Ask Dromund Kaas Great Minds, Do They Think Alike?

[Darth Draugr]

Dromund Kaas, Councilor's War Room, 1545 Hours

Draugr was asked to join Lord Trelain to discuss something of great importance. The Zabrak was aware of all that had been going on, most recently the newly waged war with the Independent Systems Consortium. This was a slight surprise to Lord Draugr, and perhaps it was what Trelain wanted to discuss. Either way Draugr was here awaiting her arrival. Guards would remain outside the room, no one would hear what was discussed.

The Dathomirian Lord stood arms crossed, slightly leaned on the table in the middle of the room with his rear, almost sitting. Head slightly tilted, and dressed in his First Blade Armor with his helmet removed and set to his left. The Zabrak was ready for business, as well as a mission should it come to it.

Whatever Trelain was coming to speak about, he only hoped it would be worth his while. This new war waged, courtesy of the Empress, needed to be lead. Granted he held control over the Sith side, while the Warmaster lead the Imperials, he was needed to make the missions, and coordinate the future attacks. Once Trelain would enter, Draugr would greet her, "Afternoon Trelain. What was it you wanted to speak on?"

@Phoenix​

 

[Darth Trelain]

Although Trelain and Draugr had met on numerous occasions for Council meetings, Trelain could hardly say that she knew the other Sith Lord well. Still, for something of the caliber that the Empress had unleashed on the rest of the galaxy, it warranted the two having a meeting.

Trelain took a sip from her custom, metallic water bottle as she made it to the command room, waving the guards away as she stepped inside. If the two people inside this room weren't capable of protecting themselves then no one could.

Lord Draugr. Good to see you, she said, exchanging pleasantries and making her way over to the holotable and setting the bottle down on the corner. He was straight to business, which she figured was fitting of his reputation, so she didn't waste his - or her - time.

I thought it was wise to put our heads together about this new war that we've slipped into, she said. Although she didn't admit it aloud, the move by the Empress had caught her somewhat by surprise, and she didn't like that. She'd had to move to plotting as quickly as she could.

Did you know about the attack before it happened? she asked. Of course, there was the argument that the Empress didn't owe them any explanation, but that answer - while true - was a great way to undermine your own support in the Empire.

@Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

As Darth Trelain had gotten set up in the room, and began to ask if Draugr knew about the attack, he had already been shaking his head no. Now many would say how it didn't matter if he knew or not cause it was the Empress' decision, but for him to not be told as he was in charge of the war efforts on the Sith side of the Empire it did raise a slight concern. "Unfortunately not this time. Though it is good timing to try to weaken the growing might of the ISC, I just wished we could've done so as a unit." Looking to Trelain it seemed to bother her more than he, but he would overlook that as he continued.

"I would say though, she is the Empress so we can't be too upset. It'd look like doubt in the Empire, and that's a slippery slope to looking like traitors. I don't know about you but I would like to keep my prestige.. and head." Draugr paused for a moment before standing and sighing, "So, where do we begin on the war?" They needed a game plan, and Trelain wished for the meeting so it was courteous to allow her to go first in trying to find their next move.

The Zabraks together would look to hit critical spots more than likely. The ISC was strong and vast in numbers, which made this harder than attacking Yavin, but if there was a duo who could strategize against them, it'd be Trelain and Draugr.

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Trelain]

Hm, was the only response Trelain gave to his statements. While she had her own complicated opinions about all of it, they were hidden behind the mask she constantly wore as the proverbial queen of lies.

She internally admitted she'd expected more dissent from him being simply passed over, but perhaps that had been too much to expect. He seemed content to be someone else's pawn, so she moved along from her initial line of thought for the meeting and settled into the less interesting topic of planning the war.

Yes, the war, she said, repositioning over the table. The Empress has already attacked Corellia, which is a... fine move. It was weakened by the Killiks, but it's centrally located in ISC territory. We're unlikely to ever hold it, she said, a simply honest assessment of their position. She wasn't interested in bravado because bravado lost wars.

I suggest our next move by Thyferra. Surrounded largely by neutral space, but also weakened by the Killiks and is the primary source of bacta, she said. The issue with it, of course, was that one of the ISC's major offensive fleets sat over the world, which would make an attack there difficult and costly for both sides. In other words, she was proposing an attack that would be perhaps the largest battle seen in a thousand years.

It would likely be its own front for a very long time.

 

[Darth Draugr]

His response seemed to disappoint Trelain, which was what he expected. He sounded less like himself, but he had to know where she stood. Seemed it was where he was at internally. He had to make a face, a mask of sorts, to keep himself unsuspected of his plans and future endeavors. Now that he knew he could sense the same feeling within Trelain, he could trust her.. at least more than he could before.

"Thyferra.." He had a moment of flashbacks hit him from defending it from Killiks. The memories sharp like a dagger, and his expression from calm to intense would grow slightly. "A good choice I must say.. I was thinking the same but for Mon Cala. It has a naval power just as powerful, but it's secluded from the rest of its territory." He lifted his hand to his chin thinking on possible attacks, and though he felt Mon Cala was the easier claim, Thyferra had much more to offer. Trelain was smart in her decision, but the amount of resources and lives that would be lost there was less than ideal.

Pulling up maps of Thyferra, specifically in the region he was prior, he would begin looking for the weakest areas of defense. "Perhaps if we could get into the tunnels the Killiks had made, we could have a squadron make it behind the lines and ruin them from behind. Though we take the risk of the ISC utilizing them as well." He gave a bit of a thinking look as he swiped the holo board to the information he had gathered on the ISC, "They also primarily use their droids, which means if we throw our organic soldiers in, we get much more of a loss. We'd have to fight fire with fire."

He would nod a little before continuing once more, "We'll send some representatives to have a production boost in our droids department. We'll need fighters, foot soldiers and tanks made for this battle. The rest can be handled by our notable officers and super tactical droids." He would look up to Trelain to see where her mind went for this. Surely it was a good plan but he wanted to know her opinion. It was best some of the Council members were on the same page for once.

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Trelain]

Trelain had nearly zoned out from what Draugr was saying about the war. She didn't really care about it because the war was just a means to an end and there were other things that needed to be addressed.

Our troops are also better trained and have actual combat experience, she said, though ISC troops were fresher.

I'm sure our troops can handle it. The Generals are no idiots, she said. They would manage things fine.

But the Sith, she said. That was his department, after all. I've noticed many of the Order lack a real connection to the Dark Side, she said, letting the statement linger in the air for a time. The Sith had lost their way in more ways than one.

What are your thoughts on our batch of Sith? she asked directly.

@Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

What Trelain had went on to say about the troops and the planning of more droid soldiers, it felt as if it was all just being disregarded. Though she made a point about the soldiers being fine enough to handle the war. Draugr looked at his soldiers differently than most, yes they had the higher risk of death. They had also been used as cannon fodder by the Sith. For the First Blade though, they served a valuable purpose and were better kept alive.

Draugr would nod, but he still planned to call for droid production. The soldiers could be used for more important attacks that require critical thinking. The droids would be cannon fodder. Moving on, she would ask him what of the Sith. Well, they had their prize fighters of course, but a good amount of them were a hop skip and a jump away from being Dark Jedi at best. Draugr would make a slight grimace and then sigh.

"If I am honest, none of the Acolytes should be seen on the battlefield for Thyferra. It is far too important we win this fight. As for the Champions, they have gotten stronger and more fearsome." Draugr would take a deep breath, "Though I would say I'm not confident they all have what it takes. If I could send select Sith to the fight I know who I would choose though. Do not worry of the Sith. The right group will be sent for the fight."

He would give her a nod after he finished his statement. He knew she would think less of the Sith side of things, which was fair. Draugr knew what they were capable of though, especially if he gives them a little further motivation. "If they fail to take Thyferra, they lose something of importance to them same way we lose the important battle. A little motivation. Might even harden some of the softies." They did need something.. anything to get them to be Sith. Dark Siders. To be the calibre the Empire needed.

"If you have certain Sith in mind for the battle though, I would like to hear your thoughts."

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Trelain]

Trelain thought about what had brought them both here. They'd followed very different paths, and that seemed like it was the story with so many Sith. There was no uniformity even among graduates of specific academies. Sometimes she wondered if that was what they were lacking: differentiation. Or perhaps that wasn't the problem at all.

Yes, some of them need hardening, she agreed with what he said. But it might even need more than that.

And I agree we shouldn't limit our Champions and Masters in favor of Acolytes, she went on, reaching over to take a drink of her water to draw out the moment before moving over to take a seat a few feet away.

I wonder if some of the Order would do better as sacrificial lambs. In the Sith only the strong survive, but we've created an environment of success for people who lack the proper instincts, she said. Those who he called "Dark Jedi" had no place in the Order, and a war was the perfect time to allow them to... be lost and strengthen the Order as a whole.

@Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

Listening to Trelain's reasoning, it had made a lot of sense. So much in fact it was exactly as Draugr had been thinking and expecting. This would work well for the purging of weaklings in the Sith. Draugr nodded as he smirked and looked to Trelain, "I like where your head is at. We'll make for two attacks. We can identify those who are our most capable and send them to Thyferra, and then send our lambs as you called them to Indupar perhaps."

Draugr wasn't always keen to losing soldiers but his Sith, they had to be stronger.. darker.. and they weren't going to get there without the hardening of war. They needed to be sent to almost impossible odds. They needed to adapt and learn to overcome, and if they prove successful then they would earn the respect of Draugr, and have to keep working to retain it.

"What of your side of the war efforts? Will the Imperials be able to do their job without the overwatch of Altair Din? Seems he has to keep his grips on all of them.. almost like they can't handle their taskings on their own." Draugr asked in a curious tone, his eyes not leaving Trelain. She was the Imperial Warden after all. Surely she would have to get her grip on her side just as much as Draugr.

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Trelain]

This war will be won or lost by the Jedi and Sith involved and their strength, not the soldiers, she said. It was simply fact. Battles had always been determined by the Jedi and Sith. The soldiers who could truly stand against one with the Force were one in ten thousand. Perhaps even a hundred thousand.

That would be an excellent question for a Warmaster if we had one, she said. She was no fool that Lieutenant General Din was likely to become the next Warmaster given enough time, but the position was still empty.

The ISB stands ready, she said, reminding him that her title as Imperial Warden made her the head of Imperial Intelligence, not the army. She'd already deployed spies to begin killing and hunting members of the Bothan spy network who had evidently discovered and attacked Exegol. It was more than a little disconcerting, though she gave no external indication of anything.

I'm taking steps to insure the Sith and Empire survive no matter how things unfold, she said.

But we were not prepared for a war with the ISC without warning, she stated bluntly. Not the ISB, the IAF, or the Sith, but they made due with what they had.

@Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

Draugr nodded assuming she would assume command over the Imps, but even if she was only in charge of Intelligence, the thought of having the spies set up and ready was a relief. They would be handy and useful against the ISC, and would bring better success to their movements.

Trelain had a point being that it'd be decided between Jedi and Sith involvement. It had been known in the past that the Jedi were trying to get good with Emryc Thorne, their President, so the thought of Jedi coming to their aid was not out of question. A rather unfortunate and annoying factor, but a factor nonetheless. Draugr would nod as Trelain also mentioned that they weren't prepared for an impromptu war.

"I wasn't thrilled to hear of it either.. I am arranging a meeting for myself and the Empress to discuss these matters. I am looking to resolve the problem so we won't have to be unprepared for anything else on our end." Draugr did mean it, there has been a plan brewing lately and he was only one step away from gathering what he needed to complete his mission. His cold eyes looking to the ground as he sucked his teeth, he would snap back into focus and back to Trelain, "Let me ask you something." He would take a step towards her but slowly and less threatening, more nonchalant, "Would you say the Empress is best fit for the throne?"

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Trelain]

Trelain's face remained neutral as he asked her the real question that had brought them both here. They'd done their verbal jabs and ripostes, dancing around the issue, but ultimately the direction of the Empire was the real question. For Trelain's part... her views weren't exactly orthodox or possibly even mainstream anymore.

Something, something losing prestige, something something, slippery slope, she replied, "mimicking" his words from earlier. He had already made his "stance" quite clear, and she wasn't going to be the first to risk face after being... shut down earlier.

The war with the ISC isn't the worst thing, it was just a matter of us being unprepared. We should have been undermining them before launching this assault. As I said, this may be an opportunity to purge those who lack resolve, she said, placing the ball back in his court once again.

@Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

Trelain's mocking was annoying of course, but amusing in a sense. He could see the irony she had seen, hypocrisy as well. Smirking he listened to what she had followed up with, and let's just say he smelt what she was stepping in. Her point being the Empress wasn't suited, or well.. implied he should say. The Zabraks had their plan now, and it only needed to be known between the two of them.

"Okay then." Draugr replied as he nodded for a moment. His arms never uncrossing, as he took a step closer and leaned his hip against the table and cocked his head slightly and would address his fellow Sith Lord in front of him. Knowing how she felt and how she might be a valuable asset in his plan, "Would you like to do something about it with me?" He asked in a lower voice. He couldn't chance anyone who may be outside hear them.

This war was entirely provoked by the Sith, which was fine, but she had lost the little amount of trust the Sith Lords had in her to speak with the Council before her actions, not to mention, she attacked a planet completely cut off from Sith support. It was stuck there surrounded by ISC territory. It was hindered by the Killiks which was the one advantage the Sith had, but without the proper channels of support.. it hadn't any allies nearby.

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Trelain]

Trelain looked at him, but he still hadn't actually said it. Of course, what they were talking about was treason, but the problem with that line of thought was that the Sith were built on the strongest ruling and surviving. The Empire had seen to it that they had lost their killer instincts and instead honed "diplomacy" and passivity.

What are you proposing? she asked. Perhaps some would see this as the worst time for the Sith to start turning on each other, but Trelain wasn't so sure she saw it that way. The Sith were better as a small number than this diluted impotence they were now. For every one of these weaklings, the power of the Dark Side in the true Sith was stifled.

@Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

If there was ever a time for the Sith to gain their old ways.. the ruthless and unmatchable strength they once had, they would have to start by putting someone with those qualities on the throne. Some would say Draugr wasn't fit for diplomacy, which may be true in some cases but one thing couldn't be denied: When he leads a war, they win the battles. Draugr may have taken losses in one on one combat, but as a leader of his attacks, his Sith and soldiers thrived and won their battles.

Out of the Sith Lords they had, in Draugr's eyes he was most fit to rule. Raze hadn't wanted it or he'd clearly have it and Trelain may want it, but she'd strike at a later date he felt. He knew it was time now. He knew if he was leading this war, they would have the best fighting chance.

"What I am proposing, is that I handle the Empress. In turn I assume the Emperor title. All I would need from you is to ensure Raze isn't there. He's the only Sith who can stop this plan, and if he knows nothing of it then we will have no problems moving forward." Draugr's expression had never been more serious, and he was tired of trying to beat around the bush. If she was against him she would've made it known already.

"If you were against me you'd have been clear about it by now. You know this is best for the Sith. For the Empire we helped construct. We just have to get this done and we're golden." Draugr's dataphone buzzed repeatedly, but he ignored it. His eyes set on Trelain, waiting for the answer. "With both of us on the same page going forward, we'd be unstoppable. We can even make you the Dark Lord of the Sith. Raze is strong but against the both of us, and our apprentices? Even he knows he wouldn't be able to stop us."

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Trelain]

Trelain listened to his evaluation of the situation, and while she wasn't rushing to the Empress to informer her of betrayal, she wasn't leaping at the opportunity to help him yet either.

The irony was that the Empress expected the Inquisition to be undyingly loyal to her, and some were to be certain, but that wasn't the way of the Sith. As with the Brotherhood of Darkness, the Sith had decided that the whole should be placed above the individual, and that was something that was simply antithetical to what the Sith were and to the nature of the Dark Side. Once again, a demonstration that the Sith had hopelessly lost their way.

And you will continue the war? Or you'll turn aside from it after your coup? she asked. She betrayed no hint of what she thought, her sabacc face was well honed, and what Draugr may have lacked in diplomacy and manipulation, Trelain did not.

@Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

Seemed she wouldn't confirm or deny her aid. Nor would she make clear she would side with Draugr on this one. From what he knew of her, she was about the old ways. The ways that built the Sith to be the strongest. So he would hold back some of his built anger from the annoyance of not hearing a yes or no come from her, only questions.

"To back from a war you started is to show weakness.. The Sith will not be seen as weak. I will continue, and win, this war. After the successful taking of our planets once more, we will be able to easily take on the rest of the galaxy." Draugr nodded slightly for a moment assuring himself of what he was saying, and explaining. He believed every word, because he had confidence that the Sith would thrive much more if Draugr had brought them the strength they needed.

"No more ceasefires, no more listening to the lesser beings, and no more weakness in this Empire.. We will be the leaders of the new galaxy and with the two of us on top, we could control it all." His eyes on Trelain, he was offering her everything and more. All she needed to do was accept. They would be the leaders of a new age, and the Sith will learn to be the way that the Sith was intended to be.

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Trelain]

Trelain's face was calm, but her eyes had their typical intensity to them. She could sense his anger at her, but she didn't seem to change anything about the way she acted despite it. She exuded a sense of total calm.

Ultimately, though, her thoughts were shielded by a wall of stone that existed from a lifetime of work in the intelligence business.

Darth Raze won't be an issue, she said after a moment. Raze had retired from his position, once again something that Draugr not knowing set her a little bit on edge about. He didn't really seem to have a pulse on what went on in the Empire considering he wanted to rule it. Things would have been much simpler had Raze simply decided to take up the mantel of Emperor himself, but he had always been a strange and elusive Sith, though that alone made him a closer keeper to the Sith Code than most.

I won't get in your way, she finally said. It wasn't really a strong endorsement, but it was about as much as any Sith could expect.

When and where will you fight her? A traditional Arauk'kesh? she asked. Though Andruil had done away with it - one of the many mistakes the woman had made - they were discussing bringing back the old ways of the Sith. Of course, he'd have been a fool not to find out where she as the Grand Inquisitor stood.

She may not agree, so what is your plan if she refuses? she asked. With the tradition technically dead, she had some grounds for refusal. He was talking about theoretically igniting a civil war as well. Trelain wasn't saying 'no' but someone needed to think of the logistics.

@Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

Draugr nodded at the comment on Raze. He had forgotten about the retirement, but nonetheless if Raze had reappeared it'd be a burden handling him. Moving past it though, he would hear her ask of how he'd challenge the Empress. She had been asking a good few questions. Asking about the Arauk'kesh. So many specifics for not agreeing to be at his side for this.

"How I choose to handle the Empress if for me to execute. The only thing that matters, is that the Empress will be dealt with, and I will be assuming the throne after her death." The Zabrak had been setting up works for coaxium behind the scenes. The Empress wouldn't know what hit her. The Empire would finally be his after all this time. Trelain seemed to be in neutral zone now. Not leaning in his favor but not against it.

Draugr began to question if she could be trusted. "Soon Trelain.. soon the Empire.. the Sith, will be strong just as they once were. And when that day comes, we will thrive.. and the rest of the galaxy will bend to our will." Whether Trelain was on his side or not, he was executing his plan, it just made for a better strategy to have the only other Lord on his side if there were to be a civil war. It wouldn't be Sith against Imperials only, it'd be the old ways against the new ones. If she truly sought out the old ways, she would see that and join him.

@Phoenix

 

[Darth Trelain]

There was a flash of anger in Trelain's eyes for the briefest moment as he dismissed her comments out of hand, and it made her wonder why they were bothering to talk at all, then. If he didn't want her counsel... well, then this would be a taste of him as Emperor, she supposed.

And then it clicked. An Arauk'kesh was a public challenge, and one that would normally be made in front of the Council anyway. He hadn't even concerned himself with her counsel... again, about the Empress potentially declining.

She let out a scoffing sound, shaking her head.

You're not even planning to fight her, she said. "Rule of the strong" indeed.

You don't have the support of a single Sith whose name matters in this Empire. If you do anything other than defeat her with a show of force, no one will follow you, she replied scathingly. His position in the Empire was more precarious than he realized. She knew that if he claimed dominion over the entire Empire after some ganked fight or poisoning, the Empire would fracture. The fact that he didn't realize that was perhaps the biggest red flag to his entire plan.

I suppose there's nothing more for us to discuss then, she said. There was tension in the room, and as she made to leave the room, she kept her guard up. Sith were unpredictable and even true, her words weren't likely to be well received.

@Scoobert