Mid 35 ABY

Raider II-class Corvette Excidium

The Caperion System

"That was..." Braecen trailed off, his mind obviously distracted in the aftermath of their failed attempt at piracy against the Meraxis Empire.

"Awful?" completed Alara. She had become accustomed to succeeding under the Elder's tutelage, but his trajectory seemed to be on the downward swing as of late. Perhaps, she mused, my time as His Apprentice has come to an end. Alara Deathbane, Aedile of House Excidium, had begun to make her place as a leader and soldier for the war Excidium continued to wage: the protection and advancement of Scholae Palatinae. She had already accumulated several wins despite the Elder's continual stalling.

"That is a good word for it," Braecen conceded. "Do we know if Tacitus Athanasius was successful in the most recent mission you assigned them?"

It was Alara's turn to frown in contemplation. She had assigned the Battle Team Leader of Tacitus Athanasius, Shadow Nighthunter, the task of infiltrating a reconnaissance station to gather imperative data for their next target: House Imperium. Alara tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind one of her elongated ears and stared at the screen of the datapad before her. She desperately wished to know how the mission was proceeding.

---

Marauder Class Corvette Dagger

Reconnaissance Station Alpha-Seven of the Caperion System

The small task force of House Excidium awaited their next move. Members were growing desperate and anxious. Rumors spread across the House that resources were drastically depleting. Whatever it was they needed to survive, they were desperate enough to turn against their own comrades -- the members of House Imperium -- to obtain it.

Shadow Nighthunter looked over the datapad on the communication centre of the bridge with a perplexed, unreadable expression on her face. The leader of Battleteam Tacitus Athanasius lifted her head and finally broke the silence that shivered up each member’s spine:

“Excidium’s new Battle Team managed to obtain information about routes of patrols and freighters that transport supplies for House Imperium. The supplies will be delivered here, and because of this, we are now able to set a trap to intercept and steal them. This ship has been equipped with identification signals modified to match signals of various New Republic ships across the Galaxy. The others are also staying within range of us for further security. We should have no fear or worry of getting caught.”

The Battlelord bit her lip before continuing onto her next command, “No one shall breathe a word of this to anyone. We are sworn to secrecy under the oath of Tacitus Athanasius and to our Executor. Understood?”

The crowd of assassins nodded with nervous frowns on their faces as they shifted in position as if to prepare for what would be said next.

“Katyusha, you have been chosen to go through with this mission. Follow me.” the half-Sephi turned her back to her people and headed out of the Bridge towards her temporary office onboard, Katyusha not far behind.

---

Aboard Reconnaissance Station Alpha-Seven

The small and slender form of Katyusha Neige dropped from the ceiling and landed on the floor without a sound. She turned her unnaturally large, wide eyes of orange in one direction then another to observe her surroundings. She shook her thick, soft blue-pink hair until it fell equally over both shoulders. A quick smirk of satisfaction. The Shadow Knight had infiltrated the Scholae Palatinae military installation with ease. The tutelage of Battlelord Nighthunter was worth all of the sacrifices she had made in her personal life. She was now a weapon of House Excidium and the hand that guided her was Tacitus Athanasius - home of Excidium's Assassins.

She wrapped the Force around her and caused the light to bend to her will; which showed nothing of her presence to the naked eye. Deftly, she moved throughout the station with care to not create any noises or bump into the patrolling guardsmen. Kat frowned at several instances where she had been careless, expecting the patrols to catch her. Either she was hyper aware of her own failings - a trait instilled by her Battle Team Leader - or the security simply was lacking the professionalism and diligence expected of the Loyalists on duty.

As Katyusha reached her target, she slowed her pace. It was critical now to move with absolute stealth. She arched her weight onto the balls of her feet and took each step with exacting precision. Silently, without issue, she crossed the last twenty meters from the doorway to the terminal. She withdrew a small device that had been rigged together by the team's newest member, and only Slicer, Angel Snow. Carefully, she inserted the small device into the first visible port and watched as the light now flashed red.

The Knight breathed easier. Angel had warned that the device would either work or alarms would immediately start howling throughout the facility alerting the station's occupants of an attempted hack on their communications system. Now, Kat only had to wait for the device to stop flashing red and turn a constant, steady green on the indicator. As the shipping manifest of House Imperium were considered low value intelligence, it should be a quick hack.

Scuffing of boots outside the door put Katyusha on alert. She moved carefully around the central terminal until her vision of the entrance was obscured. Her eyes half closed, she reached out in the Force to sense the man she could not see. His aura seemed content by the monotony of his daily tasks. She let out an audible sigh of relief.

The man froze. "Hello…? Is someone there?"

The small hairs on Katyusha Neige's arms rose. She was not sure how the man had heard her, but she knew he had. She lowered her arm and a blade silently extended from a hidden bracer on her forearm. Cloaked in the Force, she rounded the corner and executed the man without discrimination. The blade entered cleanly before it extinguished the light from his eyes. Despite her slender appearance, Katyusha caught the man in his descent and guided him softly to the floor. Unhappily, she grabbed him by the ankles and began to drag him out of sight.

When she returned to the station, the indicator was a brilliant green. Success! I have to get this information to the Executor, she thought.

As quietly as she entered Station Alpha-Seven, she departed. It would be several hours until someone discovered the body of Sergeant Lime.

---

Raider II-class Corvette Excidium

The Caperion System

Surprisingly, the mission turned out to be extremely easy, much easier than anyone anticipated. Subsequent missions had been successful for House Excidium. Hunter Angel Snow had been able to utilize the technology acquired by Levi Zetta to create a spike to access the communication systems. Katyusha Neige had infiltrated the base and stole critical information that had been decrypted and analyzed by Lucyeth before it was presented to Shadow Nighthunter. Shadow had then utilized the gathered intelligence to work with Jorm Na'trej to create a mission profile that would put the Excidium Sub-Flotilla under his command to raid the House Imperium supply chain when it was most vulnerable. Several individuals - Malodin, Xantros, Koryn, Antonai - had been vital in assisting the raiding teams as they used non-lethal means to dispatch Loyalists that resisted.

Returning to her shared suite, Alara paused for a moment in the doorway to let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room. A large sigh escaped her lips as she heard the slight snoring coming from Jorm's side of bed, a regular occurrence when the man had spent the night "socializing" in the rec room below decks. No longer caring if she disturbed the goof, she made her way haphazardly to the other side of the bed and flicked on her side table light.

Now illuminated, Alara discovered her other love interest - Artemis. A young, tusked cat that she treasured more than anything else in the world, who also happened to be stretched out motionless across her side of the bed. Though faking annoyance at the creature, a sweet smile crept across her face as she took in the display but fell immediately into a frown at the folded note that lay undisturbed beside the cat. Curiosity got the best of the woman, forcing her to snatch the note and begin reading.

Foolish woman,

Know these three things; First, it is only my respect for the Executor that stays my hand from crushing your throat. An attack on us is an attack on the Empress herself. Second, I should thank your pathetic staff for ending the life of such incompetent Sergeant; yet their failure to rid the Empire of all the other incompetents I gathered there for slaughter speaks volumes. It is no wonder to me why Excidium continues to fumble. Third, consider the supplies to be a gift this time. However, know I will demand blood for blood. Next time, I will do more than simply sedate your beast.

Signed, -The New Imperator

Alara’s gasp spooked Jorm from his slumber. Frantically she shook Artemis for signs of life, sighing in relief when the creature began to purr and sluggishly rolled onto its back to present its stomach. Jorm, obviously concerned by the stronger paleness that covered Alara’s face, was quick to run to the Aedile’s side. While she sunk onto the bed, Jorm was snatch the letter from her hand.

Alara was absolutely stunned.

Someone must have betrayed us to them. It can’t be… How did they get this one past us?

Jorm looked over his loved one’s shoulder to read the letter. With a large inhale, the Kiffar responded to her worry with solemnity. “No matter what happens now, that letter and the fact that House Imperium was aware of our actions will stir up strong concern among the House.” He turned to face his Executor and kneeled before her seated position on the bedside. “Alara, we need to move fast. We need to solve this problem before it ruins us all.”

“Then there is just one mission left to complete.” Alara looked to the Battle Team Leader with a blank expression, and silently stood up to leave the room.

---

Later that evening in the Consul’s Private Office

"And that, Empress Eli, is how Braecen exposed himself as a traitor to Scholae Palatinae. I could not believe so many loyal members of House Excidium could be compelled to work against the Clan without this man’s involvement. We should move against him immediately."

"And?" the newly minted Consul and Empress, Elincia Rei, asked.

Alara fidgeted for a moment. She noticed the absent minded reaction and steeled her body. "And," she hesitated, "we should kill him for his treachery. What he did was nothing short of treason!"

Elincia frowned at that. This caused the heartbeat rising in Alara’s chest to rise even higher. Perhaps her case was not strong enough to convince the Empress? She bit her tongue in efforts to say nothing more. She was already unceremoniously betraying her Executor. Creating multiple enemies on multiple fronts seemed unwise.

"Who then would lead Excidium? Who then would be our faithful Executor to safeguard the Empire where the Empire could not act on its own volition?" Elincia had a mischievous glint in her eye. She knew Alara desperately wanted the position for herself.

Alara Deathbane threw caution to the wind, "I would accept that honor with pride, Empress. I would do what needs to be done in the face of any odds - no matter how insurmountable they may appear. I will protect this Empire... even from itself, if the need arises."

Elincia smiled. Not a smirk. Not a micro-expression of amusement. A full-fledged smile of pride. Or acceptance? Alara was not sure which emotion she was reading.

The Consul turned away from Alara. "You have done well with her, Lord Kaeth." A chill ran down the top of Alara's spine to the base of her back as the Sith Adept emerged from hiding in the Consul's chambers. He wore a solemn expression of pride and pain. He had always known this day would come, but it did not lessen the significance of the blow.

"She is... rather, was... my best student," Braecen stated without emotion. "I doubt that you could find a better Executor in the entire Clan." He winked. He winked! Alara was overcome with the audacity and disregard of the Elder. "She should be elevated immediately. And I strongly recommend Battlelord Rasilvenaira as her second."

"Not Shadow?" Elincia asked academically.

"Shadow has chosen a different path. This is not a burden she wants when her true goal is so close at hand." Braecen argued with the innate understanding of what made each member of Excidium unique.

"Very well," Elincia turned away from the Elder and settled both eyes on the half-Sephi. "Alara Deathbane, kneel!" the words whipped Alara into submission and she kneeled before the Consul of Scholae Palatinae. "Do you pledge fealty to the Empire above all others?"

"Yes, My Lady."

"Do you pledge to do whatever you must to protect this Empire from elements within and without its borders?"

"Yes, My Lady."

"Will you protect the Empire from itself? Even if it means defying your Empress."

"Yes, My Lady."

"Would you die for this Empire?"

Alara turned her sharp amber eyes upward in proud defiance. "I would gladly give my life."

Elincia turned to Braecen and nodded in satisfaction. He had performed his function well. He had never been meant to be the Executor, he was simply an overpaid tutor to the true heir: Alara Deathbane, Quaestor of House Excidium. The day had finally arrived to formalize that the contract had been finalized.

"Arise, Alara, Executor of the Scholae Palatinae Empire."

Congratulations to Xantros for receiving first place in Operation Sleeping Dragon: Starving Gods! We utilized his storyline along with other implementations from other entries to create this fiction piece. Stay tuned for our next mission in Operation Sleeping Dragon entitled The Devil’s Gift! The competition begins September 15th.

Also, please read the latest DJB fiction if you haven’t already! This is one of the puzzle pieces that mark the big picture ahead with GJW XII.