Chapter 21: Scorched Earth

[Lord Iezkon]

“Once more, the Horuset Powerbase was dispatched to secure the Empire’s ambitions in the northern territories of the galaxy, sent this time to the war-torn planet of Dubrillion. Its king had abdicated; a civil war had fermented, fuelled by the Republic and the Empire, with each wishing its faction would come out on top to control Dubrillion’s vital position on the hyperlane to Sernpidal, the jewel in the crown of the Horuset Powerbase."

 

“Venturing to the divided planet of Dubrillion, the powerbase appropriated the estate of the Baron Selam Var-Omad, would-be king of Dubrillion, where a challenge was set before Sith Arvanis and Sith Narazri, the Envoys of Tradition and Sight respectively. Both men desired the position of Sith Lord, and the Dark Lord promised only one would succeed through proving their worth in the Dubrillion Campaign. “I want leaders!” the Dark Lord said, “Sith who do not shy away from getting their hands dirty, taking responsibility!”

 

“And so, the two Sith set out to do what they could whilst the Campaign progressed under the indomitable direction of Darth Horuset, Lord Kalkoran, and his Apprentice, Sith Saltaeon. Battle after battle was fought; scouting missions organised by Sith Arvanis; propaganda spread by Sith Narazri’s Apprentice, Elias Zotam."

 

“Whilst the campaign progressed, slowly, the powerbase fought decisive battles against the Republic and Dubrillionite nobility both, the indomitable will and strategy of Sith Saltaeon and her Master, Lord Kalkoran, guiding all. Yet, it nearly turned to be all for nought: an ion cannon manned by the Republic threatened the Empire’s orbital dominance, and allowed reinforcements to arrive. So, all efforts of the powerbase were turned to pushing northwards, where the location of the ion cannon was pinpointed due to the work of Sith Kelsa."

 

“Yet, although the ion cannon was disabled during the battle for the city of Khardaba, it was too late. It was revealed that a spy had been within the Horuset Powerbase, and her work was complete: Lady-Major Deja Mason was able to turn all of Dubrillion against the Empire and its Horuset representatives, and so the population took up Horuset-issued arms against its previous saviours. Returning to Th’Asidra and the Horuset armada in orbit, Darth Horuset and Her Hand made the fateful decision to enact a scorched-earth policy. If the Empire could not have Dubrillion, the Republic would not have a functioning planet to use as a forward operating base:

 

’’The Republic’s intent has always been to turn Dubrillion into a forward position to attack the Northern Territories and take Sernpidal; the Jewel of the Powerbase. To do that,  they require the planet’s cities; its infrastructure, its workforce. So when circumstance dictates that these assets cannot be ours… We will ensure they will not be theirs either. It will be reduced to ashes. Every last city, every last road, every last peasant!” So spoke the Dark Lord of Horuset Herself; on Her order, Dubrillion was bombarded, its infrastructure destroyed, and left a smoking ruin for the Republic to rebuild."

 

“Ultimately, neither Sith Arvanis nor Sith Narazri received the reward they had been hoping for: instead, the Dark Lord elevated another of Her servants as a reward for- and in recognition of- her pragmatism, her understanding of the powerbase’s functioning, her deference for her superiors, her willingness to take responsibility, and her ceaseless work during the campaign."

 

“Instead of Her brother or Her Apprentice, the Dark Lord chose to elevate Sith Saltaeon to the title of Sith Lord, creating her as Joslae Saltaeon, Lord Saltaeon of the Sith.”

- Sith Tarimra, Sith Lorekeeper of the Horuset Powerbase