Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

Hala made her way from the docks to her quarters to deposit her gear. She wasn't a grunt just out of boot, she didn't need to show up with a duffel slung over her back to try and prove she didn't dawdle. She didn't linger though, other than to step very quickly into a refresher and to change shirts and look over her uniform. Frowning slightly at her pants, she quickly changed them too before slipping back into her uniform jacket. Satisfied, she made her way to her CO's office. First checking the floor and making her way to the floor, then checking the terminal next to the lift she made her way to General Unjin's office. She opened the transparisteel and nodded to the officer minding the lobby outside the general's private office.

"Captain," she said with a nod, "Colonel Moraal, to see General Unjin."

She stepped forward towards the desk so that she could offer the datacard containing her transfer orders for the captain to inspect, along with her ID and credentials to verify her identity.

Hala is given approval and directed to the command room where General Unjin was having a spirited conversation with Darth Malgus. He bowed his head and turned to Hala saying, “Colonel, you arrived with haste. Welcome, I trust the journey was satisfactory?”

The room is busy with military analysts watching a variety of data feeds and video feeds focused around New Adasta with the highest concentration around the People’s Tower. He said calmly, “A far cry from playing diplomat with the Republic.”

Malgus' presence was unexpected.

"My lord."

Hala bowed respectfully to the Sith Lord, then offered a salute to her new superior. Her right arm whirred customarily, barely audible in the din.

"Quite satisfactory sir. The transport was given priority clearance to leave the Corellian system. Something about being a 'consular ship'," she said with a polite smile, "And a far cry indeed. It is still my pleasure to serve as I am called."

Malgus may have nodded it was hard to tell,

The General continued, “Good, we have need of your expertise and I feared that Imperial Intelligence would waste your talents on nonsense. Are you aware of the security situation on Ziost or shall I have the dubious honor of bringing you up to speed?”

"Some dissident and disaffected sentiment among the youth, some narcotics issues though less prevalent than in less prominent areas of the Empire. The ever present issue with illegal trade. I've also seen reports about The Eagle, but the analysis was that it wasn't a major threat so I have not yet looked at anything more than the high level report while I continue to come up to speed on local matters. Have I missed anything sir, or is there anything you feel I have not given due concern that I should prioritize?" she asked with a polite but professional cadence.

He turned to look at Darth Malgus who gave the smallest of nods and then continued speaking to Hala, “The Eagle will be your priority, you serve me and I serve Darth Malgus. You will put all efforts towards this endeavor, is that understood Colonel?”

"Understood, sir," she affirmed with a deferential nod, "I will ask Officer Jutrian to pull what we have on them for me to review as well as for her conclusions from the raw dataset."

The General turned to Malgus and said, “Easier than expected my lord, your will be done.”

Malgus replied, “I expect nothing less than success, General.”

The holo fizzled out ad the General added, “Good, I will have the analysts send you what we have compiled on this matter. I have another matter that will need a more delicate touch, Colonel. My resources are vast, but if we could exploit the data feeds of Imperial Intelligence we would be better poised to bring this dissident to justice.”

“You have worked with them before, perhaps you could convince them to join forces failing that we have adapted a spike that should give us what we need.”

Her smile warmed slightly.

"They don't like sharing their toys, but I will see what I can do sir. Maybe they are feeling generous. At one point, I traveled with one of Darth Jadus' apprentices. She may also be able to provide another opportunity."

Then some of the warmth faded.

"Sir, I've also run across some..... representatives of 'Bex Company'. Not sure where they fit in the TO&E yet, but with the exception of an ensign I encountered.... I was underwhelmed. Is this ordinary neglect, or is it worth more scrutiny?"

“They are beneath my concern, they will be shipping out to some remote outpost hopefully to never be seen again,” he responded on Bex Company.

“Darth Jadus… you run in interesting circles Colonel.”

She nodded, her concerns seemingly allayed.

"His apprentice, sir," she corrected, "The recently ascended Lord Bellious. It seems reasonable to assume that an apprentice of Darth Jadus might have some connections with IIS. Having their cooperation seems preferable to the consequences should they discover a data intrusion."

"I only want results, handle the matter as you deem best," he said calmly.

"Sir," she acknowledged, nodding again, "results. And thank you for providing me with Lt. Rook. I find it invaluable to have subordinates who are not so caught up by zeal they forget that the dead do not talk."

“I would not be so thankful yet, his record is hardly impressive and if I had a better officer to spare he would be heading off with Bex Company but here we are,” he said candidly.

Hala shrugged.

"At the very least, he passed my first potential concern. He didn't seem to try and challenge me as he might a fellow Mandalorian. Despite the honor bestowed on me by Corso Fett, it was a possible source of friction. Not one I expected, but it had occurred to me. We will see if he's a glory hound, and how he handles situations he's placed in. Hopefully he surprises us both."

Talk of Mandalorians brought a mild look of disgust and he said, “Well perhaps you two have more in common than I surmised. Is there anything else you have for me Colonel?”

"Just your preference for whether I should file reports to you directly or to your chief-of-staff, and if the latter then his clearance level. Other than that, permission to be dismissed sir?" she answered, as polite as before.

“Deliver these reports to me directly,” he said firmly.

“Darth Malgus wants a strict line of communication, in fact it should go without saying that his involvement in these affairs should be invisible. You seem a smart woman, I doubt I need to give further explanation?”

"None at all, sir," she replied, allowing a smile to creep back into her face. She lifted her right arm to again offer a salute before departing.

The General dismissed her and got back to his work.