Tete-a-tete Between Masks (ME4)

[Col. Hala Moraal]

The colonel had chosen a dive bar near the military docks. It wasn't a military cantina because it wasn't inside the security checkpoint, but it was definitely a military bar. Those inside who weren't soldiers, pilots, or some other form of grunt were civilian contractors who worked side by side with them. Not everyone was in uniform, but they didn't have to be. It was pretty clear who was who.

So it was into this den of iniquity that Hala walked. Opting for more casual wear, as little as it mattered for anyone else in the bar, she made her way over to a corner table and sat down with two traffic control officers. After some general camaraderie and chat, the small group they were waiting for arrived and the pair said their goodbyes. So the colonel, having prepped her web on the go, settled down to nurse her drink and wait.

[Lord Bellious]

ME3. Fluff Stealth Roll.: 3eP+1eA+2eD+1eS 3 successes, 1 advantage


"So I assume we can begin." The voice came from the corner in Hala's peripheral. She could swear there hadn't been anyone there before. Just as unassuming as before, Lord Bellious slid to the seat before the Colonel. "But where."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hala paused for a silent moment, taking in the new state of play. With only a short, even if noticable, break in decorum she still greeted the Sith with her customary deferential nod.

"Would you prefer somewhere else than here my Lord?" she asked, "We could just as easily have met in my office. I don't know if Lieutenant Rook would have still been up, more likely in his rack, but Officer Jutrian's schedule is less predictable. You can communicate sensitive information with either of them if you need, but not privileged information. They both are assigned to the colonel's office."

[Lord Bellious]

Moyr chuckled. "Where do we begin. The place is fine."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Lady Nuwadi... She has a residence here as well as a beachside property. I would need to dig further to find the schedule and security plans, but I don't expect she would simply accept an invitation to an interview.

Malam Gil is another person of interest. He doesn't seem to be a leader of the movement but may be part of it's financing. I would also like to speak with him.

Finally, I have some measure of intelligence on the Eclipse but again need assets to do force recon. I would have brought this to you sooner but it took some time to develop and there is also the matter of your own efforts. Similarly, I have not contacted Lord Tenebrous or Lord Serasai. And I'm worried that working with Lord Abasi will cause a custody 'disagreement'...."

[Lord Bellious]

"Does the intel point to the necessity of simultaneous extraction, or can it be prioritised? On the other two I'd need some profile but I guess my analyst can take care of that if you can't say more." She paused.

"You probably heard of the debacle in Bex Company. I retrieved and interviewed the survivors. Sabotage of equipment that led to luring a monolith that massacred most of the stray platoon is very likely. Thuriza, the figurehead commander is the most likely suspect. I cannot tell whether this attempt to compromise the uplift relates to your current investigations or not. Major Nox of Public Security is handling the matter since this morning."

Staying businesslike, Moyr leaned back.

"I would work with Abasi despite his inflexibility, but not the other two unless explicitly necessary. If you feel like you need more high-profile Sith support, Lord Rath is a much better call."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Lord Rath....," she said with a chuckle, flexing her right hand slightly, "Yes, he is a good candidate. I mentioned the former because of her connection with the security apparatus, and the latter mostly because I have less concern of her executing the suspects before I have a chance to extract anything useful from them. Also because Nuwadi was going to be at her wedding, but I wasn't able to acquire an accurate voice print in time to effect a rendition.

"I was unaware of that portion of the events, but I am not impressed with Captain Thurzia. I've spoken with Ensign Pierce and he considers her to be a desk jockey, trying to lobby for attention and promotion. Bex company is beneath General Unjin's level of care and he has tasked my office with pursuit of the Eagle...." she said in a languid tone of voice. Her lips curled slightly and she grew warm and conspiratorial, "But everyone needs a hobby, as long as it doesn't interfere with duty. I would very much enjoy salvaging what can be saved from that unit. Rook has taken a soft spot to them as well. It might provide a good stepping stone for him once my assignment here is complete. But I don't know if that is where his interests lie, so I'm not pushing him towards it. Pierce could just as easily take over with a new adjutant to help with the increased workload."

She sighed, sipped her drink, and pulled back on topic.

"I don't think a simultaneous extraction is necessary, but if we are right on both counts then I could see one hardening their security when they hear we have obtained the other. Still, better to have one than try for both and miss."

[Lord Bellious]

"Right now the trio of survivors is overseen by Mahr, a sort of a liaison I have acquired from the Queen of Yavin. She should be coming to Ziost soon enough and I can't fathom how she wouldn't be interested in the affairs we discuss. As for having a more competent replacement in command over the enhanced Massassi, this is a worthy pursuit even as a hobby."

She paused, her voice suddenly getting laden with something heavy. "Especially that our former plans for irregular power have become to a good extent obsolete on my end today when I decapitated Shae Vizsla at the Emperor's command."

There was a long silence after that. Not to let it sink in, though that may in fact serve the purpose. Just because Moyr wouldn't speak for a long moment after.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Perhaps that can be mended, though likely not through the Kelwraiths," Hala mused.

"It is possible that this relationship has not been irreparably damaged but Corso must be appropriately assuaged. You could even make that happen with the power of the Council. But this is a problem which will need to be solved at a later date. And preferably with as few of your peers who take an overly literal view of 'peace is a lie'."

[Lord Bellious]

"I think I have become an unwitting liability to any greater mobilisation of Mandalorians. Whatever happens now, I have to take the backseat until some necessity brings them back to the fold. But even then, they won't have forgotten it. A chapter is closed. It's better than you distance yourself from me in dealings with them and take a more quid pro quo approach to future plans involving them."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"The Kelwraiths are somewhat transactional, and given that they are a subfaction within the clan I don't think they are a good approach either.

"Still, dealing with the Eagle and 'managing' the relationship with military security and intelligence occupy much of my mid-term planning. That and Darth Malgus' recent activities."

[Lord Bellious]

"What do you make of those?" Moyr relished changing the subject for the moment.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Military Intelligence has a fairly well-known disregard for its counterparts. I assume this is an attempt for some kind of integration. In coordinating with IIS, we were given quite a lot of information regarding the subjects detained during the attack three days ago but the general probably prefers tighter integration.

"As to the second, I don't know. Darth Malgus may be trying to gain prominence at the Eagle's expense, buying goodwill from anyone who will give him thanks and platitudes while tackling the recent crop of disruption. I don't know if there is any deeper motive than elevating his position in a visible way now that the Emperor has re-engaged more publicly, but plenty of people have been willing to take his handouts and make themselves a part of whatever he is planning. Since the outcome is neither clear nor inevitable, I have continued my custom of abstaining."

[Lord Bellious]

"An interesting issue for me is to what extent the Eagle is an insider or outsider, whether he's sponsored or not."Moyr paused. "Such figures often emerge to give a better hand to a powermonger. I don't think acts he sponsors and Council bid are mere coincidences."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Power helps one reach prominence as he has attained, but care is also required. I presume there is a pattern, even if I cannot yet see it. Whether the Eagle is themself an insider or not, they certainly have insider help."

She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning back against the wall.

"Have I ever told you how frustrated and unproductive I find the conflicts and rivalries of the Sith? I feel like much of my time is wasted as I focus on these self-inflicted internal investigations. I do not see the value in it. I understand it allegedly produces a stronger outcome, but is determining which Sith is truly the strongest worth all the waste?"

[Lord Bellious]

"And do you think there exists a more seamless way to coping with governmental tasks? Stagnant elites have the same policy for everything." Moyr mused. "The alternative to Sith cutthroat rivalries is worse."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I do not know," she said with another sigh, "but I will never be in a position where I am able to enact my view of how the government should be arranged and executed so I have not studied or given it serious thought. It has always seemed better to improve on things within my scope and relative control."

[Lord Bellious]

"Rule- and neck-breaking leaders need efficient bureaucracies to carry out their vision." Moyr smiled. "In this, it is not far from how it should be, even if you may be confused sometimes whose direction to follow."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I think 'confusion' is one of the least severe symptoms of a Sith disagreeing with which direction one follows," answered the colonel wryly.

[Lord Bellious]

"So what's more debilitating? I don't see you more carved up than the last time, so obviously you haven't fallen victim of some ill-conceived fit of lightsabre violence."