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Post by Zanear the Edge on Jan 27, 2011 22:31:40 GMT -5
"Woah woah...wait!" She hissed, all wide eyed and bother, tugging on his arm when she felt they were a safe distance away not to be heard back in the main atrium, " Tricks? You mean they won't have seen that? What if he goes back and views the footage...if he wonders just what happened to his memory back there?" No, she really did not know how this mind trickery worked, or even if that was what he had used, but was she really willing to take the risk? In time she would learn to become accustomed to such nuances, such methods, but for the time being, if there was some small chance he might miss something, she would need to ask. Thankfully for her, he had an explanation waiting in the wings, and she had been about to reply to it when they had both heard people approaching from the other end of the corridor.... "Oh stars, please don't let that be Kaur...." Arri murmured to herself, raising a hand to brush back her hair from her face, the stress beginning to take it's toll, why couldn't they be there already? This was all they needed! Out of nowhere Zanear seemed to spin to face her, and before she knew what was happening, he had her pushed back hard against the unforgiving wall, his hands entangled in her hair, palms cupping her face whilst he pressed his lips, and indeed his body, against her own. She didn't fight it, no matter how initially incredulous she had been, far from it, the incredulity was the only reason she hadn't pulled him closer! Reciprocating in kind, she embraced him, kissing him back with a fiery passion - that, had felt unbelievably good. Breathless when he drew back, she was still a little stunned to say or do anything at first, save to smile with adoration, but inevitably that had been for distractions sake, and when she did turn her gaze upon the retreating group, she breathed a sigh of relief....Kaur was not among them. "Nice tactics...." the blonde mused through the smile tugging at her lips, and judging by how flushed her complexion was right now, she really meant it. "I will have to remember that one next time we wish to go overlooked." His smile in return was all the answer she got, plus the fact that his hands went down her back and grabbed her bum once again, a two handed squeeze that let her know that there was more to come, and soon. Disentangling herself from their wall bound embrace, she continued up the hallway, ever closer to their destination, they weren't far now, just a few more meters and they would literally be at his door. "You're going to need to do that camera trick again, I'm also going to need you to type in a series of instructions into the keypad of that door when we get there....they have my biometrics on file, if the security who were chasing us are worth what their wages suggest, they have already put a trace out on what details they have regarding both of us. That means my retinal, print and anything else you can think of scans, and you? I'd say like you did, they probably have a very good memory when it comes to what you look like." How many Falleen could they say they had seen this week? Not many, that was for sure. he said in mock exasperation, gently teasing her. As for prints, no they didn't take any, but I'm sure I was scanned. Again, no problem. Like I said lover, I have a few tricks. He winked at her at the end of it, not letting the little things bother him. They knew little of him, and at some point, he'd just become a legend. The one that got away. He chuckled to himself at that thought. It wasn't the first time he'd let that impression. Waving him on, she padded softly up the corridor, bare feet making no sound at all on the now utillity carpeted floor, this would make their approach a little easier, but blind them in terms of hearing as to if someone was coming in the other direction. Thankfully, though, the journey passed without event, and she paused around the side of the entrance archway to Kaur's private offices. This was where the fun truly began. Shifting her attention to Zanear, she gestured silently towards the archway, when he'd managed to deal with the holocams, then she would explain how to use that keypad.... or he could just rip it off the wall, but that would surely announce their arrival. In the interest of fun and chaos, she wagered he might do just that for the sake of it. Once again he Flashed the holocams. He was sorely tempted to make a grand entrance, he really wanted to... Oh what the hell... he muttered, and drew one of his tonfas. Igniting the deep red blade, he jammed it into the control panel and twisted it, sparking the whole thing and shutting down the ciricut. He then closed his eyes and focused, using the Force to pry open the locks, and then the main door itself. Once open, he nodded to Arri. After you my dear. |
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Post by kharivestra on Jan 28, 2011 15:39:06 GMT -5
She hadn't really spoken her thoughts, she surmised, he was no doubt in the dark as to her intentions. Best resolve that then.
"Not at all, Klask might be imperial at heart but he is no fool. The very fact he was an imperial officer is the reason he would be the last person I would investigate." Khari informed him with a dismissive shake of her head, "There is little chance that the Imperial miliary would have him back if he stooped down to the level of a lowly informant. However, he does hold within that skull of his, a knowledge of imperial procedure, and I am hoping it pertains in some respect to the methods used to gather information."
Khari afforded him a saccharine smile, devoid of all warmth, she knew fine well Klask might disagree with divulging that information. There was every chance that before his discharge from the Imperial Navy he had signed a waver to ensure he kept whatever classified knowledge he knew, just that, classified.
"I'm sure he'd prefer what I offer to the alternative. There is a pending investigation into just why he enabled the Atrocity to enter the system unhindered, one that the Ten are not going to like. If he were to then use what knowledge he has to do us a favour, it would go a long way to proving his loyalty."
Resting back against him, Khari allowed him to enfold her in his embrace, placing her own arms atop his as she leaned into it slightly. The kisses only relaxed her further, made her smile with mild relief. Things weren't all that bad at after all, they might just be able to salvage something from the mess with the grey Jedi too.
A measure of amusement coursed it's way through her mind and made her issue a small chuckle at that suggestion. Somehow she imagined that the pair of miscreants weren't going to be all that pleased at hearing from them again, especially since a small job had turned into such a monumental catastrophe last time. But as far as giving them that Light-Stealth 18 went...
"Just like that?" Turning somewhat in his embrace, she casually bit down slightly on her lower lip as she considered this for a few seconds - it would keep things off the record. "I will find the time to make that possible. All they need do is collect it...though we will make that somewhere outside the transfer zones this time I think. I do not think Port security will be too pleased to see either of them again too soon."
From across the room, eminating from the table, a shrill sounding tone filled the air demanding attention. The Kuati's brows rose in acknowledgement and she slipped from Tress' arms to cross the distance between the viewport and the table it's self. There she depressed the small touchpad that had her in contact with the secretary again.
"Lady Vestra, Colonel Klask wishes to inform you he is en route."
"Wonderful, when he arrives send him straight through."
They could wait here for the time being, she had no hurry to be elsewhere, though the subject of the potential break in at her personal apartment had her somewhat unnerved. No doubt Klask would have an update on that matter also.
"Of course."
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Post by Heg'zi A Klask on Jan 28, 2011 16:48:14 GMT -5
Klask gets off the transport and heads for the turbolift to the higher executive levels. As he steps into the reception area he figures he will be in for the old "get-here-quick-then-wait protocol", he is thrown when the reception assistant welcomes him with a smile and sends him in.
While he is a stoic old man, he cannot help but notice that the CEO has yet another beautiful blond female assistant. That of course leads his mind down another path entirely... he will be forced to report on her other assistant, and that she and the Falleen are not in custody.
With a weary pull on his chin, takes a deep breath, and adopts the militarized version of the expressionless "game-face" Kuati are famous for.
That lasts all of several seconds, for as he walks in he sees Chairbeing Vestra standing behind the large conference table obviously having been discussing some matter with the Senator.
He has not planned for Zann to be here... It seems they were glued at the hip now, and that would not be good. Why had he not left with the Regent? Was the Imperials pressing for greater control over KDY and what would that entail? He would be damned if there was to be any Imperial Governor or worse Moff over this sector unless they were Kuati... And it would have to be a dark day on Tattooine before he would let a Zann into that spot.
In a flash all of these thoughts play out on his face in some capacity, too much has gone on and been left hanging these last few days for it not to break anyone's composure had they been in his position. After that difficult moment of hesitation he recovers.
With a click of his heals and a salute to Khari... and a head-nodding bow to Tress
"Lady Vestra, Senator... "
He had planned to give an update report immediately, but found himself holding back letting the pair of them make the first comments. After all there would be no sense in wasting his breath if they were about to tell him he was under arrest.
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Post by tress on Jan 29, 2011 7:09:33 GMT -5
He nods and shrugs. "Urai would be bored in one place to long, and the nightsister isn't Id imagine used to being indoors much" They could be ready and leave once the vessel arrives. They would need to take off hot after the trail. "Send the ship, i rather them go than someone else." He trusted them, more than others and Urai was experienced enough to deal with things.
When she stepped away to answer the comms, he stayed near the view port watching.
Turning to look at the Colonel he nodded back in greetings. "Colonel...." He waited and looked around and smiled at the silence, then thought he would break it. "I have been named RGE Liaison to KDY, so i will be a noticeable sight around here." well it was sort of true, it wasnt official yet. The Emperor had to appoint him he thought, well it was official enough for him for the meantime. Gave him a reason to hang around. "I bet Granddad is turning in his grave over me being legit..."
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Post by kharivestra on Jan 29, 2011 8:38:18 GMT -5
And just like that they were in. One deft movement, a shower of sparks and a subtle clunking later, the door was wide open for the pair of them to walk through. Wonderful, she couldn't have done better if she'd tried, Zanear certainly knew how to make an entrance.
Taking the lead she stepped into the room beyond, it's familiarity and lavishness seeming almost oddly forboding to her now, a piece of history rather than a place where she had worked and prospered in the past. Prospered wasn't really the word for it, Arri supposed, but that was by the by now.
From the rather grandiose entrance, the room opened out into a vast array of plush seating areas, a huge viewport dominating the far wall as was such with all the offices, and a large antique desk lay off to one side, Kaur was not where she expected to find him, sat behind said desk reclining in a fully articulated seat, no, he was sat upon a rather richly appointed couch, observing a vidscreen, namely the holonet news, which was recounting the attack on the array as it's main headline. Of course, he may not have had too much word on this yet.
However, due to the nature of their sudden arrival, Kaur of Kuhlvult craned his neck back suddenly in the direction of that commotion, the low humm of a lightsaber was a little hard to miss, however short a time it had been active. So too was the vague scent of charred metal and solder that filled the air in thin ribbons of acrid smelling smoke, the locking mechanism for the main entrance would be next to useless now.
At first the Kuati aristocrat had appeared confused, more so when Arri entered the room dressed in something akin to formal wear, rather than the usual signature robes of a telbun. But that incredulity disintigrated the very second he spied Zanear back there, transmuting into a slack-jawed realization. The falleen he had seen on the mandatory security recordings, this was where he had sequestered himself.
"What is the meaning of this? How dare you enter without permittance!"
Near leaping out of his seat, Kaur spun around, formal robes swirling at his heels as he drew himself up, taking a careful step forth to lean against the arm rest of the couch inconspicuously, the voluminous nature of his sleeve hiding the fact he was reaching into the secret compartment there esconced. Inside would be a small hand held blaster, enough to severely incapacitate the other male, he supposed, if he was a good enough shot. Slowly his fingers closed around the weapon, drawing it up, the butt against his palm ensuring that he kept his gaze on the pair at all times.
"I don't know what you thought you would achieve by taking her hostage but I can tell you now you shall have none of it. Release her!" Kaur snarled, bringing the weapon up in a single fluid motion, aiming it just past Arri's head in line with where he could possibly squeeze off a shot past her to hit the falleen. What stopped him firing was the simple fact that he didn't know which way Arri would dive, or if Zanear would use her as a shield, buying him time to get away.
How very assumptive of him, Arri considered a tad snidely when she witnessed Kaur go for that blaster. The old fool probably didn't even know how to use it, and for reasons that were entirely her own, she did not baulk when she saw it, staring it down the barrel when he waved it in the vague direction of her head.
Time to get things moving then, his assumption she was the hostage here would work expediently towards their advantage.
Raising her hands, palms turned outward placatingly, she gently motioned as though she was patting the air to calm him.
"I'm alright, he just wants one thing, he says that if you can grant him safe passage out of this system, he will let me go...all you have to do is give him a ship as a means to leave." The blonde did her best to sound as though she was suffering the trauma of having been under constant scrutiny for the past few hours, the stress and strain resonant in her voice and body language both, her eyes emploring her former master. "Please...it's just one ship, a paultry ammount for one such as yourself, master."
Kaur's stoic gaze flitted between Arri, and then the miscreant alien at her back, he was all smugness and laid back in his attitude, Kaur could almost smell it hanging in the air, he knew his sort and he was not the type to bend easily under the idleness of threats. If he had simply given in before now he might as well have painted a target on his back and stood waiting for the inevitable. But this was different, this was not just his life on the line, this was that of Arri's too. Not that he was attached to her so to speak, rather, she would cost a small fortune to replace, teaching one all the little secrets she knew took years, ensuring those secrets stayed safe and out of the public eye, a lifetime. Scoffing at that idea, he shook his head adamantly.
Negating Arri all together, he glared sullenly at Zanear, peircing blue eyes burning a hole through his soul, addressing him direct. "First you let her move out of the way, even the odds a little, then I will consider what it is you want, exactly. She has nothing to do with this."
The blonde woman looked back carefully at her counterpart, cocking an eyebrow, that same mock-nervousness still painting a convincing picture, whilst Zanear couldn't have looked more relaxed about the whole thing if he'd tried. It made her want to smile, but for the obvious reasons, she did not.
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Post by kharivestra on Jan 29, 2011 18:59:35 GMT -5
It was of little consequence to her wether or not Urai and his companion would be bored or not, more if they were up to the task or not. After the last mess she had inadvertantly dragged them into, Khari wouldn't have blamed them for turning around and refusing outright. Nor would she have expected them to show any animosity towards herself should she choose not to utilize them. But they were going to be uniquely suited to the job and it would take her longer to find others she could entrust this task to.
Criminals, she was using criminals! But she wasn't the first and it would be ridiculous to think she would be the last. The fact remained, they were better suited for the job. Anyone tracable would mean bad news for her, and therefore bad news for KDY.
"I will find a way to give them what they require, if you find a means to contact them." She assured Tress with a pensive nod, the retiscent smile a little half hearted, her head was in another place entirely. Slowly but surely they were eating away at the bantha sized problem that had confronted them when they had arrived in system, but she was beginning to grow weary.
Once this meeting with Klask was out of the way, she promised herself she would see to that immediately. Little did she realize that the issue with Arri and her 'friend' was in full swing.
The sound of the door locks cycling automatically threw her attention in that direction, she already knew who would be standing there.
Turning to face the approaching man, she nodded in stoic acknowledgement, matching his rather official demeanour with equal measure.
"Colonel." With the wave of one hand she bid him the opportunity to sit rather than stand as if on ceremony, if things needed to be on the level she would rather they were done as relaxed, or seemingly relaxed, as was humanly possible.
Judging by the cursory glance the elder man gave Tress, he was no doubt curious as to the reason for his rather constant presence, she would do something about that sooner or later, but was interrupted prior to beginning, when the Senator himself decided to furnish a few well placed truths.
Well this was ever so slightly awkward, Khari mused to herself, doing her best not to show the grimace she felt searing the rest of her better natured self. But at least it was out in the open, most of it, that was. She let her gaze drop for half a second, to where she held her hands clasped infront of her and smiled ruefully at the jest Tress had placed on the end of that statement. All she could do was thank her lucky stars that no other members of the Ten aside from herself were here to witness that statement. A rather grim and humourless bunch, they tended to look upon all statements, in jest or otherwise, as betraying some small scrap of truth, possibly deception.
Canting her head in Tress' direction, she offered him an alluring smile, "I don't think your grandfather would be the only one."
It was a little game they played, the slight back and forth, banter between them. His last win had come from more heathen sources, but she always had been quick off the mark when it came to words, he'd find some way to counter that little back talk later no doubt, but she owed him in spades for the incident during their meeting with the regent. It was something for them both to look forward to.
Now she turned back to the Colonel.
"But indeed, how rude of me. Senator Odak-Zann speaks the truth, he offered his services as liason for the RGE. I understand this might be considered a little....sensitive in terms of our past relations, shall we say, but I would hasten to express that perhaps it is time to heal old rifts and prove something positive can be forged from here on out?" Cold comfort and promises though this might be, particularly to Klask, she trusted Tress to know just how sensitive a matter this was, while he had been firmly in the winning camp in terms of what his grandfather had wrought upon KDY - nothing short of a catastrophic embarrassment - he couldn't be blamed for the actions of another.
"I apologise for keeping you hanging on where our earlier discussion was concerned, I have been taking much into consideration since then and I hoped that I might speak with you prior to making a definitive decision."
This was where things would get a tad uncomfortable, she knew, and she had little concern regarding softening the blow. But she wasn't about to poke the proverbial sand panther either. It was obvious from the outset what his opinion of her may well have been, that which was like minded with those whom kept his company, all far older than she was, that she was little more than a child attempting to do the work of an elder and would surely doom them all. A little melodramatic, perhaps, but the versions she had heard batted around were varying in dramatical potency.
So there was little sense in aggrovating the situation more.
She took a few steps towards the chair opposite the one she had offered Klask, then cast a glance over at Tress pleasantly enough.
"I hope you do not think me rude, but the matters I wish to discuss here are of a personal nature, no concern of the Empire's, you understand." Khari explained plaintively, Tress already knew what was going to transpire here, his presence would have only unsettled the Colonel more, possibly made him less pliant if such a thing were possible of a man who was mired in the rigid ways of the Imperials. It would also give the good Senator ample opportunity to speak with his associates. By the end of this meeting, that ship would be on it's way.
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Post by Heg'zi A Klask on Jan 30, 2011 11:55:16 GMT -5
The Colonel bows a thank your to Khari and takes the offered and indicated seat.
Klask nods thoughtfully,
"I congratulate you on your appointment Senator, as to your infamous grandfather, he was a pragmatic man as well as exceedingly brilliant. I find myself hoping that in some ways you are more like him that not."
As Khari speaks again Klask turns to her listening. He ponders her words carefully, are her words a trap? Is she inviting him to explain his actions, and will they have any bearing on her or the Ten's decisions about him.
Now that was not something he expected, quite the opposite in fact. What did she have planned with this?
He keeps silent, and struggles to keep his reactions to the change of tone and direction to this meeting from his face.
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Post by Zanear the Edge on Jan 30, 2011 12:58:39 GMT -5
And just like that they were in. One deft movement, a shower of sparks and a subtle clunking later, the door was wide open for the pair of them to walk through. Wonderful, she couldn't have done better if she'd tried, Zanear certainly knew how to make an entrance. Taking the lead she stepped into the room beyond, it's familiarity and lavishness seeming almost oddly foreboding to her now, a piece of history rather than a place where she had worked and prospered in the past. From the rather grandiose entrance, the room opened out into a vast array of plush seating areas, a huge viewport dominating the far wall as was such with all the offices, and a large antique desk lay off to one side, Kaur was not where she expected to find him, sat behind said desk reclining in a fully articulated seat, no, he was sat upon a rather richly appointed couch, observing a vidscreen, namely the holonet news, which was recounting the attack on the array as it's main headline. However, due to the nature of their sudden arrival, Kaur of Kuhlvult craned his neck back suddenly in the direction of that commotion, the low humm of a lightsaber was a little hard to miss, however short a time it had been active. So too was the vague scent of charred metal and solder that filled the air in thin ribbons of acrid smelling smoke, the locking mechanism for the main entrance would be next to useless now. At first the Kuati aristocrat had appeared confused, more so when Arri entered the room dressed in something akin to formal wear, rather than the usual signature robes of a telbun. But that incredulity disintegrated the very second he spied Zanear back there, transmuting into a slack-jawed realization. The falleen he had seen on the mandatory security recordings, this was where he had sequestered himself. "What is the meaning of this? How dare you enter without permittance!"Near leaping out of his seat, Kaur spun around, formal robes swirling at his heels as he drew himself up, taking a careful step forth to lean against the arm rest of the couch inconspicuously, the voluminous nature of his sleeve hiding the fact he was reaching into the secret compartment there ensconced. Inside would be a small hand held blaster, enough to severely incapacitate the other male, he supposed, if he was a good enough shot. Slowly his fingers closed around the weapon, drawing it up, the butt against his palm ensuring that he kept his gaze on the pair at all times. he mocked in a squeaky imitation of the Kuati aristocrat. Zanear snorted at the man, maintaining his cocky cool arrogance. His stance led others to believe he wasn't paying attention, but his eyes spied that sly little movement. Now this is going to get interesting, he thought to himself. "I don't know what you thought you would achieve by taking her hostage but I can tell you now you shall have none of it. Release her!" Kaur snarled, bringing the weapon up in a single fluid motion, aiming it just past Arri's head in line with where he could possibly squeeze off a shot past her to hit the falleen. What stopped him firing was the simple fact that he didn't know which way Arri would dive, or if Zanear would use her as a shield, buying him time to get away. Zanear raised an eyebrow at his stance, leveling the weapon in his general direction. He had thought of several scenarios for this, but a new idea entered his mind, and it was delicious. So he simply smiled, and hooked his thumbs under his belt. Lazily he walked towards the wall, always keeping Arri between him and Kuar's blaster. The whole thing was ludicrous! When he realized what was truly going on, he'd bitterly regret not firing at them both when he had the chance. The smile on his face only grew, which lead to an appearance of greater arrogance. Now for Arri to play her part, and soon, they'd leave this place far behind them. How very assumptive of him, Arri considered a tad snidely when she witnessed Kaur go for that blaster. The old fool probably didn't even know how to use it, and for reasons that were entirely her own, she did not balk when she saw it, staring it down the barrel when he waved it in the vague direction of her head. Time to get things moving then, his assumption she was the hostage here would work expediently towards their advantage. Raising her hands, palms turned outward placatingly, she gently motioned as though she was patting the air to calm him. "I'm alright, he just wants one thing, he says that if you can grant him safe passage out of this system, he will let me go...all you have to do is give him a ship as a means to leave." The blonde did her best to sound as though she was suffering the trauma of having been under constant scrutiny for the past few hours, the stress and strain resonant in her voice and body language both, her eyes imploring her former master. "Please...it's just one ship, a paltry amount for one such as yourself, master."Kaur's stoic gaze flitted between Arri, and then the miscreant alien at her back, he was all smugness and laid back in his attitude, Kaur could almost smell it hanging in the air, he knew his sort and he was not the type to bend easily under the idleness of threats. If he had simply given in before now he might as well have painted a target on his back and stood waiting for the inevitable. But this was different, this was not just his life on the line, this was that of Arri's too. Not that he was attached to her so to speak, rather, she would cost a small fortune to replace, teaching one all the little secrets she knew took years, ensuring those secrets stayed safe and out of the public eye, a lifetime. Scoffing at that idea, he shook his head adamantly. Negating Arri all together, he glared sullenly at Zanear, piercing blue eyes burning a hole through his soul, addressing him direct. "First you let her move out of the way, even the odds a little, then I will consider what it is you want, exactly. She has nothing to do with this."The blonde woman looked back carefully at her counterpart, cocking an eyebrow, that same mock-nervousness still painting a convincing picture, whilst Zanear couldn't have looked more relaxed about the whole thing if he'd tried. It made her want to smile, but for the obvious reasons, she did not. While they each played their part, Zanear's eyes scanned the room, looking at all the possible rooms and exits. He noticed the gaudy trappings of luxury, this man had wealth and flaunted it. He knew that losing even a minor thing would wound this man's pride, and he would easily spend ten times the amount lost for the simple satisfaction of recovering it. It was time to use such pride against him. So let me see if I understand you correctly. You want her to move so this can be 'fair'? Fair meaning you get a clean shot at me while I stand here unarmed? It was simple banter, of course he heard the sound of his lightsaber, even if he'd deftly put the weapon back away in his hidden holster on his back. The Falleen's loose clothing and causal gait made them disappear to the casual observer, so even now Kuar wouldn't realize he was wearing them. He would be highly suspicious, but again, that was all part of putting him off his guard. When Kaur finally realized that the only reason they were here was because Arri was in it with him, well, at that point Zanear would truly savor the moment. I'll tell you what, Kuar of Kuhlvult, if you truly want to make this fair, then I'll be an honorable man. Now walking behind Arri, he placed his hands on her shoulders, and made a horrid leering face directly at Kuar, while he stuck his tongue out and licked the back of her neck. Hmmm... he hissed, his hands gripping her tightly, as if holding her from recoiling. Your quite a wealthy man, and you own many,many things. I bet this one here... again his tongue flicked along her neck, and then around her ear. Yes this is a prize worth keeping, no? If I understand it correctly, her job is to provide you with an heir? He paused dramatically, his eyes narrowing, making them slits of pure evil and malice. What if I told you I picked this prize up as she was leaving the doctors office, with most...how should I say this, exciting news? I wonder if even now your pregnant with anticipation over what she has to tell you, hmm? Oh that was delightfully evil, now this man had the thought that maybe, just maybe, she'd even now be carrying his heir! Now this next bit was going to be fun, oh he'd truly enjoy this. So this is what I propose, you provide me with a ship and clear no hassle escape from this system, and I promise, no harm shall come to your telbun, and I won't lay a hand on you either. He smiled, and stepped back just a hair. What say you? |
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Post by tress on Jan 30, 2011 18:08:31 GMT -5
"Don't i know it, but i am not going to mess this opportunity." He tells her, mostly it was for the Colonel. Khari knew his feelings from talking already on the matter. Besides it was an opportunity to do some good, and he was going to do his best to help it along.
"I will show people that past rifts can be healed and start anew with things. I am here to help and help i shall." he says looking at the Colonel one last time before turning to Khari. Well that was out in the open now. With the RGE backing him, things would or could go smoothly now he hoped. If not accepted then at least tolerated until he proved his worth.
He nods his thanks at the Colonel and stood there standing. With a sigh, he interrupts one last time. "If you both will excuse me I have to make some calls. Lady Vestra, Colonel...." He nods to them and walks out of the room.
Walking and once the doors are closed and hes alone he makes the call to Urai in a secure encrypted channel. "My old friend. I need your help once again. On Toryaz Station there will be a LightStealth-18 Reconnaissance Ship....." The rest is lost as he explains just what he wanted.
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Post by kharivestra on Jan 30, 2011 20:57:31 GMT -5
Well, thought Arri as this panned out precisely as she thought it might, she couldn't fault Zanear's logic, though the tell tale calmness in his attitude bespoke of a person truly in control of the situation, just as she had a plan, so did he, the two could turn this into something that would work out well for the both of them...Kaur might even live just long enough to see the true extent of her betrayal. But Arri was no sadist, no part of her relished the thought of offing the aristocrat, no matter what he'd purchased her for. Contempt, yes, ire, almost certainly, but he had asked her to go far beyond the means of a regular telbun.
For the past few months, Kaur had been utilizing her to investigate KDY's CEO, Khari Vestra and her family, in regards to what had brought the Ten to such a swift decision as to appoint her as director of the corporation. It was no secret that at one point in time, Kaur himself stood to attain the position, and even less of a secret that he was rather bitter when the motion was swayed at the last moment by a single piece of documentation. Enraged and finding it perplexing the Ten had overlooked the obvious choice, he had taken it upon himself to begin planting spies in Vestra's staff, yet purely by chance the perfidious woman had befriended Arri of all people. It was then he knew his choice would be second to none, Arri had to be the one to do it, her advantage and status in life was the ideal cover.
What Kaur had discovered as a result of these clandestine investigations had proved more astounding than anything he could have utilized for blackmail or a means to oust Vestra all together, and Arri had fought with her desire not to reveal what she had found over the fact she was duty bound to do so. To this day the CEO was unaware - or so Arri assumed - of her investigating, and she would have preferred to keep it that way. Now, though, she was in it up to her neck and for the betrayal she had exercised on his behalf, she hated Kaur with every fiber of her being. Such was life for one such as she, she thought somewhat forlorn, but not anymore.
"Oh come now, do you really expect me to believe you came here unarmed?" Kaur was mocking the Falleen, his demeanour superior to say the least, a rather hideously chiding smirk on this face. But rest assured, he was paying attention. "Or is that scent of smouldering circuits my 'wild imagination?' No, if you have the call to come here and demand something of me, do not to waste time on petty theatrics and subterfuge."
He was riled, thought Arri, still keeping up her nervous facade, but make no mistake, he was afraid.
She did her best to feign disgust as Zanear stepped up to the mark behind her, hands closing around the curvatures of her shoulders, he leaned close enough to let his tongue dance lightly up the back of her neck. Right on cue, she let a shiver unfurl up her spine, her thoroughly disgusted expression turning to one of implore and dread. All along she had kept her eyes fixed on Kaur, silently willing him just to relent and fall for this completely. The old fool, he'd fallen for far lesser things in his time, why should this be any different?
The Kuati female was about to be struck awry however, when Zanear ,smooth as ever, revealed his hand as it were, in the form of that little tidbit of information, a complete fabrication, as to where he had found her. Ingenius really, she should have thought of it herself, the one thing that would ensure that he did what they wished, she could be replaced but Kaur's potential heir? No, he would never have that.
True to form, she let her gaze drop, be it in quiescent acknowledgement of the fact she somehow felt like she had failed her master, or for embarrassment's sake, he might never know, all that mattered was that Kaur bought it. Zanear was all too good at playing his part, she did her best to match him step for step, her demeanour portraying a resistance, a need to pull away each time he held her firmly and close. If Kaur was any good at reading expressions, all he would have seen from Arri, was a silent dispair.
As it was, he stood there slack jawed in disbelief, his mouth working uselessly for several moments, no sound did he utter. If ever there was a walking advertisement for the term incredulous, this was it. So when he did find the words to speak, and enough composure with which to speak them, it was only natural his first question would be to Arri.
But not once did his blaster- wielding arm waver.
"Is this true?!" Kaur's words were a barely audible whisper.
For what seemed like an eternity, Arri struggled with what appeared to be fear, wresting it aside in order to answer the man before them both, and when she did, she ensured she looked him in the eye.
"Yes, I had it verified."
Again her gaze fell, brow creased with worry, if she thought hard enough, she might have even been able to shed a tear. Better that she overdo it than underplay things, it would make more sense to him to believe she had been through quite the ordeal all the way here.
"The doctor was certain....Please just give this man what he wants, don't risk your heir!" - because you might well risk me you selfish old fool, she thought immediately thereafter. It was cold comfort where that was concerned that this was all for show.
It was all down to him now, the difference between this becoming very easy, or totally scuttling their plans rested in how Kaur would respond.
Still Kaur hadn't lowered that blaster, his face remained a stoic mask of unreadable intent, but Arri knew inward he was trying to weigh up his chances, what was at stake here - to him that could be everything, he was getting on in years now, his chances of producing an heir were decreasing by the year, what use would he be if he was too old to induct his son or daughter into his various persuits if he was too senile to be coherrant?
Kaur of Kuhlvult pressed his lips together to form a thin line of tension, his arm wavered slightly, shook - presumably by the broiling rage he felt inside at having been trapped like this - noticably, before he eventually let it fall listlessly to his side.
"I cannot simply give the authorization for any one of those ships down there to negate the traffic system over the comm. Anyone could be holding a blaster to my head in order to get what they wanted." Oh his words were terse, tersely sarcastic...he might have been afraid, outraged with it, but one thing he would never be would be debased. This falleen was beneath him and he was all too happy to let him know it too. " I will have to go down there in person."
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Post by kharivestra on Jan 31, 2011 12:16:57 GMT -5
How very diplomatic of you, thought Khari as she listened to his drawl, she couldn't have put it better herself, in fact, when she had discovered who Tress actually was, she had put it in less than diplomatic terms, and a whole bar full of onlookers bore witness to her outraged surprise. Fortunately for her, it was doubtful anyone would have known what she was discussing prior to her outburst.
She held her peace, settling into the chair opposite Klask, one leg neatly crossed over the other as she adjusted the fall of the skirt that sheathed her legs in a deep purple swathe that made her appear all the more tall and lithe when she was standing.
A simple nod and a smile were all she offered Tress in acknowledgement, another attempt to throw the Colonel's honed sense of suspicion where her relationship with Zann was concerned. They had been seen all too often in eachother's company and the facade that she was merely playing the dutiful host would only stretch too far. Now that Tress was liason for the RGE, that made things a little more plausible, but only just. It was a dangerous game they played and they knew it, they had known the risks from the start.
As the door slid shut with a soft hiss, Khari uninterlaced her fingers, placing her palms down on the top of the cool surface of the table, the focus returning to her eyes. It was time to put an old man out of his misery, and in what context that was done would depend on his answer.
"I need not remind you of how serious that little issue we spoke about earlier truly is. By now you must be abundantly aware of the strictest of penalties for the actions you took so I will not insult you by explaining it all over again. If it were not for your intention to act in the best interests of Kuat Drive Yards, we would not even be having this conversation." Her expression grew grim during the latter half of the sentence, betraying precisely what the penalty for that was. Had he committed a true act of treason, she would have had no choice but to condemn his life, the Ten took a very dim view of such things, as well they should.
Watching him across the way, she paused to let the levity of that sink in that little bit more, hoping it would open his mind to some desparate opportunities when next she tossed him a line...which she was just about to.
"However, I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of looking up your employment records, very impressive if I do say so myself. I can see why my predecessor chose to employ you." This wasn't flattery for the sake of it, she trusted he would know this was leading somewhere, perhaps he'd even believe she was about to pull the rug out from beneath him. Far from it, this would be entirely his choice...in a roundabout sort of way.
"Of particular interest was your illustrious career in service to the Empire, I wonder...could you possibly, without breaching any confidentiality wavers, tell me the array of procedures you were fluently versed in? Merely the title will be enough."
There was every chance she would know just what he had been up to during his time with the empire, resources tended to dig deep when recruiting, especially if said personnel were destined for security. No room for the nagging little mistakes there, one inkling of a mistake could spell an incident far worse than the one Klask had committed.
"I was mostly interested in wether or not you were familiar with the methods utilized by the imperials for gathering intelligence?" Khari waved her hand vaguely in his direction, "I need not know how, yet at least. But a detailed knowledge on your part is all I care to know for the time being."
Leaning back in her swivel chair, she watched him consider her words for a moment, cocking a slender brow in question when he appeared as though he would answer her. The silence between them was an uneasy one, mostly for him, she supposed, he would be considering his fate, what she intended to achieve by asking these questions or rather more importantly, what she wanted of him. That was the thing with her sort, there was always a catch, but from her point of view, he should be thankful for small mercies, she could have thrown him to the Ten, let them deal with him as they would, this way she had placed herself between him and them, thus she would leave him in a little bit of a debt. This would hopefully spur him into cooperation, Khari could think of no better man for the job.
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Post by Zanear the Edge on Jan 31, 2011 14:12:37 GMT -5
"Oh come now, do you really expect me to believe you came here unarmed?" Kaur was mocking the Falleen, his demeanor superior to say the least, a rather hideously chiding smirk on this face. But rest assured, he was paying attention. "Or is that scent of smoldering circuits my 'wild imagination?' No, if you have the call to come here and demand something of me, do not to waste time on petty theatrics and subterfuge."He was riled, thought Arri, still keeping up her nervous facade, but make no mistake, he was afraid. Kaur was starting to feel his pride now, the next phase would begin to twist the dagger, so Zanear shrugged and said Of course, but I'm not some uncouth hooligan either, waving a weapon around. I've been rather civilized, considering the situation.quote]Ingenious really, she should have thought of it herself, the one thing that would ensure that he did what they wished, she could be replaced but Kaur's potential heir? No, he would never have that. True to form, she let her gaze drop, be it in quiescent acknowledgment of the fact she somehow felt like she had failed her master, or for embarrassment's sake, he might never know, all that mattered was that Kaur bought it. Zanear was all too good at playing his part, she did her best to match him step for step, her demeanor portraying a resistance, a need to pull away each time he held her firmly and close. If Kaur was any good at reading expressions, all he would have seen from Arri, was a silent despair. As it was, he stood there slack jawed in disbelief, his mouth working uselessly for several moments, no sound did he utter. If ever there was a walking advertisement for the term incredulous, this was it. But not once did his blaster- wielding arm waver. "Is this true?!" Kaur's words were a barely audible whisper. he thought to himself. Arri had sold her part, so to speak, and the old man bought it hook line and sinker. This was another thing that he adored about her, playing it all so perfect on improv. She was perfect. quote] For what seemed like an eternity, Arri struggled with what appeared to be fear, wresting it aside in order to answer the man before them both, and when she did, she ensured she looked him in the eye. "Yes, I had it verified."Again her gaze fell, brow creased with worry, if she thought hard enough, she might have even been able to shed a tear. "The doctor was certain....Please just give this man what he wants, don't risk your heir!" - because you might well risk me you selfish old fool, she thought immediately thereafter. Kaur of Kuhlvult pressed his lips together to form a thin line of tension, his arm wavered slightly, shook - presumably by the broiling rage he felt inside at having been trapped like this - noticeably, before he eventually let it fall listlessly to his side. "I cannot simply give the authorization for any one of those ships down there to negate the traffic system over the comm. Anyone could be holding a blaster to my head in order to get what they wanted." Oh his words were terse, tersely sarcastic...he might have been afraid, outraged with it, but one thing he would never be would be debased. This falleen was beneath him and he was all too happy to let him know it too. " I will have to go down there in person." the Falleen seemed to think on this for several moments. I don't buy it. He said flatly. You must have a private vessel, a personal pleasure ship that you use to come and go as you please, don't take me for a fool. Zanear seemed to become angry then, his face twisting in a mask of near rage. You aristocrats! So arrogant, so full of themselves! Look at you, even now you look down your nose at me, thinking yourself superior! his arms wrapped around Arri's neck, hands holding the sides of her head. Should I just snap her neck then? Huh?! His voice was becoming terse,almost rising, but not quite. You have to know a secret way out of here, a ship hidden away, far from prying eyes. He took a dramatic pause, then a deep breath, appearing to regain a composure he never had truly lost. All for effect, to keep Kuar wondering what sort of madman he might be after all. No more games. If we are going somewhere, we all go, like one big happy family. He smiled once again, returning to his calm cool demeanor. Yes, Kuar would die today, and give Zanear everything he wanted. But first the old man would suffer, that was for certain. |
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Post by Heg'zi A Klask on Jan 31, 2011 22:56:04 GMT -5
"Blasted Kodashi viper!" Klask thinks to himself. Her friendly and cheerful nature, of course just a pretext; but now her intent was out in the open. She had played the smart but young card to a "t" up till this point, and now she was rearing back to strike. His earlier assessment from his little melancholy trip, proven too true. Oh by the gods! the Ten are in for a very rude awakening when they come calling on her. And if he lives to see it, he is going to savor every moment of the hell she will put them through.
He cannot help it, but a grin starts to creep across his face through the opening part of her statements, but it sours towards the end. He figured she would extort him for her own game, he would have been sorely disappointed in her had she not. What she asks of him though is not what he expected.
He rubs his chin and strokes his mustache as he leans back in his chair debating. He steeples his fingers and sits in silent thought for a moment, and then nods to himself.
His course of action set, he pulls one of his data cylinders from his coat as he leans forward, placing it quite deliberately on the table. His hand lingers on it a moment, and his fingers slide over it as they withdraw. From across the table, Khari can hear the click of the disguised switch, that his retreating fingers trip.
The monitors in the room go to snow, and even the large view-port with the embedded shading and presentation matrix snows out, partially darkening the room. While not known at the present time, all the recording devices present record blank data for the duration.
Raising his hands palms toward her, he gestures with a slight patting motion to emphasize his next words.
"Peace... peace.
You have allowed me to walk into this room un-escorted, un-searched, un-scanned, and even openly armed. I have to applaud you, your judgement of character, at least of me is superlative.
However I am very tired of the labyrinthine but necessary process of communicating with you on this." He gestures to the device on the table between the two of them.
"Now we may talk more freely, so what is said between us now is only for us... This is a very dangerous conversation, too dangerous for us to mince words and risk being unclear, or worse, other ears hearing it.
You have made it abundantly clear that my life and future depend on your grace, I know what I have just done is yet a further indiscretion to add to an already weighty list that hangs from my neck. An hour ago I would not have dared take such an approach with you, but for both our futures - I have."
While she is an outstandingly gifted person, she is Kuati; and he knows if she is not already reaching for some means to personally and violently remedy this affront... It so much looking like the opening gambit of a classic extortion... She is probably trying to summon her personal security.
He gestures for her to calm herself yet again, and drops his own information; Hopefully she is truly a cut above even the best of Kuati... that she can recognize simple truth and intent as well. With that, he drops his little bombshell, the details of which he has not ascertained as yet, this meeting having interrupted. After he speaks, he gestures once again to the device on the table, hopefully thus explaining it to her in painfully clear terms.
"Lady Vestra your suspicions are indeed correct... KDY has been infiltrated."
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Post by tress on Feb 1, 2011 0:59:32 GMT -5
The line connected Tress speaks using his secure transmission channel. Urai picked up after the third chime. " Where have you been? We were about to go check on you." Urai says first thing making Tress feel as the child he used to be when he heard that voice.
"I am fine. Stuck here for the meantime with setting up a project with Khari. Though i have something for you to do if you hurry. There will be a ship waiting for you.....i need you to follow someone. Ascertain a flight path and any information you can get on the RGEs interests on Kuat and the Yuuzhan Vong in particular." Tress says. After that meeting with the Regent, it was a concern for Khari and him. He felt responsible for bringing the idea up so assumed that if the Imperial targeted Kuat of take over or try to strong arm them into some sort of deal. Then he would try to help avert things if he could.
The Zann Consortium wasnt as powerful as it was, but it was still a player in the Underworld. Their many spies and interests were varied and spread out from the Outer Rim to Mid Rim. While not strong enough to take on the RGE, they could be a painful thorn in their side. So better to find out now, what if any long term plans they had against Kuat if any.
"Very well, we will take off after packing, just give us info on where the vessel will be and who to talk to about it." Urai Fenn says back.
"No info this is top secret. The ship will be ready you just show up and leave. You still have your credentials as my aides and have certain rights along with them. Use them if you have to, but you know the game. Good luck and contact me with anything, everyday you hear me. " Tress had to make that clear, or Urai would continue on without updates as he normally does. Just show up after a week or two and say everything was taken care of and hand him a report. "Everyday you hear. "
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Post by kharivestra on Feb 1, 2011 10:09:15 GMT -5
When Zanear had raised his voice, even she could feel the fear in her rising, act or not, there seemed to be an essence of fight or flight in the air that permeated the facade they upheld, the falleen's words sounding so convincing, even she believed that he was totally capable of doing what he'd said. Good, because that fear was going to show in her eyes, and Kaur had always been proficient at learning to read her that way. When people saw little more than your eyes alone at times, it became akin learning to sign.
But would the outburst be enough to shock Kaur into acting in the way they wanted him to?
The Kuati aristocrat was standing his ground as best he could under the circumstances, the revelation of Arri's possible pregnancy had so obviously knocked him for six. His once haughty demeanour had dissolved into uncertainty, where he no longer held the blaster aimed at the other man's head, letting it hang at his side, though this time, he placed it down against the arm rest of the chair ever so carefully.
Rattled by Zanear's sudden anger, the colour had drained completely from his face and he found himself reaching out tensely, trying to placate, when the falleen had placed his hands on either side of Arri's head, her gaze meeting Kaur's, silently pleading with him to do what this would-be-hijacker wanted. He could almost taste the woman's fear, and who could blame her? This being was utterly insane! What drove someone to go to these lengths, to threaten and possibly take another's life? What had this Falleen done that had prompted him to take such drastic action...there had to be a hefty mark on his head. But Kaur was no more interested in whatever Zanear had done than he was what he would do once he had left the Kuat system. He just wanted Arri, or more appropriately his heir, out of harms way.
Would he really kill an innocent woman and her unborn child? He was not willing to take that risk.
"Stop!....Let's all just...calm down now..." He stammered, outstretched hand shaking so badly, he had to rein it in, leaving it to hang limply at his side, the muscles in his forearm still twinging in abject sympathy. No sudden movements should he make, else risking everything to his detriment. There was no way he could reach his desk in time to signal for his personal security, not while this fiend had Arri firmly in his grasp, and she was beginning to look very distressed, crystal clear tear-tracks glistening on her pale cheeks in the artificial light cast by the lamps overhead.
"Now look here...I don't know what you did, or why you assumed this would be a good idea, but I am telling you now I cannot-"
"Kriff it Kaur just tell him the truth!" Arri's strained voice yelled from across the room, she was truly putting her all into that performance, breaking the boundaries of her strict training in order to portray the traumatized victim with every fiber of her being dedicated to the task. She was the epitome of intense stress, standing there tense, the odd shiver racking her form, unable to look upon Kaur now for reasons he would interpret as shame or failure. For Arri though, she didn't meet his gaze for fear of him seeing the deception glimmering faintly, there in her green orbs.
Khulvult looked genuinely taken aback by that statement, not least of all because she'd called him by name but because it was possibly the first time she'd actually dared raise her voice to him at all! For her to have done so out of this context would have been unthinkable, an action she would regret for days upon end. Here, however, that changed everything, so for one reason or another, he was listening.
Wringing his perspiring palms anxiously, his brow furrowed deeply in thought, he finally looked up at Zanear, grim-faced and resolute.
"There...is a ship, one that could slip under the sensors so to speak....but I do not know how to pilot it." He furnished, resigning himself to the fact they were going to leave here together, which suited him fine, as long as the falleen kept up his end of the bargain.
"I can take you there, if I must." It was abhorrently obvious he didn't want to, this was a big ask, an even bigger task at getting clearance, but if anyone had immunity in such things, he was among the select few.
Vestra was going to have his head for this.
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Post by Zanear the Edge on Feb 1, 2011 15:16:34 GMT -5
Rattled by Zanear's sudden anger, the color had drained completely from his face and he found himself reaching out tensely, trying to placate, when the falleen had placed his hands on either side of Arri's head, her gaze meeting Kaur's, silently pleading with him to do what this would-be-hijacker wanted. He could almost taste the woman's fear, and who could blame her? This being was utterly insane! What drove someone to go to these lengths, to threaten and possibly take another's life? What had this Falleen done that had prompted him to take such drastic action...there had to be a hefty mark on his head. But Kaur was no more interested in whatever Zanear had done than he was what he would do once he had left the Kuat system. He just wanted Arri, or more appropriately his heir, out of harms way. Would he really kill an innocent woman and her unborn child? He was not willing to take that risk. "Stop!....Let's all just...calm down now..." He stammered, outstretched hand shaking so badly, he had to rein it in, leaving it to hang limply at his side, the muscles in his forearm still twinging in abject sympathy. "Now look here...I don't know what you did, or why you assumed this would be a good idea, but I am telling you now I cannot-"
"Kriff it Kaur just tell him the truth!" Arri's strained voice yelled from across the room, she was truly putting her all into that performance, breaking the boundaries of her strict training in order to portray the traumatized victim with every fiber of her being dedicated to the task. She was the epitome of intense stress, standing there tense, the odd shiver racking her form, unable to look upon Kaur now for reasons he would interpret as shame or failure. For Arri though, she didn't meet his gaze for fear of him seeing the deception glimmering faintly, there in her green orbs. Khulvult looked genuinely taken aback by that statement, not least of all because she'd called him by name but because it was possibly the first time she'd actually dared raise her voice to him at all! Wringing his perspiring palms anxiously, his brow furrowed deeply in thought, he finally looked up at Zanear, grim-faced and resolute. "There...is a ship, one that could slip under the sensors so to speak....but I do not know how to pilot it." He furnished, resigning himself to the fact they were going to leave here together, which suited him fine, as long as the falleen kept up his end of the bargain. "I can take you there, if I must." It was abhorrently obvious he didn't want to, this was a big ask, an even bigger task at getting clearance, but if anyone had immunity in such things, he was among the select few. Vestra was going to have his head for this. In a few simple moments something purely amazing happened. Kuar had surprised him. He'd stepped things up a notch, knocked the man of his bantha, so to speak, but even now Arri had alluded to something he hadn't known. His eyes narrowed in concentration, and his response was tense, imploring in pure truth. What in the nine hells was he hiding? What do you mean? he said aloud, questioning. This had better not be some trick. Pulling Arri tighter, lifting her neck a little, applying just a teeny bit of pressure, the whole thing looked much worse then was actual. Speak woman, what is this? For you must know...how does one have a ship, here at KDY and not know how to fly it? Ridiculous! |
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Post by kharivestra on Feb 1, 2011 21:42:13 GMT -5
The grin that seemed to begin to split the Colonel's rather stoic features in two was, khari reflected, less unsettling than it was rather amusing to observe. He was an old hand here and therefore an old hand at this, she didn't have to have been imbued with the knowledge that his years of experience had taught him how to read the situation well to know that he did. It was just pure and simple fact. If anything, this just made her task a little easier, no pretenses, just simple straight forward talking.
How very imperial of you....her mind added as an afterthought.
Khari might have been so bold as to applaude his cheap theatrics had Klask not chosen to reach into his pocket and produce that small cylindrical object she knew to be a data cylinder. Schooling her features into the epitome of calm and dignified observation, she observed him as he extended his arm, cylinder in hand, placing the device down gently upon the polished center of the table emblazened with the KDY emblem, before slow, surely sliding his hand back.
The uneducated ear would never have been able to pick up on the subtle click of a disguised trigger switch being depressed on the withdraw, but the subtle dilation of the Kuati woman's pupils occurred as if the switch had controlled that small biological response in her alone. A trickle of adrenaline gradually made it's way down her spine, barely enough to elicit that 'chilled' response in her, and she remained where she was, seated, almost sedately relaxed in posture. But truly, she was nothing if not alert.
All around them both, the solar-flare tinting on the viewports darkened to a semi-transparent state, the monitors, everything down to the intercomm, with it's direct link to reception, dissolved into a long burst of hazy static - the soft hiss of which was enough to make the hair on Khari's neck stand on end. Yet still, she did not move, save to narrow her gaze barely percievably. All it would take would be one raised voice and this room would be swarming with her personal security, he would be dead before he knew what had hit him...and he would have been a fool to even consider trying anything untoward.
But he won't do that - Khari thought confidently - he knows I asked him here, not concerned with protocol for nothing short of a very prudent reason.
He would come to that conclusion himself very shortly, which was why when he raised his hands to placate her, all she did was lean forth in her seat, elbows planted delicately on the table as she brought her lips to her steepled fingers and nodded her acknowledgement. Now it was his turn to speak and she would not deny him that opportunity.
Khari smiled ruefully, straightening in her chair when he seemed to have finished, neither confirming nor denying any of the conclusions he seemed to have drawn there. She wasn't here to play a game of petty snipery. But she was intrigued to say the least.
"Truly? Go on."
She said, watching him expectantly. She would indulge him, men like Klask rarely wasted people's time with diversionary tactics. So that left one of a couple of options: either he was going to resort to extortion, bringing with him to this table of theirs some factoid that she would rather remained hidden - what Kuati didn't have one of those? - something she well knew how to deal with. Her own telbun, for instance, had fallen afoul of that one, and where was he now? Or, this little performance was because he had discovered something of importance to her, something he wished to share for her benefit and therefore his own, after all what did he have to lose now?
It was one thing to have suspicions, quite another to have them confirmed, and in the face of the cold hard facts she did look unaccustomedly bewildered for a few seconds. Letting those few words sink in, she blinked to clear her vision...perhaps she was having occular discomfort after all...the one inevitable question on her lips.
"And your main area of suspicion?" She wanted to know just where this had occurred, who if any, he suspected at this point in time, and the terse way in which she spoke now was not through anger so much as determination to quash this threat before it became more than a nuisance. "If we are being totally open and honest here there may be some information you might find useful. Providing you will accept the task of rooting this problem out so that it may be dealt with appropriately?"
It wouldn't take a genius to work out just why she had been asking those earlier questions, but if it was flat out honesty he wanted, that would be what he would get. Thereabouts.
"There are terms, of course, ones that I am certain you will find agreeable, particularly with the impending investigation into the small matter of...how do I put this, Imperial entanglements?" Khari said, canting her head slightly to one side, mock pensive in her manner.
"But I interrupted you, explain your evidence."
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Post by Heg'zi A Klask on Feb 2, 2011 1:15:06 GMT -5
It was one thing to have suspicions, quite another to have them confirmed, and in the face of the cold hard facts she did look unaccustomedly bewildered for a few seconds. Letting those few words sink in, she blinked to clear her vision...perhaps she was having occular discomfort after all...the one inevitable question on her lips. He had not been sure what to expect from her but it is obvious that was not fully what she was expecting to hear from him. He waits for the inevitable "what, when, who, how" questions to roll of her lips, realizing it would be futile to cut her off. He is indeed surprised as she reigns herself in outstandingly quickly. If it had been Kuar in her place he would have been waiting half an hour or more for his indignation to subside. "A data-mining operation and hyperspace relay has been found on the array. Not uncommon I know, but the extent of this one is much more in depth, it is beyond the norm and how its existence was covered up points in unsettling directions."He adjusts himself in his chair, while it may not be a long meeting they have, no sense sitting like he did in the Academy with a board up his backside. He did not know the outcome of this, but she had decided she had need of him, and that was a better prospect than he walked in with. "Firstly, to answer a previous question, I cannot betray the Empire; for the simple fact the Empire I served no longer exists. It has been reformed and reorganized more often than the senior staff here. While as you say I have committed a near treasonous act, I would not add to it by being an outright traitor. You know I am Kuati, and you never trust one who can be turned. But, as I said, it is a moot point; What knowledge I can use to ensure the safety and success of Kuat, and you; is yours." He pauses, long enough to stroke his mustache and see if she has a comment or question on this point, then continues. "Technician-Captain Blinski has taken a team to trace through it all; but without going into the highly technical details of it, though I am sure he would love the opportunity to explain it to you in such minutiae if you wish it; in short:
There are dozens of connection points in the communication systems that have been tied into. Those all feed to a system that feeds it to a hyperspace relay, encrypts it and then in narrow band burst, sends it out of system. Where the main junction is is an insignificant area and not under heavy security - low risk. However, this system is pulling data from all over. The Shipyards, Security, Sales, Marketing, Employee Resources, Communications, Research and Engineering... The Corporate Offices...
It offers them access and passes some files, it is sporadic and unfocused. That is why it went undetected.
Yes, the system architecture and the protocols are based on Imperial Intelligence, that was one of the first questions I asked Blinski. But it is older, some of those techniques date to the time of the Republic, and are commonly known now to slicers. As to how is receiving this data, we do not know, it could be anyone from here to Bakura on that localized path, or it could be being relayed and transmitted back onto the array.
But here is what is definite; The volume of pulled data is mostly junk. So this is not the work of a single slicer going for a one hit payoff, it would take a significant team to sort through the passed data to identify useful info or see a pattern. So it is someone or a group with resources." He sighs, and spends a brief moment obviously arguing with himself over a point in his own head, then continues. "I am not trying to cast aspersions here, but your newly appointed liaison is quite tied with a group that could pull it off. If you are sure that he is innocent in this matter, he and his resources may be excellently positioned to deal with this in a way Kuat could not. I did come across the recordings of you and the Senator in the bay with the Kage and his ship. Those records are locked away - I have not had a secure moment to let you know the location and access codes to those files. Whatever that maniac was going on about, there was no evidence of. I felt it best after viewing it to secure those files from anyone other than you, at least until you decided what needed to be done with them. But I digress.
The serious element to this intrusion is much like the situation of your assistant when she came to me during the incident... The sensor sweeps that would have detected this earlier were not performed. I searched for the authorization, but there is none. Someone of significance gave verbal authorization to prevent it, and there was no follow up documentation.
So excluding you, that narrows it down to a group small enough I can count on my fingers.
Someone who should really know better has turned."He drums them once on the desk in illustration of the significance. |
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Post by kharivestra on Feb 2, 2011 17:53:23 GMT -5
The subtle pressure on either side of her neck, the way in which Zanear racked her a little higher would have looked several times worse than it actually was. Arri could actually feel him bolstering her weight so that if she did lose her balance she would be supported rather than meeting with a rather nasty accident. Still, the severity of the situation gave her cause to utter a small whimper of what Kaur would interpret as fear, when actually, being in such close quarters with the falleen again couldn't have given her more alterior ideas if she had been viewing a datastream full of them.
Arri did keep her eyes locked with Kaur's though, he couldn't not listen to that, seeing the fear there, however faked it was, he was still a human being he wouldn't be able to help but feel something. But with him it was more a case of what he valued more, so when the falleen started making demands of her, he shot her a glare that could have killed on impact had it been a missile.
-No, thought Arri bitterly, no he was not going to ruin this for fear of actually crossing someone, for the sake of some stupid protocol!
As for herself, she should have told Zanear this from the start, but it had not occurred to her that flying that ship would be possible.
"A living ship, the Kage of the Grey Jedi arrived in it, no one knows how to pilot it. He showed me, I think I might be able to remember how, but the ship..." She bit out, tilting her chin up a little, as if trying to evade the long-fingered hands keeping a firm hold on her neck, "...it did not like it when I tried, it's not just alive, it has a mind, thoughts, feelings....no normal person could pilot it."
Kaur's head was in his hands, fingers balling to fists against his face as he tried to dissipate some of the tension through anger that he was starting to feel the pressure of. Clearly Arri had just ruined some plan he had been concocting in that devious little mind of his, and a good thing too, the last thing they wanted was to have anymore nasty surprises sprung on them. When he looked back at them both, his angular features were bereft of anything but defeat, and he issued a long, laboured sigh, his shoulders slumping almost theatrically.
"She is abundantly correct, though I knew nothing of her having been aboard. From what I am given to understand about that ship is that it responds to a mental connection of sorts, with whoever attempts to fly it." He might have warned the falleen that early attempts to interact with Sekotan ships had resulted in a painful reaction from the pilot...in some cases, madness and one particularly terrible incident had resulted in death. But here was a man whom had taken it upon himself to break into his private office suite, take his telbun, the mother of his unborn child, hostage and make ludicrous demands of him, it was only fair that he had some vengance in the end. And if the ship didn't kill this uncouth excuse for a spacer, Kaur vowed that he would do it himself.
"It is, however, one of the few ships that will confuse the sensors, if they do not know what they are looking for." New provisions had been put in place since the Yuuzhan Vong war, but in large, he was telling the truth.
Turning a baleful glance on Zanear again, he nodded in the direction of the busted door.
"Shall we? I am assuming you will wish to make this quick."
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Post by Zanear the Edge on Feb 3, 2011 2:43:43 GMT -5
The subtle pressure on either side of her neck, the way in which Zanear racked her a little higher would have looked several times worse than it actually was. Arri could actually feel him bolstering her weight so that if she did lose her balance she would be supported rather than meeting with a rather nasty accident. Still, the severity of the situation gave her cause to utter a small whimper of what Kaur would interpret as fear, when actually, being in such close quarters with the falleen again couldn't have given her more ulterior ideas if she had been viewing a datastream full of them. Arri did keep her eyes locked with Kaur's though, he couldn't not listen to that, seeing the fear there, however faked it was, he was still a human being he wouldn't be able to help but feel something. But with him it was more a case of what he valued more, so when the falleen started making demands of her, he shot her a glare that could have killed on impact had it been a missile. -No, thought Arri bitterly, no he was not going to ruin this for fear of actually crossing someone, for the sake of some stupid protocol! As for herself, she should have told Zanear this from the start, but it had not occurred to her that flying that ship would be possible. "A living ship, the Kage of the Grey Jedi arrived in it, no one knows how to pilot it. He showed me, I think I might be able to remember how, but the ship..." She bit out, tilting her chin up a little, as if trying to evade the long-fingered hands keeping a firm hold on her neck, "...it did not like it when I tried, it's not just alive, it has a mind, thoughts, feelings....no normal person could pilot it." He really wasn't hearing this. Corey's ship? The Leader, the Kage of the Grey Jedi's ship? Oh this was too much, too rich for words. More than anything he wanted to kiss Arri, to tell her of how sweet such a minor vengeance on him was, but no, he'd have to settle for a more subtle approach. Kaur's head was in his hands, fingers balling to fists against his face as he tried to dissipate some of the tension through anger that he was starting to feel the pressure of. Clearly Arri had just ruined some plan he had been concocting in that devious little mind of his, and a good thing too, the last thing they wanted was to have anymore nasty surprises sprung on them. When he looked back at them both, his angular features were bereft of anything but defeat, and he issued a long, labored sigh, his shoulders slumping almost theatrically. "She is abundantly correct, though I knew nothing of her having been aboard. From what I am given to understand about that ship is that it responds to a mental connection of sorts, with whoever attempts to fly it." He might have warned the falleen that early attempts to interact with Sekotan ships had resulted in a painful reaction from the pilot...in some cases, madness and one particularly terrible incident had resulted in death. But here was a man whom had taken it upon himself to break into his private office suite, take his telbun, the mother of his unborn child, hostage and make ludicrous demands of him, it was only fair that he had some vengance in the end. And if the ship didn't kill this uncouth excuse for a spacer, Kaur vowed that he would do it himself. "It is, however, one of the few ships that will confuse the sensors, if they do not know what they are looking for." New provisions had been put in place since the Yuuzhan Vong war, but in large, he was telling the truth. Turning a baleful glance on Zanear again, he nodded in the direction of the busted door. "Shall we? I am assuming you will wish to make this quick." Slowly he released his hold on her, although his fingers dragged slowly over her body as he stepped away. Truly he was loath to stop touching her. Very curious, you say this ship didn't like it when you touched it, eh?, his comment to Arri alone, almost ignoring the other man in the room. But other than that no one's been aboard? he looked to them both for confirmation or denial of that statement. Once hearing the response, he becomes thoughtful, his hand now only holding her arm just below the elbow. Alright Kuar, it seems I've caused you an inordinate amount of trouble here, and your right, lets do this quickly. He waved his other hand in a "let's go" motion, and waited for the man to lead the way. It seems to me piloting this vessel must be awful tricky, you said it was living, much like the Yuuzan Vong ships? he paused at that, letting Kuar lead ahead to whatever destination they were going to. I'm sure someone has tried it already, that could of course explain why Master Dooku went bonkers. I wonder if they have some sort of deep connection, and whether or not they have some sort of symbiotic bond... he had begun to trail off at the end, almost mumbling to himself as they walked. This situation was actually, or maybe he should think potentially, the best thing to have happen. He would have been happy with a simple pleasure yacht, but this was a two-fold slap in the face, one for Kuar, and one for Corey. Once they got there, Zanear would have to figure out a way to drive it, assuming he could gain the things trust. Perhaps it worked through a Force connection, and not bonded by personality. If it was the latter, then this little trip would be a colossal waste of time, but Chaos always gave you a second chance. The question was, did he already use it up? |
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