Six Meetings Before Lunch [First Order Government]

[Natasi Fortan]

[member="Atticus Molyneux"] | [member="Darth Metus"] | [member="Maron Drak"] | [member="Viktor Alexander"]

Natasi Fortan seemed to spend a lot of time staring out windows, a beverage in hand, these days. At the moment, the window was a thick slab of transparisteel separating her from the vacuum of space. She was aboard a First Order vessel orbiting Dosuun. At that very moment, construction droid crews, conscripted Resistance and imported Skytiri slave laborers were working round the clock to build the First Order administrative complex to her exacting specifications. It would be a monument to order and prosperity -- sturdy, towering structures, with ruthlessly efficient styling. Imperious. Dominant. Proud. A metropolis would grow up around it in ordered quadrants, block by perfect block. She could nearly smell the zoning paperwork; the thought made her almost weak in the knees.

"Governor," a voice came from behind her and startled her from her reverie. "We've received word that -- were you thinking about zoning again?" Of all the people in the galaxy, Sioux Chambers was one of perhaps a handful that could speak to her in that way. A look from Natasi yanked her back to the subject. "We've received word that there are shuttles requesting clearance. Is there anything else you need before the meeting?"

"No," Natasi said firmly after surveying the room. Chairs, check. Table, check. Pens and portfolios on the table, check. Water glasses and pitchers in front of each seat, check. Assortment of coffee, teas, and snacks on a sideboard near the door, check. "You can send them in when they get here. And don't do the Ewok in a tiara nonsense. These are serious people."

Natasi could feel the disappointment in Sioux's voice. "Yes ma'am."

 

[Kenrath]

[member="Natasi Fortan"] [member="Atticus Molyneux"] [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Maron Drak"]

Viktor sat just behind the pilot as the shuttle requested and was granted clearance to land. He wore a pressed suit smoothing it out as the shuttle landed in the docking bay. He stood once the ramp started to lower turning to his comrades.

"Stay with the shuttle." "I doubt there will be any trouble." "We must of course present ourselves as civilized people."

As he followed his escort he took a moment to look around the ship. It had been ages since he had since Imperial engineering. The One Sith left a lot to be desired in that respect. He allowed his thoughts to wander for a moment as he made his way along only snapping back to the present as he got to the door. When the door opened he put on a genuine but still practiced smile.

"Good evening Governor...............how may I be of assistance."

He gave her a polite bow of his head more out of habit from years of dealing with Sith than anything else. Even as he did he maintained near perfect posture waiting to be invited in before moving in further into the room.

 

[Malok]

Virgilia-7.

There were trillions upon trillions of souls in the Galaxy, and most likely only a handful knew of the planet's existence. It was the definition of backwater: far-flung and largely unknown. In fact, prior to his election to support the rising First Order, the Sith-turned-Governor would have been apart of the ignorant majority. However, as the nation had claimed the planet at the start of its expansion, Virgilia-7 warranted special attention. History would see it remembered as one of the first stepping stones towards Galactic dominance.

And as such, anonymity would not do.

The recently appointed Governor had plans. Extravagant plans. Such that would bring untold heaps of wealth to the denizens of the far-flung world. Already the groundwork had been laid through a meeting with the famed Danger Arceneau, and it was only a matter of time before his plans became reality. Until then, there were matters of state to attend to. In particular, a meeting. A fellow member of the First Order's governing population had called a meeting above the capital; and it would be in vastly poor taste to be late or absent.

As such, the Sentinel promptly dipped out of Hyperspace and dispatched a single shuttle.

Upon arrival, the masked and cloaked form of the Sith Lord disembarked. And frankly, he had fretted over what to wear to this shindig all the way over. On one hand, he was officially a political figure. On the other, maintaining as much distance between the names Metus and Verd was paramount. So, for today, he would stick out like a sore thumb. With confidence, he followed the awaiting escort to the appointed conference room and saw that he had placed third.

"Governor Fortan. It is a pleasure to meet you in person." he began, rendering a polite bow of his head. "I trust that your recovery from Skye is going well?"

He then gave the other gentleman in the room a similar nod before adding. "And you are a face I do not yet recognise. A pleasure, nonetheless. Governor Metus, Virgilia, at your service."

 

[Maron Drak]

Waiting patiently for the ship to land he pondered the future. The Order's as well as his own. The thought brought a sick grin to his face. "Sir we have landed" The grin disappearing he turned to the pilot and replied coldly "Of course". Walking out of his shuttle he dismissed his entourage and walked briskly into the meeting place. Need not be late. "Greetings Governor Fortan and Governor Metus." glancing at the other man he says "Glad to meet you sir."
[member="Darth Metus"]|[member="Viktor Alexander"]|[member="Natasi Fortan"]
(Sorry its so short I'm using mobile)

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor turned as a new person entered the room taking a step to the side to let the man pass. His mind went to the quick mental process of the possibly avoidable nature of running into yet another Sith. When addressed by [member="Darth Metus"] Viktor gave the Sith a bow.

"My Lord................"

He paused straighting up before he continued.

"Viktor Alexander, Balmorra"

He gave a soft smile giving his place of birth and last posting in the same sentence not missing a beat. Turning as a third person entered giving a slight bow of his head to [member="Maron Drak"] similar to the one he had given [member="Natasi Fortan"] when he first walked in. It was all rather seamless to him going from Imperial protocols to Sith protocols and back again. He half expected somebody from the Military to pop in next but figured it was unlikely as he waited for their host to begin.

 

[Briah Song]

A heavy silence was maintained from the Commissioner throughout the course of his personal shuttle's journey to the First Order grand vessel. Smartly garbed in the standard uniform of his governmental rank, Atticus Molyneux mused the months to come. His eyes, shrouded behind his black, circular glasses, frequently flicked beyond the pilot and into the wide reaches of space before them, and the ever growing loom of the monumental ship that held several of the First Order's elite and then some.

Before long the shuttle had landed on the ship's main docking hall and Commissioner Molyneux was ushered towards the offices of Governor [member="Natasi Fortan"], a single uniformed guard behind him to his side. The ship smelled of sterility, of metal and chemicals and artificial air. He had begun to grow accustom to such atmospheres. The hallways were swarmed with dutiful men and women like himself, locked in their own workflows and procedures. Approaching the door to the offices, he waved his guard to wait outside and as he was screened and given entry, he entered silently, each step firm. His neatly bearded face, naturally grim, scanned the others in the room.

His head tipped once to the fellow Commissioners, and once more, lower, longer, to the Governors. He spoke in deep, firm tones.
"Lady Governor, Lord Governor, Commissioners. Commissioner Atticus Molyneux."

[member="Viktor Alexander"] [member="Maron Drak"] [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Natasi Fortan"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Greetings," Natasi said crisply to [member="Viktor Alexander"], the first to enter. She invited him to help himself to food and drink but did not otherwise engage. It was the same for [member="Darth Metus"] on his arrival, except that she added, "I'm much improved, thank you for your kind concern." And so it went with [member="Maron Drak"] and [member="Atticus Molyneux"] . "Thank you all for coming at such short notice. Please help yourselves to refreshments and have a seat." She sat down at the head of the table and poured herself a cup of water from the carafe in front of her and uncapped her pen. When the others had settled around the table, she studied them for a few brief moments. One was a sharp dresser. One had facial hair. One she knew by reputation, the others were a mystery except for the results of their entrance exams.

Finally, she spoke. "An interesting group we have," she observed quietly. "Based on the results of your entrance exams, I feel comfortable in predicting that we are going to great things together." The Governor lofted her eyebrows. "Before we discuss your assignments, I thought I would open the floor to a little discussion. Do you have any observations of interest to myself or the group? Or any questions that I can answer? Don't be shy, gentlemen."

 

[Cameron Centurion]

A relic slipped through the particle shielding holding the integrity of the First Order vessel's hangar bay. Smoothly, the Arctus drifted to a pre-determined landing point, notably in no particular position of convenience or priority. A matter of moments later, the loading ramp extended a lone figure descended down to the durasteel deck.

Per his typical manner of behavior, Cameron Centurion had dressed simply. A dark blue and gray cloak hung loosely over the Sith Lord's large frame. Beneath the cloak, he wore dark blue trousers and a gray shirt. Officially, he'd yet to be officially offered a position within the First Order. That said, he had traded a number of discrete correspondences with Governor Fortan preceding his application.

Cognizant of the fact that he was running slightly late, Cameron made haste as his silver-green eyes seemed to focus on no particular person as he swept through the corridors. Many stared, a few attempted greetings, but most darted out of his way by sheer reality of a large person moving rapidly in their direction.

Arriving at the meeting room, Cameron crossed the threshold silently just as [member="Natasi Fortan"] asked if there were any questions. So as not to interrupt, Cameron made his way to a vacant seat and leveled his bright gaze to those assembled briefly before allowing his eyes to settle on Natasi. "Please excuse my tardiness. There was an issue in the hangar."

True statement, else his vessel would not have been sent into a holding pattern for an extra amount of time.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Very well then," Natasi said after the deadly silence left by [member="Viktor Alexander"], [member="Maron Drak"], [member="Atticus Molyneux"], and [member="Darth Metus"]. "We'll proceed, but do feel free to jump in if you have questions. There's no need to stand on ceremony as we are in private." She straightened her papers and uncapped her pen. "Governor Metus, I expect you to establish manufacturing centers --" She was interrupted by Sioux, who was showing in [member="Cameron Centurion"].

"Ahh -- Centurion, excellent. I thought there might be some problem," Natasi said, standing to acknowledge his entrance. "Help yourself to refreshments and then please find your place." She turned back to the meeting at large. "Governor Metus, you will establish manufacturing facilities on Virgilia and we will discuss how best to use the First Order's resources in building the requisite materiel. I would like to suggest that you take into your employ [member="Maron Drak"], whose preferred duty station is out in that general direction at Lipsec, and who takes an interest in managing large projects. Surely he can be of assistance with Virgilia and the surrounding systems. Do either of you have objections?"

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor took a seat pouring himself a glass of water and taking a sip as [member="Natasi Fortan"] began speaking. He could have asked several questions of made several points at any time. However he understood and even appreciated the art of observation. Of course as the meeting began Viktor was curious as to what type on manufacturing facilities [member="Darth Metus"] would be pursuing on Virgilia. Yet he remained silent seeing if Governor Metus of [member="Maron Drak"] would object to the proposed assignments.

[member="Atticus Molyneux"] [member="Cameron Centurion"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

Following a silent nod of thanks to [member="Natasi Fortan"], Cameron allowed himself to follow the mention of names with his silver-green gaze. The Sith Lord most certainly did not expect any to balk at assignments or requests made here today. That would be, perhaps, in poor taste. While the reality of control and respect were promising, there would never be any progress without a sharing of ideas and concepts. This was the only reality he hoped to enjoy from this small congregation.

The First Order, as a largely infant government, had a great deal of potential. It would be the people arrayed around the table in this room that had a very definitive hand in molding that potential. They were marching forward into a galaxy that existed of many colors and shades. The better they were at managing this level of complexity in their lives, the easier it would be for more...militant forces to exist in a more simply colored galaxy defined by bounds and rules largely established by people at this table and those like them.

If the two galaxies were managed appropriately, the First Order would succeed, flourish even.

Steepling his fingers in his lap, Cameron maintained a rigid posture as his gaze slowly tracked back to Governor Fortan. Perhaps the others were shy? Cameron was...curious as to their various levels of experience, excepting [member="Darth Metus"] and Governor Fortan. Recollection of the woman's existence from a Sith Empire of the past lingered in the back of the Sith's mind.

[member="Maron Drak"] | [member="Viktor Alexander"] | [member="Atticus Molyneux"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Very well. Thank you, gentlemen," Natasi said to [member="Darth Metus"] and [member="Maron Drak"] as she made a note in her notepad. "For your interest and attention. Now, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Centurion," she said, turning in her chair to face [member="Viktor Alexander"] and [member="Cameron Centurion"]. "You two I would like to assign to Dosuun. I have great plans for the capital and I could use some people with your experience in that endeavor. Mr. Centurion, your experience with commerce will prove invaluable, and Mr. Alexander your experience will be of equal importance."

She turned to [member="Atticus Molyneux"]. "Mr. Molyneux, I would like for you to shore up our investments on Bespin. Smooth over the Barons, make a show of the First Order investing to rebuild and improve Cloud City and the mining. Whatever you can do to make us look good and get the locals on our side. We don't have the capacity to create whole cities for re-education camps there, so we will have to finesse it. We'll speak about budget separately."

She spread her hands after finishing her notes. "Any objections?"

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor took a sip of water giving a slight bow of his head as he was addressed. An assignment to the capital he could live with. Of course considering the last time he was on Bespin a particularly important Baron quote mysteriously died during an unexpected power failure he was not surprised he was not being sent back to Bespin. Not that Viktor knew anything about that. After all he was just a lowly civil servant. Viktor smirked slightly to himself thinking out it.

He looked at [member="Cameron Centurion"] with a nod before turning back to [member="Natasi Fortan"] with a smile.

"I would be glad to hear any suggestions you have for the continued growth and prosperity of the Capital Governor."

Viktor made a few quick notes on a piece of paper before sliding it into his folder and setting the pen back on the table to wait for the meeting to conclude. He would have to set up a time later to get with Mr. Centurion to hash out projects one on one.

[member="Darth Metus"] [member="Maron Drak"] [member="Atticus Molyneux"]

 

[Cameron Centurion]

For his part, Cameron could only offer [member="Natasi Fortan"] a small nod of assent. The Sith Lord's knowledge of Dosuun was certainly a recent acquisition. Though much of his life had taken him into the depths of Wild Space, familiarity with specific worlds was developed only out of necessity. He had seen the various stages of the galaxy's newest Imperial society developing there. In truth, it provided Cameron with a breath of fresh air. The squabbling chaos of democratic societies really never much appealed to the Corstris native. Even in the expansive wilderness of his home planet, there was always a natural order circulating.

However, as no details had been portrayed just yet, Cameron held no objections. For now, he counted the woman seated at the head of the table intelligent enough to manage this government and much more. Information would surely be provided as it was necessary, so the Sith Lord easily kept his usual drive and need to be in the know restrained.

The look from [member="Viktor Alexander"], however, Cameron caught out the corner of his eye. He gave the man little more than a passing, dry glance. The Sith Lord did not know him, so Viktor would start on the same general even plane as most people Cameron did not know.

That is to say his presence would be, at best, tolerated until such a time as it proved to hold some sort of use.

Old habits died hard for most and never for Cameron.

[member="Darth Metus"] | [member="Maron Drak"] | [member="Atticus Molyneux"]

 

[Maron Drak]

Maron sat through most of the dialogue in silence. Being a firm believer in actions spoke louder than words he had nothing to add. However feeling it was the time to speak he sighed and spoke clearly and coldly. "I have no objections nor do I have anything to add except for a small question. When can I get started?" This last question he directed towards both the governors however he was expressionless and cold. Kissing up to either of them would get him nowhere in this enviroment. Unlike the slime balls in the black market they did actual work which required a subtle intellect his previous employers so obviously lacked. Though to be frank he was anxious to get to work. Waiting was never enjoyable for anyone.
[member="Cameron Centurion"][member="Viktor Alexander"][member="Natasi Fortan"][member="Atticus Molyneux"][member="Darth Metus"]