Private The Nirauan Conference

[Karlist Rax]

Location: First Imperial Shuttle Consul, Nirauan Orbit
Irveric Tavlar

"Get your cap on boy!" Karlist Rax snarled to the Chissling opposite him with a derisive glare, "You're here to represent our Order. You are a soldier to meet a powerful head of state and you don't wear your full uniform?" Rax glared at the youth and leaned back in his seat. His gaze was cast upon the New Imperial capital. Nirauan. The system the New Imperials had chosen for their stronghold in their wars against the Sith. Picturesque, really. Rax remembered the day he was informed of such insurrection. His thoughts of amusement and then, surprise when he had learned of their success. Remarkable, really.

"You're not wearing yours Admiral Rax," The half-Chiss junior officer shot back as the upsilon-class shuttle skirted through orbit in and around the hulking defensive formations of the New Imperial fleet. "Surely as chief negotiator of this venture, you would want to present yourself as the more professional one out of the two of us." The child smirked as he placed his cap upon his head, tightening it. "After all, it was the Grand Admiral who placed his trust in you to achieve results."

Rax smouldered and shot the insolent child a glare as firey and hot as a Sith lightsaber. The child raised his eyebrows and then settled. As if he needed reminding for what was at stake. What was necessary on this day. "Estimated time of arrival, t-minus, two minutes." Rax looked down at his officers cap, and then the briefcase magnetically locked to the shuttles floor. Shuttle Consul weaved itself through the atmosphere, and then finally dispatched itself in the afternoon sun on a landing platform with a small jolt.

This was it then. Karlist unbuckled himself, and then stood to attention, his hands moving down and clearing any creases from his uniform, before starring opposite him to the Chiss who was doing the same. "Remember boy, don't speak unless spoken to." Rax warned him with a wicked glare, before picking up the briefcase and attaching it to his arm. The docking ramp extended, with a hiss, and Karlist Rax, followed by the Chiss exited, flanked by two power armour clad bodyguards. Rax looked at the phalanx of stormtroopers standing in parade formation. It was quite an ironic spectacle as he and the Chiss were attired in officers uniforms of the First Order. His black and crisp, the boy meanwhile was grey and carried two less data cylinders. They were of course met by a man with on eye. One whom Karlist imminently recognised.

"Sovereign Imperator Tavlar, I presume?" Karlist offered, approaching curtly and then offering a salute, "I must say, it is a pleasure sir. I am Admiral Karlist Rax, of the First Imperial Navy, and this," He gestured to the youthful Chiss. "This is Lieutenant First Class, Maxamillian Rausgeber."

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
HAND OF THRAWN
Karlist Rax

It was never the intended final glorious seat of this New Empire, but as of now, as the New Imperial Order might've as well had been a state in-exile, the Hand of Thrawn certainly abided by the symbolism, being the name sake of one of the more prominent figures in Imperial history, a man who'd ascended to a deified status in contrast to his peers.

In a rare return to the seat of New Imperial power, Irveric was more than likely expected to accept the turn coat of another wayward Imperial, this occasion in the form of yet another First Imperial officer of the Navy.

It was war, a total war. And one where the New Imperial Order was delicate in handling the worlds it intended to rule as its sovereign protector where as the Sith had no sympathy for the rebellion in-exile. There was no room to turn their backs on the enemy and any asset would be one worth evaluating.

He'd be lying if he said he anticipated any of the ceremonial formality that had come with this meeting. Irveric was never one to be the name plastered to the marquee, the center of attention, odd considering he'd deemed himself dictator but regardless, he would field Admiral Rax. Even if the First Order was ever the enigma to the Sovereign Imperator. Though consciously familiar with the government during the time of the Great Galactic War, the proximity between the Sith and First Imperials made the relations rare outside of the field of battle, battles in a war Irveric was scantily deployed in as his unit was often ushered around the Sith Empire for anti-insurgent 'bandit fighting' operations.

Donning the predominantly black uniform of the Sovereign Imperator, similar in template though clearly divergent in status and importance in contrast to the rest of the New Imperial Order's formal military uniforms he stood in waiting before the two men approached him with enigmatic troopers flanking them in sentry.

"Sovereign Imperator Tavlar, I presume?"

"I must say, it is a pleasure sir. I am Admiral Karlist Rax, of the First Imperial Navy, and this,"

"This is Lieutenant First Class, Maxamillian Rausgeber."

"That it is. A pleasure to have you on Nirauan, though I don't anticipate the journey from whatever remnant you were previously keen to was not a daunting one." Irveric said, ultimately out of his comfort zone in this level of outward formality.

"A pleasure as well, Lieutenant...though I don't recall any of that being a Chiss name, the name Rausgeber is not foreign to me however." The Sovereign Imperator states candidly before speaking up once more, turning to lead the two along with him as they advance further into the stronghold, the black and gold of Nova Troopers straying along at Irveric's flank.

"I can only presume you come as many of your Order have...in search of purpose..." Irveric states.

 

[Karlist Rax]

The two officer stiffly stood still as the pleasantries were exchanged betwixt the two parties. The two then began to follow the Sovereign Imperator, flanked by his elite praetorian. Tavlar's comment regarding the Rausgeber name. He could already sense that smirk pursing the Chiss' lips and felt his eyes rolling and grip clenching on the briefcase.

Karlist interjected before the smug Chiss could, "It's a family name." Rax informed the Sovereign Imperator, before shooting the young Chiss a cold glare, "The Lieutenant," He had to stifle his use of the term 'boy', "Was dispatched on this assignment by our, superior." Rax explained, licking his dry and cracked lips as they were lead further into Tavlar's stronghold.

"Grand Admiral Rausgeber requested me personally, as a show of faith," Maxamillian intruded, "Sir. The Grand Admiral I would like to add," Tasteful side eye at the seething Karlist followed, "His apologies, Sovereign Imperator Tavlar. He is sorely disappointed he could not meet you in person."

Karlist sneered and his nostrils flared as Irveric made his next statement. He now took careful heed to not overplay himself with his next statements, before shooting a stare in Maxamillian's direction, ensuring no interruption from his subordinate and then looking back to their host. "Purpose, would be something of a...." Karlist clicked his tongue, "Would be something of a reason. Yes." The Admiral then proceeded with his explanations. "But more so, refuge." Rax added, "We have been trapped as little more than refugees in the Unknown Regions, striking out occasionally against our enemies, but incapable of really solidifying military victories."

"And now, politics both at home and abroad has pushed us, to seek for you and your Order's assistance." Rax added, he felt a little more comfortable in his element, "The Grand Admiral, and most of our command, see you and your soldiers here," He gestured to the troopers flanking them, "As ideological, fellow travellers, and he believes, that the New Imperial Order is one of the very few groups able to provide the security our people, and the Galaxy need."

Irveric Tavlar ​

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
HAND OF THRAWN
Karlist Rax

He was content to listen. Purpose, reasoning, context, none of it mattered to explain away why Carlyle Rausegeber proper himself wasn't here before him. But he didn't care for any of that, only for the two men here before him now. Maximilian's comment was negligable and perhaps the 'boy' was fortunate of the side of the fence within the Imperial schism that they had chosen to meet with. Irveric bared many physical scars from his youth as an officer with lapses in etiquette, tone and speech bloodying the Dantooinian officer many times during his service to waning One Sith and young Sith Empire.

Reparations or gratefulness of his tenacity clearly never erupted from them else the three gentlemen would not be here in this moment. They were led further through the complex before eventually disembarking from the fortified walls to stand within an outside balcony, to drink in the relatively clean air of Nirauan. Otherwise from the Hand of Thrawn newly resurgent and reinforced, Nirauan was still a largely untouched world with a wealth of natural beauty to drink in from the raised balcony of the main bastion. He utilized the opportunity of clear air and the explaining of Rax to produce a cigara between his metallic fingers and spark it alight before he drew in a puff of the sweet Marcan herb. An old habit, picked up on the front lines decades ago.

"And so there are aligned, mutual interests...I understand the parallels between a First Order remnant and this New Empire but I must ask who exactly your enemies are? I assume if they were the same as ours, we'd have seen you flock here far sooner. Regardless...I can also assume the growing First Order successor is something that there might be a scorned view of from either end? What sets you and the Grand Admiral apart from them? The government in Dosuun?" Irveric inquired, now that the First Order had collapsed, the unknown region Imperials had only become more enigmatic.

 

[Karlist Rax]

Tavlar asked the difficult questions, Rax could respect that in a man. Especially one who was leading a crusade against one of the larger powers to have emerged in recent years. And yet Karlist was now caught, between both wishing to be frank with a man whom he assessed as wanting the truth, and the goals of those upon Pa'Desh. Giving a withering glare to Maxamillian as to shut him up, Karlist proceeded. "Enemies who would see you perish, but also those whom are...." He paused, "Who threaten us and what we have built to survive."

"For starters," Admiral Rax mused, watching the Sovereign Imperator as he chewed his cigra, "The Eternal Empire. Our dealings with them so far have been.... Amicable. But given their recent recourse against the Sith...." He gestured in front of him, "We believe they may seek to strike against us. We may be strong, but we are not powerful," Rax conceded sheepishly, licking his cracked lips, "We have men willing to fight, but no arms to defend themselves. We have vessels, with no drydocks. If the Eternal Empire were to come for us, we would bloody their nose but we would not be able to mount a long term defence."

Rax then cocked his head to the side, "The second is political. We settled ourselves on Pa'Desh over five years ago. And while we were welcomed there for a time, political instabilities in a backwards culture have meant our time of respite there is coming to an end." Rax scowled a little at this, "The Pa'Deshi are a strong and proud people, but their binding to their caste system and our threatening of it has seen relations deteriorate." He swallowed, "We could theoretically pacify the planet, but it would be a fools errand." Karlist informed Tavlar, "We could liquidate the ruling class, and we would be facing a holy war. An, as I assure you, unpleasant possibility that would make taking the planet moot. Death by attrition."

"As for the Dosuun Question.... I...." He looked at Maxamillian, and then down to the balcony's ground. A forlorn feeling had come across the senior imperials face, "It is one of practicality." Karlist conceded ruefully, he couldn't quite match Tavlar's gaze, "While we have no ill feeling toward those there on Dosuun," Which was important to note, "But, it isn't home for us any longer." Karlist frowned, "When Dosuun was sacked, and our Empire fell, we lost almost our entire officer corps and governing structure. To either the initial attack," He counted a finger, "Continued Ssi-Ruuvi raids," A second, "Revenge," A third, "The Outer Rim Pirates," A fourth, "Or to the Sith, and by extension some to your Order." Five fingers now out stretched

"We lost in a matter of days the entire command structure. The vision for our regime." Karlist continued, before breaking his sullen soliloquy with a wry smile, "So much so that Madelyn Lowe, a fairly benign and junior bureaucrat in the government somehow progressed to Grand Moff." Rax paused again, "So, while it would be accurate to say we originated from the same place, the people in charge are from our understanding less, interested in our way of doing things." Rax's expression hardened into what looked to be something of another taut scowl, "They are politicians who when the time comes will more thank likely falter. Dosuun's strength and youth were ravaged in our wars against the Galactic Alliance, and Ssi-Ruuvi."

"Those in Avalonia, by our assesment is just an attempt to try and use our name to try and muster some of the old worlds to their cause."

Irveric Tavlar

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
HAND OF THRAWN
Karlist Rax

What Karlist laid out was a rather serpentine political struggle between this particular wayward remnant of the First Order and the rest of its surrounding neighbors in the Unknown Regions. Though he was listening, the sight of the horizon of Nirauan entranced his gaze with more interest. Save for the isolated New Imperial foothold on the world, it was a beauty unfettered, unspoiled by the industrial sprawl which marred other worlds.

"So then its a question of the nature of legacy, which sets you apart from Dosuun. No matter, these matters are ultimately irrelevant. It matters not what brought you here, but what you seek to gain. Clearly there seems to be a sizable host else you and your superiors, comrades what have you would not have carried any influence at all. I presume you plan to end your exile eventually? Surely attrition is catching up to the lot of you. And the New Imperial Order...is like minded." Tavlar comments.

"I know very well what we can do for you...but what can you do for us? What is there to be offered?" He asked.

 

[Karlist Rax]

Karlist's eyes creased themselves into little slits as he looked down at his briefcase, and then up at Maxamillian. "You would be correct in your analysis." The Admiral mused cryptically as he looked over at Tavlar. "I-no, we believe, Sovereign Imperator, that as the Galactic situation sits, you are one of the few men capable of uniting the Galaxy under one banner. Your recent success against the Sith in our view prove that." Karlist paused, and looked anxiously over at Maxamillian. "But, I did not come empty handed." The Admiral visibly grew anxious, "We have had certain projects undertaken. For example one designed around force use-"

Maxamillian intruded, "The Project?!" He had been leaning carelessly against the railing of the balcony, and now stood alert and ready, "Admiral, you can't be serious! The Project, Father would never-!"

Admiral Rax suddenly grew a spine, and gave Maxamillian a withering glare, "You will know your place lieutenant!" The Admiral sternly snapped, "Now fetch me that table," He gestured over to a nearby lounging table, "And some seats." Maxamillian starred back at Karlist in disbelief, and Karlist starred him down back. "Now." Rausgeber complied, the Chiss-Human hybrid scurrying over to move the table and chairs over. "Apologies." Rax quietly rendered, "The boy, he is often too assertive over what he believes the Grand Admiral wishes and wants, rather than what he knows." Rax offered. Maxamillian had now finished preparing the lounging chairs and table, "If you will," The Admiral offered to Irveric, "I think a seat would be best for us."

Rax moved and sat opposite Irveric Tavlar, with Maxamillian glowering silently behind him, standing to attention. Karlist placed the briefcase on the table, and popped its lock. "Now," He paused, "Should you allow us refuge in your territories, you would have at your disposal one of the most hardened armies at your disposal. A corps of soldiers with half a decades combat experience at least. Along with veteran naval crews to bolster the New Imperial Order's forces." He paused, "A top that, we also have a design bureau, creating new warships on datatapes, but no way to manufacture them. Solid designs, that just need the material to be made." Karlist then took in a deep breath, "But I imagine that's a little enticing than some of the other projects we have." Rax lifted the lid, and from Irveric's perspective began to glow green, there was something inside the case that did so.

Kyber crystal. Karlist took a Kyber crystal, the size of a Huttball from out of the brief case. Solid, but also manicured. It had been polished, and carved with ornate words inscribed into the side, "This, is one of many kyber crystals we have from Pa'Desh." Karlist gently laid the crystal unto the table, "Pick it up if you want, but it is a deceptively heavy." Rax watched for Irveric's reaction, "Pa'Desh is crawling with these. So much so the locals treat them as trinkets. Their armed forces to a degree understand what they are dealing with, but given their commonality there, they are treated as jewellery."

Rax then paused, "We have over the course of our stay, collected tonnes of the stuff, but have been incapable of using them for weapons development, unfortunately." Karlist admitted, "Should you permit to stay within the confines of your domain, and provide us the resources, we can easily prepare a number of weapons for you. Develop new ways of war." Karlist now began to smile, "But that is one of the less interesting undertakings." He then retreated his hands into his briefcase, and that smile grew into a grin.

"Allow me, to tell you about Project Ruusan."

Irveric Tavlar