Chapter five (HPtSR)

3672 BBY.
For the past two years Harry had been performing missions for Darth Marr and the empire... it had gone very well. If you counted killing thousands, spying and stealing, and retrieving artifacts as going well. Harry did have to tip off the Jedi to one or two missions and several more of his rivals and allies missions, but it was necessary to keep the Sith a manageable threat. The problem was that Harry wasn't even a Sith Lord yet. A fact which irritated him greatly.
As such, Harry had acquired some information on a source of 'Hutt venom' an ingredient in very powerful adrenals. Harry would be setting the Republic and Empire against each other and hopefully either destroy the ingredient or allow the Republic to keep it.
"This information is of great value, my apprentice," Marr said and seemed fairly impressed by it. The adrenal could strengthen the Sith Empire greatly.
"Indeed," Vowrawn agreed.
"We have discussed it and you are to be raised to the rank of Sith Lord. You would have been promoted far sooner were it not for those who distrust people from the Republic on the Dark Council." Marr spoke, before rising from his throne. "Kneel my apprentice."
Harry obeyed.
"I, Darth Marr, Dark Lord of the Sith, do hereby grant Hadrian Potter the title of Sith Lord and the name Lord Potens. You are no longer my apprentice, Lord Potens; you have outgrown my own knowledge, and you may now be independent unless we assign you a mission." Harry, or Potens, nodded. "You may continue building up your power base and can bring any more valuable information to us. You are also free to take on an apprentice of your own."
"Thank you, Lord Marr," Harry replied.
"You are dismissed," Marr said.
Harry bowed and then left.
Maybe Harry could actually finish restoring the Star Forge now... it only took him a few centuries. The Forge was thankfully already under a Fidelius Charm and many other wards, but it wasn't absorbing all the energy correctly. With what Harry had stolen from the Empire and Republic he could complete the Star Forge and then create proper parts and replace the imperfect ones.
Harry also needed to continue his research into Midi-chlorians to increase his own already impressive count even further. Harry had already raised his count to 27,000. As for how, Harry commanded the Midi-chlorians to remain in his body while bloodletting. It was actually quite simple and it was very effective. Harry's goal was to get his Midi-chlorian count up to 37,000 or 40,000 to strengthen his connection to the Force and his ability to wield it. Due to his powers as Master of Death, Harry could regenerate limbs, bodily fluids and any and all cells from nothing.
Harry would also continue his training and reacquaint himself with the higher powers that he had neglected while undercover.
With his plans in mind, Harry departed for the Star Forge and had inspected his ship for tracking and spying devices once more... finding some placed by Darth Arctis, Darth Rictus, Darth Thanaton, Darth Arrid, Darth Decimus, Darth Azamin, and Darth Baras. They were all extremely dangerous opponents; especially when together, and him killing Baras would make an enemy of his sister Darth Ekkage... well, she would at least avenge her brother on principle.
Unfortunately, for them, none of them knew of his unique ability to use the Force and Harry had found every one of the devices. They were improving the quality though; thinking that Harry was using technology to detect them, which wasn't good for the war.
After destroying the devices belonging to Darth Arctis, Rictus, and Azamin, Harry traveled first to a trapped location and left Thanaton's tracker in the hanger. Next Harry did the same for Darth Baras' tracker.
----
Getting the Star Forge back into production thankfully only required one more day and Harry was soon free to meet up with Satele, someone who Harry had grown to greatly care for. That and Harry enjoyed teasing Satele and Satele seemed to like him too, but she did probe for more information.
"So, what made you side against the Sith?" Satele asked.
"I lost a friend because of the Emperor and Dark Council, my godson never knew his father because of them, and his wife was never the same after that. I decided upon seeking revenge for them. I don't feel the need to lash out against the Jedi for slights dealt in a war where I was the aggressor and I find the Sith to be petty angry children."
"How much longer will it take for the Empire to be beaten?"
"Years more, I fear. I need to get onto the Dark Council and locate enemies of the regime and locate the other threats. The Sith Empire needs to be dealt with swiftly and all threats need to fall with it... In short, I'm looking the allies who stir the Emperors interest and were merely imprisoned. He has a habit of keeping them alive to probe their minds for knowledge and secrets and drain them of power." It was the truth, but Harry was leaving out that he was searching for Revan.
"How powerful is the Emperor?" Satele asked.
"Powerful enough that he once butchered the Sith's ruling council single-handedly and they were of power comparable to the Jedi Council. That's why I need assistance from those powerful enough to merit the emperors interest. I don't know if I'm powerful enough to face the Emperor alone."
"If the Emperor is that powerful then of course you can't!" Satele exclaimed. "Harry, if you need help then I can ask the Jedi for you."
"Satele, my full power is hidden from detection and surpasses most of the Dark Council's combined might. I will ask the Jedi if I need help, but promise me that you won't reveal me as your source or your connection with me. If the Sith find out then you can be abducted and used as leverage against me and the Jedi Order."
"I promise," Satele said, touched by his concern for her.
"Master!" Harry's droid said.
"Yes?"
"Darth Thanaton is attempting to contact you, but we have waited until you can answer."
Harry laughed. "Come, Satele, I will conceal you and you should get a laugh out of this." Harry pulled his Sith Armor onto himself and concealed Satele with the Light Side of the Force.
Harry entered the bridge and accepted the communication. "Darth Thanaton... to what do I owe this... pleasure?"
"You know damn well why I'm contacting you!" Thanaton bellowed. "You lured me into a trap! I lost hundreds of my people!"
"You put trackers and spying devices on my ship... I found the others. You'd think you would learn from the experience. You played your game and lost! Don't whine like a child because you didn't understand the rules or the stakes!" Thanaton was enraged. "The truly sad thing was that Darth Arctis was doing the same thing as yourself and you both could have combined forces or even worked with me. I know that you seek my knowledge and resources, but desire to steal them for yourself. Understandable albeit irritating. You played your game and lost and fell for an amateur trap. You disgrace the title Darth with your very existence. Grow up and don't expect your enemies to hold back because you extorted your way into a higher title."
"If you insist upon wasting my time then I will be back on Dromund Kaas soon enough and you are welcome to try killing me. You won't be the only one... Darth Baras should have fallen into my trap for him."
"Darth Baras?"
"Yes, the idiot was trying to spy on and track me too. I warned you both and gave you a chance to give up."
"His sister will kill you!" Thanaton said in glee.
"She will try," Harry conceded. Harry pulled up surveillance on his trap for Darth Baras. "Ah, it seemed that Darth Baras brought his entire pitiful powerbase into the trap. All were killed in my trap. It's unfortunate to lose such powerful Sith, but the Sith are stronger now due to having less infighting."
"Enjoy dying Lord Potens," Thanaton said, sneering. He ended the communication.
"Great personality, that one," Harry mocked, removing his helmet.
"I don't understand how killing them benefits your infiltration..." Satele said in concern.
"It removes those who risk uncovering it, removes competition, establishes me as a threat, and means that I'll be given suicide missions by my enemies. It also gives me an opportunity to destroy far more Sith. I've ended thousands more now. I need to get onto the Dark Council and infest other spheres of influence with my supporters, and those Sith were also my competition."
"Why would you want suicide missions?" Satele asked in concern.
"Because I have been concealing my full power and I'm easily strong enough to be a Dark Councilor and a Darth. Besides, most Sith are arrogant and prideful. I'll goad them all into an idiotic bet that will see me promoted to the Dark Council in no time. I have to step things up, Satele. The war needs to end as soon as possible and in a decisive manner. That means a lot of killing Sith and a few citizens of the Republic if we can't carefully plot my failure."
Satele nodded, but she wished that Harry could stop spying. She cared about him and even desired him romantically.
"I know that you care about me, Satele, and I care about you too. In fact, I'd like to see where a relationship goes after this is all over." Satele's eyes widened, on both statements.
"I'd like that too, Harry," Satele said with a smile. They had grown close over the past few years and it was like they were meant for each other! They even had a force bond that attested to their closeness.
Further romance was halted by Darth Marr contacting his former apprentice.
"I need to hide you again, Darth Marr is calling." Satele nodded and Harry concealed her. Harry placed his helmet back on and accepted the communication.
"Hello, Darth Marr," Harry greeted respectfully.
"Lord Potens... I have just learned of your recent actions. 400 people dead, several Sith and five Sith Lords turned to ash. One entire powerbase was annihilated and another devastated. I take it that they continued trying to spy on and track you?"
"Yes, Lord Marr," Harry replied.
"The other councilors were... displeased, but Darth Thanaton and Baras were both idiots and fell into a trap. Their deaths are their own faults. Darth Arctis and Rictus still desire your knowledge though and now your death... So after you kill Darth Ekkage, who intends to come make an example of you, you are too perform assassinations. Your first target will be a former Dark Councilor, Darth Sajar. If you survive then you will ascend to the rank of Darth, but you have many more enemies now." Marr spoke, but Harry wasn't at all concerned.
"It had to be done, Lord Marr. They exhausted my patience, were given plenty of warnings, and were only causing division through infighting."
"I'm aware, Lord Potens, but I cannot protect you from the consequences. I suspect that you don't want or need my protection from them anyway."
"My apologies, Lord Marr, but no I do not. I chose to that; I could have just kept destroying the devices, but I chose my course. To my credit, I am man enough to face the consequences of my actions."
"Indeed. It is one of the many qualities that I respect about you. I wish you luck, my former apprentice. May the Force with you." With that Marr ended the communication.
"He didn't seem that bad," Satele said.
Harry chuckled. "His fighting skills are such that he's been called superior to a planetary shield, he's killed thousands, his speed is such that he seems to teleport, he believes that conflict is necessary to evolve and grow stronger, he can rout entire armies, and he is one of the deadliest Sith. All that aside, no, he isn't that bad and he is a great leader. He was kind enough to warn me... Darth Ekkage is hunting and you need to return to the Republic."
"And warn the Order about Sajar's assassination?"
"I'd rather that you didn't," Harry replied, to Satele's shock. "He was raised and trained as a Sith, a Dark Councilor, and he will likely return to the Dark Side during combat. Few can use both aspects of the Force without favoring one, and Sajar was born of darkness. If you still wish to warn them then go ahead, but it will only make my job harder and increase the collateral damage and death. I bear the Jedi no ill will; I simply find them and the Sith misguided, but if need be I will choose to kill hundreds rather than let thousands die needlessly."
"To be clear, telling the Jedi that an assassin is coming for Darth Sajar won't change my feelings for you. I would simply be disappointed and would have to kill more people because of it. Do what the Force leads you to do... I'll understand."
Satele nodded in understanding and after saying their goodbyes, they both departed for their separate destinations.
----
Getting his duel with Darth Ekkage wasn't hard. Killing her brother was a major slight to her reputation and she was eager to battle Harry, or Lord Potens. Darth Ekkage had tried bringing members of the Red Legion, but her superiors weren't willing to risk anymore soldiers.
"Lord Potens," Ekkage greeted coldly. "You killed my brother."
"You're welcome. He can shame you no longer." Harry replied, causing Ekkage to glare before laughing.
"A disappointment he may have been, but you must die, Potens," Ekkage said, activating her lightsaber.
"This is probably a bad time to offer you a replacement in the form of a child," Harry said, causing Ekkage to become thoughtful.
"I can still take that too after killing you," Ekkage replied, with an evil smile.
Ekkage attacked, exploding into movement and having her strike parried by Harry. "That isn't very romantic!" Harry said, before cutting off her hands in a blur of movement. "Well... I can kill just you or keep you as a breeder. Your choice." Ekkage glared murderously. "Our children would be powerful and attractive."
"I'd rather die than be your whore!" Ekkage spat.
"As you wish," Harry replied dispassionately. Harry drained her of her power and then killed her.
Truthfully, Darth Ekkage wasn't even a challenge for him. It was to be expected, Harry was centuries older and consciously holding back most of the time.
After checking out her personal ship, a Fury-class Imperial Interceptor like his own, Harry contacted the Dark Council.
"Is it done?" Darth Vowrawn asked.
"Yes, Lord Vowrawn," Harry replied respectfully, and he did genuinely respect the Sith. "Her ship was checked for traps and it can be reused by the empire... I have no use for another."
"A single ship isn't important; destroy it, keep it, or sale it," Vowrawn replied.
"Darth Sajar is currently on Coruscant... enjoy getting to him," Darth Azamin said in amusement.
"I will," Harry replied. "It should be an interesting challenge. He's likely inside the Jedi Temple; I'll search there first, which should be really interesting."
"Oh well. At least we won't be seeing you again." Darth Arrid, the councilor for Imperial Intelligence said.
"You talk?" Harry asked in surprise. "I assumed the elder members stripped you of your talking privileges..." Arrid glared, but he knew that he was no match for Lord Potens. That was why he tried spying on him, so that he could beat him with politics or increase his own power by stealing his holocrons. It was fortunate that he had failed and avoided a trap... but his position was now far less secure and he had another dangerous enemy. Hopefully his mothers spirit could help him hold onto his seat.
"As amusing as your mockery is to us, we are sending you a list of other targets to kill on Coruscant," Darth Vowrawn stated with clear amusement.
"I shall strive to kill every target," Harry replied seriously.
----
3671 BBY.
Harry did kill every target that he could, but several kills were sabotaged by the Jedi that he tipped off. It also allowed Harry to lure Sajar outside of the Jedi temple and quickly kill him after bathing a location in Dark Side energy. Harry hindered Sajar and Tol Braga's Force Sense and that allowed Harry to assassinate both Sajar and Tol Braga without even fighting them properly. It took a lot of effort, strategy, and thought on his part, but the Republic could still come back from this even stronger.
Harry, or Lord Potens rather, was raised to the rank of Darth for his accomplishment... something that many were annoyed by, but his defeating two Dark Councilors had caught the Emperor's interest and they gave in.
Harry had leaked the details for the Empire's invasion of Bothawui and it was a complete massacre... the Sith suffered unimaginable casualties. Harry left a trail leading back to Darth Arrid and well-hidden evidence 'proving' his guilt... and poor, stupid, and weak Darth Arrid had his mind twisted and Arrid's mothers Force ghost was bound and was influencing her son as Harry desired.
Harry was now charged with conquering Bothawui though...
"Bombard the planetary shield," Harry ordered coldly.
The fleet began attacking, but it was a waste of resources.
"Cease fire," Harry ordered. "Quite the shield they have there..." Harry used the Force and pulled several meteors and asteroids and sent them flying into the planetary shield to create an exploitable weakness. It took a lot out of him though and he ordered his fleet to target the new weak point while he meditated and regained his strength.
"The shield has fallen, Darth Potens!" Grand Moff Zellos reported.
"Yes," Harry replied, rising from his seat. "I'll deal with the Jedi. I want you to focus on securing the planet for the empire. Accept the surrender of any Jedi... they can be broken and hopefully turned to the Dark Side."
"Yes, My Lord," Zellos replied.
Harry went to the hangar and entered his ship with the other Sith; Harry was joined by Sith Warriors, which included Juggernauts and Marauders... one of whom Harry recognized. Though Daphne couldn't have recognized him.
The ship left the hangar and took off for Bothawui, closely followed by the other ships.
"I know that it's tradition to give speeches before battle, but I am not one for speeches... so if any of you die you're fired. I just wanted you all to know that the consequences of failure are severe." There was some mild laughter from the Sith.
The ships came under fire from the defenders, but Harry redirected the attacks away and in some cases back at the defenders.
"The attacks are being redirected..." the pilot said in confusion.
"It's almost as if a Sith Lord is redirecting them... what a mystery. Who could it be?" Harry returned with a hint of mockery, causing the Sith to chuckle and the pilot looked abashed, but he smiled in good humor.
"Glad that there is at least one Sith Lord with a sense of humor," the pilot said.
"Lots of Sith Lords have a sense of humor, but most just laugh while electrocuting people with lightning or other forms of torture." Harry replied.
They landed minutes later and Harry was the first one out and into the fray, using Soresu and Tutaminis to negate and absorb energy from blaster fire. Harry gathered his power, adding that which he absorbed to it, and then unleashed a Force Wave that disintegrated hundreds of soldiers; weapons and all. Some were even killed in the aftermath, but that was by design... Harry animated the corpses of the defeated enemies and then forced them to kill their former comrades, which in turn created more soldiers with every enemies death.
While Harry was casually obliterating hundreds, the other Sith were aiding in the Republic forces demise, and were acquitting themselves well. Daphne was killing dozens and easily deflecting blaster fire and using Tutaminis to turn the enemies attacks against them. She was impressive and her not being chosen as an apprentice was a real travesty... one that Harry was considering remedying.
With his undead minions defeated, Harry began using Force Drain on all the remaining Republic soldiers, rapidly gaining power and then unleashed another Force Wave, killing hundreds more and even a few Jedi.
The Jedi and Republican defenders were soon beaten, with Harry's forces suffering 8000 casualties out of the 10,000 that he brought with him to the shield generator. Only a few dozen Jedi were now left.
"Surrender or die," Harry said coldly.
"We'll die before we surrender, Sith," one spat in disgust.
"Disappointing... You could all live, perhaps even join the Sith and grow in power. Why die for a corrupt and weak Republic?"
"Because it's better than anything that the damned Sith can create!"
"All Jedi attack the Sith Lord!" Jedi Master Belth Allusis ordered before attacking Harry himself.
None of them ever stood a chance, Harry cut down Allusis before he could land a strike and then easily slew a dozen Jedi in a blur of movement... using his ritual-enhanced speed and Force enhanced speed to swiftly overwhelm and butcher all of the Jedi.
The Second Battle of Bothawui was a success... The forest was devastated and blast cannon turrets were destroyed and though the casualties on the empire's side were great they had conquered Bothawui. Harry and those with him took the shield generator.
"We took the generator, but we're down to 2000 soldiers. They fought to the last and refused to surrender." Harry reported to the Dark Council. "I request 10,000 reinforcements and suggest that we begin preparing our own defenses."
"I agree with your assessment, Darth Potens," Darth Marr said and the others supported the idea. "You will receive your 10,000 reinforcements and supplies. What of Grand Moff Zellos and the other 40,000?"
"I had him begin conquering the planet while I dealt with the bigger threat. I found him far too reckless to be in command of the operation... he wanted to just keep throwing soldiers at the problem until the enemy was beaten. I gave him the lesser threats while taking 10,000 soldiers to deal with 4,000 Republic soldiers and the Jedi."
"We are getting reports of Grand Moff Zellos' victory now, Lord Potens," Marr stated. "The Battle of Bothawui was a resounding success."
Yes it was, Harry thought mockingly. I created martyrs for the Republic to inspire their people. That should give them the incentive and motivation that they need to end the war to the Republic's favor.
After the communication was ended, Harry went to check on Daphne who was injured somewhat badly.
"Will she recover?" Harry asked the medic.
"Probably, but I doubt that anyone would care. Her grandfather was a traitor." The medic replied, having focused on the other injured soldiers because of it.
Harry casually healed Daphne with the Force, shocking the medic greatly.