An Offer You Can't Refuse [GA/ORC]

[Fiolette Fortan]

Terminus. It wasn't exactly a place Fiolette would ever call friendly, but here she was and meeting with Silvers of all people. Still. With the planet in disarray now was the perfect opportunity to make a deal and make a base. Port Ceres, a small spaceport town where she could help smuggle goods to and from the magical tri-national area of the Outer Rim Coalition, the Galactic Alliance and the First Order where even talk of a black market was often hearsay. They all knew it existed in one form or another, officially Primo Victoria was here to get into the mining game looking to refine some resources for its own gain. Unofficially, it was perhaps one of many of Fiolette's projects to help diversify her portfolio. The Fleetwood would remain in orbit running silently, she descended to the surface in a small shuttle looking to meet with [member="Rozalyne Kurganova"] and [member="Roona Osmari"] in the process.

"Petrovsky alert our contacts that I'm on my way, and if anyone asks I'm here on behalf of the Outer Rim Coalition to help make the statement clear," Terminus belongs with the Coalition.

 

[Cathul Thuku]

"We are being hailed on holoconference" the communications officer warned. "It's the Terminus government"

"Patch it through"

"Does anybody in the GA or the ORC have any solutions to the long-term issues from the loss of our coreward trade? Confederate, ORC and GA relief efforts are well-appreciated in the short run, but I feel reluctant to actually present the change of allegiance in the galactic stage to the population until any of you have a long-term plan" the head of the Terminus government asked Cathul.

"If what I hear from the ORC is correct, the main thrusts of job creation would be about two things: SFRC manufacturing and S-thread booster manufacturing, with as many components as are possible to manufacture on Terminus, with the S-thread boosters being there to get the rimward trade onward to Jelucan and the Rimma Trade Route. However, if space and/or cash allows, social housing should also be on the menu"

Astounding. What took so long for the Terminus government to actually contact either high-level GA or ORC officials about how they even plan on addressing the issues of the planet? Did the local government think Jedi on either side of the deal were only concerned about public security? she thought, while wondering exactly why the local government was taking so long to contact any high-level contacts on either side of the negotiation table. Understandably they trusted a person that ran the medical portion of the relief efforts, but did they even attempt to contact [member="Aryn Teth"], [member="Shoma Ike"] or [member="Bryce Bantam"] before it was her turn to be contacted by the local authorities? To her eyes, the local authorities just shouldn't contact her before any of the people actually at the negotiation table were. There definitely were fishy things going on, but she was not just any old admiral. Then again, she knew from experience that not all admirals could actually see the bigger economic picture. Social housing seemed to be a foreign notion to admirals, but she had to act in good faith so that the population would actually accept the handover.

 

[Roona Osmari]

It was odd for Roona to be away from the rest of the Radama Raiders.

She was used to traveling with them for every mission. But this was something different. Today she would be accompanying [member="Rozalyne Kurganova"] to Terminus. In truth, Roona would much rather have been entering any battlefield than play bodyguard to royalty, but she would do her duty nonetheless.

The Ysannan sharpshooter had just returned to active duty following a brief medical leave, but she felt ready to get back to action. However, just what sort of action waited her today… she could only guess. Already in the hangar, she gave her suit a quick check – it wasn’t the armor she was used to, but it would get the job done today.

Loading up her weapons, she would travel on the light. Snapping to attention as her charge approached, she turned swiftly to follow at the woman’s heels like a silent shadow. As they boarded the small transport that would bring them down to the surface, she glanced over her shoulder at Kurganova. The woman seemed to be all business, which was something Roona could certainly respect.

[member="Fiolette Yvarro"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

Aboard the hospital ship Boram, Jyoti was hovering around her personal Luna transport for the mission, prepping the commanders her teams for the first phase of the mission.

"It's not exactly a war zone down there, but times are tense on Terminus," she explained "There have been increasing reports of vandalism and other violent crimes since Terminus has finally felt the full brunt of the blockade along the Hydian Way. Convoys are now just passing straight around Terminus instead of touching down for fear of theft."

"This op will be pretty straightforward. First, we'll be providing escort for bacta shipments and medical droids to all Level 1 trauma centers designated by the local health ministry. From then on, we'll be going to ground to bolster security within nearby districts for safe travel. Hospitals, in particular, have been hit pretty hard by vandals due to recent bacta shortages."

"We're using the standard ROE for relief operations. Most threatening elements are just cranky unarmed mobs, so stick to stun bolts and glop launchers. We really only should be stepping into situations when local security forces explicitly request it. Our main job is keeping the hospitals and lanes leading to them safe."

"By now all of you should have had info packets forwarded to your inboxes detailing each district where we'll be working. The information is supposed to be accurate as of 12 hours ago, but we all know how intelligence works."

There were a few chuckles among the senior Rangers and Jedi gathered.

"From here on out, we'll probably be gathering our own intelligence. This concludes my briefing, dismissed."

Commanders started to shuffle off to prepare for their individual missions with their units while Jyoti turned her attention back to Charlie. It was the first real mission for her newest apprentice. Even though it was a low-key relief mission with no serious combat expected, it was still a big step up for a Padawan who had spent most of her life at temples.

"Well, this is our official mission together off Tython," she started as she gave Charlie a pat on the shoulder. "Ready for it?"

[member="Charlie"] [member="Sky'ito Yumi"]

 

[Charlie Nooran]

[SIZE=10pt]Charlie did her best to pay attention to the briefing, but something in the back of her head kept drawing her attention. For the first time, it wasn’t food. She had just used some of her allowance to get one of the newest Atrisian Role Playing games. She could dig out her handheld and begin slaying krayt dragons and the like to save some magic princess who was needed to save the galaxy. Her eyes did their best to stay open since this was her first mission with Jyoti and if she failed – well then, she wouldn’t be able to buy the DLC that came with the game. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Jyoti was no nonsense and Charlie had come to learn this. Her shenanigans weren’t always met with a smile, though there were times that she got away with things. This time though, anything out of line wouldn’t be welcomed and she did her best to keep her mind away from her game. The urge was real as she saw that the briefing was concluded. Maybe she would be able to sneak off and get a few moments to grind the next few levels she needed to get her party through the dungeon. As she turned to walk away and pull her game from her tunic, Jyoti spoke to her. Charlie paused and looked up towards her Master. The woman as usual was no nonsense and patted the young padawan on the shoulder. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]The shoulder pat was a gesture that refocused the young woman. A smile spread across Charlie’s face as she nodded. Having this contact with her Master made her feel important and special, the woman maybe understood Charlie more than the girl had assumed. Either way, her desire to go hide and play her game disappeared and she was set to make the Jedi Master proud. “I’m excited. I’m ready for it. We are going to try and avoid all combat if possible Master? What if they attack us or they decide they don’t want our help? What do we do then?”[/SIZE]

[member="Jyoti Nooran"] [member="Sky'ito Yumi"]

 

[Sky'ito Yumi]

Diplomacy and peace keeping, the forefront of what a Jedi was supposed to do, keep order and many other things... it was strange that during her first few years among the Silver Order Sukai had rarely though about that, let along participate in some sort of operation like the one today. Then again she had joined the ranks of the Jedi in a time of peral, the Galactic powers of the Sith, First Order and Empire crashing down on the old territories around Voss. The young Jin being thrust into war very early on, unfortunately a job she had been well trained for due to her mercenary mother, did not mean she liked it though, the battlefield was not place for someone to grow up.

Sukai stood to the side of [member="Jyoti Nooran"] new, seemingly socially awkward, Padawan [member="Charlie"] as the briefing came to a close, doing another skim through the intel provided, sliding the small data pad back into her robes as everyone dispersed to their own tasks at hand, the Jedi master walking over to the two students. 'First Official mission together since Tython, odd I don't remember the Jedi having an enclave there until recenlty, the One Sith having destroyed much in its path, would that also mean she is new"? Sukai was rather quizzical about the woman, raising a hand to her chin in a thinking matter, then again her own indoctrination was rather, strange as well. Besides she could she just have to wait and see for herself how Charlie would handled herself during the upcoming mission,perhaps they had past pre-jedi training like herself, only time would tell.

 

[Eugen Aker]

"That's the plan," she said with a nod. "If people don't want our help, then they're free to steer clear of the hospitals. If we find ourselves in a hostile encounter with no option for de-escalation, then we'll respond with the bare minimum of force necessary to neutralize the threat. You are always allowed to defend yourself without question. At worst, that shouldn't require anything more than non-lethal takedowns and a few stun blasts."

She was actually glad that Charlie didn't even have a training saber yet. Flustered Padawan were often quick to draw their blades at the first sign of trouble. This was a prime opportunity to show her the merits of conflict resolution where possible.

"Back to your last question. Don't be surprised if someone snaps at you out there. As I said before, times are tense, everyone down there is on edge with their whole livelihoods at stake. Try to keep calm and empathize with their position."

Next to her was Sky'ito Yumi, sister to Tana. Physically, she bore a strong resemblance to her brother, but such differences were only skin deep.

"It's funny to see you alone today," she noted. "You and your brother seem inseparable."

[member="Charlie"] [member="Sky'ito Yumi"]

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

"Contacts have been alerted, are you sure you don't want me to send for your Pathfinders?"

"It's Terminus, Petrovsky. Anyone catches sight of those two and we're all toast, but I appreciate your concern. Yvarro out."

Her shuttle cut through Terminus's atmosphere with ease and brought her closer to Port Ceres and the closer she got the more it began to look less like a small spaceport town, and the more it looked like an unruly city. As if someone took Sor Yusan and flipped it around into a terrifying version of Nar Shaddaa, bright lights and glitter - if your taste of glitter were riots and bang weapons. Soon the shuttle weaved in and out of the tall buildings that sprouted out like trees from the surface their branches were in the forms of skyways that seemed to connect one to another. The rush of police vehicles followed the sound of gun exchange was an experience to be sure but not one she was too unfamiliar with. Before her days in the Atrisian Empire, Fiolette was a young single mother looking for a better life and - Atrisia wasn't kind to those who were not Atrisian even a woman with her infant son. Perhaps most especially to a woman with her infant son, the memories reminded the Galidraani of just how far she had come from those days.

Takoyaki Tea.

Best tea this side of Atrisia, the sign was old and tilted down to the left. Terminus was doing a great job at reminding her of Atrisia and for all the wrong reasons. The tea house was fairly common and they seemed to litter every other corner. Her shuttle touched down at a garage not too far from at least three of them. We're here to do business, memory lane can wait. On the ground, Fiolette looked at her chrono, "I'm here." Her words were sent straight to her contacts [member="Rozalyne Kurganova"] and [member="Roona Osmari"]. A secondary alert was sent to [member="Jyoti Nooran"], their history aside it would be interesting to finish their conversation from Zonju V here.

 

[Cathul Thuku]

"Social housing? Do you have an idea to build that better than simply proceeding the old-fashion way? The population will probably prefer a solution that can address multiple concerns"

"Urban agriculture; that way government and other public buildings can use rooftops and other unused space for farming, and hydroponics when it comes to doing so indoors. It worked on Kriselist, maybe it can be made to work here"

Jelucan was, by and large, the main ORC agri-world of the west, but as far as she knew, the whole project of getting S-thread boosters from Terminus to the Rimma all the way to Adarlon or Demonsgate would require a lot of resources. On the other hand, with the social housing plan, Cathul had a way of killing two birds with one stone: food and social housing. She would bet that hospital, school rooftops would also play host to urban farms of the same variety. And then, while it may not solve the entirety of the long-term food problem, any domestic help is a good thing. Of course, with Terminus joining the ORC, the population base of the faction will increase pretty significantly; food is going to be an issue going forward. Hence why the head of the Terminus government inquired about it. It was time to close the deal in a form that was going to be acceptable to all parties: the GA and the ORC having a memorandum of understanding, which is not binding until the local government decides that such is the case. But would she overstep any authority she might actually have in this matter, or not?

 

[Charlie Nooran]

Jyoti answered her and Charlie nodded. Violence wasn't going to be tolerated here. It was hard for Charlie to empathize with the people causing the riots or anything that was really happening. She wondered of the tensions were from the constant wars that were plaguing the Galaxy. Still what would rioting do? It just causes more damage. The young woman would never understand this, but she had to do her best in this situation.

Keeping calm would be the easy part, empathizing would be a slight struggle for Charlie, still the fact she was allowed to defend herself made her feel at ease. It wouldn't be a good situation if she was forced to accept the rioters punishment. She wasn't on Tython anymore, she wasn't living quietly hidden away from the Sith, it was time for her to work towards the goal the quiet hidden temple had taught her. Exhaling quietly, her Master’s attention was on another that had joined them. Blinking, Charlie couldn't place the girl next to her. She hadn't seen her before, but Charlie was fairly new on Kashyykk.

Nodding her head slightly, she spoke to Jyoti. “Master, I will go check over the rations and supplies we brought with us” Lifting her head from the nod she gave the Echani master a wide grin as she began to take a few steps back towards the supply area.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"] [member="Sky'ito Yumi"]

 

[John Locke]

John waited a moment longer, staring down at the planet below him as he pressed one hand against the tranparisteel window before turning on his heel and making his way to the elevator. Once they got down to their destination there would be haggling and planning, arguments and building. But for now, now it was time to meet the others.

The man’s hands slipped into his pockets as the lights on the elevator blinked, the cylindrical room shuddering to a halt. John’s eyes scrunched up for a moment, protecting themselves against the glare from the hangar as he paused there for a moment before stepping out into the hangar, following Rozalyne out into the large space as the shuttles around them came to life. Whatever came next, well it would certainly be interesting.

[member="Rozalyne Kurganova"]

 

[Sky'ito Yumi]

People not wanting the Jedi's help, yes a constant problem they had to deal with day in day out, individuals that saw the Order less of protectors halting the advance of dark forces that would not hesitate to kill everyone on the planet to keep their so called peace. Others that where not accepting of the Silvers aid that they would give to the common people and so much more, it seemed to silly, but that was how things where these days, everyone selfish, only wanting what they want, and if that greed wasn't met, violence would erupt.

Ture to some extent the peoples rage was justified, the whole blocked and other problems ruining peoples lively hoods and way of living, but that did no justify rioting and violence against other as well as those trying to help. Sukai let out a small sigh, it seemed that such problem where ever constant, no matter how many years past, still such a operation would give her a chance to put her force shield and other powers to the use.

Her thoughts were put on hold for the moment at [member="Jyoti Nooran"] approached, having finished discussing matters with her new, Sukai wanted to say new, Padawan [member="Charlie"]. "It is? well true now that we are in the order together we spend more time with one another, but I did not know our presence gave off such a feeling, probably just have never noticed it myself, looking almost like twins does not help, I swear he deliberately tries to look lime me at times".

 

[Zavii]

"Yeah, I think you're right," Zavii said, coming up behind Sky and planting herself to the side so she could see both Master Nooran and the Yumi sister easily. She had been sitting quietly to the side just listening to some music on the way to Terminus until just now, but the show was about to get underway so the brown-skinned Zabrak had elected to join the others in preparatory conversation.

Planting one hand on her hip and tilting her stance off-center, she grinned easily at the other Padawan. "Either your brother is seriously lacking individuality or he just likes messing with you. Either way, it's pretty funny." Her voice lilted with her usual lighthearted humor and her eyes nearly shined as they shifted to address the Master, "Are you okay with me watching from the rooftops? It'll be easier to track the convoy and lookout for trouble." She had to give the Human woman that reason because she knew that her deeper reason- the fact that she was feeling extra-feisty today and wouldn't need much provocation to introduce some rioting locals to the bones of her feet. Plus, having not even brought any shoes along, she was at least a little wary of stepping on some nasty debris form the recent unrest.

[member="Sky'ito Yumi"] [member="Jyoti Nooran"]