Chapter XIV
The final rundown of the Eastern Generator was being given as he entered Central Command. He surveyed the many officers who were supervising the slaves. Checking his charts he smiled; they were almost there and when they finished, the Rebellion would swiftly die. "Grand Moff Tarkin, I trust things are going smoothly?" a man to his left said. "That is correct, Commander. Contact the Emperor and inform him we are ahead of schedule," Tarkin answered. "Yes sir," came the reply. Tarkin placed his chart down and sat in his chair. Looking out the view port, he once again smiled. "Sir incoming message from deck 23," another officer said, turning to him, "Admiral Vhaldoq wishes to speak with you there." Tarkin nodded and headed off to a nearby turbolift. Pressing in his destination, the lift soon began to descend. After a short wait he arrived and made his way to the deck's command station. Inside a man in an Admiral's uniform turned to see him. Tarkin eyed him; he had heard much of this man and his accomplishments. "Admiral Vhaldoq I presume?" he asked. The other nodded. "Very impressive piece of machinery you've built here," Vhaldoq mused.
"What is your purpose for coming here?" Tarkin asked frankly. "The Emperor wants to make sure that if another rebel attack occurs... we are fully prepared," Vhaldoq answered. "The rebels are of no threat to this station or the planet," Tarkin assured him. Vhaldoq smiled. "I will do just as the Emperor has instructed me, if you have a different opinion. I can inform him of it," the admiral said. Tarkin glared at him. "I am one of the Emperor's most trusted associates since his rise to power and he has put me in charge of this facility. Therefore you have no room to talk," Tarkin said, slightly angered. "Why did you call me here?" the Grand Moff asked. "An unnamed spy on the surface has contacted us on a secure frequency. This person wishes a meeting with you on the planet. The only thing we gained was that you were to meet at these coordinates," Vhaldoq answered. Tarkin smiled. "You will have full responsibility for this facility until my return," he said,.
The alley was quiet and foreboding, he thought as he neared the rendezvous point. Glancing at the impromptu graveyard, he frowned, thinking that she definitely knew how to find a choice meeting place. "Tarkin, you came. I was beginning to wonder if that naive admiral had relayed my message to you," a voice said, seemingly out of nowhere. "If this is as important as your message implies, you will stop these useless games and show yourself," Tarkin said, though there was no immediate answer. "You should know to trust my master by now," the reply finally came. "The Emperor I trust, it is you who is in question," he said. A shadow caught his eye and seeing it, whipped around and fired. "Your aim's getting better, Tarkin," she said, appearing beside him. "Roganda Ismaren; what do you have that made you bring me down here?" he said. The middle-aged woman smiled. "The rebels have landed on the planet," she replied. "Really? Where?" he said, now interested. "A Wookiee slave camp at this location," she said, tossing a data pad to him. "The rebels may have aligned themselves with a group of runaway Wookiees, at least two in the group have knowledge of the Force," Roganda said slyly.
"Any idea what their plan is?" he asked. "That is unclear for the moment, however I suggest you keep an eye out," she said. "Why, what would they want with me?" Tarkin asked. "Did you bring the plans?" she asked, not answering his question. "I still fail to see why I should hand them over to you," he said, taking them out. "They are the reason the rebels are here. The Emperor wants to make sure they are taken to a new, safer location," she said. "I have a better plan. Why don't you become my bodyguard, thus insuring they will not be stolen?" Tarkin said. Ismaren frowned. "I have more important duties to attend to rather then protecting you," she said angrily. "However, I do not see the harm in it," Tarkin said, placing the plans back into concealment. "Very well, we will head to my temporary home. You will be quite safe there," she said, turning and beginning to walk off. "Glad you see it my way," Tarkin said, following her.