A Several Hours After Operation Strill

Interrogations Observation Post

Petra was leaning forward when the comlink went off catching her attention. The conversations the room had now died down and now the Nulls were just mulling about. The conversation in the booth had petered out as well so all was silent save for the hum of the machinery. She was half debating on whether she should mediate when Sian came in looking quite a bit relieved.

"Knol, Jon wants you to start the interviews. We've called in some of the applicants that were screened beforehand."

"Sure I'll be there," Knol nodded as she sat up and walked out. "See you later Petra."

"Later," Petra waved at her cheerfully as she left.

"What about the Nulls sir?" Bran asked.

"The Council has spoken and from what Master Diath told me they're being split up. One is going to work with us while the others are going to respective groups that only Diath and the Council knows of so Skirata won't have contact with them since he's a disruptive factor here."

"So who's escorting them?"

"We're taking them one by one to a landing bay and dispersing them from there."

"Seems awfully convoluted."

"Well the Council isn't taking any chances with this guy learning where they went. Sly and Dao you're with me. Petra, Bran and Maze keep an eye on the remaining Nulls as we implement the separation process. The point is to rehabilitate them and help them acclimate."

"Yes sir," they said snapping to attention and walking out with her leaving Bran, Maze and herself alone in the room. Petra chewed on her lip as she thought about the measures being taken. It was like separating cult members from each other...but then wasn't Skirata fostering that kind of mentality for the Null specifically?

"I hope that they don't put up a fight," she muttered as she turned back to the monitors.

"If they do then they can head for the Brig," Maze snarled. "And I'll happily throw away the key."

She didn't have the heart to admonish him because he was right. By all accounts that's were they should've gone. It was only by grace of the Jedi that they were allowed a second chance. She sincerely hoped they wouldn't squander it.

Conference Room 7 CCTB

The conference room was long, ornate and very impersonal. It was the perfect place to conduct an interview of potential employees. Knol considered it to be a bit...intimidating if she was honest. It just seemed too big like a maw of a particularly big beast about to eat her...Or that might have been her nerves talking considering she was supposed to be interviewing people.

Now Knol was okay with people, that was what came with being in her branch of being a Jedi but she was used to one on one contact with people she was familiar with. A steady stream of people was another thing. But then again she was the first buffer as it were to stopping those that were spescieist from coming in because if they didn't want to work with a Bothan then what were the chances that they'd work with some other species like say a Duros, a Ranat or a Zabrak?

She sighed loudly as she waited for the first of the interviewees to come in. This was going to be interesting to say the least. It was an Aqualish male who looked nervous as he entered the room. Well good to know she wasn't the only one that was nervous here.

"Welcome Mr. Jallipe Undu," she nodded to the Aqualish. "Please have a seat so we can begin."

"Ah, thank you for interviewing me," Jallipe said nervously. "Most wouldn't even give me a chance."

"Oh?"

"I'm Aqualish."

"I see," Knol shook her head. Sometimes the prejudices of people just baffled her. If someone was good then who cared what species they were? Then again she'd been the receiving end of it so should understood how frustrating it was.

"It says here you're a tech expert."

"I'm good at tracing pathways over the HoloNet yes, I got it from my er-less then stellar youth."

Knol looked down a saw that he'd been clean and was a citizen of good standing. Okay so far so good now came the hard questions.

"How do you feel about working with others species? Does this make you uncomfortable?"

"No," Jallipe shook his head. "Everyone deserves a chance."

Score one for you pal, Knol thought to herself as she continued the interview. Jallipe seemed like a decent fellow. He answered all her questions rightly and conducted himself well. Once she'd dismissed him she knew for a fact that he was going to get the position. She called in another being readied for whatever was going to happen...what she didn't expect was a Neimoidian to walk in. She kept her fur calm as well as blank face. She shouldn't be hypocritical but she was honestly surprised that he'd volunteered for it. Still she'd give him a shot. That's what she promised herself and far be it from her to go back on her promise. Besides this was the ultimate litmus test to their clams of not being speciesist.

"Welcome, Sunan Taixu," she said gesturing to the chair. "Please be seated."

"Thank you," the Neimoidian said seating down with a very twitchy look. That wasn't too surprising since he was literally going against what was expected.

"So what skills can you bring to this organization?"

"Well...I used to be clerk for a smaller organization that was a subsidiary for the Trade Federation. After the battle of Naboo they liquidated company to cover their court costs and I've been working menial labor every since. I wanted to use my skills as someone familiar with the Trade Federation system to bring them down."

"I take it you've got no love for the current leadership?"

"Hardly," Sunan scoffed. "They're a bunch of greedy short sighted fools. Even if they do win the war who'll they trade with? The Unknown Regions?"

"That's not for me to say." Because I don't want to think of that possibility. If Dooku wins...well the Sith win. And that's bad news for anyone not matter what side of the political spectrum you're on. The interview went on for quite some time but Knol was pretty convinced that he was a keeper. She hoped that the others would be as good because if that was the case then they'd have more to work with.

Prudii didn't know what to expect from Jetiise he'd assumed they'd be executed but no they were just confined for now. But something else kept him thinking about what'd happened between him and commando. He'd taken the hit for his brother A'den but it was the fact that an Alpha had defended a Jedi. An Alpha. How was this possible? This shouldn't be happening. But yet it was, the Commandos trusted the Jetiise. Like as in they considered them vod'e. This went against what they'd learned on Kamino.

"Incoming," Jaing muttered as the door opened. A Jetti came accompanied with a trooper and then bowed to...him? Yes he'd bowed to him like he was an equal. What the kriff?

"Tateyus, Vetide- Bid. Ni cuyir Obi-Wan Kenobi. Ha'aratr be 212th Jurkad Dabida. Ibic cuyir ner Ke'gyce Cody. Mhi hwa cuyir borarir tome par daor be ibic akaan." «Greetings, Null-5. I am Obi-Wan Kenobi. General of the 212th Attack Force. This is my commander, Cody. We shall be working together for the duration of this war.»

"How do you know Mando'a!?" Kom'rk shouted. Prudii instead stood there silently in shock. He could speak Mando'a!? How?! Kal'buir said the Jetiise wouldn't know the language and yet here he was speaking it...How? Around everyone was staring at the Jetii with shock. A'den's jaw dropped while Ordo, Jaing and Mereel looked sucker punched.

"Er vod gev olyaor aruda'ye katladwetr," «Oh brother stop being arrogant twit» Cody murmured angrily. "Be buskra'amtu Ha'aratr liser jorhaa'ir joha." «Of course the General can speak the language »

"Jii jii kurus Cody, kaysh cuyir atba'a'yu iviye at ashi jorhaa'ir Mando'a. Kaysh ashnar cuyir mruskioa e'cursa bid mhi ne'waadas at barida kaysh." «Now now Cody, manners. He's getting used to others speaking Mando'a. He has been mistakenly informed so we need to enlighten him.» Then turning back to them he said: "Olaror rala mhi slanar. Mhi ganar ketye at dilheya bal tsikador par." «Come let us go. We have much to discuss and prepare for.»

"Elek ti'pur," «Yes sir.» Cody saluted him. Prudii dumbly saluted as well without saying anything too stunned to talk. He mutely followed them into the hall with no resistance. So great was his shock that he didn't pay attention to where he was going. Soon they reached the troop transport which he got into silently. Commandos considered Jetiise vod'e and now there was one that spoke fluent Mando'a. What was going on here?! He wasn't sure what to think now. He grabbed the railing and gazed out trying to marshal his thoughts. This wasn't anything like he thought it would be. They were beaten at their own game by unknown Jetiise and now he was...was he even an officer?

"Sir," he ventured looking over at the General who gave him his full attention. "What command am I getting?"

"None," the Jetii shook his head. "You've been demoted due your involvement of the barracks occupation."

"What? Did you think that you were going to get away with that Bantha poodoo and then walk off Scot free soldier?" Cody said giving him a disgusted look. "You're going to have listen to the General or barring him...your commanding officer or me."

"But..I'm-"

"A demoted officer that decide that insubordination was the order of the day. I don't care if you're trained in Special Forces tactics or what have you. You're a soldier which means you listen to orders."

"Provided if the said orders are justified," the General interjected. "But I'm not going to make you do anything against your conscience."

"Then why use us?" Prudii shouted out before he realized he just screamed at his CO.

"Why indeed?" the General sighed not snapping at him for disorderly conduct. "Because we need troops and sadly you're the only ones available. It's not right or just but that's how it is. We didn't want to be generals just as much as you didn't ask for a fight."

"With all do respect sir that's what we're made for," Cody countered sounding firm and proud. "It's our duty."

"Not to me or any other self respecting Jedi in the Order. You're thinking and feeling beings first before being soldiers. Duty implies choice and you didn't have any."

"So you don't steal babies? Or force them into the life?"

"Ah that age old propaganda. Can't tell you how many times I've heard that one being hurtled at me. The answer is no they're voluntarily given up by their parents or legal guardians. Since we're not a cult we can leave at any point we choose. In fact there's one species in the Republic that asked us not to take their younglings in spite of their potential. We've honored that request for many generations. Does this sufficiently answer your questions?"

Prudii was dumbstruck. This jetii wasn't what he'd expected or even been taught. There was something approachable about him and the fact he'd shot down his arguments without a single bit hesitation. Normally he'd think something was off but he was too disoriented to think of anything. This to say the least was going to be an interesting deployment.

Jon waited in his office for the Null to show up. He was tense expecting a fight with a belligerent soldier who thought that he knew best. Master Diath hadn't told him anything about the one he was getting. According to Sian the rest had been transferred and were being dispersed in a covert manner that wouldn't pin them to specific group so Skirata would have more difficult time tracking them. Now all he had to do was wait for the last one to show up...This would be interesting to say the least. He sincerely hoped they as a department wouldn't get a hard case. Finally Sian came with a Null in tow.

"Null-6 brought as requested," Sian said bowing and turning away. No doubt to get the others with their commanders no doubt. This left him alone with the man that would be under his command. From his body language it seemed he was already off kilter. Why didn't matter to Jon but would do to find out why later date. For now introductions were in order.

"Null-6" he greeted him. "Welcome to Intelligence."

"Thank you." The man still looking like a confused man but with defiant streak in him. In fact, Jon noticed the distinct lack of sir but decided to let it go. He had bigger fish to fry now.

"Like, is this a bad time?" A very welcome voice asked as he walked into the room. Jon's face lit up with a grin as he caught sight of his age mate.

"Shags," he said using his friend's nickname. "Nice to see you."

"Like thanks," the Shistavanen walked in with what looked a lackadaisically manner. But Jon knew better and could see that it was working on Null-6 since he dismissed him already as a threat. "So like, who's the dude?"

Null-6 bristled and bite out: "Null-6 sir."

"Like I mean name, if I wanted a serial number I'd ask an assembly line droid," Sha'a said grinning at him. "So what's your name dude?"

"None of your-"

"Trooper may I remind you that you're skating on thin ice as it is," Jon cut in with a fierce glare. "Now give him a name."

"Like, it's fine man," Sha'a waved off the blatant disrespect. "I'll just call him, Yinchorri, or Yin for short."

"Fine," Jon sighed knowing that it was Sha'a's way of defusing a situation. "Have it your way."

"So we're gonna be working together eh?" Sha'a smiled at Null-6 who bristled at him. "Groovy man."

"Sir..."

"Well that's it, you both better get used to each other. Master Diath will see to your accommodations here in the office. We'll have orientation once we've got our people. Now dismissed. Oh and Null-6." The clone paused in his turn. "You're assigned to be with Knight Gi. You are to be at his side until we get living arrangements for you settled."

"Far out man," Sha'a said as put an arm on the Null's shoulder. "Don't worry bro I've got this. Come on Yin, I'll take you out to eat while things get settled here. Nothing like having fun over food I'd say."

Null-6 looked like he wanted to screamed but followed in either case. Jon held in a snort. Oh this was going to be interesting to say the least.

Commander Grey stood at her side waiting to receive the Null. From the shadows came Null-11 accompanied by Knol. Null-10 would be delivered to his commanding officer soon by Sian soon. The ideas was aside from the ones assigned to them would be the last two problematic ones would be delivered to the respective commanders. She knew that Obi-Wan had received his trooper, now Plo Koon had confirmed that he'd received Null-12 and Null-7 had been received. Now it just left Null-11 who she was getting. She'd chosen him due to how she wanted to free him from the grips of the man. He'd been the most indoctrinated of them all. Depa knew that for sure that it wouldn't be easy to convince him but she'd do her best.

It was her duty as both a commanding officer and as Jedi but also as fellow being.