Rise of the Empire
After the death of Darth Maul, Palpatine immediately sought out
three potential apprentices; Sifo Dyas, Detori (Darth Rage), a
cyborg Toban from Yetis and Dakkus Vitrich's Jedi student, Count
Jard Dooku of Serreno (Darth Tyranus). Detori grew up as a youth on
Sevara, just past Iridonia and was there found by Palpatine for
training. Palpatine first approached Sifo Dyas. Palpatine had asked
Sifo Dyas to become a Sith, since the Kaminoans were expecting his
visit. Sifo Dyas refused and Palpatine slew him by a Force fireball
and Force earthquake. Palpatine then approached Detori and Count
Dooku, who each accepted the possibility of apprenticeship. The two
were to duel for the position of apprentice. Before the duel could
be set up, Plo Koon fought Darth Rage in a fierce light-saber duel,
eventually destroying Darth Rage by a Force avalanche. Before
dying, Darth Rage denied being a Sith and claimed to act
alone.
Count Dooku became Darth Tyranus, Palpatine's apprentice, in less
than a year after the events of The Phantom Menace. One of his
first missions was to order a clone army as Sifo Dyas, who was on
his way to Kamino. (Sifo Dyas was an Ogdarian born on the asteroid
world of Esiken, and discovered by the Jedi when he moved to
Allistare.) Count Dooku had Billigo Hilgobottomager (a Jedi master
of disguise and possibly a changeling) pretend to be Sifo Dyas and
order an army cloned from the bounty hunter, Jango Fett. Jango Fett
had proven himself as the best bounty hunter throughout the Galaxy
by always beating the formidable cyborg Montross to a mark.
Palpatine and Count Dooku quickly found a Jedi to aid them in their
nefarious plans to take over the Galaxy. His name was Visivious
Drakarn. Drakarn was born on Gishomire, where his parents gave him
over to the Jedi Order. Drakarn was a rebellious student and as
punishment at age 17, was sent to Melbius Prime to work for a Jedi
charity organization. Drakarn was resentful for this punishment and
took the opportunity to get revenge on the Jedi once he was allowed
to return to Coruscant at age 20. Recruited by Count Dooku on
Coruscant for the task, Drakarn erased the files concerning the
existence of Kamino. This act remained unnoticed for years.
Dooku thought he was gaining much power in the Dark Side, but
Palpatine was merely utilizing Count Dooku as a tool. As Count
Dooku unified the Separatists, Palpatine brought adepts of the Dark
Side into his conspiracy. He made Sly Moore of Umbara his
secretary, due to her ability to read minds. He befriended two Jedi
during this period, considering which one he would choose to
replace Dooku as an apprentice. Their names were Anakin Cleevon
Skywalker of Thessius and the little known Vorron Tastras. Though
Palpatine's relationship with Vorron Tastras remains largely
unknown, it is known that he utilized the skill of the Dark Jedi
assassin known as Xio Jade, the first "Emperor's Hand" and aunt of
Mara Jade.
Though Anakin would always consider Tatooine his home world, he was
actually born on Thessius. Thessius was a watery island world
Anakin's mother Shmi Skywalker moved to. She was sold as a slave
and taken to Tatooine, but was originally herself from the planet
Cardonas. While Palpatine and Dooku were growing in the power of
the dark side, Anakin was growing in the good side of the Force.
This did not prevent him from negotiations. In fact, the
negotiations he had with the rogue Halbertas on the planet Verkig
got quite aggressive.
The events that lead to the Battle of Geonosis transpired. These
were followed by the Clone Wars. During the Clone Wars, Count Dooku
found Asajj Ventress on Rattatak. She claimed to be a Sith warrior
and though Count Dooku rejected this claim, he agreed to instruct
her and utilize her skills. He found a cyborg, from Disicon, whom
he trained in the arts of a Dark Jedi as well, though only to the
level of padawan. This cyborg was known as General Grievous, the
Droid Army Leader. He could weald four light sabers at once, by
splitting his two robotic arms into four. General Grievous was kept
alive and made into a cyborg by a scientific genius named Sago
Milius.
After the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker slew Count Dooku, and became
the infamous Darth Vader. After a violent duel, Obi-Wan left Anakin
for dead on the lava planet of Mustafar, but Palpatine revived
Anakin, giving him his cyber-genetic suit and possibly placed a
chip in Anakin's suit by which Palpatine held the life of Anakin in
his hands. Anakin, now known as Darth Vader (meaning "The Dreaded
Tormentor" in the ancient Sith language), made sure Dooku's
surviving minions would soon meet their doom. Asajj Ventress,
General Grievous, Visivious Drakarn, Billigo Hilgobottomager and
Shatar Hooslun would not survive Palpatine's purge against Force
users.
Chancellor Palpatine declared himself Emperor and reorganized the
Senate under his rule, renaming it the Imperial Senate. He
legitimized his rule with the aid of the highest court in the
Galaxy, the Supreme Tribunal, located on the planet Granicus. The
head of the Tribunal was the Consul, Cos Dashit of Alderaan. Dashit
decided to cast his vote in favor of making Chancellor Palpatine
the Emperor. Other members of the Supreme Tribunal who supported
Cos Dashit included Son Hhat of Granicus, Mara Horus of Townowi,
Crispin Hoedaak of Aquilae and the obese Vantos Coll.
Through Darth Vader and others, Palpatine established the Galactic
Empire and executed the Jedi Purge. Thousands upon thousands of
Jedi were massacred. The Order of 10,000 Jedi virtually
disappeared. Great Jedi were just memories. Rido Fander, one of the
ten greatest Jedi ever, was no more. Chase Hintock, the Bomewright
Jedi scientist of Sullest, who aided Anakin in constructing his
light saber, was dead. The golden haired, yellow-skinned Jedi of
Ord Mantell, Nebar Foxis, was considered the best looking male Jedi
of his time. He died valiantly defending the Jedi children on
Coruscant. Dethal Vangris, the prettiest Jedi throughout the
Galaxy, was gone. Other Force Users were eliminated as well, such
as the peaceful Sutrans, the Biotans and the powerful female
Vortari, which took their name in honor of their founder, Lady
Vortari.
The only Force Users to survive were those lucky enough to remain
in hiding on remote worlds. Some members of the Trandoshan species
survived. However, most Force-sensitive individuals were tracked
down by Grand Inquisitor Tremayne and were either made to submit
their abilities to Emperor Palpatine's rule or perish. Under
Tremayne and a warrior named Lettow, a dark side elite developed.
The dark side warriors who submitted to the Emperor were called the
Legions of Lettow. The Emperor's Dark Side Elite included Nefta,
Sa-Di, Executor Sedriss and others. Assassins with Force ability
were brought into the fold as well. They were called the "Emperor's
Hands" and included such notables as Mara Jade. Each "Emperor's
Hand" was led to believe they were the sole Emperor's Hand, giving
them great self confidence. Aurra Sing the Herclu supported the
Jedi Purge, seeking out her master, the fabled Dark Woman.
Ironically, Aurra Sing was slain by a Jedi, Nto Boraj, who did not
survive the purge himself.
The Emperor appointed Sate Pestage as his Grand Vizier to control
the mundane aspects of the Empire. No one saw the Emperor without
his permission. Emperor Palpatine made Armand Isard his Director of
Intelligence and Ved Kennede the Master Royal Guardsman, in charge
of training the Royal Guardsmen. Other important Imperial
Dignitaries included Janus Greejatus, Kren Blista-Vanee, Sim Aloo
and Ars Dangor. The Grand Moffs and the Grand Admirals were
appointed in time, of which Grand Moff Tarkin and Grand Admiral
Thrawn are the most notable. Dark Prince Xizor was also held in
high esteem by the Emperor. Through Xizor's criminal organization,
Black Sun, the Emperor could successfully direct the criminal
elements throughout the Galaxy.