Preparations [Day 4, Early Afternoon]

[Kristal Serasai]

"I had figured," she said without surprise. Not wanting to explain further so publicly.

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain nodded, "I would prefer you near... but that is just me. I tend to not see things like this as coincidences at the moment though..."

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: 5% discount on the goods.

[Sylvain Torsin]

Just then the storekeep returned and Sylvain began discussing the price, getting a slight discount for Kris.

[Kristal Serasai]

It was enough to matter, paying the man the 665 Credits she quickly gave him the proper bay in which to bring the supplies to and turned to Sylvain with a nod. With her supplies properly headed off toward her ship they stepped out onto the crowded streets together.

There was something to be said about the anonymity of the streets, using it as cover she brought herself close to Sylvain and spoke softly, "Darth Marrhas commanded me to finish my business out of the sector so that I will be here to deal with any potential... fallout of a conflict between some of Vengean's people."

Kristal's information was relayed just as it had been to her, allowing Sylvain to easily piece together the child's level puzzle.

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain nodded and pondered her words for a moment., "Have you eaten yet?"

[Kristal Serasai]

That Kristal knew this wasn't some random jut off that desired her irritation didn't mean that her first, instinctual response would be to look at him like he was crazy. However, when thought was applied she settled the expression and answered honestly, "I haven't had the time."

[Sylvain Torsin]

"If you do now, perhaps we could grab a bite to eat... a place with a private booth." He replied.

[Kristal Serasai]

"Lead the way, Sylvain," she said, allowing him to take charge over their walking direction.

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded and found an establishment that fit their needs a few minutes later. Taking their seats in a sequestered corner of the establishment Sylvain looked to his friend. "So... let me know your thoughts and plans on this... I wish for you to be there and for us to turn this in you and your family's favor. I have received reassurances from Magpie that is acceptable."

[Kristal Serasai]

"If it is within my power I will be there," she said confidently. Not just for Sylvain's sake, but her Master had ordered her to do so, after all.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"And your mother? She is a bit of a wildcard here..." He replied.

[Kristal Serasai]

"I have spoken with my mother, she.." she couldn't hide the relief it gave her fully. To be able to say this, ".. she came around and agreed to help me do things the right way. My way."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded, "Excellent. I suppose it was perhaps a bit grudgingly given the circumstances..."

He paused, "Like I mentioned I discussed your family with my mother as well. She too was somewhat resistant, but has acknowledged my plan to reinstate your family in a position of honor... and..."

He paused for a good long moment. "Perhaps the 'and' there is better left to a later date..."

He fidgeted slightly in his seat, "But this is good... very good. Having you around me, and the support of your master gives me confidence. My mother is still working out the specific time for her strike and will notify me when the moment is right. I am preparing what assets I can to this endeavor."

[Kristal Serasai]

"Then your mother is the source of all of this, it is her plan to strike out now?" she asked, pushing past the thought Sylvain had eluded to in his excitement and leaving that aside for now.

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded, "She intends to strike while he is here on Nar Shaddaa. She is moving assets she has acquired from Baras' previous networks into position to strike and she intends on killing him herself. The narrative we push and the reasoning given will be for his betrayal against the Empire in killing our parents. We show that treason against the Empire will always result in destruction, and loyalty to it and its principles will always be remembered. Mother will become my master, and act as my guarantor and protector while I consolidate Baras' powerbases and fill the whole his absence leaves. I will need powerful allies like Marr and Vowrawn on the council to solidify my position within the Ministry and throughout the Empire. Your advocacy with Marr will be most influential."

[Kristal Serasai]

"Sylvain," she said to highlight exactly what he needed to know and say no more, she trusted he could make sense of what she told him. "Darth Marr has charged me with bringing order if things are to get out of hand. I will be the one to deal with any fallout, after the fact."

It was a warning, one that she hoped he would heed properly, but she could not know how this was all going to play out. Only what her safeties, now set in place, would do if she were given the opportunity. It would seem that Kristal had quite the return to Nar Shaddaa before her.

Then, there was something that had hit her. The same thing that she had told her own mother.

"I have thought on this.. Sylvain," she braced him and herself for what was to come. "Killing him like that... however, that will not bring us the Empire we have been fighting for. It is not the way forward for the Empire. Baras needs to be captured, brought in and held accountable for his crimes before the entire Empire. Without that we will only be contributing to the cycle that has plagued this Empire for far too long."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded, "That is my belief as well. Though doing so creates additional layers of risk... on every level."

He paused, "My mother's plan is less than optimal. I find it to be better than letting him live and doing that which he is almost ready to do..."

He leans in, "Baras intends to kill off the remaining members of the Dark Council and place himself as the authoritative head of the Empire beneath the Emperor... Serve as his 'Voice' as he calls it. He has positioned assets on both sides of this war in ways which provide the opportunity for him to do just as he wishes. Even if he fails however... it will cost the Empire greatly. I do not see a way that we would be able to maintain our war with the Republic and deal with the fallout of his plans."

Sylvain pondered for a moment, "We need the evidence on those data chips if we are to make the claims that we wish to make. Ideally it would be with a captured Baras, and done for all to see... but if that is not possible, then we will need to have all the possible proof of our actions so we may direct the narrative of these events in a way which will benefit the Empire."

[Kristal Serasai]

"If we merely assassinate him it will be a crime against the Empire," she says bluntly. "Perhaps you and your mother might be able to leverage yourselves into a position where you assume his position but it will not be rightly won and it will not be your own. It will be stained with the presence of the man that came before it. Every action you take from then on will carry his name on it, even if it is only a whisper. Our Empire can not move in the proper direction if you allow yourself to be painted as not the man who sought justice but the man who used justice to gain power."

[Sylvain Torsin]

"I could not agree more my dear... and it is my intention to make what you say a reality." He replied.

"But if it is a choice between failure or killing him, I will opt for his death. With time we will make it apparent what our intentions were and are... as we administer justice consistently and properly through time... even the skeptics will know of the veracity of our claims. This one moment does not define our ultimate destiny. It can be used for great good, lesser good, or ill. I fully support your suggestion... and it is my intent to direct my mother in that path. I have even laid the groundwork. But if not, we must achieve the lesser good. Do what we can to save the Empire and push it forward; tenaciously and without equivocation. Do you trust me enough to help me in that endeavor?"

[Kristal Serasai]

"I trust you Sylvain," she said, but didn't commit fully.

"However, there is a key difference in doing something the wrong way and doing it the right way. People do not forget, I would not want you to act in haste and miss the chance to truly give this Empire the form it requires. Regardless... whatever happens I will support you Sylvain, please know that."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded, "If the timeframe were not so immediately pressing... I would prefer to bide my time. But there are serious problems Baras is creating that I am aware of. Problems that will destroy our Empire."

He nodded, "If our message is one of solidarity. Baras' misdeeds are made public. Your family reinstated. We will have done what needed to be done for the right reasons. The narrative is only a deception if it is false. We will show that not even a Darth is exempt from the laws of the Empire. And that even though injustice may occur, if one is loyal to the Empire there will always be reward. We are the next evolution of the Empire my dear. Military, but with the powers of a Sith. I promise you that our collective vision of the future is the only thought on my mind."

[Kristal Serasai]

"I do not doubt that Sylvain," she says but lays her hands out on the table. Taking a reserved stance, "but I do not believe things will work out as you hope if this does not go according to plan. If this is to happen the wrong way I fear we will be forced to fight a battle that we will inevitably lose one day. That the Empire may never truly change."

[Sylvain Torsin]

"Why do you feel this way?" He asked while tilting his head. "Even if we were to do it the proper way there are sure to be many detractors. Many obstacles ahead of a new future... I feel that together, with concerted effort we can make things better. Not immediately or perfectly... but a slow grind towards improvement and perfection as our houses have always pushed for."

[Kristal Serasai]

"If we do not do this right from the beginning it will put everything else we do in a dimmed light. There will be no example for others to follow. There will only be one more dead man and those who are trying to do something with the power they took," she said, attempting to explain it better than she had.