IC: Imperial Shadows

[gmjabreson]

Vlakkor Sector, Capital planet Haltose:

The duracrete ground of the large docking bay was a pale semblence of what it normally looked like, as the night crept along. The lone attendee waited in the darkest corners of the bay, waiting for the ship they were supposed to meet to arrive. The watcher didn't know what was so special about the two that were coming, but Moff Sitgarr wanted to have them met and escorted to his luxurious plaza the Empire took over when it arrived here two years ago.
The problem with waiting was the shuttle was already two days overdue, which in this sector was still a little early. Vlakkor sector sat on the edges of the Mid and Outer rims of space, just on the fringes of what was once called "the Slice". The Clone Wars had made it out here, but the Republic was able to establish quite a presence in the area before the Separatists could mount any kind of offensive.
Several times the watcher got excited as engine noises were heard of ships coming in for landing, but none picked this bay to land in. After three days, they'd grown acquainted with the different sounds of a ship coming in for a landing and one preparing and taking off. The lights on the upper edging came on and a large shuttle settled into a slow descent into the bay.
The winds from the repulsors blew the watcher's hood off, which they quickly put back on as the shuttle settled on the duracrete. Finally, they had arrived....

[DentArthurDent]

The soft jolt of the shuttle's skids hitting the floor of the docking bay caused Samon to wake from his light nap. Never one to waste a chance for rest, he had been asleep for much of the journey, waking long enough to eat and work out as best he could given the surroundings. Landing cycle now completed, Samon stood and stretched his legs and arms, trying in vain to place his palms on the ceiling of the shuttle craft's main lounge. Eh, he shrugged. He had long since grown accustomed to his lack of height. Striding easily through the ship's interior to where his cohort had bided his time, Sketch stifled a yawn as he spoke. "Joker, you ready to go and meet our new Moff?"

[Terras Jadeonar & Raven]

Kym's attention was snapped back to the present, as his partner entered the cabin. "Just about as ready as I'll ever be man..."


Kym promptly switched off the datapad that he was occupied with. With a grin, Kym peeled himself from his seat. "Although, I'd be more enthusiastic to check out some of the local wildlife." True to Kym's alias,this was Kym's tag line for checking out the bars and casinos. Something that's become a favorite off-duty activity of his since having spent many of his off-duty hours in the Rimsoo cantinas back in the Clone Wars on the various planets during his tour of duty.

Heading over to his satchel of gear, "Well, I guess we'd better get going eh?"

[gmjabreson]

The shuttle crew were busy refueling the shuttle and performing maintenance inspections as the two passengers disembarked. The shadow figure waited until they approached speaking "Joker, Sketch; This way please," in a voice as harmonious as crystal. She led the way through the corridors out of the docking bay towards a waiting repulsorcar. Once everyone was inside and the speeder heading at high speeds through the town, she finally let down her hood. She looked almost human, except for the shape of her jaw line and ear shape. Her teeth were sharp, enough to tear through flesh. "Moff Sitgarr sent me to meet you fine gentlemen, though Kym for a minute I was expecting a woman. Your scheduled to meet with the Moff at 07-00 in the morning. After that, you'll meet with Commander Eldin Fei. He's in charge of Intelligence and Operations assignments in the Sector. Any questions, gentlemen?"

[DentArthurDent]

Samon didn't respond to the "wildlife" comment with anything more than a shake of his head and a half-grin. Kym was the textbook definition of "incorrigible". Come on, then. Let's not keep whoever they sent to meet us waiting. He picked up his own pack on the way out and headed down the debark ramp with it slung loosely over his shoulder. He heard his nickname from a cloaked and hooded figure approaching him and turned to face he newcomer. A little less professional than he was used to dealing with, especially with a first meeting, but perhaps that's just how things were out here. He turned to his partner and shrugged, but they had been told to expect someone. Sketch followed dutifully and silently to the waiting vehicle and climbed in after their new host.

When the hood came down, Sketch was actually pleasantly surprised. From the tone of voice, he had fully expected an Umbaran. He had never met one he cared for, for some reason. Wildlife, indeed, he thought to himself, and guessed Kym was probably thinking along much the same lines. Out loud, however, he merely said That sounds like a plenty full day to me. Are you taking us to our quarters now, miss......? He trailed off he unspoken question as to the identity of their host.

[gmjabreson]

"I am not, but the driver is." She said in a playful manner. "I suggest you only unpack what you need to. As much as I know Commander Fei, you won't have a mission for a day or two. As for the meeting with Moff Sitgarr, I would wear your dress uniform and have it spotless, he's a stickler for protocol.

"As for me," she continues, pausing long enough to look out the tinted windows for a few seconds. "I am Azla Veln."

[DentArthurDent]

Sketch sat quietly and listened. After she had finished speaking, he merely nodded. [B]Suggestion noted, Miss Veln. I'm no stranger to protocol, although I can't speak for Kym here." This was getting awkward. Samon was a passable conversationalist under the best of circumstances, but usually relied on his partner to do the talking in professional settings. With Kym's attention diverted out the vehicle's window, no doubt by something fanciful such as a Hydrian Turboduck keeping pace with them or the like. So... Which of them do you work for? Sketch turned his gaze out the window like his host had done, hoping it would make it easier to continue the conversation.

[Terras Jadeonar & Raven]

Riding in the vehicle, Kym kept an ear open to the conversation while taking the opportunity to glance at the locale they were passing through. Kym thought musingly to himself as the conversation began to trail off ... I'll make a conversationalist out of him yet...!

Peeling his gaze from the window, Kym asked, "So, Miss Veln, What can you tell us about this planet? Or about the current state of things in the city?"

[gmjabreson]

"Haltose, and Haltose city are the capital of the Vlakkor Sector. The Jedi once had an outpost out here, long before the reformation of the Republic." Azla began. "Now the Empire controls the sector. This planet has a population well over seventy billion, and exports machinery to the Empire for use in war production, alcohol for the public's consumption, and other industries."

"The Jedi here were killed in the purge, or so the rumors go." She continues looking out at the passing people as the speeding repulsor-limo carries you through more streets. "As for the other question, I work for the Empire. I work for both Moff Sitgarr and Commander Fei. I'm the most qualified scout in this region and know everything about the planets within it. I've been tasked to accompany you until you get your feet wet and to make sure nothing happens to you like too many other hot heads that came before you that think they can handle the wildlife as well as the locals."

The limo finally stops and the doors open. Azla leads everyone out and opens the cargo area to help with your gear. She looks at the clear sky above the trees surrounding the faint outline of a typical Imperial campsite. "The sentries have been told to expect us. We best get going before the storm arrives. You'll want to be indoors before it hits, smells like a good one growing."

Once everyone was out, Azla pointed to a path formed out of the side of a hill, angling back and forth. "Sorry folks, but with security the way it is, we go this way for now."
It takes two hours to get through the first two turns up the hill, the gentle slope making for an easy climb, but the hill ahead promises more difficult grades ahead. Already forming ahead of the rising moon, a series of storm clouds as Azla predicted, and they were coming on fast with bursts of light seen within them.

[gmjabreson]

The building Azla left you in, once you cleared the security checkpoint, was like a small apartment. It had separate sleeping chambers, a small food station, eating area and a common space with communications module. The rain was pouring when Azla excused herself for the night. The morning arrived to the sound of wild birds squawking in the distance or in the trees within the compound. As you emerge from your building, Azla is patiently standing outside, leaning against the wall, and slowly sharpening a wicked looking knife blade. She checks over your appearance in your IDU's, jokingly pronounced as I DO's by single troopers to those that serve as a married man/woman. The grounds are damp, and quite muddy where the garrisoned regulars had already completed their morning exercises.

Azla put her knife away and then after making a few minor adjustments to your uniforms signalled towards an awaiting airspeeder at the end of a, what she called "demralcrete", walkway that led to each building in its own path around the inside of the complex. Like so many secrets she kept about herself last night, her outfit was covered up by a flowing robe of black, with a crimson red inner lining, but from what you could see when she was sharpening her knife, the sleeves she had were of a dark blue material that shined as if it were of solwasilk. If it was made of that, she had either rich connections or was paid rather well.