After their meeting, Mika heads for her quarters for a fresher and a change of clothes.  When she emerges 15 minutes later, it's hard to tell she'd gone through the effort.  Her hair is still in disarray and while her clothes don't carry the smell of battle and look a bit cleaner than those on the planet, they were still rumpled and spotted with engine grease and the like.  But the impish smile on her face suggests that she likes it.

She hits the galley to grab up a quick sandwich and washes it down with a fizzpop.  She walks into the next meeting with another sandwich and two more bottles in hand.  Taking a seat at the table, she notes those already in place and greets everyone with a happy, "Hi."<blue> or a <blue>"How you doing?"

In an aside to Devon, she adds, "Hook'm up.  I'd bet credits she could keep him in line."  She giggles at the thought.

Devon snorted again - clearly he didnt fancy Fiarrs chances of taming Heigren.
"I'd pay money to see someone try."
He turned to the Bothan.
"So whats it gonna be - buy my silence or use my dating service?" he asked cheerfully.

Hearing what the droid said, Idaya's expression turned slightly towards grim. "I suppose, that means, you do not have a need for a professional military officer", she said quietly to the nearest Talon. It is said with a bit of a resignation.

The M4 droid spins around and approaches Idaya.  The voice of Cor is precise but mild.  As usual.

"It means, Ms Idaya, that we agreed to transport you offworld safely and that Mr Teckla has very kindly offered to assist you in finding employment once you leave our company.  That is, as far as anyone has been led to understand, the nature of our agreement."

The Chiss gave a shrug. "Well, I am looking for work, should you have a position available. Would save Mr. Teckla some credits if you did. If you prefer not to hire me, I shall look for work elsewhere without any hard feelings."

"Do you understand the nature of our employment, Ms Idaya?"  The M4 droid hovers in place, its photosensor fixed firmly on the Chiss.

"What I have gathered, you are rebel insurgents fighting an oppressive government. While I would normally not think very highly of you, having heard what this empire of yours does to its own citizens, I would prefer fighting alongside you than being hired for petty cash with some planetary government that either serves or is crushed by the said empire. What I can offer is considerable knowledge of tactics, naval operations and gunnery as well as some servicing skill with both starfighters, capital ships and their weapons, to name a few. Of course, if you do not need these skills, I can also offer experience in leading fleet marines on boarding actions."

"Then, if I am to understand you correctly," Cor's voice states, "you know only rumour of the Empire, would normally disparage us and would like to join our organisation on the gamble that what you have heard of the Empire is true.  We are within neutral space, an area which is not governed by the Empire and despite the activity on Det Akari shows no sign of falling.  Is there a reason you would prefer to take your chances with us rather than remain in neutral space?"

Her tone is not accusatory.  It is quite neutral.  The question, in all likelihood, is an honest one.

"I am a soldier and when I was in the service in the Chiss Expansionary Defence Force, I stayed out of politics as soldiers carry on the policies, set by the politicians rather than make them. However, the soldier is responsible for protecting the civilians from tyranny and oppression, including illegal orders to murder the civilians. As I am not able to return to the Ascendancy space, I believe, I would prefer to carry on the tradition of protecting the innocent here. As I have come to understand, the empire is expanding to independent systems and subjugating the local governments by force. If that is not tyranny, then I must say, I have made a grave mistake with your vocabulary."

There is a pause as this explanation is given due consideration.  "Your reasons and claimed skills have been noted, then," Cor says evenly.  The M4 droid turns to observe Devon.  "Commander, your orders regarding Ms Idaya?"

"But you hate us!  Heigren blurted in surprise at Idaya's request to join.  "Ever since we met you've accused us of being unfair, unreasonable, trigger happy.  I'd have thought you'd want to get as far away from us as possible."

There is no animosity in Heigren's tone, just sheer surprise that Idaya would make such a request.

Fiarr shrugged at Devon's 'threats' about Heigren.  "Tell him what you like.  I merely made an observation and I stand by it."

The Bothan said nothing about the exchange between Cor and Idaya, just watched with keen interest.  She'd been surprised the Chiss wanted to join the team, though she wondered if that was really what Idaya wanted.  Was there some angle Idaya was working here?  Nobody looking for a job said they wanted to join because it would mean a teammate wouldn't have to loan them money.  You also didn't join a team like this without background information.  These people could be terrorists or extremists who'd kill a thousand children to take out one stormtrooper.  Whatsmore, why did she want to join a group like this if she found pre-emptive strikes abhorrent?  Fighting the Empire would mostly be ambushes, and hit and run tactics.  A formal military post would serve her sensibilities far better.  No, this Chiss had a strategy and Fiarr would find out what it was.  Nobody outdid Bothan's at political manipulation.  For now though, she had to focus on her own application, as well as Kyvarr's.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:13, Wed 14 May 2014.

Devon had almost choked on his beer when Idaya made her request, and would have spoken if he hadnt been fighting down a coughing fit.  Then Heigren saved him the trouble and said almost exactly the same thing Devon had been thinking.

Whilst the conversation between Cor, Heigren and Idaya went back and forth, Devon made a hurried note on his datapad, and glanced around the room to gauge the reactions of the others.

The shipjacker sighed inwardly as Cors M4 droid focussed its (and by extension, her) attention on him. Turning to look at Idaya he said mildly:
"Actually, Vyn makes a good point.  We'd sorta spotted these subtle hints that you didnt want to be around us.  Why the change of heart?"
Devon waved a hand to dismiss the question and stood up, stretched.

"That can wait.  You may as well sit."  Activating his commlink, Devon said
"CC9, Forim - we're just waiting on you two."

Once the droid and the Duros arrived, Devon spoke again, walking round the table inside the circle of chairs as he continued.
"Ok, so... first things first:  I wasnt really planning on running this as a formal interview - for a start I wouldnt know how! It's gonna be more a chance for us to question you guys, and you to quiz us back.  Be aware though, we wont answer any questions that would risk our security - You're not part of the group yet."
He paused a few moments to let that sink in, then continued.
"Also, you need to know that the final decision as to who gets to be part of the group wont be made by anyone here.  All we'll be able to do is give a recommendation to the boss and the XO.  It'll be them who make the decision."

Stopping in front of his chair, Devon pointed straight at Kyvarr:
"And to pre-empt one question I know has gotta be bugging you:  You messed up that leg whilst working with us - if we hadnt hustled you outta the hospital in such a rush you'd still be in there getting proper treatment.  You may not be part the group, but we've already agreed that we're going to pick up the bill for gettin' your leg fixed."

Slouching back into his seat, Devon picked up his beer again.
"So, who wants to start?"

Fiarr sat silent for a few moments.  Silently she was thankful that Kyvarr was being taken care of.  Would there be a cost down the road?  Perhaps pay cuts as part of her contract.  She'd be sure to read the fine print of anything they agreed to sign.

Noticing that nobody else had spoken up she decided she might as well start.

"I suppose the obvious question is who are you and what do you do?  Not really sure if you guys are mercenaries, some obscure branch of special forces, rebel insurgents, spice runners or what.  I appreciate you can't tell us everything, but I'd like to know a bit more about what you do and what your goals are."

Janine sat quietly in the circle of chairs.  She was feeling unsettled, she didn't know why.  But she did have a simple answer to the question.  She glanced at Devon, then answered.  "As near as I can tell, our goals are to make money, not die, and do as much damage as possible to the empire along the way.  I think that makes us mercenaries, but we try to keep it within our definition of moral, we don't do ad things for bad guys."  She glanced back at Devon and flash.  " That about cover it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Fri 16 May 2014.

Flash twitches a bit and then shakes his head, sighing.  "Considering everything, yeah, I guess.  There's a lot we can't say cos just about everything we do is classified."  He shrugs.

Fiarr turns to Flash.  "Why?  I can understand your need to keep certain components of your organisation secret, but mercenary companies hardly hide their name, areas of operation and combat capabilities.  Hard to get work if the employer doesn't know what they're getting.  You don't sound much like any mercenary company I've ever heard of.  Your description makes you sound more like anti-Empire insurgents or terrorists.  But you also say your goals are driven by profit.  I think I'm more confused then before I asked the question!"

Kyvarr had remained mostly quiet during the exchange.  Except for a quick "Yes sir, thank you sir." to Devon when he said they'd pay for her treatment, she let the Bothan do the talking.  She was better at this kind of thing then he was.

She listened carefully, her leg resting on the provided crate, Nijel laid across her lap.

"Not 'driven by.' Our goals require profit. We are self-funded. But in essence we are a group that makes strikes and counter-strikes on the current galactic power. You might call us 'terrorists' but our aim is not to spread terror, nor is it our weapon. What, then, is a group that seeks to harm oppressors but cannot oppose them conventionally and is not predisposed to strike at innocents to make political points?" Cor's voice lilts, almost with amusement at the intellectual exercise. "They will certainly consider us terrorists but theirs is a powerful propaganda machine indeed. Nonetheless the problem exists where you must know for whom you may potentially work, and we need to know that you will not betray us should you decide not to work with us. You understand the dilemma."

"Of course. It's the same dilemma we face.  How far can we trust each other.  I think I've already made it clear I think the only good Imperial is a dead one.  If you want to pay me to do it, all the better"

During the conversation of terms, Mika chuckles and mutters, "We're self-employed mercenaries."

As conversations continue and a lull makes itself felt, she chimes in, responding to Fiarr.  "We're not looking for hirelings, we're looking for, call it business  partners.  If we all agree..." her gesture includes the non-Talons, "That this is a mutually acceptable situation, then you'd be on the team and get a share of the profits just like the rest of us.  Of course, given our sort of work, we all got to know we can trust each other."

"Yes," Cor says in an uncharacteristically bright tone, "trust is certainly an important commodity amongst us."

Kyvarr spoke up.  "I need to know that you only attack military and security targets.  I understand in war there is always collateral damage, but I for one don't go bombing school buses, even Imperial ones.  People who choose to serve in the military or police forces accept the risk."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Sat 17 May 2014.

"Since I joined the team we have attacked only targets staffed and defended by Imperial troops," Cor says truthfully.  "If the team had a penchant for attacking civilian targets prior to that point I do not know about it.  On the contrary, one of our number laid down his life in defence of a safehouse full of non-human refugees, the friends and family of Mr Teckla there, and did so alongside Ms Carstairs.  Sadly not all of the inhabitants of the safehouse survived the attack but our deceased team member and Ms Carstairs stood against a squadron of trained stormtroopers for the sake of civilian lives."  There is a slight pause.  "I am confident that despite the dangers any of us would do what we could in such a situation without hesitation."

Dohr sat still and kept quiet as the droids began building up a meeting room into the cargo hold. He said nothing as Vyn walked in followed by Janine, M4 carrying Eleven’s voice, Rian and finally K. He didn’t say anything even when Idaya really took them all by surprise and practically asked for a job. The doctor was just as astonished as everyone else was at first. But as Vyn and Rian voiced their concerns, Dohr gave it a deeper thought. And it sort of made sense to him…

The Chiss was apparently very far from this Ascendancy of her people, whatever that meant. She was clearly as much in a strange world right now as she was a stranger to the rest of them. And in that strange world Idaya had no anchor points. She had no place to go and no friends to visit. And from what she said, Dohr had understood it was not easy for her to get back to her home world for some reason. Therefore, to Idaya no matter how strange it might seem after the clash she and the mercs had had earlier on, the people gathered in the hold were the ones she probably knew the best. They were honorable and according to what little they’d shared about themselves, they fighting for a righteous cause.

The Kel Dor nodded to himself. In her shoes, he’d done the same. Even if she could probably get a job as a mercenary or a guard anywhere in the galaxy, Idaya might end up working for far worse people than this lot. Rian played it smart though and cut the wondering short. That could indeed wait. Now it was time to talk, ask questions and give answers.

Dohr waited until Eleven finished her response to Kyvarr’s question. What both women said, confirmed some of Dohr’s earlier impressions about the Cathar as well as the mercs. They really were all in it for the good of suffering people, not only personal welfare. And it was a big deal to them too just like it was of great importance to himself. The Doc gave the M4 a bow. ”I am sure we would. Let us just hope we will not be forced to…”<b>

<b>”Let me properly introduce myself now that there are no insurgents trying to blow up the city around us… Oh and let me use this moment to say I am truly sorry the loss of your friend back there… So I am Major Dohr Veen, DAF, Retired…” He carried on pretty much repeating what he’d told the three women earlier, but also added in a lot more of his history:

At the age of 16 (coming of age for the Kel Dorian) Dohr had entered the UniMed - University of Medicine. He’d done well in his studies and was close to graduation when the days of the Republic came to an end and Emperor Palpatine seized the power. Like everyone else, he was called into service as the Kel Dorian government desperately tried to build up the world’s defences to stop the imperials from taking over Dorin.

In 18 BBY the imperial attack had yet not reached Dorin, but the world’s military was stronger than ever and most males had received at least rudimentary level of combat training. There was already a movement from the army back into the civilian life as the society and infrastructure could not handle having a major part of the work force idling in military service. Dohr too balanced between the army life and the university. He wished, as did his mother, to complete his education and receive a degree, but somehow it all felt quite unimportant at the time.

Fortunately for him making the decision became a lot easier as his superiors offered him a way of combining both. Instead of getting his own detachment of soldiers to command, Dohr was put in charge of a section of the Military Medical Department. That gave him the time and possibility to finish his studies as he was training others himself.

All in all things were looking fairly good. It appeared the Empire had all but forgotten about the Kel Dor and everything was returning to normal. Until on one summer afternoon in 17 BBY the life of Dohr Veen took another turn.

Everyone on Dorin too had heard the news of the terrible Jedi Purge that had taken place all across the galaxy sometime earlier. But now the same thing was heading their way too. From the moment the immense imperial fleet dropped out of hyperspace it was obvious the battle was already lost. A vast armada led by a Mandator II –class Star Dreadnaught and 8 Venator –class Star Destroyers practically filled the sky of the Kel Dorian capital.

A couple foolish admirals led their destroyers into a hopeless battle against the dreadnaught. But their attacks weren’ even able to pass the behemoth’s shields before both Kel Dorian ships were annihilated by a concentrated barrage. Dohr happened to be outside when the short-lived battle took place. The fire from dozens if not hundreds of turbolaser batteries literally lit the sky despite the broad daylight so brightly that Dohr had to cover his eyes. Even without looking the young officer knew the defending ships had been destroyed and so had hundreds of his fellow Kel Dorians with them.

A few minutes later a planet wide announcement of an unconditional surrender was given. All the preparation for the attack had been in vain. There was no way Dorin could have fought off the oppressors. Now they could only wait and see what the Emperor wished of their barren planet.

For some strange reason Dohr suddenly felt the urge to go home. But before he had requested and been given the permission to leave, the day had already turned into evening. A report said the imperials had already sent in a small detachment headed by someone called Lord Vader. The name sounded ominous, but little did he know…


It took Dohr the next few days to sort things out at home. He locked down the estate and used a great deal of the family’s money to make sure the place would stay safe for the next few decades. After the funerals Dohr returned to the garrison and never visited his home again.

Some years later the way things were run on Dorin had changed somewhat. The Empire had placed a small contingent of stormtroopers in the capital and appointed an imperial governor to look after the local administration. Dorin wasn’t exactly a rebellious world and there was nothing of value for the Empire on it, but the unusually large number of jedi it had provided the
Republic in the past apparently made it a dangerous place in the eyes of the Emperor.

So while the imperials had the control of the world, there were too few of them to take care of the security of Dorin and its people. Therefore the Dorinian Armed Forces and Dohr with it, carried on pretty much as it had before occupation. They fought pirates, terrorists and were even forced to join imperial clones in taking over a neighboring world in the name of the Empire. Those resisting were quickly shot along with their families as an example to everyone else. The guilt of not being brave enough to take the bolt still made Dohr's heart feel heavy after all these years.

Despite the imperial rule, intergalactic trade flourished on Dorin as well and with the merchants came rumors of rebelling groups of insurgents all around the galaxy. As nothing was holding Dohr back on the home world, the idea of leaving Dorin behind and going out looking for these rebels started to feel like a good idea. He’d only been twice off-world with his parents
so far anyway and getting to know other planets and species of the galaxy was something he’d always wanted, but hadn’t gotten a chance to do.

Therefore on a night in the Spring of 13 BBY, Dohr resigned the army, packed his back and left Dorin behind. He had spent the last decade or so criss-crossing the galaxy and joined various rebellious groups here and there to fight the Empire as much as possible. Finally his trips had brought him to Det Akari, a neutral world and with no sigh off any imps or groups fighting them.

When Dohr finally finished his story, he stood up and gave his crowd a slight bow. "Please forgive me for letting my thoughts carry me away. I did not mean to steal so much of your time."