Opportunity exists to be seized only by the strong, to exploit the weak.
—Krayt
Krayt was a Force-attuned Human male who became infamous as both the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Vong Military and a Dark Jedi Master, the informal right-hand of Shimrra Jamaane. Most notably, he personally oversaw the Vong Empire's operations during the Outsider War, particularly the Outer Rim and Inner Rim Conquests and the Center Campaign. Throughout his tenure, Krayt worked closely with Tsavong Lah and Morlish Veed, while the likes of Talon, Nihl, Stryfe, Maladi and Havoc served at his disposal.
To most of the galaxy, Lord Krayt was a prime symbol of the Vong Empire, a manifestation of its bio-technological deformity and abhorrence, as well as unnecessary cruelty. The perception of those in league with this hegemony, he was both a valuable ally, as well as a ghostly stalker-like presence and exacting commander. His willingness to achieve victory regardless of consequences was only equaled by his utter lack of mercy and understanding for failure. A powerful Dark Jedi Master, Krayt actively coveted the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith.
Biography[]
Background
The "Sand Knight"[]
I am a Tusken, but no longer one with the desert. I am also a Padawan, seeking to complete his Jedi training.
—A'Sharad Hett to Lazarus Bast
Born to a couple of water-mongers in the outskirts of Mos Espa on the desert world of Tatooine around 41 BBY, A'Sharad's fate was chosen for him when his father refused to pay a tripled homage to Daimyo Jabba the Hutt, which the latter felt was owed to him due to lack of supply sales during a drought, and even dared speak out against the unfairness the colonists had to endure for the underworld's nefarious operations to prosper during a meeting of the Water-Mongering Guild. Ireful at this open display of defiance and wary of the locals rising up to challenge his authority, the crime lord resolved to make an example out of the unfortunate fool who had stood between him and his whims. So it was that Jabba put a reward on the man's head, attracting the attention of ruthless mercenary Aurra Sing who was in attendance of that year's "Boonta Eve" podrace. The Palliduvan gun-for-hire tracked down A'Sharad's family and killed the boy's unharmed father as well as the innocent mother with a cycler rifle, mutilated the bodies and burned the home, making it seem the work of a Tusken war-band - only those clever or resourceful information-wise were aware of what had truly transpired and had gotten the underlying message of what would befell anyone who dare cross the Daimyo of Mos Espa in the future. Young A'Sharad, who knew nothing of the ordeal's background, evaded Sing's gruesome handiwork as he had been safely hidden away by his parents under a hatch near the moisture vaporators. A few days later he was discovered by a tribe of Tuskens, who believing his family had been the victims of one of their rivals' raids, took pity on him and brought him into Clan Hett. In time, A'Sharad immersed himself fully in the traditions and ways of his adoptive "family", becoming quite proficient in the maneuvering of the gaderfii stick and the employing of a cycler rifle.
In 35 BBY, Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi was on a mission to prevent an exchange of citizens of the Galactic Republic captured by Zygerrian slavers at an auction secretly hosted by the Hutt Cartel. After freeing the prisoners and buying them time to commandeer a starship, the Cerean peacekeeper was put on the run by their bitter "owners" and was forced to escape the pursuing Zygerrians in the sandy wastes of the Dune Sea. So it was that Mundi happened upon Clan Hett, whose A'Sharad persuaded the others to offer the weary traveler shelter for as long as he needed. Sensing the Force flowing through the boy's veins, the Cerean grew closer to him during the following days, asking to learn more about the Tuskens' lives while sharing stories about the Jedi Order, which seemed to fascinate the young man. Finally, when he felt the time was ripe to leave, Mundi offered to take A'Sharad with him offworld to Coruscant, wishing him to be trained in his sect's arts as his ward. The latter eagerly accepted, wanting to know how everything was outside the confines of Tatooine, and after bidding his "family" farewell, journeyed with his Master all the way to the Jedi Temple.
A'Sharad would be one of the star Padawans of the Jedi Order, apprenticing himself to Mundi and showing as deep a commitment to the cult as he had to Clan Hett before, as well as regarding his Master as not only a mentor but as his "second father" - though attachment was strictly forbidden by their sect, the Cerean also considered his Human trainee to be his "son" and together the two would have many exploits that saw them protecting the blameless from the clutches of mafias, such as the Hutt Cartel and the Pyke Syndicate, and mercantile enterprises, chief among them being the Trade Federation, the Commerce Guilds and the Corporate Alliance. By 24 BBY, the sole Padawan who surpassed A'Sharad Hett was the even more-gifted Anakin Skywalker, with whom the former befriended but also competed with. Researching into the clouded past with Mundi's help, the young man discovered the truth about his parents' deaths, enacted by Aurra Sing and orchestrated by Jabba, and swore to one day avenge them, in spite of the Cerean reminding him that vengeance was a feeling tangled with the dark side. His skills having impressed his peers and having passed his trials, A'Sharad was elevated to the status of Jedi Knight, much to both his and Mundi's joy. Still Jedi Grand Master Yoda warned Hett of the consequences of submitting to pride, which had so far helmed him to the ambition of equaling Skywalker, and to the need for revenge.
Two years later, the Clone Wars broke out and the Jedi Knights were required to act as field commanders for the Grand Army of the Republic against the Separatist Droid Army. Often paired with Mundi and his 104th Battalion, A'Sharad would head several campaigns on planets invaded or threatened by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, notably participating in the desperate engagements on Jabiim, New Holstice and Boz Pity where he fought at the side of Skywalker and legendary Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Near the end of the conflict, the "Sand Knight" - a nickname he was awarded by the clone troopers - was reassigned to the 91st Recon Corps, partnering with his peer Stass Allie on the ground and briefly with Lieutenant Commander Lazarus Bast, whom he initially developed an appreciation for, in clearing the besieged Saleucami of Confederate units - their involvement led to the uncovering and dispatching of a legion of cloned Morgukai warriors undergoing production in facilities beneath the planet's surface, coupled with the assistance they granted Jedi Master Quinlan Vos in defeating prominent Dark Acolyte Sora Bulq and with the rescuing of civilians from an ill-timed bombing by Bast, who would thereafter be relocated to another sector at his Hett's disappointed urging. In the final hours of the Clone Wars, both Hett and Allie were on separate patrols, scouting for remaining Separatists amidst cake trees and towering biths. Not long after their missions had begun, the Sand Knight sensed a disturbance in the Force unraveled before his mind's eye: he saw his old Master, Mundi, being shot dead by his own soldiers and Allie's speeder being hit from behind by Commander "Neyo". Guessing horrified that clone troopers turning on their Jedi Generals was part of a plot by the Sith, Hett was able to survive the awaiting ambush, by reducing his vehicle's speed so as to be further back from his accompanying troops upon which he open fired. Before he fled Saleucami, the Sand Knight infiltrated the command point aboard the HAVw A6 Juggernaut Hulky and brutally murdered Neyo and the crew, avenging Allie's demise and also venting his increasing rage inflicted by his grief. Stowing away on a civilian transport, he made his way back to his homeworld of Tatooine: in the town of Mos Espa, a disguised Hett witnessed a broadcast of the Proclamation of the New Order by Emperor Palpatine which justified the Galactic Republic's transformation into a Galactic Empire as well as the following months' footage of the now public-unveiled Lord Darth Vader slaying Force-wielders and other so-called insurgents - Separatist holdout members, activists or rebels - and correctly surmised that the two sovereigns were in fact none other than the reigning Sith Lords who had brought doom upon the Jedi Order. Unsure of his safety in the city and fearing being turned in by some greedy data-broker, A'Sharad returned to his Tusken "family", but a changed man - the Sand Knight himself was unaware that the traumatic experiences had made him vulnerable to the pull of the dark side.
A Rising "Krayt"[]
Don't be so amazed, Admiral Sloane. History shows us that the Sith were always born and re-born within the ranks of the Jedi Order.
—Lazarus Bast
Indeed, the once benign Sand Knight became an unrelenting warchief known as "the Krayt" after Tatooine's resident krayt dragons, assuming the trappings of a Tusken and gathering Clan Hett and numerous other tribes under his wing, whether through a diplomatic coercion or violent daunting. As he had sworn, A'Sharad planned to overthrow Jabba, but now he also sought to "reclaim" all of Tatooine for his "people", deeming that the colonists were an undeserving lot. After conquering much of the land around the Dune Sea, Hett's march was halted by an old acquaintance, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was also on exile on the desert planet to similarly escape the Great Purge and for reasons of his own. The ex-Jedi Master bid the former Sand Knight to put an end to the folly, but the latter wouldn't listen - the two clashed blades, blue against green, before the eyes of the Tusken "army". Physical strength was on Hett's side, but cunning and patience were on the wise Kenobi's side and so the latter prevailed, cutting off his opponent's right hand, wounding him in the leg and shattering his mask. Exposure of any skin was forbidden by Tusken law and it happening at the hands of an adversary in combat was perceived as truly shameful, therefore the assembled cohorts abandoned their leader to the mercy of the victor. Left behind by his "brethren" Hett asked to be finished, but Kenobi spared him and offered to help him heal in body and in soul, for he had felt the taint of the dark side surging through the loser. A'Sharad agreed only to a physical recovery in Obi-Wan's hermit home, but left as soon as he deemed he was ready, believing now that perhaps his destiny lied elsewhere. Before he left, however, Hett was warned by Kenobi that these events would hardly be the last attempt by evil to lure him and that he must never stray from the right path, or the dark side would eventually "devour" him.
Embracing the career of a mercenary, Hett accepted a bounty on the head of his parents' murderer, Aurra Sing, posted by Crimson Dawn's figurehead Dryden Vos. Though fellow criminal Tobias Beckett got to the deranged assassin first on Florrum and beat him to the job, pushing the target off a high cliff in a struggle to her apparent death, it was actually the former Sand Knight who dealt the killing blow. Searching between the rocks, Hett stumbled upon a still-living but wounded Sing. Revealing to the confused bounty hunter the part she played in shaping him, the Tusken-raised warrior beheaded his quarry and claimed her lightsaber as a souvenir. By 10 BBY, the ex-Jedi Knight had still eluded the efforts of the Galactic Empire's paramilitary operatives in the Imperial Inquisition and had been employed to retrieve the smuggler Han Solo for the Besadii kajidic. Hett pursued the Millennium Falcon to Moraband, a red deserted world of ruins that had been the centre of several Sith Empires over the centuries, but he was drawn into a storm and his starfighter was hit by lightning just as he was closing in on Solo's vessel.
Stranded and alone, Hett felt a call in the darkness, like a lover's voice whispering in his ear. Following the "call", the former Jedi Knight journeyed across the Valley of the Dark Lords and ventured into the Sith Temple, once a worshipping sanctum and academy for the Sith. Inside, Hett was drawn to the Tomb of Darth Bane, the one who wrote the sect's "Rule of Two" edict, and guided into unlocking a gate by the "call", discovered an entire collection of holocrons stored there by ancient Sith Lords. Upon touching one of them, an armored specter formed out of fire and black nothingness and demanded to know who disturbed his slumber and dared plunder the temple - recognizing the apparition as none other than Darth Bane's, A'Sharad Hett told him his name and that he was no intruder, that a "call" had driven him there. The Sith Lord seemed unimpressed and, disgusted when feeling a glimmer of light that he sensed within the ex-Jedi Knight, asked what did the uninvited guest seek in its host' resting place. Without even thinking, Hett answered "power" - the dark side, whose "call" he in truth hearkened to and whose presence here was especially strong for the temple acted as one of its wheels, had put such word in his mouth - though Bane remained unfazed and iterated that only the Sith's champions were worthy of delving into the "hoard" not a "Jedi whelp" and seemingly used the Force to put him on his knees - in reality a battle was waged in Hett between the fainting light and his frustrated inner demons that took on the form of his interlocutor. Teased and mocked for his failures and embittered at the apparent triumph of the Sith over all life, A'Sharad gave into hate and summoned all of the darkness in his soul to rise up and then to unleash it all to strike back at the surprised "Darth Bane", whose specter dissipated when hit by the same wicked energy that empowered him. Though shocked at what he had done, Hett listened again to the "call" and pressed on with opening the holocron he had touched; upon succeeding in his task, the ex-Jedi Knight wondered out aloud what he was doing and why, saying to himself that it was wrong and yet a voice in his head reminded him of all the misdeeds the Sith had inflicted because no one had been able to stand against them, no one had had the power to stop them... but if one mastered their own knowledge then one could hope to use their own tricks against them, someone like himself. The moment Hett convinced himself that he only wanted to learn this knowledge solely for the good of others, the sinister laugh of Darth Bane echoed through the empty hall: A'Sharad had made his first steps on the path of the dark side, the path of the Sith.
Pursuing his delusion that his only aim was to become powerful enough to overthrow Darth Sidious and Darth Vader, Hett explored the Sith temples and holy sites covering Moraband, hunting the arcana they possessed and assimilating knowledge of the abilities granted by the of the dark side. Throughout this time, he was confronted yet against by the specter of Darth Bane as well as the ghastly apparitions of bygone Sith Lords Darth Andeddu, Darth Nihilus and Darth Sadow, all of whom jeered at Hett's folly but expressed their disbelief at a former Jedi Knight ever truly mastering the dark side, thus further inciting him. Only the Sith Lady Darth Malarus - once XoXaan of the same order as A'Sharad had been - supported the initiate and goaded him into plundering more sanctums for occult Sith relics that she claimed would aid him in his quest. Over a decade had passed when at long last Hett had completed his "training" on Moraband: piloting a custom Mark VI Supremacy-class starfighter that had belonged to the Sith Lord Darth Malgus, he returned to the known galaxy, only to learn that Darth Sidious and Darth Vader had already perished, while their Empire had been brought to heel by the Rebellion - now declared the New Republic. Though he initially felt cheated by fate and purposeless, the taint of the dark side had not forgotten him and persuaded him that his odyssey was not finished, that other threats to the galaxy's natural balance would arise and in that hour a "man of power" would still be needed. Knowing full well that other Sith Temples existed within the mysterious boundaries of the Unknown Regions, Hett sought out the planets of Ziost, Asog and Exegol, where he found spend yet another decade to embrace the lore he coveted.
It was during his travels in the Unknowns, that the Sith initiate was intercepted by a scouting party of the Grysk Hegemony who, intending to learn more about the galaxy, captured him and hauled him in chains to their flagship. Hett found himself tortured for information by the cruel Warmaster Tsavong Lah at the command of Emperor Shimrra Jamaane; he was also experimented on with bio-engineered constructs, who would slowly encompass parts of his body and cause excruciating pain, yet he refused to yield to his jailors. In 29 ABY, the Grysk Hegemony launched an invasion of New Republic Space, its armada and mob battling the sanctioned government for supremacy over the galaxy - with his captors concentrated on the ongoing campaigns, Hett seized his chance and used the Force to slay his guards and break his bonds, before flying away in his recovered starfighter back to Moraband. Hidden away in the shadows, A'Sharad watched the war unfurl, observing displeased the inability of the New Republic and New Jedi Order to seriously deal with the Grysk Hegemony. Though ultimately the factions of justice prevailed, he remained undeterred in his conviction that the battles had show they were unsuitable for managing the galaxy and unable to protect it from menaces as proved by the invasion of the "Far Outsiders". Although he had hated Darth Sidious and Darth Vader with a passion, Hett could not deny that the world around him had enjoyed some stability under their Empire in spite of the tyranny, stability which it hadn't enjoyed during the time of the old or current Republics. The New Jedi Order was also following in the footsteps of its defunct predecessor and it seemed obvious to him that the same arrogance would drunken their senses and result in a similar fall. It then occurred to Hett that reborn Sith were the sole group capable of installing permanent and proper order in the galaxy, only reformed according to a fresher and better vision than that maintained by previous incarnations: his vision. In the Tomb of Darth Bane, A'Sharad sat and concocted a new dogma that would replace the outmoded "Rule of Two", namely the "Rule of One": one Dark Lord of the Sith that stood for the sect itself, with a great many adepts that instead of adhering to the "survival of the fittest" to ascend tenets would be committed to doing their suzerain's bidding. A'Sharad Hett was at last dead, with the christened "Darth Krayt" - after his Tusken moniker owed to the krayt dragon - left in his wake.
A New Sith Emperor[]
Roan Fel never really embraced the war or the idea of a unified galaxy. He went along with it as a political necessity. That's not what the One Empire - what the galaxy—needs. The galaxy writhes in chaos and disorder. It requires a man of vision. I am that man of vision. I am your new Emperor. I am the one true Emperor!
—Darth Krayt
In the aftermath of the edict's writing, Darth Krayt sought out Darth Bane for his approval, only for the latter's specter to disgustedly refuse to acknowledge him as anything more than a Sith Pretender and chastise him for abolishing the "Rule of Two", in addition to warning him that his "Rule of One" would ultimately be the undoing of the Sith. Slightly irked yet not entirely surprised by Bane's disrespect, Krayt left but vowed that his vision would achieve what the elder's could not. In 40 ABY, the Sith Lord founded the One Sith, whose prime members were Dark Jedi or kidnapped Force-attuned children whom he had brought into the fold of his order as his myriad of apprentices. Chief among these wretches that Darth Krayt had molded into his favored creatures were Darth Wyyrlok, Darth Talon, Darth Nihl, Darth Stryfe, his right-hand, his two assassins and his enforcer respectively, and these were rarely far from his side and always ready to slave for his wishes. Through sleeper agents such as Darth Maladi, the Sith Lord was able to infiltrate the high echelons of society, including some of the Imperial Remnants - especially the wealthy commercially-tied Pentastar Alignment - arms manufacturers, shipbuilding firms and criminal enterprises to prepare for the coming war in which he plotted to drown both the New Republic and the New Jedi Order. Whether through a trickster's guile or through intimidation, Darth Krayt won himself an impressive list of "friends": Moff Morlish Veed of Calamari sector, Grand Admiral Rae Sloane of the First Fleet, Grand Admiral Miltin Takel of the Sixth Fleet, Grand Admiral Lazarus Bast of the Eighth Fleet, Ren Master of the Knights of Ren, Director Cosinga Augustus of Sienar Fleet Systems, Vice-Chair Lo Vapeet of the Banking Clan, Viceroy Sentepeth Findos of the Trade Federation, CEO Beolars Bribbs of the SoroSuub Corporation, Daimyo Zorba of Nal Hutta, Illustrious Imperator Fife of the Pyke Syndincate, Underlady Savan of Black Sun, Senator Ask Aak of Malastare and Speaker Hadrocrassk of Trandosha; he also compelled the Intendant Nom Anor and Shaper Zenoc Quah of the downed Grysk Hegemony into his employ. There were still, however, plenty of key figures in the imperialist holdouts and other aforementioned organizations that were completely unaware of the silent pact between their factions and the One Sith, a significant number needed to ensure no slipping by loud mouths of the latter's activities; such was the case of Roan Fel who honestly believed that it was him who would end up Emperor of the "New Empire" - even those in league with Darth Krayt as the aspiring Morlish Veed were not really in the know of their benefactor's conclusive intentions.
Through his allies, Darth Krayt was able to manipulate the Imperial Remnants into ignoring the treaty signed with the New Republic and to slowly rearm themselves with weapons, equipment, vessels supplied by his pawns in major producer companies, in addition to credit sums redirected through bought moneylenders. Much of this program took place in underground marinas and training camps on the planets of Moraband, Ziost, Asog and Exegol, very far from the prying eyes of the government, which the Sith Lord had put at the disposal of his eager associates; from among neo-imperialist troopers mingled with his warriors' offspring he would also sneakily form his own exclusive legions whose allegiance would hence lie with him. To discredit the New Republic in its ongoing "Ossus Project" - a bid to heal the star systems hurt by the Grysk Hegemony - he further suggested that pro-fascist-socialist media broadcasters remind the public of the pain the "Far Outsiders" had caused and of the administration's inability to stop them in time, not to mention the weakness they showed in their tolerance and giving of a second chance to a bad lot of raiders; Darth Krayt also had Darth Maladi and Zenoc Quah actively sabotage the terra-forming project ensuring its failure. When the crisis had reached its peak in 45 BBY, the Imperial Remnants, whose armada had been covertly dispersed across the rims, declared open war against the New Republic and swiftly regrouped and moved on the offensive against the Core. The gravest of these attacks, which hardly concentrated merely on surgical strikes for civilian casualties were registered as well, was carried out by the Imperial Remnants with the aid of the One Sith on the Galactic Empire's old capital of Coruscant, where they accomplished their task of putting the enemy on the run and conquering the planet, after which an illegitimate government with Roan Fell as proxy-Emperor. Now had come the time for the "Dark Lord of the Sith" to step out of the shadows that had so far clouded people's eyes and masked his presence to claim what he deemed was rightfully his for the taking.
With the time ripe, nigh all of the invading soldiery, reinforced by the dark side adepts and private battalions hailing from the unknowns, switched the fire of their blaster rifles upon the rest of their comrades that were faithful to the de jure Emperor. While the oppressive forces commanded backstage by the ambitious Morlish Veed suppressed the resistance in the civil conflict and the ruthless Lazarus Bast cut off any potential naval reinforcement for the latter, Darth Krayt accompanied by Darth Wyyrlok, Darth Talon, Darth Nihl and Darth Stryfe stormed the Imperial Palace, cutting down the opposing guardsmen and reaching Roan Fell, whom the "Sith Lord" personally single-handedly defeated and slew, before seating himself on the throne as the veracious ruler. When the battle ceased, Darth Krayt was broadcasted across the galaxy as he officially constituted the Imperial Remnants and the One Sith into the One Empire and proclaimed himself its Emperor. Though a few of his allies such as Veed and Bast were disappointed by the unexpected ascension that they hadn't foreseen, having wondered not what their patron would ask in exchange for his assistance, they were quickly apparently put at ease by the wide commissions they were awarded instead. Having achieved his goal, Darth Krayt now only dreaded the bio-organic armor that threatened to engulf him, thus charging Darth Wyyrlok with recovering him a cure, and the intervention of the New Jedi Order. What the "Sith Lord" did not know yet, was that the rival he had killed was but an impostor, the real overthrown Emperor was fleeing towards New Republic Space seeking sanctuary alongside his family. Roan Fel's escape was owed to Darth Talon's failure to kill all the higher-ups who could warn him of his impending assassination, a failure that would make Darth Krayt question her capabilities in the future.
Veteran series[]
Sole Ruler[]
Miltin Takel: "Your Highness, there are quite a few routes and hyperspace lanes that do not appear on our charts, many of them having been deemed to risky. He couldn't possibly survive an entire journey over to the enemy's territory - I for one think he must be already dead."
Darth Krayt: “No, Admiral, Roan Fel's alive. And he's on his way to the welcoming arms of our adversaries because he slipped through your indolent fingers. I expect your fleet not to rest until he is found!”
Miltin Takel: “With all due respect, you can't expect me to move an entire fleet to pursue one single shuttle through numerous other asteroid fields. It would be plain suicide. I lost two Star Destroyers in the last one. I myself barely made it out with my life.”
Darth Krayt: “Far better you had paid with it. ”
Miltin Takel: “Your Highne... <choke> Myy Lor... <choke> ”
Darth Krayt: “It seems I will be better of without your services, Grand Admiral Takel. General Wessex, Grand Admiral Bast tells me you're competent enough. Take charge, you are now in full command, General. I will also be sending Lord Havoc to assist you. Don't fail me!
”
- — Miltin Takel and Darth Krayt
Upon learning that the still-living Roan Fel and his family were heading in a shuttle for Republic Space, Darth Krayt tasked Grand Admiral Miltin Takel and General Denn Wessex with tracking him down and hauling him back in chains to Coruscant. Though the spice-addicted officer was able to catch his quarry in an asteroid field, in spite of losing two Imperial-class Star Destroyers, the latter ultimately escaped his clutches and pressed onwards through the next fields. Upon hearing the report and excuses presented, Darth Krayt force-choked Admiral Takel to death for his failure and ineptitude, before granting the slightly unnerved General Wessex full command of the remainder of the Sixth Fleet to continue harrying the fleeing Fels, in addition to dispatching the "Sith Lord" Darth Havoc - once a guardsman for the ex-royal family - to assist.
After being informed that General Wessex and Darth Havoc had captured Marasiah Fel on Agamar, Darth Krayt contacted his two underlings and instructed them to use her as bait to draw Roan out. As the Emperor had predicted, the father came to his tortured daughter's rescue, only that he had arranged for backup in the form of Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master Kyle Katarn and Jedi Padawan Cade Skywalker. With the help of their new allies, the Fels were able to free Marasiah and escape together to Chandrilla, where their pursuers could not hound them. Displeased, Darth Krayt summoned both General Wessex and Darth Havoc to the Imperial Palace on Coruscant to "apologize" for their poor performance before the eyes of an assembly of the Ruling Council, Moff Council and High Command. The two figures cowering before the Throne tried to reason with the Emperor, explaining that they could not have accounted for the intervention of the New Jedi Order and reasoning that they would not disappoint him again. Darth Krayt concurred - at the slight gesture of his hand, Darth Stryfe, beheaded the confused Darth Havoc and Denn Wessex. The sovereign made it clear to his stunned subjects that while the excuses were understandable, he could not afford to show too much tolerance for subpar pawns characterized by a lack of vision and inability to deal with unforeseen events, for the Force was always in motion and challenges would always arise. The execution thus served as a warning for failing the Emperor again and an added "incentive" to doubling their efforts.
Hunt for the Skywalkers[]
Darth Krayt: "The failure of Lord Havoc and those uniformed pups to retrieve the Fels has upset my plans, Lady Talon. "
Darth Talon: “How is that, Lord? How can the escape of a pompous cur like Roan Fel be of any consequence to your designs? He is just one man.”
Darth Krayt: “He is a symbol, fool. A symbol of defiance. A symbol that MY will is not irresistible. But the harm is already done. There are yet other threats that may arise. I have sensed a great disturbance in the Force. It concerns the son of Skywalker. As the father's power wanes, the son's grows. The strength of his grandfather courses through his veins... I would hate it to be used against us. Yet, it also presents us with an opportunity... if he could be turned he would become a powerful ally. Can it be done?”
Darth Talon: “He will join us or die, Master. I wil make sure the son of Skywalker does not become a Jedi, one way or another, my Lord.”
Darth Krayt: “I hope so, for your sake. My tolerance for sloppiness wears thin. And this would not be the first time you have proven to be clumsy, Lady Talon. <choking Talon> You know the price of failure. ”
Darth Talon: “Yee..ss, myy..<choke> Lor..d. <release> As the Emperor wills... so shall it be.
”
- — Darth Krayt and Darth Talon
Following the escape of the Fel family, Darth Krayt contacted Darth Talon, giving her another assignment: Roan Fel had upset his plans, but there were other threats that could also foil his plots. One such threat that wasn't to be overlooked was the Skywalker bloodline, for though the strength of Luke Skywalker had begun to wan, the power of his offspring, Cade Skywalker, could help topple all that Darth Krayt had so far achieved if left unchecked, but it also presented the opportunity of molding the grandson of Darth Vader into one of his favored minions. Therefore, the Emperor charged his personal huntswoman with dealing with the young man, one way or another, whether by slaying him or by corrupting him to serve his purposes. Before ending the transmission, Krayt used the Force to briefly choke Talon, reminding that he had not forgotten her previous failure that had allowed Fel to escape and that the price of her very life would be paid if she would not rise up to the task. Not fully trusting her to succeed, the Emperor also tasked his other less-employed assassin, Darth Nihl, and a contingent of Sith Troopers to ensure the completion of the assignment.
During one of his training missions in the deep northern forests of Yavin 4, Darth Talon ambushed Cade Skywalker and Kyle Katarn, with the "Sith Lady" engaging the latter older Jedi Knight in combat and wounding him in the leg, only to be prevented from finishing him by the apprentice's lightsaber blocking her own. Locking blades, the two Force-wielders dueled it out, the savagery of the fight causing the young man to tap into the dark side and channel it, overpowering his opponent. Before Cade could end her, Darth Talon was saved by the intervention of Darth Nihl, who Force-choked Cade into fainting from a distance. The capture of the Jedi Padawan was then announced via hologram to the Emperor, who commanded the Nagai Sith Lord to assault the Massassi Temple with the aid of his troops and the reinforcements that were en route and the resentful Twi'lek Sith Lady to bring the prisoner to the Works in the Industrial District on Coruscant.
Once Cade Skywalker was brought to Coruscant, Darth Krayt had him be given into the "care" of the sadistic Darth Maladi, with Darth Talon overseeing the proceedings, while he concerned himself with the attack upon the Massassi Temple, impatiently demanding updates from the commanding officer of Darth Nihl's troops, General Kiefer. In the Fourth Battle of Yavin's aftermath, Darth Krayt was dismayed by Darth Nihl's news that Luke Skywalker and several others had escaped being cornered in the gargantuan structure and had broken through the blockade of Xyston-class Star Destroyers with the unexpected assistance of the New Republic's Blue Squadron flight group. The outraged Emperor told the assassin not to think of returning to the Imperial Palace empty-handed - without the Jedi Grand Master's "lightsaber or head" - and that the only things keeping him alive were his honesty and his conquest of the Massassi Temple which rightfully belonged to the Sith - Grand Admiral Peto Kelsan and his Fourth Fleet together with General Maximilian Veers and the First Legion would be immediately dispatched to join him in the search for the whereabouts of the New Jedi Order's survivors.