WotH Chpt 49

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 49==
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===Situation Awareness when it comes to Media===
"You're staying here?" Siri asked as Paige walked off of the loading ramp of the Archon's Favor.
 
"Yes, ma'am," Paige waved some of Jenkin's men onto the ship. "Intel's landing in a little while and I want to make their job a bit easier."
 
"What do you mean?" Siri asked, a blond eyebrow raised as she considered that statement.
 
"We'll separate the prisoners and begin asking some pointed questions," Paige removed her helmet to move a hair that had come free from her bun, tucking it back into the rest. "Once we have more information from their computer systems we'll start cross verifying and checking their information."
 
"Ah," Siri sighed in relief. "I believed that you were going to torture them."
 
"Torture's an unreliable method of obtaining information," Paige said bluntly. "Sometimes chemical cocktails work, but finding exactly the right ones that work within a specific species or even person's body can be hard to dial in. It's easier to simply find a weak link and use basic psychology against them."
 
"I will remain behind," Siri held up a hand to stave off any arguments. "Not because I do not trust you. But because I may be able to assist. If I was angry at the treatment of the hostage, then I believe that you felt much the same."
 
"If you can play at being a lie detector it'll help," Paige agreed. "I take it you'll send the Apprentice with the wounded?"
 
"Yes, Ferus needs to be exposed to that sort of emotion otherwise it may take control of him." Siri sighed. "I know that I was once that young, but it feels like it was so long ago."
 
"Feel old later," Paige snorted. "We've got work to do."
 
The two women walked further into the compound, eventually seeing Colonel Hull speaking softly to Sienn Thompson.
 
"Make sure to get everything you can out of them," Hull eyed a small pool of blood from one of the dead terrorists for a second.. "I'm going to be heading back to Raxus with the hostages."
 
"And my Padawan will be accompanying you," Siri said as Paige and herself walked up. "I believe that the Archon's Favor will be leaving shortly."
 
"It is," Paige confirmed. "It's probably for the best that you get them back. Even if they are in terrible shape."
 
"Just so you're both aware," Hull sighed. "We're going to have some negative fallout because of this. Now, don't get me wrong, we're going to be applauded in public, but a lot of people will be asking pointed questions like 'Why did it take so long?' and 'Why didn't you prevent the injuries?." He seemed to age a few years as he spoke, a few wrinkles around his eyes looking deeper. "If any reporters try to ask questions simply refer them back to me or one of the PR people. I don't want anything coming back to bite any of y'all in the ass."
 
"I'll send out the memo," Paige responded. "But I'm not going to promise that my Marines won't say anything stupid."
 
"I'm not expecting perfection," Hull smiled. "Just that they don't get themselves into more trouble."
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===News of Jedi celibacy has been Exaggerated===
"Alright Rook," Sienn sat down next to the technician as he dove into the computer systems next to an older Togrutan. "What do you have for me?"
 
"A paper trail," the man smirked. "I've got information on funds and where they came from, I'll just have to trace them back."
 
"And that's where I come in," The Togruta began typing away at a datapad. "I'm a financial auditor and accountant, it's my job to look at these sorts of things and determine where they come from."
 
"Kurassh here is a bit of a special case," Rook shrugged. "He used to cook the books for a Hutt and when the Hutt got caught, they just locked 'em all up. He's technically serving out his term by assisting the CIS in a military capacity."
 
"I'm hoping to get out early on good behavior," Kurassh smiled. "I've seen the contracts you Marksman give out and I'd really like to sign on once I've finished my sentence."
 
"I'll leave you to it then," Sienn chuckled as the two dove back into the electronics.
 
"Any luck?" Siri asked as Sienn walked into one of the rooms that had been hastily repurposed into an interrogation room.
 
"We're slowly verifying our information," Sienn replied, her lekku twitching as she crossed her arms over her chest. "We'll have most of the real information extracted in a week or so. Which is a lot faster than it normally takes. Being able to tell whether someone was lying or not helped tremendously."
 
"A lie detector would have served much the same purpose." Siri waved the praise away.
 
"No, lie detectors can be more easily fooled," Sienn disagreed. "Now, once we finish up here we'll exfil and head on back to Beloria. Do you want to come with? Or are you planning on returning to Raxus?"
 
"That will be decided upon the information we receive," Siri stated. "Should it prove valuable enough, I believe that there will be much more for me to do."
 
"The reward for good work is more work," Sienn laughed. "I can't wait to take a vacation after this op. Alan won't be able to walk for weeks after I'm done with him."
 
"I don't need to hear more of this," Siri simply rolled her eyes at the Twi'lek. "You've regaled me with enough stories of your love life by now."
 
"I just figured I'd let you live vicariously through me," Sienn smirked. "After all, it's not like you're going to get to try all of the different things I can."
 
"Temple Jedi are not celibate," Siri deadpanned. "They just are not allowed to form attachments."
 
"You mean that there's a lot of raunchy one night stands then," Sienn grinned wide. "Do tell."
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===Security Council Disagreements===
Date: July 15, 3015/15.07.7954 CRCLocation: Raxus Secondus, Raxus System, Aubek sector, Confederacy of Independent Systems
 
"Colonel Hull, you were said to have information for us," Vinon Korra leaned forward in her chair, the other members of the Security Council doing the same.
 
"Yes, Minister Korra," Colonel Hull's barren uniform matched the atmosphere of the room. "After we recovered the hostages and brought them back-"
 
"Not without harm." someone muttered.
 
"We began running dedicated slicing attempts and interrogating what prisoners we were able to take, eventually culminating in a series of funding transactions that we traced back several steps," a hologram appeared showing the names of various banking and investment firms in the galaxy. "Thankfully, we were able to utilize some of the Confederacies own people for this part of the investigation, and one of your accountants was able to trace the root of the funds all the way back to someone on Corsuscant."
 
 The Hologram shifted to show the large figure of Orn Free Taa.
 
"This is the person responsible for the attacks on the representatives from Ryloth," the Colonel stated, his voice almost soft. "I leave it to this August body to decide what is to be done about this."
 
"You may be dismissed, Colonel," the minister nodded in thanks. "Please wait outside for us to discuss what is to be done."
 
"So, it is as we feared," an old man sighed in his chair. "This is only the beginning of the problems we will have with the Republic at our doorstep."
 "We must bring Orn Free Taa to trial," someone agreed. "But we must do it in such a way that shows the Republic that we are not to be trifled with."
 
"We need someone who may have a foothold on Coruscant to allow us access," Korra thought out loud. "Someone who can represent our interests and defend themselves if it comes to poison or an assassin's blade."
 
"If I may," the young politician who had muttered earlier made himself known. "The Republic Senate has already summoned the Count's pet Colonel," the man sneered. "Why not order him to make himself known. After all, even if he is slain, it is not something we should be all that concerned with. He is a Mercenary, and there will be others to take his place."
 
"The idea is not all bad," a Quarren shrugged. "While I may disagree with the Representative from Raxus Prime, he raises a fine point. Colonel Hull does have a way to speak to the Senate and request for this criminal to be handed over for Justice's sake."
 
"From his recent engagements with the Lok Revenants, he has even made contact with the Senator from Naboo," the old man pointed out. "I do believe that we should make a request that he be escorted by Temple Jedi as well as our own, that there will be no doubt he is there to represent our interests and those of the people of the Confederacy. We may be young, but we will not cower away in fear."
 
"We will draft this plan and bring it before the Representative Body," Minister Korra sighed as she called in a few aids. "Let's begin, I believe that we would all like to break for dinner as soon as possible."
 
"As if," the younger man scoffed. "I can do this all day."
 
"How rude," a cane slammed down into the table beside the man, the older man from the Regency Worlds standing firm. "It would serve you well to learn manners young man, acting in such a fashion will make you many enemies, and none here will defend you should it end in blood."
 
"Then you are no better than the Republic." the young man spat.
 
"Should you desire it, I will gladly duel you over whether I am right nor not at a later time." Cassius glared. "You serve at the behest of your people, do not forget that."
 
"Mister Clay, if you will please allow me," Minister Korra smiled at the old Abolitionist. "I'll handle this."
 
"Representative Cerhine, should you act out like that again, I will have you removed from this council. I do not care who your backers are among the Representative Body. We were appointed here to serve the interests of the Confederacy and the worlds which it represents. We are to consider defense and security. That is our mandate, and I aim to keep this nation alive as long as I draw breath. So if you want to go stir up trouble, the Core is that way," Korra pointed in the general direction of Coruscant. "We're from the Mid and Outer Rims, we don't have time for that sort of Poodoo here."
 
"Very well," Cerhine stood up, his fancy clothing shining in the light. "I see where I am not desired."
 
"Damned fool." Cassius scoffed. "Let's get this plan drawn up, I've got a speech to make in an hour."
 
"Alright," Korra slapped her hands down on the surface of the table. "Let's do this."
 
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Chapter 49