Private Can't Be That Hard...Right?

[Phalsi Drynchen]

(Open to any Silver's that are curious to what the Padawan Phalsi is doing in her off time, please pm/discord me before joining)​

The padawan was quietly sitting inside a private garage, pen tapping against the holo-display pad as she looked over the old schematic she had dug up. The garage was a rental, her earnings going to something finally instead of just sitting and gathering interest. The place was just large enough to house two varieties of B-wing starfighters. Both side by side, running the length of the garage and only just able to fit inside with the place for the time being.

The end of the pen went to her mouth as the chair swiveled, looking over the packages and crates that were scattered around the place. Parts and assemblies from all over the galaxy where she could get her hands on things. Far flung and obscure parts gathered after reading a number of reviews or suggestions from actual professionals. The kind that ought to be taking on this kind of project.

Not some overconfident padawan with too much time on her hands and aspirations of success.

Couldn't be that hard to slap two B-wings together...right?

The pen flipped up and down as she continued to swivel in the chair, wondering silently where to begin with the whole process. She was used to having stuff already put together and just getting to the point of putting the ship through it's paces. Not assembling one from two complete vessels. The display continued to spin as she cast a side glance at the schematics. A foot went out, stopping her spin as the boot caught the desk in front of her. She scratched her brow before sighing and standing with a large gusty breath.

"Guess I can look at it all I want. Won't get anywhere though." She mumbled to no one, chastising herself for waiting so long to start.

The parts had been slowly accumulating in a storage lot. All of them transported with some accommodating help from the lot workers to her vessel before being brought here. She had struggled with some of the packages, heavy two person lifts that she had resigned herself to scooting across the garage floor instead of bothering someone to help her.

The slow mountain of boxes had gathered around the two ships, each parked the same way, cockpits facing the same way for ease of access as she decided to start there.

Deciding to keep the B-wing/E starfighter cockpit assembly, she set about dismantling the A/SF-01 B-wing starfighters gyroscopic cockpit. The interior was first, removing the seat right away. The emergency pilot ejection system had been an alarming experience, nearly triggering the system with a mishap involving a loose wire and the bare metal of a wrench. She had been awkwardly positioned, waist across the arm rests while hanging between the chair and panel to reach beneath the seat when the klaxon alarm had rang for a brief moment.

The wrench had grounded the switch briefly, and if not for the confirmation switch on the dash, Phalsi would have been rocketed into the ceiling.

The thought didn't please her in the slightest, deciding to figure out how to separate the power source before continuing with the disassembly of the cockpit. After a few searches on the net, a few discussion boards along with several personal messages, she finally figured out how to properly do so without accidentally making the power core a ticking time bomb.

Safely shut off, she quickly removed the seat proper before taking the ejection system out also. Last thing she wanted was to have the system spring to life while having standing atop the ejector plate working on the dash. The dash assembly was next, eyes going wide at the sight of all the wire beneath the panel. It looked like a wamp rat nest, and made her want to cover it back up and put the project off to the side for the time being.

Trying to pull the panel away, she found the connections that were keeping it in place, removing the switches and buttons that were keeping the plate in proper order. She had all of the accessories loosened when a thought struck her, thankful she had not yet removed them from their sockets. Grabbing a pen and sticky notes, she began labeling the various switches and buttons in proper order.

Last thing she wanted to do was have the weapons switches planted firmly in place of the landing systems when the two ships were put together.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

He was traveling a lot lately. Maybe that was what he needed, to keep moving with the galaxy being all… crazy. Sith and Jedi on the same page against the Bryn? And then bringing that to the New Imperials? Just a bit too much. He was still maintaining his role in the Circle, an archivist with the Silver Order, but lately? It was exploration and Force research. It had been a while since he checked in with Phalsi. Maybe he should y’know, be a better teacher to the Padawan. She did have a knack for a lot of things.

And she was a gear head, as far as he could tell, worked well in his little world of the Jedi, that. Making his way to where he figured he’d find her, but not what he expected her to be doing. Set up shop here among the chassis of a B-Wing? His preferred fighter was the E-Wing, if he wasn’t in his TIE Advanced. But those ships had a bit of a mark against them in most Jedi markets.

Hearing the clank of the work being done, Coren made sure to knock on the fuselage of the B-Wing. “Phalsi, you in this mess?”

What was she doing?

Phalsi Drynchen

 

[Phalsi Drynchen]

There was further noise and wrench clanking as she heard Coren Starchaser come into the garage and ask for her. A sharp clang happened as she moved to stand, the cockpit a mess of parts and pieces as she accidentally rammed a spanner wrench into the sheet metal cover with a sharp curse as she caught the corner of the metal with a finger.

Staring at the grease and grime covered finger, she fished a sterilizing wipe from a pocket and slapped it onto the finger. Closing her fist and keeping the wipe on the finger, she slid out of the cockpit, boots thumping on the floor as she hopped a little and unclenched the fist in time to see Coren approach. The wipe was pulled off the finger and cleaned both her hands quickly.

The finger bled, being pushed into her mouth and against her cheek for a moment as she spoke without a bit of care.

"Ey! Wockin on mah sheep!" She blurted, one hand giving a small wave while the other was busy holding her finger in her mouth. "Hyou?" The finger tasted terrible, the sterilizing agent leaving a harsh taste against her tongue as she spoke.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The sounds and smells of a workshop, especially for a starship? That was very familiar to Coren Starchaser. He had his own workshop aboard the Dawn Treader, and out on Sullust when he could get there, between the other nations of the galaxy grabbing hold, and the temple at Kattada. He was always tinkering with his own vessels, making sure everything was just perfectly ready and tuned up. It was probably why he had so many ships even if he was working on downsizing his personal fleet to a sizeable armada instead.

An E-Wing, TIE Exalt, the YT-2000, and his new prototype. He was able to use a bit of Silk Holding’s gear, and over the years had become one of the groups, along with the others aboard his personal cruiser, as a boutique shipbuilder. Small craft, but always hand made. Well, hand designed and supervised.

“Doing well, figured it was time to check on you, we’ve been between missions lately.” He nodded to the fighter pieces and parts. “What are you working on?”

Phalsi Drynchen

 

[Phalsi Drynchen]

She removed the injured finger and pressed it into her sleeve and further to her palm as he came closer. Casting a glance backwards while coming to a slow stop, she grinned when he saw her face again. Her head bobbed a little, excitement showing through as she spoke.

"Needed something to do between missions. Saw an old design on the holo-net. A pair of b-wings 'slapped' together." The grin widened while raising one hand to make air quotes before she looked between the pair of ships. "I thought it looked neat. And fast. And punchy. Adrathorpe reminded me how light the Messenger is for fire power."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The girl was definitely something different for the Jedi. It was a good thing. The Jedi needed people who were competent in forms of work aside from saber play and the Force. Being able to work on a ship? It mattered. Maybe it was because a Starchaser, a Warden, and a judge. He knew that there were things that he could do that others couldn’t. but having another student that was as good with her hands as Mishel had been? It was important for him.

“Slapping B-Wings together. I’ve heard of uglies, but this is something else. B-Wings are pretty heavy hitters, but I’m a fan of intereceptors or multi role.” Coren did have a TIE Exalt and an E-Wing, on top of a few other ships. “Looking as a fighter or making a bit of a gunship?”

Phalsi Drynchen

 

[Phalsi Drynchen]

Coren Starchaser

He spoke confidently about starfighter roles, and his experience shown through more with the subtle question of her ships purpose than with an inexplicable amount of bragging could.

His question to it's purpose however had her looking backwards at the thing before looking back to him with a growing smirk.

"Yes." The answer came simply and without much hesitation in regard to its proper form. "Flexibility I like more than dedication. And I can always do a quick retrofit before heading out."

She wiggled a little in pent up excitement. "I can slice terminals already, thought I should work on my mechanic abilities instead."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The Jedi Master wasn’t alawyas a Jedi, or really, only a Jedi. He was a fighter pilot first and foremost. His father taught him the way of the smuggler and the Jedi Wayseeker, but the Imperial Academy had taught him the way of the Starfighter pilot, and the Levantine Sanctum and Underground taught him how to be a better pilot and fighter pilot. As for a mechanic? His brother was the real mechanic. Coren knew that he could do enough to keep his ships working.

“Flexibility is good. If you’ve done your research, its why Jedi ended up in X-Wings and TwinTails later on. Gives us much more of a chance to fight on a number of playing fields. But many more prefer the interceptors. Seeing someone with the Force go for a heavy hitter. Its…” What was it?

“Well, I do enjoy the Y-Wing, and my E-Wing is set for assault.” He laughed and looked down at her tools. “So, using the Force to guide your repairs or a book?”

Phalsi Drynchen

 

[Phalsi Drynchen]

She nodded while he spoke, giving her seldom earned attention to the matter. She had done a lot of research for both the typical starfighters that the jedi used along with the majority of their personal vessel taste also.

And most did indeed enjoy the interceptors.

Which wasn't particularly her interest if the two b-wings hadn't pointed out the obvious. For all the finesse in fighting and slicing, she rather liked the simplicity of what she was cooking up.

"A bit out of the ordinary, yeah. But I don't like cookie cutter molds." She chuckled to herself. She peeled the finger back from her sleeve and found it had finally stopped bleeding.

His question had her thinking a moment, reflecting on the past few hours of work before answering.

"So far it's been the books. Just got started to be honest. Working on getting the other cockpit ripped apart and pieced out." Shrugging, she waved a hand at the scattered bits and pieces laying about.

"Thinking I'll post parts on e-holo and see if anyone needs some spares. Ask around the silver garages if they can use anything too."

Coren Starchaser

 

[Coren Starchaser]

That may be the most interesting thing of the Jedi, and well, pilots in general. There were so many options. Sure, the Starchasers did tend to move toward a concept of a small freighter or gunship, but they had their fighters too. And Jedi had their fighters. Before there were the Eta-2s, then the StealthX but as Jedi became more populous in the galaxy, it was always influx, what they were flying. He preferred an assault fighter. Fast enough to get into trouble, able to take a small hit, but deliver a moderately sized payload.

This B-Wing blend was a work of a completely different approach, and he was really alright with it.

“Cookie cutter makes it boring. Every Jedi is unique, sure, the texts will classify you one way or another, but to be honest, but I find those to be a bit… of an over simplification.” At least to Consular and Sentinel and Guardian. He was more of a Consular met Sentinel, with just enough tech specialist to be a problem.

With Phalsi, he was still working on pinning her down. But she did have a way with machines and tech. “Can’t hurt to make some money off of it. Though the Order does try to cover most expenses this is… a personal project.” One Coren would help bank roll. His family did have their mining operation.

“And I’m sure other tinkerers would love the parts. But as you go through the books, remember. The Force knows you and you can listen to it, it won’t lead you in the wrong path. It will protect you.” He’s used the Force enough times to modify ships, he knew a few things.

Phalsi Drynchen

 

[Phalsi Drynchen]

The small grin grew at his mention of oversimplification for the code. If it could be oversimplified, there tended to be some kernel of truth in it. Or at least a cringy comparison that could be made somewhere. Her head tilted back and forth, pondering the classification of jedi on her own.

She honestly had no idea as to what she could even be considered besides trouble. Good or bad, she lived to spice things up at the very least. A jedi sentinel of fun times? A consular of mischief? Guardian of chaos? Depended entirely on the perspective of the recipient she supposed.

The thoughts brought a somewhat troubling sense of glee in the force around her.

"Just getting started, the mystical wizardry has yet to put in a request just yet. But I'll be listening when it does. Tends to know something that I don't. Even if it doesn't make sense." She offered, gleeful smile on now as another thought cropped up.

"Hey...is there like, a training ground for new starfighters? A testing area or some such? I-uh, didn't exactly see one listed for 'come blast junk and push the limits' on a poster anywhere." Her eyes narrowed, mock suspicion as she was put a lightheated tone to her words.

Coren Starchaser

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Starchaser did believe that there was bit of the Code that was broken down for the common denominator of the Jedi. The more he was researching the more he was learning definitely helped inform that thought process. The way that Phalsi thought, well, he could understand if she had something completely random for her own self-declared title. She was a bit chaotic, like him in his younger days. One of the reasons he accepted her on as a student. Though he had Mishel Kryze as his first real student and that went… well, off the map.

“Trust me, the more you journey out there and learn, the Force has answers you wouldn’t think of. It could be the Force itself, maybe the Jedi of the past, I know I’ve tried communing with a few, and while they’re not present as a specter but they’re there.” It sounded fake, but with the Force, it was hard to describe things.

“Oh a testing ground? We used to have an old Alliance proving ground out in the Sullust system, but with the Feds out there… I have been thinking of trying to place one in Silver space. I know what we did it’s a matter of getting the debris and… wait… How confident are you?” He had a grin now.

Phalsi Drynchen

 

[Phalsi Drynchen]

She listened in earnest to what he said, dropping the snark and spunk for a while to give him her honest attention. Even if it did bring with it a small and goofy smile in return.

"The force is a living thing and grows on its own as well as through us. Some jedi posting board's on the holonet that go back and forth on the topic." She offered with sincerity before waving a hand around them. "It's not that I don't buy it. It's just...a lot to take in sometimes. Older and arguably wiser beings still kicking around is just...kinda strange to think about."

Talk of a testing ground out in some one else's space had her frowning before he asked how confident she was. Which brought with it a questioning raise of her brow.

"Both a pro and con of being me." She said in a sing song tone, as though the project behind her wasn't plain proof of the prior point. She dropped to a suspicious tone with her own question.

"What have you got in mind?" It seemed her curiosity was piqued.

Coren Starchaser

 

[Coren Starchaser]

The fact was that Coren was not used to training a student in war time. With Mishel Kryze it was during the war, with Romi Jade it was war, his kids weren’t his students but he was helping with their Jedi training lately. Not so much Jared but… Still, he was actually really enjoying working with Phalsi. She had a different bend to her that reminded Coren of himself before the wars.

He nodded as she brought up the boards. A grin to his face as he took a second to tackle that. “Jedi and other Force users have various ways to approach, some always think their way is best, when it may not be for everyone. If you speak to Tiland Kortun , he is one of the Jedi I fully respect, but he and I have different approaches. Same with my friends Zark and Julius. But the elders, they are here to help direct us if we need it. Holocrons ensure their message makes it for a long time, but there are those who will watch temples or certain family lines…” He shrugged, not something for everyone, admittedly.

“Well, back in the Outer Rim, we used to have a lot of ramshackle shipyards. But that meant we had to get goods and trash in and out. We used a set of rings to move containers through the system, so it wasn’t needing to be manned. I know a few stations where we can get out there, test our skills in fighters, see who can make the best time through the rings.” And avoid being smashed like the garbage scows.

Phalsi Drynchen

 

[Phalsi Drynchen]

She pointed a finger his way about the 'thinking their way was best' comment. "A lot think their way is best." She sassed him. But she chewed on the bit of those who had gone before her. "Wait. Watch family lines? That's...ominous."

"Then again, if they are willing to speak,, probably best to listen. Living history warning about repeating itself...or giving a nugget of insight." She shrugged before pondering the chance to speak with an elder.

"I've heard a few names tossed around, but it would be worth the trip to learn." Her smile was just shy of trouble. Leaning more towards curiosity with a dash of whatever happens tossed in. He spoke of a setup in the outer rim, and her curiosity to see it was present in force.

"That sounds like a blast. Have to make sure the big bird can fit. She's gonna be awful long, even without the s-foils extended. I'll have to go check that out with you though." She laughed, cocking a thumb over her shoulder to the ships behind her.