Darth Hiljo

"A void in the Force he is. Skeletol, empty, Hiljo is an emblem of the dark Side's corruptive power. He was consumed by the dark side and now he pays the price. But his power is undeniable, if he survives this war and then survives Darth Wyyrlok, a new Dark Lord I forsee." "Possibly."

- Jehn Rhin and Tai painj

Darth Hiljo was a Sith Lord and a commanding officer in the Sith Fleet around the time of the Zao tenj War. A keen military tactition and a master strategist, even he could not acheive victoy in the face of the Zao tenj War fleet during the battle of the abyss. Following the battle Darth Hiljo would return to his master to inform him of the threat now posed by their new enemies.

Born in the year 218 ABY on an unknown Outer-rim world, Hiljo was picked up early on in his life by the Sith commander on his homeworld. Sent to the Sith academy on Korriban on his sixteenth birthday, Hiljo quickly asserted himself in the facility making sure that his fellow pupils knew of his "power".

A Sith apprentice
After his initial training it was time for Hiljo to be taken on as an apprentice. And so, at the age of twenty-five he and nine other pupils were presented to four Sith Knights; each of whom needed an apprentice. Those who were not chosen were to be sent far into the Unknown Regions for unknown purposes. After several hours of inspection and questioning only five remained; including Hiljo.

Determined to be chosen Hiljo procedded to eliminate his rivals in order to force the remaining Sith Lord's hand. The Sith Lord, impressed with Hiljo's determination and cunning (and the fact that he was the only remaining choice) took Hiljo as his apprentice.

Becoming a master
After several years of intensive training Hiljo realised that he had unwittingly been assisting his master in securing his own position with the hierarchy; something that Hiljo had been warned against by the Sith Academy's many teachers. He realised that it would not be long before his master decided that Hiljo was too great a threat to be left alive, and that he would soon be betrayed. And so he decided to inititate his own pre-emptive strike against his master.

Betrayal
One day, when Hiljo's master was due at the Sith Council, he struck. Executing his rival and securing his position amongst his master's followers; Hiljo declared that his master had breached the sacred Rule of One and was in effect, no longer a Sith Lord.

Ordering his new fleet to Korriban Hiljo sent an emergency transmission to the the "Sith Home Fleet" that he was pursueing a traitor to the Dark Lord and that confronting him would effectivly be declaring their own trechary. With the approval of Darth Wyyrlok – who had been aprised of the situation – the fleet not only stood down but allied themselves with Hiljo's fleet.

In the meanwhile, the Sith Council, which had been adjourned since Darth Wyyrlok had been informed, reconvenied in order to continue it's discussions. Darth Wyyrlok put forward the discussion of removing the coveted Rule of One, saying that it could be stifling the growth of the Sith Order. As he posed this question to the would be traitor Hiljo appeared through the doors of the Council room and challenged his former master to a duel, proclaiming himself a Sith lord and revealing his former master's trechary to the entire council.

But Wyyrlok refused to allow the duel to commence, reflectiing Hiljo's attack with his own blade, saying that no blood was to be spilt on the Council–room's floor. He then procedded to Choke the traitor with his knowledge of the Force, killing him without spilling any blood.

Promotion
Hiljo was then confronted by the Dark Lord and informed that his self-proclomation to the rank of Sith Lord was completely un-earned and illegal, but his determination to eliminate the traitor warrented a reward. Asking what reward he wanted, Hiljo chose promotion to the rank of Sith Lord; realising that he would inherit his former master's entire realm.

After being granted the rank of Sith Lord, Hiljo was ordered to defend his Emperor and remain loyal to him, and was offered to chance to become the Dark Lord's apprentice; and offer which Hiljo accepted instantly.

Rivalry
Hiljo was order to the planet Adumar, to uncover an illegal arms factory set up by pirates, and to destroy it if need-be. Unbeknownst to Hiljo however was that the New Jedi Order, which had been in hiding since the fall of Coruscant in 74 ABY, had also sent one of their own &mdash; a Jedi Knight named Jehn Rhin &mdash; to uncover the arms factory and, if possible secure a shipment of weapons for the Jedi Order.

Inevitably, the Jedi Knight and the Sith Lord met. For both, it was the first time that they had encountered their sworn enemy and as such neither was prepared for words.

Although the result of this first duel proved Hiljo the greater sword-master, Jehn managed to escape with the weapons shipment and over the next year the two would consistently run into each other until, by the end of the year, it was said that Jehn Rhin knew Hiljo better than he did himself. But that very year things took a turn for the worse in galactic-terms when the Zao tenj invaded.

Hiljo was called away from his mission to destroy the Jedi Rhin and was instead ordered to destroy the oncoming storm. Hiljo managed to stall the invasion fleet and warn his master of the threat posed by the Zao tenj. It would not be until the year 246 ABY that the Zao tenj would prove that they had the power not only to destroy the Sith, but force them to unite with their greatest enemy – the Jedi.

TO BE CONTINUED