Last Stand

"And these are marmalnuts. Very very nutritious and you can make them into soups, sauces and pastes. Excellent if you need to add more protein. But Rodians are allergic on account of the Cicalamine in the shell so don't serve them anyway."

The Republic cook, a three armed Ardennian (the fourth appeared to be in a sling) nods.
"That's very helpful M'am. We can probably start shelling them today, do it myself if I had a spare pair of hands."

"That's no problem, Bourke will help." The stocky looking human carrying the canvas shack of nuts nods, depositing it with careful gentleness into the corner of the makeshift kitchen.
"No problem Cam."
She smiles back at him. "Thank you dear, I'll make sure your folks know you'll be working late and I'll check in on your ma myself."
The young Obroan sets to shelling with gusto, demonstrating the trick of sliding your knife in just so to the Republic cooks as Camali steps away to coordinate another delivery.

For one moment a gust of frigid air blows in and the mayor looks very, very cold and tired, one hand shaking ever so slightly. But then another truck turns up loaded with smoked meat and she forces a smile onto her face before striding out into the snow to meat them.

A colourful Zeltron popped his head in, and heaved a sigh of relief to see that the cantina wasn't completely demolished. "Oh praise my abs, this place survived the landing!"

Apollo gave a quick glance around. "How's the supplies?"

The chef gives Apollo a dry look.
"From what I hear they get plenty of praising already."
Two of his hands continue shelling a nut while the third gestures at Camali.

"The local mayor organised a supply run from some of the town larders, so you can thank her that we're not gonna be eating MREs I wouldn't even feed to a lanko-rat. Lotta the ingredients are new to me, but food's food, we'll manage."

Just then Camali comes staggering into the Cantina holding a smoked ham nearly half her size with a clearly shaky grip. "Here we are, Joran had a bunch of salted meat stowed away on account of the market being closed. Said we could take the lot."
With a tired smile at Apollo.
"I don't suppose you could help me with this?"

Apollo glanced at the smoked ham with a half-smile. "Huh, well... I'll give it a go, I suppose? Not the strangest thing a lady has asked me to do." The half-smile turned into a grin.

"Captain Apollo, fair lady."

"R-right." Camali blinks and then takes the executive decision to just dump the ham on Apollo with an apologetic smile.

"Thank you Captain Apollo. I'm Camali."
From behind the kitchen counter Bourke appears to be giving the back of Apollo's head a death stare.

"I'm sure someone as uh strong and...toned as yourself would be able to lend me a hand? There's a lot more meat back there and I wouldn't want to slow down all the unloading."

"Wai---whoah!" Apollo fumbled a bit with the ham. Well, he couldn't let down a pretty face. "Ah yes, yes. I can certainly lend a hand."

He remained oblivious to any death stares. "So... people are gonna start hunting and such around here then to get supplies?" Isn't that what those hillbillies did out here anyway?

"That's very kind of you captain. Maybe we could start filling that cooler over there?"
Camali indicates a salvaged freezer with several crudely patched holes that appeared to be running off a small wind generator sticking out through a whole in the roof.

"Oh yes, there's lots of hunting in the forest. The growing season is so short, although I have been trying to get everyone to invest in some greenhouses..."
She sighs quietly before going to fetch another huge side of meat that must have come from something truly massive.
"Are you a hunter then? I'm sure I could ask some of our folk to take you with them on the next trip?"

"Hunter? Me?" Apollo almost manages to stifle his laugh, but doesn't quite get there. "No, no... hardly. Not even as a kid even if some of the other ones in the neighbourhood got up to it back then."

He does pause to wonder what sort of beasts these big chunks of meat came from originally before continuing the work of filling the freezer. "I'd much rather try to strike some deals with those individual folks living outside of the more populated areas, the ones already doing that kind of stuff. They know the area and how to shoot, so... leave it to the pros?" He shrugs a little. "But how are we doing on the important stuff? You know, the booze?"

Camali's laugh is quite light. "I see you have your priorities straight, just like Maeve."
With a thanks and a grunt she collects several racks of ribs and carries them over to Apollo.

"She wasn't much one for hunting either. Ciph always said she was too much of a city slicker. But yes, Captain, we have lots of the important stuff. You'd be hard pressed to find a town on the planet that wasn't making some locally. The trick is just not too blow up your still. Old Mrs Drezane nearly lost her house that way not two weeks ago."

The ribs are handed over with another grunt.
"If you want something nice you really should try The Woodsman, that's our local tavern. But if you want something strong ask Ciph. He and his boys could strip paint with their brew."
The Mayor pauses and then wags a finger like a school teacher.
"But be careful going out and striking deals with the pros. That's the Alpine Clan around these parts and they don't take kindly to strangers...although if you're willing to fight Mandalorians they might make an exception."

"Alpine Clan huh? I'll keep that in mind," he says with a thoughtful smirk, as he seemed very much like he was considering the possibility of seeking them out. His thinking did make him slow down his work, but soon enough Apollo was picking up back to normal speed again.

"What about these Mandalorians themselves though? Any chance of negotiating with them at all? Honestly, I am good at convincing people if need be."

"Well." She cleans her hands on a rag with a thoughtful look. "In theory you can negotiate with just about anyone as long as they're not a swarm of ravenous ants or something. Back at the university my galactic studies unit did have a section on Mandalorians and they seem to have wants and needs just like you or I."

She pauses.

"Okay, maybe not exactly like you or I. But people have negotiated with them before, they follow rules, it's not impossible. You'd have to have something they want, and then make sure they couldn't get it by fighting you. Unfortunately they seem more interested in fighting for things for now."
She smiles sadly and then shivers, Bourke is there in a flash with a steaming cup of caff before she can shoo him off.

"Bourke, I'm fine, really. Ask Captain Apollo if he would like one too."
The young man turns and in his most strained but polite voice asks. "Would you like some caff?"

"Oh, yes please!" He was more than happy to take a break from the meaty work to have some caff. Free caff was probably going to be nice!

Pink hands made grabby motions for the warm cup.

"Any idea where the Mandalorians are hanging out or holing up? Gotta be possible to meet some of them, right?"

Bourke pours out a steaming cup of caff which is indeed free before handing it to Apollo. It's goodness probably depends on how strong you like it. This stuff was potent, the sort of drink which could power someone through a whole morning and the day to come.

"Well most of them are involved in the siege at the capital or some of the major war camps. But I did hear something actually."
She pauses.
"Just, maybe think over how you approach it. But apparently some figures have been spotted using jetpacks in the woods which seems...uh, unwise. But I understand Mandalorians often use them? Perhaps they're Crusaders of some sort. No-one's quite sure where they've holed up though."

Despite her protests she does seem to clearly relish taking a long sip from her own drink.
"Have you given any thought to what you'd like to say to them?"

Apollo smirked, as if he had a masterplan. "Well first of all I'd offer them a nice drink. We're civilized beings."

A jetpack did sound a lot of fun... maybe he could get his hands on one? Would be a shame if one disappeared if a Mandalorian died in the forest.

"Then ask them why exactly they're attacking Obroa-Skai. I never understood that one."

Camali looks surprised and then pleased, like a student of hers has just aced a question.

"That's quite reasonable actually. Do you think there's just the one reason then? There are all sorts of rumours in town. Ciph thinks they want our land, M'kkuruk is sure it's because of the Jedi Temple, I've heard people blaming the Archives or the Republic itself."

Some colour returns to her cheeks as she keeps drinking and warming herself. Although there's probably also some intellectual curiosity.
"I think we need to think about what the Crusade leaders want. But information is so scarce. What do we even know about this 'Hanuel'?"

Apollo shrugged. "Name doesn't ring any bells to me. But hey, I'll let you know if I find something, eh?" He took a hearty sip from the cup to let the caff warm him up. Honestly, he would've liked some sugar and blue milk in it, but this at least was waking him up.

"I'm much better at dealing with people than..." a casual gesture to their surroundings, "this. So I'll probably have to sniff around a bit. See what I can find. Maybe bring the giant fluffy one to protect me and keep me warm too."

"Oh, you have a big warm coat? That's wonderful, very sensible. Your abs can't do all the heating. Well I'll leave that in your hands then. Just remember to be careful and I'm sure any intelligence you gather would be well worth it."

She smiles slightly, gently setting her caff down (on a coaster, Camali isn't a monster). "Speaking of leaving things in your hands, how are you with eggs?" As another truck arrives, squawking with poultry.

((Good to fade to loading or attempted loading there? ))

"Oh, I was thinking of the Gigoran here... uh, Snowflake, I believe his name is."

The mention of eggs did make him cringe slightly, recalling the Egg-Theft Incident in his youth. "I do have some stories about eggs..."


/fade to eggs sounds good!