Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Kellen arrived early, waving politely to the security team. Reaching his office he sat in his comfy Professor's chair and composed his thoughts before picking up the datapad and searching for contact details. He was looking for Verash Organa. He didn't expect the number would be hidden but you never knew til you tried.

He finds contact information as she is the CEO of a firm owned by House Organa.

"Aha, nice and easy." With a smile he leaned back in his chair and dialed up the number. He wondered if the antipathy Ghoun had displayed was reciprocated. Perhaps it was a one way feud.

“I don’t take unannounced calls for just anyone,” she said her image formed.

“It’s late here so do please get to the point.”

"Professor Kellen Rist here, thank you for taking my call." Charmed I'm sure. "I'll get straight to the point. Your name has come up several times in an ongoing investigation into a missing relic of significant historical, and monetary, value. I was hoping you might be able to shed some light on the subject."

"Is tenure so bad you must moonlight as a detective now, Kellen Rist?" she responded. "I have a team of the best lawyers on Delaya, I can have them join us with ease."

"Artifacts don't lose themselves, and what kind of Archaeologist would allow the vital clues of the past to go missing without a chase?" He smiled pleasantly.

"I'm not accusing you Ms. Organa. Far from it. I'm trying to get to the bottom of this mess and you might hold a clue or two. Given your interest in relics. Perhaps you have an idea of which individuals in this system might be interested in ancient history involving the Killiks? Ghoun Rist is one, but there must be others."

"You have your culprit, Ghoun Rist," she said in reply.

"He could not compete with me and so turned to a life of crime. Open and shut case. That is not an official statement from my office."

"Your mutual animosity aside, there must be other players? I am aware of the suppliers and the procurement chain, but it seems there is another buyer out there." He paused. "Well, a Thief."

"Then we have a new player in the game, curious," she said.

"I really don't keep track of all my enemies, Kellen Rist. What was stolen again?"

Kellen described the piece and there was a short archaeology montage. "So as you can see it is an ancient and valuable relic. It may shed some light on a most intriguing time in our history."

He paused a moment. "While valuable it seems a touch over the top to kill for. There are plenty of other valuable items that would be easier to take. So why this one? I don't suppose you noticed any unusual activity from your usual sources in the last two months?"

"Kill over, I thought it was just stolen?" she asked.

"Oh that's just how this story starts you see. The theft of an artifact. A missing assistant. A chase. An explosion. Victims, probably innocent ones. A missing shuttle." He raised his eyebrows. "So I suppose it is rather more exciting than tenure."

He steepled his fingers. "And you can see why I'm keen to get to the bottom of it."

"Indeed... especially if murder is involved. I suppose there is a name I could add to your investigation. But I won't say it on this unsecure line. Do you have a secure means of conversation?" she finished.

Kellen nodded his thanks. "I do, and I appreciate you trusting me with this. We can talk securely from the Rist Estate. I can arrange an encrypted channel if that is acceptable to you?"

(OOC: Assuming that works okay? Alternatively I can book a shuttle and go to visit her in person later in the day?)

OOC: That is fine.

One screenwipe later...

Kellen contacted Verash Organa once again, this time using the encrypted comm suite from the Rist Estate. He gave her a charming smile.

"Thank you once again for your assistance. This line is clear and secured. There is no one else here."

She appears with a second figure, a bith, a well dressed bith. Verash said, "My counsel will handle it from here."

The bith spoke in his native language, "We are forwarding a release form, this should release Verash Organa and her company from all fault or claims of wrong doing. We are working purely from a perspective of the hypothetical and anything shared on the line will be considered not admissible as evidence."

"Again please sign and acknowledge." There is an inbound data packet.

"Alright then, thank you Ms. Organa."

As one of the many languages he had picked up there was no need for the translator. Kellen signed, he didn't have much choice if he wanted the lead. "Very good. Acknowledged."

The bith seem satisfied and then stepped aside for the woman. She spoke, "It is possible that someone affiliated with my organization was aware of this little under the table deal and employed a freelancer to intervene. Strictly to reclaim the artifact for Alderaan. I cannot deny or confirm the veracity of this statement but I am told they may have employed an individual known as the Cunning Man? These criminals, who I do not associate with, have such interesting names."