Private Letters to a Friend

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

Hey… Did I hear right that the second and third are mobilizing beyond the Blackwall!? Are you going!? Have you heard about the rest of us!? WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN A WAR COUNCIL!?

Okay I know I’m blowing you up with questions. I’m a little jealous and mostly like…

How long will you be gone?

…

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

Yes and YES! Can you believe it?! From what I understand we're carving the path for others to follow suit a create order once we've cleared out the remnants of resistance.

The War Council was dull, a bunch of people who think their way is the right way discussing the best way to make it their way. But its politics, it doesn't matter what the conversation is or how big the stakes are, its them same bantha crap of everyone trying to further their own gain instead of what is better for the collective. The only exciting bit was getting to leave to prep the second legion.

I don't know, I guess we'll know how long when we get to ground and know just how much Alliance remnants we're dealing with.

Rumour has it the Kainite had already pushed through the gate, are you not joining them?

x

From: Irina Jesart

 

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

Wow! I had heard political meetings were dull, but that amount of posturing sounds like too many cooks arguing over how to cook a bantha steak properly. Rare by the way. I can’t believe my dad had the patience to sit through it all. How did he not just rip everyone’s heads off and not do what he wanted? For someone so strong… he is capable of a lot of… restraint.

I don’t know what the Kainite are doing. What we did to the Tof was nothing short of brutal. I can only imagine there may be similar plans in the Core, but if we mobilize from Dromund Kaas, we won’t be hitting the worlds the second or third will be sent to.

Different borders.

I guess it's exciting what could unfold. The last bit of war was fun. I think an entire building almost fell on top of me and my mom. Man… she’s actually really good at what she does too. It was fun seeing her like that. Now if only I could see my dad in action. I am told he’s skillfully vicious.

Be careful, hmmm.

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

Restraint is a strength in itself, though you father is not an easy man to read. but I guess it comes with the territory. If you want to be a Dark Councillor you have to endure this kind of crap to be able to make it. I'm not sure I'd want his job, not the Councillor part that is. I'll take the Second Legion though, gladly...and maybe a planet.

I saw some of the reports from the Firefist campaign, it was an ugly read, though with the reputation those two have...

I do wonder Aerik, if you are in the right place.

I'll be careful so long as you do the same.

Also, you HAVE to tell me about a building nearly falling on you, that sounds like a story worth drinking over.

x

From: Irina Jesart

 

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

You… running the whole Second Legion… that I could see. A whole planet… I think you’d burn it down the moment someone made you mad. If that council meeting bored you, just imagine what meetings you would have to endure to run a planet. Trust me. I took that class at the academy. You’d hate it.

Dromund Kaas gives me a chance to make a name for myself outside of my father’s shadow. That was not going to happen in the Second Legion. You’ve heard all the naysayers that suggest this empire thrives off of nepotism. What would they say if I just assumed the Second after Gerwald was done?

No, I am my own wolf. Even if this place is a fit or not.

As far as that building… I was actually doing some covert work. We sabotaged the mainframe with spikes. Anyone who hacked the servers got a nasty virus or other boobytraps coded into the data they were trying to steal from the Order. The building got hit when we reached the lobby. We had to RUN!

I’ll try, but no promises. You said it yourself, the Kainites have a brutal reputation. It means I’ll likely be at the front of whatever they’re cooking up… maybe I’ll even get my own command!

Who knows!

Do you know when you’re leaving? I might try and send something if I can get it to you in time.

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

You're probably right. I guess part of me still wants what my father did, for the Jesart name to mean something. It was the whole reason I fought for sponsorship to get into the academy in the first place, not that it mattered in the end. I would have gladly stayed in my fathers shadow if it meant a little more time with him, but then his shadow wasn't quite as big as Dark Councillor and Commander of the Second Legion, so I guess I get it.

Ruthless as they are, they are skilled at what they do and you'll learn a lot from them. I just hate you're so far away.

I don't know, most of the legion is still mobilizing, maybe in the next week? Save it for when we're next in the same system, you can give it to me in person and maybe we can escape everything for a night, I've heard some of the soldiers talk about some fun sounding bars...

x

From: Irina Jesart

 

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

And the Jesart name doesn’t mean anything? You got to believe everyone on your planet is talking about the girl who controls fire? Besides… you’re free to make a name for yourself in a way your father could only dream of. He’d be proud.

A week before you leave… okay I’ll try and send it. It might come in handy. If I can’t, I’ll save it for next time. Maybe we can find another maze?

Look Rin… I know you hate the distance, but we haven’t even been able to correspond like this for the last five years. I missed you too. A lot has happened since that night you killed Vedieu. We aren’t those same kids we were then. A lot is going to happen with this new campaign. For now… I just need to know you’re going to stay safe and keep writing back. We will figure it out from there.

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

That's very true, I hadn't even considered what people back home would be saying... the girl who burns her enemies and the demon wolf who carries her...Maybe they'll write us into a song! haha!

I'll let you know if we move sooner but I doubt it. And yes, we can find another maze, though lets make sure we pick one somewhere warm this time, can't have you making a scene again.

I know we're not the same kids we were back then but our connection hasn't changed, Aerik. No matter what happens, it will never change. I'll keep writing as often as I can. there's a little piece of me in the knife I made you, its not enough to cross the distance, but its something. I'll stay safe, and I'll save all the best war stories for when I see you next.

x

From: Irina Jesart

 

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

Hey! Did you hear about the activity on Brosi. The blackwall lit up like a beacon. They say the Imperial Confederarion is coming again.

Another fight, and with Dromund Kaas so close…

Are you on the way with the Dreadborne already?

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

Does that answer your question?

We've pulled in everyone we can spare from other outposts. Can't believe the Imperials would be stupid enough to hit Brosi again and expect a different result. I'd rather be pushing towards the Core before the Covenant steals all the glory.

At least we'll get to fight together again.
…

From: Irina Jesart

 

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

Wait! Are you getting your own troops now? Irina's Berserkers!!

Yeah… looks like everyone is coming to this one. Skadi and I are being sent, not sure what support we will have. Maybe we could link up when you land? The wolf is itching to get out and… well… maybe we should show everyone what happened five years ago?

…
…

I miss you. Be safe.

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

Of course! I'll introduce you to the Emberborne if we have time.

As soon as my boots hit the ground I'll reach out, and you know I would love nothing more than to run with you again, but are you sure its the right time to show your wolf? Aren't you supposed to keep it hidden?

I miss you too.

Tell Skadi to stop reading over your shoulder.

x

From: Irina Jesart

 

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

I… don't know. You know. Prazutis knows. Quinn knows. Maybe the galaxy should too, but…

…I should tell Skadi before… maybe I should keep hidden for now.

Oh… she says… you look hot and to hurry up, and that if I don't do something about it… she will… whatever that means.

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

It's not for me to tell you whether you should or shouldn't, I just want you to be sure. I've got your back no matter what, you know that.

That said, yes, you should tell Skadi...she's a part of your pack, she should know.

...

...

I can't believe I'm about to explain this to you, but you're so damn stupid.

She means that you should make a romantic move on me, because if you don't stake a claim, she will.

From: Irina Jesart

 

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

You're right she is part of my pack but… her people worship wolves. Once she knows it might change things. And well… I'll figure out a way…

If the galaxy finds out that will depend on the fight.

…
….
…..
….
…

Romantically as in… you know… that?

I mean… what if it changes things and not in a good way?

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

Let's circle back to the wolf worshipping thing later.
...

Yes, romantically as in...that.

We're about to go into another war. Everyday I am with the legion there is a battle not five minutes away, if the fighting has taught me one thing, its that tomorrow is never guaranteed.

I'd like to think that if things did happen, and the changes weren't what I...or we, hoped for then we'd find a way to work through it.

And if we couldn't...

I don't know....

From: Irina Jesart

 

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

Is that what you were hoping for when you came to visit?

…

Ugh I wish we were talking about this in our maze… can we find one when this is all over? I know… I’m an idiot or whatever…

Rin… I...

I’ll meet you there after all this…

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

WHAT?! NO!

...

...

Ok maybe, but only a small part of me. The same part of me that always hopes when I see you, that maybe you'll actually see me...

I hate this. I hate having this conversation like this.

I'll see if I can get some time to stick around on Kaas, I'm sure I could come up with a reasonable excuse your Father won't completely tear apart.

And then we'll talk, but you have to promise not to seize up and actually tell me whats going on in your head, okay?

From: Irina Jesart

 

[Aerik Lechner]

To: Irina Jesart

Yeah… I mean you of all people know why I'd be hesitant, and you're right. This isn't a conversation we need to have like this… but not on Dromund Kaas either.

I'll come to Jutrand. I'm due to visit my mom anyhow. Still unsure on what she really thinks about me studying under the man that… killed her.

You tried coming to see me. I'll make the attempt this time.

From: Aerik Lechner

 

[Irina Jesart]

To: Aerik Lechner

. . . . .

What do you mean, the man who killed her?

From: Irina Jesart