Log:The Irregulars: Contact in the Rotunda

the Irregulars: The Rotunda

OOC Date: June 11, 2019
Location: Theed, Naboo
Participants: [Domino]], Dyannah Nerus, Rhysio Ando, Sapphira Yavok

The River Solleu runs deep and swiftly as it rushes towards the bluffs that Theed is built on. A graceful rotunda for sitting outdoors overlooks the river surrounded on its outer edge with old hedges trailing with lilac flowers. Round stone tables and circular benches sit under its high arches making it a perfect setting for quiet conversation.

Domino never thought she'd be so glad to get a message when she got the invite for the quiet, secluded meeting. Sure Naboo was scenic and pastoral but it was. So. VERY. BORING! Without Cons to run, trouble to stirr, nightlife, or her myriad of amusements she's been left to pace, look at apartments and houses that at a certain point ALL begin to look the same. She is there a bit early, idly pacing the rotunda and peering up into the sky absently.

Early summer evening in Naboo before the sun has set is mild. Clouds drift calmly high in the west just beginning to blush as the sun begins to wester. Strollers idle along the river bank under the high trees; one of them walks purposefully towards the rotunda, her long dress in Naboo court style billowing gracefully around her as she climbs the steps into the room.

"Domino, thank you for meeting us. I'm early as well. The others should be joining us shortly."

Domino pauses and tilts her head, watching Dy "This place seems to suit you. I'm glad. If you haven't you should check out the Greystorm winery, it's not terribly close but it IS on the planet and they are pretty proud of it."

Early summer evening in Naboo before the sun has set is mild. Clouds drift calmly high in the west just beginning to blush as the sun begins to wester. Strollers idle along the river bank under the high trees; one of them walks purposefully towards the rotunda, her long dress in Naboo court style billowing gracefully around her as she climbs the steps into the room.

"Domino, thank you for meeting us. I'm early as well. The others should be joining us shortly." Domino pauses and tilts her head, watching Dy "This place seems to suit you. I'm glad. If you haven't you should check out the Greystorm winery, it's not terribly close but it IS on the planet and they are pretty proud of it."'

Sapphira is early. You know, the kind of early that a person does when they're scoping the area out. Which is exactly what Sapphira did. She's dressed in a sky blue dress with no sleeves and a high key neckline. The kind with a flowy skirt that hides weapons underneath. Or just legs! Who knows. Either way, she took a turn around the meeting place before wandering over to where Dyannah is meeting with Domino. She makes a point not to be sneaky, to be heard during her approach. It might be noted that she's wearing a large bandage at her shoulder.

The area is peaceful, idyllic, beautiful, tranquil, and the perfect setting to have a conversation with a business acquaintence in that tone of voice that feigns fondness and congeniality until one is forced to shoot the other. This seems to be the plan of Holostar Rhysio Ando, as he walks along the path holding a commlink up. The voice on the other end is shrill and excitedly talking about this, that, and the other. Rhysio glances up to take note of Dyannah, Domino, and the approaching Sapph. He looks back towards the commlink and smiles, effectively aiding the affectation of his voice, "I gotta' go now. I'm on Theed and I've just found where the pretty girls are hiding. Don't call me back for at least..." He looks back up, raising a finger to count aloud, "One, two, three..." There is a pause before he continues back to the commlink, "What's fifteen minutes times three? Anyway. Call me back after that if you hear anything."

With a click of the commlink, the device disappears into his cunning satchel, only preceeding him sitting down with the others gathered here by mere seconds. He nods around, a smile hanging on his face until his attention come to Sapphira. With a simple upnod, he says, "Hey."

The part of the conversation that Dyannah overheard, no doubt purposely, produces an ironic lift of her fine blue eyebrows. Lips pursed wryly she nods graciously to Rhysio, smiles at Sapphira and gestures for Domino to have a seat. "We have a few questions for you Domino. Your proposition was, to say the least, intriguing. Tell us all from the beginning who these people are and what they want, please."

Domino lifts an eyebrow "I will not be telling you who thes people are. Not by name or identifying mark, or the like. I am particular protective of them but I will answer anything I can about myself or anything which I do not feel that puts any of them in the position to be exploited or approached-the latter of which coulld end very poorly for them. That said-ask away. I will answer as best I may."

Sapphira nods back to Rhys, serious and professional-like, while lifting her good arm to give a wiggle-fingered greeting to the ladies present. She doesn't sit, but instead rests her rear against the gazeebo railing, turning to stare out over the water for a few moments, looking more interested at what might be happening out and around the seated group than what's actually being discussed within it.

Rhysio Ando glances momentarily towards Sapphira's bandaging, then tsks, "I always run into you when you're injured." He pauses for a moment, but then his eyebrows raise, "At least you got to keep your pants on this time, am I right?" He chuckles for a moment, looking away for a moment before he peers back towards Sapphira with a momentary expression of concern on his face. The head tilt continues in a turn to look towards Dyannah and Domino, his face once again displaying simplistic neutrality.

"The essential is to know who we would be dealing with Domino. That you trust them is evident to me. That you want to help them is palpable to an empath." Dyannah studies Domino's face, kind concern in her own, before suggesting, "Tell us what you expect then, please." She looks from Sapphira to Rhysio soliciting their sympathy for the difficult situation that Domino finds herself in with her friends.

Sapphira looks back to Rhysio with a wide-eyed blink of her bright greens. "Eh?" the redhead asks, having been paying attention to things other than the man before her. "What'd you say, Yan? I mean, uh ... krif. Right, this," Sapphira says, quickly changing the subject to look down at her bandage. "I'm clumsy," she decides. TOTALLY BELIEVABLE.

She looks back to Domino and Dy then, deciding (for the moment) to stay out of the discussion. But she's watching now with some interest at the ongoing discussion.

Domino notes, "You'd be dealing with me. Odds are if there was commitment for one or more to leave I would set up an intermediary and that person would be someone familiar to both you and I. The reason for that is so that I could see and be seen while arrangements are made and the individuals were secreted away which would decrease the odds I'd be blamed for their disappearance and YOU wouldn't have to work with shady unfamiliar characters. The identities of those who'd be snuck away? Won't know til the time comes and honestly I'll create new identities for any of them myself."

She confesses with a chagrined spread of her hands, "I am more accustomed to defrauding people or making a sudden exit to avoid consequences of my many questionable life choices so I am still turning over in my head how to do this properly." She eye rolls "Without lying." as if the honest path were incredibly lame if necessary like eating one's veggies.

Domino says, "I think ideally you'd be working with a mutually agreed upon intermediary for most of this."

"You would like us to transport people whom we don't know, brought to us by people that perhaps we know, to a yet undetermined destination. Is that correct?" Dyannah spreads her hands making an effort to not appear incredulous then looks to the other two for confirmation. "Did I get that right?"

Rhysio Ando tilts his head forward, his eyebrow raising as a grin spreads across his face. Much like Sapphira, Rhysio has now taken a keener interest in the conversation at hand. Leaning back slightly and turning his head towards Domino, Rhysio smiles widely and asks, "When it's simplified from all the fancy talk to the real ask, it's really easy to see how that would be an incredibly stupid thing to do, right?" He then emphatically points to his chest, "For us, I mean." He then gestures towards Dyannah with a thumb, "She's really good at sifting through the words." He then adds, "I don't think we're particularly against the idea, but we're going to need a lot more assurance than that."

Domino peers at Dynnah "I might have mentioned but at PRESENT there is no one. I am trying to lay groundwork because because I do not want to do anything hastily or be at someone's mercy because I waited til things were dire. You would be transporting one or more members of the Order's Vanguard unit. Most but not all were raised and conditioned in the creche. Those who chose to serve still seen content. So it will be between one and five individuals who were raised and conditioned by the Order. As to WHO those individuals are? That I can't help you with-Not until at least one has made the choice to leave."

She nods to Rhysio "Yup. I do. Almost as dumb for me to be warning Jedi and really reckless Sephi sisters. Anyway - feel free to tell me no. Or refer me to others. I can't be naming names before someone's made the choice to risk death to leave. ONCE that happens I'lll tell you roster, their number, their new ID, I'll tell it all. While they are making this choice for themselves? I am keeping their confidence."

"Or money," Sapphira says, chiming in unhelpfully. "I mean, greater risk, greater reward." Is she helping? She's probably not helping. Her bright greens scan the faces of those in front of her, and then she pushes off the railing where she's been perched. "Keep talking," she encourages Dy and Domino. "I'll just do a quick walk around to ... stretch my arm," she adds after a momentary pause, lifting and rotating her bandaged shoulder. YUP. TOTALLY BELIEVABLE.

Dyannah squeezes the bridge of her nose, mouth pressed into a firm line as she considers Domino's words. Sapphira is given a small wave of her fingers, a smile appearing and disappearing as she brings up money. "Money will be a concern later. The safety of my crew and of your crew is my chief concern at the moment. "You don't know how many would want to leave. Correct? You intend to return to them and offer them the possibility of leaving, right? Then, you will risk your life, if some of them turn you down but know that others might be leaving. Is this right so far? Afterwards, in some undetermined manner, we would pick them up nd take them to their new lives which you have arranged for."

Domino shakes her head, "Many are rather hardcore zealots, I imagine if more than the few who've spoken directly with me about it have had such thoughts they hide it deep least their loyalty be questioned. At least one, but no more than five. Even those who seem to feel their leadership is losing it seem simply to accept their lot to go down with the ship. Yes. I am not so picky how the handoff is handled so long as it's away from prying eyes and there's no damned resistance. Independent freedom fighters, pirates, smugglers, but no Res officers or the like. Outside of that if I ask this of you I will make sure pick up happens on your terms."

She looks around and admits "I kinda expected the third degree from you all but I must say this is all civilized."

With a pleasant smile, Rhysio looks back to Sapphira and says, "Don't forget to wave to all the pretty boys." He looks back towards Dyannah and then towards Domino again, nodding his head, "Well, it's good we now how foolish we all think this is." He then shakes his head, "I don't think that's good enough. I'm happy to make sure people are safe, but it's only a few very short jumps to conclusions until it sounds like the First Order is manipulating all of us by using this little escapade to put a sleeper cell in Resistance space."

"There we have one of our worries. How sweet of us to bring a sleeper cell or a cell to set up a neutral planet to fall to the FO." She holds up a restraining hand, "Wait for me. We have not said no yet, Domino. But we haven't said yes. How do you know that you are not being manipulated into believing they are sincere? As for the Res being involved." She makes a dismissive gesture. "We are our own people and who we deal with is none of your business but they will not be involved."

Her gaze wanders to the clouds that have turned a dramatic orange with streaks of purple, she sighs and then returns her eyes to Domino, "What Jedi? Are there any?" She asks innocently. "What Sephi? I have met some Sephi traders in my travels."

Domino looks up at Rhys, "Soo you, and the serious shooty chick are...?" She lifts her hands and makes the lewd hand motion for doing it "That is your prerogative. Like I said if it's not good enough for you? Walk. I am not negotiating on information I have stated is off limits."

She tilts her head "You ever look at the bounty board, man? An ex-Jedi, a pair of hyperactive Sephi sisters, and a force sensitive teenager. Look at the last handfu of battles and the ground they've lost. What in Kriff's dangling balls makes you think they're some master minds? Already discussed with Dy was that said cargo stays AWAY from areas of interest of the Res. What would be the tactical end game?"

She rolls her eyes and waves a hand "Just saying. Sides. I know the Res is gearing up to ready another kick to their teeth and meanwhile I don't know what they're up to but something else is chewing their ass. Be wary but let's not insult my intelligence. Please. They wouldn't use a sleeper cel they'd use assassins, political plants, or other means."

Dom peers at Dy "I was originally hired to teach them to be be people. Well I was hired to teach them basic skills towards earning to be operatives. They span the spectrum but even the most skilled of them has to have social situations or holodramas broken down because they don't grasp context. They come to me for advice. I've known most of them since they left the creche." She smiles wryly "And again. The order's priorities. I know where those are and none of them are concerned with deserts. They want Naboo back-pride. They want to throttle those who defied them at Blackrock, and...something else is going on that has their attention but it's definitely NOT this."

Rhysio Ando smiles and shakes his head, "No, the nice thing about this is that I don't have to walk. I can do what I need to do to get better terms to keep my skin where it is." He then tosses his head to the side, "At the same time, let's not insult our intelligence by underestimating our enemy. Like I said, look at the ground lost. I don't think for a minute that the First Order isn't able to cut out what isn't working and install people with new and great ideas. They would use assassins, political plants, and sleeper cells. Anything they can reasonably field to get what they need and bring the terror that seems to be at the core of their ideals." He then chuckles, "Would that something else that has their attention have anything to do with the billions of credits in ordinance that they dropped on CorStar?"

Softly Dyannah quotes, the long vowels of her planet giving it a musical lilt, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." She cants her head thoughtfully, "So a taste of the good life as you prepared them to be good plants or spies was enough for them to begin to yearn for greener fields or fields not littered with officers and creche teachers telling them what to do. What are they to you, Domino, that you would take this risk?"

Domino siiighs "Their own people didn't get warning about that. If I had to guess that was their leader having a temper tantrum. There is an a hanger that belongs to the following: A Jedi-or former jedi. Those affilliated with the resistance. Home to a business that has developed and sold stealth tech that the Order DESPERATELY wants-or at least wants to destry. One of those ships belonged to the owner of said hanger who had a bounty-and who had warned-TWICE How VERY BADLY the Order wanted that ship. "

Those big haze eyes rest on Rhysio, "And might heed the warning because While I might play dumb it sounds like one or more of your group's ships are about to get their attention you had BETTER be careful how and when you rile them. I'd go so far as to ground the ship you use to antagonize them and fly another because I'd not be surprised if they tried that stunt again."

Domino blinks and peers at Dy, "No. You know that's it. Recall me mentioning of them starting to object to the things they're being asked? Some of them realizing the choices denied them? One or two seem to have found sweethearts and in those cases I think they just want to run off with their sweethearts. A couple have gotten a taste for finer things but it seems like...well. Like they've become disillusioned. I found one of them digging through the rubble of where my apartment was because they thought I'd been caught up on the strike, blubbering like a baby. After I dragged him out of the mess it occurred to him to LOOK. Not at the rubble and fire but at the OTHER people who were frantically trying to find their loved ones."

Her gaze moves between the pair "IT's one thing to face an enemy who's willing to fight, to die for a cause. For those who've been convinced since they wer born that they are what stands between the galaxy and anarchy-seeing the civilian toll in that context is tough for some. They genuinely they believed they're serving greater good but the more they see who's hurt in this-the harder it gets to stomach."

With a tilt of his head and a blithe smile, Rhysio responds, "We're always careful about how we rile them up. That's why we're giving you the third degree and why we want more assurances than what you're proposing." He turns his head to look out across the view offered by this pathway, "It doesn't sound like they want to be enemies of the Order, Dyannah. Just no longer in it." He looks towards Dyannah, his shoulders rising and falling in a shrug, "So the question is are the neutral parties of our enemies our friends." He shakes his head, "That's less assured."

He then looks back towards Domino, "What ship? None of us really claim to be any kinds of combat pilot." He then shakes his head, "That doesn't track."

"We may have taken care of that problem, Domino. But we thank you for the warning and take it to heart. What now?" Dyannah's voice remains quiet and even despite the direness of the woman's warning.

Domino shrugs, "Just consider it friendly advice, be careful. The LAST person I warned to be careful? HE drew a big. Red. Target on Corestar and a lot of innocent people got hurt because he didn't think anyone'd see him. I didn't but someone did. Consider the repeated warnings my deep and sincere desire to NOT be almost blown up a second time."

She frowns "Yeah, I am definitely not getting the idea any of them want to join the fight. Perhaps it could happen but I'd be likely to take them out of it for fear of friendly fire. They were conditioned to see The soldiers of the Order as family of a sort. I think trying to flip them is a bad idea. Plying them with good and picking their brains-that's not nothing though."

Dom gives a slight stretch "Now? Consider what you want in payment if you were to do it? Ponder how you'd do it, keep eyes and ears open. IF I can earn good faith or be of use let me know. There is a chance I decline if it is too much risk for me. The knights think I'm an idiot so the small things like not being able to find the venue that recruiting meeting was at and other small things are easy. You can ASK for bigger things just don't get pouty if I decline. I'm not useful to anyone as worm food."

"How safe is that datapad, Domino?" She smiles wryly shaking her head, "Flipping them is the least of my worries. No, information is the currency that we want. That can be sold quite highly. Do you say that Naboo is their next target?"

She glances away considering, "Oh, I have so many questions. As to how we would take them and where, that may be entirely out of your hands Domino and that is to assure us of our own safety. On our part we will guarantee that they will not be sent to the Res to be picked dry."

Domino shrugs and hands it to Dy, "Here. Have it. let your boys and girls do their worst. You tell Me." a pause, "Any who plugs this into any system you own or connected-at al-to any comms-should be fired. By an actual firing squad. Anyway. Take it, toss it, I don't care. That's a good question and I'm curious to see the answer." She pauses "I don't know that it's their NEXT target. I just know they want it back. As far as I can tell it's an issue of pride but I don't know if there's more to it or not. Something else is going on and I don't know what it is but I don't think it's the Res." she sighs "Yes, I know, just be careful if they come to your care. Treat them like teenagers not fully aware adults." So fretful Dom is at the thought of having to ship her adopted murder machines off to someone else's care for everyone's safety. She doesn't LIKE it but she doesn't question or argue the need to be left in the dark.

She sighs "I should get some shut eye. Sooner or later I'm going to have to go back to face the music and it's probably best I'm well rested." She finger waves "Thanks for your time, and consideration. Take care, Dy."