Meeting a CEO

[Edric Vanyan]

Arthur's eyes scanned the large window that looked out at the scene before him, a city and a landscape beyond it. His hands rested lightly on top of his leg as it bounced slightly out of a bit of nervousness, not that this would be a formal meeting, that he was use to, but that it would be with a CEO of one of the Galaxy's greatest shipyards. Well that and the fact he knew very little about ships, having learned what he could in the past five months of his planet's existence in the greater galaxy as a whole and that much was a shear fact that he didnt know how well he did in a meeting with the head of such a place.

His silvered eyes found the datapad, that after five months he finally learned how use, resting in hsi hand. He was hear with an appointment for one Lorelei, which he hoped was pronounced Lore-el-ee because otherwise he was going to insult this person the moment he walked in, if her had Miles with him this whole situation would be better but he needed to learn what he could about business deals himself and it would do him good to do this in person and alone. So here he sat waiting for things to start and the CEO to summon him to the office.

@[member="Lady Silencia"]

 

[Quietus]

"Mr. Hardrada?" a primly dressed blond-haired woman stepped out of a lift of the main reception room. She held a data-flimsy in her hands and scanned the room for the face that would make itself known at the announcement, "The Queen will see you now."

When he joined her in the lift the attending HRD engaged the controls. Up, up, up they went to the top floor where the doors opened up to a replica office of the Drive Yard's control sector. Though smaller here, the office itself still span an entire floor of the otherwise massive complex. Black, gold, and deep red decorated the hall in the colors of the Darke family. The woman lead him past a massive conference holo-projector table, numerous sets of control stations, a smaller circular block of panels over which the 3D image of the planet of Kuat and her halo of Drive Yards hung animated by blue light, the flickering of ships as they came and went showing in real-time. At all these people of many races and species were busy at work. None of them paid the pair any mind. Beyond all this they ascended a set of stairs to a raised floor overlooking the hall. There he found the Queen and CEO of the KDY examining holo-documents at her desk.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Arthur Hardrada for your 3 o'clock."

"Thank you Lacey," said the CEO without looking up.

"Would you like something to drink Mr. Hardrada?" the assistant asked as she indicated the plush armchair before the Queen's desk.

Lorelei looked up finally, reminded by this of her tea freshly steeped and steaming in an ornate glass on her desk. She took it up and sipped, watching Arthur closely. After making his order (or not) she greeted him with a raised brow before setting her tea down again, "Mr. Hardrada, welcome to Kuat."

"We apologize for the inconvenience of moving your meeting planetside. We're in the process of remodeling the Drive Yards office," said Lacey.

Lorelei didn't look apologetic at all, "I understand you're not here to commission a ship, otherwise you wouldn't be meeting with me. What can I help you with, Mr. Hardrada?"

@[member="Arthur David Hardrada"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Arthur's head snapped back and forth as each woman talked, finally both having finished he sat down and looked at the secretary."No thank you, i dont need something to drink but i thank you for your offer miss." He bowed his head to her and looked at the CEO and Queen of Kuat, his hands crossed over his lap and his eyes falling on her and focusing on ever so slightly as the silver orbs adjusted. His voice came out light and softly toned, but still loud enough for the woman to hear him clear. "Actually that is partially the reason, i wanted to set up a long time deal as well as trade between out planets. I am ruler of my own planet and species, and soon i plan to expand such rule to be honest, and in doing so i will be needing a manufacturer of larger ships when such a time comes to fruition." He seemed to be half there and half distracted, as if trying to remember something that he practiced, he remained still though and quite well aware of his surroundings, infact he took every chance he got to let his mind extend out and to test how far he could sense, which at the moment included trying to figure out why he could not sense the secretary very well. @[member="Lady Silencia"]

 

[Quietus]

Lorelei stared at the man, stoney faced and bemused, for several long moments after he finished speaking. Green eyes narrowed in thought, jaw setting firm, Lacey shifted in the faintest displays of discomfort to the left of Arthur's chair. She fretted at what she imagined was growing disdain within the Queen, but she couldn't fathom why.

Why, oh why, had she agreed to take this job?

The Queen lifted a hand and gave a curt snap of her fingers.

Lacey jumped, startled, and moved to place a datapad on the desk before the Queen, "Iferetes, Your Highness. Located five parsecs outside of the Wyl Sector within the Inf-1 Star System."

Old Sith Empire territory. Lorelei's eyes drew thin as she continued to scan the datapad. A palpable tension grew on the air.

The Assistant frowned, glanced to Arthur, then gently cleared her throat, "Major exports include Kolto, Hydrogen, Bardium and Deuterium, as well as Durasteel." The woman tempted a thin smile, as if hoping those things might ease the Queen into words. Movement. Action. Anything.

"You've traveled quite a long way for a hope on trade, Mr. Hardrada," the Queen began finally.

Lacey released a simpered breath. She was going to need to sneak a shot of something strong in after this.

"I assume you've made all the necessary arrangements with the Mandolorians and the Republic to run the course of the Hydian for this endeavor," the Queen lifted her head, gazing at the man keenly through the half-moon spectacles she wore, "elsewise we're wasting our time here. But a Monarch wouldn't travel all this way without dotting their i's and crossing their t's, would they..." her gaze traveled back to the datapad, a line of distaste forming as she read the words patriarchal absolute monarchy and slavery in the summary. The Queen of Kuat sniffed before looking expectantly back to the presumed Monarch before her.

@[member="Arthur David Hardrada"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Arthur nodded slowly before speaking again. "Ive already talked to the Mandalorians, proposing trade with them as well as use of the Hydian way, the former of the two not answered yet, and as for the Republic i took the time to speak with a few Senators... also ive made trips to many other words an offer of simple trade as well as your own Miss..." He shifted and saw the change in expression, his eyes dropping to the Datapad in her hands. 'Great, one of those things, i really hate those things.' The words shouted in his head, datapads were so much harder to use than he thought possible, and the worst part was that he as a tech wiz so it shouldnt be hard. @[member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Quietus]

"It's not just a few Senators you need to be speaking with, Mr. Hardrada," she replied tersely, "logistically speaking, you need to make your case to the Senate at large," the woman's expression grew dour, cold, as she leaned in on her desk, elbows folded, fingers steepled, "understand this: innocent and well-meaning though your business may be, you come from a galactic territory ripe with festering wounds, lingering battle, and unsavory peoples - all of which in direct conflict, savage war, and purposeful opposition to the Republican Territories. Whether or not Iferetes was involved remains to be seen, but due process involves very careful and scrutinized consideration here."

The Mandolorians may have entertained his presence with an audience, but the Republic aught to look upon his planet and his people with such a scrutinizing, probing gaze it would make a wetnurse blush.

Did Lorelei Darke, CEO of the KDY and Sovereign of Kuat believe the Republic would actually do this? No. As a matter of fact, the woman would be utterly baffled if the Republic did anything more than happily accept his offer. Droll, simple, easily distracted people that they were - they couldn't be pressed to look beyond their own noses ... or purses, as the case may be. Tempting as the idea of acquiring further solid trade, especially for items as useful as durasteel, and the business of providing the man with vessels of war, was, she had to consider what doing so would imply and what repercussions could arise should it prove to have been a mistake.

Already the KDY was under careful watch by the Republic and the Jedi, make no mistake she was fully and entirely aware.

"The galaxy stands poised for war, more specifically the Republic is looking at rising tensions with the Mandolorians, Mr. Hardrada, and while I would press to arm every neutral and innocent party with the ability to protect themselves, I cannot do so without consequence from those who would not share my sentiments. I cannot in good faith agree to open terms of trade and business without first knowing that you and yours have been approved by the Senate of the Republic, thereafter I must implore you to reconsider your routes. If war should break out, not only will you be putting your people at risk, but you risk loss of product as war casualty."

@[member="Arthur David Hardrada"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

He frowned and studied her words than looked at the device in her hand before speaking. "Whats that say about my home, if i might so ask you miss?" His eyes didnt leave the datapad, something wasnt right here and there was a highly odd way at which she was acting, with everyone else this hostility he was being treated to was... odd. Not to mention why should a war between the Republic and the Mandalorians, had he missed something about the two while he was away from home. He decided he would have to catch up on the news once he had the time. @[member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Quietus]

Lorelei turned the datapad on her desk and pushed it towards him, unabashed. There was nothing there other than exactly what was public knowledge concerning Iferetes.

"If you do not know what public record says about your home then perhaps you need to reconsider your position on galactic affairs, Mr. Hardrada. Be that as it may, if you require assistance proposing your case to the Senate, I can arrange to have you presented during their next session by the Senator of Kuat."

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Arthur looked over the datapad and frowned worse. "Heavens be blasted, those were never changed from the initial records... ok theres a few things i need to get clear here, Slavery is no longer and will never be allowed under my rule. That abomination of a practice died when my father did by my actions, and i will make sure this knowledge is fixed." He didnt hear his voice rise, nor feel his hands curl, his was pissed beyond realizing such, he had abolished this stain and caused the death of four brothers and a father to make things better but now it came back and obviously the initial reports were the public knowledge's reports. "And i thank you for the offer miss, and would gladly meet with your senator, i can promise most of this information is outdated. And as for my location, worry not about my affliation with a dead empire, my home was not witness to hyperspace travel until after that empire was cold in its grave." @[member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Quietus]

"Easy words to speak, 'I am innocent of the evil I am surrounded by' but harder yet for many to hear and swallow. It is not my place to make judgement, but this is something you must be conscious of. You hail from a corrupt and stained sector of this galaxy - one that will know the scars of the now gone Sith Empire for ages to come. Its worlds, ravaged by their hate and greed, will take decades to heal and repair if further war doesn't find them first."

Her expression was impassive but did seem to soften some, "Let us hope that war does not find your home. Lacey, make arrangements for Mr. Hardrada's meeting with Senator Beswin."

"Of course, Your Eminence," Lacey nodded and set off to do just that.

"Now, perhaps you might entertain me with what it is that public knowledge has reported wrong on Iferetes," Lorelei pulled her glasses from her face, gingerly folding them and setting them aside.

@[member="Arthur David Hardrada"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

"Most importantly, that abomination that is on this infernal device, that being Slavery of course. I wiped that stain off my planet best i could, pockets of it in places my reach cannot penetrate like the shadows. But i will soon rectify such an issue once i finish with finding a master, whom i will learn under and improve my training on the Force. And this Patriarchy that it mentions, i dismissed that as i am not like the rest of my people, i spent vast times out in the Silent Vale by that of the people of my greatest friend. Gender bias is not official in the least anymore, its just the fact that my actions leave me on the throne now." @[member="Lorelei Darke"]