Ask Dusk unto Dawn [Spintir]

[Astrid al-Bahir]

An unassuming agriworld within what remained of Imperial territory, Spintir was hardly on anyone's radar. Farmers didn't care much about the whos and whats of war and government so long as they were left to farm and it didn't bleed into their wayward territories. This was exactly why whispers of rebellious intention reported through official channels, originating in such small towns and villages as Frostwall and Whitewood, were so unusual. What had they to protest, left all alone?

Although left alone, agriworlds were important to the Empire and its people. So they sent two pairs of agents; one to Whitewood, and one to Frostwall. Alita and Astrid consisted of the latter. With the expansion of Knight authority and privilege, there was some initiative to pair them with ISB operatives both for surveillance and to test for inter-disciplinary compatibility. Basically; could they get along well enough to get the job done with a mixed set of skills?

For all her powers and training in the Force, the tall woman who landed in the cool woods beyond Frostwall looked by all standards as Imperial as any officer from the old bastion worlds in Palpatine's time or Ziost in the modern day. Dressed sharply but for cold weather, her hair was immaculately cared for and tied neatly back, flecked with fine drifts of light snowfall from a cloudy sky. Alita was doubtless right behind her, both having arrived aboard the same standard, generic shuttle.

"Smaller than expected," Astrid commented, amethyst eyes staring past forest branches toward the low-laying village in the distance. By all reports, it didn't contain much more than 300 people, not all of them permanent. Hardly a breeding ground for rebellion. There wasn't even any Imperial military presence. "Any hypothesis?" she asked Alita, assuming an ISB agent may have a guess.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

She was always wary of Force users, but her family knew the value of their skill. Her lineage meant that there was a deep affiliation with Sith historically. However, the last few generations had been strictly Imperial and that stayed with Altair Din these days. The coup had been a while in the making, even though the execution was premature and poorly planned.

The journey here had been quiet because they both had to review the mission briefs and prep. Like her partner, she was dressed immaculately, always in a dark dress suit with her hair perfectly made. The only difference was that she didn’t wear her usual stilettos, opting instead for boots.

“Well, I think it’s rather rude for us to work together without making introductions,” She said with a faint smile, “I’m known simply as Six,” She said as she extended her hand. ISB had their own naming conventions that no one but the ISB understood. It was best that way.

“Initial reports suggest a Sith cult, but I have a hunch that at most it’s one Sith that has bred negativity and has been recruiting from the impoverished people of this town,” She said as her gaze scanned the horizon, “You will want to keep your Imperial insignia off.”

With that, she began to walk towards the village. The first rule of working with an ISB was that no one could know there was an Imperial sniffing around.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Astrid al-Bahir]

Astrid firmly and professionally shook Six's hand, clearly used to doing this with people far shorter than herself. "Apologies," she responded evenly, nodding her head slightly during the handshake. She didn't seem much inclined toward smiling and didn't even try. "Knight-Lieutenant Astrid al-Bahir. 'Bahir' is acceptable." It was easier than explaining how her name was structured.

"Cults," she repeated with a slight tinge of distaste. Astrid had no love for them, nor did her teacher-in-writing. As a matter of fact, they espoused outright hatred for such things as undermining elements in the structure of an Empire. She was silent for several steps toward the village. "Perhaps a Jedi?" She couldn't think of a reason the Jedi hadn't acted against the Empire yet, as a matter of fact. Maybe they'd gotten clever?

Rather than comment, Astrid was reminded to unpin her Knight/Peacekeeper badge from her jacket and tuck it elsewhere. Her lightsaber was already out of sight. She preferred not to advertise the weapon when dealing with the Empire's citizens in favor of more ordinary methods first. Besides, she didn't need it to be dangerous.

The path to the town was easy to find, well-worn by passing speeders and track craft. As they approached a speeder truck floated past, the family aboard moving farm goods giving them only a single lengthy glance before they moved on with their own business.

On its own, the town was unremarkable beyond its age, old during the time of the Clone Wars. It was obviously low-technology to a large degree, relying on manual equipment over digitized controls. There were aliens about, although Astrid still got a few stares for her horns and height, particularly from a middle-aged Devaronian man hawking apples by the front gate.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Six scoffed at the idea, “Giving the Jedi a lot of credit there,” She said as they walked. The Jedi weren’t known for being particularly tactical in the past. She would genuinely be pleased if this was, in fact, the work of a Jedi and they were successfully building a rebellion. However, she found it far more likely to be a Sith. With the Warmaster having given planets a choice, there was no need to be sneaky or form rebellions - a Jedi could outright come tell people the benefits of leaving instead of discreetly forming a resistance. Only a Sith could have reason to cause genuine animosity.

She noticed several townspeople warily eyeing Bahir, “Must be exhausting..” She remarked, “Even the Warmaster has dealt with it his whole life I imagine,” The fact that he managed to rise up to the position he held was remarkable considering the galaxy’s distaste for Devaronian and Tieflings.

All of this presented a problem. Bahir was far too obvious with her height and race in a sleepy town. However, the benefit was that they could test their theory. Six thought for a moment before turning to her comrade, “You may need to play up the lore around you. Make yourself into a potential recruit.”

With that, she led the way to a local tavern. She stepped in before Bahir did, making straight for the bar. Bahir was free to go sit wherever and do what she wanted - the two needed to split up. As Six grabbed a drink at the bar, she shook her head, “Damn Forcies..” She complained, glancing over towards Bahir.

“Another one?!” The bartender hissed, quickly glancing over at the tiefling.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Astrid al-Bahir]

Astrid made an agreeable sound while her expression stayed the same. With a few exceptions, Jedi had the reputation of being plodding and straightforward. The Sith, meanwhile, for attempting to be clever in the most obvious ways. This looked like Sith's work. But then it wasn't unknown for Jedi to pull something actually subtle now and again. The Knight made no further comment on that subject.

Without looking at the people or Six she said, "Only for them," referring to the folks staring her way in an even tone. She paid their silent opinions little mind beyond the fact that the drawn attention was a potential issue for the task ahead. Six gave a suggestion. Two seconds ticked by before Astrid nodded, slowing the pace of her long strides to allow the other woman to walk ahead into the tavern.

The half-Tiefling stepped through the threshold, ducking down to fit beneath the human-sized doorway. She walked her way to a corner seat with a self-confident swagger quite different from the disciplined strides she'd taken on the way to town. Her tall form brushed uncaringly across others in her path who were put off but didn't feel like picking a fight with the demonic-looking woman towering over them.

When she sat down it was with the air of someone who owned the place. As Six and the Bartender spoke about her, amethyst eyes turned to look sharply at them as if she'd heard every word- she had, courtesy of those pointed ears of hers- and the bartender nervously glanced away. She rudely clicked her fingers to get his attention.

"Bring me a drink," she told him in a smooth, commanding contralto. Acting like a self-centered Sith wasn't that hard after being surrounded and taught by them for years of her life.

Dice Roll: 17/20 for 'playing up the lore'

@Sreeya