Private They Never Even Asked Me Any Questions...

[Ronhar Tane]

CAPTAIN RONHAR TANE, TK-3301
IMPERIAL CORRECTIONS DIRECTORATE [I.C.D]
COMMISSION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVILIAN INTERESTS [C.O.M.E.C.I]

The first time that Ronhar met the Warden Primus, he had been rather intimidated by Her . Now, he was downright terrified.

The arrest warrants had seemingly come out of nowhere, and the entirety of the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant had been blindsided by the news. Ronhar's team had spent hours trying to figure out why he was being called in, to no avail. After a night of intense debate over what to do about it, Ronhar had made the difficult decision to voluntarily surrender himself for questioning, traveling to the Imperial Corrections Directorate to face his destiny once and for all.

The process had gone relatively smoothly, as Ronhar had been allowed to walk in without being arrested or placed in Stuncuffs, though he had been required to surrender anything that the I.C.D thought could be used as a weapon. Ronhar had been half convinced that they would even take his cybernetics arms, but he had at least been allow to keep them, though Ronhar found himself effectively unarmed for all intents and purposes.

Not that it really mattered in the first place, since if they wanted him dead, their wouldn't be a whole lot he could do about it. At the very least, he didn't think that the I.C.D was actively trying to kill him. If they were, they wouldn't have tipped him off in the first place. No, they wanted something from him, though Ronhar couldn't possibly guess what it was. After all, despite his reputation and rising status in the Imperial Confederation, he was still just a Captain, and he was sure their was much that he wasn't really privy to.

Regardless, that wasn't what the I.C.D thought. As Ronhar entered the interrogation room, he stopped and gave a crisp military salute before dropping both of his arms behind his back as he stood at ease. Then, he spoke:

"Before we begin, I must deliver a statement. My presence here today is neither an admission of guilt nor an acknowledgement of any perceived wrongdoings. The Mahporeem Imperial Remnant finds itself quite alarmed by the statements and actions of the Imperial Corrections Directorate, which is I am here today. However, my presence here does come with an attached condition. Should I not return to the Imperial Remnant within a standard Galactic Week, the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant will immediately withdraw its membership from the Imperial Confederation along with the forces operating under its command. This is not due to a misguided sense of compassion for my specific situation, but is rather a reaction to the actions taken by this office. The Mahporeem Imperial Remnant fears that this office is acting with the malicious intent and tactics of the Galactic Empire, our most hated foe. That being said, the Imperial Remnant does wish to reaffirm its complete and unyielding loyalty to the Imperial Confederation and the principles that it stands for, and remains committed to ensuring eventual Imperial victory over the foes that wish to see us fail. For the moment, we remain your humble servants."

With that, Ronhar kneeled down on one knee in subservience. Yet the question remained, how much of what Ronhar said was true? Did he make this whole thing up in a desperate attempt to save his own hide? Was the Imperial Remnant truly willing to back him up, if not because they cared about him because they hated the Empire and what it stood for more? Would they really make good on their "threat" to leave the Confederation if Ronhar was harmed, or were they willing to sacrifice him if needed in order to stay in the good graces of the I.C.D?

Honestly, it was impossible to tell, and if Ronhar were lying, his face betrayed no mention of it. Still, Ronhar couldn't help but feel nervous. After all, this was the Warden Primus, one of the most power people in the entire Confederation. Ronhar really hoped he wouldn't be executed on the spot for what he had said, despite the importance of him saying it. He was already figuring an escape plans if things went south, which would be a rather difficult endeavor already considering he didn't have any of his regular weapons on him.

At least they had let him keep his blast vest and jacket. Whether or not Ronhar would need them remained to be seen, but he certainly didn't want to leave anything to chance...

TAGS:
Her

 

[Her]

---

---

New Alderaan, Outer Rim Territories;
The Imperial Corrections Directorate.

---

"Under the direction of Warden Primus, known only as Her, the ICD is slowly transforming into more than a correctional branch. It is becoming a hub of strategic knowledge, psychological warfare, and silent influence within the Confederation. Through its interrogations and access to captured enemies, Her gathers intelligence beyond official reporting lines—insights into the motives, fears, and vulnerabilities of her enemies. Her adversaries may think they are free, or in control—but eventually, all roads lead to Her halls."
-- Excerpts describing the ulterior objectives of the Imperial Corrections Directorate.

---

The interrogation cell is cramped, and dark. No sunlight here, with the only source of illumination provided by an artificial light hanging somewhere in the ramparts. It had been purposefully dimmed as well so as to make the room feel even smaller than what it already was, and the tension is palpable in this room. Unnerving, with a loud silence permutating throughout the cell, with no real noise in the din to distract, or other some form of normalcy, and comfort to remind you that you are you. You can't even hear the outside in here.

Her, colloquially known by the title of Warden Primus, is one of two occupants in the cell. The other is a captive, and he doesn't know why he has been treated this way. It hasn't been right at all. Elsewhere on the planet it is a standard 22:31 hours on New Alderaan, but it might as well have been next year as far as Tane is concerned. Day and night have disappeared down here. Only memory and wits has given him a semblance of time, and Her has made the Captain wait a long time. Far too long. It is an intimidation tactic. No doubt it was obvious attempt to unnerve and unsettle Ronhar. But it is long and tried tactic for a reason.

When you are alone, in a dark space for hours on end, it tends to have a psychological impact.

Questions stir in the mind, and when you have thought about them for long enough, your brain wanders to other places. Perhaps happier, or darker times that fill you feelings of nostalgia, or melancholy; and if you wait long enough, if you're in there for a long, long time, the brain turns off. You just can't help it. It is the human condition to seek survival, and to learn how to cope in these conditions. When the subject is finally met with company, even if it is given by someone like Her, they are more responsive, and open because anything is better than going back to that place where you were left alone. Tried and trusted interrogation tactics. 101. The type taught in classes, and only administrated well by professionals.

It is apparent right away that the woman standing across from him is a cold person as well. The captain has been in this cell for a long time, and not even the basic amenities have been allowed. No water, there has been no toilet break, or even a meal has been provided. Thirteen standard hours have elapsed since Tane landed in New Aldera to turn himself into the I.C.D where he was promptly escorted (by armed guard) to this cell to rot, and up until now, he has been left here to his own devices, in a cold, room with low lighting and a supply of sterilized air provided by the overhanging scrubbers that are eerily quiet in their efficiency, with no food, water or the chance to use the bathroom.

Her's prisoner is war hero, and the likes of him shouldn't be treated like he is a criminal. This man is Ronhar Tane, a captain of the Imperial Mahporeem Remnant, who negotiated the successful application of his homeland and transition into the Imperial Confederation, who served in the arm conflicts at Brosi, Coruscant and Atrisia against the sworn enemies of the state. Merit alone should have given him the basics of respect, and dignity. Yet, this woman standing across from him provided none of it.

The message is clear: you have done something wrong. Even if you do not know what it is that you have done.

"Before we begin, I must deliver a statement. My presence here today is neither an admission of guilt nor an acknowledgement of any perceived wrongdoings..."

A pair of cold eyes watched the captain talk, and when he was done, they stared at him a while longer. Red, crimson, and beautiful as they are haunting. Cold, and unyielding. These eyes have seen a lot, and their owner doesn't reply to a single word he just said. Words fail in the face of indomitability, and absolution. Threats, promises, or outcome pale in comparison to the moment, and in this moment she is the powerful, and he is the weak. He knows it as well, or wouldn't even gone into such description of what happens to the ifs and maybes of today or tomorrow.

All Tane has done is to tell Her that he is frightened, and that was what the Warden Primus wanted from him.

Quietly, Her walks around Ronhar as he kneels there, and approaches the other side of the cell. She doesn't tell him to get up from the ground, and leaves him to figure it all out. God, this woman is cruel. Not even a chair, or bed was given for the man to sit and rest upon since he was escorted and left here. All he was given were cold walls and a floor. As she comes to a stop, Her raises her hand to a crevice and produces a numerical keypad, where she types something in, and in a instant a recess opens from the side. She reaches in, and produces a seat (just for herself), which she then proceeds to close up the drawer, and when it is sealed again, she proceeds to unfold the metallic chair to sit down facing the captain.

At last, Her breaks the silence, and speaks.

"I will inform you, Tane, that the Exarch has released a second statement since the directorate announced our investigation into his decision to enact the forty-two a special measure," Her explained. "Under the legislation enacted by the commission a detainment and incarceration concerning yourself is illegal. You are free to leave at any time, and this is not an interrogation."

Thirteen hours in a cell. Thirsty, hungry, and desperate to use the bathroom. Cold, and left to rot here until time itself seemed to blur or go missing. Treated like you have done something wrong, like a criminal, after traveling an entire parsec just to reach New Alderaan, only to be told that you can leave at time that you want to, and to imply that you haven't done anything wrong in the place to justify it at all.

Injustice. Corrupt?

Her leans forward in her seat, and begins to give Tane ideas as to why he is here then. "I want to talk to you about the Nargath and Zanarath Umbrella Corporation. I want to talk about Project Tion, and I want to talk to you about Mahporeem. Then, I want to talk to you about the Exarch. But the first thing I want you to tell me about is this..."

Reclining back into the chair, folding one leg over the other, Her studies Tane calculatedly, and coldly.

"... Do you hate the Sith Order, Captain Tane?"

---