First Reply Money Corrupts Absolutely

[Aggadeen Myi]

THE IMPERIAL TREASURER
AGGADEEN IN THE GALACTIC EMPIRE vol. I
Issue #1 w/ Open to Interaction​

The Imperial Shuttle ramp descended with a quiet hiss, as the cloaked figure going by Mitel Finch stepped onto the polished durasteel landing pad. Behind him, two Imperial protocol droids followed at a respectful distance, their polished frames reflecting the dim glow of the resort's ambient lighting.

Finch paused, turning slightly to address them in a low, measured tone. "Remember," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "I was never here. If questioned, you are accompanying a private investor conducting business under the name Mitel Finch. No records, no traces."

The droids bowed their heads in unison, their photoreceptors dimming slightly in acknowledgment. "Understood, Master Finch," they replied in perfect sync.

Satisfied, Finch adjusted the hood of his dark cloak, ensuring his face remained obscured, and made his way toward the lounge area of the Aspre Plunge.

The resort was an impressive steel and transparisteel structure that spanned the height of the cliff before dropping into the surf and plunging into an underwater ravine 100 meters deep. It would be the perfect location to hash out an agreement with an interested party for access to the Deep Core.

The lounge was nearly empty at this hour, save for a few well-dressed patrons sipping on exotic beverages. Finch chose a secluded booth near a panoramic window overlooking Spira's glittering cityscape.

He sat with his back to the wall, his gloved hands resting on the table, fingers tapping idly against the polished surface. A protocol droid glided over, its voice smooth and servile. "May I bring you a refreshment, sir?"

Finch waved a dismissive hand. "Corellian whiskey." as the droid offered a bow and departed to the service counter. Mitel was in no rush to leave the establishment for there was much work to be done and the farther he was away from Coruscant the better in his opinion.
​

 

[Makar Clyne]

The Aspre Plunge was filled with all types of tourists and businessmen, but one stood out amongst the crowd. A massively tall figure in a red and gold outfit befitting his Epicanthix heritage. This was Makar's version of subtlety, for his chances of blending in were always going to be close to zero. He wasn't here for the casino or the various attractions anyway, this was about business.

A new power had taken the deep core, and Cerberus Fleet wanted in. Before, he had to cut through Alliance Space using old hyperlanes and trade routes long forgotten. Now though, there was a chance to make a deal with the new superpower on the block. It was risky cutting deals with Imperials, as their rigid and authoritarian disposition usually led them to crack down on piracy, but The Fleet needed a boost, and war made strange deals like this possible.

"Greetings my friend," Makar said, quickly taking a seat in "I must say, you chose quite the interesting place for our meeting. Neutral ground is always a good idea."

Small talk and secrets were never something Makar dealt with, he was always direct with what he wanted. Today, he wanted to broker a deal with the Empire, and hopefully continue the downward spiral of The Alliance. Their fleets were in disarray, and The Core was now in a power struggle for dominance. There were some remnants of the Alliance navy on the fringes of The Core, but they were dying embers. The last gasp of a once bright flame, one Makar would take great pleasure in snuffing out.

 

[Aggadeen Myi]

THE IMPERIAL TREASURER
AGGADEEN IN THE GALACTIC EMPIRE vol. I
Issue #1 w/ Makar Clyne​

The beverage arrived just moments before the figure of Makar Clyne came into his line of sight, drawing attention to the notably large individual clad in a red and gold ensemble. It was likely an epicanthix, though it was said that they predominantly followed the Twice-Emperor Carnfiex.

Thus, encountering one here at an Imperial Resort was rather unexpected, if not perilous. Their upper arms possessed considerable strength and could inflict harm, yet Mitel was assured that this would not be the case.

He observed the man take a seat without any invitation, which was acceptable; there was no necessity to kneel or bow as if he were the Galactic Emperor.

In finance, mutual respect between parties is essential, rather than mere submissiveness. "Far beyond mere neutral territory, my friend. It is a location that escapes the attention of Information Brokers and Intelligence Agencies. Those pose a greater threat to individuals like us than any military force or naval fleet." He explained, raising the cup of liquid to his lips and savoring the taste for a brief moment.

In the galaxy, information holds true power, surpassing even the management of financial resources, as funds can deplete, whereas information remains perpetually valuable. "But I digress, there is a security question you must answer before we begin this meeting of ours. Who was the Chancellor of the Alliance before Chancellor Chandra?" He wanted to ensure that this person was reliable prior to the start of any meeting.

Although it was a relatively simple inquiry, it held considerable historical importance that any competent spacer would have been aware of and would have shared with others. If the individual were an Imperial, he would likely be unaware of the answer, as the New Imperial Order had not been as influential during the era of the First Chancellor.

Conversely, if the individual belonged to the Galactic Alliance, he would respond far too swiftly, for their history was well established, and the Chancellor's likeness had been captured and showcased on banners and in propaganda materials.
​

 

[Makar Clyne]

Makar was a seasoned spacer, but the rule of Chancellor Chandra was quite a time ago, and before that was a fog in his memory. He sat there, visibly pensive as he tried to remember lines of Alliance Chancellors. There was one who stuck out, a fairly notable Chancellor from when Makar was much younger. A sly smile rose on Makar's formerly stoic visage.

"The answer, I believe, is Emme Tagge," He said, before leaning back in his seat, noticeably chuffed with himself for his answer. "Quite the stuffed shirt as I recall, but then again, I was in bondage at the time. Hard to forget the face of a man whom they had on the Holonews so frequently."

Makar spoke with veiled venom, thoroughly displeased he had to remember such a time. Twice in his life he was in chains, both times were motivators for him. Making a solemn vow that he would die a freeman, rather than be incarcerated again! There was no way this Imperial could have known about Makar's past, unless he had access to Alliance data channels.

While The Pirate was a legend in his own mind, he was still a speck in the greater history of the galaxy. The many acts of piracy in his relatively short past were just a footnote compared to some of the wars that had claimed sections of the cosmos. Regardless, Makar's ego was unfazed, he would one day be the infamous dread pirate that he always saw himself to be.

"So, Mr. Finch, I have come to propose an offer, one that may be mutually beneficial. I came to offer a boon to the newly established Galactic Empire. I see much opportunity for us to destroy your enemies, and wish to invest early in what I think will be a galactic superpower."

There was always a level of danger in dealing with pirates, and Makar was no different. He spoke of a symbiotic relationship, but wore a predator's face. Surely his motives could not be purely altruistic? That was not the way of such men...

Aggadeen Myi

 

[Aggadeen Myi]

THE IMPERIAL TREASURER
AGGADEEN IN THE GALACTIC EMPIRE vol. I
Issue #1 w/ Makar Clyne​

It took a moment before Makar Clyne answered the question with Emmen Tagge being the answer that Mitel was looking for. The man was quite noticeable on the galactic stage in founding the Second Galactic Alliance and in retirement though no one had seen the elder Tagge in quite some time.

This confirmed that the person across from him was at least reliable enough to keep the details of the meeting from leaking to any unauthorized third parties. The hum of conversation in the lounge grew from a gentle murmur to a vibrant conversation as the minutes passed as all manner of smugglers and nobles from across the core worlds gathered to discuss their own business.

"Indeed, Emmen Tagge was a prominent figure in Galactic Affairs, but he quickly became insignificant as time went on," Mitel remarked casually, lifting the cup once again and readjusting himself in his seat as the pirate explained his proposal though lacking in some of the finer details.

A subtle tap of his gloved fingers on the table was evident as the notion of the Empire receiving further support in dismantling the Galactic Alliance was alluring, yet it fell short of the Galactic Emperor's current ambitions.

"An offer is only as valuable as its specifics. What precisely are you proposing to the Galactic Empire beyond a vague assurance of support?" Mitel sought to understand what the man was truly offering in tangible terms, beyond simple investment and naval aid.
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