Stark Industries [most of the day]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was back at his shift for the first time in months (for him, at least), but instead of tinkering with some new shiny bit of electronics, he was focused intently on his computer screen.

He'd run a program trying to track the number of recorded pirate actions in his galaxy in the last few years, searching for patterns, and after chewing on the data for a few days, the program was finally ready.

He flipped the map to three dimensions and then projected it into the center of the shop...and went pale at the number of ships (and the comprehensive coverage of the spacelanes) it showed.

"If those are all Sith," he murmured out loud, "...if they're even half Sith...they've built a fleet."

His galaxy was so, so screwed.

The shop was open (other than third period), even if the guy behind the counter was going to be inclined to be talking to himself today.

Comments

[endsthegame]

"So," Ender said. He'd slipped into the room a few moments ago, refraining from uttering his usual greeting once he'd caught sight of the map. "Someone's being busy."

[momslilassassin]

Ben combed his hands through his hair. "You could say that," he said. "I'm forwarding this back to the Temple."

[endsthegame]

Ender made a noncommittal noise and approached the map with sure steps, studying it closely. "They're remarkably quick," he commented, "Or they've been flying under your radar for longer than we thought."

[momslilassassin]

"I think it's the second thing," Ben said, pushing some buttons on the screen. "The uptick in activity dates back a few years, and it can't all be explained away by the instability caused by Jacen."

[endsthegame]

"So they might know a lot more about you than we originally anticipated," Ender said. He frowned thoughtfully, tracing the lines on the map with his eyes. Especially the space lanes.

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, looking distinctly unhappy about that. "And we still don't know much about them. I can't even trace a start point for them that might show us where Kesh is."

[endsthegame]

"It shows they're highly ambitious," Ender noted. "If you've erased all the data that could credibly come from normal pirates..."

[momslilassassin]

"Not yet," Ben said, pushing some more buttons. "That'll come in a few more minutes. But even if half of these ships disappear, we still have a major problem."

[endsthegame]

"Or another would-be superpower to contend with, at any rate."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm kind of surprised Daala hasn't noticed this," Ben admitted. "She's so focused on threats to her power..."

[endsthegame]

"They're flying under the radar," Ender said. He sounded lost in thought as he said, "And she's been very distracted lately..."

[momslilassassin]

Ben arched up an eyebrow. "You've heard something?"

[endsthegame]

"I haven't heard anything," Ender said. "And maybe it's nothing, but we know someone's been poking and prodding at Daala's press, at the very least. She's been distracted."

[momslilassassin]

"Do you think someone's deliberately maneuvering her to be as...Daala as she used to be?" Ben asked.

[endsthegame]

"It's like we noted a while back," Ender said. "These slave revolts-- it's like waving a red sheet in front of a bull." He paused. "It could just be paranoia," he noted, "But I'm starting to wonder."

[momslilassassin]

"And you have good instincts for this stuff," Ben said. "I'm not sure the Sith would have started slave revolts, but they would certainly take advantage of the instability they're causing."

[endsthegame]

"Someone else, hoping to gain something from the instability?" Ender guessed.

[momslilassassin]

"I don't think the Corellians want to cause problems again," Ben mused, thinking aloud. "Maybe the Moffs? Not that they care about slaves either, though."

[endsthegame]

"Has Jag let anything slip at all that you know of?"

[momslilassassin]

He shook his head. "I know he's not exactly thrilled with the idea of an alliance now that Daala has gotten so much more erratic, but I don't think he would have set something in motion just to cause a reason to back out. He's much more straight-forward than that--it's why he and Jaina get along."

[endsthegame]

"No, I meant anything about his dealings with the Moffs," Ender said . "Though that's a good assessment to have."

[momslilassassin]

"There was an assassination attempt a bit ago--the Moffs really don't like him because he grew up with the Chiss Ascendancy and they view that as not being really...human." Ben looked faintly embarrassed to be talking about such outdated prejudices. "And it didn't help that Dad made them take Jag as their leader or get killed..."

[endsthegame]

"So it's possible the Moffs are trying something," Ender concluded. Well. That meant he'd have to go digging a little more.

[momslilassassin]

"Probable, even," Ben concluded. "I'm just not convinced they'd be that, well, competent about it."

[endsthegame]

"Ah, anti-Imperial bias," Ender said, sounding a little amused. "There's one I haven't heard from you."