Ask The Big Picture

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar had been to many royal events on Korriban. Things were different in the greater galaxy, but some things remained the same - schmoozing, drinking, small talk, stroking egos. It was all universally the same. He found himself at a social event that would have many key people from the shipyards present. Azar had pitched the mission idea to Roman who then suggested leveraging an Imperial Moff he had in his pocket who was eager to make friends with Hutts in light of recent events. Said Moff provided the two with cover IDs.

The Pureblood was Riyaz Tavari, representing a parts manufacturing company. His goal was to get a tour of the shipyard and organize an exchange of information. Roman was with him as an engineer, both scoring their names on the invitation list to get into the gala.

Azar was dressed in formal attire, and he hoped to pass himself off as a Zeltron as most of the galaxy thought of him. The event was in a large, formal building with representation from corporations, manufacturing, engineering and plants.

“I will have to ask about the story behind this Stennar character at some point,” Azar said quietly to Roman as he asked for a glass of wine at the bar- requesting a pour from an unopened bottle as always.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

Roman was out of his comfort zone again. In the short time since he had knelt and joined the Sith, he experienced the feeling at least once a day. Much of the being an acolyte came naturally, like watching your back, acting on instinct and vying to impress his Master. But many aspects were totally alien.

Posh get togethers like this one were actually common across the galaxy, yet he wished he was back on Korriban. Mingling with snooty people, sampling overpriced drinks and tiny bits of vile food had never been his thing.

He had little experience dressing smart either and though he thought he looked half decent in the black shirt and tie he had ordered, the high fashion waistcoat was way too complicated. He better look like a clever as fuck engineer.

As always, Master Azar was among the most striking in the room, even undercover. He had learnt the name of the Pureblood, but he was still getting used to the way the Sith stood out and seemed a natural draw for others.

“You can ask if you must” Roman replied, standing close to his Master “but it’s really not that exciting. He is a weak man, Master”. It occurred to him he had now betrayed the Empire just the same as Stennar, a thought that only made him fume silently.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

He took a sip of his drink, smirking at his apprentice’s words, “Weak men are excellent for business, my apprentice,” Azar said smoothly, “It is a lesson to take with you,” His gaze roamed over the crowds, spotting the executives and identifying the leaders and the followers. It was all about the gaze in their eyes and the sparkle of wonder in them, “The galaxy has far more weak men than it does strong. They make excellent stepping stones to achieving a goal,” Azar said with a smile, turning to glance at Roman, “And sometimes it pays to be the Loth-wolf in a bantha’s coat.”

Azar spotted Elias Trift, one of the chief engineers that worked at the shipyards. He was a geek through and through, but he seemed more approachable than the others. Azar grabbed another drink and sauntered over towards the man, instructing Roman to stay close, but not too close. The Pureblood needed to do a vibe check.

“Mr. Trift,” Azar said with a smile, “I have heard so much about you,” He extended a drink, “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Riyaz Tavari, scientist at AeroLogistics,” Azar said with a smile.

“Oh-Oh you have heard of m-me?” The guy fumbled, blushing instantly, “I was actually hoping to go over to talk to you.. P-Please call me Elias."

Azar’s smile never faded as he took a sip of his drink.

This was going to be far easier than he thought.

“I understand that your efforts in spearheading the Hyperdrive Moonshot project alone has ensured that Fondor shipyards surpass the Kuat Driveyards within the next two years,” Azar said, “I would love to learn more... Elias.”

“You would?!” The guy blurted out, brightening up at being on first name basis, “Oh gosh I.. well yes of course.. This place is so crowded, would you..consider walking with me while I tell you more? I just..don’t like big crowds..”

“Of course,” Azar said as he allowed the man to lead the way.

Roll to schmooze: 20

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

Roman sniggered a little. He had never thought about looking at the weak-willed that way. He had always disliked them for what they were, but his Master was right; their weakness made them useful. Had he not exploited Stennar’s weakness by making the deal with the artefacts? Once again, the Sith seemed to have it right. “Then I’ll keep stepping on him, Master” he smirked.

Azar struck out across the gala floor, making small talk with a guy who seemed like their man. They needed to get an exec with the right credentials away from the main floor to progress their plan.

The Pureblood seemed to hit it off with the boffin no problem and soon enough they were heading away from the main hall. Roman moved to follow, but noticed Trift’s colleague doing the same. That was not good.

”Hey there” he said, stopping the younger man with a touch on the arm and reaching for something to say. The guy’s visitor badge flashed ‘MERRICK’. ”You Merrick? One of the Directors by the bar just mentioned you, reckon he’s looking for you”.

”For me?” the guy repeated, looking unconvinced. “I‘ve barely done three years with Elias, I wouldn’t think they even know I exist”.

”Sounded like they know your work well” Roman bluffed “might want to get up there, could be your break”. He saw the conflicted look on Merrick’s face and the way he glanced after Trift and Azar. “Don’t worry” he added “I’ll let you boss know you were asked for by management”. He smiled at the guy and was surprised by the depth of the smile he got back.

”Thanks man” Merrick said finally, squeezing Roman‘s shoulder. “Love the waistcoat”. He headed off over to the bar, leaving Roman to slip in behind the two chiefs as they slinked away from the gala.

16/20 for interrupt success

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar could sense his apprentice nearby, which was perfectly fine. The man had done great work thus far, and now he proved himself again by getting rid of a tail.

Elias dove right into talking about his Moonshot project, along with all the details and technical specifications, none of which Azar gave a shit about. He listened nonetheless, hanging off every word. He didn’t miss the way man gazed so deeply into his eyes. Azar didn’t even have to apply the Force to have him enchanted.

“Could I maybe convince you to take me on a tour through the shipyard? I would love to see how AeroLogistics can fit into the Moonshot program,” Azar said with a sweet smile.

“Oh I mean..normally it’s not…really..” Elias fumbled over his words, loosening his collar a bit.

“Oh it would just mean so much to me,” Azar said, his hand lightly grazing along the man’s wrist. Elias turned almost as red as Azar himself. A few more eyelash bats and the deal was sealed.

“I-Okay.. Okay tomorrow morning. Come by and I’ll get you VIP passes,” Elias smiled.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

The next morning, Roman waited eagerly by the shipyard entrance.

Last night had gone exceptionally well, with Master Azar securing the agreement they needed from Elias Trift. He was also pleased with Roman’s contribution too, from what the acolyte gathered. He was actually a little embarrassed at how chuffed he was from pleasing his Master. He was a man not a hound. But still.

Roman had got hold of some more casual engineer attire for today’s tour, planning to keep his head down and play the dutiful sidekick until the Pureblood needed him to do something. If Trift was still drunk on Azar - as many people often were - it might actually be a breeze. If it was not, well Roman had been wanting to try the choking thing again sometime.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Azar arrived the next morning in a crisp attire. Trift was running slightly late, which allowed Azar a moment alone with his apprentice. He gave the boy a nod, “You’ve done well,” Azar stated outright, “Adapting to an evolving situation will be one of your greatest assets,” He said, approving of the choice of attire.

“As you join us through the tour, I want you to participate beyond just listening,” Azar explained, “When an individual is enamored, they let their guard down. This creates an unwitting new door into their mind that becomes visible when it perhaps wasn’t before,” He turned to regard Roman, “I want you to find such a door in Trift and pull out what you can. You will know when you are pressing too hard, so focus,” Azar said. It was going to be putting Roman on the spot to navigate the Force in a live situation. The Pureblood wouldn’t do this if he wasn’t confident his apprentice was more than capable.

“I will work on the enamoring bit,” Azar said with a smirk.

Soon enough, Trift arrived, looking all too eager, “I’m so so sorry to have kept you waiting!” He said flustered, “Please come this way!” He gave a curt nod to Roman, clearly a bit disappointed to have more company.

“This is Silas Kor,” Azar introduced Roman, “One of the finest engineers at AeroLogistics. He is joining us to validate whether or not the technical specifications of our collaboration are strategic.”

He kept walking as the tour began, “So… Mr..I mean-Elias,” Azar said with a breezy giggle, “I really am flattered you squeezed me into your very busy schedule. A man of your talent and position must never have any breaks,” He sighed.

“Oh you flatter me,” Elias said with a smile, “I love when people are genuinely interested in my work. I could tell right away you’re very well read and will bring a lot of innovative ideas. But.. you are right, I am always busy. Perhaps later today…” He glanced over towards Roman before lowering his face, “Perhaps you and I can get some dinner? Of-Of course it will be to discuss…business.”

Azar smiled at the man, “Of course, Elias… I would love to discuss…business,” He said, purposely enunciating the words.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

Azar arrived, looking once again like a mythical figure made real. The Pureblood was extra, in a way Roman could never be. But perhaps he could find his own groove. “Don’t think I have much choice” he replied, sidestepping the complement “Stuck in a constantly evolving situation here”. He had gone from squire, to saboteur to acolyte in a very short time. Rolling with it was becoming his top skill.

He listened intrigued to his Master’s plan. “I will find a way in then” he nodded, far from sure he could. Roman thought at first that he had never done anything like this, but then he remembered how he had battled mentally against the spirit on Ando Prime. Maybe this was not much different, easier even given that Trift would not be fighting back.

”Reckon you’ll manage that, Master” he smirked at the enamouring part. Trift had been overawed with him last night, Roman could tell.

Trift turned up a short while later, and Roman could equally tell the man did not want him there. He resisted the urge to be salty in return, instead feigning ignorance and trying to look particularly interested in everything they passed.

But in reality he kept looking to the back of Trift’s head, reaching with his senses to get some impression of the man. He was surprised to find he could feel the guy’’s feelings, even if a little distorted. Azar was making him hot under the collar and that bubbling friction dominated his thoughts. Roman half respected him for jumping straight in with the dinner invite.

But the flirtatious tailspin was a new thing. If Roman concentrated, he could still pick up an echo of Trify’s more typical thoughts, about work projects and tour protocols. He squinted, closing the distance a little between him and the pair as he reached a touch further for anything of use.

@Sreeya

 

[Darth Arcanos]

Dinner plans were made, and the tour continued towards the deeper sections of the facility. In truth, there was a lot to marvel at here. There were several prototypes of different styles of ships and the inner workings. Trift was rather generous with their access, leading Azar through all the levels. The Pureblood played his part, mixing in equal parts business and flirting. Every now and then he glanced back towards Roman to see how he was faring.

Eventually Azar could tell they were in the heart of the shipyard now, the room filled with various control terminals. There were projections and screens of ship designs.

“So where do you see AeroLogistics fitting in?”

“We believe we are most closely aligned with the Venator class destroyer,” Azar said, “Our laboratories have come up with prototypes-”

As Azar spoke, he began to slowly delve into the man’s mind with the Force. Undoubtedly his walls were already broken by Roman’s interventions. This left Trift open enough for Azar to slowly slip in without being noticed. It was a testament to his skill as a Sith Master that he kept conversation going as he did this, his presence nonchalant and friendly as he surgically cut through the man’s mind. Roman would be witness to his Master at work in calm, controlled brutality.

After a moment, Azar drew back and carried on the conversation, “So why don’t we go take a look at some Venator models?”

“Of course!”

VJFJS11929XDSS9292818 Azar rattled off telepathically to Roman, giving his apprentice the terminal code to access the blueprint in question and download it into his datapad.

“Oh wow!” Azar suddenly paused, pointing at a picture on the wall, “That ship looks so old. When is that from? It has to be from the Old Republic times!” It was all a ploy to delay and distract, giving Roman as much time as possible to get the data.

Roll: 18/20

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

Roman started to make progress. Sifting through Trift’s professional memory methodically was harder than simply picking up his feelings, but he persevered and went slowly. The man’s day-to-day thoughts were well-ordered and Roman had the sense Trift would know if he pushed to hard. Create too big a disturbance and Trift would feel the violation and probably freak out.

As Azar talked of their prize - the Venator class - Roman worked to slowly push different topics and thought clusters to one side. It was like moving filing cabinets with mental willpower alone and it was hard work. He tripped more than once as he followed the two men around the shipyard, barely able to focus on the way ahead while he channeled everything into his work.

He felt like he was nearly there when they entered a large room full of data terminals. Azar turned towards Trift and Roman suddenly felt the Pureblood’s mind enter the fray, a much stronger, sharper presence than his own. He pulled back at once, half not wanting to get in the way and half fearing he had already failed. He was too slow, and so his Master had taken over himself.

But a few moments later, he heard Azar’s voice in his mind. The tone was not angry, only expectant. VJFJS11929XDSS9292818.

Roman knew what it meant. It was the access code. He did not waste a second, sidestepping to the nearby console and leaning against it as if taking in the sheer scale and expense of the room around them. His fingers slid his pad into the port and then moved subtlety across the keys, something of the old Slick dealer in him aiding his sleight of hand. The code went in, the registry flashed up and Roman selected and began to download the right schematic.

It was big file, real big. But Azar’s distraction bought them just the time they needed. Roman unplugged his data pad and slid it in his back pocket just as Trift turned back around.

”Got a call Sir” he called out, pulling up his comm and pretending to have a transmission. “Urgent call out, I’ll have to catch up with you”. He threw Azar an accomplished look, before nodding to Trift and heading away. The man would be glad Roman was gone and perhaps the two of them would still have that dinner after all. It would certainly help to cover their tracks.

Roman gripped the data pad in his pocket, trying not to beam. They had done it.

@Sreeya