The Multiverse Hunter

"Welcome, Apprentice Ali," the elder announced, his voice resonating through the chamber as he sat between the assembled Sith Masters. His tone was calm yet commanding, demanding the attention of everyone present.

"Thank you, Elder, for granting my request and allowing me this audience," Ali responded, his voice measured and confident, the weight of the occasion not lost on him.

"Why don't we begin by having you recount the events on Tartek?" the elder suggested, his words slow and deliberate.

"Of course," Ali began, standing tall under the scrutiny of the Sith Masters. "Two Jedi infiltrated the auction. One of them was a Jedi Knight named Kale, who had been stationed in the capital for years, covertly gathering intelligence about Kaelthar. The other was a Jedi Master named Lunara. She came to Tartek with the explicit purpose of acquiring the relic."

"These are the two individuals in the picture, correct?" the elder asked with a smirk tugging at his lips. The Sith Masters exchanged smug glances, their collective expressions brimming with arrogance. To them, the death of two Jedi—one of whom was a Master—was a psychological blow to the Jedi Order and a cause for triumph.

"Yes," Ali confirmed. "I killed them both after they managed to steal the relic and escape to their ship, which they had hidden in the dense forest of Tartek. Neither of them proved to be much of a challenge." His tone oozed with confidence, bordering on arrogance. But then again, what was a Sith if not arrogant?

"And what of the relic?" one of the Sith Masters inquired, his tone curious yet probing.

"Unfortunately, the relic was damaged during my fight with Jedi Master Lunara. I was unaware of this at the time, so it exploded in Apprentice Drogath's hands when he transported it back to headquarters. Thankfully, his armour and natural resilience protected him from the worst of the blast," Ali explained. His delivery was smooth and without hesitation, concealing the lie he was telling some of the most dangerous beings in the galaxy.

"That is indeed unfortunate," the same Sith Master replied, his tone tinged with disappointment. "However, the bright side is that the Jedi did not succeed in obtaining the relic to use against us."

The focus shifted again as another figure in the room, the commander, directed his attention toward Ali. "And what of the information you mentioned earlier? Do you know the details it contained?" His question was precise, delivered with an authority that suggested he was no ordinary commander.

Ali studied the man for a moment, suspicion flickering in his mind. 'He's not a typical commander… To speak so freely in the presence of Sith Masters…'. Keeping his thoughts to himself, Ali answered with practiced ease. "I have a copy of the data. I intercepted it from the Jedi Master's comms device before her death."

Sivara, standing at Ali's side, pressed a button on her comms device. Instantly, the intercepted data materialised as a hologram, hovering in the air between Ali and the Sith Masters.

The room grew tense as the Masters examined the contents, their expressions hardening with the realisation of the threat the information posed. The severity of its implications, had it fallen into Jedi hands, was undeniable.

The commander's grim expression confirmed that this data alone could tip the scales and potentially wrest Kaelthar from the Empire's control.

"It is fortunate you managed to prevent the data from reaching the Jedi," the commander finally said, his voice carrying a note of approval.

Ali's lips curled into a smirk beneath his mask. "I sent it to them."

A stunned silence blanketed the hall. For several heartbeats, the air was thick with disbelief. Every individual in the room, save for Sivara and the elder, was visibly shocked. The commander's reaction, in particular, was one of unmasked outrage.

"You did what?" a Sith Master bellowed, rising to his feet as his eyes burned with rage. His presence in the Force flared, his anger palpable.

"What have you done? With this information—" the commander began to shout, but his words were abruptly cut off.

"SILENCE!" The elder's voice thundered through the chamber, amplified by the dark side of the Force. The oppressive power radiating from him froze everyone in place, the sheer weight of his authority rendering even the most volatile Sith speechless.

Ali, who was no stranger to danger, felt the elder's overwhelming power through the hologram. 'Ridiculous power…' he thought, his mind briefly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the elder's strength.

"Allow Ali to explain his reasoning," the elder commanded, his tone allowing no argument. The Sith Masters reluctantly sat back down, though their fiery gazes remained fixed on Ali.

Sivara, who had anticipated a strong reaction, sighed quietly to herself. 'Ali warned me this would happen, but this…' she thought, glancing at the apprentice opposite her.

Ali seized the moment, his voice steady as he spoke. "I sent the data to the Jedi Order, but not without careful preparation. I fabricated a final message, making it appear as though Jedi Master Lunara transmitted the data in her dying moments. By doing so, I ensured the Jedi would believe the information came directly from one of their own. I sent the data because this is a rare opportunity for the Empire to strike a devastating blow against the Jedi—a blow that could kill dozens of their ranks."

The elder's sharp gaze fixed on Ali. "What is your plan?" he asked, his voice betraying genuine interest.

Ali straightened and projected a holographic map of Kaelthar into the centre of the hall. "The Jedi have already invested significant resources in their plan to assault Kaelthar. They are unlikely to abandon it, especially given their desire for revenge over Jedi Master Lunara's death. I propose we proceed with operations on Kaelthar as if nothing has changed, continuing to reduce troop numbers and defences so that their scouts detect no abnormalities."

The Sith Masters leaned forward, their interest piqued. Ali continued, "We'll use the ships transporting soldiers off-world as cover to smuggle our most powerful defensive systems. Each transport will carry small components, which will be discreetly reassembled by droids in the weapons factories. These factories are off-limits to the soldiers, minimising the risk of espionage."

"That way, we can destroy their ships when they attempt to land, believing the area is poorly defended," the commander interjected, his tone thoughtful.

"Precisely," Ali confirmed, nodding. "However, this is only part of the strategy. To ensure total victory, we cannot afford to alert the Jedi by stationing troops or Sith on Kaelthar. Instead, we must launch a surprise assault on their main command ship orbiting the planet when they invade. With the commander here leading the attack, we can eliminate their command structure before they even land. The attack on their ship and the deployment of our forces on Kaelthar must be seamless and executed in quick succession. This will leave the Jedi disorganised and vulnerable, allowing us to annihilate their forces and safeguard the Empire's factories."

When Ali concluded his explanation, the hall fell into a contemplative silence. All eyes turned toward the commander, waiting for his assessment. Stroking his chin thoughtfully, the commander smirked. "It is an ambitious plan, my lord, but it is feasible. With minor adjustments, I believe we can deliver the Jedi a costly defeat."

The elder tapped the table twice before rising from his seat. "I have made my decision. Commander, begin preparations immediately. We will implement Ali's plan."

"Yes, Lord," the commander replied, bowing his head in deference.

One of the Sith Masters rose to his feet. "Elder, may I suggest myself to lead this attack?"

"No," Ali interjected coldly, his tone slicing through the room like a blade. The Sith Master frowned, glaring at the apprentice.

"This is my plan," Ali said, his voice unwavering. "The data I recovered, the Jedi I killed—this victory will be mine. I will lead the attack."

"You are an apprentice," another Sith Master spat, his frustration boiling over. "Know your place, boy."

Ali's voice turned mocking, his arrogance on full display. "Know my place? Hah… You weaklings are amusing. Why would I concern myself with the opinions of those beneath me?"

"You—!" another Sith Master began, his voice rising in anger, but he was cut off.

CRACKLE

The hall was bathed in crimson light as Ali raised his right hand, streaks of deep red lightning arcing from his fingertips. The raw power emanating from him was suffocating, its intensity undeniable. The room fell silent, the Sith Masters stunned into submission by the display.

The elder's eyes widened momentarily before his lips curled into a sinister grin. He let out a low, menacing laugh that echoed through the chamber. "Ali, you will lead the attack," he declared, his voice filled with satisfaction.

"Congratulations on becoming a Sith Warrior, apprentice."

A smile spread beneath Ali's mask. "Thank you, Elder," he said as his hologram flickered and disappeared, signalling his exit.

The elder turned to the room, his expression now serious.

"What we witnessed here today…" he began, his voice grave.

"Yes, my lord," an elderly Sith Master murmured. "Pure Red Force lightning, wielded by someone who has only recently begun to harness the Force. It is… unprecedented."

The elder's grin returned briefly before his tone darkened. "What happened in this hall stays within these walls. If I hear otherwise, you will all face my wrath."

His glowing red eyes cast an ominous light across the chamber as he turned and strode out, leaving the Sith Masters in uneasy silence.

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