"Talking"

'Thinking'

[Droid]

~Parseltongue~

{Black Speach}


Balmorra

Data Corruption

Salazar entered the factory, and it didn't take long to encounter an injured Imperial soldier who was kneeling behind a crate.

Said soldier had fair skin, short brown hair, blue eyes, his right cheek was bruised and he had a busted lip.

"Get down! The droid patrols will spot you. Apologies for shouting, my lord. But if they find one of us, they'll find all of us. I'm Lieutenant Rutau, Fifth Infantry, Second Battalion, Besh Company. I'd say First Platoon, but there isn't one anymore."

"Hm, sole survivors are either cowards or fighters. Which are you?" Salazar questioned.

Rutau answered confidently. "If I fought any less hard, I'd be with the rest of them, my lord. Ask this wreckage here. It's one of the many droid patrols from the Okara factory. They spotted us uploading a virus, surrounded us... it was ruthless. Droids aren't like people. They don't retreat. They don't accept surrender. They just keep exterminating. So now it's up to me."

"And you expect to do this alone? How can you succeed where a platoon failed?" Salzar asked.

"It's an acceptable risk. I'm not worth more than any of the rest who died here. I'm just luckier. If I can ambush enough patrols of battle droids, I can upload my packets and run before my painkiller wears off. What else can I do? I'm not going to ask you to go where I wouldn't."

"Your courage is admirable, but unnecessary. Give me the viruses." Salazar said.

"Hmm, you do have a maneuverability advantage... if you're keen to do it, I guess that's best. Here are the virus packets. Your targets are the probe droids that travel with patrol escorts of battle droids."

Rutau hands Salazar the packets containing the viruses.

"Destroy the battle droids, then use the security spike to crack the probes. They'll upload the viruses right into their network."

Salazar nodded and proceeded to go deeper in the factory. Between Salazar's lightsaber and force powers, he was able to successfully plat the viruses into 4 probe droids, although not before destroying 16 patrol droids first.

After successfully planting the viruses, Salazar went back to the entrance to meet Lieutenant Rutau.

"You're alive! And not only that, my comlink is picking up signals again. Is everything uploaded?"

"That network should be choking on malicious programs." Salazar said.

"Now it's my turn. I'll aim our scanners at the Okara Droid Factory to measure the extent of the damage the viruses caused. If the computer core shuts the probes down, I can record how long a window that creates for future assaults."

"Good, I'll leave you to it"

"I cannot express what your success will mean. Not to me--I'm nothing--but to the families of the men who died for this mission. Those soldiers did not fail their Empire, nor did their Empire fail them."

After leaving the lieutenant to his work, Salazar went back to report to Major Tyrus.

"Lieutenant Rutau reported in. He says you completed the platoon's objective alone."

Salazar smiled a bit. "Rutau is too humble. He expended great effort to carry on the mission."

"We will recover him when possible. Now, a new development demands attention. Our battalion may have been unable to assist the platoon at Okara, but I assure you they were not sitting idle. Aurek and Cresh companies and the remainder of Besh simultaneously invaded rebel posts in Broken Valley. They found something."


Secret of Cave 52

"Well, don't keep me waiting."

"Yes, my lord. Our droids went through the rebel databanks and pulled out messages about them occupying a tunnel network we call Cave 52. The rebels are in Broken Valley, and they're moving in cargo. All indications are that this load is special."

"Like what?" Salazar asked.

"to protect this cargo, they transferred in one of their elite units from a continent away. If our whole battalion comes knocking, they'll evacuate immediately. We need a small, fast attack to get inside cave 52. The guerrillas know the tunnels quite well, so I suspect they have ambush points."

"It doesn't matter where they hide. Their fate will be the same." Salazar said.

"Good. Word will spread about the captured posts, so I would head to Broken Valley immediately. We'll have a surveillance officer monitoring cave 52's largest entrance, his name is Trecht. When you've seen the cargo, report to him, and he'll contact me on a secure frequency. Go in strength."


Wild Fire

Salazar went and made his way towards the Troida Military Workshop, there he met Engineer Mucdermon.

"These blasted Balmorrans have no idea what's good for them. They should have fallen to their knees in gratitude when we first offered to bring them into the glory of the Empire!"

"They'll learn. One way or the other, we will bring them to their knees." Salazar said.

"Well said, my lord. Perhaps you wouldn't mind assisting me with a small problem? Last week, those wretched rebels managed to reprogram the defense turrets around Sobrik to detect and target Imperial troops. The engineers I sent to fix them were massacred. My only hope is to find someone willing to brave both the rebels and the turrets themselves to repair them."

"These rebels must learn they have no chance against the Empire." Salazar said.

"Thank you. The turrets are scattered around the perimeter of the city and guarded well by rebel spies. You'll need to use this to neutralize their defenses, then upload this code to allow us to reprogram the proper targets. Those rebels will pay for their impertinence with their lives."


The Leak

"Praise the Emperor!" Senior Science Officer Sakoal exclaims.

Sakoal was an old man with blue eyes and a mostly bald head, the beard and what's left on his head were a mix of grey and white.

"My lord, you don't know the relief it is to see you. You are the answer to a problem that has gone from insulting me to threatening the entire Empire."

"And what do your problems mean to a Sith?" Salazar questioned.

"Were I the only one affected, I would never presume. But we both serve the Empire. My name is Gann Sakoal. I'm a senior science officer here at Troida. Perhaps you've heatd of my involvement in the Protactinian Bomber design? No matter. It would only help you understand the sensitive nature of what I do, the secrets I'm privy to."

"There better be a point to this." Salazar said sharply.

"My foolishness may have allowed a top secret design for our blaster power system to fall into Republic hands." Gann confessed.

"If you've violated your clearance, you're a traitor to the Empire." Salazar said.

"I have done nothing! Save give in to passions better left to younger men. My father warned me. He said, 'A pretty girl can do more damage with a smile than a Sith with a lightsaber'. But let me be direct. I am not the traitor. My wife is the one who betrayed first me, then our Empire."

"Tell me her crime, so I can make the penalty fit." Salazar said.

"I should never have brought Kelara to this forsaken backwater. I was so hopeful when she finally stopped complaining..."

Gann sighed. "But no, she found her own... entertainment. His name is Harez Bant. He's a thug, clears the trash at the cantina in Sobrik. Imperial Intelligence believes he's a spy. And I am certain beyond doubt that he's the one who has the design plans that disappeared from my bedroom drawer."

"Why only Harez Bant? Kelara is still a traitor."

"The plans must be recovered before Harez sells them to the Republic. He should be at the cantina now. I will gladly give you as great a reward as I can muster should you dispose of this refuse. Then, I will deal with my wife."

Nodding, Salazar went out to find the cantina.


The Cantina

The bartender noticed Salazar's arrival. "Evening my lord. What can I offer to wet your throat and bring a smile to your lips?"

"I'm sure you can guess." Salazar said.

"I--is this about Harez? Men were looking for him yesterday too. Imperial Intelligence. Whatever he did, I don't want to know."

The bartender turned to a man chatting up with some women.

"Harez! Leave the girls alone and get over here. Someone wants you."

The guy had short black hair and green eyes, a clean face with scars or markings.

Harez walked up to Salazar. "My lord, something I can help you with?"

"You can help by giving me the plans, that way you'll be able to go home with your head still attached."

Okay okay. You're talking about the package I snagged from the Sakoal girl, right? Good looker that one, but not much between the ears. Anyway, here they are. It's just some data discs. I don't even know what's on them."

"Was Kelara in on this? Did she give you the discs?" Salazar asked.

"You think she was innocent? She knew who I was. But when we were together, we weren't talking politics."

"I see, thanks for both the intel and the discs." Salazar said.

Salazar was about to leave but turned back. "Ah yes, there's another thing."

With a wave of his hand, Salazar shocked Harez to the point he started to piss himself, in front of the women he was talking to no less.

"That's what happens when you steal from the Empire."

And with that, Salazar left the cantina and returned to Gann Sakoal.

"You look satisfied. I hope it's because the wretched spy who stole my blaster designs lies dead on his own floor."

"All that matters is that the job's done." Salazar said.

"Yes, of course my lord. But what of Kelara? Did you question him as to her role in this... affair?"

"All he said was she's a lousy kisser." Salazar said.

"The boor! But won't linger on that image. It's clear Kelara's part in this was vital and willing. If you haven't tired of my sordid tale, perhaps you could undertake one more task?"

"Pay me enough, and I'll see it your way."

"This is a bit more... sensitive than dealing with Harez Bant. I could see fit to pay you triple what I would give otherwise. Consider it. If the authorities learned of Kelara's folly, it would ruin the good name of this office, shut us down for months of investigation. All the while, the resistance would be gaining strength."

"So you want her silenced? I can work with that." Salazar said.

"I'm glad we see eye-to-eye on this. I have been... considering how best to end this disaster. It should be quiet. quick. Something that can be blamed on the rebels, no questions asked."

"Just tell me where to go."

"I will tell her you are to escort her to my colleague Garboza at the Imperial outpost. The route has many isolated spots, suitable for rebel ambush."

Gann calls his wife on his comlink, answering revealed to be the woman herself.

"Oh. Is it time?" Kelara asked tiredly.

"My dear, this man will serve as your bodyguard on your trip to the outpost.

Kelara turned to Salazar.

"Garboza asked me to thank you for your assistance at such short notice."

"Oh, great. How long is this trip again?" She asked.

"Leave for the transit point now Kelara. He will find you there."

Gann cuts off the comlink. "Go, then. When you find yourselves alone, you can put an end to her treason--and my marriage."

"If it helps, I'll do it as quickly and as painless as possible."

"Just be... kind about it. I loved her once. It is best our names not be linked after this. When the deed is done, go to officer Garboza at the outpost. He'll have your reward; you need to not say what it's for."

Nodding, Salazar went to the location where he'll find Kelara Sakoal.


Wild Fire

After successfully neutralizing the turrets, Salazar to Engineer Mucdermon.

"The turds are ready for reprogramming." Salazar said.

"Hail the Emperor! I owe you my thanks and far more. The corps of Engineers will more than compensate you for your service. Now those rebels will see how lucky they are to the part of the glorious Empire!


Quiet Kill

Salazar met the Imperial Attache.

"Ah, you must be here for Officer Sakoal's wife. He said to expect you. One moment."

The Attache went to bring Kelara.

Kelara Sakoal had dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, and was wearing orange lipstick.

'This is his wife?! She looks young enough to be his daughter!'

"Gann doesn't usually go out of his way to see me protected. Is this going to be so dangerous? Or are really just my chaperone?"

"I've never been much for staying out of trouble." Salazar said.

"Funny, Gann's got a thing for that type." Kelara said dryly. "Let's get going."


After escorting Kelara for a few hours, Salazar started to look around to check if their alone. And it seems Kelara noticed.

"Why are you looking around so much? It's like you're looking for someone. Are you expecting an attack?"

"And why did Gann send an armed escort when I'm just going to the outpost?"

'Huh? Looks like Kelara isn't the naive bints I thought she was.'

"Your husband wants you dead for betraying not just him, but the Empire as well."

"What? Gann wants you to kill me? I--I... are you going to?" Kelara asked fearfully.

"That depends, if you've betrayed the Empire, you'll be dead. If not by my hands, then someone else. The least I can do is make your death quick and painless."

"I haven't done anything--" Kelara exclaimed.

"Good grief! Is this about Harez? Yes. I slept with him. And the slime never even picked up a comlink after that. Is Gann such a baby that he'd frame me for treason because I slept around? Treason? Seriously? Tell Gann that Harez is a jerk and I've broken it off. If he had the guts, he would ask me himself."

"From what I heard. Your ex-boyfriend was a Republic spy." Salazar said.

"I don't know anything about that. The guy told me he was a pilot. Look, can't you just talk to him? Or something? He... he wouldn't really kill me for this, would he?"

"Well, he definitely seemed to be at the right age to be acting all paranoid, plus this whole situation is starting to become a mess. So if I were you, get off-world as fast and quiet as possible."

"Thank you! Thank you! You won't regret this!" Kelara said.

Kelara got on a nearby taxi to go to the nearest shuttle.


Secret of Cave 52

Salazar found the cave the rebels were in. Conveniently, it was close to the Troida Military Workshop.

The cave was dimly lit with lights in each corner, sure some rebels tried to take him down. But they weren't much of an issue.

Salazar noticed some people huddled together in hiding. Seeing as they're no threat at the moment, he leaves them.

Using a Computer Terminal, Salazar was able to make a connection.

"Hunn here. What do you need Amber Cavern?"

Commander Hunn noticed who he was talking to. "Hold on. How did you get in?"

"I have your people, I ask the questions." Salazar said.

"A Sith eh? No one move. We... we might work this out. Listen, the people in that complex aren't of any consequence and are certainly no threat to the Empire."

"They have quite an escort for people of no military value. Try again."

"I'm telling the truth! They're Force sensitives, and the law on Imperial planets is, all Force sensitives must be trained as Sith. If you don't train, your executed as a potential threat. But not everyone would make it as a Sith. Some people discover their sensitivity when they're too old, or they just don't have the will. So they go into hiding with us."

"Hmm. Makes sense, even now I can barely sense the Force in them. What would you do with these washouts?" Salazar asked.

"What would anyone do? We take them to Republic planets, get them a job farming dirt or hyperdrives or whatever. But the Emperor keeps making laws that say they have to die."

"I see, no need to worry. I won't kill them, nor will I rat them out."

"Thank you for your mercy. There's a back exit where a shuttle can take them off-world." Commander Hunn said.

Leaving the cave, Salazar went to speak with Surveillance Officer Trecht.

"You're Tyrus's operative, correct? Good to see you alive.

An earpiece activated in Trecht's ear. "Major? Yes, your operative is here. He secured the tunnels. No, I contacted you immediately, sir. He wants to know what was down there."

"It was a room full of Force users. I want hazard pay for this." Salazar lied.

"Did you copy that, sir? Yes sir, I'll pass on the message. The major praises you on your stunning victory and a service to the Empire, and says we'll move a squad into exterminate any survivors."

"Shouldn't be hard." Salazar said.

"Right. Now that we know we don't want the cargo, the battalion will move in with gas to flush out the rest of this operation. There's not a finer sight in the galaxy than gassed rebels running out of a cave into the waiting blasters of your own battalion. Well--perhaps sunrises. But for those, you have to wake up early."

Leaving Trecht to his devices, Salazar went to report to Science Officer Garboza.


Quiet Kill

Garboza was a black man with short black hair and brown eyes.

"Well, if it isn't the best-paid engineering consultant on Balmorra.

Graboza turned around to face Salazar. "Oh, my lord, I didn't realize--I mean, no one told me you would be Sith. My apologies for the familiarity. But, um, if you don't mind me asking, what is someone like you doing working for Officer Sakoal?"

"Just transfer the credits and don't ask things you don't want to know." Salazar said.

"Don't ask about things that could get Officer Sakoal in trouble, you mean? Because that's definitely something I want to know. I could add a little something on top of this for information that lets me pass Officer Sakoal at the next evaluation. Call it a tip, 15%."

"Officer Sakoal hired me to kill his wife and her rebel boyfriend." Salazar revealed.

Garboza whistled. "Pretty little Kelara had republic leanings, hmm? Ooh, that is not going to look good on to the clearance board at all..."

"Thank you. Next time you see me, I may be working Troida instead of this pit."


END

So, what did you guys think?

Follow and Favor if you want, PM me or send a review.

Comments are welcome so long as thier productive.

Remember, reality is an illusion, the universe is a hologram, bye gold, BYE!