6th post
GRAND MEETING HALL, WARDEN QUARTER,
TOR VALUM, KESTRI (AUTUMN OF 877 ABY)
'If you're lookin' to buy some bodies, I'd suggest you talk with that corpo sitting across from you.'
Oh, you've got to be fething kidding me....
Just one thing after the next, man!
Shai Maji had arrived, and at the most inopportune of moments.
Just when the Lord-Regent was on the verge of having his answer either way, the outcome that decided the conclusion of the meeting, his champion had entered the conference hall from an alternate entry-point, likely from the door of the nearest fire-escape. All who were present (even the Mandalorian delegates in attendance at the time) were able to ascertain that Maji wasn't supposed to be there at the time, and this was without the assassination attempt on Ilum considered, but Barran didn't mind that his champion showed up - regardless of threat-levels and the complications caused by entering the conference hall at such a tense moment.
'If talk's all you're good for, Iggy, I'm really not surprised that my clan broke your line over Ilum. Don't think too highly of yourself, right now you are just a diplomat.'
Shai may have had cause for calling out the Grand Moff, but the very nature of of it was off base in Lord Erskine's estimation, not that he'd have much time to process the extent of his champion's error, as the Enclave exile's attention would turn to the Lord-Regent next.
'And you.', Maji started, leaving no illusions as to who she was referring at the time, making the first thing she said since their last encounter a callously scolded,
'I didn't blow your guts out just so you can keep playin' with the kids sitting on your side of the table, Barran. Just stay out of this mess.', and showing no sign of mincing her words or any indication of letting up as she made to continue in her outburst. This was unlike his champion, especially for the competent, focused individual he knew well before that fated encounter on the frozen lake near FOB: Reverence, but something was awry here, and it was down to Erskine to salvage the mess as best as he could under the circumstances.
'I went to Ilum to make good on a promise I made many years ago. My old clan went to Ilum because of a promise made many years ago. Simple as. You lot don't mind replacing a couple thousand troopers and a couple ships anyway, if that friendly fire situation was any indication, grand moff. So let's be honest, this is barely even qualifying as a slight against y'all. If anything, that was just a pointer that Erskine needs to look for a better grand moff.'
Slowly shaking his head, the old Woad couldn't help but wonder what was really bringing this on, as there was nothing in his intentions, his words or in his precarious circumstances that would warrant any tirade such as that which the Mandalorian was unleashing. There had to be a reason for it, but the old man was bereft of the appropriate time to inquire on the matter, and with no choice but to wait until his young champion was done talking, all Lord Erskine could do was sit back and listen in the hopes at least some sensible rationale could be made from it - unlikely though the Lord-Regent knew it would be.
'Enclave ain't the Empire. Matters concerning Mandalorians will be handled by Mandalorians, not outsiders. In the meantime, I'd suggest you figure out what the kriff some cut-rate troopers were doing in Tor Valum, or else I'll come to Bastion and figure it out myself. Now get. I'd like a word with your master, puppy dog.'
'That one stays, Shai. But before I resume in my efforts to fix this fething mess - lets just clear the air on some of your statements, shall we?', Barran started, rolling backwards on the table and dragging his legs with him in the effort to sit up and look properly into Maji's T-Visor. The painkillers were running riot on his mind, with his eyesight reaching the point of double vision, but the Lord-Regent cared little and less about this as he continued,
'Ilum was a tank-graveyard up until the end of last year, a cenotaph of the Blue-Hearts' sacrifice to keep the planet in the hands of the Jedi.... And this changed when Coruscant robbed us of that from the very first provocation, robbed my people of their peace to grieve the deaths of some of those replaceable thousands you speak of. I had every reason to be there, and you know this to be true.', slurring his words at the start but he was lucky enough to find his focus again - and just before he made it to the mention of Coruscant.
'And speaking of Tor Valum, and speaking of today's events as well; I'm currently fighting back the suspicion that my own realm is out to get me killed here, let alone that of the Enclave an' EVERY OTHER TOM, DICK AN' HARRY IN OUR GALAXY- no, honestly. Its just incompetence all-round and it appears I'm the only one out to save lives today.... I know, THE FETHING IRONY OF IT!!!!'
With eyes drifting to the delegation for a moment, offering scowls for all within sight but for Maji herself, the old man's gaze returned to the young champion once more, softening in sight of one he valued more than everyone else in the room. Shaking his head slowly, letting his disappointment show, Lord Erskine calmly concluded,
'This is one of those times I'll be needing you at your smartest, Shai. And in case you haven't heard, I have plans to speak with Clan Krayt.... As I wish very much for your old clan to overturn your exiled status - they know not that they are at fault - as you an' I both know that I am. But they will know, you can bet your bottom credit they'll know by the time this auld dafty sits down with them.', expressing commitment to his gesture with a slow, resolving nod as his silent oath to the slighted exile.
'But first, I might need you to either talk or slap some sense into your skittish Warmaster here. We need him coherent and receptive to negotiation.... Lives are at stake here, an' contrary to fallacious belief, I'm not ghoulish enough to allow any more to be lost to incompetence, spy-games or naval rivalries for that matter. Not today, my young friend.... Not - today.'
