Private Inquisition on Eriadu

[Kyyrk]

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I N Q U I S I T I O N​

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The hum of engines filled the small cabin in which Voph resided. Outside, the blue tunnel of hyperspace extended infinitely to either direction of the ship. Voph was en route to Eriadu. One of the more recent additions to the Confederacy, and one he had precious little personal experience with. But one with a rather troubled history. Indeed, as he sat aboard The Allegiance, Voph was studying for his meeting. There was much to unpack. Ever since its assimilation to the Confederacy, trouble had been brewing. Particularly around the now-former Viceroy, Credius Nargrath. Voph sighed quietly, watching the holofeed of the initial meeting between Credius and Adron.​

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His resignation as Viceroy following perhaps the most vocal outcry against an Inquisition was suspicious. Voph intended to find out what might have caused a reaction like that, and if the current office had any...lingering taint of the old. It had been a long time since Voph had been involved in an operation like this. As the ship neared Eriadu, Voph sent out a message. Simple, in nature. Now entering Eriadu space. Standby. As the Allegiance dropped out of Hyperspace, the meager fleet that accompanied it did as well. An escort of Octarch Mk II fighters flanked the Allegiance, and two Obsidian Scythe frigates, laden with the knights and supplies needed to establish a base of operations on the planet below. Voph stood, and moved towards the cockpit, where his pilot was beginning a descent into Eriadu's atmosphere over the capital city.​

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"Eriadu Control, this is Lord Commander Voph, requesting permission to land immediately. Tell the Viceroy to expect us, if they are not already."​

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Within moments, the trio of ships were settling into berths; the Octarch escorts having turned, and jumped back into hyperspace. Their job had been done. Now was time for the work to begin.​

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[Wilhuf Nargath]

Location: Valkan Citadel
Tag: Kyyrk

It was quite the bussy time at the Valkan Citadel, Wilhuf did not know wether he'd describe it as something good or something bad, but he did have a bad feeling about it all. He knew his older brother Credius wasn't someone to just quit in the face of adversity, so now the middle aged second scion of House Nargath had to wonder what in the blazes was going on. Why did his brother resign from that political position of Viceroy? Why did he seem so undeterred by all of it?

So many questions raced through the poor man's head while sitting in his own study in the northern wing of the Valkan Citadel. He had been a councilman for the former viceroy, aiding in every project regarding Eriadu, starting a few of his own. It was not as bad as pople may have thought: there was less crime in the almost overpopulated big cities, the industry was doing great and according to the last comparable census, since the induction of the Eriadu system into the Confederacy, the financial strength of the citizens and the system at large had greatly improved, this all made the former viceroy's resignation all the more worrisome, for what reason could the man have had to just...give up?

Wilhuf continued pondering about this subject when one of the many servants of the mighty noble house knocked on the door and awaited his approval to enter. A soft, confused grumble escaped the man's lips as he looked at the exerpts from the most recent Viceroyal assembly, trying to bring himself up to speed with the most recent developments. "Well...young man, what may be the reason for your sudden request to speak with me?" Wilhuf's confused gaze lightened up a bit, a warm, gentle smile on his face as he took the time to lean back in his chair, motioning the young servant to speak as requested. "Ah... I get it, you must be one of my brother's...yes, allright...You may spak young man, no need to wait all day."

The young servant seemed slightly flustered, but after a good moment of taking a breather, he finally managed to explain the reason for his arrival. "A small fleet has dropped out of hyperspace...Central command awaits your orders, milord."

This was...unexpected news to the interim viceroy, who had little time to even prepare himself to meet anyone of the confederacy so soon. As he rubbed the side of his head with his left hand, his right hand accidentally touched the datapad laying on his desk...

"You speak of leadership, I hear tyrany. You call for an Inquisition, an organization which in their own right would supercede our own authority within our territories. You remove one organization which we as a viceroyalty had no say in for another organization which would completely supplant us. That, milord is a blatant show of tyrany, something we as Eriaduans can't abide by, at the very least not me personally. I have seen what tyranny has wrought, I have learned about the empires of the past and have observed those of the present."

For a moment, Wilhuf hesitated as he heard that speech, looking at the image for a moment, wondering about a great many things, but most importantly, that with the arrival of an obviously military fleet, this was all indeed seemingly going as his brother had loudly exclaimed right there and then. However, Wilhuf was a careful man, calm when necessary, but not at all a great man when it came to situations where dubious folk held the strings in hand. He decided that perhaps, a show of good faith was necessary from both sides of this unfortunate game.

Patching himself through to Central command, Wilhuf demanded for the commanders stationed at ground control to patch him through to the individual in charge of this...intrusion of Eriadu space.

In the meantime, Kyyrk would notice that the planet had a large grid of orbital stations, one of them suddenly unleashing a large number of froid starfighters surrounding his small fleet, while Eriadu Ground control patched Wilhuf through.

"Good sir, this is Wilhuf Nargath speaking. My apologies for the escort of fighters, but such is a necessary precaution taken against any and all unanounced visitors displaying military might," A sigh escaped the man's lips as he held a hand against his forehead for a moment. "May I request you only board the spaceport with your main vessel and state you intention of business at the commander on site, I shall receive you with a shuttle to be brought to my residence if this does not pose any inconvenience to you."​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

I N Q U I S I T I V E​

Wearing: xxx
Tag: Kyyrk | Wilhuf Nargath

Darkness… cold… something, or someone, washed over the room with a very real sense of despair. There was black, so dark that one wondered if they had lost all sense of sight. The cold was as frigid as death itself, yet it was damp. At the heart of it all was conflict, a battle that waged on for what seemed like millennia, and yet at once it seemed to be new. It was there, in the center of it, Gerwald found himself reaching out for something, or someone. There was a presence close, yet distant. It was familiar, and yet strange.

Then suddenly it was gone.

“Master Lechner, we have arrived,” a voice came over the com to his quarters on The Resolve.

The Lupine Master had been asked to join Kyyrk and travel separately in case the Eriadu delegation had planned a surprise for them. He stood from the bed where he had been resting, rubbing his temples as the headache from too much politics still pressed a dull ache into his skull. Gerwald was not one for political debate, but sweeping action. He would much rather have executed the Viceroy from Eriadu, and all those loyal to him, for the threats which had been made for all to hear. Gerwald suppressed the desires of his wild beast within for now, but if given a reason, the wolf would find some juicy morsel to sink its teeth into.

Armored boots echoed down the corridor and Gerwald walked down the durasteel floor toward the bridge. His demeanor ironically matched the name of the vessel as it dropped out of lightspeed just behind the ship which carried the Lord Commander. Gerwald crossed his arms over his chest as he looked to one of the bridge crew.

“Pull everything up on the speakers. I want to hear every word.”

“As you wish, General,” came the reply.

Blue eyes fell on the escort of fighters, as an unfamiliar voice sounded his request. Another Nargath. What was it with this family and their reactionary jump to military confrontation. Gerwald walked over to the controls himself and opened a channel, ensuring the Lord Commander would hear.
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“The Lord Commander of the Knights Obsidian, and I would be very willing to accommodate your request, however, you will of course demonstrate your compliance with the laws of the Confederacy by recalling the fighters which seem to have been so prematurely scrambled. I am assuming this was simply an oversight by some technician who is about to lose his job for not thinking to scan the responder codes our ships were broadcasting to show that the fleet is Confederacy Issue originating from Geonosis?”

Gerwald’s finger released the control as he waited for a reply. Ensuring the channel was muted he spoke to the bridge commander with a stern tone.

“I want everything we have ready in case he chooses to attack. Let me be very clear. We are not here to fall into any trap, or play into any game the Eriadu Viceroy may have been trying to push the Confederacy into. We do not take action unless provoked.”

"Yes, sir!"

He retreated to his own thoughts, and his initial battle with his new master. Alkor Centaris, former Lord Commander of the Knights Obsidian himself would have likely recommended restraint for now. As Gerwald replayed the fight in his mind, he recalled how his emotional and aggressive nature could have seen him killed more than once. It was not a mistake Gerwald was going to make in this place. He would also take his lead from the Lord Commander. However, he was also not going to sit idly by for any kind of posturing. Gerwald wanted to take it right off the table.

War and conflict did not serve their purposes right now, however, investigating the mysterious happenings which surrounded the Eriadu delegation did serve a purpose. The Knights Obsidian may have had the authority to investigate and act, but Credius Nargath had given them a place to begin. A masked man giving a holoprojection instructions. It was odd to say the least. Eriadu had been a problem spot before, and now it was time to right it. To do that, they needed answers. Would they find them here?​

 

[Wilhuf Nargath]

Location: Valkan Citadel
Tag: Kyyrk | Gerwald Lechner

This new voice coming through the com almost made the omiddle aged Wilhuf jumped out of his chair in surprise. he had expected to hear something from the man who had contacted them earlier, yet instead he heard someone completely different, though he had not heard this stranger's name or rank, he did mention the former as the Lord Commander, so no doubt the one now coming through the comm's speakers was some sort of lieutenant or second in command to this aforementioned Lord Commander. With this in mind, Wilhuf looked at his datapad, the droid starfighters which had emerged from the closest Avalon orbital platform were still on the escort setting, so their protocol had not changed at all, so no worries there.

"Good sir, may I assume you are in the position of Commander or second in command under the Lord Commander?" Wilhuf stood up from his chair, grabbing the datapad to continue this conversation as he was on the move, he had to make sure he was present when they'd actually arrive at his doorstep after all. "If that is indeed the status which you enjoy, sir, I will give the order to recall the Pincers. My apologies, the defence grid security targets everything which exceeds a potential threat-level starting with the escort protocol. Do not worry though, They will retreat back to their assigned Avalon station when Ground Control patches the directives through."

Wasting no time, the interim viceroy contacted the ground control to assess the situation and to remove the presence of the Pincers which were now escorting the ships in orbit. "Commander Harmon, would you mind retreating those pincers, I do not think we are setting an example of willingness to cooperation with this ... somewhat intrusive show of force."

Acknowledgement came on the other side of the comms. So, while letting out a sigh in relief, Wilhuf switched the channel again to contact the stranger from before. "I have informed ground control of the situation, you should normally be seeing the Pincer's retreat from their position now. Would you be willing to confirm what you are seeing, sir?"

As soon as the man walked into the grand hall of the Valkan Citadel, Wilhuf bumped into a man, nearly falling backwards. When getting up again, he turned around to see who had accosted him, but he could only see a few servants and the patrolling Valkan guards. Thus ignoring this and accounting it as just his own clumsiness due to his haste, Wilhuf moved on towards the entrance of the citadel, silently complaining about the fact that his forefathers really had to make that place so big.

In the meantime, the SDS2-Pincer model droidfighters indeed seemed to retreat back to their assigned Avalon class orbital platform, no doubt allowing those on the ships a sigh of relief that there would not be any violence as of yet.​

 

[Kyyrk]

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I N Q U I S I T I O N​

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Voph sat in the commander's chair of his ship, a thoughtful expression on his face. The fighters would have been a very reasonable response to his traveling party, had the Dreadnought arrived with the group. Except it hadn't. The fighters launched against a mere three vessels. Voph made a mental note to address this later. "Maintain course and speed. If permission is not granted to land within the capital, the Obsidian Scythes are to hold position above the city while the shuttles begin landing procedures at the nearest viable landing zone."​

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Voph leaned back in his chair, reaching out through the force to the commander of the Dreadnought. His dreadnought. Steady, Wolf. We are here for answers. The fight shall present itself soon enough. Take a shuttle. Meet me on the surface. Capital building. And remember. If there is an enemy here, it lurks within the shadows. The people are not our enemy. Lechner had spirit, and of that Voph admired him. But there was also times for subtlety. Something that certainly the wolf was not naturally drawn to. In time...​

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Voph leaned forward in his chair as the Allegiance slipped into the upper layers of the atmosphere. "Mister Nargath. I do not believe we've had the pleasure. This is Lord Commander Voph of the Knights Obsidian, on official Confederacy business. The individual you have previously spoken to is Obsidian Master Gerwald Lechner. You are to afford him the respect shown my station as well. His eyes and ears are like my own. I am requesting docking for four vessels. My own, the two Obsidian Scythe class, and a shuttle that shall follow shortly bearing Master Lechner. I am here on business representing the Vicelord himself. We have much to discuss, and would best do so face to face. I trust you will be ready for us upon our arrival?"​

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Voph muted the channel, standing to return to the main cabin of the ship. His group would be breaching the capital city's airspace soon. With any luck, Eriadu wouldn't make any further attempts to get them to flinch.​

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Wilhuf Nargath | Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Wilhuf Nargath]

Location: Valkan Citadel , Valkan Guard, Eriadu City Space Port
Tag: Kyyrk | Gerwald Lechner

Luckily for Wilhuf it didn't take long to reach the central spaceport from the Valkan Citadel, using one of the luxury speeders procured by the Nargath family upon Credius' ascension to Viceroy of Eriadu. With a handful of Valkan Guards the Interim Viceroy managed to hastily get to the point where the members of this so-called inquisition would be landing. It may have only been ride of a few minutes, but the man couldn't help himself but to sweat rather profusely due to anxiety. This was the first time he'd be acting as the recipient to people of such high honours and status within the Confederacy.

"My apologies, Lord Voph, we have indeed not had the pleasure of meeting, so I will be awaiting you at your landing wih great anticipation," The man looked at his clammy hands as they held the datapad, letting out a sigh that he'd best wash his hands in one of the spaceport's lavatories before arriving at the dedicated landing grounds. "Well than, I will see you shortly, Lord Commander...I hope it won't be too much trouble in the meantime."

While the Interim Viceroy was on his way, the ground control opened a channel to The Allegiance, granting clearance for Kyyrk to land at one of the designated platforms nearest to the space port's lowest levels, where an officer of te ESDF would be present to escort the man and his entourage to the Lobby down below, where he'd find Baron Willhuf Nargath, younger brother of the former Viceroy of Eriadu and second son of the great house Nargath.

With the four members of the Valkan Guard behind him, Willhuf simply waited until the Lord Commander and his companions would be lead into the lobby by one of the ground control's officers, dressed in sober black clothing of excellent make and adorned with a single auridium necklace, his gray hairr nicely maintained and his face clean shaven. Though nervous and somewhat meek compared to Credius, Willhuf did have a pair of keen eyes which did betray his particular intellect and gentle nature, showing a warmth that the former viceroy certainly lacked.


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[Kyyrk]

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I N Q U I S I T I O N​

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Voph paused at the edge of the Allegiance's hold, head bowed in thought, as the ship finished docking. Already, his companions had stirred from their berths, and were queued up ready to depart the ship. Voph's Obsidian robes hung from his shoulders and seemed to wreath him in the very shadows among which he now stood, were it not for the armored plates underneath. One of the final products manufactured from his homeworld's Kinesium metal before focus had shifted to other items.​

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The ramp before him dropped slowly with a distinct hiss of hydraulics, and the squadron of soldiers that accompanied him stepped down in unison, rifles held a the ready, and armor gleaming in the light of the spaceport. They paused, then side stepped in unison, creating a small lane between them, three soldiers to either side. Voph himself followed shortly there after, striding calmly, yet with purpose. His Lightsabers were not immediately visible, but that did not mean he traveled unarmed. True to the creed that the bearers of such weapons often swore, they were concealed within his robes, ready to deploy at a moment's notice if need be. His typical mantle had been replaced with a simple cloth of sheer black. A material of rough quality, but dependable, and sturdy.​

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As Voph reached the front of the formation, the soldiers resumed their march, following Voph who strode with a calm determination, walking directly past the waiting Officer without so much as a greeting, instead forcing the man to quicken his pace to match Voph's if he intended to follow through on the order to escort him. Voph could already see Wilhuf below, he did not need direction. As he arrived in the lobby, his deep, booming Imperial accent rang out through the structure. "I find your welcoming committee to be somewhat lacking, Mister Nargath. While I understand that Eriadu values its privacy above all else, I suggest you modify your existing routines." ​

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Voph came to a halt a respectful distance from the younger Nargath and folded his hands neatly behind him, resting on the small of his back. "Some of the Viceroyalty have a sickening over inflation of their self worth and prefer to be greeted personally. Might be harmful to...negotiations in the future. I will also say that while your defense system is admirable, it could stand to see a good deal of refinement. If a swarm of fighters is what three simple frigates can expect, I dread to think what would await an entire Defense Force fleet dispatched to your aid in the event a border dispute gets out of hand. Things might get...complicated."​

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Voph paused a moment, head tilting to one side slightly. "I am here, as you may have surmised, on official business. I desire to speak with you about the state of Eriadu, and what, if anything, the Confederacy can do to make the lives of its citizens better. You had best pick a meeting room with comfortable chairs. We may be discussing things for a considerable length of time." Then, as if forgetting something, Voph's head turned to the side, and he gestured to his right, indicating the soldiers that flanked him. "My Nephilim will remain with us for the duration of my stay on this planet, if you have no objections. There are those that are overly concerned for my safety." Voph smiled in a manner that suggested he was only asking to be polite. "I'm sure you understand."​

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Wilhuf Nargath

 

[Wilhuf Nargath]

Location: Valkan Citadel, Valkan Guard, Eriadu City Space Port
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Life as a member of the House Nargath was never an easy task, no matter what others thought. Ofcourse they possessed an immeassurable wealth, many assets spread over many more worlds and the best guard discipline and loyalty could offer, but Wilhuf knew that he would not be the one inheriting it all. No, the one things his family truly had was an iron, indomitable will, that one thing he seemed to lack. He wasn't as smart as his brother, he wasn't as cold, as ruthless or as calculating, so he always felt to be second best. However, Wilhuf knew, that his brother relied on him, more so than any other. He had allowed Wilhuf to rule in his stead for years, had given him the keys to the Nargath fortune and had trusted him with the responsibility.

The second son of the House Nargath knew he was not like his brother, he could not stand up with a straight back against a man like the one who was now approaching him, but he would try. If it werent for the sake of his brother, it would be for the sake of his people, his family, his home. As Kyyrk showered the man with one complaint after another, Wilhuf kept his back straight, even if there were beads of sweat appearing above his brow, he mnaged to at the very least show that he was not entirely without a spine. "I am certain your wise views are appreciated, honourable Lord Commander," With a slight bow, stretching out an arm, Wilhuf hoped to properly guide the members of the inquisition. "I would've hoped to bring you to the Valkan Citadel, but alas...with such a delegation of armed men, it would be less...acceptable, so if you wouldn't mind, I have asked for central command to prepare on of the conference rooms here in the meantime."

It wasn't impossible to bring every member of this delegation to the Valkan citadel, in a sense it would've probably been a lot safer, no matter how much faith or trust the Baron placed in this Lord Commander. However, to have those men enter not just his own home, but the home of his brother and over a thousand guards, servants, family members, officals and more, would also be something he could not justify, certainly not when these men were unsupervised by Nargath means or Eriadu control. "The defense systems as they are now are based primarily on absolute security, so though I do understand your concerns in regards to them, I would say they fully follow the sentiment recently exclaimed by the newly appointed Exarch, motioning for a more pro-active rather than a reactive defense," Leading the Lord Commander and his men through a few corridors, the interim Viceroy and his handful of guards stopped in front of a double sliding door, which gave entrance to a large hall with a large conferencetable near a screen, with a multitude of smaller tables and placements neatly arranged within it. "This is the conferenceroom usually reserved for council meetings and discussions revolving around all facets of the Eriadu System's economy, defense and population. I reckon you will find ample of space in here along with food and beverages at the kitchen and cantina area at the side."

Motioning the Lord Commander to move in first, Wilhuf could hardly refrain himself from letting out a sigh, being fairly certain that Credius would've probably lead this whole group to the Valkan Citadel anyway, but than again, his brother liked to show his power, flaunt it in others' faces, while Wilhuf just wanted to avoid any unwanted attention. "For your accomodations, we can open up the officer's barracks of the security force or if you'd be willing to only take a handful of your men with you, I can provide accomodations within the Valkan citadel itself."

Tag: Kyyrk ​

 

[Kyyrk]

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I N Q U I S I T I O N​

Voph walked silently as Wilhuf explained their reasoning behind the defenses of Eriadu, and explained that he wouldn't be permitted within the halls of the Citadel. Voph arched a brow as Wilhuf explained this. He refrained from commenting immediately, however, instead walking silently into the conference hall and selecting a seat. "My immediate entourage will not need lodging. We do not plan to be on world that long. The contingent of Knights that travels with us, however, will need a suitable base of operations. They are to be stationed here until the Confederacy deems Eriadu's security at a suitable enough position that you have no further need of our assistance. If you have lodgings available within the Citadel, that would be adequate."​

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Voph leaned back in his selected chair, gesturing to one nearby for Wilhuf to sit. In the same gesture, Voph pulled out a datapad and placed it on the table, putting it into recording mode. "This is Lord Commander Voph, on planet Eriadu, discussing the state of the planet with acting Viceroy Wilhuf Nargath. Acting Viceroy, all further conversation between us shall be recorded and submitted to the office of the Vicelord, along with my personal assessments and recommendations. Should you wish to access these records, requests may be submitted with the office of the Vicelord for submission of the records to the Viceroyalty, to be reviewed in a public forum."​

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Voph turned to look at Wilhuf and smiled thinly. Having said his disclaimer, it was time to begin. "So, Acting Viceroy, I understand that your...older brother, was it, has just resigned from the office of Viceroy, leaving you as the interim until the next election can be completed. This, at a time of great uncertainty and instability, means that you have inherited a quite unenviable position. My purpose here today, as stated before, is to assess the state of Eriadu, and inform the Vicelord what must be done to bring it back to standard. If you have any opening remarks you would like to make, for the record, you may state them now. Otherwise, I have prepared a series of questions I should like to ask you before our business has concluded..."​

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Wilhuf Nargath​

 

[Wilhuf Nargath]

Location: Valkan Citadel, Valkan Guard, Eriadu City Space Port
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Pouring himself a cup of brew, the interim viceroy looked at the Lord Commander, not sure wether or not the blindfolded man could even understand visual cues. Slightly discomforted by this fact, the middle aged man grumbled a bit like something seemed to be stuck within his throat. "I do not wish to deter you from your job, but would you care for a cup of brew, Lord commander...it might come in handy if this conversation would be more than just a simple arrangement to ascertain that the situation on Eriadu is well within the parameters of the Confederacy," Holding out a cup and the pot, each in a respective hand, the middle aged man really felt like some kind of clutz, trying to yet again employ visual clues to someone who at first notice was blind as a bat from a non-force sensitive perspection. "My apologies...I am most certain you use this force cockamany to 'see', am I right? Never understood that whole thing, even with my brother's fascination on the subject."

Giving up on trying to appease the Lord commander, Wilhuf sat down on the chair opposite to the one the Lord Commander chose, feeling slightly surprised that they were much more comfortable than he had initially expected them to be, letting out a sigh in relief that at the very least he wouldn't have to worry about feeling sore all over his body after all this. "Well, if your men can refrain from any undesired behavior, they are most welcome to temporarily set up base in the west wing of the Valkan Citadel, near the Valkan Guards themselves," Thinking about the fact that this would also mean that the Lord Commander would be residing in the west wing, the man nodded. "Or maybe the north wing...yes, given that is more fitting for a man of your station, perhaps the north wing is more suitable."

The tone of voice, the way he conducted himself, it all showed the Lord Commander's disdain for his brother and probably eriadu itself. Wilhuf may not have been some political savant or some force sensitive genius, but he could see with his own eyes that the man in front of him relished this opportunity to walk all over Eriadu and its leadership. No sweet talking or factual effort would work here, this Lord Commander was dangerous, not just to himself or his family, but to his people. "I might agree on the fact that it is not an enviable time to be a viceroy in any kind...My brother was after all quite the popular man in these regions of the galaxy," The man sighed, taking a good swig from his cup of brew. "Your intentions are so clear that even a simple man as myself can see what's going on. Rather than simply assessing the prosperity and welfare of our people, you are trying to find something deeper underneath this veneer of peaceful conversation."

Letting out another sigh, the acting viceroy gently waved with one hand, as if to remove any ill intent. "Eriadu has been beyond the confederacy's standard from the beginning...we did not ask for help or your graceous military presence...it just happened to us," This wasn't a lie, Eriadu did simply fall within Confederate space when some borders were redrawn, with the resulting loss of independence and self reliance falling hard on the planet's culture and self governance. "I'm not a fool to deny that the Confederacy poses a lot of great opportunities to my people, who could spread their culture of selfworth and selfrespect to many a world who have just been liberated and do not yet know how to truly express and develop their identity in the face of the great galaxy they are now part of...but you can't ignore that the majority of past incidents within the region are solely to blame on the inefficiency of the Confederacy at large."

Taking a swig from his brew, the man rubbed his forehead for a moment, slightly annoyed by his own words. "What I mean to say is, I understand your job...probably more than you think. You are sent out to improve the efficiency of the confederacy in more than just the political way, and I understand you can't just be wearing a different pair of gloves for every culture and people you come accross while doing your job. Anyway, fogive me...I did not wish to sound ungrateful or disrespectful...but I can't shake this feeling that your visit is more personal in nature than you would let me believe, Lord Commander."

tag: Kyyrk ​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

I N Q U I S I T I V E​

Wearing: xxx
Tag: Kyyrk | Wilhuf Nargath

For a time Gerwald remained quiet. His eyes focused on the man who seemed to be the replacement. These talks were being recorded, that was a good thing. Anything said, intentionally or otherwise, would be on the record going forward. As far as Gerwald could determine the pride of the Nargath family was a common trait amongst them all. Eyes rolled as the interim leader seemed to indicate it was the inefficiency of the Confederacy which led to this meeting. That somehow it was a ruse.

Gerwald could not remain quiet at the accusations.

“I can assure you we are not here as some ruse to cover our own backsides, and your brother’s popularity in the surrounding systems is not as great as you or he would like to think. I find most people who make such claims tend to have an overinflated view of their own significance.”

Harsh? Perhaps, but politicians needed humbling at times.

“We are here to determine why your Vicelord was being fed information by a masked man, told what to say by a masked man, and when such behavior was brought to light he behaved in such a way that only furthered suspicions rather than quell them. You may make whatever claims you like about how Eriadu finds itself in the Confederacy, but you were not conquered. The laws of the Confederacy your esteemed brother had the privilege to help shape not only allow us to investigate our suspicions on behalf of the Vicelord, but also upon entering the Confederacy he made an agreement on behalf of all Eriadu that they would submit to any such investigation.”

Gerwald paused for a moment as he thought about how he wanted to use his next words.

“We can either continue to banter in endless debate about the credibility of the law, or who is to blame, which will lead down a path none of us wish to take, or we cooperate with each other and the process you as acting Viceroy are personally accountable to adhere to. Perhaps we can begin by agreeing that your brother’s actions have put you in an unfair position? A position that you can make much more comfortable for yourself if you drop the pretense.”​

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[Kyyrk]

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I N Q U I S I T I O N​

Voph arched a brow at Wilhuf as he asked if Voph was able to see. He watched Wilhuf quietly as he spoke. Spoke of how the Confederacy had arrived unwelcomed onto Eriadu. And how Eriadu had been better off without the Confederacy. A fact that Master Lechner was quick to dispute. Voph steepled his fingers together, bringing his right leg up to rest on his left knee at the ankle. "The right to autonomy is guaranteed. The Confederacy will never infringe upon a world's right to self-rule, or self-govern." Voph smiled at Wilhuf. "Does that sound familiar, Mister Nargath? It should, to a man in your position." ​

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Voph's smile faded and his brow furrowed as he concentrated on Wilhuf. It was clear that he was...looking for something. "To claim that your planet has suffered hardships at the hands of the CIS is a serious accusation. And one that I handle with the solemnity that such an accusation begs. This does beg the question: In what way has the Confederacy wronged the people of Eriadu? And I do expect a specific answer. With evidence to support your claim." Voph gestured over his shoulder, and the Nephilim soldiers filed out of the room. They missions elsewhere. Specifically, at a nearby landing pad. If things went well, they would not be needed. If not...Voph would be expecting a guest.​

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Voph sat immobile for a moment, then sat forward, still staring intently at Wilhuf. "Understand, Acting Viceroy, that I hold the authority to remove you from power, and call for a new election. And once that happens, it will be out of my hands. I can help you. But not if I am forced to remove you from office. And do not mistake me: I will remove you from that office if I deem it best for the people of this planet. So I suggest that you think carefully about what you say for the duration of these talks. And I have a feeling that you will."​

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Voph smiled slyly. Someone that knew he was holding a winning hand, and ready to call his opponent's bluff. Politics was only ever a game to Voph. And it was one he was good at. "I heard a whisper on the wind that your family has held control of this planet for generations. Far before the Confederacy ever arrived at your door step. And I get the feeling you and yours have gotten used to this lofty position. Problem is, in my experience, people that have held positions of power often forget about those below them. So understand that what we are speaking of here today is not a negotiation. Should your investment in Eriadu be found lacking, Minister Faye Malvern is awaiting my call on the dreadnought above. A new regime will be established overnight. One that looks out for the interests of Eriadu, not House Nargath. And if I must take that option, then there will be nothing more I can do for you."​

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The smile fell from Voph's face after a moment. "Master Lechner raises an excellent point, however. I would have waited until a more suitable time to approach this subject, but it would seem we have arrived here all the same. I expect Eriadu's full cooperation in tracking down the Masked Man, who I have on excellent authority has murdered a high ranking member of the Confederacy during the unfortunate accident on Ophideraan. The reason I am here today is because I believe that this man, whoever he is, has infiltrated Eriadu at the highest levels. He was present on Geonosis during the announcement of the Inquisition, alongside your Brother. Which raises an excellent question. Can you account for the location of Credius Nargath during the recent Viceroy Assembly?"​

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Wilhuf Nargath | Gerwald Lechner | Faye Malvern

 

[Wilhuf Nargath]

Location: Valkan Citadel, Valkan Guard, Eriadu City Space Port​

Not an ounce of refinement or at the very least decorum was apparently present among these two men. Wilhuf was a kind man, a generous man and someone who always tried to diffuse any aggression in others, but no matter what he did, it seemed these two gentlemen had a personal vendetta against apparently not just the Eriadu system, but more importantly Credius. To make matters worse, their hatred and distrust also seemed to include himself, something which he deeply regretted, as he simply regarded whatever they were doing as part of their job, but when one starts to throw in accussations and the other even twists and distorts the man's own words, it became obvious that being nice and being kind had no place at the table. "It's in times like this, conversations like this I wish I was more like my brother, I truly do," Letting out a sigh, the man rubbed his forehead quietly, obviously distraught with how these so-called guests were treating him while all he did was open his arms to them and accomodate their wihes to the best of his abilities, not to mention taking the blame for a system in place prior to his emergency appointment. "My brother's popularity first and foremost has no bearing in other systems, Lord Lechner, that I am very much aware of. Though does this impopularity stem from his actions or just the fact that he seemed to have a firm stance and stood by the principles he extolled?"

Taking a sip from his cup of brew and refilling it again, the middle aged second son of the House Nargath could only nod his head, surprised by how uncouth and how overly direct these two were, completely unaware of how little Wilhuf's own position meant in the grand scheme of things. "I can't be ruthless as Credius, I'm not a schemer or a plotter, I nver had any grand plans besides seeing my children grow up comfortably and in relative peace," Slamming his hand on the table all of a sudden, the man looked at Gerwald Lechner with a stern, but somewhat disappointed look in his eyes. "I understand that the resignation of my brother came perhaps unexpected, but on the other hand...did your exarch not demand exactly that when extolling the inquisition? That if people disagreed, they should just quit, that it is pointless to have an opinion that doesn't stroke with the opinion of the vicelord? The way you especially are talking right here and now, just affirms that idea. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, help you in whatever way I can, but all you do so far is disrespect me and the integrity of my person. Inquisition or not, lord commander or whatever your title may be, you are lacking in manners and in tact, young man."

It was now more than obvious that a conversation without throwing around accusations and implications seemed to be impossible. So Wilhuf leaned slightly forward, holding two fingers against the ridge of his nose while rubbing it, listening to the words of the Lord Commander in front of him, who just as his colleague was simply twisting his words and piling up accusation after implication. "If you want to call for a new election, I would not stand in your way, but we both know you'd just remove me anyway, this isn't an interrogation or an inquisition, it's a purge and you damn well know it. I have not claimed our planet suffered any hardships under the confederacy, I pointed out what lies at the core of your existence as an inquisition: to get rid of the inefficiency which you can't deny to exist rampantly within the confederacy." The Lord Commander's words sounded like nails on a chalkboard, filled with venom and poison, crude and without an ounce of respect to the person who at the very least had tried to cooperate, only to be insulted, have his words twisted against him and having to hear not only lies, but also false information. It was simply put, torture to just listen to the Lord Commander's proclamations. "You obviously were falsely informed. My family has been the center of wealth for many generations, after we had managed to purchase the Eriadu Manufacturing Shipyards, politically we have always been second fiddle to the Tarkin family up til the assimilation of the Eriadu Ascendancy into the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As for his lofty position, I worked for what I own, I studied hard, worked as an intern on coruscant and managed to earn my keep, again...if you are trying to imply anything of the sorts, do get your facts straight, Lord Commander."

Just like how the Lord Commander's smile disappeared, so to did Wilhuf's patience, rather than continue the talk, the man stood up from his seat and made a bow. "All I know is that my brother was supposed to be at the Viceroyalty assembly, so his claim that he was at home at the Valkan Citadel surprised me just as much as anyone. However, I fear no matter what I say or do, you don't even listen to me anyway, so I shall be taking my leave now, do what you must...it is out of my hands."

With that being said, the man walked over to the exit of the conference room, should he be stopped, so be it, but he had enough of this charade.

Kyyrk | Gerwald Lechner ​

 

[Kyyrk]

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I N Q U I S I T I O N​

Voph sat in silence as Wilhuf rebutted both him and Gerwald. He looked to Gerwald as the man hounded them as being simply attack dogs, loosed to quell insubordination. Which, they were, to an extent. Of course, there had to be insubordination for them to quell. Voph smiled sinisterly as the acting Viceroy called him a "Young Man." Lacking in manners and tact? Voph always had been. Such was the art of war. Say what one meant, and mean what one said. If someone expected to be coddled by the person speaking to them, they had best avoid conversation with Voph.​

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He said nothing as Wilhuf slammed his hand on the table, yet another aggressive gesture towards the two emissaries of the Confederacy. The man seemed...frightened. Perhaps he was hiding something after all? But it mattered not. Wilhuf stood, and declared the matter to be beyond his ability. Of course, as acting Viceroy, that meant only one thing. Voph turned to look at his datapad, and raised his hand lazily as the device flew through the air towards him. "This concludes the interview with Acting Viceroy Wilhuf Nargath, who has decided to wash his hands of the Inquisition. Final recommendation, Minister of Influence Malvern can assess the capabilities of the Acting Viceroy, and oversee the election of the permanent Viceroy. Additionally, a request shall be sent to the Ministry of Science to assess the state of Eriadu's planetary defenses, and make whatever improvements and adjustments they deem necessary. Upon conclusion of this assessment they are to report to the Ministry of War, who will render a final verdict about the viability of the defenses in place. Meanwhile, the Knights Obsidian Company shall remain on planet and assist the residents with system security, conducting operations against any unlawful activities that may be present in the area, and pose significant threat to the people of Eriadu. ​

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Finally, I am declaring the matter of Inquisition on Eriadu closed, until such a time as the permanent Viceroy has been elected, at which time I intend to revisit this planet, in person or by proxy, to reassess the situation alongside a cooperative and understanding counterpart so as to better understand the state of Eriadu's people, and how the Confederacy will best serve her people. This has been Lord Commander Voph, here ends the recording."​

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