The Will of the People.

[Tsar Fire]

(This thread is basically for any repercussions of the shooting/responses to the shooting. Press releases, people who feel like they should visit/say something to her or get information from her. People who want to make peace or declare even more enmity against her, whatever. If you are going to respond to the shooting, this is a good place to do it.)

After many, many hours, the surgery light went dark, and the collected masses rose to their feet.

The polished doors slid open as the doctors emerged, and the first in line, a team of RSF agents, held the rest at bay.

Reporters, eager for news, strained forwards. This scandal could earn them a raise, if they spun it right. Everyone wanted a quote to make someone else look bad.

The doctors, surprisingly prudent, said little.

"Adara Kalai was admitted for treatment today for wounds recieved on the steps of the Senate Rotunda. She recieved emergency treatment from Jedi on-scene until medical staff arrived to bring her to the hospital.

Once she arrived, she was treated for three gunshot wounds. One was in her left shoulder, one was in her right lung, and one had grazed her abdomen. She was also treated for the glass fragments which had fallen into her right eye."

***​

"This is Coruscant News Network! Coming to you live with the latest on the Senate Shooting Scandal!

Earlier today Supreme Commander Adara Kalai, under intense scrutiny due to her involvement with the ill-fated Ando Prime massacre, was shot several times on the steps leading into the Senate Rotunda. The assailant appears to have been the wife of a soldier who died in the battle, and was heard to claim that the commander was responsible for his death. Security personnel arrived at the scene late, and one of them attempted to shoot the attacker as she fled the scene, but missed and struck a vehicle nearby. He was restrained by his colleagues for fear that he might hit a pedestrian.

After the controversial clip in which a prominent Jedi master publicly condemned the Supreme Commander, public opinion has been divided about her, but with this shooting, the debate has only gotten worse. Many anonymous groups are praising the shooter, and demanding that the doctors 'finish the job.' Others, are saying that the woman's behavior only highlighted the irresponsibility of the Jedi in assigning blame when the actual truths behind the battle are still so unclear.

Let's go to very own Daniel Plaid for his take on the situation..."

*click*

"...the Jedi should be ashamed of their public condemnations which are, as is evident, completely irresponsible and likely being used as a way to cover up their own guilt."
"NO NO NO. The Jedi were some of the daring survivors who escaped falling victim to the 'commander's' incompetence. We should applaud their bravery in highlighting her incompetence."
"Bravery in attacking a woman who is now lying in the hospital thanks to their accusations? Bravery in denying their own involvement and releasing classified information?"
"They risked their reputations and standing to tell us about the corruption and foolishness at the top of our military. I applaud them!"
"I denounce them. The commander was not even permitted to speak in her defense, or explain the situation, before the Jedi made their accusations. Accusations that were, I'm quite certain, inaccurate."
"You can't prove that."
"Neither can you."
"On the contrary, if we examine the footage..."

*click*

Adara stared at the ceiling, trying to bring it into focus. It kept swimming around, and she could only see out of one eye... the other one was covered up by something...

Her entire body was numb... she couldn't feel anything except a vague tingling. A mask was secured to her face, forcing oxygen into her lungs.

"I'm sorry, commander, but you're going to need to be awake. There may be people who need to speak with you."

Adara didn't know who spoke, or whether she had the strength to reply. She remained silent, trying to bring the ceiling into focus. It w There was nothing else for her to do. She couldn't move, she couldn't feel anything. Not yet.

She could, however, speak... if only a little... If anyone had something they needed her to say...

Why couldn't she focus? Why couldn't she feel her body? Why couldn't she breathe?

 

[Dmitri]

Dr. Valentine Lockhart had originally gone to the Coruscant Planetary Hospital to hack into a nearby building for CARD but had been swept into the mess as the injured Supreme Commander of the Republic was rushed into the emergency room. Lockhart, commonly nicknamed Doc Love, had been pulled in to help.

After a couple hours of surgery, Adara had been stabilized. The anestesiologist had pumped painkillers into Adara's bloodstream, a bit too much in Doc Love's opinion.

Adara had slept for about three hours before regaining consciousness. As one of the doctors assigned to stay with Adara, he greeted her.

"I'm sorry, commander, but you're going to need to be awake. There may be people who need to speak with you," Doc Love said smoothly to Adara.

Adara's lips slightly moved, acknowledging that he had been heard. He paged a nurse and went to speak with Djibril who had been waiting outside.

"How is she?" asked Djibril.

"She's awake," said Doc Love. He glanced to the door where security personnel was keeping reporters at bay. "Though I doubt she'd like that once the investigator gets here."

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

Brimstone and napalm
Flying taxi's smell worse than leftovers
Refrigerator

The sun vanishes
behind skyscrapers sleeping
observatory

A long way to fall
If only I had a Jetpack
incinerator​

 

[Jiang Winters]

"You sure this is such a good time to make a visit, Mr. Ishikawa?"

Ishikawa snorted. "If not now, then when? No, now will have to do, Sonam. I have questions for Commander Kalai, questions that can not wait nor be answered by anyone else."

Sonam sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "If you say so, old man. If you say so. I just hope the media doesn't pay attention to us."

The elevator stopped and the two men stepped off. They had already passed through security and had been swept for weapons. Sonam had applied a goldish-tan shade of dye to his fur to mask his appearance, disguising him as a Cathar rather than an exotic Kasa Horansi. He wore pressed dress slacks and a sharp two-button blazer, both black, with matching shoes polished to a brilliant shine. A fedora and briefcase completed his ensemble, lending him the air of a corporate lackey.

Ishikawa wore similar attire, though as always, he preferred his charcoal blazer and slacks to the darker garbs worn by his bodyguard and problem-solver. Leaning very lightly on his simple hardwood cane, the ex-military businessman made his way down the hospital's corridors. His quick pace soon brought him and his guard to the entrance to Kalai's room. He was not surprised to see a horde of reporters gathered outside, and scowled under his breath.

"Is this the best the Republic can do for a wounded soldier these days? Is the administration so spineless that they let reporters flock to our hospitals to peck at our soldiers as they lay wounded in bed?" The old soldier was disgusted by what he saw, and, if he had his way, he'd chase off every last reporter to leave Kalai to rest in peace. The reporters, in his eyes, had no business disturbing her - only the military and those with genuine questions had any right to disturb her. Frustrating though it was, he had to bite his tongue and stand idly by to wait to see the Commander.

He beckoned to one of the nurses he spotted exiting her room, calling the young man over. "When the Commander is awake and willing to speak, I would be much obliged if you would let her know that Mr. Ishikawa is here to see her. I'm an intelligence analyst from Anaxes, former military." Ishikawa was, admittedly, banking on the possibility that Adara had, at some point, studied his writings from the days when he was an analyst and that she had some knowledge of the role he had played in brokering a cease-fire between the major factions in the galaxy.

Sonam, on the other hand, had a different card to play.

"And while you're at it, please let her know that Special Agent Elias Townsend would like to chat." Sonam flashed a badge - a flawless replica of a Republic Intelligence Agency badge. "I'm with REPINTEL," he added in. The benefits of still being S13's deputy director meant that his cover was impenetrable - for all intents and purposes, he was exactly who he said he was.

 

[Dmitri]

Leaving Senator Djibril outside Adara's room, Doc Love went to locate the nurse that was suppose to obtain more painkillers. As he exited the wing, the secret CARD Foreman encountered two suspicious individuals talking to some nurse Doc Love didn't recognize. However, he did recognize the two suspicious individuals.

"Chief? What are you doing here?" asked Doc Love.

Doc Love wasn't sure why they'd be here. While he had come to the hospital on CARD business and had been sidetracked due to Adara Talai, he had not gone over the timeline he had promised Ishikawa. Wait... Adara. Doc Love relaxed a little as he realized they were probably here because of Adara.

"How can I help?" asked Doc Love.

 

[Will]

A man leapt through the sky,
Daring the gods, ever so high
He heeded no words,
Only the calls of the birds,
And onlookers shouting 'oh my!'
​

 

[Jiang Winters]

"Just paying a visit to Commander Kalai," Ishikawa replied with a faint smile. The old man folded his hands together atop his cane, and nodded towards Sonam. "And Special Agent Townsend is here to ask some questions of his own... And, of course, to make sure I don't ask any questions that are too sensitive."

Sonam laughed and tipped the brim of his hat up. "You catch on pretty quick, old man. Guess you weren't janking us when you said you were Rep Intel once upon a time."

Ishikawa smiled at the tan feline but said nothing in response. Instead, he turned his attention back to Love and gestured at Adara's room with the tip of his cane. "Is there any chance we can get in now, before the vultures have their way with her?" he queried softly - there was no reason to raise his voice enough for the Reporters to hear him.

 

[Dmitri]

"She regained consciousness not too long ago," informed Doc Love. "She appears to be able to speak."

Doc Love nodded to the security officer outside Adara's room to let them pass. Doc Love herded Ishikawa and 'Townsend' into Adara's room. The doctor stepped over to Adara.

"You have two visitors here, Supreme Commander Talai," Doc Love told Adara. "One is Special Agent Townsend."

 

[Tsar Fire]

Adara listened as the surgeon talked. The light overhead... it had short somewhere... it flickered... every few minutes.

He'd said something... visitors? Yes.... Frack... flickered again. Yes. Visitors.

She nodded her head, weakly, and continued to gaze up at the ceiling. She'd tried turning her head earlier, and it had hurt too much. It was easier to stare straight up until she was sure that she actually needed to turn and look.

Until they asked her a question... she didn't know what to say.

 

[Jiang Winters]

'Townsend' and Ishikawa followed Love into the room. Sonam removed his fedora as he entered and quickly glanced around. As he expected, heavy security was in place for the Commander's safekeeping. The window was protected by dual shield generators, while two power armor-toting Republic Shock Troopers stood guard outside the door, with another Shock Trooper standing just inside the room. There was little doubt that hordes of similar troopers were stationed throughout the hospital, ready and willing to gun down any would-be assassin that tried to slip past the hospital's security checkpoints and weapons scanners.

As the feline examined the defenses, Ishikawa stepped up alongside the Commander's bed. "She doesn't look like she's in the best shape," he noted via his neural net.

"Agreed," Sonam replied, "But this is the best chance you've got to talk to her before the brass tries to sweep her under the rug. If you're going to do anything..."

"It's got to be done now, I know." Ishikawa sighed and twiddled his thumbs idly for a moment - hearing Sonam's voice through his neural net and not his ears was somewhat discomforting, but Ishikawa knew that the secrecy that a neural net conversation held was an invaluable tool and one that he could not dispense with for the sake of comfort alone.

While Sonam ushered out everyone but the guard and Doc Love on the excuse that the questions he had were sensitive in nature, the old man cleared his throat quietly to catch Adara's attention. "Supreme Commander Kalai, my name is Ulysses Ishikawa. I'm sorry for disturbing you so soon, but we've little time to speak. As you know, the media and the government is searching high and low to find a scapegoat. They need someone they can hang out to dry as punishment for the Ando Prime debacle, and right now the focus is solely on you, Commander."

He was being very frank, but there was little time to tip-toe around the subject. Should Adara be courtmartialed, there was little doubt in Ishikawa's mind that she would be railroaded and would not receive anything that even came close to resembling a fair trial. She would walk in, she would be stripped of her rank and dishonorably discharged, and that would be the end. She would be punished for every mistake made in the battle, regardless of whether the blame truly laid with her.

"The Senate cannot afford to lay blame on the Jedi Order. They'd be fools to do so - the Order is the Republic's first and best defense against the Bogan, and an invaluable peacetime ally. If they try to saddle the Order with responsibility for this, all they'll have managed to do is worsen the gap that Mohatu put between the Republic and the Jedi. Likewise, I sincerely doubt that Master Karasu will retract any of the accusations he made. The Order is not as politically minded as the Republic; if there is even a scrap of truth in his words, or if they believe there is a scrap of truth, then they'll stand by Karasu."

"Mohatu is equally untouchable - he's in a coma. It would be insane to try to assign any blame to him while he is unable to defend himself or his actions, and furthermore, he has committed no crimes - he will go unpunished, unless you count an utterly destroyed career and reputation as punishment. That, dear Commander, leaves you alone to shoulder the blame for this incident. The military itself is out for your blood - my ears within the high command tells me that a hearing is planned. They intend to end you, Kalai, of this I am certain."

He gave her a moment to mull over what he had said. It was quite a bit of information to dump on the poor woman, and he despised having to beat her over the head with the sad fact that she was going to be ruined by the very Republic for whom she had fought. Once she'd had a moment to think, he spoke again.

"I'm here to offer you a way out. A way to guarantee your career's survival and a way to ensure that you will be able to fight on." He lowered his voice slightly, so that the guard would be incapable of hearing. "It's not the most legal of paths, Commander, and there is a chance, however small, that you may be branded a traitor for a little while. But in the end, if all goes according to plan, your honor within the Republic will be restored and all the petty bickering over Ando Prime will be swept under the rug for good. This is an oppurtunity for you to start again, Commander. A chance to fight a war with a clean slate, and to bring the fight to the enemy on your terms while still serving the Republic. If you want to prove, once and for all, that Ando Prime was not your fault, then this is your chance, Kalai. So what say you, Commander? Will you fight, or are you content to let a panicking new administration bury you alive under a mountain of shame?"

 

[Tsar Fire]

As the stranger talked, Adara slowly turned to look at him, focusing more intently the longer her talked.

Flicker. Damnit.

Laboriously, she forced herself to focus on the words he was saying, past the insistent pain that accompanied every move that she made.

As he finished, she tried to speak, but she knew that she made no sound. She tried to lift her arm, to remove the oxygen mask, but the pain nearly wiped her from the world of the awake and thinking.

The stranger seemed to notice her discomfort, and reached down to unbuckle the mask, so that she could speak.

"What... do you... intend?" Each word was punctuated by a pained, moist breath. There was still blood in her throat and mouth.

"I'm... no... traitor... sir. I'd... need to... know more... More than... something... so vague."

 

[Jiang Winters]

"There is an organization in this galaxy that intends to keep the Hutt Empire from expanding. They intend to sabotage, confuse, distort, and destroy Hutt operations to reduce their capacity to fight, but they are in need of infiltration agents and commandos that cannot be traced back to them, and they're having a very hard time finding recruits. They have ships, they have soldiers, they have the will to fight, but they lack true commandos and they lack militarily experienced leadership. I want to put you in this organization, Kalai. There is a hitch, though."

'Townsend' stepped up to the other side of her bed and finished Ishikawa's sentence. "You'll need to disappear. You'll need a new face, a new identity; for a while, you're gonna have to cease to exist. And, if the Hutts catch you while you work for them, they're going to do everything they can to break you. If they do, or if they discover who you are, they'll do everything in their power to make it look like you betrayed the Republic. This won't be a cakewalk - it's gonna be hard, and it's gonna be dangerous. But if you do it, if you stick with these people and you lead their forces, just imagine what you could do. You could raid supply depots, sabotage training facilities, blast orbital drydocks, even bomb the Hutt homeworld; you could leave a wake of chaos and destruction in your wake, and weaken the Hutts enough for the Republic to stand a fighting chance."

The feline produced a small data card, contained within a clear plastic case. "This card has information on how to get in touch with me, and more about what you'll have to do if you want to go through with this. I'll leave it at the nurse's station, along with your personal belongings. It's DNA encrypted - if anyone but you tries to access it without thumbing the sensor bar at the end of the card, it'll wipe itself clean. Use it on an isolated terminal - you'll need to keep it a secret, Kalai."

Townsend pocketed the card, and Ishikawa spoke up again. "I know this is very vague to you, Kalai, and for that I am sorry. But the nature of this demands secrecy, both for my sake and for yours. When you're feeling better, contact us and we'll arrange a meeting somewhere secure - you can make a final decision then."

 

[Tsar Fire]

Adara wasn't sure how to respond. Flicker. DAMN. IT. Her vision was getting a little murky, but she managed to croak out a response.

"I'll... take a look..."

Her breathing becoming more ragged, one of the monitors began to beep, quietly and insistently, calling a doctor to check on her.

She hated being chained to this bed... she hated... being chained down by her own body.

That card... she'd take a look. Depending on what she saw... well... depending on what the Admiralty board ruled against her... depending on so much...

zzzt. Flicker... flicker... She was losing track again, and her arm was going numb as the IV started pumping sedatives into her bloodstream to calm her down... put her back... to sleep.....

 

[Jiang Winters]

Ishikawa and Townsend stepped away from the bed as the doctor returned. The feline frowned and placed his fedora back atop his fuzzy head. "Looks like we've done all we can, boss. We should get out of here."

"Agreed. Love, if you can hear me, Sonam and I are going to head back to the Viceroy. Thank you for the help, it's greatly appreciated," Ishikawa replied.

The old man fell into step behind Sonam as the two headed out, a bit of a spring in Ishikawa's step. There was a chance that he had just found an ally; an ally who had the experience and expertise to lead a stinging assault against Hutt assets, and who had the potential to even the playing field between Republic and Hutt forces. Perhaps needless to say, he was now very interested in the path Adara would choose.

After a brief pause at the nurse's station to deposit the data card, Ishikawa and Sonam left the hospital just as quickly as they had came, taking an armored speeder back to the Viceroy Hotel. There was too much to do to wait around at the Hospital - they had to prepare for the possibility of Adara's acceptance of their offer, and they had to prepare for the chance that she would refuse. In either event, there was an equal amount of work to be done.

 

[Dmitri]

"Understood," whispered Doc Love.

Ishikawa and Sonam left the hospital. As the doctor who sedated exited the room, Doc Love took out his datapad. No need to be said, Doc Love knew that Ishikawa wanted him to prep Adara for a new identity.

Doc Love first scanned Adara's fingerprints. He then drew a blood sample and plucked a few hairs.

Doc Love's next step was to access the Republic database and create a new person. Coruscant hospitals had a direct terminal to the database in orderto access medical files. Security was lax in comparison to most terminals so he lucked out. He made a mental note to leave a couple trojans for later use.

 

[Dmitri]

"Understood," whispered Doc Love.

Ishikawa and Sonam left the hospital. As the doctor who sedated exited the room, Doc Love took out his datapad. No need to be said, Doc Love knew that Ishikawa wanted him to prep Adara for a new identity.

Doc Love first scanned Adara's fingerprints. He then drew a blood sample and plucked a few hairs.

Doc Love's next step was to access the Republic database and create a new person. Coruscant hospitals had a direct terminal to the database in orderto access medical files. Security was lax in comparison to most terminals so he lucked out. He made a mental note to leave a couple trojans for later use.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

Moments following the departure of Ishikawa from the hospital came a new visitor, visiting late into the evening at an hour late as it was nearly morning. Unannounced and using an alternate entrance came refrigerator. Refrigerator had been strapped to what appeared to be a battle-taxi, piloted by what some called "Oh my god" or "by the force." These were odd nicknames to call an individual, but they were how the aptly named Pyro had come to be greeted.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while Adara pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While she nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at her chamber door.
`'Tis some visitor,' one would thing, `tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'
​

Then everything exploded.

Refrigerator was not some kind visitor wishing to pay a kind and friendly visit. No, refrigerator exploded with the kind of energy that required a full refrigerator of it. Refrigerator had in fact been a synthesized explosive of a scale that would make a chemists head spin. Not an hour before had the soft, warm-hearted machine been another simple refrigerator. Gobbling baradium, the explosive found in thermal detonators, it became fat with it and volunteered itself as the container for a spectacular explosive.

Delivering refrigerator to it's doom had been even greater a feat, for a barrel roll delivered it from the battle-taxi's back into the window of Adara, where it created an explosion that sent shockwaves for miles. Fortunately the battle taxi had been performing a barrel roll, an action that could save almost anyone from harm.

Adara would need such a maneuver to have survived the blast, but in the case this was not true, the battle taxi returned and parked itself in the newly created landing pad that was Adara's room.

The window rolled down and out came the weapon that no one ever really paid any attention to. It was such a drag that no one talked about how beautiful it was, how sleek it's piping and hoses. It would have been better to not mention the pyro's new hat which was just too cute to not kill a pedestrian for.

 

[Tsar Fire]

(I'm sorry, but the barrel roll does nothing. Seriously, they don't do anything to stop shockwaves. Did you honestly think they'd leave her where any crackpot could take shots at her?)


Adara had almost managed to fall asleep again, when the entire hospital shook, and then everything went dark. Somewhere far ahead, there was cacaphanous rumbling and dust fell from the tiles overhead.

In the governmental surgery in the basement of the hospital, Adara winced. There were probably a lot of dead civilians, and according to public record, she'd be dead too.

It was easier to think in the dark... easier to think when the pain was pushed away by the adrenaline her body was starting to pump into her blood.

Obviously, she hadn't been left in a room high in the hospital to invite further attacks, not after being nearly killed the first time. However, since these rooms were confidential, it was publicized that she was on the top floor.

A lot of dead reporters. Adara couldn't help but wonder how her assailants were going to react to an empty room.

Damn, she wished she could get up there... she clearly had someone who needed to die.

 

[Dmitri]

Doc Love rushed to the phone and called the front desk. The nurse there told him that someone had blown up the decoy room.

The Hutts have a treaty, thought Doc Love. Could this be them? No, it can't be.

Doc Love hacked into the hospital's cameras. He was skimming through slides until he found a video showing the droid being sent through the decoy room's window. He rewinded the clip but was unable to get a clear view of the perpetrator. He flipped through videos until he found one. The refrigerator had originated from a battle-taxi.

Could it still be around? wondered Doc Love.

Doc Love returned to real time live videos. He quickly found a live stream showing the battle-taxi parked.

Doc Love contacted two people. First, he told his sister, Bianca Lockhart, a Republic captain who was currently stationed at the Republic military base half a mile away; he hoped she would relay this information to her comrades and the security stationed at the hospital. With any luck, maybe even Jedi help, the arsonist would be captured. Wouldn't be hard since Doc Love could see the man in armor in the driver's seat through a rolled down window. If the man hadn't been wearing armor, he could have just checked his face to the database he was still connected to. Still, he decided to make a note to compare the armor to any known arsonist or terrorist.

Ishikawa was the second person to be contacted by Doc Love. He filled him in on the situation, if Ishikawa hadn't already figured out. He added the intel about the identity of the perpetrator. With any luck, Sonam could lead CARD against the perpetrator and take him, or her, down.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

Nothing? No mangled corpse? Maybe refrigerator had done his job a bit too well, he always do a splendid job though, no cleanup necessary. The task was done and tonight there would be much celebration of Refrigerators sacrifice, unfortunately all of the booze would be room temperature.

Pulling out of the new parking spot the window was rolled up and it was time to leave, most people were still in great shock.

Flying to the escape point consisted of diving deep into Coruscant. The lower levels were quite a place to hide in, detection was more than impossible. Today was only slightly fun, no one had followed the escape. Anyone who did was easily lost in the twists and turns of the lower city, they would have no clue as to their location now.

Now it was time for an evening walk, a stroll to say hello to a friend.

((This thread splits off into another thread that will be up shortly, known as Burn. It will be open of course. Any pursuers will need to post here and then there.))