Chat with a Hutt

[Taeli Raaf]

Hutts. Taeli never liked them. She wasn't a fan of a species that generally like to keep slaves and went about trying to control the criminal world. She could get along with maybe one or two, but those were probably rare cases. She didn't know, she had never actually met a Hutt she liked.

The Sith Zambrano the Hutt certainly didn't help her opinion of the species, but now here she was on her way to Sriluur to meet with [member="Sempra the Hutt"] about what role he might play in her company. To say that she was . . . well, a few different adjectives about the whole situation would be nice to say. A Hutt, one that she was almost certain was involved in crime, had thirty percent of her stock just did not sit well with her at all. Still, she did have some advantages.

She was dressed plainly in a simple elegant dress and wasn't bringing anything that would identify her as a Force user, except for her hidden shoto lightsaber that was concealed in her satchel. One could never be too cautious meeting with someone like this.

Looking up at the White Palace, she sighed and started in. She would mind her manners, but she would be quite cautious.

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

Word had reached Sempra that [member="Taeli Raaf"] had landed on Sriluur and that she was heading toward the White Palace. He had expected a visit. The purchase of Krayt Industries had been an interesting barter, and although it was certain to bring a very welcome income to the Hutts pockets he knew this was territory where he had to thread carefully. The fact that Taeli recently had upset the One Sith, renaming the entire Company to Aurora Industries, was something that both impressed, and troubled him. He was curious to hear her version about this. Regardless - she was not a passive owner of this Company and she dealt her cards with force it seemed.

"Taeli Raaf is to be considered an honoered guest of the White Palace - show her to me without delay." at that slaves rushed off to ensure his Word was followed. He then corrected his neckchain and stretched on his throne awaiting her arrival.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Sempra the Hutt"]

She was trying so very very hard not to have her nose cringe in disgust when she saw the slaves that had been ordered to bring her before their master. If there was one thing she hated above all else, other than genocide, it was slavery. Just seeing the reminder also made her quite certain it was a good idea not to bring Solan to the meeting. He probably would have lost it right there and then.

She also wasn't the biggest fan of the evidence of just extreme opulence that she saw around her. She might have more expensive tastes than others, but she didn't flaunt wealth in the open. This just seemed a tad excessive . . . but she would keep her thoughts to herself as she entered the throne room and saw the large Hutt lounging on his dais.

"H'chu apenkee Kajidii Sempra, (Greetings, Clan Leader Sempra,)" she said, speaking Huttese. It was a good thing she had studied linguistics and had a master's degree in it from Lorrd. It just might help here.

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

Sempras eyes widened at her greeting. The crude basic was a simple and frankly incomplete language to express oneself in. In comparisson to Huttese the Basic was child speak. Her opening was most likely a curtesy but important non-the less.

"The fascinating [member="Taeli Raaf"] finally found the time for a simple Hutt like myself." he greeted her.

"You are most welcome here my valued partner. Do not hesitate to ask for any conveniances you might require." he moved his hand across the room as if everything was in offer.

"Let me start by telling you that I am honorered to now be the second largest owner of Kr... I mean Aurora Industries." he corrected himself.

"There is much to discuss miss Raaf, but please, make yourself comfortable. Will you be staying long?" the hutt casully held out. Chalise allowing a nearby slave to fill it. But it was not hard to tell that his true focus was on his visitor.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Sempra the Hutt"]

"I'll be staying as long as necessary to discuss business, but I must politely decline any of your . . . um . . . conveniences," she said, politely giving a small bow. "I've never been one to indulge in any vice beyond a good book and a pot of tea."

The slaves around her were just making her sensibilities itch, along with the clear criminal element that made those currently in the room. She didn't need to be a Force user to sense just how . . . well corrupt a Hutt court could be. This whole thing was making her more and more uneasy.

"I would imagine you have questions about what role you shall play in the company's direction," she said, continuing to stand and declining to take a seat. She was quite certain she didn't want to sit anywhere near the Hutt's guests. She rather liked her pocketbook after all.

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

Sempra thwirled the glass beneath his large nostrils.

"A shame miss Raaf, I happen to have some of Glovan finest wine imported." the hutt shrugged and whipped his tail once. A near by slave rose right away and hurried off.

"Now as for bussiness, I am a patient Hutt and I would not rush you by any means. Please, do tell me about my ... " the hutt sipped some wine and peered at [member="Taeli Raaf"] " ... my role in the companies direction."

A slave carrying a hot cup of tea approached her.

"I too enjoy to read ms Taeli and if a cup of tea will make you feel comfortable tea is what you will have." Sempra finished pleadingly.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Sempra the Hutt"]

Taeli begrudgingly took the tea from the slave, a look of pity flashing across her face at the slave's life. One of these days, she hoped slavery could be eliminated, but that day might not come for quite some time. The institution always seemed to find a way back, and chaos and anarchy generally would breed such things, such as how the galaxy was after Akala's attack.

"Currently, it would just be a stipend of credits that flow to you every quarter," she said. "The same is true for the other stock holder in the company, as I manage just about everything the company does, from contracts to designs, with my team of chief engineers. Being a stock holder also, unfortunately I'm sure, means that your . . . um . . . associates do not automatically get ships or such from us. They need to form a contract that I would find acceptable."

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

The hutt nodded.

"But of course ms Raaf. I am not expecting the shipyard industry to be handing out gifts to the entire outer rim out of generosity." he chuckled politely. "I realise that you are a very competent manager of this entire enterprise and I wont interfere as long as the credits keep piling up."

"However, being the second largest owner of the company, would you not agree with that I should have access to vessels projecting success and wealth that is admired in these parts of the galaxy, for marketing reasons if nothing else.? As I understand it we are having issues with the One sith and need to find new markets, perhaps here in the outer rim?"

"I am looking into ships of Ubrikkian design - and if I personally could use one of Auroras docks to build me some of the larger vessels I would be very content. I would provide engineers and workers to avoid draining Auroras work force but the material and location would be a necessity." the hutt fell out with his arms in a helpless gesture.

"In short, I want to use the shipyards of Aurora to allow Ubrikkian ships construction. At least until that company has large enough shipyards of her own to continue the production. In time Ubrikkian inustry might even fall in under Auroras Umbrella and if you accept this I will be content and will not interfere any further."

"Does that sound agreeable?"

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Sempra the Hutt"]

"Unless a contract is worked out, I'm afraid I can't have my ships running around outside of company control or for the person who contracted them," she replied. "I don't even fly a company ship, I built and designed my own ship for personal use as a separate project from everything else. As for letting your Ubrikkian ship company use our facilities, I must also respectfully decline that. Our yards are for Aurora company use only, but I would not be against helping your company construct its own shipyard somewhere. Developing larger ships, like you want to, does take time and resources that if work got diverted from one of Aurora's yards, we lose that ourselves and that cuts into all sorts of things."

She could understand wanting to fast track your company's growth as much as possible, after all, she had been busy expanding Aurora in the last few weeks to something it never had been before. Yes, they had left Sith space, but they were even larger now than they had been while under the Sith. Interference wasn't really a problem either, she held the majority of stock after all, and the Hutt would lose out on the credit income if he allowed his associates to attempt to attack Aurora.

"Help in getting things established at an independent yard we can do, but in this business, that's all I can offer to your own endeavors for Ubrikkian. I will not sacrifice my own," she put plainly.

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

Sempra nodded and unfolded his hands in a generous gesture.

"Of course ms Raaf. We would not want to jeopardize an income would we. I have only the best of Aurora companies interest before me, I assure you." the hutt explained trying to get the conversation back on track.

"Since I have brought this company into my fold I would want to discuss how we can benefit from these two companies joint future. With the support of Aurora industries knowledge about Shipyards I belive Ubrikkian industries could flourish yet again in these parts of the galaxy. The designs of these ships are very much sought after by my own species for instance and this market is far from content." Sempra drummed his right hand fingers on the large arm rest of his throne.

"It pleases me that you want to aid me in constructing a larger shipyard for Ubrikkian Industries, how do you, as a the veteran in this industry, propose we proceed from here?"


[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Sempra the Hutt"]

"That seems like a bit of niche market," Taeli admitted. "Sail barges and other smaller atmospheric vehicles would probably only be lucrative towards the ultra wealthy, such as yourself and your ... fellow Hutt associates. If I remember right, Ubrikkian was about yacht style of ships, not much in terms of firepower or military capabilities. I'm assuming you want to open up that side of the market again, or do you intend to move Ubrikkian towards a more military footing?"

Taeli wasn't too interested in that sort of thing, but then Aurora was aimed more towards supplying military forces than private citizens. They would start selling to people some tech and such, but the bigger toys would still be reserved for galactic powers like the Republic and such.

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

"Mmmm... You know your industrial history well ms Raaf." Sempra commended.

"Ubrikkian Industries main purpose are thiose vessels of a bit extra flair as you describe. however, there is a need for a larger shipyard to construct the larger vessels as well. Mind you, being as peaceful as I am there are still surprisingly powerful people who holds such jealously toward me that I need to protect the areas of my interest. Is that a problem?"

Sempra leaned back and sipped his wine.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Sempra the Hutt"]

"Yes, I'm sure someone with such wealth has enemies," Taeli replied neutrally. She knew how this game worked. It wasn't going to be said directly, but his palace spoke of additional income that was not exactly of the legal variety, and he clearly was involved in the slave trade judging by some of the poor beings around them. She still hadn't taken a sip of the provided tea, and if she was honest, she didn't trust any being in this room.

"If you don't mind my asking, why did you buy the shares if you so clearly already have plenty of wealth?" she asked, quite curious why the Hutt jumped into the bidding process and what he had promised Alric. "I imagine your other . . . business enterprises are thriving."

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

Sempras eyes narrowed. Now she was beginning to snoop and that was seldom a good thing.

"I have a great concern for this part of space and the ship designs of Ubrikkian Industries. It is a company with great traditions which I am afraid has lost its... prime, in lack of a better word ms Raaf." the hutt heaved himself forward a tad closer to [member="Taeli Raaf"]

"Do not let the surrounding blind you, I as any must always work very hard to maintain all this. My purchase of the share was part of my ever growing need to invest where there is profit. But being sentimental as I am admittingly this was also a step for myself and Ubrikkian Industries to gain insight and access to know how about current standards of the shipyard bussiness. Clearly I was right and you know your way around the business Ms Raaf." the hutt leaned back again.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Sempra the Hutt"]

"No offense meant, merely curious," Taeli said, smiling ever so slightly internally. "It just seemed a tad strange and all that."

She was almost fairly certain, given his reaction, he was involved in something illicit, but then that was most Hutts. She was more concerned about a few things if he was indeed dealing in crime, but she would address those points quite plainly.

"Did you have any further questions for me about how Aurora works or what role you play in it?" she asked. "I know having those shares isn't exactly a huge deal of power since the company isn't run by a board of directors or is really based around a traditional company with stock, but is directed by me. Still, you will be getting plenty of credits from the stipend every quarter so that will certainly help you hold onto . . . your wealth."

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

Sempra drummed his fingers together. He would not be getting any benefits from this one. She was as hard boiled as they come. Instead he decided not to press the matter futher.

"[member="Taeli Raaf"] - then can we settle with a contract that helps me set up a larger shipyard in favour of Ubrikkian Industries. Maybe I can buy the know how services from you personally? I will then expand upon Ubrikkian Industries without interfering with Aurora Industries.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Sempra the Hutt"]

"Well if you seek a contract between Ubrikkian Industries and Aurora Industries, that can be arranged," she said, smiling now. "We can provide an adequate sized shipyard, in the system of your choice, and even show your engineers how to actually go about constructing larger things to help get them off their feet . . . but what would you be offering in return as this would probably need to be something a bit more mutually beneficial as you benefit more from that than we do."

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

The hutt thought for a moment.

"In order for this to happen Ubrikkian Industries can provide a 5% profit on all ships sold in the new Shipyard for the coming five years, but foremost we can give Aurora industries a discount on Ubrikkian products. Our research department is on the cutting edge of repulsor lifts which is a necessity for most crafts produced." Sempra folded his hands on his belly awaiting her response.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Sempra the Hutt"]

(OOC: Been super busy last few days so sorry for the delay)

Taeli blinked long and slow as the Hutt made his offer about what he would give in exchange for building a shipyard and giving him technical advice when he needed it for his projects at Ubrikkian. Part of her was almost offended, a discount on repulsorlifts and other tech made by the company and a cut of the profits from ships sold for five years was not equal in her opinion. The other part was deciding on what she wanted.

"Neither of those things is really something Aurora is seeking," Taeli replied. "We don't need repulsorlifts for anything beyond ships that need to land, even then, they don't need to be top of the line because they are simply used in landings and takeoffs for freighters and fighter craft. No, what I want in exchange for this shipyard and advice is simply an agreement of non-interference by your associates and your personal agreement that any illicit acts that are tied back to you by law enforcement are not my or the company's responsibility. Do not think I know what this place is turning into, I'm a student of history after all, and I'm much more than simply a businesswoman."

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

(OOC - no worries. One answers when RL admits it )

Sempra made a deep humming sound as his eyes turned into narrow slids. He felt the woman in front of her would not bulge, and she had no reason not to. After all, she was clean. No catch, no nothing that Sempra could use to manipulate her. Then, a person of her situation had a repution that needed to be uphled. He could sympathize with her desire to stay "white" to be able to do bussiness with the core worlders who often despised the ways of the cartel and the hutts. Slowly he found himself agreeing to her suggestion.

"Very well ms [member="Taeli Raaf"] - you wish to be able to handle your bussiness without my interferance wich is something I can silently agree to. But you need to keep me updated on any major shifts in the company status. As the second largest owner I think that is not too much to ask for, hum?" his dark voice resonating beoynd most normal species ability.

"And for the shipyard - it is enough for me to be content with what has been agreed to. I do expect an effort on your part here though since I already have smaller shipyards at my disposal. This one need to be able to construct large vessels of which I currently can not provide myself."

Sempra raised his glass expecting her to do the same in agreement.