Private An Uncivilized Age

[Tris]

Rulonom Laborr

A benefit of the SILK Trade Route, the dusty world of Grenonine III loomed before her as her shuttle rocketed towards the surface. Industry scarred the world and obscurity paid for in credits and blood hid it from prying eyes. It was no secret factory world and its connection to the Trade Federation was no secret if the warships orbiting the planet were anything to go by, but like many of the Trade Federation's assets, it was beyond the official reach of the Alliance. Though for how long she could hazard a guess. Her nanja shuttle touched down and the boarding ramp hissed open landing with a resounding thunk against the duracrete landing pad.

"What a wonderful place," she muttered sarcastically as the smell of coolant, iron, and industry filled the ship's boarding area. This was far, far outside the Ascendancy. But the Alliance's tax dollars had to go somewhere for the rebuilding of Chiss space. Why not to one of its largest corporations?

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

Tris ​

Entering 900 ABY, The Alliance Trade Federation had suffered setback after setback due to the actions of the Skakoan Elders and his own political miscalculations. The decision to sentence Alliance Marshals to force labor while noble was affecting his political career within the Alliance Senate as a motion had been put forward to silence him. Not to mention the transportation of Imperial-aligned Star Destroyers through Alliance Space using Trade Federation Convoys. Laborr had been scolded by the Commanding Director of the Trade Federation Gat Tambor several weeks ago, wanting him to fix the mess created by any means necessary. However, that directive would have to wait until tensions back home settled down and the conflict between the Skakoans and the Alliance Government was resolved.

But until then, Laborr was not content to be forced out of power just yet and so decided to regather his political power on a world at present far outside the Alliance's Jurisdiction. He had been informed through agents within the Senate Building that the Chiss Population was emerging from the shadows after the Second Great Hyperspace War and the threat of the Brotherhood of the Maw were diminished. Deciding to take full advantage of this when an opportunity presented itself.

That opportunity came with the arrival of a shuttle on the world; with him being informed quite quickly by the Trade Federation Fleet in orbit. Deciding to send a service droid to greet the person on board and determine if they were a threat.

After a few moments, the service droid arrived at the location accompanied by several Mythosaur super commando for security purposes.

"Greetings!, I am TRD-378. I have been asked by the Lord Pensionary to inquire as to the reason of your visit to our world." The protocol droid said.

 

[Tris]

Rulonom Laborr
​

"Your master knows why we are here droid," Tris said curtly. "Do not waste my time." Only a fool would arrive unannounced to a place like this. She eyed the Mandalorian mercenaries with caution. Her lips curled into a sneer. "I hope Senator Laborr did not intend to intimidate the Chiss Ascendancy into agreeing upon terms before we even meet face to face. His Vornskr hounds do not scare me." She thought about activating her lightsaber then and there, but she held back, instead walking past the droid and towards the lift.

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

Tris ​

​

Protocol Droid TRD-378 understood the intentions of Tris quite quickly through their brief exchange. Proceeding to follow her into the lift with the Mythosaur Super-Commandos not far behind keeping a watchful eye for any sudden movements that might indicate the chiss was a threat to the Senator of Skako. After a short wait, the lift would begin to move at quite a rapid pace towards the Upper Spire of the Trade Federation Headquarters on the world. The ride was silent for the most part with the subtle chatter of the Mandalorian communications between themselves providing the only noise.

A few moments passed as the lift doors would open; revealing a rather long corridor that would have to be traversed. The entrance to the conference room was large thick gates covered with a ray shield which was deactivated to allow the chiss to walk freely into the room without much hassle.

"I have been expecting you, Chiss Representative. You'll have to forgive me for taking precautions given the recent conflict with the Alliance Senate." Senator Laborr explained in the same droid-esque voice as all skakoans had. Gesturing around the room to the Order of the Silver Church members who stood guard.

 

[Tris]

Rulonom Laborr
​

Her ruby eyes scanned the room. She was not in a good position here. Mandalorians at her back, technoid fanatics at her front, and her only ally was the Force. Before she'd realized it she had found at least four different ways out of the room if things went south. She sighed. This wasn't Rhigar. This was a business meeting. Still... Tris shrugged, splaying her hands out.

"If you believe a single Chiss diplomat necessitates all of this then you are in more dire straights than we realized." Pressure. "Maybe the Trade Federation isn't as powerful as it appears to be. This is hardly the way to greet a potential customer."

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

Tris ​

Senator Laborr certainly had a lot of things on his mind given recent political troubles with the Alliance Senate but may perhaps this meeting with Tris would bring him a step closer to regaining lost prestige. The Skakoan could tell there was some slight unease about the formidable security personnel surrounding them. But she did not show it visibly instead trying to goad him on from a position of strength. An admirable attempt but he would not show his hand too early during this discussion.

"Like all businesses and trade guilds, there are periods of ups and downs. What makes or breaks such an organization is how well they adapt to galactic changes." The Senator responded to such pressure with a straightforward explanation.

"As if you were only a potential customer, my friend. I can tell that you did your research on megacorporations before coming to the Trade Federation. You know we have the hardware, experience, and the resources to accomplish anything for a certain price of course, without asking too many questions.." Laborr explained with quite vivid hand gestures to get the point across. The Chiss were intelligent to a fault and she would have done her research in order to get the best results.

 

[Tris]

​

Laborr's words about adapting to galactic change struck home with Tris. She couldn't tell if the words were a slight to the Ascendancy's unwillingness to bend when the Galaxy changed around them or if he was just talking truly about himself.

"Yes," She said agreeing, though to which statement remained unclear. She took a seat at the long table no doubt meant for much larger meetings and laced her fingers together on the exotic furniture. "Let us get down to business then, shall we?" She didn't wait for an answer.

"The Chiss Ascendancy have a manpower problem. During the war with the Brotherhood of the Maw much of our Defense Force was destroyed, shattered by the Maw's relentless attacks." She left the fact that the bulk of those losses came from outside of the Expansionary Defense Fleet. Those were details better left for more intimate partners. "We are struggling to fill the defensive needs of what remains of the Ascendancy within Alliance Space and just along its edge as the Alliance slowly pulls forces out of the Chaos."

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

Tris ​

The Chiss Species had certainly suffered much hardship since the destruction of Csilla by the Brotherhood of the Maw and were slowly beginning to change from hard-core isolation to practical realism given current galactic affairs. Many people and by extension their factions had already exploited the remaining population of the Chiss, not to mention the brief conflict with the New Imperial Order turned Empire before their subsequent collapse due to overexpansion.

Tris likely understood this perfectly well and decided to start talking about business with the Trade Federation of Planets. It would seem that the Chiss Ascendancy was suffering from manpower depletion which was understandable given the Brotherhood's ruthless pursuit and the utter destruction caused by Grand Moff Korvan.

"Quite a predicament but easily solved. Before we get into exact detail, what kind of budget do you have?" Laborr asked interlocking his own armored fingers on the table, the Trade Federation certainly could fill the request but they were still a business and not a charity. If the Chiss wanted resources then they would have to pay exactly as everyone else does.

 

[Bayaz]

RIP

 

[Tris]

Tris shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She hated talking about credits. Especially because the currency of the Ascendancy held such little weight against the Alliance Credit.

"We have credits," she said slowly, "But much of our wealth is..." Locked into keeping their military from mutinying? Paying Alliance debts? She cleared her throat. "To be frank, we were also hoping there would be room for...Financing in this endeavor."

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

Tris ​

​

The room was utterly silent as the Chiss Representative Tris explained very carefully and perhaps foolhardily to the Senator of Skako that the Ascendancy lacked sufficient currency to pay the Trade Federation at this time. Normally in the galactic business world when a potential client can't afford your services you throw them to the curb, but in this situation, there was room for negotiation, and even a chance to regain his lost political power within the Senate Bureaucracy.

"So..let me get this straight before we proceed. You want to use the Federation's Services for the Ascendancy and even hope for us to finance your endeavors without anything in return?" Laborr explained with quite a sinister monotone pausing for dramatic effect to leave the chiss guessing as to what he might say next.

"But maybe I am being a bit too harsh to your current plight. The Trade Federation would be more than willing to negotiate a deal provided some conditions are met..." Was further added after some time of silence. The Chiss likely knew that any deal made with the Trade Federation would be a one-sided agreement. But she would have little choice in the matter if she really wanted to survive within the current political climate.

 

[Tris]

It was dangerous to back a nightdragon into a corner. Many a Chiss hunter had found that out the hard way and this slimy Skakoan was nearing the same fate. Tris shifted in her seat agitatedly, her posture changing ever so slightly, muscles tensed for action. But if there was to be any fighting this day it would not be with the power of the Great Presence behind her. Her eyes narrowed to glowing ruby slits.

"What sort of conditions, Laborr?"