The Investigation

[Asher Malvern]

Kamino​

Imperial Inquisition Headquarters​

05:48HRS​

​

Stepping foot in the main hall of the Inquisition's Headquarters was a sobering feeling. Krieg had served the order for nearly seven years, yet he was met with jaded and often fearful looks. The man glanced down at his black gloves which covered his metallic hands. His left hand was void of three fingers, replaced by cybernetic prosthetics, his right however was only missing a thumb. He felt as if his colleagues could see through his trappings, peering directly at his cybernetic enhancements.

He remained silent before making his way towards his wing of the building. "Imperial Domestic Agents," Inquisitor's who were assigned to rooting out any signs of domestic insolence or Rebellion. It was their duty to destroy those within the Empire who did not act in the best interest of the Emperor.

His order, which fell under the "Dark Grey" Inquisitors was one of supreme importance, and none understood this better than he did. As he turned into his office he exhaled softly, his breathing apparatus making the task rather uncomfortable. In totality Krieg's injuries had not been so damaging that he needed the advance cybernetics, it was the fault of the Doctor's who misdiagnosed him that he required the mechanical aids. While his suit was not a total life support system it was the only way for him to return to some semblance of the man he was before.

On his desk was a pile of files and papers, leaving it nearly covered from one end to another. All of the assignments, briefings, and notices that he had missed. He moved behind his desk, parting his large coat out of the way so that he could sit more comfortably.

Where to begin?

He noticed a file that seemed purposely set to the side for him to take special notice of. Krieg took the file into his hand and opened it up, his optics reading over the words put into the notice.

"Inquisitor Krieg Merriden, it is by order of the Empire that you are ordered to.....Instructor duties?" He said, his metallic voice growing irritated as he read the memorandum. "Your first student will report to you within the first three duty days you are scheduled to return."

He stared at the file before finally throwing the papers to the side, immediately following he slammed a fist into the desk, causing a loud crack to erupt through the office.

How could they do this to me? He mused. I have served the Empire faithfully for years and now they wish to make me a teacher?!

Krieg stood up, his hands wrapping around the side of his desk as he flung the piece of furniture into the wall. "Verdammt!"




*Mirilian*
"Verdammt!" - "Damn it!"

​

​

 

[Enara]

{1}​

Location: On Route to Kamino​

The beautiful kaleidoscope of hyperspace cast a quiet glow through the vessel’s windows, bathing the cobalt skin of the young Twi’lek in the gentle glow of a thousand hues. She sat, perched in the window, her skin pressed against the cool glass and peered into the void of infinite color, despite the scenic display, a small frown was carved on the girl’s face, and her lower lip sat in the grasp of her teeth as she bit it nervously. She was glad to be off of Tatooine, she had been splitting her time between the desert planet and the previous Imperial conquest of Bothawui. She preferred the latter, more hope and more opportunities for growth, whereas Tatooine- arguably more in need of Imperial order- was the birthplace of too many dark memories. She couldn’t step foot on the planet without her mind being immediately clouded by her own history on the planet, and even now- moving away from the planet at speeds that dwarfed that of light, her mind was still preoccupied by thoughts of the far away world.

She tore her eyes away from the window and back to the small quarters she had been assigned for the duration of the trip. As she wouldn’t be aboard very long, there had been no cause to personalize the room. It was a Spartan layout- a simple bed with a minimalist mattress, a dresser, a door to the bathroom on the side. Near the window a desk came out of the wall, plain grey metal like the vessel itself. Atop the metal service sat a small envelop which bore the seal of the Imperial Inquisition. Within it contained a brief, if ominous order. It read; Initiate Alema Valla, it is by the order of the Empire that you are hereby ordered to report to Inquisitor Krieg Merriden for instruction. You are to report to the Imperial Inquisition Headquarters on Kamino within one standard week from the date included in these orders.

She sighed, pulling her knees up closer to her and wrapped her arms around them. It wouldn’t be much longer now until the vessel returned to regular space over Kamino. She had sent a message to the few associates she had made while she underwent orientation at the Inquisition HQ. She had asked them for any information on the man who was to be her instructor. The reports returned to her were unsettling. From his physical description to the infamous reputation of his volatile fury, everything about the man made her uneasy. But, she was willing to endure these things for the Empire. It was her responsibility to serve the Empire, and if the Inquisition believed that this was the best way for her to do that, who was she to question it? Her stomach tightened in apprehension as the ship materialized in real space, the stormy blue marble of Kaminio in the near distance. Star Destroyers swarmed like bees around their hive, some on patrol routes, some coming in for inspection and others headed out to bring order to the fringes of Imperial space.

The vessel approached the shield-gate and paused, hovering above the circular space station while various clearance and command codes were transported. Ever since the bombing it had become astronomically more complicated to gain access to the shielded heart of the Empire. Still, the Empire was famed for their relentless efficiency and thus even with these additional regulations, the vessel was moving through the opened gate in a little under an hour after arrival. Alema grabbed the orders before leaving the vessel, taking the first transport ship down to the surface and making her way to Inquisition Headquarters.

The Headquarters were large and intimidating, fierce men and women moving through the halls with purpose, everything here occurred with a sense of urgency. Especially in the wake of the attempt on the Grand Moff’s life. Elsewhere, the clear click of shoes on the white tile could be heard as men and women who were not themselves Inquisitors moved rapidly to transfer orders and data pads with classified information to their appropriate recipients. She stopped and asked a receptionist for directions, which the young man gave rapidly before returning to his other duties. She thanked him quietly before walking away, following his directions. She eventually arrived before a simple door, her stomach seemed to drop as she brought her first up to the door. With unsteady breath, she knocked softly on the.

“Excuse me, sir…” her voice was timid and quiet as she peaked her head through the door. Her eyes widened at the sight of the man- his black uniform, the rasping noise of his breathing apparatus, he was like something out of a rebel’s nightmare. Or perhaps even her own. Her voice caught in her throat and she cleared it, “Um… I’m… I’m Alema Valla, I, uh,” she looked down at the paperwork she still had grasped in her hand and presented them towards him. However, even in her fully extended arm, it was still easily two arms lengths away from the man, as she wasn’t even in the door as yet. “I have orders to report here… I’m sorry to disturb you, sir.”

 

[Asher Malvern]

Tearing himself from his outburst Krieg looked up to the woman who stood in his doorway. "Ja?" He called out, his metallic voice missing none of the hints of frustration. There was an eerie silence as the man took the paperwork from the woman's hand. The only sound that could be heard was the soft click of his optic's adjusting to a reading setting. As his eyes scanned over the words printed on the paper his commanding tone was directed towards her. "Come in, get out of my doorway." He ordered.

After finishing the letter he tossed it onto the broken structure that was once his desk. "Your first name is Inquisitor. When you introduce yourself that is how you will present yourself. Inquisitor." He repeated, clasping his arms behind his back. The Inquisitor looked to the woman who stood before him and he was not impressed. "Raise your chin child, the Inquisition has a reputation to maintain. At all times we present ourselves as distinguished and nothing less. Understood?" He asked.

He stepped forward, placing a hand on the woman's forearm, pressing his fingers into her skin as his breathing apparatus whirred softly. "What is this? Fashionable?"

Krieg stepped back, a soft click could be heard coming from his right hand. Immediately following a fixed blade spring from the top of his gauntlet, he closed his fist to avoid the blade's extension. "There are some substances that will cause immense pain from merely a touch." He stepped forward, holding his blade out for her to examine. "The materials fused into this blade can poison you from a mere touch...not a cut...a touch. I expect you in something more appropriate the next time I see you." Another click erupted before the blade withdrew back into it's host. Krieg turned from the woman, obviously agitated by the entire situation, yet his nitpicking was far from abnormal.

"I am going to be blunt, Inquisitor. I do not want a student, at all. I would rather dump you in our codex division and let you spend the rest of your career sorting papers....but..." He glanced down to his hand, the soft metallic clicking sounding as loud as blaster fire to the man. "I cannot ignore my...condition. So I'll give you a shot. Fail me and you will never become an Inquisitor....impress me and I'll teach you everything I know. That is my deal." He explained.


[member="Alema Valla"]

 

[Enara]

{2}​

Location: Kamino​

Objective: Avoiding Getting Poisoned by Touch-Contact​

"Ja?"

“I’m Alema Valla,” she said again, trying to clarify, she wasn’t certain if he had heard her or not- if he was using a machine to breath, it’s possible he had one to help his ears as well she reasoned. She had to steady herself to keep the paperwork from shaking as the man approached, as he came close enough to take the paperwork from her, the height disparity was noticeable. She listened to the optical machines whine for a few seconds before attempting she spoke up, “I was told to report to you for…”

"Come in, get out of my doorway."

“Oh, um.. of course sir,” she said as she scurried through the door, she hesitated for a moment before closing the door behind her. The thud it made as it closed made her heart skip a beat, it was like back in the slave pens, the click of the door behind you locking you in for the night. She turned back to face the man and scanned the room, the destroyed furniture in the side did nothing to calm the flutters in her stomach. A few seconds later he tossed the papers on the pile of wood that sat destroyed in the corner.

She attempted to meet his eyes but the nerves overtook her and she cast her eyes down to his boots, she listened as he berated her on how she introduced herself- something she’d been doing for nearly two decades now, but apparently, she was doing it wrong. “Yes sir,” she said meekly. She thought it especially unfair that he was lecturing her on this matter as she was in the habit of introducing herself as ‘Inquisitor’ when she was speaking to people outside the force, but clearly there was no added familiarity here. Then he turned to her posture, she immediately raised her head and gazed off in the distance, not directly at him. “Yes sir, understood.” She said, mustering some strength in an effort to sound more sure of herself than she was.

She gasped as he grabbed her, adrenaline flooding into her bloodstream as she looked down at his hand, placed firmly around her arm. He asked her a question, but she was too dazed to understand what he said. “What? Sir, I don’t… what?” Fortunately, he released her and her own hand immediately zipped to where his had been. She was too distracted to hear the click, and thus, she was taken completely off guard by the sudden manifestation of the blade, jumping back a little; wide eyes locked on the weapon, confused. As she listened to his words, her breathing became a little less stable, it was close enough to her that if he so much as shook his arm it would touch her and visit some of the poison he spoke of into her system. “Yes sir, I’ll… I’ll put together a more appropriate outfit as soon as possible.” She exhaled calmly as he returned the blade to its lurking place.

“Thank you for your forwardness sir,” she said quietly, not certain what else she could say other than to volunteer to sort papers. “I understand sir,” she answered as he examined his own condition, “I’ll do my best, I promise. Whatever it takes for the Empire.”

 

[Asher Malvern]

Alema's statement left Krieg unconvinced, he remained silent for a moment as he sized her up. Eventually he allowed a simple, yet meaningful response. "We'll see." He walked over to what remained of his desk and pressed his boot to it, immediately he pushed down, rolling the wooden piece of furniture over.

Krieg leaned down, grabbing a very distinctive file that rested in the wreckage of his work load. He took the file and opened it up before quickly giving it a short read. "The Empire has several potential suspects for the bombing at the Imperial Citadel. We're going to go and interrogate them to see if there is anything they know." He explained, handing the file over to the young Twi'lek before making his way towards the door. After opening it he turned back to the woman and gestured for her to follow. "Let's go, we have a long day ahead."

The Mirilian inquisitor produced a small comm link, holding it to his helmet's receiver as he spoke into the device. "This is Inquisitor Merriden, requesting shuttle transport and escort team on platform one-three." He said, sending the transmission through Inquisition command. He waited silently for a moment before a low feminine voice replied. "Roger that Inquisitor, the shuttle and escort team are en route."

As they made their way to the landing platforms Krieg felt his movements become tighter and tighter, the mechanical parts of his body causing more and more discomfort. He exhaled softly, trying to keep his mind off of the tension. "Why did you join the Inquisition?" He asked, not taking the time to turn towards the woman.

"You don't seem to have the heart, but I may be wrong." He admitted, rather directly.

By the time the duo made it to the landing pads the rain outside had drastically slowed to a minor sprinkle. He stared at the shuttle that awaited the two, it was an Imperial Gunship, the favored method of travel for the Inquisition.

To each side of the shuttle were four Death Trooper's, clad in the ebony armor of their unit. They did not speak, they did not move, they only awaited their orders. Krieg respected the Death Trooper's more than any other unit within the Imperial military, perhaps even more than many of the Inquisitors.

"Load up." He ordered, causing the soldiers to load into the shuttle.

Krieg looked to Alema before gesturing towards the gunship with an extended arm. "Get in." He ordered.

[member="Alema Valla"]

 

[Enara]

[SIZE=10pt]{3}[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=10pt]Location: Kamino [/SIZE]​

[SIZE=10pt]Objective: Prove Self[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=10pt]“We'll see."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]She could tell that the man found her a lackluster apprentice. And she was certain that she could hear skepticism in his voice, it hurt a little- he hadn’t had an opportunity to even observe her and already he seemed on the verge of dismissing her. Her greatest asset was her devotion to the Empire, her determination which powered her over any obstacle. And those were traits that were hard to see in an office. Obviously, he didn’t think much of that possibility. Still, even though the man frightened her, she wanted to make a good impression. Clearly that hadn’t happened. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Her heart skipped a beat when he explained their mission, her eyes scanned rapidly over the information he gave her. Thinking back to the attack on the Citadel helped steel her nerves. She read over the files and narrowed her eyes as she came across the suspects and the information on them. [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]“These are the people…” [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]her voice fell into silence as a small bud of anger was kindled in her. These were the people who attempted to undo, with a single blast, all that the Empire had built. All that it represented. All it had achieved. These were the people responsible. The anger burned hotter, she only had the capacity for one emotion at a time and her fear was being slowly pushed out by a sense of fiery righteous indignation and the icy steel of resolve. [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]“They will tell us what they know. They can’t be allowed to get away with this.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]She admired the quiet efficiency of her Instructor as he called for the transport and escort team. She wasn’t accustomed to dealing with a personal escort. She had interacted with Sierra Four in an escort capacity before but they knew each other well enough that it didn’t feel that way. She preferred to travel by herself, even when on the job. If nothing else, it was not lost on her that troopers were almost wholly self-sacrificial. It was one of the most dangerous jobs in the Empire, the front lines of advancing order in the chaos of the galaxy. He asked her a question without even turning around, which she was thankful for. The question stirred a hornets’ nest of memories and emotions. She was silent for a few seconds, biting her lip and considering how to answer the question. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“I…” [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]she stumbled a little in her words, [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]“well, I…” [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]She stopped, trying to organize her answer. [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]“I wanted to be a part of something, something good.”[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] She shook her head, [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]“there aren’t many groups in this galaxy that are devoted to the rule of law, justice. Order. There’s only the Empire.”[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] She thought for a few seconds longer before adding, [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]“I had trained under a Jedi on Ando Prime, so it made sense to volunteer for the Inquisition. I served in the liberation of Bothawui and I stayed for the reconstruction there. I saw how dearly the Empire believes in bringing peace and order to the galaxy. I just want to do my part for that purpose.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Again, the man voiced his doubts, this time questioning if she had ‘the heart’ for the Inquisition. And again, the man’s words wounded her. She wasn’t even entirely sure what he meant by the statement. What did they need a particular kind of ‘heart’ to serve the Empire, aside from a devotion to the Empire and its ideals? [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]“Sir,” [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]she said quietly in response, [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]“I don’t mean to question your judgement, but I promise you I do mean it. I’m committed to the Empire. I’ve seen what happens when lawlessness reigns and… it’s terrible. The Empire is the only thing that stands between the galaxy and utter lawlessness. This little sliver of the galaxy is the closest thing to paradise I’ve found. If I don’t have the right heart for it, tell me what I need to do and I’ll do it.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]She had never seen Death Troopers in such close quarters before. Rain drops dripped from the pitch black of their armor as they stood stoically. They were an intimidating sight, though far less so than her instructor. They didn’t speak, they didn’t move- not even to breath it seemed. Such discipline. They were like living embodiments of the spirit of the Empire- ominous at first glance, but deeply devoted and incredibly disciplined upon closer examination. She was surprised that they would be working with a detachment of the most elite units in the Empire’s arsenal. Of course, it shouldn’t have been, she realized on reflection, they were doing the work of the Emperor himself in a very real sense. She stared at the gunship for a moment, it was a bold silhouette against the stormy skyline. She nodded at her instructor’s order and boarded the vessel, [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]“yes sir.”[/SIZE]

 

[Asher Malvern]

Just as Krieg moved to step into the gunship he felt the surge in emotion through the woman, and it caused him a moment of pause. Though he did not say anything he did glance back at the Twi'lek.

Once they had boarded the shuttle there was quick delay before the door's were slid shut and they began to hover in the air. His optics locked on the side of the transport Krieg worked on regulating his breathing, still feeling the harsh pull of his breathing apparatus. He was pulled from his own exercise when he heard the young Twi'lek speak up once again.

"Ja?" He said, his thick Mirilian accent spilling through the word.

She explained her belief and her case and to a small degree the Inquisitor dismissed some of her words, yet even he could not doubt the sincerity behind them. His arms remained clasped behind his back and his eyes locked on the shuttle's door, yet his words came out as clear as day. "We shall see."

The shuttle roared over the vast ocean of Kamino as they made their way to Tipoca city, It was nearly a fifteen minute trip but finally the transport set down on the landing pad to the great city. As the door's to the shuttle were opened to them the Death trooper's loaded out, forming a receiving line on either side for the Inquisitor's. "Now I will show you what it means to be an Inquisitor."

He stepped out of the shuttle and looked to his escort. "There are three individuals who are to be taken into Imperial custody. Doctor Numa Doa, Chief Engineer Callistad, and Security Commander ST-1747. We will detain these individuals and if anyone gets in our way kill them." The trooper's stood diligent as they heard their orders. "Very well." Krieg said, advancing towards the city. As usual he did not care to look back to the Twi'lek yet his voice found life once more. "Do you have any questions, Inquisitor?" He asked.

[member="Alema Valla"]

 

[Enara]

[SIZE=11pt]{4}[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=11pt]Location[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]: Kamino[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=11pt]Objective: Detain Suspects [/SIZE]​

[SIZE=11pt]Alema considered attempting to strike up a conversation with one of the Death Troopers but figured it wouldn’t work, both because the troopers didn’t seem especially chatty and because her instructor would likely disapprove. Even if the trooper was willing and her instructor permissive, she still carried with her the emotional storm that the man have summoned. She refused to allow the images and memories to take the forefront of her mind, instead remembering the names and faces of the suspects which she had seen in the files. However, in the back of her mind chaos reigned. There sleek grey of a hanger bay, the bright red of blaster fire, the scorching winds of Tatooine, the ominous click of a collar being fashioned all fought for dominance and attempted to push their way into prominence in her mind. She refused. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Instead, she used the brief ride to temper her mood. The man’s questions had provoked a storm of emotions in the girl’s mind and she knew they would serve only to unsteady her in her first mission. She had to be perfect if she was going to overcome the man’s skepticism. She breathed in deeply, letting the oxygen flow through her and held it, through the Force, she slowed her heart rate before exhaling. As she did so she willed the memories that fogged her mind to clear, and slowly they began to recede. The torrents of emotions began to still, slowly transforming from a volatile river to a tranquil pool. As her mind and breathing became calm, the emotions were pushed back and she appeared physically more at ease. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]As the vessel landed, she stirred from her meditative state and surfaced calmer and more focused. She moved out of the ship, careful to keep her steps careful and her breath steady. She didn’t want the man to think she couldn’t handle the intensity of Inquisition work. Or, she didn’t want to give him evidence to support his preexisting belief that she couldn’t handle the intensity. He commented that she would no observe what it meant to truly be an Inquisitor and though she nodded, she said nothing to him. She had already learned that he was a meticulous man and she wanted to be equally scrupulous in her mannerisms. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]"There are three individuals who are to be taken into Imperial custody. Doctor Numa Doa, Chief Engineer Callistad, and Security Commander ST-1747. We will detain these individuals and if anyone gets in our way kill them."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“If that is your will, Instructor.” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]Her voice was calm and measured. She moved just a half step behind him, but carefully calculated her pace to ensure that they were moving in step with one another. With the Death Troopers behind them they made an intimidating sight, civilians staring at them with a mixture of fear and awe as they cut through the city towards their destination. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]"Do you have any questions, Inquisitor?" [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“No, Instructor.” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]She responded as crisply as she could manage, her eyes glanced to the left and she bit her lip for a moment, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“uh…” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]suddenly the façade of certainty she had been attempting to project faltered. She was uncertain if she should speak or not, was he serious when he asked if she had any further questions? She decided to take the risk and exhaled unsteadily before continuing, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“yes Instructor, actually I… um… I do. Does the intel suggest that the suspects are linked? I fear that if they are collaborators that word of our intentions may reach two while we detain the first. How do you wish to proceed?”[/SIZE]

 

[Asher Malvern]

The young Inquisitor had done her first part in giving Krieg some iota of confidence in her ability. The most important thing about being an Inquisitor was coming to a proper conclusion based on an observation, to at least a basic degree she was capable of such a thing. His step did not falter as he glanced back to the young Twi'lek's question.

"Only a guilty man runs." He said simply, as he explained a bit more of his intentions.

"I am going to send three of our soldiers to monitor the Engineer and Security Officer, we will see to the Scientists ourselves. Once word of the scientists detainment has spread a bit our troopers will watch the actions of their charges. If they attempt to flee the planet or do anything of question we will know of their involvement." He concluded.

Normally Krieg would have brought a larger detail of trooper's with him. Yet he had been given command of an elite type of soldier, soldiers whom he was more than sure of their abilities, so he did not press command for a larger escort. For this mission, eight of the soldiers would do fine.

As the door's to Tipoca city were opened to them Krieg turned his attention to his soldiers. "You heard your orders I assume, see to them." He commanded. Without question the majority of the squad split from Krieg and his new student, making their ways to the inner workings of the city.

As the Death Trooper's abandoned the Inquisitors for their duty, leaving only two of their kind with the Force-users, Krieg made his way down the hall, yet his footsteps fell shallow as his breathing became labored. The whirring inside of his helmet increased, he was being administered a dosage of medicine, causing his mechanical functions to temporarily shut down.

The man winced in pain as he felt the blunt pain of his injuries fly back to him. Bracing a hand on the wall he felt the pain become more and more prominent, digging it's way to his chest. He did not speak, drawing his focus to his own body. He called on the Force to sustain him, exhaling as he finally felt a bit of relief. Finally recovering from his momentary lapse he adjusted his coat, not bothering to acknowledge the moment as he continued down the pristine halls.

The medical functions of his suit would become less and less needed over time, however for now even Krieg must admit they were taking their toll.

"Your first lesson, approach." He said, his voice still recovering from the strain put on his lungs.

"Every factor of your actions must be taken into effect to ensure a minimal chance of damage to yourself and of course the Empire. That being said there is not always going to be a zero percent chance of damage. At that time you must do what you feel will cause the least amount of damage. Of course this will not save you from reprucussion...but it betters the Empire." He said.

[member="Alema Valla"]

 

[Enara]

[SIZE=14.6667px]{5}[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14.6667px]Location: [/SIZE]Tipoca City​

Objective: Detain Suspects​

​

[SIZE=11pt]"Only a guilty man runs." [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Yes Instructor,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she said in response, she hesitated for only a moment- he hadn’t attacked her for her last comment, perhaps she would be fine here as well, the words of her long dead father echoed in her mind and compelled her to speak, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“who can find among all the souls of the galaxy, a single innocent soul?”[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] The dossier he had given her failed to specify very much reason for the arrest; it details the suspects’ identities and locations, but said next to nothing of the evidence that had been assembled against them. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“Okay, the Scientist,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she said more to herself than to her instructor, she reached back in her memories and recalled what she could. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“Doctor Numa Doa,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]her eyes moved from right to left a she remembered the brief information included, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“the dossier didn’t mention any criminal history and she would never have been given such a meaningful position, especially not on Kamino if she was known to have rebellious sympathies. What evidence do we have to warrant our arrest?”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Alema turned her head to watch the troopers fan out, an unspoken acknowledgement of their orders, and was forced to admire them again. They moved so smoothly, but like a graceful beast from some far-off desert planet, there was an immense power just contained, lurking beneath their ironclad discipline. She imagined what would happen if, like a well-trained kath hound, they were given the order to bite. Such a strange concept, she and her Instructor had a small legion of death angels acting as their escort. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Her instructor’s mishap immediately garnered her full attention. She could hear the difficulty of his breathing growing steadily greater, and she spotted his hand go out to stabilize himself against the wall. She moved towards him, prepared to catch him should he fall, but stopped before she came within arm’s reach of the man. He recovered with startling speed and continued down the hall, making no comment about the random incident. She had heard he been present when the bomb was detonated, it seemed it was still causing him difficulty. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]"Your first lesson, approach." [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Yes sir,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she said, moving closer to him, choosing not to mention his short-lived disability. She listened carefully to his words and nodded occasionally as he spoke. She thought back to the recent attack on Rishi Aurek station and her cautionary words to the Mirialan, Ithurizu Yuvie, … the Empire’s first devotion is to its citizens, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she had advised the woman, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]the life of an Inquisitor is sacrifice,[/SIZE] [SIZE=11pt]she had said later. To hear those had just been principals, philosophies to live by. But the man before her, obviously, had lived by that code. And suffered for it. For that, he had earned her irrevocable respect. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“I understand sir,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she answered, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“everything for the Empire.” [/SIZE]

 

[Asher Malvern]

The halls of Tipoca city were quiet, few moved about after the bombing, leaving only details of Stormtrooper's and engaged scientists in the halls.

For the first time in Krieg's presence he uttered a sound that could be compared to a snort or chuckle, however underneath his helmet it was difficult to ascertain which of the two it was. "There are no innocent men. Only men not as guilty as others. As an Inquisitor you must maintain the mindset that all men are guilty, even if it is not the crime you accuse them of." He stated.

Krieg had spent much of his time in intensive treatment, the majority of that time was spent overlooking the specifics on the bombing in the Imperial Citadel, and through his search the Inquisitor had come upon a very interesting piece of intel. "All three of those individuals should have been in Imperial Citadel, within the blast radius of that bomb that day, yet each of them was absent." He said, though the evidence hardly called for involvement it gave the Inquisitor enough cause for him to start his investigation.

"Doctor Doa was supposed to present the sum of her research to the Moff council, yet she was said be held up by a sudden break through in her division, causing her tardiness. I find that to be rather unconvincing. The Moff council is known to cut funding for far less, no Kaminoan would risk such a thing unless they had a good reason to not be present." He explained.

As they moved down the next hall they found themselves in the Research and Development wing of Tipoca city, nearly another city in it's own right. The Inquisitor paused his step, he glanced down to the Twi'lek gesturing for her to take the lead. "You will lead this detainment, Inquisitor. Show me how they do things at the academy these days." He ordered, obviously by his demanding tone there was no option left to the young woman. Krieg realized that the best way to condition and train this Twi'lek was to watch her in action, and correct her as they went.

[member="Alema Valla"]

 

[Enara]

[SIZE=11pt]{6}[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=11pt]Location: Tipoca City[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=11pt]Objective: Detain Doctor Numa Doa[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=11pt]"There are no innocent men. Only men not as guilty as others. As an Inquisitor you must maintain the mindset that all men are guilty, even if it is not the crime you accuse them of." [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“It will not leave my mind,”[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] she assured her Instructor, a little confused at whether or not he had approved of her father’s comment. She turned her attention to the mission at hand, she modeled her instructor’s behavior, moving with a little more force through the crowds, bringing her feet down with a little more aggression, and attempting to display a little more authority in the way she glanced around. It was a fine line between walking like an Inquisitor and strutting like peacock. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“I understand Instructor,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she said after hearing the explanation. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“We will discover if she is simply incredibly devoted to her work, or if she is, in fact, a traitor.”[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] She nodded and began to move a little more quickly- excited by the notion of doing something worthwhile. She didn’t find her absence as suspicious as her instructor seemed to, but that’s why he was in charge and she was just following along. She nodded and took the lead in the group. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“Unfortunately, sir,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she said to the man with some amount of caution. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“I actually didn’t attend the Academy. I joined with some training and the powers-that-be believed I was too advanced for the Academy but too inexperienced to be a full-fledged Inquisitor.”[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] She was one of the handful of genuine volunteers to the Inquisition. She had flown right to Kamino on a transport, and when the troopers came in for inspection she had announced her desire to join the elite force and requested they put her in contact with the proper authorities. They arrested her. She had spent the night in a force cage. By morning, an Inquisitional Scout had appeared to examine her. The rest, as they say, was history. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]They approached the lab where the suspect worked, a large structure purely white in color. There were all manner of species moving about in lab coats or delivering messages or discussing recent findings while wearing their smart business suits. She turned to the Death Troopers with them, “stay back, you guys are a little intimidating.” They silently acted on her request as the two Inquisitors moved past two lab doors.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Excuse me,” a short, plump man called out to them, moving as quickly as his legs could carry him towards them. He had an unkempt mustache and square glasses resting on his stubby nose. As he drew Alema’s attention, she moved her belt to better conceal her saber. “Excuse me,” he said again as he wattled towards them. “This is a sanitized area, you can’t just come in! You are potentially jeopardizing millions of credits worth of research investments,” he snorted at the thought of it. “Now, if you need to go any further, you’ll need to go back and sanitize yourselves.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Oh,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she said, starting a little bit at his bold approach. She wondered for a moment how her instructor would handle it- probably forcefully. She considered responding in kind- barking orders and making rash demands… but he had wanted her to lead. Presumably to see how she handled situations herself so that he could correct her. “I’m sorry, we didn’t realize,” she said apologetically. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“We’re here to see Dr. Doa,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she said, the man nodded to indicate he knew the woman. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“The Moff Council is funding some research she is conducting, she recently reported that she made a breakthrough. I work for the Council, we were hoping Dr. Doa could give a brief of this breakthrough and we’d like to schedule a presentation before the Council.”[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] She attempted to feel through the Force if he believed her, but she sensed little from the man. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“Pursuant to the recently implemented Imperial Uniform Code on Council Grants for Academic and Scientific Research, the IUCC-GASR, we need to conduct this interview within the next twenty-four hours, otherwise, all Council funding will be suspended.”[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] She sighed, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“I’m sorry for the short notice, but with the bombing we’ve been working hard to catch up, otherwise we’d have given more forewarning.” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]He seemed to be pondering why he’d never heard of the rule set before it was implemented, probably because she had fabricated it on the spot. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“Could you fetch her for us?” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The man nodded before vanishing to fetch the doctor and it was only a few moments before the woman arrived. A long white coat fell along her delicate, slender frame. Her greying hair was pulled back and done up in a bun to keep it from getting in the way of her research. She approached the group slowly and extended her hand, “Doctor Numa Doa,” she said seeming eager to make a good impression. If they did control the purse strings, it was a reasonable decision. “Now, can I take you somewhere private to answer your questions? My office is just around the corner.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“A pleasure to meet you,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]Alema replied, declining to give her name. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“That does sound lovely, unfortunately, we’ll have to record the conversation for presentation to the higher ups later. We have the necessary equipment set up nearby. If you’ll follow us?” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]The woman seemed annoyed but agreed, inquiring how long it would take as she had to get back to her research. Shortly after they were out of the research wing, the Death Troopers fell in behind her. Alema turned suddenly and announced loudly, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“Doctor Numa Doa,”[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] she made her voice as authoritative as possible, it caused several of the people walking by to pause and look over. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“By order of His Imperial Majesty’s Inquisition, I am placing you under arrest in conjunction with the failed terrorist attempt on the Grand Moff’s life.” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]She turned to the Death Troopers, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“please detain her.” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]They moved quickly to pull her hands behind her back, she seemed in complete shock, and the rapidly assembling crowd gasped, rushing in to spread the gossip. Word would get out to her suspected associates if they were, indeed, associates. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“If you’re innocent Doctor,” [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]she assured the woman, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“this will all be cleared up quickly. And if you’re not…”[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] she paused for a moment, staring into the woman’s green eyes. [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]“You should explain those factors that mitigate your complicity.” [/SIZE]

 

[Asher Malvern]

One of the things that made Krieg an effective Inquisitor was his attention to detail. As they strode through the halls they often passed by windows, the metallic eyes within Krieg's head would take notice to how Alema's posture had taken a rather mirrored appearance to his own. To some degree he appreciated her ability to conform to a new standing, yet there was a difference between mimicking and learning. She told him of how she did not attend the academy and Krieg nodded quietly, not finding the information a surprise. The Inquisitor's trained through the academy were often a different breed of inquisitor. Often more militant and forceful than those taken into the Inquisitorious through special selection. Krieg was one such agent, spending nearly ten years in the academy memorizing the in's and out's of the Empire before ever even holding a blade. His mind wandered back to that time, his pride boiled as he considered the early days of his career.

As they approached the entrance to Dr. Doa's research wing Krieg maintained a stoic silence, watching over the young woman closely. Regardless of her actions he intended to let them play out as they would, the only exception is if they became dangerously foolish, in which case he would step in.

The Inquisitor firmly believed that the Inquisitorious should be seen as a unified, knowledgeable, team. Never bending under moments of pressure, for him to correct the woman as she worked would plant seeds of doubt in others which would grow into tree's of underestimation. They found themselves halted by a representative, who the young Twi'lek quickly tongue-hustled into going to get their target.

Still Krieg was silent, yet he had to admit she had done well in remaining convincing and knowledgeable.

Impressive. He mused, clasping his hands in front of his waist as he awaited the Doctor's return. As the Doctor approached them Krieg took notice of the almost distressed look she gave as she looked onto the man, finding his appearance revolting no doubt. As Alema gave a curt introduction he simply bowed his head respectfully to the Doctor, making no attempt to speak nor examine the woman.

They made their move outside of the lab, Krieg realizing that Alema was slightly more talented than he initially suspected. It made the man feel better about having her under his wing, that was for sure. As they made their way out of the research wing he could hear the soft click of heels closing in behind them. He turned to see the Trooper's station there had already blocked the Doctor's escape. The Trooper's quickly placed the woman in binders, moving to take her away from the scene. She would be taken to the Inquisition Headquarters for questioning, however before Krieg turned to depart he glanced down to the young Twi'lek.

"Top marks." Was all he said, before turning away from the woman and making his way down the hall.

There is no one kind of Inquisitor. The man mused to himself as he led the young woman towards the main hall. "Now, the Doctor is detained. Our trooper's are watching the others close enough that if they attempt to leave they too will be detained. The Doctor will sit in a cell for a few hours and then we will interrogate her. Tell me, how are your skills in interrogation?" He asked.

The two made it to the next hall and he paused for a moment, looking around the pristine interior before gesturing down towards the left. "We're going to the Doctor's personal office while we await her time for interrogation. Perhaps we'll find something of use." He explained.

[member="Alema Valla"]