I've Heard of You

[Darth Voracitos]

Voracitos ate.

A great feast was being undertaken by the Coven of Gluttony, in honor of their Lord and their collective victories. Free Starved subjects who willingly joined mingle and rub shoulders with Hungered Vassals, served all by their enslaved brethren, sworn into service by bondage. It was officially illegal in the Empire to own slaves... but there was one exception Voracitos took absolute full advantage, beyond the spirit of the law. Regardless of the law, Voracitos would own slaves. Who would dare stop him over something so marginal?

Certainly not a sensible sith worth the head on his shoulders, or any imperial that loves his family with all of his privilege. Better them, than me. They would always say, but Voracitos always thought, Better all of you, for the sake of me.

Despite the celebrations, the humongous mind of Voracitos still had business to attend to, wealth to accrue, funds to spend, artifacts to commission for their acquisition, and Leviathan breeding to do. Lorrd did not seem to be an optimal place for those particular pets, and he was looking into developing something of a "private island" in space... he had heard down the grape vine and through his clairvoyance that such things existed... habitation spheres.

While his mind wandered the galaxy as his body feasted, Voracitos stumbled across various technological advancements he found himself to be found of. Reminding him of his days of funding the construction of his Girth of Gluttony, a project left unfinished in the absence of his full presence, due to his troubling death. It was a formidable vessel to be sure... but never achieved his materialistic desire for a magnum opus of his power in the physical realm.

Voracitos had evolved beyond those more simple desires after his arduous journeys through the Netherworld... but it did not mean he would stop indulging in them. Almost as an afterthought, he immediately began scouring the construction plans for something known as a Conqueror-Class Heavy Cruiser... equipped with some very high power beam cannons. It reminded him of the Girth of Gluttony's full intended might and fury. Now that the reconstituted Sith Empire reigned supreme as he had hoped it would... it is time to resolve other forms of unfinished business left behind in the wake of his death.

A Hungered Vassal by the name of Rosalunn Javil obeyed the commands of her master, and presented a holocall device to record his message. After an indication that it was recording, Voracitos began to drone his desires between breaks of eating.

"[member="Vanessa Vantai"]... constructor of the Conqueror. Your work has caught my eye," Voracitos's left cybernetic eye glinted briefly as he tapped it with a chubby index finger. Voracitos ate something whole, and swallowed, then continued. "I have a special project for you, that could use your technical talents. Name a price and I shall meet it, but ask no more than you deserve. My wealth is endless but my patience," Voracitos ripped something apart with his mouth, "Is not. Contact me on this device once you have received this message, and coordinates will be sent to you. I suggest you make room in you undoubtedly busy schedule... this could take some... time." Voracitos finished what he ripped apart.

"Voracitos, out." The message was ended, and Voracitos continued to peruse the universe in his minds eye, leaving his body behind.

 

[Onrai]

Voracitos.

For a time, Vanessa remembered, the girthy Sith Lord had ruled the Sith Empire. The original Empire, not this reboot. Perhaps he had noticed her back when she had a different name. Perhaps not. Whatever the matter, she had been contacted now by Voracitos, who had specifically mentioned her as the constructor of the Conqueror, who apparently had interest in her and DCMM's technical capabilities with regards to some sort of project he was working on. What the project was, he made unclear - she would certainly have to inquire first about what the project was.

So it was that she contacted him on the holodevice within several minutes of receiving his message. Giving a simple curtsey, she smiled at the holographic form of the Hutt that the Emperor Emeritus had effectively molded himself into with his rotund layers of almost immeasurable fat. "Ah, Lord Voracitos. A pleasure to see you alive. At least someone came out of Krag's rebellion intact." Perhaps such a comment would clue him in as to her true identity. "I received information regarding your project and was immediately intrigued - I assume such is on a tremendous scale given the effectively open budget. While I'm certainly not opposed to this project, I would like to discuss more with you in person about this project and perhaps met out a suitable payment. Would perhaps seven hours from now be a suitable time for us to meet and discuss this project of yours?"

She certainly hoped he would say yes. The personal touch was always the best.

[member="Darth Voracitos"]

 

[Darth Voracitos]

"Eleven hours is acceptable. The coordinates for the Den of Decadence are sent to your personal communicator, My Battlestation shall be parked beside it for your inspection, as you arrive." That battlestation was of course, the Girth of Gluttony, though he preferred not to call it by its name even on secure comms. It was intended to be a ghost ship after all, and he had no way of knowing whether or not the wretched mandalorians were still trying to track it down. No one can know who is truly listening out there. It was his first act upon returning to the flesh during the Netherworld Crisis to recapture it.

The coordinates would lead to a region of deep space where the nearest star was a few lightyears away, the station adrift in the cosmos, unbounded and without restriction. It was a rather large space station, but nothing to be impressed by considering its largely civilian nature. It held enough storage capacity for some of Voracitos' more interesting trinkets. Unfortunately his trio of Leviathans had to be transported to Lorrd, the world under his rulership... though he had heard reports of unruly behavior, he was constantly tracking those efforts cybernetic-ally or in his mind's eye.

"I have a number of... unorthodox design principles I would like to implement, and I wondered if you would be up to the task?" Voracitos mused. Closing his eyes a moment, his mind stretched out deep into hyperspace and called upon the very vessel he was speaking of. It would arrive shortly after Vanessa would be arriving, he saw it in his mind, a vision of the short term future. It was a dramatic entrance for a vessel intended to be grand, but never truly reached for its awesome heights it was designed for. Voracitos loved theatrics, and thought it was a fitting introduction to his little side-project.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

"Helm, set course to the designated coordinates." Vanessa said to the bridge crew as she responded. "Battlestation... I heard rumors you were working on something like that back when we were both within the original Sith Empire. Never knew anything more about it, though." She considered things for a moment before proceeding onwards. "Conveniently, working on exotics is my specialty. I would be quite interested in learning about the unorthodox design principles you wish to have implemented." She replied as the signal grew static-filled for a moment, the Ablution​ and its accompanying fleet entering into hyperspace.

"I look forward to reacquainting myself with you, Lord Voracitos. I never got a chance to know you well during the old Empire - perhaps this will change things."

[member="Darth Voracitos"]

 

[Darth Voracitos]

"Expect little of me," Voracitos said dryly in comment to her desire to get acquainted to him. For Voracitos, a friend was just an enemy you hadn't made yet. That much had been true of Kaine Zambrano, and the Sith Lord learned the only way to coexist with the new Emperor, was simply to build his own empire within, and otherwise ignore his existence. If he did not... perhaps the whole of the empire would've collapsed under Voracitos' Colossal might, and the Emperor's Titanic fury. Nonetheless, Voracitos did not show any hostility to the one he was contracting for this work.

"I will need to employ the use of your beam cannon weaponry in tandem with a number of unique prototype ships. Be prepared to build schematics for small scale siege platforms. I will spare no expense to create the avatar of Imperial authority I have always envisioned... a fleet of warships so well integrated, they act as the same singular entity." Voracitos' eyes became far away as he envisioned old dreams, and while his face had so far spared all indication of emotion, a grin appeared wide on his fat face. "This is only the highlights of what I hope to achieve, and I am giving you the exclusive privilege to... capitalize on its success. Be proud, what we shall build together, shall be a thing of beauty." Voracitos' eyes returned to Vanessa beaming with desire.

"I await your arrival," With that, Voracitos cut the communications to resumed the rest of his feast immediately...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

11 hours later...

Voracitos sat within his Throne on a personal Imperial Shuttle fitted for him personally, awaiting the arrival of his contractor, as he cleared his mind, preparing himself for business. The thoughts coursing through his mind were one's of extreme pleasure. The warmachine he had intended to create so long ago, might soon be within his grasp.

He was well aware of the monstrocity his former friend/former rival [member="Darth Carnifex"] now fielded into battle, and naturally the corpulent monster couldn't help to feel his own flagship was outdated, and moot. With the modifications he had in mind, that might change. It might never go toe to toe with a dreadnought of the magnificent power, but it would create an output of equal offensive dependability, with a survivability few ships would be able to match...

... that was the whole idea of it from the beginning, of course.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

The Void Irregular Fleet jumped in, cohesive and the single unit it had traditionally been, with the ​Ablution​ at the head. Vanessa smiled as she oversaw the scene before her, eager to determine the next move to be made. The partially complete battleship was there, watched by the entirety of the fleet, who as they currently existed were capable of annihilating it. But that would be bad for business - especially given Vanessa's legitimate desire to assist the Sith Lord in upgrading his old toy to something newer and more capable. She immediately hailed the shuttle Voracitos was on.

"Ah, Lord Voracitos. The project you have for me is... quite interesting. Please, tell me more about what you desire."

[member="Darth Voracitos"]

 

[Darth Voracitos]

The shuttle began to makes its way to dock on the ship hosting [member="Vanessa Vantai"], somewhat impressed with the cohesive unit the Void Irregular Fleet seemed to be. His ambitions soon hoped to put even such a disciplined fleet as that to shame, with the singular cohesion of what he intended to build. In the fleet of Voracitos, there would be no separate entities. There would be no individual ships. There would only be parts of a far greater and more critically powerful whole.

"Welcome to my small corner of the galaxy," Voracitos rumbled, just as the mass shadow for the Girth of Gluttony catapulted into existence, the massive sphere giving off an eerie and alien edge to the system. "I admire the cohesion of your fleet, it is quite impressive by most standards. I hope you share my ambition to put that admirable trait to shame. The starships I will commission of you, I want them to be directly coordinated with my flagship... directly being physically, coordinated to the flagship itself." Voracitos smiled as he dreamed the various additions. The Sith Lord was building a mansion in his mind, a symbol of wealth and power.

"They will need gigantic magnetic clamps, to attach to the surface of the desired ship. Weapons that can adjust to firing in a wide fire arc, while at the same time threatening the defenses of enemy ships, and well defended systems to match the impenetrability of my own ship. You needn't worry about their engines, as they shall rely on the thrusters of wherever they clamp down, and bring to bear their full concentrated firepower on the enemy." Voracitos was interrupted by his personal transport docking with her ship.

"I am about to meet with you personally, have your troops escort me to your location, I prefer to speak of these matters directly."

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

"So essentially you want them to be like giant kilometer-sized pieces of ablative armor for your ship." She replied. "I can... fit the weapons in a slot, of some sort, use powerful motors to physically shift their location. I have some recent scans of a Hapan Battle Dragon that used the same sort of system for its turbolasers, and I believe a larger-scaled version would work best for you." Vanessa concluded.

When Voracitos would disembark - or make his way off, at least - he would be greeted by Vanessa, who gave a curtsey out of respect for the emperor emeritus before she spoke. "A pleasure to have you aboard my flagship, Lord Voracitos. What you are inquiring of me is... unique. Interesting as well. You stated that I could name my price - well, my desires are pure and wholesome in wishing to grow the strength of the Empire. Perhaps you would place a large quantity of your funds and assets at my and my company's disposal - to further push back against the technological limits we have. To outmatch the Galactic Alliance and the Silver Jedi on every turn."

Perhaps he would be interested.

[member="Darth Voracitos"]

 

[Darth Voracitos]

"Your aspirations are admirable, and your ideas are sound. Your desires shall be fulfilled, so long as your results are fortuitous." Voracitos spoke softly, "My resources are at your disposal. Though I must ask out of curiosity, since the beam cannons I am sure you will employ require a significant source of power, I don't suppose you have ever attempted to weaponize the energy of a Hyperdrive, have you? I have heard that such a thing is possible, but has rarely been seen. It would be difficult to reroute power into a detachable weapons platform via the Girth of Gluttony, thus I am searching for more alternative means of accruing the necessary power draw for more destructive weaponry." Voracitos appeared deep in thought of the various difficulties that would have to be solved to achieve the desired effect of coordinated parts supporting each other into a starship superstructure. There was also another thought he had, but did not know if he desired too much too soon, as was often the case.

Not only did he desire detachable pieces of destructively armed, ablative armor, he desired the ability to lay siege to planetary shields for proper orbital bombardment, when dropping troops on the ground wasn't necessary or desired. A single kilometer was not large however, and thus any siege platforms would have to be relatively small and limited... but any such platform would be took big for the Girth of Gluttony to carry in its measly hangars.

"Additionally, I wonder if a vessel of that size could house additional vessels... though it may compromise its integrity as armor. Such vessels I would envision as large siege weapons, too large to be outfitted in the hangars of the Girth of Gluttony. I am unsure of such feasibility however, so I shall leave that decision to you." Voracitos nodded, confirming physical as well as verbally that he was giving her permission to design as necessary and as was possible to preform. He was merely the customer that knew exactly what he wanted, while she was the real designer. Such was true of the Girth of Gluttony as well. Voracitos was not an engineer by a long shot, and was never exactly certain of what was an was not within the limits of technology... but they learned quick what sorts of illusions they would have to make to appease a man that often didn't let a little thing like reality get in his way... he was a sorcerer after all.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

"I certainly intend for them to be, Lord Voracitos." Vanessa responded. "Even if their purpose may not be so immediately destructive." A subtle reference was made to the extant decoy superweapons - the Trigon Two​ and the Sun Crusher - that she had already created. She listened to Voracitos having mentioned the weaponizing of hyperdrives and gently nodded. "I know such has been used in the past, but the issue lies in the fact that the hyperdrive can only be used once. A ship reactor cannot simply recharge it for another use. Unless you're a one-and-done sort of Sith, we'll likely be using antimatter reactors to power these ablative armor segments."

She pondered for a moment. "A siege weapon sort of vessel? Are you talking about something for planetary bombardment, or for anti-warship duty? The simplest solution would be a bombardment of proton torpedoes - something like those old Torpedo Spheres." She considered. "I'm guessing you enjoy ships shaped like spheres in your armada?" It was worth asking - he did seem normal enough after all. Or at least mentally together enough to reason sensibly.

[member="Darth Voracitos"]

 

[Darth Voracitos]

"Then as I understand it the hyperdrives cannot be tapped into without destroying them? Must unfortunate," Voracitos voiced with no particular amount of displeasure. "A vessel likened after the Torpedo Spheres would indeed be along the lines of my thinking, intended for planetary bombardment." Voracitos nodded in confirmation, his great chins bulging slightly in the pressure. Voracitos smiled slightly to her observation.

"It is less to do with my preference for aesthetics and more to do with the fact more can be held within a sphere than in any other geometric shape. More armor to penetrate, more volume in which to space out your critical systems or to store ammunition, and fewer weak points to exploit geometrically. Not to mention greater surface area for weapon emplacement or expansions. Though to put it simply, yes, I favor my vessels to be more... rounded than my adversaries and rivals." The humor was not lost on the Dark Lord but he maintained a professional stance as they discussed the business of interstellar war machines.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

"Not necessarily destroying them..." Vanessa replied. "Hyperdrives run off of hypermatter, and it drains that hypermatter. Annihilates it. Refilling a hyperdrive with hypermatter in the heat of battle is, to say the least, impossible - and I would certainly not want to risk hypermatter contacting regular matter in the void of space, detonating right next to your ship." She sighed, glad he could finally clarify exactly what it is he was looking for.

"I suppose those are... fair points." She raised an eyebrow at the end. "Was that a tidbit of humor? Surprising to see such from a Sith Lord, especially one of your stature." It wasn't like she had actually seen this sort of thing before. And Voracitos was able to actually take and make jokes? At least to a degree? She was wowed.

"Any other requests?"

[member="Darth Voracitos"]

 

[Darth Voracitos]

"I am not entirely humorless, no. Though typically the things I take joy in are hardly laughable... though of course, I do often laugh regardless." Voracitos smiled in amusement. There was little else for him to add, he only wished there was some means he could enjoy to make such a process immediate. Unfortunately, while he was master of souls, time was still a constraint even he had to bide with.

"I have no other immediate requests for this project no, though I shall keep a close and observant eye on its progress. I will keep tight accountability of my resources, even if I should give you a proverbial blank check. Use what you must, do not waste, but fear not what you deem is necessary for the full unbridled power of the Empire at my finger tips." Voracitos did not enjoy such generosity by any means, but reasoned with himself that the wealth was circular in nature. Whatever resources he gave to [member="Vanessa Vantai"] would be immediately transferred into this personal project he was having constructed, thus all of it would be to serve him in the most maximizing manner possible.

"Now I must ask of you, what is it that you must request of me, beyond access to my personal treasury?" Voracitos turned to eye the woman more carefully to read her desires more accurately if any were to be divulged.

 

[Onrai]

"I know the feeling." She said. "I will get the shell artificed for you, that I assure you. How effective it will be may vary, but it will certainly increase the killing potency of your warship." She replied. To the next question, she answered succinctly. "Material resources. Facilities. Special metals and alloys. Also, your support in certain matters." If the Greater Maldrood were to succeed as a contingency plan, it would need more than one Sith Lord supporting it. "Support in such things as a contingency plan should this great empire ever fall.

After all, its destruction was an inevitability. Nothing lasted forever.

[member="Darth Voracitos"]

 

[Darth Voracitos]

Voracitos smiled, "And what matters of particular importance would my influence grant you? My relationship with the current Imperial Hierarchy is a strained one. Prior Emperor's hardly get along well... not any more that is. Unless there is something particular you are looking for beneath the realm of our present empire? In that respect, my network runs deep in the shadow of the government, an empire all my own in tandem with our glorious Emperor." Voracitos said with heavy sarcasm, acknowledging his second rate status next to the tyrannical giant Kaine Zambrano had become. What humble origins that one had, and how powerful he had become in the intervening decades, enough to match and survive Voracitos himself, even turn his strengths against him. Voracitos had learned much since their last encounter however, and has stayed well and clear of the current Emperor, not for risk of losing again... but like in times past, Voracitos had found a most profitable patron, one he had not seen since the days of Emperor Moridin, as short as his rule was.

Voracitos was curious now less upon the intricacies of the machine he was having built, and more interested in the politics his compatriot had brought to the table. Was this a bid for succession? A coup? A political contingency against collapse? Or more excitingly, a conspiracy he was being invited to, for who know what ends? Voracitos, for all the wealth he accumulated, things he's created, and people he's destroyed, was a creature of intrigue, and would always seek to know the nature of the politics surrounding him, even if he should be detached from it entirely.

[member="Vanessa Vantai"]

 

[Onrai]

"Your influence includes access to a great deal of resources. Resources that could prove useful to holding at least a portion of the Empire together should it ever end up collapsing." Vanessa said. "I hold no illusions about the future, Voracitos. Kaine is a superb Emperor, a master at keeping stability and order within the Sith. But eventually, through some misstep in a plan, or through someone with more strength than brains, he will be lost to us as Emperor, as he already was once before." She sighed for but a moment. "When that day comes, infighting will begin to stir within the galaxy. The Jedi, through whatever puppet of a galactic power they will hold at that point in time, will consider it a time to strike. Within weeks, maybe months at the most, our territory will be fragmented, shattered into various rival warlords who squabble for supremacy, picking over the scraps of what is supposed to be our triumph."

She turned away from Voracitos for but a moment. "When that day comes, as I'm sure it will, I intend to be the one who holds everything together so we can regroup, reinvigorate ourselves, and hopefully reforge the Empire into a galaxy-spanning power once more. I hold no illusions of being Empress - there are many Sith who would rather not see me upon the Imperial Throne - but I will not let the cannibalization of the Empire's remnants occur through senseless warlordism and pointless squabbling. Factionism only benefits the light, for only when order is broken can Chaos thrive." She swallowed for a moment. "I have ensured my forces will have some of the best trained soldiers and some of the most powerful warships available to the Sith Empire, so even the greater numbers of the Jedi will not prove capable of defeating us - not immediately at least."

A turn back - she now looked at the face sunken within the fatty form. "Do you understand what I intend to do? Why I intend to do it when I have no other choice?"

[member="Darth Voracitos"]

 

[Darth Voracitos]

Vorcitos listened intently with interest, and a small "aha" seemed to plastered across the Sith Lord's grin, as one of his suspicions was uncovered and it appeared the aid she request of him was indeed a contingency. He was slightly disappointed it wasn't a bid for succession, as that spoke of ambition (something he respected), but also glad that particular drama wouldn't be disrupting the stability of his earnings as it has in the past. Though, he supposed, crafting and planning a powerful contingency this far in advanced did speak of considerable ambition. It was an astute observation on the nature of reality that nothing lasted forever, even for the most powerful of beings. The nebulous Celestial came to mind, literal gods in material form altering the nature of the galaxy itself, yet never heard or seen from in accessibly recorded history, to a point none truly thought they exist. Voracitos thought briefly if the conflicts of the Jedi and Sith would eventually be entirely snuffed out, leaving a galaxy forever deprived of attenuation to the force and its traditions. Would legendary figures of these traditions be relegated forever into the annals of nebulous "pre-history" of a far of civilization?

Preposterous, with the Netherworld as tenuous as his has become, the Sith would live on forever in infamy. Dying yes, but always returning with vengeance and spite. The same could not be said of the Jedi, and Voracitos received a small comfort in this as [member="Vanessa Vantai"] finished her proposal.

"An astute observation, perhaps you should be Empress. Being aware of the folly of permanence and planning around it is an intelligent move, and forming such a strategy before the signs of stress will certainly serve you well. There would be few who could contest you with such preparation in advance. Commendable indeed, but do not mistake these actions as one's which you have no choice in. You have made a choice already, there is a difference. You, like many, could choose to not act at all, to fail to prepare, to naively accept the "printed reality" of an immortal invincible emperor. Chaos will claim him eventually, as it claims all of us... but as recent history as has shown, it will also inevitably spit us out. I deny the necessity of your contingency, but accept your offer nonetheless. I enjoy playing out these dramas, to see what interesting places they lead." Voracitos smiled broadly with knowing in his eyes.

"I expect much from an alliance such as this, and I expect much from your designs, I doubt your mind will fail me in this endeavor." Voracitos looked to a window of his vessel and her fleet, dancing across the stars slowly and elegantly.

 

[Onrai]

[member="Darth Voracitos"]

"Your flattery is appreciated." Vanessa replied. "The contingency is necessary. I am tired of us being forced to take five steps back for every step forward we end up ultimately taking. I'm certain other Imperial forces will join in time - hopefully sooner rather than later - but your support is certainly appreciated with regards to these endeavours." The Sith lady was pleased by the opportunity that had come forth - an opportunity for an individual who had previously attained the height of power within the Sith Empire to dedicate his substantial resources towards her cause.

"I must say, Lord Voracitos, that this meeting has proven to be far more fruitful than I initially expected it would be. Thank you very much. I can assure you that this association will certainly be beneficial - for myself, and for you as well." She held out a hand, offering to shake his prior to departing.

 

[Darth Voracitos]

Voracitos nodded in return to [member="Vanessa Vantai"], his mind weighing in on the many possible futures, as the screaming souls that he did keep with him began to grate upon his mind, making his need for meditation grow stronger. There would be much to observe between now and when his little project would be finished, and the Sith Lord was satisfied with the proceedings that occurred between the two imperials. Networks were important things in life, knowing the right people, having the right people respect you or appreciate their work. Few could earn the respect or appreciation of the gluttonous one, but Vanessa managed it today. To keep this good tidying would require constant work.

"Yes, yes of course. It is natural to assume the worst, I expect disappointment in every venture, but attempt to reconstruct the tapestry to my benefit regardless. You would do well to do the same, and keep far away from my own web... or make yourself a very useful string to a larger whole. Keep up your aspirations, Vantai, they are becoming of you." Voracitos gave a furtive smile before turning away from the window and the fellow Sith Lord Sorceress.

"I shall be in my chambers if my presence is requested, I must silence my minds." Voracitos said matter-of-factly, and then dispersed back to his shuttle, apparently pleased with what little time he spent aboard the Irregular Fleet's operation.