The only thing we know how to do

[Corey's OOC]

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

Marek Starchaser was aware of the situation in Fringe space. He knew the Civil War was going on, and knew his estranged family (even if he was the estranged one) was supporting his long-time friend. So, they were not completely estranged, or as nearly as they all thought. But today, he was in Fringe, delivering both war droids for the Fringe allies he had and making a point to expand his company. It had been a long time in the South Systems, working in and around Techno Union space, Tion space and most recently, the Levantines had given him permission. While the Fringe were protecting against monsters, they did have some gorgeous worlds for ports-of-call.

Besides, there were always those tourists who would love to feel close to the action. And expanding out here would be smart, for that. Get working on securing hyperlanes with the Niathals compliments of a back-room deal with Silk, and well, deliver much needed supplies and relief in the forms of entertainment.

He knew he had to worry about the Black Fleet, he had read the briefings, but he would being the more hardened vessels out here, with quick response protection fleets to ward off the pirates.

He had a meeting with a contact. Someone looking for investments. And really wanted to see what the offer was. He never turned a business meeting away.

He was looking to construct a resort, on Sabarene, or some other semi-tropical world, and allow liners to come through. They, the Fringe would have a few benefits, royalties, and a dozen staterooms that could be used for VIPs or spies on the run. Just as an added bonus. Making his way to the conference center, he took the turbolift (which might be able to lift Mjolnir, but did that make the lift worthy?) To the floor where the room was organized for.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien had been in the room for some time overlooking the carnage bellow and contemplating life over a cigar. He had selected this conference centre primarily because it was in one of the only safe districts left but secondly it was very easy to buy when it came to client lists and Lucien wanted news of the meeting to get out. It was high time he returned to the forefront of fringe poltics.

He despaired for the capital, it was once the crown jewel of the fringe but now ... Now it was a chaotic wreck savaged by mercenaries. Lucien hoped that would change soon, he could only hope they wouldn't transition from one destruction to another.

He was snapped back to reality by the sound of the turbo lift wiring over the noise of the air conditioning in the room. Looked from the city back into the room and snubbed out his cigar. It seemed [member="Marek Starchaser"] had arrived.

"Mr. Starchaser, thank you for seeing me , I am rather intrigued by your expansion plans " Lucien stepped out from the table to shake Mareks hand, politeness was free after all .

 

[Corey's OOC]

He could smell cigar when he entered the room. That was good. Meant [member="Lucien Cordel"] was able to appreciate the finer things in life. Marek was in good company. He was a dealer of vice, after all. But more than that, he enjoyed legality, and protection of his company, market, investments and customers. Some would go to Raven casinos, but he was able to send them around the galaxy. And Fringe was part of the ‘Monster Tours.’ He was just awaiting permission from Irani.

He knew it’d come through.

Stepping to the gentleman, he nodded and shook his hand. “Thank you for seeing me.” He looked around the room. “So. You understand that I’m looking to expand my business venture out here, correct?” And hopefully he understood what good a gambling and entertainment company could do for politics. Marek most certainly did.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien nodded in reply "Of course , that is what first peaked my interest " Lucien said as he moved back to his seat "I think this expansion could be good for both of us " he added as he poured himself a drink. Of course Lucien indented to personally profit extensively from the arrangement . "I am really rather impressed with your grit, not many people are journeying into the fringe at the moment given the climate" recently the fringe was crazy.

"So perhaps you could run me through your business plan" Lucien was sure @Inger Stromfire would want to get in on supplying these cruises for this leg of the circuit and he supposed he ought to get the name of his former apprentice out into the open .

 

[Corey's OOC]

Marek nodded, at least the gentleman, this [member="Lucien Cordel"] knew he was here for his own business and not the Techno Union. He would discuss with Jared at another time how the Techno Union would fit into the plans, for this Empire business. As for his grit? He was out doing work to help Fringe citizens, provide food, shelter and entertainment from attacks of the Black Fleet. So that was the reasons behind that. “A bit of war doesn’t scare me. Bright Star was founded during a tough time for the Abrion Sector. And it can always help the ones involved in conflict.” Little entertainment went a long way.

Business plan? Marek nodded and helped himself to a drink, and taking a seat. “Well, we provide cruises to worlds of interest, for our main venture. But we also establish a few resort-casinos around the galaxy. Currently Lianna, Roon, Tion… We’ll be moving into Levantine Space, and possibly Primeval and Sith space. Hopefully Fringe space if I can grab a foothold. From there, we look to employ local acts, caterers, and entertainers for our liners, to bring jobs everywhere.”

And then it’s a bit cheaper to field them.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

(Sorry I thought I'd Posted)

"Yes pleasure cruises would certainly provide an fitting distraction for the population" Lucien nodded it was good to see that he wasn't going into business with a spineless fool. A spine was essential for survival in the unknown regions, there were forces at work that would eat the weak for breakfast.

Lucien watched [member="Marek Starchaser"], what he drank and how he sat. such things said a lot about a man. He watched and listened as cigar smoke was circulated out of the room by extractors. Lucien was pleased to hear that Marek intended to employ local people, the fringe economy would need all the help it could get. "I can help on that front also, an ex-apprentise of mine has very recently gone into the business of food production, I'm sure I can convince her to give you a very competative deal" after all Inger owed Lucien her career "Unless ofcourse you have suppliers lined up?"

 

[Corey's OOC]

Marek was the type to capitalize on a lot of things. Not really a war profiteer, but he could make his money off war for the majority of populaces. War was always striking the stars, and that meant he needed to do his best to make life better for everyone. And the population of the Fringe had plenty to deal with. War, the Unknown, and a whole host of things Marek didn’t even want to think about.

“An ex apprentice? What happened?” Not that it was any business of his, just small talk. “And food production? Catering or actual grower?” Producers were needed and they could probably piggyback on Bright Star for a few other deals going forward. The way business worked, after all, was that it favored nepotism. At least in his experience.

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"She no longer needed direct tuition and I no longer wanted house guests " he was always cut and dry when it came to students, one never got anywhere being over sentimental " of course I look out for her and should she be in need I'm likely to assist but for all intents and purposes she is a free bird and an agent of her self" lucien only hoped Inger wouldn't disappear on him or worse still betray him as some of his other apprentices did, one Dranok Lussk still made him feel sick with revulsion and it had been at least 20 years.

The question on the nature of Ingers business was hard to explain, Lucien never actually asked Inger what it was she did he just knew food was involved. Perhaps he should have asked before giving Inger money but there was nothing he could do about that now. "I will give Miss stromfire your card she will be better able to explain exactly what she can offer ... I doubt I could really do her justice" he couldn't turn around and say that he had no idea beyond a general stab in the dark, he was trying to convince this man he was a capable investor after all. Lucien smiled to himself as he took a final drag of his cigar, he felt he had handled the rough patch rather well.

"Anyway Mr. Starchaser , as I have said I am very interested in this project I think it's high time we moved to money how much will you need from me and what will I, personally get in return ... More than sugar and rainbows I trust?"
[member="Marek Starchaser"]

 

[Corey's OOC]

Now this man, this man Marek could get along with. He was very… blunt and forward. That was something the Corellian enjoyed. He only beat around the bush when it was of value to him to do such, lying to women, telling people the lies they thought they wanted to hear in order to spend more money. But if it wasn’t something he could absolutely do, or absolutely needed to do? Yeah, Marek was going to let the truth come out in that situation. “Ah, the sort of teacher who lets them find their own path. Perfect.”

As for getting in touch with Stormfire, Marek nodded. “Yes, give her my information. When she reaches out, we’ll make sure to set up a meeting.” Was the least he could do, even if his representatives would be out looking for other suppliers, but professional courtesy was dictating that he give the fair chance to a partner here. And finally the real reason everyone was here.

“Getting us in the door in your territories, we’ll be able to give you, or any foundation and or state the proper taxes, as well as personally giving you a controlling hold on the funds from the liners that will be coming and going around your area of influence. As well as supporting businesses that you dictate, and filling in the rest around that. Think of it as you calling the shots and Bright Star picking up the slack. Get your favors out, and keeping a bit of control on what comes and goes.”

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien chuckled "That's a very high opinion to hold of a man ... Im far less of an idealist I'm not letting them find a path, Im letting them lose my path so that they will be far more obedient if they do come crawling back and if they should succeed then i can attribute their success to me " it was a proven formula "Either way I win "

Lucien nodded along, It was all very good but he gained very little personally. Before all the trouble he might have been satisfied with just rewards for the fringe but no longer. Recent events had soured him somewhat now he wanted a reward for himself "These things are all very nice and I'm sure the fringe will be very happy with these terms but I want a little something extra just for me" Lucien pushed himself to his feet and walked to the window taking slow deliberate steps "The fringe is changing Mr. Starchaser, very quickly ... Too quickly and there may come a time when i can no longer remain here at that time I may wish to move elsewhere and I want options so to that end I need two things firstly I want the techno union to recognise me as a crucial investor in Bright star and second I want you to vouch for me should I ever end up in union space ... can I expect these things, I can invest quite a considerable sum?"

 

[Corey's OOC]

That was what was nice, Marek didn’t have a way to lose here, but he could help spread the wealth around those who were in the area. “Its an interesting approach, for sure. I just make sure I don’t end up in a position where people are looking to me to learn.” He laughed. But it was serious, Marek wasn’t looking to get himself elbows deep in training newcomers to the Force, or even the business game. He sent folk out to do things on their own.

And [member="Lucien Cordel"] understood just as well as Marek did, the galaxy was changing. And that meant people needed to change with it. Nodding, the Starchaser looked to the man. “I can definitely make sure both those are covered. Companies are allowed to do what they will in the Union as well as beyond, as for you coming to Union space, what do I need to vouch on your behalf for? You’re a member of the Fringe Federation, one of our allies.” Or at least friendly nations. "Are there any monsters in the closet I need to be aware of?"

 

[Lucien Cordel]

"People already look to you in order to learn, People in our position are bastions of ambition ... we are copied wherever we go, even if we don't know" Words had just spilled from Lucien's mouth, He didn't know why he had said them. They were more philosophical than he usually entertained. Perhaps it was watching an idea he cared for deeply die a slow death that had spurred this rash of foolishness. He coughed. Then as if nothing had happened he turned around again.

Ever the business man [member="Marek Starchaser"] it seemed was being desperately vague, he could make both things happen but would he?. Then came the questions why? Lucien chuckled "We all have monsters in our closets, those who deny this simple truth are not just liars they're also idiots, so yes I have secrets but you have no need to be told of them, they are still secret and will remain that way, they are therefore inconsequential" He cleared his throat then went on "It is not a secret that may push me to Leave, It is well known in the fringe that me and Ovmar don't get along, we function as professionals just fine but I Loath him" Of course Jared Ovmar was emperor now which made things ... Risky. "With his new rise to power things may cool between us but if not ... well it will be time I left and I am unsuited to homelessness"

 

[Corey's OOC]

Corey as a writer was sloppy and had the attention span of a goldfish.

But Marek as a character was credit and vice motivated. And hearing more from this Mister [member="Lucien Cordel"] was a refreshing sound. People were looking to Marek? The man was the one who had a few, maybe two, at most, students. Aside from that? Marek wanted people to enjoy the little things, the moments in life that came at you and you just couldn't help to have a good time. Was why he dealt in the vices in life, just, y'know, legally.

Sometimes.

"We've all got those pieces of ourselves we need to deal with on our own. No shame there, as for homelessness? Running a resort, that will definitely keep you employed and with a roof over your head. Depending on how you manage it all, a very nice roof." He knew a lot of places and owners who used people for everything they were minimally worth. Bright Star was a bit more above brow than that. Annual shares of the company were given to each new employee and at least time and a half pay compared to the local base rate.

He liked to keep his employees happy.

"With the changes in government, the world we work on, will it be safe?"

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien inclined his head, running a resort was not what he meant he had money ... he supposed it could work . " I would need an established resort far outside of fringe space, we can discuss this later should the need arise " Lucien only hoped the need would never arise. after all he still had it pretty good around here. Power was lucien's vice and civil war gave him a heck of a lot of time to indulge that vice.

a heck of a lot

Lucien lent against his hand " I'm no diviner but I foresee no real risk, both sides are pro business you have nothing to fear from them, the war is also cold so there is very little risk of collateral damage ... you'll need some heavy security until complete order is restored but pending a complete breakdown of government I don't think you have anything to fear but fear its' self " Of course Lucien was not to know that there would be a complete breakdown on the horizon " We will of course need to hold regular meetings if circumstances begin to change" He sat up again "I know your business contact detail but I feel we would be best served if I had your home details " he handed over a card bearing his only contact details after all he only had a home desk now "Send them here"

 

[Corey's OOC]

He was always looking for new talent, whether someone wanted the hands on ownership or just the remote ownership, there were many ways for both of them to profit from this arrangement. Having the business out here in the Fringe, that was important, and would definitely help his future endeavors. It was all a matter of keeping Bright Star from becoming too associated with the Techno Union, something he always struggled with. Entertainment should be universal, and not seen as part of a particular nation, even if the leadership was associated there.

Marek understood war. He knew that it changed the landscape, politically and physically. But that was why he got into this industry, to help bring the brighter sides of life to everyone. He was a giver, despite what most woman said about him. “Yeah, the political wars never seem to affect me, no loss of property, and people are twice as likely to look to vices to get through their days.”

“Of course there will be regular meetings. Not letting a new endeavor out of my sight in a challenging atmosphere. I’ll be making personal trips out as well…” He looked to the Noble, and nodded. “Absolutely. I’ve got a few locations, but the majority of the time you’ll find me on Hypori, or Lianna. I like to keep on the move.” Paranoid? He just was young money.

[member="Lucien Cordel"]

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Young money indeed , the Cordel family were young money too , Lucien just hid it well. Lucien disliked new money their existence degraded him because he was one of them, of course Jared had shot his high horse out from under him he was therefore no longer above mixing with his own kind. He just hid it very well.

" Then I'll be in touch then Mr. [member="Marek Starchaser"]" Lucien said with a smile as he got up to fetch his coat "It's been a pleasure , However I am sad t say that I need to go now ... I have things to attend to" added offering his hand to be shook before he left.

The coming months didn't go to plan. The fringe began to stagnate and slowly anarchy took over. The faction was falling apart and Lucien would need to make his way out and although he had one place to go , living in that new place was ... impractical and would deprive lucien of a number of creature comforts he held dear ... creature comforts that could be secured by advancing his relationship with Marek.

"Have a message sent to Mr. Starchaser , tell him I would like to meet him in three days in the same place as the first time ... I need his assistance"

 

[Corey's OOC]

Young Money Millionaires, something something they know how to make the bed rock, other sort of urban saying, probably yolo and bae. Marek was young money but he wasn’t that kind of young money. Still, working with such a man like [member="Lucien Cordel"] seemed like a smart move. The man understood the galaxy and he was surviving out here in the Fringe. Marek much preferred the urban settings that were the Techno Union worlds back over in Abrion and the neighboring sectors.

When the gentleman stated he had places to go, Marek understood, he should be getting back to his nation anyway, Bright Star could run itself once they were established in certain places. It was just those initial meetings. He really needed to groom his cousin for this. But she was… well, a woman, she’d have no problem selling things.


After a few months, a few quick mentions and check ins between the two, Marek had gotten a call from the Fringe Lord. The call came in for another meeting, back where it all began between the two. That was… not unexpected, there were troubles in the Fringe, and Marek’s mind had been so far focused on the war with the Vong and the Selectivist Nation, he made sure to clear the schedule. Alana and Mente, the new AI, could handle things while he was gone. So, back in Flow, the man’s Santhe Challenger, and out to the Fringe he went.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Annaji had gone to the dogs ... rich people fled and the poor starved a fitting end to a dashed dream. The hotel still stood however and it still boasted a fine view it had yet to close, Lucien still paid large amounts of money for a room at the top and a barman on hand and the scent of money made people do crazy things. security was beefed up though and alcohol price was sky high. To that end Lucien brought his own booze if he was going to spend massive amounts of money he was going to make sure he didn't get watered whisky and vinegar. It seemed fitting to invite [member="Marek Starchaser"] back to the same hotel ... It had all gone so very smoothly last time.

Lucien was glad that Marek had agreed to come such an act showed spine, heck lucien rarely ventured from his house and when he did it was with military convoy and he was far from a prime target for issue it was well known he was R.E.D. street criminals and anarchists didn't risk tangos with sith lords even those who were comparatively mild, but none the less some people might forget. Almost in a mirror of their first meeting lucien had spent an extended period glaring out of the window cigar in one hand red wine in the other lamenting on the corpse of the once great confederacy.

A worthy turbo lift seemed to gain life ... surely that had to be Marek, new money wouldn't take the stairs ... no one of worth took the stairs.

 

[Corey's OOC]

Regretfully, Marek wasn’t completely aware of just how the situation on Annaj had gone. He had taken his pair of Hydra War Droids with him on this venture, just in case. With Reavers and the Pandora’s Box of stuff that was the Unknown Regions being bottlecapped by the Fringe and the nation failing, he wasn’t sure just what he was going to be up against. And the Master preferred to be prepared, y’know, over the alternative of dead. He could tell the hotel itself was under careful protection and nodded. Good, it was going to need it.

The fact that [member="Lucien Cordel"] preferred to stay on this world spoke volumes of the man’s character. He wasn’t going to run, he was going to remain. That was a good thing in a business partner.

He left the Hydras at the base of the lift and made his way up, entering the room with his new partner, and spoke. “Mr. Cordel, its nice to see you’re still surviving, even if the world seems to be going belly-up.” A shame, really, he had a lot of friends in the Fringe. Who was going to cover the galaxy’s backdoor now?

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien smiled out into the sky line "Mr. Starchaser, I'm glad you came ... few people brave this area now " He took a drag of his cigar " As for me it will take more than this to sink me, Like I said I'm ill suited to homelessness and I can't leave yet" It wasn't bravery that kept lucien here it was pride. He wouldn't leave a cushy life ,even as it sat in a burning building, before he had an equally cushy life waiting. Of course if others wanted to look at him and see bravery or grit he could live with that.

"Thats why I asked to see you in all honesty" Lucien turned away from the window " I have two things going for me right now Money and experience, I want to join the union as and investor/ lender but I need assistance to step in, which is where you come in"

[member="Marek Starchaser"] was undoubtably a powerful man an endorsement from him would be highly beneficial but coming straight out and asking might make things difficult. men of their caliber were scalpels trying to act like sledge hammers rarely worked, speaking for himself Lucien hated being told what to do. He assumed Marek felt the same way.