The Evil Beneath The Sands Has Risen (TAE & Allies)

[Mythos]

Nibelungen

Former Halls of Government

Capital City of Angramar

The City had fallen, the world had been taken by the combined might of the Ancient Eye and the Shrouded Republic. Mythos had finished the seige with minimal damage to the shields and the city infrastructure itself. Power had been consolidated, supplies and depots had been constructed and now the task was to set in stone what was to be the birth of an empire that crossed the stars in the sky.

It was Victory. The Shrouded Republic had their banners and words spring up around Nibelungen in honor to their success and show of strength. Above the sky of the capital [member="Kainan Wolfe"] allowed the people to behold the star that was his Star Destroyer. That was our flagship, our symbol of crusade

Throne Room.

Blood trickled down his face and weapons, Mythos sat in the chair that was crafted by [member="Osiris"] and moved from Ankhypt all the way here into wild space. The only chair in all existence crafted by Anubians for someone not their size. Delegations had been sent, [member="Lady Kay"] herself received a message sending for a diplomat or least a holocall from Mythos himself. All around him scurried couriers and governmental aids from the Ankhypt side of the faction, already the tapestries and texts of Ankhypt ancient power began to adorn the hall all the while Mythos sat comfortably petting his hound Groom that sat always beside his throne.

It had been a while since he had a throne at all.

The Ancient Eye had emerged like a sword in the darkness, Cathedral ships orbited around the city ominously each one a different culture bomb in itself. Even now the priesthood of Ankhypt began to take residence in the high towers, even now as Mythos just arrived in his throne room the high priesthood of ankhypt approached him with the ritual of Paraohs.

"The High Priest has been in Meditation throghout the night. He savours your victory and Conquest! he does not beleive now is the time for celebration. The first piece of that which you most seek is here in this planet. Your hand as lord is required to pull it from darkness into your presence."

The Braze of fire and fumes filled the room. A musky smell of burning fruits, flesh and bone was brought in carried by four massive Anubian warriors. This was the divination of priests, one usually carried out by the Anubian High priest however he was deep in trance and meditation so his delegation had come in his stead. The trance that followed was believed to bring them clarity and visions of the future, Mythos was about to find out himself if this was true.

​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay had gotten the message from [member="Mythos"] . It was a visit that he had wanted from her, to see his latest victory of sorts. He had a habit of doing so, yet she needed to oblige. Not just for the sake of their friendship, but to be sure that everything was going okay for the people there. She had done the same on Atrisia and that worked out well. Until the GA invaded it, that is.

She sent word on ahead that she was coming. The twins stayed behind with Veiere on Commenor, hidden away in their secret Estate. At this stage they were eating soft foods now, so that made her time away a little easier to handle. While Veiere may be retired from public life, she was not. There was no regent to rule in their stead. Brad wasn't mature enough to do so. It was all up to Kay to take up the responsibilities. Veiere knew that she wouldn't be able to let go. And he was right.

Right on schedule, Kay's ship The Free Lady exited hyperspace in orbit. The Star Destroyer of [member="Kainan Wolfe"] was clearly visible. She clenched her jaw as she saw it, recalling the time that she was held hostage on board. Hopefully her time in Mythos' company would be better spent.

Her pilot signalled the security forces around the planet. ~This is the Free Lady carrying Lady Kay Arenais of Commenor Systems Alliance on board. Requesting co-ordinates to the landing pad. Lord Mythos is expecting her arrival. Thank you.~

Kay just kept her eyes on the Star Destroyer and any other ships in the area. She sat in the co-pilot's chair dressed in a gown fitting enough for a stately visit. She wasn't certain if they were early or not. But either way, she was here. What would happen on this venture remained a mystery.

 

[Darth Abyss]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN1eIBUY8Uc

Soro-Frigus/Hollow - The City of the Fading Flame, Ruins of the Jedi Temple

The husk, known to some as the Prophet, to other as the Mindeater and to a selected few as Darth Abyss, rested on his new throne. It once had been the chair of the Jedi Grandmaster that had been responsible for the administration of the order's chapter that had taken residence on the frozen world. Now it was little more then a broken relic of a past that the planet would soon forget.

The path that lead through the ruined temple, shattered by the mighty winds of the storm that broke the city, was paved by the corpses of those that had continued to defy the rule of Hollow's rightful Prophet. Their blood had frozen alike their world and their city, and their flesh was forever conserved by the cold that lingered upon the fading stones. There was no one inside the temple but the empty husk, and by his decree no living thing was to ever set foot into his new sanctum. It was a place only for the dead, those beyond it, and those that direly desired it.

Without the slightest hint of movement the strange arcane entity remained on his chair, a metal effigy in everything but in spirit. The city had bowed to him, but it was not truly his yet, not before his dark tendrils reached deep into every crack and every corner of his new world. In silent meditation Abyss allowed his mind to stretch across the ruins, past the dead jedi, past the shattered doors of the temple and right into the heart of the city.

The storm had left most of the city in various states of decay and destruction, including the power plant right in the center. It didn't just provided the people with energy, but with the heat to survive the crippling cold. Like little insects the remaining inhabitants crawled around, trying desperately to find a new flame, but Abyss knew that there was something even greater hidden within the fallen walls.

[member="Mythos"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

[-SOUNDTRACK-]​

Attn: [member="Ra'a'mah"] | [member="Kyle Raymus"] | [member="Kiso"] | [member="Sena"] | [member="Roella Arwyn"] | [member="Shaun Irons"] | [member="Lady Kay"]​

• Westender City
  Provisional Government Headquarters, Winter

The small, harsh moon which the Shrouded Republic had chosen as its capital after the occupation, had already changed much in the short time since the victory at Nibelungen. New cities were being built on top of the old ones, huge towers rising up towards the sky, while up in orbit the beginnings of a shipyard could be seen and further up, Wolfe's massive armada glided in precise fashion along its designated patrol routes between Nibelungen and its five moons, or engaging in the frequent naval drills which had become a staple of the Shrouded navy and were the primary cause of its effectiveness and tight discipline.

A gentle ashfall, a mixture of snow and ash from the moon's volcanoes, glided down as Kainan Wolfe surveyed the cityscape below him from the balcony. Two years ago, when the Dominion was shattered at Krayiss II, Wolfe had gathered a ragged band of survivors, promising them a new home and a fresh start. The celebration still going on in the streets and suspended plazas of the city below, were testament to the fact that he had delivered on that promise. The Shrouded Republic of today, was nothing like the ragged band of patched-up refugees that were drifting about in space for what seemed like an eternity. These had been two very long and very hard years, for both the Shrouded and the galaxy as a whole, which had been shaken to its core by the incursion of the so-called Contingency.

The Shrouded Republic had risen above every challenge and had accomplished everything that Wolfe had hoped for. Today, the Shrouded were a tight-knit, disciplined people who had become as hard as durasteel. Their military was well-equipped with the latest technologies and hardware. Most of which was produced internally, by the Shrouded Republic itself, a result of its hard-working entrepreneurs. Its discipline and effectiveness was becoming well-known throughout parts of the galaxy, after the swift and crushing victory at Nibelungen.

The tower from who's balcony Wolfe was observing the city, served as provisional headquarters for the government. A fortress was being constructed for this purpose and after it will be completed, the government would move to that location and this tower would be auctioned off to companies and private investors.

There was much that needed to be done and to that end, Wolfe had given his command staff free reign to develop a number of projects. Admiral Raymus' proposed planetary defense plan had been approved and the Admiral had been put in charge of the committee overseeing its construction. There was also the matter of establishing a well-developed intelligence network on the moon, so as to help avert any potential insurgencies from the conquered locals and he would have to discuss that with his Lady of Whispers, Ra'a'mah. Wolfe had also scheduled a meeting with the captain of the mercenary battlecruiser Talavara, a mysterious woman named Sena.

Last, but not least, was the matter of constructing a Warden Stronghold to serve as headquarters from the Shrouded Republic's nascent order of Force Users, the Wardens of the Shroud and there was also the question of what to do with the now abandoned ruins of the moon's old Jedi temple, which Wolfe had half an idea to simply hand over to the Anubians as a site to build one of their temples, in a gesture meant to gain the approval of their priesthood. The former Jedi temple's archives had already been emptied by the military and the material had been handed over to the Wardens for further study and the site was of no further strategic importance, beyond its status as a symbol for the conquered.

The comlink on Wolfe's belt beeped and the warlord lazily picked it up to answer the message. The cold, disciplined female voice of the chief officer in charge of military communications, came through. "My lord, we are receiving a landing clearance request from a diplomatic ship with CSA transponders identified as the Free Lady. The database marks it as scheduled for arrival, so it has already been approved for passage by StratCom, but given the fact that it carries high-ranking passengers, I thought it important to notify you as well."

"Thank you, colonel," responded Wolfe. That ship brought back memories from a very different time. Back then, the Shrouded Republic was being chased by an Imperial fleet and circumstances had led to a tense first meeting between the warlord and Lady Kay. "Get me a connection to the Free Lady and get that ship a proper escort as it descends to its destination," Wolfe ordered the comms officer. A short beep was the notification that a channel was now opened.

"Free Lady, this is the Lord of Shrouds. I've ordered an escort to accompany you to your destination. Please notify your passenger that, once she has concluded her business down on Nibelungen, I would like to extend her an invitation to visit Winter as well," the warlord said as a squadron of TIE/Reaper starfighters broke away from their designated patrol route and formed up on both sides of the Free Lady. Despite the rocky start, Lady Kay had saved the Shrouded fleet, two years ago, from its destruction at the hands of the Empire. Wolfe saw no reason for not treating her with courtesy.

 

[Darth Abyss]

Soro-Frigus/Hollow - The City of the Fading Flame, Ruins of the Jedi Temple

From above his new city the endless mind of the Mindeater continued to creep through the derelict streets, invisible hands crawling among the common men and women that had survived the assault on their former home. Right now they struggled, they fought and they died against the relentless cold that knew no mercy for the living. Slowly only the strongest of them would remain standing, while the rest would be buried under the snow. Those few would become the first of Hollow's people to be adopted into the Free Cities, and granted the right to eternally serve their Prophet.

Yet his eyes had not set out to wander to watch their suffering. When the forces of Soro-Frigus meet the Tainted Legion they left none alive. The Masters of the Jedi order that lead them into battle died on the frozen battlefield, as did the Knights that stood at their side. The few that weren't part of the initial assault laid scattered around his sanctum, with one noticeable exception. Neither Padawans nor Younglings had been among the slayed, and they or their stiff corpses were nowhere to be found.

His tendrils dug into the ground, touching the countless tunnels, mines and caves that traversed below Hollow's surface. The soldiers of the Legion had scouted through them, but they found nothing besides long abandoned machines and broken paths. Once more it fell to the Prophet himself to find the last individuals that could spark a flame of resistance against his newly established rule.

Slowly he moved further through the network below his world, carefully searching any pathway and any crossing for a sign of the lost Jedi. Their presence of dim light wasn't hidden by walls of stone, but their fear and despair shrouded their signature among those of the dead and the dying above them. After what were hours, maybe even days, to those bound by the chains of life, and merely minutes to the undying Prophet of Malachor, Katarr and Hollow, his mind finally found a locked door, hidden after countless twists and turns, behind broken crossing and forgotten paths.

Silently the husk rose from his throne, soundless steps carrying along the Jedi corpses. Two claws reached for his hood and removed it, revealing the broken, crude crown resting on his head.

The youngest of the order would soon learn that there was nothing waiting for them but either eternal service or death.

[member="Mythos"]

 

[Mythos]

The Throne room.

Argarmar.

The room Mythos sat in became engulfed in the smoke of the ritual and the chanting in the native Anubian tongue only became louder and louder. Fluent in its dialect Mythos was able to make out every single word, words of praise of @Ankharabis The Great and himself, ancient gods and other individuals of the Anubian history and even the history of the galaxy. It was religion based upon those great beings and individuals who had died but whose lives and power carried with them the remark of grandeur and power beyond those who counted as the majority of the galaxy. Mythos himself used his very limited knowledge of alter environment to blow the smoke from his throne room as to not catch any of the mind addling toxins that wafted the air, instead he produced a pipe made from Midvinterian white wood and began to smoke Bota calmly, focusing his eyes on the Anubian figures that now were but shadows in the smoke.

His attempts to protect his mind from the smoke were useless. Soon he too fell into the trance of the seers.

The shadows danced before him, turning into different shapes and sizes of different beings he knew and those he did not know of. Groom his Tuk'ata let lose a low growl but soon he too fell into the trance. For what seemed like hours shapes and colors washed over Mythos' eyes, shapes and powerful images shocking his very soul over and over again as the chanting grew louder and louder. His eyes began to bleed, he saw and understood now why the ceremony needed to take place as the Anubian shapes became four massive pillars that surrounded him. They told him of the future.

Oh woe to the King whose world had burned.
Oh greater woe to those that burnt it
For although that king as fallen his will brought a successor

Of Same shape and size as they shall soon learn
Of greater power that which inhabits it
For it he now who shall become an aggressor

A mighty Kingdom that rises from the sands.
Will soon unlock the power it was promised
Though it will not be without blood and conquest
It is written by the Gods and so it shall be

It was then Mythos saw the galaxy as if he was staring at it from lightyears away, then he was shocked back into his chair. The blood began pouring from his nose now and the blood of his eyes became black tinted and thick. The power of the darkside of the force allowed him to conquer this pain as well the pain already in his body. Then came the shapes of four men, the stench of Balmorrean blue sky and the voice of familiarity.

Death shall come in the Equinox. Be careful of the shadows above you.
Thirteen stars light the way but the child will not be ready.
the dagger behind you does not aim for you but it will cut you just the same

The Knights with the armor of God are your solace and your kingdom
Once the prophet arises you must aim for the past once again
To your people and your high towers three stones will you offer

Come find us where we left you and power shall be yours in abundance but also pain beyond comprehension.

Mythos faded out at that moment, when his eyes opened again the throne room was empty and night time had fallen, even his hound had fallen sleep, only the blue light of the console that surrounded him woke him up. " My lord? My lord can you hear me?" Came the voice from the command console. Mythos groggily extended his hand to the console and activated the holo lock. "Loud and Clear commander Rahkam. What seems to be the problem?"

"No problem sir. The Free lady of Commenor is in Orbit. The queen of Commenor is here to see you"

He smiled and nodded. "Escort her to me as if she was me. Send word to [member="The Matador"] and [member="Kainan Wolfe"]"

"Commander Wolfe has already seen to her escort, his flotilla is conducting drills at this time"

Mythos tilted his head in amusement, This man would serve him well.​

 

[Kiso]

Spoiler

• Westender City
  Provisional Government Headquarters, Winter

Kiso kept a calm and relaxed air about herself as she waited patiently in Wolfe’s chambers, said man currently looking over the newly rebuild and reformed city, the dark and dusty haze still blanketing the night sky, but still much clearer when compared to when they first arrived. It was odd, having a new place to reside, an actual home where they could come back in times of need, a place to call ones own, to rest the fleet and themselves.

Yes, Kiso was slightly shaken up about the whole conquering ordeal and execution of traitors and remaining Jedi, but as more evidence about the fanatic ways and dealing of the planets former government came up, the general cyborg once again became reinvigorated in the Republics cause. Now with said planet under their control she could for once place her uniform, sword and eye patch down and take some time off until the armies next deployment or exercises, but for now everyone had earned a rest.

For now, the Shrouded ground forces General and marine corps commander was engrossing her herself in a history text book, looking over the many battle fought in the past thousand or so years, a rare find considering most information had been stored on data pads since millenniums ago. Kiso had gotten part way though the printed text before the rooms message machine came to life, the usual stoic and proud war lord acting rather lazily in answering it.

".... The Free Lady hu? I did not think Lady Kay was willing to ever talk with us again, not after the stunt we pulled a while back", she told herself, wondering why the leader of the CSA would come here. Whatever the reason she hopped no Galactic fleet would suddenly show up like last time. "Should I get changed Milord, or will my presence not be needed during this meeting"? Being a cyborg Kiso was not as affected by fatigue and tiredness as normal humans were and was more than willing to drop her relaxation time to attend the possible upcoming diplomatic meeting.

[member="Kainan Wolfe"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

It took a moment or two before the reply came. No doubt there was various checks and scans on them being done. The Free Lady's minimal weapons weren't online, yet the shields were at normal levels. Kay just couldn't be too careful, afterall, she had a feeling of uneasiness once they had arrived. Perhaps it was the Darkside that seemed to envelop the planet. Was there a nexus there? She wasn't certain. But something drew [member="Mythos"] there. Whatever the purpose, she knew that she'd find out soon enough as he had a habit of showing off his latest finds in a bid to impress her. It was as though he was always trying to gain her approval, yet she remained cautious as always.

StratCom was the first to be patched through, sending the co-ordinates for Nibelungen. Yet immediately afterwards there came another voice on the com systems. [member="Kainan Wolfe"] . Both Kay and her pilot looked to eachother before turning their attention back to the Star Destroyer in orbit. Already the escort fighters came into view as they began their approach to flank them.

"We should be alright...I don't think that we'll be running into any trouble. Just don't do anything that could raise any alarms." Kay wasn't sure of just how itchy their trigger fingers were.

Her pilot gave a curt nod and opened a channel to respond to Wolfe. ~Understood, Lord of Shrouds. Thank you for the escort. Lady Kay Arenais will accept your invitation at her earliest convenience. Free Lady out.~ He switched off comms and pushed on the throttle, keeping an eye on their escorts as he brought the Free Lady down to the designated landing pad.

***********************​

The ramp to the Free Lady lowered, with Kay and two of her uniformed guards visable from the opening. She half expected to find Mythos waiting for her, but instead there were others waiting; guards wearing unfamiliar armour. The desert world was hot, the air thick, yet dry. The smells were a mix of smoke, spices and sweat. Kay stepped down the ramp in silence, her umbrella in hand. She opened it slowly, so as to not alarm anyone, and lifted it's canopy over her head, keeping the ash and snow from dotting her hair. Her two guards fell in behind her.

Once at the bottom, Kay was approached by a tall man in flowing robes. With merely a simple gesture, he bade the trio to follow him inside the Palace. And so they did. Kay's eyes took in her surroundings while she shrunk her Force signature down to that of a small tree nut. She didn't know these people, wasn't even sure if they spoke Basic. Just what Mythos was up to this time, she didn't know.

Her umbrella was drawn to a close as they walked into the hallway, and she let it hang loose on her left wrist. To the Throne room they went, a large chamber filled with more robed figures and another seated up on the throne. It was Mythos. What was he doing here? This was not Atrisia. This was not a part of his plan that he told her about. What in the Force's name was he up to?

"To what do I owe the honour of this invitation?" Even with her Force sensitivity at a minimal, she just couldn't shake the feeling of being engulfed by Darkness. It was as though it was reaching for her, yet held at bay. Oh yes. Mythos was certainly up to something.

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

Attn: [member="Ra'a'mah"] | [member="Kyle Raymus"] | [member="Kiso"] | [member="Sena"] | [member="Roella Arwyn"] | [member="Shaun Irons"] | [member="Lady Kay"]​

• Westender City
  Provisional Government Headquarters, Winter

Wolfe was satisfied with the Free Lady's response. Now that the Shrouded Republic properly held territory of its own, it was time to focus on all too important diplomacy. The warlord's thoughts were interrupted by Kiso's question. He considered it for a moment, before responding. "That is up to you, General. Since you are currently on shore leave, you are not required to attend, but if you want, you are, of course, permitted to do so," he said. Unlike other men of his station, Wolfe tended to allow his top officers a greater degree of freedom. He understood the value of personal initiative in an army.

Pausing his observation, Wolfe took up a datapad and began to review several reports from around the moon. Last week, there had been two suicide bombings in Moletown, the work of a terrorist group calling itself the Hand of Light. Wolfe's response was to order a military crackdown against the native population and even from up there in the towers, Shrouded fighters could occasionally be seen conducting airstrikes against the sprawling mass of hovels and ruined buildings that spread around the base of the spires above. Westender and other cities like it, had been built literally on top of the old Jedi cities that were here before the invasion. Of course, nobody had bothered with a reconstruction effort and as a result, the natives lived in poverty.

Serves them right, thought Wolfe. The Shrouded Republic had spilled blood and sacrificed the lives of its men in order to liberate this moon from the atrocious regime of the Jedi Autocracy and how did the locals thank them for that? By doing everything within their power to hurt their liberators. That included everything from trying to sabotage the various construction efforts, to organizing and supporting terrorist organizations, such as this Hand of Light. They needed to learn that their acts would result in repercussions.

When the first signs of disloyalty had manifested themselves, Wolfe issued an executive order which relegated the natives to the role of second-class citizens. As a punishment for their ungratefulness, they were stripped of their right to vote, along with several other civil rights, such as the right to a trial in a court of law. Of course, they were also offered avenues for redemption. Any second-class individual who wished to obtain citizenship, could pay a fee, then enlist for ten years of service in the military. Only those natives who demonstrated a willingness to work hard and the commitment to risk their lives to defend the Republic, were welcomed into its citizenry. Some would have called this unfair, but it was also unfair of the natives to bite the hand that bled for their freedom. Now, they would have to earn that freedom must be earned. And that what the Shrouded Republic gives, it can also take away.

But the suffering of the ungrateful did not concern Wolfe. What concerned him, was something else. Despite the Shrouded Republic's efforts, it seemed several Jedi had managed to escape the initial purges and have since gone into hiding. Soon after, the religious insurgency which called itself the Hand of Light, had cropped up and Wolfe suspected that at least several Jedi, who had most likely fallen to the Darkside, were amongst its leadership. Of course, steps had already been taken to deal with this organization. In addition to the crackdown, bounties were posted, with the largest ones being offered in exchange for verifiable information about the missing Jedi's locations. There had been several instances of second-class individuals trying to point fingers to their neighbors, in stupid attempts to cash in on the bounties, but the Shrouded investigators had been thorough and the false accusers were punished accordingly. As for the Jedi, Wolfe was confident that someone would inevitably rat them out. And then, the warlord would make such an example out of them, that the natives will never again dare to so much as entertain the thought of rebellion.

 

[Kiso]

• Westender City
  Provisional Government Headquarters, Winter

Kiso though about the offer, yes, she could afford to rest up and cease her duties for a day, maybe update her software and cybernetics, in all honestly some of them were becoming out of date and the constant battles and sorties had left little time for upgrade. Though at the same time she wanted to do her part, mainly to make up for her wavering loyalty during the main battle that took place during the annexation for the moon world. At the same though pushing herself to much would do the republic no good in the long run, and they needed Kiso to be in top tier heath, well as healthy as a badly wounded and robot woman could be.

"Mi'lord, on seconds thoughts I think I would be best for me to use my shore leave to the fullest, and perform several cybernetic upgrades as well in the meantime, I hope your diplomatic discussions are fruitful". Kiso snapped a quick salute before side stepping, allowing for [member="Kainan Wolfe"] to proceed unimpeded by her presence, though quickly turning around before the war lord left the government office/room, "Oh, tell colonel I said hello on your way out, may not have much time to speak with her today... you know how updates are and all".

With the two parted for the respective task Kiso returned to her book, upgrade could wait for a while, said book just being a little to interesting to simply put down halfway through, the general preferring to read its many pages the old fashion way for once, without the aid of her bionic eye. Besides, electronics could be fried or EMP'd, memory could not, well to her knowledge anyway, the force being a very mysterious and influential power into one's mind, though it was not like Kiso ran into force users all that often anyway.

[member="Lady Kay"] l [member="Mythos"] l [member="Darth Abyss"]

 

[Mythos]

"Is that a rhetorical question?" Mythos said rising from his throne but before he could take a single step forward, Groom, the Tuk'ata hound who had seen Kay so many years ago rushed to her wagging his tail. He would attempt to lick her hands and brush upon her leg then retrun to Mythos' side. It was rare that his hound show a liking to anyone other than warriors and soldiers and of course Kida herself, Mythos however was not surprised. The hound had a long and enduring memory, she offered Mythos peace in the times of Atrisia and the hound realized this, this was his way of saying thank you.

The room was prepared for Kay, flaking her were the soldiers of the Anubian war council and the priest hood, great hound like humanoids garbed in golden armor or colorful robes depending on their station. They nodded in respect to the queen but some of them shot Mythos a wary eye, detecting the changing colors of the Nom Nom Bonsai tree strategically placed in the entrance of the entrance of the throne room. Mythos waved a hand to dismiss their worries. All in this room were sworn to secrecy, some even excluded to talk outside certain circles for religious reasons, her secret was more than safe here with Mythos and his Anubian consorts.

The throne room was long, rectangular and lines with fire and braziers to both sides. No electronics were present outside the main console in the throne room. To the right was a fresco of ancient make as old as this world and to the left was a massive stone balcony with various exotic plants and a view of the main city.

"This is my new kingdom Kay, a Kingdom I carved in my image with the aid of the shrouded republic and the world of Ankhypt at my beck and call. History called upon me to mark my name with the tip of a sword on it once again and from this birthplace of power i shall strike to reclaim Atrisia but not before I establish this world as a beacon of glory to all the galaxy."

The dark side of the force oozed from his very words, the sheer power he had consumed on his attack to Nibelungen, mainly off the souls of his defeated foes made him stronger and stronger plus his very own skull on his left shoulder as a crude ancient armor like apparatus also amplified his power it being a dark side nexus of incredible strength.

Once standing in front of her in the middle of the throne room as equals she would be able to notice the particular ancient armor he wore in all it's glory.

It was something straight out of a history book that dated back before the Rakkata empire even existed. Bones and leather made most of it and the rest was crude durasteel and iron, the skulls of his defeated enemies still lingering in his throne and a coupe in his belt. For all his preparation blood still stained his arms and neck as well as the uncovered part of his legs and thighs.

"I have much to do with this world, much to build and much to prepare. We have business such as trade routs and diplomatic pacts to sign. You know, the formalities of alliances and such. We can do those while we travel can we not?"

His words had not left his mouth when outside the balcony of his throne room a massive luxurious speeder arrived with two gunships to escort them. these gunships were the custom ones that he had designed wile working with the CSA. they packed a lot of heat and were extremely expensive to make but very high tech.

[member="Lady Kay"] @Kiso @Darth Abyss
​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay held her breath as Groom quickly approached. Normally the hound growled at her and made her keep her distance, yet this time he seemed....joyful. She jumped ever so slightly as one of her hands was licked, half expecting a bite. Yet Groom just rubbed up against her as though she was a friend. Kay patted the hound's shoulder and then turned her attention to [member="Mythos"] as he stepped towards her.

A brow was raised while he spoke. He had taken over this world in much the same way that he had first taken Atrisia. Only this wasn't Atrisia. What had happened here? Who did he fight? Who was it that had lost as Mythos put himself in charge? So many questions. The Darkside just dripped from him and she found herself swallowing a lump in her throat. He was more powerful now, but at what cost? Kay glanced over to the members of the priesthood. They certainly appeared to be his Council. Were they pulling his strings? Was this part of some even bigger plan and Mythos was the perfect man to take part in it? More than likely she'd find out soon enough.

"You've been busy...And I have to be honest and say that this...wasn't what I expected." Oh no, it wasn't what she was expecting at all.

Her eyes were drawn to their transportation that had arrived on the balcony. Negotiating diplomatic and trade relations while they travelled? That was a bit unorthidox. "Where are we travelling to, if I may ask?" She gestured for Mythos to lead the way. Perhaps they were going somewhere a bit more comfortable. Or perhaps not. Right now she wasn't certain of anything.

[member="Kainan Wolfe"] [member="Darth Abyss"] [member="Kiso"]

 

[Mythos]

"My first constructions. I must oversee the spire, inspect the army and build the new military outpost of Angramar." He said not even gracing her with a look while walking towards the speeder. the ship was massive and the flotilla that followed them also was huge for it's make. As he walked he glanced over to notice that again she lacked a proper military escort. He sighed and shook his head, no wonder this woman had been kidnapped more times than he had fingers and toes to count. "Kay.." he said, almost sounding exhausted when he sounded like a broken record but by the gods he needed to say this. "You come here, an active battlefield not a month ago and you come with one ship and less than a regiment with you... i understand that you trust me and i appreciate that but by all that is good and just in this galaxy, me certainly not being one of them, would it kill you to be more careful? A few star destroyers here and there? Perhaps a Jedi master husband with you?"

He shrugged, opening the door of the speeder for her before he himself got in, it was so big they did not need to sit, who said chivalry was dead? His eyes were sly and judgmental in a friendly way. Groom himself walked in before either of them so fast he looked like a shadow and for a four hundred pound monstrosity that was Groom he moved really fast. "I just don't want you ending up in Pacanth reach or Panatha or anywhere near Sith space in an experimental table or a dungeon or force knows where else. Tell me you have your lightsaber at least"

The speeder headed off in the direction of the city center where a massive construction was underway of a spire that pierced the heavens. This was to be the seat of power for the council of The Ancient Eye. It was the ground work for the center building that would encompass the entire capital, Mythos needed to go down there and read over the schematics and give any final words on the construction process. "So we need to establish mutual trade routs with Commenor, i mean to do so as soon as we have our merchant fleet operational, should be a few weeks. We produce high caliber weaponry of every class"

[member="Lady Kay"] @Kiso @Kainan Wolfe​

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded. So it was just infrastructure that he was taking her to. That was good. The sooner that she was away from his Council members, the better. Although it made her wonder if she had come at a bad time.

Her mouth dropped however as [member="Mythos"] began to chastize her for the manner in which she visited him. Star Destroyers? Really? How was she to know what had happened here a month ago. She had only just arrived. Her only reason for coming there was because Mythos had invited her. How was she to know? She didn't have spies everywhere to tell her what was happening in each world across the Galaxy. Kay closed her jaw as he brought up the fact that she needed her husband with her. Is that what she was taken for now? Just some awaiting damsel in distress? Well she had a few tricks up her sleeve.

She stepped aside to let Groom walk by, not that she had much of a choice in the matter. Her eyes drifted to Mythos as he spoke of being experimented on and put in a dungeon on a couple of worlds that she had only known of through a fleeting comment here or there. She didn't know where she was taken when she was abducted for months. Her captor made sure to keep that hidden from her.

At the mention of a lightsaber, she held up the umbrella hanging on her arm. "I have my holdout pistol and this. It's strong enough to parry lightsabers and deflect blaster fire. I had it made special..." No doubt he wouldn't be satisfied. So she had to whisper, "My Force abilities are a secret, remember? Don't let the whole Galaxy know..." There were many leaders out there that hated Force Users. She had only gained their trust because they thought she was normal. It was something that she sought hard to maintain.

Now to business. She eyed the construction that lay before them, the spire disappearing into the heavens. Or so that was the plan, she was sure. "Weapons? You mean personal, or ones to arm vehicles and ships with? And what would you require from us? Food? Fabrics? Education? Ships?" She of course had a few shipyards and companies at her disposal.

[member="Kainan Wolfe"] [member="Darth Abyss"] [member="Kiso"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Was there a reason to visit a palace, shrouded in darkness and in the capital of Angramar, suspected home to an ancient evil resurfacing?

Probably not. It was probably all myth and rumour, but Stephanie had overheard the wrong things at the right time to get herself on a single transport to the planet, flown out by a single Ranger under command of her friend, Captain Parker.

She only wanted to see the planet and the city, investigate and silence or confirm the rumours because curiosity was rife within the Padawan and she wanted to find out for herself.

It seemed desolate on approach, and there was no communication made to them on arrival which was either a good or bad thing. Probably bad, as they knew the Silver Jedi craft would be here and they weren't stupid.

Touching down, Stephanie donned her large brown robe to cover her cream Hapan gowns and pulled up the hood, looking more like a hermit from Jakku than a flamboyant Silver Jedi. The great palace was up ahead in the middle of what looked like a desert oasis, the spires reaching into a burnt sky and rocks jutting from the orange ground.

The small transport powered down and Stephanie gave instruction to wait unless the ship was in danger, and then to take off without her. Always thinking of others.

So, the Padawan wrapped her arm around her waist holding the robe and started across the bare terrain towards the palace and whatever lay within...

[member="Mythos"] et al

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

​

Attn: [member="Ra'a'mah"] | [member="Kyle Raymus"] | [member="Kiso"] | [member="Sena"] | [member="Roella Arwyn"] | [member="Shaun Irons"] | [member="Lady Kay"] | [member="Stephanie Swail"] | [member="Darth Abyss"]​

• Westender City
  Provisional Government Headquarters, Winter

The warlord listened to his subordinate's request and nodded. "That will be alright, General. I will make sure the Colonel receives your message," he said, turning back to reading his men's reports. The construction of infrastructure on Winter was going well. Already, several factories were operational and producing equipment. Several AM-AT prototypes had rolled off the assembly line and were undergoing field trials. So far, only minor issues had been reported and Wolfe was pleased that the program was on track. The Shrouded military would soon be equipped with some of the most advanced walkers in the galaxy.

His comlink beeped again, once more interrupting his review. "What is it this time, colonel?" he inquired, his tone carrying a hint of annoyance. "Sir, StratCom reports an unauthorized breach of StratDef Perimeter by a ship bearing Silver Jedi transponders. The vessel appears to be on course towards Nibelungen and flight path analysis predicts a landing site somewhere near Angramar. How should we respond?"

Wolfe gave the matter a moment's thought before replying. Neither the Shrouded Republic, or the Ancient Eye had any hostile dealings with the Silver Jedi, but the presence of one of their ships here, without requesting authorization to land, was strange, to say the least. Wolfe began to suspect that this ship was on a mission to smuggle Jedi fugitives out. Or materials in, perhaps to bolster one of the terrorist movements. "Discretely alert King Mythos and his guard staff. In the meantime, have the intruding ship tagged by our sensors and discretely redeploy a squadron of fighters to circle around. They are to stay out of site until that ship lands," Wolfe instructed. "I do not want its crew to realize what we are up to. Also, have a shuttle prepared. I will take a squad of Wolfguards and several Wardens down there, to meet our guests."

​

[-SOUNDTRACK-]​

​

• Transport Landing Site
  Perimeter Breach, Desert near Angramar, Nibelungen

The Silver Jedi vessel was allowed to land undisturbed and for a few brief moments, nothing seemed to happen as it powered down. A gentle breeze swept across the sea of dunes, blowing the fine sand with it and giving the impression of hair waving in the wind. It was, in a way, beautiful. Serene. But the silence would not last long. A distinctive, screeching sound could be heard, wailing louder and louder as something approached the landing site. TIE Reapers, flying low and in pairs, seemed to pounce out of nowhere, from behind the cover of dunes, cliffs, or diving down from the sky. They circled around the landed transport, low enough that the roar of their engines would be almost deafening, but made no overtly hostile gestures and seemed to be content with merely letting the Silver Jedi vessel know that it was caught in their net.

"Attention, captain of the unidentified Silver Jedi vessel! You have breached the Ancient Eye strategic planetary defense perimeter without requesting proper authorization and as such, you are in violation of Customs and Shipping regulation twenty-three, subsection five. Your ship and its cargo will be detained for inspection and your crew will be taken into custody. Note that we are authorized to use force if you refuse to comply," spoke the announcement on a general channel, a message which would undoubtedly be picked up by the ship's occupants.

What followed soon after, evoked images from a time long passed. A single Lambda-class shuttle, painted silver, glided gracefully from the sky, touching down in front of the transport and extending its loading ramp. First to emerge were ten fully armored soldiers, who's wolfcloaks gave them a feral appearance which contrasted eerily with their silent discipline. They carried what appeared to be automatic slugthrower rifles in their hands and each had a vibrosword strapped to his hip. These weren't regular military, or customs police. They were Wolfguards, the elite troops of the Shrouded Republic. They served under several roles, but their primary function was to escort high-ranking VIPs.

As if to confirm this, the Wolfguards were followed by two masked individuals wearing loose-fitting white robes and hooded cloaks of matching colors. If the lightsabers visibly hanging from their belts weren't enough, their aura was a dead giveaway. These were Force Users. And although they looked nothing like typical Sith, they were of the Dark Side.

The last two men to exit the shuttle, were a massively built Rodian male with a terrifying, sadistic look in his eyes and a malevolent aura surrounding him that clearly marked him as being Sith. This was Tsesh Ovrak, notorious serial killer and lately, bodyguard to the Shrouded Republic's head of state. The other one, looked like a man from some ancient imperial legend.

A heavy, fur-trimmed leather cloak billowed in the light breeze as Kainan Wolfe, Lord of Shrouds, warlord and conqueror, advanced towards Stephanie Swail. Underneath his barbarian-looking cloak, the man wore the military uniform that bore the rank bars of both head of state of the Shrouded Republic and Grand Admiral of the entire Ancient Eye fleet. Just like the masked Force Users, he radiated a dark aura, but unlike that of his Sith bodyguard, it was as composed as the man's appearance. A paradox. He clearly belonged to the Darkside, but at the same time he seemed to have an internal discipline to rival that of the Jedi themselves.

His ice-blue eyes regarded the woman in front of him with the powerful intensity of a driven, charismatic leader. A passionate man, with an iron will that could move planets and galaxies. "You thought you could slip past our sensors that easily, didn't you?" he asked, his voice commanding, authoritative and at the same time calm. "I find it suspicious that a Silver Jedi ship would show up here unannounced and attempt to discretely land on this planet on the same day as an important diplomatic visit and less than a week after two suicide bombings conducted by pro-Jedi extremists. Who are you? Why are you here? Perhaps to smuggle in weapons and supplies to the Hand of Light, or some other terrorist group?" the man spoke, then nodded to his Wolfguards, who rushed forward towards the transport, rifles in hand.

​

 

[Mythos]

It was not long before the speeder landed in a massive two mile long construction site that was just beginning to look like a tower, this was to be the seat of power of the ruling council, of War-Cheif [member="The Matador"], Mythos Himself and the high priest Neb-Ka and of course, always there would be an empty seat for Ankharabis great Pharaoh of Ankhypt should he ever leave the planet and land here in the capital of the Ancient Eye.

[member="Lady Kay"] was right, he would not be satisfied, a blaster a lightsaber alone would not ease his worries of his friend Kay being spirited off in the night by the evils of this galaxy which were numerous, well trained and equipped, treacherous and more malicious than he could put into words. "When the sky is filled with darkness Kay, as it is these days, one can not be too careful or too over prepared." He said, quietly thinking to himself how to illustrate his point. To her next point he gave her a confident smile. "The kind that will level entire plains of land and the kind to arm infantry teams to light up places like a Nabooian Parade in Thule. We specialize in weapons but we have yet to construct any that are for ships specifically but we are working on it, my fleet master himself is a veteran of the Dominion and knows well as i do the necessity of weaponry in capital ships. I may be more inclined to personal ships like fighters and interceptors but he is something entirely different. He focuses on capital ships and everything in between, or so i have heard."

The speeder got closer and closer to the construction and Mythos smiled when he saw it, they flew over one hundred feet in the air and still the ongoing construction dwarfed them by three times the size. "It's not even half way done" he said, soaking in the beauty of his engineers and architects forgetting completely that a lot of workforce in display was slave labor. "As for your abilities, everyone in our guard is sworn to secrecy, they are a religious sect of Ankhypt called the Ra-Khamen, they serve a God of the sun to whom I speak with directly." The smile he gave her was a knowing one, as in knowing this would at the very least intrigue her.

Suddenly... A Buzz in his ear. His expression shifted.

[member="Kainan Wolfe"] had run into something, something that both alarmed Lord Mythos and intrigued him at the same time. Silver Jedi? Here? In Wild Space? With Diplomatic Intentions? Curious and Skeptical were understatements when describing how he felt. Surley it was a Jedi Warrior that they had sent, his mind went to Thurion or Coci or some other great grandmaster that they felt brave and confident enough to send out solo, perhaps knowing Mythos' utter reluctance to even so much as raise a blade to any member of the Silver Jedi after Lujo. Even himself at this state of pure hatred had that much in his character, he could not harm those that were of the silver chaste, they had earned his mercy time and time again. Honor had earned them mercy, so because of the honor of those that came before, [member="Stephanie Swail"] was about to be the first Jedi who called themselves silver to touch ground here in Nibelungen.

He held out his palm to Kay as to excuse himself and pressed on his ear to activate the microphone. "Let it pass, escort the jedi to my route. Jam it's transmissions" He looked at Kay and smiled, clicking off his ear piece and landing the speeder at the bottom of the colossal construction. "We are going to have company and get this, it's a Silver Jedi" The words came with confidence but now before the silver arrived he thought of making his point.

"Back to what i was saying Kay" He began, stepping off the speeder with his back to the entrance, looking at her with purpose. She could tell he was up to something. "Imagine right now, sniper takes a shot several miles away and hits me right in the neck" He began, falling to his back with full force as if he was really down but in the floor he kept talking. "Then it turns out that these guards, masked as they are, have been replaced by spies in an elaborate rouse to get to you, not me." He snapped his fingers and his guards activated their vibro swords, turning on Kay in an aggressive fighting stance. "Suddenly everything starts getting lit up with plasma fire and a fleet of Sith war ships appears in the sky while at the same time, the very escorts that we have here, have also been infiltrated and block every escape while the Free Lady get's fired upon by several battle frigates and begins to take bombing runs from hostile forces." He pauses, while still dramatically splattered on the floor to communicate to external fleet escorting the Free Lady and while he does the escort gunships flank the speeder Kay is in brandishing weapons of full automatic fire.

"Exercise four, three, two. Lock weapons to the free lady, do not fire, power all weapons and declare them hostile. Do not fire, this is an exercise. PawPaw Specter Out."

As soon as he said that, the entire fleet would designate that single ship as hostile setting off alarms to the free lady to whom, no doubt, Kay would receive down here of her men and pilots and captain, very alarmed and very on edge. To them in space it was real, they did not have the context of the exercise so the distress call Kay would receive would be very real, she would hear the fear in their voices as they feared for their lives, unknowing that their lives were never in danger. "Do you see now what I mean Kay? Do you understand why a few Star destroyers and a regiment here with you can not only save your life but the lives of those under your care."

In a swift movement Mythos executed a springboard jump from the ground, placing his hands behind his shoulders while curling his legs bringing him to his feet and looking at her, his stance was that of combat and his eyes were blaze of yellow fury.

The exercise was not over, now he looked her right in the eye, it was meant as a small example but now his eyes dug into hers with a lot of seriousness and his body language was aggressive.

"Because is that not the most important thing, not your life but the lives of those you employ, like those in the Free Lady right now?" He let the words linger, perhaps making her think that he was capable right now of what he never had been capable of doing before... hurting her, betraying her.... His smile returned abruptly and out of the blue. Putting a finger in his ear com and activating the microphone.

"End Ex. PawPaw Specter Out." He said into the device, a code meaning End Exercise and the crew of the Free Lady would be informed of the exercise they would be clear from the weapons lock and the guards around him and the escort around them would back off to their original position. Was it crude? Was it excessive? Yes, but the point Mythos needed to make was important enough.

"I only want what is best for your safety, it may sound excessive but I believe it is more than necessary."
​

 

[Darth Abyss]

Soro-Frigus/Hollow - The City of the Fading Flame

Two guards only watched in confusion as the husk emerged from within his sanctum without notice. Yet neither had the insolence to ask their Prophet what he had planned, by now they had witnessed time and time again that he didn't needed them, or anyone else to enforce his will upon others.

Precise steps carried him through the frozen streets, without the normal shroud of unseen darkness hiding him from sight. The reactions upon his arrival varied greatly, depending on who caught sight of him. The men of his legion that had taken up residence in the more intact parts of the city cheered and shouted, raising their drinks in his glory as they gathered around countless makeshift heaters.

Those around them, those unfortunate enough to be born on this world, crawled, in many cases most literally, through the snow, sometimes trying to find a place at the heaters, only to learn that there was none for their kind. When they saw the cursed chunk of metal march by them, most scrambled, trying to bring as much distance between them and the monster that took their city. The others remained, some crying, some praying, and all hoping to gain his mercy.

Abyss offered them nothing, no mercy, not even a reaction at all, as he continued to make his way to the city's broken heart. Only when a especially obstrusive maggot crawled to his feet, mumbling while trying to grab his foot, the husk came to a halt. Wordlessly the hollow lord raised his other foot, crushing the hand that wrapped around his leg.

They crying of the now crippled man mixed with ever louder cheers and laughs of his loyalists, as his steps left a path of blood behind him, leading into the caves below his new city.

[member="Mythos"]

 

[Stephanie Swail]

Everything seemed to happen so fast a few minutes after touching down. Stephanie had secured the small transport, taken stock of her surroundings and started off towards what looked like a palace.

Then, all hell seemed to break loose around the Padawan.

Demonic looking TIE fighters and a shuttle swarmed over her, kicking up sand like some disorienting vortex. A communication relayed through the ship and on her wrist-mounted com, but she had trouble hearing due to the engines above her and the swirling sand blasting around her frame.

When the sand had settled and the shadow of the shuttle could be made out, Stephanie gasped and stepped back quickly at the sight of masked soldiers and what looked like Sith warriors. Their aura reeked of violence and fear, and the Padawan’s heart was thumping. She was too taken aback, and too logical, to reach for her weapon, but she certainly didn’t stand still and kept moving back.

Two larger figures stalked towards here as the armed soldiers fanned out, and she knew she had to stop, which she did. The leader, a human male - [member="Kainan Wolfe"] – spoke up and had every right to be as blunt and untrusting as he was, but armed with no evidence Stephanie had to speak quickly to settle his soldier’s itchy trigger fingers.

”No, stop!” Stephanie called, darting forward, arms spread opposite sides and palms out to stop the soldiers aiming at her transport, and thus the Ranger inside. ”It’s just a pilot in there, we have no weapons! I am not here in any way on orders from the Silver Jedi Order.”

There was an uncomfortable silence, bar the slight breeze funnelling between the ships and the TIE engines far above. Stephanie saw it as her chance to keep talking.

”If I am honest, I can turn around and leave right now. It seems this Ancient Eye exists, and that’s all I wanted to know.” She lowered her hands, composed herself, and calmed her senses. ”My name is Stephanie Swail, and I am a Jedi Padawan of the Silver Jedi Order. For weeks we have heard rumours of uprisings and trouble surrounding something called the Ancient Eye out of Nibelungen. Consider it foolish of me, or pro-active, but I simply had a burning desire to see if these rumours were true, and what sort of…Ancient Eye this was. Good, or evil. It seems at least one part of the rumours were true.”

Silence still, and so she stepped forward to be closer to the robed man.

”I give you my word that I am not here to report to anyone, to arrange anything or to attack anywhere. The Silver Jedi will not condone or support attacks as cowardly as you say that have taken place here, and no Hand of Light operates under our true, just and honest Jedi Order.”

As out of her depth as she was, Stephanie did love to represent the Order and get the adrenaline pumping.

[member="Mythos"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

​

Attn: [member="Ra'a'mah"] | [member="Kyle Raymus"] | [member="Kiso"] | [member="Sena"] | [member="Roella Arwyn"] | [member="Shaun Irons"] | [member="Lady Kay"] | [member="Stephanie Swail"] | [member="Darth Abyss"]​

​

• Transport Landing Site
  Perimeter Breach, Desert near Angramar, Nibelungen

The warlord listened as the woman explained herself, the expression on his face a strange combination between boredom and bemusement, but although a casual observer would think that he was ready to dismiss the padawan and make the mistake of underestimating a potential opponent, the dangerous glint in his eyes betrayed his alertness. Behaving almost as if he was ignoring her, his eyes moved to the Wolfguards advancing in some kind of staggered wedge formation towards the transport. They hadn't had the slightest reaction to the woman's pleas. "Search the ship top to bottom. I want every panel turned over, every nut and bolt checked and every molecule of that vessel scanned thoroughly, twice."

The Wolfguards were elite soldiers, fast and efficient, but also disciplined. If the crew within the ship would not attempt to mount any sort of resistence, they would simply be restrained and taken outside, where the already approaching law enforcement shuttle would pick them up and transport them to the nearest available holding cell. If they were to resist, however...

"I advise that you tell your crew to avoid making any hostile gestures," said Wolfe, eyes focusing on the woman again. "The Wolfguards are some of the most disciplined soldiers in the galaxy, but if your crew puts up any resistance, it will not end well for them."

There were several things which Wolfe found very strange about this woman. Her presence here was suspicious, to say the least and she was way older than the average padawan. Something just didn't add up to him. He decided to try one of his conversational tricks, in an attempt to gain more information. "Let's assume, for a moment, that you're telling the truth," he said. "But what I don't understand is why you didn't hail ground control to request clearance to land. I mean, every civilized solar system in the galaxy has some sort of similar regulation, as one can't allow smugglers and criminals to land and take off as they please," he spoke, his eyes narrowing as he went on. "Let me be clear with you. Malicious intent or not, you broke the law. And while I know that a large portion of the galaxy lets you Jedi play judge, jury and executioner without a hint of oversight, here everyone respects the rule of law. You have committed a crime and there will be a penalty for that. Whether it will be just a fine, or a prison sentence, depends on what we find on your ship."

What Wolfe was doing, was an interrogation tactic based on intimidation. He had bombarded the woman with a long-winded and harsh reply in an attempt to cause her to panic and blurt out whatever crossed her mind. If she was lying, then he would easily be able to pick her lies apart and piece together the truth. But before he could continue, his comlink beeped and Wolfe picked it up to play the message, although the roar of the TIE Reapers flying overhead, prevented the words from reaching anyone but him.

"Well, Stephanie, it seems you are to be the guest of someone very important," Wolfe said, an eyebrow half lifted in a hint of slight curiosity. "It seems the God-King has taken an interest in you. Your presence has been requested and that is not the kind of request which is optional," he said, extending his hand. "Now, hand over your lightsaber, please, and then kindly take a seat within the shuttle," the warlord instructed in a way which made it clear that, despite his formal tone, he wasn't giving her a choice in the matter. As if to reinforce the point, one of the white-clad Wardens stepped forward, a pair of handcuffs in one hand, while the other dangled dangerously close to his own lightsaber's hilt.