Heavy is the Hand (Imperials, Ben, Silas)

[Professor Mors]

Much to the ire of Doren's anxieties, Idaan did not keep him idling for long. For that, the young officer was exceptionally grateful, and his face evinced as much as the Jaeman offered his greeting, "Greetings Your Ladyship, I am Captain Doren Vassyl. Please, allow me to thank you for your swift response to our hails, and, if you find the will to do so, forgive my superior for his earlier outburst: it was in poor taste, and does not by any means reflect the Empire's perspective on the matter as a whole". A measure of compassion drained some from Vassyl's complexion, as he continued sternly, "As far as our 'departure' is concerned, I regret to inform you that this fleet detachment will not be going anywhere for quite some time".

Doren leaned back in his seat some, and sighed softly before carrying on, "I would not dare insult your intelligence, M'lady, or make light of your understanding. We are both aware of your husband's actions, and you must know that my overseers cannot allow the Empress' homeworld to slip away unchallenged- even in light of her roots. Eshan will remain in Imperial Hands, and once the matter of Silas Karn has been resolved, our forces will make ready to land and occupy the system post-haste". The Captain then planted his elbow on the firm durasteel table, and flexed an informative arm, "Nonetheless, as far as your Lord is concerned, the Empress is willing to offer clemency to her father, given the circumstances".

"Silas, as of now, has only two real options", Doren explained in a neutral tone, "He may submit himself to house-arrest on a secured system within Imperial Borders-". Vassyl paused for emphasis, and raised a tell-tale eyebrow at Idaan, "Or he may take an deposition of self-exile, to be fulfilled outside Imperial Space, in cooperation with independent powers". Vassyl took a moment once more, and laced his gloved fingers before him, "The custody of young Zell is subject to your own discretion- he is free to remain, or seek asylum alongside his father, if flight is his desire". Air popped from joints as Doren tightened his grip- not from anger, but nervousness. "In contrast, the Lord Regent and Moff Council have made it quite clear that you are to be recalled to Core, M'lady, such that the Empress may call upon you as needed".

[Neive Undant]

Prazutis held a neutral gaze forward as he stood beside the door to the captain’s current location within the ship. His senses reached back into the room where he could feel the nervousness of the Captain, something that was completely understandable given their current... situation.
Prazutis paid no attention to the alien that also stood in his midst, although he thought that it was a slight sign of change in the way the Empire recruited. Though, it mattered not to him. He would bring the Empire victory, no matter what race it was that he fought with.
In any case, he was just ready to leave this place. He was fine with being there, but he was just a bit eager for this ship to leave Eshan for a particular moon that he would soon be departing for once this operation had concluded...
But until then, he kept his senses detailed, his reflexes on a hair trigger should he be needed in the room behind him.

[Zuno Drallac]

Silence, that’s what filled the hall in front of the room holding the negotiations that held the lives of millions in the balance. Two soldier and an Inquisitor stood in utter silence. Zuno’s reptilian eyes stared at the durasteel grey wall across from him, his ear holes tuned for the sound of any changes to their current environment. While the outside remained calm and fit in perfectly with this setting, Zuno’s mind was a Gundark rodeo.

The Falleen’s mind still lingered on the display brought forth by the mighty vessel he stood on and how one day he hoped to have just a fraction of said power. Zuno couldn’t help but feel envious of the fact that Captain Vassyl currently held the fate of an entire planets population in his hands, that with one blunder or missed stroke the world below could be glassed like many other worlds that had tried to defy the Empire. He could only hope to one day break out of the rank and file and prove his worth to the Empire and hold such sway.

His vision took in the Inquisitor for but a moment, the Inquisition. Zuno didn’t know what to feel about the group of ‘Force users’ be Empire had formed. How some saw them as heroes to win the war was absurd, the war would be one by the soldier and the tactician, tools to combat the Sith and Jedi were all these Inquisitors were for. The fact that one stood here, on a leash and playing guard duty just like the Privates was just proof that they weren’t the the Empires heroes.

Knowing his views and aspirations were a long way off from become reality, Zuno released a imaginary sigh and refocused himself on his task, making sure no one disrupts the meeting that was to seal the fate of millions.

[Ben Kenobi]

Being no time to argue nor did he have any desire to do so, Colonel Ferro simply agreed with the Lady of Eshan and he accepted her seal that the pre-selected people would understand that his words held a certain weight to them. He would need the urgency in the coming hours. At a brisk run Ferro made it swiftly to the temporary office that had been established for him and upon entry he made way immediately to his assistant. “We need to leave immediately.” He spat out as he retrieved a briefcase and set a certain amount of datapads within that were sensitive to security matters. “Madine Protocol is in effect.” He finished with the case, snapping it shut and locking it with his biometrics then he donned a nondescript trench coat and as he made to head out the door he cuffed the case to his wrist. Next he then retrieved his sidearm and set it to a holster on his belt after double checking the charge.

By that time, on command of the assistant, two of the Alliance Intelligence’s espionage droids entered the room pushing a small container sitting on a gravcart; they were outfitted as typical protocol droids and looked very much the part. Ferro turned to them as his assistant, similarly dressed as he though not armed, arrived at his side fully prepared for the evacuation. “Take care of the office. Clean sweep. Then deactivate yourselfs under the self-wiping program of all operational data save for this and this alone: you are now under the designation ERG-01 and ERG-02. Your directives from this moment on are to assist the Lady Idaan in all matters both personal and of the state and to act as bodyguards for her wellbeing. Your ownership is transferred specifically to the Null Estate and you both shall follow Lady Null’s directives to the letter. Nothing follows; this conversation aside from directives given is to be considered a portion of the operational data to be wiped.”

There was no need to say his goodbyes, these droids were agents of the Alliance and knew their lot well. Though now it could be said they were attendants of House Null and bodyguards of the Lady of Eshan. Ferro and his assistant exited the venue and left the area in haste. The droids behind them sealed the door and opened the top of the disintegration unit that sat on the cart, with a well drilled manner about them they proceeded to collect every single scrap of paper, datapad, and everything else not actively bolted down to the floor and toss them into the device for destruction. Indeed, this office would be considered by the appraising ISB Agent as ‘too clean,’ but alas, this level of cleanliness was necessary to ensure that the Echani people weren’t caught up in the more direct actions of the opposing governments.

As for the Madine Protocol, it was a reaction to imminent encroachment by the Imperial Military or other branch of service of the Empire in which it was readily presumed that the location was to be overrun and that all Alliance personnel were abandoning the post. In that case of the enaction it would be the task of either the personnel staying behind as long as they could or droids left behind to surgically scrub the contents of the area to leave the ISB as little to work with as they could. If terminals could be taken they were, if not then their contents were pulled and the terminals destroyed. It was the thorough cleansing that could be expected by an Intelligence Agency. It was also all part of the ongoing war in the background between spies.

Ferro and his assistant reached the outer terrace where a speeder arrived shortly to accept them, it was driven by yet another Agent of the Alliance Intelligence Service and as soon as Ferro got in and the speeder sped off, the pilot spoke. “Sir, Zell Karn has been drawn out of his studies and he is in our custody, he’ll meet us at Landing Pad 03.”

“And the Chief Science Officer and his staff?”

“The CSO is on his way but some of his staff has elected to remain behind. Our people ensured that they were unidentified but if the ISB asks questions it’ll be obvious that it was a snatch and grab by us without needing evidence; the coincidences line up too well.” The speeder was picking up speed now as it raced towards the docking bays.

“Unavoidable circumstances. What about the rest of the VIPs? Has Captain Thorald been notified?”

“Yes sir, but on such short notice we’re not going to get everyone out. They’ll have to go underground and we’ll have to smuggle them out later if we can at all. However, all essential personnel will be present to get off Eshan. We could have never suspected an Executor and this size of a response.” The Landing Pad was in sight now and the Gallofree Yards GR-75 Medium Transport was even now being boarded with certain personnel that were pertinent to the Alliance’s operation here and equipment as well. As for the Echani, this specific transport was allocated for the Palatial Grounds and so aside from Zell Karn, Heir to House Karn and his retinue of Echani Royal Guards, there wouldn’t be many personnel save for perhaps the immediate families of those attending the ship already and under some circumstances there would be some left behind for this mission was very time sensitive. If the Empire caught wind of an Alliance evacuation then the skies would be filling with TIEs in a matter of minutes with intent to ground all air traffic, period. Their opening display alone had already made the Star Port cease all flights and so the skies were mostly devoid of aircraft though there were still some out there.

Which was why they were taking civilian transports rather than military ones. If the Empire was willing to second guess intercepting refugees and blockading the planet then they could escape. If the Empire was here to do more than be a show of insistent force… then they were in trouble whether these were military flights or civilian or whatever they could dream up. There was one final piece to this event that was made absolutely crystal clear; the Imperial Navy was in charge and only by their good graces would even a single transport leave this day.

A standard GR-75 Medium Transport had a total capacity of ninety passengers and approximately nineteen thousand metric tons of cargo. It could be readily assumed that all this cargo space would not be filled to the brim and all ninety seats in the passenger hold would not be filled. In the overall extent of things, this was not a mass exodus.

Further around Eshan proper, this was not the sole GR-75 to be loaded in the event of the Madine Protocol but it was only one of nine others. Some were truthfully loaded with nothing but Echani people, considered as the vanguard colonists of a future Echani civilization, others had pre-loaded material to preserve the Echani culture along with their colonist payload. As far as Alliance Intelligence personnel went there was only a small handful and most of that number was aboard the Palatial Transport. Within the hour the flight of people interested in leaving Eshan before the Empire established its local Garrison, would be launching and making their run for freedom…

[Silas Karn]

Idaan was resolute and her will held as she pondered the imperial’s demands. ‘So, you are to tell me that I am to be taken to my daughter who was all but forcibly taken from me and presented before her and Argus? Oh how terrible a fate to befall on a mother,’ Idaan mused wirily. With the Alliance whisking away those of high rank and essentially the true mind of the Sovereignty it left Idaan little to worry about save for the sense of loss for her people.

“I will of course acquiesce to your demands and present myself to you. Once this transmission ends I will take transport to the orbital station and await your official transport.” Idaan almost left the conversation at that but decided to add, “As for the Lord Sovereign, he is beyond my reach and withheld from my sight. His actions are his own though of course they reflect on that which he has built. I suppose not everything will draw to a close this day. But as for now I will sign off and meet your chosen team aboard the station.”

Idaan felt a sense of anticipation for the reunion that would occur not just for her daughter but her friend. It was obvious that the imperial officer did not fully understand the relationships at play. Regardless, true to her word Idaan called for a transport shuttle and began to depart the palace. It was a dark day in the history of the Echani as no foreign power had ever held more than immaterial claims over the system. Yet, it seemed not even the long toils of the Sovereign could shield the blossoming territory indefinitely.

[Professor Mors]

"Your temperament and understanding are much appreciated M'lady", Doren quipped back, smirking more from relief than actual contentedness, "And you have my sincerest thanks you for your cooperation. A corvette will be dispatched to retrieve your shuttle and entourage. From there, you will be transferred to a naval transport and received aboard the Ultimatum. I look forward to making your acquaintance in person shortly". Standing up, Doren's holographic doppelganger presented a generous bow, before straightening up into a crisp salute, "Until then, safe travels to you and yours". As the phantasmal image of Idaan dematerialized from whence it came, Vassyl removed his officer's cap, and ran a nervous hand through his hair. It had been a short, but intense episode.

Now, thankfully, the Captain had been afforded a brief respite. Briskly marching out of the conference room, Vassyl had but top raise an open-palmed hand to the ceiling, and therein call his temporary guard back into rank and file. Not in any mood or position to wait, Doren made his new directive clear, "Fall in. We're off to the hangar, and I have no intention of arriving late". Depending on the swiftness of the Lady Null's personal transport, the Captain would have to be ready to greet her at a moment's notice- lest some insensitive officer ran afoul of the Echani Monarch. At the same time, the acting commander needed to be made aware that the no call to arms would be forthcoming any time soon. "Commodore", Vassyl confidently addressed into his wrist module, "The negotiations are on track: beta target is en route".

"Well well", Yaht crooned with intrigue, "I suppose you were right Vassyl: they are smarter than I gave them credit for. Take point in the ventral bay- we'll see to things from here". "Alright you dregs", Commodore Yawehb spat enthusiastically, "Let's see if the other captains are still awake". Turning about to his communications staff, Yaht cleared his throat of phlegm all too publically, and continued, "We lead with gunship nine-oh-one: inform the lucky bridge staff that they will be responsible for beaming the Queen Mother into their docking bay. Lancers three-oh-two and three-oh-six will keep tabs on the exchange, and work escort duty". Yawehb fell silent for a moment of rare, intense self-inspection, before finishing, "And get every TIE defender we have out of their tubes and ready to bring it all home".

"All the TIE defenders Sir?", a frazzled Lieutenant sputtered without thinking. A look of terror and realization flashed across the youthful officer's face- but it was too late. Yaht was seeing red, and practically walked right into the incredulous rabble-rouser, "Did- I- stutter, Lieutenant?!". Time slowed down as a single, pea-sized ball of mucus splattered onto the cheek of the woeful aide, who could only shake his head hastily in defeat, "No Sir- of course not Sir. All the defenders, as you command". The Commodore needed only to incline his head to the appropriate station, and off ran the upstart: discipline at its finest. Blinking some, Yaht recalled one more addition to the next leg of the operation, and barked back once more, "Would someone please prod the interdictors to live up to their namesake? I don't want anyone getting cold feet...". Soon, the damning order was delivered to the Detainer and the Grappler, and a dual perimeter of gravitational impediments were put in place. No one would be going anywhere without the Empire's express permission. Not now- not ever.

[Neive Undant]

Prazutis stood idly as he awaited the conclusion of the holo-meeting, not paying attention to the politics and discussion that we’re taking place within. However, feeling an oh-so slight wave of relief from the Captain, Prazutis readied himself to head off once more, and once the captain had exited the door, Prazutis fell right in step, less than a foot behind the captain as he silently escorted the captain to his destination hangar.
He could hear more drivel from down the hall on the bridge once more from the commodore. However, feeling the anxiety and fear that was resonating from the workers on the bridge, he understood the purpose behind such extravagant shows of blind fury and strict enforcement...
Sometimes fear had a way of keeping people in line.
It was something Prazutis knew better than most, but this was just another example.
The thought soon faded from his mind as he let his thoughts return to the present: protecting the captain and getting him to the correct hangar. A simple task, of course, but with the lives of millions on the line, this man could be the difference between peace and a complete wound in the force being created. And from the way the last wound had been created... he needed to do all he could to prevent that from happening.

[Ben Kenobi]

Landing struts locked back into position as the GR-75 Medium Transport carrying Zell Karn raised upwards into the skies of Eshan and upon the bright blue thrusters on its stern she was carried swiftly up and over the high walls of the Palatial Grounds. Colonel Ferro sat in the seat directly behind the pilot and copilot inside the cabin and he oversaw the operation with a severe amount of trepidation. It would only take the blink of an eye to vaporize their ship if ever that Executor desired. They were completely and totally at the mercy of the whim of the Empire; one could call to question their motivation of making departure at this hour and instead of days or weeks later once the Ultimatum was called away.

Ferro couldn’t chance it. With all the time the Imperials desired to scrutinize the people of Eshan it was beyond reasonable doubt to even consider that the Imperial Security Bureau would not find them one by one and through torturous means would they draw the rest out, there wouldn’t be a single Alliance Operative on Eshan by the time the ISB was finished and they were well known for being absolutely thorough. If it took them ten years to do it, the ISB would stop at nothing to ensure there was nothing to be left behind and if by some chance there was… the will to continue opposition would have been sapped away entirely.

Their window of escape was now and they couldn’t afford to delay. If this Captain Vassyl was as reasonable as Ferro suspected, or at least as reasonable as the previous talks had been, they stood a significant chance of escape though if that dastardly fiend that had ordered fire upon the Golan was on watch, truly Ferro feared the distinctive chance to make an example of them for all of Eshan to see.

As the GR-75 increased altitude the scanners began to wail. Upon inquiry Ferro was dismayed to learn that the sensors were picking up high energy readings in the system and anomalies that were distorting the navicomputer’s ability to process any secure jump data. “Gravity wells,” he sighed nearly defeated, “the interdictors have fired up their systems. Seems our departure’s chance has fallen still.” By this time the other nine GR-75 Medium Transports had begun to take up position around the lead vessel and together under the command of Colonel Ferro to proceed with the operation, they began a flight pattern that would take them into the upper atmosphere on course to break out of the high orbital position and into the awaiting arms of the Imperial Navy.

Of course it wasn’t a head-on course to go straight through their formation, but it was close, close enough to show the Empire that they weren’t actively trying to evade them. The last thing they needed was to provoke or otherwise insult the Imperial Commanders by attempting to seem as if they were trying to run the blockade in civilian transports of all things.

“Open a channel. First, out of respect for our hosts, hail the Ultimatum for a request of passage to deep space, notate our request of clearance is pending word from Lady Null herself. Then open a link to Lady Idaan and have her, not us, contact the Ultimatum to explain that her son Zell and his entourage wishes to depart Eshan in good standing.” He was sweating, this was all literally dependant on the will of the Empire to allow their departure or deny them entirely and should they be denied they could only pray that they would be commanded to return to the surface rather than turned into atomized particles.

“Then boys, cross your fingers and pray.”

Already even before the skies turned from blues to the glittering darkness of space from their ascension of altitude, the dagger form of the Executor-class Super Star Destroyer Ultimatum began to fully take form… and it was awesome to behold…

[Silas Karn]

“My Lady, it seems your son’s ship is making its way off planet. However, with the empire has employed interdictor ships and has all but blockaded Eshan. They have requested for you to be the one to contact the empire to request safe passage.” The palace guard that had taken to the com was almost frantic in tone as she relayed the message to the Echani noble. Idaan was swift to reply, “Then get me back in contact with Captain Vassyl. So long as he is true to his former statements there should be no issue here.” Idaan had boarded the first secure transport from the palace but had not yet arrived at the formerly sundered Golan II station. It had already been a very long day and the chance of losing the heir to a misunderstanding was simply unacceptable.

The Lady of Eshan surmised that anyone accompanying Zell would largely be unimportant to the empire if the child themselves was to be allowed to leave in the first place. It was with that inspiration that Xenolith and a few choice individuals had left to accompany the child, even with the foreknowledge that they may not get to return to Eshan for a very long count of cycles. Once the holotransmitter was set Idaan once more took to contacting Doren. “Captain, it seems my son has elected to depart. Given my absence for at the moment we may assume has no end date it seems only right that he seeks out his father. As per our earlier conversation it seemed that this action would be allowed. However, as it stands without this conversation his departure may have been met with hostility and as such I felt it prudent to inform you of the developing situation.” Idaan finish her statement with all the calm and grace she could muster. Had the conversation with Doren gone differently in their previous dialogue, Idaan would have simply taken Zell with her when she went to Bastion. As things stood now Idaan could only hope the captain followed through in allowing the boy to return to his father.

[Professor Mors]

"I thank you for the honesty and swiftness of your announcement, M'lady", Vassyl began, the outline of a scowl twitching on the edges of his face, "However, I do wish your son's protectors had the good graces to wait until you had been safely delivered to us". Yes, launching a small flotilla of transports before Idaan had even made contact with the lead corvette was a misstep as far as the proceedings were concerned. Doren was certainly there would be backlash, and it only took moments for that prediction to hold true. A pulsing red light blew up on the Captain's wrist module, indicating another, incoming call. "Pray excuse me for just one moment, Your Ladyship", the young Jaeman entreated, "And please maintain holding over the orbital facility".

With a flick of the wrist, Doren paused the present conversation, and switched lines over to the very grumbly Commodore, "Vassyl... You said we were on track. So perhaps you'd care to explain why a small fleet of transports is gunning ahead into my engagement zone!". The Captain had to lower his arm some to avoid the static crackle from his superior's excess volume, before weakly assuaging the issue, "It's only the Crown Prince and his entourage, Sir. This was to be expected". Indeed, the son was highly likely to chase after his vagabond father. What's more, the greater number of loyalists that fled with the young Karn, the following occupation would prove all the smoother. "Former Crown Prince", Yaht corrected with a snort, before relenting, "But fine, let them scurry to the edge of the system".

"And the Queen Mother?", Vassyl probed in anticipation of further adjustments. "We'll have the gunship toe her into ventral hangar three", Commodore Yawehb growled discontentedly, "I'm not wasting any more time on swapping transports". "As you command, Sir", Doren nodded in agreement, "I shall be there shortly". "You'd best hoof it Vassyl", Yaht cautioned, "It's going to be a tight fit if you don't reach the fore first". The Captain was somewhat puzzled by that last sentiment, but shrugged it off as he switched lines back over to Idaan, "The boarding procedure is being altered to fit your son's schedule, M'lady. You may remain aboard your shuttle. The inbound gunship will apply its tractor beam to your dorsal hull, and direct you into one of the Ultimatum's auxiliary hangars".

Having amended things as best as possible, Doren completed his hallway circuit, and arrived at the docking bay in question. It appeared that Yaht's warning had not been hyperbolic. A veritable sea of plastoid marked the hangar interior as far as the eye could see, and Doren wondered if they hadn't stuffed half a legion onto the onyx floor alone. Shuffling through the alabaster swell of army and naval personnel, Vassyl was visibly shaken by the single dots of crimson the converged on his position from out of nowhere. These were of course, the Royal Guard: the Empire's cutting edge, and the finest warriors of the age. A single man from this coveted collective was worth one hundred of his lesser contemporaries, and their purpose here was all too obvious- contain Idaan Null, and escort her to her new lodgings.

Looking out past the ventral lip of the hangar, Vassyl could see the distant sphere of Eshan growing nearer and nearer. No doubt, the Commodore was working the Executor-Class Dreadnaughts engines at full bore. While the small contingency sent to collect the Lady Null's transport was fast in its own regard, the Ultimatum had its works cut out for the resident helmsman to meet the escort group halfway. Still, with its impressive compliment of tractor beams, the Super Star Destroyer needn't sit directly over its target for the purpose of whisking a lone ship into its belly. No doubt, once Idaan was confirmed aboard the titanic warship, the gravity wells would be temporarily shut-off, and Zell would be able to slip free unto whatever new life awaited him.