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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2014 17:23:21 GMT -8
*Korra had closed her eyes for what seemed like only a minute when her datapad went off. Reaching over she grabbed the device and checked the new message. The message was from Ander Tagira, answering the question if he knew who Selena was. Korra gave a slight frown before responding.*
::She was my mother. An operative in the New Republic before dying of sickness a few years ago. Just wondering, she served with a man Named Ander. A Jedi I think. She never really told me about him, just a name.::
*She intentionally left out the 'might be her father' part. The odds were incredibly low for that. Besides, the man her mother knew was a Jedi Knight, not a leader of a paramilitary organization. Setting the datapad on her stomach, she stared at the ceiling. Her mind drifted back to when she was young. A time when her mother would tell her stories of all her adventures.*
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Ander Tagira
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 7, 2014 13:11:26 GMT -8
Ander frowned as he opened the message he'd just received from Korra's commlink. He thought on it some more, and began remembering more of his assignments with the New Republic military, which had been set in the convoluted and quick-paced atmosphere of the post-Galactic Civil War. Selena's name grew more familiar, remembering a slight woman with dark hair serving on a handful of assignments with a transfer unit Ander had spent time with. She'd been well spoken and funny, with a rye sense of humor that matched his own. Ander felt a smirk touch his lips as the memory of a rough night on board the Viscount-class flagship that had headquartered their unit for a time. They'd all gotten blitzed on spirits and Petty Officer Heady had broken his wrist trying to do a handstand on top of a urinal in the latrine. They'd dragged the man to the infirmary and abandoned him there with the on-duty medical officer, a sour-faced Nautolan named Kasd, so as to avoid getting in trouble. Then Ander had retired to the unit's quarters with the rest of the group, where they'd kept drinking for several hours and...that's when it all clicked.
The smirk on Ander's face vanished immediately. He stared down at the message, reading the words Korra had left unwritten. He swallowed the lump that had appeared in his throat, confusion and doubt filling his thoughts. That night, onboard the Viscount, Ander and Sekel had continued drinking and conversing long after the rest of the team had passed out. They'd snuck drunkenly to Sekel's quarters and slept together, Ander waking up only a few hours later and stealing away in the early morning. That day he'd been reassigned to an intelligence team in the Mid Rim, and never spoke with Sekel again. The timing was right, and the leave of absence Sekel had taken fell within weeks of Ander's reassignment. Eight weeks, to be exact.
He took a deep, then took care with his response to Korra's message. ORIGIN: A. Tagira=GC-01 ---> Korra Sekel=[Contact Listing #27]
CONTENT: I was a Jedi Knight at the time, assigned to your mother's unit. I think I might be your father. So what now?/END
Ander pursed his lips as the message transmitted, then opened another with Calo's commlink.
ORIGIN: A. Tagira=GC-01 ---> C. Tagira=[Contact Listing #4]
CONTENT: I'm not sure, but you might have a sister./END He sent the second message, wondering if it was the right thing to do, telling Calo of his suspicions before having them confirmed. He slid off the storage crate where he was seated, then grabbed his rifle and brusquely made his way to the Medical Deck.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 13:41:16 GMT -8
*Korra heard her datapad beep. She let out a sigh before reading the message. Her stomach formed a knot when she finished reading what Ander had sent her, the knot seemingly growing every time she re-read the message. Letting out a groan she closed her eyes and dropped the datapad onto her stomach. 'So what now'. The last words of the message seemed to ring in her head. Picking up the datapad, she began to write.*
::I don't know. Are you completely sure?:: *She didn't have to ask the question. Her gut already told her the answer, it told that he was. She was finding it hard to believe the way they met though. Him breaking into her ship, shooting her in the leg...him shooting her. She clenched her jaw in anger at that one.* ::If you are then that doesn't make any less upset about you shooting me.::
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Ander Tagira
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 8, 2014 12:24:27 GMT -8
One of the ship's medical personnel, Doctor Efraim Youst, was tightening a rubber cord around Ander's arm for a blood draw when Korra's message came through on his datatablet. He picked it up with the other hand and opened the message, grimacing. He ought to have felt...something over shooting the girl in the leg, but when he searched his feelings nothing arose. The situation had called for it, and without confirmation she was even his daughter, Ander could hardly fault himself.
Even so, the suggestion that Korra might be his flesh and blood changed a lot of other things. Her mission, her entire life, lived without his guidance. He wanted her off Nal Hutta as soon as possible to avoid losing the girl before even having a chance to get to know her. As he felt the prick of a needle in his arm, Ander realized the tone his inner monologue had taken, labeling Korra a girl where she had been a woman before. If she was his daughter, then the two of them had a lot of catching up to do. Catching up that wouldn't happen if she were killed on the Hutt homeworld.
Ander opened a separate message, calling to order his available forces for Korra's extraction. After sending the orders, Ander thanked the doctor as he replied to Korra's message.
"I'll have the second sample ready for you as soon as I return." He told Youst. The man nodded and turned away, taking the vial containing his blood to a back room for DNA analysis. Ander kept his message to Korra short and succinct.
ORIGIN: A. Tagira=GC-01 ---> Korra Sekel=[Contact Listing #27]
CONTENT: We'll run your DNA for comparison to mine once I have you on board our ship. I'm on my way with an extraction team now. SP is in ten minutes. Our ETA is one hour. Sit tight./END
Ander locked his datatablet, then quickly made his way back to the hangar bay, where the extraction team was waiting for him. Staff Sergent Huxley and his soldiers were already on board the LAAT/s gunship, its engines thrumming softly as it hovered just above the deck.
"Is my gear already loaded?" He asked Huxley, who nodded. Yeah, just waiting on you. The commando replied, grasping Ander's hand with his own and pulling him aboard. Ander waited for the bay door to slide closed behind him, and within moments the gunship was jetting out of the hangar bay at full speed. Ander was rocked slightly as the vessel disembarked the Basterd's Hand before he took his seat and pulled his helmet over his head.
We've got Sekel's location locked in already. We'll drop into the atmosphere roughly thirty klicks from her position and make our way low and fast. Huxley briefed Ander quickly as they made the short hyperspace jump to Nal Hutta.
Sounds good to me. Let's keep this short and quick. If we take contact, get to the landing area as quickly as possible, pick up the target and get out. We're not trying to stick around for a fight here. To himself, Ander thought, Hold tight Korra and stay alive.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2014 16:47:37 GMT -8
*Korra read the new message from Ander, causing her eyes to narrow. She let out a sigh and set the datapad down. Now he was coming to get her. She couldn't tell if she was relieved, angry or nervous. These feelings ran through her mind before Daks voice brought her back to reality.*
-Dak-
"You better get ready. We have company inbound."
-Korra-
"Yeah I know. I just got Ander Tagiras message. He'll be here in about an hour. And stop reading my messages."
-Dak-
"Not what I meant. We have company inbound." *He pointed to one of the security monitors on the wall. Almost a dozen armed guards could be seen making their way slowly down the ally.* "They must have tracked you somehow." *Dak casually stood up and headed to a supply closet. There he pulled out a suit of armor similar to Korras and a fletchet shotgun.* "Lets hope your new friends get here soon."
*Korra felt her stomach drop. She quickly headed to her bunk and grabbed her gear. As she put it on, Dak activated perimeter defenses. With a loud click the doors locked and sealed themselves shut. Korra finished putting on her armor and grabbed her rifle. This safe house was small and easily defendable from a small group of raiders. The downside was that there was only one way in, they were going to have to fight their way out. Picking up her datapad she messaged Ander.*
::Better make that a quick hour. Our location has be compromised. We're going to have to fight our way out to a new LZ. There's a landing pad on top of an old salvage depo. half a klick north of here. We'll hold out till you get close. Then we'll make our move. Can't risk getting caught in the open.::
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Ander Tagira
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 9, 2014 13:49:33 GMT -8
Ander's HUD flashed, an icon was signaling he had a waiting message. It was from Korra, his maybe-daughter. Ander felt his jaw clench as he read the message's contents, the girl was in trouble. And injuring her might prove to be more of a handicap than he thought. Ander hadn't expected Korra to be immediately labeled as the Hutt's killer, the bomb was intended to kill his bodyguards as well. He closed the message and barked an order to the gunship's pilot.
Step it up, we're going into hard contact. Skip the stealthy crap. Salvage depot rooftop, half-klick north of the current El-Zed. Ander double-checked his ammunition as the rest of the team stood and grasped the overhead rails for support. Staff Sergent Huxley looked his way.
Hutt's catch up to her? He asked. Ander nodded solemnly in return. Thankfully the girl's not stupid, they have a secondary pick up zone nearby.
Ander turned his attention back to the pilot as he checked the vessel's external displays. The area was coming up fast, no more than a couple minutes out. Through the external holocams, Ander caught sight of the streets where Korra was supposedly holed up. Switching the display panel to thermal optics, Ander glimpsed a group of armed personnel making their way down one of the narrow alleys.
Hostiles ahead, no civvies in sight. Prep for strafe run, repeating cannons only. Ander ordered. The pilot decelerated as he aligned the gunship parallel to the alley ahead. As they came into range, the repeating cannons mounted on the LAAT/s' nose began to scream, searing the permacrete of the alley and cutting through a handful of the armed soldiers making their way to Korra's safehouse. Fire erupted, leaving the pavement black and smoking. The remaining soldiers dove out of the way, taking cover where they could find it as the gunship roared overhead and pulled away, accelerating swiftly. Ander brought Korra up on his commlink.
We just made a passing run, took out a handful of your attackers. We'll meet you at the El-Zed. Get going. Now. We'll provide continuous air support. Ander told her, not waiting for the girl to respond before he ordered the pilot around for a second run. Cease fire the moment you see her out in the open, got it? He demanded. The pilot replied with an affirmative as Ander felt the gunship swing around for a second pass. Hurry up, Korra, he said to himself.
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2014 16:49:02 GMT -8
*Korra leaned against the wall of the room. Her rifled trained around the corner towards the entrance. Several tense moments passed before a small explosion rocked the room. The sounds of screaming could be heard from outside. Across her comlink a new voice appeared. The voice was of Ander Tagira, the man who may in fact be her father. She was slightly surprised and relieved upon hearing his voice.*
::Roger that. On the move now.::
*She turned to Dak and gave a nod. As one, they moved from their cover and quickly cleared the distance to the door. Dak hit the security lever, causing the doors to blow outward. Without hesitating, the two cleared the threshold and sprinted into an adjasent alleyway. Pulling a small detonator from his pocket, Dak hit the switch. From within the safe house, a large explosion went off. Fire and smoke rolled out the entrance, covering their escape. Without looking they sprinted towards the LZ, knowing that they had a lot of ground to cover. All the while Korra couldn't help but notice her injured leg was beginning to slow her down. She began to breath harder as her body had to work more to keep her going. Daks voice cut into her thoughts.*
-Dak-
::Right! Go right!::
*Korra darted right after the man. Before going around the corner, she spotted several more armed figures running towards them. She followed Dak as he took a left then another right. From what Korra could tell, the thugs were trying to box them in. Even with a gunship as support they were still dealing with a lot of hostiles in tight spaces. Things could go wrong quick. Korra and Dak round a corner at the same time a small group rounded a corner at the far end. Both Korra and Dak dove into cover at the same time just as blaster fire rang over their heads. Looking over the crate she was behind, Korra counted four raiders. She knew that more were coming up behind them in a hurry, it was only a matter of time before they were boxed in.*::Ander we're pinned! Four hostiles at out twelve blocking our path. More coming up on our six!:: *She knew if they got rid of these four blocking their path, then they'd be home free.*
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Ander Tagira
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 9, 2014 19:43:26 GMT -8
Ander listened to Korra's frenzied update, worry striking his thoughts over the life of a girl he hardly knew. After the briefest moment of consideration, Ander barked his orders over the platoon-frequency, so both the pilots and Huxley's team would hear.
Bring the gunship down into that intersection, just outside the second street behind our friendlies. Huxley, get your boys on the port side, we'll take them out ourselves. The gunship swung around sharply and slowed to a crawl over the streets below. Huxley slapped the release on the port bay door and a pair of his commandos dropped down to sit within the opening, their legs dangling over the edge as they secured themselves to the gunship via life lines clipped to fasteners in the deck. The gunship oriented itself so that Korra and her companion were placed directly under it, eliminating the threat of friendly fire as the commandos would be free to fire on their targets by shooting from above. Ander stood behind the two commandos, gripping the overhead support beam. Just as the gunship settled into position, Ander heard rifles slapping away as they shot down the four assailants. Moments later, they were clear.
Sekel, get moving, we'll meet you in the intersection. No time to get to the El-Zed. Ander spoke into his commlink, then snapped fresh orders to the pilots as Huxley and another of his men pulled the two commandos back into the bay and sealed the door behind them. The gunship shot sideways, dodging an incoming rocket fired from a shoulder-mounted launcher. Countermeasures exploded from under the gunship's wing-joints, bursting into the air just above the city streets, spewing flame and white smoke. Luckily, the maneuver brought the vessel just over the intersection ahead of Korra and her comrade. The pilot dropped the vehicle straight down, halting the vessel just inches above the pavement below.
Ander threw the bay door open once more and caught sight of Korra and another being heading towards them. Korra was limping now, and Ander cursed himself. Hurry up! He bellowed, gesturing at them with his hand as four commandos from Huxley's team took positions on either side of the bay doors, their weapons searching in all directions for hostiles. Several more shots were fired, putting down enemy soldiers that made the mistake of exposing themselves. Ander gritted his teeth in anticipation. There was little more he could do but hope they made it to the gunship in time.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2014 15:44:23 GMT -8
*Korra heard the gunship drop low. Looking up, she saw the gunship directly above her. She watched as several commands open fired on her attackers. Korra could hear Anders voice give the all clear. Moving from behind cover, she began to make her way forward. She could hear the gunship execute some form of counter measure before landing down the street in front of her, but never had time to look up to see. Her injured leg screamed in pain as she pushed herself forward, each step made her feel as if she was going to fall.*
*After what felt like several long seconds, Korra made it to the gunship. Quickly she boarded the LAAT, closely followed by Dak. She was relieved that she made it there alive, also a little angry at Ander at the same time.* ::Lets get out of here!:: *She turned to look behind her. Only to have her leg almost give out from under her. Taking most of the weight off her leg she turned to Ander and spoke in a low and almost hesitant voice.* ::Thanks..for showing up.::
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Ander Tagira
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 10, 2014 20:01:28 GMT -8
Ander was too far lost in the rush of combat to even hear Korra's utterance of thanks. Adrenaline inundating his senses and all that mattered was the task at hand. He grasped the girl by the breastplate of her armor, pulling her aside and shoving her down onto one of the benches as Huxley keyed the bay door shut and signaled to the pilots they were clear to take off. Immediately the gunship jerked upwards, nearly sending Ander to a knee, but thankfully one of Huxley's commandos caught him by the arm. Through the thick armor of the vehicle, the composite beam cannons could be heard firing on the streets below, dissuading any effort on part of their enemies to attack the fleeing gunship. As the vessel's engines roared, tearing for the upper atmosphere of the planet, Ander turned and stared down at Korra through the T-shaped visor of his buy'ce.
Let's get a look at that leg. He said to her, kneeling at her feet and pulling off his gloves. He stuffed them into his utility belt, then called to one of Huxley's commandos for a medikit. While he waited, Ander grasped wounded Korra's leg and began removing the armor covering it. The cloth beneath he cut away with a small knife. The wrappings covering Korra's injury had shifted drastically during her escape and were hardly covering her bullet wound.
You didn't remove the bullet. Ander muttered, inspecting the hole in the meat of the girl's calf. It wasn't a question, he could tell the way the wound seeped blood slowly, and remained swollen, her body's attempt to force the foreign object from her flesh. One of the commando's returned to Ander's side with a medikit in hand, which he took and opened. He pulled a pair of needle-point pliers from the kit and pressed them into the wound as carefully as he could. Ander maintained a tight grip on Korra's leg while he worked, to better prevent her from jerking the limb away from the cold touch of the surgical pliers. Once the tip had entered the wound and Ander felt the light pressure of metal on metal, he opened the device, gripping the rim of the bullet and extracting it carefully from Korra's muscle and flesh. He let it drop onto the deck, leaving the pliers with it while he fed a layer of bacta-gauze into the hole, then began wrapping her leg with as much care as he could afford. While he worked, Ander looked up at her, looking into eyes he'd never seen, a face he'd never known. Only now did Ander allow himself to feel.
I'm sorry to hear about your mother. He muttered, securing the pressure bandage around Korra's leg with a gentle hand. He reached for another roll and began wrapping the final layer around the limb, maintaining pressure on the area of her wound. I'm sorry I wasn't there when she went...or any other time you might have needed someone. He almost felt as if he were talking to himself, as if he were alone in the bay of the gunship. It felt...surreal.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2014 18:49:18 GMT -8
*There was little Korra could do as Ander moved her to one of the benches and made her sit down. She almost pulled back when he moved to patch up her leg. Instead she leaned up against the wall of the gunship and watched Ander go about removing the bullet. She couldn't help but cringe when he stuck the pliers into the wound and pulled out the bullet. As she let out a sigh, she realized that she was gripping the bench hard enough to turn her knuckles white. Relaxing, she turned her attention back to Ander. She stared into his eyes and listened to his apology. Closing her eyes, she let out a sigh before speaking.*
"There was nothing you, or anyone else could have done for her. What happened to her happened, I can't change that." *She paused at the last part. The part about him being there. Her ice blue eyes stared into his. She wasn't sure whether to feel grateful, or yell at him. For her entire life he had never been around, never knew she even existed. Some of the fault was her mothers, she knew that. For now though she would just see how things went.* "I was never truly alone. There were others that helped me along the way."
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Ander Tagira
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 11, 2014 19:29:44 GMT -8
Korra's icy blue stare caught his own through the visor of his helmet. Being Mando'ad herself, the girl likely knew just where to look. Ander pulled the helmet from his head and set it down on the deck, Korra's leg still held in his careful grip. He gave her limb a gentle squeeze, well down from her injury, and moved to sit beside her. The gunship shivered slightly beneath them as they left the atmosphere of Nal Hutta for open space.
"A man can still be sorry." He muttered, wringing his hands together slowly. "Regardless of how this turns out, maybe I can be there from now on."
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2014 19:49:28 GMT -8
*Korra placed her hands in her lap as Ander sat beside her. She knew he had a point there was no denying that.*
"You're right, a man can still be sorry." *She heisted for a second before speaking again.* "Maybe you should be there from no on. Or at least get a chance to."
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Ander Tagira
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 12, 2014 11:38:12 GMT -8
Ander nodded. "I appreciate the opportunity, Korra." He mumbled. The remainder of the journey back to the Basterd's Hand was a quiet one, and short; the vessel was positioned just outside the system. As thu gunship left hyperspace and neared the massive Imperial-III Star Destroyer, Ander donned his helmet and slung his gear pack, the rest of the commandos following suit. When we arrive, drop your gear in the hangar. He said to Korra. I'll take you to the medical center and we'll get your leg fixed up properly before we run your blood.
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2014 14:11:39 GMT -8
*Korra gave a nod. In her mind there was nothing left to say, at least not now anyway. She turned her attention to the approaching Star Destroyer. Standing up, she grabbed her gear without taking her eyes off the ship. After a moments pause she turned to Ander.*
"I guess we get to finally confirm if you're my father or not then."
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Ander Tagira
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 12, 2014 15:02:24 GMT -8
Ander shrugged. Whether or not, you've earned a place here, if you want one. He told her as the troop bay doors slid open. Ander stepped out onto the deck of the Hand's main hangar bay and watched numerous commandos going about their daily work. He dropped his gear at a marked assembly area near the hangar doors and led Korra to the turbolift that would see them to the medical center. The ride was short, as expected, seeing as how the hangar bay was the main casualty collection point during times of conflict. Stepping out of the lift, Ander walked into the white-washed chambers of the medical center, taking off his helmet and showing his face to the receptionist at the desk, who smiled and nodded him passed. He stepped into the main lobby and led Korra through a pair of double-doors marked in Mando'a as the Physician's Center.
"Sandra?" Ander called, stopping to look around. "Just a moment." A voice called back from another room. After a moment, a woman with greyed, shoulder-length hair stepped into sight. She had soft, kindly features that, while slightly wrinkled with age, were not unattractive. She was garbed in a form-fitting tunic, white with silver accents and maroon trim at the shoulders and waist, GALSAF's colors. The tunic boasted many pockets and pouches for datapads and medical affects.
"Ah, Lord Commander, a pleasure, as always." The woman bowed slightly, her hazel eyes catching Korra's own. "And I see you've brought a friend." She added in a pleasant tone. Ander nodded, looking to the young woman. "Korra, this is Major Cassandra Reynolds, GALSAF's chief medical officer." Cassandra declined her chin in a polite nod. "Sandra, this is Korra Sekel, a freelancer." The Major arched an eyebrow at that, but made no comment. All types made their way through GALSAF's medical center, eventually. "And what can I help you with, Lord Commander?" Cassandra asked. "I have your blood results back, if that's what you want. But you won't find anything different from your last check-up." Ander shook his head. "It's differences between her blood and mine I'm looking for. We also need a suture on a wound." He replied, jerking his head in Korra's direction. Cassandra pursed her lips, then sighed. "Ah, understood. Come here, young woman, and we'll get your blood drawn. The results should be back within a few hours."
The blood draw took no more than a few minutes, after which Cassandra addressed the wound on Korra's leg. She unwrapped Ander's dress-job, peeling back layers of gauze and searching the wound with her eyes. "Gunshot, slug not energy. Small calibre. And by the lack of residue in the wound, I would have to say..." The Major looked up at Ander, who was leaning against a counter nearby. "Verpine?" She asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Ander nodded gravely. "Don't worry, I shot her myself." He replied gruffly. Cassandra's lips hardened. "I refuse to even ask. You'd only give me some cockamamy answer anyways...smartass." Ander took a deep breath, but otherwise ignored the comment. The Major turned her attention back to Korra's wound, anesthetizing it before suturing the hole shut with deft hands. While she worked, Ander considered how he might go about telling Korra that Reynolds was, by blood, her grandmother. The woman didn't even yet know she was his own mother. He mulled the various conversations over in his mind, losing himself to thought. The job was done in the next ten minutes, after which Cassandra bandaged Korra's leg and patted her thigh sweetly.
"You're all set, dear." Ander was pulled from his mental wool gathering. "Keep it clean, and avoid exercise for a couple of days. The bacta gel should have you healed up in a day or so." Cassandra looked at Ander as she gathered her supplies and made off to sterilize them. "Stop shooting people, Commander. I'll see you at your next session." Ander felt his jaw tighten, wishing she hadn't mentioned their private gatherings. As Cassandra disappeared into a back room, Ander looked Korra over. "Feeling better?" He asked, knowing it was a banal question. Korra may end up being his flesh and blood daughter, but she was still a woman grown who had cared for herself well enough up until now. She didn't need coddling.
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2014 15:50:07 GMT -8
*Korra stepped off the gunship, limping even more now that the adrenaline had worn off. Dropping her gear next to Anders, she couldn't help be take in her surroundings. The level of activity going on in the hangar made her realize just how large of an operation GALSAF really was. Her mind drifted for a moment when Ander said that she had a place amongst them even if she wasn't his daughter. She began to wonder if she would stay if she wasn't, after all she was used to working alone.*
*Her mind came back to reality once the turbo lift reached the medical center. She couldn't help but cringe at the stark white walls and smell of antiseptic. Medical centers were some of her least favorite things. She followed Ander into the physicians center where she met Sandra, the chief medical officer. Korra gave the women a polite nod back and followed her to one of the tables. She sat patiently through the blood drawing and the re-wrapping of her leg, trying her best not to show any pain and say as little as possible. Korra couldn't help but give a slight smile when the women told Ander to stop shooting people. Good advice in her mind. She watched the women leave before turning her attention to Ander when he asked if she as feeling better.*
"It feels stiff, but it'll be alright." *She paused for a moment before speaking again.* "This is..quite the operation you have here. I didn't realize GALSAF was this large."
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Ander Tagira
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 13, 2014 0:00:31 GMT -8
Ander shook his head, leading Korra back out through the medical center lobby. "In a Galaxy filled with trillions of people, all either needing our help or our steel, it's not." He tapped the turbolift control panel and stepped inside once the carriage arrived and the doors opened. He was about to key for the hangar bay when he changed his mind. "Let me show you something." Ander said suddenly, and keyed for another portion of the ship. The lift doors slid shut and the carriage began to move, jerking slightly upwards before shifting forward beneath their feet. Soon it stopped, and the lift's internal computer announced their destination. GALCOM Forces Observation Deck. A male voice sounded, tinged with a Coruscanti accent. Ander stepped out of the turbolift and led Korra rightward to a large transparasteel viewport that spanned the entire length of the corridor. He leaned forward and gripped the edge of the viewport sill.
Below them was a massive chamber built into the center of the Basterd's Hand. It spanned from midship, just before superstructure, and nearly vanished from sight hundreds of meters towards the bow. Both the main and bow hangar bays were connected to it on either end. Within the large cavity, hundreds of armor-clad commandos were seen dispersed amongst myriad vehicles, aircraft, supply crates and work stations. LAAT gunships of multiple variants and paint schemes were being repaired and maintained, beetle-like AT-TE's were lurching this way and that on massive mechanical legs. Speeder bikes were being loaded and unloaded, and large formations of commandos were seen here and there. The chamber was a flurry of activity, countless beings were at work maintaining the Galactic Security Assistance Force in their own way, doing their own jobs. It was a wondrous sight, to be sure, but it brought Ander no satisfaction.
"This is GALSAF, Korra. This is what I have built." He said, looking at the girl with uncertain eyes. "It may seem as intricate and complex as a Killik Nest, but it's not enough. All these people work, not for me, but for the common being of the Galaxy. They follow no one, but are instead united by a common goal. Their passion drives them, fuels them. They are as devoted as they come. As zealous as the Sith and as wise as the Jedi, but are unlike either. These people...these commandos, are my family. They are my brothers, my sisters, my parents, my children, my friends. They give their lives in the vain hope of bettering someone else's." Ander's gaze turned away. "But we're still too few. Our mission will never end as long as the people of the Galaxy remain at odds with one another. They are divided by those who lead them, polarized against one another. Unity can never coexist with social polarization." Ander pressed a thumb and forefinger to his forehead; a moment of self-reflection. "That is why I killed the Hutt, Korra. He was a link in a very strong chain, the chain that enslaves us to ignorance, binds us to suffering. GALSAF remains outside of any authority that is not our own, a practice that the Jedi cannot understand. We cannot be effective as long as we are tethered to the red tape of bureaucracy. Governments may say they speak with the peoples' voice, but I've learned that this is a falsehood. They speak with the peoples' permission, but rarely with their voice."
Ander looked out across the assembly chamber, watching commandos in their formations, checking gear, repairing vehicles and equipment, conversing with one another. None of them knew he was watching, but none of them would care. Ander Tagira may be their Lord Commander, but only because they allowed it. "Even so, we are not without structure." He continued. "If ever I am deemed unworthy of command, I will be removed, and another will be chosen to take my place. A single being is never above the needs of the people. Our lives are forfeit, so that others may live theirs in peace."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2014 15:38:15 GMT -8
*Korra leaned up against the railing. Her eyes watched the organized chaos below her. The amount of activity alone reminded her of the military ships she had seen as a child.* "How..did you build all this? You couldn't have done this alone." *Her eyes then turned to Ander.* "You must be doing a good job so far if they haven't replaced you yet."
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Ander Tagira
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Affiliation: GALSAF, Mandalore, Yavin 4 Jedi Praxeum
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Post by Ander Tagira on May 14, 2014 10:51:20 GMT -8
Ander shook his head. "No, I wasn't alone. There were many involved in GALSAF's founding. People who shared our ideology and provided ships, finances, supplies, personnel. The core of our original force was made primarily of soldiers and volunteers from Yavin Four. I used to lead the Jedi Praxeum there, and ran the Defense Force for the system and the Eastern Outer Rim. Many of the Defense Force's soldiers left when I did...after my expulsion from the Jedi Order there." Ander opted out of providing details regarding his final years as a Jedi Master. In time, perhaps, he would share the history of his life as a Jedi.
"Our commandos are volunteers, and all our personnel must successfully pass the rigorous training program I designed in cooperation with my fellow leaders. Each and every person you see here is armed with the same skills. It makes us stronger, and prevents weak links from forming in the chain. GALSAF takes all comers, regardless of their past. Cin vhetiin. Fresh start, it means in Mando'a. The only way to absolve one's self of their past transgressions is to join us, or accept our justice." Ander looked on for several long, silent moments, gladdened by Korra's interest in the details of the organization. He felt that she might find herself a place amongst them, regardless of what their mutual blood results might prove. "Mandalorians had another saying, Aliit ori'shya tal'din." Ander continued, after a time. "Family is more than blood. An individual's life and identity are defined by their actions, not their lineage. We are all a family here, ner'aliit. My clan. I never felt more at home than when I was with soldiers, dedicated to the lives of others. But even so, during the recent Mandalorian Holy War, some of our own attempted to usurp me. They believed I had led us into the wrong side of the conflict, fighting for the Mand'alor, Ashrah Intalbo. In the end, their brothers quelled their mutiny, but I was forced to admit they were right, and we withdrew from the conflict entirely. Those soldiers still live and work amongst us, no more or less our vode." Ander glanced over at Korra, a rye smile touching his lips. "And so life here continues on. We can never enjoy a full existence as long as we are the focus of our own lives, Korra. Living for others is the only way to maximize our potential as sentient beings."
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