Everyone bows before the Duty

[Warmaster Nyâsh]

Darth Grond prepares himself for the meeting to come. A courier is delivering a message of the imperial palace´s office, written by Darth Grond after the conversation with the traitor. A simple datapad encrypted by imperial intelligence codes will be delivered to the seat of power by a trusted escort, his apprentice and some soldiers.

The datapad would have the following message:

Spoiler

In the name of His Imperial Majesty,

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Spoiler

the Sith Emperor Darth Carnifex​

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Request for an audience with,​

His Imperial Majestry, ​

in a matter of security of the Sith Empire​

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Only for eyes of the highest imperial authorities​

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Please enter validation code:​

> ························​

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VERYFIED​

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My Liege, I am aware that I am most likely unknown to You. My name is Darth Grond, inquisitor
in the service of your ever watchful Saaraishash. I wouldn´t dare to disturb you with meaningless and nonsensical matters.

I have been contacted by an individual which claims the title of Darth Ayra, my research
only gave a name in relation to a battle with the Mandalorian Empire on Telos IV, but literally nothing else.

The message of her and the conversation I had with this individual can only be described
as absolutely hostile as well as stability-threatening, but I can´t and won´t write the details
into a message and want to deliver this personally.

Therefore I request a formal audience with You, Your Imperial Majesty.

May the Force serve us.

Signed,

Darth Grond

Grond was preparing for the answer, expecting it to be positive. Personally polishing his armor and cleaning it in his chambers, it was a rare sight to see him without his typical attire. He kinda looked naked in his simple dress of a tunic and trousers, but now one could see the impressive size of his arms and legs, heavily trained, bulky, his chest was like ton and stretching the tunic that is seemed it would tear apart with a simple movement of his muscles.

Grond didn´t meet the Emperor before, he saw him already, but never spoke to him or was adressed by him personally. It was no big or special thing, an honour, but in Grond´s eyes the Emperor was just another servant of duty, just as Grond, but with a different sphere of responsibilities. He was looking forward to the audience, but was neither nervous nor stressed.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Within the hour, a message was sent back to [member="Grond"] informing him of the Emperor's decision.

Lord Grond.

The Emperor has requested your permission at the Imperial Palace.

He expects you to arrive with due haste appropriate of your station.

Office of the Imperial Throne

A hovercar would already be waiting for Grond the moment he emerged from his apartment, a well-dressed servant patiently awaiting him. Once inside the hovercar, the servant would speed Grond away towards the Imperial Palace. Dominating the entire skyline, the Palace was a massive three-kilometer tall monolith dedicated to Imperial glory and prosperity. It could be seen from nearly every angle of the government district and even beyond in the other sectors of Ravelin, it was a sight to behold.

The car pulled up to one of the lesser used side entrances, primarily set aside for high priority guests like the Inquisitor in question. There he would be led by another servant, this one dressed in the uniform of the Emperor's palace attendants, through the winding and magnificently decorated corridors of the Palace. Busts of Imperial heroes both modern and historic acted as markers along each corridor, with fabulous tapestries and banners flying from every buttress. Guards and other attendants gave Grond and his guide their fair space as they passed, bowing respectfully as they did. Those guards that were stationary at designated posts did nothing, their movements almost imperceivable as they stood to watch over the Emperor's domain.

As they neared the threshold to the Emperor's throne room, the attendant turned and bowed to Grond as the pair of large black doors began to recede into the walled partition. "The master awaits you within, my Lord." Then, without another word, they disappeared into the maze of corridors as quick as they had led the Lord Grond through them.

Light spilled into the throne room, illuminating a wide path towards the elevated throne. Upon it sat the Sith Emperor, his muscular body draped in rich vestments of deep maroon and vibrant gold. The Dark Side of the Force swirled around the Emperor like coiled energy set to burst at the drop of a hat. He beckoned Grond to come before him, his dark voice carrying across the expanse between the two of them with unmatched clarity.

"Welcome, Lord Grond. I am interested to hear what you have to say about this traitor that contacted you."

 

[Warmaster Nyâsh]

Grond was following the imperial attendant silently. Walking along the long corridors, flanked by banners, statues and other luxuries, the tall man couldn´t care less. Yes, he understood that power, wealth and respect demanded a proper projection and representation, but Grond is a pragmatic man. As he wouldn´t waste a piece of good metal, he would never waste space for anything but useful parts. The imperial centre was impressive without doubt, but it was also screaming to get bombed by any invader.

Since they left the speeder, he was carrying his helmet in his armpit, the five blades of his crest pointing upward being nearly as tall himself. The usualy cape of indifferent black armorweave was replaced by cape of red textile, the kama had an underlayer of the same fabric and colour. His polished armor shining in a dark bronze-tone and his chainmail was still in its very dark metallic look, but a bit more shiny, since he cleaned it as well. One shouldn´t think that the smith was usually not cleaning and polishing his armor, he did, just with different methods to maintain a look which was not indicating any pomp.

Entering the throne room, Darth Grond was with a gesture allowed to approach. With calmly placed, long steps he was moving in front of the elevated seat of his liege. With a movement which noises were accompanies by the cracking and clanking of heavy armor, Grond fell to one of his knees and bowed his head.

He looked up again when the Emperor spoke and took this as the sign to rise again. Grond was facing Darth Carnifex now, his eyes withstanding the look of the Sith Emperor. He felt his power, both the physcial and mental power as well as the power which was surrounding him sitting on a throne, commanding legions of soldiers and ruling over billions of lifes.

"Your Majesty, thank you for the swift audience you granted me. Concerning the circumstances haste could be an elementary factor in regards to my report."

He pauses a moment to gather his thoughts and order them before continuing.

"I was contacted by an individual claiming to be called Darth Ayra, the research of my informants gave no clue who she is and who she belongs to. She had a proposition to make, including you, my liege, and the Emperor of the Jen'ari Empire called Darth Vyrassu. Her idea was to lure both of you to a single battlefield that you may engage in single combat. The reasoning behind this was her opinion of you being too weak to rule this Empire, because you achieved your position not through brute force and power.

Her proposal was to let you fight Vyrassu, who challenged you, to see who would prevail in a duel. That afterwards this one could rule the Jen'ari and Sith Empire´s together. Her explanations were very narrow and left many sources and intents open for interpretation. Furthermore she mentioned an alliance ready to strike against our Empire once we move to attack the Jen'ari, an alliance of the Silver Jedi Order, the New Republic and the Mandalorian Empire. Again I have to point out that she did not mention any sources or how she would acquire such information.

My personal conclusion is that she either desires a position of power for herself or that her interest is to leave both the Jen'ari and Sith Empires without rulership for that mentioned alliance to strike at us, a staged duel between you, my liege, and the other Emperor would mean that vast numbers of soldiers and leaders are amassed at a single front, a perfect target for a focused strike by our natural enemies."

[member="Darth Carnifex"]​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

His fingers steepled, the Emperor listened with patience as the Lord Grond elaborated on what his message had only hinted at.

Treachery was a tradition that ran deep in the Sith bloodline and wasn't so easy to dispel despite the Emperor's best efforts. However, the Brotherhood of the Sith prided itself above its contemporaries for its adherence to the Rule of Order, the Chwayatajak, a philosophy in which the Sith were to pledge loyalty to the Empire under which they would all serve. A Dark Lord of the Sith, likewise a servant, would guide the Sith into the future to achieve the collective vision of a galaxy brought under the heel of the Sith Empire, establishing a utopia of darkness that would last untold generations.

It was the culmination of all his struggles, all his suffering. Treachery could not be allowed to take root in his Empire, not while he still drew breath and wielded the Dark Side of the Force.

"You are very wise for bringing this to my attention, Lord Grond. I will dispatch my agents out into the galaxy to ascertain greater information pertaining to this Darth Ayra. If she truly poses a threat to the Empire that we both serve, then she will be eliminated with all available haste and uncompromising ruthlessness. Moving forward, I will keep this information fresh in my mind as our forces encroach on the heretics around Csilla, she will find her efforts quite futile." The fingers of each hand intersected with each other until both hands were firmly clasped, the Emperor's eyes gleaming under the darkness that surrounded the Imperial throne. "This coming war will serve to eliminate a great many of our enemies, Lord Grond. But to do so we will need to drive them out, root and stem. Did this Ayra give you any indication as to where she might be hiding, a clue perhaps?"

[member="Grond"]​

 

[Warmaster Nyâsh]

"Indeed, she did. I have saved the coordinates on this datacron for your men."

With a swift movement a small object appeared in his massive hand. "I am not one for battles and open warfare, though I am a hunter, an inquisitor and this traitor chose, for whatever reason, me to initiate this conspiracy. I request to be tasked with hunting down this woman, to catch and to interrogate her and to execute her afterwards. We have no evaluation of her strength, power and possible forces, but this is my duty. So with or without support, I ask to be send to the coordinates and do what our duty demands."

He was standing still, directly facing the Emperor. The request was in Grond´s opinion neither surprising nor audacious, it was simply his duty. Grond never had a feeling for being polite or helding back. There was nothing except the service to the Sith and a poser, an impersonating or claiming Darth is one of the worst crimes against the Sith Code in the Lord´s opinion. The simple thought about it made Grond´s veins grow, the blood running faster, adrenaline flooding his body, but he is controlled and keeps his vision clear.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The datacron levitated for a moment longer before flying into the Sith Emperor's outstretched hand, his fingers caressing its angles and smooth surfaces. He regarded it for a moment before he sat it down on the arm of his throne, "Again, you have done well. Beyond your words, I can sense your hungering desire for justice. It fills you like a burning flame, an internal conflagration that requires only the barest release of pressure to burn down an entire world in your anger."

He could sympathize with Lord Grond, the fire burning in his heart was more ferocious than any natural flame; its heat more intense that the heart of a neutron star. Yet, even with this connective tissue running between them, the Emperor could not fully place all of his trust in this servant of the Empire.

It would be impractical to heap so much blind trust on one man, even if he sensed no lies in his words.

"And your request to hunt down this woman is granted, Lord Grond. I will send with you a team of my most worthy," and most loyal, "Inquisitors and their adjutants to aid you in this hunt. Together, you will rip out this cancerous growth and ensure the survival of the Empire."

[member="Grond"]​

 

[Warmaster Nyâsh]

Appreciating the words of the Emperor, but not bolstering his pride or confidence through them, he was standing as still as before. He took his strength, motivation and values from his own compass of duty. There was no reward, no appreciation, no award which was more pleasing than doing the duty and fullfilling it - again and again.

Though he was slightly disturbed by the thought of being assigned to a group of other, most likely unknown, inquisitors. He had a certain view, strong principles and an unyielding nature and would not give ground to some moderates, be slowed by half-wits or advised by some alien-scum. Yet it was an order and it was more than necessary to find this traitor, interrogate her and then execute her.

"As you say. Who are you going to assign to my ... to this mission?" He was about to say 'command' but abstained from it. Grond simply wished that this would be his command, then he could do what he wants. "We have to hurry, I do not want to see this chance slip through our fingers just because we need to gather forces for this miserable offence to our Empire."

[member="Darth Carnifex"]​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Capable inquisitors, Lord Grond. Picked from all over the Empire."

He could sense the Sith Lord's reservations, he held a deep commitment to certain principles that were fundamentally anathema to the nature of the Empire he served. The Sith under Carnifex did not care for pedigree or ancestry, so long as an individual was capable and reliable then they were allowed to flourish. Emperor Carnifex had little tolerance for ineptitude and nepotism, those yearning to climb the ranks through sycophantism would find themselves woefully suffocated by the institutionalized meritocracy the Empire thrived on.

"And to you, Lord Grond, I place overall command of this operation. You were the one approached by this traitor to our heritage and were wise and loyal enough to bring your findings to me, proving yourself a credit to the Empire. I would think of no one more deserving of command than you, and I will even allow you to hand-pick your personal attaches from among a pool of our best Inquisitors so that they may suit your unique proclivities."

[member="Grond"]​

 

[Warmaster Nyâsh]

Grond bows slightly with a cracking of armoured plates pressing against other plates. It was not a common gesture of him, but authority demanded respect.

"I am not a man of great commitment to community and society. The only times I visit the Saaraishash headquarter is when finishing a mission and delivering a report. My philosophy makes me work alone and therefore I do not know many of my fellow colleagues. I appreciate the offer and will accept it, but I would ask you to choose the ones which are available and you deem most suited for this task. This would also support the importance of the cause and the validity behind it."

The human had his ressintements against certain parts of the Empire, but he was also a man of duty and would accept the orders from his liege. That does not mean that he would like or appreciate them - though that was not required to fulfill a mission.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]​

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Very well, Lord Grond. You may return to your abode, I will send for you once I have gathered the other Inquisitors."

He would be allowed to leave, the guards opening the large door for him as he departed and closing it behind him. Afterward, the Emperor would send dispatches across the Saariashash to recruit the most capable Inquisitors to his cause, leaving out the most vital parts of his wishes with the intent to inform them of their orders in person. Despite the high encryption that went into every one of his transmissions, the Emperor didn't want to leave anything to chance in the event the intended target was able to intercept his commands.

Couldn't really know just exactly who was listening in.

Once they were all assembled, he would summon them to the palace to fully debrief them on their tasks. Primarily, he would inform them of what Lord Grond had uncovered and that they were to root out and destroy an enemy of the Sith.

[member="Grond"]​