Private An Empire of Trade | Lysander & Verity

[Lodd Grimmin]

Verity Stuyveris Lysander von Ascania

The Trade Federation of Planets held the title of the largest corporation in the galaxy in terms of commercial value, being tasked with the transportation of goods and resources from the Outer Rim to the Unknown Region via their vast Merchant Fleet, which consisted of lucrehulks and various smaller freighter classes.

Despite their efforts, they were in the process of recuperating from the financial setback caused by the Death Star Mark III over Atrisia, which was a result of an unexpected Galactic Coalition and the disintegration of the Galactic Empire within the Core.

The Directorate had deemed such a scenario impossible, as the might of Darth Solipsis was sufficiently powerful to confront even the most seasoned Dark Lords of the Sith. Nevertheless, the empire ultimately collapsed due to the endeavors of the Sith Covenant, a seemingly savage alliance of Sith and independent raiders intent on the total annihilation of their subjugated territories.

This looming threat compelled Lodd to accelerate the production of advanced technology to safeguard the Purse-Worlds from attacks and avert a repeat of the Tapani Sector incident.

Though that would never be enough to completely protect themselves against a Major Galactic Power, which was why an invitation had been sent to the Covenant's premier dignitary in the form of Lysander von Ascania and the High Republic Representative Verity Stuyveris . Both powers were nearby and both would need the large economic boost that the Purse-Worlds could provide.

He would meet them in a secure location in the form of his Summer Palace, a statue of the fallen Senator Monaray Dod looming overhead as a reminder that even Neimoidians were not safe from the destructive force wars happening around the galaxy.

Lodd was resting on a mechno-chair adorned with intricate designs, and perched on his other arm, was a magnificent Neimoidian pylat bird who preened its vibrant feathers but remained still, its sharp beak on alert for potential food. He had no access to the force or a great military behind him, but there was one thing for certain.

Lodd was still the Ruler of a Trade Empire.

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

As a member of the nobility of Druckenwell's elite, Verity Stuyveris was used to opulence and privilege.

But this? Druckenwell wasn't a patch on it. And that was probably for the best. The Nemoidian sensibility on interior decor was... maximalist, Verity decided, deploying the kind of diplomatic approach she was perhaps best known for. She straightened her blazer as she followed the guide through the Summer Palace, trying to look appreciably awed but not over-awed. Perhaps looking sensibly impressed would give her an in with the Federation's leadership.

She rather doubted it, but one could dream.

Verity was introduced to the Lodd Grimmin in the shadow of Senator Dod's statue. These Nemoidians really know how to do mourning, Verity thought wryly as she offered him a respectful and dignified nod. "Your Excellency," she said pleasantly. "Verity Stuyveris, Senator for Druckenwell. Allow me to preface this by saying that I am not authorized to bind the Republic to any form of agreement. But I am happy to have a frank and productive conversation with you about the many benefits of doing business with the High Republic."

Lodd Grimmin | Lysander von Ascania


​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Lodd Grimmin Verity Stuyveris​

Doors parted and Lysander stepped through; black suited him the way a shadow suits a blade, lines immaculate, broken only by the hint of a gold signet upon a finger, one that once belonged to his father. A long black coat lay over a high collared shirt, trousers tailored in the old Axillan style, boots polished. A datapad was set into the coat’s lining.

Opulence washed over the Sith in a single sweep of an emerald gaze. He had grown up in halls not unlike these, wealth so ancient their origins were lost to time. But now, he also understood the fragility of it all, having witnessed nearly all noble houses in the Tapani Sector crumble overnight. Entire bloodlines and legacies wiped away.

If anything were to hold his attention a second longer, it would have been the bird, perched like a living sigil. He wondered if this was a custom, or something more. Lysander believed himself to be a simpler young man, simpler than those around him might suspect. Perhaps that was why he arrived as the Covenant’s Point Emissary, somehow embodying their judgement in a purer and quieter form.

Languidly, arms at his side, he pressed forward with another step, only to let his elbows bend and palms rise in an honest show of intent. Amid a scarred galaxy full of never-ending conflict, such a promise might serve well to remove any suspicion, given that violence trailed their kind wherever they chose to traverse.

The woman’s voice reached him mid sentence. A performance in the very cadence he was once taught. She was good. But she was playing an old game he had outgrown.

His own words, as they began leaving parted lips, felt older still.

“Sovereign of Trade,” Lysander offered.

His head tilted just so toward the Neimoidian, but he would not slip into formal submission. Then his gaze moved to the other, where a small, natural smile lived in the space between breaths.

“Senator.”

He honored the space they shared.

“It is refreshing to hear clarity regarding authority. The Covenant prefers to know the limits of a conversation before we determine its value. Markets, much like power, thrive on certainty. Principles.. versus outcomes.”

 

[Lodd Grimmin]

Verity Stuyveris Lysander von Ascania

Lodd said nothing for the moment even as his hand pressed a button on the mechno-chair to actually face the pair standing before him. Senator Verity Stuyveris had a balanced character in both her way of speaking and manner of dress, carefully crafted to convey the High Republic's wishes during this small conference.

Emissary Lysander von Ascania on the other hand was a person who understood what he wanted and how to obtain it. His manner of speaking was without a doubt crude and unfocused when dealing with a member of the galaxy's elite who did not need fancy titles to convey power and authority. Being a Neimoidian was power, otherwise he would have not made it past adulthood in the hives or survived the Galactic Alliance as the Minister for the conglomerate.

He didn't expect either of them to understand, nor did he want them to for this was his playground and they were soon to be eating out of his hand. "Do not fear, Senator Stuyveris. The Trade Federation is well-aware of the finer points of diplomacy and can understand the Republic's gesture of goodwill by the mere fact that you have showed up at my invitation." If the Republic wasn't serious about securing the economic backing of the Purse-Worlds they wouldn't have bothered to show up here which indicated to him that they were making some major plays that required large funding.

"As for you Emissary Von Ascania, the Covenant is surely the most preeminent power in the galaxy due to destroying the Galactic Empire and Darth Solipsis's ilk. The Federation would not dare dictate terms to such a great power, nor expect unlimited favor from the Triumvirs that governed it. Though I hope you are convinced of our potential uses in terms of resources." His tone held no ill-will but it was clear that Lodd was a seasoned politician from the ground up, with every statement chosen carefully to display submission in one sentence and a hook in the other. He gestured for them both to sit at a nearby table overlooking the other hanging-cities of Cato Neimoidia.

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

The hair on the back of Verity's neck stood up moments before she heard the footsteps of another joining the meeting. She half-turned to see Lysander von Ascania approaching. Grimmin, you absolute snake. She might have been impressed in another reality, had he pulled the trick on someone else. She kept her face and emotions tightly controlled, smoothly stepping to the side -- not a retreat from the Sith, but a polite and diplomatic gesture that allowed the trio to form a natural triangulation.

Verity listened to von Ascania's remarks, face impassive, and she folded her arms around her midsection, emphasizing the razor-sharp tailoring of her suit. Her blue eyes didn't stray from Grimmin.

"I'm perfectly capable of making the High Republic's case without the Covenant's assistance, but the representative's candor is refreshing. For a Sith," Verity added with a subtle wryness in her voice. "Markets do thrive on certainty. Predictability. Stability. None of which the Covenant offers, or is even capable of offering. Apparently they were not satisfied with unspeakable barbarity in the Tapani Sector in which countless people -- that is no exaggeration, Your Excellency, I mean so many that they don't yet have a firm number -- were killed, to say nothing of the commercial and financial infrastructure damaged and destroyed. Was that sort of bloodthirst -- or carelessness, if you're feeling charitable... or naive -- a fluke? Was it heck as like. We're still getting counts from Coruscant, where the Federal District -- not exactly an area known to be insignificant to galactic trade and commerce -- was devastated by their invasion."

Verity shook her head subtly; her hair was so strictly pinned that the movement didn't dislodge a single lock. She unfolded her arms, settled them behind her back instead, posture reminiscent of an old-world naval officer. She took a step toward Grimmin, lowering her voice to give the impression of a kind of confidential honesty -- an affect, naturally, for von Ascania would still be able to hear her clearly. "Whatever they tell you today, Your Excellency, they will do it to you. If they think it will benefit them. If they think hurting the Trade Federation advances their interests. If they get bored. Probably even if this one," Verity said, cocking her head toward Lysander briefly for illustration, "has a rival who thinks they can bloody his nose by playing skeet shoot with your fleet and your employees, your cargo and your property. Do you imagine they will stop to think about shareholder value, or property rights, or restitution, or the laws of contracts? They haven't even stopped to think about the laws of nature."

Verity took a shallow breath and then exhaled softly. "I could speak until I'm blue in the face about humanitarian values and the morality of using your trade empire to do the bidding of savages. I won't do you the disservice of thinking you don't understand or care about those stakes merely because you excel in business. But that's just one angle to consider. Coming, as I do, from an industrial world and an industrial family, I can imagine the tradeoffs that would be necessary to overcome those concerns." Verity paused a moment, her face solemn. Truth be told, she didn't know whether Grimmin had a moment's thought for humanitarian values and morality, but a woman could hope. "But you won't get them. Not for long, if at all."

Lodd Grimmin | Lysander von Ascania​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Lodd Grimmin | Verity Stuyveris​

Stillness suited Lysander well; this was the closest thing he ever had to neutrality. Words would fall in their chosen order, with the Neimodian addressing the Senator first, and as expected, turning the performance toward him. Clarity came quickly as to why the bird held his attention moments ago, for this was possibly the only other creature in the room capable of reacting honestly.

A peculiar term resurfaced, drawn from recent hours spent in Jutrand's archives with Srina Talon .

“The faithless are always tolerated by none for long. I assure you the Core’s longevity will improve as they find their place elsewhere.”

Elsewhere meaning the Nether.. the abyss to which most were consigned in the aftermath of multiple cleansing campaigns.

Lysander paused at the chair for a second, as a rather lengthy indictment from the Senator began. The descent was slow. Hands folded loosely in a way that suggested he was contemplative, which in truth, he always was.

He disliked being used as a rhetorical weapon; years earlier, he might have leapt to defend himself or strike back with equal fervor. Had it only been the two of them, he would have welcomed the opportunity for a verbal spar, with the same fire that so often flooded him in battle.

The Dark had taken much, but Ukatisan etiquette remained. As he sat in this moment, there was only a coldness coursing through his veins, a numbness that silenced the tongue.

At least.. until she was done.

Years in the Mid Rim had shown him that Jedi and nobles shared more with Sith than they ever cared to admit.

“Everyone becomes a saint when the sins in question are not their own.”

A glance returned to her, a frosty glaze spreading over glass, contrasting the warmth that gently touched the corners of his mouth. A smile that did not need to keep secrets.

“This isn’t a debate hall, Senator. It is a negotiation. Loyalty to the Republic is admirable, but it does narrow the lens.”

If that offered anything, it was the chance for her to find her place. Or a seat like the rest.

“Instability is not our doctrine. It’s your memory of us.”

Now he could finish what had been left unspoken earlier. His line of sight returned to the Sovereign.

“Preeminence is a matter of perspective. I did not come here to measure the Covenant against the Federation. The Triumvirate is not far from this room at all. Their will is present, even now. I'd rather discover where our interests overlap.”

He leaned forward on a soft exhale through the nose.

“The Covenant’s markets aren’t built the way the Republic built theirs. We don’t put up structures just to say they’re there. If something works, then we let it work. If it fails, it corrects itself. Disorder turns a profit; order costs you. But, we know how to use both. Worlds that stand with us aren’t buried with oversight. They’re left to breathe.. and run themselves. We take what’s owed and reward what is loyal. We won’t pretend stability needs mountains of paperwork. History suggests The Core never liked that model, but it is more efficient than anything they tolerated until now.”

Of course, he knew the system from within; Lysander owned a business as well.

“Your clients see a company. Not the Covenant. Just business. Our structure will protect your interest just as much as ours.”

 

[Lodd Grimmin]

Verity Stuyveris Lysander von Ascania

Lodd had known that inviting both the Sith Covenant and the High Republic to the same conference would lead to an unproductive outcome. To describe their relationship has simply frosty would be a gross misrepresentation of the current situation which was by all means comparable to an active volcano about to erupt within the grounds of this very palace.

Eyes shifted slightly over to Senator Verity Stuyveris as she explained in no uncertain terms that the Trade Federation would lose a substantial amount of money if they made an agreement with the Sith Barbarians, the agitation on her face quite visible to him even if they were hidden behind polite musing. Things were much the same in the Dark Empire and the Galactic Empire after it, Emperor's promising great power and wealth but delivering nothing but setback after setback.

"I see the point you are trying to make, Senator Stuyveris. The Trade Federation would have a lot to lose should the Triumvirate of the Covenant decide that the Purse-Worlds are to much of a hassle to manage properly. War and destruction would follow, sending an influx of potential refugees flooding towards the High Republic at even higher rate." He wanted to appear agreeable to the concern about the destruction that seems to follow the Covenant wherever they go from the Noble Households of the Tapani Sector to the gleaming towers of Coruscant. The Trade Federation could easily be bullied into submission should a potential agreement not materialize in an appropriate timeframe.

Such thoughts were not carved into his features as Lysander von Ascania made his own statements on the present unprompted debate. His viewpoint was that the Core Worlds were merely under new management and were allowed to breathe so long as tribute was paid, though he did adopt a smirk at the suggestion that the Triumvirs will was here amongst them.

A single finger was raised subtly in his direction, a signet ring marked with the personal standard of Darth Carnifex to get the boy to understand that the Neimoidian was not powerless in any sense of the word, having a formidable patron behind him, one far older and more powerful.

"The Trade Federation certainly admires a commitment to free-standing enterprise and lack of regulation on its activities but the question becomes, Emissary Von Ascania. How can you guarantee that profits can be made in the Core Worlds without subject to the personal whim of Warlords within. It would be difficult for us to supply local inhabitants with resources if said resources are being misdirected towards military buildup." A simple question to redirect focus away from his signet ring to the matter at hand. Any nation can establish commercial freedom, but could they actually enforce said freedom without competing interests clawing away at the commercial activities happening inside.

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

"Anything is a debate hall if you've got the stomach for it," Verity replied to the Covenant's ambassador, eyebrow arching slightly as if in challenge. He was much more civilized than the holofeeds would lead one to believe the Sith Covenant could be, but that only told her that they were more dangerous than she thought, not less. "If you can defend your position, that is. And frankly, I don't care a fig about loyalty to the Republic as far as the Trade Federation is concerned. I'm as capitalist as they are. I know what loyalty means from a corporation: a system that keeps the lights on, that protects the means of production, and doesn't take too much in tax. Or tribute. This? This is broader than loyalty to any one government. It is about the repudiation of the vandalism that you and your band of brigands have already inflicted on the galaxy, and which you seek to continue to inflict. Because in addition to being bad for business -- which it is -- it is reprehensible to anyone who cares about civilization which, incidentally, ought to includes capitalists."

Her attention turned back to the Trade Monarch. Eyes narrowing in on his raised finger, the signet ring with the unusual crest.

"You are very -- charitable -- to use the word 'if' when we both know that 'when' is the more likely one," the Senator said. "And that is the preferable outcome, isn't it? When compared to what is likely to happen: the Sith Covenant use your business interests as leverage in their own deranged games. From what my sources tell me they couldn't even hold their alliance together long enough to capture Coruscant before -- personalities, shall we say? -- fractured things. These were ideological brethren and their own avarice and invidiousness shattered them within hours. Can you imagine that they would keep their word to you? Even if you purported to buy their protection, how much tribute, in blood and credits, can the Trade Federation really afford?"

She half-turned toward von Ascania, lowering her chin in what might have been a nod.

"Bureaucracy -- certainly a sin of many a government. Paperwork is one way to look at it, Your Excellency." Her glacial gaze returned to the Nemoidian. "Another is accountability. If the High Republic confiscated one of your vehicles unduly -- if, heaven forfend, it accidentally destroyed one -- the courts would see restitution made. It is a slow process, perhaps, slower than I would like certainly. But it is accountability. You will not get that from the Sith Covenant."

"The Covenant representative is wrong about one other thing," Verity said pleasantly, turning her head to cordially include von Ascania in her explanation. "This may not be a debate hall, but it is certainly not a negotiation either. I am not here to make offers and deals. That avenue may yet be open to us. But today, I am simply here to let you know what options are available, and the consequences that will result from each." She flexed her hands behind her back, one hand tugging the wrist of the other, as if stretching.

"For instance, I am curious how you envision your market share faring if you were to align yourself with the Covenant," Verity said, and her voice had turned conversational, as if she were merely one industrialist talking to another at a trade conference. "Given that that would cut you off to a significant portion of the galactic consumer market, not to mention trade corridors, financing, insurers -- all the things that make businesses go -- for a significant chunk of the galaxy. And a wealthy one, that that. One with plenty of disposable income and many more consumers with credits to spend than the Covenant can boast."

Verity glanced back at von Ascania briefly, as if assessing, before her gaze turned back to Grimmin. "Certainly, the Covenant hold Coruscant -- for now -- but everything else they've touched has turned into a charnel house, so I don't expect the trillions of beings who live there being in a rush to open their wallets to you. Not exactly a thriving market for your goods and services. Oh, a war economy will tide you over... for a time. But that war will end. If you stand with the Sith and they win, you are in no better a position in the long term than if they lost. You are still insecure, because Sith respect nothing -- not life, not property, not agreements -- and that is if they have permitted your existence thus far. I wouldn't bet on that. Or, if you back them and they lose, the galaxy has a long memory when it comes to collaborators."

Her lips flattened, blue eyes earnest. "A very long memory, Your Excellency."

Lodd Grimmin | Lysander von Ascania
​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Lodd Grimmin | Verity Stuyveris​

Lysander leaned back into his seat, letting them both have their say. He had the stomach to witness destruction on a scale most could never fathom; her comment was unlikely to land anywhere but deaf ears.

Another wave of rhetoric built, but his own voice would remain calm. It wasn't born of passivity, but offering clarity instead, from knowing he didn't need to fight for any spotlight here. In this space, there was no urge to mirror the Senator's intensity.

Recognition sparked in his gaze right away as it fell upon the signet. A shield, mayhaps, and a powerful one at that. But all it only reminded him that the Kainites and Covenant had many intersecting interests. Which also affirmed that there were undoubtedly aligning interests with the Neimodian, too.

Across from him, the Senator would remain the loudest in the room. He may have even admired her clarity but would stand apart from whatever this destination her reasoning led her to. Those conclusions were plain.

Still, he waited for the final echo of the current indictment to dissolve; then, he could return to the Sovereign's question, so that truths would be revealed.

Hands came together slowly. “Profit is a language the Covenant speaks without dialect. You ask how we guarantee returns without being subject to the whims of Warlords. That’s a fair question, and a necessary one. Tribute is fixed, as are the terms. Interference is not tolerated. Internal rivalries will not touch external contracts.”

A tilt of the head followed. “Should a Warlord misdirect your shipments, then I assure you they would not remain a Warlord. If they threatened your profit, they would not remain in power. If they chose to jeopardize tribute, they would not remain alive.”

He let that settle. “You will not get accountability from us, the Senator says.”

A glance slid her way; nothing more than a shift of emerald.

“She is correct. You will get something else.”

He returned to their host. “You’ll have your profits safeguarded, independence respected, and business protected. The Covenant isn’t here to take away what makes us stronger; it is here to support what builds us up. The Republic can't even protect their own. They couldn't even keep their former Chancellor safe from kidnappers. And Edic Bar? Lost to them like it was nothing, quite possibly the easiest victory we claimed in all our campaigns combined."

A crease gathered at his brow. "Now another ambassador goes missing. You think it's just a coincidence? Hardly. It's a pattern, plain as day."

Even worse, by Imperial hands. A faction that only existed because the Order permitted it.

Another slow exhale slipped through his nose. "They're desperate for regulation and compliance. But that's the thing. I'm only proposing a buy-in. A straightforward transaction. An exchange of value without the ornamental regulations that look impressive and achieve nothing. No shifting terms.”

Best to let the heat bleed out of the air before he continued.

“The Covenant’s markets are efficient. Profit moves faster with us. Margins are higher with us. And early partners benefit most as our sphere expands. I wouldn’t call it loss of market share. I call it liberation from a system that charges you for the privilege of participating. The Republic offers access, yes. But access at a cost, and their bureaucracy collapses every time someone sneezes in the Senate. There are no shifting political winds with us. Just business. We do not tax ambition.”

He paused, only so that he could choose another angle of truth. “Tell me, Sovereign,” slipped the words, “do you really think partnering with us means losing market share? What you’ll lose is overhead, hidden costs that only drain resources without so much a second thought.” He spread his hands. “You’ll lose the maddening delays that slow your progress, and beyond that, you’ll shed all burdens of paying for permission.. fees just to play the game. Reconstruction is the most profitable phase of any economic cycle. That does not sound like a dead market to me. That's the biggest commercial boom the galaxy has ever seen. Frontier markets."

A margin the Republic hadn't seen in centuries.

His regard finally moved to Verity again. "I think you're smarter than to actually believe a single person's failure defines an entire alliance. You wouldn’t say a single Senator’s mistake sums up the entire Republic, would you? We're all bigger than any single mistake."

 

[Lodd Grimmin]

Verity Stuyveris Lysander von Ascania

Lodd clasped his fingers together for a brief moment, utilizing the armrest of the mechno-chair as he took in the perspectives from both sides of the ongoing debate. The Trade Federation had endured numerous regime shifts and market downturns without collapsing, despite experiencing significant credit losses in their dealings with Imperial-aligned governments.

This situation essentially explained their lack of interest in reaching out to the Imperial Confederation for a supplementary agreement, as their droid accountants had indicated that that region of space was not profitable after they had rushed into the Sith Holy Worlds. He turned briefly to hear Senator Verity Stuyveris viewpoints about accountability and civilization, wrapped up in a tone of authority which made him chuckle.

She was standing in the shadows of real power, which even Lysander von Ascania understood though he lacked one basic understanding when describing such revolutionary ideas of liberation and frontier markets. The Kainites and the Covenant were aligned in interest but the Federation was the key that could close that door on a more permanent basis for the Kainate relied on their merchant fleet far more.

"There is no need for both sides of this conference to become agitated with one another. Though I must admit that Accountability is a fine word to use Senator." Lodd said, wanting to come across as the more reasonable party here. "The Trade Federation has always valued the predictability of Republic law. But we can't rely on a restitution that might arrive decades after the claim was first filed. Our corporation exists in the now, we naturally can't feed our shareholders the promise of a future court settlement." Democratic court systems were often very slow, which he had experienced in the Galactic Alliance when the Viceroy Rulonom Laborr was detained on charges of imprisoning SIA Agents on Skako.

"However," he turned his head toward the Emissary, "the Senator raises a point that cannot be ignored through rhetoric alone. The liberation you offer, Emissary, sounds remarkably like the vacuum of space. You say you do not tax ambition, yet the tribute you require is often paid in the autonomy of the merchant. A warlord who is executed for misdirecting my cargo is still a warlord who stopped my cargo. Dead men do not sign delivery receipts." Lodd allowed his statement to linger, then shifted slightly in his chair, voice smoothing into something more analytical than confrontational.

"The Trade Federation is not afraid of strength. We are not even afraid of harsh enforcement. What we fear is interruption. Commerce depends less on ideology than on continuity. A delayed shipment can be absorbed. A seized shipment can be insured. But a shipment caught between competing authorities military, political, or personal destroys confidence. And confidence is far more valuable than credits. So the question becomes, Senator and Emissary. Which nation can ensure confidence in the very idea of commerce." It would be of little benefit to the Purse-Worlds to align themselves with a power that fails to instill confidence in the hearts and minds of its citizens. Ultimately, a confident populace is far more inclined to purchase products in the open market than if that same populace harbored doubts about their ability to provide for their basic needs.

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

Verity steepled her fingers before her, elegantly understated manicure on full display. She cast a glance over at Lysander. There was something invigorating about crossing rhetorical sabers with someone who knew what they were about. It was almost possible to forget that he was the face, however charming, of the enemy of galactic civilization.

Almost.

Still, she allowed herself an easy smile. "You'll need to clarify for me, Mr. von Ascania, to which mistake are you referring, exactly? Is it you people torching the Tapani Sector, killing untold masses and devastating a formerly economically vibrant sector? Was that a mistake? It looked fairly intentional on the holonews. Or would it be the violent defacing of the federal district on Coruscant? I'm sure there is more to learn as your -- government, is it? -- your government's dark deeds come to light. Which they will. Oh, but then perhaps you meant whatever bruised egos caused the fracturing of the grand alliance. But then," she said, turning the polished diplomat's own turn of phrase around on him, "You're smarter than to attempt to explain away the only likely precipitate of overgrown, power-hungry tyrants sharing space and oxygen as a simple mistake. A sunrise is not a mistake. A seed growing where planted is not a mistake."

Her gaze returned to the Grimmin and she allowed her fingers to lace together.

"Your Excellency has landed upon a critical consideration, and -- luckily for us all, since it does not require me to continue prattling -- you already know the answer. There is no confidence to be found in a band of brigands whose only ideology is power: obtaining it, taking it from others, keeping it, using it against others. Whatever lip service they give it now, you cannot rely on it. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, think of Tapani. What confidence could that possibly inspire?"

Verity canted her head to one side. "Understand that these are early days for the Covenant. The Tapani Sector tragedy is one example of their... predilections. And yes, I speak of it often. It sounds repetitive. It is the most public and the most egregious of their exploits -- for now. But that is for want of time, not want of their sadism. God willing the good people of the galaxy will be able to stop any more. But that kind of destruction and disruption -- loss of life, yes, but also trade, also demands on resources as refugees flee, also the disruptions to supply lines -- is only the beginning of a lack of confidence that will be inflicted upon commercial interests that do business with them."

"The Republic, on the other hand, is at its heart a mercantile nation. Its aim is to make the galaxy safe for all of civilization, to include trade and commerce," she concluded gracefully.

Lodd Grimmin | Lysander von Ascania

​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Lodd Grimmin Verity Stuyveris​

With an inclination of his head, down to the very millimeter, Lysander’s gaze brushed over the Senator, so that he could absorb the essence of her argument and the gravity it left behind in the surrounding space. Nothing wrong with enjoying a dance of intellect, even if standing at opposite ends of a political spectrum.

Given the order of authority, it was only natural that he gravitated back to the Sovereign. And to align the conversation back to its proper axis.

“You’re right,” his voice arrived, calm and firm. “A dead warlord may not sign a receipt, but he cannot interrupt another shipment either. A restitution that arrives decades later is certainly no restitution at all. The Covenant acts immediately. A broken contract will be addressed the moment it is violated.. not after months of jurisdictional confusion. A merchant who keeps their word remains free to pursue their trade. One who thrives even earns encouragement. Those who grow shall find support. I assure you the tribute we demand is not the surrender of freedom.. but the keeping of order that will hold everything upright. Everything that trade depends on.”

His hands drifted closer until fingertips met.

“The Covenant is no sanctuary of peace. Hardly a revelation these days. It is not soft nor does it mirror the Republic’s vision of.. order. But, it is consistent. Every citizen knows the consequence of breaking a contract. Every governor can predict the punishment for overreach. And again, every warlord understands the price of disrupting trade.”

Another tilt followed as he faced Verity; this one held a note of curiosity.

“Senator,” Lysander said softly, “you’re folding many things into one box, no? You call it a fractured alliance, which is hardly the truth. One individual chose to wander off in pursuit of his own.. reflection. Hardly a collapse.. a generous word for it. That’s just an ego doing what egos do.”

A slight lift of one brow. Amused, maybe. “You’re trying to turn that into a narrative of chaos. But a single defector isn’t chaos. It’s sentient nature. A sunrise isn’t a mistake.. as you said. Well.. neither is a man acting exactly as he was always going to act.”

Fingertips pressed together once more.

“You asked which mistake I meant.”

An arc gathered at one corner of his mouth before he silenced it.

“Not that one.”

Attention eased back to the Neimodian. Of course, confidence would never be built in a single conversation.

"The Covenant delivers results, while another speaks only of ideals. If you wish to measure their worth against ours, Sovereign, come to Coruscant. Witness firsthand which moves cargo, and which only moves speeches. Let me to show you how we preserve that continuity, and how we honor our word. Speak directly with our merchants. That way you may judge the system by outcomes, not only by what I can offer in words here."

 

[Lodd Grimmin]

Verity Stuyveris Lysander von Ascania

Lodd extended his hand to pet the Neimoidian pylat bird that was fluttering around his shoulder, providing a soothing presence during these challenging times for the Federation. He found the exchange between his two guests to be quite entertaining, akin to observing a professional match of dejariik where each player endeavored to persuade the other to alter its overall form by committing an error.

In this scenario, the error was the decision to invite this particular Emissary and this specific Senator to a conference that depended more on subtle gestures than on mere aggression, accompanied by a confusing array of words that made little sense to the Trade Monarch. Verity was correct that the Sith were volatile creatures who cared little for the concept of credits, more content to char a civilization and more onto the next.

Yet she ignored that the Republic was a suffocating blanket of taxes, fees and oversight that could turn a simple freighter run into a multi-year investigation. His eyes turned slightly to Lysander, whose charm was evident by his response being wrapped up in the language of the bottom line with a fluency that was rare for those who served the Dark Side of the Force. But consistency through fear was a brittle thing, if the hand that held the leash ever trembled the entire system would devour itself.

"The Senator offers a court system and Republic mercantilism and the Emissary offers order maintained by the edge of a blade, effective for the moment until the blade turns against its user." He stopped, his red eyes narrowing as he reached a conclusion that neither of them would particularly enjoy, but one that served the Purse-Worlds above all else. He was starting to think that visiting Coruscant would not be a bad idea in the future, nor would perhaps going to Naboo to speak with the High Chancellor privately.

"I believe the best conclusion of this small conference would be to have the Trade Federation visit both the Capital of Coruscant and the Spires of Naboo in order to determine which nation could benefit from our resources in a more productive way. Perhaps both of you would be willing to facilitate a meeting with your leaders in the form of the High Chancellor and one of the Triumvirs." Lodd was convinced that this was the most appropriate course of action, given that neither of them had been particularly effective in demonstrating their nation's overall worth to the conglomerate. The Chancellor was a corporate individual, while the Triumvirs were more straightforward in their demands, and both might eventually succeed in persuading him.

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

​

Inwardly, Verity Stuyveris sighed.

Had she been alone, she might have reached up to pinch the patrician bridge of her nose in a last-ditch effort to stave off a headache. But since she was in company -- as it were -- she remained serene, placid, unflappable. Nary a flap to be seen anywhere on the Senator. Grimmin's proposal was, she suspected, what he was after all along. Like the absurd bird, the absurd statue, the absurd palace, this meeting wasn't about business, not really. It was about status. Verity had none, but could be a foot in the door to someone who had it all.

The Chancellor.

" Dominique Vexx is a busy woman, Your Excellency, and I do not control her diary. I would be happy to carry your greetings back to her office with a request for a meeting, though I cannot -- obviously -- guarantee a result." This Verity said, keeping her voice conversational. Her fingers laced together tighter then. Perhaps it was for the best for him to make his case directly to the Chancellor. If anyone was going to give him the assurances and concessions he desired, it would be the Chancellor, and if anyone was willing to make assurances to this particular trade monarch, it would be a corporatist. "Be on the lookout for her office's response."

She gave a shallow bob of her head and half-turned, blue eyes settling on the Covenant's representative. "Mr. von Ascania -- rarely has an exchange of views been so invigorating. I confess myself fascinated. If only life had put you on a different path, you would have made a fine Senator. Alas." She half-rolled her neck, as if to express some measure of discontent at the way life had shaken out for him. "Perhaps you would be good enough to convey a simple message from me -- not from the High Republic, just from me -- to your masters, the Triumvirs? It is not complicated." She lifted her chin. "It is simply this: Don't get comfortable."

Lysander von Ascania | Lodd Grimmin​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Lodd Grimmin Verity Stuyveris​

The Sovereign's conclusion did not disappoint him. No need to feign otherwise. Fingers remained locked in their familiar contemplative steeple even as the verdict was delivered. Even if their host did not accept the full argument, or embrace Lysander's vision, he did at least accept the invitation. And that, to him, was a victory in its own. Could he have shaped his words differently? Certainly. In hindsight, there were always angles worth refining.

Before him stretched a scene both strange and oddly familiar. It.. echoed the days when he was just an acolyte, every challenge an uphill battle. The weapons were different now, trading sabers for sharp tongues. Each duel raised the fight IQ. There would be ample time to reflect on the lesson from this and prepare for wherever the Covenant believed him useful next.

Soon, he found his feet again.

“Then the path is clear,” the line fell with even cadence. “The Triumvirate shall be informed, and we will receive you on Coruscant, Sovereign. I look forward to your visit.”

At the mention of the Chancellor's name, his head turned to the Senator. Lysander's mind weaved through the dialogue that followed. There were a few pieces worth keeping for later.

A duelist's nod dipped from him, an old instinct born of Makashi and the fencer he'd once been on Ukatis. As a Sith, this was a courtesy reserved for worthy adversaries alone.

“Senator Stuyveris, if time was well spent here, then perhaps you made it so. Such merit is not overlooked.”

Some small part of him considered the image she offered, until he cut it down.

“There was a time when I believed that too. But life placed my hand elsewhere. I’ve learned not to dwell on the roads I left behind.”

For a few seconds, the color in his eyes dimmed to nothing. “Your message will be conveyed, though it should be known now, that comfort has never been a luxury our kind indulges."

Results were the only metric worth their time.

“If another matter arises, I suspect you’ll know where to turn.”