NSD Dark Star
Dark Brotherhood Mobile Command
Esstran Sector

Dark brown eyes scanned through line after line of tedious data. Encrypted information streamed from subordinate commands across the galaxy and detailed troop movements, supply operations, and the financial costs of waging war. Despite the remarkable capabilities of the Dark Brotherhood database and its artificial intelligence, a sentient being was still required to analyze the data.

Kalen Aquillarum, former pirate and rogue, let out a long sigh and ran his hand over the short bristled hair on his head. The business of running the war was his responsibility as Master at Arms, but it was tiresome and even bordered on mind-numbing. Click a data set here, approve a transfer there, deny a battlefield promotion somewhere else, and on and on. It was a job that required a constant attention to detail, but Kalen had begun to wonder if it was fitting of a Dark Jedi Master.

Dbb0t, the Dark Brotherhood’s artificial intelligence, transitioned Kalen’s display to incoming troop requirements for the next phase of the Grand Master’s assault on the Sith Worlds region of space. The Clans and Houses had already received their orders and were marshaling their forces into assembly areas near Ziost and Dromund Kaas.

Kalen, annoyed by Dbbot’s insistence of displaying the data it thought was important, reached to shut the display off, but stopped at the sight of the deployed troop numbers. The Clans and Houses had pledged full support to the Dark Crusade, but their numbers appeared to be much lower than anticipated.

“Dbb0t, pull up the Clan and House armed forces order of battle and provide a spatial overlay on the galaxy map.”

Kalen’s display transitioned instantly to a holographic image of the galaxy. The Dark Brotherhood fleet and the fleets of the Clans and Houses hung suspended above the imagery. The Dark Council’s fleet remained positioned according to the war plan and was split between Antei and a defensive pattern protecting the recently conquered One Sith worlds, but the Clans and Houses were out of position.

Kalen leaned back in his chair, his eyes dancing over the wide spread positions of the Dark Brotherhood’s fleet.

“Dbb0t, priority message to the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Master. It appears the Dark Brotherhood has lost its appetite for the war.”

ISD II Eye of the Abyss
Clan Arcona
Approaching Ziost

Kira huddled below her master’s command chair and whined softly. The white Cythraul was uniquely attuned to the moods of Marick Arconae and could sense his growing anger. Their link provided extremely useful in combat, but it also caused the animal incredible amounts of distress when her master brooded.

Marick’s hand stroked Kira’s head in an attempt to calm her nerves, but he knew it was a wasted effort. The Dark Side billowed from his core and tainted his mood and the mood of those around him. Seven months of madness had passed in the form of the Grand Master’s Dark Crusade and Marick had reached his culminating point.

The Arconae had argued days prior to simply return to Selen and abandon the war. Arcona’s blood and efforts had resulted in the capture of worthless planets made of sand and ice. Matters were made worse when the Headmaster’s agents had arrived following Arcona’s victories and claimed the remaining Sith artifacts as their own. Marick had nearly lost his mind with anger when the so called “Shard of Venom” was taken from Arcona’s victory on Kalsunor.

“To the Sarlacc with the whole Council.”

The words still rang in Marick’s mind and expressed the sentiment of the entire Arcona Summit, but they knew they had to participate in the assault on Ziost. Their prestige as the First Clan had been tarnished by losses during the war and Ziost offered a form of redemption. Marick and his clan would fight this one last battle to ensure the rest of the Dark Brotherhood remembered who the First Clan was, but then he and all of his forces would return to Selen.

Tapani Sector
Mecetti Province
House Mecetti

Twelve Victory Class II Star Destroyers hung in low orbit over the throne world of Obulette. The systems dim red star cast their silhouettes against perpetual twilight of the night sky. Orbital shipyards, unseen from the planet’s surface, produced picket ships, corvettes, and snub fighters for those willing to pay for them. House Mecetti had prospered over the years from war profiteering and they were content to see their fortunes grow larger.

The High Lord of House Mecetti looked over the creatures who sat across from him. Despite their armor, disfigurements, and painstaking efforts to remain anonymous, the High Lord knew who they were and what they wanted. House Mecetti’s intelligence capabilities were among the galaxies most capable and his guests were known quantities.

“Why should we back you in this war? By all accounts you are losing and your place in the future of the galaxy is at risk. If House Mecetti is to choose a partner, we like to choose the winner.”

The two Dark Lords of the One Sith sat quietly and showed no indication of responding to the question. Their internal communication systems flashed message traffic to one another and offered several options on how to respond to the Lord of Mecetti.

Kill him.

Exploit him.

Recruit him and manipulate his Order.

Esoteric’s lips formed a smile behind his view-plate as the One Sith Dark Council communicated with him and Lord Maeda. Lord Mecetti was unaware that his future was being decided in a stream of text coming from individuals across the galaxy. Esoteric already knew the answer to what they would do, but the man’s ignorance of his fate being decided was amusing none the less.

“Lord Mecetti, the war and its efforts are occurring exactly to plan. The Dark Brotherhood is scattered across the galaxy, their Clans and Houses defend their own systems and their lines of operation are spread thin through Sith space. The have overextended and they are trapped. Even now they waiver, despite our limited resistance.”

Esoteric could sense Lord Mecetti understood the One Sith’s plan, but that he was not yet ready to commit his support. A show of strength was required. Esoteric tapped the forearm plate on his armor and a holographic image appeared. A fleet hung suspended.

“And Lord Mecetti, we have yet to show our hand.”

VSD Monitor
Wild Space

The Tie Advanced turned on its Y axis before following its prey into a barrel roll. The pilots lovingly referred to it as the death roll due to the probability of the engagement ending once it occurred. Crusader 1-4 dropped the power to his shields and lasers and felt his body sucked back into his chair as the ship red lined beyond its programmed speeds. He had less than fifteen seconds to destroy his opponent or his lasers would deplete and become completely useless.

Fortunately, Crusader 2-4 was not on his game today and the engagement was over well before the fifteen second deadline.

“Crusader 1-4, this is Crusader 2-4.”

“Go ahead 2-4.”

“I don’t mind training, but we have to get back into the fight. Are the rumors true?”

“2-4, need to know.”

“1-4, this is 2-4, roger.”

Crusader 1-4 looked out the viewport on his fighter and the galaxy stood before him. Over ten years had passed since they had fled to Wild Space. Ten years. He'd want to know too.

“2-4, this is 1-4. We are back in the fight.”