Day 3 LM: Meeting of the Minds

[Bowze Coppa]

''It was not easy.'' he began ''But I understand that some in the CIS were callous and unprincipled in their use of droids. I cannot claim to have lost as much as you did. You have my condolences.''

Then the final guest arrived

''I was just explaining to them what we are setting up to find.''

[Djanik]

"Yes, it is a lot easier to make battle plans when all you have to lose is equipment."

He took a slow breath.

"I led a lot of good men and women, and ultimately, a lot of them died. For the Republic."

Staring at the murky depths of his mug, he muttered, "What a waste it all was, in the end."

Looking at the neimodian, he asked, simply, "Where you involved in the battle of Kamino?"

[Jabber]

"Ahh, you mentioned a CIS asset."

Jabber nods looking around.

"Look, I don't think much of this Empire either. I saw what they did yesterday...I just think we have to be smart enough not to get hit head on. I've seen a lot of heroes...and only one thinking long term. That was Bowse."

"So...do we have starting steps? I assume we are building something if you wanted mechanic.

He looks at Djanik. "And not everyone we need to help will have motives as pure as marble sand on the beach. Can you work with that?

[Djanik]

Djanik waited for the reply from the Neimodian, his only response a slow sip of kaff.

It was a simple question, and the answer might speak volumes.

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

It wasn't a wild leap that Bowze was ex-CIS, but a general? She briefly and uncharitably wondered if he was inflating his rank. Still, it all held together: doing this aside from whatever more formal resistance was operating on Bankor, hoping to establish his bona fides.

Vaya sat quietly watching the back-and-forth between the two veterans, her body mirroring the rising tension in the room, her antennapalps agitatedly waving between Djanik and Bowze. She had mostly processed the war as a Core civilian, following the Holonews and the gossip among the University, impacted directly only by funding shifts and when possible dig sites became unavailable due to the conflict. She'd felt no great loyalty to the Republic, and when she thought about them at all, cynicism about the motivations of both sides. Little of her anxiety was fear that Djanik and Bowze might come to blows. She's just never been that comfortable with conviction.

She looks to Jabber's entry to break the tension, but Djanik's still waiting on Bowze.

[Bowze Coppa]

Djanik waited for the reply from the Neimodian, his only response a slow sip of kaff.

It was a simple question, and the answer might speak volumes.

"Not directly" He replied straightly "I was tasked in leading a diversion in an other sector to obfuscate the operations that was being planned there by general Grievous and...Dooku's pupil."

His brows furrowed

"When I learned that a transmission had been leaked to the Republic it was too late to intervene."

[Djanik]

Djanik stared at him quietly.

Then, wrapping both hands around his mug, he stated, simply.

"I was positioned at a listening station by Varristad - we were hit by a surprise attack - a civilian freighter put out a distress call, and then when we brought it in to try and perform an evacuation, it began spewing squadrons of vulture droids."

The memories were still so vivid, years later. That moment of sinking horror as the mercy mission the Jedi had demanded, caution be damned, had devolved into a personal nightmare.

"I lost seven members of my wing there. The rest of us then were rushed to kamino itself where another 3 died, to help drive off the CIS fleet. The Jedi got a commendation for valor."

He sighed.

"Me and the rookie, the only survivors. So if you were the one who planned it, I hate and respect you as the cold bastard who was good enough at fooling jedi to force us into his trap, and if you weren't... well, I hope you at least are as cunning. So where are these droids then?"

[Jabber]

Ooo, he was a strategist. Ahh yeah, that would rile up someone on the other side.

"Oooh, that's what you want the mechanic for. That might really be something. Of course, if the Empire gets any hint early on, they'd smash it to bits."

"We need some kind of cover. Some reason as to why we'd need repair parts and the tools and just...metal, to get things off the ground."

[Bowze Coppa]

Bowze was empathizing with the old soldier...but he had a hard time properly expressing it.

"The Jedi never should have been in command. That is one flaw that was put into the warmachine." His jaw muscle tense and his brows furrowed further.

"There is something you need to know...but perhaps this is not the right time."

He turned to the Jawa

"I doubt the outpost will be near the city or in one of the native's forest. The ruins would be an ideal location, however. Scavenging is not only a cover but a way to make repairs if we have to."

[Jabber]

Jabber nods. "Scavenging I've got down. I think I have a line on where to get materials we can't find in the ruins."

"There is also a possible asset. There are people hiding out there, people who have escaped the Hutts. They might be convinced to help if their interests align"

[Bowze Coppa]

"Any local knowledge is certainly an asset." He agreed

[Djanik]

"They fought well, but commanded poorly."

He sighed.

"I can do a little fixing, you know that. I can also fly, and more importantly, I can lead a squadron in combat. I have a whole burgeoning career of military training with small arms, logistics, tactics... I just am no longer welcome in the only military in the business these days."

Glancing around the table, he added, "I also spent some time in the Imperial Navy, before it became clear what it was becoming, so I know a fair amount of how it operates on the inside, day to day."

That was most of what he had, for the moment, to bring to the table.

[Bowze Coppa]

Bowze took a mental note of the pantoran's capabilities and found himself to be impressed.

He is a valuable asset to be sure.

"I am primarily a strategist and can handle programming should the need arises." He said for himself

[Jabber]

Jabber shrugs. "I'm just your all around criminal. Gun hand, lockpick, pickpocket, fencing goods, illicit acquisitions and a touch of pickpocketing. Oh, and scavenging. And piloting. I'm not the best at any, but I can do a little of all."

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

Vaya shrugged, uncertain. "I'm an archaeologist by training, which given that this place sounds like a relic means it might be up my alley. How are we getting there?"

[Jabber]

Jabber muses for a bit. "I think I have an answer for transportation. There are a couple of wrecked ships on planet. Bowse, if you know any salvageable ships, I can get the parts, and you and Djanik could get into working order. When done, we have transportation, and it offers us cover when trying to get the CIS site up and working.

[Djanik]

"Where is this site?"

He gestured with his hands vaguely. "Geographically, as it were."

[Bowze Coppa]

''I do not know as of yet'' he replied

''I intend to find it in the next few days, if the maker is willing.''

[Djanik]

"I see."

Djanik nodded faintly.

"Then I suppose the question is what we should do with what you discover."

Cracking his neck, he said, thoughtfully, "If not possessed of endless manufacturing power, battle droids are a little bit less expendable these days."

[Bowze Coppa]

''I cannot say until I know for sure of what we will find.'' he took a long breath

''But they might be needed in order to evacuate the planet.''

[Djanik]

"Evacuate?"

Interesting choice of words.

[Vaya Mer'darrow]

"You mean, your insurgent friends?"

[Bowze Coppa]

''And the jedi'' he frowned

''The imperials know they are here and that there are many of them. I doubt they will leave this planet alone until those jedi escape to somewhere else.''

[Djanik]

"Yes, subtlety is not the strong suit of Jedi."

Shaking his head, he added, "We may have to make a show of them leaving, if the Empire is to be convinced of it."

[Bowze Coppa]

''Indeed'' the nemoidian steepled his fingers ''But like you said, Jedi are not subtle. I am sure something will come up''