"Formal reports can wait Mr Branden.  We're meeting with this fixer tomorrow so just want some ideas from the team.  Give us a synopsis of any specific ships, personnel and equipment you think might be useful."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:01, Fri 13 Sept 2013.

Zyra looked at Arin in surprise.  "Last I checked you were listed as presumed dead in the explosion back on Phindar.  Did you have some reason to suspect your status may have changed?"


OOC: Zyra checked your status not long after you left Phindar with the Talons.  It was when she arranged for you accounts to be emptied and she gave you the money.  Of course that was a year or so ago in RL so understandable if you forgot!
This message was last edited by the player at 00:39, Sat 14 Sept 2013.

Flash shifts slightly in his seat and taps his datapad, leaning over it a little further.  His brow furrows and he mutters to himself in his native language.

[Language unknown: "Omint pe is ectthilin withon Erare?  Oveto outousno plnc ort orevervirome, icamanwhe olwer."]

"I believe that Mr Heigren and Ms Jax are our best candidates for a... 'face' operative," Cor points out.  "Both of them have active experience being exactly that.  However as our XO Ms Jax is unlikely to be able to accompany us as often as might otherwise be... preferable."  There's a slight pause.  "Though I am uncertain if Mr Heigren wishes to continue with our group."

"Correct on both counts Cor.  I have served in that capacity many times but as you rightly point out my responsibilities these days are in keeping our business running, seeking new suppliers of goods and information and trying to keep us one step ahead of the Imperials."

"As for a face, Heigren could certainly do the job, though he's a little. . .unpredictable.  Arin is cute enough but I think he'd be more useful in a starfighter than a suit.  Though he'd look pretty good in a suit don't you think?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:15, Sat 14 Sept 2013.

"Or in a dress," Cor says, the sound of fingers tapping on a touch-screen in the background.  "Better than CC9 would look, certainly."

Sheila snorted at the dress comment.  She glanced at Flash when he had muttered.  She knew what she wanted to say, also knew it wouldn't come out right.   She leaned back in her chair and waited a moment.

Devon smirked at Cors comment, but said nothing.  He did glance from the clothes bag he'd left on the table to Mark though.  Those who knew what was in the bag would be able to follow his train of throught easily enough...

"I sure hope the Imperials have me listed as dead, but I would not put it past ISB to figure out I'm not at some point. Those sneaky bastards have spies everywhere", Arin said with a bit of a shrug. "But what comes to beating the Imperial Navy T.I.E.s, our best bet would be anything with strong shields and direct-kill capability on them. We're not likely to find anything that can beat them in agility. The old Y-wings would work on missions we need heavier firepower and are not likely to encounter enemy fighters but against T.I.E.s they are somewhat obsolete. The R-41 is old, but could be a potential answer to our needs - augmented, of course. It has both firepower and disabling capability and if equiped with missiles or even better, with torpedo launchers, it can do some damage on bigger ships if the pilot knows where to place the shot. A newer craft would be even better. 

Of course, if we're looking for a stealthy and fast ship for insertions and extractions, the CEC has some courier ships that might fit the bill for speed, capacity and if properly fitted, stealth.

Stealth would be our best bet on the ground as well. The less time the Imps have to react, the better we fare. Storm Troopers are a tough nut to crack as we found out already, so we need to stay at least one step ahead of them during the operations. Heavy weapons should be used only as a last resort as they tend to announce our presence to everyone within a reasonably sizeable radius."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:39, Sun 15 Sept 2013.

"Yes," CC9 states, "large weapons are loud.  An astute observation.  However if we are taking heavy weaponry into a situation that requires stealth we have already failed.  The data from our last battle indicates that with correct preparation and by selecting our battles carefully we are already quite capable of successfully confronting both TIE fighters and stormtroopers using moderate weaponry and suitable tactics.  Both opponents are dangerous but these issues are not insurmountable."  He stares at Arin.  Well, of course he does.  He doesn't have eyelids.  Or eyes, technically.  "Larger enemy numbers would overwhelm us but that is a tactical fact of any battle.  Unless you have a plan to secure TIE fighters we will always be outmanoeuvred unless we employ flight tactics suitable to dogfighting superior craft - as was done by applying the Tallon Weave.  Which, according to flight data, you failed to adhere to.  I am not programmed for space battle tactics specifically but evidence suggests that we do not need to surpass TIE fighter agility.  We only require suitable shielding, hard-hitting weaponry and pilots capable of following orders."

He turns his head to stare at Mark.  "I believe our highest priority in regards to starfighter expenditure should be developing a stock of ammunition - proton torpedos - and ensuring each fighter is hyperspace-enabled and has basic shielding.  Keeping our current fighters flight-worthy appears the most appropriate option.  Newer craft is preferable but only given a surplus of funds; the space patrol craft provided the single largest threat in our last battle and even that was insufficient to bring down even one of our fighters.  In addition, a greater number of fighters seems unnecessary unless we recruit more pilots or purchase droid starfighters.  It would only increase our transport and maintenance requirements to have fighters with no pilots."

"Just asking, but am I going to hear about breaking from the Tallon Weave every time I open my mouth? Kind of redundant to remind me of it every other standard hour or so - I have a perfectly good memory as it is, though not an eidetic one like you droids", Arin said in a dry manner. "And for the record, I have nothing in general against having a droid in the team. My problem wi a droid leading is, droids lack empathy a commander should have. Where in we organics tend to consider a number of things that might sound trivial to a droid, but it's how we organics operate. It might not be the most effective way, but it makes us feel, our leaders care about us and that way, we are more likely to take in even the most suicidal missions if required."

Straightfaced and deadpan.  "An organic co is much more likely to care about us than a nonorganic co.  Which explains why both of us are still in imperial service."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Sat 14 Sept 2013.

"Mister Branden, as I recall I chose not to discipline you for your break from our plan involving the Tallon Weave and there has been no official talk of it since.  End of story.  Please keep your bickering out of such gatherings.  It is unbecoming of a man who says he wants to lead our teams into battle.  I have pointed out several times how CC9 lost two of his team in the boarding operation, yet he does not complain when it is brought up in a briefing.  I believe CC9 was raising a point in his usual non-organic fashion, he's not picking on you."

"As to organics having empathy, Sheila does make a good point.  Imperial CO's hardly care about their pilots unilaterally.  There is also benefit to a lack of an emotion in your leader.  I have seen whole troops due to a commander's ego, his rage, his grief and his pride.  I have seen flights shot down trying to defend a drunken squad leader.  There are two sides to that argument Mister Branden.  I'm sure you've had Imperial commanders worth than a droid?  I've heard of senior Imperial officers throwing dozens of squadrons at a hopeless objective just to salve their own ego."

"I was simply trying to point out the fact, the same thing has come up in all and every discussion since the mission, sir. As for commanding officers in the Imperial Navy, I've had bad ones, terrible ones and some that were beyond the scale. But as far as I know, we are no longer in the Imperial Navy and I hope, none of us is anything like that."

Mika stifles a yawn, with only a partial success.  She's fine with repairing stiff, building stuff and upgrading stuff, but this stratigic planning wasn't really something she was good at and wasn't really feeling the urge to get better.  Well, there was the swoop, and e upgrades.  Her eyes slip out of focus as her thoughts turn to something she is pretty good at.

In reply to Arin Branden (msg # 70):

"MY point was that a organic CO is not necessarily going to be more concerned for his men simply because he is organic.  In fact, I would think, we might need to judge each candidate on their record.organic or not."  She's going to leave the weave out of the conversation.

"One advantage of droids when it comes to decision making?"  said Devon quietly.
"They NEVER have their judgement clouded by emotional reaction.  Example:  In the last mission, one of the Stormies threw a grenade whilst me and CC9 were advancing behind the riot shield."

He paused for a moment, remembering the scene. "That grenade landed right at our feet - on the other side the shield, but less than a meter from me.  I was planning to either get to cover or maybe try and kick the grenade back the way it came...  CC9 overruled me - he ordered the shield droid to brace and shoved me behind himself."

Devon grinned.  "I seem to remember telling him he was nuts, just as the grenade went off.  But he was right - he analysed the situation and got it right.  Ground combat situations are what he's designed for."

Done with his story, Devon turned a baleful eye on the battledroid, and pointed an accusing finger. "And I STILL think you're nuts." he said mock accusingly.


"On the subject of fighters, I'd really like to get our numbers up at least a  little.  At the moment we only have three - one more would let us field two wing pairs.  Another R-41 with its ion cannons would be fantastic.  Apart from that?  Hyperdrives on those that haven't got them, and munitions, munitions, munitions...."

The battle droid remains still and quiet through the comments, not speaking until Devon says his part.  "Both nuts and bolts are part of my construction," CC9 observes, nodding to the human.  He makes no effort to defend his words to Arin, as one might expect; he simply directs his next question to the Commander.

"Commander, do we require other positions as well as ground force and space force leaders?  Communications, navigations, chief engineer or similar roles?  Or will those be filled as and when they are required?"

Zyra raised an eyebrow to Devon.  "So B2-CC9 shielded you with his own body?  Risked his own existence for yours?  Sounds like a very caring thing to do."

In answer to CC9's question Mark consulted a datapad.  "We'll be filling other roles as best we can.  I think Cor is a logical choice for communications officer as well as operations.  What we need is for people to become familiar with at least one station on the Nightshrike so she can be manned in battle.  Likewise people need to consider their role if needed.  Our small numbers require us to be flexible.  Everyone should get some flight training in, especially on the Ghtroc.  We have plenty of trained people."

"Well Mika kept me from crashing the Nightshrike into anything in the last mission."

Mika smiles and gives Zyra a nod.  "Yeah, before I ended up leading the relief mission to the freighter.  Which..." she looks pointedly about the room, "Should make it clear that I'm not suited for the role of ground lead or whatever."

"Affirmative," CC9 concurs, perhaps somewhat bluntly (as if he does anything any other way).  "But it also indicates that Talons will follow you into battle.  Nonetheless your skills seem better suited to repair, upgrades and capital ship piloting than front-line combat.  It would be inefficient to ignore those capabilities."

Mark checked his chrono.  "We're getting sidetracked here and Zyra and I have an opera to get to.  The two key issues we need to focus on at present are these.  What specific equipment would we like this fixer we've met to work on acquiring for us and what sort of personnel would we like to hire?  There's no guarantee he can get anything we want but I intend to give him the chance."

In reply to Mark Sheppard (msg # 80):

"Then I'll agree with a fourth fighter.  Preferably hyperspace capable if he can get it and we can afford it."