Private The Soldier and The Mercenary

[Eva Tektus]

Tag: Jas Katis​

4... 3... 2... BEEPBEEPBEEP

The timer was going off as Eva got in her last few punches. The punching bag was swinging while she caught her breath. She couldn't afford to get comfortable, sitting on a naval vessel all day would cause some to lose focus. Eva made sure to stay in top physical and mental condition whenever possible in between postings. She took a swig of water before going to the locker room to cool down. She didn't want to get her uniform all sweaty, especially since she had a meeting to get to.

Since her promotion to captain a month ago, Eva had been waiting for a chance to commandeer her own ship and was given the honor of serving in the capital fleet under the Supreme Commander of the Confederate military, Jas Katis . She had never met the man before, but knew enough to irk at the thought of being under the command of a gun-for-hire. Sure the confederate army itself required proper instruction and a unified command structure but was it necessary to place command of the entire armed forces under someone who's loyalty could be easily bought?

As the sweat stopped dripping, Eva had changed from her workout clothes into her officer's uniform. Not a crease or wrinkle in sight, the mark of a disciplined career soldier. Her water bottle and workout clothes were packed in a bag and she darted out of the gym to return to her quarters, on the walk back she walked passed other officers getting where they needed to go with droids littered around working security or maintenance. She prayed that none of her old classmates at the academy were here. The academy that she graduated from 9 years ago. Plus it wasn't like anyone could get a post on Rothana, serving the capital fleet. She earned that it in spite of those who slandered her. But she couldn't get over the doubts that she internalized, someone was watching her, but she couldn't prove who. In the grand scheme of things it didn't matter. But to her, it was everything.

She was outside the door to her quarters, she placed her hand on the scanner before the door slid open. She just had to do some finishing touches before her meeting. She left her bag by the door and walked into the bathroom, staring into her reflection intently.

A lot of thoughts were running through her head. She felt she was getting closer. To what exactly? It didn't matter, but she was close to it. With a few deep breaths she exited her quarters to meet her new CO.

She had quite a walk to take from the officer's quarters to the office of the Supreme Commander. But her legs were on autopilot as was speeding through the building with a purpose. After some navigating, an elevator ride, and a few more paces, Supreme Commander Katis's office was before her.

 

[Jas Katis]

When Arjen brought the new captain's file to Jas' attention, he couldn't deny that he was curious to meet her. Doing a quick background check on her revealed an interesting history, though heritage didn't mean much in their line of work, at least to him. He and his troops have fought against Moffs and Commanders who came from prestigious backgrounds and proud heritage, and they emerged victorious time and time again. Even the Mandalorians, with their clans and history had met their match against the Hellions. What mattered to him was capability.

And that was what he wanted to gauge.

Arjen had a knack for picking out solid officers, especially when it came to the main fleet. He trusted his friend when it came to situations like this. He set the datapad down on his desk and adjusted his grey uniform. After adjusting the flared collar, he awaited the captain's arrival. He could feel her approaching and, with a wave of his hand, the door to his office slid open for her. "Captain Tektus, please come in." He spoke up. With a wave of his hand, he invited her to have a seat.

"I've been curious to meet you, Captain. Admiral Herrix has a good eye for officers, I trust his word. However him and I have different standards for our troops. I want to know who I'll be working with." He started, resting his hands on his desk as his golden eyes fixated on her. "Your record looks stellar, I must admit. But what concerns me is your lack of experience in the field. Have you had a chance to read up on the First Fleet's combat record?" His tone was calm and steady as he watched her, studied her, gauged her very being, both physically as well as through the Force.

Eva Tektus

 

[Eva Tektus]

Tag: Jas Katis​

Eva was startled when the Supreme Commander walked out to introduce himself. His physical appearance didn't startle her as much as the fact that her CO had proficiency in the force due to being pureblood. She felt he sensed her outside his office and felt intimidated knowing he could likely sense her uneasiness, so she kept her heart rate steady through breathing. She was not about to be stunted now, not when she was being given the opportunity she was waiting for.

She had tried to get some sense of her commander's disposition by the way he talked about her. Clearly he wanted to give her a chance, yet he had been seasoned by combat long enough to know that the name simply does not make the person. Eva wouldn't have it any other way, because she didn't just want to own the name, she wanted to prove that it meant something.

"The first fleet is the vanguard of the confederacy." She said standing straight at attention. "Countless sorties that lead to our little pocket of the galaxy becoming the bastion of peace it is today. Larger navies would see dealing with pirates like it was sport. For us, it’s a matter of survival. Every patrol is as important as the next engagement and every loss is unaffordable. Not to mention their essential support capabilities, sir.” Eva paused to catch her breath.

“Not only do our ships carry our ground pounders from planet-to-planet, they also provide intelligence and logistical support to help them carry out their missions. Naval personnel need to sift through mounds of climate, topographic, and geographic data to determine atmospheric entry points to drop troops and supplies. That’s just one of many examples. Many just think we stare at screens and push buttons all day without realizing we’re all running numbers to make sure we can get a transport to land in a storm without getting her engines struck by lightning.”

 

[Jas Katis]

JAs nodded as she recited what she had learned of her new group, though he couldn't help but think that her inexperience was showing a little. Either that, or she was nervous about meeting her commanding officer. Either way, she was correct in her explanation, though there was another aspect between the lines. "Relax, Captain, this isn't basic training. You're right. We're the vanguard, we're first into the hellfire and we're the last to leave. Which means that there is precious little room for error once the shooting starts." He remarked.

He rose to his full height and crossed his arms. "Which is why I wanted to meet you in person. Your theoretical and simulation scores are impressive to say the least, however I am concerned about your practical application in the field." He admitted as he picked up his datapad. "Being in command of a starship without any prior combat experience is disconcerting to say the least. Until now, combat performance dictated promotion alongside theory. And while you are not part of the Hellions, it is my intention to maintain these standards in the Confederate Armed Forces. I understand that your peers tended to look down on you during training.." He set his datapad down and glared down at the young captain with a piercing gaze.

"What guarantee do I have that my men can rely on you when shells start flying and the enemy's knocking on your viewport?" His tone became darker, more accusatory as he turned to stare out of his window over the snowy landscape of Rothana. He missed Christophsis. "How do I know that, when I call for fire support with legions surrounding me and my men, that you'll deliver?" He continued, resting his hands behind his back.

Eva Tektus

 

[Eva Tektus]

Tag: Jas Katis​

Eva's lack of experience was something she couldn't help and it wasn't appropriate to blame anyone for that. Even if it was something she was insecure over. But as her heart sunk, she remain composed. This wasn't a therapy session and it seemed Jas had no concern for petty rivalries and military politics the way she was wrapped into them at such a young age. Maybe he did, but it didn't really matter. No one gets far with a handout and Eva had to prove she didn't.

"You've seen my record sir. I'm not good, I'm not even great, I'm the best damn officer in the confederate navy." A bold claim to make. Anyone could be the best, but Eva wasn't anyone. "Most lieutenants take 16 years to make it to captain, at minimum 12. It took me 9.” There was a brief pause as Eva collected herself, "I didn't skip LCDR because of my daddy, but because I've helped run numbers on orbital strikes with pinpoint precision that led to total victories. I've coordinated bombing runs faster than my CO. I even had to take over for an XO who was having a panic attack after hearing the screams of civilians while coordinating evacuation efforts with the PSF commander."

Her assignments were on her file, anyone who had access it could see she was capable. She was the mark of a calm and collected individual under pressure. But in her mind, that was probably half the answer Supreme Commander Katis was expecting. "I've never used a blaster except in target practice sir. Hell, the most combat experience I've had was firing a warning shot at an unidentified freighter when I had a gunnery chief assignment. But your legions have enough capable warriors, what they need is a sharp eye. A guardian angel who can read the sky to deliver a miracle." Her conviction stayed, her tone was stern and she did not flinch. "In other words sir, I can deliver you any type of support you need just as fast as any tactical droid could."

 

[Jas Katis]

Jas continued to stare out of the window for a moment as he listened to her, finally turning to face her fully as she fought for her case. She spoke the truth, in her limited field experience she proved to be a capable officer who rose to the challenge. And he would be a hypocrite to fault her for her rapid progress. Both he and Arjen were still practically teenagers when they joined the Hellions, and even now they were still recruiting people who barely started living their lives to go die for the highest bidder.

And the damned Mandalorians still thought that they were the hardest fighters in the galaxy...

"I plan on holding you to that, captain. Luckily for you, if you need to use a blaster on a ship, something has gone horribly wrong." He quipped with a shadow of a smile. "Another concern of mine is the scrutiny of your colleagues. I am no stranger to the criticism of my fellow soldiers, this complexion isn't exactly trustworthy in many parts of the galaxy." He gestured to his own features as he spoke. "But I've seen enough to know the difference between confidence and the need to prove one's self to the point of arrogance. I sincerely hope, for your sake, that you know the difference as well." He drew his chair back and sat down, pulling his datapad closer.

After a few seconds of fidgeting with his datapad, he slid it over for the captain to view. "I'm sure you've heard that the Confederate Armed Forces will be receiving its own dedicated equipment pretty soon. Among these are a new series of ships. I believe, as a vanguard captain, you earned the right to take these new ships for a spin." He explained to her as he leaned back in his seat. "Of course, you can always stick with the leased Hex ships if you'd prefer." He quipped with a shrug.

Eva Tektus

 

[Eva Tektus]

Tag: Jas Katis​

The question of her competency and her dedication were settled. As if it could've gone any other way in her mind. Her CO seemed satisfied with her answer but as she expected this wasn't going to be a one and done process. The matter of her character was now brought into question. As the supreme commander referenced the scrutiny she faced, she flinched a little. It was hard for her to separate the criticisms of jealous peers and the concerns of a superior officer. She saw it as an insult to her person. Not to mention her own preconceptions of the mercenary that she was brought to serve under.

She relaxed a little as her shoulders slugged. While she took a glance at the datapad, she only skimmed through its contents. Many would feel proud of commanding a ship of her choosing at her age. But that feeling was only second to her hyper fixation on the Supreme Commander's next concern. "If I may sir, those who scrutinized me haven't been given a posting to the first fleet. They're working a desk." She paused to collect herself. "I've proven everyone that this is in my blood." Her demeanor had changed, her professional tone had started to slip. "I've gone above and beyond and nothing will stop me from doing that."

Something was seeping through, an old scar that remained unattended. Something she always wished stayed shut but she never bothered to get stitched. Resentment had colored her voice and her face started to change a little. You didn't have to use the force to see something was off.

 

[Jas Katis]

She was slipping. He found the point of friction. It was barely noticeable through her composed stature, but he noticed the faint shift in her demeanour and the subtle flair in her presence. The question was just how deep this crack went in her spirit, but he knew that prying at it wouldn't yield results, not where they were now. Still, it was a significant enough concern for him. "And yet the concerns of your peers still gnaw at you." His voice was neutral, devoid of malice or ill intent.

It was surprising to see how similar they were in some aspects. Their lives and history were vastly different, however experiences had a curious resemblance. "For the record, we have received requests for transfer from some of your former classmates to the First Fleet. While senior officers are my concern, junior officers and personnel fall under the jurisdiction of the Admiral and officers under him, such as you." He continued, clasping his hands together. "At the end of the day, whoever steps foot onto your ship is up to your discretion as captain." He let her make with that information as she willed, a little test of her resolve.

He rose from his seat and returned to the window for the moment. "If you do not have any other concerns, captain, that will be all." He remarked, sparing a glance over his shoulder at her.

Eva Tektus