A Profitable Endeavor Aurora/IFW meeting (Development)

[Joran Greth]

Joran Greth sat in his office on Rendili looking over the latest reports from the fleet. The opposition to their takeover had been more than anyone had expected and the constant raids on their supply lines were beginning to cause issues with the work being done to the orbital shipyard ring. Joran knew he could overcome the terrorists waging their stealth war upon the Imperium, but he had neither tie time of desire to deal with it. The world would be brought to heel but his corporation needed to be productive now. He would need to seek out assistance with the future products Admiral Lash and his Chiss engineers were turning out. He knew he needed alot more industrial power than he currently had. With the orbital ring and planetary factories in disrepair after centuries of neglect and assault, Rendili would not be profitable for some time. He needed income to maintain the company and the massive research and development budget Lash had demanded. He typed in a set of codes into the panel and a image appeared before him of the blue skinned Admiral Stela'shlit'nuruodo

"Admiral Lash I have a Job for you."

 

[Lash]

Stela'shlit'nuduoro Sat in the dark listening to a series of musical movements he had discovered in an archive on Rendili. He had no idea who the composer of the performer was but he knew they had been from the core. What world Lash had not pinned down. The writing of the string part resembled something he had heard from the Empress Teta region many years ago before he had been exiled from the ascendancy. The percussion however, was tribal and its cadence was more outer rim. He postulated that it must be a collaboration of some sort between two expat composers who lived on the orbital ring of Rothana centuries ago. His attention was pulled away from analyzing the new movement of the piece when the rooms lights brightened and his desks com panel chimed and the image of Moff Greth appeared.

"Moff Greth How can I help you. I am at your service." said lash fighting back the bitter words in his mouth.

 

[Joran Greth]

"Well meet admiral, I have decided it would be best to seek out assistance in bolstering the production levels of the Forge Works." Said Greth with a grin. He knew the Chiss hated his subservient role in the IMperiaum. But he also knew the man had nowhere else to go presently. He and his people were outcasts and as good as they were at their jobs they were not unreplaceable. Lash knew this. He was the most intelligent beings Greth had ever encountered and he knew the man facing him on the screen was planning how to kill him as they spoke. Joran knew the Chiss would wone day attempt to grab any power they could. And knowing the man Lash as he did the plan would be full proof. Until that time the Chiss engineers under Lash worked for him and the Imperium.

"I will be reaching out to Aurora again. We have dealt with them in the past and I believe they would be welcoming to my proposition. I want you and your people to go to Drukenwell and present something to Aurora and seek out a sort of alliance with them." said Joran as he looked at the dead expression on the Chiss's face. He could read most people but it was impossible to read Chiss. They seemed to have the permanent scowl they was impenetrable to reading.

 

[Lash]

Lash listened to the human, his words cutting through Lash as the sheer superiority of the race filled his mind. They were a blight on the galaxy, spreading like a virus and constantly seeking to make other races their inferior. He and his Chis had no option presently and Lash knew one day He and the Chiss under him would return home. The Imperium was the best and a bad situation and just a ways to a means for him and the Chiss.

"Very well sir, I will be underway for Drukenwell within the hour. Who shal I contact there once I have arrived?" Asked Lash. He wanted to deal with as few of the filthy humans as possible. Some were far superior to the normal ilk of humanity but all still festered with incompetence and inferior genetics. If he was lucky he would get a being that was not useless like most, but somehow he doubted he would be so lucky. No, he would most likely be talking to some bureaucrat who deals with the numbers not reality.

 

[Joran Greth]

Greth smiled at the blue skinned man and sent an encrypted transmission to him outlining his mission and giving him all the information he needed. Greth then reached for something off screen from the Admiral and placed it in front of the camera.

"This data tube houses most of the data your engineers have given me. I will be handing this off to Aurora as a gift for accepting this meeting. I will have it delivered to you before you depart. Keep this safe Admiral Lash. The Rothanan loyalist would love to get their hands on this. If they knew it existed. Keep it and any other research your people have safe. You will receive additional orders once you have reached the Drukenwell facility and the meeting." said Greth as the two ended the meeting. He closed the channel and sent the data tube with a security officer to be dispatched to the Admirals ship. He hoped this new understanding he would have with Aurora would be beneficial to both parties. But just so long as it helped him and the forge works he would be happy.

 

[Lash]

The trip from Rothana to Drukenwell took the small flotilla two days. In that time Lash studied the diagrams and plans contained in the engineering data tube. Most were the Chiss's old ideas which by this time were out dated and obsolete. Some were new tech that the Chiss gave the Imperium to placate their requests for results. Some were good ideas that the Chiss abandoned because if a lack of resources. Mabey now with the assistance of Aurora some of those projects would be picked up and finished. He had to use these humans as best he could while not letting on what he was doing. Manipulating them was easy. They wanted you to know they were in charge and as smart as you were. In battle they wanted to make it clear they were the tactically brilliant human race and no other race was equal to them.

The trip was not over and the Blue Steel Flotilla sat off in the distance away from the systems gravity well. They would shuttle in as not to raise alarm at the vessels in the system. They would sit here outside the planets grasp near the far side of the planet from the orbital New Dawn Station. His orders informed him he would be contacted once they had arrived. Now he would sit and wait and listen to a dathamirian balad of screeching.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Lash"]

Taeli had pondered what was exactly on the table when she had been contacted to meet with representatives from the Imperium Forge Works. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of these men and women who tried to embody the Imperial style, but that was only because she hadn't interacted with them enough. She had arrived early at Aurora Industries's Druckenwell research facility, both to get ahead of the meeting and to observe some testing of the Guardia Battle Droids. They were definitely a far cry from their first foray into droid development... all of their models were now.

"Miss Raaf, long range sensors just picked up a flotilla entering the system," one of the security team for the facility said. "Most likely it is your meeting."

"Very well," she said, looking away from where two Guardia droids were dueling with their energy swords, "Prepare the conference room for our meeting and transmit to the flotilla they are allowed to send a shuttle down to the landing bay."

"Right away, Miss Raaf."

Taeli walked away from the observation room, more curious than ever about who was coming to meet with her and what they might be proposing. Imperium Forge Works was rather on the smaller side of things, so she had a feeling they were looking for access to resources and capital, maybe even to develop join projects. She would know soon enough though.

 

[Lash]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Lash's shuttle landed near a large structure he assumed was the research center. Human buildings all looked the same to him. HE found their construction practices dull and their color choices unimaginative. That was a trait the Chiss also shared, no race was perfect but His people were as close as a being could get. Still he enjoyed the less conventional races and their buildings. He walked across the landing structure to the building flanked by his two lead engineers. They would also act as his body guards for the time he spent here on Druckenwell. All of his people no matter their occupation were trained as Chiss Soilders. All had been part of the CEDF before their exhile and all were deadly if need be. Still, he did not foresee them being needed in that capacity, they were there for their engineering knowledge not to kill whoever they may come across.

The walk room the landing pad to a small conference room found them escorted by three humans. He was sure they meant no harm but they eyed them with suspicion when they seen the color of their skin. Most races looked upon the Chiss this way. It was natural for a race to suspect its superiors. They could not help it they were only humans. The room opened up as the group walked in through the doorway. Across the room a woman stood with a pleasant enough smile dressed in robes. Lash smiled in return and walked up to meet the woman.

"Greetings, I am Admiral Stela'shlit' Nuruodo, you may call me Lash if it is easier for you. I have been sent here by Moff Greth to speak to you about a commerce arrangement."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Lash"]

So it was to be Chiss then, Taeli thought as the Imperium entourage arrived. She could feel the superiority complex radiating off of the Admiral as he introduced himself, but there was intelligence and a realistic grasp of how the galaxy worked mixed in. Still... it was odd that this Moff Greth would send a full Admiral for a simple business transaction. It would definitely underscore how serious the Imperium and their Forge Works was taking this meeting, but it also spoke, to her at least, that the Imperium was trying to make an impression on her. She knew how the games worked, so she decided it was time to surprise and gauge this Chiss.

"Ritocum, Ch'abcesit," Taeli said, bowing. "Ch'ah cart'arveo vumihn ch'at Bsosvan'catt ch'tra htico. Hah cart csot to vun'ur ch'at cart csan'vun't ea bah veo vsarv sir nor ch'a ch'akasi en'casvun'ran'ci. My apologies if my Cheunh is rusty and accented, I haven't much chance to practice it since university." Gesturing with her hand to the table, she indicated that the Chiss Admiral and his entourage should take a seat at the conference table as she took one herself. Most humans couldn't speak the Chiss language, but Taeli had studied languages and earned a degree in linguistics before becoming a Force User.

 

[Lash]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Lash paused as the woman before him began to speak in his races language. It was rare he got to heat another race speak it. He was pleased with the surprise. oSO few things pleased him now. This part of the galaxy was old and jaded, He missed the unknown regions with all of its youth and majestic peoples. He waited for her to finish then answered in his native tounge.

"Ah vah csah ch'a bun'carcir tur ch'eo tounge. Vah honor ch'ah by sharing csei s. Bin'vah vah tur taking ch'at csact'i ch'at veb ch'ah vim ch'eo k'icetei. " said Lash. He knew it would be far easier to use basic now so he changed back to the language of the humans.

"It is a pleasent surprise to have the pleasure to hear my peoples words on your tounge. So few take the time to learn our language." said Lash as he took a seat at the table. his two engineers taking up positions behind him as to be ready in case they were needed. Lash waved off the men and they took a few step backwards. He could tell by the stance the woman used when they entered that they would be of no use to him if she had meant him harm. This was a woman he knew could best him if it came to a fight. He had no misgivings about his capabilities. He was a formidable sparrer but this woman carried herself like one who was gifted.

"As I said, Thank you for meeting with me. I amheree on behalf of Imperium Forge Works. While I hold the rank of admiral in the navy my primary position is as chief Engineer of the IFW. As such I am here to seek a union between our two operations. IFW is small but that is intentional for now. With the current situation in the mid rim We have endeavored to maintain a certain anonymity when it comes to our organization. We are not one to show off so to speak. WE do just fine in the shadows and prefer to keep it that way. That is the reason I am here it seems. We would like you and your corporation to be the front so to speak for the Imperium. We will design and build products and sell them to you, which you can then sell to the galaxy at a profit of course. You can tell the customers they are your designs if you like. We are only interested in a steady source of income and to stay out of intergalactic trade directly. Of course we will retain rights to maintain our own production line and stock products for our own personnel use but for the rest of the galaxy Aurora industries will be the face of IFW." said Lash watching the womans eyes to gauge how she was receiving his suggestion.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Lash"]

"I have always admired the Chiss and your culture," Taeli said, templing her fingers on the table in front of her. She listened quietly while the Admiral gave his opening pitch, observing the man and his two fellow Chiss with that quiet, patient regard only a Jedi could have. So, if she was getting the gist of the proposal right, and she would like to think she was, the Imperium and their Forge Works wanted to use Aurora Industries as a buffer against directly being in the market, selling the products designed and built to her company and letting Aurora sell the products as long as a cut came back to them and they could keep control of their production lines for... private use.

"I see," she said quietly, her purple eyes remaining tranquil and not giving away much of her thoughts. "So, you are saying that your company and engineers want to sell your products to my company and in turn sell them myself for a profit so you may stay... out of the public eye so to speak." To be more interested in possibly coming to a mutually beneficial arrangement, she would need more information first. "What are the current state of Imperium Forge Works facilities? How many and where is the company based? What sort of projects has the company created thus far? I'm sure you can understand, being where I am, I need to have a a broader view of something before choosing to invest in relations."

 

[Lash]

Lash smiled at the woman. She was just being diligent and Lash respected that, so few humans were. HE waited a moment for her to finish speaking then answered.

"That is close, yes. What we seek is an influx of credits in order to improve our production facilities. You can imagine the orbital yards are in disarray from centuries of neglect and war. In return, we will provide you with a steady stream of products to sell to markets we could not otherwise reach. Our organization is known but not well however, many of use are know personally. Greth and I are both wanted by the Republic for treason and theft of their shipyard. I am sure the Alliance and sanctum would have no dealings with us purely because of our past with the Republic, and there is the state Greth left Gerrenthum in. We do not with to sell our souls so to speak but our goods are superior and should be sold to the galaxy for their benefit. You may market them as Chiss designed, that will assure your customers that the items are of a superior grade." said Lash as he looked around the room taking in everything.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Lash"]

Taeli privately thought he might be surprised by whether or not the GA would work with an organization that wasn't friendly with the Republic. The Republic, to the Alliance, was that embarrassing cousin that always did something wrong or brought shame on the family. The alliance with Sekalus and trusting a known pirate with a fleet were known examples to the Alliance.

"I see," she said, appraising the Chiss's words and proposal. There was definitely that air of confidence and superiority that only a Chiss could project. One of her aides came up, passing her a datapad. Briefly looking over the contents on the page, she set it back down. An image of Rothana was visible.

"And what exactly would these products be, per chance?" Taeli asked. "I am curious to see what exactly you and your team have designed and what you might have planned for the future before I commit fully to this proposal."

 

[Lash]

Lash grinned at the woman as she asks about what the Chiss and the Imperium has to offer. He took pride in his work, after all it was far superior to anything the humans could innovate. How they had spread throughout the galaxy as they did was a mystery to him. At least the Duro and Calamari could claim they were explorers. Humans just spread like a virus claiming a world, and making it their own then moving on to another. Colonization had its place but humans spread to worlds inhabited by other living beings and implanted themselves into the ecology of the world then slowly assimilated it into something they deemed fit. HE turned his head to look at one of his Chiss engineers standing against the back wall. The man stepped forward and handed Lash a data pad and a data disk. Lash inserted the disk into the pad then entered in his authorization and personal codes. He brought up a project called Overlord and handed the pad to [member="Taeli Raaf"].

"These are the preliminary plans for a battle cruiser we have been designing. It is based on an old vessel from the old first order when it was in power. We have the vessel designed for the most part. But our yards are in disrepair and to build something this big we would need assistance." Lash said as the woman began looking over the plans.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Lash"]

Taeli's eyes widened as she observed the preliminary plans for this battle cruiser. It certainly stemmed from the historical Resurgent-class ships that the first incarnation of the First Order had been fond of. She knew the history of these ships... and the terrifying amount of firepower those things had possessed. This new design that the Imperium Forge Works Chiss had brought was a much needed modern version of the ship, although she had heard rumors that a similar ship had been sighted elsewhere in the galaxy.

"And you want our help to develop and construct this, hmm?" Taeli asked, but she already knew the answer to such a question. The Chiss Admiral wouldn't have revealed these plans if he didn't have to. This was the cherry on top, so to speak. Taeli couldn't very well say no to such a project, especially since this thing would be far more powerful than the Bastion-class Star Destroyers the company already selectively sold to the major factions of the galaxy.

"We do have shipyards at Saleucami and Scillal that can handle ships up to 3000 meters, three of them at the same time actually," Taeli continued. She left out the yards at Carida and Hast though, mainly because the Carida yards were still being assembled and Hast was the base for the Directorate, even if Aurora controlled the yards. Reshmar and Gir would probably be quite curious about where such a massive project was coming from if they noticed them at Hast.

 

[Lash]

"That would be acceptable." Lash said with a nod. He had hooked the Jedi now and he was ready to throw the switch. "Your yards would be the primary construction site for the first six of these vessels. We will give your company production rights to this ship and we will deliver the hulk we have which this is based on." Said Lash waiting for a response to that last part. His engineers did not need the old Resurgent anymore, they had studied and reverse engineered every part of it. The massive thing was just taking up space, better that Aurora deal with the thing now.

"Moff Greth has instructed me to ask for Remuneration in financial and material sufficient for the Imperium Forge Works to restore the orbital shipyards over Rothana." Said lash making sure he mentioned the Moffs name. Greth had an ego larger than this systems sun and he would assuredly ask the woman if he has mentioned him in the negotiations. Every human had flaws, traits that made them human. Greth had many, more than most humans Lash had met in his time among them. But he was a brilliant tactician and equally well versed in manipulation of his own people. Lash would need the mans ability to manipulate these cattle before his job int he known regions was done. Lash paused before he spoke again to let his words settle on the Jedi.

"Oh and we require permission to build our own vessels of this class if we so decide. You and Aurora will hold any patents or permissions to manufacture and sale these vessels Greth just wants to be able to build his own toy if he see fit." Said Lash watching and gauging the woman's demeanour.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Lash"]

"Yes, I'm aware Moffs always need to stroke that ego with big and new toys," Taeli said, giving the Chiss a thin smile. It wasn't a bad deal. Aurora would get to produce a powerful new ship, and keep the production rights for it, while the Imperium Forge Works would get the needed material and funds necessary to rebuild their own operations from the neglect centuries had invited upon their chosen world. And she would get an actual Resurgent-class Star Destroyer for the company to study.

"Very well, Admiral," Taeli finally said after thinking it over some more, "if Aurora Industries is gaining the production rights to this behemoth of a ship, I would be willing to provide the needed materials and funds for your engineers to rebuild yourselves."

She went back to observing the schematics he had brought along, admiring the design of the hull. She would need to watch this Chiss though... while she was agreeing to work with him and this Moff, she certainly didn't trust them. Perhaps she would need to slip a Masquerade into their forces to observe them if they started to become a problem.

 

[Lash]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Lash nodded to the woman then entered in a set of command to his ship in distant orbit. HE dropped his arm and smiled at the woman. He knew the moff would be happy. He was not one to celebrate or to show emotions outside what was needed to deal with the humans and other inferior races of the Known Regions. Emotions were useless things meant to weaken the mind and body and prevent a being from achieving its peak productiveness. This is why the humans, again and again, forge governments only to have them fall under squabbling and infighting. He looked from an aid, who had nodded that his message to the ship was received, back to the woman and spoke.

"Master Raff, please inform your planetary security that there are incoming ships" Lash said moments before the massive form of the Resurgent-class battle cruiser dropped out of orbit above the world.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Lash"]

"Captain La'shaa, a ship of the Resurgent class will be arriving in system, do not panic," she said into her comlink. "Our new... friends from the Imperium are delivering it to us as part of a deal we just finished reaching."

"Acknowledged," the gruff voice came from the other side of the comlink. As the Resurgent-class arrived in orbit of Druckenwell, a swarm of Aurora security ships rose up to escort it into coordinates that were being beamed to it. Eventually, a crew of Aurora security fleet personnel would take possession of the massive ship to be transported back to the Centrality for Aurora to study and replicate certain technologies. Taeli turned back to the Chiss admiral, finding him more intriguing now.

"The Moff must be very lucky to have someone such as yourself helping him," Taeli said. "A pity... it seems almost a waste of your talents."

 

[Lash]

Lash grinned at the woman's comment. He thought about what she said and let his mind process it. He was not the loyal officer and engineer he portrayed at all but for the time being let that be who he was seen as. His machinations were far more sinister and were meant to restore him to his former position. These humans were a tool, Greth being the biggest tool in his tool box. As soon as he was done with them he would make sure they knew he had played them from the start. He wouls make sure any dealing he had with them in the future would be that of a master to a servent. For now he would play the game, be a good officer and serve the Imperium until the time to rise up and take his place once again in the Chiss. HE let his mind calm and the fire die down and answered the woman.

"Thank you for your kind words, Please allow my people twelve hours to disembark the battlecruiser. Then it is yours Master Raaf. I hope we find cause to do business again soon." with that Lash stood and left the meeting to return to his ship and back to Rothana. The day had seen him further the interests of the IMperium and the Forge works. It had set up the orbital shipyards of Rothana for the future and had put him one step closer to his real goal.