A/N: Read about all of the comments and I appreciate all of the feedback. I will try to implement more things like seeing more of Daimon's family, lightsaber duels, and more. I will also try to keep that a consistent thing throughout the story.
Now for going to another galaxy, I don't think I will take that route only because I've done it in most of my stories. So for this one I'm gonna keep it purely Star Wars, but I wouldn't be opposed to creating like a sequel story once this is done if people want to see Daimon in other galaxies. For now, we will just stick with a time skip focused on the galaxy's recovery after the war. Plus If I do it at the end, it won't really affect the story since we would be done with the Star Wars Universe.
I did see that Mass effect was mentioned a few times and I could see a story there. But for that I think I'm just gonna keep working on the Mass Effect Story that I have been drafting in the background with its own plot and maybe release that a little early.
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After effectively taking control of the Senate, Thrace had become extremely psychotic and paranoid. He walked back to his office muttering that the Senate, 'forced him' to do this
In his private chambers, Thrace paced back and forth, his hands trembling as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. He raised the glass to his lips and drunk the entirety of it in one gulp.
"They don't understand," he whispered to himself. "None of them understand what's at stake." What had just transpired in the Senate chambers was a last resort that he planned to use only if the Senate was going to give in to the Imperium.
In the next moment, his personal terminal ringed, indicating an incoming transmission. He clicked the button, and the hooded figure of his Sith contact appeared in holographic form.
"Chancellor," the Sith Lord called out in an almost mocking tone. "I've been watching the Senate proceedings with great interest. Now the public doesn't know what happened after the footage turned off, but I have a good guess about what happened."
"I did what was necessary," Thrace snapped at the Sith Lord. "Those cowards were going to surrender everything we've fought for."
"Indeed. And now you've made yourself into exactly what you accused Emperor Daimon of being: a tyrant."
The Sith Lord was amused at this turn of events. "Delicious irony, wouldn't you say?"
Thrace clenched his jaw. "It doesn't matter. The people will see that I did the right thing. Anyway, what do you want?"
"To inform you that Emperor Vitiate has... undergone a change in perspective. Our alliance with the Republic is being reconsidered. It seems Emperor Daimon may have paid him a personal visit."
Thrace sighed heavily. It was one headache after another. "So, you're abandoning me after the deal we made?"
"Abandoning is such an ugly word. Let's say we're reassessing our strategic priorities. The Dark Council or I should say the new Dark Council has determined that continued cooperation with a failing government serves no purpose." The Sith Lord leaned forward slightly. "You're on your own, Chancellor. Good luck with your war."
The transmission ended, leaving Thrace staring at the empty space where the hologram had been. Without the Sith opening a new war front and without the Senate's backing, his current position was untenable. But he couldn't stop now. Stopping meant admitting that he'd been wrong, meant facing trial for all the decisions he'd made.
He reached for the bottle again, but his hand froze as he felt a presence standing behind him. But before he could turn around, a giant hand was placed on his shoulder and the figure started chuckling. "No, don't turn around, keep facing forward." feeling the grip on his shoulder Thrace had no choice but to comply.
"This particular turn of events is….interesting. The one who called me the tyrant has just become a tyrant himself." Thrace didn't need to turn around to figure it who it was behind him. The voice and words that were just said, told him everything he needed to know.
"Emperor Daimon," Thrace whispered, "How did you get past my security?"
"Security?" Daimon's grip on Thrace's shoulder tightened. "Chancellor, I'm sure you've heard the stories. Your security measures are about as effective as a paper wall against a hurricane. I could have walked through your front door and no one would have noticed until I wanted them to."
Thrace's mind couldn't calm down. He was alone with the most powerful being in the galaxy, the very person he'd spent years demonizing and fighting against. Every instinct screamed at him to call for help, but he knew it would be pointless.
"Are you here to kill me?" Thrace asked.
"Ha, ha. If I wanted you dead, you would already be dead," Daimon replied. "No, Chancellor, I'm here because what you just did in that Senate chamber was perhaps the most foolish decision you could have made. You've given me exactly what I needed."
"What do you mean?" Thrace asked confused.
Daimon released his shoulder and walked around to face him. This is when Thrace saw that the Emperor was even more imposing in person than Thrace had imagined.
"You've shown the Senate what this war was really about," Daimon explained. "Not freedom versus tyranny. Not democracy versus autocracy. But one man's desperate attempt to maintain power at any cost. Now, when the citizens of the Republic learn what you did today, and they will learn, they'll understand that I was never their enemy. You were."
Thrace's face turned red in anger. "I was protecting the Republic from you!"
"No," Daimon said countered. "You were protecting your political career. The Republic was never in danger from me. I have no interest in ruling it, in absorbing it, or in destroying it. All I wanted was for it to stop its aggressive expansion and trying to paint the Imperium as some sort of tyrannic empire. But you couldn't accept that because admitting the Republic was wrong would have meant admitting you were wrong."
"The Republic has stood for tens of thousands of years," Thrace shot back. "We represent freedom and justice for trillions. What do you represent? Blind worship and absolute authority?"
Daimon almost laughed. "I represent stability, prosperity, and the protection of those under my rule. My people worship me not because I demand it, but because I have given them lives worth living. Can you say the same about the Republic's citizens? How many of them are starving because resources were diverted to your war? How many have lost loved ones in a conflict you started?"
"And once you open your eyes to the reality of how people work, you will learn that freedom, liberty, and justice are just a facade unless there is power to back it up. People will always need someone to lead them, whether it's through elected officials or through an Emperor. As long as they are getting their basic needs plus, most people don't really care if they are ruled by elected officials, kings, emperor's, or even corporations."
Thrace opened his mouth to respond but found he had no answer.
"I won't waste too much time. Just know, I'll see you in three days." Thrace went to stop him, but before he could, Daimon was gone.
Now he was left to think about what just happened.
Meanwhile, every Senator that was placed on house arrest and constantly watched by guards, were being freed by Imperial agents and brought to secured locations within Coruscant. The operation had been planned in advance by the Imperial Intelligence Directorate who was already aware of the Chancellor's fail safe for the Senate.
Senator Bru found himself being escorted through underground maintenance tunnels by a pair of individuals in civilian clothing. They were completely silent except for the occasional hand signal.
"Where are you taking us?" he asked.
"Somewhere safe, Senator," one of the operatives replied. "Chancellor's Thrace little coup d'état was already known to us. So, we've been positioned to extract key Senate members who opposed the war. Basically, everybody but the militaristic faction."
"Extract us? We're not leaving Coruscant."
"Not leaving, Senator. Protecting. In three days, this city will become a battlefield. The Emperor wants to ensure that reasonable are not caught up in the chaos to help rebuild what comes after the war."
They emerged into a spacious underground facility that had clearly been converted into a temporary command center. Other senators were already present, including Geibend and Hann, all looking confused but unharmed.
A holographic projector activated in the center of the room, displaying Emperor Daimon's image and the recording began to play.
"Senators of the Republic, by now you understand that Chancellor Thrace has abandoned any pretense of democratic leadership. In three days, Imperial forces will arrive at Coruscant. This is not an invasion in the traditional sense. My objective is to remove Thrace and his militarist faction from power, not to destroy the Republic itself."
Senator Bru exchanged glances with his colleagues. This predicament was a surprise to them considering they were saved by the very people they are at war with.
"You are being kept safe because the Republic will need leaders who can negotiate a lasting peace," Daimon's recording continued. "Leaders who understand that this war was never necessary, who can help their people transition from conflict to cooperation. When Coruscant falls, I will form a provisional government and open diplomatic channels. The choice of what the Republic becomes after this war will be yours to make."
The recording ended, leaving the senators stunned.
"He's offering us a way out," Senator Geibend said slowly. "A way to end this without losing the Republic."
"But at what cost?" another senator asked. "We'd be collaborating with the enemy."
"The enemy?" Senator Bru shook his head. "No. Thrace is the enemy now. He held the Senate hostage, violated every principle we claimed to fight for. Emperor Daimon is offering us a chance to save the Republic, even if it means acknowledging we were wrong."
"Some people might see us as traitors, but the majority will praise us for what we did."
What the Senators didn't know was that Daimon already had all the evidence he needed to put Thrace down. And the day before the invasion, evidence would be released to the public and everybody would know the truth about everything.