As Vaukt aboard his recently re-christined cruiser Vindictive set off from Haven towards Kyozist and then Earth, elsewhere, the Massive and escort fleet arrived at Judgmentia. Grim still walked, not floating about like Red and Purple had previously, to a large chamber containing the Control Brains. By his side, his Warmaster Xilch, still in her Internal Affairs uniform but sporting a Warmaster's insignia while she waits for a tailored uniform fitting for her rank.
The trio of Control Brains, suspended from the ceiling, turned their attention to the two as they crossed the bridge to stand on a platform standing over a large pit. Each spherical in shape with a multitude of flexible cables and wires anchoring them into the complex systems that saw the Empire's day-to-day functions. Illuminated sensors over their forms bore a different hue each. One magenta, one yellow, and one green. Several dozen sensors adjusted and shifted to the movement of Grimm and Xilch, their tethered forms moving closer from their suspended anchors.
"Observation: This one is the Interim Tallest, a burning concern dwelling within him. The other is his Warmaster, the former head of Internal Affairs, equally concerned. To come all the way to Judgmentia to request an audience with us is most intriguing indeed."
"It is, great Control Brains," Grimm began, "My Warmaster and I have come to beseech you for an amendment to the Imperial Standard."
"Statement: Tallest Red and Tallest Purple are alive. Query: Where are Tallest Red and Tallest Purple? Query: Why has Interim Tallest Grimm been appointed? Discrepancy: Internal Affairs deviation from Imperial Standard. Request: Interim Tallest Grimm explain."
"Warmaster Burgg has been recently killed resisting arrest by Internal Affairs. Tallest Red and Purple were detained pending an investigation into their own violations of the Imperial Standard. Both Red and Purple recently escaped T'Daali Correctional Facility on Vort assisted by the traitor Vaukt. This confirms their guilt or they would have remained in their cell. With the absence of the two, but no confirmation of their death, I am only allowed the position of being Interim Tallest until they're confirmed dead or we bring them to justice, mighty Control Brains."
"Query: Of the Warmaster, what were the charges levied against Tallest Red and Tallest Purple?"
Xilch, being addressed by their glorious overlords, straightened her impeccable posture further before clearing her throat to speak.
"Tallest Red and Tallest Purple were actively impeding and interfering with an ongoing Internal Affairs investigation into the traitor Vaukt. They demanded the release of a key suspect, High Marshal Zha and her command staff. Colonel Niz was well within her authority to detain them for the infraction."
"Observation: Interim Tallest Grimm and Warmaster Xilch speak true of Colonel Niz's actions. Tallest Red and Tallest Purple were in violation of the Imperial Standard. Query: Why is it assumed Tallest Red and Tallest Purple are traitors to the Empire?"
Grimm cleared his throat before addressing the question. "The two refused to stay in their cell upon the prison break perpetrated by the traitor Vaukt in rescuing the traitor Zha and her treasonous command staff who were slated to be sent here for deactivation. They left with the traitors. Doing so in my eyes confirms their guilt as aiding traitors of the mighty Irken Empire."
"Objection: There is no concurrent evidence to support these claims of traitorous activity from Tallest Red and Tallest Purple. Speculation: Traitorous element has captured Tallest Red and Tallest Purple as prisoners."
Xilch's azure gaze shifted to Grimm, reading his features as she carefully thought her next words over. The Control Brains were as close to suspicious as sentient machines could be beneath the circumstances.
"You are correct in there is no substantial evidence, Great Ones…but their willingness and compliance to depart their punishment leads Internal Affairs to believe there is evidence to the contrary knowing their absence would impeded Tallest Grimm's authority."
"I will admit that is how I am approaching the issue, Mighty Ones. The traitors have no reason to capture them as prisoners, we could deactivate them and remove that bargaining chip remotely. Red and Purple know that as does Vaukt. They could have chosen to remain in their cell and, if their investigation proved them innocent, would have seen them released. I must admit I am speculating, but it is not entirely without some logical reasoning."
The man stopped to take a breath. The real reason they came here was still pressing.
"Given the veil of secrecy that Special Operations is allowed to hide behind that allowed this whole episode to take place, my Warmaster and I have ventured here to ask for an amendment to the Imperial Standard to allow greater oversight into Special Operations…what we have left of Special Operations, anyhow…"
"Query: What does the Warmaster mean by 'what we have left'?"
"Approximately forty percent strength based on our current estimates, Mighty Ones. Over half of Special Operations have abandoned their posts and joined the traitor Vaukt."
"Discrepency: The former General of Special Operations known as Vaukt and 49.8% of active Special Operations forces have been deactivated prior to this exchange. Query: How is the traitor Vaukt and his followers still a threat to the Empire if they have been deactivated?"
Grimm's attention turned to Xilch briefly before looking back to the Control Brains. "Great Ones, if I may ask, what are the status of the Shadow Strikers and when were they deactivated if they were? We have spoken to them in recent days. We already are aware of one named Hesa who was marked deactivated during the Invasion of Vort but she is very much on active duty with them."
"Statement: The Armada Special Operations Group 1, known as the Shadow Strikers, have been indefinitely listed as killed in action. Discrepancy: After-action reports post-date dates of member deaths. Query: Why?"
"In truth, we aren't sure. What it appears as events have unfolded, is that they have had treasonous ends. We have been unable to reach them by radio frequencies lately and they've gone dark. They are marked dead and live, Vaukt and the others may be marked deactivated but we know for certain they live. Who knows how many more of Vaukt's loyalists may still be at their posts within the Empire to act as saboteurs."
Grimm gestured to Xilch if she had anything to add to the conversation, being the Internal Affairs head prior to her promotion.
"This is why we have come to you seeking amendments to the Imperial Standard, Great Ones." The Warmaster began, taking hold of opportunity by the proverbial throat. "Internal Affairs was prohibited from rooting out the traitors in the infancy of this movement due to them being members of Special Operations. Now, we have seen the defection of nearly half of the entire branch, its former leader a known traitor, and other members of the Imperial Troopers and Irken Elite being caught up in their lies and influence. The lack of oversight has brought the Empire great shame and left it vulnerable to her enemies."
"Which is why with all these discrepancies in the system we ask for this allowance that we may monitor the entire Empire and root out traitors wherever they lie."
"Observation: Internal Affairs in Special Operations would hinder operational integrity. Query: Does the Warmaster hold an answer to this concern?"
"For many years as Director of Internal Affairs prior to this station, Great Ones, I pursued the embedding of Internal Affairs officers into all branches of the Empire military. At the current, there are enforcement officers at the battalion level and nothing more. A lone detachment of a handful of men to manage thousands. Inefficient. Much escapes their attention."
"Speculation: The Warmaster proposes a solution to this?"
"Yes, Great Ones. Permit Internal Affairs entry into Special Operations. Not purely for enforcement, but embedded into the units themselves to serve as a compliance officer. Allow Special Operations to perform its duties, but intervene should sedition be suspected. I propose the same across all branches of the Empire military to the company level of command. Compliance officers will follow orders no differently beneath unit leadership, but enforce the Imperial Standard as-required with the exception of Special Operations only focusing on preventing another rogue element from gaining traction ever again."
The Control Brains went quiet, the various nodes blinking in computation as the three internally discussed the matter among themselves. Decision making at work right before their eyes. The first returned green nodes, then the second, then the third.
"Statement: The Warmaster has put forth the request of amendment to the Imperial Standard. Observation: The Warmster has deduced logically the origin of sedition resulting in the former General Vaukt and 49.8% of Special Operations abandoning their posts in open defiance of the Empire. Analysis: Origin of sedition permitted through prohibition of Internal Affairs enforcement of Imperial Standard over Special Operations. Conclusion: The Warmaster's requested amendment of Internal Affairs being permitted to enforce the Imperial Standard over Special Operations has been granted."
"We thank you, Great Ones, for your wisdom." Grimm gave a polite bow to the trio of artificial intelligences.
Xilch strongly resisted the spreading smirk of satisfaction across her face. Tempering it to a pleased smile, she did much of the same to pay revered respect to the closest thing to a known deity to the Irken people.
"Your wise council will see the continuance of the everlasting Empire. We are but the tools, you are the will."
She turned her attention to Grimm with a knowing look, gesturing behind them.
"Shall we, My Tallest?"
"Indeed, Warmaster, let us proclaim this edict and see the will of the Control Brains carried out."