Chapter 2: Forges of Ithyari

[Bad furday 57]

"Captain?"

Jya turned to Aeric.

"The Imperials may know something is up. In the gambling parlour, I overheard a group of officers mentioning

the attacks on Yarin City and the HAX droids. I couldn't tell if any of the officers were from Yarin, but if they weren't, that means Yarin has relayed the information to other cities, and they'll be on the lookout for anything strange."

Jya smiled,

"I would have told you earlier, but there wasn't really a good time to do it during our escape"

Edited October 30, 2007 by Bad furday

[Mara 29]

Having taken down the shields on the left speeder, Kaden had sighed with relief and let his squadron mates destroy the pilots. They were finally out of danger. For now.

Back on the shuttle, he had walked straight to a seat and sat down. After strapping in, he put his head back and promptly fell asleep after the long day. A day that probably wasn't over yet.

[Rogue 4]

Nat shook his head, one long lekku moving thoughtfully, his hand falling awkwardly to his side. "I enjoy flying, Captain, but nobody ordered me to relieve you, if that's what you mean."

He stole a glance out the forward viewport, before looking back to her. "Captain Tunon just thought that you might need a copilot."

[Vergere 1]

Dryly, "That I needed a co-pilot, or to make you uncomfortable by being around me?" She smiled and stood anyways, moving to go sit in the co-pilot's seat. Still speaking softly and easily, "Go ahead and fly. It's the least I can do, after publicly embarassing you. I can fly when I get leave, so I won't feel deprived."

[Rogue 4]

Nat hesitantly took the pilot's seat she offered him, strapping himself in. "I'm not too concerned about it." Aeric had probably placed him there so that he would be forced to communicate with someone, something he didn't do too often admittedly. It wasn't that he didn't know how, he thought, but that he had stopped being so concerned with his own life, and thrown himself fully into the war against the Empire. The galaxy needed changing, and he was going to be he bearer of that change as much as possible. Still, he supposed, he wasn't too good with words.

[Vergere 1]

"Then think about it as future apology for when I show this." Brier flipped the disk that had the recording through her fingers before pocketing it, a coy grin on her features. "Alright, let's take off. The less time here, the better."

As they were starting up the transport again, Brier spoke up again, but looking at the controls as she worked. "Lieutenant Riamor... do I make you nervous?" She glanced over at him for a moment before looking back at her controls. "Because it seems that way, to me."

Edited October 31, 2007 by Tyche

[Rogue 4]

Nat's fingers ran over the controls as he sat there, tight lipped, and thought about that question. Finally he shook his head. "No, Captain, and I appologize if I make it seem that way. I'm...not very good at conversation these days."

Edited October 31, 2007 by Rogue

[Vergere 1]

"It wouldn't offend me if you were. I've found I make a lot of sentients nervous." Brier turned her chair to face him. "Let's try this." She held out her hand for reintroductions. "Hi, I'm Brier Fae, here to irritate and annoy." She smiled softly. "Your turn."

[Rogue 4]

He turned his chair to face her, hesitantly taking the hand and shaking it. "Nat Riamor, here to pilot and fill out an endless paper trail to keep the squadron going. Run drills, keep order...Anything to hurt the Imperial war machine."

[Vergere 1]

Brier smiled. "A pleasure to meet you." She looked mildly amused as she turned back to her console, "See, that wasn't so painful, now was it?"

[Ender 8]

Jaim hopped out of the speeder, retrieved his gear, and walked up the ramp into the shuttle.

"The Imps are going to find that abandoned speeder at some point and figure out that we've got another ride. I left a delayed charge on the repulsor block, though, just in case."

[Ayingel 24]

"Going out with a bang, are we?" Szen smiled, but she still couldn't stop worrying about an air assault.

[Ender 8]

"Never hurts," Jaim said with a smile. "Especially if the officers want evidence of who we were."

[Vergere 1]

Brier and Nat got the ship off the ground as they spoke, Brier keeping an eye on their surroundings as they flew, doing her best to make sure nothing caught them by suprise.

[Rogue 4]

Nat's lips quirked just slightly into a grin. "No, not so much. I just...don't socialize much."

[Vergere 1]

Gently amused voice as they fly, "You should work on that. It gets lonely after a while, if you don't socialize."

[Rogue 4]

He nodded hesitantly. "It doesn't matter...I have other things to focus on."

[Vergere 1]

Brier looked over at him as he flew. "Doesn't matter? Have you looked around you, lately, Lieutenant?" Her voice wasn't accusing in the slightest, just curious and a bit sad.

[Rogue 4]

The Twi'lek Lieutenant looked at her curiously, wondering what she meant.

[Vergere 1]

She looked amazed, "You really don't know, do you?" She still has no accusation in her voice or features, just genuine suprise. "You're part of a team. You, and even Captain Tunon, seem almost inaccesible to your subordinates. If you don't talk to them, if you don't know them and they don't know you, it must be hard for them to ask you questions, or help, or for guidance. You're this aloof entity for them..." She shrugs. "I'm not saying its right or wrong - I'm not here to pass judgement. But your focus should be on the well being of your unit, too. And right now... the group is fragmented. It's a new unit that needs its leaders to be there to guide them and lead them. You and Captain Tunon are like the parents of the unit." She shrugs. "But that's just me." She looks back out the viewport.

[Mara 29]

Suddenly Kaden woke up from his seat on the shuttle. He glanced around, and, after seeing they had taken off, excused himself, going aft into the living quarters to use the 'fresher.

[Rogue 4]

"I'm not here to be their friend, Captain." Nat's lekku curled up in distaste, and he stared out the viewport...partially to be sure of his flying, partially to avoid her gaze. "I'm here to make sure that the job gets done."

[Vergere 1]

"I never said 'friend'. But it's your job to take care of them. To make sure they're doing their jobs, to make sure you're a visible figure in the unit. It takes just a tad of trust between you and everyone else. You need to be a cohesive unit, or the unit will fall to pieces." She shrugged and watched as they flew. "But that's your choice. Not my unit. I'm just an observer." She paused, "Well, no attacks on us yet. That's a good thing..."

[Rogue 4]

Nat nodded as he landed the ship at their makeshift base. "Definatly a good thing. I talked to Captain Tunon and Officer Kendall was able to extract the information we needed from the planetary network, so this part of the mission was a success." He felt his leg throb and extended it to try and stretch the stiffness out of it. "We were hoping that you would help us go over it and co-ordinate a strategy for the attack."

Edited November 1, 2007 by Rogue

[Vergere 1]

"I would be honored to help." She smiled over at him, "It's what I'm here for." She turned on the comm. "Hullo all you lovely denizens, please, don't trip over yourselves exiting the shuttle. I doubt your medic would be happy about that. Enjoy your stay at camp." She turned it back off. "Alright..." Brier looked over the controls, "Looks all off to me. Shall we exit with the rest of the mob?"