Eclipse [Nierce]

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Nierce"] |

Alicia Drey stood outside of a Acavus-class bulk cruiser. It had just finished delivering foodstuffs to the city of Anteluma. Cultivated on her farms on Chandrila, Chandrila Group's activities in the Colonies was simple. Commenor required food, so Chandrila Group would provide it. Where that food ended up- whether in the hands of the rich or the poor- was not of consequence to Alicia Drey. She had been paid, she had delivered and now she would return to Chandrila, to start the new supplying run.

The reason why she delayed leaving was because she been approached by a woman. As Alicia had watched the snoopdueling events nearby, whilst the Acavus unloaded it's contents to her buyers, she had met with someone. After a brief exchange, Alicia had agreed to meet with her before returning to the Core.

Wrapping her arms across her chest, to warm herself up, Alicia decided that if this person would not come soon, then she would leave in the next ten minutes. She had already been waiting an hour, which was more time than she normally gave to her associates.

 

[Galatea Raste]

Alicia was left waiting because Nierce had run into a tiny little issue with spaceport security. It seemed one of her crewmen had gotten a bit out of line. She'd been called to deal with the issue, assuring the security members that she was more than qualified to seeing to it that the man was punished for inappropriately groping the stewardesses at one of the cantina's in the spaceport proper. In reality, she was going to probably torture him, and then discretely send him flying into some star somewhere because she didn't tolerate insubordination.

As she walked into the port where Alicia's ship waited, there was no small amount of annoyance written on her face, and her lekku twitched a few times in a rather violent manner before she calmed herself and strode forward to where the woman was waiting.

"I'm pleased that you called so soon. I didn't expect it," she said, stopping and offering a dip of her head. "I apologize for the delay. A member of my vessels crew caused some problems. I'll have to deal with him later."

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Nierce"] |

Alicia gave her a nod and turned to walk inside. Before Nierce could follow her, four Sun Guards emerged from the bulk cruiser and passed their master, heading straight for her. As members of Alicia's elite guard from Sojourn, they were tasked with her security and defense.

Raising their blaster rifles, the head Sun Guard said: "Arms up or we'll open fire. You're going to be checked for any weapons. Understood?"

From the flank, a Sun Guard approached Nierce, to search her. The other three remained where they were, weapons trained on her.

 

[Galatea Raste]

Nierce frowned but nodded.

"Not the first time, but if the hands linger where they don't belong you'll be needing replacements."

She hated being touched. Hated it. But if she had to endure it, which she did from time to time, she wanted it to be quick and she didn't want any unnecessary touching. And yes, she would make good on her threat if that came to be. For the moment, she lifted her arms to allow the guard to search her. They would find nothing, not even a holdout blaster. Nierce never carried weapons, even on the battlefield. She found them primitive and barbaric and she didn't like to be close enough to need them.

When they were done and satisfied, she'd follow after Alicia.

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Alicia Drey]

[member="Nierce"]

The Sun Guard that checked Nierce stood back up and moved away from her, when he had finished conducting the search. He said: "No weapons, sir. Shes clean."

Nodding his head, the lead Sun Guard turned his visor back onto Nierce. "We will escort you to Lady Drey. Come with us."

Creating a perimeter around Nierce, the Sun Guards begun to lead her up to the mouth of the Acavus, along it's ramp and up into the hangar bay. The bay was now empty, now that it's contents had been emptied and supplied to Chandrila Group's buyers. It was small sale, in comparison to the Grand Plan, but it was a start.

Together, the Sun Guards and Nierce traveled through the cruisers corridors, up to the bridge where Alicia was waiting. The observation deck was connected to the cruisers bridge, similar to the design of Imperial II's. Alicia was at the transparisteel screen, overlooking the city of Anteluma. She turned, when she heard someone approaching her.

Settling her hazel eyes on Nierce, she listened to the Sun Guard as he explained: "No weapons, madam. Should we stay?"

"No. Leave us."

Nodding, the Sun Guards left the company of both women. Silently turning away from Nierce, Alicia went back to watching Anteluma, eyes watching the traffic as it flew by, as she waited for the Acavus to be refueled.

 

[Galatea Raste]

She followed, not at all comfortable with the cadre of guards that was surrounding her. It was unnecessary. Still, she knew the woman was exercising caution for good reason. The crew of The Prometheus Latch had done quite a bit of digging. Still, what she was asking the woman to do was best left to people that did it professionally. Even if those types were, supposedly, unsavory. The Rebellion had utilized unsavory characters just as much as the Empire had those many years ago.

Besides, Nierce wasn't clean herself. She just hid that fact.

When the woman dismissed her guards, she didn't watch them go. She stood with hands at her side, watching Alicia as she stared out at the bustling city. The woman said nothing so Nierce waited. She had the distinct feeling that she'd walked into something more than an arms deal.

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Nierce"] |

Alicia broke her silence. "No weapons? I'm touched. I assume, then, that you were genuine in your intentions to get my allegiance for your... Resistance."

Pausing, Alicia waited for a few, uncomfortable moments to pass, before continuing. "We are not in the ear shot of a Republic senator or would be spies, so let us talk plainly. What are you planning and how would I fit into such a plan?"

 

[Galatea Raste]

"Did I need them?"

The first response was the obvious one. She was feigning trust with the woman so that she could earn her services. In reality, she was more than capable of taking care of herself if she absolutely had to. She was hoping that wouldn't be the case, but one could never be too sure.

"I need weapons, armor, medical supplies and foodstuffs, and I need it delivered to various worlds controlled by the Sith, Empire, First Order, and others of their ilk. It will need to be delivered in small sums, disguised as only food deliveries, and my operatives on those worlds will then deliver it to the various Resistance movements. You are a reputable merchant. They shouldn't be too interested in stopping food deliveries."

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Nierce"] |

"No."

Alicia smiled for a moment. Her needing weapons was entirely dependent on whether or not she was here to kill her. Such an extreme thought was unthinkable to most, but such was the nature of Alicia Drey. The moment past. She would protect her thoughts, her mannerisms. She had been well trained.

"I would need to arrange meetings with the One Sith, Empire, First Order and so on. This is difficult. Almost impossible. The corporations that I own require redevelopment, as they were all affected by the recent attacks that destroyed Corellia and took so many."

"The community that you are seeking to gain the allegiance of is owned by an unknown consortium of individuals, who have infiltrated the upper levels of government. They control the star ship, vehicle and technology markets. They have made and broken entire Empires."

"I was attacked by this consortium some years ago. This should tell you that I have a vendetta. I tell you this because you can trust me."

 

[Galatea Raste]

The loss of Corellia, though significant, was no great loss to Nierce. Less trouble she and those that followed her would have to wrangle in. The other bit of news was interesting. The very people that Alicia was working for were people that she wanted to take down. Curious. Still, very useful knowledge to know, because if things were to work out in the manner that Nierce hoped that they would, she could perhaps assist Alicia as repayment for her efforts.

"Curious that you share so much with someone you know so little of."

Trust begot trust, so to speak.

"I have my own motives for this work beyond that of the Resistance. I would see these and others cleansed from the galaxy because they are not worthy of it. But my personal feelings aside, the work needs to be done because if there is no one left when these groups fall, and they will fall as they always do, then there is no point in fighting."

She did store the knowledge that she'd just learned about the people that Alicia worked for in the back of her mind, though. If they could make or break empires, she could certainly manipulate them to her advantage.

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Nierce"] |

"It is of no consequence, that you know this information. These people- this consortium- exists in the dark. Shining light onto these individuals, invites the type of suspicion and attention that they have been working to divert away from themselves for decades."

"But to draw attention to them, would be to draw attention onto us. To bring down this consortium- and by extension, the organizations they have under their control- would take an enormous amount of resources, assets and time, that I have been accumulating for the best part of a decade."

"If we are to work together, then we would have to cease to exist ourselves. We would have to become ghosts, like they have. I have seen what these people are capable of, when they know someone is working against them. Subach-Innes was an example of the level of control and brutality that these people can harness."

Operation: Weedkiller was still fresh in the mind of Alicia Drey. It made her angry. Focused. Hateful.

 

[Galatea Raste]

Curious. These people had infiltrated everything and here was Alicia doing the same to them, just as Nierce was doing with the Resistance. Carefully concealing her Force alignment was a difficult task to do, but one she'd forced herself to master or else none of this would have been worth her time. After all, the Resistance would work in direct concert with Jedi and other groups of those kind, and these were people that she could not afford to have know her real intentions.

"Becoming a ghost is no difficult task. I've already done so."

It was true. She'd disappeared from the chains and shackles of the so called One Sith. A disgusting display of comraderie and failure if she'd ever seen a group of beings. They each had their heads so far up each other's backsides they could probably taste each others food. She'd left them willingly, and she'd been gone ever since.

"That's how I can lead the Resistance as it is. Officially I do not own my vessel. It's owned by a private captain and used as a taxi vessel for rich folk. Unofficially I own it and operate out of a special area within it, one that isn't normally there on most vessels of its class. It's how I operate in secrecy. Only Resistance members know who I am, and none of them can find me unless I want them to."

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Nierce"] |

"I see. I have already put my plans into motion. I am going to fund the Hutt Cartel, by providing them with war ships, vehicles, weapons and foodstuffs. The exact things that you need for your organization. I am doing this because, later on, I plan for the Hutt's to fund the second phase of my plan, of which I am yet to put into circulation. This is due to the fact that phase one is incomplete."

"Corporations are put into tiers. Chandrila Group is currently considered a tier two company. By the time phase one is completed, I require Chandrila Group to be a tier five corporation. One that has settled on several worlds, of my choice."

"Your organization can you use me as a means to hide yourselves. In return, you will assist me in growing my corporation, of which the funds and items will be used to tear down the consortium I have spoken of."

"I am set to return to Chandrila. My vessel is ready to leave. They are only waiting for me to give the go ahead for launch. If you will give me time to prepare, I will meet you at another location, where you can see the type of weapons and technology I am prepared to fund you with."

"Does this sound acceptable?"

 

[Galatea Raste]

Interesting. By integrating themselves into this womans corporate structure, they could innact the strategies that she wanted, while also remaining quite secret. In turn, if anything were to happen, they could blame it on orders from the Hutt Cartel, which would subsequently assist in bringing them down. That was most intriguing, and that very idea would certainly be a last ditch effort if anything.

"Acceptable, and a good plan."

She would make sure that she got her ship registered as a liaison vessel of the Chandrila Group.

"I will make notice that your company has purchased my vessel and crew, and that it will no longer serve as a private charter vessel, but as a corporate vessel. That should be sufficient cover since the ship will never be directly involved in our efforts."

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Alicia Drey]

[member="Nierce"]

"So be it."

Alicia finally turned, eyes settling on the woman. Who was she? What were her true reasons for all of this? She didn't need to be a Force-sensitive to feel her sincere hatred for the One Sith and the organizations that were affiliated with the dark side of the Force. Was she a fallen Jedi? Where did she come from?

"To finalize our partnership, I need two more things from you. I require your name and a sample of your blood. I have trusted you, now it is time to return the favour or you will find that our friendship ended faster than Corellia itself."

 

[Galatea Raste]

Now the question was whether or not she should tell her the truth. Though the woman might know her Darth name, she wasn't about to give that. It was still possible that, if she gave her full name, the woman might know of her association with the Sith, but the chances were minimal. It was the blood test that would ultimately get her anyway, so she might as well tell the truth. If the woman kept her side of the bargain, her name wouldn't matter. If it did matter, she'd just have to kill her.

"My name is Nierce Subban."

She offered her right arm for the blood sample.

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Nierce"] |

Alicia produced a syringe and needle, as Nierce extended her arm. It was almost like she knew Nierce was going to give her the blood sample, regardless of what happened. Wrapping her fingers around Nierce's wrist, she rolled up her sleeve to expose her arm. She sunk the needle into her arm, after finding a vein. Within seconds, the syringe attached to the needle filled up with Nierce's blood.

Remove the needle, Alicia said. "Keep pressure on it, until you find something to put on it. I suggest a tab of bacta, cotton and some tape. It should heal within a day. There might be some bruising left over, but that should clear up by next week."

Removing the needle, Alicia concealed the syringe of blood into her pocket. Effectively, both of them had put eggs into each others pockets. Trust was now there and now it was time to build on it.

"It is time for us to part ways. You will find and recruit members for your Resistance. I will do what I have been doing for a while. You and I will be the only points of contact between the Resistance from now on. I will not meet the people who will work for you. They will not know know who I am. But I will know who they are."

"The weapons and technology I will provide from Emeritus Industries will be strictly off the books. Serial numbers will be wiped. There will be no paper work. The same will be done for the foodstuffs I will supply to you from Chandrila Group."

"Secrecy is our weapon, Nierce. Trust nobody. Learn to compartmentalize those that work for you. Only give what you need too and take all that you can."

Turning away, to look back on the city ahead of her, Alicia said softly. "There was a woman that we met at the snoopdueling. Her name is Lady Kay. She is the senator of Commenor. Sempra the Hutt hates her because she has freed his slaves, costing him millions."

"Gaining the friendship of a Republic senator is beneficial to us, but so is gaining the allegiance of a Hutt crime lord. How would you get the support of both, without letting one or the other know about your contact with them?"

 

[Galatea Raste]

She waited and then pressed her finger to the wound. Secretly, she applied a dab of the Force to seal it off, but she kept her finger on the wound all the same. Best to keep up appearances, as it were, but no need to go to the trouble of having yet another person touch her. She could deal with her own miseries, just as she always had when she was growing up after her parents had been murdered. Then Alicia spoke again and she nodded along. That was best.

The comments about the senator? That was more interesting.

"Given our relationship now, I suggest I be the point of contact with her. The go between for you. Easy for them to figure out if you talk to her, harder for them to figure out if I talk to her and then speak with you. My ship is advanced enough I can contact you without leaving a trace. Better for both of us that way, as I intend to see if I can garner her support for the Resistance."

[member="Alicia Drey"]

 

[Alicia Drey]

[member="Nierce"]

"That sounds acceptable and what I had in mind. After today, our conversations will be done over holocall. You will report to me when you have met with the senator and after you have found more individuals to join your cause. When you call, I will tell you what is happening with the Cartel."

Alicia checked her chrono watch, before looking back up to Nierce. "It is time for us to part ways."

 

[Galatea Raste]

"Agreed."

Holocalls could normally be intercepted, but the tech on the Latch should be good enough to keep anyone but the best from intercepting their calls. Dipping her head to the woman, she turned and started to walk away, back the way that she'd come, still holding a finger to her arm. Once out of the ship, she would drop the ruse and simply walk back to her ship. There was no need. Her arm was perfectly healed and she didn't need to apply pressure to a healed wound. Now she needed to arrange a meeting with the lady Senator.

[member="Alicia Drey"]