<> LCDR LUCIDIUS HALE <>
Provincial Moff of Chandrila & Commander of the 1st IEF
SEMPER IMPERIALIS ~ FOREVER IMPERIAL
HANNA CITY It was a quiet morning in Hanna City, as a month had passed since the crackdown on Rebel insurgency began. Business slowed due to the increased level of security measurements in place, especially when it came to on and offworld shipping transits, but the economy was beginning to bounce back, as the restrictions on freedom initially in place were being repealed. Most of the citizens didn't mind, as their lives were centered mainly on city life, not offworld life, so the crackdown didn't really affect them. Even the nightly curfew established didn't really impede on many, as most Chandrilans favored in-home entertainment such as dinner parties or watching the latest holodramas on the Imperial Holotelevision networks.
Though things were beginning to look up for all Chandrilans, as an annoucement was made that the crackdown procedures were being repealed this morning, due to a major development in the search for the Rebel insurgency. Apparently, the message was made clear to the Rebel sympathizers: do anything and the entire planet suffers, as it was in the suffering of the crackdown that numerous leads were followed and developed upon.
For those tuning into the IHTV, the could see Hale deliver a speech, with an entourage of Imperial officers and aids behind him, with Jana Sable at his right side:
< Good morning. Today, I can report to the citizens of Hanna city and to the rest of Chandrila that my office has conducted an operation that killed Nedal Nib Amaso, the leader of the Rebel Insurgency on Chandrila, and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of hundreds of innocent citizens.
It was nearly a month ago that the attacks occured, resulting in utter destruction of the Moff's Palace here in downtown Hanna City. We all remember the scenes and the images -- a mushroom cloud of fire over the city, and chaos and panick in the streets below. But this was not the extent of the damage, for the ensuing crackdown left a world paralyzed by Imperial security, and rightfully so, as justice needed to be served.
We quickly learned that these attacks were spearheaded by a man named Nedal Nib Amaso here on Chandrila, a Rebel terrorist and organizer of the lowest order.
Over the last month, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterinsurgency professionals, we've made great strides in that effort. Yet Nedal Nib Amaso remained at large. And so shortly after taking the office of Moff, I directed my assistant Jana Sable to make the killing or capturing of Nedal Nib Amaso a top priority, so that the people of Chandrila would no longer feel the pressure of the crackdown.
We soon learned through information garnered through incarcerations and interrogations, that Nedal Nib Amaso was secretly hiding in an underground compound deep inside Natsikap City. After verifying these leads, I decided that it was time to act. Last night, at my direction, an Imperial strike team led by Jana Sable herself performed a direct action assault against Nedal Nib Amaso and killed him and his allies.
At last, Imperial order has been re-established and justice has been served, so let this strike be a warning to future Rebel terrorists and sympathizers -- we will find you no matter where you are and bring you to justice. Imperial order will prevail! SEMPER IMPERIALIS! >
After the address was made, there was a resounding silence around Hanna City, for everyone was suprised that the crackdown was over and that Nedal Nib Amaso had been killed. It was a glorious day for the Empire, and a glorious day for Chandrila!
ISPCHAN - BRIEFING ROOM The briefing room inside the Imperial Sector Palace was remarkably quiet, as a number of officials waited for Hale and his team to return. They all were thumbing through their datapads, checking up on the intelligence they were ready to present for Hale's daily briefings. Although Hale was responsible as Moff to safeguard Chandrila, his operations were largely focused on locating and destroying Rebels throughout the galaxy.
Suddenly, Hale and his team walked in, and everyone rose from their chairs to applaud him.
"Congratulations," said many, shaking his hand and saluting him.
Hale approached the head of the briefing table and raised his hands, saying "thank you, thank you. But I must congratulate each and everyone of you for taking part in these operations. I truly have a remarkable team!"
As the applause quieted and people took their seats, Hale began to speak again. His entourage from earlier spread around the room, some taking seats, while others left the room altogether. Jana Sable stood quietly at the window looking outward to the city.
"Good morning. Although Amaso has been taken down, we can't let the security of Chandrila be our only victory nor our only focus. Now, the reason why many of you were not apart of the Amaso task force is because I needed you to investigate any Rebel activity outside of Chandrila. So what do you have?" asked Hale, opening up the floor for anyone.
"Sir, I've contacted the Imperial Security Bureau to ask for assistance in this matter, and they forwarded me a list of known hyperspace trajectories from Hoth, focusing on major and minor hyperspace lanes as potential hubs for Rebel activity. This much we know already, but ISB analysts have determined that the Rebels might be operating similarly to our Imperial task forces, in that remote worlds are not likely base candidates, as Rebels prefer more centralized locations to make more effective bases of operation."
Hale nodded, as the next person spoke.
"Following on that sir, we're taking a look at all unusual activity in the open market or in the black market. Our covert investigation operatives looking into black market activity on Nar Shaddaa have confirmed that there has been a recent increase in the purchasing and shipping of spice, correlating with recent acquisitions of construction materiel which analysts have determined to be suitable only for high-end facilities."
Hale nodded, "so where is this pointing us to? We have hyperspace and black market activity, which seems to point to a Rebel operation, but where is it?"
"Honestly sir, we don't know yet. Our operatives are developing their leads, but they are reaching a dead end. We need some harder evidence."
"Agreed," replied Hale. "Let's organize another task force then..."
Jana turned around and glared at Hale, "No," she spoke softly, moving towards him. "Rebel activity has been correlated with black market activity, yes? Then we need to go to where the brood of vipers are. A task force would be too much. We need something more subtle."
"What are you suggesting, Jana?" asked Hale.
"Bounty hunters..."
As soon as she said that, many in the room scoffed aloud. One Ensign Von Baaken spoke defiantly, "Are you ridiculous? It is disgraceful for the Empire to succumb to the use of bounty hunters, especially for a task like this one."
"Then you tell me where the Rebel base is Von Baaken! We don't have time to 'play by the rules'. This is not the Imperial Academy, this is Real Life. We need results, not ideas..." replied an ISB officer in the room.
The bickering began and more and more officers began jumping down each other's throats, arguing over the 'honor of the Empire' and the 'ethical use of bounty hunters' or whatever their hearts fancied. For Hale, he had enough. His team was good, but they came from all sides of the spectrum in terms of experience and worldview, which gave them great diversity, but also led to many disagreements. Hale stepped closer to Jana and whispered into her ear, "go to Nar Shaddaa and investigate these black market leads. Employ a bounty hunter if you desire."
Jana nodded and walked out of the room, her black cloak flowing gracefully behind her. Hale felt attracted to Jana, but knew professionalism had to have come first. He also knew because she was the Emperor's Shadow, her presence within his organization meant that more likely the Emperor wanted to keep an eye on him to make sure he was doing his job.
"ENOUGH!" Hale shouted. "Jana Sable has been given this assignment. I'm sure you all trust that she will get the job done, as she did with Nedal Nib Amaso. Is this satisfactory?"
Though the question was rhetorical, many nodded. They all suspected who Jana really was, but never said it aloud. She was too mysterious to be a part of the Imperial Fleet, too open to be COMPNOR, and too powerful to be a mere ISB agent. Many suspected that she was perhaps one of Vader's agents, as Hale's mission came from Vader, but her characteristics resembled that of one of the few Emperor's elite operatives more so than one of Vader's agents, who typically were just assassins. Regardless of what anybody thought, even if it was true, nobody said anything. You simply didn't question high-level officers like that.
ISPCHAN - WEST PLATFORM After walking out of the briefing, Jana Sable made her way to the West Platform where the
Vengeance was parked. She didn't need any prep time for her mission. Everything she had was already onboard, as she practically lived in the vessel. So after prepping the sleek J-type for launch, the vessel engaged its drive engine and blasted off the platform, entering the skies above.
Meanwhile, Hale looked out from the windows of the briefing room to see the
Vengeance streak upward. He had full confidence in Jana's abilities, which would be put to the test in her upcoming assignment. Tracking down Rebels was no easy task.
STORYLINE SUMMARY
1. Repealed crackdown on Chandrila.
2. Discussed Rebel operations.
3. Deployed Jana Sable, Emperor's Shadown (IMPERIAL OPERATIVE) for a storyline mission to Nar Shaddaa. Her mission is to investigate Rebel smuggling activity on and offworld.
