Public Reintegration

[Resurgent Narrative]

Tae hailed a cab while listening to Commander Kimura, "depends, Avalonia's got some of the greatest roasts, pie, and mash, bangers, and mash, up to you." She offered the Commander a reassuring smile as she held the door open, "after you Commander." After a moment or two, Tae took a moment to admire the skyline and in agreement remarked, "it is indeed quite a sight." Tae slid into the cab after the Commander and handed the driver a pair of sovereigns their denominations hidden by Tae's hand.

"Yeah it is going well, helps that the city has a pair of wealthy benefactors to speed things along." Tae looked out the window as the cab pulled away and then as a thought, "you know, I could go for a Full Dosuunian Breakfast." A Full Dosuunian consisted of fried eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, bacon, sausage, baked beans, toast, or fried bread with either mushrooms or blood sausages and sometimes both. It was definitely the kind of meat-loving breakfast to set someone up for a day of hard work. "And yeah, yeah, we are quite the resilient lot I gather."

​

Mr. Branneth only gave Renata a knowing look when she asked about the file. He followed this look with a smile, everyone in the First Order, and out of it had a file. Cloud City, a beautiful place by all accounts, shame it was essentially in the hands of the lawless within the Outer Planets Alliance. He only hoped the administrators there were able to maintain the peace. Mr. Branneth nodded when and where he needed to indicate he was listening, he got a better sense of who Director Westaway was. "Sounds like they could use your expertise again." He mentioned matter-of-factly, "Dosuun's seen some trouble and knowing how to reduce the waste without... wasting it."

A smirk.

"Would have them be ever grateful, in fact, there was some manner of talk of being able to reduce waste not just on Dosuun but throughout the First Order's realm of influence." This time he held that Cheshire cat smile, he knew something, she didn't. It was all in the news that he had to share with her, and as the cab made its way through the city he had to admire the work behind it. "Amazing what money does when it's in the right hands, huh?" Mr. Branneth had heard from his cousins the dire straights that the planet had been in prior to her arrival and subsequent cleaning of it.

"Mhmmm, pre-tunnel years, should keep that one for a memoir." Mr. Branneth pointed out, and then she inquired about him, "oh, not much to tell a rather boring story." Admittedly it was and so he pressed forward, "born on Galidraan to Lawrence and Kathrielle Branneth, the third child of four raised in a good home had a good education and eventually left the nest." Again he still wore that smirk, "I mostly work as a consultant, which is what I was doing when my cousin called me and asked that I help her around here."

"Oh, here we go, Cooke's." Mr. Branneth gestured to the shop that was hammered in between many others in a long strip. It was old and worn, the lettering spoke of its endurance through both sieges. "Place is about as old as Avalonia, maybe older? Got the best in town." He moved out of the cab and stepped to hold the door for Renata.

Renata Westaway | Masayu Kimura ​

 

[Masayu Kimura]

"That sounds lovely." the Commander replied - it had been a long while since she'd had anything resembling a Dosuunian breakfast. Bonus points if the ingredients had been locally sourced. Something about the way goods were shipped from off planet gave things a funny taste. "If you know where to find one, I'm all in." she added. Silently Maz also pined for a cup of hot caf. Not the mass produced, cafeteria grade caf but quality dark roast caf. It had been some time since she'd seen the streets - quietly she wondered how much of the actual city she'd recognize given both her time away and the occupation. How many people had she lost contact with and how many of those were still alive even? The galaxy was an enormous place. It was one thing to travel in hyperspace but the reality of the sheer size of it was disorienting if one were to contemplate on it for too long.

"Have there been many others?" she inquired. "Other Officers returning to their posts?" It would be nice to reconvene with other officers. For too long Maz had been looking out for herself alone, she missed the camaraderie of the First Order's Officer's Corps. With luck, she would once again feel at home.

Resurgent Narrative | Renata Westaway​

 

[Renata Westaway]

"Of course, I'm happy to help however I can," said Renata, not quite grasping the significance of the commitment she was making. She listened to his life story and had to agree that it wasn't terribly interesting. Fifty years ago, no one would have guessed the pivotal role that Galidraanis would play in galactic politics. It wasn't just the late Grand Moff, as Branneth here evidenced; with her, Fortan had brought a trail of her countrymen, a network of cousins and friends that had shaped the First Order. It had felt bizarre in the extreme for Renata to find herself at the edges of the galaxy, in real frontier country, only to find herself strolling along a garden in the style of Capability Russet or in a pub straight out of Calavar on Galidraan.

It was charming, in its way, but that didn't make it any less odd.

As the car eased to a halt, she realized she'd been silent, lost in thought. She half-turned and smiled at her escort. "It's our good luck that you were available to help your cousin," said Renata. "A Galidraani with a cousin in the First Order -- unheard of. I assume you mean Ms. Yvarro?" She followed him into the restaurant, waiting until they were seated. She spread the menu before her and sat back in the tufted booth, crossing her legs under the table as she studied her choices.

"What's good here?" she asked.

Resurgent Narrative​

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

Tae gave a nod of acknowledgment, "mhmm." She agreed and thought for a moment on where to go, there were easily ten places that came to mind but in her opinion, there was only one particular diner she could think of. "The Hungry Hound Diner is located just on the Eastern End of Avalonia, and has a great view of the Fortuna River. They came up during the First Siege, it used to be a warehouse and it's just got this amazing atmosphere. It reopened last year and has been fantastic." Tae couldn't help but gush a little bit it was one of her favorite places, and sadly they knew her by name and orders. "I go there all the time when I am in Avalonia." Ingredients were sourced from around Avalonia and only as far away as Victoria and Laurentia. As to the Commander's questions, "oh yes." She took a moment to try and put her thoughts together. "Not as many as we would have liked, as some have moved on to the Confederacy or the Sith Empire, but yes there are."

The Eastern End was silver of waterfront that met with the Historical District (Downtown) and parts of an Army Base that was part of Joint Base Korrado. The waterfront was small compared to that of sister city Prosperia that made a life around the city proper. Fortuna curved away from Avalonia prior to the Fall, it was only during Reclamation that Avalonia was able to grasp the river with any actual habitable real estate. The cab took the ladies through the city crossing through Governance Row and heading toward Downtown. The Eastern End welcomed them with an iron arch, docks, and warehouses along with diners, apartments, clinics, and small shops that catered toward the Army. Among them was the Hungry Hound.

The Hungry Hound greeted its visitors with a front made of AT-AT parts formed into that of a Galidraani Hound. The structure was certainly massive, the opening still maintained its warehouse doors which had been pushed open to give the view of picnic tables on the ground and second floor that gave patrons an amazing sight of the river. It also boasted outdoor seating. The kitchens were in plain sight of the ground floor, smoke wafted up from the griddle, and the sounds of bacon, sausage, and eggs cooking along its flat-greased-up surface could be heard.

A lady recognized Tae within meters of the entrance. "We was wonderin' when we'd be seein' ya again Tae." Jorgie Fraser was a short woman, plump and jolly with light brown locks that looked red in the sunlight. Her eyes were bright and her voice was warm. She wore a white apron over a pink shirt and blue worker's pants. A comfortable pair of shoes that looked about as worn as the docks around them.

"Afternoon Jorgie." Tae gave the woman a side hug. "I have a guest with me today, Commander Kimura. Do you by chance have a table that looks over the river open?"

"Oh, sure, upstairs to your left - will you be havin' your usual today?" Jorgie's accent seemed unique to Avalonia, it originated from Galidraan but over the years built into a 'Northern' twang.

"Oh not today, actually, I was wondering if we might get two orders of a Full Dosuunian Breakfast and a fresh pot of caf?"

"Aye, I'll get your order to the kitchen just go on up and have a seat. A pleasure to make your acquaintance Commander." Jorgie remarked with a nod of respect, she excused herself from their presence. Jorgie could be seen heading to the kitchens to place in the order.

Tae meanwhile brought Kimura up a set of durasteel stairs and led her to their booth. Wide windows made for great lighting on the second floor, and their table not only gave them a rather upfront and close view of the river but also the barges and ships that made their way along the waters Fortuna. The booth's table were made of reclaimed wood, seats were from an old factory that produced furniture for cruise ships. When they made too much they went to auction and that is how they made their way to the Hungry Hound. "The caf's beans are from Gilaria and roasted over at Laurentia? Maybe Suthrig, but here on Dosuun for sure."

"Although," she took a moment to think on the scuttle she had heard. "Scuttle has it that the city's benefactor might put down more culinary roots here in Avalonia so we might start seeing Dosuun grown and roasted caf beans."

​

Mr. Branneth followed Director Westaway and took his seat across from her. He took a glance at the menu before having settled on having exactly what the place was known for. "Pie and mash, and if you don't want the jellied eels you can slide them this way. I will happily finish them off for you." Eels were not exactly something that most humans enjoyed, admittedly. Still, on Galidraan they were quite the delicacy and seemed to be in good supply here on Dosuun. Still, he chuckled when she made the connection, "indeed, Ariel Yvarro is my cousin what can I say? We're all a bit dedicated to the cause."

The Branneths were simply one branch along the Fortan tree, "let's see it's us, then the Sawyers, the Devonshires, the Yvarros and now Raafs, and of course the Fortans. Oh and I'm sure there's a number of other families on this tree as well." He rattled them off with a humorous tone. A waitress who looked older than the two of them combined approached them for drink orders. She seemed the matter-of-fact type and not one to muck about, she was of average height but her stature and demeanor spoke of a prior service somewhere. Her accent was clean, evident of time in the core. A full head of silver-peppered hair pulled back into a bun. Everything about the waitress was meticulous another note that at some point the woman was in the military.

She asked them both for their orders and Mr. Branneth went first. "Water and fizz for me, to start and then I will take pie and mash, and yes to the jellied eels."

"We also got cockles today, fresh out the river if you want."

"Oh yes, jellied cockles as well thank you so kindly," Mr. Branneth was quite enthusiastic about it. The waitress nodded and wrote it down on her pad with a pencil that seemed to barely fit in her hand it was so small.

There was a moment where she looked at her notes then looked at Mr. Branneth. "We gots two fizzes, the regular coke, or the sprite, which will you have, love?"

"Coke is fine, thank you."

She scribbled it down on her notes and then gave her attention to Director Westaway.

After the orders were taken, she departed for the kitchen and her voice seemed to boom as she read out the orders. The shop's owner only chuckled and motioned with a hand toward that that was why he loved having her on staff. Couldn't go wrong with a clear voice like that, he'd gather. Mr. Branneth smiled, "he's a charming fellow, isn't he?"

"Now then, since we are sitting down, I do want to go ahead and tell you why I am having this wonderful meal with you." He gave her only a moment to look his way before pressing forward. "After going over the information on your file, my cousin and her colleague Moff Arador Terrix thought you would be best suited to join them on the Moff Council." And without missing a beat he dropped it for her, "as a Moff."

Renata Westaway | Masayu Kimura​

 

[Renata Westaway]

Renata studied her menu and absorbed the man's informative response. "I think I'll pass on the eels," she said delicately as her stomach churned uncomfortably. "I don't like to be pitied but I think I've suffered enough, don't you?" She continued to examine the menu and when the stern, no-nonsense waitress came by, Renata asked for pie and mash and a glass of water and an iced tea with some sweeteners. Renata had briefly considered ordering a drink but thought it might not be appropriate for the setting.

"Any cockles? Eels?"

"Abso -- I mean, no thank you," Renata said, putting a hand to her midsection as if to calm her stomach. When the waitress left, she turned her attention back to her dining companion. "I don't know how you Galidraanis came to run half the galaxy eating food like that. Absolutely baffling." She folded her napkin and put it over her lap properly, then folded her hands over her knee and framed Branneth with a stern and attentive gaze. Her glassy blue-green eye only got wider.

She kept staring at him as he spoke. Then after he had stopped speaking. Then for a few long seconds after that.

It was the waitress who saved the moment. As she dropped off the drinks, Renata held up a finger to Branneth as if to ask for a moment of his patience as she spoke to the waitress. "I need bourbon on the rocks. Right away, please." That handled, Renata turned her attention back to Branneth. "I'm sorry," she said after a moment. "I'm sure I'm not understanding you right. Do you want to run that by me one more time?"

Resurgent Narrative​

 

[Masayu Kimura]

The Commander smiled, a polite nod towards the woman Tae had addressed as Jorgie. "Thank you." It was refreshing to be out in the open, back where you could smell flowers and breath unrecycled air again. "This is beautiful." Maz remarked as they arrived at their booth. The smells of the kitchen were everywhere, hot caf, spices - she was looking forward to breakfast. "I'm surprised there are benefactors." Maz commented. "Of course, I'm happy there are. It would be nice to see some industry return to Dosuun." The First Order's industry had been functioning like a well oiled machine for the longest time prior to the occupation. It seemed like every day they were putting new frigates and cruisers into service - Maz remembered the pressure to run officers through the Academy. They were running out of bodies to crew their ships. She supposed that was likely the case now as well but not due to an overabundance of vessels, instead due to a simple lack of bodies.

"It'll be good to be back on the deck of a ship." the Commander added, taking a seat. "Something about groundside feeling so..." she searched for the words. "Limiting."

Resurgent Narrative | Renata Westaway​

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

Tae couldn't help but agree, it was beautiful up here and the best part was that the Hungry Hound scarcely closed its doors. Jorgie sent a runner up with their caf, a pitcher of it with a cup for each of them before the lad ran back down to grab the 'fixings' an array of sugars, creams and the like to fix their caf up with. He couldn't have been any older than sixteen by the looks of it, he was scrawny at best with freckles that dotted his face like a beautiful pixel painting. "Did ya need anythin' else for ya caf?" His accent was about as mixed as Jorgie's.

"This'll suit me fine, what about you Commander?"

Once the Commander had decided the lad would be off once more. Tae simply murmured, "mhmmm." Benefactors were something of a surprise but it wasn't entirely a secret between Avalonia and Prosperia. "It would be nice to see us back to our ol' standards, back when you could blink and there'd be a new ship, a new walker and investors were eager to put their credits here."

"Oh here, mind if I pour for you?" A Seoularian habit, they never let friends or guests pour their own drinks it was considered rude for a host to do so, "just tell me when." And when, 'when' happened she set the pitcher down and adjusted it so she could pour some into her cup. The aroma alone was tantalizing.

The lad returned with the massive tray that held their plates, how he managed to carry it without dropping and with ease on his face. He smiled toward them both like it was nothing, "two full Dosuuns, 'here ya are Commanders." The lad set down the tray on an opposing table, he set each plate down before the ladies with care. "Careful, still very hot, and I'll be back with some fixin's."

He seemed to disappear with great speed tray in hand. Tae turned her attention to the breakfast, baked beans, blood sausage, mushrooms, hash browns, and the eggs were perfect, toast, fried bread, tomatoes, sausage and bacon. Before Tae dug into her food she searched her person for her wallet again and grabbed a few bills. Once the lad returned she slid him the sovereigns, "this should cover the tab."

The boy looked down in his hand, "oh yes, yes it will, if you need anything else just let me or auntie Jorgie know."

"Certainly." She then took a deep breath and exhaled, "oh where to start, where to start...." Tae looked over at the bottle of hot sauce and looked at the plate again. "I shouldn't because I'll be in at that center all day, but I should because I will be..." She took hold of it and doused her plate with it. "Right, bacon, egg."

The taste was delightful, the bacon was just crispy enough without being overdone. "Perfection, every time." Tae remarked after cleaning her mouth with a napkin, "and yes the ground is very limiting at times, well, for those of us who serve in the void." The void was a unique place in her mind, it was where life was taken and sometimes given. Stars and planets rotated in their places, moons revolved around the planets and the planets around their sun. Somewhere in between were massive structures waging war with each other or staring at one another intently. "Perhaps one of these days we'll run into each other on a patrol or something, always nice to see a familiar face."

​

"You're missing out, it's delicious." Mr. Branneth insisted delicious and it saved the Galidraani during the 400 Years of Darkness. Eels, cockles, and anything the River Thames and the North Sea could provide for them. He was going to say something else when she stopped him and ordered a drink. Branneth was surprised they had it, "will have to remember that next time I come." Bourbon, and other drinks were served and not too long after their meals arrived.

He dug into his meal with gusto and savored the bite of pie and mash. Mr. Branneth looked over at Renata and once his palette was cleansed with the sweet taste of fizzy Coke. "They wanted you as a Moff." He delivered that in a matter-of-fact tone and then took to the jellied eels and cockles. Mr. Branneth while with gusto still held the rigid mannerisms of the upper class. "You're a Moff now."

It was a simple thing to him, the woman had survived the impossible and led nearly two hundred people if not more through a harrowing ordeal so who better to help shape and guide the nation? He didn't see a problem with it, although, perhaps Ariel and Arador could have asked but typically the First Order even before the Fall didn't so much as ask about these matters. Of course, she could still decline, she could and it would be his problem at that point. Mr. Branneth worked his way through the mince pie and mash, and after having at least a quarter of his meal done. He looked once more over at the woman.

A drink of water, and then coke, he waited another moment or two. "You can still decline, and I'll have to tell them the news, but they thought that - well they saw and read, and heard that you helped people survive four years in the dark. Ariel... is young, and Arador well, he's there but she knows she needs help she wants your help and Arador agreed." Again, Branneth wasn't so sure Ariel spoke to Arador as much as she simply said it was going to happen. "How's the bourbon by the way?" He inquired, "and the uh pie and mash but I didn't even know they had bourbon here."

"It's on the back." The waitress came by to check on them.

Branneth looked a bit surprised, and then the waitress asked if they needed anything else. "Not at the moment at least, for me..." He looked over toward Director er Moff Westaway? Once that was sorted he turned his attention back to his lunch and listened to Westaway.

Masayu Kimura | Renata Westaway ​

 

[Masayu Kimura]

"Black as the void." Maz smiled, indicating she liked her caf without any additives. "If this were purely a social function, I might indulge a splash of Atrisian Whiskey." the Commander winked. "Alas." she added. Retrieving the mug, she held it out as Tae began pouring. "When." Maz said as the caf came within a centimeter or two of the top of the mug. "That'll do nicely. Thank you." Lifting the mug she breathed in the rich aroma of the brewed caf, the warmth reinvigorating. A quick sip reminded the Commander that it was always recommended to let it cool first. She winced as the hot liquid contacted her tongue. "A bit hot." She noted. "It tastes so much better than the mass brewed stuff. I may have to pick up a pallet and have it flown up to the Redoubtable."

It was only a moment later that the gentle clatter of dishes drew her attention. The sheer amount of food that greeted her eyes was astounding. She suppressed a chuckle at the sight of the waiter, a miracle that he was able to balance everything on the oversized tray. Expertly he set the food down opposite and began placing the plates in front of them. It all looked so delicious. A funny thought tugged at Maz's lips. As a good breakfast was to a good day, so also was this specific breakfast a welcoming and good sign for the future - it felt good to be back. Following suit, Maz dug in. She enjoyed every bite, every sip of the robust coffee, and the company was better than could be asked for. "I'm sure we will - for such a large galaxy, it's a small world." the Commander commented.

Resurgent Narrative | Renata Westaway​

 

[Renata Westaway]

Renata swirled the bourbon around in the glass, looking down into it as the water slowly began to sweat from the ice, creating tendrils of clear liquid that trembled and swayed until they faded into the amber of the bourbon. She lifted the glass to her lips and took a drink, then dabbed her lips with her napkin. The awkward moment was interrupted when the food was delivered, and Renata stewed silently only what she had just been told. She cleared her throat and set about digging into her meal.

It was some moments later that she realized she hadn't offered a response to what Branneth had told her. "I suppose... I ought to say yes," she said finally. "I don't know how qualified I am to follow in the footsteps of the greats: Fortan, Calgar, Graush, Brentioch. But it seems like the First Order is asking for help, and they've done a lot for me, so I guess I should do what I can for them."

She smirked timidly, lifting her glass to her lips again. "Does this mean you're springing me from the medical facility?" she asked with a smirk

Resurgent Narrative​

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

Tae chuckled and gave a nod of agreement, Atrisian Whiskey didn't sound so bad but heck, why not throw in a little Seoularian Gin while they were at it. Or at least in the hypothetical, "remind me to get you the best Seoularian Gin when we meet again." While Commander Kimura loved caf as black as the void, Tae always thought it was bitter this way so she added a little sweetness with cream and sugar one and one. "Mhmm," another agreement as the hot caf seemed to hit the spot.

"Then I warn you to never drink the caf from the galley, it's the synthetic stuff last I knew." Which made the point of getting their nation back into full swing if anything, for the luxury of real caf and eggs and not the synthetic and powdered stuff. It was nice to share a meal with a fellow officer and Tae could certainly hope to look forward to a hearty lunch with the next officer she helped to reintegrate back into the First Order. Kimura was correct, for such a large galaxy it often felt like a small word. "No truer words have been spoken." She agreed.

​

"They were and are the past, you, Yvarro, and Terrix are the future," Mr. Branneth remarked as he took a breather from his nearly finished meal and looked over at Moff Westaway. "The First Order does need your help, the rebirth of Avalonia is only the beginning." He listened to her further and gave that classic disarming smile of his, "well. I wouldn't have brought you out here otherwise." A wink for added measure. Mr. Branneth would indeed be springing the Moff out of the reintegration facility. "In fact, I'll take care of ol' Ratchet herself when we get back if you have any belongings there get them packed up. I'll have the moving boys grab your things, you'll receive accommodations, and of course an income - among other perks of being a Moff."

"If you don't already have an account with the Central Bank, might I suggest setting one up? Paper checks take days to clear and direct deposits are always so much faster." Mr. Branneth looked down at his meal and took to finishing it up, it was only then that a small note of some prior service revealed itself. Mostly in the fact that he essentially sat at attention and effectively inhaled the rest of the meal. Dabbing his mouth clean with a napkin, he reached into his pockets for his change bag. "Two Rhodes ought to be enough of a tip." Ten Sovereigns, in the form of two gold- orichalic triangles.

As far as Branneth was concerned his job here was complete the rest was simply courtesy, he would see the Moff to her next destination which would most likely be at Governance Row so she could meet with Ariel and Arador. "Next stop for you after retrieving your things, Governance Row to which I will personally take you. You'll meet with your fellow Moffs and from there Moff Westaway, you are on your own." This time his smile was warm, genuine and there was a sincerity to his voice. The tone of his words conveyed the pride he felt, it wasn't every day he got to tell someone they were being promoted to such a high government position.

Renata Westaway | Masayu Kimura ​