Location: Spaceport AV234589-C, Braxant Run

27 hours later


The urgent recall order from Cor had taken all of the Talons by surprise.  No further information had been forthcoming but the Talons responded with their usual efficiency.

Heigren and Lin were the first to arrive due to the simple fact they were already on the station!  Their respective investigations had borne various degrees of success.

Mika, Kira and B2-CC9 arrived in the Ghtroc nearly 26 hours later with the two Y-wing flown by Kyvarr and Fiarr serving as escort.  They had spent the time coming up with a cover story of why they ship had an escort.  Fortunately this was a station that didn't ask too many questions and a few greased palms from Heigren took care of any 'concerns'.

Next to arrive was the Voidsong.  Dohr, B0-B1 and Arcas had caught a lift with Cor who had remained incredibly tight-lipped about the reason for this.

Only people absent were Devon and Aderek who had both been called to a last minute briefing with Colonel Jax.  The briefing was a surprise for both but Devon had been confident it wouldn't take long.  The team aboard Voidsong were surprised Cor wasn't waiting for the pair but a maintenance tech mentioned that Moonshadow had finished repairs so it was assumed that Devon and Aderek would catch up in the shipjacker's pride and joy.

Now the team had begun gathering in the lounge of the Voidsong to find out what this urgent recall was about.



OOC:  Feel free to turn up or already be there as you choose.

Cor, Arcas, Dohr and B0-B1.  Since you arrived on Voidson you are likely already in the lounge.  Kira, Mika, CC9, Kyvarr, Fiarr, you arrived shortly before Voidsong.  Lin and Heigren have been on the station for over a day.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:40, Fri 04 May 2018.

Sitting still in the spaceport, humming quietly within its bay, the Voidsong remains in waiting for the Talons to arrive.

From the outside it looks like a typical Maka-Eekai L4000 luxury freighter.  Superficial imperfections in the hull make it clear the ship is second-hand, but also very well cared for.  There is nothing particularly exceptional about it, with a stock standard paintjob, typical markings and no obvious external modifications.  It looks normal, plain, even boring.

Once inside, however, it becomes swiftly clear that the freighter is under renovations.  By all appearances, its reclusive owner is going out of her way to make the place considerably more comfortable without sacrificing any cargo space.  The layout is still very much stock, but the quality of the materials, especially in the lounges, is in the process of being upgraded.  Droids of various forms work tirelessly to make the changes, following some internal schedule.  Some of them look as if they have been adapted specifically to perform the renovations in question.

Cor herself has remained sequestered in the captain's cabin for the entire trip, showing herself to the passengers only via hologram.  She has been chatty enough, though she has declined to comment on the reason for the gathering, saying only that 'the reason will shortly become clear.'  Arcas, Dohr and B0-B1 have had their needs catered to very attentively, and while it is clear that Cor doesn't own the highest class of food and drink, she is more than happy to share what she has with her team mates.

Now that the ship is landed and waiting, however, a few changes have been made.  Food and drink are set up on the long table in the meeting room, found on the forward port side of the upper deck.  The room is a comfortable temperature and has plenty of space - for a room in a freighter, at any rate.  It's still significantly more intimate a setting than the meeting room on the lost Nightshrike.

At the fore port corner, next to the couch, there sits a bar fridge stocked with cold drinks, including the fizz-pop preferred by the team's chief mechanic.  On the top of the fridge sits a large caf maker, beeping quietly to itself, a visual receptor fixed into its plating.  As Cor's passengers will have found out by now, it has been cunningly converted into a simple droid dedicated to the creation of hot caffeinated drinks of many kinds.


This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Fri 04 May 2018.

Heigren was waiting at the bay entrance when the Voidsong was cleared.  A small repulsor trolley before him.  Even as the ship's gangway lowered, the Zeltron was pushing his trolley towards it.

Heading into the dining room he smiled and opened the boxes on his trolley and began placing various bottles of alcohol on the top of the trolley along with various glasses and tumblers.  He admired Cor's setup of this room and realised he should have known Cor would have a better setup than other Talon 'briefings'.  Still, more booze was never a bad thing in his opinion.

"Wasn't much of a selection on this station but I did what I could."  He looked around at those assembled.  "So we found a ship to take?  I'm assuming that's why you're all here."

Heigren took a bottle of whisky and a small glass to a seat and sat down.  He poured and swallowed his first generous serve while waiting for an answer.  He shrugged.  "It's no Whyren's Reserve, but it's not bad either."

He poured another large portion and looked around expectantly.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:55, Fri 04 May 2018.

Fiarr arrived at the Voidsong not long after Heigren.  She eyed the Zeltron's collection then made straight for the cad.  She figured it was going to be an important briefing and she couldn't metabolise alcohol like the Zeltron could.

When she discovered the caf dispenser was a droid she grinned widely.  "Oh I like you.  Let's be friends okay?"

Mika left the Gthroc with some concern.  Hanging out with Kira and CC9 had been a bit slow, but such a pleasure after the limited military types on the fleet.  Fly circles around them, cross wire ships to bypass fused components in record time, none of it mattered if you didn't salute the right guy our have your boots polished just so.  Still, Mika had gotten a bit bored.

Locking down the ship, she makes her way to join up with the others.  Mika hadn't spent much time on the Voidsong And looked around curiously while she made her way yo the lounge.  Entering, she gives a wave to those there ahead of here.  "Hey guys, glad to see you all here in one piece.  Anyone know why we called things short?". She moves over and snags a purple fizz pop and finds a place to sit.  It was clear that she'd used some of her time in a fresher, her clothes cleaner than normal but still stained with engine grease.

Kyvarr arrived with Mika and Fiarr and quietly took a caf and then sat at the table.  She was still writing up her report.  He looked around noticing neither Cor or Devon were in attendance.  Cor was no surprise but the latter was.

"Where's the commander?  I'd like to submit my mission report or would he prefer that after this briefing?"

As CC9 stomps into the dining hall, the two B1 battle droids take up flanking positions outside the door.  not being built for chairs and not needing them in any case, the B2 droid takes up a position in the rear starboard corner of the room, not far from the door.

If it is privy to any of the information regarding this meeting, CC9 is certainly not saying anything to that effect.

Kira followes after Mika, glad for other people (And hint's of something happening), but was curious as to what was happening. "Kinda curious about that myself....not that our time wasn't cozy, but glad to see you."

Dohr and Arcas had been sharing a few cups of brew in the galley on the way to the station, so the Kel Dorian was happy they had been summoned to the meeting room instead. He’d already visited the surprisingly large and nicely furnished space earlier to pick up a couple of drinks. But the selection, although far better than the stock supply on a standard military ship, was lacking some… finesse. Fortunately for him, finesse was Heigren’s middle name. And the Zeltron didn’t fail them this time either as he opened his floating case of wonders.

Dohr reached out for the glass Heigren was offering and fished for a top piece suitable for his apparatus from a drawer at the bar. A connecting click later, the Doc sucked in the scent of the drink before taking an evaluating sip. Heigren was right, it’s wasn’t Whyren’s Reserve, but “not bad” was an understatement. It was good stuff. Dohr raised his glass in a salute of appreciation to Heigren before taking another mouthful.

The Kel Dor nodded his greetings to everyone as they popped in, but when CC9 nine clanked into the room, he couldn’t help a smile behind his mask. ”Welcome CC9! You really know how to make an entrance. Do that with your bodyguards at a local drinking hole and the patrons will be all running out for a change of pants. I am glad you are part of our team.”” There was no sarcasm in the Doc’s voice or the nod he gave to droid.

Before Cor had time to explain the absence of Devon and Aderek, Dorh turned to Heigren once again. ”How was the station? Do they have all the regular services available? Major galactic banks? Top clothing stores? Ship hardware and supplies? It has really been a while since I have last been able to visit civilised shops and enterprises. Cor’s call had a sense of urgency to it, but I hope there is time for a really quick visit this time anyway. And no, we do not know anything more than you do about what is going on.”
This message was last edited by the player at 07:26, Tue 08 May 2018.

Arcas, once it became apparent that nothing immediate required his attention, retired into a chair in the lounge with two datapads, making notes and typing, occasionally taking a sip of tea and watching the goings-on. His project would seem like literary research to a casual passerby; Closer inspection would reveal that the topic is "Galactic attitudes towards conduction of warfare post Clone Wars". Despite lacking good reference materials, it felt good to Arcas to have the freedom to do something creative for a change.

To any questions about the purpose of this gathering Arcas simply stated that he was waiting for that information too.

B0-B1 watches the organics enter into the lounge at their leisure and silently observes as each of them centers focus around some form of beverage. As more gather he finds his curiosity taking hold of his more common silent nature.

Why is it that you organics choose to imbibe liquids at a time of meeting? Does it not affect your ability to focus given the nature of fluids leading to the requirement to expel them? More curious I find the alcoholic beverage, does the inhibition caused by ingesting this fluid not limit your capacity to focus on the task at hand, whatever that may be?

He thinks for a brief moment, processing what he himself has said.

Please do not take this for insult. I am rarely privy to these such meetings and am not familiar with this organic custom. Should I be finding a cup to hold whilst we meet?

He moves almost gracefully to the table and picks up a glass, empty, before stepping back and waiting just behind the chairs for anyone to correct any inappropriate behaviour.

"The organic preoccupation with food and drink at such meetings," CC9 puts in, "is theorised to date back from the prehistories of most spaient species, when a meal within a place safe from predators was as much a ceremonial factor as one of survival.

"The tradition appears to calm them by tapping into some primal DNA-based coding within their instinctual matrices, making them more receptive to conversation and less inclined toward reclusive musing.  Obviously," it adds after only the briefest of pauses, "this is not the case for every organic.  But the theory appears sound."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, CC9 does not qualify its statements with a disclaimer that it means no offence.  That's not how it rolls.

After a short while the door to the lift, the one directly inside the dining hall, opens.  The lights dim just a little as Cor steps out, glances around briefly and moves to the closer end of the table.  She looks only a little different than she did the last time the Talons saw her and, of course, this is the first time many here have laid eyes on the reclusive woman.

She is a little short, with the pale greyish skin, bald head and shadowed eyes of her people. Dressed in simple casual clothing, if a little snug-fitting, she moves almost silently across the floor in soft shoes.  She bears multiple facial piercings, some of which are new since she was seen last, and she now sports obviously cybernetic eyes that seem to glow very faintly, though that might be from the green LED beads in the rings at her lip and eyebrow.  Perceptive folks will note that the skin around her eyes looks slightly inflamed and irritated, speaking volumes for the newness of the prosthetics.

A simple M4 messenger droid floats in at her shoulder and she carried a datapad in one hand.  Clearing her throat before speaking, she uses the noise to call people to attention.

"Hello, Talons.  For those of you new to us, I am Cor Lambar.  You have heard my voice, at the very least.  Thank you all for coming, though I notice," she adds, looking about the room, "that Ms Daochi has not arrived."  She makes a note on her datapad.  Her voice is light, soothing and melodic, her Umbaran accent a faint trace in her speech.

"Unfortunately, it is my duty to inform the group that Devon Kismet and Aderek Blaque have been called away to other duties.  Colonel Jax has advised me that Devon's tasks are classified, and that it will keep him away for an indefinite period of time; Mr Blaque, I believe, has remained on the fleet to tend to Brigadier Shepard's convalescence.  While she will not interfere with Talon business the Colonel has advised, and I have taken her suggestion, that we restructure our leadership - which will, ultimately, require a vote.

"Due to this unexpected change I have also been notified that we are no longer bound to fulfil the mission to which we have been bending our efforts.  I doubt the Brigadier would mind terribly if we did follow through with it, but we have been released from the obligation of doing so.  That, too, will require a vote."

Cor glances very briefly at the M4 droid and then back at the rest of the Talons.

"In addition we will, once voting is complete, be reassigning Talon designations, our new leader's first task.  We will be required to revisit the options of joining the Alliance versus remaining freelance, of course, but that matter can wait until we have a new leader and they have assigned positions."

She sits back and smiles, a pleasant enough smile, but it is clear to most that it has been some time since she last slept well.

"Are there any questions, before we proceed?"