5Epilogue
The Kreesh Protocol
The Defender
Toral was simply waiting for the order.
He knew that the Kressh Protocol had been initiated for some time by Cipher Seven. Now he was just waiting for the confirmation. The Defender was an Imperial Capital ship of seemingly no importance. The captain of the ship, Iallis Yarpin, was one of the most corrupt captains in the Imperial Navy. Though a disgrace to the Empire, he had connections that enabled authorities to turn a blind eye.
Toral had been placed on the ship as a sleeper agent. He officially was assistant to the captain and under the guise of a dirty officer, directly enabled the captain's corruption. For over a year he had bribed, stolen and intimidated those who the captain ordered him to. It had made him feel sick but what the captain didn't know was that every single piece of corruption was documented and recorded by Toral in very explicit detail.
He had earned the trust of the captain and had just recently been let in on the names of Yarpin's connections. He had forwarded those to Cipher Seven using a predetermined sending address. If this was any other assignment he would have left then. But that was not his job, now he was simply waiting.
In his off-duty moments he had privately wondered if Cipher Seven had another reason for him watching this man. True, he was a disgrace to the Empire and deserved what was coming to him. But he'd gathered more than enough evidence months ago, why was he supposed to wait for a specific order? He mentally shrugged, he had learned long ago not to question Cipher Seven because he always had a reason for what he did. Whether he deigned to share it was another matter entirely.
His thoughts were interrupted by a beeping coming from him holocommunicator. With growing excitement he reached for it and received the call. The image of Cipher Seven appeared, the chiss standing in a military stance, hands clasped behind his back.
"This is Cipher Seven. Initiate the Kreesh Protocol."
"With pleasure, sir." Toral responded with a sinister grin, and shut off the holocommunicator.
"I cannot believe you acquired this on such short notice." The voice of captain Yarpin rang out with surprise and joy.
"Officer Brader was reluctant," Toral admitted, "but I convinced him in the end."
Yarpin slapped him on the back, "Ah, you work miracles, my friend." He exclaimed, "Come! Let us enjoy this feast and we can discuss some other matters."
"You honor me." Toral responded humbly.
An hour later, both of them were sitting at opposite ends of a small table while platters of the finest Imperial cuisine sat on the tables. Yarpin was enjoying the meal immensely, eating and drinking while looking over reports.
"Are you enjoying the meal?" Toral asked him, albeit smugly.
"Why, yes!" Yarpin explained, "I confess, it's been too long since I've had a proper meal. Imperial rations are so bland."
"Yes," Toral muttered, "Such a shame."
"Are you feeling well?" Yarpin questioned, as he tilted his head, "It's probably my imagination, but I don't remember you eating at all this whole while."
Toral shook his head, "Oh no, sir," he answered smugly, "In fact this is one of the best days of my life."
"Is that right?" Yarpin asked, a curious glint in his eye, "What makes you say that."
"I'll let you know in about thirty seconds." Toral promised him, starting to smile.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" Yarpin muttered.
"Just wait a few more seconds." Toral encouraged, "It'll get worse."
Sure enough, a few seconds later Yarpin started clutching his belly and panting heavily. "What….", he gasped, "What is happening to me?!"
"Poison." Toral answered, as the captain started retching, "At the rate you've been consuming it, I expect you'll be dead within a few minutes."
"You did this!" He gasped, astonished, "But…why?" he threw up again, "We….I thought we had an arrangement!"
"We did." Toral told him, "But your corruption is not going to stand any longer."
Yarpin laughed, or gurgled, "You cannot hope to replace me. My contacts won't protect you. You have no idea what you've done!"
"Oh, I do." Toral told him smugly, "See, I've been playing you this whole time. Since you first came to me I've kept a very detailed record of your activities and I've got enough evidence to bring down you and your friends."
His white face went even paler, "You lie." He gasped, "You must be lying!"
"I have a message for you." Toral told him, "Ready?"
"Who is it?" Yarpin gasped as he writhed on the floor in agony, "Tell me!"
"Cipher Seven." Toral informed him, "He says, "Consider this a warning." He told me you'd know what that meant."
"He won't win." Yarpin gasped, "He won't…." He went silent. Toral checked his pulse. Dead. Good riddance. Now for the next phase.
Using Yarpin's command codes, he sent all the evidence he had collected to Imperial Intelligence. Cipher Seven had told him that the Minister could be trusted. Some people would certainly be suspicious of the captain's death, but most would probably rejoice at it. And he could move into position as the new captain of the Defender. Not under this name of course, but a new one, provided by Cipher Seven as a reward for his service.
He smiled. It felt good to be an Imperial again.
An Unnamed World
Her new face felt odd.
She supposed he would have gotten used to it eventually, had she not been under orders. She was now Lord Shara Vilon, reclusive Sith Lord and ruler of an unknown world. She had been given instructions a few days ago to undergo the transformation procedure. It was not painful, but it was still jarring to look in the mirror and see a stranger.
Over the next few days she received several shipments. She realized the Cipher Seven had initiated the Kreesh Protocol and knew that she would be receiving her final orders soon. The garments she received were of pure Sith make. Dark robes she assumed were worn by Shara, but she didn't know. Knowledge of the person she would be imitating was not important for this particular assignment.
A lightsaber had been sent to her as well. She had tried using it a few times, taking a few practice swings, cutting up furniture accidentally and marveling at how the Jedi and Sith used the weapons with such grace and surety. She would only need to cut, slash and stab, but she privately wondered if she might have gained some control over the weapon with practice.
She had a pretty good idea of when the call would come. Lord Shara was a recluse, but threw some of the most extravagant parties in the sector. One such party was coming up, several high-ranking officers and admirals would be there and today she had received a paper slip containing nothing but a table number. Her targets.
A beeping from the holocommunicator on the stand beside her bed captured her attention. With a pounding heart she answered the call. The image of Cipher Seven appeared.
"This is Cipher Seven. Initiate the Kreesh Protocol."
"Understood, sir." She answered as professionally as possible then ended the call.
It was time.
The mansion of Lord Shara Vilon was massive, and the only structure on the planet. She had been given a full layout of the building along with guard rotations, unmapped entrances and the habits of the reclusive Sith Lord. Using one such entrance, she entered the building.
If the reports she'd been sent were accurate, Shara would be in her quarters as she apparently liked being alone. Certainly shocking for a recluse, but it was accurate. She suspected that the guards were not aware of her habits and deemed it safe enough to walk around openly.
The guards did seem to find it somewhat odd, but nodded their heads respectfully and gave their greeting and salutes when she walked by. Lord Shara didn't talk much, so that worked in her favor as she just barely acknowledged them with a nod or glare. She finally reached "her" quarters and waited for the facial recognition system to complete.
She had been assured that the facial reconstruction was completed flawlessly and she had contact lenses that Imperial Intelligence used to fool retinal scanners. Still, she was still nervous, especially since the guards at the door were just standing there, waiting. But the door slid open and she walked in silently.
The room was beautiful, with a glossy wooden floor, floor to ceiling windows and expensive furniture and bookshelves filled the room. The real Lord Shara was meditating in front of a fireplace powered by a furnace in the room. She watched her for a minute, looking for any sign of recognition. Seeing none, she crept toward the kneeling woman and slowly withdrew her lightsaber.
Something seemed to tip the Sith Lord off and she started looking around. It was ultimately too late as a lightsaber separated her head from her body. Now safe, she wondered if she was missing something. It had almost been too easy. Well, she wasn't going to complain. Lord Shara was dead, long live Lord Shara.
She then disposed of the body. She realized that the furnace would be the best tool to use but she couldn't fit the entire body in there. She ended up using the lightsaber to dismember the body of the Sith Lord into smaller pieces which easily fit into the furnace. Once that job was done, she took the position of the Sith Lord and waited for people to start arriving to the party.
She would not emerge until the party had been going on for a few hours. It was a trademark of Lord Shara to not even greet her guests until well into the evening. It gave her time to prepare and think. Cipher Seven had told her she may be required to do this when he brought them all together. He had even given her a chance to walk out. She'd refused.
She didn't regret her decision. She was willing to do whatever it took for the Empire, but she would have liked to know what this would accomplish. Still, this was Cipher Seven who had given the order. He would not waste her life frivolously.
She looked at the clock. It was time.
She rose from her position. She strapped the belt on and grasped her lightsaber. She could hear the sounds of the party from the hallway. Soon they would be filled with screams. The guards opened the large doors for her and she made a rather dramatic entry into the ballroom.
Immediately everyone started applauding and cheering, glad she had decided to join them. Typically, Lord Shara would make some sort of speech, thanking them for being here and other meaningless words. She would not make a speech tonight. She headed straight for the table number she had been given.
The circular table had six people surrounding it. Most were captains but she recognized an admiral. She didn't know his name, but his insignia told her everything she needed to know. Cipher Seven probably wanted them all dead and she would do her best. But the admiral was the target.
He actually seemed quite happy to greet her.
"Ah! Lord Shara." He greeted jovially, "A pleasure to finally see you tonight."
She smiled in response. "The pleasure is all mine. In fact I've been wanting to speak with you."
He looked surprised and pleased at that. "Really?" he asked, "Well, what do you wish, my Lord."
She withdrew her lightsaber subtly and placed it behind his chair. "First I do have a message to convey for you."
He nodded, "Please, go ahead."
"Cipher Seven sends his regards." She activated the lightsaber which pierces his heart. She then slashed upward and down, beheading the captain sitting to his right. She then immediately dashed forward and spun in a quick circle, executing two more. The last two seemed in shock and she leapt toward them, stabbing one in the heart and bisecting another.
Now people were starting to scream and panic as she started going through the crowd, executing anyone she came across. The troopers were obviously unsure what to do as they witnessed their master cut down everyone she came across. One finally came to a decision.
"Shoot her!" A captain ordered the troopers, "Fire!"
The guests who were armed were now withdrawing their weapons and firing. She simply absorbed the shots as they tore through her. She felt numb as she went from victim to victim, executing anyone she could. She tried to move forward and found herself on the floor. She looked at her leg and was surprised to see it burnt and broken beyond normal repair. Funny how she hadn't noticed it.
The firing had stopped and the troopers and armed guests were closely surrounding her. She played dead, waiting for them to get a little close. Cipher Seven had been very clear.
No evidence.
She would follow her orders to the letter.
She fingered the detonation switch. She felt surprisingly calm. She breathed one last time and flipped the switch. The explosion disintegrated her body and killed everyone in a five-meter radius.
No evidence.
Tython: Outside the Kalikori Village
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
He followed that simple mantra as he looked through the scope of his sniper rifle.
Breathe in.
Headshot.
Breathe out.
He looked up from the scope to see his handiwork. The lone Flesh Raider that had wandered into his modest home was now just a lump of flesh. He found it rather grim that he was contributing to the extermination of a dying species. Not that it was a bad thing, but after the Purge, there weren't many Flesh Raiders left.
Still, maybe the body would attract some animals that would come for food. Not that he needed it now, but he would probably have to start hunting again in a few weeks. Tython was an interesting world. When he was assigned, he thought he'd have to be on the constant lookout for Jedi. He found out quickly that the Jedi mostly kept to their Temple with a few exceptions.
In fact there were only two major hubs on the whole planet. Well, there had been three, but the Twi'leks and a few Jedi had pretty much eradicated anything that the Flesh Raiders had touched. Now there was only the Twi'lek settlement and the Jedi Temple. He was just outside the Twi'lek settlement, waiting for the call to come.
He didn't know why he was waiting the Cipher Seven had ordered it and what Cipher Seven ordered, he got. He had come to terms with his target long ago, the former Matriarch, Kolovish. He didn't know why he wanted her dead, but he would do it.
He had observed her for a few months and all she did was give her wisdom to travelers who climbed the mountain to speak with her. In fact, she didn't seem to have any connection to anyone outside the tight-knit community. It was odd why Cipher Seven would consider her a threat.
Well, complete this task and he would have a new position in the Imperial Sniper Corps. Not under his name of course, as he had been dishonorably discharged long ago, but a new one which Cipher Seven promised he would provide. He was looking forward to working with Imperials again, openly at least. He then heard a beeping noise coming from his holocommunicator. He answered it and the image of Cipher Seven appeared.
"This is Cipher Seven. Initiate the Kreesh Protocol."
He nodded and shut it down and started making his way towards Kolovish's home.
He had the home in his sights. He was a great distance away but he was certain he could make the shot easily. Kolovish always came out in the morning. He didn't know if it was a twi'lek ritual or simply a habit. Whatever the case, she came out every morning and he would allow her to see the sun one more time before ending her life.
He had taken all night to position himself so as to draw as little attention as possible. Not that he really had anything to worry about. He doubted that anyone would expect an assassin to strike here of all places. It would likely be evening before he body was discovered and by then he'd be long gone.
Light appeared slowly as dawn broke out, illuminating the small home. His watch vibrated, signaling the hour was beginning. Sure enough the rutian Twi'lek emerged from her home and observed the day.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
He focused his sights on her elderly and worn face. Free of worry and simply enjoying the morning.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
The reticule was centered squarely on her forehead. Now was the time.
Breathe in.
Headshot. The woman collapsed to the ground. Dead.
Breathe out.
Dromund Kaas: The Home of Lord Kyle
Lord Kyle wanted her help. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to experience his trust of her any longer. She just wanted to receive the call and end it all. But that would blow her cover which Cipher Seven would not approve of.
She privately hoped the call would never come, that she could maintain her cover indefinitely and just keep working with Lord Kyle while sending the occasional report to Cipher Seven. But she knew she was in denial. She had received a tip from a friend who told her that Cipher Seven had initiated the Kreesh Protocol. Now it was only a matter of waiting for the call.
She had entered into this assignment with one goal: To ultimately answer to Lord Kyle himself. She had expected to hate this assignment and want it to end. But Lord Kyle had subverted her expectations entirely. Instead of being arrogant and cruel he was generous and kind. He treated all his people well and didn't own slaves of any kind.
In fact, a good portion of his assistants were freed slaves. His wife was once a slave as well, showing her that he was genuine in his intentions. She had come into this with a fervent dislike of the Sith.
Now?
Now she wondered if Cipher Seven was wrong. Maybe the Sith were redeemable and not all of them had to die. But she couldn't help but think this was a test. Her placement here had not been an accident, surely Cipher Seven knew what kind of man Lord Kyle was and was seeing if she would remain loyal.
She would. She kept telling herself that but didn't know if she'd have the strength to carry out her orders. She walked the hallway toward Lord Kyle's room, passing his young son as he played with a practice saber. Training for the day when he would become Sith like his father.
She entered his room and he looked up from what he was reading on his desk.
"Jade!" He greeted with a smile, "Glad you could come."
"Lord Kyle." She bowed, "A pleasure to see you."
He smirked, "Please, you don't have to be so formal with me. Just 'Kyle' will do."
"Very well." She responded, taking a seat. "What did you need my help on?"
"Oh, nothing much." He reassured her, "I just need some documents sent to the Sith Academy. It won't be for a few years, but I want my son to enter with no problems."
"Certainly." She responded eagerly, "Let me just-"
She was cut off by the beeping of a holocommunicator, with dread in her heart, she looked at Lord Kyle, "Excuse me, I have to take this."
He smiled, "Of course, take whatever time you need." Her eyes stung as she turned and exited the room. Looking to see nobody coming, she answered the call. The image of Cipher Seven appeared.
"This is Cipher Seven. Initiate the Kreesh Protocol."
"Understood, sir." She whispered and ended the call. She wiped her eyes and went back in the room. She put on a cheerful face for Lord Kyle, "Do you have the documents?" She asked.
He looked up, "Oh, yes." He got up and turned around, "I think they're-"
A blaster shot to his head ended his sentence and subsequently his life.
Orders were orders.
"Father?" A young voice asked, she blinked her eyes several times to prevent the tears from coming.
"Your father is sick." She answered him without turning, "Go to your mother."
She waited until he turned away and turned around, her blaster trained on the young boy. Cipher Seven's orders had been explicit.
Execute Lord Kyle and his family. No survivors.
Good soldiers follow orders.
She fired her pistol and didn't try to stop the tears. She looked up and saw the body on the floor. She didn't look anymore, she didn't want to continue.
But she had to complete her mission.
A scream distracted her as the wife of Lord Kyle ran into the room and as soon as he saw her son's body, she ran to it then cradled the body of her dead son. "YOU!" she screamed at Jade, "What have you done!" She started sobbing.
She blinked the tears away and somehow managed to put steel in her voice as she completed her final objective.
"Cipher Seven sends his regards."
Her face turned white at that, as the tears ran down her face. She looked like she was going to say something but that was promptly ended when a beam of plasma ended her life as well.
No survivors.
Now what?
Cipher Seven had told her that, if she willed it, she would be given a new name and position in the Imperial Military. But she didn't want, no, couldn't, live normally after what she had done. She chuckled grimly as tears freely fell, Cipher Seven probably knew this would happen, he'd given her a way out.
Cipher Nine wanted no survivors, no evidence. She was both. She looked at the pistol in her hand and at the bodies lying on the floor. She couldn't keep living, every day she would be haunted by the family that had given her nothing but kindness.
She pressed the pistol to her head, marveling at how cool it was. She would have thought it would keep some residual heat. Apparently not.
I wonder what it will f-
Then she joined Lord Kyle and his family.
No survivors.
Supplementary Material
Greetings to all of you.
I have gathered you all here for two reasons.
First: you are the best. The best of my people and the best at your jobs. I could not ask to lead a finer group of people. You have demonstrated courage, efficiency and reliability to me and everyone else and have made me proud.
Second: You are the most loyal. This may not seem like much but it is why I feel like I can trust each of you with my life. That quality is only enjoyed by a few commanders and I feel privileged to have a group that makes it a virtue.
Now for why you are here. I've made it clear that I will not command you forever. Eventually I will reemerge and begin working with major galactic organizations. Based on current events, I expect I will reemerge in a year or less and when I make contract, I would likely have my command of you taken away. I will not risk your lives in the hands of someone less capable, thus I have created the Kreesh Protocol.
For most of the Seventh Legion, this will just mean that they have disbanded. They will each receive a new name and position within the Empire as a reward for their service. For you it will mean something different. It will be your final orders. These orders may require your life. If anyone considers that too high a price, you may leave now and I will think no less of you.
I am not surprised. You have all shown a dedication to a better Empire that rivals my own and a willingness to do whatever it takes. What I ask will be hard, what I ask will be painful. But what I ask of each and every one of you will have a purpose and I promise you this: it will not be in vain.
I will meet with each of you individually to discuss your final assignment. When you're deployed, perform your tasks as you see fit. Then await the initialization of the Kreesh Protocol.
It's been an honor serving with you all.
For the Empire.
To be continued in: The Champion of the Hunt
(A/N): And so it ends. For now anyways.
It certainly took a lot of time and energy but I think that it turned out pretty well. I would like to thank everyone who read the story. If you have feedback on certain things I did, please share it. I will certainly incorporate any advice and suggestions into the next part of my story. If there's one person who should be thanked, it's Alexander Freed, writer of the Imperial Agent story. Without it, I'm certain I would have never come up with this, let alone written it.
Going forward I'm going to try to find a beta reader for future stories, so if you're interested or know someone that would be, let me know. Also, you probably noticed the word count went up considerably yet the epilogue was roughly the same length as usual. That's because I went back through my story and gave it one final edit and added some extra material. So go check it out, please? I am not going to be adding content like that as I continue writing. Hold on. That was phrased poorly. Here's an outline:
1. Write main story
2. Go back and edit
3. Add additional material
4. Released additional material with Epilogue in a final update.
I hope that makes it clearer. I really like writing Intelligence profiles.
Until next time. If you wish for updates check my profile for further information.
-Xabiar
