Diplomacy Byssy Hands are the Devil's Work

[Maou]

The new hypergate between Corellia and Duros was fantastic. A combination of ancient technologies and modern Duros ingenuity the devices launched vessels through hyperspace at speeds that could be considered nearly instantaneous. But Kaito was not here to discuss the success of Duros technology. No, it was becoming clearer and clearer that the Galactic Alliance would wait and hide behind protocols, trials, and investigations and the leader of Byss and his puppets were only growing in their boldness. He could understand the reluctance though. A costly campaign on the Sith, the sudden arrival of two new splinter Sith factions trapping some of the GA's best and brightest in ancient Sith space? They didn't have much to work with. That was where the people came in.

The massive Colony II-class battlecruiser lurched from the blue tunnel, slipping into space and cruisng towards Bburru Station. Duros destroyers fell in beside the Corellian behemoth as escorts, but Mazik Stazi knew why they were here.

When Kaito's shuttle landed in the station's hangar bay he made his way to an observation deck and awaited the senator. The deck offered what he imagined to be an unparalleled view of the Duros' new hypergate and the Arcology that surrounded the planet.

"Remarkable," he said absently. It would be a shame if all of this had to be destroyed when his Master and the Warlords of the Sith came to lay their claim to the prosperous Core Worlds.

 

[Mazik Stazi]

"It is testament," Senator Stazi explained, "To durosian ingenuity and our indomitable spirit."

A grizzled old sea dog wearing incongruously formal attire approached the viewport to stand beside Maou . This marvel of engineering was in some way as much Corellia's accomplishment for CorDuro Shipping had invested deeply in the project. Like many systems throughout the galaxy there was a sizeable human minority living within the Arcology. Most of them had emigrated from neighboring Corellia. CorDuro was their voice in the High House for no other megacorp treated their human executives as full partners.

"It is also a symbol of change for both our peoples. Their fates are now intertwined more than ever. Commerce and civilian traffic will only increase. Welcome to Bburru Station, Senator. I suspect you and I will be seeing far more of each other."

Senator Stazi sounded more ominous than jovial. He was still wary of dealing with a man who for all his staff's political research the duros still knew next to nothing about. Cybernetics magnate turned activist. Kiyoshi was a populist but Mazik tried not to hold that against him. Both of their positions were tempered by corporatist influence. In such fiscal matters they could find common accord. Strong anti-Imperial sentiment was another trait they seemed to share. He doubted the atrisian was here simply to discuss trade no matter how closely their offices were now linked.

 

[Maou]

"Indeed," he responded, his voice modulator in his throat catching for a moment. Oh how he waited for the day he could remove the apparatus. "Though I wish our meetings were to be under more jovial circumstances." He held his hands behind his back and turned his masked face to the aging Duro.

"I have come to ask for Duros support." he started. "Corellia is gathering a fleet. We mean to put an end to Byss and its constant attacks. If the Galactic Alliance won't have Sularen and his ilk answer for their crimes then we shall bring the Alliance's justice to him ourselves."

Mazik Stazi

 

[Mazik Stazi]

"Thus always to tyrants," Mazik murmured the ancient credo, "You and I do not always see eye to eye, Senator Kiyoshi. Our diversity should be celebrated, but I have always believed we are strongest when the Galactic Alliance speaks with one voice and strikes together."

He paused to take in the Duro Arcology. Now that the corellian battlecruiser was station keeping in Bburru Station's shadow thousands of ships flooded back into the spacelanes. Gridlock was a constant concern for the star system. Not only were they a Core World trade nexus, but in addition to all the incoming and outgoing traffic there was a steady transit of ships crossing from station to station. Above it all was the High House, a conglomerate of elected representatives from the world's most influential megacorps responsible for managing duros society. Once more Senator Stazi looked Maou in the eye.

"Yet Imperial appeasement is like a cancer eating away at the heart of our Senate. They cannot condemn Sularen for his arrogance while they lionize Tavlar as our savior. You have my word, senator. Duro is prepared to defend itself."

As if on queue a massive Starhawk battleship jumped into the system.

"I believe you might recognize my old command, the City of Ashes. High Command has been kind enough to dispatch her for an investigation of rogue pirate activity in this sector. I know her captain well. He shares our misgivings with the Senate's inaction."

 

[Maou]

The Starhawks. One of the Alliance's largest vessels and arguably their most powerful outside of the Ouroboros and Alliance Ascendant, the Alliance's two Startide-class Super-type Star Defenders. This was good. He smiled and turned to face Stazi.

"I do," he said, remembering the standoff at Kuat. At the time he had hoped to cause a war that would destabilize the two nascent nations. Instead, he remembered bitterly, it had driven them to unite, pushing back his master's plans by several years. The punishment had been severe, though the humiliation of being assigned Darth Sinestruss as a babysitter after his defeat at the hands of Lanik was even worse. He sighed, nostalgically.

"How far we have come since those days Senator," he said wistfully. He placed a hand conspiratorially on the Duros' shoulder. "Unfortunately, as you have likely guessed, I am no where near the military mind to head this operation. I present to you General Hideki Satou, Corellian Defense Force, formerly Galactic Alliance Navy." On cue, the doors hissed open and a tall, confident-looking Atresian man entered clad in the black and orange of the Corellian Defense Force. He bowed to Senator Kiyoshi and inclined his head to Stazi.

Mazik Stazi

 

[Hideki Satou]

"I have heard a great deal about your successes General Stazi," he said. His accent was thicker than Kaito's. "It is as the Senator says. Ex-Alliance Navy. I was at the battle of Korriban...And the slaughter that followed." The new Sith faction had wrecked the Alliance fleet after the battle. Some blamed that surprise attack for the failures at Ziost. Trapped behind enemy lines with enemies on every side and down a few dozen vessels the Alliance had been left outgunned and outmatched.

"High Admiral Pryce had many good things to say about you, though it is my understanding his time serving under you in the old Galactic Alliance and its remnant was very short-lived. It will be a great honor to work with you."

Mazik Stazi

 

[Mazik Stazi]

"Pryce's record with CorDef spoke for itself," Senator Stazi mused, "If he thought you showed potential that's good enough for me. Commander Bashir should be aboard within the hour however I have taken the liberty of mobilizing certain DDF elements as quietly as possible."

Mazik glanced between Maou and General Satou. Both would have just been coming of age during the One Sith campaigns. He didn't believe much in Force mysticism but it still disturbed the duros sometimes how history seemed to echo through generations. Stazi remembered his own crushing defeats and lost comrades. Stygian space would not be liberated overnight.

"Byss is not Ziost. For both strategic and political reasons a conventional assault would be undesirable. I believe we should focus our efforts on the Byss Run. If we can cut off their hyperlane access Sularen will be isolated."

He considered the massive Starhawk coordinating with Bburru Docking Authority to find a suitable orbit at high anchor. A familiar sense of nostalgic longing washed over him. Stazi missed his old command. Now he was a politician. Not exactly his ideal retirement plan. Yet the imposing Alliance battleship also evoked a question in his mind.

"Have you reached out to Otto Shule senator? Coruscant's direct involvement would likely provoke an unfavorable reaction from the Senate but perhaps he would be willing to provide more clandestine assistance."

 

[Maou]

Kaito looked to General Satou who shrugged at the mention of the name. Neither knew the man which probably worked in their favor. The mention of the Coruscanti senator made him cross his arms in thought.

"No, I haven't contacted Shule. If I'm being honest Senator, I've never trusted him." Truth be told, he didn't trust anyone he couldn't sense in the Force. He'd tried to get a read on the man in meetings before but every time it felt like he was just looking into a plastoid bin.

"Call it a gut feeling. Besides," he said, clapping Satou on the shoulder. "Between your military genius, General Satou's and Commander Bashir's tactics, and our combined ships a blockade of Byss should be no problem."

Mazik Stazi

 

[Mazik Stazi]

"Coruscant has just as much to fear from Byss unrestrained as my people or the Five Worlds."

Mazik noted his colleague's subtle shift in body language. Some kind of animus between Coruscant and Corellia. He didn't like to play a game without understanding all the pieces on the board so he filed that away for investigation. His gaze lingered on Maou for a few moments. Without the Force to guide him 'gut feelings' kept him alive in a very dangerous galaxy.

"I understand what we are proposing today is politically delicate to say the least," the duros senator finally conceded, "If you feel Shule is too great a risk I will defer to your seniority with the Senate."

Deflecting from scrutiny Senator Stazi turned back to General Satou.

"We do not have a great armada like CorDef. I cannot promise numbers to equal your own. What I can promise you is a fleet of highly trained sailors flying state of the art equipment. Duro may be mostly untested in battle but we are no strangers to it either. Many of our finest DDF officers are former GADF like yourself, even a few ex Confederation. We are not born warriors...but we learn quickly."

 

[Maou]

Behind his mask, Kaito smiled a wicked smile, but he couldn't hide the satisfaction in his eyes. He looked out to empty black of space and placed a hand on the transparisteel viewport.

"I'm glad," he said, "That we can count on our neighbors." He turned to the Corellian officer and nodded. "Tell the Diktat what you heard from the Senator of Duro today. I respectfully advise the Diktat to mobilize the fleet." The Atrisian man saluted and turned crisply, returning to his vessel.

"I appreciate you meeting with me on such short notice Senator Stazi. The Alliance will be better for our actions today. Don't worry yourself about the ships. Our message of solidarity will be loud and clear. The Alliance will have to take action."

Mazik Stazi