Ask New Alderaan White Knight

[Spectre]

New Aldera, New Alderaan​

Cipher Nine would look through the viewport while riding in a air speeder, taking them through New Aldera, the capital city of New Alderaan. The planet and the city is easy on it's eyes. New Alderaan used to be part of the Empire before, but it was lost during the Sith-Imperial Split. The air speeder would be heading towards the residence of Vidarr Janren.

Cipher Nine did an amount of research for the mission along side his partner, Cipher Ten. Cipher Nine looked through the political candidates for the upcoming New Alderaanian election. They had to meet a certain criteria. They had to have a decent chance of winning on their own, be amicable to the Empire, and be controllable. Vidarr was a green nikito male who ran on a Centralist platform. Centralism gained more traction on New Alderaan after Sith rule brought more resources and industry to the planet. A meeting with Vidarr was arranged.

The speeder would then land. Cipher Nine would be sitting down while viewing the dossier of Vidarr one more time. Before they disembark, he would hand over the datapad to his fellow cipher agent to gleam over if they choose. "Here's the dossier if you want to look over it one more time." he said. If he wants to take it or not is up to him. "Any questions?" he would ask his aquatic partner.

As this mission is to be done on the downlow, Cipher Nine came up with a alias for himself. The niktio's residence should be a nice private place, and he assured that there would be no one else there.

@Darasuum

 

[Cipher 10]

Cipher Ten did little more than glance outside the airspeeder as they flew by. Their completely black eyes analyzed the datapad in their webbed fingers instead. The Imperial Cipher agents rode together in relative silence for awhile until coming to a stop at their destination.

When offered the dossier he waved it back. "I've got it." He said and gestured with his own datapad. The portrait of the Nikto was displayed on it but was changed to financial statistics about the politician. "Politics are not my strong suit. Maybe you can enlighten me. Would it not be easier to find a weak puppet for this position, someone that can be more easily manipulated or molded?" The Karkarodon would listen, occasionally looking up from his reading tool to look around or glance at his partner.

Like Cipher Nine, Ten had come prepared with an alias as well. There was a number of ways to get a politician in their corner. But there was prerequisites that this particular politician met. Cipher Ten was curious more than anything. In the end it was a mission which he would execute to the best of his ability.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Spectre]

Cipher Nine would respond to the fish cipher's questions. "This New Alderaanian election looking be tight. It will be the first election since we lost control." he said. Which makes it all the more important "We will have a much better chance of winning if we support someone who already has an established voting base and building upon it rather than starting from scratch." he said. "Although as for Vidarr, the profile suggests he would be amicable to us. If we were to help him, he would be indebted to us, and may need us to help support his rule." And that's how the Empire gets de facto control of the planet "And as a Centralist, his ideology would lean more towards us" Centralistsm was political viewpoint that supports a strong central government.

---

Now that the shuttle is landing, Cipher Nine would be disembark and gesture his partner along. And the green nikito would come from his estate. Now off the exit ramp, the cipher agent and Vidarr would shake hands after he would extending it "Thank you taking time our your busy day to meet us." The nikto would look upon the two, not saying much at first. He knows they are special interest people with lots of money, not that they are with the Empire. The nikito was stoic, and cold, but was receptive at the very least. He would gesture them to come inside.

Now they would be in the Vidarr's private study. There would be plenty of room to sit, and there would be plenty of refreshments. "Well, here we are." he would ask. "What were your names again?"

C9 would respond with his own alias he cooked up. "Rhys Newman" he would look over to Ten/X "And this my partner" he would gesture to him to introduce himself.

@Darasuum

 

[Cipher 10]

Cipher Ten heard his fellow agent, occasionally looking at him as he listened and looked at the dossier simultaneously. "Hmm. It sounds like it should not be too hard then." Hopefully that was the case.

---

The Karkarodon followed his human counter part to the meeting. He carried his datapad by his side but it was turned off for now. The cool webbed hands of the shark-like individual were a slightly awkward shape to shake but the man completed the pleasantry none-the-less. He managed to avoid scratching him as well which was a bonus but Nikto's were tough individuals from what he had heard. The stoic expression was hard to read. C10 would remain quiet and smile only to reveal a row of predatory teeth. It was far from comforting to most people but the slicer could not help but try to awkwardly seem as pleasant as possible.

When it came time for introductions he would use his own alias. "Bruce Swajson. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your time." He said, taking a page out of his partner's book in being nice.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Spectre]

"The pleasure is all mine" he responded to the shark man, he shook his hand, hesitantly to make sure he didn't get clawed. Although New Alderaan has a very diverse array of species, a Karkarodon isn't a common sight. He figured they keep to the water. "Have a seat, then we will talk" he said. With that said, he would take a seat. Cipher Nine would also take a seat. "So, what is your business with me?" the Centralist politician said. Cipher Nine would then explain. "We have... mutual goals here on New Alderaan. You seek the presidency, and you are seeking to keep the status quo of how things were under the Empire. As I recall, the central government on New Alderaan was powerful and Governor Arcturus secured a supply folow of resources for New Alderaanian industries and kept trains running on time. Under his reign, The Royal Engineers were able to produce a Star Destroyer, something the fools under the previous adminstration could not, right?" Cipher would then look to his partner, wondering if he's following along, before looking back at the green nitiko.

Although liberty, personal, and political freedoms suffered under the Empires, buisnesses and profiteers did not. "We aren't going to beat around the bush here. Our porposal is this: Align with us, if you win the presidency, have your administration make moves to rejoin the Empire. In exchange, we will provide you will have a blank cheques for your campaign, we can have other people assist in it. We have access to experts with strategies and techniques that can boost your campaign, and... deride your opposition. Not only to win it, but to keep you in office"

Vidarr nodded along, interested in what he's hearing, but not sold yet. "Are you two with the Empire?" C9 shook his head no. "We are not. We are with a special interest group that's interested in stabilizing the sector for profit. In chaos there can be no profit. We want you to bring order out of chaos."

The man would think, "Well, why do I need you two? I think I can do this myself" The cipher agent will then counter. "It's going to be an uphill battle. The main contender is Ceris Odrosess, she's a rich heiress with a vast fortune plus money made as a Republic admiral in addition to her own business, and probably connections made out of those. You sure about your chances?" that caused the nikito to think twice, before shurging."You're right on that account...".

"So what, I do as you two say, I'll be in office? I'm not looking to be a just a mere puppet."

@Darasuum

 

[Cipher 10]

"A puppet perhaps, but mere I think not." The black eyed slicer looked at the Nikto politician blankly with its sharkfaced expression. This earned him at first a puzzled expression from Vidarr but he continued. "From what I've seen I think anybody that wins this race would be a rather mighty puppet." C10 was being serious. Every politician was probably getting outside help or had some leg up to give them a boost. If Vidarr did not work out then there was a chance the Empire could leverage someone else. This was by far the most efficient route but not their only option.

Vidarr's eyes narrowed at the way the undercover cipher agent. The Karkarodon shrugged and held his hands up slightly. "We all want New Alderaan to thrive and prosper and grand it will be. But first, you just need to ask yourself, Mr Janren, do you want to be the one leading your people through revolution or do you imagine someone else accomplishing your dream? Someone like Odrosess? I'm no politician though. I just hate half measures." He spoke bluntly and someone lacking perhaps a few degrees of tact. But the implication he intended was that not having the Empire back him would be a poor choice in the long run.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Spectre]

He was content with the answers so far, but that would be enough to totally sway him yet. So going back to the above. "Alright, so lets say I have you your shadowy group helping me with my campaign. I win the presidency, then I push for re-integration into the Empire. That will not sit well with the New Alderaanians." He brought up. It's true. Regardless of the advances in resources and industries on the world, the the the concept of the Empire - everything it stands for - is diametrically opposed to New Alderaanian values and culture. While industrials loved the profit and business with the Empire, the citizenry hated the Empire.

"Unlike the Emperor, the President of New Alderaan has checks and balances. And if I push for re-integration, it also would be at great cost to me, maybe one that I can't pay. I do not wish to be voted out no-confidence. What assurances do you have that this is possible without getting me ousted?"

This would take some more thought. They have a way to get him in power, now the nikito pointed out he needs a way to stay in power. "How amendable would other Centralists be with getting back to the Empire? We will pursue similar deals with the other Centralists running for the Alderaanian Council. They will have our backing, similar to yours. Should Centralists gain a majority of the Alderaanian Council, that will tighten the your grip on the presidency. Once you defeat your opponents for the Presidency, we can run campaigns of propaganda to boost your support and start a misinformation campaign to discredit opposing politicians and ideas as well. If opposing politicians start to become a threat, they will be... sabotaged." he said.

He had one more idea before passing it to his partner. "If you do well, if you succeed in having New Alderaan rejoin the Empire. You will become...President-for-life of New Alderaan. You'll be do whatever you want on this planet, as long as tithes to the Emperor are made with taxes, men, and ships, and you will become under the Empire's protection."

@Darasuum

 

[Cipher 10]

Bruce Swajson blinked the thin membrane that was his species eyelids as he listened to the exchange between his partner and the politician. The Karkarodon slicer nodded his shark-like head with a toothy grin and another shrug. "Emperor's aren't elected. Loyalty to the Empire and results are to be rewarded." He did not want to say anything more or be at risk of putting his fin in his mouth. C10's demeanor could be off-putting just in presence alone.

@The Good Doctor

 

[Spectre]

"Excuse me for a moment" the presidential candidate would then raise his hand, signaling the need for some space. With that, Cipher Nine would gesture his partner to come with him while the governor would mull over his decision.

Once the two would be outside and he would then ask his partner "What do you think he he is going to do?" he asked his partner as he speculated himself. "I think we offered all we could" Cipher Nine had a lot to offer the candidate, but it's still in the air if he would accept. At least if he refuses, he didn't out that they are Imperial Intellgience agents. Just a group of shadowy lobbyists is the most he is aware of.

After a few moments, the door would open, and the nikito would gesture the two back to their seats, which Cipher Nine would then take his seat.

"Well now, Mr. Newman and Mr. ... Swajson was it?" Vidarr would not beat around the bush for long. "I will take you two up on this deal and accept your help along with the conditions." Cipher Nine would then start to smile but then Vidarr would raise his hand and extend his ring finger. "But..." there is a catch "Should you two and your 'group' fail to uphold you end of the bargain, the deal is off and I will abandon the plan" he said. C9 would then look towards his partner, it looks like the plan is a go. Back to Vidarr "Now then, I have company arriving in the next... half hour." he checked his chrono. "Please make yourselves scarce" he effectively asked them to leave.

Cipher Nine himself would get up, and gesture his partner to do the same. "Pleasure doing business with you" he said with a tiny bit of jest. "We will be in touch in with you soon." he said. Soon.

CIpher Nine would then start walking over back to the shuttle. "Mission accomplished my fishy friend." he said to his partner.

@Darasuum

 

[Cipher 10]

Cipher Ten nodded as the candidate took a few moments to deliberate. The Karkarodon stepped to the side with his partner and tilted his gill lined neck towards Cipher Nine as he watched the other man leave. First C10 nodded slowly to the question. "I think he will make the smart decision." He wanted to say they did well but he reserved vocalizing the idealism and instead waited to hear the results. Otherwise he was setting himself up to be wrong and Cipher Ten hated being wrong.

As they waited he posed a question towards his fellow agent in a quiet tone. "Do you think we'll have to come back? It might pay off to make check ins with him if he wins, as we are now...of course." One of the difficulties with being an operative was remembering past disguises. There might come a time when the Empire needed to use the President again so it would be wise for both of them to remember their aliases and potentially solidify these identities for future use.

When the Nikto politician returned Cipher 10 moved to his seat beside his partner. After listening to Vidarr Janren's acceptance the fishy slicer across from him could not help but smile toothily yet again. "Enjoy the rest of your day. Until next time, Mr. Janren." He gave a courteous nod as he rose from his seat and followed Cipher Nine out of the building.

The Imperial cipher agent let out a breath as the building shrank behind them. "Well done." Cipher Ten could not wait to get back home and sit in his dark and secluded room.

End Thread​

@The Good Doctor

 

[Spectre]

"We will definitely be checking in on him. Frequently. In addition to monitoring reports on the planet. " he answered the question while they were still behind closed doors. Although the aspiring President was promised power, it would not be without Imperial oversight. The ISB or Cipher Agents are not known for letting things go unchecked "Don't forget, we can also 'let lose with him' when he is no longer needed or wanted." He said in a cold, quiet tone. Let loose meaning to dispose of him or otherwise abandon him. Letting someone have reins like that is asking for trouble. If he wins, he will be nothing more than a cog in the machine.

---

Now that everything is done. Now that they are out of the building and onboard the shuttle, Cipher Nine would then put his ring finger on his comlink, sending a communication. "The job is done. We have our planet".

Now the shuttle would ride off into the sunset.

@Darasuum

/fin