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Through a ring of high, framed windows, daylight streamed into the large arena as tiny forms streamed down from dark openings spaced uniformly around the seated interior. Agata stood behind her master with hundreds of other acolytes as a small group of grey uniformed officers stood down on the circular, green field. Blue eyes watched as the stadium filled to near capacity and she wondered at how many this place would actually be able to hold and where they had all come from. The Sisterhood would only fill a small section but it seemed that dark robed individuals and chrome armored troops threatened to be standing on the stairways soon.

'Many of them will be dead within the month,' the authoritative voice interrupted in her mind. 'They are means to an end, child.'

'Yes, ma'am.'

She cleared her mind and blankly stared at the tiny group on the field as another strolled to them, shiny awards and ribbons decorating both sides of his breast as he turned to them and the crowd quieted.

"Fellow Sith," he began. "We've gathered here under the banner of the Sith Empire that is threatened by the ships and long reaching arm of the Jedi. It is now time to take that fight to Coruscant and dine on their blood," the Admiral's deep voice rose with each word. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Admiral Tarkin and have proudly served our Empire for most of my life. Our lord, Exar Kun has envisioned our arm of this invasion to meet him in the enemy's capitol within the month. We will push to the Mandalorian fleet who will join us and assist in this conquest and eventual victory. I'm proud to serve beside all of you who have come from every corner of the galaxy and have fought and bled beside myself and my men for the past three months. Those who have fallen for this great cause will not be forgotten and the spirits of those in the past guide us to glory on this road to those who have kept us in the shadows, murdered our families and destroyed our cities. Here, their oppression stops!" A great cheer rose as Agata was nearly stunned awake, still untouched by the tiny man's claims. She had known none of those things but, they were all considered Sith and had felt compelled to join this crusade. She was just happy to finally get the opportunity to kill Jedi.

As the morning wore on, many others stood and spoke on their views and concerns. Most spouted proud prophecies on their eventual trophies and victory, of which she found hard to believe. But soon, the boasting ended and they began filing back out of the large building. Keeping close to her mother as the witch led her quietly out into the daylight amidst more claims and concerns, she finally noticed several of the acolytes that she had raided the farm with, also traveling with their own masters.

Arriving at the speeder, she opened the door for her mother as the aged witch climbed in then followed her inside and sat down, pulling the door closed. Their driver slowly meandered through the traffic of vehicles and other black-clad practitioners of the Force.

"Do you believe what he said about our victory?" Maelona asked, staring straight ahead.

"I'm not sure I believe anything he said."

"Why not?"

Agata thought for a moment, unsure of how to verbalize her concerns. "He seemed to be blowing a lot of hot air to me. Saying only what most others wanted to hear," blue eyes looked to her mother for some support of her views.

Long dark hair bobbed momentarily. "He's looking for prestige among the leadership which makes for a short life for many under his command. We'll have to be guarded on how he deems to use this army. I'm not a pawn to be used by the likes of some pretender."

"Does he use the Force, mother?"

Dark eyes turned and glared. "You couldn't sense it?"

Agata shook her head, knowing that her abilities still had a long way to go before she would be able to sense potential in some stranger.

"He's no Force user, nor is he confident in our success as he so boldly claimed. Never allow your actions to be governed by an outsider. They were born to serve us."

She nodded. "Why did we come on this mission?"

"To kill Jedi and finally finish the job that Sith failed to do years ago. Why else?" brow narrowed, the contempt made Agata nervous for even asking. "Even though you've been trained and have become part of a secretive Order, that doesn't mean that we can stay blind to the ebbs and flows of the galaxy. If they fall, then in time our own homes are threatened. It's easier to fight in your enemy's front yard instead of your own. Only the aggressive remain."

"Yes, ma'am." The logic certainly made sense.

Soon, they arrived back at the hotel and Agata followed quietly up into their penthouse as the servants had already prepared dinner as they walked in, turning into the dining room whose dim light from a multitude of candles flickered from the high chandelier and points around the room. Two Twi'leks entered with a pitcher and stood by as Maelona sat. Echoing from the living room, the melodium suddenly cut into an announcement.

"By the order of the acting commander of the ground forces, Sith Master Ivon Korentin, because of the terrorist strikes on convoys and bombings in the city, all resident aliens are to be killed immediately." Agata eyed the nervous locals as they all looked to Maelona who glanced up to her apprentice.

"Well."

Without thought, Agata drew her sword and began cutting down the screaming servants, some running into the kitchen as she chased them, blade gleaming in the daylight, then darkening with blood as she finished her gruesome task, then disposed of the bodies. A part of her regretted that she had to kill those who seemed to be truly honest and accomodating but, she also understood the tension amongst the invaders. They had enough to worry about already.