Introduction
A
LONG TIME AGO, IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY….
~PROLOGUE~
Lord
Siege glanced out of a viewport from inside of his own personal
starship, the name-fitting Dread.
Siege picked the name himself, so everyone who was aware that the
ship was in the area would know of who occupied it, and would know
not to test him.
From
inside, Lord Siege glanced at the approaching planet and its
extensive defense network of a dozen heavily-armed battle ships. He
let out a slight smile as he approached the small but elaborate Zarra – a planet that the Skenvi Empire had modeled after
the great city world of Coruscant in a bold mocking declaration to the New Republic.
The
Skenvi people were once weak...once easily manipulated and
controlled...nothing more than mere scavenging bandits. But that
fateful day 94 years earlier, when the Galactic Empire crumbled and
the Skenvi people were freed from their grasp, that was the day that
the Skenvi Empire was first formed, to build up its strength and not
allow its people to be slaves to anyone else, ever again. They used
their old talents and scavenged what supplies and equipment they
could from the abandoned Empire bases and ghost ships that littered
the galaxy, and they soon had quite the impressive start of an army.
But
that wasn't enough for the Skenvi. Like all empires, they longed for
more and had an unsatisfiable thirst for continual growth of power. It
started with mere threats, just enough to get some of the nearby
smaller planets to join with them, but once they felt they were large
enough and their armies were vast enough, they began taking systems
by force.
The
New Republic, of course, would hear none of it. Fearful that a new
Galactic Empire was on the rise, they issued many warnings to the
Skenvi to cease their expansive activities, each one more dire than
the one before. The Skenvi, no longer willing to bow down to anyone
since their freedom from the Galactic Empire, ignored the Republic's
warnings and instead launched a preemptive strike against them that
led to the fresh start of a brand-new war.
Siege
thought to himself about how despite the Republic's size, which
almost more than doubled that of the Skenvi Empire, the Skenvi have
been able to not only hold their own in battle, but have stood their
ground so well, that no one could say for certain which side was
winning the war and which was loosing.
He
had actually been overseeing a very vital battle on Maridun when he
had received word straight from the Skenvi Emperor to return to Zarra immediately. Siege wondered during the entire journey to
the Skenvi homeworld about what his Emperor could possibly want, but
knew it had to be a matter of utmost secrecy for him not to give any
details over the COM.
Thinking
about it still, Siege let out a sigh as his personal ship entered the
atmosphere of the always-night city planet and hoped his new pilot
knew where to dock.
He
turned away from the window, never liking to watch the flight through
the city. He always loved watching the descent onto his home planet,
but once there, he got frustrated easily with the careless navigating
of most of the residents of the planet, and he did not wish to be in
a sour mood when he met with the Emperor. Instead, Siege decided to make his way down the bare metal corridor and into the
cockpit.
"Lord
Siege!" the pilot exclaimed anxiously, not used to his commander's presence in the cockpit. "Is something
wrong?"
Siege
loved unexpectedly entering the cockpit and surprising his previous
pilot. He loved sensing the fear and nervousness that flowed off of
him like a waterfall whenever he was in the presence of Siege. Such
respect and power was intoxicating. Siege was glad to see his new
pilot would not be so different.
"Nothing
at all, granted you get me there in one piece," Siege spat as
another smaller ship quickly crossed in front of The
Dread
and
nearly caused a mid-air collision.
"I'll...I'll try...sir," the nervous pilot stuttered as he tensed in Lord Siege's presence.
"I'll...I'll try...sir," the nervous pilot stuttered as he tensed in Lord Siege's presence.
Once
Siege located the exterior landing platform in the distance that was
to be their destination, he left the cockpit and made his way to the
loading bay where he would exit. Most men would be nervous when
meeting the Emperor, even his closest and most trusted men, but not
Siege. As far as the Lord was concerned, if he so chose, he could kill the
Emperor with little trouble and take his place. However, running an
entire empire was not Siege's goal, nor did it interest him much.
By
the time The
Dread
made a soft landing on the cold black metal of the landing platform,
which was lit only by a small ring of dim lights, an armed
red-cloaked garrison of the Emperor's own personal guards stood at
attention, waiting patiently.
With
a hiss of thick steam, the bay doors of The
Dread
slowly opened and a thick metal plank lowered. Lord Siege walked
quickly off of his ship, with his black cloak flapping in the
high-altitude winds behind him. The only guard that was not wearing a
helmet – a tall bald man, stepped forward and bowed.
"Lord
Siege," he greeted as he straightened himself up. "The
Emperor has been awaiting your arrival."
"I
know," Siege scoffed. What did this idiot think? That he was not
aware of his own meeting? The Emperor had contacted him personally!
The only thing Siege hated more than being told things he already knew,
was being treated like a simple commoner.
Without
even waiting for this guard to show him the way, Siege moved around
him and marched inside of the Imperial Palace on his own, the
garrison of red-glad guards automatically falling into line behind
him.
Deep
inside the extensive dark palace, the white-haired Emperor Jiles stood
before a green hologram of a planet where a handful of battles were
currently being fought. Despite his age, he was quite feared
among his people for his ruthlessness. Rumored to be over a hundred
years old, he was supposedly the last remaining Skenvi that had
actually lived during the rule of the Galactic Empire and personally suffered at
their hands. Despite being over a hundred years old, many would
however venture to say he looked quite young for his age, and it
would be true, as he didn't look a day over fifty.
***
In
the room with him were his most-trusted generals and advisers, all of
whom turned at the sound of the door behind them hissing opened. Two
red guards entered the room, making way for Lord Siege, who removed
his traveling cloak out of respect at being in the Emperor's presence
and handed it to the nearest guard. He now stood before his leader in
his own military outfit that consisted of black clothing with
blood-red shoulder pads and a row of polished medals, black gloves,
and slicked back neatly-kept hair.
Siege
dropped to the floor on one knee and bowed his head, "My Lord."
Emperor Jiles nodded his head and Siege returned to his full height.
"Has The Battle begun? Have our troops been deployed?"
Siege asked, referring to the long-awaiting plan to launch an attack
against Coruscant itself.
"Yes,
to both of your questions," Emperor Jiles answered. "But
not in the way that you think. That battle is still yet to come. I
realize this meeting has given you the impression that we've started
that attack, Lord Siege, but I did not call you here with that in
mind. I have a mission that I can only entrust into your care. I also
trust you to see many perspectives, in a situation as crucial as
this."
Lord
Siege tilted his head, confused. "Sir?"
"War
can be won through many means," The Emperor stated, taking a
step toward Siege, his long golden robe flowing behind him.
"Such
as diplomacy?" Lord Siege nearly spat at the word."So you've heard the rumors," Emperor Jiles smiled.
Lord Siege felt sick to his stomach at the confirmation of what he had assumed until now were lies. He had heard talk – rumors, back on Maridun during his time in battle there, that the Emperor was planning to pursue a more peaceful strategy. Lord Siege was quick to do away with such 'liars' – nobody talked weak of the Emperor when Siege was around.
"I assume you've heard of the planet Coreign," Emperor Jiles continued.
"Naturally," Siege mumbled, still deeply upset at this unfortunate turn of events. "It is a planet ruled by a well-liked Monarch. They have always praised peace and democracy, but strength is obviously not in their vocabulary." Siege scoffed once more. "Why do you ask? Are they planning on aiding the New Republic in their war efforts?"
"They may very well end up doing so," The Emperor stated, unimpressed with Siege's current attitude toward him. "Our spies have informed me that the Republic will be entering negotiations with them in a treaty of annexation."
"...and you're thinking of beating them to it..." Lord Siege spoke almost too quietly to be heard, finally piecing the puzzle together for himself.
The Emperor chuckled, showing that out of all the things that have gone in his old age, hearing was certainly not one of them. "I have already sent a small delegation to the King."
"And what does this have to do with me?" Siege asked, feeling his often in-check patience slipping.
"I would like for you to go and press the matter for us," explained the Emperor as if it was the most obvious answer ever given.
"I'm assuming their Ore is what has spurred all of this new-found interest toward this particular planet," Lord Siege stated.
For the first time during their current meeting, Emperor Jiles made a smug-filled sneer so cold and dark that even Siege himself felt shivers travel through his body. "My faith in you is not misplaced after all.”
Lord Siege didn't need to be told of all they could gain from this. The Coreign Ore would be an unparalleled asset; It is regenerative, and unique throughout all of the known universe. Even a small amount could lower vehicle and ship repair costs drastically for them. It could potentially push them past the Republic's current state in the war and would put the Skenvi Empire very close to winning it.
"The Republic also believes that the Coreign Ore could tip the War in their favor," Emperor Jiles went on. "And as innocent as they like to think they are, they no doubt will send Jedi representatives in order to charm the King and Queen into signing the treaty with them." Siege's eyes burned with hatred at the mention of Jedi, but allowed his leader to go on. "I do not have the luxury of sending such charming people into their embrace. But I certainly do have the capacity of sending a warrior."
"When do I leave?" Siege asked coldly, his entire demeanor having changed since the mention of Jedi.
"Immediately. It would be best if you had time to familiarize yourself with Coreign before the Republic's ambassadors arrive. In the meantime, I'll see to it that the Republic's military is kept occupied." Emperor Jiles smiled coldly once more, "I don't want anything to stop us from achieving this victory."
"Very well, Your Majesty," Lord Siege bowed his head. "I will take my leave."
The Emperor nodded and, along with his generals and advisers, turned back to the Battle Hologram as if Lord Siege was already no longer in the room.
Siege straightened, turned, and marched out of the room, followed by the two guards that entered with him. He now had a new mission, and it was one that he did not plan to fail, no matter what tricks the Jedi scum pulled from their sleeves.
