Private Newer Beginnings and Older Allies

[Kenth Berik]

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Location: Naalol
Objective: Meet with Julius Haskler
Tags: Julius Haskler

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The Caridian looked out of a window which surveyed Naalol's barren and icy mountains. In the days since he left the Maw his men had needed a place to lay low while they scouted out the wider galaxy, find places where they wouldn't be shot on site for being associated with the Maw. The isolated world of Naalol was perfect, far enough from the trade routes and no large population centre connected with the wider galaxy. While he waited for his scouts to report back him, his men had made themselves at home in one of the mountain towns, commandeering buildings for lodgings and the crops for food. Despite how barren it was Kenth thought the mountains were rather peaceful, they helped a bit with his nightmares at least.

As he stared out his commlinked flashed blue and white and he activated it. The voice of his XO spoke loud and clearly. "Sir, an Imperial shuttle has been detected, they've identified themselves as part of House Haskler." Kenth let out a chuckle. Julius Haskler and so soon. Sularen had told him this would happen, his competitors would be after the mercenary. He would, as he said to Sularen, entertain whatever the man had offer. It was courtesy, and he would eventually need credits. "Let them land and escort Moff Haskler up to my compound." Kenth replied.

He had little choice anyway, most of his former clients like Vel'al'ari were long gone from the galactic stage. He moved to a desk and sat down and grabbed two glasses and a bottle of Corellian whiskey, pouring into both glasses before picking it up. He swirled it around before taking a small sip and then setting it down. Now all he had to do was wait.

 

[Julius Haskler]

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N E W _ B E G I N N I N G​

Tag: Kenth Berik

He remembered fondly Kenth Berik, an Imperial mercenary he had watched closely in the days when he joined the New Imperial Order. Their paths had parted, however, when Berik joined the Final Dawn, being subsequently at war with the Empire. Then, the monitoring of the Adjudicators became a matter of state security, and the Moff watched in horror as the mercenaries were slowly absorbed and uniformised among the ranks of the Final Dawn. When it became too difficult to tell the difference between the Adjudicators and the Final Dawn, Haskler lifted his veto regarding Berik, thus acknowledging him and his men as war criminals, as the rest of the Dawn had been earlier.

This, however, was not to prevent Haskler from meeting Berik as soon as he had gotten word of his departure from the Maw. The rumours regarding him were sordid, and the Moff had heard some very disturbing reports regarding Berik's health. He did not know how he would be doing, or if the hardships of the war would have altered his persona beyond recognition. He feared Berik had suffered a fate akin to that of Tyrell Paxxus, the first Grand Vizier of the New Imperial Order.

But his duty was to men, soldiers and civilians alike, who wished to fight for the Empire above all. And the galaxy was not small enough for a man to be beyond hope of a cure. Thus, he travelled to Naalol, knowing he needed to speak to him to assess the situation and potentially glean some information here or there. Escorted through the Imperial compound, the Moff thought of how vast the resources of the mercenary company had to be for such a fortress to be erected in such a short period. What was Berik hiding?

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[Kenth Berik]

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Location: Naalol
Objective: Meet with Julius Haskler
Tags: Julius Haskler

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Kenth looked up from his desk as an Adjudicator trooper showed him into his commandeered command room, what was the dining hall of the fortress’ previous residents who had been forcefully relocated for the time being. He straightened his uniform one last time and turned to the Imperial Moff and spoke. “Ah Moff Haskler, I was told I’d eventually expect to hear from you.” He said with a slight smirk.

He stood up from his desk and motioned to one of the glasses of whiskey before picking up his own and taking another sip. “I doubt you’re out here on this backwater for a holiday.” He said with a slight chuckle. “So tell me what brings you to Naalol.” Kenth continued. The previous tact of a businessman and tone of an Imperial officer which were present in his voice in their last meeting was all but gone. He was a changed man, a far cry from his younger more idealistic self. A strong loyalty to his men is what kept him going, and his men needed credits.

[Phone post]

 

[Julius Haskler]

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N E W _ B E G I N N I N G​

Tag: Kenth Berik

The Moff grimaced as he heard Berik being so aggressive. He knew a stay in the Final Dawn made people change but like that? He felt like the mercenary had been battered, torn apart and remade into something unholy. He was, in a sense, a true expression of Sularen's work. His attitude betrayed that: cynic, desperate...

And scarred, too. Julius did not notice the scars until he had sat down, and he couldn't help but grimace. He had known people wounded by dark forces. It was frequent among the Empire's ranks. But it was different here.

"Ah Moff Haskler, I was told I'd eventually expect to hear from you. I doubt you're out here on this backwater for a holiday."

He noticed how the tone had changed, too. His own did not falter, and it was the same, aristocratic tone he had always used, heavy with the accents of Anaxes, but never contemptuous. It was, today, more compassionate than usual as if the diplomat had wanted to soothe the mercenary's spiritual wounds.

"I cannot say I came uninterested, Commodore Berik, but I won't say I am here exclusively for business purposes. The war will wait until we are done... Though I guess you will no longer take part in it. Julius paused, letting silence sink in for a little bit, before speaking again.

Before we get into business talks, I'd like to ask you a few questions. Tell me, Berik. What was your time in the Final Dawn like? I imagine you cannot disclose information about what you did, or who you met, but I do not care for this kind of information. I'd like to know what you felt, what ideological affinity you had with the people you worked for, what you gained and... He paused again, staring at the scars for a second, before shrugging off the uncomfortable feeling of cold that was making its way between its shoulders.

And I'd like to know what you lost, too."

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[Kenth Berik]

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Location: Naalol
Objective: Meet with Julius Haskler
Tags: Julius Haskler

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Kenth listened as Moff Haskler spoke. The man wanted to know about the Final Dawn and the mercenary wasn't surprised. The Empire was at war with them and out in neutral space he butted heads with Sularen for influence. What caught him off guard though was his lack of interest in his missions or intel on Final Dawn forces but instead how Kenth meshed with the Final Dawn's ideology. He then asked what Kenth lost.

The Caridian nodded slightly, thinking on what the man was asking about. "The best way to get someone to follow you is to sell them a lie." he said bluntly.

"I use to be an idealist and I was sold an idea of the preservation of Imperial worlds but I found my new masters were an entirely different beast, they wanted a clean slate for their New Order, heralded by Sith and savages alike. Now I had no love for what the Final Dawn stood for, I was there out of loyalty to my oldest client. But you can only go so long, serving those Sith bastards." he said with growing contempt in his voice.

"Lording over us, exposing us to the dark side! Exposing me to their profane magics!" he spat, his hand now clenched in a fist and his voice filled with rage. He took a deep breath to calm himself, it was after all uncouth to get angry in front of guests and clients.

"I lost what I believed in and gained trust in only my men and credits."

He took another sip of his whiskey before placing the glass down and taking a seat, he sat with his hands clasped together. "You mentioned business talks." he said softly. The Moff had yet fully revealed why he was here but he expected as much from a diplomat. These dealings and meetings were the battlefields he fought in and the campaigns he planned.

 

[Julius Haskler]

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N E W _ B E G I N N I N G​

Tag: Kenth Berik

There was a silence in the room, as Julius processed what he had heard. He had imagined Berik had suffered in some way, but he did not anticipate so much. He knew the Final Dawn was not just a faction of imperialists, but he had not yet grasped the sheer corruption of their minds, running rampant, he thought, as he heard from the mercenary.

He listened to Berik when he mentioned how he had been betrayed, and how he was forced to abandon his ideals and struggle for survival. He could put himself in Berik's place, having lost all anchors of idealism and only clawing through the battlefield of life out of loyalty for his men. He wanted to help him.

But business was business.

"Yes, I am also here for business. You know my objectives are twofold: eradicate the Sith and restore the Empire to the Core. And I know your help will be crucial for at least one of these two. He paused, trying to formulate his next thoughts in a way that would not make him sound like a fanatic.

If your wish is to have revenge against those who wronged you, then I can help you have it. If you wish to work for the Empire's success, I will make sure you are generously retributed for this, too. If you want to come home... we will make sure you can.

There are multiple fronts where you could operate for us, but I think there are two that are more important than others. You first need to fortify this world - there are other servants of the Empire in this region, that will help you protect it -, and you need to rest and heal. The Empire has excellent Force healers that could help you if you wanted to. Maybe it would be better not to let your mind be an open wound, after what the Sith did to you.

When you are rested and fortified, then we will get to work together."

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[Kenth Berik]

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Location: Naalol
Objective: Meet with Julius Haskler
Tags: Julius Haskler

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Kenth leaned back in his chair. Talk of rest and recovery. His patience began to wear thin. "I can't pay my men with rest, nor can I buy fuel for my ships with it." he said plainly. "And this world? It's a temporary respite while I find my footing in this part of the galaxy." He cared little for establishing a foothold or securing a domain to rule. He simply needed credits.

"I hold a level of respect for you, Moff Haskler but I am not one of your diplomats or soldiers. My home is aboard my ship with my men. As for Force healers, I will not have my body desecrated further by powers beyond me. I am what I have been made and I have no desire to be altered further."

He then took a moment to pause before finishing off his words. "However, whatever work you have need to be done, my men are capable as long as the Empire pays. Equally I have little desire facing the Sith again right now. I'm not one to run back into a burning house. Do what you will with that information." Kenth concluded, picking up his glass of whiskey and downing whatever remained inside.

[Sorry for the late post, my laptop broke]