Ask A Meeting Most Secret

[Drow Venn]

Roon. It was a planet that Drow Venn, Jedi Master of the Order and Chief of Security for their Temple had never heard of until now. And the way he'd heard about had been from a Mandalorian of all people. He and Zad the Sector Ranger had recently carried out a hit against some Pyke slavers, killing most and freeing their live cargo. During the fray, a Mandalorian apparently had a similar idea and had also attacked the Pykes, though for different reasons. They eventually reached an agreement and the Mando had even suggested Roon as a possible settlement to relocate the ex-slaves. Drow had assisted those slaves that wanted a new start to getting set up in Roon and now waited in a local cantina - the Sleepy Gorax - in the middle of the Umboo province in Roon.

Umboo was an interesting city. Populated by a collective of miners, runaways, and pilots, it made for an excellent spot to people-watch in. Drow saw aliens he'd never even seen before walk in and out of the Sleepy Gorax's doors and Drow had seen quite a few in his time. He nursed his Gamorrean beer, a drink he'd grown to like since the Grojuk clan had introduced it to him on Yavin, and waited until his newfound Mandalorian friend sat down. He had left his Jedi robes behind and now only wore some dusty miner's clothes he'd picked up from a secondhand store here on Roon. His lightsaber was hidden away but his E-11 blaster rifle and neuronic whip were holstered to his belt to discourage any would-be tough guys from starting anything.

"So." Drow started once Taldorak took a seat

"We're each keeping the same secret from the galaxy so it seems we have no choice but to trust one another. But since we're stuck together, let's see if we can't help each other out a bit. You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what I want. Our goals might be more aligned than you think."

@Rhogar

 

[Taldorak Trenessar]

'Nakadr' had made his way towards where Drow had been. He had been absent during the Jedis dropping off of the freed slaves at the village of Tann and the use of Nakadr's name had bought him entry but also some looks as well. Though she wasn't there, the guards had insisted that Drow return again to speak with their leader, Vriana.

It had been some time since Tal had been on Roon, electing to stay away from his birth Clan as well as their territories. But now, they were in an Aruetii settlement far from his Clan and for once, he could cut loose. Or at least had the option to remove his helm, which he did, because booze.

Sitting across the bar from the Jedi, 'Nakadr' removed his helm and flagged down a waitress. "Narcolethe, leave the bottle. Two glasses, love." He'd add a wink as she departed. "I want to remove some of the Syndicates from the playing board, letting the Crymorah ascend to the top. Then I'll take my I'll gotten goods and retire into the sunset." He'd say with a laugh.

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Drow Venn]

"Crymorah, huh? " Drow asked, taking another sip and trying to remember what he knew of the syndicate from his time as a mercenary. Nothing good. Droid lovers and elitist criminals. Lot of Sullustans were a part of it too, from what he remembered. It wasn't the best thing to get involved with someone like this but, then again, crime was inevitable. They were less brutal than the Hutts and Pykes and their muscle the Droid Gotra even favored droid emancipation; something Drow was on board with. They weren't the worst scum to ally yourself with if you had to pick and, with the other Syndicates weakened or out of the picture, the scope and power criminals had would at least be lessened. Drow considered that a net positive.

"From what I know of them, you have to be born into one of their families to rise up through the ranks. And you don't look much like a Sullustan or Mon Cal to me. So you must be an enforcer then. Lot of loyalty for a hired gun. It's commendable really." Drow said, trying to gauge the other man's reaction to this.

"You've already guessed I'm a Jedi. So, I want the Sith gone from the galaxy. And I'm thinking we can combine our goals together. We pit the Syndicates against the Sith and they'll tear each other to pieces. But we have to be smart. Pick good targets. Strike hard and fast. And make sure we're subtle enough that neither side suspects a thing." Drow continued.

"We've already got the Pykes on edge about the Sith. I think it's time we forged a Syndicate attack against the Sith. Got any ideas for targets? Or any allies? I only want people we can trust - if this secret gets out, it's going to be hell to pay for the both of us." Drow warned, knowing all too well that his rank of Master only afforded some protection against the judgement of the Council. He had already been in trouble with them once before for saving refugees and relocating them to Yavin IV; he could only imagine how they might feel when they heard he was now conducting false flag operations against the Syndicates and the Sith. But the Sith were evil and would stop at nothing to win this war and the Jedi could use every advantage they could get right about now.

Drow respected the peacefulness and serenity his peers and the Council exhbited. Admired it really. He hoped that one day, the galaxy would be in peaceful enough times where the Jedi could use the paintbrush and pencil more than the lightsaber but it was not these days. But just because the Sith needed to be stopped at any cost didn't mean that any other Jedi had to give up their piety or soul to do it. Drow was more than willing to take the burden alone; having made peace with the fact that his years of killing as a mercenary made him suited to this task both physically and morally. His soul was already in jeapordy - he didn't need to drag any better Jedi than him down with him.

@Rhogar

 

[Taldorak Trenessar]

As far as Tal was concerned, the Crymorah didn't dabble too much or even at all in slavery. That was a shirt that the Pykes, Crimson Dawn, and the Hutts fought over, which made them expendable. So, he didn't have a problem with it. "Well, the Crymorah is run by someone who is neither of those races so.. might need to update that info box at the temple." He offered a shrug at Drows assertion. "Yeah, well, my word is my bond. Without it, I might as well be nothing but an Aruetii."

He would take his bottle and glass from the waitress when she returned. "Loyalty is important to my kind. I don't jump ship, even when it's drowning. But if one of them ever betrays me, it's game time." He'd say with a laugh.

He'd scratch his jaw faintly. "I'm not too sure on sith strongholds.. but.. I could learn. The Sith often hire from the Cartels. With all but the Crymorah waging war on the Sith that could give me exclusive access to being hired. As far as a team goes, I got a few people in mind who may not mind giving us a hand. Most aren't even plugged into the Syndicates. So, tell me, Master Jedi did any of your kind sign off on this? Or want to come along with us."


@Fantasy Liver

 

[Drow Venn]

Drow clacked his beak nervously. He was about to reveal something very incriminating to Taldorak and he wanted to be absolutely sure that this Mandalorian could be trusted. He took a chance. Much as this war and the Sith had stretched his moral code, he was still a Jedi and wanted to see the good in people. And this Taldorak had proven to be trustworthy, loyal, and dependable.

"No, the Jedi Order don't know about it. And they'd probably tan my hide if they find out about it so let's keep that little nugget of information between us. That being said, there are a couple Jedi I know who might be interested in helping out with something like this. I'll reach out to them and let you know. And I know a Gammorrean who's pretty discrete if we need muscle." Drow said, recalling some Jedi he'd worked with before and one of the Yavin Security Guardsmen he'd recruited from the Grojuk clan.

"I like the idea and non-Syndicate members are probably best. Easier for them to go undetected. I know a few Sith spots we can hit - I was deep in the mind of a Sith Lord not too long ago. Don't ask" Drow said, reflexively shuddering at the memory of going into Asminys' mind and the struggle it had been.

"Eiattu's one. Sirana another. I'm not looking to cause any civillian deaths so I don't want a bombing. But maybe a robbery or a raid of some kind? These Sith planets have to have a bullion depository of some kind. We can get a crew together, break in, and make it look like the Hutts or the Pykes did it. We split the profits between us and the Sith now have a bone to pick with the Syndicates. How do you like the sound of that?"

@Rhogar

 

[Taldorak Trenessar]

"Ah, a Jetii after my own heart. Going rogue because your people lack the backbone to win the war. Ya know, I got an idea. When they took Eiatuu, they took the princess captive. It enforces their control over the world. You take her, to 'sell off'... Their people will fight their oppressors." He'd pause to take a sip of his drink.

"Oh I got a base we can use. Off the grid and not bound to the Syndicate. I'll give you the coords, you have your people meet there. I don't need names, just descriptions so my people don't shoot on sight. That said, we put it on the Pykes. They have manpower right now. After this stunt against the Sith, I have an idea on the stint against the other Syndicates. Oh.. and Eriadu, we may be able to collect more sith glowsticks there."

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Drow Venn]

"Hey now. It's not that the Jedi lack the backbone. I just don't want them doing the things we do if they don't have to. Some of them aren't made for war like you and me." Drow corrected Taldorak firmly but gently. He scratched his beak as he listened more to what the

"I'm fine with putting it on the Pykes. Would make sense especially if it's seen as retaliation against the Sith for raiding their slave ship on Sullust. That being said, how do we make it look like the Pykes did it and not just a group of random raiders? Know any Pyke mercenaries we could use?" Drow asked, stumped for the moment himself.

"I like the sound of this base. The princess idea has merit too but I'm thinking we add in a ransom. Kidnap the princess, demand a ransom from the Sith, we keep the ransom, release the princess to her people anyways and we get the best of all worlds; a lot of ransom money for ourselves, a lot of Sith angry at the Pykes, and a free princess to lead her people." Drow said, taking the offered coordinates, and running down a list of names in his mind of who he could bring on for this particular mission.

"If that sounds good with you, I can find which of my people would be down and meet you at the base to plan more. After we finish this bottle of course..." Drow said, raising his glass for the Mandalorian to cheers if he felt so inclined.

@Rhogar

 

[Taldorak Trenessar]

"Whatever you say about them, they're your people." Tal would say, both hands lifted up in defense as he laughed. "As far as knowing Pykes, I made it my business to not know them on a personal level.. But.. if you're willing to go so.. dark. I can recruit some to help us out. On one condition, we kill them before we leave. That way there are bodies to track. With Preef defending Kessel, they may be willing to accept Crymorah support. I'll make sure it stays as a small loop."

He'd nod his head a bit. "Ransom could work. It would definitely add to the Pyke appeal. I'm not sure it would be paid, but.. we'll see. Either way, their grip on E-6 would be diminished, and then you can lead an attack there to liberate it. We may even have time to find their underground resistance."

Tal would take his glass and clink it against Drow's. "I'll put together a crew, and you come together with some of yours. I got a play, but it could be... tricky."

@Fantasy Liver

 

[Drow Venn]

Drow paused. Hiring some Pykes just to kill them in the end anyways was dark, even for what they had planned. It's for the Order. It's for the Order. It's for the Order.

"Fine. Get a couple. Make sure they at least have it coming. Slavers or assassins. " Drow said firmly but even in his head it sounded lame. Who was he to take the moral high ground on what kind of allies they were gunning down in cold blood. He himself used to be a mercenary that had a couple of war crimes under his belt. How dark was he willing to go with stopping the Sith? A part of him wanted to confess all this to the Council to receive guidance and forgiveness but he knew they wouldn't understand his reasoning. Not until after the plan was complete would he do that. The Sith would be stopped and he would turn himself in for his crimes.

"Knowing the Sith, they probably won't pay it. But either way, they won't want a released princess inspiring the people. Let's do it. I'll let you know when I have some people and we can rendezvous. Pleasure working with you." Drow said, standing up and offering a hand for Taldorak to shake before he left.

@Rhogar

 

[Taldorak Trenessar]

Tal would drain the glass and set it down, rising from his seat to shake the Jedi's hand. "I can off them. Save some of your soul. Mines already come and gone, its dark, but I didn't want you to jump when I started dropping them. And with luck, sith forces will kill them for us. But don't worry, I will make sure they deserve the death sentence." He didn't know anything about Drow's history, but he knew enough about the Jedi to know that what he suggested may have been a line too far for them to cross.

What Tal didn't tell the Jedi, was all this was hopefully going to bring the Mandalorian some form of redemption in the eyes of his Clan, and of his people.

@Fantasy Liver