Private Before the Emperor

[Darth Imperius]

Jutrand | Seat of the Emperor
Darth Empyrean

It was not the first time he was on Jutrand, even though it was a long time ago and in a different age, but it certainly was the first time that he came here under the Sith Empire's rule and as Darth Imperius himself. The planet reminded him of how Dromund Kaas had been all those years ago, but it lacked a certain something, an acquired taste which would make him spit once, now gave his life direction. The region was steeped in the history of the New Sith Wars, but only by name they were really related to actual Sith. Now actual Sith, some more, some less, ruled a new Empire from here.

And it was ruled by a corpse. Darth Empyrean and Darth Imperius had met before, though he was not carrying his Sith title and petty ambitions, ideals and allegiances clouded his mind still. There was spirit in Aurelian and it carried on, but the virtues did not. There were spent, wasted in the service of lesser beings that rather denied what they were than to accept and embrace it. Order was not the result from law but came from strength.

This audience was to seek a mixture of support, permission and visibility. The Sith Empire was uniting and closing the petty gaps of factionalism, by his own hand and claimed so, by others. But Imperius was more than intent on making sure it happened for there was no use for pathetic separation when the Dream of Empire was concerned. To this end, the Dark Lord wanted to make a proposal of fire and blood to the Emperor, to gain his backing for operations that potentially could strike deep into the enemy and not only bring forward the goals of war but also remove and expose any disunity among the ranks of Kainate, Eternalists and Tsis'kaar.

The large figure stood silently in one of the halls of the imperial palace, clad in his dark armor from neck to toe, a dark red tabard and cape flowing from his shoulders with a pulled back hood. On his back was sheathed Anathema, his greatsword, screaming eternally in hunger for death. His helmet was clipped to his belt, fully intending to face the Sith ruler with his organic black eyes.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

Empyrean the callous, Empyrean the cruel, Empyrean the unimpressed. There upon a red kyber throne, surrounded by a sky of galactic stars and distant galaxies, sat a being out of place. Where the room held nothing but gold, black marble, and the sith carvings deserving of opulence - the Emperor sat like a corpse. His skin was leather, his eyes metal and still, the only movement that showed he yet live in some form was the rhythmic tapping of his fingers against the arm of his chair.​

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Before him stood two Praetorians, special Sith of the Eternalist doctrine who had relegated themselves from the systems of succession the Sith lived by. They were an honorable guild of Sith who had sought selfless sacrifice where so much was to be gained - but more than that, they were dangerous. Each was a Sith Lord in their own right, each ready to die for the Emperor. Two stood before him, unflinching and unerring.​

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"Speak.", he commanded, waiting for this guest to make their demands, as a hundred have done this week alone.​

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Darth Imperius​

 

[Darth Imperius]

Darth Empyrean

Luxury. Opulence. Decadence. The first thoughts that entered his mind when entering the throne room were not of awe or inspiration, but mild disappointment and disgust. He saw nothing in fancyness or rarity other than a waste of resources, only kings that needed reaffirmation and reassurance of their wealth and power required to be surrounded by it. But he did not come here as an advisor on internal architecture or judge of imperial tax efficiency, so the thoughts left his mind as quickly as they had appeared.

Darth Imperius paid absolutely no attention to the guards or whoever else was present and simply moved to the front of the throne, he was here for the Sith Emperor, not anyone else. He bowed. A gesture as stiff and uncomfortable as he was unused to it. The slight lowering of the chest accompanied by the clanking of Armor plates, both on its way down and up.

"I have uncovered a long forgotten device and am able to replicate it: the Seeds of Rage. To finish them, I seek your very own creation, Darksteel, which properties will amplify their strength and render them nearly indestructible."

"But the creation is merely that. I want to plant them on the worlds of our enemies, to send them as heralds of the Sith Empire's approach, causing havoc and mayhem for that our forces will sweep in and can simply take what is rightfully ours."

"For such operations to succeed and have the desired effect, especially with the expansion of the Empire in mind, I request your backing. I do not seek personal glory or to simply grind my resources against the enemy without our Legions."

It was the very core of his thoughts, with little to nothing hidden or left out. Imperius was not interested in courtly schemes and shenanigans, but to move forward. And for the Empire to do so, as nothing unites as well swiftly as a common enemy.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

"I respect directness.", Empyrean said from his throne.​

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While Darth Imperius could not have known, Empyrean had built none of this. It was the Sepulchral, wicked as they were, that had designed Jutrand outside of his control. His vision has always been turned outwards from his realm - to conquer the other Sith, the other worlds, the other Empires. In that time, the Sepulchral had built up wealth as though it were inevitable. Their influence knew no bounds, even now.​

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"Jin'jsina is an expensive creation. A dangerous material that costs many lives to make. What are my assurances you will not simply use these seeds too undermine Sith worlds, or Jutrand itself?", he asked idly, probing deeper.​

 

[Darth Imperius]

Darth Empyrean

"If I was to challenge your throne, I would do it, not undermine what I seek to expand and improve."

Imperius remained direct, his eyes not being taken off the sovereign and his stance unbending. Simply facing the current challenge and seeing it through, a challenge he burdened himself with and intended to add as a success for himself and the Ascendant Order. Whatever happened, it would provide one form of attention or the other.

"The first world targeted will be Enarc under the influence of the Naboo. That fledgling bastard of a realm suffering another blow might end their reign prematurely. We have deployed my prototype recently on a Waystation, it's effects were more than satisfying. Exhilarating to be honest. After that I am looking towards Alliance, Lost and Neo-Crusader space, it will be fuel for our fire. A statement against peace and stagnation."

"It is just the second step of a long path I am intending to take, for myself and for the Sith Empire."

 

[Darth Empyrean]

"So be it. You will be given a chest full of it on your departure.", Empyrean offered flatly, betraying nothing - not scorn nor confidence in Imperius.​

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"Is there anything else?"​

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Darth Imperius​

 

[Darth Imperius]

Darth Empyrean

Darth Imperius offered a stiff nod, deeper than for simple agreement, a hint of a bow.

"No, there is not. Force serve, my Lord."

With that he turned and departed the overloaded and wasteful throne room to take his prize and leave the capital just as swiftly.