Private Credits Will do Fine

[Nichos Velt]

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Location: Fort Skywalker, New Jedha​

Equipment: Current Appearance, Red Menace​

Tag: Mya Jesel ​

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The Liburna Class Dropship made landfall at last. Nichos bloodied and bruised spent all morning behind enemy lines taking out key areas of the Brotherhood remnants. 2 weeks ago, Nichos accepted a contract worth 180,000 credits by the Galactic Alliance to be a hired gun and do the jobs that a GA soldier was unavailable for. A good war was always great for a mercenary. It meant plenty of job opportunities from both sides and they had plenty of credits to share. With the Confederacy fading away due to being too big for its own good. Infighting was inevitable combined with their reluctance to stay out of galactic wars. A good thing about war, was that it kept its citizens united and loyal to the faction. While peace is desirable too much of it meant corruption would take root and next thing there will be civil war. It's in a person's nature to eat themselves if they didn't have an enemy to hate.​

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"War is peace," Nichos muttered taking one good look at his BR-212 "Jackal" ACR and giving it a good slap. GA issued chit, reliable but on the generic side mods but Nichos made do with the equipment he was dealt. Even though it was a good payday, for some blasted reason the GA were strict on what kind of weapons they can use.​

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As soon as he stepped onto the landing platform, a young, scrawny kid walked towards the bloodied Nichos. "Excuse me sir?" He asked.​

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"What do you want?" Nichos eyed him, he was fresh faced rookie, judging by the look on his eyes he has not seen combat. If Nichos had to guess, the kid was tasked with doing paper work.​

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"Private Fenton," he saluted. "You look like a man who wants to make a quick buck."​

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"Well, aren't you the observant little pencil neck," Nichos chuckled. "What gave me away? The fact that I look like hammered chit?"​

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Fenton gulped while he walked with Nichos. "I want you to introduce to you Underground Credits, Credits that you can use to invest in stock."​

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"Really?" Nichos rolled his eyes. "Now tell me the story of how a Wookie can sprout wings and fly?"​

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"No seriously!" Fenton insisted. "Let me show you!"​

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Nichos sighed. "This better be worth it," he growled. "I need to get my pay."​

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[Mya Jesel]

Nichos Velt

Mya reasessed her datapad, going back over the details of the negotiations for a small depot for the Outer Rim Development Corps to store and distribute supplies here, both for the local inhabitants and for the bigger push of supplies they would need to work with the Ossus Initiative. The Scar Worlds would be some of the biggest projects they had ever attempted, but their work in the Western Reaches gave them the experience they needed.

She paused as she heard someone talking about investing, and her eyes darted over the two. One was young, quite eager, and the other was older, grizzled, and not exactly the most reputable looking.

Mya had heard of these new so-called "Underworld Credits" and she was... skeptical, to say the least. An anonymous blockchain currency was risky, with massive volatility potential. The League was interested in giving it a try, but in small amounts to see how it would fare. While it could make them bank, it was just as likely to be a loss.

"I'd be cautious, if I were you," Mya said over the shoulder of one of her aides, to the mercenary. "Investing in new forms of currency is highly unreliable."

 

[Nichos Velt]

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Location: Fort Skywalker, New Jedha​

Equipment: Current Appearance, Red Menace​

Tag: Mya Jesel ​

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Private Fenton showed Nichos the datapad displaying the Underworld currency and what it could do. "Gonna let you in on a little secret," the young man whispered frantically looking around the base as if somebody was eavesdropping on this unremarkable conversation. "Underworld currency is going to blow up!"​

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By the Force.... this kid sounds like some used speeder salesman, Nichos had to fight every fiber of his being not to shoot the fucker. Thankfully, Nichos kept in control, he wouldn't get his pay if he killed a GA soldier. "You should really invest in it right now! They're the future I tell ya!"​

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"Oh really?" Nichos said pretending to be interested. "Why would I certainly invest in these digital goods with a name that sounds suspicious?"​

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Just then, a stern voice was heard from the small crowd next to Nichos and Fenton. A woman, a very professional albeit very attractive looking woman stared at Nichos telling him what he already knew. Not to trust brand new currencies, the young private's face turned cherry beet red at the woman's skepticism. Something which Nichos found very amusing. "Don't listen to what the critic is saying," Fenton said trying to compose himself but was failing miserably based on his forehead being wet with sweat. "They don't understand."​

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"I don't think you understand," Nichos said. "This whole Underworld Currency you're trying to sell me sounds like bullchit and trust me kid I've seen a lot of bullchit in my time."​

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Staring at the pretty woman, Nichos smirked. "Come on!" he said. "You clearly know this currency more than this pencil necked bastard, what do you know about it?"​

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[Mya Jesel]

Nichos Velt

Mya raised an eyebrow at the youngster. "Don't understand? My young friend, I am the Chairwoman of the Rimward Trade League. I oversee and run a multi-system galactic government whose bedrock is ensuring fair and honest commerce between systems. I am well educated on various attempts to create alternative currencies, and while I support the innovations of a grassroots currency not dependent on issuing governments, I don't approve of trying to take advantage of their newness to get credits out of someone who doesn't know what they are."

Her eyes turned to the mercenary, chill and professional. "I know only that it utilizes a blockchain-based technology to ensure its security and confidentiality, and has been rapidly adapted by many members of the underworld for that reason. Other than that..."

Mya just shrugged. "It's too new to make any real assessment of it yet."

 

[Nichos Velt]

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Location: Fort Skywalker, New Jedha​

Equipment: Current Appearance, Red Menace​

Tag: Mya Jesel ​

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Private Fenton took a few steps back from the red headed woman, while Nichos looked on bemused by the whole ordeal. "H-How dare you!" Fenton yelled as though the woman had just insulted his mother. "Corporate bastard! Don't listen to her sir! She's just trying steer you away from a currency that's controlled for the people! By the people! She's afraid that she'll lose power!"​

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"More like she knows what the hell she's talking about," Nichos laughed. "The type of creds sounds interesting especially with anonymity part, our big ol GA government won't be able to spy on us. Though like the lady said because of that, many underworlders use it for the same reason."​

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"Fuck both of you!" Fenton yelled. "Continue to be a slave to the system! The Credit Revolution has begun!"​

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"Eh stick that revolution up your ass," Nichos grumbled already remembering the CIS and their recent downfall. "Get outta here kid."​

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As the young private left, Nichos turned his attention towards the woman. "So a tradeswoman huh?" he said smirking. "What are you doing here in a warzone?"​

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[Mya Jesel]

Nichos Velt

Mya just raised an eyebrow at the youth while the Ranger Corps escort moved in closer to prevent him from doing anything, but Mya shook her head and they stepped back before he disappeared. She shook her head slowly. "A pity, truly."

When Nichos spoke, she raised an eyebrow again. "Not anymore, no. I'm a politician. And so visiting warzones on behalf of the Outer Rim Development Corps to help assess needs and make intergovernmental agreements is part of my job. And as for a warzone..."

She just shrugged and pushed a graying strand of hair behind her ears. "I'm from the Outer Rim. We've been a warzone as long as I've been alive. I take it your a mercenary?"

 

[Nichos Velt]

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Location: ort Skywalker, New Jedha​

Equipment: Current Appearance, Red Menace​

Tag: Mya Jesel ​

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Nichos laughed at Mya's statement at the kid. "Don't feel too bad for him sweetheart," he said observing Fenton walk as though he had a stick shoved up his ass. "You can tell he got in the military and got a comfy office job because his Daddy knew somebody. If anything, I've seen better grifts from Jawas in Mos Eisley."​

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One thing Nichos quickly learned when he did work for the Alliance was that many of their soldiers had never faced hardship in their lives. He could see it in their eyes the way they dart around taking in the new landscape. Some eyes were filled with fear others with excitement but either way displayed that same naivete that can get you killed. "Spoiled chits," Nichos shrugged. "A lot of these reserves look like they've never seen a fight in their lives. Unlike the Confederacy....."​

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Nichos fell silent for a bit, the CIS had recently fell and the leadership had scattered across the Galaxy. Most of the Outer Rim was ripe for the taking with the CIS gone and the factions looking to take advantage were as trustworthy as a used speeder salesman. As much as Nichos banged heads with the CIS military, the entire organization believed in freedom for everyone. Freedom to make their own choices rather than the choices being imposed by corporates, Jedi, or politicians. But in a blink of an eye, the CIS were gone.​

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"Yeah," Nichos shook his head trying to focus his gaze on Mya. "I'm a mercenary, been contracted by the GA in their war against the Brotherhood. Just spent all morning conducting strikes at their bases."​

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He smiled. "You looking to hire?" He asked. "My contract expires today and I don't feel like renewing it. Too much bureoarctic bullchit what do you got going on?"​

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[Mya Jesel]

Nichos Velt

Mya just shrugged as he talked about his guess at why the young officer had a commission, "Perhaps. But youth are often enthusiastically misinformed."

She pulled out a datapad and checked the wait time on their shuttle, before frowning and sliding it back into the belt pouch. "Perhaps," she said after a moment. "The League can often find work for contractors. There's enough work to go around for everyone in the Rim, and every contractor working for us is one not working for organized crime or the imperials."

 

[Nichos Velt]

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Location: Fort Skywalker, New Jedha​

Equipment: Current Appearance, Red Menace​

Tag: Mya Jesel ​

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"Ain't that the fucking truth," Nichos said shaking his head. "They always have their heads full brain-dead ideas especially the sheltered types. Maybe they don't have anything better to do."​

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Perhaps try not to rip off people who can sniff them from a mile away. These legacy kids always come across as naive. "Sounds good," Nichos said. "Like I said with the Confederacy imploding, all contacts are scattered everywhere. Gonna need a steady flow of jobs and your company looks like the type that can provide its workers."​

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He looked around the base. "But on one condition," he whispered. "Let me choose how I finish missions, these Galactic Alliance are fucking rigid, you can't even use your weapons to complete contracts."​

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[Mya Jesel]

Nichos Velt

"Sheltered isn't a bad thing," Mya said after a moment, consulting her datapad to pull up a sample of the letter of marque. She held it out for him to glance, raising an eyebrow. "This is one of our standard contracts for those who who operate in space on our behalf against those we've authorized."

At the mention of her company though, she raised her other eyebrow. "I fear you may have misunderstood me. The Rimward Trade League is not a company. We are a confederation of governments in the Outer Rim who have formed a League together for our mutual benefit and growth. While we may not be much like the Core governments, but we do have the strictest standards of professionalism and discipline for our contractors."

 

[Nichos Velt]

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Location: New Jedha, Fort Skywalker​

Equipment: Current Appearance, Scrounged up Mandalorian Armor, Red Menace​

Tag: Mya Jesel​

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"Maybe," Nichos shrugged dusting the blood and dirt off of his flap jacket. "But the sheltered types get real arrogant and think that they're better than others but in reality, if it weren't for their parents, they'll dead on the streets."​

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The Bounty Hunter chuckled when Mya mentioned that her "company" was a confederation of governments interested in free trade. It sounded like a government to him. All in name but whatever, the sweetheart can keep her fancy titles he just wants to paid. "Definitely capable of doing that!" Nichos said. "With many governments somebody has to do the dirty work! I should know as someone who has done wetwork for the former CIS."​

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He walked up to her. "You need me," he said. "To keep those who want nip at your feet off of ya! I can provide protection and do any contract that you want done."​

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[Mya Jesel]

Nichos Velt

Mya raised an eyebrow again, "That... is the point of parents, to ensure their children survive and don't die in the streets. And if it gives them a sense of confidence, I believe the psychologists call that healthy development."

She paused and checked an alert on her datapad, studying it as the ship had started to come in. "If work is dirty enough we're not willing to do it, that usually means we don't do it."

Mya studied him as he walked close to her and two Ranger bodyguards stepped closer, hands on their weapons, but she gave them a small hand sign, and they eased back, slightly, and she matched his gaze. "There are thousands of mercenaries out there. Why would you be any better than any of the others? Why shouldn't I just hire a Mandalorian or two?"