Post by Kayura on Jun 13, 2007 0:50:52 GMT -5
Night had fallen on the Stronghold. Where many would have drifted off to sleep and others would have remained awake to conspire, she was still awake and drawing ever more upon the Force. Fingers flying over the keyboard there clattering out the lines of code necessary to stand in the ready to serve as weapons that could further undermine the stranglehold the Republic had on the Galaxy. Several windows were up at once. Some were lines of code, others were invitations to open trade relations with the separatist nations in spite of the automatic embargo status. That little lie put a smile on her face as she was using the false contractor name used by the Red Hand. As she sat there typing out the invitations three or more at a time, she realized that this was the first step in the Sith beco ming both a political and economic beast. She closed her eyes to think...
It was necessary for the order's survival and she knew it. The order had to change, to evolve, and to remain hidden...it could no longer afford to stand still and it was her job to pay for the mistakes made by her predecessor. He had allowed the order to become too settled and stagnate for it. She now faced the daunting challenge of dealing with the transition to something dynamic nd powerful again...something that behaved less like some sort of monastery and more like a modern creature. She closed her eyes and then like a bolt it hit her...
The enemy of an enemy was a potential friend...the separatist planets would prove to be valuable only if they could first be unified and then ultimately brought under Sith control. Yes, the invites were a necessary first stem into becoming almost parasitic. A dark smile played on her face as she finished. Typing at inhuman speed, she did finish thinking that the Sith would ultimately provide a uniform military-industrial complex for the separatists. One step at a time...make the first move on the separatist worlds looking for supplies where they could get them...promise those supplies....steal or take them from the Verpine in the Roche Asteroids...turn those profits over to either taking, no better, buying a shipyard and keeping it completely beyond legal reproach...
One by one, the windows faded away unting there was nothing but a holographic screensaver scrolling through the darkness. A line of Sith runes spelled out: "Damn right I don't look busy...I did it right the first time!" Her eyes were closed as she took slow and deep breaths. The war computer was far from idle. All the while, she waited for the message and meditated. How does one silently take a galaxy? How does one take it in a way that they don't realize it?...I seem to have the bases covered for now.
That was the calm before the storm. She recived a message at her desk telling her the council was comming to session.
She drifted in with that strange serenity that one rarely sees among the ranks. She carried with her the advantages of having been raised a Sith and also having been a medium her entire life. Now she was a true Necromancer. She secretly hoped it was enough to handle a room full of those who could and likely would usurp her.
Taking her place, she calmly said in velvet voice, "The Council is now in session."
From that moment on, she knew her night would only grow longer. Sleep was now but a memory as she had to forever remain sleepless and watch for those who would quite literally stab her in the back.
Sitting in the throne left for Dark Lords past, she listened as old business was discussed, growing slowly impatient. Irritation didn't show on her face right away, but she finally cleared her throat and brought the room to deathly silence. The time had come to begin laying out the grand strategy. "Gentlemen, it's time we considered the possibility that we have become predictable, and in that, we carry the liability of no longer following the laws that have sustained us all this time." Her eyes closed but her voice remained steady, "We have sat in near ascetic retreat like monks while the opposition have made themselves a central part to the Republic. They have a place of honor among the government for it. We do not yet have the power to dislodge them from the Republic, but we do have the power to form a suitable counterbalance and grow in power."
Another rose and asked, "How is that possible?"
Her eyes opened slowly as she answered, "Quite simply, we court the separatists and thier respective planets. They will not do so at te drop of a hat, so instead we must prove to be of some benefit. In this case, we give to get gentlmen. We give the promise that we will provide supplies so that they can face off with the Republic."
A second rose and rebutted, "But we have remained this way because the last Dark Lord--."
"I know," she answered, "and look at us. We have lost an empire partially because of his blind dedication to the monastic style and also to the Republic. If we become indespensible as the military-industrial complex of the separatists, we will ultimately grow in power."
Brows furrowed, that Sith Lord asked, "That's a few steps away yet, my Ladylord. How will we get there? We haven't made sufficient progress...have we?"
She wore an unsettling smile. "I know many of you think I have this seat only because I was simply younger and faster than my predacessor. You're dead wrong. While many of you have been conspiring to eliminate me and go back to the status quo, I have done more in the month or so I have had this position than many Dark Lords have done in thier careers." She paused. "To answer your question: I have already made the initial contacts to the Separatist planets under the guise of a military contracting firm willing to provide weapons. The next logical steps are to secure the Roche Asteroids for ourselves and to bring the Verpine under our control. This won't be too difficult for us as we are clever enough to know they can't function without the lights on." The dark smile included a wink. "The next step to increasing our power is to either take, or preferably buy a shipyard. If we buy, we can take the commissions and line our koffers. We can also control the shipyard and ultimately have full rights to it and remain beyond legal reproach by the Republic.
There were several pairs of eyes staring in disbelief at her as she sat there still wearing a calm half-smile. There was something diabolical in that serenity and they were unsettled by it. The dark smile grew as they all stared in disbelief. One asked, "How did you come up with all of this? You're too--!"
"I'm too young to think of it all am I? When was the last time any of you considered the fact that I was that foundling all those years ago? I was that strange little girl who knew things far beyond her years. I am not too young, nor incapable of devising plans for re-taking what is rightfully ours. After all, there is no one better suited to the task of being in this position. Master Falcis, you had a master who used to say you were too slow on your left saber draw when you learned your two-bladed technique, yes?"
Eyes widened a disgusted voice spat, "How in the name of all did YOU know that?!"
There was a dark certainty that played on her moon-white face and in her golden eyes. "He's here, now, in this very room. In fact, he's standing just to my right and telling me that you really haven't changed much since you took his place as a Darth. Master Virilis says that you really haven't changed at all."
Incredulously, he returned, "Really now, and what was his real name?" He was perhaps one of the few that still remembered what it was and she was far too young to have heard of him. He was sure that she'd fall flat on the lie.
There was no hesitation as she answered, "He was a Kel Dor by the name of Ral'zaar."
The rest of the Sith council was too stunned to speak. The only warning they had was a soft white plume escaping from her lips as she exhaled slowly. It persisted as she added, "Well then, by your collective silence I am to assume this meeting is over. The new grand strategy will be put into effect immediately."
It was necessary for the order's survival and she knew it. The order had to change, to evolve, and to remain hidden...it could no longer afford to stand still and it was her job to pay for the mistakes made by her predecessor. He had allowed the order to become too settled and stagnate for it. She now faced the daunting challenge of dealing with the transition to something dynamic nd powerful again...something that behaved less like some sort of monastery and more like a modern creature. She closed her eyes and then like a bolt it hit her...
The enemy of an enemy was a potential friend...the separatist planets would prove to be valuable only if they could first be unified and then ultimately brought under Sith control. Yes, the invites were a necessary first stem into becoming almost parasitic. A dark smile played on her face as she finished. Typing at inhuman speed, she did finish thinking that the Sith would ultimately provide a uniform military-industrial complex for the separatists. One step at a time...make the first move on the separatist worlds looking for supplies where they could get them...promise those supplies....steal or take them from the Verpine in the Roche Asteroids...turn those profits over to either taking, no better, buying a shipyard and keeping it completely beyond legal reproach...
One by one, the windows faded away unting there was nothing but a holographic screensaver scrolling through the darkness. A line of Sith runes spelled out: "Damn right I don't look busy...I did it right the first time!" Her eyes were closed as she took slow and deep breaths. The war computer was far from idle. All the while, she waited for the message and meditated. How does one silently take a galaxy? How does one take it in a way that they don't realize it?...I seem to have the bases covered for now.
That was the calm before the storm. She recived a message at her desk telling her the council was comming to session.
She drifted in with that strange serenity that one rarely sees among the ranks. She carried with her the advantages of having been raised a Sith and also having been a medium her entire life. Now she was a true Necromancer. She secretly hoped it was enough to handle a room full of those who could and likely would usurp her.
Taking her place, she calmly said in velvet voice, "The Council is now in session."
From that moment on, she knew her night would only grow longer. Sleep was now but a memory as she had to forever remain sleepless and watch for those who would quite literally stab her in the back.
Sitting in the throne left for Dark Lords past, she listened as old business was discussed, growing slowly impatient. Irritation didn't show on her face right away, but she finally cleared her throat and brought the room to deathly silence. The time had come to begin laying out the grand strategy. "Gentlemen, it's time we considered the possibility that we have become predictable, and in that, we carry the liability of no longer following the laws that have sustained us all this time." Her eyes closed but her voice remained steady, "We have sat in near ascetic retreat like monks while the opposition have made themselves a central part to the Republic. They have a place of honor among the government for it. We do not yet have the power to dislodge them from the Republic, but we do have the power to form a suitable counterbalance and grow in power."
Another rose and asked, "How is that possible?"
Her eyes opened slowly as she answered, "Quite simply, we court the separatists and thier respective planets. They will not do so at te drop of a hat, so instead we must prove to be of some benefit. In this case, we give to get gentlmen. We give the promise that we will provide supplies so that they can face off with the Republic."
A second rose and rebutted, "But we have remained this way because the last Dark Lord--."
"I know," she answered, "and look at us. We have lost an empire partially because of his blind dedication to the monastic style and also to the Republic. If we become indespensible as the military-industrial complex of the separatists, we will ultimately grow in power."
Brows furrowed, that Sith Lord asked, "That's a few steps away yet, my Ladylord. How will we get there? We haven't made sufficient progress...have we?"
She wore an unsettling smile. "I know many of you think I have this seat only because I was simply younger and faster than my predacessor. You're dead wrong. While many of you have been conspiring to eliminate me and go back to the status quo, I have done more in the month or so I have had this position than many Dark Lords have done in thier careers." She paused. "To answer your question: I have already made the initial contacts to the Separatist planets under the guise of a military contracting firm willing to provide weapons. The next logical steps are to secure the Roche Asteroids for ourselves and to bring the Verpine under our control. This won't be too difficult for us as we are clever enough to know they can't function without the lights on." The dark smile included a wink. "The next step to increasing our power is to either take, or preferably buy a shipyard. If we buy, we can take the commissions and line our koffers. We can also control the shipyard and ultimately have full rights to it and remain beyond legal reproach by the Republic.
There were several pairs of eyes staring in disbelief at her as she sat there still wearing a calm half-smile. There was something diabolical in that serenity and they were unsettled by it. The dark smile grew as they all stared in disbelief. One asked, "How did you come up with all of this? You're too--!"
"I'm too young to think of it all am I? When was the last time any of you considered the fact that I was that foundling all those years ago? I was that strange little girl who knew things far beyond her years. I am not too young, nor incapable of devising plans for re-taking what is rightfully ours. After all, there is no one better suited to the task of being in this position. Master Falcis, you had a master who used to say you were too slow on your left saber draw when you learned your two-bladed technique, yes?"
Eyes widened a disgusted voice spat, "How in the name of all did YOU know that?!"
There was a dark certainty that played on her moon-white face and in her golden eyes. "He's here, now, in this very room. In fact, he's standing just to my right and telling me that you really haven't changed much since you took his place as a Darth. Master Virilis says that you really haven't changed at all."
Incredulously, he returned, "Really now, and what was his real name?" He was perhaps one of the few that still remembered what it was and she was far too young to have heard of him. He was sure that she'd fall flat on the lie.
There was no hesitation as she answered, "He was a Kel Dor by the name of Ral'zaar."
The rest of the Sith council was too stunned to speak. The only warning they had was a soft white plume escaping from her lips as she exhaled slowly. It persisted as she added, "Well then, by your collective silence I am to assume this meeting is over. The new grand strategy will be put into effect immediately."
