Adjustments

[Arlen Rossi]

Under the dull orange glow of the cabin lights, Arlen sat upon her bunk deep in meditation. Collecting stray thoughts to root herself completely within the present. Her usual routine before every mission. It didn't pay to be prey to distractions out in the field.

With her senses in a heightened state, she could feel the radiation of the soft lights that hit her skin. Smell the sour metallic taint in the recycled air. Hear the dull drones of the droids and crewmen that worked far outside her locked door.

In the cacophony of auras all mixed within the ship, the Sith could pick out the another like hers. The Ren.

She didn't care much for having one of the state's hounds tagging along, but as the mission concerned the security of Supreme Commander directly, it couldn't be helped. She did not doubt the abilities of the Ren, but the other woman served as an uncomfortable reminder of Force Sensitives' treatment within the First Order.

At the foot of her bunk, her phone rocked with the buzz of its alarm, signalling the end of her meditation. The intelligence officer had a briefing to present. Some of the clarity she had gained during her short session was lost as she rose to turn up the lights and dress, but she felt much better than when she had started.

From the cabin, she emerged in a freshly pressed set of grey fatigues, completely devoid of any markings to discern rank or identity. Almost a dead giveaway in itself that she was some flavour of spook.

She arrived in the designated conference room promptly 15 minutes before the scheduled time of the briefing. A silver protocol droid would be there waiting for her with steaming cup of hot chocolate. As she sat at the head of the table, the droid would present her with the black mug, then take its place in the corner until it was needed again.

She took a sip. The sweet beverage was strong with the taste of cinnamon, just exactly as she liked it. She was almost addicted to the spice, never having it or cocoa on her home planet. One of the few good things she had picked up since her exodus.

There were a few others in the room already, a couple dressed like she. Field commanders who would be on the ground come time for the operation. She didn't see the Ren among them. She began to imagine the woman prostrate before an image of the Supreme Leader, offering her daily adulations.

One day, she may sit down with one of the Ren and pick their brain to see what exactly inspired such blind devotion to the state, as embodied by the Supreme Leader. Such reverence was anathema to the Sith. Today, she just may just get the chance.

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

The shrouded form of Ashen Ren sat upon the edge of a bed, a solitary figure inside the nondescript of her cabin. Pale hands sat placidly in her lap, and her head bowed forward slightly, her face covered by inky shadows. Emerald eyes were guarded by her lids, closed in a moment of quiet. After a few more minutes spent in silence, she let her gaze come to rest on the wall before her. The Knight of Ren’s mind was silent and her senses grew sharp. From what she understood, she would need her wits about her this night.

Slowly, the dark figure rose from the bed and her hands set to work gathering her belongings. Indeed, Isla had little to her name, but the few belongings were precious. A weather-worn cloak hung from her shoulders, the hem of the black fabric touched the floor. The hood was up, obscuring her flame-red locks from view. Around her waist she fastened a leather belt, fitted with a charric pistol, spare power cells, and her trusty lightsaber. She reached down to give her hip a pat, where a rustic hunting knife sat waiting. The primitive weapon was not there so much for its usefulness, but rather for luck. After all, these days she seemed to prefer her saber.

A glance at the clock told her that her that it was now time to go.

Brisk steps brought Isla out of her cabin and down the halls of the ship. Her senses aware of those around her, and especially focused on the presence of another force-user. This time, it was not one of her fellow Ren, but a Sith. It was true that she had acquainted herself with more than one, people that she would now consider to be among her friends. But that did not mean that she trusted them, these Sith did not know the strict sense of discipline that the Ren did. Nevertheless, she would accomplish her mission – with or without assistance from the Sith.

Isla entered the conference room, perhaps the last to do so.

Wordlessly, she stood towards the back of the room. Her eyes shifted about her surroundings and over the faces of those that were present. Isla’s emerald orbs fell upon the other force-user, and she offered the slightest of nods in greeting.

[member="Arlen Rossi"]

 

[Arlen Rossi]

Arlen felt the Ren approach before she entered the room, but even if she hadn't, she would have been able to pick out her counterpart without trouble, starting with that shabby cloak. Meanwhile, there wasn't a single thread out of place on her uniform.

She met the woman's gaze with a small smile, noting those big bright green eyes. So vibrant that they almost looked unreal. She could almost just pluck them out like little jewels.

There was a sudden flare of tension in the room as the Ren made her appearance. Among their myriad of duties, the Ren helped take care of internal affairs. Rooting out those who would threaten the status quo. Ambition was rewarded but to a point. Those of the more enterprising in the group had a good reason for concern.

"Ashen Ren, it's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

She set down her mug and stood up to greet the dark knight with a handshake. Whatever reservations she had about the Ren, she would exercise professionalism and show respect. It would only make her job easier.

Closer now, she could see a few fiery strands peeked out from under her hood, perfectly complementing her eyes in intensity.

"I'm Special Agent Rossi. I look forward to working with you."

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla settled against the wall, quiet and wraithlike, fully aware that her presence made some of the others seem... unsettled. Ashen Ren was likely a name they had not heard, for the woman’s work for the Supreme Leader generally saw her moving with darkness and blending with shadows. However, the name of Ren would carry a reputation of its own – a most devout sword and servant of the Sieger Ren himself. It was a name that carried a certain amount of fear, at least to those that had a reason…

She let her arms cross gently, her posture straight but not overly ridged or standoffish. Isla turned her attention to the other woman, her skin a hue of golden brown and eyes that matched. The agent stood a couple inches shorter than Isla, and the Knight of Ren noticed immediately that she moved with a graceful sense of strength. As the other woman approached, Isla offered a half-smile and a sturdy handshake.

“Likewise, Agent Rossi.” Isla said in a low tone, and canted her head to the side.

She was a woman of few words.

Falling back into silence, she recalled some of the details of this mission. There were some blanks that would needed to be filled in, but that was exactly the purpose for this meeting. As she understood it, they were currently en route to Thakwaa, a world she had visited once before. It had been one of her first outings after joining the fold of the Ren, and it remained a fond memory. Her brows arched slightly, as if to ask the FOSB agent to continue with her debriefing.

[member="Arlen Rossi"]

 

[Arlen Rossi]

Ashen came off as stiff but cordial. As expected from one who was supposed to lead a barbones existence. In another life, this woman would have made for a lovely actress or model. The Supreme Leader was getting hitched to such a celebrity himself, much to the ire to some of those in the upper echelons of the First Order. If the Knights of Ren ever cared for publicity (read: propaganda), then this Ashen would make a nice candidate as a public face.

"Please, sit." She said, waving her hand over at an empty seat right next to hers at the end of the table. She could feel another rise of anxiety among those seated in that area.

She returned to her place at the head of the table, giving people more time to trickle in before beginning her briefing until the table was full. With a few gestures, the lights dimmed, and the inbuilt holoprojector activated, initially displaying the standard warnings about leaking classified information. Usually imprisonment or death, proceeded by a very thorough interrogation session with Internal Affairs, or even one of those Ren like Ashen.

The warnings were then replaced with a rendering of the Thakwaa system.

"Approximately eight days ago, the Security Bureau uncovered a plot to assassinate the Supreme Commander and several other ranking members of High Command during his wedding ceremony on Thakwaa. Resistance elements had successfully infiltrated the palace support staff with plans to bring down the whole complex with proton charges. The infiltrators have since been neutralised with a counter operation."

The high yield proton charges had been replaced by duds, and the infiltrators had been allowed to keep operating so that their handlers were tricked to believe that everything was still proceeding according to plans.

"While the Supreme Commander is no longer in any immediate danger, there still exists a serious threat upon Thakwaa. It is believed that extremist elements of resident Thakwaash population have been offering a refuge for the offworld insurgents for an easier time operating planetside."

There was a zoom-in on the planet of Thakwaa until an image of the large town came into view.

"This is Mord, known to be a hotbed for extremist activity. Tonight, we'll be hitting several residences and compounds within the town in raids as a part new round of crackdowns in the region. The operation will occur in three phases. The first phase will be Alpha team performing an orbital insertion. Their objective will be to apprehend extremist leaders and collect data caches before they can be purged. The second phase will occur at the Palace itself, finally apprehending all infiltrators for interrogation. Third phase will be an air assault on Mord by the flotilla."

"Phase One is the most critical, the ringleaders are to be captured before they may alert the infiltrators still within the palace. We'll also be crippling the Thakwaash resistance movement, knocking out two birds with one stone. I will be joining Alpha on the ground. Ashen Ren, I would like you to accompany me."

As long as the Sith had a Ren around she would make use of her to ensure success. There was something specific Ashen could help her with, too.

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla took a seat next to Agent Rossi, her emerald orbs resting on the surface of the table in front of her. She could immediately feel sets of eyes upon her, and the swell of anxious energy in her vicinity was palpable. However, her expression of collected calm betrayed very little. The lights dimmed, and Isla turned her attention to the holoprojector that had just come to life. As Agent Rossi began to speak, Isla’s eyes studied the display before them.

Her gaze shifted slightly, so that she could view Arlen out of the side of her eyes.

Ah, yes. Word of the Supreme Commander’s wedding had even reached her ears. Normally, such events would come to pass without as much as a thought from Ashen Ren. But this time, members of High Command were threatened, and that made it a priority. A brow rose slightly, hinting at the thoughtful process taking place within her mind. Indeed, she recognized that a wedding would be an opportune time to strike – even if it was an unfortunate realization.

Isla’s eyes returned to the glowing holoprojection, the landscape of Thakwaa etched out in blue.

The plan provided by Agent Rossi was detailed and thorough. Their actions against the extremists would be swift, calculated, and brutal. They would leave no hope behind for these terrorists. Ashen Ren bowed her head, the corners of her mouth tugged upwards just so. She would make sure that their enemy felt the wrath of the Ren, and suffered the consequences for their threats made against the First Order.

Returning to the present, she gave a nod as Agent Rossi requested her presence for Phase One. There would be a lot riding on their ability to silence the voices that might wish to warn their extremist comrades. Isla was not terribly worried; she could vouch for the skills of the First Order forces. They all knew that failure was simply not an option. There were nods of understanding, all around the table men and women were now standing to their feet.

Everyone would be shuffling back to their stations, ready to do their duty. Isla was ready, too.

“Shall we make for the hangar?” She asked, looking to Agent Rossi, a ghost of a smile present on her pale face.

[member="Arlen Rossi"]

 

[Arlen Rossi]

When Arlen had offered the promise of violence, she thought she had seen a hint of a smile upon the Ren's face. Good old fashioned blood lust. Not quite a droid after all.
Arlen nodded when Ashen asked to relocate to the hangar, then disseminated more specific orders to each section through text to modify as needed. She would later speak with Alpha team directly as she would be commanding them.

"Everyone, dismissed. If you have any questions, save them, I'll be available within the hour. Ashen Ren, I'd like a word with you in private before we meet the team."

The intelligence officer stood and paced around her chair until the last person exited the room, leaving her alone with Ashen.

"I know you have a certain appearance to maintain around the normal riff-raff, but you can relax a bit if you like. We have some time."

So many of the Ren walked around looking so gloomy, but that seemed to be the fashion for most followers of Bogan she had encountered within the First Order. Why did they try so hard to mask themselves?

She took her seat, taking a few more sips of her hot chocolate, still quite warm.

"Cinnamon is definitely the gift of the Force."

She smiled, growing just a tad more casual with her counterpart. Just a little, though. She didn't want the Ren accuse her of being chummy.

"Hungry? Thirsty?"

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

The tall form of Ashen Ren had risen from her seat, and her boots ready to take her towards the door. But she paused at the sound of Arlen requesting to have words with her. For a moment, her gaze remained on the door, but she lowered herself back down into the chair. She maintained her straight posture, looking much like someone that half-expected to jump up again at any moment.

Isla blinked a couple of times at Arlen’s remark about maintaining appearances. She made a face, as if to say, “This is how I always am…”

Slowly, she eased back in her chair, letting her shoulders drop slightly. She even crossed her legs to signal that she was being casual. Isla had not always been quite so uptight; there was a time when she was a free spirit – a time before the Ren. Her lessons in discipline would never be easily forgotten, for the scars remained.

“I have never cared much for cinnamon.” Isla said, glancing to the side at her companion.

In her opinion, the spice tended to overpower. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it just didn’t suit her. Isla returned Arlen’s smile, just to ensure that it was understood she was attempting conversation, and not that she was trying to put down the other woman’s taste.

“Thank you, no. I’m fine.” Isla answered, and held up a hand for a moment.

She let a moment of silence fall between them, and she wracked her brain for topic of conversation.

“This will be my first mission working with the Security Bureau, it should be… interesting.”

It was a rather sad attempt at small talk, but for now… it would do.

[member="Arlen Rossi"]

 

[Arlen Rossi]

For a moment, Ashen looked liked she had just been stunned. So she was a stiff through and through. The way she now moved, it all seemed so forced, like she was just going through the motions to appease Arlen. These Ren are sure wound tight.

"More for me, then." She wasn't offended in the slightest by their difference in tastes. Now she knew something about Ashen. A small thing, but a start.

"Alright then, but if you need anything, then just let me know. Very interesting, because this will be the first time I'll be working with a Knight of Ren. Honestly, I'm quite honored to be entrusted to oversee an operation of such importance."

As far as raids went, this one was pretty cut and dry. The intelligence was good, and the opposition unremarkable. However, it was the stakes that made the success of this mission so paramount. While the proton charges had been recovered, there was still a credible threat on the Supreme Leader's life if the infiltrators should become alerted and shift to some backup plan.

"While I've never collaborated with Ren before, I've been with the Bureau for quite some time, getting my start just a little before your Order became official."

Perhaps a good thing, lest she had been funneled into the life of a Ren herself instead of FOSB. Honestly, the thought of being "processed" to to become something like Ashen gave her chills. She felt like Sith like she were only just tolerated until they were no longer needed, when the First Order's fledgling order of servants had finally reached full strength.

"If I may ask, how long have you been with the Order? What attracted you to the Ren in the first place?"

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

“I see,” Isla said with a nod. Despite the somewhat stony look on her face, she was curious about her new agent companion. It was always strange for her to meet other force-users within the First Order’s ranks that had chosen not to come to the Ren. She had meet others like this – a Sith that traveled with the Ren, but remained independent, a force sensitive member of government, and even a Sith Knight that had become a rather prominent figure in the army.

But it seemed that Arlen beat her to the punch, and asked about her motivations for joining the Ren. It was a question that she had answered for others, too.

“Unlike many of the Ren, I have only been among their numbers for a couple of years.” Isla said, turning to meet the honey-brown gaze of Agent Rossi. “The Ren took me from a simple life, but they gave me a purpose and a will that was stronger than my own.”

There were certainly days when she longed for her old life, sometimes she missed the family farm. But those people had not truly been her family, and they had treated her as such. Now, she knew the bonds of brotherhood – it was a sense of camaraderie that she had she was rather fond of, even if it was not readily apparent. Her hood shifted back slightly, bringing her face out of the shadows. Isla’s eyes softened just slightly, enough to appear more at ease.

“And you?” She asked, her head tilted to the side. “As a fellow force user, surely your skills are appreciated in the Security Bureau.” This was her way of asking, "why not join the Ren?"

[member="Arlen Rossi"]

 

[Arlen Rossi]

"The Force certainly gives me an edge, and the Bureau benefits from it."

Every group within the First Order ultimately worked towards the same cause, preserving the regime and expanding its reach across the galaxy. That wasn't to to say that there wasn't competition among each group, though. As the FOSB and KoR had a similar range of responsibilities, they could be considered something like rivals. The Bureau chiefs certainly enjoyed having their own cadre of Force Users who weren't under the thumb of the Supreme Leader. More flexible, less inconspicuous (no capes!).

"I can't lie and say that I haven't thought about becoming a Ren myself, but I discovered that I could best serve the First Order as part of the FOSB. One team still, wherever we are."

She was careful to say the First Order, and not the Supreme Leader. For the Ren, the Supreme Leader was supposed to be the end all be all, the center of their universe. However, to her and most others, he was just a man, and men were fallible. That was why she served, to ensure his and the rest of High Command's shortcomings were covered for the sake of the whole regime - its people. Her brother.

"I find some similarities between our stories. I too came from small beginnings. The First Order is very good about rewarding competency and loyalty. This will ensure a strong foundation that will endure the ages."

A subtle reference to their neighbors to the north. Through the years, the First Order had been able to spread nearly unopposed, all attention having been on the One Sith. Though with the Sith Empire's demise, that may not be the case moving forward. The First Order would have to be ready for the inevitable day, by having the best people they could in the right places.

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla shifted in her chair, but her eyes remained upon the Agent. Hmm, so the other woman had considered becoming a member of the Ren. Perhaps there was still hope for Arlen. While she would not use this mission to actively recruit Agent Rossi, she would certainly take the opportunity to gauge her skills and abilities. If she proved to be a strong asset, then she would report back to her superiors. And a reliable contact within the Security Bureau would not go amiss.

“Indeed.” She bowed her head, “We do work towards the same goal.”

At the end of the day, she did serve the First Order, and worked tirelessly to preserve the way of life cultivated on their words. The branches of Government and Military did work in concert to carry out the will of the Supreme Leader, but in Isla’s mind, there were none as devoted as the Ren.

Already she could see that her new companion was quite crafty, and knew the power of well-placed words. War was always looming in the distance, it was only a matter of time – they all seemed to know this. Isla did not hold any feelings of doubt, she was confident in the Order as a whole. And she could not deny that it was a refreshing change of pace to meet someone from a humble background.

“My own small beginnings…” she started, pausing thoughtfully. “A farm on Skye. And yours?”

[member="Arlen Rossi"]

 

[Arlen Rossi]

"I'm from Wild Space, right at the edge of the galaxy," she began, absently thumbing the smooth handle of her mug. "From a backwater planet called Sekalus. Life wasn't great, but it was a life. Until those One Sith rejects ruined my home."

She was referring to the now defunct Covenant of the Black Rose. Their betrayal and conflicting mess of ideas had put them in conflict with both the Sith and the Jedi. AsSekalus was conquered by the cult, it became their seat of power, but also the epicentre of ruin, billions dead during their reign of terror. The Covenant was now gone, but one of its former leaders still remained to lead Sekalus as a tyrant, and ensure it would continue to come under attack by their many foes.

"As much as I hated it, I was forced to leave. Found my way to Dosuun as a refugee, then joined up with the FOSB to provide for myself. It's definitely not what I had expected for myself growing up, but I've been fortunate to have an opportunity to travel the galaxy as I serve the First Order. It's been an enriching experience."

She glossed over some details about her past on Sekalus, like being of noble Sith blood or having a brother, but no one needed to know about that aside from her direct superiors. It was still a lot for her to even divulge the fact that she was from Sekalus. Even after all these years, it was still quite a sore spot for her. However, she had learned that a little honesty went a long way in building relationships.

"Well, thank you for sharing, but I didn't just pull you aside for small talk."

She straightened up in her seat as the discussion turned serious again, setting aside her mug.

"In addition the overall objectives, there was one given to me by the FOSB Directorate. It is suspected local units may be compromised by Resistance infiltration including command elements. I'm going to be honest with you and say that the local garrison has no idea that we're actually about to hit that town, and I want to keep it that way until I'm finished collecting evidence. If there are conspirators, I don't want them possibly becoming tipped off by employing local forces."

"The process will go much smoother if you would join me in finding evidence."

This was information she hadn't even shared with anyone else on the ship. If nothing else, the Ren could be trusted to remain loyal to the First Order with every fiber of their being. If she couldn't rely on Ashen, then the situation was hopeless in achieving her real goal here.

[member="Isla Ashen"]

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla threaded her hands together on her lap, and she tried to imagine what it might have been like to be forced away from home. For her own part, she had seized the opportunity to leave Skye. Not that she disliked the world itself; she actually did like it very much. But her family life had been anything but happy, and it had been a chance to escape. She still remembered that dark night, walking off with a Knight of Ren, leaving her family home in the distance… without so much as a backward glance. In the eyes of her adoptive family, surely they thought Isla had simply walked off into the woods and never came back – and they were probably better off for it.

“I see,” Was the simple response that Isla offered, deciding that she would not pry for additional details.

She swiveled in her chair slightly as [member="Arlen Rossi"] steered the conversation back to their mission. Just like the agent, Isla’s back grew straighter and she sat towards the edge of her seat. While she had not worked in concert with the FOSB so closely before, she could already understand that their tactics were similar. Both were organizations that worked in the shadows, they took pride in working swiftly and very efficiently.

“Yes, of course – I will aid in any way that I can.” Isla said in a steady tone, and nodded to punctuate her point.

The flame-haired woman was reliable, and she would ensure that their mission was completed as planned. Standing from her seat, the Knight of Ren drew her hood up once more. There was a slight tingle of anxiety in the pit of her stomach, but did her best to quell this feeling. She knew that they would be sent down to the surface shortly, something that was fairly straightforward… but the thought of the small, enclosed spaces of shuttles made her nervous. It was a weak point that she was still working to eliminate. Isla would feel better once her feet were planted firmly on the grassy plains of Thakwaa.

She let her black boots carry her towards the door, and glanced sidelong at Agent Rossi.

“Let’s get started,” She said, but tried to keep from sounding too eager. “This should be…interesting.”

A slight smirk formed on her lips, perhaps she was beginning to warm up, just a little bit.