Warhead (D7 MN to LN)

[Coryn Kusat]

"No. You're right about that. We've got questions for you." He looked at Kairi. "You want to start?"

[Phoebe Wren]

"I have some questions too, but... you first, Kairi," she nodded to the oldest Laerrin kid.

[Kairi Laerrin]

"Who are you working for?" Kairi asked, "And I don't mean the Hutts. I doubt you need their credits after all you've been through."

[Vanito Cadera]

"Sometimes a man has to pay a debt," Vanito answered. He looked over at his shattered helmet. "Sometimes that debt doesn't have specific value. Sometimes it's only relinquished on death."

[Phoebe Wren]

"But who is it you have to pay this debt to? It can't be the Hutts, death isn't something they can make a profit off of. So there's someone else."

[Vanito Cadera]

"They profit plenty from death, depending on the circumstance." Vanito lifted his hand to practically caress his shattered helm. "I suppose our people don't know how to give up until they die. Just how many Imperial loyalists do you believe survived?"

[Phoebe Wren]

"Probably enough..." she said thoughtfully, not sure if her father was one that survived. Maybe he had been a ghost in that vision.

"Did the Hutts hire you for tonight's job?"

[Vanito Cadera]

"Yeah. They wanted the datachip." Vanito looked over to Coryn. "However, I wasn't going to hand it to them."

[Coryn Kusat]

"Go on then. Tell us what you were going to do with it." He stroked his beard and watched the man with mild curiosity. "I know it's got something to do with advanced armour tech. Were you planning to keep it for yourself?"

[Vanito Cadera]

"What you're holding is a breakthrough on it. Prototypes have had issues, either with cost, durability, all matters." Vanito nodded along. "Yeah, there's a few that do work.

"Dennah Valtair and others were hired by the Hutt Cartel to steal it and sabotage the facility. She wanted to run off with it to sell to a higher bidder.

"As for me? If you want more, you're going to have to promise me that you won't strafing run the place." He shifted in his bed. "You're calling yourself honorable ones, right? Wouldn't kill children like me, huh?"

[Phoebe Wren]

She was a bit sceptical of Cadera's words, and she looked to Kairi and Coryn. "As far as I know, we're not in that business. Making strafing runs that is, and certainly not killing kids."

[Vanito Cadera]

Vanito Cadera looked around. "You have a warship, don't you?" he asked. His expression then turned serious and he stared at Phoebe. "Swear a damn oath, girl. All of you.'

[Phoebe Wren]

Phoebe glared back at him, mostly because she hated being called 'girl' like that. "Fine. As Phoebe Wren, you have my word, Vanito Cadera. Ori'haat."

[Coryn Kusat]

Coryn stepped forward. "You're damn right we don't kill children you sick bastard. So what's got you suddenly giving a shit?"

He stared at the man as he contemplated what it might mean. "Wait. This facility. You've got family holed up in there?"

[Vanito Cadera]

"Multiple families, actually," Vanito answered, "Though it might not be my place to speak of concern for any but my own."

[Phoebe Wren]

Phoebe took a deep breath. This was getting more complicated and it had been a long day. "Kairi?" she looked to the oldest, waiting for her opinion, since Phoebe had given hers already.

[Kairi Laerrin]

"Kairi Laerrin speaks for her clan," Kairi said, "Clan Laerrin won't endanger children or any noncombatants."

[Coryn Kusat]

Coryn nodded and moved to stand beside Kairi. "Tell us what we're up against Cadera. What is this facility all about, and why is it full of families?"

[Vanito Cadera]

"Very well," Vanito said. He tried to sit up as much as possible under the restraints of his body, his pain, and so on. "After the fall of the Galactic Empire, Clan Saxon lost most of their resources. I worked for the Hutts for their credits to help fund them.

"As for the why, Clan Saxon has a new plan. Tiber's vision obviously failed due to the tenacity of the rebels. They needed better soldiers, ones engrossed in our traditions rather than abandoning them completely, like our beskar'gam.

"They're training an army, raised from birth. They're trying to get a hand on any enhancements they can manage. Biological, chemical, weaponry, armor, like that prototype." He looked over to his belongings and sighed. "My daughter is one of them."

[Phoebe Wren]

A long day was really starting to take its toll now, especially with the intense work she had been doing on Cadera the past few hours. She wanted to rage at these news, but found she couldn't muster the energy to do so.

"... Kriff..." she said in a heavy voice. This was some big shit. Knowing this though, there was something she needed to make sure about.

"I've a question... it's not really related to this, at least I hope it's not." Deep breath. "Orius Wren. Is he still around or part of this new Saxon-scheme?"