Legends and Legacies (Sith Empire, PM for Invite)

[Tmoxin Temi]

“Despite my warm welcome, I heard most of your eloquent speech,” Tmoxin said. “Power and prestige as well as the co-mingling of Sith and Imperials. Are those not your goals? Aside from all of that plundering business.” She waved her hand dismissively. He was a Sith after all, and the Hapan Officer knew well enough that she would never change their war-mongering or propensity for violence.

The galaxy was made up of predators and prey. It was quite that simple - you were either one or the other.

“And forgive me, perhaps you are allied with the One Sith. However my experience with the One Sith is that the Army and the Navy are completely under their heavy yoke. When I served as a Stormtrooper commander, my platoon was constantly under-funded, my garrison less than state-of-the art and recruitment was non-existent. Not to mention the executions through which I had to suffer. Friends and colleagues tried and found guilty of treason without the barest of evidence to convict them.”

Tmoxin tried to hide the outrage and disgust in her voice, but it was there seething right at the surface. She walked along with him until they reached a table with hors d'oeuvres. “My name is Tmoxin Temi. My platoon was known as The Blood Monarchs.” The red-haired Dark Jedi also selected a strawberry, but instead of placing it in between her bright red lips, she dunked it into her champagne glass and watched the bubbles swirl around it.

“And I already know who you are,” she said, taking a sip of her strawberry-champagne. “I live on Bothawui, and the Bothans will tell you anything for a price."

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance listened to [member="Tmoxin Temi"] speak with interest that seemed outright genuine. When she finished speaking he smiled.

"Well Miss Temi I can't say I am familiar with the Blood Monarchs but then I never found cause to insert myself into the affairs of soldiers or pilots." "I am puzzled though." "I seem to recall attending a meeting on Coruscant years ago when I was still with the One Sith where a..........................."

He looked thoughtful as if trying to recall a name for a few moments before it hit him.

"Colonel Baelor I believe it was lobbied for funds and permission to develop more advantaged tech for the Army."

He frowned.

"I am guessing things did not go according to plan...........that is unfortunate."

He shook his head.

"Power, prestige, co-mingling...........those are just means to an end." "The goal of course is well first survival, then growth, and lastly prosperity." "Many of us are fugitives from the One Sith." "While each left for a different reason mine was family." "I left to be with the woman I love." "My Apprentice left to escape the abuse she suffered at the hands of her Mistress and the One Sith Intelligence Director."

He paused popping a few more pieces of fruit in his mouth before continuing.

"While as a matter of policy with are not friends with the One Sith they are not our most pressing concern." "As far as our military goes I don't meddle but at the same time if there is something they need they have but to ask and earnest effort will be made to provide it."

He chuckled.

"I fear you paid those Bothans more than you should have." "I have no secrets Miss Temi, I feel no shame nor regret for the things I have done and speak of them freely should anyone ask."

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

"I did not report to Colonel Baelor during my time. My Commander was Darth Hauntress. I was… wanted for treason at the end of my tenure and kept under house arrest on Anaxes. Until my escape."

Was Tmoxin proud of escaping the One Sith's omnipresent military and constant watch over her? You betcha! She grinned like a sleek, white house cat who'd eaten the exotic pet parakeet.

"I set up business in the Outer Rim." She waved her hand dramatically like an amateur magician. "The Outer Rim: We welcome traitors, embezzlers and all manner of crime lords within our folds!"

"Lord Vengeance I could not go back to the Core Worlds. Not unless I was in disguise which was annoying let me tell you. But I was never a traitor as the One Sith branded me. I only wanted to restore power to the galaxy, the Imperial might of those who came before."

The freckled, redhead laughed and said, "Sorry, too much champagne, and I start babbling like a Bimm on stims." This was a lie as Tmoxin had the constitution of a Zeltron. She turned her head around at Vengeance's admission that he left the OS to be with the woman he loved although she could not detect this paramour. She did notice what she presumed to be his apprentice - a blonde with horns, how utterly succubus-like, the young woman keeping a watchful eye on her Master.

"We have that in common," said the Hapan Dark Jedi. "No secrets. My life is an open holo book."

That could not be less true, but she raised her glass to the handsome Sith Lord just the same. "Lucikly for the Bothans, I have a highly disposable income if you need funding of any kind."

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance chuckled.

"As yes Hauntruss.............well that explains a lot." "The self professed Warlord of the Navy." "I find it odd your Platoon would report to her...seems like a waste of resources."

He smirked.

"I tend to skirt the edges of the core worlds.......some times for business and other times just to piss off the One Sith." "When I am not pissing off Jedi......oh how easy it is to fake a Light Side aura and walk right in the front door."

He smiled picking up a drink and taking a sip.

"But then while fascinating none of this explains why my little band of upstarts would be of interest to you." "We don't have the resources at the moment to oppose anybody of any true note." "We have no Army to lead and even if we did I discourage any undue influence...especially hindrance to their efforts."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

“Hauntress was good to me in all honesty,” admitted Tmoxin, sipping the champagne in one go and seamlessly replacing the glass in her hand with another one. “She left me alone which is not what I can say for most of the top brass in the OS.”

The redhead smiled at the Sith Lord’s admission that he waltzed around the fringes of the Core Worlds, concealing his alignment.

“For all of the One Sith’s chest beating and constant alpha-male urge to prove which special Council member is the strongest, they are quite easy to fool, aren’t they?”

It’s why Tmoxin had specialized in mentalism, especially in coercion. Like the truth serum, she’d used many times during an interrogation, the Dark Jedi no longer needed to employ pharmaceutical methods like IX, the powerful Castellan mind conditioning drug. She could just use the Force to get right in there and pluck the information straight from a pliant brain. At times it was too easy, unless a sentient being had special training to ward it off. And also ironic that she no longer needed drugs - as the owner of a pharmaceutical company who manufactured both truth and IX Serum, she was dipping into her own profits.

But it was so worth it - the absolute power that she felt taking over a weaker mind, especially when she could just feel the unlucky recipient give way, and her hold would become firm. There was something heady and slightly erotic about it, but she never used mentalism in that way. Well, maybe once she did to an intelligence agent, but that was a long time ago.

“So tell me then, what resources do you need? I have finances, I have companies, and I even have soldiers. My own interests are immaterial next to the material wealth I possess."

With a sly smile, and the sunlight highlighting the freckles on the bridge of her nose, she added, “Wouldn’t you agree?”

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance chuckled.

"I have known for a while now if you are not a Zambrano you don't matter to the One Sith." "Ferus is the only one I could tolerate." "I only met Hauntruss once on Coruscant when she declared herself War Lord of the Imperial Navy and then completely ignored a Pilot in the group who made very interesting points of concern about the Navy." "Like I said though the Army got some love though."

He smiled.

"Everything I own was taken from the corpses of the people I have killed with only three exceptions." "Those being my ship, a lightsaber, and a Phrik Fighting Knife." "The latter two acquired during an auction."

Vengeance shook his head.

"Not too interested in money..........war when we can get back to it is profitable." "Company wise we did recently lose our tech manufacturer so that may be useful."

He paused.

"Recruiting has taken a hit as of late." "We have a few Acolytes that don't seem to want to train." "Though that could be my winning personality.....feel free to motivate them if you wish." "I do some recruiting on the side but I have no issue with others picking up the slack."

He motioned back towards where he had last seen the good Sgt.

"We have a few soldiers.......lacking in pilots though." "I guess all and all where ever you feel most inclined to tinker is fine." "Just submit your budget so we can track what this little Empire is costing us to keep up." "The Grand Moff does like his paperwork." "I don't need to know your every move but as long as you keep me in loop on the broad strokes we should be gravy."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin listened to Vengeance describe what his organization needed. If anything the Hapan officer appreciated his directness and could detect no dishonesty within his nature. She was not a fan of doing business with those who harbored secrets and gave nothing away. Even though both of them were mired within the Sith in some way shape or form - Vengeance a Sith Lord, Tmoxin a vessel for their endless wars - trust did not come easy, but there needed to be some semblance of it.

Or else order in the galaxy, even in darkside circles, would completely break down.

Biting her bottom lip, she pensively considered what technology she could provide. “Morpho has a burgeoning Research and Development facility, but it’s more in the bio-technology sector. If you have a use for clones, I can also arrange that.” She gazed at him, her brown eyes locking onto his. “I also have a contact at Balmorran Arms, but it’s not a predictable arrangement. Still if it interests you, I could reach out..."

She was a fan of the X-1 Viper, had used it on the battlefield on Terminus and sought to invest in a newer model of the Automadon.
Yet, trailing off, she considered her own relationship with apprentices. Vengeance seemed to have a passion for training, a lust for honing someone into a fine and lethal solider. Tmoxin had always done this but as a Lieutenant, not necessarily a Jedi Master. Except for Master Vereen, she'd almost exclusively trained herself in the Force.

But there was a first time for anything, I suppose, she thought.

The redhead chuckled at the self-deprecation of his "winning personality. “Trust me, my people skills leave a lot to be desired. The Queen of Kuat referred to me once as a Hapan Hussy. But it’s time I find some eager young minds to train, so I can help you in that respect. I may be able to drum up a pilot or two.”

She put down the champagne finally and said, “Where are you headquartered? Since my home is in the Mid-Rim, I may need to consider property in another sector, so I’m not constantly traveling back and forth."

Again, like Vengeance, the Dark Jedi Master had been driven from the Core Worlds to Kamino and the Mara Corridor by the One Sith once, with not a penny to her name and a shoot-on-sight order on her head.

But she would no longer let the Dark Council dictate where and with whom she did business.

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

He shook his head.

"I am never been a fan of using Clones.... or droids for that matter." "I am old fashioned..........I prefer the natural raised wanted to be a soldier since birth method." "It is riskier in some regards but I have never been one to shy away from risk."

He chuckled.

"I am sure your people skills are fine Ms. Temi." "However if you are like me then you realize the best warriors are tempered by experience rather than lecture." "Some times you just have to learn things the hard way." "Hand holding cripples progress."

He smiled his hands spreading out again to the surrounding area.

"We do tend to move around quite a bit as required." "But Belkadan here and the surrounding worlds are where we most often gather as a group." "My predecessor liked to be as close to Korriban as possible without opening us up to attack by the Jedi who currently call it home." "Of course the goal was one we had the resources to was to bring Korriban back into Sith hands."

He smirked.

"I am more partial to Dagobah myself..........................."

He shrugged.

".............but who knows Korriban could be fun too."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

The redhead CEO knew of the omniscient power of the Force on Korriban but could there be a less hospitable planet, so scorched, dry and dusty? And then Dagobah with its mists and swamps? Of course, Tmoxin had no room to judge, so she bit her tongue.

“Once I was driven from Anaxes and the Core by the One Sith, I restarted up my enterprises on Kamino. From a weather perspective anything will be better than twenty-four hours of rain, wind, thunder and tidal waves.” She had struggled with Seasonal Affective Disorder while there and had designed her penthouse apartment with light fixtures that simulated natural light, but it wasn’t always enough to ward away the thick, heavy depression that would descend when she hadn’t seen the sun in days. Once Tmoxin had scraped up enough income to be able to get off of Kamino, she spent most of time on nearby Lok, which had a Korriban-like climate, or Bothawui which was much more temperate. The businesswoman held thriving companies on all three planets and a well-connected network of allies and associates. Belkadan was far, but not completely out of reach.

“I suppose out of the three of them, I will set something up on Belkdan, an office of sorts to conduct affairs in the Tingel Arm."

Tmoxin’s calculating brown eyes took in the handsome and well-dressed form of Vengeance. “Please tell me you don’t own a swamp hut on Dagobah. Or I will be quite sure you are a pathological liar,” she laughed. “Do you live on Belkadan as well?”

It was a personal question, but the Hapan Dark Jedi did not give up easily in her pursuit of information. Never one to shy away from mixing business with pleasure, she’d press the Sith Lord until would offer nothing else. And at times, she would use her strong mentalism to glean intelligence. But not today. It would be too intrusive to probe around his mind right now – quite uncivilized as such a grand and civil affair. The stately gathering was what Tmoxin, with her staunch Imperial mind-set, desperately missed from her time on her home planet and her own experience with various military groups.

No, her Hapan manners would not allow her to act in such an unseemly way. At least, not in public.

In any case, with his tailored attire and perfectly groomed hair, she took Vengeance to be one who resided on a world such as Coruscant or Kuat even. But perhaps he loved nothing more than to hunt bogwigs in the oppressive humidity of the swamp planet in the Sluis Sector.

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance chuckled at her questions. In truth Kamino sounded fascinating to him.

"I left the One Sith of my own free will." "Dagobah was where I chose to put down roots for awhile." "To lay low for a bit and to center myself for what would come next." "I was there for an extended period of time but for anyone to say they own any part of Dagobah would be a lie." "The darkness owns Dabgobah, the creatures that make grown men tremble in fear own Dagobah." "No man nor woman will ever own anything on that planet."

He smiled closing his eyes.

"That being said I loved my time there." "It was quiet.........very few people bold enough to go there to begin with travel off the beaten path for fear of becoming a meal."

He smirked.

"Kamino sounds nice." "A good test of will and mental fortitude." "Maybe I will take a trip there one day."

He turned and looked at her with a wink.

"It is worth mentioning that Darth Phyrrus once tried to drown me on Glee Anselm." "Ever since then being surrounded by water as begun a bit of a running gag."

He turned and began walking again but headed nowhere in particular.

"I do by necessity maintain an office of sorts at the Temple inherited from my predecessor along with his job when he was killed." "But I travel too much to really say I live here." "If you wish I am sure we could find lodging for you should you wish to stay." "It wouldn't be much...............mostly because none of the accommodations save the Emperor's are."

He chuckled.

"I have never been much for material wealth."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Even though Tmoxin’s suit resembled an Imperial uniform, with its rigid, almost pointed shoulders, and crisp, tight waist, her knee-high, black leather boots were still very feminine and thus, as they walked, the Hapan tried to stick to the path where there was concrete, versus the lush grass around them where her heels would sink into the dirt.

“I have to admit, Lord Vengeance, you have been the first person who’s made me want to visit Dagobah. Are you sure you’re not a travel salesman versus a Sith Lord?” she asked smiling. The truth was that the Sith Empire leader did make Dagobah sound appealing – hiding away from the galaxy like a hermit, living off of the humid and inhospitable land, turning into a purely primitive being. And yes, much more fascinating if you had a partner with which to share those primal explorations.

But she knew herself too well. Tmoxin enjoyed her creature comforts. Due to her extensive military training, she could last an extraordinarily long time on a planet that was too hot, too cold, overly wet, throat-parchingly dry… she may not even complain, not an annoyed word uttered from her silken lips.

But she would despise every minute ticking by on her chrono.

“The benefit of Kamino is that the Kaminoans are an extremely clever species, their scientific aptitude unparalleled.” Sure, they’d challenged her xenophobia at times, but she’d come to terms with the fact that no one could help her Research and Development Operations more at Morpho than the pale-skinned, long-necked Kaminoans. “You are more than welcome to visit, but unlike Glee Anselm, we won’t be swimming. Nor will I try to drown you. We will be safely indoors.”

She gazed around the amphitheater momentarily, as though she were assessing its property value. She then turned back to Vengeance as though assessing his. But it wasn’t a penetrating stare. If not material wealth, she was attempting to work out what he was interested in.

“Power is more your style I take it."

The red-haired Hapan was also fond of power games, and when she felt to be on the losing side of the match, she’d normally pull in an extremely powerful ally to help her. “You asked what was in it for me, My Lord… what I stood to gain by being here.” She paused. “That’s your answer.”

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance chuckled stopping and turning to Tmoxin.

"We were in doors." "It is my fault truthfully." "Challenging a fellow Sith to a game of who's the better killer while in a building a mile under water in the middle of an ocean is not the smartest thing to do." "He set off a bomb to take out a large group of enemy soldiers." "And well you can guess what happens when you blow a hole in the wall with the ocean on the other side."

He shook his head.

"No not power."

He let his answer hang in the air for a moment before he responded.

"You see when I was first yanked out of prison and thrust into the life of an acolyte the only thing on my mind was violence and Anarchy, then I met a woman every bit my equal in all things." "Then it began all about family." "When that was taken away from me my life became all about Anarchy again."

He smiled.

"I live for battle, I thrive in combat." "I get bored without it and if I go too long without it I end up in places like Zeltros on hedonistic benders."

He chuckled.

"Teaching helps feed the beast but it only does so much."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

As a being who did not like water much, Tmoxin could sympathize. “I don’t know that I ever had the pleasure of meeting Darth Pyrrhus, but from your description, that sounds like a miscalculation on his part. Because here you are.”

His comment about Zeltros was unsurprising as it was infamous for luring both men and women into its colorful fold and spitting them out, their basest desires sated for a while. For the Hapan, her own weakness was for both officers and infantry. Her head turned almost imperceptibly to [member="Myles Savar"] and if the Sith Lord was paying attention - when he spoke of benders - he may notice her brown eyes flitting off to the attractive soldier.

Yet, for some reason, Tmoxin was surprised to hear that Vengeance had been in prison once. His countenance was polished, and during his speech he came off like a seasoned politician. She tucked the information away for later, and since his true lust was war, the redhead officer had something to show him.

Still walking, the Hapan Jedi made a signal with her left hand, and without missing a beat, one of her Morpho Security Team came over with a datapad for her. The entire move was coordinated and choreographed, not as thought they’d practiced, but as though this had been done many times before. The motions were also done in such a way that it didn’t appear hostile or aggressive, warranting action from Vengeance’s soldiers. Tmoxin tapped a button and a holomap of the galaxy sprung to life from the device.

“Belkadan may just be the perfect place to build ranks and resources. Since I’m in the Mara Corridor, and thanks to my lovely Bothan spies, there are rumors of a two-fronted war.” She pointed along the Mid Rim hyperlane, her scarlet-red manicured finger landing near Chalacta. “According to sources there’s also an unusual build-up of troops and defenses in the Core, signaling an engagement between the One Sith and the Galactic Alliance.” Her finger circled the area of the Inner Rim, Colonies and Core.

“Of course, all speculation. But if you crave battle, there are plenty of sparks about to turn into a roaring fire.” She stopped and turned to Vengeance with the physical cadence of an officer. "Why were you in prison at a younger age?"

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

Vengeance chuckled.

"No no he did win our little game that day...........he successfully killed more people than me." "I just proved to have a greater will to survive than anticipated."

He smiled before looking briefly at the holomap.

"The Galactic Alliance are not big on Sith philosophies." "Which is amusing once you consider the fact one of their Master used to be One Sith." "At any rate it should be fun to watch them tear themselves and each other apart." "I have no desire to waste the lives of my men in a war we can't win." "While it is true casualties are an unavoidable result of war I would much rather the loss of those lives meant something."

When she stopped and asked him about his brief stint in prison he looked at her and calmly, almost as if anticipating the question, responded.

"I killed two men."

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

"Which is all that's required," remarked Tmoxin. "The will to survive. I think we have that in common, Lord Vengeance."

"We will survive despite the galactic politics that swirl around us."

It's a cold day in the Void when I call someone My Lord, even though she had, thought Tmoxin. Vengeance was handsome but Tmoxin's was no Admiral's prize. She'd played that role far too often to fall into it again.

But a man, a real man. She would let that person in.

"What did those men do to deserve their deaths?" The red haired Hapan asked. The punishment should fit the crime, in her opinion.

[member="Vengeance"]

 

[Kenrath]

He looked at her.

"It's just Vengeance.............I never did like going by titles."

He shrugged.

"Was never much for politics either." "Politics is entirely to pretentious for my tastes." "I prefer kill or be killed or live and let live." "You don;t bother me and I won't bother you." "However try and kill me and you better be ready to face death yourself."

He paused.

"They broke into our home and murdered my Father."

It seemed as if he was willing to answer her questions on the topic but unlike just about every other thing she wanted to know he was not quick to offer up too much detail with prodding.


[member="Tmoxin Temi"]