"Chicks love medics." He nods absently as he too tries to discern what is happening here.

He chuckles and says, "Hey you could be Geoff's "wing-man"." Thoughts of Rax and the Doc cruising the cantina for beings running through his head.

Raising an eyebrow, Geoff glances at his shoulder-holstered pistol. "If we weren't suppose to have weapons, I didn't get the memo either. Besides, we are all on the same team here. At least, I hope."

Reaching over, Geoff takes the pack from Rax, giving him a disappointed look. "I thought you were working the hotshot pilot with the hotshot pistol. Besides, who else will we say pulled that stunt in the Brick?"

Rax gives Geoff a sheepish grin. "Well doc, never hurts nothing to have a second angle. Don't get me wrong, the bad girls all go for the hotshot pilot, but sometimes you maybe want a change of pace or something. So medic might bring out the animal in the good girls, you know? And I think there are more quiet-like good girls here than the bad girls I usually go for. But hey, didn't mean to steal your thunder or nothing," he says as he pats Geoff on the back.

The most senior of the village elders - an Ithorian with a truly prodigious beard - raises his hands for silence, and the hubbub of the square duly falls quiet.

"People of Alcatia. As you may have heard, one of our own has recently fallen ill. I'm sure you will all be relieved to hear that we expect Hobert to recover well - he is at rest at home, with his family, and Elder Symon has asked your forgiveness for his absence, as he ensures that his son is well at this time. However, many of you have asked how it is that he came to be saved. Certainly, even our own healer claims that she could not have helped him, her limited resources no match for a failing heart such as Hobert's. Instead, it was one of our guests, a healer of the Alliance, who saved him, a man named Geoff Hanson. This man came among us, asked for nothing, and gave us back the life of one of our own without so much as claiming a reward," there are murmurs in the crowd, affirmative and supportive of Geoff's actions.

"Well, how are we to respond to this selflessness?" he continues. "In the only way that Alcatia knows, with generosity of our own!" the people of the village cheer, as the steadily darkening evening is suddenly lit up by warm light streaming in from the town's great hall. Through the broad wooden doors - swung open by two strong beings on each side - you see tables set with food, great kegs of drink, and bright lights up and down the room. "Come friends," he addresses the Rebels at large. "Join us, and celebrate new-found friendship!" he gestures for Braxus to lead the way into the room, while other villagers sweep you up in the tide and carry you forward.

"Don't mind if I do," Rax says, elbowing Toco in the ribs. He lets the tide of people carry him towards the food and drink. The festivities are a welcome change from the drudgery of the life in the Rebellion, and the food and drink certainly better than the rations he was used to. He spends his time trying to find pretty girls to chat up with some rather cheesy pickup lines.

"Heya, em, is there an starport nearby or is that just my heart taking off like an X-wing?" and other even more horrible lines get bandied about by the pilot, who likes to pretend he's a bit more worldly than he really is. After getting some more drinks in him he finally relaxes enough to stop with the pickup-lines and start being himself, chatting to the locals about what ever they are interested in, trying to make the Rebellion sound like the good guys.

Toco spends a fair amount of time breaking bread with the beings he worked with today. Talking up Geoff, and Rax occasionally too.

As the meal comes to a close he starts drifting over towards the rest of the squad, but he has been trying to keep an eye out for a certain Quartermaster.

The locals certainly seem very interested in talking to you. Some - mostly the younger ones - ask about life on other planets, conscious that you are all alien to them. Others ask about war stories, or share some of their own in certain cases. As Rax and Toco are talking to a group of the locals though, one sidles over. He's a big man - shaved head, broad shoulders, and an unfortunate underbite that leaves him looking quite aggressive. He places a tall mug of thick ale in front of him, and leans in towards you. "So tell me, what's your Rebel Alliance got to offer me?"

Rax is slightly tipsy from the local brew and slaps the man on the shoulder. "That's the wrong question, my man," he says in a friendly but jovial tone. "Ask not what your rebellion can do for you, but ask instead what you can do for the rebellion," he says with a strutting manner. "I think I'm almost quoting that Alderaanian senator correctly. Of course he was talking about the republic, but it is the sentiment that fits."

He looks at the big man. "Perhaps you could be a little clearer on your purpose. Are you looking for a life of adventure, fighting the Empire to restore a Republic? Or are you wondering why our struggles should matter to someone who intends to spend the rest of his life up here in the mountains?"

Listening to Rax's statement, Geoff shrugs and looks at the man. "It is more of a mutual benefits situation. However, maybe introductions are in order first? My name is Dr. Hanson, medic and surgeon. This is Toco, Oro, and Rax. He goes by the nickname Hotdog." As Geoff says the names, he gestures to each of his teammates. "What is your name, sir?"

"My name is Donnel Farrow, and I would like to know why it is that whenever some swaggering, strutting soldiers from the latest galaxy-spanning conflict come through my village, a few more of the lads get snapped up to die for some alien dungheap. You're just the latest in a long line of people promising a greater purpose who end up getting young lads killed, so what's your story? Power? Riches? Or is it some frak-span story about freedom?"

Eyebrow raised, Geoff leans back as he looks at the villager. "Fair question, Mr. Farrow. If I may ask, what was the last conflict that graced your world? How long ago was it? The reason, my good man, is that war is coming. Might not be today, might not be this week. But the Empire is here. Another question: have you heard of Alderaan?"

"Our last conflict was what you outsiders called the Clone Wars. Four years before that was the Virillian Succession War, and before that the Naboo Incident led to a rush of volunteers into the Security Force. And thirty years ago we even had our own war here on the planet, and we lost a lot of good men in that. We need to look to our own, so why are you trying to persuade our people to go rushing off to war?"

Nodding at the man's recount, Geoff takes a swallow of water. "Simple; war has come to your world. The Empire has seen fit to invade the bigger cities while there is a refugee crisis going on. Apparently, Imperial policy is to ground any ship carrying refugee, place refugees in slave camps, and use them for the factories. They might try to escape eventually, which means they will be coming out here. Which may bring the Empire in. One look here and the Imperials might either try to enslave you, your families, and your friends. Or they might say frak it and go for an orbital bombardment of the area and plop a factory down."

Geoff looks at each villager there, hoping his words might mean something to them. "In essence, your people aren't fighting for someone else's freedom, but your own survival."

[May I go for a Charm Check, see if I have convinced any of them of what has been happening?]

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong," he takes a hefty swig of his drink, and fixes his eyes on Geoff's. "This isn't my war, this isn't anyone's war but yours. Perhaps the Empire has a presence on this planet, but so what? They aren't here, in our town, they're somewhere else entirely. Maybe some lowlanders are having to deal with a different government, but how does that affect me? I've never seen the Empire's influence up here, or any of your refugees," he pauses, taking another drink.

"But if the refugees are as big a problem as you say they are, then thank you for your warning. I'm sure that if any do come up here we can send them back soon enough."

Smiling at the man's comments, Geoff sets his drink aside. "Well, I can see this conversation isn't going anywhere. Excuse me, I have other business to attend to." Moving the seat back and standing up, Geoff shoulders his backpack. As he does so, he takes one look back at Mr. Farrow. "Funny, I just saved a man's life who I didn't know today. A man, that up to a few moments ago, might have been worth something. "

Moving his gaze, Geoff looks at each person at their table. "Then again, if I had your philosophy, your village be mourning a death right now. Think about that for a second before you decide what is and is not worth fighting for when it won't benefit you."

Leaving them behind, Geoff heads out to see if he can find the Lieutenant. I have better things to do than to argue what a person should and should not do.

Rax gets up as well and moves to follow Geoff, feeling sobered up by the man's words."I hope your attitude towards refugees is not shared by many here. If you won't even help people fleeing for their lives you are part of what's wrong with the galaxy. And that's far to depressing to discuss further on this beautiful evening so I'll try to find somebody with a better attitude to talk to."

Having said his piece the pilot hurries off with the doc. Best stick together he thinks to himself. Especially if many of the locals share this rotten opinion.

Geoff is at the bar when a familiar figure joins him at the bar.

"So I see you met Donnel," Solara grimaces, and signals for a glass of salive liquor. "He's just grouchy because he thinks I can't find what's wrong with him. Personally I quite like watching him squirm over a toothache. Mind you, I think he was born grouchy - I did deliver him, so I'd know. There's no changing a mind like that, but a lot of people round here aren't like him at least."

Cracking a smile at Solara's input, Geoff quickly shakes his head. "That might be true. But only treating the symptoms of a problem won't make the problem go away. Either way, I'll be talking it over with the Lieutenant about cross training and civilian treatments. Maybe see about having a team or two stick around and provide some support for the villagers."

As he rechecks the bag, Geoff pauses for a moment. "Dumb question, but you did hear about what happened to Alderaan, right?"

"We heard about it, even up here. We got word from one of yours actually, when a few of them came through maybe a year back. They said that the Empire had the power to blow up a planet, thanks to a single super weapon. They didn't tell us what happened to it though - apparently they got the news just before they went into radio silence. Any word?"

Taking a sip, Geoff shrugged at her question. "Last I heard the super weapon was destroyed at a place called Yavin. It was a costly assault, too, but they succeeded in destroying it. It's a reason why both sides are starting to take the other more seriously."

Setting the cup down, Geoff tilted his head towards the Donnel. "It sounds like his health problem has been going on for a while. If it is alright tomorrow, I'd like to check it out and see if there isn't something more going on. This way, hopefully, it'll be one less headache for you when we leave."

"Well that's a relief to hear. Few people knew about the Death Star and fewer cared around here, but it was a threat to us all, regardless of how they saw it. We can all breath easier that such a weapon is gone," she grimaces then. "Donnel is unlikely to stop being a headache for anyone any time soon. I suppose I've just gotten used to his ways; it's part of what makes this community work really - we listen to each other."

"There is a difference between being a general headache and nuisance and someone being belligerent. But if it's ok, I'll want to check his problem out tomorrow and see if we can get to the bottom of the problem."

Looking, around, Geoff purses his lips. "Just curious, but what do you all do for fun here?"

"There's not much fun to be had when most of the village works a twelve-hour day in the fields, but I'm sure the youngsters will be doing something that doesn't involve pickling their livers," she gestures to a group of young men heading out of a door towards the nearby hillside.

It's as the young men are approaching the door that it suddenly swings open, revealing a large crowd gathered outside. You notice fear on the faces of some Rebels, and in some cases hands even stray to hips where blasters are conspicuously absent. The fear only lasts a moment however, before it is replaced by sudden jubilation. Cheers rise from the edge of the hall and move rapidly inwards, as Rebels swarm towards the doors to meet their comrades thought lost, now joining them at last.

You greet old comrades, who it feels so long since you last saw. Chief Vwikk and Rax quickly leave, to inspect the Brick. Doctor Cohlen greets Geoff with a curt "Surgeon Hanson," before having him direct her towards where the team's casualties are and heading out; she doesn't quite conceal the smile of satisfaction at the efficiency of the operation he has set up. Toco is seen disappearing off with the cell's quartermaster, to locales unknown, while Oro has a chance to catch up with a few of his friends from the cell.

The drink flows freely, and many of the soldiers look to meet the new recruits who have achieved so much. Soon enough, Geoff and Oro find themselves up against the bar with a Human data analyst, a Twi'lek flight commander and her droid mechanic.

Kixue enters the establishment with the incoming group of soldiers and Rebels who are in jubilation. He carries his data pad as he walks towards the bar and gives a short nod to others at the bar as he studies some information on his data pad before putting it aside briefly and offering the others a warm smile. He orders an whiskey from the bartender before turning to the group.

"Looks like some good work was done here." he then turns and takes his drink into hand. "I'm new here, recently assigned. Ensign Nomen"