The Vision

[Poe]

A fleet of ships, varying in class, slowly drifted toward the world known for minor trading deep in the bloated heart of Hutt space. The world, known to harbor sketchy individuals with lesser favorable characteristics, stood empty and void of life; for the exception of small pockets of trading outposts ran by black market dealers, pirates, smugglers, and exiled Hutts. The world was a blister containing the pus of uneducated justice; were chaos and credits ruled as king and queen. But as the fleet drew closer, a wind of change rode on it's tails; for soon the planet will have a true Empress, whose rule would be both absolute and unforgiving.

Standing on the single catwalk, gripping the railing tight I looked out to my new home; my little piece of the galaxy. I had long left behind the Sith, finally shattering the chains of restraint as my new freedom allowed me to pursue my dreams; no matter how mad, dark, and haunting they were filled. I had grown tired and wary of the galaxy's prospects in tearing itself apart through war, political insecurities, and absurd domination between the known Empires. As far as I was concerned, the galaxy could burn; but I would not burn with her. I studied the ancient Lords of the Sith, finding a purpose for myself. Better to rule a world in your image than die on a nameless planet fighting for another's cause.

My vision of the world that laid before me was broken by the voice of the renegade Admiral who had joined me. "Mi'lady, the scouts have returned from the planet," the tall husky woman said taking up a position on my left. "The engineers have already begun to study the forward information transmitted to them, but ask for two days to come to a settled agreement of what you have requested." Continuing to stare at the planet I replied, "Two days is one day to long. I did not go to great lengths to secure everything I needed to make my dream a reality only to have it stalled by old men. Tell them they have one day to locate a suitable site or they will answer to me directly."

"I will notify them of their timeline personally," the Admiral said before leaving me to my isolation.

 

[Poe]

I left the flagship, leaving the old men to debate under the dwindling sands of time, for the planet's surface; accompanied by my personal guardsmen, The Dread Knights whilst leaving the main army scattered among the barely functional ships that comprised my patchwork fleet. The planet consisted of warring tribes, among the known inhabitants, that dotted the landscape of the hot, yet favorable temperament that would suit me rather enjoyably. I had work to do, just as the engineers and the massive enslaved labor force I brought along for my project. However, in comparison to them; my work teetered on promises, broken promises, betrayal, and subsequently, murder.

Those that ran the trading outposts were not the immediate problem facing me; it was those warring tribes. In order for me to see my vision through, I either needed to bring them under one banner or eliminate tribes that failed to grasp my dream. Regardless, fun times where ahead.

Landing in one of the outposts, I led my guardsmen through the searing heat whilst winning stares and confused looks from the scum and villains that found sanctuary among their kinsmen. Before I could wage my campaign against the tribes, I needed information. And what better place could information be had but at the local cantina. However, there seemed to be a tedious amount of watering holes amid the outpost; and from there came all manner of varying smells, sights, and sounds. For a moment I considered abandoning the cantina and head straight to the overseer of this outpost; but it was without a doubt he or she knew I was here. And with the absence of some sort of greeting procession, I figured the overseer feared me.

Stepping into one of the cantinas, I drew my robe around my armor hiding the hilt that swayed on my hip. Despite my efforts to hide the weapon, the appearance of my Knights caused loud voices to fall to a barely audible whisper as roaming eyes struggled to size us up. "Stay alert," I ordered my guardsmen as I proceeded to the bar. Reaching the bar, I could see the eyes of the greasy and grizzly looking man track the Knights as they, too, moved about the cantina.

"You need not fear them or your property," I said drawing his attention back to me. "I come seeking information." Fighting tragically to peel his eyes from me, the man resumed washing a mug beyond cleaning as he said, "Information isn't cheap, girl. And depending on what sort of information you want, girl, it may cost you more than just credits." Flashing a grin that revealed several missing teeth, he shrugged his shoulders as if he had the upper hand.

Reaching through the Force, I latched onto his throat applying just enough pressure to turn him uneasy in his own skin. For one fleeting moment I thought of destroying his mind, but until he proved he possessed information I was searching for; he held some small amount of value to me. "This girl," I began whilst slowly releasing him from my hold, "is in no mood for trivial games. So I will ask again and this time you will conduct yourself properly."

With the sound of my voice growing louder, my guardsmen halted their walkabout turning their attention to both him and his patrons; a warm gesture to the bartender that his next words held everyone's lives in his establishment roughly on his tongue. "My apologies. You said something about needing information, perhaps Quino here can help?"

 

[Poe]

"I'm inclined to learn about the local tribes and their war chiefs," I said taking a seat at the bar, prompting the patrons on either side of me to gather up their drinks and move elsewhere. "The entire planet has hundreds if not thousands of warring tribes, though most are barely etching out a means of survival. When the Hutts ruled this planet their was peace but now they are gone and so is the peace. It's not safe travelling beyond the walls of any outpost anymore." I cared nothing for the proposed warning of the dangers outside the outposts, but I was Sith and I commanded a rather formidable army; so no tribe or gathered tribes hoped to thwart my plans.

"So with so many tribes waging war upon one another, why haven't the "locals" forced them out or destroy them completely," I inquired whilst catching a small winged insect in my hand. I could feel it squirming in my closed fist, trying desperately and hopelessly to find a solution to it's rather dire situation. "They tried once, uh, a few years back. But from the wars four warlords had emerged, and these guys are the worst of the worst. They command great respect from those that serve them and even greater respect from other tribes forced to share a region of the planet with them."

My curiosity had been piqued. So there were only four, instead of hundreds really, standing in my way. As I sat there formulating a strategy in my mind, I asked, "Who are these powerful men?" Looking around the cantina, the bartender's eyes grew nervous as if mentioning their names would bring down a judgment of pestilence upon the outpost. I flipped a bag filled with credits on the bar table with a smile. Snatching it up and clearing his throat he finally answered, "To the North there is Harkone. To the East there is Azelo Belzo. In the South we have Vanc'or Grah'o and finally to the West there is Fra'jo the Merciless. I must say, I'm rather intrigued why you want to know about these men."

Finally growing bored with my insect prisoner, I tightened my fist feeling it's carapace-like body crush under the strength of my hand. Sprinkling the ruined remains of the insect upon the bar I replied, "Because either they will elect to side with me or die."

I memorized the names and locations of the four war chiefs, then promptly used Mnemotherapy to target and eradicate the bartender's memory of this conversation. I scantly thanked the hairy man and left the cantina behind. I had the directional locations of the men, but the square mass was just to massive to simply walk about. "Admiral," I began speaking into the comlink device, "I need the scouts to conduct searches." After giving my detail orders to the good Admiral, I cut the communication off.