Empress Teta's Open Orbit

"As you wish, master"

Said Vardus. He raised his head.

"I shall drive my ship into their hulls and slaughter anyone daring enough to face us in battle"

The knight of Ren clenched a fist. Inside, he rejoiced for the chance of battle against the so-called Corellian Coalition, he thirsted for the chance of facing a jedi, for there were such scum among their ranks.

A heavy hauler outfitted for fuel transport decanted from hyperspace in the Empress Teta system. It was a massive, bulky craft, with huge fuel containers extending below and behind a small cockpit module at the top of the bow. Decades old, the IFF read her as the Coreward Bound, registered to a Corellian corporation. Her cargo was listed correctly as fuel and energy supplies, with the purchase linked to a local corporation on Empress Teta.

The crew contacted Empress Teta orbital control for a landing vector, all relaxed, and wishing to get on with the job and earn their bonus pay for making the return run on time. They had no idea of the plot with which they were involved, and integral to, all they knew was they were doing one cargo run among thousands.


Teta Control, this is Coreward Bound requesting a landing clearance.

Both the purchasing and the selling companies were front corporations, among millions, that existed purely to carry out black operations which were not to be traced back to their ultimate source. They could be created and wound up at need, but appeared legitimate, as they all kept records, paid taxes and licence fees. Nothing was done to raise any suspicion that this particular ship was anything to be concerned about.

The Coreward Bound and her cargo of fuel cruised insystem making for an orbital insertion path, awaiting their permission to descend toward the planet of Empress Teta.

On the heavy hauler Coreward Bound, the bridge crew worked at their stations as the reply came in from local traffic control.

Understood, thanks for the assist, Control. The captain turned to the engineering officer. When we get down, I want a systems check, we're drifting. The engineer worked across his consoles while the helm took the ship along the plotted course towards the orbital insertion toward the city of Cinnagar. The helmsman worked hardest of all keeping the freighter on course.

Unbeknownst to the crew of the freighter, their ship's issues were due to sabotage. While the ship was ordered in towards Empress Teta, subroutines in the ship's control systems adjusted the vessel's trim and attitude just slightly, giving it the appearance of errors in course. Nothing to be concerned about.

The ship continued in, passing close to one of the Golan III Novagun space stations guarding the planet below. The subroutine monitored the vessel's progress, watching until the freighter moved within close distance of a few hundred meters of the station, on its way down the gravity well towards Cinnagar.

On the bridge, they worked at correcting their course. It required constant adjustments to keep the ship moving in the right direction, as the crew constantly, but slowly, adapted to the changes the subroutines were making. They had no way to know what the issue was, just kept trying to steer their old tub in to a safe landing so they could fix whatever was wrong.

It had been months of hard work. Building the new inquisition into what Zariel wished. A cult of those fanatically loyal to the Empire, whose loyalties were then twisted till they were loyal to Zariel first and the empire second. She had had help of course. The Fallen Four served to inspire fear within the ranks even when she must be away. But the her greatest ally, and possibly closest thing to a friend she had, Deputy Director Vidarr Saren had been indispensable. His continued loyalty and competence earned him Zariel's favor. He would continue to be her most valuable follower in the days to come. For word had reached the Grand Inquisitor of the Emperor's failing health. And now she needed the help of the man she hated most in the galaxy. Silas Darkstar.

Zariel's rage seethed, her steely composure set in place as the Mephistopheles left the blue swirl of hyperspace and came into orbit above Empress Teta. Before she came to join the new Empire she would have never come to Silas, except to end his life. But she had been humbled, when she had to come to this Empire that was no more than a shadow of the glorious institution it replaced. Palpatine's Empire, the true empire. He was gone though, and things as they had been under his rule would not return. She had accepted this fact, but had promised herself to keep as much of it alive as she could. And as the Grand Inquisitor she was in a prime position. But first, she needed a prophet to guide her next actions. Someone who could show her where and who to strike in the chaos she knew would follow. It always did when great leaders like this passed with so many family members still living. Zarial wanted a head start on her compitition, and who better to give that to her Silas.

The ships comms officer established a link to the The Nox Cathedral. Zariel spoke plainly and evenly, without a hint of emotion, despite her unfathomable rage. Tell your master the Grand Inquisitor will be landing shortly and that he had better be there to greet her. She would not deign to wait for a reply and instead instructed her pilots to make for the Cathedral.