Private A Surprise Caller

[Adrikobe Kellrule]

It was the late evening on Ord Mantell. Adrikobe resided within his private villa, where he was currently negotiating the sale of several thousand tons of refined steel alloys... in excruciating detail.

Adrikobe felt as if forty more years had passed within the span of call. The stingy Neimoidian continued to haggle and haggle credit for credit, obviously trying to make the deal favorable for himself, yet ultimately forced Adrikobe to dig his heels in.

When Adrikobe spoke plainly, "A deal of this sort is not one my company is willing to make, Mr. Shugnu, if you wish to haggle, I suggest you find a new supplier for your manufacturing."

This statement set off the slimy merchant, as he barked back like a rampaging Rancor, calling Adrikobe all sorts of vile and vulgar things the likes of which you could only hear in the most depraved regions of the Galaxy.

Adrikobe forced himself to maintain his professional demeanor, steepling his fingers and relaxing his breathing, preparing a polite reply and anticipating an end to this failure of a call, when... He found himself puzzled.

The hologram of the Neimoidian glitched out, and was quickly replaced by a new figure. Adrikobe was now face to face with Thomas Barran , though he knew not the man whom had just hijacked his frequency.

"If you wanted my attention, you certainly have it." he spoke, his tone witty, yet curious, as he leaned forwards

"Normally I would have you tracked down and eliminated for such conduct... However, as it stands I seem to be out of a customer, and by the nature of whom you're contacting, I'm led to believe you seek to fill his place.
If so, I believe an introduction is in order. I shall allow you a precious few moments to explain yourself, and convince me why I should entertain your proposal." He continued, speaking as if he had full control of the situation, though, there was a tone of intrigue to his statement, as if he were on the edge of his seat.

 

[Thomas Barran]

TAGS
Adrikobe Kellrule

A SURPRISE CALLER
I

'I think, like others within Galactic Alliance borders - that you know who I am.'

'You know what specific,"Whom", I represent at that.... But discretion still prevails.'
​

Raising a silencing finger to his bearded lips, the one-eyed Woad would make life easier for the Mantellian tip by adhering to the strictest of OPSEC habits, and for the Holocall in it's entirety. Though there would be little doubt as to what the one-eyed man wanted, earnestly leaning in as he drawled,'Little birdy tells me you're in a - uniquely - difficult predicament.... On Ord Mantell, of all places.', revealing his access to intel from another, opposing source. Transparent though his response was, and though it would be easy enough to discern the affiliations of said-birdy, the discretion would be seen to have two-fold reasoning.

'Say the word, and I'll send one o' my Tier-1 contingens to help you keep it's population in line.... The only catches are: livable wages for the operators, and a solid slab o' Songsteel - for me.'

​

If the Razorghast encryption had been stronger, then perhaps the caller might have taken more time for patient considerations, but it would not be long before the Galactic Alliance spotted abnormalities on the Holonet, making the window of opportunity as short as two minutes at most. The rare-metals market had gone almost-completely stagnant before the war, but in times of tumult, even the layman elements knew that wonders of the sort (including contracts to mine them) would begin to show up on the Galactic black market. However, one of those rumoured to hold rare-metals would always find interested parties, only this time, the currency was different.

This time, the equivalent buy-in was simple - someone willing to solve more than a few problems in dangerous times.

'Raiders, gone.... Locals, recruited.... Protection, surreptitious.... An' if it doesn't work out, a guaranteed commitment to aid your escape path toward - friendlier - borders.... Just in case.'

 

[Adrikobe Kellrule]

Adrikobe's face and posture were still, as if a million calculations were running through his mind within the seconds after the man's offer.

He held a certain respect for this kind of audacity, that he would need to make this deal, and that his aid would be worth something as precious as songsteel? Yet, as he considered, the services the man (and presumably his connections) could provide could be beneficial for his enterprise...

After contemplation, he gave him his answer.

"Perhaps it is in order that we meet in person. Then, should you prove to be worth my time, you and your associates shall receive your payment."

He leaned forwards in his chair, his tone one of skeptical interest, "I assume you will be willing?"

 

[Thomas Barran]

TAGS
Adrikobe Kellrule

A SURPRISE CALLER
II

'I would, yes. Though that meeting cannot be a long encounter either.... Once again, better for you that way.'
​

The One-Eyed Man never shirked second meetings, especially if it helped him to the get the measure of that which rested behind the eyes of his contemporary, to see if the Gilded Man really could get his hands on such obscurity, let alone a slab of something of that nature in early wartime. For not only was Songsteel a near-mythic rare metal in the Galaxy's Tenth ABY Century, but it was also one of the most-highly coveted resources among the Galaxy's remaining functional beligerents, but in that same context, also the one metal of which charlatans boasted most-shamelessly.

He had to be sure.

'I can infiltrate to your homeworld without trouble.... Jus' name the occasion, an' when.'

 

[Adrikobe Kellrule]

Adrikobe once more seemed... calculative.

Internally, he pondered the risks of such a meeting, accounting for several dozens of potential outcomes as a consequence of when, where, and how they were to meet. Adrikobe was not the kind of man to blunder into these things blindly and hope they worked out in his favor. He'd been in the business long enough to know to account for everything, no matter how unlikely.

Though, within seconds he had a reply prepared:

"The most discrete location is in plain sight.", and with that vague note, he ended the call.

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After a few moments of sitting in contemplative silence, Adrikobe turned to his assistant droid, and instructed softly:

"Update my plans for the charity ball, we have a potential new business partner to meet. If he and his associates are of any merit, he'll be there."