Chapter 4
Woanosa flashed a grimace as the Mon Calamari General Var Suthra got up from his witness chair and walked through the throng of reporters looking defiant. She risked a look at the Chairwoman who was already looking at her, flashing a self-satisfied grin. The General had done everything but fall out of his chair trying to explain the practical military uses of imprisoning an entire planet's population, and had failed miserably…which was all part of the plan. The appeasers were now leaning back in their chairs, no doubt discussing their celebratory dinner plans. So sure they were of their political victory, that they gave little thought to Woanosa's short notice witness summons. After all, she was just trying to repair the irreparable damage done by the General.
Once the gallery simmered down Chairwoman Solargold broke off her genial conversation with Marek Althas and leaned forward to look at the bench's built in datapad. A moment later Woanosa looked down at the datapad in front of her and saw the name Keona Whitmar flash green, which meant Senes had just approved it without committee vote.
The spy watched the proceedings with great amusement. What kind of fool did it take to castigate your best general publically over a weapons project when your arch enemy had infiltrated the highest levels of your security and tried to steal it?
He had never been so sure of his own commitment to the imperial way. His mental victory lap stopped abruptly.
"This committee calls Keona Whitmar" the gaudily uniformed bailiff called out in his deep Ortolan voice.
The raven haired spy entered through the gigantic double doors looking meek and intimidated. It was all an act he knew, and he wasn't going to wait around for the apogee…he had plans to set in motion.
"State your name and occupation for the record" the Ortolan asked as he held out an ancient ronto skin text from the dawn of the Republic.
The middle aged agent put her hand on its clearly refurbished cover, "Keona Whitmar, I work for the Strategic Intelligence Service."
An excited whisper cascaded across the press corps as the woman took her seat. Senes, who's posture tightened as she sat up at the admission.
"Thank you bailiff. Agent Whitmar, how are you today?" Woanosa began.
"Fine Senator, thank you" the spy answered, still adjusting to the seat which hadn't been changed for the unscheduled human witness.
"I assume you heard General Suthra's testimony?" she asked
"Yes ma'am, I did" the agent answered with a hint of resignation.
"Very good. I really only have one question for you agent, why do you think the Desolator Project was necessary?" out of her peripheral she could see the Duros Tarla Tacema and an ally tittering in bemusement at the unorthodox question.
"Because I have seen the Empire's ten year plan, and I know soon it will be our preparedness that decides our continued freedom or complete oppression."
The cascade of whispers during Suthra's testimony became an avalanche of noise and Senes had to get control of her own reaction before ringing the bell for order. Once the astonished gasps quieted down, the old Chairwoman couldn't stop herself; "how do you know this!?" she croaked.
"Excuse me Chairwoman, you will get you chance to rebut" Woanosa called out down the bench.
She didn't want to, but Senes respected decorum and procedure above all else. Woanosa turned back to the witness.
"Humor the Chairwoman Agent Whitmar."
Keona turned to look at the increasingly agitated senator. "I know this Chairwoman, because I have been working inside Imperial Command for the last eight years."
This time Senes yelled for quiet. She started to speak again but Woanosa just help up a hand. "And what is the Empire's ten year plan?" Woanosa asked, trying to contain her rising excitement at this well planned coup de grace.
"They were far closer to total loss then we knew before the Treaty. The Sacking of Coruscant was more out of desperation than it was planned strategy. As they have been rebuilding their forces they have had a standing policy of provocation and concession. At random intervals their agents in the Imperial Securitate will provoke low-intensity conflict on the border. Afterwards, they make noise about voiding the treaty and sit back and wait for the peace delegation to be sent from here. Once they have milked every gifted star system out of the Senate they will void the treaty on their own accord and invade."
The gallery had gotten the shocked noise out of their system and now sat, most mouths agape.
"And you brought the information regarding the Sith inflitrator, Lord Tarnis?"
"Yes Senator. I came across some data indicating a high level Sith Inquisitor who had infiltrated into the highest levels of the Defense Command. I had planned on making my exfil in a year, but thought this information was too important to wait till then"
"I understand, and thank you for your service agent"
"Your witness Chairwoman" Woanosa said, without looking down at Senes.
After a moment of silence she did turn to see the Chairwoman shushing a wildly gesticulating colleague. "Chairwoman?"
"Yes Senator, thank you" She turned to Keona.
"I'm sorry Agent…Whitmar is it? I'm just a litte befuddled at your testimony. Are you admitting here on the record that the SIS and Defense Command has been running spies in the Imperial government in clear violation of the Treaty? And you have the nerve to call for action against the Empire all the while knowing we have been the provocateurs all along" she cried, almost frothing at Woanosa.
She didn't even look at the Chairwoman as she knew the Agent had it well in hand. "I'm sorry Chairwoman…Chairwoman Solargold?"
She turned back to the witness. "I'm sorry Chairwoman but I was not admitting to your characterization of my actions"
"Then what would you call it agent?!" bellowed Senator Althas, rising out of his seat.
Agent Whitmar sat back and crossed her legs and pulled out her personal datapad. "Given your party's stated position on the…'political realities of the galaxy', I am a defector with information on my former government".
"A defector?!"
"Yes. I was a low level analyst with the bureau on my home planet of Naboo. When the Treaty was signed, I, and my colleagues, were left behind on what was now an Imperial system. I was reprinted as an Imperial citizen 18 years ago. I am here seeking political asylum" the agent flashed the barest hint of a smile and Woanosa beamed inside as the committee exploded.