Meetings and Gifts

[Kiro]

Taris.

The Outer Rim's answer to Coruscant. The planetary city had been heavily damaged and nearly destroyed several times. Darth Malak and the Yuuzan Vong were two notable purpetrators of such heinous acts. Now, Taris was once more under Imperial rule. And above the megaopolis, a small Mandalorian fleet jumped into orbit. And a shuttle of a previously unseen model and design leaves one of the Mandalorian ships, along with a fighter escort of black-painted Kar'kad-class space superiority fighters.

The Mandalorian ships and the mysterious shuttle make their way to the planet's surface, transmitting the required landing codes. Carien Bralor, the Mandalore, had come along with the CEO of MandalMotors, Coro Kevara, to meet with Varek, the Emperor's Champion, the Warmaster of the Sith Imperium. And they came bearing gifts.

 

[Vencu]

"I broadcasted the authorization codes they gave us... ah, here we are... that was quick." Coro leaned forward in the pilot's chair, his eyes focusing on the communications display just to his left, "We just got our landing coordinates and an approach vector. Our flight path with be clear from here on out. Best let our boys in the Kar'kade know that anyone moving in on us from this point on is no friend of ours."


Coro spared a quick glance to his right. Carien Bralor, the Mand'alor, sat in the co-pilot seat. Her helmet was fixed in place, visor shining in the light filtering in from outside the viewport. He could only guess at what she had been doing within the confines of her helmet all these hours. Talking to someone? Browsing the HoloNet? Staring out into space? She had been oddly silent for most of the journey. For all he knew, she had been napping, but he doubted it. She had been going non-stop ever since Corden had disappeared and he wouldn't have faulted her for taking a little down time. He knew she needed it, but that wasn't like Carien. When there were things to be done, she was always on the front line, making sure they happened. She was a go-getter, like Corden had been.

"You alright, Bralor? You've been awfully quiet over there. Corden used to go all quiet on me, too." Coro typed the landing coordinates into the computer interface between them, "He was always planning his next move and four or five moves after that. I used to smack him for it... well, not for planning ahead. Just the timing of it."

Coro gave her a wide grin, both his gloved hands gripping the pilot yoke as he guided the craft into a swift, controlled descent.

"Don't you go thinking I'll hold back just because you're new to the job and all."

 

[Kiro]

It took almost a minute before the Mandalore to answer the CEO of MandalMotors. "'Lek." The voice was tired, even through the warble of the helmet's speakers. Sounding older than her years, but that was the cost of becoming Mandalore during wartime. And only two other Mandalores, the late Roxton Dagger and the missing Corden Vencu, had faced the same issues as her. The move of an entire people, across a galaxy at war. And then having to settle them back upon Mandalore, while preparing for war on a galactic scale, and trying to establish ties with two different factions at once.

She dearly wished the days were as simple as back in those of te Ani'la Mand'alor, when there was simply the Mando'ade against the aruetiise. But Ultimate hadn't had contend with the Sith or the Chiss as well as the Jedi. "We've been back on Manda'yaim for two weeks, but I've yet to go home to Norg Bral..." Then the Mandalore laps back into silence for a few minutes, watching as Taris slowly grew in the shuttle's viewport. "I didn't have any illusions when I decided to fill in Corden's shooes, but I expected I'd at least be given some time to just relax and go home once in a while..."

"Mishuk gotal'u meshuroke, pako kyore, bal'ban..."

 

[Vencu]

Coro's grin wavered and he spared another glance in Carien's direction, memories he had shared with his old friend floating to the forefront of his mind, "That's exactly what Corden used to say. Ni partayli..."

Without another word, he pulled back on the throttle, slowing their descent as they cut through the cloud cover. Leaving the last wisps of moisture and pollution behind, the sprawling urban jungle that was Taris spread out before them as far as the eye could see. A massive, metallic grey skyscraper, one that towered above the others around it, sat directly ahead. Coro could already see two heavy blast doors retracting into the walls on one side, revealing the cavernous hangar within.

"They spared no expense building that one. It has Imperium written all over it."

 

[Mars]

Taris.*

The world had been rebuilt into a shining symbol of Imperial authority and power. A city spanned the majority of it's surface. Ruled by the Sith with elected imperial officials serving alongside them, representation was actually available for the significant alien population unlike in the days of the racist old Empire. The massive gray skyscraper at the center of it all was perhaps the planet's most impressive feature.*

From a distance it would appear as any other building aside from its nigh-hyperbolic size but once one came into proper viewing range the building would reveal its true nature. Bristling with nearly as many guns as it had windows, as many shield generators as it did floors and enough military personnel to hold off even a Stromtrooper legion, it was a fortress. Shy orbital bombardment, so long as the tower was held and properly staffed it was highly unlikely the city would fall from Imperial hands. The hangar where the Mandalorians landed was filled with atmospheric superiority gunships capable of wrecking havoc from the skies. A block of fifty black-armored 501st legion soldiers would be the first sight of the newly minted Mand'alor. Parting like the sea before Moses, they split into two lines to reveal a trio of Sith.*

Darth Vires and his two omnipresent bodyguards, the Lion and the Vampire.*

To the Sith leader's right stood the former, a massive Epicanthix that stood just over two meters tall. Famous among the Sith for his physical strength, his ability to overwhelm opponents with blinding, Force-enhanced speed and brutal blows were second to none. The later, Lord Zash, was known for his perfectionist nature, love of the arts, and expansive knowledge of Force techniques. The Epicanthix wore black plate armor beneath robes similar to his Master while the Anzati wore Rancor-leather. Varek stepped forward and towards the Mandalorians, his allies trailing him slightly, and spoke aloud.*

"Greetings Mand'alor."

Varek's voice was deep and held a certain strength to it. Since his ascension to Darth it had lost the rasp it previously held, replaced by a smooth nigh-demonic tone. Each of the troopers assembled stood a little straighter as it hit the air.*

"Come, a room more fit for discussion has been prepared."*

Waiting for a response for a few moments, a wave of his hand dismissed the assembled soldiers, leaving Carien and Coro with Varek and his bodyguard. After that, they would take a brief walk to an expansive room. Varek sat at the far head of the rectangular table in a high-backed durasteel chair with black leather, Zash and the Lion standing ever-vigilant behind him.*

"If you have want for food or drink, ask one of the droids and they will get it."*

Varek said, motioning to one of the three protocol droids in the room.*

"If not, let us begin."

 

[Kiro]

Carien simply shook her head at the offer of refreshment, and took a seat in one of the chairs. In her thick Mandalorian armour, the firmness or comfort of the chairs went unnoticed. She leans back, crossing her arms over the chestplate, her helmet's battle computer targeting and scanning the three Sith, calculating several battle plans and escape routes, as a simple precaution. The Sith were the allies of the Mandalorians, but Mandalorians were the best mecenaries and soldiers in the galaxy in part because they took precautions and laid careful battle plans for every contingency.

"Let us get straight to buisness, shall we?" The Mandalore replies, having no interest in idle chatter with the three Sith. This was a diplomatic meeting with an ally, but Force Sensetives made her skin crawl. She didn't trust, nor like, any of them. Jedi nor Sith. But with the Sith, she had to tolerate their presence, because they were her allies. And as her allies, she allowed them the benefit of doubt.

"Let me start by thanking you for the return of Mandalore." At that, she raises her hand, and pounds it thrice against her breastplate. A sign of respect. She then leans forward, resting her elbows on the table, while the vertical slit of her helmet stares across at Varek. "And as a gesture of our appreciation, we have brought gifts. Coro, if you would care to explain?"

 

[Vencu]

Coro had remained standing throughout the opening exchange, always no more than three steps behind Carien. His sensor sweep of the conference room had been brief, but thorough. It wasn't until Carien had taken her seat that he switched it to a passive mode and turned his focus to the three Sith, the one named Varek already seated and his two bodyguards mirroring Coro, standing just behind their master.

At Carien's command, he took several steps forward, moving up to the edge of the rectangular table and stopping just beside her. Detaching a small holoprojector disk from a clip on his belt, he slid the device a quarter of the way across the table, still on Carien and his side. Without prompt or delay, the device unfolded with a metallic click and a hologram flickered to life above it.

"Warmaster, I am pleased to present to you the Birikad-class Imperial Shuttle, the first prototype in a line of craft designed and manufactured exclusively for the Imperium by MandalMotors. As a token of our appreciation, the upgraded model we arrived in has been prepared for your own personal use. I am certain you will find it exceedingly well-equipped for such a task and if you so desire, we can have a thousand more ready for commissioning in just under a standard month."