An Antisocial Call

[Rigel Bismarck]

The Imperial Star Destroyer Scythe floated in the blackness of space, silent warden of the mining colony of Sillesk. Aboard its bridge, a low-key bustle of activity generated enough noise to keep the bridge sounding busy, even if no ready emergencies presented themselves. The noise or its lack did not concern the human male with the six red squares and six blue squares on his rank plaque. Sillesk was his home and he was content to keep watch over it when he had no need to be elsewhere.

Rigel Bismarck, Admiral of the Imperial Navy and commander of one of its sector fleets, regarded the planet below with a certain level of pride. Sillesk had remained neutral throughout the majority of the Civil War. Only two figures of note ever came from its population: Rigel himself, and the man he distastefully referred to as his father. Towards the climax of the war, parent fought child in a fleet skirmish above the colony; time and ingenuity proved Rigel the better tactician. His father's task force lost eight ships, two to boarding party captures, and That Man had been forced to run home to the Rebellion in defeat. Rigel had taken the planet as a protectorate that day, and in the time since, cultivated it into a thriving and well-defended hub of activity.

Of course, Endor had been a right debacle, hadn't it? Lots of good Imperial gains lost at that mess.

"Admiral," Captain Alan Volscanis, Rigel's second and the Scythe's direct commander, spoke from behind Rigel's left shoulder. "There's an incoming transmission for you."

"Hm?" Rigel turned his attention from the bridge viewport. "Well, patch it through to the bridge, I suppose."

"I'm afraid I can't, sir. It's encrypted - your ears only."

Alan had hesitated before delivering his response, which was enough to pull Rigel's attention firmly on to his second-in-command. "Alan, old boy," he began, gazing at the other man like a hawk peering down its beak at its dinner. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Sir, the transmission carries top-level code signatures of Imperial Intelligence."

Rigel blinked, taken entirely aback. "What?"

"Yes, sir," Alan nodded. "The protocol is new, but we've confirmed the source of the transmission is the Central Intelligence Office on Coruscant."

It couldn't be. "Very well," Rigel said, turning from the viewport. "I'll take the communication in my secure facility."

The secure comm room was a two-minute walk from the bridge proper. Entering the chamber, Rigel waved off the comm technician on duty. He inserted his personal code cylinders after deftly plucking the three of them from his breast pocket and keyed the holopad to activate. "This is Admiral Bis- what the devil do you want? This had better not be some time-wasting social call."

[R. S. Esalis]

For a moment, the 1:1 scale projection of R. S. Esalis stood in silence, icy eyes boring into the man that she had no real desire to contact in the first place. Unfortunately, duty outweighed any sense of personal preference, and the Director of Imperial Intelligence swept her arms behind her, hands coming together at her back. Her uniform was crisp, the black fabric unnaturally clean. Her hair was as perfectly in place as the rest of her appearance, and she let her silence linger, as if truly thinking about his demand. Of course she was not. There was no need, and coupled with the fact that she found a certain healthy disinterest in even entertaining the thought of a social call with Rigel Bismarck, she felt it not worth her time to answer.

It did not make current matters any easier to deal with however, and Esalis frowned in a rather particular way; feigned hurt mixed with impatience at his minor outburst.

She let another moment pass before bringing her hands back forward, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I have little time for social calls, Admiral."

Her voice was quiet.

[Rigel Bismarck]

"And I have little desire to have my engineers excise this new secure relay from my ship," Rigel replied, ensuring that his tone was so thoroughly drenched in sarcasm that it dripped from every point. "And I want even less to order my ship's turbolasers to open fire on such valuable equipment with a full bombardment. I am, however, willing to make that sacrifice if it proves necessary to end this call with a certain level of drama."

Rigel stepped from behind the comm terminal and drew himself to full 6-foot-2-inch height, looking down at the hologram of the ice-sculpture that considered itself a woman. "Still - business before bombardment, I suppose. How can the Navy assist its Intelligence brethren?"

[R. S. Esalis]

He had a certain fondness for overstating things, and in a way it was annoying. She had little time for it as things stood right now. Still though, there was a certain level of satisfaction that she gleaned from his antagonized state. If she'd known that a simple comm would be enough to damage his ever-so-carefully maintained calm, she would've done it sooner. Maybe. It was an enticing thought for the future, at least.

She angled her gaze upwards to meet his own eyes, refusing to back down even over the comm.

"You are over Sillesk."

A statement rather than a question, and a prelude to her next words.

"I will be rendezvousing with the Scythe in a few hours time."

[Rigel Bismarck]

Rigel stood, contemplating the implications of her statement. Director Esalis refused to mince words even a little; an endearing trait if at times an unhelpful one. Whatever her glaring flaws, though, the two of them shared at least one thing in common: absolute belief in the superiority of the Empire and the Imperial Way.

That she was paying him a visit directly and disclosing nothing regarding the purpose was a sign.

"Very well," he replied. "I'll alert the shieldships to your arrival. The current ionic radiation levels are low. Passage through the radiation field should only take a half-hour or so, but be prepared for additional transit time in the event of a solar expulsion."

[R. S. Esalis]

She seemed to digest that last bit of information, looking to the side ever so slightly before turning her attentions back to him. If he was surprised at her intentions to... 'visit', then he hid it well. As it was, the nature of this particularly nettlesome trip away from Coruscant was partially welcomed, and partially unwanted. She could've just as easily sent an underling in her stead, thereby avoiding the need to lay eyes upon him, but then again she was not so ready to pass up the chance to burrow her way beneath his skin. It was an opportunity that did not present itself; indeed had not presented itself in a very long while. And so she had indulged herself. Selfish? The possibility was distinct.

And then she smiled. A deceptively sweet expression that held no warmth.

"It will be nice to see you again, Admiral."

[Rigel Bismarck]

"And you as well, Director," Rigel nodded. Though it would be even more delightful to see you floating unprotected in vacuum. "Have a safe flight."

######

The transport bearing his erstwhile guest docked with no fanfare. After all, it made no sense to put effort into welcoming an individual you hoped would leave as soon as possible.

There was also the simple fact that greeting her alone meant no one could overhear any of their discussion.

"I see you took my advice about having a safe flight," he greeted her as she exited her ship. "Pity."

[R. S. Esalis]

The trek down the Lambda shuttle's boarding ramp was taken with a steady pace, and the Director's eyes remained on her target; Admiral Rigel Bismarck. That there was no one else to be seen was not exactly a shock, and in a way she was glad for it. It made disclosing the reason for her mostly unannounced arrival that much easier. Of course, an empty docking area was a poor excuse for a secure office. She would be patient though. It would only be a matter of time before the two were safely ensconced in true privacy. Until then, Esalis felt a certain desire to satisfy other indulgences.

"I deeply apologize," her booted feet hit the deck, and she closed the distance between them.

"I must admit I'd very nearly forgotten about your strange inclination toward ill and ugly words."

She slowed to a stop before him, looking up. Blinking, Esalis pursed her lips before making a point of looking Admiral Bismarck up and down with a critical eye.

"You're not as tall as I remember."

[Rigel Bismarck]

"Yes, I shrunk a few inches after I learned we'd be meeting." Rigel gestured to the bay exit with a black-gloved hand. "After all, a good host accommodates their guests, even those with height deficiencies."

The two of them headed briskly into the ship proper. "I've had my quarters quietly swept for recorders and taps," he stated. "They should be fine until I can more properly secure another control point on the ship."

"How is your son?" he asked dryly. "Not apprehending incorrect suspects too frequently, I trust?"

[R. S. Esalis]

"My son is as he always is," her reply was equally dry, the words clipped as she walked in lockstep with him.

"Which is to say, he is no concern of yours."

That he wished to continue the more sensitive matter of her trip to Sillesk in his quarters was a bit... annoying? No, that was not right. It was not expected, but she could deal. She would've much preferred his office, but she supposed that such short notice yielded results as this. No real matter. She would deal.

"You have been over Sillesk for a long while, Admiral."

She changed the subject in jarring fashion, not exactly caring to dwell any further on Sheldon.

"I trust your assignment has not bored you too terribly much."

She hoped that it had.

[Rigel Bismarck]

"Oh, no, I relish the challenge of overseeing the creation of a full military construction complex for the Empire in my home system," Rigel replied. "With this current era of peace in full swing, I do need something to occupy my time."

The two of them reached a turbolift and Rigel pressed the call button. When he spoke, it was more to the closed turbolift doors than to his company. "I will say this for peace: it at least makes our supply lines more reliable. We should be finished with Phase I before the year is out - ahead of schedule I might add."

The turbolift arrived and Rigel motioned for Director Esalis to enter. "After you."

[R. S. Esalis]

She didn't bother thanking him for the gesture. It would only be empty coming from her, not to mention there was simply no need. Stepping onto the lift, Esalis moved to the center, pivoting on her heel and turning in a tight circle to face the doors, waiting patiently as Bismarck followed.

"You are industrious."

It was the only compliment she cared to pay him.

A pity that he was rather enjoying his time out here.

"I am sure that the Empress is pleased with your progress."

Her next words seemed as though they were chewed out from between unwilling teeth that would've rather torn them apart than let them pass from her lips.

"You've been well?"

[Rigel Bismarck]

The Director's effort in speaking could not be missed. "Utterly delightful," he replied, the smug grin from temporarily having the upper hand equally impossible to ignore. "I'm fit, healthy, of sound mind, and a productive Imperial citizen. What more could a man ask for in life other than a Grand Admiral's title?"

The turbolift doors opened and Rigel exited. "Not far now," he said. A serious look came over his face. "Tell me - what's your outlook on the Corellia situation? I've heard a number of words on the subject, none of them particularly clear or sensible."

[R. S. Esalis]

She chose to ignore the decidedly jovial tone he'd taken, choosing to return to it at a later time when it suited her better. As it was, Esalis couldn't help the frown that marred her features when he spoke of Corellia. It was a strange state of affairs that the system now found itself mired in.

"I find it to be a headache," she finally answered.

Her stride matched his as the two rounded a corner.

"But, I suppose an unavoidable one. The Treaty might have brokered peace of a sort, but it bred resentment from those who felt abandoned by their precious Alliance. Which makes life that much more of a chore I suppose."

And it had. More reports than she cared to admit were currently waiting for her perusal back on Coruscant.

"I am watching, and have my own people involved, but it is still fluid and at times unpredictable."

[Rigel Bismarck]

"Mmm," Rigel mused. "One thing I do miss from the days of Emperor Palpatine is the free reign the military had when it came to dealing with insurrection. Still, I suppose Empress Tarkin had a point when she gave her coronation speech about Imperial cooperation. Alderaan led to Endor, and as we've seen, the repeated precision bombings did not improve morale."

He stopped in front of double-wide durasteel door and pressed his hand to the locking reader beside it. "One moment," he said as the access lock sprang to life.

A small panel above the palm-reader flipped open. Rigel inserted his code cylinders into the proper slots, tapped in an access code, then addressed the embedded microphone in the manner of a man instructing a subordinate in a menial task. "Access authorization Bismarck, seven-five-nine-omega."

Large mechanical locks released themselves and the door parted in the middle, revealing the personal quarters belonging to the Admiral of the Two-Hundred-Twelfth Imperial Sector Fleet.

"Director" Esalis had never seen his personal quarters on the Scythe, so he took an extra moment to collect his code cylinders before entering his quarters.

A quick glance over the entire view left one with a single-word impression: fine. From the bed paneled with carved Endor redwood, to the faceted crystal vase in the display case in the corner, to the decanter of alcohol sitting atop the wetbar along the far wall, to the work desk with an archaic music player next to the computer terminal, it was all unmistakably valuable. And yet, despite Rigel's collection of elegance there was a simplicity there as well, such that no one item seemed gaudy, nor did the overall view come across as excessively opulent.

To the left of the room's ingress, a broad panoramic window allowed visible access to the Scythe's exterior. By the window's guard rail stood a small table with a pair of chairs. Rigel gestured to one. "Have a seat."

Rigel stepped around the arcade projector in the middle of the room - the display of ships flickered briefly as he passed - and he stopped at the wet bar. From the refrigeration unit, he produced a pitcher of dusky, cherry-colored liquid that erupted into swirls when lifted it. "Would you like a glass?"

[R. S. Esalis]

In silence she sat, though her seemingly cursory gaze over the interior of his quarters was equal parts swift and thorough. She took in everything with a demanding eye, noting the placement of each sparse bit of decor. It was simple and elegant, and grudgingly she found herself appreciating his taste. It was a momentary flash of realization, and one that she discarded just as quickly.

He offered a drink, and Esalis nodded.

"I would."

She briefly wondered why he would choose to descend into such familiarity; the two had not spoken in a very long time, and for her part the Director of Imperial Intelligence was glad for it. Rigel Bismarck was an insufferable human being that delighted in being a rather singular annoyance. She stared at him, her expression unreadable as she fell back on old habits. watching the motions of his hands as he went about tending to their drinks; each movement that resulted in some form of action carried out. She observed everything.

"But," she leaned back slightly, one leg going up to cross over the other as an arm rested along the table, "...try not to spit in it this time."

[Rigel Bismarck]

Rigel chuckled. "That was a childish move, I'll admit," he replied, bringing their drinks to the table. "But I had to see what you would do when it was the Duchess' not-to-be-missed, thousand-credit-per-ounce, one-serving-only wine. Clever move, swapping your glass with the Baron's."

He sipped from his glass and swirled the liquid across his tongue. "Deliciously tart," he remarked. "One of my few indulgences."

He set the second glass before Esalis with a thunk, all trace of joviality or hospitality gone. "Why are you here?"

[R. S. Esalis]

Ah, there it was. That slip back into the formal. The shift into the much more comfortable tension that she felt most at ease with. Her back straightened only slightly, her posture becoming a touch more stiff as she reached to bring the glass up from the table and to her lips. She held it just beneath her nose, eyes still on Bismarck as she scented to contents. There was the tart, she could smell that readily enough. But there were also full-bodied notes that provided a surprisingly welcome accompaniment.

A first taste, and the liquid slid over her tongue in an unexpected show of smooth yet crisp. The sharp snap of tartness was not as jarring as she thought it would be; and indeed it was rather enjoyable.

So far as she allowed herself to enjoy it, that was.

There was no need to answer his brusque query with kid gloves, and the Director dove in with her own particular brand of directness.

"You have a spy aboard your ship."

[Rigel Bismarck]

For all the speed with which he'd verbally jousted with the Director before her comment, after hearing it Rigel was extremely slow to respond. "I have personally vetted or inspected a great majority of the Scythe's crew," he stated. "If you are making that accusation in seriousness, you had better have come here with proof."

Of course she had proof. She would not be here without proof to wave in his face and taunt him with the failures of his security process. But this was how the game was played when one was unexpectedly on the defensive.

[R. S. Esalis]

He knew she had proof. Even despite his initial reaction she was gauging him. Watching and studying. Picking each facial tick apart and weaving it back into a narrative that helped her to put the pieces back together again in a manner that spelled out the eventual outcome. She stared at him, letting a silence settle between the two for a short while.

When she spoke next, her voice held a quiet calm, accusatory only in the loosest sense. Her tone held a large amount of that old turnabout. It had not worked when she was just beginning her career, but over the years it had matured and grown into a deadly beast of its' own.

"A great majority."

Her glass was sent gently onto the table.

"But not all."

[Rigel Bismarck]

"No, that would be impossible," Rigel stated flatly. "Even with the efficiency redesigns to the Imperial-II model, the Scythe still requires a crew of over 33,000. For that matter, if - if - a spy is aboard my ship, identifying them would be as difficult as reforming the planet Alderaan by gluing it back together atom by atom."

He tossed back the remainder of his drink, no longer desiring to savor any of it but unwilling to let it go to waste. "How did you learn this?"

[R. S. Esalis]

"That is none of your concern."

Unlike him, or perhaps because of his reaction, Esalis made the conscious decision to take a much more slow approach to finishing her drink. It was, after all, surprisingly tasty, and she had no real desire to see the bottom of her glass so soon.

"As far as identifying your little problem, I've already taken the liberty of culling most of your crew."

A knowing look.

"Thankfully I have an army of individuals behind desks to do just that."

Another small sip.

"I have a list, though." As if to assuage any concerns, she went on.

"It's not large, so do not fret. I won't aggravate your sensibilities for more than three days."

[Rigel Bismarck]

"I would rather spend a month under the feet of a Wookiee chiropractor," Rigel snapped. "A bad Wookiee chiropractor."

With an effort, Rigel cleared his throat. "Nonetheless, I believe it in our best interests to remain professional during this search. You will have the full-" he choked out the word- "cooperation of my forces until such time as we have resolved this issue to our joint satisfaction, including any interrogations you need to conduct."

"Which I will, of course, be present for," he added.

[R. S. Esalis]

"I wouldn't dream of depriving you the opportunity."

Esalis allowed a cheshire cat smile; laden with so many barbs.

Just hearing him grind out the word 'cooperation' was reward enough, but despite that fact she chose to go in for the kill. She knew that just her mere presence here was enough to cause that old simmering resentment to rear its' head, and she cultivated it.

The Director took another sip, in no hurry at all to mirror Bismarck's rushed finishing of his own.

"Fine drink, this."

[Rigel Bismarck]

Rigel's face went hard. "Quite."

He picked up his empty glass, strode to the wet bar, and carefully set it in the glass washer. From there, he traveled to his work desk and activated the terminal. "Captain Volscanis will be instructed to assist you in setting up the facilities you require. Feel free to show yourself out of my quarters at your earliest convenience."

[R. S. Esalis]

* * *



The quarters that had been provided were of the normal sort; nothing extravagant (not that Rigel Bismarck would suffer such a thing to be allowed for her), but not a cell, either. They were simple and suited well enough for a person that had no intention of staying for longer than absolutely necessary. Every piece of furniture was utilitarian, and even then there was not much of that. A bed, a desk, and a small sofa. A small fresher was situated through a door towards the back. It was basic, and truthfully all that she needed.

Sitting at the desk, Esalis laid out a few datapads before her, followed by a small stack of flimsis - each organized into a total of fifteen folders. These she set towards the back left corner. A stylus, small wrist chrono, and a brown leather book were soon to follow, each item arranged just so. For a moment she sat, staring at the wall in front of her as she let her thoughts fall into the old cycle.

Fifteen men and women. Fifteen. She'd had her underlings working for months to narrow down the crew of the Scythe to a workable number, providing her with fifteen dossiers of the most likely suspects. It hadn't been an easy list to sort through, and even she had gone over a few hundred. Drudgery, but necessary. Locked in her office for hours on end, the Director had buried herself in the backgrounds and lives of so many people, disassociating herself from her own world to fall into the boots of those she studied.

And it had led her to this point. Sitting quietly on a ship belonging to an old adversary. Just the thought of him was enough to cause a frown to appear. She could've sent anyone else, but there were some things that needed her precise hold, and this was one of those things. It was an acute annoyance, but there were times in life that such experiences couldn't be avoided.

Leaning back, the Director stretched her legs out beneath the desk, her ankles crossing. Eyes closing, she bowed her head as her mind moved on to begin the inevitable first steps of piecing the puzzle pieces together.



* * *



True to Bismarck's word, Captain Volscanis had provided her with everything that she needed. Even if it wasn't much, he had still accommodated her with efficient speed. Unsurprising, as even the presence of an agent was enough to spook most. Let alone the Director herself.

She had been provided with a small room, populated by a table and three chairs. Two on one side, and one on the opposite. The walls were stark, as was everything else inside. The folders she'd brought with her now sat before her as she herself sat calmly. She scrolled almost lazily through a datapad, ignoring for the moment the man who was still standing. He didn't look happy, and she didn't particularly care. In fact, she prefered it that way. Finally, Esalis looked up at Admiral Bismarck. She smiled slowly, then made a gracious gesture to the chair beside her.

"Care to sit?"

[Rigel Bismarck]

"If I cared to sit, I would be sitting." Rigel spoke in dour tones, with not even a hint of the satisfaction held in his earlier insults.

And why would there be? If there was a spy on his ship, Director Esalis had him by the proverbial stock and barrels until they managed to ferret out who it was. And no doubt the woman would relish every inch of the investigation, taking every possible opportunity to rub the failure of his security precautions in his face.

That was, of course, if she were a woman. Rigel privately suspected that not to be true - she acted much more like a human replica droid, or Empress Kazal the Cruel from the Falleen dynasty of North Klatoovia. Director Esalis had not shown any emotion beyond subzero temperature detachment since- well, since long before she'd become Director of Imperial Intelligence.

Case in point - she hadn't said a word about which of his staff she'd be questioning, or in what order they'd be brought in. Rigel had no desire to allow any suspected spies to go free and would not have alerted any of them had he known, but not informing him of their identities went beyond secure protocol.

She wanted to surprise him with her choices for that extra bit of discomfort.

"Who's first?"

[R. S. Esalis]

His decline to sit bothered her little, and Esalis simply moved on the matter at hand. She had better things to do than fuel his juvenile retorts.

"One of your mechanics. An... " she paused, opening the first file in front of her and glancing at the name.

"... Oni Teeg."

The woman seemed clean enough on the surface; graduated in the mid to top range of her engineering courses, served aboard a number of destroyers. She had been given commendations for her repair work and the speed with which she accomplished them. All in all it was a mostly standard dossier, but it was the tangled web beneath the surface that had taken her interest so.

"My sources discovered that her brother is a pilot for the Alliance, and her father was executed for being a sympathizer during the Civil War. Her mother vanished, only to resurface on Iseno, aiding a local insurgent force."

The Director sent a cold stare up to Bismarck. She wanted to twist the knife further, but settled for a simple after-the-fact observation.

"A rather unfortunate family history, wouldn't you say?"

[Rigel Bismarck]

Rigel snorted. "If we had sunk to the level of imprisoning Imperial citizens for the crimes of their familial relations, you'd take great delight in placing me first in line."

Consulting his memory and coming up short, Rigel shook his head. "I've little recollection of her, other than that she was one of the Scythe's earlier staffmembers. I doubt we'll find anything of interest questioning her, but by all means, let this farce begin."

[R. S. Esalis]

"Admiral," Esalis let her tone drip with a measure of rebuke.

"If my people did not take a close look at those whose families exhibited sympathies to the Rebellion, then we would be descended into chaos."

She held an almost evil smile, directed to him exclusively. It vanished however as the door opened and a particularly slim, mousy woman ventured in. The woman had her arms folded over her chest, her brown eyes shifting from her Admiral to the Director. She stopped just inside the door, and even seemed to give a slight jump as it shut behind her.

[Oni Teeg]

Oni Teeg was feeling very much like a bantha in headlights. She had no idea why she'd been called to a meeting with the Admiral and the Director of Imperial Intel, but she was more than certain that it wasn't for anything good. The brunette tried to recall any subpar jobs that she'd done, but was coming up empty. She'd always been given a stern nod and a 'good job', and she had made sure that every I was dotted and every T was crossed. There was of course a measure of panic that tripped up her beating heart, that for some reason she was being pulled into the spotlight for whatever the rest of her family had done, but she dearly hoped that her service record would be enough to clear away whatever suspicions were being sent her way.

The sooner she could return to the hangar and the next repair job, the better.

Biting her lip, Oni looked to Admiral Bismarck, eyes wide and very much unsure of how to proceed.

[Rigel Bismarck]

This was the first suspect the Director had dredged up? The girl who walked in the room looked afraid, not of her own shadow per se, but of some crippling insecurity that had taken root in her psyche early enough in life that it had never let go of her.

"Come in, my dear, come in," Rigel said, putting on his best urbane demeanor in the hopes of putting his subordinate at ease. "At ease - that's right. Take a seat, Technician Teeg. I trust you know who I am so I'll skip my own introduction. My companion can introduce herself however she likes, but I'd like to make clear up front that she will be asking you questions, potentially of a sensitive nature. My expectation is that you answer them, directly and thoroughly. I trust I've made myself clear?"

[Oni Teeg]

She obeyed wordlessly, latching onto the Admiral's words as though they were a life line. And in fact they were. Oni Teeg had never felt so small as she felt now, and that was saying something. She'd existed in the shadows of so many, unwilling to take credit for anything. She simply wanted to do her work and go back to her quarters to pour over the latest upgraded schematics sent her way. Unlike the rest of her family, there was no overwhelming desire to question those above her. The only thing that meant anything was the the logical formations of why something did what is did. It had overtaken her mind, and it was what compelled her to keep on with her chosen profession.

"Um, yes Sir... "

Moving quickly, if not with a bit of jerkiness, the brunette did as she was ordered.

She sat, both hands going down to grip the sides of her seat in a white-knuckled grip.

"If thiss is about the all-clear given to Jekka Squad, I can explain that... "

[R. S. Esalis]

With her hands folded over the top of the dossier file, Esalis pursed her lips as she looked to Bismarck.

She would allow him the chance to answer the woman's silly little question before delving into the true nature of things.

[Rigel Bismarck]

There was an old adage - give your enemy in conversation enough rope and they'll eventually hang themselves with it. On the one hand, Rigel had no desire to see Oni Teeg hung by her own word. On the other hand...

Well, if her explanation bored the Director to tears, why not start there?

"I don't know about you, Director," Rigel said, 'flying casually' through the minefield that was this inquest. "But I would like to hear Miss Teeg's version of those events. Why don't you explain that story to us? Start from the beginning, and spare no details."

[Oni Teeg]

She gulped, a rather glaring visual of nervousness in front of her superiors.

"Well Sir," Oni bit at her upper lip before releasing, running her tongue over her lips to hopefully hydrate them. They'd suddenly gone dry.

"It wasn't my fault, I promise. I was trying to make sure the fire rate for Jekka Squad was to standards, but... um... "

How did she make this seem like she wasn't passing the buck? She'd done what she could! There was a pleading look in her eyes as she gazed from the Director to the Admiral.

"I tried to bring the fire-rate up to text-book standard, Sir. I was just having a little bit of trouble syncing the overstroke ratios and making sure they were siphoned correctly from the power core."

Both hands came up then, to clasp together in her lap.

"Chief Officer Torrisz wouldn't let me finish, Sir... "

[Rigel Bismarck]

"Yes, yes," Rigel nodded sympathetically. "I recall the incident. You'd found power system deficiencies in a squadron of our standard TIEs. Turned out to be a serious liability for them during a fight with some pirates we had to deal with."

"And they were dealt with-" here Rigel eyed Director Esalis briefly, "-to the Admiralty's satisfaction. The threat to our supply convoys was neutralized and the majority of the lost materiel was recovered."

[R. S. Esalis]

Esalis endured the jab, her eyes unmoved from Technician Teeg. There was not much that she wished to truly engage in regarding the woman's recent mechanical heroics. Rather, everything that interested here was hidden past that. She waved away the words that Bismarck had spoken.

"That is all well and good, Technician."

It also interested her in no way.

"I am, however, far more interested in your family's service to the Empire and what that may mean to... yours."

[Oni Teeg]

"Ma'am... ?"

Oh, she knew exactly what the Director spoke of, but chose to play dumb for the immediate moment. Oni Teeg flinched slightly, letting her eyes flit from the Director to the Admiral.

"This... this isn't about the Jekka problem?"

[Rigel Bismarck]

Rigel sighed. "No, apparently not."

With a deferential nod towards Esalis first, he addressed the technician as supportively as he could muster. "No, Technician, this surrounds the strength of your loyalty to the Empire and whether it exists in spite of, or perhaps because of, the actions of certain members of your bloodline."

[Oni Teeg]

"... oh."

So it was that. Even despite the Director's words, Oni had hoped that it was something else. Some slip of the spanner or a job half done. She sure as hell wished that was the case after the Admiral confirmed the direction this interrogation would be going.

"Well, umm... "

How to even start?

"I haven't been in contact with any of my family for years," she started slowly. Her wide eyes tracked from the Admiral to the Director.

"And honestly they haven't tried to get in touch with me either. I promise, Ma'am, I'm not a traitor or a spy. I work on the TIE's because I can understand them."

Her hands clutched together in her lap, fingers winding in and around one another.

"Last time I talked with anyone in my family was five years back; I sent a Life Day card to my brother, but I never got anything back so I just figured he didn't want to hear from me."

[R. S. Esalis]

Esalis listened in patient silence, her own hands folded together and unmoving atop one of the flimsi folders.

"Ah yes, the Life Day card."

She moved then, sliding a cleanly opened envelope from the folder. Delicately she pulled the card out. It was a simple thing, no doubt from the discount rack of a Credit General. A poorly drawn Life Day tree, scraggly and bare of most its' leaves, with a single string of 'lights' wrapped around it. A baby bantha sat beside it.

"This one, yes?"

The Director placed it on the table before gently sliding it across the durasteel surface toward Technician Teeg.

"Intelligence screens all outgoing comms, Ms. Teeg. And that includes physical communications. We intercepted your card five years previous, as you stated, and filed it away with the rest of our documentation on the Teeg family."

[Rigel Bismarck]

"Yes, Ms Teeg," Rigel interposed himself as smoothly as possible into the space of Esalis' pause. "Upon review, the card was deemed suspicious. I must admit, when the Director raised her concerns with me, I too was at something of a loss."

"I am well aware of the protocol," Rigel had said. "But the meaning is blindingly bloody obvious and you well know it."

"Certainly, precautionary measures needed to be taken in case the card held more information than was immediately apparent."

"And you kept the silly card well after a threat determination should have been made? How utterly ridiculous!"

"Perhaps, however, you can alleviate our mutual concerns by explaining the intended meaning of this line?"

"I am not concerned over this in the slightest. When did you lose all sense of perspective and become the very embodiment of an ice queen? Nevermind, don't answer that, I really have no desire to know."

Though he hated to admit it, Rigel had an inkling as to when.

At any rate, appearances needed to be maintained. Rigel calmly took the 'card', opened it, and slid it before his crewmember. One finger tapped the next to last line.

[Oni Teeg]

Looking at the card, Oni couldn't help the concerned expression that fell over her face. So her card hadn't even made it out? It was sad, but also explained why she'd never gotten an answer. As the Admiral slid it towards her, Oni leaned forward, making sure to keep her hands in her lap.

I hope you're still alive, Roman. Miss seeing you. Have a happy Life Day and Mom. Tell Uncle Zanno that I'm thinking about him.

Love, Oni

She let her eyes skim over the messy handscrawled note, then bit her lower lip. 'Have a happy Life Day and Mom'?

Oni let out a hmphp.

"I don't know," it was obvious without too much thought though, and she amended her words.

"I mean, I meant to say 'I hope you and Mom have a happy Life Day'. I guess... I guess my brain just sort of tripped over my hand?"

Technical manuals were infinitely more easy to work through than hastily scrawled holiday wishes.

[Rigel Bismarck]

"Hm. Yes, we'd considered that it could be innocuous, but in this time of espionage and cold war against the Alliance, you never can tell, can you?"

Some people couldn't, anyway.

"Were there," he asked without looking at Esalis. "More avenues of inquiry you wished to pursue with Technician Teeg, Director? We did discuss several."

[R. S. Esalis]

Her eyes remained leveled upon the girl, not quite ready to give up on even the slightest possibility that there was something more to be had from the card. Oh, she knew that the probability of there actually being a threat in Oni Teeg was below what would be termed 'acceptable', but the Director was not above making Ms. Teeg sit and squirm. If it annoyed Bismarck, all the better. In a way even if nothing came of this trip, the effects of her presence upon him was reward enough.

Finally, she leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest as she continued to stare at Technician Teeg. The girl seemed to wilt before them, and Esalis allowed the faintest of facial ticks to pull upwards at one corner of her lips.

"No," she eventually let out, "... no, I think we shall let Ms. Teeg return to her bunk for now."

[Oni Teeg]

Gods but the Director made her skin crawl! Not to mention she was sweating so badly she'd need to wring out her socks no doubt. The 'for now' bit was particularly worrisome, and Oni's mind raced, trying to remember if she'd sent any other letter or comm to her brother. To her recollection she'd not, but Imperial Intel had ways of remembering for you, so the doubts racing through her mind were wild and unchecked.

A tentative look was sent to the Admiral.

[Rigel Bismarck]

"Very well." Rigel nodded deferentially in Esalis' direction, again without looking. "Technician, you will be escorted back to your quarters. You will remain there under guard and communications blackout until further notice. Meals will be brought to you. Until you receive further orders directly from me, you will be considered on special leave. You may have that time to yourself to do whatever you wish."

"Time," he added. "Which will need to be made up in the maintenance bay as soon as you are free to do so."

Rigel produced a commlink and switched it to the special frequency he'd arranged for the interrogation room's guards. "Gentlemen, would one of you kindly escort our current guest back to her quarters?"

[R. S. Esalis]

She watched in silence as Technician Teeg was escorted out, and after the door had closed the Director let herself have a moment of minor relaxation. Her shoulders rolled in a strangely fluid motion, something that looked foreign on her rigid frame.

"There now, that wasn't so difficult, was it?" She pulled the card back across the table and replaced it into the file folder before sliding 'Technician Oni Teeg' to the bottom of her thin pile.

"I rather enjoyed that," came the goading remark, "... didn't you?"

[Rigel Bismarck]

"Oh yes," Rigel's eyes rolled like an Imperial search pattern: widely and thoroughly. "I daresay only brushing my teeth with glass tooth cleanser would really provide a more enjoyable five minutes."

He snorted and turned to eye Esalis directly. "The woman's psyche is as fragile as is and you barely - barely - had cause to bring up that card. It wouldn't surprise me if your little game added an element of paranoia to her. Vader only knows if I'll be able to get real work out of her going forward."

Rigel found himself thirsty and turned away from Esalis to visit the room's small refrigerator. Spotting something hazy, golden, and smelling of alcohol, he poured himself a small glass. "Who's next in the parade?"

[R. S. Esalis]

A small, self-satisfying smirk wound across her lips in infuriating fashion, like a slowly writhing snake. She let her eyes linger on him for a moment or two longer than normal, letting a silence hang between the two that was loader than any word either could have spoken - or shouted - at one another.

Finally, the Directer peeled her gaze back to the stack of folders. She made a show of opening the second in line, pursing her lips as she thumbed through its' contents.

But, rather than speak the name he'd demanded of her, the folder was flipped closed, plucked from the table, and held out for him. His reaching hand was denied however, as her wrist flicked back, pulling the folder and the elusive name that he wanted from reach.

And when their eyes met once more, she spoke. A low, level voice.

"I'm thirsty."

[Rigel Bismarck]

"A solvable problem," Rigel countered. "Find a chemical refinery sewage lake and drown."

Esalis didn't move, didn't even reply to his bait, long enough that her likely intended mark occurred to him. "Absolutely not."