthy has released me and my knowledge back into the galaxy. Speak your name, Sith acolyte." Ruin declared and Viathan furrowed his brow as he didn't fully expect the holocron to directly speak to him.
"Darth Ruin?" Viathan asked tentatively and the figure nodded slowly and deliberately so to incite a sense of dread and fear.
"I am humbled by your power and presence lord and master of darkness. I am known as Viathan, for I am unworthy of the Darth moniker as of yet."
"Indeed? You are humbled as it should be. I...sense within you much power and craving for more. Is this true?" Darth Ruin asked as he again tilted his hooded head and Viathan nodded curtly.
"It is lord of darkness." Viathan paused and pursed his lips, looking for the right words. "I am, weak...easily forgotten, and of no consequence to my enemies. Though I know of darkness, and experienced it I am a nothing, and have been defeated in sheer combat by a Jedi twice. The only Jedi I have yet to face. It is disgraceful."
Ruin closed his eyes and seemed to test Viathan again through the Force and spoke after opening them again.
"Humility is not the way of the Sith. However, you will be shocked to learn I think the Sith teachings of old wrong in many ways, young Viathan." Viathan again narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"What do you mean lord Ruin?"
"Peace is a lie. There is only Passion." Ruin declared and cut Viathan off from response. "Through Passion, I gain Strength. Through Strength I gain Power, and through Power I gain victory. Through victory my chains are broken. The Force shall free me." Ruin stopped and eyed Viathan, but when the boy didn't speak he went on. "This is for the longest of times, the unquestioned code of the Sith, but it is by definition alone a hypocrisy. How gain this code alone be that by which all Sith, past, present, and future expect you to live your life as a Sith lord? How can you be free of chains if the chains of the code of the Sith itself constrains you to a set of ideals you may not agree with, but your power, that is still your source of freedom. The Sith are a fallacy of freedom. They promise it...so long as it's by their standards. That is why I live by not their code, but by a solemn creed, my creed, and edict." Viathan immediately soaked up every word Ruin spoke. The philosophizing of this ancient lord had his curiosity at new heights despite his pain and tiredness.
"Tell me your creed lord Ruin, and I shall attempt to learn of your wisdom through it."
Darth Ruin smirked a cold smirk and inclined his head once. "There is no Passion, Solely Obsession. There is no Knowledge, There is Solely Conviction. There is no Purpose, There is Solely Will. There is Nothing, Only Me. It is by this creed I lived my, evidently now ended life, and how I became the dark lord of the Sith from my lowly beginnings as a Jedi padawan to Jedi master, and finally I found my calling, as Darth Ruin."
Viathan nodded bu his brow was once again furrowed in confusion as he laced the holocron down on the stone dais it came from and folded his arms in thought. "I do not understand lord Ruin. You speak to me that the Sith code is a fallacy of promising freedom, and that you created your own to be free of this fallacy, yet you make a creed for others to follow?"
"Ah yes, a contradiction of thought and act is it not?" Ruin retorted coolly but with a smirk on his face. "My creed is a starting place, much like the Sith code is a starting place, and much like the Sith code the Jedi code is a starting place, but true freedom, that comes from your own perception and fundamental implementation of powers and allegiances. Do you as a being given power over others through the Force, confine yourself to the philosophy of a single code? Perhaps, and this is your right as a Force wielder, but to confine yourself through the Jedi or Sith code themselves is a failure of vision, and for that you are not the stronger you are a weaker a lesser, and by right that is also an option, but it is in the end a personal decision on whose battles you will fight. Yours or another?"
"The codes are guidelines then? Places one should build an order upon to lead the weak, but you, yourself should form your own personal code?" Ruin inclined his head in a shrugging manner.
"Perhaps, everything is relative young acolyte of the Sith. The dark side of the Force breeds power, and rule of the strong over the weak. However, does the elimination of the weak as the Sith have taught lead to anything except self implosion? Does my creed make me less Sith as I follow not its basic level code, and if so what does it make me as a being that commands, wields, and controls the dark side of the Force?"
"You are Darth Ruin. Dark lord of the Sith, but you promote self discovery and individuality?"
"For the strong minded, those who seek to be leaders or followers need to learn to look beyond their noses, and see life as relative."
Viathan again pursed his lips. "I don't understand my lord."
"Very well. One as powerful as yourself must be taught in increments I foresee. I shall instruct you on how to become that which you seek to be. A Sith lord, yes?"
Viathan nodded. "More than anything else my lord Ruin."
"Then hear my commands and listen. Hear my creed, and repeat it to yourself in times of seeking solace, and if that does not work, seek wisdom in the Sith code. Understand and discover what I mean in my creed and once you have acquired wisdom in this return to me and speak to me if your wisdom."
"I shall my lord Ruin, but I cannot speak to you again so soon I am afraid."
"Oh, and why is that Sith acolyte?" Viathan looked awkwardly toward the doorway into the room where all the many Umbaran were no doubt walking the halls idly, and one was waiting for his session with Ruin to be over with and lead him back out of the fortress.
"You are not a discovery by me."
"Yes I know." The dark lord spat, but not toward Viathan the boy sensed. "It is this miserable cult of mine upon Umbara correct?"
"Yes Lord."
"Pitiful." He spat again and looked off in a distant gaze that Viathan thought unsettling from something supposedly not alive.
"These 'brothers of darkness,' are fools. They seek not my wisdom but my allowance of their continued belief in my godhood. I shall not waste away within the confines of a cult of fools with nothing to offer in ambition, or wisdom, or the seeking of greater purpose and relativity!" The dark lord declared and Viathan could feel a very faint, and distant prickle in the dark side of the Force just beyond his true sense of perception but no doubt there, and it made him involuntarily shiver.
"It is contemptible how weak minded and uninteresting these beings are. I hold no sympathy for such beings who devote themselves to the worship of me as a man and not my teachings! Be reborn in thought, and in body acolyte Viathan, and slaughter these fools and be proven worthy of my teachings, and I can make a promise to you have great wisdom's to be learned and gained through me. Fell my enemies, and I shall reward you with wisdom and relative perceptions unimaginable!" Viathan reeled his head back in mild shock, but it didn't disturb him. Rather it intrigued him what Ruin asked of him. The Dark lord must have really suffered endless questions of his disciples seeking nothing more than to worship a dead Sith lord, and not gain his true wisdom or understanding, and Viathan was not beyond killing them. He had killed greater and better people for lesser things and reasons.
His eyes still a deep shade of crimson, and his power and presence in the dark side ever fluctuating in his time of pain and prolonged self torture without sleep, and Viathan decided that if he was to be a Sith, then he must commit himself to the actions of a Sith. What is a Sith, if not a murderer, and what was Valek Zalliste, or Viathan, if not a being created for nothing more than murder?
That in mind, Viathan picked up Ruin's holocron and held the small figure up close to his face. "I shall do as you have requested lord Ruin. For one Sith from another."
"Yes...you shall bathe in the spilled blood of the fallen fools, and revel in rebirth once more as I sense a great many scars upon you boy. Let this be a lesson in power and domination..." The Umbaran Sith trailed before Viathan nodded and pocketed the holocron which silenced Ruin as his figure returned to the pyramid machine. Viathan quickly went around the room and looked for anything of use, and didn't find much, as many of the books were reference books, or copies that in some vague way mentioned or hinted to Darth Ruin. However, Viathan did open the display of Ruin's clothing, and saw what he wanted. He smirked when his guess was proven fact and he came upon Ruin's lightsaber laying beneath the clothing. It was sleek and comfortable in the hand, and extremely cold, as if it too was imprinted with darkness itself, but Viathan only pocketed it as well, and then released all breath from his body and allowed his shoulders to un-tense and hang low for a moment, before he drew in the dark side of the Force and invigorated himself threw every memory and ever ounce of pain that was imprinted upon him, and he felt his adrenaline pound heavy and hard through his blood as he could feel the dark side crackle around him.
"Time to spill Umbaran blood I suppose." He said in a coldly uncaring manner, and with eyes fixed on the door he unclasped his last red saber hilt, and held it ready as he opened the door, and made for his first kill.
He once more opened the door with the Force and was greeted by the still hooded Umbaran who turned to look at Viathan was an inquisitive raised brow and smirk on his face. "I can feel your presence in darkness deepening fellow seeker of darkness. No doubt, you have met with and communed with the fallen master?"
"I have, and I must say it was quite the experience." Viathan replied with monotone voice and saber hilt clear in hand, and the Umbaran eyed it then Viathan with his smirk slowly morphing into a frown with not a hint of mirth upon his features now.
"You carry the weapon of a Sith, or a Jedi if I were to be correct in speech. Tell me young Sithling, as you are far too dark to be a Jedi, why do you wield your weapon now?"
"It would seem that 'master' does not appreciate the lackluster capabilities and vision of this little cult you have here in his honor. Indeed, he is insulted, and has, as such, commanded me to make my first steps onto a new path by spilling the blood first of his enemies, and in time, my own." The Umbaran inclined his head to the side as he took in what Viathan said, and didn't even so much as call him a liar.
"The master commanded this?"
"Yes." The Umbaran frowned as Viathan confirmed what he said and seemed still, not angry but shocked. "The master has commanded you to do this for greater wisdom, if so, then so be it. However," The Umbaran threw off his robes and Viathan noted with mild curiosity a vibroblade attached the belt of the Umbaran who unsheathed it and brandished it before Viathan. "..if you must kill me and my brothers it will not be so easy and without a fight given. After all, struggle is key to the life of a Sith, is it not Sithling?"
"Indeed it is." Activating his saber, Viathan spun around quickly and with the dark side flushing him with power he brought his crimson saber in a long upwards arch that slammed into the Umbaran's blade and sent him reeling, allowing for him to connect his boot into a wall and use it as leverage to then leap at the Umbaran and connect the same boot into the mans face and send hi falling easily, where Viathan landed and brought his saber down into the Umbaran's heart, and watched the man wheeze a final breath.
"One down...many more to go." Viathan commented to himself darkly as he sensed many more presences within the fortress through the Force and he also sensed them taking notice at the feeling of death in the fortress, and they no converged on his position. "Good." Was all the boy said as he turned and came eye to eye with about four robed Umbaran men running up the hall toward him, and they skidded to a stop and looked at their fallen brother and then Viathan who twirled his saber before them provokingly.
"Sithling! Kill him!" One called and they all snatched up hidden vibroblades, and Viathan fell into a more comfortable Ataru stance, as he await them to rush him first. Two did, and Viathan jumped up and connected his boot into one's stomach sending him reeling, before he spun in air and brought his saber down in a downward slash across one of their necks and down his shoulder and chest. Killing him with ease, as a third ran at him, and Viathan slashed upwards to meet the blade. Narrowing his eyes and sneering Viathan threw the man off, and brought his saber down onto him from overhead and pounded into the Umbaran's blade before twirling himself into very hard and even painful Ataru spins and flips before he connected his saber down and hacked off the Umbaran's hands from the wrists and he cried out in utter horror and pain, as Viathan angled his saber around in his hand and stabbed the Umbaran he had sent reeling earlier who had tried to rush him from behind.
The fourth Umbaran stood back and watched as Viathan lazily brought his saber threw the Umbaran's whose hands were missing and decapitated him and kept his red Sithly eyes trained on him as he did so. "You are not the only one here who knows the Force and of darkness young Sithling fool!"
"Talk is very cheap. Make your move" Viathan quickly retorted as he neared and the Umbaran raised his hands and sent a powerful stream of brilliant blue lightning toward Viathan who stopped moving and threw his saber up in a sideways manner and allowed his weapon to absorb the energy. Sudden and unexpected rage shot through Viathan as memories of Tatooine, and Palpatine flooded his mind. Al the time lightning had surged across and through him suddenly came rushing forth and he felt the dark side flow directly into his core and fill his being.
Viathan howled a feral cry and using the Force he sent a massive wave of energy into his saber and through it toward the Umbaran who watched in horror as his lightning began to form into two streams and flow not at Viathan but rather around him, as if the Sith had created a bubble around himself. Viathan then rushed the Umbaran who was powerless in this moment and with a swift motion and great speed Viathan charged him and sliced the alien in half, and watched the torso disconnect from its legs.
His head was pounding and his hands were shaking as he felt sheer adrenaline coursing through him and the dark side only amplified it and made him grit his teeth and ball his robotic left fist so tightly he felt and heard machinery whir and whine at the immense pressure he put upon it. When Viathan next looked up and saw more of these robed Umbaran's run at him with swords out or even blasters he sneered even more and screamed a horrendous scream as he charged them head on, and all form was lost.
Sending a leading wave of the Force at them all and sent them either to stop and take the blow or fall back like fools, as Viathan charged with readied saber n hand.
He flung up and severed an arm, and threw himself around and decapitated another, before landing a blowing kick into one's shoulder and sent that one falling with great force. Viathan sensed one behind him in his kneeling position, and spun around and cut the man's legs off at their knees and he screamed a terrible scream of pain before Viathan dug his saber into his chest, and promptly kicked the body off his saber and twirled himself around and slashed at second Umbaran chest killing another.
Instinctively sidestepping a slash by a blade, Viathan then threw a hard left punch into the nose of the attacking Umbaran, as his metallic fist broke the man's nose and blood gushed from it Viathan sent a great telekinetic wave into hi and sent him flying back into a far stone wall. Turning again down toward the hall he had run from Viathan saw even more cloaked fools running toward their doom, and in his state Viathan could only think of ways to kill them, and nothing more as darkness consumed him fully. Lifting his right hand Viathan this time was the one to unleash a mighty torrent of lightning that streamed down the hall and lit it in a great blue flash as the Umbaran's stopped and attempted to hold it back, but Viathan snarled and sent another wave of energy into it, and watched the lightning pulse with greater power as it slammed and pushed through the pitiful defenses of the Umbaran men, and electrocuted them all and they fell in a great common cry of unbearable pain as every nerve was electrified and flesh burned, and bone charred until death overtook them fully.
Viathan, again on instinct, dropped low as a blade slashed at his neck, and he rolled away and turned to face the Umbaran whose nose was shattered, and sidestepped a succession of slashes and wild hacks by this one who seemed just a bit more competent than the others. Viathan grappled his arm when it brought the blade down again, and spun his whole body under the arm and with it twisted the man's arm so bad he dropped the blade and howled in pain, before Viathan sliced off the arm, and then spun around and took the head off as well with ease. Viathan began panting heavily as his high of rage and emotion began to subside ever slightly. However his crimson eyes widened when he spun around again and was met with another blade but this one connected with his left shoulder and punctured into his flesh and blood began flowing forth as Viathan cried in pain and fell backward.
"Pitiful little Sithling, you think you're the first to try and take that which is ours?" This Umbaran, robed in red asked as he deepened how far his vibroblade dug into Viathan's flesh and the boy snarled out a great heave of breath as he focused on this Umbaran.
"No, but I shall be the first to succeed. Pitiful, is how blind you and your brotherhood are, for it was Darth Ruin himself who wanted you dead!" Viathan snarled as he kicked in his foes right knee and the man snarled as he buckled and Viathan forced the blade out of his skin but ended up tearing more flesh and allowing more blood to spill out, but Viathan didn't care as he brought his saber up in a long left to right, upwards arch and met the vibroblade head on in a great clash, as the Umbaran stood to his full height again and caught the slash.
"If that is so prove you deserve the teachings of lord Ruin, and kill us all!" The Umbaran retorted and threw Viathan off his blade and slashed in wide arches from left to right, and then parried off returned attacks by Viathan, who still lacked coherent form in his blood-lust. Viathan did however into a fray of feints and attacks aimed at the Umbaran's knees and head in succession of each other, before suddenly breaking the routine and throwing a jab aimed at the man's midsection, but was blocked and parried aside the blade he wielded.
Viathan could sense more fools coming for their deaths, and with great aggravation spun away from the Umbaran and sent a succession of powerful Force waves at him, and the Umbaran recoiled from the attacks as if great gusts of wind were slamming into his face and caused him to jerk his head to the side, and Viathan took that one opportunity. He allowed his saber to skid across the stone floor and make a trailing burn and brought it up in a long upwards slash, and severed the mans right shoulder and took the blade with him, and the dark being cried and stumbled back, before Viathan again whipped around and using his left mechanical hand, grappled his neck and held him up with strength he didn't know he had.
"Meet your end looking into my face!" Viathan snarled with a horrible rasp of a voice and shoved his saber into the mans stomach region, but quickly took it back out and again stabbed the man in the chest this time, and watched the light leave his eyes before casting him aside, and turned to more oncoming robed enemies.
Blood still pouring from his gash on his left shoulder Viathan readied his saber in both hands and brought it up close to his face and illuminated himself with it. All the young Sith could see were these beings, these enemies, these nothings...
For I Viathan the dark side flowed more freely than ever before, as his body was pumped with its power and his very blood coursed with the power of the dark side. So with another howl and snarl the rabid beast called Viathan entered into another flurry of death strokes and attacks, and by the end of this day he would have an entire mass grave's worth of bodies, and that same amount in bloods worth upon his hands.
Authors Note: Hey everyone! So, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, as the next one will probably contain a lot more war-oriented stuff that you should come to expect more as the war and its battle will be key in this story that after all is named the Galactic Civil War. I hope you guys leave me some wonderful and inspiring reviews to keep me going, ;) and as always please point out or excuse any and all grammatical errors, and enjoy! Also did you guys like my Darth Ruin? Please tell me yes or no, as he too will be around for at least a while longer!