The Eternal Emperor

And while Lelouch coordinated the Republic war effort on the southern galactic quadrants under heavy scrutiny from the Council and the Senate, far away, his plans continued undisturbed. 

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The HoloNet News Channel buzzed with the latest headlines, a segment dedicated to the most recent developments in the ongoing war. The camera panned to a well-dressed anchor seated behind a sleek desk, the screen behind him displaying various clips of battles, Senate debates, and the ever-growing list of victories attributed to Commander Lelouch. 

Anchor: "Good evening, citizens of the Republic. Tonight, we delve into the escalating conflict in the Outer Rim and the controversial tactics employed by the Republic's rising military leader, Commander Lelouch. His recent victories have been both celebrated and criticized, with leaked footage of his heated debate with the Senate and Jedi Council causing quite a stir. One particular comment has resonated with many: 'People are afraid of waking up to find themselves in the middle of a Separatist invasion, and they should be. The Republic's indecision is leaving our worlds vulnerable.'" 

The screen shifted to show a clip of the debate, where Lelouch's voice echoed with conviction, before returning to the anchor. 

Anchor: "Joining us today to discuss this is Captain Jace Korr, a decorated veteran of the Clone Wars who retired after sustaining severe injuries, and Jedi Knight Mace Halcyon, who has served on several key fronts as a peacekeeper and general. Welcome to you both." 

The camera widened to include both guests. Captain Korr, a man in his late fifties with a stern, weathered face and a prosthetic arm, sat rigidly in his chair. Across from him, Jedi Knight Mace Halcyon, much younger but calm and composed, nodded in greeting. 

Anchor: "Captain Korr, let's start with you. You've seen firsthand the horrors of war. What do you make of Commander Lelouch's tactics, particularly in light of the criticism from the Jedi and Senate?" 

Captain Korr: (leaning forward, his voice gravelly but clear) "I've fought in this war long enough to know that hesitation is a death sentence. What the general is doing—striking hard and fast, securing victories with minimal Republic casualties—it's what we've needed since the start. The Jedi... they mean well, but they're not soldiers. They're peacekeepers. They've been throwing lives away, waiting for an opening that never comes because they're too concerned about collateral damage or preserving some moral high ground." 

Jedi Knight Halcyon: (a calm smile on his face) "Captain, with all due respect, the Jedi are not merely peacekeepers in this war. We are committed to ending the conflict with as little loss of life as possible, on both sides. The tactics you're praising may bring short-term victories, but at what cost? The bombing of Christophsis led to countless civilian casualties. Innocent lives that we swore to protect." 

Captain Korr: (snapping back) "Those civilians were already caught in the crossfire for months. The longer the Republic dragged its feet, the more people died. Lelouch's offensive ended that suffering quickly. The Jedi Council's strategy has been too passive, too hesitant. How many more clones and civilians would have died if we kept to the old ways?" 

Jedi Knight Halcyon: (his expression hardening slightly) "The Republic stands for justice, Captain. If we abandon that, if we become as ruthless as our enemies, what are we fighting for? The war isn't just about winning battles, it's about preserving the very principles that define the Republic. Commander Lelouch's methods may yield results, but they risk eroding the moral foundation we stand on." 

Captain Korr: (gritting his teeth, a fire in his eyes) "And that is where you fail to understand Jedi. To be a soldier means to carry burdens, doomed to a guilty conscience, but none of that matters because those behind us can continue on their lives without worry... We have made our peace with death, and the general understands that... that is why he is determined to make our deaths count for something, not simply throw them without care." 

The anchor interjected as the debate grew more intense, the tension between the two guests palpable. 

Anchor: "It seems the core of this debate lies in the balance between morality and effectiveness in wartime. Captain Korr, are you suggesting that the Jedi should relinquish their roles as generals?" 

Captain Korr: (nodding firmly) "Exactly. The Jedi are out of their depth. We need military leaders who aren't afraid to make the tough calls. If we keep letting the Jedi dictate the pace, this war will drag on until there's nothing left of the Republic to save." 

Jedi Knight Halcyon: (his voice firm, but composed) "And I would argue, Captain, that losing our moral compass is exactly what the Separatists want. We cannot become monsters in our quest to defeat them. Commander Lelouch's tactics, effective as they may be, must be carefully weighed against the values we're fighting to protect." 

Captain Korr: (shaking his head) "We are long past fighting for values Jedi." 

The anchor concluded the segment as the debate reached its peak, with both sides clearly entrenched in their positions. 

Anchor: "A heated debate, and one that will no doubt continue in the Senate and beyond. Commander Lelouch's rise has certainly sparked a new discussion on how this war should be fought. Thank you, Captain Korr, and Jedi Knight Halcyon, for your insights." 

As the broadcast ended, the screen shifted back to scenes of ongoing battles, a reminder that the debate over how to wage this war was far from over. 

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The cold, mechanical hum of the ship's systems was the only sound in the dimly lit command bridge of General Grievous's warship. Weeks had passed since the capture of the Malevolence, and the Separatist leader had been tirelessly working to rebuild and strengthen his forces. But now, something unexpected had occurred. 

A warning light blinked to life on the control panel in front of him, cutting through the gloom. Grievous turned his reptilian eyes to the droid at the console. The droid's servos whined as it swiveled to face its master. 

"General Grievous, we are receiving an incoming transmission from an unidentified fleet. They are broadcasting old Separatist passcodes—codes that haven't been used since tbefore the start of the war," the droid reported, its mechanical voice devoid of emotion. 

Grievous's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "Put it on the main screen." 

The view shifted to the vastness of space, where nearly a dozen and a half massive Lucrehulk-class ships emerged from hyperspace. 

At first glance Grievous knew who these ships answered to. 

"Allow them to approach. Power down our weapons," Grievous ordered, his voice a low growl. "And erase all records of their arrival. Dock us with the leading ship..." 

"Roger-Roger sir." 

With a flick of his cape, Grievous turned and marched toward the docking bay, his talon-like feet clanging against the metal floor. The Lucrehulks docked with precision, and as the airlock hissed open, Grievous boarded the flagship of the mysterious fleet. 

Inside the command deck, Grievous was met with a holographic transmission from Lelouch. The young man's cold, calculating eyes met the General's through the haze of blue light. 

"General Grievous," Lelouch began, his voice calm and authoritative. "I trust you have received the fleet without incident?" 

"Yes, the fleet is under my control and no records have been kept," Grievous confirmed. "What are your orders?" 

Lelouch's gaze was unreadable as he replied, "You are to take the fleet to Malachor V. There is something there that requires our attention." 

Grievous nodded, not questioning the order, and within minutes, the fleet was en route. 

It took a few days but eventually he made his arrival at Malachor V, standing on the bridge, looking out at the vast expanse of space. What greeted him was not the ominous planet he had expected but a floating graveyard—a massive field of debris, the remnants of... anything... that was once there, but by the size of the field of debris, Grievous could tell that it was most likely a planet, or a massive moon, once. 

'Is he looking for whatever destroyed the planet?' 

"This is Grievous," he said as he initiated a holo-call to Lelouch. "Malachor V is nothing but a field of debris. Whatever once was here is long gone." 

Grievous watched Lelouch's expression, searching for any sign of reaction, but the young man remained as inscrutable as ever. Frustration began to gnaw at Grievous. He had come here expecting to find something—anything—that would explain why this secret fleet had been summoned, but there was nothing. Was this all a wild bantha chase? Had Lelouch sent him here merely to test his loyalty? 

Just as Lelouch began to ponder the situation further, a voice echoed within his mind, sending a cold shiver down his spine. 'So, you find yourself at an impasse, Lelouch.' 

Just as Grievous's irritation was about to boil over, he noticed the change in Lelouch's demeanor. The young man's eyes seemed to lose focus, as if he were listening to something or someone unseen. Grievous tensed, his instincts telling him that something was happening—something beyond his understanding. 

Lelouch's brow creased as his eyes narrowed. The dark side urged that it was there, the information he gathered pointed there... and yet there was nothing here. 

'I truly envy the lesser minds. It is truly awe-inspiring to see mortals struggle towards knowledge... Alas we do not have a few hundred years to spare for you to figure it out eventually.' 

'If so, I'd appreciate some insight.' 

Tzeentch's voice was tinged with amusement. 'Time is a construct of lesser minds, Lelouch. To the Force, and to me, past, present, and future are but different faces of the same entity.' 

'And I can peer into it...' 

"You can't, not from there. Malachor is a place where the veil between the past and present is thin, but it is not within your power to reach across the galaxy and peer into its history. You must go there yourself, to feel the echoes, to witness what once was. Only then can you hope to grasp the secrets that lie buried." Tzeentch's voice was both taunting and instructive, a mixture of mockery and guidance. 

Lelouch's eyes darkened, but he knew the entity was right. He had to be there in person. Tzeentch's influence was subtle, but there was a truth to his words that Lelouch could not ignore. 

Returning his focus to the holo-call, Lelouch addressed Grievous with a cool, composed demeanor. "You have done well, General. Continue your duties and maintain control of the fleet. I will deal with Malachor V personally." 

Grievous, though his curiosity was piqued, simply nodded. "As you command." 

The transmission ended, and Grievous stood for a moment, staring at the now-blank holo-display, and then turning to stare at the field of debris outside his ship, as if trying to find whatever Lelouch found within... alas he could not. A sense of unease settled over him like a heavy cloak.