Revelations

[Graf's Archive Account]

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THE IMPERIAL CITADEL, KAMINO​

852 ABY - RISE OF THE WARLORD​

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[THEME]​

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Rain pelted against the large windows present across the room, resounding throughout it and almost drowning out the hum of technology unknown. Those present were indeed very high above the ground, almost at the top of the Imperial Citadel itself. Both Guard Captain [member="Adron Malvern"] and Grand Inquisitor [member="Baron Morcus"] would have known this, as they were likely here in the past. And now here they were, escorted from the turbolift by the rigid forms of sovereign protectors.

The throne faced away from them, the old man deep in thought for the moment before pressing a switch and rotating it to face his guests. "Ah, welcome...welcome..." Emperor Kardal enthused, clasping his hands together with a smile appearing on his features, "I am pleased that you could make it on such short notice."

He cocked his head to the side, glancing at his guards. "Leave us." He spoke in a commanding tone, satisfied as the sovereign protectors shuffled out of sight.

 

[Adron Malvern]

[SIZE=11pt]It was not often that Adron donned the flowing scarlet robes of the Imperial Guard. He was content to remain unique in his appearance, preferring his High Moff uniform to the more flashy Imperial Guard armor. Yet as the doors to the lift came open, the Guard Captain stood clad in the robes of his station. The Crimson was offshoot with a jet black design, more akin to the Sovereign Protectors who surrounded him. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The Emperor had ordered Adron back from Commenor, stating his presence was an absolute necessity. So without hesitation, the Captain had made his way back to Imperial space. Keeping his eyes on the form before him, he strode down the path led by the Sovereign Protectors. It was not until they reached the Emperor that the men would halt. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]A noticeable pause occurred while the Emperor remained in his own world of thought. Seconds later he would turn to face Adron and the accompanying Grand Inquisitor. Just as the Emperor’s eyes fell on Adron, the man would fall to a knee, bowing his head respectfully. “My Emperor.” He greeted, formally. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The soft patter of boots as the Sovereign Protectors we're dismissed caused Adron a moment of thought. What is going on? [/SIZE]

[member="Reginald Kardal"]

 

[Taa Nul]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H26Hdv3i0U​

Morcus emerged from the turbolift under escort by the Emperor's Sovereign Protectors, as well as a pair of Imperial Shadow Guardsmen assigned to his own security detail. Unlike Adron, he'd garbed himself in attire befitting a nobleman of Serenno, with a small and highly ornate insignia bearing the Imperial crest clipped to his jacket's chest, marking him as a Warlord of the Empire. He strode forth confidently towards the Emperor's throne, before kneeling down respectfully, lowering his head. "What is thy bidding, my liege?", he said reverently.

Upon noticing the departure of the Emperor's protectors, he arose from his knelt position. When the Emperor dismissed his own protectors, Morcus knew the matter must be a serious one indeed. "It was no issue, my liege. I was fortunately nearby aboard Void Station training the latest generation of Inquisitors for the Empire. What matter troubles you, my friend?", he said, smiling warmly.

[member="Adron Malvern"]
[member="Reginald Kardal"]

 

[Graf's Archive Account]

The Emperor's smile faded into a sort of smirk as he rose from the black, sleek-looking throne, regal robes adorning his figure and spilling out onto the floor. "My friends, I would not have summoned you had it not been an urgent matter to discuss." Kardal began, a grave tone riding upon his words, "War is coming once again to the Empire's doorstep, but this time I fear it will be from within."

"A minor coalition within the Moff Council perceives the Grand Moff as weak, foolish even." Reginald mocked, slowly approaching the duo. "It is a certainty that cannot be avoided; at any rate, if the Empire is to survive, we must ensure that this civil war is played to our advantage." He announced, stopping in front of them.

"There is something I must reveal to both of you."

[member="Adron Malvern"] | [member="Baron Morcus"]

 

[Adron Malvern]

​As the Emperor spoke, Adron hosted an uneasy expression. To hear that the security of the Empire was compromised was not something Adron had thought to hear. Of course, it was not something he was unsuspecting of. His counterparts on the Moff Council had grown ambitious, most wishing to turn to more irrational routes of expansion. Ones that could surely end in the destruction of the Empire.

​"Your Majesty. Command me and I will destroy the enemies of the Empire. Your guard stand ready to maintain peace under any means." Adron was forced to arch a brow when the Emperor spoke of revealing something to the two of them. Glancing over to Morcus, Adron was completely unsure of what it could be.

[member="Reginald Kardal"]

 

[Taa Nul]

Morcus gently nodded upon hearing the Emperor's words. "Indeed. I'd heard whispers from Imperial Intelligence about the matter, but nothing concrete until now. And a wise plan, my liege. Should we play such a conflict right, it would eliminate our enemies and purge the Empire of any remaining weakness. It will be....costly, however.", Morcus said, pondering what their next move might be before turning his gaze to Adron. "I suspect we will both have to play our parts, Guard Captain."

When the Emperor mentioned he had something to reveal to the pair, Morcus tilted his head. He had a number of suspicions of what his liege may be hiding, but had kept them to himself at the moment. "You can rest assured that nothing that is discussed here will be revealed to anyone save the three of us. You can trust me to keep secrets, after all, considering my line of work."

[member="Adron Malvern"]
[member="Reginald Kardal"]

 

[Graf's Archive Account]

[THEME]​

The atmosphere in the room changed very suddenly as if it got colder and...sinister. Lights inside of the throne room dimmed considerably through unknown means, but most miraculously of all were the changes centred around the Emperor himself. Crackling began to sound, with cyan bolts of force lightning surging throughout his body, melting away the silky fabric of his robes to reveal a suit of ancient Sith battle armour, embossed with numerous runes, some known to the duo and some not.

A sleek crimson cloak appears over the shoulders of Kardal, spilling down onto the floor like blood. "You know me as Reginald Kardal, a retired general and Emperor of the Galactic Empire." He spoke in a terrible whisper, time seemingly slowing down as he closed his eyes, opening them to reveal them as corrupt, "But before that, before the Sith Empire, before Kaine Zambrano, I am Firrorse, Dark Lord of the Sith."

[member="Adron Malvern"] | [member="Baron Morcus"]

 

[Adron Malvern]

[SIZE=11pt]There was a noticeable shift in The Force, something that caused Adron to glance around as he searched for the source of this anomaly. Finally his eyes set on the Emperor himself, watching as thin blue streaks burned at his robes, revealing armor of a far more ancient design. The battle armor of the ancient order was easily identified, as were the runes of the Dark Side that we're embedded into the suit. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Cold, distant, eyes fell on the Emperor as he revealed his true self. A Sith. Like years past, when Adron was a young boy under the misguided shroud of The Dominion, he had once again been tricked by the Sith. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]As the Emperor’s words came to close, Adron tightened his hand into a fist, the sound of leather rubbing together echoing off from the action. He would say nothing. He would do nothing, he would merely wait for an explanation. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt][member="Reginald Kardal"][/SIZE]

 

[Taa Nul]

Morcus's eyes widened when Reginald revealed his true nature. He remained silent, until a wide smile formed upon his face. "Admittedly, I had always sensed something....unique about you. This merely confirmed my suspicions.", he said with a polite nod. He dropped to one knee respectfully, lowering his head. "I see now why I follow you even more clearly, my liege. Long have I followed the dark path, but I had never thought I would meet a true master of the dark side, unlike all those pretenders amongst the Sith Empire."

He then turned his head, glaring at Malvern. "Your in the presence of a Dark Lord of the Sith, boy. Show him the proper respect and kneel until commanded to rise.", Morcus said commandingly. He would suffer no insults to the leader of their great empire, his Emperor. He was always a faithful supplicant to it's cause, after all.

[member="Reginald Kardal"]
[member="Adron Malvern"]

 

[Graf's Archive Account]

"Lannis, do not blame him for something that unfortunately comes naturally," Kardal said, adopting a tone of warning towards his friend, his eyes darting back over Adron's, "All you have ever experienced from the Sith, from those Sith, is chaos and destruction. They destroyed your home, not me."

Kardal reached a hand out to both of them, a sign to join him, to accept him. "The only facade I have been maintaining is that of my power. Order, Justice, Security, all in the name of the Empire, is everything I believe in and have for quite a time." He explained, truth evident in his yellow eyes, "I trust both of you enough to reveal my status to, and now all I ask is that you trust me, for the survival of the Empire depends on it."

[member="Adron Malvern"] | [member="Baron Morcus"]

 

[Adron Malvern]

As Morcus spoke out against the Guard Captain, Adron’s anger was quickly sated. He turned his attention to the man kneeling beside him. “The next time you speak against me. I will take your head, Morcus.” He promised, equally cold eyes falling on the man Adron defined as nothing more than an old fool.

Turning his attention back to the Emperor, he would rise once finally given leave. As he stood, his scarlet cloak fell over his body with a soft shift. Taking in the Emperor’s words, Adron exhaled before speaking.

“I stand the Captain of your guard. Regardless of your stance in The Force.” He said, though there was still a slight rift needing to be gapped.

[member="Reginald Kardal"]
[member="Baron Morcus"]

 

[Taa Nul]

Morcus smirked at Adron's response. Good. The boy had fire. That would be useful in the days to come. "I meant no offence to you Captain, of course. Merely ensuring proper courtesies are respected.", he said, arising from his posture. "And I have always trusted you, my liege. The Empire has prospered greatly under your guidance. It is the future of this galaxy, despite what other powers may believe.", he said respectfully to the Emperor.

"However, you arn't the only who's had concerns about this situation with the Moffs. While again, I could never find any concrete evidence, I've noticed small things amongst the reports my agents have given me. Unplanned fleet movements, supplies being redirected to other locations, undocumented ship and weapons production. It may be possible that these dissidents may have acquired a significant level of military power and followers amongst the Empire's army and navy. Kamino itself may be in great danger.", he said with a tone of concern. "But things are not lost yet. I've been making....preparations, as it were."

[member="Reginald Kardal"]
[member="Adron Malvern"]

 

[Graf's Archive Account]

Kardal smirked at his captain, a man with ambitions unmatched but incapable of accepting simplicities. "Regardless of my stance? Adron, the Force is much larger than just Light and Dark. I have mastered both spectrums, but the Sith as an order spoke to me as a wiser decision than their Jedi counterpart or, at least, they did." He articulated, glancing back over at Morcus. "Oh yes, I am quite aware of these preparations you've made, my friend." Darth Firrorse chuckled, "Fleets of Venator star destroyers behind moons, armies of clone troopers on them? I must say I am quite impressed with your initiative."

That same grave tone found its way back into Kardal's voice once again. "There will come a time, soon enough, when Tanomas will either be killed or abducted by his rivals. He knows this as well as I do." Reginald lamented, clasping his hands together, "A time where my influence over the military will deteriorate enough to keep me from preventing a splintering. Which is why I want you two to be major contenders in this war."

He thought over his words again, before continuing.

"Morcus, as a long-time friend of Graf and a founder of the Remnant, will be in the most powerful position to take grasp of the remaining loyalist forces, despite your role as deputy grand moff, Adron. The rest of the military will perceive the Moff Council as treacherous." He explained, carefully, "Therefore, I wish for you to retain control of the forces in your sector, and use them and your power as Royal Advisor of Commenor, to draw [member=[/COLOR]"Lady Kay"] into the war. This will be the move to win popular support, to provide stability and peace to the citizens of the Empire."

It was a calculated move on the Emperor's part, he would be risking every asset at his disposal in partially likely circumstances at best. The old man waited patiently for his guests to respond, all the while considering his next statements.

[member="Adron Malvern"] | [member="Baron Morcus"]

 

[Adron Malvern]

After Morcus finished speaking, Adron turned his attention to the Emperor. In the back of his mind he was still surprised that he had not been able to sense even an iota of the Emperor's power. Apart from that there was the fact Morcus had apparently been suspecting such a thing for some time. This too only seemed to embarrass the High Moff, here he thought himself to finally be mastering the Force, and still there was much unknown to him.

​Now was not the time for such reflections.

​"You would have me bring Commenor into this war? That will not be a simple task, My Emperor." Adron admitted. He had done much to solidify his place in Commenor, yet bringing the Queen into such a war could damage or destroy the bridges he had built. Glancing over to Morcus, he understood the Emperor's choice in taking control, yet he did not like it anymore than he would have if he did not understand.

​"My men are loyal to me. They will not fall to foolishness so long as I am at their reigns."

[member="Reginald Kardal"] [member="Baron Morcus"]

 

[Taa Nul]

Morcus nodded in response to the Emperor's decree. "I will begin making the necessary arrangements to recommission the mothball armada for service. When conflict comes, I will be more than ready to respond with overbearing force. For your safety however, my liege, I recommend we relocate you to the Pellaeon. I doubt the citadel will remain secure when Tuspin makes his move, and it will be safer to keep you upon the Imperial flagship where I have men I can trust ensuring your protection.", he said cautiously.

[member="Adron Malvern"]
[member="Reginald Kardal"]