Mando a mando (Mando Empire people)

[Jorga the Hutt]

[member="Mia Monroe"]

The old Veratus-class shuttle Mav'la, bulky and boasting a few odd modifications in the sensor department, exited hyperspace over Echoy'la. Rel examined the long-range scans, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He'd strained his back at some point in the last couple of days. Repetitive stress, possibly.

"Looks like much less activity than you'd think," he said over his shoulder. "For Echoy'la Colony, anything -- the beskar-bearing moon. I'm not seeing much of anything there. Plenty of traffic around the gas giant, though."

Echoy'la had something like thirty moons, all orbiting within a genuinely massive ring system that made the gas giant and its orbital slaves look like a flat disc. The Mav'la skimmed along the ring as it approached the gas giant, the planet Echoy'la proper.

"Transmitting visa clearance...now."

He'd purchased a gold visa, the kind that came with every kind of perk up to and including the right to buy beskar. Gold level cost three quarters of a million credits. Suffice it to say, the Mandalorian Empire orbital authorities now knew exactly who was coming to visit.

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Mia slid into the co-pilots chair, eyes raking across the planet beneath them, analysing what defences she could see and wondering just how easy it would be to take this place should it come to war.

She recalled the comments made by [member="Gray Raxis"] at the space station, the way he had insulted then all. He was her starting point. It was as good as any, provided she could stop herself from punching him.

"Do you think we should speak to [member="Isley Verd"] first?" It was possible that showing him a little courtesy would ease there investigation, but it was just as likely to hinder it.

After several long minutes, a males clipped tones cut across her thoughts. "Mav'la you are cleared to proceed, landing instructions will follow shortly."

[member="Rel Connory"]

 

[Jorga the Hutt]

[member="Mia Monroe"]

The pre-approved visa permit seemed to be working out well so far. And it should: in the end, he was just here to obtain beskar and information, not necessarily in that order. Rel steered for one of the miniature floating cities in the atmosphere of the gas giant.

"For my money, we should hit up a cantina and see who's verbose and toasted. Nothing says loquacious like a tipsy Mando talking Mandoness. It's all about identity, and who doesn't like to run their mouth about that?"

In short order, the shuttle glided into a large docking bay and touched down.

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Leaving Rel to power down, Mia disembarked to negotiate a refuel and enquired as to the popular cantinas for the locals. It was all well and good heading to those traders frequented but they were more likely to hear about tales of the galaxy beyond Echoy'la.

She returned to meet Rel at the bottom of the landing ramp. "There's a couple of joints about a ten minute walk from here. One of which is known for holding sparring matches between drinkers."

She looped her thumbs through her belts hoops. "So, do you fancy cracking a few skulls, or would you rather we went for a quieter drink to start?"

[member="Rel Connory"]

 

[Jorga the Hutt]

[member="Mia Monroe"]

"I think we should embrace spontaneity. We're here -- well, we're here for a lot of reasons, but mainly we're here to find out what kind of Mandalorians these are. So let's go to that cantina and let the cards randomize as they will."

Little Keldabe sure was clean -- not that Mandalorians were fanatics for cleanliness and order, but the place was only new-built. It could have had a higher population density at this size, he guessed, and that was another factor. The streets weren't exactly desolate, but apart from a quick meeting with the harbormaster, nobody approached or did anything interesting in response to their presence.

Somewhat to his surprise, though, the sight of many Mando helmets set him daydreaming. They'd be acquiring beskar here, and he could hardly wait to try a new power hammer and a new annealing process. As beskarsmiths went, Connory considered himself a dabbler, but he approached the subject like he approached any technical challenge. If Mandal Hypernautics, Clan Rekali, and others could produce worked beskar in mass quantities, enough to plate tanks and starships, then a technical rather than traditional approach had to bear fruit eventually.

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Mia's eyes takes over the emotionless t-visors that glanced their way. She missed the anonminty that came with armour. Behind the glass no one could really see what you were thinking. Plusbthere was the added bonus of protections against slugs which she did not have, that and perhaps she was less likely to lose limbs.

A phantom itch made her draw the stump up and she rubbed her wrist. She never did get that siths name...

She caught the glazed look on Rel's face, and smiled. "What delights are you cooking up in that head of yours?" They had another block to go at least.

[member="Rel Connory"]

 

[Jorga the Hutt]

[member="Mia Monroe"]

"I'm thinking about forging beskar." He weighed his words, then shrugged. "A hand for you. Better than the last set. The beskar I buy here, I'm going to forge it mechanically, turn it into something special. For the bones, like last time, but also I'm fairly sure I can make-"

He paused and looked around, then leaned close, drawing her aside from the unhurried street.

"Last time, it was just the bones that were invulnerable. The skin could burn away. This time, I'll do you one better. You know how it's possible to make beskar into micronized flexible form, cloth, even foam? I'm fairly sure I can make it into synthskin, with full sensory capabilities -- tailored in the pain area, for obvious reasons. Impermeable hands that can still touch and feel. That's what we're going to make while these gorram barbarians are busy hitting things and pounding their chests."

He waggled his eyebrows. "And when I say full range of sensation..."

 

[Lina Ovmar]

There was something about the excitement in his eyes and the hushed enthusiasm in his voice that stirred something in Mia. Cheeks flushed pink and she grinned, resisting the urge to drag him back to the ship.

Shw cleared her throat, eyes flicking briefly to her feet before looking back at those bright eyes. "Remind me again, why we're here? I seem to have forgotten, something much more appealing came up."

[member="Rel Connory"]

 

[Jorga the Hutt]

[member="Mia Monroe"]

Rel caught himself in a double take. For a woman who'd recently lost her hand, and only partially healed, the last three days had demonstrated that Mia had plenty of energy, almost more than he could match. Then again, he imagined it was about reclaiming her vitality, taking her life back -- something along those lines.

"Trust me," he said, voice dry, "I can think of a few things I'd rather be doing than walking around someone else's Mando Cloud City until something interesting happens. Fortunately, the beskar deal's all taken care of behind the scenes. All I have to worry about is figuring out the right ways to work it. You know, heat it up, wrestle it into submission, pound it, quench it and leave it steaming -- the usual."

He scratched his chin and looked up and down the street again. "Fethed if I think anyone's going to meet us or interfere," he said. "Not exactly ghost town status, but not far off. Hold on a sec..."

He pulled out a top-of-the-line datapad and interfaced with a nearby terminal.

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Mia glanced around the half empty cloud city as Rel set to work, a strange sadness settling over her. "I can't understand why any one of them would want to leave home for this." She turned back to him. "Makes you wonder what Isley promised them."

She shuffled closer, moving round to peer over Rel's shoulder at the screen of his data pad. "How much pressure do you think I could apply with it?"

[member="Rel Connory"]

 

[Jorga the Hutt]

[member="Mia Monroe"]

"He promised them action. Maybe they're getting it; I don't have the connections to say for sure. I know Mando Empire people have struck at Circarpous, and out past Kesh, and a couple other places, just random raids. Not a lot of direction or focus, but plenty of freedom. Maybe that's what they prize the most: permission to go be their own ids, Mandalorian Crusaders without any actual crusade." He spoke absently, keeping one eye on his helmet sensors for situational awareness purposes, and his other on the datapad he'd linked to the terminal.

"Pressure? Oh, the hand. Well, I can think of some good reasons to keep a low limit on grip strength. Some very good reasons." He shivered briskly, and exaggerated the motion with a grin. "But I think I trust you not to crush me if I amp it up to true crushgaunt levels like the last set."

The datapad beeped once. Rel disconnected it immediately and studied the readout.

"All right, here's what we're dealing with," he said. "The beskar deal is all taken care of; it's being transferred to the shuttle's hold now. The reason this place is a ghost town is that they're all busy out near Cademimu. Posturing, maybe; flanking the UCM's advances around Generis and Ord Cestus."

 

[Lina Ovmar]

Mia smirked "Oh ye of little faith." she mocked at his concerns over the hands.

Her brow creased slightly, surprised at the concern that washed over her. If the reason this place was a ghost town was because they were reaching further a field, that left them exposed. Anyone who felt the desire to launch an attack would do so with little resistance. Of course, once Isley and his crusaders got word of it, they'd be home to chase anyone out, but the damage would still be done.

"Alright," she said with a sigh "We're not going to get answers here. So where next?"

[member="Rel Connory"]