*Melaina chuckled quietly, amused, before remembering the gift she had slipped into her pocket. She took it out, a small item wrapped in colourful paper. She removed a red bow and took the cover off of the sticky part, sticking it onto the gift. She walked back over to Atuna and offered it to him cheerfully.*

What's a birthday party without presents?

*Sitis nodded to atuna*

Hows it going atuna?

*The crimson star courier set down in a small hangar off to the side of the main council chambers.. a small access for the workers who maintained the building and adjacent facilities. There his ship wouldn't be noticed, and even if it was, no one would ask questions.. he was here on important business.*

Hakai gathered his things carefully, preparing himself for the proper execution of his plan. He'd have to look the part. Knowing this, he dressed himself up a bit, donning a rather official looking double buttoned dress coat complete with sash and sword. His favorite katana now at his side, he prepared the droids in his hold to carry out his plans. In the cargo compartments were the droids he'd owned for some time now. Ten of them to be exact. 8 in the cargo compartments, and two already activated in the cockpit of his ship were the B2 Super Battle Droids he'd acquired in a prior entanglement. They had been modified with stronger processors, able to maintain tabs on targets longer as well as increasing the number of targets each droid could track at one time. This made them almost indispensable as security droids. After activating them, he'd coolly walked over to his weapons rack, reaching in and grasping two Westar 34 blaster pistols and strapping them to a gun belt around his waist. Now he was ready..

*Almost theatrically the ramp descended from the crimson finished star courier, a hydraulic hiss accompanied by a short burst of steam shrouding the small hangar. The metallic clank of the B2 Battle Droids feet landing on the floor of the hangar could be heard as they marched forward. Their dark metallic finish began to appear out of the shroud.. two by two they came onward, in the middle stood Hakai, his grey uniform with black buttons striking in contrast. His boots shined, their black surface nearly mirroresque. His heels could be heard as they clicked across the finished floor of the hangar. He marched with an air of authority, a demeanor of distinction. In his right hand he held one of his Westars, in his left he held the Katana that had been buckled to his belt.*

*The procession made it's way through the maintenance tunnels until they reached the main hallway leading into the council chambers. Thus far they'd been undisturbed, the few Miralukans they'd passed seemed to prefer to stay away from the group. They paused slightly at the door as Hakai reached out through the force into the council chamber.. there they were. The twenty three souls which kept him from his objective.. no that wasn't right. They were his objective.. and that's when the plan didn't go exactly according to plan.*

*Behind Hakai and his droids appeared five Miralukans, all held sabers in their hands. Across their eyes they wore colored bands, their hair tied back into a ponytail. Their leader was large.. but not nearly as large as the battle droid which stood before him, blocking his steps towards Hakai. And then the Miralukan spoke.

=Sahandal=


*As if to emphasize his point, he ignited his saber. The Miralukan had already figured out why Hakai was here. Unfortunately that meant Hakai would have to eliminate these five if he wished to continue.. and continue he must. He didn't come here for tea and crumpets... A sickening smile spread across Hakai's face as he gave a silent command to the droids.. they instantaneously opened fire with their wrist mounted laser cannons..*

*Bolts of plasma flew across the hall, scorching the whitened walls and tiled floor. Bolts bounced off the Miralukans sabers at first.. but they could only withstand so many shots before they began to take hits. Their leader was the first to go down, an accurate shot by Hakai hitting him square in the throat.. as he fell, blood began to seep from the wound, a gurgling sound escaping the Miralukan's throat as the life drained from his body. He needed to wrap this up fast, he'd lost the element of surprise and now he needed speed.*

*Hakai darted into the council chambers, spinning almost immediately and tossing a grenade out into the hallway. Fortunately his droids had followed him, pinning the remaining Miralukans behind a overturned flower pot in the hall.. as the grenade exploded.. he fired three sharp bolts into the doors control panels, the droids beginning to corral the shocked council members into a circle on the floor.. They'd burst in so quickly and with so much action that many of the council were staring blankly, boggled that such a thing was really even happening. Years in complacency had conditioned them to think laxly, the fact that this was happening all to much for their minds to grasp.. As the droids corralled the representatives into a loose circle in the center of the council chambers, Hakai rose to his full height as he ascended to the speaker's booth. At the booth was a holotransmitter which transmit to the large screens set up outside the city and to all the major installations on the planet. Pressing the button, he cleared his throat and began to speak...

"Good day ladies and gentlemen.. may I ask you to stop for just a moment, I must have your full attention. Today is a day of new beginnings, a new age for the planet of Katarr.. in the past you've known defeat, despair.. sorrow.. NO LONGER. I, Hakai Kiyoshi claim this planet under my rule and governance.. I have overthrown the council by my own hand. You will now fall under my laws and my judgement. Again.. this planet is mine, and you are now my subjects. I urge you to continue to go to work, productivity cannot be ceased if you wish to rise from the ashes your glorious council wished to keep you in.. we will rise to a new age here on Katarr, you will see greatness. I have dissolved the council and you will now be ruled by my hand, and my hand alone. Further instruction will be given in the coming weeks. Until then.. continue working, producing.. your resources are what will keep your families fed, your children clothed... That is all for now.. Any opposition to my rule will be crushed without mercy.. do not attempt to resist or you will be killed."

*The transmission ended.. all that could be heard now were the screams of those twenty three... the council.. what was the council. The smell of burning flesh and freshly fired blasters filled the chamber... The grin on Hakai's face growing ever wider as he stood there.. soaking in the chaos.. the power..*

*As he'd ended the transmission.. Hakai had nonchalantly made his way down to the center of the room towards the twenty three men and women who had, until recently, formed the council. His dark boots reflected the light, a sinister glint in his eyes. As he descended the stairs into the center, all their eyes locked onto his face; what the council saw.. it sent shivers down their spines. Hakai's features were crossed by an unnatural grin as his eyes darted from one council member to another. His fingers began to twitch. He continued, circling them as a wolf does it's prey as he walked around the huddled group.. and then he began to speak.*

"Ladies.. Gentlemen.. Welcome to the new order here on Katarr. You have all served on this council.. and now this council stands dissolved. I am not your enemy, trust me when I say this. Together we shall build a stronger Katarr, a better Katarr. You know your people, you know this land, the wilderness. You know your planet. As your new ruler, I ask you to stand with me. Stand with me and make this a better place.. not for my sake, but for your own."

*He continued to pace.. as he did so, he began looking the men and women in the eyes.. or rather where their eyes should have been.. most of the council was in fact Miralukan.*

"I feel your fear.. I can taste it in the air, it permeates this room does it not? I tell you.. you will not die today. Today I come to ask you for your help. It is well within my power to kill you all and yet I do not. Because you are important. The people know you, the people trust you, and it is this that makes you all so important. I will stay out of your trivial matters if you will recognize and support my rule.. Who among you is willing to join the New Council? There are seven seats.. and twenty three of you.. Who among you will arise to the challenge?"

*Hakai stopped and faced the group, his hands held behind his back as he eyed the council members. There was a long pause before one particularly rotund man stood.. his eyes burning with.. was that anger? He raised his fist.. and began to open his mouth to shout his discontent.. but he froze as Hakai's halting gaze drilled into his skull. Thinking the better of himself, he proceeded to lower himself again, back to the floor.. Then more silence.. None of them were ready.. they would have to be taught.. Hakai raised his voice again as he addressed the huddled group.

"Very well.. it is utterly apparent that none of you are ready for this.. The council will remain intact. For now, but it will report to me. Is that understood? Go home, see your families, rest. You will have a busy day tomorrow.."

= The Citadel =

*A day had passed and the sun had risen, it's delicate rays penetrating the light cloud cover that had made it's way towards the city and now blanketed the late morning sky. Casting shadows on the Citadel of Mira, it played with the architecture, flitting between pillars and columns casting even stranger shadows across the ground. People were walking about, some headed into the citadel, some exiting, but it was within the halls where the activity was at.*

*Hakai had been observing the building, the people.. he wanted to know how things worked around here. Even so, he had business to attend to. The mining operation had picked up nicely with the new CEO overseeing the works and production had increased with the wage increases and upgraded living quarters for the miners and their families. He'd made sure production was at it's peak.. he needed it to be.

*Hakai reached down to his belt, removing a comlink from a small pouch on his right hip. He raised it to his lips and began to speak.*

:: Rance. Go ahead, send the transports to Fondor. Our contact there is ready to proved the ships in return for the building supplies, Understood? Good. ::

*He terminated the comlink almost immediately, headed towards the center of the Citadel for the first meeting of this new age.. the council would learn their place. And they would learn how things were going to work from this day forward.*