Private Letter of Marque

[Diodoros]

​

Location: Jutrand
Tag: Michael Hightower​

Since Diodoros has begun to buddy up with the Sith and enjoy the whimsy of their unique and dark culture. His handler back at Hutt Space has been eagerly trying to capitalize on this recent development. Working tirelessly via networking on his behalf. Trying to sell and pitch his exploits to any and all interested.

No longer was he just a decorated celebrity back on Nal Hutta and Nar Shaddaa. Jutrand, the urban world he currently found himself at, reminded him of such The Smugglers Moon. Now he was carving out his own path after encountering a Jedi back on Felucia. She had set a benchmark that he wanted to surpass, and found the Sith to be an excellent way to try and achieve such a goal.

So through a mix of his own bravado while socializing with people in this Sith Empire and his handler talking to the right people he managed to earn a meeting with a high ranking military officer. The large golden man was rather sharply dressed, with a large fuzzy overcoat draped over his shoulders like a cape. Under close inspection one may be able to tell that it was made out of a fine wookie pelt. Large aviator glasses covered his eyes.

Before entering the building he was supposed to meet up as he held a small holographic projector. Where the translucent image of his handler spoke to him. She was mostly just trying to remind Diodoros not to say or do anything stupid and ruin this opportunity for himself. Saying that he needed to put on his “business cap” pitch why he was a good candidate to have as a freelance asset to the greater Sith Military. As well as to not wear his glasses when he's indoors.

With that he entered the building. Getting told where to go for the meeting and that a certain Mr. Hightower was waiting for him while also letting the high ranking officer know of ‘Dio’s’ arrival. As was customary for his species he never gave out his full name. Other than the clan he was raised from, his handler was the only other person who knew it. Soon enough it was time, and he made his way into the office with a confident stride. The Golden Man still had his large aviators on. Taking note of the gentleman he’d be speaking to. Diodoros had a knack for telling who was a warrior, and this ‘Mr. Hightower’ fit the bill…​

 

[Michael Hightower]

A building had a beat, a song of its own that could tell you a lot about the occupants, about their state of mind. For years the Sith war machine had been turned inwards, focused on rebellion and insurrection on keeping the peace within the Sith worlds while they'd been trying to stave off the creep of entropy and disorder. The Emperor had commanded the insurrection put down and so the military had obeyed, they'd killed those they'd fought side by side with only a few years ago. They'd done there duty, yet the building had been silent, it's energy sullen, angry, an ire focused at those who'd forced them to kill the citizens they'd sworn to protect.

Then the war had ended and at last the military could look outside their borders as one by one the surrounding systems started to fall under the banner of a new, revitalised Sith Order. Finally, the military no longer needed to worry about fighting and killing those citizens who they were supposed to protect, there was a galaxy out there that needed reminding of Sith power and reach.

Only it was a very big galaxy and they had to make the best use of their military forces to both protect the existing territory and to expand their borders. To maintain the border while at the same time keeping the peace took almost everything they had, with nothing left to test the galaxy, probe their defences for the eventual war that would see them pit against those forces. So, they turned to those on the fringes of lawful society, the pirates and scoundrels eager to find a safe haven in Sith ports.

Michael had seen a plethora of seekers pass through the doors of military command, the good the bad and the ugly. Most had been poser, all talk and no substance, you could tell when they walked through the door, they may look confident, may look like they owned the world around them but you could see it in their eyes. A hollowness that spoke of a lack of character, that they'd fold under pressure if it came. He'd seen it in the eyes of his captains before, a fear of fire of the line of battle. Those were the officers who were quietly shuffled out of a frontline command into teaching or administration, to a task that better suited them and relieved that fear. When it came to the privateers though, they were best shuffled off without a letter of marque rather than the inevitable meltdown that would reflect badly on the Sith.

He'd honestly expected this meeting to be similar, to be another meeting that would result in an angry pirate spitting vitriol at him as the guard marched him out. A gold man who had had an agent approach the Legions with the offer, he'd thought this would be another poser as his adjutant escorted the would be privateer into the room.

Only…it wasn't.

He may have looked the part of some outgoing pirate captain, but there was nothing empty about the handshake or the look in his eyes or the sheer confidence of his bearing. The Legate glanced at his Legate, shaking his head subtly as the man stepped back, closing the door behind him, one of Michael's hands gesturing to a seat.

"Thanks for coming in to see us today, allow me to introduce Darth Malum of House Marr who'll be joining us today."

Diodoros | Darth Malum of House Marr

 

[Diodoros]

Location: Jutrand
Tag: Michael Hightower | Darth Malum of House Marr

To the mild surprise of Diodoros there was another individual here as well. A young man with crimson eyes. To the shining gold man he had a rather gloomy aura about them. Or that was just from the fact that he was wearing sunglasses indoor that he forgot to remove from his face. “It’s a pleasure to be here. Mr Hightower I presume?” Diodoros questioned, wanting to confirm that this was indeed the man he was expecting to meet.

Then his bright blue eyes darted over to the Sith’s red hues. “I wasn’t expecting to meet a Sith as well. It’s a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. Nice to make your acquaintance Darth Malum.” Diodoros was quite pleased with the prospect of having a Sith who was seemingly a part of a noble house. Along with a military commander and a Sith Noblemen, The Golden would be a privateer and was rather delighted to have the attention of them both. A representative of the Sith War Machine, and a representative of their occultic leadership.

Now Diodoros sat back into the seat that Mr Hightower had gestured towards. Having an eager smile on his face while glancing towards the two men. “I must admit I’ve never been a privateer before, so this is quite exciting. Are we here to discuss certain terms and conditions? Client confidentiality perhaps as well if that’s of interest?” Like his handler had told him, he was trying to maintain a professional demeanor. Despite part of him sort of just wanting to get signed on with a Letter of Marque and be on his way to start plundering on behalf of the Sith. “Or perhaps you might want to hear me detail some of my past exploits?”

Diodoros has been a mercenary for some time now, mainly for Hutts or similar groups and individuals. So he understood the basics of how to conduct himself as hired muscle. Although from his knowledge privateering was a bit different, especially in regards to payment. Since it came more from what he put into his work rather than some steady paycheck from the Sith military.​

 

[Darth Malum of House Marr]

He resisted the sigh, and the urge to roll his eyes. The man before him was too cheery by half, though at least as the rational mind took over, he reasoned with himself that there was nothing inherently wrong about such a stance. War was serious business certainly, but men with dark dispositions were rarely the ones to inspire morale in their charges, discipline, certainly, confidence, assuredly, hate, most likely.

Still, the Imperial Sith Fleet, even its privateering arm, needed more than boy scouts. He supposed that realisation was why he had been ordered to come here. It was not a task which he felt was beneath him, certainly, it was an important one, it was more as if he questioned if he was the sort of person fit for the task. He was not exactly a member of the Imperial Sith Fleet, and in recent days been more a foe to it, than its ally. Still, perhaps that was part of the reason he had been assigned the task, who better to recruit for the fleet, than one that had just fought for it? On its face, it sounded stupid, but it was exactly the blend of highminded philosophy that, somehow, would work out.

Perhaps this was more for his benefit than anything else, his benefit in a humiliating way, making it clear that he was part of the Empire first and foremost above all else. Mayhaps, but regardless of the reasoning for his presence, he knew a Sith needed to be here. Glancing at the commander next to him, this... Michael Hightower, from what he could gather from combat reports and dispatches was a loyal, experienced, and able commander of men. All traits that were respected and necessary for the Sith Empire's preeminence over the galaxy.

Still, the fact remained that the man himself was not Sith.

Oh, they all served under the same banner, pledged fealty to the same Emperor, and fought for the Sith cause, but only one of them could draw the very energy that surrounded them to do oh-so-great things, terrible things as well, but great as well. And such realisation, such a gap in a person slowly, but assuredly, built up resentment. Resentment coalesced in events such as the Third Imperial Civil War, where once loyal men and women, realised that gap, and decided to tear down those of the superior being.

It could not happen again.

And while Nwul's Covenant might be able to bring the Imperials and Sith back into harmony.

For now, he put his faith into the idea of the Sith keeping full control and visage over the military.

Never again would they be able to grasp their independence to overthrow them.

Perhaps that knowledge was why he was assigned here.

Heh.

"Thank you for the introduction, Commander Hightower," Malum simply intoned, stepped forward, his eyes leaving the man who was amongst the uncommon few that were taller than him, and looked to the green figure, who was even taller than them both, "The pleasure is all mine... Diodoros was it? Malum said, feigning a glance at the papers behind him, he knew exactly who the man was, as was expected of him, but he knew there was always an element of smoke and mirrors when it came to events such as these.

He hid the displeasure in his face at the rather... open admission that the man had no experience as a privateer, with the rest of his... naive words, Malum could only hope that the man meant it in a literal sense. That he had not been a privateer but had been a pirate, otherwise, this was tantamount to wasting both of their time.

And most people had the good sense to not waste a Sith Lord's time.

"Yes, perhaps it would be best for us both to hear of your... past exploits. Tell me Diodoros, have you any experience as a pirate? Let me be clear, being a privateer is a profession which is fraught with just as much, if not more danger. A pirate may need to face the nadir of the forces of all lawful and organised polities in the galaxy, but they are rats to be stamped out at convenience. A privateer has chosen a side, and the opposition will never allow you respite from that choice... so tell me, do you have any experience in that realm of affairs?" Malum's voice was emotionless, his eyes narrowed as his head arched upwards at a slight angle to meet the blue eyes of the would-be-privateer. It was a contest, a test, was this a waste of their time? Would he choke?

For weakness was the only attribute they did not tolerate in the Empire.

Michael Hightower Diodoros

 

[Diodoros]

Location: Jutrand
Tag: Michael Hightower | Darth Malum of House Marr

Upon hearing his name spoken out loud like that, specifically all four syllables, gave Diodoros an internal tinge of annoyance. He was so used to being referred to as “Dio” or some sort of alias. Only members of his old clan and his agent knew his full name, and his agent had enough sense not to address him that way. But he assumed that she had to have given it to the Sith command here. Diodoros didn’t expect either of the men here knew how dropping ones name like that in Firrerreo society was a rather domineering practice, a subtle claim of ownership over the golden brute.

Diodoros simply gave a slightly nervous chuckle before replying. “Oh please, my friends call me Dio, no need to be too formal.” He said, which was more or less how he greeted himself to others if he needed to give some kind of name. The Sith among them would undoubtedly feel a sense of unease now from the brawny Firrerreo.

Hearing Malum’s question regarding his previous work, he gave a nod. “Yes I have done some temporary work as a pirate before, on crews however, never as a captain myself.” He explained to them, overing a bit of insight into his past. “I’m familiar with the general principles of leading a crew and the responsibility that comes with it. As for the risks involved. It’s why I’d much prefer to be a privateer specifically. As a pirate I would be the enemy of practically all governmental bodies, being commissioned by ya’ll would mean I at least have one reliable ally.”

These ideas weren’t really his own however, Diodoros wasn’t really bright enough to come to that conclusion on his own. It was explained to him by his agent/handler. Who explained to him why actually being commissioned by the Sith would be far better than an independent pirate. Since he could rely on their territory for safety if need be. For things such as repairs and trade without needing to wholly rely on pirate friendly shadow ports.

“It’s true I’ll certainly burn a lot of bridges with groups and factions around the galaxy. But hey, if I do a good enough job it would make my resume so appealing that former enemies might try to hire me if I can’t manage to renew my contracts here.” Now his more dense, mercenary side was showing. Threatening to turn sides and work for the Sith’s enemies if they fail to keep him under their influence was probably a foolish and counter-intuitive sales pitch, but one that appealed to him. Still there could be a certain level of wisdom in his words for Malum and Michal to understand. If he does a good job plundering on behalf of The Sith, it might be best to keep him around. As opposed to a group like The Galactic Alliance willing to turn a blind eye to his crimes to hire him, and have Diodoros aim his crosshairs back at the Sith…​