Transmissions of transpositions (LE3)

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hala entered the secret bunker and headed towards the small cells set aside for secure communications. There she input her encryption and opened the line of communication and settled in, like always, for the other end to connection.

[Nekoinu]

"Greetings, Watcher," announced Cipher-6. He was in a cheap motel room with a naked woman on the bed. "Do not mind her. She is under the effects of a sedative and will not come to until the morning."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"If she is not relevant, then proceed with your report," the Watcher replied, leaning against the backrest of her chair while gingerly supporting her right arm.

[Nekoinu]

"I have a target but I am not in the position to eliminate him." He let out a sigh. "My crew expects me to be with them constantly. But you do not need to hear excuses. The man in question is Kyr'ad Kelborn. He is gregarious and well-liked by both his Clan and other Mandalorians. His proclivities are confirmed to be for the Galactic Republic. While it is my analysis that eliminating him would not sway Clan Kelborn's outlook, others would not be swayed by his rhetoric."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"What are his relations to Corso, and what does Kyr'ad like about the Republic? At the end of our conversation, transmit any information you may have on him and perhaps there is something I can do instead so you do not need to endanger your cover," she responded.

"And why would silencing him not sway the Kelborn?"

[Nekoinu]

"I believe his children will follow in his footsteps," he elaborated, "Like father, like son, so they say."

Cipher-6 sat down on the bed and looked over to the woman. "Excuse me." He lifted her up and placed her under the covers and then turned his attention back to his contact. "His relationship with Corso Fett is distant. Kyr'ad seems to believe that the incumbent Mandalore will declare a crusade against the Galactic Republic. His ties to the Republic link back to Mandalore the Preserver whom sworn to protect the Republic against the Sith.

"On the subject of Corso, I have been unable to make any direct moves to earning his counsel. Shae Vizla occupies that position and I do not find it necessary to depose her. I would appreciate being informed of any opportunities to earn his trust if you have any."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"No need to depose her. If you have a seat at the table, that should suffice. Clan Nodd is going to have a leadership challenge, I expect Vora to depose her father. I should know more on the matter soon. There have been other matters, but this has been proceeding at least."

She signed and cracked her neck before returning her attention to the screen.

"What has not progressed is locating SIS operatives. It is believed that Col. Garza is coordinating them locally or involved in some operational fashion, but no agents or provocateurs have been identified."

[Nekoinu]

"Without Clan Nodd to oppose him, Corso Fett will be able to secure his position. Is there more you could tell me about Vora?"

He lied back on the bed and sighed. "Colonel Garza is a problem that cannot be dealt with. She is too well-protected for an assassination to go cleanly."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Her driving goal in life seems to be caring for her daughter. She seems to agree with Corso's philosophy but would not challenge her father without cause. She has an ex on Makeb. Dorak previously attempted to kill him then more recently put a hit out on him. This is what has sparked her willingness to challenge him."

Hala shook her head at the second half.

"I do not care about Colonel Garza. She is too well entrenched and too publicly recognized. What I care about are her operatives, the ones she directs to go and do what she cannot while she holds the attention of others so they may do without being seen. If we can interfere, insinuate, or otherwise obstruct their efforts, she is largely neutralized without the penalties of more overt action."

[Nekoinu]

Cipher-6 leaned back. "I see. I imagine she and some of our allies will be taking care of Dorak Nodd."

He nodded. "Even with Darth Jadus' disappearance, we still operate in his absence. I will search for opportunities to dispose of any SIS operatives I encounter." A pause. "I will hope our cover identities are not the sort to mingle well."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I have no doubt that we will find something suitably distasteful in the other," Hala answered with a sly smile.

[Nekoinu]

Cipher-6 nodded. "Indeed. Now then, did you have any operations for me to complete or help with? The mercenary fees would have to be paid but I can relinquish my share back to the Empire."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Become friendlier with Corso. Work to being a part of his inner circle, even if you do not surpass Shae. Keep your ears open for SIS operatives. If you find Jedi walking around alone and seemingly unprotected, try and discretely leak their location to the Crimson Shadow if possible without endangering your cover. I do not think we will leverage the attacks as partisan against the Sith, so if the Jedi are equally targeted, they will be distracted by the subsequent investigation. If you do not need to retain all your liquid assets, I can pool them with mine. I have been able to amass a small discretionary operational budget, sanitized through local gambling so it is all of Hutt or non-determinate origin. If we need to implement contingency plans, we must have the resources on hand to move quickly.

"I also have my hand in the rebirth of Aris' enterprise. If anything comes of if that you should know, I will pass it along. Please transmit your files on Ky'rad and Clan Kelborn on the appropriate sub-frequency. I will at that to the operational scope when my attention is not demanded by the peace talks or by the problems of one Sith lord or another...."

[Nekoinu]

"It will be done, Watcher. The various underground organizations will be of use to our operations. And my assets are sanitized as well. I will transfer them if I am given the chance."

Cipher-6 nodded. "My team should be able to help with the Aris operation if we are needed. Mercenaries would not be unusual." He then let out a small chuckle. "It appears you understand my qualms with the constant feuds. I assume your part in today's bout was satisfactory?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I survived, and I helped limit the loss of life necessary to bring about an end to the conflict. That part, at least, will be satisfactory."

She exhaled slowly then stared thoughtfully at the screen.

"I can see the use of the Empire helping provide a source of income for Mandalorians, but not only might that put us closer together than is wise, it might give the impression that we simply wish to have our own private mercenaries and Corso would reject that violently if he ever felt it.... No, I do not think you will be required for Aris' last job but I will see if I can put together something... a job if you will, that the Empire can gift to the Mandalorians so it is a unifying exercise rather than simply more mercenary work."

[Nekoinu]

"Excellent work then, Watcher. A shame to lose any life of the Empire's to one of our own."

Cipher-6 smirked. "Right. The Mandalorians wish to be in charge and yet be paid nonetheless. Very well then. I am sure you will inform me on any opportunities to Corso's trust."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I will. Even if I have to ultimately manufacture them," she said, grinning wolfishly in kind.

[Nekoinu]

Cipher-6 smiled. "Excellent. Now then, I should get ready. My mercenary group wants to go to a strip club now."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Good hunting," she nodded, then leaded forward and switched off the commlink.

[Nekoinu]

"'Good hunting' is a poor choice of words, Watcher," he quipped before the commlink went off.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

She smirked and shook her head.

"The point of such places is to hunt for a prey you are not supposed to catch," she said to the black screen. She stiffly stood up and picked up the pack of miniature droids and the encrypted datapad she had recovered earlier that day. On her way from the bunker, she left them with a Fixer with explicit instructions to inform her when the pad's contents were available and to otherwise let her droids begin deploying around the moon as they came online.