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[Darth Vrael]

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Vrael stood as the shuttle touched down onto the appropriate landing pad with a lurch, glaring a hole through the metal as he waited for the ramp to lower. The moment it did, he was striding down it, hardly giving his guards the chance to follow. He briefly surveyed the area, noting his escort ships circling ahead whilst the soldiers spread out to cover the area. Above that even, he knew his fleet waited, currently in standoff with the IR defense forces. They had been bloodied slightly during the fight to get past the third checkpoint, but their forces were more than sufficient still. If any thing, they were fired up and ready to go already, some of them still aching to keep fighting. Even the escort he'd brought seemed especially eager, their movements sharp and brisk as they waited to attack something.

Still, Vrael hadn't come purely to destroy and conqueror, that came only if it was truly necessary. Instead, he had a hastily arranged meeting to attend now to offer the peaceful solution one last time. His inspection of the nearby area completed, Vrael started forward to do just that. His destination was a building they had landed almost right next to, one of the alternative Moff Council spots. The official one had met its end in the bombing of the Coruscant palace. His guards followed him to the entry, at which point they stayed back and Vrael continued alone. This was something that he needed to do by himself, it was the only way any of them would accept it. Besides, he had come fully armed and armored for battle should it come to it. The guards and officers awaiting his return knew very well what to do if he didn't come back regardless.

He was of course, granted quick and easy entry into the building. He had been expected and none were eager to stand in his way. Before long he was marching through the halls and nearing the council chamber doors. He didn't wait for an announcement of his presence, or even a go ahead to enter. Vrael simply pushed his way forward an into the audience chamber, silencing any protests with a look. There was a limit to the amenities he was willing to offer, and waiting to be admitted was NOT one of them. He had come in person, and that would have to be more than enough to satisfy the egos of those he was about to meet. If this was an assassination attempt or something of that ilk, then he would be more than ready for it.

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

The Grand Moff Otenaz Mazim was getting tired of trying to hold a third of the Galaxy together.

He had an entire council of Moffs who were supposed to support him in this goal but he could count on one hand the number of people out of the Thirteen Moffs on the council who were actually worth their salt, let alone worthy of their titles. Since the death of the last Empress, Mazim had been the one holding everything together within the Imperial Republica and, to be frank, it was something he had never wanted to do, never asked to do and had never really been trained to do.

As Grand Moff he kept order and he worked with the military of the Empire - he didn't know how to run the infrastructure of the Empire and he lacked the gravitas and the presence of a royal so he couldn't just force others to do as he said. And, despite being a key member of the Empire, the Grand Moff of the Imperial Republica was not a Sith.

He was just a man who had worked damned hard to get to where he was and stay there.

When Vrael entered the chambers of the Moff Council, the council were sat in their semi circle with Vrael standing in the middle of them. Mazim was sat in the centre of the semi circle, at the focal point of the chairs so that it was clear that he was the Grand Moff but behind his seat, raised higher, was a throne that stood empty.

"Darth Vrael."

Mazim bowed his head in greeting even though he didn't stand.

"I think you for meeting with us here today." he spoke quietly as he leaned forwards in his seat slightly, "As I understand it, you are here today to make an offer to us. An offer that will mean the end to our war... please make your offer, my Lord. None shall interrupt you during such a momentous moment."

He shot a warning glare at one of the other Moffs who was known to be a pompous windbag of no real skill aside from shouting down the opinions of others. Mazim would not tolerate it this day and the man caught the look before looking away.

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

Before him was the Moff council, the remaining leaders of the Imperial Republica and all that held it together. They were men who commanded armies and fleets, whose names were associated with power and fear amongst entire systems. Vrael hardly even glanced their way, merely glossing over them as he turned his focus towards the true man in charge. Otenaz Mazim, the Grand Moff, easily recognized after his years of service. Vrael had cursed the man's existence and choices numerous times throughout the war he had come here to end. Today though, he was oddly grateful to see him still sitting in his position of power.

Vrael knew Mazim, offering a brusque nod to acknowledge the greeting. He knew the man was a competent leader who lacked the foolish tendencies others in his position often held. Such would've been a requirement for the Grand Moff to do as well as he had, with no royal blood or force ability to fall back upon. This was someone Vrael could reason and negotiate with, exactly the kind of person he had come hoping to meet with. They were getting right down to business even, with the unnecessary introductions quickly done away in a mere two words. Truly excellent, now if the force willed ,maybe the rest of this discussion could go so smoothly. Some of them certainly might not like what he had to say.

"Very well then," he started, finally giving the rest of the Moffs a more in depth examination as he swept his gaze across them. "I will get right to the point. Abide by the results of the Kaggath, swear to serve me as your Emperor along with the rest of the Imperial Republica. Together, we become the Sith Empire once more and regain control of the galaxy. " He paused to let that sink in, not that any would be surprised of course. No, the surprise might come when he offered his....concessions. "In exchange, I offer leniency to all in this room and to all your servants who have been fighting on the wrong side. Rebels, Mandalorians, JEDI," Vrael spat that last word out with clear disgust before continuing. "These threats necessitate a focused and functional Empire with its leadership intact. Those I feel worthy and able will find themselves keeping the seats they currently possess on this Council. Some of you who do well will likely hold your position for a long time coming, even after we've sorted this entire mess." He made sure to look the Grand Moff dead in the eyes as he spoke, he knew very well what the man was about. "That is my offer."

He neglected to mention the fleet hovering overhead, and what would be occurring if he didn't get the concession he'd come for. Why state the obvious?

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

The moffs began to talk amongst themselves but Mazim did not.

He didn't need to chatter because there was very little to chatter about in his opinion - not to mention it was rather difficult to chat away to a moff sitting to his side when he was sat apart from them due to the positioning in the room. Some of the other moffs began to quieten down and turned to look at him. The remainder fell in line shortly afterwards as they realized that the audience for their inane ramblings was focused on something else.

Mazim spoke.

"I don't care about the Kaggath. I think it's a stupid tradition that doesn't prove anything expect who can stab someone else better." he declared bluntly, honest in his answer, "The people of the Imperial Republica don't care about the Kaggath either - as evidenced by very few actually siding with you based on it's results. As a whole we do not care one solitary kark that you managed to stab a young woman in the chest."

He leaned forward.

"We care about if you can govern the Empire." he revealed, gesturing to the other moffs, "There are doubts, of course. But I believe that the Empire does need to be whole and that merging with your territories is the best current option. The Imperial Republica shall join with the Old Empire."

One of the moffs who liked to bluster grew red in the face and several others stood up. They were obviously incensed by the very idea that Mazim was handing the Empire over but he didn't care. With a jerk of his head, the moffs loyal to him accepted the signal and surged up with their seats, plunging their vibroknives into the unprotected flanks and backs of the moffs who sought to question his decision.

Mazim remained impassive as half of the moff council was executed.

"Shall we begin the work of Government, Darth Vrael?"

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

Vrael didn't so much as twitch at the chatter that followed his quite generous offer. He didn't even give them a thought, noting calmly how not a single word had come from the Grand Moff. Yes, only the man in the center mattered at all here. The lesser moffs could discuss and talk till the sun exploded and it would change nothing, because Mazim had quite clearly already made up his mind. It was only a matter of awaiting the answer that would determine how the day panned out.

The first few words out of the Grand Moff were hardly unexpected. Vrael had already well known that none here cared about the Kaggath, if they had he wouldn't even be here. All the same though, it was insult to the Sith and to the Empire's very heritage. A cold anger was burning in the depths of his stomach. Vrael kept it buried there however, keeping his stony façade up with his decades of experience at doing so. It didn't matter what this fool said or thought, not so long as he got what he came for. Everything else could be rectified at a later date once the more immediate priorities were settled. And he could sense a "but" coming.

Sure enough, the man's next words were just what he'd come to hear. The Imperial Republica would be submitting to the Old Republic, the Sith would finally be unified. There was a slight uproar of course, from the very same delinquents who had been squabbling only a few seconds earlier. But they ceased to be an issue before Vrael's very eyes, each one ruthless eliminated with a calculated efficiency. Excellent, truly excellent, if not for the man's earlier remarks then Vrael might've actually respected Mazim. He respected his choices at least.

Finally showing some emotion with the faintest of smiles, Vrael activated his commlink with a quick tap, broadcasting one quick sentence to those that awaited him outside. "Stand down, its been done." With the war on Coruscant fully averted, Vrael returned his focus to his new Grand Moff, meeting his gaze evenly. "Yes I think we shall," he said, already mentally summoning the very long list of details they would need to go through. There was more work to be done, there always was, but once again the force had led him truly. He would continue to follow it, until the very end.

It never even occurred to him that he had just fulfilled his purpose.
/endthread

@Nefieslab @Phoenix