Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived Luminere: Tech Con Headquarters

Big Brother

Big Brother

Grand Confessor
as written by Ronin

Dominic Hagan was tired.

He sat at his desk in the Tech Con HQ Main Office, pouring over files and reports. The Westeria incident, coupled with his failed business expedition into the Shade Dominion, had left him with no small amount work and clean-up projects. Toss in IIA's recent interest in his company to enact intergalactic terrorism, and he was thoroughly swamped.

"Karen, I need those reports on our stranded operatives on Terra," he commed into one of his secretaries. His priorities were straight - get his employees off of Valore first. Everything else could wait.
 
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as written by barney_fife and Ronin

Except everything else couldn't wait. Agent Malcolm Barrett was escorted into Dominic's office by his security staff. Given the current state of the empire, the IIA was given relative free reign.

At that moment, Dominic's intercom chimed, and the desk receptionist spoke.

"Mr Hagan, a representative from the imperial intelligence agency is here to speak with you regarding a matter of national security." The woman said.

At that moment Barrett took a step forward, tucked under the crook of his arm was a black file folder with the IIA logo emblazoned on the front, Dominic would likely already have an idea what was about to transpire. Simply with the file in view.

"Mr Hagan, what I'm about to discuss with you is classified."

____

Dominic looked up just as Barrett entered. He brought his hand to his temple, resisting the urge to wince. Frak.

"Good afternoon," Dominic rose from his chair. He gestured to one of the seats across from his desk. "Please, sit down. Can I get you something to drink, agent...?"

____

"No" he replied before he placed the black file down on Dominic's desk.

"We're requisitioning tech cons resources in the manufacturing of a Naquadria weapon to be deployed secretly against the tng." Barrett said, gesturing for Dominic to open the file folder.

"Emperor prince plans to manufacture the weapon in our Caprica city arsenal and deliver it through IIA smuggling networks to deploy against the Terran city of Astra City for the purposes of depopulation." Barrett said flatly.

"The details are in the order contained in this file."

____

Dominic eyed Barrett as he spoke, unblinking. A long, heavy silence followed as he finished the debriefing. Dominic reached out to the folder, took into his hands, and opened it.

"That was a lot of information, agent," he almost sounded bored, "I don't even think my father is told exactly where his projects are sent after you requisition them, much less what they're to be used for." He looked up. "Would you mind showing me where in the Imperial Codex it says that government officials are allowed to force companies operating within a free-market capitalist economic system to build their weapons for them?"

____

Barrett Frowned slightly, as he lowered himself into the chair in front of Dominic's desk, his hand discreetly moving to place an electronic bug under the chair. "Article 2, section 5 of the code of government procedure, of the united aschen empire State's, that the Government, military, and civil arms of the Imperial government, and especially pertaining to matters of national security can compel private corporations to provide resources at the corporations expense. Furthermore, article 7, section 13 of the Penal Code states that failure to abide by a national security order issued by the government of this empire is considered treason, and punishable as such." Barrett explained, as he slowly removed his sunglasses to stare at Dominic.

"If you're considering disobeying this order, I have no qualms with Arresting you right here, and transporting into the confessor cabal, where you will be tried and punished." The decision is yours, Mr. Hagan."

____

"I'm not disobeying," Dominic replied coolly, "I just like to be reminded that there are actually laws that tell me how I should run my company." He flipped through the pages with idle regard.

"Naquadria. That's a doozy." He whistled, closing the folder and pushing it off to the side before returning to the work he'd been doing before Barrett had entered. "I trust the Empire will fairly compensate this company for the time and resources it will be wasting in constructing this sanctimonious testament to petty revenge?" He leaned back in his chair, voice dead-panned.

____

"Everything we do is governed by laws." Barrett replied, as he stood up and started to make his way around Dominic's office. While it appeared Barrett was just looking around, admiring the decor, he was really planting bugs. Dominic was being placed under IIA surveillance.

Of course, he was not the only corporate CEO being placed under IIA surveillance. Daniel Greystone was also being placed under surveillance, after footage of paragon's attack on Kianna made its way through the intelligence community.

"That's correct, Mr. Hagan we require Naquadria weapons. However, it is not your place to question our motives." Barrett replied, before he visibly frowned at the mention of petty revenge. "be careful, Mr. Hagan what you say teeters precariously close on to the heretical, mind your words." He said flatly.

"As for whether or not you will be compensated, file a reimbursement request with the Ministry of finance, they will handle that side of this operation."

____

"I'll see to it this evening," Dominic replied coolly. He rose from his seat and rounded the desk.

"Was there anything else I can do for you, agent?" he asked, walking straight up to the man. He gestured to the brass globe of Langara the IIA agent was currently spinning. "A geography lesson, perhaps?"

____

"No, Thank you. Mr. Hagan." Barrett said, nodding. "I'll be taking my leave, now." He said, as he started towards the exit. "I look forward to receiving the first shipment."
 
Tech Con Headquarters... 7:pM local time...

Gathered around a large table was Miles Hagan, Tech Con's board of Directors, which was made up of the heads of the various divisions within Tech Con Itself, the clock had just struck seven, and the sun was slowly setting on the horizon, the light of Pangar bleeding through the window.

Newly hired security manager, Adamus Ioannes sat quietly, having just spent the last several months digging through Tech Con's finances, auditing equipment, inventories, contracts, and conducting interviews. What he presented to Miles was disturbing, equipment had gone missing, including several pieces of highly sophisticated technology.

"Here's what we know, video evidence of Paragon using the new alloys that we've been developing to absorb energy weapons impacts; several key technologies were either missing, or stolen. Our Contact's report stated that Paragon used multiple technologies that were only known to exist under Tech Con Patents." Adamus said, flipping through the slides.

"I've decided to intensify my investigation, to see if there's a link, either someone is arming, and funding this vigilante, or this vigilante is someone who works intimately with Tech Con." The large man concluded.

"Dominic should be here soon..." Miles said calmly.
 
Dominic Hagan entered the board room, a holopad under his arm. He offered the committee a smile. "Hello everyone. Thank you for your patience." His eyes found Miles's. "Dad."

He assumed his seat at the end of the conference table, opposite Miles. "It's usually never a good sign when my father calls a board meeting." He cracked a smile. "I think the last time he sat with us, we'd just lost our entire base of operations on Valore."

The young CEO straightened his cufflinks. "I trust it's nothing quite so catastrophic this time around, right dad?"
 
"Dominic..." Miles said with a smile. "You know, after handing you a multi-trillion cubit company you'd think you'd have more faith..." Miles said, gesturing to the man standing near the large display screen.

"This is Adamus Ioannes, he's Tech Con's new security manager, and his job is to conduct an intensive audit of the company's finances, inventory, and personnel." Hagan said with a nod. "Because it's come to my attention, that someone is stealing from the company; would you know anything about that? Dominic?"
 
"Mr. Ioannes. A pleasure." Dominic gave the man a nod. "Welcome to the team. Funny, I don't seem to recall approving your promotion."

He looked to his father. "I've noticed that as well, dad. I was going to bring it up at the next briefing, but I suppose now as good a time as any. Someone is indeed stealing from this company. I can't say I know who it is, but all evidence suggests it's someone quite a bit of authority within Tech Con's infrastructure."

Dominic gestured to Adamus. "But I'm sure that's why you're here, Mr. Ioannes. What have you found so far?"
 
Ioannes looked first to Miles, whom offered a nod before continuing. "I've discovered several highly confidential and carefully patented technologies come up missing, along with someone who is embezzling cubits from customer transactions. It's quite clever actually, they'd take the money in fractions of a denarius; but with the hundreds of transactions that occur each hour, across the entire company that money tends to add up."

Scowling, Miles went over the reports. "They're taking our technology and arming that vigilante!"

Ioannes nodded. "We're talking theft ranging into the billions of cubits, that's a fairly substantial loss. Mr. Hagan it is my opinion that all employees in the research division should be investigated, I also want to review the logs of everyone from outside departments who signed into the research division, as well as footage from the cameras."

Ioannes turned to Dominic. "Everyone in this boardroom are the only people with that kind of access; I've interviewed each one of them including your father, as well as had them submit to a Zatarc examination."

"What measures have you taken to investigate this security breach, and what have you found?" The man asked, before Miles interrupted.

"I've gotten a very disturbing report from my contact; I want to find out whose supplying the bastard, and then I'll personally see them handed over to the ministry of law!"
 
Dominic frowned. "This is... not the theft that I was expecting you to talk about. Don't mistake me - this needs to be looked into. But this-" The CEO swiped at his holopad, projecting several images for the board to view - stock counts, profit charts and shipping documents. "-this is the theft that I'm concerned about. Look at this. Entire shipments of weapons and armor are being 'misplaced' in transit across our supply routes. Most of them are going missing near Hadante space. We've got kanvium body armor, new disruptor models, bifrost nodes, even expiremental weaponry." He looked at the board. "Those new particle guns we were shipping in from Niihama? Yeah. We lost four entire cargo transits full of them."

Dominic looked at his father. "Maybe these two are related. But from what I can see, you're dealing with one person taking small quantities of expiremental weaponry-" He gestured to the files. "-while this... we're losing enough supplies to arm legions of troops. If Ha'la'tha or the Hadantes are getting their hands on our equipment and end up using it against the Empire, then we'll have a lot more to worry about than the Ministry of Law. I'm talking about Confessors. We could be charged as heretics."
 
Miles shook his head, and then nodded to Ioannes. "I trust everyone in this room with my life." He said, as the lights darkened. Every board member except Dominic knew what was going on.

"The money for those weapons shipments is accounted for." Miles said calmly. "And, they will continue, until everything is set in motion."

There was an overwhelming silence in the board room, as Miles looked directly at Dominic.

"I've kept this from you because I don't trust you; but we're planning something big, and if the Confessor Cabal shows up I'm blaming you."

Ioannes nodded to the screen, and Miles dropped a bombshell.

"When the military ships out to invade Valore; I'm moving on the Imperial Palace and the Quorum building, while the Molecay Freedom Legion moves on the outer territories."

His expression darkened. "If you keep your mouth shut, everything will go smoothly, but someone keeps busting my weapons deals, and I can't very well overthrow the Imperial Government without a well armed Militia, can I?"
 
Dominic's face was in one of his hands. "Oh my gods. Dad. Please. Please tell me you aren't planning a coup..." First the Veshrac incident, now this. His father was gradually escalating his ridiculous plots behind his back.

The CEO rubbed one of his temples. "Before I agree to anything - tell me that you aren't targeting the civilian populace."
 
"Targeting civilians would only hurt the cause." Hagan said, leaning back in his chair. "I want to keep the fighting to a minimum, so I'm pulling this off when the military's deployed, I'm hoping by the time we've reached Valore I can seize the Quorum and the Palace, and demand new, fair elections."

"Nothing's hurt the damn company more than these Imperial Socialists, and that loose cannon Prince. He tried to get the keys to the Potentia from me, yammered on about cleansing the Galaxy to start a new life or some nonsense."
 
"I'm probably less a fan of Prince than you are, dad," Dominic replied, "but this is something else altogether. I only pray to the gods that you know what you're doing, or everything in this room - hell, everyone that works for us, down to the lowest janitor - is going to suffer."

The CEO rose from his seat. "I'm not saying a damn word about this to anyone. For the safety of the board, I'm going to assume that this is all some elaborate joke - a farce - and I'm going to keep it to myself. The less I know about, the less any of us know about this, the better." He looked to Adamus. "Mr. Ioannes, I'll be more then happy to cooperate with you in this investigation. Though perhaps there are more urgent matters which are about to consume Tech Con's time and resources." He addressed the board. "Now then, if there's nothing else, I'd like to get back to work."
 
“I’m not finished with you, Mr. Hagan.” Ioannes said, pointing to the door.

“Meet me in my office in fifteen minutes.” Ioannes said calmly before he turned to Miles.

“On that note; I have an investigation to continue.”
 
"How about mine, Mr. Ioannes?" Dominic replied, "it's closer." He tapped idly at a holopad. "Or, if you insist on yours, then I'm afraid you'll have to wait an hour." He offered the security director a pleasant smile. "It's a very busy day."
 
“I’m sure it can wait.” Ioannes replied, while Miles spoke up.

“Meet with Mr Ioannes and take the rest of the day off.” Miles said calmly, while rising up from his seat.

“Have all of Dominics paperwork forwarded to my office, ill hold down the fort while he’s meeting with my security manager.”

The other board members nodded, while Ioannes gestured to the door.
 
Some time Later...
Security Manager's office.


Seated in his office, Adamus Ioannes sorted through some more paperwork; most of it was security reports, financial audits, surveillance, photographs, and invoices from the multitude of private auditors Miles Hagan contracted to find out how his stuff was coming up missing.

The Security Manager placed the papers down and looked up to the door, expecting Dominic to arrive any moment; he had a long discussion planned with the young CEO.

Hanging near his desk was a series of framed plaques, a bachelors' of science in criminal justice, merits from the Caprica City PD, and even training certificates. The desk was a simple wooden affair, with paperwork and flickering holographic screen littering the work surface.

Once Dominic entered the office, Adamus would gesture for him to sit.
 
"Mr. Ioannes," Dominic entered with a smile, "goodness, it's been a long time."

The CEO sat across from the security director, taking a moment to admire the man's awards and certificates. "A former police officer? Admirable." He chuckled. "How on earth did my father swindle you away from such an honest job and pull you into a mess like this?"
 
The Security manager politely cleared his throat, and waited for Dominic to be seated. "Your behavior was unsettling in the meeting when I brought up the missing technologies from R&D." Ioannes said, shuffling some paperwork before staring Dominic in the eyes.

"I've been doing this a long time, so this is going to be between us; I'm here to help you, Miles, and the company's bottom line, so see me as more of an ally than an enemy." Ioannes said plainly. "Mr. Hagan is convinced you have something to do with the technology going missing, that you have something to do with this man." He said, tossing photos of Paragon taken from Bishop, as well as various surveillance footage from some of the warehouses where the busts had taken place.

"If you know something you need to tell me everything you know, you need to clear your conscience so we can focus on plugging this leak and getting back on the right track; because I will find the source of all this, and if I find that I've been lied too, I won't only terminate employment, but involve legal prosecution." Adamus warned.

"So, what do you know about the technology missing from R and D?"
 
"Of course, as you should" Dominic replied, "just so it's clear, I am on your side in all this. I don't condone vigilantism, and I certainly won't stand for any ongoing thefts within my company. I want to get to the bottom of this just as much as you do."

The CEO examined the picture. "Huh. So he is real. Here I thought it was all just gossip and nonsense." He shook his head. "I'm afraid I'm not aware of any missing tech or research from that department. Truthfully, I don't spend much time there. I'm not scientist... the only piece of technology that I can operate down in those labs is the light switch." He grinned. "That said, Doctor Tamari, the head of the division, is a close friend of mine. She hasn't reported any shortages to me since I've been CEO." He sat back. "It sounds like whoever is stealing from this company did well to cover their losses - make it seem as if the record was in the blank."
 
"So I've noticed; I'm going to be reviewing the Doctor's file, and interviewing her colleagues and eventually, interviewing the Doctor herself." Ioannes said, closing one of the file folders. "You would do well to work with your father on this, rather than against him; he doesn't trust you, and your altruism has given me motive."

Flipping through some of the records, Ioannes continued. "As you know, only members of the board, and the division heads have access to the inventory records, which means either someone has unauthorized access, or someone from high up is doing the thefts; I've contracted Kruger Security to assist in securing our facilities, there will be armed guards at every Tech Con facility, that report only to me, and the board." Adamus explained. "I've implemented security measures that include updated biometrics software to access secure areas, mandatory sign in policies that include yourself, and board members; and daily inventories of all sensitive equipment to be carried out by a consultant from a third party. I've also hired Kruger Security personnel to conduct surveillance of all R&D Employees outside the work environment." Ioannes explained.

"I've hired some cybersecurity experts from Graystone Industries to go over our computer systems in case this is an outside attack. Hopefully you won't be too obstructionist with them." Adamus said.

"Whoever is stealing from the company has intimate knowledge of it's internal security policies, which means whoever is stealing from the company is working for the company." He said, leaning forward. "Did you know your father hired the Bishop to go after this guy?" Ioannes asked, gauging Dominic's reaction.
 
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