Improcco, former Fortress world of Simon Kaine...


The Supreme Commander looked at the empty halls that once echoed ideals, purposes and plans for carrying out the furtherance of Empire and felt a slight emptiness.

Gone were the vast arrays of equipment, armaments and weaponry that once would have made this world something to contend with had an attack come.

Now, with the Sentinel Defense System coming online, such measures were a thing of the past.

Improcco held a treasure trove of precious materials contractors on Coruscant were delighted to know were now available for exploit. Mining bids had been received and approved and soon, even Kaine's presence would no longer be felt as the landscape of a world once his prepared for change.

The cold, bitter wind blowing across his exposed face was surprisingly refreshing and he felt at ease. And for good reason for there was no one left to fight.

He had dealt a blow to the terrorists that they would not soon forget and had put a creative spin on the energy of the League. Energy better serving the Empire and themselves by directing it not into a war with the New Order but into self-sustaining programs for the betterment of themselves and the group as a whole.

If some thought it was the kernel of a New Republic, what did he care? He already knew the history of democracies both in the past and in separate dramas playing out now.

The Galactic Coalition was no longer a concern as members of their former enemy plotted to rip it apart. Kaine had been content to let his enemies rip each other to shreds laying bare their own selfish designs as opposed to the aura of selflessness espoused by the ideas of the Old Republic.

The Dragons were advancing and in the end, even they must stop somewhere before inevitably hitting the wall of Empire. What did Kaine care if what was left of the fighting Coalition and what was left of the Imperium seemed hell-bent on destroying each other?

There was no enemy to fight and from his vantage point, he finally felt at ease.

The galaxy had been beaten into submission and all knew where supreme power in the galaxy lay.

Sure, there were still tiny pockets of those self important vermin who went about their own agendas with as much seriousness as Kaine took with his but vermin were there to be destroyed at leisure.

As an afterthought.


The only real power in the galaxy that had so far not felt the steel sword of the Empire had been the Commonwealth centered in the Corporate Sector.

Perhaps Imperial Intelligence would soon begin to exploit this government but that was for another time. In any event, they clung to a false ideology and would fall under the weight of their own corruption (or naivette) in time.


There would be no doubt as to the outcome of a conflict between the Empire and Commonwealth.


But it would not be under me...




Imperial Center - Imperial High Command



"You're fucking what?" Azrael Zell blurted out as they walked together.

"The same thing you did, Zell. I am retiring. Bhindi Drayson will be the new Supreme Commander."

"Don't turn this into something about me!" Zell warned. "I just dodged the responsibility bullet! But that's not you!"

"There's no one else to fight, Zell." Kaine's hand gestured in front if him as if encompassing their little portion of the known galaxy."

"What? You want fucking names?" Zell cried out incredulously. "That Bitch Leia Organa Solo Korban or whatever other name she's fucking added to her titles! How about Luke fucking Skywalker? How about Rico Belgardi! How about those fucking Kashan! How about the remnants of the Coalition! How about.."


"Zell," Kaine interrupted, "We have our boots on all of their necks. What more do we need?"

Zell stopped, his eyes widening in surprise. "Why to fucking stomp their fucking necks!" as if it made all the sense in the world.

"What, Zell. I need to spend the rest of my life stamping out vermin all over the galaxy? These people are inferior and little. There's no point. Better the vermin we know than stomping them and having an even more insane creature take their place."

"Well, THAT Won't be your call anymore, will it?" Zell sneered. "Bhindi may just up and attack everyone at once.."


"That will be her call. Or, at the very least, our glorious Emperor's call."

"What if some Sith fucker shows up thinking he, she or it is the greatest thing since teflon?"

A chance of irritation crossed Kaine's features. "Then kick his ass, Zell! For Emperor's sake, ACT!"

"What? You want to miss out on the call to glory as the final embers of our enemies burn out and get kicked in the nuts?"

Kaine stopped and looked at Zell, "I did not do this for glory, Zell."

"No. I'll fucking give you that, Kaine. You could have been far more dangerous to Hyfe than you have been. I've often wondered why..."

"Because I believe in the institution, Zell. I am a true believer in Empire. Maybe not the Emperor at times but the institution has been far more successful than we ever dreamed possible.

It cut away the ossification that weighed down the Republic and revitalized our economy and military to prepare us for new dangers that lurk on the horizon.. Regrad's posturing and well meaning calls to conscience in the galaxy but never...never did he offer an alternative. If the galaxy was going to go to war on his behalf, the least he could have done is offer something better than the ravings of an Azguard God. They may be well and good for Azguards but the rest of the galaxy is a bit more skeptical and needed something solid."

Kaine's voice trailed off.

"No, our job will never be completely finished. But for now, it is out of my hands."

"But what the fuck are you going to do?" Zell complained.

"Whatever the hell I want," the Supreme Commander whispered.



Insidion


Captain Merrik watched out the window as his shuttle lifted off the planet-wide city taking in the city-scape at dawn.

If you've seen one plantary city you've seen them all.

From one end of the galaxy to the other end, these worlds were expensive to run and probably, according to Merrik, not really worth the trouble.

But Kaine had found a use for them.

For every city, even planetary cities, had divisions and sectors and places that might as well have been another world in themselves.

This place was no different.

And yet, the plan called for control of all sectors, all districts and that control was a byproduct of the most basic control of all.

Control of people.

The genetic experiments of Insidion had finally come to fruition but with the peacemeal destruction of the Coalition, the necessity of Insidion seemed for naught.

But leave it to Kaine to have a backup purpose.

"Kaine's World" they nicknamed it.

"Captain? We have a transmission on the encrypted channel. It's Supreme Commander Kaine."

Merrik nodded and went to his private comm room aboard the shuttle to take the call..

"Supreme Commander, the final transferring has been completed."

"Excellent, Captain Merrik. I have one more order for you as Captain of the Insidion."

"Yes, Commander?"

"The Insidion is to be recalled but you will come to Coruscant. It is time, before we pass into that final night, that we reward you for your tireless efforts on behalf of myself and those of a grateful Empire.

We would wish to welcome you to Imperial Center, Admiral Merrik."

Captain Merrik, despite his cold demeanor, felt a tired smile crease his features. "It is over then?"

Simon Kaine nodded. "It is over. From star's beginning to star's end, from the bright center of the galaxy to the dark periphery, it is done. Come home."

Imperial Intelligence

"I don't understand," the Intelligence Agent known only as Ciscero commented as he walked down the gray corridors of the Intelligence Building, Imperial District.

"It's very simple, Ciscero," Director Isard answered rather scornfully. "The 256th, Kaine's fighting core vanished with the execution of Endgame. He became the Supreme Commander of all our Armed Forces and the 256th ceased to be an actual military unit. Their records have either been expunged or lost with the massive reorganizing effort that went into readmitting Imperial Center as the Administrative Capital of the galaxy."

"Still," Ciscero persisted, "How can we lose.."

"We didn't lose anyone!" Isard snapped. "Keeping tabs on our internal affairs is the ISB's job, not Intelligence. We have to focus on our outside threats and to be honest, there aren't alot of them out there anymore."

"So we've been dabbling in ISB's territory." the agent concluded.

"With results. We do know of certain officers still flagged by military assignments. It seems Kaine's 256th rose as he rose within the ranks. Those officers we do have tabs on.."

"Yes?" Ciscero prodded.

"They've all been recalled to Imperial Center."

"A coup?" the agent asked, suddenly growing cold as his mind ran through the ramifications.

Isard shook her head. "It points to one but why now? Why so public?"

"Public?"

"If we know it, it's almost certain the Emperor knows it." The old woman turned to her agent, "If Kaine is coming for a coup, it's going to be a bloodbath."

The room was dark and Line Captain Ortho Gutt had just finished a bottle of the strongest rot-gut he'd experienced in a while and it felt good. His quarters on Imperial Center were situated in the heart of the oppulent Imperial District, a bit high for his pay-grade but he earned an extra stipend from an unknown source for his agreement made in a meeting months back at the OG. He had an idea that something quite profound was happening but he was too drunk at the time to pierce the haze of double talk and innuendo.

All he knew was that he received a secret title that would appear on no network and would receive a stipend allowing him to live the life he was used too as Governor on Garqi. All the glory and none of the work!

A deal too good to be true and he knew enough not to question fortune's good smile.

He received an anonymous datapad delivery earlier that evening which briefly and succinctly explained the form of his glory and what was paying for his lifestyle.

He immediately began drinking as the datapad went into a series of self destructive modes ensuring that what had been burned into his skull would not be confirmed by what was contained within.

Even so, a drunk Ortho Gutt smashed the pad into bloody shreds and tossed it into the incinerator as if the action itself would erase his complicity.

After two bottles of rot-gut, he was more or less resigned to his position, such as it was.

For in reality, what could he do?

It was already done.



Twenty Billion...



He felt unclean. He felt ...

He felt that he had been kicked in the gutter from where he had come and he suddenly had an urge to reestablish his self importance and potency.

Dialing a specific encryption key gave him access to a creature that existed only in the shadows of civilization. Like the underside of economical needs gave birth to a black market, so too polite civilization gave birth to a haven to satisfy the cravings of a darker and uncivilized mind.

That his contact was a Rodian made no difference to the Line Captain.

"I am in need of ... " he began, his drunk exterior giving rise to sounding imperious.

The Rodian cut him off, "I know what you want.." his translator squeeked.

Several pictures were uploaded and the images conjured up desires that were safer shed at civilization's doorstep.


But not tonight.

Not now.

"Number 13." Gutt blurted out.

"Untouched. An excellent choice. Delivery will be made within the hour. You know my account and my price will be .."

"I'll pay it." Gutt snapped switching off before the Rodian could respond. He tried to stand and his large frame stumbled out his chair making his head spin.

A wave of nausea struck and vomit began to bubble up. He would never had made the refresher so he went for a corner of the room.


*

The chimes of his door woke him and he realized he had passed out in the interim.

He stumbled over and keyed open the security lock. The door slid open an a burly alien pushed the human female into his room. The door slid shut and Ortho, suddenly nervous, keyed the security locks back into place.

The girl was crying, obviously in fear.

"I want to go home!" she blurted out and Ortho felt a wash of arousal spread over him.

"What's your name?" he coughed out to hide his embarrassment.


"Netta. Netta Sirus.." the girl replied suddenly hopeful in view of the personal interest.


Ortho could take no more.


"Come here.." he croaked out.

^

Imperial Center


Theren Gevel stared at the Supreme Commander, his eyes reflecting an appalled expression. "That fucking murderer!"

"Theren, this has to be handled with soft gloves. Every shred of evidence points to a conspiracy headed by this deranged individual. But what worried me is that this Line Captain did not strike me as one intelligent enough to pull this off."


"Just the ring leader?"


"Or the glove over the hand."


"So who's the big fish?"


Simon Kaine handed him a datapad of requisitions, transports and the like. All innocent on the surface as legitimate actions but, with what Kaine has just told him, reflected an insidious design and the mastermind behind the seeming innocuous plan.

Moff Khendon.

"I want it done quickly and quietly, Theren."


The Praetor sighed and nodded. "This man's actions will be wiped clean with his death. Or so we'll tell ourselves once it's over!"

He looked up, "I hear you are leaving?"


"My time is over, Theren. It is time for someone else deal with the headaches of the job."

The Supreme Commander grinned but Theren saw the lines around his eyes and wondered, not for the first time, if the man before him, nearing his fortieth birthday was ever lonely.

"I hear your wife is pregnant?" Kaine asked it like a question but both knew it wasn't. Theren looked down a little embarrassed. "If it's a boy, she wants to name him Marus."

Simon clapped the man on the shoulder. "Get rid of these people and bring him up in a world of order, Praetor. You hold the keys of the Apocalypse Protocols. Let's hope you never have to use them."

Theren, unused to such displayes of comradeship simply nodded.


You'll be back..

Gustinius Drevell looked back as his home for the past few years receded into the backdrop of deep space.

"And not too soon because the hyperlane will be closed for good." the pilot noted as if reading the Engineer's mind. He had risen from the ranks as a structural engineer from the conflict surrounding the fight for Abregado-Rae and had spent a small portion of his life as a Outer Rim Sovereignty prisoner. That was where he saw first hand the effects of the fearful Dragon's technology and became the man overseeing most of Kaine's projects to unlocking the secrets of such techologies.

He had overseen the creation of a secret hyperlane only to see it closed, the navigational mathematical figures suddenly showing how impossible the route had become being filled in with celestial debris, radiation, gravity eddies and phenomena that hindered hyperspace travel and made it so dangerous to chart new routes.

The refit of the Galactus had taken place in this hidden location and Drevell had become attached. It suited his quiet nature and allowed him to work in peace.

Now, Kaine's people were being recalled to Imperial Center and from there who knew?

"Once more unto the breech.." he quipped settling back ready to bury his head into the technical journals he'd brought with him.

Imperial Center

Jenice Arliss paced the room she rented waiting for Kaine's arrival. In the posh Imperial District, nothing less than the best would suit the CEO of Arliss Towers, even if for temporary needs. She recalled the nights she used to share with Simon when his Second Sentinel Fleet was stationed on Muunilist prior to the Empire coming to Coruscant.
Those were the days when anything seemed possible.

And now?

Now rumor had it that he was recalling most of his loyalists to Imperial Center and such a move could only mean one thing: Coup.


Emperor Hyfe's days were numbered.


Even as she thought out the consequences she felt a wave of fear overcome her. If Kaine made the bid and lost? The Emperor would not suffer to let the supporters of Kaine survive. No. The retribution would be swift and with extreme prejudice.

On the other hand, when had Kaine never reached a goal to which he aspired?

She might think to go the neutral route but Kaine's insistence on seeing her made that option seem untenable. Kaine was going to ask for her help just as he did with Endgame.

She had received the message enroute to Coruscant to meet with her father via an encryption that ensured no one but her could read the message and she had told no one of her plans. Not even her father at the meeting the day before.

She wondered if Kaine would approach him even knowing how her father despised the Supreme Commander. Maybe Kaine would as her to intercede with her father on his behalf?

The door chimed and her thoughts feel silent.

She keyed away the security restrictors and the door slid open.

"What have -"


The noise was little more than a cough and her voice caught. Before her mind could register what had happened, the person in front of her had already stepped back and began walking away.

A hand went to her chest and came away covered in a thick, red liquid.

She tried to breath but nothing came...


..and in the shock of realizing she'd just been shot, her body collapsed.


Her eyes turned glassy as her blood began to spread soaking the floor.


The lights turned to a fuzzy haze and then she saw nothing at all.

Imperial Center


"I am telling you, Seamus. Rumor has it the man is retiring!"

Seamus Arliss, CEO of Arliss Industries pushed himself back from his desk and rose. His Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Conrad, had been pushing some sort of corporate assassination plot against Simon Kaine ever since this rumor had started.

"There is also a rumor that a coup might be in order. Most of Kaine's loyalists are being recalled and if we know, you know the Emperor knows!"

Mr. Conrad snorted. "But what can he do about it? Does he think the fleet will be more loyal to him or to their Supreme Commander?"

"And if the Emperor wields the Sith?"

Mr. Conrad let out a curse at the thought.

"Besides," Seamus continued, "Not all of Kaine's loyalists are being recalled. Grand Admiral Desaria is still out in the Occupation Zone and he worships the ground Kaine treads upon."

"I don't know.." Mr. Conrad was still unconvinced. "He is looking at being a Governor of the region, a Moff practically, as is Park Kraken and Kach Thorton. Politically they owe their allegiance to the Emperor. Any sway of that allegiance would be questioned by the next Emperor whoever that is. If they turned once, they could turn again.."

Mr. Arliss nodded. "A fair point. However, I think.."

He stopped as an aide came up running, clearly out of breath.

"Sir!" the man gasped out. "Your daughter.."

"Yes?" Arliss prodded annoyed at the man for the dramatics. He briefly considered firing him.

"Your daughter has been killed!" the man blurted out and Mr. Conrad's eyes went up in shock.

The blood drained from Seamus Arliss' face at the words. Even stunned his mind worked through the implications and his gaze captured the aide's.

"Sir, the Corporation is keeping it quiet. So far the media has not been informed and Arliss Security has..."

Seamus waved the man quiet. Turning to Mr. Conrad he ordered, "Get the aquisition papers drawn up and sent to the Towers. By this time tomorrow, I want control of everything! I don't want Kaine to move in on this and set up his own person!"

Turning to the aide, "You've just been promoted and given a substantial raise. Take me to my daughter NOW!"

How...?

A pounding against the door woke him up.


"OPEN UP!" came an authoritive voice.


Line Captain Ortho Gutt woke up in his bed, the lifeless eyes of the girl staring back at him. An immoral man, he felt more sorry for himself due to his hangover than for the dead child in his bed.


The pounding increased and Captain Gutt winced as if each was a sledgehammer bashing against his skull.


He started to get up when he realized he was naked. Searching frantically for his undergarment, he was in the process of putting them on when the security restrictions on his door were removed and several military police entered his room.

"Captain Ortho Gutt," a rather large man boomed out.

"Yes..yes? What is it? Am I late for a meeting with the Emperor?" he remarked, holding his hands over his eyes for his room was dark and the light from outside was blinding.

He should have been holding them over his nose for the stench of sweat, sex and blood permeated the room.

"Emperor's Black Bone!" someone shouted behind Ortho. The rotund man turned his large frame to the police officers shining lights on his bed.

"Oh that." he remarked. "I'll get housekeeping to dispose.."

The large military policeman struck Ortho in the mouth and, being the coward he was, he began to cry out in alarm.

Clearly he had misunderstood the situation.

"Caotain Ortho Gutt, you are under arrest for crimes against the Empire!" He turned his sight over to the bed and the man's lips curled in disgust. "And may you burn in hell!"

Ortho's mind suddenly cleared as he remembered what he'd read the night before and realization dawned at last.

He wimpered like a small boy and the military police pushed him out of his room in his undergarments completing his humiliation.


He could not look at either the police or the few gaping, elitist spectators that happened by.

Supreme Commander Simon Kaine walked into the Palace of Emperor Daemon Hyfe and noted that Azrael Zell was there.

"Supreme Commander, I suppose you are here to tell me my days are numbered?" Hyfe asked with a confidence Kaine admired.

He looked over at Zell and the old man's face was unreadable.

"Your Majesty," he started, looking Hyfe in the eye, "I am here to inform you that I have appointed Bhindi Drayson as Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces. I am also here to obtain your confirmation of the appointment."

Emperor Hyfe scowled at the answer and drummed his fingers on the thone's armrest. "Are you getting a promotion?" he prodded and then turned to Zell, "I don't recall promoting Simon Kaine. Do you Zell?"

"Fuck no."

"Your Majesty, I am also here to formally tender my resignation as Supreme Commander."

"You're retiring?" Hyfe nearly shouted incredulously.

Kaine smiled, "In as much as Zell has."

Zell couldn't sit still, "You have nearly two hundred warships in orbit right fucking NOW! Tell me you don't mean to act out a coup and I'll tell you to fuck yourself!"

"I do not mean to act out a coup, Zell." Kaine whispered.

"GO FUCK YOURSELF!" Zell shouted.

"Now that we are all men of our word, it seems, all I need is your blessing, your Majesty."


Hyfe's eyes narrowed. "You just want to walk away?"

After a moment came the inevitable question, "Why?"


"Because there is nothing left to win, your Majesty. The state of the Empire is strong."


Zell stepped forward, "But don't you want to ride this till the end? Till all our foes are vanquished?"


"Who, Zell? Tell me, who are our foes?" Kaine shot back. "Every foe of note is dead or doing that very thing. Riding their cause to the end. The end of themselves!

Tell me, where is Fitzgerald's Force?"


Zell stared blankly, "Dining in fucking hell." he said as if it was common knowledge. And to those present perhaps it was. Hyfe chuckled.

"Han Solo, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker...these enemies of old are gone! Perhaps they are alive but these champions of their causes have seen their cause DIE! Now they live in obscurity living out the past in regrets! I've been to Gash Jiren's grave. Once the bane of the Empire, now he is dust! Xylon Hexyra? General Ceel? Tell me, WHERE ARE THESE HEROES OF OLD?

Dead!

Their ideals! Their causes! DEAD!!"


"THEN WHY DO WE FUCKING PIDDLE WITH THIS OCCUPATION ZONE! WHY DON'T WE SIMPLY FINISH IT ONCE AND FOR ALL AND DAMN IT, FUCKING TAKE THIS GALAXY!!!" Zell shouted.

"For what, Zell?" Kaine asked softly. "You wish to expend the martialled strength of the Empire to immediately seize the Coalition and it's satellites, the Corporate Sector Commonwealth and the Dragon Imperium?

With all our strength expelled to seize it, and I grant you, we can seize them if we are focussed on that goal, what will we have?"


Before the Emperor or Zell could respond, Kaine continued, "We'd have less than half the known galaxy. You miss the larger picture, gentlemen. We've encountered races and technology as different as anything we've seen in this galaxy or universe. We've already seen reports of incursions by species from other galaxies... crossing that vast divide with ill intent. Races like the Yuuzhan Vong.

Do we really want to stretch ourselves so thin in erradicating these factions that are already falling under the weight of their own dying ideologies or stir up trouble where none existed before only to later find ourselves prostrate before an aggressive species?"


Understanding suddenly lit the Emperor's eyes, "You want to go to the unknown regions. You want to see what's out there."


"Your Majesty, I wish to retire from my position."


The Emperor's eyes narrowed. "And if I refuse?"


Simon Kaine suddenly felt irritated at the game, "Now you know why I have two hundred ships in orbit, your Majesty. You will not refuse."


Hyfe bristled at the implied threat but Zell spoke, "You think Imperial warships will fire on their Emperor?"

"The ships above are not formal Imperial Military units."

Zell showed surprise and Hyfe barked out a laugh, "So, you have your own private army do you?"

"My Lord," Kaine said with finality, "I am not a Moff. I do not have vast land holdings, estates or wealth like Park Kraken or Telan Desaria. I cannot claim a protectorate holding as Bhindi Drayson for I was, first and foremost, a General, a Grand Marshall and now Supreme Commander. If I have furthered designs of my own, increased my station and collected those to me who've been rewarded for their loyalty to me, what of it?

I have served the Empire with distinction and with success. From our arrival on Bastion those years ago to now, we leave the Empire stronger than it ever has been. And so yes, your Majesty, I do expect you to confirm my choices because, quite frankly, I've earned it!"


Hyfe turned to Zell who, in turn, shrugged. "Fuck me but he's got a point."


"Very well, Simon Kaine. I grant you your confirmation." His eyes lit his smirk, "I hope you enjoy your retirement."


*


The Spartan walked up to the former Supreme Commander. "Your orders have been completed. Everything has been prepared here as well as Siennar." Kaine nodded. He was taking the Gree Hypergate with him aboard the Galactus. It was hoped that it might be an asset where they disappeared too.

The soldier moved on leaving Kaine to his thoughts as he stared at the plaque before him.

The remains of his mother, Celeste Kaine, were behind the marker and he felt it inappropriate to move what had been her final resting place.

"I left Coruscant as a child only to come back as the conquering hero, mother. Now I leave it again. I wonder how I will return this time?"

Will I return?


"Goodbye, Mother."




*


After preparing personal messages to those he was leaving behind, ..soldiers, officers and loyalists Kaine had directed over the years, he also saw to it that many military units who had distinguished themselves in his service for courage, bravery and loyalty to the Empire were given the rewards and promotions they deserved.

With many of his private programs being shut down, the added funds would boost Drayson's 'war-chest' to levels higher than he had upon becoming Supreme Commander. However, he also took a portion of those funds and sent sums divided by population to the various worlds in the Empire to help local civil programs reach fruition. The response to his generosity was overwhelming and displayed in various ways.

Not all of his programs or projects were abandoned as he was content to leave their fate in the new Supreme Commander's hands.

The promotional ceremony of Bhindi Drayson was slated to be one of the major events of the year for the Empire as well as Kaine's retirement.

He flickered off the screen knowing he had to leave to make the ceremonies on time.



*


"Sir, the Galactus has arrived at the rendezvous point and all fleet units are accounted for. We merely await your command." Admiral Gordon Sveli nodded to Simon Kaine as he stepped onto the bridge.

"Mr. Sveli. Tell the fleet to engage their Raptor System and then have us proceed at best possible speed to neverwhere."


The acceleration lights of the fleet's engines flickered briefly and the ships jumped.


Simon Kaine was gone.

"He disappeared." Ciscero said without preamble and Isard put down her report.
"Come again? I thought we had a tracking device on his ship?"

"We had one on several ships. They were found floating at their rendezvous point. The last trajectory heading the equipment recorded took them on a direct course for a star.."


"Then check out the system.." Isard snapped when Ciscero interrupted her.

"No, you don't understand. The course directly collides with a star. If they jumped along that trajectory, they'd be dead.

Ysanne Isard tapped the report she had been reading with a finger. "Last week, Jenice Arliss was murdered."

Ciscero's eyes widened, "And we are just finding out now?"

"Yes, our friends at the ISB are either slow or Arliss Security has friends in high places."

"A blackout." the agent whispered.

"Arliss Industries aquired the Towers in the process and now the two halves of the Arliss business entities are whole.

Ciscero frowned, "What does that mean for us?"

Isard smirked, "That Seamus Arliss is more powerful now than he ever was before. He enjoys unprecidented military contracts and we still do not know who killed his daughter."

Ciscero suddenly became uncomfortable, "Seamus was no friend to Kaine. If he thinks the IHC is hiding Kaine's whereabouts..."

"Then should it come out that Kaine orchestrated her death.."

"We'll have a problem on our hands." Ciscero finished. "Do you think Kaine did it?"

The Director rubbed her eyes. "There is no proof one way or the other and believe me, ISB has been all over this. But what I do know is that Kaine's departure indicates great planning and coordination."

Ciscero creased his brows, "He tied up his loose ends.."

After a moment, the agent asked, "So what now?"

Isard shrugged, "We go on." She punched a button and called for an aide. "Get me the file on Bhindi Drayson..."