And knowing is half the battle

[Dredge]

16 hours after Vorzyd.

Dredge's vision tunneled a bit as the lights above his head fluttered and shook. All around him teams of shapers and healers stood, shadows being cast to veil their grotesque and alien faces. Dredge groaned a bit then looked up at them. He had taken a massive chest wound and was almost killed. But in his mind he believed the Mandolorian [member="Strider Garon"] was dead. He had knocked one off of his list and he needed to do more. He needed to end the lives of all who had wronged him. With a small shutter he balled his armored hand into a fist and spoke cold hate filled words. "Get me on my feet." The overlord commanded and even though it was against the healers wishes they would not voice it in fear of both displeasure of their overlord and their public execution.

They helped Dredge to his feet and he spoke in the same hate filled tone that commanded absolute authority. "Where are we? Answer me now!" Dredge barked and a shaper quickly answered. "My lord." He took a knee bowing before continuing to speak. "We are in the northern quadrant of the galaxy near Chiss space." Dredge nodded and spoke once again. "Our losses, what were they?" With a gulp of displeasure the shaper spoke in a shrill voice. "We lost six hundred collectors in the fight. A thousand men are dead and another five thousand are wounded." Dredge scowled and the shaper went on "My lord, it will take time for the wounded to hea-" Dredge raised a hand for him to stop speaking and he himself laid out his ultimate authority. "Anyone too wounded to fight will be executed, immediately. I do not have time for them to recover." The shaper rose up and spoke against the overlord "But my lor-" Dredge threw a mass hand at the shaper and with a burning sensation of skin meeting hot armor Dredge snarled and promptly crushed his neck like a twig

Throwing the lifeless body to the floor he howled in blood lust then quickly felt a small pain in his wounded chest forcing him to lean against something. "Yes my lord." A shaper bowed and quickly left to go carry out Dredge's will. With a huff of breath Dredge rose placing a hand on his armored chest. "My lord, we need supplies, we are all but out of food and the men need attention." Dredge nodded and realized what he must do. "Set course to Pantha, we are going to visit an old friend." Dredge gave a small evil chuckle and the ship corrected course and boomed into hyper space.

A few hours later the massive Omen Class Command Ship exploded into orbit of Pantha and remained there not seeming to show hostility. It was the ship of the late Darth Vulcanus and it now belonged to the currently alive Dredge. A message was sent to the castle bellow where [member="Darth Vornskr"] resided. And it was an image of six foot three man dressed in head to toe in the armor of Krag speaking "Kaine, it's Dredge. I come seeking refuge. I bring gifts and offerings in return for your hospitality. Allow me to come down." Dredge's image flicked off and all that could be done now was wait

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Emperor of the Epicanthix was deep within his private sanctum surrounded by nothing save for the collections of ancient art and weapons he had collected for himself. He was dressed in loose and comfortable clothing made of exquisite sanguine and ebony silks, and his hair was bound back in a tight ponytail as to keep his flowing black-gray hair out of his eyes as he worked. It was not often that the Emperor had this much time to dedicate to his personal hobbies, but when he found the time he shut himself off from the rest of the world to focus on talents many would not know that he possessed. A large linen canvas was situated before him, and a single brush was delicately clenched in his right hand as he dragged the paint-dipped tip against the canvas. His mind was intensely set on his work, and not for a moment did his concentration break as he poured forth the image in his mind onto the blank slate before him.

He was currently working on a picture of a grand standoff between two lines of speared warriors on an open field, utilizing a heavy combination of gold, red, and black into his art as a callback to the traditional artistic themes of his people. War was an crucial, nay, essential aspect of Epicanthix culture, and was currently found throughout the entirety of the Panathan Empire. Kaine, in his quest to further connect himself with the culture of his people, had begun to immerse himself in the endless venues of art, music, and pottery to better connect himself with the people. Luckily for him he was a decent painter, and his current work was fleshing out relatively well, and he had hopes to eventually show his art to his wife to hear her opinion on his talents. For a non-Epicanthix she was adapting to Epicanthix lifestyle exceptionally well, and he could not be more pleased and proud of his mate.

However; all good things much eventually come to an end as he was brought out of his artistic trance by a tug in the Force, and he was already half-way out of his chambers before he nearly barreled over one of his ensigns that had come with news.

"Milord, a Omen-class star cruiser entered Panathan space a few moments ago, and a transmission was sent specifically for you my liege."

"Show me."

The ensign nodded compliance and produced a miniature holo-projector from his coat pocket and replayed the message from Dredge to Kaine, and then waited silently for further orders. After a moment or two of deep contemplation, Kaine gave forth his decree.

"Give him permission to land. I will await him in the throne room."

"Yes, milord."

[member="Dredge"]

 

[Dredge]

[member="Darth Vornskr"]

The living beast coated in armor parted the clouds and descended down to the heart of Kaine's empire. With a loud bellow the ship blew a massive horn that shook a few loose foundations of homes in neighboring towns. The two thousand meter ship jetted forth it's massive limbs and perched itself on the ground a few hundred yards from the castle. Inside the command room Dredge made his way to the cargo hold where he and his men would be lowered to the ground. Holding his armored chest where Strider's blade had pierced he coughed once in slight pain. "Ready the men, we must pay tribute to the dark lord, lest our own lives be forefit." Dredge spoke in an urgent manner to worker caste Yuuzhan Vong who quickly bowed their heads to see that the task was done and tribute be made, such were the ways of old to honor your host. Lining up in ranks of ten in the cargo hold the ship lowered itself further to the ground allowing Dredge and his men the ability to exit. Standing in front of his Vong and Graug soldiers they stood there in absolute silence, and in absolute perfect lines for drilling.

"Let me make something clear." Dredge addressed his men. "Who you are about to gaze upon is not to be taken lightly. The men we faced on Vozyrd were a drop in the bucket compared to he." Making his way to a deformed and misshapen Yuuzhan Vong shaped creature Dredge mounted the beast and stood tall among his men. "He will not hesitate to end our lives, and I fear even I may not be able to stop him. If one of you so much as spits on his land, so much as states at him the wrong way. I will remove your eyes, your tongue, your fingers and toes and crucify you myself." Dredge snapped at his beast and the creature stirred forward. "Do I make myself clear!?" He commanded of them


"YET ZOTAN-LUFUTATAR DREDGE!!" In unison the crown of Vong and Graug responded to their lord and stood at attention. Waiting for their next command. Dredge pointed out to the horizon that was Kaine's castle and yelled "PARPARA!!" With the snap of an amphistaff the small army took one step forward and followed dredge out of the ship and onto the ground. The ranks moved one by one and an army of over three thousand men followed one armored figure on his beast. Bringing up the rear a few hundred hundred slaves were being herded like sheep to a slaughter by black clad Yuuzhan Vong whipping and roaring threats in their native tounge. On his back Dredge had the sword of Darth Vulcanus on him and at his side was the Beskad of [member="Strider Garon"], The mando he thought dead.

With the army approaching the main gate Dredge dismounted his war beast and sent it back to the horde behind him to be handled. Looking up at the massive gate Dredge knew he could trust Kaine to a degree. He was sith but he was a friend at one point. Dredge's armor and sword began to burn slightly in heat as they approached the castle, it was like they recognized his presence. Krag's old master and emperor. With the army following behind him they all stopped when reaching the massive gate. "NADAL!!" Dredge ordered and the army made a thunderous sound when they stood at attention


Dredge felt compelled to kneel, the armor and sword whispering to him filling his mind with whispers of loyalty and servitude to the one true dark lord of the sith. He fought it for a moment then he found himself on one knee shouting something in the common language between his people and the Graug. "Uk broshan Tanfuksham Mubullat Goth Vornskr! Vuraser ob Jed'aii, Durub ob Panatha, Porander ob Sith!" All hail almighty dark lord Vornskr, slayer of Jedi, ruler of Panatha, emperor of sith. The army behind Dredge took to one knee in unison and shouted "UK BROSHAN VORNSKR!!" Now to wait for the gate to open and proceed to the throne room.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

​

The wide expanse before the castle was grand in it's similarity to the plains of many other worlds, but still held it's own unique foreign feeling that was partly attributed to the celestial bodies floating in the sky just beyond the scenic cloud cover that cast horrid shadows over the approaching army of Graug and Vong. The Emperor's fortress was a massive structure of stone and metal whose spires were concealed by the clouds that listlessly floated by. The approach to the castle gates was surrounded on both sides by high rock formations that forced Dredge's followers to restructure themselves into a more tightly knit wall of bodies in order to navigate the natural choke point before reaching the imposing black iron gates. As the army came to a halt outside of the massive gate leading to the outer courtyard of the Emperor's castle, a low-sounding horn was blown for all to hear that signaled the arrival of the Emperor's personal guests, and thus the gates were opened wide for the army to venture forth into the expansive courtyard that lied within.

Shortly after a single messenger ventured out to confront Dredge, and presented him with the Emperor's terms of engagement.

"His excellency has invited you, and you alone, to meet him in the castle's throne room. I have been commanded by my Emperor to bring you to him, and I am to bring you to him immediately without delay. If you would follow me, sire."

The messenger turned curtly on his heels and began to stride towards the large double doors that would lead into the castle's large and exquisite foyer, up the large stairway leading to the upper levels of the castle, through a massive corridor, and finally stopping at the doors that would open up to reveal the Emperor's dimly lit throne chamber. The Emperor himself would be sitting atop his throne made of ornate black iron, wearing his most regal and darkly-colored garb with his signature crown perched atop his brow, it's rubies twinkling in the dim light. The Emperor would regard Dredge as he entered with a single hand gesture, and would rise to greet his newest guest.

"It has been some time, old friend. What brings you to my kingdom?"

[member="Dredge"]

 

[Dredge]

[member="Darth Vornskr"]

"MABAJ!!" Dredge yelled out to his men commanding them to hold where they stood. The Graug and Vong quickly stood in unison, armor clanking as one until they stood at attention in their tightly packed rows of ten. Dredge looked at the messenger with a bit of rage in his blood red eyes, he hated weak humans telling him what to do. However this was a messenger of the dark lord Dredge quickly calmed himself. He sighed and stepped forward following the servant of Kaine. He preferred not to go forward into a Sith Lord's castle alone but as stated earlier Dredge trusted him to a degree.

When the pair of them entered the massive double doors, Dredge stared upon the face of Vornskr and smiled underneath his helmet. The Yuuzhan Vong covered in head to toe with the armor of the late Darth Vulcanus stepped forward and greeted kaine with a shallow bow. "Hello Mm-" dredge coughed as the leftover psychic resedue of Krag influenced his own thoughts. It would fade with time but the imprint was still there upon his own soul. "Hello Kaine." He said in a proper and polite voice, which was a rare occurance for Dredge. "I come to your kingdom for three reasons." Dredge's crimson eyes gleaned in the low light whilst he paced to the right tracking his own thoughts.

"I bring word that Darth Vulcanus has died at the hand of the Jedi Knight [member="Graxin Rade"] on Utapou. I come bearing gifts for your hospitality." Reaching to his side Dredge drew the shining Beskad of the Mandolorian field Marshall [member="Strider Garon"]. "Here is the beskad of Strider Garon, Mandolorian Field Marshall of clan Garrus and the untied clans of Mandalore." Dredge twirled the blade then placed it back in it's scabbard before handing it to Kaine's assistant. "I bring one hundred and fifty slaves from Utapou, and golden statues in your honor." Dredge smiled a bit about the statutes and chuckled in a low tone.

Getting serious his tone shifted and he spoke once more. "And lastly I come to ask for your help Kaine."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Emperor of Panatha sat upon his black throne, both elbows resting on his knees as he cupped his chin with both hands and covered his mouth with his interlocked fingers, and listened to Dredge wearing what could be considered the discarded corpse-armor of Vulcanus speak to him from down low. He was pleased to have his own informants, and his premonitions, validated by Dredge's confirmation that Vulcanus had indeed fallen in battle. Now he also knew the location of his demise, and the name of the individual who had delivered the killing blow to the short-lived last Emperor of the Old Empire, and the long-reigning Warchief of the Graug Hordes that had served the Old Empire so faithfully. This also fully explained why many Graug had wandered into the Panathan Empire lost and without a strong leader to guide them to greater glory, of which Kaine so graciously gave them in return for a lifetime of servitude in his own horde under the leadership of Warchief Malgrog the Savage.

"Your presents please me, Dredge, as they always have."

He flexed his left arm, which was a vong-formed replacement for the cybernetic replacement of the arm he had lost in his duel against Tahira Solo during the Battle of Metalorn several years prior, as emphasis on what he meant by Dredge's 'presents.' Another recent present of Dredge was the massive amphistaff known to the Vong as the Scepter of Power, which was still within the Epicanthix Emperor's possession, but currently hidden away within the bowels of the castle they were currently in.

"But, I wonder, what do you require my help for? What problem is so great that the mighty Supreme Commander of the Yuuzhan Vong must cower away to my realm to bribe me with so many gifts? I am quite curious to know."

@[member="Dredge"]