The mind is a dangerous thing, and his master liked to exploit the ill-fitting imaginations of his people for his advantage. He enjoyed keeping them in suspense, and the only way to achieve that was by keeping his infamous apprentice hidden. His master preferred it this way, and if Vader was honest, so did he. He favored staying out of the public eye, revealing himself only when necessary. At least, until the time was right.
That's how Vader made a name for himself in such a short time, not only through his actions but also by remaining the Empire's ghost. People always feared a ghost, and a terrified tale whispered in the darkness always traveled. In only two short years, his name had reached every corner of the galaxy, known on every tongue, striking fear into all who dared mutter it—all without truly emerging from the shadows… yet.
That's why he was away from the battle now. Although he knew his troops were inadequate, he yearned more than anything to lead the charge. He longed for his face to be the last that so many would see, yet he recognized that would be unwise and would displease his master.
Unlike his attack on the temple, this raid required a bit more discretion. They were being watched, after all, which hardly concerned him, but he knew his master preferred to maintain a certain image, especially in the Imperial Center. It was hard enough to keep the star systems in line; they must not see their appointed representative harmed without reason. He would have to address all that in time when his feet were on the ground. Until then, it was beneficial to his master's plan for him to maintain distance until he was needed; that way, he could operate without blatantly leading, at least in the public's eyes.
He suppressed a sigh, reflecting on the absurdity of it all and how effortlessly he could deceive such simple minds.
The trooper who stood beside Vader within the ship informed him of their progress down below and gave an estimated time until they could land to join them. It was a pleasing report, but one that Vader simply ignored, keeping his mind on the task at hand and his energy within the Dark Side of the Force.
Typically, Vader hated being confined to places like Coruscant, but today, he found that he didn't mind much. He had waited for this moment for far too long… to witness the beginning of the end. With this progress, it was only a matter of time before the Rebellion and its traitorous followers no longer obstructed their path. It was only a matter of time before he achieved what he was created to do.
He continued to survey from where the ship hovered above, watching and listening as his troopers began to take the betrayers into custody. He was pleased with their work, their quick thinking, and their clean results. An immoral smirk tugged at his lips as he couldn't help but relish the idea of when the troopers finally turned against the old man. He couldn't wait for that day.
As he had expected, last night's outburst had not come without consequences for both the politicians and Vader alike. The politicians were now facing their own repercussions, while Vader had received his the night before. Initially, sensing his master's pleasure with how the night progressed, Vader believed he might have just escaped punishment, but that thought was foolish. It didn't matter that his master was pleased with him; Vader had still stepped out of line, and the Emperor wouldn't tolerate such insubordination. He couldn't allow Vader to think he could act against his wishes or disobey his authority. The younger Sith had to be reminded of who was in charge and who his master truly was.
The effects of the Sith lightning still burned through Vader's bloodstream, and his muscles ached beneath his tunic. However, he paid no attention to that, drawing strength from the darkness that surrounded him. He had found some relief the night before, knowing about his attack the following morning. Sleep never came to him, which wasn't unusual, so he had meditated deeply, delving into the deepest corners of hell and calling upon the darkest beasts within the shadows. His training exercises had brought him focus and strength, furthering his connection to the Force, swearing himself more deeply to its will and renewing his devotion to the Dark. With revitalized strength and renewed anger, Vader's hunger was ravenous, and it intensified because he was close to his prey. He was ready, and the Force was beckoning.
"Lord Vader," the same trooper reported from beside him, finally capturing the Sith's attention with the news he had been anticipating. "We're making our descent." Vader nodded as he inhaled the darkness one last time, aware that his eyes glowed with power as the ship descended to the ground. Stepping onto the tarmac, Vader was greeted by an Imperial officer and another squadron of troops.
"Lord Vader, sir," the officer greeted formally, pleasing his Commander by keeping the greeting brief before dutifully falling in line behind the Sith as he walked.
Even though this was still a battle within Vader's mind and would be conducted as such, he knew the changes that awaited him. This was never as simple as a battlefield. There were too many witnesses, too many cameras, too many people to serve, and he was too close to his master. If Vader had his way, he would kill them all or force them to see things as he did. It was simpler than the countless bickering and lies that served no purpose. After all, what he was doing was for the good of the galaxy– for the Empire. He saw nothing wrong with his actions, and neither should they. He was only correcting wrongs and keeping the peace.