[D9 EE, Zeno's Rooms] Let the Hunt Begin

[Zeno Thul]

Zeno nods at Kat. "Bouris might yet be able to provide evidence or leads, since the entire plan hinged on him taking the throne. He probably had contacts. But it's also been less than a week since many of these crimes took place and I imagine a great deal of investigation is ongoing and evidence being analyzed. Clearing schedules and prioritizing those investigations is more likely to reveal things on a shorter timescale. If the group was truly undetectable an incapable of being infiltrated, we would be serving a tyrant now. We proved that wrong while being pitted against each other."

[Riss]

"Bouris won't have any leads, he wasn't involved. Just used," Riss stats, focusing on Zeno as she speaks, offering a nod. Then settling back again to just observe for the moment.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

Riss beat Kat to it, but she nodded in agreement.

"From my investigations during the festival, the group seemed more fine with filtering in falsified intel, or just fanning the flames that were already there. I will speak with him as soon as I'm allowed, but I wouldn't pin too much hope on him actually being aware of the Cunning Man and their agents." She could promise that much that she would try to speak with Bouris about it.

"I imagine most of the houses involved now are also divesting resources into looking for internal issues now too."

[Delmi Koor]

Delmi nodded at that assessment, “The group isn’t invincible. They’re careful. They pick targets that will act on their own with the right push. And then they use disposable assets like Bryson and Hyta to do the pushing… But people like that are just like a lizard’s tail to them. Cut it off and have it grow back somewhere else.”

She added, “They were the ones who gave up the names of Bryson and Hyta. Because people like that don’t matter to them… they keep their distance from them. Alderaan falling to Bouris’ hands didn’t even matter in the end to them… it’s the conflict that matters.”

[Jocasta Teraan]

Jocasta had been standing in the background taking notes up to this point. She decided it was time to contribute, "We could spend ages chasing our tails trying to find out who on Alderaan was influenced by the Cunning Man and who was driven by their own interests, or we can focus on one of the outsiders we caught that we know was being controlled by the Cunning Man, BlackKat66. She was paid for her efforts, so there could be a money trail. It's doubtful it would lead back to anyone too close to this organization, but as Duke-Consort Thul pointed out, mistakes were made, so it's worth inspecting every detail for the smallest clue instead of just assuming they are infallible, otherwise we should just give up now.

Another gift from the capture of BlackKat66 is we know they use mercenaries to carry out their agenda and create distance between themselves and their actions. Knowing that, we can search for unscrupulous and talented people who would sale their skills to anyone. We can offer incentives to those people to report any jobs matching the Cunning Man organization's MO to us. We might find other operations currently under way or get a heads up for a future operation."

[Zeno Thul]

This is how we cut through the bluster and politics. Let people speak, listen, form ideas and plans, build to a goal.

"I trust Knight Hoshin is correct in her assessment as well. This will be bigger than the scope of what Alderaan will be able to handle itself in the grand scheme. But our enemy works in cells. If we can create a proper model to fight these cells in our system it can be replicated in other systems, allowing the Republic to act and react in a similar way, eventually feeding into the SIS for collaboration and direction. We can't solve it all, but we can become the vanguard and example of how to deal with the threat by being the first to make the mistakes and figure out the fixes."

[Dapper Dog]

The Jedi meditating spoke, “I agree with staying focused on the Cunning Man, they could be simply another disposable asset but even if they don’t prove to get us closer to the truth they are a dangerous entity that the galaxy would be better off with them in SIS or Republic custody.”

“I would caution that this group potentially feeds on our paranoia, turning friends into foes is quite easy when we see assassins and conspirators in every shadow.”

[Delmi Koor]

Delmi nodded at Thy’s admonition.

[Zeno Thul]

"An excellent point," Xeno agrees. "To curtail that, it is probably better that we trust houses to see to their own internal security. We should assume that people are keeping their own house in order. It is also probably best to look at any accusations with skepticism and accept investigations with grace and patience. Until the threat is dealt with, there is a real and significant risk that such accusations and charges are the result of covert games to cause chaos."

For the most part, Zeno was simply reiterating points, just to try and clarify and offer wording from different angles just to ensure that ideas are being clarified. Repeat, repeat, repeat... that's how you get things to sink in.

[Riss]

"Or.." Riss speaks up, leaning forward as attention might drift her way. Looking to Thy she gives the woman a brief smile, and a nod. "Maybe something better, toward what Thy suggested. It's.. come up in conversation a few times, but we're treating this... too much like an outside threat."

"I want to support a group that will hunt down the Cunning Man, I do. But turning the suspicion on our own people? Trying to catch out the liars? It's.. not gonna go the way we want. Alderaanians are just as to blame as anyone else that it came to a coup. All the Cunning Man and any associates he has did was push us toward something we were already on the verge of doing ourselves."

"Best way to defend ourselves from that isn't to hunt the ones who would deceive and push us against one another. It's just to come together more.. work together more. If there's no division to prey on? They're kriffed," she says, and then leans back again. As she leans there, for the one in the room who might know, Riss' tone shifted a bit more toward that of her mother's in the moment. It was something the furrow in her brow suggested she'd realized herself.

"We need more trust. Not less," she adds, summarizing.

[Zeno Thul]

Zeno accepted that with a nod of support. "Better than what I said. I speak of cooperation but still think like any other defensive member of noble society. Another reason I should only be supporting and not leading the effort," the implication being that someone disconnected from or new to courtly games like Riss might be a better choice. Though she had a lot on her plate so he wouldn't suggest it, only imply.

[Jocasta Teraan]

"We as Alderaanians absolutely need to work to foster a better culture of trust and cooperation among the Houses and among the citizens. To that end, I am making a proposal to the Queen for the establishment of a council whose sole purpose would be just that.

However, the purpose of this task force should be to hunt down those who escalated affairs, to bring them to justice, and to prevent them from doing the same elsewhere. While I am all for looking after Alderaan first, there are plenty more systems out there that could become targets and we should not turn a blind eye to them. There were a number of offworlders who aided Alderaan in fighting off the coup yesterday and we can't forget that. We aren't just of Alderaan, we are also of the Republic."

[Omandri Rist]

"Trust and coming together is certainly an ideal to reach and as the Duke-consort said believe that we should all trust in the others here to keep their houses clean. House Rist has already started auditing and investigating its assets as of last night when I took control of the House from my sister." he said plainly looking about the room.

"I don't believe we need to direct the efforts of this task force on Alderaan. Focusing on the goal of taking down the Cunning Man should be our objective. Even if he is just a middle management type getting him off the board will help and I'm sure that if we can capture him then we will be able to learn much about this conspiracy."

[Delmi Koor]

Delmi nodded, "I think the suggestions y'all have are good. See what you can find here... follow whatever threads you can find here on Alderaan. Then if you get something that takes us closer to the Cunning Man, you can pass that info on to the SIS or the Jedi..."

She paused, "Or if we are worried about leaks in those organizations, you can send it to me... or Theron Shan who I can confirm is a reliable agent in the SIS... Or to Knight Yulani here who we know we can trust."

Delmi didn't know if she could trust the Jedi Knight... but since she was in the room and seemed to have a good head on her shoulders she included her.

"The SIS and the Jedi are the two institutions that can have some leeway to pursue the Cunning Man off of Alderaan without too much red tape. Any information that leads towards him, leads towards resolving the problems that knocked on Alderaan's door this past week. That's the best way to pay these bad guys back."

[Riss]

"We are Alderaan, Lady Koor. Not agents to be used for your Republic," Riss states very clearly as she leans forward. Placing both hands at the edge of the surface on which she sat and scooting toward the edge to take up more presence in the room.

"Gather what you can here? Give it to us so we can hunt the Cunning Man for you?" she shakes her head, tone incredulous as she repeats the sentiments in Delmi's words. "No. We've all learned very harshly this week that we cannot simply give everything we have to a Republic which continues to show it cares more for it's own agenda than the will of Alderaan. We do not win the trust of the people back by becoming lapdogs for the SIS, or the Jedi," she glances to Thy, and Kat. Offering a slight apologetic dip of her head.

"Alderaan should respond to this threat."

[Delmi Koor]

Delmi has a hard time not rolling her eyes at the woman’s reply.

She sits there with a disinterested look on her face and largely ignores the woman’s bravado.

Some people don’t listen to good sense I guess. The Jedi was talking three seconds ago about trusting each other…

The question of how Alderaan would respond to it without the help of the Jedi or SIS was not to be answered by Delmi.

[Jocasta Teraan]

Jocasta turns to address Riss, "You forget that it was the Jedi and SIS that alerted us to this threat and that fought next to us to stop the coup. We are founding members of the Republic, not some backwater planet that leeches on to the Republic for protection and gives nothing back. What agenda of the Republic has conflicted with the will of Alderaan? Speaking of the Republic like that is the same Separatist propaganda that has been dividing Alderaan and weakened us to the point of allowing an attempted coup.

The Republic and the Jedi have resources and jurisdiction that we do not. To turn our back on them would be to handicap ourselves against this far spread organization."

[Riss]

"I don't forget any of it," she says, and for the first time she's as stern as can be. Taking a moment, taking a breath, "I think you forget your empathy, when you respond like that. People weren't directed into someone else's idea, they had these feelings themselves. You can't create feelings. Those who faltered in this coup, they did so because they believed in Alderaan. Those separatists? They fought because they believed that is what was best for Alderaan. We need to show these people where they are wrong, when it comes to the Republic," she states, clear of voice.

"I have not suggested we turn our back on them, and Alderaan is far from being a leech when it comes to the Republic. But to investigate only at home? Scour our home for clues, and turn over everything we have to the SIS or Jedi?" she shakes her head, returns to look at the group and speaks adamantly, "No. That is not what we should do. If we do that? Then you're only answering the fears of the people who supported this coup. We may as well invite another one."

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"I think Countess Lanar has the right of it. To start with."

Kat added with her calm tone. "It's not about separating ourselves from the Republic, but to start with, it is about bringing Alderaan closer together against a common enemy. All of us here have resources and contacts to use, and different skillsets as well as abilities - such as those of us who are Jedi who can have an easier time of working with law enforcement outside of Alderaan."

"But I think that we are getting ahead of ourselves with what needs to be done for Alderaan, and on Alderaan. Countess Lanar raises a good point that we're not adressing the issue that led to a separatist-movement by doing all the work for the Republic or the SIS... these sentiments were already there before the Cunning Man's agents pushed them in the direction of violent uprising. I am personally for Alderaan remaining a part of the Republic, but we are not improving this issue by working for the SIS, and whoever the Republic places in charge of this."

And for all they knew, there were already agents in place within the SIS or Republic, ready to swoop in to sabotage this. Or be double-agents.

[Jocasta Teraan]

"You are all falling back into paranoia. The Cunning Man would be so happy if he could see you."

Turning to Riss, "Firstly, it was my understanding this task force is being formed to hunt down the Cunning Man, not to fix all of Alderaan's problems? Empathy be damned, if you have personal hangups that's going to prevent you from focusing on the task, you're going to become a liability. This isn't the outlet for thoughts and feelings, this is about catching a criminal mastermind who attacked us and is likely planning to attack others."

Turning then to Katarzyna, "Secondly, I notice you conveniently left the Jedi out of your argument when Countess Lanar included them among those Alderaan shouldn't be lapdogs for. And what kind of Jedi discourages working with the Republic?" She then looks to the other Jedi in the room for confirmation.

"Lastly, instead of worrying about who captures him in the end and gets the credit, how about we worry about stopping whatever he has planned next and bringing him to justice. Stop with the dick measuring and face the truth. We as Alderaanians can't go to other sovereign nations and start interrogating people or worse. If someone who wasn't affiliated with the Republic, such as the Jedi and SIS are, tried that here, it would be met with very harsh opposition. That isn't to say we have no teeth off Alderaan, but we need the Jedi and SIS so we can be more effective."