It was the day before the 3rd Empire Day, celebrating the day the New Order was born, that Junior Analyst Delto failed to turn up for work. There was no answer from his com line, and Chief Yeltson was concerned enough to ask Zane to stop by Delto's apartment on his way back from work. Zane didn't mind- Delto lived less than half an hour from Zane's apartment. As the public shuttle pulled up to the platform, Zane hopped off, avoiding a pair of hulking Trandoshans who were getting on to the shuttle. As Zane approached the apartment which housed Junior Analyst Delto, he could see a few muttering figures from neighbouring apartments huddled at their doorways. Seeing Zane approach, one called, "I wouldn't, if you know what's good for you." Zane stopped, and asked the man who'd called to him what was going on. The man sniffed haughtily, then replied, "Stormies took the guy from 326B away last night. Rebel sympathiser, I heard. Security are still in there, I think." Zane thanked the man, then headed cautiously towards the apartment- knowing full well 326B was Delto's apartment, but somehow hoping there had been a mistake of some sort. A stormtrooper stood outside the door, and lifted his blaster rifle as Zane approached. "Move on, citizen," He barked gruffly. Zane hesitated, glancing in trepidation at the weapon being pointed at him, then decided to gamble. "Deputy Chief Analyst Josslin, Captain, Imperial Intelligence." he said, showing his ID card. Zane's rank was purely a matter of administrative convenience, a technicality to allow him access to certain restricted files, but he hoped the stormtrooper would lack the imagination to check any further.
The stormtrooper examined his ID suspiciously, then nodded and handed it back. "Very good... sir," he muttered, and gestured that Zane could pass. Zane entered, to find the apartment in disarray. Furniture was strewn everywhere, as was paper, clothes, and pretty much everything else.
"Can I help you?" Zane jumped, startled, as a security officer looked up from his console. There were three of them, going through a pile of data chips on a security scanner. Thinking quickly, Zane said, "Uh, yes, I'm Deputy Chief Analyst Josslin of Department 42. Delto worked in our department. I've been sent to assess how much, if any, of our operation may have been compromised by De- by this traitorous scum." After examining Zane's identification, the security officer clearly in charge said, "Oh. Well, sir, we don't know as yet. We have 2 of our best slicers working on it, but this guy knew what he was doing- his personal files are heavily encrypted. From what we've uncovered so far, he was a reb all right. Been passing info on to them for months."
Zane couldn't help but ask, though he dreaded what the answer might be, "Where... where is he now?" The security officer grinned nastily. "Being interrogated... just like his contact, I hear." Zane hid his grimace, and said with forced brusqueness, "Very good. Let my department know if you uncover anything relevant." As Zane left, the officer called after him, "I wouldn't want to be your boss tomorrow, friend!"
The following day, when Zane arrived at Department 42, there were storm troopers everywhere. Most of the staff worked nervously under the watchful eyes of the troopers, and security officers wandered from desk to desk, shooting questions at their occupants. After Zane's ID had been scrutinised for the dozenth time, he was finally allowed into his office. A storm trooper took up station immediately outside, and gruffly commanded, "This door stays open." Zane growled, but sat at his desk. After checking his messages, he began checking his staffs reports. A voice from close by startled him when it said, "Deputy Chief Analyst Josslin?" Zane looked up, to see one of the plain clothed officers stood before his desk, ID card in hand. "Yes, Sergeant?" "Just a few questions, sir..."
For the next hour, Zane was bombarded with questions- about his role in the department, his relationship with Junior Analyst Delto, his views on the Empire, family history, friends, acquaintances... The other man kept going back, repeating questions, asking them in a different way, sometimes friendly, sometimes just short of accusatory. Finally, he seemed satisfied. "Thank you for your time, Deputy Chief." At the doorway, he made a final note on his pad, then nodded to the storm trooper, who fell into step behind him. Zane was suddenly aware of a hushed murmuring from the main floor of the department, and curiously peered out from the doorway. A black garbed figure had stalked into the office, and Zane felt his heart skip a beat. Lord Vader!
Vader paused, those impenetrable eyes sweeping the office, then he turned his gaze towards Chief Yeltson's office.
He disappeared within. The door stayed open, and Yeltson's voice could be heard, "Lord vader, I... I don't know how this can have happened, but I assure you... urk... ack..." There was a series of horrible gasping, choking sounds, then silence, and a thud. Then Lord Vader emerged, and stopped. His gaze settled on 'the Wall', and the holos of the Jedi there. He stepped closer, and seemed to gaze at several of the pictures for some time. Then he turned with a swish of his cape, and was gone.
One of the plain clothes intelligence officers caught Zane's eye, and shrugged. "Guess you're in charge now, Chief." Then, at Zane's furious glare, he said, "I'll, I'll get some of my men to deal with the body- I mean, your old boss." Within the hour, Zane received a terse memo from Ocre, congratulating him on his promotion to Chief Analyst, with a nominal rank of Major, and 'inviting' him to a meeting at his earliest convenience in his office. When Zane's hands stopped shaking, he made his way up to Ocre's office. He was let in almost immediately- and he couldn't help but wonder whether a pair of stormtroopers would be waiting for him when he was done as Ocre glared at him.
"Well, Major Josslin, we are in a bit of trouble, aren't we? One of your own department, a rebel spy. Disgraceful. You are extremely fortunate that Lord Vader didn't... sanction... your entire team!" Ocre paused, as Zane stood at attention, gazing calmly ahead of him, waiting a beat before nodding at the chair opposite him. "Sit." As Zane sat, Ocre leant forward. "As a Chief Analyst, in charge of an entire department, you are now cleared for Sigma level security. As such, you should be aware that there is growing concern about the rising rebellious activity. While, of course, such rebellious elements will be found and crushed, there is a possibility that rebel groups may attract the remaining Jedi. From your latest reports, there are still in excess of 200 Jedi unaccounted for- their linking up with fledgling rebel groups would be...unfortunate."
"Unfortunately, the trail is cold for many of your cases, and as such your department is being given some new responsibilities. The rebel movement has attracted plenty of weak minded fools, but they are short on equipment- ships, weapons, anything military. Department 55 was formed after the Clone Wars, to track the military hardware left by the defeated separatists. It now has only 6 analysts, their task having grown less urgent as the New Order grew more secure. Now, Department 55 is to be merged with Department 42 under you. Total complement of your new department, including new hires, will be 115. Your tasks are now threefold- to continue to track remaining Jedi, or any individuals showing signs of having Jedi like abilities, to track and aid recovery of any outstanding military hardware, from the Clone Wars or even older, and to liaise directly with Director Isard at ISB over any aspects of your work that overlap with the rebel movement- either Jedi who you believe may have linked up with them, or military equipment you believe may have fallen into their hands. I leave it to you to arganise the details."
Ocre handed Zane another data chip. "This contains all the information you will need. Good luck." Ocre hesitated, then said, "I am informed the Emperor himself is monitoring our performance in this matter, Major. It would be most unfortunate if his majesty were to have any cause for... displeasure."
