Important links:

>Synopsis of Dark Empire (To quickly catch up)
https://pastebin.com/h7uFmbpt

>Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Dark+Empire

>Twitter feed I use to announce planned game times.
https://twitter.com/DarkEmpireQuest

>This is the map system I use for planning
http://www.swgalaxymap.com/

>Official political map
https://imgur.com/a/F3KmhF7


I allow between ten and fifteen minutes for voting depending on the importance of the issue and how divided the vote is. If the vote is tied up, I usually allow an extra five minutes for a tiebreaker, and if no one votes, I roll for the tiebreaker The will of the Dark Side.

I always try to incorporate (and encourage!) write-ins if they don't violate the spirit of voted decisions, though I may edit or tweak them to fit better.

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Byss. The mysterious, turquoise throneworld of the Empire. Your home. Most saw Imperial Center with its glittering towers and endless city sprawl as the center of power in the galaxy. Maybe they were right, but you also knew that Byss had been the staging ground for the greatest military turn around in galactic history. Maybe it would be so again.

The arrival of yours and Trier’s fleets caused quite a stir among the local garrison and- for a moment- you were afraid that Ederlathh’s corruptive influence had spread even here.

Instead, you were welcomed with open arms. A vast armada had grown in orbit of the world, warships of all sizes and description were assembled, each under the leadership of a separate officer or faction, each looking like a warlord waiting to happen. It reminded you too much of the old days when the Emperor was dead. It looked like the Empire was threatening to tear itself apart again.

There were positives though, it wasn’t all bad news. Chiefly among the good news (from a certain point of view) is the revelation that you, Baroness Alana Tyrna, are the highest ranking naval officer in the loyal Empire.

Zahn is dead, sacrificed on the front against Thrawn for incompetence. Oxtroe is evidently traitor. Men like Yazz and Lennox who have seniority on you are missing as well. The Imperial Navy, such as it is, falls to you.

That said, the situation in orbit is chaos, it’s taken the bulk of your staff officers to attempt to sort the various scattered units into a cohesive fighting force. You imagine the situation on the ground can’t be much different given the summons you’ve received from the Imperial Ruling Council.

You aren’t sure what to expect, but you know that you have to attend, if for no other reason than to satisfy curiosity about how the true Empire is functioning under these circumstances.

>Attend the meeting
>Other business first (write-in)

>>3326311
>Attend the meeting
Bring our commissar and a squad of commandos with us, just in case.

>>3326311

>Attend the meeting

>>3326311
>>Other business first (write-in)
Contact our father

>>3326311
Changing my vote
>>3326324
to support
>>3326333

I still want to attend the meeting though.

>>3326337
Guys we don't have time to fucking play daddy's girl, We need to get the Imperial council in fucking order or it will shattered like glass. It did it once and will again.

>>3326342
We can contact our dad before going to the meeting. This isn't a vote to skip, it's to get our things in order first.

>>3326311
>Attend the meeting

>>3326311
>Attend the meeting

Glad to see the decision to execute the Hapan fleet was the right one.

>Highest ranking naval officer
Well, this will either end very well or in disaster

>>3326311
I think we should contact Vende first. We are the highest ranking naval officer but we also need to ensure the Dark Side hierarchy won't betray us.

>Attend the meeting
>>3326324
>>3326351
>>3326353

>Amenge
>Father

Good news! They'll probably be there.

>Wiritng

You feel you have no time to waste not with the Empire so close to total chaos. You load an assault shuttle with a small team of bodyguards and your Komissiar, Lord Sallin, and set off for the surface.

The fact that the city wasn’t in flames was encouraging. In fact, things were in order everywhere you looked. Business on Byss carried on as usual without any sign of the turmoil gripping the galaxy at large.

Calls made to both your father and Vende go unanswered so you resolve to simply see who was present at the meeting.

The Emperor’s Citadel Tower is the site of the gathering, you see all available landing space is choked with shuttlecraft and every hatch and doorway has standing guards. No chances are being taken today. Once your identity is verified you’re ushered inside and led to a turbolift which races downward, into the sprawling underground bunker beneath the tower.

Moments later, you enter the council chambers and see the largest collection of Imperial leadership you believe has yet gathered. Captains, Commanders, Generals, Moffs, Ministers and of course the shadowy Dark Side cabal that Palpatine grew before his untimely removal from power.

All eyes are on you as you enter and you realize that this whole meeting is to be centered on you.

The faces of those present in the darkened auditorium glow white against the darkness, they show fear, uncertainty, disdain. You can read them even without the benefit of the Force. These are the faces of men and women who are thinking of the future. Their future. No one wants to be the one left holding the bill when the end comes.

(1/2)

File: LordBrakissArmor.jpg (98 KB, 713x1192)

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“Admiral Tyrna. Welcome.”

A red-armored figure addresses you from the center of a nearby table. You at once recognize Lord Brakiss, the Emperor’s right-hand man who had taken to being called ‘Darth Kalopsis’. There is no pleasure in his tone.

You nod solemnly and take stock of the room again. There are only two friendly faces in it. Your father, Minister Aldon Tyrna of the Ministry of Alien Labor, and Lord Vende Amenge, Baron of Byss and Grand Inquisitor.

“Admiral,” Brakiss continues, “I will be brief and open with you if you will be brief and open with me.”

“Of course, my Lord.”

“There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the state of affairs in the Empire at large. We know that the Duchess Ederlathh Pallipodes has betrayed us, we know that Admiral Yazz and Admiral Dalaa are missing in action and that others including Oxtroe and Lobkin have joined this growing coup. We know that Thrawn is in league with the traitors. The Emperor is missing, declared dead, and the Empire stands on the cusp of annihilation.” He pauses, fuming silently. “What is your assessment of the situation?”


>We must move quickly, take what we have and strike at the traitors at the capital without delay!
>We must take stock of what we have and prepare a campaign to overthrow the traitors.
>We must make immediate preparations to defend ourselves should Thrawn attack here.
>write in

>>3326421
>>We must take stock of what we have and prepare a campaign to overthrow the traitors.
>>We must make immediate preparations to defend ourselves should Thrawn attack here

>>3326421
>>We must move quickly, take what we have and strike at the traitors at the capital without delay!
We do not have the resources or forces to survive a grind with Thrawn. The only way to tip the scales in our favor is if we strike fast and hard, decisively beating the forces at the capitol and showing the Galaxy that the empire still lives through us.

>>3326421
>We must take stock of what we have and prepare a campaign to overthrow the traitors.
>With the Duchess having betrayed us, Thrawn is bound to be aware of the deep core and various other projects and thus we should react as such.

>We must move quickly, take what we have and strike at the traitors at the capital without delay!

The best offense is more fucking offense

File: george-patton.jpg (405 KB, 1240x800)

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>>3326442
my man
>“Attack rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and hungry you may be, the enemy will be more tired, more hungry. Keep punching.”

>>3326421
>We must move quickly, take what we have and strike at the traitors at the capital without delay!

>>3326421
>We must take stock of what we have and prepare a campaign to overthrow the traitors.
>>We must make immediate preparations to defend ourselves should Thrawn attack here.

>>3326475
Specifically, rally them to the flag of the emperor. We fight for order and the true order alone, this empress seeks to throw all our work away, so now we must make the final stretch and stamp out these upstarts

>We must take stock of what we have and prepare a campaign to overthrow the traitors.
>>3326436
>>3326431
>>3326487

>We must make immediate preparations to defend ourselves should Thrawn attack here
>>3326431
>>3326436
>>3326487

>We must move quickly, take what we have and strike at the traitors at the capital without delay!
>>3326434
>>3326437
>>3326475

Holding a few mins for tie break.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>1 Attack

>2 Defend and prepare

Rolling

>Patton

>Writing

You grit your teeth. “We don’t have time to debate our next course of action.” You raise your voice and look at the gathered leaders here. “Every moment we delay is a moment the pretender gathers power! It’s another moment that Xeno scum like Thrawn can consolidate their gains and prepare to attack us here!”

There is a general murmur through the chamber.

“You’re outnumbered, dear,” an aging moff calls, a haughty, disdainful grin on his face. “Perhaps as much as two to one.”

You turn and fix him with a stare, “Then we shoot twice and go home.”

Someone chuckles. You see your father grimace and Vende grins.

“We can’t possibly defeat them,” a commander calls. “Outnumbered? Attacking Imperial Center itself? We’d be slaughtered.”

“It’s been taken before, I’ve done it,” you say.

“Admiral Tyrna, with all respect, we sit here on the single most well-defended planet in the entire galaxy. We have one of the largest armadas ever assembled. To attack now is to throw all that away.”

You glance at Brakiss who has said nothing for your favor or against it. You sense trepidation in the room. Those men gathered here are not used to being the underdogs. They did it once and came out on top of course, but that was under the Emperor’s guidance. Now, here was some girl, a woman, a child, here to claim to lead them to victory.


>I wasn’t aware the navy had become a democracy. I am ranking officer here.
>Lord Brakiss, what is your stance?
>If you want to stay here and miss the greatest victory ever achieved by Imperial arms, be my guest.
>Write in

>>3326571

>I wasn’t aware the navy had become a democracy. I am ranking officer here.

>>3326571
>You would have us just sit here and wait for them to amass all the power they can, to access every secret the emperor had squirreled away so that they could bring to bear on us? Are we to simply let them have every shipyard, every warship, every fighter, every planet? No, we must strike before they can consolidate power. It is our only option

>A defensive stance simply allows Thrawn to strengthen his hold on the worlds outside Byss, giving him time and ability to drown us in numbers. If we remain on the defensive it will delay our loss, but that loss will be guaranteed. Better to strike hard and strike quickly, before his coalition has had time to fully settle. A victory could win those who might otherwise sit on the fence over to our side, and a loss merely hastens what would occur regardless. But we will not lose.

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>>3326588
>>3326586
Combination of these. The power of Patton flows through us

After the meeting we should do a full-on Patton speech to the fleet.

>>3326579
>>3326586
>>3326588
>>3326594

>Writing

You give your full malice to the last man who spoke, lowering your voice to be dangerously quiet, your eyes hardening until they were sharp like diamonds. “I wasn’t aware the navy had become a democracy in my absence.”

No one speaks.

You turn to address the room again, “I am the ranking officer here. I will make the decisions about how we employ our military.” You continue, accusing your naysayers “You would have us just sit here and wait for them to amass all the power they can, to access every secret the emperor had squirreled away so that they could bring to bear on us?” You spread your arms, inviting the question. “Are we to simply let them have every shipyard, every warship, every fighter, every planet? No, we must strike before they can consolidate power. It is our only option.”

You wait to let this settle in and then address your comments to the rest of the officers present, explaining your idea in cooler tones.

“A defensive stance simply allows Thrawn to strengthen his hold on the worlds outside Byss, giving him time and ability to drown us in numbers. If we remain on the defensive it will delay our loss, but that loss will be guaranteed. Better to strike hard and strike quickly, before his coalition has had time to fully settle. A victory could win those who might otherwise sit on the fence over to our side, and a loss merely hastens what would occur regardless. But we will not lose.”

Another murmur sweeps the audience, this one stronger, more determined. You feel the crowd uniting behind you. Perhaps there is hope after all.

You turn now to Brakiss who is staring at you from his seat at the table. “Admiral Tyrna, I think we all agree that the traitors must be wiped from the galaxy as soon as possible, but I remind you that you are not the final say on these matters.”

Cold fear sweeps you. You can suddenly sense it, just beneath the surface, a simmering conflict, a power struggle. If you defer to Brakiss now, you may lose your grip on control over the navy, but at the same time, you might risk sparking a confrontation, assuming others don’t support you.

You spare a glance at your lover, Grand Inquisitor Vende Amenge. He’s had his sights set on Brakiss’s position, perhaps if you make a united front, you could remove him from power. Or perhaps you’ll just spawn the infighting that tore apart the last council.


>Of course, my Lord. I defer to your judgment
>I respectfully disagree Lord Brakiss, but I am
>I believe that’s a decision of the council at large
>Write in

>>3326685
>I believe that’s a decision of the council at large

>>3326685
>I respectfully disagree Lord Brakiss, but I am when it comes to naval matters and war.

>>3326685
>I respectfully disagree Lord Brakiss, but I am
Not to disrespect you, but in matters of military maneuvers, we in the navy have the experience and the know how on the ways of war. Allow us to take the initiative on how this war is fought, and we shall have the empire liberated faster then the darksiders alone will be capable of

>>3326685
>>I believe that’s a decision of the council at large
I can't wait for the new Triumvirate of Alana, Vende and Vells

>>3326685
Of course, can you point me out to the highest ranking officer in the matters of our navy and military?

>I believe that’s a decision of the council at large

>>3326704
>Vells
Get the fuck outta here
>>3326698
Support

>>3326706
Change to >>3326698
But without "than the darksiders" onward

>>3326704
>Triumvarite
No, that's called a ménage à trois

>All this stuff you hear about the Empire not wanting to fight, wanting to stay out of the war, is a lot of bullshit. Imperials love to fight. All real citizens love the sting and clash of battle. When you were kids, you all admired the champion womp shooter, the fastest swoop racer, the big-league pazaak players and the toughest shockboxers. The Empire loves a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Our fleets fight to conquer everything. That's why the Empire has never lost and will never lose a war. The very thought of losing is hateful to the Empire. Battle is the most significant competition in which a human can indulge. It brings out all that is best and it removes all that is base. The very thought of losing is hateful to Imperials. Battle is the most significant competition in which a citizen can indulge. It brings out all that is best and it removes all that is base.

>An Empire is a team. It lives, eats, sleeps, and fights as a team. This individual hero stuff is bullshit. The bilious bastards who write that stuff for the Coruscant City Post don't know any more about real battle than they do about fucking. And we have the best team—we have the finest food and equipment, the best spirit and the best soldiers in the galaxy. Why, by God, I actually pity these poor bastards we're going up against.

>Sure, we all want to go home. We want to get this war over with. But you can't win a war lying down. The quickest way to get it over with is to get the bastards who started it. We want to get the hell over there and clean the goddamn thing up, and then get at those purple-pissing Hutts. The quicker they are whipped, the quicker we go home. The shortest way home is through Coruscant and Thrawn’s Flagship. So keep moving. And when we get to Coruscant, I am personally going to shoot that paper-hanging son-of-a-bitch Duchess.

>I don't want any messages saying 'I'm holding my position.' We're not holding a goddamned thing. We're advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding anything except the enemy's balls. We're going to hold him by his balls and we're going to kick him in the ass; twist his balls and kick the living shit out of him all the time. Our plan of operation is to advance and keep on advancing. We're going to go through the enemy like shit through a Rancor.

>Then there's one thing you men will be able to say when this war is over and you get back home. Thirty years from now when you're sitting by your fireside with your grandson on your knee and he asks, 'What did you do in the great Imperial Schism?' You won't have to cough and say, 'Well, your granddaddy shoveled bantha shit in Byss.' No sir, you can look him straight in the eye and say 'Son, your granddaddy rode with the great Imperial Navy and a son-of-a-goddamned-bitch named Bloody Baroness!'

>All right, you sons of bitches. You know how I feel. I'll be proud to lead you wonderful bastards in battle anytime, anywhere. That's all.

For reference

>I believe that’s a decision of the council at large
>>3326693
>>3326704

>I respectfully disagree Lord Brakiss
>>3326694
>>3326698
>>3326705 (write in)
>>3326715

>NoU

>Writing

>>3326730
https://pastebin.com/dfuG83aM
Full version.

You swallow your fear and bury your indecision. “I must respectfully disagree, Lord Brakiss.”

You see his nostrils flare, eyes flashing with anger.

You don’t stop. “When it comes to naval matters and war, I am the last word. Unless you can indicate another higher ranking military officer?”

You sense Brakiss is about to explode at you so you quickly press on, “I mean no disrespect, but in the matters of military maneuver, we n the navy have the experience and the know-how in the ways of war.”

You hear a quiet murmur of agreement.

“Allow us to take the initiative in how this war is fought and we shall have the empire liberated faster than anyone else would be capable of.”

The Dark Lord of the Sith stares down at you, eyes wide with fury.

“I motion that the council supports Admiral Tyrna’s resolution.”

You look, with some surprise, to your father who spoke. He stands, addressing his peers.

“Further, I motion that we- acting in the Emperor’s stead- appoint her to the rank of Grand Admiral that she may lead our fleet with the full authority of the Empire.”

There is only silence.

“I second the motion,” Amenge says, voice clear and firm.

You lock eyes with him and see the hint of a smile on his lips.

Many other voices quickly ascent. Brakiss says nothing but smolders.

“Lord Brakiss, I believe the resolution has passed,” Your father says.

“So it has,” Brakiss replied. “By the Admiral- Grand Admiral’s own admission, this council’s power is purely ceremonial. See to it then, Tyrna. You have your mind about it.”

Brakiss stands and turns on heel with a flourish of his cape, a handful of Blackguard following him out.

In a moment, men and women you hardly know are clapping you on the back and shaking your hand. Someone calls you ‘the Hero of Coruscant’ before another calls: “No, the Bloody Baroness!”

You’re surrounded by so much cheering you think to remind them that the battle has yet to be fought.

“Grand Admiral,” Amenge is suddenly beside you, his cool eyes on yours, a hand on your upper arm, “Perhaps you’d like to come with me?”

>Yes
>In a moment (write in)

>>3326793
>>In a moment (write in)
I would like to say hi to our father. might be the last time we see him

>>3326793
Supporting
>>3326801

>Yes

>>3326801
This

>>3326801
+1

>>3326793
backing this >>3326801

>>3326793
>In a moment (write in)
Fleet speech immediately, then threesome with vells

You pat his arm, “One moment, Grand Inquisitor.” You pull away and trot over to your father who is still seated at the council table.

“Father,” you say by way of greeting.

“Alana.” He doesn’t look happy, he looks tired, beaten, exhausted.

“Are you alright?”

He thinks, then shakes his head. “I’ve given everything I have for this Empire, Alana. I gave it all so you might grow up in a galaxy free of the scourge of war. And this is the result.”

You can think of no words to console him.

Instead, he looks up at you and smiles faintly. “I know you’ll succeed. You’re smart, bloody-minded, but smart. I only hope that your children will grow up free from the nightmare we’ve been dealt.”

“Emperor willing,” you say, “We’ll make it a reality.”

“There is something else, Grand Admiral.” He leans in close, “A product of my yards here, something I’ve managed to keep Brakiss’s clutches off of. A ship.”

“A ship?”

Now he’s smiling, something you can’t recall the last time you saw. “Executor-Class. A ship like we used to make, Alana, in the golden days, before the dark times. Before the rebellion. The ship is freshly finished. I should like you to have it.”

You’re stunned, speechless, but only for a moment. “Yes, of course!”

He smiles back. “Then it’s yours.”


>Eclipse
>Annihilation
>Emperor’s Fist
>write in

>>3326879
>write in
Emperor's Vengeance

>>3326879
>Emperor’s Fist
Nice

>>3326879
>Emperor's fist or Vengeance

>The Phantom Menace

:^)

>>3326879
>Emperor's Vengeance
Kiss him like a teenage girl getting a gift from her bf

>>3326879
Emperor's vengeful fist

>>3326879
>Revenge of the Sith :")
Kiss

>>3326888
Changing my vote to Emperor's Vengeance

>>3326879
>write in
Jar-Jar's Retribution

>Emperor's Vengence
>writing

“The navy had some ridiculous name lined up, some old battle or world. We’ve taken to calling it the Emperor’s Vengeance.”

You smile at the name. How fitting.

“I’ll put it to good work, father.”

“I’m sure.” He looks over your shoulder to where Vende stands waiting a short distance away. “I won’t keep you from your business. We’ll talk when you come home again. Soon.”

“Yes. Thank you, father.”

You part company awkwardly and return to Vende. It occurred to you to kiss your father on the cheek, except that you haven’t done that in over two decades and you’re also surrounded by your peers and don’t want to come across like a child.

Vende leads you from the press of officials and nobles until the two of you find a quiet side passage, dimly lit by glow panels that line the floor. Your back is against the durasteel wall and your arms are pinned beside your head, Vende’s hands around your wrists. Your lips tingle with what feels like an electric current as he kisses you, slowly, passionately.

Too soon, the kiss is broken and you find yourself staring up into Vende’s eyes, just a breath away. He lets go of your arms and you instantly put them around him, grateful to have someone to hold after the tense fear you felt before the council.

(1/2)

“You were amazing, Alana,” he says. “The entire Empire stands united behind you. I can see it, the battle ahead. A battle greater than any I’ve studied. The battle for the future of our Empire.”

You nod eagerly. “I know. I only hope we’re swift enough to win.”

Vende’s smiles fades, “Things might be more complicated than that.”

“What? What do you mean?”

The Grand Inquisitor checks both ways, exhales slowly and closes his eyes. “The Apprentice. Brakiss. He won’t settle for this. You know that with his master dead, he would ascend to become the heir to the Sith.”

You didn’t know that but now that you do you have to wonder how sincere Brakiss will be in his efforts to save the Emperor. At the same time, “Then . . . he’s not dead?”

“No,” Amenge says. “Alana. What I am about to tell you is a secret that few even in the ruling council know.” he sighs. “The Emperor’s rebirth was equal parts magic and science. On Byss we’ve maintained a stock of clone bodies should he die.”

You always suspected as much but . . . to hear it spelled out is shocking none the less.

“They’ve all been destroyed by sabotage. All but one, Alana. That body is in stasis in the depths of the Citadel, here.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, that the Emperor isn’t dead.” he shakes his head, “I can’t feel him in the force, but . . . if he were dead, truly dead, then he would surely return to his new body as he did before.”

You nod, following his logic. “You think Ederlathh knows this?”

“Yes. I think she knows that he can be reborn and I think she’s holding him captive.”

The Emperor? Captive? You struggle to imagine the man you’d once seen annihilate a fleet with the force in prison. “How?”

“I don’t know how. But Alana, if Brakiss thinks it’s his only chance . . . he may take action.”

“Emperor’s bones . . .” the idea that Brakiss might kill the last clone body hits you like a cold weight. “You don’t think he-” No, of course he would. You know what kind of monster Brakiss is.

“Alana, it’s not a risk we can afford to take. He must be stopped.”

You don’t like the sound of this, “How?”

“You leave it to me. I just need to know that I have the Navy’s backing. We can’t afford a civil war or a power struggle, but this has to be done. Don’t you see?”


>Deal with Brakiss
>Leave Brakiss alone
>Write in

>>3326993
>>Deal with Brakiss
Brakiss is as dangerous as any enemy fleet. He must be dealt with.

It's the night of long sabers

>>3326993
>Deal with Brakiss
Let's make sure we have Vende and Salin with us until we get into orbit, preferably before Brakiss does. Then, we just shoot him down

>>3326993
>>Leave Brakiss alone
We have more leverage to do this once we return victorious

Let's be real, If Brakiss dies here Vende Is just going to step up as the next sith In line to take the throne. There's no real victory here, especially If we fail In dispatching him. I'm not even saying killing him off Is a bad idea but this Is Incredibly risky. All It takes Is his force tingles giving him warning and him jumping ship before anyone can fire on It, and taking an Avenger Into hyperspace, then THAT ghost will haunt us quite literally forever.

So yeah, we need to be careful.

>>3326993
>Leave Brakiss alone

>>3326993
>Deal with Brakiss

>>3326993
>Deal with Brakiss

>Deal with Brakiss
>>3326999
>>3327003
>>3327044
>>3327053


>Leave Britney Alone
>>3327006
>>3327033
>>3327035

>Deal with him

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57 KB JPG

>>3327057
Looks like we're doing It. Warm up your dice rolling hand just In case gents.

I didn't actually vote for anything, I was just voicing my thoughts on the scenario.

And just so It's out there, everyone knows Vende Is clearly manipulating us, we just don't give a shit right?

>>3327084
no, Alana craves power and the D too

You chew your lip for a moment. It seemed like yesterday you were a low-grade officer on Strike-Class cruiser. You thought you’d hit your glass ceiling then. But now . . . now you were deciding the fate of the very empire. Suppose the Emperor should disagree with your plan? Suppose Brakiss was to catch word of it? So much could go wrong.

Even- you think with some guilt- even if this were simply Vende’s excuse to remove a rival.

Still, if he were right, if Brakiss were contemplating what Vende feared . . .

“The Navy won’t interfere with you,” you say. “Do what must be done. But . . . only if you’re sure”

Vende nods slowly and solemnly. “I won’t make a move until I’m certain. I plan to remain behind and keep an eye on him. Once he moves . . . I’ll move.”

“You’re remaining behind?” You ask, deflating.

“I am. I’m sorry, Alana. Someone must stay to make sure the more . . . ambitious . . . members of the Empire don’t get any ideas.”

It was a role Sedriss had performed before you know, and Vende would perform now. “Very well.”

Vende kisses your lips again, softly. “You’ll do well.”

“Thank you.” You are terrible at goodbyes.

Vende makes it easier, “We’ll see one another when the fighting is done.” He turns and, with a swirl of his cape, walks off.

***

You don’t delay and, once preparations on the ground are made, you return to orbit, to the Byss orbital shipyards where Emperor’s Vengeance waits, circling high over the world. An impossibly long, white-plated visage of death, a fitting instrument for your return.

Already your bridge crew from Undying have taken position and are preparing the ship for action. You review data print outs of your force. Between your fleet, Trier’s fleet, the Corellian Defense Force under Colonel Tierce, and the Byss garrison, you amass nearly sixty Star Destroyers and their escorts, not to mention your new flagship.

All that remains now is to use it.


>Launch an immediate surprise attack on Imperial Center
>Lay an Ambush at Ruan
>Split the fleet and try to locate more loyalist forces
>Write in

>>3327094
>>Launch an immediate surprise attack on Imperial Center
We're going to lose

>>3327084
lesser of two evils imo

>Launch an immediate surprise attack on Imperial Center
Lets put our money where our mouth is. We probably have most of the loyalists with us anyway. No use running around trying to find the other admirals. We should organize our fleet though

>>3327084
I want to break up with him as soon as we have the emps or some other powerful force user to protect us

>>3327094

>Launch an immediate surprise attack on Imperial Center

>>3327094
>Launch an immediate surprise attack on Imperial Center
>>3327109
Emps is dead. Lumiya will kill him if we win the battle and both Brakiss and Vende will destroy his last body to claim the mantle of the Sith for themselves.

>>3327120
>thinking the emps will die so easily
I doubt it. I'm expecting an escape sequence next week, maybe with the aid of some still loyal dark siders

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>Launch an immediate surprise attack on Imperial Center

>Witnessed

I've got to stop here for the night, have a big day tomorrow.

Thanks for coming by guys!

Next week: The Battle for Coruscant (the third time this game) as well as The Fate of the Emperor and Apprentice.

7est (11 UTC) Next Thursday. See you then!

https://twitter.com/DarkEmpireQuest
https://discord.gg/WMEDDgX

>>3327146
Man it always surprises me how sexy not scared Palpatine is.

File: 263453567596.png (267 KB, 513x709)

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Interesting dynamic with how all the factions of the Empire are involved in the shakeup. It looks like the naval battles will end up with Alana and Thrawn battling against each other, the experienced veteran against the new prodigy. In a similar fashion, on the Force side of things, the powerful but weakened Emperor will be trying to fend off / outmaneuver his trainees while they fight over pieces of the Imperial pie. Sort of a young vs. old theme across the board.

...This is going to be such a clusterfuck. And we haven't even seen how Imperial Intelligence is interfering yet.

>>3327146
I am beyond hype for this battle.

>>3327458
What I wanna know is, where are the World Devastators?

>>3327458
We are going to get Joan of Arc'd aren't we?

>>3326304
>“I have discovered the remains of our Hapan reinforcements.”

Feminists BTFO

Fun thread as always, things having gotten exciting again after a bit of a slump. Being outnumbered and outgunned always makes for a better story.
What's Isard's status in all this?
Also, I fear we will be walking into a trap over Coruscant, based on Alana's previous actions this is pretty an obvious deduction for Thrawn to make, hell, you don't even need to be Thrawn to know that.

>>3327571
You mean captured by rebels and then executed in public square as if we were Tarkin 2.0? Probably.

>>3327625
Yeah. Hopefully the rebels or Ederlathh have gentler methods of execution for a war criminal that does not involve fire (as if).

>>3327084
Obviously, but it's still true that Brakiss is Alana's eternal enemy after she embarrassed him in front of the entire Imperial military, civilian, and darkside leadership.

He wants the throne too but at least he'd rather fuck her than cut off her head.

For now

>>3327288
The Hotness of the Dark Side

>>3327458
>Cluster
God I hope so

>>3327553
>Hype
Yea boi

>World Devies
Forgot to mention, Silencer-1 is with Alana's armada.

>Wondering about Isard
I also forgot to mention that Isard is not on Byss, whereabouts unknown. Speculation is that she's either with the coup or went into hiding out of fear of retribution for failing to spot it.

>>3327845
Yeah Isards fucked now. We did say we were going to fuck her up If she ever seriously failed us again, didn't we?

>>3327963
She's likely to be somewhere in the outer Rim starting her own empire again if she isn't a traitor.

>>3327963
She has one way of saving herself: She knew the coup was inevitable and ingratiated herself with Alana, knowing she could undermine her from the inside and save Palpatine. Basicly, if she helps save palps with some spec ops shit, she'll be forgotten. If not...
We'll, there's never a lack of people who are interested or eligible in becoming the new Director of Intelligence. Pity it's a struggle to the death now, Thrawn might actually have made an excellent replacement.

>>3327845
You know what would make things more fun?

The remaining republic armada with the remaining jedi jumping in and attacking the surviving fleet.

>>3328634
I already called that shit, It's totally gonna happen. If we get the opportunity I am all for setting up an ambush on the hyperlane In In preparation for REBEL SCUM.

>>3328601
If Isard’s personal star destroyer hasn’t burst from Coruscant’s underground then I bet she’s still on the planet

>>3327845
Great read thanks

t. lurker

>>3328634
The winner gets ambushed by Hutts

>>3328634
>Imperial Remnant (Alana) v Coruscant (Duchess) v Thrawn v Remnants of the Consortium v New Republic Remnants
It all ends with a free for all lightsaber battle between Palps, dark side loyalists, dark side rebels, cultist wannabees and jedi on the battlements of the Imperial Palace as Star destroyers, super star destroyers, world devastators of all factions duke it out in the skies above

>>3328634
>tfw everything was an elaborate trap to destroy the Jedi
Palpaltine strikes again!

>>3340976
>Destroying innumerable lives and materials Including those of his own subjects and creating a mad downward spiral of galactic chaos

>Just to sell It to the Jedi that the bloodbath Isn't a trap

If Luke Skywalker ports In with the rebel fleet just to get a Tarkin Giga laser to the face I would laugh, laugh endlessly.

Wait a second. We never used that against the rebels. They don't know we have It. OOH WAIT. Alana has a ship of equal quality as the Tarkin now, she can FIRE that laser.

Oh my god this Is gonna be fun. Can we Instagib Thrawn In his SSD? Can you imagine the shock? The salt?

>>3340976
can't peev the sheev

>>3341492
I could have sworn we used the superlaser at least once early in the campaign, so it would be public knowledge by now. TK?

>>3342408
oh, looked it up. We also used it against the rebels above Dac, on a golan station. Everybody knows about it, even if they didn't before.
Plus, if thrawn has coruscant he has access to the ubiqutorate and the entire information system of intelligence. You know that would be one of the first things he got his hands on. He knows everything we knew up to recently, by now.

>>3342408
The Superlaser is known at least within Imperial military circles, the Rebels likely know as well

File: Teshik.jpg (51 KB, 390x486)

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Am I in the right place?

>>3343297
always!

File: Brakiss_negtc.jpg (217 KB, 618x880)

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The turbolift doors hiss open, the light of the small lift car casting a broad, diffuse rectangle of visibility into the dim chamber.

The three men in the turbolift stepped out into the humid, sharp air. All around them the vast room was filled with tubes and pipes, all terminating in a scattering of transparisteel cylinders scattered around the room, cloning vats that had once held clones bodies of the Emperor, but were now empty. All save one.

In the center of the room is a single cylinder with a youthful, as-yet unawakened body. It is the body of the Emperor, resting in a dreamless state, waiting simply for his spirit to come to it through the force assuming he had already lost his life.

“There,” Brakiss says, pointing the body to his two comrades, a pair of armored blackguard. “Let’s finish this.”

Brakiss and his followers are not alone here.

You are Grand Inquisitor Vende Amenge, Lord of Byss and head of the Empire’s effort to track down and turn all the force sensitives in the galaxy. In a swift move, you step from the shadows, flanked by two of your most loyal, most powerful Inquisitors.

Brakiss bristles at the sight of you, around you, the force roils with emotions, fear and anger permeate everything.

“Step aside!” Brakiss declares, unclipping his lightsaber from his belt. “You’re interfering with things above your level *inquisitor*.”

>”Surrender Brakiss, it’s all over.”
>”Why are you doing this? After all the Emperor has done.”
>Attack him
>Write in

>>3348703
>Attack him

>>3348703
>Attack him

>>3348711
>>3348716

>Writing

There would be no second chance, no negotiations. After all, what would there be to discuss?

You snap on your saber and rush forward, your companions following suit.

Brakiss barely gets his own saber activated in time to crudely parry your attack and take a few steps back.

Beside you, an Inquisitor bisects one of the Blackguard who drops in two smoking halves.

“You’re a fool, Amenge,” Brakiss snarls, “You always have been. You’re so lost in your poems, and plays and pottery shards that you forgot what it truly means to be a Sith!”

Barely avoiding a wide swipe at your neck, you roll aside and back up to your feet, Brakiss whirling to face you.

His remaining blackguard finishes off one of your guards, a blood-red saber scything through the back of his head, facial cybernetics exploding outward in a hail of sparks and smoke.

“You seek to topple our Master at his most vulnerable moment?” You counter charge, batting at his saber with yours as you circle one another, looking for an opening.

“What better time?” the Sith apprentice shoots back. “The Empire doesn’t need a lifeless corpse in a tube! As long as that lives we have no hope. The Empire needs an Emperor at its helm. That old fool is doomed.”

“You’ll destroy us all,” you say, dumbfounded.

“I’ll outlive you at least.” Brakiss jukes around your guard and lashes out, cutting a smoking line across your bicep and trailing fire over your nerves.

With a scream, you turn away, narrowly avoiding a decapitating blow.

“You’re no Sith! You’re pathetic!” You’re thrown back by the Force, momentarily weightless until you crash into the side of an empty cylinder.

Behind Brakiss, the lone remaining Blackguard has arrived, out of breath, clutching a wounded arm in one hand and his flickering saber in the other.

(1/2)

“Finish him,” Brakiss says, rushing for the Emperor’s lost body.

You feel rage at your weakness, the same weakness that let your parents dominate your life so fully, the same weakness that crippled you until you found the strength the Darkside had to offer.

The Blackguard raises his saber overhead for a brutal, killing stroke. The bones in his arms shatter from invisible pressure. The scream that comes from his helmet is oddly sterilized of his humanity, more the sound of a failing droid than a sound of pain.

You regain your feet, hand still outstretched, eyes flashing yellow. This blackguard is a clumsy thing. A tool, a crude weapon, a thug given a lightsaber and enough insight to use it, nothing more.

With a flick of a finger, his head wrenches around with a crackle of bone and plasteel and you let the corpse fall like a puppet with cut strings.

“Brakiss!” Your voice carries in the nearly silent cloning chamber.

The two of you stand alone and for just a moment, nothing happens. In a flash, you’re upon him again, blades twirling and clashing in a shower of sparks and the squeal of misplaced energy. The shadows and fog of the room are bathed in the bloody light of your swords as together your work your way toward the center of the room, inexorably closer to the last body.

Finally, the Apprentice rebounds off of you, stepping back, panting, beads of sweat run down his face and drip from his chin. “You’re stronger than I remembered. It seems you’ve done more than childishly obsess over that girl.”

You narrow your eyes but say nothing.

“You’re not my equal,” Brakiss says, “But perhaps in time you will be. Why not join me, Vende? Serve at my right hand and wait for your own chance to claim the title of master?”

A hollow promise if you ever heard one. You take the moment to tighten your grip on your saber, willing the Force to surround you and serve you. “I’d sooner die.”

Brakiss snorts, “If you wish.”

He raises his blade for a wide downward strike, setting you up perfectly to take a guard stance, it is then you realize he is not striking for you. He’s swinging for the vat, for your master. In one move he can kill what may be the last hope of the Empire and of the Sith.


>Sacrifice yourself that the Emperor’s body may live and Brakiss will be defeated
>Let him strike down the empty vessel, it will create a perfect chance for you to kill him

***
For total clarity: there are only two possible outcomes. The clone body dies and Amenge Lives or Amenge dies and the clone body lives. Either choice will kill the Traitor Apprentice.

>>3348822
>Sacrifice yourself that the Emperor’s body may live and Brakiss will be defeated

>>3348822
Sacrifice ourselves, save the emperor

>>3348822
>Let him strike down the empty vessel, it will create a perfect chance for you to kill him

>>3348822
>Let him strike down the empty vessel, it will create a perfect chance for you to kill him

>>3348822
>Sacrifice yourself that the Emperor’s body may live and Brakiss will be defeated

>>3348822
>Sacrifice yourself

Maybe the Emperor will reward us.

>>3348822
>Let him strike down the empty vessel, it will create a perfect chance for you to kill him
Palps isn't dead YET...

>>3348852
How?

>>3348859
He put his one with lad inside a new body. Palps could do that again I think.

>>3348857
Yes but when he gets killed on the ship after this body is gone his fucking gone

>>3348822
>Sacrifice yourself that the Emperor’s body may live and Brakiss will be defeated

>>3348866
>when
IF he gets killed

>>3348876
Why do you think this body is being attacked if not to ensure plaps is killed on the holo-net

>Sacrifice yourself
>>3348830
>>3348831
>>3348840
>>3348852
>>3348873

>Let him strike down the empty vessel
>>3348834
>>3348837
>>3348857


>For the greater good.
>Writing

>>3348822
>Let him strike down the empty vessel, it will create a perfect chance for you to kill him

>>3348822
>Let him strike down the empty vessel, it will create a perfect chance for you to kill him

>Sacrifice yourself
>>3348830
>>3348831
>>3348840
>>3348852
>>3348873

>Let him strike down the empty vessel
>>3348834
>>3348837
>>3348857
>>3348901
>>3348902

Holding for tie break.

>>3348905
>offer yourself up for the emperor

>>3348889
Because of Sith autism. Also the Emperor was said to be dead by the traitors, a lie seeing to the fact that he’s not in his clone body, so he wouldn’t be killed on the holo-net. Also unless Amenge is really powerful with the force he can’t get in a clone body cause of power required to do so, if I remember correctly.

>>3348905
>strike down the empty vessel
Fuck I almost did not vote from how difficult this was

>>3348822
>Sacrifice yourself that the Emperor’s body may live and Brakiss will be defeated

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>Sacrifice yourself
>>3348830
>>3348831
>>3348840
>>3348852
>>3348873
>>3348908
>>3348918


>Let him strike down the empty vessel
>>3348834
>>3348837
>>3348857
>>3348901
>>3348902
>>3348916


Because of the VERY high volume of 1 vote IDs and the closeness of the vote, I am going to roll for it. The Dark Side will decide his fate.

>1 Sacrifice himself

>2 Let the clone die

>2 Let the clone die

It is done.

>Writing

>>3348935
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN

based

>>3348935
what the fuck

>>3348935
Local 1 ID's which we will never see again ruin everything and disappear. more news at 9

>>3348953
hey man fuck you just because I don't post doesn't mean I'm not real

>>3348960
You're not a person

>>3348918
>>3348908
>>3348873
>>3348852
>>3348840
>>3348831
>>3348830
7 votes

>>3348834
>>3348837
>>3348857
>>3348901
>>3348902
>>3348916
6 votes

I'm moderately peeved right now TK

>>3348970
NO U

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You’re astute enough to know the difference between a clone vessel and your Master.

Brakiss swings, his blade piercing the glass with a crash and hacking the lifeless body in two. He does nothing else before his draw drops soundlessly open in shock. Looking down, he sees your blade piercing his chest for a moment before the Grand Inquisitor draws it back out.

The Apprentice, as dead as the body in the tube, falls to the durasteel plated floor, motionless, eyes unfocused.

With a heavy sigh, you snap the saber off and clip it to your belt. It all depends on Alana now. The last hope of the Empire.

***

The bridge of Emperor’s Vengeance was gleaming and polished, quite literally factory fresh, Many of the control consoles were still protected by plastic film the crew had been pulling off throughout the journey. It was a fine flagship, the finest of any you’d ever commanded. Vengeance possessed enough raw firepower to reduce a single fleet to space dust, it was nearly the pinnacle of combat engineering.

“Ten minutes to target,” Navigation says to you.

You nod, standing motionlessly in the center of the desk, hands clasped behind your back. The armada under your control represented virtually the entire Imperial Navy. Just about Sixty Star Destroyers, a mixture of Imperial-Class and Invicta-Class were arrayed, along with their escorts, centered on your mighty flagship.

Still, it may not be enough. All you have in your favor, besides the rightness of your cause, is the surprise of such a bold strike. Years of war have honed the abilities of you and your crew to conduct such rapid, close-matched hyperspace jumps that will enable you to swiftly concentrate at the proverbial head of the snake, Imperial Center.

“Communications,” you say, “Get me a fleet-wide channel.”

There is a pause, “Yes, Grand Admiral.”

The white uniform suits you, you think, the gold epaulets were a bit gaudy, but you like the cape. Still, it gives you an air of authority you’ve always naturally commanded, one not reinforced by your appearance.

“Fleet-wide, Grand Admiral.”

You clear your throat softly before speaking. “Citizens and soldiers of the Empire, now will be our finest hour. The eyes of the galaxy are upon us. Ahead of us lies the most devious, and villainous foe we have ever crossed beams with. Behind us . . . lies everything we care about. Our families, our homes, the individual threads that weave the fabric of this Empire.”

(1/2)

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But what is an Empire without an Emperor? You push the thought aside. If Vende was right, the Emperor is alive. Somewhere.

“There is fear, yes, all of us feel it. Anyone who says that they do not is a liar. True heroes will fight through this fear. They will duty their duty despite it and will never let it overpower their honor or love of their Empire.”

You swallow and continue. “My reputation is as well known to me as it is to you. The Bloody Baroness. On that topic, I will say this: no battle was ever won by dying for the Empire. Instead, I propose we make those sorry bastards die for it instead.”

Someone of the bridge gives a half cheer. You see a nearby Stormtrooper nod approval. You press on.

“Men, women, this is our time. Now is our moment. Will you join me in rising to meet fate? Let us stand together, united as one voice. They will not destroy what we have built.” You narrow your eyes, fixed on the invisible epicenter of the hyperspace vortex ahead of you, the gateway to Imperial Center and to victory.

“As one voice let us cry out! For the Empire!”

“For the Empire!” The cry is taken up across the bridge of Emperor’s Vengeance and across the fleet as you race toward glory.

***

“Exiting hyperspace!”

The azure swirl collapses, stars resolving to points of light and the glittering orb of Imperial Center racing up to meet you.

“Multiple comscan contacts,” Sensors says.

“Resolve those targets!” Lieutenant Zepal orders.

“Ma’am. It’s the enemy fleet.”

You’ve caught them unaware, that much is obvious. Their force is larger than yours, but it’s scattered, disorganized, and ripe for a rapid strike. The question remains where to deliver it?”

The targets are identified in seconds and ship names begin rolling in. Soon you see that the traitor fleet is divided into three parts. The first, far left is Thrawn’s contingent, fresh from fighting on the Rim. To the far right, Oxtroe’s forces centered around Tarkin with Lobkin’s backing.

Alone, close to your jump point is what could charitably be called an auxiliary group and more realistically be called a pirate band under Moff Tavira.

It would be easy enough to snuff her force out but may give time for the others to concentrate together. You might also screen one force while striking the other, hopefully overwhelming them before their full power could be brought to bear.


>Crush Tavira’s pirate band
>Screen thrawn and attack the Traitors
>Screen the traitors and attack Thrawn
>Write in

>>3349016
>Screen the traitors and attack Thrawn
Full speed ahead, trash them and then try to slingshot around the planet

>>3349016
>Screen the traitors and attack Thrawn

>>3349016
>>Screen the traitors and attack Thrawn
We'll have to do it fast or we'll get encircled and crushed

>>3349016
>Screen the traitors and attack Thrawn

>>3349016
>Screen the traitors and attack Thrawn
Avoid the SSD, take cover behind the planet if we get far enough ahead.

>>3349016
>Screen the traitors and attack Thrawn

>>3349021
>>3349022
>>3349027
>>3349029
>>3349033
>>3349045

Choice is pretty clear.

>writing

“Bring the armada to port,” you say. “Two seven zero. I want to put the planet between us and that super laser,” you point to the small shape of Tarkin in the distance.

“Yes, Grand Admiral.”

The armada shifts and advances.

“Have Colonel Tierce’s Corellians screen our approach, shift them starboard to prevent Tavira or Oxtroe from cutting us off.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Fighters scramble and pickets deploy as the Imperial Navy blazes forward, in minutes you enter firing range, guns charging and drawing beads on one another. This was the fight the Imperial Navy has been training to fight for the last few years, a true fleet engagement on a Titanic scale.

“Commence firing when ready.”

***

Roll 1d100

Best of 3

DC is 60

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>3349070

Rolled 70 (1d100)

>>3349070

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>3349070

>>3349078
>96

>Writing

Thrawn’s fleet rises to meet you, accelerating from the grip of the planet’s gravity well, shields deployed and fighters launching.

“We’re going to pass through them,” You explain to Zepal, “Maximum speed gun run. Thrawn will expect more cautious tactics given our numbers disadvantage. Don’t slow, don’t stop.”

“Y-yes, Admiral- Grand Admiral.” Zepal corrects herself.

You pace to the front of the bridge, staring down the nose of your ship at Thrawn’s force. Emperor’s will be carried out here . . .

What follows is a titanic clash of arms, Star Destroyers trading withering salvos at range as Thrawn maneuvers his forces for maximum tactical effect, preparing to turn your flank and ball you up. A master stroke of military genius that would surely leave a lesser opponent scrambling to match him.

You don’t bother to try, relying on speed and firepower.

Emperor’s Vengeance shudders and she’s racked with turbolaser fire, passing within a hull’s breadth of another ship, Death’s Head which suffers dearly at the hands of your gunners, her shield failing and hull rupturing.

Shadow Droids and Avengers streak to and fro, stinging enemy capital ships before plunging torpedos into their flanks.

Silencer-1, your World Devastator, keeps pace with your fleet, drawing in a pair of strike cruisers to its ravenous maw, tearing them into molecules which in turn are reborn as droid fighters launching from its bays.

The carefully manicured and well-considered deployment Thrawn was making goes to pieces as you pass straight through it.

The attack isn’t without incident, a number of smaller cruisers collide rather than avoiding their counterparts, filling the air with hurtling shrapnel and debris that clatters off your shields. An enemy Dreadnaught is broken like a dry twig by Vengeance’s bow as it passes.

The last thing you see before passing through is Thrawn’s flagship Chimera lose main power after a point-blank salvo.

The bridge crew is cheering at such a devastating blow to the enemy, but you can see the data readouts to know you hardly got off without a scratch.


>Slingshot around the world and come for Oxtroe while Tierce holds them
>Come about at once and finish off Thrawn
>Write in

>>3349121
>Slingshot around the world and come for Oxtroe while Tierce holds them
It would be underwhelming to defeat Thrawn with one good dice roll desu

>>3349121
>Slingshot around the world and come for Oxtroe while Tierce holds them

SPEED SPEED SPEED, AND DODGE THE SUPER LASER

>>3349121
>Come about at once and finish off Thrawn
Too risky for him to remain alive. If we fail then we might as well decapitate their farce of an empire

>>3349121
>Slingshot around the world and come for Oxtroe while Tierce holds them

>>3349121
>Come about at once and finish off Thrawn
Kill him now and be done with it

>>3349121
>Slingshot around the world and come for Oxtroe while Tierce holds them
We don't have the firepower to win a straight up battle against all the forces here

>>3349126
Thrawn has been looking into cloning technologies as well, if I recall correctly...

>>3349126
>>3349128
>>3349132
>>3349143

>Go after Oxtroe

>writing

Do we know for sure the chimera is shut down or is there any possibility it's a trap

>>3349168
bc Thrawns ship shutting down screams "I know this woman is aggressive as fuck so I'll lure her in and pummel her ship" unless it's 100% for certain a genuine shutdown

Who the fuck let the emperor die? Why even have this battle if we were just gonna let the figurehead die

File: ImperialCenter2.png (20 KB, 1580x1218)

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No time to hesitate now.

“Full power ahead,” You say, “Bring us in as low as we can to the planet. I want our belly to brush the shields.”

“Y-yes, Ma’am.” Navigation responds, uncertain, dropping the fleet down as you circle the world at top speed, aided by gravity.

As you round Imperial Center, Thrawn’s fleet remnants, lead by Chimera, newly powered up, and Tavira’s forces gang up on Tierce, pinning his fleet, leaving Oxtroe and Lobkin free to face you.

It’s apparent that the traitors lack the solidly unified leadership that you provide your own forces, perhaps killing Oxtroe or destroyer her flagship would be enough to fragment their shaky coalition.

“Grand Admiral, Tarkin is powering up its superlaser bow gun!” Sensors shouts.

A wave of alarm spreads through the bridge, knowing that your flagship represents the largest and most viable target for such a weapon.

“They won’t fire,” you respond. “The planet is behind us. If-” You don’t finish the thought.

Tarkin fires her superlaser, a brilliant emerald lance leaps out of her bow, boiling a series of picket ships to vapor before flashing past your capital ship and striking Silencer-1.

You shield your eyes from the blast just before the World Devastator explodes in a catastrophic blast of energy.

The shot, with nothing to stop it, carries on to Imperial Center itself, hitting the planetary shield in a vivid light show of unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

“Ma’am, Silencer-1-!”

“I saw!” you reply, turning to see the effect on the planet.

The remnant of the shot ultimately does overpower the shield, scattering deadly bolts of fire across the northern hemisphere of the world and gouging and ugly smoking scar into her surface.

“The hit the planet . . .” Zepal says, dumbfounded.

“Yes, Lieutenant, let’s make sure they don’t get another chance.”

To run straight at Tarkin was suicide if it was going to keep firing its main gun like that. It would have to be dealt with. A fighter raid was likely your best call, but the escorts protecting it would have to be taken out first.


>Soften up the escorts with long range fire before the fighters approach
>Send the fighters anyway on a suicide run
>Evasive maneuvers, scatter the fleet
>write in

>>3349220
>Soften up the escorts with long range fire before the fighters approach

>>3349220
>Soften up the escorts with long range fire before the fighters approach

>>3349220
>>Soften up the escorts with long range fire before the fighters approach

>>3349220
>Soften up the escorts with long range fire before the fighters approach

>>3349220
>Soften up the escorts with long range fire before the fighters approach

>Soften up the escorts with long range fire before the fighters approach

On one hand it's portrayed as the right call. On the other hand the QM calls himself Trick

>Soften up the escorts with long range fire before the fighters approach

>writing

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Admiral Lobkin nearly dropped his cigarra at the sight of the jagged, burning scar on Imperial Center. Who knows how many countless thousands had just perished.

“Emperor’s Bones . . . Coms, get me Admiral Oxtroe. Now.”

In moments, the two were connected via holonet. “Admiral, what in the name of the Empire are you doing? Cease firing immediately!”

“Your moral outrage, Admiral, is quaint and misplaced. The Rebels have made the planet a legitimate military target by trying to use it to shield their advance,” Oxtroe’s expression hardly changed as she spoke.

“But, Admiral, the people-”

“The people will understand that this is being done in the service of reforging the Empire. If after the dust settles Coruscant is no longer fit to serve as the capital then so be it. I will not allow our work to go to pieces of your misguided objections. Oxtroe out.”

The transmission died and Lobkin was left staring at a silent terminal as battle thundered around his ship. It was then he had a feeling, a sinking feeling that perhaps he’d jumped ship one time too many.

Whirling around with a flourish of his cape he shouted, “Continue forward barrage. Don’t let anything through!”

***

In the cockpit of his Avenger, Vells was too busy concentrating on directing his squads to be afraid.

“Captain Vells?”

“Go ahead, Lieutenant,” he told Zepal.

“Orders, sir. We need you and your flight to take out that super laser before it can fire again.”

Vells spared a second to glance at his tactical display. “It’s crawling with Lancers, that’s a kriffing suicide run.”

“Affirmative,” Zepal said patiently, “We’ll be thinning them out with long-range bombardment, get your team ready to move.”

“Affirmative,” Vells brought his fighter around and accelerated. “Alana, I’m trusting you.” With a little luck, the escorts would be dead before he got there.

***

Roll 1d100

Best of 3

DC is 80

Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>3349282
This isn't fair

Rolled 83 (1d100)

>>3349282

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>3349282
we didn't turn our crack pilot into a cyborg for nothing

>>3349282

>>3349286
>>3349292
>>3349300

>83

>Writing

>>3349292
BASED

File: Tarkin.jpg (178 KB, 1216x728)

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The turbolaser blasts flew too close for Vells’s comfort, each one zeroing in on one of the tiny escort ships he raced toward, it reminded him of his youth in a swoop gang, a do-or-die all-or-nothing ride down the mouth of a charging super laser.

His wing of fighters was steadily whittled down as they approached, some peeling off to engage enemy fighter patrols, others picked off by random fire. He grit his teeth and clenched the yoke until he came within range.

“Weapon is charging boss!”

“I see that!” Vells shot back, “Team 11, execute strafing runs, 21, keep the fighters off our backs.” He flew between the two halves of a dying Lancer frigate and dropped his crosshairs onto the hunched, armored node of the superlaser housing and squeezed the trigger.

Imperial engineering at its finest, the black blister emplacement shrugged off every single round he pumped into it, showing hardly a scratch.

“Main weapon firing, ten seconds.”

Vells glanced frantically at his readouts. Nothing left. He’d given everything to that beast and it was still working. Looking to starboard along the nose of the Super Star Destroyer, he saw Alana’s flagship, dead center, and the world of Coruscant framed behind her. All those people . . .

Vells had one projectile left.

“Minsk, keep the squadron together and begin pulling back.” Vells pressed a foot pedal and bracketed the super laser in between his wing pylons and accelerated. “Tell Jessary that I’m sorry there was nothing more I could do.”

He punched the throttle.

The sleek, rounded, black shape that overtook him startled him out of his target fixation. “Wha-”

A Shadow Droid, engines at max power was hurtling toward the super laser, weapons firing.

Vells always hated the things after one took his wingman’s life. Navid had become a biological computer, stripped of humanity and used to pilot the thing. As this Shadow Droid dove straight into the weapon he wondered what happened to Navid’s droid.

(1/2)

File: Spoiler Image (614 KB, 684x747)

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“Grand Admiral!”

You are bracing yourself on a control console when you see the flash of light from Tarkin. Vells-

“He did it!” Zepal cries out in girlish excitement.

“Catastrophic energy backflow!” Sensors calls.

“All fighters, withdraw at once! I repeat, withdraw at once!” Communications says ahead of you.

As they pull away, a cloud of flitting gnats, you see the charged energy, intended to vaporize another chunk of your fleet backflow into Tarkin’s weapons systems, a chain of explosions running up its spine.

People are cheering, but you can only think of what a phenomenal waste it is. The blast is tremendous. Not enough to destroy, or even cripple it, but you imagine the people onboard the vessel are quite shaken up.

***

You are Sheev Palpatine and you are thrown to the floor as what had been your flagship lurches from some titanic blow.

The troopers that are sharing your quarters with you are likewise caught off guard, the first falling to his knees while the second tumbles onto his back, smashing the backpack frame that held the strange mammalian creature that denied you control of the Force.

It was the moment you waited for.

The shard of transparisteel you palmed from the floor would do well enough for a knife, and you weren’t going to sit idly by as these imbeciles tried to tear your empire apart.


>Go for the jugular of the kneeling guard
>Go for the Ysalamiri on his back
>Try to take away his weapon
>Write in

>>3349347
>Go for the Ysalamiri on his back

>>3349347
>Go for the jugular of the kneeling guard
See, nobody has to die! Yet

>>3349347
>Go for the Ysalamiri on his back

>>3349347
>Go for the jugular of the kneeling guard

>>3349347
>Go for the Ysalamiri on his back

>Go for the Ysalamiri on his back

Kill it and you become a "fuck you and everything in your general vicinity" level force user again. And this time you know what to watch out for.

>Go for the Ysalamiri on his back
>>3349351
>>3349360
>>3349368
>>3349386

>Jugular
>>3349354
>>3349362


>Ysalamiri
>writing

The thing thrashes and squeals as you plunged the jagged shard in and twist it.

The guard grabs at you and tries to get to his feet. It’s the last thing he does.

A concussive Force blast sends him skittering across the deck and into his collapsed friend, continuing on and gaining speed until the two of them crash into the wall with a sickening crunch. Blood and viscera leak from their shattered armor, pooling on the ground.

It was time to find out what the kriff was happening in your empire. Closing your eyes you reach out with the Force and brush the minds of those around you, pulling bits of information. You feel those who still obey you are fighting to restore your throne against the traitors, you feel that your Apprentice is dead. So be it.

***
On Emperor’s Vengeance Lord Sallin gasps. “Master!?”

***

Now, it was time to finish this. You cross to the dead troopers and pull your lightsaber from the tangle of limbs. You were going to make your presence felt against the traitors. No more tricks, no more traps.

A Force Storm would likely even the odds of the raging space battle, though you could easily lose control of such a force and might find it just as dangerous as your enemies.

You can also feel Lumiya and her young apprentice in the force on the bridge of the ship nearby. You could make your way to them and finish this now

Otherwise, you might try to escape the ship, though you would be incredibly vulnerable in a shuttle or escape pod trying to find your way to safety.


>Call up a Force Storm. Right the hell now.
>Make your way to the bridge for Lumiya and Ederlathh
>Try to escape the ship
>Write in

>>3349439
>Make your way to the bridge for Lumiya and Ederlathh

>>3349439
>Make your way to the bridge for Lumiya and Ederlathh

>>3349439
Grab a bunch of atmosphere from the ship, hold it around us with the force, blow a hole in the side of the ship, and blast off

>>3349439
>Make your way to the bridge for Lumiya and Ederlathh

>>3349439
>Make your way to the bridge for Lumiya and Ederlathh

>>3349439
>>Call up a Force Storm. Right the hell now.

If Thrawns forces see this then they'll know their gambit has failed and he may retreat. He doesn't know about the last clone being destroyed.

>>3349439
>Make your way to the bridge for Lumiya and Ederlathh

>>3349439
>Call up a Force Storm. Right the hell now.
What better way to confirm the continued survival of the Emperor?

>Make your way to the bridge for Lumiya and Ederlathh
>>3349450
>>3349454
>>3349465
>>3349487
>>3349490


>writing

It’s time for those two heretics to suffer. You adjust your robes, double check your saber and start walking for the bridge. It’s not far and no one you encounter tries to stop you, they alternately look terrified or horrified.

The massive blast doors of Tarkin bridge grind open at a wave of your hand, spreading open to reveal the expansive command deck, reflective black metal makes it hard to tell where the view of space ends and the ship begins.

The crew look up in silent shock and the bridge guards die in a flash at the wave of your hand.

“Kriff!” Ederlathh exclaims, jumping out of the throne in the middle of the room.

“Ah, dear niece of mine,” you say, “We have so much to catch up on.”

“Lumiya!” She calls.

The Lady of the Sith is up in a flash, light whip activating and slashing through the air as she twirls it, leaving smoking marks on the deck.

Ederlathh activates her own saber, steeling her gaze, hear fear barely concealed.

You look between them a moment, waiting for them to act.

Lumiya moves forward in a blur, lashing out with her whip, a weapon you’ve never had the opportunity to face.

With a deft twirl, you intercept the deadly tendrils though they wrap around your blade, rendering it immobile.

“Now!”

Ederlathh leaps forward, slashing with her blade, dress billowing.

You cast her back with a thought, intending to crash her into the deck plate, but she lands in a crouch, maintaining her balance before you wrench your blade free of Lumiya’s saber.


>Attack Lumiya
>Attack Ederlathh
>”You’ve grown strong, dear niece. Stronger than I would have ever thought possible.”
>Write in

>>3349547
>”You’ve grown strong, dear niece. Stronger than I would have ever thought possible.”
Ah, his one weakness, villainous monologuing

>>3349547
>Attack Lumiya

>>3349547
>Attack Lumiya
Let's blow up some consoles near them with the force if we can

>>3349547
>Attack Lumiya

>>3349547
>>”You’ve grown strong, dear niece. Stronger than I would have ever thought possible.”
Gotta play to character.

>Write in
Break the windows to space. Lets see her Last Jedi Leia THIS

>”You’ve grown strong, dear niece. Stronger than I would have ever thought possible.”

>>3349547
Supporting >>3349563
Make sure we get our air bubble

>Attack Lumiya
>>3349551
>>3349557
>>3349562

>Sass
>>3349550
>>3349563
>>3349564
>>3349566

>Sass/Attack
>Writing

“You’ve grown strong, my dear,” you say, smiling to Ederlathh, even as she recoils in horror. “I can feel it. How many years have you hidden under my nose this way? You’re stronger now than I would have ever thought possible.”

Lumia lashes out with her light whip again, hoping to catch you unaware.

You sidestep easily, swatting the tendrils aside before raising a hand at the would-be Empress.

She flinches and dives away and clears a path for you to reach your intended target. The transparisteel viewport of the bridge.

Calling up all your energy, you direct a sharp blow at the center of the viewport which cracks and then shatters open, blowing out into the vacuum of space.

You anchor yourself in place with the force even as the bridge personnel and their equipment are blasted out, vented into space.

Lumiya and Ederlathh both grab hold of nearby deck plating, using the force to keep themselves in place in the maelstrom of air whipping through the bridge now.

Even as chaos reigns around you, you can’t help but feel invigorated, alive like you haven’t felt in years. You let out an unbroken laugh, savoring the sensation of superiority you feel. Your enemies lie cast and broken before you, the Emperor yet lives.

***

That’s all the time I have guys.

Next time: Empire’s End
I think

7 EST (11 UTC) next Thursday


Thanks for playing everyone.

https://twitter.com/DarkEmpireQuest
https://discord.gg/WMEDDgX

>>3349592
>Your enemies lie cast and broken before you, the Emperor yet lives.
Wew. Thanks for running TK

>>3349592
Thanks for running

File: Goooooooood.gif (1.01 MB, 332x332)

1.01 MB GIF

>>3349592
Gooooooood shit TK.

thanks for running TK.

File: Sheev smile.jpg (17 KB, 541x559)

17 KB JPG

>>3349592
Fucking beautiful

>>3349592
Just caught this after work, and FUCK YES

>Brakiss rekt
>Thrawn rekt
>Lobkin knows he fucked up
>Vells Is a madman
>Palpy's a bigger madman

It's everything I've ever wanted.

>Next time: Empire's End

Not If we have anything to say about It. Is It wrong that I want someone as evil as Sheev to succeed? We've put so much *work* Into this empire I don't want It to fall apart.

>>3349934
I can't wait for Oxtroe to get wrekt. That bitch's comeuppance is a long time coming.

I can only wonder what's going through Thrawn's head right now.

>>3349342

>Vells always hated the things after one took his wingman’s life. Navid had become a biological computer, stripped of humanity and used to pilot the thing. As this Shadow Droid dove straight into the weapon he wondered what happened to Navid’s droid.

I'm getting serious /m/ vibes from this

>>3349592
>>3349592
Fuck yeah, best thread in many months!

Thanks for running, QM.

>>3349889
Is it just me that I hate how Palpy no longer looks like an evil grandpa?

>>3349969
Yeah all memes aside I fucking hate ROTS' Sheev design desu. Looks more like a bloated goofy frogman than the evil old wizard he was before.

>>3349595
>>3349612
>>3349618
>>3349724
>>3349889
>>3349934
>>3349969

>Thanks
Thank you guys, this thread was a long time coming and I'm glad you had as much fun reading as I did writing. I don't believe that Dark Empire can be concluded satisfactorily, but I'm going to do my best.

>>3349969
>>3350139
>Frogman

No, I agree. Old wizard palps is best. When I'm writing him I actually keep forgetting that he doesn't look that way anymore.

What a thrill!
God I can't wait to see the look on thrawn's face after we retake control
also, these guys are AMATEURS for not littering the entire ship with ysalamari and giving them to literally every single stormtrooper and armytrooper onboard
The empire is going to be seriously shattered and weak after this titanic battle though. But most importantly, it'll be OUR seriously shattered and weak empire if everything pans out

>>3349592
>My enemies are many, my equals are none

Fantastic thread TK

was Oxtroe on the bridge of Tarkin?

>>3350274
>>3351134
Thanks!

>>3362165
She was not. Oxtroe leads from her own ship.