[SWAW] New Star Razing (27)

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    The agreement to work on a tiara gets a little hop from Squall and ze finally slips zir arms off you, stepping back when you ask about the engines, "I've nearly finished them, sir. Had to cannibalize the A-Wing and scrounge for parts with the crew. The thing is... the way they failed seems weird to me. Mikka doesn't agree with me, but I think there was a two-step process in taking them down. The first resulted from shots fired, the second looks like an internal explosion. I think we have a saboteur on board, sir."
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    That is not good to hear. Turning to include Mikka in my look, I say, "When the engines are fixed, write up a report, then I'll meet with you and Mikka. In the meantime, I'll try to increase security as subtly as I can."
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    "Should be done in half an hour. Maybe less." Squall says as ze skips back to the work. Mikka gives you a nod, but there's this look like he's not sure if he agrees with this sabotage idea.

    Anything else before you come out of hyperspace?
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    I need to brief the staff, make sure everything's in place to slave the convoy's navigation to ours. I'll do the talking this time, since we're not dealing directly with other Imperial military. Just in case, I'll rustle up a uniform in my size and see if I can find some Captain's pips.
  • You find a nice, clean uni that fits like a glove. When you come on the bridge, the stand at attention is crisper than before. Seki comes over, pulls you aside for a moment.

    Cmdr_Seki_header
    Commander Seki hands you a small lacquered wooden box. When you open it, there are captain's pips inside. He clears his throat, "Dhas Vedij gave them to me before he left. He said he wouldn't need them... where he was going. He was practical that way." Seki's maintaining the stiff upper lip customary for Imperial officers.

    Just after you complete the look, Ensign Leex states, "T-minus five until we're out of hyperspace, sir."

    Five tiny seconds later, you come out of hyperspace. There are eight freighters of different designs sitting idle, lights on. Waiting. Waiting for an escort. Ensign Leex waits for your command to engage sub-light engines. Squall and Mikka both gave it a thumbs up, but you never know...
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    "Ensign Leex, engage sub-lights. Comms, general hail to the convoy, broadcasting our bonafides."
  • The gentle push of the sublight engines engaging is a relief. Leex brings up the comms, gives you a nod when all the ships are patched in.
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    I keep my voice flat, dispassionate, as I play my hand. "Merchant vessels, this is the Imperial Frigate Far Orbit. There has been a change in parameters. The Empire requires that your supplies be delivered directly to the fleet, which is currently on operations. For this reason, we cannot disclose the coordinates to you directly. We are standing by to have you slave your navigation or astromechs to us. Once that is complete, we will jump to the destination together."
  • Ladro, that's a very convincing play. I'm giving you a +1, just because the Empire is known to do this kind of stuff lately, and nobody out here suspects the Far Orbit.

    I'd like to see you Apply Leverage here, to see how well they follow your lead.
  • Apply Leverage (with +1)

    (Rolled: 2d6+4. Rolls: 6, 6. Total: 16)
  • The captains of eight freighters sign in, acknowledging the command. The entire convoy is ready and follow your directive and within half an hour, their hyperdrives are slaved to yours. Commander Seki confirms the coordinates personally.

    Ensign Leex waits for the command.
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    I take a deep breath and then tell the Ensign to engage hyperdrives. I still sort of miss pushing the button, but command comes with sacrifices.
  • Your convoy jumps to Aduba-3. Like lambs to a slaughter, they all follow you.

    When you come out of hyperspace, the Alliance fleet is there, and they quickly move towards you, bringing tractor beams online. These freighters are caught. Ensign Leex notifies you that all the captains are pinging your transmission codes, begging for direction, for protection.

    What do you do?
  • edited June 2015
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    I don't feel an ounce of remorse. These people won't be hurt and they won't be imprisoned. And I didn't say which fleet they were being delivered to, technically. I get back on comms to the merchant ships. "Attention, merchant ships. Thank you for your cooperation. You are now under the authority of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Do not resist or offer violence, and you will be treated fairly and returned to Imperial space."
  • One freighter, a blocky merchant vessel with low armament, but some decent speed, tries to make a run for it, turning their ship and trying for a hole in the fleet.

    Cmdr_Seki_header
    "We can fire a warning shot, or send our fighters to stop them. Orders, sir?"
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    "Both. Warning shot and deploy fighters immediately. Engagement is to disable, not to kill."
  • Let's see if your crew acts appropriately under pressure here.
  • Act Under Pressure

    (Rolled: 2d6+3. Rolls: 1, 5. Total: 9)
  • edited June 2015
    After a pair of warning shots, the freighter continues evasive maneuvers. It may get into hyperspace before fighters get out there. Seki orders a disabling shot. Your frigate takes careful aim, firing to disable the engines. The turbolasers fire through space and connect, but the freighter tries to bank, too late. The second set of lasers arc across the bow of the ship and tear through a section of the hull. It's disabled, but Leex reports that the damage sustained looks severe.

    Cmdr_Seki_header
    "You did warn them, sir." Seki says in a tone that sounds helpful.

    The captain of the Flashing Dawn, the freighter now disabled, comms that he surrenders. X-Wings streak out of your hangars to ensure they are secured.

    Anything more you'd like to do before the Alliance begins the process of stripping down the convoy?
  • edited June 2015
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    As long as everything's under control, I will thank the current bridge crew for their good work and comm Squall and Mikka for the report on a saboteur. I trust Mikka, but I trust Squally. Need some sleep soon, but I feel I need to get this briefing in first. Also, I invite Seki along for the ride.
  • Squall and Mikka head up to Command Deck and Seki follows you down the hall on Deck 8 to one of the Briefing Rooms. Squall hands a datapad to you as soon as ze enters, showing the data on the engines. Ze took pictures of the scoring, the impact points.
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    I take a look at the datapad, scan the numbers and look close at the images. "First, Squall, tell me what I'm looking at, and how you drew the conclusion that it means sabotage."
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    Squall works over the report, spews some gibberish and techspeak, then finishes with, "See how that metal's warped? It was hit twice, once from outside, the other, later, from inside. A second explosion did it."

    Mikka_header
    Calmly, with obvious respect and care for Squall, but nonetheless very definite, Mikka says, "This is not a sabotage, Squall, Captain. I see the abnormalities ze pointed out, but it only happened on the third engine. How did the other three go down? It was a big explosion on the outer hull, I've seen weirder things."

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    A little flustered, Squall responds, "The engines were chained to that engine, it was the master. Stupid design flaw, I'll fix it, but it cost us, and whoever set the explosion knew that!" Mikka shakes his head, disappointed in what seems obviously a waste of time to him.
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    "I can't judge the reality of the situation for myself, obviously, which is why I am so grateful to have bigger brains in the room. Mikka, what's your degree of certainty that Squall is wrong? I'm not going to ask you to prove a negative, just want to know how strongly you feel about this."
  • Mikka_header
    Mikka takes a breath, smacks his lips once, then answers, "I'd say there's maybe a 10% percent of that being the case. The thing is... what if it is? Does that mean some of the mutineers are still working for the Empire? Does it mean the criminals this ship picked up a few weeks ago are? And if you have to dig into them, then you'll have to peek at the Rebellion troops, just to be fair. All when you've just landed the biggest haul these people have had in their lives. Why would they do that, Captain? It doesn't make any sense."
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    I nod. "Thank you both." I look at both engineers. "I have what I need to make my decision. Sergeant Onondb, you're dismissed, and Mr. Reekeene, please excuse Commander Seki and me so we can confer."

    I don't want to offend Mikka by ignoring his hard-won experience, but my gut tells me to trust Squall. And if ze is going to take over Engineering, ze needs to know that I trust zir. I want to talk this over with someone who doesn't have an oar in the water.
  • Squall nods, accepting your order, but not confident that you're on zir side. Mikka rises and leaves, he's offered his information, it doesn't seem like he cares which way you decide on it. They both leave. Commander Seki looks at you, giving you the chance to speak first, of course.
  • edited June 2015
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    "Commander, I don't want to think that we have a saboteur on board, but frankly, neither of us knows everyone here. Me least of all. I think the potential downside of dismissing Squall's conclusion is significant, though. I'd like your thoughts."
  • Cmdr_Seki_header
    Commander Seki answers in his normal clipped tone, "I know you can vouch for the recruits you saved and Lens' people. I assure you that those of us who left the Empire are bonafide. We obviously took on a saboteur among the riff raff we picked up at that spaceport. I think we should launch an investigation immediately."
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    I shake my head. "Commander, there is no possible way you can vouch for every one of the nearly 400 former Imperials on this ship, is there? I need you to break your habit of prejudgement and actually think like an officer of this ship, with this crew. Consider Mikka's points, which are valid. Why would one of the 'riff-raff' have any reason to sabotage us? The logical place to look is at former Imperials who stayed aboard, no? Who is more likely to have sympathy for the Empire?"

    I meet his eyes for a long while.
  • Cmdr_Seki_header
    That takes him aback slightly. He purses his lips, a response forming immediately. Instead, though, he sinks back in his seat. Not depressed, just stops himself, thinks it through. He breaks eye contact first. "Yes, sir. I'll meet with sector heads and begin an investigation immediately."
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    I put out a comm summons for Major Willak, wait for him to show up.

    In the meantime, "I think an established Alliance officer is a better choice to lead the investigation. And I need this done under the table. Cet is arrogant, but capable. Agreed?"
  • Cmdr_Seki_header
    There is a pregnant pause as Seki considers that. He finally answers simply, "Agreed, sir."

    After a few minutes, Cet Willak comes into the briefing room, walking briskly.

    Major_Willak_header
    "Captain Vos. Commander Seki." He stands at attention, not taking a seat, awaiting your orders.
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    I see his posture, the rigidity of it, and wonder if he has the subtlety I need, but continue. "Please have a seat." Once he does, I continue. "Major, there is a non-trivial chance that we have a saboteur aboard the Far Orbit. If I were to task you to investigate this possibility in the least... disruptive way possible, and specifically require you to keep an open mind, what would your approach be?"
  • Major_Willak_header
    Cet has a seat when you direct him to it. He looks at you, then Seki and back. "My approach would be to work with the evidence at hand, find who has access to those points, research who is the highest risk based on their history and most recent activity, then question them."
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    I inwardly sigh. I need to find that rarest of animals: someone sneaky that I can trust. Still, the needs of the moment. "Major Willak, I would like for you to conduct this investigation. Be as subtle as you can manage, and report back regularly, especially before you start actually questioning potential suspects. If you find any." I pause. "There's a decent chance that this is all nothing, Major, and I don't want to stir things up needlessly."
  • Major_Willak_header
    Major Willak ducks his head in a nod. "Yes, sir. I'll get right on it." He looks at you now, not Seki. "Can you provide me with the details of what is, ah, expected to have happened, sir?" He'll take the datapad and leave, if that's what you hand over.
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    I hand Cet the datapad and, after he leaves, lean back in my chair, looking tiredly at Seki. Does he look as tired as I feel?
  • Seki looks quite fresh, Ladro. Evidently he didn't kriff a frisky Cathar during his downtime.

    Cmdr_Seki_header
    "Are you alright, sir?" Seki asks after a long pause.
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    I smile. "I'm fine, Commander. Just need some sleep. I'll be in my quarters, don't hesitate to wake me if I'm needed."
  • Seki nods, then awaits for you to dismiss him. Afterwards, the walk to your quarters seems to take forever.

    Sleep comes quickly.

    --End Scene--
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