User:Nivlacanator/Saw

=Darth Vader=

First mission bound in armor
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Together with Tarkin
"We haven't stood together on Coruscant for some time Governor.""

- Vader to Tarkin at the first meeting in years.

About five years after the founding of the Galactic Empire, Moff Wilhuff Tarkin had been overseeing the construction of the Emperor's Death Star for over three years when he was attacked by Separatist era droid technology by an unknown force. The attackers utilized Shadowfeed technology to slice into a HoloNet relay station and attempted to fool Tarkin into throwing his resources to another location. Though the Moff saw through the rouse and quickly gained the upper hand, forcing the terrorists to retreat into hyperspace. This, and the discovery of technology that could be connected to the attack found on the former Separatist world of Murkhana brought Tarkin back to Imperial capital&mdash;at the Emperor's request&mdash;for the first time since the Proclamation of the New Order.

When Tarkin arrived at the Imperial Palace court room, Vader was holding court with the Deputy Director of the Imperial Security Bureau, Harus Ison. Vader berated the gathering of several non-human criminals for ignoring the Emperor's decrees on their allotted freedom under the Imperial Regime. He wanted to make an example of a certain lieutenant for his blatant disrespect, so he curled his fist and choked the red skinned Twi'lek Phoca Soot of Black Sun to death by ways of the Force. Vader decided his point had been made and adjourned the court&mdash;after telling the others they'd be better off moving their enterprises away from Coruscant. Tarkin and Grand Vizier Mas Amedda had witnessed the execution from the sidelines and approached the Dark Lord. Amedda was angry, but politely asked Vader to refrain from killing all those who displeased him. Vader told the Vizier he would give thought to the matter. Vader greeted Tarkin, they had not worked together in quite some time due to the Governor's business at Sentinel Base in the Western Reaches. Tarkin was surprised that the Crymorah syndicate had not been represented in the gathering. Vader admitted that the Empire had reached an accommodation with the crime families of the Crymorah.

The pair began to make their way to the Palace's central spire to meet with the Emperor, Vader asked why the Governor had been unwilling to return to Coruscant. Tarkin, having deduced the Grand Vizier had told him this information, corrected the Dark Lord: he was not opposed, but merely reluctant. They then discussed the progress of the battle station, Tarkin revealed that the hyperdrive element was near completion, but the superlaser was still causing trouble for the engineers who were building it. Vader offered a remedy for the disagreements: eliminate the multitude of voices all weighing their options and replace them with one voice who could control everything. Tarkin undoubtedly agreed, it was what he had proposed since he had begun heading the project. The pair entered the palace's main spire turbolift and began the ascent to the Emperor's throne room; although Vader exited one floor from the summit, leaving the Governor alone.

After Tarkin's meeting with the Emperor, leading officers and personnel from the Imperial Ruling Council, Imperial Security Bureau, and the Naval Intelligence Agency gathered to conduct a meeting in the palace's audience chamber. Amedda and Vader stood to the side of the gathering where Tarkin soon joined them. Sidious, who was seated in his ten-meter-tall podium, ordered the conference to begin. Director Ison revealed that recently a large cache of Shadowfeed linked devices had been discovered on the former Separatist world of Murkhana&mdash;although it was too early to tell if the devices were in anyway a threat to the Empire, or linked to the attack on the Sentinel Moon. After a thorough debate, Vice Admiral Rancit of Naval Intelligence vouched on Tarkin's behalf; as he was one of the Governor's oldest and most trusted friends. He claimed that if Tarkin called the insurgents a "threat to the Empire's reign", they most definitely were. Amedda then dismissed the gathering at the Emperor's say, stating Sidious would soon decide what should be done.

Defending Cymoon 1
"He's here. The Rebel pilot who destroyed the Death Star. I can feel his presence. He will not escape me again."

- Darth Vader



Several weeks after the Battle of Yavin, Darth Vader was called to Weapons Factory Alpha, the Empire's largest and foremost weapons manufacturing facility, on Cymoon 1. His missions was to negotiate, or rather force, an arangement with an envoy for crime lord Jabba the Hutt about supplying raw materials from Hutt controlled space to the Empire, in order for them to produce more war machines, such as TIE fighters and All Terrain Armored Transport walkers. Vader arrived at the factory shortly after the envoy, and upon arrival was met on a landing platform by a group of stormtroopers who were to escort him to the "negotiations. However, Vader sensed danger through the Force, and rightly so, as the Rebel Alliance had hijacked Jabba's envoy and infiltrated the factory with intent to destroy it; and after being alerted to his presence, attempted to kill him. He ignited his lightsaber just in time to deflect a sniper's blaster bolt, and used the Force to pick up two stormtroopers to use them as human shields as the sniper fired upon the Dark Lord. Vader went unscathed, however his escorts had all been killed in the attack. He then located the assassin's position, which was in a metal structure overlooking the landing platform, and used to the Force to collapse the sniper's nest, but the assailant jumped from his perch amid the wreckage and survived. Vader recognized the assassin as a member of the Wookiee species and ordered the arriving stormtrooper reinforcements to hunt him down. One of the troopers informed Vader that Overseer Aggadeen was out of contact and the factory's main reactor was on meltdown. Vader conflated the two occurrences, deducing their true nature, and told the stormtrooper that the Rebels were attacking, and to put the entire moon on alert.

Vader felt the presence of the X-wing pilot who he had chased down the Death Star's equilateral trench, Vader realized that the pilot who had destroyed Darth Sidious' battle station was a part of the attack. The Dark Lord would not let the pilot escape his mechanical fingers again. Vader made his way into the factory and came face-to-face with the pilot within a corridor after locating his position through the Force.

The pilot was a young man, and wielded a blue lightsaber. Vader looked upon him as an "untrained child who had no right to the weapon of the Jedi. The young man in reality was Vader's long lost son&mdash;Luke Skywalker. Although this family relation was unknown to both father and son. But he Dark Lord could not believe that this "boy" could be the skilled pilot he was looking for. The pair Engaged in lightsaber combat, Vader toyed with the Rebel who wielded a lightsaber, all the while antagonizing his skill using the lightsaber. The boy exclaimed his grievances against the Dark Lord, stating that he had witnessed Vader slay Obi-Wan Kenobi, his master, aboard the Death Star, and that he had intended to get revenge for Kenobi's death. Using the Force, Vader took the boy's lightsaber; having deduced Vader's old master had given the boy the weapon. The Sith Master, now wielding two lightsabers, threatened the Jedi Apprentice to disclose all his knowledge of the Rebel Alliance&mdash;including the nature of the current attack and the identity of the Rebel pilot who destroyed the Death Star. The boy refused, and Vader raised the two sabers to deliver a killing blow when he recognized the boy's lightsaber: it was that of Anakin Skywalker's&mdash;Vader's former self&mdash;before falling to the dark side of the Force. Before he could sink further into distraction, the confrontation between the two was cut short when the foot of an AT-AT walker came hurdling down into the middle of the standoff; knocking the two apart. The Rebels had hijacked the walker, and were using it to wreak havoc as they made their escape from the doomed factory.

In the ensuing chaos, Vader joined in trying to prevent the Rebel's escape. Vader wielded the two lightsabers as he casually mowed down the factory's runaway slaves and commanded that his stormtroopers execute both them and the Rebels, or face his wrath. As they pressed their attack, a trooper informed Vader that they had the Rebels trapped, but an Ion cannon would be required to bring down the AT-AT walker. As Vader lulled the trooper's suggestion, stating that he personally would see to the walker's defeat, the young Jedi rebel suddenly reappeared, having acquired a 74-Z speeder bike, and attacked the group. The laser fire missed Vader, but killed all of the troopers. The Dark Lord reconsidered his initial dismissal of the boy, and wondered exactly what Obi-Wan had been up to before his death at Vader's hands. The Rebels again struck back against Vader with the stolen walker&mdash;the Rebels tried to crush Vader using the walker's massive feet. Vader was lost in though and was nearly crushed. The Rebels made another pass, but Vader used the Force to hold the walker's descending foot several meters above his head&mdash;much to the Rebels dismay. Vader used the force to try to tear the walker apart, the Dark Lord was foiled however, when the AT-AT's quad laser cannons as the Rebels unleashed a barrage of laser fire upon him. Vader was flung backwards, causing him to lose possession of the his previous lightsaber. The blast also blew off his mask and helmet, leaving him wheezing and vulnerable buried under a pile or rubble.

While Vader was buried under the debris, the boy with the lightsaber retrieved his lightsaber and continued onward mounted on the speeder bike to meet up with the commandeered AT-AT. Shortly afterwards, Vader emerged, lifting the rubble into the air in his anger; in being defeated&mdash;in appearing vulnerable. A stormtrooper approached, and upon seeing Vader's scarred face tried to apologize for intruding upon his Lord. The Sith twisted the troopers head around using the Force&mdash;killing the trooper. Vader retrieved his helmet as Overseer Aggadeen, via comlink, informed him that the factory was doomed; the core reactor could not be defused. Aggadeen requested Vader's permission to flee the facility, but the Vader vetoed his request; telling him that "If this factory explodes, you had best explode with it." Vader threatened the remaining Imperial forces, stating that any further failure would be dealt with harshly. He again ordered that all the Rebel invaders were to die, except for the boy with the lightsaber, whom Vader had insisted that he would deal with personally.

Obi-Wan's last hope
"The boy. The boy is your last hope, isin't he Obi-Wan? He is what you died to protect. He may be strong in the Force, but he is untrained. And who is there left to train him now? No one but me. When I find him...And I will find him...He will be my weapon, not yours. The dark side always wins, Obi-Wan. You should know that by now."

- Vader to Obi-Wan after realizing his plan.

Darth Vader strode out of the factory while flanked by several stormtroopers riding 74-Z speeder bikes. His target was the stolen AT-AT, as he closed in on the lumbering walker Aggadeen called to inform him that they had been successful in defusing the core reactor after all, crisis had been averted. Vader let him know his life may be spared for his success. He then commanded the Overseer to send all troops&mdash;available or not, to his position. The Dark Lord ignited his lightsaber and began to cut through the back left leg of the walker. He took several strokes to cause the AT-AT to fall, but when it did, it was catastrophic. It crumbled, legs splayed outward, Vader ordered the Imperials to move in for the kill, for the walker had fallen.

Aggadeen's reinforcements arrived: stormtroopers, combat speeders, and assault tanks. Vader ordered his troops to ignore the slaves and focus their efforts on the Rebels. A trooper informed his Lord that the Rebels were fleeing into the trash fields. Another told him that a lone rebel appeared to be returning to the factory. The Sith Lord had decided that the boy with his old lightsaber was truly the Force sensitive pilot who had blown up the Death Star. And as such used the Force to throw a trooper out of a combat speeder so he could hurry and confront the boy. Vader soon caught up with him inside the factory, Vader considered the chase to be a rematch of the chase he failed through the Death Star's equilateral trench and fired on the boy. Although the boy evaded Vader's fire long enough to fire on the power core. The core was overheated and beyond saving this time. Vader continued to pursue the boy&mdash;nearly killing Aggadeen by running him over with the speeder in the process. Vader managed to hit the boy's speeder bike, but he flew from the exploding factory before Vader could land the killing shot. Vader remained trapped inside, using the Force Vader manged to survive as Weapons Factory Alpha exploded in a fireball all around him. Vader emerged from the carnage, using the Force to move debris and wreckage out of his path. He located the boy's speeder bike abandoned before seeing the Millennium Falcon&mdash;the same ship that had escaped the Death Star with Princess Leia Organa shortly before it was destroyed, blast free from Cymoon 1 with all its crew aboard.

As Vader pondered his defeat, Captain Kronn of the Star Destroyer Adjudicator informed him that the Falcon had evaded their blockade and escaped into hyperspace. Before the captain could finish Vader applied a Force choke to the captain for failing him. Vader, having pieced together the puzzle of why Obi-Wan had returned, why he had let himself be killed by the Dark Lord and why his body had disappeared into nothingness. He had become one with the Cosmic Force as Master Yoda had explained to Anakin shortly before the end of the Clone Wars. SO Vader began to speak with his old master from beyond, telling him he now knew his plan&mdash;it was all for the boy. Though Vader reveled in the fact that he and Sidious had destroyed the Jedi, leaving Vader the only one left to train the boy. And when Vader succeeded in turning the boy to the dark side of the Force&mdash;and he would succeed, he would be Vader's weapon, not Obi-Wan's. Believing the dark side would triumph over all.

After Cymoon 1
"But you are the only one living to suffer my anger. You, an isolated survivor of the greatest military disaster in all my Empire's history? Oh, you are truly the Chosen One Lord Vader. Chosen to be the one responsible." "I will make it right. I will crush the Rebels." "No. I think not."

- Sidious and Vader discuss Vader's failings. After being defeated on Cymoon 1, Vader returned to the Imperial Palace on Coruscant to report to his master&mdash;Darth Sidious. Palpatine bid Vader to explain the events of Cymoon 1; Vader recounted how the Rebels had posed as the Hutt's envoy to infiltrate the factory. How they had rigged the facility's core reactor to explode&mdash;they had been successful. Sidious told him that the destruction of first the Death Star, then Weapons Factory Alpha, put the Emperor's Empire very near disaster. Vader brought the the facilty's Overseer with him to the palace. Vader considered Overseer Aggadeen to be responsible for the Rebel assault; and as such had him tortured to insure he was not withholding any information he could use to locate the boy who had wielded his old lightsaber&mdash;"...Overseer Aggadeen will not fail us again." Palpatine told Vader that because of Vader twenty years of planning had gone to waste; the Death Star was to hold the galaxy in order after the Emperor disbanded the Senate. But with Vader's failure at both Yavin and Cymoon, is what put Vader in the position he found himself in; and the Empire as weak as it had ever been. It had been Vader who had let the Rebels escape the Death Star, he who had failed to destroy the Alliance pilots at Yavin; he who had let the Rebels destroy Weapons Factory Alpha. Vader took responsibility for his action, although he pleaded that it was not his fault alone; Tarkin, Motti and the other officers who had believed in the Death Star should also suffer the blame; "the arrogance of the weapon courted disaster." Palpatine agreed, but reminded him that he was the sole survivor of the attack, the only one left to suffer the Emperor's anger. Vader had been "chosen" by Sidious to be the one responsible. Vader pleaded with the Emperor, he could correct his mistakes by obliterating the Rebel Alliance. Palapatine disagreed, telling Vader that he had proved himself to be a better tool than the mechanism directing the tool. In other words Admiral Tagge&mdash;who had left the Death Star before it was destroyed would be Vader's commanding officer for a time. Palpatine believed that Tagge alone had properly feared the Rebels; Tagge's philosophy would be dominant while the Second Death Star was constructed in secret. But before travelling to to the Death Star II, Sidious ordered Vader to take a "sentimental" trip to his homeworld of Tatoine to continue the negotiations that were supposed to to have taken place on Cymoon 1. Vader was ordered to "Make the Deal." Palpatine believed the Empire would rule the outer rim eventually, and working with Jabba, the Grand Warlord of the Outer Rim was one of the first steps in doing so. The Master and Apprentice returned to the Emperor's office. The Master greeted an Imperial agent who had arrived in their absence. Vader inquired the man's identity&mdash;but Sidious denied him that knowledge. Vader asked if Sidious was hiding anything from him, but again Palpatine denied his question. The Emperor asked Vader if he had anything else to report before his apprentice departed. Darth Vader thought back to Obi-Wan's return, to the Force sensitive X-wing pillot who destroyed the Death Star, to the boy who confronted the Dark Lord on Cymoon 1 with his old lightsaber. Vader, thinking that his Master was hiding things from him, chose not to tell Palpatine any of this; and left for General Veers' Star Destroyer in orbit over Coruscant.

Later aboard the Star Destroyer, Veers informed Vader that the Destroyer would need to travel across the Outer Rim gathering goods to be used in the negotiations. However Vader overruled the General and ordered them to first stop at Tatooine first, before collecting the goods. This would strain the Star Destroyer's crew and engines in order to meet the deadline. But Vader threatened the Destroyer's crew; Veers told Vader they would meet the deadline. Vader was pleased and told Veers who was going to meditate.

Return to Jabba's Palace
"Hmmm. I see you know how enough to tread carefully. But tell me...are you brave or foolish." "That is not the question Hutt. The question is: Are you?" "Oh Jedi...always making everything so difficult."

- Jabba and Vader, just before Vader kills several of Jabba's thugs during the negotiations.



Darth Vader arrived at Jabba the Hutt's palace where upon entering he killed two of Jabba's Gammorean guards who would not allow him passage. Bib Fortuna, Jabba's Major-domo, would not let Vader pass either&mdash;but was intimidated by the Dark Lord's lightsaber and woke his master. Jabba rebuked the Sith for arriving a day early of the planned meeting&mdash;and for the loss of his two guards. Vader stated that he was being generous in only killing to of the crime lord's guards. Jabba refrained from arguing and asked what he could do for the Empire. Vader ordered the Hutt to dismiss the audience of thugs, musicians, bounty hunters and other criminals that crowded Jabba's chamber. The Hutt did so as Vader reveled that on this day he was not there on behalf of the Empire&mdash;but on a personal issue that would end to the Dark Lord's satisfaction. Jabba knowing that Vader had a connection to the Force, reminded him that Jedi mind tricks would not work on the great Hutt. Vader assured him he would not&mdash;mind tricks were the way of the Jedi&mdash;not of the dark side of the Force. Jabba considered collecting a bounty that the Rebel Alliance had placed on him by dropping him through a trap door to his pet Rancor that was held below. Although he did not, upon the realization that the Dark Lord was aware of the trap and "stepped carefully". They continued to negotiate when Jabba misidentified Vader as a Jedi; this angered Vader who ignited his lightsaber. Several of Jabba's cronies arrived to protect their master&mdash;but they were the Dark Lord killed them all using his lightsaber and the Force. As the bodies lay heaped on the floor, Vader began to Force choke Jabba. As the Hutt struggled, Vader let him know his mistake&mdash;Darth Vader was a Dark Lord of the Sith, not a Jedi; at least not any longer. The Sith preferred force to achieve their ends, unlike the Jedi, who preferred peace. Vader released Jabba, who admitted he found it hard not to respect the Dark Lord. As Vader's anger subsided the Sith Lord and the Crime lord came to an agreement; Vader needed to hire two of Jabba's best bounty hunters. Jabba complied and sent the pair to meet Vader in the desert.

Vader left the Hutt's palace and encountered a Tusken Raider camp. He mercilessly slaughtered his old enemies&mdash;men, women amd children alike. Vader basked in their deaths when he was approached by the two bounty hunters. He asked if the truly were Jabba's best. Boba Fett assured him they were up to the challenge of Vader's mission. Vader told Fett that his bounty was on an X-wing pilot who was associated with the smuggling vessel the Millennium Falcon, Vader needed the boy alive; Fett agreed. The other hunter, the wookiee Black Krrsantan would be hunting the Imperial Agent whom Sidious had hidden from Vader, Krssantan was to capture him so Vader could question him. Fett assured him that Vader's will would be done. Vader told them to start immediately, thinking that he had spent too much time on Tatooine already. Vader returned to the Tusken camp once more before departing Tatooine for the Second Death Star.

The next day, Vader returned to the Hutt's palace this time per the Emperor's orders. However, he was accompanied by a legion of stormtroopers and Imperial vehicles. He was again met by Fortuna&mdash;this time he was welcomed. Vader cut off Fortuna's "pleasantries", and told Jabba to provide the Emperor with what he needed if he wanted to live; Jabba was again struck with Vader's charisma, and noted that he could not deny the Emperor after what had happened to his Death Star and Weapons Factory Alpha. Vader claimed those events were nothing more than lies and propaganda spread by the Rebels; to which Jabba replied that whatever of his the Empire required, was now the Empire's, and asked only to be paid well. To which Vader retorted he would be paid whatever the Empire decided. The crime lord expressed concern over the Imperial's security regarding the shipments, noting that the lawless Outer Rim was home to many pirates and space slugs. Vader let him know the Empire would deal with any threats as easily as Vader was then dealing with the obstinate Hutt. Vader turned to leave, but was stopped when Jabba invited him to a feast and entertainment in the Dark Lord's honor; noting that Jabba like to seal his business deals by watching someone die.

Vader soon learned that the entertainment was watching Jabba's guard killing wild banthas for sport aboard the Hutt's sail barge. The two lords watched the entertainment until Salacious Crumb, Jabba's kowakian monkey-lizard court jester, let out a loud cackle; to which Vader warned the Hutt to not let Crumb do that again in Vader's presence if Jabba valued Crumb's life. Jabba merely laughed and told Vader he now regarded him as a good friend, to which Vader argued he was not. However, Jabba argued he had helped both Sidious and Vader in their times of need&mdash;making him a friend. Jabba then inquired to whether his bounty hunters were adequately serving the Dark Lord's needs. Vader berated him for bringing up the private matter, until Jabba brushed it aside, saying they were not speaking at all: just listening to the "sweet sound of dying banthas," Vader consented and told the Hutt thrier missions were simple enough: capture and Imperial agent, and a barely-of-age boy. Jabba argued that the boy had indeed destroyed the Death Star, and had been briefly trained by Kenobi. Vader, who had been unawre of Kenobi's ninteen year exile on Tatooine, asked Jabba to tell him all he knew of the Jedi Master. Jabba said Kenobi had been a thorn in his side many a time, and would recount the tales to Vader.

However, Jabba first required screaming, so he ordered his guards to pilot the barge to the Great Pit of Carkoon, in the Dune Sea, where a sarlacc resided. He told Vader to expect to be impressed with the sarlacc, before noting the boy who destroyed the Death Star had come from the wastes of Tatooine, thinking it astonishing that anyone of note could have come from the backwater planet; leaving Vader standing silent within the atmosphere of hs homeworld.

Servitude unto Tagge
"You should think of yourself as your lightsaber. A singular weapon from an older time&mdash;and one that is dangerous to everyone around them without a skilled hand to wield it. In time you will understand that I am the skilled hand you've been waiting for."

- Tagge to Vader

Darth Vader met the Grand General on his Super Star Destroyer, the Annihilator. Soon after, word came from a Lambda-class shuttle&mdash;under the Imperial designation CZ-246&mdash;that is was under attack from pirates. Vader boarded his TIE advanced and went to their aid. He arrived just as the crew of the shuttle killed themselves, rather than let their cargo of Imperial weapons fall into the hands of the pirates. Vader fired on the pirate CR90 corvette&mdash;that proved to be robotic&mdash;destroying a torpedo before ordering two TIEs to follow his lead to prevent the corvette from escaping. Both the TIEs were destroyed quickly while Vader managed to evade the laser fire using the Force. He soon was able to move into range and disable the corvette's engine block, preventing the ship from fleeing. He then called the Annihilator to let them know his mission had been successful.

Upon returning, Vader reported to Tagge to let him know the pirate vessel had been captured, and that the ship was powered by very high quality robotics. While discussing the attack, the pair both agreed that the party behind the raids needed to be stopped as soon as possible; and the raiders were not foolish. Though Tagge made a point to tell Vader he would be addressed as the "Grand General", not just Tagge. Vader suspected a spy was leaking information, but Tagge disagreed, the surplus of raids was not out of the ordinary in the wake of the destruction of the Death Star&mdash;according to Tagge's graphs. The Grand General admitted to seeing the Death Star as "Tarkin's Folly", thinking of how the Empire could have expanded its fleet rather than put all its resources into one battle station. Vader said that Tarkin had had vision, while Tagge had mere graphs. Tagge retorted that yes, he had graphs as well as the command, as he was the Grand General of the Imperial Military.

Tagge went on to admit his plans weren't as grand as Tarkin's or even Vader's, but he insisted they were still effective. He continued, saying the Empire could not be based around a single asset like the Death Star, or even Vader. Tagge proceeded to lecture Vader on the importance of his star fleet, how it could&mdash;given enough time&mdash;crush any obstacle in its path. Tagge informed Vader that he intended to repair the corvette and use it to attack its base of origin&mdash;with Vader&mdash;their greatest warrior&mdash;heading the attack. Although Vader believed the raiders would rather destroy themselves and the station, rather than have their full organization under the Empire's radar. Tagge proceeded to explain all he was doing was for the best; that Vader was similar to his lightsaber, dangerous and unpredictable without a skilled hand like Vader's to wield it. Tagge believed he was the hand who would "wield" the Dark Lord. However, Tagge&mdash;not totally trusting Vader&mdash;assigned to him an Adjutant. Lieutenant Oon-Ai would be reporting their progress directly to the Grand General. Vader was unsure if the arrangement would pose a problem.



Vader left to prepare for the mission and oversee the repairs on the corvette. Oon-Ai followed, asking permission to look into Vader's personal communications to provide information to Tagge. The Dark Lord stood over the Adjutant, stating he didn't require a "clerk's meddling fingers," Oon-Ai was intimidated, but insisted&mdash;for they were his orders. Vader explained that he served under Tagge for the Emperor willed it; Oon-Ai would watch Vader for it was was Tagge's will. He turned and left, before telling Oon-Ai that his patience was being tested. Vader began to prepare for the mission while Oon-Ai checked his records on a computer. Vader criticized the way Oon-Ai was spending his time before the mission, although the Lieutenant noted that storming the pirate's base was the Dark Lord's work, Oon-Ai was to merely follow. He then asked about frequent communication with Boba Fett. Vader told him he would explain upon their return. He then ordered a black astromech droid to follow, and left to prepare. One preparation was to plant incriminating evidence into the droid to be planted in the pirate base; in order to incriminate Oon-Ai as the traitor leaking information.

Soon thereafter, Vader, Oon-Ai and six stormtroopers set out aboard the pirate ship to find its base of origin. The base proved to be a space station partially built into an asteroid in the extreme edge of the Outer Rim. The corvette docked with the station and was greeted by a Twi'lek pirate. Vader killed the pirate after he confirmed that he had brought "a fine haul of Imperial weapons,". He ordered the troopers to secure the core while the astromech droid went outside of the station to make his way to the command center to plant the false evidence. Vader encouraged his troops to hurry before the pirates activate the self-destruct. Although he was surprised when the pirate retaliated with two customized Droidekas who brandished missile launchers. Vader realized the pirate would rather fight for their lives rather than kill themselves outright. The droidekas succeeded in killing several troopers before Oon-Ai yelled to ask if Vader could stop them. Vader knew he would be unable to use the art of Shien to block the missiles, for if he did they would just explode. So, instead&mdash;after Oon-Ai's panicking yells&mdash;Vader used the Force to throw the incoming missiles back at the attackers&mdash;destroying them all. A Mon Calamari survived long enough to activate the self-destruct; confirming Vader's suspicions. Vader ordered the surviving troopers to return the corvette and prepare to launch as soon as he returned. Vader went deeper into the soon-to-be-destroyed station to retrieve the false evidence the droid had planted&mdash;much to Oon-Ai's dismay, as he was to follow. The Adjutant pleaded with Vader to hurry as the station exploded around them. Vader retrieved the evidence and strolled to the waiting corvette. The ship departed just before the station exploded completely. Oon-Ai was surprised they made it, Vader was not and patted the astromech for his good work.

They made their way back to the Annihilator to tell Tagge he was impressed with the results of Tagge's plan: the intelligence he gathered confirmed the raiders were being backed by the Crymorah syndicate. He also claimed Oon-Ai was the traitor; he threw the lieutenant's un-moving body at Tagge's feet. Tagge stood stunned as Vader told him Oon-Ai was the leak, noting he must have used his closeness to the Grand General to achieve his ends. The Dark Lord told Vader to vet his next Adjutant more closely, as he would be watching them as closely as they watched him. Shortly after, Vader left to talk with the astromech droid; he insured he had deleted records of of his data uploads. And vented the droid through an into space&mdash;where it exploded. Vader watched, thinking of how droids could always be trusted.

Gaining an ally
"There was a time I had armies at my beck and call. That time has passed. I need resources of my own. Private resources."

- Vader to Aphra, on why he needed her services.

Darth Vader learned&mdash;from the information he gathered from the pirate base&mdash;that a Doctor Aphra had supplied the pirates with the top-notch customized droidekas. Vader had been impressed by the droids and wished to add similarly effective units to the personal army he was seeking to build. So the Dark Lord undertook a manhunt to find Aphra. The hunt took him to many locations, gathering information and killing the witnesses, until he finally learned of her being on Quarantine World III in Kallidahin Space. Vader set out to the Quarantined world aboard his TIE advanced. After landing, he was frantically greeted by the dwarf alien Utani Xane and her squad of B2 super battle droids&mdash;who had Aphra in custody. Xane tried to warn him that he was violating treaties by being on-world, but he ignored her and began destroying her droids using the Force and his lightsaber. Xane made a run for it but was tackled by Aphra who had freed herself, she tumbled over a ladge but managed to catch herself. Vader stabbed Xane through the back with his saber before telling the precariously hanging doctor he needed her services. He helped her up and she agreed.

Aboard Aphra's ship, the Ark Angel, Aphra welcomed him and admitted to being a fan of the Dark Lord. Vader let her know their business together was private, and he was impressed with her reactivated droids. Aphra was curious, and asked how Vader had found her; but he didn't answer and left her to realize she probably didn't want to know the Dark Lord's ruthless methods. The Doctor introduced Vader to the Triple-Zero protocol personality matrix; the reason Aphra had been on Quarantine World III was to steal the matrix. Aphra used her computer to try and unlock the codes restricting it, but Vader interrupted and unlocked it in seconds; leaving Aphra amazed at his abilities. She then installed the assassin droid matrix into a protocol droid's body. The droid introduced himself as 0-0-0, Aphra overrode his commands and implemented she and Vader as Triple Zero's new masters. The archaeologist told Triple Zero he could be of assistance by waking up BT-1, a Blastomech droid assassin disguised as an astromech droid&mdash;although BT-1 was entirely homicidal. Fortunately Triple Zero spoke the R&D language that BT-1 could only understand and woke him up. Unfortunately the Blastomech prototype took hostility towards his new masters, but was quickly shut down by Triple Zero before he could cause any damage.

Aphra was relieved that they had safely activated the droids, but remembered she was talking to Darth Vader, the Emperor's enforcer, who undoubtedly faced worse danger on a daily basis. Vader told her she was overly fond of speaking. She retorted that she spoke excessively only when she was nervous&mdash;and Vader made her nervous. Vader her know the reason he had sought her out; to secure his own private resources that only she could help him procure. Aphra was supposed to have given the two droids to the Droid Gotra as she was hired, but instead gave them to Vader after realizing Vader was probably going to be her employer for the foreseeable future. The Archaeologist asked what else the Dark Lord needed, Vader said he needed troops of unquestionable loyalty, battle droids. Aphra knew of an unusual droid foundry on Geonosis, she asked how Vader felt about a Secret mission to Geonosis. The Dark Lord lied, saying he had no feelings regarding the planet the Clone War was birthed upon. At Aphra's suggestion they left immediately for the red-desert world.

Returning to Geonosis for an army
"And now for our devilishly clever plan to steal a robot womb factory off a homicidally broody alien queen. Do you still think this is a good idea, Lord Vader? "Yes." "You! Why are you here? Has the Empire not taken enough from the Geonosisans with your bombs?" "No."

- Aphra, Vader, and the Geonosian Queen

Vader's team prepared for the mission to Geonosis, and set out aboard the Ark Angel. They set down near the coordinates the Droid Gotra had provided Aphra, and in the middle of an old battlefront where wreckage from battles of the Clone Wars still remained. Aphra remarked that according to the Gotra's intel, a lone Geonosian Queen had survived the Sterilization of Geonosis, in which the native population of Geonosians had been exterminated by the Empire. The Queen was rumored to be in possession of a droid factory that they were going to steal to build Vader's army of battle droids. Aphra then sent Triple-Zero and BT into the tunnels to map the route to the Queen so she and Vader could follow. As they entered the tunnels, Aphra asked Vader if he had ever been to Geonosis before, her questioning brought up painful memories of Anakin's late wife, so he steely ordered her to cease her probing; and that he expected nothing more than total obedience and silence from her. Vader then asked if the droids were capable of mapping the route through the twisting tunnels, to which Aphra assured him they would do fine and he needn't worry about them. Vader retorted that he was not concerened about with the lives of the two droids; for he had come for an army.

Farther into the catacombs, the Sith Lord and the archaeloist came across BT and Triple-Zaero's handiwork: burned B1-battle droid-geonosian hybrids. Aphra noted the Gotra had been indeed correct, and that the Queen must see the droids as not droids, but as her children; judging that all the droids had traits installed upon them that were unique to the Geonosian species. They soon caught up with the BT and Triple-Zero and entered the Queen's chamber. Aphra inquired to whether Vader still considered their plan to steal the Queen's womb-factory wise, to which Vader replied: "Yes." Vader dove off the platform and cut the Queen away from the off womb-factory with his lgihtsaber. The Queen, injured but alive, ordered her "children" to stop the intruders. However, at Vader's command, BT opened fire on the droids and he and Vader began to overwhelm her forces. Aphra, fearing the plan had gone awry, jumped down near the Dark Lord and asked if he could get the Ark Angel's locator beacon to the ceiling. Vader casually threw the beacon to the ceiling; leaving Aphra content with his abilities. The Ark Angel then barrged the beacon's location; forgeing a huge hole in the roof of the chamber, and causing immeasurrable amounts of rock to fall over Vader and Aphra. Vader therefore created a shield with the Force to protect them. Vader's J-Type 327 Nubian lowered a crane-platform through the gaping hole and Aphra attached it to the factory while Vader fought off the advancing droids. All while the Queen screamed for the to be stopped. Vader assured Aphra his seemingly delicate Nubian would be able to lift them and the factory out of danger, for it had "certain enhancements," And it did: carrying Vader's team and the factory to the skies.

Later, aboard the Ark Angel and Vader's Nubian, Aphra succesfully activated the factory, leaving Triple-Zero to judge its work. The Doctor the inquired to when the Dark Lord of the Sith was going to kill her. She was willing to die if it fit Vader's plan; however, Aphra did not want to die, requesting a "lightsaber right through the neck," when the time came. Vader stood silent before informing her of her usefullness to him: she would be safe as long as she remained useful and loyal to him. Triple-Zero interrupted, bringing news of Black Krrsantan's return with the Emperor's agent.

Vader had hoped it was Fett with the boy, but was content when Krrsantan brought the Agent aboard.

Blasphemy of the Force
"The Force is obsolete. These are its successors." "This is... blasphemous!" "This has nothing to do with the Force. Much like you, Lord Vader. I look at you, more machine than man, and I see a bridge between the old world and mine. In many ways these are your children." "Enough.""

- Cylo-V introduces Vader to his enforcers

Vader, Aphra and the droids arrived at Cylo-IV's base in the Outer Rim aboard the Nubian, and Aphra informed Vader of the awesome sight. Vader lamented that he also found the sight impressive, but only if one was "fond of abominations." Aphra fired an ion charge at the nearest space-faring beast that confused the soldiers stationed within; allowing Vader to spacewalk to the