Battle for Democracy (Aurelia)

[Moira Skaldi]

Once again Moira found herself standing in front of the office of [member="Aurelia Saelari"]. One could say that there was a bit of a pattern. However, circumstances had changed, for Aurelia was now once again the civilian leader of the Republic, having ascended to the office of Chief of Government. Truth be told, when Moira thought of 'Chief' she imagined the chieftain of a primitive tribe, which from her perspective was actually an accurate description! Likewise she found that a tripartite sharing of power would be fundamentally unstable. However, that was not why she was here.



All the necessary calls had been made. Her office had called Aurelia's, the date for an appointment had been set and in a couple moments she would have an audience with the Chief and by the end of it she should have made lots of credits. Archangel had pledged to aid the Republic in return for government funding way back after Coruscant had fallen, the company's designs had already been used to improve security for Saelari's corporation. Now it was time to move a step further so that the Republic could gain the services of true Ironsides as well!


Needless to say she was not here as Moira Skaldi, Butcher of Contruum and former Director of OP Military Intelligence. But as Nalia Alderana, respectable businesswoman and co-director of Archangel. A woman dedicated to the singular goal of advancing the boundaries of science and creating the most advanced HRDs possible, then spreading them across the Galaxy.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]
“Ms Nalia Alderana, Chief Saelari,” her aide said, stepping aside.
Aurelia couldn’t remember hiring this one. He seemed much more efficient than the previous one. She would have to have a word with him about who hired him and why.
Don’t you remember? You did the interview last week? He was the best candidate?
Was the voice in her head or a memory? Either way, she now remembered an interview. Yes…Pak Brion was a corporate PA, had interviewed well. How had she forgotten?

Distracted, she only just drew herself back to the present as Nalia approached her desk. Standing, she offered a curt nod.
“Let us be brief, Ms Alderana. I have a great deal to do today. What is it you wish?” Aurelia asked, sitting down again and letting the other woman find her own chair.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Aurelia Saelari"]


This one probably needs to figure out some things to do for Callisto Scarlett. Perhaps Madame Saelari would like some dangerous enemies of the state to...be taken out of the equation.


"Of course, Chief Saelari. I will not take up much of your time. Congratulations on your reascension to office. Moira said politely as she sat down on one of the cushy leather chairs.


"During the administration of your predecessor, Archangel offered to provide support to the Republic, in return for tax breaks and government funding, as you may recall. I would like to expand upon this pledge and arrange a long-term contract with the Republic to supply its military, with our substantial stock of war machines, battle droids, HRDs and anti-force user weaponry. The production capacities of our company have expanded strongly and our factories could be churning out designs as soon as the order is given."

 

[Linna Beorht]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]

Somewhere far away, Linna Beorht of HoloNet News Presents: Battle For Democracy had sweet and private thoughts of lawsuit.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]

Aurelia looked placidly at the other woman. "This is certainly possible, Ms Alderana. However, as you are aware, the Chief of the Military in this new...arrangement...handles the procurement of new contracts. However, I can pass through a good word for you to him. Tell me what you have to offer the Republic."

She leaned back, ready to listen to Nalia's explanation.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Aurelia Saelari"]


Somehow Moira found herself experiencing a strong and sweet desire to entech [member="Linna Beorht"]. She would be magnificient! Besides, lawsuits about plagiarism were serious business. In any case, the paperclip maximiser - thank you, Linna, for that titulation - turned her thoughts away from meta towards the actual plot. The one about convincing the Republic to buy death machines to kill their enemies with. A more humane alternative to having the sons and daughters of the Republic die and kill!



"Thank you, ma'am. We can provide the Republic with units of conventional battle droids and modernised
droidekas equipped for anti-forcer combat in substantial numbers. Likewise automated droid tanks and mobile droid heavy artillery. Our portfolio also includes fully automated military grade defence turrets to protect installations and population centres and planetary defence turbolaser cannons that due to a droid brain require a minimum of personnel and can destroy capital ships. During the Empire's collapse, we acquired a limited supply of Sith anti-force user technology, such as Gorgon web rifles to incapacitate force-users and metal-eating insect grenades."



She would pass a datapad over across the desk towards Aurelia, where the important technical aspects would be presented in a detailed yet concise manner.


"You're familiar with the capabilities of our HRDs from our last meeting and the unit you purchased, but our capacities have expanded since then. We can create HRDs tailor-made to fit the Republic military's and intelligence services required. The lighter polymer units we are developing cannot be detected by weight and metal detectors, thereby enhancing their capabilities as infiltrators. Likewise we can work with the military to create custom units that are more fit to act independently and can even create replicants of a living being after a non-invasive brain scan. Our units will obey any command given to them and can be provided with override codes to shut them down or exert direct control if needed. They will not tire, relent or abruptly defect to the enemy."

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]
Aurelia listened with half an ear as the other woman spoke. She took the offered datapad and skimmed it. All seemed in order there.

"And do you keep a copy of these codes, pray?" Aurelia asked sourly. After the whole Baktoid issue she was not exactly well disposed to manufacturers keep their paws on their products after sale. Cue dramatic irony.

"Very well, I shall put in a good word for you with the military chief. Whilst I am not in favour of droid combat troops, they have their uses for garrison or guard duty to free up real soldiers."

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Aurelia Saelari"]


Aurelia's words were dripping with dramatic irony on so many levels. Rest assured that Moira Skaldi, Butcher of Contruum, would never accidentally drop an entire shipyard on a planet! As for the 'real soldiers' of the Republic, it seemed that the One Sith possessed the magical ability to turn them into mere background noise and make them vanish into thin air.


Though it seemed the Republic was trying to get its military in order, which ought to make it less dependent on a non-religious order of monks and space wizards if it worked out. Clearly its army would benefit from being made more...mechanical. Either way, she had gotten what she came for and that was satisfactory.


"Excellent. My office will be ready to liaise with the Republic's military command so that we can make the appropriate arrangements, determine the exact purchases and answer any questions they may have." Moira said politely and arose from her chair, with the audience clearly over.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Moira Skaldi"]
"If I have any questions, you will be the first to hear," Aurelia said blandly. She rose, shook hands, then watched the other woman leave.

"You can come out now, your puppet master has gone," she called. She knew [member="Callisto Scarlett"] was lurking somewhere around. She wondered idly if the droid thought of Moira as a parent or felt any residual loyalty based on that. One could never tell with droids....

"Go fetch that new aide. He can earn his money by taking a message to the military chief."

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Aurelia Saelari"]


Speak of the devil, and she shall appear. Like any droid of her line Callisto had the ability to seemingly suddenly manifest right at your side, with her steps barely making any sound despite the fact that she weighed far more than her sleek, so very human figure might imply to those who did not look past the pictureperfect facade. Useful qualities for a bodyguard...or for an assassin.


"I am only vigilant as per your orders for your protection. You are a high-profile target after all, ma'am." Callisto spoke in her usual soft, eternally calm tone. "And I am probably too heavy to be pulled on strings like a puppet." She was obviously deliberately misunderstanding Aurelia's last barb.


As Maelion Liates - the original mechanical tongue! - had demonstrated so long ago, terminatrices could all be terribly snarky when the mood hit them. Naturally she knew that Aurelia would not appreciate it in the slightest. One wondered whether human replica droids could get bored. Obviously they had no concept of 'free time', but an assassin droid probably thought their time was best spent with causing homicide. Nonetheless, she had her orders. "Yes, ma'am."


So she departed from the office where Aurelia was holding court, presiding over audiences like a galactic empress, to the room where she would find the new aide, Pak Brion. As she came inside the aide was working through plenty of paperwork. He also looked just a bit tired and annoyed at being disturbed.


"Yes, what is it. I have work to do. I'm on hold for an important call...oh...it's you," he trailed off, looking just a bit flustered at the sight. With her sensors it was easy for Callisto detect that his body heat was increasing and his heart pumping just a bit faster in his chest. The man seemed both nervous and slightly aroused, with one sensation apparently reinforcing the other. Organics were so shallow.


"Chief Saelari demands your presence. You are to send a message to the military chief," she said in that eternally calm tone.


"Ah, yes, of course. Right away," the PA said, quickly arising from his chair and getting up, though with such haste that some papers fell onto the floor along with his half-finished cup of starcaf. He winced as the cup broke upon hitting the floor. "Feth it! I don't get a single moment of peace here. That insufferable woman acts like she's empress," he muttered under his breath after he had passed Callisto and was walking out of the door. Presumably he had not counted on her enhanced hearing. She felt an urge to give his life some actual purpose by enteching him.


"It is ill-advised to speak of your superior in such way. It could be misconstrued,"


"What are you saying? Damn robot. You'd think people would have learned their lesson after Clockwork!"


They learned the wrong lessons. As usual. "The Chief awaits," Callisto said blandly and it seemed that unnerved him more than anything else. Regardless, the aide stopped complaining and would be there to send whatever message Aurelia wanted him to.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Callisto Scarlett"]
When the aide finally straggled in, Aurelia was in a pique of fury.

“You! Where have you been? I asked…why is there caf all over everything? Oh, never mind, take this message to Chief Centurion.”
Everything was annoying her today. From Callisto’s lurking, to Nalia’s self-assured speeches. The fact that her staff seemed to be composed of automatons or incompetents did not improve her move.

“Chief [member="Caid Centurion"], I am inclosing the recommendations and technical from the company Archangel Research and Design. I ask you to consider highly their potential uses for garrisoning and providing support for our real forces.”

“Take that to him and bring me the reply, if any. Go.”

 

[Enyo Typhos]

[member="Aurelia Saelari"]


In Callisto's opinion Aurelia was just feeling sulky because firstly she had not been given the chance to make a 'dramatic' speech and secondly her speechifying would have no effect on droids anyway. It certainly did not make her bodyguard any less impassive! It also seemed that she liked to deliver messages per messenger like in the 18th century!



Regardless, some time would pass and then the message would be delivered to the office of [member="Caid Centurion"], head of the Republic military. Presumably an aide-de-camp would be there to usher the poor aide into Centurion's office at some point. One imagined that the supreme commander of the Galactic Republic was a very busy man, but suffice to say the message would land on his desk.


The technical information also included a detailed brochure that described the capabilities of Archangel Humanoid Replica Droids
and Infiltrators. Archangel HRDs were extremely strong and resilient, even capable of fighting after losing significant limbs. They would not tire or relent until their mission was complete or they were destroyed. Equipped with potent anti-force user weaponry, they could make strong combatants against Sith. At the same time their sophisticated infiltration protocols enabled them to blend in and pass as organics. Archangel was capable of creating custom models of a variety of humanoid and alien races, personal units with enhanced personalities and identities, able to pass as organic and assume independent responsibilities, making them capable infiltrators.


The Infiltrators, their cousin models, were less powerfully armoured and vulnerable in combat, but also immune to detection through weight or metal detectors. Likewise they possessed greater independence and a more broadened ability to mimic human emotion, making them even more adept spies. Both models would obey any command their controllers gave them.

 

[Caid Centurion]

He was actually drowning in the reality of his own existence. If he could turn back time, he would have never taken that transfer to Praxeum-command. Near as he could tell, that was where he'd gone wrong professionally.

However, the Admiral's aide-de-camp could not have been happier with his role in life and rightly so. Captain Velez was certainly on the fast-track with the number of contacts he'd made in just a few short weeks. Outside of that, having the Acting Chief of the Republic Military sign your evaluations was never a bad thing. When the aide from Chief Saelari's office entered, the Captain arched a curious brow at the man's hurried nature. Standing, he accepted the message from the man and then sent him on his way.

Once Aurelia's messenger had departed, Velez turned and proceeded to the Admiral's door. After knocking twice politely, he opened the door.

Caid was, characteristically, taking a phone call when the Captain entered. Silver-green eyes looked up from his work briefly as he motioned for the young Captain to be quick. Accepting the message from Velez, Caid dismissed the man with a wave of his hand. "Alright that's fine, Admiral. Type the proposal and submit to the Admiralty. We'll all chew on it before it is presented to the Senate. Thanks."

As the call ended, Caid picked up the message and quickly scanned its contents. Arching a curious brow, he fired up his terminal to do a little bit of self-education. While the content of the message was incredibly straight-forward, he was curious as to the general reception of the corporation by internal sources. Oh and, you know, who in the hell they were outside of rumor and commercially available information.

Once his thirst for expanded knowledge was sated, he commed in directly to Aurelia. "Chief Saelari. While the provided information looks promising, I would, of course, like to meet with a representative of this corporation in person first. I'm generally wary of droids because creators tend to have an...unacceptable level of access to them even after purchase." And in this galaxy, Caid basically trust nobody.

No.

He literally trusted nobody.

[member="Aurelia Saelari"]

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Caid Centurion"]
And so the message went back to Aurelia, who replied with contact details for a certain Anna Comnena, joint President of Archangel Research and Design.

Anna Comnena was quite willing to come to Anaxes and meet with the suspicious Grand Admiral. When notified of this she sent through an introductory message to Admiral Centurion.

“Grand Admiral,

I understand that you wish to discuss our technology and possible support for the Republic. If convenient I would be happy to come to Anaxes and meet with you, or any other location you might feel best. Please reply to me with times and dates you are available and we will arrange a meeting for our mutual benefit.

Yours sincerely,
Anna Comnena”

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid had returned to work for no more than...thirty minutes before his desk communicator beeped once more. "Yes, Captain?"

"You've received a message from an Anna Comnena."

Caid almost laughed - he'd just received the contact details for that very individual but had yet to contact her. He had to hand it to corporate efficiency when they wanted...money, essentially. "Patch it to the Arbiter. Have the Captain prepare Alpha Line for immediate departure."

"Destination?"

Coming to his feet, Caid was already grabbing his go-bag as he offered a reply. "Anywhere that meets the requirement of 'Not Anaxes'."

The Captain smirked but did not air a laugh. "Understood, Admiral."

Caid emerged from his office mere seconds later. "Talk on the move bud, we're outta here."

Captain Velez exhaled softly as he imemdiately sprang to life gathering what he'd need. Being an Army Officer, he wasn't quite as used to space travel as the Admiral was. Sure, he'd done his fair share of last-minute tasking, but working directly for the individual that could literally decide to go somewhere on a whim was a whole new experience.

Roughly an hour later, Caid was standing on the bridge of the Arbiter as it prepared for the jump to hyperspace. For the time being, the Grand Admiral was utilizing a fairly old design for his personal flagship. He had little real reason to deprive the operating forces of the First Assault Group of more capable designs.

Captain Velez stepped forward to remind the boss about his message from Archangel Research and Design. He passed the man a datapad to use.

Caid turned and nodded his head. "Thank you, Captain." Accepting the device, he tapped out a brief communique.

Ms. Comnena,

I apologize for the delay in response. I would be most happy to receive you. My schedule is fairly full over the next couple of days, but I could certainly make time for you three days from now at the Bilbringi Military Command Complex. If this is to your satisfaction, I will make all of the necessary arrangments with planetary and military security.

Regards,

C. Centurion

Message sent, he handed the datapad back to the Captain. "Be sure to get all of her vitals once she sends a response. Inform me when it's complete so that we can be on our way."

The Captain nodded his head. "Certainly, Admiral."

[member="Maelion Liates"]

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Maelion, in the Archangel HQ on Corellia, received the message impassively. It was, of course, a risk meeting face-to-face. The chance of detection, whilst small, was higher in the flesh. However, the rewards outweighed the risks nicely. Bilbringi was also nicely situated a long way from probable Jedi interference.

“Admiral Centurion,
I agree to your proposal and will meet you there at the allocated time. I thank you in advance, and hope this meeting is both productive and profitable for us both.
Anna Comnena”

And so Anna Comnena departed, going alone apart from one assistant, heading to Bilbringi. There she was allowed landing permits and directed to a room to meet the Grand Admiral himself.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Anna would find that the room was of a moderate size and well-appointed with the typical refreshments and hospitalities expected of a sprawling government trying to give a good impression. Additionally, Caid would not have the woman wait much longer than a handful of moments. Stepping in alone, the Grand Admiral managed a smile at the woman. Wearing his typical dark blue working uniform, Caid allowed his silver-green gaze to focus on the woman.

Swiftly, Caid crossed the room and offered a respectful nod. "Ms. Comnena, thank you for making the trip. I'm sure you're busy, but even if you aren't..." Caid's voice trailed as his smile broadened ever so slightly and he took a seat in large leather chair. Motioning to one of many seats across from him, the tall, dark-skinned Admiral continued. "...I am. As such, I will be as concise as I can without sacrificing articulation. I've reviewed all of the information and done some asking around about Archangel. My chief concerns are control of the droids and, naturally, how much it's going to cost the Senate. Rest assured I fear their wrath if I bankrupt our military budget on this more than I do droids malfunctioning around me."

Truth. Politicians had their uses though...like keeping him and those like him in check and the lights of the Republic on. Yeah, ok, they had many more uses but...introspection wasn't terribly useful at the moment.

[member="Maelion Liates"]

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Caid Centurion"]

Anna sat opposite the Admiral, nodded politely in reply and listened to his words.
"I understand, Admiral. I appreciate forthrightness and honesty, so I shall do the same in reply."

"In regards to control, Admiral, the incidents at Druckenwell and afterwards have cast a long shadow. I can assure you that none of our commercial units have any sort of killswitch or backdoor. The HRD units do, if requested, simply because of the greater responsibilities they carry. You are free to examine any of our units. If desired we can present the schematics to the Republic for you to manufacture the battle droids yourselves...at a considerable cost of course."

"As for cost overall though, droids are a one-time outlay of expenditure. However, after that outlay the amount of maintenance, repairs and upkeep are minimal. Droids require only an hour of shutting down per day, require no supplies, no leave, no entertainment. They will stand and guard with unimpaired functions for years in the most remote corner of the galaxy. They have their weaknesses - we all remember the Clone Wars - but combined with organic soldiers they are formidable. Droids can hold positions, guard defences, support the organics and best of all they will never turn traitor because of a bribe. Our units are perfectly designed for these roles, and are far cheaper than recruiting, paying, training and equipping an organic soldier."

Anna sat back and waited for the reply.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Caid was acutely aware of the fact that this conversation could have taken place via holocom with nearly the same effect. However, Caid preferred to meet people in person for the purposes of negotiating the potential for very large contractual obligations to organizations not, ultimately, nationalized to an extent by the Galactic Republic. As Anna's explanation came to a close, Caid nodded his head slightly. "No need to sell me on the logic of implementing a more aggressive droid program within the Republic's military. My own peers and subordinates also agree that it's a very...workable venture."

Pausing for a moment, Caid lightly tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. "Should this initiative be approved for funding by the Senate, we would require the ability to re-flash the security protocols on the droids to...ensure control is vested solely in identified Republic officials." Simply put, he had every intention of removing any ability by Archangel or its employees to control the units. "We have plenty of people on staff capable of performing this function, and, of course, we will not hold Archangel responsible for performance once that has been completed." The Admiral was fairly certain the Senate would demand this as part of approval.

Coming to his feet, Caid smiled thinly. "I'd very much like to see the units in action first as well. I'm willing to adjust my schedule to meet with your requirements or ability to give such a demonstration. Following which...I will happily go to the Senate for final funding approval."

[member="Maelion Liates"]

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Caid Centurion"]
"Once the units are in your possession you may do with them as you wish, Admiral...provided you do not copy their production without authorisation of course."

"What sort of demonstration are you looking for, Admiral? A training exercise or a real combat venture? The former is far easier to organise than the latter, I believe," she said with a smile.