Bakura - Salis D'aar - Sovereignty Congress Building

Black Hand Director Jorai Kovel sighed as he yet again turned his gaze across the vast Grand Hall of the Sovereignty Congress building - the seat of the ORS government. There were a couple hundred congressmen there, along with several women. Unlike the Empire, who banned women from political practices, the Sovereignty fully supported it.

Griff, on several occasions, in the private confines of his office, had mentioned how refreshing it was to deal with women, instead of men. Women, naturally, had more patience than men and were better suited to this style of Government.

But of course, Griff had never said this to anyone, and by all rights, Kovel shouldn't know about Griff's opinions on women, but then again, he WAS the director of one of the most efficient intelligence gathering groups in the Galaxy. He tried to know whatever he could.

Information is power.

He had always thought that, and now as he looked over the assembly, he mentally noted whom he had dirt on, because such knowledge would be helpful in his coming address. He smiled as he came to the realization that he knew the inner secrets of half the assembly. He had a long memory, and he prided himself on that very fact.

"The Chair now recognizes SI Director Jorai Kovel." Vice-President Meer called out, looking bored. The man was the former Black Hand director and one of Kovel's mentors. Meer was also one of the few people that Kovel had nothing on. No dirt to try and sway the Vice-President's opinion.

It doesn't matter He told himself as he stepped up to the stand and under the glare of the heavy lighting. There were many people present, Representatives, Congressmen and women, and also ambassadors of several Sovereignty-controlled companies, the most significant of which was ComTech, formerlly a sham corporation under Joren Logan, but now a real arms supplyer of the Sovereignty. They were key to his plan.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, "He began, "It has come to the attention of Sovereignty Intelligence (he never used Black Hand's real name) that a particular arms corporation, Loronar, is working against the Sovereignty. We have confirmed that they are definately supplying the designs of old and new weapons to our enemies, and our enemies are now utilizing that information against us." He said for his opening statement.

He paused, glancing across the chamber at the Congressmen and women of varying races and ages. Most of them seemed bored, not particularly caring about the matters of some insignificant corporation and it's business. Few of them seemed interested. But one of them, a woman from Bakura, stood.

"The Chair Recognizes Representative Mytera from the Bakura system." Marth Meer announced.

A woman of about thirty, Mytera stood with serene confidance, not daunted by the mysterious and intimidating Kovel, "Director Kovel, Loronar Corporation has existed since the begining of the Clone Wars, and has made many allegiances, but they are reletively small. Why are they such a threat?" She asked.

"Because of the nature of weapons they have designed. Two in particular have gained significant prominance, and one is perhaps their most dangerous." Kovel replied.

"What weapons are they?" Mytera asked.

"I cannot tell, but suffice it to say, they are considered extremely dangerous." Kovel replied coolly.

"Why such secrecy?" She asked.

Kovel sighed inwardly. He had hoped he wouldn't have to indulge the names of the ships he was after - ORS's enemies had many spies. Fat chance. Instead, he tried a new tactic, "We have reason to beleive Loronar is developing new weapons. Weapons they are planning to place on the market soon enough." He said.

"What are the nature of these weapons?" She asked.

"We aren't sure, exactly. But we must find out." Kovel replied.

"And what exactly are you asking of us? Surely Sovereignty Intelligence can dispatch a ship or ambassador." Mytera said, sweeping her arm to encompass the entire chamber.

"Because we do not have the reasources. Instead, I come to ask for the help of someone else." Kovel said, turning his gaze on the representative from ComTech, "Representative Harkov, might you tell me ComTech's stance on the matter?" Kovel asked.

Harkov, a man of about fifty, stood and Marth Meer announced him as Representative Mytera stepped back and sat down, "ComTech is not interested in Loronar Corporation. They have not threatened us in the past."

Kovel nodded. mentally calling up his store of dirt on Harkov and ComTech, "Indeed. But what of the ComTech dealings with Loronar?" He asked.

Harkov's controlled expression slipped, for one second. A look of shock passed over the elderly man's face before he regained his composure, "I have no idea what you are talking about." Harkov said.

Kovel looked hard at Harkov, "Indeed. My mistake." Kovel said, "Perhaps it was not you who paid Loronar for several conceptual designs that ComTech has taken credit for." The Director said.

Harkov barely contained himself, "Perhaps." Was all he said.



*


"What do you want?" Harkov asked.

"ComTech to send ships to Loronar." Kovel said.

It was two hours after Congress had adjourned, and Kovel now stood in the spacious office that Harkov called his own.

"To do what?" Harkov asked.

"Loronar must not be allowed to complete their new designs, or give old ones away." Kovel said, "I want ComTech to replace Loronar, completely."

"We can't do that. Loronar is much to big for us, and their Board of Executives would never allow it." Harkov said.

"Perhaps. But I will get rid of the board, if you will take control of the planet, and the corporation itself." Kovel replied.

"But the planet is not all Loronar Corporation's."

"But the planet answers to Loronar, and if you take control of Loronar, the planet will be ours." Kovel said.

"I can't do it." Harkov said.

Kovel nodded, "As you wish, but I am sure the Bakuran News Service would be delighted to get a new story concerning a scandal within ComTech. You would lose your job, your family, and everything you have ever earned." Kovel said.

Harkov glared daggers at the Black Hand Director, who was unfazed.

"It shall be done."


Kovel smiled and walked out.



*


"Director. Ms. Calypso is here to see you."

Kovel glanced up from his desk, which had piles of papers cluttering it, "Send her in."

Kovel stood and made his way around the desk as the doors to his office opened...

The sun was warm on the top of her home complex. One of the benefits of working for the government was that you got to live in the wealthy district with all the rich people instead of all the poor people. It wasn’t that she minded the poorer folks. It was just depressing to see so many people living lives less lavish than her own. Maybe she’d get one of the Senators to push for an aid bill. Then she wouldn’t have to see so much of it.

She lay on the beach towel looking up at the sun with a pair of solar resistant glasses on. She wore a bikini, which meant tan lines, but she didn’t mind that. She was all too busy enjoying the day and the free time she had. The mission’s had been lax lately and she was extremely thankful for that fact. It gave her plenty of time to chill and do what she wanted, like tan. She always liked to tan.

The darker her skin was, the better it looked. Or so she had been told. Of course she didn’t need dark skin to look good. She looked it anyways. No one in the ORS, female members anyway, could compare to her beauty. She had them all outclassed by a million to one. Which is why she should have counted on Chives coming upon her without announcing himself.

“Ms. Calypso, Mr. Kovel would like to speak with you. He say’s it’s urgent.”

She let out an audible sigh but did not move form her position. She didn’t feel like getting up at the moment. All she wanted to do was lay and rest for a while. But of course then Kovel would get mad at her. Finally, after a few minutes of making Chives stand there and wait, she stood up and looked at him.

“Everything is urgent with him. It’s not new to me. Have you put together my wardrobe?”

There was a slight hesitation on his part.

“No, ma’am. The laundry has not yet finished its drying cycle.”

“Well that’s just great. I need my clothes and I don’t have them. What is this galaxy coming to? Next you’ll be telling me my ride is here already.”

“It is here.”

She threw her hands up in disgust and walked into her home. She stormed through the building and into her room where she slammed the door shut. Walking over to the closet, she threw the doors wide open. What she saw horrified her. The only outfit she had that she could wear was an almost see-through red outfit that was extremely formfitting. It made her gag to think about even putting it on. She couldn’t show up to work in that. But she would have to.

Pulling it out of the closet, she set it on the bed then stripped off her bikini and went over to her drawer. Pulling out the necessary undergarments, she didn’t want to strut her stuff at work, she slipped them on and then the outfit. After putting it on she didn’t look that bad, but it could always be better. She hated the idea of walking into work with that outfit on. She walked out and stormed past Chives towards the door. He just stood there in amazement at what she was wearing.

“Keep the house in order, Chives.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She slipped out of the house and towards the waiting speeder. The government driver opened the door for her and she slid in. The driver was disciplined and said nothing about the clothing she was wearing. She was lucky she even had undergarments to wear. That would have been an embarrassment. She would have never lived that down. The driver pulled away and shot her off towards headquarters.

After what seemed like only a few minutes of riding at breakneck speed through a city of millions, the speeder pulled up to the secret government building and she stepped out of the craft and walked over to the door. There was a guard at the door who acknowledged her clearance pass and let her in through the first door. She then went up to the next door and took part in a retinal scan to confirm her identification. Then she was in.

Of course the first person to see her had to be Lieutenant Sanchez. He was always around when she showed up and it was common knowledge that he had a thing for her. Of course she had no such feelings towards him and likely never would. He was too forceful in going after you. Of course when he saw her, his mouth fell open and he tried to walk over to her in a very seductive manner. He wasn’t very good at it.

“Well, well. Ms. Calypso. How are you today? Might I say you are looking very good?”

“Shove it, Sanchez. I’m too busy for you.”

“Nah you’re not. We could do it right here and no one would care. We’d even have a fan club.”

He reached out and grabbed her by the shoulder. The next thing the Lieutenant knew, he was pinned to the ground with his face against it and his nose bleeding. He had done absolutely the wrong thing. It was a cardinal rule around the base that she did not like to be touched. If you touched her without good reason, you better watch out. She may just kill you.

“Don’t you ever touch me again. Got it?”

“Got it, yes ma’am.”

“Good.”

She stood and walked away, leaving a crowd of onlookers to watch the bloody Sanchez stand from the floor and head towards the men’s room. She walked with purpose down the hall towards Kovel’s office. The secretary greeted her rather quickly and she nodded to her. The secretary stood and walked over and announced her to Kovel. Karen walked into the office afterwards and gave the man a quick salute.

“I want Lieutenant Sanchez fired.”

Kovel, eyes closed as he carefully took a sip of his golden-colored drink, did not respond as Karen walked into the room. The liquid ran down his throat, it's warmth comforting his racing mind as he silently debated what was to be done about the Loronar issue.

He had, of course, not told Congress the truth. Or well, the whole truth. Such is the way of politics and intelligence circles. He could have cared less if Loronar was supplying anything to the Sovereignty's enemies. That was a matter for the Fleet, not Black Hand. Kovel's real objectives was much more simple.

He had two goals, one, Loronar had several designs of new ships they were developing stored in their archives. Kovel was always looking for new ways to further any ORS advantage in the war. Imperial research and development was at an all-time high. And the Sovereignty was lagging behind, placing too much faith in older designs. Newer projects were needed.

But the Bureau of Research and Development on Bakura was lagging behind as well. They were dreadfully understaffed and underpaid. Kovel had realized this and looked outward for new ideas for BRD. A deep operative within Loronar had discovered new projects being developed, and Loronar was planning on selling the designs on the market.

The Sovereignty had no time or money to spare in competing to buy the designs from Loronar. Kovel had developed a plan for getting the designs.

His other objective is resources. Loronar had obviously chosen the planet Loronar because of it's quantity and quality of resources. The company had hundreds of mining projects constantly delving for new material. ORS needed those resources to continue the war effort. But again, it did not own Loronar. In fact ORS had never even had a trade deal with Loronar.

Too bad for them.

Karen Calypso's words broke into his thoughts, “I want Lieutenant Sanchez fired.”

Kovel turned slowly to her, noting her garb of choice, "It is no secret that he is rather fond of you." The director said, bemusedly.

"Fond doesn't cover it." Calypso said.

"Why should I fire a perfectly good employee?" Kovel asked.

"He is making unwanted passes at me. I am tired of it. I have a job to do."


"Don't we all." Kovel mused, "So many things, too little time. I will reprimand Sanchez. But I think after the beating you just dished out he will think twice before even looking at you."

Calypso was silent.

"Anyway, I suppose you would like to hear the newest assignment I have for you." He said. Again, she was silent and he continued, "The company Loronar..."

“As in the company residing on the planet of that name?”

She cocked her head to the side and looked at him. That sounded interesting. Something was obviously going on involving the Black Hand and that planet. She wondered what it was and at the same time was interested in why she was chosen for the mission. She struggled to decide which question to ask first as it was a difficult choice. Finally she decided on asking both at the same time.

“Alright. What’s the mission and why was I chosen for it?”

She sat down in the chair across from the man and looked around the room. It was definitely much too elaborate for her. She preferred the smaller, less decorative office she used now. If offered an office like the one she was in then she would decline. She hated a ton of space because it always meant you wanted to fill it with stuff that you didn’t need.

“Well?”

Tatooine

Sand. Sand. More sand.

Captain Kage Bradan, commander of the ComTech frigate Liberator scowled as he observed the endless rolling dunes of the planet Tatooine. He had been assigned to the planet to protect ComTech interests here.

And there were very few ComTech interests on Tatooine.

At most, ComTech had a shipyard orbiting a distant sister planet of Tatooine - one even more scorched due to it's closer proximity to the twin suns. The ComTech shipyard was a small one, three-fourths the size of the Sovereignty shipyards that produced the warships of the government. The ComTech yards turned out prototypes to be later used by the Sovereignty.

Braden looked up towards the horizon, where the two suns were about to set. Shadow slowly spread it's way across the landscape, drowing out the dunes and sand in darkness. Much like the galaxy, which was slowly degenerating into darkness, the darkness of the Empire.

His commlink buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Captain." A female voice greeted him. Yet it was slightly distorted, and deep, very deep. He concluded that it must have been Lieutenant Drah'mek, an Arkanian female who had joined the Sovereignty when her home planet Arkania briefly joined the Sovereignty.

"This is Braden." He said into his commlink.

"We have received new orders. I have dispatched a shuttle to come pick you up. The orders are directly from Harkov, and they sound urgent." The Arkanian said.

"Alright."


*

Braden stepped onto the bridge of the Nebulon-B Frigate Liberator. The vessel was old and decommisioned and reactivated countless times. It has served in the Rebellion untill decomissioned by the New Republic. It had then fallen into the hands of the Empire, who also decommisioned it and sold it to the Corperate Sector. How it came into the hands of the Sovereignty, no one knows. But Griff managed to get it somehow and presented it to ComTech when Logan ran the company.

But Braden has instilled a sense of pride within the crew and encouraged a will to make the ship better and continue to repair and advance it. Consequently, the ship was in perfect condition with a highly trained crew, most of them seasoned in battle and all of them drilled constantly in simulators.

"Report." He said as he sat down in the command chair, reading a datapad with his orders displayed on it.

"Systems operating at one hundred three percent capacity." His XO, Commander Saskra, a male Shi'ido. Saskra, as per the Shi'ido way, completely dedicated himself to the perfection of his job. He was kind, but firm, compassionate but unswavering. He drove his crew hard, but not to the point of exhaustion. He was the perfect example of a first officer.

"One hundred and three?" Braden asked, not in the least bit surprised.

"Yes sir. Engineer Hasser has been working all night to repair the defect to the engines and shield systems." Saskra said.

"Please commend him." Braden remarked, reading his orders.

"It will be so." Saskra said.

"Oh and before you do that... order helm to prepare a course for the Loronar system. Recall our sqadrons and have them dock." Braden ordered.

"Loronar?"

"You heard me."

*

"I have convinced ComTech to move against Loronar. They have dispatched a ship from the Tatooine system to Loronar. The ComTech vessel is set to arrive near Loronar in three days. There it will wait outside the system untill you call it." Kovel said.

"You are chosen for your deep cover operations you have completed in the past. This is what we need now. Your mission is simple, eliminate the Loronar Board of Directors along with anyone who could assume power. Once you do that, contact the ComTech vessel and it will enter the system and quietly take over.

"I also need you to eliminate the Loronar communications transmitter dish to prevent them from contacting their forces for help. ComTech will quietly assume power and make up a story as to how the Loronar executives were killed."

Karen looked at him with a nod.

"No problem. I can do that really easily. Loronar has good technology and good people, but not awesome guards and military personnel. I'll set the dish to blow up by remote then move in for the kill in the board and secondaries."

She looked over at him as he sat there looking at her. Loronar must be really important to these people if they were sending her over to the dirty work. It must also be really secret for her to go. Normally they would send their troops over and just have them take out the board and dish. It would have been simple that way.

"If I may speak freely?"

He nodded.

"Why are you sending me over to Loronar instead of just having the covert troops go in and kill them? Don't you think it's a bit of overkill?"

His answer had come in the form of a command and she had been forced to back down. Not that she really cared. It gave her something to do and a way to get away from that idiot stalker. She couldn't complain about going off to Loronar and doing some dirty work. Not in the least. She got to kill people after all. No simple undermining of government officials. She got to do some real work.

Better than nothing.

Her ship sliced through hyperspace like a diamond-edged blade. Its target was obviously the planet Loronar. That planet would soon be thrown into a short term turmoil. Anarchy if you will. Karen didn't mind being a planet thrown into anarchy. In fact, she openly welcomed it. What was better than seeing a hectic group of people flounder on their own planet?

The lounged was filled by only two people. The first was a waitor and personal friend of the Calypso family. The other was Karen herself. She sat in a very comfy chair with her feet propped up on a cushion and a martini in one hand. She sipped the drink while casually talking to the man. He seemed interested in hearing of her exploits and what she'd been up to lately. Of course they hadn't seen each other in a very long time.

"So, what have you been up to lately, Karen? My dad's very interested to hear."

"Your dad's always interested hearing about what I'm up to," She let a smile slide onto her face. "Makes me wonder if he's really loyal to the Sovereignty."

"But.."

"I'm kidding, Vincent. Your fathers a fine man. I wont say he doesn't do a good thing by being the link between ORS and the Protectorate."

"I know you aren't. And frankly, I don't like this topic."

"Fine. What would you rather talk about?"

"Perhaps your last mission."

"Well, that's a long story.It started back on Bakura..."