Marx Log, SD50610.17

[will_marx 0]

After Swan and Thoros left the observation lounge, Marx sat there for a few minutes contemplating a plan of action. R4 sat there watching the two humans (at least the droid thought that the XO was human). The little droid had been puzzled by Swan's reaction to him, but then again most of the crew of the Arcadia had been puzzled by the .92m tall droid rolling around the ship. "What do you think, Commander?" Marx asked after the doors slid shut.

 

"It's hard to tell," Lo'Ami replied. "Her vitals were inching up linearly, but she's close to baseline on all her vitals."

 

"So either she's a really good actor, or she was telling at least some of the truth."

 

"I'd like to have the counselor evaluate her. What about you?"

 

"She felt off; almost as if there were two personalities vying for dominance." Marx leaned back in his chair. "And it's not like we can have R4 jack into a computer network somewhere, and pull up the Rebel personnel files."

 

"We can't?"

 

"No sir. Think about it. The Rebellion is against the 'legitimate' government. If they were to put their personnel records into a computerized database, accessible anywhere, that would give the Imperials a huge advantage.

 

"But it might be able to jack into an Imperial network and confirm, at least, part of her story."

 

"True, unfortunately. And we don't know where the Rebels went. All we do know is that the Imperials will be after us, and if Swan was telling the truth, she can't get us home. Only Trenton knows what he did."

 

"Exactly. And that means infiltrating the Monarch."

 

"And I know just the Marine shuttles to do it."

 

 

 

"Commander," Marx said quietly after several moments of contemplation, "how would you like the operation done?"

 

The scientist looked at the ship's chief of Security. "What do you mean?"

Marx leaned forward, and steepled his hands in front of him; the light from the observation lounge overhead caused a glare on his glasses, obscuring his eyes. "Here's what I'm thinking, Commander. Myself, Ms. Swan, and two squads of SOCOM-trained Marines land on which ever planet in Z3X454 has an Imperial garrison, incognito. We infiltrate the garrison with Ms. Swan, then when the Monarch enters orbit, we head up to the ship in an Imperial shuttle.

 

"Upon infiltrating the Star Destroyer, we locate and secure Ensign Trenton, set of an explosive charge to cover our escape, exfiltrate to either the Tarawa or Belleau Wood, or both if the situation dictates, and return to the Arc.

 

"The team would, of course, be equipped with subcutaneous transponders, to facilitate exfiltration, on an encrypted SOCOM frequency, that is unknown outside of Special Operations Command. So Trenton wouldn't know what it is, or to scan for it."

 

"And where would we be getting Imperial uniforms and equipment?"

 

Marx sat back, the glint leaving his glasses. "R4 should have that information within his databanks. We can upload it to the computer network, and replicate the uniforms and equipment needed. Since we were mistaken as 'stormtroopers' by Col. Spacely, it would be reasonable to go in as such.

 

"Any other equipment we can acquire locally, such as ground vehicles. Our anonymity as stormtroopers and with the power they have, can provide us with the means to do so."

 

Lo'Ami nodded. "Seems reasonable. What about Lt. Swan? If she's a traitor, she'll blow your cover."

 

"She gets a visit by the Doc, gets a nice 'vitamin' shot, and wakes up surrounded by 'stormtroopers'. In cuffs, of course."

 

"I'm not sure I like that idea, Lieutenant," Lo'Ami replied.

 

Marx leaned forward and steepled his hands in front of his face. As he did so, the glare from the overhead lights caught his glasses. "Commander, for it to be a successful ruse, we need a prisoner to penetrate Imperial lines without suspicion." Sitting back, letting the glare leave his glasses, Marx added: "This plan still requires fleshing out. With your permission, Commander?" Lo'Ami nodded, and Marx stood, leaving the observation lounge.