Firsthand Impressions

[Hugo Ion]

Lucent Space Platform​

An Antelope-class shuttle came out of hyperspace. Onboard at the copilot seat Hugo Ion stared at the station some distance away called Lucent Space Platform. Recently the installation had been captured by a new rebel cell called the Valkyries. Having done some reading about the cell and it’s members, the Alliance Commander decided to pay its leader a visit.

While the Valkyries were informed of a sudden inspection, they weren’t told who is the inspector exactly. I prefer that way. Would like to get their cell leader’s honest reaction. Hugo thought with a small amount of amusement. His Sullustan pilot and aide Dyur Vhipt seated on the right did not share it.

“Just for the record sir, I believe this is still a bad idea.” She remarked, while sending in the recognition code to the space platform. Sighing, Hugo replied. “Your concern is noted Dyur but we are proceeding.”

“It’s begging for trouble if you ask me Commander. She’s an ex-Imp of all people and doesn’t care for nonhumans for that matter if the reports are true.” A deep booming voice commented in the back. The Durosian turned and looked at his Korban bodyguard. He knew Lapoa meant well and was only thinking of his well-being.

“Lapoa I’m no stranger to bigots. Despite the obvious issues Freyja Storm has the Jedi do see promise in her. She and her team deserves to be given a chance to keep proving themselves if nothing else.” Subsequently Hugo grinned and added.

”Beside you can handle a little human force powers or not.”

The great ape snorted and crossed his arms. Meanwhile Dyur flew their shuttle into an awaiting docking bay.

@Braden Drake

 

[Freyja Storm]

Freyja moved through some of the damaged compartments of the station she now called home. The 'Lucent' was due to be renamed soon, part of its integration into the new Galactic Alliance Cell Freyja had founded 'The Valkyries'. As she looked around she could see the clear the signs of the Galactic Alliance written throughout, from the weapons and clothing, to the call signs the incoming and outgoing ships were using. However unlike other Alliance basses the station was one hundred percent human. The only Alien to have stepped on foot the station since its take over was the Bothan Hosk and only through his merit and worthiness in Freyja's eyes.

When word came that Alliance High Command were coming to inspect her/their new prize, she expected it would be one of there Alien commanders, part of Freyja thought she should perhaps try and appease them by bringing a few others onto the station. But she thought better of that, no need to hide who she was or what she believed in. So the recruitment lists stayed closed to those of non-human blood.

"Captain, the ship has come out of Hyperspace. Its broadcasting the correct codes." The flight controller called over Freyja's personal comm. Tapping her ear she replied. "Good, instruct them to head to docking tube two, I will meet them their."

Freyja rounded the corner and stood by the main doors that led to the docking tube. Whoever was there to 'Inspect' them would have to walk the full length of the tube, plus navigate the airlock and an internal transfer room before they met her. She would no pandering to the Alliance Command. She won them this station, she would have the respect it deserved. Standing in the middle of the doorway in her black trousers and boots, a white jacket and her hands behind back, she awaited the representative with annoyance.

 

[Hugo Ion]

Once acknowledged by the station’s flight controller Dyur flew toward the directed docking tube. Once attached, Hugo Ion got from his seat he grinned. “Let’s not keep our hostess waiting.”

Lapoa rolled his eyes and Dyur sighed, still obviously apprehensive of this whole ‘inspection’. He appreciated their concerns the duo kept him grounded in reality, someone had to.

They swiftly left the cockpit and entered the tube. Sullustan aide grimaced, noting no one present to meet them right away. Hugo wasn’t offended by it. They weren’t the Imperial Navy after all that always stands on ceremony. Gesturing his small party to keep moving they journey through the tube, airlock and the empty transfer room.

Only when the group passed, the latter into a doorway did the alien trio finally came upon a lone figure. Immediately the resistance leader recongized Freyja Storm in her getup. Aurora wasn’t kidding. This one looks like she can eat a heart and spit it out.

As for Hugo himself he was dressed in his typical brown and tannish spacer outfit. Despite the average grab, the Duros’ posture was that of a man with clear authority, born from years of captaining a ship. It showed in the way he carried himself walking toward the ex-Imperial, looking her in the eyes. Once several feet away Hugo stopped and gave a professional nod before saying.

“Thank you for having us onboard Freyja Storm and congratulations to your recent success. I know this was on short notice, we’ve wrap up the inspection as soon as possible so you can get back your duties.”

@Braden Drake

 

[Freyja Storm]

Freyja's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the Duros who stepped through the airlock to the transfer room. Not from the sight of the Alien but who the Duros was, the Alliance Commander Hugo Ion. A sly smile crept over Freyja's face, she must have been making some waves for the leader of our little band of merry thieves and mercenaries to be visiting her here on the station.

The grin slowly vanished as she replied to the Duros. "Commander Ion, a pleasure to have you aboard." She unclasped her hands from behind her back as the Alien approached and gave him a nod in response, not offering her hand to the Alien, she kept her feet slightly apart the position of power hovering in place before she finally turned towards the exit of the room. "If you would follow me, I can take you to the command room." She continued taking the lead, not looking back to see if the Commander or any of his alien pose decided to follow.

As she stepped through the first airlock into one of the main areas of the station, men and women of the cell were moving around the room, clearing out old and decrepit gear, installing more up to date systems and giving the whole station a lick of Ash coloured paint. "So what made you come all this way yourself Commander?" Freyja asked. "I am sure you have more important things to do than visit me."

 

[Hugo Ion]

Quite sure of herself. That much is certain. Hugo assessed so far. Of course he did notice her not offering to a shake his hand. Normally the Alliance Leader wouldn’t have a problem with except in this case it was probably done because he wasn’t human. The Commander let it slide since there was no rule in the Alliance where one had to another’s hand even that of a leader.

At her insistence Ion replied. “Lead the way Storm.” Following the former Imperial, Hugo and his party were quick to note the all of Freyja’s personal working hard to break the installation to full efficiency. Not bad they would admit saved for the fact these rebels were entirely human. When asked why he was here for, Ion gave a swift answer.

“An inspection as stated before.” Subsequently in a very serious tone while looking at her, Hugo went on.

”Not just this station but you and your cell. It’s true the Valkyries had performed admirably for the Alliance but it isn’t the only thing that’s gotten our attention. Your reported xenophobia has as well. Of course I’m not going throw someone under the speeder for simply because they don’t care for those of a different species. Can’t afford to, especially the fact that person still chooses to fight with us and gets results.”

He let those words sink in for Storm before concluding.

“However, I do want to know why you put up with associating with a diverse organization like ours?”

@Braden Drake

 

[Freyja Storm]

Freyja stepped through another of the ships numerous hatches, allowing each section to be sealed off in case of decompression. The work here was less strenuous, the hard lifting already completed in this section, more finishing touches than anything else, the Ash coloured walls had been completed, now thick dark green lines like roots were being painted on certain parts of the walls, to make it appear that the station was one giant tree. She gave a nod to one of the main painters, he had given the idea of the roots and was the mastermind for their placement. Freyja couldn't fault his eye so she left him to it. He gave her a wave back, paintbrush in his hand as they moved on.

She wasn't entirely surprised when the Alien Commander brought up the 'reported' xenophobia of both herself and those around her. Pausing in the open section she turned back to face the Duros. "I have enemies, Commander Ion. Those enemies sit within the great enemy you look to oppose. So it was only common sense for us to align." She said with a matter of fact voice, before turning back and continuing to walk through the room.

Giving the Duros a moment to process the thought of who or what her enemies were she then continued, as she stepped through one of the inner hatches leading to the turbolifts. "As you can see from those around you, there is a lot of humans in the galaxy who 'don't care' for different species on both sides. This cell allows those who feel this way to still fight against the same enemies that you fight but can do so around those they feel comfortable with." Stopping at the Turbolift she pressed the button summoning it to their level. "And do not worry Commander, there are some Alien's in our ranks." She said with a sly smile.

 

[Hugo Ion]

Hugo Ion raised an eyebrow at Freyja’s first explanation. Behind him, Lapoa grimaced with contempt, finding the reason too vague for his own liking. As for the commander himself it didn’t take to figure out what that meant exactly. The Jedi reported what little she revealed to them about herself along the Internal Divison’s ‘interview’ she had to go through before joining the Alliance. Something about bad blood with her sister who is a Sith.

Not too many in our ranks can claim such a complicated connection. Well there is another.

Confining that thought to his mind, Hugo followed after the cell leader through a hatch. He listened to the ex-Imperial go about further about her group’s stance as she summoned a turolift for them. The human would find her smile was met with a netutral expression by the Durosian, betraying no other emotion. “Oh yes I’m well aware of those few exceptions. As long you and the others continue to give them a fair chance then Alliance command will do the same for your cell.”

Once the turolfit opened up, he added a question.

What is the Alliance to you exactly Freyja Storm? Only a means to an end or...something more? The enemy of my enemy routine can only go so far.”

@Braden Drake

 

[Freyja Storm]

The light sound of a bell announced the arrival of the Turbolift, the twin doors opened with an audible difficulty, the product of a year or two of misuse and heavy handling. It was one of a number of things she still needed to get fixed to bring the station up to a fully functioning piece of machinery. She stepped through as the Duros asked another probing question, she very much doubted this inspection was of the station or even the cell. It was an inspection of her. It made sense, she was making a name for herself, she had a cell beneath her and the apparent making of a Jedi, if she believed Aurora. Freyja was an asset or a potential threat and the Commander was here to figure out which one.

As she turned and watched the Duros enter in after her, the thought did flick through her mind of being the latter. It wouldn't take much, yes his compatriots would be a pain, but she had a full station behind her. The thought brought out a little chuckle as she brushed it aside. No, the Duros had his uses. Pressing the button which took them to the upper levels and the command centre she finally answered him. "Freedom." She said stoically, she didn't add anything else for a while, letting it sink in for an overly dramatic effect. It was a word she had heard shouted across a dozen different battlefields, it meant something different to everyone, but for most, it was a grand venture. 'Freedom' from the Empire, from the Sith, oppression and violence.

"Freedom to do, be and live any way I please." She added. "What about you, why did you join this merry rabble?" She asked.

 

[Hugo Ion]

Entering inside the turolift the Commander noticed the way Freyja looked at. Hugo was not force sensitive, but he had plenty of experience studying body language from various beings especially humans. There was a moment Hugo thought there will be trouble and an contingency plan he had in place would have be carried out. Immediately it passed with the fierce woman chuckle in amusement. However, she would see the rebel’s expression twisted into a hard cold stare.

It wasn’t the fact she was tempted to kill or capture him but rather something else. The laughter played back in his mind, reminding the Duros of one terrible night years ago that still haunted his sleep... Slums burning, with the echo of blasterfire and the screams of terror of people being slaughtered by Sith and Imperial troops.

Back to the present Hugo’s flash of anger finally ceased as the lift ascended with his staff behind him, in front of the Valkyrie leader. To Storm’s credit she gave an honest enough answer though a bit vague. When asked for his reasons, Hugo let out a heavy sigh as he closed his eyes.

“Have you ever seen a person you grew up to be best friends with ran for his life only for a Sith force grip and impale him through the gut laughing at his death? Or watched your loved ones suffer and died from either neglect or cruelty in a labor camp all because they were considered expendable vermin?”

The words were addressed as simple questions but all present in the lift knew it meant with the hint of strong emotions. Looking again at Freyja, the Alliance leader next said with absolute determination.

“My reason is to tear down a system that allows self-worshipping cultists abuse trillions of beings for their sick enjoyment or some deluded sense of duty to order. To allow the latter and future generations a chance to decide for themselves what they want in life. Or at least die trying...even here.”

Freyja would be able to pick up on the last words as a warning that he knew she had been tempted and to continue on with the inspection as if nothing happened.

@Braden Drake

 

[Freyja Storm]

Freyja returned the Duro's hard stare with a smile. The alien had a backbone, she had to respect that even if his skin was the wrong colour and that bulbous head was anything but attractive. She gave the creature a passing thought as he spoke about his past, though the story seemed personal and hard, it was nothing she had not heard from a dozen other people in the Galactic Alliance, all here because they had been wronged by the Sith Empire. She was not surprised when he mentioned the labour camp, she had visited her fair share when she worked as an Imperial Agent. Maybe she had even been to his own when she was working as an Agent.

She remembered her father telling her of a story where a unit he was attached to had to shut down one of these labour camps out on Imperial Hutta when the camp rioted. It was a messy job he had said with a fair few casualties. The turbolift doors opened as the Duros finished his rather cute if not strong worded patriotic speech. He added a sense of venom towards the end which she assumed was gestured towards her. Freyja had no issues with the how the Empire was run, it must be doing something right to sit the same for the last five hundred years, she didn't even mind the Drast's to an extent, apart from one.

Stepping out of the turbolift she continued towards the set of stairs at the end. "Unfortunately the lift does not go the whole way, we still have two flights of stairs to go." She said as she walked forwards, again not waiting to see if he followed. "Ion, so once you overthrow the Drast's you won't be putting yourself in charge? Not even to get revenge for your best friend?"

 

[Hugo Ion]

What do the Jedi see in this woman? Wondered Hugo Ion. So far she has shown nothing but the typical Imperial and even Sith view of things. Her smile and lack of reaction to the story made it pretty evident. Then again there were of criminal and smuggler rebels who only looked after themselves.

When the lift stopped and the human informed they will need to walk up the stairs now in front of them Hugo turned toward his aide. “Dyur head back to the shuttle and prepare it. This won’t take long.” At first the Sullustan opened her mouth to protest but stopped. Nodding in acknowledgment, she went back inside the elevator to go back down.

With only his massive bodyguard and Freyja Storm present, they walked up the stairs. When the latter asked about he will once the war was won Hugo snorted.

“The war is not won yet. Not everyone wants to plays god with the galaxy, I least of all.” Anger threatened to mount within him again before a familiar voice called out to him. Be still my friend and look deeper... Hugo’s soul finally calmed before he finally asked.

”So Freyja what is your understanding about the Force exactly?”

@Braden Drake

 

[Freyja Storm]

Freyja took no notice as the Sullustan was sent back to the ship, it was the other one who would be a threat to Freyja if anything was to go down. Though she planned no such thing, it was always good to be prepared and one less pair of arms to contend with the better. When the Duros declined the possibility of himself taking up the mantle she frowned, Freyja thought the creature had more vision or personal desire than be just a Captain of a few hundred unhappy galactic citizens.

When the Duros changed the conversation over the force Freyja frowned again, her point was still not completed on the layout of the galaxy once the 'overthrow' of the current galactic order.

"But you need to think that the war will be won." She said opening the door to the stairs. "Otherwise, what is the point of fighting, you cannot deny you have not thought about the end. And in that vision who do you see taking control? Overthrowing these 'self-worshipping cultists' and leaving the vacuum behind is as bad or if not worse than doing nothing at all. Chaos would overwhelm the galaxy and billions more would die because you did not make a choice as to who will lead us after."

Her comments were meant to not only get a rise from the Alien but to also solicit an actual argument from him. "On the force, it is a tool, wielded by a select few in the galaxy. A powerful tool which can allow one to do great things." She replied offhand.

 

[Hugo Ion]

If Freyja had made those comments earlier it would’ve gotten a rise out of Hugo. Not to mention her view on the force confirmed to him that she still clings to the philosophy of the Sith. “Oh, I have ideas for it indeed. But I certainly don’t need informing every cell leader all the details.” He remarked, reminding Freyja Storm of their positions.

Of course he wasn’t going to back down either.

“Though I will share with you, a certain goal of mine. To restore the Galactic Republic and do everything in my power to give it a stronger foundation than the last one had at its end. A balance between freedom and order must be made to avoid chaos as you pointed out and prevent another tyrannic regime.” He held up a blue hand to stop Storm from interrupting then added.

“Now before you try justifying Imperial rule to me and point out the flaws of democracy. I will remind you that the Republic govern far longer than the Sith ever had. Whatever their faults they didn’t go about dragging its people into slaughter over some dynastic dispute. Especially bombard a world and killing millions of its inhabitants like the example of Medriaas.

All just to eliminate a few enemy agents at a clandestine meeting there and some vain hope to scare everyone else into submission. Ask the Mandalorians if it cowed them at all. Or somehow made the galaxy a better place now?”

He let all those words sink in to the human woman. Commander Ion subsequently noted.

“You’re right the force can allow a being to do amazing things. Also terrible crimes as well if abused. Yet there is more to the entity than anyone can possibly imagine. It surrounds us and binds the universe together. Surely our mutual acquaintance Aurora must’ve mentioned something of that effect to you Freyja.

Did she not?”

The Valkyrie leader would know who Hugo was talking about.

@Braden Drake

 

[Freyja Storm]

Freyja paused and turned to face the Duros as he spoke. The spine in his words filled her with a little more confidence in the Galactic Alliance and some respect for its leader. She smiled at the Duros as he continued to speak, it was not patronizing though she would not be surprised if the alien saw it as so, she was just generally pleased that the Alien was standing up for himself.

"Just because I was born in the Core, do not think that I believe that the Imperial model is perfect." She said in her defence, Freyja knew it was far from perfect, perhaps when it first came into being it was close. But over the past five centuries, it had grown soft, fat, bloated and unsustainable. It was only a matter of time before it fell, be it tomorrow, a month, a year or another generation. Something like that could only last so long without either falling or getting the liposuction to remove all of the dead weight from inside. "Just like the Republic itself as you pointed out has its own flaws. I would say something in the middle would be the best ground." She answered as they reached the top of the stairs.

When he mentioned Aurora, Freyja cocked her head slightly, that made more sense than just the basic interview questions she had been subsequent to when joining the Alliance, he had inside information so to speak. The ear of her 'Master', she has opened up to the woman much more than any other person in the last three years. Though Freyja still didn't know if that was a good or bad thing.

"I am still yet to see proof that it is as all-encompassing as both the Jedi and the Sith say it is." She said stepping through the door out of the stairwell. "Both the Jedi and the Sith preach about its great power and what it can and cannot do. I can only speak from the experience I have had with it, as I believe you would as well Commander. Not all fairy tales are true."

 

[Hugo Ion]

Perhaps this human is more open to change she cares to admit. Hugo thought, reaching the end of the stairs. Whatever issues she presented Freyja actually provided some new things to think about. Winning the war is his current priority but the future of the galaxy needs to be considered. The Republic must be restored, but the measures will be needed to cleanse and safeguard it.

After all five centuries of Sith rule are not something that can be so easily dismissed. He let out a short chuckle at Storm’s fairy tale comment. “You’ll find out one way or another. Just give our associates like Aurora a chance to show you. Like I’m giving your cell.”

With Lapoa guarding him ever closely Hugo Ion head for the door in front of them. Freyja Storm is norm someone he ever expected to be under his command but the force moves in unexpected ways. The rebel leader couldn’t help but imagine Eli Reach being amused at the situation.

@Braden Drake

 

[Freyja Storm]

The final corridor down to the control room still had numerous blaster scars along its edges from the battle herself and Tycho had fought to take the station. She ran her hand across the carbon scoring as she walked, reliving some of the fight in her head as she walked. "Second chances are what the Alliance is all about isn't it?" She asked in a slightly sarcastic tone as they reached the end of the corridor.

The room was in good shape, being free of any of the battle damage and relatively well cared for by the previous owners. A droid and a human male manned the centre two consoles keeping an eye over the station from the view screens in front of them, another man sat to the right-hand side, his eyes glued to the outside of the station and the incoming and outgoing ships. "I'm sure you will find everything in order here, Commander." She said waving the man into the room.

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End Thread