THE VENGEANCE OF JANUS PIETT
Written and submitted by Cameron Allen

Prologue

“Great men never hurry. Great men cause others to hurry.”
-Moff Jerjerrod

It is a period of civil war in the New Republic. Although the Empire had been crushed eighteen years ago, a new leader has taken control over the remnants of the Empire, and is spreading terror throughout the New Republic. Evading Grand Moff Kohlopeck Zukovsky's dreaded Imperial Starfleet, the rebels have so far managed to elude final destruction.

If Grand Moff Zukovsky and his fleet turn the Rebel allies over to the evil Emperor Janus Piett, it will spell certain doom for the New Republic........

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The Imperial Star Destroyer BellTechmijer entered orbit of the Death Star III. It had been two years since Emperor Piett had brought together the scattered remnants of the Empire and had begun to battle the New Republic. Now, here in deserted the Kazon Sector, the new Empire was beginning to plot the final destruction of the New Republic.

A single Lambda-Class shuttle departed the main shuttlebay of the BellTechmijer, escorted by six TIE Interceptors. The shuttle sailed toward the giant sphere and approached one of the many landing bays. The shuttle glided smoothly through the magnetic field, and touched down on the floor of landing bay.

Two lines of officers were assembled by the shuttles main debarking ramp, and Commander Wade Anson stood in the center. The ramp slowly lowered to the ground, and Grand Moff Kohlopeck Zukovsky exited the shuttle, followed by his first officer, Admiral Alen Ramius, and two armed Naval Guards. Anson had just graduated from the Imperial Academy six years ago, and didn't really know much about Zukovsky. Everyone knew that Zukovsky was the son of the evil Grand Moff Tarkin, the man who invented the concept of the Death Star.

Tarkin had been killed almost 26 years ago, along with his original doomsday weapon. Zukovsky's mother, Admiral Daala, had disappeared five years ago, with her Star Destroyer, and no one had seen them since. Zukovsky had seen the rise of the Empire, it's most prominent days, and when it fell after the death of Emperor Palpatine. Now 45, Zukovsky still seemed young and intimidating, despite the few streaks of gray in his hot copper hair.

His black gloved hands clasped behind his back, Zukovsky strode purposely toward Anson. Anson gave a quick Imperial salute. “Sir,” Anson said, “The Emperor demands that to see him immediately.” The Grand Moff nodded. “Fine, commander.” Zukovsky turned to his first officer. "Admiral Ramius, you and  Commander Anson can wait for me on the bridge.”

Ramius nodded. “Yes, sir.” Anson and Ramius left into a side corridor, while Zukovsky went through a pair of blast doors, and into a turbolift with his guards. The turbolift doors opened into a large security foyer. He walked through the antirooms, and came to a security station. Waiting at the station was a young woman, also wearing a Grand Moff’s uniform.

The woman scowled at him. “Your late, Kohlopeck.”

Zukovsky’s glared back at her. “Great men never hurry, Alera. Great men cause others to hurry.”

Grand Moff Alera Proteuse crossed her arms over her chest, and laughed out loud. “No matter how
many times I hear that, I still think it’s funny.” After going through proper security checks, they stepped fully into Emperor Piett’s throne room.

They slowly walked up the staircase to the platform where the Emperor’s throne sat. Grand Moff Zukovsky and Grand Moff Proteuse both kneeled before their master. Standing to Piett’s right, was the nameless Grand Admiral. The Emperor’s second in command had remained a mystery to Zukovsky and Proteuse all their lives. The Grand Admiral was always hidden away in the shadows, obscured from view.

“What is thy bidding, my master?” Zukovsky said.

Emperor Janus Piett slowly rose to his feet, and walked over to the two officers. “As I’m sure your aware by now, I want my planet back. Tomorrow, we will launch our attack to retake Coruscant.” Piett strode toward one of the viewports. “Before we do that however, I want you two to launch a full scale assault on the New Republic’s space fleet.” Piett then walked over to Zukovsky. “And should you run across Skywalker, Kohl, I don’t want you running off on some vendetta. Is that clear?”

“Yes, my master,” Zukovsky said.

Piett nodded. “Very well. Dismissed.”

Zukovsky and Proteuse turned, and left the room. The nameless Grand Admiral spoke.

“Are you sure this is the wisest choice of action, Janus?” Piett clapped his friend on the shoulder as they stared out the viewport together. “Ha Ha! In less than 24 hours, we’ll be back to our home sweet home, and the rebels will still be picking up the pieces!”

Part II

“I am not reckless with my men, and I do not take their deaths lightly, unlike Lord Vader.”
-Grand Admiral Thrawn

The Imperial Star Destroyers Dionyses and BellTechmijer quietly orbited the far moon of Coruscant. Grand Moff Kohlepeck Zukovsky stood on the bridge of the BellTechmijer, saring out the main viewports. Next to him stood Emperor Janus Piett. Zukovsky was nervous about working so closely with the Emperor, so he had barely said a dozen words to Piett since his arrival.

Zukovsky’s first officer, Admiral Alen Ramius handed him a datapad and a light pen. Zukovsky read over the aurabesh text, and quickley signed his name at the bottom. “Have the rebels detected us yet, admiral?” Zukovsky asked.

“Negitive, sir. The rest of the fleet should be arriving at any moment.”

Zukovsky nodded. “Good. Is everything satifactory, your emminence?”

Piett nodded to him. “Yes, Grand Moff Zukovsky. You have performed exteremely well.”

"Sir, I am curious as to why you have chosen to accompany me on my ship. Wouldn’t you feel more secure on the Executor?”

“Well, yes, probably, but in one star destroyer out of half a dozzen, chances are I will be safer here.”

Zukovsky stepped away from the viewport. “I understand, your emminence.”

“Janus.”

“Excuse me, sir?”

“You can call me Janus, Kohl.”

"Oh, of course, um, Janus.” Zukovsky walked over to his command chair in the isle between the control pits, and began to sit down, but stopped himself. “The ship is yours to command, if you wish, Janus.”

Piett waved his hands. “No, no, it’s your ship. I would just get in the way. I’ll be waiting in my quarters Kohl.”

“As you wish. I’ll send you updates on our progress.”

Piett nodded his approvel, pulled down on his black jedi tunic, and quietly left the bridge. The rebel fleet gaurding Coruscant consisted only of several Mon Cal crusers, two Katana Dreadnaughts, four Nebulon-B Frigates, a Corellian Corvette, and numerous starfighters. Piett had left it to Zukovsky to figure out the tactical planing for the assault.

Zukovsky’s plan was to drive in at full sublight speed, cripple the rebel fleet, and destroy the deflector shield generators protecting Coruscant. They would then blockade the planet as quickley as possible, to stop the rebels from sending in more ships. Just then, the Super Star Destroyer Executor II dropped out of hyperspace, escorted by twelve other Imperial-Class Star Destroyers.

“We’re being hailed by the Executor, sir,” Admiral Ramius said.

“On screen.”

The large viewscreen, mounted above the viewports, replaced the schematic of the ship, with the face of Zukovsky’s best freind, Captain Benjamin Motti. In the shadows of one of the controll alcoves stood the Grand Admiral. Zukovsky quietly wondered to himself if the nameles Grand Admiral was related to the smoking man or something.

“Imperial Star Destroyer BellTechmijer, this is the Executor.”

Zukovsky responded. “Read you loud and clear, Ben. Redy to commence attack immediately.”

“Copy that, Kohl. Executor out.”