Earthlings 2: The Dark Age

23

"I need your help." The statement flew from Toni's mouth faster than she could stop herself. This was supposed to be a nice little get together with the schoolboy  at Miik Cafe. But she hoped Tara had described him correctly, because the case on Kamino was far too big to set aside.

Alexsandr raised a brow as he sipped his drink. Surprisingly around her own age, he was tall, with straight blonde hair and sideburns that were beginning to sprout below each ear. "And... how can I help you, specifically...?"

"I've stumbled upon a case; a very  important case regarding Admiral Rampart." Toni stirred hers. "See, this clone at 79's claimed that Rampart is lying about the so called storm  on Kamino."

Alexsandr frowned, tapping his chin. "Interesting... and quite... reasonable now that I think of it. Aren't Kaminoan buildings stormproof?"

"They are," Toni confirmed. "Further backing up the clone's claims."

"Indeed..." Alexsandr muttered. "And why would he lie about Kamino...?"

"I'm not sure myself," Toni admitted. "But what I do know is that he likely did. Likely. What I need your help in is the investigation."

"Now- I'm not in the ISB yet-"

"This is good career experience. You can help me uncover all of Rampart's hidden crimes."

"But Admiral Rampart is no criminal-"

"Not unless proven guilty. Which is why I need your help in this matter."

Alexsandr sighed, defeated. "Very well... tell me what to do."

--

ISB Detective Alistair Ivel hated cadets. Especially when they visited him when it was not  the time to visit, and especially  if it was Alexsandr Kallus, the most irritating judicial cadet of them all. But what could he do?

"Kallus... what do you need?" He asked in a brusque tone. "I must get home, so make this quick."

"Pardon the intrusion, sir," Kallus apologized. "But I must ask you something."

"And you do not ask someone else?" Alistair raised a brow. "Not even Admiral Yularen? General Madreth?"

"He was unavailable," Kallus replied curtly. "And General Madreth doesn't seem to be the friendly type when it comes to late night inquiries."

You could ask literally ANYONE else...  Alistair let out an irritated breath. "Just tell me what you want."

"What do you know about Admiral Rampart's actions on Kamino?" The question caught Alistair off guard. He turned to glance at the cadet.

"And why do you ask-?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. "Is there any suspicious activity he's been involved in-?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Kallus confirmed. "Allegedly."

Alistair drew out a breath, walking back to his desk. "Rampart was assigned to Kamino to oversee an Imperial project called War Mantle, funded by Governor Tarkin. He was also responsible for implementing the chain code system we now have, and has proposed the Defense Recruitment Bill to draft citizens into the Imperial Army, but this is not the point. What you're asking is what Rampart did on Kamino... well, to that I can say that he dedicated much of his time and money there to War Mantle. That is, before the storm wiped out most of the planet. If it was  a storm."

"You don't believe it was a storm-?" Kallus asked.

"Has a storm ever destroyed a Kaminoan building?" Alistair asked wryly before tapping his fingers on his desk. "And even if it has, I would still have my suspicions. For one, the mysterious disappearance of more and more clone troopers is getting more noticeable by the day. And what's more- rumors have surfaced that Rampart, if you can believe it- ordered the kidnapping and death of his own son. Why  would he have his son executed? That would be a case of filicide, and it's a terrible crime to commit."