Warhead (D7 MN to LN)

[Vanito Cadera]

"Orius Wren," Vanito repeated. He peered at Phoebe and then nodded. "I remember him. He claimed that his daughter had been caught in the crossfire. His answer was accepted publicly, though I doubt they believed him. He ended up perishing in a suicide mission."

[Phoebe Wren]

It was a relief at first, to know her father wasn't caught up in this terrible mess. Then it was the horrible reality sinking in that he had died because of her... they probably knew he lied, and then made him a sacrificial pawn.

Lips pressed together, she nodded silently before turning away to seemingly look at the vitals on the screen.

[Kairi Laerrin]

"You gave up your daughter and they still used you for all you had," Kairi replied, "Chose the wrong side, not that I'd really want to call you comrade."

[Phoebe Wren]

"But what do we do now?" Phoebe asked both Kairi and Coryn over her shoulder.

[Coryn Kusat]

"We shut it down. Erase the research. Stop the program." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "And then we go home. With luck we can take those kids with us and get them a fresh start."

He removed his hand and looked at Cadera. "You gonna help us figure out how to do that with minimal casualties?"

[Vanito Cadera]

"I wish I could say where their base is but I wasn't even told what planet they are on," Vanito said. He motioned over to his helmet and then smiled briefly. "My daughter, though. She sent me a message about a planet with 'odd locals' and requiring gas masks until the program..."

He sighed. "They're on Zeltros. Who would ever think to look for militants hiding out on Zeltros?"

[Phoebe Wren]

She had thought Cadera honorless and a shame to the Mando'ade, but she had to admit that her perspectives were changing now because of his daughter. He could've been lying, she knew, but right Phoebe was thinking with her emotions rather than with cold logic.

"Do you know how far along the program is?"

[Vanito Cadera]

"It started about when the Duchess was destroyed. Imperial-supplied armor hadn't worked so Clan Saxon went for another plan. All of the children indoctrinated into the program would be mainly adolescents. Some older, some younger."

[Phoebe Wren]

There was some tension to her short frame as she realised what fate she had barely avoided herself.

"I see..." she murmured thoughtfully. It was all a lot to digest at once. "Any idea of how many there are in the program? Kids, that is."

[Vanito Cadera]

"Their goal was to have an entire company ready to deploy. Somewhere between a hundred and two-hundred, depending on their organization." Vanito sighed. "Droids are used for any logistics or operational support. The kids, well, their only purpose is to kill."

[Phoebe Wren]

Eyes widened. "That... many? Jesus Toboga..." Phoebe rubbed her open jaw in surprise. Shit, that had to be like most of her generation among the Saxons and their allies.

[Vanito Cadera]

"The eldest taken in are either officers or intended to be sergeants," Vanito went on. He glanced over to his helmet. "My daughter's holovids might give a bit more insight but it had to be covert."

He leaned back and closed his eyes. "I can give you my ship's coordinates too."

[Phoebe Wren]

"That would be helpful..." she nodded, and checked the numbers again, though this time to actually keep track of his continued health rather than as a diversion to avoid talking.

"We'll get your daughter out of there too."

[Vanito Cadera]

"My little girl, sneaking around just like I did. If it wasn't going to help now, I'd be mad." Vanito took a few more labored breaths. "When you go there, try to convince the children. Stunning all of them would be a lot of effort, especially if they're using rifles."

[Coryn Kusat]

"Well, that's not the worst plan." Coryn nodded at the suggestion. "What have they been told? You said they've been indoctrinated, but how deep does it go?" Maybe there was something he could work with.

[Vanito Cadera]

"My daughter said that she looked forward to reclaiming Mandalore's and her people's glory, just like I had when I was her age." Vanito shook his head. "This is different, though. Death Watch failed due to improper training and leadership. I'm not sure how the rebellion on Mandalore would have turned out if Enna had been in charge."

He sighed. "My daughter and others her age are probably the easiest to reason with. The youngest probably have nothing else, have only ever heard it. And the oldest... Well, would it weigh on your conscience to kill a brainwashed adult?"

[Coryn Kusat]

"Not for long. It wouldn't be the first time." He looked over at Phoebe then back at Cadera.

"We'll never know how things might have worked out. Maybe it's best not to dwell on it."

[Phoebe Wren]

"I would prefer not to kill them, if possible," she responded after Coryn looked at her. "... It would be a great loss for the clans, to lose that many young people."

Not that it wasn't true, but it was a more logical reasoning than her own feelings on the matter that was just driven by pure emotion.

[Vanito Cadera]

"Why the Clans have been looking around for so much new blood," Vanito added. He smirked. "Clan Laerrin did well in picking out their people."

His expression turned a bit grim. "What are my official reports? Does Clan Saxon know I survived?"

[Phoebe Wren]

Was it odd to feel like that was praise coming from a man they had ruthlessly hunted since Tatooine, and to kind of like it? Probably was.

"Hm... Dunno if there's anything official yet? At least not from our clan. Coryn, you're the one who talked with CorSec." Phoebe looked to her comrade - she had been rather busy with keeping the wookie alive after the fighting was over, and Coryn had dealt with the public relations.