Suddenly, and without warning, the council doors burst open. The boot of young Tarnak Somir slammed to the ground. Striding forward, a group of bloodied and battered men fell in behind him. Each wearing the uniform of a Crimson Imperial Shock Trooper.

The look on Tarnak's face told the story well. His rage and hatred spilled over into every fiber of his being. One did not need the Force to sense his feelings. Even a child would be able to pick up on them. His twin blades whirled deftly at his sides.

"We were set up. We were betrayed. We were sent to die."

The rage in his voice almost made the walls shake. The group of guards which had lined the outer hall could now be easily seen. Strewn across the floor were their remains, bloodied and lifeless. Tarnak slowly stalked towards Maim, then he caught the glinting arc of a glaive coming to bare upon him. Instinctively, Tarnak's weapons met the attack with brutal force. Slamming his own into the oncoming weapon then returning with a furious volley of blows. It was a short time before the crimson guard was down.

"The rest of you stay back, or the old man dies. All I want from him is an explanation and perhaps an apology."

The Dark Lord looked upon his son, then to Jax. Not sooner had he looked at Jax than the walls began to hiss with contained heat. The smell of burning flesh radiated throughout the room. Suddenly, the Force slammed down upon them like a hammer. Maim's right hand outstretched and his son, Tarnak, was sent hurdling face first into the glowing hot wall behind him.

The young man's flesh seared and burned as it struck the near molten metal. The once Dark Lord of the Sith stalked forward.

"You dare to become insolent with me in my own house? In front of my guests? I should kill you now just for the insult you have shown me."

He looked around him slowly.

"However, in keeping with this meetings theme of unity, I shall spare your life."

He turned slowly, outstretching both hands.

"Your men on the other hand.."

The sentence never finished, it did not need to be. As Maim clenched his fists, the bodies of each of the Shock Troopers fell to the floor in a heap, blood streaming from their helms.

"Now, go and welcome your brother. Perhaps you and he can have a little talk about insolence, or perhaps you would like me to let Meschi deal with you?"

No sooner had the last sentence been uttered than the boy scurried from the room like a wounded animal. Turning back to his guests, Maim attempted to remain civil.

"I apologize for yet another rude interruption. I hope we will not face the same difficulty again."

Those who survived would be made to pay.

Why this child of the Prince Regent was allowed to act up in such ways was beyond Silk. Though it was not his place to question the will of his lord and master, he would speak of the matter later.

It was the place of the Prince Regent to teach and correct his children and spawn. It was the place of Sovereign Protector Silk to teach and correct the guard, those who served. They would be corrected, this was sure.

Swiftly, Silk returned his focus to the matters at hand. Watching with a sneer under his helm as the boy exceeded from the room, he was given pause at the mention of Meschi. They boy would indeed be disciplined.

With a quiet command over the comm unit within his mask, the Guard was put to high alert status. To be sure no further interruptions bothered the Prince.

Unnoticeable to the trained eye, each Guardsmen within the castle adjusted his attention and position accordingly.

The rest of this meeting would go uninterrupted. Protector Silk would be assured of that.

Malice watched the brutal display by Maim. Nearly killing his son, killing his sons men. This brought up a question, well a few questions into the sith lords head.

*Tell me Maim. If were so hastely to act upon your son and men like that.......what could you say that would assure us you would not act the same way to one of us once this alliance has been set?*


Before Maim could answer, Malice spilled forth his second question.

*And what did he mean by you betrayed him hmm? If such accusations are true.......what's to make us believe you would not betray us as well*

So many interruptions......


...and Zeta was about to create another one, though not purposely.

The Sith Lord was rather uneasy, he could not concentrate on the meeting on hand no matter how much he tried.

He had stopped paying attention long ago, to busy with his own thoughts.

It was apparent that he had not missed much with all the interruptions that had gone on, only now was the meeting trying to get into order.


The Zabrak found himself looking onto Malice rather intensely now, his teeth clenching in frustration at his brethren. He did not agree with Malice questioning Maim, in fact, he didn't agree with the meeting at all.


For the moment, to him, the meeting was a waste of time, he wanted no part in it.

He wanted a break from the gathering.


Quickly he stood, and he was then that he felt Maim's eyes on him.

"I need a moment, I trust that Malice can continue on without me. I will be back..."

He did not wait for an answer as he quickly slipped out the door, leaving all to wonder just why he had departed so quickly.

Maim's face fell upon Malice.

"How I deal with my children has no basis upon this meeting. Also, Tarnak is skilled, but stupid. He assumes because he failed at what should have been a simple mission, others are to blame. He shall find out soon enough the price of insolence.

I have also not promised that if you betray or threaten me I will not extract my vengeance. I, instead, promise the opposite. If I am betrayed or attacked by any that become my ally, I will indeed force my vengeance upon them."

The former Dark Lord leaned forward, to make his point clear.

"I will say once, and only once, that the affairs of my Empire, however, are little of your concern. Just as the affairs of your group are none of mine. I will deal with my men and children as I see fit. If you ever question that again, we will have a problem. Do you understand, Lord Malice?"

Maim didn't bother waiting for a reply.

"Zeta, you do what you feel is best. I cannot help but wonder, however, about your choice to abandon what could possibly be the most important meeting of Sith in the history of the Galaxy. Do not forget that I can now, once again, easily sense your thoughts and emotions. You should really try to hide such things in the future."

Motioning back towards the table, he seated himself once more.

"Now, if we can proceed without further interruption. I am not going to attempt to rose color this. I am not going to treat you like children or talk down to whatever level you think I should. If I was weak and allowed things like this to happen, without reprise, you would not respect me. I will destroy anything and everything which stands in the way of my goals.

I would much prefer that my fellow Sith were not in that path, however, I do not fear you. There is not one of you nor any number of you that serves to instill fear in my dead heart. Fear is a tool which I use upon others. Fear is part of the Dark Side of the Force, but I do not feel it.

The Sith MUST unite together, or be torn apart. There is no middle ground. There can no longer be the understanding that we just stay out of each other's way. For in the future, there will be no path I will not cross. There will be place I do not reach. You are either my allies, or you are not. The choice is yours."

Silent in the blackness between worlds, like stalkers from beyond, the Dark Shard and her escort moved concisely into position above the small planet below. On an impossible scale, the larger ships among the fleet open and spew forth a multitude of smaller shapes. From their bellies, ion trails burning blue, the smaller craft move into formation and surrounded the planetoid below. Pivotal to their formation, hangs the six kilometer outline of the Dark Shard, flagship of Vice Admiral Nox Anor-Sadow.

Central in formation, the Shard provided scale. A sleek black angular outline, she held steady while her craft of support moved into a defensive screen of protection. Among the larger shapes moved countless tiny craft, perhaps fighters or transports. Though their flight paths seemed erratic and random, accord quickly formed.

Slowly, the whole of the armada began to disperse, spreading across the planets pole. Hanging in silence the swarm moved out, blanketing the polar cap.

In precise formation, the Shard as apex, Harbinger Force brought the whole of her offensive potential upon the globe.

Silence across the vastness of oblivion.

In the vacuum of space, there is no sound to speak of.

An unheard rain of domination.

Coherent beams of red and green energy lanced from the weapons emplacements of the Fleet, falling silently towards the shape below.


Today, a planet dies.

Turbolaser fire, mixed with an array of concussion and proton torpedos, burned great gaping holes in the planets polar regions. Atmosphere ionized as great clouds of steam and smoke cascade from the resulting chaos.

Instantly, great lakes are born then promptly die as steam banished skyward. Massive bombardments of deadly gasses break down the layer of ozone holding the globe fertile. Within mere instants half of the planets polar reserve has vanished into the cold of space, dissipating across forever.

Like angry wasps clouds of smaller craft burn a path of stinging wrath around the equatorial ring of Yibikarar, viciously they raise great welts in the surface below. Their attack leaves a molten red line transecting the belly of the globe.

Nearly an hour passes, filled utterly bombarding the helpless orb.

Nearly an hour before the first signs of slowing...

Cannons falling silent, a moment spared for the collection of data, and the fleet begins to break formation.

Driven by unseen hands, they set their course for the lower polar region, leaving savage damage behind.

Again it begins.

Much as it had gone above, now happens below.

In precision flight and pummeling, Harbinger force again brings its full destructive prowess fore.

------------------------------

Aboard the bridge of the Dark Shard, Nox Anor-Sadow, Vice Admiral of the Crimson Empire and maniac conqueror of worlds. A smile was pressed across his features, pleased by the sight of the floundering planet below and stirred by the resounding echo of cannons. This was his method of domination and combat, and it was clear why he held the post he did.

Commander of a grand fleet, his cold tactical mind worked best on this scale. Numbers, goals and barriers. Everything was broken down from up here, reduced to its most primal asset and utilized as such. From here, the loss of one or two ships meant nothing, simply because of the numbers. His way of thinking was the way of the Lords of old, and indeed, they had been his study.

"My Lord," the calm voice of his Comm officer, "we are receiving a transmission from the Homeland. It is coded A-5 urgent, and for your eyes only."

Nodding slightly, Sadow glanced briefly over his shoulder, "Clear the bridge."

As officers and crew hurried to clear the bridge, Sadow was given to thought.
Lesser commanders would retire to their ready-room, or recede elsewhere for such a cominque, but this was not the way of Vice-Admiral Sadow. The bridge was his ready-room, and indeed the whole fleet was his, personally.

The benefit of this was two fold. In one aspect, the advantage could be found in keeping the officers and crew in their place, always aware they are subordinate and in your personal space for which they should be fore ever grateful. Also, it served to keep staff and crew segregated by rank or class. No matter which view you took, it commanded respect.

Alone, Sadow turned to face the massive holoprojector that was central to the command area. With a simple gesture, he flipped a switch on a far panel, and a hologram shimmered to life before him.

"Vice Admiral Sadow," began the visage that formed before him.

The Dark Lord of the Sith, Maim was an impressive figure even over holo. Fully two feet taller then Sadow, due to the projector, he loomed massive and dark aboard the bridge of the Shard. Behind him a world burnt... Burnt in his name.

Swiftly, Sadow fell to one knee before the image, his pose humble and serving.

"My Lord Maim, it is a pleasure. How may I serve thee?"

The image of Maim smiled, thin lipped and cold.
* * * * "Well, Lord Sadow. You may serve me well."
Chuckling, Maim pressed on.
* * * * "Worlds fall before you, as I command, and it pleases me. I have seen fit to promote your rank, Fleet Admiral Sadow. I do hope your new command will continue to serve as well as it has..."

Stiffly, Sadow nodded his thanks to the image, but also knew the threat behind it. Gifts from the Dark Lord were earned through blood and trials, and Sadow was left to suspect the worst. There would be pain for this promotion.

"My Lord Maim, I am honored and will serve you as best among the Sith. I present you with a new prize. Below burns the world of Yibikarar, fit for domination as you see fit. Soon the world will be devoid and lifeless, perfect host for yards of construction or fleet."

The image of Maim grinned, but it was the sort of look no creature could read.

"Excellent, Lord Sadow. Complete your conquest of this world, and you may win another prize."

With a final, and final, chuckle, the image of Lord Maim, Dark Lord of the Sith faded, stealing light with it. Gone, Sadow was plunged into the darkness of his bridge.

Soon the galaxy would know him as High Admiral of the Crimson Fleet. For this was his goal and his drive.

Again smiling, the command crew was recalled to the bridge and the attention of Nox Anor-Sadow, Sith Executor, and Fleet Admiral of the Crimson Empire reset his attention to the task at hand. The further domination of the planet and space around it.





((11,102 wrds))

Zerxes smiled deliciously as his Master ate the Infidel Jedi's heart. He wished he had been allowed to do it. It looke good.

He focused his attention back to the table. Before speaking, he thought briefly on how to say what he wanted to say. When he decided, he spoke.

"Master, what was discussed befre I got here? Oh, can i have the rest of the infidel Jedi's heart?"

He sat back in his chair and licked his lips.

Swiftly and silently, Protector Silk burst forward on his Lords command. Stealth masked his signature through the force as the crimson cloaked Silk brought his glaive back. In a powerful swing, Silk brought the dull edge of his blade across the back of the knees of Zerxes.

In one fell motion, the chair upon which Zerxes sat and the man himself were dropped unceremoniously upon the floor before Lord Maim.

Yet, even before Zerxes could speak, Sovereign Protector Dioan Silk brought the razor humming edge of his blade to the back of the Sith's neck.

"You will speak when spoken to and address Lord Maim with reverence and respect, or you will die."

With that, Silk stepped back from the crumpled man and again vanished amongst his brethren of the Royal Guard.

Malice's blue eyes flared with anger, Maim was walking a very thin line with the sith lord of TNSO. Unlike Zeta, Malice was rarely humble, and oftend acted on his anger. Watching his fellow sith lord Zea leave,only added to his anger. He did not like being here anymore then Zeta did, and felt it not ight for him to leave while he had to stay.

Glaring back at Maim, Malice still stood, and spke to him again.

*I understand Maim, what's your businss is your business. But i caution you, choose your words carefully when speaking to me in such a way. For trouble is like a paty to me and i welcome it whenever it presents it's self*

Going into Maim's mind, Malice spoke to him there.

(You tred a thin line with me lord Maim. Regardless of how powerful you claim to be, you d not want me as an enemy. So a word of caution, carefulon your tone of voice, and choice of words with me)

Malice said all this while sitting back down. To on lookers however, it was nothing but silence. Yes Malice was in the sith lords home, in his territory, but that mattere not to him. He did not fear him, or he did not fear anyone. Save for his master, Elder sith lord Darth Snack. With that he sat and waited, for anyone else to speak.