Trevan grins, "I hold no slaves nor do I care to Mandalorian. I have made my point ignore my warnings at your peril". Considering the matter dealt with he returns to the task at hand.
"Kolana, do you know where the operatives who escaped may have fled to?"
He turns to the Intelligence Officer, "Jax, were there more than three barrels stolen or have we now stopped this plot in its tracks?"
" This should be it, so long they haven't removed some and stashed it somewhere. There's a team on their way to collect it, they'll be able to make sure it's all accounted for. We should keep this area secure until they arrive then see if we can find any more information on who was backing this operation. "
Kordin eyes the air speeders.
"Wish I could fit one of those on the ship. Would make travelling on the surface a bit cozier. Too bad the Renegade's storage won't fit one. Also makes for a bit of quick cash if you can hawk it. Although I think it will fit a speeder bike."
Reaching into her pack she walks over to Kolana. Grabbing out one of her lightsabers she hands it to the Twi'lek.
"You probably haven't gotten paid in a while, so think of this as a signing bonus. You can trade that for about 1500 credits worth of stuff, and we'll go out for dinner tonight and get to know one another my treat. Here's my comm link code, and I can get you the address of the place I'm staying at, unless you were sleeping here I suggest you grab your stuff as soon as you can. If you think you need a guard because you don't have your collar, I'll be happy to follow. We should also get you signed up at the bounty hunters guild as soon as possible."
The miralukan will raise an eyebrow at the mercenearies ready acceptance of a known traitor into their midst.
Kolana seems genuinely surprised as she accepts the lightsaber, looking at you and saying, "This is not the kind of reception I expected when I decided to gamble on whether or not you'd free me. My stuff is up in the central office. You can follow me there. I'll see if I can get that holo table up and running."
Turning, she starts walking back to the central office.
The eye brown raises a bit when the lightsaber is given ti the twi'lek.
Trevan throws the Jedi saber he took to attempt the ruse to enter back to Kordin, "This is yours as well Bounty Hunter, I've no longer a need for it".
He looks to Jax, "Agreed. Perhaps we can find clues in the paperwork upstairs". Trevan follows the Bounty Hunter and he new Engineer back to the control room and begins searching hoping the table will be repaired soon in the meantime.
Perception
Taking back her lightsaber, then her greed takes over.
"Thank you Trevan, to me this thing is only useful as a flashlight, or 1500 credits when I need it."
She follows Kolana and begins asking a few questions about her former boss.
"So, Kolana, since Jubara was promising riches and wealth and such, what was he planning to pay his hired goons with? Anything stashed here or was he being paid by somebody?"
" Right, " Jax agree's with Trevan. " Let me help you with the holo table Kolana. " he says following into the central office and taking some tools out of his utility belt.
"Someone he only called 'our patron' was bankrolling the whole thing. This holotable was also the holo terminal he used to talk to him. I was never allowed in the room when he did."
Nodding to Jax, she says, [b]"Thanks. That might make this go a little easier.
An hour passes. An Imperial Intelligence clean up crew has arrived and are taking care of the baradium, and any other contraband they find. Kolana and Jax have toiled hard, but they are unable to restore the table to working condition. Too much has been damaged. They are, however, able to recover a text communication.
[b]Jubara,
I have been told that the prize is to be delivered to the Inexorable, after which it will be brought to Dromund Kaas. I have taken steps to ensure the Dark Council's attention is focused elsewhere. They think you beneath them, an irritant but not a threat. Once we strike to claim our prize, they will know otherwise. If any Intelligence agents come sniffing around, dispose of them. I will take care of diverting any follow ups.
May the Crimson Sun rise.
The sender information is too corrupted to determine the identity, but Kolana and Jax are able to determine that the sender was in Kaas City.
Jubara,
I have received word that the prize is to be delivered to the Inexorable, a Sith Battlecruiser under the command of Lord Kyrak. It is then to be brought to Dromund Kaas, and given to Imperial Intelligence, who will place it in the Citadel. Once it has been delivered, that will be the time to strike. You must execute the plan exactly.
I have diverted the Dark Council's attention elsewhere. They believe you to be beneath them, a minor irritant. They will not send anyone to investigate. Should any Intelligence agents come snooping around, eliminate them. I will ensure the investigation does not touch you.
May the Crimson Sun rise!
Kordin stands guard at the office ensuring that nobody interrupts the repairs.
"Well, that's reassuring."
Koro frowns as the communique is read, "Well then, this patron of the Crimson Sun has enought clout to divert the Dark Council? My master needs to hear of this."
She looks at the Imperial Intelligence personnel collection the barradium, "Looks like we're done here. Let's get back to the estate and make our report."
I agree. We should be away
"Good, I need to collect this jobs funds and make a dinner reservation. Anybody know any good restaurants?"
Kordin gets ready to head out. She needs to get patched up and have dinner.
" No real leads... " Jax says shaking his head. " I'd best report this in to my superiors. " Jax searches for a data card to save the message onto, then gets ready to leave.
" I'll need to debrief with intelligence. I'd recommend the Intermezzo, it's easy to find near the starport and they do a wide range of quality foods. My favourite is the Deep Maraan eggs. I'll meet you there later... If you like. "
Having accomplished their mission, with the security forces in control of the scene, you depart the warehouse. Jax travels to the Citadel to report to Minder 13.
As you approach the Citadel, you are filled with the reminder of the power of the Empire. Here, the galaxy is shaped and molded. You feel an overwhelming sense of pride at your role within it.
Upon entering the Citadel, you report to Minder 13, who looks at you and says, "Ah, Cipher 12. Good of you to arrive. The success of your mission has put many at ease here within Intelligence. Tell me, how did you accomplish your mission?"
The rest of you return to Lord Kyrak's estate, with Kolana in tow. Upon your arrival, Hessin greets you and says, "Lord Kyrak has returned, and wishes you to report to him in his study at once."
The miraluka, before he enters the study will ask for a report on his captive.
Trevan nods to Hessin and heads towards his Master to report on the success of his - the mission.
Thinking about Jax's idea for dinner, Kordin shakes her head at the offer to join.
"Nah, just time for Kolana and I to get to know each other. Shake out a deal that will work for the two of us. Maybe sign her up at the bounty hunters guild so she has a license. All pretty standard, but skipped by a lot of mercenaries."
Back at the estate when Hessin asks them all to join him in his study she points to herself.
"I'm not really one of them for this am I? Well, myself and my new engineer. I have this thing, it's called a life outside of work. Unless of course I am expected to, but I would rather not."
"Lord Kyrak would like to hear a report from you as well, since you were involved in the operation. If you would prefer a separate debriefing from the others, I am sure Lord Kyrak can hear your report afterward."
"I have left him sit in his cell while ensuring he remains alive. I trust that is as you wish?" Hessin says to Iliquoi.
Kordin shrugs, a separate hearing would be better for her.
"Kolana, head towards the main hall, there should be Holo Net access, we'll try and go to Intermezzo, but see if there's something else you might fancy. I would request a separate meeting. I'm an outsider here, so my report will be slightly different and less eloquent."
The miraluka will nod and then enters into the study. He nods his head in deference to the Lord of the Sith.
" You know, the bounty hunters and the Sith ended up working rather well together. One of the Hunters was able to dig up the name of a criminal organisation from some dark recess of the holonet. The Crimson Sun. "
" As we didn't have a file on a group of that name I felt it was a lead worth following up on. We all split up and hit the cantinas and gambling dens. I spoke with a few of my shadier contacts and was able to garner the location of a warehouse in the lower city that the organisation was supposedly operating from. "
" We moved out to scout the building and after watching for a while we decided that to get inside two of the Sith would pose as Jedi and try to talk their way in. I believe it was Kordin's idea... It seemed to go well. Lords Trevan and Iliquoi approached the warehouse from the front door and Lady Koro, Kordin and I took up a position on the roof at a skylight. "
" The Sith gained access to the building and were able to talk their way into a meeting with Jubara, a human that was in charge. I guess that's where things broke down because it wasn't long before a fight broke out in the office. We dropped into the warehouse and took out some of the thugs there and made our way to the office but by the time we got there Jubara was dead, and so was a Rodian, probably the second in command... Luckily Jubara's Twilek slave was able to fill us in on the plan. That's when I contacted you. "
" Also there was this note we recovered from Jubara's computer system. " Jax hands Minder 13 a data card with the communication on it. " It seems The Crimson Sun have a powerful and well informed leader. I think it's more than possible this was only one of the organisations operations. "
" Kordin has employed the Twilek slave as a ships engineer, but of course if it's required I'm sure I could bring her in for further questioning. "
Koro, Iliquoi, and Trevan enter the study. As they do so, they see Lord Kyrak closing the door to a large transparisteel cabinet. Within, there are over a dozen lightsabers, each on display stands with widely varied hilts. On the wall to either side are banners with the Imperial Sigil on them. Standing behind a large Fijisi wood desk, he observes your approach and says, "Report. Have you located the baradium?"
"Well done. It seems this group may be more effective than our initial assessments indicated. That plan seems like it was well orchestrated. We don't usually try to recruit Mandalorians, but this one may prove an exception, if she is that good at planning operations."
Frowning at the message, Minder 13 says, "I would like to speak with the Twi'lek at some point, though not immediately. This message concerns me more. If there truly is someone that powerful and influential behind the Crimson Sun, this investigation will have to be handled deli-"
At that moment an explosion rocks the room.
Debris flies through the air, some of it hitting you as you are lifted off your feet and slammed into the far wall. You feel the wind knocked out of you as your vision begins to black out...
Kolana nods and heads down the hall. Hessin says to Kordin, "Very well. I shall locate you as soon as he is finished with the others."
The miralula will tender the report of their activities and what they experienced before even the other 2 can begin.
Trevan bows to his Master and adds, "Yes my Lord we have located the baradium and it is once again in the hands of Intelligence. The organization that stole the materials is called the Crimson Su. Their agent Jubara received a message from his employer. It was as follows".
I have diverted the Dark Council's attention elsewhere. They believe you to be beneath them, a minor irritant. They will not send anyone to investigate. Should any Intelligence agents come snooping around, eliminate them. I will ensure the investigation does not touch you.
"Thus my Lord it is clear that someone with influence on the Dark Council is behind this plot. With the death of Jubara though our lead to that figure has gone cold".
Koro took a knee before her dark Lord, then her eyes glazed over as Iliqoi droned on an on.
She allowed Trevan to conduct the body of the report to thier Master, but piped up at the reference to Jubara's death.
"That one," she said, motioning with her head toward Iliqoi, "thought it prudent to kill this Jubara, the leader of this Crimson Sun cell, thereby eliminating an important source of information."
Her face was a study of eager attentiveness to her Master's response, but inside she was grinning evily.
The miraluka will turn at Koro's comments and simply give her a calm and collected smile.
Kordin waits outside somewhat patiently for the Sith to finish their report. She was being adamant about getting paid for her work before giving her own report since she couldn't weasel her way out of it.
When the Sith leave, Kordin takes her time to meander into the Sith Lord's study. She looks around, if there's a bowl of fruit she grabs something roughly apple shaped. The Mandalorian removes her helmet before taking a bite of the fruit.
"Okay, so you want to know how this all played out, I want to get payed, keep living, and find some more work. I'm very good at my job as you can guess by now. So here's the layout. My former employer was bribed by the Republic, we killed him along with two Jedi. Well, one Jedi, the other was alive, your apprentice, Trevan, beheaded a perfectly good prisoner. I took their lightsabers, because those can sell on the black market, plus I could have put a tracer on them and gotten some more cash by turning that info into Intelligence... and you are getting tiresome of me already."
She takes another bite of fruit before continuing.
"So, I got hired to find out about a few missing shipments of Baradium, which is no biggie, I paid a few information brokers in the Mandalorian Enclave for some information that turned up some good stuff, and then we hit up a cantina. We were able to dig up quite a bit, but nothing crazy. Just stuff about some Crimson Sun gang, nearly infinite resources, you know pretty standard crazy megalomaniac level of plotting here. So then comes the plan. I came up with the idea that your apprentice and the creepy one, would carry in my lightsabers and pose as Jedi. Use the Force, get inside, get some info, and get out with vague promises etc. Koro, she seems a bit more level headed but at the same time more rigid in her views of her orders just an observation not a criticism stop with the overwhelming urge to kill me, Jax, and myself all headed up to the roof. I needed to test out the new jetpack, and see how some other things worked in the new suit. So we got up there, and then Trevan and Iliquoi got in, avoided conflict, went further in, and then failed to get out. They stayed too long, and they got caught. The fighting began, the three of us dropped in from the roof, I beheaded two guys, Koro also did some good work, the thugs ran, we ran to the office where the two disguised Sith were cornering a terrified Twi'lek. I rolled the dead guys, found a slave collar controller and a few blasters, your apprentices offered to kill the Twi'lek or keep her in slavery. Slave collars are distasteful, used by the weak to keep stronger people in line if they don't agree with you. So I told Kolana, the Twi'lek's name, that I would free her and offered her a job on my ship. She accepted, I freed her, Trevan threatened me, I stood my ground, we found the Baradium and now we are here. I think that's everything you needed to know. Anything else you'd like to know?"
Kordin finishes her piece of fruit before putting her helmet back on.
"Also when am I going to get paid?"
Lord Kyrak takes your reports without expression, listening to every word. Upon completion of each of your statements, he looks at the three of you and says, "The fact you recovered the baradium is very much in your favor. You've shown you can handle delicate and dangerous tasks, which tells Dromund Kaas to be cautious when dealing with you. I will have the holotable brought here. Perhaps with better facilities, more can be extracted from it."
Pausing, his gaze seems to turn harder as he continues, "That being said, your ability to be subtle leaves much to be desired. It sounds as though this Twi'lek, Kolana, may have figured out you were Sith before you even met Jubara. If that is the case, she may have manipulated you into killing him for her freedom. You, Trevan, revealed yourself as Sith when you offered to punish the Rodian for him. That is when he figured you out, which led to his attacking you. Iliquoi, the fact you killed the ringleader and the one person who could reveal his employer simply because he 'dared to attack you' shows that you cannot leash your anger when necessary. You must always consider if there is more to be gained in capture than murder."
Turning his gaze to Koro, he says, "While you did nothing incorrect, and did not endanger the mission in any way, you did not do anything to particularly stand out. While this is not bad, you will find it difficult to advance without any notable achievements."
Standing, he says, "You are dismissed. Iliquoi, your master has informed me she wishes a report from you. You may use the communications room."
"Your report is fairly comprehensive. I will ensure Intelligence pays you promptly. I would like to speak with Kolana. A different perspective of events would be helpful."
The miraluka will nod and then go off to the communication room.
Getting a signal he will bow before the image of his Master and give a detailed report especially an highlighting of his actions which would put him in a favorable light.
Koro listens to her Master's summation, her face impassive, but inwardly crowing as Trevan and Iliquoi are reprimanded.
However, when Lord Kyrak evaluates her performance, she begins to seeth with anger, not caring if any of the other apprentices or even Lord Kyrak can sense it.
She maintains her respectful demeanour however, inclining her head to her Master, "Your wisdom as ever enlightens me, my Lord". She leashes the intense desire to leap up and cut the Sith Lord's head from his shoulders.
Rising from her kneeling position, she bows, then strides from the room, taking a direct line to the training room.
Once there she spends the next two hours systematically destroying the training droids and dummies there, ultimately standing among the wreakage, breathing deeply, the frustrations of the meeting with Kyrak expunged from her.
Closing her eyes, she kneels and meditates on what her Master told her, seeing the truth of it. The Sith value boldness of action and purpose, and in that mission, she had done neither. With that revelation, she continued to meditate on the mission, her future and the Sith way.
Trevan frowns, "I see. I shall have to work on the art of subtlety Master..."
Once the report is concluded and Koro and Iliquoi go their separate ways Trevan seeks further guidance.
Kordin stands up, she's getting paid, she's mostly happy.
"That will be up to Kolana. If she agrees, I hope it is alright if I am in the room. I agree with the separate perspective, but I don't want her to feel as though her newly found freedom has limits."
Hessin informs you it will have to wait until Lord Kyrak hears everyone's version of events at the warehouse.
"I would prefer to speak with her alone. Rest assured, as long as you and she are staying in my villa, I will do nothing to curtail her freedom. If you truly feel you must be present, then so be it."
"Do not assume yourself superior to any Sith Lord, my apprentice. No matter how much of a 'brute' he may seem, he has far more understanding of the Dark Side than you currently do," she admonishes you.
"As for your progress, I am pleased that you are growing in power. You could be great one day, once you truly master its intricacies. Tell me, in killing the leader of the Crimson Sun, what advantage did you gain over the other two?"
"I will go and speak with her, it's up to her of course. Thank you for your time Lord Kyrak."
As she exits the room she rolls her eyes before heading off to find Kolana.
Kordin exits the room and finds the Twi'lek.
"Hey, uh, Kolana. So, the Dark Lord of the Sith wants to speak with you. Get your take on what happened back at the warehouse, see how different people screwed up, so he can punish his apprentices or something. I don't know, they seem to relish pain and it kinda creeps me the flux out. If you want me to be present I can do that, but if you don't even want to talk to the guy you don't have to."
Trevan sits and waits practicing patience, something he certainly has little experience with... he fidgets and crosses and uncrosses his legs several times awaiting a summons.
"You made yourself appear wasteful of an opportunity. We have the bare bones of his plan, but who was financing him? Where did he come from? Are there other cells of this Crimson Sun here on Dromumd Kaas? There are answers that we could have extracted from him one excruciating moment at a time, lost because you decided to be offended he attacked you! To control the mind is not about brute force, but about subtlety. The Dark Side is powerful, but one does not use a lightsaber as a hydrospanner."
Your master is clearly displeased with you.
"That would make me feel a bit more comfortable. Let's go get this out of the way." Kolana seems to steel herself before entering the study, with you watching over her protectively.
Kolana reveals to Lord Kyrak what she knew of the Crimson Sun and Jubara, as well as that she discovered Iliquoi and Trevan were Sith before the meeting with Jubara. She also reveals that she saw an opportunity to get out from under Jubara's control, and tricked Jubara into meeting with them in the hopes they would kill him and free her in exchange for information.
Kyrak listens, asking the occasional question. He seems genuinely impressed by how she handles her chance at freedom and took a risk, and dismisses you once she is finished.
Trevan watches Kordin leave and return with Kolana. They are in the study for a short time, and then both leave. Hessin motions you in.
"By learning to control your rage. Your anger is a powerful tool, just as your lightsaber is. You swing the lightsaber. It does not swing you. If you cannot control your rage, you are easily manipulated. You become a tool of the one who manipulates you, an expendable, blunt instrument. I do not train tools. I use them until they break, then go and get another."
Fixing you with a pointed stare, you see that despite the externally calm demeanor, the fires of rage burn in his eyes.
"You must unleash your rage when you choose to do so. In battle, always. To make your foes bow before you, sometimes. To deceive another, never. If a superior slights you, accept the rage it gives you, but do not show it. Nurture it, let it grow, and then use it when the time is right. You have power, but if your rage is the master, you will never achieve its full potential. Go, and think on this."
"If you couldn't stop a slave and the other apprentice from killing him, I wonder if I have perhaps overestimated your skills. Nevertheless, the past is fixed. Do not be so wasteful in the future, my apprentice."
She ends the communication, leaving you kneeling in the room.
Your eyes slowly open. Everything seems fuzzy, as though you aren't quite in possession of your faculties. As your sight clears, you hear a ringing in your ears. Movement seems complicated. You see a group of a dozen beings move through the office, several guiding a floating carbonite slab. Two stop and fire their blaster rifles down the hallway. As they do so, the sleeve of one's shirt shifts. You recognize the tattoo it reveals as the insignia of Republic Special Forces. As they move towards a repulsor truck that has pulled up outside the hole, your eyes glance next to you a case lying next to you. Damaged in the explosion, it has come open, revealing it's contents: a surveillance tagger and the necessary tracking equipment.