Location: Geonosis - Golbah City - The Citadel
[Floor of Commerce]
Wearing: X
Tags: [member="Gunther Creed"] | [member="Valessia Brentioch"]
Alessandra walked through the halls of the Citadel at a brisk pace. Her expression was one of intense focus and she barely paid attention to the world around her as she flipped through sections of reports on her datapad. Those that were used to the no-nonsense attitude of the Minister of Commerce got out of her way in a hurry. A personal assistant tailed the woman, juggling several holo-dockets, and likely the strongest caf Golbah City had to offer.
“You have an appointment in an hour with the Minister of War.”, the young Twi’lek informed her, lekku waving to and fro, as he anxiously waited for a response.
“Subject?”, she questioned softly as they ascended the staircase that led back to her offices. Her assistant withheld a groan of displeasure. Minister Creed preferred to take the stairs whenever possible. While he respected the decision, he really, really didn’t relish the phantom fear of falling face first down flights of marble and durasteel stairs.
“Budget increase, ma’am. Minister Malvern has a few new ideas for the Knights Obsidian that, while visionary, will prove quite costly.”
A long-suffering sigh escaped crimson glossed lips. She wasn’t even sure why she bothered asking anymore. If the Minister of War or the Minister of Science came to visit her in an official capacity there was only one thing either of them wanted. While it was her duty, certainly, to oversee where Confederate funds were allocated it was always a delicate balancing act. If she granted one department access to more, it had to be pulled from somewhere, so as not to detract from the growth of the treasury. Alessandra did not operate with a ‘
high risk-high reward’ mentality. She would require specifications, proof, that the tax credits of member worlds were being applied to a worthy cause.
She provided stability to a growing nation with sensible decisions. Not half-fleshed out pipe dreams and empty promises.
“Please remind Minister Malvern that if he does not arrive with a full presentation, outlining the entirety of his request, and a full expense report, that he may wish to reschedule. He knows very well that his budget has already been increased twice this quarter.”
The assistant would certainly have his hands full. Likely, due to the fact that their offices ran extremely differently. The Minister of Malvern used far less assistance than she did on a regular basis. He preferred to handle most things himself, to ensure it was done correctly, but Alessandra had long ago learned the fine art of delegation. She placed her focus where it needed to be. She did not waste time passing notes back and forth like younglings in a schoolyard.
“Is there anything after that?”
“No more meetings, however, your inbox has been flooded with requisition requests from Haseria. The Mandalorian Protectors are getting settled. The Vicelord would rather see them in action sooner than later.”
Alessandra nodded as they made it to the correct level. The entire floor, from one end to the other, belonged to her team. There were hundreds of staff, both organic and droids, which she oversaw in order to ensure that the gears of the CIS kept turning. Everyone seemed to focus just a little bit harder, making themselves extremely busy, when they heard the telltale click of a sharp high heel on the approach. She was dressed primly, as always, in a tapered black dress with square shoulders and a high neckline. The hem stopped just above the knee. She didn’t wear any accessories, save, for a crystal hung around her neck that hid her Force Signature and a Holo-Hud. Chocolate eyes observed without remorse. She could tell who was wasting time and who was actually worth their bi-weekly paycheck. There was too much at stake to keep anyone on staff who couldn’t hold their own. The CIS was just like any other nation, only, it seemed to have an emphasis on being an effortless war machine. Effortless, meaning, that they could deploy millions of droids, minus the time it actually took to wake them up, in moments.
That kind of power could
not afford to be mucked up due to faulty financials.
“I’ll review them over my lunch hour. Hold any calls unless they are of an urgent nature. Actually, urgent, Mahai. I am not here for the convenience of others, nor, am I at the beck and call of any of the other Ministers. They will wait. Just as the whims of the Vicelord will wait.”, the raven-haired Minister informed, turning, just outside of her office doors to take the caf and a few holo-dockets. Realizing that her assessments may have been harsh, she paused and offered her employee a professional smile. It was real, true, but it didn’t touch the halls of her eyes.
“Thank you.”
With that, she slipped into the classically decorated rooms and the doors closed behind her. She set the caf down first before she set to organizing the dockets, by importance, on the edge of her desk. Alessandra had already been hard at work before the scorching, unforgiving sun rose, and she would likely be doing the same thing long after it fell.
She had no idea that she had visitors on the way.
