The Finale of Seem

[Rhodes]

[member="Darth Adekos"] l [member="Darth Carach"] l [member="Darth Orcus"] l [member="Romeo Sin"]​

​

The crime lord nodded enigmatically as Adekos spoke of the Hutts' proverb of sorts. He knew the saying well enough, but was also aware that it was a double-edged sword. If the Triumvir thought he could use his vast knowledge of the criminal underworld against the crime lord, then he was sadly mistaken. Janus was just about as clever as they came.​

​

"I am aware of this saying well enough, but am also equally aware that it doesn't work solely in your favor. I'm sure you could turn to some other organization to deal with the Hutts if you wanted to. If not the Suns then someone else, yes? However, that would incline me to go find someone else, perhaps an enemy of yours, to back my organization in doing the same thing you aim to achieve. When this knowledge gets out, all of the bigger organizations will be looking for outside backing. You forget Nar Shaddaa is a valued world in the crime business, and many would go to extreme lengths to claim it. Of course, all of this unpleasantry of a sector-wide war could be avoided if we just came to an agreement here and now."​

​

His words held merit, whether the Darth realized it or not. If word got out that some gang got the backing of the Triumvirate, it would spell the beginning of a war. Perhaps the Triumvirate would win, perhaps they would not. Either way, they would have to spend a gross amount of resources that would be better spent fighting more... tangible foes.​

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Janus"] | [member="Darth Carach"] l [member="Darth Orcus"] l [member="Romeo Sin"]

"You overestimate your marketability." Darth Adekos shook his head, albeit far less enigmatically. "Who else would back you? The Syndicate is a shadow of its former self. The Republic barely has the resources to keep itself afloat, even if it were amiable to the prospect of helping cutthroats fight for their right to conduct the slave trade. The Silver Sanctum and the Galactic Alliance would never court any criminal enterprise, much less sponsor them in some guerrilla battle for the fate of an underworld they have no real power to influence, defend, or benefit from."

As it presently stood, the Sith Triumvirate had few enemies. Aside, of course, from the obvious and diametrically opposed "here be Jedi" governments. The big three, Adekos liked to call them. Or since the Republic had been evicted from the Core Worlds in a display so pathetic it actually pained Adekos to think about: the big two and the one pipsqueak. Since all of them had unilaterally failed to displace the One Sith even once, Adekos had a lot of trouble taking them seriously these days. They simply were not willing to play dirty; to make the sacrifices and plays necessary to destroy their enemies. A cartel would suddenly find themselves more hindered by their misguided ally's code of conduct than helped. It was laughable.

He continued, "Not to mention that these governments are far too preoccupied with their own internal affairs to give the Syndicate the attention and resources it deserves, even if they did agree to back you. The Triumvirate is the only galactic government with a vested interest in seeing Hutt Space governed by your no-doubt capable hands."

"Here is the agreement I propose: help us, help you. Given our proximity to Hutt Space, you're not going to find a better deal anywhere else."

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Darth Adekos"] [member="Janus"] [member="Darth Orcus"] [member="Darth Carach"]

As the meeting continued with the three speaking on and on about alliances with the..Syndicate? It was either the Shadow Syndicate, or the Black Suns, Romeo was for sure. It didn't matter though. Both groups were nothing compared to the darkside of the force. With datapad in hand, the Legate watched in silence till one of the servants, or whatever the Triumvirate had, came with refreshments. Romeo halted him, took one of the waters, and washed his gullet down with it. The servant looked at him in horror.

"Th-that was for the Triumvirs and their gu-guest. Now I will surely b-be punished. Wh-wh-why would you do this?"

Romeo's eyes moved slowly over to the man now shaking in his boots as he placed the glass back on the platter. It was clear, these three Sith Lords were not to be fooled around with, but this did not matter to Sin. His full respect came when fully earned. The Dark Jedi would be damned if he would stand here all meeting without at least some water.
"Maybe you should have retrieved myself a glass while you were at it. As you can clearly see...I too am a present. Do not mock my being here. Now, fetch one more glass, and a refill."

The Vahla's shifted back over to the meeting, it appeared there was a disagreement about this alliance. Romeo only saw this was a waste of time that could be better spent doing anything but this. His com softly beeped in his ear as Frecker, the leading Blood Knight spoke.

"My lord, is everything okay?"

"It is fine Frecker, the meeting is taking longer than expected."

His com was silent as was his words behind his mask.

 

[Rhodes]

[member="Darth Adekos"] [member="Darth Crucifere"] [member="Darth Carach"] [member="Darth Orcus"]

Janus sighed. He wasn't really asking for much here, just something small to gain his loyalty. Truth be told, prior to this meeting the crime lord was deeply considering setting up major Black Sun operations in former Hutt space. Criminal operations weren't all too hard to set up, but given the nature of deep they typically ran, they were rather difficult to root out. The Suns might eventually get thrown out by whatever gang or posse the Triumvirate chose to hire, but not without a significant waste of time and effort on their part.​

​

"It has been my experience that the so-called saints that are the Jedi are often... blinded when it comes to the Sith. Though they won't admit it, they hate the Sith with such a passion that they often discard their morals to deal with them by any means necessary. I have seen Jedi do far worse then hire criminals to hurt the Sith. However, that is neither here nor there. I am not asking for much from you. Given the nature of what you are asking, I only wish for small token for my own person to convince me not to head into this power vacuum for my own personal fortune. A small amount of credits, an amulet of some kind, the choice is yours. There are many other crime lords more greedy than myself, and I'm sure they will be bold enough to ask much more of you than I am."​

​

Janus turned to see the intruder drink from a glass of water that wasn't intended for him. The issue mattered not to him, as the consumption of liquids was quite difficult through the mask that he was wearing. He would turn his attention back to the Triumvir, hopefully he would see reason and grant the admittedly greedy crime lord a small token to gain his loyalty.​

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Janus"] | [member="Darth Carach"] l [member="Darth Orcus"] l [member="Romeo Sin"]

If the Jedi were blinded by anything, it was their misguided sense of all that was good and proper. In Adekos' experience, this blindness prevented them from taking effective and efficient courses of action. Perhaps Janus had different experiences. It wasn't terribly far fetched, the galaxy was a big enough place and there were more than enough Jedi. There were bound to be separate groups of Jedi that reacted to their inability to do anything correctly in different ways. Not that this was terribly relevant. Everyone present could spend years pontificating on all the different shortcomings of the Jedi and still not come even close to getting them all down. But they were here to talk business, not Jedi swine.

Janus apparently wanted money or some jewelry. Criminal sorts were more appreciative of that sort of thing, though Darth Adekos himself would have rather had a contract drawn up. To each their own, really, as long as it sounded like they were finally getting somewhere here. "I wasn't aware situations were so dire that you required start-up money. No matter. Let it never be said that the Sith Triumvirate are ungenerous."

The Centurion was accosting a servant. Someone had the poor idea to bring in a bunch of water. How anyone thought Adekos was going to be taking drinks while in his trademark mask was beyond him. The general staff involved in that would get a good talking to. The Umbaran internally grimaced, as it was hardly a good reflection of the Triumvirate's image that one of their officers was harassing a butler in the middle of an important meeting.

Ah well. Couldn't win them all. It was unfortunate that the Centurion had been kept waiting so long as to necessitate a glass of water, but that's life for you.

"I can give you seventy five thousand credits. A suitable enough amount, I think we'll both find." The tone of his voice implied that the price was not open to negotiation; that Janus had worn out his right to haggle during the gauntlet debacle. "Do we have an agreement?"

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

Orcus ran his flipper along his neck, thoughtfully, then intoned in a deep, serious bass. "I hear there is an excellent holonet site called Bootstarter, where you can go if you need additional funding for your start-up criminal enterprise. They are purported to be able to raise a significant sum, sometimes overnight. The holonet, what wonders. Hauum."


[member="Darth Adekos"] | [member="Janus"]

 

[The Red of Sinner]

[member="Janus"] [member="Darth Orcus"] [member="Darth Carach"] [member="Darth Adekos"]

Romeo was becoming tired of this, the Vahla knew this was a haggle on the criminal's side, just trying to get some pocket change to blow on something that had nothing to do with the Black Suns, or whoever they may be. This was now dragging out, and becoming an inconvenience for his job, and honestly Romeo could not care about what others thought him, specially the Sith Lords present. Plus he knew he could help with this situation anyways. Clearing his throat, Romeo walked over to Adekos, the man who seemed to be leading this in the Triumvirate meeting on their side.

When he reached the Sith Lord, he placed the datapad on the side of him, bowed, and gave a slight salute to the man before turning around to leave. The datapad contained data on the Centurion's movements within Hutt space, and how he could, on a single order, move in to take out, or in anyone requested by the Triumvirate. It gave the Triumvirate a edge they needed in that area for just in case someone wanted to try to move in majorly there. Romeo understood that the Triumvirate wanted to control what happened there, he would make sure it would happen, one way or another.

 

[Rhodes]

[member="Darth Adekos"] l [member="Darth Crucifere"] l [member="Darth Carach"] l [member="Darth Orcus"]​

​

Janus bit his tongue at the seemingly snide remarks on the behalf of the two Darths. He was well aware of the Syndicate's financial circumstances. The only reason he still led the group was that it was a moderate source of income and resources for him, and he felt it a waste to abandon such an asset. Indeed, this additional sum of credits was for him and him alone. It would have been a shame to leave the meeting with no immediate profit on his part.​

​

He was about to speak as the Triumvirate officer came across right in the middle of the meeting to deliver a datapad to Adekos. The crime lord clasped his hands impatiently, that sure said something for the hospitality of the Triumvirate. Still, Janus wasn't the type to point out such a thing. Better to leave relations as they were before getting his credit prize and leaving without causing any hurt feelings.​

​

As the Centurion left, Janus politely began to speak once again. "That sounds most agreeable. Would you have a contract drawn up here and now, or would you rather have it sent to me at a later date? Perhaps this will allow your lawyers more time to put something together?"​

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

As if magic had summoned them by those very words, a pair of very odd beings stepped free from the small group of individuals waiting further down the aisle. One was clearly avian, with a sharp, hooking beak and white feathers down to the neckline, where they turned brown, but soon disappeared beneath his expensive looking grey suit. His gaze whisked across [member="Janus"], then the three Triumvirs, unwavering even in the presence of those Sith Lords. Yellow eyes. Hard eyes, and keen. The sort that took in the measure of a man in a single glance and left him feeling judged.

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]His companion could not have been more different. A karkarodon, with a long, flat head. So long that he could never look directly ahead. He had to tilt his head to the side and could only look you in the eye with one small, black eye at a time. The whole process seemed uncomfortable for both parties involved. His lipless mouth opened and closed silently, settling at last into a smile. Like his partner, he wore a suit. Black with blue pinstripes.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“Contracts, did you say?” intoned the karkarodon, tone surpisingly smooth and charming.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“We do contracts,” cold, clipped words from the avian,.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“All sorts of contracts.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“Business contracts.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“Government contracts.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“Treaties.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“And much more.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“For a fee, of course.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“A small fee.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]The Triumvirs shifted in their seats and exchanged glances. Orcus raised a blubbery brow. "And how soon would you be able to perform this task?"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]"Already done." [/SIZE]The avian produced a flimsiplast folder from within the arcane depths of a briefcase and started to hand it to [member="Darth Adekos"].

The karkarodon nodded. "Talon & Hammer. Attorneys at law." He slipped a card onto the flimsiplast folder.

[member="Darth Carach"]