Jubilar is in the same coordinates as Iego. A little west of Iego, in quadrant T-7. Naturally, I deliberately told the Chiss that we were gathering at Jubilar, while we were actually assembling the Judicial Fleet at Iego. What was my motive in feeding her misinformation? First of all, I've only seen her twice in my life. Secondly, even the fact that I didn't sense any lie doesn't mean she wasn't lying. If a sentient sincerely believes their own lie, then it's not a lie to them. But I could be deceived. And thirdly… Someone really did manage to feed Lora false information. This opens up two possibilities. Either Lora's informant was himself given disinformation to prevent the lady from this Luna organization from attacking the syndicate. A dreadnought with its accompanying gunships and fighters is an unpleasant thing in these parts. Or the informant himself is dirty.
In this situation, I needed to identify the enemy, either to carefully cut the thread, or to feed her my own disinformation. Of course, the Mandalorian won't like being used as an unwitting pawn. But in this case, identifying the problem is far more important than maintaining good relations between us. I can survive her anger somehow. But a spy working for the Black Sun, especially for Jarko Itari — I might not survive that. And our entire enterprise to destroy the Black Sun station and the territorial Vigo could end in fiasco. A Jedi is hard to kill in direct combat. But what if a spaceship is blown up? I wouldn't survive that. In a space battle, sometimes just one lucky hit is enough to die.
So I decided to eliminate surprises. Unfortunately — she didn't reveal the informant's name to me, and she herself probably doesn't believe me unconditionally. So conducting a full interrogation while hoping for reliable and trustworthy results is a thankless task. I could pin her to the wall with telekinesis, threaten to cut off an arm or a leg, but the problem there is culture. She has enough willpower not to spill under the influence of the Force, and Mandalorians themselves aren't very inclined to divulge important information. As for possibly sending her into a trap, I didn't worry. Lora, considering she's known the informant for a long time, by her own account, might tell him what the Jedi told her. But that won't change anything. Yes, the Anzati might try — and definitely would try if she found out — to eliminate Lora and her squad. To reduce her problems… But… Jarko probably doesn't have gravity well technology, so if the traitor is in Lora's team, even if she brings her own forces, Jarko won't be able to stop and destroy her. Lora could escape. And if it's empty there, then the traitor isn't in Lora's team… Or she didn't tell him… Hmm… I need to think of everything. The lion's share of preparation for a battle doesn't happen on the command deck of a starship, but at the rendezvous point. Even for a battle like the one ahead of us — not a battle between GAR and CIS, but just an attempt to spank a criminal syndicate. Incidentally, I even saw a unique opportunity in all this to conduct a dry run for myself. I'd been reading theory from the Anaxis Citadel, even passing and receiving a diploma — more accurately, an officer's rank. But in this case, theory is just text. A collection of letters and advice… But how will it work in practice? I'm genuinely curious to try. And I've already taken the first step. I directed one of our possible formations to find out who the traitor is, even though the formation's commander is being used as an unwitting pawn. But I'm not obliged to report my actions, or to inform Lora of my plans, am I? Even if we form an alliance, it will be temporary, and she'll be in a subordinate position. In parallel, I arranged surveillance on the Mandalorian. Thanks to my training and study of stealth techniques — she didn't notice me, and went to… the headquarters of the Judicial Forces? Interesting… She entered a huge building, built more for pomp. Officers and staff of the corps were moving about their business at various speeds. No one paid any attention to the Mandalorian. Until she approached the checkpoint. I sharpened my hearing because she started talking to a corps soldier standing at the checkpoint.
"Good afternoon," the Mandalorian said politely. "I need Admiral Graves."
Admiral Graves is responsible for the functioning of this Judicial Forces headquarters. He commands it. Why does she need him? It would be good to eavesdrop on her conversation and the admiral's conversation. I have a feeling, considering the operation, her possible participation, and the imminent arrival of Order forces on the planet — this is important.
"I'm sorry, but Admiral Graves is absent at the moment. He's left for an inspection of one of the stations on the sector border. Should I pass something along to him?"
"Hmm, yes, perhaps," the Mandalorian said thoughtfully. "Tell him I want to have a serious talk with him about something. In four days."
All that's left is to understand — is this connected to the crackdown on Jorka? And how is it connected? When the Mandalorian moved away from the counter and exited the huge hall of the building, which housed the employees of the Judicial Forces, I approached the checkpoint.
"And who do you need?" the soldier asked.
"No one, I just want to ask about someone…"
"I don't have time for gossip. Get lost…"
"You do have time for my questions," I put the Force into my words and directed the influence at the soldier.
"I do have time for your questions," he said, entranced. "Go ahead and ask."
"Don't let on that our conversation is strange," I continued. "So. What I want to know is — what's the relationship between the Mandalorian and the Admiral? Where exactly is the Admiral right now?"
"I heard," the soldier began, slightly sluggish, "that she saved the Admiral's life once, and now he's indebted to her. Admiral Graves is currently on the northern border of the sector, inspecting a station. To the north is the border with the Pakuuni sector. A haven for pirates and smugglers."
"Anything else about Admiral Graves? Or the Mandalorian?"
"Admiral Graves is a man of incredible honor and high ideals," the soldier said. "He's disciplined and serious, always calm and composed. There's an opinion that he never even sleeps, because he doesn't need to. A loyal soldier of the Republic."
"You're practically in love with him," I noted. "But I'm guessing everyone thinks that."
The soldier nodded.
"You wouldn't mind forgetting about our conversation, would you?" The distraction technique was drawing the attention of the sentients away from us. And the ionization had fried the circuits on the camera that was clipped to the soldier's breast pocket. So, what had I learned? Admiral Graves and Laura herself share some kind of past together. Next — Graves is a Judicial Forces career officer, apparently a loyal and honest man who might have been exiled for that very loyalty and honesty... Though... There's one catch — I'm not going to blindly trust a sentient I've only heard about. And what did the Mandalorian want from him? Either to inform him about me and the forces we're planning to throw at Jarko. Or maybe he supplied her with the information that the botha base wasn't on Drongar. Interesting how the cards are falling. Depending on his actions and the reasons for those actions, he could turn out to be either an enemy or a good ally. Well then... Tivokki and Plo Koon won't arrive for another three or four days. And I've managed to find a promising ally — I just need to verify her. But is there anything else I should do? Hmm... And why not find out where Jarko Itari's main base is? She's hardly living on a space station hovering over Drongar. So — another place. And Iego fits as a planet where I can get the information I need.
* * *
No world inhabited by smugglers, gangsters, and other socially questionable elements is complete without such an important thing as an information broker. That is — a merchant of various kinds of information that falls under the "borderline" category. Bothans, natives of Bothawui, sell information quite officially. Though there are some restrictions placed on them. In reality, they twist those restrictions however they like. But there are things you can't buy from Bothans even for a lot of money — data on corporate convoys or some important Republic research. Information about certain senators and the actions of Jedi is taboo for them. The identities of Shadows — that's definitely something you can't get even from Bothans. Well, more precisely — the latter they don't have the right to sell; they understand who the Shadows are and what they can do for such audacity. Though — everything can be bought for money, no matter what anyone says. Even love is bought with money; only naive and stupid children believe otherwise. So I played it safe and simply erased myself from all databases. Light Flyingstar, if he even exists as a Jedi, wasn't born on Tustr — who the hell knows where he was born. As for the current situation and the brokers' services — I was seriously thinking about buying information about the "Black Sun" from them, specifically about Jarko. Though... the brokers could definitely be working for the syndicate. Which means — not an option, unless... I purposefully find someone who works for the "Black Sun" and give him an interrogation with impartiality. I'm sure he could tell me everything about Jarko Itari... But how do I figure out who here works for the "Black Sun"?
The so-called "smuggler's quarter" in Iego's capital was overcrowded with sentients. It didn't look very wealthy or impressive. The buildings were at most four stories high. Speeders flew over the roads. I spent a day choosing my target. I needed to find the most respectable establishment where information was traded. After all — this is the Outer Regions. And a Crime Syndicate, taking advantage of the fact that the Republic's authority weakens the further you get from the center, has nothing to fear. Plus, even the local senator is on the "Black Sun's" payroll, though not exactly the kind of payroll I was thinking of. My choice fell on a two-story building with guards standing in front. It looked like a cantina for wealthy sentients, or rather not even a cantina. A cabaret with what was clearly a strip-bar program. Inside, it was quite clean for such a quarter. Beautiful women of various races were dancing on stage-podiums. Men filled the hall with approving shouts, briskly chatting about business matters.
As I walked toward the bar counter, I managed to catch a couple of interesting words about what to say here and to whom to get an offer to purchase information.
"So Jedi are coming here?" one of the male Twi'leks asked the Togruta.
"Yes, Captain," the Togruta said, and I turned around. Instead of heading to the center where the bar was and where I could request a meeting with a broker, I focused on the table of the chatting pair. "I got this information from my contact in the Judicial Forces."
The local branch — definitely been informed... But, damn it... Their counterintelligence is clearly getting paid just for wasting time! How can it be that important information becomes the property of criminal scum? Calm down, Light. You might fall apart inadvertently.
"He didn't say what the Jedi would do here — apparently doesn't know himself, but he talked about the arrival of some kind of High Council Magister..."
"Hutt," the Twi'lek expressed, "a Magister isn't just a pretentious title! We need to get out of here by a couple of sectors. Are the others already aware?"
"I'm sure they are," the Togruta said. "Except maybe the Mad Jer gang wanted to kill the Jedi and become famous that way."
"Jer is a fucking moron," the Twi'lek said forcefully, adjusting the blaster holster hanging on his belt. "I still don't understand — why was he released from the psych ward? Ever since he got his bell rung, he's been looking everywhere for a chance to become famous. I almost feel sorry for him; we grew up on the same street. But I feel even more sorry for myself. A confrontation with Jedi... The Magister is unlikely to come specifically to destroy us, but he might catch us in the crossfire. So order the crew to prepare for departure. It's time for us..."
Damn it. Though, predictable. But I was hoping the secret would remain a secret at least until Tivokki's forces actually arrived. And we're already exposed. Though, that doesn't cancel the attack; I just need to decide exactly where. Presumably — Jarko's main base is located... A few sectors away. Specifically — nine sectors — S-5, or the same S but six or seven. T and U with the same parameters.
I couldn't determine the more precise location of the base. There are several dozen planets here. According to Jedi intelligence, each of them has a "Black Sun" cell. And one of them is the main one, where Jarko should be. And it would be good to find out where that one is. Regular small-fry won't have that knowledge. So I finally approached the bar and spoke the code phrase that initiated a meeting with a broker's representative. The meeting was supposed to take place on the second floor of the building, in a private booth. And the representative turned out to be a problematic type — a Toydarian. Resistant to Force influence... According to my information — the broker himself, who was in charge of this place, only showed up when a truly important piece of information was being purchased... Or sold — since he could buy important information from a third-party sentient. You can't rely only on your own intelligence, right?
"Ehhhh, does the esteemed gentleman want to sell information, not buy?" the Toydarian asked, using his wings to keep himself in the air. "Then why was I informed about a purchase? You apparently used the phrase meant for indicating a purchase."
The cramped booth had two chairs with a table between them.
"I simply said a phrase I heard on the street," I replied calmly.
"Don't ever do that again," the sentient said importantly. "The problem is that you'll have to pay for the purchase of information, or rather for my work."
"So I haven't bought anything and I want to sell information of galactic importance, and I still have to pay?"
"What you have to do is your problem," the Toydarian answered me. "Your own stupidity."
The code phrase, spoken in Huttese, I had heard on the street. More precisely — it was dropped by a tout whom I had helped with Force Persuasion. First he wanted to sell me the phrase, but I convinced him to give me a one hundred percent discount... Unfortunately, convincing a Toydarian to give a discount won't work. Sighing, I inserted a credit chip into the slot and paid for the cost of my own stupidity. Five hundred credits gone...
"A representative for information sales will be here shortly," the Toydarian said importantly.
"I was hoping to see Vidm," I said, naming the owner of this place. "My information could shake the Republic itself!"
"The importance of the information and the necessity of Mr. Vidm's involvement will be assessed by our employee," the Toydarian said. "Mr. Vidm doesn't meet with just anyone. Moreover," the Toydarian looked into my eyes — for this visit I had taken off my hood, afraid that I might be easily recognized. Though even now I could be recognized, although Jarko saw my suit in a somewhat battered state and more of a silhouette than the suit itself. "You look very suspicious."
"Everyone here looks like that," I sighed. "After all — this isn't a holy place. But I'm not dangerous. At least not without my blaster and the bundle of grenades I handed over to the guard at the entrance."
But I'd kept my swords. My bracers were securely hidden and didn't show up on the scanner. Neither did the hilts themselves. I'd added material that helped conceal both the swords and the bracers, along with their true functionality.
"Well then," the Toydarian lowered himself and took a glass of drink from the table, "but as I already said, visitor, you'll have to follow procedures. If you don't want problems. And keep in mind, Mr. Vidm can cause you plenty..."
"I'm not deliberately looking for trouble," a strange feeling formed, one that had been tormenting me ever since I entered this simple little room — as if someone was watching me from behind. And it wasn't cameras.
"Well then, wait," the Toydarian said and flew out of the room. Just before the door, as if remembering something, he placed alcohol in front of me. "You can have a drink too."
"Thank you." The door closed, and I picked up the bottle of alcohol. Hmm... Poisoned. He poisoned it before flying out. Using my sensorics, I could feel the danger. So they figured it out. Not that things were that bad. But not good either... I might have exposed myself. Plus the pirates who found out about Tivokki's arrival. The "Black Sun" already knows everything. Most likely the leak wasn't organized by my appearance here, even if I am wanted... Even if unofficially. No... Someone was deliberately leading Laura by the nose and had leaked the Jedi Order's plans before this. Mmm? They released gas, and the door leading to the exit locked. "I see," I stood up and squeezed the bottle. The glass cracked, then shattered.
"So you figured it out," came from the speakers. "Yes, when you showed up here, I couldn't believe my luck, Jedi. You insulted my mistress and then dared to act so freely on her territory?"
"Your mistress is doomed," I replied.
"Oh, you're surely counting on the arrival of the Judicial Forces from Coruscant, aren't you, Jedi?" a mocking male voice came through. "I dare to assure you — they won't be in time to save you. And as for their attack on the mistress, that's also a failure. No one will ever reveal the location of her base to you. Every one of us, her loyal servants, would rather die than betray her. And you, you miserable cur of the Jedi Order, will soon understand what the word 'die' means."
"Are you done?" With a heavy sigh, I walked over to the mirror that had been behind my back when I sat across from the Toydarian. "I could break out into the corridor, but I sense a much more promising option, Vidm. I clearly sense the aura of a living being, a sentient, right behind this mirror. It's you, isn't it, Vidm?" I placed my right hand on the mirror.
"What are you..."
Channeling the Force like a river stream, I shattered the window separating us. Before me stood a room, richly decorated and furnished, quite spacious. Expensive sofas lined the walls, a table stood in the middle. Vidm turned out to be a human male around thirty with a cunning look. He was wearing a white shirt and black pants. As soon as I jumped into the room, he drew a blaster from his belt.
"You shouldn't have played the seller-and-buyer game with me," I said, waving my hand and disarming him with telekinesis.
"Fire! Fire! Kill the Jedi!"
Besides Vidm, the room contained "Black Sun" thugs and five B1 droids. The sentients would have reacted faster, but I didn't even let them fire, using telekinesis to fling them all against the wall. Some broke their spines or snapped their necks upon impact with the wall — I hit them too hard. Vidm was also thrown back, but not far; I pulled him back to me.
"Honestly, Vidm, you've been playing too much. Since I broke the glass between the rooms, the gas will soon fill this room too." I threw a lightsaber from my left hand, and the five B1s collapsed to the floor. "Your men are amateurs. They couldn't detect my lightsabers, only taking my blaster and grenades. Though that might be because I convinced them I'm not a Jedi? Hmm... Let's get back to business, Vidm. I'll break all your limbs and leave you to die from the gas, or we'll leave this room together as friends. And out of friendly kindness, you'll give me information about Jarko Itari and her base."
"Go fuck yourself," he spat. "I'd rather die..."
"Why so harsh, Vidm?" I asked. "You do realize — the chance I'm giving you is one in a million. Surely you, as a sentient, are capable of processing such simple... information."
"You're a Jedi, I'm unarmed... You won't kill me!"
"Vidm, Vidm, Vidm," I pressed my left hand to my forehead. "Who said anything about killing? I said I'd break all your limbs with the Force. Like this." I pointed my right hand at Vidm's left arm. A wave of telekinesis passed through his body; his left arm bent at an unnatural angle, and he screamed. The bone had just been snapped in two. "See?" I asked the groaning Vidm. Guards are rushing here. I pulled up my hood... Need to finish with him. "So how does it feel? It's not murder."
"Bastard..."
"You know, I think I'll open an account where I'll deposit one decicredit for every such word you say to me, and when I save up a million — I'll donate it to a charity for the disabled. Maybe even you'll get a cut," I grinned. The key here is not to overdo the "very bad cop" game. "I'll ask one more time. Where is Jarko Itari? Who from this system, in the Judicial Forces, is working for her?"
"Go fuck yourself..."
I broke his other arm. Torture didn't bring me pleasure; it was more like disgust. It's one thing to taunt an opponent and provoke them during a fight, but during an interrogation — it's boring. Fine, then... I injected him with a narcotic and tried to influence his mind... But the effect on him was different, not like on Rosamund. Vidm resisted, and very fiercely.
"So you're an addict — that's why you're resistant to drugs. Not all of them, but unfortunately, I only have a preparation made from this particular substance you've been using... Hmph," I sighed. "Then, maybe you can give me the password to your computer?"
This room, Vidm's office, had no cameras — neither hidden nor regular. Only in the breast pocket of Vidm's shirt — a camera was visible, which he apparently used to record what happened during meetings. But I'd knocked it out with ionization.
"So?" The gas had already begun to fill the room, and the guards had taken positions outside the doors.
"Go to a hutt!"
"You fucking pervert, you go yourself." I broke both his legs. The trader's scream was almost deafening. Well, I'm forced to admit that the interrogation failed this time. I could have talked to him longer, but... I don't have time for all this. I walked over to Vidm's computer and opened the casing, removing all the hard drives.
"Attention," a cold, female voice announced, "the self-destruct program has been activated. Self-destruct will occur in thirty seconds."
Wait, who triggered that? Me or the guards... The countdown started. The guards abandoned the entrance and headed for the exit. Time for me to take my leave too. I'm sure BB-7 can crack the hard drives. Unfortunately, cracking them remotely isn't possible. Not since the hacker who tracked me on Drongar started working for Jarko. So I'll bring the drives to BB, and he'll crack everything. Breaking the window on the opposite side of the building from the main entrance, I crossed the room and jumped from the first floor. Thirteen seconds later, a powerful explosion rang out from behind the wall. Sentients crowded the street in surprise, watching the establishment burn. "Maybe next time I'll bring my own alcohol — unpoisoned. Then we might be able to negotiate?"
Meanwhile, another explosion sounded. Some sentients fell from the force of it. Then they got up and bolted away. And rightly so... Who knows what they had stored there.
* * *
I'd left quite a trail in the capital. The self-destruct program, as it turned out, was activated when the hard drives were removed from Vidm's computer. It started deleting data from them in parallel... But BB, who had the right settings — thanks to Dad — was able to recover the data. So within two hours of the commotion in the capital, I became the "proud owner of hardcore lesbian porn" five terabytes' worth. I decided to keep the collection. And study it for... porn... later. I was interested in the documents... No matter how criminal the syndicate is, it must have records of its operations. And it did. The drives had saved logs of the corporate email system. This computer had also been used as a server, so I was able to access Jarko's emails and now knew the exact locations of her two bases. The main one was on Pakuuni, and a backup was on Munto Codru. That's something... But where will Jarko Itari be? On Munto Codru or Pakuuni? I considered Pakuuni the main base because it was the logical choice. Pakuuni is the closest to Drongar. Ships from Drongar went specifically to Pakuuni...
Excellent, now I just need to wait for Magister Tivokki and Plo Koon, and also find out the results of the verification of Laura's forces, and then we can begin.