Chapter Text
Grand Moff Executive Level, LQ Flagship Havelon, Equatorial Orbit of planet Despayre, Horuz System, Atrivus Sector
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Wilhuff Tarkin stared out into the depths of space surrounding the Horuz System as thousands of smuggled starships slowly broke away from the armada encircling the Death Star's construction site. His old warhorse Aveo Yos was at the helm of the massive Imperial II-class Star Destroyer in the lead of the formation.
The starships were far enough away from the Havelon that the vessels appeared as tiny twinkling stars as they caught the distant light from the system's star against their hulls. It reminded him of Alsakan Diamonds resting on black velvet.
Four Imperial Sector Fleets carrying four Imperial Sector Armies and berthing millions of beings from the lowest slaves to the mightiest Moff. It was with some remorse that he was about to lose the service of so many brave beings that had sworn their allegiance to him alone. Those vessels themselves meant nothing to him, as his battle station began its last decade of construction. Soon it would make every warship in the galaxy obsolete.
He heard his door open with a whoosh. He spun around as six scarlet-robed Royal Guardsmen entered his chamber. Each of the imposing figures was armed with their deadly force pikes and stared at him from the black visors of their conical helmets. Tarkin quickly got down on one knee in front of the viewport he had been staring out of.
A moment later his master, Emperor Palpatine dressed in his imperial robes entered the chamber. The robes hid the scars that had been incurred during the first attack of the Jedi Revolt at the end of the Clone Wars. Tarkin had been at the construction yard during that heinous assault, but had been one of the first Moffs to receive the newly titled Emperor and his enforcer Lord Vader.
The Emperor walked past the kneeling Grand Moff and approached the giant viewport for himself. "Raise, Grand Moff." Palpatine commanded him in his gravelly voice. As he regained his feet he noticed that Armand Isard was being escorted into the room by another pair of Royal Guardsmen. He wouldn't have to face Palpatine alone then.
Isard came alongside of him and they both waited in silence for the Emperor to speak again. Palpatine stared for endless moments out into the void, before turning and facing the two Imperials. The smile on his face was one of the most dreadful sights Tarkin had ever witnessed. The Emperor's course voice cut the tension.
"It would have taken years before those men performed their treachery as foreseen by the Dark Side of the Force. Their very presence was a sickness inflicted upon the military of this Empire. At critical times they would have stabbed us with a thousand blades in our belly."
"I fear they would have taken their fleets and armies to the side of the pathetic rebellion where they could become a credible threat upon my person. My servant, Darth Vader, would have taken years to root out the scum that wore the uniform of the Empire, but you two have given them a banner to rally to. Millions of traitors will be expelled and destroyed at one time."
Tarkin swallowed hard as he listened to the Emperor gloat over his victory. He could see the red guardsmen all around him, and reminded himself that with but a gesture Palpatine could end his life on a whim.
"Is your Captain Daala ready?" The Emperor asked before turning back to the viewport. The so-called Tarkin's Fist made its slave-rigged hyperspace jump at just that moment and vanished from the Horuz.
"She is ready, My Lord. The particle disintegrator warhead prototype is standing by for the traitor's fleet to emerge into maw. At that point the Captain will launch her attack. If the Galaxy Gun weapon can destroy a sun, it should not have any problem eradicating a fleet. If it doesn't, the Tibthrax decay agent that has been spread liberally throughout every vessel should dissolve their entire supply of tibanna within seconds of entering hyperspace. Captain Daala can then destroy every survivor at her leisure."
"Excellent, excellent. The Imperial navy will never question another order after this. Let this be a lesson for all those that have doubts about where their true loyalty should lay."
He turned and started out of the room, with the guardsmen following close at hand, before stopping in the entrance. "It suits me that I have your loyalty as well Grand Moff, I would hate for anything to happen to you or this battle station."
Wilhuff fought off the sudden chill, as the Emperor left the chamber.