Passing the Torch

[Placeholder 0123]

The message had been a simple one. Naboo was in trouble, and little [member="Felicity Mason"] needed Graxin to keep things under control. He certainly wouldn't have been the first choice. It was expected that his mother idiot husband would help to take care of the girls an settle things, but he was gone too.

The only adult that could watch over the two teenage Masons was their older brother, and he was rather busy with the Republic. No longer a member of the Jedi Order, as he had left with the Jedi Lords some time ago, Graxin was free to do as he pleased. That happened to be serving as the chief military advisor and bodyguard to Chief Lasedri. However, this position was not an official one, and someone within the Republic hierarchy had ridden to take his place. He had nothing tying him to the Republic's affairs other than his conscience.

Regardless, he still offered assistance in the forms of armies and his own hand. Cato Nemodia had been a fun little venture, and after assisting Republic forces there, Alderaan, Commenor, fighting on Kashhyyk, and facing the scrutiny of his own disapproving family, Graxin needed a break.

His ship was being prepped for travel to Naboo. He would return to help the Republic stabilize itself, but the girls needed him more right now. He had no children, and though he was still relatively young, that likely wasn't going to change. They were the closest he had to his own.

And so, before taking his leave, the Archlord had asked for the presence of [member="Kayleigh Tyven"]. He wanted to meet the woman that would be standing in for Vaudin Mirr. He had no place to drill her, but it would help to ease his worry if he spoke to her.

There he waited in the hanger of chief Lasedri's current cruiser. Clad in the traditional armor of the Ession Jedi, and his face masked for the purpose of following another of Ession's age old traditions. Its ruler must never show their face in public, lest they bring great shame upon the world itself.

 

[Mariya Pyne]

"Exiting hyperspace, Ma'am." Lt. Pontius was one of Kayleigh's favorite officers aboard the Caledonia. He was astute, well spoken, and followed orders without the slightest hesitation. "Excellent. Bring the ship close to Lasedri's cruiser and prep me a shuttle to dock with her. Commander Relver will take control of the Caledonia in my absence."

Kayleigh stepped down from the bridge and proceeded to the hangar of the magnificent ship. She had been asked to speak with a Jedi aboard Gen's flagship, for what though she was not entirely sure. If anything she expected it to relate to this unexplainable event that had been going on which had caused the disappearance of millions of souls. Otherwise, she was in the dark as to what a Jedi would want with her.

The shuttle departed and drifted slowly to the hangar bay of Lasedri's ship. As it landed with a metallic thud, the three extending legs tapped the ground to stabilize the vessel. Withe the landing gear engaged, the ramp slid out and down toward the ground, allowing the admiral to step down on to the hangar bay floor where she made note of [member="Graxin Rade"], waving to the masked and armored Jedi as she approached.

 

[Placeholder 0123]

Graxin had never met this Admiral before. He'd never had any reason to, and fate had not desired to have theme cross paths. Not until today, anyway.

He's expected someone older. A woman in her early forties perhaps. What he saw was a stunning you woman a few years younger than himself, which was no surprise, the Republic liked to make sure its leadership was pleasant to look at. It made them look more like the good guys fighting grotesque hordes of evil. In a way, that was entirely true, and in another way, it was entirely false.

Regardless, Graxin nodded in greeting toward the woman. He strode forward to meet the woman half way, and made note of the lack of anyone else in the hanger. Good, no one would eavesdrop, and he was free to remove the masks

The Archlord removed his helmet with a quiet pop, and drew back his hood. He was a young man who looked between his late twenties and early thirties. His features were angular and hidden by a short black beard that had clearly been given little attention as of late. Sharp amber eyes stared down at the woman, as if he were sizing her up.

"Hi, I'm Graxin." He offered the Admiral a sliver of a smile, and held out his left hand. "I've been wanting to meet you, and I suppose you're wondering why...."



[member="Kayleigh Tyven"]

 

[Mariya Pyne]

Kayleigh extended her hand to the Jedi Master and shook it as he offered it to her. She had never really seen a Jedi that wore a face mask, or armor of really any kind. Then again, she rarely met many Jedi, and spoke with even fewer than that. "Well met, Graxin. My name is Kayleigh." The admiral nodded, confirming the Jedi's question. "Yes, actually. I am a bit caught off guard as to what you need from me, but I am not one to refuse the company of a Jedi. So, what can I do for you Graxin?"

Unfamiliar with the particular layout of Gen's flagship she allowed the Jedi to lead on, wherever it was he wished to speak, if more privacy was of necessity.

[member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

"Consider me charmed." The Jedi Master snickered. He shoved his hands into his pockets, and led the woman down a corridor, then another, and another....

"As much as I love social calls, I had some business I wanted to ask you about." He continued as they came upon a singular door at the she of a hallway. The durasteel entrance slid open to reveal a small conference room. A single table sat in the middle, with four chairs on each side.

It looked more like an interrogation room than a meeting place.

"Particularly about the position you're taking." Graxin stepped inside , and offered the Admiral a seat. "You understand the last man to hold that position disappeared shortly after I offered my armies in support to the Republic I hope. That worries me."

The Jedi took a seat himself, and brought his hand up to his lips, coughing politely. Graxin had long since gotten over his issues speaking with human females - he had never conversed with one other than his mother until he was fifteen - but at times, he felt that particular anxiety. Mostly around Chief Lasedri as of late. She had a way about her that made him uncomfortable. He felt the same here, if only for a moment, before he managed to collect himself.

"I don't know what happened to him. He might have stepped down. He might have been killed, but that's not why I asked of you. You're stepping into his shoes. I'd like to make sure you're capable of doing so."

[member="Kayleigh Tyven"]

 

[Mariya Pyne]

"Very well." She replied as she followed the Jedi through the corridors, one by one, until they reached a room. Taking a seat she craned her neck slightly, as if to crack it, before placing her hands clasped together on her lap.

"I am aware of my predecessor's disappearance. I am unfamiliar with the exact circumstances leading up to it however. Know though, that I have every intention of keeping this Republic together, secure, and prosperous. Coruscant, like many others Graxin, was my family's home. And I intend on restoring that world to its rightful place someday."

Kayleigh kept her eyes on the Jedi. She wasn't exactly sure why he was so interested in the Republic's military. They weren't soldiers themselves, had no real stake in the military as a whole and they didn't hold any type of military rank. She leaned forward and placed her hands on the table. "So, what is it you would like to know of me?"

[member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

The girl had a drive to her that helped relieve Graxin of his anxiety. Any less of a passion to stop the Sith and the Republic was in danger. It was a bit ironic for a Jedi to encourage passionate expression, but Graxin recognized its purpose in those without the force. It drove them beyond their physical limits to do things no Jedi Master could ever dream of attaining.

"I lost my wife to their transgressions, so I understand." He replied with a small smile. At the very least, they were on even ground now. "I took Watts' place for a time after he disappeared. Unofficially of course. Genevieve and I are political allies, and I'd rather she be safe. But, I'm no soldier of the Republic. I don't have the qualifications to lead the army of a nation that is not my own."

A single droid slipped through the door. The little astromech offered two streaming cups of caf, and tooted its greeting. "Thank you." Graxin smiled and took the cup, sipping it gingerly as he examined Kayleigh.

"I hope you understand my worry when I say that I want to make sure you're capable. It's nothing against you, Kayleigh-" A first name basis might have been pushing it, but the Archlord was not one for trivial things. - I only want to be positive the Republic is in good hands."


He set the caf down on the table, and leaned back in his chair. "So, who exactly are you Admiral?"

[member="Kayleigh Tyven"]

 

[Mariya Pyne]

Kayleigh lifted the cup from the Astromech and smiled, replying in her cheerful voice she rarely strayed from. "Thank you!"

Sitting back again she sipped from the cup and observed the Jedi. "Who am I. Well, that's a loaded question, but I will recant what I can." She placed the cup down and crossed one leg over the other.

"I was born on Coruscant. My father was an inventor. He taught me the inner workings of droids, starships, weapons, and armor. Anything that was fabricated, had an engine, or fired a projectile was taught to me from a very early age. While other kids were playing with toys, I was playing with blasters and engines. I went through some substantial life changing circumstances when I was a teenager that nearly killed me. A team of specialized doctors were able to save me from certain death. From there I joined the Naval academy as soon as I was legally able. I wanted to make a difference for the Republic, to serve and protect those who saved my life was something of a worthy cause."

The girl paused, taking another sip from the cup before adjusting her posture. "I served under Admiral Stahlmann for some time, and in between commanded a number of Republic vessels during interim staff changes until I was appointed Admiral and obtained my command ship, the Caledonia. However, outside of my military life, I also run the company my father launched back on Coruscant, which is now stationed on Tython. Tyven Heavy Industries produces armor and weapons for the Republic and its' allies, and will soon be getting involved with starship construction to be put into production on behalf of the Republic's war efforts. Master Jedi, I can assure you that I am nothing short of a loyalist to the Republic."

[member="Graxin Rade"]

 

[Placeholder 0123]

"I'm infinitely pleased to hear that." Graxin assured. His worries were assuaged the more she spoke. Anything less of a Republic loyalist was inadequate, but this one seemed to fit the bill. There were too few people left who truly considered themselves people of the Republic anymore. The One Sith had shattered its military resolve, and morale was at an all time low. Perhaps Kayleigh could help to fix that.

"Graxin is fine, m'lady." He snickered, and shook his head. "I haven't been referred to as master Jedi in quite some time. I had a falling out with the Order near the beginning of the war. Some nasty business with a Sith holocron and an attack on Ossus when we still owne it. It's been mostly resolved now, but returning to the Order just isn't in the cards right now." Ossus had been a mess. A third of the Jedi Order had been annihilated in a single day, and the aftermath had proven to be even more damaging. Whether people talked about it or not, the Republic was still feeling the effects of that battle.

"You've got more under your belt than myself. I led a split from the mainstream order to stop the One Sith's agents in the Outer Rim. They're called the Primeval, a murder cult that's proving itself to be far more brutal than their masters. I returned to the core because the war wasn't going well." he canted his head to the right, and lofted a brow at the woman. He was talking about himself too much, people hated it when he went on about things. Better to turn this back on the Admiral.

"But I could never run a company or anything of the short. We'd go bankrupt...though, I admit I'm pleased to have met you. My initial concerns for the future of the Republic military have been eased."

[member="Kayleigh Tyven"]

 

[Mariya Pyne]

Nodding her head with the confirmation of being on a name-basis, she waved her hand slightly to the side. "No worries, Graxin. You're speaking to someone who has next to no knowledge of the Jedi, their philosophies, or their regulations. Whatever you've done or not done, so long as it is in service to the Republic is OK in my book, but I do admit I am sad to hear of the trouble you faced on Ossus. A terrible shame that is to lose so many of your warriors."

Kayleigh's head raised slightly, her eyes widening slowly as she listened to the Jedi recall the terror of the Primeval. She was familiar with them only through heresay and records, never directly. "It is hard to believe any regime or sect could be more brutal than the savages of the Sith. Regardless, we'll be here, and we'll be ready if they come. The Republic has stood for many, many years, and will continue to endure no matter the circumstances and against any enemy."

The mention of running a company elicited a heavy laugh from the girl. "Believe me, if this was something I could give up, I would have done so already. But it is hard to close the doors on your family's business. That, and I enjoy having the money to invest in improving our weapons. But I am happy to hear that I've quelled your fears."

[member="Graxin Rade"]