SithLore

***Corsin, Greater Plooriod Sector, Grid Coordinates M-7***

***Super Star Destroyer Ultimatum, Primary Command Bridge***

Chronos. At times like these, Doren couldn't stand the things. And here, on the most preeminent vessel in the Empire, everywhere the Captain turned, numbers continued to shrink down closer and closer to zero. The pre-op jitters were always the worst. Post-battle adrenaline and exhaustion usually lent a delirium that dulled one's emotions: at least, the emotions that got in the way of this sort of work. Prior to an engagement however, an officer was fresh, at their most alert- and their most vulnerable. While the young Captain might have normally have taken comfort owing to his lack of present command. His upcoming role as a militant diplomat tipped his nerves to another scale degree. Today, the collective population of three stars hung in the balance, and Vassyl would have his role to play.

Whether Doren would identify himself as a defender or invader was yet to be seen, but if nothing else, the tenebrous shadow of the Rebellion would not intervene so easily. The Captain took further solace in the amount of preparation and fail-safes that had been locked in place in a truly avid period of time. Even now, as the wary Jaeman was situated amongst some of the most decorated elements in the Imperial Fleet, he knew his own detachment, the Third's Second Battle Group, was keeping peerless watch over the northern territories. Rivalries, disputes, and general prejudice aside, the upper echelons of the Navy had halted all bickering and grievance, and presented a united front that stirred the hearts of many a soldier.

And, some hearts were still stirring, or, in the case of Yaht Yawehb's, churning. "Of course we're heating the batteries now, you long-face lout! The excess from the reactors isn't about to coming streaking out our rear end!", the veteran of Questal admonished, evicting a few specks of his late lunch from his gaping mouth onto the shoulder of a helpless aide in the process, "And someone get me a commline to this backwards procession they call a task force!". Both of the Commodore's requests were met in due course, and soon, everyone within the formation had the distinct pleasure of listening to Yaht's titular, sandpaper tone, "Hear me now, children of the Empire! Far from here, a sheep has fancied himself a wolf, and whispers lies to our herd!".

The Commodore balled a tight fist, and held it up at shoulder height for all the bridge to see, "Livestock do not decide the natural order of things: that right belongs with us! The apex! The strong! The able and willing, who know better- fight better. If that system is challenged- only death and chaos awaits us". Vassyl had seen recordings of Yawehb's name brand speeches before, but the carnival act was a whole other holodrama in person. Looking off to his side, Doren acknowledged Inquisitor Prazutis, and, in the moment, appreciated his characteristic silence to this sort of buffoonery. Vassyl was likewise aware of his acquaintance, Private Zuno Drallac, who he did not look upon, but could practically imagine his glower from where he stood near the bridge exit lift.

"The job is simple", the Commodore continued, dragging Vassyl's attention back to his superior, "We arrive, we make ourselves heard, and we make sure the line gets toed. The rest is up to Captain Vassyl and whatever fancy words the brass have supplied him". Doren tipped his head down some, if for no other reason than to hide his malcontent from the other officers. Yaht's wordplay was unbearable enough as it was- the added layer of honesty only made things worse. "We had our practice run over that dustbowl on the edge of The Yawn", the Commodore alluded, recalling his previous encounter with Vassyl, "Now the time has come to show your Empire how we do business. This is our day, let's not keep the Galaxy waiting".

With an unexpectedly rousing round of salutes, Doren watched in earnest as the bridge flew back into a flurry. Outside the viewport, Vassyl could also make out the distant gray diamonds that were the Ardent and Reclaimer. The other cruisers, few that they numbered, had begun to draw up close to their de-facto protector and potentate. Smaller specks could occasionally be seen, doubtless the other, near microscopic anti-starfighter vessels that hung about the Ultimatum in the manner that feeder fish gather round a shark. Though they would be stored until the target had been reached, the contingent's own interceptor wings, Vassyl was convinced, would blot out the stars themselves if they were mustered in full.

At last, the final checks were complete, and Commodore Yawehb boomed the final declaration, "Death Squadron, prepare to make the jump to lightspeed on my mark". The chrono perilously ticked a few seconds more. Then came the affirmation, and the entirety of the Executor-Class Battleship vanished into the blackness of space...

Stepping into the bridge, Prazutis could feel the slight discomfort in the auras of the two behind him from his words in the lift just seconds before. However, it mattered not to him. Fear in your allies is just as profound as it is in your enemies, Prazutis always told himself.
As he walked to the side, out of the way from the rest of the crew who stood watching the man in front make a fool of himself, he only thought about the drivel flooding from the man’s mouth, like a broken dam, spilling over with nonsense. But, if it motivated the soldiers, he supposed it was needed.
Seeing the captain give a nod his way, Prazutis returned the gesture and looked back to the spouting veteran, only partially listening to his words as Prazutis returned to a meditative state for just a moment, until the salutes around him snapped him back to reality.
With his foolish tirade over, Prazutis walked forward to stand with Captain Vassyl, looking out into the void of space as he spoke.
“I assume my job is to accompany you to your talks over the situation. If so... I will remain silent unless I see you are in danger. In such case, your safety will take priority over your goal as a diplomat.” Prazutis kept his eyes forward as he spoke, his golden irises staring into the abyss in front of him, beyond the glass.

Private Drallac stood quietly at attention by the bridge entrance, his mind racing. He’d just had his first successful mission and felt like he’d finally proven himself to his fellow soldiers. The next day he was informed he’d be getting a new assignment which had both made him excited and also quite worried, some members of rank still didn’t like a xeno doing well. Before that assignment arrived the Echani broadcast was received and Captain Vassyl had chosen the Falleen to be part of his escort team. Now here Zuno was, standing on the bridge of the biggest ship in the Imperial navy.

The Falleen was snapped out of his mind as the Commodore began giving a ‘speech’. He shook his head ever so slightly, this man’s display showed Zuno just how much the Empire needed some alien diversity in its ranks. His dreams tho we’re still a ways off and for now he had a job to do, one which he’d give his all.

***Inner Rim, Eshan System - N-8***

Polished boots rapped across the equally polished floors at the pace of something shy of a jog during a quick step march. The polished boots were swiftly followed by four other sets though these boots were of various condition as well as make, certainly out of place for being within the Royal Palace of Eshan, home to the royal family, place of business to the Chancellor, and premier location of the capital city, Yusanis. Colonel Ivan Reyes Ferro of Alliance Intelligence was in his dress attire as befitting his current mission as liaison to the Galactic Alliance during Eshan’s tenuous days after declaring its intent to secede from the Galactic Empire. Behind him were four Alliance Operators in clothes befitting Palace Staff to better allow them to blend in. They carried compact blaster pistol sidearms tucked away in their uniforms for this operation instead of their usual kit, combat was not on the menu today after all.

Whilst Eshan remained deep within Imperial Territory, there was no possible way for the Alliance Navy to reach the Sovereignty, that point had been made clear by High Admiral Gial Baram to the Queen, Lady Null and her husband the High Lord Karn himself. That wasn’t to stop the gears from turning as the Karns had known or at least highly anticipated beforehand that the Empire would be knocking on Eshan’s door sooner rather than later to take a more hands-on approach to their rule over the Eshan System.

The scheme set in motion was not of open rebellion. Such things would see cities like Yusanis burn and thousands of Echani citizens both slain and arrested. This was not in the best interest of the Echani people and so at the behest of the Alliance High Command, taking inspiration from the Karn’s previous initiative to establish the local and uninhabited world of Eshan II, or what is now known as Exhibil, another colony of the Echani was to be established within the safety of Alliance borders. It was also the good Colonel’s objective to oversee the establishment of a skilled group of individuals as colonization candidates and he’d felt he’d made his due to this task, he was with a great desire to enlist Lady Null to this troupe and get her off Eshan as well.

Ferro came to the doors of the Hall of Administration where the Chancellor carried out the day to day, Sentinels of the Palatial Guard stood before the doors as unmoving statues though to seek entrance without first obtaining permission was unwise underneath their unflinching gaze. Ferro paused before them and offered, “Colonel Ferro, Alliance Intelligence, here to speak to Chancellor Xenolith and Lady Null.”

***

Eshan, a near-paradise world of grass fields and mountain ranges. The capital of Yusanis sat on the very tip of a peninsula, overlooking a cliff edge, that of which beyond was the Silver Sea. The capital itself was a grand design, quite massive in scale though it was terminated at the foot of Mount Yusanis which established itself as a natural barrier thus storing Yusanis away from the rest of the geographical continent in which it sat. Highways numbering only three were what connected the capital city through the mighty mountain range and into the outside where Eshan’s greatest and foremost Star Port sat, surrounded by the bustling setting of what was essentially the outskirts of Yusanis, a city unto itself and the gateway to Eshan proper.

From the front gates of the Palatial Palace to the Star Port it was a twenty kilometer stretch of urban construction, save for the length of tunneling given by the mountain. Of course the Palace held its own private landing pads within its walls for the convenience of the royal family and for the business of the Echani Monarchy.

Far to the south by a distance of one hundred and eighty kilometers, sat the great school of arts where the new generations of Echani Battlemasters were taught and trained, Raskta Academy. It sat in the foothills surrounded by rural terrain and open rolling hillsides.

Here in the capital district, the presence of anxious anticipation was rife as the main highway from the Star Port to the Palace was packed with speeders and the like as a demonstration took place right outside the Palatial Grounds. Residents from locals to the far reaches of Eshan were not necessarily in violent protest of the royal families’ decision to secede, though they were certainly making their voices heard that there was a great amount of concern going on. Even with a people so collected and orderly as the Echani, these demonstrations could very easily turn into riotous mobs.

As such, the Palace was on lock down and security in the streets was increased though patrols were instructed to allow the demonstrations so long as they did not get out of hand for to outright oppose or arrest the offenders meant it would spark a conflict that would be absolutely detrimental to the PR that the royals were attempting to set over this entire scenario of transition.

***Sector N-8, Eshan – Royal Palace***

Xenolith had just returned from the ED-1 after making contact with lesser Alliance officials and it seemed most fortuitous that the colonel had taken it upon his self to arriver personally on Eshan. Discussions with Idaan had resumed as the pair dealt with the fruits of Silas’s own making. Indeed it was perhaps only due to the hands off arrangement with the empire that the Sovereign had secured many cycles ago that open rebellion hadn’t occurred. For the Echani the territory their worlds fell into hadn’t truly been an issue because their rulers had either been in the pocket of or in the good graces of the empire. However, with Silas’s falling out thanks to the meddling by the not ousted and former ISB the situation had been greyed.

Ensuring a peaceful continuation of the status quo had been the royal couple’s granting of their own offspring to serve as the eventual ruler on the imperial throne. Yet, with the Sith posing a potentially genocidal threat Silas determined it would be better to force the hand of the empire while courting better options that to allow an un-defendable assault to go unchecked. Regardless of how the Sith had forged relations with the empire it would be almost impossible to see the imperial authorities allowing attacks on their own systems regardless of political climate.

The guard captain barely got out the words that the Alliance official had arrived before Xenolith responded, “Of course, let our guest in. Seal the doors behind him, we have matters of state to attend to.” The captain nodded and Ferro was allowed in just as Xenolith called for Idaan to join them. The picturesque beauty calmly walked forward and closed the distance between herself and the colonel. “Greetings colonel, by what honor do we meet your presence this day? As you see the situation has grown quite hectic. I just received word of the first of our number arriving on Exibil. However, I imagine your arrival echoes a far more sensitive matter entirely.” The tall raven haired woman focused her full attention on Ferro as her eyes gleamed as gemstones. Idaan truly was a rare treasure among her people.

For a time, all was still in the pitch blackness that enveloped the Echani Capital. Then, in a flash, the gray daggerhead of epic proportions materialized no more than five hundred alms from the planet itself. Smaller arrow-shaped cruisers followed soon after, accompanied by their innumerous, insect-like wards. Death Squadron had made its entrance, and anyone within scanning range, visual or otherwise, would surely know why they had come. Ahead of the sprawling Imperial battle line lay a lone Golan I defense platform, that, while once trusted to fight for the Empire's cause, was now suspect for the same treachery as the local sovereign. On the other side of the system's outer orbit, the miniscule self-defense fleet, no doubt equally guilty, would also catch a glimpse of the dread procession, comprised of the:

Executor Class Super Star Destroyer Ultimatum
Imperial II Class Star Destroyer Ardent
Imperial II Class Star Destroyer Reclaimer
Imperial I Class Star Destroyer Suprema
Imperial I Class Star Destroyer Adversary
Victory I Class Star Destroyer Enforcer
Victory I Class Star Destroyer Eradicator
Quasar Fire Escort Carrier Bombast
Quasar Fire Escort Carrier Valkyria
Imperial Escort Carrier IEC-624
Imperial Escort Carrier IEC-626
Interdictor 418 Frigate Detainer
Interdictor 418 Frigate Grappler
Nebulon B2 Frigate Blaze
Nebulon B2 Frigate Elphenor
Corellian Gunship IN-901
Corellian Gunship IN-983
Lancer Frigate IN-302
Lancer Frigate IN-306
Lancer Frigate IN-315
Lancer Frigate IN-318

And of course, the fighter compliments afforded to such an august gathering. Five squadrons of TIE Defenders. Eight squadrons of TIE interceptors. Six full flights groups of standard TIE bombers, supplemented by a vintage wing of Skipray Blastboats. "Commodore", a technical officer announced from below the main bridge thoroughfare, "We have energy readings from the station: they've angled their shields and are starting to heat up their main turbolaser batteries". "Bravvve livestock!", Yawehb crowed, leaning forward some from where he stood, "Now we're talking! Smash their batteries with our own! Have our warheads target the command hub and reactor modul-". "Commodore", Doren boldly interjected, "I would remind you our orders are to disable weapons and shields only".

Vassyl could feel all eyes on him. Thankfully, his primary concern was the gaze of Yaht himself. The elder navyman said nothing at first, his lip quivering every so often, as if his mouth might burst open like a flooded bulkhead. Instead, the Commodore merely growled under his breath, and grumbled in reluctant agreement, "Fine... fine! Gut the fun right out it- feh!". Whipping a pointed finger about in the air, the Commodore made his reversal known, and now, with the correct targets outlined, the firing teams set out to relay their orders. Inhaling deeply, Doren fixed his gaze at the Golan lying off in the distance, and mentally steeled himself for the display he was soon to witness. The first volley was tame enough, as the staggering but traceable array of missiles plugged the station's primary shield.

Then the other shoe dropped. For an instant, it was if green was the only color in the galaxy. The combined barrage of the Ultimatum's two-hundred and fifty odd turbolasers was like a single, uninterrupted banner of light. In the back of Vassyl's memory, it struck a chord with the old test footage of the DS-2 battlestation's main weapon over Endor. The sickly rain of emerald continued for what felt like an eternity, but when the guns finally fell silent, the Captain was dumbfounded to find a mere fifteen minutes had elapsed. Nonetheless, the Golan was now a flaming, smoking disk of blastmarks and debris. Arguably, it was intact, but it might as well have been held together by twine and the will of the Force. It would not suffer a second attack.

"Sir", a different officer, one flagged from the communications center, called out, "The self-defense force has offered their unconditional surrender: how shall we respond?". The Commodore parted his lips to speak, but stopped short and glared over at Doren once more. "Tell them to land on their ruddy planet- now", Yaht answered in a bored tone, "And make sure they understand: if they take off again, we'll tear them right out of the sky". Vassyl nodded quietly in approval. Were this his mission to lead, Doren might have added a stipulation to send medical supplies to whoever remained onboard the defense platform. Alas, the Captain knew it was best not to poke the bear that was the aged Questalan. Still, the young officer was not dutybound to enjoy yet another of his senior's tirades.

"Oblivious peoples of Eeshawn", boomed the Executor's commander, "I am Commodore Yaht Yawehb, and I am here to collect a traitor". The holomessage was shot in full body profile, and broadcast over an open channel such that its intentions would be painfully obvious, "Your 'Lord Sovereign' has dropped a hot steamer over your people's loyalty, your government, and your status within the Empire. My fleet is here to ensure that the situation doesn't spoil over any more than it already has". It took a greater degree of will than was thought necessary to keep Doren's jaw clamped to his upper lip: this was some opening address. "So that no further lives are put on the chopping block, I have been tasked with delivering a delivering a diplomatic envoy", Yaht continued, finally reaching the meat and potatoes of the assignment, "In the hope that the rest of your lot possess a shred of sense. Our frontman is ready to receive Lady Idaan, the Queen Mother, in a private holocall, the specifics of which will be transferred to your HQ shortly".

Yawehb held up another authoritative finger, his nostrils flaring with condemnation as he drove the point home, "Only Her Ladyship will be acknowledged for this meeting. If your pretty boy instigator or any of his goons so much as sneeze near the holorecorder, all bets are off. You have half an hour to comply, I'll leave you to consider the consequences if you miss the deadline". Doren was beyond relief when the feed was cut at last, and wasted no time in excusing himself to take his place in the private conference chamber on the next floor down. "Inquisitor, with me", Vassyl commanded solemnly, "I'll be much more at ease with you outside the door: should the meeting be interrupted, physically or otherwise". Yes, for now, there would be no more guns, no new fires to put out, letters of condolence to write. The hour for discussion was rapidly approaching, and Vassyl daren't be late.

More drivel, more nonsense from the leader of this fleet, Prazutis thought... but at least the man got the point across, after almost obliterating a target that was meant to only be disabled offensively.
In any case, Prazutis thought as he watched the Captain walk away from the observation deck, following behind without a word. The entire matter seemed convoluted, at least to Prazutis. If this ‘sovereign’ was suspected of betrayal, he should be eliminated, along with any other leadership of the planet, and replaced with someone more fit to the position, and more loyal to the Empire’s goals. Otherwise, things like this are sure to happen.
“Of course, sir.”
Prazutis flatly said as he followed the captain, stopping just shy of the doorway to the private room of which he would be the only one to reside within, with Prazutis keeping watch through the force within and through his own eyes from the outside.

Green flooded the bridge as the Ultimatum displayed it superior firepower and it immediately intoxicated the young Falleen soldier. Such power, such command, it reaffirmed his desires. While his outward appearance showed him unfazed thanks to years of Falleen meditation techniques, inwardly he was buzzed. The only thing that changed were his scales that took on a slight hue alteration to closer match the color displayed by the powerful weapons.

The following display by the Commodore was less impressive and made Drallac glad to know someone more diplomatic was to proceed with the talks. His eyes turned to Captain Vassyl was he turned to leave. Private Drallac and his human counterpart both turned to follow the good Captain and the Inquisitor who stood at his side. Soon the two soldier were left in the hall with the oddly armored individual who Drallac had never heard of or seen before. It was time to wait and hope that this would not lead to his boots hitting the ground.

Ferro bowed in greeting, “Thank you for the opportunity my Lady. I’ve come to deliver you news that the Alliance has established a dozen candidate worlds in which the colony may be constructed. While I have brought the data with me, I would insist again that you personally come with me and depart Echani Space. The Empire’s reaction to the piece on Eshan’s independence over live media, we are certain that it is only a matter of when rather than if. We must think of the safety of the royal family.” He extended his hand to her and offered his datapad upon which contained the survey data of the candidate worlds within Alliance territory.

“Though as ever, the choice is yours.” Ironic though that it would be that Idaan’s choices were not her’s at all but they were soon to be forced as even at that very moment a terrible scene was unfolding and no sooner had Colonel Ferro concluded his words had a long wailing siren began. The signal for an aerial raid or other such terrific emergency. On instinct the Alliance Intelligence Officer rushed to the partition doors, shoving them open to rush onto the balcony where he looked up in effort to spot aerial components of what he hoped was pirates or some other entity, rather his experience and compass pointed to the iron hand of the Empire coming to deliver a measure of their punishment down upon Eshan… to his trepidation… he wasn’t far off.

His eyes captured not the scream of fighter engines or the staccato of automatic blaster fire, instead his eyes caught the emergence of a new sun in the midday sky. Drawn to the light, he was afforded a view of the most awesome display of firepower short of a continent shattering discharge of some mighty super weapon. Vivid green stung out to swat at a greyed out spec in the sky that suddenly turned into a tiny bright orange flare and over the course of fifteen minutes the green hue dissipated to leave what appeared to be that same grey spec trailing a momumental portion of black smoke and surrounded by a glowing aura of orange and yellow. Beyond that was the sight of something that stole his breath away entirely.

She was small in contrast to the great measure of sky surrounding her, but the image that she cut in steel grey into the canopy of outer space was the stuff of nightmares for those who called the Empire their enemy. Over and over his mind tried to explain what his eyes had found, over and over his mind denied it, but only one set description could give name to his monster in the sky; an Executor-class Super Star Destroyer.

Suggesting it for the third time in his mind, he again choked his words away in utter surprise. It was only when an aid to the Lady of Eshan burst into the area that the Colonel was brought from his stunned fearful shock and dragged kicking and screaming back into reality. The report of the aid was brief and he smartly delivered a holodisc upon which the recorded image of Captain Vassyl emerged and delivered his own demands of which were not to be ignored. “An Executor…” Finally Ferro managed to croak out of his mouth and in that he finally seized his nerve from wherever it had run.

“My Lady,” he spoke, never taking his eyes off the express image of the Ultimatum, “I highly recommend that you follow Captain Vassyl’s demand to the letter and visit him at once via holocall.” Tearing himself away he rushed to her side and offered his escort to her as if he making the decision for her, “I do not know what you intend, but I recommend that you not tarry from every possible effort to manage this situation towards a peaceful resolution. Do not mistake me when I say this and please forgive me, but Eshan is lost. At this early stage, even if the Alliance Navy were close enough to intercept, they’d not have the firepower to challenge an Executor. If you do not concede Eshan to the Empire’s will, then there is nothing that anyone can do about whatever they decide is a sufficient punishment for Lord Karn’s bold addresses.”

“Though time is not lost to us; give me the word and we can make away with the royal family and a portion of handpicked refugees before the Empire manages to blockade the planet. It doesn’t have to end here mi’lady, but today the best we can hope for is that the damage is mitigated.” Ferro hefted his own datapad and began calling up elements of Alliance Intelligence, sending the signal that the deep cover operatives enact protocol to egress from Eshan entirely or those precious few that were actually native to Eshan were to blend in to society as citizens, ordered to carry out normal lives until later activated again… if ever again.

As reports continued to come in, Ferro was astonished to learn that the bright show in the sky was the near obliteration of the Golan I Defense Platform in a single daunting volley of turbolaser fire from the Executor. The Colonel kept up his diligent work as he waited for Idaan Null to speak and deliver her decision concerning the evacuation of the royal family.

Given the opportunity, he lifted his datapad to the sky and snapped a few zoomed imaged of the SSD onto his recorder. While Alliance Intelligence had unearthed the rumor of its existence, there hadn’t been visual proof or anything absolutely definitive. Now, there was no mistaking the presence of an Imperial Command Ship taking to task a rebellious world. Anger soon flooded Ferro and he’d see to it that High Admiral Baram’s plan was rebuked before the Advisory Council for this was exactly what would occur to worlds within Imperial Space that desired liberty so badly as not to wait before Alliance Intelligence gave them the green light.

Idaan required no long period of silent contemplation to make her choice. Turning to Xenolith and Colonel Ferro she spoke with the calm reserve she had come to be known for. “Consider my word given. Xenolith, take Zell and the colonel and a select few that you can rapidly gather and depart from Eshan. Make sure you do so as far from the sights of the imperial fleet as possible. Continue all efforts in the creation of a free colony within the Alliance. I will fulfill my duties here.”

Before allowing Xenolith to leave Idaan added, “If you would please inform Silas of the situation when you are able. Also, make sure he doesn’t do anything rash in response. As the colonel is likely aware, unless our systems are cleared of imperial ties any combative reaction is likely to draw fierce retaliation.” Idaan then bade the pair farewell as she headed for the primary control room of the palace. Once arriving Idaan was made aware of the condition of the Golan II orbital station. ‘It will be a long road to reclaim that which he has created here. It is a shame it had to end like this,’ Idaan mused as she activated the holotransmitter.

Opening a channel and linking it to the imperial broadcast that had been granted earlier Idaan readied herself for ‘negotiations’. In moments the radiant image of the Lady Idaan graced the Ultimatum, though dampened by the natural measures of such displays. The Echani noble that had fought in the final battle against the Yuuzhan Vong stared out at the imperial officials without the slightest hint of fear. “This is Lady Idaan of the Echani Sovereignty. I understand the reason for your arrival and I now await for you to detail the terms of your departure. As we are both fully aware if your intention was simply to attack Eshan we would not be speaking now. Obviously either the grand admiral or a high ranking regional authority has sent you here. So name this traitor you’re here to collect and outline the manner to which we might avoid unnecessary bloodshed.” Idaan knew there was no way to combat the Empire, even with a ready fleet the number of ships that had arrived was staggering. So long as Zell remained safe Idaan was prepared for any demands the empire might make.