Strategies and Tactics

[Hannah]

I sighed heavily, listening to the various shouts I can here just outside of my office. Of course, I could expect nothing less considering I was on board the Rebel Dawn, the capital ship of the entire Rebellion. It represented strength, resiliency, and the urge to keep fighting a war that seemed forsaken from the beginning, though most would argue it wasn’t even a war. Then again, most would argue we were all crazy for even threatening the Imperium with our impish army. We were nothing compared to them, and if they managed to lay their iron fist upon us as a whole, we would surely be damned.

I thought after the Alliance had fallen I would be done sorting through paperwork, though I guess I was wrong. I guess I was still doing it, just not exactly for the Alliance anymore, I think to myself as I begin to scribble down on the hundredth piece of paperwork I had gone through today. Well, it felt like the hundredth, though I had lost track quite long ago, so I couldn’t be sure. I was bored out of my mind, and desperately needed to get out of my office, though I knew I couldn’t. “Everyone has a job to do,” I remind myself, and mine just happened to be paperwork, at least for the time being. I longed for the adrenaline to pump through my body with a blaster rifle in hand, for it was what I knew best after I stopped pretending to be the happy Senator who managed to survive the fall of the Alliance. No, I managed to break out of that role before the Alliance even fell, at the Battle of Coruscant. It was there I had fought bravely to defend my second home, for besides Naboo, Coruscant was the only place I had ever wanted to be. Sure, it was a loud and rambunctious planet, but it was myloud and rambunctious planet, and it was a planet I had helped protect; one of many since joining the Rebellion.

I found my eyes strained on the piece of paper that lay before me, barely managing to stay awake as I skim through the contents that were contained inside of it. After skimming it through, I scribbled a few things at the bottom; a signature here, a date there, and then without a second thought it was tossed into the pile of paperwork I had managed to complete. Instinctively, I rose from my seat, brushing my way to the door. I told myself I needed to go get some food, for my stomach was growling, but in actual reality I was full. I didn’t need food, I needed to get away from the paperwork that has been piling up since I first got here months ago.

As I opened the door leading outside of my corridor, I almost bump into the person waiting outside, for I wasn’t used to many visitors, so why would someone be here to see me? “Oh I’m sorry-“ I begin, not yet realizing who it was exactly that I was talking to. My words were simple and delicate, as if I was still the innocent Senator I had once been.​

 

[Cassanova]

The day had been tough. More foolhardy soldiers, many of them like a younger version of himself, had approached Terrsyn with operations, planned to the T - none of them taking into consideration just how dire the Rebellion's situation was. Then again, TP had made a willful effort to keep their situation as ill-informed as possible. Twenty thousand men, thirty ships, and forget having enough guns and armour for them all - just feeding them was an issue. And these basic issues were ones shared not only by the Rebellion, but hundreds of planets in the galaxy - all equally ostracised by the Empire's hold on the core.

It hadn't taken the former special forces soldier long to realise that he was ill equipped to make this decision on his own merit. He knew that he had some extremely valuable minds in the Rebellion and the General knew better than to let his pride get between him and getting the best outcome. Once his mind had been set on a course of action, TP quickly scrambled for a file on his datapad, scrolling through a list of names, each with a specialty or 'focus' that they specialised in. He had slicers, doctors, surgeons, coyotes, smugglers, mercenaries, cooks, tailors - but none of them had the experience for what he needed. He needed diplomacy, he needed a level head, he needed someone who understood politics. He needed a Senator. Luckily, the Rebellion had a handful, but only one at arm's length.

It took a moment for TP to ascertain exactly where aboard the honeycombed and, being honest, cramped Genesis-class cruiser this particular senator was located. It appeared that she had been holding something of a permanent residence aboard the ship, a decision that TP was increasingly grateful for at this moment in time. Gathering a datapad in one hand, running his other through his hair, he set about braving the halls of the the Rebel Dawn in search of her; Serra Talorae.

The halls were, as usual, a bustle of business. A constant issue was the ex-Alliance personnel stopping and saluting TP as he ventured past. He had to constantly remind the crew that there was no need for it both as his rank was little more than a title, and that all it did was clog the halls. It was slowly getting better.

After navigating three decks, two lifts, and a set of stairs, TP found himself at the Senator's office and opted to check his datapad again to ensure he was at the right place he ended up nearly brushing noses with the senator herself. At her apology, the General merely smiled. "Its perfectly fine. If I can have a moment of your time, Senator?" TP noted the sort of absent look in her eye, he had to remind himself he wasn't a celebrity at times, and that despite it appearing that way, not everyone knew his face. With a smile, he extended his hand in way of greeting, "Regrettably we've not had the chance to meet yet. Terrsyn Pearot."

 

[Hannah]

I looked up at the man who stood before me, looking into his eyes. For a moment, I still was not sure of who exactly he was, but as he began to speak I had a feeling as if I was supposed to know who he was. His voice is all too familiar for me not to, and it kind of made me guilty that this man had come to my office to address me, and I hadn’t even known who he was.

As the man began to speak though, I was almost positive a flash of recognition had shown in my face. It’s Terrsyn Pearot. How could I not have realized? He’s the leader of the Rebellion! It was then I found myself standing in a tall and sturdy position, my posture completely changing as if I was addressing the leader of the Rebellion. Oh wait. I was. “It’s an honor sir, though I wouldn't consider myself a Senator anymore.” If he had known I was a Senator, he probably knew my name, though I still felt obligated to share it anyways. “Serra Talorae,” I stated as I shook his hand firmly before releasing. It was then I took a step back away from the door, for if the leader of the Rebellion was here to see me, then I guess food could wait.

“Please, come inside,” I offer politely as I walk up to my chair, siting back down inside of it. Immediately, my bottom begins to ache as it painfully reminds me I had been sitting here for the past few hours, and one of the reasons I had gone up to leave was to give it a break from cramping in the chair all day, but I would get through it. “It’s not much, but I manage,” I state in regards to my office. Immediately after I said it, I felt bad because I knew how tight on supplies we were as a whole, and for me to be complaining about my office was kind of… pathetic. “I mean, it’s not bad or anything…” I say rather quickly before he could say anything in contrast. After a long silence, I speak up again.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” I ask the man as I eye him up and down carefully, as if I didn’t already know everything there is to know about the man that’s wanted across the entire galaxy.
​

 

[Cassanova]

"Much obliged," TP smiled and reminded himself he had clearly caught Serra as she was leaving her quarters. "I won't take up too much of your day. I'm sure you've got alot on your plate."

"I need to be honest, Mrs Talorae. I can't afford to posture, or pretend like I know what I'm talking about - so please forgive me if I come across too forwardly," TP frowned and eyed her off, his honesty was clearly there in his eyes. "This Rebellion won't see out the year if I can't get food, medicine, guns, armour, ammo, and people to need all of it. I have no idea how I do that. I figure we need planetary support, but I'm not a politically minded man."

Something to remember about TP was that he was a soldier first and foremost. Trained in combat, to move. Standing around in an office nearly drove him insane. "Care to walk and talk? Mess hall perhaps?" He smiled softly as he stepped aside, allowing Serra to move first. "I need you help..."

 

[Hannah]

“I’d be happy to help-” I began, rising from the seat that I had only just gotten back into a few seconds ago. “-sir,” I added on, for I had clearly forgotten he was still my superior. Just because he seeks your help doesn’t mean you can skip the formalities… I remind myself as I briefly smile at Terrsyn before walking past him and out of the door. I mean, ever since I was handmaiden of the Queen I had been one of the most formal people ever. It was still kind of far fetched that I of all people had become a rebel.

As I walk out, I am immediately engulfed in the bust halls of the Rebel Dawn, with various shipmates scrambling left and right to get to their destinations. I look back into the room as I wait for Terrsyn to reemerge from my lifeless office. With a smile, I call out to him. “So what do you need my help with?” Seriously, it was kind of confusing. What would he need with someone like me, and how did he find me anyways?

As I wait for an answer, I look around the active hall around me, taking in the beauty of the Rebel ship for the first time in months, really. I was so consumed in my work that I hadn’t even thought about how a few thousand soldiers could even come up with the efforts to get their hands on this ship, though I guess it was passed down to them from the remnants of the Alliance.