Fish Out of the Water

[Leah Reach]

Cold.​

That was all she knew as she carved through the blizzard. Snowflakes peppered her eyelashes, each and every tiny glacial star now a curtain over her view. Frost kissed her cheeks as blood clung to the surface. Her thin fingers stung with the cold and shivered against its touch. Here, the sun was but a distant flicker and its peaks were just spires of ice. It was a strange, foreign world, but with an all too familiar memory. She stepped forward. The snow crunched beneath her heels. In the far distance, there was a trembling flame in the white haze. Like the light at the end of a tunnel, she pushed ahead. Against the howling wind and the bitter cold, she inched ever so closely to the source of light. Then, squinting her eyes, she saw it. She felt it.

Cool.​

She was submerged. Water surrounded her on all sides. Not like the biting chill of winter, the same she felt moments earlier, but it was in line with the still and cool autumn breeze. She was at home. Then, as her surprise melted away, realization took its place. Her eyes fluttered under the dark water. Pressure set against her. A gasp for oxygen amounted to nothing. Her lungs ached, air replaced with fear. Her arms thrashed about until she looked up. Above, streaks of light shimmered. The surface was not far, but could she make it? One outstretched arm to another, she struggled to rise. Every moment she did brought her closer to freedom, yet closer to suffocation. She couldn't keep swimming. Fingers inches from the surface, she reached. Harder than ever before. Then, she found it. Felt it.

Warm.​

Bewildered after her dream, a bead of sweat rolled down the side of her forehead. Throat rough and dry, she shuffled through the tangle of sheets around her. Sliding out of the fabric, she pressed her feet to the cold metal floor of her chambers. From a crack in her window, Leah looked out to the star-studded oblivion that was space. In the belly of her requisitioned shuttle, on the edge of the Outer Rim Territories, that was all there ever was: space. The Jedi Master longed for the feel of the ground, real gravity, fresh air. But beggars couldn’t be choosers. Especially for a journey this long and grueling. Lightspeed travel through uncharted space, right on the edge of Imperial and Old Empire territory, was not exactly speedy.

Sipping into her casual outfit, more in line with a rebel ambassador and freedom fighter than a Jedi Master, she stepped out of her room. Moments of drifting down the corridor led her to the cockpit, where she spotted Valentine settled in the passenger seat and her rather obscene pilot droid in the other. “What have you two been up to, hm?” She questioned from behind, a hand on her hip and her voice a likely surprise amid the silent pause between them. In the cockpit windshield, a small speck began to grow in tandem to their approach: their destination, Mon Calamari. Regardless of their answer, she leaned forward to get a closer look, even though it did nothing to help. Several beeps on the dashboard confirmed their approach. “I’m hoping that’s the journey’s end?” The Jedi said, ready for relief. “Finally.”

@Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

While Leah slept in her chambers in the back of the ship, Valentine chose to stay in the cockpit with the droid he was becoming quite fond of. He preferred to be ready and at the controls in case they were attacked, trusting his own life in his hands instead of a robot. Val had both of his legs on top of the console, one over the other as he peacefully watched the scenic view of hyperspace. Val always admired what space was, it would never bow down before anyone and everyone had to listen by its rules. The Jedi wished that their fight was like that, having rules everybody followed that put them on equal footing. But that was this most far-fetched thing he had ever thought of and he quickly pushed the thought from his mind while they continued their journey to Mon-cal.

When Leah entered the cockpit the two were already in mid-conversation, "I'm just saying, I can definitely out pilot you." The droid slowly turned his head toward the man before putting his gaze out in front of him once more, "With all respect, I will say that what you are claiming is false." Val scoffed, "Please, have you actually been in combat before metalhead?" Metalhead no longer looked at him, "Your wit for nicknames is amusing." The droid certainly showed no sign of it, it's voice robotic and emotionless like all droids were. "For the record, no I have not. But based on previous strategies I have studied, various programming i-" Val held up his hand to stop him from continuing, "I ain't-a shareholder Metalhead, I don't you to read off a list of your programs to me. I already found my answer." The man gave the droid a dazzling smile and of course, it completely went over its head, "Why are you smiling like that?"

When she asked her question, Val turned his gaze to Leah before a smirk touched his lips, "Our sleeping beauty has awoken. And nothing much, Metalhead was telling me his life story." Metalhead glanced at Val then back to the emptiness in front of him, "That is not my name, it is CR27-5-" The Jedi held up his hand to stop him from listing the obscene digit name Metalhead have. Casting a glance to Leah once more, Val shrugged his broad shoulders before looking to the console, "From that, you can assume the excitement you missed out on." The beeps sounded off and Val glanced at the console once more, scanning the information before the ship rumbled slightly, signaling they were ready to exit from hyperspace. After a few moments, they finally arrived, the ship shooting out from the hyperplane and Mal Calamari staring them right in the eye. Val slowly pulled his feet off the council, "Leah," He murmured softly, suppressing his signature and telling her silently to do the same.

Looking around, Val found the small traffic line of ships that were making their way to the planet and he tapped the window with his finger at it. "Pull into there, stay parked near a freighter." Metalhead gave the best questioning look he could manage before eventually banking the ship towards it, "You have strange re-" Val ignored what he was going to say, "Just do it please." When Metalhead pulled into the traffic, it took him a few moments before he eventually found a ship and flew in close next to it. When they drifted next to the freighter, Val flipped buttons throughout the cockpit, shutting off power to subsystems they didn't require while asking, "You got a meeting point for us, Leah?"

 

[Leah Reach]

“Sleeping beauty? Not sure whether I should be flattered or disturbed.” She exchanged the smirk, her sass no less sharper than the man’s. The droid glanced between him and the new arrival. Even if the droid’s features were forever stuck in place, she could have sworn he saw it raise a brow. Although in response to Valentine’s next remark, Leah managed to roll her eyes and scoff. “Yeah, lots of excitement, I’m sure.” Scoff turning into a chuckle, she leaned back but still loomed behind them. On the pitch black horizon, the ocean world swelled the closer they came. With the other Jedi’s warning, she did the same. Drawing a deep breath, the Force retreated into the confines of her mind. While she respected his caution, Leah was self-assured.

“Relax, Master Rayth. I seriously doubt the Empire will be looking for a pair of Jedi infiltrators far from the front lines, at the edge of their territory, while Mandalore and the Imperial Republica continue to press the attack.” She was not presumptuous. Especially after the Dantooine debacle. That was still fresh in her mind, and as long as the nightmares never ceased, so would her fear and paranoia. Leah only aimed to relive the tension weighing heavy in the air. “But I understand.” The Jedi Master made no argument to their discreet planetary descent. Trade world or not, she also believed it was best to avoid chance inspections or prying eyes. Mon Cala may be ripe for rebellion, but it didn’t change the current state it was in.

“Yes, I have a rendezvous point.” She slid a hand into her clothes to reveal a small device. One click and a holographic island shimmered in front of the three. Another click and the face of a Mon Calamari merchant flickered onto the display. “Since this is our first incursion to Mon Cala, a world that’s endured Imperial occupation for centuries, we must first lay a foundation for the others.” She referred to the remainder of the Rebellion who would be arriving to the faraway world shortly after their work was complete. “The Alliance needs a sustainable position from which to work, and to inspire the people of Mon Cala to rise against their oppressors.” She gestured to the stranger on the screen. “He’s not nobility, but he can be the bridge that connects us.”

“His calls himself Nystullum Lazar. While he has come to despise the Empire, as most Mon Calamari do, he is not so welcoming of outsiders. A merchant but a brilliant, former strategist, I imagine he will be integral to the future of this world and the Alliance. If we can persuade him.” She pulled the device away and plugged it into the dashboard, wherein the pilot droid could redirect their course as they slipped into the planet atmosphere. It wouldn’t be long now.

@Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Leah commented on Valentine needing to relax but he didn't listen and she seemed to have received the point when a moment later she agreed. To him, it was better to be over prepared than underprepared and recently they had run into some saber happy Sith and they didn't need that again. While they were drifting with the help of freighter, Val leaned back in his seat once more when Leah offered the device in their view and showed the map of an island. As quickly as it came, the image switched to a typical Mon Calamari looking citizen despite the clothing. Val listened as she spoke, hearing the worthy merits the strategist had. "Nystullum Lazar," He repeated the name before glancing out of the cockpit at a passing Imperial patrol ship that missed them. "Hopefully we're right about this." The plan made sense and Lazar was the better place to start than anywhere else.

After a few minutes of navigating through the dense flow, Metalhead tilted the ship downward before they descended into the atmosphere. Their pilot remembered the island she showed and he tilted the ship towards the right direction, the only thing visible for miles a vast sea that had no end. The island finally came into view after a while, Val pointing to a clearing between the trees with an open spot of land. Once landed and the engines shut off, the Jedi got up from his chair before looking to Leah, "You ready?" Making his way to the doorway, Val snagged some of his gear before turning to Metalhead, "Stay on the planet, fly to another island and always have your comm open."

Metalhead looked from his chair before standing up as well, looking between Leah and Val in a slightly petrified manner as he interlocked his mechanical fingers, "What if... the guards try to kick me off?" Val stared at him for a few seconds before shrugging his shoulders, "I don't know, say part of the ship is broken. I trust you'll figure something out."The Jedi cast a glance to Leah before opening the shuttle door and stepping onto the solid ground of the island. The breeze was light and the air was slightly humid, Val rather enjoying immensely before he turned around back towards Leah, "Where to?" He had never been to Mal Calamari before and he heard stories of the underwater cities but he had no idea how to reach them.

 

[Leah Reach]

The island was small. Narrow, barely above the surface. Only a dozen trees and a cover of shrubbery checkered the whole archipelago. There was no sign for wildlife or natives save for the distant trill of insects from the nearest tree. Leah eyed her surroundings, calm and casual. A breeze from the ocean had whisked away whatever tension she felt. While under Imperial occupation, the world was beautiful. Pebbles and sand lined the shore, a slow tide frothed at the edges, the sky was bright with the rising sun. A paradise. But the Jedi Master had not come to Mon Cala for the sights or sea. Like Valentine, she looked for a sign of life: their contact, Nystullum Lazar. Nowhere to be seen, she only sighed. “It’s less about where to, and more about what to do.”

She gestured around her to present nothing. The Mon Calamari merchant had not yet arrived for reasons unknown to her. Undersea traffic, an Imperial crackdown, or was the whole meeting a trap? Leah inspected the island, ocean and sky. No, it was no trick. Chances were the contact was late, or watching from afar, paranoid. There was no doubt Nystullum wanted to make sure the rebels were actually rebels, not Imperials in disguise. It went without saying he had nothing to fear. Both of the Jedi, or Alliance ambassadors, came on friendly terms. Leah hoped the people of Mon Cala might accept them. But from everything she heard about Sith subjugation, she expected them to flock to their cause.

She settled on a boulder perched on the coast. Legs crossed and hands laced together, she closed her eyes. As the Mon Calamari had not surfaced, she decided to wait. Meditation always passed the time. Fortunately for the two, Nystullum’s arrival came shortly after. Ahead of them, the water shuddered. First, a small ripple, followed by rising bubbles. Leah leaned forward to see a submersible vessel emerge out of the deep sea and carve through the isle’s reef to the shoreline. “That must be him.” She said and leaped out of her position. Running fingers through her hair like a brush and dusting sand from her legs, she stepped back once the ship docked. Behind the tinted cockpit window, she saw a figure move. A door opened, a ramp slid down and a figure descended.

“Nystullum Lazar.” She bowed. “It is an honor.”

@Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine arched his eyebrow when Leah seemed lost herself. He thought she would have already worked this thing out but apparently not. The Jedi glanced around, noting the near crystal clear water and rather a beautiful island they were standing on. Glancing around, there was nothing for miles, just the gentle lapping of waves off each other. There wasn't any sign of Imperials, a sudden trap about to be sprung or the island blowing up right on them. Val just dug his feet in the sand a little, appreciating the warmth and enjoying the feeling of it between his toes. The Jedi always had time to enjoy a peaceful scenery.

Looking over to Leah, she took her spot on a boulder and Val made his way to join her. Instead of going to the top of the rock with her, he sat at the base of it, stretching his legs out and crossing his arms. Leah had gotten her sleep and Val was going to use whatever time he could to get his. But shortly after he closed his eyes and got comfortable, the water near the shore bubbled and made a sound before a small vessel emerged from it. Val kept his eyes closed till the last minute before he stood up as well, making his way over with Leah as Nystullum Lazar exiting from the vessel. The Jedi offered a silent bow as well to the Mon Cal before standing back up.

Nystullum Lazar looked like a typical Mon Cal, slightly taller and heavier than the average with long tendrils from his chin showing his age. He was colored a dark brown as the two guards beside him were a lighter color, considerably younger as they both held staffs for protection. "Ambassador Reach, glad you could arrive." The Mon Cal offered Val a deep nod as well, before turning slightly toward his ship, "Please come inside, Imperial drones patrol the surface of our planet. Your ship should be hidden well enough once we depart." Lazar led the way back inside the vessel and his two guards followed behind him, the life of a merchant seeming to do the man well with the equipment his guards carried. Val gestured his hand forward, "Ladies first," He followed through after and the ship slid backward before disappearing into the depths of the water.

The ship was made for luxury than anything else, the walls a glass window that showed the surrounding ocean life and coral reefs. It was stark white and there was a round table in the center of the vessel, three seats for them. One of the guards becoming the pilot while the other stood at the passage of the cockpit behind Lazar. "Please, sit down. I have an official pass so we won't be interrupted by patrol ships." Val sat in one of the seats across the merchant, "Thank you," He spoke softly, intending to let Leah do more of the talking until things of his expertise came into play.

Lazar gave another nod to Val before turning his attention back to Leah, "So, Ambassador Reach, convince me." The Mon Cal waited patiently, his arms crossed over each other on the table while gazing at her. It was the only thing he said and the pleasant personality went away, now replaced with the strategist mind and the merchant personality that got him to this position.

 

[Leah Reach]

“Glad that you did too, Nystullum. And please, call me Leah.” She answered the Mon Calamari merchant. Leah was not sure who to refer to him as: representative, a merchant or strategist. He was all of them. The best she could do was take a stance of quick camaraderie. That way, she hoped these negotiations could go along smoothly. The rebel ambassador was not above flattery, but it went without saying that she was careful with her words. She did not want to come off as too transparent or weak-willed. She did not want the Mon Calamari to believe she was in such a desperate position to discourage him from aligning with the Alliance. She needed to play the game right.

Nodding as Nystullum invited them into his underwater vessel, she stopped and turned to Valentine as he made his quip. “Chivalry isn’t dead after all.” She said before inching toward the ship. While she may have sounded grateful, the Jedi Master only scoffed and rolled her eyes. Leah was not used to seeing him that way. Master Rayth was only a gentleman when he wanted to be. Not that she seriously cared when he was. She may have appreciated the thought as an ambassador, but as a Jedi Master and as a friend, the act was more laughable if anything. She managed to bite back a chuckle though and entered the ship without issue. Sliding into another seat opposite of Nystullum, she crossed her legs, clasped her hands and waited.

The vessel submerged back into the water. Around her, through the clear water, she noticed the coral reef surrounding the island. Fish of all shapes, sizes and colors sailed through the ocean. All manner of coral and underwater flora covered the ocean floor. Shades of purple, orange and green checkered the rich blue landscape. It was a spectacle Leah was happy to bear witness to, and one she hoped to see more in the future. So long as the meeting went as expected. Releasing in a deep breath of relief, she heard Nystullum’s voice and drew a sharp one almost immediately. Her eyes wandered to the Mon Calamari, surprised at how quick he was to the point. Whatever warm understanding they may have shared was now back to its professional cool.

“Convince you of what, my friend?” She said almost in a dumbfounded voice, but there was a point to her dull tone. “That the Imperial occupation of your world for the past five hundred years is cruel and unjustified? That the pollution of your seas from constant undersea manufacturing is wrong? That millions of your people are forced to slave away for an Empire that refuses to grant them the liberties they deserve? Or maybe because of the ongoing war with the Imperial Republica, the Old Empire has prevented you and your people from trading with the rest of the galaxy?” There was an endless list of reasons why Mon Cala needed to rise up, and Leah didn’t have to tell him everything to know it was true.

“I’m sure you know the wrongs of your people as well as I do, else you would have never accepted this meeting in the first place.” She said but tried to remain as kind and sympathetic as possible. “You and your people can breath underwater and on the surface, but with the Empire poisoning your world with their presence, I imagine it’s getting a little hard to breath regardless.”

@Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine noticed that the Mon Cal's demeanor did completely change when they sat down. He immediately engaged in talks with Leah and Val just sat back and watched. There were doing the battle of words and the Jedi didn't want to participate unless asked upon, thinking it better to let Leah just handle this one. Lazar seemed disappointed in Leah's answer, not needing a history lesson of what was happening to his people. He knew well enough what was happening and the injustices that were thrusted upon his people for the "greater good" of the Empire. Lazar sighed, tapping his fingers against the surface of the table before speaking, "You are right, I do know what is happening to my people. But I will need more from you than just a history check of recent events and how bad it is for us."

Lazar glanced between both of the Jedi but returned his gaze to Leah directly, "Of course I have accepted this meeting, in hopes that you could provide a viable solution for us to agree to. Convince me that by working with you, my people will actually be free of their shackles and not just a punching bag that provides you resources for a war with little end in sight." Lazar stood up, his gaze traveling over to the window before he took steps towards. He stopped once he was right in front of it, the glass reflected his own image, "While what we suffer through is not pleasant, it could certainly be worse with either the death or destruction of what my people have created for themselves on this planet." The Mon Cal finally turned back around, locking his eyes with Leah's, "I am not against you, truly. But we have all heard the stories of Dantooine. While the Empires is split, it is not far fetched they could focus their attention on us and truly inflict pain."

Lazar sighed softly before making his way back to the table, taking his seat in the chair once more as he turned it to face Leah. "I will need more than your sympathy or observation skills on our situation. It is dire times and I need to know there are plans in place for the future and that this is something worth investing for. Not that this is some half pitched effort barely constructed together by ragtag soldiers and diplomats." Lazar raised his hand, "No offense to you two but you understand my point. As much as we need you, you need us as well." The Mon Cal had finished speaking on his worries before leaning back in the chair, observing the both of them. Val cast a glance towards Leah, awaiting her response.

 

[Leah Reach]

The Mon Cala’s response was long, detailed and it stung. The rebel ambassador presumed her words had struck a chord with the former strategist, given every piece of it was the truth, but she recognized it was nothing more to him than an elementary history lesson. He knew the horrors that plagued his world. He understood the need to rebel. What Leah failed to understand was that Nystullum wanted more than the big picture. He wanted details, down to the smallest point, and how they might survive the inevitable war. The Jedi Master was almost tempted to flick the side of her head for neglecting that need. Still, her earlier words held a point. The ambassador was only just warming up. She was just getting started.

“No offense taken.” She answered, maintaining her seated poise and calm composure. The woman looked utterly unfazed by what the Mon Cala had said but she had been listening throughout. Clinging to every word and replaying it in her mind a dozen times, she mustered her own resourcefulness and came up with a quick response. “But you are every bit right, Nystullum. You need more than a history check. You need details, and you want results. The Alliance wants the same thing. In fact, we have it.” She crossed her legs and collected her thoughts. “We are based in the Outer-Rim. Our contacts are everywhere, even embedded in Imperial space. While Mon Calamari may sit on the edge of the galaxy, you are never too far to reach.”

“We are already moving to establish a temporary base of operations on a distant moon in a neighboring system. Once that is complete, we plan to funnel in weapons, munitions and everything you need to begin a true, and successful, uprising. Strike teams and squadrons have already been assembled to hit multiple points on Mon Cala. We have considered several options, such as expunging Imperial loyalists from your noble government and removing the puppet that calls himself your King, destabilizing the Sith’s grip on the world without them realizing it. Our squadrons will take down listening posts and transports to prevent news from reaching the Sith, who I imagine will be preoccupied with Imperial and Mandalorian incursions.”

She drew a breath, nearly finished. “Now is as good a time as any. The Galactic Alliance is willing to help you in all efforts and in every way imaginable to liberate your world. The Sith will pay for what they have done to your people for the past five hundred years. And I can promise you, after everything is said and done, we will remain at your side. The Alliance is not asking for you to work for us. We ask that you work with us. As equals, and allies, in the fight against the Empire.” With her entire spiel over, she exchanged Lazar a look of warmth and friendship. The Jedi Master expected her counterpart Valentine to jump in but didn’t mind either way. She was the ambassador here, after all.

@Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine glanced between the two people, giving Leah a side glance as he knew her well enough that she was biting her own tongue. It was clear that they weren't desperate enough just to hear a pitty lesson from the two and completely join sides after that. Lazar waited patiently in his chair now, having said his piece and waiting for Leah to do the same. Now that the pitty had been checked at the door, Leah needed to provide the facts of what their actual plan was and they did just that. Val didn't interrupt her again, letting her layout the foundation of her plan without spilling too many details in place.

Lazar noted that, realizing that even if he did want the information, it was best that he didn't know everything and less chance for the cracks to form in this plan. After she was finished, Lazar interlocked his fingers, his steely gaze on her for a few seconds before nodding, "You are right, now it does appear like the best time to join is now. The two "Empires" fighting over control, even reports that a may Kaggoth may fall in place and that could help with the confusion even if it is later on." Things were already piling on in the Mon Cal's mind before he redirected his gaze back to Leah, "This temporary base, where you launch your operation in order to supply us. I must ask, is this your plan in order to make us your meatshield?" Lazar glanced between both of them, his massives eye's blinking a few times, "Trust me, I know when we stick our hand in the fire we must suspect a burn. But the question is, do you plan on just burning our hand or engulf our entire arm?"

Lazar gestured to Leah, "With the recent information you have given me, I am much more confident in our abilities that this may actually be successful. While I lack the fruitful details of the operation, I know at least such measures are in place that you will be prepared for what is to come. The only problem I see is, will any of my people be left to enjoy the new found freedom? How do you know you won't get caught smuggling weapons in and this all becomes for nothing? Or worse this base is discovered?" It was Val's turn to speak up now, "Nystullum, if I may, we have been doing this for a while now. While Dantooine was a slip-up, we have learned and will not make a mistake like that again. The Empire is powerful, yes but they lack one key thing, adaptability. We have adapted, we know what to do, what not to do, how to avoid them, et cetera." Concerning Lazar's question about his people becoming meatshields, Val just sat forward and told him the plain truth, "To be quite honest with you, I don't think we can give you a surefire answer that your people will make it through this without a single loss of life. This is a commitment from both of us, we will lose something but sometimes you have to sacrifice for the greater good. I cannot promise that you will come out unscathed but I can promise we will do everything in our power to protect your people through this and help them."

Both of them would be able to see Lazar think over Val's words, going silent as he did while the Mon Cal stared at his own hands. Val glanced over to Leah, silently telling her this was the time to drive the point home for them so that they could secure this agreement. It was just there at the edge and all it needed was a little push.

 

[Leah Reach]

Nystullum was a seasoned veteran and a brilliant strategist. Not only that, but he was a hardline negotiator. Far better than Leah anticipated. He was a tough nut to crack, remarkably stubborn and extremely thorough. He had every right to be. The Jedi Master understood the inevitable risks and dangers that would come from committing himself and his allies to the cause of the Galactic Alliance. However, Lazar had to understand the inevitability of a war. It would reach his world eventually. The people were discontent, the Sith continued to suppress their growth and trade. Action needed to be taken. The Rebellion offered them a chance to take it, and at the least cost and by the quickest route. The strategist had to know when to make a move. That move had to be now.

Knowing how to respond to his rebuttal and question, Leah pursed her lips to answer. Instead, the words were taken right out of her mouth, because they came from Valentine. She tilted her head, looking at him out of the corner of her eye, surprised he chose to step in now. She was not sure whether to feel miffed at his interjection or gratified by his quick, detailed and perfect response. Perhaps the latter. Master Rayth had come a long way from some dashing Jedi with a taste of aggression into a clever diplomat and an experienced Master. She knew her husband would be proud of him, just as much as she was now. Already, she could see the Mon Cala merchant pause to consider his words, reflecting on what was said. She had a good feeling about it too.

Of course, she wanted to hammer the last nail in the coffin that was these discussions. It was time to drive their point right into the goal and persuade Nystullum to join their side. With a nod, she picked up from where he left off. “Indeed. We cannot guarantee a clean and bloodless rebellion. There will be pain, grief and suffering. But all of it will end in peace, freedom, and liberation. Even then, the Galactic Alliance, and I personally, will do whatever we can and must to ensure the least loss of life for your people. We will reign fire on the Empire for you, drive what little may remain of their ships and armies into the seas, where you can avenge your brothers, sisters and ancestors for centuries of subjugation. I promise you on my word as Leah Reach, on the Alliance. On the grave of my husband. who died fighting the Empire.”

She held a hand to her chest. Perhaps she revealed a little too much, but it would show her complete and utter sincerity and dedication to the operation. Her loyalty was unwavering. Lazar would be able to tell as much. So, with her head bowed low toward the Mon Cala strategist, she awaited his answer.

@Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Lazar soaked it all in, hearing Valentine and Leah's words and running them over and over in his mind. Deep down he knew what they said was the truth. It was simply impossible to achieve this without a single loss of life. He would lose many people but so would the Rebels for helping them trying to break free of this Imperial reign. Lazar understood that they would have to put their hand in the fire to prevent their whole body from succumbing to the flame. In the end, he didn't know what it brought, maybe more chains, taxes, death, brutality. Or maybe Leah was right, maybe this could end with a good ending with their liberation and peace over their watery planet. Leah gave her word that she would support them through this and Lazar fully believed her, sensing her strength and will even through her words. The woman was smart and Lazar had run over all the possibilities of what could happen if he accepted their help.

After a few moments, Lazar finally sighed, tapping his claws against the table before eventually nodding, Val holding his breath the entire time. "I see your points and I agree with them. We cannot escape this bloodless and with your support, this could very much be a viable plan." It seemed like Lazar thought to himself a few more minutes before finally standing up, Val mimicking him and doing the same as well. "Very well, as much as I hate to see our people go to war for whatever reason, you will find out people's support if you help us. I will talk to the others, convey to them what you have told me. With my backing, this should pass unhinged despite a few grumbles." Lazar offered his hand to Val and Leah, which Val shook first, "It was a pleasure to meet with you Ambassador Leah, Ambassador Rayth."

Val gave the Mon Cal a smile and nod, "And it was a pleasure to meet with you. I can tell you our people will be quite happy to hear this development. You can count on us." Lazar gave the man a nod before offering the same hand to Leah and letting her give her parting words. Once that was finished, the Mon Cal took a step back, "You both should head back to your ship now. The patrols are intense during this time along the surface. We will take you back there." Val bowed to the Mon Cal as he departed from the room and went to the cockpit. The Jedi glanced around before nudging Leah with an elbow as he gave her a quick wink, Not too shabby Ambassador Reach. Now it was time for them to return home and give the news that operations could begin.

 

[Leah Reach]

Leah elbowed Valentine right back. A smile danced along her lips. Thanks not only to her skills as an ambassador, but to the other man’s charm, Nystullum was finally willing to join the Galactic Alliance. They found the chance to make real change. An opportunity to strike a blow against the Old Empire, liberate Mon Cala and find new allies in its people. In Lazar, in the nobility, in the other likeminded rebels undersea and on the surface. Although it was the first step driving the world toward independence, it was still one step closer to everything the rebel ambassador hoped for. Commander Ion would be proud and the Rebel Council enthralled. Leah was every bit glad to have brought Valentine with her. For the first time in a while, she stood happily by his side.

Her eyes locked with Lazar once they were brought back to their ship, her smile unwavering. “Thank you, Nystullum.” The Mon Cala nodded in return, respectful and sharing in her smile, even if for the briefest moment. “Don’t be a stranger.” She added. Of course, deep down, the Jedi Master knew Lazar would be granted a position on the Council. It was the least they could do once the planet joined the ranks of the Alliance. His efforts from then on would not go unnoticed and unrewarded. Especially if it meant the liberation of the world. As the underwater vessel broke through the surface, back to the island of where they parked the ship, Leah stepped into the open air. Bathed in sunlight, she looked back to the merchant. “May the Force be with you.”

Nystullum paused, taking her words in, and nodded one last time before the doors came to a close. The vessel resubmverged into the water. Leah and Valentine would be left alone. Another opportunity. With a swivel, she faced him, and out of nowhere, hugged him. “Thank you, Val.” She retreated back. Of course, it was a far cry from the professional side of the ambassador, but Leah could not contain her wonder and delight. Mon Calamari would give the Rebellion a fighting chance against the Empire. At least, with their own fleet and shipyard access. It was a momentous occasion. One that deserved a few drinks. “Come on, let’s go home.” She said and motioned the Jedi Master back to the ship, where the droid, Metalhead, waited impatiently at the landing ramp.

“What the hell took you ladies so long?” Leah raised her hands in surrender and shrugged. “Sorry, Metalhead. We were busy doing our nails.” She chuckled, followed by the droid, who almost blew a circuit at the thought of Master Rayth with a manicure. They returned to the ship and a plotted course back to Al’doleem.

It would be one of the last times Leah laughed beside Valentine for a long time.

End Thread.​