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Post by Jax Xefern on Jul 11, 2012 8:23:11 GMT -8
Before he'd jumped Jax had sent a burst transmission to home base, informing them what he was about and why he hadn't come back directly as he'd originally stated he would do. The information packet contained a recording of the conversation he'd had with Eth, for contractual purposes, and a request that one of his Clan leaders arrange a meeting with the Mandalore. He'd then made the jump without hesitation. When he came out of hyperspace he found himself a few thousand feet behind his erstwhile companion by design.
Jax maintained his focus, even through the rush of relief he felt at being back in home space. In Mandalorian space, a Mando'ade could expect a generous amount of civility from his fellows. If somebody were to attack him here, even an Imperial ship, he could expect some assistance in one form or another. Pirates just didn't happen, they knew better. In the mind of Jax Xefern, Mandalorian space was even more civilized than Imperial space. And speaking of such he had a light flashing on his dash that begged for attention. He grunted in disgust and punched the corresponding button.
"...lorian vessel, this is Imperial Star Destroyer Watchtower. We have no flight plan regarding your arrival, state the nature of your business."
Jax listened to the audio only transmission impassively, checking the seals on his helmet to stave off boredom. When the officious little Imp finished his message Jax twisted the squelch just to amuse himself at the thought of the communications officer getting an ear full of static before bringing it back down and responding. "Escorting a potential business lead to MandalMotors for a meeting. I don't know the topic or nature of the business but I'm guessing they are trying to sell us something. I have no doubt we'll both be gone again in a matter of hours."
MandalMotors was a big deal, one of the largest corporations... one of the only corporations to do business in the sector, let alone beyond it. It's holdings were the single largest building on all of Mandalore, by far, and often doubled as a government building when that sort of thing was required once every couple of thousand years. As such, it was one of the very few things in the sector the Imps could tax so it often got treated with soft paws...
"You are cleared to proceed..."
Jax snorted, then closed the channel fully aware that the last thing the Imps would hear was his derisive noise. He was a Mandalorian approaching Mandalore, of course he was cleared to land. The alliance, and by extension the occupation, with the Empire was a matter of enlightened tolerance. By themselves the Mandalorians would be fighting a losing war with the Empire. At the same time the Empire knew that its eventual victory would be a pyrrean victory at best, one that would make it vulnerable to other rebellions. It was a stalemate of self-interest.
Wiping the ruminations from his mind he used an optical laser to establish a line of sight communications connection with Eth. "I'm sending you the account number, I got you here so I'll take that deposit now. Shadow me down, find an empty pad nearby, and meet me on the landing field." With that, Jax opened the throttle on his sublight engines and headed for Mandalore at a steady clip.
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Post by Eth Erzin on Jul 11, 2012 19:18:38 GMT -8
The Illuminant Rush entered the system with Mandalore large and bright in the viewport, and like clockwork, Lents was hailed by the Imperial authority stationed there. His VT-49 was a nice ship, but paled in the shadow of the Imperial-I class Star Destroyer Watchtower. Lents couldn't imagine the Mandalorians appreciated such a blatant sign of mistrust on the Empire's part, he knew first hand how independent minded they could be; but he supposed there was some kind of mutual benefit--he admittedly wasn't fully versed in Mandalorian-Empire politics, he was too young to know the nuances when he ran with those Mandalorians on Coruscant for those few short months.
He said all he needed to, and waited for clearance. Of course, given that he was telling the truth, there was no reason for him not to gain clearance. He did, and checked his commlink.
Lents shot a quick OK back to Jax and located his vessel, veering towards a nearby landing strip. Setting the 'Rush down onto the glowing tarmac, Lents prepared to go out and meet Jax face to face.
It was only then that he remembered the Mandalorian breastplate he had always worn, and had on even now. "Hmmm, he would certainly notice..." Should he take it off? No, there was no reason. It was safety, protection. Lents didn't even think he'd be able to focus in a combat situation without it. Could he come up with an acceptable explanation? The truth was an option, but considering how that chapter of his life had ended, it would cause the persona of Eth Erzin to fall apart like an old Y-wing in the Maw.
Thinking about it for a moment, Lents decided on an acceptable tale, and then proceeded out the ramp onto the landing field, awaiting Jax to meet him there.
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Post by Jax Xefern on Jul 12, 2012 13:09:04 GMT -8
Jax set his own vessel down, constantly appreciative of the ease of landings thanks to the extra space the designers of the old drop ship had given the vessel for heavy duty, over-powered repulsors. She could dance around flack, frustrate the most steady handed of gunners, and halt a ballistic fall with little effort. Which was good, it made up for the fact that she turned like a Star Destroyer in atmosphere. Before she was even fully settled on her landing struts Jax was out of his seat and heading down the steps into the military design cargo area. Once meant to disgorge a full platoon of infantry and all their equipment but never equipped for living, Jax had found himself obliged to modify the interior somewhat.
His living quarters were small and sparse, but efficient enough while keeping him close to the cockpit in case of midnight surprises. They flanked one side of the steep stairs, while his small but much more occupied armory flanked the other. He passed both doors by, figuring he had everything he needed for a short stay on the planet that most of the rest of the galaxy mistook for the Mandalorian capital. Likewise he passed the two doors that led to the kitchen on one side and the fresher on the other, both pods almost identical in size to the ones that held the armory and bunk. Then there was a respite, a space left open as per the original set up of the vessel, though now it was occupied by the hand full of luxeries that most people expected on such a vessel, though a closer look would inform the military minded that the space was also meant to double as guest quarters.
Jax used his HUD to open the smaller access door set into the center of the larger cargo door as he passed the last two pods, both set up as prisoner cells at the moment. Both pods could be broken down into combat barriers for beach head securing or bunkers for rearguard actions, or simply ejected out the back of the vessel if a prisoner became too dangerous to keep around. At high altitude or in the vacuum of space it tended to be a very final solution and fine motivator for good behavior. He exited and the door shut behind him automatically.
The massive frame of the Mandalorian, made all the larger by his armor, would be easy to spot as he crossed the field toward the man he was escorting. His protective shell was a dark, drab green underscored by a black under layer and was for the most part standard Mandalorian design from the shape of the plates to the armored combat half-skirt, or kama, that protected the backs of his legs. The difference in his helmet was stark but almost ignorable at a distance due to his sheer size which, at 6'8", set him blatantly apart from the few other figures on the semi-formal landing field. A heavy blaster pistol on his right thigh, gunslinger style, and the heavy looking combat kukri attached to the left side of his chest plate made it clear he wasn't the kind of being one wanted to target for strong arm robbery.
If he had any physical reaction to Eth's chest plate it didn't show through his armor and his face, along with his species, was hidden behind the domed visor of his helmet. In fact, his helmet didn't even turn to regard Eth as he walked past the smaller male. "This way," Jax intoned through his helmet's vocalizer as he strode by. The reality of the matter was somewhat different, however. The chest plate was enough to raise an eyebrow on his scaly, at that moment blue, face. There was no telling where the chest plate had come from, at least at the moment. but there was more than one way for the plate to have ended up in the man's hands. Not all of them bad, even.
Jax watched Eth through his 360 degree view across the bottom of his HUD, making sure the man was following him as Jax made a straight line for the tapcaf that his bounceback message had informed him was the meeting point with the Mandalore.
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Post by Eth Erzin on Jul 13, 2012 9:46:36 GMT -8
Jax was tall and intimidating, especially over Lents' Omwati body; but Lents wasn't scared by it. He had faced twin Herglics in battle just recently, and not even this Mandalorian was the size of one of those. Following along his indication, Lents walked behind him towards wherever Tarino Vhett would be.
He kept one hand near his recently-repaired cross-saber (he had taken the time to fix the blades when he and Skeang were on Dantooine) and kept his posture of dignity and purpose.
They approached a tapcaf and Lents was surprised that the Mandalore hadn't chosen a place of higher formality, but he supposed she would always be on the move too and wouldn't have the option of keeping a dedicated office or anything for calls like this.
Through the front window he could see a human female sitting at a table look over in their direction and make deliberate eye contact with Lents' escort. Even through the grim visage of Jax's mask, the female looked like the kind of person whose gaze could pierce durasteel.
ooc: I'm currently bugging the other staff members to use her npc for us
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Post by Rogue on Jul 17, 2012 10:48:36 GMT -8
tarino vhett sat at the table with a drink she wasnt particularly interested in, running through her buisiness for the day on her HUD inside her helmet. at the same time she was keeping an eye on the bartender, the shady looking dugg two tables over, and a wealthy looking muun in a dark corner. when she saw the fellow mandalorian and the small omwati. she looked up at the mandalorian and twitched her head as an invitation to sit at the table.
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Post by Jax Xefern on Jul 17, 2012 11:14:02 GMT -8
Jax nodded when he got the invitation twitch, the silent communication bouncing back and forth smoothly. They both knew they could easily open a private line of sight comm channel and talk directly if they wished without being overheard but that rarely transpired between Mandalorians on first meeting. Jax's family, on the other hand, did it amongst themselves almost constantly. Clan-wide conversations had been held that way, with the various participants spread throughout the Final Contract and even a few dirtside when they were in geosynchronus orbit over the homestead with a little help from the hypercom.
Jax sat to the side of Vhett but indicated the seat directly across from her for Eth to sit in. Vhett and Eth were negotiating here, Jax was on board as a paid facilitator or mediator. While Eth seated himself Jax looked around the room in his HUD. With Eth making a third non-Mandalorian in the place it was likely that the building was now the single highest concentration of outsiders on all of Mandalore. Visitors were rare, but at least the ones who did show tended to stick to their business and avoid the day to day goings on.
His helmet still oriented toward Vhett, Jax let his voice carry out of his helmet. "Well met, sister. This one, his name is Eth, and he's looking for somebody you've had issue with in the past. He paid me to facilitate, so here we are." His role complete for the moment, Jax leaned back in a faux casual position in the chair. For the sake of argument he used a flicker of his eyes to set his forearm mounted flame thrower on stand-by but he doubted there was gonna be any trouble even if Vhett decided to tell the guy to shove off.
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Post by Eth Erzin on Jul 17, 2012 11:52:57 GMT -8
"Mandalore," Lents nodded respectfully as he sat down. "I don't know what you've heard of me so far, but I appreciate your time, and will keep this as terse as possible." He leaned forward at the table, hands clasped in front of him in good faith. "All I ask is information of, or even just information leading to, the whereabouts of Hydra Vaardo. I will admit I don't know of her past or current relationship with you or Mandalorian society as a whole, but I need to know her location and can assure you that my motives have nothing to do with Mandalorian interest--for or against--in the slightest."
He paused, just to let her process the data he had put on the table behind her stone-faced mask, then leaned back slightly.
"I can also provide credits if that's what you ask of me in return."
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Post by Military on Jul 20, 2012 23:40:37 GMT -8
"Su'cuy gar, ner vod." she said, responding to Jax in their native tongue. She listened then to what Lents had to say.
"Ah, the aruetti." she said coldly. Had she not been wearing her helmet she would have spat.
"Has she caused yet another catastrophe?"
It exasperated Vhett to think back to Vaardo and the senseless tragedy that had taken place under her watch. "I don't much know, and I don't much care. Last I heard she was doing work for that hut'uunla pus bag, Hurri. What's it to you?"
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Post by Eth Erzin on Jul 20, 2012 23:53:21 GMT -8
"So I take it relations are not what one might call... warm... between you two. I get it. I know up until the point where she was working for the hutt, and was looking for something more recent. Past couple weeks. No other word? It's... quite important to me, I'll tell you that much. Call it... a point of honor."
Now Lents was intrigued. Vhett seemed extremely dismissive of Vaardo. What in space could the exiled Mandalorian have done that warranted such spite from the Mandalore herself? It wasn't his place to pry, but he wondered if it had to do with why Hurri was sending him after her in the first place.
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Post by Rogue on Jul 21, 2012 0:00:18 GMT -8
Her helmet stared back at him blankly, but beneath she squinted suspiciously at him. "Honor?" she repeated incredulously,"That's your angle? I'm not buying it. Someone doesn't go looking for a being like Hydra Vaardo unless you're looking to hire, or you want them dead. So I'll ask again- what's it to you?"
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Post by Eth Erzin on Jul 21, 2012 0:25:30 GMT -8
Lents forced a laugh. "I wouldn't go through this much effort to find her if I wanted her to hunt down a mark. My ends go far beyond the scope of what any one person can accomplish.
He paused for a moment, gazing at the ceiling as he pondered his choice of words.
"Even though I will admit I came here armed, that in itself is a simple matter of self-preservation. Would you not agree it's foolish to travel without any defenses in these times? Believe it or not, Mandalore, I am a man of peace at heart. I don't desire the anyone's death, least of all Hydra Vaardo's. If you still need her for your ends after this, she will be unharmed, I guarantee it. And hey," Lents shrugged, "If you do want her dead, I will leave the pleasure to pulling that trigger all to yourself. It's not in my nature to bargain over the lives and deaths of others, so let's set those topics aside."
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Post by Rogue on Jul 21, 2012 0:42:51 GMT -8
"Hmph." Tarino Vhett found it hard to believe that any being could have noble intentions in this age. But this Omwati didn't strike her as a liar. He didn't strike her as very good at it anyway. At this point she felt like laughing in his face, but at the same time, for reasons she didn't care to understand, she believed him. She activated her com-link.
She sat seemingly silent for a moment before folding her hands in front of her and speaking, "Alright-- Erzin was it? It just so happens there are a few nerf-heads in our ranks who still maintain contact with Vaardo. They told me her most current known location. However, before I give you information of any kind I want your word that if a time should come when I should have a particular need of your assistance, you will remember what I've done for you today."
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Post by Jax Xefern on Jul 21, 2012 7:23:14 GMT -8
Jax's eyes flickered side to side as Vhett sized up the outsider in a verbal spar. Erzin's technique was just far enough out there to amuse the Mandalore and so it seemed the Omwati would be getting his information and Jax his pay. That was always a good thing. Since Exiled didn't mean excommunicated he would make sure the word went out along the proper Mandalorian channels so that Vaardo would know she had a rather unusual tail on her, one that neither sought her services or her harm. Maybe the guy had a crush. That was worth a few jokes around the hearth next time he got homestead bound on Concord Dawn.
Externally, Jax remained still since he didn't have to turn his head to see anything in the room due to his HUD. His right hand occasionally opened and closed but that was more just to keep it from falling asleep on his knee. With a reasonably affirmative answer from the Omwati things were likely to come to an abrupt end, the Mandalore rarely socialized with outsiders and Jax couldn't imagine her having anything to say to him unless it pertained to one of his Clan's leaders, his mother or one of her two brothers.
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Post by Eth Erzin on Jul 21, 2012 12:45:36 GMT -8
"Your helping me out here will not go unheeded. I never forget a favor," Lents reassured her. He was surprised she didn't end up asking for money, although he would still end up having to pay Jax for his help, a not insignificant sum.
Lents knew not to be attached to money, and was just glad things seemed to be going smoothly all around.
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Post by Rogue on Jul 22, 2012 2:31:27 GMT -8
Vhett gave a short, approving nod, "Very well. Her last known location was on Fresia. She went there to meet up with another Hutt-loving associate of hers. Probably went to team up on Hurri's latest bounty. No one knows anything further than that."
"Now-" she began as she pulled off her helmet and grabbed her drink; locking the Omwati in her iron gaze,"Is there anything else you need?"
Raising the glass to her lips, she quickly tilted her head back and downed the whole drink in a single gulp.
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Post by Eth Erzin on Jul 22, 2012 7:58:56 GMT -8
Lents thought for a moment, then did realize there was something else he needed. "Thank you for the information. Regarding anything else actually... How could he talk about Rayn in a way that the Mandalorians would be familiar with? He couldn't just ask about the Grey Paladins, and asking for one specific "Rayn" out of the galaxy's trillions of inhabitaants... then he realized his angle. Have you news of a Bes'uliik Starfighter piloted by a dark-haired Kiffar? This is unrelated to finding Vaardo, I just... fell out of contact with a friend, and have some incentive for locating him again."
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Post by Jax Xefern on Jul 22, 2012 13:53:54 GMT -8
Jax barely heard Eth's last question, paying attention to Vhett's helmet-less appearance. She was attractive as Mandalorian's figured such things though he and she were of different age brackets. Jax's focus was different than romantic, however. It was more that he found it fascinating to put an actual identity with the title of Mandalore. Not being amongst the leadership of his own Clan he hadn't really ever thought that he would meet the woman in anything other than passing, which in Mandalorian culture literally meant they walked past one another and he'd known who she was.
The word that did drag Jax out of his internal thoughts was Bes'uliik. "That starfighter would have to be three hundred years old or more." The Galactic Triumvirate hadn't been much pleased with the idea of an independent Mandalorian Space, let alone one producing nearly indestructible starships under the old alliance with the Verpine. The Imperial/Sith government had been even less fond of it since they weren't in a position to reconquer the Mandalorians at the time and so had laid out the threat to end production immediately. Or so that was what Jax had understood.
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Post by Rogue on Jul 22, 2012 15:41:22 GMT -8
Vhett's eyebrows raised very slightly, meaning her surprise at the sudden turn in interest was fairly significant.
"Xefern is right. There are few of them left floating around. Even fewer outside of Mandalorioan possesion."
She donned her helmet once again, leaving the two in silence for another moment as she made one more outside transmission. At her request a list of service records for any maintenance on one of the ancient starfighters appeared on her HUD. After scrolling though it quickly, she found what Erzin must have been looking for.
"Luck is on your side today Erzin. Seems there's only one Bes'uliik regularly serviced for an aruetti. It gets regular maintenance every couple of months. If your Kiffar friend is as punctual as these record indicate, he should arrive in three standard days."
She got up to take her leave,"If that's all, I've got many somewhere's to be and little time." She faced Lents, "I trust you'll remember our agreement."
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Post by Eth Erzin on Jul 23, 2012 7:42:43 GMT -8
Lents quickly sent Skeang a message.
He looked up. "That is all, Mandalore, thank you for your time." He bowed his head slightly in respect. Even though the Mandalorians were allied with the Empire, he had been surprised with how civil and professional she had represented their people. It would be a shame if things escalated to war with these people. But now he did owe her, so he wasn't quite sure what position that put him in. He would rather die before dishonoring his word, but what exactly would that entail?
Lents turned to Jax. "And thank you for your help too. If you have a datapad on you, I can transfer your funds right now should you like."
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Post by Jax Xefern on Jul 23, 2012 8:09:14 GMT -8
Jax snorted amusement that the information was found. He couldn't decide if it was genius or just asking for trouble that an aruetti was flying around the galaxy in one of those things. They were still around but most people just presumed it was a Mandalorian vessel when they saw it, Jax was certain, and since the Empire was smart enough to largely leave the Mandalorians to their own business... that was that. On the other hand, one message from a Mandalorian without a Mando'a response would be enough to tip that off. Not to mention more than a few wanted beings in the galaxy would respond with a volley of repeating cannon fire rather than wait to see who the pilot was there for.
The Mandalore left without speaking to Jax but that was the way of things amongst their lot, the big Mando'ade kept his attention on Erzin. The moment the guy started in about a datapad Jax pulled one from one of the many pouches affixed to his armor and slapped it on the table between them. Perhaps unsurprisingly it was an older military grade model renown for its rugged durability rather than computing power. Somehow it seemed like it suited Jax perfectly. "Like I said, remember the difference between exiled and ex. By the time you get out of system there is a good chance she's gonna know you're coming if she has any allies left... and the Mandalore made it sound like she did."
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