Private The Death of Hope | Solo Story, Sith Order

[Darth Callidus]

Location: Denab | Denab Liberation Front Flagship Beacon of Salvation

Chapter One - Salvation
Time: 07:52 Galactic Standard Time
Liberation Day: -18 Hours till Invasion

Inari walked through the halls of the Beacon of Salvation. A ridiculous name, she thought. The proud and mighty flagship of the Denab Liberation Army was anything but impressive. An outdated and run down Nebulon-B frigate retrofitted to serve as the command and control center for dozens of corvettes, freighters and other ramshackle ships purchased or stolen from across the region. With the combined firepower of an aggressive bantha in a wet bag, the DLA were hardly much of a threat to anyone.

But they had their uses.

Stepping onto the bridge of the Salvation, Inari nodded her head to the high ranking officers standing around the holographic table at the center of the room. Dozens of other officers, in the distinctive green and white uniforms of the DLA sat on ascending tiers of benches around the room, watching as the collective intelligence of the DLA walked them through the coming battle. For each of the men and women in the room, watching with rapt attention, the coming days would see the liberation, and complete enslavement of their world to outside powers and freedom from a tyrannical, collaborator governor. For Inari, it was an opportunity.

“The fleet will approach Denab on the night side of the planet,” General Braccus, Supreme Commander of the DLA was saying. The pudgy man pointed a finger up at the display, the extra padding on the man jostling beneath his uniform. “We will use the cover of our moon to mask our approach until we are directly on top of their outer defenses. When we strike, we need to hit their defenses hard and keep moving. We have the numbers, but if we get pinned down the Occupation Forces will overwhelm us.”

Inari took a seat on the front row of the room as Braccus continued to speak, his words followed by the holo map adjusting to follow the green triangles representing the DLA forces. It was a straight forward tactic, and one that Inari had recommended to the general herself. Everything he said was true, but the tactic would have other benefits as well. She took notice when Braccus began to point out the orbiting shipyards near the edge of Denab’s outer orbit, half a dozen platform of various size, some still under construction.

“Third squadron under Captain Malo will strike the shipyards after the initial attack and cripple their defenses, and deny their ships any options to withdraw and rearm,” Braccus said, nodding his head to the only alien in the room, a twi’lek male with yellow skin.

“General,” Inari said, sitting up straighter, “I recommend we bypass the shipyards for now.”

All eyes in the room turned to look at Inari, and a sneer spread across Malo’s face. “Having second thoughts, Commander?”

Inari ignored the malice in the man’s voice, her green eyes narrowed for only a moment before she rose to her feet, approaching the holotable and putting in a few commands. “The shipyards are still under construction and lack any significant long range defensive or offensive capabilities. From the reports I have been able to gather, there is only a skeleton force at the shipyards. We can leave a few ships to blockade them after we have secure the space around Denab, but anything else would be a waste. Besides, once we liberate our world, we will need those shipyards operational to ensure we can defeat any Sith counterattacks.”

Braccus folded his arms across his chest, looking up at the display. “What if the enemy fleet withdraws to the shipyards? They could hold up there and force us into a siege we cannot afford.”

Inari frowned, leaning away from the holotable. “That is why we have to hit their ships fast and with overwhelming force. If they can’t be destroyed in the first volleys we have to cripple them. If we can secure orbital supremacy it will limit their options, and making the ground invasion much easier.”

Malo slammed his fist into the holotable, making the image jitter and distort for a moment before solidifying again. “I still disagree with your plan, Commander Maze. The Occupation Forces ships are larger and more heavily armed than ours. Committing everything to the attack against them will be costly. We will lose men and ships that would be spared if we could drag them out in a series of hit and runs, such as staging an attack on the shipyards.”

“It will be costly for both sides,” Inari said, a grave tone in her voice, “but we don’t have any real choices here. If we give them any chances to regroup, we lose. If they get a chance to have a single ship escape to hyperspace, we lose. We are against the wall here. Any opening we leave for the Occupation Forces is a chance for them to bring Sith reinforcements in. We have to be on the ground and manning the orbital defense before Jutrand even knows what is happening here. That is our only chance. Our only chance to free Denab from their grasp. Everyone here and everyone in the DLA knows what they signed up for, they know the risks. There is no price for freedom we aren’t willing to pay.”

Several voices called out their support at Inari’s words. Braccus was nodding his head as well, while Malo fumed, razor sharp teeth grinding against one another. Malo did not like Inari, nor did he trust her. A supposed defector from the Governor’s honor guard, she had bought her way into the DLA command with information she could provide. Months of leaking confidential documents and troops movements, even assisting in an ambush on an Occupation starship before she had been forced to flee. Most of the others had been eager to welcome someone from the Governor’s inner circle into their ranks, especially when she brought them a new corvette to add to the fleet. Malo had never bought in to her story.

Her was smarter than most.

Braccus cleared his throat, stepping forward. “We do not have time for this debate anymore. The Sith forces in the region are out of position on patrols. Now is our chance. We will proceed with Commander Maze’s suggestion. Is everyone clear on their assignments?” The other DLA officers in the room nodded, the eager anticipation clear on their faces. “Very well then, return to your ships. We move out in twelve hours.”

 

[Darth Callidus]

Location: Denab | Denab Liberation Army Flagship Beacon of Salvation

Chapter Two - Contact
Time: 05:32 Galactic Standard Time
Liberation Day: -3 Hours Till Invasion

The bridge of the Beacon of Salvation brimmed with activity as the Denab Liberation Army fleet emerged from the dark side of their homeworlds moon. Forty ships, ranging from corvettes and smugglers freighters up to the flagship, the Nebulon-B frigate advanced in a loose combat line. Dozens of additional starfighters and bombers moved ahead of the fleet, engines flaring as their drives were brought to full readiness.

Inari stood with her arms folded behind her back, her blonde hair tied in a tight bun on her head, and blue eyes taking in every detail of the unfolding scene before her. At the center of the bridge, the holotable displayed the positioning of the rebel fleet, while the flashing icons holding position above Denab showed the Occupation Forces formation.

"There are only seven of them of them," Braccus said at Inari's side, a smile spreading on his pudgy face. "This is even better than we had expected. We will be able to tear through them and land on Denab ahead of schedule."

"Their ships are larger than ours," Inari said, "and they have longer range than most of our craft do. It will not be an easy approach."

"We have them, Commander Maze. They don't know we are coming, and by the time they bring their weapons to bear…"

Across the bridge, the sensor officer turned to look at Braccus. "General they have weapons targeting lock on us!"

Braccus was silent for a moment, staring in disbelief at the officer as warning sirens began to blare across the bridge. Moments later, green energy blasts began to slam into the rebel fleet as the loyalist forces long range turbolasers opened fire. The Salvation shook from the impact against the shields, the lights beginning to flicker and burst from the strain.

Inari watched the General for several seconds, her eyes cold and calculating as she watched the self proclaimed military leader fall apart under the strain of actual combat. Eyes were turning towards them both, and once Inari was sure Braccus would not act, she did.

"Ahead full," Inari barked, stepping forward and gripping the support bar surrounding the holotable. "Close the distance with the enemy fleet with all speed. All starfighter and bomber squadrons accelerate to attack speed. Bombers focus on the enemies' weapon systems. Send word to Captain Malo's fourth squadron to break off from the main push and try to flank to leftmost edge of the enemy formation."

The officers on the bridge began to act, carrying out the orders of someone else when they themselves had been unsure of what to do. They were freedom fighters, rebels and dissidents. Unlike the Rebel Alliance of old, these soldiers did not have the combat experience that would allow them to hold their own against professional forces. Many of them would die.

Inari did her best to contain her smile.

The rebel fleet advanced towards their tormentors, shields flaring under the repeated impact of heavy weapons. As she watched, a corvette to the right of the Salvation erupted in a ball of flame, its shields finally collapsing under the assault. Seventy-eight lives lost in the blink of an eye. Inari could feel their souls vanish into the Force, the brief flare of Dark Side energy washing over her senses. It rejuvenated her, infused her, a rush of adrenaline that only grew as more and more rebels ships were lost.

The rebel fleet had covered half the distance when the bombardment began to diminish. They were just barely able to see the outline of the loyalist fleet in orbit, explosions blossoming across them as the rebel strike craft moved through their formations.

"Commander," the sensor officer called out, "squadron leaders are reporting heavy resistance from enemy fighters and point defense. Most squadrons are reporting fifty percent losses."

Inari nodded gravely. "They are sacrificing their lives to give us our opening. We cannot waste it. Status of Captain Malo?"

"His formation has broken free of weapons fire and is approaching the enemy flank now. Two of the Occupation Forces cruisers are moving to counter them."

"Good," Inari said, drawing a look from Braccus. "We have broken the enemy formation and created an opening."

"You are using Malo as bait." Braccus said, color just now beginning to return to his face.

"A diversion, General," Inari said. "With the enemy formation broken, our smaller ships will be able to break through and flank both groups. We still have a chance."

The rebel fleet finally entered weapons range of their smaller ships, and red energy blasts leapt forward to answer the new wave of similar short and medium range fire from the loyalist fleet. More ships were lost, but as the rebels advanced one of the loyalist vessels was torn in half from concentrated fire from half the remaining rebel ships. The faster more maneuverable capital ships of the rebels dove into the gap the destroyed vessel created in the enemy lines, and the fleet battle became a close-range duel.

Time: 07:24 Galactic Standard Time
Liberation Day: -1 Hours Till Invasion

"Thirty-two ships lost," Braccus said, dabbing at a trickle of blood from his brow, earned when an exploding terminal had sent debris flying across the bridge. "We have secured orbit around Denab, but we do not have the resources to contest it if the Occupation Forces on patrol return."

The other commanding officers of the Denab Liberation Army, the ones that were left anyway, nodded their heads. Half their number were gone, including Captain Malo when his ship crashed into an enemy warship, both ships lost in an inferno of shrapnel and debris.

"We need to withdraw," one of the officers said, her eyes dead and unfocused, "there isn't anything left."

"We can't withdraw," Inari said, waving off the medical droid as it finished sealing the gash along her side from the same debris that had wounded Braccus. "We will never get a chance like this again. Our space assets have been severely depleted, but our ground forces are still combat effective. From everything we know from reports, the Occupation Forces on the ground are critically undermanned. Most of their troops are either with the ships on patrol or concentrated in the polar fortresses. If we strike now, we can take the capital."

The room was silent, none of the other officers made eye contact with Inari as she looked around. They were at the breaking point. They had not expected these kinds of losses in the first phase of their liberation plans, and their resolve was in tatters. She could not let them back out now.

"General," Inari said, her voice infused with Force compulsion, "we must make landfall and end this. For everyone that we have lost, we owe them that much. We owe it to them to free Denab once and for all. I will lead them to the surface myself."

Braccus looked stunned for a moment but began to nod his head. "Yes…yes you are right Commander. We will never get a chance like this again. If we don't strike now, Denab will never be free. Commander Maze, send word to our ground forces and take command. Begin the Liberation."

Inari nodded her head, saluting the General before stepping away. The moment she was out of the bridge, a smile came to her face, and did not leave until she was stepping on to the waiting landing craft.

 

[Darth Callidus]

Location: Denab

Chapter Three - Invasion
Time: 09:02 Galactic Standard TIme
Liberation Day: 0.1 Hours Since Invasion

The Red Sparrow shook as it plummeted through the atmosphere of Denab. It was a modified smugglers freighter, its spacious cargo bay stripped to provide more room for the members of the Sparrows inside. The freighter was one of many descending towards the planet below, with several dozen ships, having waited outside the combat zone, already touching down.

All the reports Inari had provided to the DLA said that the Occupation Forces ground troops had been stripped from their positions to man the fleet sent away from the planet. The landings were expected to be unchallenged, and the liberation of the world swift.

That hoped died when the first troop transports touched down, and the emerging rebel soldiers were cut down by the waiting loyalist forces.

Inari stood in the cockpit of the Red Sparrow, a headset held up to one ear as she listened to the frantic reports of the troops on the ground. Beside her, Lieutenant Vannoy, leader of the Sparrows, listened to the reports of units being decimated, cut off, and annihilated. Her face was pale, all color draining from it as wit each passing second, dozens of her fellow Denab Liberation Army comrades were killed.

Inari was taking it much better, though she hid it better.

"They are supposed to be gone…" Vannoy said, turning to look at Inari. "You said that they were all gone!"

Inari frowned at Vannoy, though kept her voice level. "I said they should be gone. All the reports I was able to secure have thus far been mostly accurate, but my information is outdated. This redeployment could have happened after I made contact with my informants inside the palace."

"We can't keep this up," Vannoy said, "first in orbit, and now this? Even if we free Denab, the DLA won't have the manpower left to defend it when the Occupation Forces return."

"We still have a chance to turn this around," Inari said, turning to face the pilot. "Divert us from the landing zone and take us to the Governor's Palace. Get as many other ships as possible to support us as you can."

The pilot nodded, and the ship began to bank as Vannoy pitched to the side. "The Palace? We were supposed to surround it and force the Governor to surrender. Its defenses are too heavy even if it’s mostly empty."

"We don't have a choice," Inari said, "we either storm the palace and force the Governor to surrender, or we lose everything in the final stretch. There is no time for debate, Lieutenant. Get down to the hold and ready your men. It will not be an easy landing."

Nine rebel troop transports were able to break away from their initial descent vectors to join the Red Sparrow as it approached the Governor's Palace. They came in low across the the capital city of Denab, arcing over blacked out spires and neighborhoods barren of all activity as the battle for Denab continued.

The rebels came in sight of the Governors Palace, and moments after they cleared the final buildings leading to the massive structure, the ground defenses opened fire. Two of the troop transports were torn from the sky in the opening moments, their flaming hulks slamming into the exposed ground of the palace grounds. Another was clipped by a stray laser burst, and it began to descend rapidly in a barely controlled landing.

Inside the Red Sparrow, Inari tapped a few commands on her wrist communicator, ostensibly to receive updates of the landing, but in truth sending a IFF signal to the ground defenses to ensure the transport would not be joining those already lost.

The remaining ships descended rapidly once they entered the main courtyard of the palace, slamming into the ground an cracking the marble walkways underneath. Ramps slammed down, doors were thrown open, and the rebel soldiers leapt out of their still fuming transports as loyalist troops spread around the palace opened fire. Dozens of rebels were killed exiting their ships, a desperate charge led by the Sparrows, one of the most 'elite' units within the DLA, broke through the killing field perimeter with Inari and Vannoy at its head.

Charging up the steps of the palace, Inari fired short, controlled bursts from her blaster pistol. Each burst felled one of the loyalist troopers in front of her, their bodies paving the way for their advance towards the massive, richly decorated entry gates of the main palace building. One of the Sparrows, equipped with a rocket launcher, fell to their knee and fired at the gate of the palace, blowing them apart and sending half a dozen loyalist troopers flying from the explosion.

Inari gestured forward with her blaster, shouting to be heard over the din of battle. "Forward! Forward for Denab, forward for Freedom!"

"For Freedom!" The answering roar came from the rebels around Inari, and the remaining troops rushed the opening in the palace gates. They took further losses, and by the time the remaining rebels were able to slip through the gates and enter the main entry hall of the palace, barely a quarter of their number were still standing.

"Spread out," Inari ordered, pointing towards the different corridors branching off from the main hall. "Eliminate any Occupation Force personnel you find and secure any entrances. Vannoy, take charge here and prevent any enemy troops from following us."

"Sir," Vannoy said, stepping forward, "with all due respect, I will stick with you. You are the highest-ranking officer left on the planet, and once we deal with the Governor, we need you to be alive to coordinate whatever's left of us on the ground."

Inari stared at Vannoy for a moment, debating if she wanted to argue with the officer, but decided it did not matter in the end. "Very well, Lieutenant. Gather a squad and let's move out."

In short order the detachment was rushing through the palace, Inari at the lead with seven rebel soldiers. They moved through richly decorated waiting rooms, extravagant ballrooms and corridors depicting more wealth than any of the rebels had ever seen. They encountered a few loyalist troops, but they were quickly eliminated.

Finally, they came to the entrance of a room at the end of a long hallway. Inari gestured for the rebels to take up positions on either side before leaning against the wall herself. "The entrance to the Governor's emergency bunker is on the other side of this door. There are usually ten palace guards stationed inside at any time, but there could be more. I will open the door. Vannoy, toss stun grenades and breach the room."

Inari paused for a moment, looking at all the rebel soldiers around her. "This is it people. Once we get passed this, the Governor will be in our hands. We do this quick, and we do it right, and we end the fighting and save the rest of the DLA. Ready?"

They all nodded, and Inari turned to a section of the wall. A few quick taps, and a hidden panel revealed itself. Inari keyed in the access command for the door, and with a final nod to Vannoy, Inari activated the release command.

The rebel soldiers tossed half a dozen stun grenades through the door the moment it opened, roaring a battle cry as they plunged into the room. Inari did not follow them. Blaster fire echoed from inside the room, men screamed, and the familiar rush of Dark Side energy that come from the violent death of a sentient being washed over Inari.

It took only a few moments for the sounds of combat to cease. Vannoy's voice called out from inside the room, weak and garbled. "Commander…it’s all clear."

Stepping around the corner, Inari took in the carnage of the brief battle. Fifteen loyalist troopers lay in crumpled heaps around the room, overturned furniture used for cover pockmarked with blaster burns. Of the rebel troopers, only one was still standing. The rest were spread out around the room, their defiant and heroic charge ending their lives.

Vannoy lay beside one of the chairs in the room, her back leaned against it while the last rebel trooper tended to a blaster wound in the Lieutenant's chest. Inari walked over to the wounded rebel officer, crouching down next to her and inspecting the wound. It was serious but it was not fatal. If given the chance Vannoy might pull through and live to see the glory of her accomplishments.

If only it could be different.

"We did it Commander," Vannoy said, spiting a wad of blood from her mouth as she smiled up at Inari. "We bloody did it Commander. The Governor is as good as trapped." Vannoy turned to look at the rebel trooper. "Send word to Sergeant Tak, get another squad up here."

Inari shook her head. "Belay that order trooper. There will be no need for that." As both rebels turned confused gazes to Inari, she lifted her blaster, and shot the rebel trooper between the eyes. The body hurled backwards from the close range impact of the heavy pistol, and Inari turned to look down at the horrified Vannoy.

"You have done your duty well. Denab's future is secure," Inari said, stepping over Vannoy and approaching a section of blank steel wall. Tapping her wrist communicator, the wall slid open to reveal a waiting turbolift. Inari stepped inside, turning back to look at Vannoy as the Lieutenant tried to sit up, reaching for their discarded blaster.

"Malo was right about you," Vannoy said, the venom in her voice bringing a smile to Inari's face.

"In a way," Inari said, "but not even he could have guessed the whole truth. Oh don’t look so upset Lieutenant, I did tell you to stay in the main hall.”

Smiling, Inari hit the command terminal to close the turbolift door. With her other hand, Inari gestured, and exerting her will through the Force, activated the thermal detonator hanging from Vannoy’s belt, as well as the belts of every rebel and loyalist soldier in the room. Vannoy scrambled to unhook the device from her belt as the turbolift door slid shut and Inari began her descent. Seconds later, the turbolift shook from the detonations, and Inari rejoiced in the feeling once more of death.

Reaching up to the collar of her uniform, she pulled the DLA rank insignia off and tossed them on the floor. They were no longer of any use to her.

 

[Darth Callidus]

Location: Denab | Governor Security Bunker

Chapter Four - Liberation
Time: 13:07 Galactic Standard Time
Liberation Day: 4.5 Hours Since Invasion

The turbolift door slid open, dumping Inari in a brightly lit, rounded corridor. Two loyalist Occupation Force troopers stood at the far end of the corridor, and once they saw Inari approaching in a Denab Liberation Army uniform, they lifted their blasters.

She held up her hands, a small smile playing on her face. "No need for that boys. Contact Colonel Crenlan, let him know Fulcrum is here to see him."

The troopers hesitated, but one of them spoke briefly into his communicator. An awkward silence fell on them for a few seconds, but finally a response came, and the troopers hesitantly lowered their blasters. They stepped to the side, opening the door and allowing Inari to pass them, and enter the bunker.

The main chamber of the bunker was massive; twenty meters high and twice that across, it was filled to the brim with terminals, monitors and holotables manned by officers and droids within the Occupation Forces. A few of them cast looks towards Inari, but the quickly turned back to their tasks. The last of the rebel forces on the ground were being hunted down by loyalist forces, but they were putting up a fierce battle. It was a tougher battle than the Occupation Forces had been expecting.

But it was all going according to Inari and her masters plan.

A door at the far side of the command room opened and a grizzled, gray haired man in the black and white uniform of the Governor's Honor Guard stepped out. He stood nearly a foot taller than Inari and glared down at her as she came to a halt, snapping a crisp salute to him.

"Colonel Crenlan," Inari said, "reporting for duty."

"At ease Captain," Crenlan said, giving Inari a brief salute in turn before turning, and leading her back into the corridor he had just emerged from. They walked in silence for several moments before they heard the door slide shut.

"You did well my apprentice," Inari's master said, his voice dripping with pride and eager anticipation, "soon the rebellion will be crushed, and those forces loyal to the Governor will be too weak to stop us when the rest of the Sith fleet returns to Denab. This world will finally be ours."

"It was a brilliant plan, master," Inari said, folding her arms behind her back. "Pitting the rebels against the forces loyal to the Governor over the Sith. Destroy both threats to the Order on this world and reap the rewards."

"There is one last obstacle to be eliminated, and it is the one I have been looking forward to the most," Crenland said, reaching the end of the corridor and hitting the command console to open the door. It slid open, with two Honor Guard soldiers standing just inside the threshold. Crenlan stepped through the opening, Inari following quickly after him as the door slid shut.

The throne room of Governor Volan was almost as large as the command and control center. Yellow banners bearing the personal sigil of House Volan, a crescent moon on a green field hung along the walls of the room, another Honor Guard soldier standing under each one. Three large digital screens hung from the ceiling of the throne room, each one displaying a different aspect of the ongoing invasion from dozens of different camera feeds.

Governor Volans sat reclined in his throne, his excessive bulk, not too dissimilar from General Braccus, quivered as she shifted around in the seat. The Governor watched with rapt interest as the last of the Denab Liberation Army forces were crushed on the surface of Denab, his pudgy fist slamming into the arm of his throne over and over again.

The Governor turned to look at Crenlan and Inari as they approached, pointing a finger up at the screens. "We've done it, Colonel. We've done it! Today Denab will finally know peace with the destruction of those Sithspawn rebels!"

Crenlan bowed his head to Volan, the smile never leaving the Sith's face. "Indeed we have Governor. Today, Denab will finally fulfill its destiny under its rightful ruler." The smile never leaving his face, Crenland reached into his uniform, and withdrew the black hilt of his lightsaber. The crimson blade snapped to life with a hiss, and the Governor's eyes tore themselves from the screens to look at Crenlan.

"Colonel," Volan said hesitantly, "you never told me you were a Sith…"

"You did not need to know, Governor," Crenlan said as he marched towards the throne, idly spinning the blade in his hand.

Volan began to claw nervously at the arms of the throne, scooting backwards to try and get away. He shot his eyes to either side, looking at the Honor Guard in the room. "What are you doing? Stop him! Shoot him!"

Crenlan paused in his advance up the stairs, turning to look at the Honor Guard in the room. "Well gentlemen? Would you like to try and stop me?" Crenlan let the words hang in the air, looking around the room. When no one said anything, Crenlan flicked his hand, and as one the Honor Guard turned to leave the room.

The Sith waited for them to depart before turning back to face Volan. "You were a useful tool, Volan. I needed time to consolidate my power base here on this world. A cover to shield my actions from the eyes of my enemies. Now though, with this world ripe to step into the fore, I will be able to take my rightful place as a Lord of the Sith. My shackles are broken, and I am free."

Volan's mouth opened and closed several times, unable to form any word as Crenlan came to a stop before the throne. The Sith lifted the lightsaber up, holding the blade next to the Governor's chest, the energy blade cutting its way through the upper layers of clothing. A manic smile spread across Crenlan's face as he prepared to plunge the blade forward.

"Goodbye, Gover…"

Crenlan never got a chance to finish his goodbye. There was another snap hiss of energy behind Crenlan, and suddenly his hand and lightsaber were no longer there. A blur of red light, a breath of cold air, and they were gone. Crenland died in the next moment, his head flying from his body and hurtling across the throne room. His body remained standing for a moment more, before it fell down in a heap, sliding down the steps of the throne room to lay in a heap at the bottom.

Inari stood in the opening her master's body had left, her lightsaber held at the ready as she felt her master's spirit consumed by the Force. After a moment, she lowered her blade, though she did not deactivate it.

Volan swallowed heavily, sitting up slightly in his throne. "Well…well done, Captain. I am pleased to see your loyalty…"

Inari's blade plunged into the Governor's chest a moment later, the wind fleeing from his lungs in a rush as Inari ripped the blade upwards, cutting the overweight Governor nearly in two pieces. She stepped back from the corpses in front of her, a smirk on her face as she lifted her hand. She grasped the Governor's corpse with the Force, pulling it from the throne and sending it sliding down the steps to lay next to the body of her former master.

Inari stared at the throne for a few moments, her mind working through the events of the last few moments. She had done it. She had done it! She had been hesitant to believe she could enact her own plan, hidden among her masters' plans. She had seen Crenlan as weak for a long time now, but his plan to take control of Denab was too good to pass up. Now, her master was dead, the Governor was gone, the rebels were on the verge of destruction. Control of Denab was hers if she was willing to claim it.

The door to the throne room slid open and one of the Honor Guard stepped inside. He took a moment to look at the bodies at the foot of the throne, then glanced up at Inari. "Captain, the Sith Fleet has reentered the system and are approaching Denab. The remnants of the Denab Liberation Army fleet are requesting to offer terms for surrender. What are your orders?"

Inari glanced at the soldier, closing her eyes for a moment before turning. She ascended the last two steps to the throne before seating herself in the cushioned chair. She looked the trooper in the eye before lifting her chin to look at the screens. She ordered a channel to be opened to the approaching Sith fleet, and took pleasure in every word that she said.

"This is Darth Callidus, by my order, leave no survivors."