THE TRUE GAME

"My Lord, I am preparing for my assault on Taris." The Sith Lord informed her Master with caution and yet spoken in such a dutiful tone.

As delighted as he was, Baras knew it wouldn't be so long until his apprentice would turn on him. The new game starts and this time, it was even more deadly than the time he orchestrated the destruction of Zylas Sern. "Excellent. Your mission on Taris is to take down the Republic's entire Strategic High Command. The War Trust – the four generals who implement the bulk of the Republic military force's strategic planning -are all on Taris as we speak. Normally they're never together in one place. This is an incredible opportunity."

"The Republic will pay for such a blunder."

"It won't be easy." The Master warned. "The War Trust generals are master strategists. Generals Faraire, Minst, Durant, and Frelka should not be taken lightly. Each will likely be protected by his elite guard, and they have all the Republic forces on Taris at their disposal."

Vette's attention was caught from the moment Leena's lips slowly curve into a smirk. "Danger only makes things more fun."

"Do not approach this endeavor frivolously, apprentice. Your task on Taris represents the largest scale assault of your career. Moff Hurden leads the Imperial forces on the planet. He will provide whatever resources he can. Moff Zabro will be on the planet's surface shortly, for the time being, Hurden will do." The mere mention of her father, made the Captain's gaze go to his Lord and back to her Master. "Shuttle to the surface and seek him out, immediately."

As the holocom ended, the Captain immediately turned to his general to express his concern towards the task. "My Lord—"

"I know, Quinn." The Sith Lord sigh, having her fingers run through her head. Trying to think through this whole situation Baras managed to put her in. "He wants something."

"Doesn't Lord Baras want the success of this assault?" Jaesa asked out of curiosity. Vette and Quinn exchanged glances for a while, without another word, it seems that they came to an understanding that the Twi'lek would be best in explaining this situation to the apprentice.

Vette was careful with her word choice. "Leena's boss would want something… more than the results of a task, Jaesa. Not even Quinn could tell what that man thinks but, whatever it is, it's not always good."

closed her eyes as she remembered her conversation with Darth Occlus all those years ago. Back when she just moved back into Dromand Kaas. How she had to think like then if she is to play the game, but what stood out was the warning Tremel had for her. 'Always take him seriously. I mean always.'

"When you have to understand a person's motives you have to assume the worst." Leena broke her silence as she turned to the apprentice with such a cold stare and then, there it was – the painful feeling of fear inside of her Master. "What's the worst reason Baras could have for me?"

Jaesa opened her mouth but nothing came out. She thought of the worst possible things that a Sith could do to another. She didn't know what relation Leena had with the two Moffs that were mentioned, Vette seemed to have the idea as the apprentice saw it. Quinn knew exactly what was going on – it was only appropriate, as the right hand of their Lord.

The imagination she had was so horrid, she couldn't bring herself to speak.

The Master nodded. "Good. Now triple that imagination of yours."

Jaesa's eyes widen with the pure horrified expression that could be seen in her. Leena continued to speak. "Get ready to play the game, Jaesa. The game is horrifying." She gave Quinn and Vette a firm nod. They acknowledged, knowing what should be done and left the scene for only the Master and her apprentice.

The Captain found himself in the bridge as they allowed their Lord and Master to proceed in briefing Jaesa on how things work in missions such as this. Baras would risk anything to get what he wants, he was that kind of man – and like any other Sith, he wanted power. Quinn wasn't so sure where he stands, regardless of his vow to his new Lord – he even wonders why he agreed to be her eyes and ears in the first place.

Going against Baras was something no Imperial alive would even dare – but he was proven wrong. With the task that his Lord Sern had for him, he was getting the larger picture. The mere mention of Moff Zabro was not too surprising to the Captain. The Dark Lord was becoming aware of the power and influence his apprentice had been grasping for months.

Quinn knew what Leena Sern is like when she's holding back, it can already be considered ruthless. What more if she decided to give it her all to death?

Was it wise for him to side with the apprentice rather than the Master?

Wise for his life or wise for his career, or perhaps it was something of a code for him. Whatever was best for the Empire. For now, in his eyes, the apprentice turned Sith Lord the best chance in building a stronger Empire.

When their Master finally left for the orbital station on Taris, Quinn proceeded with his work and began to receive reports and holo-frequencies from other Imperials. It was quiet, even with the Twi'lek around. The droid 2V was rather busy with himself, cleaning the quarters of their Lord.

The Captain sighed as he was trying to develop a new strategy. Of course, it crossed his mind that Baras might already be aware of his allegiance to his apprentice, and he wasn't expecting mercy once he got rid of Lord Sern and brand him a traitor. His gaze went to the Captain's chair, where his Lord would usually stay whenever she was thinking to herself, receiving briefing reports from him, or just looking out at the stars.

She was always such a curious woman, sometimes it made him smile. She was ruthless and yet granted mercy to those who deserve it, or to those who can serve her cause well. He was keeping tabs with the Chiss that she spared back on Nar Shaddaa. He didn't need to know what happened there, as long as he knew that his Lord's powerbase was growing, he didn't even know if this… spy-network of hers was intentional or by accident and he was second to the top of her pyramid as her right hand, her second-in-command.

It was a rather interesting development.

His smile turned into an amused smirk once he received a message from a third-party officer on this operation for Lord Sern.

From: General Rymar Quinn

Subject: Lima Sierra

In hectic circumstances, I insisted on the Moff that I should be the one to reach out to you. Never let personal feelings get the way in a mission, as I always said – but I can assure you and your new Master that the Moff will certainly place the best interest of the Empire first rather than his relationship with his daughter.

He knows that all warriors understand the need to face and defeat the enemy. In which both aspects of the task can be challenging, both can require thought, insight, and planning. But a warrior may forget that even the task of identifying enemies can be difficult. And the cause of that failure can lead to catastrophe.

Never underestimate the Sith, son. They are reputed to be clever and capable warriors.

Moff Zabro will stand with Lord Sern in the hunt of the Republic War Trust.

Already on the surface of Taris, Jaesa had her eyes closed, trying to feel the energy that surrounds Taris. An urban planet in the fifth orbit of it stars within the Taris system, within the Ojoster sector of the Outer Rim Territories, a planet orbited by four moons.

The planet had a similar ecumenopolis like Coruscant and Nar Shaddaa, with its upper levels safe and secure, inhabited by the wealthy while the lower-levels were frequently plagued by gang warfare and inhabited by thugs and the poor. But soon afterward, the planet has become subject to both Jedi and Sith plans.

The Jedi want to rebuild what was lost, wanting to prove to the people of the Republic that they were strong enough to recover from such a disaster and hopefully, raise moral while the Sith sought to foil their plans. To prove that the Republic could never recover from such a thing.

The apprentice opened her eyes as she felt them landing, her Master was already standing to wait for the door to open. With her helmet on, she couldn't make what her Master was feeling at that moment. The Force was strong with her, but she could sense the good in her as well as the cruelty. She struggles to keep the balance – it was bold of her to proceed with such an attempt.

The ruins of what Taris used to be was very visible in the eyes of the apprentice. So many Imperial soldiers and even Sith loitering around the Empire base. She's a Jedi hiding under the robes of a Sith, under a Master who tries to understand the philosophies of both Orders, and yet her hatred towards the Jedi was still there. Regardless of the bonds, she formed with Master Tarun.

Locating Moff Hurdenn was rather simple.

"Moff Hurdenn, the Sith is here." Spoke a rather large soldier with heavy-looking armor. Jaesa looked around, trying to sense some danger towards her Master but so far, nothing seems to be too dangerous. Yet, it's an Imperial base, no direct harm can go to the Lord yet.

"What's that, Lieutenant?" The Moff didn't seem to notice their presence until he turned to find Lord Sern and her young apprentice. "Oh, I didn't see you come in. You must be the Sith Darth Baras sent. Welcome to Taris."

"Indeed." The Sith Lord nodded in acknowledgment. "My mission is of high importance. Brief me on the situation here."

"Yes, right, as I told Darth Baras. I have long sought an opportunity to assist him and am eager to contribute however I am able."

Leena rolled her eyes under her helmet. She wasn't so amused at this exchange.

The soldier from earlier spoke. "I doubt she came all this way to be fawned on."

"Of course." Hurdenn was perfectly aware of who the Sith is, besides the one Baras recommended. After all, he is forced to work with one of the few men that he can admire at the same time despise. A man equal to his rankings and yet is praised by almost every single Dark Lord on the council for such military achievements.

Hurdenn was rather curious about what Moff Zabro's daughter is truly like. "May I introduce Lieutenant Pierce, on loan from one of our notorious black ops divisions. He is hands down my finest officer. I give you exclusive reign of him while you're on Taris, which I trust will accommodate your every need."

She turned to the soldier with no hesitation and immediately gave out a commanding presence. "Lieutenant, your service to me begins immediately."

"Good." He nodded with no objection. He seemed to be the kind of man who didn't want to waste any time.

"Yes, well, I will leave you two on your mission, then. I must wait for the arrival of Moff Zabro. As you proceed, if I can offer any further aid, do not hesitate to contact me." He bowed, excusing himself from the scene.

Leena had her hands folded behind her in which they are very visible to the apprentice. Pierce spoke. "Heard we're going after the War Trust. Did some homework." And the Sith Lord began to do hand signals that she taught Jaesa over the weeks. She learned fast, didn't waste time picking up what her Lord wanted her to do as they both listen to the Lieutenant carefully. "If that is the mission, I'm fully prepped."

"Bring me up to speed." As Leena spoke, the apprentice took out her datapad at the side. She didn't seem to care about what Peirce would think she would do, as long as it was for the mission – Jaesa had her instructions and proceeded with the job at hand as she allowed the adults to do what they should.

"All four of the War Trust are here on Taris, which means something big. But they never show their faces. God my hands on a Republic scout, leaned on him. Hard. He was setting up supply routes for General Frelka, the War Trust's junior member."

"I'd like to interrogate his scout personally." It wasn't a request when he heard her tone. It was a demand.

But there was a problem. "He's dead. Sorry."

Jaesa couldn't help but look up from her datapad and raised her brow. Her attention was on the soldier and then later on to her Master. Waiting for an answer. "Next time, leave interrogation to the professionals."

"Noted." The soldier answered, and the apprentice turned her attention back to the datapad. "Been scoping the area the scout described. Several heavy-armed Republic supply caravans run along carefully staggered routes. A couple of dozen soldiers could hit the caravans, pull their transponders, triangulate their destination with the equipment here. Moff Hurden can't spare the manpower, though and Moff Zabro who has the manpower hasn't arrived yet."

"I know you're a field soldier." The Lord couldn't afford to even waste the men Zabro had under his belt even if he was on the planet. Even if she did insist, a part of her knew that she would get what she wants because she somewhat, outranks him and a part of her knew that she would be scolded by a mere Moff. "But I'll need you to do the triangulation."

"Not my thing, but I'm trained. Leaves you to take on those caravans. Here are the coordinates." He said as he transmitted what was needed to the Sith directly. And as if right on cue, whatever Jaesa was doing, she was already finished. Caravans run daily, but they vary the timing. I'm sure you'll come upon them eventually. Hit enough and snag the transponders. I'll figure out where they're going. Should zero in on General Frellka."

Leena acknowledged the Lieutenant's words well, she didn't dismiss him like most of the Sith Lords who he served before. She left, with her young apprentice following behind her like a dutiful student.

"Did you send the transmission?" Lord Sern asked rather quietly.

The apprentice nodded. "The Captain has already acknowledged."

"Good," Leena smirked. "Let the games begin."