Nar Shaddaa

Dressed in his finest Republic dress uniform, Niall stood ready outside the door. He'd done this hundreds of times before. Not necessarily since joining the military; growing up in a noble house, and going to boarding schools meant that it seemed like he was always reporting to one superior or another.

"Ready?" He murmured in an undertone to the Liutenant standing next to him, waiting for assent before pressing the button at the door, ringing the inside, no doubt.

The door slides open, the room is a luxury room but much of the furniture moved to the walls so the Colonel can continue her daily physical regimen. When they enter she is doing pullups in the doorway to her refresher.

She drops down and grabs a towel and dries her hands. Garza says, “At ease, both of you.”

Niall stepped into the room, moving with military precision. "Sir. Captain Organa and Lieutenant Varra, reporting." He said, the heels of his boots clicking together as he came to his full height.

He relaxed noticeably at her words, his feet coming apart. Or, at least, as much as a noble military officer raised in boarding schools could relax.

“Ready for a rough two weeks?” she says bluntly.

“Between the Jedi and their wishes for peace and the Senate rolling over for the Empire, we are the only ones that stand between the Sith Empire and freedom. This isn’t a vacation, you got me?”

Varra was at Niall's side, wearing a freshly pressed uniform. The lieutenant followed his lead as they reported to the Colonel, relaxing only slightly as they were ordered to stand at ease.

Colonel Elin Garza wrote:“Ready for a rough two weeks?” she says bluntly.

“Between the Jedi and their wishes for peace and the Senate rolling over for the Empire, we are the only ones that stand between the Sith Empire and freedom. This isn’t a vacation, you got me?”

"Yes, ma'am," Varra replied crisply. "We are ready for whatever duty is required."

“Good I expect much of my Officer’s corps, it should go without saying that I expect you to be the example at all times. Either of you have field experience with the Sith?” she asks casually.

"The Captain and I did a tour on Tatooine," Varra reported. "Intel reports said there were Sith present there, but... I never got up close and personal with any of them."

"I saw the handiwork of one, once." Niall said. "When the Jedi was killed." He hesitated a moment. "I also fired a shot at one, in the offensive where I was wounded. I think I missed. But I was hit right after that, and my memory is a little fuzzy."

“The Sith are a threat I don’t care what flag they wave, they are here to destroy our society and the Jedi are walking into this trap with eyes closed. When we make port we will have work to do, the security of the delegation will be our prime concern but there are some critical opportunties I plan to exploit,” she says.

Garza adds, “More thorough briefing will come once we are in a secure location. Any questions for me, keep in mind this is a non-secure location.”

"Yes, ma'am." Niall gave a firm not, response enough to all of this.

"Ma'am..." Niall began. "The lieutenant and I have studied sith, of course, read briefings." He felt confident enough speaking for lieutenant Varra on that point. "But you've actually fought them yourself, and personal experience counts for a lot. Anything you could share about how they fight would be appreciated."

Varra nodded agreement with Niall.

"All I've heard are wild stories; it's hard to know what to really believe," she said. "We're on a 'diplomatic mission,' of course; but it'd still be good to know what to expect if there's some sort of...incident."

"Sith are like Jedi, extremely deadly at close range. There are not many close combat weapons that can compete with a lightsaber and the Force is something else altogether. Extreme firepower and strategy is your friend though. Don't panic Sith thrive on fear, they get off on it... it's a bit unnerving really."

"Blaster fire can be pretty ineffective against a skilled Sith they can simply parry them with their lightsabers. Fire though, fire works well, explosives can be effective and if possible split their attentions. They can be overwhelmed it just isn't easy. Your best point of attack is at long range," she says in a commanding tone.

Garza adds, "Sith like Jedi rarely utilize small group tactics they prefer duels and singling out their targets. More fool them, trust your battle brothers and punish them with concentrated firepower."

Listening, his expression set, Niall nodded acknowledgement. It was a lot to take in, but it sounded useful.

His lips thinned. "It sounds as though we need to make sure not to travel about alone. I had already been going to suggest that, what with the lawlessness. It sounds as though lone delegates could be targets of the Sith as well."

"That would be my standard operating procedure, I am sure the civilian personnel and the Jedi won't follow our suggestions," Garza replies.

Varra nodded. "Sounds good. Do we have enough security personnel to set up a decent buddy system though? I mean, there's more Republic delegates than there are of us."

"I would expect that many of the Jedi can handle themselves. As long as they can be convinced to keep to company. Surely the Order understands the value of cooperation." Niall said.

"I have enough security personnel for key delegate staff but most of the specialists will either need to buddy up or provide their own security. For now we focus on our duties if we have to change that, you will be notified. Any other concerns?" Garza asks.

"No, ma'am," Varra replied crisply, though she glanced in Niall's direction in case the captain had anything more to add.

"No, ma'am." Niall echoed firmly, nodding. Briefly, he met Varra's gaze, before his eyes went forward again.

"Then you are both dismissed, get your rest, we have a long day tomorrow," she commands.

Niall's heels snapped together once more as he saluted. With practiced precision, he turned, leaving the room, although he lingered outside, waiting for Lieutenant Varra.

Varra saluted Garza and followed Niall smartly out of the Colonel's quarters. Once the hatch had slid shut behind them, she nodded to Niall and commented, "Looks like it's going to be interesting times, Captain, eh?"

Niall's gave a slight smile, his lips twitching. Varra would know from experience that this was a pretty standard smile from him. "Quite. And not the sort of interesting that I'm most familiar with, I'm afraid."

He began to walk, slowly and companionably, away from the Colonel's quarters. "This sort of thing is more your department, isn't it? I'd also take any advice you had, Lieutenant."

"Ehh, embassy security isn't really my department," Varra temporized. "But from the sound of it, there might be opportunities on Nad Shaddaa to learn something interesting. Maybe something that would help the Republic."

"Really?" Niall's eyebrows went up. "It sounds as though you have some idea of what might be found?"

He glanced around, frowning. As Garza had said, this wasn't a secure location.