Warning... this chapter was supposed to be the chapter before Mando and Miika get put up for a night in the rebel hideout.. but this is such a boring chapter to me I did the other chapter 1st... so... if i had to suffer through it.. others can to. Exposition and 1 or 2 set pieces... almost like an episode of Star Trek... lol.
70's TV action show Narrator: "Last time on the Mandalorian: The Search...."
Mando: "How'd you sleep?"
Miika: "Like I slept for hours in a pressure suit in a hard chair."
Mando: "-Sigh-... no. I'm not tangling with the Alliance. I'll go back and tell Jer--errr. .Moff Eitrix that we didn't find his old friend."
Miika: "Sounds reasonable."
Mando: "Besides, in a few minutes the imps are going to trounce this place."
Miika: "What? Really? How do you know?
Mando: "Drop the rebel pistol."
Miika: "OK but why."
Mando: "They're probably going to need every weapon they have soon, no need to short arm them."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours earlier...
*boot falls on durasteel floors*
*a microphoned cracked voice speaks as the voice of the stormtrooper comes through his helmets speaker*
"The Captain's requested prisoner 2436 for interrogation."
Prison Officer Garig: "Fine she's in cell 3491".
*Door slides open* [Kssssh]
Bartender Gilda: ...?
Stormtrooper Sergeant: "Your coming wit us to see the Captain."
Sgt. Atter (Hologram): "Yes Captain, the trek was slow to keep our ground units stealthy but they are in position now... Are we sure the walkers and tanks aren't going to be needed?"
Captain Kai: "They may be Sergeant, but we'll wait until closer to daylight to put them on the move. If Rebel spies see us moving armor and equipment en mass this early they may be wise to our plans."
Lieutenant Serresh: "Our Aerial forces sir?"
Kai: "To be deployed even later then the armor and not before."
Captain Sylvon: "....."
Commander Deleon: "....."
Lieutenant Arrenson: "....."
Kai: "Sergeant, you're to hold position as stealthy as possible, at first light you'll have us at your backs to push forward."
Sgt. Atter: "Thank you sir."
Kai: "Major, time on scout walker and armor units?"
Major Ventione: "They're almost ready to go now, sir. They need just a moments notice to deploy."
Kai: "Excellent, with the city under observation too much activity or movement early will tip our hand Major. Keep the crews alert and ready to go near daybreak."
Major Ventione: "Yessir."
Kai: "Sergeant you're to have extra troops geared and ready in case their lair has more then light resistance."
Sgt. Rossic: "Sir, with respects. Won't that leave the garrison undermanned?"
Kai: "Yes but if this is Commander Breem's station as we've been led to believe this is an opportunity we cannot pass or go lightly on the helpings. We make a decisive strike now. Is that understood?"
Officers: "Yessir."
Kai: "Your dismissed to your stations for preparations."
*officers shuffle out*
Kai: "Captain, if you'd stay a moment please."
Capt. Sylvon: "Yes Captain?"
Kai: "Captain I need you for a moment for one of the detainees."
Capt. Sylvon: "Oh? an interrogation now?"
Kai: "No nothing so intense should be needed, but I'd like your... skills at reading others body language when I ask her a few questions."
Capt. Sylvon: "Of course captain. Just tell me when and where."
Kai: "Here and in a moment. The prisoner is on her way here."
Capt. Sylvon: "One of the patrons from the tavern incident?"
Kai: "Yes, the bartender. She's an acquaintance hence why no hard negotiation should be needed."
[Door Chime Sounds]
Kai: "Enter."
Stormtrooper: "Sir the prisoner is here when you're ready for her."
Kai: "Good, show her in. Take notice Captain Sylvon."
Capt. Sylvon: "Yes sir."
Kai: "Gilda, apologies if my troops were a little rough."
Bartender Gilda: "They couldn't be rougher then I've been through Kai. Why am I still here? Where are the others from the bar?"
Kai: "The other patrons of your bar? After there interrogation most of them have been released."
Gilda: "We told you what happened. Why are you holding us?"
Kai: "Why? The incident left 3 imperials personnel dead. 2 of them from my own command. You'll understand if I am a bit zealous regarding what the customers witnessed."
Gilda: "....."
Kai: "But thats only part of why I've asked you here. There's some information I need from you and since we're familiar with each other I decided to forego the usual imperial interrogation standards."
Capt. Slyvon "...."
Gilda: "What is it you want Kai? You've never been one for dressing a demand."
Kai: "You're quite right. I need to know about the 3rd imperial killed at the bar this evening. How long have they been a patron? Who have you seen him conversing with before if any?"
Gilda: "I think his name was... Laizon? Lizon? I knew the other two who came in often but the third fellow only came in on rare occasions."
Kai: "So the pair of my men had been meeting with Commander Lisont Werottae before?"
Gilda: "No not every time. I've seen Lisont before without your men."
Kai: "Was he meeting anyone?"
Gilda: ".... y-yes. I blonde woman who would sometimes come in and speak to the local swoopers. Her name I don't remember if I ever knew it."
Kai: "But you'd recognize her if you saw her again?"
Gilda: "C-certainly."
Kai: "Good."
Capt. Sylvon: "...."
Gilda "What else did you wish to know?"
Kai: "This relates to some local trouble. One of the patrons in your bar is suspected to be associated with a Rebel cell.
Gilda: "Oh... I didn't know."
Kai: "I'm sure you didn't. The Rebels are good at stealth and disguise enough to keep themselves hidden in plain sight."
Kai: "What interests me more is the location of the Rebel's hidden outpost here on Halasia."
Gilda: "Kai... I wouldn't know where they're at."
Capt. Sylvon: "....."
Kai: "Oh but that's where your mistaken Gilda,... though I doubt you realize it."
Gilda: "What do you mean Kai?"
Capt. Sylvon: "....."
Kai: "During the great Clone Wars the separatists controlled much of the Great Tundra. Searching and eventually finding the temple of Greyvax of the Howling Wind."
Gilda: "The Cursewind temple? It's been nothing but collapsed ruins for thousands of years."
Capt. Sylvon: "....."
Kai: "So it would seem, however recent information has come to me that the ruins hide a possible secret, a tunnel leading to its small but intact complex beneath the frozen surface."
Gilda: "By the Twins, I wouldn't have known. When I was Zeksworn we'd visit it on occasion when looting as a shelter but we never knew it was there."
Kai: "That's good to know. Good that you're been honest with us. Now I wish to see how much you remember."
Gilda: "Eh? I spoke of the officers didn't I?"
Kai: "You did, and while Genero and Pellisch will be missed my question is about the old Fable of Greyvax. How much do you remember from the old story?
Gilda: "Ummm not much, s-she.. would have known more.."
Kai: "I know, however she's no long with us. So please enlighten me as much as you can."
Gilda: ... sighs.. *nods*... "In the olden days a Halasian Chieftan lead a migrant race before the cities were built. To stay ahead of the Greyvax else fear to be frozen by the howling wind that would freeze people in their sleep."
Kai: "It was a natural hunter of some kind? That roamed the tundra like the snow bear beasts?"
Gilda: "Eh.. more powerful. The Greyvax was called the Cursed wind or a Howling wind that would freeze Halasians solid if they stayed in one area too long to make a permanent settlement. As if a spiritual being was given a monstrous power that fed on the warm bodies of people."
Kai: "I see, odd the old Halasians would create a temple dedicated to such a monstrous being that hunted them."
Gilda: "They didn't, the legends say a Halasian chieftain took his best warriors and and faced the Greyvax in a battle of body and wit. Apparently in the end the chieftain somehow tricked the Greyvax into trying to consume him like it had so many others. When the howling wind surrounded his body to consume him the other Halasian shamans cast some sort of ritual and trapped the Cursed Wind inside the frozen body of the chieftain sealing it away for all time. The temple was erected around the the frozen body of the chieftain to insure the frozen statue he had became could never be broken and release the Greyvax once more.
Capt. Sylvon: "Perhaps the statue is what the droid army once searched for."
Kai: "Perhaps, like the old GAR the droids may have found the temple in a collapsed ruin and thought the effort wasted."
Capt. Sylvon: "Yessir"
Gilda: "It's possible the temple built had lower levels. It would be extremely unusual for old Halasian structures especially that far into the frozen tundra where the ground would be very hard to unearth to build lower levels to."
Kai: "Unusual but not unheard of."
Gilda: "N-no, its extremely rare to have subsurface levels in Halasian buildings this far north, even today. But some warlords did create below ground levels for treasure hoards and such."
Kai: "Hmm, more to the point Gilda, the War Chieftain that sealed this.. .spirit of the wind or whichever. He was buried in this tomb correct?.
Gilda: "Y-yes, as in as much his death was ensured to capture the Greyvax. It's myth that he was encased in ice in a statue as he froze to death near instantly if i remember it correctly.
Kai: "And this would be his burial point where this Howling wind froze him. Where he would have his belongings buried with him?"
Gilda: "Yes, his treasures and... gifts.. of his people would give to his memory as grand gifts of other tribal chieftains would be in his tomb. If it is there.
Capt. Sylvon: "A set of catacombs or a tomb at the ruins site that the Rebels may have found sir?"
Gilda: "Kai, if there is a tomb in or below the ruins and there is something there... it could be more dangerous then you understand."
Kai: "Very likely. A well known ruin is small and desolate with nothing to footnote and documented as such belying its secret ability to. A good place to conceal Commander Breem's post. This has been a very productive conversation Gilda I appreciate your cooperation. I am sorry to bring up old memories of Elissia."
Gilda: "I would have preferred to not speak her name Kai.... I would have wished for her to instead to tell you the story in full Kai. But she and all her shaman knowledge are gone."
Capt. Sylvon: "....."
Gilda: "She would tell you to avoid that place. That the Greyvax was a horrific spirit not to be stirred. But I..... I don't care at this point Kai. I know what kind of person you are. You've already made your decision to proceed probably before you even summoned me. You're more worried of what treasures you'll find there."
Kai: "....."
Gilda: "A warning Kai,.. if you find the gifts and tides of the old Halasians in a crypt there. Be careful of what you gain. Chieftan McGray was a fierce warrior known for his temper and wit. His rivals and his loyalists would gift treasures of great and horrific power."
Kai: "Fair enough, Sergeant please escort Gilda to the holding area and have her and the patrons returned to her establishment. You'll have following orders prior to their release."
Stormtrooper: *crackles through a microphoned voice* "Yes sir."
Kai: "Well?"
Capt. Sylvon: "She wasn't deceitful, her hatred for you is quite honest."
Kai: "Funny, but known. Continue..."
Capt. Sylvon: "Her tone and body language are in earnest she wasn't being deceitful. However her aura changed when you brought up the... sister? I believe you said. I hadn't known Gilda had a family."
Kai: "They were lost during the uprising some years earlier."
Capt. Sylvon: "Ah... with respects sir. Are you sure using our... perspectives like this is... safe?"
Kai: "No, but being prudent when the chance for decisiveness comes before you can be devastating."
Capt. Sylvon: "I wish I had your stamina. It takes a toll on my muscles and senses."
Kai: "Another secret of yours and mine to keep hidden... now we make ready for the operation."
[Door chimes]
Kai: "Enter."
Condace Mindigo: "We were told to seek you out Captain."
Kai: "Ah yes, our informants."
Dengar Roth: "Ah at least another person is easy enough on the eyes in this dungeon besides me."
Capt. Sylvon: "....."
Capt. Kai "....."
Mindigo: "....."
Dengar: "Sometimes I'm even prettier then most... *chuckles*."
Capt. Sylvon: "If you're done with me sir..."
Kai: "Oh no need to leave you can stay and listen... "
Capt. Sylvon: "...."
Kai: "Dengar you and Mindigo are to be rewarded for assisting the Empire of course."
Dengar: "Oh of course..!"
Mindigo: "So the information was accurate?"
Kai: "We'll be finding that out in a few hours.
Dengar: "Well someone can stay behind to pay us of course."
Kai: "Of course."
Mindigo: "Of course. Also we'd like assurances that one of the older rebellion members be taken alive.
Kai: "An unusual request one I can attempt at but there are no for sure gambles on this venture."
Dengar: "It's the bounty on'em. It's heavier if he's brought back alive and the sum has been getting bigger every day."
Kai: "I will try and take back this Rebel alive."
Dengar: "I do hope, maybe then me and the young lady can celebrate."
Capt. Sylvon: "....."
Kai: "You can wait for payment until tomorrow, I'll reward you both then."
Capt. Sylvon: "I wouldn't come within a 100 meters of you even if I needed help."
Kai: "That's the deal as it were. Is there anything else?"
Mindigo: "No."
Kai: "Just keep around when the operation is over for your splits."
Mindigo: "We will."
Dengar: "....."
Kai: "You're dissmissed."
Dengar Roth: "....."
Mindigo: "What was that back there speaking to them?"
Dengar: "Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Besides all we have to do is sit back and let the credits roll in."
Kai: "....."
Capt. Sylvon: "....."
To be continued...
PS.... action coming.