Not Your Typical Retirement

[Catalys Maijora]

The Primeval Fleet had been quiet for a long time. Ever since their departure from the One Sith, they've represented the core of the Triumvirate's main battle fleet; until now. The galaxy's changing, and Catalys sensed that change.

He had a choice to make, but little did he know his choice was no longer his, but soon to be in the hands of another. A scary thought for most, certainly, to lose your free will. To no longer have an identity you control.

Except, that's exactly how it was for most of his life. The Primeval were zealots; the collective--not the individual--defined them. His actions, although critical, were never his to claim. No; that would go to her. He was, and perhaps always shall be, nothing more than a servant. The sacrifice upon the altar, ready to give his blood for a cause he had little investment in. By now he realized that it wasn't the cause that he followed, it was that he had a path. Any path at all.

Still, there were changes coming, and forces out of his control would be driving them. It was time to adapt or die. He certainly wasn't about to die.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

The Juvex
Arpor-Lan

[member="Catalys Maijora"] had always known his place. He was the right hand figure of the brain, the executor of someone else’s will, a man of competence but without that particular breed of ambition that could turn said competence into true danger without guidance. His was the way of following orders and executing them in perfection. This was one of the things that Sarova truly admired about him and the Primeval remnants at large.

They were complicated in their lack of complication.

Sarova was ambition and hunger. She had always wanted more. More knowledge, more information, more training and more practice, but now that was somewhat over.

Oh, she realized there was still much to learn, but she equally realized it was time to learn by actually doing something with what she had already learned. It had been a pleasant surprise to learn (a recurring theme, yes?) that right at the same moment the Galaxy was bountiful with opportunities and possibilities.

The Primeval Fleet was only a segment of her overarching ambition.

"We may begin." The Lady Cerbera finally said, and the Qo’saarai Tuk’ata nodded before leaving the room.

Soon he would return with Catalys and this operation could truly begin.

 

[Catalys Maijora]

It was true, Catalys had in his hands an opportunity to usurp power many times over, but he never did. No; instead the Umbaran--a race known for their enigmatic ambitions--was far from the opportunistic type. Which may have very well seemed to be the opposite case. He's served the Primeval, only to watch it crumble into dust. He aided the One Sith only to watch it descend into Civil War, and he aligned with the Triumvirate, only to witness them wither into stagnation.

He of all people seemed to be a common denominator, a power broker whose sole act is to exert his own influence in ways that eventually ruin those he works for. A power broker he truly is, though, whether or not he intends to be one. The Primeval Fleet is amongst he most valuable assets in the galaxy. A military machine whose successes have led to the defeats of the Mandalorians, the Republic, and the Silver Jedi amongst others. Feats not easily forgotten in a galaxy where power seems to be the name of the game.

Catalys followed the Qo'saari Tuk'ata back into the operating room, wearing his armour as usual. It was very rare to see the man without it; even the helmet seemed stuck on. "Shall we begin?" The agent wasn't much for small talk. They both knew why they were each here, and the sooner they achieved that objective, the better.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Catalys Maijora"]

"And so we shall. Sit here, please."

Cerita indicated the chair next to her. It was a specialized surgery table, really, with clamps for the hands and feet - not that she expected him to struggle on purpose, but with the procedure they were about to start… some involuntary movements were not out of the question. Oh, she would knock him out and work on him while he was unconscious, sure.

But once you got deep enough the body reacted on its own merits.

Something to do with the nerve endings, the Force and Sith Alchemy. It was annoying, but that was the payment for subverting the natural process of nature and instill your own order of things, there was always a price.

The clamps locked themselves in place once Catalys got comfortable.

"I developed a gas that should be compatible with your Umbaran physiology. It will knock you right out, so you shouldn’t feel a thing from the procedure."

A click and his helmet disengaged, opening Catalys up to the exterior atmosphere. This had also been the reason for the lights dimming a few moments ago.

Umbarans really had sensitive ocular workings.

Wanted to incapacitate one? Just blast them with some heavy light shows and you are practically done.

The gas would be led into his system in a few moments. Then they could truly start the operation.

 

[Catalys Maijora]

Catalys complied with her wishes, remaining silent throughout.

Pain? It was a nice change, surely, to be told "get comfortable," and explained that there's a gas designed to handle the rest. The Primeval had the resources, but not the will to work into such levels of procedure. It wasn't an ignorance for science, certainly. Many of their weapons were pushing the boundaries of known technology. It was the principles of it all that they obeyed. Pain had an almost mystical nature to it, on a philosophical level it meant much for warriors. Pain was a challenge.

When the helmet exposed his visage, the Umbaran took in a deep breath of the natural air. It was some time since he tasted it. Sterile it was, and with a faint odor of bacteria-killing chemicals filling his nostrils. Surgical. His eyes glanced about which way, eyeing the dim lights above. Then a few moments later, the gas began to do its work. He couldn't even recall the few moments leading up to passing out.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Catalys Maijora"]

The reason why the knock-out gas was used was quite simple.

Pain was an useful tool at times, but usually - often - it caused a certain fragmentation and break of the subject’s psyche. This could be beneficial, it could be even an additional objective of an experiment in some cases, but that wasn’t what Cerita was after here.

True, she didn’t need Maijora completely sane.

But it was definitely something that would be more helpful to her. He was intelligent and had a keen strategic mind for battle and operations - these were values that could not easily be discarded.

Or found in other people, for that matter.

After hours of experimenting, cutting and sawing and sewing and replacing, it was done.

Wake up, Maijora.

He would feel stronger, definitely. Breathing would come easier and the taste of the air suddenly gave him more sensory data.

How do you feel?

[member="Catalys Maijora"]

 

[Catalys Maijora]

"Different." He wasn't one for fancy words.

It offered no less of an answer to her successes than any combination of words could have. Straight to the point--precisely what business - at least her business - is all about. Catalys slowly allowed his torso to rise over his legs, before those too slid off the operating table planted themselves firmly onto the floor below. Standing wasn't easy, the effects of the gas still lingered, but there were many new feelings and senses he had established.

The executor could only describe it as a 'buzz,' which he felt. A fuzzy feeling in his brain which shifted in tones and measurements upon analyzing the subtle intake of knowledge that otherwise would've been missed. Unpleasant, but practical. Her work was satisfactory and time would likely prove it effective, too. "What are my orders?" His pale eyes stared sharply into hers--it wasn't determination she saw, but an insomnia.

Too long did Catalys wait for such an opportunity. The One Sith were weakened by a reclusive Dark Lord and uncooperative hands and voices. The Triumvirate lacked the resolve, and wasted far too many resources. Including those who founded it in the first place. Where the Primeval fell short in Anja's death, he sought to continue his work in the service of someone new. Someone equally determined, talented, and relentless. Perhaps it was a reaction to her good work, but the former agent saw all three of those qualities in [member="Cerita Sarova"].

He wished for nothing more than to aid this woman in her plans, and provide every amount of talent and resource he commanded to do so. Should he fall, then he would fall admirably, but that didn't mean he wouldn't use those same efforts to survive; for survival was all he had anymore.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Catalys Maijora"]

"Come." Sarova responded after a moment, this time out loud. There was no need for telepathy when the subject was able to speak and hear on his own at this junction.

"I will show you."

It was several minutes while they walked through the facility on Arporatal-Lanin. It was the homeworld to the similarly-named Arpor-Lan, humanoids who had been enslaved to the Noble Houses of the Senex-Juvex sectors for as long as their history could remember. It was here that her initial plan would start.

Farther down and down it went. The topside of the facility was just a small outpost of AEI, contracted to take specimens of the local fauna and flora, but there was more downside, so much more.

"The Senex-Juvex sector has potential, many worlds, many cultures. Knowledge, population, natural resources. They have it all... and yet it's squandered, made useless by decadent noble houses." She shared with him, until they walked into a... command center, of sorts. It was filled with expensive-looking equipment and a central system that was projecting the world they were on, right now.

"We are going to subvert the efforts of these noble houses and turn the Senex-Juvex sector into something of worth. Beginning here. House Pilor has claimed this portion of the sector and rule it from Pirralor."

As she spoke the map in the center of the room shifted to accommodate. Extra information on the house was given, next to the image.

 

[Catalys Maijora]

"Subversion is a difficult game. We conducted it on Irn to weaken resistance in the wake of our invasion; less resources wasted on subjugation." His experience with the Primeval was certainly an asset in its own.

Not everyone agreed with the Host Lord's tactics, but it was hard to deny that the Primeval was a well oiled machine when it needed to be. Unwavering in her defense, domineering in any assault, and victorious throughout wars even when the odds seemed unlikely. Catalys' eyes scanned the map, he was beginning to indulge his attuned - and new - senses. It took some getting used to, but the results were already positive.

With the information he had now gained, he made a base assessment: "Sectors rely heavily on inter-world trade. I suggest manipulating that, first, buy out a shipping line." It was a subtler tactic, but it would allow them to easily understand the full logistics of each player on the board. Trade was a necessity, and through necessities the true colours show; they can find out precisely what each powerholder needs on their world.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Catalys Maijora"]

New-found appreciation bloomed.

In all honesty a part of Ceri had been marginally worried about the retainment of his mental faculties. It was a simple surgery, at least for her, but there were always unforeseen consequences - like his taste buds giving out, suddenly not being able to see in colors, it could be anything or it could be nothing. That was the trouble with Sith Alchemy on the best of days.

It was quite... unwilling to keep to a baseline of expectations.

"Do you have a suggestion?" The map zoomed out towards the sector itself. The trade lanes started lighting up- the ones that were most important in deep, blue hues and the ones that were less important dimmer and more transparent. "My intention is to stay in the Juvex sector for now- it's wholly depended on the slave trade and its industry is woefully undeveloped in comparison to their siblings in the Senex Sector."

Pirralor - K'ath - Talhovi - Little Talhovi - Thuli's Vault - Arporatal-Lanin.

That was the lane system that caught her eye. It was remote enough not to arise too much suspicion from the other houses and the Noble House presiding it had a lot of money issues.

 

[Catalys Maijora]

Catalys crossed his arms behind his back, clasping his hands along the backs of his wrists.

"I see it," he confirmed what caught her eye had also captured his. "Should we use proxy companies? I have some contacts remaining, if you'd prefer none of this ties back to you." The Primeval's involvement in underhanded deals is no new phenomenon--balancing power in the underworld was essential to maintaining open access to back channels. That offered a certain security blanket should anyone be sniffing around.

No solution is perfect. This wasn't going to be a lossless scenario. In fact; if they had to worry about anything it'd be complacency. Looking upon an easy profit often allowed the reality of its challenges to fall out of plain sight.

The agent's eyes remained fixed on the map. He looked it over again, again, and again. Ensuring that not a single dot marking stars went amiss.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Catalys Maijora"]

She pondered on that for a moment, before shaking her head.

"No, I think I have a better idea." A gesture of her hand caused the solid-state holograph of the map to be swiped a bit to the left, just enough room to add an additional map to the whole. This time it was a map of the Elrood Sector and there was a pulse coming from the Almaran system, curiously enough there seemed to be an additional hyperspace lane coming from that system.

Anyone familiar with the Elrood Sector knew that Almar only had one hyperlane, which was directly connected to the Torina system.

And yet here it was. A new lane connecting Almar directly to the Coyn system.

"We have recently acquired a controlling interest in a cartel that was operating the Almaran system- we are currently reforming it into a modest trading company, nothing as fancy or huge as Arceneau Trade, of course." She took one look at the screen again.

"But I think it's just modest enough that the Noble House of Pilor won't be especially threatened, if it were to offer funds to pull them out of their economic malaise."

 

[Catalys Maijora]

"And my role?" He could conjecture, but such as meaningless when the clarity of detailed orders were made apparent.

This was certainly out of Catalys' nature. He had led elite field units, commanded specialized fleets, and even hunted down members of the Jedi Order. This subterfuge wasn't his game, but it wasn't a game he was unfamiliar with, either. A matter of time in his eyes--his now quite opened eyes, thanks to the surgical genius of his new-found employer.

Still, as he spoke to her his gaze remained locked on that which she saw. He wanted to see the very thoughts that ran through her mind, to understand how what she looked at sparked in her head to invoke plans and intrigue. To know how best he could serve her, and thus himself in the end.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Catalys Maijora"]

"The issue is this: the nobility of Juvex-Senex are arrogant, decadent and above all xenophobes. They hate and look down on outsiders." She clarified, before bringing up an image of the current head of the House Pilor, a Duke by the name of Arfash. "And those who are desperate for money... who are impoverished are even worse, because they have something to prove."

"No, they need to prove the validity of their bloodline. So whilst the modest nature of the trading company will be a boon in the later portions of the deal, it currently makes it unlikely he will want to do business with us."

Again a gesture, the focus to the lane between Resti Kel and Pirralor.

"This lane is the lifeblood of Pirralor right now. It - and substantial loans from the Muuns of the Banking Clans - are all that keeps Arfash afloat right now. I want you to make him desperate, desperate enough to forego requesting aid from his fellow noble Houses and desperate enough to sell the lane, if it means getting out of the situation."

 

[Catalys Maijora]

"I heard piracy is still a growing market, and has began to expand its way to new systems." He knew what had to be done.

Piracy was expensive business. Escorts, faster and better trade ships, marines... If the risk outweighed the profits, then selling wouldn't even be a matter of choice at that point. The Primeval aren't pirates, but how could one forget the likes of [member="Kuryr"] whose piracy had aided the Primeval before.

Catalys finally turned his visage towards his master. "There are pirate fleets who still know the taste of our power, and remember what it's like to reap the benefits. They will answer." He proclaimed, his tone was unusually unpitched. Each word came naturally to him, with a sense of resurgent clarity.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Catalys Maijora"]

"I will leave you to it then." In truth Cerita wasn't completely familiar with guerrilla warfare and pirate tactics. She knew the theories behind it, having read up about it beforehand to figure out if it was a viable option- but reading a bunch of theories and action reports wasn't the same as actually having experience in it.

So in her mind it was better to leave it to the experts.

"If there is anything you need, let me know."

With that she considered their conversation over, unless he brought up something else. Ceri descended the stairs towards one of the computer frames, starting to work through the information available to them.

Inherently it was important to have more options open to them. Yes, the purchase of the trading lane was crucial in their plan, but they needed more than that- they needed a foothold in their economy. So she started looking into the homegrown companies currently working on the worlds around the trade lane.

That's where they would start next.

 

[Catalys Maijora]

"Understood."

There was nothing further for him to say. All that he needed which he didn't have was what she provided, and the rest would come in time.

The Primeval Fleet had resources; it served a purpose that went beyond what people thought of an organisation of zealots. Methodical in its approach, each and every starship served a clear purpose in their directive. Plans and strategies could be executed with surgical precision, and battles which might last days would take hours, or months turning to a week. They didn't need grand strategy or in-depth campaigns to follow.

They struck their target where it hurt most, and forced them into negotiations or total defeat.

After she had ventured off into her own lair, Catalys did the same--he returned to his flagship orbiting above, and began preparations for his plan.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Little Talhovi, Talhovi, Thull's Vault, Arporatal-Lanin, K'ath, Pirralor.

Those were the worlds on the trading lane they were purchasing.

It only took Cerita a moment to pull in the information they had on each world. This was important, because they needed to know what these worlds were about first, before they could localize the best ways to subvert Pilor's power here.

Little Talhovi and K'ath were the principle agriculture worlds of this portion of space. K'ath had been worked for a long period of time, whilst Talhovi's little brother had come later. But now they were integral towards supplying food for the rest of the sector - not indispensable, but if they were taken out... that would make things far more difficult for Juvex. Which meant they should look into partnering and buying into the farms that worked out there.

That kind of leverage would be indispensable later on.

Talhovi the Greater... different story altogether. Apparently it once hosted the House Mekuun, at least before it decided to dissolve itself in the hope that the Republic would pick them up again. It produced the famous Talhovian Ale and had very thick ties with Little Talhovi, with most of the agriculture companies having their administration done there.

Arporatal-Lanin had lumber, mining and most importantly the Arpor-Lan. They were famous for their ability as scouts, spies and their adeptness as recon units. All slaves, of course, directly under Pilor- she was still trying to figure out how exactly to leverage it, but obviously they couldn't stay slaves.

The Houses of Senex-Juvex might be blind towards the developments outside their sector, but Ceri was not. The Alliance would never allow the practice to continue.

 

[Catalys Maijora]

Catalys found himself surrounded by officers and tactical analysts once more. Except this time they weren't preparing to campaign against the Mandalorians, Silver Jedi, or even the distant Republic.

No--they would be fighting a new enemy, in a different kind of war, and it would test his preparedness through and through. "How many of Kuryr's men remain loyal?" He inquired. Since the disappearance of their pirate warlord, many of his followers have withered away into the empty reaches of space long since past them. However; there were always loyalists--people who believed in the goals they once tied themselves too.

Those were the pirates he needed, the ones who still believed the Primeval had something to offer them, something worthy of asking few questions.

"We're pinging them now, Dark-Net channels have been silent but the Rift is alive with chatter." Using their private network, they scanned the stars of old Primeval space for any signs of their dormant power. It would take time before they received any answers, and more time before they could even find themselves in this part of the galaxy, but now his plan was underway.

[member="Cerita Sarova"]

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Catalys Maijora"]

Time was exactly what Cerita needed.

Time to figure out how best to move around assets, to cover up money trails and to make things seem less... suspicious. It was a big Galaxy, the Houses of Senex/Juvex were more concerned with their own problems than anything else, but if there was one thing that would rouse them from their slumber it would be a sudden movement of foreigners into their territory.

They had bad experiences with that -- the last time a Warlord originating from the Galactic Republic had cast down one of their own with more modern technology, broke away from the sector and joined the Republic.

Of course, throughout the Dark Ages they had managed to retrieve those lost worlds again, if only for the fact that said part of the sector was no longer able to count on the Republic for help. But it was still a very much sensitive subjects among them.

"Dregl?" The Herglic rose himself from his slumber -- he had been sleeping in a nearby chair, the others silently bustling around them whenever they needed to move through the command center. She didn't blame him for the need for sleep, she had been driving him hard these days, what with ATC and the like.

"mmhmrrmauuum, yes?"

"Can you check these numbers for me? I am trying to figure out of I am not making a mistake."