One of Aaron's main problems in all of this, was the lack of information on Cassian's military base of power; he did not know how loyal his men were to him. And that was a dangerous variable in an investigation such as this.
One of the charges were falsifying military reports, and for reports he needed the Admiral's signature. Which put him out of the game; he was most definitely just as corrupt. But the Fleet also consisted of 2 Rear Admirals and 4 Commodores.
Most were spread through the sector, and Aaron had to identify who was loyal and who was not. As it would be quite the ruckus if Aaron went to arrest the Moff, only to be halted by a fleet that far surpassed his own. And he did not intend to call for support from nearby Moff's, both due to potential allegiances but also the political battles.
Which is why he currently found himself in hyperspace, with the full might of the 32nd Squadron.
.....
Rear Admiral Dylan Klark once more found himself on his steadfast bridge of the 'Resolute IV', the pride of his small fleet consisting of a trio of Imperial-I Star Destroyers, and two Victory-II Class Star Destroyers, alongside a few dozen support ships and escorts.
Though he was currently stationed over Lipsec, alongside a single Victory. The other three Star Destroyers were out on patrol, two of them east of Lipsec while the other was checking out a tip on an uninhabited planet west of Lipsec.
Lipsec was deep in the sector, and although he often did not agree with the Moff- on quite a lot, actually. He was still relatively safe; there were no hyperspace routes that would permit any Star Cruisers above to pass unnoticed, and there were even fewer that were large and safe enough for Star Destroyers.
Which is also why Rear Admiral Dylan Klark was forced to stand up in shock, as the cronau radars were blaring. Massive Star Destroyers arriving from- not east. West. From the unknown regions.
"All men to battle stations, patch me through to Mof-" Dylan panicked, when suddenly a voice broke through the haze of chaos and made him stop. "Imperial Codes, Admiral. The 32nd Squadron."
"Belay that order." Dylan told the comms officer almost instantly, as he walked over to the massive windows. Where 3 Star Destroyers could be seen, flanked by dozens of smaller support vessels. Strike-Cruisers, Arquitens, Carracks, Lancer-Frigates, Ton Falk Escorts and Broadside Cruisers.
"Hail the Imperial C.O on my holotable. And give me information on this '32nd Fleet.'" The Admiral spoke as he turned around and walked into a room on the left side of the hallway leading out of the bridge floor, a private meeting room. With a big holoprojector.
As he entered, his HoloPad vibrated, and he brought it up. As it revealed information on Commodore Aaron Rysell, professional debriefs, and military reports on his first major skirmish in the Randon System, his support role in the decisive battle of Datar- resulting in the highest rebel casualties to date, his extermination of the Black Vow Rebel Cell and the following Battle of Nebula-8x103, then there was Vireen and the Clusterfuck, and most recently the Battle of Riflor.
Commodore Aaron Rysell was from reports a dangerously competent man with a talent for foresight that might be unrivalled across the Empire, and perhaps with a bit more experience and talent could be grown into something truly terrifying.
Rear Admiral Dylan Klark's eyes switched from the DataPad to the DataTable as it began blinking green rapidly, and the next second. The man himself, Commodore Aaron Rysell appeared before him. Flanked by a man in full dark uniform on his left, a special force of some kind- but none that Dylan had ever heard of. And on his right stood a beautiful blond woman in a white uniform, a black cap on her head and a stern expression on her face. The uniform and logo that Dylan quickly identified as Imperial Intelligence.
"Commodore Aaron Rysell, what can I do for you today?" Dylan asked, a fake smiled plastered onto his face. One he expected Aaron to mirror- that was if he had any political training at all. But no, Aaron's stern expression remained the same.
"Spare me your fake smiles; I am no politician. We both know this sector has some seriously problem, which is why I stand before you alongside an I.I Agent. And I assume you can guess where this is leading?" Aaron spoke, as Dylan dropped his fake smile instantly but remained calm. Even though he wanted to jump for joy within his head, finally he'd be able to end these constant quarrels with the Moff. Nevertheless, Dylan remained silent.
"I've read your records, protests, and battle archives. You are a competent man in the service of the Imperial Navy, and I shall ask for your assistance in ensuring the Empire is run by competent and not corrupt men." Aaron continued, before ceasing and awaiting Dylan's response. One which came a few moments later.
"Naturally, Commodore Rysell. I assume you've been given proper authority and justification for this investigation of yours?" He responded and Aaron nodded, inserting his codecylinder into his device. As the codes transferred to Dylan's HoloTable.
"Grand Admiral Antilles, Mark of Admiralty, D.O.J, M.P. Justification. You've got it all, with those codes, you've got legitimate command over the entire sector fleet, and nearby ones in desperate circumstances. I.I am certainly going for the Moff this time."
"Aye, I trust you will gather a strong loyalist base in the sector. I will leave it up at your discretion, as I very highly suspect the Moff is working with the top of this sector's military brass, and we wouldn't want any..... obstacles. To the arrest of this Moff, when the time comes." Aaron spoke, and Dylan nodded.
"Naturally, I have a fair share of candidates who would stand with us. Especially with those authority marks of yours. Although Outer Rim Sectors are often ignored, strict Imperial hierarchy still applies to most officers out here."
"Excellent, we'll remain in contact," Aaron said, before forming a standard salute, which Dylan copied. And Aaron, alongside his pitch-black armored bodyguard, followed, though the woman remained.
"There are a few things we need from you, we shall start with an official statement from you on this sectors current situation."
It was going to be a long day for Dylan.
...
As Aaron left the room, followed by Lux. He turned left down the corridor, before entering another room two doors down.
Inside there were three rows of circles, each with 10 operatives sitting around the circle. A total of thirty, as they manipulated POW's, local surveillance systems and tactical cameras placed.
This was one of the first operations, utilising one of Imperial Intelligence's Covert Units. This one was an 8-man team named Directorate Krill. They were dressed in non-Imperial military gear. Blasterproof vests, black clothing, and helmets.
Directorate Krill had six field operatives and two support operatives; namely an E.W(Electronic Warfare) Specialist and a Medical Operative. The E.W had placed nearly twelve surveillance cameras around an apartment and inside the building.
They were positioned in an ambush at the apartment of the Financial Officer of the sector. She had been quietly extracted earlier by a team of Wraith Troopers and a unit of Spectre Troopers. Whilst Directorate Krill had been deployed as an ambush.
All Wraith and Spectre Troopers were in some form or way archived in the Imperial Intelligence Databases, and could be traced back to both I.I and Commodore Rysell. Whilst the Directorate Operatives, meanwhile, were purely I.I-funded and trained, and not in any form or way connected to the Galactic Empire.
The Spectre who had already been killed had been fed an incenerative device and burned up a few seconds after she escaped, removing all trails. But Aaron could not ensure said success in the future, so he retracted his own forces.
Directorate Krill was all about efficiency, and three operatives had been placed by the entrance to the apartment. The Deputy Squad Leader and two breachers. A fourth sniper was placed on a nearby roof, the roofs being surveilled by 8 men in the room Aaron stood in.
A recon specialist was placed as the receptionist to the Imperial-funded building, having undergone temporary surgery to create an exact lookalike of the original receptionist, and had learned to talk, act, and walk like the receptionist after three hours of interrogation and listening.
Lastly, the squad leader and both support agents were hidden in the room directly opposite to the ambush site; multiple incendiary bombs and explosives were hidden under the floor and in both apartments as a last-second effort to eliminate the target.
Rysell was well aware that the 'cleanup' they suspected was heading for the ambush site, was most likely not the 'Cleaner', but it would be one of his direct subordinates. And unlike ISB, I.I was far more experienced in covert operations like these and had the personnel to throw at the ISB in a hidden war of attrition and ambushes.
"Suspicious man identified exiting a black vehicle outside apartment building. Is not identified through facial scans; we have no records of him. He is not a registered Imperial citizen."
"Alright, suspect is identified. Initiate operations. Prepare to delay local authorities." Aaron spoke, as the room fell silent. Operative procedures engaging.
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