Hell to Pay [Silver Jedi/Crusaders]

[Keira Priest]

Voss​

Silver Temple​

​

All of them needed to talk. It was that much she had told Connor, asking for him to speak with his Grandmaster in order to call council with the Crusaders and discuss what had happened. The war drums had begun to rumble once news of the atrocity on Korriban had reached their space, but it was something Keira had managed to quell for the time being. Everyone had grown restless in the past few days, though thankfully talks of war against the Silver Jedi had quieted. There was still an unspoken question lingering among their ranks of just what was to be done in the instance of maintaining peace, and she hoped to answer that in the coming days once the negotiations had come to an end.

This wasn't the first time she had talked peace with a possible war looming behind her, but it was the first time she had done so as the head of a galactic power. Nothing about her method of going about things would change, however. If anything she would be even more blunt, persistent and straightforward, laying out her and her people's opinions while dictating all that they expected or wished to come from this. In her mind the Jedi didn't have much room to extend demands to them, but she would at the very least listen to their argument if it prevented a war none of them really wanted. So long as it was in the best interests of her and hers, there was no reason to raise complaint.

The trip to Voss had been a mostly silent one. There wasn't much to discuss between herself and her brother, and so they both sat quietly, immersed in their own thoughts. For her own part she was talking over the matter with her AI, helmet on and annunciator silenced so as to keep the conversation silent to the outside world.
"We both know you don't want this to come to a war." Thalia had her arms crossed, having taken on the almost lecturing tone that had become commonplace.
"I don't, no. But this begs discussion. They can't wipe out that many civilians and expect to walk away from things so easily."
"Those weren't your people. Why do you care?"
"They weren't. But they were innocent in all of this. Besides, we're the closest neighbors the Jedi here have. And Mandalorians aren't good at forgetting."
"Sometimes I think that's your problem."

When the ship settled in the hangar she remained seated for a few moments, extending her senses outwards to encompass the surrounding area. The aura of the Light caused her to shrink back a fraction, and she withdrew herself slowly from the larger ethereal plane, maintaining her presence but not willing to push past that. Sighing quietly she pushed herself to her feet, the phrik plating of her armor clinking against itself slightly as she stood. Her helmeted gaze looked to her younger brother briefly, though no words were put forth, and she opened the landing ramp, standing at the entrance for a few seconds before stepping downwards and into the hangar of the Temple. At one point she had made house here, but now this was just as alien as it had first been, and all it had taken was a single order.

[member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Commander Lusk"], [member="Connor Harrison"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Another short message from Keria to say they were leaving for Voss.

Another message from the Voss Outpost reporting the Mando ship was descending.

Connor Harrison waited as he said he would with a sole Ranger beside him. That was it. The hangar was quieter than normal, but it was still active. Ships being refuelled and repaired, droids and humans alike doing their job.

After returning from the Sith Order meeting which was still unsettling the more he thought about it, Connor at least was glad to have Keira return to a place they had spent many days together, helping the other over the many highs and lows each faced. Now, however, they were here as leaders of the opposition – Silver Jedi and Mandalorian Clans – brought together by the Korriban incident.

As the mighty ship touched down, Connor just stood and waited. He had advised the others he would lead Keira to the Council chambers to conduct their audience at the top of the temple with the pleasant view of their world visible from all angles.

The ramp lowered, and Keira walked out looking even more a warrior than last time. Still, she didn’t intimidate or throw him. He knew her too well for that. The company she brought, however, was a little more edgier.

”Keira. My pleasure. Welcome to Voss.”

He looked to the others and nodded his head.

”Welcome to you all – and thank you for coming. My name is Connor Harrison; Master of the Silver Jedi Order. If you will follow me, we shall head on up and meet with the others. Please,” he said, extending his arm for Keira to follow or make a greeting herself.

[member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Commander Lusk"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Alkor Centaris]

The hood dipped low over his eyes as Alkor descended the ramp in Keira's wake. She opted to represent Mandalorian interests in the attire she chose for the occassion, as was the cusom of her culture. Keira went to even the least threatening of places covered in plates and armed to the teeth, and only removed her helmet when the situation demanded she seem less intimidating. People discounted the effect that those T-visors alone had on the vast majority of people galaxy-wide. Jedi perhaps most of all.

It fell to Alkor to be what he had always been. He appeared no more than a shade, an afterthought. His senses flooded outward and licked the world of Voss, only to afford him the soured taste of complacency. The Corellian exile felt his face contort in disgust, albeit for no more than a second. On the worlds where light most thrived, people often forgot what it meant to struggle. While the darkness was by no means a kinder mistress, those who basked in radiance were prone to losing sight of the uglier truths of the galaxy. Especially when they holed themselves away, and they turned a blind eye. That was the sin of these Silver Jedi. Not simply to forget, but to reject that they played any hand in it.

When the Silver Jedi Master greeted them, Alkor shifted his cerulean gaze toward the man. The taint of darkness did not linger in his eyes, but its residue tainted his soul deeply. A seasoned warrior might smell the blood on this man. A Fore adept would taste the death that clung to him like a jealous lover. The fallen Jen'jidai assessed this [member="Connor Harrison"] with calculated disinterest. Words were for Keira alone to give, lest she prompt him for his input. If she deigned to introduce him, that was her prerogative.

The light that filtered into the hangar flooded his eyes and Alkor turned his head so that the hood fell into place once more.

Unlike Keira, the Demon had nothing to hide. His vicious aura lingered, and he would suppress it only if asked. A Sith might be more tactful in that than he was. Still, reading his emotions would not present any murderous desire. Not in that moment, at least. He left the shotgun back on Echoy'la, but his lightsabers hung at either hip. Thus was the ceremony that Jedi clung to themselves; as a Dark Jedi, Alkor saw merit in that. His reasons were different, however.

Jedi wore their weapons as a warning. Do wrong, and the Jedi will stand against you. Their lightsaber was perhaps the most obvious display of their perceived authority. The sound of its ignition drew wary eyes and caused those with ill intent to slink away. Alkor Centaris wore his weapons as a promise of what would happen if someone stood against him.

He stopped only several paces behind the Mandalorian woman, awaiting her response.

[member="Commander Lusk"] | [member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Commander Lusk]

Lusk once called himself a simple man. He was brought into this world with a single purpose, and that was to fight and kill Sith and purge the Republic of traitors and rats as a clone soldier. It was the one time in his life where he understood everything, it was when he was at his happiest knowing his brothers and sisters were fighting for the right cause with Keira leading them. But good times never last. When the Republic was at its breaking point at the hands of the Mandalorians, she left. Keira walked away when the clones needed her the most and betrayed that sacred trust a soldier has in their leader, and ever since then Lusk just wasn't right. He didn't know what to believe in.

But none of that really mattered right now. People were dead and somebody needed to answer for it, and while the silvers could say all they wanted about how they would "make things right" and "disavow the rogue captain." He'll, the Silvers could of served up Charzon on a silver platter with an apple in her mouth, but it wouldn't be enough. Because at the end of the day they had never seen what it was like to be inside a collapsed building with dozens of scared survivors while you held your dead sister in your arms. They didn't know what that kind of carnage looked like from between the rubble. Having to bury the people you grew up with and the last sigh you see of them is watching that casket drop into the ground. So that's why Lusk was here, not only to help Keira negotiate, but to ensure them that the killing of the one responsible was far from going to cut it.

"They're going to try and turn things around on you. Tell you that they aren't afraid of war. They are. They know they can't continue to grow with the sith stopping them at every turn while we attack them. They know that they can't sustain a two pronged war against us. Stay on point, let them know your terms are not negotiable, and this is how things will be if they wish to maintain peace." Lusk said on in helmet comms as he dropped down with Keira and Alkor so he could join in with the little group.

"Just don't walk out on the talks. It might be traumatic towards peace and people." Lusk said with his last comment towards Keira, a bit of venom lacing his words.

Lusk now would walk besides Keira and greet Connor in his own special way. After all it'd be rude if he didn't, and it'd be even worse if he just walked away from all of it while leaving others on the hook.

"Thank you for having us Master Jedi, I'm glad that we can discuss the fallout of this tragic incident like civil people who all want justice." Lusk said with a smile beneath his helmet but gave a friendly nod to ensure his message was indeed friendly.

"Just be careful of this one over here, she's been known to walk out on meetings before." Lusk said with a little laugh to Connor. To him it'd be a friendly joke but for Keira she'd know how hard she had stabbed Lusk in the back and how she'd live with that for the rest of her life.


[member="Coci Heavenshield"] [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Alkor Centaris"]

 

[Keira Priest]

In some instances it was just like old times, where others spoke of a past that would never be reclaimed. When [member="Connor Harrison"] greeted them she inclined her head slightly, her gaze traveling about the hangar before settling back on him. For the moment her helmet would remain in place, and as he spoke she became consciously aware of where her two lightsabers hung at her waist, tomahawk on the other side, pistol holstered on her left. Far from enough weaponry to demonstrate herself as a proper, overarching threat, but enough to communicate that she was ready and willing to defend herself and her people. "Connor. It's nice to see you again." She looked momentarily to those that accompanied her. "This is Alkor Centaris and Commander Lusk of the Crusaders." She gestured to each of them in turn, providing proper introduction.

The words Lusk spoke wouldn't have necessarily struck any of their company as odd, but her gaze cut to him beneath her helmet, jaw taughtening just slightly. Keira knew all too well all that he was getting at, and it brought about some form of annoyance that he would choose to bring up such a topic here, when they had more important things to concern themselves with. For the moment she would elect to ignore his barbed commentary, pushing past the venom in his voice. There was no denying that his sentiment was well-deserved - that much even she wouldn't bother to argue - but there was a such thing as time and place, and he was more than tactful enough to be well aware of that.

"I suppose it wouldn't be wise to keep the rest of them waiting. Shall we?" Tension had already begun to creep up, and she had a feeling it wouldn't be quelled anytime soon. Better, then, to get things over with.

[member="Commander Lusk"], [member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

One didn’t speak, and he looked full of angst and wonderfully moody, much like Connor had been years ago in his darker days. Well, let him be mean and moody. He was beyond that. The Mando wanted to make it clear he was here for the clans and them alone, that much was obvious with the lack of introduction and weapons on show. Let him try it.

Connor glanced over him to the next who spoke up, the Commander. He seemed made for war, and spoke up at least, which was a positive. He even cracked wise about Keira, which was a bonus in Connor’s eyes. He smiled and looked to her with a suspicious eye.

When she introduced the pair however, one name stuck out like a sore thumb. Alkor. Alkor?

“Do you remember that man you fought with against Orcus during Ruusan? The Dark Jedi? His name is Alkor Centaris, and he’s a Mandalorian.”

The smile fell a little as [member="Joza Perl"] echoed in his head. Of course. This was the husband, married to the dancing Zeltron ex-slave who was pregnant with a Sith Lord’s baby and who Connor was gradually getting closer to and looking at more than just a fellow Master.

Brilliant. He could have been mistaken, but he was sure there was a glint in Keira’s eye.

”If you follow me, I will take you for your audience with Grandmaster Thurion Heavenshield and his wife and Master of the Order, Coci.”

In such a big galaxy, and such diverse Factions, why had fate yet again decided to drop this hot plate on Connor’s lap with a former combatant and husband of the woman he liked on his doorstep. Such was the Harrison way.

As they walked, Connor talked now and then to make small talk and take his mind off things, pointing out some of the Silver Jedi history they passed and a few, non-secretive areas they passed en route up to the top of the Temple.

[member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Commander Lusk"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Alkor Centaris]

Countless enemies had sized him up over the years. He had become so used to the probing eyes that he no longer reacted at all when they fell on him. That did not mean Alkor could not feel them. He closed his eyes when Keira gave her brief introduction and nodded tersely. She expected them to comport themselves with a demeanor that would not incite war. As such, Alkor did not open his mouth.

He had no respect for Sith, and perhaps less for Jedi. Turmoil swam through the currents of Force energy, though it was to be expected under such circumstances. It hardly fit that anyone might be utterly calm with the threat of war looming overhead. Alkor was not a mind reader, but he could sink his fetid fangs into emotions like the most vicious of predators. It was not fear he tasted, but unease.

His gaze turned to the Jedi Master once more and held there, wondering why the man's expression had fallen at all. As a killer who spent years mastering the subtlties of subterfuge and infiltration, he was versed in reading body language. Even the more apathetic cues of a Jedi.

It was not a weakness, perhaps, but some strange and morbid fascination. Alkor attributed this man's sudden burden to something Keira had said. That limited the number of possibilities.

His gaze shifted over to Lusk. What had the man done to upset this Jedi? It was improbable that the man had any contempt for Alkor, as Alkor felt literally nothing toward him. The Demon viewed the Jedi as an insect, beneath even contempt. He was here to function solely as an advisor and member of the Crusaders. One of his first adventures in Mandalorian life.

And he wasn't even wearing the armor. Keira must have been thrilled. His gaze shifted to the woman and Alkor spoke: "The sooner we finish, the better. This world festers with a lack of..." he paused, considering his words. "... life."

It would have been more apt to say "anything real." The Jedi superimposed their dogma, and they opted for the facade of peace. A place without true conflict made the man stir crazy.

[member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Commander Lusk"] | [member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Meanwhile, in the Conference Room

When the Grandmaster returned to Voss following the disaster on Korriban, he'd returned a broken man. He was relieved to hear his wife and son were safe, but the tear in the Force caused by the death of thousands remained a dark cloud handing over his head for several days. Only recently had he regained his old self, determined to not let this travesty spell doom for the Order of the Silver Jedi. They would deal with the consequences and then move on, wiser from the experience.

Found within the walls of the conference room awaiting the arrival of the Mandalorian representatives, Thurion lay resting upon the long rectangular table, his feet dangling off the side and his hands clasped together over his chest. Behind him sat [member="Coci Heavenshield"], her fingers tracing the lines of his face as they look upon each other in soothing silence. These small moments of intimacy was what held them together through these hectic times. They had both agreed that once this crisis is over and done with, some much needed time off is in order.

"They'll be here soon," he finally broke silence, eyes fixed on hers. Without really thinking about it he raised a hand and settled it upon the back of her head, gently pulling her down until their lips met for an upside-down kiss. It didn't last nearly as long as he would've liked. "Well..." he let out with a sigh as he then sat up and slid off the table and onto his feet. "Let's get this over with."

[member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Commander Lusk"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

"I fear this will not be over with any time soon my love", she sighed as their kiss ended and she sat upright once more before standing herself. Moments with Thurion of recent times precious to her now and she is tired, years and years of duty not only to the Order but to those that fall under their protection finally starting to take a toil on her. So much conflict within her now, the ability and the adherence to the Jedi Way failing in some case but the Jedi like any sentient being are not gods, nor does she believe the force to be one and there is no dogma here in the Silver Order. Just a hope of peace, which in a galaxy such as this one, will never be. But the fight for it will always be.

She had had dealings with the Mandalorians before this day, even had trained some in the past and found them to be reasonable people so meeting with them would not be a hardship for her at least, but what is in their minds this day only time will tell. No doubt they are here to find out the truth, details of the events on Korriban, which they will receive however, the Grand Master, from the present one to the last, have never been in the business of cover ups or lies. People will always believe what they wish regardless of intentions of others to inform them of the truth. Thurion's holomessage to the galaxy had only purpose in mind, to inform the galaxy of a new threat, not for any PR or excuses and she sincerely hoped that the Mandalorians that are here now, are here for more then finger pointing. But to speak about something more important. The threat of a new group of Sith nestled between their respective space. Surely that is on their minds now too.

Coci looked around the four walls of the conference room, sickened to the stomach to be here once more, by the force how many conference rooms had she seen. Hear the banter between those gathered to talk. Talk and more talk. "I do hope this meeting will conclude quickly, our ship is prepared and waiting for us to travel to Korriban. The sooner we get there the better".

​

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Commander Lusk"]​

 

[Keira Priest]

While she agreed with what Alkor had to say in a certain light, Keira didn't deign to respond, looking to him as he spoke solely to her. "Udesii. Las ili hav sia ver pac." This time Old Corellian wasn't spoken with the intention of gaining a response, but rather to keep this exchange between the two of them, as she knew full well no others present had a grasp on the language.The both of them held a similar opinion of the Jedi, but as it stood the present company in the form of Connor didn't need to understand. Lusk and Alkor both comprehended what she had said, and that was enough.

Reaching up she pulled off her helmet as they walked, holding it under one arm and running her other hand through her hair. If she was being honest this was the last place she wanted to be currently, but Isley had dubbed her the sole Warmarshal of the Crusaders for a reason. Her voice was second only to his, and given that her elder brother found himself otherwise indisposed, this task fell to her. As much as the overwhelming aura of the Light ushered in some form of annoyance, she was able to find some form of solace in the presence of the others that accompanied her. It was the three of them rather than just her, and there were more pressing things to lend thought to rather than the sense of false peace the Jedi planet emanated.

The moment before they entered the designated chambers she sighed quietly, bleeding a fraction of the inherent volatility from her aura. It was people like her that made the Jedi uneasy, of that she was perfectly aware. There was nothing but the sound of armored footsteps as she stepped into the room, and she looked to the two others gathered, inclining her head in greeting, "Masters Jedi. I would like to thank you for agreeing to meet with us today in order to discuss matters concerning what transpired on Korriban." Her voice was even, carrying with it a tone of carefully crafted respect for those of the Silver Jedi they had come to converse with.

There would be no opening inquiries posed just yet, and she would wait for the three to invite them to sit before the talks truly began in earnest. The Jedi enjoyed their ceremony, that much she was fully aware of, and she wanted to display some form of respect for that.

Spoiler

Here's a translation of what she said in both Mando'a and Old Corellian: "Easy. Let them have their false peace."

[member="Coci Heavenshield"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Connor Harrison"], [member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Commander Lusk"]

 

[Commander Lusk]

Keira stepped up, thanked the Jedi for having them, and then would allow the rest of the party to do the same. Lusk being that he was polite as well stood next to Keira and reached up towards his helmet. With a few snaps and hisses from his suits sealed hoses it was of with the brain bucket slowly and steadily until it was by his side. So while it didn't really matter the Jedi would be able to see his warrior's mohawk and war tattoos that stretched down the lines of his cheeks along with a few scars here and there. But most notably it was clear the man was a clone of a more infamous Mandalorian known as Preliat Mantis aka the Wolf of Mandalore.

"I echo what our esteemed leader has stated, thank you for meeting with us. But I must add that what happened on Korriban was a tragedy and that we are not here to measure morality and to declare ourselves holier than thou. We have all made our mistakes, and we have all buried both loved ones and innocents. So before we go into this I ask that none of you pretend to be more just and righteous in their ways, because at the end of it all we're all just people trying to make sure that something like this doesn't happen again for the sake of both of our nations and the citizens that call them home." Lusk laid it out on the table and hopefully it would smooth people into talks.

Lusk however wasn't going to bring up the first talking point. Since Keira was their leader they needed to remain on a more or less unified front when it came to how they presented themselves. That was the key to diplomacy and war after all, having each other's backs even if you hated them.

"I apologize for asking but is there perhaps somewhere we can sit to discuss this? I feel as if this meeting would be best if we all sat down to discuss the issues." Lusk could only imagine the soft cushy chairs the Jedi had for sitting on their asses all day.

[member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Alkor Centaris"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

About to speak, Keira muttered something in some old language - ancient Mando? With a raised brow, Connor glanced at her. She had a nerve. Probably some insult or order - obviously that important to them she didn't want the Jedi to hear.

Looking away, Connor waved his hand to the chamber door and followed the Mandos in. The Grandmaster and his wife were waiting, and Connor was last to enter, closing the door, letting them lead.

Keira spoke first and knew her "Master Jedi" speech was forced. Next, the Commander who he liked. Straight-talking and seemingly an honest warrior. That was respectable. He didn't want to bear around the bush either.

”Please, allow me.” Connor stepped forward and raised a control panel on the wall. From the floor, eight chairs rose up and swiveled to face each other around the chamber. He extended his hand. ”Take a seat.”

He looked out of the large panoramic window as those who wanted to sit, sat.

”I couldn't have said it better myself, Commander. I assure you what we say here will be nothing but our honest view and intention. That's the truth, as I am sure you will voice your own view and intention akin to your culture, which we will respect equally. The one behind this will be hunted down and I will make sure of this personally. They will stand trial for their crime. While this may not be what many want, we aren't murderers or butchers and would rather she live with her nightmare and guilt than face a quick death to be over it.”

Connor sat, linking his hands, at the edge of the group.

[member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Commander Lusk"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Alkor Centaris]

Alkor remained standing when the others began to sit. His hands folded at his chest as he shifted the weight to one foot and listened intently. His training in these circumstances dealt with the assurance of compliance between parties, and not with the forging of bonds or cutting of deals. There was a time when he was only seen and never heard, unless it was the sound of blade breaking flesh. [member="Keira Ticon"] had asked him here under different pretenses, however. When [member="Connor Harrison"] spoke, Alkor shifted his gaze toward the man. "Live with the guilt?" he asked skeptically.

"Have you ever willfully ended a life, Master Jedi? Not in the line of duty, not a choice between life and death, but a freely made decision to spill the blood of another creature, perhaps even innocent?"

Alkor had. Oh, he had.

"Someone who has the wherewithal to pull the trigger on a genocide of that scale will never feel remorse for their decision. Your compassion ceases to be relevant with those who lack the capacity to feel it in kind." He glanced toward the clone, [member="Commander Lusk"] . "The belief that caging this creature will teach it a lesson or rectify any wrong on their part is childish optimism at best. If you wish for peace, harboring the criminal in a cell or seeking to force their repentance will only paint a target on your back."

He glanced to Keira, then back to Harrison. "If you lack the stomach to take its life, of course, I would be more than willing to accomodate you."

Alkor spoke with practiced detachment; for as much as the villain was a person, Alkor viewed victims as victims and nothing more. His words were intended to dehumanize, and his intentions abundant in clarity. Murder was not an atrocity to this man.

It was an efficient practice.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Keira Priest]

When Alkor spoke, Keira had to stifle a sigh, restraining herself from pinching the bridge of her nose. There was no doubt that she agreed with all that her younger brother had put forth, but even someone like her eventually learned what it meant to have tact. When he finished speaking her dark gaze looked to him, "Sit, please. And thank you for your input." Her tone was neutral, and in truth she was barely suppressing a smile at just how bluntly he'd gotten his point across. It was a quality she often admired, though there was no doubt in her mind the Jedi present would hold far from the same sentiment. Which was why this had to be smoothed over now, lest it spiral into something out of their control.

"What I believe my comrade is trying to say is that someone who so willingly ended life on such a grand scale likely doesn't feel overmuch remorse for their actions, otherwise they wouldn't have pulled the trigger in the first place. There is nothing to say that the one responsible won't attempt and possibly succeed in committing such acts a second time, and that's something I think is in everyone's best interests of preventing. Nobody asked for what transpired on Korriban to occur. But we want to do our best to be certain an event similar doesn't unfold later down the line." Eloquency and tact were two things she had learned the hard way, but at the very least it meant she could talk her way to a goal.

"I'm going to tell you all what I told Connor when we met to discuss this, though with a bit more of a...gentler touch to my words." There was a moment where she paused, looking to the man in question with the barest of smiles playing across her lips. "I know that you all see yourselves as innocent in all of this, as anyone rightfully would. I'm going to neither confirm or deny that statement based on my personal belief or the facts presented, because I'm not here to play judge, jury and executioner for your Order. What I will say is this: it doesn't matter how you perceive yourselves, because at the end of the day, when it comes to something like this, what matters is how the greater galaxy sees you.

"And I will tell you that right now, the light the galaxy and my people see you in is not a favorable one. We see you as circumspect in all of this, but most of all you're seen as a threat. That's not to say myself or my people are going to be hasty in instigating any kind of conflict, because that is what we came here to prevent." Momentarily she paused, taking a breath to steady herself, gauging the reactions of those present with a glance cast about the room before she continued, "By saying that you're going to keep her alive when this is all said and done, you're saying in fewer words that you somehow empathize with her. That you somehow find it in your hearts to pity her enough to let her live. That might not be what you believe, but again, that's how it's perceived. And that's not what you want.

"Now, I respect your willingness to preserve and protect life. That's an aspect of your way of life that none of us can reverse, no matter our thoughts on such a thing. I understand that, and I won't attempt to encroach upon it or twist it to fit my benefit. What I will say is that when you do capture her, turn her over to the Crusaders. I can assure you that she will be treated humanely, but she must pay for what she's done, and what I've seen through my time serving in the Republic is that the best way to resolve the case of a war criminal is execution. After that this incident will be over, case closed, and you won't have to hear any more about it."

[member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Connor Harrison"], [member="Commander Lusk"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

As the Mandalorian representatives arrived and took their seats following the brief introductions, it quickly became obvious tensions were high for some of those present. While he was fully aware of the Mandalorian disdain for Jedi doctrine - they had a long memory and knew how to hold on to an old grudge - Thurion did not think ill of their ways. Countless peoples and cultures are found in the world they lived in, but few are as well-developed and ancient as the Mandalorians, their ways set in stone since before the Republic of old. Had the Valkyri of Midvinter been more technically advanced and discovered space travel, they might have turned out much the same.

While the woman known as [member="Keira Ticon"] spoke, Thurion's eyes wandered between the three representatives. There was the unmistakingly dark-natured [member="Alkor Centaris"], his aura easily felt by the Jedi Master. Mandalorians did not care for the Force or which alignment a person adhered to, that much was clear. Clan and family came before any other duty, and despite Alkor being visibly repulsed by the brightness of the light side, his being present spoke of his dedication to his people. There was honour in that.

The other one, [member="Commander Lusk"], seemed more amicable and more prone to reason, which was a breath of fresh air these days. Whether it was genuine or simply a face he'd put on for this meeting, it didn't matter to Thurion.

As Keira finished speaking, the Grandmaster slowly rose from his seat. "First things first, I'd like to thank the representatives from the Mandalorian Crusaders for coming all the way from Echoy'la to meet with us. I won't dishonour your ears or myself by speaking your language, as I am regrettably quite rusty at it," he spoke with a smile before taking a sip from his blue milk. "Now, you say we think ourselves blameless in what happened on Korriban. Not the case, I assure you; we fully accept any blame placed upon us, as long as people remember that there is no sole party to place all guilt on. May I remind you that none of this would have happened had the Sith not unexpectedly invaded the sector."

Taking another sip, he then placed the glass back down on the table. "May I also remind you that you have no right in demanding the head of Miss Charzon Loulan. They were not your people she condemned in cold blood, nor do you have the jurisdiction to seek her out within Silver-controlled space. She will be taken into custody and put on trial, and justice will prevail. Leave revenge to the likes of Sith to exact. Spilling blood for blood already spilled is not our way, and I'd like you to respect that, Warmarshal Ticon. I don't expect you would take kindly to us showing up in Mandalorian space demanding our justice upon one of your high-profile prisoners."

His voice remained calm and precise throughout, even as he leaned over the table with palms pressed against its surface, eyes set upon Keira. "What we need to discuss is the Sith now in control of their old stomping grounds. Korriban, Malachor, and Thule have all succumbed to their rule. I know full well how you perceive Jedi and our ways; the distant past have made relations between us bitter, and at times openly hostile. I would change that if I could, but hearts are not easily swayed and people are allowed to feel however they wish. What I do know is the Mandalorians bear the Sith even less love than they do Jedi."

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]​

 

[Commander Lusk]

Lusk listened to Thurion make his case about the prisoner and how they had no right to demand anything from them. But that was where he was wrong. While he may not of seen it their way Lusk would do his best to make sure how the cycle of death and destruction repeated itself through history and right now they had a chance to make sure that even a small amount of people in the grand scheme of things could be saved.

So as everyone made their points Lusk reached into one of his tactical vest pockets and pulled a small item out of it. Palming it in his hand for a moment his mind flashed back to the woman he held in the vacuum of space, her lifeless face and pale dead features burned into his mind.

"Excuse me, Master Jedi," Lusk said a few moments after Thurion had spoken.

"Her name was Karrin." He said as he raised up a small name tag with Karrin marked across it that looked as if it belonged on a waitress uniform.

Lusk's eyes watered a bit before he began speaking and it was clear to everyone in the room, that this was a moment of the past he didn't much care to talk about. So with his strongest and most sympathetic voice he cleared his throat and spoke.

"So the Clans were invading Roche, and Keira and I were outside of Nickel One trying to secure the outer perimeter against incoming drop ships. Then all of a sudden we start getting reports that something terrible happened and that Ali Hadrix had vented civilians into space. Comms shortly after get blocked." Lusk paused for a moment to clear his throat.

"Then we turn around and we see these bodies float towards us through the void, I reach up and grab the first person I see, and it's this young blonde woman choking on nothing, and I watch her pass with nothing I could do. I watched her die horribly." Lusk held back a small sob and once more cleared his throat.

"So I took this." he gestured to the name tag then stood up.

"After the battle I looked into her life and I found out she had a wife and a kid, and that tomorrow she would of finished up her month long shift on Nickel One as a server and would of gone home." Lusk then looked dead at Thurion so he could watch as sadness turned to rage. An anger that shook him to his very core about how something like this could of happened.

"And do you know what happened to her killer? I'm sure you do. She received a fair and impartial trial and a verdict was never rendered, everything got bogged down in the legal process to eventually everything was dropped, and she went on to fight the war killing more civilians." Lusk then would then toss the name tag lightly at the grand master to let him have it.

"Make no mistake, Master Thurion. I made a promise that day, that I'd never let that happen again. So you can either kill her yourself, or we can do it for you by force, I'm not letting that cycle continue. We'll talk about the sith soon but for now I want you to remember that her name, was Karrin." Lusk then restrained himself then sat back down in his seat to put his helmet on and seal it.

He didn't want anyone to see him cry.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Connor Harrison"] [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Alkor Centaris"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor was glad for the others to talk, because he just looked at Alkor. Why was he even here? Why did Keira bring someone as unstable and volatile as that? If he represented the Mando cause then god help their recruitment campaign. He shook his head slightly. The youth wouldn't last two seconds against the real horror Connor had seen out there.

Keira spoke, and Connor listened.

Thurion spoke, and Connor listened.

Commander Lusk spoke, and Connor listened.

After, he rubbed the bridge of his nose. This was getting infuriating. It was the last thing they needed - any of them.

”I am getting bored of this,” he muttered. ”One person causes so much conflict when the real enemy is watching us bicker and argue and reach little conclusion, and then when our cracks appear, they strike. Brilliant. Well done diplomacy.”

He looked up, hands clasped before him, still resting on his elbows.

”For the last time, Charzon is not going to you or the Sith to be murdered. End of. She was from our ranks and so she is tried by our ranks. I'm sorry for the hurt you have experienced, Commander, but remember we all have experienced that loss too and made promises that err on the side of blind revenge. Once more, if we stoop to that level, we may as well close the doors of the Order and let darkness take over anyone and everyone if that's what justice means.”

Connor looked at them all, lingering on Keira, eyes boring into her to reach all that understanding and experience they had shared.

”She stays with us and is tried by our law. If that means execution, then it shall be. If it means imprisonment on a far moon in Wild Space, then it shall be. We are both noble factions. The second we resort to barbaric ways, it's lost. She stays. And I for one will not go to war over one person when the deciding war is coming on the horizon. Question is, will you stand with us, or against us when they come to take our homes and butcher our people to do it?”

He looked at her. He gave everything he could of his honest intention to her. Connor Harrison. You got what you saw. Blunt honesty.

[member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Commander Lusk"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Alkor Centaris]

"I had wondered," Alkor spoke, "why we wasted the time to speak with Jedi at all. They are never affable to efficiency." His gaze turned to [member="Keira Ticon"] , the sole reason he had been dragged into these talks at all. "Sentiment. The singular thread that holds this fragile calm together is this woman's compassion toward you lot. Out of respect for her as my ally, I have not left this room. That same respect stays my uncontrollable laughter. Diplomacy? You mistake us, Master Jedi. If we wanted for war, there would be war. You know all too well what the galaxy hears when the word 'Mandalorian' is uttered."

His gaze turned to pierce [member="Connor Harrison"] , not in the way that he would an opponent. He saw the old man, sickly and dying in the streets of Coronet. Fifteen credits. "Make him go away," the shop owner had said.

Bright blue eyes had stared back up in wonder. "Drag him down to the Blue Light District. I don't care how you move him, he's detering customers." A younger Alkor Centaris had tried, at that. He grabbed the man, in a daze from too much drink and too little sleep.

There had been a struggle.

The Demon learned the merits of Darwinism that day. With ragged hands on his throat, Alkor felt the fear for his life. His fists pummeled the man instinctively, and he had cowered. Alkor continued to beat him, driven mad by the insatiable desire to survive.

When it settled, his hands were bloodied, and the man's heart had stopped. The terror had taken his life. Alkor stared down at the corpse, and something terrified him more than the life he had ended.

He felt nothing.

"I would advise that you heed what Ticon has to offer you," Alkor spoke with that same predatory expression. "One life is a small price. Withhold the creature at your own peril," Alkor smirked. He could feel it. In the face of this adversity, even Jedi struggled with such emotion. Finally, something real. "The conflict would be much less boring."

[member="Commander Lusk"] | [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Keira Priest]

"On the contrary, Master Jedi," Keira met Thurion's gaze evenly, helmet placed on the table and arms resting before her, "It would be such a surprise to see you there wanting to be proactive about things that I do believe I'd let you dole out justice the way you saw fit. At the very least it would mean you're doing something about the problem." Her eyes locked with his own steadily for a moment longer before she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed as she continued to listen to the proceedings. All of this was quickly spiraling out of control faster than any of them could grasp at the scraps of the so-called negotiations and piece them back together. Here was the reason Mandalorians never bothered with talking, why they preferred action.

Every word Lusk spoke in regards to the conflict on Roche and the fate of the killer there struck a chord with her, and she didn't interrupt the tale nor immediately speak when he finished. The sadness and sheer rage emanating from him was nearly physically palpable even to a non-sensitive, and to her it radiated in immense waves. His feelings were wholly justified in her mind, but it wouldn't do well to spiral into violence here. And so she extended a sentiment of simple warning to his mind, one he would recognize that meant he was to stand down and take no aggressive action, and that if he did instigate conflict neither of them would like the consequences. She wouldn't move to physical retaliation, but he needed to know the error of his ways before they transpired.

It was what Connor had to say that grated on her the most, but perhaps that was more due to her relationship with the man than anything else. Dark eyes looked directly into striking blue as he spoke, not once wavering. "What you aruetiise call revenge we call justice. This isn't about an eye for an eye, or anything like that." She spoke to all of them now. "This woman has innocent blood on her hands. I find it funny how you'd be so quick to condemn the Sith for an atrocity exactly like this, but you're willing to offer a proper trial for this one. I've seen where the justice of your people gets everyone. I saw a war criminal just like her walk free and commit similar crimes without retribution. That alone helped usher in the downfall of the Republic. I suggest you don't take a page out of their book."

Without another word she pushed herself to her feet, not quite taking up her helm. "I'm not going to bother threatening you all with war. That would be nothing more than a waste of bullets. We aren't going to bother wasting our resources fighting cowards." She tucked her helmet under her arm, looking over those gathered. It took a lot to really vex her. Just like everyone else she had her episodes, moments where she would lose control and need to blow off steam before she was back to center, but rarely was she ever genuinely angry. However, in that moment a volatility shimmered from her that Connor would recognize. It was the sign of a predator emerging, one that had deemed those before it even less than worthy prey.

"If you want our assistance in helping you combat the Sith, then pay us to care. But these talks are over. Lusk. Alkor. Rala vid kvt."

Spoiler

I promise this isn't personal. Keira's just not a nice person.

[member="Alkor Centaris"], [member="Commander Lusk"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Coci Heavenshield"], [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

She had stood in silence since the talks began, having not taken a seat, quite frankly she knew these talks would not last long enough to get settled and she had not been granted time enough to respond. Which was just fine with her. It was as she expected .. unfortunately and when the talk resorted to personal insults, their 'argument' had lost credibility in that instant. Coci cared little for their views on her or the Order or what they deem to be justice for if they, the Order, did what they demanded of them, then she and her Jedi members would have relinquished their code, not only that, but their values as people.

Coci shook her head as they walked out of the room, such lack of sight in what was to come, so be it. "Ihn corellisi nyeve min bhig suman Keira", and the people of Korriban needed the help of the Order. Yet she doubt the woman would care for her words, she said them regardless if the woman heard her or not, the time had passed and the talks ended. Once the others had left the room, Coci turned to Connor and Thurion. Her face showed no emotion or want to discuss what had transpired in the room but had more important things on her mind.

"The ships with medical supplies for Korriban have departed and will arrive two hours ahead of us. Shall we go? it is time for us to answer to the people that matter in this. The people of the City of Korriban who have lost those they love, their homes and livelihoods, not the Mandalorians. It is time we see for ourselves and do what we can". Coci moved toward the door so to make her way to the landing pad near the Silver Temple.

[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] | [member="Keira Ticon"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Commander Lusk"]​