Atrivis Sector

[GM Craig]

The woman smiles, nodding her head once at Nim. "I like you." She offers her hand. "I'm Teris. Come on, the council will want to meet you." She glances at Maris and Trax. "Your friends are welcome to come as well, or wait out here as you wish."

[Nim Naja]

Nim smiled and appropriately shook her hand in turn. Not too weak, and not too strong, only just right. "In that case it's good to meet you then," she slightly smirked. "I'm Nim, my assistant (whatever name Maris chose), and Trax, of course." She introduced them with a gesture.

She wasn't sure if Trax would shake, nod, grunt or completely ignore the other woman so she spoke to him to preemptively fill in any awkward pauses. "Up to you if you want to come with."

[Trax]

[OOC: Trax will shake her hand if Teris offers hers.]

Trax took his helmet off and took a deep, chilled breath.

"It's gotta be warmer than out here." he said, indicating his preference to go with.

[GM Craig]

Maris and Trax fall in behind Nim and Teris, and the four of you walk into the building as the crowd, all whispers and excited discussions, slowly disperses behind you.

Teris takes you through the main lobby. It is rich and lavish, but the furnishings and walls are marred with the pock-marks of blaster fire. You pass through the main doors to a short corridor and another set of doors. After a short delay, these doors also open to reveal a somewhat dishevelled command centre. At a table behind a row of consoles, you see half a dozen people standing, looking at you expectantly.

Teris takes you through the banks of machinery to the table, where those there pull together to make space for you.

"Nim, allow me to introduce Enric Meday, the leader of the Fest Provisional Government. Counsellor Meday, this is Nim - a representative of the group who broadcast that manifesto of rebellion that spurred our people to overthrow the Empire. Her companions are Trax and Vash."

[Maris is using the name Vash here, Vash'aja is the long form.]

Enric Meday is an imposing male. His body language is all suspicion, like he does not trust your motives in being here. However, he does nod, and gestures to Teris. "That's Valara Streng. She probably told you another name."

Valara frowns. "Enric, we talked about this..." He waves her concern away.

He then points around the table. "That's Sayl Murray." The human male nods. You note he is armed. "That's Alys Madine." She is also armed, with several knives, three pistols and two slung rifles cross-crossing her back. She does not react to the introduction, just stares at you. "That's Raddi Dulius." The somewhat timid-looking man nods. "Next is Lasseya Corr." The long-haired human female gives you a slight nod. "And finally, Balita Dusat." The human male nods at you. They are all dressed in winter clothes.

The reading of the room is a mix of curiosity, suspicion and mild hostility.

Enric continues, turning to you confrontationally. "What brings you here, Nim? Just what business does your rebellion have on Fest?" His posture is challenging. He seems primed to expect requests for help, which he fully intends to refuse.

[Nim Naja]

Nim nodded to them all in turn, recognizing all but the last two names. Valara was growing on her. It was good to already have a potential ally.

It wasn't difficult to read Enric; she might as well be reading Trax. Despite his obvious eventual reply, the woman looked right to him and only said one word, her expression a mask:

"Help."

[GM Craig]

He looks skeptical, and his mouth twists like he was sucking on a lime. "Asking? Or offering?"

[Nim Naja]

Nim was a little disappointed, she'd expected him to simply go on a rant. Oh well.

"Offering. In joining the Alliance we will assist Fest now and in the coming months in exchange for its help later."

[GM Craig]

He crosses his arms and works his jaw. "And what help can you give us?" He adopts a mocking tone. "Advisors?" Then he shakes his head. "Not interested in having a bunch of off-worlders tell us what to do and how to do it."

[Trax]

Trax glanced around the room as they entered and took stock of who was armed with what but otherwise remained quiet, just watching and listening to the exchange going on.  He wasn't entirely sure how he wanted to feel about Enric.  On one hand, the guy appeared to be brutally honest and had no qualms about sharing how he felt.  Trax liked that.  But mainly because he decided not to take the advisors comment as a direct insult to Nim, though it was a close call.  A very close call.

On the other hand, the man seemed a little short sighted.  Yes, his people had just kicked the Imperials out of their home, but he had to expect that there was a chance they'd return, and in numbers large enough to take back the planet.  And he'd just insulted the group that came offering a hand.  Not the wisest of decisions in his mind.  Especially without hearing what they had to offer first.

He knew how he'd respond, he'd fire back at the man, out doing the mockery just dealt.  But that's probably the best reason why this wasn't his mission, it was Nim's.

[Nim Naja]

The man was only half right. She was interested in telling him what to do but also where to do it. The Lorrdian could almost just feel Trax thinking the same. But alas..

“I wouldn't dismiss advisors so quickly - you've seen what a politician with a silver tongue can do to a galaxy without lifting a finger. Fortunately for you I and my crew are not here merely for advising.”

Nim tapped into her wristcomp and produced a holomap to start making a case.

“Right now there are a dozen worlds in open rebellion because you gave them hope that they too can overthrow the Empire. Even if you couldn't give half a womp-rat's ass about them, it still affects you greatly. Mantooine has likewise kicked out the Imperials. This means that both of your sectors are ripe for a full-scale retaliation to set an example to those dozen worlds of what happens when you cross them. If you don’t think that’s much of a threat, allow me to tell you that the Empire put down a small rebellion on one world.. and rendered it completely sterile.

“So, scoff at advisers all you want. But that mob outside with pitchforks and torches had better have its osik together for a response in as early as a week..”

[GM Craig]

He openly scoffs.

"Yer right. I don't give a rats ass about other systems - least of all those bastards on Mantooine. When our people were slaving and dying in the phrikite mines under the Empire's lash, and being poisoned by the Empire's smelters, did anyone in the galaxy give a rats ass about us?" He pauses, letting the tension build.

"That message your people broadcast - I'll admit it gave us a boost. The whole population rose up. But if you think that earns you more than a 'thank you,' you're sadly wrong. Fest is soaked in the blood of our people. I'll be damned I surrender the freedom we won by trading one dictator for another."

Valara places a hand on Enric's arm. "Enric..."

He looks at her angrily. "What?"

Valara withdraws her hand. "Sure, we rose up. But we're hardly united. With all the different factions arguing, we're on track to start the civil war all over again. If the Empire shows up with a battlegroup, they can carve us up piece meal, and we go back to hiding in caves."

Enric's frown deepens. "And that's true if we have 'advisors' or not. I'd rather die free than accept another dictator." He turns to Nim. "Advice isn't going to be much help against a battlegroup. If that's all you got to offer, we're done talking."

[Nim Naja]

Nim stared at Enric for a rather long moment, studying the man and gauging him with pale sapphire orbs. Eventually she switched the holomap to a blueprint.

"We brought a planetary defense shield with a crew to operate it. If you can somehow get the factions to cooperate and defend against the impending Imperials, the Alliance can send aid in the form of manpower, weapons, and food."

As if to show she had done her homework on their dossiers, as she spoke her eyes engaged individually each of the individuals said to be in charge of the military, civilians, and supplies. And it was to them that she spoke to next- they needed to help move Enric.

"My advice, whether you decide to join the Alliance or not, is to take the shield and rally your people. Defend yourselves and send the Imperials back where they came from. Show your people and the galaxy that it can be done.”

It was not a direct plea, but Nim’s expression told the lieutenants that they needed to speak up for their individual departments. Her eyes moved over to Trax and Maris, as if asking if they had anything that could help persuade them. She knew that by taking the generator Enric at the very least would feel indebted to the Alliance, so he could very well still decline.

[GM Craig]

That causes Enric to raise an eyebrow. He and Valara share a look.

"Defence shield... Well, that is something..."

Sayl Murray says, "With a shield, we can force the Empire to fight on the ground. No bombardments. They'll have to engages us on our terms."

Alys Madine says, "Enric. If they can give us more shields, we can protect manufacturing centres. Mines. Refineries."

Raddi Dulius adds, "And population centres."

Lasseya Corr says, "Shields means no air cover either, while our speeders and drones can still operate on a limited basis."

Balita Dusat strokes his chin. "Food production is already a problem. Thanks to the Empire, we are still not self sufficient. When the Imperial stockpiles are gone, we're going to be looking at a lot of hungry people. We need months - maybe years - to restore food production to pre-civil war levels." He glances at Nim.

Valara shakes her head. "Unifying the factions is going to be a hard sell. Without some unifying event, like a battle group in orbit, they're not likely to join us, and we're not going to be quick to join anyone else. There's too much bad blood from the civil war, and the Empire only deepened those rifts through competing quotas when they were here. But... if Nim can bring them into the fold with, say, compromise leadership candidate, we all might be able to accept the alliance in command over one of our own."

Enric looks unhappy at the discussion, and how much it reveals to you of their internal struggles. Still, their words carry weight.

"All right, all right! Quit all your yammering!" He takes a breath before turning to you. "You've given us a lot to talk about..." He glares at all of them in turn as he says, "... in private!" Turning back to you he says, "We'll find you a place to stay. Give us a chance to talk this over. But we need hard specs on this shield, and training for our own. I'll want my people running the thing before too long."

[Nim Naja]

She felt relieved that Enric didn’t just simply decline. With a nod of her head she accepted his requests. No smile, just neutral acceptance and an appropriately short response so as not to annoy him.

“I have the specs here and the crew is standing by for when you are ready.”

Nim did, however, nod gratefully to the others in the room.

[GM Craig]

You hand over a small datapad with the specifications of the equipment you brought. Valara smiles as she approaches you, and escorts the three of you from the room.

Outside the chamber door, she waves someone over before turning to you.

"I meant what I said in there, Nim. There's too much bad blood between the factions - too many painful memories and much blood spilled. If you're going to unite Fest, your people are going to need to provide strong leadership. A structure, commanders. Even if you can buy everyone's acceptance with shield tech and supplies, they'll still be at each other's throats without someone to guide their efforts and rein them in."

She offers you her hand.

"I'll do what I can for our side, but you still have work to do if you want to make this work."

A young individual in rough clothing carrying a rifle on his back, and a pistol on his hip, walks up.

"Nim, this is Lieutenant Carver. He will find you some quarters, and attend you as liaison during your visit." She turns to the Lieutenant. "Carver, until further notice, you report to Nim. I'll notify your chain you are on detached duty. Find them some quarters worthy of a diplomat, and see to their needs. They have free run of the city."

He looks back and forth between you and Valara. "Yes, Ma'am."

Valara turns and walks back into the chamber, leaving the three of you alone with Lieutenant Carver.

"If you'll come this way? There's some open quarters two floors up that I think will suit."