Late Night Bitching [LN10]

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"A room in a compound might not be so bad, if that is what is required. I just worry about... losing my edge," she said, looking down at her hand. The new one.

"I haven't the faintest idea what I would do if I stopped being useful."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I had an impression at some point that you started to worry about being overused, with unreasonable demands made of you." Moyr chuckled with a slight tease. "You can always help me take revenge on Zash. That's something that would keep everyone occupied."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Locate her and detonate a package of baradium charges if not simply order an airstrike. The only thing keeping us from this is that she has the mask now," she said softly.

"I see no reason, save the mask, why she could not simply be located and eliminated through overwhelming force."

[Durasay Mixo]

"Eep!" Aphr said as it suddenly went pop! She quickly collected the bottle, giggling "that made me jump!" She got the hint from Dura, and quickly brought the bottle up to take a mouthful of the drink before putting it back.

He laughed at her reaction, before taking the bottle as she sat it down. He brought it to his lips, taking a short drink of his own. He smiled broadly, before setting the bottle bacl.

"And that, is Pantoran Military Wine Service. Always a hit at parties." He could still taste the effervescene, the dryness of the wine.

"It does mean we have to finish the bottle tonight."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"Because, as Darth Xevious elegantly put it, she has made all the wrong enemies and all the right allies. I floated that idea, using our Mando'a friends to vaporise her whenever she takes off, but that would break Malachor loose and we would immediately be on the receiving end. She may not be playing by the rules, but many others involved are, and once rules are broken there is only onslaught. Darth Skotia tried it on her and it only propelled her, letting her rise as noble survivor. It might have been a good course of action if we had enough power to pull this through to the end and then survive the storm. I am not sure about either with where we are. Or rather I am sure we're not where it would be even remotely feasible." Moyr said sourly, slumping into the pilot's chair.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Well, perhaps something more subtle will present itself. Or perhaps her own arrogance will cause her to bite off more than she can chew and that situation could be seized upon..." Hala mused.

[Moyr Ahaya]

Moyr took the time to relay what really had happened across the evening.

"...so I think biding some time now might not be a bad idea. Xevious, Vengean and Tanathon are likely aware and despite their dismissive attitude I think they realise the threat is real, otherwise I would never believe the Dark Councillors are as paranoid as they are reputed to be. And Jug'tih is furious, and will certainly take some action. We need the board to get realigned and for once maybe some heavyweights should do the heavy lifting."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Consolidate power, prepare, and wait for our enemies to make a mistake," she nodded.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"About that, I have some ideas how to use our momentum with the Mandalorians to restore a lost brand..." She explained her idea to Hala, letting her process it integrally with the whole emerging landscape.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"That might prove useful. The ex-Kelborn need to reform themselves into a proper fighting force. That might give them the opportunity to develop their own officer corps and learn skills beyond pulling a trigger as well as a touch of subtlety."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"That -will- take a lot of training and ingraining discipline and subtlety." Moyr cocked her brow. "But then, you're a miracle worker, and a honorary Mandalorian at that."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I don't know about miracle worker, but I've worked with whelps before. And I have little worry about preserving their ego if I can reform them into something better."

[Moyr Ahaya]

""Consolidate power, prepare, and wait for our enemies to make a mistake." Moyr repeated, then looked to the door. "I don't know about you, Hala, but I want a drink or five tonight. I need to check on Aphr too. If all goes well I'll insert her into the Academy."

[Aphr Ahaya]

He laughed at her reaction, before taking the bottle as she sat it down. He brought it to his lips, taking a short drink of his own. He smiled broadly, before setting the bottle bacl.

"And that, is Pantoran Military Wine Service. Always a hit at parties." He could still taste the effervescene, the dryness of the wine.

"It does mean we have to finish the bottle tonight."

"That's a shame. I guess the other two had better hurry up, or we'll have to finish it and you can deal with my sister being annoyed at you for getting me drunk" she giggled again "That's actually...really nice. I'm so uncultured when it comes to alcohol."

She sat down near the man, a smile on her face.

"What do you plan to do once we've left?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

""Consolidate power, prepare, and wait for our enemies to make a mistake." Moyr repeated, then looked to the door. "I don't know about you, Hala, but I want a drink or five tonight. I need to check on Aphr too. If all goes well I'll insert her into the Academy."

She smiled and shook her head.

"I don't think I need to drink, but I would be glad to join you and meet her."

[Durasay Mixo]

"That's a shame. I guess the other two had better hurry up, or we'll have to finish it and you can deal with my sister being annoyed at you for getting me drunk" she giggled again "That's actually...really nice. I'm so uncultured when it comes to alcohol."

She sat down near the man, a smile on her face.

"What do you plan to do once we've left?"

"I don't think annoyed would be the right word, Aphr." He smiled at her, taking a seat himself. "But close enough that I think it would be best if they did hurry. As much as I enjoy this wine, I brought it to enjoy with friends." A small laugh, as he relaxed his posture.

Her question caused him to pause. He had told Hala his plans, and Moyr and he... discussed the details of it. He shrugged, and smiled even wider. "I think I'm going to go home. To Pantora. Get into politics. Negotiating with the Hutts on a job reminded me how much I enjoyed that work. I think it would be best if I did that." Taking the bottle up, he took another small sip.

"Culture has nothing to do with alcohol. But it can be a small hobby to take up and learn the intricacies of different types. But it can also lead to trouble." Another laugh, this one full of joy and a slight sigh of nostalgia.

[Aphr Ahaya]

"Not again" Aphr groaned "one of my crewmates on the Starcross left to be a politician! Why is politics so appealing!" She laughed, shaking her head "still, I suppose we're both going to be taking dangerous paths. Must be our new company that's inspired it, right? Or at least when our company shows up" she reaches over for the bottle again

[Durasay Mixo]

"Must be a character flaw, to want to go into politics." He would pass the bottle to her, as she reached. Her follow up statement made his smile turn wry. Looking down the hall, he mused thoughtfully. To his first visit to this mess hall, the slow crash of dark passion washing over him.

She is inspiring, isn't she...

"Surprising paths, to be sure. But they may well be welcome ones. What's next for you? Professional Huttball circuit?"

[Aphr Ahaya]

"Must be" Aphr agreed as she took a mouthful of the drink again "I'm happy to not have to deal with it." She giggled at the Huttball comment though "I don't think it's popular enough for that! No, for me...destination is Korriban."

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I think I need it aplenty. Anaesthesia is wearing off, and my anger at myself could otherwise reach antisocial levels." Moyr admitted, rising and opening the cockpit door, glancing outside at Durasay and Aphr having a chat. "What are you toasting?"

[Durasay Mixo]

"Your sister had never seen Pantoran military wine service. I brought a bottle just to share. No special occasion or toast, Red." Durasay stood as he saw Moyr approaching.

"But that means no glassware. All share the bottle." He chuckled a bit, relaxing his stance.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Hala followed close behind Moyr. The mechanical arm covered by dull synthskin hung stiff and awkward at her side.

[Moyr Ahaya]

"I find the lack of a toast more questionable than the lack of glassware." Moyr mused, taking a seat by her sister, with a bit less grace than usual, being both tired and wounded. "Colonel Moraal, please suggest something."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

Moraal's heels clicked in acknowledgement and narrowed her eyes in thought for a moment before they opened and she shrugged.

"To greater understanding, for knowledge will set us free," she said, dipping her head towards Moyr before glancing at whoever held the bottle.

[Aphr Ahaya]

"I find the lack of a toast more questionable than the lack of glassware." Moyr mused, taking a seat by her sister, with a bit less grace than usual, being both tired and wounded. "Colonel Moraal, please suggest something."

"If you had to toast every drink the night would go on forever, right?" Aphr said with a giggle, smiling brightly at her sister and passing her the bottle. She looked to the Colonel a moment as she toasted, nodding. It was a good toast.

"To knowledge and understanding."