Join the Swarm (Abrion/Sith)

[Corey's OOC]

Marek Starchaser was not one to forget deeds done for him. On top of that, this meeting was a long time coming. He was not like the rest of his family, who was antsy around Force zealots. Sure, the Jedi were obnoxious but they had a place. Under the boot of the Sith. That was why, once things were settled on Zenith Prime, the Foreman of the Techno Union, who was becoming Abrion’s public face and diplomat set out for Coruscant, deep in the One Sith territory of ‘get out of here or we’ll go all awesome on your face.’ He really did like the Sith.

Hell, he was a student and sometimes, when he felt like putting the mask on, self-proclaimed Sith Lord. But it was too hard to keep the two appearances up for him, unlike for some people. One such was [member="Darth Carach"]. He knew, but didn’t speak on, what was going on with his comrade. But right now? He knew that the Darth was one person whom he could speak with to get the ball rolling on the Team DarkSide. He had come prepared with offers from Abrion for the Sith, and the permission to pledge allegiance to the Sith, and help them with their expansion, so long as they assisted the Abrion System with their own protection.

On top of that, there would be the Techno Union at the call of the Sith, which would help out his pockets, and the war effort.

He stepped out of the recognizable green Santhe Challenger, by Santhe (Thanks Santhe!), with real Corinthian leather (Corinth is famous for its leather!) and approached the agreed upon meeting space. The galaxy was a-changing, and Marek was damned if he was going to let Abrion fall through the cracks.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

The meeting place was a nondescript park on a nondescript planet in a nondescript star system, it was best to leave the details just a little bit vaguer for posterity sake and all that. They wouldn’t want anyone to simply walk in on their meeting, or something like that, was the reason why the location was only known to the two of them and would stay that way.

Carach was already sitting on a bench, a few Royal Guards standing on various places stationed to protect their Lord, A few aides were there too, to remind him of various details he might simply forget.

‘Foreman Starchaser, a pleasure to meet you.’ the Sith Lord would reply, once Marek had approached them. There was courtesy in his voice, but no warmth or amiability. It had been decided beforehand it would be better if it wasn’t public that they actually knew each other and were friends prior to this conversation.

It would have send the wrong signals probably.

 

[Corey's OOC]

When meeting places got changed, for the sake of posterity, Marek didn’t mind. Coruscant was too busy for him anyway. The only busy world he enjoyed was Lianna. And Mon Cal, but the latter was for other reasons. It was [member="Darth Carach"], one of the Sith that Marek knew, and one that helped on the Zenith Prime reclamation project. Made it sound so much more proper than ‘murder the rebels and eliminate the Vong,’ even if that was true. It wasn’t one for Marek to come alone either and as he approached the Sith, he knew that there were at least three SpyNet operatives in the field around him.

Plus Tion agents. Heil.

He liked to be protected.

And seeing a threatening (albeit familiar to him) Sith Lord required protection. He was here for an Abrion-Sith alliance. Sharing of tech, sharing of bases, meaning a Sith base in Abrion space and perhaps an Obsidian location in the safety of the Sith territory. Not to mention backing one another up in the wars to come.

"I appreciate you taking the time from your schedule. We've got much to discuss."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

A nod followed, before he indicated for Starchaser to sit down beside him. Honestly this was much of a gray area in many ways, Abrion wasn’t really inside his sector and that meant that he shouldn’t be handling these negotiations. It should have been the Voice that presided this particular sector, but that was where the problems started, there wasn’t a Voice presiding this sector currently.

Seemed that the rapture had done a lot to the upper-hierarchy of the One Sith, but few if any people would realize this fact. As far as Marek knew this meeting wasn’t unorthodox, and in truth… it didn’t really matter.

The Dark Lord knew he was here and had given him the authority to deal with this situation, because he knew Marek, because Abrion was an important nation in itself and because they could always use good allies.

‘We do.’ the Sith Lord calmly agreed. ‘An alliance would strengthen your borders against the Rebels and the Ravens.’

And the Techno Union’s expertise wouldn’t be a bad thing to have.

 

[Corey's OOC]

He didn’t know how the One Sith ran their government, all he knew was that they were helping Abrion out in a time of need and had common enemies. Should Marek have lost his standing as Foreman during the power change between Verd and Norongachi, he probably would have ended up in the Sith, or the Fringe. After all, he was trained by a former Dark Lord of the Sith, and self-proclaimed himself a Sith, sometimes. To certain audiences, though keeping up public identities was tricky, and he preferred to just be himself, so … it boiled down to not electrocuting people in public.

Or where there were cameras and not an Abrion war going on. Even the latter, he had others, and war droids, for that.

“Force knows we can use it. On top of that, we’d enjoy potentially leaking Sith influence into our Obsidian Order… Or at least I know I would. In exchange for the assistance of the Sith against the Ravens and Selectivists of the Rebel Alliance, the Abrion military will be ready to assist the Sith, unless we’re already occupied.”

He looked around the non-descript area at a non-descript bush in this non-descript park filled with non-descript people under a non-descript sky. “As well as the use of Techno Union facilities and personnel. So long as the products will not be used against Abrion.” He didn’t figure they would be, but it was covering his bases.

Really it seemed [member="Darth Carach"], was the only non-descript person here. Even the pair’s back-up was hiding in non-descriptness.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

‘Agreeable.’ the Sith Lord answered. In truth there had been many instances were Sith had found themselves on both sides of a conflict, it had ruined the relationship with the Ravens and with the Black Suns. But the truth of the matter was that you could never control the entirety of the Sith, that was against their very nature. The one thing he could promise to Marek was that in an official capacity the Sith Lords would never sanction an attack on Abrion.

Of course, if individuals were stupid enough to get caught? The One Sith would defend them either, for that the ACA was too valuable an ally. They weren’t no petty criminals with higher aspirations, they were a respectable nation in their own right.

‘Zenith Prime can have a functional garrison manned by some of our forces, joint operations together, trainings.’ a shrug. ‘If someone is foolish enough to threaten your sovereignty you will be able to count on us for support, and if our interests align in a possible incursion to enemy territory… you might find yourself bolstered as well.’

Easy, no? Mutual interests would be paid off.

 

[Corey's OOC]

He figured there wasn’t much that the Sith and Abrion needed to talk about. Help each other with border disputes, assist each other with technology and fair trade. Abrion had no intentions of galactic domination, hell, they sent the Foreman of the Techno Union out to be their public face, not some diplomat. It was Marek Starchaser, half-playboy half-semi-dumb businessman. He was here for profits and survival.

It was playing it smart, really. Sure, the fleet and the SpyNet kept tabs on a lot, and were hoping for expansion, but beyond that? They were a government fueled by corporations.

When [member="Darth Carach"] mentioned a garrison on Zenith Prime, Marek nodded. “I have been given permission to allow Sith to set up shop on Zenith Prime. Garrison… temple, whatever you need to be effective. Use it as a staging area and we can also conduct Techno Union-Sith meetings there, if you so choose. Plus, an effective base to deal damage to the opposing systems in the South.”

Seemed fair, right?

Definitely.

Not scary, not one bit.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

Another nod followed soon after that clarification, it seemed fairly fair. Zenith Prime could be a good staging point if the Sith ever decided that it would be in their interests to take the fight to the Ravens directly, or even to keep being there as a vanguard, a sign that the Abrion weren’t a force to be messed with without inquiring the Wrath (perhaps literal) of the Sith.

‘Perhaps an embassy on Roon and Coruscant? Permanent emissaries which would ensure that the relationship stayed silky smooth? Would seem prudent.’

That way the ACA had a direct contact in the sphere of Sith power and vice versa, it would be a good trade-off for both parties. The mention of Sith influence within the Obsidian Knights intrigued Carach too, there had been some influence there already after the Sith Lord had made his deal with [member="Raziel"]

SpyNet and the Knights were already working for the Tion Hegemony front in some ways, this would be a beautiful relationship.

 

[Corey's OOC]

Zenith Prime was a war-focused world. Giving the Sith a base there made perfect sense to Marek. Even the SpyNet and military representatives whom he spoke to before the meeting agreed. And that made him feel better. Something about a dark side enforcement garrison was comforting. The Obsidian Order was… well, sort of dark, but non-religious. The Force was a tool for the tech enhanced Forcers of Abrion. Something new and unique.

An embassy on Roon and Corsucant. Marek nodded. “I like the sound of that. Typically our reps will be from our Techno Union, and the politicians to a lesser extent. But we have to keep our businesses safe.” On top of that would be the SpyNet, but that didn’t need to be vocalized.

“I feel we’ve got the makings of a beautiful relationship for the galaxy right here. Additionally, as long as industries will sign a cooperation agreement, we’ll assist Sith-owned corporations from the Techno Union.” Marek had forwarded a quick communication to Carach, outlining the meeting. Some diction programs were better at organization than others. This one made an agreement.

[member="Darth Carach"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

And that was that, the Sith Lord extended his hand for a shake and gave a final nod. It had gone comparatively well, both sides getting pretty much what they had wanted to get in the first place. Probably because this entire meeting had been pre-arranged, to make sure both sides knew where they stood in the first place, that made things just so much more easy in the long run.

People should try it more often.

‘The Galaxy will tremble, mister Foreman.’ the Sith Lord finally answered with only the barest of a curl in his lips signifying a smile. ‘And the Abrion will have its profit, as is its due.’

Let’s just hope this wouldn’t turn into another Raven-debacle.

Probably wouldn’t happen, the ACA was far too intelligent for that.