The Great Shepherd of the Empire

A shiver of excitement ran through down her back and tingled into her limbs. The Crimson Guards were the Elite, sworn to protect the Emperor at any and all cost. Their skill was just as quiet and deadly as their visage projected. Their presence was always unnerving. Not that the Inquisitors didn't have that aura around them, but not all of them wore masks to hide their faces. The Guards did, hiding their expressions fully and making you completely unaware of what they could possibly be thinking.

What was even more curious is that these Crimson Guards held lightsabers. So the rumors were true. Some of the Inquisitors were trained in the use of the Force, Miranda thought and looked upon them with uncertainty. It would take some adjustment, allowing herself to be protected by those with the ability to sense the Force. The only Force user she ever trusted was Lord Vader, but that was because her Grandfather had spoke highly of him and his unwavering devotion to Palpatine and the Empire. Of course Force users and Jedi were two different ideals technically. Rationally, Miranda knew it was how the being used the Force that made them the enemy, but after most of her family was killed by them, she couldn't help but have a predisposition to hating them.

"You may rise," she said to the Guards and returned her attention upon Valten. "Perhaps you know of a childhood associate of mine? Sorsha Kasajian? She is a valuable asset, having several contacts within the assassin guild. She could be quite useful informing us of any attempts on my life before the ink dries on the contract."

“….Kasajian?” A noble imperial name and part of the Barony if Valten remembered that line correctly. Pointless trivia in his eyes, but something that rest of the galaxy and especially politicians found important. They were useful from time to time…..but this name Valten held with great reservation. The Inquisitor made an effort to choose tactful

“I do not trust…organized crime. ” Miranda did not start at revelation that Valten knew what Sorsha Kasajian was under the family name; but he picked out the slight twitches of surprise, the Vigos always took great care in concealing their identities. The Inquisitoriate tolerated the criminals because of their ties to underworld information; so long they did not interfere with the Empire’s stability. The Inquisitor made an effort to choose his words carefully.

“Miss Kasajian may have ties to sources beyond our reach, but I advise against this.” For more than one reason as well. Valten did not like the idea of having Black Sun so close one who would lead the Empire…and he did not like the possibility that Tarkin was thinking with her emotions. He was fairly confident in his assessment of their relationship.

"But I only advise. If it is your will, we will comply.”

Miranda pursed her lips and reflected upon Valten's assessment about her proposal. "Palpatine often used information from Prince Xizor when he was alive and allocated resources to the cause against the Rebellion. This relationship would be no different. However ..."

She paused and looked at the Inquisitor squarely in the eye without any hesitation. Not something to be done lightly, but if Miranda was to be the Empress of of the Galactic Empire, she had to continue to show no fear in anything she said, believed or ordered. " ... I understand the caution you present, but the Kasajians and Tarkins have been close friends and strong allies of the Empire for years. Sorsha wants nothing but the best for the Empire, and would be willing to lay down her life for it ... And me."

Again a pause, but this time with quiet understanding between the two of them. If she surmised correctly, Valten had an idea that her relationship with Sorsha was more intimate then just close friends. "Feelings aside, I know the power she holds and I can, and have, kept her in check."

“Forgive me, it is my duty to be suspicious.”


The Inquisitoriate was taught that no one should be trusted, the even Inquisitors watched each other as much as they did others. Faults in skill were to be expected at times, but faults of loyalty were never forgiven. Only the Emperor–or the Empress– and whom they declared worthy could be trusted.


“There is a greater threat, I worry about. The Executor will see this as usurpation of his right. It is likely that he will be……….volatile. You will be reinstating the Emperor’s Hand, will you not?”

"I appreciate your concerns and ability to speak frankly with me. We are no use to one another otherwise, Inquisitor."

Her thoughts strayed to the Executor as Valten spoke. He was right. Sevon would see this as a power play by Miranda, who used the information given to her by him to take the throne. His assessments would be wrong. Sevon created his own grave by his own hubris. Miranda had agreed that some fat needed to be cut away from the Empire, but he also wanted to remove the heads of prominent figures that were vital to the stability of the Empire that were also his rivals. Rivals that might have agreed to his petition for the throne.

He used her weakness for power to have Miranda side with him. In error, she repented and realized her mistake and went to the Inquisition. Not out of fear, but out of humility. And look where it landed her ...

"Yes, I will be." The Hand was an extension of the Emperor himself before his demise. The rumors suggested that there were more then just one and Miranda would have to presume as such until proven otherwise.

They would be vital assets for Miranda regardless. "Current Hands can convert over to my authority. If they do not, they need to be assimilated into the Inquisitors if they possess Force abilities or join our intelligence divisions if not. If they refuse, they are to be eliminated. The Empire cannot afford loose cannons going around unchecked with the information they possess."

Valten actually smiled at Miranda’s final comment. “It seems that Inquisitor Helghast has similar thoughts. He has already taken a small contingent of vessels and soldiers to track down renegade royal guard and recover artifacts belonging to Palpatine.”

What Valten didn’t mention was the face the Y’roth was had also taken half of Project Nightmare with him……as well as a former Sith lord. However Valten had made sure that Ms. Drenkast would be easy to incapacitate if she posed any sort of threat.

“But I fear more for the stability of the core worlds. The Inquisitoriate is stretched thin as it is, we do not have the numbers of the armed forces.”

Traditionally the Inquisitoriate used the strength of the Army and Navy to act as both transportation, distractions, and sometime firepower, while their own specialists completed their individual missions. But with the tremor that would surely rock the Empire, he would need enough firepower to possibly war against fellow Imperials. The though sickened him, but it would be just another sin the Inquisitors would have to bear.

“If we are to be the best use to the Empire in the coming days, we may have to sacrifice the outer worlds to keep the heart.”

"I agree. Plan a contingency in case the worse happens. It is difficult to predict what will unfold after the announcement. Which leads me to another thought."

Miranda leaned forward, tapping Valten's desk with a grin. "To avoid unpleasantries, we need to have the full support of the Grand Moffs and of the current established government. The Grand Moffs will more then likely side in my favor since they promoted me to Moff with the backing of the Inquisitors. That does little for those Moffs not in my favor, but if we have our dear Chancellor agree to my claim for the throne, more would understand that this decision was done in the best interest of the Empire."

Relaxed, Tarkin leaned back and spread her arms out as it all made sense. "He would be willingly giving up his leadership role to me publicly. But that is the key. Willingly. And scent of undermining his authority and it would be all for not. He too is liked by the people, which only increased after the assassination attempt. We would have to approach him together and be honest of the situation at hand. If he knew what was at stake with Sevon, I believe Anar would come around."

She sighed as her features softened. "We have a good relationship. He's a father figure to me and I a daughter to him, though he'd never admit it."

“Very well, an ally in politics is useful and Anar’s convictions are true to the Imperium.”

Though the Inquisitor did wear an expression of reservation, primarily at the thought of having a politician within the inner sanctum of the Inquisitoriate.

Granted Miranda was a politician, but this was a delicate matter and one the invitation showed the Inquisitors’ trust in Tarkin.
For the most part the Inquisitoriate operated independently of the moffs and other governing officials; even during Palpatine’s reign, they each individual Inquisitor was free to pursue his or her own method of maintaining the order of the Empire. Valten had a slight feeling that this may change somewhat and the sensation was unpleasant.

“I have an office in the central administration tower of the Citadel that may be more accommodating than here if you wish.”

Miranda pursued her lips and nodded sharply once. "That is acceptable to me. I understand the honor it is to be invited here..."

She reach her arms out in reverence. "...to the Inner Sanctum. I will contact Anar and set up a meeting in an hours time."

Tarkin could sense that Valten's nerves were still on edge. Things were changing quickly and that meant that the Inquisitors must be flexible in order to preserve the Empire.

Valten beamed, an odd sight on the typically stoic Inquisitor’s face. Nearly a year of planning, maneuvering, and creeping in the shadows was just coming into fruitation.

This first meeting with the soon-to-be Empress had gone much better than expected. There were still many things that needed to be made aware between the two, but Valten felt he had found a worthy ally and leader for the Imperium.

“Excellent.” Valten pulled himself to standing and bowed towards Moff Tarkin. “I shall perhaps call for an entrée to be prepared? It is the least I can do to be hospitable, we are not so uncivilized as the whispering suggests.”

"That would be lovely," she with approval while she rose to her feet. "And I will continue to keep your hospitality a closely guarded secret."

Her last statement was marked with a virulent smile. "See you in an hours time, Inquisitor Valten."

Miranda departed the Inner Sanctum with her two new guard falling behind her in perfect unison. And as the doors close behind her, she finally afforded herself a smile filled with victory.