It just doesn't seem right (Open)

[Grayson Drake]

Standing on the Southern Flightline, well, the memorial anyway, Ewan just couldn't stomach what he was seeing. So many good men and women lost and for what? Because of some despot? It seemed like such a waste, a waste of the lives of good men and women, and that made him angry.

I left because of a glorified backache, these heroes gave their lives. I have no right to count myself among them...

Then he saw them. Ojan "Holly" Yurram, and Lasq "Wood" Yurram. Two of his best friends, former Wraiths, gave their lives defending Telos from an Imperial attack. Kneeling down, he looked at each little "tombstone" for lack of a better term. He didn't say a word, he didn't look at anything else, he just sat there looking at the resting place of the twins, friends, two of the best pilots he ever served with.

I'm not gonna live in the past guys. I should have been there, I lost the honor of your friendship when I left. Somehow, some way, one day I will be able to regain that. I promise guys. I promise.

[Tal Kote]

-The last time he came to the memorial... the day he stood in front of two grave stones... it was way to long. A little after he was appointed to the rank of High General and given all the duties and responsibilities of the NR military. That was the time he had come here to pay his respects. He was only 18-years-old at the time and was fresh in the new rank of military leader. However, with all that experience it had to go somewhere. Experience in the army Rangers and even experience with the Special Forces also known as the Devil Dogs.-

-It was a rather cool morning on Telos within the capital of Thani. Everything had been completed in terms of his duties and responsibilities as military leader. However, he still had plenty of other things to do. Passing by the memorial was only the tip of the ice berg. Kote had been dressed himself a little better this time around. Not like when he was at Mirror's Edge sulking over four glasses of mandalorian made alcohol. That was the dumbest thing that a young 19-year-old could ever do. He had only a few weeks till he would be twenty years old and then another year before he was at legal drinking age. But whether you were at drinking age or not; he still had a job to do. Hands tucked firmly into his pants pockets Tal stepped over to a tombstone of a friend who had joined about the same time as him. It read Ross "Ghost" Shor and the rank of Lieutenant right below his name. At the time they were both SpecForce and had gone above the call of duty to be personally invited to the Intel department. It was from a mission that his friend lost his life.-

It's not for nothing... -The blond mandalorian thought calmly to himself.-

-With a deep exhale in his breath; a slight breeze brushed by picking up the bangs of his hair. Adjusting his posture Tal looked over taking notice of another individual paying the memorial a visit. Was it...? No. Yes it was. Ewan Isaacs? The last time he talked to him was when he was nearly drunk at Mirror's Edge. Well this time could be different. Tal didn't have any alcohol in him and he was able to talk normally and keep his balance straight. Walking over to him; both hands remained in his pockets as he took a gander at the two stones with names etched into them.-

"Comrades of yours?" -Tal questioned in a rather low soothing voice knowing the exact answer to the question.-

[Grayson Drake]

What indeed were they to him? Sure, he knew Kote was there, even knew that the kid was sober, maybe he was indeed taking the devil pilot's advice. He wasn't trying to be rude, he just wasn't going to look anywhere but in front of him. Shaking his head as he just thought about what they must have gone through, it shamed him, but it drove him to push himself. He had a surgically repaired, rebuilt back, he was clear to do everything he could do before, even had his commission back.

Now it was a matter of follow...

... for those who can't do it themselves.

"Comrades" "Friends" "Wingmen" "Brothers" pick any one you like, I've got more.

[Tal Kote]

-The mandalorian's eyes lowered for a brief moment understanding what Ewan was going through. During a leave of absence that Tal had taken he often thought if he was truly able to return to the NR after his own accident. It took a while to get everything situated, and yet the blond still found himself seeing a chiropractor every month for some unneeded back problems. In the long run Tal was happy to be here, but was still feeling the adverse effects of loosing a friend, comrad, brother... whatever one would call it.-

-Pulling his right hand from his pants pocket; he glanced it over before tightening it into a fist and then lowered it back down to his side.-

"I'm sorry," -Tal said camly.- "I have experienced some time in an X-Wing, but nothing like you and many other pilots have. There was even a time I thought I would never return to the NR myself."

-Many believed mandalorians didn't care about others; it was that very thing that drived them, however. Kote had brothers -- vode as they would call it in mando'a -- to lean on. The military was a different thing altogether. Sometimes he thought that he would need to leave just to make some people happy. Would it be worth it? Fighting for the NR and then just leaving. No... that was what a dar'manda was... a traitor. The best way was to ensure that Ewan would continue going strong despite a lost of friends in a battle.-

[Grayson Drake]

Nothing to be sorry about, they knew the risks when they signed on, wanted to serve. Thank you. He still didn't acknowledge the kid until he stood back up and turned around. He didn't know where the Mandalorian was going with this talk, or if he was just trying to be comforting, but in truth the guy didn't need it. He would tell the kid off in a bar, but Kote was trying to be nice so he went with it.

I had every intention of coming back, I've lost people before, but these two followed me from Corsec, they were kids, no older than you are.

[Tal Kote]

-Tal didn't want to steer this conversation down a bad road. Heck, it was why he didn't join the government. He just wasn't good at talking outright to others. Of course, if was someone he knew closely then that would be a different story. But Ewan was a different guy who had way more experience then he did and was probably better suited for this High General business. Tal just had to get it together that he was the military leader and no one else was. If someone had a problem with they was he ran things... well then he may as well deal with it. Exhaling a breath of air he finally decided to speak.-

"We all know the risks when it comes to joining," -Tal responded knowing this was a repetitive thing.- "Of course, I'm almost 20-years-old now and I joined the military ranks when I was 16."

You think you would need the consent of family to do so...

-But in the culture he grew up from; it was rather different. Young children were trained long and hard starting at the age of eight and then went through four years of training before constructing their armor and truly proving themselves. Well, at least that was how Kote's own clan did it anyways. Others may of done it a little differently.-

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you join the New Republic anyways?"

[Grayson Drake]

Originally I didn't. He said plainly, remembering back to those days, wishing they were the present in a small part of his mind. I was in Corsec, a Tac-Team leader just like my older brother Tomas was before he disappeared. My father was a General Director, and my little sister was soon going to become an undercover agent. We were a Corsec family through and through. The thing is I wanted to learn to fly, and did so, even started flying air support.

He shook his head at the memory as it wasn't a good one but it made him who he was today. Then a thing happened, my dad couldn't do anything but call in a favor and get me signed up in the Republic. Pulling out his old Corsec tags and tossing them to the kid for a look-see, he continued. It was originally going to be a way for me to lay low for awhile, but it all worked out.

[Tal Kote]

-Catching the CorSec tags with his right hand; Kote glanced them over. Of course he had a few run-ins with CorSec. Some of which weren't to pleasant. At one point Tal was almost arrested by them. At that time he was still [16] young and causing trouble. Wearing the armor of a person that looked like he was there for business. Now? Well... he still had a lot to learn, and this all coming from his officers was the perfect way to understand what was required for the military High General. Yellow eyes glanced up to Ewan; sort of clenching the tags in his hand.-

"CorSec," -Tal responded tossing the tags back to him.- "I've heard a lot about them. Then again most of the people who I talk to have some kind of background with them. I've even run into them a few times during brief visits to the world."

None to friendly either.

-Tal even remembered a time when he was arrested for theft. He didn't have enough credits to buy dinner so he resorted to stealing. Wrong place, wrong time.... and some officers caught him. He did try to escape but was caught and thrown behind bars. At least until parental guardians were contacted to allow for release that is.-

[Grayson Drake]

He shrugged at the memory, it wasn't much anymore but a part of what brought him here and he didn't look back. The comment about how everyone having a background was expected, after all not everyone grew up purely for the Republic, or the Empire, or really anyone anymore. There was so much change in the galaxy on a daily basis and while he accept it, it bothered him, gone were the days of tradition. It is what it is. So what brought you out here?

[Tal Kote]

-The memorial not only served a means of honoring the lost lives of soldiers, but a meaning of what had actually occurred here on Telos. Especially that meaning when the Sovereign Galactic Empire attacked. Tal, himself, wasn't here when the attack took place. However, but, he did have friends who remained here while the mandalorian went to Druckenwell with the rangers. When Kote came planet-side again; he found out that Ross had lost his life during the attacks. His nickname was "Ghost" for specific reasons, and had helped Kote out through basic training when first joining the NR. Exhaling a breath of air; Tal looked over to Ewan.-

"During the attack on Telos that crippled us; I had a friend that fought to defend our home world," -Tal responded.- "His name was Ross Shor and he lost his life while trying to help civilians escape a burning building. Eye-witnesses said that he returned into the building to make sure everyone made it out, and by that time it was completely destroyed. The only personal belonging that was found was his dog tags."

-Reaching down; Tal gripped firmly on a pair of dog tags that were damaged with scorch marks. Ross' family allowed for the mandalorian to keep these dog tags. And it was at that moment that he decided to take up his friends alias as "Ghost" and to truly become one with the shadows. Of course with that new unit operating under the High General's command... it seemed only the best way to do so.-

[Grayson Drake]

Nodding, he looked on in appreciation. Sounds like he was a great man. The thought brought a sobering feeling to him as he realized something that he really didn't like. It's sad that it takes something like this to remember someone in that fashion. Then he put a two finger nudge on each cross that represented his two friends.

These two, they made me look better than I am several times. They always told me that I was making them better pilots, they did that for me too. He let out a bit of a defeated sigh. That's the big thing about leadership, you make your decisions and deal with the consequences of them alone, but those under... they can make you better.

[Tal Kote]

-Tal smiled upon hearing Ewan's words; through and through they were true. Leadership was a way of distinguishing ranks amongst military personal. Nothing wrong with that at least. Tal had gathered the knowledge that his role as High General wasn't for nothing. It was the personal below him that made him see the difference. Helped him change his mind about some certain actions he was thinking of taking. It was a nice way of thinking.-

"I feel the same only with those who helped me back on Mandalore," -Tal responded.- "When I was young there was a time that would put everyone's needs before my own. My clan leader said that I'm making myself a better person by doing these actions, and it would take me far. Never thought that would mean becoming the military leader of the New Republic."

-Yellow eyes looked up to the pilot before him. Even if he hadn't seen him fly; Kote knew that his rank meant something and that he gained that rank for some reason or another. Not just by commanding a ship or two.-

[Grayson Drake]

He let out a bit of a sigh at the kid's comment, though he hid it well as he was looking off in the distance as the MP's were taking two hooligans into their station for questioning. It bothered him that the kid was still doubting himself, even if indirectly, but then again confidence takes forever to gain and can be lost in a shot. Well, I don't know anything about it, but the Jedi always talk about the Force willing things and actions. Maybe you were meant to be here where you are right now. Maybe you're not the perfect choice, but the right one for the time? He shrugged. You're where you are for a reason, give yourself some credit. It's funny how when he left he used to be a high strung immature hothead... now he was almost an elder statesman.

[Tal Kote]

Okay; I wasn't putting myself down.

-He had taken notice the sigh that Ewan let out. Kote wasn't really talking down about himself. Nothing to do with his leadership role as High General. Sometimes he wished he joined the Intel instead of the military and there was a time he wished he became a pilot in the navy. But his decision remained as such with the ground forces. Though he was trying his best to get as much experience with the navy as possible. Piloting was a natural thing to do... if one counted racing in a swoop or pod race as a great pilot. There was a major difference between flying the skies and using something that only hovered a few inches from the ground.-

"You got me there," -Tal responded calmly.- "Most of my experience lies with ground forces and firing a blaster. Coming up with strategies and movements for the Navy is something that needs to be improved, and I've been slowly working on that thanks to the officers who follow me."

[Grayson Drake]

The conversation was getting a little awkward and he was well aware of this, so without making things worse he took the chance to put an end to it. Well, I have to get going. He didn't have anywhere to go, he just didn't want to talk about something that was getting more and more weird, maybe it was the shyness in him, maybe it was the fact that he wanted to take Angellus' speeder for one last spin before he moved out. At the same time though he didn't want to just walk away, it was rude. Of course the thought of strategies for the air was funny to him. Well, fighters are easy, you just give them a target... "the big boys" are the same way.