Private No Hard Feelings

[War Marshal Helix]

Tag: Diarch Rellik​

Helix drummed his fingers placidly on the meeting table, masking a flicker of mild concern. He'd been somewhat surprised when the Diarchy reached out, asked him to come say hello. Interactions with the mysterious regime so far had been limited. Helix knew them only in the sense that they'd been shooting at him not long ago.

The singular, fanatical viciousness of their warriors had been a surprise, but a pleasant one. Helix had spent so much time lately putting down criminal gangs, local insurrections, planetary resistance movements, and other trash that he'd almost forgotten what it felt like to fight real, professional killers. The only other taste he'd had of that in recent memory was a skirmish with unknown Clone forces on Dagobah, but they and their shadowy master were a problem for another time.

For now, the Diarchy was more than enough of a challenge. It wasn't often that the Sith's opfor reached out to him after fire had been exchanged. Then again, it was rare that anyone reached out to him at all. Perhaps they were still operating under the delusion that he was a simple mercenary, one whose loyalty could be purchased with something as mundane as credits. Helix Solutions' sellsword reputation had been difficult to shake off, and that branding was beginning to outlive its usefulness.

Or, maybe they simply wanted to talk. Exchange favors, get a feel for the opposition. Most Sith proper would likely not have consented to meet with an enemy of the state, but Helix cared as little for such rules as he did for rules in general. He'd very happily make contacts anywhere, regardless of what flag they flew.

Today's friends were tomorrow's enemies, and it never hurt to have influence outside the Blackwall. Particularly influence in this eager young upstart. They were new, fresh on the galaxy's scene and glutted on the afterglow of victory. Such enthusiasm could be useful.

The invitation had been terse, and largely detail-free. Helix had taken care to avoid any large military showing, arriving in a lone Horla-Class corvette at the agreed-upon coordinates. It could be a trap, of course. Punishment for his involvement in the Serenno debacle. Coming in person was a risk, but the potential reward was well worth it. At worst, he was out one ship, and would have to spend the next few days floating in the vacuum until another one of his ships could pick him up. At best, well...

That could be decided later. For now, he could do naught but sit and wait.

 

[Diarch Rellik]

Arriving at the set coordinates in his personal flagship the DSD -The Vault. Yet opted to take a small shuttle down to meet. He did not want it to be an intimidating factor in the meeting.

The door opened and Rellik entered alone. No guards, droids, but he did have a large case in his hands. He looked across the table at Helix and introduced himself. "I am Diarch Rellik, nice to meet you Helix." There was no viper or distain in his voice. The Diarchy hated the Sith for their religious dogmatic views. "Through victory, my chains are broken. The force shall set me free." What Rellik hated about it the most is that it meant they still relied on the force to set them free. Here, Helix, he did not require the force to be a player in the galaxy. Sith Order commander or otherwise. He lived and fought.

Shortly after placing the case on the table, the Diarch gave a slight bow and took a seat. Opting to sit across from Helix. Not as a challenge but more so on even footing. With his bow it would be clear to see he had his saber underneath his cloak but he did not have the spear he usually kept on his person.

"I can promise there is no bomb ready to destroy us both within my case. It is a gift, one that I intend to give after a few questions." He had a light smirk on his face. Knowing how it might look to Helix.

"Before we truly begin, the first thing I would like to know about you commander... are you a savage animal of the Sith Order or an intelligent warrior who decides not on impulsive whims but tactical acumen."

Without realizing it, an eyebrow raised on the Diarch's face. He was genuinely curious and Helix's answer would set the tone for the remainder of this meeting.

War Marshal Helix

 

[War Marshal Helix]

Helix wasn't kept waiting long. Punctuality was apparently a virtue in Diarchy space, and it was only a minute or two before a large vessel snapped out of hyperspace outside his viewscreen. He studied it with a practiced eye, but his ruminations didn't last long before the Diarch himself slid into the small meeting chamber.

Helix was due two surprises at that moment. The first was that Diarch Rellik had come in person. Perhaps not entirely unexpected, in hindsight. They certainly had not shown any hesitation about getting their hands dirty on Serenno. The second was the man's greeting. It was polite, though informal and unconcerned, like he was an old friend who'd had a chance meeting on the street. Humility, then. For all his lofty station, this fellow was not prone, at least at first glance, to arrogance. One less avenue of attack.

Helix reminded himself that he'd been spending entirely too much time around the Sith, and had come to take hubris for granted as something he could manipulate. Not so here.

The truth, then. The Diarch was direct and no-nonsense in his manner, and would likely appreciate directness in turn.

Helix pondered the question for a moment, his three-eyed clustergaze eyeing the case speculatively, then flickering to the man who held it.

"Savagery is a tool." He answered finally, his tone calm and nonthreatening. The machine's voice seemed to radiate from his entire body, rather than from any visible vocabulator. "And a useful one, at times. I can be very savage indeed when the situation demands it. Indeed, I flatter myself that I am something of an expert." The colony folded his claws across the table in a gesture of relaxed composure. "Still. I did not achieve my station, and survive as long as I have by being stupid or impulsive, friend Rellik. Whimsy has little use to me, on or off the battlefield. That is, after all, why this meeting is taking place, is it not?"

He gestured around the room. "Unlike many of my colleagues, you'll find me very happy to listen and discuss in civilized settings. Assuming, of course, that you've something interesting to tell me."