Nar Shaddaa

Zeno is walking alongside Hala, doing his best to help her by looking all Sith Lord-like to make those she questions a little more pliable.

OOC: Providing boost for Bounty Investigation.

Hala walked alongside Lord Deathwright, flanked by two small columns of troopers. As they walked, the denizens of the slums on Smuggler's moon stepped back into their doorway or closed it in front of them. Finally they reached a small square and the group came to a halt.

Hala turned on her micro-emitters and her voice began filling the square, "This is Col. Hala Moraal, military liaison to the Imperial diplomatic mission on Nar Shaddaa. I've been tasked to support Lord Deathwright in the search for a missing Imperial Citizen. Her name is 'Jinn'. If anyone has seen this individual, then please come forward and speak with one of the troopers. Your assistance will be appreciated."

The air fell silent and people stood and stared, but whether they were too afraid or simply did not know, no one came forward.

Investigating the moff's daughter! Boost from Zeno, ignore scrutiny setback, +advantage: 1eP+2eA+3eB+3eD 0 successes, 2 advantage

(( +1 boost to retry ))

While they waited for someone to come forward with information, Zeno turned to her. "How have your dealings with the Mandalorians been going? You have convinced Nodd to support the Imperial position, and something tells me you had something to do with Kelborn leaving the system."

"They've progressed, my lord, though less well than I'd hoped. I'd only just heard that Kyr'ad left and while that may have been a satisfactory outcome it would not have been my preferred one," she said, turning her head towards him while she kept her body largely open towards the square in case something cropped up.

"And a sizeable amount of clan Ordo seems to have gone silent as well, under the command of Vera Ordo. I went to meet with her this morning, but she was already gone.

"Was that your intent or something that needs to be worked on?" he asks. "I wonder if Morindel had something to do with it. She thought she had Kelborn as allies when we spoke this morning, but he made it clear he was leaving during the holo-call."

"The situation won't be settled until the Mando'ade are unified. While this is certainly a step in that direction, the one I'd hoped for would have been more decisive. And possibly more valuable than I'd realized, if Kelborn was already working with members of the Galactic Senate.... did they say what they were working on my lord?" she asked, her tone becoming slightly more polite as she shifted from reporting to asking the question.

"They did not. Morindel simply said that we could count on support of a Mandalorian strike team for dealing with the pirate queen. Then we learned that she did not have them like she believed. Although, to be fair, he may have simply said that because I was present and talked with her later," he replies with a shrug. "I've never been one for reading deception and I don't know how deceptive he can be. I usually take people at their word and then cut them down later if I learned they lied to me. For the most part, people who know better tend not to lie to me."

"Kyr'ad likes to drape himself in honor and glory, but he is far too self-righteous. There is likely something there..." she answered, shifting her posture uncomfortably.

"I'm not one for the delicacies for such politicking. I don't know if it would be harmful or helpful to push for the other clans supporting the unification to give him an ultimatum or not. Do the clans tend to respect each other's decisions in such matters?"

"Not in these two cases. Vera Ordo wants a challenge and glory, Kyr'ad Kelborn seeks to uphold Mandalore the Preserver's promise to Revan to protect the Republic from something in the Outer Territories.... likely the Empire in many readings since then," she explained.

"Curious. Did he seem like he believed that threat was the Empire? Or did he seem to believe something else was a threat? Prophecies and visions from years ago can still influence the minds of believers yet living."

"The way I heard it told, there was an evil in the Outer Territories of what origin he did not know. But it was there he found the Empire, and the rest is presumed from there. It could be he sensed something else and it was misunderstood," she said with a shrug.

"And whether or not there was something there, perhaps we could use that to potentially influence Kelborn. What if such a threat were manufactured?" he asks curiously.

"He seems to believe that threat was the Empire. It would require quite the fabrication to demonstrate otherwise. If I may, my lord, that might be an inefficient use of resources," she said lightly.

"Definitely, if his mind is made up on what that threat was," he says with a nod. "I was just curious if something could be done on that front. I wouldn't wish to be wasteful to change the mind of one old man set in his ways."

"Sadly, it's probably easier to extinguish his light and continue until we find someone far more agreeable...."

"He probably understands that as well." Zeno nods. "What of the other clans present here?"

"According to Thera Ordo, the conversion of Clan Nodd has helped sway anyone who wasn't being coy about fence sitting and most have predominantly lined up either behind Corso or are enjoying an Imperial retainer with the disaffected Kelborn contingent until they can join the Mandalore," she answered dutifully.

She glanced away from him to the square around them and grumbled under her breath.

"Nothing yet...."

"Has Fett made any overtures suggesting that he wants any type of support or aid that would go towards securing a better relationship with the Empire?"

Looking out as well and sensing her disappointment.

"There is a chance that their fear of the kidnapper is stronger than our display. Or perhaps the kidnapper has simply been far more careful than expected and covered his tracks well."

"Maybe we're on the wrong block.... None of these people seem to know anything. Or won't say anything... And he's been fairly friendly and asked for assistance with consolidating support. Ours should be a friendly relationship going forward so long as we do not antagonize them."

"It's also important to keep the Republic from gaining influence over him," he says with a nod.

"Perhaps we should just head back for now? Pack it up and try a different area of Shadow Town later?"

"Can either do that, or I can leave these troopers here to start interviewing people more directly and we can come back to catch what they've found. Whatever you wish, my lord," she answered deferentially.

"Logistics aren't my forte," he replies with a nod. "I'll defer to your expertise. Mine's definitely more in the violence department."

"And it is a very commendable department to be proficient with," Hala answered with a polite smile. She called over the corporal and directed him to start expanding the search, as well as to report back with any findings they may have. There would be a relief squad inbound in a few hours if they were as yet unsuccessful.

"Well, I do my best. When this is all over, we should actually sit down and talk about something other than work. I'm interested in knowing your story Col Moraal. You are a very capable officer and I'd love to hear about your rise through the ranks," he says with a nod.