Chapter 5 - Financial Transactions
A nondescript cargo trawl zipped along the traffic lanes of Coruscant. Like its hundreds of thousands of siblings across the planet, it ferried its load from point A to B. Unlike every other trawl, this one housed a dozen Stormtroopers, two Imperial Guards, and Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith and Galactic Emperor.
This trawl was retrofitted as a light combat carrier. Heavy blasters hid in recessed ports, turrets lay unseen in disguised dorsal and belly mounts. Lastly, the sides and back of the trawl could fold open letting the entire complement of Troopers broadside anyone foolish or unlucky enough to contest with them. Vader himself was standing, arms crossed, at the rear of the trawl.
Kshhhhhh
"Pilot, report," he said.
"All systems green, Lord Vader."
"I designed and built it," he growled, an edge of annoyance in his voice. "All system information is relayed directly to me."
"Apologies my lord," the pilot replied, trying not to stumble over his words. "What would you like to know?"
"Data is mere numbers. You are the pilot," he explained slowly. "Your feelings and instincts cannot be reduced to a readout."
"W-well, sir, I can't believe this is an old cargo trawl. It handles like a top of the line speeder. I don't know how you managed, but I think this could handle the Boonta Eve Classic. Oh, its a sort of race in the Outer Rim, my lord."
Kshhhhhh
"I am… familiar with the sport."
The Stormtroopers shifted uncomfortably in their seats and the two Guards opposite Vader made mental notes to never ask their master about racing competitions. They didn't know why the subject irked him and felt no need to learn.
"Ah, the ergonomics are good too, Lord Vader. Like the whole cockpit is an extension of my hands. I don't think I've ever been in a more responsive ride."
"Acceptable." Vader replied. "We will begin our operation as planned. Update Tarkin on the mission parameters. I want his units ready." The Emperor tilted his head down, looking at the troopers in their crash seats. "Soon, we will take our revenge against the traitor scum," he said. Thoughts turned toward those killed in the terrorist attack on Vader's office. Several gripped their weapons tighter or shifted in their seats while the Imperial Guards stood up straighter. "Yes, I can feel your anger, turn it into a weapon and strike them down."
"Lord Vader, we're a minute out," came the pilot's voice over the intercom.
In response, the Sith said nothing, but lifted a hand. A pair of compartments opened by the power of the Force released two camera drones. Through these tools, Vader broadcast his actions in hunting down enemies and would be rivals. They'd been useful in giving him the political room to mercilessly eradicate problems and summarily execute politicians and bureaucrats who stood in his way.
"Starboard side, rooftop level of the IGBC. Lord Vader? Sensors are picking up few lifeforms but high activity."
"Perhaps we are expected. Be prepared for combat. Expect MagnaGuards and IG Lancers."
The Stormtroopers stood up, blasters at the ready. As the trawl swung out from the traffic lanes and approached the Banking Clan building, the turrets popped out and swiveled around, keeping an eye out. Vader and his Imperial Guards walked to the center of the hold and faced the starboard wall. Crash seats lifted up and the wall opened with a hiss. A crack of daylight, at first a slim white line across Vader's mask, widened as the panels split and folded out of the way.
Crackling and humming to life, Vader's lightsaber filled the space with a red glow. Then he was out of the cargo trawl and launching himself through the air. He hit the roof, cracking the surface on impact.
Sensing nothing through the Force nor seeing anything on the tactical feed displayed through his helmet, Darth Vader walked forward. His Guard and Stormtroopers jumped out and trotted after him, keeping their blasters up and covering every angle. There was a lift in the center of the roof, but they never intended to use it. Instead, one trooper set a charge and backed away.
After a blast of light and sound, a ten foot section of roof was gone. Bits of crumbling rubble fell away, bouncing and skipping down a pile of burnt and broken refuse on the floor below.
Vader dropped down into the room. A single MagnaGuard remained standing, its fellows crushed under the fallen roof or destroyed by the concussive power of the demolition charge. It thrust its electro staff, but the tip stopped inches from Vader's chest. The crimson lightsaber flashed back and forth, disposing of the combat droid before the first Stormtrooper's boots hit the floor.
Kshhhhhh
"All too easy."
###
"You're taking an exceptional risk to bring us along without Vader's approval," Mon Mothma said from her seat in the command vehicle. She and Bail Organa watched from a pair of utilitarian chairs placed out of the way while Grand Moff Tarkin and his subordinates directed and observed their part in the operation against the InterGalactic Banking Clan.
"Lord Vader did not forbid observation or Senatorial oversight. If anything, your presence is beneficial. After all, a tactical assault on the IGBC's Coruscant headquarters is certainly going to be of interest to the Senate, yes?"
Bail shook his head, "Dangerous game, Tarkin. Vader is not a man who concerns himself over the letter of the law. And he won't be impressed because you managed to finagle your way around it." This much was certainly true. Sate Pestage learned that lesson the hard way when he brought a team of lawyers directly to Vader's office and tried to present a legal case implying the Sith lord's ascension to be illegitimate. Public opinion considered his worst mistake to be confronting the Emperor while repairs were still underway after the attack. The window had yet to be replaced and it was a long drop to the front steps of the former Jedi Temple.
Tarkin turned aside, giving an order to keep watch for signs of movement on the lower levels. Once done, he stepped back over to the Senators. "In most cases, you are, I think, correct. But today will be a pleasant surprise."
Mothma and Organa shared a look, but accepted that the Grand Moff might know what he was doing.
"Lord Vader," Tarkin called over a secure channel granting him direct access to Vader's helmet comm. "It seems your rooftop assault had the desired result. All forces are moving up through the building."
Kshhhhhh
"The target will keep personal guards close by. Your men are not to attack unless Nix Card is about to escape. And remember Tarkin, I want him alive." Vader answered. Thanks to the communications being relayed through the speakers, everyone heard the Sith. While he spoke, the sounds of battle, blaster fire and the hiss of a lightsaber accompanied his voice. Moments later, the noise of Vader deactivating his blade signaled a lull in combat. "How are you enjoying our display, Senators?"
Mothma and Bail stiffened in their seats and glared at Tarkin, who shook his head.
"Do not be so surprised. Sensing your presence is nothing next to the true power of the Force." Proving his point, a data pad slowly lifted into the air and floated until it was directly in front of Mothma. "Details of the connection between Cad Bane and Nix Card," Vader said.
Mon Mothma's eyes danced back and forth as she read the intelligence report. Confused, she passed the pad to Bail and asked, "Why would Card hire a bounty hunter to stage a political assassination? What does it gain him?"
"Your question, Senator" Tarkin said, "goes some way towards explaining Lord Vader's disdain of politicians and bureaucrats."
"How so," Bail asked. He felt slightly insulted, but also genuinely curious about how the two disparate subjects connected. If nothing else, it might provide some small insight into Vader's thinking.
Kshhhhhh
"You refuse to consider other points of view," Vader said.
"We're politicians! That's practically part of our job!"
"No," Vader stated flatly. "You consider the view of other politicians. You think in terms of the Imperial Senate, judges and lawyers in terms of the court system, and the civil services in terms of paperwork."
"Are you so different? You're attacking the IGBC as we speak, solving your problems with a lightsaber!" Mon Mothma asked. Vader and Tarkin both noted the edge of conflict in her voice and silently approved. Setting aside her opposition to the Empire, they needed at least a few like her, with fire in their bellies.
Kshhhhhh
"I did not need to come here personally. I did not need to put myself and my men in harms way. Do you think this building would still stand if my only intentions were control through power? No, Card will answer for his crimes and it will be seen."
"Contact!" a Stormtrooper shouted and the channel went silent.
###
MagnaGuards surged up the mag-lift shaft towards Vader and his team. The Stormtroopers rained blaster fire down on them and the Imperial Guards stood ready to force them back with vibro-blade pikes. Still, they kept on coming, and soon they'd overrun the Imperial position. The encounters thus far seemed almost casual when compared to the sustained assault they now weathered.
"Lord Vader?" the Commander said over his comm. "We won't be able to hold them much longer. Looks like they're sending everything they've got at us."
The Sith left his men to hold the top of the shaft while he transferred a certain set of data from the main computers. "Pull back. I have what we came for."
"My Lord?" the trooper asked, but quickly complied, leading the men in a cautious retreat to the penthouse arborium. The raised planters provided sufficient cover and the Troopers quickly found firing angles that would allow total coverage against any foes foolish enough to make a run down the narrow hallway that lead to the lift. However, instead of a mob of MagnaGuards and IG Lancer's they heard something else from around the corner. An electrical discharge followed by the sound of metal scraping against metal which slowly faded into the distance. Then a crash far beneath them shook the leaves and a cloud of dust rolled down the hall.
Kshhhhhh
"Lord Vader?"
Kshhhhhh
Vader appeared through the smoke, lightsaber in hand. "Prepare to rappel down the shaft."
"Rappel, my lord? What happened to the droids?"
"At the bottom of the shaft, beneath the lift." Vader deactivated his saber and returned it to his belt. Without another word, he turned on his heel and stalked back towards the now empty shaft. The Stormtroopers and Guards followed after and when they reached the sight of their former defensive position, they saw Vader extending a hand into the shaft. The mag-lift cable twitched once, twice, thrice, and obeyed the Emperor's summon. It stretched out until he took it in hand and stepped off the edge of the penthouse floor.
With the bio-mechanical strength in his prosthetic, Vader tightened his grip on the durasteel cable and slid down.
Quickly following, his men deployed lines and rappelled down after him until they hit the lift itself at the bottom of the penthouse shaft.
###
Obi-Wan Kenobi inserted the data disk into Artoo and watched the hologram of Sabe which appeared on the table in front of him.
"I know it hasn't been long, Ben, but we could use a bit of help. Vader's hand is tightening around our allies, and if we want to avoid total Sith control of the galaxy, a Jedi might be the ace up our sleeve. If you're willing to help, meet us at the specified coordinates before the next lunar cycle. Force be with us."
As guardian of Luke and Leia, offspring of potentially the most powerful Force user in generations, they must be his first priority. However, stymieing the Empire might serve a dual purpose. The more resources it required in stopping rebels, the better chance he had of staying under the radar. They couldn't find 'Ben Kenobi' if they lacked the man power to even deal with miscreants causing trouble in the Mid-Rim.
Reaching the inevitable decision, Kenobi started packing.
"Keep the children safe and make sure it looks like I'm still here," he ordered Threepio. "We can't let anyone, not even the locals, know I'm gone. As far as everyone is concerned, Ben is a widower who keeps to himself."
"Understood, Master Kenobi," Threepio responded in his ever worried tone.
"Same to you, Artoo."
The astromech whistled in response. Between the pair, they should be able to manage things for at least a few days. If nothing else, Kenobi saw more than once, the small blue droid carrying out tasks far beyond its factory specs. He wasn't sure if it was Anakin's doing, but R2-D2 featured more than a handful of upgrades that weren't available through any official upgrade service. For a long moment, Obi-Wan glanced between the pair of droids.
"Artoo is in charge while I'm gone," he said.
###
"Impressive, Nix Card. Futile, but impressive."
Darth Vader stood at the end of a long, nondescript hallway. One which lead deep into the lower levels of the building. If Nix and whatever protection detail he used managed to get this far, they would soon be within reach of the Coruscant underworld. No doubt the Muun would have contacts, especially if he managed to get in touch with Cad Bane. The infamous bounty hunter didn't come cheap.
"We should go first, Lord Vader," one of his Imperial Guards suggested.
The Sith held up his hand. The Troopers looked around as an unseen wind stirred Vader's cape. Suddenly the floor, walls and ceiling bent and twisted. Flaming jets of plasma, arcing electricity, and blaster fire from a dozen traps unleashed themselves. Any would-be intruder who trespassed in the hall were unlikely to make it to the other end. However, with his command of the Dark Side, Vader stalked across the ruined tunnel. Every trap wasted by the crushing power of the Emperor.
Vader's lightsaber leapt from its place on the cyborg's belt and into his hand. In a single smooth motion he activated it and bisected the MagnaGuard that dropped from an unseen hatch. Before its upper body could lever itself upright, a clenched fist telegraphed Vader's intentions moments before the droid crumpled behind him. The Imperial Guard and Stormtroopers quickly charged after their leader and deeper into the subterranean network beneath the bank, chasing after the Muun who financed the bounty hunter and his team.
Kshhhhhh