Work B*tch (D8, MM)

[Elaranu]

"It was peaceful, which is part of why I had not exactly been expecting the Empire once I left Ascendancy space. I cannot say I know why, but I know the Ascendancy was concerned the Empire was getting the better part of the deal from the technology sharing agreement.''

She dug through her pouches for her datapad and brought up her academy folder. The following holoimage popped up from it.



"They were developing new fighters and armors when I graduated, though I got a chance to fly one of these experimental craft; Much more sturdy than a typical TIE or even Interceptor. Then again, it could be much deeper than just superior Chiss technology and production facilities and it was just stuff I did not see as someone in a position of relative privilege."

[Dove Gray]

Dove leaned over to look at the holoimage. The design to her did seem very much like the TIEs she'd seen the Empire fly, even to her untrained eye when it came to ships.

"Looks an awful lot like those Imperial TIEs, alright. Think the Empire stole that one from you guys?"

[Elaranu]

"Like I said, it was a collaborative effort. The Ascendancy wanted cheaper, more disposable ships than our Clawcraft, and the Empire wanted Chiss material and design technologies. That is what my people developed from it... I am not sure what the Empire did with their part."

[Dove Gray]

"Hmmm..." Dove looked over the design a few more times.

"Think you could look into what the Empire did with their part? It could be a valuable insight into space battles if we knew more about the TIEs' construction, potential weaknesses..."

[Elaranu]

That made the Chiss woman look thoughtful, "...I believe I could. It would take some time though; I think my best avenue to do that would be to go back home, and that was quite the trek. Weeks, if not months. And that is if the locals would welcome me back; I did some things before I left that says they might not."

[Dove Gray]

"Maybe. Sounds like a big undertaking if that's the way you choose to do it, so think about it at least." She offered with a smile. "... Was it that bad? What you did, I mean."

[Elaranu]

"I do not know. With my family, I am just as likely disowned. With other people... I suppose they might consider it not so bad, if they are results oriented. You see, I lied on my scholarship exam; My parents signed me up for a farm machinery repair program, but I hacked it so it was an application for ship design; I did not want to go back to work on the ranch with my family. I wanted to be out amongst the stars."

[Dove Gray]

Dove almost laughed at the story at first. Ela hadn't seen at all like the type who would've done something like that, to lie and cheat on her exam. Looks could certainly be decieving sometimes!

"Well, can't fault you for that. One of my best friends grew up on a farm, and... everything I've heard about it sounds dreadfully bull and meandering. Were I you, I probably would have done the same myself."

[Elaranu]

Ela gave a sharp nod, "Exactly; Dealing with dung and dirt and such. I prefer the clean emptiness of the sky and space. I do not see why I should not get to go with my passion, if it is the best path for me, despite the circumstances of my birth."

She seemed indignant about the point, maybe a bit bitter.

[Dove Gray]

"To that I can only say kriff the circumstances of your brith - you do you, girl. Ain't no one gonna tell you to shovel dung when you got other things you want to do. Same goes for anything really. Trust your gut instincts, don't be afraid to speak up, or follow your passions."

Some would probably have called Dove hypocritical to say such, considering she obeyed the circumstances of her creation to (almost) a T. But to them, Dove would tell them to shove it.

[Elaranu]

"But... the Council says everyone should work for the good of the Ascendancy, and that means being assigned where you will do the most good. In theory, I do not disagree with that; Imagine how successful this rebellion would be if everyone was working in a position they would be optimal in, unlike the Empire who drafts anyone that can pass a simple physical. I just think, in my own case, that my family did not actually know what I was best at, no matter what they said to the local politburo."

[Dove Gray]

Dove gave her a soft smile. "I am not completely disagreeing with you, Ela. It would be very nice if the Resistance could get more organized, if we all could be more optimal, and what-not. Trust me, I would want nothing more than to see a fully united and tip-top operational Resistance. But... that's not how it is."

She cast a glance around the hangar before looking back to the Chiss. "Because many here aren't soldiers, or pilots, or spies, or commanders. Many here in this base are folks who have lost everything to the Empire, and they've chosen to fight back. Some do it by cooking for the folks here, some do it by fixing our gear and vehicles. Cooks, simple mechanics, secretaries, factory workers, farmers, street rats, artists... that's not even scratching the surface of the kind of people we have here. But they all pitch in how they are able, and how they want to contribute. We can't force a weapon into the hands of everyone, or stick them in a cockpit."

"Because if we do, the moment we lose focus on the people they are and consider them nothing more than numbers and cogs and pieces, then we're as bad as the Empire we're standing up against."

[Elaranu]

"Oh, that is the sort of thing I meant though," she said, leaning her behind against the workbench, "Cooks cooking, mechanics fixing, spies spying... Just making sure that everyone is where they are supposed to be. No... I do not know, say... a moisture farmer trying to be a pilot without proper training, or a politician becoming a general simply because of their status and not their abilities.''

[Dove Gray]

"The biggest problem is mostly that things like this needs fighters, and pilots, tacticians, and covert operatives. Now that's much harder to find. Sure, people are volunteering for these tasks, but many don't have any backgrounds that really match to it."

Dove shrugged. "But you gotta make due with what you got. I'm not gonna turn away a janitor that just wants to help his homeworld, even if he's never held a gun in his life."

[Elaranu]

Ela nodded thoughtfully, "I suppose it can be hard to meet perfection with reality, regardless of one's tactical acumen. The realities and restraints..." she gave a gruntlike chuckle under her breath, "This is I tend to stick to book learning. Or why I have in the past, I suppose. Perhaps the skeins of fate are leading me towards different types of learning."

[Dove Gray]

"Only so much you can learn from books. The realities of the galaxy doesn't align itself well to text, spreadsheets, or numbers... it's all a pretty chaotic place," she nodded thoughtfully.

"So if... everything goes well tomorrow, and the Empire is driven off from Bankor; where do you plan to go from here?"

[Elaranu]

A small frown, "I had not thought that far ahead. When I left home, I was hoping to use my qualifications in ship designs and having been a test pilot to help at the Empire's shipyards. But there are so many reasons that dream is no longer valid, I would not even jokingly consider it. I will admit, helping this rebellion with its ships does have a sort of appeal, from the perspective of someone who wants things to go well. But I am not sure how much a life on the run with limited comforts and resources suits me. Not from a temperament standpoint, but just from how well I would hold up to the demands."

[Dove Gray]

"Well, that could be a learning experience both ways. But if you were to just settle down on another planet, it might just be a matter of time before the Empire came cracking down there too... so, at some point, you run out of places to be," Dove offered with a shrug.

[Elaranu]

"Oh I completely realize that; Running away from this situation was not exactly something I considered viable either. Honestly, I was thinking I might just have to play things by wing, rely a little bit on other people for help and support."