Day 7 LM: Exit strategy

[Daunt]

"Yes. Because I'm not a type to run. So I have to destroy his plans for this place, one Crimson Dawn leader at a time, to force his hand." He paused, then chuckled. "Or die trying more likely. But this is where it is going to go now. I probably shouldn't be telling you all this to spare you the burden and the dilemmas. I don't know how close you are to the Resistance at this point but I think they won't like Vandil going down. And I guess your urge to leak this to your command is real. But since we've had something between us, Sacha, I thought I owe you a chance for us to at least share some words before all this happens."

[Sacha Ordo]

"Yes. Because I'm not a type to run. So I have to destroy his plans for this place, one Crimson Dawn leader at a time, to force his hand." He paused, then chuckled. "Or die trying more likely. But this is where it is going to go now. I probably shouldn't be telling you all this to spare you the burden and the dilemmas. I don't know how close you are to the Resistance at this point but I think they won't like Vandil going down. And I guess your urge to leak this to your command is real. But since we've had something between us, Sacha, I thought I owe you a chance for us to at least share some words before all this happens."

"I'm tied to the Resistance... here, for now. I help because I have friends here and I want to pay the Empire back for what happened to the Enclave," she replied. "My ultimate path is going to lie with my people. If you think it will force Maul's hand, then take her down. I feel no conflict on the matter. He still has something that belongs to my people, after all. I intend to retrieve it."

She let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "Those around me seem far too enthusiastic about dying, though. Stay alive, if you can. Life is full of opportunity."

[Daunt]

"I'm not enthusiastic about dying." He retorted. His mind was too drained for implied messages though. He turned to face here, however faulty and one-sided it'd be with her helmet on. "What opportunity do you speak of? For the time being I don't see any endgame to the confrontation I am taking up."

[Sacha Ordo]

"I'm saying that if it looks like you might die, it's better to retreat and return to the fight later better prepared." She replied more clearly. "Moreover, I want to take him down, as well. There are others, I'm sure. You don't have to run into a solo fight against insurmountable odds."

[Bowze Coppa]

"It's a volunteer effort not everyone is going to want to leave. So it is what it is," she said honestly.

''Even if their lives here might become harder as a result?'' he said, befuddled

[Dapper Dog]

"Yes," she replied.

[Bowze Coppa]

''Well'' he paused ''At least the Sword will hide them for a time''

[Dapper Dog]

"This is our home, most are going to want to stay," Weggs replied while working.

[Bowze Coppa]

That's a weakness

He could very well say that, some of his will need to stay but that was a tactical descision

''This answers my concerns. Thank you for your time miss Weggs.''

[Daunt]

"I'm saying that if it looks like you might die, it's better to retreat and return to the fight later better prepared." She replied more clearly. "Moreover, I want to take him down, as well. There are others, I'm sure. You don't have to run into a solo fight against insurmountable odds."

"I don't have a family to fall back on, Sacha. I am betraying my organisation. Running is not an option really." He shrugged. "But I get your point. I'll seek advantageous circumstances, of that you can be sure."

[Sacha Ordo]

"You have me, as well," she pointed out. "You're my friend. And I have as much reason to fight him as you... No, it's beyond that. If he doesn't die first, my fight with him is inevitable."

"And I, as you've pointed out, do have family, who are just as pleased with him as I am. Your enemy has many enemies who can become at least temporary friends."

[Daunt]

"How do I have you?" He looked straight into her visor, his chartreuse eyes inquisitive.

[Sacha Ordo]

"Well, you've had me," she replied, joking very gently at him before returning to seriousness. "But like I already said, we're at the very least friends. Call on me if you need me."

"Another thing, though, is... Maul... You know what he is. Don't rush things if you're not ready to take him on."

[Djanik]

Djanik tapped his chin.

Finally he came to a decision and flagged down the maintenance teams.

They looked at him incredulously.

But he was quite adamant.

Red paint.

Lots of red paint.

[Bowze Coppa]

Djanik tapped his chin.

Finally he came to a decision and flagged down the maintenance teams.

They looked at him incredulously.

But he was quite adamant.

Red paint.

Lots of red paint.

Bowze left Weggs to her work and approached the starfighter wing. He looked at them appreciatively.

[Djanik]

Djanik, sleeves rolled up, was busy slathering red paint along the nose of the nearest Z-95.

What he was going for wasn't yet clear, but he at least appeared to be enjoying himself, humming soulfully behind the respirator as the airbrush pumped out red paint along the surface of the hull.

[Daunt]

"Well, you've had me," she replied, joking very gently at him before returning to seriousness. "But like I already said, we're at the very least friends. Call on me if you need me."

"Another thing, though, is... Maul... You know what he is. Don't rush things if you're not ready to take him on."

He smiled faintly, resting his hand on her shoulder and bowing his head, looking at the floor between them. "This is not what I meant, Sacha, for we haven't really worked it out afterwards. And now it's become harder. So this something can be friendship. If this is how you see it, I am not going to argue. One woman I hold dear is still suffering out there because of how a good definition of a relationship had not been worked out in due time. I am not a one man army and I kind of need help right now, but pulling you into lethal situations that result from my choices is something I want to avoid."

He paused. "I know who he is. He's the man who's made me like I am now, from a boy that was different once. And even though I realise it, I cannot unmake that influence. He's not my father, and he's never tried to be a father figure to me, but what I have to do still feels like patricide, betraying my family. There are words in Mando'a for those who do, right? Hence why I don't think too highly of the value my life holds at the moment. It's not exactly a death wish, just acceptance of... whatever fate."

[Sacha Ordo]

He smiled faintly, resting his hand on her shoulder and bowing his head, looking at the floor between them. "This is not what I meant, Sacha, for we haven't really worked it out afterwards. And now it's become harder. So this something can be friendship. If this is how you see it, I am not going to argue. One woman I hold dear is still suffering out there because of how a good definition of a relationship had not been worked out in due time. I am not a one man army and I kind of need help right now, but pulling you into lethal situations that result from my choices is something I want to avoid."

He paused. "I know who he is. He's the man who's made me like I am now, from a boy that was different once. And even though I realise it, I cannot unmake that influence. He's not my father, and he's never tried to be a father figure to me, but what I have to do still feels like patricide, betraying my family. There are words in Mando'a for those who do, right? Hence why I don't think too highly of the value my life holds at the moment. It's not exactly a death wish, just acceptance of... whatever fate."

"Rather than saying that, Daunt... What do you want things to be between us?" She asked, putting a hand over his on her shoulder. "I understand the feeling. If I had to move against my caretaker, I might feel something similar. Your life has much value, though. So don't go too easy into that good night."

[Daunt]

"I wish I could tell it to you while seeing your eyes... I am not good at getting the love thing right, but I have feelings for you that go beyond simple caring."

He moved his finger above her visor as if he was brushing her brows.

"Still, there's this girl who's given up everything for me and she seems to have enough love for both of us. It's not ideal, but what I know is that right now in order to keep any humanity I cannot betray her or let her down. So best I can hope, Sacha, is that after some chapter is closed and I am still alive, our something will not have already been forfeit."

He then chuckled wryly.

"Night is where I belong, Sacha Ordo. I am a Nightbrother. It's stepping into the daylight that would kill who I am. But I get your point."

[Sacha Ordo]

She sighed, and her voice, when she spoke, sounded both sad and happy at the same time. She took off a glove and stroked his cheek. "I do, as well. I also feel that way about Juri."

She paused. "Just... be careful. If can be unfair to everyone involved to engage in a relationship out of a sense of obligation."

"... Just to be clear, do you plan to try to kill Maul?"

[Daunt]

"Abandoning her right now is like killing her. If my defiance has to make any sense, I have to stay beside her."

He leaned into her touch for a brief moment, finding comfort in it, smiling forlornly, then sighed and straightened.

"I think he is going to hunt me down once he learns I've defied him, to make an example. So the best I can do is to secure some advantage for the time when it occurs."

[Sacha Ordo]

"Understood." She nodded. "I'm sorry, by the way... It's hard to love a Mandalorian," she admitted sadly.

"... I can't help but feel like your situation aligns with my goals."

[Daunt]

"Juri could tell you a lot how hard it is to love a stubborn and reckless motherkriffer like me. We are who we are, Sacha. Imagining someone else behind the face - or helmet in your case - leads only to pain and sorrow."

He shrugged. "And since they align, are you saying you are willing to step in the same nerf shit puddle I am standing in now?"

[Sacha Ordo]

She nodded. "Yeah. I'll talk to Ven, since he's the other half of owning this ship, but you might think about coming with us. Moving will keep you under the radar, at least to some degree, until we're ready to confront him. Ven already knows my plans regarding Maul, so he's onboard. He wants to make a name for himself anyway, and this'll do it."

She looked at him seriously. "I will defeat him and reclaim the saber. You understand that my goal is for the sake of my people. It's not going to waver, even in the face of death or any attachment you may still have. You also understand that I will continue to associate with Juri, and that may be uncomfortable. Is that all right?"

[Daunt]

"Juri doesn't make me uncomfortable. I'll keep caring for her like a Nightbrother for a Nightsister. Even if she's becoming more of a Daysister." He paused. "As to the other things, I am not going to become an aide to the Nite Owls, Sacha, and be subjected to your strategies. I need help in subverting Maul's plans about Bankor, since I know what they are. So I need it help here, not on a Mandalorian ship going who knows where, at the mercy of your associates."