Private Winds of the Past

[Darth Osiris]

The ship hung in the void near the gas giant Yavin, the large orange gas giant consuming the entire viewport on the bridge of the freighter Darth Osiris had secured. The systems star could not be seen beyond the bulk of the orb, and the only thing breaking the field of endless orange was a distant, small green moon. That moon, small and insignificant compared to the massive world it orbited, held an enlarged importance in the history of the Sith. It was a dark world, the touch of the Dark Side a facet that would never truly wash away from it, even years after the moon was lost to them. It was possible that there were others on the moon now. Osiris had not taken the freighter in close enough to inspect it for himself, but it mattered little.

The importance of the system was all that mattered.

Osiris had been operating in and near old Sith space for several years now, far removed from the operations of the Sith Order in the southern reaches of the galaxy. While he viewed that organization with some measure of approval, they were the continuation of the Sith Empire in one form or another, he felt they lacked a certain...style. The old days of Sith-Imperial dominance had been glorious, pivotal times for the galaxy. A bastion of discipline and order, a cornerstone of galactic politics of decades. The might of the Sith-Imperials of old had rivalled the One Sith before them, perhaps surpassing it in many ways, though Osiris was not too certain on that fact. He had begun to lose interest in galactic affairs in his youth, but it was all coming back to him now. Perhaps it was simply an old man's nostalgia, but Osiris missed the days of the Empire.

That was part of the reason for the meeting today, he mused. His interest in Sith space and his personal beliefs, while not publicly expressed, were also not too difficult to figure out if one knew where to look, where to listen to rumor mongers and the tales of the forgotten. for those interested in discussions, there was always a way to contact Osiris. Today's meeting would be the first in some time, but hopefully not the last. He hoped things would begin to be set in motion, and the momentum of history brought to the fore.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

It had been years since Alisteri had been anywhere near Old Sith space. The fall of the Sith Empire and subsequent grabbing of planets and space by its murderers had of course meant that any visit to such sacred worlds and ancient places was all but impossible. He dared not risk an incursion so deep into enemy territory simply for nostalgia or a few leftover artifacts after all, no matter how much he might have wanted to do so. But the galaxy had changed, and once more the ancient homes of the Sith were open.

Well not quite open, more so abandoned or reduced to petty squabbling by the remnant powers there, but available to travel without fear of an entire Ashlan or Imperial fleet standing in the way. It would still take time and plenty of effort before Sith space was truly Sith again, but such matters were what he intended to discuss today anyway.

The Altorius exited hyperspace in the Yavin system, a few minutes earlier than the designated meeting time. One had to be early for such important matters after all. "Scan for our contact and begin approach towards the center of the system." Alisteri, through some rumors and whispers that had reached his attention through the spy and informant network of the Tsis'Kaar, had learned of an enigmatic figure that had been operating in the area. Someone with an apparent interest in Sith sites and worlds that, if the rumors were correct, went beyond simple curiosity or scholarly intent.

So of course, seeking to combat the growing interest of other powers within the Sith Order, he had expressed a subtle interest in the figure. Just enough to arrange this meeting for their mutual benefit. "Ship detected near Yavin sir, shifting course to meet them now." He nodded to the member of the bridge crew as they turned the ship to redirect its course, his attention then resting on the communications officer. "Hail them, tell them that Darth Strosius has arrived."

Darth Osiris

 

[Darth Osiris]

Osiris was drawn from his thoughts as the chime echoed across the bridge. The freighters crew, all men and women from the Scar Worlds brought under the sway of the Conclave, rushed around the bridge. Information was gathered on the approaching craft, theoretical vectors of approach calculated, and dozens of other tasks of some importance or another held their attention. Osiris ignored them all, walking towards the edge of the bridge and glancing through the viewport. It was impossible to see the other craft at this distance, but he amused himself with the thought that he could perhaps see a moving shadow across the gas giant.

"My Lord, the vessel is requesting communication link, a Darth Strosius wishes to speak with you," the crewman said, bowing his head as he delivered his report then stepping away. Osiris nodded his head in acknowledgment. Stepping away from the viewport, he walked down the length of the bridge, the cloak he wore around his life sustaining armor drifting out behind him. He knew what the crew whispered about him, joking privately of who he seemed to be embodying. Let them, Osiris thought. There were worse individuals in the history of the Sith to be compared to than him.

"Send word to to the Altorius," Osiris began, his voice echoing across the bridge, "inform them of a meeting point between our two vessels and set a course. Then tell this Darth Strosius that Darth Osiris is prepared to come aboard his vessel to speak." His words were barely out when he stepped through the opening doors leading from the bridge down the length of the bulk freighter.

Osiris knew of this Darth Strosius. He had never met him in person, but he was aware of his reputation. He knew of some of his activities, some of his interests and focuses. He was a power in his own right, supported by an organization crafted by his own hands. An example of Sith resolve and determination. Asking to meet on his vessel as well, Osiris hoped, would be a show of respect. Whichever ship served as the meeting location, the other Sith would be at a disadvantage. By offering to take that disadvantage, Osiris hoped to allow for a smoother and simpler exchange of words. He was confident in his abilities to survive, and that would always be enough.

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

"They've sent us a meeting point sir, and a notice of one Darth Osiris wanting to come aboard." The communications officer wasted no time in sending the point to the rest of the crew, the frigate's course adjusting to reach it without much delay. The request itself was an interesting one, one that would put the other Sith at a slight disadvantage given his own familiar ship and crew. Which meant that either his soon-to-be guest was willing to show how serious he was in the discussions or he wasn't worried about being at such a disadvantage regardless.

Time would tell which one it was. "Send word to prepare the meeting room and have him directed towards it when we dock with them then. I have no problem hosting our meeting." With that the masked man turned on his heel and strode out of the bridge, into the hallway that lead deeper into the ship itself. The meeting room, which admittedly was little more than a converted storage room that had been somewhat furnished with the appropriate amenities, wasn't far away thankfully.

Alisteri did briefly consider having a pair of guards or more in the meeting room itself but dismissed the idea, having them outside would be good enough. If the more undesirable outcomes did come to fruition then he doubted that any of his soldiers would be that useful against a Sith anyway. He sat at the head of the meeting table and idly tapped on one of the consoles littering the surface of it to test the holodisplay before turning it off once more. A little visual aid always helped during discussions after all, especially where talks of territory and planets were concerned.

The frigate gave a slight shudder as the ship docked with the freighter at the meeting point, the nearest airlock to the meeting room opening with a pressurized hiss. "So it begins." He muttered to himself as he shifted to sit up straight. If the rumors held any weight then perhaps there would be some common ground and overlap in both methods and ideals between them, such similarities would be invaluable during discussion after all. But of course even the rumors that were discovered and pried out by the spy networks of the Tsis'Kaar could be wrong, and in case of that he had his lightsaber at his side as usual.

Darth Osiris

 

[Darth Osiris]

Osiris stepped foot on the other ship moments after a secure docking connection had been made. He crossed the threshold with some reverence, there were many cultures across the galaxy that viewed the threshold of a structure, or in this case a ship, a sacred thing, and to pass through it a matter of great importance. Osiris himself did not hold to these traditions, but he had been around enough cultures that held the belief that some of their teachings had stuck to him. He allowed the moment to pass in silence before following the crewman that ushered him into a meeting room.

He had sensed the other Sith, Darth Strosius the moment he had stepped foot on the frigate, but being able to match the man before him to the presence in his mind helped solidify some of his own thoughts. As he stepped across another threshold, Osiris inclined his head shallowly, stepping around the table. Without a show of it physically, he reached out with the Force midstride and pulled a chair halfway down the table from Darth Strosius. The chair slid out seamlessly, floating millimeters above the floor of the chamber before setting itself down just as Osiris lowered himself into it. Osiris leaned back in the chair, resting one arm casually on the table beside him, and stared at the other Sith for several seconds.

"Darth Strosius, it is good to meet you," Osiris said, inclining his head once more with the words. "It pleases me that you desired this meeting. It is rare to find those of our kind that stray far from the Kathol Sector these days. A depressing state of affairs, don't you think? Where once our kind ruled half a galaxy, now we are confined to the edges of a forgotten realm. Do not mistake me, I regard the Sith Order with respect for what it has accomplished, but have you not ever wondered if our legacy could be retaken...?"

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Alisteri sat in silence as he waited for his guest to arrive, perking up slightly when he felt the presence of another Sith aboard his ship. To his knowledge one could hardly fake the presence of a Sith or Jedi, cloak and shroud a presence yes but not outright craft a false signature in such a manner. Darth Osiris was truthful in at least one regard then, a good way to start their meeting he supposed. Even if none of the other intel that he had recieved was correct.

When the door to the meeting room slid open his masked gaze fell upon and measured the Sith before him almost instantly, scanning him from head to toe as if to spot any ill intent with his eyes alone. He watched him retrieve a chair for himself without offering a word, merely observing the small display of power with a hidden expression. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Darth Osiris." He returned the greeting with a small nod of his own as he sat up, his hands folded in front of him on the table. The question, while not unexpected nor unwarranted, did elicite a strange reaction from the masked man. He actually chuckled for a moment. "Were it so easy."

Of course he knew that the other Sith was serious, such matters could hardly be joked about after all, but a small remark was something that he could hardly stifle regardless. "Our old space has only recently been available once more, and already many eyes other than ours look upon it with hunger and opportunity. Sith of the old empire seek to reclaim what they abandoned, Sith of the new seek glory in conquering such sacred worlds, and even more would try and ensure that no Sith reclaimed them at all. I'm very curious to hear where you stand among them, if you wouldn't mind of course."

Darth Osiris

 

[Darth Osiris]

“Sith of the old empire,” Osiris said, drawing out each word, “Sith of the new, though to use the term ‘Empire’ for what the Sith Order has become would be bending the truth.” Turning his head away slightly, Osiris was silent for a few moments before he finally spoke again. “Our kind have never been a unified people. That is for the best at times, conflict and strife breed strength in those who remain, but in the end, there must be some form of unity. A single power, a single presence that can cut through the division and strife for the ultimate goal. An Empire that can unite the factions of the Sith, rather than foster their divisions.”

He turned his gaze back to Alisteri. “In the Sith Order, there are those who seek to conquer Sith space, those who wish to destroy the remnants once and for all, and those who would prefer to forget it ever existed. All of them wrapped together by the serpent that lurks in the shadows.” The last words were spoken barely above a whisper, his eyes narrowing. “The Tsis’Kaar, those who seek to ensure the survival of the Sith at all costs. Is it they that seek Sith space? I think you,” he pointed a finger towards Alisteri,” are one of them, you have their inquisitive mind. The Kainites, those devoted to the once and future God of Sith, or so they claim? The Eternals and the rotting corpse on its dead worm throne? Which of them seek what is best for our old worlds, or legacy?” He shook his head, his fingers drumming idly on the table top.

“I seek to rebuild our worlds of old. Korriban, Dromund Kaas…desecrated by the Ashlan Crusade. Ziost lost to the edge of the galaxy. Yavin IV far too close to the ever encroaching Galactic Alliance. While the Sith Order is divided in purpose and motive, the rest of the galaxy drives ever towards Sith space to end our legacy. I would reclaim those worlds to protect them, return them to their proper place as beacons of the Dark Side, and build a nation strong enough to defend them for the next thousand years.”

He waved his free hand at Alisteri, turning the conversation over to him. “My thoughts on the matter are clear, but now, I desire to know yours.”

Darth Strosius

 

[Darth Strosius]

Alisteri had to resist the urge to snicker or even outright laugh at the assessment of the Sith Order, finding it to be fairly accurate given the circumstances. Empyrean, despite his self declaration of Emperor, had thus far done a rather poor job of keeping the Sith united and under one vision. The Kainites were proof enough of that, them and the dozen other semi-warlords that sought to establish their own power. Much like himself. If nothing else then this Osiris at least knew of what was expected of a true Sith Empire.

There was an almost imperceptible shift in the masked man's relaxed position at the mention of a serpent in the shadows, of the mention of the Tsis'Kaar and the correct accusation of his own involvement with them. Yet his posture betrayed no surprise nor worry, remaining stoic and listening with intent despite what thoughts circled in his mind. It would appear that this outsider knew more of the Sith Order than he had thought. A surprise of course but not one that he would be undone by, if anything it only proved that he was right in seeking out the other Sith and having this meeting at all.

After such a grand proclamation of intent, Alisteri was silent for a few long moments. Measuring his possible responses and picking apart what had been said to hunt for further meaning between the words. When he finally did speak again however he once more sounded assured and certain. "My thoughts are the same of all true Sith, Darth Osiris. That our home space and the sacred worlds within are the utmost priority to reclaim, to scrub them of whatever tainted and abhorred legacy has been left behind by their defilers." There was a hint of passion in his words, an anger inlaid with resolve and determination, a thirst for revenge even.

"Yet we play at a disadvantaged position. The Sith Order now stands more...'united' than ever before, and if I know anything about Empyrean and Carnifex, then they will be among the first to claim the worlds that they previously abandoned without a fight. Already I have heard that of a Kainite fleet near Korriban, no doubt eager to secure an asset with which to hold against the rest of the Sith to gain a better position when the territories of the old empire are fully sorted and handed out." He didn't bother to hide the distaste, the disgust in his tone as he spoke of his 'betters' within the Sith Order. There was no need to hide his thoughts without them or their servants present to hear them.

"Regardless you can be very assured that the Sith Order will take the holy worlds and ancient homes of the Sith back into their fold. The Galactic Alliance is far too busy resting on their laurels after culling the dogs of the Maw to act quickly enough to stop a large portion of the old empire being reclaimed." Of that he was sure, perhaps too sure but confident enough that their initial reclamation would go relatively unhindered. "They too will inevitably act, but this time there is no New Imperial Order and no Ashlan Crusade to weaken our armies. This time they will face us alone, and no matter how prideful the Jedi may be they are terrified of that reality."

Alisteri sat forward, his visor reflecting the dark table where they sat as well as Darth Osiris himself. "So I ask you, with such odds stacked against your plans, how do you intend on securing what we've lost? Your cause is noble, and not unlike my own, but currently there is little to make such dreams into reality. There are far too many other hands that seek to grasp the old empire's territory."

Darth Osiris