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Revelations
Righteous Intent
The stars slightly rippled as the Deathsabers passed through the celestial void.
“Frak these search-and-rescue missions.”
“Do you have a problem, Flight Officer?”
“No Lieutenant.”
“Good. Freighters might not mean a whole lot to you, especially civilian ones,” stated Obsidian Four,” but if a friendly corporation loses one by our own space, then it can potentially be a problem for us in the future.”
“Yes sir,” replied the muffled voice.
“Four, do you have a reading at point-oh-four-two?”
“Yeah, I have a couple tracks, maybe; very faint signatures,” replied the pilot, his voice slightly garbled by the communication equipment.
Both starfighters banked portside, maintaining their flight pair formation. Up ahead, tiny gray specks appeared. Could be anything from space junk to asteroids. But as they approached, the specks became larger, tumbling and rolling aimlessly in space. Both pilots silently zoomed their Electrophoto receptors in, magnifying the visual feed on their monitors.
“Looks metallic.”
“Space junk?”
“This deep in space? That would have to be some war fleet to produce that amount of junk.”
“Aye.”
“That’s not space junk.”
The Deathsabers silently drifted over the charred hulls of the freighters. One of the Corellian bulk freighters was split in two, its mid-section vaporized by any number of the countless energy weapons found across the galaxy. The other freighters of the group appeared similarly derelict, with gaping holes and molten metal flash frozen across their hull. Four zoomed his electrophoto receptor on the bow of the merchant craft. In pristine white letters it read: Gallidor Industries. Four broke the comm. silence.
“Frak. These are the freighters we’re looking for.”
“Any survivors?”
“Let’s take a look.”
“Ah, sir, my LST is picking up a half-dozen lifeforms within the Gallidor Galvinator.”
“Four, I have readings on the other ships with the similar amounts of life.”
“But how? These ships have been missing for nearly a week. I don’t see any life support or major power coming from those ships.”
Four’s eyes squinted, toggling to the power readings from the vessels. “The power readings are all separated.”
“Meaning?”
“An Action VI doesn’t have any generators there. That’s the dry cargo hold of the ship. Meaning that it’s an ambush.”
“Well,” sneered the junior pilot, “They’ve certainly have done a good job of ambushing us then.”
“Cut out the snide remarks. They just haven’t seen us.”
“You’re bluffing…sir.”
Three oriented his craft’s nose to face one of the holes in the freighter that corresponded to the energy fluctuations. Lining up the passive targeting brackets, he selected a missile and set it to dumbfire. He tapped a button; a concussion missile surged forth from the craft, its fiery exhaust disappearing into the depths of a freighter. A small explosion engulfed a dark silhouette within the cargo ship’s otherwise empty hold. The silhouette became fuzzy and faded into the light; it’s pilot no longer among the living. Other fighters streamed out of the freighters’ holds.
Mark was dead...
Gray Works
Laureion, Abhean
“Absolutely not. Not under any circumstance,” quietly repelled the President Rearden, tapping a few keys on his desk console.
Abhean Intelligence Director Ayn Rand squinted her eyes. “My agency can’t do its job with those restrictions in place. The public is in outrage because of these attacks. Does your office or oath to protect the Abhean people matter to you at all? Let me find and capture their elements here.”
The aging president closed his console and without expression stared at the woman. Rand’s family was one of the more distinguished on Abhean, not by force of arms or right to rule, but because of the aristocracy that came from wealth. The same wealth that had helped the President successfully win his election. And the power of the Rand family was such, that it could tear him down and what he had accomplished; Ayn was not someone to be trifled with. Rearden clasped his hands.
“My dear, it is not that I find your patriotism and dedication to your work, no our planet, admirable. I wish it could be instilled into all our citizens, from our youth to those in retirement. If it was up to me, you would have many of those restrictions removed; you must realize that is no one man’s decision or our solely his ideas. It is a collection of ideas and decisions from many people; there have been compromises and debates that have taken many weeks to finish. On top of this, neither I or the congress people have automatic power; our power is from our constituents. Any politician must take them into account if he or she wishes to remain in power.”
Ayn’s brown eyes flashed dangerously. “I got the innuendo; you mean my power as well. You think people will protest more careful security procedures? Sure, it may be more of a hassle to go through increased custom’s procedures, but at least they’ll be safer.”
The President shook his head. “They’ll look at it as an infringement on their civil rights. Once we start sacrificing freedom for security, tyranny begins. Then we’ll end up like the Old Republic turning into the Galactic Empire.”
The woman began to pace around the man like a predator circling its wounded prey.
“Are you suggest we start loosening and restraining our security measures further? Sure, let’s do that. For starters, let’s get rid of the Customs and Immigration office. Then there is more freedom for everybody, right? Those spies and scouts of our enemies sure won’t have a problem getting in now, will they? Let’s get rid of all of the security in a government right now. I’m sure it’ll make it easier for the mole.”
Rearden blinked in surprise. “A mole?”
Rand gave a predatory smile. “Yes, a mole. Have you read Agent Dreyfuss’ report? It seems highly likely that there is a mole within our own government, providing information to the Black Flags. Whether that’s directly or indirectly, we don’t know. That’s why we need those restrictions lifted; to ferret out the spy in our midst.”
Rearden muttered. “I’ll think about it.”
She nodded politely with a fake smile and abruptly walked out of the office, leaving the president alone to his thoughts.
and a Black Flag
Valourous, Abhean Flagship, in orbit around Abhean
The modified Imperator Star Destroyer Valourous, accompanied by the homebuilt Countess-class Escort Cruisers, hovered over the crystal ball that was Abhean. It was the largest starship that the Abhean’s venerable navy, started hundreds of years ago, possessed. Captured from an Imperial warlord, the damaged destroyer had been completely refitted at Abhean’s vast orbital yards; the same that had built the Jedi Cruiser Chu’unthor centuries ago. The Valourous was highly unique in that it had been outfitted with weapons taken off of Victory Mk Is, carrying over 140 concussion missile tubes beside an array of quad turbolasers and double turbolaser cannons; more firepower than typically necessary for a planetary defence fleet. It was the pride of Abhean, and the heart of its military.
“Welcome aboard, Director.”
“Thank you Commodore Nimitz,” replied Rand, walking through the bridge’s foyer, “I trust you received my message.”
Nimitz nodded. “I have. Let’s retire to my quarters. Lieutenant Bradiss, you have the bridge.”
“Aye sir.”
The two walked out the massive ship’s bridge to the nearby captain’s quarters. Nimitz’s quarters were typical for a career officer in a defence fleet; there were more personal mementos and furnishings within it than would be allowed in any mainstream navy. It had been his home for over a decade. Nimitz quietly closed the door and turned towards the woman.
“This could be hell.”
Rand nodded. “I suppose it could. Which is why we need as much evidence as possible.”
“You think that the evidence you’ve shown me isn’t enough? Coupled with the man’s public denunciation of the bill that could expose him?”
“There will be some people that will say that the evidence is inconclusive or that he was framed. It’s not that hard for them to believe considering my family; they think that it is I that wants to ascend to power and innocent Rearden was in my way to it.”
Nimitz let out an exasperated sigh. “Which isn’t too hard to believe since if the president is removed from power, interim power between elections falls to the leader of an agency or branch of military; decided by the Congress. And in the mind of the people, with your family’s financial power, they could probably buy enough votes to get you elected. The start of your rise to power.”
“Except that I don’t want the position; and last time I checked, you were the one with the political connections.”
“That’s very informed of you,” stated Nimitz, walking over to the wet bar, “Care for a drink?”
“No thanks. I believe it is my job to be very informed.”
“That it is. So what’s the next step?”
“We look for more evidence.”
*
Laureion, Abhean
President Rearden glanced over the newer bills from Congress. The Majority leader, Representative Gartis, was proposing a budget expanse for the navy in order to eradicate the recent piratical raids which were beginning to worry the citizens. Representative Kurskow, the minority leader, had proposed a program that would begin arming of civilian ships operating out of Abhean to deter pirate attacks. Both had passed overwhelmingly, much to the surprise of many observers. Rearden only had to sign the bills for them to become law. Something he would do if he wished to remain power.
“Something you didn’t expect, Mr. President?” questioned Director Rand, walking into his office and motioning at the various datapads scattered across the man’s desk.
Rearden smiled. “It was nice for once to not have to deal with the bickerings of both parties.”
“Oh?”
“Why yes,” stated the President rising from the chair, “how much time of mine is wasted by both parties trying to convince me one way or the other when I’ve already made up my mind. Co-operation between them is rarer than I would like.”
She smiled. “Or co-operation between you and Congress?”
“That too.”
“Well, you’ll be glad to know that they’ve made another headway together. Something of an alliance or team effort.”
“Oh?”
“Yes,” nodded the Director, noticing a pair of secret service agents walking in.
Rearden frowned. “Agent Foray, I wasn’t expecting your presence to quarter after.”
“I’m sorry sir. You’re under arrest under statute AS-231,” stated the agent.
“What?!”
Rand stepped forward. “You’re under arrest for aiding and abetting enemies of the people of Abhean. Congress and the military don’t tend to be very pleased when their every effort to solve a problem is thwarted by a traitor; especially when it’s their leader.”
“This is preposterous.”
“Well,” stated Rand, “this is the first time in some hundreds of years a President in office has been arrested. It is a definite first time ever that we’ve arrested one for espionage.”
“So what proof has your family arranged to be manufactured this time?” spat the old man.
“Well fortunately for me; none, so I should have a little retirement money left over,” smiled the woman, “Remember that bill that I wanted you to get passed for less intelligence gathering restrictions?”
“Is this how you repay friends?”
“Typically not; but that bill enabled the agency to gather some circumstantial evidence on you that might suggest you were giving away intelligence because you’ve accessed our intelligence and military files more than any other president. In fact, we noticed that you had also been sending out information off-planet shortly after you had viewed those files. Now, we couldn’t exactly pry open to see those files because of executive privilege, but that bill you passed, let us see what you were sending. But even then, you could have gotten away by saying that you were forwarding it to an agent undercover. It wouldn’t have been the first time that a president has involved himself with one of Abhean’s Intelligence work.”
“Did it ever occur to you that maybe I was doing just that.”
She smiled. “You might have gotten away for it except for one thing: we have your recipients of your communications. We know who you were sending it to. You see, the Confederation just captured the Diablo several hours ago. They’ve had a chance to run through the ship’s computer logs and interrogate their command crew. They’ve confirmed the sender’s address, even if they don’t know that it was you.”
“This is absurd. And why would I do this?”
“Power. If the pirates got out of hand and continued on their spree, the people would do anything to get rid them. You know this; that’s why both bills passed in this week in Congress. It isn’t hard to imagine you following in Palpatine’s legacy, assuming emergency powers and evolving into a dictatorship. Did I mention that Congress likes their own power as it is? They might not have that under you.”
“So this is what the parties have co-operated on, framing and arresting me?”
She shook her head. “No, this was a joint effort between the Abhean Intelligence and the Military. Congress has done something else. Something that will be more impacting in the long term.”
Rearden blinked. “What is that?”
“They’ve voted to join the Confederation.”
Who were the real pirates?