The True Calling

[Darth Vrael]

When the feed starts, there is no empty chair, no imposing room or throne. Instead, there is only a ships bridge, the kind one might see on a command vessel. And centered in the view, standing proudly in plain sight, was a man encased in black armor. His apparel was dirtied and dusty, as if he had just come from a fight. In one hand was a black hair covered lump that seemed to drip red. Slowly, the armored man reached up to remove his helm, revealing an aged stern face with graying hair.

Openly grimacing into the feed, Vrael tossed away the helmet and lifted the lump, twisting it about until its face was clearly visible. Lyanna Drast's dead eyes stared out blankly to the viewers, to the galaxy. He held it closer for a moment, allowing the face to be fully recognized by all that watched, even brushing some of the hair out of the way. Then he simply he dropped it out of view and dusted his hands together. The dull thud of the impact echoed grimly, one of the few sounds to be made so far. When he finally looked up, he was scowling.

"I won," he said, two little words that would reverberate across the galaxy, spoken calmly and simply. His gaze was fixed on the feed, as if trying to stare into the soul of all who watched. as he continued to speak."Many of you already know as such. For those of you who have doubted however, I have just shown you the undeniable truth. I, Emperor Vrael, have killed the false Empress Lyanna Drast in a Kaggath."

"As the whole galaxy knows, this challenge was initiated by the false Empress, and I accepted. Now, as victor, by rule of the strong, I have rightful possession of all her holdings." He extended a hand, pointing a finger into the view of the feed, at those watching. "Imperial Republica, you are now the Old Empire, a jurisdiction of traitors under the domain of the true Sith. That is a concrete fact, though I'm sure that some out there will dispute that." Vrael remained silent again after that last sentence, almost looking like he was struggling with something as cast his gaze to the side. When he looked up though, there was no sign of internal debate. Only pure conviction.

"However!" He thundered, the next words coming out like cannon shots. "Another foe has revealed itself, an issue more pressing than our war even! JEDI! Scum in alliance with the rebels and Mandalorians. As Darth Vrael, Emperor and Dark Lord, this is not something I can tolerate. I will NOT tolerate it. I lead the Old Empire, the masters of the old way, the way that originally put down the Jedi. I have also just proved myself as the strongest leader of our Empires, and most fit to once again put down these remnants!"

Vrael closed the distance to the feed so that his form almost swallowed up the entire image. "This is a threat that needs our complete and utter attention. Sith of the Imperial Republica, some of you may seek to dispute the Kaggath results and keep fighting. Well FORGET IT! Forget the war, forget our disputes, push it all to the side for now. Join me, fight under my leadership, and together we will stomp out the Jedi for all eternity. There will be no punishments or repercussions even, we will fight purely as one unified force. Our battles can come later after we attain victory against our true enemy, just as the Andraste line once did. You say that you're the true Sith, well its time to prove it by following the wishes of the bloodline you worship so much."

Vrael backed off again then, seeming to mellow out though his gaze remained fierce as ever. When he continued with his words, they were softer, almost gentle. "My forces will soon be moving into Imperial Republica space to take control, to bring your assets under my wing. Resist, and we will be forced to continue our pointless battle while the enemy grows stronger. Choose correctly."

​

Spoiler: OOC

This is not an official merger of the two factions or anything like that as of yet. IC actions will still need to be undertaken to go about accomplishing the goals stated in this address. This is simply an IC statement by the Emperor as to the direction the faction is going to be taking in response to recent events.

 

[Sabrina K]

Sabrina smiled as her side won the kaggath, the false empress was dead. Their ambition for now at the wayside, and the empire ruled supreme. She clapped as he won, it was the greatest moment of her life, it her happy. At that moment she could kiss a hutt, and like it. She was practically jumping for joy, and tears of joy beginning to run down her face. No doubt others where more stoic in the moment, but she did not want that woman to win, as it would stifled her own ambition. The Emperor then looked into the camera and spoke, he spoke sense. He said the imperia rublica should set aside its squabbles, and become one with the Empire again, as that was what his victory meant. They where all members empire now, and this made empire bigger and stronger.

He then said a new foe has arisen, the Jedi are back. The infantile Jedi are back, they had been gathering there strength, while we have been fighting one another. They had been smart, but the Emperor had found about them, so they where not smart enough. She listened intently to his plan, it sound plan. He first appealed to sith in the Imperial replica, to push away the differences with them, and unite to fight there common enemy. He told them to recognise the result of the Kaggath, though he had lost she would not have done, as there way was heresy.

He then said what he wanted to do next, he was going to take his fleet into core worlds, and take back control. She wanted to volunteer to help, as to help bring this to an end. They where currently leaderless, and should fall into line, though even headless birds still run around afterwards. He had sound plan, and one that called for action, she would follow him if asked. Hopefully the sith inside the imperial republica, would do the same. As otherwise these Jedi Scum would gain more strength, as they weaken themselves on each other.

 

[Darth Inheris]

Finally.

News about the Empress' death had spread like wildfire, Saorise had known long before the Vrael's now grim announcement. Still, the stark reality was now before her. She'd spoken to that woman not so long ago now, by this very room. Now her head was on display before the galaxy.

A rather grisly reality faced her now. To easy it might be for her own head to end up in the same place if she wasn't careful. Time called now for her to operate a little more shrewdly than before. Though some of her enemies were out of the way, only more seemed to reveal themselves now, closing in about her and the Republica.

What to do?

She might not have pictured it in the past, but now she found herself hewing close to the Vrael's own words. The Jedi had returned. The thing that had spawned them and the thing that would kill them, if they weren't careful. And their seeming alliance with the Mandalorians was yet one more concern to add to the list. There strife was dire, important, galaxy shaking, and yet it would never be resolved if there were no Sith left to fight it. An outcome neither part of this civil war would accept, she was sure.

But to agree to his terms? It went against everything the Republica had stood for, everything the very war had been started over.

Drinking in the cool air as the storm rolled in around her house manor, Saorise could more than recognise she had an important choice to make in the coming days. One that would determine her fate in more ways than one.

 

[Tarsus Drast]

Tarsus sat at his desk, mechanical fingers tapping a beat against the table surface as he watched the HoloNet feed. He already knew about the Emperor’s victory, like half the Sith Order he’d been watching it live, and he breathed a sigh of relief. It meant that his contingency plans where not necessary which relieved him of a fair amount of stress. It also meant he didn’t need to go crawling back to the Core which was also a bonus. Still he had to wonder what came next?

The news about the Jedi, well it was on everyone’s lips at the moment and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Has Lyanna won the Kaggath then she might have won over most of the Old Empire but the watered down Sith of the Core didn’t respect ancient tradition, Tarsus should know he had been one of them after all. It was far likely that the majority would dismiss this victory especially if Darth Vrael’s rule meant they might lose what status they had. The threat of the Jedi however? That could bind an Empire and unify the Sith against a common foe. The Drast couldn’t help but smile at the irony of it all. The greatest threat to the Empire in Five Centuries and the only real threat to the Sith themselves had appeared and in doing so might be the greatest boon that the pro-unification Sith could have hoped for.

There was one downside to all of this. The girl Empress’ stupidity had probably just ended any hope for saving their family’s prestige. Tarsus slammed his fist onto the table in annoyance, the cybernetic limb leaving a small dent on the metallic surface. Sighing he shook his head; he would have to try and find a way to salvage that loss. The kid Elix might have been an ineffectual weakling but at least he hadn’t went off and got himself actively killed. Perhaps stupidity ran in their family? It would explain some of Tarsus’ own past actions.

Shaking his head he stood up and lifted his lightsaber, securing it to his belt, before striding out of the room. Well there was work to do. One way or another the Empire would be whole again.

 

[Pierre Lindegaard]

Uggh. Pierre Lindegaard had already had his little clash with the Jedi on Corellia. And after that he found out that the Empress Lyanna got killed by the Dark Lord? Replays surfaced on the holonet, she was stabbed near the heart and died. Pierre had the unfortunate pleasure of watching this address by Darth Vrael. Pierre supported Lyanna, she was had a lot of momentum towards bettering the Empire and took steps to safeguarding her realm. And she challenged the Dark Lord to a barbaric duel and only gave credence to the so-called 'Rule of the Strong'. She played a game she wasn't fit to play and she paid the price, with her life.

With the Jedi emerging from hibernation and the Mandalorians in league with them, Pierre would wonder what to do next after watching the address. What would happen to Imperial Republica now? Will the next in-line of the line of succession come to power? Will he or she be as ineffectual as Elix? Will the next be as foolhardy as Lyanna? There is a very good chance. And they can't afford to take chances right now.

But the people of the galaxy know what to expect from Vrael. Maybe Rule of the Strong does have some merit to it after all. Being a Drast doesn't automatically make someone fit to be a Emperor. Vrael is a Drast but he defeated his challenger to earn his keep.

The Sith do need to unite and face their common enemy and defeat them once and for all. There is the uncertainty still though. Imperial Republica isn't big on the traditions that Old Empire has and it's doubtful that Republica would just submit. But they probably should at this point, or else Republica will risk running itself into the ground.

The path is clear (or should be). Although Pierre looks down on the Old Empire, the Republica system is broke and now they are leaderless. Time to embrace something that works perhaps?