STAR WARS THE OLD REPUBLIC: TIDES OF WAR

Chapter 1: Strike on Utapau

The Harrower-Class Dreadnought Silencer hung over the green orb that was known as Utapau. Along with the Silencer was twelve other Harrower dreadnoughts ready to burn the world before them alive.
I stood on the bridge with my hands clasped behind my back. I had my eyes closed as I delved deep in the Dark Side of the Force.
I could hear screams echoing. Blasterfire. The hum of a blood red lightsaber. The clash of blades. Fire burning.
The Dark Side flowed through me. It a river, and me a rock in the center of it all.
I was pulled out of my meditation by an Imperial officer. I took a few more moments before I turned to face the female Lieutenant.
"My Lord, there is a sizable Republic fleet guarding Utapau. Eight Hammerhead cruisers and a swarm of fighters. The cruisers are closing to engage. The fighters are nearly upon us. Your orders?"
"Deploy the fleet. Theta Sundari formation. Have our fighters screen our fleet and pounce on the enemy fighters. Do not show any mercy." My mask I wore made my voice deeper by the vocoder built into it. The elaborate design on it matched the Sith tattoos on my face. Nothing was visible, not even my eyes.
The lieutenant nodded and walked away. I turned back to the viewport and gazed out at the approaching Republic ships.
I suddenly felt a tug, just so slightly but blinding at the same time. It was if there was an open window looking out upon a sunny day, with blue skies and white clouds. It was disgusting, revolting and it meant only one thing.
"Jedi." I cursed under my breath.
I whirled around and approached another Lieutenant.
"Prepare ground troops for invasion.
Get the fleet in the atmosphere and proceed with bombardment of the sinkhole cities. Continue the bombardment until our troops land and begin their assault." I turned and made my way to the back of the bridge without waiting for a response, my black cloak swirling behind me.

************************************

The Republic fleet had been quickly swept aside with hardly a problem. One Harrower cruiser had been heavily damaged and had been forced to retreat but nonetheless the Imperial forces were victorious in space.
Soon after the cruisers entered the atmosphere of Utapau and deployed ground troops to the sinkhole cities.
Pau City was the main target since it was the capital and trade hub of the world, as well as were most of the Republic ground forces had their main command and control center.
After initial ground attack by Imperial troopers and droids, I took a shuttle down from the Silencer to one of the many landing platforms of Pau City's wealth level, not too far below the surface.
The ramp lowered and I strolled down it, flanked by two Sith warriors. I took the surrounding cityscape at a glance. Fires raged all around. Smoke billowed up into the numerous caves. I sneered in contempt at the numerous Republic soldier bodies strewn across the many platforms and roads.
An Imperial trooper strolled up to me and saluted.
"My Lord, we have secured most of the upper levels but Republic forces have dug in on the deeper levels. We are having a hard time pushing down there." The Imperial trooper paused, and I could sense the fear wash over the trooper.
"Spit it out Sergeant, or see your head removed from your shoulders." I snarled as my hand went to the lightsaber on my hip.
The soldier swallowed nervously and nodded. "There is a team of Jedi leading the Republic forces on the lower levels. We have suffered heavy casualties to the Jedi."
I turned away from the trooper, thinking for a moment.
"Send more forces to the lower level where the Jedi are. I will lead the assault personally."
"At once my Lord." The trooper saluted and left me in the midst of chaos.

************************************

I made my way down deeper into Pau city to the Produce Level where I was joined by Imperial forces.
Ahead of me was a factory that produced Pau'an fighters and other sorts of spacecraft to be exported off-world.
While Utapau was no Kuat, the planet tailored its ships more for the wealthy and luxurious, mainly producing freighters and luxury yachts.
It was also where numerous surviving Republic soldiers as well as Utapauan rebel fighters were holed up in Pau City.
A massive skeleton served as the factory, and I could make out a luxury yacht in the process of construction within the entrance.
As well as the barriers set up by Republic soldiers.
I could make out movement beyond, and relished in the fact that the soldiers would be dead soon.
But that feeling was quickly crushed as I felt a tug again.
The Jedi were close. Their presence was a smear upon my power as a Sith Lord.
An Imperial soldier dressed in all black armor approached me and saluted.
"My Lord, the Republic forces are holed up in that factory. We are ready to move on your order."
"Very good Lieutenant. Have a few squads move in to flank the Republic forces as we launch a frontal assault. Have them wait to attack until we are right upon the enemy." I sneered as I grabbed my lightsaber in my left hand. I hit the activation button and a snap-hiss filled the air as the lightsaber ignited.
I gazed at the distant Republic soldiers with contempt and hatred.
I drew into the Dark Side and began to run forward. The Republic soldiers opened fire at me, but I expertly deflected every shot with a flick of my wrist. I used the Force to propel myself forward, dashing into the Republic forces formation.
I entered their midst so quickly it actually took a few seconds before anyone realized I was within their ranks. But by then it was too late.
I unleashed a burst of Force Lightning that picked up four soldiers and sent them flying, the lightning practically roasting the soldiers alive in their armor.
I spun, swinging low and decapitated two more soldiers. Three others pointed their blasters at me and opened fire, thinking my guard was down.
I smiled beneath my mask as I reached deep into the Force. I raised my hand and caught the blaster bolts midair. I sensed a burst of both surprise and fear wash over the Republic troops. I held the bolts in the air for a few more seconds, savoring the soldier's fear, then I sent the bolts back to their owners.
I turned to engage the remaining soldiers when the last dozen or so remaining soldiers threw down their blasters and surrendered.
"We surrender Sith." One trooper spat, clearly angry at having to surrender.
I shook my head as I lowered my blade. I raised my hand and picked up the soldiers with the Force.
I brought the one that had spoken closer to me.
I looked up into the blank faceplate as I began to tighten my grip. The soldier began to groan in pain.
"There is no surrender. There is only death. Your death." And with that I closed my hand.
The sound of crushing plastoid and the cries of dying men filled my ears like the sound of sweet music. I cast the bodies aside and looked beyond the shipyard. Deeper into the city.
I could still sense the Jedi. I could feel them waiting for me. I also could sense their fear. Except for two of the Jedi. All I could sense from them was a serene calm.
But all that would soon change. And it would be by my hand that would deliver the killing strike.