"The smallest of them will do nothing without the leave of his superior and so on and so forth up the chain. When dealing with Imperials, the only link in the chain important enough for your attention is the one with highest rank. Control that and everything else will fall into place....Master Jas goes to meet with the link of the highest rank. Fear not the Imperials."

"Thank you, Master." Ithron replied, once again using the honorary term to address the knight, who, in truth, he had never spoken with before. Bowing his head slightly in token of gratitude for the knight's reassurance, and also in deference to the man's clear knowledge, Ithron realised that along with Darth Necros, he would be one to watch.

As the knight turned away to inspect his attire, and the Infiltrator began to shake from the first hints of turbulence caused by the atmosphere, Ithron thought about what had been said.

...the only link in the chain important enough for your attention is the one with highest rank...

Mentally filing this away, he had a suspicion that it would prove a useful strategy on the surface when dealing with the rebels.

Of course, he thought. It all falls apart if you can't control the most important link...I'd just better make sure I can

The message from Captain Voltaire was as simple as it was short. He is here. The words signified what some in the upper echelons of Command hoped would be the beginning of a new era of Imperial-Sith Order cooperation. Grand Admiral Desaria was never one to nurse false hopes - the Sith and the Empire, despite their commonalities - had exactly the same goal when Time had run its course: unquestioned hegemony over all. Neither would deviate from the course to that end and that could create only one outcome when there were no enemies left to fight - the Sith and the Empire would combat themselves.


And likely destroy each other and the galaxy along with us. Thank the Gods I will not live to see it, for in my lifetime there will always be someone left to fight.


The Grand Admiral sent word that the Sith Master was to be escorted to a large wardroom on the ship's port side. The wooden meeting table had been removed and in its place put a large transparent construct with a void in its center. Some may have thought the quasi-table was the latest in a rage of glasswork-art coming from Raltiir and Yaga Minor, the Grand Admiral knew better...


..as did his guest. Desaria turned behind wehere he was seated to a red-tuniced figure glaring out the viewports at the planet below. " I requested your assistance as a matter of prudence but make no mistake I will not tolerate any alienation of the Sith. The Emperor has seen to their usefulness and we will carry out his order. Is this neccessary?"


The man turned and faced the Grand Admiral, his face thin and guat, his hair as black as the trousers and jackboots he wore. " It is, Desaria. Make no mistake yourself - do not think the Sith will stand idly by and let the Empire grow unchcked. There are moments such as this, subtle moments, when they need to b reminded of their vulnerabilities - and who can strike them."


Baron Desaria growled but hit a button that opened the door at the room's opposite end. A phalanx of escorts waited outside, a single being entering swathed in black robes of a ceremonial nature. The Grand Admiral stood.


" I am Grand Admiral Telan Desaria. I speak for the Emperor here today. This "- the aristocrat gestured- " is the Viscount Ierin del Forza, High Inquisitor of the Galactic Empire."

Vance walked past the escorts that were watching him, entering the assigned meeting chambers. When the door had opened, the Sith Master had immediately seen the pale man behind the Imperial; the other man had long black hair, and a visage that indicated a position of some significance, if for only appearance sake.

The Imperial Commander stood, introducing himself.

"I am Grand Admiral Telan Desaria. I speak for the Emperor here today. This is the Viscount Ierin del Forza, High Inquisitor of the Galactic Empire."

The Sith Master nodded, the rooms door closing silently behind him as he passed beyond the sensor range. Within the centre of the room, more specifically the desk, was of far more interest to Vance at the current moment. There was a very lack of Force energy, and the closer one got to the meeting table, the more distinct the affect of the concealed ysalamiri became...

So they believe the Force-nullifying creature to be a suitable defence? Perhaps a statement? A show of distrust toward the Sith?

The implications were there, and if read incorrectly could prove to be quite insulting to the Sith Master. However Vance decided to assume it was, in fact, the Inquisitors' decision, and that Desaria had simply gone along with it; after all, with the Emperor vouching for the Sith's presence, what other precautions would the Imperial Grand Admiral need to trust the hooded being in his midst?

Yet, if they believed a ysalamiri could satisfy their need to feel secure, then Vance would allow it. After all, it didn't take a reliance on the Force for the Sith Master to be able to use his weapon, nor did it mean that not having access to the omnipresent entity was, beyond using the Force powers, immobilizing... a very common misunderstanding, it seemed.

A Force User was not completely dependent on the Force – it simply helped.

Moving to the only other seat, which was opposite from where the Grand Admiral and his escort were positioned, Vance sat. As he looked at the Imperial, the Sith Master placed his hands onto the table, interjecting his fingers.

"You know who I am," Vance said, glancing to the Inquisitor. "My brethren are already en route to the planet surface, and I feel that if we waste further time with needless discussion, we will simply make the effort harder for ourselves."

The Sith Master locked eyes with Desaria, deciding to get right to the point and speed things along into action...

"What I suggest is a simplification of the forces that we will be merging together. Namely I will expect the Sith to take control of any trooper-soldier numbers while on the surface, as this is our task to complete with your support. You will be free to allow your Ground Commanders to establish control points, whether along the city edge, or within select points of public localization; however, ultimately, the Empire is here as a show of force, while the Sith finalize the cut needed to bring the corrupt Government to its knees... do you have anything further to add? Concerns?"

The Sith Infiltrator descended through the clouds of the planet and into the main atmosphere layer of the planet. They had descended into a heavy forest region, the perfect place to hide the ship until the negotiations were resolved, at which point they may move to the local garrison either by speeder or by ship, depending on whether or not they wanted the infiltrator to be seen by outsiders. Necros stood and walked to one of the viewports in the side of the craft, looking out at the jungle around them. The ship had settled down to a landing in a narrow area, and now it was time to get out and stretch.

Lowering the ramp, the Sith Knight was the first one out of the ship, taking some cautious steps and stretching out with the force to sense if any potentially dangerous animals were nearby. When he sensed none, he beckoned to his comrades that the coast was clear.

The first order of buisness was to set up a basic camp, plus to camoflague the Sith Infiltrator. Walking over to the cargo compartment, the knight removed several layers of camo netting and passed them to the apprentices to be distributed over the length of the ship. With the apprentices getting to work, Necros walked out into the forest a little ways, and pulled out his lightsaber. Igniting it, he swept through the trunk of a solid tall tree, toppling it onto the forest floor with a resounding thud. The knight again stretched out with the force, but the only things alerted by the sound and ground shaking were the non-dangerous animals.

Clipping his lightsaber back to his belt, he walked back torwards the area where the sleeping tents would be erected. Although the infiltrator had sufficent sleeping quarters, Necros preffered the outside of the ship to the inside. That way, if someone launched a sneak attack on the ship, at least not everyone could be killed in a single moment.

The Grand Admiral inhaled as the Dark Lord was speaking, wondering if Tarkin had ever feared Darth Vader. The more the thought came to forefront of the Guardsman's mind, the more he saw the ludicriousness of the notion - Vader was under the Emperor's orders to serve Tarkin. Serve him he had - as well as could be expected. Besides, without the Empire the Sith would be smashed by a vengeful Coalition and their own Jedi minions.


" Lord Jas, you will have command of a total of six battalions dedicated to the ending of the insurrection down there. Two battalions of Stormtroopers and four of Army Infantry are at your disposal. I would trust you not to waste the lives of loyal sons of the Empire, but they are yours to do with as you please."


Grand Admiral Desaria stood and placed one gloved hand behind his back while the other perched itself on the silver buckle of his duty belt. " You are not a student of the operational art of war so let me say this - six battalions is a hideously small number of troops, barely nine thousand men to control an upheaval of several millions. You however, are Sith. You have a grasp on a power I could not hope to fathom and hope never to face. You will doubtless not even need the men allocated to you. The parameters as laid out by His Majesty are extremely broad.


" Your autonomy is sweeping, Master Jas. But this is a military operation. If you fail, I will assume control and end this splendid little gambit. I said I speak for the Emperor and I do, so let me caution you: the Fate of your order hinges on what you do here. May the Emperor guide your actions."


Desaria turned to face Jas, and let his arms fall to his sides. " Good Luck, Lord Jas."

"Lord Jas, you will have command of a total of six battalions dedicated to the ending of the insurrection down there. Two battalions of Stormtroopers and four of Army Infantry are at your disposal. I would trust you not to waste the lives of loyal sons of the Empire, but they are yours to do with as you please."

Vance listened, noting the number of troops the Imperials would be supplying, and doing a rough count in his mind as to how best to divide them on the planet surface. The soldiers would suit as peacekeepers, for the most part, which would allow the Sith to use subterfuge and cunning to win over the masses against their corrupt Government. It wouldn’t be too hard a task, as the Sith simply had to extort the current leaders’ mistakes and help to ascend another in its place that was virtuous – insofar as being under the Sith’s control, at least.

"Your autonomy is sweeping, Master Jas. But this is a military operation. If you fail, I will assume control and end this splendid little gambit. I said I speak for the Emperor and I do, so let me caution you: the Fate of your order hinges on what you do here. May the Emperor guide your actions."

The Sith Master narrowed his eyes. Did the Grand Admiral just threaten the Sith Order? Did he have the nerve, nay the disrespect, to assume that the Sith gave more than a passing glance to the pitiful grasp the Empire had upon the galaxy? The brash officer probably needed some lessons in how best to play the diplomat with those who would never cower under such an impressively, powerful Empire…

However now was not that time.

"Good Luck, Lord Jas."

Vance stood, before he turned and walked from the meeting room. He would simply leave the Star Destroyer, descend to the planet Rodia and begin giving orders to those who required them; those that showed promise would know they would need to begin working within the crowd, manipulating them into pushing the Government from power, from their administrative buildings, to make way for the newer leaders…

…leaders that Vance would personally offer to the populace of Rodia.


Sometime Later

Vance sat within the small fighter, shutting down the ships systems and finalizing the landing procedure. The Imperial troops the Sith had been assigned were landing likewise in their own personnel landing craft. The Rodians seemed to be taking an interest in the show of force coming down upon them, though they seemed hesitant to make hasty decisions, such as attacking outright, which told the Sith Master that some of his brethren had at least started the large-scale manipulation that would be needed…

Leaving the fighter, Vance walked to where he felt Recon through the Force. Searching for the old man, the Sith Master smiled. Recon waited out on a balcony, overlooking the masses that stood before the main Governmental building, all anger and protests...

"We have been given nine thousand men," He said simply, looking out over the crowd. "And apparently we are being judged following our results, however I felt the need to mention we did not answer to the Empire's Emperor was not important... they will work it out on their own, eventually, or they will continue to bask in their own ignorance. Either way, we will take this planet, if only to further our own gains in the process.

"What of the Apprentices? Are they beginning to work within the crowd? I expect you've had them busy trying to manipulate the masses into feeling a new Government is needed?"

Looking out over the mixture of species below, Vance let out a long sigh.

"If we control them, we control the planet," He said, folding his arms across his chest. "That was something the Government seemingly forgot. If we can lead the crowd, if we can prove we hold their ideals and concerns above the current Government, then they will eventually come around to seeing our way as the best way... we will need to call upon our contact, and present a selection as potentials for that new leadership."

The Sith Master paused, listening to the raised voices below, relishing in the sense of chaos that emanated.

"Have our Apprentices begin making attacks against the guards protecting the Administration building," Vance said, turning his back to the view presented by the balcony. "We will need to show our interest in giving them what they want, and if that requires bloodshed then so be it... after all, a mob is only as smart as it's stupidest member. The battle will begin, the mob will lose their rationality, and the Sith will be in place to pick up the pieces when they seek our aid."

Walking from the place Recon stood, Vance produced his communicator from within his robes. He needed to bring Quis’an to the fore, the Rodian that had been prepared for the rebellion, and bought for the Sith’s needs; her knowledge of the Government, her race, and generally anything alien on Rodia, meant that she had proven most useful following the Sith’s contact being made.

It also helped that Quis’an had been a failed Governmental candidate, who had lost the election process. This meant she was known, while being able to continue with her past campaign to offer the best treatment of the Rodian peoples as a whole…

…it was all coming together.

" What are you thinking, Grand Admiral?"


Grand admiral Desaria sighed, ignoring the question for a moment. With his emerald eyes he gazed at Rodia orbiting peacefully beneath the orbiting flotilla, wondering what was no in store for the alien masses. The slowly rotating green-tan ball of rock grass and plain was home to some six hundred million people, of which only ten percent could have been actively involved in rebelling against the Empire. Silently, the Grand Admiral wondered what fate awaited the still loyal servents of His Majesty who had been caught in the wrong place, at the wrong time.


Turning away from the window, the Baron of Raenoria took up a glass of iced tea in his black-gloved hand and sat down. His steely gaze moved towards the red-tuniced man standing now before him, also looking out at Rodia. The Viscount del Forza was a curious man, once a Jutraalian Admiral and now High Inquisitor, an undoubted expert on all things Force related, dark or light. It was he who had counselled Desaria on taking a hard-line stance with the quiet Sith Lord, he who had urged him to assert his dominance. But still, a voice in the back of the Grand Admiral's mind hated being so brusque with a man who was supposed to be his ally, a fellow servent of the Empire and Restorer of Order to the Galaxy.


" I wonder, Viscount, if you distrust the Sith too much."


The Inquisitor let a smile crease his already thin lips. " You trust them too much. You think they serve the Emperor - they only serve themselves. They see us as the means to an end, not equals by any means. I wonder if you will be ready when the time comes."


" What time?" asked Desaria.


" When it is we who have to hunt them down and exterminate them after they've become too powerful."


Desaria swallowed the tea, its coolness stretching from throat to stomach. " I thank the Gods, Inquisitor, that I will be long dead when that day dawns."

Rodia


Perrin watched as his breathren set about making camp and hiding the Sith Infiltrator. From what, Perrin had no idea.

There was an Imperial Fleet in orbit and there were Sith at their door. Whatever advantages these 'rebels' thought they had quickly evaporated with those two circumstances.


What the rebels hoped to accomplish, he had no idea but he also really did not care. Politics was all about trying to get the masses to do what you want.


Well there was an easier way to do that.

But first, you need people.


He left the camp in search of a nearby settlement or town with a half formed plan in the back of his hand. He would seek out these rebels and figure out what exactly their real goals were.

Most who openly defy the Empire were not so against the Empire ideologically as much as they were dissillusioned with their station or position in life.

Perhaps they hoped to simply topple the ineffective government on planet and sit themselves in a better position hoping they could play ball with the Empire. If the rebels were smart, perhaps they had something more lucrative to offer the Empire or perhaps something to show the Empire that they would benefit more from the rebel's oversight than the previous leaders.

But the rebels are not dealing with Imperials. How would they handle dealing with Sith?

If he gained dominance over the rebels, then run roughshod over the rebel leadership to keep their people in line the rebellion might be the best thing to happen to the Sith.

Besides, the stronger survived. If the inept leadership of the former leaders of Rodia couldn't contain this minor insurrection, then they did not deserve their positions.

A city came into view and he passed it's borders with a purpose.

An old woman's voice:
"You are one of them. You will be drawn to a planet. A planet of vast jungles and beasts. To a dark building you will go, your true home. There you are meant to be."
Then, a man's voice:
"Come to Rodia. The answers you seek are there as well as your future. Come to Rodia!"
The two voices repeating again and again. They begin to mix, speaking over one another becoming louder and louder.

"Stop!!!" Xara shouts as she wakes from her sleep. Another nightmare, now with something new to it. She began to hear this man's voice on Coruscant where she was trying to discover her past. Xara had no idea why it mentioned Rodia. She had never been there before and she was hoping to understand what Rodia had to do with anything.

Looking around the room she noticed what many of her nightmares bring the morning after. The room was a disaster. Parts of the walls have been scorched and furniture seemed thrown around. It's at this time the owner of the inn barged in.

"What has happened in here!" he cried.

Leaping from the bed Xara jumped behind him. The innkeeper turned and Xara grabbed his neck with her right hand. She was crushing his throat with a strength she never knew she had. It seemed as her very anger was giving her some unknown strength.

"Kill him, you have strength to do so. You posess great power within you as you shall soon learn." A voice said to her.

It was at this time she realized she had already killed the man. Xara had killed before but this time something was different. She felt no remorse and was almost proud of herself for listening to this voice which spoke to her. Xara gathered her things and left before anyone else might see her.

Outside the crouds were swelling and a great deal of yelling could be heard. The government on Rodia was very unstable and not a place Xara really wanted to remain in but she was desperate to learn why she was drawn here. She was deperate to learn what this new voice she now heard meant.

Perrin had no trouble getting into the city. Open fighting had broken out and the capital was divided into sections, the Governor of Rodia holding the largest sectors and fielding the largest number of ground troops. The rebels were scattered though they held their sectors with dogged determination. Civilians caught inbetween the factions remained in their homes and off the streets.

The city, in certain places, had a strange sense of emptiness.


Like a tomb.


He knew the Imperial overlords crushed insurrection without hesitation and without question. To allow a high ranking official become deposed was a threat to all high ranking officials Empire-wide. Still, what troubled the Sith was not the actual rebellion, for if the Imperial overlord could not manage his charges, by rights, he should be brought down! No, what troubled Perrin was that if these rebels had a chance to topple the current regime, how much damage would be brought to Rodia? Would the planet be worth the expense of the Sith Order's investment after it was all said and done?


No. The fighting had to stop and quickly or it would spill out into every city on the planet as cultural, racial and economic divisions threatened to tear each other apart.


The Sith were experts at bringing overwhelming force against their foes which crushed their will and broke their resolve to stand against Sith.

He got the distinct feeling that the Sith Masters wanted this world intact, not some burned out worthless cinder.


The equation was simple. To end this fight, the Sith merely had to back one side or another. But why back the Empire's dog? If the Sith supported the failure of a Governor, could they really expect gratitude and fealty or would his arrogance cause him to assume the Sith intervention was his due? What of the rebels? Did they deserve to be raised?


He was mildly surprised that he saw no anti-Empire slogans or other such graffiti surrounding this rebellion which could only mean the reason for the insurrection were not ideological in nature. Fighting for a 'cause' was weakness. It amounted to fighting over 'opinion' which was something only the old took to heart. Perhaps this was a rebellion of a different sort. A battle between two different organisms vying for superiority.

This was a fight he could relate too.

The force user was, by nature, a step up the chain compared to humans. And the Sith was the most prominent of all force users with none as their equal.

It was time to meet the leader of this rebellion.


Perrin changed his course, walking towards a rebel controlled sector of the city.


As he moved farther into the sector, the damage to buildings and surrounding structures more pronounced. He also saw several corners marked with banners to show who controlled the area. And, as if to provide proof, several stormtroopers were staked on either side of a street on durasteel poles, probably pulled from a captured metal manufacturer or distribution center.

Perrin grinned.


No. Not ideological at all.



This was the reason the Imperial Fleet were surrounding Rodia. This was the reason why they were here!


Because they feared that their Governor might fail!


Just who is this brutal rebel leader that they fear and can he be made to serve the Sith?


If he swore loyalty to the Sith, then the power on this planet would shift from Empire to Sith while still under the Imperial Banner.


The Knight's mind swirled with ideas.


We raise up our own dog and bind him with a collar of our own and control the world right under the noses of the Empire. All they care about is that the insurrection is over and crushed and Rodia no is a problem. Keep the taxes, tribute and reports coming and the Empire couldn't give a damn.


And Rodia becomes our base for our own ambitions.


He sighed. His plan depended on the rebel leader not being quite mad. Cruel was fine. Brutal was fine. But mad? He would be uncontrollable and would need to be put down.


With the other Sith soon moving against rather strategic areas to cripple the rebels, it would be added pressure to sway the rebel leader to recognize his betters and realize that his only chance of success and reward would be on the coat-tails of the Sith Order.


Quietly, of course.


He stopped as several people were coming out of buildings on either side of the street before him with various weapons. They hadn't attempted to kill him yet as he was dressed in white, clean and obviously did not look like a combatant. With his saber tucked away, they saw nothing on him threatenting and so risked open contact.


Probably want to have a little fun with me before they kill me, he smirked to himself.


He walked towards the gathering crowd, his lack of fear causing some to hesitate in slight confusion.