Log:Sith: Eradication
The Empire Investigates a Possible Rebellion
OOC Date: June 8 2023
Location: Sarkhai
Participants: Tamsin Cas, Zoka Kanas, Aryn Cortes, and Reverberate as GM
"Seek them out, if they are to be found. If they are sinking roots, then do away with them."
Kessa's image had disappeared with that last instruction, leaving sith and soldiery to perform as instructed. Sarkhai was a world that had existed within and outside of the Republic for centuries. A Mid Rim world with little to it of note - besides the defensive technology developed to protect their settlements against natural threats found in the forests that cover much of the landmasses.
Jedi were uncommon here and the world's position in the Rim made it easily overlooked by many. A perfect spot for rot to begin.
The Sith detachment to the planet was small. A squadron of crimson armored troopers to accompany the command team with more waiting to be summoned if required. Sarkhai was still considered a neutral world - with no formal Sith governance to speak of. No standing military representation and the appearance of Sith craft, lawfully announced or not, is enough to rouse local peacekeepers to come forth and observe at distance.
Achlys was not the Sith who would be expected to go in saber blazing, as it were, and they did not do so now. Instead, it was a methodical descent from the shuttle, with no sign of her assigned trooper at her back. Nor was there sign of a weapon, only the small contingent of troopers who had been selected to accompany the team. This was not, in its way, any different from any dignitary providing their own security when travelling off of their home world. "I would suggest seeing if we can locate some sign of dissent. The local peacekeepers should be expected to be suspicious, but those who are likely to go against us, if we are observant, should be easy enough to pick out."
One of the fireteams of troopers is being lead by ET-6260, with her small team falling into a side by side formation behind Acylys as she exits the shuttle. While she follows, listening to the mention of finding dissent, she considers.
Rooting it out while not generating even more of it through your tactics has always been a struggle for any force, and the trooper does think about that as she considers, because it would be easy to try to force the rebels to show their hand.
Sarkhai was a world Aryn knew little about. What she did know of the Mid-Rim was its nobility and the firm discriminatory stance on alien involvement in political affairs. Altogether unfamiliar with this world's government, she was interested to speak with someone in charge to determine if there were nobility to question. In her experience, the nobles always had something to lose, or something to gain in complying with requests. It helped, too, having a bloodline that had some influence.
Aryn follows behind Darth Achlys quietly, pulling her own hood back to reveal her face. It was no secret the Alderaanian was a Sith Lord.
"I would like to speak with whomever claims to be in charge of this world. I suspect diplomacy may yield us more information if we approach it correctly. Although, independence is a commodity most valued in the mid-rim.." The last statement is intoned cautiously, knowing well the martyrs of liberty who would die to set the tone of a war or conflict.
"And which one of you is the 'Ambassador' here?"
The voice of the Sarkhai constable carries as they and two with them approach. Pale skin painted with sharp cornered marks near eyes and corners of the mouth, uniform crisp and weapons holstered for the time being.
"This isn't one of yours, so you abide by local law or we'll be sending you out at a run, if at all. All this business of 'Visiting Observance'... we were fine without the Republic, we're fine without the Empire." blustering further until the small detachment two small meters distant.
A small crowd at the edges of the starport forms, lingers and only the most curious remain viewing and among them more of the local guard who seem to be in numbers specific to the visitors presently. The apparent commander huffing and standing with their weapons holstered but their hands close by.
"Right then... Who is it?" right back to the original question shouted before.
Achlys made a sharp half-turn, faceless mask offering a nod that was also a half bow, as they indicated Aryn, "Queen Arys Cortess, of Alderaan." Such the place had been for enough years that 'New' was not a term which applied. They did not bother to agree with the rules as set out. The tip of the helm they had given after the words and conditions had been spoken had been agreement enough. Once they rose back to standing, the helm shifted, taking in the crowd which had gathered, piecemeal or no.
The crimson armored trooper's black visor scans across the gathered locals, looking for hands. Emtpy hands are good, everyone goes home. Hidden hands are not so good.
<"There's a group at 4 O'clock. They seem to be deliberately hanging back, whispering amongst themselves."> Could be nothing, of course. Could just be locals who've never seen a Stormtrooper before.
Aryn's brow arches a bit when the Constable goes on a preamble about what would apply to them now they stepped on sovereign soil. Darth Achlys answer comes curt and direct enough, to which Aryn doesn't miss a beat with indicating, "You may refer to me as my Lady, or the Lady Aryn. -- Rest assured, good sir, we have not arrived as conquerors but as diplomats with a mission all our own. Had you earned the ire of the Empire, I assume you would know it. It is not your independence we desire; no, we are not here to annex Sarkhai but to search it."
She steps by the Constable, leading the group forward. "..and to that point, I desire a meeting with those who have such authority to endorse our temporary presence upon this soil." Pausing briefly, Aryn asked, "I do hope it would not be too troublesome to arrange this meeting? I would like to be on my way just as much as you would like to see us depart.." Aryn's gloved hands fold at her lower back, her body turned slightly though not in deference. Aryn held herself like nobility, perfected posture and an air of both authority and entitlement.
Forced to turn and follow, the constable and his own small entourage wheel to keep pace, several frustrated sounds escaping the man before he bites out, "We can send word, but I have no indication of if or when the King or Queen could grant an audience. Best guess is the local regional governor - formal audience will need to be set up by proper channel. But Viscount Lux is the best I can think to dredge up at short notice."
A huffy sort of sniff coming and more of the local guard assemble to disburse the growing onlookers, several being pushed until they get the point and start to move off before some penalty or another is levied against them.
Some of those indicated by Zoka starting to move down side streets and leaving others to continue their rubbernecking. The Constable waits though, eyes on the two sith lords, awaiting their decision with a hand lifted to his ear after his wrist mounted comm buzzes.
Achlys, falling into step with the Lady Aryn, was mindful of the intelligence that was being sent her way by the trooper, and her voice came across the dedicated comms for the team. The one with her and the one back on the ship. <<"If we have the capability, I would like a remote droid drone to provide aerial recon of the city, paying paerticualr attention to the northern quadrant. The peacekeeper is receiving word of unrest in the northern end of the city.">> Externally, Achlys gave no comment, save, "Are visitors welcome on your planet? Regardless of their affiliations? I have not been to this planet in many years. Much ahs changed."
"Normal visitors are welcome, but you're not quite normal visitors..." the constable giving Achlys the side-eye with a small frown, "are you now?" Another trio joining once the group move out of the landing area proper, three behind, one on either flank and another in front while the Constable remains where he can speak easily to the Sith, trying to ignore the red armored troops who split between a ship guard unit and another moving to escort posture.
A tapped out message on a wrist-datapad is sent with several looks shot towards Aryn as she makes her request, onlookers in the crowd watching from the sidelines. Some going back to their own business and others intent on observing the novelty of the 'show'.
In the alley, where light fails due to the closeness of buildings, Zoka's path moves from the narrow side-street into an informal 'square' made between structures. Small tables set out back where gatherings occur and a pair of branching paths from the one that she emerges from. The sensation of being watched from windows growing. Stealing away from a crowd being one thing. A red armored trooper appearing in the middle of their homes, alone, another.
"I believe that depends entirely on how one defines normal. I can be nothing other than what I am, no more than you can. But that does not mean that I do not take pleasure in such simple pursuits as exploring the many worlds that encompass this galaxy. There is something to be learned and appreciated on all of them. That I present one face in the eyes of most does not mean that others do not exist." Achlys, however, did not make any attempt to move from where she had stopped, nor was her tone anything but entirely conversational.
It would seem that the trooper has managed to get lost, as well as losing the trail from the people she had been following. There's a frown under the helmet, as she finds herself too turned around in the alley.
She mutters a curse under her breath, and then turns on low light vision as she starts looking for a way back to the main group proper.
In the alley, the path goes cold among the ground litter, moisture and the general appearance of foot traffic that has cleared out with the troopers approach. The path back is obscured in detritus and gray brick buildings all looking 'the same' at initial glance. Slow turning in place eventually aids in orienteering, a memorable bit of graffiti an image scrawled beneath it.
Enough to start the treck back, or perhaps push further in once the way back is clear.
Aryn and Achlys, with their escort, are brought to landspeeders in short order to be whisked away from the rubbernecking crowds and towards a squat building with large columns holding up decorative awnings with its own landing pad beneath the shadow of such shelter. The small party being gathered up and ushered down halls with opulent appointments, thick rugs, and hung tapestries set under pools of light meant to showcase them.
"Her Highness, Aryn of Alderaan and entourage.." announced before the group is disgorged into a spacious audience hall, a figure in gold and silver robes of state seated in a grand chair with several appointed for the Sith while the constable and his crew are sent on their way.
"You are presented Viscount Elthera Muus, Governor of Kelthas and surrounding." the woman is introduced, severe looking, in her fifties with her expression shrewdly neutral and remaining seated when the others are brought in.
"Ahh, the Sith... And what can Sarkhai possibly offer?" her smile guarded and fixed.
Achlys accepted the ride towards the Viscount's demense in silence. Despite being masked, it was possible to get the sense that the Sith was interested in the city as they passed through it. Quiet as well, as they disembarked, save to offer a thank you to the drivers of their transport. When they entered the building, it was two steps behind and to the right of Aryn. And the Viscount was given that same polite half bow of respect. Again, on their own comms, <<"She is irritated at the disruption to her schedule, and also curious about whatever it is that is going on in the northern city. This may be an opportunity.">> Good will relations, Sith style. Because of course it was.
The trooper picks up the trail again, finding the distinct gait of one of the group that had broken off. So she resumed following it, tracking it through alleys, through back yards. She could feel the eyes on her as she moved along. Maybe she'll bring up some day that branding is less important than tactical usability.
She hops another wall, and then lands, resuming the track as it takes her back east. <"Back on the trail."> They're not being careful, which means perhaps they haven't gotten word about the trooper moving through the alleys and back paths.
Aryn is shown disrespect in the butchering of her appropriate titles as to be diminished in front of the Viscount. Had she expected any different from the affair, her expression would have registered surprise or disgust, but this was a common play among nobility to appear in control and power.
The Viscount is ignored for the moment, and Aryn's attention is to the voice in her ear. "Pardon the disruption, Elthera of Sarkhai. Sarkhai has garnered the interest of Empress Kessa. Peace, as you well know, is a hard earned state. It comes at the cost of blood, the strong institution of justice, and vigilance. It is this peace that is threatened, though not by the Empire. We come hunting agents eager to sow discourse and distrust, eager to start a war at the cost of lives who only wish to live in quiet solitude."
"We seek the endorsement of your Ladyship to rip out these alleged weeds and return you to your well deserved peace. No one wants war, but there are measures we must take to prevent it and look to the well being and safety of the many. So I ask plainly, no more preamble.-- Is Sarkhai the host or victim of a rebel presence and threat? If so, are you willing to parlay and help us seek out and remove this disruption?"
Aryn seems to insinuate she's aware of the 'disruption' they're currently experiencing without dragging it out into the open blatantly.
"There are always malcontents, some more obvious than others - from world to world, Lady Aryn." a glass of water taken from a servant that bows into place to minimize their presence, sipped and considered with a glance over the rim at the Sith pair and the troopers arranged behind.
* * *
In the alleys, Zoka continues to move without obvious hindrance, but the careful watchfulness persists. A figure ducks back, spotted as they attempt to make use of a false wall that would redirect passage, the grind of durasteel on stone with a muffled clank giving hints of where to search should they be pursued. A metal panel sunk into the ground, service tunnel accesses.
* * *
"As for these comments pertaining to war, if you are seeking to threaten Sarkhai, then do so plainly so that it can be addressed as such." the Viscount continues, wrist moving slightly and refreshment is now offered to Aryn and Achlys, mask or no. "If the Empress is sending you here looking for reasons to invade, she'll find none. If you want to play police and hunt down the bit of bother being had in the city - by all means. But we shan't put you on payroll." a derisive sniff as she postures from where she sits. "If you are accusing Sarkhai of harboring a threat to the Empire, you shall find no support of it in the Nobility and we shall grant aid in rooting it out if it will guarantee Sarkhai's continued existence in its own sovereignty."
* * *
The alley quiets again, even the sounds of rodents and other small animals halt, as if the city were holding its breath; poised to see what Zoka will do, or if those watching will lash out.
* * *
"Does that make our official standing clear enough?"
As Lady Aryn and the Viscount began their negotiations, Achlys stepped to the side, hands still hidden beneath the edges of the cuffs of their robes. She was, in this moment, the entourage, and would remain so, standing with the troopers who had, despite losing one of their number, remained with the two Sith as they made their journey through the city. Such was the way of diplomatic relations. There was a time to act, but its time had not yet come.
" Zoka says over comms, plainly, as she walks towards the area where it is. She doesn't want to give away that she has spotted it, it may make them bug out.
She pulls a small tracker out of a pouch and drops it into a pile of trash next to the hidden entrance, nudging it gently with her foot until it is hidden from view.
She makes an effort of looking frustrated, before returning towards the main strip where the main group was, <"I've planted a locator beacon on the hatch's location. I don't think I was spotted, I think I managed to convince them I didn't find the hidden entrance. Returning now.">
"I am not here to threaten on the Empire's behalf, your Ladyship. We sought you out in an effort to achieve the full support of nobility. Your continued sovereignty is all but certain; it is not your freedom or way of life that holds our interest. The rebellion and its agents grow like weeds, and it takes a galactic team effort to see them ripped out root and stem. If you are granting aid, then we graciously accept.." Aryn says, taking the offered refreshment as a gesture of solidarity. "..and our escorts would be all too eager to put these rebel calumnies to rest. Do we have an accord?"
