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Fall of Darth Revan, Rise of Admiral Onasi ch5

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The Fall of Darth Revan and the Rise of Admiral Onasi

Chapter 5

- ~ -
The Fury, flagship of Darth Revan, Sith Fleet

"We need to send a clear message to the Republic," Revan said to men and women before her. Many of these people were former Republic officers who had fought under her in the Mandalorian Wars. Others hailed from Dromund system. "This is not a war they can win. I expect you to be efficient and without mercy."

Their was a chorus of agreement among the assembly. Revan stepped aside and the lights dimmed. A projection of the Fleet's shipyards appeared above the rooms central holoprojector. Admiral Karath moved to the front, lightly clearing his throat, to address the room. He launched into a dry description of the security measures currently in place and what response they might expect from the Fleet.

Nothing the man divulged surprised Revan. They were still attempting the same maneuvers and gambits she and Malak had taught them. If there was one thing Revan learned serving the Republic, it was that the Fleet was slow to adapt. Their outdated tactics and uninspired leadership saw them on the losing side against the Mandalorians until she had saved them.

She let her eyes wander the room. The faces turned to Saul were bathed in the blue light of the projector. The Admiral had their rapt attention. At the back of the group she found Carth Onasi. Leaning against a bulkhead, arms folded over his chest, his face expressionless. Curious Revan searched the mans feelings through the Force. The bland look Carth wore concealed the conflict of his emotions underneath. It did not surprise her to discover he had some revulsion for the discussion at hand. There was a resolve beneath that though which fed Revan's hope there might be a greater purpose to Carth Onasi. She would have to make him see her cause, show him how the Republic had failed its own people. To that end Revan would use Dustil

Following this meeting Eva would make contact with a mercenary on Taris. They had worked together several times, the Mandalorian was resourceful and very efficient. She hoped Eva might convince him to travel to Telos for the young Onasi boy and deliver him to the Fury.

Bringing her mind back to the present Revan was aware someone was watching her. She turned, the lights of the holoprojector reflecting off the mask, and faced Malak. His eyes were dark and menacing. Anyone else might have trembled for the hatred in that look. Not Revan. While Saul droned on about the Fleet she started back at Malak until he dropped his gaze.

He was getting braver Revan realized. It was only a matter of time before Malak would make a move against her. What other reason had he poached Saul Karath?

"You have your assignments, prepare your troops and say nothing of this until the order is given to attack. Dismissed," Revan said when Saul finally ceased talking. The soldiers left the room, but Carth appeared hesitate. He looked for a moment as though he wanted to approach her. Then Admiral Karath was taking his arm and ushering him from the room.

"Tell me Master, has Captain Onasi been useful to you?" Malak asked when they were alone in the room. There was unmistakable emphasis on useful which Revan did not miss.

"He's useful as long as he's away from your newest lapdog," Revan replied calmly. Behind her mask she smiled coldly, the next words spoken cruelly. "I think the Captain posses the strong jaw of a natural leader."

She felt Malak's anger and it gave her a surge of pleasure.

"Remember where your loyalties lie my apprentice," Revan said. The bow Malak gave was stiff. He seethed with rage. She felt his desire to lash out at her but also the fear restraining him. That fear would not last forever. For now Malak had a purpose, and if he served it, she would let him live.

"Do not fail me in this mission Malak, you better hope Admiral Karath proves his worth. Because his failure will be your failure," she added, then gave a dismissive wave. Malak retreated from the room.

- ~ -
Carth Onasi

"I would hope you consider me the friend I regard you as," Saul told Carth in a quiet voice. The men were standing in the hallway a short distance from the door to the conference room.

Carth finally found the courage to speak with Darth Revan but had been escorted away by Saul instead. In the week since he'd seen the man the admiral appeared to have lost weight. His cheeks looked hollow.

"Of course I do sir," Carth replied not without puzzlement.

"Good. I will confess that Lord Malak is concerned by Lord Revan's request for your transfer. This can go no further than us, you understand?"

Carth nodded.

"Have you been given any indication of why that order was issued?"

He searched his thoughts, the first conversation he had shared with Eva coming to mind. Something kept Carth from mentioning it. Eva had been friendly to him, she went out of her way to prepare him for this meeting, and he did not want to get her into trouble. It might cause him the only ally he had here.

"I'm serving on the bridge currently," Carth said in the end. He looked apologetically at his friend and shrugged. "I'm sorry sir. Darth Revan hasn't even spoken to me."

The older man nodded wordlessly. But the lingering stare he fixed on Carth was not convinced. Clasping his hands at his back Saul gave a little sigh. "Carth, if something should come to seem ... unusual, I would like you to know I am always here to listen. Do you understand?"

Before Carth could speak Malak came into the hall. The former Jedi fixed a baleful look at Carth as he came up the hallway. Saul bowed respectfully and Carth did, the gesture allowing him to escape the hatred in that face.

Then Saul rose and turned to follow Malak into the lift. Carth looked around as the lift doors were closing on them. For a final second he had to bear Malak's gaze and it struck Carth to the core. When the door closed and he was alone Carth leaned against the bulkhead. He tried to figure out what had just happened. Saul had been alluding to something, a warning about Darth Revan he wondered. But Carth was struggling to think of a reason for it. Perhaps Eva would shed light on it the next time he saw her.

"Captain Onasi."

The voice called him from behind and he turned to see Darth Revan standing outside the conference room. In the wake of Saul's confusing warning he had not realized she was still here. Quickly Carth bowed.

"Come," she said, gesturing him to conference room. Curiously Carth followed. Revan went to the holoprojector and brought up the Republic shipyards again.

"I'm sure you're familiar with the place Captain," Revan said turning to him. The mask unnerved Carth, he could feel her eyes on him, but could not see them. It was probably the point of the thing Carth realized. Intimidation was a powerful tactic.

"Of course Lord Revan, but I can't tell you any more than Admiral Karath has," Carth said. He struggled for focus briefly. It was easier to look at the hologram than her.

"During tomorrow's assault I wish for you to take my ship, there are two targets you are to ensure destroyed," Revan told him. Carth held his breath. This was a test of his loyalty. Standing on the bridge of the Fury during the strike would have insulated him from the events. But piloting a ship into the attack itself, assigned his own targets, Carth was being asked to cross that final line.

"Of course Lord Revan," Carth said, managing another bow. He had to be careful with these thoughts, she could probably sense how uncomfortable the order made him.

"You're first target is here," Revan said, a gloved finger pointing to a small nondescript building. As far he knew this was a place reserved for guests of Fleet command, senators, Jedi and the like. His eyes flickered to Revan who nodded. "Yes, there is a senator who has been instrumental in rallying Republic spirits. I'd like to stop that."

Then her hand moved and she directed his attention somewhere else, a warehouse at the opposite end. The last time Carth had been at the shipyards it housed a pile a miscellaneous parts the engineers felt might yet be useful.

"I need something recovered from here."

"Will I be permitted a crew?" Carth asked then quickly added, "Lord Revan."

"This building is surplus goods, as you know Captain Onasi. Security will be minimal. You faced far more difficult assignments against the Mandalorians. Do not doubt yourself," Revan said, not unkindly. She sighed then and made a conciliatory gesture. "It is a fair request. I will allocate one person to you."

Carth drew himself up, a name already coming to his lips, but he didn't dare make such a bold request to the Dark Lord herself. Instead he nodded.

"Thank you Lord Revan," he acknowledged. She was staring at him now and the silence which followed his statement grew long and uncomfortable.

"You have someone in mind Captain?"

"Your secretary Eva, I'd like to request her assistance Lord Revan."

He couldn't be sure but it seemed as though Revan drew back in surprise.

"That is an unusual request. Eva is - committed elsewhere Captain."

"My apologies Lord Revan," Carth said feeling the crush of disappointment but also embarrassed having actually asked for Eva. He should have said Lieutenant Thul and was kicking himself for it. Thankfully Revan allowed the issue to drop.

"That will be all Captain."

- ~ -
The Leviathan, flagship of Admiral Karath, Sith Fleet

"Did he give you an idea why Revan wanted him?"

Darth Malak was gazing at the Fury from a transparisteel viewport. The bulk of his shoulders bunched ominously beneath his robes. It made Saul nervous. Upon leaving Revan's ship it became quickly clear Malak was in a dark mood. Something had happened in that meeting though Saul could not fathom what.

"No my Lord Malak," he replied swallowing. "In defense of Carth I do not believe he knows anything. He is a simple man nearly incapable of guile."

"I assumed she wanted a play thing," Malak said. The idea occurred to Saul before, of course it had, he knew behind her mask Revan was beautiful. But he also knew Carth was married and it would take a lot to break his loyalty to Morgana. After all it was those feelings towards her Saul used to sway Carth away from the Republic.

"You underestimate Revan," Malak chortled. The mechanical sound of that laugh was cold. "She is persuasive woman Admiral."

Saul knew not to say anything. He waited for Darth Malak to address him. After a long moment the man turned away from the viewport.

"I advise you to keep a close eye on Carth Onasi. Talk to him often, be his friend. Make him understand when Revan falls, so will her allies."

Saul bowed deeply, "As you command Lord Malak."

Revan addresses her commanding officers hours before their sneak attack on the Republic. Following the meeting Malak attempts to taunt Revan about Carth Onasi hoping to discover why she ordered his transfer. But Revan swiftly puts her apprentice in his place. In the wake of their confrontation Revan finally addresses Carth, and not through Eva, when she gives him a special assignment during the raid on the shipyards.

Chapter 6: Fall of Darth Revan and Rise of Admiral Onasi ch6The Fall of Darth Revan and the Rise of Admiral Onasi
Chapter 6
- ~ -
The Fury, flagship of Darth Revan, Sith Fleet
Revan
"What do you want?"
"I have a job for you Canderous."
At the other end of the holocall the grim faced Mandalorian remained silent. Eva knew that meant he was willing to listen. On Taris the grizzled veteran worked as hired muscle for Davik Kang. Though no job the gangster handed off to Canderous Ordo was worthy of such a highly skilled warrior. Frequently Eva tempted him to take small side projects. It wasn't the money the Mandalorian sought either, but the challenge, which she admired. While Eva often thought Canderous wasted his talents as a mercenary she had not been able to convince him to join Darth Revan's cause. 
"The son of one of our new captains, I need someone to retrieve the boy from Telos," she said. There was a narrowing of Canderous eyes which indicated curiosity. Eva kept quiet and waited f

Chapter 4: Fall of Darth Revan, Rise of Admiral Onasi ch4The Fall of Darth Revan and the Rise of Admiral Onasi
Chapter 4
- ~ -
The Fury, flagship of Darth Revan, Sith Fleet
It was no surprise the first assignment was an overnight on the bridge. As the newest addition of the Fury's crew he had to be prepared for some unpleasant hours until he proved himself. But that was no different than when he'd been an ensign in the Fleet.
What did surprise him was the friendly manner in which his lieutenant greeted him. He was a broad shouldered man with a round open face who introduced himself as Sar Thul. The lieutenant gave him a tour of the bridge, introduced the soldiers who greeted Carth with a salute, and filled him on details of Sith command. Carth listened intently, silent and nodding.
"May I say sir, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to serve under you," Lieutenant Thul finished. The compliment was unexpected and it must have shown up
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