Traitor
"Are you serious? Contessa Valentina we cannot just sacrifice Imperial personnel to lure Belkor into a trap. These men and women are dedicated to protecting the Empire. How can you be comfortable rewarding their loyalty and service with death?" Ava asked in shock while invisible
"This is the Empire Ghost. Not a pre school. It's a dog eat dog world in Palpatine's Global Empire." Valentina replied
She was in the Captain's quarters of the communications base. Belkor had just left the base with his most trusted officer. Captain Joaquin Torres a former ace squad pilot turned high ranking data analyst on the Ryloth/Algeria Imperial military division was valued most by Belkor. What Captain Torres didn't know was that Belkor planted a bomb to blow up the communications center. It was set to detonate in 20 minutes and Mors was arriving at the communications center in 10 minutes with her top level aide Captain Joe Hayward.
"Alright I admit that came out way morbid than it sounded in my head. Here's a more pragmatic argument Ghost. We have to allow Belkor to think that he's getting away with treachery against the Empire so that we can use him to lead us to the Rebel group that he's collaborating with."
Ghost sighed not wanting to argue with Valentina yet feeling compelled too. Despite what his mentor Dr. Bill Foster told Ghost the Empire was much worse than S.H.I.E.L.D. Ghost spoke up again despite her reluctance to challenge Valentina.
"I understand that but if Mors and her top officers are killed along with hundreds of Imperial personnel inside this base the country will descend into chaos. It'll be exactly what the Free Ryloth Movement will utilize to advance their agenda."
Contessa Valentina sighed and then added, "You can disarm and then rearm the bomb so the explosive yield is smaller than what Belkor programmed the yield to be. Perhaps that will motivate Mors to shake off her lazy habits and chase after Belkor assuming Belkor's loyal stooges don't arrest her for a potential court martial in front of High Command."
"Worse case scenario I'll use my powers and my armor to break her out. Either way my mission is to protect Imperial personnel not endanger them." Ghost replied
"My mission is to ensure the Imperial military is operating at full power. That includes operatives like you. So don't get too sentimental on me or else that'll mean you're losing you edge. I don't want you to be Casper the Friendly Ghost Ava."
****
"Hello Officer Sullivan what can I do for you today?" Belkor asked with a phony friendly tone
"Belkor I've realized that I'm going to have to make a huge gamble. It's the only way we both get out of this situation unscathed. You need to put together a secret squadron of V Wing airships on standby. Have those airships deploy to a location of my choosing and lie saying that's where I and my allies are. In reality that location will be where The Emperor and Vader are. Once I locate them from a distance of a mile or two away I will send you their coordinates and that's where you'll send the secret V Wing squadron." Cham instructed
Belkor frowned because he knew he had limited time to respond with the communications jam he initiated still in place. In addition to this inconvenience Captain Torres was near him and even though he believed Belkor's lies that Mors was a traitor Belkor couldn't tell Torres about Cham. So Belkor was forced to continue the charade and ask for specifics.
"I need more time to fully implement that directive and it would raise alarm throughout the entire division if I don't utilize the proper procedures to initiate that directive." Belkor explained struggling to maintain a professional tone
"Belkor I understand you have to maintain your cover but we are past the point of handling this situation delicately. Odds are that Mors or anyone close to her is going to catch on to your traitorous actions. Your best bet to escape this entire situation unscathed is to help me kill Vader and the Emperor. Those two dead will ensure that Mors will get blamed for everything and you'll get away with everything scot free."
Belkor laughed at Cham's ridiculous attempt at a lie. If Belkor attempted any official Imperial actions that aided Cham or sabotaged Imperial operations he'd be in trouble. It wouldn't matter if Mors was also blamed for this fiasco or that Belkor had tens of dozens of Imperial officers loyal only to him. His life would be over and he would face imprisonment or execution but he realized Cham didn't care. To Cham Belkor was just a disposable Imperial which caused despair to wash over him.
"I'll call you again once I have the coordinates." Cham said over a scratchy audio feedback due to the communications jam interference beginning to effect their communication
"Understood Officer Sullivan." Belkor replied in a defeated tone over loud scratchy audio noise before he was forced to hang up
"You alright Belkor? I mean you shouldn't be nervous. I have your back just like you had mine when we first landed on Ryloth/Algeria 2 years ago. The other officers who've disapproved of Mors's lack of presence on the mainland...they all have your back too Belkor." Captain Torres reassured
Belkor exhaled deeply remembering that his backup plan was still a way out. If his memory was still sharp the bomb he planted in the communications base would go off in two minutes. He'd fly out with Torres in a rescue airship hidden amongst the continuous deployment of rescue airships that took off according to Code Red procedures. It's why Torres who was an officer with extensive air rescue operation experience was accompanying Belkor.
Belkor planned on secretly revealing Vader's and the Emperor's location to the deployed air rescue airships setting them up to be killed by Cham's forces. In the chaotic fight to follow he would convince Torres to order nearby patrolling V Wing airships to do a bombardment on the entire area to prevent the Rebels from broadcasting responsibility for the death of Vader and the Emperor. Then he'd show Torres photographs of all the illicit dealings Mors had with crime lords like Madam Gao to successfully sell the illusion that Moff Mors was a traitor. Belkor deep in his thoughts remembered that Torres was still talking. As much as he liked Torres he didn't like that he was a talker.
"You've built up my faith in the Imperial military Belkor. Don't get me wrong it's not perfect but it isn't all bad. This division is a place where service members look out for each other. Much better than where I was stationed on Italia Naboo bunch of backstabbing social climber officers in that division. They couldn't care less about civilian or Imperial personnel casualties. We're going to make sure Mors gets arrested for her negligence to her duty and for betraying the Empire."
Belkor nodded vigorously to sell the lie that he'd listened to Torres.
"I knew I could count on you Torres."
Belkor smiled when Torres turned his back in shock at the explosion that damaged the communications center. High Governor Mors was dead and now step two of his plan was about to commence. Once Cham called back with the coordinates of Vader and the Emperor's location Belkor's survival and promotion would be assured. What Belkor didn't know was that Captain Starr aka Ghost performed an act of deception on Belkor that would complicate his plans.