Sturm pulled Vardossk aside as everyone departed. "It would be best if only you and I went there, as there's a few subjects I need to discuss in private." He concluded, and shot a look at Mina, who blushed and turned away. Vardossk immediately pieced together what the situation was. He actually wants me to bring that weirdo along. I don't think so!
"Tanza, Twi'lek, Lola, head back to the Sanguine Sunrise and make sure your personal belongings are in order and get all your clothing laundered. I'll have a custodial officer sent to the ship." "Got it, Colonel," Kyl'likki smiled, and after a two fingered salute traipsed off with the others. Mina looked on sheepishly and followed after them. Bossk took a hint, too, and left.
Sturm and Vardossk walked side by side in silence, and past a few doors entered the war room. A galaxy wide map was projected through an inlay on a wall, and the central table glowed white. The room was empty save the two officers, and Sturm began. "I'm sure you know why I suggested we keep this exclusive, Colonel." "Mina." Sturm nodded, and it was evident by his features he wasn't happy about it. Vardossk decided to speak, further. "So, that was the impeccable timing you spoke of, earlier. Interesting she's here..."
"Truth is, Orinackra's former Captain of the Guard is a pariah and a jinx, and I have no doubt her transfer into our ranks is a plot by Wilhuff himself to spy on me." Vardossk looked his way. "Usually that's called paranoia, but with that man, it's prudent to assume it's the truth." The Captain sighed. "We were refueling at one of our stations, Ergo, you've been there, and his precious niece stood there with her even worse sister, Artemis, a full on fleet commander, who handed me an official writ that I have to adhere to."
The Trandoshan looked his way and laughed a little. "Yeah, I'd say he's spying on you. I'm guessing he's after prisoner interrogation tapes for dirt on his political enemies?" Sturm laughed dryly in return. "It's as if you read my mind, Vardossk. Tarkin already had been busted for following one of the techs to the record room outright on her second day here. Luckily, I keep guards posted at the door, so she ran off, though naturally denied any wrongdoing when I asked her what her deal was." Vardossk grimaced and shook his head. "I know the type. I'm sorry she found her way here, Aurelius." Sturm sighed, deeply, and ran a hand through slicked back jet black hair.
"I already have an incident report I'd like to incinerate on top of that. You know the crude joke involving a Mynock surprise, and one of my female officers, an aspirant I'd rather keep in good spirits, overheard the good Lieutenant during her lunch break." The Trandoshan laughed in spite of himself.
"If Tarkin survived Orinackra, there's no doubt she has what it takes to at least fetch us our drinks," Vardossk replied as he examined his claws. "We tell worse jokes on board my ship."
"Then Mina should be with you, Colonel. Her uncle would be none the wiser, seeing as entrants to your organization are merely listed under special service, which Mina already is, here." The Trandoshan already seen the relief as it washed across the man's face.
Vardossk frowned, still. "What can she offer me past the headache I'm already getting, though?" Sturm wasted no time. "Despite her immaturity, she's a phenomenal communications officer from her Republic days, and she's the most certified tactical corrections specialist possible, though I have her tactically specializing in cleaning the detention center with a mop as punishment." The reptilian shrugged. "I could simply draw from the ISB roster and get someone less risky to recruit." The Captain's gray eyes darted right at the Trandoshan. You really are having problems with her, aren't you?
"I'll make it plain, then, Vardossk. You still owe me a favor." Sturm's features sharpened as he continued. "I read her file all the way back to her schooling days and she's nothing but trouble. Do this, and we're even." "Keep in mind this is my one and only favor, Aurelius," warned Vardossk with a raised claw.
The Captain smiled. "The Lieutenant's already taken a liking to your crew. She's been a loner for the most part since she's been on board." "Feels like you're offloading her onto me to be honest, but Mina does have a skill set I can't ignore." Sturm nodded. "I can scrub her file and work out what's been said, but she needs to go, as I've already heard rumors of more of her behaviors that I will have to investigate if I don't get rid of her." Vardossk sighed again.
"Let's shake hands on it, then." The two clasped hands and Sturm positively glowed with excitement and relief. "Thank you. I'm also sending you my other misfits, a-" "Now hold on just a second!" the reptilian replied sharply, and he squared his shoulders. "I only agreed on your Tarkin problem. My crew isn't your garbage pile." "Vardossk, that's just it," spoke the Captain, unfazed. The Trandoshan looked away, though the Captain spoke further.
"Listen. One's a top rated combat engineer that battled her way through a city, repaired and commandeered an enemy speeder, and made her way here." The reptilian narrowed his eyes. "Impressive, but what else is there to her?" "Thing is, since she was intercepted, she can't leave as the Evanescence technically doesn't exist, so she's just been killing time making repairs on Interceptors." He paused only a moment. "After she revealed she was a former fighter jockey and passed the on board flight simulator, I let her fly patrols with one of my reserve squadrons," he finished with a smile.
The Captain went to a small fridge and grabbed a cold drink. "That's talent being wasted, here, and she has no incident reports, which tells you she isn't a troublemaker," spoke Sturm, and cracked the lid.
Vardossk sighed. "Alright, I'll take her. She should be a good fit. And your other?" Sturm smiled, then continued to speak. "The other is a veteran ISB medic that ended up here after that same mission gone awry, the two worked together to make it out alive. You know him, Agent Templar." The Colonel nodded. "Templar...I've worked with him before, back on Malastare. He's less jarhead and more covert ops, I'll take him." Sturm sighed with relief. "I'll have those three notified of their new assignment as soon as we're done with our main order of business, here."
Vardossk nodded and stroked his chin while he gazed into space. "Excellent. So, an ISB agent far from home, a sector governor's nefarious niece, two of Jabba's former lieutenants, an Imperial turned Mandalorian, and a crafty combat engineer. This is quite a party."