Meanwhile, At The Hall Of Doom... [CIS-Empire]

[Caulder Dune]

DROMUND SYSTEM, DROMUND KAAS
KAAS CITY, THE IMPERIAL CITADEL

@[member="Genesis Rostu"]

As it turned out, the Imperial Citadel of Dromund Kaas had a large number of rooms that were designed to cater towards meetings with allies. Naturally, Tyrin decided to utilize them for this historic meeting with the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Tyrin considered them a model nation in a Galaxy full of ne'er-do-wells. Sure, they lacked the tenacity to dispense a mass-murder or similar event when dissidents got all up in arms, but that seemed to be doing them more favors than not. Still, most Sith would regard that as a weakness. Tyrin didn't care as much as they did. To him, being a Sith was less about sticking to one methodology of doing things than it was about doing what needed to be done to accomplish his goals.

Fortunately for the Empire, Tyrin's goals were set on enriching it. Already slavery had been put out of large-scale practice. Eradicating the petty harems and house slaves of Sith Lords was a pointless endeavor. Tyrin was ending slavery as it was employed by the Imperial government and by Imperial corporations. The process had been slow-going, but within the next month, such obvious enslavement of sapients would be put out of practice completely. With the total abolishment of an abhorrent practice, doors had opened. Namely one that lead to an open alliance with the Confederacy.

This would be a publicized event, as indicated by the Imperial press agents lingering in the lavishly decorated room. Tyrin, garbed in the finest regalia available to him as an Emperor and in the company of his most trusted underlings (@[member="Gregor Gideon"], @[member="Kaine Zambrano"], @[member="Vilox Pazela"]), waited for the Grand Marshal to enter. This was going to be historic. But more importantly, it was another piece of Tyrin's plan falling neatly into place. Soon his designs for the Sith would be complete, and the Empire and its allies would stand as the strongest political entity in the Galaxy. That and so much more would be done by the end of his reign.

The Instigator and her "rebellion" could suck it.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Dromund System, Dromund Kaas
Kaas City, The Imperial Citadel


The Emperor wasn't the only Sith dressed to impress this evening, as evident by Kaine's garb. A vest of rich maroon laced with gold trim covered a shirt made of dull gray as a cloak of crimson and ebony was clasped to his vest. A pair of gray cloth pants was fastened at the waist by a belt made of dark brown leather with a silver buckle. A pair of matching black, white-laced boots covered both of his feet, and a pair of black gloves covered both of his hands. Atop his head sat a tri-horned crown of blackened metal with three ruby gemstones situated at the base of each horn, and his black hair was bound back in a traditional ponytail that Kaine had taken accustom to in the past few months. His eyes moved back and forth slowly from each participant in the room, but finally settled on the Emperor after awhile.

He then spoke his Holy Grace in a baritone rumble, "Tis quite a momentous occasion, is it not milord?" His accent was rich with noble regality with subtle hints of an arrogance and malice that seethed beneath his courteous demeanor. "A true union of the Empire and the Confederacy, truly a union that will make the galaxy tremble at our combined might."

@[member="Tyrin Ardik"]

 

[Alli Vern]

x

Alli Wren showed up of course. She was dressed in an outfit that she thought was suitable for the occasion. The outfit is pictured above. She smirked as she walked in as this wasn't her first Sith party. She saw that Tyrin was here and another. She made her way over to him. " Pleasure to see you again, You look much better when not buried behind a desk full of paperwork." She said as she looked the two over. " I am Alli Wren pleasure to meet you" She said to the other man. After all she didn't want to be rude. This was going to be interesting. After all, she wasn't sure on if she was invited so much but well she invited her self. That was what Alli Wren did, she went where she wanted. So here she was as after all she wanted to get better ties going with the Sith. So she was here to mingle after all. " I am impressed this is quite the event. The last party I was at on this side of the galaxy, had an rather odd host, he was also the largest man I have ever seen. " She said as she looked them over, wondering who else from the CIS was coming. She figured the other members of the Trade Council at least.
@Tyrin Ardik @Gregor Gideon, @Kaine Zambrano, @Vilox Pazela @Genesis Rostu

 

[Darth Vazela]

@[member="Tyrin Ardik"] @[member="Gregor Gideon"] @[member="Kaine Zambrano"] @[member="Genesis Rostu"] @[member="Alli Wren"]

Darth Vazela wore a dark, hooded robe that hung off his body like black liquid. The cowl was lowered, settled neatly on his back, to allow the spectators to gaze upon his degraded, chalk white features from the decades of study and empowerment of the dark side of the Force. His yellow, predatory eyes followed Alli Wren as she emerged into the room, and he pondered as to whether or not he would be encountering more, pretentious morons like the one he saw prance around. Fortunately for her, she decided to speak to someone else in greeting. Perhaps his glare put her off from approaching the quiet Sith Lord?

His eyes averted from the woman to the Emperor and he observed Tyrin Ardik for a moment. He was already bored by these pleasantries and wanted the meeting to go ahead, so that they could iron out the agreements; and more importantly for him, to find out what Tyrin and the Confederacy were up to.

Placing a hand around a seat, Vazela pulled it back and lowered himself into the seat. He clasped his hands on the table and waited quietly for proceedings to begin.

 

[Malok]

DROMUND SYSTEM - DROMUND KAAS
KAAS CITY - THE IMPERIAL CITADEL​

Lights. Camera. Action.

When the intial communications were sent out, and the arrangements made for a meeting in which the formal alliance would be announced and mapped out...Genesis Rostu did not anticipate the end result being the absolutely lavish event that was laid out before his eyes. However, he could not fault the Empire for going all out with the regalia and press; for this was quite the momentous occassion indeed. Over the course of their time on the Galactic stage, the Confederacy of Independent Systems and Sith Empire had some bumps in their working relationship; but now was the time to bury the hatchet once and for all and join together as friends and allies once more. To this end, the Grand Marshal made his entrance into the room that was set aside for the event, and was immediately assaulted by a wall of cameras and buzzing media.

This amused the clone to no end, and he convinced himself that the buzz was over the fact that this was one of the rare...rare...rare times that he would ever be seen without his traditional armor. Instead, he donned his finest dress blues, adorned by insignias of his rank and various commendations. With his hat tucked under his arm, the clone confidently strode forth, flanked by a handful of notable members of the Confederacy's command structure. Of course, there was a protective vest underneth his clothing, in the event that things went down...but the Grand Marshal had confidence that such things would not occur this day. Having traversed the expanse of crimson carpet that laid between him and the Emperor, Genesis ascended the single step onto the elevated platform upon which the conference table await.

After acknowledging those present with respectful nods, he then walked up to the Emperor and extended his right hand.

"A pleasure to see you again, Emperor. I surmise we'd better smile for the camera."

And what a picture it would be. A man wearing the mug of Dex Rostu, the former Supreme Commander of the Republic, shaking hands with the Emperor of the Sith Empire. Front page stuff, indeed.

@[member="Tyrin Ardik"], @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"], @[member="Feena Mason"], @Nocturno, @[member="Alli Wren"].

 

[Vorhi Alestrani]

Vorhi walked, rubbing his arms. He'd still been a little stiff since the shootout on Roon. Still, this business was important as part of the diplomatic corps, he was was here. He bowed first to the Grand Marshall, then to the room. "Your highness," he said to the emperor calmly, "Lords of the Sith," he said, addressing the remainder. He smiled warmly. "Quite the occasion, ladies and gentlemen," he said calmly. "I am Vorhi Alestrani, of the Diplomatic Corps. I'm here to bear witness," he said with a chuckle.

He waved a hand as two small camera droids followed behind him. "For posterity, of course. Need a press junket for the Confederate Consolidated Press," he said with a smile.

 

[Feena]

Next came the Archon, Mrs. Feenarah Mason. She stepped out onto the carpet, wearing heels that she could have sworn were made for a woman with much larger feet. They felt like they were about to slide off. And the woman who did he hair... In truth, she did feel slightly under dressed, even in a designer gown. She had to pick something that would hide her developing 'baby bulge', and it had severely limited her options.
Maybe she was just nervous though. She'd spent so many worthless years as a Jedi, and now, even though she was no longer there, meeting with lords of the Sith felt a little... unusual. True, she'd never quite felt the disdain her colleges in the Order had felt for them. True, she had made friends with enough of them to know better. True, her husband had been raised Sith. True, she had never actually believed in Evil. Even so... Would her past relationships the Jedi Order create tension?


"Your Highness," Feena swept into a low bow as gracefully as she could muster in her current attire, "Esteemed Lords of the Sith. We are honored to be here on this day. I am Feenarah Mason, the Archon of the Confederacy. I am at your service."

She spoke clearly and gently. There was a Galaxy watching, and she had a reputation to maintain. 'The greatest healer in the Galaxy,' that was what the people called her. And here she was meeting with the Empire. This would either make, or break her reputation.

 

[Darth Vazela]

@[member="Feena Mason"] @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"] @[member="Genesis Rostu"] @[member="Alli Wren"] @[member="Kaine Zambrano"] @[member="Tyrin Ardik"]

Darth Vazela found himself at the end of the table, nearest to the exit. His yellow predatory eyes followed Vorhi Alestrani as he entered the room. When the Templar Knight inclined his to Vazela, the Sith Lord did not return a form of greeting, verbal nor physical. His eyes turned away and then followed Genesis Rostu as he entered the room. Much the Templar Knight before him, Vazela did not offer any greeting to the leader of the Confederacy. He would speak when he was spoken to, rather than them speaking to an entire room.

Finally, his eyes followed the woman, Feena Mason, as she entered the room. When she finished speaking, he found himself curious for a moment. Breaking his silence, he asked her, "What does the Archon do in the Confederacy?"

 

[Feena]

@[member="Vilox Pazela"]

A Sith gentleman asked a question. To her, of all people. Feena would take that as a good sign. She turned to the one who had spoken to her and bowed once again, to him specifically with a smile.

"I do everything. Everything to ensure the smooth operations of our Templars... and everything else that our dear Grand Marshal doesn't want to do."

She gave @[member="Genesis Rostu"] a wink and a smile, before turning her attention back to the one who had addressed her.

 

[Other Space Kaiden]

Nocturno, the High Marshal of the CIS Droid Army, walked in a few minutes after the Archon and the Grand Marshal had entered. He had to take an extra dose of pain killer today, his organic body was howling at him and he could barely stand the torment it was putting him through. The High Marshal was used to such pains though and it was not difficult for him to maintain a posture that would suggest nothing was wrong. Nocturno was silent for a moment as Rosu extended his hand to the Sith Emperors, but once Genesis had finished speaking it was time for the General to say something.

"I have long awaited to visit a nation with such a respectable military history." Nocturno commented in his naturally cold voice, extending his cybernetic hand towards Tyrin

 

[Caulder Dune]

@[member="Kaine Zambrano"] | @[member="Vilox Pazela"] | @[member="Genesis Rostu"] | @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"] | @[member="Feena Mason"] | @[member="Nocturno "]|

"Grand Marshal. The pleasure is all mine." Tyrin greeted, angling his head for the picture as he shook the man's hand. Click. The Sith Emperor shaking hands with the Confederate Grand Marshall, all smiles between the two of them. There were a few more photos, but then Tyrin had to greet the next one down the line. He decisively ignored Ms. Wren, unsure of why she was there or how she had gotten in. A mystery for the ages. Security would not be called, of course. That would sour the occasion considerably. That, and security just happened to be twenty-one alchemized Sith monsters whose very presence sent discomforting ripples through the Force. He did not want them on camera tackling the CEO of Baktoid.

Next was a mild-mannered diplomat with a few press droids of his own. There was no offer of a handshake, so Tyrin briefly inclined his head. "Mr. Alestrani, good to make your acquaintance." Any pictures of that would need to be rubbed out, lest the Sith get angst-ridden about it. He liked to think he was done dealing with that type of dissent, but one could never be too sure.

Coming in behind the Grand Marshal and Alestrani was the Archon of the Templar Order. Tyrin was not well-versed with the infrastructure of the Templars, but evidently they were more interested in the Confederacy of Independent Systems than sides of the Force and exerting power. Fine by him. They were probably much more pleasant to deal with. He would have returned that bow, but the Sith Emperor did not bow. Especially not to a former Jedi. Oh, the nonsense of politics. Another brief inclination for the Archon. "Archon Mason, your presence is most appreciated."

Just when Tyrin had thought he was going to need to spurn Vazela out of his seat to socialize with the newcomers, he began speaking with the Archon. Good! And she didn't respond with revulsion, nervousness, or fear. That was also excellent. Those pictures would be circulated. Tyrin had thought he was done at that point, but thundering, heavy footsteps told him otherwise. Then entered Nocturno, who Tyrin recognized as the High Marshall of the Confederacy's Droid Armies. A tall, imposing cyborg who was as familiar with the concept of mercy as he was with speaking fluent Gastrulian.

Tyrin wished he had more cyborgs in his ranks.

The Emperor met the cyborg's gesture. "Thank you, High Marshall."

 

[Darth Vazela]

@[member="Tyrin Ardik"]

Darth Vazela nodded his head to the Archon and averted his gaze to Tyrin. The way the Dark Lord of the Sith greeted the Confederacy... It was certainly different. Given the situation, Vazela would have took a different approach to the Emperor's. All of this press and attention in order to celebrate the alliance was one half of the blade. The art of manipulation has two approaches. Hope and fear. The tool that Tyrin had decided to use, and subsequently one half of the blade, was hope. By creating such hysteria about the alliance, directing and manipulating the events to make it a celebration, would please the leaders of the CIS and thus solidify the relationship between Imperialist and Separatists.

However, in the opinion of Darth Vazela, the utilization of hope to manipulate others didn't suit this occasion. The situation require a show of strength and dominance. Yes, we are allied together and together, we are a great power in the galaxy. Enough to topple entire factions, namely the Republic, Protectorate and Mandalorian Empire. Such showings from the Sith leadership only solidified the teachings of his master. "The Sith Empire that has risen whilst our Order has slumbered is weak and decadent, much like the Sith Order of Darth Banes time. We must accumulate the long, lost knowledge that has disappeared in the wake of Darth Sidious's fall and rebuild on the sacrifices that Lumiya made. When the time is right, we will emerge powerful once more, with the dark side incarnate beside us and together, two of us will purge the weakness that has infected the pretenders. Once more, there will be only two. One to embody power, one to crave it."

The words of Vazela's Sith Master echoed through his mind. In the forty years since he had murdered Darth Ayra for the mantle, the Sith had grown even more weak; and all he could see now, was a man who had sacrificed the ideals and beliefs of the Sith in favor of politics to increase the power of his Empire. Such behavior belonged to the bureaucrats in the Republic Senate, not the Sith Empire. Darth Vazela would favor the moment he murdered this man.

As he utilized the dark side to blind the Umbaran's natural instincts to pick up his malicious intent, Vazela remembered something else Ayra had said to him, all of those decades ago. "Secrecy is paramount to the success of our imperative. If we are revealed before our time has come, then failure will follow." For Vazela's scheme to work, he needed to remain out of the spot light. Building in the shadows, whilst his enemy did not know what was coming to him...

The Sith Lord turned his gaze from Tyrin and spotted the one that had taken the picture, that had captured him and the Confederacy's Archon. Moving his index and middle finger in a motion to the reporter, the Sith Lord utilized Dominant Mind, a more powerful version of the Force technique Mind Trick, and used the Force to change the mans thoughts. The man would remember Vazela's image and then he would go about, sabotaging the pictures that held the Sith Lords face. Then he would kill himself.

Lowering his fingers, his eyes surveyed the room, whom were apparently oblivious to what had just transpired...

 

[Vorhi Alestrani]

Vorhi laughed warmly and bowed politely. "Sorry for the lack of a good handshake, your eminence," he said to the emperor. "I've been in talks on Gamorr all weak, so my first instinct in greeting a leader was to punch somebody. Figured it'd be better to keep my distance, hence no close contact, until I'm done switching gears," he said with a laugh. It was in everyone's best interest. After all, "Ambassador uppercuts emperor" wasn't a good a headline.

For a brief moment, he saw something in the force. An energy moving from Vazela to a journalist. Well, he would have, if he hadn't been so distracted apologizing to the emperor. He stopped seeing the forest for the the trees and sighed. It was probably just lingering paranoia. He smiled. "Emperor Ardik, I would, on behalf of many in the CIS, like to applaud your policies. You have managed to find a balance between preserving Sith tradition and finding peace with the will of the galactic public, and that is admirable," he said with a warm tone to his voice. He'd meant it, too. The Sith were progressing out of the savage dependency on slavery, and the unstoppable bloodthirstiness that led them into constant conflict, and that was largely at the Emperor's prerogative. A wisely ruled empire was an ally worth having, after all. Besides, a statement like that would put thoughts in the Sith media to keep evolving and sentiment in the CIS that the Sith weren't past redemption.

 

[Caulder Dune]

"Gamorr? My condolences, Ambassador." Tyrin said, a twinge of artificial sympathy in his voice. A Sith or an Umbaran would know better than to take such a thing to heart, but for the most part, Tyrin sounded sincere. "Those on the outside of the Empire do find great pleasure in my policies. A great many on the in don't, despite the widely apparent fact that those policies were incredibly self-destructive and increasingly isolationist."

That was a fairly obvious statement, come to think of it. Of course those outside of the Empire found Tyrin's policy of "hey, maybe abject war all the damn time isn't such a hot idea" appealing. It meant they had one less warmonger to worry about. It had not been easy implementing that policy, especially considering the Republic assaulted Metalon immediately after Tyrin assumed the throne. They thought they had smelled weakness. A decisive victory on the factory world had proven them wrong and had acted as sort of a legitimizing grace to the Ardik Regime's first days.

Though any boon that had brought was gone with the signing of the peace treaty. A Republic embassy on Coruscant? An observer seat on the Moff council? A great deal of Sith had balked. An even greater sign of distress was the exodus of many of the stronger, well-known Sith of great respect. Anaya, Valik, Shorn... Gone. Apparatus had vanished, Voracitos was dead. Kaine was the only one of the original founders who remained. There wasn't a day that had gone by where Tyrin was grateful for his service... Or wary of his impending attempt to usurp the throne.

What? It was obvious. Tyrin would welcome his regime, even if he was dead for it. The Ardik Regime would be one of diplomatic, economic, and military posturing. The Zambrano Regime would be one of execution. It was good to have these things charted out in advance. The alternative was chaos. Anarchy was a disgusting thing.

"Suffice to say, there were difficulties, but it was nothing that couldn't be handled. Indeed, I'm inclined to agree. The galaxy at large is a much better place because of it. Now the Sithlings, rogues and charlatans all, that didn't see eye to eye with the necessary change in procedure are far too scattered, uneducated, incompetent, and caught up in their own ideology to pose any more of a threat." Tyrin thought for a moment. "Though there are a rare few with the capacity for... Higher purpose."

Tyrin did not want to say Velok's name or his actions out loud, for a personal suspicion that it might somehow summon the Whiphid.