Dominion How Tight To Close Our Fist | DE Dominion of Shili

[Alars Keto]

Imperial Intelligence
Shili
Director of OIT Reiner Ghadi | Director of ISB Ellayina L'lerim | Minister of External Affairs Minister Janus Vipsanius | Kazian Blackwood | Rackham | Alars Keto | Torne Derok | Idris Harnell | Xochilt | ALL ISB or IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE​

Alars Keto stood at the head of the round table, in the center of this white rotunda. The Imperial Governor of Empress Teta allowed his presence to be felt across the room as he surveyed the high-ranking officials seated before him. The walls of the chamber were adorned with the stark insignias of the Empire, casting a somber, imposing atmosphere over the gathering. Keto, a former Krath turned Imperial, paced around the table, his footsteps echoing in the tense silence. His piercing gaze settling on each official in turn, the gravity of the meeting palpable.

"Effective immediately," Keto began, his voice cold and commanding, "we will be enacting new protocols EMPIRE-WIDE."

Keto continued, his tone unyielding. "A tribute tax will be imposed, equal to five times the value of any Imperial asset confiscated or damaged by insurgency or hostile action by foreign agency. This tax will be forced upon any worlds known to trade or associate with the outlawed Galactic Alliance government. Any act of sedition," he paused for emphasis, "will be met with the harshest penalties, ranging from indefinite imprisonment to summary execution." He could see the weight of his words sinking in, with several officials exchanging uneasy glances. Keto's pacing brought him behind his superior, the director of the Office of Imperial Truth - Reiner Ghadi . The source of these edicts. "Furthermore," Keto resumed, "any custom, festival, or ceremony found to harbor Alliance activity will trigger the permanent revocation of Imperial tolerance. We will not allow any pretext for rebellion within our dominion."

As Keto delivered the final blow, a figure emerged from the shadows at the back of the room. Minister Janus Vipsanius, a slender man adorned in high Coruscanti robes of purple and black, stepping forward with an air of aristocratic menace. His presence added a palpable weight to the proceedings, a hierarch of the upper echelon and rumored disciple of the Church of the Dark Side.

"The Grand Vizier," Keto declared, his voice now resonating with directive given by Shannic Wulf herself, "has assured me, that a new offensive is being prepared. One of which will ultimately bring about the end of the Galactic Alliance." Minister Janus Vipsanius cast a malevolent smile toward the Tetan governor. The room remained silent, the officials absorbing the gravity of the new directives. Keto stopped his pacing and faced them directly, his eyes burning with a fervent intensity. "This is not just a measure of control. This is a demonstration of our unyielding resolve. The Galactic Alliance will learn that any act of defiance will be met with overwhelming force. We are the Empire. We will prevail."

With that, Keto took his seat, the officials, now galvanized by his words, turned to another ready to discuss their next steps.

"I open the floor."

 

[Kazian Blackwood]

Governor of Empress Teta Alars Keto
Director of OIT Reiner Ghadi
Director of ISB Ellayina L'lerim
Minister of External Affairs Minister Janus Vipsanius
Agents Xochilt Torne Derok Idris Harnell Rackham

​

My time on Coruscant had been eye-opening, to say the least. In a matter of weeks I had seen the highest and lowest points of the Galactic Alliance, ivory towers defended tooth and nail by the Jedi and the GADF while in the streets the unseen of the Underworld suffered. To find radicalized groups right beneath the nose of the greatest galactic nation had been remarkably easy. Thus, even on our defeated return to Imperial space my faith was strong. The tide of stormtroopers may have been turned back, but clawed fingers were set into motion digging into the Alliance.

At my seat at the table, another white jacket in the ring of ISB officers, I overlooked the documents on the embedded holoscreen before me. Things were changing quickly. The Alliance's Strategic Intelligence Agency had not been ready for the Imperial blitzkrieg into the core which had shifted the paradigm, but so too had the ISB not been prepared for the uphill battle the Empire faced. Both intelligence communities had new directors, and new directions.

Honored and humbled as I was to finally be sitting at the grown-ups table, I couldn't shake the feeling that I need to be back on Coruscant. There was so much more work to do. The best I could do now was wait to see what my superiors had to say, and what they wished said from me. News from the front was a mixed bag certainly, but we had proven already that the Empire's power could, and would, be projected far beyond what the Alliance had expected from the warlord state rising to leadership of the fractured Empire. They called us the Dark Empire, almost as if it were an admittance that our power was strongest in the shadows...

 

[Reiner Ghadi]

Alars Keto , Kazian Blackwood , Ellayina L'lerim , Rackham , Minister Janus Vipsanius , Idris Harnell , Torne Derok , Xochilt

The room was unnaturally quiet, save for the words from the governor of Empress Teta. The tension was certainly palpable, for many were still feeling the sting of Coruscant. Reiner himself still felt aches and pains from his tumble in the crumbling ruins of the Senate Building, though he would make no sign of their presence. The appearance of strength was paramount, for both the Empire and those within. No more weakness, no more missteps. The iron will of the Emperor would be brought down upon the Alliance with the strength of a fallen meteor, by any means necessary.

As Keto opened the floor, Reiner took a moment to send a message to each of the personal holoprojectors in front of those at the table.

"What you see before you is a list of potential Alliance holdouts, as well as known SIA assets. My time spent contributing money to the SIA didn't allow me to obtain a fully comprehensive list, but this will be an adequate starting point."

His hands folded together as he leaned forward, his cold, grey eyes drifting from face to face as he spoke.

"We will root out whatever assets may remain, with extreme prejudice. However... should you encounter someone that may have information, you are to extract said information to further our efforts."

Straightening his posture, the Director shifted gears.

"I have already begun the process of rolling out a new wave of media to sway perception in our favor. We will undermine the Alliance's victory in any way we can, and ensure that the Empire looks stronger than ever to those under the Emperor's rule."

With that, he would grow quiet to allow others to speak.

 

[Idris Harnell]

Governor of Empress Teta | Alars Keto • Director of OIT | Reiner Ghadi • Director of ISB | Ellayina L'lerim
Minister of External Affairs | Minister Janus Vipsanius
Agents | Xochilt • Torne Derok • Rackham • Kazian Blackwood

​

He couldn't say he missed these meetings in all the months he had spent at ground zero for Project Eclipse, and the assignments immediately preceding that span of artificial sunlight and shit caf, but he sure missed the daylight, or the pittance of it that he had been afforded since the raising and downing of the prototype and his extraction. Spending more time indoors than out, shuffling from debriefs, to self-maintenance, to hardly restful sleep, to meetings, and now Harnell was here in another meeting, sitting at the table in rarely worn whites. Clean shaven and trimmed, his arms folded over his chest.

It had taken little time to review the initial documents before him, leaving him to watch the officials around the table, dead light eyes taking in minute details while the Tetan Govenor, followed by Minister Vipsanius, provoked unease in some of them with the pronouncement of Director Ghadi’s and the Grand Vizier’s edicts and directives.

There was hardly a learning curve to the faces and names of the personnel selected as his superiors (given he was a quick study) and some agents present around the table. Corvus was as much of a nebulous quantity to at least some of them in turn - his work and theirs had not often crossed paths - while the Director himself struck only the most vaguely familiar chord: Harnell had been aware of where Ghadi had been before this somewhat in passing, his name having crossed watchlists in the past decade and a half since the powers-that-be under Korvan had plucked Idris from the academy before he could be assigned to a unit, forcing a trade of the plastoid whites for ‘civilian’ vetements, specialised instruments, and the pressed whites he had intermittently been wearing, since.

And the headaches.

When the very man began to address the table, Harnell floated him a brief glance, then flicked his blues down at the holoprojector in front of him when the latest packet of intel queued up, pulling himself away from his seatback with his core doing that work to sit up straighter as he began to scan through the fresh information while the Director of OIT continued to speak. It wouldn't be long until Harnell was shipped out again into whatever unknown hole, and if he should be so fortunate, it would be him alone.

That was hardly ever an euphemism.

 

[Torne Derok]

I D O L O N
SHILI
Kazian Blackwood | Reiner Ghadi | Alars Keto | Xochilt | Ellayina L'lerim | Rackham | Minister Janus Vipsanius | Idris Harnell

Bored, but intrigued to hear the new strategies developed by the ISB to answer back the big question of what was to happen after Coruscant? If anything, it was not much of a victory for the Alliance after the damage and carnage it suffered. They still held onto the Imperial Center, but there was no doubt their grip was weakened by the unforgiving Imperial assault.

The floor was open after Reiner delivered his speech, making sound pitch on the importance of media.

“It’s important to fund media campaigns within our domain, neutral systems, and within the Alliance. Democracy invites diversity of opinions which eventually leads to secular groups creating tension between the civilian populations.”

Without a doubt there were Imperial sympathizers scattered throughout the Alliance, an opportunity to create a proxy base to undermine the Starbird.

“Furthermore, we should look at unconventional tactics. Establishing pacts with criminal organizations and fund Imperial factions within the Alliance. Send in a team of Storm Commandos to train and guide any Imperials, and cause civil unrest. If there’s anything we commandos do best, is starting a fire under someone’s house.”

The floor was open for anyone to interject or offer their own opinions.

 

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Director of ISB & SHADES, Torture & Interrogation Officer

Information

Objective: To participate in the meeting
Location: Citadel Caelitus, Carlac
Equipment: White ISB Uniform || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tags: Alars Keto | Kazian Blackwood | Reiner Ghadi | Idris Harnell | Torne Derok | Minister Janus Vipsanius | Rackham | Xochilt | Open

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

I sat in my seat and listened as Alars opened the meeting. I listened to those who had ideas on how we could achieve a better position, how we should tax others and I could have gone on and on. But it seemed that no one was paying attention to what Lord Keto was saying, they were not reading between the lines, or they did not care and were only interested in their own affairs. What struck me, however, was that there were a lot of questions and a lot of things that the man was saying that still needed to be answered. Or careful planning. Heavier taxes on those who trade with the Federation. Ironically, two members of the IRC have been close to the Federation to this day and even the Sith Order through their own Federation.

Of course, I did not have the influence and power to question the loyalty of these people, although it may be necessary later. However, they were dangerous to the Empire. In my mind, I asked MANIAC for the data, which appeared in front of me. I didn't need datapads, I used my biochip to get the data. And on my request, the data I needed appeared on my retina.

"After Governor Alars Keto 's words, a very important and delicate question arises that no one has asked yet. The Trade Federation. It is well known that they have connections to the Galactic Alliance and that they also supply and sell ships, droids and other combat-grade products to them. Not to mention that the board of directors includes several individuals involved with the Alliance... and there's also one of the most influential members of the Sith Order, Darth Carnifex… I told them.

Here I was silent for a few moments, letting everyone think about it, or was it just to add to the drama.

"The question is whether we condone this to the Trade Federation and risk the Alliance and the Sith getting information about us through them, or even influencing the Imperial Ruling Council or whether we take action against them. And in doing so we also tighten the chains around the Federation." I expressed my concerns about this.

It was inconvenient that they were the ones in charge of the Imperial Treasury. This could even cause problems later on. I didn't want to jeopardise the internal stability of the Empire, but I didn't want it to cause problems later either.

 

[Kazian Blackwood]

Governor of Empress Teta Alars Keto
Director of OIT Reiner Ghadi
Director of ISB Ellayina L'lerim
Minister of External Affairs Minister Janus Vipsanius
Agents Xochilt Torne Derok Idris Harnell Rackham

​

"If I may contribute, Director," I asked Ella. She'd gone up in the ranks since I met her, and here I was hoping that she'd still recognize my value to the ISB. I supposed that was why I was present.

"my own experiences with recent operations have me in agreeance with Agent Derok. On Coruscant alone we have hundreds of partisan groups ready to take arms against the Alliance with a good push from us. The only issue is that they're largely self-trained, and we can only bolster their strength to a certain limit by supplying weapons. They don't lack for passion, but they certainly lack the discipline we would require of proper paramilitaries. Storm Commandos training Imperial loyalists or other groups that have vested interest against the Alliance could serve to bolster our efforts in the Core Worlds before the Imperial armed forces even set foot on a target world."

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

How tight to close our fist

Taking minutes
Alars Keto | Reiner Ghadi | Ellayina L'lerim | Minister Janus Vipsanius | Kazian Blackwood | Xochilt | Torne Derok | Idris Harnell | Rackham

The competition for her current position had been fierce among the newer agents. It was not so much for the lucrative work itself, but rather the chance to be in the room. Taking on additional assignments, working extra hours, making coffee runs - it was all part of the endeavour. While they had not quite stooped as low as to go for any sort of food poisoning - all well aware of the consequences of hampering the efficiency of the Bureau's day-to-day operations - they had made efforts to treat each other to a few extra drinks the night before big presentations and made sure to have a couple challenging questions to expose weaknesses in each other's work.

This time, Agent Pen-Ar-Lan had won the bid. Uniformed and with hair tied up in a tight bun, she sat by the far end of the table, far away from anyone of significant rank and importance and close to an exit. While her fingers quietly smattered away to write everything down, her eyes followed to watch those who spoke and the reactions of those who did not. Alars Keto 's mention of the penalty for sedition had her fingers pause for a short moment as she saw the controlled but uneasy reactions of many of those in attendance.

For the most part, she managed to remain stone faced herself. It was hardly a challenge, considering how she was making an effort to not only take the minutes but also to properly process what was being said. Although rare, it was not completely unheard of for someone in her position to be given the word: A chance to prove oneself in a direct way - or to fail miserably. When Torne Derok spoke, however, she allowed a subtle and interested brow rise as he mentioned unconventional tactics. A few brief moments passed before her neutral expression returned as she continued her work.

At a point, the meeting, while heavy, seemed to hit its stride as the word moved from one person to the next. The Wistrilian's mind and eyes had already moved on to who she expected to speak after Ellayina L'lerim when, instead, Kazian Blackwood spoke up once more. Her fingers quickly backspaced a few time to replace a name whilst her eyes scanned the rest of the room to see their reactions to what he had to say.

 

[Reiner Ghadi]

Alars Keto , Kazian Blackwood , Ellayina L'lerim , Rackham , Minister Janus Vipsanius , Idris Harnell , Torne Derok , Xochilt

Reiner sat in his chair, hands folded in front of him as he listened to those around the table. The idea of supporting pro-Imperial elements within Alliance Space was certainly an enticing proposition. He shot an approving nod in Torne's direction as the man spoke, with Reiner taking a mental note of the man's wisdom. Though he knew some of those at the table well enough, Torne was still an enigma. Reiner certainly had access to all of the man's files, but words can only paint an image of a man. Yet, the image was always plagued by the mysteries of the uncanny valley. Almost a full idea of a person, yet missing a piece that brought it all together. Meeting him in person allowed Reiner to begin filling in those blanks.

"An idea that we may surely put to use."

His eyes shot to Kazian next.

"Should we do this, we will need to tow the line between support and secrecy. We will need to draw up a list of candidates among the storm commandos that can make sure that the tightrope is walked adequately."

Taking a moment to mull over the words of Ellayina, Reiner began slowly tapping his finger on the table. It was a good point, as well as a potential weakness. And though Reiner had conspired with Tithe in the past, he knew that the man only believed in profit. A dangerous man, should one not take certain measures.

"The Trade Federation is indeed a valid concern. I have had my share of dealings with the Imperial Treasurer in the past. While I do believe he and his fellow profiteers will remain loyal, so long as we remain profitable, the reality is that they can switch their priorities at the drop of a hat."

His eyes drifted toward the holoscreen in front of him, pouring over what information he had acquired on the Federation since he had taken control of OIT.

"I have already double-checked the security access members of the Trade Federation have. The way I see it, we have two options. We could tighten the grip, cutting them off from some of their access. The merits of this are apparent, but it shows our hand... perhaps too soon."

The finger tapping began again as he took another moment to think.

"The other, and in my mind, best option... is to continue allowing them the same amount of access. We would take measures to protect anything too sensitive, of course. But if we seem to keep the door open, if only cracked, we allow ourselves to more freely monitor their actions. That open door goes both ways, after all."

 

[Idris Harnell]

Governor of Empress Teta | Alars Keto • Director of OIT | Reiner Ghadi • Director of ISB | Ellayina L'lerim
Minister of External Affairs | Minister Janus Vipsanius
Agents | Xochilt • Torne Derok • Rackham • Kazian Blackwood

​

It was during these discussions that Harnell's comm buzzed with a message, which he discreetly fished from his pocket, in tandem with the low bloom of pain in his head that compelled him to act as soon as Ghadi finished speaking. Upon viewing the contents of the highly encrypted communique, it took a couple ounces of his control and finesse as a performer to keep his reaction to those contents and the pain out of his visage, as he placed his comm down on the tabletop to liase with his console, and with some deft keystrokes sent updated orders, some of which went to agents at this very table. Just as suddenly, the Directors Ghadi and L'lerim would receive separate yet related missives from further up.

The only other sound he made was the clearing of his throat, a fist to his lips, as he stood and turned an icy look towards Ghadi.

"Not to derail this discussion; If I may, Director--" It was a courtesy. Harnell cast a brief glance around the table. "--as we speak, preparations are underway for our next operation." Another few keystrokes sent relevant materials around the table. "Agents, that is Corellia."

He let that sit for a moment.

"After the events of Coruscant, Grand Admiral Sularen has been taken into Alliance custody. Our sources inform that he has been subject to extradition to Corellia to stand trial." Harnell had no known tics, and simply watched the personnel around the table as he continued. "Some of you have just now received specific orders to related to that end, and will report to the Grand Admiral's second-in-command after the conclusion of this meeting," by which he meant Colonel Rackham, whose summons were a part of this... and though he was one to withhold his opinions, he did say this: "As this has the hands of the Executor on it, there may or may not be Elite involvement. Further details are pending."

He didn't even so much as smile, flicking cooled blues from one Director to the other, as he settled back down into his seat.

"I yield the floor."

 

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Director of ISB & SHADES, Torture & Interrogation Officer

Information

Objective: To participate in the meeting
Location: Citadel Caelitus, Carlac
Equipment: White ISB Uniform || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tags: Alars Keto | Kazian Blackwood | Reiner Ghadi | Idris Harnell | Torne Derok | Minister Janus Vipsanius | Rackham | Xochilt | Open

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

When Kaz spoke, I looked at him and nodded to him. He can speak now. I know I had been his supervisor before, although at the time it was just up to me to get his position back within the ISB, I had to watch him and test him. But this was different. By the time I became director, the difference between us was almost heaven and earth. It was even stranger after the Ord Mantell mission, where we lived for two months, trying to survive, with absolutely no regard for rank or anything else.

"Go ahead., Agent." I told him.

Of course the rebel groups had their uses, but on the other hand there was the possibility that they might decide to turn against us if they got what they wanted. It was quite dangerous and it went both ways. Although it was also possible that I was the only one who was paranoid and that's why I thought that way. True, I probably wouldn't be alive without paranoia. But that's also a matter of opinion. After my own supervisor spoke, I spoke after him.

"Of course, the idea of Commander Terok and Agent Blackwood is a good one, but in this case there are serious concerns." I told them. "Call me paranoid if you want... but there's a pretty good chance that these rebel groups would only be loyal until they got what they wanted. In which case we're just going to run into a lot more resistance. And that would be a lot of wasted time and equipment... something we can't afford at this point."

I thought for a few moments, then I turned to the Commander.

"What would be more effective and quicker, Commander? To train and equip these resistors with proper weapons and get them to be loyal to us, if possible. Or perhaps train new cadets from our own academy to fight with guerrilla methods and send them behind enemy lines?" I asked him.

Then I looked again at the OIT Director when it came to the Trade Federation.

"Just consider, they are currently supplying weapons and ships to the Galactic Alliance. In essence, the Dark Empire is supplying equipment to its own greatest enemy... when will the people of the Empire realise this and how will they feel about it, sir?" I asked him and everyone else.

My words were interrupted by MANIAC indicating that I had a message. With a thought I opened it and the AI projected the message onto my retina. I only grimaced in thought, in reality my face was still cold and stiff. When the agent finished his words, I spoke again.

"Are we sure we want to walk into this trap? Corellia and the Galactic Alliance must be thinking we're going to attack and probably expecting it. It would be simpler and cheaper to send a team of assassins in secret to assassinate the Grand Admiral and making a martyr out of him would be of far greater benefit to the Empire than another major defeat, which would only destroy morale. At this moment, we cannot afford another defeat. " I said in an icy tone.

This was well known enough about me that I thought that every asset and person could be replaced and I would not risk a major defeat for anyone. Anyone who set us back and weakened us could be destroyed...