Cleansing the Palette (Gerrenthum: The Imperium)

[Not Ordo]

There were many complications to running a new government on a world. One tended to be the old government. Another, in this case, was the secret cabal of force sensitive beings that controlled the government behind the scenes. Now, it wasn't that Decimus was against that, inherently speaking, but that they couldn't be brought to reason that bothered him. [member="Kira Corsai"] and @Joren Greth were both informed of the operations he had planned.

Seek and destroy the force cult, gain the government leader's cooperation or demise, and robe rebellious members of the military with extreme prejudice.

Decimus slide his side arm into it's holster before pinning on his ribbons and rank insignia. It was time to take what was theirs.... For the Empire, for the imperium.

 

[Joran Greth]

Joren Greth closed the com and turned to the three men standing in the corner of his office. They had been questioning a local business owner and the man had been less then obliging. HE waved them off and the men grabbed the body from the floor and drug it out a side door. Greth had known about the group the supreme commander had called a cabal. They had been restive to the Imperium so far and it seemed Meridius had grown impatient with the group. This changed things and Greth was forced to accelerate his plans. The group had been useful for him up until now, they had been working for him for a long time and never even knew it. Now with the military being involved his back door into the group and their usefulness was over. It was time to cut his ties to them.

"Major, Locate colonel Jeffers."

 

[Villam Jeffers]

Villam sat looking out at the freighter in the distance. It sat motionless next to a communications relay station on the edge of the system. Why it was here was unknown but it was outside any designated commerce route in the system.

"Lieutenant, hail the freighter, Let them know we are here and make them aware of our intentions." Said Jeffers as he relaxed and sat back in his chair. The ISB agent manning the comm station noddded them opened up a wide ban transmission. The officer checked the DFOF scanner and the transponder id of the ship then spoke.

"Freighter designated 017255, This is the Imperial security vessel Constance, Please hold you position and prepare to be boarded." The lieutenant had not finished his transmission before the freighters engines exploded to life and the ship began to move off away from the relay station. The lieutenant turned to address Jeffers but was cut short as Villam waved him off.

"Yes lieutenant, I see. tag the ships transponder and let the patrol force know they are headed their way. They can deal with them. Lets move in and see what they were doing with the relay." The man nodded and turned back to relay the information to the two ships awaiting the freighter.

"Helm take us in, lets dock with the station and investigate what was going on here." The men sitting at the helm nodded and the ISB ship moved in to dock with the relay station. Villam sat looking at the small ship speeding off in the distance. They always run, he thought to himself. It was always so, he had no idea why. they almost never got away the ISB had the system locked down it was very unlikely they would escape, but it was always that small chance. He guess the criminals in the freighter thought they were the lucky ones today and would be that one in a thousand ship that would find a way to escape.

"Colonel, You have a transmission from the Grand Moff." said the comm officer breaking Villam's train of thought. He paused for a moment then signaled the officer to put the call through. The display came online and the image of Grand Moff Greth appeared on the screen.

"Good morning, Moff Greth, How can the ISB help you?"

[member="Decimus Meridius"]

 

[Kamon Vondiranach]

Trouble was afoot. Silas was glad that he'd kept his Force presence largely a secret ever since coming to Gerrenthum to serve as part of the IIB's Inquisitorius. The world was seemingly important to the Imperium, but there was trouble afoot, and it was something that couldn't be pinned down. He'd seen to it that he was assigned to be an IIB operative working within the ranks of the ISB for the time being. He was about to be stationed to a ship, but with everything that was going on, he hadn't been assigned yet. That would have been his cover to stay in connection with the Imperium, but also allow him to do his job in the galaxy at large.

Now he wasn't so sure that leaving was a good thing. More and more he felt that something was off on their base world. He couldn't put his finger on it, but whenever he tried to figure out why decisions were being made as they were, he couldn't come to grips. That and he felt a certain sense that the Force was being manipulated around him, though he couldn't pinpoint why.

For now he sat in a small cafe, drinking a cup of tapcaf and reading the holonet to see what was going on out in the galaxy proper.

 

[Sinistra]

Director Corsai had been monitoring the situation for some time, and when the Triumvirate decided to strike back at the cabal, she was only too happy to oblige them their thirst for blood by providing dossiers on the key players. However, she also decided to contribute some manpower as well.

She sipped at the cup of caf in her hand, the saucer held in the other, her hair braided neatly away from her face. In front of her were three of her most promising personal agents. Fela, Aurek and Arianrhod were reviewing the files, in crisp aubergine uniforms of their own. She had brought them all with her when she took the post, and so far, the trio had been her eyes and ears among the IIB.

As they had no questions to that point, Kira continued with the briefing.

"Supreme Commander Meridius is leading the charge on this one. You will all report to him on this mission. Engage the cabal directly, eliminate the opposition and clear the way for Dawson's team to go in. Gear up, your faces will be covered but you will be in IIB gear. Meridius has your codenames, do not identify yourselves, I don't care what he says. If push comes to shove, politely excuse yourselves from the mission and let his marines take it. I'll deal with the fallout."

"We're a go for lightsabers and force powers?" Aurek, codename Robin, asked incredulously.

Kira looked at him, setting the cup on the saucer. All it took was a look and Fela, codename Cardinal, smacked him in the arm.

"Understood. Let's go."

Within an hour, they were clad in black, fitted tactical suits, complete with enclosed hoods and HUD's. They had all the credentials they needed to join up with Supreme Commander Meridius' detail. The stormtroopers didn't particularly like the entrance of the trio but they strode up to the Supreme Commander, and awaited the order to move out.

"Cardinal, Raven, and Robin, ready for go. Director Corsai sends her regards, Supreme Commander."

[member="Joran Greth"] [member="Decimus Meridius"]
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, Grand Inquisitor Anaris had been informed of the impeding campaign. Looking over the materials, she reached over to the comlink and sent an encrypted message to Inquisitor Fox.

::New orders. Imperium is moving against a group of force users who are resisting the incoming regime. Support the operation against them. IIB sending in agents attached to the Supreme Commander, make sure they get what they need from the enemy. Apprehend whoever you can for interrogation. Files incoming. For the Imperium.::

[member="Silas Fox"]

 

[Not Ordo]

[member="Joran Greth"] [member="Villam Jeffers"] [member="Silas Fox"] [member="Kira Corsai"]

His glossy black boots thuded rhythmically on the polished deck of the corridor on his way to his transport. A pair of stormtrooper commandos flanked the doors to the landing pad and he nodded to them both briefly as he passed and caused them to take flanking positions. They would see to the rebellious ties in the local government and loosen their hold on existence. He pulled his gloves from his belt as the door whooshed aside and into its frame to permit his passage. One at a time he tugged the gloves over his still strong hands and looked to see a trio of young, black clad, inquisitors.

"Director Corsai is very astute." he said as they introduced themselves, "Stay close and follow my lead." he turned to the commandos, "have the fourth regiment on standby, Master Sergeant, and have your commandos support Marines in taking the rebel cultist." he said as he stabbed a finger at the trooper before turning to the three, "we're going to the government building."

He sat in his seat in the transport as a trooper manned a heavy repeater in the aide hatch and the assault transport took off to the negotiations with the local head of state. This would end today or things would become very messy and the spin on the operation would have to be adjusted.

 

[Kamon Vondiranach]

His datapad chimed that he had a message so he swiped to pull it up. Interesting, he thought to himself as he read. Facilitating this investigation could prove useful, and perhaps I can learn some more about my fellow Imperials. He closed the datapad after sending a brief reply: Understood. He had work to do, and sitting around wasn't going to get anything done. Out he went and he headed off to find these three that were assigned to the case. To make things easier, he quietly blended into the crowd, and then disappeared altogether as he wrapped himself in the current.

I'm becoming far too accustomed to using this.

Shaking his head, he headed off, ignoring everyone around him as he was soon walking down the very center lane of the street. If needed he would move, but it usually wasn't necessary. It was also the fastest way to travel when on foot. He would find these three, as he understood it, somewhere in the vicinity of the Supreme Commander.

It was good that his feelings had been right. Something was certainly up. He was glad that he was around to be a part of dealing with this issue. Anything that threatened the Imperium was a threat to his goals and purpose in life as handed down to him by his Master. He would not fail Kamon, even though he knew that Kamon would not approve of any of this. Truthfully, his Master was woefully lacking in full understanding of what was necessary to cleanse, and protect, the galaxy.

Silas, however, understood perfectly.

[member="Kira Corsai"] | [member="Decimus Meridius"] | [member="Villam Jeffers"] | [member="Joran Greth"] |

 

[Sinistra]

Carg was less than enthusiastic regarding the sound of running feet in the hallway outside his office. He rose from the desk, checking first out the window for anything suspicious. There was nothing off from a glance, but the running did not stop. Something was going on somewhere and for him to be out of the loop was unacceptable.

For all intents and purposes, he looked like a normal mid level bureaucrat. He got a few meetings here and there with the big shots and made sure that the reports and projects he presented were spun in such a way that for the central government not to take them would be folly. He was a man used to getting his way. It was why he was there.

The Apostates had a great deal of work into making sure that the Imperial roots that had once flourished on Gerrenthum would be forgotten. The name had been Alevar’s idea. They were gifted, all of them granted powers beyond the wildest dreams of a normal person, but they could see that the options open to force users was just as woefully corrupt and shortsighted as the government of this planet. Rather than accept the ancient dogma and feuds of out of touch zealots, they banded together and stuck only to the belief that they could enact change to the make the lives of others better.

There were 5 of them, located throughout the government in different positions, all with the aim to push the government towards a more progressive and economically restrictive regime. They had imposed heavy fines for pollution, corruption, and corporate fraud; enacting legislation that would keep foreign imports to a minimum in order to drive domestic production up. Not all their policies were popular, especially with the oligarchs who had gotten fat off the profits of unfettered capitalism. However, they were moving in the proper direction, at least in his mind.

Carg opened the door cautiously, peering from left to right. There were shouts coming from the office of the Prime Minister down the hall. Carg shut the door and paused, thinking with his hand still on the handle. Answers, he needed answers.

He was back at his desk, about to pick up the phone when Jinora opened his door and slipped in, her face calmly composed, but her eyes clearly displaying a bit of a panic. She crossed the distance in the blink of an eye, her fingers in fists at her sides.

“The Imperium is making their move.”

“The Prime Minister has always cooperated with them while maintaining our independence. What’s got you rattled?”

“Our cover is blown. The Imperium knows of the Apostates. We have to get out of here now.”

The color drained from his face.

“You want to run?”

“You want to fight them?”

“Why not? We have advantages on our side.”

“And it would be foolish to think they do not harbor some of those same advantages.”

He hated when she was right. Jinora was always the voice of reason.

“Alert the others, and initiate exit protocol delta. ”

She looked at him with a hard stare.

“Force be with you, Carg.”

Force be with us all, he thought to himself as he watched her slip back out of his office and out into the commotion outside. It was getting louder as it was becoming clear that while they were just learning that their cover was blown, the Imperium was issuing ultimatums to all levels of power today. Perhaps they could slip out in the confusion. Military leaders tended to arrect bureaucrats on site. If they were lucky, they could make it off the grounds and into the city and disappear.
_______________________________________________________________________
*Cardinal, Raven, and Robin jostled nearly in time with each as the shuttle set down on the lawn of the state house. The home guards on duty were poised for them, as it was beginning to look like there would be blood this day.*

[member="Silas Fox"] [member="Decimus Meridius"] [member="Joran Greth"] [member="Villam Jeffers"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Kira Corsai"]

There were approved and secretive ways for an IIB source to pass high-value acquisitions up the chain of command. Such methods were ordained from on high, and -- in theory, at least -- the source knew little to nothing about those paths of custody and couriership once the item left her hands. By one of those paths, then, a thoroughly vetted package arrived for the Director's attention. Doubtless she'd been briefed on it and had read the truthful note of provenance that Selka had sent with it. Along with the note on how to use the dang thing.

The package, once analyzed, decontaminated, recorded and otherwise processed, was a holocron. More to the point, it was an alchemical machine capable of detecting Force-sensitives across an unprecedented distance, and plotting their relative locations.

Its arrival, given the priority and nature of the mission to Gerrenthum, was, perhaps, overly timely. It might count as a sign that the source had mulled over what to do with the holocron before opting to inform her masters. But here it was, in IIB hands: the best anti-Forcer big-picture surveillance tool ever made.

 

[Not Ordo]

[member="Joran Greth"] [member="Villam Jeffers"] [member="Silas Fox"] [member="Kira Corsai"] [member="Selka Ventus"]

"Gunner, red carpet please." he said as he stood and was gifted with the sound of the turret of the transport turning and firing on the front of the state house. "Thank you."

He removed his Meridius pistol from its holster and moved to the hatch.

"Move in and watch your spacing." he said as he took control of his entourage, "Minimize casualties... Oh and take prisoners if they surrender. We'll execute them after a field trial."

He stepped out behind the others and fired into a guard as they began to recover before moving toward the building. Guards fell quickly to the trooper's and operatives. This would be quick.

 

[Joran Greth]

Greth watched as the image of the ISB officer came to life. The man had done special work for Greth in the last. He was a man who got things done and Greth appreciated that. Greth waited for the man to acknowledge the connection was good then answered his question.

"Colonel Jeffers, It is good to see you again. I hope you are well. I have a mission for you that is needs to remain a secret from anyone other than you and I. It is a time sensitive issue that no one needs to know about. I will send a encrypted packet to your personnel console. You are from here till this operation is complete assigned to my personnel command. You are to only report to me. Any other contact from outside parties is to be considered treason."

Greth paused to take in the mans demeanor and reaction.

I trust you inderstand the importance of this operation to me. I have personnel interest in the outcome of this mission colonel. Do not fail me."

 

[Sinistra]

Kira may not have been storming government buildings that day, but there was plenty of storming of her own to do. In fact, as soon as the Supreme Commander lifted off with her best agents in tow, she called for a retinue of her own to escort her to another wing of the headquarters.

The ofices were nice, but not nicer than hers. The ISB was much more, what is the word, institutional. Their reach was much more organized, not that hers weren't but she played in a larger pond. The fact that she was instrumental in undercovering the cabal of force users called the Apostates was not a shining example of a well run government agency.

It helped that she thoroughly disliked Director Acus Jamerlain. Kira was going to enjoy this.

Some of the security personnel in the ISB tried to halt her movement through secure areas, but she had higher security clearance and when confronted with her blaster rifle and her credentials, most backed away. This was over their pay grade.

Acus was in his office, and Kira didn't even wait to be announced. The doors were thrown open and she swept in, muzzles pointed at the bureaucrat. It was smooth, mostly. He guffawed, she arrested him and her staff hauled him out to jail, his voice protesting innocence as they drug him through the halls.

Easy as pie.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, Cardinal, Robin, and Raven had taken up position behind Supreme Commander Meridius and their blasters made short work of whoever opposed them but the guards were not who they were worried about. Should an Apostate peek their head out, Cardinal was ready.

Jinora was moving through the halls, looking as nondescript as a person could manage, with panic dissolving the office spaces into chaos. In fact, she looked a little too calm. Something Robin noticed as the young woman signaled her team mates silently through their HUDs as she motioned to the side corridor where Jinora had moved down.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

She needed to get them away from Carg. He was the leader, the one with the plans. Carg had to make it out. She was expendable. She turned down a hallway, heading swiftly away from the fighting but not in a rush or panic. She moved like bait. But would the Imperium take it?

[member="Joran Greth"] [member="Decimus Meridius"]

 

[Villam Jeffers]

Jeffers listened to Greth then nodded. Greth seemed serious, more so then he had seen the man in his past interactions. The Grand MOff was always a serious man but in this his voice and words gave Jeffers a feeling of almost fear imbuing from the man. His words were mean as threatening without being threatening and his message was recieved clearly and without mistake. Jeffers knew just what the man was meaning, what he expected from him and what would happen if he did not succeed.

"Yes Sir, I understand what needs done. I will return to Headquarters and begin preparations as soon as I can get away here. I will report to you once I begin." said Jeffers to the image of the Grand Moff on the view screen. The man said nothing and cut off the call. He sat for a moment considering the past few minutes and what he would need, no what he had to do. He would be stepping outside his purview as an ISB agent on this. He would need to cross lines that his superiors did not need to know he was crossing. At least most of them. He needed an ally but who. Someone high enough up to give him the assests he needed but someone who would be more or less open to him working outside the ISB on this. Undercover so to speak. He would have to think about who would fit the bill. That would wait though he needed to get back to HQ.

"Lieutenant set a course for HQ, best possible speed."

[member="Kira Corsai"] [member="Decimus Meridius"] [member="Selka Ventus"] [member="Silas Fox"]