Chapter 3 - (Imperial) Small Talk
Admiral Daala paced back and forth anxiously while Ysanne Isard watched her from the chair she was comfortably residing in behind her desk.
"Kill the woman now," Isard suggested calmly, her red eye brightening and her blue one becoming colder.
"No, she's going to pay for what she did first," Daala growled out, cracking her knuckles.
"Fine, torture her for a month or two and then kill the hacker. It's risky with her being on board in Imperial custody, as any other Imperial officer with half a brain could be quick to tell you. Besides, you seem to have a tendency to not be able to hold on to the hacker girls you capture. Ritril's first visit and Loran's three years ago," Isard replied coolly.
Daala stopped her pacing abruptly and took three steps forward and placed her hands on the desk, leaning on it. "That was different. The first time, we were merely unprepared. And when that Loran witch came, she was apparently on a mission, a well planned one I must admit. But Ritril's not on a mission and we're better prepared this time."
"Either kill her or hand her over to me," Isard replied firmly. "You still insist on underestimating your opponent. If anything, overestimate them. It's a wonder you haven't yet been killed for your stupidity in these matters."
Any reply the Admiral might've made was cut off by a sharp rap on the door followed by Colonel Tavira Davip entering, saluting sharply.
"Admiral, we've received another report of Tainer exploding things on Mimban."
"Damn," Daala cursed under her breath. "Isn't that the fourth time in the last 24 hours?"
"Seventh actually," the officer corrected, "But then again, who's counting?"
"Inform the local authorities that they are to capture Tainer immediately!"
"Already done, Admiral."
"Well in that case Colonel, perhaps you'll stay a moment or two and shed your thoughts on a matter to us," Isard broke into the conversation smoothly.
Her expression blank, Tavira started to shake her head and say, "I'm afraid I have to get back to the bridge Madam Director, so I'll have to respectfully decline."
An almost predatorily smile on her face, Isard waved her declination off. "I'm sure your men can manage for ten minutes or so on their own. Take a seat."
Stony-faced, Tavira did as ordered and sat down in a chair, her upper body still stiffly upright. Biting her tongue for a moment, Daala did not resume her pacing but instead took a chair as well.
"Now then, I believe you were part of those first two hacker girl captures, correct?" Isard asked.
'Yes, Madam Director," Tavira replied back curtly.
"How would you deal with Commander Ritril?"
"I'd do what the Admiral instructed me to do."
"And if Admiral Daala was not your commanding officer?'
"Than I'd do what my commanding officer told me to do."
Daala raised an eyebrow at the Director of Imperial Intelligence. "Isard, is there a point to this?"
"In good time Admiral, in good time. Now Colonel, let's pretend that you were in the Admiral's place. What then would you do with the computer hacker?"
Tavira frowned slightly and took a moment or two to think over her reply before voicing it. "I'd attempt to turn her to the Imperial ways."
"And if she could not be turned?" Isard inquired.
"Then I'd have her executed for crimes against the Empire," Tavira replied firmly.
Silently, Daala thought a long string of curses she'd learned back in her days at the Imperial Academy. Unbeknownst to her aide, Tavira had just made Isard's case against Daala's own.
"Thank you Colonel," Isard was saying, "Dismissed."
Tavira nodded, stood up, and saluted. "Admiral, Madam Director." Bringing her hand down sharply, she spun around exactly 180 degrees and left the room, the door hissing shut behind her.
"Has my point been proven to you yet Admiral?" the Intelligence Director asked a bit lazily.
"Those are only the opinions of two people," Daala said, gritting her teeth, "Not the majority. Besides, Davip used to be with Intel before she transferred in to my command and she's quite frequently worked with you and your agents."
"It's standard Imperial Intelligence doctrine. Turn or kill your captive."
"I happen to particularly dislike this particular captive. I'll torture her some more and then maybe I'll kill her," Daala said curtly.
* * * * *
If Ysanne Isard had been any less disciplined than she was from years of being trained, she'd have rolled her eyes at Daala's stupidity. But instead, she had to content herself with merely verbally replying.
"You keep grudges Daala, which is what keeps you from acting smarter than you really are. For Palpatine's sake, think for once."
The other woman's eyes narrowed and her face grew hard. "Yes, I might keep some grudges, but that does not stop me from successfully leading this fleet," she snapped back.
"This is Wraith Squadron Admiral Daala. They are the best Intelligence team in the New Republic and they are amongst the best pilots. They crushed Zsinj; do not think that they will hesitate to kill you if the opportunity arises."
Daala opened her mouth to say something; probably along the line of reminding Isard about her own Rouge Squadron disaster, but was cut off as Isard decided to bring it up herself.
"Rouge Squadron defeated me once at Thyferra, yes, but I learned from my mistakes. You have been fighting against these Wraiths and still not managed to learn anything."
"Not exactly true," Daala countered. "I've analyzed their strategies and captured their Bilbringi for several months."
"Yes," Isard acknowledged, "But that's besides the main point. The Wraiths will always come after one of their own, no matter what. Wessiri Antilles can forbid all she wants, but Wraith Squadron will find a way to get back their hacker girl."
Daala frowned slightly, taking in what the other woman was saying. Finally, she nodded. "I'll execute Ritril, but not before she pays in blood. Now then, I've got the duties of command."
Deciding to stand up to show the Admiral some respect, Isard nodded. It hadn't been the complete victory she'd wanted, but it was a start.
"Glad to see you're seeing things my way, Daala. We'll talk more on this later."
As the officer left her office, Isard sat back down in seat, a feral grin on her face. Everything was going according to plan. Daala was too predictable when it came to anything that had to do with intelligence. Or rather, one should say, that she was too predictable when it came to those Wraith hacker girls. Isard had found that if one told Daala to simply torture Ritril or Loran, than she'd come dangerously close to killing the hackers. On the other hand, if she told the Admiral to kill Ritril after several months of torture, than Ritril would be far more likely to remain alive.
It was all just a game and Daala was but a pawn to Isard and consequently, a pawn to Jori Daragon. While Isard's supposed motive was to kill Ritril, only she and Daragon knew better. When the time was right, they'd make their move.
Picking up her comlink, she pulled out the comm frequency of the Sith Mother. It was time to report and this time, she'd be including some 'interesting information' that the medics had recently given her in reference to the current health and well-being of Tyria Ritril.