Mists of Myrkr: Internal Affair

[Stormthroe]

Internal Affair
Far from the heated debate floors of the Republic Senate, the
planet Mandalore has stood for many years as a beacon of
strength and honor on the galactic border, even going so far as
to serve as a founding world for the forces of the Border Alliance.
However, despite its strength, the traditional clans of Mandalore
constantly grasp for power over one another in an eternal conflict,
leading to wars and worse, and only kept in check by the watchful eyes
of the brave Mandalorian Protectors; constables and judges alike,
dedicated to routing out wrongdoings of both political and criminal nature,
these honorable officers at times serve as the only thing maintaining the
fragile peace that has lasted since the last invasion of the Sith.
-------------------------------------------------
Now, recent discoveries have revealed to the Mandalorian Protectors that
a criminal organization is hiding in plain sight somewhere within the
Mandalorian capital of Sundari. Known as the Ge'tal Syndicate, these criminals
have been found smuggling illegal animals of all kinds from somewhere within
Mandalorian Space. To prevent any infighting should a Mandalorian clan be at fault,
the great Houses Kryze and Vizsla have ordered that the Protectors
assemble a Task Force alongside representatives from other worlds who
have been affected by the efforts of the Ge'tal Syndicate to investigate these crimes.

Under the orders of the Protector-Captain Vos Tennu, the members of
this task force have been summoned to Spire Vizsla, the seat of House Vizsla and
home to the Protector's Hall within the city of Sundari. It will be up to them
to route out the criminals hiding on Mandalore, and put a stop to their illegal activities.

​

Sundari. The gleaming desert jewel of Mandalore, serving as both her capital and a testament to the tenacity of the Mandalorian people. From beneath her protective bio-dome within Mandalore's desert regions, the will of Mand'alor, backed by the greater Mandalorian Houses and the Clans they are composed of, extends to cover all of Mandalorian Space. Its delicate, crystalline structures glisten in the sunlight filtering through the outer dome, their geometric shapes scattering the light in stunning arrays and designs. Between her jutting spires and beneath her soaring archways, thousands of Sundari's people glide on airspeeders and hovertaxis as they go about their business, all the while, her hangar doors open and close to allow space traffic entrance to the city.

Rymann stood on the balcony outside of the reception area of the Protector's Hall, leaning against the railing as he looked out over the city of Sundari. His Border Alliance uniform was freshly pressed, the stark orange and black contrasting nicely with the red-brown sash tied off at his waist that marked him as a veteran Journeyman Protector. The tails of the sash swayed in the light breeze left by passing airspeeders, and every once in a while, the gleaming, silver cylinder dangling along the sash's tails would clank against the clear plasteel of the overlook. The air was crisp and fresh with the smell of nature despite the racing speeder-lanes, courtesy of the bio-dome's scrubbers and the green-gardens atop nearly every building below him, and he enjoyed the feel of the wind as it passed over his tattooed face.

Rymann's gaze was fixed upon the soaring pillar that was the Sundari Royal Palace, home of the Mand'alor, from where it rose to the bio-dome's distant ceiling. The Mandalorian House spires surrounded it, just as their representatives did in the Mand'alor's presence; Spire Kryze was blocked from view, but Spire Fett and Spire Genet each jutted up alongside the palace, the symbols of their former masters hanging from their sides as monuments to the fallen, or marks of shame as the case may be, of the last Sith War.

Though the symbols of his peoples' leaders filled him with pride, Rymann was troubled. Gingerly, he touched the symbol on his shoulder; the three peaks of House Vizsla were stitched into the uniform, marking him as one of their number. In truth, he hated the fact that he'd needed to hide his identity on Mandalore; somewhere in Sundari, perhaps in the very Spire Vizsla in which the Protector's Hall was housed, his coward of a father enjoyed the undeserved life of a Mandalorian noble. The very thought of his father sickened Rymann, and his grasp on the railing tightened instinctively in anger as he remembered the night his mother had told him the story of his parentage. The man was unworthy of his title, unworthy of the blood in his veins, and in every other sense of the word...

Frustrated, Rymann turned to lean back against the railing, turning his thoughts back to the reason he'd been called to the Protector's Hall. Protector-Captain Tennu, a seasoned veteran of the Journeyman Protectors and also the last Sith War, had had the order passed to him within a week of his return from the Border Alliance mission on Abhean. A smuggling ring, known as the Ge'tal Syndicate, had been uncovered somewhere within the city, and he had been called to investigate as part of a joint task force with several other representatives of the Border Alliance; their crimes were suspected of being the smuggling of illegal gladiator beasts from the dangerous worlds on the Outer Rim. Cave Spiders from Ord Cestus, Mandalorian Wolves, Vornskr from Myrkr, and other deadly creatures had been traced by Republic authorities back to Mandalorian Space, at which point, the Mandalorian Houses had claimed the issue was an internal affair.

Rymann watched as a pair of Protectors came in through the reception room door, dragging a screaming man by the arms between them. The man cursed and spat in Mando'a, claiming innocence in one sentence before swearing vengeance the next. Rymann spat, returning to his thoughts after checking the clock to make sure he was still on time for the briefing of the Protector-Captain.

The true reason wasn't to find the criminal, but it was to protect Mandalore's reputation; despite its appearance as a strong and stable power on the Outer Rim, standing staunch against the darkness of potential Sith invasion, its people were as divided as ever. The lesser Clans and Houses constantly warred with one another, politically and physically, for prestige. Were the Senate's investigators to find even one of the minor Clans as having involvement, the Mand'alor's authority and Mandalore's voice in the Senate would both be called into question, and provide political ammunition against their people.

To avoid arousing further suspicion against the already somewhat-secretive people of Mandalore, Houses Vizsla and Kryze had allowed for the joint task force to be formed in the effort of promoting transparency. However, Rymann's orders had explicitly stated that while the criminals were to be apprehended on the authority of the Republic, his first loyalty was the protection of Mandalore and its people; any sign of involvement by a Mandalorian House or Clan was to be handed off to the Protectors for punishment and further investigation.

"Phwoar," he cursed under his breath, turning back to look out over the city. He couldn't see the Border Alliance base from this view of the Spire, but he wondered what Nateri and the other Protectors that had been recruited to Mandalore's Border Alliance garrison alongside him had done while he had been away; after this mission, Rymann promised himself that he'd go back to see them over a chilled Mandalorian Ale. All of the intrigue and politics of working with Defiant had been more draining than any long day in the fields back on Concord Dawn, and some rest and relaxation would do him some good.

For now, Rymann waited patiently for the others to arrive, his gaze naturally returning to gaze at the Royal Palace once more as he stood alone with his thoughts.

@Caligula , @Krajin , @mcewanman , @Aurius Pheonix

 

[mcewanman]

The ship came out of hyperspace, a small white dot against the billions of stars. It regarded Mandalore for a moment, before the engines fired and it came into the planet's atmosphere. Wasting no time, it began moving through the cloud layer, to emerge in view of Sundari. The Ship hovered, apparently taking in the view as it decided what to do next.

The woman piloting it took a moment, leaning back in her seat. She supposed this job was to be done for a high-profile group, so there would be little suspicion. Besides, entering any civilisation was unusual for her, with the exception of coruscant. A nice change of pace, then. Taura went back to the controls and directed the ship towards the hangar.

Landing in the docking bay, essentially a set of silver landing pads with an open view of the entire city, she took a moment to scan her equipment. She had already been wearing her armour, but the helmet had been off. Her rifle rested against a wall in the back room, and was swiftly retrieved. It was packed into a case strapped across her back - didn't want to attract attention. A single knife was slipped into a sheath on her side, just in case of sudden attack. Finally she donned the helmet; a sort of finishing to this little ritual of hers.

The ship doors opened at the back, allowing Taura to walk down the ramp and to see more of the hangar for herself. The view of the city was nearly limitless, since the hangar was so high and large. Taura took a moment, leaning on a railing to stare out at the view. For such a warrior people, the Mandalorians sure had a sense of aesthetics and this was some of the best they had to offer, apparently.
Taura jerked up, focusing herself - she had a task, and her love of a nice view wasn't going to get in the way of it. She pulled a small hologram of a large, almost still creature lazily strewn across a luxury couch - The Hutt.
"Enter the Green Jewel Bar. Request a Mandelorian Cestus. Await further instruction there."
Easy enough certainly, but very secretive. At first this worried Taura, until a thought crossed her - secretive meant that this was big. Big meant credits. A grin spread across her face, and she began to move quickly. Didn't want to keep her new bosses waiting after all. As she marched, Taura crushed the hologram and threw it over the railing - no evidence.

After catching a hovertaxi and taking in more of the gorgeous view, Taura came to the Entertainment district. Bars, nightclubs and even a few hotels lined the streets, although the midday sun kept most people indoors. Taura squinted, and saw it - the Green Jewel. Upon entering, the place was loud; full of different people of varying species trying to enjoy themselves in such a low-end joint. Still, the music that played was nice enough and they weren't at each other's throats constantly so it was better than Taris at least.

Taura came to the bar. She leaned on the counter, cheerfully asking the bartender, "One Mandalorian Cestus, thanks." He nodded, going through a door behind the bar and disappearing from view. Taura looked around, ensuring she wasn't drawing attention. There were a few others in armor, helmets rested on a table while they laughed alongside their friends. The case on her back wasn't attracting any opportunists either, it seemed.

The bartender returned, gesturing for her to follow. Taura complied, going through the back door and coming to a small room. A middle aged man sat in a chair facing away from her, looking out the window at the city below with a cup of tea. He waved away the bartender, and gestured for Taura to sit. Again, she did as asked and waited for him to speak.

"So, you're the bounty hunter my master has hired."
"Yeah, here for the job," she replied.
"Good. It's a simple task really, but we do require some discretion from you. Can we trust you to keep our activities strictly between us?"
"You can. I'm not one for lazy work, and exposing you for a reward is some of the weakest things a person can do."
"Excellent. Now, onto the task at hand..."

 

[Aurius]

"Cecil. Damnit, are you even listening to me, or am I talking to the air again"

Cecil's head smashed the back of his chair, startled by his communicator going off. He was weary, as the tasks he had been preforming tired him to no end. From Kalee to Ilum, Cecil had ventured far and rested little. But, as always, duty called.

"Sorry, Brook... Just resting my head, is all. What do you have for me? I've been sitting here for over an hour. Outskirts of a town. Cloaking capacity is activated."

The Sithhunter was not one to be trifled with, a sentiment imbued into Cecil the day the two first met. Since then, she had been helping him locate missions around the Galaxy through her vast network of informants. Recently she had come across a rather delicate piece of information concerning a criminal organization on Mandalore, working in the shadows and utilizing the corrupt to further it's empire. The Mandalorian Protectors sought to find this mysterious group, and Brook was sending Cecil to help.

"Good. You'll find a suit of Mandalorian Armor and a heavy blaster carbine in the top left hatch. Use those weapons along with your pistol, and hide your saber from view. There are rumors that there may be traitors among the Protectors, it's a safety precaution. You speak Mando'a, so passing as a Mandalorian Bounty Hunter or Protector shouldn't be too hard for you. Head to their headquarters, there you will find a man named Rymann. He is the one my contact informed me can be trusted. When you get there, inform him that you are a Jedi, otherwise tell no one. I'll be out of contact for a bit, Dark Jedi in the inner planets."

"Will do. Be careful out there, Brook."

"I always am"

The communicator shut off, and Cecil yawned, kicking off his chair and putting on the armor left for him. It was green and gold, trimmed with blue, the classic color of the Mandalorian Protectors.

View attachment 2741​

Letting the ramp go down, Cecil took off into the city. He had heard the tale of Mandalorians at his home on Rhen Var. Mighty warriors that made even Sith and Jedi cower in fear. Indirectly, they in fact inspired him to train as a warrior and in turn join the Jedi Order. This was an opportunity to help this warrior culture, and further his knowledge of the Galaxy. Following the streets until he reached a tall, many faceted building marked with Mandalorian Symbols. He knew this was the place. Using the force to cloak himself, he slipped past the front guard and into the main foyer.

I don't like all this sneaking. It doesn't inspire any trust... then again Brook has never led me astray...

Allowing himself to become visible once more, Cecil walked towards the balcony railing, having spotted the man he was here to meet. Mandalorian Protectors passed all around Cecil, in what seemed to be an orderly fashion. But he could sense the tension in the air, a well hid secret to all but a Jedi. Clearing his throat audibly, he regarded Rymann.

"Ashnar ad'ika sha'kajir jorhaa'ir? (Mind if we had a word for a moment, sir?)"

 

[Caligula]

The planet Mandalore. It was truly a sight to see.

Lisa watched with a mass of excitement as her shuttle entered Mandalore space and began its approach on the planet. Everything was going smoothly and nothing looked like it was going to change that. She had traveled around quite a bit in the last few days in response to her newest mission. She, along with other members of the Border Alliance, had been summoned to the planet Mandalore to investigate, something. To be honest she couldn't remember the exact details. She had drifted through the briefing while only absorbing the knowledge that Mandalore and animals were involved. Never the less, she had brought everything she'd need.

Her dufflebag, which she carried everywhere, contained her usual loadout for a mission; her black full body armor and her sniper rifle. Her sidearm was resting on her hip as always while her vibroknife was sheathed in the side of her boot. She was currently wearing her official Border Alliance uniform, the uniform looking nearly brand new. This of course was due to the fact that Lisa rarely wore this uniform. She was always either on patrol or training or doing crazy mission like this, which more often than not required her to wear her armor. The uniform felt scratchy now and she found herself constantly scratching her arms and pulling at her collar for air. Hopefully she'd get used to it before she met her contact. Of course her Bantha Leather eyepatch was covering her right eye and her black cap hid most of her boyishly short hair.

When the shuttle finally entered the city, Lisa once again was nearly glued to the window. The beautiful city of Sundari opened up before her and she was enraptured by everything. She had heard stories that Mandalore was a place of fighting and war, but she couldn't see any of that by looking now. The rooftop gardens and biodome made everything so nice and inviting. Lisa almost forgot why she was there.

However she quickly returned to reality when the shuttle landed on a secured landing pad near her destination, the Protector's Hall as it was called. She took a deep breath and steadied herself as she departed the shuttle, her dufflebag slung across her shoulder and resting on her right hip. She walked with a purpose, her eyes fixed on the entrance as she went over what she was supposed to do. Go in, meet with Rymann, don't cause trouble. She silently repeated the three steps to herself as she entered the reception area of the Hall. When she walked in, however, a strange feeling fell over her. If felt like someone had moved past her, but she didn't see anyone moving in that direction. It was like a gust of wind or something similar. Or maybe something else...

The voice of a security guard broke her focus as Lisa snapped to attention. The guards needed to check her bag before she went in. She was about to protest when she remembered the third step. Don't cause trouble. She sighed and calmly handed the guard her bag, explaining why she was there as she did so. The guards nodded and returned her things without conflict, and even pointed her in the direction of Rymann. With a quick nod of thanks she left them, heading towards the balcony area. When she got there, she saw two people; one had to be Rymann judging from the BA uniform, and the other was a Mandalorian hunter by the look of them. The hunter seemed to be speaking to Rymann, so Lisa waited near the doorway with her bag on the floor. Something about the hunter bothered her though. She couldn't put a title on the feeling, but it was definitely odd.

 

[Stormthroe]

The sudden, somewhat synthetic voice behind him nearly caused Rymann to jump, his military bearing the only thing keeping him from flinching as the stranger behind him cleared his throat although the hair on his neck bristled. The young Mandalorian turned to regard the man who'd drawn him from his thoughts; the warrior whom had addressed him stood clad head to toe in traditional beskar'gam, a large bore rifle slung over his shoulder, and behind him, a smaller woman dressed in the fatigues of the Border Alliance.

The man had spoken fluent Mando'a, but Rymann couldn't place his accent; it wasn't Concordian, but it also differed from the dialects he'd heard the Sundari locals speak as well. Regardless, Rymann nodded politely.

"Lek, burc'ya," (Sure, friend) he said, standing straight to address the other warrior. Now that Rymann had turned to face him, he noticed that the man bore no clan symbols, nor marks of allegiance to any of the major Houses. Ver'verd (mercenary), he thought to himself.

Rymann looked past the Mandalorian in front of him to regard the woman standing behind him; she remained close to the doorway, half-watching the both of them with her one good eye seeing as the other was covered by a leather eye patch. She seemed somewhat put off, clearly an outsider representing one of the other Border Alliance worlds assigned to the same task force Rymann had been summoned to join.

"Me'copaani? (What can I do for you?)" he asked, giving the armored warrior in front of him his full attention.

 

[Aurius]

Veran smiled lightly beneath his helmet.

"Ner gai cuyir Cecil Arhena Espaa. Ni cuyir a Jetii, bat a ranov'la aka olar at gaa'tayl o'r ibic aka. Ni ganar cuyir e'lyrea at kaya na ibic e'cursr at gar bal gar solus. (My name is Cecil Arhena Espaa. I am a Jedi, on a covert mission here to help in this investigation. I have been instructed to relay this information to you and you alone)"

Cecil waited paitiently for the warrior to respond, smiling as a Border Alliance Sniper approached. De recognized her, one of the few who had been willing to go on an unsanctioned mission to scout Felucia. Unfortunately the circumstances did not allow it, but he was nonetheless grateful.

 

[Krajin]

Sitting in the room at a desk watching Rymann for some minutes as he gazed out into the depths of Mandalore's beautiful city. He'd been there for quite some time with his feet up and a datapad in one hand, reading the current Czerka News and watching some terrible, terrible Movie concerning an Opera in space. He'd been there for easily an hour waiting and seemed quite comfortable where he was. Another would open the door to enter, first came a Mandalorian whom practically admitted what he was and a woman followed suit. He couldn't help but smile as people were trickling in to help out with this, his reason was simple. Helping a friend out whom he had served with on another task.

He stayed quiet for the time being though and decided to just listen for the time being. The large feline swished his tail carefully about, letting it tap against the floor of the building. His gaze slowly drifted to the Mandalorian, the spy and the Sniper and gave a slight wave of acknowledgement.

 

[Stormthroe]

"Jetii...," Rymann narrowed his eyes and folded his arms across his chest, stroking his goatee with one hand as he sized up the man hiding under that armor. Ever since he'd seen the broadcast, his opinions of the Jedi had been mixed; he'd never truly interacted with them, and his only knowledge of their Order came from the stories that hardly differentiated them from the Sith; stories saying the Force was something to be wary of.
For a moment, he pondered why this man, Cecil as he'd called himself, had been sent to find him. Rymann was nothing special; a simple soldier of the people, devoted to his Mand'alor and the Republic in that order. The Jedi's reach must be far indeed if their agents had discovered a reason to come to Mandalore...or, there was something far more sinister at work than even the Protector-Captain knew. And why was he told Rymann could be trusted? What interest did the Jedi have of him?

"Jate urcir'a, Jetii'alor," he spoke after a moment's deliberation, offering his arm a tentative, but polite, warrior's greeting, "Ni suvari'nu tion'jor gar rejorhaa'irte ni'rusaanyc, nu'tion'jor gar'ganar beskar'gam. (Good to meet you, Master Jedi. I do not know why you were told I was trustworthy, nor why you possess armor)"

Rymann cleared his throat before speaking in Basic, "It will be good to work alongside you. I've heard...much of your skills. I look forward to seeing them for myself." Working alongside a Jedi, he'd finally have the chance to see one of their number in action. Rymann was hesitant to trust in the Jedi's deception, but the mission ahead was far more important, and he was sure that there would be other oddities in any task force comprised of the Border Alliance worlds. The Jedi had every right to represent themselves as well seeing as their worlds were Republic as well.

A casual, furry wave caused Rymann to glance over the Jedi's shoulder, where he laid eyes on the large form of Khalen, the beast-alien he had fought alongside on his previous mission. In return, Rymann smiled, and jutted his chin at the large cat-man in a friendly gesture of recognition before looking at the clock that sat above the waiting room desk. It was almost time for their briefing by Protector-Captain Tennu.

"It seems our time has run out, but one last thing," he turned back to Cecil. Before he began to walk away, he leaned in close with a muffled whisper.

"N'jurkad o mando'ade'se, ner vod. Mando'ad draar drigu, bal Jetii nu'rusaanyc bal duraan de Manda'yaim. K'oyacyi, Jetii'alor. Ranov'la lo'shebs'ul narit, bal'a Mando'ade olar'te sol'yc o'r ibic.(Do not interfere with me or my people, my friend. A Mandalorian never forgets, and the Jedi are seen as unreliable and looked down upon on Mandalore. Stay safe, Master Jedi. You can keep your secret, but my people come first in this.)," he warned, before drawing back and bowing his head politely.

Satisfied that his point was made, Rymann turned to walk inside, approaching the eye-patched woman within a few strides from where she'd been watching he and Cecil's interaction.

"Su'cuy," he greeted her as he stepped closer, offering his arm as part of the introduction and noticing the Defiant Squadron insignia; another sister-in-arms. He eyed the duffle she carried for a moment, before continuing, "New to Mandalore, I'd assume; allow me to be the first to welcome you. My name is Rymann. I see you are with Defiant as well. That makes three of us on this task force." Rymann pointed past her in Khalen's direction, "That beast there is Khalen; he and I only recently returned to Mandalore from another mission for the Alliance. I can only assume he is here for the same reason as we. Very rarely are travelers simply allowed to walk into a Protector's Hall."

Rymann smiled politely, although he admittedly took a moment to regard the woman in front of him; she was attractive by any near-human standards, although he couldn't place her heritage on appearance alone. Her thin physique belied a well-toned body, although the Border Alliance uniforms were never what one would consider flattering. Her face was beautiful, almost alluring, save for the eyepatch covering her right eye; Rymann noticed there was no scarring. In his mind, he wondered what might have happened to such a woman that gave need of such a thing.

"I noticed you watching me and our soon-to-be companion, Cecil" he spoke, attempting not to stare in case it might offend her and directing her attention to the armored man he'd been speaking with, "Was there something you needed?"

 

[Aurius]

Cecil watched calmly as the Mandalorian Protector tried to hide his concern from his features. Even if he could completely hide his feelings from his posture, his emotions sent ripples to the Rhen Varian. He did not interrupt the Mando as he accepted Cecil's help and warned him of a Jedi's stature on Mandalore. Cecil had read many entries in the archives concerning the wars that Mandalorians had participated in. They where mighty warriors, and some of their best could stand toe to toe with a Jedi, but they did not compare in power to a Lord of the Sith. Cecil mentally reminded himself that informing the warrior of his own past entanglements could be unwise.

Being discreet means not trusting every single person you meet, Cecil. Even if you want to.

His brothers words rung true in these moments. He leaned in slightly and replied to the man in basic. His voice was calm and collected, but said with power.
"...My contact, The Sithhunter, informed me that you had a reputation of unbesmirched honor. That is why I am telling you this. And this armor was provided to me by the aforementioned Contact. I know of Mandalore. One of my closest friends in the Order is Mandalorian. I will do what must be done by your leave."

Scanning the room, Cecil identified those whom where under scrutiny. There where a suprising amount, something that concerned Cecil. Almost as much as the eyes watching him. Something was amiss here, he could sense it. There was no cold fear, like the Dark Side. Something else. Almost like a warning in plain sight. Shrugging off the emotion, he calmly observed as Rymann greeted the Alliance Sniper.

 

[Caligula]

Lisa had waited quietly as the Mandalorian's exchanged words. She was a stranger on this foreign planet and she had to behave as a guest.

Lisa managed a smile as she returned Rymann's greeting, shaking the hand that was extended to her. "Yes, this is my first time. You have a lovely home." At the mention of the feline creature behind her, she turned and returned the wave with the same smile. She always made a habit to present herself as friendly and willing to learn. It tended to end better than making enemies.

She couldn't help but notice Rymann watching her rather carefully. She smiled a little wider and tried to hide a blush. She always got a little embarrassed when she caught people starring, and she always caught people starring. Her Sniper's Eye rarely missed much. The eyepatch was just a formality, as her right eye was her connection to the Force and therefore allowed her to see through the patch. Of course, no one knew. And if Lisa had her way, no one would even know. It would be her ace in the hole, her trump card.

"I was waiting for you, sir." She added the formality because clearly Rymann was the type of person who deserved respect and she was a guest on his planet. On top of that, she was assuming that he'd be leading the task force they had assembled. "I'd just like to let you know that I'm ready to get started when you are." She spoke clearly, going a little slower than usual to make sure her words were clear and crisp. She didn't want to look foolish in front of her teammates. As she spoke with Rymann, she couldn't help but catch herself watching the armored Mandolorian soldier behind him. There was something that bothered her. She just, didn't know why.

 

[Stormthroe]

Rymann opened his mouth to reply to the young woman, but was interrupted by a sudden cough from behind him. He spun on his heel to see a small woman, her hair curled and fanning out in one of the more modern hairstyles from the Inner Rim. Her dress was simple, all-business, but revealed just enough to be considered attractive. She lowered her hand from her mouth and smiled politely, bowing her head slightly in a professional greeting.

"The Protector-Captain is waiting for you," she spoke, before turning to the side and gesturing for them to come along, "Right this way."

"Of course," replied Rymann, bowing his head in return before turning back to the woman he'd been speaking with, "We shall continue conversation as we go, then. Protector-Captain Tennu is not one to be kept waiting."

Rymann stepped aside, raising an arm to draw Khalen's attention, and then turned to follow the secretary who was now waiting impatiently for the group to begin and gestured for Cecil to come along as well. As they began to walk down the hall, the secretary strode a few paces ahead of them, offering the group a small modicum of privacy.

"There is no need to call me sir..." he began, before smiling, realizing she hadn't shared her name. That was alright, they were each sure to become better acquainted during the brief. "I am not in command of the mission at hand. Simply Mandalore's representative on this task force."

Rymann looked over his shoulder at Cecil, cautiously glancing at the disguised Jedi Knight.

"I'm here to keep an eye on you aruetii; offworlders," he returned his eyes to her and smiled, before risking a joke aimed at Khalen. Their mission together on Abhean had relieved Rymann of some of the unease he'd initially felt around the hulking mass of fur. "Not that any of you are all that bad. The Houses simply like to keep an eye on things. We are a...private people. Very few individuals from the Inner Rim and Core ever make it out to Mandalorian space."

The hallways of the Protector's Hall were very different from the small, ramshackle constabulary he had operated out of on Concord Dawn. The silver walls were lined with deep red trim, and the floors were kept spotless by small cleaning droids that crossed their path every now and again as the secretary led them towards the board room. Dozens of other Protectors passed them in each direction, a few of them eyeing Rymann and the others with wary eyes, and muttering the usual niceties about foreigners shared among the Mandalorian people after they'd passed. Each doorway was flanked by greenery in the form of potted plants, and the smell of cool air being filtered through the ventilation made the entire experience rather pleasant.

It was almost a shame that his fellow Concordian Protectors had little more than a shack to train and work, but Rymann hardly had time to dwell before the secretary stopped, pushing the release for a door that slid open on nigh-silent pneumatic rails. She quickly ushered them inside, and as the last one of them passed, she closed the door behind them without even a word.

The main feature of the board room was an oval holotable flanked by plain, metal chairs. It was dim, save for some fluorescent lighting that illuminated the outer wall and the glowing screen of the holo-display, which currently had a readout showing dossiers on each of them, obscuring the silhouette of a man standing behind it.

"Take a seat."

The voice was low and commanding, and cut through the hiss of the holo-table's projection like a knife. Rymann quickly complied, but not before pushing an elbow into Cecil's side and motioning to remove his helmet. A moment later, the projection cut out to reveal a tall man dressed in polished Protector armor. A golden series of stars on his right breast marked him as a Protector-Captain, while his shrewd glare and the scar that ran down the left side of his face marked him as a grizzled veteran of conflict. The man waited until the last of them had seated themselves before introducing himself.

"My name is Protector-Captain Tennu. First, to our honored offworld guests, welcome to Mandalore," the Protector-Captain's expression did not soften, but he offered a courteous bow in the direction of both Khalen and Lisa, "I trust you have found her hospitality most inviting. Thank you for representing each of your worlds in this endeavor."

Protector-Captain Tennu continued without acknowledging Rymann or Cecil; there was no need. Any well-trained Mandalorian warrio knew these briefs had one purpose, and the formality of welcoming the off-worlders was more an acknowledgement that they had the Protector-Captain's eyes upon their backs. Rymann focused on the Protector-Captain as the veteran rose from his bow, and the holo-table ignited with the tap of a button.

"You are each here as part of a joint task force deigned to investigate a criminal organization that has been uncovered here upon Mandalore, within Sundari herself."

The screen flashed, displaying security images of several shady figures pushing cargo crates out of an aged, unmarked freighter. Most were covered, but a moment later, the images changed to security footage with evidence tags on each box, the covers removed to reveal a half dozen dangerous animal species; a pair of pacing Nexu, an giant arachnid-creature that hung from the cage wall, a large serpent with fangs as long as Rymann's forearm, and others each snarled in still-image at the four members of the task force. Several mugshots also appeared underneath, announcing a handful of criminals remaining from the Protector's raid on the smuggling ring.

"This Ge'tal Syndicate was uncovered on several other Republic worlds and traced back to Mandalore, where we raided the most recent shipment of gladiator beasts being smuggled through the lower docks, as you see here. We were able to capture a few members during the operation, but seeing as most of these animals originate offworld, we were unable to uncover the heart of their organization. Interrogations of the criminals revealed that the Ge'tal Syndicate has operated under the guise of a shipping business for some time, and though very little official paperwork exists, we found record of one possible lead."

Protector-Captain Tennu switched the holo-display once more, displaying an older Mandalorian woman. Rymann quickly scanned the small biography and summary data that read out alongside her portrait, reading along as the Protector-Captain described the same.

"This is Doctor Sopra Mul, a former xenobiologist working for the Republic Explorer's Corps. She was forced to resign her position when her research labs were found to have illegal species, some of the ones our teams brought in from the smuggling ring included, in various states of experimentation. She was quickly deported from her temporary station in the Inner Core and brought back to Mandalore. While we do not have any evidence to show her whereabouts, her last known location was here in Sundari, where she maintained a small apartment in Hab-block 13. Given that she has been out of work for an exceptional period of time due to the blacklisting of her credentials, we can only assume she is still somewhere in Sundari."

The Protector-Captain folded his hands behind his back.

"This task force is a show of camaraderie among Mandalore and the other Republic worlds. We have made every effort to promote transparency within the Protectors and the Houses, and whatever you require for your investigation, we will see to providing you. As a token of our stake in this matter," the Protector-Captain gestured for Rymann to rise, which he promptly obeyed, "Rymann Vizsla has been assigned to the task force on behalf of Mandalore."

Rymann sat down with a crisp salute, remaining silent.

"Are there any questions?" asked the Protector-Captain.

 

[Krajin]

"Hey, hey, hey! Nobody gets to call me a beast without buying dinner first." He would protest with a playful grin on his face. Up onto his feet in a single smooth motion the dark furred Trian followed along, his Navy blue coat with the gold trim blowing slightly in the breeze as Khalen made his way along. He'd always wanted to see these halls and into the office they went of the Protector-Captain. Walking through the halls was rather entertaining all things considered, the wary looks of the Mandalorians about having a bunch of outsiders plus a seven foot tall Space-Cat dressed like he was there for semi-formal sundays was quite entertaining to say the least. Being the tallest thing there he couldn't help but grin. Luckily though for them was Khalen had decided against his earlier idea of turning up in traditional Trianni clothing. Which is to say, nothing at all aside from a utility belt if needed. Considering most species thing for clothing he had chosen to go with the gear on rather than off and possibly make an awkward situation even moreso.

When the Captain addressed him Khalen grinned wide "I've been here before. Its a beautiful place and seems to get moreso the more I come back." He smiles, adding to the compliment of the planet and their hospitality. Taking a seat he got comfortable and watched the display, noting the creatures that were being smuggled. Nexu, Acklay from what it looked like and a weird snake like creature. The trian's ears flicked in irritation as he observed this, there was a special place in his heart for people like that who did this kind of work and they deserved a special kind of punishment from him. He rolled his shoulders a bit and looked to the Protector Captain "Yeah, I got one. If we're investigating this woman will you be giving us access to security so we can track her?"

 

[Aurius]

Cecil subconsciously stroked the bottom of his helmet in thought.

"It would be wise to give us access to certain restricted area, however access to all security is unnecessary. Unless some Protectors are under scrutiny, of course."

It was an edged question. Cecil trusted noone in the Protectors beyond Rymann at the moment. A move that might make him unpopular, however with the threat of infiltration and sleeper agents there, he had very little options.
@Stormthroe @Krajin @Caligula

 

[Stormthroe]

Rymann chimed in after his companions asked their questions, answering them.

"Mandalore is not like the mega-cities of the Core," he explained, "We do not monitor our citizenry from every street corner. Privacy still exists as a right of all people, and Sundari is no different. Its easy to disappear the lower you move in the bio-dome; only buildings that require security, such as the House spires, the Royal Palace, flight control, and the Border Alliance Headquarters, have any kind of surveillance. Otherwise, its leg-work."

The Protector-Captain nodded in agreement, before adding to Rymann's description.

"Rymann is correct. We do not keep our citizens under a watchful eye, and their privacy is a civil right. However, you may have access to what information we do have, most of which I've already shared with you. Doctor Mul is an unemployed scientist with few personal acquaintances; I imagine she will not be difficult to track down. I would suggest beginning your search at her former apartment; as far as we know, it is still under her ownership."

The Protector-Captain drew his attention to Cecil with a slight scowl.

"The Protectors are not under investigation here, ver'verd. We police ourselves well enough to prevent any corrupt individuals from continuing their duties under the guise of lawmen. However, it is not out of the realm of possibility that you may find involvement from Mandalorian interests in this matter. That is precisely the reason that we have appointed Rymann as Mandalore's representative; he has the proper knowledge of Mandalorian law and protocol in the event your investigation discovers evidence against any Mandalorian citizen."

The Protector-Captain's expression returned to a flat, professional demeanor, and he pressed a button on the desk.

"Yes, Protector-Captain?" The voice of the secretary came over the intercom.

"Hera, call a speeder to transport the task force to hab-block 13," ordered the Protector-Captain. He looked up at the assembled task force, his finger still on the intercom, "Is there anything else you will require?"

 

[Caligula]

Lisa had been oddly silent the entire time. She had kept her head low and was watching the floor for most of the trip to the meeting room. When they arrived, she returned the welcoming bow that the Protector-Captain had displayed before sitting down. When the various documents and reports came up, Lisa quickly scanned them, registering the information as the Protector-Captain explained the situation. She lightly nodded and made sure to absorb all the information she could. Animal smugglers, illegal gladiator animals, xenobiologist under investigation.

The questions her companions asked and the gruff response by the Protector-Captain snapped Lisa into a more attentive posture. She looked over at the Captain as his hand was on the intercom and he asked if they needed anything else. Lisa's single eye fell onto the picture of the Doctor and she narrowed it slightly. "I need something." She chimed in, her oddly sweet voice being heard for the first time in the meeting room. "I need a map of the city; to scale and with accurate altitude measurements please." She glanced down at her rifle, which was still tucked away in her dufflebag. As a sniper, she needed to know vantage points and possible hiding spots in case things went wrong. She could always eyeball it if need be but she preferred a map whenever it was available.

Then she looked up again, this time with a little more concern. "Protector-Captain, sir," She coughed into her hand as she hesitated a little with the titles. "If you don't mind me asking, what kind of experiments did these animals undergo?" She was always concerned with the well being of animals, and at the same time she was wondering if the team would run into a mutated Wampa or something similar while investigating the good doctor's laboratory.

 

[Aurius]

@Stormthroe