Oh, what a pleasant surprise it was to return to the Imperial Center and discover that his master required both the loyal apprentice and the merciless warhorse. A deadly and powerful combination that Vader often wasn't permitted to embrace in such a public space, especially on the grounds of the Imperial Senate. Yes, Vader was only too pleased to be both, even if he had a slight preference for the warhorse. Nevertheless, the Sith Lord had transformed into everything his master needed and commanded of him, yet Vader still sensed his master's displeasure at his impulsive behavior.
That was expected, however, at least on some level, as it wasn't uncommon for Sidious to feel as he did toward Vader, especially after an extended time apart. It was a known fact between them by now that there was always something his master was displeased about when Vader returned from a mission, even if Vader had seemingly done everything right. There was always something that caused Sidious to be displeased and, in most instances, an equal something that created grounds for Vader to be disciplined. Whether it was Vader's report on the mission, a tactical issue that his master knew nothing about, or, in most instances, simply Vader's somehow unsuitable behavior upon returning. They both knew it was merely fabricated grounds for Sidious to keep Vader in his place below the elder Sith, but still, Vader often found himself irritated by such things since he recognized there were some truths to it.
Though the mere idea of Vader becoming totally reckless was hardly plausible in his own mind, his master viewed him as arrogant, even egotistic. Vader disagreed with that assessment. He perceived only confidence and authorityattributes he needed to command the Imperial Army. His master's judgment was clouded by worries and ignorance. The old man did not grasp concepts such as life on the frontlines of wars and battles. He was too preoccupied with whether time apart would lead to an overly self-reliant apprentice or create more established means for the younger Sith to rise against him... and so Vader suffered. Although the old man's concerns weren't completely unrealistic, it wasn't that Vader became undisciplined and unfaithful during his time away; rather, there were simply certain elements of war in which his attitude and behavior were acceptable, whereas they were not in his master's arena.
Vader's attitude and behavior effectively commanded his army, as if he truly required something beyond his mere orders to earn their respect. Vader was fully capable of handling most matters single-handedly, but he had to acknowledge that the clone troops typically proved their worth when the time came. And in most recent instances, it generally did. Without the assistance of the troopers, the latest battle would not have been won, at least not as swiftly as it had been. Yes, the clones had been a valuable asset to his plan... just as he intended for them to be in the future. Vader preferred the clone troopers, more so than those dreadful human brigades his master seemed to compel. In fact, it was precisely because of that very pressure that the clone troopers favored Vader over his master. That, along with several other reasons.
It was true; his master had done enough damage to cause even the most loyal troopers to waver regarding his command. Of course, they could never act against the Empire or its rulers, but that did not mean the glimmer of hesitation did not remain somewhere within the troopers. Not that Vader cared about it. It worked in his favor. For it was not Vader who had the clones' minds in a tailspin; their programming would never allow anything less than what they were commanded, but that did not mean anyone could stop the favoritism within the ranks, all of which pointed to Darth Vader. It was for this very reason that Vader knew the troopers were anxious, at least in a very broad sense. Many of these troopers were from the newer batch of arrivals– and as he expected, they were the last of the clone batches, completely shiny and new, compared to the hardened veterans Vader was used to working with. He had ensured that at least a few dozen seasoned troopers were within each brigade, but he felt even those troops' unease.
It was all due to his master, of course, a complete oversight that the older man seemed unable to grasp. Neither Vader nor his troops had ever seen much of the innards of the Imperial Senate itself, or even Coruscant, for that matter. Most of the troopers stationed on Coruscant had never left the boundaries of the Imperial base, having been banned some time ago from the grounds of the Senate. It was true that some were moderately more familiar with the area, those who qualified as the more social type of trooper, who simply paraded around with a blaster as a mere image of the Empire. However, that was random and vastly uncommon here.
Like Vader, his troops had been skillfully concealed from the public eye, ensuring that no one could reliably gauge their numbers. Sure, there would be a squadron here or a trooper stationed there, but it was never a substantial force. The Emperor revealed just enough to maintain an air of intimidation without causing panic. The same applied to Vader himself. In fact, Vader could only recall a handful of times he was permitted within those detestable walls. Aside from the night when his master seized power, he was summoned mainly to attend meetings or whenever a significant announcement was to be made, always instructed merely to stand as the loyal, obedient force that instilled fear, unless directed otherwise. It was almost the same for the troopers; the Emperor usually elected his own royal guard unless matters were proposed otherwise. Even then, they were only allowed in permitted areas or when they were needed to act as security for important events. His master rarely called on them personally unless he needed to demonstrate power or thought force was necessary. His master liked to keep him and his men busy with matters elsewhere, spread throughout the galaxy doing his labor while he reported the outcomes to apprehensive ears.