Private Condottieri

[Elizie Athacorr]

Coruscant, Private Senator Offices
​

With the passing of the Common Soldier Corps bill into law, and at her quiet urging, the Arkania Dominion had begun to reach out to Corellia about possibly stationing a garrison force in the Arkanian system for defense. The Arkanians, without the horrible clone slaves they had used in ages past, which the current government and Senator condemned in the harshest language, only had a few units of special forces and a few aging corvettes for customs detail. With the galaxy becoming a more unstable place, and with the ongoing war with the Maw, they wanted a more robust defense for the homeworld. Arrogant though they were, they were also realists.

Corellia had proven time and again that it was a powerful force within the Alliance, and the galaxy at large, and had a large military of its own. It had highly advanced starships, trained soldiers, and plenty of advanced technologies that could provide the needed security the Arkanians desired. The question though was, besides just outright paying the Corellians to for a garrison, what would the Corellians wants from Arkania.

With the government's urging, Senator Athacorr had requested a meeting with Senator Dracken Pryce to establish the lines of communications between the two systems and start forming the frameworks of a deal both parties would agree to.

 

[Dracken Pryce]

Arkania- It had a long, dark history. One with which Pryce wasn't as familiar with as he probably should have been before entering this arena. He had his prejudices, one that hadn't been helped in his short campaign against the Core Imperial Remnant's own clown forces. Sympathy for the clones, disgust with any group of people that would create their own slaves. No, he did not like Senator Athacorr. He did not like most Arkanians. Unfortunately, they were a part of the Alliance, just as Corellia was and in times like these it was better to work with your known allies rather than against them.

Just before the doors to her office hissed open he fixed his collar nervously, adapting the rigidity of a Corellian general and entered.

"Senator Athacorr," he said politely and bowed his head slightly. "I was surprised when you reached out to me and my crew- er, team." He took a few tentative steps in. "What can I do for you?"

Elizie Athacorr

 

[Elizie Athacorr]

Dracken Pryce

As the door to her office opened, and the Senator from Corellia entered, she answered his slight bow with a smile and equal nod of her head. Getting out from behind her desk, she made sure to walk over and shake his hand.

"Sometimes it can feel like a crew of a ship when you're running an office staff," she said in regard to the slip he made, keeping a soft smile in place. Arkanians might be known as arrogant and stand-offish, but in this situation, charm would serve her better. Plus, she had an advantage when it came to understanding Corellians, but Pryce wouldn't know that. She gestured at the seat across from her desk, "Please, make yourself comfortable. I have some refreshments on hand if you would like, including some Whyren's Reserve."

Once refreshments were served, if he elected for any, she would settle herself behind her desk.

"And to business. I was happy to support your bill in the Senate, and so was the Arkanian Dominion. Many of our leaders want to repair our reputation after our... unfortunate associations in the past. This disassociation with clones, however, has left our planet and colony worlds woefully unprepared if we are attacked. It is in this regard that my government wishes to forge closer ties with Corellia by means of a military garrison in our sector."

 

[Dracken Pryce]

Pryce proffered his thanks and took a glass of Whyren's Reserve. Even on an Admiral's salary it was difficult to find a solid vintage of the rare Corellian Whiskey. He'd probably only had it twice in his life. His brow raised in surprise as the spiced drink hit his tongue. It went down surprisingly smooth and left a solid burn.

"Yes, business," he agreed and took a seat opposite her at her desk. Her people's reputation was an understatement. Arkania had been one of the CIC's main cloning hubs. Sometimes he wondered where all those clones were and if they were doing alright. He'd been a strong proponent for clone rights and even though then he was only a High Admiral in the Alliance, he'd silently supported protestors who had pushed the senate in the right direction.

He didn't feel bad at all for reducing the number of slaves for the Arkanians.

"A Corellian garrison in Arkanian space?" He winced and took another sip. "Senator, I'm flattered by your proposition but sending Corellian troops to serve another nation? The Corellian Sector is big enough and many of our patrol ships are busy making sure the Corellian Trade Spine and Corellian Run are safe to travel as it is. Especially what with that business in the Confederacy." Or lack thereof. It seemed they'd crumbled overnight. It was chaos down in the Southern Systems right now.

Elizie Athacorr

 

[Elizie Athacorr]

Dracken Pryce

"I understand your hesitancy, Senator," she replied. "It is a great deal to ask, especially with the troubles occurring to our galactic south... but there are also several concerns that we have. While the clones were emancipated and given reparations enough for them to make a life anywhere in the Alliance they desired, the technology and expertise is still there even if it isn't being used. So far we've been lucky that no one has targeted us for a raid, but we have no planetary defense force to protect us and the Alliance sector fleet doesn't station much in our system."

She gently swirled the glass of water in front of her.

"We're worried about the Maw attacking us and taking away our scientists and technology to bolster their own numbers. We're worried about the growing aggression between the Alliance and the New Imperials. We're near the border and there is a concern that the Imperials might slip agents in to do likewise. Corellia has demonstrated in the past that it has no problems standing up against these enemies, particularly that whole situation at Byss."

She took a sip of her water. "If not an outright garrison, would Corellia be willing to sell us ships and equipment to defend ourselves and at least some instructors to train up a new planetary defense force?"

 

[Dracken Pryce]

Once, he would have fought against the notion of Imperial agression against the Alliance. Ever since Tavlar's death though, their new Imperator seemed to be moving farther and farther away from the Alliance's friendship to the point of cutting ties completely in recent years. He wanted to say not to worry, that the Defense Force would protect them, but with Coruscant still smoking from its most recent attack even that assurance felt flimsy.

"No, no," he said, finally relenting. "I will take your concerns to the Diktat and the Corellian Council. I'm sure we can work something out to help keep our allies safe." He was sure, in fact, that certain members of the Council would be all to happy to spread the Corellian Defense Force across the Hydrian way as well.

"I promise you, you will have your aid. These are dark times, what with the Maw. We have to help eachother out as much as we can. If I didn't think that to be the case I would never have put forth the Common Soldier Corps. If Corellia will not, then I will take responsibility and send a detachment of the Renegades to help patrol your space."

Elizie Athacorr