Post by aric on Aug 3, 2005 0:51:33 GMT -5
Hastur Zork sat at the conference table quietly. He listened to the polite yet forceful debate flurrying around him. The small arena in which he sat was circular. Concentric circles of seating staggered down until it came to the oration floor. At the center of the floor lay an upraised console in the center of which was a massive holoprojector that was currently inactive. Hundreds of Imperial Intelligence agents and sub-directors sat in the arena for the latest policy meeting.
The speaker currently at the oration floor was the director of the local district branch of Imperial Intelligence. Dressed in crimson like the rest of them, the Director stood ramrod straight while delivering the update to the audience. “This conspiracy against the regime has only begun and yet they are taking preventative measures to cloak themselves in secrecy – presumably from our prying eyes. The purpose of this meeting is to neutralize their countermeasures. Any ideas from the gathered members would be welcome.”
Zork keyed his microphone. “They have begun to sweep their covert meeting places for spying devices. They have already uncovered several. This is especially true for Senator Organa’s offices.”
The room murmured. Everyone there knew of the nascent rebellion amongst senior members of the Senate against Palpatine. So far, it seemed to be merely a forum for voicing political dissent. They had not begun to take physical, violent action. Not yet.
“They can search for hardware and continue to find them,” Zork stated. “I suggest that we continue with this program to keep these… rebels on their toes. Concurrently, we should look into alternative methods of surveillance that are more sophisticated and roundabout than direct bugging. The new Holonet system should be infected with spyware programs that collect specified information based on certain input cues such as those that suggest rebellion. Also, we should have hyperwave and electromagnetic harmonic devices near the communication devices of these senators to catch any superluminal and light-speed signals emanating from these rebellious sources.”
Zork keyed his microphone off. He said his bit and was satisfied with it. Apparently so was the director who nodded his approval. More agents put forth their suggestions. Zork tuned out to the debate since it was already being recorded and could be accessed from his workstation at any time. He looked around at the arena. Hastur was proud to be a part of this organization. Imperial Intelligence had formed even before the Empire had. In the waning days of the Republic, the corrupt Senate had used the various intelligence organizations for their own personal gain rather than for the security of galactic civilization. The directors of the respective agencies had grown tired and disgusted at the torpidity that had insinuated itself into the heart of the Republic. They also resented being used by politicians. It came to the point where the leaders of the four primary intelligence agencies of the Republic banded together and streamlined their organizations into one overarching agency. Imperial Intelligence was born. Of course, it took the birth of the Empire for their current nom de guerre. There was nowhere in civilization that Intelligence did not reach, nowhere that they could not see if they chose to do so.
Hastur smiled. He was sure that Intelligence would outlast even this Empire.
* * *
Torches lit the tropical fields at the southern foot of the compound. Foliage lined the open spaced. Even in the dim gloom of night, the bright flowers and blooms could be seen by torchlight. Over five thousand of the Berserker’s crew ate, danced, and laughed here at this party. Stone tables were set up, but many of them were ignored in favor of the soft grass. Tablecloths had been whisked off and laid on the ground. The crew left their uniforms at their various hotel rooms and came in bright and colorful attire. Towards the compound, a gigantic cylindrical oven slow-cooked smoked meats. On various gazebos, dancing girls entertained the crew. Most of the crewers were made up of men, though there was a smattering of women. Zork honestly had no idea what he needed for them. Perhaps he should have spoken with Tianni earlier.
He looked further down the table and saw Tianni glowering at the men who were ogling the Twi’lek dancing girls. If glares were turbolasers, the island would have been incinerated. Zork consciously dodged Tianni’s disapproving stares. At least not all the women were indignant. Some were having fun. He thought he saw a few female crewmembers getting up and dancing with the Twi’lek girls. The men hooted and cheered, of course. Mephisto turned to Tianni, looked her straight in the eyes and grinned. Tianni rolled her eyes and concentrated on her food.
A lithe feminine figure slipped onto the bench next to him. Her cool blue skin brushed against Mephisto’s maroon and blue shirt. The Rutian Twi’lek smiled at him. He smiled back. “How are you tonight?” she asked.
“Fine,” he replied. “I was wondering where you were off to.”
“Just speaking with the dancers. Making sure the senior staff had their own cadre of Lethan dancers.”
Mephisto looked over at the senior staff’s pavilion. Tables ringed a stage where dozens of red-skinned Twi’lek dancers entertained the bridge officers and others in the senior staff. Red-skinned Lethan Twi’leks were actually abundant in the galaxy. However, compared to Twi’leks of other ethnicities, they were a miniscule fraction of the total population. Those with wealth and power prized Lethan Twi’leks as trophy wives and consorts.
He could have had any one of the Lethan Twi’leks. But his eyes were for his Myu’tio. He hesitated to call her his slave. It was technically illegal in the Empire. The entirety of the permanent population of Genezee, human and Twi’lek were his vassals. He could lord over them as much as a slaver could his slaves. However, he chose a more benevolent form of laissez faire rule.
Mephisto slipped his arm around her waist. The scent of subdued perfumes touched his nose. He could feel the suppleness of her form beneath her somewhat flimsy attire. He amazed at just how humanoid Twi’leks were. After millennia of artificial and sexual selection, humans had unintentionally changed the direction of Twi’lek evolution starting from the moment that they set foot on the Twi’lek homeworld of Ryloth. Mephisto always wondered what the first Twi’leks must have thought when they saw human ships landing on their desert world. Did they seem as gods to the primitive Twi’leks? That fantasy couldn’t have lasted long. On that brutal world, survival was any sane person’s goal. Undoubtedly, some crafty Twi’leks saw these new beings as means towards the ends of their survival. Others probably didn’t have much choice in the matter. Slavers also visited Ryloth over the years, having their way with the natives. The ones who had more sympathetic human characteristics were chosen by the spacers and slavers to be flown away into space. These traits would have been reinforced as those who looked more human were preferred over others. Over the millennia of human domination of this galaxy, the Twi’lek form evolved into the humanoid frame that he saw dancing sensuously for his crewers as well as his love sitting next to him. The twin lekku head-tails remained. As did the various skin colors that distinguished Twi’leks from humans - colors from red, purple, green, blue and pink. Apparently, skin color wasn’t nearly as important as sex in the cases of the female Twi’leks who could meet male sexual needs as well as any human female.
Myu’tio snuggled closer to Mephisto. His embrace of her became tighter. He wished he could enjoy the moment more, but at the back of his mind, he couldn’t help wondering what type of assignment he would be given. He didn’t know when he could return to Genezee and Myu’tio.
The speaker currently at the oration floor was the director of the local district branch of Imperial Intelligence. Dressed in crimson like the rest of them, the Director stood ramrod straight while delivering the update to the audience. “This conspiracy against the regime has only begun and yet they are taking preventative measures to cloak themselves in secrecy – presumably from our prying eyes. The purpose of this meeting is to neutralize their countermeasures. Any ideas from the gathered members would be welcome.”
Zork keyed his microphone. “They have begun to sweep their covert meeting places for spying devices. They have already uncovered several. This is especially true for Senator Organa’s offices.”
The room murmured. Everyone there knew of the nascent rebellion amongst senior members of the Senate against Palpatine. So far, it seemed to be merely a forum for voicing political dissent. They had not begun to take physical, violent action. Not yet.
“They can search for hardware and continue to find them,” Zork stated. “I suggest that we continue with this program to keep these… rebels on their toes. Concurrently, we should look into alternative methods of surveillance that are more sophisticated and roundabout than direct bugging. The new Holonet system should be infected with spyware programs that collect specified information based on certain input cues such as those that suggest rebellion. Also, we should have hyperwave and electromagnetic harmonic devices near the communication devices of these senators to catch any superluminal and light-speed signals emanating from these rebellious sources.”
Zork keyed his microphone off. He said his bit and was satisfied with it. Apparently so was the director who nodded his approval. More agents put forth their suggestions. Zork tuned out to the debate since it was already being recorded and could be accessed from his workstation at any time. He looked around at the arena. Hastur was proud to be a part of this organization. Imperial Intelligence had formed even before the Empire had. In the waning days of the Republic, the corrupt Senate had used the various intelligence organizations for their own personal gain rather than for the security of galactic civilization. The directors of the respective agencies had grown tired and disgusted at the torpidity that had insinuated itself into the heart of the Republic. They also resented being used by politicians. It came to the point where the leaders of the four primary intelligence agencies of the Republic banded together and streamlined their organizations into one overarching agency. Imperial Intelligence was born. Of course, it took the birth of the Empire for their current nom de guerre. There was nowhere in civilization that Intelligence did not reach, nowhere that they could not see if they chose to do so.
Hastur smiled. He was sure that Intelligence would outlast even this Empire.
* * *
Torches lit the tropical fields at the southern foot of the compound. Foliage lined the open spaced. Even in the dim gloom of night, the bright flowers and blooms could be seen by torchlight. Over five thousand of the Berserker’s crew ate, danced, and laughed here at this party. Stone tables were set up, but many of them were ignored in favor of the soft grass. Tablecloths had been whisked off and laid on the ground. The crew left their uniforms at their various hotel rooms and came in bright and colorful attire. Towards the compound, a gigantic cylindrical oven slow-cooked smoked meats. On various gazebos, dancing girls entertained the crew. Most of the crewers were made up of men, though there was a smattering of women. Zork honestly had no idea what he needed for them. Perhaps he should have spoken with Tianni earlier.
He looked further down the table and saw Tianni glowering at the men who were ogling the Twi’lek dancing girls. If glares were turbolasers, the island would have been incinerated. Zork consciously dodged Tianni’s disapproving stares. At least not all the women were indignant. Some were having fun. He thought he saw a few female crewmembers getting up and dancing with the Twi’lek girls. The men hooted and cheered, of course. Mephisto turned to Tianni, looked her straight in the eyes and grinned. Tianni rolled her eyes and concentrated on her food.
A lithe feminine figure slipped onto the bench next to him. Her cool blue skin brushed against Mephisto’s maroon and blue shirt. The Rutian Twi’lek smiled at him. He smiled back. “How are you tonight?” she asked.
“Fine,” he replied. “I was wondering where you were off to.”
“Just speaking with the dancers. Making sure the senior staff had their own cadre of Lethan dancers.”
Mephisto looked over at the senior staff’s pavilion. Tables ringed a stage where dozens of red-skinned Twi’lek dancers entertained the bridge officers and others in the senior staff. Red-skinned Lethan Twi’leks were actually abundant in the galaxy. However, compared to Twi’leks of other ethnicities, they were a miniscule fraction of the total population. Those with wealth and power prized Lethan Twi’leks as trophy wives and consorts.
He could have had any one of the Lethan Twi’leks. But his eyes were for his Myu’tio. He hesitated to call her his slave. It was technically illegal in the Empire. The entirety of the permanent population of Genezee, human and Twi’lek were his vassals. He could lord over them as much as a slaver could his slaves. However, he chose a more benevolent form of laissez faire rule.
Mephisto slipped his arm around her waist. The scent of subdued perfumes touched his nose. He could feel the suppleness of her form beneath her somewhat flimsy attire. He amazed at just how humanoid Twi’leks were. After millennia of artificial and sexual selection, humans had unintentionally changed the direction of Twi’lek evolution starting from the moment that they set foot on the Twi’lek homeworld of Ryloth. Mephisto always wondered what the first Twi’leks must have thought when they saw human ships landing on their desert world. Did they seem as gods to the primitive Twi’leks? That fantasy couldn’t have lasted long. On that brutal world, survival was any sane person’s goal. Undoubtedly, some crafty Twi’leks saw these new beings as means towards the ends of their survival. Others probably didn’t have much choice in the matter. Slavers also visited Ryloth over the years, having their way with the natives. The ones who had more sympathetic human characteristics were chosen by the spacers and slavers to be flown away into space. These traits would have been reinforced as those who looked more human were preferred over others. Over the millennia of human domination of this galaxy, the Twi’lek form evolved into the humanoid frame that he saw dancing sensuously for his crewers as well as his love sitting next to him. The twin lekku head-tails remained. As did the various skin colors that distinguished Twi’leks from humans - colors from red, purple, green, blue and pink. Apparently, skin color wasn’t nearly as important as sex in the cases of the female Twi’leks who could meet male sexual needs as well as any human female.
Myu’tio snuggled closer to Mephisto. His embrace of her became tighter. He wished he could enjoy the moment more, but at the back of his mind, he couldn’t help wondering what type of assignment he would be given. He didn’t know when he could return to Genezee and Myu’tio.