Private Legalities

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing \ Gear : X | X | X | X | X
Interacting With : Vianca Mecetti

Good Day, Mr. Dashiell,

My solicitor has informed me that you have begun legal interrogatives regarding our joint ownership of a mining interest.

I realize recent events have left me in reclusion and seclusion as I rebuild House Mecetti forces, so I take no objection to any insecurity regarding joint interests.

Perhaps we should discuss the future of the mine, now that certain partners have become... unavailable.

With greatest respect,

-Lady Vianca Mecetti

Makai looked over the message in his holomail inbox, stretching his legs out at his desk at his hideaway home on Gallinore. The Hapes Cluster was becoming his favorite little hideaway, the Joiol compound a touch behind schedule. Besides, with Persephone moping around due to a rocky bout of young love, staying isolated was wise for the moment. He and Myra Arceneau Dashiell had been trying to cheer her up and he bit the bullet, taking her to fashion exhibit put on a by a cultural society within Hapes. It had worked, but only temporarily.

Which is why he was tempted to push the message along to Qual, his Selkath lawyer, but at the same time he felt the need to meet with Widow Mecetti. She seemed apt for a sale, but knowing the Mecetti family, there were bound to be strings. Makai was looking for a complete controling stake. Time and negotiations would tell if he would get his wish.

---

Two Weeks Later, Obulette
​

He had never set foot on House Mecetti property. Never expected to be invited frankly, especially after offending Lady Pawla Arsec of Grindera .

Yet Vianca Mecetti had isolated herself on the planet and on House Mecetti grounds. With his lawyer in tow, they would be paying a visit to the elderly woman.

After all, he had already worked with the Estate of Alicia Drey to obtain her shares and mining property on Lothal and the cortosis mine. Now he just had to get the controlling stake from Mecetti.

 

[Vianca Mecetti]

Mecedon - Capital of Obulette
Palace ​

Obulette was a heavily developed and industrialized world, and might easily have gone the way of other planets with heavy industry. But the air was clear, the water was clean. House Mecetti could hardly be considered a noble House concerned with environmentalism. Plenty of dirty, ruined ecosystems existed under their control. But they seemed to know enough not to excrete where they eat. Regulations on the homeworld kept the environment sparkling, even in the heavily developed capital.

The city was built into concentric rings, with canals and parks built into its divisions. It was not a green city, but patches of green could be found when you flew low enough over the surface. Green and blue. Two colors which kept the corporate employees of the municipality from losing their minds during fifty hour work-weeks. Psychological tests had proven the threshold where stress became poison. It had revealed the precise environmental factors which stretched the limits of the human psyche.

In the center of the city, a massive dome protected the Mecetti palace. It was a reinforced physical structure further bolstered by shields. Clearly, orbital bombardment was a problem on the mind of the leadership. Whatever the security concerns, there was very little evident in the form of visible security. Sensors picked up the anti-ship turbolasers and blast cannons, but they were hidden in the architecture, receded until needed. Armed shuttles were parked in innumerable closed garages. Police stations were disguised as corporate buildings. Thousands of armed police roamed the streets in plainsclothes. Security was everywhere, and also nowhere.

A clearance to approach granted access into the domed palace grounds, themselves covering several acres in the city center. Once within the dome, a projected image showed the sky above, as though no dome was present. Those within the thick walls could pretend those walls didn't exist if they wished.

A full honor guard would meet the VIP visitor. Though clearly military, they were just as clearly for show. Polished armor that had never seen combat. Antique rifles with museum quality finish. Stiff marching, sharp angles of movement. Perhaps these troops could fight, but they weren't meant to. It was more likely the many servants of the palace provided the true security. A droid's sensors might reveal the truth: That the lowliest maid was secretly armed. Sharp eyes would find sharp eyes looking back, while pretending not to look.

Just as in the city, security was everywhere, but engineered to be as invisible as it was ever-present.

Finally, a plush, well-appointed drawing room, where Lady Mecetti sat in a plush chair in a deceptively relaxed setting. She still wore black. Food and drink of the richest variety was arrayed within easy reach. Servants were ready to provide more.

She stood, making a refined bow suitable to a house matriarch.

"Chief Executive Dashiell. Thank you for meeting me here."





Makai Dashiell

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing \ Gear : X | X | X | X | X
Interacting With : Vianca Mecetti

If he was meeting anyone else, Makai would have arced an eyebrow at all the pomp and circumstance that greeted him. Given it was House Mecetti, he expected it. The half-Galan curiously found that the House was trying to position itself an important power. Which he found odd given the age of Lady Mecetti. It wasn't as if the House had many heirs, just one exiled one from his knowledge.

Unless there was an heir in hiding. A real possibility - look at his own young sister-in-law, Rue.Even now she remained hidden away from the public for the most part, a few outings but nothing on a grand or social scale.

"Lady Mecetti, there was no reason to stand."

Not that the stubborn woman would have listened to him. Instead he offered a bow back and then kissed her cheek in greeting, much like he had before during their previous meetings.

"Thank you for having us. Please, sit. This is my lawyer, Qual."

The Selkath lawyer bowed in greeting, a step behind Makai.

"Lady Mecetti, a pleasure to visit your planet and House."

 

[Vianca Mecetti]

Vianca smiled softly at both his greeting and the kiss on her cheek.

An astute observer might have noted a miniscule decrease in her pleasant demeanor at mention of the solicitor, but it was only measurable in microns.

"It has been too long, Chief Ececutive," she said, "I should have had you in our home much sooner. Business entanglements such as ours are second only to marriage. You're practically a member of the family."

Perhaps to a nationalized industry owned by a single ruling family, that wasn't far from the truth.

"But like all youth, I see you wish to leave the nest." She chuckled , a mixture of mirth and sadness. "Forgive me my eccentricity. With the death of my husband, I've grown somewhat melancholy about family matters."

She nodded to the lawyer then, "Mr. Qual, I hope you'll avail yourself of the food and refreshments, as well."

There was an old custom among the Tapani noble families. Once you consumed food or drink in their homes, you were an honored guest... and hence protected from certain unpleasantness. The offer was as much to signal her pure intentions as to be hospitable.

"I must confess, your intention to take full control of the mines is going to be a boon to me. There's much to manage at this time. One fewer thing will be a relief.

So I've decided to allow you to have my share of the mine at no cost."

She smiled pleasantly. And deceptively.

"Assuming we can come to an arrangement on some of the mine's product."

The smile gained an edge. Or was that merely a trick of the imagination?




Makai Dashiell

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing \ Gear : X | X | X | X | X
Interacting With : Vianca Mecetti

Makai picked up a crostini looking refreshment off the tray, capped with what looked like a caviar. Mister Qual did the same, both with glasses of some type of local alcohol in front of them. He typically wouldn't have been inclined to do so, but Lady Mecetti had it rough over the last few months. Considering the expense of the refreshments, it was the least he could do.

Despite being a little awkward with a napkin on one knee as he sat on the edge of a couch.

"Nice to hear I'm nearly a member of House Mecetti. We've spent too much time in business not to be a little closer than mere associates."

Eyebrow arched a little at the mention of the lack of payment for taking over the mine. Until Lady Mecetti mentioned a cut of the product. His shoulders relaxed a little. This was to be expected and frankly a wise maneuver that showed Lady Mecetti's business acumen.

"Of course, Lady Mecetti. Am I safe to assume you would like a percentage of profits from the products. Or do you desire refined materials? Perhaps both?"

 

[Vianca Mecetti]

Vianca's thin smile betrayed little about her inner thoughts.

It was the sort of smile one practiced hundreds of times in solitude, while looking into a mirror, until the smile became a mask that revealed nothing whatsoever.

Her eyes, however, could not help but betray her working mind. One could almost see the gears at work.

Silent partners had a habit of falling away over time. The more their silent hands grasped, the less their silence mattered in terms of keeping the peace. Sooner or later, ways were found to cut ties with them. Or to cut their throats. Dashiell and his business connections were too important to risk souring them over a momentary profit.

No... the long score was the score worth making. The mine had a rare product. One which House Mecetti stood to gain from for generations if she played her cards right. That meant not becoming so much of a leech that Dashiell would try to pull her off.

"What would you say to letting me purchase twenty-percent of the mine product at cost... in perpetuity?"

That could be extremely lucrative for resale purposes, of course. But selling mined ore was Dashiell's business, and she did not want to seem hungry to cut-in on it.

"All ore delivered on this deal would be for House Mecetti's use in manufacture. If we ever chose to re-sell the ore itself at profit, we would be required to hand over all such profits to you. And we'd be happy to receive quarterly reviews from one of your representatives to ensure we're keeping to that deal.

I think this should help alleviate any concerns you might have about us ever trying to undercut you with your own product."

She leaned forward very slightly, that thin indecipherable smile becoming imperceptibly different, somehow.

Or maybe it was her eyes.

"When I say in-perpetuity, I mean it. No end-date. And if you re-sell the mine, the stipulation would be sold with it, an encumbrance conveyed to any new lucky owner."

Or in other words, 'You won't be able to get rid of this agreement by passing the mine to a friend or subsidiary.'

It was a deal that would assure House Mecetti access to the rare ore for the forseeable future, even if the economy tightened. After all, if they couldn't afford the mere cost of extraction, then they'd already be lost as a House of the Tapani sector.



Makai Dashiell

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing \ Gear : X | X | X | X | X
Interacting With : Vianca Mecetti

Makai sat and listened quietly. He didn't expect Lady Mecetti to go quietly and let him buy her out completely. It was, in his humble opinion, a very wise move. Yet he couldn't help but wonder if House Mecetti would actually gain in perpetuity - what did it look like? As far as he knew, Lady Mecetti only one direct heir, her son Maldor. Word around the social circuit was Maldor was still supported by his mother in some form or fashion. Makai wouldn't be surprised, trying to picture himself completely cutting off his children from the wealth of the Dashiell and Arceneau families.

Question was - would Maldor come and take the mantle of heir apparent now that his mother was solely running things. Makai was personally surprised the man hadn't been introduced via a social soiree yet as the next face of House Mecetti. There was something more at play, something he wasn't aware of.

"If you choose to sell the ore at profit, that is your decision. I won't seek to recoup profits. It is not necessary."

The half-Galan was not looking to hang the older woman out to dry, merely take the controlling stake.

"With that being said, the ability to sell the ore, I suggest you maintain fifteen percent of the mine in perpetuity with much of the same clause. I desire the agreement stay between us for at least the next two generations, meaning our agreement would only be with direct heirs of House Mecetti."

It was similar to the same clause Lady Mecetti had.

"As for my end, there is no need to worry, Lady Mecetti. I have no intentions to sell and no intentions to sell my company. With any luck and persuasion, one of my children will have an equal passion for mining and extraction as I do."

 

[Vianca Mecetti]

Did that smile falter?

The gleam in her eyes change?

You would need a scientific instrument to be sure.

For her part, the Lady Mecetti gained a micron of additional respect for the man, even as she herself was disappointed. She'd made a misstep, assuming someone so young would jump at the chance. That they would have no conception of legacy.

Vianca wanted to guarantee her descendants a forever asset. But Dashiell didn't want to shackle his own heirs in perpetuity. He understood- even at his age- that the future was amorphous. This made a forever arrangement wise for the one receiving it... but hazardous for the one giving it.

The manufacturing performed with ore always multiplied its worth. But the profits from selling it directly were quicker and easier. A temptation for the young. A temptation she'd have kept from her own heirs, and left to Makai's.

It seemed there was a reason he was in charge of the mining enterprises. He could see past the horizon.

So... no forever assets. And he freely offered resale, safe in the knowledge that she was only interested in manufacturing.

If this negotiation stretched on, what else would he see with the clarity of those young eyes?

She waved a hand, thin fingers fluttering as though she was above the concept of haggling. "Oh, very well. We're not old aunties negotiating the price of redfruit at market. Fifteen percent, with the terms holding to our immediate heirs."

And so she needed to declare that heir before her own demise.

Was that part of his plan? Did he want her to out Maldor as still being aligned with the true House Mecetti?

Hmm...

"Have your people draw it up. I'll sign it."

After having her own people run over it with a steel comb, of course. But it suited her to pretend at nonchalance for the sake of relations.

She paused, and added, "And do let us know if you need any new mining ships. I anticipate the next generation to have even fewer crew requirements than the last..."

She let that trail off into the air, possibilities in the wind. She might be a noblewoman, but she was also the head of the Mecetti Nationalized Industries. There was no function or deal that wasn't a sales opportunity for the next.


Makai Dashiell

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing \ Gear : X | X | X | X | X
Interacting With : Lady Vianca Mecetti

Silence during such a decision was natural. One would expect it. He had placed a counter offer and it would be up to Lady Mecetti, in her own time, to accept or counter offer again. He thought his terms fair ; fifteen percent, allowable for resale, and an agreement that would tie them together for two generations. His grandchildren would be in charge by then and if the future was kind to both the Mecetti's and Dashiell's, then such an agreement would easily continue.

"It will be drawn up and sent to you as quickly as possible."

It wouldn't be a meeting if it wasn't on to other business.

"I do need more mining vessels. I have been expanding and will be working intensely in the Hapes Cluster and nearby sectors. Did you have something in mind? I am willing to make an agreement today."

 

[Vianca Mecetti]

​

Vianca smiled and stood, approaching Makai.

"I knew we could come to an accord. You've always been a fair dealer."

She held out an arm, inviting him to take it.

"But let us not linger in this stuffy drawing room." In fact, while it might be ostentatious, 'stuffy' hardly seemed appropriate to describe the space.

"Let me take you to the holographic showroom, just down the hall here. We use it to demonstrate products for our most exclusive clients."

She gestured grandly as they began to walk, "Wait till you see the new DS-2. It will revolutionize microgravity mining.

But while we walk, we can speak of things other than business."

She looked up at him, "I know you get to all sorts of official functions. You're quite the socialite. Meet the bright and shining people of the galaxy. Perhaps even in the Empire..."

There it was.

"Tell me, what do you know of Lady Santhe?"

She continued towards the demo room, the serving staff pretending not to look as she walked by.



Makai Dashiell

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing \ Gear : X | X | X | X | X
Interacting With :

Makai took Lady Vianca Mecetti 's arm, walking down the hallway with her. Apparently the woman kept a showroom salesfloor at her personal residence. A small twitch of amusement touched his features at the thought, although he dare not express the joke. Lady Mecetti would most likely not appreciate the joke or perhaps not understand it.

There really was no reason for the pomp and circumstance, but there would be no talking Lady Mecetti out of the holographic demonstration. The current products he had bought from House Mecetti hadn't steered him wrong yet, so there was no reason not to believe the matriarch.

"I know nothing of Lady Santhe. I only met her during negotiations with Alicia Drey. We didn't interact much nor have I seen her since."

A small shrug. Typically one ran into other corporation types at events or conferences or government dealings. Santhe was silent and had fallen of the face of the universe, so to speak.

"A friend of yours? Or rival?"