Noventa - A Star Wars Story

"Armed troopers all throughout the facility. They didn't want to disrupt the day to day business of governing, but they definitely didn't want to let people forget that they are here now." He spoke softly, bringing out a datapad, showing the map of the government center. "Though I'm sure you've also noticed their forces aren't exactly robust here. I'm not sure why they're holding some back. Perhaps for more operations throughout the system?" He looked at the information, before passing it to Jelna.

"It's damned odd."

"Where are they being held then? That'd be good to know for when people try to get ya free." Jelna went to the window too to take in the view. "Ya are important, whether ya want to admit it or not. They elected ya, that's the will of the people."

"Civilians. All of them. Just trying to do their part to keep the system running. Clerks, judges, every day folk who all they want to do is help make Noventa a better place. That know how to keep things in check. I'd sacrifice myself no problem. I wouldn't sacrifice them for myself, though. They're just honest people." He sighed, turning to look out the massive bay window.

Looking about, Jelna, the place is rather austere. No large displays of personal power. The office of a man in an elected position, that never expected to remain there so long. "I'm not important. I'm just a man. Democracy. The will of the people, that's what is important."

Confederacy didn't do the job right then. Jelna glanced at the door and then back to him. "Well, bargainin' power or not, I reckon ya won't be kept in captivity for long." She paced around the room, looking for anything else that could help her in the following operation. "Naw, it ain't happenin' now, but folk'll come for ya, since ya represent so much. What can you tell me about these other folk that could get hurt though?"

"No. I've been tortured before, during the Confederacy. Didn't work then, wouldn't work now. They had done their homework. I think they recognized the bargaining power at not harming the civilian government of the system." He adjusted the collar of his shirt, tightening it slightly. "A little under duress, considering those two gentlemen have those rather nasty rifles with them, but over all, I would say I'm doing okay, Miss Vawn." He offered a small smile, and then stepped back, heading towards his desk.

"I hope you aren't planning on risking life and limb here, right now, to try and get me out. I'm afraid they've got others they aren't afraid to hurt, in the event of me trying to escape. But I do plan on fighting them. Done it once before, I can damn sure do it again."

"Name's Jelna Vawn," the blonde replied. She took a step backwards and was thankful this turned a different direction than she had been willing to pursue. After all, older gentlemen did enjoy their "personal assistants."

Her eyes went around the office before going back to him. "Glad to see ya ain't in terrible shape, unless there's somethin' I should know about?"

"It's alright." His returned the embrace, gently patting her back as a father would to a child who had long moved out and come home after a long time apart. "Your concern is too generous." He slowly pulled back; watching the woman.

Then, a glance to the Stormtroopers. "Would you fine gentlemen mind stepping outside for a few minutes? As you can see, that door is the only way in or out of this room." He indicated to it.

"And trying to escape would only jeopardize the citizens here. I'm sure if you wait just outside that door, there will be no issues." His smile was charming, to say the least.

The Troopers looked to each other, and exited the room. The door locked behind them.

Deltiss kept the smile, and then shook his head. "It's been awhile since I've had to do any acting, to get around some guards. Thank you for the practice, Miss?" He kept his voice low.

"Oh, thank goodness you're okay," she blurted out like a young schoolgirl. She rushed inside and went in for a quick, uninhibited embrace. Is he the sort to play along? Or was the Admiral actually expecting me? Interesting.

The door opened at the tugging, two Stormtroopers stood in the doorway, looking to Jelna. They looked to each other for a moment, before facing her again.

"This is a restricted area, ma'am." The lead trooper spoke. Just past them, the Governor worked on a datapad, his eyes raising slightly. "That's alright, gentlemen. That's my appointment. She was scheduled long before your arrival, and if your Admiral wants me to continue to managing this system without cause for uprisings, then this is one situation you will have acquiesce." Deltiss smiled, standing from his desk.

"Please, come in." The two troopers stepped aside as they were asked.

Jelna was not going to relent now. She tugged at the door more, as if wanting to get in and surprised that the door was even locked.

The door was locked, as expected. Listening for a moment, one could hear the shuffle of feat. The idle chatter.

"I hear they replaced the S-37s..."

"... About time, the S-36 had so many problems..."

The voices were muffled, speaking through the comms of a helmet, an effect very familiar to you.

Jelna took out her datapad and hugged it close to her chest. She walked through the building the long way towards the governor's office, taking in the view of the building all the way. When she got to the office, she hunched over her shoulders and kept the tip of her device over her lips before trying the door.

The government center was filled with beings, all of whom still wished to keep things running as normally as possible for the city, for the system, no matter what threats there were. Beings still needed to be married, permits for work orders filled, tax laws and such to be notated and amended. The every day 'business' of government had to keep on. A mantra that seemed to echo through the walls simply because it was the only way the system just didn't collapse after two wars.

Yet the air of worry, especially the way it felt in the Force, could not be brushed aside. There didn't seem to be many occupiers within the building. A token force, to be sure, but it seemed odd for such a grand display.

Looking at a terminal, it was easy to find the layout of the building. Prominently displayed was the location of the Governor's office.

Well then, now I wish I had brought Cefey. I wonder what they would have done then.

Jelna did the same thing she always did in her observation phase: walk around supposedly aimlessly with a lost look on her face. She looked around slowly at different points of interest, hoping for a good recording.

Where is the governor then...

The troopers themselves seemed rather... uninterested in things. Perhaps this was a punitive post for the day, or just that sometimes, there were just some boring tasks assigned. Their helmets would turn to face Jelna as she walked in, scanning the ID for a long moment.

"Move along, move along." They waved her through, as if the only task was just to keep the machine moving along.

Jelna made no effort to brush past them. Instead, she made her way to the troopers and shifted her eyes between both of them. In her hand was her I.D. under the name of Jelna Vawn, the fake identity shes had taken on long ago. Maribelle, though, had to still exist somewhere to the Galactic Empire.

For now, she made no mention of it. She was only ready to pull out the ole "I'm actually an undercover ISB agent" card if they weren't going to let her pass.

The Government center seemed hollow, as if the life had been drained from it. You could see bureaucrats walking in and out, but it seemed out of rote habit than desire to actually add to their work.

The most notable presence were a pair of Stormtroopers, standing at the doorway. Blaster rifles were brandished, but they seemed occupied in watching the IDs of those entering and exiting the building.

"Rebellions thrive off of hope and collapse under the weight of despair." Years ago, Jelna had told that to a local rebellion leader before a stormtrooper under her command put a blaster bolt into the prisoner's skull. For Noventa, she was sure that this idiom had not changed. The governor had not yet been executed, as far as she knew, but it was certainly a possibility.

For all of her desire to run, she went completely opposite with it. Her instincts urged her to impede the Imperial Remnants in their goals. If they were drawn to the planet due to such a dreadful feeling, then it may not stop here. Jelna approached the government center with the full intention of deception once more. She wore her usual clothes, drab and civilian, rather than anything clearly Imperial. It was all part of her plan, and so was being stopped by any stormtroopers. But if they simply let her waltz inside, then she would not complain either.