To Trade Potection

[Dhakarta]

The Kavalus armour had more than proven itself, but the truth was that sometimes you needed heavy armour, and with the rise of and her embracing of the Mandalorian Protectors, it was time to forge a new suit of beskar'gam. Most of it she could do herself. What sort of pretend Mandalorian could not cobble together and maintain their own armour after all? Dhakarta however, was something of a perfectionist, and it was the matter of kinetic damage that had scowls like stormclouds upon her face. Explosives were used on almost every battlefield she'd ever stepped foot on. What use having a suit of armour that would still look brand new but contain a corpse within it because you'd been too near an explosion or some bastard with more midichlorians than sense had hurled a speeder at you? No, she knew what she wanted, but finding a version up to her standards on the open market had proven very nearly impossible.

Finally she'd found what she wanted elsewhere. There was a mercenary group, the Golden Company, that made public some of their armour specs for prospective employers. Not enough that you could be sure you'd found a counter if you were an enemy, nor enough to replicate it and keep from needing them at all, but enough to know that what they had she wanted. And so she'd sent out a message to one [member="Khonsu Amon"] asking him if he would be receptive to a trade. His impact gel, for whatever he deemed was of equal worth and that she was agreeable to providing him. She'd given him several options, some idea of what she was capable of in her message to him, now there was only the meeting and hopefully the trade to be completed. Of course, depending upon what he chose, she might have to go, create and come back, but it would be as it would be. This was the simplest of truths.

In her message, she'd offered to meet him on Lunar Meadows. A bit out of her way, but near enough to his usual operating theatre that it shouldn't inconvenience him too terribly. Besides, it was a patently non-threatening and useless world. Flat meadows everywhere, the only place to hide anything would be buried underground where scanners would still pick up something, or in the few oceans. Easy also to find a place largely unoccupied. It wasn't that she worried about prying eyes of course, but if no one was present then it as proof she had no hidden operatives who could outnumber or overwhelm him. If he chose to bring his company this was fine, there was no profit in her death, and so she judged herself safe. She herself had landed hours ago to make sure her chosen planet had no secrets they didn't tell the tourists about and was currently sitting cross-legged on the ground outside her small corvette.

As far as she could tell, there were no secrets. It was, she supposed, technically beautiful, with it's suns shining down, the arm warm without being stifling, and emerald green meadows of grass bowing in a gentle breeze as far as the eye could see, interrupted here and there by riotous sprays of wildflowers. But for a child of Dathomir it was sterile and boring and safe. This was a world with no teeth and claws. A tame thing. She was half tempted to call a storm just give back Nature some of the strength that it should have held, but that would hardly be welcoming. So she waited.

 

[LT-137]

“You’re giving this stranger access to our technology?” the voice inquired, with surprise coating every word. It belonged to one of the more veteran Sun Guard’s within the Legate’s personal Cohort - a man by the name of Corr Tainer - who had served with his superior since the Sith Empire had put the torch to the Bacta world of Thyferra. He was Thyrsian by birth, but like many within the Golden Company, found himself orphaned by the constant struggle against the tyrannical forces of Eshan. That man, knew more than anyone, what it meant to the people of Thyrsus to have a technological edge against their enemies - and how disappointing it was to see someone he had grown to respect, seemingly trade it all away.

“Calm yourself, Tainer,” Khonsu replied, as his eyes drifted away from the forward viewports of the Sunrunner. “I’m only giving this stranger a single unit of Impact gel in payment for a service that will better our chances against the Echani, and their ilk.”

“I know that it disappoints you, that I’m willingly parting with a piece of our culture, to someone who has never felt the sands of our homeworld between their feet. Some might even say it’s disgraceful. However, the benefits of what this woman offers, far outweigh whatever concerns your mind can conjure.”

Corr scowled then. “What makes you think that she won’t take our Gel and reproduce it?”

The Twisuns Legate snorted in reply.​

“My brother, the fact that we are the only ones in the galaxy to create such a technical marvel, goes to show it’s never crossed their minds. Let them reproduce our Gel. It won’t save them from our retribution, if and when we inevitably find out.”

The Veteran Mercenary’s face was still wrought in disappointment, but the words that stemmed from his parted lips couldn’t argue with the point his Commanding Officer made. Should this stranger, whoever she turned out to be, take the gel and seek to reproduce more - would be brought to heel by the might of the Golden Company. They didn’t take kindly to duplicitous souls with serpentine natures, but Khonsu believed that this deal wouldn’t turn sour after the trade was made. He believed, that from the woman’s message alone, that she seemed like a trustworthy soul. Not many, within this vast universe, sought to lay all their cards on the table in the hopes of garnering something in return.

It was admirable, and the Thyrsian Officer respected that.

With the burgeoning inquisition of Corr Tainer now silenced, the Sun Guard watched as their Gunship’s pilot eased forward on the flight-sticks and brought the Sunrunner ever-closer towards the planet’s surface. They first noticed the lack of any defining features in the landscape that broke the monotony of the rolling meadows, save for the few bodies of water that dotted the planet’s surface. Curiously, this boring world had no sprawling ranges of mountains or technological marvels of any kind. It was the textbook definition of a primitive agricultural world that seemingly went overlooked by the Galaxy at large. There would be little need for them to secure their landing site, or forcibly search the surrounding buildings for any signs of hostiles - as neither options were required. The gathered Cohort could see everything for miles around their designated meeting point, and there were no buildings for them to search - save that of their mysterious stranger’s Corvette. They collectively imagined that this woman wouldn’t take kindly to Four Gilded warriors storming up her vessel’s loading ramp and rummaging through her belongings without her permission.

As the Prototype vessel began shifting into its landing configuration, Khonsu moved through the diminished crowd of his armoured kindred and stood before the departure door. When the light began pulsating green, the Sun Guard palmed the access panel and subsequently disembarked from his Gunship in the moments that followed.

Bathed in the hydraulic steam of his roosted, raptorian starship, the Twisuns Legate gracefully stomped across the rolling fields towards his mysterious contact - with one of his arms resting atop the crystalline pommel of his sword, and the other opened wide. It was a Hunter’s greeting on his world; one that would allow him to offer salutations with one gilded hand - but showed that the man was prepared for anything with the other.

“My apologies for the tardy arrival, Lady Dhakarta,” Khonsu began, allowing his voice to roll through the mechanical tones of his gilded warplate. “I was detained by pressing Sith-Imperial matters.”

“I have what you are looking for, but can you say the same for me?”​

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| [member="Dhakarta"] |​