Coruscant

Nihilus looked at the scenery over Coruscant and he felt amazed by its beauty from the cockpit of his new System Patrol Craft. He grabbed the controls to descend the craft into the atmosphere of Imperial Centre which wasn’t long to be picked up by Imperial Air Security Patrols which two old TIE fighters were coming up behind him and radioed to Nihilus craft.

“This is Imperial Security Patrol Fighter 1A, state your intentions and don’t change your course or we will open fire if we need to.”

“This is Nihilus. I am Imperial pilot and my service number is 04642A and I am here to go to the Imperial Palace to meet with some officials that they are expected my arrival and meeting to go.”

“I will radio my headquarters to verify your service number to check it out.”

A few minutes later…

“Okay, we have clarified your service number and welcome to Coruscant Nihilus. Have a good day.”

“You, too and keep up the good work of protecting the interest of the glory of the Empire.”

“Thanks. Roger out.”

Nihilus safety landed his ship at the local star port near the Imperial Palace. After he landed at the star port, he caught a taxi to take him to the Palace to introduce him to the Emperor and other top officials who understand the obedience and loyalty to the Emperor. Once the taxi is at the palace, some stormtroopers came over to the taxi and began to ask Nihilus business here at the Palace.

“State your intentions here.”

“My name is Nihilus; here are my official papers to state my service number. I am here to meet with the people inside to discuss business.”

Nihilus hands over his papers to Stormtrooper leader and he looked at the papers and sees everything checks out.

“You can pass now and welcome to the Palace.”

“Thank you.”

Nihilus gets out of the taxi and goes inside the tall building and opens the door. He walks up to the front office and low level secretary asks.

“Do you have any business to be here?” she asked politely.

“My name is Nihilus and I am here to be at a meeting that I have with people up top of here.” he replied back.

The secretary tells him to take a seat and wait.

Imperial Palace
Imperial Centre (Coruscant)

"What do you think of this... Nihilius?" The Grand Moff asked, watching the security footage of the man entering the palace somewhere far below the chamber.

"He seems able enough. The High Command trusts him, at any rate." Deusvult Godridge, the Moff's military aide, responded.

Bhindi smiled thinly at the mention of the Imperial High Command. IHC had long scorned the Empire's only female Fleet Admiral, accusing her more time of sleeping her way to the top than anyone cared to remember.

Her recent appointment to that Council (without their prior knowledge) had been quite a nip in the butt for them. Not that the Empire's newest Grand Moff saw fit to spend much time on the capital: the matters of running the Yaga Minor Protectorate were far more pressing (in her mind, at least).

Nonetheless, here she was. Waiting to meet with this Darth Nihilius.

"I have found that the Imperial High Command does what is in its best interest, Commander." Bhindi returned with a hint of a frown. "The Emperor was very insistant that the Sith play a bigger role in the activities of His New Order."

Godridge frowned, now. That Nihilius was a member of the Sith Order and apprentice to Lord Jas was not common knowledge (outside the IHC). But Bhindi's comment left little doubt that his presence would become more generally known in the near future.

The question now was, what was the puspose of Nihilius' mission? Was it a test of the Imperial Fleet? Or of the Sith Apprentice himself? Or was it a test of them both, their abilities to work together to serve the Emperor?

"This is a... troubling situation, Admiral." Godridge said at last.

"Thank you, Commander, for your valuable input." Bhindi said dryly. "It is more than a little bit troubling. The Corellian Diktat has long supported the Sith, and Lupercus gave them enough rope to have some fun. But if the Emperor wants to integrate the Sith into the Fleet Proper..."

"It seemed to work in the past, Admiral. Darth Vader was a Lord of the Sith, and he-"

"Vader made a habit of murdering his own officers, Commander. Not that I entirely disagree with the practise, mind, but to waste talent is paramount to treason in my books."

Godridge nodded. "But if the repots are true... that Emperor Palpatine commanded the Fleet through the Force..."

"Rubbish." Bhindi returned, growing angry now. "The Emperor's reliance on the Force was the cause of his own downfall. The Force is a tool, like a Star Destroyer is a tool. Nothing more."

"But perhaps we could put it to good use with the Fleet. Routing out hidden bases, anticipating attacks..."

"Perhaps." The Grand Moff conceeded. "But perhaps not. The Sith are said to be uncontrollable, wild and obsessed with power. Who is to say they will follow the orders given to them by an officer. Even an Admiral or greater.

"The Sith do not owe their allegiance to the Empire, Commander. They owe thiers to their own cult. They follow their teachers, not our principles. In that, they are dangerous."

The Grand Moff stopped, her eyes lighting up.

"However, I believe I know just the answer to this question. If the Sith are to become a part of the Fleet, then we need simply be able to control them."

She smiled.

"We will meet with this Nihilius, and we will have him tie his own noose."

With a smile, she led the way to the IHC Conference Room, where the High Command would meet with the Sith Apprentice, and give him his first mission as a member of the Imperial Fleet.

As Nihilus sits there patiently at the front office, the secretary stands up and looks at him, “Alright, you can now go to IHC Conference Room where you will meet High Command. Stormtroopers will escort you to the room at once.”

Nihilus nodded as a stormtroopers escorts him to the conference room several floors above. Nihilus is not going to risk his Imperial career of making any foolish actions that would end his chances of establishing a good career in the Empire.

The stormtroopers was keeping a watchful eye on Nihilus because he was doing his duty and even to notice he is escorting a Sith is a dangerous move to not interrogate Nihilus. Nihilus could sense the uneasiness from the stormtroopers which he would not speak it out to the stormtroopers or who ever are in charge with them.

A few minutes...later

Nihilus arrives at the IHC Conference Room as the two stormtroopers stands firmly in the entrance of the room but keeping the entrance clear to the people like the High Command.

Nihilus sits comfortably at the large black circle table as he waits for the High Command to come in.


OOC: Sorry, that my post is short that I will do better in my next post here. :)

The conference room was large and lavishly outfitted. Centred in the room was a long mahogany table, fourteen chairs today set around it. Each of the chairs was equally big, dressed in fine leather and equipped with a heating unit for cold days.

It was good to be on the Imperial High Command.

On cue, the doors at the opposite end of the room slid open, and the members of the IHC slipped in. The Stormtroopers who had escorted the Sith Apprentice straightened, coming to attention at the sight of the most powerful group of people in the Empire.

Several of the chairs were left empty as all took their places. The head of the table, where Kaine usualy sat, was left empty, as was the place reserved for the freshly minted Grand Admiral Telan Dessaria.

But the rest of the High Command was present, among them Grand Moff Bhindi Drayson, and the other Grand Moff of the Empire, the old and wizened Azrael Zell, former Grand Admiral and once considered in the running for Regent.

Once.

They welcomed Nihilius with due respect, though none rose to shake his hand. The exchange of nods and pleasentries was to be enough.

And then, without delay, they moved on to the business at hand. The Sith hopeful's service to the Empire.

"Your mission is simple." Bhindi said with a slight smile. "Our forces in the border regions are in need of a logistics base. You've been assigned to the task of taking one for them."

She pressed a button on her datapad, and the glowing representation of a world filled the area in the middle of the table.

"This is Myrkr. Few have heard of it, but it enjoyed some fame at the height of Grand Admiral Thrawn's power. It's located a short distance from Obroa-skai, and the Empire wishes to see it secured.

"You are too travel to Myrkr and, with a minumm of bloodshed, bring it under Imperial Control. You've been assigned the Star Destroyer Tralus to accomplish this, as well its compliment of soldiers and starfighters."

She offered a grave frown.

"Do not fail us. I can promise you, failure as a soldier of the Empire is far worse than failure as a Sith Apprentice."

With a nod, the Stormtroopers escorted Nihilius out, a shuttle waiting to take him to his ship.

Nihilus understands the level of emotions in the conference room about him being new to this job and they were his superiors. He looked at each individual closely to a point where their ranks are and their unquestionable victories in their histories.

Nihilus never likes the long waited discussions that were too expensive in the amount of time that are very costly. He enjoys getting to the business at once and then gets on with it.

By listening to the Grand Moff about the nature of his mission is vital to his success to this mission that has been given to him. “I understood what needs to be done, Grand Moff Drayson.”

Nihilus studies the planet’s status and history with the great detail on the holoprojector in the middle of the table. He doesn’t say a word back to them by showing the High Command to taking in the information not bothering them with ill-fated questions because they would cut his career in the Imperial duties.

Nihilus nods as he was giving his assignment to establish an Imperial base on Myrkr. “I understood about my task on the planet, Grand Moff Drayson. I don’t want to have bloodshed on my hands where the damage can be healed once this have been sorted out with friendship between the Empire and the Myrkr occupants. I will establish a dialogue with the occupants on that world so they can see the friendly nature of the Empire and seal the rift between them and us."

“I will not fail you, Grand Moff and to the High Command. Myrkr will be under the Imperial flag in the region. Failure is a damn court martial on my hands.” Nihilus gave no expression in his voice under his mask.

With a nod, the Stormtroopers escorted Nihilius out, a shuttle waiting to take him to his ship.

Nihilus stood up and bow respectfully to his superiors and was escorted to his ship which his loyal droid was waiting for him outside the palace. Nihilus turns to the stormtroopers, “Thank you and now to get back to your duties.” The stormtroopers left as Nihilus was getting into his ship. “So this is where it begins and now I must get to Imperial Star Destroyer, Tralus.” He walked to the bridge of his small ship and sits down on his chair. Nihilus looks over to his droid, “Take us out and set course to the Star Destroyer, Tralus in orbit.” HK-50 nodded as he his droid took the controls and piloted Sith Vengeance to the orbiting Star Destroyer.

Sith Vengeance’s engines roar as it begins it’s ascended to the Coruscant heavens. Once in orbit of Coruscant, Nihilus ship changed its course to the waiting ship that he will be traveling to Myrkr soon.

Nihilus saw the big dagger shape ship ahead and it was getting closer in the bridge windows. “Impressive design and it reminds me of my Star Destroyer, Ravager, and the one I pulled together at Malachor V and where it was destroyed at Telos. Where it was not destroyed by Old Republic navy ships but from within. This Star Destroyer will do to serve my needs.”

“Unidentified vessel, state your mission to the Star Destroyer, Tralus or we will open fire and we won’t hesitated.”

“This is Darth Nihilus and the Imperial High Command said this is the vessel where I will carry out the orders that they have given me.”

“We will lower the shields when we confirm the coded password.”

“Okay, stand-by.” Nihilus sends the coded password to the ship.

The leading commander of the Tralus looks at the coded password from his chair and confirms the password where it checks out.

“Alright, the shields will be lowered for you to enter the secondary hanger bay.”

“Understood and copy that.”



The Sith Vengeance enters the hanger bay and he gets out from his ship via the ship’s loading ramp at the hanger bay where he was greeted by some Imperial navy crew and stormtroopers. Some of the stormtroopers escorted Nihilus to the bridge from the nearest turbolift. He stands there patiently until the turbolift is at the bridge deck which it took a few minutes to get there. The turbolift doors open as one of the stormtroopers showed Nihilus the way to bridge. Nihilus turns to the right as he noticed the stars coming from the viewpoints from the bridge. He walks slowly as he looks at the officers and crew who ere stationed at the bridge and as they look back at this strange figure that has come aboard their ship. A tall, old figure stands up from the chair where it is placed in the middle of the bridge and both sides are in the pits where most of the crew is looking at the Tralus status. The old man in an Imperial uniform turns around when he noticed a tall, blacked cloaked person coming into his bridge.

“I am Captain Korect and this is my ship, Tralus. May I ask why you are on my ship at this moment?” the captain asked Nihilus firmly with a hint of fear.

“I am Darth Nihilus, the overseer on this mission to put Myrkr under the Imperial flag and you will be serving me on this mission and I don’t want any confrontation to my presence here. Is that understood?”

Captain Korect abruptly answers back, “Yesss and understood, Darth Nihilus.”

Captain Korect didn’t like to serve anyone that was under his rank and that kind of judgment will keep an eye on him. “Also, your men and the Tralus are at my disposal to see this mission is done correctly.”

“Yes, they will serve your orders, sirr.” he murmurs quietly.

“Good. Now contact ISB Commodore Trachta and bring him aboard so he and I can talk silently in the conference room, a few levels down alright.”

“I will get right on it, sir.” The Captain speaks to the communications officer and gets Trachta on the Holonet.

“I will sit on my chair if you don’t mind,” Nihilus replied back firmly on his feet and sits down.

A serene, well kept office looked out onto the cityscape of Courscant. Trachta started out at it with his glowing red photorecptors, having just finished the latest array of reports as the ISB finished cleaning out COMPNOR of anyone useless of disloyal. Things had changed severely since he'd seized power and the Imperial High Command had eagerly embraced his coup, since it had effectively revitalized COMPNOR and tossed out its old corrupt leadership. If there was one thing to be said about Trachta, he wasn't corrupt. Ambition however was a whole other story. Trachta chuckled calmly at that as his comlink beeped. Trachta reached over and accepted the call.

"Director General, we have a message from Imperial Star Destroyer Tralus. They are requesting your presence for some undisclosed reason. They say someone wishes to speak with you there."

"Very well, prepare my shuttle," Trachta said calmly

Twenty Minutes Later

The shuttle flew easily through the skies of Courscant and progressed up into space, making its way through traffic above the world and towards the waiting warship. Without a word, the shuttle beamed its clearance and landed immediately in the docking bay. Trachta disembarked with severarl ISB agents around him and was greeted by an officer.

"Welcome aboard, Director General. We apologize for this inconvenience but someone wishes to speak with you."

"So I've heard" Trachta remarked coldly as the officer lead the way towards the turbolift.

The journey was short and quick to the conference room and Trachta ordered his men to remain outside. He then stepped in calmly, polished black jackboots clicking on the metal floor, and took a seat at the head of the table to wait for whoever it was who wished to see him.

Nihilus was sitting in his chair on the bridge and clutched his fingers together and began to run tactical simulations in his mind if he was preparing for war. Nihilus was calculating each battle he has read from Grand Admiral Thrawn's report. To him it was most impressive to say that his other side was Chiss but hardly anyone knows about that.

Captain Korect went to Darth Nihilus, who he doesn't like him being his chair and took the shots of running his ship. "Darth Nihilus, ISB Commodore Trachta has come aboard and he is waiting in the conference room."

Nihilus was still clutching his fingers as he heard the report from the Captain. "Just as I predicted it, Captain. I will write a report about what's been going on the Tralus and I could make your career worth while."

"Yes, sir." he showed with some amusing tone when he heard that Korect's report would be good.

"I will be going down to the conference room now and you have the bridge, Captain."

Captain Korect nodded as Nihilus stood up and went to see Trachta in the conference room.

Darth Nihilus saw a well-respected man with cybernetic implants to his face and he sat down on the other side of the table.

"Thank you, Trachta on this short notice and my name is Darth Nihilus. I will get to the point why I called for you. I have been given a mission to put the Imperial flag on Myrkr and I want ISB to play a role in his of securing the planet. I would like some reports that you might have about anything that has been going on there that we could exploit it."

Nihilus doesn't move a muscle when he absorbs the information about a Shi'ido, a shady character being the one who’s taking supplies from Myrkr. Nihilus had a brilliant idea about using this to his advantage. This Shi'dio having two Action VI Bulk Cruisers to be joined as a one ship.

"Trachta, I want you to make a replica of this pirate’s ship that this would fool occupants believing this no good Shi'ido pirate is showing up again. I also I would like to say is that if we don't capture the real Shi'ido and his ship later on when we have Myrkr in our grasp, it would look bad for us if occupants realized they have been fooled by us and start a riot. I am not going to let that happen."

"When we have this Shi'ido in custody, I would you to interrogate him and deal him with a choice, execute him or join ISB?"

Trachta listened calmly and moved little, though distaste poured off of him like a thick vapor. It wasn't that he held anything against this new Sith, but he loathed force users. Ever since his beginnings during his first time as a flag officer, a deep rooted hatred and distrust for them had been born after facing an enemy commander who'd obviously used the force. It didn't help that he considered force users a threat to Imperial security, but that came with the territory of being the head of the Imperial Security Bureau as well as COMPNOR now. He had to accept the fact that things changed, but there was one thing he had that others in his place didn't. Power. Pure, absolute power over one of the Empire's most influential organizaitons. He could, if he wished, walk away, but a Shi'ido was too tempting.

"An interesting request" Trachta said, as he regarded the masked man.

Most people fidgeted under Trachta's gaze, terrified that they might be getting a visit from ISB agents soon. It could have been the same case here, but it would have to be Jedi Corps but that was unlikely thanks to the Emperor's sudden interest in the Sith. This man obviously remained calm and Trachta knew why. History spoke of great butchers, sometimes whispering the long forgotten names. Darth Nihilius was one such name, thrown down in the archives of the ancient days of the Old Republic, files which were happily stored here on Courscant and maintained for millenia. Someone like that wasn't going to be shaken by an apparent lackey simply because they didn't understand the intricate nature of the Empire. There was the Emperor, the Grand Marshall, Imperial High Command, and then there were the people like Trachta and Ysanne Isard, those who carried out the will of the Empire in their own ways and were so deeply enrooted in the system they were impossible to get rid of.

"I will accept this request, but I must make one thing very clear. My men are under my orders, no one elses. The ISB does not answer to anyone but me and I answer only to the Emperor and the Grand Marshall, is that understood?" Trachta asked in chilly synthesized tones.

Someone like a Shi'ido with their unique ability is something truly rare and exquisted. For me to imagine someone like that and working for the Empire is brilliant to take a form of someone else and replace them silently and stealthy under our enemy noses. I would love to see that happen and damage would have been done."

Nihilus was thinking about his past when he had no loyalties to anyone but himself, those days are over and come to terms that he needs to change that and show his loyalties to Emperor and High Command.

"Yes, of course, Trachta. They are your men and not mine that I do understand. I, too serve and answer to the Emperor and the High Command. I am not going to jeopardize that, not ever. I have a question for you, Trachta. What do you know of me and I sure I can fill in the gaps to make it more sense?"

"I will contact you when it is time for you and your men to how we say, umm Let occupants on Myrkr to seek protection from the Empire and I will fire Tralus weapons at your bulk cruiser on minimal power to make it convincing that I would leave it up to you on the mission at hand."

"I know all that was recorded by the Old Republic, including your apparent demise at Telos. However, I don't pretend to understand or care for how the force works when such things happen. You are here now and so the past is nothing, only the present matters and what can be done to influence future events," Trachta said as he pulled up orders on the screen in the table.

"My men can confiscate a pair of bulks to do what you want. It will take a little time to fuse them together believeably as well as rig the special charges to make it look like its taking the necessary battle damage before the finale..."

Trachta looked up from the screen now, regarding the Sith again. Things were shifting in the Empire and it made him uneasy, seeing Sith in military service. He made a mental note to double recruiting efforts for COMPForce because he realized he may soon have to retire his military commission to further solidify his position as the absolute ruler of COMPNOR so that it could be ready to keep a leash on this rising force user situation as well as be able to operate without drawing on the resources of the Imperil military.

"So, give me a time table and I'll see how fast I can persuade a shipyard to do the modifications to the two bulks."