Location: Interrogation Room, Republic Intelligence Headquarters, Coruscant
Time: 0530
Two men sat in a secured, sound-proof cell. All was dark except for the single light that seemed to only blind the man in question. Choruk Reem pinched the bridge of his nose, the primal fury of his mood was almost palpable. He grunted something unintelligible. It was only his third day after signing out on leave and the Republic Army was taking his time away. Not even enough time to go back home to Mandalore. He sat there still and quiet, turning his focus away from the reasons of his being here, and the throbbing headache after drinking as much as he did last night. He didn't know how much he drank, he lost count after ten drinks. "Sergeant Reem," the skinny, stone-faced Intelligence Officer, Chief Eudrep, broke the silence in a dry tone which was too loud for comfort for a sleepy alcoholic. "I heard you the first time, sir, I still don't know this has to be done while I have two weeks left of paid leave... as in leave of absence... as in, very far away from here."
"Sergeant, you know as well as I that the nature of the job which you volunteered for."
"Ha! You're wrong Chief-er-oh, I didn't volunteer, I was conscripted."
"You were granted clemency! An appeal by which the Jedi vouched for on your behalf, granted by the Chancellor himself! You should be locked up in a maximum security facility. I'd be surprised if you didn't have a twenty-four hour guard while you rotted away in solitary confinement."
"Ah but that's not solitary now is it, sir?" Choruk laughed, making every attempt to make the term 'sir' an insult. "I didn't sign up for all this osik. And the chakaar of a Chancellor has decreased my kriffing paycheck and worried about stupid regulations over common sense and rational thought!" He emphasized with a fist pound to the table.
"I'm aware you brought in the terrorist Neran, responsible for a series of bombings on Coruscant." Chief Eudrep said ignoring Reem's complaints.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah... with the help of my partner, and your Republic paid us a fortune for him...let's skip the small chat. You can hear the story on Holo-Net History."
"Sergeant Reem, you served in the Mandalore's militia during the clan wars is that correct?"
"I served in the Army yes, for six years there were fighting among the clans. The northern clans banded together to fight off invading clans. It was brother versus brother, bloody conflicts in an war with no end in sight. Clan Reem stayed together, for the most part our lands were untouched by war, but we were allies with Ordo, and they unfortunately suffered from intense battles. We defended our brothers and I saw much action against enemy clans. After much chaos, death, and destruction, the clans eventually decided to stop fighting. Some smaller clans were even wiped from existence, or fled the planet. To this day the clans remain bitter, and divided..."
He stopped for a brief moment, having a flashback to the war...
The northern clans raided an enemy encampment in the middle of the night, there were heavy casualties on both sides and after hours of fighting the field they stood that was once used for farming now littered with bodies. Choruk had struck down his first Mandalorian that night. Stabbed another mando with a vibro-blade right in an unprotected portion of the armor to penetrate the abdomen and severing the enemy's vena cava. The fallen warrior bled out in less than three minutes. Choruk was only nineteen years old, and he had killed a veteran. It wasn't who was the better warrior it was who lived and who died in that moment. Reem took off the Mandalorian's helmet to reveal the pale face of a bearded man. The Northern Clans won that battle shortly after, but not a single soldier spoke in victory. It was only loss. Many good men died that day on both sides. Not a word was spoken, only the sounds of axes and shovels digging into the ground as a mass grave was made to honor the dead.
The room remained silent as the chief looked through a comprehensive dossier composed on the Mandalorian. He shuffled through pertinent papers. "You broke into the Jedi Temple, twice is that is..."
"Hey wait a minute, sir! I only broke in the first time because I was working a job to expose a traitor, a padawan spy. Even the kriffing Jedi were grateful for my work on that one... And I helped track down a rouge Jedi on Telos IV with Wyrry," Reem said attempting to cover up any suspicious behavior with more of his 'good deeds.'
"Yet I remember an old certain security recording in the Azurbani system, if I recall correctly..." the bald man replied with an almost devious grin, "You broke into a Republic prison on Kiffex, and freed a Mandalorian criminal, Vanna Ordo."
"Our clans have been allies long before the Mandalorian Wars, I was the closest when she sent out a distress signal, and she fought by my side during the clan wars. She would have done the same for me, so I broke into the prison. My people puts family and honor before anything, something you people could learn a lot from!" Now things were getting heated. Reem was practically shouting now. His temper was boiling and he wasn't going to spend his leave days being interrogated. He wanted to kill the Chief with his bare hands. If only that would satisfy him, I would carve him up like something found on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Coruscant. Choruk hated officers in general, intelligence officers even more, but this officer, in particular, he hated the most. Stuck up, scrawny looking, meat-head... Reem calmed a bit down, as he could see the look on the Chief's face, his lips were starting to quiver. Ah, he is scared of the big bad mando... Reem was going to have fun with this now.
"I fierfeking even provided the Jedi, and you Republic types, with invaluable intelligence on secret cult of Sith, and aided Jedi and Republic forces in defeating a powerful trio of Sith Lords, and who assisted me besides Wyrry, none other than the infamous Vanna Ordo. You can send her a thank you." He spat.
"Yet, you broke into the Jedi Temple for a second time only to retrieve special prisoner whom you were responsible for brining in for justice?" Chief Eudrep was attempting to intimidate the Mandalorian. He is going to need to learn better.
"Only to clear my conscience, I restored Neran to his rightful place. He went through enough punishment..."
"He was a terrorist! A murderer! He killed innocent people, for the fun of it!"
"It was about honor and redemption, justice on Mandalore is much different than your Republic's corrupted sense."
"And finally your sins caught up with you, you were hunted down by Jedi Masters Rogal Dorn and Magnus B. Galath, who arrested you on Mandalore. They gave you the option to serve in the Republic Army or rot in prison, how's that been working for you, Sergeant?"
"Well I've never been to Hell or eternal chamber of torment but I'm guessing it would be better equivalent." Choruk laughed.
"Your deployment record is outstanding, with only two years of active service you've proven yourself in the Republic Special Forces Division. You've been apart of several successful operations that has not gone unnoticed by command, but there are many even here in Republic Intelligence who question your motives and loyalties..."
"I have no love of your precious Republic. I do my job, and damn proud of it, but I am not dishonorable. I always take responsibility for my actions and I will never go back on my word."
"Well I certainly hope so, for your sake, otherwise we will be having a completely different conversation in the future. One that I might add, I would enjoy very much." There the Chief went again with a devious grin. Prick.
"Just as much as I would enjoy, putting a bolt through your head, sir." Just as the Chief's smile turned into a disapproving frown he gave a mock-salute as he grabbed his helmet. It was time for a much needed beer. He didn't care about whatever this screening was for, he didn't owe the Republic anything. He wasn't going to be bullied into it, not by Master Galath, not by the Chancellor, and certainly not Chief Eudrep and all his formal nonsense.
"We will be in touch, Sergeant Reem." Chief Eudrep coldly stated, Reem flipped the Chief off as he exited.