[right][b]Knight Commander Dredar Ragant and Lord Koren Ozzel, Lord Imperium's office, Coruscant[/b][/right]

The elevator ride up to Lord Ozell’s office was a silent one as Dredar patiently waited for it to reach its destination. As it rose he gently lifted his helmet off his head and examined it. The Force user turned the visor towards his head and stared at a small but noticeable scratch on the upper right side. That had been where it impacted against the walkway when he dropped it in the vault of Sith artifacts. He barely even remembered doing it, it was as if he had been momentarily entranced as soon as he noted one of the ancient masks worn by a long dead Sith lord. The head of the Imperial Knights could not turn his eyes away from it, he could still feel the vibrations of the dark side emit inside his mind. Though they were far weaker than when he stood in the room of artifacts. 

Then Dredar clipped the helmet to his belt as the elevator stopped before its doors slid open automatically. He emerged into a short hallway which led to the Imperial Lord’s office. Two of the imposing battle droids that Ozell favored were stationed outside of it. As he approached the door he gave both the machines a brief but cold glance. Neither one seemed to even look at him as the door came open right as he stepped in front of it. As the man stepped through he looked briefly around the office. Ozell had always been a pragmatic man, in the years that Dredar had known him he never struck him as one to splash credits on vane decorations. 

“Lord Imperium, I am here as you summoned me. What do you ask of me?” Dredar asked calmly, as he bowed briefly to his respected superior and long time acquaintance.  

Koren turned from the window and nodded back at the Knight Commander. At first Koren had been unsure on whether or not to have them within the command structure, where they would fit and how it would work. Though the Imperial Knights were fast becoming one of his most effective and popular assets. Their numbers were still few, but with most of their efforts focused on Coruscant many of the people who hadn’t felt the protection of the law for years were now feeling safe and secure. He just knew to keep his eye on them, he may not have been able to touch the Force he had seen enough non-force wielders get power hungry and those with the Force had an advantage he’ll never know. 

“Privacy mode.” The windows went from clear to opaque and there was a clunk at the door as it locked, a low hum started to permeate the room. Sitting at his desk he indicated for the Knight Commander to sit as well.

“I’m sending you on a diplomatic mission to meet with a former Imperial Task Force that should be somewhere in the region of Mygeeto. Spies in the region seem to think that they have aligned themselves with a new form of Confederacy. I would like you to try and establish some form of diplomatic alliance with them.” He sighed as he leant forwards. “I won’t lie to you Dredar, while we are moving from strength to strength we cannot hold off the New Republic should they continue to advance. Now we can’t deal with them, too many of the Old Guard would see that as capitulating to the Rebel Alliance, and would only offer authority to the group that got the Emperor and Darth Vader killed. Instead, by joining forces with other groups I hope that we can project enough strength to make them think twice about attacking us. If they come to us with a negotiation, it shows strength. We just need to get our forces to that point, starting with the Confederacy.” He sat back waiting for the Knight Commander's response.

Dredar listened silently as Ozel informed him of his mission. It was the first real information he’d heard of the resurgent Confederacy. The mention of them brought up memories from his days fighting in the Clone Wars against their droid armies. While the leadership of the original confederacy had been slain it appeared they too had been reborn, much like the Empire had been. If they aligned with the Imperium then they would stand as a formidable ally, the Lord’s words did ring with logic as they always seemed to. 

“A diplomatic mission like this should be an interesting experience. It is wise to make our position known to this Confederacy before they grow further. The rebels could stand as a threat to them too.” He stated calmly, proud to be sent as an important representative for the Imperium. It was different from his usual missions, reminiscent of the tasks Jedi of old often handled.

“The rebels believe they have the advantage. I wouldn’t put it past those scum to try a bold attack against the Imperium.” He added cautiously, the anger evident in his tone as he spoke. Dredar always felt the rage fire up inside of him when he thought of how the rebels killed the Emperor and Lord Vader.

“Do you have any specific instructions or advice for me for these negotiations, sir?” He asked the typically well informed head of the Imperium. 

Koren nodded along. “No. Try to deal directly with the former Imperials, I’m not entirely sure who is leading their operation though I know the Juno was stationed to a battlegroup out there, there was some form of mutiny after Endor so we’re not entirely sure who has taken command nor if they are anti-Imperial sympathisers. So I’d recommend taking a squad, take Dark Troopers if you wish. I’m assigning you the personal command of the [i]Nightfury[/i]. [url=https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Raider-class_corvette/Legends]Raider Class[/url], upgraded to the mark two and brought up to modern standards. Go in, negotiate and see if they’d be willing to deal, find out what they want if they do. We can’t offer manpower, but we have ships and production facilities, droids, credits and raw resources. Once you know what it will take contact me directly, and we’ll see about making it happen.”

“Understood, it shall be done, Lord Imperium.” Dredar replied with a nod, somewhat surprised to find himself given command of a larger ship for the mission. But it would come much more in handy than his TIE fighter if the negotiations went catastrophically south. 

The Knight Commander hoped the rebels had not already reached out to negotiate with the reborn Confederacy. That would add another, complicated layer to the mission. He still harbored a great deal of fury against this unjust ‘New Republic’ which was built upon the graves of millions of loyal Imperials. But Dredar could not allow such thoughts interfere with the negotiations. Such matters required a calm, delicate hand.

Koren stood up. “Very good. I knew I could rely on you-” He stood up, though as he started to turn away he paused. “-I’d like you to station two Knights here before you go. I know typically I find it better for them to be off doing their own duties though with the rebels closing in I can’t dispel the possibility of them using some underhanded tactics in order to take us down from the inside. They have proven they’re willing to target the leadership to destabilise before a major offensive, lets not let them make the same move twice.”

There was still the report on his desk, detailing Dredars recent venture into vaults previously locked since Palpatine left for Endor. He’d keep an eye on it. “If there is nothing else, go meet your crew and get underway.”

“Certainly, sir. Most of the knights are out seeking new recruits in Imperium space or training them. I shall have knights Myla Alycorr and Vero Shif stationed here at your request immediately. Both are two of our finest newly anointed knights. They will not disappoint you, Lord Imperium.” Dredar stated assertively, then bowed once more to the leader of the Imperium. The Knight Commander concluded their briefing as he walked out of the Lord Imperium’s office without further words.

As he exited the office he strolled towards the elevator as he passed by the same droids from before. Once again he paid them no attention as he silently stepped inside the elevator. Dredar’s mind was on his assignment to Mygeeto, the frigid world located in the unpredictable Outer Rim territories. During the Clone Wars it was the site of a fierce battle though Dredar did not participate in it during his time fighting. The mention of the Clone Wars made him think of his old master, Vavi Mitrin. Dredar liked to think the wise Mirialan would be proud of his padawan’s will to survive and adapt in the unpredictable galaxy.