Just Mining My Own Business

[Darth Pyrrhus]

The Wyyrlok-class Star Destroyer linked up with the planetary defensive fleet above the One Sith world of Rendili. The Wyyrlok was accompanied by a small number of other ships. It wasn't the strength of the council member's fleet, but nor was this a military operation. This was personal. Darth Pyrrhus himself was aboard the Wyyrlok. While it and the rest of the small fleet got in position above the planet, the Lord of Justice and Law moved into a transport ship. It was but one of the many that descended towards the continental world, along with the freighters. Darth Pyrrhus possessed the manpower and he intended to use it. He wanted phrik from the planet's mines, and he wasn't about to stand there with a shovel or a pickaxe himself.

Pyrrhus didn't expect any opposition. The planet belonged to the One Sith. The One Sith belonged to the Council. He was of the Council. Any objections would be ill-advised. Their landing went over smoothly. Not content with mediocrity, naturally, they had set down by the largest phrik mines the planet had to offer. There he would temporarily take command over the mining operation, while the troops would aid where needed. He imagined they would mostly be kept occupied with transporation. Perhaps an unfortunate few would get more directly involved with extraction.

"All shuttles have touched ground, my Lord. The equipment has been accounted for and is being prepared." the Nautolan Captain informed. "Good. Set up a perimeter around our position." the Togruta Lord commanded. The Captain acknowledged the order with a salute and dismissed himself to take care of it. Though he didn't expect opposition, he wanted to treat it like a military operation. If anything it would serve as a drill for his soldiers. They would fortify and establish appropriate defences for their position. Commanding both space and ground, the risk of a force of any consequence slipping by was very slim indeed.

"Finally, my Lord." he heard the voice of the Zabrak, Kregan Fash. "We will be ready to proceed with our plans." the young Sith Acolyte had served Pyrrhus well and long. He had been the top student at the Academy, yet, Pyrrhus had his doubts whether the bold Acolyte would ever rise to any sort of height. He was a servant, that was all. Pyrrhus wasted no secrets on him. "My plans" the Togruta corrected in a dry tone without making eye-contact. His gaze was fixed upon the engineers and workers setting up shop in front of him. "And yes. It is high time I collect what I am owed."

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

The soldiers were getting in place. The drills were getting in place. Everyone were getting in place. Excellent. Things were moving according to plan. Pyrrhus stood on top of a naturally elevated point in the terrain and observed the process. Well this was going to be dreadfully boring. But he wanted the phrik, and a lot of it, so this was what he had to do. Next time he'd hire some sorry bounty hunter to do the digging.

Looking over at Acolyte Fash he wondered if it hadn't been better to leave him on the ship. The acolyte was ambitious, but he was unlikely to try anything from space. If he did he wouldn't get very far, of that Pyrrhus was sure. Yet there was no need. With Admiral Richthofen commanding both fleets in Pyrrhus' name, there was little cause for concern. He was a trained professional. Yet now he had to entertain Fash. Or did he? He wondered if he were to throw a stick, would he chase it? There were many similatiies between acolytes and hounds.

The sound of loud drills or something echoed across the valley. Their work had begun. Naturally the miners already had equipment in place, but Pyrrhus didn't have the patience for a slow operation. He wanted progress. Not one second longer than necessary would be spent on Rendili. Already soldiers were gathering leftover supplies and carrying them over towards the freighters. It made Pyrrhus wonder what he was gonna do for the next eight posts. Probably more of the same. Yeah. Fantastic. Nothing better than mining.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

The drills continued on drilling. It was what they were built to do. It was what the people operated them were paid to do. So far nothing shocking had occurred, and everyone seemed to continue doing what they were meant to do, machine and man. How wonderful.

Darth Pyrrhus breathed in a deep sigh. How wonderful indeed. If someone for whatever reason desired to torture Pyrrhus, they ought to strap him to a chair and make him watch mining videos. So far he could think of nothing else that surpassed the dreadful cruelty of precisely that.

People were starting to come out from the mining facilities, escorting several hoversleds with phrik on them. Some supplies were already ready to be shipped. By right of his titles he laid claim to them. Whatever he took would be made up by the increased production spoils left behind. Provided of course he did not bring them with him either. There were so many things he needed the phrik for. Primarily his concern was with his new armour, but ideally he also wished to supply the Epirus guard with proper shields.

Soon resources would begin to spill out, the direct consequence of his own people aiding the mining efforts. Although he did not wish to spend more time on the planet than necessary, he realised he would be here for quite some time. Might as well find a way to put the time to good use.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

The phrik was being loaded up the ramps of his ships. Soon enough they would fill with what he needed and he could be away from this place. The precious cargo would be put to good use, he would make sure of that.

Meanwhile the Togruta Sith made his way towards the overseer’s office. While all of this went down, he would have to find some other place to occupy him. Pyrrhus did not care where. Without knocking he entered the small building. Small, but strategically placed in an elevated area. It overlooked the rest of the area.

“You are dismissed.” the Togruta ordered dryly. When the overseer protested Pyrrhus merely gave him a look and a dismissive gesture with his hand, and the man realised quickly there would be no point arguing. This office was under occupation. Alone with a Sith Lord, he did well not to oppose the Darth’s will. At least he had some level of sense.

It was in times such as these a part of him wished he had been a great drinker. How simple it was to pour a liquid into a cup, consume it, and have one’s perception of time and reality altered. Certainly he would be entertained. More so than that, however, he would be exposed, weakened, vulnerable. If there were any adjectives he would not have attached to himself it would be those. The drink would have to wait, for now. Though perhaps he would become a pastime he could pick up in the future. After all, why hold back? He was Sith, master of passion, lord of his emotions. He could purge his systems with its effects if necessary. People came equipped with worse vices.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

Years passed since the fall of the One Sith, but some things never change.

For instance the desire of rare resources and ores on the market. What ore can be less obvious and important than phrik? Almost as strong as beskar, if not stronger and yet a few factors lighter made it the perfect substance for a myriad of things. If a box made out of phrik could survive the destruction of a planet... then there were many options for Phrik to be used in different situations.

Pyrrhus and him had a working relationship.

Together with Ophidia they had cooperated on Ryloth and ensured a smooth transition back to tradition. Even if that tradition was slavery, sometimes a sentient - even one as dignified as himself - needed to see the lesser evil... for the greater good. The export of Ryll was flowing rather nicely and the profits were increasing, the margins were as high as ever with no other competition.

Ryll... was wonderful.

But today Pyrrhus had invited him to Rendili, to talk further business and the expansion of operations. This is why Tai Fa's shuttle landed on a nearby platform. Juts a prefab platform for the explorers to do ground surveys and figure out which places were the richest in ores.

One little peacock stepped out, his sharp talons ticking on the durasteel of the platform. Head swiveling back and forth as Tai searched for Pyrrhus himself.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

Darth Pyrrhus had returned to Rendili. Why give up on a good thing? As a Lord and commander of soldiers of the One Sith he had often benefited from the phrik mined here. On a few occasions he had extracted some for personal use as well. It had been so long ago.

Not with the governmental structure the One Sith had provided gone, the steady supply and easy access somewhat diminished. The Lord of Ruin was here to bring revert that. Bringing back the old order of things. Once more he would benefit from the phrik mines of Rendili. And who better to become his business partner in this endeavour than [member="Tai Fa"]?

They had done business on Ryloth. It had born better fruits than he could have anticipated. The planet was largely unaware of their scheme, all but the trio of Sith sat on all the information. Tai Fa was a man of many businesses, a he had seemed interested in mining.

Pyrrhus' business were slaves. He could of course provide the Thrikken with the labour force to work his mines, although he had a feeling Fa's reputation would not allow him to openly have his establishments benefit from slave workers. Miners on poor worlds were often slaves in all but names, held in place and forced to work by debt and poverty, and an oppressing regime. Pyrrhus' way was refreshingly honest, if nothing else.

He didn't need to own this mine. He didn't need to run it. But if he could help Tai Fa set up shop and have himself benefit from that, as he had once within the One Sith, well that would indeed do. Perhaps one day he would create a subsidiary to the KSC to see to this kind of business, but now it was not necessary. Pyrrhus had no need to horde credits. They were tools to be used for influence and resources, not an end of their own. Ultimately, if he also had his way he had little issue with sharing some of that wealth.

Naturally the Togruta Lord had been notified of Tai Fa's arrival. He left the compounds within which he had set himself up and went to greet him. Tai Fa would not have to search long before he could see the darkly cloaked Sith step up within view and move towards him. "Tai Fa" he said as a way to both announce himself and offer greeting. With a slight smirk he added, or rather, corrected himself "Lord Fa." Well someone was certainly moving up in the world.

Oh well. Pleasantries aside. Time to get this show back on the road. Finally

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

Tai was intently aware that in the grand scheme of things he was a newborn.

The tales of Ashin Varanin were followed closely by the exploits of Pyrrhus and the others of the One Sith cabal. His own advent into the larger schemes of the Galaxy was still relatively new and it would take time, before his reputation and name was as strong and solidified as some of the other names within the Sith. But it was his fast rise that underlined him.

Few others had risen so fast within the Galaxy as him and that was something to be respected.

His corporate holdings were growing by the day and with it came power, his mastery of the Force was strengthening and with it came control. It might be a long road ahead, before Tai could command the same respect as Ashin... but this did not disturb him. The journey, the road, the travel, that was what made this entire thing worthwhile in the first place. If it had been easy? Then what was the point of it in the first place? Those were the kind of questions Tai asked himself every once in a while and the answers gave him strength.

"Lord Pyrrhus." the Thirriken inclined his beak in a token amount of respect, before his gaze brushed past the Togruta and towards the scene behind him. Already the probe droids were starting to scan the environment to determine where the best digging places would be.

"I hope you are well."

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

[member="Tai Fa"]

"And you" Pyrrhus replied as they made it past introductions. Now the two Sith Lords turned to face the facilities ahead of them. Designs were being drawn up, plans made. Time to mine.

Pyrrhus walked with the Thrikken, the duo making their way away from the landing platform and towards the action. In what had been set up as a sort of makeshift office they would have all the information required.

"Equipment is on the ground. We have the manpower" Pyrrhus relayed in a neutral and borderline mundane tone. Orchestrating these kind of things from the field was far from the most interesting parts of a Sith's life. But they were Sith and did not live for interest and personal amusements. Sometimes you had to do some mining.

For a moment Pyrrhus was tempted to ask if he didn't want him to leave a couple of slaves to be used for mining in the future, but he thought better of it. Should that information somehow be found out and leaked it could compromise their efforts on Ryloth. A risk rather not taken. Fa would have little difficulty in manning the facilities, Pyrrhus was sure.

"I took the liberty of getting things in motion. But you are free to make adjustments as you see fit, of course." Pyrrhus continued matter-of-factly. The doors slid open and they walked into the small building that had been erected for the occasion. He was flexible on any terms. All he'd require presently was the first batch mined now, to be distributed to his many projects. Beyond that anything was up for debate.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"]

It was an interesting contrast between the two Sith Lords.

Whereas Pyrrhus had no interest in these sort of events, Tai Fa lived for them. It might have been strange to some, but the Thirriken genuinely enjoyed the procedure, the back and forth, the numbers and analytics. Far more than subjugating worlds, needless slaughter and other activities.

There needed to be a purpose for Tai.

Usually there wasn't any, when the Sith were involved.

"I have seen some of it already, yes." Lord Fa responded politely, before pushing himself off the floor and gliding gracefully onto the back of one of the seats. There he perched, while eyes patiently went over the numbers that started to pop up from the holoprojector within the table.

"We will be able to accommodate you, that is not a concern. I will be mostly bringing in non-sentient automated laborers, cheap, no need to feed them and no complaints."

It was quite a good solution if you asked Tai.

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

[member="Tai Fa"]

"Good, good" Darth Pyrrhus replied with a slow nod. It was quite a good solution if you asked Pyrrhus as well. With that out of the way things were ready to start moving onwards. Numbers came, plans executed and the two Sith Lords would have their little arrangement set up in no time.

The Togruta suppressed a yawn.

With access to the phrik he could supply the troops in his command, let some flow in the direction of the Karazak Slavers Cooperative and their assets. It had many uses, and even if they were not all clear now it would certainly be useful to have some at hand. Perhaps he could finally get that one lawnchair he always wanted.

Darth Pyrrhus remained for as much of the process was necessary. He didn't mind the company of Tai Fa either. He seemed like a man with his head in the right place. Or bird. In any case, he could see a promising future in the Thirriken's future (finally spelled that right). He could only hope it was for the benefit of the Sith as a whole what he was doing, even if Tai Fa did not necessarily intend for it to be as such.

Time would show. For now, he would leave satisfied that a functioning phrik facility had been set up on Rendili.