Colonel Thunder stood on the Mezzanine floor of the Recreational Deck. She watched the Siths below her as they took comfort in their own company. The lights on the Mezzanine were off and the darkness hid Thunder in its folds. She drew the Force close to her like her cloak. They could not see her for the darkness and could not sense her presence. It was not necessary to reach out and gauge their emotions with the Forceshe could see the discontent on their faces and in their half full glasses of Whyren's Reserve. LordBaronReno... Thunder sighed, desperately trying to wash away her wrath with the exhale. Patience was the one virtue of Darth Bane's New Sith Order that Thunder could barely handle. Patience was rarely practiced during her life. But, worse than patience was deceit. Thunder was still Tundre ya Silens at heart. She had not forgotten her old Adumari customs. All challenges, all battles, everything was kept in the open for all to see and witness. Now, deceit had crept up under her own command. Now, she needed patience to resist the urge to call her lightsaber to her hand. This was the moment when it became more than apparent that the Sith were indeed more powerful in larger numbers than the former pairing. All the Siths reinforced and supported the weakness of each Sith. The Force became a web for themtogether they knew its every vibration and the victims caught within it. The web of the Dark Side. Her Master held its Center. The rest made up its intricate and deadly rings.

Thunder loosened the top of her cloak, dug into her flight suit, and reached into its inside pocket. She felt the icy contours of cold metal. LordBaronReno had not asked for itand it had not burned hotly to be returned to him. She held it tightly in her hand and recanted the oath that she swore to her Master. Her Master had always been prepared. Always. Even now, in his absence, his caution would save them from making a dreadful mistake. The Dark Side never failed its most faithful servants. She let go and drew her hand back out. She gathered her cloak, as well as the Force, around her and left the Mezzanine.

Her cabin suite was cold. The only warmth was that of her hot rage and her inability to act upon it. She had never experienced such a battle between being Sith and being Adumari. She could not act. She was not allowed to act. It had been agreed upon and she must obey. LordBaronReno had failed to come to Thunder and properly reestablish himself. All the Siths knewand, still, she was bound by her wordher sacred oath. She noticed her Sitcarhane Striker was restless in its cage. Like her pet, she was not allowed to follow the hunther prey was denied her. Is this worth it? Could she handle sacrificing her own dignity to play this game? The Siths knew, but still she felt weak by playing. There was no choice. No options for her. This was not her time to act alone. She was still Lead of Sith Squadron, though LordBaronReno had resumed command. Thunder sighed--to play the part of a sniffling Bothan--she slammed her fists into the floor. Reduced to waiting--waiting for the inevitable to happen.

She had done as instructed--hand back command immediately, then wait. If Reno should forget the rest of their secret deal, then he was proved to be a fraud. But who? Who would sink to such deceit? Only someone who would benefitonly someone who knew them.

It did not matter, at least not for her. This was Jace's arena, Thunder had to take a back seat. He was Reno's closest apprentice and he would be angry that Thunder had not informed him that Reno was back. He would be fuming with anger--all the better. She released her tight grip on the Force and let it flow out through the Super Star Destroyer. Yes-she could feel Jace now-storming past bulkheads heading for the hangar bay. She smiled and picked up the commlink, "Eleven, this Lead."

"Eleven here, go ahead."

"The Ronk cub is on the hunt."

"Roger Lead. What's your posit?"

"I will be on the Bridge shortly. Keep an 'eye' on the Force."

"As ordered, Lead."

Thunder drew the Force back around her as close as she could. She could not let LordBaronReno sense her feelings or her thoughts. She pressed her hand over her side and felt the pressure of metal against her ribs. LordBaronReno had not properly greeted her upon his return. They had chatted briefly. He even took the time to acknowledge her good job of commanding. Still, he failed--and she prodded--and he failed again. He never responded to her prodding properly. This was not her Master, not the center of their web.

She arrived on the Bridge and found Sith Nine at the comm. Lady SithStar turned to Thunder, a look of annoyance crossing her face.

"Colonel, an important transmission is coming through."

"Thank you, Nine. Pull it up."

The cloaked figure appeared before her on the holopad. So, she was wrong in one aspect. She had assumed that he would have come himself. So, what was that in the hangar bay? She grabbed the comm and flipped it on.

"Jace, get to the Bridge. Now."

Impatience flooded through her mind. The heat rolled off her skin. The metal became icy cold against her skin, magnified by her own hate. The Bridge Deck blast doors slid open. Jace stood therea head held in his hands. She turned back when the holo chuckled and spoke, "I see you have met my gift, young Sidrona. Most unfortunately for it, apparently."

She glanced back at Jace and cocked her eyebrow in question at the odd little barrage of dangling parts. Jace nodded towards her, "Darth Ane."

Again, the holo spoke: "Let this be a reminder to you all. Next time it may not be a replica droid that comes aboard your ship, but me. Do you honestly think that the lot of you could stop me were I to be of a mind to assume control of your ship or squadron? Our relations thus far have been cordial, but know that I trust you no more than you trust me. Your precious Lead may or may not return, but one thing remains the same. And that is me."

The transmission ended. Thunder had to smirk. The Dark Lord Ane had jumped to conclusions, thinking they did not know. He failed to foresee that Reno would have left a safety net with Thunder. Then, again, maybe he assumed that Thunder would have ignored it, blinded by her position and power--and Whyren's Reserve. She looked out the Bridge's viewport. Reno was still alive--she could feel it in the Force and the icy Dark
metal pressed against her skin. She had not expected a droid, though--but such are the ways of those not born of Adumari ways. This was still a good lesson, one of patience.

She glanced over at the Siths. Palin rolled her eyes, "Well?"

"Yes, I know. The Whyren's Reserve-and I assume that those who betted I would fold have lost?"

JeniViolet rolled her eyes, "I didn't think that you could make it that long. I thought for sure that you would blow the whole thing." She threw Thunder a flask of Whyren's Reserve. "At any rate, we definitely know that relations are not as cordial as we had hoped."

The newest Sith recruit, Sith Rick, cracked open his flask and toasted toward the vastness of space, "Silly Darth Ane, you cannot take over Sith Squadron."

The Siths laughed. Colonel Thunder was going to have to get back to Darth Ane about this, but for now, let the merriment reign.

Continued...