Flight of the Obscurity

[Darth Vazela]

@[member="Dranok Lussk"]

Flight of the Obscurity​

​

Dromund Kaas system.

It is a time of change in the Sith Empire. The duel between the insurrectionists and loyalists on Dromund Kaas has ended in a victory for the former, with the fall of Tyrin Ardik to the hands of Mikhail Shorn and the ancient artifact, the Soulsaber. Dranok Lussk, returning from the fringes of Unknown Space, has lain claim to the mantle of Sith Emperor and has begun the task of laying control of the Empire he now rules. But dissent has grown in the ranks of the Sith Order, ranging from the lowest plebeians in the form of Gregor Gideon to the highest caste Darth Vazela. The Sith Lord has finished his study, observation and analysis of the Empire. It was time for him to leave.

The Bantha touched down in the hangar bay of the Obscurity, which had lain in orbit since it's arrival above Dromund Kaas three hours previously. So strange, that galactic events could happen in such a short space of time. The occupant of the Sith Infiltrator was seething in rage, as he emerged from it's innards and began his descent down it's durasteel ramp to the hangar bay surface. The various complements of shuttle and starfighters laid dormant, ready for use. The barracks that held their pilots laid off on the side lines, all on stand by. But Darth Vazela was not concerned about them.

All he wanted to do was now leave.

The blast doors for the Obscurity closed, locking down the hangar bay once more. Security personnel patrolled the hallways. Docking ports, used to unloaded cargo and received deliveries, were closed, as no expected deliveries were expected that day. No other forms of traffic were expected to arrive on board the Star Destroyer either. All that was needed was a new heading, new orders and a sense of direction. Anticipation had taken over the crew, as they waited for the news. Although, Vazela assumed that Malus Bligh and his bridge officers had a sense of what had happened. They, after all, were the ones who monitored radio chatter and with so many ships, customs and so forth going back and forth between the world and the ships that defended it, surely someone from the citadel had let it known that their Emperor was defeated and a new one stood in his place.

The lift to the bridge closed, with the hooded Sith Lord inside of it. Malevolence and menace leaked from the man. Blood lust was in the air. He would need to do something about that. Soon.

 

[Judas of Vahl]

Aboard the Dzu'ari
Dromund Kaas, Orbit

Of course the Emperor had fallen. His and Mikhail's planning and execution of said plans had went strangely perfect. Granted, Mikhail did most of the fighting work, Dranok was merely there to carry out the mission should be be defeated or something along those lines. They hadn't been defeated, nowhere close to it. In accordance with the new regime, the brand-new Emperor took to the skies to seek out a vessel to call his own. As was any major power capital, this one was even more guarded than most. The new Emperor's flight proved fruitful as he fell upon the sight of the Dzu'ari, a massive supercarrier in service under the Sith Empire. It's late commander was the age-old Sirella Valkner, a Sith Master who had not been seen throughout the Empire as of late. And in this case, her vessel had a new commander.

Seated in the fresh-smelling commander's chair, Dranok Lussk rotated his head slowly, admiring the bridge crew in its routine work and couldn't help but notice the usual glances they threw at their new commander-in-chief. It made him feel rather good about himself, previously holding a high-ranking Military officer position within the Imperial fleets before returning from the fringes to wreck havoc and earn an Empire. This was all his. The stormtroopers, crewmen, officers, ships, riches, and power. Everything that he could ever want was at his disposal.

A wave of his hand brought up a holographic tactical readout, displaying the various ships protecting the Sith capital and listing the names of said vessels. One in particular stood out, the Obscurity. Its owner was Darth Vazela, a Sith Lord and a familiar face from the past. The Emperor remembered his actions from a recent insurrection, his movements against him were already the roots of an unstrong loyalty.

"Captain, patch me through to the Obscurity." He spoke aloud to the nearest officer to him. "I would like to for him to give me some company."

"Yes, sir."

@[member="Vilox Pazela"]

 

[Darth Vazela]

@[member="Dranok Lussk"]

The lift opened, allowing compressed air from it's cooling ducts to spill over the polish, durasteel flooring. Darth Vazela stepped out of the enclosed space onto the walkway ahead. Situated above the bridge, the walkway was erected over the operations area, where the various bridge officers went about their business. Guards were posted around the edges of the circular space, which ended with a flight of stairs that led up into a darkened room. Vazela crossed the pathway and over the various bridge officers towards the stairs ahead, his robes barely inches from touching the floor beneath him. The artificial lights that hung from the ceiling above and the floor below began to end when he began his ascent into the observation deck and then they disappeared, the further he climbed up. Soon, the man found himself in the dark, wide area. Stars glittered in from the large, overbearing transparisteel screen that was before the unnatural, deformed structure that was a throne. A console was to the side of the seat, he remembered. But he had no intention of using it.

Vazela crossed the darkened room, planning to seat in that throne for a long time. He wanted to gaze upon the dark expanse, Dromund Kaas and various ships that made up the Imperial task force that was defending the system. It was a technique that he had grown accustomed too. He was in control of his anger, not it in control of him. As he was about to lower himself into the throne, to settle his rage and gaze upon the stars, the console came to life. The illumination created by it's activation lit up the area of the observational deck that Vazela was stood in. It even briefly illuminated his face. He lifted his left hand to the device and checked to see what had caused it's activation. If it was Malus Bligh, then perhaps his patience for the old man would disappear and he would finally lose it with him. However, it was not the Commander. No, it was someone else.

Accepting the transmission, the holographic projection of Dranok Lussk came to life in miniature form. Vazela checked to see where the broadcast was transmitting from and found that it was coming from the Dzu'ari. Turning his eyes back to the hologram, from which a miniature form of himself would appear on the fleet carrier in front of the new Sith Emperor, Vazela said, "Yes?"

 

[Judas of Vahl]

A sly smile spread across Dranok's face as the visage of Sith Lord Vazela shimmered into existence. "Lord Vazela, I request your audience. Loyalty and confidence will be needed to become concreted for the future of this Empire." Of course it needed to be stable. His smile grew slightly larger, "I request it immediately." Vazela would turn out to be a useful tool for the sculpting of this Empire. It always needed strong support columns to form a single, impenetrable citadel of order and peace.

Hopefully this man he'd encountered before had enough common sense to recognize new authority. Granted, their first meeting didn't end very well with Vazela using Suppress Thought to get rid of he and Lucien. That meeting was when Dranok was but a mere Knight, endlessly chasing his own tail in and effort to gain power in a hostile environment that was the Sith Empire. But now, things would change. He was in command, none stood before him, none could command him, and his own words began law across countless worlds. It was glorious.

OOC: Sorry for late post, holidays do that.​

 

[Marcus Faust]

@[member="Dranok Lussk"] @[member="Vilox Pazela"]

Standing at the side of his Emperor, Faust was all but silent. Not a word came from the Sith Assassin whose eyes scanned the Dzu'Ari's bridge from behind the black holes in his mask. Officers and other sailors scurried back and forth, none truly catching his eye as he watched them work. Darth Vazela was someone he hardly knew, and so was Dranok, but his loyalties lay with the new Emperor now, so he would do what the man ordered. The thought of a meeting forced Marcus' mind to instantly begin plotting how to easily kill a target in such a setting. A force of habit he supposed.

 

[Darth Vazela]

| @[member="Dranok Lussk"] | @[member="Marcus Faust"] |

"Of course, my Lord. I am on my way." Darth Vazela shut the holographic off and turned away from the console to the exit. Ten minutes or so later, he was on board the Bantha and heading to the Dzu'ari to meet with the new Emperor and discuss what was on the mind of Dranok Lussk. His Lightsaber was a comfortable weight as he flew between the Obscurity and the Emperor's flagship.

 

[Judas of Vahl]

@[member="Vilox Pazela"]

About 10 minutes later and a new signal shown across his screen, a shuttle approaching the Dzu'ari. It was good that he was coming, it displayed his trust and loyalty for the time being. Given their previous encounters, he would no doubt hold shrouded ill-intent towards the new Emperor and would obviously try in vain to distract his efforts or even strike back in rebellion. Either way, he had to concrete this loyalty from him or...tie loose ends.

The Emperor turned to @[member="Marcus Faust"] and a few Stormtroopers nearby. "Knight Faust, take some of my men and escort Vazela to here."

 

[Marcus Faust]

Faust complied to @[member="Dranok Lussk"] without a word, waving for a group of stormtroopers to follow after him. The pristine white armor clad soldiers followed the Sith without a sound, only a nod of compliance. The Stormtroopers were the Empire's best for a reason, and the men behind him were shining examples of that. Both figuratively and literally. As the Bantha landed, @[member="Vilox Pazela"] would find Marcus standing tall and awaiting him, arms behind his back, and his vast collection of trophy sabers hanging at his sides. He was flanked on either side by five troopers, all standing at attention.

 

[Darth Vazela]

| @[member="Dranok Lussk"] | @[member="Marcus Faust"] |

Upon the threshold of the Bantha's exit stood a hooded individual. The ship had just landed on board the Dzu'ari after being cleared to be docked. The man lifted his hand from his darkened, hooded robe and activated the hydraulics. The doors slide into the walls either side of him, whilst a ramp lowered to the ground. It was then that Darth Vazela emerged from the ship and into the hangar bay.

He was met by another, Marcus Faust. If they had met previously, Vazela did not remember. With his yellow, predatory eyes glaring from underneath his hood, he said, "Lead the way."

 

[Darth Vazela]

[After a month of arguments, debates and inactivity on Dranok's part, with the permission of @[member="Jaxton Ravos"] I am now solo posting in this thread and finishing it off. It's a real shame when someone kicks up a fuss over spilled milk and when given a clear opportunity for everyone to rectify any mistakes with some good quality roleplay decides to then not get properly involved in the story. Hopefully my writing will make up for all of this.]

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Compressed air kept his posterior cooled and relax as the force surged through him. He rose several inches above the durasteel floor beneath him, as images flashed through his mind. Darth Vazela saw the future, a galaxy in a state of flux, of change and of chaos. It was war time, as Empires clashed with each other for power and Republics fought to defend their liberty. One particular face came to mind as the future was played before him in his rising meditation. His connection to the Unifying Force allowed him to see Darth Arcis. But he did not know how or why this individual was so important to future events, nor did he understand why he was seeing a member of the Sith species ruling over the Sith Empire in the future. He was not aware that, in time, Dranok Lussk would be transformed into this individual whom would rule the Sith and bring them into war with the Mandalorians. It was like a cleansing of fire.

His visions moved on wards and he saw a planet with a large, overbearing structure that reminded him of the Towers of Je'har. He realized that he was seeing Almania, the world he had grown up on. But the force told him that the individual he saw was himself, but he was no longer Darth Vazela; and then a thought came to mine. "Be better than they." He rose higher as the force visions played in his mind. Dark robed, hooded figures surrounded him on the top of the towers, as he looked over Stonia. Now he was no longer perceiving the future from the sidelines, but instead from the perspective of himself. He did not know or recognize the men and women that was standing around them. "But they are your students, peers as you will, that believe as you do."

"Be better than they."

Beyond Stonia, in the stars, he saw an insignia burning. It surprised him as to what he saw. It was not the Galactic Republic, Jedi Order, Mandalorian Empire or the Omega Protectoreate, nor was it any other galactic power that he would have expected to foresee himself destroying. What he saw was the Sith Empire in flames and then he pieced it together. A war where the Sith would be cleansed by fire. But not as a Sith Lord. Not as the Dark Lord of the Sith that Darth Ayra had envisioned for him. "It is the dark side incarnate you see. Better than the Dark Lords of the Sith. Shrouded in darkness, unseen, unknown but alas the manipulator of all."

"Be better than they."

It then became apparent to one Vilox Pazela that the Sith had failed. That the Empire that the exiles had envisioned had come to pass and ultimately failed in their aspiration to destroy the Jedi and Republic that had exiled them. That the first bearers of the dark side of the force whom fell to the Je'daii Masters whom choose the Ashla had begun the series of events that would be known as the Star Wars. The dark side must have it's revenge and for the longest of time, the Sith had been the epitome of it's power and knowledge.

But no longer. He would be known as the exiled one in time, when history would look upon him by the legacy he would create. Much like Ajunta Pall had done so with his following, he would forge an Empire that would rule for millenia. He lowered himself down to the ground as he connection to the Unifying Force faded. The light weight boots he wore for comfort pressed back down onto the floor. His gaze turned to Dromund Kaas. One day he would rule over that world. His attention was then averted to another who entered the room.

 

[Malus]

The commanding officer of the Obscurity walked through the hallways of the Attrition-class Star Destroyer, his destination the darkened overbearing room above him. Malus Bligh entered the turbolift and activated the chute to bring him up to the bridge. When the transparisteel doors opened, the Sith Commander crossed it's threshold and began to walk across the walkway leading to the flight of stairs that led up to the observational deck. He did not know why he had been summoned to the company of Darth Vazela, but he assumed it to be important, like it always was when the Sith Lord specifically asked for him to come. The only time he ever met with Vazela on the observational deck was to deliver his report, otherwise Malus left him alone and vice versa.

He came to a stop at the top of the stairs. His stern gaze scanned the darkened room to find Vazela floating several inches above the ground. Through the brief light emanating from the planet surface of Dromund Kaas and the star to the right of the ship, the Sith Commander saw that Vazela had his eyes closed and had a look of deep meditation or intense concentration. He clasped his hands behind his back as he waited for the Sith Lord to finish. Suddenly, Vazela began to descend and his feet touched the ground. That was when Malus made his move. "My Lord, you summoned me?" he asked.

 

[Darth Vazela]

Vilox lifted his hands to the cowl of his robes and lifted it over his aging grey, spiked up hair. He turned his back to the Sith Commander behind him, rage seething through his bones like he was on fire. But alas, he was a master of the dark side. Perhaps no longer a Sith Master. Historically, the closest term he had to what he was now was a Dark Jedi. But only Xendor, the Lettows of Legion and the exiles of Corbos were closest to what he resembled; and like those Dark Jedi, he would have to begin somewhere.

But first he had to leave Dromund Kaas to enact his plan and Malus Bligh would be the tool for that. Eyes lowering to Dromund Kaas, the new Dark Jedi observed the Sith capital through the transparisteel screen before replying. "We are leaving the Dromund Kaas system. Our heading is Aeten II."

 

[Malus]

"Yes, my Lord." Malus lowered his head and turned away from Vazela, moving back towards the stairs. This was familiar to the Sith Commander. Given an order to go to a heading, arrive and then report back to the observational deck to deliver his report to Vazela, explaining that they had arrived. Then the Sith Lord would give him an order as to why they were there, in this case Aeten II and subsequently they would go about their business, in which occasionally Vazela would do the dirty work.

Arriving on the walkway, the old man utilized his cane as leverage as he walked. The old injury he suffered in his younger days still affected him to this day. Slowly, he lowered himself onto the side plinth and made his way into the operations area. Lowering himself into the command seat, he rested his arms and turned his gaze to his second hand man. "Kerval, let's get out of here. Make heading for Aeten II."

 

[James Kerval]

James Kerval was stood at the front of the bridge, his sullen eyes focused on the transparisteel screen ahead. But his thoughts were not on Dromund Kaas, the Sith Empire or the bridge officers around him, like they should have been. All he thought about was home. He longed for his wife Ellice and his two children on Vaynai. This was the closest he had been to her in all of these years of service out in this vast, darkened empty expanse. He wanted to go home. But he owed Malus one more tour. Perhaps one more year of service. Then he was leaving the Empire for good. He wanted to make up for lost time.

He looked over his shoulder to see the man whom had been most helpful in the past eight years of service. Malus Bligh was like a father figure and a mentor. He owed the old, aging man a lot. Perhaps when the Sith Commander gave up his commission in favor of his back, he could join James on Vaynai with his family. He knew that Malus had no more family to speak of. Crews such as the one that served on the Obscurity was the nearest thing that he had to one.

Walking away from the helm, James came to a stop beside Malus and listened to him. "Kerval, let's get out of here. Make heading for Aeten II."
"Aeten II sir, very good sir." James saluted his commanding officer before turning back to the front of the bridge, where he began to help the helmsman in plotting a course for the distant world. Ironically, for a world so lost that only very few in the galaxy knew it's whereabouts, Aeten II was one of the worlds that the Obscurity had been to the most.

 

[Darth Vazela]

The hooded man lowered himself into the unnatural architecture that was his throne. Center to the observational deck, it allowed the Dark Jedi to gaze upon the stars and planets that the Obscurity passed through without illuminating him too much. He liked the darkness and the obscurity of it all. It was in moments like these that helped to relax and soothe the anger that pulsated throughout him. Tyrin Ardik had failed him and so had the Empire. The visions he had encountered through his visions given by the Unifying Force only showed him how weak the Sith really had become. Gone were the glory days, they had their chance. What use was it to continue to rebuild an Empire to fight your enemies if you cannot thus bring about their defeat? No, something had to be done to stop men such as Tyrin Ardik and Dranok Lussk and their attempts to take the galaxy for themselves. Being a Sith was stagnant now.

It was time for evolution to take place.

The stars disappeared from the transparisteel screen ahead to be replaced by hyperspace. Gone was the Dromund Kaas system, instead replaced by the purple luminescence of galactic travel. He leaned his head back on the throne and closed his eyes. He began to sleep.