Miscalculations [TSE]

[Keva]

[SIZE=11pt]Well, half of life was making mistakes, as some say.[/SIZE]​

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[SIZE=11pt]And Keva had deemed it that she had made a rather potent miscalculation in the banner she would throw herself behind in her personal mission to move her “Great Plan” for the Galaxy forward. The mass of Droids that was the Confederate Military had been her initial goal, diving out from the Ascendancy to the Galactic South. But now? Things felt, inaccurate. Held back, unable to truly unleash her strategies to the fullest. Pragmatism took her only so far, and with only enemies to claim in her rather short career in the CDF. She declared her venture a failure.[/SIZE]​

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[SIZE=11pt]And so her ambitions were moved to the North, the Empire: she found the northern despots much less appealing initially. But she could not deny the effectiveness of Sith philosophy in removing filth from the Galaxy, and the tract record of Carnifex’s Empire was indeed suitable for her goals. And so, in the night, she took an unmarked trade vessel (killing the crew and disposing of them in the void) and pushed for the long trip up north.[/SIZE]​

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[SIZE=11pt]Keva was not unfamiliar with long trips, and it was a simple thing at the end of the day. She wore the uniform she always did, baring her former allegiances on her without fear: another gamble that it would leave her in better graces, make her useful, or it would fail miserably. Such was the fun of these things.[/SIZE]​

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[SIZE=11pt]And so she arrived at the borders of the Empire, making the necessary moves for her vessel to instead be taken into custody aboard a patrolling Destroyer, calmly she had surrendered her two weapons: an old CEDF issued Charric, and a Saber of Jen’ari make she had stolen from the ruins of Zomnira. Brought to the brig of the vessel, the defector was arranged to be spoken to: such was her plan, and it had been going along swimmingly. [/SIZE]​

 

[BobertEZ]

The Marr-class Star Destroyer, Cosmic Dark, was a significant change in location for the Shadowed Phoenix who stood regal and titanic as ever in the brig. It was smaller, more compact and robust in comparison to the massive mobile blockade that was the Ruthless Vanguard which had been left behind at the nearest Imperial Space Dock for routine inspection and repairs.

Cosmic Dark bore no special upgrades, no special titles, no special renown. It was base of the line, the only unique thing about it being its name. Of course, this was perfect for the woman that was caught at the border, this Confederate woman who stood so calmly in the presence of the Empire, in the custody of the Legion, and at the mercy of the Shadowed Phoenix, Darth Raptious. It was nothing special.

Or at least, it was not meant to be.

The titan, shockingly clad in a black leather-armor set engraved with the symbols of the Empire as opposed to their usual power armor, moved past the last set of doors that opened with sharp hisses and closed with baritone thunks. The room in which the woman was kept in was moderate in size, which the titan was grateful for as it allowed for them to stand relatively straight, and was lined with armed guards per the regulations placed by Rear-Admiral Tyths Lore.

"You have made quite the ruckus just appearing out of the dark, like you did," the towering Darth grinned as they stood before the woman like a mountain stood for a village, casting a shadow of impending doom. "Of course, the CDF all have some level of gall and moxie, which I appreciate of course, but they are not stupid. Are they stupid, Legionnaires?"

"No, Your Eminence!" the Legionnaires in attendance responded in smoldering unison.

"No, indeed. At least, not stupid enough to enter Empire Space alone and not stupid enough to surrender their weapons. Of course, your willingness to hand over your weapons and your calm demeanor means to me that you planned for this to happen, so..." Raptious lowered themselves to one knee before the CDF woman and cocked their head to the side, their white eyes bristling with intrigue, a shade of purple casting its glaze over them. "Regale me with your reasoning, Chiss. Who are you and why are you here?"

 

[Keva]

The necessity for all the procedure and guards amused Keva, to some extent. Her face didn’t move an inch to show it though, hard to tell if she was just another droid or really was flesh and blood. All business, it seemed.

[SIZE=11pt]And she was utterly unimpressed with the giant, merely looking up as a simple show of politeness and nothing else. Her voice held the thick accent of someone who was raised on Chenuh and had only recently learned basic, but it had become rather impeccable rather quick. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]She sat silently, merely waiting for him to finish before speaking. Arrogance was what she felt oozing from this one, it seemed to be a common trait. A humorously hypocritical thought.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Correct. This was the most efficient way to enter Imperial space. I have come to offer my services to the Empire.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]And like usual, she was painfully blunt.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt][member="Lorale Farmar"][/SIZE]

 

[BobertEZ]

The Darth smiled at the woman's silent tone. Many had stood, knelt, and prostrated before the Phoenix in pitiful displays of weeping and begging. But not this woman. No, instead she mocked with her eyes and insulted with her blank expressions. If Raptious were the Phoenix of yore, they would have sliced her tongue out and fed her eyes to the Legionnaires for this disrespect.

Yet, Raptious stayed their hand and instead lightly gripped her wrist and rose to their feet, lifting the Chiss woman to her own. For a moment, the Phoenix examined her, impressed with her dedication to appearances.

"'Services to the Empire,' eh? We shall see," the Phoenix grinned widely before turning to the Legionnaire in white-black striped armor. "Lieutenant Godfrey, unchain the woman and see her to the bridge. I would have a more cordial discussion under less constraining conditions."

The soldier, honors and badges shining under the room's light fixture and clanking against the polished white chest plate with his motion, stopped short of his task and turned his head to the Phoenix, "Your Eminence, are you sure this is wise? The woman-"

The Phoenix held up an open hand with a disapproving scowl, "-Is trapped on an Imperial Star Destroyer with no weapons, no layout of the pathways, and surrounded by nearly ten thousand of my finest soldiers. Unchain her...and see her to the bridge."

And with that, Raptious turned and left the room and subsequently the bridge, leaving Godfrey and the soldiers under his iron fist command to escort to the woman towards the bridge, where Raptious had returned with inhuman speed, staring out into the vast darkness of space.

 

[Keva]

Keva was a machine, at the end of the day. Business and her mission was all, all other emotion could and reasoning could be discard: such was her selfish devotion. And after her tenure with the CEDF few things shook her resolve, the scars that lined her face were what proved this; these marks had been "gifts" from the Vaagari scum during one of their many duels with the CEDF, and had developed her passionate hatred for so many species in the Galaxy.

When she rose, she made no sound of alarm of fear. Nothing could be shown, she was to be a worthy vessel of the Empire until she could enact the beginning of her plan: such as she had tried, and failed, with the Confederacy. She stayed her tongue as the two spoke, if she wanted them wounded or dead the room would've already had exploded and the damage would be dealt. The perfect opportunity had already passed, giving a nod to the Legionaries who removed her bonds she made her way to the bridge.

Didn't know the layout of the ship, eh? She would teach them, so she took her leisurely time (or as much as would be allowed) gauging what she could of her surroundings, which officers walked where, the look of hallways, and beyond. She moved as one would except of a being raised on military procedure and knowledge, almost inhumanly stiff and methodical. But arrival, she stayed silent: the Lord could do the majority of the speaking.

[member="Lorale Farmar"]

 

[BobertEZ]

The bridge of the ship was alight with activity as the Phoenix made their return, each step thunderous with purpose, to be followed by the Legionnaires escorting the woman with equal thunderous purpose. Services to the Empire. What a proposal. What an idea. What a possibility.

The woman would have to prove herself, of course, would have to plea her case with words more than grunts. She would have to prove herself in a trial. She would have to survive. Raptious had no doubts that she would, however, judging by what they saw in the brig. Her emotions, or lack there of, were those of someone who knew how to survive, who knew when to speak, who knew what to do and say. If she survived, if she proved herself, she would go very far in the Empire.

Of that, the Phoenix was sure. Yet, they still had to keep up appearances for the spiel to ensure the woman was on the up and up.

"Tell me, Chiss," the Phoenix uttered when the woman was brought to the bottom of the three stairs leading up to the control desks. "What is it that you can offer to the Sith Empire? What skills...do you believe you possess that will ensure I do not cut you down right now?"

[member="Keva"]​

 

[Keva]

A wolf among sheep. That is what she was, to an extent: the ability to act was not in her hands, but few would truly grasp the vile cruelness that lurked within her mind. Such detached pragmatism, this detached coldness would have her consign a billion souls to the void without so much as a second thought. She was efficiency made manifest.

But former records would not confer good standing, she knew this: no one liked a defector (opportunist, she would call herself.), and the knowledge that the days ahead would be long and hard were without a doubt assured. Her eyes laid on the sith, after all. She wanted to tap in the well of the Force that laid within her, all but unused save for her destructive and violent outburst in the fires of Yag'dhul.

"Approximately 7 standard years of military experience, combining time under both the Confederacy and Chiss Defense forces. I broke the Jen'ari's defense on Zomnira and have waged war at the forefront many times before when I laid under the banner of the Confederacy. Of course, I possess a thorough understanding of the Confederacy's Droids as well."

And where experience failed: snitching always drew eyes.

[member="Lorale Farmar"]

 

[BobertEZ]

Raptious smiled once again, a common sight on this day, as the woman bluntly explained her skill set that would benefit the Sith Empire. She was experienced in warfare and no doubt could be given towards her bravery, her moxie in the face of one who could have easily snapped her bones with a wave of a hand. But she stopped the Phoenix from doing this. Just by being herself.

The woman, as Raptious had decided in the brig, was as good a recruit into the Empire as any. She would be nothing major at first, even with the slivers of Force hidden within her, the Force they felt the woman struggle to suppress. She would rise, however, and quickly and had the potential to be a force of reckoning if allowed to bloom freely.

But Raptious needed to play the part, for letting someone in so easily without question would create questions. And the Shadowed Phoenix hated being asked questions for their decisions.

"And I suppose," Raptious began after letting the woman's words soak in the air for a few moments. "That you believe simple combat experience and knowledge of droids are good reasons to let you in, let alone a defector? What say you, Godfrey, are those good reasons?"

The Lieutenant shook his head curtly, "Not at all, Your Eminence. A test would be needed to be conducted, for sure."

"Yes, and...where do you think a good place would be for this woman's...skills?" Raptious completed the statement with a rotation of their wrist as if unconvinced with the word.

The Lieutenant thought for a good moment before snapping his fingers, "The Helix Syndicate Maximum Security Prisons? See if she could break one or two of the prisoners out without being caught and bring them to us at a location of our choosing."

The Phoenix smirked and nodded, "And what would we do with such prisoners, Godfrey?"

"Feed them to the Helgardi, Your Eminence?"

The Sith Lord laughed heartily and clapped their hands loudly, "Yes, I like that. That is good. Very well, set a course for Jaemus and outfit the woman with what you would bring for such a mission."

[member="Keva"]​

 

[Keva]

"I am not some moronic commando, I am a commander of military forces."

Truthfully, she was insulted at the work laid before her. It was the work of those outside the realm of true command, the sort that would get in the way of one of her barrages moronically hunting for glory. Of course, she spoke that one from experience: a fun little fistfight that was afterwards. But she stifled her annoyance. Returning back to the cold unfeeling mess, maybe the Empire wouldn't work out. At the very least she could gain some semblance of strength within the underworld scum for the time being, allies to gain and dispose of later.

She merely clasped her hands behind her back. She hid her disappointment well, much rather just level the thing and take whoever survived the bombardment.

[member="Lorale Farmar"]

 

[BobertEZ]

The Phoenix was mostly silent during the short journey to Jaemus. While the woman was quick to hide it, the Sith had felt her annoyance at the announcement of her objective. Of course the Sith knew the mission was beneath her, that she would be better suited in leadership. It just didn't work that way in the Sith, but Raptious would do everything they could under a veil to get the woman to the heights they knew she could reach.

"If she proves herself successful, Lieutenant...put in a word through the ranks that the woman needs reeducation for Imperial Leadership positions," the Phoenix said with a whisper to Godfrey.

The Lieutenant's face was hidden, but Raptious knew his mouth fell slightly open, "Your Eminence? Are you sure-"

The Phoenix nodded smoothly like running water, "Yes. Whether she succeeds or not is up to her, but...I can feel her potential. If she's taught the way the Empire runs the show...then she...she will do wonders here."

"I-yes, Your Eminence."

The bridge fell into silence, even as the hyperspace travel ended and Jaemus came into view. The Phoenix cracked a great smile across their face and turned to walk to the armory where the woman would hopefully have suited up for her mission.

[member="Keva"]​

 

[Keva]

This was going to be a disaster.

Keva knew this, but still she carried on. Beneath her? Maybe, to some extent. Totally unqualified? Absolutely. She did lead from the front often, but that meant nothing to exact extraction procedure: she would bend the rules wherever able, of course. But she was on her own, and would undoubtedly fail.

Should she have stayed? Probably. But the dive had been made and she would play with her unfortunate hand, until something tore her to ribbons at least. Well, as long as she had some sort of moderate ordinance this could actually work. Maybe just break out the whole damn prison, probably easier.

These wide throwing thoughts remained purely in her head, her face didn’t move an inch. It was cold and static, not unlike a droid’s: must’ve happened when you surrounded yourself with machines long enough. She heard them speak, of course: stakes were laid, but they meant nothing. Merely food for thought, she decided.

[member="Lorale Farmar"]

 

[BobertEZ]

This was going to be entertaining.

The Phoenix found the woman as stoic as ever in the armory, outfitted for the job as best she could. It would be a great time watching her figure out the winding tunnels of the prison, looking to break out a very specific prisoner that Raptious desired to kill personally after having gain the false emotions of hope.

While she was specified towards very specific roles, as she had stated, and as she radiated ever so subtly from her suppressed emotions, she would do well here, as long as she remained calm as she was here and remained in contact with the Sith Lord.

While the guards in the prison were many, and the security as top notch as can be, there were still weaknesses that she would be able to identify. Everything had weaknesses, and judging by the slight emotions the Phoenix felt from the woman, they could assume she knew that as well about the ship she was currently held on.

"You will be dropped in an area secluded enough to secure your entry in. One of the guards in the station near your objective has been notified that someone will be entering for a training exercise and has been ordered to complete secrecy lest her family be 'removed.' She is 5'7 and is armed with an automatic blaster rifle. She will be wearing a sergeant insignia on her armor. You will have to use the code word 'nullify' to let her know it's you. Everything before and after that is up to your discretion. The ship's stopping in orbit is being noted as a simple check up of systems prior to moving on. The shuttle in the hangar is modified for stealth drops. It is waiting for you now. Understood?"

[member="Keva"]

 

[Keva]

Keva had next to no clue what actually needed to be done. The most annoying of “first time operations”, but she would just have to persevere like she did. And the actual way to make her way through would undoubtedly leave her superiors less than pleased.

[SIZE=11pt]But any option was given and she has chosen the most foreign one to her, to be a moronic brain dead commando who just tried to blow things up and shoot blasters to fix her problems. Can’t be found if everyone was dead. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Not her finest moment, but it’d work well enough.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]She was a small arsenal of weapons, loading up on about as much small ordinance as she could fit, a rifle strapped over her back, an extra pistol hooked on next to her ancient and beloved Charric, and on her other hip hooked her Lightsaber: that ever crucial aspect to making this nonsense work. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Understood.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]In the advent of such a viciously impractical mission like this, Keva was a soft spoken woman. Few words were needed to get a message across, and she needed to think. Finally making her way down to the planet, she strode forward to what she assumed to be the guard with a confident stride: never was a bad idea to make it look like you actually belonged there. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Nullify.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Was the only word she bothered saying, stepping forward into the prison itself with little regard for the woman’s response. Gazing around briefly, she looked for the nearest thing that looked like a vent.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt][member="Lorale Farmar"][/SIZE]