Placeholder 04
Character
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6ffmunRjjI
...Darth Arcis fell with a quiet thud. The Fleetmaster and former Sith emperor had died well. The Kaggath was an honor resurrected by Arcis' acceptance of the challenge. Mephirium would make sure acolytes from thereon out would learn of Darth Arcis' exploits, and his hand in turning the winds of fate.
The deck officers stared at him in silence. Darth Mephirium leaned down and picked up the elder Sith Lord's warblade. One could hear a pen drop.
"My father, Grand Moff Rade, once led good men and women such as yourselves to victory in the Empire's name," Mephirium rose to his full height, "I will do the same!" His gaze fell to the Sith Pureblood's corpse. "Arcis was an honorable man and a Sith Lord to be remembered throughout the ages, but he could not have achieved all that he did without your support."
The blade was stained with his own blood. Mephirium ignored the gruesome gash that ran down his inner forearm for now. There would be time to mend his wounds later.
"Your service is to me," Mephirium announced," by honor of the Kaggath!"
The silence broke. An older officer stood up from her chair and bowed. Mephirium acknowledged her with a nod. Soon, the entirety of the bridge joined her. The 501st and its fleet of Star Destroyers, as the rest of the galaxy soon would, waited with bated breath for Darth Mephirium's orders.
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Four hours had passed since Arcis had fallen. Mephirium had taken the time to know his deck officers' names and the speak with the admiral aboard. The rest of that time had been spent hailing his allies in from across the galaxy. Coruscant did not know what danger it was truly in, but those below would soon learn of Darth Arcis' death.
There were already whispers of Mephirium's treason. It would be civil war without end.
The six Star Destroyers' sole job was to make sure things were open for the rest of Mephirium's fleet to arrive. A conglomeration of Star Destroyers, old Acclamators, X-wings mothballed by the Galactic Alliance, and a myriad of other vessels would be arriving in system shortly.
Kentarch's mercenaries, a contingent of the Saeva Corporation's naval might, and the transport ships housing the mutants Grudge had crafted for this particular assault would be joining them. Others had pledged themselves to Mephirium's cause as well, though whether they would show was another matter entirely.
Mephirium's current retinue aboard Arcis' capital ship consisted of Captain [member="Aelius Varangian"], head of the Imperial Royal Guard, Colonel [member="Bethany Haverford"], and Mister [member="Gulliver Foyle"]. The Captain and Colonel would be joining him on the direct assault of the Dark Lord's palace. Mister Foyle would be leading the combined efforts of the 501st and their mutant support in destroying whatever loyalist resistance might pop up.
Primary targets were general security stations and airbases.
Saeva's mercenaries would be joining a contingent of the 501st and the Graug Warboys in the assault on the Dark Lord's sanctuary. Mephirium trusted they would succeed in surrounding the structure and preventing any possibility of the Dark Lord's escape.
Bounty Hunters had been assigned to Foyle for tactical disarmament of any particularly troublesome Sith loyalists. That would include any rivals that d̲͇͍̬̳̫͇́a̗͖̻re̶̙d̰̪͈̝͖ to stand in the way of Mephirium's assault.
"It's time Captain. Assemble the men. Have them listen to my words." Mephirium chimed to Aelius. The 501st was to be assembled in the hangers and made ready for battle. The rest of the fleet would arrive shortly after they departed.
The Sith Lord strode to the helm of the ship. Arcis' blood stained the console. "Your sacrifice will not be in vain." Mephirium ran a gloved hand across the crimson stain.
The comm system clicked as it came to life. This signal was one for all to hear. From the soldiers of the 501st, to the general chatter of the One Sith military across their territories. In some areas, thanks to jammers set in place by servants loyal to his cause, their holovisions would be flooded with the message.
If only he had the resources to hijack every signal in the galaxy. Oh, if only.
He drew in a deep breath. The Dark Side thundered through his veins. The power that [member="Soeht"] had granted him made his body feel new - he was still learning how to use it again. With trembling hands, Mephirium tiled his head back.
He spoke, "Lords of the One Sith, soldiers, citizens - I've an urgent message for every one of you." His voice thrummed with power. There was no doubt in his mind now. This was the right decision. "For years, we have followed the Dark Lord. For years, we have spilled blood, conquered, and died for this mysterious being."
A pause.
"He would have you believe that he is a god. I am here to tell you that he is far from that - the Dark Lord is wholly mortal. He is a man; a man that has been happy to sacrifice our lives for his 'grand plan'. A plan that even his closest advisers know nothing about."
Another pause.
"Soldiers, would you serve an absent lord? Would you watch your comrades die for the sake of a lone man's ego? He has failed to bring order to the core. He does not care for your lives. His only desire is to fulfill his own sick urges. I plan to restore our Empire - to give you something that you might serve proudly! To bring order and safety to our holdings!"
Mephirium trembled. Never before had he felt so moved.
"Lords, acolytes, all who would call yourself Sith. The Dark Lord would have us forget what it means to be Sith. Cooperation is commendable, and we can only hope to bring order through our alliances, but it is a Sith's place to seek more. The Dark Lord would have you worship him - would have you follow his dictations rather than your own. Our people are warriors. The strong should rule, but only so long as they serve a purpose! There must come a time when even our greatest leaders need to put down the scepter. In cases such as this, it needs to be forced!"
The trembling ceased. The subtle rumblings of the Bogan's power flowing through his body was ever-present, but he could place a handle on it for now. He let the fire simmer for now. There would be time enough to let it burn in due time.
"My fleet encircles Coruscant. My armies will descend upon the planet shortly. Lay down your weapons. Hide away in your homes. So long as you do not stand in our way, you will survive - you will thrive!"
Mephirium's lips pulled back in a pleasant smile. "Those of you with the strength to stand with us...do so, and the rewards will be boundless. Those of you foolish enough to defend the false Emperor will meet with the same fate your would-be-god shall."
Silence rang for a moment. The message cut out. The warning had been delivered.
Mephirium turned to his retinue. "Is my shuttle prepared?"