Private Change in Management

[Darth Strosius]

Across the newly acquired domains of the Sith Order, despite the relatively small size, order had not necessarily followed the borders. Between the conquered planets lay plenty of open space that had yet to be reigned in and brought under the heel of the Sith that now occupied the system. As such it was only natural that patrols and scouting missions were sent out to find any possible points of interest or areas of resistance.

And of course, any and all resistance had to be crushed.

Alisteri regarded the display of the station that they were approaching with interest. Evidently a pirate ship had been detected and subsequently followed to find the station in question, hidden away in an asteroid field. Normally one small station and group of pirates wouldn't warrant a Sith's involvement, let alone two, but the need to train and refine the skills of the lower ranking Sith had become more and more apparent now that the Sith Order had reestablished itself.

Not that he was complaining of course, he had an excuse to kill a pirate or two after all. "This will be your target." The mission's Overseer drawled in an aged, almost wheezing voice as he gestured to the holodisplay. "We will disable the station from afar with this ship's weapons. Then you two shall eliminate the threat and take control of it." He left no room for questions and Alisteri didn't bother asking any. He had never been fond of the Overseers.

Saeva

 

[Saeva]

Much like Darth Strosius , Saeva had no follow-up questions or other comments. Non-verbally, they both communicated that they would see it done. It was the way of the Sith, after all. What was the catchphrase? Success or death

Even with Alisteri, Saeva was not entirely sure how to conduct himself. His experience with other Sith led him to the conclusion that there tended to be lots of posturing, idle threats and the coming together of inflated egos. Not the crowd for small talk and catching up over what they did last weekend.

There was no question who was the junior Sith in their equation, however, which made things somewhat easier. For the time being...

Would Alisteri take command, or would he push Saeva to drive it? The latter would allow him to hold Saeva accountable for whatever went wrong, while taking the credit for anything that went right.

Saeva spoke only when the two Sith found themselves alone, moving through their final preparations.

"Do we know how many are at the base?" He didn't ask whether the other Sith thought they should try to move in quiet and cut off the snake's head, or go loud and break their defences with an iron fist to the face. Instead he moved around it, gauging, trying to figure out their relationship before impact and what implications followed.

 

[Darth Strosius]

Alisteri audibly sighed in relief as the pair of Sith were dismissed from the planning room to allow for them to make their final preparations. While he did enjoy tactical planning and careful operations, he knew well enough that most of the Sith above him only cared for such things for their personal benefit. Always looking to put themselves in the spotlight somehow, regardless of where they were in the hierarchy. He regarded the other masked Sith with a glance of surprise at the question, offering a shrug in reply.

"One can never be sure. Apparently they've already sniped whatever ships have been visiting the base so they won't be at full strength regardless." Even with his admittedly great amount of experience in the area of fighting pirates, the numbers would always be a guess. For all they knew the base could have only a dozen defenders awaiting them, or they could have over thirty, there was only one way to be sure. They would have to venture inside and keep killing until either the station was empty or the pirates had surrendered. Whichever came first.

"It doesn't matter really, whether there be a skeleton crew or a whole hive of vagabonds, they won't be able to hold out against two Sith." Of that he was sure.

Alisteri paused and finally turned his full attention to Saeva , crossing his arms and nodding. "As long as you can wield a blade anyway. Pirates are cowards by nature, their station being disabled will give us the perfect entrance into defeating them. Most of the fighting will probably be with smaller groups, as many of them will try to hide or flee. This ship will shoot down anything that tries escaping so whatever pods or ships they may have are worthless. Like prey in a trap."

 

[Saeva]

Saeva nodded. They didn't know precisely what they'd be walking into, but they knew they were Sith. That was enough. And if it wasn't? Well, no large loss if they fell at the hands of pirates. Fair enough, Saeva told himself, finding his resolve. Another test was coming and he wasn't about to make a habit out of failing.

"I can handle myself." he said, tapping the lightsaber hilt that hung from his side. His tone wasn't dismissive, merely matter-of-factly. Words were wind, ultimately. If he was mistaken, he'd be dead probably. Either way he avoided someone standing over him gloating.

"Very good. They will fall then." he said, as if it had been decided in that moment.

"Got a lot of experience with pirates?" Saeva said. It didn't hurt getting to know the other Sith. Saeva's initial tension had gone away, and he felt more relaxed in the other's presence. Though he didn't rule it out, he at least did not expect to be shanked. Everything else about Alisteri was a mystery, however. Who did he serve? Which faction did he call his own? He thought of ways to get answers to these questions without asking them outright.

The two Sith moved to the hangar. While the main vessel disabled the station, jammed their comms and prevented anyone from escaping, the deadly duo would take a lesser transport to the station itself.

"Not a bad location for piracy, space station in the middle of nowhere. If only they weren't so reckless in their attack patterns." Clearly, as a group, these pirates could benefit from more refined leadership.

They took off, Saeva piloting the ship while Darth Strosius had the privilege of observing and ordering, if he felt so inclined.

 

[Darth Strosius]

"You wouldn't have lived this long if you couldn't." Between the powerplays of the upper Sith, the recent conquests of worlds, and the fall of Odavessa, there wasn't much room for weakness in the Sith Order as of late. Everyone from Acolyte to Lord had to rely on their own skills to survive. Such was the state of the modern Sith, he supposed.

Regardless the pair of them were capable of handling a few pirates, of that he was certain, and he held no hesitation in his stride as they moved towards the hangar. No sense in keeping their enemies waiting after all.

The masked Knight actually chuckled at the question and nodded in response. "Plenty. Pirates, soldiers, criminals, I've had more than my fair share of experience." Years of it in fact. Many long years of fighting and hunting.

"Just don't flinch and they'll be running scared. The only threat will come when they realize that they're cornered. That's when they'll fight the hardest and be the most unpredictable." A cornered fighter was the most brutal after all, when they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by being at their deadliest in that moment.

Alisteri chose not to sit as Saeva started up the transport, instead leaning against the doorframe of the cockpit as the ship took off. "It's certainly a strategic position. Close to the trade between planets when civilian ships are most vulnerable. Were it not for us they might have made a good profit out of their raids." It was no wonder that they dispatched Sith to handle it, given how dangerous the pirates could be if left unchecked.

"I only wonder who's going to try and claim it for themselves after we clear it out."

 

[Saeva]

Saeva nodded, taking in any information and advice the senior Sith chose to impart. To be an Acolyte, after all, was to be like a sponge. And a sponge held no pride, no ego, they merely did their job and absorbed whatever they could. Thankfully Alisteri wasn't leaking bile.

The battle in space opened up. If everything went according to plan it wouldn't turn into a battle per say. Regardless, whatever defences the station thought it had was evaded by Saeva, mainly due to their attention going to their host ship.

"Indeed" Saeva said thoughtfully. The location seemed almost too much to let it go to waste. Perhaps Saeva could come back here and claim it? Could he do it now? Would Alisteri try to stop him?

"It would be beneficial if whoever claimed it were loyal to the Sith Order" He couldn't come straight out and ask for his support... Or perhaps he could, in return for a favour. But favours were dangerous.

Kark it. Be bold.

"I can assume command here"

Saeva did his best to say it with confidence, like stating a simple fact without making it sound like a topic for debate. Certainly he tried to avoid showing any signs that whether or not it came to pass depended on Alisteri's blessing. But at least his intent was out there. No smoke and shadow, right there in the open, ready to be challenged.

If I can take it I can hold it. If I can take it I can hold it. Saeva told himself as he rose from his seat. Even if he was but an Acolyte, he had to believe he was more capable than some pirate fool. If not he might as well hop out the airlock right now.

"We're docked" he said. He stood, looking over at Alisteri, trying to get a read on the man's thoughts and feelings on what he had just said. That the pair of them were tucked neatly away underneath helmets and armour didn't aid much in this.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Alisteri could admire the utility of the station, and clearly the higher ups within the Order did as well given that they were capturing it rather than simply destroying it. He watched as their escort ship began attacking the station and disabling what few defenses it had, his gaze briefly tracking the short exchange of fire. "As opposed to being loyal to themselves alone? Yes, that would be preferable."

He was sure that the Triumvirate had their own picks for who would take control of the station already in mind, whether it be among their servants or from some other Sith Lord that they sought to get into their pocket. All he knew for sure was that his master didn't intend for him to take it.

And then Saeva offered to take up the station for himself. At first the Knight's reaction was simple. a mere cocking of his head to the side as if he was questioning if he had heard properly. Then he chuckled, a low and hollow sound, and nearly threw his head back in laughter as they neared the disabled station. "You are a bold one. Very well, let us secure your station then."

Anything that forced the Triumvirate to acknowledge a lesser Sith was a win in his mind. He had no problem backing the claim of someone who had actually helped take the station, better Saeva than anyone else. Like that wretched Overseer.

"Come then, we have pirates to kill." After they had docked Alisteri moved from his leaning spot and plucked his lightsaber from his belt, nodding to the Acolyte as he made his way to the ship's exit.

He slammed the button to open the door and ignited his weapon, the sounds of distant running and panicked voices reaching his ears as he stepped into the station and rolled his shoulders. Their initial docking had gone unnoticed amidst the attack, with the pirates apparently scrambling around trying to make sense of the attack. They had the advantage already.

Saeva

 

[Saeva]

Saeva exhaled silently. It was only then he realized he had actually held his breath. Amused as the other Sith was, he hadn't challenged him, nor had he dismissed him outright. It was fortunate, perhaps, that Alisteri did not have any interest in the station himself. What mattered that he had his support, which would make this takeover all the more mangable.

Saeva followed suit, and unhooked his own lightsaber from its belt. «Amateurs» Saeva scoffed when their boarding met with no immediate resistance. He certainly would have to see to it that the pirates weren't as lax under his command… But he was getting ahead of himself.

«To the command center?» He asked. It seemed the logical choice. They had made it around a corner and down another hallway before a trio of pirates appeared. They practically bumped into each other as the two Sith approached the end of their second hallway. Their confusion was palpable, and it was clear they had only happened upon the Sith by chance.

Given the close proximity, they never stood a chance. «Sith! Sith on the station!» Saeva ignited his blade, and savagely struck down the one closest to him, following up with an attempted decapitation of a second. The pirate had attempted to move away in the last moment, preventing the decapitation yet the crimson blade still carved halfway through the man's neck. He was very much dead all the same. The third was left for Alisteri, outside of Saeva's reach.

«Did he alert them of our presence?» Saeva asked. He wasn't sure if the pirate had called out of fear or desperation, or into some kind of comm.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Alisteri could understand the slight disappointment that they weren't immediately thrust into battle, given the situation. "They are pirates, not exactly the most professional bunch." Not this group at least. Some of them could be very well organized and led, but most of those in the area were already on the Sith Order's payroll by now.

"Indeed, best to cut off any chance of a quick response." They were already surprised and disorganized from the attack, denying them the chance to regroup effectively would only ensure a quicker victory for the Sith.

The Knight let Saeva lead the way, given that he was the one wanting to claim the station, following closely behind as they mad their way down the halls of the station. Of course their trek wouldn't go uninterrupted for long. A trio of pirates nearly ran right into the pair of Sith, and that would prove to be their last mistake. Alisteri threw his hand up and gripped one of the trio around the throat with the Force, causing the pirate to choke and grasp at his throat as his two compatriots were cut down by the other Sith.

With a simple flick of his wrist the pirate's neck was snapped and his body crumpled to the floor, Alisteri soon stepping over it with a shrug. "It doesn't matter if they did or didn't. They shall fall either way, let's make haste and see if the command center was alerted." Suddenly alarms began ringing across the station, with the masked man sighing.

"And that would be your answer Acolyte. Let us go."

Saeva

 

[Saeva]

Saeva stood, watching the third pirate drop. Elegant, he thought. Alisteri hadn’t so much as needed to raise his blade.

Saeva nodded, starting to jog ahead in what he hoped was the direction of the command center. He couldn’t deny that no small part of him felt excitement at the sound of the alarm.

Come then. Come and get me. See if you can stop me. Kill me if you can

Their feeble attempts amused him. He was young, indestructuble, and with great destiny written all over his face.

A few hallways down they came upon another pack, larger and better prepared this time. Saeva made the first move, pulling the first he saw to him with a powerful yank of the Force. When they met, the man was made to scatter, landing on either side of the armoured Sith, parted from his other half.

Saeva then took up a position front and center of the hallway. Perhaps surprisingly for a Sith, he acted entirely defensively. They all opened fire, but Saeva made himself big and provided cover for Alisteri. All bolts that would do harm to them were blocked, and a few were redirected back to its sender. While it didn’t let him make any attacks himself, it left Alisteri free to do his thing unmolested.

«Better» Saeva remarked when the two had dealt with the last ones. «But not good enough» he even managed to sound amused.

The duo pressed on, meeting meagre opposition here and there until finally they found the control centre. The door was locked, but after unleashing a powerful wave of the Force it was knocked off its hinges and left the way ahead open…

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Alisteri kept pace right behind Saeva as they ventured further into the station, his head on a swivel in case of any other surprise pirates lurking in the hallways or little alcoves and rooms that they passed by. This was still their home territory after all and they would know it far better than the pair of Sith could hope to at the moment.

An ambush could be in hiding anywhere, just waiting to spring on them if they weren't careful. No amount of intimidation and dark cloaks could protect against a well-placed shot.

Sure enough they soon happened upon another, larger, group of pirates that actually knew that they were being hunted. Thankfully though the Acolyte was quick to spring into action and bisect one of the pirates right at the start before the shooting began. While Saeva kept the blaster bolts at bay Alisteri let lightning crackle between his fingertips before letting loose a storm of bolts that scorched the pirates in their path.

Luckily they didn't have much in the way of armor, especially of the non-metal variety, and within moments the group had been reduced to smoking bodies in the middle of the hallway.

"They rarely are." Pirate hunting was a chore in his mind, just a necessity that required far more effort than it should have.

Finally the control center was in sight and Saeva wasted no time in flinging the door open and off its hinges. Cries of surprise were quickly punctuated with the sounds of blasters being leveled as the dozen or so pirates that hadn't been crushed by the door turned to aim at the pair of Sith.

"Handle the station's defenses."

He didn't wait for his fellow Sith to respond and instead sprinted inside and drew the fire of the pirates as a result. Alisteri pounced from pirate to pirate and left each a crumpled body in his wake, either from a decapitation or with a broken neck. Their panicked blaster bolts either missed completely or were deflected onto another pirate as he tore into the ranks.

Saeva

 

[Saeva]

"There's not gonna be many pirates left to lead" Saeva remarked in an amused tone. He wasn't concerned, however. Rabble such as these were easy to recruit, and they would have to be brought up in the new philosophy regardless. Besides, the pirates needed a healthy dose of fear of their new leader injected into them.

Alisteri kept a handle on the enemies in the command center. Saeva trusted he had it covered, and went to the task at hand. The person in his path was flung out of his chair and towards Alisteri, making a landing upon his lightsaber.

Meanwhile Saeva looked over the display, trying to quickly familiarize himself with the controls. Once he'd done so he switched the station's defences off, and contacted their home ship. "The station is under our command. Stragglers will surrender or be executed." I rule here now, Saeva thought. It wasn't much, as their rather easy assault had proven. But it was more than nothing, which was what he had to command before this operation.

Next he switched over to give a much similar message to the rest of the station. "Vortex Station has fallen. Your leader is dead." As he said that, he looked over towards Alisteri. Technically, he wasn't entirely sure if that was true. But 'your leader is probably dead' sounded far less forceful.

He'd probably been on the bridge, no? Probably that fella without a head, sprawled over that table in the centre. Saeva continued: "This station is under new leadership. You have been found weak. The rot of your crew will be carved out. Afterwards operations will resume, only better. The strong will still have a place here. The weak will die. Submit, or be executed." when it came down to it, there wasn't much of a choice. Saeva tried to resist the urge, but glanced sideways to Alisteri. It was the first time he'd given a speech of this nature. Both were clad in armour, any facial expression hidden underneath helmet, yet much could still be perceived, through the Force especially.

"I promise a new dawn. Wealth and plunder. As easy as we have taken this station, you will take this part of the galaxy. To the new Raiders of the Vortex, I give my first order: kill any deserters. Escape pods will be shot down on sight."

"I am in the command centre, where I will accept your pledges of allegiance. If you find my terms unsatisfactory, challenge me."

Saeva switched off the comms, and turned to Alisteri. "Will they bite?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Alisteri didn't pay much attention to Saeva to see if he was actually doing what he had told him to do. He was confident that the other Sith wouldn't need his help. The Acolyte had proven himself capable thus far.

Instead he focused on bringing death to every pirate in the room. A decapitation, a crushing grip, a bolt of lighting, a brutal impact, and many more such fates awaited his foes as he carved through them in the most literal sense. None of them could really stand in his way with mere blasters. Any that tried to run or escape the room were just as quickly put down.

It became clear that the only solace for them would be at the end of his wrath.

Before long the control center had been turned into something of a mass grave, with bodies strewn across chairs, terminals, and the floor alike. Despite the brutal fighting Alisteri's armor, as well as his habit of using his opponents as shields, had kept him from receiving any real damage or wounds to speak of. The benefits of experience and equipment were showing themselves.

He dropped the body of the final pirate from his hand as the speech carried on, stepping over and around the trail of corpses that he had left in his wake as he approached the other masked Sith once more. His lightsaber was deactivated and clipped back to his belt as he stood next to Saeva.

"Impressive speech. More inspiring and merciful than most of these wretched souls deserve." Alisteri crossed his arms as he leaned against one of the now turned over chairs. "I have little doubt that they'll try selling one another out in order to survive, now that they know there is an option for them to survive. As for keeping their loyalty...well that will be a different matter."

Ensuring the loyalty of those beneath you wasn't easy, especially given the nature of how one acquires said underlings. These pirates that did submit to Saeva would be far from loyal but they would follow orders just to survive and try to gain a fortune while doing it.

"I'm eager to see what you and your Raiders accomplish Acolyte Saeva. So long as I don't seeing them pay a visit to my ships of course."

Saeva