To be Lost

[Darth Vrael]

Vrael sighed in relief as he stepped out of the room, straightening his armor and nodding to his two Massassi guards. That had been an...annoying meeting to say the least. The Mon Calamari leaders had been dissatisfied with the current rate of goods exchange and ship productions. Of course the Imperial Govenor had been unable to solve the situation, and he, being in the area, had to step in. Vrael scowled deeply, resisting the urge to track down the man and punish for his foolishness. People at that level were supposed to be competent! No matter how obstinate the natives were being.

Still, at least he was done for that now, and he could return to the matter he'd actually come to this planet for. His ship, which he had commissioned after the normal models just hadn't met his needs. One of the sfew elfish things he'd used his new status for in these past years. Funnily enough, Vrael actually felt something like excitement in his chest at the thought. How odd, he'd thought he'd long since moved past such childish whims. Straightening up, Vrael started down the hall, his Massassi guards falling in behind him.

Reaching an elevator he stepped in and then allowed the Massassi to enter after. With a flick of his wrist, he pushed the lobby button and they were on their way down. For a few serene moments they continued on unabated...until they didn't. A slight ding rang, and the lift shuddered to a stop, the doors opening a few moments later. Vrael considered just forcing the elevator down regardless, but he stayed his hand for the moment. This should be very amusing. Two of the Mon Calamari people were outside, instantly stepping in whilst talking to one another. Until they looked up that is, noticing the two hulking red beings in the elevator with him. Instant fear, the two trying to backpedal away in unison, one of the falling right on his fishy face.

Vrael just waved the door closed, shaking his head at the utter foolishness while his two guards chuckled. Really, such an overreaction to what should be a common sight. Maybe the Sith purebloods needed to get off their homeworld more. Well he had plans to do just that. The elevator continued, this time reaching the correct floor. He stepped out and looked to the lobby, where his temporary companion waited. An Acolyte who had accompanied him out here on this errand.

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Arianna had arrived as the Emperor had instructed her, waiting in the lobby a few minutes prior to their decided rendezvous time. Her figure was garbed in her usual ebony cloaks, though to prevent any unnecessary fear, her facial visage was in pure visible sight. Rosy cheeks and red locks were an exquisite sight from underneath the shadows of her hood. Gloved fingers scrolled through several figures and reports on her data pad until eyes flickered up to glance at Darth Vrael as he exited the elevator. Slowly placing the datapad away, she moved towards his side and greeted him with a courteous nod. "Good Evening M'lord, I hope your meeting went well as expected?"

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

Vrael watched as the acolyte reached his side with a blank stare, returning her nod with one of his own. "It was satisfactory, " he said, a sense of frustration invading his tone as he shrugged. "The matter was resolved without too much incident. Now, let us move on to more important matters." Without another word, Vrael turned about and continued on his way down the hall. The acolyte would follow without a doubt, and his Massassi would fall in behind her after she passed them. Thankfully the area where he was supposed to pick it up was nearby, the construction berths being a part of this complex. It would only take them a few minutes to walk the distance. Especially with his hurried stride.

Before long, they had reached the requisite hanger doors. Vrael presented his credentials to the guards, as if the Massassi weren't enough. A steady glare and a hasty checking of IDs cleared the way, and Vrael marched right into the hanger.....There was nothing there. Just an empty hanger space, though judging from the abandoned connection tubes and ports, there HAD been something there. Vrael stopped in midstride, just taking the whole scene in with a dismayed gaze. He dispelled the shock a moment later, and a calm but furious scowl overtook his face. Behind them the door opened once more, a small group of Mon Calamari entering. At their head was the one he'd commissioned to have the ship built.

"Lord Vrael, I trust you are happy with the finished product? Pinnaces are a rare order after all and...." He stopped suddenly, noticing the distinct lack of vessel in front of him. He gulped, as Vrael turned towards him, a strong glare on his aged face as the Emperor of the Sith spoke, "I trust you have an explanation for this...holdup?"

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Arianna acknowledged the nod from her Emperor, the direct and lack of nonsense in his replies was refreshing especially compared to others who seemingly drifted into verbal tangents. Darkly shrouded figure paced besides Darth Vrael until of course their conversation was interrupted by the visible scowl on his face. As the Mon Calamari entered, her attention shifted upon the group and the conversation at hand.

Typically ships would not disappear on their own, either theft or ambush would be their largest worries. She did not wait for Vrael's bodyguards to ensure safety, dark side corruption melding on her previous beauty laden features. Green eyes turned to gold and flickered as coils of the force entangled around the throats of the other Mon Calamari. The force choke would place them on their knees, the young sorceress holding her extended hand outwards to maintain the ability. Her head slightly turned to the man Vrael had questioned and the single Mon Calamari not affected by her actions, "I apologize for the hostility, though you can understand our concern. Now then, I believe my emperor has asked you a question, it is impolite to keep a Sith Lord waiting..."

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

He hardly noticed the acolyte and his guards moving to secure the room, restraining some of them with the force. No, he had already given the room the checkout it needed to ensure his safety, and was moving on to the real issue. He made no more threats, and used not even an ounce of physical force upon the man. He simply stepped forward to gaze deep into the frightened aliens eyes, just waiting for a response. He was the Emperor of the Sith Empire, and that alone could move mountains. And this was just one mere fish man. The response was immediate and quite satisfactory, the Mon Calamari speaking frantically. "EMPEROR SIR, THE SHIP WAS HERE. I SWEAR! I-IT WAS JUST FINISHED YESTERDAY, I CHECKED UP ON IT PERSONALLY." Vrael stopped him then with a raised hand, an act that brought on a trembling fit of fear before he simply spoke. "You have security measures in place, cameras and such yes?" The alien nodded and Vrael nodded back pointing towards the door. "Show me. Now."

Moments later they were back in the halls, hurriedly traversing towards the security center. Or at least that's what their guide had told them, and Vrael was doubting his ability to lie convincingly at the moment. He had been convinced long ago that the Mon Calamari builders had nothing to do with this, partly because of the force. But also because he wasn't so stupid to believe THEY were so stupid. No, whomever were the perpetrators of this, they were someone unconnected. Someone who was a complete and utter idiot. They reached the security center and were quickly waved through, the guards brief insistence to check IDs put to an end by their guide.

It was a bright fancy room, loaded with screens and fancy bits of technology. Vrael just sneered at it, hadn't been enough had it? Maybe these morons were the ones who deserved punishment for failing their duties. The techs working the station had stood up in protest when they'd entered, but sat down one they'd seen his face....and those behind him. Vrael didn't waste another moment, pointing a finger at them and barking orders. Orders he expected to be obeyed. "Hanger 34, bring up the security footage for the past 24 hours. NOW."
@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Arianna released the grasp on the others, allowing them to stand and scamper behind their leader at the Emperor's command. She followed after Vrael and his guards as they navigated through the halls and were hurriedly transported into the security center. She held a similar sentiment as the Dark Lord, arguably it must have been one of these security agents who failed in their job at protecting the vessel. Perhaps, a message would have to be sent, one filled with brutality and efficiency. However, for now, she simply waited at Vrael's side, head tilted as her eyes began to study the security footage from the past 24 hours.

Three masked assailants sneaking into the ship bay..interesting. Arianna continued to watch the footage, seemingly without any opposition as the ship's machinery was known to them as well as the operating instructions. "No break in and no other guards injured, if I had to guess, this would be a traitor from inside. Tell me, Mon Calamari, have you hired new engineers lately?"

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

The screens spun and danced to their technician's commands, providing them a brief window into the past. Vrael watched the feed carefully, willing it to show what he wanted. At first it showed nothing, just the empty hanger, with his ship sitting inside of it. So the builders had been telling the truth then, as he'd expected. The next scene showed the real culprits, three masked individuals stealthily moving in. They weren't random fools either, they knew what they were doing, preparing the ship with obvious expertise. The acolyte beside him saw that as well, and apparently followed his same train of thought with her questioning.

Vrael turned to regard the one who'd brought them here with a raised eyebrow, waiting for a response. The sudden onset of paleness and anxious sweating gave him all the answer he needed, as the Mon Calamari realized the insinuation. Still, he waited, frown growing deeper as the moments dragged. "Well, who are we looking for? Out with it!" The man gulped, looking down at the floor as he finally spoke, 'Yes, yes we have in fact. Mereein, a young fresh graduate....She hasn't reported in today, and she had friends we were also considering for positions." "And their allegiances and such?" Vrael said, "I trust they've had some outspoken political opinions?" The ship builder merely nodded and Vrael nodded back.

"Take us to their rooms, so we can begin the task of tracking these fools down"

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

Arianna continued to watch coldly as the video played, observing these individual Mereein whom the Mon Calamari had mentioned had a possible hand to play in devising this plot. She couldn't lie and say she wasn't impressed, definitely the ability to sneak into a well guarded facility and isolate a ship wouldn't be any easy feat. Perhaps if Darth Vrael would spare these individuals his wrath, they may make good underlings in the future. Regardless, for now, they must be dealt with punishment.

As the Mon Calamari was commanded, she followed the group to Mereein's quarters; there appeared to be propaganda against the Old Empire within her personal belongings along with an old notebook with several scribbled addresses. "Seems to be coordinates, possible of shipyards." She turned towards the Emperor, "Permission to take soldiers and apprehend this Mereein, on behalf of the Empire?"

@Narsi

 

[Darth Vrael]

Vrael flicked through the person's things with a murderous efficiency, throwing aside anything he deemed not useful. As expected, it was chock full of anti Sith material, he even found a diary lamenting the OE's presence. What was more interesting to him however, was the addresses of possible contacts. These would serve well in his tracking of the culprit and recovering his ship. Maybe it would even serve to help Empire Intelligence in some way, leading them to a few rebel cells or whatnot. For now though, he had what he needed, and he was going to put it to very good use. He turned towards Arianna as she spoke, raising an eyebrow as he considered her request.

"No," he said, the single word breaking an odd tension that had fallen over the room. "You still have your tasks to take care of in this sector. I will go myself and take care of this." It was lucky, the will of the force perhaps, that he actually had time to embark on this task. And so as long as he had the time, HE was going to recover HIS ship, not pass it off onto some underling. Vrael turned to look severely at the builder who had accompanied them, letting he man quiver in fear for a moment. Eventually he spoke, "You should reassess your security protocols, urgently. Next time something of this nature occurs I and my men will not be so forgiving. "

Vrael left without another word, leaving a desperately nodding Mon Calamari behind him. Already he was making plans in his head on how to best go about this. There was even a acolyte in the area he was planning on contacting, one whose talents were very suited to these kind of tasks.

@Faded Truth

 

[Darth Victress]

.

It would be an understatement to say that Arianna was slightly disappointed, she thought that she could further augment her standing in the Empire by being able to track down and recover Darth Vrael's ships. However, it was the will of the force she supposed that she would instead finish the previous tasks already assigned to her. Afterall, a trip to Dathomir was approaching soon enough and she needed to finalize preparations. As he commanded, she gracefully bowed. "As you wish."

// end thread