TRAFFIC, part 3CHANDRILA ORBIT - GOLAN PLATFORM HANNA"Yes, what is it Tabusu?" asked a yawning Ensign Berrel. It had been a long watch, but Tabusu was still as keen as he was the first hour he reported for duty.
"Sir, I picked something up here. Inbound craft not transmitting any transponder codes, its emission frequencies are unlike any I've ever seen..."
"Did you run it through the matrix?" asked Berrel again, this time walking over to Tabusu's workstation.
"Yes sir, it's right there," replied Tabusu, pointing out a trace on his screen. "Very fuzzy. I can't even get a sensor lock on it. The SigRec software says it's Imperial, but that seems unlikely - we don't have any inbounds scheduled for the rest of the day."
Berrel nodded. < Bridge, ComScan, we have an unidentified craft bearing 218 mark 320, closing very fast. Best classification Imperial craft. >
< ComScan, Bridge, aye. >
Lieutenant Vuposse walked over to his visual scope workstation to get a visual reading, but after zooming in on that bearing, he couldn't see anything... at first...
* * *
Meanwhile, inside the dim red-lit cockpit of the
Vengeance flashed a silent red alarm, her pilot extending a slender arm to deactivate it, returning a hand back to the flight yokes.
* * *
< ComScan, Bridge, appears to be a J-type Nubian 327. I can barely see it though... damned reflective surface. >
< Bridge, ComScan, aye. SigRec software says it's Imperial. Tabusu agrees. We think it might be an Imperial VIP. Recommend requesting transponder codes. >
< ComScan, Bridge, aye. Request transponder codes. >
Ensign Berrel had Tabusu isolate a comm signal for the inbound J-type, "ready sir" said Tabusu, giving Berrel the all clear...
* * *
The
Vengeance's pilot saw another flashing light, this time it was blue, a signal for receiving comms. Another slender hand slipped across the control panel and pushed the necessary button..
< Inbound J-type Nubian 327, you have entered Imperial space, please identify yourself. I repeat, inbound J-type Nubian 327, you have entered Imperial space, please identify yourself. >
The pilot sighed, knowing full well the hard-working staff was doing their job, but it was unfortunate that they would not be expecting what would happen next. The pilot once again pushed another button, to transmit the vessel's transponder codes.
* * *
< Bridge, ComScan, receiving inbound flight's transpon.... holy shit. >
< ComScan, Bridge, say again last. >
< Bridge, ComScan, inbound flight has been indentified as an Imperial VIP, security clearance Epsilon Sigma. >
"...Epsilon Sigma..." said Lt. Berrel to himself, slightly astonished. Moments later he reached for his own off-station comm signal to the J-type.
* * *
<
Vengeance, you are cleared for all flight operations in Chandrila space. >
The
Vengeance's pilot smirked, and immediately increased the throttle, puhsing the sleek Nubian craft closer and closer to the surface...
>> INSERT EIDOLON'S NEXT POST >>HANNA CITY - MOFF'S PALACEMeanwhile, Hale's shuttle the
Veritas had just landed at the palace of Moff Kolumus, on the north landing platform overlooking the busy city streets. It was a pleasant day, though perhaps too pleasant to conduct any official business, as Hale had received orders to interrogate a recently captured Rebel prisoner - perhaps as a test of his interrogation abilities by Imperial High Command, but Hale was up to the task nonetheless.
He walked down the landing strip into the Moff's Palace and immediately made his way to Kolumus' office, where he entered.
"Good afternoon, Moff Kolumus."
"Lieutenant Hale..." replied the Moff, who sounded slightly annoyed. "I received your prisoner earlier than expected, he is waiting for you."
"My lord, I was told the prisoner is a one Mr. Troy Grennik, is this correct?"
The Moff nodded.
"...and is he untouched in accordance with the transfer orders?"
The Moff smirked, "you can't expect a Moff to let some mere lieutenant get the first dish of the interrogations can you?"
Hale looked over his shoulder to see if the door was closed. It was. He then walked straight up to Moff Kolumus' desk and tossed a datapad on his lap, leaning forward to make his point clear.
"Look, I get it. Your the Moff of this world. I'm the new officer on the scene, who just so happens to have priority orders from Lord Vader which means I can pretty much do whatever I want regardless of my current rank, which also means I don't have to put up with your bullshit Moff. So listen closely when I say this... don't expect me to cut you ANY slack when the shit hits the fan," Hale paused to let his point sink in, leaning back up, "...and just when I was considering just minding my own business too, you just had to stick your nose in my orders, MY JOB."
Moff Kolumus leaned back in his chair and smirked. He began a slow cap and smiled. "Lieutenant Hale... I was wondering when you would show your spine, heheheh, earlier than I expected too," but then the Moff leaned forward and changed his demeanor to that of being extremely pissed, "...but you will RESPECT my office and MY TITLE - priority orders or not, you can't just walk into my office and bark at me like some dog! I am CENTARIUS DOMINICUS KOLUMUS, MOFF OF CHANDRILA!"
Hale turned around and walked away, not wanting to deal with the Moff. "Blow me," he said under his breath, making his way towards the door.
"If you walk out of this room without apologizing for your actions Mr. Hale, consider yourself an enemy to the Council of Moffs!"
Hale stopped, paused for a moment, then kept walking. He made his way out of Kolumus' office and down to the basement levels where the Rebel prisoner was being held.
Meanwhile, Moff Kolumus reached for his telecomm and dialed a short number. "Yes, this is Moff Kolumus. I want Hale killed. He is a nuisance. Also, one more thing..."
"Yes my lord?" asked a man with a pale voice on the other end.
"KILL GRENNIK!"
* * *
Hale walked into the holding room of Grennik, and approached him while carrying a datapad. Grennik was sleeping, having presumably been annoyed after the continuos holo projections of the Hoth massacre. Hale switched off the holo, and walked infront of Grennik, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Mr. Grennik, my name is Lieutenant Hale, and I'll be adressing you today. For the record, you have hereby been arrested on the following charges: 1 count of high treason to the Empire, 3 counts of violating of Imperial intergalactic traffic law, 18 counts of violating Imperial space by illegal means, 4 counts of resisting arrest, 4 more counts of evading arrest, 3 counts of destruction of Imperial Army vehicles, 40 counts of murder involving killing of Stormtroopers... and these are all in the past 3 months, shall I go on?"
Grennik smiled, "just when I was expecting you to get to the highlights."
Hale smirked, having heard this sort of Rebel defiance before. "Mr. Grennik, let me be frank. My orders are to interrogate you until tell us everything, and at that time, you're going to be sent to the spice mines of Kessel for perhaps the rest of your life."
Grennik laughed again. "Kessel... been there, done that."
"Yes, I'm sure you're referring to your break-out 3 cycles ago. Fact of the matter is, I don't even know if you'll make it out of this palace alive. Moff Kolumus does not take kindly to Rebels, and I'm sure you've met him already. What do you think of the man?"
"Skiddish... very skiddish."
"Yes, well. I think it's time for us to leave," Hale walked over to the door and pushed a red button, letting two guards in. "Escort Mr. Grennik to the North Platform, where my shuttle is. He's being transferred to the ISP..."
* * *
STORYLINE SUMMARY
1. Imperial VIP craft Vengeance entered Chandrilan space for unknown reasons.
2. Hale arrived at Moff's Palace.
3. Moff Kolumus gave order to kill Hale and Grennik.