alnifolia | [psl] she's always a mystery

Captain Duv Galeni wishes he could say this was unorthodox in the least. No, he had learned long ago that the methods of Imperial Security were far from what the rest of the Nexus would consider normal, but there's no denying the results. The information network that spans past the borders of the Empire is remarkable and it has everything to do with all the resources that they employ.

Including one Kasumi Goto. He's read her file several times now in preparation of this meeting. Criminal reborn after the death of someone close to her and those she's previously worked with have stepped within the bounds of the Barrayaran Empire. Komarran trade fleets had been a misstep by certain Jacksonian smugglers and she was their key to navigating this damn mess that's landed on his office desk. Not that he's sure he trusts the woman. His own background is hardly clean, but none of his actions had ever been willingly malicious. How far did she take this persona of hers? Far enough to convince Jacksonians to mingle with her on a personal level.

The flimsies containing her dossier are shut as soon as he's informed she's arrived. Time to see for himself how much intel she possessed and how quickly they could get this situation under control. He's spent the entire morning having it impressed upon him how this is a matter of the utmost importance and he's to utilize whatever resources he needs to finish the job. Finally a perk to his career choice after years of skepticism by his peers though he has a feeling it has solely to do with him being the senior-most token Komarran within the analyst pool. What a position to hold.

"Ms. Goto? Thank you for taking the time to meet with me," he says in greeting. She may be a former criminal, but that's hardly a call to besmirch her upon meeting. "Please, have a seat."

Speaking of unorthodox, that is precisely how Kasumi Goto would describe her career path, as well. Thieves of her caliber who have made a life outside of the law don't usually end up under the employ of the military--much less Imperial Security. But things get rather muddled when your friends are sometimes your enemies, your enemies are sometimes your friends, and your friends also become your lovers who are enemies with your other friends or friends with your enemies, et cetera, and it's usually best to never have strings attached.

Kasumi was never one to listen to good ideas, however, and after Keiji was killed, she found herself at an impasse. She could either keep on as she had and attempt to make something of the life that she used to have, even if a crucial part of it was missing--or let her talents be used for something good. Granted, a score of people across the Nexus would argue that working for Imperial Security hardly count as 'something good,' but it's good enough, for her. It's a way for her to pick up the pieces and try and make something sensible out of it.

Which brings her to Captain Galeni's office. She still has a network of connections, intricate a web it might be, but useful to the likes of her new superior officer, especially if what she's been hearing about trouble along the trade routes is at all accurate. She enters the room with a hood over her head; a good business practice from her days as a thief, a habit carried over into her new role as an informant (it certainly couldn't hurt, she thinks). Once the door is closed behind her, she reaches up and pulls the hood back, letting the fabric fall around her shoulders and on her back with an enigmatic smile for the Captain.

"Please--the pleasure is mine, Captain," she responds, before taking her seat rather unceremoniously before him, legs crossed, body leaning to one side, arms draped loosely on the armrests. "I have something of value to you, it looks like."

He had a photo of Ms. Kasumi Goto to go off of and yet he hadn't expected her to look so... traditional. If he had to imagine a thief slipping away into a crowd with ease, he might imagine someone very similar to her. Well until the hood came down in any case.

Duv only sits after she does and he sizes her up subtly. Nonchalant and ready to deal business. The budget he has for this entire operation is placed firmly in the back of his mind and if he ends up in price negotiations, he could hit his first roadblock.

"Information I would like, yes. Obtaining it from you would expedite the process," he says with a small shrug. Meaning it could be found elsewhere (he hoped). "Old acquaintances of yours?"

How dare you think Kasumi looks traditional, Duv Galeni.

"You could say that," she answers rather vaguely. You could say that she has had dealings with these smugglers, if said dealings actually involved something like her stealing the loot they had pilfered from well-meaning, hard-working but disadvantaged people. "I know how they operate."

Generally speaking, of course. It looks like they've since shifted those operations to target the Komarran trade fleets, but she imagines they work much in the same way, just against different people.

"Was there anything you'd like to know, specifically? Because I could tell you what color eyes the man who runs everything has, but I suspect you're not interested in that level of detail."

"No, not quite, though if you'd be willing to give a detailed account of his appearance to someone on your wya out, it would make identifying him easier." Which would solve part of their problems, particularly if the man was already close to their undercover agents.

There's a shuffling of flimsies before he slides one towards her. It's sparse, outlining the barest information they know about the operation. Their general routes, an estimate of scale, and a few suspected targets for those Imperial Security has labeled as potentially within the upper ranks. People who would serve to be their other gateways into this assignment although with far more hostilities and fast penta involved.

"There's a great deal we don't know. Motivation, for one. We're currently operating under the assumption it's for greed, but you're aware the Empire has its share of enemies. Unrest on Komarr is a popular sentiment to stir up when they more creative plots," he finishes dryly. What a damn mess his planet could be sometimes.

Kasumi spares him a momentary glance as he hands the sheet over, after which she sets to skimming what intel they have, nodding along as he continues to explain the situation.

"You can assume greed plays a large role in this," she says, all the while looking over the suspected targets, "But mostly on the part of these lackeys."

She slides the document back over towards him, fingers pointing at their list of targets and says, "These fellows. They call shots, but at the end of the day they're only following orders. This is the man to go after," as she trails her finger down the list and coming to a rest on one name.

"As far as I can tell, this could be a personal vendetta," Kasumi goes on, leaning back into her chair. A lot of people have lost loved ones in all of the strife, after all. "But that's a hunch. Usually these people make their living by smuggling goods between Jackson's Whole and other places and typically avoid places like Komarr. But nowadays they're targeting and intercepting Komarran trade fleets and stealing arms. And I have a few guesses as to where those weapons are going."

A lead. By god he finally has a damn lead. He could breath a sigh of relief if he didn't already know that following this all the way to the end wasn't the next challenge he'd be facing.

Duv wastes no time in marking the name with his light pen. Imperial Security could dig from there, and dig deep, now that they knew where to direct their resources. The net the man had for himself would slowly collapse as they focused in. Duv's confident it's only a matter of time now.

"Thank you, you've saved us a great deal of trouble. We have our own guesses, but nothing concrete," he admits with some reluctance. If only they knew more. Cetaganda was always top of the list for those causing trouble within the Empire though conflicts with them had calm somewhat galactically. Komarran extremists however always presented a never ending battle no matter how much Duv wanted to brow-beat sense into them.

"Komarr is out of the way. We imagine if they're taking the trouble to infiltrate our fleets they have reasons they think are worth the added danger and cost."

"Not a wild conclusion to make," she says in agreement, nodding. Kasumi thinks the man has a much more personal investment in stirring up Komarran extremists, but she's not sure that it's a conjecture she's willing to throw onto the playing field without any real proof to back it up. But on the subject of real proof, she shifts in her seat, propping her elbows on the armrests of the chair and lacing her fingers together.

"I managed to patch into their communications, for a little bit. I can't tell your their precise motives as of yet, but I can at least tell you where they might be planning on causing trouble next."

Ah. Just what he was hoping for. He nods slowly and turns enough toward his comconsole to take notes for the subsequent report he'd need to file. The office work is the boring part of his job, but after the life he's lead, it's a welcome change at times.

"This could help us narrow it down substantially." There's a slight pause as he considers his next question. "Do you still have access to their communication network?"

She shakes her head. As she hadn't specifically been assigned to track their comms by Imperial Security (until this moment, at least) she had only patched in as a matter of curiosity.

"Not at the moment, but I could give it another shot if that's what you need me to do. They're surprisingly clumsy about their channels even though they come off as a highly-trained band of pirates."

There's a beat before she continues, "If I'm assigned to be at your service, Captain Galeni, I believe that means my skills are at your disposal. And I have many of those."

He shakes his head. "That won't be necessary." That was something he could get their men on rather than waste her time particularly if they were clumsy with their work.

"Would you care to explain them in your own words?" He's read the vague profile they were able to gather on her, but the holes were concerning. Too many unknowns and if she's willing to share information, well. He's not going to turn it down.

"Stealth and infiltration, primarily," is her quick, dutiful answer. She's willing to share information, certainly, but that doesn't mean she won't play her cards close to her chest. But she will say enough to be helpful at least, as she continues, "I can hide in plain sight, get into places I shoudn't be."

And then a beat, as she says what is probably the most important bit. "I've got one-of-a-kind stealth tech. Cloaking capabilities. A decoy if it comes down to that."

His brows go up slightly at the mention of the tech. That certainly hadn't been covered by his files on her and no doubt Imperial Security would want to get their hands on the tech should they be able to. It's something he'll decline to report to his superiors for the time being, not when he's sure it will remove their only true contact for this case and he'd like to confirm with his observations. Technology from Jackson's Whole no doubt and for all he knew, it was known under a higher security clearance than available to him.

"Technology that's served you well, I'm sure," he says with a slight shrug. "It could be of aid in this assignment should you be willing to lend your cooperation."

"That's why I'm here, is it not?"

She can't help the enigmatic smile that appears on her lips. Kasumi isn't one to make herself so readily accessible, much less available, and especially not to an entity like Imperial Security. It speaks volumes on her shift in... practices, so to speak, that she's even here on her own accord.

"With that said, I believe it's up to you how I should be using my talents, Captain. My tech lets me get in and out of places with them none the wiser."

"Yes, but I always find it beneficial to ask rather than assume." A practice that's helped him both in his previous discipline and current career choice.

He considers her a moment before he's pulling up a few files to skim through on his commconsole. A plan is falling into place, one that Ms. Goto would be perfect for executing if her resume holds true. This isn't an advantage he can let slip away.

"Do they know yet where your allegiance lies?"

She shifts in her seat, folding her arms and shaking her head.

"No, they don't," she says matter-of-factly, like this is just something that should have been obvious even when the Captain has just explained that he asks rather than assumes. "As far as they're concerned, I'm an enigmatic piece on the board. I don't work for anyone but myself."

Which, of course, they both know is untrue given the circumstances of this very conversation.

That lines up with their information networks and he's certain that Imperial Security has the better one out of the two. Which means her ability to keep off the network is better than he could have hoped. It'll make their work far easier.

"Good. Be certain you keep it that way. We want to utilize your connections as an unaffiliated third party." Because while Imperial Security's reach was far, they knew when they needed an outside person to reach the places they couldn't. "We'll have a dead drop set up so you won't be seen coming into this building again."

[psl] she's always a mystery

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