Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Delmi arrived at the main manor of the Thul estates late that afternoon... It was time for a bit of honesty and an open discussion of how to proceed.

She was shown to a private room where she waited for the inevitably which was Xero Thul to arrive.

The first person to enter the room was Zeno. In the hall outside the room, the sound of the twins giggling and following one of their caretakers can be heard.

He gave Delmi a small wave before finding a seat and dropping into it a bit tired. "Afternoon Lady Koor."

"Lord Zeno." She replied with a respectful nod.

"Duke Consort, Lady Koor," Xero said as they entered with Ziandra following.

Ziandra entered in more casual clothing, not looking pleased, "It's been a long two days, keeping our House from dissolution, so do be to the point."

Delmi nodded, "I came to have as open a discussion as we can. There's been a bit of subterfuge on both our parts for the first few days here... But it feels like it's time to put our cards on the table and deal with each other straight."

She started, "I will shoot straight... I'm here working with the SIS. I approached you asking for more information about my mother a week ago with the hopes of trying to gain your trust and investigate your family... The Empire's influence within your House was an obvious red flag for the SIS and most of Alderaan. However, during my first week here... with the assistance of the noble Xero... we were able to track down my mother and establish a slightly better glimpse of the current situation."

She paused, "There is a cell of a clandestine organization working to push Alderaan towards civil war. They are using anti-Thul sentiment to destabilize the system in an attempt to separate Alderaan from the Republic's influence and depose the Panteer family. They have confirmed agents within House Rist and Organa... and we suspect that there are more of these agents within many of the Houses here on Alderaan. The Separatist Tuvi Krims' removal has enabled one of their agents to take control of the Separatist movement. The falsified information I retrieved for your family undoubtedly has a similar source. We believe a man named Bryson Rist is connected to the plot and a possible candidate for being the source of that falsified data."

She continued, "I'm approaching you because I believe that it is possible House Thul may have similar security issues and wish to cooperate with you to ensure that the collective goals of the SIS and House Thul can be met by combatting this threat together..."

Ziandra listened and said, “In the essence of open communication, Tuvi was removed by our hand at the behest of Gaul Panteer, Xero oversaw the operation. That one is on us, though I see how that could play well for this conspiracy.”

Delmi nodded, "My most recent talk with Xero led me to think that..."

She tilted her head, "We're going to need to keep lines of communication open. Xero has been helpful... but it feels as if there is more to be known about the woman attached to your house... My mother... and any possible connections she may maintain in the house."

Zeno listened. It wasn't quite in the realm of betrayal. She had masters that weren't Thul and her association was more a tit for tat arrangement. So he was able to quell any rising feelings of anger.

"And since you know Tuvi was replaced, I imagine you may have some indication about how to track them down?" he asked. "I was informed that Julio was involved with some of the presses for violence, by a Jedi. Was he the one that stepped in?"

Delmi Koor wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 02, 2021 4:22 pm

Delmi nodded, "My most recent talk with Xero led me to think that..."

She tilted her head, "We're going to need to keep lines of communication open. Xero has been helpful... but it feels as if there is more to be known about the woman attached to your house... My mother... and any possible connections she may maintain in the house."

"Well, it seems we both had reasons to be hesitant for full disclosure," she said calmly.

She nodded to Lady Thul, "Definitely... but now there is no reason. In fact... House Thul is at right at the center of the target for all these angry folks... And I'd prefer to see you not all killed. "

She responded to Zeno, "Tuvi was Julio's paramour. His removal pushed Julio towards making a rash attempt on House Panteer. We had been following him and knew when his people moved, however. We are trying to ascertain what he knew... but he's not the most brilliant of strategists."

She asked, "Who... was my mother? I remember Xero mentioning she was 'much more' than an associate the first time we spoke..."

Zeno nodded at that. He knew what love and infatuation could drive a person to do or consider doing.

He didn't need to get involved in that, but would if requested.

Ziandra looked to Xero to answer.

“Yes, I suppose I did, she was a member in good standing and was already doing good work when I worked with her. I am not familiar with her past before here but she was a skilled agent, professional, remorseless, and unwavering in her dedication in to get the mission done. If it got the job done, she did it, she had no hesitation,” they responded.

Not so different from special forces units like Havoc Squad, Zeno thought.

She nodded, “I’m more concerned with who she was than her personality… The larger problem is who she may know in the House… Who could potentially be working with her… She knew we were heading for the Roost you sent us to. There were not many people who knew.”

Xero shrugged and said, "I can see what I can find, but that could be a long list of people inside and outside the family."

"Perhaps a security sweep for planted devices where those that knew discussed it will turn something up. Maybe in equipment or gear as well. Not that I don't get the implication of a leak, but it should not be the only route we follow," Zeno suggests.

“We need every resource you can spare in order to root this out… We are running a couple steps behind.” She replied.

“The other bantha in the room is that Imperial base you have nearby…”

"More a compound, than a base, but continue?" Ziandra said unconcerned.