[IC] A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

[Lord Greshh]

Somewhere in a Coruscant ally, Becca's comm beeps. It must have fallen off of her belt during one of the scuffles with Republic security forces. She is therefore unable to hear whatever potential bombshell Jerus Je'and was hoping to reveal to her.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

Not thinking too much on the lack of a response, I board the elevator behind Cosen and reach up to remove my helmet. "So, been busy?"

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

I look at Jerus out of the corner of my eye, and a slight smile comes to my face. “You seriously want to do the small talk thing with me?”

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"Cosen, in the last two years, we've tried to kill each other numerous times. And if this were six months ago," a vibroblade ejects from one of my gauntlets like a claw, "I'd have planted this in your back without a second thought. Personally, small talk is better than murder attempts or awkward silences."

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

"I can agree to that. I was just remembering how we first met. You hunted me across Dantooine because I stole private files from your compound. Now we are standing side my side in an elevator. I guess that's something like progress?" I flash a wry smile. "And yes, I've been busy. The Mandalorians have been pushing my brother and I nonstop for days."

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"And I'm sure Ava's insisted that her personal feelings about you have no sway in her treatment of the two of you."

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

“Does it matter? The Mandalorians are all behind her. They’d sooner see my brother and I dead than continue to walk free. Ava’s enslavement of us is her idea of mercy. At least in this situation, we walk free once the battle is over.”

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"It matters a fair amount, considering their Manda'lor is involved with a non-Mandalorian romantically. It's why she tries so hard to appear strong. But I suppose that's neither here nor there. What's this big mission you're going out on?"

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

“Hunting down that Stoneheart guy. Temari Ordo is worried he’ll cause problems for the Mandalorians down the road. We don’t want his murder sprees to give them a bad name, so we? So Temari wants us to make it look like Jakito Twilight is going to betray us to Sucal or something to lure the Stoneheart out. Not sure how we are going to pull that off though. Anyone who knows Jakito will know how loyal he is to his allies. And now that you’re all here, it gives him even fewer reasons to defect. I’m afraid it’ll just be a waste of time.”

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"So then change the reason he's going to look like a traitor. Make it look like he's going to try and cut a deal with Sucal to spare us, his family, while taking out the Revolution and Mandalorians at the same time. Hell, maybe have him and an important officer argue where Stoneheart can see."

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

I tilt my head back and forth, mulling his words over. "Hmm. Not a bad idea. We should bring that up with Temari." The elevator door opens on the top level, and I step out. "Come on. Hopefully she's done meeting with Mand'alor. She's only the last person I want to see here."

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"I'll let you speak with Temari first, Cosen. She and I need to speak in private."

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

"Very well. I'll try to make it quick." I walk through the small lobby outside the penthouse suite and knock on the large door. When it opens, I step through and the door closes quickly behind me. Standing in the room is Temari Oro and, as I feared, Ava Cadera.

Mandalore the Risen

I turn to face Cosen. "Ah, Cosen Greshh. Good to see you've survived the war so far." To Temari, I say, "I see you've removed her shock collar. You sure that's a wise decision?"

[Zarkun]

Temari Ordo

"There is no reason to keep it on, Manda'lor. You forget it was the Gressh's goal to remove Sucal from power long before it was ours."

[Lord Greshh]

Mand’alor the Risen

“And yet that never stopped her from deceiving us and our Jedi allies.” I walk towards Cosen. “What do you want?

Cosen Greshh

“I am here to speak with Temari. It’s about our mission to find the Stoneheart Killer.”

Mandalore the Risen

“Oh, yes. Temari told me about that. Do be careful with that. I hear he’s quite the deadly foe.”

Cosen Greshh

I shrug. “If it were an easy mission, one of your warriors would have already accomplished it, wouldn’t they have?”

Mandalore the Risen

I scowl. “Or maybe I care more about their safety than yours.” I stomp past her, making sure to shoulder check her as I do. Over my shoulder, I say, “Make sure not do die out there. Your brother might not so willing to cooperate with us if we were to lose his precious sister, and I’m not done with the pair of you yet.” I walk to one of the adjoining rooms of the suite and close the door behind me.

[Zarkun]

Temari Ordo

I shake my head, rubbing my temple. Nothing personal my ass, Ava Cadera... Turning to Cosen, I nod to the holodisplay, which was flashing red at the entrance Jerus and his family and friend had come in. "Care to explain that? The warriors I had stationed there reported that Jakito and some people he knew left from there, and yet Kamari reported seeing Jerus with you." My tone was not angry, nor accusatory. "Ah, details that can wait. Any news on where you'll stand the best chance to find Stoneheart?"

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

I step up to the holo display. “I spoke to Jerus, and yes I’ll explain everything later, and he suggested that we modify the lure. Instead of staging Jakito Twilight betraying us outright, perhaps we could have him set up a meeting with one of Sucal’s men to cut a deal. If there is one thing I know about the Twilights, it’s that family comes above all else. If Jakito could make a deal to keep his family protected in exchange for Mandalorian or Revolution secrets, I believe that would be believable enough to draw the Stoneheart out. Plus, whomever Jakito meets with would be a bonus target. I would suggest a member of the chancellor’s personal guard, or as close to that as we can manage.”

[Zarkun]

Temari Ordo

I nod and smile slightly in spite of myself. "I'm glad to see even after all these years, my lessons to the young Je'and have stuck. That's a much better idea. As for the official...what about Drexxel? With his primary Enforcer and the man who's been terrorizing Coruscant for months now both dead or removed from play, Sucal will be out of Aces aside from those blasted droids. If only we could get a hold of a piece of their plating, we could at least find a weakpoint in it."

[Lord Greshh]

Cosen Greshh

“Those will definitely be our biggest concern in the future so push for Presidential Palace. One obstacle at a time though. This Draxxal would make good bait, especially since Stoneheart has targeted him before. He’ll want to finish the job. But before we can use him to lure out Stoneheart, how do we lure out Draxxal? Do you think he’d come if Jakito called? And... how would he even get a hold of him.” I scratch my chin in though. “There are a lot of layers to this plan. Even one thing goes wrong and it could cause the whole thi to fall apart.”

[Zarkun]

Temari Ordo

"Perhaps include yourself in the lure. You can help get a hold of Draxxal, perhaps convince him that you're trying to cut a deal that will get rid of us and keep your brother and you out of any kind of trouble when this operation goes belly up." I hold my chin thoughtfully. "But even that will take something convincing...No, we'll keep this to just Jakito interacting with Draxxal. Perhaps he can offer to get you and Gavin exposed and alone long enough to capture you."