STAR WARS THE OLD REPUBLIC: TIDES OF WAR

chapter 4: Hollow victory

After the fall of the Jedi it didn't take long for Utapau to fall into Imperial control. There were still small pockets of resistance, but it wouldn't be long before even they too would be crushed under heel.
I took my shuttle back up to the Silencer, contemplating on the Jedi Master's words.
I was still deep in thought when the shuttle touched down in the hangar bay of my command cruiser.
I stood up and strolled down the ramp before it had fully lowered, pushing the thoughts that was troubling me away.
I was met by a honor guard of a dozen Imperial soldiers and a female pure blood Sith drabbed in the uniform of an Imperial Admiral.
"My Lord, you have an important message from the Emperor." The Admiral spoke as I stepped down onto the hangar floor.
Cold fear began to grip my heart but I pushed the fear down into nothing as I continued walking without breaking stride. However my voice came out a little tight when I answered.
"Very well Admiral. Ill take it in my personal chambers."
The Admiral responded and her next words caused me to come to a halt.
Her voice was stuttered as she spoke.
"Th- the Emperor requests your presence, personally, my Lord. On Dromund Kaas."
That feeling of fear began to crawl back up, and this time it was harder to push it down.
I continued walking as I responded, not bothering to look back.
"Well then, Admiral, you know what to do. Ill be in my chambers. I am not to be disturbed." I didnt bother to wait for a response as I exited the hangar through a pair of blast doors.

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I entered my chambers and took my mask off. I never showed my face outside of my chamber. Only a very few select people had ever seen my face.
The right side was heavily scarred from where a Republic soldier had detonated a thermal detonator in my face, but thanks to dark Sith healing techniques and some cybernetics placed underneath the skin, much of my face had healed. But that meant the scars would always be there. And they were always in pain.
Ever since I had healed the pain had still remained. I had learned to deal with it, and in time the pain faded.
The circular chamber was thirty meters in diameter, but the inside was empty save for a refresher in the corner, a holocomm terminal in the other, and the large black crystal sphere in the center.
I was about to enter my meditation sphere when I noticed a blue light blinking on the holoterminal.
Annoyed, I walked over and hit the answer button, turning away as I answered.
"I thought I told you I wasn't to be disturbed, Admiral." I sneered the last word.
The response almost caused me to faint in surprise.
"Now is that a way to talk to your wife?"
I took a moment to compose myself before I turned around.
"Forgive me my love. Things are-" I paused for a moment to think of the right word.
"-tense right now. I just secured Utapau for the Empire."
"And thats cause for you to speak to me like that?" Neera replied, that playful smile on her lips telling me she was teasing me.
I sighed as I lowered my head.
"Of course not my dear. The Emperor has requested my presence on Dromund Kaas."
Neera's expression barely changed, but I noticed her eyes widen a bit in surprise. Her lavender skin was muted by the blue-tinged holosignal.
"Well if the Emperor is personally requesting your presence, then it must be extremely important. Im currently overlooking reports from Imperial Intelligence. The Republic has a sizeable presence near Sullust. They may try to make a push into the Outer Rim to cut off our supply lines."
I nodded in agreement. "That's possible. But that also means that a number of Republic resources are in play there, but not somewhere else. Which in turn means I can strike at the heart of the enemy, and where it will hurt."
"Coruscant is still to well protected for a direct strike. Although that is our ultimate goal, we can't strike there yet. We must bide our time. Force the Republic to divert resources from critical places so we can strike, and crush the Republic where it will hurt."
Again I couldn't help but agree. The Emperor was a thousand years old. He wouldn't make a move without deliberate cause or without a plan in place. Coruscant was the jewel, but the Emperor wasn't ready to make the move to strike at the heart of the Republic. Yet.
But that wasn't the reason for Nerra's call. I sensed a change in Neera since the last time I had seen my wife. She knew I was on campaign, and didn't like to bother me if something wasn't important.
"What is it my love?" I asked, putting the question to the front. If anything to get away from discussing Imperial strategy.
"My dear husband, I have something important to tell you." Neera couldn't hold back the broad smile that covered her face. At the moment only her head and shoulders was in view. Neera suddenly scaled back the image to reveal her stunning body. As well as the obvious pregnant belly.
"I'm pregnant my sweet love. Its a boy."
I nearly collapsed to the floor, and it took all my willpower to stay upright. A warm feeling spread over me, and I couldn't help but match Meera's smile with my own.
The memory of the passionate night Neera and I had before I had went on campaign was still fresh in my mind. It brought another smile to my lips, and I didnt dare try to hide it.
"I'm only able to work a desk job right now instead of being in the field. All these papers and reports keep having my head in circles."
I sensed wistfullness begin to creep into Neera's voice as she continued to speak.
"I wish I could be out there with you my love. Conquering the galaxy together planet by planet."
"I know my sweet angel. But I had been sent on this campaign personally by the Dark Council. They had requested I only go with my apprentice and my fleet. I didnt dare disobey them." I paused as I finally realized the truth, and I chuckled.
"I'll be home soon enough my love. My fleet is currently on its way to Dromund Kaas as we speak. Ill come see you. Maybe take you out to dinner or something."
Meera's face brightened at the suggestion and gave me a sly smile.
"I would very much like that my dear." Nerra looked deep into my eyes, straight to my soul. "The doctors say the boy should be due here in a couple of weeks. Maybe you could stay long enough to see your son brought into the galaxy."
I couldn't help the tears of joy that moistened my eyes, and I didnt dare hide them.
"If the Emperor will allow it. Our son should be powerful in the Force. Most likely he will be sent to the academy on Korriban once he becomes of age enough to attend." I paused to think for a moment, before I returned my gaze to Nerra.
"This is a great day for us my love. I will be with you soon."
Nerra smiled that loving smile that melted my heart.
"I love you Dustin."
Only Nerra was ever allowed to use my real name, and never in public.
"I love you too my sweet love."
Nerra winked at me as the hologram faded away. I stood there for a moment before I turned to face my meditation pod. The smooth surface opened with a wave of a finger, and I stepped inside. The pod was lined with all the lightsabers I had taken from Jedi I had killed over the course of my time as a Sith Lord. They added to my meditation, due to the presence of the Jedi in the lightsabers that remained in the Force. I added the hilts of the defeated Jedi from Utapau, and sat down in my chair. The pod hissed closed as I began to settle myself into the Dark Side of the Force.