Kiff Brayde
The One and Only
S A B A C C
Tag:
Luna Evanstance
With the unprecedented boom in immigration and commerce to the small world after it had been named the capital of the largest and most prosperous nation in the galaxy, Naboo had quickly become a logistical nightmare. Its infrastructure was simply and woefully inadequate to deal with such a high mass of beings, vessels, and transit to and from the planet. Multiple companies, governments and enterprising individuals had tried to implement solutions that would serve as a stopgap for the planet's lack of infrastructure. Massive construction projects had commenced almost immediately, raising up grand buildings to serve as the Confederacy's capital and military complex as funds were poured from the Confederacy's treasury to upgrade the infrastructure of Theed to deal with the doubling, and then quadrupling population that the city was experiencing.
Upgrading the transportation of the planet's capital had not been the only measure or innovation taken. Other, more private ventures had been made to capitalize on what was virtually an open-market of commerce waiting to be exploited, and a race had commenced to secure what would've been surely lucrative deals to fund and own the new starports that would undoubtedly see heavy amounts of traffic -- and consequentially, profits. The bidding had been so intense, however, that an unforeseen circumstance had arisen; those who won the contracts found themselves without the proper capital to make good on their purchases.
After an enthralling battle of legal entanglements and arrangements, some legitimate and others less-so, a rather particular situation had arisen: starport-cities funded by a mass collective of varying corporations, controlled by a civil government and therefore the Confederacy. Ironically from this mess, a rather objectively suitable conclusion had arisen, and these new cities spawned all over Naboo. But none had seen the same amount of success as had the New Kaadara Spaceport.
A floating ring of docking bays, industrial factories, living quarters, business centers and administrative towers, New Kaadara Spaceport existed far away from any landmass, in the middle of a Nabooian sea. The only way off of the spaceport was through old aquatic trawlers that combed the seas fishing; lighter, faster and far more expensive ocean-skimmers whose specially-constructed repulsorlifts barely touched the waves; and there were starships, though only for those who had one of their own, or could manage to afford it. That meant that, roughly, most of the spaceports population was -- appropriately -- spacers. And where there were spacers, there were large quantities of two things: gambling, and alcohol to fuel it.
In other words, two substances perfect to lure Minister of War Kiff Brayde from his governmental responsibilities.
In all honesty, Kiff spent far less time away from the Anthem, the Ministry's underwater headquarters, than he had during his time as High Marshal of the Bassadro Sector. This was for a number of reasons: with such a high position conferred upon him, he felt at least a degree more of responsibility and a slightly larger twinge of guilt deep in any conscience that he had every time he went on his little 'vacations.' But also, the Anthem was plainly much harder to sneak out of. But of course, that didn't mean it was impossible.
On this particular day, he was hanging out in the corner of one of the more indiscreet cantinas that lined the streets and alleyways of New Kaadara. Far away from the flashing signs, Kiff found that the men, women and others of real grit and quality chose to spend their times at establishments where they were less likely to be swindled by profit-driven bartenders and corporate owners. And of course, those types of beings made excellent opponents for Sabacc.
