The first presentation was delivered by a Mirialan biologist named Renn Vasuur, who had spent sixty years developing what she called adaptive cellular regeneration scaffolding.
The concept was not entirely new. Medical researchers had been working with cellular regeneration technologies for centuries. What Vasuur had done was solve the problem that had kept those technologies from being broadly applicable across species lines.
The fundamental difficulty with regenerative medicine had always been biological differences between species. A technique that worked for humans might not work for Twi'leks. A method that accelerated healing in Rodians could produce catastrophic inflammatory responses in Zabraks. Every species had its own cellular makeup, its own immune responses, and its own relationship between tissue and the biological signals that told that tissue what to do.
Vasuur had spent sixty years developing a system that read the patient's own cellular makeup first and then adapted the regenerative medicine to match. The system itself was created through the use of programmable biological material that could be printed in any medical facility with standard fabrication equipment. Once introduced to a wound, it would spend the first six hours in observation mode, cataloguing the patient's cellular patterns. After that, it began producing regenerative cells that combined with the patient's own cells.
The results, displayed across the hall's enormous holographic screens, were difficult to argue with. Complete limb regeneration in 700 different species. Spinal cord repair in 600. Organ reconstruction from partial tissue samples in one 1,100.
The hall was very quiet during the results portion of the presentation. Seven hundred thousand people looking at data that most of them had never even thought achievable.
"The scaffold material can be produced at a cost equivalent to approximately three standard medical supply units," Vasuur said. "The fabrication template is open source and will be published through the IIRG's standard distribution network within thirty days of this symposium. Any medical facility in the known galaxy with a standard biological fabricator will be able to produce it."
The applause that followed was loud, representing just how amazing the technology was. The following presentations continued to show what four centuries of cooperation could produce.
The second presentation was led by a joint team of Mon Calamari oceanographers and Ithorian ecologists. Their project focused on hydrosphere stabilization for oceanic worlds that were inhabitable or had become inhabitable because of the ocean's chemical imbalance.
Unlike previous attempts, their new system used micro-organic regulators that adapted to local water chemistry and improved it to be able to sustain life on the surface.
They demonstrated by showing video evidence of a world that had been declared dead two hundred years prior, become habitable after 30 years. The regulators had restored oxygen levels, rebalanced the planet's weather, and reintroduced the ability for the planet to sustain life. Near the end, the projection shifted to show vast oceans once again supporting complex ecosystems.
From Daimon's perspective, this was one of those things that were useful, but not for everyday life. Sure, this would increase the number of colonizable worlds, but it was something that the people wouldn't care about unless it directly affected them.
The third presentation was surprisingly really good. A group of Sullustan engineers had unveiled a planetary-scale energy distribution system designed for underdeveloped worlds. Unlike traditional grids, which required extensive infrastructure, this system relied on orbital relay nodes that transmitted energy wirelessly to surface receivers.
What this meant was that worlds without infrastructure could have full energy access within a year. Which wasn't a bad thing to have.
But for the Imperium, the time it took to advance a planet from underdeveloped to developed would make the energy distribution system a waste of time and resources. Though for other smaller independent planets something like this would help a ton.
The fourth presentation came from psychological and neurological researchers. A group of Zeltron and human researchers introduced a neural stabilization framework designed to treat trauma across species lines. Not by suppressing their memory, but by restructuring the way their brain and body processed it.
They showed cases of individuals exposed to extreme psychological stress such as war survivors, long-term isolation subjects, and victims of neurological regaining their mental stability without losing their identity. These were just a few of the examples. People suffered from a lot more psychological stress that could change a person depending on how one handled it, or if they have access to the resources to get help.
From Daimon's POV, this would assist the post war problems when people who were conscripted to fight could also integrated back into a civilian life with a stable mind.
The rest of the presentations were a mix of new technologies, but nothing that was galaxy changing.
Once it was over, Daimon and the others left the hall, to go to a restaurant and enjoy some family time together.
Meanwhile, on the Sith Capital of Korriban. The Sith Emperor was in a meeting with the Dark Council over the evolving conflict over Taris.
"Those fucking Imperial dirtbags and their Emperor just doing whatever they want. We have to do something about Taris before they decide to get even more involved. We were forced to sign that petty agreement and now it has taken even more of our resources to pacify it." Darth Rager wasn't happy at all with the current situation. He understood that they were trying to avoid a confrontation with the Imperium, but if they did nothing then they would continue to look weak.
"While I agree with us needing to do something. I don't think we need to escalate things even more." Said Darth Omenis.
"What do you mean?" asked Darth Rathen.
"The recent attempted invasion of the city of Veth Kaan has left the resistance fragile. Their leadership was fractured after the recent failed invasion, and a Jedi has stepped up to try and fill the power gap and lead this resistance." replied Darth Omenis. Unlike the other Sith Lords on the council, he paid more attention to Taris then the rest of them combined except for the Sith Emperor himself.
"But that's not all, now is it Darth Omenis. Tell them the rest." Said the Emperor as all eyes turned to look at Omenis.
"Very well my Lord." he said as he pulled up a video of one man taking out dozens of Sith troopers. "This person in the video as some of you may not know, is a Balance Keeper."
"A Balance Keeper?" questioned Darth Banus. "But this person doesn't fight like the ones we've seen." In a sense, he was right. Balance Keepers usually fought with their lightsabers or the Force. Using weapons was not a common thing to see from them.
"He may not appear like it, but we have confirmed that he is part of the Balance Keepers. Now what makes him different is the fact that he is not just a Balance Keeper but also part of the Imperial biochemical warfare division. His name is William D Frederick a.k.a. The Doctor of Death." explained Darth Omenis. The hologram screen turned from the video footage to that of a profile which the Sith Imperial Intelligence had created against various targets.
The Sith were shocked to see how big William's portfolio was. He had been on hundreds of missions and had completed them all. Next was his capabilities, which was what shocked most in the room.
"And why was a Balance Keeper inside of the city during the attack?" asked Darth Banus. From his perspective this was the Imperium getting directly involved on the resistance's side.
"From what we gathered, the clinic that the Sith troopers attacked was controlled by a Gen'Dai citizen who was collecting information on surrounding patrols and garrison locations. The Sith Lord whom he was fighting had found this out and confronted the doctor of this clinic but had the unfortunate luck of running into this Doctor of Death. After this, it is believed that the group was extracted and soon enough the clinic was seized." This was from what Sith Imperial Intelligence was able to gather. They didn't know any more technical details about the matter except for this.
Before anyone could respond, the Sith Emperor spoke up. "I don't want to waste much more time on this matter which is insignificant to what we need to do." he said.
"The time has come for us to make our move. The Jedi Order denies their involvement with Taris, but we know otherwise. And the Republic just allows them to do whatever they want despite being dragged into a war by them over a thousand years ago. This can no longer stand, so within the next 6 months, we will prepare to go to war with the Republic." announced the Sith Emperor.
"But what about the Imperium. Will they sit idly by while the Republic is invaded?" asked Darth Rathen.
"Yes and No." replied the Sith Emperor. "The Imperium won't get directly involved but might provide intelligence and volunteers to the Republic. For a direct involvement, I think the Emperor would need something more motivating to get involved. What our predecessors failed to realize is the fact that the Emperor is the one pulling the strings." The Sith present were not fools entirely. They had all, in their own ways, studied the Imperium. They understood its reach, its patience, and more importantly, its restraint.
The Sith Emperor rose from his throne. "Daimon does not rule like we do," he said. "He does not react to provocation, nor does he indulge in displays of dominance for their own sake. He builds systems… and then he lets those systems operate." He began to pace around the room, his hands clasped behind his back.
"The IIRG. The Balance Keepers. The agreements he signs and enforces without ever appearing to enforce them. You mistake these for passive structures. They are not. They are instruments of control far more precise than fleets or armies."
Darth Rager frowned. "If that's true, then why hasn't he already intervened? Taris is unstable. The Republic is involved through the Jedi. By all logic, he should have acted."
"Because nothing irreversible has happened yet." replied the Sith Emperor.
"He allows instability," the Emperor continued. "He allows conflict. Even suffering, to a degree. As long as the system corrects itself… as long as the balance remains recoverable… he does nothing."
Darth Omenis narrowed his eyes. "And what would force his hand?"
The Sith Emperor stopped pacing hearing this and looked at Darth Omenis. "Tragedy," he said.
"A planetary collapse, a massacre that destabilizes entire sectors, or something that cannot be repaired through diplomacy, aid, or his institutions. These are just a few examples. The most tragic thing that could happen would be the death of somebody close to him. Once that happens, then those chains which he has bound himself in, will be released and in that moment, nobody would be able to stop him." The Dark Council knew this instinctively even if they wanted to deny it.
"But we have no time to try and think about an enemy that we will never hope to beat. In the meantime, lets focus on the one we can." Said the Sith Emperor as he changed the conversation to go over their plans of attacking the Republic.
A holo-display ignited in the center of the chamber, projecting the Republic's Outer Rim territories, trade routes, and key defensive positions.
"We will begin with surgical strikes along the Mid Rim corridors," the Sith Emperor said. "Disrupt supply chains. Isolate key Republic worlds. Force them to stretch their fleets thin."
He gestured, and several systems lit up in red.
"Taris will serve as our opening pressure point. The resistance will be crushed completely. No prolonged engagements. No drawn-out sieges. Swift and decisive."
"And the Jedi?" Darth Omenis asked.
"They will respond," the Emperor said. "Which is precisely what we want. Their involvement exposes the Republic further and forces them into a war they are not prepared to fight."
Darth Rager grinned. "And if things escalate?"
The Emperor's expression did not change.
"Then we ensure they will be crushed."
A few of the Sith exchanged glances, an understanding forming between them. Push the Republic to the brink, but not far enough to trigger Daimon.
Maintain chaos but avoid a catastrophe which will involve the Imperium.
After more discussions and war plans, the Emperor deactivated the display. "Prepare the fleets. Mobilize the legions and begin covert operations immediately. In six months, we move in to take down the Jedi and finish what our ancestors could not." The Dark Council nodded in agreement. This was the moment they had been preparing for. Their plans were finally about to come to fruition.
The only thing that could hinder them was if their plan went wrong. But with multiple factions eyeing the Imperium, who know what could or could not happen in the near distant future.