Hoth: Blood and Ice

[Dapper Dog]

"Is *that* how my adventures go? I remember them somewhat differently," she said with mild amusement, "But no, something tells me this time's different somehow. It feels just like... Korriban did. An end to one thing, and a beginning to another."

“Well I remember lots of explosions at Nar Shaddaa and I remember more explosions on Alderaan, so that is at least two for two, Master. But I do agree that some patience will allow the Force to reveal the truth to us,” Daz responded.

At the mention of Korriban he asked, “You think this has ties to our family? I don’t know the story exactly but I thought he was at peace now or something. Or is this some new family member you never told me about.”

[Zeno Thul]

"The fun thing about strong family lines is they tend to produce many powerful descendants, often with similar abilities. Might be something older or younger, but similar."

Zeno leans against the rail and thinks. "It wouldn't be surprising if the past caught up to us."

[Layne Hoshin]

"You know as much about our family now as I do. Both of those ghosts are gone," she said, "the first on Korriban, and the other on Ziost. In the end, they both ended up doing the right thing after all."

Only Daz would know what she was truly talking about she suspected, though she didn't know how much Zeno had pieced together about Layne's connection to the Massassi queen or what exactly had happened with the Emperor. Either way, that was ancient history now; in more ways than one.

"But who knows how many other ghosts or descendents are out there?"

[Dapper Dog]

He did not have a pithy retort, just a thoughtful expression as he considered what she said.

[Zeno Thul]

"Have any of us dealt with the White Maw in the past? I know I haven't. Only have the basic dossier for support personnel."

[Garth Thul]

Garth just shrugs casually. "Nope, but ah'm hard pressed t' think th' rag tag bunch would try an stand up t' us in a faur fight. If'n it came t' that of course."

[Zeno Thul]

"That's the risk the Republic takes with a diplomatic outreach. The ambassadors are at the mercy of the opposition," Zeno replies. "Although I imagine the Jedi escort the really at risk missions. The sight of a lightsaber calms down most pirates I would imagine."

"So maybe we won't be blown up in low planet orbit before we get to say hi."

[Garth Thul]

At the mention of lightsabers, Garth glanced down to one of the pockets on his cargo pants almost reflexively.

"Either calms 'em down or scares 'em inta sumthin' stupid." He joked.

[Dapper Dog]

"We got the luck of Master Layne on our side, so expect the worst," he joked.

[Layne Hoshin]

"Not the White Maw specifically," she said, to the question, "But I've dealt with pirates before."

Technically she actually *was* a pirate at some point; of sorts. But that was before Kessel, so she was pretty sure it didn't really count.

"Most of them aren't worth much consideration, they just move around and take what scraps they can. But when they start settling into a place, start uniting? That's when they get bold enough to become a problem, picking fights they can't win in the end but which still cause needless deaths and loss of resources."

She sighed. "Last negotiations with pirates that I was involved with didn't go well either. But, those *didn't* end up being aggressive negotiations, thank you very much. Despite their best efforts to make it so. Fortunately, we're probably not going to have to be dealing with any crazy pirate queens wanting to make us fight some sort of arena deathmatch as a way of negotiating."

There was a small pause, and a blink.

"I mean. Probably not."

[Dapper Dog]

"I'll just follow your lead, Master," Daz offered.

[Layne Hoshin]

"I see you've finally decided to like and subscribe," she quipped.

[Zeno Thul]

"If we have to do some cage fighting, so be it," he replies, probably sounding a bit excited but mostly hiding it.

"Looks like we've brought quite the Jedi contingency. I've seen like 5 or 6 I think?" he says as though he can't clearly count them by feeling. "The Senate is making a big spectacle out of this if successful I'm guessing."

[Galen Panteer]

The last place Galen would want to visit would be the hangar. And so, it was the last place his wanderings brought him to. It didn't take long for him to make his way to the small group. They were the only thing of interest.

"That's definitely true."

[Dapper Dog]

The last place Galen would want to visit would be the hangar. And so, it was the last place his wanderings brought him to. It didn't take long for him to make his way to the small group. They were the only thing of interest.

"That's definitely true."

"Prince-Consort Panteer, man they will let anyone on board," Daz joked warmly with the man.

[Galen Panteer]

"Well, I used you as a reference Daz." He grinned. "It feels like they recruited heavily from Alderaan Nobility and the Jedi Order for this. Quite the spectacle."

[Dapper Dog]

"Master Layne is here too and Duke-Consort Thul... bring all the heady hitters for some measly pirates," he said and then frowned. "I got a bad feeling about this."

[Layne Hoshin]

She rolled her eyes at the mention of cage fighting; and then again at Daz mentioning having a bad feeling right after pointing out Layne was here. Wait, maybe that wasn't a joke to hit back at her?

"These are not times for half-measures, I suppose."

[Zeno Thul]

Zeno nods to Galen, greeting him. "Well, with so many trouble magnets on the mission what could possibly go wrong? I've got a great feeling about this."

"I only drink whiskey in full measures. It's sacrilege to do otherwise."

[Garth Thul]

Garth offered a smile to Galen. Another friendly face was welcome, even if it was one who had far more important things to do than be here.

"Gal, how're the wee ones doin'?"

[Galen Panteer]

"They're good. Azaria is running around a lot more and far faster than we were prepared for, but we're hoping she grows out of it before Collin grows into it." he chuckled. "She asked me to bring her back a lot of snow."

[Garth Thul]

A gentle laugh rolls out of Garth's throat. "Enjoy it. Th' twins're growin' way too fast, way too quick an' Jak's taken after his grampa, found some o' Xeno's masks an' won' leave th' house without one on."

[Galen Panteer]

"Azaria just stalks around the palace." he smiled, then glanced between Garth and Zeno. "It's comforting, knowing the kids are far from whatever we're going into."

[Zeno Thul]

"Sooner or later will be their time to step on the stage, but not today," Zeno agrees.

[Garth Thul]

"Best we c'n do is prepare them f'r the world, an prepare th' world fer them." Garth joked, finding a place with the other Dads