The Rebel Faction

Dravin Thane, ancient Sith Lord that saw many Dark Lord's rise and fall during his time, but he had failed to see one rise again as it had seemingly happened this glorious day today. To the Massassi, their great leader Naga Sadow had returned from the dead to lead the Sith into another golden age.

The blasphemers of the Spurned will either be converted or they will be purged from this galaxy; soon feeling the might of the Dark Circle, a fate that awaits any who do not conform!

Indeed that was true. The Grand Advisor had been charged with leading the fleet to Khar Delba and wiping out any naval resistance that protected the enclaves on the planet, but he had another plan. He would leave the fleet to his second, while the Dark Paladin would descend on Khar Shian, Delba's only moon, and wipe out the enclave that resided there. Those who resisted the Grand Advisor and his armies would be either killed outright or captured, and those who wish to join him would be taken into the Dark Circle's legions; but, not before being tested.

Several Hours Later

The robed and armored figure that was Lord Thane stood on the bridge walkway of the Defender-class Star Destroyer Holy Armor. He paced silently up and down the walkway, waiting for the crew to put the massive craft in position for their strike on the star system. It took some time for the taskforce to sneak into position unnoticed, but they had been successful.

"Commodore Hirmon, there will be a change of plans. You will coordinate the fleet battle for Khar Delba and Khar Shian, while I command the Holy Armor's troops and take the dark moon. If you fail, the punishment rests solely on your shoulders, Commodore."

The pale skinned officer bowed to the Grand Advisor, and then hurried off to plan the battle with his subordinates. Normally one couldn't easily deviate from the Dark Lord's plans, but as Grand Advisor he spoke for Sedriss, and his commands were carried out just as if the Dark Lord had ordered them his self.

The Dark Paladin turned from the bridge and headed down the main access corridor, straight to the Star Destroyer's hangar bays. The Massassi army that the craft carried would be there, gearing up for the ground assault that lay just minutes ahead. Dravin would lead the army into the infidels' encampment, and their blood will run in great rivers across Khar Shian's surface, in tribute to the Dark Lord and the Triumvirate.

He paused slightly as he felt the Holy Armor enter hyperspace, a micro jump from their waiting place just outside the system. No doubt the rest of the ships with his taskforce had jumped slightly ahead of them, to clear the way for the Star Destroyer and the troops it carried aboard. Soon the Dark Circle would have a new home, cleansed from the infidels that now inhabited it.

The darkside of the force resonated, smearing Sedriss’s black will in the hearts of those who comprised his inner circle. He stared at the powerful sith gathered before him, all waiting patiently on the bridge of the newly christened Super Star Destroyer Immortal, listening intently.

His mind raced with possibilities as he absorbed the information being presented by Dravin Thane. The fleet was now in hyperspace, set on a bloody collision course with the Spurned, ever ready to conform or cleanse those who defied the Triumvirate.

After the illustrious and ancient Grand Advisor had finished, the man calmly stepped back into the shadows, indicating for the newly crowned Dark lord to make his wishes known. Nodding to a massive Massassi servant, Sedriss waited for the image cube to be inserted into the holoreader.

Soon the room was engulfed in a horrific vision of blasphemy, portraying five shadowy beings arrayed in a circle, hidden deep in the recesses of Primus Goluud, the former sanctuary of Naga Sadow.

These immoral dark jedi had raped his native land, using the secrets of his ancestor to enhance their powerbase in the universe. During his travels before he had come to Gahgrin, he had heard rumors of their filth and their treason. Without the relics hidden on Khar Delba, they were pathetic, mere magicians, who now wielded a power they could never fathom.

This is the Council of the Spurned, a powerful and blasphemous sect, which we will now annihilate. The three humanoids are known as Nefta, Baddon Fass and Sa-Di. These men are Dark Jedi Masters with few equals, known for their cruelty and skill in combat. They have left many of our sith brethren dead and as you see, they now desecrate the sacred land of Naga Sadow. The two others are the shapeshifters Rexash and Raela, powerful sorcerers, who in a very short time have weaved their black magic, influencing the natives of Khar Delba and those of the surrounding systems.

He began to pace the bridge, letting his massive frame cower the crew, forcing them to bow their heads in respect. He stopped in front of the view screen, reaching out, gauging the emotions of the Massassi warriors he now commanded, feeling their bloodlust, which he shared fully. The others slowly followed, respectful of his thoughts, ever patient, knowing he would soon speak of the treachery the holovid had presented to them,

My Grand Advisor and Adrianna Quinn, will penetrate the forces on Khar Shian, expelling the dark jedi who have based themselves on this dark moon. It will be difficult, for my sources indicate that many dark jedi witches inhabit the Castle of Freedon Nadd. I order you to purge them at all costs.

Turning he stared into the black eyes of the demon Sith Master Malice Draclau. Despite their turbulent history, Sedriss now realized his power and Malice now respected his claim. Out of the darkness grew respect, a respect Sedriss would now honor him with.

You Malice will lead our ground assault, wiping all resistance to our invasion. When the battle is secure, you will meet me in Primus Goluud, where this council of the damned resides. You will get to feast on the blood of these so called sorcerers, while I myself personally deal with the other three would be dark lords. Their heads shall be ornaments on my throne and their hearts for your trophy room.

It seemed as if time now stood still, preparing itself for the dawning of a new dark era. In his sleep, Sedriss had visions of Naga Sadow speaking to him, encouraging him to finish what he had begun millennia ago. Glancing down at the amulet, which now was embedded in his cortosis gauntlets, he covered his face in a sadistic grin.

Your work will be finished and those who stand in our way shall be eliminated.

The Holy Armor exited from hyperspace just outside a small brawl between two small groups of starships. Two Strike Cruisers, which belonged to the Dark Circle, faced four Carrack Cruisers which lay in the infidels' possession. The Defender-class Star Destroyer moved in, launching squadrons of TIE Defenders as it did so. The nimble starfighters split their numbers to take out two of the enemy cruisers on the right, while the Holy Armor sped forward to the cruisers on it's left, which were busy assaulting the two Strike Cruisers.

The TIE Defenders made short work with the two Carracks, pounding them with wave upon wave of proton torpedoes that ruptured the crafts' hull and left them dead in the vacuum of space. The other two Carracks couldn't put up much of a fight against the Defender, as it turned them into space debris with it's heavy turbolaser batteries.

Continuing onward, the Holy Armor made orbit around Khar Shian along with the two Strike Cruisers. The small Star Destroyer then began to launch drop ships full of Massassi Warriors, which descended upon the dark moon like flies swarming the corpse of a dead creature.

Malice watched as they came out of hyperspace. The raging fleet battle infront of them began to excite the demon sith master. His blood boiling. Heating up with the thought of battle. Then he heard Sedriss speak to him about not having to lead the ground assault. This did not phase the dark sith as he would have rathered taken on the two dark jedi sorcerors anyways.

Off in the distance, another destroyer came out of hyperspace. From it, Sedriss began speaking. The only thing that Malice cared to take note of, was the name of the person Sedriss had sent for.

Come my friend and be greeted. Malice Draclau, this is the former apprentice of Count Dooku, the Duke of Serreno and now a Sith Master at the Dark Circle.

This is Darth Sythis.

Malice heard the dark lords words and began to walk with him. He would meet this Darth Sythis once they have landed on the planet's surface.

Dravin glanced around the barren terrian that surrounded him and the Massassi army that had descended upon the planet of Khar Shian. All that he could see in the distant was rock and ice, endless fields of rock and ice. Somewhere on this inhospitable planet lay the massive fortress that once Naga Sadow used as a private sanctuary in the ancient times of long ago.

The cold bit at the Massassi as they emerged from the warm confines of the drop ships, and into the frigid climate of the moon. They did not seem to be phased by the cold environment as they arranged themselves before the Grand Advisor into troop divisions, standing completely at attention, waiting for some word from the Advisor who stood atop a small mound of rubble that allowed him to view the troops before him.

"Massassi Warriors of the Dark Circle! Your Dark Lord has commanded this planet be taken for he desires it!" Dravin paused to glance around the army. "Go forth... and take Khar Shian, for it is your master's will that it be done! Slaughter the infidels who claim it is their's and purge them from existance!"

The army, several thousand in number, cheered at the Grand Advisor, throwing their hands into the air. The cry drowned down as individual regiment commanders began to issue orders to their troops, sending them into a long march for the dark side of the moon. While Dravin's army came in from the west, Sith Master Quinn's troops would be closing in from the eastern side, under the cover of darkness. Though his army outnumbered the Sith Master's, he was charged with distracting the infidels and drawing them into a battle, while Quinn's troops would sneak in to their rear and slaughter them.

Dravin smiled as he followed his troops in the march, knowing that soon the Dark Lord would arrive and take hold of Khar Delba, and all that would be left is a mop-up operation on the remaining infidel ground troops.

"My lord," his Massassi aide said in the Sith tongue, "the Holy Armor reports that they have drawn three Victory-class Star Destroyers from the infidel fleet around Khar Delba."

The aide paused for a minute, holding the communications headset closer to his ear, taking in the rest of the information. "Commodore Hirmon says that he has destroyed two of the infidel capital ships and disabled the others... at the loss of two Strike Cruisers."

"Good, have the Commodore move to intercept the rest of the infidel fleet. He will have the support of the rest of our fleet which should be in-system as of right now."

The Massassi aide nodded in reply and began to relay his orders to the Commodore. Soon, everything will be completed as planned. Soon the Circle will have a new home, one suited to the likes of the Dark Lord.