“Aren’t you tired of playing behind the scenes, Luthen?”
“Aren’t you tired of fighting with people who agree with you?”
“You come all this way to scold me? Or did you bring me some toys?”
“Hmm. I did, but they’re not for free.”
“Nothing with you is free.”
“Not every operation is as flush as yours.”
“Tell me what you’ve got.”
“Well, how about a full set of Imperial drive adapters? I’ve also got three sealed Steergard targeting deflectors.”
“Hmm. You have this all here with you? At what cost?”
“Anto Kreegyr. I want you to meet him.”
“Anto Kreegyr?”
“He’s been probing the Imperial power station at Spellhaus. He’s found a weakness in the defenses. It may take some time to work up, but he’s got an angle.”
“The man is an ox! Slow! And stupid!”
“And strong…”
“…I want you to hear his plan. He’ll need air support.”
“Let’s just keep this simple. I’ll take all three deflectors. How much?”
“Well, you meet with Kreegyr, they’re free. You don’t, I’ll take them elsewhere.”
“I work alone.”
“That’s what I’m trying to change.”
“I’m not gonna put my people at risk for someone else.”
“We need to pull together, Saw! Whatever our final version of success looks like, there’s no chance any of us can make it real on our own. We need the Empire to help. We need them angry. We need them coming down hard. Oppression breeds rebellion. Kreegyr needs air support.”
“I’m not for hire.”
“Think of it. Think of Spellhaus in flames. Neither of you could do it on your own, but together…”
“Kreegyr’s a separatist. Maya Pei’s a neo-Republican. The Ghorman front. The Partisan alliance? Sectorists. Human cultists? Galaxy partitionists! They’re lost! All of them, lost! Lost. What are you, Luthen? I’ve never really known. What are you?”
“I’m a coward. I’m a man who’s terrified the Empire’s power will grow beyond the point where we can do anything to stop it. I’m the one who says, ‘We’ll die with nothing if we don’t put aside our petty differences.”
“Petty? I am the only one with clarity of purpose.”
“Well, anarchy is a seductive concept. A bit of a luxury I’d argue to a man who is hiding in cold caves, and begging for spare parts.”
“No sale today, Luthen. Good luck with Anto Kreegyr.”
— Saw Gerrera & Luthen Rael
• • •
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“Oh, the… The Restraints are nothing to be feared. It’s much safer for you to be tethered as we engage. There’s nothing intrinsically physical about this process, but we’ve had some early trials that were a bit chaotic…”
“There’s an Outer Rim moon called Dizon Fray. There was a sentient species there, quite unusual. Extremely hostile to the concept of an Imperial refueling center that was being planned…”
“I say ‘was’ because they created such a stir that the local commanders were granted permission to use any means necessary. And, um, well, what’s important for our purposes here today is that the massacre of the Dizonites was broadcast and recorded as proof of mission…”
“I sense something eager in you this morning. Am I mistaken?”
“No, sir. And at risk of repetition, you are correct.”
“Good news, is it?”
“I’m afraid not. I wish to lodge a charge against a fellow supervisor.”
“Proceed.”
“I believe our Sector Protocols, as described in the ISB Code Of Conduct, are being violated by Supervisor Meero, and that this overreach, for which she was previously reprimanded, risks compromising Imperial safety to a degree that silence is no longer possible.”
“You think this forum appropriate?”
“I do.”
“It’s a serious charge.”
“I believe you’ll share my sense of urgency.”
“Supervisor Meero, do you mind having your integrity ventilated in public?”