Sands of Industry

[Decimus]

It had begun. Since the fall of the failed Confederacy of Independent Systems, it's former Supreme Commander, the Super Tactical Droid known as General Aut-X had been busy fortifying the former Confederate homeworld of Geonosis, and upgrading it's foundries to produce vast quantities of battle droids and other war material with the assistance of the local Geonosian populace who were for the most part fully supportive of his efforts to continue their way of life.

Change was coming, however. Both Aut-X and the Geonosian Queens knew that they would not be able to sustain their forces indefinitely if a major galactic power besieged the world. Arrangements would have to be made to avoid such a fate, and Aut-X's logic processors dictated that the Imperial Remnant would be the key to their continued survival. A message had been sent to Emperor Tanomas Graf, announcing that Geonosis would willingly join with him if certain conditions were negotiated. Sure enough, an emissary was en-route, and Aut-X awaited him within a hidden hangar bay at the Gunray Facility, a vast underground foundry constructed by the CIS at Aut-X's discretion before it's inevitable fall....

[member="Travis Caalgen"]

 

[Travis Caalgen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM-XAtAeYBY​

​

The Silencer, the Conqueror-class Star Destroyer that had become the Advanced Weapons Research Division's mobile research base and greatest accomplishment, reverted from hyperspace outside of the Geonosis system followed by three Tartan Patrol Cruisers. Immediately out of the hangar bay came a Delta-class T-3c shuttlecraft that made the final steps of the journey from Kamino without the Silencer.The shuttle itself appeared over Geonosis a few minutes later.

Inside of the cockpit, the pilot opened communications with the Gunray Facility. "Gunray Facility, this is the shuttlecraft ST 260, transporting the Imperial dignitary. We're starting our approach, requesting confirmation." He said, descending the shuttle into the atmosphere of Geonosis. It would then proceed to land in this hidden hangar bay, quiet and sleek.

The Emperor's closest confidant, Director Travis Caalgen, had arrived.

[member="Aut-X"]

 

[Decimus]

A lone OOM-series Command Droid rushed over to the general, holding the latest report datapad in it's hands before giving it to the general, who inspected it's contents. ''All departments are ready and accounted for, general. The dignitary is en-route in their shuttle-craft as we speak.'', it said. The General nodded his head. ''Very good, OM-5. Clear their vessel for landing immediately.'', he said, handing the datapad back and clasping his metallic hands behind his back patiently. OM-5 nodded, signalling the hangar's air traffic control to give the shuttle confirmation.

A B1 manning a terminal in air traffic control quickly responded to the Imperial shuttle. ''Shuttlecraft ST 260, this is Air Traffic Control. You are cleared to begin your landing immediately.'', it chirped, deactivating the facility's massive shield to allow the shuttle passage into the hangar bay. Companies of Battle Droids quickly formed up in parade formation within the hangar bay, ready and waiting for the Director as his shuttle touched down in the hangar.

[member="Travis Caalgen"]

 

[Travis Caalgen]

The shuttlecraft sat for a few minutes while the battle droids formed up outside of it, then suddenly the sounds of air escaping were heard as the boarding ramp lowered to hit the durasteel floor with a minor thud. Inside was the Director, surrounded by a squad of Imperial Death Troopers. He strode from the interior of the shuttle down into the hangar, with his protective detail following his every move. His eyes were set on [member="Aut-X"] as he approached.

"Greetings, General. I am Director Travis Caalgen of the Advanced Weapons Research Division. The Emperor himself has sent me to negotiate the terms of Geonosis' entry into the Remnant." The man said, much more lively than the death troopers, who themselves seemed almost robotic in nature, but not as much as the battledroids.

 

[Decimus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtP5lSQgll8

General Aut-X bowed his head politely, before speaking in that deep monotonous voice of his. ''My greetings to you, Director Caalgen. I am General Aut-X, former Supreme Commander of the CIS. I bid you welcome to my world, and I look forward to these negotiations. If you'll follow me, I'll give you a brief tour of our facilities while we make our way to the meeting chamber.'', the droid said politely, beckoning the Director and his security escort to follow. Several IG-100 Magnaguards accompanied them as well. The General guided the group to an elevator at the end of the hangar bay, which then descended into the vast underground complex below as soon as all parties were aboard.

As the elevator descended further beneath the surface, the reality of it's scope soon came into view. An open side of the elevator shaft revealed the vast industrial chamber they were being lowered into. Dozens of production lines could be seen, constantly churning out a massive amount of battle droids, vehicles and other war materials. Upon a vast bridge spanning the length of the massive chamber, columns of newly constructed B1 Battle Droids would be seen marching in parade formation alongside an ensemble of AAT's and MTT's. ''Behold, the Gunray Facility. Once a mere construction project under the Confederacy, now my greatest work......'', Aut-X said, with a hint of pride in his mechanical voice.

[member="Travis Caalgen"]

 

[Travis Caalgen]

The Director followed the droid general and stepped aboard the elevator platform, instantly being surrounded by his death troopers as a security precaution. As the elevator moved and the massive droid foundries within the crust of Geonosis were revealed, anyone examining the features of the man could see that a small smirk played across his lips as he observed droids turning metal slag into more droids. "An impressive display, General. It reminds me much of the millions of cloning vats on Kamino, where many of our elite Stormtroopers hail from. It's quite ironic, to say the least, since Kamino and Geonosis were the respective homeworlds of the factions during the Clone Wars." Caalgen mentioned, wondering if his droid counterpart would respond from the Clone Wars being mentioned.

"I wonder how marvelous the shipyards are, given the example that these droid foundries set. Imperial Star Destroyers mixed with Confederacy technology would be a fearsome opponent to meet on the battlefield, if I recall correctly, the Pentastar Alignment did the same and achieved beyond-satisfactory results. But I do have to ask, had the Confederacy, before its collapse, been working on any...'special'...projects per se?" The Director queried, a dark look casting from his tired featured.

[member="Aut-X"]

 

[Decimus]

''Indeed, t'is ironic that I find myself joining the side in command of Kamino. A shame I wasn't able to conquer it for old times sake.'', the droid said with a mechanical chuckle. ''And yes, the Confederacy had many top secret projects under development here, thanks to my efforts......when they recovered me and my lieutenants from Agamar, I brought with me a complete database of former Separatist designs from the Clone Wars. T'is how my armies have grown without hindrance, due to access to pre-existing designs. The more complicated designs have taken longer to replicate, though one of our finest projects has been completed for a while now.'', Aut-X said as the elevator soon came to a grand halt at their destined floor.

As it's large metallic doors opened up, it would reveal yet another massive chamber, this one dedicated to the construction of far more advanced, and even a few experimental droid designs. Geonosian scientists and technicians were everywhere, checking and fine tuning each new droid to ensure it's quality. ''I take great pride in my work here. Rest assured, the Remnant will have one of the largest droid militaries ever assembled at it's command to supplement your organic forces, soon enough. But tell me, Director. What have you heard of the EG-5 Jedi Hunter?'', Aut-X said with a hint of curiosity as he guided the Director across the vast foundry room, before they entered a small high security lab at the end of the chamber. As they entered the room, laid before them upon an examination table would be a deactivated EG-5 droid, a lightsaber clasped in both hands.

[member="Travis Caalgen"]

 

[Travis Caalgen]

The Director entered the high security laboratory, with his Death Troopers taking up a position near the door. A hint of curiosity was present on the old man's face when he saw the droid on the examination table. "No, I don't believe I have. The extent of my Jedi-killing droid knowledge are the Purge Troopers, part of the Death Trooper project, of course." Caalgen said, pacing around the table and taking in each and every one of the droid's features.

"Yes...yes...I see the similarities; They seem an advanced version of an IG-100 MagnaGuard, almost like a fully-droid Grievous. The armor reminds me of that of a Sith Lord..." He mentioned, to nobody in particular. "An intriguing design, General. I suspect the body is most likely constructed from Phrik?" Travis asked, turning from the table to face the Super Tactical Droid.

[member="Aut-X"]

 

[Decimus]

''Sadly phrik is not readily available here on Geonosis, but durasteel serves well enough for now. These droids tend to be deadly enough in close quarters that armour isn't usually a problem. They can spin their blades defensively faster than any blaster shot fired towards them. I hope to have two dozen units at the ready by the end of the week. And as a token of our negotiations, I'd like to present this unit as a gift. Consider it an impressive addition to your already formidable escort. I assure you that you won't be disappointed by it's combat capabilities. Do feel free to try it out. I've assembled a few of my droids to aid in giving you a demonstration.'', Aut-X said, retrieving the droid's small activation remote before handing it to the Director. The Super Tactical Droid calculated it would be prudent to present the representative of his potential new masters such a generous gift.

[member="Travis Caalgen"]

 

[Travis Caalgen]

The Director received the remote from the super tactical droid and pressed on the switch, near-instantaneously did the Jedi Hunter spring to life after he did so. Recognizing the man with the activation remote as his 'master', the droid gave a swift bow before requesting orders from the Director. "Disassemble those droids" Caalgen said, pointing at the droids that Aut-X had lined up for a demonstration. With an acknowledgement, the Jedi Hunter leaped from the table and ignited its lightsabers before quickly bisecting the droids. Once finished, the droid faced the Director and gave a bow once more.

"An excellent demonstration and gift, but I believe you'll enjoy mine as well. You see, the Imperial Remnant has a secret project of its own, of my design of course." Travis said as he tapped a few times on his datapad, bringing up a viewscreen showing a live feed of the Conqueror-class Star Destroyer Triumphant over Geonosis. Mere seconds later, green beams appeared on the concave dish and converged into an invisible forcefield before projecting at a rather large asteroid, instantly obliterating it. "As a gesture of good will, as well as to assist in the defense of the Remnant's frontier territories, a Conqueror-class Star Destroyer Triumphant, the second of its class after my own, has been transfered over into your service." The Director stated, a smirk playing on his lips.

[member="Aut-X"]

 

[Decimus]

''Your gift is most impressive, Director! I will make good use of it in service of the Remnant, I assure you. Any doubts I had have been quashed. I and my forces will join with you, though I have one condition. When the time comes, and the Remnant reaches Geonosis, I wish to be acknowledged as ruler of this world and be allowed to govern it and the surrounding sector however I see fit, in the Remnant's name of course. In return, you can expect unhindered freedom of movement through Geonosian space, and my full support and that of my military in all future endeavours. Are these terms agreeable?'', the droid said politely, hands clasped behind his back thoughtfully. If the Remnant were truly willing to gift him such power, he had no issues with serving them.....

[member="Travis Caalgen"]

 

[Travis Caalgen]

"They are. Until the Imperial Remnant can expand far enough to claim this world, it will remain a protectorate. You will have Imperial assets under your control, be it Army or Navy. The Emperor has also given me permission to designate you as High Moff of the Geonosis Sector, and by extension all of the systems within it. You may move to put these other systems under your control as a sort of preliminary force before the Remnant itself comes." The Director said, nodding his head at Aut-X.

"With that, I believe we're done here. I hope that we both enjoy our new weapons, farewell, Commander." Caalgen said as he exited the room with his cape swishing, Death Troopers and Jedi Hunter moving closely behind him.

[member="Aut-X"]