Nightshade: Return to Karvis III

[Nightshade]

Returning the Captain's salute, Nightshade listened closely to the numbers that she offered.  While pleased with the results, a week wasn't going to be a lot of time to see long term progress.  "I like these early numbers, Captain, but we obviously can't rest here.  What intel do we have on new targets that might be right to hit and spread our chaos even farther?  Also, we need to look into setting up multiple attacks to happen simultaneously to help sell the idea that this is a widespread rebellion.  As much as I like overseeing things personally, that's not going to work long term as the enemy will start to realize the delay between attacks likely means a single coordinating entity."

[GM Craig]

"I anticipated the need for increased tempo, and we are working on plans for that now, but it will take a day at least to put local assets in place. We do have three strike teams we could employ. They would be capable of hitting harder targets as well."

She pauses, as if choosing her words carefully. "Sir. With the increased tempo you are seeking, and our current manpower levels, we're not going to be able to sustain this op tempo for more than three or four weeks - less if we suffer setbacks. I am not trying to dissuade you, merely point out potential issues.

"As for further targets, I have some candidates selected. There is a strong Stormtrooper presence in the south-west. We had thought they were searching for the survivors of the royal family, but when they were rescued and relocated up north, the heavy presence remained. There are some supply bases and headquarters areas we could hit, but no local cells in that sparsely populated region.

"There is a small garrison on Ataregy Szezet. We have a strong Kothe presence in that region. We might be able to drive the Empire out of the region entirely.

"We also have a source that has identified a Sector Plexus station on the planet. That would be a difficult target, and disrupting that station would not significantly harm the Empire. However, loosing such a station would cause Imperial Intelligence significant embarassment. If you wish to get Intelligence involved, that would be a good first step, and would likely provide some 'shock and awe' value as well."

She pauses again. "There is also the local fighter Wing. Their Base is not terrible secure - we've hit it before - but it is in a heavily populated city called Plarn. That would draw the attention of the Moff. There is also a ball the Governor is hosting. Security is being provided by Compnor, so striking there would embarrass the ISB. There are a few scenarios around that event."

[Nightshade]

"Thank you, Captain.  Your candor is appreciated and required." 

Taking a moment to process the information that he had been given Nightshade replies again, "I am thinking that the Governor's ball would be my best choice of targets to handle personally, and let us also attack that garrison.  If we can drive the Empire out entirely it should help focus their attention over there and give us another stronghold that we can work from.  I would like to keep Intelligence out of our little struggle for now...the more players we have in the mix, the harder it will be to sell our subterfuge."

Turning to face the Captain directly, he asked, "What is your assessment of this plan?"

[GM Craig]

She takes a breath, obviously pensive.

"Both targets are risky. We've been generating a significant amount of traffic from this base, which increases the chance we will be discovered. Increasing the op tempo of our support cells, combined with poor tradecraft, increases the danger they will be rolled up.

"Moving against the governor will persuade him the problem requires significant resources invested. Attacking the Governor would be a relatively soft target, as he is protected by COMNOR troopers. That will bring more resources to bear on the problem, but that may play in our favour - that such a threat could grow so quickly without anyone knowing is likely to shake up the command structure as people are replaced.

"Successfully moving against the garrison in Ataregy Szezet would effectively liberate that area. The region is difficult to get to overland, and the mountains that separate it from the rest of the continent make airborne attacks difficult as well, However, that region is still vulnerable to orbital bombardment. Also, the garrison there consists of Imperial Army troops. Their training is Imperial norm, but striking the garrison will bring our activities to the attention of the Military command structure.

"In the past, when we have tweaked the military, Intelligence gets involved. They have proven to be very skilled and dangerously clever. We are going to go up against them eventually, I would recommend you consider if you want this moment to be the time we bring that about. They will be difficult to fool - their analysts are very good. There is an asset you may be able to speak to in order to get some insight into the local Imperial Intelligence organization."

[Nightshade]

Taking a moment of his own to gather his thoughts, Nightshade answered, "I would like to sow as much chaos as we can before we get intelligence involved.  Let us just focus on the governor's ball for now.  Then I will speak with the asset and learn what we can about Intel."

[GM Craig]

She nods. "Very well, sir. I'll work up some options for hitting the ball, and provide potential targets. I'll need four hours to work up plans."

[Nightshade]

"Very well, Captain.  Thank you and I will see you in four hours."

Nightshade returned to his quarters to spend the intervening time in meditation and an overdue cup of tea.

[GM Craig]

Tea, as usual, is relaxing. Time spent in meditation also helps ease the residual effects of your recent activities.

Precisely four hours after you last spoke with Captain Barakis, the com panel in your quarters beeps. You tap the answer button, and Captain Barakis' face appears.

"Agent. We are in the main conference room. I anticipate the need to include strike teams and technical services. With your permission, I will invite them to join us. If you prefer, I can present to you, and include the others after."

It could be seen as a little presumptuous for her to include others, but she has been on target so far, and quite efficient.

[Nightshade]

Efficiency is more desirable than protocol, and Nightshade is not at all offended as he replies, "Excellent thinking, Captain.  I will join you directly."

Making his way to the conference room he takes a seat and waits for the briefing to begin. 

[GM Craig]

The room is populated by Barakis' analysis, who snap to attention as you enter the room. She salutes. "Agent Nightshade. We're just waiting for the others."

As she finishes that, several other people enter the room. Three are obviously soliders, and one of them would be the leader of the other two. There are a few that have the appearance of support staff - your guess is supply for one group, and transport for the others. There is a third group that is different, and you're not sure what their role might be.

With everyone seated, Barakis moves to start. "Thank you all..."

The door opens, and in walks the white-haired Senator Pasteur. She puts on the air of surprise that things came to a halt. "Please, continue."

Barakis appears unruffled. "Thank you all for coming. Under the direction of Agent Nightshade, we have prepared a battle plan for a strike against the Harvest Ball being hosted by Governor Fythia. As COMPNOR will be providing security for the event, but the Military will have high-ranking members in attendance, this will be an excellent opportunity to exapnd on Agent Nightshade's previous work of trying to drive a wedge between COMPNOR and the Military forces on Karvis."

The room darkens, and the holo display in the centre of the room lights up. You recognize from your indoc training an overhead view of the new Imperial capital of Plarn. As she runs through her briefing, the image shifts and focuses on the locations she is speaking about.

"The ball will be held at the Governor's mansion. Security will be tight, but the Governor will not permit Imperial troops on the grounds. We will need to include actions by the local cell to create a distraction by setting fire to the fuel depot beside the residence on the mansion grounds, using an improvised incendiary delivered by drone. Under that cover, the strike team - wearing Imperial uniforms - will attack the rear fence, and disable main power transformer, which will bring down security measures within the mansion, and also bring down the force fence around the property as a contingency for escape. Meanwhile, Agent Nightshade and three wetwork operatives will arrive on the roof of the mansion using ultralight gliders. They will take out rooftop guards. Two operatives will hold the roof, supported by assault team snipers pre-placed on the roof of the nearby casino. Agent Nightshade and one operative will enter the mansion, make make their way to the communications suite on the top floor. There, they will access COMPNOR communications records. It is important during this time that Agent Nightshade removes all security recording devices, except for one that is apparently missed. We allow COMPNOR to capture an image of a doctored datapad showing Imperial origins.

"Note that it is not important to actually collect data - we must only be seen to be collecting data. While COMPNOR communications would be valuable, that would be a secondary objective of this operation.

"Agent Nightshade will then exit the facility, leaving behind an EMP in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. Using the ulralight gliders, they will activate the repulsors and extract back to the casino roof. The assault team will then bug out, enter the sewers from the nearby access hatch, and extend to the river where they entered. It will be important that casualties be kept to a minimum, so weapons will be on stun unless the situation deteriorates, as ordered by command elements. The entire duration of this operation from go to extraction is scheduled to be five minutes. If we take more than seven, we can expect reinforcements summoned by Military officials within the ball to arrive and make extraction problematic.

"All personnel will be treated with biosealant and wear class two respirators and body gloves to prevent any DNA traces being left behind."

She goes on from here for several minutes, specifying the specific support, equipment, transportation and personnel that will be required, as well as the expanded schedule. The whole operation will take six hours, start-to-finish, but only 5 minutes from the "go" command.

Captain Barakis' briefing is thorough and detailed. Nevertheless, she pauses. "Are there any questions?"

The room is silent and tense. There are a lot of serious faces, not the least of which is Senator Pasteur.

Reading the room, Captain Barakis nods to you, and steps back from the centre of the room.

[Nightshade]

"Excellent, briefing, Captain.  Thank you for your efforts."  Nightshade steps forward to take command of the room and field any further questions.  He was expecting some sort of comment from the Senator, but wasn't going to go fishing for it.

[GM Craig]

The soldier speaks first. Barkakis is at your shoulder, and as he starts speaking she whispers as the man is speaking, "Major Cric Seumic, Ground Forces officer."

"This is a very aggressive move. Attacking the capitol - that last time we tried that, the resulting crackdown rolled up 8 local cells and paralyzed our efforts around Plarn."

Captain Barakis steps in. "For background, that was a strike against a high-value military target, targeting military assets under the responsibility of the Moff. That action brought Senator Vess' group to the attention of Military Intelligence. As you all know, Governor Fythia used that incident to reduce the infuence of the Military within the Plarn region." Barakis then nods to you.

[Nightshade]

"That is a valid point, Major.  You are correct that this is an aggressive move.  But I think that the time is right for this and that the benefits will justify the risks.  We need to present our rebellion as something to be taken seriously, but most importantly to tie in the ruse that the two factions are working against each other.  This will be the key to take the heat away from us and prevent the backlash that you have suffered in the past.  Also this is an opportunity that presents itself now, and if we don't strike while we can, it may be some time before another one presents itself."  Pausing a moment and shifting to a more neutral stance for effect, he continues, "I am the first to preach patience when necessary, but the atrocities that I have seen here dictate that we don't take unnecessary delays that will only bring about more suffering for the people of this planet."

He stops and waits for a response, either from the major, or anyone else that wants to chime in.

[GM Craig]

Another officer sits up. Captain Barakis whispers, "Major Jianna Vanukar, Intel. My boss."

"With the recent declaration of rebellion broadcast all over the Empire, unconfirmed intelligence suggests that several systems are in open revolt, and many more are on the verge of it. The Imperial Army and Navy are spread thin trying to contain. With the Army and Navy otherwise occupied, we may have an opportunity to eject the Empire from Karvis completely. However, we still do not know why the Empire deployed such a strong presence in the Karvis system in the first place. We can discern no tactical or strategic objectives that justify the manpower already invested. We do not sit on any major trade lanes, and our only export of any significant is agricultural products, though we are far from the breadbasket of the sector. It may be, for reasons we are not aware, that we are a world worth the effort of retaking, or holding, even in the case of open rebellion. Increasing our threat assessment in the eyes of the Empire may cause them to redouble their hold on the system, not abandon it."

She pauses. "I would feel more comfortable with this plan if we knew why the Empire came here in such strength in the first place."

[Nightshade]

"Major, I too would like more intel than we have.  If you know a way to get some, I am very interested to hear it.  If not, I believe that this opportunity is too good to pass up while we look for more intel."