Reunion

[Onrai]

[member="Mia"]

COLLUCTARI NEBULA

On board a gas miner, Circe eagerly awaited the arrival of one of her greatest experiments. One that was beautiful, exotic, capable of tremendous manipulation, and which had cost Circe parts of her own body, back when she used the Vinithi body as her standard form. Mia's arrival would likely mean that she would be willing to play a part in Circe's plan - namely, to help conduct operations in the nebula, to prepare for the refinement and synthesis of the nebular gas into tibanna gas.

"Her shuttle should be here soon..."

 

[Piper Gralok]

The shuttle groaned as it settled and it's doors parted with a hiss. Mia stepped out through the door, flinging the black hood from her face. Tumbles of thick red hair fell to her shoulders as she shook her head and flung the cloak off her shoulders. As the material crumpled to the floor it revealed a puckish, twisted vine play suit, created by her own hand. She thought back to how long it had been since she had seen her old friend Circe, who she owed everything too. As a matter of fact, it had been a long time since she had seen anyone. She was grateful for the opportunity to reconnect. Carrying herself with a confident walk, she made her way through the ship.

"Circe. It's been a while."

[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Mia"]

"Indeed." The Echani stepped forward, giving the Vinithi woman she had created a loving embrace. "I'm glad you came out here, Mia. I have a job for you on behalf of Subach-Innes. As you can see, this nebula is full of rich gas, gas comprised primarily of basic hydrogen isotopes. I'm going to need your help to refine this into tibanna gas, which we can then begin to sell to the ASA. It'll help provide the faction a source of tibanna that doesn't ultimately lead back to the Omega Protectorate, whom we're engaged in conflict with."

 

[Piper Gralok]

Mia sank into the welcomed embrace with a smile. It was always like Circe to get straight to the point. She held her at arms length and inspected her body for a few solid, silent moments. "Something's changed. You're not so... green anymore." A sweet grin plastered itself on the corner of her lips as she cleared her throat and released her friends hands. "So. How can I help, exactly?" The look on her face that followed was one of mild confusion. Mia hadn't expected to be trusted with such an important task and to be frank, she had no idea how she could help.

[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Mia"]

"To keep under the radar, I switched to a new body." She smiled. "But if you prefer my floral form, I'd be glad to return to it, just for you." The grin on her face grew as she stepped to Mia's side, her arm over the woman's shoulder. "Well, I made you. Literally, though your spirit is obviously not my creation at all. I feel the only person I can trust more than myself is someone I myself have forged."

 

[Piper Gralok]

"I suppose I'll let you off. I'm sure it'd be too much trouble. And from what it sounds like, we don't have a lot of time." Her shoulders sank, reacting to the extra weight. Mia found Circe's fingers and interlaced them with her own. It felt natural and comfortable to be in her presence again. "Then I'm at your disposal Circe. How exactly can I help?"

[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

"Well... Subach's recently created a new type of starship to 'mine' nebular gas - the Tyzzeph-class gas miner. I want you to help manage the gas miners picking up the nebular gas and transporting it to the refinery - where we'll start seeing if we can find a way to combine those hydrogen atoms until they form tibanna. Us finding a way to synthesize the gas will give the ASA a way to purchase tibanna that doesn't ultimately lead back to the Omega Protectorate."

She smiled, giving Mia a squeeze. "But I suppose there's also some more stuff to talk about."

[member="Mia"]

 

[Piper Gralok]

Mia licked her lips, cracking a small grin as she replied to Circe. "So, crowd control?" She raised a finely groomed eyebrow. Having never doubted herself before Mia was confident that she could do what Circe asked. The gentle squeeze set her mind at ease even further. She knew Circe trusted her and that alone gave her a boost. "I like the new you, by the way. It suits you."

[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Mia"]

"Not so much crowd control as it is getting around import restrictions from enemies. The Omegans have significant control over the tibanna trade, and even now, much of the tibanna the Abrion Systems Authority uses can ultimately be traced back to the Protectorate. With the recent attacks by the OP on ASA territory, there's a chance that they may end up tightening up their exports, leaving us without tibanna, or with a harder time getting a hold of it. This synthesis could potentially be our salvation."

Circe smiled, ringing her lips with her index finger and touching it gently to Mia's own pert pair. "Thank you."

 

[Piper Gralok]

Her body remained motionless as she listened intently. It had been a while since she had applied herself to any kind of work, mental or physical. The break was long awaited and she had thoroughly enjoyed it. But it had done nothing for her mental capability. "Would there be import restrictions if we transport it as the original gas? Then we can convert it in ASA territory." Mia wrinkled the skin on the bridge of her nose softly, pushing her lips against Circe's finger.

[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Mia"]

"No no... I'm referencing the restrictions the Omega Protectorate may eventually put on their tibanna exports, which will ultimately hurt ASA imports. And besides, It's best that we do the refining as close to the gas field as possible. The further away we are from potential enemies, the better." She smiled as she felt the pressure of Mia's lips on her finger. "Feisty, are we?"

 

[Piper Gralok]

"Well. It seems like something I'm capable of." Her lid closed quickly in the form of a wink, directed at the drop dead gorgeous woman standing in front of her. As much as Mia would have loved to put everything on pause and show Circe what she had missed, there was work to be done. She slid her arms around Circe's waist, dragging her close to her chest. "Feisty isn't even the beginning of it. But all that can wait."

[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

[member="Mia"]

"Indeed." Her hands ran over Mia's lusciously natural attire as she smirked. "Once you've started managing the transport of gas out of the nebula, we can bring it to some nearby Hutt asteroid stations Subach has purchased and moved here. They've been stripped of their weapons and converted into refineries. Ship docks at the station, gas is transferred, and we get to work converting it into tibanna. From what I can tell, though, it'll take a lot of refinement to make tibanna out of this nebula, and that's just non-spin-sealed tibanna. We'll need to spin-seal it to make it usable in blasters and starships."

 

[Piper Gralok]

Her hands gently patted Circe's hips, the same smile still on her face. "Alright, what do I get to work with?" The prospect of working was a little daunting at first but the more Circe explained her job the more excited she became. She felt the familiar sense of being important to someone. Though she had little to no experience extracting gas from a nebula, there was always the option to learn on the job. Winging it wasn't her original plan but it looked that that's what she'd have to do.

[member="Enigma"]

 

[Onrai]

"I'm giving you control of three Tyzzeph-class gas miners. All you have to do is enter the nebula, wait a few minutes for the tanks to experience a proper intake of gas, and once the tanks are properly full of it, all you have to do is leave the nebula and head to the nearest refinery. Keep doing that. That's how we'll get the nebular gases properly refined into synthesized tibanna." She grinned. "Mia, once your work day is done, meet me on board my ship. I have some... surprises for you."

[member="Mia"]