[ME2 - Moraal Wing] Aftermoon Debrief

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

Caff was steaming on all the desks in the shared workspace. Tyber sat at his desk, helmet sitting next to his console and workstation.

Yet the caff didn't seem to be fully helping with the fatigue. Fingers tapped at his reports, yet the Lieutenant would occasipmally glance over at the desk of his superior officer.

"Colonel. What's special about pronouncing eleven with a twi'lek accent?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I don't know lieutenant," she answered back, looking up from the paperwork on her datapad, "What is special about pronouning'eleven' with a twilek accent?"

Her tone of voice was as one who was echoing the setup for a punchline.

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

He blinked. Leaning to the side, he raises an eyebrow. "I don't know. Sukri Fett asked me to pass along her regards, and to ask you to pronounce eleven with a twi'lek accent. I was curious as to what the significance was. Is." He reached for his mug, taking a long drink.

"How many cups and the switch to am detail still has.me dragging bantha."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Embrace the suck, lieutenant," she said with a weary smile, "and rack out when you can. Do you have anything going on? Otherwise you really should leave the caff alone and grab some rack time."

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

"Following up on a lead on our target. After the firefight yesterday, I want to delve deeper in what was uncovered." He set his mug down.

And noted how the question and comment on Sukri Fett was pushed aside.

"Hard to sleep when someone threatens the capital with bombs and assassinations."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"It is," she conceded with a nod, "but security is a marathon, not a sprint. There is always another threat, even if it's the same source. So make sure you aren't stealing from tomorrow to try and solve today.

"Well done earlier, by the way. Though.... I saw that you credited Darth Malgus in your report," she said before asking delicately, "I'm curious why you did that? Are you looking for a Sith patron?"

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

"No, ma'am." He didn't seem phased by the question. "Merely wanted to use every resource I had in neutralizing the threat. Uf you've looked at my record, I don't exactly come up swimming in requisitions for aid in doing my job." The lights flickered. As a loud hum went through the grid, taking out the power, before the emergency lighting flickered, and the generators kicked on.

Pursing his lips, he looked to his superior officer. "You don't approve?" There was something in his tone. Far more human than the usual casual detachment used in speaking with officers. Was it... worry?

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I don't, but let me explain," she said, letting her tone warm slightly.

"I'm not sure what Malgus is up to, but getting involved with the Sith should be done carefully if at all. They aren't accountable to you, your superior officer, or mine. They are above. They fight against one another, and we die. If you align yourself with a Sith, that can be a fast track for promotion if that is what you are looking for, but it also ties you to them. Your patron falls, you fall. Better to serve the Empire than any one Sith. Bad soldiers get power because they play that game of politics. You aren't a bad soldier, though I know others think less of you unfairly. So why get involved with Malgus?"

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

He slumped back. "Like I said, I wanted every resource to stop the terrorist threat." His face turned red slightly at the warmth in his voice. "I don't know if I would have found that bomb unless I used the intel I was able to glean from his resources." Looking away, he sighed.

"I need you to understand something, Colonel. I'm not looking for glory, or promotion, or a cushy desk job. I just want to protect the Empire. To secure peace and order." Looking back to her he nodded.

"And if there was something more to the summons I received eceiced yesterday that led to that intel, I didn't want to lose it. Something about all of this isn't sitting right with me."

Tyber sat up straighter. "You're right though. I was blinded in my zeal to stop the threat that I didn't consider everything. It won't happen again, Colonel."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Resources are good, Rook. Zeal too. But resources are meant to be efficient, and zeal is most useful in moderation. I appreciate that it is useful for maintaining ones moral compass. On the other hand, marathon. I want the Eagle dealt with expeditiously, and I also want to make sure we are capable of dealing with what fills their vacuum."

She stretched, flexing her metal arm with a faint whirring. Somewhat oddly, she wasn't currently wearing her gloves.

"If it came down to letting Malgus take the credit or letting the Eagle start a civil war, I'm going to stop the Eagle. If the Eagle turns out to be some radical punks with a chemistry and slicing background playing revolutionary, allowing some children to blow of steam might be the lesser evil to compromising our security forces to Sith politics. Hard to say, but we will know better as we gather more data."

She rose and took the pot of caff from the wall and topped off Tyber's mug.

"I'm glad you weren't trying to play politics. That's not what I gathered from your file. If you need something, let me know. Or ask Jutrian. She's warrant, but you still have rank over her in this office. It's my job to keep you flying though."

She added with a smile, "You're my responsibility."

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

"Ma'am." He stood from his seat, offering a salute to the Colonel. "I won't give you cause for regret for having me under your responsibility." And then a break in decorum.

"You were my hero, growing up. Your recruitment vids were part of why I joined up. I'd hate to let you down."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

She returned the salute and gave an appreciative nod.

"I wouldn't expect that of you Rook. You're doing good work so far, and I'm not worried. We're going to get these guys. Just pay attention to that voice in your head and trust it as things go forward. If something doesn't seem right, it may not be."

She reached out with her left hand, the warm one, and quickly squeezed his shoulder supportively.

"Was there anything else you wanted to discuss? Equipment you needed, theories you want to process, complaint that Jutrian plays her music too damn loud?" she smiled.

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

"There is one thing." He noted to his workstation. "Bex Company. Again, something isn't adding up. I spoke with myinsider at the Military Base while we were down there."

He shook his head. "Someone wants this project to fail. Thurzia, their CO, has made no secret of wanting to be transferred to something cushier." A hand pressed against his chin, as he mused outloud.

"I just don't have the angle on the other problems that are coming crashing down on them."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Some of it may be perpetual. Neglect by their CO, who wants something more prestigious, or maybe even just to fly a desk somewhere. Even if someone has an interest in this Massassi project, Bex Company still has internal problems that may only be solved with remedial correction."

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

"True. The ease with which they fell into the barfight, even with you, and their Ensign calling for them to step outside, is problematic. But the good ones in there, need systemic support to bring the others in line." He mused, shaking his head.

"Any advice?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"If they were under my command, it would be remedial training for the lot of them. Back to boot, basically. Keep and reinforce the good ones, tap them for possible promotion. Anyone who fails the program gets remedial help, then remedial punishment and extra duty. Anyone who needs more than that gets shown the door or transferred to an engineering unit to help provide labor depending on how much of a criminal record they rack up as they run through the escalation. Help those that want helping, help those that need helping, cut loose anyone who can't get with the program enough to be of use.

"But first," she grimaced, "someone needs to give enough of a damn to enforce discipline and expectations, and it is much easier to deal with one lieutenant or captain than to try and deal with half a dozen sergeants or a dozen corporals and squad leaders."

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

"Maybe we need to have a talk with this Lieutenant Thurzia." He nodded. Chains of command have breakdowns. Eliminate the bad links, reinforce the strong ones.

"I admit, what I saw at the bar, and during duty this morning? I may be agreeing with the Ensign. They need... a lot of work."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Lord Jo'ren Rath may also take an interest. He would like to promote boxing or some other sporting as a way to short circuit any violent intentions in a more constructive fashion. He had previously espoused the 'peace is a lie' and 'strength through violence' lines," she said ruefully.

Sighing for a quick moment, she fixed her eyes more directly on Tyber.

"You haven't mentioned it yet, so I will. How is your blaster burn healing?"

[Lt. Tyber Rook]

"It's not bad. I'm tough." He smirked, then sighed. "It did a number on my armor. Had to take care of that myself. Given time, it'll heal, Colonel. I didn't want to bother the medics."

The name of the Lord was committed to memory.

"Boxing could be good. In Mandalorian culture, we have a ritualized knife fight, but that wasn't my forte. Not gonna step into the circle without my armor or blaster." He shrugged at that.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Want Jutrian to give you a once over? Not going to suggest she pry at your armor, I get that one," she offered.