The Dead God
“... And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.”
Ossus
Winter Season, 864 ABY
9:56 AM, Ossus Standard Time
The fleet broke free of the leash of hyperspace along the system’s edge - led by the ‘Red Dragon’, a Sith Warship five thousand kilometers in length, and carrying with it the Worm Emperor and his legions. Its crew was abuzz with activity and tension, a dozen officers triple-checking stratagem before relaying the orders - a constant echo from one man to a dozen more, to a thousand after them; but it was efficient. The battlegroup was at its highest ready status - battle imminent, and every battle station was lined with a man and a backup to support them.
For some, sweat had already formed on their brow, while others seemed in a moment of zen - a calm before the storm they embraced fully. The Sith were no different - many pacing, breathing, amping themselves up with rage and grit - while others remained calm and placid, eyes trained forward at the planet on the holonet screen. The fleet would position itself well - but they all knew the dangers that faced them.
The Sith Eternal was well-positioned to strike out at its neighbors - where the Sith Empire was preoccupied with the New Imperial Order and the Warlords of the Sith, the Silver Jedi were occupied with the Bryn’adul; harsh creatures from Wild Space that genocided wherever they touched. Now, the Silver Jedi would face another threat - the reincarnation of the Sith’ari, the continuation of their dark order, and a correction of a path long deviated from.
Where the Sith Empire had become complacent, the Worm Emperor would not.
The multi masked figure rose its throne on the bridge - five golden masks pointed in the direction of Ossus as the fleet began its approach, slow and careful to stay out of range of the enemy sensors. His words boomed from behind the electrum, regal and commanding as only the Emperor knew how -
“A fire reborn - to fight one’s mortal enemies is a gift, to know bloodshed is to know the Force - and all those who survive this day will know the depths of the Force like none other.”, the disembodied male voice carried itself through the Fleet on the back of the Force, reaching every person’s ears.
“Our finest hour awaits, my children. Give the order.”
And with that, the ships began to speed towards the planet.
---
Objective 1: Blackout
10:15 AM, Ossus Standard Time
When the order was received,
Tithon Antilles
seemed apathetic to it - but his crew followed his command as he relayed it to each of them. Ships began to break away from the pack - corvettes and frigates moved to disable or destroy holonet relays on the edge of the system, careful to run interference before they approached. It would appear as though each would go silent at once - planned by the X-02 Super AI aboard his ship and something he had agreed to with trust they would do their job.
Tithon Antilles
seemed apathetic to it - but his crew followed his command as he relayed it to each of them. Ships began to break away from the pack - corvettes and frigates moved to disable or destroy holonet relays on the edge of the system, careful to run interference before they approached. It would appear as though each would go silent at once - planned by the X-02 Super AI aboard his ship and something he had agreed to with trust they would do their job.
Before any SOS could escape, the Sith Eternal fleet would isolate Ossus from the rest of their countrymen - forced to sink or swim in the dark wave that approached them. As each was captured, only one remained; the main relay that all the short wave communications on the planet reached out to - something that could not remain; but it was far close to the planet than was comfortable.
“The outliers have been captured, Grand Admiral.”, Typhojem, the AI had offered him.
Tithon glanced at it, then back to his screen.
“Tell the mercenaries to set off the charges.”, he offered back - and the Order would be relayed to them. The planet would shake as the main generators for the power grid would be overloaded - and then fail, plunging the planet in ironic darkness.
If only they knew what depths darkness could reach.
With their element of surprise gone, Tithon moved his fleet into a picket screen and approached the oppositional fleet still readying itself in orbit. Fleets met fleets over the planet as ships began to goad and force them apart, heavily defended frigates marking battle lines that worked in the Sith Eternal’s favor - putting them directly in a position over the Temple of Ossus; a large construct where large swaths of the Jedi High Command seemed to be gathered.
“Deploy the troops, Lieutenant Vo.”, Tithon motioned, moving to stand as he did so. The young Lieutenant glanced up to him from her low brow cap, nodded, and pressed the button.
Drop pods and transports would soon be on their way.
---
Objective 2: Regicide
10: 21 AM, Ossus Standard Time
The snow was torn from the surface of the planet as the transports hovered just above its surface. Landing ramps deployed, barely scraping the surface of the planet, and the troops aboard clad in their winterized S-6 armor would leap from it - weapons up and ready, firing at the openings of the temple from all directions. They had deployed quickly, efficiently, for all their strength they managed to surround it in only a few minutes.
Now, however, the trouble came. Inside were a hundred Jedi Knights - and while the Sith perhaps outnumbered them, they certainly did not outmatch them. There was a pittance of true Sith here now, a ratio of nearly 1:4 made equal only by the presence of the First Legion - and it made Maliphant cringe at the thought.
“My Lord -”, a Captain said as Maliphant had its first steps in the snow.
“The temple is surrounded, but Jedi have set up forward operating bases.”, he said through his vocoder.
“As expected.”, Maliphant responded with a coolness that was matched only by the snow that surrounded them.
The Sith Lord had expected them to secure it well - and while he had faith in the First Legion’s prowess, he didn’t expect them to be miracle workers. Jaw clenched, he made his way into the footpaths others had created in the snow as he spoke;
“Make sure none escape the quarantine. And Captain…”
“Bring me the Sith participating in this siege - I wish to speak to them.”
Maliphant moved behind a transport that had landed - blaster bolts ringing against its durasteel exterior with violent intent. This would not be pretty, but if they had any hope of holding them within that temple, they needed to make this look convincing. For that, he needed the Sith to work with him - and without question.
---
Objective 3: Corruption
10:35 AM, Ossus Standard Time
The Worm Emperor sat in his throne once more - feeling the energies of strife and chaos echo their way into his being. Those seated around him would feel that excitement in the air - like static built upon their uniforms, but the Worm would be unmoving, unflinching, unreadable. Near him was the Sith tasked with the most important detail of them all - the fulfillment of corruption, the greatest chance the Sith Eternal had to take Ossus from its keepers.
“Darth Asphal.”, the Worm’s voice boomed once more.
“The Sepulchral have nearly finished the preparations, attuned the obelisk to the planet.”, it said with power and confidence.
Yet there seemed to be an exhaustive sigh following it closely.
“And yet they come… A Jedi ship, bypassing Tithon’s defenses, comes for us.”
“Comes for me.”
“Comes for we.”
“Comes for the Obelisk.”, the voices echoed one after the other.
The Emperor’s figure rose from its seat, black cloak spilling off its massive three-meter frame as it strode forward - gazing upon the planet before them.
“See to it that they do not succeed.”, it mused to her - but there was a threat within it, dark and foreboding hinting to futures not yet come.
“See that we do.”
His words would finish just as the alarms began to blare - an Officer standing from her seat as she glanced back to the Worm;
“My Lord, unknown transport in Hanger 3a! Jedi, m’lord, and plenty.”, they burst out.
The Worm seemed passive to this, but the rest of the bridge flew into a frenzy of commands and relays - but amidst the chaos was only the few Sith gathered around the Worm. His words spoke out once more to those present;
“Do not fail me.”, he repeated.
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