Brooke had seen no sign of Maj. Horner since she woke up in the med bay. The Jedi had heard a rumor the major had left the Gravestone, but nothing concrete. Even Dax, who had become something of a guardian around her, refused to say anything. Lana seemed distracted at times, but refused to talk with the Jedi.
The base was almost finished, which was good progress, but came with its own problems. With no pressing tasks or clear goals, divisions between Republic and Imperial troops were growing. Adm. Aygo and Moff Ovech were doing their best to show a united front, but they were struggling. Brooke hated to admit it, but they needed Maj. Horner. She was a Republic hero who had defeated General Rakton. She came from a prominent Imperial military family. Her father may have been executed for treason, but her family name was name was still respected in many Imperial circles. Her help would be invaluable acting as a mediator between the soldiers.
But the major was nowhere to be found, and Brooke looked out on the view of the Odessen landscape as she tried to figure out a way to solve her current problem.
"You've done well," Master Orgus complimented as he appeared next to her. "Both sides coming together like this, proves maybe they're not so different after all. Shows that maybe peace really is a possibility over endless war."
"If I keep them from fracturing before we get anywhere," she muttered.
"You'll get there," he assured. "Old prejudices die hard, but you've lain the groundwork."
"I just don't know how much longer I can carry this burden alone," the Jedi confessed to her master.
"You won't have to. I know the Order has some very strict rules about attachments, for good reasons. But even rules made with the best intentions should be broken in exigent circumstances."
"What are you talking about, Master?"
"You'll see. Good luck, my friend."
She stared at the space her old master had been standing when a familiar voice behind her diverted her attention. "Hey there."
"Theron," she asked hopefully. She turned to see the former SIS agent standing there, looking almost exactly as she remembered, a nervous smile on his face.
"You remember me, good. Wasn't sure after Lana told me everything you went through. Going through," he corrected looking a little relieved as he approached her.
"I could never forget you," she assured him. She debated her next action for a minute before putting her arms around him. He seemed to start a bit in surprise, but quickly recovered and pulled her into a tight embrace. Brooke smiled happily and borrowed her face in his jacket in response.
"You even smell the same," she sighed. "Wait, that sounded weird, didn't it?"
"A bit," he laughed, "but a good weird, I promise."
"Finally decided to join us," Brooke asked, pulling away after a long moment.
"Something like that," he agreed. "Can't really go back to the SIS when official policy is to keep up the war with the wrong Empire. Also, Saresh and I aren't exactly the best of friends."
"Who is," the Jedi asked with a grin as they headed down to the main base.
"No one worth trusting," he agreed. "Ready for your first official meeting with your advisors," Theron asked, nodding towards the table in the center of the room. She had been working with all them during the base's construction, but this was the first time they all got together to plan a future course of action. She noticed Moff Ovech was not present, most likely doing rounds with his troops, otherwise all the advisors, as well as everyone who'd been rescued from the Spire sans Maj. Horner, was there.
"Before we can hope to be effective against the Eternal Fleet, we have to improve our soldiers' moral," Aygo argued without preamble. "Right now, we were able to get them to come together to build this place, but I don't have much faith in anything more complicated just yet. They're too busy waiting for the other side to betray them."
Brooke was glad this had been brought up, she was concerned about that too. "Any thoughts?"
"Well you could start by improving the coffee," Aneira suggested as she approached the group, limping up to the table across from Adm. Aygo. She was in a Republic light armor uniform without any plating, the pant leg on her right side tied up at the knee. She had cut her hair so it was now shoulder length and partially covered her face over the eyepatch. An Imperial private was trailing behind and placed her cup on the table before dutifully taking a spot behind her. She nodded to it and said, "I've had some nasty coffee over the years, so I don't make this claim lightly, but this is, by far, the worst I've ever had. It tastes like you mixed bantha shavings in a Hutt's bathwater. Seriously, whoever oversees requisitions needs to get on this shit, like yesterday."
"It's good to see you again, Colonel," Adm. Aygo greeted sincerely.
"Colonel," Brooke asked, eyebrow raised.
"After she was declared KIA, Garza and several Senators launched a successful campaign for her to receive the posthumous promotion," Theron explained.
"I'm going to make sure Saresh regrets that one," the colonel vowed. "Oh, and Aygo, you may want to rescind that sentiment."
"Excuse me?"
"Remember like a thousand years ago when we were in that intra-service advanced tactics course together?"
"Yes," he answered, confused.
"Remember how you always made sure I was volunteered to shout orders or lead groups or doing any sort of speaking?"
"Yes," the admiral again answered, this time shuffling nervously as he had a guess to where this was going.
"Remember how all our instructors were veterans from the previous war, including our divisional staff sergeant who survived the sacking of Coresceant?"
"Yes."
"And remember how they used to ask me where I got my Imperial accent?"
"Yes…"
"And do you remember how, when they found my family lineage, they would smoke the shit out of me, especially that one sergeant who made sure it happened every fucking day?"
"I don't remember it being that extreme," Aygo answered lamely.
But she continued as if he hadn't spoken, "And remember how I swore I'd get you back for that?"
The admiral visibly gulped as Col. Horner stared him down. The room got silent as everyone waited on her next move. Several, remembering her outburst on the Gravestone, looked ready to get in between them as the silence dragged out.
"Well guess who's in charge of your paperwork nerf fucker," she laughed as she slid several data pads towards him. "All of the them need to be redone and on my desk by end of shift."
He looked relieved for a moment until he saw just how many she slid at him. "This will take me all day!"
"Then you should get started," the colonel answered, eyebrow raised. Smiling impishly, she said with an accent she'd fought to get rid of after that training, "You know how us Imperials feel about our paperwork. Be grateful I'm not asking for it in triplicate."
"You Imps fight dirty," he muttered.
"Speaking of unit cohesion," Brooke interrupted, trying to get things back on course, "do you have any ideas?"
"Bar fight," Col. Horner answered without hesitation, accent gone.
"Excuse me?"
"Bar fight," she repeated with a decisive nod. "Look the whole point of boot camp, besides teaching basic military structure and chain of command, is to get everyone to work together. One of the first ways they do that is have everyone beat the shit out of each other to get out any pent-up aggression and learn a healthy respect for everyone's abilities."
"I don't seem to recall anything like that," Koth pointed out.
"Some experiences vary," the colonel replied. "Some of us learn how to be war fighters, some of us get coloring books and nap time."
"I prefer 'creative outlet booklet' and 'prescribed mid-day rejuvenation period'," he replied.
"I'm not allowing you to start a brawl," Brooke shot down.
"I didn't say brawl," Col. Horner argued, "just a melee between former enemies needing to work out some aggression in a setting that usually serves alcohol and provides a place for onlookers to relax."
"No."
"Damn Jedi," she muttered. "Fine, I'll go find Ovech. Maybe he has a few ideas. Let's go nub," she ordered the private behind her as she took off, moving quicker than Brooke expected on her crutches.
"Nub," Koth asked.
"New Useless Body," Theron answered. "Military slang for new personal until they prove themselves."
The briefing continued for another hour when Moff Ovech and Col. Horner approached. As the got closer, Brooke trailed off to hear what they were in deep discussion about.
"See, that's what I said, but someone put the pussified Jedi in charge and she clearly said no bar fights, so we need a new plan," the colonel sighed. Brooke raised an eyebrow at the insult, Cipher snickered and looked away.
"Damn Jedi, absolute kill joys," Ovech grumbled.
"Don't even get me started…"
"What if we put them all in an arena and call it 'simulated combat training'?"
"Same thing, but with cameras. We can even make a highlight reel of the more entertaining rounds for 'training'. I like it! Hey, Jedi! I think we came up with something!"
"I heard," Brooke answered, sighing heavily as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She was torn between irritation and amusement at the soldier. "As long as it's highly supervised, that should be fine. And Lana has to be in charge."
"You always have to ruin my fun," she grumbled as she went off again with the Moff.
Later that afternoon, Koth entered the hanger bay with a few of his guys. He signaled them to wait while he went to check with the ensign in charge of requisitions. While trying to finagle when exactly his stuff would be in, he heard the unmistakable voice of his least favorite colonel talking with some of her people. He was still pissed about her attack, but it was Lana's dismissal of him for her that hurt worse. She was right that he never had held undying affection for her, but to be tossed aside like that? For her? Yeah, that wound was going to take a bit to heal. He'd been putting up a good front for the sake of the Alliance, but he preferred spending as little time in her company as possible.
"Look, just get it as soon as you can," Koth interrupted, wanting to put some distance between himself and the hanger.
He was nearly to his guys, when he saw Col. Horner limp up and say, "Rylo, you useless window licker! Should have figured I'd find you with this seedy bunch. You ran off with the dirty fucking Imps after Ziost, after all."
Koth was so angry that she'd brazenly insult his guys he saw red and charged after her, not hearing Rylo's laugh or response.
"It's not my fault some us made a point not to stay under Saresh's command," he replied with a laugh.
"Low blow," she joked, eyes narrowed in mock irritation. Her laughter died quickly when Koth got in her face.
"Apparently you didn't get the message," he snarled, "so let me make it as clear as I can. You don't get to push my people around."
"What are you going on about," the colonel asked, more confused than angry. All movement stopped in the bay to watch the interaction between the pair.
"You think I didn't hear what you said to Rylo? You shouted it loud enough so the whole base could hear you."
"I think you misunderstood," Rory tried to explain, hands raised at the elbow in surrender as she balanced on the crutches. "We were in the same command before I was transferred to Havoc and then we fought Revan's guys on Yavin together. Wasn't trying to pick a fight with anyone this time," she assured, "we just go way back."
"Yeah, so I keep hearing," he snapped, his anger getting the better of him. "I've heard all about how far back you guys go. Getting real sick of having it shoved in my face."
"We're not talking about Rylo anymore, are we," Rory questioned, looking him over, even more confused.
A voice in his head told him to shut up and walk away, but his pride was too damaged for him to listen. "You know damn well who I'm talking about. I'm sure Lana told you all about us," Koth sneered. He was annoyed at how she was playing stupid with him. Unless… "Lana never told you about me and her, did she? Does it bother you? Knowing Lana came to me for comfort while you were gone?"
Koth's words had her reeling on the inside, but she wasn't going to show it. Whether this was revenge from earlier or just a pissing match, she wasn't going to let him get to her. Her mind moving quickly, she devised a way to get back at him that would cut deeply. "Not at all," Rory answered, pulling off an unfazed look she didn't feel.
"Really?" Koth was stunned at her response.
"It was a stressful time," Rory replied with a shrug, "everyone needs an outlet. And once I came back she ditched you for me. Stings, doesn't it?"
Anger flashed and he lunged for her, only to be stopped by Lem. "Come on Cap'n, you don't wanna pick a fight here." The bigger man had to drag Koth out before he did something stupid.
Rylo stood where he was, not sure how to respond.
"Get out of here, kid," Rory sighed. "We'll catch up over that drink when your boss doesn't want to kick my ass anymore."
"Good idea. See you around, Colonel," he said with a wave, leaving the hanger bay to catch up with Lem.