Private Dance of Politics

[Lirka Ka]

DARKLIGHT, OBSERVATION DECK

Being an Imperator had opened a great many doors for Lirka Ka. It was a title with weight, a title that with it came the potential to plunge the Empire into chaotic civil war if she so desired to “cross the rubicon” as they say. With such power came one of the Once-Sephi’s favorite song and dance, politics. She had become grossly familiar with it in the long years, from her days as Grand Moff in an Empire long-dead to the maneuvering of a Slavemaster General, and now to the machinations of an Imperator - and silent revolutionary.

It was not a surprise, the Storm Riders had made quite the statement with their appearance at Ryoone. Their mission set in stone, and ambitions stretching wide. As she had said upon appointment, today Firefist, tomorrow the Galaxy. Such words still rung true - already was the armada preparing to set out for the next world to bring into the fold. She merely had to hope for less of a debacle this time, and perhaps she was not the only one this go around.

In a move that was not quite unexpected, though a pleasantly unwelcome surprise one of the Councilors had decided to grace the Darklight with their presence.

Darth Malum of House Marr

It was a curious arrival. One that to Lirka represented a growing…humor…she was beginning to find with this whole debacle surrounding her rather sudden and unforeseen appointment. Those that, by all metrics, should have been her enemies now came to her. Coveting the power within her title. How times changed from those days when it was but a rotten monster and a boy, discussing matters of history and allegiance.

Today, it was to be an Imperator and Serpent. Dancing that wondrous dance of politicking that Lirka adored so much. She, of course, did not deny the councilor entry. Such a thing would have been beyond foolish, besides, her curiosity demanded to see what would transpire. Potentiality was a potent thing, and today the threads of potentiality flowed once more.

Perhaps it was a scolding for her display at Ryoone. Though really Lirka felt little shame for it - she only wished the next upstart holdout she found would be one that her Legion could wash away in the storm. Perhaps it was something greater. In the end, Lirka operated much the same as she always did. A meeting sequestered away in one of the Darklight’s many chambers, today one of its great observation decks. Where their only witness would be the stars, and the gleaming swirl of Firefist that nestled so close, and yet so far away.

Lirka gazed at the stars, as she so often did. Looking between the gaps, out into the empty void of nothingness that reminded her so much of the Primordial Darkness that which she preached of and brawled against. Now, she merely awaited his arrival.

A grin beneath her maimed helm, certainly, whatever this was to be. It would be an interesting bout.

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

It was not as if they had not crossed paths several times since that conversation that seemed so long ago upon Saijo... though, he supposed by any reasonable case, it had certainly been a very long time since then. They had progressed far since then, though... from one who had been Grand Moff of one empire, the so-called Slavemaster General of the same, to be named Imperator now? Had it truly been such advancement?

Or did the once Sephi believe it to be entirely deserved.

Did the once Sephi rankle at the fact that the boy she had met with on Saijo so long ago, now stood in position that overshadowed her?

Malum did not know, indeed, there was much regarding the Sephi he could not claim to know, even calling her, a her, seemed... incorrect in some regard, considering what she was now, even back then, all the way back in those academy days of Saijo, he had been discomforted with the notion that the armoured hulk before him was a her... had ever been a her.

Yet, the lack of knowledge had pre-existing notions of concern, for as much as there was deep love within some parts of the Empire towards him, he would not doubt that in equal measure, perhaps even in measures beyond, he was hated by great many, and in the middle. There laid those like Lirka, their allegiance may have been to the Kainite, despite whatever their attempts to distance themselves, but it was those independents in the middle, and the powerbrokers in the centre, who wielded an influence that left them uncaring to hate, and unwilling to notice.

The latest defeat in the Assembly had been enough of a waking up call, for despite all which he had gained in defeat, the loyalty of the War Marshal secured, as he bore witness the entire political establishment of the Empire reject him, leaving only the Tsis'Kaar, leaving only Malum, as his ever strongest supporter.

The tally at the end still rankled him, four for, ten against. The time when the Tsis'Kaar had held the numbers to have half the Assembly under their control had passed. That Zachariah had voted against the measure was a poison to his heart, that Trayze had abstained an annoyance, it had left the only true partisan of him in that body...

...To be Darth Nefaron... and what a signal that sent.

It was clear that his attempts to remain aloof to the matters of the Empire was coming to an end, there existed a short supply of those who would be genuinely loyal to him, the Assembly, the Empire had ballooned simply too far beyond that. He required new allies, new partners, even as every handshake with them, would have a dagger hidden behind his back.

Lirka was not an Assembly member... yet... but he would not be surprised if they held some ambitions, and beyond that, they were an Imperator. It would do little harm, to make certain that the Tsis'Kaar would stay close to the Third, that they would be indispensible in the coming Shattermarch. It had been strategy that had kept him from making an appearance at the tithe given to the Third. The horse race had been amusing, watching as those prostated themselves looking to gain favour with the new Imperator.

Malum had made it clear he saw no need, watcching as favours would need to be netted out to those who had provided.

While Malum now, would make it crystal clear, he was no such figure.

The looming durasteel doors peeled open, as the sight before him greeted his masked vision, Firefist was closer to them then anytime before, its stars shimmered against the transparisteel, passing through it to glint off the metal of the mask he wore. Bedecked in the black steel and plate of the black knightly armour that was his make.

His dark cape passed along the perimeter of the door, the wind basking at his wake, as his gaze found itself upon the armoured hulk of his newest target.

Malum offered an incline of his head in notice, before taking position opposite the once-Sephi, glancing out to the galaxy that was their birthright.

"...Imperator, we did hardly have an opportunity to speak after Ryoone, did we?" A ghost of bemusement passed his lips with every word, "It seems we have both accomplished much since Saijo." It was a shallow similarity.

But it was one that none could claim to have with them.

Lirka Ka
Mentioned: Zachariah Conway Trayze Tesar Darth Nefaron Helix

 

[Lirka Ka]

Certainly, their paths had crossed plenty of times before Lirka’s disappearance into the chaotic depths of wild space. Sometimes in peace, the vast majority of them in violence. Did she hold the latter against the man? It was anyone’s’ guess really, Lirka Ka was a monster of fickle nature. Sometimes violence was simply a test of worth, other times it was the breeding grounds for grudges that could last centuries - perhaps she merely danced between them both to remain as unpredictable of a variable as ever. She was a hard book to read, at the end of the day. Despite her many bouts of posturing and barbaric endeavors.

Many things churned now, in the shadow cast by Darklight. Yet in all of it, Lirka Ka remained what she always wanted to be. A scuttling, unknown, variable. She assumed that was why Darth Malum of House Marr had come - an unknown variable offered a great myriad of potentialities. Lirka had certainly reaped the benefits before, for while the lord of Marr worked with the War Marshal. Shadowy plots had grown in Otherspace, briefly, did the Once Sephi ponder if the boy-king truly knew the extent of what his mechanical compatriot had agreed to enable? It was an amusing, albeit distracting notion.

For a moment, silence hung. Then did the brute swivel upon her throne to greet the councilor. She kept an odd aura to her being these days, a regality greatly unbefitting such a merciless and savage warlord. Yet all was but a great many overlapping veneers, perhaps in another time the liar that was Lirka Ka would’ve fit in rather nicely among the Tsis’Kaar.

She spoke with a casual air, but there was a dagger behind it all most certainly. She didn’t particularly trust him. Though in Sithdom, was it truly possible to trust one another? Especially a lord of assassins like himself.

“Being an Imperator is busy work. Especially when there are…upstarts in the way.”

Her maimed helmet was an emotionless thing, yet the studying gaze of her slit lenses conveyed enough of a jabbing coyness even before her words hummed out.

“And it would seem, some of us are struggling to accomplish what they so desire.”

She had been a politician once upon a time. It was far from a shock that Lirka Ka of all people would have studied the records to see the lord of the Tsis’Kaar’s current…political woes. She continued on, playing with fire as she so often did. Being an Imperator had invited a certain boldness to her words that she had not given in some time.

“It is so greatly amusing to see the menagerie of murderers you surround yourself with, Councillor. Why, compared to that questioning boy of yesteryear you seem to be all but a mirror of the Eternal Father himself with your cadre of villainy.”

They were polite jabs. But jabs nonetheless. But of course, with boldness came bluntness.

“And of course, I assume you have come to try and add another monster to your tally?”

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

Malum kept his gaze out to the causeway even as the mechanical whirlings of the once-Sephi turned to finally face him. It was rare enough occurence when one held of such height to tower over him, though, he did not doubt that the mechanical suit the Imperator seemed to always drape themselves over with played a not so insignificant role in the matter.

The Dark Councillor smiled a ghost of a smile at the first of the former Slavemaster General's words, "...It took several years after Fiviune to put an end to those who felt themselves still loyal to my Mistress, even after I killed her, even now I wonder if there are Tsis'Kaar exclaves out there who have not yet kissed the ring, those who only profess loyalty, while sharpening their knives," Malum offered in commiserating assent, "There was a rebellion of the Inquisition when I put my co-apprentice into the dirt... suffice it to say, I know what it is to have... upstarts in your way," He raised a single flat hand before him, before with the snapping pull of black leather it was balled into a fist, "I recommend you strike fast, strike hard, such disobedience hardly helps anyone." He offered with a tone that entirely accepted the possibility that they would snap at him for offering his oppinion.

It mattered little if the once-Sephi thought such things were affronts to her rights or whatever else.

It was the truth, simple as it was.

His smile grew even wider, at the jibe that crossed the next stanza of their words, "I envy the Imperators out at the frontier, your foes have to face the Empire united in singular purpose, while within the Empire..." He seemed to consider the words, the thoughts, bringing his hand back to his side, "...Those who stand in opposition are so often those that as a collective make up the strength of our unity, the wars within the Empire are so rarely solved with blasters."

Knives on the otherhand... much easier.

He allowed himself a chuckle, light, yet, still bitter, as they continued on. What a startling comparison, once he might have struggled in introspection, now...

...Now he could not find the energy to argue.

"...We are an Empire of murders, Imperator Ka. I lead an order of assassins, spies, and saboteurs, what more need be said?" To stand against the bile, the villainy, the impure, one needed to descend down into the cancer.

To cut it at its source.

The once-Sephi cut to the heart of the issue, a silence dawning between them, as if the air itself whipped away at the end of their words. His red gaze, still gazed, mesmerised by the galaxy before them... even as it, like all things, came to an end, tilting his gaze towards the hulk next to him.

"...I believe despite whatever performances you have made, for reasons beyond me, your loyalty still lay with Darth Carnifex, as you told me so very long ago..." Malum humoured, in a tone as bemused as it was pregnant, "...Such that it is, that no one, least of all me, would be able to add you to such a tally."

He flicked his masked gaze away, back to the stars that he had watched with such utter fascination as a youth.

Even walking amongst them, his enchantment had hardly ceased.

"...But humour me, how would I achieve such a thing?"

Lirka Ka

 

[Lirka Ka]

Presence was an important matter when dealing with the yokels, and Lirka Ka did pride herself on being quite the presence. Be it of hulking metal terror, or the sniveling scorn of a wretched creature desperately dancing in the shadows of lords. The suit certainly helped, it was as much a mask as it was a tool of war. Lirka's feelings, expressions, emotions were hidden beneath layer upon layer of armored plating. It did not take a genius to notice such an intent, it would be foolishly for a Force Dead abomination not to - she lived by words alone, no Sith would be prying into the depths of her mind.

She listened to his words idly, much had changed in her absence. While she had little problem admitting it, it certainly represented a quaint reminder that Darth Malum of House Marr was far from the boy she had met so long ago - it was almost enough to bring a smile to her wretched face. Almost.

"I welcome them, in the end. Is it not the nature of the Sith to be an upstart, to strive and claw at becoming more than you were? To sit upon thrones held by others...so many twisting little serpents within the endless mass, ravenous for power, ego demands them to push deeper, and deeper. Perhaps it does not help, but it most certainly tests. Doesn't it?"

Succeed, or die. That was the simple path that the Primordial Darkness had laid out for the worthy souls within the Galaxy.

"Yet, what is an Imperator but the greatest potential for threat, hm? It takes but one of us, one wretched soul filled with foolhardy pride to cross the Rubicon and plunge the Empire into civil war. A problem solvable with blasters. Unity is a farce, a distraction for the mongrels to feast upon, One banner, beneath it so many buzzing gnats. For what are we, but the Empire of murderers, scoundrels, and scum? Playing as nobles and lords."

Lirka certainly didn't live under much illusion of what she was at the end of the day. She didn't think much higher of her fellows either - there existed handfuls, souls unburdened by blackness. But in time they too would wither into the worthy, or they would simply burn away when the grasping claws came for them too. Where did the lord of assassins fall? She wasn't so certain yet.

"And yet perhaps, it is indeed our disunity that is our biggest strength. A notion I have certainly pondered before..."

There it was. Loyalty. It was an interesting notion. Where did Lirka truly stand? It was anyone's guess at the end of it all, except for the simple fact that the Once-Sephi certainly moved to only her own self serving machinations. The form such machinations took? Well, that was where the confusing parts arose.

"Indeed. My reasons are well beyond your understanding, for yours is a mind unenlightened. No offense. You simply lack the necessary components to see the turning of the Galaxy as I do - yet, what is politics within our Sithdom but a vast web of interconnection? If you wish to be humored, it shall go both ways dear Councilor. Consider, what does the Kainate offer to one such as myself?"

He may have been a man now, but it certainly wouldn't stop Lirka from adding a poking question or two as if he were still an Acolyte in the Academy.