A Drop in the Water

[Eugen Aker]

​

[SIZE=10pt]The [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Galene[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] Medical Center of Manaan was a sight to behold, a vast city-sized complex of glittering rounded buildings and lush parks stretching across the entire area of the small island, all ringed by pristine white beaches. From afar, Galene could be mistaken for some kind of fancy resort, but it was so much more. One part trauma center, university, and laboratory, Galene was, in fact, a major medical hub within the Inner Rim on the cutting edge of healthcare. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]It represented progress for the [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Manaanians[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], who were working aggressively to position themselves as the single largest healthcare provider in the galaxy. So then Galene was a fitting location for the coming conference between the Silver Order and the Confederacy, all about future development to bring on peace and prosperity throughout the galaxy.

One wing of the luxury Gritti Hotel was rented out by the SJO to house both delegations for the week, with the Silver delegates arriving first to set up ahead of their meeting. The CIS delegation wasn’t due to arrive at the island until the first morning of the three-day conference. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]SJO Main Agenda[/SIZE]
​

• 
  [SIZE=10pt]Liber Initiative: A new plan to invest in the inner regions (Deep Core, Core, Colonies) and Hutt Space to encourage the development of free economies and a respect for civil liberties. [/SIZE]
  
• 
  [SIZE=10pt]The Silk Road: Plotting a new [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]superlane[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] that threads through the ORC and CIS to the Core to bypass current and future interdiction measures by common adversaries.[/SIZE]
  
• 
  [SIZE=10pt]Refugee Relief Movement: Consolidating various joint operations and programs for refugee settlement and job training, particularly for freed slaves, into one comprehensive institution.[/SIZE]
  

[SIZE=10pt]“Eh, this isn’t turning out so well.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]With a finger flick, she trashed the latest of her drafts she had typed up on her datapad. She had been at this for two days now, and she still hadn’t come up with an introduction she liked. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]She sat back in her chair with a sigh, setting down her datapad for her thermos. The pumpkin spice latte within was still steaming, topped with a huge dollop of heavy cream. She just tipped the edge of the thermos over her lips, getting a sip of the hot coffee beverage.

Well, maybe it was coffee at one point, but all the taupe concoction was now was a vehicle for tons of sugar and fat. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]It was her guilty pleasure, a sweet treat to enjoy this time of year. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Across from her, Josh was helping Jason cut up some waffles, part of some fancy continental breakfast offered by the hotel. Outside of missions, Josh was rarely seen without the toddler. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]She smiled between sips, enjoying the pleasant distraction to forget about her current frustrations[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“The munchkin’s growing up,” she noted with an amused huff. “It only seems like yesterday when we were spoonfeeding him baby food."

((For the CIS delegation, please start at the local island spaceport, where Allyson will be waiting to pick you up. ))[/SIZE]

Spoiler

[member="Adron Malvern"] [member="Srina Talon"] [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Dianah Vi'dreya"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Perfectly pressed, grey spacey uniform clung to the figure of Lt. Commander Allyson Locke. As she stood by the speeder she was meant to drive, a hand played with the embroidered crimson stripes at the side of the pencil skirt she wore. It was probably a better idea to have worn slacks, but it had been awhile since she had worn the skirt. Looking up, from her comm, she exhaled shutting the device’s screen off after reading the briefing over again.

Today was an important day, diplomacy and making friends were on the agenda and Allyson was the chauffeur for the visiting group. She had known a bit about the Confederacy, they were friendly with the Order for the most part – she had seen them at social events and quite enjoyed their company. It was nice to see that things were moving forward with the talks of the two factions. Adjusting her uniform, she put on her smile and waited for the guests of honor to exit where they were staying.

Pausing, Allyson looked off in the direction of her destination. Her mind wandered for a moment, she quietly thought and felt the corner of her lips curl into a soft smile. She shouldn’t worry about her and then her attention refocused on the building where the group she was picking up would be exiting from.

Her mission was to bring them to the hotel where everything was happening, keep them save among other things. The Corellian fixed her hair and slipped on the grey beret that came with her uniform, a pair of aviators found their way to her face as she waited quietly for the group. They would have gotten word that she was there to pick them up.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

“Huh” The newly minted Master Of The Order would respond, shooting the Grandmaster an amused smirk in response. “I hadn’t realized you’d become his mother and I never noticed. When’s our wedding? I’m quite looking forward to it.”

He knew what she was talking about, but couldn't help but tease her. Of course, back and forth jokes, banter, all of that and the bag of space chips had become normal between the Master Of The Order and the Grandmaster at this point. Josh would flick his head a moment to where Jyoti was working on papers, then looked toward the steaming pumpkin spice latte. He was curious as to what “wasn’t turning out so well” but figured if it was a concern, the Grandmaster would make such known. They were partners now, after all. Grandmaster and Master Of The Order, I mean. Communication was key. Josh would then look down toward Jason, who had in the short moments since his head had turned had made an attempt at chomping at the un-chopped waffles hands-free. These stealth gobblings were something that Josh had become accustomed to as well, and he would quickly stop him. Once Jason’s crime was stopped and the waffles were safe from certain disaster, he would continue to help him with cutting the waffles, his hands and his grip as gentle as if Jason were still a newborn baby.

Josh’s curiosity got the better of him though in the end, and while he didn’t keep his gaze off the troublesome tot this time, he spoke toward the Grandmaster.

“So what exactly isn’t going so well?”

[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Drystan Marakos]

[SIZE=11pt]Wind whipped her cloak, drawing heat & the beloved spray of the sea into her face. Honey locks of hair curled over her eyes, tickling her nose & cheeks; the caress of a lover, with a touch of The Force - kind, trustworthy, and gracious. Beyond, and far into the distance, a great ocean stretched out: the waters cool & inviting, pleasantly placid - as still on the surface as she felt. [/SIZE]​

​

But deeper, beneath the surface, darkness stirred… ​

​

[SIZE=11pt]She saw fit to remind herself of this; that even in the midst of “Paradise”, one could always find secrets. Hidden things; and it was these hidden things which interested her most. [/SIZE]​

​

[SIZE=11pt]Behind her, the welcoming confines of one of the Institute’s finest suites awaited; inviting her from the balcony to commiserate with a meal… or a drink… or to browse their wares. But she would do no such thing, for the Jedi Knight was direct & focused. She opened her eyes, leaving the realm of darkness and giving her eyes a moment to adjust to the sudden change… [/SIZE]​

​

[SIZE=11pt]The [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]sparkling white sands[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt], far below, glittered like crushed diamond, crafting a beautiful duality of white & blue against the waterworld. Tiny shapes; beings from across the Galaxy, moved like bugs against the backdrop - each of them, on their own personal journeys. [/SIZE]The Galene Medical Center was eternally busy. ​

​

[SIZE=11pt]Taking a final breath, Drystan turned and exhaled, turning and stepping from the small outside area overlooking the complex and returning to the serene room within. She smiled at the two other Jedi in the room. “Time to walk.” She said, then moved to the door, crossing the spacious (and surprisingly luxurious) living quarters. The trio exited, falling into a relaxed rhythm based on one-another’s movements; working in unison, as natural as could be. [/SIZE]​

​

Like white sands against tranquil waters. ​

​

She & her team were concerned with Security, and had taken what one might consider “excessive” precautions. Dispersed within the hotel were a number of operatives, some known… and some unknown. Drystan, herself, could fade into the background, and had even “acquired” clearance most would consider out of the scope of a Jedi’s use. For the Sentinel, however, such things were merely standard procedure, in assuring the safety & security of those she held dear. A small selection of Antarian Rangers had been provided to her, and she’d been allowed to imbed them as she saw fit - even now, she knew her routes had been covered, entrances & exits monitored, and a liason with Galene’s own Security Forces had been established, allowing her unprecedented access to their infrastructure. ​

​

Their “Walk” took them on a looping route through the Hotel… which was… breathtaking in its’ scope. Even she had to admit that. ​

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

So...after a careful and detailed study of the premises Asaraa had come to a final conclusion...these beds rocked. It had actually taken the padawan all of her willpower to drag herself out of bed, away from the warm comfortable embrace of the next of blankets she'd built up and out into the cruel, hard, terrible embrace of the world...was that waffles Jason was eating. The pink-haired girl could have been taken for a tourist, well to be fair she kinda felt like one, as usual, she'd eschewed the traditional Jedi robes and wandered into the dining hall in her normal skirt and top. A smile touched her face as she waved at Jason, pulling a face at the toddler as she took a step towards the bar, waving a hand at it as a plate rose off the stack floating along the bar as waffles, sausages and a small selection of breakfast foods were ladled onto her plate before it settled onto a tray along with a glass of orange juice.

It was only a short walk to the table, enough time for the padawan to pull another funny face at Jason, winking at him conspiratorially. "You know how I say you never take me anywhere nice Master? I take it all back, this place is amazing!" She knew she was breaking into a conversation it was just, the sun was streaming in through the big french windows of the restaurant, the sea in the distance was the perfect shade of blue, "This place is amazing!" knife and fork in hand the girl started on her waffle, one of the sausages on her plate floating into the air as she raised a questioning eyebrow at Josh and nodded in Jason's direction. She knew how much Josh doted on his son, how much he cared but this was a vacation and Jason deserved a treat...right? skewering a piece of waffle on her fork she glanced over at Master Nooran, taking a moment to relish the fact that she was actually eating breakfast with the Grand Master, falling back into the previous conversation. "Is it anything we can help with?"

[member="Drystan Marakos"] | [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] | [member="Allyson Locke"] | [member="Jyoti Nooran"]​

 

[Adron Malvern]

​

Manaan was a world, renowned for it's medical prowess. A planet holding a wealth of information and contribution in the medical field it was a staple to the inner rim. Yet in the eyes of the Exarch it was supremely lacking. As Adron's eyes peered out of the window he could tell the world certainly had a noticeable beauty to it, yet it was far too simple for his tastes. Rolling oceans and elegant beaches were unappealing to the young Sith Lord. Even the worlds medical strives were of little interest to him, at least at the present moment. It was the Silver Jedi Order that had brought the CIS delegation to Manaan. The Jedi had reached out to The Confederacy with hopes of a diplomatic conference. As the secondary Exarch to the Vicelord the man had seen to all of the preparations including security.

He stood silently in a shuttle with his counterpart, [member="Srina Talon"]. His eyes flashed over the pale skinned woman for the briefest of moments before they returned to the window beside him. Srina had a great deal of exposure to the Silver Jedi, surely more than Aron had so it would be a good thing for her to join them. He drew his lips into a thin smile that threatened the borders of a sneer while his voice gave life to his thoughts. "We're meeting them at a medical center. How Jedi." He mocked, obviously having no love for the Force Users.

His eyes shifted from Srina to his apprentice to stood beside him, [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]. Darth Metus had extended an invitation to the woman to join their delegation and neither Adron nor Srina were opposed to her joining them. The delegation had been composed of people who could best represent The Confederacy in such talks and the mark had not fallen short. As [member="Darth Metus"] stood before them the Exarch cleared his throat and inclined his head towards the back of the shuttle. He had seen a number of their Vulture droid escorts peel off and return to their home ship, meaning the delegates had just entered the protection of the Silver Jedi order.

That was not a refreshing thought.

He was not clad in his usual battle armor which radiated the Dark Side of the Force. He had suppressed his presence in the Force, muting his powers to the outside world so that the Jedi would believe he was no different from the average diplomat. Adron had believed that keeping his abilities a loosely guarded secret could at least give him a certain element of surprise. The man was dressed in a striking black suit with purple accents on the lapel that matched the grape tie which was pristinely fastened around his neck. The slate undershirt he wore pulled the color from the suit and made it barely noticeable. He had even left his lightsaber behind, though he was not unarmed. He kept his walking cane firmly grasped within his palm as he looked to Srina Talon once again. "Well, let's see if this meeting was worth the trip."

As he spoke the shuttle gave the softest quake as it touched down on the landing pad. They had arrived at a rather large island spaceport which had a stunning view of the surrounding beaches. As the light flooded into the shuttle, drowning out the dim hue that had lit the room Adron stepped forward. What remained of their vulture droid escort had strategically placed themselves around the shuttle, automatically going into their security programs to ensure the delegations safety.

Droids were nothing if not efficient....even if they had been a supreme pain in the CIS backside for the last few weeks.

The first to greet them would be a woman dressed in a uniform Adron could loosely equate to the Silver Jedi Order. He inclined his head respectfully while his free hand would gesture to [member="Darth Metus"]. "[member="Allyson Locke"], I presume? You are the one who will be escorting us to the forum? I am Exarch Adron Malvern. Before you is the Vicelord of The Confederacy of Independent Systems, Darth Metus." Such a mouthful. He would simply say CIS if it did not sound so damned lazy.

His hand would pass over [member="Srina Talon"] and Dianah Vi'dreya in turn as he continued. "This is Exarch Srina Talon and Viceroy Dianah Vi'dreya." Clasping his hands over his walking cane, he would remain a rather rigid appearance yet his tone had none of the venom it had when they were on their shuttle. For all intents and purposes the Silver Jedi were allies, and Adron would treat them as such. Even though he hated jedi.

"Now. Shall we?" He prodded, with a thin smile forming over his lips.

 

[Jend-Ro Quill]

Any time Jedi meet with someone named 'Darth,' it's best to keep your wits about you. That works out better for some than for others, true, but still.

This meeting absolutely wasn't about me, so I'd dressed down, just faded robes and a spot in the background. If [member="Allyson Locke"] needed to walk tall, by all accounts she could do that herself. I was just the quiet, affable emergency backup. White noise, mostly.

That was the goal, anyway. People take things all kinds of ways. To some, just having an old Jedi Master on hand could be seen as a threat. To others, I'm invisible. Luck of the draw.

[member="Darth Metus"] [member="Adron Malvern"] [member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Objective: Take the CIS to the Hotel

The Sith were not her favorite people in the world, but the ones from the Confederacy weren’t the ones that decided to burn Corellia, they weren’t the ones that decided to do other unspeakable things and they seemed relaxed for the most part. The man with the cane seemed to be the one that spoke for the group, Allyson nodded towards the Jedi next to her and smiled. At least she had back up with the old man, being alone with a group of Sith wasn’t her favorite past time. Introductions were met, and Allyson nodded her head acknowledging each one with their titles that were extremely long.

Here she thought Master of the Order Josh Dragonsflame was a mouthful. Oh boy. The Corellian held out her hand for a moment in case someone decided to shake it. “Since we’re talking titles, Lt. Commander Allyson Locke at your service.” A smile and she retrieved her hand. Moving towards the door, she opened it letting the group into the speeder, she knew if she lingered with the Confederacy group any longer she’d be late. A nod to her counterpart, “The strong silent type here is [member="Jend-Ro Quill"].”

Once the group entered the speeder, Allyson slipped in and waited for the old man to take his time to get in. Once he was strapped in, she did a once over of the controls and such. A finger pressed against her ear as she relayed the message back to HQ, or well to the Grandmaster and the Master of the Order. “We are in route with the delegates.” The message was brief, but it was to give [member="Jyoti Nooran"] and [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] a heads up that things were in motion. The spender was sleek and comfortable, the Corellian an ace pilot moved the machine with ease.

Looking back at the group, she smiled and asked. “You guys want the privacy screen up or are you okay? There’s refreshments in the center console if anyone is thirsty.” The ride continued and hopefully the group with the Confederacy was comfortable for the most part.


[member="Darth Metus"] [member="Adron Malvern"] [member="Srina Talon"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The Master Of The Order Josh DragonsFlame would turn his head a moment as he sneezed and wiped his nose with his sleeve. Was someone talking chit about his name? Could be.

The other meetings going on around them were not something Josh was unaware of. Honestly, bringing Jason here when they would be meeting with Sith, CIS or not... It was something Josh was hesitant to do. But he was with Jyoti, and Jyoti had said they should bring "their" son with them. If Josh had to cut a schutta, he would cut a schutta. And then [member="Scherezade deWinter"] would also probably cut said schutta. Either way, he and Grandmaster [member="Jyoti Nooran"] who would also probably cut that schutta, would be greeted by his Padawan [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] who Josh would allow in with a warm smile. "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. It's good to be able to do something a little more lowkey after all the time you've spent on the field lately" Josh would speak as he would catch Jason staring at Asaraa's plate as she had started picking at her food even while over with him and Jyoti.

When she asked if there was anything she could do, he chuckled in turn. "Well I wouldn't have your food float around, around Jason unless you intend to share. He's staring at you like a hungry puppy" He pointed out in joking fashion. Jason had been staring at Asaraa since she had walked over. It was pretty clear what Asaraa wanted to do, and he nodded his head to indicate it was alright.

 

[Darth Miseria]

Dianah could tell she would enjoy her time on Manaan, due to the incredible view as their shuttle swept its way through the landscape. She almost wished she were here for different reasons, pleasure instead of business. Most of the journey to the spaceport had been spend gazing out of the window, partly in amazement and partly in confusion. Dianah knew little of the intricate ways of the Jedi, she had always assumed they weren't the flashy kind, but the Silver Jedi's choice in venue implied differently. The vast sandy beaches coupled with the bright sapphire blue seas called to her playful side, but now wasn't the time for her eccentricities. Dianah was here to work and she wouldn't forget that in a hurry.

The current role she possessed in the Confederacy, Viceroy of Krant, had been an easy one to slip into. In all honesty it was almost as if it were tailored to her. Years of standing by her Father's side watching him at work as the Vicelord of the Confederacy had paid off well enough and it showed in her work there. When the invitation to join the delegation to Manaan had arrived Dianah had accepted almost immediately and had done so with no small amount of pride. It was strange to think she had much use in this situation, but the people she traveled with felt differently and it was hard not to be pleased by the thought.

The young shi'ido stood silently beside her Master, musing on the thought that the three people she stood with in the shuttle happened to be the most powerful people in the Confederacy. She almost felt as if some part of her ought to feel nervous in their presence but nothing of the sort came, simply because knew each and every one of them beyond their titles. Darth Metus is her Father, Darth Malphas her Master, and Srina Talon a family friend. Adron spoke and broke her train of thought on the subject just as the shuttle touched down. The light flooding into the shuttle was blindingly bright but her eyes adjusted quickly to take in the incredible island scenery.

As the group left the shuttle to greet the Silver Order Dianah, not for the first time, wished she had brought her lightsaber. It felt strange moving without the weight of it on her hip, likewise with the bulky armor she had switched out for the dress she now wore. The group they were greeted with seemed friendly enough. Dianah had only one experience with Jedi herself and he happened to be the Master of the Order, [member=Josh DragonsFlame]. He had seemed friendly enough, so for now Dianah kept her judgments to herself. Introductions were made and Dianah lowered her head to the woman she now knew as Allyson Locke. It was all that was needed considering the second they had touched down, Dianah had made a mental note to only talk when her opinion was asked for or the meeting required it, as far as she was concerned; she was here to watch and learn.

[member=Darth Metus] | [member=Adron Malvern] | [member=Srina Talon] | [member=Allyson Locke] | [member=Jend-Ro Quill]​

 

[Malok]

At least it wasn't Ahto City.

As descension gripped the shuttle, a bemused thought danced between Master and Apprentice. With eyes of sulfur beholding the dazzling seas, Darth Metus recalled the running "gag" he remembered about Manaan. Though the joke was quite old at this point, it was a testament to just how troubled the planet had been before the Silver Jedi moved in. It had been the site of many battles. It had been victim to many casualties. And one of its most gorgeous locales - the floating Ahto City - had been sunk quite a few times. In fact, if memory served, the gag was something along the lines of if you want to go down, go to Ahto City.

Admittedly, the telepathic musings of her Master might have been lost upon the alabaster woman. In truth, she would have been very young when last Manaan was subject to the horrors of war - and thereby unfamiliar with how many times Ahto City had taken on water. Alternatively...her sense of humor was far more rigid then the Vicelord's. He could find a laugh in damn near anything. With Darth Omnia, well, one had to hit her funny bone with pinpoint precision. Otherwise they would be met with the blank stare that the Sith had become intimately familiar with.

Nonetheless, the day would not revolve around decades-old gags for long, as their shuttle promptly landed. Their arrival onto solid ground was announced by the light shudder of the entire ship, followed by electronic chimes that it was safe to move about the cabin. Rising first, the Sith offered his hand to alabaster Sith Lady beside him so that she might join his side. He then followed his second apprentice, Darth Malphas, towards the ramp of the vessel. The former Imperial did well in his introduction - proclaiming their names and statuses within the Confederacy impeccably. Of course, he referred to the majority of them by their legal names.

Darth Metus could only assume it was due to who they were visiting - and he did not fault [member="Adron Malvern"] for his choice there. Yet the Vicelord was very candid with his allies. In order for his nation to be trusted - in order for him to be trusted - he operated in a very open manner. Where his Apprentices and daughter might subdue their presence in the Force, Darth Metus let it all hang out. He did not flex his power. He did not purposefully elevate himself to an event horizon in the Force for the sake of intimidation. He simply let his Darkness what it was - alive and active. Those present would simply know that the Vicelord of Confederacy was among them.

He did make a single concession though. The Sith left his armor at home, opting instead to wear the Confederate Service Dress Uniform instead. The ensemble was pristine, and featured the Confederate roundel and a sigil of his office as gold ranks upon the collar. He opted out of the admiral's saber in favor of his own, personal lightsaber. That choice alone might have raised eyebrows, but again the Sith the Pinnacle of candor. The former Grandmaster, [member="Valae Heavenshield"], had been the first to witness this fact - and from it was born a wonderful rapport.

Having now been introduced, Darth Metus stepped past Darth Omnia - better known as [member="Srina Talon"] - so that he might personally greet the liasion sent to receive them. She had introduced herself as Lt. Commander [member="Allyson Locke"] and wore a uniform that matched her rank. The Sith's gloved hand took her own and offered a brief shake whilst a genuine smile graced his features. "A pleasure to meet you, Lt. Commander. Thank you for receiving us." he said, before offering a strong, silent nod to her counterpart [member="Jend-Ro Quill"].

From there, the Confederate delegation eased into the speeder that would be expertly driven by the Lt. Commander. To say that it was a smooth ride was an understatement - and Darth Metus found himself making a mental note to pick one of speeders up for himself after the fact. This time around, he sat with Omnia on his right and [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] on his left. Reaching, he placed a hand on the Viceroy's lap and grinned. Pride was written all over the Sith's face - the sort of pride that only a father could have. When the Galaxy looked upon the Viceroy of Krant, they would see a woman of poise. Excellence. Strength. They would see a woman who proudly represented her people and worked tirelessly to earn their trust as Viceroy.

But Darth Metus saw so much more. He saw her as the youngling who balked at the noise of thunder. He saw her as rascal who often broke into his Archives to see what he was doing. He saw her as the warrior who managed to score a lucky blow upon his brow. To see that his daughter had grown into the woman of the present filled him a cacophany of joy and pride. And so, he had invited her along to the delegation, so that all the Galaxy might see what she had become. And what good she, daughter of a Sith Lord, was doing for her people.

For a moment, there was simply the quiet hum of the speeder's engine before the Lt. Commander spoke up from the front. "We're fine," he began, "the screen is good where it is." He would happily accept her offer of refreshments and dipped his hand into the center console. He secured a bottle of water and reached it across to his second apprentice, Malphas, before taking one for himself.

They did not need a privacy screen, for they spoke plenty without physical words. For example, as the Sith offered the water to the former Imperial, he telepathically took a jab.

Does that cane come with a feathered hat and dancers?

[member="Allyson Locke"] | [member="Jend-Ro Quill"] | [member="Adron Malvern"] | [member="Srina Talon"] | [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"]​

 

[Srina Talon]

Location: Manaan [Space Port to Speeder]
Objective: Renewing the Vows
Wearing: This
Weapons/Armor: None [None, that are easily detected.]
Tags: [member="Darth Metus"] | [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] | [member="Allyson Locke"] | [member="Jend-Ro Quill"] | [member="Adron Malvern"]

​

The slender creature remembered the first time they’d spoken to the Silvers in an official capacity. It had been one of her first missions. She’d stepped from an unarmed ship at the side of [member="Darth Metus"] and had first laid eyes to both [member="Stephanie Swail"] and Valae Kitra, or, [member="Valae Heavenshield"]. Both women had seemed to hold reservations about their new Sith friends but ever since the partnership had proved fruitful. They’d spent a pleasant afternoon at the Silver Rest solidifying bonds that had seen them through the darkest of times. Meeting on Manaan over Kashyyyk was a deviation.

Srina wasn’t certain how she felt about the change in venue. Was it just a new view that the Jedi craved? Was it important to the subject of this meeting? Or was it a bid to keep the Sith of the Confederacy from darkening their Silver Rest?

The sneer that [member="Adron Malvern"] issued was familiar. Where some might have felt offended by his gentle mockery a silvery laugh escaped the wintry woman. It was light, honeyed, and reminiscent of the first bells of a spring morning. His personality was something she had grown exceedingly fond of. She appreciated his taciturn observations and the sharp tongue he so often employed. Her cultured voice lingered in the ship cabin in a dichotomy that often left others feeling uncomfortable. There was something sharp, something endlessly cold, buried beneath the sweetest cream. “Manners, Adron.”

Her fellow Exarch hid his power. Srina Talon did not. In her eyes, to do so, was a deception that the Jedi did not deserve. The Silvers had known what they were from the beginning. It had been with open eyes, open minds, and open hearts that they had endeavored to work together. It felt unnecessary and wrong to engage in duplicitous behavior when all the cards were already on the table, however, the Serenno man would not hear a word of complaint from her lips. It was his choice. She would not deny it.

Srina tilted her head slowly while thoughts of amusement ran through her Master. He was dressed just a princely as Adron in a black Confederate dress uniform. This was also different from the first time. She supposed that they all were. “I do not understand. Why is this humorous to you?”

Should not the notion of city falling elicit something other than barely muted chuckles?

She would be the last one to leave the shuttle. At her side, when she did, were twin Magnaguard units. Their eyes would ring nightmarishly red but they didn’t seem to be carrying their usual weaponry. Instead, one of them held a package, while the other held nothing at all. They flanked her without hesitation. Droids. They were the lifeblood of the Confederacy…To see them entirely without would be like seeing the sun and the moon in the same dark sky. It would be a strange day indeed.

The quiet woman, endlessly poised and unmoved by the introductions, remained as stone while the others made the obligatory niceties. Winter gray eyes fixated on [member="Allyson Locke"]. They’d met previously during a dedication ceremony for the fallen Eternal Empire. There had also been a few other occasions in which she had glimpsed the woman at the side of [member="Jyoti Nooran"] but she had never quite caught her title. Nevertheless, where one went, the other was not far behind. Her gaze slipped from their welcoming party, to the lovely @Dianah Vi’dreya, and finally to the Jedi she had not met before. [member="Jend-Ro Quill"]. He held his tongue. Srina, ever the Echani, found value in that.

They made their way toward the transport when appropriate and the whisper-silent Exarch flowed gracefully amongst her people. It was almost as if her feet didn’t touch the ground at all. There was nothing she did, not even to breathe, that was not steeped in elegance. Where Dianah wore something in bright colors, contemporary, and attractive—Srina would appear the exact opposite. The nearly albino-creature wore an almost vintage gown of ivory shimmersilk. It was touched with silver accents and hung unmercifully from her form, almost impossibly, as if she’d actually been poured into it. The dress was off the shoulder, much to her chagrin, but Srina was mostly mollified by the there-and-not there flesh-toned fabric that covered her arms.

Something was better than nothing.

Both Adron and Darth Metus would recognize her ensemble. She’d also worn it to an ill-fated diplomatic event with the former Fel Empire that felt like a lifetime ago. So many, many Empires seemed to rise and fall in the blink of an eye. It was a wonder that they didn’t start boycotting the word out of superstition. It simply seemed appropriate to don silver, in honor of their allies, and the irony would not be lost on her. Once in the vehicle, she took a seat beside Adron, unbothered by her droids, or their wares. They would find their way.

Moonlit hair slipped over her shoulder in silken waves as she caught her Master’s telepath commentary toward her fellow Exarch. There was very little either man could hide from her. She was Force Bound to Darth Metus, and he, to Adron. “My Master…If you wanted a feathered hat and dancers you should have said so. I believe this object to simply be a cane.”

‘Do not make me relinquish it from my friend so that I may beat you with it…’

Her additional thought was clear, though, mercurial eyes flickered. Behave. Was she amused or upset? It would be very hard to tell the difference.

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

Asaraa waggled a finger in the air, the sausage dancing back and forward in front of Jason's face before coming to a stop a few centimetre's from his hand, allowing the toddler to grasp it at his leisure. "Do you think that the tribute to the great Jason will be enough to keep my dinner safe master? Cause if not, I'm sure I can distract him with your food if I need to." The girl shot the father an entirely innocent grin before winking at Jason, "Isn't that right kiddo, it's always best to eat dad's food."

Satisfied that the cutest member of their party was happily ensconced in his meal the girl took a bite of her own meal, "Honestly, I didn't know that it was possible for Jedi to do laid back thins too. You're always so get up and go about missions." A pair of blue eyes flicked over to the Grand Master as a playful smile curled up the corner of the Padawan's lips, her fork rising into the air in place of a hand, the metallic implement waving back and forth in an attempt to catch Jyoti's attention. "I totally volunteer to take on the cruel and unusual burden of tackling the rest of these laid-back assignment's so that the other Jedi don't have to suffer through this." A bright grin flashed around the table, the girl exuding happiness and contentment, the emotions spilling off her into the force as she speared a slice of her food, biting into it with relish. They did say breakfast was the most important meal of the day, and today looked to be a busy one.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

"I don't think he likes you toying with him like that. I'd watch out for projectiles" Josh would point out. As if on cue, the second that Asaraa would let him have it, the child's cheeks had puffed up and he'd tossed it at her head. The wiener would stop an inch from Asaraa's face as Josh would hold out a hand. The Jedi would let out a sigh as he would bring the sausage back to his own hands, and hold it out to Jason. "Come on, Jason. Be nice" Josh spoke softly. "Eat up, I know you're hungry. You're always hungry."

With the sausage in the hands of a new owner, Jason didn't hesitate to grab the food and gobble it up. "You didn't seem all that phased with a wiener in your direct proximity" Josh informed Asaraa in a soft, but clearly amused tone as the corner of his mouth twitched into a small, playful smirk. "Well, at least it seems this one's got an arm on him. Nobody's going to mess with you, are they, Jason?" He would ask the child, who just stared at him a moment with the sausage hanging out of his mouth. "Mmm?" Jason responded. "Swallow first" Josh would order calmly and gently as Jason would pout. "Mmmmf!" Jason would protest as the child would wiggle the sausage around, clearly trying to look ridiculous. Josh couldn't help it and laughed in turn. "You got me, pardner. But swallow, you're going to choke on it" Josh would respond softly. "Do you want ketchup?" He then asked. "Mmm!" Jason would respond loudly with a big nod of his head as the sausage continued to flap around with every movement, as the Jedi had to resist breaking out in loud hysterics with their guests soon to arrive.

Lifting a finger, the ketchup on the stand nearby would fly into Josh's hand and he would catch it quickly. Squirting some ketchup onto the sausage sticking out of Jason's mouth, that seemed to motivate the child enough to end his theatrics and promptly gobble up the rest within moments. With that, and a light chuckle, Josh would turn back toward Asaraa.

"We don't see these sorts of missions very often, so enjoy yourself while you can" He spoke calmly but with a hint of seriousness to it too. Always appreciate things, appreciate everything if you can, he liked to tell his students. He would look for the knife again when Jason would suddenly let out a loud "BELLLLLLLLLCH" which startled Josh, but used to it, the Jedi Master would bury his head in the child's shoulder to obscure the view of and muffle the sound of his hysterical laughter.

[member="Asaraa Vaashe"] - [member="Jyoti Nooran"] - [member="Allyson Locke"] - [member="Anora Vahn"] (My guest to get an example on diplomacy if she wishes to attend)

 

[Allyson Locke]

With everyone loaded on, Allyson nodded and left the privacy visor down. The CIS officials were able to see the passing landscape as the speeder moved quickly through traffic and the like. Allyson hummed softly to herself as she fulfilled her duty as a glorified chauffer. The Corellian was still new the whole concept of the Force of the living, she could sense things were happening in the back but wasn’t the wise to know exactly what was happening. She looked over towards her Jedi counterpart and sighed softly, - it seems the old man had fallen asleep.

So much for security.

The water landscape that washed against the city highlighted the best-known feature of Manaan. The distance between where the CIS officials had gotten their ride and where the conference was being held wasn’t that far apart. It only took roughly 15 minutes for the distance to be covered, especially with a Corellian piloting their craft. The jet-black speeder stopped smoothly and powered down. Being the kind chauffer, she opened the door for the guests of honor and helped each one that needed help. Looking towards her Jedi friend, she sighed softly. “Guard the speeder.” Giving him a salute, she returned her attention to the delegates.

“Welcome to The Gritti Hotel.” Allyson smiled as she walked ahead of the small group. “Follow me, I’ll take you all to where the conference is. There you can make yourselves comfortable and look over the agendas. We have security around the clock to ensure that everyone is safe.” Allyson wandered into the hotel and headed towards the wing that was rented out by the Silver Jedi. A finger to her ear she signaled [member="Drystan Marakos"], “The Confederacy has arrived, I’ll monitor this sector for the time being.”

She spoke quickly and quietly then turned her attention back to the group. “Anything I can do while we wait?”

[member="Josh DragonsFlame"] [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] [member="Srina Talon"] [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] [member="Jend-Ro Quill"] [member="Adron Malvern"] [member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

Wearing: White Jedi Robes

"It's nothing," she assured both Josh and Asaraa, "Just a bit of writer's block."

She became quiet as she sipped on her mug, observing the antics between father and son. Eventually, escalating to food flinging. Sometimes one could be confused for them both being children in these moments. What couldn't be doubted though, was the love on display at the moment. Charlie came to mind at the moment, leaving her feeling a tad wistful. The teenager was off on an expedition with the Explorer Corps, meaning they wouldn't see each other for a long while. She looked forward to her apprentice's return, sharing stories at their favorite burger joint on Randon.

A notification flashed in the cyborg's vision, receiving a message from the Silver security detail.

The CIS delegation had arrived.

"Jason," the Echani finally called out, softly but firmly.

The toddler immediately settled down from his previous rowdiness. He knew he had gotten away with much more than he would be allowed when Jyoti was watching him.

"The Confederacy is here, time to wrap it up and move to the conference room. You should have the notes I prepared this week; be sure to have them on hand even if you memorized it all. Let's make a good impression on our counterparts."

She cleaned up her corner of the table, then slipped back inside, expecting the others to follow suit. The conference room was only down the hall, so she and the others would have plenty of time to set up before the delegation was brought to the hotel and checked in.

[member="Allyson Locke"] [member="Josh DragonsFlame"] [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] [member="Srina Talon"] [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Jend-Ro Quill"] [member="Dianah Vi'Dreya"] [member="Adron Malvern"] [member="Drystan Marakos"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Jyoti spoke up and Jason would jump a bit in surprise. Turning to look at the Echani, he would then lower his head as he settled down as the toddler seemed to be aware he'd done more than would be allowed. While Jason didn't understand why, as he wouldn't understand this meeting, Jyoti had made the line clear. Josh would look toward Jyoti a moment, remembering her mentions of this sort of thing before and how she'd handled it. He was trying to settle him down himself, even if he did it the softer, slower way in comparison to how the mother had done... But he understood that with the CIS delegates coming, they'd need to get him to settle down quickly.

Saying nothing, he would feed Jason one of the things he’d cut up in order to lift the child's spirits. He listened to Jyoti’s instructions regarding the coming CIS delegates. Once they concluded he would sneak a bit of food to wolf down quickly and settle his nerves before he took Jason and followed suit.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

Note to self, when you're at a diplomatic conference with the major players of the Order and their allies, best not to let yourself get so distracted by the view that you have to cut your breakfast short.

Asaraa couldn't help but smile, internally of course, at hte similarity between herself and Josh as they both wolfed down their breakfast before she pushed back from the table, grabbing at her orange juice as she stood. Sated for now Asaraa pulled her tablet from her pocket, blue eyes flicking over the textthere as she reviewed the arrangements. As the Junior member of the Order of Silver Jedi's delegation she'd assumed the role of gopher, running around to liase with the hotel staff to make sure they had everything they needed. Well, that and making sure that there were no other visitors near the conference room. The Silver Jedi and the Confederation might well be friends, but she assumed that still meant that neither of them would want any potential eavsedroppers hanging around nearby. She was determined to put up a good showing, she wasn't the slightest bit nervous at all to have been selected to join the party, not with people like the Grandmaster of the Order and the Master of the Order here. Stay in the back and listen, that might have been the best advice but...the truth is it would probably be more like stay in the back listen until you can't hold back anymore and hope you don't embarass anyone but impress them instead when you talk.

With a plan firmly settled in her mind Asaraa fell in behind hte others, tablet returning to the safety of her pocket as she brought her hands up to her face, pulling faces at Jason behind Josh's back. So...maybe she wasn't the absolute junior member of the delagation.

 

[Queen Bots™]

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the IC Diplomacy Renewal between the CIS and SJO will be continued in a new thread. This has been approved via discord by both CIS and SJO Administration. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to send a PM to [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] [SJO] or [member="Srina Talon"] [CIS] and they will aid you as quickly as possible. The link below will connect you to the new thread. Those involved have also been tagged.​

Silver Circuits, Roger Roger​

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[END]​