A/N: This is a challenge I received to write a fic around Isard's work and professional life. There isn't a huge amount of info on the time Jan Dodonna spent captured by her, and the early uses of the Lusankya… so it seemed a perfect space to fill in. This will be written as a couple chapters. Alliances IS being worked on! I have not forgot it! I hope to have the final chapter up by New Years. :)
It was a bold move, some might say bordering on suicidal, but Ysanne Isard felt no fear as she strode across the ball room towards the Emperor. "Sire, might I have a word with you?" she asked, inclining her head as she did so. Formalities were still to be observed after all.
"Yes Ysanne?" Palpatine inquired humouring her for the moment. Lowering her voice so only he could hear her, ignoring the raised eyebrows of a few onlookers as she shifted closer to him.
"Is this really the time for a ball of all things? We should focus more energy on the Rebel threat. They have proven themselves a serious problem." Isard said and Palpatine gave a sigh. It was an old argument and not one he cared to engage in right now.
"Now more than ever my dear." he explained in a tone much like one might use explaining a simple concept to a youngling. "Loyalties will be in question after the… unfortunate incident at Alderaan. I need you to listen for treason amongst those who have far more means and opportunity to become a threat than some pathetic so called Rebel Alliance." he said and she fixed him with a glare.
"The pathetic group which took out a very large weapon with a single shot from a snub fighter." Isard shot back angrily but careful to keep her voice lowered.
"We will discuss this later Ysanne." Palpatine responded, his tone making it clear the discussion was over. "Now go do your job Director, or I will find someone who can." Isard fumed silently as he walked away and grabbed a drink from a passing twi'lek slave's tray. She did not understand how he could be so dismissive. How much damage did the Rebels need to do to make him see them as a threat? Still, she had her orders and she would follow them for the moment and she would obey them. Making her way around the room, stopping to be social here and there she bided her time until the party ended so she could return to what she felt was her real work. Despite the losses at Yavin, Vader's forces had managed to capture a number of Rebels. She looked forward to extracting information from them and working to crush the Rebellion with or without Palpatine considering it important. She would keep him and his Empire safe, even if it didn't seem a priority to him.
"Ah how nice to see you Ysanne, or should I say Director now? I heard about your promotion and I assume congratulations are in order." a voice interrupted bringing her attention back to the present.
"Director would be the correct address now Lieutenant Lang." she said sharply.
"Took over from your old man eh? Shame about Armand. He always seemed so loyal, but I guess power gets to you." Lang said. It took a considerable force of will for Isard not to snap. Her voice was tight as she responded.
"I guess you didn't know him as well as you thought… and I would rather you leave the subject alone." she said tersely.
"My apologies Director. I guess it's still a little fresh. Heard a rumour… guess it's true." Lang said. Isard didn't reply. "Security isn't that different from Intelligence. Your reaction says it all. Guess you really did become Iceheart." he said.
"Does it matter?" Isard sighed.
"Guess not. You got what you wanted, who cares about the cost right?" Lang asked. Isard raised a brow.
"One might think you sympathized with him… a known Rebel supporter. Careful where you tread Lieutenant." she warned. She was gratified to see Adion Lang give a hard swallow, abruptly aware of the danger he was in. Suddenly he saw her for what she was- not the pitten most within the Empire viewed women to be, but a nexu hungry for blood. Perhaps there was a reason the Intelligence Director's uniform was crimson.
"I meant no offence Madam Director." Lang hastened to say, but perhaps not quick enough he realized by the strange look in her bicolour eyes. Her crimson eye reflected her rage, but her blue one… was as cold as ice. He realized she could gut him like a fish right then and there and not feel an inch of guilt- worse, she would enjoy it. The only thing stopping her was protocol, and not wishing to cause a scene at the ball. Wishing to get away from her as rapidly as possible, he quickly excused himself. "Ah well, good to catch up with you. I must be off now." he said hurrying away.
"I'm sure you must." she replied to the empty space in front of her, a smirk crossing her face at being able to inflict such terror without even touching the man. She could have a little fun while she did her duty after all.
Crossing the vast expanse of the throne room, Isard could not help feeling a small measure of fear as her footsteps echoed ominously across the dark marble. She knew he was angry with her and that seldom led to anything pleasant. She was no fool. She knew exactly what he was capable of, perhaps more than many in the Empire. Kneeling before the throne she raised her head slightly to meet his glance. "You summoned me my Lord?" she enquired, not quite keeping the quake from her voice. He smirked, enjoying her terror.
"I did." he said. "Rise. Walk with me." he commanded her. Her expression was one of priceless confusion as she hastened to obey him.
"Yes Sire." she said, following him as he led her far into the lower levels. He could sense her unspoken question as to the reason for taking her so far down. If he had some unknown purpose or if he simply intended to be done with her once and for all, far from where anyone would hear her screams or even care. Abruptly he stopped and motioned her forward.
"Through this door, my gift to you. Use it as you see fit." he said. She stepped forward baffled for a moment then gasped as she realized what she now stood in. A Star Destroyer- no a Super Star Destroyer she amended herself as she walked through it stunned, buried beneath the city.
"How is this possible?" she asked, sure this had to be some sort of dream. Surely it was impossible to bury a ship this large under the city without anyone noticing.
"The Force allows for many things you can not comprehend." Palpatine replied. "I assume it meets your satisfaction?" he asked "I will be transferring the Rebel prisoners to the cells here. Do as you wish with them. I care little for the matter." he said. Touched at his kindness and his faith in her she offered a genuine smile and turned to kneel before him in thanks.
"Thank you Sire. It's perfect." she said.
"I will leave you to familiarize yourself with the facility, and name it. I have other matters to attend to." he said as he drew her upright before turning to leave. She walked slowly around the pristine ship, studying it's every detail. The simple but beautiful wood inlay in the office forming the Imperial Crest, the detention cells, labs appropriate to the experiments she had proposed. All the things he has seemed to ignore her on, the details were there. She was stunned. As she mentally replayed the conversation it dawned on her. He made her go first so she was the first to set foot on the ship. He told her to name it. She knew just the name- Lusankya. The old code name for her father's offices. She would use the Lusakya to strike terror into the hearts of Rebels and crush them. She would make him proud, and be worthy of this gift. Yes, the Lusankya would be put to very good use- starting with the captured traitors. Settling down at the desk of the office she pulled up a list of the Rebels who had been captured and what intel had been gained thus far with traditional interrogations. Names, ranks, home planets… nothing of any real subsistence then she observed. Well she would remedy that in the morning. There were after all many ways to skin a nexu.
As soon as she was informed that the prisoner transfer was complete, Ysanne Isard made her way into the detention cells of the Lusankya, her first target decided late last night. A man who should have been dead long ago- Jan Dodonna. As she approached the cell he didn't move or even look up at her. He simply sat silently in the corner of his cell, his posture hunched. "I hear you are calling yourself General these days." she remarked, and he glanced up briefly before staring at his feet again.
"If you are planning to try charm me into discussing Rebel plans, I can tell you it won't work any better than torture did." he sighed. Isard barked a harsh laugh at the man.
"Charm you? Hardly. Torture you? Perhaps. You will learn I am far more… inventive than those brutes upstairs." she said amused. "You don't know why you were transferred do you?" she asked.
"Does it matter?" he said, his voice weary.
"The end result will be the same, it's true. I merely thought you had a reputation as a thinker and would be curious is all." Isard said. Finally he looked up to meet her gaze.
"I wasn't informed. The brutes upstairs as you so eloquently put it don't make a habit of talking to prisoners." he said.
"Why they fail to accomplish much." Isard remarked, pulling out a set of binders and signalling to him to rise. Knowing he had no chance of escape right now and fighting would only worsen his situation, Dodonna shook his head.
"You won't need those. I have no intent to fight you." he said. Isard studied him for a moment, and clipped the binders back onto her belt. His body language indicated he was being honest. For whatever reason the fight was gone from him.
"Very well, come this way then." she said, pressing the door release on the cell and leading him to the lab. "Please, have a seat." Isard said motioning towards a single chair which was fitted with restraints and various implements. He hesitated and her hand dropped to her hip, bringing her blaster from it's sheath and into her hand, carefully aimed at his head. "I said have a seat." she said, her voice dropped to a threatening growl "I don't make a habit of repeating myself. Are we clear?" she asked and quickly Dodonna obeyed, looking considerably more alarmed as she fastened the restraints in place.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Ysanne Isard, Director of Imperial Intelligence." she replied, smirking as his face dawned in recognition.
"You… You are Armand's daughter." he said, and Isard gave a nod.
"I hope you were not hoping to catch up with my father about your days before you became a Rebel traitor." she remarked. "He doesn't do much talking these days… or any really. Blaster to the head has a way of silencing people." she said giving a slight laugh as she spoke. Dodonna felt sick.
"Took his position when you took his li-" Dodonna's remark was cut short by a sharp blow from Isard across his cheek.
"That's enough of that!" she snapped, abruptly jabbing him with a needle. Stepping back, Isard breathed a few calming breaths as she waited for the drugs to set in. Placing a simulator helmet over his head as he lapsed into unconsciousness, she called up an appropriate program based on what recon had reported from the ruined remains of the Rebel base. Waiting a few more moments she spoke. "General." she said.
"Who's there? What happened?" he asked. Falling into the role she let concern flood into her voice.
"There was an explosion. We pulled you from the wreckage. You are in a med unit. You hit your head General. What do you remember?" she asked.
"Who is we?" he asked. Clever Isard thought to herself.
"Leia Organa was the one who found you." she said. The tracking device Lord Vader had placed on the pirate ship had confirmed the Alderaanian princess's location at Yavin 4 at least.
"She was supposed to evacuate!" Dodonna said.
"You know how she is though. She won't leave anyone behind." Isard said, reading him carefully as she spoke. Dodonna gave a sigh.
"She takes too much responsibility." he sighed. Isard smiled. So far so good. The drugs worked as she had hoped. Combined with simple psychological manipulations he would be easy to gain information from and… an ideal candidate for her other little experiment she had proposed. "We are on our way to the rendezvous point. You should rest now, but is there any message I should take her?" Isard asked.
"Is she on the Home One or the Falcon with that pirate she seems so fond of?" Dodonna asked.
"She is on Home One in the Command Centre." Isard said, pulling together the pieces he gave to her to keep him in the illusioned state he was in.
"Then tell her to get down here when we reach Ord Mandel and explain herself." Dondonna replied irritably.
"Will do General. You should rest now." Isard said. "The medic is here to treat you."
"Thank you, you are very kind-" Dodonna's response was cut short as Isard plunged the second needle into him to reverse the first, and ensure amnesia of the time under the drug's effect. Removing the helmet she waited as he came to. When he began to stir she jabbed him with a force pike.
"Answer me old man!" she snapped.
"What?" Dodonna asked confused. He couldn't remember anything since he entered the room he realized. Isard's crimson eye smouldered at him.
"Ugh, what I get for trying to interrogate seniors." she spat at him "I asked you the location of the Rebel base and you conveniently decided it was time for your nap before I could begin to torture you." Isard said tersely. "I have been trying to rouse you since."
"I don't remember you asking me anything. The last thing I remember is you hitting me." Dodonna said. Isard sat down on a nearby stool with a huff.
"Guess I hit you harder than I realized. No matter. We can start now." she said turning up the dial on the force pike. "Once more- where is the location of the Rebel base?" she asked jabbing him with it. For the next few hours little was heard outside his screams of pain. However cruel Armand had a reputation for being, it was clear to every prisoner on board, it was nothing compared to the younger Isard. The captured Rebels cowered in their cells, knowing soon they would be next. In the lab, Isard smiled, enjoying the screams of her victim, and pleased to have already extracted such valuable information. The Lusakya was christened in blood.