Keshani: Infrastructure

[Keshani]

"I'll leave it up to you two. If you need to sleep then sleep. I don't want you any of us to collapse from exhaustion or start making mistakes because we're too tired. But the faster we can get this done the better."

[GM Craig]

They nod and head off to the excavator.

You make your way over to Holler as he finishes his briefing, and make your request.

"Sure, Specialist. You do what you gotta do. We're here to keep you safe, but if we can help out while doing that, that works as well. I've got a couple of the squad off-shift right now. They'll get the camp set up before they rack out."

He looks at the techs heading to the excavator. "What's your plan? You working two sites? I'll get a team to go with them."

[Keshani]

She stopped and paused at his response.

"You...never call me that.", she responded, a bit of confusion and wariness in her voice.

[GM Craig]

He smiles. "Just wanted to reinforce you were in charge. I can be a little informal sometimes. makes my superiors uncomfortable. I've been counselled. So you're in charge, but I'll call you whatever you want."

[Keshani]

She snorted, obviously relieved. "You don't need to be formal around me, okay?

"As for what my plan is, well...so that was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about.

Remember when I got separated from you guys back when we were setting up the sensor grid? Well, I ended up finding this droid manufacturing plant. It's not too far from here. I was hoping to go back there and grab some of the droids and rig them up to a controller to help us dig and get this done faster and more efficiently. But it'll take a few hours. The two techs will work together with the excavator back here while I'm gone. Do you have anyone you could send with me, too or would that stretch things too thin?"

[GM Craig]

He considers, rubbing his chin. "Nah, should be no problem. If the other techs are staying nearby we can take the APC. I'll grab one of the squad and grab some gear. Give us 10 minutes?"

[Keshani]

"Sure. Thanks."

After he left she headed off to grab the power core for the irrigation system. They would have to be careful since the system wouldn't run without it. But it would be the easiest way to power the droids once they got to the factory and to bring them back here. She'd figure something else out after that.

Loading the power core onto the binary load lifter she moved it over to where the APC was sitting and waited for Holler.

[GM Craig]

Holler and Grunt join you at the APC.

The back is relatively cavernous with only the three of you - plenty of room for cargo and battle droids. You may need to rig up some sort of load framework to carry back all the equipment, but there's plenty of raw materials at the factory if you need to do that.

Get in, disconnect the control equipment and supporting computer, then get it out. Probably a few hours work. You should be back here in less than 8 hours, if all goes well.

The drive is uneventful. Grunt does the driving, and Holler is in the back with you. Holler breaks out a sabacc deck, and you pass the time with him teaching you the game. The APC is a little rough in the handling for much sleep anyway.

You get to the coordinates, and find things much as you remember. The camouflaged bay doors, and the access hatch with that long climb down.

Hollar opens the door and does a quick check. "Looks clear, Snaps. What's the plan?" Grunt walks up behind him, weapon at the ready as she keeps an eye on the surroundings.

[Keshani]

<Insert during drive to factory>

She was enjoying her time with Holler. She wasn't *awful* at Sabaac, she learned.

But as they drove her thoughts came back to the times she'd ended up being alone so far during their time on planet.

"Hey Holler? You think when we get back you and the guys could maybe help me to learn more about like self-defense type stuff? I'm getting better with a blaster, but...I've kinda not had a blaster a lot of the times I've gotten into trouble. Knowing how to better defend myself without one might be...useful."

[GM Craig]

He gives you a lopsided grin. "Sure, we can bash around a bit. We've all had formal training, but you might want to talk to Hassle. His training was... less formal." He smiles, and you recall Hassle has a penchant for brawling off-duty.

[Keshani]

She laughed for a minute, thinking of Hassle. "Yeah, maybe I'll do that. Thanks.

"Um. Speaking of informal and all, while it's just the two of us back here I need to say something else. I was gonna say this before, but I didn't know if I should or not."

She spoke all in a rush, as if she was racing to get this out before she changed her mind.

"I'm pretty sure you know I went off on my own to the trading depot. I figure you know pretty much all of what goes on around here."

She stopped for a minute, shifting her position a bit. When she spoke it was a bit slower now, but a bit of...nervousness....was there - a slight shakiness in her voice, as if she was nervous about whether she should be saying anything and what Holler's reply might be.

"Maybe I'm just flattering myself here. If I am we can just pretend this conversation never happened. You have a job to do, maybe I'm just another 'charge' and if that's the case that's fine. But if not, I...wanted to apologize. I hope that it didn't seem like I didn't trust you or value your help and protection and stuff. Because that's totally not the case at all."

[GM Craig]

He looks confused for a moment, scrunching up his face like he's trying to figure out what you're talking about.

"What? No!" He shakes his head. "Look, Snaps... you are a specialist. You may be a little young, but you wouldn't be wearing that uniform if you didn't earn it. You get an assignment and leave by yourself, that's none of my business. I mean, I care and all. I like you, and it's part of my responsibility to keep people safe. But I also know you don't need 'looking-after.' You decide you need some muscle or protection on an assignment, ask me and I'm all over it. But if you decide you don't, that's fine too. You can make your own decisions, and it's no skin off my nose if you decide a guy with a gun is not a requirement. You know your job, and I know mine."

He shakes his head. "And you're not 'just another charge.' You're a lot more down-to-earth than some of the eggheds and wrench-turners back at the base. On the ship out here, you were the only one who we could relate to, you know? You seem more, I dunno. Worldly. I know there's a story there, but that's your business. I figured if you wanted to share, you would. Most of us have stories we'd rather not talk about, so we don't pry. But that's besides the point. We can be buds and mates and still be professional. I care what happens to you. I'm not some disinterested observer. But you can still make your own decisions, and I'll respect the choices you make."

[Keshani]

She opened her mouth as if to say something and then closed it again. She did this a couple of times. No words came out.

Finally a smirk crossed over her face.

"Eggheads and wrench-turners, hmm?"

She snorted in a very un-ladylike way.

"Thanks, Holler." she said finally.

She shifted position again.

"When we get to the droid factory, we're gonna kinda be in your specialty area for a while - getting through the factory. I am happy to take point when we get to the controller and stuff, but do you think it might be more...efficient...for you to take point while moving to the Control Center? I can use my sensors and give you the layout of the land so to speak and stuff..."

[GM Craig]

"Sure. You... expecting trouble? I thought you shut that place down?"

[Keshani]

"There were a couple of rogue droids running around that run on their own power supply that weren't so fun to mess with. But I didn't really have anything good to defend myself with. Ended up shooting a couple of droids with a bolt gun and clubbing one with it when I couldn't hit it by shooting at it..." she shrugged. "Mostly everything should be shut down other than them though. But, if there's one thing I've learned it's to expect trouble where you shouldn't."