Tools For Vengeance

[Miss Blonde]

Cartao, present day.
[member="Keira Ticon"]

Finding Keira after years of not seeing her was difficult to say the least, she really wasn't the type of person to stay in touch or stay in one spot for too long. But after hearing all of the things she had done over the years Patricia knew she was the person to take command, she had a fire in her. She did things her way, and even if she didn't always come out on top she would be defiant and fight until the end. That was the kind of person she wanted leading, a person that would always making a choice. She was rough around the edges, but with a little experience she could learn to care about her men and their lives. She could be molded into a symbol of redemption, strength, and courage. This was who I was, this is who I am now. The perfect picture for the fave of a new clone army spearheading war in the galaxy. So picking up her long range communication phone she quickly punched in Keira's number and called her from her office. It rang a few times then went to voice mail.

"Keira, it's Patricia from the Ravens. Meet me on Cartao in two days. I have something that will be of great importance to you. Revenge." She said letting that last word longer before hanging up.

The bait was set and now all she had to do was let Keira bite before reeling her in. Did she feel bad for glossing the truth a little, maybe. But this was bigger than both of them, and if Keira complied she'd give her an army that could march on all those who had ever wronged her, she wasn't offering revenge, she was offering the chance to take it for herself with the tools to succeed.

 

[Keira Priest]

Typically Keira would have ignored any messages left for her and simply marked them for deletion later, leaving what minute interaction had been present at that. But something made this one different, it beginning with who had contacted her in the first place and ending shortly thereafter with the contents of the voicemail itself. Instead of replying right away she replayed the message a few times over to be certain she'd heard everything correctly. Another half hour or more of contemplation passed before it was deemed time to reply, and even then she didn't call the other woman back, instead settling for typing out a response, her words short, concise and straight to the point, as always.

Incoming transmission: [member="Patricia Susan Garter"]
///
Noted. Consider it done.
\\\
End transmission

From then on it had just been a matter of finding and arranging transportation to the specified planet, a world that hadn't crossed her radar previously. It was assumed that the Silvers wouldn't miss her too much, not that she had really bothered to check up on their procedures or what regulations had actually been put in place before leaving Voss. They would find a way to reconcile everything, and besides, she wasn't really their responsibility anymore. She never had been in the first place, and this would be a sort of testament to that. This expedition by itself was a prime example of her own defiance and will to be her own person, and she was loathe to let anyone stop her.

Her first impression of the planet was that it reminded her of Voss in a number of aspects, with the headquarters she was ushered to being a demonstration of that. In a sense it reminded her of what the Dragon Palace had been before the eventual fall of the criminal syndicate that had called it home. It was well-defended, strategically placed and kept in pristine condition. The professionalism would take some adjusting to once again, but all told it didn't seem like a bad place to be. It was a step up from the Temple on Voss, with less Jedi and more individuals that actually believed in getting things done. Her kind of people. And it was no surprise that this was where Patricia had made a home for herself.

Finally managing to shake off those that insisted on escorting her through the building she arrived at what could only be assumed to be Patricia's office. Forgoing knocking she allowed the doors sliding open to announce her presence, stepping into the room and allowing them to close behind her. No move was made to step forward or back, and she studied the space about her for a time, and finally the other woman before her. It had been six years, and much had changed in both of their lives. But for the most part the two had remained as resilient as always, never quite backing down no matter the odds and always standing up for themselves, if nothing else. "Been awhile."

 

[Miss Blonde]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

"Please, sit. Or not really its up to you." Patricia wore a pair of thick reading glasses on her face as she skimmed through pages of forms that needed her signature.

She had a very disinterested look on her face while signing forms, not towards Keira of course but towards the evil forms that lay across her desk. Shipping manifests and request forms from Oberon, supplies from Arcadia, really the whole thing was a mess and Patricia wanted to make sure they had everything all out of the way before their meeting began.

"You look well." Patricia said as she signed a form then placed it into a bin next to her.

"You're probably wondering why I called you here." Patricia said softly as another form was executed. Looks like fresh fruit was on its way to Cartao.

"The whole revenge thing." Licking her thumb and separating a few papers that were stuck together she put the bottom form on the top of her desk.

"Yeah I lied about that, I can't give you revenge." The sound of pen meeting paper scribbled out again.

"However what I can give you is the tools in order to take your revenge. Tools that will make the primeval and sith fear you." Patricia placed both forms to the side and signed another.

"However, tools are never free. They cost things, things like favors, jobs, currency, if you're still interested feel free to ask, if not the door is over there." Patricia said with pulling out the last form to be signed.

 

[Keira Priest]

Mottled blue and amber eyes remained steadily on the other woman as she spoke, watching her carefully through the duration of all that was said. Outwardly Keira was the picture of nonchalant apathy, and so she remained as she sat, truly and genuinely putting careful thought to all that she had been told. This was more or less identical to how business had been dealt in the Ravens, with half-truths and obscure explanations sufficing instead of actually giving up any useful information. But there was something more moving and shifting beneath the surface, that much she could inherently sense, and it was that more which drove her curiosity to stay and willingness to actually hear her out. Otherwise she would have already been gone.

"Revenge doesn't interest me." Or at least, not in the traditional manner. No doubt hearing that statement pass her lips was unexpected in some manner, but it was the truth. No deception was concealed beneath her words. In her time spent on Voss she had learned to be better, or at the very least put her best efforts forth into doing so. Which, of course, meant doing things for the greater good rather than herself, something that she was still adjusting to. After all, it was much easier to worry about herself rather than that and everyone in her immediate vicinity. But that wasn't how most Jedi functioned, or so she had been informed, and it had been advised that she change her ways. "Not anymore."

The corners of her mouth tightened slightly, and she released a breath as she leaned back. This was quite the proposition that had been offered her, and she wasn't entirely sure how to take it all in just yet. Much of the unknown was facing her, and early on in her life she had learned just how deadly the unknown could be if not handled properly. "I don't really care if they fear me, either." Once again, not in the traditional sense. "Anyone can talk big and put on a show. If they're going to fear me, it's going to be because I'm capable of bringing them down myself." And that was her eventual goal, however unachievable and unrealistic it might have been. Anyone could dream, but she intended on making it a reality.

Her gaze was skeptical at best as she watched the other at work. In her life she had been lied to times over, and there was no reason as to why this time should have been any different. The two had worked together in the past, but that was just that, years ago when each had had a mutually beneficial goal to work towards. Now they had nothing but themselves and their own motivations, and personal thoughts could be dangerous things when in the wrong hands or an unstable mind. "Nothing's ever free, I know that. That's a lesson you learn after your first week working in the criminal underworld." If you didn't you were as good as dead. "Name your price, then. Just know that I'm not much of a negotiator."

[member="Patricia Susan Garter"]

 

[Miss Blonde]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

Patricia stopped scribbling when the woman said revenge was something she didn't want, she looked up at her and let her go on about the rest of her words letting it soak in before continuing on. Letting out a hmm, sound more of a "well alright then." Rather than a intrigued gesture, she quickly turned her head back to her form and finished up signing it. Once it was ready she placed it in the trey and pushed button down on her monitor.

"Butters be a dear and come pick up this paperwork, also bring in two stimcafes while your at it. Two sugars and one cream for me please." Patricia said firmly.

"Right away ma'am." A shrill and nerdy voice said in response.

Focusing back on Keira for the time being Patricia chuckled slightly and crossed her legs beneath her desk. She had a hard time picking up what Keira was laying down, and for good reason too. It simply wasn't in Keira's nature, you could train a lioness to become a lazy animal held in captivity. But in truth, that lioness no matter how badly it had been broken always has the thrill of the hunt in her, and the need to taste it's prey's blood upon its teeth.

"Keira when you come into my office I expect you to be truthful, not to me of course. But to yourself. How many times have you told yourself you didn't want revenge before you actually started believing it? Now I don't know exactly where you've been and what you've done in some sort of eat pray love soul searching bull%#$& but that's not the Keira I know. If this Keira has been brainwashed that she's going to single handedly take down two empires consisting of hundreds of Sith Lords and Witch Elders, then stop wasting my time and leave." There was a knock on the door and soon a tray of coffee was placed desk and paper work was picked up by a lanky blonde haired man before leaving.

"Now what I'm going to offer you is something realistic to help you gain fear, respect, and revenge. Patricia said as she took her cup and sipped at it.

"I'm sure you are aware of what Spaarti does, it's a cloning corporation. I've spent the last five years building a new grand army, it's billions of credits and the entire eastern seaboard to house everyone. But we've been able to clone and train an army large enough to fight a galactic scale war, now what I ask of you to do is lead them on the front lines. My days of fighting are at an end, I need someone to pick up and show these men that they can win. I need a symbol of defiance in the face of impossible odds, I need someone who exhibits near delusional levels of confidence. What I need is for you to lead them. Lead them against those that would see your fellow Jedi die." Patricia said with a firm tone.

"The price is that of leadership, the price of watching the people under your care die. Now I'm sure this is a lot to process so if you want to tour the facility, see the men and women, take a day or two to think about it. You are welcome to." Patricia pushed Keira a cup of coffee and smiled gently.

 

[Keira Priest]

"I've spent the last five years building a new grand army..." Those were words Keira had never thought to hear, though when it came to Patricia nothing was to be soundly anticipated. Most everyone had read or heard of the Grand Army of the Republic of ages past, when the Clone Wars had just begun, revealing a new face of justice to the galaxy, a face identical to that of every other. The Jedi themselves had lead the front with this new military at their backs, winning numerous battles against the Trade Federation and taking a number of worlds into their fold. And everyone knew how that had ended in ruins for those backing the cause as well. To bring something such as this into the galaxy once again was a daring, nearly foolish act.

No words found her lips, and instead she leaned forward, brow furrowed slightly in thought. It would have been wise to deliberate and take time to mull over what would no doubt be a life-changing decision, but she had always been one to act impulsively and with her instinct. Things would be no different this time, regardless of what common sense dictated. This seemed the simplest method to achieve all that she had set out for since the very beginning, no matter the consequences that would pursue her. Of course, Patricia had likely known this was the likely outcome from the start, and nothing less would have surprised her. Efficiency could always be respected, even if this time it would eventually deal in death.

Silence hung in the air between them, and she sighed quietly, shaking her head. "I don't need to look around at anything. I'll do it." Her tone was resolved, in a way determined. Her lot had been thrown into this war the moment she joined the Republic's Order, and in some way her life had been intrinsically woven into the fabric of it from that point forward. Here now was just another manner in which she would be giving her life for a cause, though perhaps this time it would be a cause that she wholly believed in. Or at least, a cause nobler than simply serving her own interests while being unconcerned for the lives and well-being of others. That was something of a start, what with her skewed morality.

The muscles of her jaw worked slowly as she considered her odds and options. The agreement that had been made put her in charge of likely billions of soldiers, a responsibility she was at once prepared for and daunted by. It would be her first time in true command of most anything or anyone, and having others look up to her would be a difficult step to adjust to. She was far from a role model for anyone, let alone an army that would know little of anything before her. It would no doubt be a rocky road with a number of bumps along the way, but it was one she would have to adapt to, as she had with every other difficulty that presented itself. If Patricia was correct in one thing, it was her ultimate defiance.

"This is going to be the Republic's army, then." It was phrased as a statement of fact rather than an inquiry. Both of them knew it to be true. "I left the Republic ten years ago for a reason. They don't welcome my kind there, nor will they ever." Every one of them was too deeply stuck in the old ways, and fault would no doubt be found with her not hesitating to utilize the dark at her own convenience. "But you would have me join their ranks again to take command of an army that they likely have no news of so we have a chance of winning this war." A wry smile found her lips, and she laughed quietly, able to find nothing more than amusement in this, anymore. "Well, I guess it's been awhile since I've given the Jedi hell."

[member="Patricia Susan Garter"]

 

[Miss Blonde]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

"I suppose it's time then." Patricia said with a little chuckle as she took a sip from her coffee.

Reaching for a button Patricia pushed down on her intercom and spoke into it with a firm but gentle voice.

"Waldo dear, could you bring in the Expedition armor and call the tailor, Lord Commander, supreme general, or whatever Keira wants her tittle to be needs some new clothes." Patricia released the button and took another sip.

"Right away ma'am." With that the sounds of feet shuffling outside her office sounded and began to move around going down the hall.

"Forgive me I just can't have the men seeing you dressed like a punk rock princess. Appearances and first impressions are everything, besides I'm sure you'll love it." Patricia adjusted herself in her seat and took another sip.

"Please drink, it's going to be a very long day. You have a few million sons and daughters to be meeting." Patricia continued drinking her coffee knowing that today was going to be a long day.

Really Patricia was happy that Keira took the job, it was always best to show a neutral expression however, people always loved to see your little expressions. She had learned that from her mentor Ethan Alde, the retired former owner of Spaarti.

"We have a few moments before Waldo returns, any questions?" She said as she clutched at her coffee cup.

 

[Keira Priest]

For all of the reaction to her agreement this may well have been another everyday business deal. That wasn't to say that Keira had necessarily expected some kind of fanfare, and she was grateful that the opposite had been the case. In these quiet moments before the reality of things set in she needed to fully process the impact this choice would have on her life from this day forward. It would mean more notoriety in the galaxy, more people knowing her by name and on sight, something she wasn't entirely comfortable with just yet. In the long run it was easier and far more profitable to go unnoticed, remaining forever anonymous among the greater faces that populated the galaxy.

The sheer immensity of this new responsibility was unfathomable. It put her at the head of an army millions strong and forever expanding, a privilege most wouldn't have granted her given her performance in the past. But for those very reasons she was often shunned by others she had been sought out for this task, and so it seemed fate did have something planned out for her after all. That plan was far more militaristic and in the heart of things than she would have liked, but it was better than wandering aimlessly until another opportunity presented itself. If only the Red Ravens and The Primeval could see where she'd wound up after everything. This would make for quite the tale to tell.

Credit had to be given where it was due, and Patricia had known just what to say so that she would accept this without any hesitation. There was little issue she could find with any of the stipulations presented her, not that there were many to begin with. It was nothing short of the perfect arrangement, when one got right to the bottom of things. "You know how I feel about formal titles." Not that such an objection would stop the other woman assigning her whatever rank she pleased. Actually getting her to use it on a regular basis was another matter altogether, and not one she would abide by with ease. "I don't much wear armor either. It gets in the way. I'm faster without having to lug that around."

Her protests would likely fall on deaf ears anyhow, and she wouldn't bother keeping them up. All of this had been set in motion regardless of what she thought about it, and no amount of commentary would change any little detail. Going along with things would get it all settled quicker, no matter how much she disagreed with what were pointless cosmetic changes in her eyes. Respect came from ability, not one's appearance, and nothing would change that. But she would let Patricia have her fun. That was only fair. "I only really have one question for you." Her smile became a touch more crooked, dangerously so in some respects. "Who is it that we kill first?"

[member="Patricia Susan Garter"]

 

[Miss Blonde]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

"It's more of a formality really. Wear whatever you want when you're not with the men. But when you are with them I need you to at least look the part of someone that exudes strength. I know you are strong but first appearances are everything." Patricia quickly explained to Keira as a knock on the door sounded.

Waldo opened the door soon after and smiled at both women, in his arms he carried a decent sized box that had Armatech's logo stamped on it. Placing the box on the table the man smiled once more and let out a sigh of relief no longer having to carry the heavy package.

"Anything else ma'am?" Waldo said sharply.

"Yes please prepare Miss Ticon's quarters, she'll be staying the night possibly longer while she gets familiar with the men. Luxury suite please. Afterwards take the rest of the day off, I'll be busy with Keira." Patricia told her assistant who quickly thanked her and left.

"So inside here is about a hundred thousand credits worth of armor, it's around ten kilograms in weight, blaster and slug resistant, with rare metals weaved into it. Doesn't do so well against sith lighting but I can always have that tweaked. Please open it up and put it on." The woman said with a loose and more casual tone.

Reaching for her phone Patricia turned around in her chair to give Keira a bit of privacy, didn't want to feel uncomfortable after all. So with her phone in hand she pressed a few numbers and waited for the other end to pick up.

"Hello Lusk! Sorry for the call and if I interrupted anything, yes could you mobilize communications command. As well as first and second legion. Yes, of course, I'd say twenty minutes. The new commander is here, I'm excited as well Lusk. See you soon." Patricia was droning on in conversation with a commander.

 

[Keira Priest]

Flashing a smile, Keira only shook her head. "Yeah, yeah. They'll figure it out after the first run on the battlefield. Which you still haven't told me about, by the way. I like to know what planet I'll be risking my life on every once in awhile. Surprises are only nice every now and again." Just as Patricia's her own voice was casual, lacking any real formality that may have been present previously. Now that it was just the two of them it was back to old times, as it had been in the Ravens. They were just two more people preparing to do their part in an ages long war whose end was far from in sight. Of course, that was after you factored out their Force sensitivity and the clone army currently in waiting.

The box placed on the table was regarded with some skepticism, her brow raised at the amount of credits mentioned. That was a hefty price to pay for most anything, but considering the materials mentioned she supposed it was to be expected. In her mind it was just another example of why she often forewent armor in most any scenario. This time, however, she wouldn't have much of a choice. Stifling a sigh to she stood, opening the box and taking everything out piece by piece, glancing to Patricia, whose back was turned. This was as private as things would be getting, she had a feeling, so without further adieu she changed into that which had been granted her, folding up her clothes and setting them to the side.

It would take some adjusting to completely adapt to the weight of the armored plates in comparison to the relative weightlessness of her usual attire, but it was a worthwhile trade for what ballistic protection would be provided. She rolled her shoulders, giving herself a onceover before looking to the blonde. "Works as good as anything, I guess." With little effort on her part she stretched out a hand, calling her lightsaber into her palm and clipping it at her waist. That was one thing that wouldn't change about her, regardless of any other factors. No matter the show she had to put on in order to garner respect, she would always be rough around the edges in some aspect, something that would never be altered.

"Luxury suite?" A regular room would have been fine. Her style of living previously had been nothing more than apartments and the odd quarters in which she was able to rest her head, and nothing more was really necessary. But, as with everything else, Patricia would go about everything her own way regardless of any protests or objections on her own part. Each was just as stubborn as the other in that regard. "And the Sith Lightning isn't an issue. I'll either figure out how to block it or take the hit. It's nothing I haven't dealt with before." Sure, it wasn't a pleasant attack, but nothing about war was. It was just another casualty she and the others on the front lines had to learn to handle.

Even with the armor things didn't feel quite real just yet, but that would likely change once she was introduced to those she would be leading into battle. "Let's go, then. No sense in keeping everybody waiting."

[member="Patricia Susan Garter"]

 

[Miss Blonde]

.

 

[Miss Blonde]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

Patricia now fresh off her phone call smiled at the freshly dressed Keira took a moment to eye her, she looked good. She looked like she could really lead these men and women, and she looked like she could be the person she needed her to be. So with a smile on her face Patricia stood from her chair and brushed off her tight red dress and quickly motioned towards the door for Keira. It was time to get a move on and she didn't want her new men to be waiting for her.

"If you'd prefer to sleep in the barracks we can arrange it." Patricia said with a chuckle as she moved past Keira.

The doors opened up with a quick slide and Patricia with her new partner in... well old partner in crime, walked past the door and out towards the turbo lift. Once inside Patricia pressed a button and would begin to go over things with the brunette.

"If I knew what planet the sith or primeval would attack beforehand I don't suppose we would really have a need for a clone army now would we?" Patricia said answering her previously stated question from inside the room.

"Our goal is to make sure that the next time a world comes under harm from galactic conquest that we are ready. Patricia gave a more stern tone as the lift moved downward.

"Now Keira I'm not going to lie to you. A lot of people died to make this happen, a lot of clones. A lot of unethical things had to be done in order to make sure things were safe for the clones growth process. In the beginning we had to cure clone madness, and we lost a lot of people doing so figuring out what causes it. From children and fetuses dying on the operating table from biochip inhibitors to keep them sane, to experiments on said inhibitor chips. We made sacrifices so that others may live. If any of this bothers you too much I understand." the lift began to slow and soon come to a stop waiting for the doors to open upon her response.

 

[Keira Priest]

At this point in her life, nothing really bothered her to the point of it being a necessity that all action be ceased. After all, Keira had witnessed all manner of horrors face-to-face, and to hear of them from a third party was a luxury in many respects. But sympathy was nothing short of a requirement now, a foreign emotional response she had to access, if just for the sake of appearing more human. Some sort of pang registered in her gut, though she didn't recognize the feeling inherent with it. That would come in time, as everything else had, but she guessed it to be some form of sorrow for those that had given their lives. It was fleeting, gone as quickly as it had come.

Briefly she chewed at her bottom lip, releasing a breath through her nose as she contemplated what the proper response was to such a harrowing explanation. If one thing was for certain, there was no short way to summarize all of her thoughts and emotions concisely. Expressing herself had never been a talent she was possessed of, nor would it ever be within her expertise. Apathy was a much safer option, with anything else only complicating things. But she had to force herself to think otherwise if she was going to form any sort of cohesive bond with these men and women she would be leading to their deaths. There again was something else she would have to come to terms with.

"Sometimes the death of the few is necessary so that many more can survive. That's what this war boils down to." Her gaze shifted from Patricia to the floor and back in the span of a single second. "Sacrifice is what all of this is about. Without it the galaxy as we know it would already be destroyed or in ruins." Not that everything was exactly peachy to begin with, but they were all doing their best. The most recent efforts had become this cloning project. There was no telling what the next would accumulate to. "We fight so they don't have to. This way at least somebody has something more to look forward to, something more to do with their life than war." There was always something better.

It was in that moment the doors opened, and her breath was taken away. Millions of soldiers stood in formation, each one of them capable of going into battle within the next few hours if such a thing was absolutely necessary. Here resided the epitome of the fight itself, every one of these individuals highly trained to the utmost deadly efficiency. Her gaze tracked over those assembled once, twice and then three times, nothing taking away the sheer immensity of this responsibility she had agreed to. In comparison to what she had faced before, this was tremendous. There was nothing quite like being the head of an army that was never truly extinguished.

"I guess this makes things final. This is karking insane."

[member="Patricia Susan Garter"]

 

[Miss Blonde]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

"You look like Gen right now." Patricia said with a slight chuckle as the sound of heels striking the ground in time.

Millions of clones were gathered in massive fields that had been cleared in order for thousands of cruisers could come in to land and pick them up from their current positions. Formations moved and marched up ramps of republic cruisers and carriers. Hundreds of thousands of men being loaded into ships. It was time they were shipped off to do what they were bred to do, fight. Cartao was a world outside of the republic and thus was vulnerable to attack. While it was still hidden Patricia doubted after the events of the very near future it would remain that way.

"This is where I take my leave of you Keira. Lusk will be here shortly. You're gonna do great things." Patricia said as she gave Keira a small chip on the shoulder.

Patricia whistled sharply and soon Queen Mason a speeder pulled up besides her where she quickly got inside the chrome convertible and saluted at her new friend and partner.

"Whatever you do! Don't die! Good luck!" and that was all Patricia left Keira with as the speeder roared and took off.

In truth Patricia had a lot to do, she had to establish a new headquarters and have the republic salvage an entire eastern seaboard's worth of cloning facilities and technology. Patricia now off in the air she watched as Keira turned into nothing but a dot as she went to oversee more important things.

 

[Commander Lusk]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

As soon as Patricia made her leave of Keira a tall man wearing the Olympian battle armor of the clone army approached Keira in a professional and calm manner. In one arm he held a pulse rifle by its handle in the other his helmet with his arm wrapped around his waist holding it to it. His face was stern, calm, and focused and of course was an exact copy of Preliat Mantis. With his hair cut in a warrior stripe and streaks of red and black war paint permanently tattooed to his face the clone stood tall and neared a few meters from his new commander.

"Sir, the men are gathered and are shipping out on schedule. First and second legion are entering the republic personnel carrier as we speak. If we leave now we can have communication set up a transmission to the fleet for your opening address as supreme commander." Lusk said as he stood at parade rest his rifle placed on the ground by his leg.

Lusk stood there as a statute waiting to be set to converse in a casual conversation. In truth Lusk didn't trust Keira, he didn't see the need for her to be there nor why she was qualified to lead them. But if mom said she was in charge then Lusk would not argue. He would follow orders and always give a hundred and ten percent. Mom never gave a bad call and she had been there for lusk and the army since beta phase.

"On your word Commander." He said firmly.

 

[Keira Priest]

What little experience Keira had with the military extended only as far as her tenure with the Republic had lasted, and even then her knowledge was minimal at best. Never had she been put in any position of power beyond that of the most basic sort, beginning and ending with her time spent as the Secretary of the Red Ravens. To go from depending on and looking after no one but herself to leading an army of millions was a shock that she would never adjust to seeing at the end of the day. But now it was too late to take anything back and change her mind, and she would simply have to adjust as she always had. There was no other option in sight, and she was already quite literally in the thick of things. There really was no time like the present to begin. She had always been good at talking her way through things. Here went nothing.

"At ease." A nod of the head accompanied those two words, and she motioned for him to follow alongside her as they walked. Seconds of awkward silence passed, the only sound the marching of millions of armored feet as they boarded the carriers that lay in waiting. "You'll have to forgive me for my inexperience when it comes to this sort of operation. The last real military experience I had was years ago, when I was still a Jedi Padawan. It's been awhile since I've lived and worked in an environment like this." Each word was spoken and enunciated with a care that wasn't common, but necessary when it came to such a professional setting. In time, of course, her casual demeanor would return, never extinguished for an extended period of time. It was then both entities, the clones and herself, would become truly bonded.

For a moment she simply observed the others as they boarded the specified craft, letting the reality of her new position as their commander sink in just a bit more. "We'd best not keep them waiting, then. Establish a transmission when it's advisable." Might as well get things over with. Public speaking had never been an activity she particularly enjoyed, and this was no different, regardless of the amount of press that would no doubt come with this new title. The only thing more notoriety would give her was more of an opportunity for others to intervene in her life as a whole. Interference was unwanted to the point of being inherently despised, being one of the many reasons she preferred to remain on the sidelines rather than willingly showing her face to any and all that were willing to listen. Besides, the Republic had good reason to distrust her as it was.

[member="Commander Lusk"]

 

[Commander Lusk]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

Turning his foot to a pivot the clone commander pushed out of parade rest and began to follow the new Supreme Commander with his rifle slung on his back. Taking his helmet he slapped it on his head then seated it firmly and comfortably. Watching his HUD come online he quickly shot a message over to his friend Relay in the comm department who had just been put on one of the ships bound for republic space. The message was very simple informing him to set up a fleet wide signal for Keira to broadcast herself once everyone was in the air.

"Right away Sir, and don't worry about it. We are prepared to adjust to your command." The clone said with a stern professional voice.

"The men have never had an outsider come and give them orders, I imagine this is why mom brought you aboard. To get us used to having new commanders beneath you. But regardless of whatever reason you are here, we belong to your word and we will follow it to the letter." Lusk stated as they began to march up the massive ramps of the ship, a clone legion pressing alongside.

"Just remember, respect is earned here. We are taught in the ways of the mandalorians and to truly have command you must exude strength and have an iron will. Otherwise you will just be a buyer." With that they were inside the belly of the cargo bay where clones had assembled and scattered in small groups socializing among themselves.

Over in the corner another communications clone was tapping into a port to give access to the ships communications system. It was authorized of course but Keira would need to make her grand speech inside the belly of a cargo ship surrounded by thousands of clones. Once the legion was firmly inside Lusk removed his helmet and yelled out through the hanger with a booming voice.

"SCHOOL CIRCLE!!" he yelled and it soon went quiet as the clones gathered around the Keira and Lusk some sitting and others standing to see what was going on. Lusk nodded to Keira and pointed over to the female comm clone of Willa Isard and spoke softly.

"Go talk to Star over there and she'll set you up to Relay's fleet wide broadcast signal. Make your address there." Soon after that Lusk moved to be with his men and give Keira the space she needed to address the millions of clones.

 

[Keira Priest]

The silence that remained in the hangar even after the clones gathered was expectant, it seeming as if everyone was holding their breath in anticipation of what words would pass her lips. Her footsteps echoed in the silence of the cargo hold of the vessel as she crossed the room to converse quietly with the woman she had been directed to. In a few short seconds an affirmative nod was granted, a signal given and the holoprojector along with the microphone that would transmit her image and address to the entirety of those assembled. No words were put forth for a few moments, and Keira looked over the individuals gathered about her in order to remind herself as to why she was here. These men and women were now her charge, and she had her lives to look after just as carefully as her own. In some sense, they were one.

Taking a breath, she exhaled slowly before speaking. This was far from where she excelled. Her place was on the battlefield, not here giving speeches. But this was the lot she'd drawn, or rather, been given by Patricia. Now she had to live with it. "For those of you that don't know, I'm Keira Ticon, the new Supreme Commander of this army." A beat passed. "This isn't a job I asked for. I didn't wake up today knowing or wanting to lead millions of men and women in a war that's been going on for centuries and likely will for hundreds more. None of this is what I desired." There was no point in lying to any of them, and she wouldn't bother to disguise her true thoughts or feelings. That wasn't how trust was instilled. Whether they liked it or not, the truth was the only thing she would offer to each and every one of them. Nothing less would settle.

"I'm not going to continue on with some cliched speech about how we're going to be the ones to bring the Sith down, win this war and restore galactic peace. Nor am I going to go off on a spiel how this won't be easy, and how we'll have to fight with everything we have, because you already know that to be true." Thus far all she was saying was everything she didn't mean, and that was no way to make any sort of impression. But she wasn't any kind of politician. Eloquency was best saved for those who were all talk, and she was far from that. A crooked smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and she laughed quietly, shaking her head. "I'm really not any good at this sort of thing, but believe me when I say I'm trying. For the well-being of the galaxy as a whole and every single one of you, I'm trying." Sentimentality was just as new to her.

Her brow furrowed slightly in thought, and she chewed at the inside of her cheek. "We are going to bring the fight to them. That I can say with certainty. We're going to attack their planets, where they think they're safe, and take them back in the name of the Republic." No one could say any of this for sure, least of all her, but she had learned never to doubt her instinct. "We're going to strike where they're most vulnerable and take everything they value away from them just as they've done to us. We're going to make them hurt, just like they did us. They will pay for what they've done to everyone." In that aspect and a number of others she would never be the traditional image of a Jedi they had likely been informed of. She would never again belong to that Order, and she refused to take on that mantle. Being a Jedi was someone else's job. This, however, she could handle.

"I know I'm not the leader you asked for, nor am I the one any of you probably wanted. But we're both here now, and we might as well make the best of it. You won't ever hear me lie about our odds, any of the battles or anything regarded to your safety and well-being. I won't sugarcoat things to make you feel better, and I'll be blunt with everything. All I'm going to do is the best I can with what I have. We're all going to do our best to bring down the Sith war machine, whether we're alive to see it fall or not." She flexed her fingers absently, taking a moment to gather her thoughts into cohesive sentences. Her mind was racing, yet it seemed as if there was nothing to say. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not a fan of this speech thing. The long and the short of it is that we're going to fight with all we have to give the Sith hell every step of the way." Well, that was some kind of speech.

[member="Commander Lusk"]

 

[Commander Lusk]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

After the speech was over the man remained silent in understanding and acknowledgment of their new commander. They weren't about to start standing up and applauding that a lot of their brothers and sisters were probably going to die in this war, and that they would have to fight for every inch of territory to gain back what inferior republic troopers had lost. So rather than letting an awkward silence start Lusk pivoted and marched into view of the gathered troopers but offscreen from Keira so that his orders could be made and heard.

"Return to square away time! Make sure your gear is properly labeled and prepared for landing. Rest up and you will be placed in your divisions soon! Dismissed!" Giving his orders the feed cut out and every clone in the fleet went about their business as hundreds of republic ships traveled through space together.

Lusk approached Keira and quickly removed his helmet and held it to his hip. With his rifle slung to his back he gave the woman a nod that her speech was acceptable and would suffice for the men. It was a start for her to earn his trust and respect.

"Mother has instructed me that I am to escort you to your quarters here on the ship, however I advise against this. If you want the men's respect I encourage you to take a bedding pack and stay here in the cargo hold. What mother doesn't know won't hurt her." Lusk said in a serious tone before motioning to a spare bedding pack by the wall he may or may not have had placed there during her speech.

 

[Keira Priest]

Once the feed was cut Keira relaxed a fraction more, her image now having ceased from being broadcasted across the fleet to millions of clones. Perhaps she did possess some sort of anxiety that related in a sense to being a public and easily recognizable face. After all, she had all but thrived on her anonymity earlier in life, it allowing her to accomplish tasks that most others with a more prominent image that followed them most everywhere. It was that which granted her the ability to travel to Cartao unabated, but after that speech and the eventual emergence of this new military into the galaxy she knew all of that would turn drastically on its head. And for some reason she was comfortable at least with the idea of it all.

One shoulder lifted in a shrug at his silent commendation of her speech, a just as wordless return that she had only done what was expected. That same gesture also served as an expression of nonchalance to the thought of sleeping in the cargo hold. In truth she held no issue with it, having learned to appreciate any place to rest her head in equal amounts after having spent years with no immediate resources. This more than sufficed. With nothing more than a seeming shift of her hand the bedding pack found its way into her grasp, and she hefted it slightly. "Believe me when I say that this a lot better than what I’ve had to live through before. It’s not an issue." It was better than being stuck on Voss.

Her gaze wandered over the men and women as they went about their business as if this was the most natural thing in the galaxy to be doing. It truly was fascinating to her in the most fundamental of ways, and she supposed more time could have been spent simply observing if there weren’t far more pressing issues at hand. The nonchalance in which they went about their life despite it being possible that war could drop on their heads at any moment truly was mystifying to her in a certain light. Even when she had been new to the very idea of combat she had still held a sort of reserve towards finding herself in such a scenario, and after surviving her share of battlefields wasn't terribly enthusiastic about returning.

But these were individuals that had been quite literally created for war, perfectly aware of all the horrors it had to offer, and yet they would walk into things without complaint. And these were those she was tasked to lead and somehow inspire along the way. How that had come to pass she would never truly understand, but this was her life now. It was best to get used to it. "You know, you have a helluva mom. Better than a lot of people could ask for." The comment was made offhandedly, but after hearing Patricia referred to as such she felt the need to address it in some manner. "I don't think I'll ever be able to live up to what she's done, but I'll do my best." This was her, now; genuine, rather than speaking through a camera.

[member="Commander Lusk"]