Imperial Center
The Past
The great shape of the Star Destroyer Valhalla emerged from hyperspace at the edge of the Coruscant system, within striking distance of her four planet. For such a large ship - indeed, the second largest in the fleet - no closer place was available.
With a groan, the massive ship's sublight engines began to push her great bulk forward, the Venerator class Destroyer closing with the planet that was the centre of the galaxy.
And the two most powerful men therein.
Bhindi Drayson had spent precious little time on Coruscant since its fall to the New Order. She had not been well recieved by the members of the Imperial High Command, save by the select few who recognized her inate talents, and as a result had been all but banished from the capital.
Only a direct communications from the Grand Marshall's office had made her return now, leaving Yaga Minor and bringing her flag with her for the journey to Imperial Centre.
It would do to show the IHC how far and how fast the Ubiqtorate's influence had spread, to warrant the creation of such a stately warship for its commanding officer.
Bhindi had met Simon Kaine only once before, shortly after the end of the Demosthenian War, where she and Commodore Theren Gevel had punished Seti Ashar and his so-called "Empire" for their ties to the Rebellion.
Since then, she had been left (for the most part) to her own, expanding the Empire as she saw fit.
But now there was war, and if the IHC was impressed with her activities at Carida and those of her officers at Abregado-Rae and Bilbringi, this would be them showing it.
She took a shuttle from the Valhalla to the surface, where she was met by two men in scarlet robes. Royal Guards. Or, judging by the way they wore the uniforms, even the more vaunted Sovereign Protectors. The Emperor's personal bodyguards.
She nodded to each of them, recieved nothing in return, and they led her through a maze of passages into the heart of the Imperial palace.
And finally to a door that looked no different from any other they had passed. They took their places outside, and she entered alone.
Inside was more or less as expected. A simple conference table and a handful of casual by obviously expensive chairs. And a man, wearing his gray uniform and elaborate ranking bar with all the weight of a man who had not only earned it, but made its creation neccessary.
Grand Marshall Simon Kaine.
Supreme Commander of all Imperial forces in the galaxy.
"Admiral." He said politely, a trace of an accent in his voice. He sounded sophisticated, well mannered. The perfect Imperial, Bhindi thought with some ammusement.
"Marshall." She returned, bowing first before saluting. He chuckled at that.
"At ease. You have earned that, at least, Miss. Drayson."
He gestured to the window. Outside, Coruscant was in full swing. It was a little after the local noon hour, and speeders of all sorts were criss crossing the sky heading in all directions.
"Beautiful, isn't it? The way they move. When the Rebellion sat here, it would have been chaos. But now they are ordered. The Empire brought order to the chaotic masses, as we are destined to."
It was all propaganda, of course. And Bhindi did not need to hear it to believe in the New Order - it was obvious to her that the galaxy needed the Empire's strong hand to lead it to an age of peace and prosperity.
"It would be." She said slowly. "Were it real. This is only an illusion."
Kaine laughed fully this time, and smiled.
"You are only partially correct, my dear. What you are seeing is real. Simply not happening as you see it." With a remote, he turned off the holodisplay. "It relays images. We're much to far from any window to truly see outside.
But let us go. We should not do to keep the Regent waiting."
Imperial Palace
Throne Room
The grand double doors to the Throne Room were opened by two more of the red-clad Royal Guards, identicle in appearence to the two she had already encountered. Like those, neither of these two acknowledged her nor Kaine as they entered.
Two more waited on the other side. They walked the length of the room in silence, Bhindi slightly behind Kaine, until they reached a set of three steps leading to a large window. With the light pouring in from outside, the chair at the top and its occupent were mere silhouettes.
But that only added to the effect of it all.
Together, they dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.
"Rise, my servants."
The Regent's voice was hoarse, but it drew them both forward, climbing the steps to face him directly. With a wave of a knarled hand, the man closed the metal shutters, and the light dropped dramatically.
For the first time, Bhindi could see Daemon Hyfe clearly. He was old indeed, his body terribly wrinkled and withdrawn. But his eyes held an enourmous ammount of power, and in them she could see burning intelligence.
Even, she thought, lust. To escape the prison that was the office of the Regent and fight, as he her to be.
"I have heard much about you, Miss Drayson." He said. "I am glad the Empire has such loyal servants as you."
"I can think of no better cause to serve." Bhindi affirmed. "I would give my life for the Empire."
"As you should, Admiral. One who would not die for the Empire... is not loyal to the Empire."
There was silence for a handful of minutes as the Regent turned back to his throne and worked the controls, then a holographic representation of the galaxy appeared around them.
"You know that the Rebels still threaten us." He said at last. "This... Outer-Rim Sovereignty worries me. They are smarter than the Coalition, more capable of doing us harm.
They must be destroyed."
Neither Kaine nor Bhindi spoke, but this seemed fine with Hyfe.
"Commodore Gevel is breaking the Ison Cooridor. Admiral Pitta is assaulting Tatooine."
Hyfe's eyes glowed.
"I want you to take the Kathol Sector. We have Exocron. We have Dayark. I want Lorize. I want the rest of that sector back in Imperial hands."
He smiled, and Bhindi saw that his teeth were yellow and rotten.
"The Empire does not take kindly to attacks on it's sovereignty. Teach these... rebels the COST OF DEFYING DAEMON HYFE!"
Lorize
Now
"Hyperspace reversion imminent, Admiral!"
The fleet was not large. But Lorize was not expected to be a heavily defended target. They would handle whatever opposition the Sovereignty had for them.
"Issue battle alert." Bhindi ordered calmly. "All forces to advance."
<blockquote><strong><em>OOC : Fleet Manifest</em></strong><hr><font size=1>Venerator Class Command Destroyer Valhalla
Imperator II Class Star Destroyer Majestic
Imperator II Class Star Destroyer Basilisk
Imperator II Class Star Destroyer Repulse
Attack Class Carrier Sphere Intimidator
Attack Class Carrier Sphere Indefatigable
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Eternal
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Evernight
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Night Caller
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Nightsun
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Marzullo's Bane
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Levethium
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Reverence
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Beserker
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Disguise
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform New Devilery
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Witchfire
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Black Asp
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Widower
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Shadowcaster
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Ranger
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Firewall
Guardian Class Fleet Defence Vessel Guardian (I, II, III, IV)
18 Fire Class Light Frigates
1440 Starfury Assault Starfighters
1320 TIE Devils
408 TIE Defenders
72 TIE Phantoms
72 XG-1 Star Wing Assault Gunboats
72 Xm-1 Missile Gunboats (15 m)
36 Beta Class ETR-3 Escort Transports
36 GAT-12j Skipray Blastboats</font><hr></blockquote>
The Past
The great shape of the Star Destroyer Valhalla emerged from hyperspace at the edge of the Coruscant system, within striking distance of her four planet. For such a large ship - indeed, the second largest in the fleet - no closer place was available.
With a groan, the massive ship's sublight engines began to push her great bulk forward, the Venerator class Destroyer closing with the planet that was the centre of the galaxy.
And the two most powerful men therein.
Bhindi Drayson had spent precious little time on Coruscant since its fall to the New Order. She had not been well recieved by the members of the Imperial High Command, save by the select few who recognized her inate talents, and as a result had been all but banished from the capital.
Only a direct communications from the Grand Marshall's office had made her return now, leaving Yaga Minor and bringing her flag with her for the journey to Imperial Centre.
It would do to show the IHC how far and how fast the Ubiqtorate's influence had spread, to warrant the creation of such a stately warship for its commanding officer.
Bhindi had met Simon Kaine only once before, shortly after the end of the Demosthenian War, where she and Commodore Theren Gevel had punished Seti Ashar and his so-called "Empire" for their ties to the Rebellion.
Since then, she had been left (for the most part) to her own, expanding the Empire as she saw fit.
But now there was war, and if the IHC was impressed with her activities at Carida and those of her officers at Abregado-Rae and Bilbringi, this would be them showing it.
She took a shuttle from the Valhalla to the surface, where she was met by two men in scarlet robes. Royal Guards. Or, judging by the way they wore the uniforms, even the more vaunted Sovereign Protectors. The Emperor's personal bodyguards.
She nodded to each of them, recieved nothing in return, and they led her through a maze of passages into the heart of the Imperial palace.
And finally to a door that looked no different from any other they had passed. They took their places outside, and she entered alone.
Inside was more or less as expected. A simple conference table and a handful of casual by obviously expensive chairs. And a man, wearing his gray uniform and elaborate ranking bar with all the weight of a man who had not only earned it, but made its creation neccessary.
Grand Marshall Simon Kaine.
Supreme Commander of all Imperial forces in the galaxy.
"Admiral." He said politely, a trace of an accent in his voice. He sounded sophisticated, well mannered. The perfect Imperial, Bhindi thought with some ammusement.
"Marshall." She returned, bowing first before saluting. He chuckled at that.
"At ease. You have earned that, at least, Miss. Drayson."
He gestured to the window. Outside, Coruscant was in full swing. It was a little after the local noon hour, and speeders of all sorts were criss crossing the sky heading in all directions.
"Beautiful, isn't it? The way they move. When the Rebellion sat here, it would have been chaos. But now they are ordered. The Empire brought order to the chaotic masses, as we are destined to."
It was all propaganda, of course. And Bhindi did not need to hear it to believe in the New Order - it was obvious to her that the galaxy needed the Empire's strong hand to lead it to an age of peace and prosperity.
"It would be." She said slowly. "Were it real. This is only an illusion."
Kaine laughed fully this time, and smiled.
"You are only partially correct, my dear. What you are seeing is real. Simply not happening as you see it." With a remote, he turned off the holodisplay. "It relays images. We're much to far from any window to truly see outside.
But let us go. We should not do to keep the Regent waiting."
* * * * *
Imperial Palace
Throne Room
The grand double doors to the Throne Room were opened by two more of the red-clad Royal Guards, identicle in appearence to the two she had already encountered. Like those, neither of these two acknowledged her nor Kaine as they entered.
Two more waited on the other side. They walked the length of the room in silence, Bhindi slightly behind Kaine, until they reached a set of three steps leading to a large window. With the light pouring in from outside, the chair at the top and its occupent were mere silhouettes.
But that only added to the effect of it all.
Together, they dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.
"Rise, my servants."
The Regent's voice was hoarse, but it drew them both forward, climbing the steps to face him directly. With a wave of a knarled hand, the man closed the metal shutters, and the light dropped dramatically.
For the first time, Bhindi could see Daemon Hyfe clearly. He was old indeed, his body terribly wrinkled and withdrawn. But his eyes held an enourmous ammount of power, and in them she could see burning intelligence.
Even, she thought, lust. To escape the prison that was the office of the Regent and fight, as he her to be.
"I have heard much about you, Miss Drayson." He said. "I am glad the Empire has such loyal servants as you."
"I can think of no better cause to serve." Bhindi affirmed. "I would give my life for the Empire."
"As you should, Admiral. One who would not die for the Empire... is not loyal to the Empire."
There was silence for a handful of minutes as the Regent turned back to his throne and worked the controls, then a holographic representation of the galaxy appeared around them.
"You know that the Rebels still threaten us." He said at last. "This... Outer-Rim Sovereignty worries me. They are smarter than the Coalition, more capable of doing us harm.
They must be destroyed."
Neither Kaine nor Bhindi spoke, but this seemed fine with Hyfe.
"Commodore Gevel is breaking the Ison Cooridor. Admiral Pitta is assaulting Tatooine."
Hyfe's eyes glowed.
"I want you to take the Kathol Sector. We have Exocron. We have Dayark. I want Lorize. I want the rest of that sector back in Imperial hands."
He smiled, and Bhindi saw that his teeth were yellow and rotten.
"The Empire does not take kindly to attacks on it's sovereignty. Teach these... rebels the COST OF DEFYING DAEMON HYFE!"
* * * * *
Lorize
Now
"Hyperspace reversion imminent, Admiral!"
The fleet was not large. But Lorize was not expected to be a heavily defended target. They would handle whatever opposition the Sovereignty had for them.
"Issue battle alert." Bhindi ordered calmly. "All forces to advance."
<blockquote><strong><em>OOC : Fleet Manifest</em></strong><hr><font size=1>Venerator Class Command Destroyer Valhalla
Imperator II Class Star Destroyer Majestic
Imperator II Class Star Destroyer Basilisk
Imperator II Class Star Destroyer Repulse
Attack Class Carrier Sphere Intimidator
Attack Class Carrier Sphere Indefatigable
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Eternal
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Evernight
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Night Caller
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Nightsun
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Marzullo's Bane
Eternal Class Star Destroyer Levethium
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Reverence
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Beserker
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Disguise
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform New Devilery
Star Avenger Tactical Assault Platform Witchfire
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Black Asp
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Widower
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Shadowcaster
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Ranger
Rendilli StarDrive Assault Frigate Firewall
Guardian Class Fleet Defence Vessel Guardian (I, II, III, IV)
18 Fire Class Light Frigates
1440 Starfury Assault Starfighters
1320 TIE Devils
408 TIE Defenders
72 TIE Phantoms
72 XG-1 Star Wing Assault Gunboats
72 Xm-1 Missile Gunboats (15 m)
36 Beta Class ETR-3 Escort Transports
36 GAT-12j Skipray Blastboats</font><hr></blockquote>
