(Theron, Lana and Occlus are in his office)
O - Kolto? They want me to get them kolto? Did Rivix say this?
L - Darth Rivix assured me that this request comes straight from the Emperor, my Lord.
O - So what? I'm supposed to jump through every hoop the Emperor asks me to?
L - I dont think it's wise to deny a request such as this.
O - He wants me to secure kolto? Is he serious? When I agreed to being the Hand, I didn't agree to picking up every menial chore.
L - I did tell him that this kind of request was unusual, but he insisted it was pivotal to the outcome of the war.
O - Feeding the troops is pivotal also, am I supposed to start stealing grain then?
(Theron laughs)
O - What?
(He says that looking at Theron, rather angrily)
T - Nothing.
L - My understanding is that this was an invasion that went bad. They are in a bad position, that's why they asked for your help.
O - My issue isn't with helping them secure the planet. My issue is that the Emperor asked specifically for my presence on it. As if I'm his lap dog!
(He paces the floor for a while, turns to address Lana)
O - Ask for a holocall with the Emperor. I want to talk to him personally. No intermediaries this time.
(Lana bows her head slightly)
L - Will do so, my Lord.
(Occlus leaves the room)
Same day, some hours later. The holocall is arranged. He is in his office alone, and calls the Emperor's frequency.
V - Darth Occlus! A pleasure to see your face, as always.
(Occlus bows his head slightly)
O - Emperor Vowrawn. Thank you for allowing this call.
V - Of course. Anything to facilitate the Hand. Now, what can I do for you?
O - This request to aid our efforts on Manaan is unusual. I require further information if I am to have any involvement at all.
V - The operation is critical for our success in the war. I am sure you can understand the importance of kolto.
O - That is not the issue. I agree that securing kolto is crucial, my concerns lie in you asking for my personal involvement. The Alliance has many capable agents that I can send to assess the situation and help secure the planet. From what I understand, the Dark Council is also involved in this operation. I fail to see why I was specifically asked to go to Manaan.
V - Yes, I understand your concern. Allow me to explain the situation. The operation on Manaan was planned to the last detail, and yet it was shut down forcibly by the locals in an unexpectedly well coordinated attack from them. My advisors believe that this coordination is indicative of external help.
O - The Republic.
V - Precisely. This alone is cause for concern, but does not yet warrant your personal involvement. The Dark Council's involvement has complicated matters and it seems the situation is beyond their or my control.
O - In what way?
V - We have lost all communication with the surface and with our fellow Sith that was sent down there to secure the kolto. He is a newly added member to the Dark Council and I fear that he may have… complicated things.
O - With all due respect Emperor, I represent the Hand, I am not your Wrath. I am not your personal executioner.
V - I am well aware, Darth Occlus. I have already asked Darth Krovos to oversee the matter, but there was no new light shed to the situation. I believe that this matter cannot be solved by the means our Empire has used up until now.
O - How will my involvement resolve the problem?
V - You are extremely effective, and you are not avert to deploying unconventional tactics to secure the outcome you want. We could send more agents and gather more information, but I'm afraid that by the time we got anything back it would be too late.
O - So, I'm the last desperate attempt to solve an unsolvable problem?
V - As you said, this operation was beneath you, and thus your involvement was not asked. The situation has changed though, and immediate decisive action is needed now. I have the utmost confidence in your abilities and thus I requested your presence on Manaan.
O - I could be on the planet at this very moment, if not for indirect requests on matters of such delicate importance.
V - You are right. I will endeavour to not make the same mistake again. I trust your arrival on Manaan will be immediate then?
O - Yes. I will depart at once.
V - Excellent.
O - One question before you leave, Emperor.
V - Anything, please.
O - Am I correct to assume that mine is the highest authority on all decisions concerning the operation?
V - That goes without saying.
O - Thank you.
(Occlus bows his head just enough)
V - Till we meet again.
(Vowrawn ends the holocall)
Occlus leaves the room, heads to the briefing room where he knows his advisors are waiting for him. He enters.
O - I must depart for Manaan at once. Hylo, ready my ship please.
H - Right away.
(Hylo leaves)
L - The Emperor convinced you then?
O - Yes. I will go with a small team. My ship and my crew should be enough. I will meet our forces there, they should be enough to get the job done.
L - Very well.
O - Commodore, keep a small force on the ready, in case reinforcements are needed.
P - Yes, my Lord.
(Pardax salutes, leaves the room)
O - Theron, there could be republic interference with the operation. See if you can find anything out.
T - Alright, I will do my best. I'm not exactly loved back in the Republic anymore.
(Theron leaves. He is alone with Lana)
L - It's prudent to not overcommit our resources, but wise to have backup.
O - If I understand it correctly, Major Anri will be there.
L - You don't like her much, do you?
O - No. She is too informal with me. She is like that with everybody, but still. She could use some manners.
L - Wasn't she a slave?
O - So what? I was also a slave, but I knew how to treat my betters.
(She chuckles, he looks at her inquisitively)
O - I had good manners from early on.
L - I don't doubt it, but not everybody has your past, or your power.
O - Yes, well… She still rubs me the wrong way.
L - I checked her file. She is very good at what she does.
O - She is alright, I suppose.
L - We might need to get used to her different ways.
O - Why do you say that?
L - Since the Empire is using more people like her in paid positions, there is bound to be a shift in the work ethic. It's only natural that change begets change.
O - You are right about that.
(He leans in on a desk)
O - I don't mind change, not at all. But, there is still a power structure in place. The new additions need to be aware of that.
L - And the old guard needs to also be aware that change is not always controllable.
O - Alright, alright. I will be more lenient on her.
(She smirks as she says the following)
L - As long as you don't get too friendly.
(He leaves the desk, embraces her)
O - She isn't my type.
L - Good.
(They kiss)