Desert Persuasion

[Tmoxin Temi]

An unmarked shuttle landed without ceremony on the newly installed landing pad inside the Morpho Center for Imperial Training complex on the desert planet Lok. It sat for thirty minutes there on the pad with nothing or no one emerging out of the cargo hatch.

After arrival the scuttlebutt around the base was that this mysterious shuttle contained scientists for the unfinished laboratory. Others whispered through the hallways that there were new recruits to be trained in one of Commander Temi's punishing war games. And yet more chatter around the garrison, this time more excitedly said perhaps the troops were going to be entertained by a bevy of beautiful Twi'lek dancers on a social night in the cantina.

But those whispers and murmurs stopped the moment Commander Temi walked out of the main building and stood in front of the shuttle to inspect why the disembarkment was taking so long. By her side was soldier [member="Kyle Amedis"] who she had personally tapped for help with her new pet project. Sgt. Major Ulysses was not at her side. Her second in command had actually refused to help her with the project - just flat out refused her for the first time she had known the officer. And well, as she had been threatening for some time, she threw him in the Morpho prison and turned the air conditioning off. Let him sweat in there for a day or two and see what happens when you defy me, Tmoxin thought. Next time it will be much worse I promise you.

Finally the shuttle opened and two well armed mercenaries emerged. Behind them were a line of human men, roughly thirty individuals of all varying races, dressed in ragged clothing, appearing disheveled and tired from wherever they had come from. Around their wrists were stun cuffs and there were attached together with some sort of fiber-chain. But despite their weariness, they appeared healthy and strong, although they looked at their new surroundings warily, eyes squinting in the blinding sunlight.

Commander Temi glanced Kyle Amedis and merely said, "Let's get to work."

[member="Kyle Amedis"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Helmet under his arm, letting his face be seen by all, but more so he could actually breath comfortably in the cool facility out of the harsh Lok weather, Kyle walked beside his Commander for reasons not yet disclosed. Others cast glances over them; who was the new guy? Where were they going? What was the Commander about to do now?

Turning out into the slow burning light of the planet as the blast doors, already open, let in the sunlight into the darker facility, Kyle squinted gently as he adjusted to the light as the two stepped outside. A prisoner transport of some kind? Kyle watched the men disembark and had a feeling this was going to be a first hand experience of seeing how deserters, or defectors or prisoners of the Imperial war machine were dealt.

Kyle watched the cuffed men as the Commander spoke to him calmly, and had an obvious reply.

”Of course, Commander. May I ask what we are to do?”

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Even though she had called him her protégé when they were installing the energy shields a few days ago, under Commander Temi's appraising eye Amedis still needed to prove himself and this upcoming exercise would be a perfect test. She had no idea how these "recruits" were going to take to their new lives. Since they were slaves she had purchased from a Coruscanti slave ring, they had been unwillingly conscripted into the Imperial Army. Time would only tell how many of them would accept their new fate and how many of them would bend or break under the pressure of their role as soldiers for the Imperial Inquisition.

Tmoxin glanced over at Amedis noticing the sweat beading on his brow from the desert heat. His handsome face showed only resoluteness, his jaw firm - unlike Ulysses who didn't have the temperament for this type of thing, the soldier beside her seemed more than willing to help. But how strong his resolve would be for the "conditioning" she had in mind?

"These are the new recruits for the Blood Monarchs. They will form the second platoon. What I need specifically are shock troopers, shadow troopers and snipers... but I'm getting ahead of myself. They will need some thought reform first."

The Hapan officer motioned for Amedis to walk with her through the Morpho facility. "We're going to do this in the laboratory which is unfinished and is quite honestly the only place right now that can hold all of these men."

The slaves hadn't been taking to the lab yet and were presumably getting showered and prepared for whatever conditioning the Commander had in mind. As they reached the laboratory, which was in fact empty, save for a few cabinets and what looked to be a medical refrigerator where substances could be kept in the right conditions, be it temperature or in a sterile container.

"Do you know what IX serum is, soldier?" she asked as she withdrew a small metal box from the medical storage container.

[member="Kyle Amedis"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Watching for a few moments before being led away, Kyle listened intently to the new recruitment plan, and he didn’t even register the fact they were moving to the facility laboratory. If anything, it was a place for medical checks and probably drug testing or serum administration.

But that was what the medbay was far wasn’t it?

A flicker of a frown crossed his brow, looking around at the lab and enjoying the cooler temperature to the harsh outside. Watching Tmoxin walk and talk, he turned slightly to see her fetch a box. The IX serum? There was no point in lying.

”Isn’t it something to relax the mind, a form of sedation?”

There was no point in lying, so he offered his answer. A straight up recollection at name he swore he’d heard in CorSec..

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

"Not necessarily," responded the Commander. "It's a drug that's used in mind conditioning and will hopefully aid in our effort to turn these recruits into soldiers. Make them more pliable and willing. And help to prevent desertion."

She set the box down on a nearby metal workstation. "But the scientists who will be arriving in a couple of days will do all of the actual administration..."

They were interrupted by the sound of footsteps at the door to the laboratory. A stormtrooper with a blaster escorted five of the slaves into the room. They were clean now, having been quickly showered and dressed in training fatigues. The men were no longer chained together but still had stun cuffs around their wrists.

"I'm assuming the rest of the recruits are in the prison?" she asked to which the trooper said, "Affirmative."

Tmoxin walked over to them, appraising their bodies as though they were her possession, which technically they were. She didn't touch them, but merely looked. Although it didn't show on her face she still had a bitter distaste for this whole idea, but it was much easier to rely on her Hapan roots to get over the psychological discomfort. Many men on Hapes were servile to the point of slavery in on her matriarchal home-world. And like a military officer is trained to do, once the wheels are set in motion, you get on with business, however difficult.

After her inspection, she came back over to Amedis and said, "Now soldier, tell me what you would do first to start this training?" She hopped up on the workstation to sit, making it clear that the Commander herself wasn't going to be doing the dirty work.

[member="Kyle Amedis"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Kyle watched, sitting his helmet on the workbench beside him, as Tmoxin surveyed the new recruits – or prisoners. Sizing them up, he looked at both her face and the 5 other faces momentarily. None of them showed any knowledge or expectation on what was happening.

As she sat, making herself a little too comfortable for Kyle’s liking, he walked forward slowly casting his glance over the men. He wasn’t sure where this was going or what his role was; he, a simple soldier of a greater cause.

”I would find out what they wanted to be. Away from this, whatever situation this is or what they’ve done, find out what drives them, what makes their brains tick.”

He turned to Tmoxin, with a sheepish smile and spreading of hands.

”I’m sorry, Commander, is there something I should be doing right now? I’m not sure where this is going. Do you want them trained or evaluated?”

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Hmm, it appeared this stormtrooper had caught a touch of whatever Sgt. Major had in his reluctance to take charge of these new recruits. Tmoxin, as a Hapan descendant, had no problem taking charge of the male slaves. They were about to have much better lives after all than spending the rest of their lives working in a cortosis mine or being killed by a Hutt crime lord for fun.

Still sitting on the workstation she said, “What will make their brains tick is their new life here on Morpho for an indefiniate period of time. I assure you of that.”

“Ma’am when are we going to get something to eat?” asked one of the men suddenly. At the question, the stormtrooper beside him jabbed him in the stomach with the butt of his rifle. The slave groaned and doubled over in pain. “Stop talking and listen to the Commander,” the trooper said.

A headache forming behind her eyes, Tmoxin pinched the bridge of her nose. “Amedis,” she sighed trying to go lightly on the man who was for the most part only following her orders. “Go with the men to the rifle range. Take stun batons if you need them and feel free to enlist help from other platoons. I want their sniper training to start today. I would advise you to use caution, however if you allow these men to turn on you, you have no one but yourself to blame. And of course, if they do turn, they will be executed by morning."

“Now everyone out of here!” she barked. Her temper flaring she added, “Or you will also be spending the night in the prison with Sgt. Major Ulysses whose empathy for these men had usurped his direct orders. I will check on your progress later on in the day."

[member="Kyle Amedis"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Not looking at Tmoxin, Kyle saw a glimpse of what she was all about – literally, a commanding officer who had little patience for those below her. Eyes flicking between the assaulting Stormtrooper and the slave line-up, it seemed her patience was wearing thin and she didn’t want to be here. Well if she didn’t really have time for him, then nor did he for her. The pinch on her nose was enough.

He had his orders; albeit not ones he had expected, but he could carry them out no problem. He didn’t want to stay around longer with her temper and her threats. Kyle turned to take his helmet, but would leave it off – no need to hamper his vision if he was now taking hostile slaves to a rifle range.

”Yes MA’AM.” While he didn’t shout, Kyle emphasized enough of the final word to show he didn’t care for her tone. Typical of the troopers beneath high command – not just cannon fodder, but mouth fodder.

”Let’s go.”

----- ----- ----- -----

4 additional troopers had been picked in passing by Kyle en-route to the rifle range to the rear of the facility. Opting for the outdoor range, Kyle kept his orders blunt and to the point. Requesting five rifles to be erected on bipods, they were ready as they stepped out and walked across the dry ground in a line.

5 men behind 5 rifles, with a trooper behind each. Kyle moved to the side, and pointed to the targets in the distance, a pale blue sky and small mountain range beyond them.

”You either do your best with me, or you suffer a fate with her. I don’t care what you did before or what you feel now; I only care you’re here as possible troopers to help bring security and order to a galaxy that has let you down.”

He nodded at the troopers looking over at him. Their stance changed slightly, but the E11s moved in their grip.

”Do your best with these rifles. Live ammunition. 10 shots. You step out of line even an inch, you’ll be shot in the back of your head. I don’t want that, but they do. So don’t give them the satisfaction and BE something great for once.”

Kyle turned to the targets, a number of scout droids and markers beside them.

”Go to work.”

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

After the arrival of the slaves and the tense conversation in the Morpho Laboratory, Tmoxin holed herself up in her office for awhile where it was air conditioned and frankly far away from the stench of sweat, fear and disillusionment. Once she had a couple of glasses of chilled Blossum wine, she felt much better and thought to herself - well, maybe I was a little hard on Kyle Amedis, who held so much promise in the Imperial Army.

She came out later in the afternoon to check on the progress of the sniper training. The Commander looked much more refreshed in her black uniform, her red hair swept up and pinned in a bun atop her head.

Tmoxin was pleased at the progress she was seeing. She stood back watching the training and waiting until there was a pause in Kyle Amedis's systematic drills to speak to him. Maybe she would invite him to dinner in the mess hall as a reward for his hard work today.

[member="Kyle Amedis"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Kneeling beside one of the slaves, Kyle had his head down looking along the barrel of the rifle, moving it gently with his hand. Then, he patted the slave on the shoulder and got back up as the crack rang out across the grounds.

”It’s harder with your hand you don’t use to shoot with, but if you’re gun-hand is injured in battle, you’ve more chance to try with the others than just give up. Keep going.”

Moving across the back of the troopers, the slaves were at present all still alive. They’d relished the chance to let out some aggression with shooting, be it in a controlled environment and the threat of death hanging over them. If they played the game, they would survive. Simple.

Feeling eyes on him, Kyle turned to see Tmoxin watching. He walked over quickly to her.

”All going well here if this is what you had in mind, Commander.”

The crack of shots continued, a couple shouting they were spent.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

“Very well, Amedis,” she said. “I’m quite pleased at their progress. When I purchased them I was looking for extremely fit and healthy men. I’m not disappointed. You also seem to have a way with them. They respond better to someone more patriarchal I suppose."

One of the slaves complained more loudly this time that they needed to rest.

Tmoxin just ignored him and smiled rather sweetly know at Kyle. “They’ll be so full of mind control drugs in a few months they will no longer complain.” She patted the stormtrooper on the arm and said, “Come with me. Let’s have dinner in the mess hall or better yet in my office where it’s less noisy and crowded.”

The afternoon heat was blazing on the firing range and Tmoxin couldn’t wait to get back into cooler quarters. Why did I pick a desert for my garrison anyway, she thought? With its punishing sun and the frigid nights, Lok was never a temperate place and the Hapan officer was always in a constant state of discomfort. Which is why alcohol makes everything much more tolerable, she mused.

While the training continuing behind them, Tmoxin motioned for Amedis to follow her and once they were back into her office, she pulled out her bottle of wine and poured a glass for the trooper.

“What would you like to eat, soldier? I’ll have someone bring us dinner. And after that then I want to hear about you. Why did you join up with the Imperial Army?"

[member="Kyle Amedis"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

"Yes, ma’am.”

Kyle nodded at Tmoxin and ran back to the troopers, issuing his request for them to halt training when all rifles were empty, and to push them on the assault course and then back to the holding bays. Scooping up his helmet, he nodded to his team and jogged back to join the Commander as she walked.

It was far cooler inside the facility and Kyle really needed to obtain more dignified attire when not out serving as a trooper, because his armour wasn’t intended for intense heat and conditions as Lok.

Stepping into the office once more, placing his helmet on the floor by the door, Kyle was a little perplexed by the offer of dinner and really didn’t know what to expect. Well, he did – this was going to be some psychological test probably, how many troopers did a Commander tempt with wine and dinner? Utter the wrong word or make the wrong move and he’d be out.

"Thank you, ma’am. And please, I don’t require anything more than the basics. You carry on, and I’ll happily join you in anything you wish.”

With his hands behind his back, he stepped into the office a little more to answer her question, eyes looked around , not really knowing how much to focus on Tmoxin.

"I was originally with CorSec before I left, partly my own choice. When I did, I had the training and skills to serve a unit that ran such as the Imperials. I’d grown up seeing them, hearing about them. Even in CorSec, you take down criminals here and there but you know you’re just in the minor league. The Imperial Army taking on the Republic forces was where the REAL battle was at, and I didn’t want to play with the little league anymore.”

He walked closer to her and looked at the wine.

"Fast forward training and a few small expeditions, and here I am. May I ask, do you drink wine with every new trooper under your command, or is this some way of testing my mettle?”

Why he spoke like that, he didn’t know, but knew he was going to get an earful.

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]

 

[Tmoxin Temi]

Tmoxin listened to Kyle Amedis and when he explained that he was from CorSec she said, “We get quite a few soldiers from CorSec. They tend to be some of our better recruits. I mean, true recruits that join up willingly. A very efficient organization indeed and when I served the Queen on Hapes as her Select Commando, I studied their many of their training techniques.”

The Commander smirked when Amedis asked, “Do you drink wine with every new trooper under your command, or is this some way of testing my mettle?” But truth be told, she was extremely relaxed the from the tiring day, not to mention the alcohol already in her bloodstream. She had no more fight in her to correct anyone today.

“Actually soldier, I thought it would be a nice reward for your hard work today. But if you are busy or would rather shower or relax elsewhere you are free to go.”

He wouldn’t get the sense that she was making an advance on him, but moreover that Tmoxin seemed desperate for conversation that didn’t have to do with military drills and mind control techniques. Perhaps the Commander was bored or perhaps just lonely for companionship. But she wouldn't fault the Amedis if he wanted to leave. She knew her presence could be intimidating and maybe this particular stormtrooper had had just about enough of her today.

[member="Kyle Amedis"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Pursing his lips, Kyle dismissed her comment and moved a little further into the room.

"No, that won't be necessary. Please...I'll have a glass.”

He smiled, a genuine one, able to feel he could relax a little more - after all he had nothing to lose, and it would always help to keep the Commander on side. He side stepped and seated himself opposite her desk and tapped his fingers on the arms of the chair.

"Nice to hear CorSec has some good use. May I ask the same question - how did you find your way to commanding an Imperial garrison? I don't see many women in your position, not many at all.”

[member="Tmoxin Temi"]