Private This Beautiful Moon

[Shov Brald]

Location: Hangar Bay, Donnager II Class Star Destroyer Jungle Japes

Equipment:
Customized IPAPA-1 Imperial Power Assisted Personal Armor
HIMAR-1 Heavy Imperial Multipurpose Assault Rifle
Enlarged IG-14 Blaster Pistol
Chainsaw Blade
x8 Thermal Imploders

With the armorers the final touches to his modified armor, Shov began to lumber towards the hangar bay. The new Emperor was impressed with his handling of Sicarius Hekate back at the battle of Lothal and decided that he will be her handler during missions from here on out. Shov was a mix of annoyed yet honored. Sicarius' reckless actions nearly got the two of them killed on more than one occasion and he was not in the mood with her flirtations and seductive strides. It didn't help that Sicarius would rage whenever she couldn't use her Lightsabers. But now that Shov was given permission to do to Sicarius what he sees fit, he decided to keep her Force Collar active, so she won't make any more foolish decisions.

However, emperor didn't want to Sicairus to be completely defenseless as she is an asset so he provided her with a "weapon" that she can use. The Jungle Japes were setting a course to the forest Moon of Endor where Shov and Sicarius will be heading towards the wreckage of the Death Star. They were supposed to find an artifact that the Empire desired for a secret project. Taking a deep breath, Shov waited for the Stormtroopers to escort Sicarius to his care. Might as well get it over with.

 

[Sicarius Hekate]

Sicarius was training in her cell. To be fair it was one of the more comfortable cells she had seen let alone been in. Certainly an upgrade from those by used by the Hutt's or the Spice Mines of Kessel. Still it was basic in it's design, there was more than enough freedom for her to do her exercises. To some extant. The Cell was Force inhibited. She could only use it within her cell. While everytime she left it she was forced to wear a Force collar. Which was inconvenient.

Her last encounter with a Jedi had been without a lightsaber the consequences of which had been eye opening. Sicarius had always considered herself a blademaster at the expense of her attunement with the Force in battle. It had never been an issue before as she had always had her lightsabers ready to bear. Recent events however meant that chances were she wasn't going to have access to them again any time soon.

So she was training her body as a weapon. Going through some basic martial training exercises. Nothing too strenuous just some basic forms her Master had insisted she do more as an exercise of control than ever actually expecting to fall back on them.

Sicarius concentration was broken when Stormtroopers arrived as her escort. Sicarius smiled knowing they were to take her to Shov. She couldn't help forward to looking forward to teasing him again. These stiff necked soldierly types were no fun until you made fun of them.

Sicarius's Force Collar was turned on as she was taken to see him in the hangar.

"Didn't want to come to my cell yourself Shov?" Sicarius asked playfully "What's the matter afraid the nearby bunk would be too much temptation?"
Shov Brald

 

[Shov Brald]

Equipment:
Customized IPAPA-1 Imperial Power Assisted Personal Armor
HIMAR-1 Heavy Imperial Multipurpose Assault Rifle
Enlarged IG-14 Blaster Pistol
Chainsaw Blade
x8 Thermal Imploders

"You have no bunk Sith," Shov said his tone of voice dripping with disdain for the pale young woman. He spent hours observing Sicarius training in her prison cell. It was nothing more than basic punches and kicks, Shov shuddered in embarrassment at how horrible her fighting form was. Her strikes lacked strength, direction, and passion behind them. Sicarius was akin to a baby learning how to walk for the first time, but when she gave a smug smile as if she was getting stronger, it told Shov that the Sith had an abnormally high opinion of herself.

"I see your lack of proper clothing still remains," Shov revulsed at Sicarius' usual attire. "If you think you can seduce me with those rags, you're sadly mistaken Sith."

Sicarius was definitely looser than the average Sith Shov fought back in Sith-Imperial wars. And she decided to go all out with Shov, she was delusional, Shov's true love lay with the Empire and nothing more. He will lay his life to see the Empire rise to its former glory again. That's something that Sicarius will never understand. "Here," Shov said casually tossing Sicarius a used Steak Knife. "Your weapon from the Emperor, he figures that you need something to defend yourself for this mission. Be sure to give him thanks."

Sicarius Hekate

 

[Sicarius Hekate]

Sicarius raised an eyebrow at Shov's dismissive tone. What the Imperial failed to understand was that her intentions were to get a rise out of him to make him unbalanced. However that happened didn't matter to her. Whether Shov was flustered because he aroused or whether he was tense because he was irritated it mattered little. The intent was the same.

"You seem to spend a lot of thought on my clothing or lack there of." Sicarius noted with smugness. "I'm mistaken? No no my dear Captain. You are the one that's mistaken. My intention isn't seduction."

Sicarius eyes flashed with anger as Shov tossed her a Steak Knife. Clearly Shov had been ordered to provide her with a weapon. It was an intentional joke that it was a Steak Knife. Although whether it was from Velran or Shov was the question.

"Oh thank the emperor for his generosity."

Sicarius knew that Shov's fanatical loyalty was sincere and she knew it was unlikely he'd ever betray it certainly not for something as simple as desire. The best she could hope for was to keep him off balance. To get him to constantly riled at her and underestimating her. It would be a slow torture to the point that it became common place. So that when the time came if necessary she could take this steak knife and stick it in the back of his neck.

Shov Brald

 

[Shov Brald]

Equipment:
Customized IPAPA-1 Imperial Power Assisted Personal Armor
HIMAR-1 Heavy Imperial Multipurpose Assault Rifle
Enlarged IG-14 Blaster Pistol
Chainsaw Blade
x8 Thermal Imploders

"I can't help myself," Shov said looking away from Sicarius' figure. "You seem to dress as if you were ready to dance for some Hutt. I don't know why the Emperor would allow you to continue to wear such a thing but it were up to me, you'll be wearing a burlap sack."

He knew he had to keep his guard up. Sicarius was the type who would kill him the moment he lowered his guard. She didn't truly find him attractive, she was only doing this so Shov loosen up around her. The Emperor was grateful enough to allow Shov to look at her psych profile so he can get a better understanding of her. "We're heading to the Forest of Endor," Shov explained. "As you may know, Endor is a source of shame for the Empire. It was on this planet; we've lost to the Rebel Alliance and we've been struggling to regain that former glory for nearly a millennia."

Shov shook his head. "I have to admit," he said with bitterness draped in his tone. "Going to the site where the glorious Empire lost to a bunch of cannibalistic savages makes my blood boil but we will have a chance to scour the wreckage of the Death Star for a Sith artifact that the Emperor has taken a special interest in."

Sicarius Hekate

 

[Sicarius Hekate]

Sicarius eyes narrowed as Shov scored a hit about commenting on her being fit to dance for a Hutt. It was too close a mark to her being imprisoned but a Hutt. If Shov had gotten intelligence that she had been so it meant that the Empire knew. Admittedly her current imprisonment granted her far more freedom it was still a dig at her being kept on a short leash if not quite in chains.

Shov was in correct in thinking Sicarius was flirting with him to get him to loosen up. That was an impossible task for a disciplined soldier such as himself. No for now Sicarius wanted him to be on guard and edgy, in time that habit of being constantly on guard and edgy would give Sicarius an advantage in both the short and long terms. Besides it was fun. Sicarius grew bored with no one to fight or to kill, and tormenting Shov was as close as she could get to rebelling in her current condition.

"Yes. Funny how rebellions seem to rise and fall with Empires." Sicarius said smirking "It would be embarrassing to suffer such a defeat at the hands of miniature primitive wookie's."

"What's this artifact that the Emperor has taken such a special interest in?" Sicarius asked "I'll need to know the mission goals if I'm to complete the mission."

"I assume we have suits? We don't know which parts of the wreckage are air tight and there are too many exposed pieces of wreckage for it to be safe without them."

Shov Brald

 

[Shov Brald]

Equipment:
Customized IPAPA-1 Imperial Power Assisted Personal Armor
HIMAR-1 Heavy Imperial Multipurpose Assault Rifle
Enlarged IG-14 Blaster Pistol
Chainsaw Blade
x8 Thermal Imploders

"The Emperor has made sure that all of the traitors have been....... taken care of." Shov replied snidely. "There will be those who will challenge him I'm sure but the Emperor is backed by the people. Many of whom will die for him if necessary."

After years of losing and seeing the beloved Empire constantly getting fractured, it felt refreshing to see a man who was willing to go with bold ideas to create a new Empire. Admittedly Shov didn't agree with everything the Emperor did, but the Tion Cluster once a chaotic section, was now one of the most secure places in the Galaxy thanks to the Emperor. "These teddy bears," Shov growled. "May look small and harmless but they have no problem consuming flesh like yours and mine. We'll have to be cautious."

It was embarrassing saying that. To read the most feared fighting force the Galaxy has ever known be ripped alive by those stocky savages who only wielded sticks and rocks was inconceivable. The Imperial Dropship entered the hangar and landed right in front of Shov and Sicarius. Shov frowned as he placed his Assault rifle to his side, the magnetic coils clinging onto the armor. "When the Death Star was destroyed," Shov said motioning Sicarius to head to the Dropship. "Pieces of it fell onto the surface of Endor landing on its oceans. Scouts assured that many of the systems have been shut down."

Admittedly he was not as well versed in science as Sicarius presumably was. He was operating on the scout's good word. "The artifact is a crystal," Shov said getting inside of the Dropship. "It's not one of your Lightsaber Crystals but a special one created by Emperor Palpatine himself. It was said that it possessed great power such as the ability to breathe life in inorganic objects."

Sicarius Hekate

 

[Sicarius Hekate]

"Your sincerity and devotion to the Emperor is inspiring." Sicarius raised an eyebrow at Shov.

"Many who are willing to die for him if necessary?" Sicarius quoted in a mocking brooding voice

"And you have the nerve to call me the fanatic. Willing to lay your life down for a mad man. Though I suppose most Emperors are mad to some degree or another. Which would indicate those that follow them are equally as mad and fanatical."

Sicarius snorted with derision at Shov's further assertions and defence of the glorious Empire. Honestly the idea that she could be taken down by a bunch of furry 3 ft puppies was ridiculous.

"They may be a threat to the Empire but I assure you they are no match for a Sith. Even one only armed with a Steak Knife."

Sicarius threw the knife into the air and caught it to emphasise her point.

"Though I now understand why your so heavily armed and armored. Afraid of all the little teddy bears. I should shutter to fear if we were ever sent on a mission to the planet of little dolls."

Sicarius was glad to hear they would be going to the surface.

"Well I'm glad we won't be exploring debris in space and space suits. Those things are always cumbersome."

She turned considered pensive at Shovs information about the purpose and target of their mission.

"A crystal designed and created by Emperor Palpatine. That would certainly be a boon to add to my collection. Inorganic life? Interesting. As in robotic life that has been designed and needing a power source?"

Sicarius paused as she considered the possibilities. Electronic battle droids were largely vulnerable to Electro Magnetic Pulses. To have a droid powered by the crystal and presumably the Force could be an interesting development. They might also be resistant to reprogramming.

Shov Brald

 

[Shov Brald]

Equipment:
Customized IPAPA-1 Imperial Power Assisted Personal Armor
HIMAR-1 Heavy Imperial Multipurpose Assault Rifle
Enlarged IG-14 Blaster Pistol
Chainsaw Blade
x8 Thermal Imploders

"That mad man," Shov said. "United a fractured Empire and quickly took over the Tion Cluster and Azul Sector in one fell swoop. In a Galaxy filled with leaders content with the status quo, sometimes an outsider is what's needed to truly get things done."

Shov never cared for politics, but the Emperor's reforms despite his...... quirks managed to make the Empire of the Lost into a growing power that could contend with anyone in the Galaxy. "I wouldn't underestimate them though Sicarius," Shov replied. "Just in case keep your guard up and everything should be fine."

Hopefully though years of experience taught Shov the opposite. "I'm not sure if it brings robots to life," Shov said as the Imperial Dropship headed for Endor. "But It's for you to experiment I'm sure."

Sicarius Hekate

 

[Sicarius Hekate]

Sicarius snorted with derision and amusement as Shov defended his glorious leader the Emperor.

"Well they do say the difference between madness and genius is a flip of the coin. Unfortunately with your Emperor the coin is still spinning in mid air. Each side on top one moment then the next."

"I suppose that enough mad men had been tactical genius's in their own way before. It might have to do with an increased imagination. If you can imagine metaphors of phoenix's and easy eggs and waffles then you might be able to imagine the complexities of a field of battle before you."

Sicarius was disappointed that Shov didn't know more about the artifact they would be collecting.

"I suppose it was too much to expect a brute squad soldier to know the value of an artifact." Sicarius said with a disappointed sigh of a lecturer whose student had failed to answer a question correctly.

They landed on Endor with no drama. Sicarius stepped out into an overgrown forest with nothing to indicate civilisation. Just as she expected really.

"Very well I will keep my guard up for tiny furry creatures. Which way should we trek in this dangerous hostile enemy territory?"
Shov Brald