The massive profile of the Shattered Heel would greet the diplomats and the single Jedi from where it floated near Druckenwell's solitary shipyard; a silent guardian that was immobile and darkly brooding all at once. The former red lines marking it as a Republic vessel had been recently stripped away; repainted in black to represent Novak's own colors for the time being. In the shipyard nearby, the Glory was undergoing modifications, effectively placing it out of action for the time being. The Nightwatch, one of two surviving Acclamator I type vessels, was the only moving vessel in Druckenwell's orbit. The Hand of Truth was apparently missing, though the Jedi and diplomats would not necessarily know this.

Druckenwell's flight control command, located within the capitol (though not including subsidiaries in smaller cities that held spaceports) were the primary response center for all calls that came in and out of the system. Of course, Druckenwell wasn't really busy at the moment, other than coordinating the landing of what would seem to be large numbers of Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighters and Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptors into various planetary hangars.

Messages were often relayed quickly, and it was Novak who was one of the first to hear of the arrival of the New Republic's investigation team. Smiling to himself as he straightened his clothing that was newly donned, Novak approached a table in his quarters that held his accouterments. The lanvarok slid up his right wrist and was tightened down, hidden under the sleeves of his robe. The double-bladed lightsaber was left behind, as was one of the curved-hilt variant. The second took its place at his belt, gleaming faintly. So, he was ready to meet those who had been sent to test him. Novak drew the Force around him, drinking in deeply for a long moment before letting the shroud go.

"Rajek... it would be well to keep you hidden for now. Take your ship to the Shattered Heel. I will call upon you if I need your assistance."

Turning to depart his quarters, Novak let the droid slip from his mind. The dance was beginning. Once this simple test was passed, it would be an easy matter to begin shipping BlasTech items to the New Republic. He had every intention of honoring his promise, after all, of making the citizens of Druckenwell wealthier. He just never stated quite fully how he intended to do it.

Novak paused outside the closed doors to the anteroom, a small smile spreading across his lips. The touch of the Light filled the room beyond. For a half-moment, Novak was quite tempted to draw deeply upon the Force and bend it towards darkening the room. Restraint. Restraint would prove useful in this setting. It was not likely to be a young, impressionable Jedi who had been sent to meet with him. No, it was likely an older Jedi; experienced, less trusting. Less hotheaded as well, unfortunately. Possible thoughts of verbally baiting a Jedi into attacking him went out of his mind. It was still too young in time to do anything less than submit, an action that galled him.

With a small wave of his left hand, the doors opened slowly on the anteroom chamber, allowing him entrance to where the diplomats, mere sentient beings, in Novak's eyes, and the Jedi (the true challenge) awaited. True, there was a massive chamber that groaned under the weight of food and drink that had been prepared for the visiting members of the New Republic. Indeed, all was in order, down to Druckenwell's militia, of which Novak had been recently recruiting more of. Likely as not, this Jedi and his delegates would wish to know about such.

With the Jedi's closeness to the door, he was the one whom Jericho spotted first. Entering fully, allowing the doors to close behind him, Novak bowed low; first to the dignitaries, then to the Jedi. "Welcome, emissaries of the New Republic. Welcome, Master Jedi. Druckenwell is happy to receive you this day. I am happy to receive you this day as well. Senator Ryuun sends his best wishes and apologizes for his absence. He has gone to Coruscant to assist in resolving this... debacle... at Acherin. As such, I stand for him as Minister of Defense while he is away. Be welcome. Feel at home."

Moving past the Jedi, he walked close enough by so that the bottoms of his robes might just brush against those of the other being's. There was no love lost between himself and Jedi, regardless of his feelings towards the New Republic. The second lightsaber he carried had once belonged to a former Jedi who was no longer.

Novak smiled slightly as he glanced Ky-Nomi over. The Jedi struck him as old. That didn't mean the Council had sent an expendable member, of course. Master Yoda had been quite old, and he'd nearly done for Tyranus. No, this Master had to be watched carefully; tiptoed around even. Novak was not so full of pride that he could not admit there were those who knew more than he about the Force. Things would change, in that regard. Once he was able to free some time up, a trip to Korriban would aid him greatly.

"By all means, Master Ky-Nomi, ask your question. I wished a Jedi here so that I could be frank, not conceal things. Trust is especially important in these times. When the Jedi were purged, it gave way to far too many darksiders. The fall of the Sith has done the same, so I have no room for anything but honesty."

"You see, these darksiders are little more than children. Children with enough brains to dazzle regular sentient beings with gaudy displays of Force. Children with enough brains to craft a lightsaber or steal or buy one. Unlike us, however, they are not masters of our profession.

"What is it we do, then, in which we share the same aspect? We both wish to safeguard the galaxy from the issues that arise. We just do it in different ways. You ask me, what was my purpose by informing the Jedi Council? What do I have to gain? I ask you this in turn: what do I have to lose? The days when a Jedi could simply arrest a Sith are long over. The Council can hardly imprison me for a few Jedi and soldiers killed in the Clone Wars. By proclaiming what I am, I have shown honesty and that I am willig to not hide behind false shields.

"When the Council takes and trains younglings, they do it in an effort to strengthen their numbers, while also safeguarding the galaxy against possible threats. The Remnant is a threat, broke as it might be. My intention, as I will openly state and I have stated, is to create a Sith Order. Oh, there will be differences between us and the Jedi Order, of course. However, it will clear up most of the random darksiders who are plaguing your civilized worlds. Instead, the Jedi and Sith will work together to rid the galaxy of the Remnant."

Smiling slightly, Novak spread his hands. "I'm sure many of the Jedi will not like it... yet there is no law against it. The New Republic will gain Sith-trained frontline soldiers to fight in tandem with the Jedi as guardians of the galaxy. This is a Sith Order that cannot be cut with a lightsaber, nor quelled with the Force. Why? Because it is one that follows the laws, rules and restrictions of the Senate, exactly the same as the Jedi have put forth."

"Times change all things, Master Ky-Nomi. The New Sith Order will be founded much like the Jedi Order. Instead of answering to a council, they will answer to me. Within the Order, power and control and survival of the fittest will be paramount... yet outside it, we will follow the laws and rules of the New Republic.

"This is no grouping of delegates and ambassadors as the Jedi are. These are frontline soldiers, trained to make war. We will protect the New Republic with the Force and with lightsaber, quite alike to any soldier at present. You see... the New Republic does not tell the Jedi how to run their organization and trai their own. The New Republic has no call to tell me how to train or run my Order. As long as we obey the law, we are completely within reason."

"What you bring up is an excellent point, sir. No terrorist group should be allowed to threaten the safety and security of the New Republic. It strikes me, therefore, that it is not my organization that bothers you so much as the name behind it, unless I am mistaken. Then again, it may be for all intents and purposes that should I change the name to the Coalition of Fluffy Tauntaun Riders, you would still be suspicious of me and my motives.

Turning slightly, Novak spread his arms to address both the delegates and the Jedi Master.

"Hear me out, please. Master Ky-nomi, you say the Jedi wish to 'redeem' and 'rehabilitate' those who use less desirable methods and who don't strictly follow their philosophy. To me, that seems like a breach of liberty and free will. This is no terrorist organization I am trying to create. This is simply another military wing I am adding to the New Republic. I invited you all here to see this and I have no fear in stating what I believe. Let the Jedi be seen as the ambassadors and diplomats of the the New Republic. Let them carry the message of peace and fellowship. On the other side, let my New Sith Order be the edge that decisively strikes at the Imperial Remnant. Why should good men and women die if they do not have to? For every squad of troopers sent against an Imperial world, how many will die? Now, weigh the odds of survival of even a group of moderately Force-trained soldiers. You all must see the odds improve greatly.

"My teachings are different from that of the old Sith Order. Too long has the name of Sith been spat upon and seen as a blight. I want to redeem it. There is nothing to say here that a name makes a group into terrorists or into usurpers of the government."

"To paraphrase some of the common knowledge on the Old Sith, one line from the Sith Code states 'through victory, my chains are broken.' These chains can be seen as the restrictions upon any being, Sith or not, that prevents them from achieving their full potential, power or, most importantly, their destiny. The Sith of old believed that, should such a being exist, they would be able to break the entire Sith structure as it was known and be capable of anything. Nothing could stand in the way of this being, who would be called Sith'ari.

"The Sith'ari has already come though, if you are familiar with the tale of Darth Bane. I have no desire to try and remake the Sith as he did. Instead, I simply wish to adapt what is already there to a better purpose. Soldiers in every military have contests of strength and skill to see who is better and improve themselves. The Sith simply take it to a further degree. Besides, there is no need for another war between Jedi and Sith. If I truly wanted control of everything, I could have just as easily launched this proposal to the Remnant. They would have jumped at the chance to have Sith warriors fighting for them. Instead, I bring it to the New Republic in the hope that I can actually help."