Private Political Ambitions

[Makai Dashiell]

ENARC

Wearing : X | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Dominic Praxon

Makai had planned the meeting out carefully. Even down to his appearance, taking a more casual look by losing his tie and dropping a button. Normally such thought did not go into a meeting with politicians. His father was more in that realm than himself. Yet today he had to give a look of quiet casual, a man of the people. Not a man who had grown up in wealth, not a man who had Danger Arceneau in his contact list on his datapad since the age of four. Appearances may make or break this day. This meeting.

Not that Makai considered himself a person that needed to put on a persona. He found too many did that in all walks of life. Yet in order to grease the wheels of progress, sometimes one had to do things that made them uncomfortable. Today would be no different.

Pushing into Royal Naboo Republic space, there was some pushback from the local governments. The local citizens. Some were smaller miners and gemstone dealers worried about being pushed out of favor. Others worried about environmental concerns. Noise. Aesthetics. The implication Enarc would become a filthy mining colony. That one amused him the most.

Aina Holdings had kept a close eye on the rumblings of the citizens of Enarc,as was done on any other planet they wanted to expand to or already had a presence on. Makai was here today to personally ensure the higher ups in government didn't feel the same way as their people. From what he had heard there was a re-election fundraising campaign for the Senator he was to meet today. While not his first choice, a small donation to the campaign could grease the wheels of progress. If it came to it. The half-Galan would have to feel out this Senator.

Legs crossed in the comfortable chair as he waited in the lobby, revealing a pair of jellyfish socks under his navy trousers. Couldn't be completely serious all the time, after all.

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Dominic had spoken to the assistant just outside the chamber doors, lowering his voice as he produced the sleek identification plaque nestled in the inner pocket of his jacket. The emblem of the Royal Naboo Republic glinted subtly beneath the polished transparisteel coating, accompanied by the personal sigil of Senator Calia Vonn. It was enough. The aide nodded and stepped aside, granting him entry.

He stepped into the waiting room with quiet, deliberate grace.

The man waiting, seated and clad in navy with socks that offered a splash of character, was unmistakably Makai Dashiell. Dominic had reviewed the dossier on the way over—half-Galan, heir to Aina Holdings, and known for being difficult to read. That made two of them.

"Master Dashiell," Dominic greeted, offering a refined but not overly stiff bow of the head as he approached. His tone was smooth, measured—polished without losing its sincerity. "I apologize for the change in arrangements. Senator Vonn is currently engaged with representatives from Aluride Prospecting and asked me to meet with you in her stead."

He extended a hand, gloved in dark synthleather. "Dominic Trozky. Official liaison to the Senator for external development affairs. I’ve been asked to convey the Republic’s position and to listen—carefully. Shall we?"

There was the faintest curve at the corner of his lips. Not quite a smile. More an indication of readiness—and perhaps curiosity.

Makai Dashiell​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

ENARC

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Dominic Praxon

Standing, Makai reached a hand out greet the aide who introduced himself as Dominic Praxon. He wasn't one for bowing, but it might have been a local custom he wasn't aware of. Or something held over from the man's homeworld. A handshake would be perfectly fine in his eyes.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mister Trozky." A small pause. "Please, take a seat."

It truly was. What was not a pleasure? Being pushed off on an aide. Liaison. Unpaid intern. It sent a clear message that Aluride Prospecting was more valued than Aina Holdings.

The half-Galan settled back into the plush leather. His back was against the comfortable rest, legs crossed once again, his gaze steady in the man across from him. Makai didn't know much about Mister Trozky but it didn't matter. His approach would be similar to that he was going to take with Senator Vonn until he knew more.

"Before we get into the Republic's official position on business, I'd like to know more about you. Married? Have kids? Whats your homeworld? What brought you into politics? What university did you attend? Just to break the ice. There is no need to make this a mere business transaction."

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Dominic met the handshake with a firm grip—controlled, confident. He eased down into the seat opposite Makai with the same quiet poise that preceded him, movements precise but unhurried.

"Dominic Trozky of House Praxon," he said plainly, folding one leg over the other. The name was not a flourish, but a weight laid carefully between them. Not a boast—just a reminder. One Makai, sharp as he was reputed to be, would not need explained.

A faint smile played at the corner of his mouth. Not warm, but not cold either. Simply knowing.

"I've found that personal disclosures, when offered too quickly, have a way of reshaping a conversation before it's truly begun. And not always to anyone's benefit." His tone was thoughtful, unbothered. "Some prefer to paint their own assumptions. It keeps things... educational."

There was a moment of stillness as he observed the man across from him. Makai Dashiell was not hiding his irritation—subtle though it was—and Dominic wasn't about to soothe it.

"You say you want this to be more than a transaction," he continued, eyes narrowing slightly—not confrontational, but focused. "That implies you suspect the Republic—or perhaps the Senator herself—has reason to treat it as one. You're not entirely wrong."

He leaned in slightly, elbows resting lightly on his knee.

"But then, sincerity in a suit this well-cut is a rare thing. So let's test the premise. You've got the floor, Mister Dashiell. I'll let you know which parts the Senator might want to hear."

Makai Dashiell​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

ENARC

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Dominic Praxon

"No."

If Mister Trozky didn't want to play the game, then he wouldn't be either. His tone was neutral, there was no malice or ill-intent behind his words. More the realization of what he was up against. Mister Trozky wasn't interested in forging a relationship to remain in place beyond today. Makai was merely being screened and then he would be released into the world, most likely with a generic call back weeks from now from another aide.

To be honest, he didn't need the Senator. It was his idea to go straight to the top rather than deal with local government. It appeared that he should have went to local government first, gauged reaction, and strategized from there.

"You aren't interested in this meeting, Mister Trozky. Its clear you would rather be anywhere than here. With that being said, why don't you tell me what the Republic desires from business organizations and I can give you an answer if I am still interested. Its clear there is no need to drag this any further than needed."

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Dominic didn’t react at first. He let the silence stretch, gaze level, as if weighing the merit of Makai’s bluntness rather than recoiling from it. Then—finally—a small nod, a soft exhale through the nose. A shift in the air.

"Good," he said at last. "It’s rare anyone calls the game early. Rarer still that they do so without storming out."

There was something almost warm about the way he said it. Not an apology—Dominic didn't traffic in those—but a gesture. Acknowledge the jab, offer a hand. The duel could end here.

"You’re right, Mister Dashiell. I’m not here to make friends or entertain small talk about bloodlines and boarding schools. But I’m not disinterested, either."

He leaned back in his chair, one leg still crossed, fingers folding loosely in his lap.

"Enarc is seated at a junction point on the Veils. Not a hub, not yet—but one tributary spike away from being something much more valuable. Senator Vonn knows it. So do I. And I suspect a man in your position does too, or you wouldn’t have risked coming here ahead of your competitors."

Dominic’s gaze sharpened just slightly.

"Which is why I’d prefer not to lose your interest. Nor see you waste time barking up a dead tree if your proposal doesn’t align with what the Republic needs."

He gave a slight tilt of the head, as if inviting Makai to take it seriously this time.

"The Senator has a vision—long-term, stability-minded, publicly defensible. That vision includes investment, yes. Jobs. Infrastructure. But not scorched earth. Not subsidies for disruption disguised as development."

His voice dropped ever so slightly—more personal now.

"And yes, she listens to me. On matters like these, very closely."

He allowed a moment of silence to linger.

"So. If you’re still interested... tell me what Aina Holdings sees when they look at Enarc. And what you're prepared to build that lasts."

Makai Dashiell​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

ENARC

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Dominic Praxon

Makai looked amused as Mister Trozky mentioned 'bloodlines' and 'boarding schools', as if he had lived a life of boarding schools and skiing holidays on Alderaan. Quite the stereotypical stretch and it just cemented the fact that actually spending the beginning of a meeting getting to know someone was beneficial. All he could do was be privately amused - something he was confident the other man never had been.

Staying in his relaxed position, Makai wasn't worried. There were other ways to get what he needed. Longer. Unnecessary. Yet still there were routes ahead of him. This was like throwing darts. The half-Galan would get as close as possible and let fate go from there. It was all he could do in this moment.

"Naturally. A Senator should be concerned and have clear vision for the planet they represent."

A small pause and he tapped his fingers on the armrest, thinking.

"Mining is not a flash in the pan business. It takes some time to map the resources. To decide where to build and how to mine. Impacts to the environment. To the planet itself. Even extraction, depending on substrate type, can be slow. I have some mines that are mined by sentient and droid workers ; there's never an easy solution. All this to say, Mister Trozky, this is not something to take lightly. To enter into lightly."

Looking around for water or whisky, he didn't see any, and kept speaking.

"Aina Holdings is looking to expand for the long-term in the reaches of the Royal Naboo Republic. We would like to mine on Enarc but also make Enarc our regional base and distribution. Your Senator can get on board or get left behind. The shift in the galaxy is the perfect time to expand our reach. I would hate to see Enarc get left behind."

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Dominic didn’t blink at the subtle threat. He’d heard worse—wrapped in prettier language.

Instead, he sat still for a breath, his expression unreadable. One finger slowly traced the crease of his glove, then paused.

"I appreciate that you’re not making any illusions about what this is," he said finally. "The Republic gets too many proposals veiled in sentimentalism. 'Helping communities' and 'reviving local pride'—phrases that disappear the moment the cargo ships load up and leave."

He met Makai’s eyes evenly.

"But you’re not asking for a dig site. You’re asking for an anchor. A footprint in this region’s future. That’s different. That’s… bigger."

A quiet beat passed. Then a faint, almost imperceptible nod.

"You’re correct. Enarc is in danger of being overlooked. Not because it lacks value—but because it has not yet had someone make the case that its value belongs to more than one ledger."

He reached into his coat, producing a datapad from a hidden inner pocket. His fingers tapped twice on its side, and the device softly flickered to life.

"Aina Holdings is not the only company interested in the sector. But it is one of the few with the capacity for long-term integration, not just exploitation. If you're serious about establishing a base of operations here—one with sustainability baked into its infrastructure, workforce equity, and a commitment to non-disruption along sacred sites and ecological zones—then I believe Senator Vonn would be interested in reviewing a formal proposal."

He slid the datapad across the low table between them—not dismissively, but deliberately.

"Timing is everything, Mister Dashiell. We both know how volatile the Veils have become. Those who build wisely now will be remembered when the dust settles. And those who don’t..."

A small shrug followed, half-shade, half-invitation.

"Well. Let’s just say not every story survives the retelling."

Makai Dashiell​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

ENARC

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Dominic Praxon

Iced azure gaze fell to the datapad that was slid between them with zero explanation. Makai stared for a long moment, gaze flicking between the datapad and Mister Trozky, as if to discern the message. It was one he didn't understand, nor would he be entertaining. The half-Galan was certain the other thought he was better than.

Fine by him, but Makai didn't play into the type of games these types normally commanded.

If Enarc didn't work, his gaze was already on Lohopa. A mining colony world with smaller restrictions. Currently not much in the way of pompous government officials from what he could tell, which was a bonus. If he was going to be making an investment into the Royal Naboo Republic, Makai wanted to be a sound one. One that was going to give Aina Holdings the returns they were looking for.

"If Senator Vonn is interested in reviewing a proposal she can contact me. I came today to be seen by the Senator and it has become clear how little she values my time."

Makai paused.

"Anything else, Mister Trozky?"

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Dominic remained composed, though there was the faintest twitch at the corner of his jaw—a private recognition that the conversation had shifted more sharply than he’d intended. His hazel eyes followed Makai’s rejection of the datapad without flinching. No flourish, no retort.

Instead, he inclined his head—just slightly.

"There’s been a misunderstanding, Mister Dashiell," he said calmly, his voice tempered now with the smooth tone of someone setting a blade back into its sheath. "I speak with the full confidence of Senator Vonn. Not as an errand boy, nor a screen. What you say to me here today is as good as saying it directly to her."

A pause, long enough to soften the air between them.

"The Senator had two scheduled appointments this afternoon—both considered of equal weight and urgency. The only reason she did not greet you herself is due to a rather undramatic split in location. A logistical decision. Nothing more."

His hands folded in front of him on the table, posture open now.

"There is no disrespect meant, and none taken from your response. If the roles were reversed, I’d likely feel the same."

He offered the faintest smile—measured but not cold.

"If your interest in Enarc is sincere, then you have my attention. And hers. The Republic’s stance on development must be clear, yes, but it does not exist to turn away enterprise. Only to guide it."

He gestured lightly to the datapad between them—not insisting, simply indicating.

"You are free to walk away. That’s your right. But should you wish to move forward, this is not a dismissal. It’s an open door—one the Senator will walk through personally should a path worth treading appear."

Makai Dashiell​

 

[Makai Dashiell]

Wearing | Gear : X | X | X | X | X | L3-37 | Interacting With : Dominic Praxon

Makai sighed, picking up the datapad that Mister Trozky kept indicating to. A bit unprofessional in his eyes, he could have been handed the datapad and perhaps introduced what exactly was queued up in front of him. Just seemed common practice in such a setting. Yet he couldn't be too difficult ; he was working with politicians. He couldn't expect them to actually think like a businessman.

Eyebrow raised at the 'Senator Vonn walking through the door personally' should an opportunity appear. Another thing he didn't believe.

"I'll be sure to send the proposal over." Makai was still reading the datapad, slowly skimming for any key issues he could catch now. "It might give yourself and Senator Vonn more time to read it..."

He wasn't counting on them reading it.

"Any further questions?"

 

[Dominic Praxon]

Dominic gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod as Makai responded. He offered no correction, no last attempt to salvage authority—just a quiet acknowledgement that the opportunity had slipped further than intended.

"Understood," he said, simply.

He remained seated as Makai reviewed the datapad, but his gaze drifted—briefly—to the far side of the chamber where the window glass caught the late light. Naboo skies, brushed in coral and pearl. Even beauty had deadlines.

"No further questions. I thank you for your time, Master Dashiell. I’ll ensure your proposal reaches the Senator’s desk directly."

There was nothing else to say, really. No grand gesture. Just protocol.

As the silence began to fill the space again, Dominic allowed himself a quiet thought—one he would not speak aloud, not here.

Nobles weren’t businessmen. And businessmen didn’t care for nobles. He should remember that.

He’d come into the meeting thinking the family name would carry the tone. But names were weight—and Makai Dashiell had shown up expecting clarity, not ceremony.

Next time, he told himself, remember which language the room is speaking. He stood after a beat, offering a final incline of his head. Measured. Composed.

And this time, he left without another word.

Makai Dashiell​