Esen Dulle, a young Zeltron woman ran a hand down her slicked back, gelled, blue hair. Lost in thought as she read over the brief report she was given. A BD-Backpack droid stood at her feet, his lens focused on her. She stood near the front of a meeting room she requested and was granted access to use by the High Councillor, Mihoshi Keibatsu. Esen had sent out announcements requesting for a small team to partake in the infiltration, and anyone who wishes to join to meet in this room for elaboration.
The droid at her feet beeped lightly, which snapped her out of her frantic thoughts. “They’ll be here, Vox. It’s still early.”
She looked around to the room, mentally going down the list. A small section of snacks and drinks– check. Medical bags organized and memorized–check. Holopads– check. She dug inside her bag and pulled out a pocket mirror, hair gel and a small brush, a quick once over on the unruly hair couldn’t hurt. As she did that she went through the information once more again.
A trio of women walked into the meeting room for the mission briefing, falling into a triangular formation out of sheer habit alone. They each carried their typical mission kit, which worked out in a wide variety of situations.
Leading the trio was Aryn “Jade” Erinos-Magnuri, a Human wearing a full set of Mandalorian armor painted purple, silver and black. Her helmet was secured under her left arm, long auburn hair in a plait to keep it out of the way, mismatched organic pale blue and cybernetic white eyes sweeping the room. The Mandalorian’s only visible weapons were the namesake beskar vambraces and a pair of WESTAR-35 Blaster Pistols in shoulder holsters.
Behind her and to one side was her niece-in-law Ruana Suoh-Werd'la, a petite Pantoran with a distinctive lack of facial markings for her species and long snow-white hair. Like Jade, the Weapons Specialist had heavy armor and her helmet tucked under one arm, her hair bound to keep it out of the way and comfortable when wearing said helmet. Ruana, however, wore a full set of black and dark blue Clone ARC Trooper armor, had a pair of BlasTech DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistols in tactical drop holsters on either thigh, a Royal Guard TactiX vambrace and an AB-75 Bo-rifle slung over her shoulder.
The third was Artemis Suoh-Werd'la, Ruana’s Shaevalian-Sephi wife. Unlike the other two, the Huntress wore light armor: specifically, a set of Chief Inquisitor armor, in shades of brown and forest green with the hood down. Her visible weapons were a pair of Mandalorian Beskar Vambraces, a Sith Sword sheathed over one shoulder and a primitive bow on the other. At her hip was a quiver of arrows.
Not to mention the massive white Arx Wolf that stalked by her side.
Artemis was the one who spoke up in a soft lilting voice, pale laurel eyes locked on the Medic. “Are we early?”
Syrena Valkar quietly made her way towards the others. Of course, the quiet didn’t last long. And the first thing to enter wasn’t Syrena at all.
It was the acklay.
The creature’s claws scraped against the ground slowly, the rest of its legs rattling as it crept forwards. The creature’s armored head moved in small angles while it scanned the others. Mandibles flexed, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
The acklay looked like something that belonged at the bottom of an ocean trench, the creature’s natural home. However, Syrena followed behind it as casually as if she were walking alongside a well-behaved porg.
The leash in her hand was reinforced synthcord—practical, tactical, durable. But tied neatly near the collar was a bright ribbon bow in a delightful shade of pastel pink. Because Syrena simply couldn’t help herself.
“There we go,” she murmured sweetly, giving the acklay’s plated skull an affectionate pat. “Easy now. Be a polite crustacean.”
The acklay clicked in response, flicking its long claws. Syrena leaned down and scratched between the ridges of its armor as though soothing a nervous pet.
“Yes, yes, I know,” she cooed. “You’re terrifying. Very scary. My little deep-sea crabby claws.”
Her silver eyes lifted, and the tension in her chest eased the second she spotted Esen Dulle near the front of the room.
“Esen!” she said warmly, voice bright with genuine joy. “Hi there!”
Her gaze next flicked down to the BD unit in a greeting.
“And little Vox!” she added, smiling. “Still adorable as always.”
Behind her, the acklay shifted. Syrena turned immediately and patted its head again.
“It’s alright, Bubbles,” she soothed. “And yes, I’m positive there will something for you to destroy once we start the mission. Some nice crunchy treats for you..”
The acklay’s mandibles clicked in anticipation. Syrena beamed like a proud parent with a radiant smile. Only then, did she notice the trio of women who had already arrived.
Syrena’s eyes swept over them with open curiosity. Mandalorian armor, inquisitor gear, weapons… and a wolf. Syrena’s smile widened.
Syrena stared at the wolf for a moment, then instinctively crouched just a little in a greeting. She simply couldn’t help herself when it came to the many creatures of the galaxy.
“Ohhhh,” Syrena whispered, eyes sparkling. “You are adorable.”
However, she could sense an almost guardian-like spirit from the wolf, enough to catch her curiosity. Syrena smiled anyway. Then she stood back up and glanced at Artemis with a friendly wave.
Syrena’s acklay chose that moment to step forward, claws scraping the floor. She gently patted the acklay’s head again, and the creature relaxed.
“It’s fine,” Syrena said quickly, waving a hand. “Bubbles is mostly behaved.”
Bubbles clicked in response, in a mischievous rippling sound that was close to laughter.
Syrena corrected herself. “He’s sweet to me. And fairly obedient. ”
She glanced at Artemis’s wolf, then down at her acklay, and her grin widened with amusement.
“Oh,” she said, delighted. “Yay! I just love pets and emotional support companions.”
Then she straightened and clapped her hands once, bright and eager, as though getting ready for a performance rehearsal.
“Alright,” Syrena said, her silver eyes sweeping over the room. “We’re here! We’re armed! We’re somewhat color-coordinated. We’re terrifying.”
She looked back at Esen, her smile softening into something more grounded.
“And I’m… assuming we are ready to go? Just a heads up… I’m terrible when it comes to driving ships, but I can certainly try! Unless one of you are good at piloting. Or there’s a friendly droid to handle it.”
The Mandalorian’s lone organic eye narrowed, mouth opened to likely deliver a scathing retort when a black-clad gauntlet fell upon Jade’s armored shoulder.
Whilst Artemis appeared confused by the shorter Zeltron’s comment about Orion, Ruana smiled in response to the exuberant Jedi, midnight blue eyes twinkling with suppressed amusement. Her accent was notably more exotic than her wife’s. “We’ll be using our ship for this mission and Jade is a bit… possessive and protective of the Raven’s Nest. She’s an excellent pilot and graduate of the Arconan Starfighter Academy.”
The Human shrugged off the Pantoran’s hand, both organic and cybernetic eyes flitting between the two Zeltrons. Whilst her voice was somewhat gruff and smokey, the accent spoke heavily of Mandalore. “I’m ready to depart as soon as you two are. My main job for this mission is to serve as your pilot, then guarding the ship at the dock to ensure we can safely exfiltrate… though, I still think you lot should just set bombs at the entrance, then let the ocean swallow the abominations. I’m Aryn Erinos-Magnuri, otherwise known as Jade. Expert Fighter Pilot, Master Mechanic. Mercenary, tracker and gunslinger.”
Still smiling, but looking at both the Night Warrior and Medic, Ruana continued the introductions. “Lieutenant-Commander Ruana Suoh-Werd'la, no nickname. Weapons Specialist, Expert Slicer, Trained in Explosives. Both Jade and I have minor gifts in the Force, specifically Precognition.”
The eyes of the Jedi and the Medic shifted to the youngest female of the trio, who gave them a half-hearted smile. “Artemis Suoh-Werd'la, daughter of the man most well-known now for sleeping with our Empress and assassinating the Prime Minister that led to our current cluster-kark. Force User, Techweaver. Miscellaneous weapons Expert. All of us have some degree of martial arts training. And this is my friend, Orion,” she explained, the lilting tone growing fond as she patted the large wolf’s flank.
Esen placed the holopad down, and stood with her posture straight, arms behind her back, and her legs shoulder width apart the moment she noticed the trio and a large wolf enter the meeting room. She slid that calm, cool, collected mask across her features and nodded to each.
At the question of if the trio were early, Vox– the BD backpack droid at her feet produced a small series of beeps, turning his sensor up to look at the Zeltron.
“Vox informs me you are in fact early, about twelve minutes,” She produces a small smile, “it’s a pleasure to be working with all of you. I-if you’re hungry there’s snacks off to the side.”
A few moments later, she heard scraping and turned her attention to the door as a giant amphibious, reptilian like creature entered. Vox beeped frantically, hugging a bit closer to Esen, as she went to reach for her blaster…. Just as a familiar face peaked out from behind it.
Esen let out a relieved sigh, and reholstered her Peacekeeper at her hip.
“Syrena!” She broke that cool, calm, collected mask, as if she hadn’t been terrified moments before. She outstretched her arms towards the familiar Zeltron, waling up to her, embracing her in a light hug.
She stepped back, pulling the imaginary lapels of her labcoat, forgetting she is in fact, both, on duty, and not in her lab, before replacing that mask once again. She did a mental tally of heads as she peered around the room. The trio, the wolf, Syrena and her Acklay, Esen herself and Vox. She wrote down the total of eight in her holopad.
“Right. This is Vox, and I am Esen Dulle. I will be your field medic for this mission. If for any reason I am indisposed, Vox here is equipped with a wide variety of stim and will to the best of his ability offer medical assistance, until you can reach proper aid.”
She glanced to the medical bags in the corner, “Vox and I are all prepared ready to leave. I appreciate you offering up your ship and being our pilot today. I suppose we will discuss the plan while we are traveling?”