Trade Negotiations

[Adelle Bastiel]

"Am I really necessary?"

Adelle stood in the cockpit of the light freighter, towel wrapped around her body still. She could hear the roar of the atmosphere as the ship began landing at its designated docking bay on Mandalore. Leigh, a giant of a droid, sat at the controls, expertly piloting the vehicle. Time ran short and she still procrastinated getting dressed.

"Don't you and Na'an normally handle these things?"



[member="LE-03 (Leigh)"] [member="Vidalu Na'an"]

 

[LE-03 (Leigh)]

Leigh did not move to acknowledge the woman, her primary processes focused on the minutiae of landing the hauler. Her bulk took up the majority of the cockpit--a humanoid shape distinct only in scale, with a smooth glassy dome where the head would normally be. The dome flickered momentarily, as if debating whether or not to spawn the holograms that made up its humanoid interface, then darkened again.

"While it is not strictly necessary," she said, in a smooth feminine voice only slightly marred by digital feedback, "We believe that it is important that you have more than a passing familiarity with our operations, for the sake of equal distribution of labor."

She pressed a few buttons and lowered the lever under her hands the last quarter-inch. There was a slight jolt as the ship's landing gear touched down, then the wheezing sound of the engines winding down. Only now did Leigh turn her chassis to face [member= "Adelle Bastiel"], and push herself to standing--a more awkward process, given that one arm was dedicated to a cannon rather than a functioning hand."

"It may also improve your quality of life aboard this ship, in more ways than one," she added, this time not without irony. "Although I recommend you not meet any Mandalorian officials in such a state of undress. It would be rude."

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Cassiopeia was preparing for the trade meeting between a few people. She had spent several hours going over certain documents, talking with [member="Yasha Mantis"] on her comms, along with several of the council. She took a breath as she stood up from the room with a datapad in hand as she began to make her way to the landing area.

There, she would meet [member="Adelle Bastiel"], [member="LE-03 (Leigh)"], and [member="Vidalu Na'an"]. She wasn't quite sure what the trade agreements would be about - she had only a rough, preliminary report. She'd find out more when they actually met together.

A large conference room had been reserved in the Sundari Palace for the negotiations. The conference room had an area for foodstuff, drinks. A hologram of Mandalore was projected in the middle of the table and on a holo-screen in front of the desks. The holo-screen could be used for a presentation, but for now, it just displayed a picture of Mandalore as well.

Once their ship landed, they would notice Death Watch guards, Cassiopeia, and a few other dignitaries. A verbal and written pamphlet would be provided to them to make sure they understood the No Force use law on Mandalore. Which, basically said, do not use the Force on Mandalore. Simple enough!

Cassiopeia reached the area where they would meet with the others and waited for their ship to land and for them to exit the ship.

 

[Adelle Bastiel]

Leigh did not move to acknowledge the woman, her primary processes focused on the minutiae of landing the hauler. Her bulk took up the majority of the cockpit--a humanoid shape distinct only in scale, with a smooth glassy dome where the head would normally be. The dome flickered momentarily, as if debating whether or not to spawn the holograms that made up its humanoid interface, then darkened again.

"While it is not strictly necessary," she said, in a smooth feminine voice only slightly marred by digital feedback, "We believe that it is important that you have more than a passing familiarity with our operations, for the sake of equal distribution of labor."

She pressed a few buttons and lowered the lever under her hands the last quarter-inch. There was a slight jolt as the ship's landing gear touched down, then the wheezing sound of the engines winding down. Only now did Leigh turn her chassis to face @Adelle Bastiel, and push herself to standing--a more awkward process, given that one arm was dedicated to a cannon rather than a functioning hand.

"It may also improve your quality of life aboard this ship, in more ways than one," she added, this time not without irony. "Although I recommend you not meet any Mandalorian officials in such a state of undress. It would be rude."

Under normal circumstances, Leigh could reasonably expect a suitably sarcastic and scathing reply. The implications of the droid's statements, however, left Adelle with little mind for sarcasm.

"I see," she said quietly. She opened her mouth to ask a question then thought better of it. Leigh didn't need pestering on top of everything else. Adelle slipped off to the room she had more or less claimed and softly palmed the door shut.

Useless. That's what Leigh had all but called her. Adelle put her face in her hands then raked her fingers back through her wet hair. She hadn't planned on staying with them so long; she hadn't planned on leaving the Jedi Order in the first place. But then Yavin happened. And the call for extraction. And the Order had seemed so fecking pleased with themselves, when they weren't even the ones that called for action against the rogue master. It seemed unjust and so kriffingly disgusting at the time. It seemed so important for her to go with Na'an, to stay with Leigh, to make her side known. And now?

Now she was wasting time getting wrapped up in her own stupid head instead of getting dressed to pull her own weight for once. Force, if they only saw her now. At the thought, Adelle smiled, twisted into something sad and more of a grimace. It'd be better if they didn't see her now. She didn't need to add more flaws under her belt. Deadweight and unwelcome were bad enough. Adelle grabbed up some clean-smelling clothes off the floor, determined to finish what she started.

[member="LE-03 (Leigh)"] [member="Vidalu Na'an"]