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Post by Whill Shaman Xixo on Apr 5, 2013 8:16:48 GMT -8
*Lianna City, or simply Lianna, was the capital city of Lianna. It was located across the Lona Cranith River from the city of Lola Curich.*
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169 
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
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Post by Mel Tervho on Nov 24, 2013 18:34:48 GMT -8
Mel's ears were still ringing as she stepped out into the streets of Lianna City following her meeting with the Liannan Army brass and the LIA. Her recent entanglement with the Commander in Chief while on loan to his operations team did not sit well with them. They had missions she could be sent on, instead the Brigadier General of her battalion called her a social climber without a shred of honor for her duty to the people of Lianna. That one stung a little. That was nothing compared to the meeting she had with the Intelligence director. She was supposed to get close to Taung, her alias was designed to be appealing to him but she was supposed to be able to keep her emotions in check and above all, she was not to be sexually involved with. She was supposed to be loyal to Lianna first, so that she could gather intel on Taung and his movements, something she had failed spectacularly at. She was positioned to take him down but now she had to be extricated.
She had been recalled to the main active forces planetside, her tenure with Taung's team ended until the director could decide her fate. She was grounded as well, passage off the surface to Sienar for retrieval of her things was denied and she headed up the street looking for a bar to have a couple in. She was on suspension until further notice until her full disciplinary action could be decided. Someone muttered the words court martial but she shook it off. Surely, they wouldn't be so heavy handed in their handling? Of course with the LIA involved, who knew?
She shook it off and dropped into a booth at the closest bar to the command HQ. There were uniforms everywhere, but her attention was on her predicament. There were eyes everywhere, it was the only reason she was being allowed to walk freely in Lianna City. She was forbidden to contact Taung, or Sienar and the brass had dispatched a lackey to the shipyards to retrieve her things to put back in her base housing a few blocks up the street. She ordered a triple tihaar and pondered her loneliness a little while longer. It was several tihaar later when she trudged out of the bar and to her old apartment in the on base housing. She was confused when she rounded the corner and saw Sep sitting on her doorstep looking concerned. He jumped to his feet when he saw Mel, looking unsteady and worried.
"Shit, Mel. Are you drunk?"
"Yup. Figured it was a good idea after the morning I had. What are you doing here?"
"Lianna Army Command personnel showed up at the yards, threw their weight around, took all your stuff and left. I couldn't get an answer out of anyone and Taung's still away at battle. What's going on Mel?"
She got really quiet, breathing deeply in and out. She couldn't tell him the truth why the army brass were practically beside themselves. Sep would just have to accept that she couldn't talk about it.
"Something came up, I'm being recalled back to LAC. On second thought, how did you get here?"
"I served. Taung picked me up after they let me out but I was honorable."
Mel waved at him to follow her in as she unlocked her apartment to a stack of boxes. The army was nothing if not efficient. Sep looked around at the stark facilities and shook his head.
"Boss is gonna throw a fit when he gets back. You're a great member of the team. He's gotta make them see things his way."
"It's outta my hands now, I was on loan from LAC. They need me here." She didn't mention the disciplinary action, or the court martial. Not that she could even to Taung. Nope, she had a career as a military sniper to cover her much more clandestine career as an LIA agent. This entanglement would compromise her ability to put her loyalty to Lianna first, as she was sent there to spy on him specifically. Sep looked at her as she leaned on the doorframe, her jacket open over her neatly pressed dress uniform. She looked like hell, and rather than pushing her for something she obviously didn't want to talk about, he decided it was best he leave. It was awkward and he still didn't understand why any of this was happening but he had an idea. Taung and Mel had gotten awful chummy. It hurt a little bit when he realized that Taung spent a night in her quarters on the ship, but he locked his jealousy down. He was a pro, so was she.
Alone in the night, Mel looked at the boxes and shook her head at them. They could wait. She felt empty on the inside. She cared about Taung and lied to him. It made her sick to her stomach and the tihaar came roaring back up her throat as she rushed to the head. Laying on the cold tile floor of the bathroom, she broke into tears and cried, the ache of having a intimate connection to someone for the first time in years only to have it ripped away because of duty.
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Mel Tervho on Nov 25, 2013 19:21:12 GMT -8
She was sitting in the kitchen drinking a glass of shig, the shadows stretching across the kitchen floor indicating that morning was fading onto noon. The door chime sounded and she sighed heavily. This was not going to be a pleasant visit. The door slid open to reveal a pert looking older woman that if anyone had seen her personal effects, would look like the photos of Mel's mother. She in fact was Mel's handler, and Mel gave her a hug in greet to as part of her cover before the pair of women were hidden from prying eyes by her door closing.
"Agent Myrnna, you're looking well."
Sati Myrnna was roughly 55, and a harsh mistress as far as trainers and handlers go. She backhanded Mel hard, knocking the young woman back into the door facing, her hand flying to her cheek to cover the stinging skin.
"Do you understand what you have done?"
"I did my job. I was supposed to get close to him anyway I could."
"Don't get glib with me, 6. I heard the transcript from yesterday. The director wants to burn you. What were you thinking? Do you remember how long we trained to get you this mission?"
"I remember."
Myrnna hit her again, her eyes wild, daring her to strike back. Her slaps evolved into heavy strikes as Myrnna took out her frustrations on her agent. Myrnna had been chewed out herself for 6's failure in remembering where her loyalties were supposed to be. 6 was the most promising agent in her stable, but now Myrnna's hope for advancement was dashed.
"Do you remember how many of our comrades died in Lola Curich? Do you remember who brought that destruction here? It wasn't us. This planet is not for them. Are you Liannan or are you Mandalorian whore?"
"I am Liannan!"
"I don't believe you. Who are you?"
"I am 6! I am Liannan."
Myrnna wasn't buying it. She battered 6 to the ground, taking the moment to pull out a tranquilizer syringe. 6 saw the flash of the needle and immediately she moved to sweep Myrnna's legs. The older woman was rocked to the ground, the syringe rolling off. Myrnna scrambled for it but 6 straddled her and they rolled around, hands at each other's throats. Myrnna's fingers closed around the syringe and brought it at 6's side, but 6 was stronger and she grabbed Myrnna's forearms around to press them down towards her chest, their arms shaking from the strain. 6 won the scuffle, the needle sinking into Myrnna's chest and 6 shoving the plunger down.
Myrnna was out cold before 6 could get off the floor. She looked around, her chest heaving. She had to disappear. Now. She headed back to the kitchen, digging around for the gas lines to the appliances. She perforated the gas line, letting the gas seap into the kitchen, as Mel changed her clothes and grabbed a few things to get out of there. She checked Myrnna's pulse. Steady. 6 pulled her up into a chair and cranked her mouth open, using a set of pliers, she started to extract all of her teeth. Myrnna didn't stir much in her drug induced coma. Teeth collected, 6 stashed them in her bag and let the blood run down her throat.
6 set up a makeshift bomb with some household items shoved into her microwave oven and donned a change of clothes. She slipped out, leaving Lola in the apartment. The rifle was a loss but it mattered little if she wanted to survive. She was off the base by the time the kitchen exploded, flames shooting into the skies of Lianna City. She watched through sun glasses, a blonde wig on her head and demure clothing. She dropped a small packet to the LIA director in a postal box on the corner. She was certain that the teeth in the package would send the message she needed it to but 6 was done taking orders. It was time for her to have a life of her own.
She crossed the street and disappeared into the crowds of people who rushed out to see the burning building up the street a ways. 6 had a pocket full of money, contacts and a decent idea of how to get Taung's attention.
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Mel Tervho on Nov 26, 2013 13:05:21 GMT -8
6 hated the smell of the safehouse, near a slaughterhouse on the outskirts of town. The place was abandoned, and she used no power to draw attention to herself. The blond wig had been shed, her outer coat with it as she moved through the crowds, blending with the crowds in plain sight. She ducked into a seedy bar for a while, laying low and watching the footage of the explosion on the news until night fell and she could sneak into the house after dark, heading down to the basement where she could listen for movement. She checked her guns, her papers and her options.
She had to get to Taung but any attempt to contact him through normal channels would lead to her. They knew that she would try to contact him so she had to stay 1 step ahead of them. She snuck out of the safehouse in the early dawn hours, a plan laid out. It was risky though. She had to be careful. By now, the LIA would have agents out looking for her. She needed to get off Lianna. She needed a new identity. She needed a friend. She headed for the slums and the criminals in the lower west section of Lianna City. She had a couple contacts that could be helpful in a pinch.
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Mel Tervho on Nov 27, 2013 21:57:23 GMT -8
Colonel Larson raced down the carpeted hallway into the office of General Cameron without so much as a second glance to the secretary outside. The general looked up in shock, but the seriousness of Larson's face made him forget formalities. He motioned for Larson to close the door. Larson wasted no time in securing the office then blurting out the news.
"Taung's on his way."
The general jumped to his feet, terror showing in his eyes. The wheels turned for a moment, then he hit the comlink. It beeped softly twice before the person on the other end answered. Cameron relayed the message to Director Roberts and silence engulfed the room.
"Understood. I'll meet you there."
Larson shook his head at Cameron, his hands clenched into fists at his side.
"He's going to get us killed."
The general nodded and shooed the colonel out of his office. The LIA director was on his way and soon, so would Taung. This was not going to be a pleasant conversation.
Director Roberts looked at the assortment of bloody teeth in an envelope on his desk, delivered this afternoon. The dental records would be a match to Myrnna, that much he knew already. He would have to play this game smart. Time to implement a burn on 6 and flush her out of hiding. But first, Taung.
He headed over to LAC, a dossier of intel he had pulled together on 6. He wondered if the Mandalorian liked to play sabacc.
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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 Nov 30, 2013 15:38:23 GMT -8
Taung stepped out of the shuttle and headed straight for the sliding door. His step told everyone that he was going to have his way around here, and it wasnt going to be a discussion. His body was tilted slightly forwards, his head lowered slightly as it ticked back and forth fractionally, missing nothing. His gray camouflage armor had fresh nicks, carbon scouring, and ash streaked on it from battle, his belt spat clearly had new tears in the heavy material and it smelled of smoke and used explosives and ozone from an environment of heavy energy weapon use.
The clean white hallway echoed slightly with the deceptively quiet sound of his armored combat boots, as he entered General Carmeron's outer office Colonel Larson started to get to his feet but froze when shifted his helmet sharply at him in a look that clearly meant 'Don't think about it, you don't want to be part of this' as he strode past the desk, his Nynir Payload Weapon swinging gently at his side and a new lightsaber hanging off his belt.
Taung shoved the heavy door aside with ease using more strength than was required, the door making a solid thump as it the door stops on the inside of the office hard enough that it bounced back, in time to catch Taung's returning hand, slamming it shut as his eyes instantly took in the fact that Director Roberts, head of Liannan Intelligence was also in the room. Something wasnt right, it didnt take a director of intelligence to tell him that there was an accident. Whatever story was about to come out, it was more than likely a lie. May as well put them on edge to see if they stumbled on anything.
He stopped when he was close enough to the desk to lean down easily on, ignoring the chairs in the room and stopping fast enough to let the barrel of his rifle, and the free swinging lightsaber smack with solid metal sounds into the heavy wooden desks as Cameron scrambled to his feet and Roberts turned from the window. He didnt need a preamble. It was obvious why he was here.
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Mel Tervho on Nov 30, 2013 23:26:26 GMT -8
It had taken at least a day of tracking the little shit down in holonet cafes to find a safe enough route to contact him. He set the meet up at an old warehouse by the river, she merely needed to show up. Palex Neeb was a slicer, best slicer 6 had ever come across. She had come across his handiwork on a previous mission, about 5 years before when she caught him hacking a backdoor through Liannan government servers. She should have eliminated him, but experience and her handler told her she never knew when she might need someone off the grid. Palex was that guy. But he wasn't happy to have been found so easily again. Palex charged a hefty fee just to come and 6 was dismayed to see he brought muscle with him. 6 was in no mood to fuss around, a large rucksack at her feet. She unholstered a DL-44 and fired two shots at the feet of the hulking man trying his best to look menacing.
"Lose the dolt. I have no patience and even less time."
A tense exchange followed while Palex and his goon talked it over and the shaken on sulked out, looking at the tall, thin woman like he had a chance. Palex walked over, shaking his head.
"I thought better of you. What do you want?"
6 pulled out a bit of filmsy and held it to him. There was no expression on her face as he took it and mulled it over.
"I need you to hack a couple Mando buckets, I need audio and the ability to pass along printed messages. Make sure they originate from the other frequency. Can you do it?"
"Sure, but you have to tell me why."
"They want me dead, you sure you want to know?"
Palex seemed to swallow hard but nod his head at her.
"He was a mark. I said no. Home office doesn't take no for an answer."
"Damn. So they after you for standing up?"
"Looks that way."
"I'll do it, but you gotta do something for me."
6 raised an eyebrow and considered threatening him but she kept her cool. "What? I just told you why."
"No, I'm serious. I want a ticket off here. Get me off Lianna, you're set."
"You and me both." She sighed as she considered his request. "Fine, just get that going. I need the connection now, before it's too late."
He giggled, leading her out to a waiting speeder that carried them back to his hideout, his computer equipment up and ready to go. It didn't take him long before he had the helmet frequencies jacked. 6 watched the scenes out of the visors, identifying immediately who was who. Taung was in the office with the Director and Gen. Cameron. Sep and Einen were in a ship. Triangulation of the signal put them all in Lianna City. This might be even easier than she thought. She had Palex hack Einen too, just for good measure. "Jam Taung. Route the other two through this frequency to me. It's show time."
Sep and Einen were more than a little pissed that they were left to sit in the hangar with the shuttle while Taung got answers about Mel's death. Nothing smelled right about any of this, but he couldn't quite prove it from inside the hangar. They sat in the cockpit, stewing about everything when Sep's visor flashed a message across his HUD. It was text only, looked like Taung didn't want to betray his thoughts to the brass in the meeting by talking.
Something doesn't add up here. You both head to her apartment. Look around and poke the investigators.
"About damn time. Let's roll."
Einen didn't need to be told twice. They both checked their weapons and Sep lead Einen towards her ruined apartment, not really sure he wanted to see where the sniper had met her death.
General Cameron looked over to the Director nervous as Taung stood there, looking threatening and fresh from battle. He swallowed hard, glancing to Roberts, who was entirely too cool about the anger he could feel radiating from Taung. Cameron inhaled sharply and began to speak.
"Sir, as you know, Captain Mel Tervho was a Liannan Army sniper on loan to your team to fill a vacancy. You took her offworld for an extended period. Shortly after you left, we began to suspect that all was not as it seemed. Once she returned, we requested, per usual protocols, that she come in a for a mission debriefing to ascertain that her particular skill set was beneficial to your mission. When we questioned her regarding the discrepancies in her transfer paperwork, she insisted there must be a mistake, but she became agitated when pressed. We grounded her while we consulted with Liannan Intelligence. Unfortunately, the next day, while under surveillance, her apartment exploded after she received a visit from what our records who to be her mother. We are now learning that we were mistaken about her and her supposed death. She was not an army transfer from Mandalore. She wa-"
"An assassin." Roberts finished his sentence, laying the dossier in his hand on the desk. "We couldn't prove it until now. The woman who visited her just before the explosion was known as Sati Myrnna, a former assassin and handler with ties to a shadowy Sith government. We think she came to eliminate Tervho as her cover was failing. It looks like Tervho killed Myrnna and fled, staging the explosion to cover her tracks as well as removing Myrnna's teeth to make identification difficult. From what we have been able to gather from our sources both here and off world, Tervho was responsible for the opening on your team, having eliminated your sniper in order to get the assignment for herself. We think her objective was to get close to you to gather intell and eventually eliminate you. As of right now, she think she is still somewhere on Lianna, plotting how to complete her mission and kill you."
6 was just putting the finishing touches on her new disguise, a buy'ce fitted over her head as she listened to the pack of lies laid bare for Taung. She wanted to scream at him that it was all lies, but hopefully, she'd be able to tell Taung that in person. She tried out the modulated vocoder on her helmet. Perfect. It sounded nearly identical to the ones in Sep's helmet and Taung's. She could pass muster if she needed, she was wearing a padded duplicate of Sep's beskar'gam. At glance, she looked just like Sep, maybe just slouching a bit. She gave Palex a last thumbs up before she disappeared out of his place, moving towards the hangar bay where Taung's shuttle was sitting without Sep and Einen. She would be able to send them on wild chases as long as Taung felt dissatisfied enough with the answers he was giving to get back to the shuttle and head back to Sienar.
Sep and Einen were still sifting through the crowds of people at the crime scene, when 6 stalked onto the shuttle and took Sep's place at the yoke, and started to wait patiently, her eyes narrowed as she listened to the men she used to work for issue a burn notice to Taung. She always knew this was how the game was played but it did not sit any better with her.
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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 Dec 1, 2013 16:47:19 GMT -8
Taung couldnt believe what he had just heard come out of their mouths. Good thing he was expecting lies. His voice came out slowly with an edge of ice in it, even through the vocorder.
So you're telling me, that you assigned a sniper to a black ops unit, while you were investigating her as an Imperial assassin, a spy, and you did so without running a full background check as is standard procedure, something even as simple as going back and speaking with previous commanding officers and family and friends. Then to top it off...you blatently alert the target of your investigation, but don't inform her commanding officer...me... So you have managed to fail in doing anything correctly, but you expect me to believe that you have somehow identified an assassin and handler in record time without dental records and discover her true identity in the meantime all on your own. Which tall tale am I supposed to believe? That you are excellent at what you do? Or incompetent.
Taung didnt tell either of them that he had formed the team...he had not been simply replacing a sniper. It was the noose that they had already stuck their heads through.
What I am hearing is that I clearly need to bring in some of my people and keep a closer eye on both of you and promote a bit more effectiveness....let alone efficiency.
He turned and headed for the door, yanking it open and stepping out, speaking loud enough to be heard over his shoulder.
Expect my people. I expect that you'll stay out of their way.
He didnt bother to close the door, simply letting it stand open as he stalked back to the landing pad. He would contact Mandalore of course, and get DNA samples from immediate family, and he was pretty sure that he could come up with a hair from Mel from either the ship they had used or in her topside apartment somewhere, or even from her downside apartment. If the DNA was a match...well the noose would have gone tight and he would have to purge the top and set the two organizations in line. He had sat down, his mind running through how much of Liannan Intelligence and the upper echelons of the Liannan Military that he might have to rebuild, when the alarm bells in his head screamed at him that Einen wasnt onboard.
Sep...where is Einen?
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Mel Tervho on Dec 1, 2013 20:16:53 GMT -8
6 punched the buttons and flipped the switches with the aplomb of Sep, as Taung slid into a seat in the cockpit of the shuttle. The ramp closed, and the shuttle lifted off the ground, sealing 6 and Taung into together. She flicked on the vocoder and answered him as quickly as possible.
Said something doesn't fit. He wanted to look at her place, I'll be back for him.
The shuttle rose from the surface, clearing Lianna City as they proceeded in silence. About 10 minutes up, 6 reached over and overloaded the power circuits, scrambling the electrical systems. The shuttle was plunged into darkness, with no back up power. 6 reached up and removed the helmet slowly, looking at him with a sad expression. She had no idea how this conversation was going to go, but it was best to get it over with.
"Now that we're alone, we need to talk."
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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 Dec 1, 2013 20:32:35 GMT -8
Taung wasnt too surprised when it turned out to be Mel in Sep's clothing as it were. He reached up and pulled his helmet off.
"I suspect we do."
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Mel Tervho on Dec 1, 2013 21:09:01 GMT -8
Her breath caught in her throat as he looked at her, lit only by the ambient light coming through the windscreen. He looked like hell and his armor was scratched and burned from battle on Carida. She set the helmet on the floor, the cockpit chair swiveling towards him so he could see her hands and the fact that she was unarmed. Most likely. She took a deep breath and started.
"I had someone hack your helmet, so I know what Cameron and Roberts said. They didn't completely lie to you. I am an assassin. But I am not from a foreign power. I am LIA Asset 4357, designated as 6 by my former handler Sati Myrnna. I was ordered to arrange the speeder accident that killed Cord, and then Cameron and the LIA put me into the ranks and arranged me to get to the point where you would select me for your team. My assignment was to surveil you, collect information and then at the proper time, eliminate you. You were just given a burn notice, official word not to trust me, and I don't blame you if you don't. I wouldn't trust me either. Before you ask, Sep and Einen are fine. I dispatched them orders from you to poke around the explosion and talk to the authorities."
She folded her hands in her lap, unsure of her wording before she pushed through the silence and carried on. If she was going to confess, she would confess to everything.
"As you can see, I disagreed with my orders. The stories about my life, the family on Mandalore, almost everything was my alias. When you looked in my eyes and told me I needed hope, you were right. I don't have a name, free will or a purpose in this galaxy except to be the instrument of death for the Agency. They own me and I had no hope until you. I want my freedom and I am willing to die to break their precious house of secrets open. the only question I have is, will you help me bring them down?"
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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 Dec 2, 2013 18:09:22 GMT -8
Taung took in what she said. She admitted that she was a trained killer, not just a sniper, but someone who was trained from childhood to be a living weapon, an expendable living weapon, worth nothing more than a pet, and he had been her target. He briefly wondered in silence what would have happened had they not gotten together, or rather had she decided to carry out her orders, the thought chilled him slightly at how things might have changed. He had no reason to doubt her word, at least she had not been trying to lie to him like Cameron and Roberts had. It was clear that at least Roberts was plotting to kill him, how much Cameron was in on it or knew the whole story was unknown, but he could not allow them to be standing at his back. The question was simple really, did he trust Mel...six...43...whatever or did he not? He took another breath and decided that he did. She could have killed him at any time earlier, and even now she could have killed him by simply blowing up the shuttle. It was slightly disturbing that she had managed to hack into his helmet, but up until then he didnt know that she was alive and she did know the frequencies and encryption.
He brought his head up to look into her eyes, the starlight and reflections from the yards glinting off her cool blue eyes.
"Yes. How many are involved?"
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Mel Tervho on Dec 2, 2013 19:20:49 GMT -8
"Most of Liannan Intelligence and certain army officials although I only know of Cameron and a Colonel Larson off the top of my head. I'm sure it goes deeper but I was not privy to that level of intel."
She got quiet a moment as she considered another point, something probably left for another time, but considering what she asked him to do, the possibility of having another chance was slim to none. She licked her lips, hesitating to breath or speak as she wrestled with the thought in her mind. She closed her eyes, a momentary shot of courage hidden from his silver flecked eyes. She spit it out unceremoniously, taking what solace she could that she could not see the look on his face when she spoke.
"Taung, the night we you held me..." She paused, almost unable to continue but she mustered the strength to go on. "...and before you left for battle. That wasn't part of my mission."
She opened her eyes, a bit stricken but her cheek flushed with emotion. "Those were the only parts of my life that have any meaning to them. Whatever happens next, I want you to know that part wasn't a lie."
She swiveled the chair back around, breathing out heavily as she gripped the yoke, unsure she could look at him anymore. Everything between them had changed and she did not venture to hope that there was anything left between them but the destruction of the LIA and the corrupt LAC personnel. After that, if she was lucky, he would give her a good death for Cord's. A life for a life.
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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 Dec 2, 2013 19:46:30 GMT -8
A clean house then, and ripping most of the army brass down far enough to scare the rest of them in line. But right now, that wasnt important. He reached over and took her hands off the yoke and gently pulled her around to face him, his hands were shaking slightly. He looked into her eyes, making sure that she too, was looking into his. There was a slight quake in his voice when he found it.
"You...terrified me. When they told me you were dead. It felt like my world came crashing down again. Like luck or the Force simply decided that I wasnt worth the small amount of happiness and contentment in life that I have tried so hard to find. I don't want to feel that again. Ever. Don't scare me like that again!"
He leaned forwards and kissed her hard, not caring that the ship was simply sitting in space.
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Mel Tervho on Dec 2, 2013 21:24:30 GMT -8
His hands in hers melted the frosty dam that held back her tears back. They streaked down her cheeks as he pressed his lips to hers. She reached for him with hands that were just as urgent, lifting both of them out of the seats in a tight embrace. She kissed him back just as deeply, scared too that the LIA had robbed her of ever having a semblance of a normal life. Her fingers intertwined in his hair, her arms wrapped around his neck, a desperate need to hold him and know for a moment that everything between them was alright. When the kiss finally broke, she hugged him to her, her cheek resting on his shoulder, sniffling quietly. "You're not the only one who was scared."
She brought her hands to his cheeks, cupping his face in her hands, trembling trying to figure out what they had to do next. "What are we going to do? They will stop at nothing to kill me now. If I know them, they will be sending the stable out after me. You're not safe as long as the Agency is calling the shots. I can draw the stables after me, leaving you free to take down the rest."
It was a suicide mission, but she wasn't going to tell him that. She was far too used to working alone with the threat of death hanging over her head to think any other way.
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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 Dec 7, 2013 17:42:27 GMT -8
Taung's mind started working again. A new enemy on a new front. One that liked to remain invisible. He couldnt continue his military campaign and fight a shadow war at the same time. He didnt have time to plan and execute the infinitely complicated Battle at Kuat and ferret out all those who were out to stab him in the back. Kuat was everything. Kuat meant the end of the war, Kuat would dictate who had the power, to keep a delicately balanced peace through the ability to not make war any further. An idea hatched in his mind. It was intricate, daring, a terrible risk but for un-dreamed of potential and rewards. It would involve doing something he never thought he would contemplate. His eyes cleared as they found hers again.
"How much do you trust me?"
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
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Post by Mel Tervho on Dec 7, 2013 17:56:38 GMT -8
"Considering that I did all this with the understanding that you could possibly kill me on the spot, a prospect that could still occur, I'd say I trust you. What did you have in mind?"
She looked a little worried, searching his eyes for an answer as to what he might be thinking.
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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 Dec 7, 2013 18:12:50 GMT -8
"You said that they would always come after me. I can't fight two battles at the same time. The next battle in the war is too close, too important to put off or be distracted from. This battle will end the war and too many things can go wrong to not devote my complete attention to it. All the fleets from all sides in the war must be crippled in order for peace to happen, for the war to end sooner than it would. That was my plan, but now I couldnt come home and not be in jeopardy...but...if I disappeared, and joined Dark Tide, take Lianna over to them, and come back in disguise...those in the Intelligence just might fall all over themselves trying to show how they were working for the removal of me all along in order to court favor. There arent many who would willingly risk having their minds ripped open by a Sith Inquisitor, no matter their training. They may quite happily hand over all the information on who is involved. And if they didnt, I would be able to have the quite time necessary to root them out. You know the who's, more or less. But more importantly the methods, and I have the hammer. That way I would also be able to keep a close eye on Dark Tide from within their own ranks, and ensure that they never launch an attack against the Mandalorians without a long lead time, even if it can't be derailed completely. "
He blinked slowly as his eyes came back into focus.
"If the first part doesnt work out...well I won't have to worry about getting stabbed in the back. If it means we don't have to look over our shoulders and fear for each other every time we are out of each others arms. I'm willing to..."
His mind hadnt been dwelling only on Mel...Six...they'd have to sort that out somehow, but he had thought of Gaeza too. There would be a higher risk of her being detected by the Sith, but with the holocrons that he had pillaged from the Jedi Base on Carida, he had already given her a head start on learning to control her powers and insulate herself from them. And if he were left alone on Lianna without some Force User oversight breathing down his neck, they would never think to look for Force Users here, at least as far as ferreting out Jetiise infiltrators or rouge Siit. He had already shown he was capable of making Lianna a lethal place for forces, Force lead or not, if he had a mind to. Even if he didnt make it, she would be spirited away by one of his commando teams to some planet to grow up in peace...he hoped. The life that he had wished for but so far hadnt recieved. Until that glimmer was revived by Mel...Six, he corrected himself, and he wasnt about to give it up, and whoever was going to try to take that chance from him, was going to have a bit taken from them even if they succeeded.
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Mel Tervho
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 169
Affiliation: Vegemite Enclave
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Mel Tervho on Dec 7, 2013 19:59:39 GMT -8
"But I don't know the who's. We were compartmentalized for our safety and everyone else's. I know my stable only. There should be three others. Each stable has a handler and three agents. There are two more agents in my stable. I know their faces and MO. Regime change or not, I am still a marked woman. They will kill me for my betrayal no matter what, it's the principle of the thing."
She wasn't seeing a way out of this for her, at least. But if her death would safeguard his life, it was a price she was willing to pay. "I can take out as many as I can. It will give you the best chance after the battle."
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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 Dec 7, 2013 20:15:35 GMT -8
Taung thought for a moment and came to the only logical conclusion.
"New identities then. And still wiping them out somehow. No chances. I would prefer you to wait until I am around to help though. I don't want to lose you."
Taung thought for a moment before continuing.
"I should probably tell you then that I blew up two planets. Since we are starting over and being completely honest with each other."
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