Take Off The Mask

[Alric Kuhn]

“No.” Alric said shaking his head.

“I don't think that particular entity was the only one.” He said quietly. He knew what she was talking about, and although it seemed unlikely, he thought that perhaps there was a different system altogether at work here. “I think that was a copy. Founded by misguided idiots who thought they could get something done by reusing an old name.”

For a moment Alric hesitated. “I think the original Star Cabal still exists, and I think they're the ones that took the Alpha Red.”

His lips thinned, Alric very well realizing that he sounded like a mad man with a conspiracy.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

"Do you realize you sound three sheets to the wind now?" Danger would ask him, a brow perked high in disbelief. It was as if he'd grown two heads.

She took a deep drag of her vice, letting the narcotic fill her lungs. Steady her nerves some and help her have to work through the bullpoodoo Alric had decided to shovel her way. Right?

Years of dealing in this kind of business and having to discern truth from falsehood made for some keen uses of her gut to get what is right and what is wrong. And right now, all senses were uneasily twisting to suggest that the man wasn't telling tall tales.

Oh for kark's sake!

Two fingers would jerk the cigarillo from between her lips. "Let's say your theory was sound, Alric. What makes you say that?"

 

[Alric Kuhn]

“Yes I'm aware, but...” He trailed off for a few seconds as he looked around the room.

Alric let out a sigh.

“Okay. There's only so many factions that exist that want to hurt the Yuuzhan Vong, right?” Alric said as he stuck up a hand. “The Mandalorians, The Republic, The Silver Jedi, The Sanctum, a few companies and a few fringe groups. Yet, we know that it isn't any of them because we did the research and we know none of them have the Alpha Red.”

“So we have to look at who the Yuuzhan Vong are attached to, The One Sith. Now it just so happens that the enemies of the Sith and those of the Yuuhan Vong overlap, but as we both know, the Yuuzhan Vong are more than half of the One Sith's main fighting force. Eliminate that and the One Sith lose a massive amount of their military. So who would want to do that that we know? How about the force using vendetta holding cult?” He was of course referring to the Star Cabal. It wasn't all that far fetched, and it was motive.

“If they've been around for thousands of years...” He paused for a few seconds. “Then they could have massive resources. They could have helped quash the Sith Empire, they could have helped the split in the Jedi Order. They could be responsible for so much...”

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Long seconds would pass after [member="Alric Kuhn"] 's explanation about the possibility that the real Star Cabal, the one of millenia ago, would be the one behind the theft of Alpha Red. It was a tough pill to swallow. One that really was testing the realms of Danger's line of common sense.

Then again, as crazy as it sounded, it made sense.

She would nibble on the fullness of her lower lip, her forefinger tapping a beat against the cigarrillo she held in her hand.

"That would explain what Flynn found." she finally admitted, her brow furrowing as she would voice the bits and pieces her foreman had been able to find.

"That wasn't no typical sandstorm. Satellite feed among others made it clear that it was some sort of climate weather control array. Probably still on Tatooine. I have them searching for any remains is possible. Could pick up more clues on the tech and where it might have been manufactured." bright green eyes went flickering over to Alric.

"They may be good, but not that good. An unregistered ship left round the right time -- headed out towards Wild space."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Wild space.

That made sense. There would be an outpost there, thats where he would put one anyway. His lips thinned for a few seconds as his thoughts spread to potential. If this was true, if it was all the way they thought it was...it was bad.

“Star Cabal has no love of Sith.” He said quietly. “Nor their ways.”

That meant they weren't after the Yuuzhan Vong, they were after doing as much damage to the One Sith war machine as they possibly could. That meant that the Alpha Red wouldn't be used in precise strikes, it would be used as a broad weapon of destruction. It would be spread and used wherever there were Vong.

...and that was everywhere.

“This is bad, Danger.” His voice was strained, scared.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

The vice came back to her lips and she took a deep, deep drag. A toss of her cigarillo case went his way, the lighter set upon the table stand.

"That's putting it lightly," she'd say, smoke streaming from her lips as they would fix into a straight line. Gorram it! She took a deep breath, chest rising then falling. Okay, they had to think this through. There was no making reckless decisions. They couldn't not afford a mistake.

Not a single one.

"We will have to work carefully; they can't get the heads up that we are on their tail or that we even know they exist." was she really taking this suggestion seriously? Feth.

"In the meantime we will have to assume the worst possible scenario if they do deploy Alpha Red, and be ready for it."

Alpha Red actively works to spread and infect others, it kills and mains and begins to destroy and attack the system at an almost instantaneous instance. Theta Red works entirely different. The Compound was developed to act as a defensive mechanism against invasion from outside of the body, similar to most species own immune system. This antigen effect of course, compounds and focuses on the addition and introduction of Yuuzhan Vong bio-technologies into the body.

Simply put, they were going to work on a vaccine. Using the breadth of Titan Industries and Arceneau Trade, they would be able to use the Alpha red vial they have to ensure that no such tragedy could happen again.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

“There's no way to be ready for that.” Alric said, his voice sounding almost defeated. “If they're smart, which, we have to assume they are, they'll hit Serapin.”

“Thats the main breeding center for the Yuuzhan Vong. Thats where they live, breed, and most of the tech is made, but its not just Vong. It's billions of civilians, hundreds of cities.” Alric tried to calculate just how much damage could be done with Alpha Red spreading across an entire world like that. It would cost Titan trillions of credits, the One Sith thousands upon thousands of ships, vehicles, and billions in lives.

The damage that could be done was almost unthinkable.

“No.” Alric said. “We have to stop them before they can use it. Whatever the cost, Danger.”

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Well there was that look in his eyes again. That determination edged with savage assurity. Danger would flick ash to the ground with a tap of her finger. She took an inhale of breath. What they would do next would set in motion plans that she was still pondering what sort of repercussions they would face. However, it was clear as the seconds would tick on by that they had little to no choice in the matter.

Her lips would purse.

"Then making an antidote for the Alpha Red is one contingency plan," she would state plainly. However, that would take the longest. They also needed to act at the same time to learn more about who they were dealing with.

"At the same time we can narrow down and find out more information about the Star Cabal. Infiltrate if possible with men of our own -- determine just how big this organization is and what they are packing with resources." It was a long term affair, but they had to do what they could.

"I can have my men work at it," a thought came to her. She had a small clan of Noghri at her disposal. Loyal and fierce warriors of short stature, they would do well to investigate.

She would use them.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

Antidote.

That would take months.

The agents were the way to go, infiltration. He wondered for a few moments, considered, thought. There would be paths to follow, procedures. Surely the Star Cabal brought in new members? Surely they had to expand somehow? They didn't just stay stagnant with the same old group over and over again, that was impossible, they would have died out.

“Can you trust them?” There was only one man he trusted, one man who would do as he asked.

Yet he was not a man of infiltration. No. When the time came to strike, when it was time to smash the Star Cabal and take back the Alpha Red, that was when he would call him man. Subterfuge was not the way of Kiran Vess, at least not in any prolonged way.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Verdant orbs would bore into Alric’s oceanic own. “Yes.” she said with full conviction. Her cigarrillo came up to her lips, where she took another deep inhale. That cherry tip flared.

The Noghri were loyal beyond comprehension. It was part of their culture as much as it was to breath. Stocky of bodies and the perfect assassins, Danger trusted them impeccably. They had steely gray or blue skin, and were extremely skilled assassins due to their abilities in stealth and hand-to-hand combat. Despite their small size, they were efficient killing machines, with claws, fangs, and a sense of smell so acute, they could smell one's bloodline.

Clan Khal’vair was the Noghri clan that served Danger in such a manner as guards as well as their other deadlier abilities. Erkerd and Kahsi’kah were two that she could send on this mission.

“Subterfuge is their selling point. They can get this done.” her steely gaze would flicker over him, smoke streaming from the corner of her mouth.

“What about you? What are your ideas?”

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

For a few seconds he considered.

His hand found its way to the table in front of him. His knuckles pressed against the wood as he began to contemplate and think. His lips thinned and his other hand came up to scratch the rough bristles of his beard. There were many options.

It was too early for an assault. Even if they found one of their hideouts, it was far too soon to actually attack. No, they would have to do something different. Danger would send her agents, Alric would wait until he was told to send in his men. He could sit, and wait, or...

A smile spread across his face.

A shrug rolled over his shoulder and very suddenly that air of smug once again rained down from Alric Kuhn. “I'm going to make some new friends.”

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Danger immediately would arch her brow at him. "Exactly what sort of new friends are we talking about here?" she asked, flicking more ash onto the nearby ashtray. She was percolating between mild annoyance and piqued interest. Figures that he would do so.

She came to her feet, her slow saunter taking her over towards the nearby viewport. It was an internal observation deck, allowing a one way mirror type method of surveillance. Down below were three different levels of laboratories, and from their perch they would be able to survey all of the work that would soon go towards finding a method to counter Alpha Red.

"And just how much trouble will that get us into?" her wry husky voice would drift over towards the Tetan, a glance over her shoulder relaying that she was sure that 'trouble' was not a matter of if, but when.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

“Us?” Alric said with a grin. “You think I'm taking you with me? If I remember right you're horrible at making new friends.”

It was a dig at their own first meeting, completely spun on its head of course.

What Alric had in mind though would be dangerous, very dangerous. The Star Cabal was in ancient times run by prominent figures as well as lowly ones. He imagined they operated in much the same way now, using business men, generals, and anything they could get their hands on.

So what if they were presented with someone like Alric?

Titan Industries was the One Sith. The two of them were synonymous, and Alric sat at the head of the company. If he could convince the Star Cabal that he wanted to join them, that he wanted to support them and turn on the One Sith...he could plant himself right into the middle of the organization.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

Oh Danger’s subsequent glare she gave [member="Alric Kuhn"] would skin any man alive, those verdant orbs glittering with warning. There was something to say about the heat in her gaze at least, that she was showing it. Maybe it was a trait that the Titan could appreciate. However, how much of his teasing she’ll take was up in the air.

They were still reeling from the experience on Tatooine and the subsequent aftereffects of… everything.

“Oh you’ll take me with you one way or another Mr. Kuhn,” there it was again, the emphasis on his name. Perhaps an attempt at distance? Or was it just to get under his skin? Time would require to capture and discern each word and subtle gesture from the buxom redhead. Although it was an almost assurity that Alric Kuhn would be all to happy to continue to stir the pot and see what sort of kettle of Giju he can get out of stoking her coals.

“I’ll send my boys out to investigate.” she swung her head back towards the viewport. Three levels down, one of the lab assistants in full biochemical protective gear carefully held a box in their hands.

“While the smarts take to figuring out a cure here.”

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He only grinned at her. He had expected nothing less than to take her with him, but that didn't mean he couldn't tease. Of course actually finding the Star Cabal would be rather difficult. It wasn't like he could simply put out the word that he hated force users. On the one hand that would attract their attention, but if the One Sith caught wind of it...well the Sith had never proven to be the most understanding of people.

No, he would have to do some leg work.

“We'll need to get the word out.” Alric said quietly. “Just a small trickle of information. Perhaps a passing rumor that Titan Industries is building an anti-force prison.”

It was something that he could sell to the One Sith, and also something that would attract attention.

He smiled slightly and scratched his beard. Yes a Prison would do. The Sith needed one for the Jedi they captured, and the Star Cabal could see it as a first step. Of course it was a bit of a silly longshot, but then again there wasn't really a secret signal he could send out. The Prison would have to do.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]


An Anti-Force prison?

Danger gave a small huff of a half laugh, smoke blowing in a small puff of blue gray in front of her face. She was amused, and in short order, she would drawl out in a wry tone, “You’ll be picking up the attention of more than just the Star Cabal then.” Oh if was sure that the Republic would not be so keen on that.

Then again, she was sure the Republic already had some form of similar prison. Rumor had it that the Omega Protectorate did as well. Danger would peer at her quickly receding vice, rolling it gently between two fingers as she would mull over Kuhn’s idea. It wasn’t too have arsed.

“The largest known Anti-Force user prison round these parts that is stationary is Belsavis.” she said plainly. The entire world - save for the plantations of Vine coffee and Vine silk - had been turned into a prison for the Protectorate. She was sure that there were mobile versions, but that is where the bulk of them went off to if one did wrong while one foot was on Protectorate Territory.

“I’m sure the Republic has its own... “ she gave a small pause, panning those bright green eyes upon the pugilist figure of the Titan. “While I’m sure you have the credits to fund it… just what exactly are you going to put inside it to ensure it is not only the most secure anti Force prison in the ‘verse… but one no one can escape from.”

A reputation was all one had. A prison was much the same thing. Ensuring that those who stay in, stay in and those who are out, stay out, was paramount.

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

Alric took a step towards Danger, a small smile spreading across his lips.

“Why Miss Arceneau.” He trailed off, his voice almost sultry. “Who said I was actually going to build it?”

He could, quite easily in fact. A prison that held Force Users exclusively would likely be quite the commodity. In fact he could thing of some very easy ways to make money with such a thing, but it wasn't necessary right now, it would hardly be helpful to go with Titan's current business plans. No, he already had construction plans in the back of his mind, and a prison wasn't one of them.

“No no.” He chided her, his voice bemused as he stepped within her personal bubble.

“That would take time, effort, and more capital than I'm willing to pour into it. We don't need to build it, hell we don't even need to pour the foundation. What matters is that it'll look like we're building it, with its intent entirely clear.” That would be easy enough. With enough string pulled and enough people bribed this prison would look like Belsavis times two hundred. Throw that in with some claims of Titan getting antsy under Sith Rule...well, it should attract the attention that they needed.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

A slow inhale would brace Danger when Alric began pushing the boundaries of her personal bubble. Her chin rose an inch, naturally defiant. That was the Tatooine girl readying for a fight, a subtle unconscious gesture that would damnably relay she was still wary around the man.

Over a week dirtside with everything that had transpired, on top of attempting to slide into a measure of cordial business conversation was precarious balance for the Queen of Trade. He still made her feel out of her element. It was unnerving as much as vexing. Her expression would mask itself to one of pleasant cordiality.

"So quick to put on airs and craft a masterful illusion that you are building this prison." her fingers drew what was left of the narcotic to take one last draw. Lids fell as she would turn to snuff the cigarillo upon the glass ashtray, a tiny funnel of smoke rising as the tip would ground the embers out.

"Reckon that will come easy for you," came the low drawl, spicy smoke coming out from the corner of her mouth as she pointedly swung her emerald gaze back at him.

"Gossip is as gossip does, I can spread word of that easily down the hyperlanes."

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Danger Arceneau"]

He simply smiled, ignoring the slight insult.

“They'll come to us.” Or rather, they would come to him and from there he would see about Danger tagging along. It would be an interesting dynamic, and even more interesting task to complete. For some odd reason Alric found himself rather thrilled.

Perhaps it was because as a child he had often pretended to be a spy.

“Once they do.” Alric reached inside of his coat pocket, grasping a small electrum cigarette case and popping open its lid, pulling free one of the Vipers and gently placing it between Danger's full lips. “We'll control the flow of information to them. I imagine they've already infiltrated the One Sith in some capacity, with me, they'll see an opportunity to get more. Once they take hold of that opportunity, I start reaching towards the Alpha Red.”

Easy enough, in theory.

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

Full lips would press and hold the filtered end of the Viper; there came a slow blink. Her fingers rose, two reaching up to balance it between them. There was a slight puzzled expression on her face that along with the slight perk of her brow would question if he'll follow through with a light.

He was a strange one. One second he was ruffling her feathers, the next he was being considerate.

"Reckon they already have and more, considering the One Sith is the most powerful presence out there swinging their girth." she'd join in, "And I expect that if they went through the trouble of searching for this Alpha Red... they likely would be apt to test it out for use on any Yuuzhan Vong world that would be easy .. and quiet enough for their trials."

Which meant that monitoring traffic and worlds where such populations existed would also be key.