The Dark Lord had turned planets to slag, had enslaved races, had annihilated races, and committed mass genocide, and had committed many other atrocities in his time serving the Dark Force. This was the first time, however, he had hidden a planet within the confines of a ring of created black holes.

He had had the idea after visiting what was left of Maw Instillation some years back, in the company of Admiral Daala. She had had limited vision, but she proved useful several times. Maw Instillation had been captured by the New Republic and had been almost utterly destroyed. Admiral Daala's lack of vision served that end when she left her post. However, it was of little matter. The science there had become stagnant and unimaginative.

Now the Dark Lord would create a new breed of scientists to create a new generation of weapons. Weapons of such power as to bring the Galaxy to her knees before the Empire. An Empire, however, needed an Emperor. One man who's vision supercedes that of normal men. A man, nae, a symbol of the power and might of the Empire. Perhaps the Dark Lord could persuade the Grand Admiral to step up to that title. His vision was certainly far beyond that of normal men. He was certainly well respected and feared across the galaxy. Perhaps Admiral Hyfe would serve the Empire in a better fashion as Emperor Hyfe... for now, however, he would keep these thoughts to himself.

Now was the time to spread the hand of the Empire further across the Galaxy. Now was the time to show the Galaxy why order would always serve better than chaos. Many systems did not favor the Empire because they did not understand it's base principals. Order from Chaos, life from death.. no wondering, no wishing.. just being.

Thus would be a simple life for the peoples of the Galaxy. Thus would end this time of turmoil and strife, a time of death and destruction. The message would be spread, and the rebellion crushed. After all, that is all this New Republic was.. a rebellion against the true ruling body of the Galaxy. A rebellion against the New Order.

The Jedi had become laxed. No more were they the defenders of Peace and Justice throughout the Galaxy. They were weak and tired. They had no driving force, no organization, no will to win or, it seemed, even to survive. More and more of the Jedi were falling to the Dark Force. Soon all the Galaxy would be aflame with the blazing power of the Dark Force. Soon, all the Galaxy would be one.. united, controlled, maintained.

The Dark Lord looked over a data pad. It contained information regarding a mission to the Dathomir planet, his daughter had led it. A proud grin spread across his face. She had taken the planet and the remaining Force Adepts. Not only that, she had recruited others. The Dark Lord would send his beloved wife, Athena, to rule over the council. However, he assumed that most aspects of space conquest would still be handled by Varissa and her crew.

He read the stats and decided to send Carnor Jax and Sovereign Force to protect the group of females. Carnor was well versed in the Force, but only used it when necessary. He would be the perfect one to let them lead themselves and only act if necessary. He was good that way.. loyal, utterly, almost to a fault. He followed orders without question and did not ever give hint of misgivings or regret in his service.

Indeed, Carnor Jax was a fine servant to the Dark Lord.. and to the Empire. He had served well the first time he lived, also, but had be corrupted in the end. So far, however, this Jax had shown no signs of corruptible actions or behavior. If he did, he would be easy enough for the Dark Lord to deal with and replace. After all, there were other Sovereign Protectors under his command. The last remaining, to his knowledge.

Now that Iceheart had returned to the realm of the living, form a long stint in an undercover post, he would have to contact Imperial Intelligence about her return. He would need to let them know that the former Director of Imperial Intelligence did not, infact, die as was commonly believed, but had been saved that fate by the foresight of the Dark Lord himself.

Isard and Diete Somir had come to trust one another during his time as Prince Regent of the Galactic Empire serving under his majesty Palpatine. It was a time of great power, but also struggle, for the Galactic Empire and people one could trust were few and far between. Maim did not trust her to the point that she would not attempt to kill him, but to the point that she would not do so unless it served a greater purpose. This was the understanding they had. For most, it would not have been enough, but for an Intelligence Commander and a Dark Lord of the Sith, it was more than could be expected. There were only a few in the Galaxy he trusted more than Isard, the foremost being his wife. Her he would trust with his very life and soul.

The commander stepped in the room, handing the Dark Lord another datapad and snapping him from introspective thought. His energies had almost completely returned as he began to read over the information. So tedious, but necessary, where these day-to-day items.

The Dark Lord reviewed the recent manifest updates, defense platforms specs, regional activities, and other, seemingly, insignificant details. Small things that large men rarely troubled themselves with. Delegation seemed to be the word of the leaders of the Galaxy these days. Perhaps that is why the Galaxy was so easily falling to the will of the Empire, and the Sith. Perhaps those are the very reasons planets like Almas put up so little resistance.

He understood why certain planets were easy to take and control. Little to no local life, plant, animal, or sentient. No defenses, no fleets.. just dirt and land, ripe for the taking. The Dark Lord could easily take hundreds of these planets within a month, but most were uninhabited for a reason. Most were worthless lumps of rock floating free in space with no purpose, strategic or otherwise. Perhaps in the future that would change, and he would have the foresight to take the planets which would become strategic points at that time. However, now.. now he focused on the things that mattered. Ancient remnants of the Sith or other users of the Dark Force, strategic points of interest to the Empire, or insolent systems with insolent leaders who needed to be taught a lesson.

That was the Procurator of Justice's purpose, after all, to teach lessons to those who need to learn them. To the weak minded and foolish, to the insolent and usurping, to the insane and misguided.. to all the beings who would contest the superiority of the Empire. The Dark Lord took great pride in his role, and in his people. He took great pride in dealing with usurpers and insolent whelps with a great metephorical slap across the mouth. Children... all the galaxy were children, and he a disciplining parent.

A shuttle docked within the Procurator's hanger bay, and the Dark Lord was informed of it's arrival. Now almost completely returned to strength, he stood, if slowly, and strode to meet his guest. It had been some time since he had seen her, but he looked forward to it greatly.

Halting in the bay, he stood at the base of the extending landing ramp, a grin creasing his face...

Serenity Trovo, soon to be reunited with her lover, Varissa Somir, say silent.. hitching a ride on the Procurator. It was bound to make a stop soon at Dathomir, where she would find Varissa, after this mission was completed. She had witnessed the awesome power of the Dark Lord firsthand, and it excited her. She wanted to learn all he knew, and she knew she could learn much of it from Varissa and her mother. Perhaps one day, however, she would be able to learn from the Dark Lord of the Sith himself. Wouldn't that be a wonder.

She stood at the viewport staring into space from her assigned quarters. The view of the swirling light dipping into the new cluster of black holes was marvelous. She had never seen anything like it. Perhaps she never would again. This was, however, a true monument to the power of the dark side of the force.

She looked over the datapad which contained the last letter she received from Varissa. It was a sweet letter, and it was hard to believe her cold-hearted lover had written it. Nevertheless, soon they would be together.. training and developing. Becoming the female power of the dark force in the galaxy.

The past fifteen years or so have been spent productively. Fooling the Rebels and Iella Wessiri by sending one of her clones in her own place was one of the best moves Isard had made long ago. Unfortunately, that also meant she had to let go of her precious ship, the Lusankya. She really had no choice in the matter back then. However, thanks to Imperial records and archives of blueprints, Isard spent those past fifteen years creating the Lusankya II. Only this time there were a few modifications set into the overall design.

The bridge doors swoosh open, and a trim woman with a fear-instilling gaze comes into the busy area. Long, jet-black hair is pinned back into an architectural whorl, her strides on high-heeled boots are long, languid and purposeful. The buzzing of commands and voices suddenly falls into a heavy silence as the entire bridge crew immediately stops what they are doing to rise and sharply salute the Director of Imperial Intelligence.

"I see my reputation still strikes fear across the galaxy."

Her voice is cool and commanding, no one dares to contradict the cold-hearted woman. They'd be stupid to even think of such an action. A curt nod is given, the men relax and return to their stations. Folding her arms loosely under her chest, she strides over to the large viewport and gazes out across the galaxy.

"Hold position here and open a hail to the Dark Lord."

There is no hesitating. Each man does what his assigned task at hand is and the ship eventually lumbers to its holding position. The hail is open; voice only -- no holoimage accompanies this encrypted, secure transmission.

"Greetings, M'lord."[i]

The Dark Lord, somewhat suprised, tapped his comm and responded - voice transmission only.

"Greetings, Ysanne."

He rarely opened with any sort of pleasantries, but this was different.

"You have done well here. Meet my fleet at Dathomir, I have a suprise for you."

Athena had made it back to her quarters as the silver toned doors opened. She stepped inside into the lavish room. Her husbands prize's adorned the walls of their shared quarters. She looked around knowing her daughters take over was soon to finish. She was proud of her daughter, not many people had such a talented child, nor one with such a temper.

Looking out the view port just before getting ready to take her shower Athena noticed the black holes her husband had created and left around Almas. She had felt the power of the Darkside invelop the ship. Diete had great power that none she had ever met could rival.

A slight smile danced upon Athena lips, she was married to the strongest man within the galaxy. Although it was not like Athena couldn't take care of herself. She in her own right was powerful. A Sith Master as well, and now the leader of the council of the Vixens.

Athena started to walk towards the bathroom area of the quarters. She dropped her cloak on the floor and followed it up with the rest of her clothing. Drapped in a towel Athena started to run the water as the steam filled the bathroom. The tub filled with hot water and Athena dropped the towel and sank into the bathtub. Her hair was tied up and off her face and neck. The water covered her body all the way to her neck. The hot water soothed each and every muscle in her body. By the time she got out the ship would be at the next stop.

The Dark Lord's Task Force returned once more to the space near where Almas was, dropping from hyperspace like a school of fish over a waterfall. Precision, the Dark Lord demanded it. It was the cornerstone of his operation.

"I will lead this mission personally, I have a new student who needs some first hand lessons."

Turning from the bridge, he headed out towards his personal hangar bay. Reaching it some good deal later, he entered his landing craft and pulled out, speaking over the comm..

"Follow the flight paths programmed into your ships computers exactly or you will be sucked into the black holes and destroyed."

He spoke no pleasantries, and headed towards the center of the black hole cluster which hid the planet of Almas.. ... ... . . .

Zerxes nodded even though his Master could not see it.

"As you wish, my Master. I have a quick question. What exactly are we going to be doing here? I am skilled enough to kill my parents but that is all. What can I do to help you?"

He sat back in the chair of his brothers newly designed Rapyir-class Starfighter. He had stolen the prototype from him, and now used it as his personal ship.

He moved the steering yoke down a little bit in order to stay on the flight path. He switched the wing pylons over to seperat control. This gave him even more manuverability. He waited for his Masters reply.