Beneath these Stars, a Universe of Gliding Monsters (Omega Protectorate vs ???)

[Gorba the Hutt]

500 million Herglics lived in Herglictown. Ten thousand were currently gathered at the protest.

Heglictown was not empty.


This made [member="Nyos Val"]'s task somewhat difficult as the presence of an 'outsider', a non-Koodan, was glaringly obvious. The massive Herglics bustling about the streets might not be on the same terms as the swiftly growing populist front, but the tension in the air was still palpable. Many a cetacean would give him the evil eye and any movement along the crowded causeways would be noticed.

At this point, Darkwater Security had already left the planet to protect the transports on the way back. Those guarding the delivered shipments, which had been dispersed among warehouses and were still in tibanna crates, were either members of the local kinship network or members of the radicalism C-Net syndicate.

Finding a single set of warehouses in a city meant to house hundreds of millions brought to mind needles and haystacks, but you know what they say: the quickest way to find the needle? Burn the haystack.

 

[Nyos Val]

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

As luck would have it, or that Nyos had great eyesight, thanks to cybernetics, he continued to walk towards the same shipment warehouse he'd noticed before. He also noted that the once noted security guards had miraculously vanished, which is easy to do when you're surrounded by Herglics that are large enough to block the cyborgs view. Nyos scanned the area as he walked, ignoring the "evil eyes" because he did not know that whales, who were all pupil in their eyes, could make such a gesture. They all looked like they were squinting.

He slipped into the ware house, from the crowded street to the confined space of the warehouse. Inside were Herglic workers inspecting the recent shipment. Nyos approach and confronted the foreman, who was easy to spot with all the deligating and ordering around.

"Excuse me sir, my name is Dr Nyos Val. I'm here to investigate the rioting that has occured in your city. May I see the manifest?"

A Herglic passed by, Nyos recognized his handy work on the whale's arm. "Hey Frank!" Nyos called out. Frank waved back.

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

Frank then cheerily flipped [member="Nyos Val"] off. Or at least as much as one could flip off with a webbed hand.

Dockworkers had an odd sense of humor.

The foreman, Ti'likam, looked the cyborg up and down after the politely phrased question. As it happened, the foreman and all the security guards surrounding the warehouse were of the aforementioned radical C-Net group. The strange near-human asking around was, well, rather predictable.

"See my manifest?" He chortled, "Just who in the deep blue depths do you think y'arr? Blubber off."

He waved a flipper dismissively.

Frank hurried over with lumbering strides and leaned down to whisper in Nyos' ear. "Don't want to mess with him, mate. He's a bad sort. See those scars swirlin' around on his face? He carves a new one for each human he's killed, but they've never been able to pin the deaths on him. Best be leavin', eh. Can't protect ya from him if things go to the deep."

 

[Nyos Val]

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

"I am here by order of the Lord Protector himself. He requests that I find out where the protestors got the idea that we aren't helping them. It's a security risk and it would be best if I could find iut and plug the whole in the network. It's for the safety of everyone involved. You understand."

As Frank spoke to Nyos, he took the info into account and thanked the large porpose. Nyos didn't care who anyone was, aggression wasn't usually met well by the cyborg, nor the Protectorate.

"You see, if these protestors were to have come from this warehouse, that would mean bad news for you sir. Seeing as I'm recquired to report my findings, the higher ups will surely see it and send more people down here for a more...invasive search. They sent me because sending one doctor is not very threatening. Wouldn't you agree. We'd like for this to resolve as peacefully as possible. If you'd just hand over the records, I'll collect my data, check you off my list and be on my way. No harm, no foul. Agreed?"

Nyos continued to record the conversation and the surroundings, he had a direct link to his ship going, so any attempt to steal the footage, if they were so bold, would only find the lense of the camera and the microphone of the voice recorder. Nyos trusted it would not come down to it, but safety was key and protecting the evidence came first.

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

Frank fidgeted as two dockhands strode up behind [member="Nyos Val"], muscles rippling on their bulging forearms as they stood arms akimbo.

"Uh, I gotta go man. Sorry."

He shuffled off hurriedly.

Ti'likam, meanwhile, bobbed his head as Nyos spoke. "Oh ya' want an idea of why the people are mad? How about you take a walk down 1st and Giju, see what sort of lies the protestors are tellin' ya there. Oh I bet those rickety buildings they're livin' in are just falsities. And those skimpy paychecks they're moaning about? Figments of the imagination."

An irate, patriotic fire roiled in the Herglic's tone.

"Or how about the zoning laws that keep the houses too small for our pods? Or the speciesism that's running rampant on Fondor? You really wonder where they got those ideas from, Mr. Messenger? TAKE A KRIFFING LOOK AROUND YOU!"

The massive cetacean huffed for a moment, flippers trembling from restrained rage. "Now, how about you go crawling back to your Lord Protector and tell him that the only bad news here is that people are finally standing up for themselves."

He poked Nyos in the chest with a flipper.

 

[Nyos Val]

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

Nyos brushed off the flipper with the back of his hand. Nyos looked at the Herglic confused. The beast was attempting to antagonize Nyos, it had failed.

"You must be talking about the limits you set upon yourselves. According to the law here, Fondor doesn't have any segregation not speciesism. From what I have gathered, the ones that are complaining about pay are more like you, in charge and have the power over the rest. These gentle-whales behind me only get what you pay them. How is it our fault that you're greedy? Then you say the 'Zoning Laws' limit your size. Maybe you should not have built a wall around the city that limited your populations growth. You cannot blame us for problems you've made in your own greedy head. Maybe if you put as much thought into bettering your community as you do complaining about it, this wouldn't be an issue. It isn't an issue. I just solved your problem right there. As for the Lord Protector, he's a very busy man you see, what with your people rioting on his front lawn and all. I can't just tell him that you're standing up for yourselves if you're doing it unjustly."

Nyos shifted so his arms were clasped behind his back in a "I'm not phased" kind of stance. All the while, still recording the conversation.

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

"There isn't a wall. What are you, the Lord Protector's jester?"

As to the other questions, Ti'likam neither had the intellect nor the time to lecture [member="Nyos Val"] on how intentional or unintentional segregation of minorities could arise due to urban gentrification, speciesist origins in zoning laws and public transit policies.

The Herglic turned his eyes back to the clipboard he held in his other flipper and resumed whatever task he'd been about prior to the humanoid's arrival.

"Float away, little flounder."

 

[Nyos Val]

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

Nyos stepped in front of the Herglic, still standing in a "doesn't phase me" position. He looked right into the blacks of the whales' eyes. The red dot that was Nyos' cyber-eye beamed at the whale. His tone was more stern than it had been...

"I cannot leave here without out the information on your warehouse. As for the wall, you put it up as soon as you figured you were wronged by the rest of the planet. I am no jester, but I am here to serve the Lord Protector's will. Be it telling jokes or investigating the irrational protesting of a few grumpy gills. Now, I have asked you nicely twice. This is your final warning I assure you. You WILL give me your records and you will NOT give me any more trouble, or so help your gods that the Protectorate will come down on you like a ton of bricks. I have exhausted my patience with you good sir whale. I am here peacefully attempting to resolve this issue and yet you seem to want it to continue. Now, hand over your records."

Nyos had a sly look on his face. A cross between joy and annoyance.

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

"I don't see a badge," rumbled the Herglic, his eyes glittering darkly.

[member="Nyos Val"].

 

[Nyos Val]

"My badge is the name of the faction that protects this planet. With your continued safety, this liberty must be sacrificed today in order to maintain peace. I, like you have concerns for those I care about, but unlike you, mine are not based on illogical means. Relearn quash your manifest, and I shall be on my way. This is your last warning."

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

"Until I see a badge showin' that you're part of Fondor Security, authorization by the military, or some sort of a legal search warrant, you aren't getting anything.... Or do Herglics not have the same basic rights as everyone else on Fondor?"

Ti'likam was unhappy.

[member="Nyos Val"]

 

[Nyos Val]

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

Nyos turned his left shoulder revealing his Lt bars and his OP patch.

"These are my badge and my authority. You are now disobeying orders from a Protectorate officer. As for your rights, yes, you have rights here on Fondor like anyone else, but the Protectorate has rules all their own. We safeguard this system, without us, you would have been killed by the Fringe years ago. The Hutts would have set up shop and turned you into slaves for your muscle. Ten the Sith would have subjugated you and turned you into their foul Sithspawn. With all that we have defended against, we in turn, call for your continuing cooperation. That is our Law. Now, as I have said four times, hand over your manifest. I do not wish to slap a few charges from both Planetary and Military. You have now repeatedly impeded an ongoing investigation, disobeyed orders from a military officer, and with your two pals here, are attempting to intimidate an Officer and threaten the life of an Officer. I suggest complying before I become forced to arrest you for these charges and take you in to custody for a more...in depth interrogation. You wouldn't want that now would you? "

Nyos sent a silent Ping to high command and request backup at his location. Details included the charges that will be pressed against the Herglic here and a request for information on the warehouse he was in and the records that would be in the database from the shipping logs.

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

"A few rank bars doesn't give you jack squat. This isn't a military autocracy, half-wit. There isn't martial law prevailing. Show me a warrant and we can talk. Otherwise you don't have the right to search and seizure. And if you haven't noticed... this ain't public property."

The two Herglics behind [member="Nyos Val"] stepped forward, surrounding him. Ti'likam's eyes glittered dangerously.

"Now get out of my pond."

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

Sarge had left the protesters to their own devices. They weren't hurting anything, and so far as planetary law was concerned they were alright. Which meant they would be allowed to do what they do. Provided, of course, things didn't get violent. But that didn't mean he wasn't being kept up to date. Outsourcing security meant that the Protectorate had infiltrated to a local level in regards to public safety.

Not that this meant there were law enforcement walking around looking like they came from a warzone, of course. As part of the Protectorate habit of minimizing the invasiveness of their contracts, they often recruited the PDF and Law Enforcement from the local population. This allowed those from Naboo to protect and serve fellow Nabooians, and in this case allowed people of Fondor to police their own.

Of course this also had its disadvantages but on any given day, it was likely better than, say, having your entire law enforcement body on Fondor being made up of Trandoshans and Wookiees. When the request for backup came, however, it never reached the Lord Protector. A request for help with arresting someone wasn't deemed important enough to bother him with.

A single patrol car was routed, however, towards [member="Nyos Val"] and whoever [member="Hion the Herglic"] was writing. Once they got there, they'd of course get out of the speeder. Both were natives of Fondor - a human and a Sullustan. Their posture was aggressive, but that was to be assumed based on the fact that a call had been put in for backup. The Sullustan was in charge - a Sergeant by the pins - and he looked between the two before speaking... in his native tongue.

<What seems to be the issue?> So far as he could tell, there were some very aggressively posturing Herglics and a lone someone in a very disadvantageous position. Probably the person they were sent to backup.

Normally backup would mean drawn weapons, but they'd been told that so far the damage had only been verbal. No sense in stoking the fire. Everyone was on edge today. The human looked around, and would repeat the question should anyone not understand the Sergeant.

Back at command, however, records were being pulled and files were being searched. Yadda yadda bureaucracy.

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

"Chump wants to look at our manifest, but doesn't have a warrant or badge. Trying to bully his way in."

[member="Nyos Val"]

[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Nyos Val]

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

"Bullying would indicate that I threatened your person or your life. I just promised that your life would become less pleasant if you didn't cooperate. Now that I have local officers here with local authority and myself with planetary authority, I'd suggest complying now."

Nyos gestured to the officers for their input, as a military investigation carries more weight and different rules than local PD.

[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

The two cops looked at each other, then [member="Nyos Val"]. <Is uh.... is he military?> The Sullustan was clearly confused. "Yeah, and since when was implying you were going to make someones life difficult not bullying!" The second guy was clearly new, and given a harsh look by the Sergeant. He shut his trap real quick.

Everyone in the room was given a look that said 'don't answer him.'

[member="Hion the Herglic"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

Ti'likam was used to dealing with cops. Used to killing them, that is. His swirl of scars bore testimony. Each one carved in memory of a death he caused. A chequered past, cooly lacquered over with an air of new professionalism acquired late into his years. This game of word fencing was above his pay grade. He was a middle man. An overseer. He got things done. Efficiently. Killing all of these humanist pond-scum felt right, but would hardly be efficient.

Fiery zeal joined with withheld rage in battle against the calm control of his brain. He quivered with the force of it.

"He's flashing butter bars, so either he's impersonating military or he actually is one."

He gestured at one of his cronies.

"Kallanak, get the Daily Spout."

The henchmen turned away to comm the Herglictown local news station. They were intensely pro-Herglic. After all, Herglics were usually such a peaceful species with so little to report on. These populist movements were making waves. Good for ratings.

The Daily Spout news crew was on its way. It would likely be there in minutes.

[member="Sarge Potteiger"], [member="Nyos Val"]

 

[Nyos Val]

[member="Hion the Herglic"]


Nyos looked to the officers at the mention of the news and turned and walked away to leave the area. As he left, he called back towards the Herglics...


I'd keep a clean nose if I were you. We may be coming back in force if things turn bad.

Any comments made will still be recorded and filed as he walked away.

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

After the awkwardness of a near-investigation, all the weapons were moved to more secure locations. Attacks from the Herglic syndicate group grew more frequent, with the event of one or two heavily armed Herglics strolling into restaurants and stores with too small entrances and shooting up the place becoming a common occurrence.

The more peaceful protests continued, with a large section of the Herglictown population showing up for Flippers Across Fondor day, where hundreds of thousands of Herglics showed up, lining the streets around Fondor's capital, and simply linked flippers. The effect on traffic was immediate and hugely detrimental. Just getting inside the government offices was nearly impossible. One could land on a pad, but the causeway would be blocked by a line of Herglics holding hands. The cetaceans were determined to stand there for a day, two if possible, and they were close to bringing much of the commerce at the heart of Fondor to a grinding halt. At the very least they would prove a severe annoyance, all in an effort to draw [member="Sarge Potteiger"] and others like him to the negotiating table.

Freedom for Giju was their only wish and their sonorous voices rose all across the city as they hummed songs of national pride in unison in timbres sweet and sad.