Populate Serpent of Echnos | SO Populate of Empty Hex

[Kaila Irons]

The murmuring crowd went silent as Darth Anathemous finally emerged, not only as Governor of Echnos city as supported by The Empress herself in the aftermath of the alliance siege, but dressed in the black uniform of The Inquisition. Floating probe droids recorded her every movement, no doubt broadcasting her face across the holo-net through competing news outlets and intelligence networks, all while foreign mercenaries brought in by her connections to the Haxion Brood stood guard around the gathering to deter what remained of the fanatical Kainites from interrupting, one such individual meeting an immediate stun-blast and being hauled away from the back of the crowd.

For several hours, communications across the whole of Echnos had been silenced by jammers. No one was allowed in or out of the city, with the exception of some very displeased Kainites now being forcibly deported aboard various starcraft bound to the nearest Kainite world. Golden eyes drifted over each and every worried face as she stopped in front of the podium, wondering how many of them would be at risk for what she had done on this day. But she needed to be strong, not only for herself, but for them.

And so, with a deep breath, she activated the microphone.

"People of Echnos, it is with great... pride, that I stand before you on this day to announce a great turning point in this city's history. I am pleased to announce that from this day forward, Echnos City has entered the embrace of the Sith Order's Inquisition."

As if on cue, red banners unfurled across the walls behind her where once the black banners of the Kainate stood, having since been removed prior to the announcement. Worried whispers overtook the gathering around her, causing the governor's jaw to clench before she continued.

"Imperial tithes will continue to flow, as is owed by every world of this great empire. However these tithes shall be paid solely to The Emperor, and his holy Inquisition. Echnos shall become a forgeworld for this most necessary and dutiful organization, and benefit from it's protection in all things."

The Lord Inquisitor however, Darth Malum of House Marr , had secretly not been informed of this new arrangement.

And there would be hell to pay for forcing his hand. It showed in the Governor's face, that look of braced acceptance. Of resolve, knowing that she must bare the brunt for this. But she was ready. Kaila Irons would never again serve the Kainate, not even as Malum's spy. Not after discovering the memories Carnifex had erased from her mind.

If he wanted her. He would get her. Not just the mask she put on to please her master.
​

He would not send her away so easily, not when she had given herself to him so completely, all for the promise of her freedom from Darth Carnifex . It was time he upheld his end of the bargain, and if he would not be persuaded to act on his own than she would take matters into her own hands.

"Our Kainite brethren have been less than enthusiastic about this momentous occasion," she explained, trying to keep her hatred in check.

"For which we have been forced to relieve them of duty. I am certain they will continue their honorable service upon returning to the Kainate, to which we have sent them. Any unauthorized personnel who attempt to remain on this world however will be taken in for questioning by The Inquisition for disturbing The Emperor's peace. For the next 24 hours, This city will remain under martial law until we are certain of a safe transition of power and security of this Inquisitorial forgeworld."

"Do not worry, my people, for I believe our best days are ahead of us. Long live the empire."
​

Darth Anathemous turned away, cloak fluttering behind her like an outstretched wing slowly settling over her shoulders as she left the stage. Her lips twisted bitterly from the moment she was no longer in view, knowing that there would be no going back now. The impending argument with Darth Malum may affect their already complicated relationship, the life of her loyal apprentice, Tamsin Graves , would no doubt be endangered outside of this city, and she could only hope that Ala Quin , if she saw this holo-address, would be able to read between the lines of her ever so Imperial speech, and trust her to do the right thing. But this was her only path to freedom, and there was no use bemoaning the consequences of actions which she was forced to take. There could be no future in which she was tied to the Black Iron Tyrant and Butcher King.

This was necessary so that she may not only survive, but live.



Tags: Open

​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

A single star destroyer drifted through the endless dark, illuminated only by the refracted light of Echnos' star. It's bristling banks of turbolaser batteries only hinted at the destructive potential such a warship could incur, let alone what terror the sight of such a monstrous beast of blackened steel could elicit. As the light continued to dance along it's hull, it revealed a symbol etched into the warship's ventral hull that shone a dark blood-like crimson; the emblem of a rising tide within the Empire, one that would scourge away all impurity.

Upon the warship's bridge, the Dark Lord watched the world of Echnos through the reinforced glasteel viewport. This had long been coming, the Oracles had foretold Him of the treachery simmering beneath the surface. But that did not trouble Him, it was a part of the Sith He'd grown much accustomed to. It was that the Empress' own trust had been broken, and that caused one of His fists to slightly tremor in reflex. All around Him, the deck officers could feel the darkness swirling around Him.

Quietly, He pivoted to face the bridge commander standing nearby. They saluted, an automatic response.

"Prepare to launch the stormseeds."

Stormseeds were ancient technology, cultivated in secret by the technologists of Shadow Mind. He'd only ever deployed them in use against the Empire's adversaries, the Jedi and the Mandalorians, to trap them in engagements of His choosing before destroying them piecemeal. In a way, to go against the Empress was tantamount to declaring one's self an enemy of the Empire. The world of Echnos had promise as a potential manufacturing center, but it relied entirely on imports to fuel it's industry. The stormseeds would cut off all access to the world when activated, severing not only physical access but completely cutting off communications as well.

The Dark Lord looked back to Echnos.

Waiting.

Kaila Irons ​

 

[Reicher Vax]

Location: Garrison on Dorvalla
Equipment: Standard Issue Sith Trooper Armor, Vibroblade, Standard Issue Blaster Rifle, Datapad.
Tag: Open

​

---

The room was dim, lit only by the flickering blue glow of the hologram projector in the center of the underground bunker. Reicher Vax stood at the edge of the gathered soldiers, his arms crossed, his crimson visor casting back the light as Darth Anathemous's speech played out before them. Around him, members of the old Sith Legion—veterans and recruits like himself—watched in tense silence, their expressions ranging from curiosity to thinly veiled contempt. The speech had been leaked out to the local garrison by an ex-legionnaire at the request of one of Reicher's superior officers.

As the red banners unfurled in the transmission, Reicher felt a pang of bitterness. Another power grab, he thought, his jaw tightening beneath his helmet. The Sith Empire, once a monolithic force under the iron rule of an Emperor, had fractured into competing factions and feuding lords. The Inquisition, the Kainites, the new Stormtrooper Corps—it was all chaos masquerading as order.

He shifted his weight, his mind racing as Darth Anathemous's proclamation echoed in the small chamber.

"Imperial tithes will continue to flow... to The Emperor, and his Holy Inquisition."

Reicher's lip curled. Holy? There was no holiness in the Sith. There was power, ambition, and dominance—holy was for the fools who believed in the lies of stability under the Empire's banner. The Sith Legion had once been that stability. They were warriors, not political pawns shuffled around by Sith Lords playing their games.

The murmurs in the room broke through his thoughts.

"This is madness," one of his squadmates muttered, his voice low but sharp. "She's playing with fire. Malum won't stand for this."

Reicher remained silent, but he agreed. Darth Malum of House Marr would see this as nothing short of a betrayal. Anathemous had forced his hand, and her declaration of loyalty to the Inquisition was more likely to provoke retaliation than earn her favor. But Reicher couldn't help but admire the audacity. Anathemous had cast her lot fully, throwing herself into the storm with no way out but forward. That's not even adding the Kainites into the equation.

Bold, he thought. Foolish, but bold.

The room fell quiet again as the speech concluded with Anathemous's final words:

"Do not worry, my people, for I believe our best days are ahead of us. Long live the Empire."

Reicher clenched his fists, his gauntlets creaking softly. Which Empire? he wondered bitterly. The Empire of the Kainites? The Inquisition? The fractured remnants that still clung to the old ways like his unit? There was no singular Empire anymore, just factions clawing at each other for dominance.

His mind wandered to the Sith Legion. They had been the backbone of the Empire once, before the... no matter. Now they were scattered, their loyalty tested by every new edict and decree from Sith Lords vying for supremacy. Reicher and his squad still clung to the old ways, not out of blind loyalty, but because they believed in the idea of a unified force—a Sith Empire where the Legion's strength meant something.

One of the newer recruits, a younger soldier who still had the sheen of idealism, turned to Thevan. "What do we do, sergeant? Do we side with the Inquisition if they come for Dorvalla?"

Reicher stared at him, the question gnawing at his already-frayed patience. Thevan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned back to the hologram, now looping Anathemous's bold proclamation. The sound of her voice grated on Reicher—confident, defiant, yet burdened with the weight of what she'd done.

Thevan exhaled slowly. "We do nothing," he said finally, his voice low but firm. "We hold the line here. If they come, we defend ourselves, but we don't pick sides in this chaos."

"But—"

"We're soldiers," Thevan interrupted sharply, his tone cutting through the recruit's protest. "Not pawns. We serve the Empire—not the Inquisition, not the Kainites, and not whatever damned faction thinks they can stake a claim on us. The Sith Empire."

The recruit nodded reluctantly, stepping back into the shadows.

Reicher's mind churned. The speech could have been a message, not just to the people of Echnos but to the entire galaxy. Anathemous was playing a dangerous game, and her gamble could either shatter what was left of the Empire or force its factions to coalesce into something stronger.

But that's not likely, he thought grimly.

The Sith thrived on division, their power fueled by betrayal and ambition. Reicher didn't care for the politics of it—he cared about the men and women he fought with. If the Inquisition came, or the Kainites, or any other faction, they would find the Legion still standing, still ready to fight for an Empire that had long since left them behind.

"Long live the Empire." he muttered under his breath, the words laced with both sarcasm and a quiet, unyielding hope.

If it can survive itself.

 

[Tamsin Graves]

​

Theme: The Black Parade
Equipment: GL-13 blaster | Combat Knife | Multi-Tool | Inquisitorial Saber
Tags: Kaila Irons | OPEN

She had no idea what her master had planned for this gathering, but she stood silent in her Inquisition uniform just off to the side of the stage as Kaila began to speak. She hung on every word Kaila spoke from the podium. The declaration made was one grave consequence, it was Kaila deciding for once to stand directly against her master. It wasn't a declaration of war but it would be enough to bring strife and though this world of sith politics was fairly new to her she understood the implications of Kaila's words.

She knew it did not just affect Kiala it affected her as well and even the inquisition itself. Tamsin had to wonder who had been privy to this declaration, had Darth Malum of House Marr known about this. She wasn't sure because not even she knew exactly what Kaila's plan had been for this. She had only been told that things were about to change, it had been left vague. Tamsin had to wonder if it had been left vague as a way to protect her from the coming storm that was surely headed their way.

Removing the Kainites from Echnos was clear sign that Kaila was removing herself from her master's grasp. Tamsin had to wonder if that mysterious woman Ala Quin she had seen her master with had something to do with this. That woman Tamsin didn't know why but gave her demon a bad feeling, a sense of danger. Maybe this was why she had disrupted their safety by influencing Kaila.

It was even worse as Tamsin remembered how many times Kaila had talked of her master and his cruelty. He would be coming for her and Tamsin knew it, if her and Kaila lived through the day it would be a miracle. All that was sure to Tamsin is she would stand at her masters side no matter what, she had given her oath to this woman even if it meant going down in a blaze of glory.

As Kaila stepped from the spodium and the stage, Tamsin didn't know what to say. She could sense just a little bit the words Kaila had spoken weighing on the blonde woman. As she just watched her master for a few moments a cold chill ran up her spine a sense of something coming and the demon stirring. She felt it the demon in her was happy it thrived on the chaos and unknown future.

She finally stepped up to her masters side a stern look on her face her dark eyes peering up at Kaila's Golden eyes. She really didn't have words for the mixed trepidation and pride she felt as she looked at her master. She was happy for her friend master finally feeling strong enough to go against Darth Carnifex a man who had tortured her all her life. Yet with that came dark consequences for these actions, ones that might lead to Tamsin's own demise not just Kaila. Even if it didn't, she still didn't want to lose Kaila that would hurt her more than dying herself. "You freed me, I am at your side until you are truly free." She spoke to Kaila her voice slightly trembling, knowing what she was committing herself too. "I will die for you if I have to in this storm that is coming my sister." She managed to bring a slight smile to her face. She wanted to ask the obvious question if Malum knew about any of this but she somehow already knew the answer to that.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

There was an unnatural silence that filled the halls of the contrasting modernity and mediaevalism that was the Grand Palace of Alvaria. The holoprojector flickered in place as the last sounds of an all too familiar voice faded away into the background. The throneroom was abandoned and empty now, it had been for the last several minutes, functionary, servant, warrior, all of them had deserted into back halls, as their King, as their Emperor, sat upon his throne.

Alone.

Alone as the darkness of the Force made manifest popped and crackled around him, as it veritably leaked out of his form, as the anger was of such palpability that it was as if a living star now had inhabited the room of marbled pillars, stained glass, and glittering chandelier.

Wrath.

Let the heralds sing of rage.

For untold blood would be spelt over this choice. It might not be the opening salvo, it might not be the declaration of war, but perhaps when those that long survived them, those that would succeed them would look to all what would come next, they would look at this moment, this decision, as from all where it stemmed.

His fingers raked as if hot coals over the burgundy cushions which rested his form. It was a time that had to come, a tension that had filled the halls of the empire with unease, was finally being released, finally being released as the drums of war were beginning to sing. And his frustration was wholly, unique amongst the dramas that were no doubt playing out across every holoscreen across the empire.

That he had not chosen this.

The nails bit into the cushions, enough to draw blood, as he allowed himself a hiss, drawing himself forth from his prophecised seat, the silence did not much make him feel better, the lack of distractions, the lack of something within striking distance to blame, thoughts wild and uncontrollable coiling around his mind like a python constricting.

His amulet was warm to the touch, cousins running amok somewhere within his walls, yet the ashes contained within were silent. His mind full of voices, for one of the rare instances, he disliked that it was solely his voice, his Mistress, who had always so tortured him, always so mocked him, always so broke him with utter and full agony was...

...Silent.

He was alone here, alone as hand reached up for his head, gripping the golden circlet that gave him dominion here. The diadem which was both his pride, and his folly. It lay heavy in his hand, it lay heavy on his head. He was alone here.

Alone and powerless.

The droplets formed in his eyes, and before he could will them away, the tears trailed down his face as his nostrils felt wet. For all which he had, for all which he had accomplished, for all which he so desperately desired and wished to do.

Alone and powerless.

Always on the back foot, always struggling, always surviving by the skin of his teeth and with the utter will to survive. But when had it become a game of petty survival? When had he allowed himself to always be so utterly in the position of the surprised? When had he forgotten the most fundamental wish of them all?

To thrive.

It all came down to the questions that he had asked himself that clear day on Jutrand, surrounded by sands, assaulted by a force unknown, and the roar of cheering crowds. Red eyes flickered towards the holoprojector, a repeating visage of a woman that...

...When it was a question of what he was meant to do.

...A question of what he had to do.

...A question of what he wanted to do.

When placed so evenly, so cleanly, there was never much of a decision left for him, was there?

"Custos!" The voice boomed out from him across the hall, echoing along pillar and way, as the great oaken doors of the throneroom barrelled open, as the wreath in his hand fell to the throne's seat, and the mask which was the replica of his blood found itself upon his face, through the doors, marching in perfect unison, the assembled members of the Marr Household Guard.

"Your Imperial Majesty," The front of the column answered, grizzled and old, helmed and hidden, but held within his arms, the armaments which made none doubt his capability.

"Summon the High Inquisitors to Echnos!" His heart beat heavily in his chest, "Send fleet to reinforce our positions!" His feet felt as lead, heavy upon the ancient floors, "Prepare the Mors Vistra!"

He had not made this choice.

But he had made this one.

His gaze once more fell towards the holoprojector. As the palace walls echoed in shouts and cries of the affirmative, his sight was of the blonde hair that had brought them here and now.

I will see you soon.

As he faded from view.

Opening his eyes, to a familiar city.

Kaila Irons Reicher Vax Tamsin Graves Darth Carnifex
Invitations: Ansisa Lord Dvasius Khamesi Aivar Omon Kaa / Darth Diem Nouqai Veil Micah tol Powl Kivah Eira Dyn
Mentioned: Darth Strosius Darth Ophidia

 

[Kaila Irons]

There was an immediate shift as the crowd dispersed behind Darth Anathemous. To say that things were tense would be an understatement... Many of these people were survivors of The Empire's Phobis device which had been unleashed upon the city by their very own "protectors" during the siege many moons ago. They knew what sith were willing to do, to maintain control.

Anathemous was born of that siege. Shaped by the living nightmares which had killed many known to these people, and like them, she had come out someone else entirely. As their governor, she had an oddly uplifting track record. This very manor house had been left a ruin for months on end, forcing her to coordinate reconstruction from a hole in the wall all the while, all so that her people could use the funding to repair their own homes.

But she was still sith. And now she had brought the eyes of her master down upon them. Who is to say what she was willing to do, to remain in control? And even if she did not choose to sacrifice them, what would the Kainate do?

Kaila thought of this too, and more, as she vanished into the metallic halls beyond public view.

"You freed me, I am at your side until you are truly free."

"I will die for you if have to in this storm that is coming my sister."

Kaila released a pained sigh through grit teeth as Tamsin caught up to her, those words breaking the young Darth's composure as she turned to the wall, slamming her vambraces in front of her so that her forehead would not be split open when it too came crashing down.

"How can you call yourself free, when I am gambling with your life?" her voice was... pathetic, or so she thought. A whimper almost, sounding too much like that little girl she had once been.

"With all our lives?"

Her golden eyes seemed to dart and blink like the flashing lights of traffic even though all that stood in front of her was flat durasteel.

"I thought we'd have more time... I should have trained you more, taught you to be a weapon, taught you more like-"

Like her master would have? She turned to Tamsin, eyes reddened with welling tears and stressed veins as she looked over her apprentice. Would this young woman die today for her folly? Not only because she had dragged her into it, but because she was too afraid of hurting her, to turn Tamsin into a true sith?

Kaila grit her teeth, unable to look her in the eye as she turned away.

"This is who we are, Tamsin, Sacrificing entire cities on a selfish whim. Yet this is not even a fraction of the callousness other sith are capable of. Death will be a mercy if He comes here... And so you must either fight like hell, or flee."

"Please, my sweet sister... Choose life... do not die for me."


One of her commando droids entered the hallway soon after, bearing a set of simple circlets upon a cushion of black velvet as it approached the pair.

"...thank you, SB-10." she wiped the tears from her eyes before they could escape their fleshy prison, and then took the circlet in both gloved hands, raising it to her head.

The droid then turned to offer the mysterious artefact to Tamsin.

"These will allow us to communicate across vast distances, even through psychic barriers. Use it, if you are captured." she explained before turning to the droid.

"I assume you bring news then?"

"A large star destroyer has been detected on long range scan."

Kaila narrowed her eyes, before closing them entirely. Bolstered by a number of dark side spirits which she had since absorbed into herself, her senses began to expand outward far beyond the city. Maybe she couldn't feel the entire city like Empress Srina Talon , nor see the future as Darth Carnifex could. She wasn't half the sith that those great masters were...

But she could search for one.

A dark presence, so powerful that even those with the weakest connection trembled at his coming. One she knew all too well...

"...I think..."

It was feint like the first signs of frost in the night, a cold dread, a distant and dark fog. But it was here.

"He... is here..." she whispered, voice barely more than an alarmed hiss.

Golden eyes were aglow with the potent energies of the dark side as they were cast skyward, fueled by hate and fear in equal measure, jaw shaking as pristine teeth were ground between metal prosthetics.

"Move my interdictors into position. Now."

On her command, former-Kainite interdictors crewed by droids and local PDF moved to form a perimeter around the moon, forcing any arriving ships to exit hyperspace on her terms, at a safe distance from which they could not bombard the planet below.

A perimeter soon to be patrolled by a trio of Keres-class star destroyers and a handful of smaller frigates. She would not engage, but she'd be damned if she allowed herself to be engaged without knowing about it.

Finally she allowed her senses to return, only to pour all her thoughts into that Circlet, into telepathy, as she sent one final message to Ala Quin .

<<I'm sorry.>>

<<Please... know that love you.>>

<<But stay away.>>




Tamsin Graves Darth Carnifex Darth Malum of House Marr Reicher Vax Grrwunhoooll Agaburry Nyxira Valis Ala Quin
: OPEN :​

Spoiler: Tactical Summary

A defensive fleet has established a perimeter of interdiction fields and patrols to prevent hyperspace arrival within weapons range of the planet. They will request identification from any arriving ships and establish communication with Darth Anathemous as needed.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Kirie //: Darth Malum of House Marr (Mentioned) //: Kaila Irons (Mentioned) //:
//: In the Crowd, eating metaphorical popcorn//:
//: OPEN //:
//: Wearing //:

Quinn had impeccable timing.

"Martial Law?" She echoed the words that had come out of the woman's mouth. The blond pinched the bridge of her nose to keep her mind focused on their task. Echnos was not a place the Echani woman wanted to visit; she was demanded to come here. Her mission had nothing to do with this power grab Malum's lackeys were trying to do to prove their worth to him. Her journey was far more critical; it was for freedom. Looking at Kirie, she sighed. "I'm sorry about this. I wish Malum had told me this was going to happen. We wouldn't have traveled to Echnos." Quinn released her face as she sighed and looked to the sky. Since she had been left to fend for herself, the Echani woman felt the galaxy against her.

She cursed Vesta but, in the same breath, hoped she had found what she had been searching for.

The Sith had never been the same since. The Kainites had never been the same; no one knew or understood order anymore.

Still, this blow from the Inquisition and Tsis'Kaar meant that there was another planet over which the Kainites had lost control. That only spelled success for the two who were now stranded on Echnos. A gentle hand against Kirie's arm pulled the blonde closer to her. A whisper meant only for the brunette, "At least now, here you are safe." Quinn smiled gently, knowing that with the Kainite influence fading, Kirie could be more free and not have to continue to be a servant to the Princess.

"We can relax our cover," Quinn pulled away gently and gave the woman her space. "Still, keep your wits about you while the Kainites are shuffled away; some might try to do something desperate." Quinn looked back at the woman who had just finished speaking, saying, "I doubt Lord Carnifex will take this lying down. He was never one to let things just slide. We need to gather information on the Kainites faster - the more we know, the more I can figure out how to eliminate your branding."

Nodding, Quinn adjusted the collar of her clothing. The last thing she needed was Kirie to see the scarring of sanguine bite marks on her neck. Lucky for her, they were minimal and small, but heartbreak was still attached to them. It was better to hide her problems from others than to lose herself to them.

A sudden presence made itself known, and Quinn looked around like a startled animal. She hadn't felt him on the planet, meaning he could have been unaware of his pet's plans. Her lips curled into a mischievous grin. "I think things might be getting interesting. Unfortunately, we might have to keep up our facade. I hope that's alright with you - I'll make sure it's worth your time; you can pick where we get dinner tonight. Sound good? My treat."

 

[Kirie]

Location: Echnos
With: Quinn Varanin
Mentioned: Kaila Irons | Darth Carnifex

​

Kirie felt stupid in her outfit. Quinn had chosen it to complement her own, with rich fabric and shimmering gold trim. She had picked out a loose fit with long sleeves to cover the bandages around Kirie's arm, and a draping cape that would allow Kirie to blend behind Quinn, as if she were merely one of her Lady's lieutenants, or senior staff. Thoughtful as the design was, Kirie felt stiff and awkward. Kirie had never worn anything so delicate and expensive She was worried that she would trip on her cape and tear it.

More than that, Kirie suspected that all it would take was a lingering look to see that she wasn't who she seemed, that she was just a ragged girl playing dressup, hiding underneath the nose of the very people who had put her in chains. The thought made her nervous, to say the least.

But, Kirie had Quinn, so she could slip into her usual routine of shutting up and not talking to anyone if she could help it. She wasn't free, and there was no denying the danger here, but she at least had someone looking out for her.

"I'm sorry about this. I wish Malum had told me this was going to happen. We wouldn't have traveled to Echnos."

"Wait. Does this mean we can't leave?" Kirie asked.

She tensed slightly when Quinn pulled her in close, their silken clothes brushing against each other with a swish. She nodded slowly at Quinn's whispered words. The meaning was not immediately apparent to Kirie, but after a moment she understood. With the Governor's declaration, should it stick, Echnos could become a place where they could travel without worrying about Kirie hiding herself from Kainate officials who had become a danger ever since Quinn had failed to return Kirie to her masters. Nobody had grabbed her, yet, either thanks to the procautions Kirie took, or Quinn's protection.

Quinn released her, and Kirie stepped away, leaving a gap between them, but still hovering close beside the Sith.

"I'll be careful." Kirie agreed. "As much as I want to know how to get this off me-" Kirie gestured to the brand beneath her sleeve- "let's not get too close."

Quinn's theory that Carnifex himself might be approaching was disturbing to Kirie. She knew little of the man beyond what had been told to her in stories back on Weik, that he was a cruel and powerful man. After the crash, her captors had spoken of him like a God, an immortal being beyond humanity. She didn't know which was true, but either way she had no desire to run into him. Then, another thought occurred to her. Quinn had told her that Anathemous, the Governor, previously served Carnifex. If they approached in the right way, maybe she could give them what they were looking for.

"What about the Governor?" Kirie asked in a hushed tone. "Think she might be able to help us?"

"I think things might be getting interesting. Unfortunately, we might have to keep up our facade. I hope that's alright with you - I'll make sure it's worth your time; you can pick where we get dinner tonight. Sound good? My treat."

"Fine by me. But you're going to hate what I pick."

 

[Tamsin Graves]

​

Theme: The Black Parade
Equipment: GL-13 blaster | Combat Knife | Multi-Tool | Inquisitorial Saber
Tags: Kaila Irons | OPEN

"To fight the will, is an unending war. It is not an easy path, and it will take its toll on your mind and body but to be free you must fight it." She saw the tears in her masters' eyes, she hadn't really ever seen Kaila cry before, not like this before. She could feel the pain and torment in her, it broke Tamsin's heart to see her sister like this. She wanted to cry herself, but she held it back, she had to remain strong, she told herself.

"My fight is your fight, and your fight is my fight, that is the oath I gave to you. I made this choice freely to remain with you some time ago." Was she scared of the future yet untold, yes she was but she had already given her word to fight at her sisters side. "Sometimes the right choice is the hardest one to make." Though Tamsin was right that she had made her choice to fight and die by Kaila's side, the people of this world had not but was not one of the punishments for fighting the will suffering.

"I am stronger now then when we first met. Maybe not a weapon of mass destruction, but I'm not that slave girl either anymore. Your training has been the best I could ever hope for and if we survive the day that will continue." She wanted to give Kaila a hug and tell her they would make it through this but in truth she didn't know how Kaila would receive that at this moment and the words would be hollow because she didn't know if they would make it.

The words were then broken by the arrival of SB-10. She watched as the droid handed a crown to Kaila then offered a second one to her as Kaila explained how they worked to her. Tamsin took the crown from the droid and grasped it in her right fist. She looked at it for a moment before slowly placing it upon her head.

As the crown touched her head unknown to her a telepathic message was sent to Kaila. "I'm not at full strength, but I will protect you and the girl as best I can. All I ask in return is you go to Zonju V soon." The voice in Kaila's head was female soft almost sweet and meek sounding. It was the voice of the Demon inside Tamsin, the one that had shown Kaila the vision of the fall of Exegol and the fallen temple of Ragnos. "The girl is important to me, and you are important to her. So I will be your weapon." Where the last words the voice left lingering in Kaila's mind before it faded away.

It knew Kaila was distrusting of the spirit, but deal was made with a sense of honor behind it. So Kaila had an extra ally on her side if she need it. Tamsin was totally unaware of the message that had been sent to Kaila. Tamsin barely heard Kaila's words before she was ordering her warships into place. Tamsin tensed up a bit, she could feel the dark presence coming too. Yet she also felt others, not sure if they were friends or foe on there way.

 

[Reicher Vax]

Location: Garrison on Dorvalla
Equipment: Standard Issue Sith Trooper Armor, Vibroblade, Standard Issue Blaster Rifle, Datapad.
Tag: Darth Carnifex (Mentioned) Kaila Irons (Mentioned) Darth Malum of House Marr ​

​

The dim glow of the holoprojector in the makeshift command center cast flickering shadows across the faces of Reicher Vax and his squadmates. The image displayed a grainy, zoomed-in view of a massive star destroyer, its sleek, blackened hull a stark silhouette against the backdrop of the stars. The emblem etched into its ventral hull—a blood-red sigil of the Kainite faction—was unmistakable, even in the poor resolution of the intelligence feed.

Reicher leaned against a bulkhead, his arms crossed as he watched the looping footage. His helmet rested on a nearby crate, revealing his weary expression. His piercing gaze was fixed on the star destroyer as if by sheer force of will he could divine its purpose.

"What's it doing up there?" muttered one of his squadmates, breaking the tense silence.

"Posturing, most likely," Thevan replied, the tone dismissive but uneasy. "It's what the Kainites do best."

Reicher didn't respond immediately. His mind churned with possibilities, weighing the scant information they'd received. The presence of a lone Kainite warship above Echnos was troubling. It wasn't the kind of move made without purpose, without reason. But what that purpose could be was a question that came out of direct left field.

"It's not here just to hover around and look intimidating," Reicher said finally, his voice low but firm. "That's a star destroyer. You don't park something like that in orbit without a damn good reason."

The room fell quiet again, his words hanging in the stale air.

Reicher straightened, stepping closer to the holoprojector. The image of the warship rotated slowly, a malevolent giant silhouetted against the refracted light of Echnos' star. He pointed to the crimson emblem etched on its hull.

"That's not just a Kainite ship," he said. "That's a statement. They're showing the whole planet who they are, what they represent. They don't send something like this unless they mean to make an example of someone—or something."

One of the younger soldiers frowned, looking up from the rifle he was cleaning. "You think they're here for Darth Anathemous?"

Reicher glanced at him, then back to the holoprojector. "Probably," he admitted. "She's got guts, standing up to them the way she did. But guts don't mean much when you're up against firepower like that. The Kainites don't take kindly to being embarrassed, and Anathemous just made them look weak."

His voice grew quieter, more thoughtful. "Or maybe… they're not here for her at all."

The others exchanged uneasy glances. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it," Reicher said, turning to face them. "If they wanted to take her out, they wouldn't send one ship. They'd send a fleet, something overwhelming. But this? This is surgical. Precise. They're here for something specific—something they want to control, not destroy."

He paused, his gaze drifting back to the image of the star destroyer. "Maybe it's the forges. Echnos has the potential to churn out weapons, ships, supplies. If they can't control it, they might want to isolate it, cut it off. Force Anathemous to fall back in line, although its not the usual Sith tactic, I much prefer it when we bend our enemies to our will rather than destroying them utterly."

He thought back to what his father had taught him back on Polis Massa, about the tale of Revan of the Old Republic, when the Jedi seized him, instead of locking him up or handing him over to the Republic, they reprogramed him, brainwashed him. It went so far that when Revan had learned of it, he accepted it anyway. His father had taught him a valuable lesson that day, enemies are meant to be conquered, dominated to the degree that they shall stare at their shackles with pride and honor, begging to keep them on, as Revan did.

That is power. That is what the Sith should strive for.

The room was silent with Reicher taking a mental trip while the squad was processing his words.

"What about us?" one of them asked hesitantly. "Who do we back? The Kainites? The Inquisition? Or do we stay out of it?"

Thevan frowned, his jaw tightening. That was the question, wasn't it?

"We're not traitors," he said slowly. "We don't throw in with the Kainites, but we're not bending the knee to the Inquisition, either. We serve the Empire—what's left of it, anyway. The Legion was about strength, unity, purpose. Not this political infighting and power games."

He exhaled, his voice hardening. "But if the Kainites start moving against Anathemous, we need to be careful. If it turns into a fight, we'll have to decide where we stand—"

The sharp sound of boots striking the metal floor silenced the room. Reicher turned to see Major Gorran Trelix, the commanding officer of the local garrison, stride in with his characteristic confidence. The man was built like a tank, broad-shouldered and square-jawed, his uniform pristine despite the dust and tension of Dorvalla's underground operations. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his presence alone demanding attention.

"Gather round," Trelix barked, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "We've got new intel on the situation over Echnos."

The soldiers quickly straightened, forming a loose semicircle around the holotable. Trelix wasted no time, gesturing to the projector as it shifted to display a broader tactical readout. The star destroyer loomed large, its crimson insignia glowing ominously against the void of space. Smaller markers representing interdictors and planetary defense forces were now visible, forming a defensive perimeter around the moon. Small videos of local spy satellites and whatever else the Legion had at their disposal showed small looped videos of the fleet compositions and overall readiness of local PDF forces.

"The Kainites and Inquistion are moving pieces on the board," Trelix began, his tone blunt. "Governor Anathemous—Darth Anathemous—is trying to establish her city as an Inquisition stronghold, and the Kainites clearly don't like it. They've sent one of their big guns, but they haven't engaged yet. Looks like they're holding back, waiting for the right moment to strike—or for Anathemous to make a mistake."

Trelix's eyes narrowed, and his voice dropped slightly. "Here's where we come in. This could be an opportunity for us. If we play this right, we could leverage the situation to secure military-controlled manufacturing on Echnos. The Kainites might be willing to negotiate if we offer them our support—or at least the appearance of it."

The murmurs started again, soldiers exchanging uncertain glances. Trelix raised a hand to silence them.

"Now, I'm not saying we commit to anything outright," the Major continued. "But someone needs to make contact. Someone needs to talk to them, feel out what they want, and what they're willing to give in return. That's where you come in." He pointed at Reicher.

Reicher stiffened slightly. "Me, sir?"

A veteran legionnaire who spoke earlier nearby smirked. "You're a good fit, Vax. You've got the experience, and you know how to keep your head on straight. Besides," he added with a slight chuckle, "the Major doesn't want to stick his neck out."

Trelix shot the veteran a sharp look but didn't deny it. "I need someone who can represent the Legion with dignity and strength," he said firmly, looking back at Reicher. "Someone who understands the stakes and won't embarrass us. You have more intelligence and diplomatic savvy than most of these grunts combined. I trust you can handle yourself."

Reicher hesitated. His gut churned at the idea of dealing with the Kainites, but he knew better than to refuse a direct request from a superior officer. Still, he couldn't hide his skepticism. "And what exactly do you want me to say to them, sir?"

"Simple," Trelix replied, crossing his arms. "Let them know we're willing to cooperate—conditionally. In exchange for our support, they allow us to establish military-controlled manufacturing on the planet, using our designs and personnel. It would secure our future here and give us leverage in the Empire's broader political mess."

Reicher frowned. "And if they refuse?"

"Then we know where they stand," Trelix said with a shrug. "But I don't think they will. The Kainites are pragmatic, if nothing else. They need allies, and they need the resources Echnos can provide. We can make ourselves useful to them—more useful than Anathemous's droid garrisons and Inquisition banners."

Reicher glanced around the room, noting the mix of unease and grudging approval among his squadmates. He knew they were all thinking the same thing: if the Kainites gained control of Echnos, it could mean better conditions and resources for the Legion—but it could also mean aligning with a faction, something that could tip the balance in this war, as other outcast Legion forces may flock to join them, but that cannot be relied upon.

Fortune favors the bold.

He turned back to Trelix, his jaw tight. "Understood, sir. I'll make contact."

The rest of the soldiers fell out of the room back to their quarters, as Reicher moved towards the comms console in the room and made a hail to the ship.

"Kainite ship, this is a priority hail from the Sith Legion Garrison on Dorvalla, if you are receiving this hail respond immediately, say again..."

​

 

[QK-2510]

Location: Echnos City - Echnos
Dialogue Legend: <<Ghoul-Speak>> │ “Galactic Basic”
Objective: Project Power
Tag: Darth Carnifex Reicher Vax Darth Malum of House Marr Quinn Varanin Kirie Tamsin Graves

The roar of jetpack engines filled the dome as obsidian-armored Kainate jet troopers propelled on wings of fire and plasma flew in formation above the city. They were the elite Shyrack Company of the 401st Grand Army Regiment, who had played a minor, though not insignificant role in repelling the Alliance assault on Echnos City. In the months since the battle and during the ensuing cleanup operations, their patrols had become routine, flying in threes or twos overhead sometimes to the awe of the civilians below.

However, this patrol was different.

Squad after squad passed overhead in disciplined V formations, with individual jet troopers diving dangerously close to the gathered assembly before ascending, as if they intended to strafe it.

As if they were drilling for such a possibility.

At the behest of her commanding officer, QK-2510 broke off from her formation, her trajectory describing a wide circle over the assembly as if she were a bird of prey swooping around carrion. She knew that very likely, many eyes, photoreceptors and guns were trained on her, primed to strike her from the air as soon as Darth Anathemous gave the command to do so. And yet, the thrill of engaging in such an open provocation filled the jet trooper with surging confidence. She rocketed skyward until she was near the roof of the dome, before twirling in acrobatic fashion and diving down, converting potential energy to kinetic energy as she raced towards the assembly grounds at transonic velocity.

Only to pull up at the last possible moment, then zooming away with the roar of her jetpack’s engines howling in her wake.

For those on the ground, the effects were immediate, yet subtle. A few shattered windows, the sudden disturbance of the artificial wind, and small vibrations on the ground that might cause some to lose their footing.

A balance, nearly compromised.

 

[Nyxira Valis]

​

The skies above Echnos City darkened unnaturally, thick clouds rolling in from nowhere, their edges crackling with veins of crimson lightning. The storm's arrival was sudden, ominous, and wholly unnatural — an undeniable herald of something, or someone. Soon the first raindrops began to fall, heavy and cold, soaking the streets in an eerie silence. The air felt heavier, charged with the oppressive weight of the Dark Side.

From the swirling tempest, a sleek black shuttle broke through the clouds, its angular design like the blade of a dagger cutting through the storm. Its surface gleamed with the faint, red glow of the lightning, each crackle illuminating the sigil-less hull. The craft descended with an eerie grace, landing in one of the city's squares, where curious onlookers gathered despite the rain. A tense murmur swept through the crowd as they exchanged uneasy glances. This was no ordinary arrival.

The shuttle's ramp lowered with a hiss, and Darth Nythera emerged, her tall, commanding figure silhouetted against the storm's electric backdrop. Her black cloak billowed behind her like living shadow, its edges dampened but undiminished by the downpour. Faint red runes etched into her armor pulsed softly with energy, their glow in time with the storm above. Her piercing violet eyes swept over the square, her gaze as sharp and unyielding as the storm itself.

Each step she took reverberated with quiet authority, the crowd parting instinctively before her. Stopping in the center of the square, Nythera turned her gaze toward the towering administrative building where the new Inquisitorial governor had made her declaration. Lightning arced behind her as if in agreement with her unspoken intent. Without addressing the crowd, Nythera began her march toward the structure, the storm following in her wake.

This was her chance to gain allies for her own plans.

Kaila Irons | Open​

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Aboard the Eternal Rule, Kainate Shadow Fleet, Unknown Hidden System, Nearby...

​

Deep in the darkness of space beyond the reaches of Echnos, tucked away and shrouded from view or scan sat a fleet of black daggered ships. They drifted listlessly in space with only the slightest flare from burning engines to indicate any life at all. They moved with minimal power. All around them were various ships of many shapes and sizes moving like insects. There was no doubt the terrible destruction such a force could unleash on worlds, it was an invasion force, a destructive fist to crash down upon like the reapers scythe across the wheat of his victims. One of many attributed to the might of the Kainate that often darkened worlds, draining them of all resources and disappearing to leave empty husks behind. But this fleet sat silent surrounding the massive flagship at its center, waiting...​

​

It had been some time since one lone Eschaton-class Star Destroyer exited the system carrying the Eternal Father. But one phase of the unfolding plan. The Dark Lord sat atop his throne. All around him the air churned with turbulence. The darkness grew so thick it came alive in his presence; the very air began to spark with arcs of crimson lightning drowning the throne room in ozone. It sparked over the heads of the crimson armored guards that stood at the rooms edge. The lingering threat was a knife's edge that all who tread must balance on when they stood in the dark shroud the Mortarch cast. Atop the throne he cast a terrible visage of a bloodthirsty war god, a titan of living death shrouded in the innumerable souls reaped by his hand. Shrouded in black hued war plate crowned in spikes carrying the skulls of the fallen, each hand became claws of iron that tapped across each arm of the throne, each strike echoed disrupting the delicate silence around him. The very walls seemed to creak and strain with each passing moment, vibrations surging through the metallic floors. ​

​

Beside him floated harmoniously was the reapers own scythe - the massive runeblade Daesumnor. The dark steel of the runeblade glowed brightly casting a ghastly light on the walls behind it. The oracles had spoken to him of this day, of this moment and they preached caution in what was to unfold. The Dark Lord was never one to make moves carelessly and their wisdom guided the days plans of action. The Maenan part of his identity buried within his soul craved violence. It crawled across the surface of his skin setting it aflame, he could almost taste fresh blood on his tongue and feel the snapping of bones. Patience. The Dark Lord was no mindless butcher he was careful, iron willed he could wait as long as he needed to. Even if the call never came, it would come somewhere else in the future. There would be another victim and there were others that could be destroyed. The giant was bathed in the crimson light of holographic viewscreens projected from the throne itself. All around him streams of data flowed feeding him data of the system, the players at work. Others held information from the intelligence apparatus of the Kainate feeding relevant data of individuals involved. One particular screen flowed information directly from the star destroyer the Eternal Father took into the system. The Shadow Hand watched carefully, watched...​

​

Waited.​

Darth Carnifex ​

​

 

[Darth Imperius]

Eternal Rule | Bridge
Darth Prazutis

He felt no discomfort in silence. On the contrary. It was a preferred state of mind since his decision. The noise of voices speaking without saying something, the chatter of petty creatures too numb to understand the reality they lived in, the moans and screams of those who realised that it was too late. Annoying. Useless. The silence was so much better. And the tension? It was electrifying, inspiring, rather than disturbing.

Darth Imperius stood a few meters from the throne of the Shadow Hand, a bit further forward. A statue of black, gold and red, unmoved and could have been carved from marble as his red lenses observed the ships systems, sensor readings and comms traffic. He was not as connected as he would have been on his ship, but he did not need to be, he was not here to play captain. At his side hung Malcâthar, the black sword forged in blood, its lingering presence as cold as the vacuum, its radiance equaling a neutron star. The weapon an echo of the conflicting presence Imperius was. Every inch of his presence screamed the desire to fight, to kill and to dominate, but it was kept at bay by an iron will and discipline that were difficult to measure. There was much more behind the event horizon, much deeper and it was waiting for its time.

With a calm glance he saw the confirmation of the other Dyarch's weapons deployment. Stormseeds. The arsenal of the Kainate had little and few limits in capacity and imagination.

"What are the objectives of our operation?"

He spoke slowly, a measured pace which weighed every word, not out of hesitation, but deliberation. An imperious tone, deep and resonating.

 

[Kaila Irons]

Location: Echnos city, Governor's manor
Wearing:

• Personal Armor(equipping)
• Other, in bio

Tag: Tamsin Graves Reicher Vax Nyxira Valis Adeline Noctua OPEN
Nearby: QK-2510 (followed) Darth Malum of House Marr

"I am unsure I could ever truly repay the value of such loyalty, Tamsin" she gave her a sad smile.

But it was loyalty she did not deserve. Not when she had stolen the girl's choice from her in secret, even if that meant saving her from the jaws of an ill fate.

Kaila pushed away from the wall then, continuing deeper into the nearly repaired manor until another voice pricked her ears, or her perception of them anyway. It was a voice she'd hardly heard before, causing her gaze to dart over her cloaked shoulders, only to find no visible source before drifting downwards to Tamsin.

"I'm not at full strength, but I will protect you and the girl as best I can. All I ask in return is you go to Zonju V soon."

Her eyes drifted ahead again, narrowing in suspicion.

The spirit, she thought, it must be. Yet she could recall only once when it had spoken to either of them, the day of their blood oath. How long had it been, and why had it waited so long to communicate again?

<<Fine... but you owe us answers.>> her thoughts drifted upon the force, though whether they would reach the spirit, or Tamsin, who could say?

They continued onward even so, a sharp turn bringing them to a conference room which had long since been turned into a command center of sorts, separate maps of the city and system were being projected on either end of the table, showing rough approximations of her defensive fleet, and a red ping representing the last sighting of that enigmatic star destroyer, it's livery yet unidentified.

A few officers wearing local uniform offered brief salutes to their two masters, perhaps curt but appropriate to the urgency of the times and the ease with she normally treated her soldiers.

"Report."

"We have Kainite jettroopers in the square, strafing drills it seems." he said hesitantly, pulling up a blurred hologram of QK-2510 's maneuvers, if only a single frame.

"You assured me we'd exiled all of them." Kaila's molten glare shot up at the man.

"That is... true, my lady."

"How many...?"

"We're unsure-"

Her expression soured, gloved hands audibly straining leather as she gripped the table's edge.

"Find. Out." it was the first time any of them had heard the governor's voice raised in such a setting.




Local PDF wearing black armor of their own continued to watch the soaring troopers as they had from the moment of their arrival, however they were soon joined by red accented Commando Droids sent by her officers, attempting to observe and report new data on the flying host throughout the indoor city. A task made easier by the dome's construction, for it was as if the entire city was merely one building, comprised almost entirely of twisting hallways and apartments. Kaila had no doubt that even if skilled, the Jettroopers would not fare well in such claustrophobic terrain.



"Lady Anathemous," another officer spoke hurriedly, interrupting such thoughts.

"We've intercepted communications from Dorvalla, the garrison is attempting to hail a Kainite vessel."

"So it is Him." she concluded tiredly.

"I wonder what they want... Hail the garrison, inform whoever sent that signal that I wish to speak with them, and prepare us a line."

Anathemous leaned over the tactical display, both hands against the table as she stared Dorvalla down. With a quick swipe over the Hardlight display, a stream of information on the world came into view. Unaligned and currently in the hands of a sole military force, likely a temporary arrangement whilst the assembly waited to install someone of a more official capacity.

Perhaps then she could use her own presence in the assembly to sway them, if she lived long enough to gather the votes... It seemed unusual however that such a world had not been claimed by the Tsis'kaar already, given their sacrifices there. Sacrifices such as... Leven Jeyd . Gods how she missed her...




Outside the building, Nyxira Valis was soon approached by a trio of Commando Droids near the entrance, the third of which was already informing the command center of the unidentified force user's arrival.

"Identification please." the lead droid asked of the newly arriving sith, it's voice deep yet oddly cordial given the circumstances. Weapons however were leveled against her of course, a necessary precaution for the time being.




Back inside, Kaila was being hastily informed of the situation, however came to her own conclusions.

"An assassin, perhaps? Hm... hold fire unless engaged, find out what she wants and send her in if necessary. If they attack first then I will deal with them myself..."

"You," she turned to some of her droids "Fetch my armor."

"And you," then to a communication's officer.

"Send a message to Yalara, tell Darth Keres I am willing to make a pact if Carnifex engages. She could single handedly turn the tide... for a price."

She exhaled sharply, knowing that Adeline Noctua could slay the entire city soon as help her... But she always fulfilled her end of the bargain, of that at least she was certain. The price would be steep... but if anyone could challenge the Eternal Father, it was that fledgling goddess of the dead...

​

 

[Ala Quin]

KASHYYYK JEDI ENCLAVE​

She had snuck back into the Enclave on Kashyyyk. It was not like she really needed too. No one would have questioned where she had been, but Ala did not really feel like answering questions. Not to her brother, not to her students, not to anyone. That and she did not have time to talk with anyone. Something was wrong. In the depths of her soul, she knew that something was very wrong.

It was likely the first time Ala had watched any news at all in years. She lived with the understanding that anything truly important would come to her attention eventually. So, it took her a moment to figure out how to access the news broadcasts. When the holo came up, it shimmered with an uninteresting report on meiloorun prices on Coruscant after the Sith attack there. She flicked between broadcasts, several showing nothing that immediately arrested her attention.

She got so quick with flicking through the broadcasts that she was already two beyond Kaila's speech when the realisation hit her. "Kaila?" She said, her stomach sinking. Her hand clutched at the satchel she now always carried with her. Within was her connection to the Sith, she had secretly been seeing. No, that was not a large enough word...'seeing'. Ala was fairly convinced it was more than serious.

She watched every movement of the woman at the podium. She hung on every word. And with every moment the dread in Ala's heart grew greater.

Her free hand gripped the holoprojecter. Her mind raced for some course of action she could take.

"I am coming...stay alive...I am on my way," she said to Kaila's paused projection. It occurred to her only then that she could say it directly to Darth Anathemous herself.

Ala opened the satchel and nervously took out the Circlet. When it was around her forehead, she felt the message from Kaila echo in her thoughts.

<<I'm sorry.>>

<<Please... know that love you.>>

<<But stay away.>>​

She replayed the message. And again. And again.

Ala slumped to the floor, knees scratching against the leg of her holoprojector. It was happening again. The Force had brought a confusing, wonderful, complicated, exciting person into her life. And she was about to be ripped away? What should she say back?

<<Please don't die.>>

<<I need you.>>​

The tears flowed without permission. The mourning, though premature, had already begun.

Kaila Irons

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Kainate warship moved closer towards Echnos, large satellites launching from it's ventral bay alongside waves of fighter and gunboat escorts. These were the stormseeds, specially manufactured technology designed to seal off entire sections of space from travel and communication. For now, they were being tugged into position around the planet, inert but heavily armored and shielded. They operated more on the power of the Dark Side than they did conventional technology, although the Kainate often blurred the lines between the two.

"Eternal Father," voiced an officer from the data pit. "You're receiving a transmission from the Sith garrison on Dorvalla, they wish to speak." Every word uttered by the communications officer was garbled through the heavy cybernetics intricately woven throughout her face, rendering her virtually inhuman for it was difficult to see where the flesh ended and the machinery began. She was plugged into her station by thick braided cables and translucent fluid pipes that transferred a mix of coolant and blood throughout their various bio-mechanical organs.

"Allow the transmission to achieve connection. Reroute it to my shuttle's communication suite, I will hear what they have to say." Though the impertinence of seeking an audience, even over holo, with Him was quite the reach. Nonetheless, it would have been unwise to dismiss the transmission out of hand. "Maintain geosynchronous orbit above the capital. Initiate holding subroutines. Let our presence alone elicit a response." He turned away from the viewport with a flourish of His cloak. "I am making landfall, await further instruction."

The Dark Lord then swept out of the command bridge, making His way to His shuttle, the Crestfallen, docked in one of the lateral hangar bays. Standing guard at it's boarding ramp were two of His Crownguard, their ceremonial red robes having been discarded for more combat appropriate black attire. They inclined their heads at His approach, and then turned to follow Him inside. The Crestfallen rose up from the flight deck, and then spun out into Echnos' high orbit.

Within the shuttle, the Dark Lord accepted the garrison's transmission; appearing to them as an indistinct darkness over the holo. "Message received and accepted. Speak."

Speeding down on approach to Echnos City, the Crestfallen angled towards one of the mid-sized airlocks that served as one of the only ways to bypass the large protective dome. Rather than go through the proper channels required by port authority, the Crestfallen transmitted a series of encrypted data that slaved the airlock controls to the Crestfallen, allowing the ship to bypass the airlock without deferring to the port authorities. The shuttle streamed through the air, briefly flanked by the Kainate jet troopers flying above the city, before they broke off as the shuttle made it's final approach to the governor's mansion.

Kaila Irons | Darth Prazutis | QK-2510
Ala Quin | Darth Imperius | Nyxira Valis
Reicher Vax | Tamsin Graves | Kirie
Quinn Varanin ​

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Echnos City had been rebuilt since the most memorable of his recent visits... though, he supposed the most recent of his visits had been memorable too, but for very different reasons. He had the good grace to have his cheeks dusted with pink beneath the mask, as those memories returned to his mind.

She had done well here, for people that were not hers by right of blood, but were by right of rule.

How quickly it could all come down in flames, for all her good rule, one foolish decision might bring about the end of all her great works.

Might bring about the end of her.

His ears quirked to the skies, as the sound of engines burning filled his ears, it proved helpful for him, despite how dreaded the noise was, as the Kainite jet troopers flew overhead, drawing eyes away from the sudden appearance of the masked darkened figure. An attack was not beginning as of yet, but it seemed the Kainites within the city were already proving themselves as vacillating as Malum knew them to be. The dome held, but, it seemed these martyrs for the cause hardly much looked for their own survival this minute.

They were posturing—posturing for what purpose he could hardly say, even as Malum felt the headache overtake his mind, felt the blood draw out from his lips, the effects of bending time and space around himself to bring himself to the other side of the Empire making themselves evident, as black boots took unsettled steps forward towards an all-too-familiar manor.

Only to cease, turning his head as a dark shadow fell over the sky.

He had seen enough Kainite star destroyers for one lifetime, yet, it was not its appearance heralding as some giant target over the planet which drew his eyes, at least, not totally. It was a glistening light, one shot out from the hull of the behemoth overhead, which could if it desired begin a bombardment that might attempt to break through the planetary shield generators.

It was not turbolaser fire thankfully, and as it continued downward approach, keen ruby eyes made out the metallic form of a dropship.

As a veritable expression of dread formed in the pit of his gut.

In one sense, this was good, it might be solved without the casualties of entire fleets.

On the other hand, it might end with the singular casualty being the scion of House Marr.

His feet echoed along the walls, as he drew himself down city streets, bypassing panicked civilians as his heart beat rapidly against his chest, his Sith Sword was heavy upon his back, as he drew himself towards a confrontation he had many a time before, and just like each and every one of those encounters...

...He could not be certain of his survival.

There was at least one reason to feel comforted in this instance, as the rain began to fall against the dome, as the air crackled with the thunder of purple lightning, it seemed an acquaintance was here as well. As Malum went invisible from sight, drawing in close to the perimeter filled with guards, vaulting over whatever barriers remained to him, "Kaila, he is here, withdraw all from the landing bay, I will..." His breath hitched for the slightest moment, as his earcomm activated to hear his words, as he made out the silhouettes of Kainite jet troopers escorting the dropship, his eyes for but a moment behind the mask glowing a golden hue, "...I will handle him."

His feet ended their momentum, phasing through the wall, as he found himself at the dropsite, warily watching as destiny awaited, and he became visible to the naked eye.

Kaila Irons Darth Prazutis QK-2510 Ala Quin Darth Imperius Nyxira Valis Reicher Vax Tamsin Graves Kirie Quinn Varanin

 

[Darth Prazutis]

All at once he took in the streams of flowing data processing them at a speed that baffled the greatest analysts. It was always one of his gifts as a supreme intellectual, ever since he was young. It became one of his greatest assets in managing the vast empire of the Kainate. Through his mind dynasties were born, empires forged, and nations burned. Through it he could see the greater picture, see every angle and look far into the future. It allowed him to game out every players move, cause and effect, the countermove of each potential act. It was what set him apart from his fellow dyarch, he could see things that his nephew couldn't, read the situation in a way that he couldn't perceive. It forged them into an even greater team and a highly functioning machine that brought booming success to the Kainate. The only sound coming from the Dark Lord came from the mechanical whirs of the inner technology of his plate.

Each piece had been carefully moved to broadly cover every potential response. Every asset moved to the fleet was chosen for a specific purpose to move and counter move the potential responses. Far too often he saw the error of being caught off guard, the hubris of pride on other rulers that were soon torn down. Even in this plan he saw all of the potential risks and ensured he was prepared for everything from a small-scale firefight to a new civil war. Trust had been broken. But not just their trust but that of the Empress when both came together to provide Kaila Irons with Echnos. There was no going back from the decisions she made, and it was important they received a response. They would. But there were other elements in play that brought greater concerns. They wouldn't stop what was to come and all they did was ensure he was better prepared for varying levels of intrusion.

"What are the objectives of our operation?" The words cut through the silence of the room and right to the heart of the matter.

Darth Imperius. In another life he was known as Aurelian Sigismund, the Emperor of Zakuul. Once the greatest military mind to ever carry the banner of the Eternal Empire. In time his might overshadowed even the so-called Empress who claimed dominion over that failed state. The might of Zakuul grew so large it became the largest base of power, outshining even the capital world of the nation they swore allegiance to. There were many similarities between them, a lot of common ground between the former Sth Emperor and Dark Lord of the Kainate, and the Dragon of Zakuul. That was what brought him to call for a meeting with the man. It was evident to the Dark Lord that Aurelian chafed under the rule of the Empress. The man was a conqueror, a destroyer made to rule. There were clear conflicts of morality between them, conflicts that could never be resolved.

So, he used these hidden frustrations, pushing them to the breaking point when they met that fateful day. Through the manipulations of the Lord of Lies and carefully plied temptation, change occurred. It was clear the man shared a similar vision of the galactic stage. All it took were the right words and before him knelt Aurelian Sigismund, it was Darth Imperius who stood. Darth Imperius swore full allegiance to the Eternal Rule, to the beliefs shared by Sith who followed the Kainate. In truth it was a long shot to fully recruit the Dragon to his side. But now that he stood with them, he brought to their banner the might of Zakuul, a tremendous boon to the Kainate. The man was a tactical genius, an experienced statesman and a powerful force in his own right. Even now he could see the man standing before his throne reading the hovering viewscreens of flowing data. No accommodation in speed of the flowing data was afforded to him but he knew Lord Imperius would have no trouble in analyzing it. The Dark Lord could feel the looming promise of violence flow across his new lieutenant as he observed the events unfold.

"This child Kaila Irons. She broke our trust with her actions here and in doing so she also crossed the Empress. We are here to ensure such actions do not go without a response, along with...other motives. The Kainate maintains a strong alliance and relationship with the Empress. As for what you and I are doing here? We are the contingency. There are many players at work here. The Eternalists, the Tsis'Kaar, Independents. My nephew will be the scalpel of this operation. Should things unfold in one of the many ways beyond the scope of his efforts. We are the hammer. For now we wait." The Dark Lords molten gaze shifted to the nearby monitor showing the deployment of the Crestfallen to the world below.

So it begins.

Darth Imperius | Darth Carnifex | Darth Malum of House Marr | Kaila Irons | QK-2510 | Ala Quin | Nyxira Valis | Reicher Vax | Tamsin Graves | Kirie | Quinn Varanin








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[Darth Imperius]

Eternal Rule | Bridge
Darth Prazutis

Aurelian was not born a genius, or noble, or strong or had any other remarkable commodity in his life. He was not even born as Aurelian. It was average for a Zakuulan family to not be poor and decadent. The only escape from the cesspool of parties, extravaganza and secret gladiatorial bets, was to be born Force sensitive. And that he was. A cruelty to trillions, an unimaginable opportunity for thousands every day. Not only was he born with a connection to the Force, but in the presence of a God. Valkorion. Henceforth he became a genius, he became strong. It was a fire that burned away all complacency and doubt.

A fire that was still burning today. His body was bio-engineered to perfection from a technology that was lost with it's society. He was made perfect, because he earned it. He burnt worlds, hunted without remorse and obeyed without question. All for a whim of fate to undo it. He had his time in exile, hiding, then among Sith, then Jedi. He learned their dogmatic views, played by their rules. It was for nothing. The centuries passed and his ambitions grew. His resentment exponentially so. Now it was ready. He was ready. He had denied the origins of his God for too long, but he had been Sith. And Sith Aurelian had to be to return him or ascend himself.

The Kainate was an impressive instrument of the Dark side, forged by someone very similar to Imperius' idol. It was a weapon of subtlety as much as of brute force, a warhammer and a razor. He hadn't fought either Dyarch, only been in the same system a couple of times, Wild Space usually occupying him. But the realm of the Stygian Caldera, the rebuilt Sith worlds were testaments of a certain farsight. Nevertheless the 'new' Sith did not understand the reluctance to rule. He met the corpse, he was not convinced of it to be the ruler the Sith needed. Required. Desired.

"Our presence is entirely logical, the proximity to the system a mere jump and yet far enough to be beyond most sensors."

Darth Imperius analysed the information as quickly as they came. His military experience dating more wars than many Sith would ever fight battles, his aptitude to process tactical and operational data making him an ideal commander.

He felt some subtle pride, maybe even excitement. The Shadow Hand had a ever so brief and reluctant sense of accomplishment passing him for having Aurelian where he was now. He did not feel shame to move where he would be empowered, pride could be a strong factor for some people, especially Sith, but it was a hindrance.

"I consider it arrogant to move into the maw of the potential enemy alone with a single warship. The power of Darth Carnifex is not in question, but there are limits to boldness."

"Yet I will stand corrected considering that you actually know the potential adversaries in person and can evaluate their possible reactions to a higher degree of accuracy."