Rise of the Sith Dominion

[Writer]

((lol yeah, sorry I kinda don't leave space. Will try harder ))

 

Riebe chuckled. "He doesn't waste time, I guess." With a shrug, she gestured upward. "To Coruscant."

 

On the way to the ship, she dropped back to speak with the newest Sith Hunters.

 

"Kin, Raek, Katherine, Jahara," she said, addressing them in the order they joined. "We are about to go to Coruscant. I'm going to be very blunt here. We are going to intimidate the Senate. As you all were once Jedi, I have to know how you feel about this before we arrive."

 

((There! Now you've got something to reply to Joe ))

[Black Knight of Keno]

((Yup. Notice also that I mentioned in my last post that the Sith Hunters were landing but that's because of the time jump I made... I think the Sith Hunters should meet the Sith on the way to the Senate Chamber, eh?))

 

Tepe looked at his guards and nodded as they started the walk towards their reserved podium. They followed a droid down the red-carpeted hallway and past all the senators, most of them staying to look at them before scurrying off. The jedi that were accompanying Luke, even if Luke was not there at the time, looked at the Sith quite menacingly like they would just want to end this right there. Tepe gave a smirk towards the jedi, which drove the jedi even more towards the edge. It would be quite fun for a change to see his guards in action, especially towards the jedi. However, it semed that the jedi stood back as the Sith passed and would wait for their turn at the Sith, hoping their turn would be soon

[Joetheeskimo]

((Danke.))

 

Kin's eyes widened, and then his expression became instantly normal. "How do we intend to go about doing that?" Kin asked casually.

[Flamehart]

Strider chuckled, a glint in his eye showing he was taking all too much enjoyment at the thought of intimidating the Senate.

 

"Easy. We're all Sith Hunters. All we have to do is announce our arrival and wish our voice to be heard. Word of the rumor that we killed the Council on Coruscant has already spread like wildfire. Just the mention of our names in the Senate Chambers will inspire fear. If we could take down the powerful Jedi Masters, as they think we supposedly did, then they all know very well what we are capable of in a room full of people who lack Force Sensitivity," the Sith Hunter explained, the glint still in his eye, unable to hide a half smirk.

 

Strider was still trying to repress these thoughts. Sure, it was an ample tactic, but he'd really wish he wasn't taking so much enjoyment in it. It was like him to be a little rough with getting information out of any hostages or captives as a Sith Hunter, or even as a Jedi, but to blatantly outright enjoy that fear he inspired to this level, was pushing it a bit for his comfort.

[Writer]

Riebe glanced at Strider for a long moment before nodding. "That's exactly it," she agreed. "Further questions? Any comments?"

 

Jahara shifted uncomfortably. "A Jedi would not intentionally intimidate anyone," she murmured. Riebe smiled kindly.

 

"But we are not Jedi," she answered. "Jahara, I have taken it upon myself to train you in the ways of the Sith Hunters. One of the primary things I've told you to keep in mind is..."

 

"... that we are Hunters," Jahara finished. "That a hunter hunts relentlessly, that the Dark Side must be conquered and not allowed to conquer you. I know."

 

"How does it make you feel?" Riebe prodded.

 

"A little fearful," Jahara admitted. "I've been in Jedi training for several years and have been told repeatedly that the Dark Side is something we ought to avoid. You tell me not to avoid it, but to face it. To use its power for good."

 

"All things can be used for good," Riebe agreed. And Jahara seemed satisfied.

 

"Other questions?" Riebe challenged.

[Black Knight of Keno]

Darth Tepe walked about a moment before he entered the podium prepared for them. He had changed his mind from going to the office first, and now the Sith were setting down on their seats while the Guards stood by like statues. They were well trained, even if a bit hastily in a single month. The guards outside the podium looked at the Senate Guards and recieved similiar looks back at them. They both knew they shouldn't clash as they had been trained similiarly and had the same codes. Their sides just happened to be different.

 

Senators started to fill the chamber and eventually the meeting was started with some lesser thing such as promotions and overall questions about the state of the Republic.

"See the senate in action and make mental notes, my apprentices. This will be your main enemy" Tepe said before yawning and leaving the podium, taking two of the guards with him for a walk. The Dark Lord walked down the corridors and then back up again as cheers and boos echoed from the senate chamber as senators made speeches. Suddenly, the Sith turned around and looked at a group of Jedi. The guards took their positions behind Tepe as he smirked and bowed.

 

"It is good to see you again, Luke. I did not think we would meet again this soon" the Sith said and as he stepped forwards, Kyle Katarn stepped forwards but Luke stopped him.

"Are you waiting for someone, Lord Tepe?" Luke asked and Tepe smirked before nodding.

"That I am. I saw the Ragnarok land a moment ago. I know the Sith Hunters are here, Luke" he said and Luke nodded in agreement.

"I saw the ship also but I have not gotten word of their arrival inside the building yet. I have talked with Leia and Ackbar... I don't think they can hold off the senate, even if you were here to observe" the Jedi said and shook his head slightly. Tepe laughted.

"I did not come to just observe. I have my own agenda here, but you will see that eventually" the Sith said and left off back towards the podium while the jedi followed him to their own, placed right next to the sith

 

------

 

Danera was the first to jump out of hyperspace. Even if he had left at the same time with the Hunters onboard the Ragnarok, his ship had a fast enought hyperdrive that it had left the Ragnarok behind. It could just be that he and Strider could've become rivals if the Firrerreo would've lived when Strider used to be a merc. The Naboo Royal Air Cruiser approached the planet and eventually landed inside a Senate Building hangar. When the Ragnarok arrived, the man was already out of his ship with his co-pilot droid, a B1 Pilot Battle Droid to be exact. He hit the head of the droid and yelled at it before kneeling down to see the damage the droid had caused when it accidentally hit the edge of a building on the approach.

 

"Why the heck don't I use the astromech in normal space?" he asked from himself before climbing back up to the cockpit to take out the repair kit and throw it down to the Battle droid. The droid catched and then took out the tools needed to repair the damage that had managed to destroy a turret and exposed the insides of the ship. The mercenary shook his head as he jumped down and checked up on the R-2 astromech hidden under the ship. as the Ragnarok landed next to the small ship, the mercenary came ou from under the fighter and looked over at the Battle Droid that was trying to fix the damage. He walked over and looked at the damage while shaking his head.

"You've done it now, Bobo. Just list whatever's damaged, patch it up and we'll see if we can get off this planet without spending valuable time and money for overprized parts" Danera said, patted the blue shoulder of the droid and then left for Ragnarok to meet the Hunters. He leaned onto the ship while waiting for the Hunters to come out

[Flamehart]

The ramp lowered and Strider stepped out, he looked at Danera for a moment, half impressed that his ship beat the Ragnarok's there, however also never used any of the Ragnarok's full speed capabilities unless he was escaping an attack.

(Using some character control to move the story along)

 

As the rest of the Hunters disembarked, Strider led them alongside Riebe into the Senate. The guards stood looking at them with confusion and fear, recognizing the Sith Hunters but not knowing why they were here. Strider turned to face the guard, and that was all that was needed for the guard to wave his hand hurriedly and lead them to their podium, not wishing to be in their presence should the same fate that befell the Council befall him, believing the rumors to be true.

 

(Probably a good time for Tepe to have the Sith run into the Hunters.)

[Black Knight of Keno]

As the Sith Lord appoached the pod where his apprentices were, he stopped at the sight of the Sith Hunters. He glanced back where the Jedi group had also stopped to see how the situation would evolve. Tepe walked forwards, passing the entrance to the podium and pressed a button on his wrist, calling for his guards. The guards from inside the podium let and surrounded their Lord, followed by the Sith Apprentices who had come out of curiosity towards what was happening. The Dark Lord stepped forwards, passing the guards and smirking at the Hunters. The jedi made an anxious move towards the group before Kyle and Luke stopped them.

 

"Welcome to the Republic Senate, Hunters. It seems the jedi are ready to break us up if we try to attack each others, so there's no point in starting aggressively. I came here for the same reason that you came here. To address the Republic" the Dark Lord said and watched as the Senate Guards approached to stop whatever was happening. However, the Jedi walked forth and stopped the guards and they themselves standing between the two. Luke approached Reibe and gave her the holodisc given to him by Tepe. Danera stood back, hand on blaster, watching the scene with quite some curiosity. He was especially intrigued by the armors the Sith and his guards wore. It was like from an ancient battlefield during the Hyperspace War or something like that

[Flamehart]

Strider's hand unintentionally gripped the hilt of his lightsaber on his belt. It was evident to the other Hunters how badly he wished to just leap into the fray just to get at the Sith, but he was doing well to restrain himself. Strider knew he'd feel no remorse for felling a few Republic guards just to get to the Sith, but he would not risk murdering a Jedi.

 

He actually recognized several of the students accompanying Luke that he had assisted in their training, and convinced himself it wasn't worth the risk, and his grip loosened. Inside his mind, he cursed himself for jumping the gun, once again nearly giving into the dark desires that lay within him - surely something Tepe could sense all of now that he was directly facing the Sith Hunter.

[Writer]

Understanding flooded Riebe's eyes. "Strider, that's what's bugging you?" She laughed. Turning to Tepe, but also speaking to Strider, the other Sith and the bystanding Jedi, she said, "We are not Jedi. We are Sith Hunters. In training, we learned to give in to our anger, to let it control us. Then, we went to the Jedi and learned to let go of it. Finally, we became our own team and learned to control it."

 

Turning to face Strider, she said. "Anger is not weakness. Letting it control you is. If you can control your anger, if you can use it when you want to, not have it use you whenever, then you are a Sith Hunter." A slight look of pain flooded her face, but was quickly gone. Still addressing Strider, she grimaced.

 

"The Jedi have made you soft, Brother," she accused. "We both know you were not one to hesitate in interrogation. In that, I learned from you. Learn from me now. Remember what you were... what you are."

 

After a slight pause, she finished, "Sith Hunter."

[Black Knight of Keno]

((*cought* I managed to delete the last post. However, I salvaged it and here it is: ))

 

A guard suddenly looked at Strider, a slight wonder in hs eyes. You could see from the eyes of the guard he had once been trained in the ways of the force and now senced the rage inside the Hunter. Tepe could indeed sence it also and closed his eyes, breathing in and slightly enjoying absorbing the dark side energy emitting from the ancient man. as the Sith opened his eyes, he shook his head and removed his helmet after pulling the vizor up. He looked at the Hunters and shook his head before walking towards them. If they would pull lightsabers, it of course would be understandable but the jedi stood in the way. When Tepe finally stopped, he faced his old friend and shook his head.

 

"Fight it, Strider. Riebe and the others still need you on the light side. You have millenias to rage as a sith, but now is not your time" he said and slapped his palm on his forehead and keeping it there. A slight glow emitted from his hand and Strider's forehead and Tepe could see the reasons for the Sith Hunter's rage. He pulled his hand away and stepped back.

"Many awful memories... Many caused by my predecessors. Don't become like my predecessors, Strider" he said and stepped back to his place. Luke looked slightly in disbelief at the Sith as he calmly put his helmet back on

[Flamehart]

"Control is the one thing I'm coming to lack more and more lately. That, my Sister, is what I find bothersome," Strider said shortly, looking directly back at Riebe. He looked over at the Jedi and the Sith. "Yes...I have become a bit soft haven't I?" Strider said, almost to himself. With that, he stepped a bit forward. He saw the guards draw forward a bit more, afraid of the conflict that might start. He stopped, and looked at them, but only smiled and turned, withdrawing from the two other groups and back to the Hunters, and said to Riebe, "Let's settle what we're here to settle. It's time we addressed the Senate."

[Black Knight of Keno]

((Okay, here's my new post then: ))

 

Tepe looked at Riebe before sighing and shaking his head.

"Riebe, you have weakened if you could not feel the anger brewing inside your companion. I felt it all the way from halfway across the galaxy" the Lord said as a protocol droid walked over.

"Lord Tepe, Master Skywalker. The senate will now address the atter with the Sith Dominion. Chief-of-state Leia Organa-Solo will hear on the matter herself as theSupreme Commander of the New Republic Navy with Admiral Ackbar at her side" the droid said and Tepe bowed with Luke for the information. The Lord turned to the Hunters and smirked.

"I will deal with you later. I hope you will give me some challenge as the senators will not" Tepe said and left for their podium with the others. Four guards set themselves outside the podium entrance while the rest went onboard. as the other groups found their own pods, Leia opened the debate.

 

"Next matter: Should the Sith Dominion be recognized peacefully or be dealt with militaristically. We have the representatives of the Dominion right here today. Please welcome Lord Tepe and his apprentices. We also have the representatives of the Jedi Order here. Please also welcome Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn" Leia opened and the senate roard of applause, mostly because of the echo tht formed inside the chamber. Tepe stood up and walked to the controls. He detatched the podium and hovered it to the center to show he was open for questions and would not hide from the Senate in any way now that he had bothered to come all this way.

 

On the podium where the Sith Hunters were escorted to, Danera looked at the Sith Lord and chuckled.

"He's a showman more than a politician. I trust you could handle him on your own" he said and looked at Riebe with a smirk

 

((I decided to change the podiums into repulsor ones again. I think the repulsor podiums were way more cool than the ones that they should have by the time when this RP takes place))

[Writer]

"Highly likely," Riebe agreed. She stepped out onto the podium with Strider at her side and the other Hunters trailing close behind. The Senate grew deathly silent as every single Senator and the Chief of State herself stared at the Hunters. For a moment at least, Tepe seemed forgotten. Then, a senator broke the silence.

 

"What are they doing here?" he demanded. And suddenly, an outpouring of outrage and fear at the Hunters' presence was heard. Desperately, Leia tried to restore order in the Senate, but all her attempts went unnoticed. After several chaotic seconds, Riebe's voice rose above the others, amplified by the Force.

 

"You will be silent! she thundered. And once more, the Senate fell into silence. Leia shot a grateful glance in the Hunter Leader's direction, but before Leia could even attempt to greet the Hunters, Riebe continued in a calmer tone.

 

"You are Senators," she said. "Act like adults and discuss this quietly and logically."

 

"Why should we trust logic when logic told us the Sith Hunters were friendly to the Jedi?" another senator demanded. The yells began again. This time, Riebe held up a hand for silence. Fearing some kind of Force attack, the Senate quieted.

 

"We did not betray the Jedi," Riebe informed them. The Senate was not convinced. Another senator stood.

 

"How can we trust these traitors?" she asked. "They have already proven themselves capable of destroying the Council."

 

"Capable, yes," Riebe agreed. "Did we do it? No."

 

"Where's the proof?" another senator demanded. "I request the Chief of State force the Sith Hunters to reveal solid proof that they were not responsible for the deaths of the Council."

 

"The proof lies with me," Luke said, keying his podium to float with those of the Sith and the Hunters. "Not long ago, Hunter Leader Riebe Sothe came to me on Ossus and let me search her mind. She tells the truth. She and her second in command, Strider Flamehart left the Council alive. The assassin was an unknown who introduced himself as an historian."

 

"Again, the proof lies within the mind," one of the senators protested. "Where we cannot see it."

 

"We are not here to discuss our potential treachery," Riebe snapped. "The discussion will move on. Now."

 

Still fearful of the Hunters, the Senate fell again into silence.

[Flamehart]

Strider stepped forward and spoke loudly, "This discussion is regarding the conquest of the Sith Dominion -" but was interrupted by a Senator.

 

"The conquests of the Dominions do not appear to be hostile - they have restored several planets' economies and maintained stabilit-..."

 

"Appearance is everything, isn't it?" Strider shot back.

 

"Well before we make any assumptions - let us directly pose the question to the leader of the Sith Dominion," replied another Senator. "What is it your intentions and goals are by taking over these core worlds?"

[Black Knight of Keno]

"No Core Worlds have been diasturbed. The Sith Dominion claims only the planets that the Sith have a connection to such as the ancient Sith space which we have now conquered. The only exceptions are Kamino, Rothana and Naboo which were chosen because of their economical status. Our goal is to make the Sith Order recognized in a political way as a government instead of what the current thought is that it is an ordr full of bloodthirsty men and women who live to decieve. In my opinion, the honorable Sith Hunters are free to travel wherever they like or even try and kill me if they dem it necessary, but as a word of advice to you, Riebe and Strider; if I fall, there is a high chance of getting a bloodthirsty emperor in your hands. A new Palpatine even" Lord Tepe said and looked around the chamber. He turned to see his aprentices and then turned back to the senate.

[Flamehart]

"Even if a new Palpatine arises, Tepe, you fail to realize that although Senators are easily..." he paused, looking over the many senators in the room, then continued, "...persuaded through the Force, as Palpatine did to achieve power the first time, there are few who will stand by and allow that to happen again. The Sith Hunters would swiftly remove such an attempt to form another Empire under the hand of a Sith," Strider replied back, confident that even if that time would come, the Sith Hunters would still be around.

[Writer]

"Where were the Hunters when Palpatine rose to power?" one of the senators demanded, hands on her hips. "You, Flamehart. Weren't you off playing your own little games, pretending to be a mere mercenary while the Old Republic took its last few gasping breaths?"

 

"And your esteemed leader, if history has the records straight, joined Palpatine," another senator agreed. "You're all cowards!"

 

Riebe laughed, a sound which made the senators all the more on edge. "Make up your minds!" she exclaimed. "One minute, we've destroyed the Masters' Council on Coruscant, and the next we're cowards who duck and hide at the first sign of trouble!"

 

"Can you deny our accusations?" the first senator demanded.

 

"Yes," Riebe answered. "I did not join Palpatine. I played his game while secretly undermining some of his operations. Then, I left..."

 

"Into hiding again," a third senator joined in. Leia looked as if she wanted to say something, but nobody gave her the chance.

 

"When a dictator comes into power, you must realize that patience is important in overthrowing him," Riebe explained patiently, as if to a child.

 

"But you did nothing!" the senators screamed. "Twenty long years, you toyed with Palpatine and Vader. Twenty years you did almost nothing. If not for the Rebel Alliance and Jedi Master Skywalker, the New Republic would have never made it off the ground."

[Flamehart]

Strider growled and replied in a thunderous tone, under which the Senators again cringed, "Do not question my resolve as a mercenary for hire when many of you Senators yourselves are easily persuaded by personal monetary gains to boost your own electoral popularity!"

 

He paused, then continued, the thunder still in his voice, though less severe, "Even the Jedi of that time admitted to being unsure of which side was really the right one to be on. I was no different - the only difference was I was being paid to fight for a certain side. When Order 66 was issued, my own assigned regiment turned on me as well as the leading Jedi, and I turned on my own employer."

 

A brave Senator then stood and spoke, "But you did flee again, just as your leader did."

 

"And so I ask you, Senator, if you knew that because you possessed an item that labelled you as a target to an entire army, would you not flee as well?" Strider shot back. The Senator briefly sat down, obviously not having thought of that fact.

 

"To rely on the Hunters to re-establish the New Republic would have been foolish. We were only so many then. Comparing us to the Rebel Alliance is foolishness. We could have removed the Emperor, yes, but you also have to realize the great lengths it would have taken for THREE people to strategize and organize such an attempt, and I say the word attempt, because although we do possess many strengths, we are not invincible, just very efficient," Strider concluded.

[Black Knight of Keno]

"The Sith Dominion is not an Empire!" Tepe suddenly barked, his voice booming inside the chamber. He hovered the podium over to the Sith Hunters and looked at Strider, removing his helmet. The Dark Lord's hand gripped into a fist. Oh how he wanted to just launch a lighting at the Hunter. However, he kept himself under control and leaned forwards.

"If the Sith Dominion would indeed be an Empire, why would I be here? Why would I talk when I could invade? Why increase economy and build on jobs when I could take everything under government ownership and enslave the people? To you I am like any other Sith. You base your claims on personal opinions. You have no proof!" he said and grinned at Strider, almost like challenging him

[Flamehart]

"Do not place words in my mouth, insolent fool!" Strider suddenly shouted back, his voice louder than even Riebe had heard it before, his blue eyes penetratingly staring back at Tepe.

 

"I never once mentioned the Dominion as an Empire, I clearly spoke of the Old Republic and it's takeover by Palpatine, and why the Hunters did not act sooner, as everyone sasumes we could have," Strider growled.

 

Strider turned back to the Senate, "Why would he be here if he wanted to invade? The answer to that is simple. He could easily be merely wasting our time debating, as the Senate always takes so much time to do, as he knows very well also. If he can trust leaders to work under his Dominion without positioning his own representative in their place, then he can easily entrust his armies to his generals to do his work to bring more territories under his control while we sit here and debate," the Hunter stated.

 

"Regardless if you are like any other Sith, as Luke said himself, many Jedi are already corrupted by the Dark Side after the actions here at the Jedi Temple after the murder of the Council. You carefully devised this scheme to gain support. By creating hatred for the Hunters amongst the Jedi, you are encouraging the giving in to their emotions, thus turning the peacekeepers of the galaxies into Dark Jedi for your own cause!" Strider finally declared, his booming voice echoing within the Senate chambers.

[Black Knight of Keno]

"The murder of the Council was not to gain Dark Jedi. I have quite enought of them to even spare some as normal soldiers. The Council was taken care of because they were a threat towards my rise and it made you go rogue on the Jedi Order. To tell you the truth, Strider, you were my biggest danger when you were with the Jedi. Now as the Jedi no longer trust you except for some exceptions" he said and glanced at Luke before continuing.

"...you are easier to take out, even with your new recruits at your sides" he said and grinned at Strider. The blue eyes were locked to the bright yellow ones. The two powerful force-users would clash eventually. If not here, then later on

[Flamehart]

"You forget one thing, Tepe. Without the Jedi," Strider paused, looking over at Luke Skywalker briefly, before turning back to face Tepe, "I do not feel obligated to suppress my abilities," he finished.

 

Then, after that, he turned to the Senate. "Why would a Sith find a Hunter who was currently bound by the Order to be a threat to his "cause" and why would Tepe find the Council to be a "threat" to his rise if his methods are so, as he seems to believe, orthodox? The only reason the Council, or myself as a natural Sith Hunter, would have intervened with violence, is if he was really doing something that justified a violent response. Thus by seeing a previously retired Hunter and a Council whom wasn't even planning for an attack on him as a threat to his cause, there must be something he is hiding that we would have disapproved of, or draw negative attention to his actions," the Sith Hunter reasoned, smirking a little out of his corner at Tepe.

[Black Knight of Keno]

"You forget, Strider, that I am a Sith Lord. The Jedi Order feels every Dark Side user is a danger and must be gotten rid of. Why else would you be Sith Hunters instead of being dead. Now, if you would use your full potential, would the Jedi Order still believe or trust you? I doubt it" he said and hovered the podium further back, looking at the senate.

"How feels the senate? Should our fleets clash in battle or will I get my worlds in peace from the Republic?" he asked and looked around, now silently as the senate started mumbling within itself.

 

Danera looked at the scene and then at Riebe.

"It'll be a war whatever the Senate decides, huh? I'll get myself some money soon then" he grinned and looked around. He didn't know why or how, but he could feel that in only a few years the Republic might have fallen. However, he could not be sure as the future is always changing, like an old, little and green Jedi Master used to say

[Writer]

Riebe nodded. "There will be a war," she answered softly. Then, raising her voice, she addressed Tepe.

 

"It matters little now if we use our full power or not," she said. "The trust of the Jedi has already been lost... save for a select few." She glanced over at Luke and Kyle. "For this reason, I no longer care what the Jedi think of me."

 

Luke looked mildly shocked at this statement, but said nothing. But the Senate had heard enough.

 

"The Sith Hunters are no longer for us," a senator said. "The Sith demand star systems. We cannot let this go unchallenged."

 

A roar of approval rose throughout the Senate. Leia looked to Luke, hoping for some encouraging words, but his eyes were closed, deep in thought. She looked to the Sith Hunters, but Riebe had her back turned to the Senate and the others were gathered around her.

 

"It is to be war," she told them. "And though the New Republic as a whole fears us, we are their best line of defense. Why? Because we do not merely defend, like the Jedi will be doing. We will be hunting, as the Sith Hunters used to do. Dark Jedi, Dominion troops, and the Sith themselves will be our targets."

 

She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them, a hint of anger could be seen. "Time to go."

 

The Sith Hunters' podium drifted back to its docking station and they stepped out. Luke, Kyle, and Leia watched them go, each one feeling as if they'd lost the chance to work with some of the most fearsome warriors in the galaxy.