Post by Kayura on Oct 10, 2007 1:08:57 GMT -5
The arrival of a small and non-descript ship would not have normally garnered such attention. Aboard the Revenge a small craft was coming in to the sound of a claxon blaring through the contained atmosphere. It was loud enough to be heard through the hull of the small shuttle craft as it crossed through the force field that held the air inside. The ship landed with swan-like grace as the massive blast doors on the Sith Battle Cruiser closed behind it.
The claxon stopped and a voice called out, echoing through the hangar, "Dark Lord on deck! Company sa-lute!" There was the sound of many falling to a knee and looking down to the floor as a tale-tale hiss signaled a hatch opening. Javus was already there waiting for the black-cloaked figure to emerge. He was a little surprised to see instead a figure in deep emerald green. He too sank to a knee and looked to the floor in deference. Sensing the cold shadow of the strange woman on him, it was the first time he had met his true master face-to-face. Rising to his feet, he stood several inches above her. "Welcome aboard the Revenge, Ma'am."
There was a graceful bow of the head, "Thank you Admiral," her voice softly lilted, "Any word yet on Corellia?"
"Yes Ma'am, considering that they may make another move, I have placed personnel to monitor the situation there." He knew he was on the edge of a knife making a move like that, especially when he wasn't entirely sure how this one would react. He fought to keep the mild surprise off his face to see those yellow eyes stare off into space for a second as her head nodded, "Yes, that is a perfectly logical move. You read my mind."
He was slowly begining to get the sesne that this one was more practical. At least she seemed that way for now. Even his masters had a way of changing without warning. Her yellow eyes loked onto his steel gray nes as she asked in a velvet and gracefully lilting whisper, "Considering that time is of the essence, I believe it is better to get the briefing out of the way sooner rather than later, wouldn't you agree?"
Finally in his office, he was able to start in on the briefing. He wasn't sure how to tell her that the opposition had become aware of thier presence, or that the report had come in. "Ma'am, I just know that we have an issue with Corellia with regard to the Jedi. They could become more of a presence on Corellia."
"I know they will. They are aware of the fact we still exist. And you were right to send the additional personnel to monitor the outcome."
He was growing plesantly surprised to see that this one was posessed of a cooler head than the others that had threatened him just days before. Every time he dealt with one of them, it was reason enough to wonder if it was his last day alive. He could see that she had sensed the thought and there was a flash of irritation on her face. It was enough to make him worry.
There was a sigh, the very same kind as on the holo-com. Her eyes stared almost through him and held fast. "I am all too aware of the threats that have come from the Council and some of the others. Admiral, if we are to operate with any sort of efficiency, then effective leaders must remain in place. I have no reason to kill you nor should any of the others. I can sense your fear and in this case it is unfounded. With that siad, if there is some bad news, go ahead and tell me. I'd really rather not have to pick through your brains to find out."
That drew a nervous laugh. "Understood Ma'am." He took a breath, "Then I suppose perhaps you know or suspect that they are geuninely tipped off at this point. The Jedi do know of our existence. Intel can't say for certain how much they either know or suspect, so we must operate under the presumption that security has been compromised."
That drew a nod, "I agree, but we are more than prepared with other methods that will keep the power of our military a closely guarded secret. Where my predacessor favored the use of military might right away, we have learned better since the Great Hyperspace War. We have achieved what we have so far without any real opposition because we have gone back to what has sustained us all this time: stealth and silence. IF the Jedi are to present such a problem, I can always pull a string or two and make sure that they stay distracted."
He nodded, wearing the look of clear understanding. "Speaking of he Jedi, Ma'am, you had said something of provocation. I am assuming this is why you are aware that they know about us."
She nodded, wearing a half-smile. "Yes, precisely right. They have, for want of an easier way to explain it, caused a storm in the Force itself. They stirred up quite a mess and angered a few my past predacessors. They have not been silent since. And yes, you understand me perfectly, the dead have been stirred from thier sleep. More to the point, this was a clear act of provocation to see if we would react. That is how I know they were aware of us." She paused and remarked, "Though between the Verpine, Corellia, and the recent acquisition of the IBG, I believe we have a good range of distractions avaiable to distract them."
His eyes widened, "You mean you have tken the...Guild?"
She nodded, the smile growing in full on her imaculately painted face. "Preciely right. What they have, we now have. With that said, I know that some assets can be moved to fund the upgrade of this fleet. Proud and battle-tested as it is, we must face facts and admit that this fleet is now outdated. Again, you are to be commended for working on a shoestring budget. We must upgrade and update all the ships. I know this one was one of the first."
There was still something frightening about her. He wasn't Force-sensitive, but there was something in his gut that told him she was something truly dark and frightening. Even if her smiles were those of a politician, and her voice was soft, there was something silent that spoke of her absolute power. There was a chill that had descended upon his office since she had set foot in it, a chill that had no real reason for being. There was the sense that hers weren't the only eyes on him. It made the wee hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. At the same time, there was her rational nature, that logic and pragmatism that provided some comfort. He took relief in the fact she wasn't going to kill him for telling the truth, and had even asked for it. Yes, his silent prayers had been answered at last: he was dealing with a Dark Lord that was rational.
The claxon stopped and a voice called out, echoing through the hangar, "Dark Lord on deck! Company sa-lute!" There was the sound of many falling to a knee and looking down to the floor as a tale-tale hiss signaled a hatch opening. Javus was already there waiting for the black-cloaked figure to emerge. He was a little surprised to see instead a figure in deep emerald green. He too sank to a knee and looked to the floor in deference. Sensing the cold shadow of the strange woman on him, it was the first time he had met his true master face-to-face. Rising to his feet, he stood several inches above her. "Welcome aboard the Revenge, Ma'am."
There was a graceful bow of the head, "Thank you Admiral," her voice softly lilted, "Any word yet on Corellia?"
"Yes Ma'am, considering that they may make another move, I have placed personnel to monitor the situation there." He knew he was on the edge of a knife making a move like that, especially when he wasn't entirely sure how this one would react. He fought to keep the mild surprise off his face to see those yellow eyes stare off into space for a second as her head nodded, "Yes, that is a perfectly logical move. You read my mind."
He was slowly begining to get the sesne that this one was more practical. At least she seemed that way for now. Even his masters had a way of changing without warning. Her yellow eyes loked onto his steel gray nes as she asked in a velvet and gracefully lilting whisper, "Considering that time is of the essence, I believe it is better to get the briefing out of the way sooner rather than later, wouldn't you agree?"
Finally in his office, he was able to start in on the briefing. He wasn't sure how to tell her that the opposition had become aware of thier presence, or that the report had come in. "Ma'am, I just know that we have an issue with Corellia with regard to the Jedi. They could become more of a presence on Corellia."
"I know they will. They are aware of the fact we still exist. And you were right to send the additional personnel to monitor the outcome."
He was growing plesantly surprised to see that this one was posessed of a cooler head than the others that had threatened him just days before. Every time he dealt with one of them, it was reason enough to wonder if it was his last day alive. He could see that she had sensed the thought and there was a flash of irritation on her face. It was enough to make him worry.
There was a sigh, the very same kind as on the holo-com. Her eyes stared almost through him and held fast. "I am all too aware of the threats that have come from the Council and some of the others. Admiral, if we are to operate with any sort of efficiency, then effective leaders must remain in place. I have no reason to kill you nor should any of the others. I can sense your fear and in this case it is unfounded. With that siad, if there is some bad news, go ahead and tell me. I'd really rather not have to pick through your brains to find out."
That drew a nervous laugh. "Understood Ma'am." He took a breath, "Then I suppose perhaps you know or suspect that they are geuninely tipped off at this point. The Jedi do know of our existence. Intel can't say for certain how much they either know or suspect, so we must operate under the presumption that security has been compromised."
That drew a nod, "I agree, but we are more than prepared with other methods that will keep the power of our military a closely guarded secret. Where my predacessor favored the use of military might right away, we have learned better since the Great Hyperspace War. We have achieved what we have so far without any real opposition because we have gone back to what has sustained us all this time: stealth and silence. IF the Jedi are to present such a problem, I can always pull a string or two and make sure that they stay distracted."
He nodded, wearing the look of clear understanding. "Speaking of he Jedi, Ma'am, you had said something of provocation. I am assuming this is why you are aware that they know about us."
She nodded, wearing a half-smile. "Yes, precisely right. They have, for want of an easier way to explain it, caused a storm in the Force itself. They stirred up quite a mess and angered a few my past predacessors. They have not been silent since. And yes, you understand me perfectly, the dead have been stirred from thier sleep. More to the point, this was a clear act of provocation to see if we would react. That is how I know they were aware of us." She paused and remarked, "Though between the Verpine, Corellia, and the recent acquisition of the IBG, I believe we have a good range of distractions avaiable to distract them."
His eyes widened, "You mean you have tken the...Guild?"
She nodded, the smile growing in full on her imaculately painted face. "Preciely right. What they have, we now have. With that said, I know that some assets can be moved to fund the upgrade of this fleet. Proud and battle-tested as it is, we must face facts and admit that this fleet is now outdated. Again, you are to be commended for working on a shoestring budget. We must upgrade and update all the ships. I know this one was one of the first."
There was still something frightening about her. He wasn't Force-sensitive, but there was something in his gut that told him she was something truly dark and frightening. Even if her smiles were those of a politician, and her voice was soft, there was something silent that spoke of her absolute power. There was a chill that had descended upon his office since she had set foot in it, a chill that had no real reason for being. There was the sense that hers weren't the only eyes on him. It made the wee hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. At the same time, there was her rational nature, that logic and pragmatism that provided some comfort. He took relief in the fact she wasn't going to kill him for telling the truth, and had even asked for it. Yes, his silent prayers had been answered at last: he was dealing with a Dark Lord that was rational.
