Log:Mandalore: Mand'alor Djarin

Din Djarin has sent out word to Clan Leaders, to bring their most trusted members, and meet within the Mountain Hall. He wishes to speak to those who have questions about the State of Mandalore, and where the people need to go next to achieve a more peaceful homeworld.

Mand'alor Djarin

OOC Date: August 17, 2022
Location: Contested Lands, Mandalore
Participants: Din Djarin (GM), Valeska Kora, Nix, Hadrix Kora, Raissa Taivu, Hahtavi Kora, Sumi Kora, Fae Renta

.__< Bine'Sikur Mountain <Beskar Mines> - Ragelands - Hostile Region, Mandalore >

This is the mountain range that was recently captured by the forces of the new Mandalore.

This massive mountain is surrounded by a huge wall that encompasses what is ostensibly the largest city still on Mandalore. This city is built in to the side of the mountain, and holds many gateways in to the mines where the Mandalorian Iron is harvested.

These streets of this city are dusty, dangerous, and filled with people just trying to get by.

A massive staircase is carved in to the side of the mountain leading up to its eventual peak where the current Throne Room of the Mandalore resides, along with their peaked mountain home overlooking all of the Ragelands below.

The main gateway of the mountain city are guarded by vehicles, and armed Mandalorian soldiers loyal to the new Mandalore.

.__...n.n../~``\._._.---..-.___.__...n.n../~``\._._.---..-.___.__...n.n../~``\

-- Din --

With evening falling over the Ragelands region that the tower of the Mandalore resides in, a long shadow is falling over the city down below at the foot of the mountain range. The mines are in continued use, with droids being brought in to replace many of the living miners who once dwelled down there as punishment for past deeds. This has lead to the city rebuilding after the fight several months ago, with a greater focus on giving the people who live here a better quality of life. The signs of this are already evident, with better security, not geared toward only protecting the one ruling this place, but protecting everyone within the city's walls.

Din had been said to be a benevolent leader, and the people were generally happy. There have been some conflicts though, old loyalists to the previous Warlord. Some fights had broken out that got pretty heated, but overall things were still pushing forward.

Tonight, Din's throne chamber was open to clan leaders, and their associates. There no longer was a throne in this room, instead there were large dining tables with benches setup around them, there is food and drink on hand for the Mandalorians who do not mind removing their helmets, and Din is stationed at the far end of the room, standing as he addresses some of the Mandalorians who'd already been here for some time. Seated at one of the tables to Din's right, is his 'son'... the mysterious green alien child. The little child is pawing at a plate of food, eating his veggies, and swapping to a bowl of soup that his little arms raise up to sip from. He burps occasionally, but otherwise remains quiet and just listens as Din's soft voice speaks to those here, while more are ushered in, or out, as needs arise.

-- Valeska --

Valeska has brought with her on this trek to Mandalore no shortage of gifts. As per her nature coupled with her foray into the culinary world, the younger Kora has brought along various bottles of booze gathered from her jobs, missions, and cargo runs. Those have mostly been taken by those running the Watering Hole and can be divvied up on special occasions. Or just drunk up within the week. To go along with that are many different kinds of cured meats, jerky, and ration bars of dried fruits, nuts, and grains. Batches upon batches of them. Some better than others: a notable progression of success in her efforts.

But to this meeting specifically, she has brought something extra special. So special, in fact, that she considers it contraband. Her helmet clipped to her hip, she looks around shiftily at the gathered group. Seeking an opening as she attempts to inconspicuously edge her way closer to the little green fellow known as Grogu and sidles into the seat next to him.

She clears her throat a little, trying to get the little guy's attention away from... veggies. If successful, pulls out a small storage container filled with small, sand-coloured homemade cookies; making sure to keep it hidden under the table. A raised brow and a grin, she tries to quietly open the box.

-- Raissa --

Raissa isn't a clan leader, but she's a Doctor and she's decided that she'd sit in quietly to see what was going to be going on. The raven haired woman with the silvery streaks looks between those that have come and then to Din. Her golden gaze drifts back to Grogu though and she watches there for a bit as the actions bring the ghost of a smile to her lips. He was cute, alright?

-- Sumi --

Sumi steps through the threshold with a definitive presence. The weight of her armor is paired with heavy bootfalls that trigger a short symphony of brass that jingles and jangles with each step. The Mandalorian is well known among those who hunt men and alien alike, and the sash she bears carries the sigil of the Guild in green and yellow. The rest of Sumi's armor is decorated in weapons, ammo, and a cape that hangs back, and off, her shoulders, parting in the middle for the presence of a small jetpack.

Sumi's helmet is off, revealing a very youthful yet scarred face cupped with raven-black hair that's grown beyond the lines of her jaw to hide her neck and rest upon the battered plates of her shoulder pauldrons. She has her helm hooked under one beefy arm, while her other hand brings the smoke to her lips for a long pull. The sweet release is a scented leaf from the Corellia sector, both kind on the nose and alluring.

Her raspy voice sounds off as she pauses to make an observation. "You would not know we are at war by looking here.." It's neither melancholy or judging, Sumi sounded more aloof than anything.

-- Nix --

The littlest hobo walks in a little after Sumi and Valeska. That visor turns to Valeska trying to feed the green thing. Then the navy visor turns to Sumi to see what she's doing. She frowns as she slowly removes her own helmet and clips it to her belt. Her hair has been pulled back out of her face with braids on either side of her hair. Her eyes are highlighted with black coal in a visor type pattern. There are two red lines down the side of her neck which are healing. Nix moves over to Sumi and gives a little rub to her hip before turning and moving towards a dark corner to take a seat. She slowly sits down and turns her eyes to Din, watching this one.

-- Hadrix --

His own helmet removed and clipped to his belt and looming through the room between the tables with a, at least momentary, resistance to stuffing his face in favor approach to the current Mand'alor. Walking on Sumi's flank with his customary cigarra hanging out of the corner of his mouth and trailing fragrant smoke in a curling trail behind him.

Her observation raising his brows and his own colour commentary in short order, "Don't know," ruined throat grinding out, "Seems like a mess hall between line shifts to me... Or the officers hut, at least." rolling his 'gar with a light pressure of his teeth and shift of his jaws. A jerk of his chin towards Din comes next and the casual inquiry, whilst he rocks his shoulders back to readjust his webbing and the various blades, blasters, and slug weapons strapped or holstered to him,

"Shall we?"

-- Fae --

Fae Renta is sitting at one of the dining tables within the throne room. Her helmet has been twisted off and left beside her plate. The plate itself contains a modest array of various offerings -- cured meat, vegetables and a few things that Fae thought looked sweet but were actually salty. She currently picks at those with a gauntlet-covered hand, a wistful sigh escaping her lips. Her dark hair has been dyed a shade of purple. That deep, gemstone color keeps mostly to the underside, though the fact that the hair's been braided means some strands of purple weave through the knots she's tied in it. She nudges one of the supposed-to-be-desserts onto its side. It makes a little 'splat' of protest and Fae wrinkles her nose.

A glance is given over towards Grogu, and then the homemade cookies ostensibly brought to... it... by Valeska. "What -is- that thing?" Fae asks, her tone not nearly as fond as it probably should be. Hapans, man.

Sumi's voice catches here attention, and Fae smothers a yawn while glancing over her shoulder. She wiggles her fingers towards Nix and Sumi and kicks out two empty chairs beside of her in the same motion. The hand that smothered that yawn gestures towards the empty seats, and a plate of food (mostly meat) that she'd gotten for the woman.

"Sit sit, there's wine. That's nice, isn't it?"

An upnod to Hadrix too, since this writer can't keep up with the intro poses.

-- Hahtavi --

Another of the Koras has arrived for this open audience with Din. Whether he has questions of his own or just wants to listen in, Hahtavi has taken up a position along one wall of the large chamber and keeps his own helmet on for now. He has come alone without his daughter, Iriin - but likely only because this is a gathering for Clan Leaders and a few of their trusted members.

Sumi's entrance has been observed. A faint twist of amusement at one corner of his mouth, unseen behind his visor. Others are noted. Valeska taking a seat over near to the little green thing, Hadrix, Nix, Fae, Riassa and others. Yet it is Din whom Hahtavi's attention returns to.

-- Din --

Grogu eyes the gift brought to him, the cookies causing him to blink his huge eyes once before he sets down his soup cup, then reaches for them...

Din's covred stare catches sight of this offering, and he lingers his stare a moment, but just lets it go... for now. His T-visored face looks up to everyone.

"Welcome..." He says in a calm voice through the vocoder of his helmet. "Most of you I haven't had a chance to see since you helped rescue me. I wanted to say thanks, again, for this gesture. You've given me my life back. For that, I'm in your debt." The soft spoken figure within that silver armor states before he motions toward Grogu.

The little green alien is holding the cookie up in front of his face, turning it side to side, as he inspects it. Then it is unceremoniously jammed in to his mouth, and crunched upon. It takes about two seconds of motionless reaction, before a widening happens to his eyes, and he starts to reach for a second cookie from the offered assortment.

"This is my son. He's a foundling, like I was, like some of you may have been. He's ... very important. He's had a hard life, just like many of you may have as well. We're, as a team, in this together now. Mandalore is not well. We need your help in order to heal its wounds. All of us can achieve this, with unity in our clans."

There is a brief pause, before Din speaks once more. "I'm here to answer what questions you might have. I know what Boba Fett did to get your aid to free me. It was deceptive, if not effective. I probably would not have done it the way he did... but he has a way of doing things... to his own drum beat."

-- Sumi --

Sumi turns her head slightly when Nix acknowledges her with a quiet touch, it spoke more than words would, and earned a quiet nod from the old soldier. Her attention shifts to Fae as Commander Hadrix speaks, but she's subtly shaking her head 'no' to the offering of seats, though she answers with another motion, nodding toward Din. "We shall," Sumi answers confidently, pausing to lift her boot up to smother the end of her smoke before dropping it into the dump pouch on her belt (where she kept her spare brass casings). Her helmet is donned in the next motion, and as she seats it down over her top, the external visor washes out with a mirror-like silver.

Lady Fae is given a '1 minute' gesture before Sumi steps off toward Din, leaving behind those of her clan, save Hadrix, to speak with the one the others called Mand'alor.

<"Din Djarin."> Sumi greets, not moving her visored gaze from him. <"Your name makes its mark upon the system with good words and praise. Some even call you, Mand'alor. -- I am called Sumi Kora. Perhaps in time, you will earn my support. I know Fett. I don't know you. I look forward to an opportunity to change that.">

-- Valeska --

Valeska can be sneaky and stealthy. She's certainly capable of it. But apparently slipping treats to what amounts to a toddler is definitely out of her realm of abilities. Ever the 'cool aunt, bad influence' of the children around her, Valeska passes along the first cookie which would look rather reminscent of the sandy terrain of Mandalore. But in puck form and held together by butter and sugar.

She puts a finger to her lips: a sign of secrecy. For all the good that does when the first cookie is devoured and the second being subjected to grabby hands. Smiling warmly, Valeska does pass another to the tiny green alien of unknown origins then rests the lid loosely onto the rest for now.

Din speaks. Then Sumi. That's enough to sober Valeska to the weight of the meeting. "Who are you?" Is the first question that comes to mind. "I mean, I have a lot of questions, yeah? I bet a lot of us do. But that's the one at the forefront. How do you know Boba Fett? He went through a lot to free you."

-- Raissa --

Raissa gives a smile as cookies are provided to the little green guy. She then drags her attention away from the small one and focuses on what others are doing. She doesn't have a seat with everyone else. She's a bit of a loner as it goes. She does listen to Din as he speaks and she gives a soft nod when he says Mandalore is not well, that it wasn't. She doesn't seem to have any questions for the moment. She just keeps track of the conversation.

-- Fae --

Fae Renta's eyes turn to Sumi when that head shakes 'no' and, for a moment, Fae's head tips and her brow quirks. Is her expression what earns the follow-up '1 minute' gesture, or is it just good timing? Some mysteries will never be revealed. Some mysteries (re: what is that thing) are answered quite quickly! That green creature is Din Djarin's son. Fae gives a sweep of her eyes over the Mand'alor and then the little green creature beside him, the mental arithmetic at play in her head clearly visible on her face.

He is a foundling.

Ah, well, that clears everything up. Fae reaches forward and takes a sip of her wine, turning to watch the interplay between Sumi and Din with the same calm and dignified (some call it haughty) expression that never quite leaves her face.

She pops some meat into her mouth and quietly chews, foot swinging back and forth from the topmost of two legs that, despite armored plating, are still crossed. Swish swish swish.

"Well, -I- for one am grateful for the invitation and the hospitality. We all are. And he is certainly a... uniquely adorable little man," Fae says, in all the tone of a compliment. She says this shortly after Sumi and Valeska speak. "Mmm, your son. Not Boba Fett." Further clarification seemed required.

-- Hadrix --

Keeping pace with the much smaller Sumi is a matter of shallower steps, hands coming to rest on his belt once she and he come to a halt, silent for Sumi until she's said her peace before he, bare headed still, addresses the silver armored figure, mouth opening to speak and then shutting when Valeska pipes in. Holding his peace with his head turning slightly, focusing his left eye more towards Djin in his silence.

For the moment he simply hovers there like a shadow on Sumi's right side, glow of his right eye hueing the flesh around it and smoke curling out of his nostrils in the wake of the ember of his cigarra blazing up suddenly.

No good to pepper with questions, let one be answered at a time.

-- Hahtavi --

The questions start and Hahtavi listens. No reason to pile on more on top of those - it's a start. Haht pushes off from the wall and walks over to take a seat at the table with Fae. His own helmet comes off and is clipped to hang off of his side. A glass procured and filled with beer or ale.

His own face, no longer scarred and strangely smooth for a man born of the Ragelands, allows his gaze to slip from one to another. He picks up his glass and tastes of it without comment.

-- Din --

Din takes a step away from Grogu as the little man enjoys the second of the sandies. Crumbs are trickling down all over his robed garments.

"I've known Boba Fett for nearly three decades. We have been helping one another, off and on, throughout that time. It's become a bit of a rivalry, you might say. I consider him a brother beyond clans." Din notes as he looks back toward Grogu who is reaching for a third cookie now. "Mmh." Din quietly emits from within his mask.

His visored features look back toward the others though. "I am Din Djarin. My clan found me in a besiged village in the middle of the Clone Wars. I was raised by this clan, a remote sect of the Death Watch. They taught me in extreme beliefs. Beliefs not common any longer in the ways of our people. Many of you would likely scoff at some of the things that I was raised to believe in, and I wouldn't fault you for that. Some of them, I have even decided to step away from in the last many years... Now, I am clanless. I am, in my eyes, Mandalorian through and through, beyond the need of a clan to raise a banner for, as I serve all of you, all of your clans, so long as those clans are out for the best for this planet, and its people going forward. I look forward to showing you that I am not here for power. I am here just to see the restoration of our homeworld through. I... have never known a true homeworld. What this planet can become again, I want to see it, before my days find their end... I merely ask that you help me see this dream through."

Of course, Grogu is reaching for yet another cookie, his fingers wiggling as he leans toward the source of them.

"That's enough." Din quietly says to the boy, who pauses and turns his rounded head to look at the silver armored man with a frozen 'caught in the act' stare.

"Eat what's left of your dinner first." Din further speaks in a quieter tone to the kid who reluctantly starts to lean back in his seat again, and now stares forelornly toward his plate of vegetables.

-- Sumi --

Sumi, having said what she intended, turns slightly to look up at Hadrix and nod. Silent, she turns from Din Djarin to find her seat beside Fae, settling and stretching her legs out leisurely. Leaning against the spine of her seat, she hooks her hands, clasping them over her stomach as she sits back and listens to other concerns voiced by the others.

-- Valeska --

It isn't just Grogu who gets caught in the act. Valeska sits up a bit straighter and 'hides' the box of cookies further under the table. Which puts them now on her knees instead of her thighs but still very much as unhidden as humanly possible. Serves her right for thinking she could slip anything past a room full of Mandalorians.

To make up for her transgresions -- until she sins again, that is -- Valeska makes it a point to scoop some similar vegetables for herself. With a gentle nudge to the emerald alian's teeny, tiny shoulder, she picks up an oraroot and crunches down on it. See? Eating her veggies, too. Doesn't that look yummy. All the while thinking 'after this, we'll have more cookies.' but not voicing it.

She doesn't pose another question: allowing others to ask what is on their minds. The black-haired woman nods a little. "You speak a lot like Boba did when we spoke of Mandalore. Same sincerity."

-- Hadrix --

"How much presence are you going to show during the Blood Fields campaign?" cigarra bobbing while he speaks, after Din has chided the little green fellow. Weight shifting to one foot and Gripper ejecting from her cradle on his back to rise and broadcast a display of a rough topographical of the area in question, parts of it 'smooth' with 'insufficient data' over those sections.

"Fett was a presence in the field, which is why we fought for him." motioning then towards the hologram, "And as for Death Watch, they've been spied on the borders of the secured lands. Dribs and drabs. But it remains unsure if they're influencing or leading some of these elements." inclining his head to the holographic display, "If we find more of them, how do you want it handled? How do you expect us to handle the campaign itself?" his hands return to gripping his belt, stilling and Hadrix's gaze remaining fixed. Studying the other in renewed quiet.

-- Nix --

Nix stares at Din with unblinking eyes for an uncomfortable length of time. Though when she does blink it's at the order to Grogu to stop eating cookies. She turns her eyes to the green baby and watches to see if it listens to Din. Though she doesn't stare at the baby but more looks between Valeska and Grogu. Though the question is asked by Sumi and then Hadrix. When he mentions Death Watch though, her eyes turn to the holo and she stares at where he's indicating. Her large eyes slowly look over to Hadrix at the question of how Din wants to handle Death Watch. This is of importance to the little one. She turns those eyes to Din.

-- Hahtavi --

Well, well. Din speaks to answer their questions and Hahtavi faintly arches one brow at mention of a sect Death Watch. Sumi is given a faint upnod when she joins their table. Haht shifts his jaw, absorbing and thinking of his own questions until Hadrix is in part asking some of them he would have asked himself. So he continues in his silence as yet and listens, quietly watchful of Nix's reaction as well.

-- Fae --

Fae Renta seems content, for now, to remain quiet. She watches Grogu earn his scolding and hides a laugh behind her hand. Is she warming to the little green man's funny antics? Maybe. When Sumi comes to sit beside her, Fae's body seems to scoot even if her chair doesn't really go anywhere. The woman gets a nod and a smile, and then Fae turns her attention to Hadrix when he speaks. "Who says we're handling it? We fought his war and won. My complexion and Hahtavi's skull would both be grateful to stay well away from Mandalore," Fae says. Her tone is more grumpy than it is challenging, but she certainly does make her own perspective clear.

She does give Hahtavi a sympathetic expression for throwing his literal skull under the figurative bus.

-- Din --

Grogu slumps in his chair at the table, his head going back against the back of the taller piece of furniture. His hands go down to his lap as his eyes close, like he's falling asleep now from the conversation going on that seemingly bores him.

"I'll fight as much as I'm able to. I'm nearing 70 standard years now, and I've been fighting since I was very young. It's not as easy as it used to be, as Bacta seems to have diminishing returns.. But I'm not one to make excuses. So yes, I'll be on the battlefields." Din says in response to that question.

"The armies that control the Bloodfields primarily focus on the use of Vehicles, due to the nature of the terrain there. They possess light vehicles, and very heavy vehicles, but they are primarily made for industrial usages. They're not war machines. We can take advantage of this, since we control the starport and we control the skies now. We can bring in what hardware we need to take down the defenses of these production plants, and their well guarded settlements. So what I need from your clans is vehicle support, and people who know how to drive them... I don't want any of your people to come to harm, thus we need skill training to be at its peak. Strike hard, strike fast, and end conflicts before they can get out of hand. If we can win the Bloodfields, we can cut the major cities of the remaining Warlords from their ability to proeduce new weapons. So this is a vital artery that must be cut with precision."

Crunch.

Din stops talking and looks over to Grogu who has somehow managed to get another cookie without being anywhere near Val's box of offered treats. He'd just lifted his hands up, and a cookie was between them. "Grogu..." Din speaks quietly to the boy again who just crunches once more.

-- Valeska --

Valeska is nursing on an oraroot and while it is quite crunch indeed, it's not got that sugary, buttery, satisfyingly sweet crunch that a cookie does. She blinks. Looks to the small alien to her left, then down at her box o' cookies. Somehow the lid had been slid off and, indeed, another of her dozen is missing. She is compelled to offer an 'I didn't do it' but Din's retort seems to already be aware of it. Hazel eyes squint a little at Grogu and she whispers: "You're gonna get me in trouble with your dad, yeah? Gonna have to teach you some stealth." That could be a dangerous thing.

Reaching across, she nudges the child's plate of veggies closer to him while the other hand puts the lid back on her box and rests there. Just so it doesn't 'accidentally' slip open again without her noticing. "My dad races speeders, yeah? I know a bit of driving. Would have to spruce up on the skills for that level of tearing across the planet, but I could offer it if my Clan wants me to." To that, she looks over to Sumi and Hadrix as the offer is made. At the moment, she withholds against asking another question, still leaving the floor open to others.

-- Nix --

Nix jaw tightens when Din says he's old. She turns to stare at Hahtavi. She knows what she was trained to do but is that the Kora way? She doesn't advance but she stays sitting. Her eyes go back to the green guy who just got a cookie. She tilts her head a little before looking back to Hadrix and Hahtavi and then to Sumi. There is a little huff from the ex Child of the Watch as she crosses her arms and sits back watching Din.

-- Hahtavi --

A softly huffed breath, "Do not presume to speak for me as regards Manda'yaim, Fae. It is the world of my birth and I still have people here." Like his daughter. There is no anger in Hahtavi's baritone. Her sympathetic look gains a half twist of his mouth in amusement ere he tastes his beer.

His attention returns to Din. There is a flicker of interest at mention of regaining the skies and needing to use vehicles against vehicles.

"Din Djarin." He moves to stand from the table, "I am Hahtavi Kora, formerly of clan Llearil in the ka'gaht Ori'vhekad. I want to know what it is that you desire to make of this world in the long term. As we take over the savage lands and bring the clans together, tell us what are your goals for our people here?"

-- Hadrix --

"You don't have to come, nor anyone else. We can all take independent work if need be." Hadrix answers Fae, then looking to Gripper while tapping controls on his left vambrace, sending signals to have her bring up imagery, old Imperial walkers, speeder bikes, fighter craft and even combat airspeeders,

Hahtavi's question is allowed to stand while the incomplete map of the Bloodfields being replaced by the logistics display. Turning his gaze towards Sumi, one corner of his mouth coming up, "Could get some sand on your wishbone, eh?" looking to the droid who, unsurprisingly for many, seems to read his mind. The different figures begin organizing, armor, speeder, aircraft and starfighters. Then commenting more than questioning, "That Juggernaut would be useful in a pinch. I'd give my left sheb for an actual AT-AT." brow knitting,

"Gripper, cross reference worlds for salvage?" "Already doing it..."

-- Fae --

"Hmmmmh," Fae Renta murmurs. She crosses her arms and leans back in her chair, offering a resigned shrug at both Hahtavi and Hadrix's responses. She reaches for one of the goblets of wine on the dining table and gives it a lazy sip, slipping back into that tenuous quiet that always seems on the edge of breaking. "Well I'm already -on- Mandalore, so I think I'm doing a rather shavit job of avoiding it anyway." This is said mostly into the cup of wine, but the acoustics of the bowl and the resonant harmonics within it sort of amplify her voice a hair or two louder than she meant it to be.

-- Din --

When Haht is up and talking toward him, Din's covered eyes go to the man. He considers him for a moment before he looks toward everyone else around as well. "I want every Mandalorian to have a piece of land upon this world that they can call their own. To have what they need to be happy. To raise a family, to build a legacy. To raise children, and to train them in the same morality that we all hold dear, and true to our hearts. We are a warrior people though, and I want that legacy to continue as well. I want to see Mandalore build itself back from the edge of extinction, and become a power in the galaxy again. But not a power of harm to the innocent. I want Mandalorians to go where our skills can help others. We can lay siege to the wretched of this life. We can do what we do so damn well... and make the very foundations of the galaxy shake in our presence. We are Mandalorians. But we are not here to cause strife for others who do not deserve it. I want a Mandalore that can become the harbinger of a reckoning. A reckoning that harming the undeserving of this galaxy will no longer be tolerated. We have watched the galactic powers that be, struggle to even maintain their own strength. Because they lack the core values of a Mandalorian. They do not have the fortitude that we have... We just have to rebuild what damage we sustained, and then... the horizon will call to us again."

Grogu burps and reaches out for his plate of vegetables only to pick one up and roll it around in his little hands before he sneezes on it, then drops it to the floor where it rolls over to bump in to Din's armored right boot...

Din exhales within his helmet. His covered eyes look to Hadrix then. "We can get more war machines, and store them on the capital ship in orbit. I am told that the Warlords that remain, are looking to arm their bases with anti-capital ship weaponry. If we don't act with haste they may be able to actually threaten our gift from Boba Fett and the bounty hunters guild..."

-- Valeska --

He's a kid after her own heart, that little green dude. Valeska replaces Grogu's lost vegetable with one from her own plate, nudging it just that much closer to him. As it it'll work. She's already spoiled him on cookies and he has no reason to listen to this red-painted Mando. Still, she tries. "Just a few more to make your dad happy, yeah? Then I'll give you another cookie." She pauses. "You... can understand Basic, right? Hmmm..." Valeska repeats the soft-spoken words again but in Mando'a and then leaves it at that. Perhaps she's done enough damage to his table manners tonight.

"Recently we raided some base out in the wilds, yeah? Did we find anything useful there that can help with this new development in retaking the Bloodfields? Or was that somethin' unrelated?" This is a question for the room as a whole. "Either way, you'll find me out there tearing across the terrain. Me and this planet have a short but colourful history. I'm rather attached to it now."

-- Sumi --

<"It is hard to compete with capital ships. We could just drop shells from orbit and send in squads to mop up what's left. Presuming, of course, we are not trying to scavenge anything from these clans?"> Sumi asks, still kicked back in her seat, hands folded over her tummy. <"We would just need the locations of each enemy clan. Coordinate the attacks, and handle this for good.">

-- Hahtavi --

Still standing, Hahtavi listens to Din Djarin's reply. He makes no comment, his own face showing no change of expression. His own pale grey eyes slip from Din to read some of the reactions of the others gathered in this hall. Especially Sumi's and Hadrix's.

Back to Din, "I find it difficult to believe they can produce such weapondry here, on Manda'yaim, without outside procurement. If we can find out from whom, we may be able to interfer in that acquisition. Keep the anti-capital weaponry from them?" Hahtavi frowns, "And if not, we'll take them out." aye, as Sumi surmises.

Having said his piece, Haht resumes his seat. His gaze goes to Hadrix desiring to hear what his Al'verde will contribute.

-- Nix --

Nix watches Hahtavi and then over to Din and her eyes narrow a little at his ideal Mandalore. Her eyes turn to Valeska and then to Sumi and Hadrix. The small woman takes a deep breath and shakes her head subtly. There is a lot going through her mind and it's clearly affecting her. Her right eye twitches.

-- Hadrix --

"Tra'tracyn Nynire" Lightning strikes, Hadrix nods, "And deep field work." tongue running across his lip opposite of where his 'gar is held. Looking next to Hahtavi at his comment of production, "We stopped much of the infighting, galvanized the Warlords. Gave them a common enemy. There are plenty of places where the old information can still be found, like when we salvaged from Mandalmotors. Mandaltech, Westar, the designs are there. The machinery is buried and need only be lifted from the rubble and refurbished." head tick tocking side to side.

"If it was spread between territories, and some of those have aligned, it wouldn't be hard to conceive. Like the outpost where they were collecting salvage to move within the borders." his expression drawing closed, like a card player studying his opponents at the table while his gaze fixes on the 'middle-distance' as it were.

"Sumi'Alor has a good idea of it, in part. Shell some of the locations... and plan for a cornered wamp rat." cigarra drawn from his mouth, held, and smoke running from his nostrils again when he turns his head suddenly, sharply, towards Nix - waiting for her to meet his eye before shaking his head side to side.

Then he's back to business, however she responds to him, "Tra'tracyn Nynire... we'll need forward scouts. High speed insertions... Targeting beacons." view swinging back around to Sumi, "The Old and Busted, The Kyr'am ra Kote for high speed atmospherics. The Reckoning for heavy strikes." and now to Din at the last, "I'll need your influence to potentially see about a few upgrades to my cruiser for this, Mand'alor." the last said perhaps to hammer home the potential weight that Djarin could bring to requests made to Concord Dawn and the Loyalist Clans.

-- Din --

Grogu's large eyes just blink at Val before looking to where the cookies are again. The little man draws in a deep breath as he reaches out to pick up one of the vegetables, then slowly puts it in his mouth and bites down on it. Very slowly. Possibly even relaying 'You're doing this to me, this is your fault'.

Din clears his throat some within his mask before he paces a few steps. "I... don't want to issue orders of annihilation upon the existing people of this planet, unless I have to. I don't want to send the message that I'll send orders to extinguish my enemies, even if it means extinguishing good people along with them. There are good people in those industrial sites, just as there are those who will stand against us, against their perceived threats." He motions toward the tall windows that look out on to the city below.

"We have taken this city now, and with it many good people have joined our cause because of it. They are just as much Mandalore as any of us are, if not even more-so. If we can find more quality people, who will see our intent here... I find that far better than just... doing what the Empire did, and laying waste to the surface from above. The... symbolism of it all... it doesn't sit well with me."

He pauses again then, and glances toward Grogu chewing on that vegetable with great indignation.

"Plus...: Din starts to say. "I have more plans for this planet." He seems to consider his words next. His mirrored visor looks around to everyone once again. "I want to restore the ecosystem of the world as well. There is a way to do it... Water, plantlife, flora and fauna. It can rise from the ground again. It's not entirely gone from this world. I've seen the last bastion of what once was. It can spread again. We'll need the industrial sites for this plan as well... We'll need every scrap of functional machinery we can get."

-- Nix --

Nix turns to look at Hadrix when he speaks. The look to her makes her deflate a little. Though her eyes turn back to Din and she takes a deep people. She slowly stands up, not very intimidating size wise but that make up and her navy and red armor could be scary. She takes a deep breath again and moves over towards Hahtavi and sits beside him. Her hand moves and she grips his forearm with her hand. It's not a light grip. She's using him to ground her since she's having issues with her history and her future colliding.

-- Valeska --

Grogu gets a sympathetic look from Valeska. A silent but projected 'Yeah, I know.' as she shares in his fate and pops a piece of cooked tubers. Reaching over, she hesitates to touch the creature on his head. Partly because of uncertainty but mostly just to make sure there's some kind of consent there. She opts, instead, to wiggle her fingers and tilts her head in his direction, looking at the chainmail he wears over his small robes. "Ni guuror gar beskar'gam, ad'ika." 'I like your armour, little one.'

To help him along in finishing his vegetables, Valeska snatches a bean from Grogu's plate and munches on it quickly. Very, very quickly. Mayhaps quick enough to go unseen. A wink toward him. Only a little left before they may gorge again on cookies. Valeska is good with kids.

All the while she is keeping her ears open to the conversation. "Glassing for orbit would send a message," she agrees as she swallows the string bean. "But sounds like you also adopt Boba's way of thinking in terms of ruling, yeah? Maybe a last resort for the particularly nasty holds outs, yeah?"

-- Hahtavi --

More black beer is poured into his glass to top it up with the ne'tra gal. Hahtavi absorbs Hadrix's thoughts, his own gaze briefly to alight upon Fae, watching her across the table from himself with Sumi and Nix close by them.

Din's talk of bombardment from the skies, hurting innocents, and mention of the Empire does evoke a flicker of old anger in Hahtavi's eyes. He tries to keep his reaction to himself, silent. Then there's mention of restoring Mandalore's ecosystem to make it a living world once more. This Kora can't help the quick look he gives to Din Djarin - a stare of surprise, maybe not at the concept but to hear it voiced here and now. A blink. "-Elek-. Shabla elek! If it can be done."

It just slipped out before Haht realizes he's said it.

Heart rate having jumped up, Hahtavi turns his head as Nix taking a seat beside him. The armored gauntlet of his other hand, the one missing a finger, reaches over to lay his hand brieftly over her own. A slow deep breath of his own but then he smiles - ferally. Yeah, maybe Hahtavi likes Din's plan.

-- Hadrix --

"He has the right of it there. Shy of seven decades or not, there are those who remember, and those told of what happened. Rain indiscriminately and create new problems. But surgical application, in combination with other methods, won't have the same stink." Hadrix grumbles and after a few moments nods to Gripper who disengages the holo-projection.

Cigarra tucked back in his mouth, nodding to himself, "I think I have some ideas." turning to address Din and Sumi at once, "I'll have a file written soon." already backing away, "I expect there may be more, logistics wise. Sumi'Alor, I expect you'll tell me what I'm not allowed to do." All three lines of that list, probably.

"Hahtavi, Valeska, Nix, deep field prep when you're done here." and then he is tromping off, expression serious but his movements maybe a little too giddy, a posture Sumi may well remember from the Cophrigan Incident.

Also known as Hadrix Kora's 'Vacation'.

-- Hahtavi --

Hadrix hands out their orders. Hahtavi's reply is "Oya!"

-- Valeska --

One glance at Grogu's place gets a "Close enough" ruling from Valeska. Afterall, he's jut a little guy. How much plant-matter can he be expected to consume? The lid of her container pops open and she gives him not one but two more. One for each tiny little three-fingered hand. "Be good and I'll bring more when I visit again, yeah?" She has no idea how old this creature is. If she did, her mind might boggle. As it is, he's a child, and Valeska's approach to children grows steadily into nurturing territory.

Hadrix's orders break the spell and striks the core of her that screams 'Mandalorian.' Her eyes sharpen, glancing over her shoulder. "Copy, Al'verde." She does give Grogu a gentle pat on his bald head then moves over to Din, offering what remains of the contraband. The smuggled cookies. "He's a good kid. S'means you're a good father. And that goes a long way for me, yeah? Everything else will fall into place."

She leaves the package on the table and slips on her helmet, adding: <<"For Mandalore.">>

-- Din --

Din had spent a few more moments wrapping up all that he had to tell the attendees to this gathering. When it's all said and done, his hands are on his utility belt around his waist, fingers hooked under the leather of the belt. He spares a few parting words with some of those who leave, before he looks over to Grogu who he doesn't fight when it comes to having those last two cookies.

Val's comments get a single nod from the expressionless man beneath the mask. "He is a special kid." He tells her in his even toned voice. "He's an essential part of everything we're doing here as well." He adds with a glance toward Grogu who has already started nibbling on one of the two cookies from his seat at the table.

"I appreciate your kindness toward him too." Din says further, looking again at Val. "The Empire was terrible to him, just as they were to this world... He'll remember the kindness. I'm sure."

Grogu turns his oblong shaped head toward the two of them, his huge eyes blinking as he watches Val go. He just lifts the cookie up to his tiny mouth though, and snaps off another bite, while Din walks over to pick up some of the vegetables that the child had dropped on the floor. "You made a mess..." He says with a tired exhale while doing so...