DroidCon 851 ABY [Metal Lords]

[HK-36]

​

​

The Space Bazaar Over Denon
Heart of Metal Lords' Space


[member="Aeshi Tillian"], [member="Labkahip Mordulla"], [member="Jartris Entumaa"], [member="Xero Wran"], [member="Natalie LaForte"], [member="Macharius Solaire"], [member="Lady Kay"], [member="Faith Organa"], @Anyone Else Who Wants To Join For Company Contracts And Other Deals,


The call was sent out and the responses arrived in throngs. The Metal Lords, since their public entrance onto the Galactic Political Stage by claiming territory in Denon and Corellia sectors, put great emphasis on commerce and industry, at first developing companies and manufacturing centers related to the planets now swearing loyalty to them and the companies each Metal Lord was required to form and maintain in order to keep his fleet and holdings both defended and supplied. Once the Metal Lords were satisfied with their own corporate beginnings, some of them, HK in particular turned their eyes outward and begun to scour the various marketplaces for established companies to work with. In came companies like Andromeda and [member="Kaili Talith"], who the droid missed and hopefully her HRD representative would make an appearance, humanitarian organizations like the Boolon Foundation and [member="Rosa Gunn"], some like the Battlewell Industries were even absorbed by the Metal Lords, agreeing to join their industrial complex fully.

The droid holdings were reaching the point where they were running out of companies to contact and work with, being still somewhat selective at that point. Although some Lords did not especially liked the idea of opening their borders up to organic-lead industries, HK was of a different mindset, he recognized that they needed alliances and friends to continue to survive and thrive in their new position, besides what would be the point of being a major power if one would never share their resources to help others build up their holdings as well? So the droid took one step further and sent out a massive public announcement, calling for all companies, especially those who were still starting up or needed help to grow, to contact him, for the Metal Lords stood for prosperity and industry, and they would hardly turn anyone seeking the same down.


To accommodate the sheer number of replies rather than set up a string of individual meetings with everyone, although the machine was still open to speaking with various company representatives, HK decided to organize a large meeting for everyone to mingle, elevating DroidCon, a previously small and local convention held on Abregado since his rise to power there during the Protectorate reign, now an interplanetary event held over Denon. It was to be made public and the various companies were given invitation to come to a giant station known as the Bazaar in Denon's orbit to join the festivities taking place over several days.

The Bazaar was large and multi-tiered, sitting as part of a large ring of ships and stations now orbiting Denon, massive project the Metal Lords begun the moment they first jumped into the system. Although at first the vessels seemed to be part of a siege line, and still reminiscent one, the ring of stations and craft was taking more of its intended shape, with various stations finishing construction and the Bazaar being the first to be open to public and declared to be done. Able to house multitudes of starfighters and capital ships docking with it, with even more various traders and capitalists housed aboard, the station was the symbol of Metal Lords' focus on trade and the prosperity they wished to project onto all those who were willing to work with them.

The Event Tier where the DroidCon was to take place was a large open hall with a dome curving high over attendees heads with various smaller rooms and nooks on its sides where meetings could take place while surrounding the main room. The walls were a mix of durasteel and duranium, in dark grey color reminiscent of the void of space with various bronze and golden intricate details and decorations standing out against them like starlight piercing the darkness. The level was filled with smaller booths and sections dedicated to various companies showing off their latest innovations and goods, like any proper convention was, and the crowds of people who came to take part in the exhibition, sporting numerous costumes depicting their favorite droid characters from history and popculture, or from those Atrisian animations kids were so fond of nowadays. Atrimes or whatever they were called. So one could probably spot someone wearing an HK costume from time to time, considering his numerous appearances in movies and holonet shows during his time as Abregado's First Baron.


Speaking of HK, if anyone wanted to approach him, the droid was just finishing attending to the booth belonging to Abregado's Guild Of Hammers, staffed by a mix of Gados representatives and some droids who worked within the company. The booth was showing off holoprojector images of various gadgets and goods the Guild produced over their history, as well as their newest upcoming innovation- coil guns. Next to it there was also a large placard listing numerous shows their subsidiary Abregado-Rae Holovision Network produced, most of which featuring HK in some role, as well as another holoprojector, showing off scenes from the various movies and shows.

Either way, if no one would approach the droid, he would probably walk off shortly to see booths and stands belonging to other companies and what they were trying to peddle during the event.

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

A droid convention?

At first, the Cathar simulacrum was concerned that Master Scary Lady Kay was taking him to some sort of droid manufacturer exposition. One thing he absolutely was not interested in was the idea of seeing the current line of companion droids. More to the point, he didn't want Master Kay looking at other companion droids. Sure, he was an 844ABY model, and maybe he had a couple of space miles on him now, but the cub-bot was still cutting edge!

...in his own droid brain, anyway.

Adding confusion to the scenario posed to him by Master Kay, the droid convention was being hosted by... droids?

Wait, what? How did that even compute?

As the small Cathar replica droid wandered about the space bazaar, the yellow ocular sensors were wide with a sense of genuine wonder at the curious prospect of these Metal Lords. They were droids, but who were their masters? Were they their own masters?

As a droid designed around humanoid companionship, the small cub-bot was having a difficult time processing that concept.

Wide-eyed with wonder, the youngling-sized simulacrum would venture a short distance away from his master, sometimes pausing to peer at a vendor display or observe a model of droid that he hadn't logged in his memory before, but then the cub-bot would scurry back to his master and take her hand.

Whether it was a glitch or actual behavioral modeling in his programming, the droid's mouth was agape as he looked around. His tail was swishing from side to side, as the Cathar doll seemed to peer about with the genuine innocence of a child.

Was there an Archangel booth?

He wouldn't mind re-connecting with some of his other Archangel models. Provided, of course, that they didn't have a newer model companion droid there.

[member="HK-36"] | [member="Kaili Talith"]​

 

[Faith Organa]

Being a good neighbor and wanting that those within the Coalition have every opportunity for expansion Faith sent word to all members about the gathing that the Metal Lords, imparticularly [member="HK-36"] was putting on.

She herself hoping that @laira vareen would join her would be looking at the items that Alderaan Engineering offered, and who knew what other companies maybe Draco would represent, or Rianna would bring MandalMedical. In these times it was just difficult to say who would attend.

Right now she was traveling on her ship to attend. After a nice long vacation it was time to get back to work.

Spoiler

[member="Acanthus"]
[member="Alasdair Sitra"]
[member="Alessandro Waak'Tu"]
[member="Alexander Sannes"]
[member="Amelia Sorenn-Syrush"]
[member="Andulf Nicholas Teraan"]
[member="Asha Mataya-Syrush"]
[member="Bazette Royalblaze"]
[member="Brad Solo"]
[member="Cal Sedaire"]
[member="Camellia Swift"]
[member="Delila Castillon"]
[member="Dexen Yash"]
[member="Draco Vereen"]
[member="Dresden Verbrennung"]
[member="Elpsis Elaris"]
[member="Fiore de Noir"]
[member="Gilamar Skirata"]
[member="Hadleigh Purkis"]
[member="HK-36"]
[member="Jada Raxis"]
[member="John Ash"]
[member="Joza Perl"]
[member="Kaida Taldir"]
[member="Kosu Goram"]
[member="Liliane"]
[member="Lucien Dolos"]
[member="Maria Natalja"]
[member="Matthew Calderon"]
[member="Myles Davorak"]
[member="Natalia Sorenn-Syrush"]
[member="Nima Tann"]
[member="Orloch Moretti"]
[member="Rashae"]
[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
[member="Sirius Nova"]
@taryc ap'lrae
[member="Tek Sidereal"]
[member="Thalia Rist"]
@tomas yarrow
[member="Vaena Askari"]
[member="Vanja Del'Vaan"]
[member="Von Kyux"]

 

[Jartris Entumaa]

It was an odd feeling to have returned to Denon for the first time in more than a decade. It was a significant period of Jartris' life that had played out here, even if not one he remembered with much fondness, and might never have set foot on it again if not for the most extraordinary turn of events in the planet's political history: it had become part of an economic space and political entity that was being run by droids of all things. This was an absurdity that raised many questions.

He had spent a handful of days on the surface of the planet, or what was so called - naturally he never set foot on actual soil -, where he had sought out people he had once, in youthful naiveté, regarded as his friends. Now, he looked at them with little sympathy and found them disappointingly banal. Those who had had political ambitions had failed to realise them and had only limited insights to share on the process that had led to Denon's status as the capital of a droid nation. Few of the artistic types had stayed true to themselves, and many of them hadn't written a line in years. Still, the endeavour had not been entirely unsuccessful, and he had made the acquaintance of a man who had something to say on the human experience in this new nation. There was no doubt that people benefited economically from the administrative genius of their inorganic rulers, but the spiritual dimension of it was more fraught. Jartris had been able to extract a promise of a manuscript.

Ultimately, however, Jartris was after something more extraordinary, and something he expected few others to even think of. Droids were not particularly known for their writing; but droids were not particularly known for governing, either, and so there was a chance that those who engaged in one might also be prone to the other. There was something repulsive about it all, droids pretending to a culture and writing books would be a mockery, but possibly a profitable one.

The droids kept off the planet themselves and preferred to dwell in space, and so it was that the summit they were organising was hosted on a space station they had built. As it was an event dedicated to technology and droid culture, Jartris had seen little point in sending an official delegation for Entumaa Publishing. As a foreign publisher, and with generally a different focus, they would have drawn little interest here. But his personal presence might allow him to spot opportunities that would otherwise go unused.

Clad in simple, dark blue robes of fine fabric, Jartris idly strolled around, hands behind his back, and took in his surroundings. While the interior of the Bazaar, as the station was called, was not in any way beautiful, it had clearly been designed with more than mere utility in mind and featured some rather inept attempts at decoration. Apparently the droids wished to signal that they were prepared to accommodate outsiders, since surely droids had never been programmed to have a sense of aesthetics and style. Apart from the technology companies presenting their newest inventions, it was all rather tacky. An unhealthy culture of fetishisation seemed to have developed around the droids, and they were evidently happy enough to encourage it. Presumably he would hear more of this from the manuscript he was expecting to receive, but it was irrelevant now.

In the crowd, his eyes eventually caught sight of the tall stature of a droid of rather famous exterior. Jatris walked up to him with a confident, but unhurried stride, and eventually stood behind the droid. "Your Lordship", he addressed [member="HK-36"]. Jartris was unsure of the social conventions of this place, but he had heard that the droid had once styled himself as a Baron, so that what he was going to keep with for now. The prospect of negotiating with a droid made him rather unhappy, as they were much more unpredictable than sentients, and worse, they were just lumps of metal and silicon, with no connection to the Force, entirely opaque to his otherwise keen senses. He would have to be on his guard.

 

[HK-36]

HK moved only just a bit away from ARGH's booth, looking around the machine thought he caught a glimpse of [member="Faith Organa"] somewhere in the crowd and a Cathar child alongside who HK assumed was their guardian, In fact the child was yet another HRD [member="BB-4001A"] coming to witness the event hosted by free droid masters.

Either way, before HK could really wander off he heard footsteps approaching him from behind, on trajectory towards him, so before [member="Jartris Entumaa"] spoke out he could see the droid's head turn all the way around to look at him before the machine's body shifted and wobbled to turn back as well,

"Yes, it is I, welcome to my domain above Denon. I hope you are enjoying the festivities so far."

The droid returned the greeting, his slender and tall body was wrapped in its usual heavy black cloak tightly, covering it almost in its entirety, outside of his pale light head and faceplate, deciding to hide his skeletal appearance in public for the sake of not creeping anyone too much.

 

[Labkahip Mordulla]

Denon was a planet that Lab had visited once or twice in the past, but unlike today there were mainly for private medical operation and other personal experiences of not real importance to anyone but herself. Today though things would be different for the young Twi'lek doctor and prospective arm manufacture company head.

Slowly her personal shuttle came into view of the space station, not to different from her last visit, but this time she would actually visits the massive structure. Ms Mordullas main and important reason for coming to the system was at the head of the well known, though in some cases infamous [member="HK-36"] and there invitation to a expo and convention for the other metal lords and in generally anyone interested.

Her own company had recently just started to produce weapons, but had yet to gain any real recognition, she hoped that this little exhibit would allow her to get some attention, make connection, learn from others as well as get some minor backing to expand the company for more larger products. The imperialistic shuttle landed and the lab coat clothes scientist di-embarked making her way to the main foyer, just coming around the corner as HK welcomed the other guests.

It seemed as though she was quite early, considering the already present crowd, or that the even was a bit more private that it had led on. still all the better to get noticed. While approached the Twi'lek hollerd out to the current crow, her thick Rylothian accent adding to the already diverse attendees, "I hope I am not too late".

[member="Jartris Entumaa"] l [member="Faith Organa"] l [member="BB-4001A"]

 

[Jartris Entumaa]

"It is a pleasure", said Jartris with a polite smile, leaving open what precisely he was referring to. "Jartris Entumaa, of Entumaa Publishing", he introduced himself, speaking, as was his habit, rather slowly. "I must say, this is quite extraordinary. It is rare to see droids and sentients mingle as equals." Only after the words had left his lips did Jartris realise how much he always relied on being able to read his vis-à-vis. Now the little jibe that had come to his mind quite automatically was wholly superfluous since the droid was entirely opaque to him. "Or even have an interest in doing so. I am sure many in the galaxy are burning to learn how this has come to pass and to hear the perspective of those involved. Unfortunately, information travels slowly in the galaxy these days, especially to places such as my own homeworld."

Standing still with his arms behind his back, Jartris did an excellent job of ignoring the stark difference in height between his interlocutor and himself. For most of the time, he refused to look up to the droid's face, and when he did, it was with only a small movement of his head, and a much greater movement of his eyes.

[member="HK-36"]​

 

[Darren Torran]

Onboard the "TCN Genesis"​

Approaching "The Space Bazaar"​

​

Breath, Darren. Just breath.

The man had never been one to worry - especially over such things as impressing others. He normally did not care about what they thought, yet this time it was different. Perhaps it was because he was showing his prototype droids and cybernetics to the connoisseurs of droids and cybernetics? Despite this, he was still optimistic about what the outcome would be.

"Thank you for accompanying me today, Master." he was addressing Arisa Yune - his newly obtained Master. She wanted to come along, and Darren was more than happy to oblige. "I really appreciate the support."

As the space station came into view of Darren's frigate, he was extremely impressed - just as he had been when he had visited Denon mere weeks earlier. The Metal Lords knew what they were doing - there was no doubt about it.

The frigate docked, and Darren's men unloaded their prototypes.

Today was going to be a good day.

| [member="Arisa Yune"] | [Member="HK-36"] | [Member="BB-4001A"] | [member="Faith Organa"] | [member="Jartris Entumaa"] | [member="Labkahip Mordulla"] |

 

[HK-36]

While [member="Darren Torran"] and his master begun to dock with the station in one of its numerous docks, the machine was still busy and focused speaking with [member="Jartris Entumaa"]. The two Jedi, and anyone else attending the party, would probably notice armed and armored droid guards stationed at strategic locations, holding some sort of electrostaves-looking weapons, their bodies were black and skeletal, covered in thick plates like loose armor. They did not spoke, they hardly move, only from time to time their skull-like heads would slightly turn left or right, tracking the attendees who got just a bit too close to them before loosing interest as soon as they walked too far out of their range. The sentry machines weren't droids but drones in turn, the difference between the two machine variants was that droids were intelligent and self-aware, drones were not, usually relying on commands from higher beings or a command center to plan and think for them. Metal Lords especially liked to employ drone armies as their main infantry or simple servants because it did not make them guilty of hypocrisy by forging armies of slave droids to fight for them while criticizing factions like the Confederacy for their use of large number of droid soldiers kept in check by obedience protocols, plus it was easier to make legions of drones instead of convincing the same number of free and independent droids to fight for one. Either way, they would not probably be able to tell difference between the two unless they were specifically intimate with the designs ARGH made or the way Metal Lords did things.

"Likewise, Jartris Entumaa, of Entumaa Publishing, you may refer to me as Lord Protector, or by my original designation, HK-36."

HK returned the greeting and the introduction with a slight bow to the attendee,

"Yes, this is not a common occurrence in these regions, or it was not until I had something to say about it,"

The droid quipped as he looked aside at the crowds around them,

"But we have done it before on Abregado where I ruled during the days of Omega Protectorate, there such gatherings are more common, organized regularly since I took it over. However, the natives there are much more passive and open to accepting new traditions and strangers. Too often the smallfolk of the Galaxy think about purges of organics and violent revolutions when they think about droid uprising. If they will remember me and my kin in the end or look upon our works to remind them that droids can rise to be organics' equals without bloodshed and prosper together, then we truly have done here the impossible."

HK explained as he motioned for Jartris to walk with him as the machine wished to keep strolling past the various booths,

"Yes, I agree with you, many planets even within the territories of our neighbors are unaware of what is happening here. The fact that my kind prefers oral communication and exchanging recordings over keeping written records does not help. I am sure the planets who aligned themselves with us craft written works about their experience, but then again, such are usually confined to their planets. I suppose your company could help make more such works and publish those already written for larger audience?"

The droid asked Jartris, seeing which direction the mention of that subject by him was going to take place,

"But first tell me-"

HK stopped slightly, looking at Jartris directly, casting the crimson dull glow of his photoreceptors,

"What is your homeworld?"

Perhaps the droid was intrigued by mention of the other man's planet of origin, maybe he put some weight on which planets organics came from, maybe his protocols just dictated for him to ask to keep the small-talk going.



Either way, at that point they were slightly interrupted by [member="Labkahip Mordulla"] who approached them and brandished her Ryloth accent,

"Hello and welcome Young Lady."

The infamous droid greeted Lab with a slight bow, perhaps the Imperial Remnant told horror stories about how the machine during the Protectorate days personally shielded the wounded organic soldiers under his command with his body until they could be evacuated, or rush in during earthquakes to catch and stop stone pillars from falling upon civilians.

"You are right on time,"

HK assured her,

"The opening ceremonies have just finished few minutes ago and the first day of the DroidCon 851 has begun."

 

[Jartris Entumaa]

Jartris followed [member="HK-36"]'s measured pace as they walked, his gaze wandering around or resting pensively on the floor. His calm exterior hid a considerable agitation. It was infuriating to hear words like these and not be able to tell if the speaker even believed them himself. The droid was either a shrewd ideologue with unclear objectives of his own, or a very unexpected political idealist, and it was most vexing to be unable to tell which.

"Mirial. An Outer Rim world near the Hydian Way", Jartris explained with a shrug. "Of little industrial importance in the grand scheme of things, especially after so many wars, but I dare say it commands some cultural influence in the surrounding sectors."

"As Your Lordship has so acutely discerned, to make these perspectives more widely available is indeed why I am here. But I would not have addressed myself to you if I wished to show only the perspective of your subjects; they are easy enough to convince to write books", Jartris remarked with a playful smirk. But momentarily his expression turned serious again. "The galaxy will want to come to know your ways of thinking and, should I say, your culture, if they are ever to accept this place as more than an aberration. For that reason, it is your voices, too, that I wish to make heard."

Jartris was quite happy with the way he had phrased the message. If the droid was indeed the idealist he styled himself as, he would jump at the opportunity to share his vision, at least if a droid could be judged by the standards of a sentient. And if this was but a façade, he would surely recognise the opportunity for disseminating propaganda.

When HK-36 addressed [member="Labkahip Mordulla"] who had approached, Jartris greeted here merely with a polite nod, but remained in the background, not eager to draw any attention to his person.

 

[Kaili Talith]

[member="HK-36"] // [member="BB-4001A"]​

Kaili had attended a few of these conventions in her years. Never to represent herself, at least not in any real capacity beyond the occasional attempt to get cheaper tickets. It had, of course, backfired horribly once she realized that there was a whole lot more to holding a booth. Building a booth for one, actually owning or renting a booth second. In recent years she had trusted the attendance and construction to droids to leave herself able to walk the floors which in her opinion was just far more interesting. Overall these things had a tendency to drain more than the company gained, but with the undergoing rebranding as the Andromeda Collective there was room to send other organics in her place.

And she knew one of the hosts, so that was a benefit. Technically she worked for him, but the HRD holding the corporate floor at this very moment was the one who was in charge around here. Isabel was a puppet, an aware puppet, but a puppet under Kaili’s most benevolent control. She handled operations in Omega space while Kaili, well, she just did the same thing she always did and built droids. Albeit at an increasingly greater distance from the adoring public’s prying eyes. All things considered her gamble with turning her company into a collective had worked pretty well.

And for the sake of it she had brought Bee-Bee with her. Part of it because she was amused by the idea of how the little droid would react, and she had not been disappointed. He had scattered every now and then, but he always returned to grasp at her hand.

“I can carry you on my shoulders, you know.” Kaili laughed as she looked down on the little kiddo. “You might see even more that way.”

“I have seen most of these companies and their products before, really I am here for the sake of keeping up at this point. So you know, just point us in any direction and I will follow you.”

And maybe HK was around somewhere. He wasn’t usually one to- Oh. There he was. Passed Kaili right by.

“Hey. Let’s go.” Kaili crouched through the crowd and snuck up on the Iron-Protector.

“Hello HK.” Kaili, the Cathar child’s guardian chimed up. “Good to see you again.”

And perhaps if the droid sensor’d her good he’d notice her eyes had changed from the usually vibrant amber to a more deeper blue. It seemed like such a small detail, but it really changed the way people approached her. Less “Oh by the force, a darksider. Run!” and more “Come here often? Let me give you my number.”

You didn’t have to be a droid to find the organic society weird.

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

“I can carry you on my shoulders, you know.”

The Cathar doll's ears perked straight up, then flattened out in a sign of frustration.

That was actually a very difficult decision to try and process, even for two droid brains. On the one servo, he liked being able to run up and look at the booths. But, on the other servo, being carried by Master Kay was also appealing.

The ears flicked back and forth, as the small droid worked through the equations necessary to make such a difficult decision. Ultimately, the notion of his own mobility lost out to the appeal of being held by Kaili.

Of course, being a droid, these computations were taking place in the span of nano-seconds. But, for a droid, taking 0.862 seconds to arrive at a decision was a significant amount of time, and an investment of cache memory allocation. "Yes, please!" the small cub-bot chirped a moment later, his tail darted side-to-side.

When one was presented with the opportunity to be held by the Maker...

Master Scary Lady Kay said, "Let's go" and off they went.

To find a droid, or so it seemed. While Kaili spoke to the droid, the small Cathar simulacrum looked around. There was a Miralan man and a Twi'lek woman mulling about. With the three different near-humans standing there, it was easy for the droid to ponder the nature of humanoid skin pigmentation. Master Kay was pink, the Miralan was green, and the woman was a blue-violet.

Was there any purpose to such a coloration? Did it serve any function?

To a droid, such things were cosmetic. BB was Cathar because his behavioral programming was patterned on Cathar stereotypes, but not necessarily because of his external cosmetic arrangement. In the Archangel Cathar catalog, there were actually three other coloration patterns for the BB-4001X model. So, if Master Kay wanted, BB could be something other than a tabby, but that wouldn't have any meaning to him.

[member="Labkahip Mordulla"] | [member="Kaili Talith"] | [member="Jartris Entumaa"] | [member="HK-36"]​

 

[Natalie LaForte]

Aboard The Space Bazaar

"I've never heard of droidcoin before. What a silly idea" Walking past the supposed "drone droids" deployed by [member="HK-36"] with a shifty shuffle, so as to not draw their attention. She wasn't in the mood for fighting lumps of metal, especially not in a crowded place in heels. Not her style. The only thing she knew about the Metal Lords was their extreme xenophobia for organics, or at best passive aggressive remarks. Seemed kind of ironic though, beings built to serve rising up against their masters, I'm sure there's a name for this cliche..

Regardless, Capitalism knows no discrimination, at least not openly, so she was more than happy when learning that this massive market of undiscovered customers could be appealed to after years and years of isolation.

The only person that was accompanying her was her sister, Carina. However it had been what seemed like hours since they split up to find the Convention's host, and truth be told, Natalie wasn't even sure of the exact model that he was in. This is why she preferred organics. At least not all of them were identical. Eventually, she managed to spot the droid being surrounded by some individuals, ( [member="BB-4001A"] [member="Kaili Talith"] [member="Jartris Entumaa"] [member="Labkahip Mordulla"] ) Although she chose not to approach until he was a little less pre-occupied speaking to the people around him.

[member="Darren Torran"]

 

[Labkahip Mordulla]

Lab returned the bow to HK, she knew of the Metal Lords reputation from circulating stories and historical documents, though what surprised her the most was the fact said droids where able to set up a fictional government and ruling power. To her it was kind of confusing why inorganic would desire to rule and preside over planets and people, what did they gains from it? How did they cater for the needs of organically under their rule? Questions for another time, she was here for the expo not to delve into the private life of the being running the show.

A man whom she could only assume was a Sith, his pose, clothing, everything reminisced about the Sith of the empire, maybe he was a noble, no he would have body guards, all nobles did, didn't they? Said supposed Sith gave her a slight conformation bow, acknowledging her presence but ultimately keeping to himself. Seemed similar to every Sith she has seen why where they always like that, it not like they were inconspicuous, and seeing Sith on every corner was an everyday occurrence now. Looking around further two more individuals caught the Twi'leks eye, a feline being thiugh from her eye scan HUD labeled it as an inorganic as well seeming riding atop of a female humans shoulders, like a little boy. It made the scientist chuckle a bit, and once again query how driods thought. It seemed as though they were slowly becoming more and more human over the years.

"Well, I guess I may as well mingle with the crowd, though....". It would be rude not to thank [member="HK-36"] for hosting this convention and in visiting her. She approached the metal lord giving another bow once close enough. "I have to thank you M'lord for inviting me to this expo, it is not often that I am able to mingle with others of similar interest, considering my very recent start in the galactic market, I hope that we can become good friends in the future".

[member="Natalie LaForte"] l [member="BB-4001A"] l [member="Kaili Talith"] l [member="Jartris Entumaa"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Jartris Entumaa"], [member="Natalie LaForte"],

"Mirial, what is that now, Sith space again?"

The droid asked, of course by "again" he referred to the fact that Mirial found themselves under Sith influence during the days of Ancient Republic, around the time of Revan, long before the infamous Gulag Plague and the Long Dark that followed.

"Either way, I cannot say I had the pleasure of visiting it in recent times, I do not venture near Tingel Arm often, especially lately with most of my interests revolving around Protectorate space and the Core."

As Jartris explained that he wanted to spread the perspective of the Metal Lords on the situation the droid nodded,

"Well I suppose there have been a lot of rumors and hear-say regarding what we are doing here. I heard that some organics think our subjects live as slaves and our goal is to conduct purges, or that we are xenophobic. How were you planning on gathering your research for the publishing, through interviews? I am sure you could find some Metal Lords willing to conduct those, myself included, and I can provide you with footage from more crucial moments in our recent history."

HK proposed before looking to [member="Labkahip Mordulla"] as she bowed and thanked the machine again,

"Of course,"

The droid begun with a soft bow,

"Denon is a center of trade and Metal Lords value commerce and traders while protecting the hyperlanes running through our territory. Beings of good will who wish to exchange ideas and better themselves are always welcomed on Denon and my domain above it, whether there is an expo like this going on or not."

HK explained before motioning with his left hand to the booths around them,

"Please enjoy your time here, and I would be greatly interested in hearing more about your company and the goods they produce sometimes."


It was then that the droid did spot and recognize [member="Kaili Talith"] and her companion [member="BB-4001A"], although he didn't really recognize the Cathar HRD, since they didn't knew each other. The machine would turn around hearing her greeting as apparently she decided to crouch and try to sneak up on the machine, almost slapping her in the face accidentally with his cloak as it swished in his movements when he came to face her, that is if she was actually crouching by the ancient droid's butt plate,

"Hey Kaili, good to see you too. Did you change your eyes? Have you finally decided to pay the Iron Price and switch out some components for better quality cybernetic ones?"

The droid quipped. His feelings towards Kaili were somewhat complicated since the two of them set up a partnership and the Metal Lords became her patrons of sorts, or at least one of her subordinates' patrons. HK still remembered how good Kaili looked as an HK droid but just with her hair cut placed over the droid head.

 

[Aeshi Tillian]

[member="HK-36"]

Aeshi leaned back in the command chair as her ship finished locking onto the station. She stood up and loosened her gun-belt, leaving it on the chair for her return. No need to bring violence into a business meeting. Certainly not one that was full of droids. That would be counter-productive, to put it mildly. The woman strode out the hatch and into the corridor of the convention. Crowds milled about everywhere, some in costumes, and others not. The Force shifted around her here as she started picking her way towards the center. There had been some conversation with the one in charge, HK-36, about making a business deal between them and Tillian Family Enterprises.

She didn't have the details yet, but she was excited to learn more. Not only to learn more, but to pursue the deal and make it happen. TFE had done good work in the past and was respected where it had done its business, but this could give her the chance to catapult them to the next level on the galactic scale.

Family first. Family always came first. And you did what you had to do to benefit the family. This was just part of it.

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith finally arrived having taken the slow ship to DroidCon. She had been reconsidering whether she should attend, or if she send Claire. She seemed better suited for such things anymore. Faith just wanted to stay home and take care of Alderaan with [member="Draco Vereen"] by her side.

She could still send her for her cousin Claire sat right across from her now. Faith's ship had everything she could need...Draco saw to that for certain when he gave her the ship.

"Claire what do you think, can you represent Contessa, MandalMedical, and Alderaan Engineering here?" She smiled as sweetly as she could. She almost laughed when she saw Claire look over at her with the 'are you out of your mind look' Faith wasn't though.

"Mam' the pilot chimed, "we are docking'

"Think fast Claire dear." Faith sat waiting for a response.

 

[Muad Dib]

"Now that is an interesting space station."

Leaning against the door frame leading into the cockpit Muad watched as the retrofitted lambda class shuttle approached on a final vector that would ease the shuttle into one of the open hangars. Moving from the entrance he made his way to the rear of the shuttle to wait for the ramp to lower once they had landed. Choosing to leave his beskar'gam onboard he was dressed in his typical tan tunic with black pants. The beskad laid on his bunk with the armor.

Lifting the protector from it's holster tired low on his thigh he opened the cylinder and fished the single round from his pants pocket before loading the empty chamber. Lightly he spun the cylinder before snapping it shut and holstering the fully loaded revolver. He felt the slight shift as the shuttle landed and the ramp lowered with a hiss.

Striding from the shuttle he moved to the empty customs desk to pass the clerk his identification. Several beeps and a flashing red warning that refected off the woman's glasses let Muad know she had pulled up his dossier. "One ... one moment sir " he watched the frightened woman call security to make sure she was supposed to let the man through.

Nodding he turned his back and watched as the refueling of the shuttle began. The echo of six pairs of boots neared and he turned his head slightly, amplifying his hearing to listen to the conversation.

"What's the problem Ms Avery?"

"This guy ... He's ... He's ... Well look, it's Muad Dib."

Silence stretched for several moments as the click of the keyboard was heard.

"We're supposed to let them all in, but I'll assign a security detail to watch him."

Turning back with a slight curve to his lips he collected his identification and moved from the hangar. Down the hall he walked until he reached the turbolift and entered. As the lift traveled toward the hub he scanned through the viewport at the bustling marketplace and vendors stretched out. The doors opened and he moved into the hustle and flow.

Easing along he stopped at several vendors looking at miscellaneous trinkets, weapons, and other technology. It truly was a metropolis here aboard the Bazaar Station. Moving along he followed the flashing signs that directed him to the appropriate level that he had received from a bulk transmission to many companies. Pausing he looked at a leather coat, eyes catching the security detail from his peripherals. Grinning he continued on.

Pausing at one of the intersections of the great hall Muad moved within several feet of the sentry droids. His glowing blue eyes studied the build, the skeletal frame, the extra joints. These would make for some fun sparring droids. And the weaponized electrical glaives were quite interesting. As he stood contemplating the guards he caught a glimpse of the famed HK mere meters away engrossed in conversation.

[member="HK-36"]

 

[Jartris Entumaa]

"Yes, it is currently in Sith space", Jartris explained casually. "At least we have, for once, peace and can rebuild. The Sith are fortunately busy with further expansion and do not much concern themselves with us."

It was clear that the droid leader had only a tenuous grasp of how sentients organised the creation and dissemination of information and did not understand the difference between a publisher and the author. But it was no matter.

"It is, as Your Lordship knows, customary for busy political figures to entrust others with the task of writing. Myself, I am merely the distributor of knowledge, I would not presume to interfere in its creation. I will be happy to work with those you might refer me to." With that, Jartris pulled out and handed to [member="HK-36"] a little card of flimsiplast that showed his contact information in his capacity as a publisher, and also contained a small chip with the same information in electronic form.

His eyebrows rose slightly as he watched the droid turn to exchange pleasantries with [member="Kaili Talith"], a young woman accompanied by a droid in the exterior form of a young Cathar. He wondered by himself what perversion of mind was necessary to create such a mockery of life as [member="BB-4001A"].

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith walked with two guards trailing at a respectful distance. Seemed poor Claire just did not feel she held the same presence as Faith when it came to representing all of the companies that House Organa had at their disposal.

Faith however had been doing it a long time her brown eyes looked at faces for ones she recognized. There was one she made her way towards [member="HK-36"] and the group he was standing with. She smiled sweetly and kept moving. There were days she really would like to wear her old comfy boots and come walking through any room just to see who would notice.

She would wait politely before greeting the Lord Protector

@BB-4001A [member="Jartris Entumaa"] [member="Muad Dib"] [member="Aeshi Tillian"] [member="Labkahip Mordulla"] [member="Darren Torran"] [member="Natalie LaForte"]