An Ascension

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

Siobhan's hatred for Sith was unrelenting, and so someone expressing admiration for them always put her a bit on edge. Of course, the Countess still made use of Force powers commonly associated with the Sith. She ruled her corporation like an autocrat and had some dark holocrons stashed away. Contradiction? Possibly!


"Millions do indeed die whenever Jedi and Sith clash. Both seem to feed off one another. Even need the other. And the common people suffer for it when they're caught in the storm. I can understand why many commoners feel resentment against both - or Force-users in general," Siobhan remarked.


"Can one learn from the Banites? Definitely. It's good tactics to learn from your opponent instead of dismissing knowledge out of hand because it's 'corrupt'. But I see nothing admirable. Palpatine was just the most extreme of a rotten cult. It's new to me that many Jedi admire Bane and so on. Ironic, since the Banites did a better job eradicating the Jedi than any other Sith group. I imagine those Jedi don't air these views too much at conclaves. I hear the New Jedi Order has a rather...extreme policy." She'd heard about magma cells for heretics. Then again, she was a known darksider and no one had tried to put her in one during her visits to GA territory. "No offence meant. Though I disagree with a lot of their philosophy, I have more respect for them than for the effete Silvers," she finished her glass of water.


"As for who I admire, well, I don't have anyone I try to emulate, but I have some people I look up to. One is Adril Tythorin. An Eldorai. She was my master...and first love. Taught me about the Force, sacrificed herself to slay an elder horror. She was brave, fierce and didn't let an archaic Code hamstring her."


In all fairness, Siobhan's opinion of her late master was very idealised. "There's Ariane the Conqueror, an ancient Eldorai Queen. She came to power when Kaeshana was in turmoil. The Eldorai were beset by internal strife and losing a war against a hostile race called the Kar'zun. When they were on the brink, she took the reins and turned the tide. The Eldorai were united, their enemies subjugated. Her methods were very ruthless, but she decided Kaeshana's fate."


For all of Siobhan's talk of good governance and morality, there was a ruthless, even cruel side to her. "Finally there's [member="Coryth Elaris"]. A rogue Jedi healer. She's been through hell and back. Time again, terrible things happened to her, but she never lost heart. When others would've embraced evil or despaired, she dedicated her entire life to helping others."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"No, they don't," Taeli said, quirking a small amused smile. "The more radical elements have since left or died or disappeared from the GA, but their influence still lingers. Some hardliners are left, but it's politically not good to try and persecute guests and allies. But, we do get results, that can't be denied."

Taeli had been at this game long enough, and learned really early in her apprenticeship, how to read between the lines of what was said and not said. She did not want to alienate this woman, who she viewed as potential ally. The Countess was a powerful player, and Taeli would rather have her on her side for the foreseeable future. It was a gamble, but Taeli figured it would be worth it to tell a few things about herself to the woman.

"If I offended you, my apologies," Taeli said, nodding her head at the woman across from her. "I suppose when you start on one side of the Force, it never quite leaves you... especially in the way I found it. All things considered, it sounds like you have met many interesting people to admire. I was... not so fortunate. I was preparing to leave Lorrd, my homeworld. I had just graduated from the university there, Masters in History, Linguistics, and Galactic Archaeology... when I was assaulted and nearly... how to put this delicately... dishonored. My latent Force talents revealed themselves in the stress of the situation and that was how I was recruited into the Sith by Darth Praelior. I rose quickly through the ranks of the One Sith, but it never... lived up to what I had read about. In hindsight, I realize I was plucked up at my most vulnerable and the attempt was made to twist me."

Taeli could safely say she hadn't really taken too many of Praelior's lessons to heart. The Zeltron had always focused her attention on... other pursuits and hadn't really been the best teacher in the galaxy. She had learned most of what she knew by herself, from studying the archives and traveling once she could.

"As evidenced by my sitting here, she didn't really succeed, but I can't deny that the experience gave me a more pragmatic view of the galaxy and the nature of how things should be done," Taeli continued. "I never proscribed to their way of thinking, not really. I was much more interested in studying the past, learning as much as I could about the Force, wondering what had reduced the Sith and the Jedi to the state they are in today."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]


Siobhan was a cynical woman and though she'd come late to the corporate game, she'd been playing it for a while now. Moreover, she was a constant presence at the Eldorai royal court. One did not thrive there without learning a few things, since Byzantine intrigue came as natural to many space elf nobles as breathing.


Ironically, this was something they had in common with many Sith. Some of the Eldorai's past queens could probably give the One Sith a few lessons about stomach-churning cruelty. You're not telling me the full story, but I can work with you for the time being. After all, I do so with Tarissa and Semiramis, she thought to herself.


"Praelior. I've heard the name. Often comes up in connection with ghastly experiments involving Sithspawn. Giant worms, mass infections and so on," Siobhan commented, distate evident in her tone.


"Thank you for elaborating on your past a bit. I appreciate it. You didn't offend. I just feel strongly about Sith since I've spent most of my life fighting them." There was more to it, but she left it at that. "I suppose our experiences both moulded us into women with a more realistic outlook on how the galaxy works."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"She has some issues, yes," Taeli laughed, not wanting to go into the... tastes of her former master. The whole story hadn't been told of course, and Siobhan would have to decide just how much she had said was true or not. "I am glad I didn't offend you, Countess Kerrigan, as that was certainly never any intention of mine. Spending an entire life fighting Sith would certainly color one's feelings towards them and former Sith, but I suppose the Sith have fought among themselves just as much and we see the current state of their affairs. But here we sit, two pragmatic women in mutual respect of each other, shaped by our experiences and characters in our past, designing a brand new warship to sell to galactic powers to eliminate their enemies."

There was a hidden message there, left unsaid, but Taeli suspected Siobhan would be able to glean what was implied.

"Getting back to our main reason for this meeting, what else should we include into this project?" Taeli asked. She certainly appreciated their discussion, and learning more about the fiery Countess, but it had strayed slightly.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]


Oh, now you're just flirting, Siobhan thought to herself. That was probably a very self-serving thought. The fact that they were talking about building a warship to sell to other people so that they could blow up their rivals didn't faze her. Firemane maintained certain moral standards, but it was still a weapons manufacturer and she'd been a career soldier for most of her life.


"I believe we've covered the essentials. Power, external and internal defences, weapons systems. What's left is the hangar, assuming you want the ship to have one. And what it's loadout should be."

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"I agree, we have covered much of the essentials and basic design. In that regard, a hanger would be quite advantageous," Taeli said, giving a wry and humorous look. "The ship we're taking inspiration from, the Resurgent-class, usually carried a compliment of two fighter wings. That would be about six squadrons of fighters, give or take a few. Considering everything we want to include into this ship, I think we might downsize that to maybe three of four squadrons."

A thought came to mind just then.

"We might also want to include a smaller hanger for the sole use of shuttles and transports from visiting officers or dignitaries," Taeli added.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]


A secondary hangar was a bit unconventional, but it would keep visitors away from the one fighter pilots would actually use, which was good. It would have to be monitored and guarded though. After all, Sith - and genocidal HRDs - were fond of infiltrating everything!


"That sounds like a plan. I believe we can wrap things up in that regard. Once I get back, I'll make the necessary calls so that Aurora receives the Firemane designs we discussed for the battlecruiser," she gave Taeli a pleasant smile.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"Indeed, although we will have to make sure it is doubly protected," Taeli said, giving a smile in return to the Countess. Taeli had played defense for the Alliance capital ship at Dulvoyinn, killing a Sith even, but she knew protection against boarding parties was essential for such large ships. A secondary hanger for VIPs would require a more stringent security. "That would be most appreciated, Countess Kerrigan. Once we have those plans, construction will certainly shoot forward in terms of progress."

Taeli felt that this had been a most productive meeting so far, and she had learned a great deal about the fiery redheaded countess. If anything, the woman went beyond the reputation she had cultivated and that meant, to Taeli, she would need to be kept close for the time being. Her and her rather impressive and powerful company.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

"Believe me, I've led more than a few boarding parties and participated in a few heists, so I know exactly what you speak of," Siobhan smiled wryly. Good times! These days, she did less of that.


Sith had tried to steal the Barsen'thor before its shakedown cruise and one might recall the odyssey of the Shepherd/Emperor's Shield/Spirit of Druckenwell, which had been passed from faction to faction like a bad penny until it finally met its end in the Omega War.


"This has been a very productive meeting. I looking forward to working with you in the future. We'll be in touch," she stretched out her hand towards the Jedi, not Jedi. She had some suspicions about Master Raaf and would probably make some enquiries about her, but she could work with her. Firemane was a powerful entity, but it was folly to think they could stand alone.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"As do I, Countess, as do I," Taeli said, accepting the woman's hand. "Jaxson will show you back to your shuttle, and from there back to your ship. Must keep these yards a secret after all, I do so hate having to deal with interlopers where they don't belong. I look forward to hearing from you again and to seeing what our partnership might bring in the future."

Siobhan would be free to launch inquiries into Taeli's past and story, but she wasn't too worried if the woman decided to do more research. Steps had been taken, and it certainly helped that many who had known her from before were either dead, vanished, or were not likely to speak with Siobhan... willingly anyways. Still, this was one step closer on this project and she would be foolish not to do the same sort of research into Siobhan's past or past dealings.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]


Depending on how much digging Taeli felt like doing, she'd probably find some stuff. There was very little data available on Siobhan's life before she became a Jedi, and even that period was characterised by inaccuracies and rumours, though it would paint the picture of a young woman isolated from most of the order due to her militant views and equally radical master.


There'd be a clearer picture after she rose to prominence as a determined but controversial commander of the Omega Pyre paramilitary organisation, especially after she made a name for herself during the First Battle of Roche and was catapulted into the public limelight. Then came her marriage to [member="Tegaea Alcori"], their time as a power couple ruling the now defunct Protectorate, and finally the rise Firemane after a Sith Assassin made an attempt on Tegaea's life - and died brutally by Sio's hand.


Who knew, maybe Taeli would read about Siobhan beating up her old acquaintance Darth Veles on Contruum. There was also an abundance of titillating stories about her long list of dalliances and sexual conquests, though none of these seemed to have upset her marriage. Anyhow, with business concluded and final pleasantries exchanged, Siobhan was escorted back to the shuttle by the Aurora underling, and eventually returned to the Ardarvia, adjourning.