Nar Shaddaa

Cole's Quarters
I'm having trouble trying to sleep...

He was pacing, and he'd been at it for a while. Sleep had not been forthcoming, and the agitated medic ran his hands through his hair repeatedly as he wore a rut in the floor of his spartan room, trying to wrangle his thoughts into some semblance of order.

Abruptly, Cole crossed the room and sat at the desk. The monitors flashed to life, and the medic's brow furrowed as he concentrated. Help would have been nice, but he was learning that on Nar Shaddaa, one had better rely on themselves.

He begins to work, Shaisha, I could kiss you... Getting back into Czerka's systems was straightforward enough. He added the information that the freighter had failed to pass a mechanical inspection, and was not to leave Nar Shaddaa until another inspection could be arranged to the files.

Finally, before exiting, he planted a hidden sniffer that would notify him if anything changed. He wasn't sure just how much time he'd bought, but the freighter shouldn't be able to leave today.


---
Upgrade 1 ability die due to experience with the system.
[D8 EM] Planting a Flag (Computers): 2eP+2eA+4eD 1 success, 1 advantage


[D8 EM] Leaving a Bug (Computers): 2eP+2eA+3eD 2 successes, 1 threat

The false flag seemed to be picked up by the freighter's crew. The response was quick, however, to get the mechanic on a more 'speedy' route and get the shipment moving as it had been delayed long enough.

It was early, but that was no barrier for Niall. He was up already, of course. And freshly washed, pressed, and shaved, as always.

He rang the door chime, standing ready.

Cole pushed up from where he was seated, the notification of the freighter's upcoming inspection still splashed across one of the large displays. He was shaven and squared away, having needed the distraction, despite not usually being awake this early. "Enter."

The door slid open, and Niall stepped in, moving with his usual stiff precision. "Cole." He said, nodding. "Good morning. I hope the day is treating you well so far." He said politely.

“Captain,” Cole snapped a sharp salute. He moved a pace away from the chair and indicated to it, the seat faced the larger of the two monitors. “Sit, sir, there’s something I want you to see.”

Niall returned the salute, a touch more casually.

"Okay." Niall said. After a moment's hesitation, he followed Cole's direction, sitting on the indicated chair. "What is it?"

A video appeared on the screen and begins playing. It’s security camera footage capturing the Captain and a group of Jedi fleeing from a building in the Red Light District as it collapses.

Cole placed a hand on the back of the stiff, uncomfortable chair, leaning forward and pointing with a long, slender finger, “you. Jedi Yulani. Jedi Zyn. Jedi Tssilla. Eight Imperials dead, another critically injured."

"Tell me this isn’t what it looks like,” his tone was cool, bordering on accusatory.

Niall's face is impassive.

"First, I need to know where you got this video." He said, his voice even. "And who else has seen it."

"There were at least nine Imperials in that building, and eight of them never left it. I don't think you should be dictating anything right now, Captain. Because, right now, it looks like the Republic's way of conducting peace talks is paying off Hutts and assassinating members of the other side."

Niall rose to his full height. He looked at Cole for a long moment, his grey eyes hardening. Time passed as Niall considers. Sometimes things had to be dealt with in a different sort of way. It rather seemed like Cole was one of those things.

His lips twitched. "Tell you what. We'll make a deal. I'll tell you what happened; security would doubtless object, but it's rather late for that. But then you really do need to tell me where you got that, and who else has seen that. Is that deal acceptable, officer Ormont?" Niall gave him a look with raised eyebrows.

Cole's face fell. Everything about him seemed to slump. Nar Shaddaa had worn him down, and this man who reminded him all too much of his father was more than he could face right now.

He dropped onto the end of the bed, pushing a hand through his hair. He drew on what inner fortitude remained to him to look up the hard, handsome Captain. "I can't tell you who's seen it, because I don't know. I won't tell where I got it, for that person's protection."

"For that person's protection?" Niall said, his forehead creasing. "Cole... the reason we need to know who has this, is because it determines our reaction. If it's just you and, I don't know, Ashla, the response will be almost nothing. If it's some reporter or something, we prepare a diplomatic response."

He frowned for a moment, then his face went neutral again. "I... suppose your mistrust comes from that video. Okay. I understand. Well... fine. I'll tell you what happened, and then I'd like for you to tell me who you got it from. But you can decide then. Acceptable?"

His hand immediately went through his hair again, rubbing the back of his neck; he hated himself for showing weakness to the impassive wall that was the Commander, no, the Captain, he mentally corrected.

The talk of deals sickened him, what is he hiding? what could be so bad that he can't just say 'it isn't what it looks like'?. "The video came from someone whose friends died in that explosion. Someone who wants an explanation," he left out the part about threatening the Captain's life.

"Friends?" Niall's expression was thoughtful for a few moments. Then understanding flashed in his grey eyes. "I see." He said, sighing. "Well, allow me to explain it to you, first. Then, perhaps I'll explain it to them."

He sighed again. "So, there are certain bits that I'll be glossing over somewhat, for security reasons. But I promise that everything I'm telling you is true." He met Cole's gaze steadily, giving him a nod.

He frown thoughtfully a moment before beginning. "One of our personnel was given a piece of intelligence. It was reported that there was an Imperial cell working to undermine the peace process, and assassinate Senator Seir'oto." He paused a moment, gathering his thoughts.

Cole listened, he did not interrupt, but his expression was drawn, tired.

And so Niall went on. "The problem is, to say this information came from a questionable source doesn't begin to cover it. So we dispatched a team to gather intel."

Niall grimaced. "The intel confirmed that there was an Imperial safehouse there. And a few other items. Unfortunately, there was a lot of encrypted data; a final determination couldn't be made."

The grimace deepened. "With that in mind, I made the decision to have a team ready. An assassination squad would need to be dealt with quickly. And so, we deployed, to make the final determination, whether force would be required or not."

His lips twisted. "The information we found then showed that it was not, in fact, required. And so we made the decision not to go in." He spread his hands. "That's when everything exploded."

He doubted Shaisha would take the news well. "Can you prove you were never inside?" he asked wearily, "that might be enough to calm the Imperial side."

"I don't know." Niall said. "I don't think so. I expect that footage came from the Sith that was following us. I don't think she showed up until after the building exploded."

He sighed. "What I would propose, if the Imperials know, is that we turn over everything we have on this informant and what they told us. That might help." He shook his head. "We just don't know enough. I'm not sure if we were meant to be framed for the attack, or if we were meant to be killed, too."

"Let me talk to the person who gave me this. Let me find out what they're willing to accept as proof." He thought - hoped - he could frame this all in a way Shaisha would understand, and keep Niall out of lightsaber range at the same time.

"Depending on the level of analysis that they're capable of doing, I don't think proof exists." Niall said. "I don't know if they can determine that the door was never breached, or security was never tripped, or blasters were never fired within. I doubt it, because the building was entirely destroyed."

He shook his head again. "I think that logic and an explanation will have to suffice. The safehouse was devoted to watch this informant. It seems clear why it would be targeted by them. Less so by us." His lips twisted. "I can only hope a sign of good faith and good behavior elsewhere would prove convincing."

"If logic and an explanation are going to suffice, it will be better coming from me. I'm not trying to undermine your authority in this, but while the Imperials still see you as a culprit, they're as like to put a lightsaber through you than listen."

"The person who gave me this footage, they trusted me. They trusted my discretion, and maybe even trusted my ability to get an answer. Now I have that answer. The question is, do I have your trust?"

"Yes." Niall said. For a few moments, he is silent, drumming his fingers on his leg. "Very well. I'll see if Intelligence can add anything to that, as a gesture of goodwill. And please, give, ah, that person my deepest sympathies as well. I know what it is like to lose those under your command."

He shook his head with a sigh. "I do hope this rift can be healed. It's... not at all what I wanted."

"Besides," Cole ran a hand through his hair, but a smile began to curl one side of his mouth, "I have a favour I can cash in, if it comes to that."

He got to his feet, grunting softly as his distributed his weight on his right leg, adjusted his pants, and moved back towards the desk. "I have another matter of pressing concern. You asked me to look into the matter of the missing children," he brought up the Czerka file on the freighter, pointing to the departure date - today's date.