Tactical Symposium and Gala (Levantine Sanctum/Academy or PM for invite)

[Jorus Merrill]

The Defense Conference Center on the planet Etti IV, capital of the Corporate Sector, was Levantine territory in a nutshell: an island of civilization in Wild Space. Forged during the height of the imperial age, the alliance known as the Levantine Sanctum had been created to keep a small portion of free space free. Not uninvolved -- the Sanctum had done its share of galactic outreach -- but not aggressively invested in the great struggles of the day, either. When the Sanctum had gone to war, it had done so when imposed upon, and with conclusive results. And with the entire galaxy teetering on the edge of another Dark Age thanks to the Second Akala Crisis, the Sanctum had answered its longstanding obligations, reclaiming its old boundaries and expanding as requested. Etti Four had been one such move, helping restore order on a longstanding member of the Sanctum. And meanwhile, the Levantine Astronautical Academy had become a major center of command and scientific learning, with an eye to grooming candidates for the Levantine Frontier Corps. Its faculty exemplified diverse traditions and allegiances, their

The Tactical Symposium and Gala had been arranged by the Academy and sponsored by the corporations that best loved this region's low tariffs. Here, as in the rest of Sanctum space, corporate VIPs mingled with hardbitten Frontier Corps patrollers. Carving forgotten worlds out of the Dark Age was their stock in trade, and defending them their common interest.

The Tactical Symposium, moderated by Captain Jorus Merrill, had a diverse group of panelists, all with distinguished fleet experience. Former Republic Supreme Chancellor [member="Popo"], retired Republic Fleet Admiral [member="Friedrich Stahlmann"] (now an Academy senior instructor) and Mandalorian Field Marshal Rygel Larraq ([member="Captain Larraq"]) would be the guest speakers and panelists, discussing recent naval history and tactics, as well as challenges for the immediate future. In due course they would field questions from the audience.

Right now, the Symposium room was just getting settled. Jorus, for his part, was working on the fruit-and-cheese platter at the snack table, trying to calm a serious case of the butterflies.

The Tactical Gala, in the next room over, could pretty safely be assumed to be the bigger draw. Other tacticians, Levantine leading figures, corporate captain, Academy staff and cadets -- the Tactical Gala might not have the draw of a Hapan Consortium Grand Ball, but it was the venue of choice for discussion. Friendships, alliances, deals, ideas -- with the Primeval and the Red Ravens a few thousand light-years from knocking on the Sanctum's door, the people who had lived the good life in Levantine Free Space would need to stand for something, and soon.

Now serving droids were making the rounds of the grand ballroom, and cadets from every corner of the galaxy were trying not to feel social anxiety.

Some of them, anyway. Others were a little more alive.

***​

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Please tag your location - Symposium, Gala, Gardens, Spire, etc. ​

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Play nice. If you really must fight, please do it outside in a secluded corner of the Gardens.​

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Secluded corners of the Gardens also available for other purposes.​

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Spoiler

Levantine Astronautical Academy​

[member="Alec Rekali"] [member="Anija Ordo"] [member="Ærin Firebrand"] [member="Camellia Swift"] [member="Chloe Blake"] [member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Fadeyka"] [member="Hakora Feanor"] [member="Isaiah Dashiell"] [member="Jacy Sallow "][member="Jericho"] [member="Jinelu D'ysedri"] [member="Juliette Sasko"] [member="Kela Thayne"] [member="Marselia Urstalis"] [member="Maya Whitelight"] [member="Morgan Redeaux"] [member="Mya Jesel"] [member="Sam Turain"] [member="Shakk Awaud"] [member="Token Waters"] [member="Wan Min Brightsky"]​

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Levantine Sanctum (unless listed above)​

[member="Adele Adonai"] [member="Adrian Cassidy"] [member="Aeron Kreelan"] [member="Aventus Arentino "][member="Avonus Nothrael"] [member="Ayden Quell"] @Bryndis Silvertide [member="Buliwyf Jarhulda"] [member="Cabe Cassell"] [member="Caerys Argente"] [member="Callista Gseran"] [member="Coci Heavenshield"] [member="Cole Topol"] [member="Coryth Elaris"] [member="Danger Arceneau"] [member="Darell Irani"] [member="Darth Layil"] [member="Dashal Vance"] [member="Digo Odel"] [member="Elpsis Kallikora"] [member="Erinyes Draclau"] [member="Gaia"] [member="Glurp"] [member="Holland"] [member="Ilias Nytrau"] [member="Isaiah Dashiell"] [member="Jame Kaman Dar"] [member="Jaxton Ravos"] [member="Judah Dashiell"] [member="Judah Lesan"] [member="Kaia Starchaser"] [member="Kaida Taldir"] [member="Kaile Vera"] [member="Kal Izka"] [member="Kala'ndryl Ryj"] [member="Kana Truden"] [member="Karnyn Turrell"] [member="Katya Shorn"] [member="Khaleel Malvern"] [member="Kira Talith"] [member="Leith Kaerdyn"] [member="Livia Maddox"] [member="Masamune Tametomo"] [member="Mother Arg'garok "][member="Natalya Selanne"] [member="Natoline Kerrigan"] [member="Navo Intan"] [member="Nephesh Raivah"] [member="Nina Heavenshield"] [member="Nohemi Allaneh"] [member="Nui Akona"] [member="Odysseus"] [member="Phylis Alince"] [member="Quorl"] [member="Rorwarr"] [member="Sadarus Azzar"] [member="Seydon of Arda"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] [member="Tegaea Alcori"] [member="The Dark Man"] [member="The Hound"] [member="Theodosius"] [member="Thessa Kai"] [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] [member="Tiland Kortun"] [member="Valiens Nantaris"]​

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Other Guests​

Lord @[member="Gerion Ardik"] of the Tion Hegemony​

Lady @[member="Sasha Santhe"] of the Tion Hegemony​

Senator [member="Cade Lee "]of the Republic​

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[Ashin Varanin]

GALA​

Say one thing for Cadet Alec Rekali of the Levantine Astronautical Academy, formerly Captain Rekali of the Role Model and the Kathol Outback expedition -- say she can be a bit of an exuberant drunk.

She wasn't fully drunk. She wasn't even well on her way. But something about one glass of champagne and a circle of upperclassman dragged stories out of her like nothing else.

"So you've gotta understand-" The wiry woman in cadet blue balanced the champagne flute precariously; she was a bit of a hand-talker. "-we just floated up to the station, right? And these mechanical tentacles, very exotic tech, they just snap out and catch the whole ship. Peregrine-class, too, we're talking a frigate-scale armed freighter. And the tentacles drag us into the station."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Gala

Right. There were meetings and events for this whole Levantine Astro Academy. He could handle that, sure. It wasn’t like he was working for a dark side government or anything. Or that his Force reading might send the over zealous Jedi into a religious rage. So long as they kept their walls up, the Sith kept their walls up and no one tried to crucify him, he would be fine. Besides, today he was here as a representative of one of the premier astronautical academies in the galaxy. Supposedly, the former smuggler turned Imperial ace turned explorer’s resume was good enough.

But that didn’t me he was going to trap himself in the Symposium. Oh, no. There was a bar.

And serving droids. And perhaps talk in a more… realist sense? That was where Coren was finding himself. Stepping up to the bar, he looked around the room, he was in his former, black, Imperial-style uniform with rank of Captain displayed next to Instructor. He wasn’t here to cause drama, he was here to increase the ability of people in the space lanes. And that was when he heard the cadet, the one who showed a lot of practical promise, chatting up a group.

Was he going to have to pull her away from the men? Nah, not yet.

 

[Hira Mitsae]

Corporate Sector​

Etti IV​

Defense Conference Center​

~The Entrance~ ​

A vehicle rolled up towards the stately building that was lined with spirals, gardens, sprawling halls that would fit countless of important and wealthy individuals, today this was the place to be. If you weren’t here, you were either nobody or you had a lethal disease and was currently dying in your bed, no in-betweens that really fit here. The vehicle in question was one made by Daw Motors, exclusive, expensive and most importantly everything-proof.

Gotta love ‘em Mandos with their beskar they could literally make anything out of it.

Said Daw Motors vehicle stopped nearby and the driver stepped out to walk around and open the door for the man sitting inside of it. See, this was all before, Darell Irani was still the CEO of Ty’rel Holdings, it was still one of the biggest conglomerates out there. It would still be awhile before he would decide to sell off his assets in the company, and focus on other projects.

Stepping out in a well-tailored suit Irani looked around before giving a nod to the driver and waltzing off towards the entrance.

This would be fun.

 

[Lex-El]

Corporate Sector
Etti IV
Defense Conference Center
~The Entrance~

Then another man exited the vehicle as well. Just a hair under two meters tall, with a distinct physique accentuated by the onyx suit he was wearing, he confidently exited the vehicle and stood next to the CEO of Ty'rel Holdings. Black rimmed glasses, well coiffed hair, and a smile to die for had all the cameras coming over to see the two men. Both were extremely fit, and it seemed they shared the same tailor. Blue eyes smiled just as brightly as his teeth for but a moment, and the newly minted Senator of Bal'demnic strolled off after the man he had arrived with.

What the night held for them, well that was up to politics and dealings.

"Gratitude for letting me accompany you Mr. Irani, we will have to further discuss your proposal later." Senator Lee adjusted the ring on his right hand, and marched his way inside.

[member="Darell Irani"]

 

[Anastasia Rade]

Corporate Sector - Etti IV
Defense Conference Center
Garden


The gala she thought was not only a good opportunity for the two to have a nice night out, gather information, mingle and make a few new contacts. This gala also gave Ana the opportunity to dress up which was something she rather enjoyed doing. She was glad that [member="Orick T'ane"] had agreed to this though before she even had asked she knew he would say yes. He always jumped at going anywhere with her even if it was some backwater planet. She was happy that they could do something different for a change.

Arm wrapped around his Ana slowly walked along the center's gardens enjoying the sight as well as the beautiful night. The Tactical Symposium had yet to begin and people had only just begun to arrive. There was plenty of time to take a few moments for themselves before going inside to mingle.

The flowers in the garden reminded her of those that surrounded her home back on Mandalore. She couldn't help but smile as she thought of their ground home there. Leaning over she gentle kissed Orick on the cheek. "Ready to go mingle?" Ana would honestly be happy staying out here the rest of the night with him however she didn't want to miss this opportunity to meet allies and make contacts. It would be good for them both in the future.

 

[Raziel]

Lieutenant Janus felt a spark of panic as he took a seat. Not because he had been subverted by a foreign power, but because he'd been tasked by his commander to take notes and couldn't find his stylus. Ah, in his back pocket, panic over. He slid the cover off his datapad and opened a note notebook, adding a title and a few tags to make it easy to find. He remotely uploaded it to his vessel's shared workspace for review.

The military was a big place. So many, many people. There simply wasn't the resource to carry out constant clearance checks on them all. Most officers just got simple reviews of their bank accounts, tested for drugs and the occasional interview. They'd barely even asked him about his last two week holiday. Damn, but that had been a good holiday. Almost a shame that the girl he'd avoided his fellow officers for three straight days for had turned out to be some kind of intelligence agent. Still it had been a damn good three days and ended with a proposal to make him remarkably rich. Janus was a simply fellow at heart, the last in a long line of mediocre officers, yet surprisingly unpatriotic. Truth was he'd been planning to emigrate to more civilised climates anyway. Somewhere in the core with better caff and women.

Right now credits were apparently accruing in an account he'd gain access to in just five years time, at seven times the rate of his current salary. Enough to get him a place in the core. Maybe he'd take one of those trendy top level apartments in Coruscant. A friend had said precious little had actually changed under the Sith regime. Damn, but he didn't even know who he was feeding information to? Well, a few notes from a symposium were hardly damaging, he reassured himself. He ran his hand through his immaculately cut and styled hair, and waited for the speakers.

 

[Seydon of Arda]

Etti IV​

Corporate Sector​

Defence Conference Centre​

[ Symposium Hall ]​

He felt like an incongruous embarrassment, a thumbed-out eyesore rustling past men, women, and beings dressed up to gala finery with appropriately noncivil flourishes. Behind him, cadets nudged forward, triple-checking over loaned uniforms, squeaking brightly across the floors in flight-issued synth-boots. There were rife scents of Alderaanian champagne and reserves of dry koruskal red wines, besides ales, gins, spirits, brandies, cognacs, beer, and the rare cider. Patrol veterans made small talk inside tight groups of mingling financial agents. Fleet officers extending along the Sanctum from Chandaar and Jaminere to distant Arkas nodded politely, and explained how exactly they'd earned the sewn or magnetized bars and medals of service polished brightly on their breasts. Most arrived via loaned stretch-repulsor limousines. Cadets were arriving in pre-arranged shuttle-buses, decals flying by-the-eye advertisement for the Academy. Seydon arrived on via public transit and walked three blocks to the entry.

It was Captain Merrill's invitation. The Dunaan could have made his excuses: work, travel, troubles, unable to attend. It felt like professional snubbing, however. 'I don't like strong colognes and the sound of credit-chit vouchers clacking in people's pockets.' Not enough. Not good enough. So he dressed down in a white cotton shirt and brown slacks, threw on an old black surcoat Rosa bought for him past, rolled up a fresh pair of gloves that did not stink of beast entrails, and threw a few odds and ends into a closed duffel bag. Namely, a pair of swords and other sharp tools. Professional habit. Captain Merrill could allow him that. Seydon discretely bowed out of the gala hall, ducked into the symposium chamber, beelined for Jorus at the buffet tables. He devoured a warm biscuit before he'd yet said his hellos.

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Eun]

In a secluded corner of the gardens...

A young woman was bent over her knee, one foot on top of a stone bench. She wore hair of a dark mahogany pulled back, yet a few errant strands still wisped across her face. An irritable hand brushed them aside as she checked something in her boot. The DL-13 holdout pistol was unremarkable. Just a small hunk of firepower. But to Kate Shorn it represented a guarantee. She wouldn't go down without a fight.

The power readout showed a fully charged weapon. Kate made sure it was set to stun, then slipped it into one of the wide, concealing pockets on her grey-green flight suit. This was supposed to be some sort of symposium slash gala, but she'd never been one to stand on ceremony. Sure, dresses were pretty, but she didn't have the time or money to spend. Besides, her flight suit was comfortable. It felt like walking around in pajamas.

"Hm."

The sixteen year old stood up straight and narrowed eyes the color of glacier ponds at the surrounding bushes. With a gesture and a murmur the shadows faded to her eye, bent away. Those who sought comfort in darkness would find it already occupied. Looming shades of twilight belonged to her. If they wanted them, they could pry them from her cold, dead hands.

Arching a raven brow, she followed a winding path back into the gala. Time to mingle, or whatever.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

Symposium Hall​

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The panelists had yet to arrive, and the logistics of the panel remained outside Jorus' responsibility and expertise. He was here to moderate, by way of a fruit-and-cheese platter. Just go with it. The food was shelter from the legions of pressed uniforms and couture ensembles, and the social interaction that would inevitably occur. At which point they'd all realize that Captain J.Q. Merrill was a bit of a hick.

His sense of out-of-placeness vanished in a relativistic way as he spotted [member="Seydon of Arda"]. The Dunaan was chewing on a biscuit and doing his level best to blend in. It wasn't going so well.

"Evening, Seydon. You find a place to stand by the wall yet? Me, I'm hoping to pass unnoticed somewhere around there." He gestured at his moderator's chair, at the end of the panel table.

 

[Brooke Waters]

Gala

The blonde girl, who was still kind of trying to find her own answers in the galaxy was invited to the Etti world to attend the Symposium. It seemed like a good way to meet up with people in the Levantine Sanctum. She was feeling home here and in the Fringe, but here was where she was based for the academy. It was pretty fun so far. A lot of classes on science and worlds. She really should probably take more courses in politics, or first meetings, form a galactic Peace Corps… Maybe.

The accidental rebel of social norms was in her LAA uniform, but of course, her hair was doing something odd… Were those blue streaks? Yes. Yes they were. Yeah, Token liked to mix it up. Not that she really knew why, but it was why she had bright colors in her wardrobe and accessories. She just liked to be different and stand out. Probably why her one-off nickname was how she went instead of her true first name.

She had returned from Dathomir not too long ago and had managed to journal her trip, maybe for Instructor Starchaser, or just her own personal mission. She didn’t need to report to Bright Star for another few weeks for a hitch on their trips, but for now? She was going to enjoy the time here. She figured she could check the Gardens out later. First the Gala itself. She liked situations like that.

 

[Sasha Santhe]

Corporate Sector​

Etti IV​

Defense Conference Center​

Sasha walked into the entrance hall and smiled. She always enjoyed her time at institutes for higher learning. When she was a student her mind craved it and now she taught on the side. Mostly technical classes or seminars where she would come in and speak. She wasn’t speaking here, thank god, she heard that there was a rather fun party.

In attendance, at least who she noticed initially, was [member="Darell Irani"], cubicle monkey that he was, [member="Raziel"] whom she knew from the Techno Union, @Cade Lee, a senator of the Republic and a friend of courts, and of course the famous [member="Jorus Merrill"]. Oh how [member="Gerion Ardik"] raved about the man hiding away a particularly valuable holocron. It was all too sweet. She’d have to find a way to show her appreciation to the man, and perhaps give her condolences for Rave. That was if she could find a way to broach the subject delicately.

Sasha always prefered #Darth Carach over Darell Irani. Were they the same person? Sort of not really. Eh, that didn’t matter tonight. She’s have to engage him at some point this evening but first she had something else to do. Seeing Jorus Merrill she walked up to him and with a beaming smiled extended her hand. “Master Merrill,” she said pleasant while completely disregarding the fact that he was talking to [member="Seydon of Arda"], although she did give him an appreciative look. “My name is Sasha Santhe, I’d like to thank you for the invitation to this event.” And then she withdrew her hand and looked between both men. “Or am I interrupting something here?” She quirked an eyebrow at the two.

 

[Anija Betna]

Corporate Sector - Etti IV​

Defense Conference Center​

Symposium Hall​

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[member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Seydon of Arda"] [member="Raziel"] [member="Anastasia Rade"] [member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Alec Rekali"] [member="Arrbi Betna"]​

Well, of all the places in the Galaxy... never expected to find myself here... Anija thought to herself as she stepped inside the main hall where the Symposium was being held. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust, but when they did she glanced around curiously. Perhaps the closest thing tho the Symposium which she'd ever attended was the one hosted aboard a vessel of the levantine Sanctum - also in the Etti IV system. That had been years ago.

In that time, she'd acted as the CEO of Mandal Hypernautics for a few years. She'd also spent time building up the Protectors, and helping to fortify Mandalorian borders. So much had changed since the great Disappearance. So many of the vode missing. Some had returned. But still others would never be seen again. Mandalorian borders - such as they were - had shifted drastically during the Great Disappearance. The Mandalorian clans had lost contact with a great many worlds in the territory. As a result, some were lost to other galactic powers as they all scrambled to secure their borders once more.

She'd fought in a great many campaigns over the years. Telos. Adumar. Empress Teta. the Second Battle for Aeten II. And many others. Those were the few that came to mind. And through those engagements, she'd learned a great deal. Teta was probably the one that stuck with her the most. Of all the campaigns she'd participated in, that one had taken the most out of her. But, she'd also gained much from it. That thought caused her to smile slightly and absently brush a few strands of hair from her face as she tugged her tunic straight.

She had considered wearing her beskar'gam, but decided that might send the wrong message than she wanted. Instead, she'd opted for her LAA Instructor's uniform. On the left chest, the Academy's logo rested. On her left and right shoulders respectively, were patches for the United Clans of Mandalore and for the Protectors. She moved further into the room and looked around once more. She spotted several cadets and instrtors scattered around the room. Giving Jorus a nod, she headed towards him for now, noting that he was speaking to another man... Seydon of Arda? The other fit the description, anyways. When she drew close to the pair, she cleared her throat politely. "Captain Merrill? Anija Ordo. Good to see you again, Sir." She gave Seydon a polite nod then.

 

[Kyrana Gould]

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

Symposium
The Admiral arrived in the hall, noticing that the other speakers had not arrived yet. It felt…odd…to be here in such a role. He was used to teaching, so instructing at the Academy was not especially different. But it was at times like this that he noticed how things had changed. He was no longer an Admiral in the Galactic Republic, he was retired and on the tour circuit.

Still, he wore a version of his old uniform, but with the shoulder bars and cuffs changed to a more Levantine system of rank. He took his seat and sipped from the water, waiting for the signal to begin.

 

[Orick T'ane]

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Corporate Sector - Etti IV​

Defense Conference Center​

Garden​

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Orick smiled and adjusted his suit jacket just a bit. he had spent more on the dark blue suit than he had wanted to, but he also wanted to show that he could dress up. He had opted not to wear his Republic Defense Forces uniform to the event, mostly because he wasn't sure who would be here tonight, and he wanted to keep his cover as a tramp freighter captain intact.

Seeing the dress that [member="Anastasia Rade"] had picked out made him glad that he had spent the credits. she was stunning as always and he knew that he would be the envy of more than a few people before the night was over. He smiled as he felt her arm wrap around his. "I'm very interested in the symposium, there's a lot of really excellent guest speakers here tonight. I heard that [member="Friedrich Stahlmann"] is speaking, He's one of the admirals from the Republic. I heard he retired, good to see he's still passing along his knowledge."

He watched as she looked around at the flowers, he knew that she loved flowers and she had quite the flower bed near her cottage on Mandolore. " I wonder who else is going to be here tonight." He said as they entered the large building, "I think it might be better if we keep the fact that I'm associated with the Republic to ourselves for now."

 

[Armand Temi]

Corporate Sector​

Etti IV​

Defense Conference Center​

The Gala​

To be honest, Juliette hadn’t actually shown up to half of her classes at the Levantine Academy, much less studied fiendishly to pass those dense and wordy exams. She preferred to schedule a private "tutoring" session with the smartest male cadet in the class and eventually Juliette's well-researched papers would just write themselves.

And this Tactical Symposi-thingy... Juliette barely knew how to spell the word much less know what it meant. Back on her homeplanet of Bovo Yagen, she spent too many afternoons skipping class in high school and stealing speeders from abandoned parking lots. She knew that her best assets had to do more with her instincts as well as other physical attributes. Flying is what she was most interested in - not all of this education business.

Juliette knew there would be a gala going on in a nearby ballroom, so squeezed into her tightest dress and highest heels, making sure all of her tattoos were prominently on display. Her only plans? To drink herself legless of course! But what she knew from being a Naval organization for as long as she had, even an Imperial one, was most of the cadets and instructors would probably be the same way well before the night was over.
Juliette grabbed a glass of something alcoholic from a serving droid and looked around for someone she recognized but not attending her lectures very often put her at an extreme disadvantage.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There were a few people at the academy that seemed to follow the same line of thinking as Coren Starchaser, and honestly? That was probably for the best. Not to say Imperial types were dangerous, but sometimes they had an issue of playing well with others. It took the right ones, and not the ones who were power hungry to be polite with the rest of the galaxy. Pellaeon was a shining example in the past of the Empire that Coren and the rest of his little tribe of crack-shot paramilitary Imperials worked to portray.

Standing up from the bar and giving [member="Alec Rekali"] a smile, and a nod, holding up his drink to her, he figured she was going to be fine. He’d keep an ear out, just in case. When did Coren Starchaser become the respectable and watchful one? There were times in his not too distant past where he closed several bars down over the course of several nights, so what gave? He wasn’t sure, hell even when Jared and Kaia were aboard the ship he still had time to go out and cause a ruckus. Maybe it was that even in his late thirties he was retired from military service and working as an explorer and sometimes-salvager. Could have something to do with it.

Then there was that other Imperial pilot, the one he noticed a few moments ago, Cadet [member="Juliette Sasko"]. She was a similar breed to him, more so than just an Imperial pilot, but also on the side that she was a bit more pilot and a lot less tactician. That was why Coren had Lily Ardellian, she ran that part of the show. And while he didn’t know her all that well, Sasko, at least physically, because Force knew that Kaia was a bit more book-learned, reminded him of the daughter who was venturing the galaxy and trying to find her place in it, and in the Jedi of all places. “Staying out of trouble, cadet?”

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Gala

[member="Coren Starchaser"] | [member="Juliette Sasko"] | [member="Token Waters"] | [member="Alec Rekali"]

The art of looking like you belong, and Aerin could not feel more out of place if she tried, simply because she is in uniform for the Gala. No fancy dress this day even though she had them, but they would not suit the occasion either. She walked into the room tugging at her collar as if the thing was trying to choke her, it was it was too tight.

Some familiar faces are here, others not so much and a drink will solve all problems so she made her way to the bar. She had had experience enough in the galaxy to know there would be no mead, having given up on that hope ages ago, but she would order the next best thing, a Corellian Ale, however the price of which had skyrocketed since the devastation of the planet, so each drop would be savored.

With beer in hand, Aerin turned and approached the Elder @Coren Starchaster. With a slight bow of her head, "Greetings Coren, a pleasant gathering this is", she dropped the protocols of rank on such a social occasion.

 

[Seydon of Arda]

Etti IV​

Corporate Sector​

Defence Conference Centre​

[Symposium Hall]​

With a mouthful of warm flour biscuit and a smear of butter on his cuff, Seydon deferred to each standing woman with a small bow and a little nod. Santhe was Santhe. Televised face, presence in the store-market enquiry gossip columns, a standing whirlwind rumour mill of faithless lovers and insurmountable sums of heavy, heavy cash. She was business famous. “Danger Rich”, and dressed in a glittering gown of void-black that made sure to hug every accentuating curve. Sasha Santhe knew she was beautiful. It wasn't any effort to impress: she had long finished with anything so puerile. Ms. Ordo stood off slightly and came in a bright Academy uniform, showcasing her status as a vetted Mando'ad, Protector, and licensed schooling instructor by a trio of felt patch-bars on her uniform pauldrons. Her posture was beskad straight, inculcated through rigorous drilling, a kind of ice cool that refused melting under occupational demands. Seydon thought her hands looked empty without a heavy blaster-gun hanging through her fingers.

Both came up, addressed Captain Merrill as he stuffed through a handful of cheese and russet apples. He'd mentioned riding out the gala as a section of wallpaper across the symposium hall. Glancing between Ms. Anija and Ms. Santhe, there wasn't a thing Seydon could proffer as conversation. He stole a platter of club sandwiches from behind Jorus and clapped the butt of his palm across his shoulder. A wordless good luck. Silently, he bowed out from the two ladies and sauntered off to find a quiet corner.

[member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Sasha Santhe"] [member="Anija Ordo"]

 

[Mya Jesel]

Gala

Mya was not a combat pilot. Nor a tactical leader. She was, honestly, not a fighter. Nor a lover, exactly, either. She was worse. Mya was a politician. Hardened pilots and soldiers made a beeline for the exit when she said that, even if they had just been flirting with her. It was a shield, that word. But here she was even more terrifying. She was an instructor. She held cadet's grade point averages in her hand, and with that, their future. It could be a way to grow an ego, if not for the fact that there were far more experienced and qualified instructors. She felt more like a student than an instructor most of the time.

But perhaps that would change tonight.