Hoth: Blood and Ice

Shyyyo had made it somewhat of a habit to plant himself at the exit of the hangar looking out over the expanse of Hoth's frozen tundra in the few days he had been here.

The winds called to him out in the distance... He could feel the time approaching when he would need to set out again.

For now his mind lingered on more immediate concerns... And the sprawling expanse of whiteness before him helped clear his mind of distraction.

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OOC: Expecting but in a relatively public space.

Lana was speaking with an Intelligence officer of the Republic discussing some matter or another, she had put her skills to best use behind the scenes.

Sylvain approached Lana just as it seemed that her conversation with the officer was about to end.

He offered a polite bow of his head and spoke, “Lana Beniko… not a face I expected to see in this hangar. I did not see you on the manifest of the Spear… Did you come with the Republic?”

She turned and had to listen and then said tentatively, “Minister?”

He nodded, "I am called Shyyyo here... but..."

He gestured towards her in a congenial manner, "It's been a long time... What are you doing here?"

She was going to question that but thought against it, “As you say, I am here with the crew of the Turtle. I was supporting their mission.”

“Are you here in an official capacity?”

He shook his head, "No... hence the get up. I'm here following personal concerns brought to me through the Force these past few weeks... I don't want to get in the way of Baras' operating procedures as of yet."

He then asked, "You'll excuse me for my ignorance but... The Turtle?"

“Mercenaries, operate mostly in Republic space,” she responded.

She gives him a look when he says he does not wish to interfere with Darth Baras. She continued, “It seems a poor disguise, don’t you know most of the major Imperial members?”

"It was more intended for the Republic to be honest... If both Baras and one of the Ministers of War were sent on this relatively unimportant mission that would have raised suspicion and potentially threatened intervention... It was not known that we'd end up sharing the same base and scraping by to stave off an icy grave side by side..."

He sighed, "I suppose it doesn't matter nearly as much any more... But I see no compelling reason to drop the guise just yet. Baras... for all his eccentricities is resourceful if it contributes to his own self-preservation."

He looked back into the hangar, "We will see how long our... neighbors will put up with his and the rest of our eccentricities as this cohabitation continues."

“Cooperation is the only path forward, if we want to survive,” she responded.

He nodded contemplatively, “The question is how do we make it work… With all the doubt… And with both sides so sure of their correctness…”

"I don't have the whole answer but we set the example, and just understand we need each other," she replied.

"If I had known where you were perhaps I would have put you in charge..." He replied.

"Despite your aversion to the limelight you have always proved to be an excellent facilitator... It is something we will need in the days ahead if the portents are to be believed."

"I work best behind the scenes," she responded calmly. "Darth Baras works best from the front."

"You have... and he has..." He replied... putting slight emphasis on the tense of the verbs.

"Tell me... if you would... Have you heard of any whispers among our allies regarding some form of impending calamity... I know there are threads of concern among the Sith that perhaps could be illuminated through collaboration with the... Light."

“We are Sith, when is someone not whispering about words of power or calamity,” she said. “But if you mean the unease some have felt, yes. I am still building an assessment.”

“You, milord?”

He nodded, "I am troubled by visions of... another empire. Some sort of legacy of the deceased Emperor... An empty throne... above a beautiful and perfect world..."

He continued, "There is talk among those of our number gifted with foresight of... children and an Eternal Empire... threatening both us and our allies among the Republic."

He turned his head slightly to look at Lana, "Is this also being spoken of among those you associate with? The Jedi... and these mercenaries?"

She just nodded and said, "Many unknowns at work. Though most concerns are focused with the pirates at our backdoor."

He nodded, "Well... know that I stand willing to help. I've always held a form of respect for our enemies among the Republic..."

He gestured out to the opening and the tundra beyond, "There are answers out there which I pursue... Should I learn anything... I may ask for your assistance; as I did the last time the world came to an end..."

She followed his gaze dubiously and then back and said, “Be sure to stay focused on where we are now. What will come, will come. I don’t like to get too hung up on what’s out there, not all of it can trusted.”

He nodded, “There is very little in the galaxy that can be fully trusted. Some would suggest it is foolish to trust at all…”

He then turned back to her, “But nothing really happens at all without a fraction of trust. It’s the belief that something can be better that motivates action… trust that our actions will be meaningful.”

He let out a sigh, “To lose all trust and belief… locks us into a haze of meaningless… powerless… futility.”

“That’s not what I meant… look Minister, I just mean that we can’t get so wrapped up in what could be to lose sight of where we are. Knowing the future is not the same as living it. That is what I meant, and seeking wisdom externally while at times useful has been the source of many our problems among the Republic and Empire… and probably beyond as well.”

“There is no grand secret out there about how to deal with this situation, we have to adapt and learn to work together or we fail.”

She rubbed the ridge of her nose and added, “We all need help, and we should ask or seek it out but we should qualify where that help is coming from. Magic places don’t provide magical answers, respectfully.”

He nodded, "Your pragmatism is admirable Lana... You know I have always shared this same approach."

He then let out a breath, "But... I am compelled to go nonetheless. I do not believe I seek for some external power to uplift us from our current predicament... But though I may not project this... of all the people in galaxy... I am the one I trust the least."

He paused, "I am the one who needs to find the answers within myself on how to adapt... How I move on and function as the galaxy continues to shift and change perpetually... I need to develop the belief that I can. Work past the rigidity of my own thoughts. And then... only then... could I possibly share what strength I have with others. That is the purpose of external pressures... to press the self to find the answers within."

He shook his head, "I am sorry... I do not mean to wax philosophical. That 'powerless' and 'futile' person I referred to is me... It would be nice if there were some magic password to make everything alright that could be obtained through a little bit of suffering... But I am sure you are right..."

She listened diligently then replied, "I said my piece, Minister. May the Force make you strong."

He nodded, "Thank you, Lana."