Meticulous Preparation [Ask]

[Darth Vazela]

@[member="Pandeima"]

Almania, a dark windy world located on the fringes of Unknown Space, on the edge of Sith Empire territory and hosting a dark secret. Unknown to the galaxy, perhaps saved for the Jedi Order who might have it among their archives, occurred a genocide that happen among the fighting between Darth Sidious's Galactic Empire and the Rebellion to restore the Republic. As Imperialists and Republic loyalists fought for the supremacy of the galaxy, a government known as the Je'har massacred the populace on Almania, to quell an uprising against their tyrannical reign that was bring death and poverty to it's people. Towards the end of the genocide, a Dark Jedi by the name of Kueller rose, destroyed the Je'har and became the Lord of Almania. Empowered by the dark side, he began a plot with another Dark Jedi called Brakiss to overthrow the New Republic, a new relatively young government that was created eight years after Darth Sidious's final fall in 10 ABY. Moving forwards, Kueller instigated a plot to kill Luke Skywalker, a famous Jedi who was responsible for the creation of the New Jedi Order, as well as usurping the Republic Senate and swearing himself in as Emperor. Through a series of events, Kueller and Luke Skywalker dueled on Almania. Skywalker won the duel, Kueller died and the New Republic was saved.

And that was one half of Almania's dark history.

In relative terms, the other side of it's history is also in another individual. Unlike Kueller and the tale of his Almania Uprising, not much is known. All there is are whispers, about a man who left Almania long ago. Four decades to the day, when the Gulag Virus was still rampant in the galaxy, the populations of Almania, Drewwa, Auyemesh and Pydyr were wiped out, saved for the Thernbee and local wild life, who had mysteriously grown resistant to the infection. Unknown to the galaxy, a man called Vilox Pazela had used his knowledge in Sith Alchemy to turn the Thernbee and other wild life to become resistant to the Gulag Virus. He had even mastered the ability to make himself resistant to it's infection. But when he had attempted to help his people, more so for the development of his knowledge, he had failed and that was how no life came to be on Almania. An empty world, ripe for the taking. Or so they thought.

On the outskirts of the crumbling ruin that was the form capital city of Almania, stood two equally degrading towers. Known as the Towers of the Je'har, the vantage point allowed one to perceive Stonia and the Mem'Kabarr forest, with the latter stretching for thousands of acres of land. In the distance would be the Almania settlement Ren'Bl Ettes, and save for that, nothing else was on Almania. Stood on top of the tower was a man, donning a dark, hooded robe that had it's cowl raised over his head. Hands tucked into his sleeves, he stood at the edge of the tower and overlooked the orange hues that were Stonia's lamp lights. It was a grand view. High above him, shined a moon. Lifting his gaze to look upon the place he was born upon, he whispered, "Pydyr is bright tonight."

Darth Vazela had returned home on the pretense that a Sith Knight would answer his invitation. He did not know what she was doing in the Maw, but it only furthered his curiosity. He had the need for her contacts and resources to bring his meticulous preparations to an end and instead begin the instigation of his grand scheme to destroy the Jedi Order. His robes fluttering in the high wind, with gale forced winds bellowing about him, Vazela waited patiently for Circe to arrive. It had been one week since his hail and a day since he had met with Tyrin Ardik and an assortment of Sith on Korriban.

Everything was going to plan, for now.

 

[Onrai]

Almania. A corpse-world. Of the planets that had experienced the full fury of the Gulag virus, Almania was one that had received it the worst, and as a result, the planet was almost entirely dead, aside from some small settlements that survived the chaos and carnage of the galaxy's dark age. It was a testament to true destructive power - but also an unfortunate afterimage of the fury and terror that had gone on. Regardless, she had come because he wanted it. Her trip to the Maw had been cut short due to... logistical issues. She would do another trip much later, when the stars were more properly aligned.

But for now, it was time to stop keeping the Sith Lord waiting. Circe's ambitions and the like could be tossed aside for now, and they were as she stepped around the balcony of one of the towers, eying the Sith Lord who looked out over the ruins.

"You needed me?"

@[member="Vilox Pazela"]

 

[Darth Vazela]

Vazela averted his gaze from the orange hues of Stonia's city lights to the woman who had emerged from the crumbling stairway that led from the forest floor to the top most height of the towers. He nodded his head and replied, "Yes, I needed you."

He walked around, away from the edge of the towers wall and turned to face her. "One year ago, I and you participated in an invasion of a world we know as Aeten two. It has come to my attention that, since our annexation of that world, you have been utilizing it's stygium crystal deposits for the development, of which, I do not know." Lifting his gaze to the skies, he watched the orange hue of Pydyr for a moment, speaking with his chin lifted upwards. "I will be attacking the Jedi Order soon. I'd like your participation in the attack I am planning. It revolves around stygium technology and a generator isn't even in the works yet."

Lowering his gaze once more, he said, "I won't pretend to understand practical science. I leave that for people like you to know. I am, however, familiar with history. A long time ago, there was said to have been a prototype device that, when activated, forms an impenetrable shield, leaving whatever was in it's confines protected in definitely from assault. They called it Project X. Could you create something that could do that, Circe?"

 

[Onrai]

"I personally visited the planet a while ago to mine stygium, in order to fit the Gorgon with a cloaking device. The rest was to be pushed towards some... sensitive prototypes, let's just leave it at that. As for my participation in this attack... I admit it intrigues me greatly, but I wish to know more details before committing myself to such a difficult act."

She paused, hearing his talk of the ShieldX project. "It's possible... Your ship would almost certainly suffer from reactor shutdown due to the power drain, but hey. It's what you want, I suppose."

@[member="Vilox Pazela"]

 

[Darth Vazela]

@[member="Pandeima"]

"I thought so." Vazela nodded his head, agreeing with her before explaining part of his scheme. "I have been preparing for this attack ever since I returned to the Empire. The construction of the Obscurity was part of the first stages of my plan."

"However, it hasn't gone without a few hiccups. Another Sith, a person that I had personally trained, was meant to be standing beside me now. Someone who had learned under my apprenticeship. But the girl that I selected for this apprenticeship disappeared and when she returned to the Empire three years later, was under the tutelage of Tyrin Ardik. I can't challenge the Emperor because he took the girl under his wing..." Trailing off, he took a moment to think. To think on the structure of his words.

After the pause, he began to speak again. "So, I have been learning about the various members of the Sith Order, in order to recruit them for this attack. When I have gathered a fighting force big enough for what I have planned, we will venture from Sith space and into the heart of the Mandalorians, to Dathomir. It is my plan to instigate an attack on the Witches of Dathomir, where the Mandalorians will be pulled into the conflict as they're the rulers of their world. The attacking force will fighting look like Jedi, act like Jedi and they will all be tricked into thinking they're Jedi through an ancient technique I know to trick a Force-sensitive into believing someone is aligned to the light side, rather than the dark."

"This Jedi fighting force, which will be us, will be attacking the Nightsister Clan directly. This is because the Jedi will 'think' that they're hiding a Sith Lord. That Sith will be me, on Dathomir. I will not hide my presence. Through the conflict, we will make them believe that the Jedi are fighting them to capture me. We will make them believe that we 'think' that the Nightsisters and Mandalorians were hiding me from them. For all this time, the Obscurity will remain cloaked. The attacking 'Jedi' force will be attacking via starfighter and shuttle craft. If you have something that could give these craft the ability to cloak, now is the time to bring it forwards..."

"The idea of attacking Dathomir via a Jedi task force will be to gain the allegiance of the Nightsisters and Mandalorians in my attack on the Jedi Temple at Coruscant. The Sith participating on the ground will under go the technique I spoke about earlier, as while as cosmetic changes to their face to hide their identity from them, when they join us on the Obscurity en route to galactic center. Then we can begin the second stage of my plot."

Vazela paused again, waiting for further questions. He had brought Circe forward into the scheme, not only for the technological marvels that she could bring into his plan, but for her mind. It was said that she one of the best and brightest in the Empire. If she could spot a flaw in his plot, she would identify it and together they would fine tune it into something greater. She also had the potential to fill the shoes of Kara Vi'deya...

 

[Onrai]

Circe raised an eyebrow at Vazela's mention of there having been another girl. "Who was this girl, if I may ask?" She paused, letting him finish what he was saying.

"Interesting usage of False Light Side Aura. I'd love to learn the technique from you sometime... As for the Obscurity and the "Jedi" strike force... A predominant issue I see is that the fleet can potentially be detected through other means - magnetic, gravimetric, or Force-based detection systems will expose the Obscurity and the strike force. If we're going to properly simulate a Jedi strike, we need to use Republic equipment. Otherwise the ruse will be detected. Some things, like replicating Republic armor and Jedi robes, along with sabers, will be easy. However, Subach will need examples of Republic starfighters in order to reproduce copies of them. As for cloaking technology... Do you have any spare stygium?"

@[member="Vilox Pazela"]

 

[Darth Vazela]

@[member="Pandeima"]

"Her name was Kara, an Umbaran that I found on Korriban three years ago. I took her away from three Sith Knights. Their names were Shinju, Dranok and Lucien. She was there, with me, when the Obscurity was constructed. When we were ready to leave the Dac system, when the ship had just finished construction, she disappeared. I learned that she crash landed on Elom and was tortured by Shinju and Lucien to discover who I was. I had used a technique on them to make them forget about I and Kara when I took the girl from their lesson. They took it as an attack and acted accordingly."

He reflected on the events that transpired on the Obscurity three years ago. He had defeated Cordel in retaliation for the Sith Knight's posturing to have him exiled and killed, in some far fetch scheme to avenge memories that were neither important nor did he care about. Vazela still didn't understand stupidity in others. "I was the reason why Lucien Cordel left the Empire and disappeared for a while," the Sith Lord said, "It was to my surprise that he was present in a meeting I had with the Emperor on Korriban one week ago. It seems he found his way back to the Sith Order."

Moving on, Vazela said, "I'd only teach such a technique to another who entered my apprenticeship." He hinted to Circe that he was still looking for a replacement after losing his last apprentice. "I agree. There is a risk that the Obscurity could be detected through other means. Whilst I have the ability to blind the ability of other Force-sensitives in perceiving and sensing myself and others in my vicinity from detection, the possible traces of fuel that the Obscurity leaves when it moves through space or anti cloaking technology are out of my depth."

"If you could procure an Republic shuttle that our strike team could utilize to land on Dathomir, so as to continue the facade we are creating, then that would be splendid. I believe I can provide the necessary equipment that the individuals involved will need when they're planet side, but the technology that I have asked to be put forwards in my scheme are not yet available to me, hence the meeting."

Vazela placed his hand into his robe and produced a datapad. A file on the device, the only file, contained a list of what the Sith Lord wanted. On it, it included several starfighters and shuttles that could be outfitted with a cloaking device, a shield generator capable of creating a shield around the structure of the Obscurity and the Jedi Temple that could be held up indefinitely, provided it had the power to sustain it, in which not one single attack or thing could pass it's event horizon and a task force of Star Destroyers and Cruisers that could be called upon when asked.

"On that device, you will find a list. If you can provide a class of starfighter and shuttle that has a generator capable of sustaining a cloak, then it would be most welcomed. I would also require a generator, as stated on that device, that can sustain a shield that will not allow anything to pass it, whether it be a form of attack, biological or non biological. The reinforcements I also ask for to be left on stand by in an area where a jump to Coruscant is possible."

"I believe if my plan is successful, not only can we succeed in destroying the Jedi Temple and the Jedi that reside in it and subsequently complete our primary objective, but we could also take Coruscant itself. My plan revolves around creating a beachhead to attack the Jedi, whilst at the same time taking control of the network that powers Coruscant as well. If we can do that, then a combined attack from ground and space could secure the Coruscant system itself."

Vazela turned away from Circe to gaze upon the ruined city below him as he spoke, "I can feel the dark side telling me that the Jedi will be destroyed on Coruscant. We would be doing it a great service. When an individual becomes a Sith, they have become the property of the dark side, Circe. Then it is up to that individual to guide the dark side, instead of allowing the Force to guide them instead. That is one of the differences between us and the Jedi; and if we destroy them, then Coruscant is our reward. I can feel it."

 

[Onrai]

"An Umbaran named Kara, you say?" Circe raised an eyebrow, intrigued at the thought of her daughter having been Vazela's apprentice previously. "She sounds familiar... perhaps I've met her during my journeys before."

His mention of the events with Lucien Cordel ran a shiver down her spine. "Wasn't Lucien involved with that cannibalistic futanari known as Shinju Ayasha? Perhaps she abandoned him during their escapades, and that was the reasoning he returned to the Empire, shamed and terribly dishonored." In truth, she had no idea, but it seemed to make sense.

"Unfortunate about that... I'm in Lord Zambrano's service currently, and intend to find a holocron to learn this technique from." His worries about fuel traces peaked her interest, oddly enough. "I'd suggest converting the starship to a hypermatter or antimatter power plant. Considering that their fuel is entirely consumed by the reactor, the engine output is thus purer, leaving less traces behind. As for starships with cloaks - Imperial R&D is working on something, as is Subach. I would check with Gregor Gideon of the Inquisitorius, find out what they're up to. They always have a pension for advanced technology."

"The shuttle will be rather easy to acquire. They utilize a hodgepodge of older shuttle designs, after all. Cloak installation will have to be accomplished with only a few designs. Either that, or we develop another type of fighter equally stealthy that doesn't rely on stygium."

"The generator will definitely be the difficult part. I can guarantee you a shield generator more powerful than most, but I can't guarantee that you'll be able to fight back while utilizing it. As well, I can't guarantee that you'll be able to hold it under fire for an extended period of time without turning your ship into a flying reactor. But I'll certainly see what I can do, look up all the stuff I can on ShieldX."

"Take Coruscant? That's ambitious, even for you. For us to have control of the Republic capital world, we'd need to eliminate the Jedi. To do that, we would need to either sabotage the temple beforehand or block it off... Perhaps we could acquire some Ysalamiri and use them to incapacitate the Jedi so our non-sensitive soldiers could destroy them with grenade launchers. If the 501st Legion destroyed the Jedi many years ago without the technology and foreknowledge we have now, imagine what we can get accomplished."

@[member="Vilox Pazela"]

 

[Darth Vazela]

"Perhaps," said Vazela, in response to Circe's thoughts on Kara. "From what I know, she got around a lot in the three years she disappeared from the Empire. One rumor was she ended up in Jedi hands..." He trailed off.

Nodding his head, Vazela said, "Yes, Lucien was known to have left with Shinju Ayasha, but I have not seen the latter in four years, since my encounter with her on Korriban. The Emperor mentioned in our meeting a week ago, where Lucien made an appearance, that he had pardoned him for some crime or another, perhaps for what he did to Kara, in return for the service he rendered to the Empire at Metalorn. He is a snake, but not a very good one."

Leaning his head to the left, Vazela was a little disappointed that the woman before him was already in a form of apprenticeship with another. "Once a full cup, always a full cup," he thought to himself, in regards to Circe. Vazela wasn't a man to take another who was already in training of another or had received training of another. He had learned the lessons of his predecessors and knew that, if you took a woman such as Circe under your wing, then the training they received formerly would clash would the training you would give them. Subsequently, the contents of both cups become mixed and distorted. Such distortions led to the destruction of the Order of Sith Lords, for example, where Darth Vader was returned to the light by his Jedi son and subsequently betrayed Emperor Palpatine. "A shame," he concluded, thinking it over.

"Tell your master I wish him luck in his search." Nodding his head, he followed Circe's explanation and replied, "I know about this form of fuel reactor, and when the generators on the Obscurity were being incorporated in their design, the current crop of hypermatter or antimatter plants were incompatible with the technology currently on board." [OOC: When I was developing the ship, Jon told me to put some weaknesses into the ship. Tracking it's fuel exhaust was one of them.]

"If you could meet with this Gregor Gideon in your next encounter and elaborate to my demands, then I can continue with my other preparations. Whilst you sort and prepare the technology we will need for the attack, I will continue preparation of other things, such as the recruitment of the best warriors the Empire has to give, whilst gaining the services of some criminal companions."

"My plan revolves around creating a beachhead on Coruscant's surface with the Obscurity, whilst at the same time enclosing and shutting off reinforcement or escape for the Jedi Order when we land. Hence my demands for Project X to be brought into development. With a shield such as this, the Obscurity will be protected from planetary bombardment from the Republic navy, reinforcements will not be available to the Jedi and it will leave us, the Sith, to raid and destroy the Jedi inside the shield. After we have crushed the Jedi with the overwhelming numbers of Sith and troopers that the Obscurity can provide inside the shield, we can begin the invasion of Coruscant."

"As we destroy the Jedi, our allies will go about securing Coruscant's security net, taking it offline so the Empire's forces can begin planet wide occupation. Heck, we could even take control of their defenses to use against their own forces. With the Jedi destroyed, the Works and security net under our control, the occupation of Coruscant can begin in earnest. Our primary objective will be to destroy the Jedi Temple and it's residence and our secondary objective, if achievable, will be annex Coruscant itself."

"I will see to it that I gain a detailed reconnaissance report of our objectives, providing the dynamics of the Jedi Temple's structure so that you can develop Project X and it's generator to create a shield big enough to encompass both the Obscurity and the temple itself. The report will also record where we can attack to take down Coruscant's defenses and subsequently turn them to our side, whilst pinpointing the access points to the Works. With this information, we can create a plan to attack all three points at the same time, learning how to tie in the Works to the Obscurity to power the generator. I assume that my flagship will need to go under some modifications in order to incorporate the Shield X generator, as well as points for the Works to be attached to it and then to the shield as well. The idea will be that the Obscurity will only serve as a base on the planet surface, outside the temple, so our ground forces can attack the Jedi. The ship was never designed to be a direct attacking vessel. It destroys without being seen. That was the idea behind it, so attacking back with it's armament won't be a problem, provided our plan succeeds."

Vazela paused, allowing himself to think. Then he continued, "It will be several months before we're in a position to attack Coruscant... In the mean time, we can target Dathomir whilst preparations for the attack on galactic center continue. We will need a ship of a Republic class to transport our attacking party. A stygium generator will need to be incorporated into it's design so that we can bypass the Mandalorians to the planet surface. It's complements will also need to have stygium incorporated into them so we can move around Dathomir. We'll also need them so we can escape when we're finished there."

"By taking Coruscant, we would be in a position to demand whatever we like from the Republic. But only after the Jedi have been destroyed. If the Emperor agrees with this plan, then he can begin negotiating for the Republic's surrender, of whatever he damned wished, whilst we do the hard work. I am sure he would be pleased, regardless of what objective was completed. As long as we did one or the other. Your suggestions to use Ysalamiri is clever, but I do not like it. It is true, that the five hundred and first were led by Darth Vader to destroy the temple once. But if the Jedi are to be destroyed, then it should be the Sith who do it, not our servants. That way it is a proper victory. Enrichment in the dark side provides power, Circe and such an act would bring forth it's energies to you. Make you stronger, more powerful. Ysalamiri would leave us as equally at risk as the Jedi and I am a careful man. They won't be necessary, however, the five hundred and first joining us for this attack would be good for the cause."

 

[Onrai]

"Jedi hands?" She raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "The last time I saw her, she was learning from people in the Fringe. Apparently received a powersuit there. As for Lucien's return - I have no clue what methodology the Emperor would have to make such a decision, but I don't suppose anything could be done in regards to such an issue."

"He hasn't trained me in anything yet, if that's what you're inquiring. If not... Well, I do work for whichever Sith Lord offers me the most. I will talk to Gregor about your plan. and all the things you need will hopefully be given to you through me. This is a massive gamble... but as you admit, the potential rewards are worth the risk."

@[member="Vilox Pazela"]

 

[Darth Vazela]

@Pandeima

"As you say Circe, the potential rewards from this risk are worth it and so, I think you'll find working for me works in your best interests." Turning away from the Sith Knight, Vazela approached the edge of the tower and overlooked the ruined city below him. Memories flashed of times as a child when he had lived in Stonia. A life time ago now.

Pushing the past out of his mind, he said, "You have what I want to be done Circe... It is my hope you do not fail to provide." Signalling the end of the meeting, Vazela kept his back turned to her, watching Almania and it's Mem'kabarr forest. He saw a Thernbee in the distance as he watched.

 

[Onrai]

And what could Circe say to that? Nothing, particularly. Their business was done, and she had work do to.

A lot of work to do.

(FIN)