Ask Kashyyyk That's No Moon...

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Kashyyyk was rebuilding... slowly. The planet's terraformed surface had begun recovering where the fires had burned through the undergrowth and many of the massive wroshyr trees after the Sith bombardment years ago, the population was now being bolstered by a refugee program, and its defenses were stronger than before, owing to investments made by the FWA as well as Kashyyyk itself.

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl wasn't satisfied.

Before the rebel Mandalorian's ill-fated attempt at aggressive negotiations with a Hutt lord, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had begun talks with Hauron to look at giving the splinter faction a training facility on Kashyyyk. With the tied turning in a war that the FWA and Jedi had already been losing, he had to continue investing in Kashyyyk's defenses. Even though Hauron had fallen from grace, the rebel Mandalorians still had resources and firepower; two things that Kashyyyk desperately needed.

Enter Kotii.

Since the conversation with Rrodossk and Hauron several months ago, Kashyyyk had been busy building a series of top-secret bases; not on the planet's surface, but on each of Kashyyyk's three moons. The other two bases were nearing completion as well, but now was the opportunity for Kotii to tour the base/training grounds that the rebel Mandalorians would be using, and suggest improvements or modifications. Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl waited- slightly impatiently, as only he could- to receive the younger Solus.


@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Spoiler: Music

The Werda Kom'rk flew rapidly through the void towards the trio of moons orbiting a singular green and blue marble. The planet of Kashyyyk grew larger as Hauron's transport neared the Wookiee homeworld. But his true destination was not the planet, but the moons that orbited it. He would continue to angle his ship towards the homeworld until he passed into its shadow before adjusting his course.

Hauron was looking forward to touring the Kashyyyk system. He had only spoken with Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl somewhat indirectly and had heard a little bit about the Senator from his clanmate Romeo Solus. The former foundling was not present when his father had returned hundreds of Twi'lek and Wookiee to their respective homes after freeing them from Zyggerian slavery.

The young Mikkian had urged his father to rest and recover from his own recent imprisonment and lucky escape from execution. A joint effort from Jedi, mercenary and Mandalorian forces had set free the former leader of House Solus. But Kotii was only just getting back into fighting shape and the same could be said for all of the renegade Mandalorians that chose to stay true to the cause. Many of them had scattered out of self preservation or became disheartened with Kotii's leadership.

Hauron is confident his Buir will bounce back eventually. Until then though, the young badger would be happy to try and live up to his father's expectations. Already he had managed to collect a small flotilla of capital ships that would likely be brought to the Kashyyyk system only in time or at least be able to respond swiftly should they need aid.

Three raider class corvettes and a berex class carrier would hopefully make a difference the next time the Sith show up.

The Mandalorian was no less armed than normal but did not expect any violence to occur even from a Sith invasion. Instead he was a bit more wary about the wild life of Kashyyyk and figured that was a priority threat over an enemy that wasn't even there. He knew for sure there were some monsters that had probably survived some of the devastation. Despite this pragmatic fear of the wildlife, he would still rather have it than the Sith present any day of the year.

The Solus was alone on the ship and had taken his helmet off to let his head tendrils loose. But as he came towards his true destination he donned his cold emotionless buy'ce. The blade like wings rotated around the central hull of the craft like a spinning broadhead until they slowed and became parallel with the landing area and began turning towards the ceiling as the ship fully landed.

Exiting the ship, Hauron walked down the ramp and closed the Shadow Gauntlet behind him. The warrior cleared his throat to make sure his voice did not crack and he made a decent first impresion. Then he realized he was already running late. "Sorry Senator..." He said and cleared his throat again. "...I hope I wasn't making you wait long."

@SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Were Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl's eyes deceiving him, or was that Hauron Solus approaching him? The Senator of Kashyyyk checked his notes, sighing in frustration as he realized that he'd gotten the elder and younger Solus mixed up again. It was that, or Kotii was going out of his way to keep his head down, which might not be a bad idea given the trouble he'd found himself in. However, the Wookiee decided to go with the idea that this was, in fact, Hauron Solus- the younger of the two.

"You're right on time" he responded, somehow managing to sound sincere while pretending that he hadn't been waiting for 20 minutes. He'd been beginning to think that Ko-- Hauron would not show up, but at least now that the Mandalorian was here they could get down to business. "Welcome to your clan's new training facility and defense station. Which area would you like to tour first?"

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron's ship began to close and lock itself behind him as he was greeted by the Wookiee Senator. Even though Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl's life was longer than his, the Mandalorian could not help but feel like he was using up the politician's precious time. "Let's start with...the defenses." He suggested with an enthusiastic tone. It made it obvious his mouth was formed into a pleasant smile and the warrior was relatively at ease. The last thing he wanted was for them to all be tense around one another.

The young Mikkian knew they would only be able to see one thing after another but he was excited for the tour. In the event of an attack, the bases needed to respond to a threat quickly. Hauron needed to know the ins and outs if he was going to be leading Rancor Squadron. "How have things been going on the surface of Kashyyyk?" He asked. "Has there been any luck with terraforming and healing from the last Sith attack?" He already knew about how many people had been killed and the loss afterwards. But the planet itself was resilient. The Badger had hope for their allies.

@SlagathorTheUnknown sorry for the delay I know I've taken forever

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl nodded; the question from the younger Solus wasn't an unexpected one, and in truth the issue of defense was the reason that they were here in the first place. The Wookiees had applied lessons learned by blood and fire to the bases being built on these moons. "Of course. Follow me, please" said the Senator, slowly leading the way towards the base. The aged Wookiee's slower walking pace would leave time for questions should his explanation not be sufficient for Hauron.

"The base's first layer of security is it's secrecy" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl explained as they walked. "We have taken great care to ensure that its existence remain unknown to the rest of the galaxy." This moon in particular had been chosen specifically because its wildlife was similar to that of Kashyyyk; small ships and Mandalorians coming and going wouldn't draw scrutiny because the moon was already a place where hunters and other warriors liked testing their mettle. Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl didn't need to go into detail about the other ways that the base's secrecy had been assured; if the ISC could build hypergates in secret, a couple of small moon bases could be done in secret as well. "This base has the added advantage of being nearly undetectable to scans; aside from the external defenses, which you'll see in a minute, the base itself is build underground and as such is both difficult to detect and difficult to bombard."

"Eight dual heavy turbrolaser turrets, and eight quad-laser turrets provide plenty of firepower against a variety of enemy ships. A contingent of 24 starfighters, dispersed amongst four hangars, has also been provided in order to deter enemy starfighter attacks" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl continued, pointing out one of the menacing turrets; obscured by a camouflage net. "There are also a pair of tractor beams, and a heavy deflector shield." The Wookiee engineers hadn't had to reinvent the wheel when designing the base; they simply integrated the designs of the successful Guardian Space Station and buried its power core and sensitive components underneath the surface of one of Kashyyyk's moons... with a little extra space to function as training grounds for its Mandalorian guests.

The Wookiee turned to the younger Solus. "A base this size will need around 35 individuals to run it at any given time. About a dozen Wookiee technicians will stay on" - both to ensure the base's continued operation as well as, more secretly, to ensure it was being used as intended- "but you will have to provide the rest of the mandalorian power." Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had been waiting over 200 years to make that joke, even as he was curious as to the extent of the rebel faction. "Tell me, how many warriors do you envision will be here on a regular basis? And are there any modifications that you'd make to the existing defenses?" War had been Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl's pursuit more by necessity than by choice, but to Mandalorians combat was a lifestyle.


@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron walked with Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl as he led the Mandalorian on the tour. His helmet was often looking around, taking in the base as the Senator spoke. The Mandalorian's eyes twinkled and his face widened into a grin with each thing the Wookiee pointed out.

"We can appreciate the secrecy. We'll try to keep it that way, Senator." He said reassuringly, speaking for the rebel Mandalorians. Their history was long and fraught with the need to hide. They had gained many enemies over the ages and did not want to risk another attack. Afterall, it was the Way of the Mandalore to be both hunter and prey.

"That's impressive." He complimented the fact that the base was hard to detect with scans. He would have to have Rancor Squadron use their best scanners when they arrived to put the base to the test. "The base is still hidden when all the defenses are powered on?" A hint of disbelief came out with his question. A base that was dormant was one thing, but having undetectable anti-invasion defenses at the ready at all times was handy to say the least. Even after opening fire they would still be hard to pinpoint and take out.

While this moon had an attraction for hunters and other wilderness explorers, at least one of the three moons was primarily a farming settlement. This was something Hauron had given some thought to so as to preserve each base's anonymity. Simple ship traffic could be monitored by anyone with the right equipment or analyzing port manifests could give clues to ships' activity. Thankfully Hauron was working on getting forgeries and working out the logistics to make it a non-issue once they get settled.

Hauron chuckled at the joke, voicing his happiness with gentle laughter. He did quick calculations and if each base was to work at optimal efficiency they would each need a score of Mandalorians and some auxiliary droids. The Mandalorians were few and stretched thin, but even that number was not too much to manage. There were many Mandalorians that were raising foundlings or were armorers looking for a stable place to light their forges.

"I think we can manage that. If things go well with clan politics..." He prefaced his calculations as being idealistic. "...I think this base could be filled with Mandalorians rather quickly." They would possibly flock to the moons if they knew there was a safe home for them like this. But then word would likely get out. The rebel Mandalorians had to keep their new homes secret. or risk history repeating itself. "To start, probably no less than a hundred Mandalorians at each base at any given time." He shrugged since it was a hard estimate, he continued to think out loud but spoke so that his voice did not echo.

"I'm thinking of having our carrier come to this base first and then visit the others after a few rotations. At each we'll have probably thirty pilots become familiar with the area and these new ships. We don't have many so they'll be happy to have more than personal freighters to work with." The berex carrier would split up its small ship compliment evenly through the three bases and keeping a fourth on board for defense was only practical. The corvettes and their loadouts of small ships and crew would be able to get used to their accommodations and the system they would be responsible for defending.

A part of Hauron did not want to share too many details with Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl about the Mandalorian forces' strength. Some things were only on a need to know basis but some times it could not be helped. Additionally, the young Mikkian did not wish to keep unnecessary secrets from the gracious Wookiee. He felt he could trust the Senator which was a rare occurrence for the Rally Master. They were going to be neighbors soon enough.

"Our starships are not operating at full capability yet but their crews will still want a port to call home. I want you to know I'm planning on founding an official private military corporation, called Rancor Squadron. It will mostly comprise of Mandalorians, but we will have auxiliary outsiders assisting us like contractors some times. We won't grant access to these bases or their whereabouts to these contractors, rest assured. Officially we will be nomadic but if needed I'll find an overt port for the company that won't implicate Kashyyyk." There were many benefits to this but ultimately Rancor Squadron was just a means to get wealth and fuel the war against the Sith and slavers in the galaxy. It was also a way for the skill sets of the warrior community to be put to good use. Parents needed to put food on the table and did so by any means necessary. It was more likely for Hauron to recruit fellow Mandalorians and outsider mercenaries this way to perhaps eventually enable them to fight for a just cause and not just coin.

"For modifications I'd suggest underground structural reinforcements, doubling any existing defenses. If the Mandalorians get their osik together like I hope they will, we'll need more room. Aside from that I was wondering if you know of a way to hide capital ships, something a few hundred feet long?" Starfighters were one thing and light freighters could be hidden well enough. But three corvettes and a carrier, the latter of which was five hundred feet in length, were somewhat easy to find and would not fit easily in starfighter hangars. But if there was a hidden crevasse that could fit a flagship he wanted to at least ask about it.

@SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Hauron was nothing if not thorough, asking many questions throughout the initial stages of the tour. Fortunately for the Mandalorian, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had been closely involved in the design and planning processes for the base he was showing Hauron.

"The base is essentially undetectable while its weapons systems are powered down" the Wookiee explained. "Sensors, scanners, and other always-active systems allow the base to have plenty of warning in case of an inclement attack without jeopardizing its secrecy." Not even Kashyyyk's best engineers could fully mask that kind of firepower from showing up on thermal scans if the weapons system was always online, so they'd worked hard to ensure that if the defenses did need to be powered up- a process that took just seconds- the Mandalorians would have plenty of advance warning.

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl also wasn't surprised when Hauron asked about increasing the firepower, although this answer wasn't as exciting. "Doubling the firepower would strain the current power core; the best we could do without threatening to overwork the entire system would be another two heavy turbrolasers" he explained. Such a complex project was already pushing Kashyyyk's technological capabilities. "Underground supports can be added, though."

"As for a port" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl continued, "perhaps nearby Dosh could be of service? Their infrastructure could handle a higher flow of ships than this base, and their ports are... less regulated than ours." A tactful nod to the fact that Kashyyyk and Dosh had very different histories; besides, Rrodossk had also been at the first meeting with the rebel Mandalorians and might be willing to collaborate as well.

The final question he answered had to do with hiding a few large warships on the moon; the Senator had not anticipated this line of questioning, and as such had not been briefed. "I'm afraid that I am personally not aware of any such hiding places, but that does not mean that they do not exist. Perhaps this could be a mission for you and your brethren as you move into the base? It would be good to familiarize yourself with the local flora and fauna as well."

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

The Mandalorian listened intently as the Wookiee explained further about the details of the fortification. Hauron wanted to keep the base's secret status in effect for as long as possible. That meant he would have to think of defensive means that did not have the added expense of drawing attention. "I'll have our engineers keep that in mind. I'll have us focus on getting starfighters and mobile anti-air."

The foundations and structural supports sounded like they were the easiest improvement to be accomplished. It also seemed the most essential. The Mikkian Rally Master was too young to know the horrors of orbital bombardments that had happened to his own people but if Firrerre and Kashyyyk were any indication there were groups still capable of committing such atrocities. The Mandalorians had built domed cities that could withstand fleets, so they had glassed the planet. Hauron wanted this base to be strong enough that even if a Sith fleet emerged, they would not be able to wipe out the Mandalorians and Wookiees in the base.

When Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl mentioned Dosh, Hauron could not help but falter in his response. "My..." He stopped himself from calling the man his Buir. It was like saying 'my dad' every time he mentioned the man. Hauron was an adult himself and was an equal to his father. "Kotii Solus is looking into relations with those on Dosh. He mentioned he had met with Rrodossk in the past and the Trandoshan seemed to like Kotii, or the two at least tolerated each other. I know the Bounty Hunters' Guild had a base there. Maybe still does." A lot had happened recently with the ex-Senator of Trandosha. There was the added benefit of being able to keep a close eye on any illegal or immoral operations around Dosh if Rancor Squadron set up an open base there. The reptilians' leader may make danger come knocking or be the one making trouble themselves. If that were the case, Hauron was glad to be close to the Wookiees.

"He is also meeting with a Jedi as a matter of fact. I think they're surveying one of Dosh's moons." The truth was that the two of them were liberating a Wookiee Jedi that had been kidnapped by Trandoshan hunters. "It might be time I take a trip myself." He said with a hint of that reputable badger aggression growling through as he thought about the lizard-like slavers. But he calmed himself and took a breath since he did not want to put a damper on the present meeting.

"I'd like to take a hike around the surface of the moon with a guide if you would not mind suggesting someone. Maybe it could be a joint safari or something like that." he suggested, hoping he was not being to presumptuous. Not all problems needed more firepower to be resolved. This way the Mandalorians could also gain an idea of the surrounding area from those with first hand experience and give them a chance to interface with their gracious neighbors.

Two dozen AFC-1 starfighters were a gift among gifts and the Rally Master could not help but smile when he laid eyes on them. He knew of a few pilots that would jump in the air at hearing the news. The starfighters would of course only be used defending the Kashyyyk system since they lacked hyperdrives and Hauron knew they were normally only available to the Free World Alliance. He did not want to spark any investigations into their affiliation if it could be helped.

@SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Mobile anti-air was a good idea, given the need for stealth and the challenges facing a static base. Once again Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was reminded that warfare was a way of life for some cultures; Hauron was thinking tactically. As such, it shouldn't have been surprising to hear that the splinter cell of Mandalorians had indeed followed up with Kashyyyk's closest neighbor about sponsorship on Dosh. Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl wouldn't put voice to his concerns about his Trandoshan counterpart- namely, Rrodossk's capacity to sustain the grand empire he envisioned- and so he simply nodded in acknowledgement of Hauron's report. The news that the Jedi were also interested to some degree in Dosh was new to him, though; the Order likely wouldn't mesh well with Dosh's current culture, if he had to guess, which made the Wookiee wonder who had initiated the conversation in the first place.

When Hauron mentioned a tour of the surrounding area, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl gave the Wookiee equivalent of a smile. "Forgive me; I was under the impression that you and your warriors might wish to explore the surrounding area yourselves. It would be a good exercise for your people, would it not? But if you'd prefer, I can find a guide." Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl understood where Hauron was coming from, even as he gently challenged the Mandalorians who were moving into a state-of-the-art training/defense facility to prove themselves. If he was entrusting part of the security of his planet to these rebel Mandalorians, he wanted them as experienced as possible.

Their next steps would bring them to the entrance of the underground hangar; its entrance cleverly concealed and its heat signature dispersed by a multitude of vents that would hardly register on a thermal scan. Inside were two dozen of the nimble, deadly AFC-1 Alliance Adders- starfighters that were among the most prized in the entire FWA fleet. These, too, had been selected with intention; not only would they ensure that the base- and Kashyyyk, by extension- was defended well, their lack of hyperdrives would hopefully discourage their involvement in extracurricular activities. "Have you ever flown one of these before?" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl asked. "They are as fast as they are deadly." There was one more surprise to show the Mandalorian, but he wouldn't rush Hauron.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron could not help but have the corners of his mouths curl up in a smile behind his helmet. “Haha! Yes I’m sure some Mandalorians will appreciate the isolation and want to explore alone or in small squads regardless. But I personally want to know what might be poisonous before I lose an arm or worse, to some...I don't know...forest spider I could have avoided.” Kashyyyk had a reputation for its jungled surface to be covered with treacherous terrain and both dangerous flora and fauna in equal parts.

The Solus wanted to know if there would be such things to look out for to prevent unnecessary injury. “I can’t help that some will want to probably run hunting excursions on their own. I’d appreciate any advice on surviving in the local area.” The act of hunting dangerous game was something Wookiees, Trandoshans and Mandalorians shared. However Hauron did not approve of hunting sentient species and when the occasion called for conservation he did so with respect and efficiency. With that in mind Hauron was still surprised how peaceful the Kashyyyk system had remained since the last Sith attack. But this untamed environment could also be a good place for his Buir and his own pet Rancor to roam. They needed to find them first though.

The members of Rancor Squadron on the moon would not excessively hunt or intrude on the local wildlife. There might be subsistent hunting or a ceremony that warranted such an event but there were still other hunters that could come to the moon. In the off chance that happened the base would be aware of the hunting party and be able to avoid them. Some Mandalorians preferred to fight and hunt with ancient methods that still held value. Perhaps Hauron would even take up practicing a plasma bow or get a chance to fire some Wookiee weaponry.

The hardware that took his attention in the moment was the starfighters. When Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl asked if he had flown one he first shook his head and followed it with a verbal answer. “No. The fastest thing I’ve flown is…the ship I came here in.” He tried to think of what qualified. The Werda Kom’rk was able to match the AFC-1 with its aftermarket upgrades and Fang class interceptors could not match the max speed of the AFC-1. But everything else he had flown was practically a mini-hover-bus compared to the high performance vehicles in front of him. Even the fastest light freighters were not in the same league as starfighters but hopefully he would get some time behind the starfighter’s controls. He wondered what kind of loadouts the defensive squadrons could be upgraded with. The FWA designed ships could be boosted in speed more than they already had. A few minutes would pass as he looked over the ship, inside and out like a kid that received their first speeder on their sixteenth birthday. “These are classy, Senator. Thank you.”

@SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl nodded his head in understanding and agreement as Hauron stressed the need for more intel about the local flora and fauna; there was a difference between making sure your soldiers were tested as opposed to putting them in overly dangerous situations. "A lot of the creatures here can be found on Kashyyyk as well" the Senator replied, hoping that the Mandalorians were okay with some challenging neighbors from time to time. "I'll make sure that you and your people are provided with everything you need to know in order to survive their unique challenges." He decided not to regale the Mandalorian with tales of his younger years when he'd both hunted and been hunted by many of the creatures that inhabited this moon.

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl also could've gone into more detail about the elite starfighters he was furnishing the base with, but decided not to; technology was not the Wookiee's strong suit, and thus it was better to say little or nothing to avoid embarrassing himself in front of a new ally. However, this was the time for questions if Hauron had any. "Is there anything else you'd like to know about the hangar before we continue our tour?" he asked.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

The Rally Master gave a bobbing nod. "Thank you, Senator." The Wookiees were being very gracious and it motived the Mandalorian to return the kindness.

Hauron did not dawdle too long. The ships were just a portion of the tour and there would be time for him to look them over later. The Mikkian left the vehicle behind and gestured ahead. "I don't think so. Please, lead on." He wondered if Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was somehow going to outdo his own generosity.

@SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl would lead Hauron into the base itself, during which the Mandalorian would be able to admire the thick, armored blast doors that made up the next line of defense. He would point out, among other things, the mess hall, the barracks, a machinist's garage, and the armory- the last room not fully stocked out of respect for the rebel faction's own firepower- before bringing Hauron to what the Senator considered the crown jewel of the base; it's high-tech holoroom. "This modular room can be programmed with terrain data from hundreds of planets" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl explained as he led Hauron to the control booth. "Furthermore, it comes with dozens of training droids that can mimic a diverse array of enemies." It wasn't altogether different than the training room on Yavin IV; although this one wasn't quite as robust, it was still very capable.

The Wookiee turned towards the Mandalorian, an idea popping into his head. "Would you like to try it out?"

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron admired the architecture with an analytical eye. Part of him was happy to have the base for the purpose of it being a new home. Regardless of its condition, it was an amazing gift. But the Rally Master tried to calculate how quickly lightsabers might be able to cut through blast doors. Nothing was completely indistructible but his belief was that the blast doors would perform exceptionally well even if they managed to fire a turbo laser at the blast doors directly.

When it came to the personnel quarters and living areas he marveled at the everyday appliances that were in good condition. As a person who's tribe had to scrape together enough credits to purchase a junky droid or speeder, the value of quality equipment was not lost on Hauron. This was a far cry from the tunnels and warrens that sometimes had waste and other unspeakable inconveniences the Mandalorians had lived with.

The training room caused Hauron to nod. He could see the room getting a lot of us. After his stint on Thyferra Hauron had witnessed swaths of battle droids in action. While he doubted he would need to fight droids, there was still the chance it would come up. The programmable terrain and the droids meant they could prepare for different enemies and environments without actually going there. It was for this reason he had set his sights on other planets. Small outposts in different areas of the galaxy would be ideal staging points and training spots. He would have thought he needed to spring for a comet class star yacht for this sort of thing. "Woah..." His jaw hung open for a moment before closing.

"Do you ever spar or hunt Senator?" He asked, turning towards the Wookiee that dwarfed the young Mikkian in armor. The politician might be a capable fighter even if they spent most of their days in meetings. Considering the amount of time Hauron spent talking, one might consider him a diplomat more than a warrior.

@SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl allowed himself a slight chuckle as Hauron asked him about sparring and hunting. "I'm afraid those days are far behind me" he admitted; although in his prime the Wookiee was confident that he could've beaten any Trandoshan in the galaxy, age had taken its toll and Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had been forced to admit that the fighting was better left to those younger than him. He'd survived his most recent action on Ruusan when the Kiliks attacked, but even that had been due to others' skill and not his own. And it was also true that politicians- unless you were named Emryc Thorne- did not fare well in combat settings. Many FWA Senators had been killed in the line of duty, and Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl refused to add his name to that list. Thoughts of age reminded the Wookiee that he'd initially been expecting a different Mandalorian.

"Tell me, how is Kotii doing? Last I'd heard he had been rescued from Hutt captivity, but there's been little news since."

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

Hauron let out a sigh, wishing the Senator would have allowed himself to join the Mandalorians on an expedition. Maybe he would another time. "That's too bad. I'm sure you're still quite the capable hunter. I just wish I got to see you in action." He complimented the Wookiee as they continued.

"Yes. That's probably for the best. I broke him out of Hutt custody before he reached Nox. I had help with some friends in the Jedi I made...." Friends was generous. He had become friends with a Jedi after the attempted Sith Invasion of Onderon. Since Ithor however, the Mikkian had not spoken with any of the religious order. The Rally Master hesistated and took a deep breath as his memory flashed back to firing on the Jedi Knights and Masters while under the control of Darth Raze. A chill ran down the man's spine as he thought of the dark presence he had felt fueling him that day.

"...ahem, Kotii is doing well now." He cleared his throat but it felt strange to say his father's first name like a peer still. Technically Hauron was his father's commanding officer. "I think he might want to make a visit here and spend some time relaxing. I keep telling him to take some time off but he doesn't like to stop working when there are things to do, which is always." He shrugged knowing it could not be helped. The man liked to train in his free time and had little to no other hobbies these days besides preparing for the next mission. It was not healthy in his son's opinion. "My father is on a path of redemption and many of our people don't accept him and probably won't for some time." This was more detail than most outsiders got when it came to internal Mandalorian politics. But Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was not just anyone, he was a trusted ally. "I can let him know you asked about him. He would probably like to hear from you." The Rally Master smiled slightly behind his helmet towards the towering Wookiee.

@SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl allowed himself a small smile at Hauron's praise. By Wookiee standards he was old and inform, but compared to most other humanoids he was probably in incredible shape given his age. That wasn't enough to change the Senator's mind about sparring, though, especially against a Mandalorian.

Speaking of Mandalorians, the news about Kotii was a mixed bag. The elder Mandalorian's recovery was welcome news, but the man's fall from grace in the eyes of his fellow rebels was most unfortunate. Still, there was little that Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl knew that he could do about the situation; the armored warriors did not allow themselves to be influenced by outsiders, and part of him suspected that even if they could that Kotii would choose the path of penance and redemption over a political bailout. The Wookiee sighed to himself; he had no love for the Trandoshan's scoring system, but at least then it might be easier to follow Kotii's return to influence. With Mandalorians it was anyone's guess. "Please do, and let him know that he is welcome anytime."

There were still features to show Hauron, but the main details about the base had been toured. "Outside of the additions"- Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl shied away from using the term, 'improvements'- "that you've suggested, do you have any other questions about the base at this time?"

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

"Thank you. I will." Hauron nodded his covered head. The invitation was appreciated.

The Mandalorian took a moment to think about anything else. But he could not think of anything else to ask about. Shaking his head he replied. "No. I think that covers everything so far." If there was more to show him then the Rally Master would let Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl continue to lead the way.

@SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

"Please do reach out if you have any questions going forward" the Wookiee Senator said, satisfied that he'd given as good of a tour as he could. It was somewhat unprecedented to simply give away resources like these, but the secrecy of the base as well, as the demonstrated need for additional defenses, would both insure against any criticism. The only nagging doubt that Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl felt was his usual distrust of others- namely, the splinter group he was handing over operation of this base to hadn't made the Holonet in a good way when Kotii had been captured. And while Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl knew that allies were difficult to come by, he was tired of playing damage control whenever another PR disaster inevitable befell Kashyyyk or her allies... so while he had the opportunity, now was the chance to glean some information about Kashyyyk's new neighbors.

"Tell me, is there any news from Manadalore?" the Wookiee asked. He hadn't seen much from the armored warriors recently, not since the Sith had been expulsed from the Empire; and a hatred still burned in his heart at the scenes from their invasion of Lothal. "How goes the struggle against Death Watch?" Perhaps he might learn a thing or two about Clan Solus' plans.

@Darasuum

 

[Hauron Solus]

"I will. Thank you." He was pleased with everything shown thus far. The base brought comfort to the Mikkian Mandalorian who had a lot weighing on his shoulders more and more. It was nice to feel relief from that pressure from time to time.

"I wish there was. The surface would need terraforming technology to return back to the way it was." He was reminded of something that could be related to Kashyyyk. "Awhile back, days before the Sith attempted to invade Onderon, I came across a woman, a Jedi exile I think. She was on Onderon planting something. It was all a bit strange and not really clear who was a legitimate Jedi and who was not. But they mentioned Kashyyyk and...dead Wookiees." This might not be news to the Senator, but it could be relevant. Part of him wondered if she had planted a wroshyr tree on the outskirts of that city. The badger studied the Wookiee beside him to gauge his reaction.

"The Death Watch...hmm..." He thought about them for a moment. "There are probably a few remnant groups out there that believe in the Death Watch ways but there are a sea of Mandalorians with different views and beliefs. If they're still around, they're in a minority and not organized." He did not say they were not a threat, because every Mandalorian was. The internal clan politics and the history of his people was far from simple. But as a Rally Master of House Solus he had a clearer picture of their feelings.

@SlagathorTheUnknown