Two days later
Trachta watched quietly from the bridge of the ISD
Inquisitor as the vessel cruised quietly through hyperspace along with a fair number of temporarily modified Shrouds that would be the primary vehicles of this operation. They would have to be able to pass through Kessel space, which TNO had no influence over whatsoever. Thus, the Shrouds had to be used as a constant transport system so they could move about unnoticed by Farfalen. As Trachta turned away from the void of hyperspace, he saw Captain Illyim walking towards him.
“What is it Captain?” Trachta asked calmly as he regarded the man.
“Sir, we will be arriving at Alpha Zone in two hours, would you care to inform me the full parts of this operation now?” Illyim asked in a curious tone.
“Yes, follow me,” Trachta said as he walked off the bridge and to officer’s quarters where he walled carefully around the desk and activated a holoprojector which displayed a barren lump of rock, Kessel.
“Sir, is Kessel our target?” Illyim asked curiously as he looked at the display.
“No,” Trachta said plainly as he hit a button causing Kessel to pass and be replaced by a cluster of darkness.
“The Maw; but, sir there isn’t anything there. Why is that our target for this odd operation and why did you have those shrouds readjusted as you did? They aren’t much of warship, more like stealth cargo ships.”
“There are methods to my madness, Captain,” Trachta said as he pressed a button causing the image to actually zoom into the Maw going deep enough until what was displayed made Illyim blink in disbelief.
“Sir, what is that?” Illyim asked as he pointed at a cluster of asteroids floating there, almost unaffected by the Maw.
“That, Captain, is the Maw Installation. That is our target and that is why I need the shrouds able to function as stealth cargo ships. We are going to see what is left of the staff there as well as any useful toys that might be left. After that, we’ll decide what to do with it.”
Illyim eyed the facility in the hologram as he seemed to be assessing the whole situation he was now in. He then looked at Trachta with a bit of curiosity.
“Is High Command aware of this operation?”
“No,” Trachta said as he hit a button causing the images to suddenly disappear.
Illyim looked up to find that he was staring directly into Trachta’s red photoceptors. He felt a chill run up his back as he thought Trachta might know something he wasn’t supposed to but then Trachta looked down again and pulled out a datadisc and handed it to Illyim.
“Those are your orders Captain, follow them to the word,” Trachta said, not even having to tack on or else because everyone in the Mechis Cluster knew what would happen if you didn’t follow his orders.
Captain Illyim took the orders and exited the quarters with a bow. Trachta watched him leave and then silently chuckled to himself at Illyim’s efforts to keep Trachta from finding out he had been dispatched to the Mechis Cluster on direct orders from Ysanne Isard. Trachta knew, and he knew more than just that. He also happened to know that Illyim was a deep cover agent, a watcher, dispatched to keep an eye on his activities since Trachta had begun using his worlds to train and house ISB operations. Trachta knew that would draw suspicion since not even Imperial Intelligence did that, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that the ISB asserted its power and kept the Empire safe from spies and traitors, no matter the cost. Trachta turned towards the projector and reactivated the system and peered determinedly at the Maw Installation.
It’s been so long, can there be anyone left there?
Trachta zoomed in even closer on the projection; the last one made before the Empire had completely forgotten about the facility and abandoned anyone there, including any troops. That left the fact that Trachta planned on only using ISB agents during this operation because stormtroopers talk, and tend to talk a good bit after a few drinks at any local cantina where there could likely be an enemy informant. Trachta then brought up his plans and looked over them quietly as the ships cruised through hyperspace towards the base point where the Inquisitor would remain while the Shrouds moved in and began their work emptying the station of any remaining personnel or resources as well as data that the Empire might be able to employ later. Trachta personally planned on taking any of the remaining scientists and putting to work in laboratories he planned on setting up on Mechis III. It would keep them completely isolate since the entire planet was solely by Trachta and the droids under his command. It was the only world in the entire cluster that he knew he had total control over.
Two Hours Later
Trachta stood on the bridge of the lead Shroud cruiser and looked at its Captain, who happened to be a member of the ISB along with the entire crew of his ship and the rest of the Shrouds. Trachta was taking no chances with this operation since if it proved fruitless he didn’t wish to be in trouble with the High Command, even if he was using his own resources to carry out this operation. He also didn’t wish for Director Yularen to find out since that old fool would probably relay it to Isard.
“Begin operation,” Trachta ordered sternly as he crossed his hands behind him back.
The Captain of the Shroud nodded and then issued the order to he others as they activated their cloaks and moved away form the Inquisitor and made their way into the Kessel system and Farfalen space. The journey was a bit long and tedious, but Trachta was a patient man. You had to be patient when you relied on machinery to provide you with sight and the necessary air to breath. Trachta’s patience paid off as the Shrouds easily passed through Farfalen’s space without detection and entered the Maw. Soon, Trachta was looking at the compound that he had been working so carefully towards getting to.
“Transmit security override codes. Prepare all boarding parties,” Trachta said calmly as he watched as the first Shrouds approached.
The Maw Installation’s automated defense arrays were following them very closely until they suddenly went dead, indicating that the security override codes had been correct. Then within moments the first Shrouds were docking and Trachta listened to the closed military frequency as they ISB troops entered the facility to check for anyone left.
“Entry zone, check; Move it, move it.”
“Sir, this door’s been jammed.”
“Breach.”
BANG
“Move in, stun anything that seems hostile.”
“Sir, we’ve found someone.”
“Detain them for the Commodore.”
“Yes sir.’
Rustling sounds became audible as the troops move further on in silence.
“Sir, I’ve spotted movement.”
“You have you orders.”
“Yes sir.”
More rustling and voices as one of them men doesn’t use their com unit. It sound like he is talking to someone he may have found. There are a few moments of silence.
“Sir, we’ve found the officer who has apparently taken charge since the abandonment of the facility.”
“Excellent, hold him for debriefing.”
“Yes sir.”
Several Hours Later
Trachta looked down at a list of what had been found in both the labs as well as the computer files. He then looked up at the two men sitting before him. One was a soft looking man who was the standing chief scientist of the installation after Tol Sivron’s death. The other was a large harsh looking stormtrooper captain who had taken command after the disappearance of Admiral Daala and any other person with high rank status.
“So…. Captain Ardiv, I understand you’ve been running the installation since the disappearance of the higher ranking offers.”
“Yes sir, I took control of the station’s military operations in the absence of any other leadership.”
“Very intuitive of you,” Trachta said as he laid the list down and looked at the other man.
“And what of you, mister Yon?” Trachta asked the chief scientist.
“We’ve been running some projects, but with the cut off from Imperial High Command, we didn’t really have any direction to go into. Also we’ve lost a good number of our scientists including Bevel Lemelisk and Qui Xux. Director Sivron died when the prototype was sucked into a black hole.”
“Prototype?” Trachta asked curiously.
“The Death Star prototype,” Yon said matter-of-factly.
“Was the super laser functioning?” Trachta asked as he walked towards Yon.
“Yes, that is the only reason we built the damn thing. We were testing Lemelisk’s hammer tong theory. It proved correct, so Tarkin took him away and we haven’t seen him since. Then there was the force user incident where we lost Admiral Daala, the Sun Crusher, and Qui Xux. That is where we also lost the prototype.”
Trachta’s right hand squeezed into a fist, and if he wasn’t wearing gloves, both men would have noticed that he was squeezing so tight that his knuckles where even paler than his pale skin tone.
They were here! I could have had weapons of such amazing power at my disposal!
“Thank you, gentlemen, you are dismissed,” Trachta said, his mechanical voice trembling slightly as he tried to control the fury that seemed to be trying to overwhelm him at that revelation.
Both men stood up and bowed before leaving the chamber, leaving Trachta alone and the minute the door closed Trachta slammed both gloved fists onto the table and fell into a seat behind him. He then tilted his head back and looked at the ceiling.
The universe seems to enjoy tormenting me
Trachta’s body moved in a silent sigh as he looked back down and slowly stood up, taking a moment to readjust his uniform. He then turned towards the door and exited, making his way towards the bridge. As he walked onto the bridge he watched and listened as the Shrouds came and went in an basic convoy system, though cloaked. Anything that wasn’t bolted down was being taken from the installation and that included all weapon and technology designs that might be able to be used at a later time.
“Commander Grumel, I have a special assignment for you,” Trachta said as he turned towards one of his elite ISB operatives standing to the side
Four Days Later
Trachta watched as his Shroud, along with the other made their way back towards the ISD
Inquisitor to make the final docking since they had finished stripping the Maw Installation clean of anything Imperial, including codes and programs. After that, they had left the facility in tact, but completely wiped the computer cores. Well…. all the computer cores except for one which only appeared to be wiped. That one was the one Trachta had had Commander Grumel install. It was a nasty Trojan horse system that would permit the ISB to keep a permanent eye on the installation, especially for what Trachta planned to do with it.
Several Minutes Later
Trachta was soon on the bridge of the
Inquisitor and looking over the computer logs to make sure they had gotten everything. Now he needed to deal with two things. The first he would deal with right now.
“Captain Illyim, walk with me please,” Trachta said calmly as he turned and started to exit the bridge.
Captain Illyim followed quickly and soon they were walking down the corridors of the
Inquisitor. Officers and other personnel were quick to step aside at the sight of the two primary officers of the ship. Soon, they entered the less watched portions of the ship where Trachta slowed.
“Why have we come so deep into the ship, sir?” Illyim asked curiously.
He found his answer as Trachta turned, his blaster pistol in hand. With a flash of light Trachta vaporized Illyim’s right knee cap, causing him to fall to the floor. Illyim let out a yell of pain as he reached for his comlink, only to find Trachta ripping it out of his hand. He now looked up at Trachta.
“You know, for an Imperial Intelligence agent, you aren’t living up to the intelligence part,” Trachta said, his mechanical tones cold and mocking.
“What? I’m not…. AHHHHH!” Illyim let out a scream as Trachta vaporized his other knee cap.
“Don’t lie to me, Special Agent Illyim; Imperial Intelligence ID code 345-1. I’ve known who you were from the beginning. That @#%$, Isard, thinks she can get a leash on me. Well, she is going to be in for surprise. I’m no one’s puppet and when my time comes, I’ll be the one on top. I’m afraid though that you won’t be around to see that. I can’t have you reporting my actions here now, can I?”
With that, Trachta raised his pistol and shot Illyim directly in the head. Trachta watched as Illyim slammed against the wall and slid down it, a smoking whole in his head. Trachta then activated his comlink and summoned some of his more loyal men. Commander Grumel and three other ISB agents soon arrived.
“Make it look like the Captain was in power conduit accident, I want no evidence he was
liquidated. Also, clear out his chambers and inspect everything in case the @#%$ already recorded my actions. If you find any information or device like that, dispose of it.”
The men bowed and watched as Trachta turned and walked away. As Trachta did so, he pulled out his own comlink.
“This is Commodore Trachta, prepare my personal shuttle for me. I have some business to attend to.”
Soon, Trachta was in the docking bay where a Lambda-class shuttle was waiting for him. A pair of ISB pilots stood at attention waiting for him.
“Where are we going, sir?”
“Kessel.”
With that single word and several minutes of going through launch clearance, Trachta’s shuttle made its way towards the Farfalen owned world that dominated the drug world with its glitterstim spice. Trachta intended on making some deals to make an even greater gain out of his actions so far.
“Farfalen space forces, this is Imperial Shuttle
Constantine, we are requesting permission to land on Kessel. We are baring an emissary of the New Order.”
