War! What is it Good For?

[Laira Darkhold]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX7V6FAoTLc​

Obroa-Skai

Obroa-Skai was one of the few neutral worlds between the United Mandalorians Clans and the Galactic Republic. Roche was barely ended, still undetermined even though the Sith Lord felt confident that their armies, with the assistance of numerous Republic dissenters had obtained victory and were now simply moping up small pockets of resistance.

Darth Vulkan, Dreadlord of the Sith and Alor of Clan Vereen sat aboard the Jaig Eyes, and Ulur'uur-class Frigate, flanked by a pair of Warden-class Sentinel Frigates. To say the Sith Lord was worried that this would result in a trap was an understatement. After the battle of Roche in which the Sith Lord and his armies had been very successful, he fully expected a Jedi Assassination Force to come in place of the Senators and diplomats. It wouldn't be beyond the scope of his recollection of Jedi to kill the one man seeking peace to make conquest easier, but then again last time he surrendered to a Jedi the Jedi had tried to kill him rather than take him into custody.

"Keep all sensors on high alert and active. Keep the gravity well projectors on, and make sure we are ready to run if the Republic decides to show up with a fleet. We will have a good couple of seconds before they revert to know how big a ship they are coming in." The Sith Lord's voice wasn't raspy like it had been, but his eyes remained solid black voids. A side effect of the Dreadlord banging against the mental cage it was held in. For know Vulkan remained in complete control, the terrifying alter ego and the remnant of Draco held back behind the impressive might of the Sith Lord's mental prowess. Even he was being extra cautious using his Force Senses to search for any sign of danger.

"Assuming this doesn't devolve upon their arrival, hail them when they get in system and then we will make our way over. We will host the talks onboard unless they have concerns."

[member="Janira Fenni"]
[member="Alec Rekali"]
[member="Anija Betna"]

OOC

Spoiler

Let's Get to it whenever, its a simple thread.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Vulkan"]

JAIG EYES
MEETING ROOM

Oren sat alone, staking out the meeting room, and monitored the situation via a holoterminal. He worked with a toothpick as he watched, teasing free a scrap of meat from between his molars. A pelko bug crawled out of his belt pouch, and he grabbed it and shoved it back in. With a grunt, he stretched out to the Force, amplified by the flattened-pyramid artifact on the meeting room table. The artifact was based on one called the Mirr, and it enhanced farsight. It wasn't the most significant of artifacts, but it let him bolster his awareness from this particular room. He sought to divine whether the Republic would play them false. All manner of possible futures suggested themselves. His fingers crawled back to the pouch. He pressed the pelko bug to his throat and gasped, pupils dilating, as the venom enhanced his grip on the possibilities. A low chant, half Vahla and half Dathomiri Paecean, further focused his efforts. His free hand's knuckles rapped a rhythm on the tabletop as the chant intensified. The Dark Side swirled around him.

Oren was the family diplomat.

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

Meeting Room

Clan Skirata had a...tentative relationship with the Republic to say the least. If the old histories could be believed it stretched all the way back to an event only mentioned a few times called the Clone Wars. Even then it seemed as if the Republic would rather use them for fodder than have any true alliance with the clan. Now it seemed like every time they began to regain some sort of favor with the old man they pulled back and cut him again. He had once called the Republic friends, later a cancer. He was hoping they would prove themselves to at least attempt to be friendly, but it was looking more and more like they were still the same cancer he had denied entry only a few years ago when he was acting Mand'alor.

He entered the room, heart still heavy from the loss of his friend's daughter, she would be the second child in recent memory that would fall in war against force users. But..the scene before him still made him feel uneasy. He saw the Rekali as allies, a clan he could agree with on most terms, but they had some very strange traditions and people among them.

Probably something to do with those crazy witches from Dathomir.

He took a seat opposite of the large man and removed his helmet, setting it on the table in front of him.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Was she the first Senator to arrive? Of course Kay wanted peace. Peace, no killing, that was her way of life. She hated to hurt people and did whatever she could to prevent it. If someone got hurt, well it was largely unintentional.

She arrived out of hyperspace on a diplomatic vessel. She wanted to use a simple transport vessel as she always did, but just borrowed one of the Senate ships instead. There were no weapons, only shields, and a minimal crew. Much to her protest, she had to bring one of the Senate guards with her. Protocol.

Kay didn't quite know who she was meeting up with. So she sent out a message to the ships nearby.

"This is Senator Kay. Am I too late?"

[member="Darth Vulkan"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Peace was a word not often synonymous with Keira, and for good reason. War was all she had known for quite some time, and she had been one of the primary instigators of the conflict within the Republic in the beginning as well, no matter how quickly that fact had changed. Now she was to be an envoy for peace, something that hadn't exactly been approved by those higher up before she had begun making plans to travel to Obroa-Skai with [member="Commander Lusk"] accompanying her, someone she had grown very close to in her time serving with the clone army. She had grown to call him brother, and with all they had witnessed and been through together they might as well have been family.

But she knew better than most what he had suffered on Roche, how it had hurt him to turn against those that trained he and his brothers and sisters from birth. Now an opportunity for a treaty had been offered by that same people, and she hadn't been surprised in the least when he chose to come along. They traveled in a lightly armed but seemingly harmless transport, prepared for any eventuality but making no move to manifest themselves as a threat. Such was the reason she had come fully armored, once more viewing the world through the HUD of her helmet. When they exited hyperspace she immediately hailed the Mandalorians, "This is Keira Ticon, Supreme Commander of the Republic's clone army, here for the peace talks."

The signal was cut as she awaited a reply, and she turned in her chair to regard Lusk, extended an aura of confidence to him through the Force. "Feel free to come armored, but remember that this isn't a warzone. I'll be taking my lightsaber, and you can bring something of the equivalent. We might be here to discuss a truce, but I'm still not sure how much trust I want to put into them after what's happened recently." Pausing, she glanced to the vessels that loomed in space ahead of them. "Are you ready, vod'ika?"

[member="Lady Kay"], [member="Gilamar Skirata"], [member="Oren Beorn Rekali"], [member="Darth Vulkan"]

 

[Commander Lusk]

[member="Keira Ticon"]

Lusk was already near Keira when they exited Hyperspace, he was still a little dinged up from Yutan and what had occurred there but the clone would go to something important like this. In truth he wanted peace more than anyone there, more than even senator Kay. When you are trained by mandalorians for more than half your life and speak the language fluently you really don't want to go against those you look up to.

"I'm as ready as ever." Lusk said with a nod.

He wore his Olympian combat armor with a red streak going down the center of the helmet to signify his rank, looking over to Keira he stepped over to her and placed his side arm on the table. A little weapon produced by his mother's company specifically for taking out mandalorians clad in beskar. The Kalso's Revenge, a high temperature burning napalm heavy blaster pistol that could easily roast a man alive inside their armor and given enough time even melt beskar into a pool of slag.

"I can get you one if you want." Lusk said as he slammed a power pack into the weapon.

"You mind if I bring a Ysalamir?" Lusk asked Keira as he holstered the pistol.

 

[Minna Balin]

Senator Taff jumped out of hyperspace in his own senate ship, his pilot immediately relaying how things were looking on the outside. "Senator, it looks like the peace talks haven't began yet. Lady Kay's ship has sent a message. Should we make contact?"

The senator nodded. "Yes, if you would." Looking around, he observed the rest of his crew. Beside the Caamasi pilot was a human copilot, maybe 20 years old. His Chief Advisor, Alic, stood dutifully at the Senator's shoulder. They were flanked by a Senate Guard. Auru had protested, of course, but protocol was protocol. If the peace talks ended sourly, they would all most likely be killed, or captured. If that were to happen, Taff would most definitely blame himself. That, or he would be dead.

The pilot patched a signal through, and sent a message to the Lady's ship. "Senator Kay. A pleasure. I see you are also prepared for these peace talks. Permission to come aboard, approach this as a unified front?" The Caamasi's ship edged closer to his fellow senator's.

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Darth Vulkan"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith trailed in last to this meeting for peace she traveled in her ship, the Alderaan registered, Endless Light. The Captain sent out the message of who she was, and that she was coming for the peace accord.

This was quite interesting that all the Senators involved had come in their own ships, Faith had the Captain inch closer, and then send the messages to [member="Auru Taff"] and [member="Lady Kay"] .

"Greetings fellow Senators, shall we gather together and go together?" It would present a more united front she would not have heard Senator Taff's messaget to Kay also requesting they meet. Faith wondered if [member="Ember Rekali"] would be there .

[member="Commander Lusk"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Oren Beorn Rekali"] [member="Darth Vulkan"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was almost relieved to hear [member="Auru Taff"] 's voice over the ship's comms. "Permission granted. I'll be ever so glad to have you with me. Thank you."

Access was granted for him and his staff to dock. She had no idea who she'd be meeting with, but she hoped that there wouldn't be too much in the butting of heads.

Then she heard [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] 's voice as well. She was a good person to be there, given her history with the Mandos. "Senator Organa. Good to hear your voice too. Please come aboard."

 

[Minna Balin]

Three senators? That's a big target, the Caamasi thought to himself as he boarded Kay's ship. He had to bring along the guard, and he asked Alic to come aboard as well. Telling the pilots to stay close, the Caamasi walked into the other ship. Seeing Kay, he bowed deeply. "Senator Kay, an honor. I assume after Senator Balor-Organa boards, we go?"

Auru let his robes fall over his crossed arms, hiding his fidgety fingers. The young Senator had never been in a tense situation, and the adversity on his face showed. He was uncomfortable, that was for sure. Alic placed a clawed hand on the Caamasi's back, and used his memnii. All Caamasi have the ability of sharing memories with other Caamasi and force-sensetives, and Alic often did this when Auru was distressed. The Advisor sent the young Senator a happy memory. Taff didn't get the details of it, but the sudden change in his expression was obvious. Where nervous tension once plagued him, he only felt nirvana. The Senator smiled, letting the memnii flow through him, and around him, finally dissipating out.

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Commander Lusk"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Oren Beorn Rekali"] [member="Darth Vulkan"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] [member="Auru Taff"] [member="Commander Lusk"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Darth Vulkan"]

Oren opened his eyes, glanced at Skirata, and touched a comm panel on the table, to speak with Draco Vereen.

"Commander Vereen, this is Oren Rekali. The future is clouded, but I sense no overt treachery yet. Nothing that would make me suggest calling it off. There's at least one person of significance there. I feel they will not speak as one voice and so have sent many." He was no long-range broad-spectrum mentalist, no potent telepath, but he felt possibilities. He touched another pelko bug to his throat and grunted, teeth bared. "I foresee many insults, and we will have to choose to hold our tongue or eject them. So much hinges on such...youth."

He tucked the pelko bug back into his belt pouch, hands shaking. "This could go in any direction, Commander."

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Darth Vulkan stood on the bridge, and with three of the best detection vessels in production he was told most of what was going on with excrutiating detail, the Farseer's clarifications as well. Vulkan doubted the Republic would send numerous Senators as bait for a trap, but there was no reason to drop interdiction or sensor scans at all. He could also clearly hear the Republic's communications between each other, the Jaig Eyes being specifically made to snoop on communications, both in system and hyperwave. That boded well, and with the Rekali's confirmation that there didn't appear to be a Jedi Assassin Squad trying to tear heads off the Hydra that was the Mandalorian war machine, he was satisfied. "Thank you Oren." He said before closing the comlink. In truth he would be pleased either way. Well Vulkan would be pleased with War, and Draco with Peace obtained, but still. "Keep me in the loop of any additional ships, and have them board one ship at a time and escort them to the meeting chamber via armed guards. Search them for weapons. Anything bigger than a pistol gets pulled, and ensure those don't have explosives. One flash bang and I want the guilty party shot out of an airlock." He grinned to himself, thinking of the poetic justice.

The Mandalorian Sith made his way back to the meeting room, content security was enough and the three ships were more than capable of handling their missions. In the room waiting there was Oren Beorn Rekali, the Farseer and Clan Diplomat. Vulkan couldn't imagine things would go well in appeasing Clan Rekali. There was also Gilamar Skirata, a former Mand'alor and an old ally of the Republic. Not bad to have a voice that might lobby for them in this. The Farseer's warning of insults didn't matter to Vulkan. Words were words. Roche was already in the hands of the United Clans and this was effectively the Republic asking for terms of peaceful surrender in his eyes.

His red rimmed grey eyes looked over the pair one last time, giving each of them a respectful nod before finding a seat to wait for the Republic emissaries. Disarmament was going to be the hot button target today. Vulkan cracked his neck and adjusted his armor so that he could sit and wait for them comfortably.

[member="Oren Beorn Rekali"] [member="Auru Taff"] [member="Lady Kay"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] [member="Commander Lusk"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith soon joined her fellow Senators, she had no weapons, and had not thought to bring any. Her personal guards however were now beginning to fret to let her out of their sight the Queen Mother would have their heads on plates if anything were to happen to Faith.

She smiled, and told them to come, as far as they were allowed to go, which would be not off the ship. She held her breath walking in to see [member="Auru Taff"] and [member="Lady Kay"] .

She moved to where she could stand with them both, a thousand thoughts went through her mind, she looked down, "Remember this is a warrior culture, do we know who is representing the mando'ade?"

She had stayed with her Aunt Rianna and Uncle [member="Ordo"] for as long as was needed, [member="Ember Rekali"] had been very gracious in dealing with her. Her presence here today was only by his good graces, did the Republic understand that?

[member="Darth Vulkan"] [member="Oren Beorn Rekali"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay bowed her head to [member="Auru Taff"] and [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] as they arrived, having shrunk down her Force signature to that of a small tree nut just moments before their arrival. It was curious to see the sudden change in Senator Taff the moment his aide touched him, but she didn't mention it. In response to Faith's question, she shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea. I heard that other Senators were to come, but changed their minds. I don't know if they were fearful of a trap, or what. They may have lots to lose, but I don't. So I thought that I could give it a try and see what happens. If anything I'd get a better understanding of the discord between the two governments."

She had no weapons. Only her satchel containing spare clothes, all of her fixings for tea, food and water rations. Her satchel was her crutch. It was the only thing that she could rely on.

[member="Darth Vulkan"] [member="Oren Beorn Rekali"]

 

[Minna Balin]

Senator Taff bowed to Faith as he saw her. "Senator Balor-Organa." His calm expression felt almost alien, even to him. He turned back to Alic in gratitude, and looked up to the lady senators.

"Neither do I know who we will meet, but it will not be an easy negotiation. I do not see us coming out of this with a resolution to the war. Perhaps the most we can hope for is a temporary ceasefire. But I agree with Senator Kay. From this, I hope we can gain an understanding with our current enemy, and see the situation 'through their eyes', if you will. Perhaps there is more to their side than has been revealed to us. Or perhaps they are wrong. We will see, I suppose."

With his rant done, the Caamasi looked out of the viewing port, and waited for their ship to dock. He owned no weapons, of course. Most Caamasi were pacifistic, after all. He was just glad that he would have the chance to negotiate alongside much more experienced politicians.

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] [member="Darth Vulkan"] [member="Oren Beorn Rekali"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[Keira Priest]

"No ysalamir. We don't need to give everyone a reason to be more on edge than they already are." Being the first individuals to dock with the Mandalorian ship Keira wasn't certain what to expect when they boarded, though the greeting received by way of armed guards searching them for any additional weaponry other than that which was already visible on their person wasn't far from what she had been anticipating. Where normally a quip would have been immediately on her lips Keira remained silent, knowing this was for the ultimate safety of everyone aboard, regardless of allegiance. Her saber had been allowed, and so she was for the most part content with the proceedings.

The entrance made into the prescribed meeting room was neither prideful nor subdued, exhibiting a confidence in her own ability and a respect for those with which negotiations would be made. Without fanfare she pulled off her helmet, shaking out her hair and running a hand through those brunette locks in order to smooth them down into some semblance of order, at the very least making an attempt at professionalism. Amber eyes looked over those assembled, and she offered them each a nod of respect in turn. Where shortly before they had been enemy she now viewed them as equals, warriors to be respected just as she would anyone else. "I would like to thank the Clans for agreeing to discuss these negotiations."

That was, more like than not, as formal as her participation in these talks would be. "I don't come solely as a representative of the Republic, but as the leader of the clone army that fights to protect it." An army that had been brought up and trained by the warrior culture before her. With that she placed her helmet on the table before her, sitting and motioning for Lusk to do the same. It wasn't the most proper of introductions, but given who she was and what she represented, it sufficed as well as any.

[member="Auru Taff"], [member="Lady Kay"], [member="Faith Balor-Organa"], [member="Darth Vulkan"], [member="Oren Beorn Rekali"], [member="Commander Lusk"], [member="Gilamar Skirata"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith nodded, and smiled, "This should be quite the meeting." Soon the ship had docked with the Mandalorian Vessel, as they approached it Faith looked at the design. It had been sometime since she had seen anything of the mandalorian fleet.

This, was quite the ship.

She wanted to prepare what she would say, she had to think. She had been given time to practice when she was a prisoner of the mandalorians. It had been so long since she had twisted her tongue in such direction, or verbalized the words.

Once the ship had docked the small group moved towards the conference area. She nodded to anyone present, she looked for the leader of the delegation from Mandalore.

She smiled when she shouldn't but looked to where [member="Darth Vulkan"] , "Su cuy'gar teh te republic, Ni cuy' senator faith balor-organa, ibic cuyir senator kay, bal senator taff. Vor entye par meeting ti mhi may vi mar'eyir a path vaii vi liser agree" Now they would wait to see what was said, Faith moved to where a seat waited, but she did not sit yet, she waited.


[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Auru Taff"] [member="Lady Kay"]

Spoiler

Faith's presence is before the succession of Alderaan from the Republic

Spoiler

translation: Hello from the Republic, I am Senator Faith Balor-Organa, this is Senator Kay, and Senator Taff. Thank you for meeting with us may we find a path where we can agree.

 

[Commander Lusk]

Lusk had followed Keira into the Mandalorian vessel and was searched as well, all he had on him was his pistol and his armor and that was all he needed. So remaining by Keira's side he looked over to her from behind his visor and rubbed and trusted her to make the decisions and say the right words, and currently she wanted to take off her helmet. A move Lusk entirely didn't agree with what with being on a ship that could easily have the area be vented into space but hey whatever, yolo right? Lusk had only recently found out what that meant of course.

So following her lead he removed his helmet to reveal his face. The Field Marshall Preliat Mantis was his template and of course he was a clone of the wolf of Mandalore. His hair was cut in a warrior mohawk that laid flat on his head and across his face bore various tattoos of red and black lines that ran down his cheeks. Overall it was simply meant to help distinguish himself, it was sort of hard to do that when every one of your millions of brothers and sisters looked alike.

"Commander Lusk, second in command to the clone army." Lusk made his introductions and while he could speak fluent Mando'a it was best to just speak in a tongue where everyone could understand.

But then the senator wanted to speak the language towards the delegates of the mandalorian people and honestly it made Lusk cringe a little. While her words were in the proper sentence structure her accent and pronunciations of the words were horrid to say the least. It was the tongue of someone who hadn't spoke the language for a long time.

"How about we just speak basic, seems like it would save time and face." Lusk said in general but of course he was indirectly speaking to faith.

[member="Darth Vulkan"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Vulkan nodded politely to the senator who entered and introduced her companions. Blood shot, red ringed grey eyes looked over the five of them carefully, offering them a reassuring smile. "I must agree with Lusk. I don't want to translate everything, but I am grateful for the use of our language Senator Balor-Organa." He said, motioning at chairs across the small meeting room, arranged in a circular formation around the room. It didn't matter where people decided to sit, but so far, the Mandalorians claimed one side of the room and the other was available to the Republic. "I am Darth Vulkan, also known as Draco Vereen. I claimed the title of Sith Lord when my daughter became deathly ill due to the failures of the Jedi Order. This is Oren Beorn Rekali, whose Aliit'buir lost all of his children due to the failures of the Republic. And this is Gilamar Skirata. I must apologize as I am unaware of the specifics of the sacrifices he made on behalf of the Republic." He nodded at the elderly Mandalorian warrior respectfully. "But I am sure that he has bled for your people as has the rest of Mandalore's children."

"And in thanks for our sacrifices, suffering, and loss in your name your people have called us savages, barbarians, looked down your noses at us, and ignored our every call for help. When your people did help they were dragged to court marshal." His voice was accusatory, but he was careful not to accuse those here of these specific wrong doings, using words like your instead of you. "Your Prime Minister, who served almost eight years, attempted to seize mandalorian assets after she began publicly executing civilians. We reacted. We ran to secure our people on Roche and protect them from a psychopath." He paused for only a moment to lick his teeth.

"And when we arrived there was a face off. Then Republic Troops, not the Usurpers, the Republic's, vented civilians into space, resulting in the death of a Jedi Master and last child of Ember Rekali as a final thanks for shielding you from the Sith Empire and helping you against the One Sith for the better part of a decade." Vulkan leaned back in his chair crossing his arms and interlocking his fingers in front of him. "I am no master negotiator. I do not speak for the clans as a whole. I have come to you, without artillery, or armies, or a fleet to ask for peace because it is what my daughter would have wanted." The sith lord's eyes watered and the continuous mention of his child, remembering how she was lost but not yet gone, that he was force to watch her die slow and painfully and there was nothing he could do to save her. "But I swear to you, if you feth with me today, I will burn every world loyal to the Republic to cinders and ash."

[member="Commander Lusk"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Auru Taff"] [member="Lady Kay"] [member="Oren Beorn Rekali"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Anija Betna"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Auru Taff"][member="Keira Ticon"][member="Faith Balor-Organa"][member="Commander Lusk"][member="Darth Vulkan"]

"I served the Republic myself, many years ago." Desert life and pelko venom roughened Oren's voice. "So did others of my Clan. I won't bore you with our history. Just know that my aliit'buir's personal grievances are a drop in the bucket."

He didn't mention the Clan's recent, prolonged, public, unopposed capture of the Republic's last major state-owned shipyard at Carida. Comparably, the Clan and its allies had stolen space stations and other large structures from the Sith many times over the years.

"Even so, I'm here in good faith. Act to reclaim your honor and Clan Rekali will give you peace."