The crew, both current and new, sat at a polished dark cherry conference table in a somewhat better lit room than the rest of the ship's interior. Lola sat with Kyl'likki and Zylas at her sides, and she felt at ease. Across from her was the Lieutenant, Mina.
Beside her sat a fair hued man with black quaffed hair, chiseled features, and striking hazel eyes who wore a freshly pressed black dress uniform. Smells like citrus pomade. Delicious! Lola looked over at Zylas. "So, mister," she began with a small smile. "Surprised you don't have a black and white set of that armor so you blend in," she spoke. Zylas shook his head. "My days of being in black and white are over, for good." The Lieutenant shot a dirty look at Zylas, then sighed. What's your deal? Lola thought. With a hiss, the door opened, and the Trandoshan Colonel stepped in as he spoke.
"Alright, you filthy pack of Scrap Jacks, listen up!" Vardossk greeted, his tone firm as he held a shallow silver platter of chocolate chip cookies in his hand and a bundle of clipboards in the other. "By fate or whatever grand design out there, you're now in the ISB Special Operations Group. Congratulations," He smiled at them, and Lola could tell he was in his element. "The SOG was granted to me by the Emperor himself for exemplary service a medal could not show due respect." Lola furled her brow out of curiosity as he continued, though Mina interrupted. "My writ states that I've been transferred to the Evanescence to exclusively serve in the detention center. The Captain only gave me a series of half baked responses when I'd asked about this." Vardossk glanced at the cookies still in his hand, then spoke. "Well, these aren't. The SOG is-"
"My specialization is corrections, Colonel!" Mina snapped. "I didn't ask to be-" the Mandalorian slammed his fist on the table. "Enough!" Zylas growled through his vocoder. She gulped, and fell silent. He then turned to the Trandoshan. "Vardossk, this isn't military reassignment, is it?" "No, it isn't, Mando'ad," he chuckled. "No drudgery, only falling in and out, zero tolerance for non combatant casualties, and operational forms so I can keep track of everything we do. The SOG is a covert ops unit that operates in the criminal underworld. Exactly like what we've been doing." The Mandalorian nodded slowly. "Alright. Then I'm in."
Lola spoke up. "Likewise, Colonel." Mina then stared at Lola, though soon averted her eyes. The Trandoshan gazed at Mina for several seconds. "We'll talk in private, later." Mina went to speak, but Vardossk leaned in. "Am I understood, Lieutenant?" Mina sighed with frustration, though nodded while she took a clipboard from Vardossk. "Yes, Colonel." "Good," he nodded back, then handed the remaining clipboards out to the others. Lola licked the front of her teeth while she studied the Lieutenant. You're not as clean cut as you'd want us to believe. Ironic. "Mina," the Trandoshan spoke. "Take your cookie." She sheepishly reached over and took one, then nibbled on it with a pout.
The Trandoshan cleared his throat. "So, The SOG is who the Empire turns to when it needs problems snuffed out before they become issues." he then glanced at Mina. "The Lieutenant's taken the lead on your first assignment, and there's fingerprinting and bio-identification forms you'll need to sign for, as well as the Imperial decree you will agree to. And these," he smiled while he held out the cookies for those present. Lola reached over, first. "Well I can't say no to that," she spoke with self satisfaction, then took a bite. "Mm!" The fur clad woman noticed Mina's pout vanished, though she looked away while she chewed her cookie. You don't like that I'm here...Too bad, sugar.
Lola then began on her paperwork as Zylas spoke up. "Vardossk, you cool if I save my cookie for later?" "Go ahead." Zylas pulled out a small plastoid baggie as Lola continued on her form.
She filled out everything from name to species, as well as prior occupations, and she simply wrote mercenary on the form. Technically it isn't a lie. Technically. "Lola, you'll need to check that you were affiliated with a known outlaw organization, same with you, Kyl'likki. Don't worry, though. I know your stories." He didn't just read my mind, did he? Vardossk simply sipped some more caf, and perused a datapad. Phew.
She did as instructed, and continued. She wrote down her skills and attributes and pondered over them. I know Huttese, Jawa Trade, Binary, Bocce, Basic obviously, I'm pretty street smart, and I was even a Republic naval officer-oh I should write that in the occupation field, too, ha! Hmm. I can make Panna cakes and alotta other good food, and I can fly and drive well. There's other stuff, but that- The door opened once more.
Kyl'likki dropped her pen on the table, and Lola watched her lekku arch up at the woman that walked in. Vardossk himself leaned back in his seat slightly at the sight. It can't be! "Sorry I'm late," the woman spoke with a nervous laugh, and Lola sighed with relief. "I had to finish my routine check ups on some AT-ST's. Seems everyone's trynna keep me busy, today!"
Vardossk nodded. "Well, Sergeant, past you giving us all a scare, you have more busywork right here to fill out. Take a seat and I'll get you started on it." "What do you mean scare, Colonel?" she asked, confused, and the Trandoshan explained. "You happen to look just like who we're hunting. Ever heard of Alyssa Sykes?" The woman's eyes bulged out of her head. "Have I heard of-So it's true then, the rumors! My friend said she finally went to lockup after a couple o'-yeah, it's true, it's true." She sighed. "Who'd have guessed I'd end up in the unit that gets to put her sorry hide back in jail?"
"I've used that descriptor, before," The Colonel hummed. "You obviously know her." Vardossk peered into her icy blue eyes. Lola noticed the way he did made the woman speak instantly.
"Yeah, I know her!" The woman replied with a growl, then ranted. "Past the fact she's regrettably my sister, stole my lyric books and kicked me out of my own band after she said I was stealing band money when it was her, if she's an enemy of the Empire, I look forward to knocking her out!" she concluded with a balled fist, though lessened her stance, embarrassed by her outburst.
"No need to hide how you feel, Sergeant," replied Vardossk. "You were Obsidian Void's original singer?" "I was its founding member, Colonel," replied the woman. "Obsidian Void was originally the Twin Star Sisters, until I was betrayed and Alyssa took over my band. I have actual proof I was in there, interviews, contracts, even court proceedings after I sued her once I got booted." She paused, and her tone lessened in severity. "Well, if you ever wanna see 'em. My last name's Hardeen, too. Mom's maiden name." He grabbed a clipboard off the table. "Thought it was Killer, heh. Here's your forms, and a cookie," he concluded as he leaned forward.
She took both, and sat beside the male Imperial, though the two only mumbled a casual greeting. Lola cued in as she continued to write. Oh, they're like brother and sister, how cute. Works for me, as that's my Mister Handsome, right there! The uniformed Imperial finally spoke as he twirled his pen.
"So, Vardossk, do I need to get my field gear, before we leave?" he paused. "My boot knife here isn't really gonna cut it out there." "Oh, come now, Templar." Vardossk looked his way. "You mean charging into battle with only a blade and getting gunned down isn't a superior tactic?"
"It worked for some people," Buddy quipped. "That one Nightsister almost had me, too." The Twi'lek looked up at the two, and Vardossk smiled. "So many stories." He then paused. "You needn't worry, Agent. Our requisitions will be different for this assignment."
Lola resumed her paper. Once she wrote in her homeworld, she signed off as needed, then studied the affirmation of Imperial loyalty at the bottom with apprehension. Mina looked over at her with a certain spark of malice in her eyes, though Lola stared her down, then lifted her pen. The Lieutenant stared as she signed the affirmation, and clicked the pen shut. Mina then smacked her lips. "I'll take that up for you if you'd like," the woman offered insincerely, and the fur adorned woman merely crossed her arms with a shrug and scrunched her face. Wait 'til you cross me!
Vardossk nonchalantly spoke aloud to the two women while Kyl'likki chewed on her cookie. "Just leave your forms on the table, I'll have the Twi'lek get them when we're done here," He then looked over. "Zylas, write your clan details in the tribal section, I'll need to run data on them." "Will do," the Mandalorian's helmet crackled.
Lola blushed, then raised her hand. "Colonel?" "Yes?" he asked. "I have an affiliation, too." "Oh?" Lola smiled, then continued. "Once I escaped Jabba's palace, the landspeeder I borrowed broke down, and I'd been picked up by a clan of Jawas in their sandcrawler." "Jawas?" asked Kyl'likki. "How did you get in with them?" Lola smiled. "Gave 'em the speeder as room and board, and once I told 'em I could make Panna cakes, they stole the ingredients I needed and I'd been made a member of their tribe ever since." Zylas let out a small laugh. "I knew I liked you, Lola."
In time, everyone completed their paperwork, and they completed what Sturm and Vardossk discussed in the war room, earlier. With the array of tasks taken care of, they watched as their haul of new gear from the evidence room was carted away by a darkly painted astromech droid. "Well, that does it for here," shrugged the Trandoshan. "It will be a little while longer until those weapons are cleared, so feel free to kill time, but don't soak your heads at the watering hole. That comes after we finish a mission," stated Vardossk. "When SOG One is called over the intercom, report back to the Sanguine Sunrise for the next round. I'll be overlooking ship repairs if anyone wants to tag along. Dismissed!"