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Post by Deleted on Jul 21, 2017 14:24:59 GMT -8
A large warehouse located in Keldabe. It is the arms and armour manufacturer of the Mandalorian Assembly run by Clan Australis
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Jul 22, 2017 7:37:44 GMT -8
The works project at MandalArms had singlehandedly put an end to unemployment in Keldabe and some of the nearby towns. Thousands had found work on the complex, even those without construction or manufacturing skills had plenty to do. There were forklifts and trucks to be driven, loads to be unloaded and debris to be cleared and carted. Walls had to be painted, offices fitted out, and a working production line to be started.
Some excavation and tunnelling work had been rapidly carried out, crews working day and night shifts for the first two weeks until the underground work was completed and the access roads and forecourts began to be laid out over the ground, covering it with ferrocrete. Almost as soon as it was dry the trucks began to flow through the complex in an endless steady stream.
Overseeing all of this was the discerning eye and keen mind of Darzeka aliit Australis, Kaine's second in command. Over the past month he had overseen the clearing of the entire complex of debris and unnecessary equipment, and the construction of several warehouses and outbuildings, including a multi storye office building to house the MandalArms administration. Towering stacks marked the industrial forges, and less than a week ago smoke had billowed from the towering cylinders for the first time.
Now, the offices were filling up, as were the laboratories, which took up much of the underground section of the complex. Industrial R&D was a lucrative prospect for any competitor who wanted an edge. MandalArms wasn't giving away it's secrets lightly. The staff were vetted and checked thoroughly before being employed, and security was handled by the Clan directly until suitable arrangements could be made locally. The very visible presence of armed commandos patrolling the complex kept everyone on their best behaviour.
Darzeka was just watching the vode do a random stop and search of an incoming hauler when he recieved a message from one of the Clan's agents. He looked away from the security personnel and down at his arm's datapad to read.
At a time like this Clan Australis wasn't hurting for job offers, but this one had a speciality to it, Darzeka saw as he read on. Someone was planning a raid. A fairly dicey one by the details contained in the message packet. Knowing his aliit alor had given strict instructions not to be left out of the fun stuff, Darzeka reluctantly forwarded it to Kaine, appending his own opinion that the aliit alor and Governor-elect had better things to do with his time than taking merc jobs. Not that Kaine was likely to listen, he was the sort of senior commander who would bowl over a dozen people for a chance to go back into the field.
And, as usual, Darzeka would be handling the Clan's business while the boss played commando. Darzeka wasn't truly bothered, because deep down he fully understood his old friend's mind. The older and more senior you got, the less chances you got to keep your skills sharp. Mandalorians' trade was combat,
and combat was unforgiving. If you let yourself slip, your return to combat would be short and unenviable. Clan Australis' General was going to get his boots dirty again.
Sighing to himself inwardly, Darzeka resumed his watchful vigil over the newborn arms manufacturing complex. MandalArms' sign adorned the office building and hung above the massive main gates. The flag of MandalArms; a snowy white M and A below the Mythosaur skull on an ash grey background, flew from the side of one of the tallest smokestacks. Billowing in the breeze above the city of Keldabe, it announced to the world that once again Mandalorians were producing arms right here at home.
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Sidara Vercopa
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Post by Sidara Vercopa on Jul 25, 2017 7:30:22 GMT -8
Sidara was tired. It had been so long since she had had any leads on Corr's location. This was her last ditch effort to find him; to find closure. She had taken his ring off months ago. She probably knew that he was dead, but stubborn Sid was in full effect and she just wasn't ready to concede.
She had heard that maybe Kaine Australis might be able to help her. It was a long shot. She had traveled a long way to find him finally. Armed with a rare bottle of Manaan whiskey, she was going to get some answers... or she at least hoped she would. She grabbed her cigarettes and headed toward the MandalArms building to find the man she hoped had the answers.
The building loomed over her, bigger than she had anticipated. There were people in constant motion, and a cacauphony of voices echoed in the foyer as she entered. She stepped to the front desk, removed her helmet and caught the eye of the guard.
"I need to see Kaine Australis please. My name is Sidara Vercopa.... Vhett. It's an urgent matter" Sid resisted the urge to light a cigarette, as was her response to any anxious situation. "Please tell him it's about Corr Vhett" She took a step back and waited for the guard to respond.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Jul 26, 2017 7:10:51 GMT -8
The guard looked at the woman. Giving her a quick visual scan and spying no immediate threat he went to his arm datapad.
One moment please. He tapped out a quick message.
Someone will be with you shortly.
Nearby, the smell of industry wafted into Kaine's nostrils long before he got within sight of the MandalArms complex. Clearing the MandalMotors tower, he spied the tall stacks, the source of the smell. He was pleasantly surprised at the apparent progress. Even now, workmen were erecting signage indicating the opening was weeks away. Good, he thought, time the vode had their own source of weaponry.
Kaine made his way into the complex, even as his comm beeped. Text message from a guard on site about a visitor asking for him. A Fett, no less. Kaine responded he'd be there shortly and within a minute he was. Entering the building, he nodded to the guard, then caught sight of his visitor. A woman, in armour. Kaine approached her, and with another nod to the guard sent the fellow back to his duties.
Looking for me?
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Sidara Vercopa
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Post by Sidara Vercopa on Jul 26, 2017 7:17:52 GMT -8
She heard footsteps behind her, and then heard his voice. Sidara turned around and looked him over. Taller than she expected. She tucked her helmet under her arm and extended her hand.
Yes, actually, I am. I'm Sidara Vercopa. I was...er.. am engaged to marry Corr Vhett. I'd like to talk to you about him, if you have some time.
She held out the bottle of Manaan whiskey.
I brought you a gift. Maybe we can talk over a drink?
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Jul 26, 2017 7:31:28 GMT -8
Kaine took the offered hand and shook it politely. At least they were both wearing armor, handshakes were awkward when only one of the participants had their hand clad in steel.
Nice to meet you, Sidara. Well now. He eyed the bottle suggestively. I believe my schedule just freed up.
Behind him the guard cursed, not quite softly enough to be unheard, but Kaine pretended not to notice. He knew the guard was going to have to deal with informing his second, Darzeka, of the news, and he wouldn't be happy Kaine was skipping out before he'd even started.
Kaine moved towards an elevator that would take them up to an upper floor laid out for the executives of the company, and hit the call button.
This way. New facilities all set up, haven't been used yet. We'll see if they've stocked the fancy glassware yet. On the far wall, the elevator dinged, and opened. Kaine shoved his arm into the door so it wouldn't close, and waited for Sidara.
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Sidara Vercopa
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Post by Sidara Vercopa on Jul 30, 2017 14:42:19 GMT -8
Sid stepped into the elevator, her body longing for a cigarette. Now was not the time, so she fidgeted with the cork on the bottle of whiskey as the elevator took them to Kaine's office.
Thank you for seeing me today on such short notice. You are my last chance at finding anyone that may know something about Corr. I've been searching for many many months and I've come up with nothing.
She looked down at the floor. She would eventually have to admit that he was not coming back. There was no way that she hadn't turned up something already... But Corr lead life on the edge and she knew that eventually his luck would run out.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Jul 31, 2017 5:53:07 GMT -8
Kaine listened carefully as the elevator took them up and Sidara spoke of her search.
We'll do what we can. The car reached the executive floor and opened onto a well appointed expansive shared space decorated with plants and various artwork and sculptures, ringed by boardrooms, smaller meeting rooms, and private offices with glass partition walls. Kaine led the way into this space and across into a small meeting room.
We'll need a starting point. What information do you have? Kaine had selected this room for the executive facilities, which included a bar. Spying what he needed in a glass doored floor level cabinet, he secured a pair of crystal glasses, and put them down on a hardwood side table. He then fetched a pair of leather swivel chairs from around the large boardroom meeting table and rolled them away and over to the bar area.
Last known location would be handy. As he said this, Kaine pulled out a small data terminal and busied himself powering it up and syncing it to the Australis networks.
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Sidara Vercopa
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Post by Sidara Vercopa on Aug 1, 2017 6:45:57 GMT -8
Sidara appreciated the oppulance of the executive suite. It was lush but not obnoxious. It was definitely a sign that Australis was doing well for himself. Sid set her buy'ce down on the side table and pulled the cork on the bottle as Kaine procured some glasses for them. Manaan whiskey was certainly her guilty pleasure.
The last I knew, he was somewhere on Yavin. It's not really clear exactly where. He's got interests on Zolan... mainly Gyselle Swallow's brothel. He's spent a lot of time there, but she hasn't seen him in over a year. I'm at a loss.
Sid poured a healthy amount of whiskey in each glass. She held hers up to Kaine. "K'oyacyi!"
She drank deeply and closed her eyes briefly to enjoy the warmth the whiskey provided.
Honestly, maybe I am fooling myself. He lived on the edge, and maybe I just have to accept that my fiance is dead.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Aug 1, 2017 7:02:49 GMT -8
Kaine tapped a couple of keys, then smacked the side of the terminal when the screen flickered. That seemed to fix it, and he reached out to take his glass and return Sidara's salute. He matched her 'Oya' and drank, letting the surprisingly tasty whisky make its way down his gullet.
Damn, he thought, this stuff is decent. Who'd have thought Manaan of all places would smash out a whiskey this good?
Early days yet. I'll run what we have through our logs and bounce a few requests offworld.
He wasn't sure how to proceed on this subject. Sidara clearly wasn't stupid. She knew her man was probably gone. Kaine respected that she wanted to know for sure. Some people just moved on with their lives. When you had found someone you cared about, you wanted to know, one way or another. The thought that they might still be out there was tormenting.
Kaine knew it from both sides. He'd lost his entire family, and known nothing for years, and they'd all thought him dead for more than a decade. By the time he'd made his way home, his wife and son had both died never knowing he was alive, but he'd found his daughter, alive and well, only to lose her once again.
If the records on the worlds you mentioned turn anything up, we'll know soon. He tried a subject change to make the wait seem less tense.
I never expected to be tasting Manaan Whiskey, much less enjoying it. This is good stuff.
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Sidara Vercopa
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Post by Sidara Vercopa on Aug 1, 2017 7:16:55 GMT -8
Sidara finished her glass and nodded.
"Yeah, I discovered it one night having drinks with a very broody Togruta. She swore by it. I've not had any other kind since. I managed to get quite the supply off of her when she was drunk and lamenting about her partner and his friend running off together or something like that."
Sidara filled their glasses again.
Listen, I'm not expecting much here. We were going to be married. I have to believe that if he was alive he would have tried to contact me by now. I just need solid proof of his demise so I can move on. Maybe go back to my old life before I met him. I don't know. Thank you though, I appreciate you doing this for me. If anyone can find anything, it's you.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Aug 2, 2017 1:37:27 GMT -8
Kaine checked the data feeds again, still nothing tangible had turned up, but there were still some queries to run down, a little bit more time wouldn't hurt, make it a proper thorough search. He could do that for her at least. She was right in that Kaine was probably the best option in the Mando world when it came to information. Years of building and maintaining networks across the galaxy meant that Clan Australis had a wealth of information sources.
Short of a couple of Bothans i've heard of, you're probably right. My wife's been gone a long time. Illness took her, I heard it was over pretty quick and there wasn't much the medics could do. I was.... No way he was ready to tell that story. He let the pause do it for him. away.
Natasii had been gone a long time, and Vihn too. Only Arla, his daughter, remained of his own family, and she was as lost as Sidara's fiancee.
I knew Corr in the old days, before I held the kyr'bes, and we served te Goran. He was a good vod. If he is gone, I know he would have met his fate as a true mando'ad.
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Sidara Vercopa
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Post by Sidara Vercopa on Aug 2, 2017 5:05:58 GMT -8
Sidara sighed and absently rubbed the spot where her ring used to be. She looked up at Kaine and saw the same feeling she felt when she thought of losing the one she loved. She cleared her throat and took another drink.
Of that I have no doubt in my mind. He was brash and rough around the edges. The man had no filter and said exactly what was on his mind. But he was certainly fearless in his pursuits. He respected and honored his clan to the fullest and would do anything for them. Sidara paused. I assume this is going to take you some time, I have that in loads. What can I do to thank you for your efforts?
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Aug 2, 2017 6:24:54 GMT -8
Kaine listened as Sidara spoke of her lost love. It was clear she held deep respect and feeling for the man. Understandable, Corr was the sort of man who engendered that in people. He noted she no longer wore the ring as she played with the spot where such a ring would live. Practical like any mando'ad, clearly she'd mostly made her peace with her loss.
No charge. Corr was a vod, i'd like to find out as much as you.
Kaine took up his glass and sipped at the whiskey as he glanced at the data feeds. Still nothing. But damn this whiskey was something else. More than enough payment in his eyes. If you want, consider this delightful beverage payment in full. He waved his glass for emphasis, then finished his drink and put the glass back down. A thought had occured to him.
Do you have any other family with Corr gone?
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Sidara Vercopa
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Post by Sidara Vercopa on Aug 2, 2017 6:33:45 GMT -8
Sidara smiled and filled their glasses again.
Thank you. I appreciate your efforts greatly.
She took a sip of her drink, and looked at Kaine before she answered. Her parents had passed many years ago, and she had removed herself from her blood family shortly after, wandering the universe doing odd jobs and surviving until she met Corr.
No not really. I lost my parents when I was young. So, other than the Vhett... which I am only connected through Corr, I have no one. . And I have been on his search for so long, I've lost touch with most of anyone I was with before. I've been traveling alone.... but I'm kind of a loner anyway.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Aug 2, 2017 6:55:04 GMT -8
Kaine listened, and heard where Sid was coming from. She was alone, like him. It seemed somehow silly, just then. To distract himself from the troubling revelation that he might have to discover that he might not be done with family after all, Kaine focused on the data feeds again, absently reaching for his drink. Still no luck. He sent a request for information to Bothawui on the off chance that someone picked up on it, then turned back to Sidara.
I know a little about being alone these days too. I have my work, and my clan, and they keep me busy. One benefit of command is that I can usually steal the fun jobs for myself. I couldn't stand being behind a desk all day, stuck in a shabla office, never seeing the galaxy or feeling the thrill of danger, or the rush of combat, the smells of the battlefield.
I know it drives some of my lads insane, the General wanting to be on the front lines, but what the hell good is being a General and a clan chief if you can't enjoy it?
He decided, then and there, to make the offer. It made sense, and no mando liked to stand on ceremony or tiptoe around subjects.
The three glasses of this fine whiskey helped a little. He knew that propriety demanded he should at least wait for the searches to be exhausted, but it was starting to look as if it was inevitable that they would come up empty, and Kaine Australis wasn't the most patient of individuals, less so where alcohol was involved.
You could come along, you know. Can't promise it'll always be safe, mind, but I can promise you won't be bored, and you will never ever be alone.
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Sidara Vercopa
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Post by Sidara Vercopa on Aug 2, 2017 7:05:53 GMT -8
Sidara listened intently. He could relate to her. She took a sip of her whiskey as he made the offer to her. To work with him on the front lines. She was mildly surprised considering they had nothing to do with one another until she showed up with the bottle of booze... but it made sense. They were a lot alike. Loners, suffered great familial loss. It would give her someplace to belong and be, and maybe help her admit that Corr was really gone.
Yeah, you know... that sounds good actually. As far as it being safe, did I mention I was engaged to Corr Vhett? She chuckled at her own joke and drained her glass.
Catch me up? I've been out of the loop so long. She nodded to the bottle. Are you keen to finish this off with me?
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Aug 2, 2017 7:30:09 GMT -8
Kaine felt the inward thrill he always felt when he made a new friend. It was so rare, and the thrill was all the more potent because it had been so very long since he'd felt it. He drained his own glass and grinned at Sidara's suggestion.
Not even another Vongese invasion could drag me away. Fill her up! He held out his own empty vessel.
How we got here is a much longer story than I could tell even in a day, so we'll stick with current events for now. Plenty of that. It was probably going to take months to fill in all the events over all the years, but there was no hurry. Time and whiskey would do the trick.
We've got a new Mand'alor, Damocles Ordo. Seems a solid enough fellow, and he's got some good ideas, and so far he's doing the right things.
The Clans are rebuilding. Fett, Australis, Ordo and D'Ordinii as well as Carid are the main players. I've seen a couple of Skiratas, but their numbers don't seem to be what they were in the old days.
Australis is dealing with weapons production, based right here. Eventually we'll be producing enough here to re-arm all the clans out of our own pocket.
That said, we're not resting on our laurels. I want us to expand and diversify. Our clan was nearly wiped out over a decade ago because we were all gathered in one place. That will never happen again. We'll spread out and move around a lot. You said this whiskey comes from Manaan. Wouldn't mind setting up a factory or two there one day.
He didn't want to overwhelm her with the minutiae of Clan Australis operations, as he'd promised just recently not to bore her, so he tried to limit himself.
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Sidara Vercopa
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Post by Sidara Vercopa on Aug 2, 2017 7:59:17 GMT -8
Sid laughed at him and filled their glasses once again. I have plenty in my ship should we need another bottle or two.
Sidara listened to him regale the tale of the current affairs of the clans. She nodded, having a cursery understanding of where they were headed and what was going on. She felt better than she had in months having a direction and something to take her mind off of Corr. Plus she kind of liked Kaine. He was like her. And he wasn't hard to talk to. Sidara fought with making conversation. Small talk did nothing for her. It was painstaking and boring and made her terribly uneasy. She took a swallow of the whiskey and smiled.
Sounds grand. What do you want me to do to help?
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Aug 3, 2017 5:06:02 GMT -8
Kaine was about to reply, when his comm beeped, the unique beep that let him know the message was top priority. He closed his open mouth and hit the button on his arm to open the channel giving Sid an apologetic smile. Sorry, I have to get this.
Kaine here. Commodore Kryze's voice came through crisp and clear.
General. We have an incoming transmission from a Yuuzhan Vong vessel in the Mandalore system.
Kaine was unable to believe it. Commodore, priority one status is not for pranks. Even as he said it, he felt stupid. Chiss didn't play pranks on duty. Kryze wouldn't if she had a blaster to her head. He got in before she could go into Chiss rage. Sorry, forget it. Is this confirmed?
Kryze didn't pause, but her tone held all the reproach in the galaxy. It appears genuine, though the ship is too far out for a proper scan. I have a squadron outbound now.
Kaine didn't hesitate. I'm on my way. You know what to do if it is them. Kaine out.
He cut the comm, put down his drink and stood up. From a pouch on his belt he retrieved a packet of pills and tipped some into his hand. He swallowed three, and offered some to Sidara. Hyperox. Deals with the booze. He explained. His eyes met Sidara's, and she would see a fire in them that hadn't been there before, blazing.
Apparently we have some visitors above Mandalore. Looks like it might be Yuuzhan Vong. My bes'uliik seats two. Want to come along? Though a new Yuuzhan Vong invasion was a grim prospect indeed given the results of their last visit, Kaine managed a smile.
After the Yuuzhan Vong war the Bothans had openly declared their intent to continue their ar'krai, or holy war,
or genocide, depending on who you asked. Many had tried to strike at the Vong on Zonama Sekot. Some Mando'ade had also tried, though it wasn't widely known. They did fail, as did all. The living world wasn't going to allow others to wipe out a defenceless, beaten people.
If they'd gotten more ships, and left Zonama Sekot though, that was something Kaine Australis wasn't prepared to live and let live. Theyd gone back to being a threat at that point, and he wasn't going to tolerate a threat that had once killed trillions.
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