To Be Honest, We're Just Greedy. [ME,BTS,GR]

[Laira Darkhold]

Sekalus, Outer System

A pin prick of light appeared between the two sensor frigates erupting into the massive bulk of a Star Destroyer filling the space. The Destroyer drifted from Hyperspace to rest between the two, shifting with unnatural grace and precision, tale-tell signs of a well trained, devoted crew and command. Rach sighed from the command chair aboard the Devil Eyes and turned his attention to the crew around him.

"I'm going to board the Sovereign and see what needs doing. Under no circumstances is this ship, or the Witch Sight to enter that system. If you lose communication with the Sovereign rally with the Alor on Alderaan." The old Fleet Commander stood from the chair and gave them a nod. This was a rat's trap, and he was sadly one of the rats. The Republic was far from trusted or even liked in his book. Why they cared to support a dictator wasn't his problem. In fact he couldn't care less about that. What he had a problem with was its waste of resources attempting to maintain a sizeable garrison this far out on the outer rim with no assistance. The Kathol Outback supplied his ships as needed, and even then he commanded less of a force than the Republic was known for keeping around Sekalus.

The old man walked from the bridge, preparing to bare his fangs at his brothers for his honor. A young woman wearing a plain gray suit followed him, heels clicking against the deck as she walked, carrying a datapad and nothing else. Behind her two Mandalorain warriors followed, weapons held at low ready, armor on, boots clanking, ringing out as they stepped on the deck. They were his detail following the Death Watch's attempted assassination. The woman was a telepath, and that was about all she could do with the Force, but it helped. He could relay short orders through her to fellow captains if he needed to. Nothing as extensive as battle melds or battle meditation, just a simple, short message, normally an imprint of thought instantly, undisruptable communication to a single person at a time.

The quartet boarded a shuttle and began the short transport to the Sovereign. The shuttle left and docked in under a minute, stopping in the Flag hangar of the Star Destroyer, pleasantly sitting back in its rightful place. Rach's knees made a slightly creaking sound as he stepped onto the hangar deck, the gravity just a hair more intense on the Sovereign than standard, his old knees adjusting to the weight.

Boots clicked on the floor as the four of them walked to the bridge, as they approached a call went out "Likar'alor bat su'yr." The Mandalorians stood up straighter, sat up at consoles. Those not attending to a duty snapped a salute across their chests. The Captain of the ship stood and moved away from the command chair.

"To your stations. Begin plotting us a round course into system to keep from showing out butts to the Republic Super Duper Carrier or the Imperial ships in system. We are still attached to the Underground mark only them as friendlies. Everyone else gets an unknown until we know." His voice was a low, growling bark, angry with how the situation seemed to be turning out according to the communication logs. Diplomacy was, however better than fighting fellow Mando'ade. The old man sat in his chair and prepared to begrudgingly assist [member="General Beyyr"] in fighting the Mandalorians aligned with House Verd if it became necessary.

"Power up all systems. Shields to full, weapons on standby. Non-lethals at the Ready. Loadout four Ion Ram'or, sixteen EMP det missiles, and thirty two intruder missiles." The loadout would wreck shields and lightly defended starfighters, but that was the point, to non-lethally maintain his word while getting the point across the Old Fang wasn't playing. "We jump when called. Condition Yellow."

UMC-SD1 Sovereign
Sovereign-class Star Destroyer, Command Module

[member="Gael bar Ammon"] | [member="General Beyyr"] | [member="Willam Forlon"]​

Please Tag this Account and Draco.​

 

[Jorus Merrill]

SEKALUS HIGH ORBIT

The Underground flotilla noted the following:

• A private transmission from Rach Viszla's outsystem flotilla.
• A transmission identifying the unlocateable intruder as Mandalorian Empire, and specifying that they wanted Sanya Val Swift for war crimes, though how the Mando Empire had a dog in this fight was an open question.
• A hyperspace distortion consistent with a ship departing, and with the end of the Mandalorian Empire transmission.
• A small, unarmed shuttle, transmitting to the Republic fleet and bound for the ship that had been threatened. Probably a trick. Loaded to the gills with baradium or something. Fortunately, Strike Force Rallrajow was a decent distance away and not under threat.

 

[Eugen Aker]

Word of the latest incursion into the Rusya system had quickly reached the Teigra residence through Suravi's Senate connections. Mandalorians this time, from a newly established splinter group that fancied itself as an empire, complete with its very own claimant to the title of Mand'alor. As she read through the ultimatum, she couldn't help but groan. One, for the Mandalorians carrying out their usual hamfisted style of gunboat diplomacy, and two, for Sanya doing something to incite their wrath in the first place.

Soon after the news dropped, she received a call from President Blake. Based off of the timing of his call, she already had a good idea about the topic of the coming conversation before he had uttered a single word. The administration kept a close tab on Sekellian events, as a Kiribian expeditionary group consisting of both military and merchant vessels were still deployed there on a humanitarian mission.

"I already know about the Mandalorians in the Rusya system," she informed him. "Now I want to know how you will respond."

"The Mandalorians didn't come in shooting like the Sith, so for the moment we're going to stand down and let the Republic - you - take the lead on this."

"Fair enough. I'll have to get in contact with my counterparts on Sekalus to coordinate, but the terms the Mandalorians set are simply unworkable. They're demanding a major Republic military asset or Sanya herself, for what? Until a few minutes ago, I wasn't even aware of Sanya having interactions with the Mandalorians."

"Our ambassador on Sekalus just had a chat with the administration about it. There was an altercation between Inquisition Industries and the Mandalorians over the legality of an II asteroid mining installation within their home system. Swift was present. The end result was installation was glassed by the Mandalorians, while Swift herself is still reported as missing."

"So this actually has nothing to do with us or the Republic, aside from the fact that the GR is holding possession of the Libita as collateral. From their message, they seem to understand that the carrier is not Swift's to even give away. Why did they even destroy her facility instead of seizing it? Was there resistance on her end?"

"None. It appears that they got into said altercation with every intent to destroy the facility regardless of her response."

Suravi thumbed her temples in frustration, muttering curses under her breath. Up until this point, Suravi had been eager to engage with the ME as a foil to the UCM. She had been in talks with their leadership to meet them within the month, but now that was probably out of the window as they had decided to take a joyride with their fleets across the galaxy for a minor spat that could have been quickly addressed through diplomatic channels.

"Alright, the clock is ticking, so I'm going to get into contact with our people on the ground. The Republic doesn't have time for this nonsense, so we'll try to work out something, but that all hinges on the Mandalorians backing down from demanding extradition or claiming the Libita as reparations. We don't even know if Sanya is still alive, and we have yet to be compensated by her for the carrier. The ultrachrome hull alone is worth more than that entire rock they destroyed."

"Do your best, but the Republic can count on Union support however this goes."

"Thank you, I'll catch up with you later."

After she ended the call, she took a few minutes to down a glass sparkbee honey from her personal stores before she checked in with Ambassador Enif and the Sekallian officials left in charge in Sanya's stead. That was when she learned General Forlon was in the system and had taken command of the Libita and the Republic forces there. The news surprised her, but she was glad to see such a capable commander in charge. There were other parties on scene, some she had worked with in the past to clear the region around Sekalus of any vestige of Covenant influence.

Performing a little gunboat diplomacy his own, Forlon successfully negotiated for the Mandalorians to meet with Republic diplomats to come up with alternative solutions. She got in contact with Forlon to thank him for his efforts and to let him know that she would be present for the talks via holo-call. Now she awaited the appearance of the Mandalorian delegation.

[member="Willam Forlon"], [member="Gael bar Ammon"], [member="General Beyyr"], [member="Miss Blonde"], [member="Jorus Merrill"], [member="Solan Charr"], [member="Lady Kay"], [member="Draco Vereen"], [member="Rach Vizla"]