The Battle of Abrae

Janos Umilis wrenched the joystick of his TIE Interceptor hard to the left, banking his fighter to port as a torpedo shot past him, missing his wing by the narrowest of margins.

“He’s still on me!” He called into his helmet com, weaving left and right as he evaded the hail of laser fire that now lanced out of his pursuer, also an Interceptor, though this one with the markings of the Imperial Dominion.

“I’m coming, Seven!” Came his wingman’s reply in his ear.  The other pilot, a member of Janos’s highly decorated Twister Squadron, spoke with a rustic Outer Rim accent, about which Umilis, from the Core, often teased him.

Seven watched his scanners, and combined that with glances over his shoulder through the small window at the back of his cockpit.  Since his early days in the Vast Empire Navy, Janos had had almost a sixth sense about where people were.  He had a natural knack for mentally combining sensor data and simple observation to keep a great sense of where both his friends and his foes were in a battle.

Suddenly, the pursuing TIE exploded, vaped from behind by Twister Eight. “Got him!”  Came his old friend’s voice in Umilis’s ear.

“Nice one!” Replied Seven, forming up on the other’s wing.  “Now, let’s go deal with those pair of TIE Advanced menacing Five and Six!”

Coming about, the two Interceptors raced to the aid of their friends, trying to focus on them and not on the chaos that they shot through.  The Battle of Abrae, between the Vast Empire and Imperial Dominion, raged all about them.  More capital ships and fighters than Janos had ever seen blasted each other to atoms in orbit of the dull planet below.  Already the insanely grand combat had been going on for an hour, but Umilis was not tired.  He lived for flying, and this was the grandest engagement of his career!

Closing rapidly on the dogfight in progress, Seven and Eight swept down on the enemy TIE Advanced, splashing laser fire across their shields but failing to damage the superior fighters.  Still, the Imperial Dominion ships broke off their pursuit of Twisters Five and Six, diving and climbing to come about and face this new threat.

“After the one on the right!” Ordered Janos, accelerating to pursue, and hoping that their fellows would come about and deal with the one of the left.  If the two pairs of TIE Interceptors could split up and double-team the enemy TIE Advanced, they could overcome their rival’s technological superiority with ease.

The Imperial Dominion fighter raced towards a nearby cruiser of his own side, a Nebulon-B Frigate that was exchanging heavy fire with a Vast Empire Strike-Class Cruiser.

Without hesitating, the TIE Advanced tried to give his pursuers the slip by plunging headlong into the storm of turbolaser fire, and Umilis eagerly gave pursuit.  You won’t escape me! He vowed silently.

Green laser blasts shot all around him as Janos gave chase, and while the shots were blinding, his excellent combat sense allowed him to track the TIE Advanced easily.  Meanwhile, Twister Eight stayed on his wing, trying to match Seven’s superior flying skill.

Suddenly, amid the two warring capital ships, the Imperial Dominion fighter slammed on the breaks and banked hard right, pushing his fighter’s manoeuvrability to its limits in a desperate attempt to give his pursuers the slip.  Umilis was too good, however, and twisted and rolled his Interceptor to continue the chase, but the move caught Eight totally by surprise.

“He’s on my tail!” Came the other’s voice a split-second later, causing Janos to curse.  In a high-speed combat like this, hunter and hunted could change roles in the blink of an eye, and for his wingman, they just had.

“I’m still on him!” Twister Seven assured his friend, firing upon the TIE Advanced as it doggedly pursued his friend.  A few shots landed, but again were swallowed by the Imperial Dominion fighter’s shields.  Come on!  Give up the chase and break off, curse you!

Their foe was not for giving up, however, ignoring Umilis as he stayed on Eight’s tail, spewing fire into the other TIE Interceptor.  “I’m hit!” Called the other, “Shields are fail....”

And then Janos watched as his friend became a fireball.

“NO!” Cried Seven, shocked, enraged and saddened all at once.  He and Eight had flown together for two years, they were a team, a couple of friends who could take on anything!  He could not be gone, he couldn’t!

Umilis pushed aside the grief with a supreme effort of will, but the rage that had erupted in his heart was not so easily denied.  His face contorted in a snarl, and he focused on the TIE Advanced before him.

He should have focused on the duelling capital ships he was still flying between.

Seven thought of nothing but revenge, and pulled up to give chase, flying straight into a turbolaser blast.

As his TIE Interceptor cockpit exploded in his face, Janos had time to think only of his lost vengeance, and then knew nothing but blackness.

-----

Location Undisclosed

Janos Umilis floated between life and death, and being immersed in a cylindrical healing tank of soothing bacta fluid made that literally true.  Consciousness came and went, with drugs helping his head trauma to mix fantasy and reality.

At times he was flying again, with Eight at his side, and other times Janos watched his old friend die, in horrific and painful ways that had nothing to do with the actually rather quick manner of his demise.

Not that Umilis knew that.  He had lost all track of where he was and how much time had passed.  Waking and dreaming blurred into one, with agony both mental and physical a feature of both.

Slowly, however, his world began to make sense again.  After what felt like an eternity of treatments and surgeries, his dreams ceased, his eyes fluttered open, and without any sedatives in his bloodstream he looked upon the world with a clear head.

He was in a bland hospital room, white walls, floor and ceiling, with no windows or decoration.  Only a single door granted entrance and exit, but Janos’s view of that was partially blocked by the man standing at the foot of his bed.

Umilis beheld the person nearby.  The man was dressed in a bland dark grey uniform of Imperial design, though it completely lacked any rank insignia or markings.  Black leather gloves were fit tightly over his hands, matching the dark colour of his boots and belt.  All of these details, however, paled next to the man’s face.

The man’s entire human-shaped head, from the collar up, was enclosed in a tight fitting hood, which seemed to have hologram technology woven into it.  Across his features played white and black, a fury of static that danced and swirled.  It was as entrancing as it was confusing.

“Glad to see you are awake,” Said the figure, his voice as disguised as his features, coming out altered and synthesised, more akin to a droid than a living being.

“Who... who are you?” Umilis rasped with a voice that had not been used in a long time.

“I am Grey,” Said the being.  “Captain Grey.”

“The head of Naval Intelligence?” Asked Janos, his voice strengthening but still only a whisper.

“Indeed,” Confirmed the other.  “And you would be Warrant Officer 2nd Class Janos ‘Pouncer’ Umilis, also known as Twister Seven.  Born on Empress Teta twenty-eight years ago, you joined the Vast Empire four years ago.  Opting for the Navy with an ambition of, quote, ‘one day commanding a ship as large as my manhood’, you signed on for starfighter training.  You showed a natural aptitude for flying and, according to your Academy records, rated in the top 3% of any candidate that they ever had.”

Janos forced a smile, remembering the smart remarks he had put on the application.  “You know a lot about me,” He observed.  “So let’s skip to the part where you tell me why.”

The strange captain walked forwards, and lifted a small mirror from his belt and held it up to the injured pilot’s face.

Janos stared at the face looking back at him.  The figure before him was gaunt and thin, as he expected from being in hospital for any length of time, but there was far more wrong than that.  His nose and cheeks were the wrong shape, and even his eyes were the wrong color, being a shade of green-grey instead of his old brown.  “What... what the blazes have you done to me!?” He demanded with as much force as his weakened body would allow.

“You were all but dead when you were brought here five weeks ago,” Said Grey calmly.  “Your face was a burned mess, your eyes destroyed.  We not only healed you, we rebuilt your face and gave you cybernetic optics.”

“And you didn’t bother to give me the right eye color?” He asked, angered.  “Wait, how long?”

“Five weeks,” Repeated the head of VENI in his masked voice.  “And your appearance is different because I have ordered it so.”

Alarm bells began ringing in Umilis’s head.  Narrowing his eyes at the Intel Chief, he asked again, “Why?”

“You are dead,” Said Captain Grey simply.  “You died in the Battle of Abrae along with your wingman.”

Janos suddenly recalled the death of Eight, but had no time to dwell on it as the other went on.

“Your squadron and your superiors believe you dead.  A rather touching memorial was held for you, and if you wish you can watch the holo recording when you get your strength back,” Said Grey, chatting calmly about the whole thing.  “From hence forth you will have a new name, new identity, and new life.  You serve VENI now.”

“Like blazes I do!” Raged Janos.

The other watched him, though his eyes were concealed behind the static hood and could not be read.  “You have no choice.  You swore an oath to serve the Vast Empire Navy, and that’s what you will be doing.”

“I serve best by flying,” Said the other, eyes full of hate as he glared at the enigmatic being.

“And fly you shall,” Said Grey, “But not on a Vast Empire ship.”

“And what does that mean?” Asked Umilis.

Grey shook his head.  “All in due time,” Said the Captain.  “For now I shall leave you to rest.  We will speak again, and soon.”

And with that he rose and left the room without so much as goodbye.

Janos Umilis watched the strange being go, and wondered just what he was in for...

OOC:

1786 words.

After Action Report:  Janos Umilis was lost at the Battle of Abrae, but Vast Empire Naval Intelligence has saved him, remade him, and now Captain Grey has a plan to put this elite pilot to work.

New Gildris- capital city Ilcreda

The planet New Gildris was a terrestrial type world, a place of warm summers and mild winters, that attracted predominantly human settlers from across the Mid Rim.  At some point in the distant past, the original Gildris had suffered some catastrophe and the survivors had established a new home.  Over the few thousand years since then, New Gildris has grown to a healthy population of 3 billion people, and had become a nexus of trade and business for the Lanoitis Sector.

Janos Umilis, undercover as ‘Jagen Umquar’, really did not care.  History and politics were far from his mind as the shuttle he was on came in for its landing.  Around him on board the shuttle Green Runner, the other cadets were twitchy and restless, eager to disembark.  There had been some limited chatter among them during the journey, but Umilis did not join in.  As much as he was pretending to be otherwise, these people were his sworn enemies, and he had no intention of befriending any of them.

They touched down and everyone disembarked into the stunning sunset of Ilcreda City at dusk.  From the landing pad, located at the edge of the capital, Umilis got a fantastic view of the sprawling, glittering metropolis, which seemed to sparkle gold in the early evening.  He was not the only one of those present to stop and admire the view.

“Alright, keep moving!” Barked a man in an Imperial officer's uniform, crossing to the meet the newly arrived cadets.  Umilis turned to see him, a lanky man with a wrinkled face, who was shepherding everyone towards the buildings nearby.

Located on the outskirts of Ilcreda, the New Gildris branch of the Imperial Naval Academy was the premier training facility of the entire Lanoitis Sector.  Umilis, a veteran of the Vast Empire and knowing only its naval facilities, had to admit that he was impressed.  The New Gildris Academy was constructed at the height of the Galactic Empire, when Palpatine had lavished funding upon the massive Imperial war machine.  Massive barracks were dwarfed by an even more massive adjoining citadel, crammed with defensive turrets and sensor arrays.  And nearby, on a long landing strip, entire squadrons of TIE fighters of various models sat ready for the use of the cadets.

Umilis (still telling himself to remember to respond to the name ‘Jagen Umquar’), allowed himself to be directed by the loud and pushy Imperial officer.  The Naval trainer eventually introduced himself as Lieutenant Datheen, though Umilis had little time to take it in.  The cadets entered the main complex and were shoved through the arrival regime favoured by militaries the galaxy over.

They were put through quick physicals, and details of blood and cybernetics (such as Umilis’s new cybernetic eyes) were recorded.  Then their hair was cut, training uniforms were issued, and eventually all of the cadets were directed into a large auditorium in the Academy’s central citadel.

Umilis sat with the other trainees, and now that they were assembled he could see just how many there were.  There was dozens, possibly a hundred, and he realised that not all had arrived on his shuttle.  The Academy must have been receiving arrivals all day.

Lieutenant Datheen gave a long and rambling welcome (that did not in any way seem welcoming), before, in a voice filled with sycophantic awe, he introduced a ‘special guest’ speaker for the class’s commencement address.

Umilis watched with renewed interest as the stage was taken by a tall man in a tan brown uniform.  The man was bald, with a face that seemed chiselled from stone.  Pale white eyebrows nearly blended in with his light skin tone, and dark eyes sparkled with a cunning intelligence.  When he finally spoke, it was with a natural passion and charisma, tempered and guided by the skills of a trained orator, and delivered with the crisp accent of a son of Corulag.

This, Umilis realised instantly, was a dangerous man.

“Greetings cadets,” Said the man, speaking to his audience without the need of a microphone.  “I am Governor Vreag.  I greet you in the name of our late-great Emperor, in whose memory you will train and fight.  You are here because you feel as I do, that the vision and will of one man saved this galaxy in the Clone Wars, and though Palpatine is gone, the memory of that vision lives on, and must continue to live.”

His dark eyes swept over the audience before he continued, and he seemed to linger on Umilis for a few tense moments before continuing on.  The VENI spy managed to maintain his composure, but he felt a surge of panic under the gaze of the Governor.

He spoke for a while, his words both inspirational and mesmerizing to all present.  Umilis was too dedicated to the Vast Empire to fall under Vreag’s spell, but he could understand others wanting to fight and die for such a leader.

Finally, the Governor finished.  “You, who will be the next generation of the Empire’s elite fighter pilots, are brave and strong, and the future of the New Order, the future of the galaxy, lies on your shoulders.  I wish you all the best of luck.  Thank you,” And so saying, Vreag exited to a round of very genuine and very enthusiastic applause.

Lieutenant Datheen returned and began barking orders again, ushering Umilis and the other cadets off to their barracks.  And the VENI spy’s new life as an Imperial fighter pilot began.

-----

Location Undisclosed

Seated at his desk in his bland office, Captain Grey was reading a report from Hutt Space when there came a knock at his door.

“Enter,” Said the Head of Naval Intelligence.

A human woman in a bland, unmarked uniform opened the door and strode inside.  Her long blonde hair was bundled up and secured at the back of her head, and her beautiful face had a harsh yet oddly emotionless expression.  She was his adjutant, Ensign Grey, and had served him faithfully since he had assumed his current position in VENI.

As such, she was one of the few people to be allowed to see his face.  For public appearance, Captain Grey always donned his ever-shifting hologram hood/mask.  But not here, not in the centre of his power.

“Sorry to disturb you sir,” Said the junior Grey.  “This has just arrived from New Gildris,” And so saying she handed him a datapad.

Grey accepted the pad and scanned down the details there.  “So, our boy is inside the Academy, excellent.  Oh, and what’s this?” He asked rhetorically, his eyes falling on a single line of text.  “The commencement address was given by Governor Vreag?”

“Yes, sir,” Said the Ensign.  “I thought that would interest you.”

The VENI Chief nodded.  “All the players are moving into place already,” He observed.  “How very interesting...”

OOC:

1147 words.

After Action Report:  Janos Umilis (‘Jagen Umquar) has arrived at the Imperial Academy of New Gildris, the premier training facility of the Lanoitis Sector.  There his has met his training officer, Lieutenant Datheen, and attended a speech by the formidable Governor Vreag.  Meanwhile, Captain Grey hears about the Governor’s presence and seems very interested.

Intelligence agencies - always shrouded in secrecy, always feared, always hated and always distrusted in about equal measures. The VE's branch was no exception to that rule. A fairly small bunch of skilled individuals united for but a single goal: to serve the Vast Empire's interests from the shadows using any and all means available. In other words doing the things nobody else wanted to, the things nobody else could openly take responsibility for, the things that nevertheless had to be done - all for the greater good of course.

Some of the members actually believed that and were for the most part driven by a strong sense of duty, loyalty and patriotism. Some of the other members however were driven by far less pure motivations: ambition, pride and thrill seeking to name but a few of them. A certain blond Wing Commander was amongst those that could safely be labeled as being part of the latter category, though the man's exact motivations could merely be speculated upon by others.

Just what was it that drove that person forward? At a first glance, the few background checks that could be verified seemed to indicate a desire to get away, to escape, to seek refuge... Those though were the characteristics usually found in either cowards or cautious individuals - both of them traits that the Wing Commander did not really seem to posses given his tactics and strategies demonstrated throughout his career.

Rank, position and military protocol in general also appeared to be meaningless as far as the blond Human male was concerned. This was especially apparent if his service record was to be consulted - dozens of memos and even a few letters of reprimand too, most issued for bar brawls, disobeying direct orders, behavior not befitting an officer, ignoring and violating the rights of surrendered enemy combatants... oh and also a lone misappropriation incident involving a commanding officer's personal starfighter (go figure!).

Ambition could thus also be taken off the list of possible motivations. In fact most probable reasons could be considered and almost just as rapidly disconsidered after analyzing either the individual's personality, his shady past or his tumultuous career. What then was the thing that drove that person forward - the blonde woman with piercing blue eyes asked herself once more as she continued to watch the half naked man seated across the room at a small table and going over some holodisks.

~~~~~~~~~~

Seth Qorbin could feel the woman's gaze upon him. Even without looking himself, he could just tell that his every action was being watched and quite possibly dissected for any potentially hidden meanings. He just knew as much. The woman mirroring his own state of undress likely also knew that he knew. And of course Seth knew that she knew that he knew - it was all rather complicated that way...

Then again so very few things within VENI were ever truly simple. More often than not even the most innocent of appearances betrayed ugly truths concealed deep within them. It was to be expected when dealing with foreign powers, but things were hardly any different even within the Vast Empire.

"Risks of the trade", Qorbin sometimes joked. If operatives weren't already paranoid and generally disillusioned with the harsh reality surrounding them then that was definitely the fate awaiting them after a handful of VENI missions. The ones that would survive long enough were next bound to either be silenced for uncovering some secret they were not meant to, go crazy after finally seeing too much deception, betrayal and death... or just become cold, calculated machines in the process.

The blonde woman still sprawled on the messy bed was definitely part of the latter category. She may not yet have surpassed a droid's lack of emotions but by the looks of things that was the direction she was headed towards. It was a rather sad realization from a certain point of view - not that Javelin's WC particularly cared one way or the other. After all that was not the sort of relationship the two of them had going to begin with...

No, the two of them first met a short while after the Lasoris Minor incident. Together with another junior agent and a freelance contractor, the four of them managed to land on Arkania, infiltrate a certain biolab, retrieve the secured data they stored on the premisses and subsequently blow the hole thing up sky high.

Even now Seth could still recall the strange mask of the man that debriefed them afterward as well as the person's totally unofficial offer - that of joining the Naval Intelligence. In exchange for a little help dealing with certain "delicate matters", as the masked man put it, Qorbin would receive another salary as well as access to certain databases not normally used or even known by the regular military. The extra credits were sort of nice but the Onderonian male knew that the true prize was the knowledge promised to him in the process. That was the sort of thing he always had a certain interest in after all...

Needless to say Seth Qorbin accepted the offer and thus became an agent for VENI. In other words a no good, double crossing spook that thanks to his unofficial status pretty much managed to maintain his normal position within the Navy. The following four missions he was not officially sent on by the VE all went smoothly and as a consequence of that the man ended up catching a certain handler's attention.

The blue eyed, blonde haired Human female he had gone to Arkania with eventually sought him out, reintroduced herself simply as Ensign Grey and ended up working with him on a couple more missions as his permanent handler. It was during the first of these missions that the two of them had to fake a different sort of relationship than the one they were actually having - a task that proved both simple and rather enjoyable by both of them.

Even after that mission was over, the two VENI operatives continued to occasionally get together and relive the experience. They never really talked about it, but there was never any need to in the first place. Both of them just knew better than to read too much into it or get any dreams or expectations because of it. No, to them the intimacy thus shared was closer to exercising and letting off steam - the two latter tasks required by an operative in order to stay in shape, both physical and mental as well.

"New Gildris, huh?" Seth spoke aloud after turning off and putting away the holodisks he had finished going over. The mission looked simple enough - get in, find the target, brief the target, do a little errand and finally get out before anyone figures out what's happened. Given the mission parameters this was also going to be a solo mission - something that Qorbin did not particularly dislike...

OOC:

WC: 1168
AAR: First part - acquiring the mission.

Despite being undercover for a fairly long time now, Janos Umilis still wasn't fully prepared for the unorthodox meeting he had with another member of the Vast Empire. The man figured that Captain Grey had other assets scattered throughout the system, the planet and perhaps even within the Academy itself but he was never contacted by any of them. At times he thought that other pilots gave him strange looks, that some janitors acted too nervous around him, that some mechanics seemed to do a lot of whispering whilst looking his way. Even some of the instructors seemed to favor him over the other cadets, though Umilis had no way of knowing for a fact whether this was because of his skills or maybe because those individuals had ulterior motives of their own...

As time passed though, the man learned to live with this uncertainty - this never dissipating sense of paranoia that was always present in the back of his mind. He knew that acting on his instincts could prove a fatal mistake, regardless of whether he may have been right or not. That was perhaps the hardest thing to endure while pretending to be someone else. Well, that and having to smile to the enemy each day, knowing damn well that every word spoken was in all likelihood a lie meant to deceive them... and to a lesser extent perhaps even himself.

Waiting around and pretending to be someone else was no doubt difficult, yet Umilis was surprised to find out that it was almost as difficult to contain his excitement when finally being approached by an ally - a true ally. He was almost unable to conceal his smile when he left the small restroom and rejoined his colleagues. Almost... It only took him a single glance around the room to spot the blond fellow that gave him the small datacrystal he now kept secured in his pocket. The other fellow looked as drunk and harmless as before, giving off no indication of the truth that laid beneath the treacherous appearances.

Janos too decided to play it cool - as much as he was able to - and just continue enjoying his night out. His group left for the Academy sometime before dawn and throughout that time Umilis kept wondering just what information was stored on the small datacrystal. Even though his head was fairly clouded by the alcohol, the man retained enough composure not to immediately lock the door behind him and pull out his portable data terminal.

No, the former VE pilot chose to instead hit the showers in order to clear his mind. Whether it was because of his general sense of paranoia or because he still wasn't thinking a hundred percent clearly, Umilis ended up showering with the datacrystal clenched tightly in his fist - not once letting go of it, fearing that doing so could very well have meant failure or even demise...

Once he returned to his quarters the man proceeded to lock the door behind him and hop inside his almost comfortable bed. He picked up the portable terminal with him and hid beneath the covers even though the room temperature was otherwise quite pleasant already. Only then did he loosen his grip of the crystal and placed the small item inside the terminal's designated slot. For a moment nothing happened until finally a strange prompt opened on the display - Please stand by...

Umilis was a regular flyboy before having met Grey and didn't know a whole lot about computers, much less about slicing procedures and the like. The man as such watched indifferently as messages mentioning "inspecting", "cloning", "logging off" and "enforcing secure mode" kept appearing and disappearing in short succession. Thirty seconds later however the prompt disappeared. The entire display disappeared for that matter, being replaced by a new one instead. It was a simple black with silvery buttons scattered throughout.

Janos pushed the upper left one first and after waiting for a couple of seconds for the content to load, the screen once more darkened and then revealed a dossier on the man that he instantly recognized as Governor Vreag. The latter's picture as well as full body holographic representation looked as calm, imposing and intimidating as the time that the politician came to deliver that Academy speech in person. There was a lot of intel on the man - full name, age, birth location, parents, schools, important contacts, philosophy as well as what appeared to be an analysis of the man's ideology, verbal and non-verbal tells allowing the reader to get a better understanding of the man - whether he was lying, or he was enjoying himself or he was just stalling for time...

Umilis read some of it and was downright surprised to find out so much intel on the man in question. Granted he had no way of knowing for a fact whether all of it was accurate or not, but even if small mistakes were to have been included in the report - the amount of time it would've taken someone to find out, gather and next put all that information together... Janos' admiration for VENI increased by quite a bit thanks to all that.

After reading a bit about the man who was clearly his target, Umilis decided to also check out the other sections of the disk. Almost all of them were past events in which the good Governor was somehow involved in. Some were public, that even the undercover agent had heard about - mostly things that Vreag had done and that had earned him a great deal of influence and approval from those running the Remnant. Some of these feats were political but others were military as well, showing that the Governor was not just one more power hungry, incompetent leader that would've easily compromised if it meant increasing his own social or political standing...

Other files though revealed Vreag's intentions in regards to different factions, including the New Republic, the Chiss, the Hutts and of course the smaller Imperial groups that splintered off as well. Umilis was not surprised to find the Vast Empire amongst them. It only took the former VE pilot a few minutes of reading to figure out just why Captain Grey was wanting the man out of the picture... At each and every turn during his political career, Vreag spoke against the other Imperial factions, stating that the Remnant alone was the true heir of the mighty Empire and that it was thus the might Remnant's duty to bring back in its midst all those that have lost their way. Those that would come quietly would be forgiven and allowed small positions within the new government, those that thought otherwise would on the contrary be caught, trialed and promptly executed to serve as examples. "The Empire will be great once more" - was a quote Umilis found in three different speeches that the Governor gave throughout his career.

There were also a few other files grouped together that upon inspecting revealed bribe and blackmail attempts, public scandals and even a thwarted hostage situation involving the Governor's closest kin. These were events that Janos heard nothing about, yet by reading about them, in particular their endings, the man couldn't stop wondering just how would VENI have learned about all of them if not by being at least partially responsible for some of them in the first place?

That wasn't the only thing that struck Umilis as odd though. No, the fact that Vreag managed to come out of each and every single one of those incidents unscathed and in two occurrences even looking better than before... why the Vast Empire agent couldn't stop but also wonder just how strong of an opponent was this? Moreover... how much stronger would he yet grow in the future? It was upon asking this particular question that Janos believed for the first time that he may have actually glimpsed into the mind of Captain Grey. After all what if beyond all the circling patterns of his mask, the one hiding underneath considered the same thing?

The final file on the datacrystal was set aside in the bottom right corner of the screen, as if purposefully set aside for the closing. Within it were dates, locations and three names that Umilis did not immediately connect with the rest of the documents. It was only after taking the time to actually read through this last part that he understood that which he was supposed to do.

The reason he was picked for the job in the first place? He was a pilot and VENI needed a pilot to infiltrate the Academy in order to subsequently be transferred over to the Citadel. But since only the top three cadets were ever granted that privilege VENI needed a decent enough pilot for the job.

The reason he was to infiltrate the Citadel? It was apparently the one place where striking against Governor Vreag was both easier... and most importantly was also the perfect place to deliver a message to all that opposed the Vast Empire in general, and the Remnant in particular. The message itself may be sent anonymously granted, but its effect would be just as powerful regardless.

The last part of the file in question explained how Umilis was expected to get the job done, and also emphasized the need to remember the three names listed there, as each name represented either a contact, a location or a ship that was supposed to return him to Vast Empire space once the job was finished. The plan certainly looked doable, yet part of Janos couldn't stop but wonder whether everything would really go as smoothly as planned by Captain Grey and his other color hating minions.

The VE agent went through all the information one more time before realizing it was almost morning and drills were about to start soon. He hit exit and upon doing so another prompt appeared on the screen Are you sure?. Beneath were two options: Yes and of course No. Janos picked the former and almost immediately upon doing so the datacrystal shorted out, startling the pilot in the process. He tried to take it out and keep it safe but realized as soon as it was back in the palm of his hand that it was entirely useless, now burnt and chipped beyond recognition.

At first the man wondered whether he broke it, but soon enough considered the possibility of that having been the crystal's fate from the start - created to hold a certain amount of information, allowed to access that information and upon completion... a quite thorough deletion so as to ensure the intel would never be accessible again.

At least now I know what I have to do, the man thought to himself as he threw aside the blanked he was hiding underneath and got out of bed. A new day of lying and pretending was ahead of him but at least now he drew comfort in the fact that he knew all this was about to end eventually. Yes, comfort and hope...

OOC:

WC: 1861
AAR: Third part - understanding the mission

The Imperial Citadel
New Gildris, capital city Ilcreda
Imperial Remnant

Janos Umilis landed his TIE Fighter after a patrol, last of the four members of Beta Flight to do so.  As the Citadel hangar techs ran forwards to help him climb out, he popped the seal on his helmet and ran a hand through his damp hair.  Janos had sweated heavily on the routine mission, but that was nothing to do with actually exerting himself.  It was all stress related.  He felt that the strain of his mission – his true mission – had escalated of late.  But in just six hours it would be over.

He dropped down the ladder, landing on the deck and approaching his fellow pilots.  As he did so, Janos felt the cool wind blowing in from the hangar entrance, the beautiful vista of New Gildris spreading out before him.  He had to admit, it was a stunningly beautiful planet, and the eventless patrol had been a pleasant chance to see it.

The Squadron all gathered quickly.  “Nice flying out there, Umquar,” Said his flight leader, Lieutenant Dradas, referring to Janos by his cover identity.  Umilis had been playing the role of ‘Jagen Umquar’ for so long that he feared he would soon forget his real name.

“Thank you, sir,” He replied, “Just glad to be fitting in.”

“Well, the 323rd Fighter Wing isn’t for everyone,” Said Dradas, “But you’re doing well.  And so are you, Valdain,” He added, speaking to the figure walking in from Umquar’s left.

Sheor Valdain scowled at the offhand praise, but as a recent graduate of the Academy he replied promptly with “Thank you, sir!”

If the Lieutenant noticed the tension between his newest two pilots, he did not comment.  Instead he and the last member of the flight walked off towards the exclusive pilot’s quarters of the Citadel.  The vast towering fortress was a monolith of Imperial might on the planet New Gildris, with over thirty floors, housing thousands of Remnant personnel.  Among them all, though, the elite of the 323rd Fighter Wing had their pick of the finest lodgings and recreation rooms.

Janos made to follow the other two, leaving the hangar staff to tending to the TIEs, but Valdain barred his path.

“What are you up to?” Asked the arrogant pilot, his voice a menacing whisper.

Janos suppressed a wince.  “What do you mean?”

“Oh I know you are up to something,” Said Valdain.  “I have watched you skulking around at night, looking around the command levels here in the Citadel.  I’ve been on to you for a while now.”

Janos felt the panic rising in his stomach.  Since he had transferred here two days ago, he had scouted the area, planning in detail his mandated assassination of Governor Vreag.  He had tried to be discreet in his walking of the escape route from the Governor’s on-site quarters to the speeder bay, but evidently he had been spotted.  “I was just getting a feel for the Citadel.  I am new here, after all.” The lie made sense, and Janos was instantly proud of himself for thinking of it, but his words lacked casualness, and he wondered if Valdain would be convinced.

“No, there is something more,” Said the other.  “And whatever it is, I’m going to find it!”

Janos inwardly cursed the other’s suspicion.  “And just what are you going to do about these... suspicions?”

Valdain smiled like a wolf eyeing up sheep.  “I’m going to keep quiet for now, Umquar,” He promised.  “But I’ll be watching you!  And when I find out which officer she is, I’ll report you both for improper relationships!”

The undercover agent frowned.  “Improper relationship?” He repeated slowly.

“Oh yes!” Said Valdain.  “I am on to you!” And so saying he turned and stormed off.

Janos breathed a deep sigh of relief.  Things were still on track.

-----

Back in his quarters, Janos lay alone in his bed, unable to sleep.  It was just two hours until he was meant to kill Vreag and he was nervous beyond anything he had ever felt in his life.  He had flown combat missions for the Vast Empire countless times, had put his life on the line again and again, but this was far different.  He was alone in enemy territory, utterly at the mercy of the Imperial Remnant should anything go wrong.

Would he be able to reach Vreag?  Would he be able to kill him?  Would he be able to escape afterwards if he succeeded?  If he failed?  A thousand questions ran through Janos’s mind, but there was nothing for it but to wait.  He knew what time the Governor would be in his quarters, and just had to be patient.

Finally, after an agonizing eternity, the anointed time came.  The Governor would be heading back to his suite at the Citadel any minute now.  It was time for the VENI agent to move into action.

Janos rose and strapped his side arm to his belt.  The blaster pistol inside had a fully charged power back, and a backup one was in his pocket.  He had tested the weapon already and ensured its functionality.  There would be no mistakes.

He left his room, emerging nervously into the corridor and glancing left and right.  The central hallway of the TIE pilots quarters floor of the Citadel was empty and he felt emboldened by this.  It was a fair walk to the Command-level turbolift, and Janos set out boldly, still in uniform, trying to look like he was meant to be wandering around so late.

He set out through the winding passages, passing the odd droid or guard.  In the presence of everyone, sentient or otherwise, Janos felt nervous.  It was a constant fight to look calm, and he feared that his composure would crack at any minute.

Finally he reached the restricted Command turbolift, which led the way to the Citadel’s upper levels, included the Governor’s suite.  Vreag was rich and powerful enough to have his own palatial manor on New Gildris (several in fact), but was often found here, in military surroundings.  The average Imperial respected him for that.

“Stop right there, Umquar!” Said a familiar voice suddenly.

Janos stopped in mid-motion, with his right hand halfway to touching the button to summon the elevator.  He had been so close!

“What is it, Valdain?” He said, affecting an impatient demeanour and angry scowl as he turned to face the other pilot.  Janos watched as the spiteful man emerged from around a corner.  “Have you been lurking there all night?  Have you nothing better to do?”

“I said I’d get you, Umquar,” He snarled.  “I even had the courtesy of warning you, and yet here you are, on the very same day, preparing to commit your violation of the rules yet again.”

“If you take me in now,” Said Janos, thinking quickly, “Then you’ll never know who she is.  Without her you can’t prove anything.  I could be headed up to the Command level on official business.”

“Nice try,” Said the other, “But I’m prepared to call your bluff.  I’m taking you to the General, let him clarify your duties up there.  Perhaps he could even pull up the security monitor feed and find out what you’ve been doing...”

Inwardly Janos was panicking.  He had no real fear of being taken to see the General in charge of the Citadel, as the security recordings would show nothing incriminating.  The problem was the lack of time.  He had to kill Vreag, get out of here, and meet his VENI contact for recovery now!

“Okay okay!” He blurted out suddenly.  “You win, Valdain!”

That confused him.  “I do?” He asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

“Look, if you promise to go easy on me, I’ll... I’ll...” Janos pondered for a second and then said, “I’ll give her up too!”

Valdain shook his head.  “I don’t care about whoever it is you are dating, Umquar.  Its your career I want to end.”

“Please, don’t!” He protested.  “Look, if you hand over both of us it will reflect even better on you, right?”

The other nodded.

“Okay.  So, if I do this for you, then you tell them that I was coerced into it,” Begged Janos.  “She’s an officer, and she’s infatuated with me.  She ordered me into her bed!  I’m the victim here!”  In his head this sounded like the plot of a bad erotic holodrama, but he did not need Valdain to agree with it, just repeat it.

“So if I feed them your story,” Said the other pilot, “You’ll hand over an officer breaking the rules?”

Janos nodded.  “Absolutely.  I’m out of the Starfighter Corps regardless, but this way I may manage it alive.  Like I said, you win, Valdain.”

The slimy racist seemed to think it over for a moment, and then finally said, “Okay.  Lead me to his tawdry affair of yours,” He said.

“Just one level up,” Said Janos, leading the way into the turbolift.

-----

The floor he led Valdain to was not the one containing Vreag’s suite.  What he was planning would need to be quiet and secluded, and as far from alerting the Governor’s guards as possible.

“She’s in there,” Said Janos, leading the other pilot to a secluded supply room.

Now suspicion flitted across the other’s face.

Janos shrugged.  “Okay then,” He said, and moved to open the door, going first.

“Wait!” Said Valdain.  “Me first,” And so saying he shoved the VENI agent aside and keyed in for the door release.

Janos did not hesitate.  The moment the door opened, he struck.  Throwing himself forward, he drove Valdain into the room, where the instantly outraged pilot crashed awkwardly to the floor amid a stack of crates.

“You’ll pay for this...” He began, but the look of rage fell from his face as he turned to behold his assailant.

Janos had stepped into the supply room and drawn his gun.

Valdain, still on the floor, stared stupidly at the blaster pistol in the other’s hand.  Janos held it steady before him, and with his free hand hit for the door to close behind him.  The two men were now alone in the small supply room, the silence ominous.

“We... we can talk about this...” Began Valdain, his tone suddenly polite and appeasing.

It was then, as Janos Umilis looked down at the Imperial pilot, that he realised how oddly naive the man was.  Yes, Valdain talked the part of a servant of the Empire, with all the racism and superiority that that implied, but here he was actually surprised by the prospect of a fellow officer drawing a gun on him.  Perhaps Valdain was not the completely amoral scum that Janos thought.

And in that moment, Umilis actually felt a little sorry for his rival.

“Listen... Umquar... just think about this...” Said Valdain.

It was the wrong thing to say.  The cover name reminded Janos of his true mission, of his real reason to be here.  Much as he hated it, he was a VENI agent, and he had bigger fish to fry than Sheor Valdain!

“My name,” He spat, “Is Umilis!” And so saying he pulled the trigger, killing Valdain instantly.

OOC:

1871 words.

After Action Report:  Janos Umilis (‘Jagen Umquar’) has moved in to the Citadel, still undercover as a Remnant pilot.  After careful planning, the night of the assassination is here.  As he makes his way to the quarters of Governor Vreag, however, he runs afoul of Imperial pilot Sheor Valdain.  Janos does the only thing he can do, and quietly murders his rival.  He can now focus on the Governor.

The Imperial Citadel
New Gildris, capital city Ilcreda
Imperial Remnant

There was no thought anymore for Janos Umilis.  There were no doubts, no hopes, nothing aside from blinding pain.  It suffused his entire being, consuming everything, until he was nothing but howling, incoherent cries of agony.

Minutes felt like hours, days, an eternity, and when finally the current of electricity coursing through his body ceased it took a while for Umilis to realise it.

He blinked, choked back the screams that died raw in his throat, and felt the dull ache in his limbs.  The chair he was strapped to was home to a hundred wires, the ends of which were jabbed into Janos’s skin and connected straight to his nervous system.  After days of being strapped into the infernal contraption he had learned a level of fear that he did not know existed.

Umilis felt tears upon his cheeks, and smelt the stink of his own urine.  When the machine was active he could do nothing to control his bodily functions and it shamed him greatly.  Slowly, as he sorted out his thoughts, he looked up, and as ever, saw the cold and uncaring face of his Imperial Intelligence torturer.

“Now,” Said the weasel-faced man calmly, as if the previous hour of excruciating torment had been just a momentary distraction for him, “I believe we were talking about who you serve.  The Republic, maybe?”

Janos choked back a sob.  “I... I don’t serve... anyone...” He mumbled through dry lips.

“Now now,” Warned the nameless interrogator, “Let’s not go through this again.  Disaffected individuals with an axe to grind against the state do not try assassinations as you did.  We know that you had help, someone to falsify your background and get you into the Academy.”  As he spoke, the man reached for the chair’s ‘on’ switch.  “Who was it?” He asked.

Umilis watched the man reach for the button, and felt his terror of the chair escalate.  No, he could not endure that again so soon, he could not!  “Wait!”

“Yes?” Asked the other softly, his hand still poised by the switch.

Janos opened his mouth to speak.  It would be easy, he thought, just so easy to tell the torturer what he wanted to know.  Anything to avoid the agony!  “I... I...” He began, but no.  He could not betray the VE, and slowly, deliberately, he closed his mouth again.

The nameless man from Imperial Intelligence seemed to sense his weakness.  “You don’t owe them anything, you know,” He said matter-of-factly.  “Whoever they are, they sold you out.”

Umilis heard the words but instantly knew them for a lie.  “No...” He managed, weakly but defiantly.

“Oh really?  Then why were you in Il-Raz Square?” Enquired the interrogator.  “Out in a big open plaza is an odd place to hide from the forces that you had to have known were after you.  No, my friend, you were there to meet someone.  But they weren’t there, they left you.  Abandoned you to your fate!”

“No...” Said Janos again, but the words had the ring of truth to it.  In the days since his capture he had mulled over the exact same idea.  The plan was to meet his VENI contact under cover of a festival, but Il-Raz Square was empty!  Empty!

“Yes,” Urged the torturer.  “You know the truth, much as you deny it.  But I have the cure for lies right here,” He said, reaching for the switch.  “Nothing burns the falsehoods away like agony....”

“Stop!” Cried Janos at the last second.

This time the Intelligence officer did not, his hand reached slowly and inexorably for the controls.

“You’re right, they weren’t there!” Blurted Umilis, his mouth moving so fast he did not realise he had spoken.

Now the other did pause.  “Who?  Who wasn’t there?”

“VENI,” Said Janos, pained by his reveal but just too weak to go through more agony.  “I... work for VENI...”  The shame of betraying his allegiance was great, but he had no choice.  It was over, he was beaten.

“There, see how easy that was?” Congratulated the Intelligence officer warmly.  “Now, tell me everything...”

-----

From that one confession spilled others.  He gladly told them of his assignment to assassinate Governor Vreag, for he had been pressured into it.  Under torture, his resentment of Captain Grey turned to anger, and his torturer encouraged Janos to despise VENI and its leader for giving him the dangerous task and then abandoning him.

Furthering questioning proved problematic though.  He was pressed for his knowledge of VENI, about its scope and activities.  Umilis did not know such things, and they did not accept that he was a simple pilot, insisting instead that he was a fully qualified VENI Agent.

Slowly, though, through his screams of agony and protestations of honesty, the interrogator began to see the truth.  Umilis was just a tool, with no real knowledge of Vast Empire Naval Intelligence, and unable to give the Empire much information on the organisation.

Eventually, they began to lose interest in him.  The torture sessions grew less frequent, and some time later (Weeks?  Months?  He did not know) they ceased entirely.  Broken, beaten, a shell of himself, Janos Umilis merely languished in a cell.

Finally, one day, he heard the approach of footsteps.  Huddled in a corner on the cold metal floor, Janos looked up with dead eyes, expecting the arrival of his breakfast.  Instead he was surprised when Governor Vreag entered with a trio of Stormtrooper guards.

Vreag, tall and proud in his uniform, looked down on the pathetic prisoner before him.  “Take him!” He snapped, and the troopers came forward and lifted Umilis to his feet.  All the strength was gone from him, but Janos would not have struggled or offered resistance anyway.  There was no point.

“Let’s go,” Said Vreag, and led the way out of the cells.

As they passed through the detention block of the Citadel and out into the main corridors beyond, Umilis began to stir.  Slowly, his broken mind began to realise that he was going somewhere different, not to the chair.  Eventually they led him outside, and he winced in the early morning light.  He had not expected to see sunlight again.

Now fully awake and curious, Janos studied his surroundings intently.  The troopers and the Governor got into a speeder, and then, escorted by other speeders full of guards, took off out of the Citadel’s central compound.  They headed up into the nearby rocky hills, barren terrain overlooking the glittering city of Ilcreda beyond.  Umilis took stock of the situation, and wondered about his odds of trying to escape.  They were slim, but what did he have to lose?

Eventually the speeder and its escorts came to a stop, near the edge of a cliff facing the city.  Vreag took a blaster pistol and gestured for Janos to exit the speeder.  Obediently the prisoner complied.  “I’ll be back in five minutes,” Said the Governor to his guards, and then he and Janos proceeded alone to the edge of the cliff some hundred meters away.

Janos led the way, Vreag’s gun at his back.  Finally they reached the edge, and the Imperial said, “Stop.  Turn around.”

Umilis did as was bid, and looked at the man before him with pure hatred.  “Pretty big of you to leave your guards,” He said.  “What if I tried to take that gun from you and complete my mission to assassinate you?”

The Governor smiled.  “You aren’t strong enough for that, Mr Umilis.  Or do you prefer Janos?” He asked, using the other’s real name that he had divulged during his interrogation.

“Call me whatever you like,” Spat the other defiantly.  “You are going to kill me regardless, right?”

“True,” Said Vreag.  “I like to do these things myself, to show my men that I am not afraid to get my hands dirty.  But I prefer to do it out in the open,” He added, gesturing to the rugged beauty of the land around them.  “Picturesque, no?  And as an added bonus there are no cameras, no recording devices, none of the scrutiny of the detention block.  If you would say your last words to me, gentleman to gentleman, I will hear you.”

“I have nothing to say to you,” Declared Umilis.

Vreag nodded, as if expecting the answer.  “In that case, I have something to say to you.  And that is:  Well done, Mr Umilis!  Your mission was a total success!”

Janos stared blankly for a moment.  “What?” Was all he could manage to say.

“Your mission,” Said the Governor.  “Your real mission.  Imperial Intelligence have been totally convinced that you were trying to kill me.  Their suspicions that I myself may have ties to VENI are now completely dispelled.  Do you know how hard it would be for me to become a Moff with Intelligence blocking my ascent?  Ah, but Captain Grey’s plan worked perfectly!  For surviving an evil assassination attempt I am a hero to my men and loyal beyond doubt in the eyes of my superiors!  Thank you!”

“You!” Said Umilis, suddenly knowing clarity.  “You serve VENI too!”

“Of course,” Said Vreag.  “You really didn’t figure it out, did you?  Yes, Grey chose well.  He needed someone for this assignment who could carry it out capably, but was not smart enough to ask questions.  You read my VENI file, right?  Did you not question all those irregularities?  All those strange situations in my past that somehow managed to get me promoted when other men would have been executed for failure?  Who do you think was watching my back and manipulating the success of my career?  And in your time on this world you met not one but two other VENI agents, both far more adept at infiltration than you.  Did you not wonder why Grey did not simply order one of them to sneak into the Citadel and kill me?”

“And my exit plan...” Mused Janos, suddenly putting it all together.

“Was a lie,” Said the Governor bluntly.  “No one was going to be there for you, and there was no festival that night, as I assume you have already realised.  No, the plan needed for you to be caught and tortured.  You had to sing the song you had been taught, that VENI wanted me dead.  A true Agent would have known better, and also had a much greater understanding of VENI and its operations.  Grey could not afford to let a fully trained operative fall into Imperial Intelligence’s hands, so he had to recruit a complete rookie for this.  You.”

Janos Umilis had never felt so used, so betrayed, and so angry in his entire life!  “You filthy fraking scum!” He snarled.  “You and Grey both!  Is this a game to you?  Using people as pawns, setting us up as you wish and sacrificing us as need be!  Tell me, do you get some sort of sick pleasure from this?  Are you proud of what you do?”  ARE YOU?”

“I do what is best for the Vast Empire,” Said Vreag.  “As does Captain Grey.  As do you.”

“No!” Declared Janos.  “I hereby renounce my loyalty to the Vast Empire!  I no longer want anything to do with a regime that condones such vile behaviour!  You can play your sick little spy game, but I intend to be free of it!”

“Then be free,” Said the Governor softly, “And thank you again for all your help.”

So saying he fired once, a single shot to Janos’s head, and ended the man’s suffering forever.

-----

Location Undisclosed

Ensign Grey, lithe and beautiful, glided smoothly into Captain Grey’s office with the latest report.  Sat at his desk, the Head of Vast Empire Naval Intelligence looked up at her.  He wore his ever-shifting static hood, so she could not see his face, and wondered what expression he truly wore this day.

“Janos Umilis is dead, sir,” She said, handing him the datapad.  “Governor Vreag reports that he executed him himself.  He told Umilis the truth before killing him.”

Grey sighed.  “I wish he hadn’t.  I know Vreag is smart enough to check for bugs and listening devices, but saying anything was an unnecessary risk.  I take it Umilis did not take the news well?”

“No, sir,” Confirmed the Ensign.  “He died cursing the Vast Empire and you in particular.”

“So be it,” Said her superior.  “The opinion of a dead man matters little to me.  Have Imperial Intelligence backed off then?”

“Indeed they have, sir.  Vreag reports no further obstacles to him becoming Moff of the Lanoitis Sector.”

“Excellent,” Said Captain Grey.  “We must do all we can to speed that promotion along.  The intelligence that Vreag gives us is great, but nothing compared to what we can have from an Imperial Moff.”

“As you say, sir,” Said Grey.  “Will that be all for now?”

“Yes,” Said the Captain, but as his adjutant turned to leave, he said, “No, wait.  One more thing.  Do you think...” He trailed off.

“Sir?” She prompted.

“Do you think I should feel guilty about my actions?” He asked her.

Grey shook her head.  “You made a sound plan,” She said, “You did what you needed to.  No, sir, you should not feel guilty at all.”

“Good,” Replied the Head of VENI, “Because I don’t.”

THE END

OOC:

2229 words.

After Action Report:  Janos Umilis is tortured by Imperial Intelligence, and reveals all about VENI’s plot to assassinate Governor Vreag.  After weeks of agony, he is finally executed, but not before Vreag reveals to him just what was going on.  Vreag works for VENI.  Imperial Intelligence suspected him of having mixed loyalties, so he had to fake an attempt on his life.  He is now a hero to his fellow Imperials, and in with a chance of becoming a Moff.  Umilis realises that Captain Grey has used him as a pawn, and sacrificed him as such.  He dies cursing the Head of Naval Intelligence.  Captain Grey himself doesn’t care.