The future? Like... with jetpacks?

[Rena Kryze]

MandalTech Headquarters, Taris

Rena's reputation was fast building as a technological expert. Apparently so too was her reputation as a quartermaster, because the fabled [member="Ordo"] had hired her to work for MandalTech as... well, basically, a glorified quartermaster. She was responsible for working on new technology, acquiring contracts, managing fleets and security. It came with its perks, like a free company ship. It came with weapons testing (and development), and plenty of things for the company to do.

Problem: she now had to drive a desk, instead of a bes'uliik. It wasn't fun. She was going to have to get a bigger ship and use it as a mobile headquarters, with the permission of the boss. One day. Perhaps Ordo would give her one of those big old Baa'ur class ships and refit it into MandalTech's new mobile armoury and deployment ship for supplying battlefields all across Mandalorian space - and beyond. If he was so kind, then she'd have a new flagship devoted especially to furthering MandalTech's goals. Maybe. One day. When she was a Rally Master, probably.

She had her first request, however. Rena had already received one request from a new initiate (like herself), one [member="Kix Tal'Verda"]. He wanted a new custom jetpack, one that would fit his ancient Katarn-class armour; something modular, something adaptable.

Fortunately, Rena Kryze was an expert in jetpack technology.

"Is he here yet?" Rena asked her assistant, even as she herself was clad in her red and black armour which never seemed to come off.

The young woman with red hair, who was not clad in her beskar'gam (that was her thing), nodded. "He is."

"Send him in, Elys."

The assistant, now suddenly named Elys because I just made it up, peeked her head out of the office that the quartermaster had. "Kix? Miss Kryze will see you now. Come in and take a seat."

He'd have time to come in, sit down, and explain exactly what he wanted, while an interested Rena sat back in her seat and listened intently.

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

Kix grunted in response to the assistant. It seemed his trip all the way to MandalTech HQ was paying off after all. KIx stood with his ceramaplas and plasteel plates ruffling against the body weave; he had been sure to wear the Katarn. The Clone took a few strides before arriving into the office. Once he was within the vestibule of the door he'd bow his head in respect and smash a fist into the bone-white chest plate. The armor itself was covered in more coloration: splotches of blue, his clan's symbol, a large mythosaur on the lower chest, Mandalorian runes across the legs praising the deeds of the first wearer of the armor during the Clone Wars, oddly enough.

"Kix Tal'Verda Aliit'buir be Tal'Verda." He introduced himself, his tone curt and spartan though accented in friendliness with a quick half smile. He looked exactly as the rumors would state a clone would with his helmet under his arm. He looked like Jango. The only differences seemed to be a scaggy goatee and shoulder long hair that was braided here and there with bones or other ceramics. He looked positively tribal. "Its good to meet with you, I haven't heard much of your aliit but a few of my vode have heard of your expertise on supply runs to Keldabe. So I figured if anyone could get me something, it was you."

He slide into the seat with ease but in a rather awkward position because of the thick plates across his body. "The last bearer of this armor had a jetpack for it. It was irreparably damaged, however, and scrapped for parts on our trip back here, to Mando'yaim. I need a replacement and need someone to eventually teach me in its use. I was never given instruction on Kamino. I would prefer something light-weight and modular, something I can add to, paint, disassemble, upgrade, and use at will. It doesn't have to be stylish, mind you."


[member="Rena Kryze"]

 

[Rena Kryze]

"Su'cuy, Kix Tal'Verda," said Rena amicably. "I may be the only representative of Kryze off of Ord Mantell, but we're here."

Now, given that Jango Fett was a historical figure from some 800 years ago, Rena, being a scrublord, had no idea who that was. She just accepted that Kix was Kix and left it at that. Of more interest to the quartermaster, however, was this man's armour. She'd be working with it, after all, and it was definitely an older sort. Something she'd never seen before, at any rate, though she could identify what was going on.

She leaned back a little, fingers steepling - the mechanical click was audible enough. "Modular jetpack. Okay. By 'modular', what do you want this thing to do differently with new modules?"

[member="Kix Tal'Verda"]

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

"I want it to function in all weather conditions, in sub-zero temperatures, in space, underwater, and more importantly have it radiation and EMP shielded." Kix stated, obviously knowing what he wanted. "In terms of modularity, however, its mainly the fuel. I'd like it to be able to run off nearly whatever I have on hand for emergency situations. As one of the people, you must understand." His shoulders would roll under the armor. "I will state up front now, that I may have to take this on some sort of credit as my Clan is just recently resettling on Mando'yaim."

[member="Rena Kryze"]

 

[Rena Kryze]

"All-weather capable isn't a problem. Most jetpacks can handle that if they're built ruggedly enough, depending on your intent," Rena commented, twirling the problem through her mind and considering all the options. However, the fuel request was the harder thing to consider. "Tweaking something for different fuel sources... well, there's only so much we can do there. You have an option of an ion-powered jetpack, but that'll require a lot of development time. Very little fuel required for that one."

Rena paused a moment. "A repulsorpack may be a better alternative. You'll get longer sustained flight and less fuel used - meaning you won't need to worry about refueling any time pretty well ever - at the cost of only working inside a planet or moon's gravity well and slower maximum speed. And we have repulsorpacks already available for sale. It's not a custom rig, but I'm sure we can tweak it to higher specifications for you."

At his final statement, Rena nodded. She understood the financial problems many aliit were suffering - including her own. She could handle that. "I'm sure we can come to an arrangement, vod. If it's a Clan purchase, well, we're sponsored by Mand'alor himself. I'm sure credit could work."

[member="Kix Tal'Verda"]

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

"Is there anyway to get a pack that has both a repulsor and jet option?" Kix's brow rose in curiosity. He then promptly stood back and then walked back and forth in the office. His gear clattering softly as they continued their discussion.

"I apologize, Katarn makes it awkward to sit in chairs like that for longer than ten minutes. It was never meant for comfort, I've learned that and my forebearers have preached it in my ear like some bathrobe brigade gospel." A grin made its way across his face before he finally stopped pacing and crossed his arms.

"It will be placed in the Clan Armoury indeed, but will be used by one of our reigning aliit'buirs," Kix stated, alluding to the fact that his Clan, unlike most had more than one chieftain at its head.

[member="Rena Kryze"]

 

[Rena Kryze]

"That would be an awfully big jetpack, vod," Rena answered. "Consider this: you'd be strapping two different kinds of engines with two different setups to yourself. That's twice the weight, particularly on your back. Your centre of gravity would be disrupted, you couldn't run straight. I think your choice would best be limited to one or the other. After all, this is meant for mobility and we don't want to slow you down."

A shame, but them's the breaks, kids.

Rena understood the pacing thing. Bad design meant bad comfort and some people just didn't get that tacticool was not a legitimate option for designing technology. "If you want, I can just remodel your butt-plate," she joked, laughing as she did so. "You'd be indebted to me for the rest of forever, but that's an easy fix."

Though, she had a mild curiosity as he stood there before her, explaining to his fellow warrior the ways of his people. "Tell me about your clan, your ways of war, your technology. Let me get to know your vode through your words so that I can create you the right solution."

[member="Kix Tal'Verda"]

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

"I should have guessed that. I was trained to be an expert in technological warfare." The man gave a wry chuckle before shaking his head. He was in all reality embarrassed at his misconception of the gear that would be constructed. However, he quickly brushed it off, his eyes widening at Rena's next comment regarding his plate.

"Ehhum..." He coughed and shook his head three times, "no, if my buttplate is to be altered it'll be by a Clanmate of mine. I'd rather not showcase what my shebs look like and act like when in the armor." Kix chuckled before patting one of his inscribed thigh plates. "Besides, it keeps me off my rear and active. I'll never become ast'ehut bal sharal."

Then he was asked of his Clan. It elicited a short laugh from his gullet. He was seeming to warm up in the very least as he responded: "That's a lot to talk about. I wish we were on Mando'yaim now. I could show you there." He paused and continued as he gazed at the ceiling for a brief moment. "We are clones. Well, most of us in the least. We're clones of a Mand'alor from ages past named Jango Fett. Our founders, well, the ones I call our founders in the least were also clones. They were, however, clones from the Clone Wars: frozen in stasis and awoken around twenty years ago. I, and the majority of my clan were created fourteen galactic standard years ago. Chronologically? I'm supposed to be fourteen and three months old. Being a clone does have an advantage, like our forebearers before, we were tailored and trained to be the best. Tal'Verda specializes in commando and advanced warfare and we have the technology to facilitate such means. Another orikih advantage we have is that a good deal of us are Vong-Shaped. We still train in all purpose combat but focus on general commando work anything from slicing, sniping, shock work. We prefer to hit hard and fast. Though we vary in a few ways from other clans. We generally have two Aliit'buirs, though I'm the only one currently and we divide the warriors of our clan into groups called a Pod. Each podmate specializes in something to compliment each other. Its a system that works well with our commando heritage. That...is the most abridged I can make it."

[member="Rena Kryze"]

 

[Rena Kryze]

"To be fair, I am not an expert in these things," Rena had to admit. "I'm learning everything on the job. My being a quartermaster is entirely new to me. It happened by accident and now I'm learning everything through MandalTech. As it turns out, I'm good at this because I have prior jetpack experience."

There was a grin and a chuckle when Kix defended his butt-honour "As you wish. I merely wanted to offer the suggestion of comfort on, say, a troopship."

However, the tale offered to her was interesting. Again, Jango Fett, dafuq was that, but the rest she could understand at least. Tal'Verda were born and bred to war, literally cloned from prime genetic stock to do so, with such advanced training. This meant that they were the best at what they did. Unlike the Kryze, who were just kind of there, like... farmers, or architects, or accidental quartermasters. Whatever. Someone around here had to be a perfect warrior. Rena had those aspirations... not any more.

She gestured with her hand. "I assume you have a boatload of specialist technology like that blaster you're wearing. I've never seen anything like that. Not to derail the conversation from a jetpack - your choice of repulsor, jet or ion is still up to you - but that's a new thing for me."

[member="Kix Tal'Verda"]

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

"Fair enough points." The clone nodded. Rena wasn't a bad talker, at least.

"Thanks, as glorious as my shebs I think its a galactic custom to at least get dinner first." It was an obvious joke though perhaps not one in the best of tastes. Though when she directed to his blaster, he lifted the thing from its holster. It was in its modular pistol variant right now but was still rather impressive. "This? This is a DC-17m. I inherited it from my buir along with the armor. He was one of Tal'Verdas former Chieftains. Though he didn't get along with many vode in these parts. The rifle itself can be changed between different weapons dependent on the ammo and barrel. It can be a light repeater, an anti-infantry/anti-armor grenade launcher, a sniper, or a pistol."

He fell back on the topic at hand however. "As much as I could tallk about rig all day, I decided I want to try the ion pack."

[member="Rena Kryze"]

 

[Rena Kryze]

"If I was going to get you dinner, vod, you'd know," Rena said, effectively shutting him down in a single moment. Oh well. It happened.

That, and the universe should probably point out that this is a character that sexuality will not be a major writing point because we've got too much of that happening. Let's be different! Oh, wait, a totally straight female character is basically the most different thing that Chaos has ever seen.

But enough about me.

This new weapon was something curious to Rena - to be fair, it was an old weapon - and she was very much interested in its design. It had machinegun, sniper, anti-armour and blaster rifle modes and could change on a whim. This was good. This was very good.

"You know that credit you owe me," Rena said slowly. An idea was forming in her brain and she was getting a very fun thought or two with what she could do with a weapon like that herself. "Would you be willing to lend me that blaster for a while? I have a feeling a new modular weapon would go over very well with a lot of customers. I promise you'll get it back. And maybe a free test weapon too."

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

"Relax, vod, I was messing around. I'm a terrible joker anyways." Kix quickly stated with a grin. He seemed firmly amused with her response to the banter anyways.

Then she asked to barrow the blaster and he looked down at the weapon nervously. That was a big favor to ask considering the weapon's sentimental nature to the clan. They had already been reproduced for the new Dread Guard but not much beyond that and Kix imagined the CIS and their benefactors kept the designs on close rapts given the weapons possible market value. He bit his lip for a moment. "I'd have to confer that with my Aliit. In any case Ca'buir. This particular DC-17m holds great significance within our clan." His hand would tap along its side. "Its a matter of honor to me and my brothers. Though, I'll ask as soon as possible."

[member="Rena Kryze"]

 

[Rena Kryze]

"So am I, apparently," she had to admit. Oh well. Couldn't be picky.

Rena nodded her understanding at the guarded knowledge. Trade secrets were trade secrets and she had to respect that. "Get back to me on that one, because I feel very much that this would make for a wonderful addition to the Mando'ade armoury. Something modern, of course," Rena added. "But I feel like you'd all benefit from something like this."

It was never just MandalTech - it was the vode as a whole. That was her mission.

A moment's pause. "Anyway. Come down to the workshop with me and we'll get to work on your ion pack, shall we?"

[member="Kix Tal'Verda"]

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

"Lead the way, Kryze." Kix would state rather quickly. He was itching to get out of the office. He was never one for such locations after all.

The clone would move his way to the door and wait for his armored compatriot to move ahead first. It wouldn't stop him from talking though. "Since you've learned a bit about my aliit, how about you give me some detail on yours as we walk. I've been trying to cement friendship with various clans throughout our space to establish Tal'Verda again. We're building a village on Mandalore and farming!" He seemed oddly excited about that admission. Though for a clone who was aging at twice the normal human rate, every such thing was a small victory.

"Where are you based for one?"

[member="Rena Kryze"]

 

[Rena Kryze]

The quartermaster got up, left the room with her datapad and motioned for Kix to come along. On the way she could tell her tale.

"There's sadly not much to tell. We're farmers, mostly, on Ord Mantell. Our aliit had a huge decline a few centuries ago and we've never quite recovered, all things considered. We manage. We could never hold a candle to the likes of Ordo and Skirata and Fett, of course. But we're independent enough that we get by on our own merits. Our aliit'buir's, like, a third cousin of mine or something that I've exchanged maybe twenty words with."

What was there to tell? Kryze wasn't a major clan any more; they were relegated to a single outpost world that, for some time, hadn't even really been in the Mando'ade dominion. Recently they'd come back into the fold in a very small way. In fact, Rena was their highest achiever, and that was saying something fairly terrible.

She hit the turbolift button so they could go downstairs - the door slid open, and off they went moments later, down to the workshop levels.

"So, now I work out of Taris, until the boss approves my new ship, which won't be a while considering it needs a refit. In the meantime, I drive a desk until I can serve as the mobile armoury for the clans. It's not fun. It'll get better, though. I take it your Clan is trying to build a solid military, too?"

[member="Kix Tal'Verda"]

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

Kix listened to Rena with obvious interest. His head bobbing up and down at certain points, particularly the mention of Ord Mantell. The world was the center of a story Kix's father told him about. It was the first place the Republic Commandos had met Mandalorians though it was not on the best of terms as he recalled. It was still a good story of valor and effective combat prowess. Though the fact Rena barely talked to her chieftain confused him and even saddened him to an extent.

"Family is very important in Tal'Verda. Even our wayward brothers among the stars contact us some way or the other and there's four thousand of them out there." He stated and paused briefly before continuing. "I love my brothers dearly, all of them, they were all I had for a long time. I'd shed my blood to help any of them." He seemed very stubborn about that, after all it was one of the reasons his remaining father had selected him to be aliit'buir.

When they were upon the workshop he happily looked around. Kix loved mechanical work, deep down. It was his favorite instructional course in the halls of Kamino and he preformed it for his clan whenever able. "Some of my clan wishes to become wholly militant, around four pods, a couple are neutral on the matter though the majority wish to farm and live their lives and fight only when needed. We've seen a lot of war and none of them were pleasant. We were threatened with genocide at one point. While that's unforgivable the majority of our clan, which are clones as I stated, don't have long lives and therefor have to pick between revenge and family."

[member="Rena Kryze"]

 

[Rena Kryze]

"Our memory is long," Rena recited, as if a child repeating her buir's lessons for the day. "Family is more important than vengeance. I think farming would be best suited. Ensuring the long-term survival of your aliit, bearing children, continuing your proud legacy - is a good idea. Losing any family is never the right option."

It was a shame, but so many clans were willing to put their pride before their real needs; warrior-cultures tended to do that. Maybe, by some chance, the Tal'Verda would not find themselves susceptible to the clone aging process. Sons and daughters of Tal'Verda might find themselves born, and an ancient legacy could find itself continuing through the winding passage of time.

"I hope you all find your answer," she wished, fervently. Kix was good people - surely the rest of his clan was too.

In the meantime, it was down to the workshop, where they could get straight to work on an ion jetpack. Instead of just building straight away, it was to the design phase, where a big holographic display could be used to assemble pieces and ideas. Like a giant sketchbook, only cooler.

Rena's hands were like lightning, skating over the design with practised ease - stripping out the casing of an MT-1 repulsor pack and replacing it with ion components, giving it extra plating for protection and two small side-panels for collecting energy. Like solar panels on a TIE, these were designed to increase the longevity of the design.

"So let's talk shop here. Rugged design with minimal fuel. See these solar panels here? You can use these to collect energy and save fuel. Plus, even if you don't have sun, you'll still be mobile. What else?"

[member="Kix Tal'Verda"]

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

Kix watched the giant, blue floating sketch book with keen interest. His brown eyes darting around it to look at every section of the ion pack. The wheels in his brain obviously moving before he began to prowl around the hologram in a near predatory manner. Kix, was for all intents and purposes, a perfectionist.

"It'll be resistant to radiation and EMP, I assume." He was now glad he had contracted this particular woman to the job. She knew her stuff!

His hand would then reach out and tap at the hologram where the solar panels were. "If these are damaged would it effect flight or aerodynamics to any major extent? Or are they simply redundant systems?"

[member="Rena Kryze"]

 

[Rena Kryze]

"Of course," Rena said, nodding her head in assent to his hardened request. "It's going to be a smaller jetpack, if anything - it'll reduce the target profile and make it harder for someone to hit." Cue the Fett Trope - huge jetpack equals huge problem.

He asked a question about the solar panels, which was fair. "So, the solar panels on the side aren't necessary for standard operation," Rena explained. "They recharge your jetpack, so to speak. If one gets damaged, you can replace it, but it's not immediately necessary. Without solar power, you'll be relying purely on the reactor, meaning it will drain a lot faster, but you won't have it explode on you. Makes sense, right?"

Her fingers danced across keys, trying to put together the little jetpack that could integrate into the Katarn's back; it'd have to be made of similar materials, be lightweight enough to work and generally not be terribly designed.

[member="Kix Tal'Verda"]

 

[Kix Tal'Verda]

"A small pack does sound like a good idea. If it can lift my fat shebs off the ground."

He grinned and then continued to watch the hologram as the new inputs where made. Everything was going swimmingly it seemed. Things were coming into place, and soon the pack would be developed and brought back to his clan. Though, it still lead into another predicament. Kix had very little idea on how to use one and if Galaar's stories of flying into a bale of bantha poo were real ones told when he was a cadet, they were terrifying.

"You do have someone to teach me in its operation, aye?"

[member="Rena Kryze"]