I lied, as I have from the very beginning.
—Darth Vader
Darth Vader, born as Anakin Skywalker, was a Sith Lord - the strongest of the line forged by Darth Bane - who helped finalize the Grand Plan: at the command of his new master, Darth Sidious, Darth Vader began the eradication of the Jedi Order, allowing for the Republic's transformation into a Sith Empire. Appointed Supreme Commander of the Imperial forces to stomp insurrection, Darth Vader arose as Darth Sidious' right-hand and the joint ruler of the galaxy, although his ultimate desire was to supplant his master as Emperor. The "Warlord of the Empire" was defeated, however, before his plans came to fruition.
History[]
Hero With No Fear[]
Generals Kenobi and Skywalker are engaging the palace's last security squads as we speak. We must not allow any on-world shuttle to reach the Separatist fleet. Captain Bast, Captain Dodonna, Lieutenant Needa, move in to intercept those frigates. Captain Screed keep me in contact with the 501st and 212th on the ground.
—Wullf Yularen
By 19 BBY, during the Outer Rim Sieges, the Jedi General's name and reputation as the "Hero with no Fear" was well known throughout Republic space, even to some neutral or Separatist territories. While he had never met Anakin Skywalker himself, Lazarus Bast had a deep respect for the man, based on his military record and his praises from Wullf Yularen.
In those final months of the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker was tasked with joining his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in an assault upon the Separatist world of Cato Neimoidia in order to capture Nute Gunray. Accompanied by the 501st and 212th Battalions in their pursuit, the Jedi General left Wullf Yularen in charge of Undaunted Squadron and the rest of the Republic armada to withstand any interference from the Separatist fleet. Though the Viceroy ultimately escaped, Skywalker and Kenobi obtained the mechno-chair by means of which Gunray communicated with his secret ally, Darth Sidious.
The two Jedi Generals would be called back to the Core during the Battle of Coruscant to save the Supreme Chancellor from Separatist captivity. Through their efforts, Sheev Palpatine was rescued, Darth Tyranus was killed and Grievous fled back to the Outer Rim. The subsequent Great Jedi Purge saw the final traces of the young Jedi General disappear to the public.
Warlord of the Empire[]
While the Emperor rules from Coruscant, our valiant army and fleet continue to keep us safe from the galaxy's many threats! And leading our military is our new Supreme Commander: Darth Vader! Forged in the deadliest battles of the Clone Wars and handpicked by the Emperor himself, Lord Vader single-handedly defended our strategic AT-AT base on Otavon 12, quelled the uprising of the mighty Wookiee warriors of Kashyyyk and thrawted the murderous plot of General Gentis that left thousands dead on Coruscant! From Bandomeer to the Ghost Nebula, wherever a threat arises, Lord Vader is there to meet it.
—HoloNet News Broadcast
Only a select few within the upper echelons of the Empire were aware that Anakin Skywalker had been corrupted and twisted into Darth Vader, right-hand man to Darth Sidious (Palpatine). He retained command of both the 501st Legion and Undaunted Squadron, the latter which he renamed Death Squadron.
In late 19 BBY, Darth Sidious had created the position of Supreme Commander in face of continued dissension and awarded it to Darth Vader; he therefore stood on equal ground with the Grand Moffs and Grand Vizier and answered only to the Emperor himself. By that time, the deeds of this Dark Lord of the Sith as both a warrior and military commander had become know to most of the galaxy. Vader's role as the chief overseer of the Outer Rim Pacifications together with his new ally, Wilhuff Tarkin, as well as his thrawting of Gentis' coup had had its highlights on the HoloNet network, earning him the admiration of many Imperial subjects, while painting him as a butcher in the eyes of Jedi, former Separatists and freedom fighters; it was around this time that he earned the moniker "Warlord of the Empire", which was often shortened to "Warlord". Military personnel like Bast were also aware of Vader's legendary intolerance of failure: the Supreme Commander would often brook a three failure streak before dispensing of incompetent subordinates, often by choking them to death in front of his men to set an example.
Much like Sidious himself, Vader allegedly maintained an inner circle of his favored officers: Hethrir, Wullf Yularen, Armand Isard, Gideon, Terrinald Screed, Ennix Devian, Demetrius Zaarin, Josef Grunger, Sarcev Quest, Danetta Pitta, Janus Bonn, Hurst Romodi, Crix Madine, Maximilian Veers, Peccati Syn, Gideon, Barrow Oicunn and Gillad Pellaeon were all said to be members of the supposed group. In spite of his commanding presence in the Imperial power structure, he was not without rivals; Trachta, Orman and Cassio Tagge, Rufaan Tigellinus and Ardus Kaine all competed with Vader for Sidious' favor. Despite their mutual respect and frequent partnership, Vader was not particularly fond of Tarkin, which was reciprocated. He frowned upon the Governor's shift from officer to bureaucrat, his quasi-equal position in relation to himself and his support of the Death Star, which had sidelined the Warlord's own military projects; barely tolerating the moments when Tarkin stood up to him, Vader ultimately saw his ally as a tool and awaited the moment Sidious would finally allow him to dispose of him. The Warlord's atrocities had also gained him yet another, but external enemy, the Dark Prince aligned with Black Sun. Though Xizor pretended to be his ally, Vader was well aware of his treacherous thoughts and planned to discard this pawn when he had outlived his usefulness.
In early 17 BBY, Vader created the rank of Grand Admiral and granted the commission to four officers: Demetrius Zaarin, Josef Grunger, Balanhai Savit and Peccati Syn. With the Emperor now keeping to the shadows and the Grand Moffs within their respective Oversectors, the Supreme Commander supervised all military operations from Imperial Center: staff that did not belong to his personal legion and fleet were only granted an audience with him through the Grand Vizier. Vader and Amedda were often the leading officials at the Coruscant parades on Empire Day, greeting important military personnel, dignitaries and associates such as Trachta, Arihnda Pryce, and Raith Sienar.
The Warlord's watchful eye[]
Oh, and Lazarus, one more thing. Governor Trachta has requested that Lord Vader himself should attend the next briefing. A word of advice: do not anger Lord Vader. You may have gotten away with mere scoffs from the Grand Moff himself. But Lord Vader's not Governor Trachta. His authority as Supreme Commander is not to be trifled with, nor his choices while in command be questioned. I am sure you are already familiar with Lord Vader's reputation. And to earn his contempt, is the same as earning the Emperor's. So act with caution, Lazarus.
—Wullf Yularen, to Lazarus Bast
By mid-9 BBY, Garm Bel Iblis' Free Corellia Movement frequent attacks on Trachta's territories had attracted the attention of Darth Vader himself, who tasked Wullf Yularen and Armand Isard with keeping him informed on the insurgents' operations and the efforts to eradicate them. Following the Skirmishes on Corellia, Neral and Duro, Vader received reports from both the ISB and II; Yularen especially commended Lazarus Bast's actions, assuring him that the Vice Admiral might yet make a member of the Warlord's inner circle. Vader ordered Yularen to continue in his assignment.
Following the Altawar heist, Trachta asked Vader to intervene. To this end, Vader attended a meeting of the ICC at the ICC Headquarters on Coruscant. During the conference, he demanded a detailed retelling of the incident from Yularen and Isard. Understanding Rheinhardt's unwillingness to assist Bast to be a main reason for Iblis' success and escape, the Warlord asked the Admiral to step to the center of the rotunda and then Force-choked him before the assembly, citing his repeated ineptitude in the past and embroiling in rivalries. He also relayed the Grand Moff's displeasure at the recent events. Vader then promoted Barrow Oicunn, one of his own former adjutants, to replace Rheinhardt as Admiral of Fearless Squadron. Choosing Oicunn, Terrinald Screed, Yularen, Crix Madine and Hurst Romodi to support Bast's hunt for Iblis with additional resources, Vader ended the meeting and stormed out; by the time of Bast's arrival, ICC Headquarters personnel were carrying out Rheinhardt's body, a frightening reminder of both Vader's former presence in the conference room and his infamous intolerance for failure. Yularen continued to keep Vader informed on the results of Bast's engagements with Iblis the following months.
In early 10 BBY, the campaign's stagnation, partially owing to Bast's and Screed's mutual resentment and differences in method and execution, convinced Trachta to summon a meeting of both IMC and ICC currently stationed in the Corellia Sector, as well as Vader himself. Yularen told Lazarus Bast of this, warning him not to anger Vader by questioning his decisions concerning asset dispensing or the assignment of certain officers, such as Screed, to the campaign.
The Warlord's Promise[]
Darth Vader: “Governor Trachta has brought it to my attention that mutual issues have arisen amongst certain officers. Let me be clear, that neither the Grand Moff nor I have any interest in petty rivalries.”
— Conference
Terrinald Screed: “My Lord, with all due respect...”
Darth Vader: “Pointless bickering, bring only delay, Vice Admiral. They buy time for the rebels to replenish their losses. General Iblis has been a pest festering in the Corellian Sector long enough. But the traitor's ability to mount an effective strike has been decreased and he has been driven to ground. We must smoke him out. We will destroy everything in our path until he is found. The General's compassion for his symphatizers is a weakness... one we shall exploit. ”
Terrinald Screed: “I concur. Though this can, as Your Lordship implied, be only achieved through a coherent management of our forces. I would be very much honored, Lord Vader, if you and Governor Trachta would grant the command to me.”
Trachta: “I hardly think that Lord Vader had you in mind, Admiral Screed. If your latest endeavors are to be taken into account it seems you have spent too much time in intelligence to be given such an appointment on the field. I believe Lord Vader sees Admiral Bast as a better fit for helming the operation, am I right? Though the Vice Admiral has somewhat of a problem with respecting the chain-of-command... his successes have not gone unnoticed. We shall have to see how he fares when he is put in command, won't we? I'll leave you to give out the final details, Lord Vader.”
Darth Vader: “As you wish. Vice Admiral, you are now in command of the operation. All other officers here will defer to his orders as if they were my own. All but, the Vice Admiral: dismissed.”
Jumping out of hyperspace with his flagship Devastator, Darth Vader landed in his personal Lambda-class T4a shuttle in the hangar bay of Juma 23, where he was greeted by a large assembly of headed by Terrinald Screed and Wullf Yularen, who led him to the conference room. As the briefing unfurled, the Supreme Commander refused to stand seated beside the Grand Moff, pacing across the conference room and giving the assembly of dignitaries and officers a sense of unease. After Screed had finished his part of the briefing, Vader spoke, revealing that his presence had been requested by Trachta and made it clear that he would not allow rivalries (as that of Screed and Bast) to slow the hunt for Garm Bel Iblis down. With the rebel General driven to ground, the Warlord resolved that they would have to "smoke him out" by crushing planets housing his sympathizers. With Trachta's begrudging approval, Vader placed Bast in charge of the operation for better cooperation within the task force and dismissed all but Bast. The Warlord reprimanded the Vice Admiral for his last failure and his challenging of authority, but acknowledged his past-proven competence and promised him the position of Grand Admiral if he succeeded. Implying the that the consequence of the Iblis' escape would be the end of both Bast's career and life, Vader left Yularen as his liaison to report back the end results of the hunt for Iblis and departed without uttering one more word.
The Warlord's summons[]
Your capture of the traitorous General Iblis has been impressive, Admiral Bast. Most impressive. Kneel... Grand Admiral. The 8th Fleet is yours. This Death squad is yours. Consider it a gift... in advance for your next assignment. I already have another task for you. ISB and II have informed me of renewed resistance has been stirred in the Calamari sector. Governor Tarkin has also put forward a request for a full-scale military intervention. I am putting you in charge of the efforts of quelling this uprising. Governor Tarkin's Scourge Squadron will also be temporarily placed under your command. You will report directly to the Grand Moff until further notice. Be warned. This assignment does not come solely from me. The Emperor has personally approved the Grand Moff's request. Should you fail, Admiral, you will have to explain yourself to him. I hope for your sake, that you will prove yourself again. The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am.
—Darth Vader, to Lazarus Bast
The subsequent Battle of Duro resulted in the Free Corellia Movement being largely destroyed by the Imperial forces and Iblis' capture at the hands of Bast, which Yularen reported back to Vader. Through the Colonel, the Warlord then summoned the Vice Admiral to his flagship for debriefing.
On the bridge of the Devastator, Vader commended Bast for his capture of Iblis and, as promised, promoted him to Grand Admiral of the 8th Fleet, in addition to granting his own bodyguard of Death Troopers. The Warlord then told his subordinate that he had another assignment for him. Vader had been informed by ISB and II of growing rebellion in the Calamari sector and of Wilhuff Tarkin's request for a full-scale military intervention. The Supreme Commander would answer the Grand Moff's demands, which had received the blessing of the Emperor himself, by sending the newest Grand Admiral to stomp the insurrection. Vader also told Bast that aside from the 8th Fleet, Tarkin's own Scourge Squadron would assist for as long as Bast reported to Tarkin. Vader also warned Bast that failure would bring him face to face with Sidious, whose unforgiving nature surpassed even that of Vader himself. The Warlord then dismissed the Grand Admiral.
The Warlord's other interests[]
Congratulations on your latest success, Admiral Bast. I am afraid Lord Vader was unable to debrief you himself. Perhaps you are familiar with General Rom Mohc. I believed so. You see, he has been pushing for a battle droid model for some time, now. Suffice to say, General Mohc has requested that Lord Vader attend the reveal of the latest developments on this new battle droid. Respect aside, I do not pretend to understand Lord Vader's reasons for backing General Mohc. There are other, more important projects, that are among the Empire's top priorities. The Emperor said so himself. Speaking of the Emperor. His Imperial Majesty has called for you. Word of your actions has reached his ear. Let us not keep him waiting any longer.
—Janus Greejatus, to Lazarus Bast
As the campaign on Mon Cala unfurled, Vader received a transmission from Rom Mohc. Though others had dismissed the General's research into battle droids as an unhealthy obsession, he found the Warlord quite supportive when he came forward pushing Project Challenger: a new exoskeleton that was derived from old battle droid models and designed to keep aging clone Stormtrooper volunteers in active service. Mohc had requested that Vader personally attend the unveiling of the "Dark Trooper" suit and the latter agreed. Upon arriving on Coruscant, Lazarus Bast was greeted by Janus Greejatus instead, who explained the reasons behind Vader's absence and took him to Sidious.
A new assignment from the Warlord[]
Darth Vader: “You have done well, Admiral. You have earned the trust of the Emperor himself. He is most pleased. As am I.”
— Conference
Lazarus Bast: “My only wish is to be of service to you both, my Lord. ”
Darth Vader: “I pray it is rightfully so. Now, we have other matters to discuss. Grand Admiral Bast of the 8th Fleet, meet Grand Admiral Thrawn of the 7th Fleet. ”
Lazarus Bast: “Apologies, Admiral, I am not acquainted with your military record. I was not aware you had reached... such a high standing. Especially given your... heritage. ”
Thrawn: “But I am acquainted with your military record, Admiral. And I find myself unable to commend you on your latest endeavor. While I must confess that a direct brutal strike against the Ghormans was necessary, the flaws in the execution the attack have not gone unnoticed, Admiral Bast. ”
Darth Vader: “Dispense with the civilities and insults. The Empire has need of both your skills. General Saw Gerrera's Partisans have stirred rebellion among the Kolkpravis on Kalee. They have attacked several convoys and garrisons. They have also backed the Partisans' incursions into our Mid Rim territories. I will tolerate their warmongering, no longer. Admiral Bast, you will work together with Admiral Thrawn and deal with them. You shall destroy everything in your path. Show no mercy, these people are traitors to the Empire. The Star Destroyers Avenger and Stalker from my own fleet will be joining you. As for the Kaleesh warlord, I want him alive. Do not fail me, Admirals. ”
After the Ghorman Massacre, Vader summoned both Bast and Thrawn to the bridge of the Devastator. After commending the first of the two Grand Admirals, the Warlord introduced the officers to one another. Dispensing with the civilities and the trading of unsubtle insults, Vader gave the two their new orders. Encouraged by Saw Gerrera, Sk'ar - once a bodyguard of Grievous - had reformed the Kolkpravis on Kalee and begun striking against the Empire in tandem with the Partisans. The Warlord ordered the two Grand Admirals to work together and annihilate this new enemy. In addition to assigning the Avenger and Stalker from his own Death Squadron to assist the 7th and 8th Fleets, Vader instructed Bast and Thrawn to capture Sk'ar and bring him to him alive.
A new servant for the Warlord and the Emperor[]
Darth Vader: “I do not recall giving you leave to raze Oben to the ground, Admiral Thrawn. It seems your skills as a connoisseur of native art has failed you. ”
— Conference
Thrawn : “I am aware of my failure, Lord Vader. No one is immune to failure. All eventually feel its bitter taste. But a commander must not dwell on that failure, but must learn from it and continue on. There are things in the universe that are an enigma to me. I was unable to understand those Kaleesh, or to compromise with them. And so, the only thing I could was to obliterate this threat. A regrettable decision, but one which I had to take. I believe Admiral Bast concurs with me. Sometimes a commander’s decisions must be made without regard for how they will be perceived. ”
Darth Vader: “Concern yourself with how the Emperor and I perceive these decisions, Admiral. We have had to inform the Senate that Oben's surface was disfigured by a mining disaster. I see that you have brought the Kaleesh warlord. ”
Thrawn : “No, my Lord. It was he who came to us of his own free will. He asked to be granted an audience with Your Lordship. And I indulged him. ”
Sk'ar: “I am Bentilas san Sk'ar. I have had the honor of serving at the side of Qymaen Jai Sheelal, who you Outlanders name Grievous. I was Izvoshra. Hundreds upon hundreds of enemies have met their end at the hands of both my blade and rifle. The Huks tremble at the whisper of me. And now, I have had the honor of facing your lieutenants, Lord. I have fought long and my hands are clayed with the blood of your men. But alas, one cannot fight against the rushing tide. My men have died on the battlefield as is our custom. As the Destroyer of Oben has said, I have tasted defeat. And it tasted bitter. But my path to glory does not end here. The show of your strike force I have had the honor of witnessing has sweetened that taste. And so I have come before to you. I wish to swear fealty to you. And to your Master.”
Darth Vader: “As the Emperor wills so shall it be. You will join me on my return journey to the Emperor. Perhaps he will take it in your service. Or perhaps not. You will have time enough to ponder all your fates, warlord, until we reach him. You will be joining me as well, Grand Admirals. The Emperor has summoned you. ”
Reluctantly accepting Lazarus Bast's suggestion, Thrawn had the 7th and 8th Fleets level down Oben with turbolaser hellfire, crushing the Kolkpravis and flushing Sk'ar out. Accepting defeat and impressed by both the technological might and ruthlesness of the Imperial Military, the Kaleesh warlord willingly surrendered to the two and was brought before Vader aboard the Devastator.