Chapter 69 - Interlude: Intelligence woes I (1/2)
Borealis
Coruscant
When most people imagine clandestine meetings, they think about dingy bars, dark corners or abandoned warehouses. Perhaps secure rooms deep in the bowels of an intelligence agency or a ship in space. That perception wasn't entirely wrong. When he was an active agent, Marik Yle had his share of escapades, bar crawls and skulking through places where most civilians would fear to tread.
Even with all the responsibilities and headaches attached to his new job, he really didn't miss the bad old days. Instead of being stuck in the back of a cut-throat infested drinking hole and left wondering if the patrons would decide to start a fight and potentially blow up his op, nowadays Marik dined in the private rooms of Coruscant's best restaurants. Places like the Borealis offered discretion and an excellent menu. Not to mention that this was practically the SIB's backyard and as secure as it could get.
Marik sat in small, tastefully decorated room with a décor that radiated class. The place was shielded so clients could talk privately – away from pesky reporters and competitors - and was swept by Yle's people before he got in. Even better, as far as anyone was concerned, he was down in the main restaurant, dining with his wife – something he would rather do than leave to a body double. However, this conversation couldn't be postponed and it wasn't one he could comfortably hold back in HQ.
His guest got in and sat down across the table from him. Marik nodded at the Twi'lek woman. He knew that she was supposed to be meeting with the Senate's appropriation committee right now and had a double of her own handling that. While such cloak and dagger games were usually reserved for holomovies, they did occasionally have their places.
”Marik. You called. I hope this is important, given the lengths we had to go to maintain plausible deniability for this meeting.” Director Fell looked raised a hand and looked at her blue skin. ”This paint is a pain to get off.”
Her face was off too – thanks to detachable implants meant to fool face recognition software.
Marik on the other hand had to simply exchange places with his double in the fresher – he did get the better of the deal tonight.
”I do. We need to discus our resident Sith and the trouble the Jedi are causing.” Yle frowned. ”Yesterday I was approached by Master Piell – to discuss the war effort. At least that was the official excuse. While we did discuss it, he was more interested in evaluating my opinion on Veil and how I would react if he continues to gain power.”
”We do have contingencies in place – the Chancellor insisted we do so after Veil revealed himself as a Sith.” Ivon pointed out.
”Piell was more afraid of our new friend gaining more power legally. He was also concerned that certain Senators might be falling under the Sith's sway. Perhaps even the Chancellor if Veil's influence isn't contained.” Marik explained.
”Ah.” That was all his colleague offered.
”The conservative elements of the Jedi Order tried to remove him through the Senate and found less support than they expected. My sources tell me than Piell and Tiin have been meeting with a lot of Senators lately and not only with Sylvaris' friends. I know your people have been working closely with Veil's special ops outfit. I need to know what he's planning.” Marik continued.
”Officially? Causing trouble for the Seps and recovering caches of tech and resources he stashed for a rainy day while he was with the Empire. I have it on good authority that we'll be seeing some tangible benefits soon. I'm sure he has been running some side projects too – the kind that would benefit him personally, but that's to be expected. You know better than me what he's been up to on Coruscant.” Ivon offered.
”Thanks to his efforts we've got control over a significant chunk of the local underworld and have been able to intercept some of the CIS channels that go through it. Feed them disinformation, the works.” Marik said, showing one of his cards, though he was pretty sure his colleague at least suspected about that particular operation. ”I'm more interested about ship buildup, especially now that he has the Mandalorians at his beck and call.”
”Veil will have a decent sized modern navy under his control in about two years. It will take that long to build the hulls and train crews – unless the Seps object. The one item of particular interest I have is that Veil has been outfitting a handful of Venators with Imperial technology. My people haven't been able to get details, though its slow going. There won't be more than a few upgraded units ready before the Seps come calling.”
”Some kind of super weapon?” Marik snorted. Those usually tended to be a major resource sink for no tangible gain, though now and then the Sithspawned things actually worked.
When Ivon frowned, Yle raised his hands in surrender. ”I know, so far Veil hasn't been known for flights of fancy. If he upgrades ships, whatever he's got is going to work. It's another question how effective it will be against modern tech. However, I doubt that a few ships will be a game changer in the short term. Until Mandalore's navy is up and running, our Sith friend won't have the muscle to be a major military threat. Even then, unless the Confederacy wrecks us, that won't change overnight.”
”Still you do have concerns, Marik. You wouldn't have called me otherwise.” Ivon stated.
”That's true. Just in case the Jedi aren't too paranoid, we'll need to update our contingency plans. The political situation changed since we made most of them. Veil is at least a reluctant ally with Amidala, Organa and Mothma's cliques and by all accounts the Corellians are growing closer to him.”
”They did practically give him one of their star cruisers as a flagship.” Ivon nodded. Allocating the Freedom to Veil's command was a powerful statement coming from Corellia. That ship alone could take on a fleet and win.
”At worse moving against him without durasteel clad evidence that he works against the Republic might at the very least see the Corellians pulling back into an uneasy neutrality. Given its situation Naboo doesn't have much choice for the time being and will be with us, no matter Amidala's personal feelings, but if her husband gets thrown to the krath hounds by the tribunal things might get messier on that front too.” Marik summarized.
”That's not enough support to be a direct threat, but its sufficient to cause us some major troubles.” Ivon looked thoughtful.
”I'm actually not concerned that Veil will be pulling a military coup any time soon. I've studied what we had in the archives on the man. Despite his initial misgivings, the Chancellor seems to support him nowadays.” Marik spoke carefully.
”Don't tell me you buy in that nonsense!” Ivon chuckled.
”That Veil influences Palpatine?” Marik snorted. ”Not really. That the Chancellor might have decided to ally with his good friend Mandalore? Amidala's little friends aren't the only ones concerned that Palpatine has been gathering too much power in his hands. The man's support is very high and now he is good friends with a successful and charismatic general.” Marik frowned. ”No, it's not a Sith coup I'm afraid of. Its what Palpatine and Veil practically running the Republic would mean, I fear.” Marik sighed. ”And I'm afraid what the Jedi and some Senators might do to prevent such an outcome.” Yle laid down his cards.
He has been studying Ivon Fell ever since she became the Director of ONI. As far as he was able to figure out, the woman was utterly devoted to the Republic. Marik really hoped he hadn't misread her character.
”Palpatine is already one of the most powerful men in the galaxy. Arguably the most powerful. Don't you think that becoming a dictator in all but name would be too much trouble for too little gain?” Ivon asked after thinking for a long time over what Marik told her.
”The Chancellor is a very good politician. I know for a fact that the nice old man he presents himself as is at least partially an act. He didn't remain a Chancellor for more than a decade without getting his hands dirty. I honestly can't say if Palpatine would be tempted by more personal power.” Marik chuckle. ”He might even go for it just to reduce the headaches the Senate have been giving us all lately.”
”I'll grant you that.” Ivon said. ”What are you going to do if your concern's are founded and they go for it legally?”
”I'm sworn to protect the Republic, democracy.” Marik frowned. ”Since becoming the Director I've seen exactly how much of the latter there is in the Senate. If Veil tries a coup – that would be simple.”
”We have plans for it.” Ivon nodded. ”A lot of them and they're good ones. However, if Palpatine and his new friend gain enough support to practically control the Senate?” Fell sighed. ”I know its unlikely with all the furor that Veil becoming Mandalore caused, but still. It's our job to plan for the unlikely. If the Jedi try acting outside the law, things should be simple too.” Ivon interjected.
”Legally? Yes. Politically? Militarily? At this point its going to be anything but.” Marik shrugged. ”The Jedi did a great job of destroying both their political and public support.”
”They're getting desperate, aren't they? And desperate people make foolish decisions. Often quite messy too.”
Marik simply nodded.
”What do you have in mind?” Ivon asked.
”I'd prefer to have operatives ready to move at very short notice against any eventualities. Navy support and orbital deployment capabilities could get useful.” Marik explained.
”Ready to reinforce critical locations and disrupt any coup in progress if things get that far?”
”Or arrest conspirators before they could throw the Republic into chaos.”
”There are at least three contingencies that more or less cover such an idea.”
”I want people who don't figure in any of our contingency plans. Just in case.”
”I see. Something can be arranged.”
”Do you have any new information about the Confederacy's strategic aims?” Marik changed the topic.
”We know for sure they'll be seeking to connect the territories they control and will be striking at the hyperlanes connecting them which are under our control. My operatives have heard rumors, as well as intercepted partial orders, indicating that the Seps will be trying to cut off everything beyond the Inner Rim from reinforcements and supply coming from the Core Worlds.” Ivon said.
”Not unexpected. Any indications what are they going to do about our industrial advantages? Even if we keep just most of the Core and Inner Rim, that still will keep us ahead.”
”We both know about the massive buildup at Fondor. Still no hard evidence if they will go for Kuat or Corellia and the Seps have to cripple one of those systems if they are to have a chance.”
Interlude: This family thing isn't all its cracked up to be
=RK=
Jole Solo's apartment
Corellia
”Raar?” Traaw inquired.
”No way!” Jole shook his head in denial. ”I didn't plan for this!” The Corellian waved at his brand new uniform. ”I'm supposed to be a cargo hauler, kriff it!”
The large Wookie, who was outfitted with a uniform of his own consisting of a colorful sash going over his right shoulder looked unconvinced. Traaw snorted too.
”Uncle, did you plan this?” A disgruntled looking younger Solo entered the room. Han had a uniform of his own – a school one in his case.
Jole turned his attention to his young nephew. ”This I can take credit for!” He beamed at the kid, who looked anything but happy.
”I don't need to go to school! I'm sure you two can tech me loads of useful stuff!” Han grumbled.
”You can learn loads of useful stuff at school too. Meet new friends, especially girls...” Jole trailed off when his XO roared in amusement. ”Don't you start.”
”Ew! Why would I need to meet girls, they're icky!” Han grimaced.
”We're not having this conversation now.” Jole shook his head to Traaw's mirth. ”If you're good, I'll even make sure to keep you away from cousin Tiion and won't have her explain things to you.”
That threat made Han blanch. He had insisted on meeting the rest of the family. After pestering his uncle for a month Jole caved in, much to the youth's displeasure. It turned out that most of the relatives left on Corellia were either mad like aunt Tiion or utter bastards with Thrackan Sal-Solo acting as a poster child for the latter group. Most of the decent Solos left in the galaxy were either spread all over or died during the Separatist attack on Coruscant when they found themselves at the wrong time in the wrong place.
”I'll be good!” Han exclaimed. He was honest too – well mostly…
Dewlanna chose that moment to enter the dinning room bringing a large tray covered with a rich breakfast. The old Wookie had been acting as Han's mother ever since he met her after becoming a part of Shrike's crew. Until he had his fortunate run in with that Republic general at the spaceport and was later introduced to his uncle, Dewlanna had been the only one to ever give a kriff for the younger Solo.
Han still couldn't wrap his head around how she ended up working for his uncle. He had simply asked if there was something that could be done about it, informed Jole that Shrike might cause trouble and the next thing Han knew was that Dewlanna had arrived ready to begin her next job and he had been ȧssured that Shrike wouldn't be a problem ever again. All his uncle said about it was that he cashed in on a favor and that was that.
”Roarrw?” Dewlanna asked.
”Han here isn't too keen on going to school.” Jole pointed at him.
”Hey!”
”Raar!” Traaw laughed at the show.
”Traitor!” Han pointed at Jole's old friend, then subdued when Dewlanna gave him a disappointed look.
Solo the younger grumbled and got to his seat, then began to devour his breakfast. Finding his family was supposed to be all good! While it was pretty great, being forced to go to a useless school was anything but! Meeting the rest of the Solos currently on Corellia had been a major disappointment too, but at least uncle Jole was pretty great when he didn't make him do useless stuff. School – who needed it when Han could be learning useful stuff instead?