From Keldabe, With Love, Attn: Shay, Mandos

[Rhia Ischoron]

People didn't like Rhia.

They all stared at her with their watery aruetiise eyes, or scurried past her at the door. None tried to speak to her, as they were unable to discern her business right away. It confused the young Epicanthix, and caused her to start harboring scorn for the Alliance personnel. She obviously wasn't there to hurt them. She wasn't even carrying all of her guns!

The front desk woman seemed the most nervous. The woman kept glancing at her as she stood sentry by the front door of the Alliance communications building and once, Rhia helmeted head turned to meet her eyes. The woman was quick to look away, her expression schooled into blankness. Rhia was growing antsy. Being in the aruetiise part of Keldabe wasn't the most comfortable experience.

The whole reason for the visit and the waiting and the stares was one Brin Trell, an Alliance ambassador. Or in plain terms, an outsider coming to beg for mighty Mando help. She had been instructed to bring her from Keldabe to the Ischoron compound where she would meet the aliit’alor. She wasn’t privy to all of the details and she wasn’t particularly keen on finding out. Rhia knew well of the tensions between the Mando'ade and the Alliance these days, despite the agreement the Mand’alor had made with them. She knew she held no love for the Alliance. They were the ones ordering the Mandos around, and if the rumor mill was to be believed, she might have to be one of the unfortunate suffering aruetiise company on a mission. Just like she was having to do now, only there was no destruction, killing or guns. Just waiting.

Somehow, an inhabitant of the building had acquired a ticking chrono, moved by gears and a power cell. The sound drilled itself into her brain, echoing in the silence of the lobby. Papers shuffled somewhere, and then a communit rang. Rhia had had enough. Her boots sounded heavy on the clean floors as she pushed away from her perch and approached the desk. The woman behind it seemed as though she was about to bolt. Rhia just rapped the edge of the desk with her knuckles and then nodded at her, trying to ignore the way she stared.

“I...” She started, her brain thick with translating Mando’a to Basic and her words equally encased in a heavy accent. “Am searching for a... How do you say, a member. Of your Alliance. Brin Trell.”

[Shay Marin]

So far, Master Marin both liked and didn't like Mandalore. Manda'yaim, her internal monologue reminded her. Sure, she'd heard most of the Alliance personnel stationed in Keldabe call the planet by its Basic moniker, but this struck the Sentinel as rather rude towards their 'hosts'. Not as though the Mandalorians need further motivation to think us all ignorant in the first place.

All told, she found the capital city a pleasant place to visit. Few scars remained from the bombardment nigh on five years ago now. All the structures she saw were undeniably constructed for function over form, yet the buildings often managed to attain a sparse and clean sort of beauty. The rolling pastoral lands surrounding Keldabe were also attractive to the eye; far what one would expect from a people known to the galaxy only as warriors and killers. The wilderness stretching in all directions beyond the tilled farmland remained pure, a credit to the Mandalorian skill at balancing development with tradition.

But then there were the people to consider. Shay did not find them to be a 'bad' people by her own ethical standards. In fact, most of the common stereotypes about how these fierce people lived could be proved false during a single stroll outside the isolated Alliance compound. All save one: Mandalorians most assuredly did not care for outsiders.

Aruetiise, they called them, a word the Jedi Master had taken the time before leaving Rhen Var to question a protocol droid about. The explanation she'd been given had been most... enlightening, to say the least. No wonder the Mandalorians invariably looked upon strangers with suspicion. The very structure of their language encouraged the assumption that all non-Mandalorians would eventually betray their kind.

Given the chance, Master Marin would do everything in her power to try and lessen this inherent tension. She knew full well what a steep hill to climb she'd face if she tried. As a Jedi, Shay would be the target of a very special form of ire from the Mandalorians. The complex and ancient historical reasons why this was so were less important than finding some way to overcome this obstacle in the present.

Said obstacle had dictated her choice of clothing on this mission. Director Loran had been gracious enough to grant the Councilwoman a provisional commission of Lieutenant Colonel in Alliance Intelligence. A gray military uniform now rested against her skin, concealed beneath the comfortable folds of her favorite nerf-hide jacket. The slight weight of her rank epaulets felt acutely alien, all out of proportion to their actual mass.

Shay forced herself to dismiss such minor discomforts from her mind. Dwelling on them would only make her wait to check in with the compound commander seem all the longer. One hand absently adjusted the angle of her peaked cap, stopping what felt like an impending slide from her head. The other held a datapad in front of her, one screen flickering out after another as the Sentinel reviewed the information again for lack of anything better to do.

She'd gone through the whole file three times and was halfway through a fourth repetition when she felt the psychic atmosphere of the room shift abruptly. Even with the reduced senses caused by the effort of concealing her signature in the Force, the spike of heightened tension rang clear as day in her mind. Amber eyes lifted from glowing text and soon fixed on the armored form of the lone Mandalorian in the room. While she'd been focusing on her reading material, the Mandalorian had marched over to the reception desk. A sharp rap of metal-encased knuckles against wood had the junior officer freezing in place, eyes wide and unblinking.

“I...Am searching for a... How do you say, a member. Of your Alliance. Brin Trell.”

A pale brow quirked upwards in interest. She'd been told a meeting would be arranged between herself and the leadership of one of the clans Mandalore Erisi Rahl had recommended for the proposed operation. That one of Ischoron's warriors would come here themselves instead of waiting for her to come to them gave her hope this visit might turn out more cordial than she anticipated. Or at the very least, more constructive.

Keying off the 'pad with a flick of her thumb, the athletic blonde rose from her seat in a single liquid motion. "Seems like you've found her then." A touch of Brin's personality leaked out into her behavior, a thin layer of approachability over her true nature as a serene Jedi Master. She thought a more 'casual' approach might have a better result here, since Shay intended to keep her Force user status on the down-low as much as humanly possible. She offered the armored woman a friendly smile. "What can I do for you, ma'am?"

[Rhia Ischoron]

Though she stared down at the woman behind the desk, Rhia sensed the movement out of her peripherals and she instinctually looked to assess the threat. Should it be one. The blond did not seem like a threat, except, to Rhia's practiced eyes, she moved with more grace than the Mandalorian expected from a mere ambassador. That didn't trigger alarm bells, but it certainly had Rhia on the alert.

"Seems like you've found her then."

Brin Trell spoke in a forward way, quite unlike the coddling politeness of the other outsiders around the base. Rhia could appreciate that. Turning away from the desk, the black and gold clad Mando nodded to the shorter woman, extending one gauntleted hand in greeting. Rhia had been pegged as a 'friendlier' Mando, but that was a supremely relative term when it came to non-Mandos. She at least knew to shake hands, having learned it from dramatic holovids (That was one thing she could enjoy about aruetiise. They had nice holovids.), and wasn't afraid to use the gesture in public, though she found it more comfortable to grip the forearm than the actual hand.

"What can I do for you, ma'am?"

Pausing, Rhia cocked her head and tried to think of the word Brin had used. Ma'am? It sounded almost Mando'a, but was too soft. Having spent so much time hearing and speaking only her own language, her Basic was rusty. A few moments contemplation and she remembered. It was a honorific denoting respect for a female. Gender in language was such an inefficient concept.

"Rhia Ischoron. I was told to bring you- to be with you on your way to the Ischoron... yaim." She started, her accent making her Basic sound clipped and harsh. Then she paused, trying to think of the correct word. "Home."

Though it didn't show past her helmet, Rhia was becoming a little agitated, having to speak Basic. The Alliance contingent ought to have its personnel learn Mando'a. They were guests on Manda'yaim after all. However, the feeling diminished when Rhia finished speaking, believing to have achieved all of her meaning. To cement it all, she gestured to the door, inviting Shay to it, and made her way to leave herself.

The doors gave a hiss as they slid open, letting warm sunshine flood into the lobby. Once out there, Rhia let out a slow breath, somewhere between relieved and wary. She was still on Mandalore, but there was a distinct difference in the atmosphere in the aruetiise sector of Keldabe. It was more strained.

Rhia was usually a very talkative Mandalorian, but now, she didn't know what to say. She was alright with that in this case, however. She didn't have anything to say to Brin, and she was only on escort duty. All of the talking would be between the ambassador and her buir. A concept she found rather amusing, considering how John averaged, at most, five words a day.

Moving between through the square-cut and uniform streets, Rhia led the way to a small spaceport where a pilot waited with their LAAT/i transport. Occasionally, she glanced at her temporary companion, her eyes staring freely behind the T-visor.

[Shay Marin]

Shay took ahold of the hand the black and gold armored figure extended towards her. She'd been a touch surprised by the gesture, as she hadn't known Mandalorians shook hands like other cultures did. Perhaps the other woman did it out of courtesy for the 'outsider'. The Jedi Master matched the strength of the Mandalorian's grip, never having been one for limp-wristed greetings herself. The gauntleted palm felt odd against her bare skin. Spending most of your days covered in metal plates had always sounded uncomfortable to Shay, but she supposed these warriors born and bred were used to the sensation.

The Mandalorian remained silent for a few beats after 'Brin' spoke up, leading the Jedi to wonder what the issue could be. Her passive senses picked up some confusion, though with her Force presence suppressed she couldn't determine more than that. Reading the other woman's body language wasn't an option, what with the Mandalorian style of full body armor, so Shay consigned herself to ignorance for the moment.

"Rhia Ischoron. I was told to bring you- to be with you on your way to the Ischoron... yaim. Home."

Ah, so it was a language barrier issue. This kind of complication the Sentinel could more than understand. While she'd picked up a few words and phrases due to Nereus' fascination with languages, she couldn't claim even a basic fluency with the Mandalorian tongue. This would not be a problem under normal circumstances; Shay often relied on the Force to help her interpret alien speech. However, that would require an active effort of her powers, something she wanted to restrain from doing if possible.

The female Mandalorian--Rhia, apparently--was fluent enough in Basic to get her point across. 'Brin' nodded at her assigned escort, bending down and catching up the duffle bag she'd brought with her, stowing her datapad in it before slinging the strap over her shoulder. She'd packed few items to take along on this trip, but still enough to warrant luggage. The two objects of most precious value to her resided within her jacket.

Shay sensed her guide's discomfort, the emotion reading strong despite her dulled empathic sensitivity. As the feeling did not seem directed at her in specific, she guessed it had to do with the other woman's tongue tripping over translations. "Vor'entye," the Jedi managed, without too horrible an accent she hoped. Rhia was trying; the least Master Marin could do was return the favor. To ignore the Mandalorian's effort would be impolite at best, perhaps insulting at worst.

Rhia gestured towards the door, communicating quite effectively without words what she wanted Shay to do. With another companionable smile the Jedi Master headed towards the exit. When the midday sun hit her face, the Dolomarian reached up to adjust the angle of her peaked cap. The unfamiliar headgear immediately began slipping back again. A minor annoyance, to be sure, but one Shay didn't feel like putting up with at the moment. She removed the cap, giving it a brief peevish look before stowing it in her bag. They might look wonderful on Mac, but they're definitely not for me.

The taller woman striding besides her as they walked down the broad boulevard remained somewhat on edge. Much as Shay would like to alleviate that condition, she didn't know how. Mandalorians were tricky creatures so far as socialization was concerned, from what she'd been told. Talking at Rhia when her guide didn't feel communicative might well annoy. In addition, the two of them didn't have much in common, even if she were truly the 'independent contractor' she played in the Alliance. Conversation proved difficult to initiate as a result.

Instead, the Investigator focused on absorbing the details of her environment. Again she took the chance to admire the local architecture and plant life. Mandalore was shaping up to be a planet far different than any others Shay had visited before. She welcomed this; experiencing more of the galaxy's diversity could only be a good thing so far as the Councilwoman was concerned.

Fewer and fewer Alliance personnel were to be seen the farther they traveled away from the base. This meant more and more stares from the natives. She might not be able to see them behind the commonplace helmets, but Shay could feel them, direct and keen like laser targeting dots on her skin. No open aggression thus far, but a definite wariness vibrated in all their auras once they recognized the blonde woman wasn't from around here.

Master Marin didn't let the scrutiny bother her, even when it came from the Mandalorian who'd been sent to fetch her. Calm and curiosity were the only emotions expressed on her face or in her body language. She acknowledged Rhia's attention by meeting her eyes through the visor, several times more than the warrior woman could easily mark up to mere coincidence, but that was all. Let them all look their fill. I'm here to be seen as much as heard.

The silent stroll soon came to an end when the Intelligence emissary and her native guide arrived at the spaceport. Few vehicles were currently berthed in the small facility, making picking out the craft they'd be taking a simple matter. "How far are we heading outside the city, if I might ask?" 'Brin' ventured as she climbed on board. She hadn't been on a transport of this type in... actually, she wasn't sure she'd ever been in one, now that she'd thought about it. Jedi didn't often travel in military vehicles.

[Rhia Ischoron]

"Vor'entye."

Coming from the aruetii's lips, the formal world sounded alien. Pausing, Rhia took a moment to decipher what she said before chuckling. To say the least, Rhia was impressed with the ambassador's attempt.

"Vor'entye is very..." Ah, damn, what was the word. "Too pretty? Too strict." She knew what she wanted to say but the word for it in Basic escaped her. Vor'entye was the formal version of thank you. "'Vor'e' is what we say, but-" She nodded her helmeted head in approval. ""Ba'gedet'ye. You are welcome."

Rhia was surprised to learn that, even as they drew away from the Alliance sector, her discomfort didn't lessen. They traveled the streets, garnering stares from fellow Mando'ade, which Rhia couldn't help but dislike. She was no attention seeker, in fact, the stealth device which hung heavily from her belt indicated the exact opposite.

She didn't know about the ambassador, but Rhia couldn't help a the hint of admiration as Brin kept her head up beneath the t-visored stares. Not many outsiders had could've stood it half as well. Still, it was with a bit of relief that they entered the hangar bay, finding their platform and the LAAT/i drop ship resting on its skids. Its engine ticked as it cooled and Rhia gave it a good thump on the hull to wake up the pilot inside. "Tsikador, Kiev!"

"How far are we heading outside the city, if I might ask?"

Turning to her, Rhia looked up at the sky visible through the hangar bay ceiling (Or lack thereof). "Close. Not too far."

There was a shift, the vehicle bouncing slightly on its suspensions as Kiev moved from his resting place in the cockpit. He gave Rhia the thumbs up and she waved back before pulling the sliding door of the dropship open and gesturing inside. Strapping herself into the ship herself, she took up a place behind the starboard gun. This particular ship didn't have the gunner spheres to either side, it just being meant for transport on Manda'yaim, but being Mandos they couldn't resist adding some kind of firepower.

The engine started and began to warble as the ship fought against gravity and drew them into the air. Rising straight up, the buildings fell away and as soon as they were clear, Kiev jetted the engines forward, making Rhia's grip tighten on her straps. She yelled out a warning to the man, but thanks to his need for speed, they reached the Ischoron compound shortly, the quarry-like structure appearing below them suddenly through the trees.

Looking to Brin, Rhia gestured out at the view, smiling though she couldn't see it. "We're here."

[John Ischoron]

The idea of furthering the Ischoron cooperation with the Alliance was one John was positive towards. It was the clans who decided how much they were willing to work with the aruetiise, and up to now only individual Mando'ade had shown up to cooperate with them, John amongst them. His encounters with the Tsad had up to now been... disappointing. They were not Mando'ad, so it was to be expected, but while they did possess a certain spirit in the fight they were too... delicate. That being said, John had only gone on a mission with Tsad soldiers once, their efforts admirable, but not up to the standards he was used to. That was the reason he had mostly taken solitary missions that the Tsad offered, which he preferred rather than having to cooperate with someone who were not as durable as your average Mando'ad.

However, as a strategist he did recognise the advantage their current cooperation with the Tsad held and so far it was being underutilised. Many clans were having difficulties accepting the Tsad as comrades from what John had heard, and in a manner it was to be expected. Some clans were merely that old fashioned, and while tradition was sacred, there was a certain line between tradition and outright prejudice, crossing it could be fatal in the war. The Mandalorian Clans, while fierce in any battle, did not have the numbers to face the Gi'e directly, however, with the Alliance, they improved their odds considerably.

As a result of this, John had agreed to accept an Alliance ambassador into the Ischoron compound on Manda'yaim, to familiarise the Tsad officer with the Mandalorian culture so that they could pass on the information. Overcoming cultural differences wasn't the only goal; it was also an attempt to solidify the cooperation between Tsad and clan. If this ambassador impressed the clan, they would be more perceptive to joining Tsad soldiers on their missions, as well as cooperating more closely. It was only one single step in a series of many, as Ischoron was only a single clan, but it would hopefully be a step in the right direction.

The Mand'alor had initiated the agreement with the Tsad for a reason and despite Kyr'ad no longer being among them, Erisi of Rahl had continued that agreement. As a Mando'ad obliged to follow Mand'alor's orders, it was his duty to further his clan's cooperation with the Tsad and go forward as an example to the rest of the clans. It had not been a direct order, the Mand'alor gave them the freedom to decide for themselves, but what was the use of initiating cooperation when one did not cooperate?

His further thoughts were interrupted by the arriving LAAT/i as it slid past where he stood outside the hangars and slid into its assigned berth. The gust of wind from the repulsors pushing against the surface of the ground whipped against John without him feeling it, encased in his second skin as he was. As the ship passed, he could see both Rhia and an unidentified woman, the ambassador, through the open bay doors. It would be interesting how this meeting would proceed, but John did not hesitate, approaching the troop transport before the passengers had begun to disembark.

"Rhia." He gave his ad a brief nod, as large a greeting his adoptive daughter would receive at this moment, but more than others could boast about getting. He then turned to the ambassador, standing straight, as per usual, and towering above them. "Greetings, ambassador." His basic, while better than the majority of Mando'ade, carried a peculiar accent one would not expect from a native Mandalorian. For anyone who was perceptive enough, his accent was faintly Arkanian.

[Shay Marin]

"Vor'entye is very... Too pretty? Too strict."

With a nod, Shay filed this information away for future reference. Talking in any language not your native tongue posed certain risks. There were nuances of tone and cultural meaning to various words and phrases that only a native speaker could explain. Still, if she was to select the wrong 'level' to use, she'd rather use the more formal case. Being too polite tended to offend far less than not being polite enough.

"Vor'e' is what we say, but- Ba'gedet'ye. You are welcome."

Well, at least I've managed to win one Mandalorian's momentary approval. Master Marin knew this to be a small first step, akin to a single pebble dropped into a pond. Throw in enough pebbles though, and in time you'd form a mountain. The task which lay before her was indeed a difficult one, but not outright impossible. She looked forward to the challenge.

"Close. Not too far."

"Good." The Investigator wasn't responding to the content of the other woman's answer alone. From the lack of resentment in her emotional resonance, it became clear Rhia didn't have a problem with talking to the aruetii. She just didn't have a lot to say. Shay couldn't tell if the Mandalorian acted taciturn as a rule or only when she was stuck playing ambassadorial escort. Either way, the behavior didn't reflect on the Jedi in a personal fashion.

She followed Rhia's example on how to strap into the LAAT/i drop ship. The fact Mandalorians used craft designed for military use on normal, non-combat related errands struck her as interesting. It did fit with what else she'd learned of their culture thus far. Refitting 'civilian' vehicles for homeworld defense would be a simple matter as a result. More evidence of the extent the warrior mentality had infiltrated their civilization.

Shay didn't comprehend what her escort shouted at their pilot after takeoff, but Rhia's mental flux of momentary alarm mixed with irritation conveyed her meaning well enough. The Dolomarian repressed her amusement with a minor mental effort. Last thing she desired right now was for the Mandalorian woman to think her clan's guest might be mocking her. Maybe 'Brin' might, but the Telosian mercenary didn't always think before she spoke. Or acted, for that matter.

On the way to their destination, Master Marin took the time to inquire of her escort what the best way to address her clan leader might be. The answer proved most informative--particularly in Rhia's attitude regarding how an outsider should speak to this John Ischoron. Defaulting to formality again turned out to be the wisest course of action.

"We're here."

The newly minted Lieutenant Colonel pulled on her restraints as she leaned towards the indicated view. It took a few seconds for her to pick out what Rhia pointed towards; at first all she saw were trees and rocks. Then reflected sunlight glimmered off the surface of a body of water, drawing her attention in the correct direction. Now she could pick out several humanoid figures below, along with the compound entrances well camouflaged within the giant-sized steps of stone.

The cleverness of concealment impressed the Jedi Master. Why they'd feel the need to go to such lengths in hiding on their home planet I'm not sure. I suppose taking the tactical approach to any sort of project might be simple habit to them.

Landing and disembarking from the drop ship proved a swift task; soon enough Shay's booted feet found purchase on Mandalorian soil once more. One hand lifted to her hair, fingers combing back the pale gold strands which had become somewhat disarrayed on the journey. No one could call the Sentinel vain by any stretch of the imagination, but she wasn't fond of hair falling in her eyes. Since she'd started letting it grow out this had become an increasing problem.

"Rhia. Greetings, ambassador."

Standing as she did on the high side of human female average height, Shay wasn't used to being the shortest person in sight. That seemed her fate today, however. To be fair, the leader of Clan Ischoron would tower over most humanoids in the galaxy. The description she'd been provided had described the man as tall, but in the face of reality this turned out to be almost a Lysander-style understatement.

Something about the man's speech patterns nagged at her. The accent didn't match up with her assigned guide's. Perhaps this wasn't too strange a thing; she'd heard Mandalorians tended to be nomadic. Shay couldn't quite place the sound at first, as the lilt wasn't strong enough to serve as proof positive of anything. It struck her as familiar though. Something to meditate on later.

Her head inclined in a respectful gesture towards John. "Aliit'alor," she responded, her pronunciation much improved thanks to Rhia's advice. "I appreciate the welcome." In more ways than one. The clan leader appeared the restrained type when it came to emotions; she picked up few hints through her empathic sense. However, in this case, a lack of evidence might be a good thing. It meant he didn't bear overt antagonism towards her.

Time to get down to business. One particular item on the agenda needed to be dealt with straight away. "As much as I'd love to look around right now, I think there's something I need to discuss with you first. In private." No use beating around the bush; it would waste time. She'd been told Mandalorians appreciated straight talk anyways.

[John Ischoron]

"I appreciate the welcome."

John inclined his head to the ambassador at the greeting, finding himself pleasantly surprised at the use of his title in Mando'a. He had not expected them to have such deep knowledge, but it would perhaps be to their advantage to know. Maybe to appear as respectful as possible, they had investigated the various titles. It was a dedication that John could appreciate, even if it was aimed at diplomacy instead of war.

"In private."

He found her request peculiar and debated whether or not he could tell her that anything she had to say could be shared among the clan, they held no secrets, but the ambassador would not have requested it without reason. If she felt this was best discussed with him initially, he would give her that freedom, but he would not hide the fact that he would share this information with the rest of the clan if it so was necessary. Therefore, he nodded his assent to this.

"Pare," he commanded to Rhia, the command not harsh, but clear that she should wait until this business was concluded before giving the tour she was assigned to give. Rhia would know he would contact her through their helmet comm. when this was concluded and he would be careful to share the information he'd learnt with her afterwards. It was important as alor that he was not keeping secrets from his own people, despite the opinions of a Tsad ambassador.

Turning around without a word, he expected the ambassador to follow him, as he marched to the doorway in the hangar that would lead into the innards of the compound. There wasn't really an assigned office for the alor, John felt that was unnecessary, so he led the ambassador to the most private place he knew of, his own quarters. The walk was a brisk one, John taking into use his usual brisk step as he took point.

When they did enter his quarters, they seemed nothing different from any other military room, Spartan and containing very little of seeming personal value. There was a bed in the corner, larger than ordinary due to John's size, well made and drawing no real attention to itself. The rest of the room was tidy, beyond a small functional workbench where his Z-6 rested, undergoing maintenance. There was a desk against the wall, but it didn't seem to be put too much use.

John stepped up to the desk and turned towards the ambassador, bending his head forward as he reached for his helmet with his hands. The hiss of the pressure seal breaking was what announced the helmet coming off and John pulled it off without further ado. He placed it on the desk behind him, before turning his passive gaze to the ambassador, inclining his head for her to proceed.

[Shay Marin]

The Aliit'alor didn't understand the purpose of her request. This much was clear from the subtle alteration of his aura after she spoke. Shay didn't blame him; she'd been warned Mandalorians weren't much for keeping secrets from their fellows. That's why she wanted to address the matter of her initial deception before anything else happened. The Sentinel had no wish to lie to these people, even if the truth might be more difficult for them to accept.

"Pare,"

It appeared the leader of Clan Ischoron's restraint extended to more than his emotions. He proved even more sparing with his words than Rhia. The 'ambassador' rated no more than a nod of response before the massive Mandalorian turned his armored back on her and began moving towards the hangar exit. His stride being proportionally related to his size, the Jedi Master had time for no more than a quick apologetic glance and another smile at Rhia before she had to hustle after him.

Whatever destination John intended for the two of them, it proved a rather short trip away from the transport berth. There were no indicators--that Shay noticed or understood, at any rate--as to what part of the complex they traveled through or what might lay beyond any of the doors they passed unopened. She found reason to be thankful for being escorted about so much. Her sense of direction may be excellent, but remembering where you've been didn't help when you had no idea where to go.

Finding out the clan leader had taken her to a set of quarters surprised her some. Especially as they no doubt belonged to the armored man, given his apparent familiarity with the surroundings. An odd choice for a private meeting from her perspective. Well, for this sort of private meeting, at any rate. Knowing full well the Aliit'alor held not even the slightest of untoward attentions towards her, Shay's limited her outward signs of reaction to a brief raise of her eyebrows.

Master Marin watched with undeniable interest as John removed his helmet. She'd wondered more than once in the past what specific customs or protocols were involved in choosing to show one's face to an aruetii. She'd seen Orion out of his armor before--mainly when they were sparring--but on the whole Mandalorians seemed fond of concealing their face from strangers. Or perhaps it merely looked that way to her in her ignorance. Another subject deserving further reflection.

The man's anticipation for her to speak was plain in his behavior as well as his emotional resonance. She wasted no time cutting straight to the heart of the matter. Hopefully his appreciation of her straightforward manner would mollify any potential offense he might feel at what she had to say. "The name you were given by the Alliance is not truly mine. It is an alias I often operate under while doing Intelligence work. Many in the rebellion do not know my real identity. Hence why I answered to Brin Trell when Rhia came to collect me."

Now for the more difficult--and perhaps problematic--portion of her confession. "My real name is Shay Marin. In the interests of full disclosure, I must also inform you that I am a Jedi Master. I also hold a seat on the Jedi High Council." It went against many of the habits and instincts the Investigator possessed to reveal herself in this fashion, but from all the information Loran had given her she felt it to be necessary.

"I am not here to speak for the Jedi. I came to Mandalore--Manda'yaim, forgive me--on behalf the Alliance. My officer's commission is very much the real thing. That is why I wear their uniform. However, you deserve to know my allegiances in full." Shay's hands clasped together at the small of her back, her posture one of serene readiness. "What you choose to do with this information is up to you, Aliit'alor. I am quite aware of the Mandalorian... aversion to my kind."

[John Ischoron]

"Hence why I answered to Brin Trell when Rhia came to collect me."

At this news, John admitted to a fair amount of confusion, for one such as he had no need for aliases and did not understand the need when one could face enemies directly. It was pretty clear he held no comprehension for the reasons of 'Brin Trell' to lie to the Mando'ade and a small sliver of frustration could be found as he wondered what exactly those reasons were. It did not make sense that she wasn't known among the Tsad, she was their ambassador. Why would they send someone who the Tsad did not know properly? Why would she reveal this secret to John when she couldn't even reveal it to the people she worked with every day?

While John's mind ran through all this, his face did not show the full brunt of the cycling emotions, but his brows were gently furrowed, the edges of his mouth turned down slightly. It seemed like the most expressive he could get. John was not often faced with such conflicts as this, so he was clearly at a loss with how to handle it. It was not a combat situation, neutralising the problem in his usual manner would end badly and reverse everything he'd thought he would accomplish with this meeting.

"I also hold a seat on the Jedi High Council."

Has he been the expressive sort, John would've perhaps looked at the newly announced Jedi Master Shay Marin of the Jedi High Council as if she had grown a second head and begun dancing on his desk, but he wasn't. Instead, he merely grew slightly more puzzled, with a brief sliver of alarm as he wondered what this would mean for the diplomatic process. It was no secret Mando'ade did not entirely trust Jedi, and viewed most with hostility. John himself held no overt opinion, having not worked with them before beyond the brief sight of them on the battlefield of Korriban. He was not one to form an opinion without firsthand experience, but it seemed he would be receiving it. Already it was turning bad, as he was not enjoying the process.

He wondered what she had hoped to accomplish by approaching the diplomatic move in this manner, it did not seem... tactically wise. However, she did not seem to be finished with her words, so John remained silent as she continued, offering no thoughts or inserts as she did no, merely watching her with puzzlement and finding frustration in trying to decipher the whole issue that had suddenly shown up on his doorstep.

"However, you deserve to know my allegiances in full."

That at least seemed honest, which put some of John's unease to rest, but it would've been better if she had arrived with the honesty she had just shared in full view from the beginning. The Ischoron's believed a Tsad would be visiting, not a Jedi, they would not be happy, despite their opinion, or lack thereof, on Jedi. John had received a tangle to unwind, but it seemed impossible to do so without damaging the Ischoron's opinion of the Tsad. However, it could be spun to an advantage. Theoretically they now had ambassadors from both the Tsad and the Jedi, as Shay of Marin would be treated as such. As John considered this, his face eased into a pensive calm.

I am quite aware of the Mandalorian... aversion to my kind."

Considering her quietly for a few moments, he debated his reply. "I have no choice in this matter. The clan must know." The fact that they had a Jedi among them, not only a Tsad, was something that had to be shared with the clan. There was no considering it, John would not keep it from them, but he was also determined to glean something useful from this mess.

"As for Mando'ade aversion, it would not be so if Jetii did not resort to deception." Coming from anyone else, the line could be taken as a sharp rebuttal, but his tone, as well as his attitude and accompanying emotion, merely labelled it as a clear fact. Many things could be solved if the involved parties could be honest with each other and fight over their differences in the battle circle. It was the honourable way.

[Shay Marin]

The massive man who faced Shay dealt with the neutron bomb she'd dropped in his lap rather well, in her opinion. No true anger spiked out towards her through the Force; confusion remained the Mandalorian's primary emotion, flavored by disappointment and concern. She hadn't expected such a measured reaction to her words, truth be told. Then again, Master Marin possessed very little information to formulate theories about in the first place.

Frustration surfaced next in John's aura--something else the Sentinel could sympathize with, even if she did not feel it herself. Cultures were clashing with a vengeance. She'd known this would happen and had prepared for it, but no amount of forewarning could make a rough road any easier to walk on. Fortunately, the subtle proddings of the Force in the back of her mind hinted the Aliit'alor was a man accustomed to taking the hard path in life.

The rough borders of the Mandalorian's reflection within the Force smoothed out as his emotional state swung towards calm again. With the nigh endless store of patience Shay possessed, she awaited his decision while he thought it over. Had it turned out to be necessary, the Jedi Master could've stood there all day waiting.

"I have no choice in this matter. The clan must know."

Master Marin gave a slow nod of acceptance at his judgment call. "I understand." Her words were nothing less than the bare truth. It seemed Mandalorian culture valued honesty as much as the Jedi did, perhaps even more so. This proved one of the traits the two factions held in common, and therefore an ethical standpoint she could respect. Shay might be an 'eccentric' by Order standards, but beneath all the skill at pretense she remained a sincere person at heart.

"As for Mando'ade aversion, it would not be so if Jetii did not resort to deception."

Were Shay capable of taking offense at mere words, she'd not like John's bluntly delivered statement one bit. On the surface, he'd just been downright insulting to her kind. That said, the feelings she detected from the massive example of a man proved he'd not meant to truly aim a warning shot across her personal bow. His general mood reflected an individual who spoke the truth as he saw it.

Regardless, the Sentinel could not allow such an accusation--not matter how mildly it was delivered--go without challenge. She didn't possess pride or ego as other sentients defined it, but she didn't like letting other people go on misunderstanding the Order. Knowledge was always preferable to ignorance.

A faint, wry smile took form on her mouth. "For the record, most Jedi don't. We far prefer honesty as a rule. However, the duties I perform for the Order often require a certain amount of pretense. I go where other Jedi cannot, where they would be conspicuous at best and a target for galactic scum at worst." Trying to explain the role of a Jedi Investigator in simple and clear terms to one who knew so little of her people proved difficult. She wanted John to grasp her motivations, but her admitted actions didn't fit within Mandalorian norms.

"Such was the case when I initiated contact with the Alliance to offer our assistance. Their leaders aren't the easiest people to schedule a conference with." Especially when you have to break them out of a Dolomarian military lockup first. "They're almost as wary as Mandalorians when it comes to dealing with outsiders. I had to prove myself first. While the upper echelons are aware my true nature now, for security reasons I've kept using my alias with those who didn't need to know."

The blonde woman's angular features drew into a more solemn expression at this point. "In short, the deception was not meant for your clan. That's why I asked to speak with you in private first. If I'd wanted to lie, I wouldn't have said anything, and you'd never have known the difference. I accept you aren't pleased with the circumstances, but I want you to understand I did have reasons. Reasons which were not meant as insult to you or yours."

[John Ischoron]

"I go where other Jedi cannot, where they would be conspicuous at best and a target for galactic scum at worst."

John found this statement odd. Were Jedi not strong enough to dispose of threats? He could understand keeping a low profile; even Mando'ade attracted attention and were required to fool those around them when their mission objective required it. From a combat perspective he could understand what she spoke of, but usually diplomacy was not combat unless they resorted to aggressive negotiations. Perhaps she was speaking of specialisations? Rhia, unlike him, had specialised in the line of becoming a baar'ur, while he had specialised in far more combat oriented areas, perhaps this applied to Jetii as well.

He imagined he understood the concept she spoke of, even if her use of it was odd to him who was used to Mando'ade traditions and ways. He did understand the difference between Mando'ade and aruetiise, so he would not demand that she follow their ways to the letter, merely show it the respect it was due. In return, he would have to show her ways the respect it was due, even if it was difficult to comprehend.

"While the upper echelons are aware my true nature now, for security reasons I've kept using my alias with those who didn't need to know."

Having to prove herself was a concept John was very familiar with, this he understood, despite his confusion as to her subterfuge. In this way, the Tsad were similar to the Mando'ade, even if that similarity was a small one. It was a barely mentionable one, as Mando'ade were not in the habit of keeping secrets, while the Tsad guarded their information, confidential or otherwise, with a zealousness that could be put to better use on the battlefield. The error that had occurred was a result of the Tsad's insistence to keep information of the extent of the Jetii's work in their organisation; John did not feel he could blame the Jetii in front of him for this slight on a personal level.

John did not understand why the Tsad kept secrets from their own people, but then they were aruetiise, perhaps they could not be trusted even by their own kind. This limited understanding was one he could not help and as a result he could not explain it to himself in terms he would understand. The ways of aruetiise were simply too foreign, even if he was accustomed to their presence and behaviour.

"Reasons which were not meant as insult to you or yours."

"It is not an insult to me," John began, cocking his head slightly to the side as he regarded the Jetii. "But I cannot promise my clanmates will not take offence. I have some comprehension, as I have worked with Tsad aruetiise, but many of my clanmates have not." His hand came up to rub absently at the wide scar at the base of his neck, as he thought of all the likely outcomes of the announcement that the Tsad ambassador was a Jetii, not a Tsad soldier.

"Your presence will not be accepted easily, many will challenge you to the battle circle. It is our main arena for gaining honour among our own kind, if you gain honour through the battle circle, your allegiance Jetii or Tsad, you will manage your mission with far more success than if you declined." This small piece of advice, while perhaps something she might have been told before, was what John felt prudent to offer. He was keen on furthering cooperation, and his words reflected this.

[Shay Marin]

"It is not an insult to me," John began, cocking his head slightly to the side as he regarded the Jetii. "But I cannot promise my clanmates will not take offence.

She acknowledged his words with another nod. "Fair enough." As far as the Jedi Master was concerned, a sentient could only be held responsible for their own actions, no one else's. If other Mandalorians wanted to take exception to the presence of a Jedi on their home soil, so be it. At least the Aliit'alor didn't seem to have a personal issue with the idea. Shay hoped this fact would make her 'integration' easier to manage.

The absent attention John paid to his scar had Master Marin looking the man over with interest again. His appearance made her wonder what he'd been through. Living the life of a Mandalorian didn't sound to be a piece of rhyscate by any means. They thrived on battle and conflict in a way alien to the ethos of the Jedi Order. No doubt the Mando'ade, as they called themselves, would find the Jedi desire to avoid violence whenever possible equally as bizarre.

"Your presence will not be accepted easily ... you will manage your mission with far more success than if you declined."

Well, isn't that just swell... She'd been worried about this. Sparring with Orion had indeed been required to earn some measure of his respect; therefore, the strong possibility had existed she'd have to face the same sort of trial from his fellow warriors. The idea of needing to fight another living being to make peace with them struck her as strange, even after all her years of experience in combat.

No matter; Shay'd known what she was getting into when she'd volunteered for this mission in the first place. Getting cold feet about the consequences of her actions now wouldn't be like her. "If that's what it takes to make this work," she responded after a brief and thoughtful pause. "Then I'll do it. I've never been one to shrink from a challenge." The Sentinel didn't mean her words in the way John would likely take them, but they remained true all the same.

A passing thought brought another faint smile to her face. Ly-Ly is going to be ever so jealous of me when I tell him about this. Her adoptive brother didn't relish the idea of bringing harm to others, no, but he did appreciate a good fight all in fun. She'd ultimately have the Guardian to thank for how well she'd (hopefully) perform against her Mandalorian opponents. She couldn't begin to count the number of hours they'd spent sparring with eachother over the course of their lives.

There was little else left to say, in the Investigator's estimation. She'd delivered the news she'd needed to, and John Ischoron didn't strike her as one for making small talk. This was shaping up to be the most... interesting diplomatic mission she'd ever been on by a long shot. May the Force give me strength. "So should we begin the festivities for 'Fight With the Jedi Day' now or later?" Again her quirky sense of humor made an appearance, her smile going decidedly lopsided.

[John Ischoron]

"I've never been one to shrink from a challenge."

John inclined his head in silent approval, finding her words as positive in light of what they had been discussing. With that approach, she would go far in the battle circle and while John had not seen her combat skills yet, he had seen Jedi fighting on Korriban and the impression was that they were all skilled, if not in the same area as the Mando'ade. To put it mildly, it would be interesting to see how one would perform in the battle circle and there would be a chance to learn something from this whole situation, if the Jetii felt so inclined to share. It could be an advantage if the Mando'ade of Ischoron discovered the weaknesses of darjetii, so that they may better fight them.

"So should we begin the festivities for 'Fight With the Jedi Day' now or later?"

He cocked his head to the side as she spoke, his face admittedly more bemused than amused. The joke he understood, but the amusement was lost to him. They would challenge her because that was their nature, not because a particular day had been assigned to such pursuits. That was a waste of time, why assign days when any day was suitable for such activities? However, one corner of his mouth did turn upwards slightly, indicating his understanding in the joke, despite the lack of amusement on his part.

"I will lead you back to Rhia. Your challengers will present themselves at their convenience, be prepared," he replied simply, reaching for his helmet again and pulling it on. He brought up a comm. channel to Rhia's comm., standing stationary as he addressed her. His external helmet speakers were turned off, so the Jetii was privy to none of the conversation as he instructed Rhia to meet them outside the entrance on the lowest level on the compound, near the lake. He then gestured for Shay to follow him and led her through the compound maze again until they reached their destination, where Rhia waited.

"Rhia, guide Jedi Master Shay Marin of the Tsad through our compound. I must speak to the others." His words carried the authority he held as alor, allowing no room for protests, not that he would've listened, as he was already leaving the two behind. The news of the Jedi had to be made known, but he was sure a few of the Mando'ade outside had heard his words.

[Rhia Ischoron]

Rhia had no trouble occupying herself while she waited for her buir and the Tsad ambassador, but she was constantly attentive to her comm-unit. When it crackled to life, she stopped the impromptu game of hackeysack which the ade had coerced her into playing, waving them off to listen to the alor's words.

... Jetii? Shay Marin?

Who- What- Nobody outside of her helmet knew what she had heard, but the way her body stiffened was enough to warn off anybody inquiring. What had possessed the woman to lie to her this way? What purpose did it serve? The feeling coursing through her was more like one of being cheated instead of anger. Still, when the 'ambassador' showed her face, Rhia's jaw tightened, turning to face her, displeasure obvious in every line of her body.

"Brin?" She spat with derision. "What else have you kept from us, aruetii?"

Before she could go on, however, John issued his order and left them standing together. Rhia stared after the man, then glanced at Shay, before inclining her head away from the shores of the lake. She didn’t speak to the woman, but she knew where they were going. A few rounds in the battle circle would prove the woman to the Mando’ade, perhaps beat all of that dishonesty out of her. Rhia approved.

From the lake, the walk was a short one, up a slight incline between the compound buildings. The sound of the flowing water of the lake's tributary became more apparent as they ascended, along with the cries of combatants already in circle. The fight was a fierce one and flashes of red showed off the bloodied noses and lips that the fighters sported. It was a fine example of exactly what Shay would be facing.

Skirting along the edges of the buildings, Rhia kept them in the shade, only stopping when they had a clear view of the circle. Angling her body towards Shay, she finally took her helmet off, and looked down at the jetii, her full lips in a deep frown.

“Here we are, jetii.” She said, clipping the helmet to her belt. “I’m sure word has spread far enough by now.”

The mention of the word 'jetii' was enough to turn heads and several curious eyes were drawn to Shay.