Private Dangerous Game

[Ingrid L'lerim]

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Ingrid L’lerim
The Red Witch; Emperor's hand; Director of Blackwatch; Baroness of Vengard​

Location: Imperial Palace of Bastion
Equipment: Holographic disguise matrix | G1 OmniLink | Actual look with the technology: link | datapad
Tag: Taeli Raaf

~ One week after the TSE-EE invasion ~

Ingrid’s knew there was a huge chance that this would be the last journey of her life. But at least she spent the night in great company. She didn’t want this war. If ever turns out what she did, she will be executed back at the Eternal Empire, and here was the enemy. She saved AMCO from dying on PL-40112-CE-021105 or from being captured by the people of the Eternal Empire. She really had no idea what Tacitus would have done then to the Dark Councilor. She had ideas that were bad one by one.

Before she left the Tower Vandiir, she wrote down a lot of data on a data bench that Ingrid intended to take for the Lady of Secrets. With Adrian they first travelled from that planet to Dromund Kaas. And now Ingrid could go back to Bastion – to the other half of the Sith Empire –, since her own ship was not here, she had to rent one in disguise. She didn't carry weapons, this wasn't typical of her, but now she had to. What she was made for seemed like ready madness, Ingrid had to get into the palace in Bastion.

Has she done more madness in her life? It must have been in the first three, though now she intended not to break in, just to walk in. This fact did not improve the situation either. She had never been to Bastion before, always needed a first time, they say. But in this case, maybe this will be the last one. She ruled her emotions perfect just like she did always, her heart rate was low. She might have been a little nervous, but she suppressed that feeling. Even if it was perfectly normal in this situation, that is, anyone would have, but she did not accept.

A completely average, bureaucratic dress acquired by Ingrid that is not stopped inside the palace, there, at the appropriate terminals, she looked at exactly where to go, and then she didn't stop until she reached Taeli Raaf 's office. However, she was forced to stop here, she expected that too. Because there were guards and maybe an assistant in front of the office. so She went to the right person to gain admission.

”I want to speak with the Lady of Secrets.” she said firmly.

”Do you have an appointment with that Dark Councilor?” got the answer back.

”No, I don’t, but I'm sure she wants to meet me.” she said and deactivated her holographic disguise matrix. ”I am Lady Ingrid L'lerim, the Emperor's hand and director of Blackwatch, from the Eternal Empire.”

After her words she saw someone turn a corner toward the office, however, everyone else immediately raised their weapons to her. She raised her hands showing her peaceful intent and it was also seen that she had no weapons.

​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Ingrid L'lerim

She was reading the after actions reports from the recent battles at PL and across the entire war front, eyes narrowed as she looked at the latest missive from scout teams she sent back to the world after the battle against the Eternal Empire. Adepts from her Order of Shadows were seeing signs that the battle, with the loss of life on the ground and in orbit, had weakened the veil separating dimensions there. PL was already a thin spot, and death and its associated emotions had a way of breaking down barriers even more.

She had started to draft orders on actions against their former ally to Grand Moff Bline. She wanted the Eternal Empire to understand that betraying the Sith had consequences, far reaching and much more lasting than the loss of men or ships. Tacitus had launched his campaign against them too early, she felt, and she had every intention of making him aware of that miscalculation.

"My Lady, a woman is here to see you claiming she is Ingrid L'lerim from the Eternal Empire."

Well this should be very interesting, she thought, closing out her datapad.

"Send her in."

Ingrid would be escorted into the sparsely appropriated office of the Lady of Secrets. She hardly used the office in the palace on Bastion, much preferring her private study at home or her offices on Ziost, so it only had a few bookshelves filled with various treatises on Sith alchemy and magic, a desk from Haruun Kal, and a few chairs for guests. With a gesture, she indicate for the redhead to take the seat across from Taeli.

"I hope you realize exactly what this situation looks like?" she asked. "And just how irritated your Emperor has made me."

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Ingrid L’lerim
The Red Witch; Emperor's hand; Director of Blackwatch; Baroness of Vengard​

Location: Imperial Palace of Bastion
Equipment: Holographic disguise matrix | G1 OmniLink | Actual look with the technology: link | datapad
Tag: Taeli Raaf

Apparently she wasn't particularly worried about how many weapons would aim her at the moment. She didn't move, just waited. And Ingrid didn't even have to wait long, because permission to get into the office soon arrived. Silently followed the one who escorted her. With a stiff back, her hands clasped behind her back, she walked in a military way. As she entered the room, instinctively looked around to check the office.

She had no illusion that if something went wrong here, she would not get out from the Imperial Palace alive. Still, she didn’t fear, her emotions were still, as always, perfectly controlled. There wasn’t too much in this office, but enough to fill its position. The woman didn’t hold much in her own office either. When she arrived at the chairs and the Lady of Secrets offered her a seat, at first she bowed politely to the other.

They may have been at war, but Ingrid knew etiquette and customs. That's how she tried to do it. After that, she just sat down. At first she just nodded at the woman's words, understanding exactly how the other was feeling. She felt the same way when she found out what Kainan Wolfe was up to that he wanted to betray the TSE, just for Eternal Empire makes an alliance with the NIO.

”This situation already looked bad from my point of view my Lady when I rescued AMCO from the PL so that my men would not be captured and handed over him to the Emperor. Or not fall into the hands of the rebels. If it ever turns out what I did… yes he will execute me, I am perfectly aware of it. As with the fact that you can do the same to set an example with me. So you can believe me, my Lady, I know. And I have pretty accurate ideas of how you feels right now.”

She maintained eye contact throughout as she spoke, her voice, as always, the usual cold, distant. There was not the slightest sign of fear in Ingrid, nor of the emotional swings. She was worried about Adrian and her own Clan members at the PL, yes, but there was no sign of that now, as was any other emotion.

”Nevertheless, I am here, if you do not find my words too cheeky, I came for your help, Lady of Secrets.”

​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Ingrid L'lerim

An eyebrow rose as Ingrid revealed why she wanted this meeting, and how she went about saving her fellow Dark Councilor from capture. Adrian was really not one for combat, he never had been, but Taeli appreciated his mind. It was one reason she had personally recommended his ascension to Triumvir of Power and then supported his ascension to Dark Council. Still, he really needed to get better at defending himself. But that was an aside.

"You came here seeking my help?" she repeated, curious despite herself. "With what exactly? And why would I ever consider helping someone that serves a nation so quick to throw away faithful friends for the latest Imperial faction to rise?"

Fingers steepled on the desk.

"Not only has Tacitus burned any bridges or good will he had within the Sith Empire, his actions have only ultimately endangered anything he has worked to build. His so called trap only served to annoy us, and I think there many that can say that is not a place anyone wants to find themselves with me."

Her reputation would have long preceded her, and for Ingrid and her rumored position within the Eternal Empire, she would be well aware of Taeli's actions. That a reckoning would be coming for Eternal space would be a foregone conclusion, the question would only remain how brutal would it be once she unleashed her anger.

"So, please, enlighten me on what help you require and what you offering that would convince me to accept and not send you back to your Master as a consequence for his actions?

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Ingrid L’lerim
The Red Witch; Emperor's hand; Director of Blackwatch; Baroness of Vengard​

Location: Imperial Palace of Bastion
Equipment: Holographic disguise matrix | G1 OmniLink | Actual look with the technology: link | datapad
Tag: Taeli Raaf

In fact, Taeli’s reaction to what Ingrid said was quite a positive disappointment. In calculating most probabilities, she came to the conclusion, in most cases, that the Dark Councillor would laugh at all of this. The reaction of the other woman to the original calculations was quite solid. She waited for the woman to say what she wanted, then spoke again.

”Because I don’t think the Empire will judge a nation for a crazy emperor, at least I hope so, my Lady! Tacitus makes jokes not only about the Sith Empire, but about me and countless others. I have spent the last few months here with you in the Empire, fighting in your wars against the NIO, helping to free the captured imperial ambassadors, and I could list. The Sith Empire is a respectable faction with a long history, with traditions to be respected. He used me to convince the Sith Empire that diplomatic relations between the two Empires were as strong as ever. While I was away he worked out the attack. The rest is history. I’m not happy about the fact that I needed this for him.”

Her voice was perfectly emotionless throughout and militarily cold, paused for a moment and then continued.

”In recent months, Kainan Wolfe has lost his sense of reality. To betray the TSE, because of an emerging state that could disappear from the pages of history in a few months or years? Not only that, but he tortured those who didn’t even deserve it. He gets more and more enemies for himself. And he acts less and less rationally. Tacitus appointed only one Empire over a clan system that had been in operation for many thousands of years. My people were there before he showed up and we will be there after the man. We have survived many things, we will also survive a transient emperor.”

She continued to hold the woman's gaze, no fear in her eyes or movements. She really didn’t have much to lose. So why would she be scared? She has not been trained for many years to be afraid of such a situation, and if she had to give her life for her people, there is no more beautiful death. And she knew the woman's "reputation," of course, so she wanted to save what could be…

”I want the same as you, to see the Emperor dead, after a long and painful torture session. How can I help? I am still the third person in the Eternal Empire, I have access to relevant information that you may find useful.”

Then she took out the data card and set it on the table in front of the woman.

”A list of agents, spies, company executives, politicians, and others associated with TSEs currently known and observed. Our arrest warrant has not yet been issued, it is about a week and a half or two to take them out of the territory of the Eternal Empire and replace them with new ones of which we have no knowledge. If necessary, as the leader of Blackwatch, I can also overlook to the activities, I can make it easier for your people to move around, and I could tell further.”

​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Ingrid L'lerim

Fingers moved to tap on the desk as she listened to what Ingrid had to say, to try and explain her position. Her eyebrow quirked up as Ingrid stated that she had not known that her Emperor was planning the betrayal, even when she had been in Sith space to show support of the alliance. Her tone was cold, professional, trying to keep nothing from slipping out. Her body language was much the same. She had been trained well, that was for sure, in not giving away any information. But that, in and of itself, was information to the Lady of Secrets.

She was offering to look the other way while the Sith moved assets out of Eternal Empire space, to make sure arrests weren't made speedily. An interesting offer, and she said she desired to kill her Emperor for his actions over the past few months? Also interesting.

"As head of Blackwatch, which I've been led to believe is your secret police organization and rather critical to your Emperor's grasp on power, I find it difficult to believe that your organization hasn't had a hand in the increased torturing in search of these rebels that plague your Empire," Taeli finally said. "Your assets would be on the frontline of such counter-insurgency operations, but that is an internal matter that I have no interest in."

Although... well that was a thought for later.

"As for wanting Tacitus dead, you're gonna have to be a bit more... enthused than that for me to believe it," she commented, an amused smirk forming. "If your clans have such staying power, then eventually, one way or another, he will want that threat to his position removed. It might not be tomorrow, it might not even be in a few years, but it will come. It does not take much to wipe away a culture."

History would show that, all too well. But her words were meant to plant just that tiny seed of doubt, not even a conscious thing now, but history would show Ingrid far more than Taeli's words could on what despots like Tacitus or even Kaine did to cultures that might threaten their power.

"You make a generous opening offer, to allow assets that may or may not exist to escape and be replaced and to ignore our activities within Eternal Empire space, whatever those might end up being. But... this could all be accomplished without your assistance if the warrants aren't coming for a week or two, if what you say is true. In that case, this is merely a courtesy warning."

Fingers tapped on the desk in thought.

"What is it that you truly have to offer me?"

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Ingrid L’lerim
The Red Witch; Emperor's hand; Director of Blackwatch; Baroness of Vengard​

Location: Imperial Palace of Bastion
Equipment: Holographic disguise matrix | G1 OmniLink | Actual look with the technology: link | datapad
Tag: Taeli Raaf

”It is foolish to believe that the Emperor would not have his own secret group or organization for all this, or his own resources outside of the Imperial forces. I’m sure there are groups and organizations in TSE that the Dark Council doesn’t even know existed, just Darth Carnifex , maybe even Darth Prazutis , the Shadow Hand. But returning to our case, the High Command also didn’t know about that. They learned at the last minute, and it all came as an equal surprise to them. Everything was personally arranged and planned by the Emperor. Yes, we knew we were preparing for war. Everyone thought we were going to attack the NIO, because up to that point they were the common enemy.”

For a moment, she showed again the offended pride behind her "mask" that she felt. That it is thus obvious in retrospect why, as the leader of Blackwatch, she was in the field of TSE and fought in the war until Tacitus himself did everything. She continued to look coldly at the other woman, only nodding her head to the side as the Lady of Secrets mentioned the enthused part. She had a strong suspicion that she thought she was a Sith, and then she couldn't have been the biggest mistake.

”Why should I be enthusiastic? For the emotional swings you have, and I am able to feel, as a child of four to five years of age, I have been punished because this or any emotions were unacceptable, even though the Force didn’t even play a role in my life at the time. This is one thing that must be done for the sake of the Empire. For me, it’s no more than getting up every day and going to work. Remember, I am not a Sith, even if Tacitus is.”

It was no secret, anyone could follow it in the right way, spies, agents. So it didn't make sense to hide it from the woman either. It was already in her CIS’s file that she had received great mental training, along with cruel physical training. Although these were not detailed, a knowledgeable person might have guessed what they referred to. She nodded firmly at the next sentences, but she didn't respond to them in words. They were better than that, they would never let their own culture end if they were good at something, that was survival. But she knew exactly what rulers like the mentioned two emperors were doing to those who threatened them. She saw it personally.

”A week or two if I give the order” now she allowed herself a short smile. ”If they don't hear about me, my deputy isn't as patient as I am. It’s not a threat, just a fact. Of course it’s in the game that I’m not going home. Then you have much less time to rescue.”

Sheer facts, her voice still cold, her movements did not reveal a threat. It really wasn't. For a few moments, she seemed to know again that her life depended entirely on Taeli's benevolence. Nevertheless, she was not afraid or worried. Not even deep within herself, there was something that had to be done for the Empire, even if it cost her life. She was raised for this, it was genetically encoded in her. After the woman's last question, she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs.

”That's not the question, my Lady. The real question is what would you ask of me in return. You tell me what you want, and from that I will know what I can offer you.”

​

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Ingrid L'lerim

And she had to stop herself from smiling as Ingrid addressed the points she had raised. In a roundabout way, mainly through trying to use Kaine and Braxus as examples, she had more or less confirmed that Tacitus had other potential assets in secret. That was good to know, and her defense of herself revealed more than she might expect.

Her dismissal of emotion and lack of enthusiasm for murdering her Emperor were... interesting indeed. Her explanation, that emotions were to be abhorred, to be controlled, and that she had done so since a young age were intriguing tidbits. The CIS's Knights were not trained as the younger woman described, nor were Sith. Jedi could be, but her choice of words were... telling. Now she saw a way to press forward.

Lips quirked in amusement as Ingrid more or less showed her hand when it came to the possible assets in Eternal space. It wasn't a courtesy, or as she said, a fact. It was a threat, but to the Dark Councilor of Galactic Influence, Ingrid seemed to believe the assets possibly in play in Eternal space were important to the Sith Lady. They were not.

"I've been curious about something," she said, completely shifting tact and tone and subject. The harshness dropping away to academic curiosity. "There isn't much information on Eternal Force users or a dedicated organization or sect within Eternal space for them. Your Blackwatch Psiops, I believe they are called, not withstanding as based on held territory, population density, and heritage, there should be far more. There certainly isn't a Sith Order there, nor would I ever call Tacitus a Sith and definitely not rooted in Jedi traditions. Perhaps you could enlighten me on how Force Sensitives are trained and organized in Eternal space?"

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Ingrid L’lerim
The Red Witch; Emperor's hand; Director of Blackwatch; Baroness of Vengard​

Location: Imperial Palace of Bastion
Equipment: Holographic disguise matrix | G1 OmniLink | Actual look with the technology: link | datapad
Tag: Taeli Raaf

They both played a deadly game. Ingrid was perfectly aware of it, as well as what she could say and how. That’s when she doesn’t reveal too much, or just when she skews a bit in reality. Or just when she's telling the truth. The most important thing was that she said everything as if she thought it was completely true, so it was much harder to figure out when it wasn’t. Can't even feel it through the Force. She knew the other woman was doing the same, everyone in the high circles did.

Each piece of information was such that if the other woman followed or commanded it, after a smaller or larger, easier or harder investigation, they would find a clue and confirmation of all of this in the Eternal Empire, supporting Ingrid’s words. The woman was thoroughly prepared for the parts that were lies, or just half truths. She really didn’t know how interested Raaf was in her own assets who were spying elsewhere. So it was just a gesture on her part to save them for the other woman if she wanted to.

The questions, she expected, would arise because they were kept more secret by Kainan Wolfe . Even within the Empire, few knew about all of this. Ingrid decided to move from a less delicate subject to a more delicate one.

”Yes, the Psi Corps, my Lady. They are typically unskilled Force users who are not good enough to be disciples of anyone, a Sith, a Jedi, or any other point of view teacher. They are mainly used in interrogations to find out if the other party is lying or not. In addition, they are reserved for maximum communication. There aren't many of them. Training Force users is already a more complex issue. Nelvaan never had many Force users and since we were part of the CIS, most of them received CIS standard training. The same is true for Force users returning Kalidan from Christophsis. Everyone else, however, was brought by Tacitus when he founded the Eternal Empire. They are typically Sith, or Dark Jedi. I must say that there is no common education in the Eternal Empire. Someone is trained as a Sith. In the Empire they are the most of them anyway, others according to the CIS Force user idea. For me, he experimented with the teaching method, he probably wants to develop a common system for all Force users, because the present one, to put it mildly, is a mess.”

She thought for a moment, then spoke again.

”But of course, if you need this information, more specifically, I will find out all the details and compile a file for you.”

​