Tete-a-tete Between Masks (ME4)

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"So far, but that is because I try to operate as cordially and as far away from every one of you as possible. Now I am balancing General Unjin and whatever connection he has with Darth Malgus plus pursuing the Eagle threat while several of you via for seats on the council. The Eagle is central to Malgus' plans somehow. The how I do not know. And that is dangerous. I do not expect him to be as careless as Lord Nemerosch."

Her lips twitched into a frown and she looked down at her half-empty cup. With a twinge of irritation, she pushed it away from her slightly.

[Lord Bellious]

"If you want my opinion, it's a simple political truth: when one lacks convenient enemies to claim victory over, one invents them. Fearmongering is powermongering. I don't believe a network like this could have emerged without a key insider. And I mean someone bigger than one-two moffs and their social butterfly daughters."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Ah, yes," rasped the woman, "The Work.

"Though I think you're necessarily correct about the insider. It doesn't need to necessarily be someone highly placed, so long as they are correctly placed."

[Lord Bellious]

"Correctly placed like you?" Moyr chuckled, leaning in slightly with feigned yet dramatic accusation in her gaze that nevertheless put attention to the fact that it could have been in Hala's chain of command.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"It has occurred to me that it might be one like me, yes," she confessed with no sign of discomfort, "Someone who might seem to be in an institutional blind spot, at a nexus of information and means."

[Lord Bellious]

"Would it be difficult to produce a working list from where you sit?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Likely, because normal methods are less likely to detect this sort of individual. Trial balloons and other counterintelligence tactics are slower but more effective."

[Lord Bellious]

"I suppose we have a sense of direction now, however, don't we? I assume it'll be a bit less difficult to keep me notified of new developments?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Unless the Aspirants are having another meeting with the Council or higher," she nodded.

[Lord Bellious]

"I'll find some time for you, worry not, my Good Colonel."

Moyr rose, leaving creds on the table.

"For auld lang syne and all that follows."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Many thanks my lord. Safe travels."

[Lord Bellious]

She was gone before she left.

/exit