"You are cleared for landing on upper level 98, platform 213." said the flight traffic controller.

"Affirmative. UL 98, platform 2-1-3." Shan'ku replied, piloting his small transport to the designated landing platform. He had just completed a small personal errand on the distant world of Tatooine. He was amazed when he thought back to how important a role that planet had played in the history of events in the Galaxy. Such a backwater planet had been home to Lord Vader as a child, and later to Jedi Master Skywalker and his first mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi. He had learned of all this during his research into the rise and fall of the Empire. Most of those files had ended up being restricted and it took some finesse with the computer to find out about it, but he was glad he had made the effort, especially when he looked at the small box on the seat next to him.

Back during the final days of the Old Republic, then soon-to-be Emperor Palpatine had several plans in the works, including the original Death Star. But he also had come up with another plan. One which was sealed away deep in the underside of Coruscant. It had needed a unique item to activate and power it, but that item had been stolen by the Jedi in a daring raid. It was entrusted to one of the most respected of the remaining Jedi, to be hidden away since any attempt to destroy it would cause massive death and destruction, no matter where it was destroyed.

That Jedi responsible for hiding this great power source was none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi himself. Shan'ku could not risk revealing himself by searching all over Tatooine for the object. Jedi still occasionally met there and the longer he was there, the more likely he would be discovered. He hired several skilled theives and assorted other scum to locate the object and the Aqualish had delivered. Now, all he needed to do was get through the hidden security door and plug the specially designed power container into the necessary spot and he would be ready to talk to the Empire directly and offer his services....

(Since I'm going to be away from my computer for a few days, I am just going post his plan coming together now, just figure this is a few hours after he lands on Coruscant).


Shan'ku quietly stalked through the darkened undercity toward the location of the hidden door. It had taken him a year to find it once he had learned of its existence, but it was going to be well worth the time. He looked around him to make sure no one else was around and then entered the code into the disguised panel. A confirmation beep indicated that the code was valid and the door slid open.

Shan'ku strode through the door with great confidence into the large bay. Before him, a large starship in what ancient shipbuilders would refer to as a "drydock." It had a somewhat familiar shape, seeing as it was a predecessor to the later Imperial Star Destroyers, but what set it apart was a large circular opening that ran from the base of the bridge tower almost to the very tip of the forward point. The ship itself was not painted the standard grey, but instead and evil looking blood red paint covered its hull.

Shan'ku walked to the elevator which would take him to a small shuttle he could fly to one of the hangar bays of this Star Destroyer, unique among its peers. The shuttle quickly darted to the bay and Shan'ku made his way to engineering. Upon entering the engine room, he located a port into which only one item would fit. Opening the small box he had been carrying since Tatooine, he removed a circular device that had a few green flashing lights, indicating that the containment was completely stable. Of course, if it wasn't, then the singularity contained within would destroy him instantly, along with most of Coruscant. The containment was powered by the singularity itself, though, so it should never fail. Just as the singularity was about to bring this deadly behemoth to life. He placed the container into the port and watched as it locked into place and was then moved into the engine core. A green button lit up indicating the ship was ready to be powered up. With a smile, he pressed the button and all systems slowly began to come online. It was now time to revive the crew...

30 minutes later, Shan'ku had taken the shuttle back to the main part of the hidden hangar and located the storage chamber. Inside, he found cryogenic tubes numbering over 1,000. This was the crew that was trained to run the ship, all those years ago. They were to be held in stasis until such time as the ship could be powered up since it had to remain a secret and letting them leave would have risked that secret getting out. The Jedi never fully understood what they had stolen, just that it was important to the Emperor which was good enough for them.

He entered the revival code and began the process of awakening the crew after their long slumber. Over 1,000 near identical soldiers arose from the cryotubes and assembled, ready for action. These were all that remained of the original clones from back in the war. When the Empire took over, they formed the original corps of Stormtroopers, but some were also trained for special assignments. This was one such assignment, and now they were finally ready to fulfill their mission.

Shan'ku walked over to a raised platform and began to speak.

"Gentlemen! You have been awakened because the power core has been recovered. Alot has happened since you first entered cryo-sleep."

A murmur crossed the crowd of soldiers.

"The Empire you were to fight for originally was defeated by a Rebel Alliance which restored the Republic. This Republic is currently unstable and the time is ripe for restoration of the Empire."

A cheer rose up from the soldiers.

"I am Shan'ku! The Dark Side of the Force is my ally, much as it was for the Emperor and Lord Vader. I will be your Captain aboard our vessel, as we offer our aid to the new Emperess. Are there any objections to this?"

"SIR, NO SIR!" came the reply.

"Excellent. Get some food, then... TO YOUR STATIONS!!!"

"HUZZAH!" cried out the troops as they went to eat and then report for their duties.

Two hours later, the troops fed and all systems checks completed, the launch order was given.

Coruscant was not used to having earthquakes, so the sudden rumbling from the lower levels surprised the thousands that lived in the quarter that was built atop the hangar. Buildings began to fall sideways and collapse and the surprise was short lived, as those same thousands died. The blood red Star Destroyer lifted out of the hidden hangar, out of the atmosphere of Coruscant and finally, out of the system...

(Moved from Coruscant section)