Chp-59: The Unseen Hand and the Iron Fist
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Freefaller
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Chp-59: The Unseen Hand and the Iron Fist
Darna Sabrir
Edin System, Highreach, Edinspire
Once again, Darna sat at her desk wondering how the Governor ever did it. Edin's population was barely half of Minda's, but the amount of work she had to do felt monumental.
Sure, there were countless pirates and criminals that were being pushed back on the daily, there were infrastructure projects, social programs, and her position as Guild Director, and-
Darna sighed. Sometimes, she wished things had never gotten to this point. That Minda had stayed a small, agricultural backwater where she could enjoy her life as a secretary with good pay, good coworkers, good scenery and a good boss. Things would've been so much simpler.
Then, she reads a report from CHAIN operatives that a shipment of kidnapped children had been saved, and she throws those thoughts away. For all that she could've been living the easy life, the burden she has taken upon herself has allowed her to save so many others. Both through the WEB, and HAVEN.
HAVEN being the name of the anti-slavery operation she ran. Within the WEB she was called Weaver, and within HAVEN she was Lighthouse. Only those at the very top of each organization knew who she was, totalling around three people, and they were very close friends of hers. Of course, neither organization knew about the other aside from the high command of both.
Compartmentilization was key here. While she could ensure that the Mindan and Edin governments never looked too deeply, there were always unseen variables. In fact, most of the HAVEN operatives didn't even know they were HAVEN operatives, not unlike the passive members of the WEB through the government app.
Of course, when it came to HAVEN, it was a tad different. The unknowing operatives were freightmasters who took a little on the side to 'lose' a shipment or two every now and again, bureaucrats who looked the other way for a few creds, maybe a merc who's paid to off some pirates and never look back.
The real operatives of HAVEN were the various sub-groups within it. The LODESTARS identified which slaves could be most easily saved without compromising the mission, where to find them, etc… They skulked through the slave markets of Nar Shadda and the swamps of Nal Hutta, eavesdropping in both dive bars and classy establishments, hacking terminals and spying on the enemy.
The CONDUITS did the actual relocation, intercepting shipments, extracting slaves and getting them to Minda. They did the starfighting, the boots on the ground activity. Sometimes, it was a breach and extract. Other times, slaves simply disappeared, much to the confusion of their masters.
The LOOM crafts new lives for the escaped slaves, helping them settle into villages, towns, and cities across Minda and, now that it was becoming more stable, parts of Edin. Mainly Edinspire.
It was the SPARK, however, that did the longest term work. They were propaganda artists of sorts, spreading the anti-slavery message far and wide. They were the fewest in number at the moment, and mostly worked through the holo-net, but they would grow in time. The Empire officially didn't condone slavery, but that was simply drivel for the Core to eat up. In the Outer Rim, it was a fact of life, and made anti-slavery propaganda difficult to disseminate, especially with the ISB and COMPNOR so active in the Core where the propaganda was needed the most.
All things considered, HAVEN was a more complex machine compared to the WEB, and for good reason. The WEB was an organization of people who wanted nothing to do with the Civil War, and were willing to do something to keep it that way, so long as they didn't have to stick their necks and risk themselves or their family to do it. Commendable, but not nearly enough to do what HAVEN needed to do. HAVEN was mostly ex-slaves who had that fire in them, the ones that above all wish to see the chains of others broken. That was a much larger task, requiring a much larger structure.
Still, it did good. Darna smiled as she remembered that video captured by the very first team of CONDUITS. A cargo pod of slaves being told that they were just freed forever. Watching them hug and cry the hooded CONDUITS had been a monumental moment for her. She wasn't ashamed to say she cried. Proof that she could do good in this galaxy, that her efforts were not in vain.
That there were children out there saved from the life she had been forced to live. That her mother had likely died living.
The video had been deleted, and the CONDUITS never showed their faces, nor speak without voice modulators. The more deniability, the more secrecy, the less risk those freed will face.
And all the better life will be.
Until the Scarred Hand showed up.
Because, up until then, both the WEB and HAVEN had been doing tremendously well. Slaves were freed on the regular, Hutt operations were sabotaged in ways that made it seem like accidents or Hutt on Hutt infighting(quite common), gangs and cartels were caught and killed as quickly as they could spring up, and things were good. Life was good.
But then, she got a call from Sidheth. Who told her that some extremists had decided to target Minda. The WEB got on it right away, and their actions were countered consistently. Some anonymous tips to the police led to some investigations, but they were good at covering their tracks.
Many attempts to plant bugs, sabotage infrastructure, and more were thwarted. But it wasn't enough.
Darna had no way of getting these terrorists herself. They were always out of reach, not sneaky enough to get by the WEB, but enough to escape the police, enough to escape justice.
It angered her beyond belief. Especially now that they had attacked Minda itself, and killed. Only 5 were dead, thankfully. But they were all members of the Mindan Council, which meant that the people's representatives had been killed. And how many others could've been? How many?
Tens? Hundreds? Thousands? The WEB prevented much, but it was not perfect. It could not act, and every WEB had gaps.
So now, she was tightening the noose. To protect Minda, and to ensure this disease didn't spread to Edin. Especially with the new projects. More industries, more mining, refining, education, farming, and more were being built. Companies were setting up shop, people starting businesses. It was still small, but the potential was there. For Edin to grow strong and clean like Minda had.
She would not allow these two palaces of prosperity to be soiled. Not while her blood still ran and her heart beat with rage.
Silently, she sent an encrypted message to her most trusted agents, those she knew would never betray her, or blink at what she loathed to propose, yet knew was needed.
It was time to act like the Custodian she was, and SWEEP.
-
God I fucking hate my boss, man.
Sitting in some chair on the other side of the sector, looking at me with the stare of someone who just found an opportunity.
I didn't like being seen as an opportunity. Unfortunately, I don't get to tell my boss that, or I get the noose.
"Governor. This attack does not bode well for you, or the project."
I nod, not too fast to seem desperate, but not so slow as to seem hesitant. Can't let him get a read on me.
"Perhaps, Moff Hiral. I already have my best people hunting down these terrorists, rest assured we will catch them."
Fuck! I already sound like a cartoon villain. Not the big bad, but the underling that's always telling their boss they'll 'catch those pests' every episode but never does. The kind that, in this galaxy, gets killed! But what the hell else am I supposed to say!?
"Hmmm…Worry not, I believe you. Will you require additional resources for this endeavor?" Hiral responded, and I was momentarily surprised. I mean, a Moff, asking if his underling needs help? Weird. Suspicious too. But maybe…
"It would be a great help if more Stormtroopers were assigned to increase patrols. With the first set of three shipyards a mere week away, I fear the terrorists may target them as well. The extra security will be needed to sniff them out, and, failing that, protect the new assets until such time that we may eradicate the enemy."
"...Approved. These shipyards are of great importance, Governor. Do not allow them to be damaged or destroyed, or the consequences will be…dire."
"Of course, Moff Hiral. Though, I must warn you. The extra security measures will slow things down, as logistical chains will need to be scanned and checked thoroughly, among other things."
"...Hmmm. Understandable, if unfortunate. However, to ensure all this goes smoothly, and to help speed up the investigation into this rebel group, I will be sending along an agent with these stormtroopers. He shall aid in the investigation. Is that clear?"
"Of course, sir."
He hummed once more, but said nothing. After that, he gave me a list of pre-orders to have completed ASAP, and left to go schmooze it up with some fat cat or another.
Now that I was alone, I could do this.
"FUCK!"
I drop down into my chair, having stood for the meeting to be respectful.
A fucking Agent? From who? The ISB? Fuck, probably, right?
My eyes darted back and forth, as if I could gleam some clue from my ever familiar office. What should I do? I mean, if they get the baddies quicker, that's great, but what kind of damage will they do in the meantime?
What happens if they decide to execute someone? Can they do that? I mean, I can technically do that, but its not exactly a good fucking look, now is it!? And what will they report!? What will they say!? Enough to get me killed!? Maybe I can bribe them? No, if that fails then I'm done for sure!?
As my breathing gets faster, my breaths become shorter, my eyes looking everywhere yet seeing nothing, Mugwuffin intervenes.
Calmsafehappysecure
My breathing slows, and my eyes focus back into reality again.
As I chill out, my heart rate falling to a healthy beat, I feel Mugwuffin's energy envelop me, and I find myself floating over to my office couch.
She plops me down onto it, before jumping onto me, curling into my chest like an oversized cat.
I stroke her head, enjoying the surprisingly warmth her scales produce. Isn't she a reptile?
As if sensing my thoughts, which is a real possibility at this point, one of her eyes opens, staring at me with a look that seems to ask;
Does it matter?
And no. No it doesn't.
So I lay there, petting my maybe sentient alien lizard-cat friend, and wondering what the hell my life has come too.
…
"I'll figure it out tomorrow."
-
Hi there folks! Odd time to upload(2:24 AM PST), but I can't fall asleep because of my poor life choices, despite all the research linking a lack of sleep to dementia and the like. So, I decided to feed the star wars nerds here instead!
Here, I wanted to expand on Darna's current roles a little bit, and what she's been up to. Getting a little radical there, but at this point it's to be expected. Darna's fall (or is it rise?) into chief of the secret police/kill squad will be fun to write, if nothing else. I also spent way too much time coming up with SWEEP. Not even an acronym, none of them are, I just wanted something kinda thematic. Took way too long, cause everything else sounded weird. PRUNE for a more garden theme felt weird. CURE for a more medical theme felt a little fascist for some reason. SWEEP feels a bit better. I'm open to constructive criticism on this one, cause it has been a doozy.
And the upcoming Agent! Not super sure how I want that to go, but it'll happen. Las needs a more minor antagonist, and a strict ISB agent seems to fit the bill if nothing else.
Also! While I've done some research, if there are any ships y'all think would fit the use of the shipyards, feel free to comment on them! As they berths get delivered in batches of three, by next chapter the first batch will be there, with production to begin within two weeks. Assuming, of course, that everything goes well.
So far, the ships being built are on the smaller size, as this is more in line with what the Outer Rim needs, no matter how many crybaby Imperials scream and yell for their overpriced ISD's. Spicy tortilla chip has a logistical shit stain a mile long.
As always, feedback and commentary is appreciated.
Thanks for reading!
-Freefaller
Darna Sabrir
Edin System, Highreach, Edinspire
Once again, Darna sat at her desk wondering how the Governor ever did it. Edin's population was barely half of Minda's, but the amount of work she had to do felt monumental.
Sure, there were countless pirates and criminals that were being pushed back on the daily, there were infrastructure projects, social programs, and her position as Guild Director, and-
Darna sighed. Sometimes, she wished things had never gotten to this point. That Minda had stayed a small, agricultural backwater where she could enjoy her life as a secretary with good pay, good coworkers, good scenery and a good boss. Things would've been so much simpler.
Then, she reads a report from CHAIN operatives that a shipment of kidnapped children had been saved, and she throws those thoughts away. For all that she could've been living the easy life, the burden she has taken upon herself has allowed her to save so many others. Both through the WEB, and HAVEN.
HAVEN being the name of the anti-slavery operation she ran. Within the WEB she was called Weaver, and within HAVEN she was Lighthouse. Only those at the very top of each organization knew who she was, totalling around three people, and they were very close friends of hers. Of course, neither organization knew about the other aside from the high command of both.
Compartmentilization was key here. While she could ensure that the Mindan and Edin governments never looked too deeply, there were always unseen variables. In fact, most of the HAVEN operatives didn't even know they were HAVEN operatives, not unlike the passive members of the WEB through the government app.
Of course, when it came to HAVEN, it was a tad different. The unknowing operatives were freightmasters who took a little on the side to 'lose' a shipment or two every now and again, bureaucrats who looked the other way for a few creds, maybe a merc who's paid to off some pirates and never look back.
The real operatives of HAVEN were the various sub-groups within it. The LODESTARS identified which slaves could be most easily saved without compromising the mission, where to find them, etc… They skulked through the slave markets of Nar Shadda and the swamps of Nal Hutta, eavesdropping in both dive bars and classy establishments, hacking terminals and spying on the enemy.
The CONDUITS did the actual relocation, intercepting shipments, extracting slaves and getting them to Minda. They did the starfighting, the boots on the ground activity. Sometimes, it was a breach and extract. Other times, slaves simply disappeared, much to the confusion of their masters.
The LOOM crafts new lives for the escaped slaves, helping them settle into villages, towns, and cities across Minda and, now that it was becoming more stable, parts of Edin. Mainly Edinspire.
It was the SPARK, however, that did the longest term work. They were propaganda artists of sorts, spreading the anti-slavery message far and wide. They were the fewest in number at the moment, and mostly worked through the holo-net, but they would grow in time. The Empire officially didn't condone slavery, but that was simply drivel for the Core to eat up. In the Outer Rim, it was a fact of life, and made anti-slavery propaganda difficult to disseminate, especially with the ISB and COMPNOR so active in the Core where the propaganda was needed the most.
All things considered, HAVEN was a more complex machine compared to the WEB, and for good reason. The WEB was an organization of people who wanted nothing to do with the Civil War, and were willing to do something to keep it that way, so long as they didn't have to stick their necks and risk themselves or their family to do it. Commendable, but not nearly enough to do what HAVEN needed to do. HAVEN was mostly ex-slaves who had that fire in them, the ones that above all wish to see the chains of others broken. That was a much larger task, requiring a much larger structure.
Still, it did good. Darna smiled as she remembered that video captured by the very first team of CONDUITS. A cargo pod of slaves being told that they were just freed forever. Watching them hug and cry the hooded CONDUITS had been a monumental moment for her. She wasn't ashamed to say she cried. Proof that she could do good in this galaxy, that her efforts were not in vain.
That there were children out there saved from the life she had been forced to live. That her mother had likely died living.
The video had been deleted, and the CONDUITS never showed their faces, nor speak without voice modulators. The more deniability, the more secrecy, the less risk those freed will face.
And all the better life will be.
Until the Scarred Hand showed up.
Because, up until then, both the WEB and HAVEN had been doing tremendously well. Slaves were freed on the regular, Hutt operations were sabotaged in ways that made it seem like accidents or Hutt on Hutt infighting(quite common), gangs and cartels were caught and killed as quickly as they could spring up, and things were good. Life was good.
But then, she got a call from Sidheth. Who told her that some extremists had decided to target Minda. The WEB got on it right away, and their actions were countered consistently. Some anonymous tips to the police led to some investigations, but they were good at covering their tracks.
Many attempts to plant bugs, sabotage infrastructure, and more were thwarted. But it wasn't enough.
Darna had no way of getting these terrorists herself. They were always out of reach, not sneaky enough to get by the WEB, but enough to escape the police, enough to escape justice.
It angered her beyond belief. Especially now that they had attacked Minda itself, and killed. Only 5 were dead, thankfully. But they were all members of the Mindan Council, which meant that the people's representatives had been killed. And how many others could've been? How many?
Tens? Hundreds? Thousands? The WEB prevented much, but it was not perfect. It could not act, and every WEB had gaps.
So now, she was tightening the noose. To protect Minda, and to ensure this disease didn't spread to Edin. Especially with the new projects. More industries, more mining, refining, education, farming, and more were being built. Companies were setting up shop, people starting businesses. It was still small, but the potential was there. For Edin to grow strong and clean like Minda had.
She would not allow these two palaces of prosperity to be soiled. Not while her blood still ran and her heart beat with rage.
Silently, she sent an encrypted message to her most trusted agents, those she knew would never betray her, or blink at what she loathed to propose, yet knew was needed.
It was time to act like the Custodian she was, and SWEEP.
-
God I fucking hate my boss, man.
Sitting in some chair on the other side of the sector, looking at me with the stare of someone who just found an opportunity.
I didn't like being seen as an opportunity. Unfortunately, I don't get to tell my boss that, or I get the noose.
"Governor. This attack does not bode well for you, or the project."
I nod, not too fast to seem desperate, but not so slow as to seem hesitant. Can't let him get a read on me.
"Perhaps, Moff Hiral. I already have my best people hunting down these terrorists, rest assured we will catch them."
Fuck! I already sound like a cartoon villain. Not the big bad, but the underling that's always telling their boss they'll 'catch those pests' every episode but never does. The kind that, in this galaxy, gets killed! But what the hell else am I supposed to say!?
"Hmmm…Worry not, I believe you. Will you require additional resources for this endeavor?" Hiral responded, and I was momentarily surprised. I mean, a Moff, asking if his underling needs help? Weird. Suspicious too. But maybe…
"It would be a great help if more Stormtroopers were assigned to increase patrols. With the first set of three shipyards a mere week away, I fear the terrorists may target them as well. The extra security will be needed to sniff them out, and, failing that, protect the new assets until such time that we may eradicate the enemy."
"...Approved. These shipyards are of great importance, Governor. Do not allow them to be damaged or destroyed, or the consequences will be…dire."
"Of course, Moff Hiral. Though, I must warn you. The extra security measures will slow things down, as logistical chains will need to be scanned and checked thoroughly, among other things."
"...Hmmm. Understandable, if unfortunate. However, to ensure all this goes smoothly, and to help speed up the investigation into this rebel group, I will be sending along an agent with these stormtroopers. He shall aid in the investigation. Is that clear?"
"Of course, sir."
He hummed once more, but said nothing. After that, he gave me a list of pre-orders to have completed ASAP, and left to go schmooze it up with some fat cat or another.
Now that I was alone, I could do this.
"FUCK!"
I drop down into my chair, having stood for the meeting to be respectful.
A fucking Agent? From who? The ISB? Fuck, probably, right?
My eyes darted back and forth, as if I could gleam some clue from my ever familiar office. What should I do? I mean, if they get the baddies quicker, that's great, but what kind of damage will they do in the meantime?
What happens if they decide to execute someone? Can they do that? I mean, I can technically do that, but its not exactly a good fucking look, now is it!? And what will they report!? What will they say!? Enough to get me killed!? Maybe I can bribe them? No, if that fails then I'm done for sure!?
As my breathing gets faster, my breaths become shorter, my eyes looking everywhere yet seeing nothing, Mugwuffin intervenes.
Calmsafehappysecure
My breathing slows, and my eyes focus back into reality again.
As I chill out, my heart rate falling to a healthy beat, I feel Mugwuffin's energy envelop me, and I find myself floating over to my office couch.
She plops me down onto it, before jumping onto me, curling into my chest like an oversized cat.
I stroke her head, enjoying the surprisingly warmth her scales produce. Isn't she a reptile?
As if sensing my thoughts, which is a real possibility at this point, one of her eyes opens, staring at me with a look that seems to ask;
Does it matter?
And no. No it doesn't.
So I lay there, petting my maybe sentient alien lizard-cat friend, and wondering what the hell my life has come too.
…
"I'll figure it out tomorrow."
-
Hi there folks! Odd time to upload(2:24 AM PST), but I can't fall asleep because of my poor life choices, despite all the research linking a lack of sleep to dementia and the like. So, I decided to feed the star wars nerds here instead!
Here, I wanted to expand on Darna's current roles a little bit, and what she's been up to. Getting a little radical there, but at this point it's to be expected. Darna's fall (or is it rise?) into chief of the secret police/kill squad will be fun to write, if nothing else. I also spent way too much time coming up with SWEEP. Not even an acronym, none of them are, I just wanted something kinda thematic. Took way too long, cause everything else sounded weird. PRUNE for a more garden theme felt weird. CURE for a more medical theme felt a little fascist for some reason. SWEEP feels a bit better. I'm open to constructive criticism on this one, cause it has been a doozy.
And the upcoming Agent! Not super sure how I want that to go, but it'll happen. Las needs a more minor antagonist, and a strict ISB agent seems to fit the bill if nothing else.
Also! While I've done some research, if there are any ships y'all think would fit the use of the shipyards, feel free to comment on them! As they berths get delivered in batches of three, by next chapter the first batch will be there, with production to begin within two weeks. Assuming, of course, that everything goes well.
So far, the ships being built are on the smaller size, as this is more in line with what the Outer Rim needs, no matter how many crybaby Imperials scream and yell for their overpriced ISD's. Spicy tortilla chip has a logistical shit stain a mile long.
As always, feedback and commentary is appreciated.
Thanks for reading!
-Freefaller
