Learning in the Field (ME2)

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hala made her way towards the Yellow Viper where Corso's cadre held court. Dressed in her uniform but without all the tin and brass she had to wear on formal occasions, she made her way towards where the warrior clans gathered and attempted to insinuate herself into their midst as best someone dressed like an outsider could. Still, she had studied their culture and was familiar with some of the cues as well as the primary taboos.

[Dapper Dog]

A red haired woman says, "You stick out Imperial, Corso isn't here, aruetii."

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno happened into the area, curious about how the Mandalorians spent their time relaxing. His family had flown with them from time to time, even extended offers for some of their pilots to join, though them joining didn't happen too often. Noticing the imperial look minus the brass, he gave Hala a nod. Zeno, for his part, didn't seem concerned at all if people could tell he was a Sith. It was basically advertised with his eyes after all.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

A red haired woman says, "You stick out Imperial, Corso isn't here, aruetii."

Hala gave a respectful not to Zeno before turning towards the redhaired woman who spoke to her.

"Not here for Corso, burc'ya. And didn't mean to pass myself off as one of you. I'm not, and don't mean to offend you by pretending to be other than what I am. Nayc?" she said with a pleasant smile and an open shrug.

"Here to meet new people, hopefully make new friends, even learn things. My name's Hala, what's your's?"

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Of a same mind then. Looking to see how the Mandalorians spend time when not kicking ass," Zeno says with a nod, entering the conversation.

[Dapper Dog]

"Look the twi'lek thinks it's cute to hit us with Mando'a but don't pander to me Imperial, I talk Basic just fine. So what do you want?" she replies with annoyance.

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno smirks to the Mando. "Just warriors looking to get to know warriors. Maybe hear tales of hunts. Perhaps have a hunt or two together in the future."

[Dapper Dog]

"You have stories to tell, Sith?" she asks taking a seat.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I have no doubt in your skill with Basic, but I want you to know that," she answered before flipping over into technically proficient but unpracticed Mando'a, "that I value your cultural identity and its distinctiveness."

She waited a moment for that to land before joining the Mandalorian woman at the table.

"No hitting on, no appropriation, just people. What're you drinking?"

[Dapper Dog]

"I don't care about that, I am here to fight for Corso and kill anyone that sees things different," she says to Hala not terribly impressed with the Mando'a.

[Zeno Deathwright]

"I imagine you're aware of what a tuk'ata is?" he says with a nod. He assumes she does before continuing. "Vicious little beasts all by themselves. There was one on Korriban for centuries that was infused by the dark power of the ancient ruins there. Got the nickname Death's Shadow." He undoes the fasteners on his top and pulls it open to reveal the torso sized scar left by the beast, tracing the scar from his neckline to his lower abdomen. "Left this on me during the first encounter."

He covers it back up and refastens as he continues and takes a seat across from her. "Myself and two other sith faced of against it in battle a second time and put an end to it's reign as the apex predator of Korriban. It's skull now decorates the nose of my ship the Umbral Vanguard. I started the battle off with a volley of rifle fire and to eliminate most of it's brood before it made it to us and we had to face it in close combat. My allies corralled them in while I mowed them down. But it wasn't all of them of course."

"Death's Shadow itself responded to the sound of it's pack being cut down and entered the field with three others following. One of my allies made quick work of the rest of the pack using a frag grenade, while the oversized tuk'ata made its way to us with unnatural speed. It tore into one of my allies while myself and the other, cut into it's enhanced hide with our sabers. Blow after blow from lightsabers and it kept coming. At one point the force from it's roar alone was enough to send one of my weapons flying, but that's why it's best to carry an arsenal."

"A blow to it's head, a slice to it's body... not many things in this galaxy that can withstand so many strikes from lightsabers. Eventually, however, we did cut it down and took it's place as the strongest on the planet. The score from my first strike to it's head is still there on the skull. You're free to visit me at Mezenti if you want to see just how big a centuries old tuk'ata from Korriban can be. It was a glorious fight, a true challenge, exciting and worth every moment of pain and wound suffered."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Well, it's convenient that I'm not here to dissuade you from that or to diminish Corso at all. I'd prefer that the Empire and the Mandalorians got on well, and I was hoping to learn more about some of the clan leaders. Dorak Nodd, for one," she said with a shrug, switching back to Basic.

[Dapper Dog]

"Dorak is an ass, he and Corso have been at odd for years now. He also has the support of his clan and is a damn good fighter," the woman says honestly.

"Maybe I will see this skull you're bragging about," she says to Zeno.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"And if he were to lose the support of his clan? Would you lose sleep over it? Would Corso? Near as I can tell, no one except for Vora would, and even she might be persuaded it's for the best," Hala explained.

"I heard from around the bend that Corso would appreciate this specific problem dealt with, and I'm glad to see it done. And in a way that strengthens Corso's position, Mandalorian unification, and hopefully also ties between us. Do I still sound like I've come round to flirt and play tough with hardened warriors?"

[Zeno Deathwright]

"You're welcome to any time," he says with a nod. "And it's also not impossible for people at odds to find reason to join together. After all, most of the dark council is at odds with each other all the time. What could bind two Mandalorians together in the face of their dislike for each other?"

[Dapper Dog]

"I hear words, I prefer action. So what do you need from me?" she counters.

She says to Zeno, "Dorak and Corso... together, I don't think that's going to work. Neither would bend knee to the other."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"I can understand the sentiment," he says with a nod. "And I think she wants to know how one such as Dorak might have his leadership undermined. I imagine loss in battle might be one way if his respect comes from his prowess in batte."

[Dapper Dog]

"You could just put a bolt in his skull and call it a day, as far as I am concerned," she responds.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Lord Deathwright is correct. What can you tell me about Dorak and Vora, both their personalities, relationship, positions within the clan, and any misdeeds or black spots that could be taken advantage of? The impression I got was that Corso wanted this dealt with without creating a martyr to help bring the clams together to support him," she explained.

[Zeno Deathwright]

"If he dies and his sentiments on Corso Fett become a rallying cry that strenghtens his followers' resolves then that doesn't help Corso much at all. Gotta give his followers reason to not stick with his opinions and ideas after he's gone," Zeno says with a shrug. "If someone murdered Corso outright I imagine you'd take it poorly. If Corso did something you thought was dumb and it cost his life? You'd probably think he got what he deserved. Hala's looking for the second one to happen with Dorak."

[Dapper Dog]

"Corso has saved my ass more times then I care to count. I owe him and he cares about the people, Dorak has no vision. He likes being a big fish in a little pond. But you're right people are dumb and would probably rally around his death. Unless his second took him down for us," she offers.

"But she's his blood daughter, so good luck with that."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Is there a point of conflict between them, and what are his daughter's primary motivators?" Hala inquired, leaning forward.

[Zeno Deathwright]

"It may be difficult, but sometimes the second in command wants more power than they have," he says with a shrug. Then he turns to Hala. "I'm not good enough with words, but perhaps if you spoke with her you could convince her that she's got what it takes to do better than her father. Let her know that she's the future, so why can't that future be now?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Besides the fact her father almost killed her fiance... not much," the woman says.

"I don't gossip so I don't have the details but it got ugly for awhile. His daughter would probably get along with Corso, I think she wants more in life than gathering creds and getting shot for someone else's profit."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Sounds like she is the preferable future then," he says with a nod.