The Republic wants you!

[Talos Barrenfist]

City of New Rana, Planet of Duro, Core Worlds
​

The past several weeks had been one assignment to the next for Talos Barrenfist. Not that the lieutenant was complaining. As long there is shore leave now and then he can manage. War with the Hutts is only intensifying, meaning the Republic needed more recruits. So command decided to send him to Duro to support the drive to make it happened there.

Fortunately, I won’t be handling this affair alone.Thought Barrenfist, standing with a squad of Duros security guards wielding rifles on the landing platform. Soon they spotted a shuttle flying out from the clouds. It was carrying Senator Numenius Pax, a politician Talos had worked with before a few times.

Making sure his service cap was on properly Talos then watched the shuttle begin its descend toward the platform he stood on.

@Nefieslab

 

[Numenius Pax]

Ah another day another mission for the Republic.

He was beginning to get rather sick of the constant grind but that was to be expected - he was a politician, he was used to sitting around writing and making speeches. He wasn't a soldier and the pushing and the pushing and the relentless grind was something that was beginning to get to him.

Probably a good thing he wasn't a soldier.

As the shuttle landed, he sighed contentedly as he took another relaxing drink of alcohol before setting it aside. A little to take the edge off was fine but anything more was just bad for business. Smiling to his aide, he stood and did up one of the buttons on his suit jacket as he descended from the stairs down onto the runway. He smiled a little wider and held out a hand for the Lieutenant to shake,

"Lieutenant Barrenfist - pleasure to see you again." he greeted the man warmly, "How's the war been treating you?"

@Minuteman75 @Talos Barrenfist

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

When they first met Barrenfist had not been so sure about the representative from Corulgag. Government bureaucrats rarely earned his personal respect. Somehow though the pacifist minded Numenius managed it. Of course this happened because Talos had gotten to know Senator Pax little bit and seen him in action.

Any leader who truly cares about his people and willing to put themselves in danger has my trust.

So when Numenius offered his hand Talos took it and shook firmly. “The feeling is mutual Senator Pax. As for the war well we’re slowly turning the tide but still need more support and personal to keep up the pressure. Hopefully the people here will realize it.” With a brief chuckle he gestured for the official to follow him with their Durosian escorts quickly surrounding them.

They proceeded out of the platform into awaiting elevator. Once inside they began their descend. During the wait Talos went on to explain.

“The prime minster sends his personal regards but he can’t be here in person due to a family emergency. Security here has been tightened with patrols throughout the area, and scanners have been installed to check for any hidden weapons. If anyone wants to cause trouble we should have a better chance of preventing it.”

The last thing Talos wanted was anothe repeat where a would-be assassin tries to murder Pax like what happened during a rally on Corellia. He and the local authorities were taking every precaution on this one. The elevator stopped and it’s door opened, revealing a packed hall consisting of mostly Duros and a few humans in the mixture. As soon the crowd saw the small party they clapped in reaction while the Republic national anthem played loudly in the background. They were directed toward a high stage to their right hand side.

 

[Numenius Pax]

Shaking the soldier's hand, Numenius smiled a little bit and nodded in agreement. The war seemed to be going well but, in his limited experience, you needed to make sure you kept up the pressure if you were looking to actually come away with a win. As soon as they let up the pressure, they were giving their enemies breathing room and he disliked the thought of that.

"I'll make sure to do my best to make sure they realise that the war is being won - it is not yet won." he confirmed with Talos with a smile, "It will help to have a Hero of the Republic by my side as I make the speech."

Talos might only be a Lieutenant but he was beginning to get a well-deserved reputation as someone who actually kicked a lot of arse.

People liked that kind of thing.

Well now!

This was a much better reaction to the last recruitment drive he'd been on with Talos. Waving his hand, Numenius gestured for Talos to join him up on the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen - thank you so much for having us! I am Numenius Pax, Senator for Corulag but you don't care about me..." He smirked and gestured to Talos, "You care about him! Talos Barrenfist HERO OF THE REPUBLIC!"

The crowd went ballistic - many of them clapped, cheered, whooped and, if he wasn't mistaken, a young lady in the front row pulled her top up to flash the soldier and the senator. Didn't do anything for Numenius personally but he imagined that it was good for Talos.

Speaking of which... he subtly nudged the soldier and whispered.

"Say something."

@Minuteman75 @Talos Barrenfist

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

The dark haired Decualian would’ve preferred to stand by Numenius’ side, letting the politician handle this affair. Instead Talos to his great shock found himself the center of attention. What the kark? He thought wide eyed in alarm with the crowd going wild when the senator introduced him. Talos didn’t recall command mentioning anything about him publicly speaking just guard the senator.

To say he wasn’t used to this kind of hero worship would be the understatement of the year. Of course the sight of a human woman flashing brought a brief grin on his features until the reality of making a speech fully set in. Barrenfist’s heart raced and he was at a loss for words until nudged to say something by Pax. The lieutenant stared back at the man from Corulag and mouthed the words. ‘You owe me drinks.’

So strange for a battle hardened warrior battling stage fright, but it was happening for him.

It’s one thing to give my marines a pep talk but these are civilians here. They file a complaint for someone ruining their coats or something. Dragon’s balls what am I suppose to say to these folk without command riding up my ass for it?!

Suddenly realization came, making Talos calm down finally. Taking a deep breath and releasing it the combat officer raised a gloved fist letting the masses he is going to speak.

“Uh thanks coming out here today. To tell you all the truth I am no hero.” He lowered his eyes in unexpected humility before looking up. “But I serve in an army full of them.”

Pausing and actually choking with barely restrained emotions Talos forced himself to keep speaking.

“Ron Meen, Threa Xit, Bozar Gonu, and Garvin Thon. These are but a few names of your brave sons and daughters whom I had the honor of serving alongside. I wasn’t born in this nation and have trouble understanding a number of things about it to be quite frank. Yet these men and women most whom have never been raised in a warrior culture had fought and died defending everyone of you from the Hutt bastards.”

Subsequently, Talos Barrenfist slammed his right handed fist onto the podium.

“The task is not yet done! We, the Grand Army of your Republic need your full support. I am fully aware that not everyone is able to wield a weapon but are other means to join the effort. It can be repairing a ship’s engine, carrying supplies, feeding personal, or treating the wounded. Please don’t let the blood, sweat, and tears of your heroes that I spoke of be in vain.”

Glancing around from one end to the other of the crowd, the bearded marine then roared with both arms raised high.

“For the Republic!”

Instantly, hundreds jumped from to their chairs, clapping and echoing the marine’s battle cry.

@Nefieslab

 

[Numenius Pax]

Seemed that he was going to have to ply his ally with alcohol for pushing him under the bus with this whole thing... oh well, he would either forgive him for it or Numenius would give him enough alcohol that he honestly couldn't actually remember what he was mad at him about.

Foolproof plan.

And Talos Barrenfist was no fool - he knew well enough about how to rile up a crowd and he would have to say that it was going wonderfully. He managed to convey actual, genuine emotion and use it with purpose and direction. Hell, Numenius knew politicians who could take lessons from this guy.

There was little else to be done here but Numenius wouldn't be the kind of man he was if he didn't at least try and get a little bit more. He patted the Republic war hero on the back.

"Two rounds for free on us!"

It was the simple things that were often the most effective as evidence by the cheering increasing and attention moving to the bar.

He smirked at Talos,

"I owe you a drink, Mr HERO OF THE REPUBLIC!" he joked a little bit, "You knew you are a meme right?"

@Talos Barrenfist @Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

“I don’t know what a meme is but those two rounds of drinks are appreciated.” Talos remarked, shrugging his shoulders once out of view from the ever exicited crowd. As they left the stage and drank at a nearby pub later, Talos spotted dark beautiful woman with olive skin in a red dress. Grinning ear to ear, the now drunk Barrenfist said to Pax. “Pardon me Senator I just spot a person of interest gotta do some recon.”

He chuckled at his own joke and apporched the lady at the table with another glass in hand, a few feet away. The woman with sliver eyes looked up sizing up Barrenfist then with a pleasant smile. Returning it the spaceborn asked, pointing to an empty seat.

“Excuse me lady is this chair taken?”

“No, it’s not be my guest.” She gestured for him to sit and he did. Once that happens the raven haired beauty asked.

“Who are you?”

“Me, just a marine called Talos and you my dear?” Barrenfist asked with beaming eyes and was given a quick reply.

“Mahin, a professor from Sahmina.”

Talos nodded, thinking. This should be interesting.

Spoiler: OOC

The End