Retainer

[Valerie Rein]

Cato Neimoidia
[member="Melvand Zrimmir"]

Vee stood quietly on the edge of the ship's ramp, her eyes slowly wandering across the landing pad that they had been directed to. She had left most of her weapons behind on her ship, though there was still a blaster pistol strapped to her thigh just in case. Neimoidians generally weren't known for their tendencies of violence, but even they could get upset when you told them something they didn't want to hear.

Not that she expected that to happen today.

She was here to make a detail, one that would prove quite lucrative if it went through. The Lost had been ambling around the galaxy for some time now, taking minor jobs and doing what they could to scrape together funds. The deal that was on the table today would get them a permanent and more constant source of revenue, something that they desperately needed if they were ever going to expand.

Vee knew that, it was why she had volunteered for this.

The Anaxes war college hadn't exactly covered Business courses, but she was experienced enough in politics to at least deal with this.

She shifted slightly, removing her helmet and strapping it to her back. The Neimoidian would likely be inside, at least Vee hoped so. She wasn't exactly in a rush, but the quicker they could wrap this up the quicker she could get back to what she was good at.

 

[Melvand Zrimmir]

Zrimmir was sitting at his desk, reviewing the latest financial quarter reports. Business had been good, very good in fact. ZUBU had grown 8% in the last three months, a very high number. But that was finance, it could as quickly go away as it had come, so Zrimmir had to be careful. Not only in business, but in how he stepped. As ZUBU's and Zrimmir's personal investments and foreign assets grew, so did the number of people's toes Zrimmir stepped on did. ZUBU and Zrimmir needed protection, permanent protection, but ZUBU wasn't in anyway related to military arms, droids, or mercenaries, so outside help was needed. It was why he had contacted The Lost. Well trained military contractors, and ones at a discounted cost for the relative newness to the scene of the private sector. Just what he needed.

When he received the notification that they had arrived, he stood up briskly and made his way out of the ZUBU headquarters to the private launchpad his company owned. Escorted by another Neimoidian, whose clothing deceptively described him as just any banking official or company, who had been hired many years ago as Zrimmir's personal bodyguard. The Neimoidian carried a blaster beneath his robes.

Now only a few meters away from [member="Valerie Rein"], Zrimmir held out his arms and spoke, "I presume you are a representative of the Lost?"

 

[Valerie Rein]

[member="Melvand Zrimmir"]

"I am." Valeria answered, a slight hint of distaste on her expression.

She understood the need for diversity when it came to clientele, but she'd been raised to think...a certain way. Aliens, including Neimoidians, weren't exactly what she would call good company. Still, she would keep her mouth shut on this occasion. Especially if this slime could fund their operations for another few months. Money went did a great deal to overcome even the largest of obstacles, including indoctrinated xenophobia. She would just have to be careful with how she spoke.

"The Captain sent me." She explained. "He thought it would be better than showing up in force."

Her shuttle of course had two of her companions aboard it. Both waiting to strike if something happened, but she doubted that would be necessary. The Neimoidian had reached out to them specifically because of their reputation. They were a serious bunch, and die hard when it came to fighting for their clients.

In this line of work all you had was your reputation. "What do you require of us?"

 

[Melvand Zrimmir]

After her very dampened response, Zrimmir dropped the smile and the loofness in his voice, and replied unemotionally,

"I requested your presence to seek out a deal between our two companies. My bank is in need of protection, and not just temporarily. I was intent on hiring your company on retainer, so that when Zooboo needs your protection, we pay a pre-set price and you're there. If you will follow me, I will explain more inside."

Zrimmir, not waiting for an answer, turned on his heel and led [member="Valerie Rein"] into his banking headquarters. They would walk through hallways littered with Neimoidian bankers, administrators, bureaucrats, security guards, clerks, tellers, and every other profession a bank would need. Then a quick stint through the lobby and into another hallway, leading to a private turbolift. Once on, the turbolift, after a few codes inputted by Zrimmir, would open into an average sized conference room with every wall but the wall from which the turbolift opened were covered in windows. Zrimmir would finally take a seat at the far end of the table, and motion for Rein to do the same,

"Please, sit."

 

[Valerie Rein]

[member="Melvand Zrimmir"]

Vee did as she was bid, her gaze flowing along the angles and corners of the room. A part of her wondered if this was some kind of trap, but she knew that would likely just be pointless paranoia. She had been brought here to make a deal, and killing her wouldn't gain the Neimoidian anything. Though the Lost were professional soldiers they were hardly famous yet. Many knew about them, but only second-hand. Eventually that would change, but for now there was no point in killing them.

"I'm sure we can come to an accord." The trooper said as she sat herself down, shifting slightly as she set her helmet onto the table in front of her.

Negotiations would likely be short. The Neimoidian would want a good price, and Vee would give it. All they needed was enough funding to pay for their fuel, repairs. Before they had defected things had been easier, everything was seen to by the Empire but now...now they had to pay for ti all themselves. After a while it racked up in cost, especially for an entire Star Destroyer.

She leaned back and looked at the Neimpoian expectantly.

There wouldn't be much of a pitch, just a more detailed layout of what the man actually wanted.

 

[Melvand Zrimmir]

"I'm sure we can," Said Zrimmir before he set up.

There wasn't much to show, but he'd show it nonetheless. Payment figures. What the mercenaries would be paid on standby, in action, extra pay, etcetera. After a few moments of inputting commands into the console, a hologram popped up, displaying the payment figures. With that established, Zrimmir leaned forward, and spoke directly,

"Essentially, I would have The Lost on a limited pay roll, regardless of action, and if I required you for rather routine work, there would be a sort of 'bonus'. If you come into combat during one of those routine missions, the bonus would hike up, and if I required you for a mission that will knowingly involve combat, the base pay for the bonus would be much higher. Now I will pay for 60% of losses if your company faces any on my missions, such as casualties and equipment losses. If your company performs an action beyond my call of duty, I will pay an extra fee. How do these terms sound to you, trooper?"

Not knowing her rank, name, or really much about the uniform she wore, he resigned to the title trooper. He gazed disapprovingly upon [member="Valerie Rein"]'s poor stature during the meeting, but he couldn't blame it on the person, just their upbringing. Soldiers were a little too low brow for the likes of Melvand Zrimmir.

 

[Valerie Rein]

[member="Melvand Zrimmir"]

Financials had never been her strong suite, but after a moment of thinking about it she found the numbers agreeable at least. There was no telling just how much trouble the Neimoidian would get into, but she somehow doubted it would take very many resources to protect him.

She leaned back for a second. "Would you want a permanent guard?"

Vee glanced towards the other Neimoidian that had accompanied the man earlier. She wasn't fool enough to not see how the man had carried himself. She knew that even the Neimoidian's had soldiers, even though theres was a species better known for avoiding combat. She shifted slightly, glancing back towards Melvand.

"A dozen of us or so permanently stationed with you." The Lost was made up of ex-Imperials. Stormtroopers, Special Forces, Scout Troopers, and even some Imperial Royal Guard. Placing some of them with Melvand would likely be fortuitous.

 

[Melvand Zrimmir]

Zrimmir perked up at [member="Valerie Rein"]'s suggestion. He hadn't considered that, a permanent guard of their men. That would prove beneficial no doubt, to always have well trained soldiers protecting Zrimmir and Zooboo assets. He'd definitely take the Lost up on their offer,

"Yes, I believe that would be more than satisfactory. A permanent guard of perhaps, fifteen soldiers? Would that work for your company?"

Zrimmir had heard they had a few large assets, but he wasn't entirely sure just how many the Lost had, and how many they could spare full time.

 

[Valerie Rein]

[member="Melvand Zrimmir"]

"That will do." Fifteen wasn't much, though half of that would just have to be regular troopers.

As far as personal guards went that was still saying quite a bit. Stormtroopers, no matter what Empire they came from, were trained to be an elite. It was the reason why The Lost made any money at all, they had the reputation of dozens of factions behind them. It helped that people like her were there too, but she wasn't about to get all egotistical about it. Leaning back in her chair she drummed her fingers for a moment, then nodded her head.

"I have five troopers with me now." Just in case. "I'll leave them here with you and send the others once I return to the ship."

It was the fastest way to gain Melvand what he wanted. "Acceptable?"

 

[Melvand Zrimmir]

Zrimmir thought for a moment than sat up and nodded,

"Yes, I believe so."

Tapping a few buttons on his console, he brought up a message give to him by The Lost, after he had requested them, just on his personal display screen, he nodded again, and said,

"I believe the price your company gave me in reply to my request a few days ago, is more than fair. I believe we have a contract."

Zrimmir produced a datapad from seemingly know where, pressed his thumb print onto a special stick, then stood up, walked over to [member="Valerie Rein"], and offered it to her. (Being the representative, her electronic signature was more than valid)

"Thank you for your business."