A/N: Sorry for the late uploads. Due to unforeseen circumstances I have been working 10-12 hour days so I can't write or post as much as I want to.
It will be like this for the next 2-3 weeks after that we can go back to normal schedule so just bear with it for a little.
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Within minutes, the infiltration team landed on Prince Malrik's ship and Princess Seraphine was sent to the med bay for a medical checkup. While she didn't look to be hurt, it was proper procedure after rescuing a hostage in case the captors put something into their bodies.
Prince Malrik stood outside the medical bay, waiting for the doctors to complete their examination. Commander Thex approached with a datapad in his hands containing the latest battle reports.
"The rebel fleet is completely surrounded, my Prince. They've ceased firing and are requesting terms of surrender. Prince Consort Aldric is demanding to speak with you personally."
"Let him wait," Malrik replied. "What's the status of Duke Harmond?"
"Paralyzed from the neck down, but alive. His brain function remains intact, though he has no motor control whatsoever. We believe it's permanent damage."
"Good. He'll stand trial for his crimes, assuming King Valorian doesn't execute him first." Malrik turned as the medical bay doors opened. The chief physician stepped out, removing his gloves.
"The Princess is physically unharmed, my Prince. No injuries or foreign substances in her system. However, she's suffering from significant psychological trauma. Being held captive by her own husband tends to do that."
"Can she travel?"
"I'd recommend resting, but, if necessary, yes. Just keep the stress minimal."
Malrik nodded and entered the medical bay. Princess Seraphine sat on the examination table, wrapped in a thermal blanket. Her eyes were red from crying.
She looked up as he approached, "Prince Malrik," she said quietly. "Thank you for rescuing me. I... I didn't think anyone would come in time."
"Your father contacted my father directly," Malrik replied, his voice gentle as he knew just how fragile the Princess was. "My father does not abandon those who seek his protection. You are safe now."
"Aldric..." Seraphine's voice broke. "My husband. He was part of it. He helped his father kidnap me. How could he..."
"Betrayal from those we love cuts the deepest," Malrik acknowledged. "But you need to focus on your recovery now. Justice will be served, I promise you that."
"What will happen to him?"
"That depends on what you and your father decide. Under Imperial law, his crimes warrant execution. But the final judgment rests with King Valorian."
Seraphine closed her eyes, tears falling down her face. "I loved him. We were married for five years. And he threw it all away for his father's ambition."
"Well, he's a fool to abandon someone as beautiful as you," Malrik said, offering what comfort he could. "Rest now. We'll be rendezvousing with your father's fleet within the hour."
He left the medical bay and made his way to the detention block where Prince Consort Aldric was being held. The man sat in his cell with his head in his hands, looking broken as he reflected on his actions. When Malrik entered, Aldric looked up with desperate eyes.
"Prince Malrik, please, you have to understand. My father, he... he forced me into this. I never wanted to hurt Seraphine. I love her!"
"You love her?" Malrik's angrily replied. "You helped kidnap your own wife for a foolish choice. You stood by while she was held prisoner and chose your father's rebellion over her safety."
"I was trying to protect her! My father said if I did not cooperate, he would kill her immediately. What choice did I have?" he replied.
Prince Malrik shook his head in disgust. "It is often those with weak minds that must ask what choice they had after making the wrong choice. The correct choice would have been to fight for her and your own life until you either won or you lost it. Instead, you chose to betray her."
Aldric lowered his head as he kept trying to plead for his life. "Please, I'll do anything. I'll testify against my father, I'll renounce my title, just please don't kill me."
"Your fate isn't mine to decide," Malrik sighed. "That honor belongs to King Valorian and Princess Seraphine. I don't know what their decision will be, so you will have to plead to them."
He turned and left the detention block, leaving Aldric to contemplate his choices. Minutes later, Prince Malrik's fleet rendezvoused with King Valorian's battered loyalist forces. The King's flagship was battered with marks from weeks of combat, but it still flew the Kingdom's colors proudly.
Malrik arranged a meeting aboard his ship, and within the hour, King Valorian arrived with his senior military commanders. The King looked exhausted from the stress of the civil war, but his eyes lit up when he learned his daughter was safe.
"Where is she?" Valorian asked the moment he stepped off his shuttle.
"The medical bay, Your Majesty. She is physically unharmed but emotionally traumatized. The physicians recommend you speak with her gently."
Valorian didn't wait for further explanation, practically running behind the officer who led them toward the medical bay with his guards struggling to keep pace. Malrik walked behind, wanting to give the King some space to reunite with his daughter.
———
Meanwhile, Daimon had arrived within the Sith Empire's territory with his combined fleet of over 200,000 ships. He had accessed the Holocron vaults on Tython and reviewed the original Sith teachings he had provided to them centuries ago.
What he had found was the fact that the Sith throughout the centuries had corrupted his teachings, twisting the philosophy of controlled passion and strength through adversity into justification for slavery, conquest, and tyranny. He wanted them to advance their understanding of the dark side but do it through a more efficient and refined way which would create a major breakthrough in dark force arts.
While yes, this was mildly successful, it was interrupted by their divergence from the path caused by their expansion into their surrounding systems which exposed them to new things. It was also likely that they could not handle the dark side and would become completely corrupted rather than controlling it.
"They've learned nothing," Daimon muttered, reviewing the recent intelligence reports on Sith activities. "I gave them the knowledge they needed to guide them down a better path, but instead they allowed themselves to become lost."
Cortana stood beside him on the bridge, studying the same reports. "The Sith Emperor Vitiate has consolidated significant power. Intelligence suggests he has been conducting dark side rituals on a massive scale, consuming entire cities populations to extend his life force. Unlike you who learned from powerful Force entities, he seems to be trying to take a short cut to power."
"No matter his methods, taking a short cut to achieve what I have is impossible. He will become immensely powerful sure, but not powerful enough to achieve the level of mastery that I have." replied Daimon. He knew that the Sith Emperor was being controlled by some dark entity due to his visions and planned to face this dark entity eventually.
And now that the Sith have attacked them, there was no better time than now to get rid of two problems with one solution.
"So, what's the plan?" Sera asked, joining them on the bridge. "We can't exactly invade the entire Sith Empire while we're still at war with the Republic."
"We don't need to invade their entire empire," Daimon replied. "We just need to strike at the heart of their Empire and take out their leader. Set Course for Dromund Kaas. I am going to see this Emperor Vitiate personally."
No one on the bridge raised any objections, as they were accustomed to Daimon's behavior. Who would tell him that he cannot do something?"
"This is not going to be an invasion. I am going to walk right through the front door and confront the Emperor." Daimon stated.
Moments later, the fleet exited hyperspace at the edge of the Dromund Kaas system. It had been a while since Daimon was here. Compared to four centuries ago, the system was alive with activity. Within minutes, the Sith defense fleet had formed defensive positions around their capital world.
Daimon opened a channel to the Sith fleet. "This is Emperor Daimon of the Veldari Imperium. I will be speaking with your Emperor and I will land on Dromund Kaas within the hour. Any attempt to prevent this will result in the complete destruction of your defense fleet."
Daimon closed the channel and then proceeded to his transport ship which would be loaded up with him, Cortana, a few Empyrean Guards, and a few Balance Keepers.
As he exited the hanger of his ship, the Imperial fleet watched closely for any signs of the enemy attempting to launch a surprise attack. However, there was no attack and Daimon's transport ship was allowed to pass the fleet with no troubles at all.
From there, they entered the surface and were escorted to the Emperor's palace. The transport touched down on the landing platform of the palace. Daimon descended the ramp wearing his typical white and gold robes. Around them, the architecture was made out of dark stone designed to intimidate visitors.
At the base of the platform, a delegation of Sith Lords waited. At their head stood a tall figure in red armor, Darth Marr, a member of the Dark Council. His orders were to escort Daimon into the palace but also test his abilities and how powerful he was. The Sith had heard rumors but not all of them believed Daimon to be a Force God. Some simply viewed him as a strong force user.
Even now, Darth Marr couldn't sense any overwhelming presence coming from Daimon. But the reason for that was because Daimon was suppressing his force presence, giving them the illusion that he was not as strong as people say.
It was a tactic to see how they would react and deal with him.