Shopping List

[Darth Athora]

With Zahori's new position as Rear Admiral of the Sith Empire's Armada, she quickly reignited her plans to create a proper command ship for her usage. Her plans died down while she was a member of the Confederacy, but now she had the proper resources and capital in order to see her plans come to fruition. Aboard her current command ship, an Imperator-class, Zahori's troopers prepared her shuttle for her and her guard detail. Zahori approached the shuttle and was saluted by the troopers outside of the shuttle. "I sure hope this pilot is as good as I was told." she said to a trooper.

"Yes, ma'am. She is the best at what she does, ma'am." the trooper replied.

"Good. If I find you're lying to me, I'll take your head from your neck." she replied. Zahori stepped into the shuttle with her guard detail, several Imperial commandos equipped for any disturbance that might come. The Imperator sat idly in near the planet Nal Hutta where Zahori was supposed to meet with a black market dealer to acquire some tech. Zahori stepped into the cockpit to get an eye on the pilot that she had heard about. "Commander Colsin. Are you prepared for departure?"


[member='Syrena Colsin ']

 

[Amaliya Darrena]

Commander Syrena Colsin of the Sith Empire had taken an oath to serve the Sith and carry out all of their orders. She would follow that oath until she day she died. Right now, that meant escorting the new Admiral of the Empire's forces. She wasn't thrilled to be playing escort after getting a taste of battle, but she was always one to follow orders. Besides, it was the Admiral. That was an honor, even if she couldn't get too thrilled. Still just a part of the job.

Commander Colsin and Lieutenant Darrena, XO of Blue Squadron, sat in the pilot and co-pilot seats respectively. They were performing pre-take off checks on the instruments, their flight jumpsuits as black as the space outside the hull of the starship containing them. She would not have them embarrassing Blue Squadron in front of the Admiral.

When [member="Zahori Denko"] approached, the commander and the lieutenant stood, backs straight, saluting their superior officer.
"Ma'am. We are prepared to descend to the planet's surface on your orders."

 

[Darth Athora]

"Good. Launch when ready." Zahori stepped back and found herself a seat in the back of the shuttle. When the shuttle would take off, she'd strike up conversation with the pilot. "So, Commander. Tell me about yourself. I heard so much of your achievements from others. I'd much rather hear it all from the source." Zahori wanted to really know who her pilot was. "And don't lie. I'll know if you are and I'd hate to end your naval career so far from retirement."

[member='Syrena Colsin ']

 

[Amaliya Darrena]

The trip out the hangar was smooth enough. Colsin and Derrena were good at their jobs, and they did everything by the book. That was Commander Colsin's style. She did everything according to protocol, even in her personal life.
"Lieutenant, keep us going normal and straight. I don't want any turbulence, or you're inspecting the shuttle instead of the ensigns."

The other woman nodded, and put her attention to the console. Then the Admiral was asking about the Commander. She blinked, somewhat surprised by the question. She certainly had not been expecting it, at all. Normally, her superior officers were far more interested in her doing her job instead of her.

"I am not very interesting, ma'am. I graduated from the Imperial Naval Academy, and flew missions on Mirial and Kishibah. I have a record for following protocol to the letter, and that is because I am a firm believer that peace comes from complete adherence to law and order, ma'am. My squadron, Blue Squadron, has only flown in Kishibah, but they score well in training, because I ride them hard. I do not allow messing around or slacking in my Squadron."
She took a moment to press some buttons on the console to keep their current course.
"Is there anything else you wish to know, ma'am?"

[member="Zahori Denko"]

 

[Darth Athora]

"Just one more thing." Zahori stopped scrolling through the datapad that had her attention. "You any good with a blaster?" Zahori didn't know if Syrena had been briefed on the mission in full beforehand, but Syrena was about to get her hands dirty. Zahori refused to walk about that dirty backwater world alone. She required bodies to defend her in case things got eventful. "You're gonna need it down there as you will be my personal guard on this mission." Zahori let off a slight grin as she read through the manifest.

"Do you know what we're here for exactly, Commander?"

[member='Syrena Colsin ']

 

[Amaliya Darrena]

A blaster? Inwardly, the stout commander groaned. Great. Blasters. She had never been very good with one, she was far more comfortable behind the controls of a ship. But, of course, she had to have at least some measure of skill. She could meet the basic requirements, but little beyond that.

"I met the basic requirements of blaster pistol marksmanship in the Academy, ma'am."

A personal bodyguard? On the ground? She gave no outward reaction, but was surprised. She was a naval officer, not a ground soldier. But, she was first and foremost loyal to the Empire. If an officer told her to slit her own throat, then she would do so without hesitation.

"We are here to obtain technology from a black market dealer on the surface of Nal Hutta, ma'am." She hesitated. "Permission to speak freely, ma'am?"

[member="Zahori Denko"]

 

[Darth Athora]

Zahori was unimpressed with her mention of having only the basic training required to use a blaster pistol. However, she knew that being int he field was the best training one could receive. Soldiers were made on the battlefield, after all. This could either be a grueling test or a smooth ride for Syrena, depending on how cooperative Zahori's contact would be.

"Permission granted, Commander."

[member="Syrena Colsin "]

 

[Amaliya Darrena]

Commander Colsin took a deep breath, and kept her back straight as a rod as she spoke.

"I do not understand why we must debase ourselves by going to criminals to acquire our technology. The Sith Empire is a bastion of order, of law. Nal Hutta is a filthy world, filled with filthy criminals that should be brought to justice. Surely, our own engineers and scientists are more than capable of designing the technology we require?"

She had spoken her piece. It was up to the admiral whether it held weight or not.

[member="Zahori Denko"]

 

[Darth Athora]

Zahori chuckled at Syrena's statement. "You're right." she replied. "Nal Hutta is a beacon of scum and lowlives." Zahori looked out of the viewport down at the planet. "But, these scum and lowlives have something I truly desire. Something our own scientists are incapable of reproducing." Zahori turned her head to Syrena once more. "If you have some other idea on how to acquire an H01 AI Core then please feel free to let me know."

[member="Syrena Colsin"]