Private Shady Agreements? Impossible

[Rulonom Laborr]

Location: Tambor Pattern Lucrehulk-Class Battleship "The Market Trend"
Thread Partner: Control

The Flagship of the Trade Federation "The Market Trend" sat high in orbit around the Federation Stronghold of Grenonine III within the expansion region of the galaxy. Surrounding the vessel was a formidable battle line of TF-XS Investment Class Escort Cruisers and TF-XS Recession Class Super Carriers, the latest in trade federation naval engineering. Assigned to deal with pirates and other vagabonds praying on shipping without alliance naval support. Senator Laborr had just recently done a profitable deal with the First Order's Supreme Leader regarding equipment and manufacturing which was designed to bring the federation a lump sum of credits to offset the downfall of the Empire's Industrial Power.

There was never a moment of reprieve for the Skakoan, coordinating the vast sums of currency and trade flowing through federation aligned planets. However sturdy the Federation might seem to outsider observers, internally they were facing a hard struggle with the collapse of the Imperial Economy and the altercations with the Alliance over skako's independence. However this paled in comparison to the message that he received from the Strategic Intelligence Agency. Laborr hardly trusted the Director let alone the agency but had little choice but to accept; on his own terms that is.

Awaiting the arrival of the SIA Agent within one of the many board rooms on board the lucrehulk battleship.

 

[Control]

ACCESS MISSION FILE:// CAV3AT 3MPT0R
Authenticating credentials... Confirmed
SIA_MISSION_LOGS connection... Established
...displaying_MISSION_TARGET
Senator Rulonom Laborr

"Senator Laborr, a pleasure."

A devaronian leaned forward out of the shadows and lit a cigarra. He wore a black formal cloak over tailored fabrics of fine quality. Somehow this operative had made it on board the Trade Federation's mobile headquarters without setting off any internal sensors. Despite the security breach, he seemed very relaxed.

"You may call me Agent Faust."

Underneath the mask Faust was not feeling so cordial. Empire might have fallen but that didn't mean ISB operations were no longer a threat. Imperial ship components discovered with Trade Federation markings. Whispers of contact with an enigmatic First Order. Ghosts from the past. His cold war had never ended. Moves and countermoves. There was a darkness reaching like rust into Senate politics.

"Mind if I smoke?"

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

Location: Tambor Pattern Lucrehulk-Class Battleship "The Market Trend"
Thread Partner: Control

There was complete silence within the board room for quite some time which unnerved the Trade Federation Official given the rather important nature of this meeting with the Strategic Intelligence Agency. There were many shady agreements that the skakoan had swept under the rug of the vast federation bureaucracy which could be uncovered given the right amount of pressure from such an organization as the Alliance SIA. Although such thoughts were gone by the time a voice appeared behind him.

Turning around gently to face the mysterious actor which had appeared out of thin air. It was near impossible for anyone to get through such a vast vessel without alerting the security forces on board to a threat; but this "Agent Faust" had done such a thing which caused him to clench armored fist.

"Do as you please, Agent Faust. I take it your not here to offer me a medal for my years of service to the Alliance." Laborr explained taking a seat in the middle of the board table. The Trade Federation had spent quite a large sum of currency to keep the alliance economy floating.

 

[Control]

ACCESS MISSION FILE:// CAV3AT 3MPT0R
Authenticating credentials... Confirmed
SIA_MISSION_LOGS connection... Established
...displaying_MISSION_TARGET
Senator Rulonom Laborr

"What's the matter, Senator?" Faust grinned.

He took a long drag of the thin cigarra and exhaled. Environment systems kicked in to compensate but smoke filled the room with a haze. Crimson fingers idly twisted loose rolling paper into complex artistic patterns.

"After all, a patriot like yourself should have nothing to fear from Strategic Intelligence."

Faust placed the little origami rancor between them in triumph before igniting it with his cigarra. He closed his fist around the flames, snuffing them out. A frown twisted his expression into something more sinister. Shadows clung to him in unnatural ways.

"You don't sound happy to see me."

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

​

Location: Tambor Pattern Lucrehulk-Class Battleship "The Market Trend"
Thread Partner: Control

He didn't like it one bit...no he didn't..

Senator Laborr had always made it a habit to be the one in control during conversations such as this but to find the balance of power shifted away from him by the arrogant smugness of Agent Faust caused a considerable amount of fear within the skakoan. Until the senator realized that this was the true ability of the Strategic Intelligence Agency to cause fear within their suspects before they even talked to them. But they had picked the wrong target if they thought they could intimidate the largest corporate power within the galaxy and their representative within the Alliance Senate.

"AWEREWWWWWWOOOOOORRRRR....I doubt many people are happy to see the Intelligence Agency given their rather insidious and unaccountable nature. But if you think you can intimidate the Trade Federation then you surely are mistaken on that front." Laborr explained with further resolve. The SIA had a reputation as the secret police of the Alliance and even senators were not safe from them.

"Now what is your business with me..."​

 

[Control]

ACCESS MISSION FILE:// CAV3AT 3MPT0R
Authenticating credentials... Confirmed
SIA_MISSION_LOGS connection... Established
...displaying_MISSION_TARGET
Senator Rulonom Laborr

"Insidious?" Faust pouted, "I'm hurt, Senator."

Smoke clung to the devaronian obscuring him even further. He took another long drag before extinguishing his cigarra on the conference table. Razor sharp teeth gleamed in another unsettling smile. Fear was a powerful interrogation tool, but Faust knew how to employ others.

"Alliance politics has its own reputation for corruption. Did you know there are even whispers some of your colleagues might still harbor...Imperial loyalties?"

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

​

Location: Tambor Pattern Lucrehulk-Class Battleship "The Market Trend"
Thread Partner: Control

The Skakoan narrowed armored eyes at Agent Faust dramatic play tactics during this conversation. There was no doubt that they trying to trick him into giving information to the Strategic Intelligence Agency which was confirmed when the Agent mentioned that their was whispers of alliance senators still having imperial loyalties in a leading question sort of way. A known tactic of interrogations was to frame a question in such a way that whatever answer the suspect may give can so easily be twisted into a confession of guilt.

"Are there? I would have thought that the Strategic Intelligence was more efficient in hunting down imperial traitors within our own ranks. I'm sure the senate would love to hear that you are losing your grip." Senator Laborr said in a monotone sort of way; redirecting the question back at the interrogator.

 

[Control]

ACCESS MISSION FILE:// CAV3AT 3MPT0R
Authenticating credentials... Confirmed
SIA_MISSION_LOGS connection... Established
...displaying_MISSION_TARGET
Senator Rulonom Laborr

"Oh, we keep a close eye on the Senate."

Faust's smile never faltered. So the skakoan fancied himself a sabacc player. Optimistic to expect he could intimidate or trick Senator Laborr into submission but worth the attempt. It was time for a different tactic.

"Trouble is some of them are useful," he sighed, "Knowingly or otherwise. Dismantling the ISB is painstaking work."

As if he just remembered something the SIA agent checked his wrist chronometer.

"You're a busy man, Senator. My mind wanders sometimes. Truth is I need a vacation. Have you ever been to Borealis Terminal? I hear it's worth the trip."

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

​

Location: Tambor Pattern Lucrehulk-Class Battleship "The Market Trend"
Thread Partner: Control

There was little doubt that the Intelligence Community was monitoring the senate's membership for enemy operatives or non-cooperative senators. Although like in any faction there were some beings that could not be erased from the picture without arousing suspicion like the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the Alliance. The Skakoan was well aware that the New Imperial Order/Empire had tried to sway senators into secretly supporting them during the Second Great Hyperspace War and they were getting awfully close until they collapsed internally. So it was little surprise that the ISB was harder to eliminate than previously believed by the Intelligence Agency.

The mention of Borealis Terminal was something of interest as it seemed Agent Faust had done his homework when it came to Trade Federation dealing. But there was a simple way to answer this double question without implicating himself directly.

"Borealis Terminal? Was it?. I've heard about it but have never been there directly." The Skakoan explained behind armored googles to the agent.

 

[Control]

ACCESS MISSION FILE:// CAV3AT 3MPT0R
Authenticating credentials... Confirmed
SIA_MISSION_LOGS connection... Established
...displaying_MISSION_TARGET
Senator Rulonom Laborr

Faust bared his fangs. Now that was curious.

"Shame," the agent sighed, "Maybe Canto Bight then."

Sources placed the senator on Borealis Terminal within the last cycle. Curious thing to lie about. Maybe Federation activity there was worth investigating after all. Agent Faust leaned forward and placed a small holoprojector on the conference table. Starship wreckage shimmered into life between them.

"Scans from the remains of an Imperial star destroyer recovered in the Glythe sector," with a gesture part of the hologram was highlighted next to a scrolling aurebesh analysis, "These appear to be Federation markings. Standard procedure is to disclose such discoveries to the Senate."

Agent Faust leaned back again and struck up a fresh cigarra.

"I'm here as a...courtesy. Depending on your cooperation we might even be able to put the matter to rest without any public inquiries."

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

LOCATION //: TAMBOR PATTERN LUCREHULK CLASS BATTLESHIP 'THE MARKET TREND'
OBJECTIVE //: ENGAGE WITH THE SIA AGENT
TAGS //: Control
FEDERATION //: MARCH

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To lie...

Was such a strong word as it meant to conceal the truth from someone in this case Agent Faust of the Alliance Strategic Intelligence Agency but there was little harm as there would be a follow up investigation no doubt to definitely prove that the Trade Federation Representative had made a visit to the station recently and while true it would no doubt come to light that he was the Operating Director of the Station and therefore had a legal reason for his presence. It was simply meant as a delaying tactic so that any incriminating evidence could be transferred onto secure data logs deep within the Federation Archives which would take decades to fully go through.

The holographic projection of ruined star destroyers floating within orbits of the Glythe Sector did bring some attention as well as the mention of Trade Federation markings on them. It was no doubt that the Agent was trying to force the hand of the Minister by threatening to take the discoveries to the Senate body for condemnation and a full public inquiry into the matter. It was the minister's turned to laugh in a droid sort of way at the attempt to intimidate him into cooperation with the secret police of the galactic alliance.

"You must be behind on the times..Agent Faust. It was public knowledge that the Trade Federation was supplying equipment to the Imperial Rebellion against the Sith Empire while Gat Tambor was an Alliance Representative and serving on the New Imperial Order Economic Board. Such a scandal was even known to Former Chancellor Tithe who neglected to share such information while holding public office. So who should you really be investigating?" The Skakoan said in a simple and straight manner. Shifting the blame towards Chancellor Tithe and away from the Trade Federation of Planets as he was a former member of the Sith Empire and could have devolved such information to the Alliance once Chancellor but failed to.