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21-04-2023, 01:26 PM
((originally posted by Hirak Sanguinis, October 2017))
Entry 30: Lord Stygian and Lord Begeren
*Hirak steps into the frame of the holoprojector, the blue light illuminating his form completely before he strafes, walking and clearly thinking in front of the blue light. He’d be in his fully battle armour, duranium plating protecting both his front, his shoulders, his back and most of his legs and arms. His helmet would glow in the dim light with his red piercing eyes staring out. Of course, the colouration of both his suit and his gaze would be lost on the blue-hue of the projector, but the glowing effect is still fairly noticeable. Eventually, Hirak moves a hand up to the left hand side of his neck, the mask itself folding off his face within seven seconds before disappearing into the implant on his pale neck. The Rattataki’s face droops almost, a clear sign of exhaustion. His hairless brows furrow deeply as he then finally folds his arms in front of his chest.*
“I have achieved all that I had set out to achieve since becoming an acolyte, since the founding of the Shadow Hand, becoming one of the True Hand of Horuset and finally as the Dark Lord’s apprentice. I wished only to excel, to show I am worthy of the great honour of living I was given by my master and that I could honour the legacy of the Sith with my skill.
As I mentioned a few entries ago, my master had set myself and Apprentice Trakaton the opportunity to destroy two of his errant Sith Lord apprentices. Now, I’ve known for a while that Lord Stygian had a connection close to my master, and I have hated him every single day for it. Yet, Lord Begeren was a mystery to myself and Trakaton. At the end of the day, he took the harder job of facing off against a mysterious foe. I, on the other hand, choose to rest my vengeance against this pretender and prove to Darth Horuset that I am far more worthy as an apprentice to him.
So we planned. No one was told of our venture until we started it. We’d strike at the same time. Two attacks at the same time, the simultaneous completion would mean one could not help the other. One would not be prepared by the first. The other would be kept unaware.
As for me… well, my plan extended somewhat further than Trakaton’s. You see, we had already scouted the world that Stygian had used as his home. We had been there before. Trakaton himself had scouted it only a few weeks earlier before we had headed to Ilum. I had accurate data, and alongside my master’s orders that we were only to take what we could fit inside a transport ship I had concocted the perfect plan.”
*Hirak moves hand to his face and rubs his mouth. He’d cough lightly, clearing his throat.*
“I positioned a singular terminus-class destroyer behind the system’s sun to mask it’s register from the bases’ radars. No doubt Stygian had some, so we had to be careful. From there, we began ferrying troops down in singular transports. It took a while but it was specific manoeuvre that allowed me the time and space to prepare. Upon our entry at 5km outside the base, we set up a forward base camp. This base would be my personal HQ for the operation, where most of the marines I had brought as well as my own special unit known as the ‘Beastmaster Marines’ would prepare for our assault. All of my marines were equipped with custom DLA-13 rifles which had grenade launcher attachments and for this specific operation, due to my master’s explicit desire to retain full control of a working base when I was finished, we attached Ion Grenades to the launchers. In total I had 540 soldiers on the ground, combat ready and prepared to give their lives for my success and each had been ferried in one singular transport shuttle each. So in that regard, I had everything set in place…
My plan was set, no communication could get in or out and everything was seemingly fine for those within the facility. Once that was confirmed, the assault began. Offering up my troops towards the enemies fortress, we stormed it with speed and tenacity before the enemy silencer was set off essentially disabling my tanks that I had so kindly prepared as a surprise during the approach. Luckily, most of my men were on the wall before they could still utilise their weapons.
Eventually, after a few losses the walls were ours and we began the ground assault. I had positioned three look-a-likes around the wall, those who looked exactly like me. Nobody knew that none of them were actually myself because I always wear a mask. So, we slaughtered those in the compound and secured the roof landing section. Upon that selected spot, my beasts came down and landed in a shuttle alongside some of my bestmaster marines. Yet, I was there hidden with a Stealth Field Generator belt. This was in preparation for any of Stygian’s surprises, anything that would be odd and beyond that which would be rational. I had no doubt that something would be amiss… that my master had more planned for me than I thought originally possible. After all, I may have been a loyal and successful apprentice. But I am an alien in his eyes, and for that I will always be damned. I suppose I am lucky that they will always see me as weak…”
*Hirak shakes his head somewhat, staring down to the ground before his own eyes burn with a sudden deep hatred, they glow irrationally on the holoprojector before he looks back up.*
“I digress. Stygian did let out all of his Rakghouls. I had a feeling that his research facility might contain some… residue from our previous encounters with these beasts. The Rakghoul facility is something I’ve not mentioned but it was a previous encounter. Regardless, they posed a threat so most of my forces retreated to higher ground to deal with them whilst my beasts an my clones focused on the inner doorway.
The guards were dealt with swiftly by the front door. I had made my Yozusk’s crest fully from Duranium. It was enough to deal with the blasters. Eventually, the doors swung open and Stygian appeared. He was a hateful man and I seethed behind my clones to make sure their presence could be felt. Immediately, they did as I commanded to drag him out of the room whilst the mech suit, a complete suit of Cortosis myself and my colleague gained during the Ilum embargo, rushed forward to deal with the errant Sith Lord. After a struggle and utilising effect uses of Force Pull, Lord Stygian was unable to keep up with the onslaught my forces offered before he fell and was cut to pieces in no time at all whilst I had yet to lift a finger myself.
So, with the main threat out of the way we stormed the main room in order to access the entire station. Stygian’s apprentice was knocked down and kept away for safekeeping - I might use that fool later. I tried to access the main station area, although my original plan of keeping Stygian alive had not worked so he couldn’t access it for me. A minor hiccup… not one that I wanted but I’d rather he be dead than anything go wrong. As I tried to enter the password in with my clones, they pressed something that was… well, it set off an alarm. With that in mind, I retreated back onto my shuttle and returned to HQ. Watching from the feed, I sent in my mercenary ship and my interceptors, all reworked aesthetically to look like pirate ships rather than Imperial vessels, to come swooping over the facility. Hundreds of droids were released so I pelted them whilst making sure that zero structural damage was caused.
Within a couple of hours the facility was mine, Stygian lay dead at my feet and I had done that which my master had wanted. Although, I was mindful of the damage caused so we spent the next Twenty-Four hours repairing the facility. It was ironic really, Trakaton eventually messaged me on the holo-com near the end of our repairs. He told me he had successfully defeated Lord Begeren. Apparently his plan had offered success, which I was pleased to hear. I suppose that has always been the difference between myself and him. Our methods differ yet our thoughts are one and the same: succeed or die.
So we returned together to Th’Asidra to greet our master personally. We presented him the lightsabers of our foes, their flags and a holoimage of the facilities capture. We even had our own speeches prepared. I recorded mine, would you like to hear?”
*Hirak chuckles loudly, the full opening of his mouth revealing his sharp teeth.*
“You don’t really get a say in the matter, truly…”
*Hirak reaches for his datapad, pressing a few buttons before Hirak’s own robotic familiar voice is heard speaking. The tone offered is serious, and one of great pride. As it plays, Hirak’s face contorts into a nostalgic smile as he closes his eyes, seemingly enjoying the moment.*
“ - Dark Master, I have done as you commanded - I have dismantled the once Lord Stygian, conquered his powerbase and will remake it into an image truly worthy of your will, a design fit for your reputation. I have usurped his mantle by force and by my own strength. You have tempered me to be a weapon, Master, now allow me to be a political dreadnought for you. Let me be an example of your manipulation, let them fear the seemingly changing Horuset mindset. Allow me to be a demonstration that even lesser races under your thumb are more capable than theirs and how willing we are to defend the old ways and your methods. When they defy your will, let them see that an Alien Lord stands by you so that they have no basis to undermine your strategy. Grant me this honour, Master, and I will keep those like Darth Nyeklas, Darth Vossen and Darth Dreyar bound to you through sheer admiration and pride at your creation. I will show those like House Raeth and any other who stand against you that our reason is absolute, our power unbreakable and that the Old Ways beget the final victory for the Sith and the Empire. -”
*Hirak presses a button and allows the datapad to shut off. He opens his eyes and looks back into the camera of the holoprojector.*
“And so my master made me a Sith Lord, alongside Trakaton. I am now… Lord Sanguinis. Fitting, I thought. Fitting in the sense that I am Lord Blood yet to my master and his servants I am impure. I suppose instead I’ll cleave his enemies with my weapon instead, until he deems me ready to die… then I’ll kill all he sends at me. Such is the way of the Sith, and as a Lord now I am awaiting it. If I live further than the coming days that is, for Zarrious’ fate comes first. With only a day or so before we enact our plan… I need to savour this moment regardless. Even as House Kalkoran is made a vassal to the Horusets, we still remain strong.
Who knows what the future will hold. But for now, I am a Lord of the Sith. The only recognised Alien Lord of the Sith in House Horuset. I have spent so long working my way up and now it’s finally be achieved. No doubt I will need to be on full alert around Saud and Tokiai from now on. Once more, my presence shall irk them... as amusing as that prospect is. We shall see how the remaining apprentices feel about this sudden change in the political atmosphere too. It will be a most interesting time for sure...
I will savour this moment for now, and then I will return to my usual self. I have earned that much.
End transmission.”
*Hirak waits for a moment in place before he waves his right hand at the holoprojector. A huge grin on his face still as the light disappear down into the device again before it completely shuts off. An air vain arrogance can still be felt even as the blue rays of the projector disappear. That lingering feeling almost feels part and parcel with the entry as if it bonded to the device.*
Entry 30: Lord Stygian and Lord Begeren
*Hirak steps into the frame of the holoprojector, the blue light illuminating his form completely before he strafes, walking and clearly thinking in front of the blue light. He’d be in his fully battle armour, duranium plating protecting both his front, his shoulders, his back and most of his legs and arms. His helmet would glow in the dim light with his red piercing eyes staring out. Of course, the colouration of both his suit and his gaze would be lost on the blue-hue of the projector, but the glowing effect is still fairly noticeable. Eventually, Hirak moves a hand up to the left hand side of his neck, the mask itself folding off his face within seven seconds before disappearing into the implant on his pale neck. The Rattataki’s face droops almost, a clear sign of exhaustion. His hairless brows furrow deeply as he then finally folds his arms in front of his chest.*
“I have achieved all that I had set out to achieve since becoming an acolyte, since the founding of the Shadow Hand, becoming one of the True Hand of Horuset and finally as the Dark Lord’s apprentice. I wished only to excel, to show I am worthy of the great honour of living I was given by my master and that I could honour the legacy of the Sith with my skill.
As I mentioned a few entries ago, my master had set myself and Apprentice Trakaton the opportunity to destroy two of his errant Sith Lord apprentices. Now, I’ve known for a while that Lord Stygian had a connection close to my master, and I have hated him every single day for it. Yet, Lord Begeren was a mystery to myself and Trakaton. At the end of the day, he took the harder job of facing off against a mysterious foe. I, on the other hand, choose to rest my vengeance against this pretender and prove to Darth Horuset that I am far more worthy as an apprentice to him.
So we planned. No one was told of our venture until we started it. We’d strike at the same time. Two attacks at the same time, the simultaneous completion would mean one could not help the other. One would not be prepared by the first. The other would be kept unaware.
As for me… well, my plan extended somewhat further than Trakaton’s. You see, we had already scouted the world that Stygian had used as his home. We had been there before. Trakaton himself had scouted it only a few weeks earlier before we had headed to Ilum. I had accurate data, and alongside my master’s orders that we were only to take what we could fit inside a transport ship I had concocted the perfect plan.”
*Hirak moves hand to his face and rubs his mouth. He’d cough lightly, clearing his throat.*
“I positioned a singular terminus-class destroyer behind the system’s sun to mask it’s register from the bases’ radars. No doubt Stygian had some, so we had to be careful. From there, we began ferrying troops down in singular transports. It took a while but it was specific manoeuvre that allowed me the time and space to prepare. Upon our entry at 5km outside the base, we set up a forward base camp. This base would be my personal HQ for the operation, where most of the marines I had brought as well as my own special unit known as the ‘Beastmaster Marines’ would prepare for our assault. All of my marines were equipped with custom DLA-13 rifles which had grenade launcher attachments and for this specific operation, due to my master’s explicit desire to retain full control of a working base when I was finished, we attached Ion Grenades to the launchers. In total I had 540 soldiers on the ground, combat ready and prepared to give their lives for my success and each had been ferried in one singular transport shuttle each. So in that regard, I had everything set in place…
My plan was set, no communication could get in or out and everything was seemingly fine for those within the facility. Once that was confirmed, the assault began. Offering up my troops towards the enemies fortress, we stormed it with speed and tenacity before the enemy silencer was set off essentially disabling my tanks that I had so kindly prepared as a surprise during the approach. Luckily, most of my men were on the wall before they could still utilise their weapons.
Eventually, after a few losses the walls were ours and we began the ground assault. I had positioned three look-a-likes around the wall, those who looked exactly like me. Nobody knew that none of them were actually myself because I always wear a mask. So, we slaughtered those in the compound and secured the roof landing section. Upon that selected spot, my beasts came down and landed in a shuttle alongside some of my bestmaster marines. Yet, I was there hidden with a Stealth Field Generator belt. This was in preparation for any of Stygian’s surprises, anything that would be odd and beyond that which would be rational. I had no doubt that something would be amiss… that my master had more planned for me than I thought originally possible. After all, I may have been a loyal and successful apprentice. But I am an alien in his eyes, and for that I will always be damned. I suppose I am lucky that they will always see me as weak…”
*Hirak shakes his head somewhat, staring down to the ground before his own eyes burn with a sudden deep hatred, they glow irrationally on the holoprojector before he looks back up.*
“I digress. Stygian did let out all of his Rakghouls. I had a feeling that his research facility might contain some… residue from our previous encounters with these beasts. The Rakghoul facility is something I’ve not mentioned but it was a previous encounter. Regardless, they posed a threat so most of my forces retreated to higher ground to deal with them whilst my beasts an my clones focused on the inner doorway.
The guards were dealt with swiftly by the front door. I had made my Yozusk’s crest fully from Duranium. It was enough to deal with the blasters. Eventually, the doors swung open and Stygian appeared. He was a hateful man and I seethed behind my clones to make sure their presence could be felt. Immediately, they did as I commanded to drag him out of the room whilst the mech suit, a complete suit of Cortosis myself and my colleague gained during the Ilum embargo, rushed forward to deal with the errant Sith Lord. After a struggle and utilising effect uses of Force Pull, Lord Stygian was unable to keep up with the onslaught my forces offered before he fell and was cut to pieces in no time at all whilst I had yet to lift a finger myself.
So, with the main threat out of the way we stormed the main room in order to access the entire station. Stygian’s apprentice was knocked down and kept away for safekeeping - I might use that fool later. I tried to access the main station area, although my original plan of keeping Stygian alive had not worked so he couldn’t access it for me. A minor hiccup… not one that I wanted but I’d rather he be dead than anything go wrong. As I tried to enter the password in with my clones, they pressed something that was… well, it set off an alarm. With that in mind, I retreated back onto my shuttle and returned to HQ. Watching from the feed, I sent in my mercenary ship and my interceptors, all reworked aesthetically to look like pirate ships rather than Imperial vessels, to come swooping over the facility. Hundreds of droids were released so I pelted them whilst making sure that zero structural damage was caused.
Within a couple of hours the facility was mine, Stygian lay dead at my feet and I had done that which my master had wanted. Although, I was mindful of the damage caused so we spent the next Twenty-Four hours repairing the facility. It was ironic really, Trakaton eventually messaged me on the holo-com near the end of our repairs. He told me he had successfully defeated Lord Begeren. Apparently his plan had offered success, which I was pleased to hear. I suppose that has always been the difference between myself and him. Our methods differ yet our thoughts are one and the same: succeed or die.
So we returned together to Th’Asidra to greet our master personally. We presented him the lightsabers of our foes, their flags and a holoimage of the facilities capture. We even had our own speeches prepared. I recorded mine, would you like to hear?”
*Hirak chuckles loudly, the full opening of his mouth revealing his sharp teeth.*
“You don’t really get a say in the matter, truly…”
*Hirak reaches for his datapad, pressing a few buttons before Hirak’s own robotic familiar voice is heard speaking. The tone offered is serious, and one of great pride. As it plays, Hirak’s face contorts into a nostalgic smile as he closes his eyes, seemingly enjoying the moment.*
“ - Dark Master, I have done as you commanded - I have dismantled the once Lord Stygian, conquered his powerbase and will remake it into an image truly worthy of your will, a design fit for your reputation. I have usurped his mantle by force and by my own strength. You have tempered me to be a weapon, Master, now allow me to be a political dreadnought for you. Let me be an example of your manipulation, let them fear the seemingly changing Horuset mindset. Allow me to be a demonstration that even lesser races under your thumb are more capable than theirs and how willing we are to defend the old ways and your methods. When they defy your will, let them see that an Alien Lord stands by you so that they have no basis to undermine your strategy. Grant me this honour, Master, and I will keep those like Darth Nyeklas, Darth Vossen and Darth Dreyar bound to you through sheer admiration and pride at your creation. I will show those like House Raeth and any other who stand against you that our reason is absolute, our power unbreakable and that the Old Ways beget the final victory for the Sith and the Empire. -”
*Hirak presses a button and allows the datapad to shut off. He opens his eyes and looks back into the camera of the holoprojector.*
“And so my master made me a Sith Lord, alongside Trakaton. I am now… Lord Sanguinis. Fitting, I thought. Fitting in the sense that I am Lord Blood yet to my master and his servants I am impure. I suppose instead I’ll cleave his enemies with my weapon instead, until he deems me ready to die… then I’ll kill all he sends at me. Such is the way of the Sith, and as a Lord now I am awaiting it. If I live further than the coming days that is, for Zarrious’ fate comes first. With only a day or so before we enact our plan… I need to savour this moment regardless. Even as House Kalkoran is made a vassal to the Horusets, we still remain strong.
Who knows what the future will hold. But for now, I am a Lord of the Sith. The only recognised Alien Lord of the Sith in House Horuset. I have spent so long working my way up and now it’s finally be achieved. No doubt I will need to be on full alert around Saud and Tokiai from now on. Once more, my presence shall irk them... as amusing as that prospect is. We shall see how the remaining apprentices feel about this sudden change in the political atmosphere too. It will be a most interesting time for sure...
I will savour this moment for now, and then I will return to my usual self. I have earned that much.
End transmission.”
*Hirak waits for a moment in place before he waves his right hand at the holoprojector. A huge grin on his face still as the light disappear down into the device again before it completely shuts off. An air vain arrogance can still be felt even as the blue rays of the projector disappear. That lingering feeling almost feels part and parcel with the entry as if it bonded to the device.*
