With identification readied and weapons holstered, the bounty hunters and Lola were duly processed and cleared to board the Evanescence. The silver haired woman looked around with wonder at the dark walled interior as did Kyl'likki, and the two soon immersed themselves with conversation about what was around them, though in Huttese.
Zylas stood with them outside a small conference room, and a curious glance from a passing Imperial here and there was cast their way. In time, Sturm left the room, first, and the others followed after down the hall. Lola gazed into a hangar at the racks of TIE Interceptors that were poised to strike at a moment's notice, and smiled at them. "Striking," she commented, and followed along.
The group took an elevator up several decks, and they traveled through a bulkhead into to a large, dark, back-lit conference room. The polished black table was already surrounded by several dark uniformed Imperial officers who looked up, interested in the peculiar faces they saw. The bounty hunters sat on the opposite side of the table, as did Lola, who was in awe of it all.
To Kyl'likki's surprise, Mina entered the room last, in her field uniform and body armor, though now with a more compact combat helmet and goggles. Guess my jokes got to you, huh? She gave a proper salute to Sturm, then took a seat next to Zylas. The Twi'lek noticed her makeup was considerably more subdued, with a natural pink lipstick and minimal eyeliner. Yeah, that was for Ziffykins. I see it, now.
Vardossk now stood by the front next to the captain. Lola noticed the Trandoshan wore a red beret tilted to the right with a silver cockade of a downward pointed sword behind the Imperial insignia. He also now had a rank plate and code cylinders attached to his combat jacket. The Trandoshan cleared his throat with a low growl, and began his speech with a smile and cordial tone. "Greetings and salutations, as I have no idea what time it is out here in space." A few officers chuckled at that. "Anyway, I accepted a contract from the bounty hunter's guild as a sort of holiday from my regular assigned duties, of which there are many."
He fondly remembered the whole adventure and continued on with .
"I traveled to the dust bowl of Tatooine, and after an unexpected blessing I apprehended the self styled Sapphire Bandit, or, in our records, LC-Six-One-Six, a disgraced ex Imperial shuttle pilot turned criminal enforcer wanted for the murder of countless homesteaders, a Guild registered bounty hunter, and a patrol of Stormtroopers." Several officers nodded, and he continued. "From her arrest on Tatooine, she was transferred to Orinackra, and I believe Lieutenant Tarkin can fill us in from there?"
Mina looked lost from being put in the spotlight, but stood up and kept it together as she found the right words to speak. "Yes, Colonel. We searched and quarantined Sykes in the women's wing, then once she was found to be contraband and contagion free, we allowed her in with the general population, as per standard protocol. The bounty hunters located two escaped inmates shortly thereafter, though one was able to relay an encrypted message to a ship outside our scanners." She held a hand on the table and looked down as she continued. "The next day, we-we..." In spite of herself, Mina faltered, and Vardossk nodded slowly. 'That was all you needed to say, Lieutenant. Thank you."
She fell into her seat and buried her gloved hands in her face as tears flowed, and Zylas rubbed her back. That's rough, Kyl'likki thought to herself as she looked at the table, then sighed. Several officers looked down, as well, and even Lola sighed with sympathy. The Trandoshan waited several somber moments, then continued.
"This is the reason the capture of this vile woman is at the forefront of my endeavors. She has a stolen Lambda class shuttle, and who knows what agenda, now, after she decided to back off selling it on the black market." He exhaled, then continued. "She currently has, according to my field intelligence, no affiliation to the escaped inmates or the unknown faction that staged the assault, though we cannot know for certain if that will remain the same. Nevertheless, we have a lead on where she is headed, next."
A few officers looked up, and he had their attention as the Trandoshan gestured to Zylas. "The Mandalorian managed to sink a tracker into the hull of the shuttle, so after this meeting is concluded, I would like the technical officer, with the captain's permission, of course, to upload that data to hone in on the tracker's signal."
The captain nodded. "Our resources are at your disposal, Colonel. In fact," He looked over at one of his men. "Ensign, take the Mandalorian with you to the data center so we can start that immediately." The junior officer stood up and saluted. "Yes, sir." Sturm replied with a curt nod before the ensign led the armored man out of the meeting.
The captain continued. "Ultimately, the reason we're meeting is the Evanescence will now be assisting in the capture of the ex Imperial Alyssa Sykes versus our usual seek and destroy missions in the sector...and to illustrate the potential of how far the consequences of her escape may reach. This will be known as Operation Dead Eagle. Crew, dismissed!" The personnel stood up and fell out, then departed for their respective posts.
Vardossk saluted the officers as they left, and they returned the gesture in kind. The Captain, after his salutes, spoke furtively with Mina, who then skulked her way out. Once they left, Sturm turned to face the Trandoshan.
"Between you and me, Vardossk, we've been needing this. Not saying we've needed a maniac on the loose, but, we've been without something meaningful to galvanize the crew, again." The reptilian nodded in turn, then replied. "I understand. My own team has been getting stir crazy in the Sanguine Sunrise, as well, so it works out for both of us. That," he continued. "And I require the works on my bird. She's taken a bit of a hit in fuel and everything through all this."
"The Empire spares no expense," Sturm replied with a cordial tone. "We'll take care of her. Was there anything else, Colonel?" "That's all for now, Captain. Thank you for your hospitality, as always." "Don't mention it." The two saluted, and Sturm departed from the room with renewed vigor.
"Lola, you'll stay with me in the meantime," stated the Trandoshan. "We have yet to visit the intelligence wing and process all the information we acquired along the way, but that's mostly me. Still, you ready to testify against Alyssa? What you say will be legally binding." The woman nodded. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be. She needs to burn." Kyl'likki paused, then chimed in. "I'll go, too, if you don't mind. There isn't anything else for me to do besides sleep back on the ship. Or reach Naval Command if I can," she chuckled. Vardossk shrugged. "Wasn't going to leave you by yourself either way, Kyl'likki. Let's move out."
The three left, and moments later a sharp woosh of a nearby door hissed Mina appeared, and stepped out. She straightened herself and quietly cleared her throat, though her eyes were still red from earlier.
"Hi. Kyl'likki?" "You got my name right, but it's still Commandant to you, Lieutenant. 'Sup?" The Twi'lek's candid response made Mina fumble. Her voice was now devoid of any Imperial influence, and was a revealed to be nasal, with a softer timbre. "Uh, could I talk to you, for a moment, then, Commandant?" What is this?
"What for?" "Oh, I was wondering if you'd care to join me for lunch. Officer's mess hall, so it's really good food." Vardossk looked at the Twi'lek and nodded Mina's way.
Kyl'likki nodded with a shrug and clapped her hands together. "Okay. Lead the way, Lieutenant." Mina nodded, and Kyl'likki followed after her. The two traveled through the ship, and approached an elevator. One of the officers by the elevator stopped for a moment, and looked at the two.
"Where are you taking this-" He started, but was cut off by Kyl'likki herself as she shown her Imperial I.D. and spoke. "We're having lunch, together." The man paused for a moment, then raised his brows as he saluted. Kyl'likki gave him a nod, and he continued. "Welcome aboard, Commandant!" he greeted. "Mon Cal lobster's on the menu, from what I've heard," he concluded with a friendly smile.
"Delicious," the Twi'lek replied in return. The man nodded and entered an elevator, then in moments another ascended to their level. A few Stormtroopers stepped out of the way, and the two women entered. The doors shut, and Mina looked away from Kyl'likki.
There was an awkward silence, and Kyl'likki didn't care for it. "So, how did you even get on this ship?" "Honestly, that's getting old," she replied with a little bite. "No, I mean how did you get assigned here, Lieutenant? This vessel is impressive." "Oh. The Evanescence is staffed by elite officers in our respective fields," Mina began. "And since I specialize in maximum security corrections and survived Orinackra, I was offered a post here as I was once involved with anti-piracy interdiction, like Zylas." The Twi'lek heard the loving ring in how she said his name, but kept quiet as she continued. "Which, as you could imagine, I couldn't turn down. My uncle, whom I'm sure you've heard of, is quite proud of me," she concluded with pride in her tone. What a little brat. And her sister is somehow worse? Everyone keeps saying that, but I don't see it. The two look alike, though.
"Oh, I'm sure he is," Kyl'likki nodded slowly as the elevator doors opened.