Years before, when the Emperor was reborn upon this planet and created a stronghold for himself to launch his counter assaults on the rebellious scum who had usurped his Empire, many many people had been drawn to this planet under the false pretenses of a wonderful new life on a tranquil and beautiful world. The true reason was to feed Master Palpatine's power. A power already infinite, grew with each soul's life force brought to that planet.
The Emperor had grown in strength and felt ready to engage the New Republic once more. However, they were brutally beaten back at almost every turn. A few victories, but not enough. The fleet fell back to protect Byss, the last true Imperial stronghold. Master Palpatine, in his infinite wisdom, foresaw the impending disaster and knew it was a battle that he could not win.
That foresight, however, allowed him one more grand act before he was once more destroyed, a mass illusion created by the dark side of the Force. He knew the battle would not be one and, instead of handing over the secrets of his stronghold, he created the illusion of it's destruction. Clever indeed, though it cost the lives and souls of all those on the planet and many of those of the fleet.
The illusion won the day and the fleets, both Imperial and Republic, thought the planet destroyed. The blast radius of the dark side power which created the illusion destroyed many of the combating ships and, in the end, just as foreseen, the battle was indeed won by the New Republic. The war, however, was just beginning.
Now years later the Dark Lord of the Sith known as Maim had discovered the planet once again. He had followed the source of energy he had felt even across the galaxy. Now he would undo what was done and shatter the illusion once and for all. The planet Byss would awaken this dawn to a new master but the same Empire.
The Dark Lord stood upon the observation deck of the starliner which had carried him this deep into the core. His eyes closed, deep in a state of meditation. Any illusion had a weak point, this one was no different. The trouble was not in finding it, but in having the patience to do so. If there was one things years of Jedi training had taught the Dark Lord, it was patience.
Suddenly, and with a grin, he found it. A weak point in the illusion that could be used to shatter it completely and open the planet Byss to the galaxy once more. His hands raised before him, he called out through the Dark Force. His body raged with power, his aura flaring like a black sun.
The Dark Lord's hands met one another and began to tear at the air before him. Mimicking the actions that were being done on an infinitely larger scale before him. Slowly, the tear in the illusion began to grow and the Dark Lord's power tunneled through it.
Finally, after hours of effort, the illusion collapsed and the planet Byss was once more revealed to the galaxy. The Dark Lord fell to a knee, attempting to gather to him what strength he could. The illusion had, indeed, been a powerful one. Extremely hard to destroy.. but he had done it. Now all that remained was to take what was rightfully his and restore the Empire's flag to the planet below.
First, however, rest... much needed rest.
