[M] Star Wars: The Bureaucrats [Hannelorian & Kach]

[Hannelorian]

There was an odd comfort, when Corwin reached out to rest his hand upon her own. It served to affirm his words, most reassuring that all would be well, at least in the long term. When he stepped out of the speeder, it dawned on Marienna for the first time that this was it. A moment where danger was anticipated. In the past, it had always been somewhat unexpected, surprise attacks. Yes, they were on planets engaged in war or rebellion, but as a proverbial bean counter, Marienna generally assumed her little world, and her little role was a safe one. That was no longer the case.

Taking just a moment, she too, exited the Speeder and moved toward Spears. Corwin had shared his ideas with a truly unenthused officer. The soldiers were often ignorant of the actual work the Logisticians and others did. Marienna was of the opinion that they generally held a far narrower world view, thinking of things in black and white, and with the occasional blaster shot. It seemed all too on brand for them to make light of the ideas of those outside of their particular role.

"My only concern would be the size of the tunnel network. There is a terminal point, with several pathways radiating outward." Marienna had carefully reviewed the schematics, or at least, what was their best guess at the actual layout of the system. Their scans were limited in capability, sometimes obscured due to the natural elements of the planet itself. "But trying to flush the Gurlanins and their sympathizers out... that could be a boost for us." The sudden nature of it would surely help to ensure they abandoned what they were doing in short order. This would mean that evidence would be left intact. A note she felt her Agent friend would be pleased with.

"While we're at it..." Marienna began rather flatly. "As the logistics corp' it was our job to get these maps done. So I should think we should have some rather useful information, for your little tactics." As she spoke she grew somewhat cross, or snippy, realizing once again how misunderstood they really are.

[Kach]

Spears offered a derisive study of the woman standing before him as she spoke. Had he known the pair were going to be this, opinionated, he would have objected to their coming. He should have known in hind sight. They were paper pushers after all.
"Transmit any relevant intelligence to my data pad and I will look it over. Ensure you stay out of the way, there will be blaster fire." He dismissed the pair, gesturing for a pair of sergeants to attend him.

Corwin nodded with a flat expression and moved back toward the speeder. Leaning against it's front, he crossed his arms and legs. "We have done what we can. Hopefully it will be enough." He spoke softly, almost to himself. His face was blank, though his eyes were lost in contemplation.

Sub Lieutenant Spears gave orders to the pair of sergeants who then hustled off to brief their squads. A few more moments passed and Spears took up position with the troops, in a formation to assault the mouth of the cavern.

[Hannelorian]

As the squads took their positions, Marienna watched in silence. The moment was grave, they stood at the precipice. Marienna had witnessed battle, she had taken part in several. But here, this is where the game changed from the theoretical to the actual. It was the absolute silence that fell once everyone was in place, just before the orders to go in where given. It was a moment where one felt as though there was nothing else around them. There was only here and now, there would be the before and the after. It was feeling all things and yet nothing.

As the sun continued to sink deeper and deeper below the horizon the darkness descended, and the temperature began to drop. While on some planets it was a slow, gradual drop, here it was rather sudden and all together eerie, as though the universe was conspiring for this to go poorly.

Corwin's face had gone blank, it was an unusual sight. She understood the same as he did, the severity of the situation. There was a subtle appreciation for his attitude. "It will be enough" she mouthed while looking at him. She offered something rare, a smile, one of reassurance that faded as quickly as it came, and with that she had her blaster drawn, ready for a fight as the squads began to push into the cave.

[Kach]

The squads advanced into the mouth of the dark cavern, the only sound in evening's dusk the gentle crunch of boots. Even the wind seemed to be holding it's breath. Sub-Lt Spears, having put on a helmet, was second man in the first squad of twelve as the group one by one disappeared into the darkness. A few moments past before the second squad drifted into the tunnel. The pair was left with the third squad watching the exit, the vehicles and the immediate area.

The silence became heavy, the only evidence of life the faint puffs escaping the pair as the air cooled sharply. The sky above, half deep purple on the sunset side; was being covered by an inky black sheet speckled with glimmering specks. There was no moon here. Darkness enveloped them.

The troopers had no need for lights. Their helmet's sensors compensated for them. None of the transports had their illumination on either.
Corwin could have sworn he was alone in the night, except for the faint feeling of Marienna's presence just out of reach. He was glad for the feeling of the Speeder against his back. He would be lost in this darkness. His skin prickled at the cold. Luckily the uncomfortable heavy uniforms would keep them warm for a time.
He could never recall feeling so isolated. He couldn't see or hear anything. Even in his room at Coruscant he had to close his eyes not to see the slivers of artificial light shining in his window, or cover his ears not to hear the muted sounds of the speeders passing by.
There was nothing. Like floating in the emptiness between planets. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. His chest began to feel light, as if he was being buried in sand.

"W-where," Corwin seemed to wheeze in a whisper before getting his breath back, "are you from Lieutenant Beren?"
The darkness ate his words almost as if he hadn't said them out loud. He wondered if he had for a moment until she replied.

[Hannelorian]

The darkness was quick to engulf them. With the darkness came silence. The foot falls of the squadrons of soldiers ahead them barely registered. It was eerie, and perhaps unsettling. Though, Marienna found comfort in the dark. It was familiar, like an old friend had come to embrace her. In the absence of light, there was the lack of the ability to see her faults and flaws. Nor could she see those in anyone else. The darkness offered protection while also offering an incredible danger.

Then there were words, soft words that were barely audible. Marienna turned her head to the direction from which they came and she recognized them as Corwin's. Here in the nothingness, Marienna could smile. He often made her smile, though she would seldom show it, preferring instead to swallow the expression. He was nervous. It wasn't just the darkness, it was what could be waiting for them here. Could they be surrounded by the enemy and not know it? His words trembled as he regained his composure.

"Naboo." Marienna heard herself tell the same lie over and over again. Eventually she would grow tired. In a sense it was true, Naboo was where Marienna now called him, it was where she made home for the remains of her family, her brother she would rather not see. "Well, not originally." She added for slight clarification. In the dark she moved closer to where she thought he was, where she could almost sense it, but she could have been miles off. "Alderaan." It was almost a forbidden word. No one talked about Alderaan or what had happened there. If you did, you could be branded a resistance sympathizer, that... that simply wouldn't do. "Or I was... until two years ago. When my people paid the price for their treachery." Marienna knew this was not the truth, but here, they were not alone. Her people did not deserve the destruction of their planet. Alderaan was only survived by those who were off world at the time, herself included.

Had she been alone with him, she would have told him the truth, how she really felt. This was in part, where she sympathized with the Gurlanin's in their fight. Why she insisted on coming. The Empire took things too far, too often. She would do what she could to stand in the way. Marienna did her duty to the Empire, but she hated it, everything about it. "Naboo after that." Her parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, all gone. In the blink of an eye, the snap of a finger, it was completely gone. Lt. Beren felt the tears fall, her cheeks flush red with emotion, but she let no sound out. Her suffering was silent, and appropriately in the dark.

[Kach]

'Naboo', that's right. Her file had said as much.
He felt a bit embarrassed at the question he had asked in his uncertainty. Would she think he had not remembered; or not bothered to read her file; or perhaps he was testing her to make sure she wasn't a shape shifter? He liked his coworkers to know he listened, that he cared. Not that it had been a popular attribute in his Imperial service so far. It bothered him more than he would have expected, not knowing what Marienna thought of the question.
Corwin was caught off guard and tensed. There was nothing in her file about another residence on a different planet.
He felt her move closer, just within arms reach. Suddenly realizing his hand was resting on his holster he froze when she said the name of the doomed world.
Shocked by the revelation, he was silent.
Could Marienna really dismiss her family; her whole planet's death in three words? Even if she did believe it was justified?

He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
Corwin was torn on the incident. It had been a powerful message to those that sought to destabilize the Empire. Galactic stability was important for the security of all; but surely not everyone on the entire planet was a rebel? Children and families just living their lives. Was their sacrifice worth the gain?
Luckily it was not his call to make.

He could not imagine what she had gone through. Losing her family so suddenly and violently. It explained a lot that had eluded him until now. He didn't know what to say, what could he say?
The silence stretched on, no longer as oppressive as it had been. The darkness now battled with the turmoil inside Corwin.
He wondered if Marienna had any family left? Yes, she had mentioned a brother.
He thought of his sister. She was patrolling around Gatalenta. He had asked her to pickup some tea for him, to which she mercilessly ribbed him. He couldn't help but smirk at the memory.
His parents on Coruscant, it really had been a while since he had commed them. Perhaps he should soon.

"Tell me about your brother."

[Hannelorian]

From Marienna's perspective, she now had settled on the fact that it was not that Corwin had not remembered where she was from, but rather, the stress of their current situation meant he needed to talk, to ask questions, anything to feel less alone in the darkness with potential Gurlanin guerilla's hiding and waiting to strike. His fear was notable, but what's more is that it was understandable. This was not a particularly easy situation.

Of course, now it was her turn to wonder of his judgment. Perhaps he thought her cold, though she was anything but, despite her image and reputation. Marienna found little joy in telling the truth, as she could not practically share her real opinions on the matter. There was also the slight change in the way people viewed her after learning she was from the ill fated Alderaan. The planet whose children misbehaved so badly it had to be wiped from existence. Was she one of them? Was she secretly in the resistance? No, but that wasn't important.

"It's okay you know, you can tell me how you feel..." Marienna said quietly, she knew he had asked about her brother and she would get to that, but she felt as she moved slowly through the cave, that it was worth saying something to make it less heavy, less awkward. It was funny how she would accommodate others, even though it was her home that was destroyed.

"Galen." Marienna relented, almost sighing as she thought about him. "His name is Galen, he's older, 5 years." She turned her gaze up to the ceiling of the caves, her brown orbs moving to and fro though she could see no detail, not much of anything. "He's on Naboo now too. He's in agriculture. We're not very close." It was almost painful, the two of them should have been closer than they were, they should be more, though Galen had tried. "He tries, we just never got along, not even as kids... I think... we just didn't ever see eye to eye. Our parents, they were what kept us together. It's not like me and your sister... from what you've said."

[Kach]

Corwin stood in silence, leaning against the speeder send crossed as he digested what she said so nonchalantly.

"I appreciate your honestly." He broke the silence, his voice earnest. Marienna trusted him, of that he was certain. "I am sorry for your loss."
Trust is a two way street. Corwin felt a pang of shame having doubted her; of course Marienna Beren would not wear her grief on her sleeve. He suddenly understood why she had reacted so severely to KV's loss. As odd as it felt to him, the droid would have been like family to the solitary woman.

Corwin allowed himself a smirk, another youngest child, though it faded quickly. He wasn't shocked that the pair were not close, though it did sadden him. Perhaps there were too many memories of the family and home she lost associated with Galen.

He could not imagine being so alone. It was hard for him to leave his family home on Coruscant. He missed his family still in the quiet evenings in his quarters and at meal times. The banter, hearing about everyone's day, their smiles and laughter, it had become part of him.
"We are close." He affermed. "Though she can be a pain, I wouldn't trade her for anything. She fancies herself my protector which has no end to it's agrivation, but it is nice to know someone always has your back. She was always the adventurous one, I was prone to reading technical manuals, dreaming of pod-racing, and tinkering with anything that had drives or repulsers I could get my hands on. I made her promise to call as much as she could when she left for the Imperial Academy. We never go more than a few days without talking."
Corwin worried about his sister often. She a great pilot, and a good leader, but space was dangerous. He never told her though, it would only make her angry. She was a fiery woman, 'a hell raiser' their father had once called her.
He wondered what Marienna would think of her, perhaps they would meet some day.

The crunch of boots on the gravel approched, and the filtered voice of a Trooper came from the blackness.
"The cave is clear. Leiutenant Speers would like you both inside."
A white weapon light flicked on pointing at the ground, spilling light across their legs, and harshly shadowing their faces.
"Follow me."

The Trooper lead the way to the cave mouth were another pair were waiting. They walked inside with only one light illuminating the ground they walked on for the officers. The Troopers didn't seem to have any difficulty navigating the darkness. The crunch of their footfalls echoed along the cave's length, the air was humid, but began to smell of sweat after a few hundred meters. More lights shone ahead, in an erie yellow. They entered a large cavern, the tunnel they exited was large enough for a grav-lift to have travelled down. Empty crates some with sharp Imperial markings littered the ground. An ancient generator, likely from when the mine was operating groaned in complaint at having its slumber interrupted. Dusty corpses of stripped out speeders, rest against one wall next to crates filled with what looked liked refuse.
Troopers stood around, having already cleared the area, conversing silently in their helmets. Lt Speers marched over to the pair briskly.
"We are done here, find out what you can."
He barely paused before marching past with a Trooper in tow and exiting the cavern.

Corwin glanced around the cavern before heading toward the skeletons of the speeders.

[Hannelorian]

"I think..." Marienna began as the two steadily made their way further in "Galen reminds me of the pain. Or maybe that's just what I've told myself to accept that we're not as close as we should be." There was something of a truth more grim hidden there, she felt guilty. Marienna had wondered why she survived, or why her brother survived but her parents had not? Now that was something she could never voice aloud. "It's hard to imagine life, when so much of is gone. Everything you ever knew in a single instant. The press of a button." A small sigh escaped her pallid lips as she thought on it all, for the first time in quite some time. "My mother would say things like 'you don't need an invitation to your own life.' I think sometimes I do."

As they walked and Corwin spoke of his sister, rather fondly, Marienna found herself smiling. Something she felt far more comfortable doing while cloaked in darkness where no one could really see. "Your sister sounds wonderful, and strangely like my brother. Which is funny because I'm sure I'd get on better with your sister than my own flesh and blood." There was an absence of her standard matter-of-fact tone, in it's place was something of a lilting sadness.

Finally there was light, and a familiar hum of a generator. Speers and his troopers had finished what they came to do, now it was their turn, the humble bean counters. "Now if that isn't absolutely stunning I don't know what is." Marienna remarked almost joyfully when her eyes actually took in the generator. Like a child giddy with a new toy she made her way over to it. "They certainly don't make them like this anymore." Much like her affinity for droids, Marienna had an equal affinity for machines and all of their work. Their world was a modern marvel, but there was something so beautiful about the past. Marienna rested her gloved hands on the beast of a machine, roaring to life. "I bet you have a story to tell." It was almost like she could have a conversation with it, though she was speaking out loud, she spoke not just to Corwin but to everything around her.

"C3500 series. Not just any generator. No, no no." Marienna repeated, a smile broadly painted across her face. She found that she minded less if Corwin were to catch her wearing one. "Groan all you want little one. You're not quite telling me the truth just yet." The noises the generator made were odd, and not entirely explicable by the simple fact it hadn't been used in some time. No, it was still too smooth, despite the languishing sounds, it wasn't like it was supposed to be. Marienna found herself pouring over every little detail, looking at assorted parts and connections. "Just as I thought." Having holstered her blaster, Marienna withdrew a small scanner in her hand and made a few adjustments and began to scan a few parts. "These are ours. Clever." There was precious little a logistician couldn't figure out with enough information.

"These serial numbers went missing, they were never checked out of the inventory. Stolen, some might guess." Marienna now knew. "Our friends have been here. Not too long ago either." Marienna turned her attention back to Corwin, she moved over to him and watched as he took care of the speeders. "Anything interesting you want to share with the class?" Marienna asked somewhat jokingly, slowly but surely her ice was melting when the two of them were alone.

[Kach]

There wasn't many who could have gone through what Marienna did and remain whole; perhaps she hadn't either. There was a grimness to her words that unsettled him. A specter spoke to him in the tunnel, her life gone, and now, something else.


He couldn't help but grin at Marienna's excitement, her mood had turned quickly, and now she fawned over her new little one. Her voice carried across the chamber even with the noise.

Corwin crouched next to the frame of the middle speeder, running his fingers across the soot covered metal.
"These have been here for a while, but there are no significant signs of damage. They don't look like scrap, no corrosion. I could see scavenging parts, but the whole air frame, panels and all?" Corwin stood, dusting off his hands, a furrow across his brow. "Why would they go through the effort of completely rebuilding one speeder, let alone three from the bare structure up?"
It would have been a significant use of manpower, there were no signs of large industrial droids in the cavern.
"Transponders have been torched, so no answers there, but I figure these two," He gestured to the ones on each end, "were speeders and this one was some kind of hauler." He reached out and touched the lifeless metal structure in the center solemnly.
"I figure we should scan the rest of these crates and see which ones have gone missing, might give us a clue to where this lot may be targeting."
He looked back to Marienna, wondering if she had any insights. He had seen this kind of thing a lot in certain areas of Coruscant, you had to be careful where you parked your speeder, or you would be buying it back piece by piece.