Negotiations of her people... [Omega Pyre Dominion of Naboo]

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

Siobhan had been making her rounds through the ranks of nobles when she got Tegaea's message. Various fascinating rumours about criminal dealings, embezzlement and even a liaison with a Gungan had been uncovered. She quickly headed to the chamber, quickening her pace when her danger kicked into action and she sensed something was off.

Disregarding the odd looks the guards shot her she started running, then suddenly heard two blaster shots and a scream. Forgetting anyone else she dashed and in mid-sprint her lightsabre flew into her hand and flared to life. Seeing her storm towards them like a vengeful fury the guards standing at the doors brought up their guns but she just telekinetically flung them out of the way into opposite walls with a hard thuds, and knocked the door open with a hard kick...

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

The door was burst open to reveal...Tegaea with her hold-out blaster in hand. The 'Queen' was on the ground, dead. The Count though, he was still alive, just. When Tegaea called in a medic he helpfully confirmed her story.
With that done, Tegaea looked to Siobhan. "You were late," she said, amused.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

Siobhan breathed out a sigh of relief when she saw Tegs unharmed, though apparently the Colonel's dramatic moment of rescue had been...not needed! "You always want instant satisfaction ," Siobhan quipped. Her eyes turned to the dead 'Queen' while the medic tended to the Count, whom she paid no mind. "I take it we found our evil mastermind."

 

[Linna Beorht]

As Kerrigan departed for important things, Linna continued wrangling aristos. It was what she did best, to be frank, and the Colonel had given her all manner of ammunition. She worked on their fear of Kerrigan, their respect for the Pyre, and their patriotism for Naboo.

The Master of Spin was playing a symphony. Though her gut told her that the huge collection of nobles might not yield results in the specific investigation, there was deep satisfaction to be found in managing this many people. Quoting statistics and polling data left and right, citing precedents and flooding bloodstreams with pheromones, Linna began to really solidify OP in the hearts and minds of the aristos and their key staff.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

@[member="Linna Beorht"]

Tegaea went to Linna and explained the situation. It was now for the PR girl to earn her money. Tegaea and Siobhan meanwhile had to find the Queen....

 

[Linna Beorht]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"]

Press conference time.

Count Alkibiades, stoic and freshly bandaged, stood beside Linna's podium. She had insisted on his presence, for maximum legitimacy.

"Good evening. My name is Linna Beorht; I'm serving as the Communications Director for Omega Pyre. With me today is Count Alkibiades.

"At fourteen hundred hours Theed Mean Time, Daneris Targayen, a handmaiden and body double to the Queen of Naboo, was intercepted while attempting to murder Count Alkibiades, Exarch Tegaea Alcori of Omega Pyre, and the Queen Herself. The Count and Exarch Alcori, in protection of the Queen's safety, were able to defend themselves against Daneris Targayen. The traitor was pronounced dead at the scene by medical authorities. At this time, the Queen is believed to be fully secure under the protection of her loyal handmaidens. Her exact whereabouts is classified. Pending the Queen's return, Omega Pyre will be working closely with Naboo's authorities to stabilize the situation and handle Daneris Targayen's accomplices.

"I'll take your questions now."

A hundred hands. She picked one.

"I have a source on record as saying that Elana Targayen might have been involved in illegal or disloyal activity. Can you comment?"

"At this time, Elana Targayen is not a person of interest in the investigation of the assassination attempt on the Queen. The combined resources of Naboo's security services and Omega Pyre's consulting team suggest that Elana Targayen was deliberately framed by her sister Daneris." Not strictly true, but close enough, and for all the right reasons. "Next."

"Why is it you giving this briefing and not a Naboo authority? Who's in charge, Naboo security or Omega Pyre?"

"I'd refer you to previous briefings. Omega Pyre is here on the invitation of the Queen Herself, and our joint operations with Naboo security forces have been highly successful in addressing the situation. Next."

"I have a follow-up. If Omega Pyre was so successful, why were the Exarch and the Count in the line of fire at all?"

"The traitor Daneris Targayen was unmasked by a thorough internal investigation. As she was impersonating the Queen, that investigation could only reach her through the personal intervention of the Count and the Exarch, for reasons of security and respect for the office." The Count was going to owe them. Big.

"Where is the Queen now?"

"Her location is classified until the situation stabilizes."

"Do you know where the Queen is?"

"I'm not at liberty to say."

The rest was more of the same. Sensationalism over substance.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"]
@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
@[member="Linna Beorht"]

Heading towards the gathering of the aristocracy, as he wasn't privy to the plan of having a press conference, Sarge stalked on by Teg and Kerrigan. Half-visible in the light, he made no indication he saw them, just continued on his way.

And then he saw the congregation and its preacher.

Smirking under his hood at the very back of the press conference, standing on a small balcony, Sarge watched the sheep scurry about, worried if they were going to be under investigation for potentially being involved in the assassination.

Even people not worried about those events were, as ever, simply worried. Changings of the guard did that. A guilty conscience may not be proof, but it was usually a good lead towards where the fire was.

Still, everything seemed wrapped up.

From his vantage point, those of OmegaPyre (and that nobleman next to Linna), could clearly see him. He gave them all a brief nod of his head, and then was gone.

None of the other nobles noticed. But the message to Alkibiades was clear - OmegaPyre was everywhere. And that fear would do more than words ever could.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"], @[member="Cira"]

While Linna worked the public relations side and proved herself an eloquent manager of the truth, for the it was a commodity so precious that it had to be kept hidden in a steel vault, Siobhan and Tegaea were tirelessly searching for the true Queen. Given that the traitorous Lady Daneris Targayen had died, she could not be interrogated about her location.

Royal guards had been deputised to assist in the search, which took them through the vast number of rooms the palace seemed to have, though one doubted that more than a few saw actual use before they finally moved down to the lower levels, where the cellars lay. It was when they passed the door to a disused wine cellar, which had long been out of use, that Siobhan came to a halt, her eyes narrowed. Her bionic eye flared up briefly as she switched to infrared in the dark hallway, simultanouesly stretching out with the Force as she focused her gaze upon the heavy, sealed door.

With a hard, Force reinforced kick she knocked the door open, then stormed in. With a wave of her hand she flung several wine barrels out of the way, revealing the true Queen, who was out cold. Siobhan rushed towards her, bending down and feeling the sovereign's pulse. It was there, but only barely, there was some white liquid on her lips, poison of some sort. "Get a medic now," Siobhan growled at the troopers.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea followed @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]. The Colonel had the Force, but also a bionic eye able to see clearer in the darkness. When finally they broke their way in and found the Queen, Tegaea frowned. There was a discarded needle beside the Queen which had likely done the injection.
"Have this analysed now!" she ordered the medics.

A half hour later Tegs and Siobhan were pacing outside the palace's medical wing when finally a Naboo physician emerged. "You were right in your guess, Exarch, it was Colo Fish venom. Fortunately we had an antidote, and her Majesty's life is out of danger. Another half hour though and she would have been beyond our assistance. We thank you once again for delivering the Queen."

When he was gone, Tegaea turned to Siobhan. "I wonder if there was anything else behind this plan. It seems incredibly risky, and dangerous for Daneris. Do you suspect another player in the background?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Siobhan frowned, thinking, then answered confidently. "Colo Fish venom isn't exactly easy to acquire, but a name springs to mind. Captain Ragusa Marmont of the Royal Guard. Lots of rumours floating about her among the aristos, looks like she got the job after a superior was suddenly 'unmasked' for corruption. She has a wet work background and her family has served the Targayens a long time. Not a big player, but she's gotta be tied to it."

Secret service connections would aid in getting the toxin. Of course, a guard captain could only be a hireling, but if there was someone bigger behind the plot, bringing her in was worth it.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@[member="Chloe Blake"]
@[member="Karen Roberts"]

After a long, tense wait, Jorus forced himself to relax, and steered the submersible in the direction of Otoh Gunga's last known position. He guided the submarine deftly through the underwater caverns and channels. He navigated the currents, the tidal forces, the wakes of fish schools and huge creatures -- all with the Force.

"It's the only way I ever found I could use the Force, y'know. Piloting. Well, you know all of this. I'll never be able to learn tee-kay or the lightsabre -- I've tried. Can't even do the full gamut of Warden combat, at least, not past the stuff that makes me faster and stronger and all that. No little pulls or pushes at the right moment. I never...feth, I tried so hard as a kid. Even studied with a Jedi or two for a while.

"So, I mean, I've got the hand-to-hand bit locked down, but the only time I ever feel anything is when I'm flying. That's my serenity.

"Think you could train me a bit? Help me, uh, focus and meditate and all that? I know for sure I'll never get anywhere other than what I can already do, but I want to make it perfect. Like, you know how I can sometimes get really lucky plotting hyperspace jumps? We both know that's a thing, and I want to be able to do it on purpose."

The submarine passed through a final crevasse, and a blue glow filled the viewport. Armed bongo subs formed up around them as they closed in on a gigantic, and fully alive, Otoh Gunga. The bongos guided them through a force-field, into a landing bubble. Though Gungan troops were present, they didn't seem overly hostile. Wary, yes.

"I'm Commander Jorus Merrill of Omega Pyre," said Jorus, climbing out. "This is Chloe Blake, a Warden of the Sky. She's a messenger to the Bosses."

A tough old warrior squinted at him. "Commander, izzit? Mesa General Keel. Yousa stay here while da messenger go to da bosses."

Five minutes of boredom between soldiers later, Jorus was arm-wrestling General Keel, while assorted Gungans cheered in a circle around them.

 

[Chloe Blake]

@[member="Jorus Merrill"] @[member="Karen Roberts"]

Then..

Considering that the bulk of Chloe's Warden time had been as a navigator, a wide smile quickly grew upon her face at that.

"I'd love to." she said, now that the danger had passed. "But you already seem to have a natural knack at it...." her melodic laughter fading as they arrived at Otoh Gunga...

Now...

The messenger came running, gasping for air, his long ears flapping.

"Yousa come with me. Big Bosses meetcha nowsa." He told mostly to Chloe; Jorus was still arm-wresting and the Gungans were making a joyful racket at that.

"Thank you..." she paused, then gave him a soft smile. "What is your name?" The Gungan gave what would be a shy blush. Apparently, the Queen had been right. The current standing between the humans of Naboo and the Gungans were well. They were used to seeing humans often, which served in their favor. At least they didn't automatically get skewered.

"Umpa," he blurted out, only to stand a bit taller, "Captain Umpa."

"A pleasure Captain Umpa, thank you. There will be another in our party who will join us. Her name is Lieutenant Karen Roberts. She'll have lovely pink skin. " she shinned him another warm smile, turning to Jorus....

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@[member="Chloe Blake"]

"And DOWN for the count!"

Jorus slammed General Keel's hand into the tabletop and exploded to his feet. They exchanged nods, as men do, and Jorus broke through the backslapping circle of Gungan troops to rejoin...

Well, his Master, to use the Jedi terminology.

"Yeah, let's get in there."

The council room was large. Really large. All sorts of fat Gungans, thin Gungans, tall Gungans, squat Gungans.

"I be Boss Qeel," said the leanest, twiggiest Gungan of them all. "Yousa be da-" He coughed. "Apologies. Allow me to speak in the vernacular of your organization. Omega Pyre is most welcome here in Gungan territory, so long as Omega Pyre's military materiel remains outside it. We keep our ears, so to speak, to the ground. I have no problem with recommending to my fellow bosses that your presence be acknowledged and held sacrosanct. That said, I should make you aware that a certain human woman owns a bubble home at the edge of Otoh Gunga. Her name is Varanin. I trust this will not be a security problem of any sort?"

 

[Chloe Blake]

@[member="Jorus Merrill"]

"Varanin?" Chloe's eyes lightly narrowed at that; the name sounded awfully familiar. In the meantime, she followed with, "In regards to the military material remaining outside of Gungan Territory, that is agreeable. We would also like to discuss the possibility of trade. As you said you keep your ears to the ground, the Omega Protectorate has made it safer to travel to other worlds. We also have positions for Councillors for those who you would deem proper to represent the Gungans."

Varanin. Varanin. Varanin.

Her eyes grew wide. Ashin Varanin.

"The human woman... Ashin Varanin?"

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@[member="Chloe Blake"]

Boss Qeel nodded.

"When she first came here, years ago, she was simply a young Naboo woman on the run from all manner of evil. Today, she is a quiet, unobjectionable, and infrequent resident -- but she is in residence. Ashin Cardé Varanin has a home in Otoh Gunga, yes."

 

[Chloe Blake]

@[member="Jorus Merrill"]

"You mean to say... you have the Sith Empress residing here?" There came the rather bemused expression. On the run from all manner of evil?

That took the Bothian cake.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Chloe Blake"]

"In fact, he does."

The voice probably came without warning -- there was no Force signature attached, nor excessive fear from the nearest Gungans. Behind the Omega Pyre delegation, at the only door to the round chamber, stood a woman in a simple Naboo dress. The neck was just low enough to show the edges of a Sith tattoo, Naga Sadow's sigil, over her sternum. Her eyes were ice-blue, her skin slightly unhealthy-looking, and her hands empty.

"I've always been clear with Boss Qeel," she said, bowing fractionally in the direction of the Bosses. "I came here once as a young Jedi Knight and found a home here; I still visit, from time to time, in secret. I've caused the Bosses no trouble, and if Omega Pyre concludes its operation here by incorporating Naboo into the Protectorate, I will still cause no trouble. Whatever opinions or prejudices your leaders may have, even they must acknowledge that my Empire would prefer not to make enemies of every powerful nation in the galaxy."

She had, once upon a time, taken upon herself certain memories from her grandfather -- she knew both of these people, to some extent.

"My question for you, Chloe Blake, is this: Are you empowered to have this discussion, or will I need to put on a bigger pot of tea?"

 

[Chloe Blake]

@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Jorus Merrill"] @[member="Karen Roberts"] @[member="Ayden Cater"] @[member="Tegaea Alcori"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Cira"] (lulz myself)

Well ain't this a fine turn of events.

One could not fault Chloe for the faint tinge of amusement twinkling in her blue eyes. A warden she was. Neutral. Her focus was the freedom of the hyperlanes. Not politics beyond the casual meet and greet she usually took upon.

"Bigger." she said, giving a faint glance over to Jorus. Though we may need something stronger... "Good thing I brought granddaddy's whiskey..."

She then sent a transmission to both Exarchs and the Lady Protector; The Sith Empress is on Otoh Gunga.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Chloe Blake"]
@[member="Karen Roberts"]
@[member="Cira"]
@[member="Ayden Cater"]
@[member="Tegaea Alcori"]
@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

The Bosses provided a conference room; the number of Gungan guards around made it very clear that no violence would be tolerated from anyone. The Bosses were no fools: Ashin and Kerrigan had put the fear of the Force into about half the galaxy, collectively.

The Empress nibbled a scone at a round table, and waited politely, her Force signature null.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Well, that was a surprise. It wasn't usual for Empresses to hang around in swamps.

Tegaea broke off her investigation to head to the palace's holoprojector where the Empress and the OP swamp expedition was waiting.
"Your Majesty, such a surprise to see you on Naboo. Might one ask why you are here and not governing your Empire?"

She was tempted to order a squadron of Inimica gunships into the air to deliver a surprise present to the Empress. She dismissed that idea though. Being lawful good was annoying sometimes. Still, their suspicions about a mastermind for the poisoning might have found a new target....