You Were Saying?

[Marcello Matteo]

Sullust Base

Locks of blonde hair dangled in front of Marcello's piercing blue gaze as he tapped out the finishing touches of a flight report. During his downtime on Sullust, the Rogue Master did what he could to contribute to system defense by flying a variety of routine patrols. The fight that the Galactic Alliance was engaged in certainly required arduous commitments from all hands. Being at the controls of a starfighter had been his first love...actually...podracers had engaged his interest first. In fact, the more Marcello thought about it, he'd always been enticed by feats of skill, speed, and no uncertain amount of danger.

Once the report had been completed and submitted, the large Naboo native leaned back in the chair. He did not really maintain quarters within the Alliance Base. Though he would have liked to spend more time at the controls of a starfighter, the strict reality was his recent experience found him more often than not on the ground. While he wasn't exactly actively training any apprentices, he did help out in a variety of combat classes when able at the Sullust Temple - where he maintained modest quarters by virtue of his rank. In practice, the Rogue Jedi spent most of his time constantly on the move, a welcome distraction to the protracted absence of his chosen partner in life.

----------
Sullust Temple
One Hour Later

With an easy smile and a subtle nod of the head, Marcello returned the greetings of two padawans he passed in one of the many corridors of the Sullust Temple. Turning a corner, the Rogue Master slipped into a communications room. Withdrawing his datapad from his pocket, Marcello searched quickly through a number of contacts before finding a specific frequency. Some time ago during his independent travels throughout the galaxy, Marcello had met a rather interesting woman. She was the Dowager Princess of a world most had never even heard of. Despite her relative distance from much of the greater galactic struggle, she exuded a passion and drive towards doing all she could to safeguard those that needed her assistance.

At the time, the woman had asked Marcello a number of probing questions about his plans and his past. For the most part, the Rogue Jedi answered her questions honestly...given that there wasn't really any aspect of his life he was ashamed of. Rest assured...obtaining that level of clarity and confidence had certainly taken a great deal of time. Though the Dowager Princess gave no clear indication of what the true intent behind her questions were, Marcello was perceptive enough to realize she had been feeling him out for a much broader conversation.

Though he'd been unable to explore further at the time, he'd given himself a mental note to investigate further when he truly was able. Given all that had happened recently with the One Sith, the First Order, and even his recent activities on Naboo, Marcello knew that the window of opportunity for investigation was rapidly closing. If this woman could be of assistance in their continued fight against tyranny and evil, then he had no real reason not to at least level a query.

Once the holocom activated, Marcello clasped his hands behind his back and waited for the connection to establish.

[member="Evelin Redstar"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

In her command center on Hoth, Evelin Redstar stood with her hands braced against the large, conference table. To her left, one third around the table, was the figure of her mother-in-law, Dowager Princess Portia Highcastle, who was short in stature but not in spirit and sported twinkling blue eyes and short gray hair. It occurred to Evelin that she, herself, was now the Dowager Princess since the death of her husband, but since there were no heirs to the line it didn't particularly matter.

Portia was saying: "...and I'm very careful, as you know, to keep your name out of it until I'm absolutely sure, and this man is the definitive article. I believe he would be of tremendous use to your cause. Shall I patch him through?"

"Of course," Evelin said, nodding at the signal officer. There were a few moments and clicks, then a blue figure flickered into existence, one third around the table to the right.

"Master Jedi," said Portia, bowing her head gracefully. "May I present Evelin High-- Evelin Redstar, that is. Evelin, [member="Marcello Matteo"], the one I was telling you about."

"Master Jedi," Evelin said politely. "Thank you for taking the time."

 

[Marcello Matteo]

Marcello's discourse with Portia Highcastle had gone off as pleasantly and perfunctory as he'd expected. The Rogue Master could certainly appreciate those capable of brevity. However, the Dowager Princess still seemed an ever-enigmatic entity. She had continued to reveal remarkably little before proposing to introduce him to a woman that might have use of his skills. Marcello, of course, graciously accepted.

When the holographic image of [member="Evelin Redstar"] flickered to life, Marcello's gaze focused on what features he could discern. Offering a subtle nod in return of her greeting, Marcello turned to face the image of Portia Highcastle briefly. "Thank you, Your Highness." Shifting his gaze back to Evelin once more, Marcello inhaled softly but deeply. "Ms. Redstar, it is ever my pleasure, but please call me Marcello."

In that instance it occurred to Marcello that perhaps the conversation was preparing to turn...sensitive? The call was already encrypted but... Turning briefly, Marcello confirmed he was in the room alone before motioning with two fingers to secure the doors. Returning his attention to the pair, the Rogue Master clasped his hands behind his back. "I must confess the cloak and dagger routine has me at a bit of a disadvantage. How might I be of assistance to you?"

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Evelin," she responded easily. She had a good feeling about this fellow. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but it seemed like things were starting to turn around for the Resistance. If they could add the assistance of a Jedi Master to their repertoire, then they might just have a shot at this. The Princess looked over at [member="Marcello Matteo"] with an apologetic smile. "The First Order is tightening its grip on this region of the galaxy. We've lost two supply transports in the last three weeks, and we don't know if it was sheer dumb luck that they came across them, or if they have somehow unscrambled our communications. Until we find a way to ensure we aren't being listened in on, we're all unwilling members of the cloak and dagger club."

She leaned over the conference table, shooting a glance at her mother-in-law, who gave her an encouraging nod. "I was rather wondering the same thing," she said to his question about how he might be of service. "My mother-in-law, the Dowager Princess, tells me you are a sort of... ambulatory hero. The galaxy has much need for that kind of person. The organization I represent has such a need, as well, but I gather you have many competing concerns for your attention. We would be grateful for any assistance you could offer -- intelligence, service, or even funding." A slight color rose in her cheeks, but Evelin put it out of mind. A well-bred woman never discussed money, buts he had had to put aside all those frivolous concerns on her ascension to leadership of the Resistance.

"If you're willing and able, the advice and assistance of a Jedi Master would prove to be of great use to us."

 

[Marcello Matteo]

Marcello was motionless and silent as he listened to all that [member="Evelin Redstar"] had to say. Initially, he was curious as to why this Resistance sought to take action against the First Order separate from the Galactic Alliance. The two governments were very close neighbors, and they'd certainly had more than the occasional interaction. However, if Marcello had learned one thing, it was that smaller groups of freedom fighters inevitably had a greater...degree of insurrectionist success.

As it stood, the Galactic Alliance certainly had its hands full with the chronic enemy of the Sith. Whether or not the leadership of this small resistance group had colluded with Alliance leadership was beyond Marcello's worry or station. When Evelin had finished speaking, Marcello inhaled steadily as a thin smile touched his features. "A hero... I've known many, but I do not count myself among them. At any rate, the reality of my concerns are not such that I would turn away any individual or group truly in need. Sacrifice is the prevailing quality of my life, and it is a life that I am more than happy to live."

Raising his left hand slightly, Marcello added an air of caution. "I am merely one man, and I am human. I've avoided leadership of Orders past for the simple fact that I did not feel myself worthy of the honor of leading an entire society of people." The same explained his quick work to reduce the prestigious House Veruna to little more than a Minor Noble House with no actual land claims to its name. He returned a fair amount of funds, however. "I am happy to fund, advise, and even fight alongside your people...so long as you are comfortable with one that has fallen from their path in the past. It took no small amount of effort and time to return with a refreshed view of life in the galaxy."

Marcello made the statements only to indicate he was a flawed individual...too many had the image of Jedi being pure and perfect. "I know another Jedi Master that may be of use to you and your people as well. Her pedigree is much more...well-documented than my own." Mostly because, unlike him, [member="Kiskla Grayson"] was all too happy to be a beacon for others. Differences in method.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

The Princess studied the flickering blue light that made up the Jedi Master, her dark eyes thoughtful for several silent moments. "As you know, the existence of the Resistance as an organized entity is a closely-guarded secret, though I'm sure the First Order suspects we're better organized than they have evidence to support. And, of course, all of our facilities are absolutely top-secret. I hope you won't take this wrong, but we obviously can't discuss the location over this channel, regardless of how well-secured we think it is. And frankly, I'm not wild about the idea of giving a stranger the location of any of our facilities, regardless of their apparent trustworthiness. No offense."

"I have room for houseguests," volunteered the Dowager, not mentioning the location of her estate.

"I could make that work," said Evelin cautiously, glancing at her mother-in-law's holographic image before looking up to [member="Marcello Matteo"]'s hologram. "Master Jedi? Since we're the ones seeking your help, I leave our meeting place up to your discretion -- if you're interested, that is." She paused; the idea of two Jedi Masters for the price of one was too much to resist. "And of course, if you trust this other Jedi Master to which you refer, I'm delighted to meet you both."

[member="Marcello Matteo"] | [member="Kiskla Grayson"]

 

[Marcello Matteo]

Marcello gave neither visual or verbal reaction to [member="Evelin Redstar"]'s comments regarding trust and operational security. They were not foreign concepts to the Rogue Jedi and former military commander.

Following the brief exchange between the women and Evelin's offer, Marcello inhaled deeply as his glacier-blue gaze drifted briefly around one of the Sullust Temple's communication rooms. "Very well, Ms. Redstar. However, you need not worry about my desire for a meeting location. I'm quite certain that leading a Resistance Movement is far more time-consuming than my duties. I am happy to meet with you in a location that is convenient for your schedule."