If Moffs Had Nightmares... (Miranda)

[Y'roth Helghast]

Doldur... Located within the Mid Rim, boasting the capitol of the system and where the newly instated Moff Miranda Tarkin resided, granddaughter of the Late Honorable Grand Moff Tarkin. Helghast knew the Tarkin Doctrine word for word. It was also known as the Doctrine of Fear, or to Helghast's photographic memory as the Imperial Communiqué #001044.92v. It had been taught in the Emperor's Children project as soon as they could comprehend its mechanics.

Blue blood ran in Miranda's veins and loyalty was undeniable in the light of her actions and continuous role, following in her father's foot steps and his father before that. Nonetheless, as he stood in the antechamber to her office, Inquisitor Helghast merely stood there. The secretary wouldn't look up, his presence irked her and put her on edge. He could sense her unease from across the room. She was hiding something and the guilt of it was blatant before the Truth that Y'roth represented. But she was nothing of consequence for the moment.

Helghast's uniform appeared like an Imperial officer's uniform, completely black with immaculately shined boots and gloves. The right shoulder and the left side of the chest, over the heart bore the blood red symbol of the Imperial Inquisitoriate. His raven black hair was slicked back and his high collar covered his neck and hid the wires and components of his neural implants. His right eye occasionally illuminated a bright red as the implant placed there in continued to update him upon ongoing activities.

He filled the Inquisitor's uniform with the build of physical perfection. His body had been sculpted to the demands of the Empire and they had found him flawless. His uniform carried no rank or identification. As a member of Project Nightmare and an Inquisitor, Helghast was not restricted by classification of rank or position. The appointment had merely been arranged for the Inquisitoriate to carry out a formal inquiry with Moff Tarkin. There had been no specific mention of whom they might send.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Selia refastened her hair into a bun for the fourth time since Operative Helghast had arrived, several minutes early, for his appointment with Moff Tarkin. The young woman had known an off world Imperial was arriving for a meeting but she blanched when the blood red crest of the Inquisitoriate was staring down at her. It had taken much resolve to look up into the eyes of Helghast but it was only for mere seconds. Rumor had it that the all Inquisitors could pluck the truth from your eyes, Force or no Force, if you had something to hide. They were creepy regardless and their presence made your skin crawl with fear.

She fidgeted with her touch board, typing up random nonsense to look busy, anything to stop staring at the Operative, and decided to stare at the chronometer. 1436. The meeting had gone six minutes over. Six!

Damnit Miranda, hurry up so this guy can go away! Oh no...

She cracked at her knuckles to distract her thoughts as Helghast glanced over in her direction. But respite was given as the door to the Moff's office opened and General Melia stepped out alone. The greying General was pushing late 60 but his body was in good physical health. Nowhere near the peak of physical perfection as the Inquisitor standing in the antechamber, but he could still hold his own in battle, as the recent uprising proved.

"Officer," he replied, nodding in respect as he walked past Helghast. He was far more accustomed to seeing people of that nature, but he couldn't help but be curious as to why the Operative was here on Doldur. He would have to chat with Tarkin later.

Selia on the other hand was relieved as she hit the comm. "Governor Tarkin? Officer Helghast is here as scheduled."

The reply was curt as usual. Send him in.

She keyed the code to unlock the door and put on the best polite smile she could muster. "Moff Tarkin will see you now."

[Y'roth Helghast]

Helghast nodded in respect to his comrade Imperial and resumed his stance. General Melia. A renowned militant commander throughout the sector. The General's profile flashed before Helghast's vision but was quickly dismissed as the secretary spoke, granting him entrance to the Moff's office.

Y'roth entered the room, his eyes solidly gazing forward but every detail was absorbed by his peripheral vision. The room was expansive, conveying a sensation to any other normal being that the Moff was a being deserving of such a pantheon. The floors were a reflective black slab that served almost as well as a mirror. That when people kneeled, they might see their own face and know their proximity to the ground when before a Moff. As an Inquisitor, Y'roth was more than familiar with these and other mental tricks of the mind he observed at work within the room. To the right wall hung portraits of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin and his wife, Miranda's grandparents.

Sitting at the desk before him was Moff Tarkin. Immediately Helghast knew this room had not been decorated by her, all but the portraits. Her profile appeared within in his vision but was tabbed as he lowered his head in respect. He already had her profile memorized.

"Moff Tarkin, I am Inquisitor Helghast."

His voice was deep and metallic, metallic in a way that it was void of conveying any normal human connotations. Helghast spoke like a machine made flesh.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Inquisitor Helghast was an impressive specimen forged from the diligent labors of the Empire's training. He was a stoic killing machine, created to weed out the weak and destroy those that would upset the balance of Imperial rule. And then of course there was the priority of making sure Force users understood their place ... Wearing the uniform of the Inquisitoriate, or buried six feet under.

"Inquisitor Helghast," she coolly replied and offered him a seat. Miranda's hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail for a change, instead of hanging long since her scar was healing nicely. She didn't feel the need to hide it any longer for it had grown from white to a light pink due to the bacta treatments, and the doctor said it should heal without a blemish. "What brings you to Doldur this day?"

The reasons could range in the hundred as to why Helghast was here. Miranda wouldn't even try to guess. She oddly hoped that there was a traitor amongst them that required killing. It would help to weed out the suspected informant for the Rebels and save time in hunting them down.

[Y'roth Helghast]

Helghast tilted his head slightly down and to the left towards the offered seat and then back to the Moff. Y'roth would prefer to stand, his gloved hands clasped behind his back. He returned his gaze to her and answered her question without hesitation.

"I am here on behalf of the Inquisitoriate. My immediate objective is that the Inquisitoriate requires your cooperation in tracking the rogue force adept Blade Ice. You filed a formal complaint concerning this adept some time ago and the Inquisitoriate responded. I have some inquiries regarding that specific meeting."

He let the situation sink in for a moment before continuing. The Inquisitoriate was designed to seek out the Truth and ensure that it prevailed throughout the Empire to keep corruption at bay and allow every citizen to follow the Empire loyally without being blindsided by Force users or the treasonous blasphemy of the rebel terrorists. That the eye of the Inquisitoriate had turned to Miranda Tarkin did not mean she was under suspect or review. But the Inquisitoriate would not bother someone who had already made a formal complaint over the situation over this single matter alone.

"The Inquisitoriate understands the importance of your position and therefore, we suggest that you aide us without delay that we might allow you to continue your duties without obstacle."

That was a 'politically correct' way of saying that Helghast was not there to play games of formalities or be put off. While he didn't think it was necessary with the Moff, the Inquisitoriate would not tolerate time wasted when there was already so much on the agenda.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Her eyes narrowed at the mention of Blade Ice. She hadn't thought about that ruffian since he interjected himself during her lunch at the Grand Coruscant. Immediately after his indignation and lunatic rantings, she did petitioned to have the man arrested for harassment. Also during their conversation, things didn't add up right. Call it a gut feeling, but Miranda had suspected him to be a Force user. The way the help easily bent to his wishes had been a discouraging thought. No one commanded more power over the meek then her ...

After all this time, she merely assumed that matters had been dealt with. So Helghast's presence requiring further assistance did surprise her, not the fact that it was confirmed he was an Adept.

"Of course," she calmly stated, "I'll be more then happy to assist with this. What did you need from me, Inquisitor?"

[Y'roth Helghast]

His right eye illuminated a bright red as Helghast established a constant link with IMP, the Inquisitoriate AI that had a remote station of operations on Helghast's ship but was actually housed at the Inquisitoriate Citadel on Coruscant. The link allowed Helghast all the benefits of having IMP on the scene, a preference of Y'roth's to achieving optimum results in any situation.

"Your formal report was concluded by petitioning for the adept's arrest. You suspected him of being force sensitive and that he was aware of information concerning your personal life. Do you have any possible suspicion as to how he knew those things?

Did he make any sense towards why he was talking to you?"

While there was nothing soothing to living organisms in Helghast's voice, it compelled a response, a truthful answer, as it seemed to hit upon the instinctive fear and a sentient's developed sense of reasoning and wanting to do the best thing for themselves, accomplished by answering Helghast's questions.

[Miranda Tarkin]

The Inquisitors voice urged for answer without being downright demanding. His tone was coarse and necessitated an answer. Such tactics were used to instill fear, especially for those that had something to hide and Miranda Tarkin had nothing to hide.

A soft sigh was released as the Moff thought back to the odd meeting with Ice. "He was nonsensical. He knew of my friend Kasajian and myself, but for some strange reason he was not looking for me. Well, more specifically that I was not the Tarkin he was looking for. Yet in the next breath he admitted that he did much to try and meet me."

She pinched the bridge of her nose. The entire fiasco still gave her a headache.

[Y'roth Helghast]

The profile of Sorsha Kasajian was presented for a brief moment, long enough for Helghast to absorb that she was owner of the Kasajian Exchange, a banking network that resided within key locations in the galaxy, Coruscant, Rodia, Corellia, etc.

"Does Ms. Kasajian know anything concerning this man?"

His tone remained the same, Helghast was merely interpreting the data she gave into a situation and developing questions and conclusions, much like a computer. This kind of process, a formal interrogation, without any kind of 'negative motivation' was not a procedure Y'roth was entirely adjusted to. He was not a being of conversation and had never participated in small talk that living organisms were so fond of. In light of this, Y'roth had no regret in the lack of his 'social' skills.

"You are the only surviving Tarkin on record. Do you have a notion of who else he might be referring to?"

[Miranda Tarkin]

"No. Sorsha knows nothing of him," she said with a grimace as her tension headache started to subside. Her lover had the vast resources of Black Sun at her disposal and even she couldn't find a clue as to who Blade Ice was. It was like he was a shadow, never existing.

"He gave no indication as to whom he was referring to, but it was clear it wasn't my mother. It was strange however ... The way he spoke. He really believed that he knew me." She snapped out of the remembrance and shook the clouds from her head. "Haven't the damnedest idea why still."

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Force adepts will often seek to confuse the citizen and corrupt them by their methods of chaos, Moff Tarkin. They are also often deluded by the false power they obsess over, led by their ill content ambitions along a path that will only end in a severe execution.

Did you notice anyone else with him or that might've been included with him?"

The most recent sighting of Blade Ice had ended in his escape with the assistance of another force adept unidentifiable to the Inquisitoriate archives. Tarkin's report had made an inference that the staff of the cafe had been overly eager to follow in suit to Blade Ice's whims. That situation would need to be handled. Helghast was curious though as to whether or not this force adept might have been present and it had just been a fact of no consequence to the unsuspecting Miranda Tarkin.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Moff Tarkin agreed fully to Helghast's explanation. It fit the situation to a tee. Ice kept babbling on and on about how he could take over Coruscant if so desired it, and his chattering of bizarre desires only offered confusion.

She leaned back in her chair and mused over the question. The waiters and maitre d' were all too compliant with Ice's wishes, but they were no plants. Her guards at that time were completely loyal. She tried to focus on the other patrons present in the cafe but none of them stuck out. Those people had belonged there, unlike the bedraggled mess of a man that was Ice.

"Mmm, no. I do not believe anyone else was there with him. His ego probably wouldn't allow it."

[Y'roth Helghast]

No major conclusion could be made from this session but it had provided some insight into the situation. Everything was connected somehow. Helghast was not surprised by things easily and would not be surprised when he would finally determine the conclusion of this event between Tarkin and Ice. Something would come of it in time and Helghast was patient, as time only gave him more oppurtunity to prepare a better trap.

"As a Moff, it is within your authority to deny the recommendation that I make concerning an increase in your security, Moff Tarkin. The Inquisitoriate is the major Intelligence agency within the Empire and we cannot afford to have a prominent figure such as yourself be maimed in any fashion for the good of the people and the Empire.

Blade Ice is still at large with the aide of another force adept. The Inquisitoriate can only look to protecting you in the absence of any other options as his motives are still unknown and several Imperial officials have been part of assassination attempts recently."

[Miranda Tarkin]

Sorsha had suggested much the same but she scoffed at her lover's worries at the time. However, there there was another Force user involved, and Miranda couldn't turn a cheek to the obvious danger this time. The Inquisitors were not defeated so easily. Ice and his companion were not to be trifled with apparently. The fool actually had some backing to his threats.

"Fine. I will arrange a detail with my guards and up security around the Capital and my own person." The last sentence of Helghast raised suspicions. Did Sevon begin his coup already? She had not been notified and with the recent uprising, Miranda did not have the adequate time going over his plans.

"Assassinations?" That was part of the Executor's plans, but she never did read upon who was targeted. "Who was attacked?"

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Tiberius Anar and the Grand Inquisitor."

Helghast refrained from mentioning the Executor as their current investigation concerning Khendon Sevon put what would've been an assassination attempt in question and was therefore not worth mentioning until the Inquisitoriate was sure of the circumstances.

"We are still investigating the attempt on Tiberius Anar and forunately Inquisitor Valten was present upon the attempt on the Grand Inquisitor and the force adept assassins retreated. The Inquisitoriate believes that you might be a likely target if these attempts continue. While your security measures would be more than sufficient, the Inquisitoriate would feel somewhat responsible if some of our agents were not present for your assistance if such an ordeal happened after we had already warned you."

[Miranda Tarkin]

The attempt on the Grand Inquisitor's life, however disturbing, did not move her as much as the news that Anar's life had been in danger. Her skin turned a shade of pale with worry. Everything that the Inquisitor said after that news had fallen upon deaf ears. She had worked with the Chancellor many a time on Corsucant through her work with COMNOR. They had butted heads on many occasions with ideological debates but in the end, she still viewed him with respect and thought of him as a father figure

"Was he injured at all during the attack?" And so her mind raced. Miranda would have to look over that datapad at her first earliest convenience and god help Sevon if he were behind this. Anar was his most prominent opponent for the throne, but the Moff had presumed he would not be so foolish as to have him killed. She had thought him to be one of those pardoned.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"No official reports were made but Chancellor Anar was hurt from the explosion but was not severely injured beyond that."

Helghast, from several physical tell tale signs could detect a degree of sudden anxiety from Tarkin.

"Is there a problem, Moff Tarkin?"

The question held nothing of sympathetic concern or consideration, merely a response generated by observation. Human or not, she was a Moff and she had only met Helghast for the first time. To betray such an amount of one's internal mindset was foreign to the demon of the Inquisitoriate. The Inquisitoriate was a work place for zealous sociopaths.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Miranda could not speak freely of what truly troubled her mind. At least, not until she confirmed Sevon's plans. If the Executor was not behind the attack on Anar, then she would still support him. Damnable Rebellion! If not for them, the answers to her questions would have been so much clearer.

"Forgive me, Inquisitor Helghast. The news you've brought is most grave, but it lifts my spirits that Anar was not seriously wounded." It was prudent to play off her distressed mind as concern over the Chancellor. Fortunately, it was also true. "I hold him in the highest regards. I will also concede to your recommendations in light of these attacks."

Helghast was too insistent on staying and considering the circumstances; it would be foolish to deny the advice. If Sevon were not behind these attacks, then more then likely she was a target too ... And having them here would also aid in her issue with Winfield.

"Your timing could not have come at a better time too, Inquisitor. Something has come up here on Doldur that requires your attention. With your impending arrival today, I thought a face to face discussion would be preferable then a formal report."

Winfield's admission had come only yesterday after all, and it was a good divergence away from anymore talk of assassinations.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Yes. The Inquisitoriate was made aware of the Rebel uprising and the recent attacks on Doldur. We regret that our vigilance did not provide better preparation for such an attack that occured but I have brought with me a small task force and an investigation team to assist in the aftermath."

Helghast had no intention of becoming too involved with the Rebel attacks. While the occurence was of import, the Inquisitoriate left such a thing to the Imperial Forces. Every citizen of the Empire had their designated purpose within the Empire, their reason for existing. Helghast had his own wars to wage in the midst of simple skirmishes. Not that Helghast took the death of loyal citizens in the name of the Empire for granted. No, it was their honorable deed to die for such a holy entity as the Empire. And it was ultimately unfortunate that they died at the hands of their treasonous brothers, the terrorists who assumed the title of the Rebel Alliance. A strain of corruption that would be rooted out in time. But Helghast saw the adepts, the Force, as the greatest threat and any it touched drew his attention in priority to normal beings who seemed to die in the millions before an adept might perish.

"How else can the Inquisitoriate be of service, Moff Tarkin?"

[Miranda Tarkin]

Her lips grew together tightly in displeasure due to the change in conversation. "I'll be blunt."

She keyed up the file on Colonel Winfield and turned the monitor around so the Inquisitor could peruse it himself. "Meet Colonel Lamar Winfield, the only survivor of his group during the Doldur invasion. He was honored by myself and came looking for a promotion to my personal bodyguard yesterday."

The Moff leaned back and regarded Helghast. "The part that will interest you personally, Inquisitor, is that during the interview he willingly admitted that he was Force Sensitive."

Miranda stopped there, even though she knew what Helghast's reaction would be. It was a good point for the Inquisitor to interject and hopefully he would be open to suggestions on how to handle this situation.

[Y'roth Helghast]

Colonel Lamar Winfield... the only survivor... honored by the Moff... looking for a promotion to her personal bodyguard... willingly admitted to being a Force Adept...

The profile for Winfield appeared in his vision regardless of his face on Tarkin's monitor. An outstanding performance throughout his career. This proclaimed adept interested Helghast no more than anything else did on a personal level. Everything was personal to Helghast as everything concerned the Empire and the Empire was his life.

"Was Colonel Winfield detained, Moff Tarkin immediately after this interview?"

A series of liabilities suddenly faced the Inquisitor. He needed to quarantine those liabilities and deduce what could be done. A force adept who had hidden their powers within the ranks of the Empire for so long and was at such a position now was an immediate threat and suspicion of a deep rooted corruption.

[Miranda Tarkin]

"Not ... exactly." Her lips puckered together knowing that this is where things could become complicated, something that Helghast would not approve of more then likely.

She pushed her chair out to stand. "He was so blindly trusting in my ability to keep his abilities a secret that I placed him under house arrest until I knew what to do with him. At least, that's the story I told him."

Miranda turned around and gazed out in the impressive view of Doldur Square. It was a bustle of activity as many of her citizens were still arriving to work. Besides the government buildings, there were quite a few corporations that had won Imperial contracts to build here. The Empire had standards and wouldn't allow some third rate business set up shop next to the home of a Moff. "He has no idea you are here."

[Y'roth Helghast]

Only a handful knew Helghast was present on Doldur. The black fleet of the Inquisitoriate was a tell tale sign but no one knew what came and went beyond that from those ships. They, the black vessels, would appear and anyone, which was most, who wasn't authorized was sent away until notified. And even then, not even Moff Tarkin knew that the Inquisitor before her was the leader of Project Nightmare, the recently publicized elite kill squad of the Inquisitoriate. All of that and still, Helghast did not, could not believe right away that the adept did not know that the Inquisitoriate was present. When there was a possibility of taint, Helghast trusted nothing but that which he was personally capable of accomplishing.

Y'roth wouldn't mention any of this though. He was still breaking the situation down. It was something sudden to discover an adept so close to the heart of the Empire. But it was no surprise and Helghast was ever vigilant and always expecting the toxin of the Force from any crack it might slip through. His cold gaze went to the back of the Moff; his implant was displaying her vitals and other pertinent information. Beyond that, Helghast desired there was some method of mechanically detecting any alterations that the Force might cause. He had an idea but he would experiment later. He needed to know what she was thinking that he might judge how to continue.

"What do you propose then, Moff Tarkin? You have discovered a force adept within your midst. While his record contains no visible flaws and he proved himself a hero of valor in the recent battle on Doldur, he has hidden his true identity from the Empire and thus displayed deception to a greater degree, something a simple soldier and citizen is not known for. Colonel Winfield searches to be part of your personal bodyguard now and seeks your protection in turn. You have now informed the Inquisitoriate, which we can assure you is greatly appreciated because all too often do those who discover such a thing rarely come to us when they need to, if at all and the records have never shown an instance that has ended well. But beyond that, what do you intend to do, Moff Tarkin?"

Because leaving it solely to the Inquisitoriate would be too easy.

[Miranda Tarkin]

And now the Inquisitor had thrown the problem of Colonel Winfield right back at her, politely of course. And in his pleasantries, reminded her of the reason she informed Helghast of the Adept in her midst. Everything that she had achieved in her short, but illustrious career, would have been lost. No one, not even a Tarkin, could hide the truth from them forever.

But it wasn't something she feared. Her heart and soul was bound to the Empire, just like her father and grandfather before her. She would do anything to see it protected. "I do not hide my hatred of Adepts. Skywalker was one and killed not only my Grandfather but our beloved Emperor, rest their souls. For all I care, every last one of them could burn in hell for defying us. However, if Winfield proves to be as loyal as he claims, he could be very useful to us."

She turned around and addressed Helghast directly. "His talent could be put to good use considering I might be under possible threat. An assassin knows of the Inquisitors and would see them as a variable. Winfield, they would not."

It was a win win situation as far as the Moff was concerned. If Winfield was loyal, then she'd have the perfect bodyguard and if he'd happen to die in the line of duty, then it was no great loss.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"Unless Winfield is the assassin. Of course force adepts are useful to the Empire, the Emperor used it to his advantage as did Lord Vader, even Executor Sevon. But it is a double edged sword, Moff, as you have stated yourself and it garners much hatred from all for the damage that rogue force adepts have caused to all of the Empire."

Even facing away from him, Helghast had detected in her tone and body language that her hatred was spoken with sincerity. But she was a calculating woman and had not reached the title of Moff by name or good looks alone. Seeking any advantage was in her nature of being ambitious, a trait needed to motivate leaders to maintain the greatness of the Empire. Only for the Empire. But, as Executor Sevon came to mind, using adepts was a fickle business and all too often did it end in disaster or harm to the Empire and the security of its people. At the very least, Helghast had determined the the Moff was not a liability and had not been corrupted by the adept.

"The Inquisitoriate can determine whether or not Colonel Winfield is loyal to the Empire. If his loyalty is true, the Inquisitoriate, under the Doctrine of the Imperial Force, then we can establish him as an adept in your employ."

Helghast did not need to say what would happen if Winfield's loyalty was for anything but the Empire.

[Miranda Tarkin]

....Unless Winfield is the assassin.

True, but that was dependent upon whom sent the assassin. If it were Sevon, no. Another player? Possibly, but somehow Tarkin doubted that. She always trusted her instincts when cases of variability cropped up. In Winfield's case, her gut believed him but it would be up to the Inquisitorate to verify that truth.

Tarkin had spoken her case on the matter and to further justify her position on Winfield would show her to be sympathetic to his plight, which of course, she wasn't. "Then I authorize his transfer over to you, Inquisitor Helghast. You will find the Colonel in his quarters. Shall I accompany you or will you handle the matter directly?"

Officially relinquishing him to the Inquisitor meant that the Moff had no further say in his case. Winfield would probably be comforted in some way if Miranda explained her decision but that really wasn't her problem, nor did she care. She only offered to be polite.

[Y'roth Helghast]

"That won't be necessary, Moff Tarkin. The Inquisitoriate would not want to deter you from your duties any more than we already have and while we appreciate your vigilance and willingness to assist, the procedure is ultimately delicate and might be a risk to your well being under the worst circumstances."

Helghast gave it a moment before bringing his heels together and bowing his head in respect as he did upon entering.

"By your leave, Moff Tarkin. Veritas Vincit in the name of the Empire."

[Miranda Tarkin]

She nodded curtly. "I look forward to your report. Dismissed."

After Helghast departed, Miranda chewed on her bottom lip. This session with the Inquisitor created doubt about her allegiance with Executor Sevon. No longer could she dawdle in going over the the black datapad in greater detail. She had to know if he was responsible for attacking Chancellor Anar.

Her finger slammed down on the comm. "Selia."

Yes, Governor Tarkin?

"How's my schedule looking for the rest of the morning?"

Hmm. Nothing til 1800 hours when you meet with the Dockers Guild.

It was more then enough time to look over the files to confirm her suspicions, and look them over in explicit detail . "See that I'm not disturbed until then."

Yes, Ma'am.

Miranda sat down and keyed in a personal access code on the touch screen display of her computer. A three inch wide panel slid open on the left side of her desk. She pulled out the datapad and a survellience device which was activated immediately. It could pick up on any recording or listening devices within her office. The scan was negative.

"Crimson Gambit." It was only activated by her voice, and the black display popped into life with the revolving Imperial insignia. After the short load time, files scrolled across the screen. Immediately she cross reference Tiberius Anar's name with assassination and a link came up.

Her face tensed. She didn't have to go any further to know the truth but activated the link anyway. In distinct detail, the plans to kill the Chancellor filled the screen. Miranda didn't bother reading it and instead threw the damnable datapad onto her desk, stewing over what to do. She was now ensnared into a deadly web of intrigue. To remain silent would cost her everything. Her position of power and most certainly her life if this information were to come to light. She would be dragged through the mud with Sevon. But ratting him out would be just as deadly. The Executor was a powerful ally, but also a deadly enemy.

She agreed to be part of his scheme because Miranda truly believed that what he wanted to do was to make the Empire stronger. There would have been chaos, in the beginning yes, but in the end the Rebellion would have trembled under the new order. Fear would have kept the galaxy in check. The Empire needs someone on the throne.

In trying to kill Anar, Sevon had went too far. Some of the weak and timid politicians needed to be culled, but Anar had been a voice of reason for their people. They looked to him for guidance and comfort, and even under the orders of martial law, he was still convincing enough that the people fell in line without question. He just didn't have the presence to keep them in line for long ...

Sliding out of the chair, Miranda went back to gaze out the window. Her attention wasn't focused upon anything. Her mind was too centered upon the problem plaguing her. It wasn't what to do. No...

Her fists clenched tightly together as a unit of Stormtroopers marched across the grounds below her in formation.

... She already knew what had to be done for the good of the Empire. Moff Tarkin just hoped she would survive the aftermath.