Public The Dark Winter

[Hetton Vemec]

Hetton, was on leave, and was invited to a family gathering on Serenno. I was also asked to use this to find out the current state of Serenno, since the Mandalorian Empire began its occupation. He was also curious what has happened, he heard rumours, but nothing properly over the comms, as they gone dark. He was coming in a civilian cargo transporting copper, with his Serenno Travel documents, nothing that tied him to the Diarchy officially. He was just in charge junk freighter.

As the transport entered Serenno space, he looked through the viewing ports. He saw a Mandalorian fleet, he started making notes of their description, and his crew, who were all fellow Serennians who now joined the Diarchy. They kept to the route officially laid out by the Chorus, who was now officially in charge of Serenno. He was ordered to dock at warehouses dockyard, not far from his family home. As they made their way, he noted how many Mandalorian transports ships were heading to surface of the planet. They did not scan them, or try and decrypt the comms, as that might alert this foreign invade to their presence.

As he set down, he was listening to the official news, obviously it would be bias, but it was start. The House Malvern and Serenno, have been declared traitors by the Chorus, and any left should be turned over to the authorities, he raised his eye brow, and wounder about Aunt Jaina Malvern and her children, and worried about them. As he approached the dock yard, he could see his old military base it had been practically destroyed in the fighting.

The ship docked, and he slightly nervously approached the cargo bay door, unarmed, in a grey jump suit. He stood they're as the docking bay opened with the hiss, as the pressures equalised, and then went down the ramp. He was approached by a Serennian official who was flanked by two Mandalorians. He asked in an official tone "Your ships Manifest please, and the house you serve?" He not ever been asked this before, even ship manifests where the houses private business. The times are certainly changing. He handed the innovatory pad over to them, as it was all correct. He also replied, with a sigh "House Vemec" He then waited for further orders.

 

[Korda Veydran]

The Mandalorian beside the Serenni official shifted his weight, beskar plates catching the dim dock lights as he looked Hetton over. Unlike the stiff-backed functionary, this warrior's presence carried the tension of a predator measuring distance. The red glow of his visor narrowed when the inventory pad was handed over.

"House Vemec…" Korda's voice was low, metallic through his helmet's modulator. "Still standing, then. Surprising." He leaned slightly toward the official, who gave a nervous nod before handing the manifest back to Hetton.

Korda didn't. He kept the pad in his hand a moment longer, scanning it, then looking back at the man in the grey jumpsuit.

"You fly light," he said. Not a question, more an accusation. "Copper ore, nothing else. No weapons. No relief goods for your people. You bring metal for us to forge, but not bread for Serenno's children."

The words were edged, but his stance wasn't overtly hostile. Just testing, probing.

He finally handed the pad back.

"You'll deliver your cargo to the warehouse overseer. Then report to the Chorus office in the capital for verification of your documents." His visor tilted, studying Hetton's face. "If you've nothing to hide, you'll find no trouble."


Then, after a beat, Korda added in a quieter tone, almost too soft for the official to catch

"…If you do have something to hide, best learn how to keep your mask on tighter than any of us."
Hetton Vemec

 

[Hetton Vemec]

Hetton kept his composure whilst Korda Veydran , as he mentioned his house. He mentioned "I flight light, "Copper ore, nothing else. No weapons. No relief goods for your people. You bring metal for us to forge, but not bread for Serenno's children." He kept this conversation short, "Unfortunately,we were already in hyperspace, when your incursion started." He sighed as his people have been defeated, and now they answer to barbarians. He continued and said, "besides we are your people now, are you not helping with the relief effort?" He was handed back his data pad, and he put it to his side.

He nodded, as this thing said "You'll deliver your cargo to the warehouse overseer. Then report to the Chorus office in the capital for verification of your documents." He was masking his contempt, behind his military training, he did not like being part of a defeated people, and occupied by these savage.

He turned and asked, as he was walking away think of his Aunt Jaina Malvern, "May I ask, did you wipe out every member of house Serenno, and Malvern?" There was a slight sorrow in his voice, as asked he could not mask that. She had children, and they were not very old, and it saddened him.

He only had one thing to hide, he just joined the diarchy, but nothing formal. Also in any dealings with Mandalorian officially, he would be wearing helmet, and call himself a member of house Malvern, they would not know the differences in Serennian accents to tell.

He looked at the docking official, and asked "May I ask is it the old office, or a new one, for the chorus?" The official said "A new one, that one got damaged, and pointed to it" He head that way, to receive papers.

 

[Korda Veydran]

Hetton had just started toward the Chorus office when the metallic rasp of Korda's voice carried after him.

"Hold."

The warrior shifted, turning slightly toward the freighter with its crew beginning to offload the copper crates. His stance was casual enough to pass as routine, but the way his hand rested on the butt of his rifle made it clear: nothing here was left to chance.

"I will oversee the transfer of your cargo," Korda said, visor gleaming red in the dock lights. "Copper has a way of disappearing in busy ports, and the Chorus does not look kindly on 'accidents.' Best to ensure every crate finds its proper tally."

The Serenni official gave a quick nod of approval, relieved at the Mandalorian's intervention.

Korda didn't move to follow Hetton yet. Instead, he planted himself between the freighter and the warehouse doors, watching the Serenni crew carry the first pallets down the ramp. His words came quieter, meant for Hetton alone even as he pretended to monitor the labor.

"Walk carefully, House Vemec. You ask questions about the Malverns in earshot of the wrong clerk, and it will be more than your ore that gets confiscated."


The visor never turned from the cargo, but the warning hung heavy in the air, unmistakably personal.

Hetton Vemec

 

[Hetton Vemec]

Hetton looked back as Korda Veydran said Hold he waited for a second, thinking now what. He turned to look, part way to chorus office.

He didn't trust them, or wanted to flex his responsibility, he decide he was taking charge of this shipment. He listens to him, and replies graciously, "In that case House Vemec thanks you."

He then moves to the office to sign in, he met with an official, and who sighs, "Just got back?" I nod, her then says "Things have changed, your going to need new ID, I am afraid." Hetton begins to register, hoping to get this over with, as it was a bit of a front. He got paperwork done, and head back out.

He then heard the Mandalorian, say he is confiscating his cargo, he replied May I enquire on what grounds? As I just want to know what's happening, as I was in space when you came" He didn't actually care about the cargo, as it was just a front on getting here, but he did not want it stolen, by this thug.

He made a gesture to his crew, not to get involved, as last thing he wanted was a gun fight, they might win this round, but they be dead before they end of the day.

 

[Korda Veydran]

Korda's voice cut through the bustle of the dock as Hetton stepped back into the bay.

"Cargo is confiscated."

The Serenni crew froze mid-stride, crates hovering half-lowered between freighter and pallet loader. The dock official blinked, clearly caught off guard, glancing between Mandalorian and Serenni like a man who'd suddenly found himself between blades.

Hetton's reply came sharp but controlled, a soldier's discipline cloaked in civility. "May I enquire on what grounds?"

For a long breath, Korda said nothing. His visor fixed on Hetton, unreadable, then slowly drifted down to his own gauntlet — the faint outline of a sigil etched into the knuckle plate, scoured but not erased. A jagged shape, like a winged blade. He curled his fist tight, hiding it in the shadow of his other hand.

When he spoke again, his tone had shifted — less the bark of authority, more a guarded explanation.

"Old habits," he said flatly. "On Mandalore, when cargo comes in, it belongs to the Empire until it is weighed, sealed, and taxed. My tongue remembers faster than my mind."

His helmet tilted slightly, a subtle admission.

"Your shipment will be tallied and signed off as agreed. I've no quarrel with House Vemec… not today."

He turned his head toward the Serenni official, who swallowed and nodded quickly, motioning the crew to resume their unloading.

Korda's visor flicked back to Hetton one last time, a fraction longer than needed.

"You came back in dangerous times, freighter-captain. Keep your papers clean, your questions cleaner, and your crew alive. That's more than most manage here."


The way his gauntlet stayed hidden beneath his other arm suggested there was far more beneath that helmet than blind loyalty to the Chorus.

Hetton Vemec