Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110 
Affiliation: First Order
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Post by Vidarr Saren on Apr 12, 2024 18:20:57 GMT -8
When the door hissed open, allowing Reya entry to the bridge, she would find a crew of operatives from the Imperial Security Bureau. A handful of ISB Stormtroopers patrolled about and stood at the three entry ways onto the bridge area. There were a number of communications going off as the crew sought to understand the current allegiance and status of Kuat. At present, there was a fleet in orbit, but the allegiance of the fleet was unknown. Thankfully, the corvette had a state-of-the-art Stygium cloaking device. Vidarr stood towards the front of the bridge, observing what was seen.
Seems pretty rough right now. Kuat Drive Yards that is.
There was all manner of space debris that littered the area above Kuat, even the shipyard facilities seemed torn, sacked, and obliterated in various places. From what was observed, there were crews and droids out and about, salvaging and repairing. But, based on the damages, KDY would likely be out of operation for weeks and months. Perhaps even years. It reminded Vidarr of the violent warlordism that tore apart the Empire before.
After a moment, he turns to see Reya joined him and one of his lieutenants that he was speaking with. Motioning to Zariel's daughter, the Deputy Director returned to looking out of the viewport. His lieutenant walked off to see if any had Kuat's current status figured out and if there was a place they could safely land for the mission ahead.
The Ren were through here. That's all we know. The Emperor's forces are currently at Coruscant, but the Ren have seemingly vanished.
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Post by Reya Valindra on Apr 18, 2024 11:52:47 GMT -8
Reya approached the view port someone surprised that Vidarr was acknowledging her in an almost conversational tone. She gazed out at the damage, broken ships, damaged dockyards, and all manor of other debris clouded the void around Kuat. Views like this make me wonder if mother was right in keeping the ISB out of the fighting? While the Imperial Security Bureau had declared loyalty to Octavian, the rightful ruler of the Empire by decree of his late father, Zariel had opted to keep her armies and navies out of the direct line of fighting, instead staying on loyal worlds, or recently liberated ones, to root out any potential traitors or rebel sympathizers. And wouldn't you know it, many of the ISBs political rivals on various worlds were found to have "strong suspected ties" to the traitors Baltasar and Fiora. But here in the face of the carnage, Reya questioned if maybe with their forces on the front lines, than the war could be over sooner. Imperials killing Imperials... Is this how it was during the first civil war? After Emperor Palpatine was killed?
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Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110
Affiliation: First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Vidarr Saren on Apr 24, 2024 17:43:28 GMT -8
Vidarr glanced at Reya when she spoke up. It wouldn't be wise to question the Director's decisions. He was one of the few, probably like Reya, who could say so openly though. He saw the reasons, hidden between the words of the Lady Zariel, as to why she may have committed to Octavian but kept her forces away. On one hand, keep the heartlands of the Empire safe from the ravages of civil war. On the other hand, ensure her growing batch of loyalists didn't dwindle from the fighting. In a post-Civil War era, the ISB would surely become an important function within the First Order.
The reports is all I read of that time. You know that your mother and I kept to the Outer Rim.
Vidarr began to speak on the mention of the first Imperial Civil War, at the dawn of Operation Shadowhand.
It was certainly more devastating than this. Coruscant was turned to rubble by AT-ATs, AT-STs and other vehicles of war as the many branches of the Empire fought over how the nation needed to be govern. The Military sought to proclaim a Supreme Commander who they believed was their right to. The bureaucrats staged a coup in order to prevent any change to the New Order. ISB and Intelligence fought a shadow war against their rivals...
The thought of such an a cataclysm to the nation was beyond imagination. Even though there were worlds devastated during this conflict, there were signs of restraint. After all, the industries of these worlds would be needed... however, there were holes. Wide ones. Vidarr wondered to the future of the Empire.
Three Sector Groups were annihilated over the Imperial capital, Star Dreadnoughts clashed with one another, warlords wasted their caches on one another. The efforts of Thrawn had become nothing overnight... it was a time of great waste. Resources better used against the New Republic were turned against fellow Imperial instead.
All the while, the Emperor, from his lair on Byss, watched.
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Post by Reya Valindra on Apr 24, 2024 18:45:13 GMT -8
Reya paused sheepishly as everything nearby had come to a halt when she openly questioned her mother's orders. It was a privilege that she wasn't complete sure how she felt about it. On one hand, she was free to mostly speak her mind, but on the other, it meant most everyone else wasn't. But all the same, she listened as Vidarr spoke about what he knew of the Civil War, mostly things she already knew, but it was important to here his view of it. She nodded. Well, at least this isn't happening while we have a major external threat. The Corellian Coalition is already broken, and the other powers are too small to make any trouble for us, even while at war with ourselves... Of course not that there is ever a good time for civil war... Reya cleared her throat, to segway away from her awkward comments. So, how should we go about this? Quiet and stealthy, or flashing our ISB badges around and asking loud questions?
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Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110
Affiliation: First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Vidarr Saren on May 7, 2024 18:59:29 GMT -8
Vidarr fell quiet as he considered their options. The key issue was who this fleet was aligned with. There were no reports of a loyalist fleet in this area, however, there had been a report that one was headed this way to blockade the system. The Deputy Director turns to the commander of the ship, motioning to one of the consoles.
Keep the cloak engaged. We will use a shuttle in the bay.
There was a single TIE/rp Attack Lander. Adding in some troops, they could utilize a code to clear landing. The code was used by the Imperial Military to transport high-profile officers and prisoners. The TIE/rp did have a Class 1 Hyperdrive and they were still just outside of the sensor range. It would work for now and get them to do what was needed to be done. Vidarr then motioned for Reya as he turned and proceeded to walk down.
=Officer=
Lieutenant Garek and 'Blackstar' Squad will be awaiting you in the hangar, Deputy Director.
The report was made as he headed for the turbolift. Vidarr waved his hand as an acknowledgement before descending to the small hangar below.
How do you think we should handle shipyard security?
He makes the inquiry to Reya, wanting to hear her suggestions.
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Post by Reya Valindra on May 11, 2024 22:37:09 GMT -8
Reya thought for a moment as she followed Vidarr. They had such little information to go off, how would they know which side was which? Either way she settled that deception would be the safest course of action at the moment. But how? Perhaps... perhaps we claim to have been out of contact on special assignment, lost contact when the communications went down? And once we get a response, and discover who is in control here, we simply pretend we are sympathetic to their cause? This was her first time coming up with such a strategy, and imagined it sounded amateurish to the seasoned Deputy Director of the ISB. But it was the best she had...
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Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110
Affiliation: First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Vidarr Saren on May 13, 2024 22:41:11 GMT -8
Not bad of a response.
Seems the lessons I heard your mother taught you have not gone to waste.
There was always the chance that the child of a prominent parent and a capable one tended to slack. It was why Vidarr was hard on his own son, of bastard lineage, and now presently served as a starfighter pilot within the ranks of his fleet. An idle child would only develop a laziness that would tarnish the legacy and future of a bloodline. Zariel would have made sure Reya understood the arts of her own profession.
Kuat Drive Yards has been known to be neutral grounds. We can simply wave our ISB badges and they will behave.
Vidarr remembered the old stories, and even personal experiences, when ISB Stormtroopers came to a Star Destroyer for an undeclared and unscheduled visitation. Put everyone on edge and made them not ask questions. As of right now, the ISB, as an extension of Imperial Intelligence, was playing the neutral game.
You'd be surprised how easily one will sweat at the sight of an ISB badge.
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Post by Reya Valindra on May 23, 2024 10:35:20 GMT -8
Reya nodded. It was a test after all, Vidarr was seeing how well she could think on her feet in these sorts of clandestine situations. Indeed her mother and Raynor had been teaching her a great many things beyond wielding her Force powers. Then if they are neutral, as you say, no need for the deception, yes? Simply identify ourselves as the ISB, though perhaps make ourselves sound less important than we truly are? Even though her own "rank" within the ISB was relatively low, the astute among the Imperial bureaucracy would still probably mark the familial connection if she used her true name. So the daughter of the Grand Inquisitor and the ISB Deputy Director would turn a lot of heads and raise a lot of eyebrows, perhaps too many. After all, it's one thing for an agent to be sniffing around after a battle, it's another for the Deputy Director himself to be here...
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Taung H'rel
Retired High Councilor 
Posts: 469
Affiliation: Galactic Empire
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Post by Taung H'rel on May 23, 2024 17:40:33 GMT -8
Terrh signaled his fleet and the ships moved out in formation and leapt to hyperspace.
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Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110
Affiliation: First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Vidarr Saren on May 24, 2024 19:05:40 GMT -8
Reya nodded. It was a test after all, Vidarr was seeing how well she could think on her feet in these sorts of clandestine situations. Indeed her mother and Raynor had been teaching her a great many things beyond wielding her Force powers. Then if they are neutral, as you say, no need for the deception, yes? Simply identify ourselves as the ISB, though perhaps make ourselves sound less important than we truly are? Even though her own "rank" within the ISB was relatively low, the astute among the Imperial bureaucracy would still probably mark the familial connection if she used her true name. So the daughter of the Grand Inquisitor and the ISB Deputy Director would turn a lot of heads and raise a lot of eyebrows, perhaps too many. After all, it's one thing for an agent to be sniffing around after a battle, it's another for the Deputy Director himself to be here... |
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Post by Reya Valindra on May 31, 2024 19:02:19 GMT -8
Reya noded. Of course he would know better, she just assumed he was still testing her and how she thought and would approach the coming mission. She accepted the falsified identification. "ISB, Inquisitor Subdivision, Donna Elish." She commited the false name to memory, hoping there wouldn't be much need for it. The less actual lying they had to do, the more likely the mission would succeed, for she knew that deception could be a valuable cloak, but if it started to fray, it could get snagged and unravel entirely. Then came word that the fleet was clearing out. The Emperor must be closing the noose around the Deep Core if whomever's fleet that was thought Kuat wasn't worth staying in orbit around. Either recalled for the defense or assault. But right now it didn't matter as much as this mission. That should make things a little easier... at least less dire if we have to make a run for it... hahaha Reya laughed nervously.
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Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110
Affiliation: First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Vidarr Saren on Jun 6, 2024 17:57:32 GMT -8
The pair of them exit the turbolift where a group of Deathtroopers awaited them. The black armored and green eyed Stormtroopers were the best of the Empire and their renewal, under the First Order, was a much relieved sight for Vidarr. He recalled these men and women as they stalked the corridors, keeping order on his fleet as it was at the point of mutiny during the harder times before the rise of the Diarchy. The encrypted voice of the Deathtrooper acknowledged the Deputy Director before they fell into their formation and continued to the hangar bay.
His own ID card was placed upon his person, the forgery that stated he was a certain Supervisor of the ISB, Maximus Verdarin, Bastion native and presently in command of a bridge of ISB Stormtroopers and Deathtroopers for the Empire. This gave him a greater degree of respect and leverage at least. A visiting supervisor certainly would send chills down the spine of any individual once the ID card was verified.
Remember, we are here to look for Erik. Our dossier on him shows that he oversees Section C-3 where they make small frigates.
A job that ensured Erik was detached, relatively unseen, and easily unknown. This man had secrets that he needed to know.
I will tell you this, Reya, there is something you should know about this man before you underestimate him.
The ramp onto the gunship was lowered as Vidarr turned to her.
He was a ghost during the First Galactic Empire and after. One of the secretive agents of the Empire that was good at his job. And, in the aftermath of Thrawn, perhaps even before that time, he may have worked with the Reborn Emperor... personally.
Erik may have been an old comrade, but Vidarr knew that he was as dangerous as any man could come in such a position.
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Post by Reya Valindra on Jul 6, 2024 10:51:57 GMT -8
Reya swallowed down the bit of mirth she was trying to bring to the proceedings, refocusing herself. Mentally recalling all the information she had internalized about Erik during the trip here. He would be a hard one to pin down, but once they had him it would be easy right? After all, he wouldn't, no, he couldn't be a match for the two of them... could he? There had been so little on him in the files, but what there had was, to Reya, relatively underwhelming compared to the higher ranks of the ISB and budding Inquisition. But that was no doubt on purpose. She nodded to Vidarr. Right. I'll do my best not to discount him too much. After all, surviving for as long as you and mother have has to mean something. But someone so skilled, overseeing frigates... he must be hiding something big staying so low down...
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Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110
Affiliation: First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Vidarr Saren on Oct 11, 2024 23:10:54 GMT -8
Grand Inquisitor Zariel Erik was safely secured upon the stealth vessel that remained outside the range of Kuat's planetary sensors. While being inquired, with Reya present, the ship moved to an area between the two moons of Kuat that was safely away from main traffic routes. There, after initial interrogation, the Deputy Director proceeded to contact the Grand Inquisitor on Ambria. Only when she was connected did Vidarr address her.Grand Inquisitor.Saluting his superior before motioning to the older Erik in the room.A successful mission. Although, Erik's actions did reveal he is a Dark Jedi, which did lead to an injured Death Trooper, I regret. However, he came willingly after allowing us to speak and I have begun the preliminary debriefings. I... think you should hear what has been mentioned thus far.From there, it was turned over to Erik who appeared to be pale-skinned and bald now. He had utilized the Force to alter the optical sensory function of people's eyes to hide his true form. Where once Vidarr had seen a man with grey hairs, there was now a cleanly shaved and milky-skinned human situated before him. With the stun cuffs still on, Erik would proceed to explain what he had identified as Project Tartarus.=Erik= Project Tartarus was intended to build several fleets around a handful of Super Dreadnoughts. It was commanded by the reborn Emperor about four years before the strike at Coruscant and the resulting Imperial Mutiny. Tartarus is also the name of the primary flagship of the late High Admiral Vicares, a man believed to be capable and loyal...Erik delved deeper into details from there. The project was situated at a handful of different systems and sectors, to keep the New Republic off the scent. A few times, Jedi and Republic agents almost uncovered something, but they were able to divert their attention to an Imperial Warlord faction and move operations elsewhere. Eventually, the project came to rest in orbit over Hallion, a planet in the Esstran Sector, the Sith Worlds. It seemed Vicares sought to enrich himself privately with the mining of obsidian from the planet's surface as the operation concluded itself. However, this next part was the kicker.=Erik= ...we lost contact with Tartarus and the fleets as Shadow Hand commenced. I was sent to check in on the fleet, only to find debris and an ongoing conflict.The next words said seemed to darken the mood of Erik.=Erik= Kir Kanos had gotten to them, Grand Inquisitor. A number of Dark Jedi, Stormtroopers, and Imperial personnel rose up against Vicares and thus an arm of the Emperor's plans was ruined by the efforts of that damnable traitor... I left with several missiles trailing me before I entered hyperspace.The rest became history, according to Erik, since the Emperor's efforts came to an end not long after. Erik then went into hiding and eventually ended up at Kuat Drive Yards as a dockyard overseer. Vidarr turned to the holoimage of the Grand Inquisitor who shimmered before the gathered trio and the pair of Death Trooper guards in the room. This information was exactly what Vidarr hoped to find.
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Grand Inquisitor Zariel
The First Order
Make no mistake, war is coming. With all its glory... and all its horror.
Posts: 115 
Affiliation: First Order
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Post by Grand Inquisitor Zariel on Oct 13, 2024 9:14:58 GMT -8
Zariel listened with her typical non-emotional demeanor. Her blue form flickered a couple times while silently allowing Erik to explain himself and fill them in on the history of Project Tartarus. As he finished and fell silent Zariel turned her holographic form to Vidarr. Well done, Deputy Director. Prepare to redeploy Taskforce Hercules to search the area for any remaining ships. We will have our prize and it will secure the Inquisitions position in the New Empire that will rise from the ashes of this civil war. She then turned back to face Erik. She gave a slight bow, a sign of respect to another darksider who had been loyal till their Emperor's final death. And you, Erik, when I first heard of you, I doubted your loyalty, but here I stand corrected. If you are tired of riding a desk, the Inquisitorius could always use someone of your experience. If you do not wish to accept this offer, then we will allow you to return to your life, or whatever you called living in hiding like that. But be warned, stay out of our way and cause us no trouble, otherwise your next visit from the ISB and Inquisitorius will end far more permanently. Once more the Grand Inquisitor turned her attention to Vidarr. Make sure to keep Reya with you, the more field work she gets to experience, the better. With that, and without waiting for Erik's reply, content that Vidarr would be able to handle it, she cut the communication.
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Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110
Affiliation: First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Vidarr Saren on Oct 13, 2024 10:45:05 GMT -8
There was a reflection on the face of Erik Jilarra, one of the many who had long survived the fall of the Old Empire but, unlike others, had done his best to blend into society. Not to hide in plain sight, but to ensure the secrets he knew would go to his grave if need be. The offer of the Grand Inquisitor was enticing. Though of older years, Erik was still a valuable antique, one with knowledge of the Old Empire's inner circles and the likes. After a moment, Erik looked at Zariel and bowed his head slightly.
=Erik=
I will your offer, Grand Inquisitor. I can, at least, be a good instructor-
Not a quick enough answer, considering the rather rapid actions of the Grand Inquisitor that led to her disconnecting from communication. It had been years since he had done any work for the Empire, let alone an Inquisitorius. Nonetheless, Erik would accept and do what he can.
=================
Vidarr turned to his superior and nodded his head. Once the holoimage faded, he turned to a guard in the room.
Uncuff Erik Jilarra and have the captain punch the Hallion sector. Relay orders for Commander Cardas to deploy Hercules II Squadron to the same sector.
With the orders done, the Imperial could now turn to Reya.
Know much about the Hallion sector?
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Post by Reya Valindra on Oct 13, 2024 19:08:09 GMT -8
Reya had been more than happy to wait outside during the interrogation and debriefing. She hadn't been sure how truely forthcoming Erik would be, and still wasn't quite ready to take an active hand in those sorts of things. She had witnessed how her mother attempted to "extract" information from Valon years ago, and she had found she didn't have the stomach for it. But when the doors hissed open and Vidarr was giving his orders, Reya let out a sigh, perhaps of relief? She was glad things didn't have to escalate, but Erik's true appearance gave her the creeps, like seeing pictures of Emperor Palpatine. Once everything was starting to get underway, and she had rejoined the Deputy Director at his side, she was quizzed yet again. She paused and thought for a moment, trying to recall anything. Finally she spoke after a couple seconds memory recall. All I remember from my studies is that it's a volcanic planet in Sith space. Not a big name like Korriban or Dromund Kaas.
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Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110
Affiliation: First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Vidarr Saren on Oct 18, 2024 23:22:17 GMT -8
A very obvious click against his teeth was heard as there was an annoyed look on Vidarr's face.
Always the fracking Esstran sector...
The Heart of the Sith, the Sith Worlds, and its dark reputation, the Esstran sector had always been a boogeyman sector, considering what did lurk there and what may linger. Stories, told over many generations, spoke of the Sith and their freaky experiments. It was the foundation of empires and still a trove of many secrets, still hidden to this day. At least, considering what they needed to find, Vidarr doubted they'd need to go planet side and risking finding some sort of Sith abomination.
We will have the firepower of the Hercules II squadron though.
Vidarr taps a console, bringing up the schematics of what they sought after. A thin dagger shaped monstrosity of a warship.
But if that Tartarus still has fangs, we will be surely screwed.
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Post by Reya Valindra on Oct 21, 2024 5:57:54 GMT -8
Reya grimaced as she started to think about the implication that they would need to go there themselves. But soon she let the expression drop and took a deep breath. Looking up at Vidarr she offered an idea of her own. Perhaps it would then be best for us to scout ahead with this stealth ship, make sure Hercules isn't going to be falling into a trap?
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Vidarr Saren
The First Order
Posts: 110
Affiliation: First Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Vidarr Saren on Oct 22, 2024 18:45:19 GMT -8
It would be easier to come in force, but Vidarr's fleet would likely not be able to stand against the dreadnought if it was still operational. Maybe they could even insert a strike team with this vessel and ensure the weapon systems and drives are offline for the arrival of his squadron. The Imperial contemplates for a moment.
With the two that belong to the squadron, we could drop in with over a hundred good men.
A quarter of Dark Troopers, a handful of Dark Jedi, and plenty of his best Stormtroopers.
Its the best we can do. We will make it happen then.
The Imperial turns, relaying new orders to the communications officer. Members of the 44th Regiment, the Alpha Guard, would form two elite strike teams of fifty-eight of their best and would be ready to board his vessel upon arrival. The other Indictor-class would join them upon departure. One would be configured to carry a pair of TIE/D Defender Elites and the other would bring in a duo of TIE/ph Phantoms. Vidarr wasn't going to chance this operation with the right preparations.
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