[D4EA] Be Prepared

[Cal Arcton]

It was pouring outside, and there was only so much a thermal cloak could do to stop it. Even with his hat. Still, Cal hadn't let a thing like that stop him from exercise the day before. He wasn't about to let it stop him from this.

The door to the militia command slid open at their approach, robbing Cal of a chance to be a gentleman for his companion. Still, with a wry smile, he tipped his hat to her, letting her step through first, at least, out of the rain. He followed close behind.

"I hope the Rangers called ahead." He murmured to her. "That'll make this a lot easier."

[Cefey Raneth]

Fey was wearing a wind-proof sweater underneath her duster, and holding onto her hat against the weather threatening to rob it from her. As Cal let her go in first, she dashed inside with great relief.

"I do not like rain!" she huffed as she fussed with her lekku and her clothes.

[Cal Arcton]

Cal gave a kindly chuckle. "It's not my favorite sort of weather, either. 'specially not when it's coming down like this." He held out his arm for her coat, as any proper gentleman would do.

Even as he did that, though, he frowned. "It's an unquiet sort of rain, too. Puts everyone in a mood." His lips quirked. "Maybe the militia commander'll be from Mon Calamari or something, and all this'll cheer them like nothing else."

[Ender]

The group had been escorted immediately upon their arrival. The Sector Rangers had informed the militia commander that he would be visited by an agent of theirs.

The office they were led to was spartan, save for a Noventa planetary flag, and a flag bearing the Rebel Starbird. A man, who appeared to be in his late sixties, by the way his hair and beard were silver white. He wore a uniform of a Commander, in the style of Rebel Alliance Army. Looking up, there was a twinkle of brightness in his brown eyes.

You have never met this man, but everyone who has seen footage knows his face, even as aged as he was. This man, is a Clone.

"Good Afternoon, Deputy, ma'am." He stood, his hands resting on the desk. Despite his age, he looked very fit. "Commander Leo, Noventa Militia. Please. Have a seat."

[Cal Arcton]

"Commander." Cal offered a hand; he'd never really gotten into the habit of saluting. "Pleasure to meet you. Cal Arcton." He paused a moment, before pulling aside the front of his thermal cloak. Beneath it, pinned to his jacket, was a silver triangle. "Here on behalf of the Sector Rangers."

He waited for Fey to sit before being seated himself. "My associate here and I-" he gave a quick nod to Fey, "-have been looking in to the matter of the drop pods. It's sorta blossomed from there, with infiltrators, and raids, including on a militia armory." He grimaced. "Don't suppose you've already read a report on all that, have you?"

[Cefey Raneth]

Fey paused a little at the strange unfamiliar face, feeling suddenly a little uncomfortable. Or maybe it was just the terror that seemed to have come in with that horrible weather. "Ah... hi. I'm Fey." She nodded, uncertain if she should salute or shake hands like Cal seemed to be more inclined to.

Though she did let Cal do the talking for now. He was the deputized one, and she was not.

[Ender]

"I have indeed." That accent was famous, recorded in numerous news holos over the course of the Clone Wars. Some called it Concordian, a distant similarity to Mandalorian, but for most, it was just how Clones spoke. Leo took the offered hand, gripping it firmly, but without a need to prove superiority. This was a sign of two beings showing each other respect. "And the raid on the armories is of my top concern. Especially if it's a bunch of bucketheads trying to cause some problems here." He turned slightly, looking out his window, the tapping of heavy rain leading to a swift staccato. "Both of you, I appreciate your help, and am glad to have you on board. Maybe, we can at least muddy up the works for these spies. Maybe not, but if it's too late..." He turned again, looking to the two.

"... Good Soldiers follow orders, and I was always a good soldier. My last orders? Stop the Empire. That's what I'll do."

[Cal Arcton]

Cal shot Fey a quick glance. "We're both none too fond of the Empire ourselves." He said. That was as much as he was willing to say about Fey's past. "Did my part in the Rebellion. But more than that, well, Noventa's my home. I was born here, you know." He smiled. "Probably die here, too. But not before I do my part to give any two-credit wanna-be warlord who thinks she can push us around a good kicking."

Once again, he glanced over at Fey. "Anyway. Reason we're here is because we've got some pretty specific info. When they hit the armory, their first target was uniforms. Then other things. But they clearly had a plan, and a list. Things they need, starting with uniforms, and then makin' a mess of things to hide it. And if their plan starts with lookin' like militia, it's got me worried, let me tell you." He gave the older man a firm nod.

[Cefey Raneth]

"They worked with skill and precision, and since monsieur Cal brought up the name of one Admiral Verlasso... I've been thinking more about the scenario. L'admiral would've sent her best on a job like this." Fey shifted a little in her seat. "I know some admirals, moffs and higher-ups would have some elite commandos for this sort of thing. Considering the situation, I think it is likely that is what we're up against."

She couldn't outright say that Jelna had seen it was a Deathtrooper leading the group, but hopefully the Clone at least would get the picture of what she was hinting at. Military-types knew this sort of thing, right?

[Ender]

Leo looked thoughtful, taking in the news. "Special Ops, likely as good, though not better, than our old ARC Troopers. Being disguised in uniform is a smart move. I doubt they will be hanging around the barracks, but it does mean staying on top of rotations will be paramount, and keeping an ear out for odd soldiers being in places where they shouldn't." He sighed again, shaking his head. "But spreading panic and losing the trust of the militia is just what they'd want, as well. I'll make sure to issue standing orders to secure patrols, and keep our eyes peeled." Leo ran a hand through his short cropped hair, stepping away from the window, heading towards the pair.

"Both of you, you've done us a great service, and I hope you will continue to do so. I'll do what I can to lend you aid, to keep our eyes peeled. I just hope we aren't too late."

[Cal Arcton]

"Sure thing." Cal said easily. "And we're not done yet, either. We'll keep after them. Sooner or later, they'll slip up, make a mistake. And when they do, we'll be there."

He frowned. "Sounds to me like you're worried that we can't stop them. I'm thinking we can. Just have to figure out what they're here for." He pursed his lips a moment. "I can't say for sure, but I'd stake my savings on the Sienar factory. D'you think that thing could get any more secure?"

[Ender]

"It's pretty well a fortress against small arms, and breaking in is pretty difficult." Leo mused for a moment. "If they bring a proton mine, that could knock the door in." Shaking his head, he sighed. "It all depends what comes to bear. If there's a Star Destroyer in orbit, odds aren't good at stopping them. At least, without help. The firepower just a lone one brings is daunting, and if they have support craft, then all the worse." There was a sense of bitterness in his voice, as he watched the pair.

"Doesn't mean we'll roll over. I've been the underdog before, I'll be one again, if I have to. If we have to."

[Cefey Raneth]

"Too loud, too obvious," Fey shook her head as she considered the possible use of a proton mine. So far that group had been all about stealth, so it seemed unlikely that they would blow down a door like that.

"If they want what's inside, why not destroy what's inside?"

[Cal Arcton]

Cal grimaced, but he gave Fey a nod. "Speaking for myself, I'd be all in favor. That factory's brought Noventa nothing but trouble, and as long as it's gonna be making supplies for war, it's gonna make the whole planet a target for war."

He pursed his lips. "I heard there was a New Republic representative here, or somesuch. Don't suppose they'd be interested in sending by a little flotilla, takin' that star destroyer out?" He shrugged. "If not, well, it's like you said. A lot of this have done this before. We know how to go to ground." His brow creased. "Suppose I didn't have a bar last time, though."

[Ender]

"Last I checked, the factory was completely shut down. It would take months at the earliest to get things in production. Weapons haven't rolled off that factory since after Endor, and the place was essentially razed of technical data before Jakku." Leo pondered, at Cal's question. "Maybe, but who knows. It might mean we have to become an official member state. I don't think anyone is ready to make that call yet."

[Cal Arcton]

Cal grunted. "Yeah. I mean, maybe it's for the best. But it feels like Noventa's just growing up. Seems to me that someone who just grew up deserves a bit of time to figure out what sort of person they're gonna be, before their life gets decided for them. Don't know if a planet gets the same opportunity. Maybe it should."

He glanced back and forth between Fey and the Commander. "I guess we've said most of our piece. Told you about stealing the uniforms, and about the likely target." He gave the man another nod. "And, I guess, that you can count on us. You need something done as regards this, if there's trouble or whatever, my group's just a call away." He shrugged. "Don't know if that means something to you, but, well, there it is."

[Cefey Raneth]

Fey figured that whatever measures they had put up wouldn't stop this squad. She felt pretty confident even she could get into that factory easy-peasy.

"Are there any other targets they could be after, other than the factory?"

[Ender]

Leo paused. "Have you ever studied the resources of the planet?" He asked, before continuing. "Rich deposits of minerals to be refined into durasteel. Coaxium in it's raw state for hyperspace fuel. Textile materials. Charnel Gulch has a mine for ore and coaxium, and there are other projects all about the planet." He pursed his lips.

"The Factory might be usable, but it isn't the jewel of Noventa. The whole damn planet is just so rich, you could use it to fund and support any military endeavor."

[Cefey Raneth]

Fey recalled that Lena might've said something about the planet's resources when they were approaching it, but it had kind of just drifted in one ear cone and out the other.

What kind of other projects, I wonder...

Though the idea that the planet could fuel any military-endevour, paired with that creepy feeling she had had since she woke up, it felt like to her that something was bound to go terribly awry if not stopped.

"I can see why the admiral would want it then..."

[Cal Arcton]

"I, uh..." Cal scratched at his stubble with one hand. "I guess I know a little about that. Mostly because we get miners in the bar, sometimes. I was a rancher's boy, myself."

He frowned. "In order to get what they want that way, they'd need a lot of labor. Seems like they'd pretty much have to enslave the populace, force us to dig." He shook his head. "No way am I letting that happen."