Private Veruna's Gift

[Her]

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Naboo, Parrlay, Mid Rim systems;
The Rainspire, Seat of House Veruna.
Tags: Aurelian Veruna

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"...By the time Aurelian Veruna will inherit it, The Rainspire will be not just a home. It was a throne-in-waiting. Every room is curated to suggest power without pleading for it. Every hallway is a lesson in survival wrapped in velvet and weaponized restraint. The structure itself is a ghost of Naboo's past nobility, remade into something newer, colder, and far more dangerous..."
-- Excerpts describing the Rainspire, the seat of House Veruna.

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The Moonwater Terrace, found in the eastern wing of the Rainspire, is a cultivation of rare Naboo flora, and on this particular evening, a proposal which possessed the potential to change the political landscape in both the Mid Rim and Outer Rim systems if it could be put into motion by the two traversing the hub of House Veruna's power.

To the left of Aurelian Veruna, walking in tow as they conversed beside the reflecting pool, is Her-- the head of a security subsidiary, found on Enarc, called the Tarsai Vigil (who were owned by the enigmatic, mysterious founder of the Five Veils Initiative: Wend Maricon) and whose links to the Imperial remnants were a potential interest to the interim Chancellor as he tackled leadership over the High Republic during their war with the criminal cartels found in the Outer Rim Territories.

"I have been monitoring the developments concerning the Republic and the cartels from Nar Shaddaa," Her explained to Chancellor Veruna as they walked together through the eastern wing of his estate. "Alongside the activities of the Black Sun, I have been closely following your politics and I was quite pleased when you stepped in to become the interim Chancellor. Today I am hopeful that my quiet support of your Chancellorship becomes something more impactful after tonight."

Earlier in the year, after political reforms on Naboo saw to the reformation of their government into the High Republic, a new act was proposed by Senator Sodi of Quarzite and subsequently passed into law which would allow refugees fleeing the Great Core Wars (and even those leftover from the Second Great Hyperspace War) to apply and become naturalized citizens of the fledging superpower which now reigns between the territories of the Galactic Empire, the Eleventh Sith Empire and the Black Sun Syndicate.

It was Joa Sodi 's Repatriation and Naturalization Act that was of great interest to Her and their quest to become a naturalized citizen. A successful application to become a full fledged citizen of Enarc (a star system located on the outer edges of the High Republic's domain) was the desire of the woman on Aurelian's left. If it could be accomplished then naturalized citizenship would give Her new avenues to exploit and use in their work as it would provide them with the safeguards and security afforded to those who were classified as Republic citizens, particularly, in the event of capture, arrest or political upheaval if their work went wrong in the Imperial Confederation.

The man to her right, who had stepped into to fill the premiership of High Chancellor, possessed the necessary political sway and influence to expedite the application process, and secure it's passage, to allow Her to become a Republic citizen in law. There were, however, concerns surrounding the woman behind the Tarsai Vigil that were currently blocking them from making such an application, and which would potentially dissuade interim Chancellor Veruna from interceding on her behalf if he could not be convinced to do so during their secret meeting today.

One concern involved an investigation into a missing star courier called the Larkspur Crescent, which had been opened by Ala Quin , and who alleged that the Tarsai Vigil (and their manager) were involved in a cover-up which involved the disappearance of the ship and it's crew. Although Quin had failed to convince and gain senatorial sympathy to authorise an official investigation into Her there were nevertheless the questions surrounding the Vigil's enigmatic manager which were blocking the naturalization process at this moment in time.

With scrutiny being drawn by the Jedi Grandmaster against Her (and with the ship still missing) it was unlikely that the High Republic would allow a potential criminal to become a naturalized citizen until such concerns were cleared up, particularly, given the crisis surrounding the Black Sun Syndicate and the criminal cartels in their employ. Anti-criminal rhetoric was on the high within the political dysgraphia and so it would not play well with those in control of the naturalization process, nor the interim Chancellor to her right, if they could not be convinced that Quin's allegations were untrue and false.

Another concern, of course, also surrounded Her and their ties to the Imperial Confederation. After the economic collapse of the Empire of the Lost, the Imperials banded together again to form a new government based on New Alderaan, which saw to the commencement of a second occupation in the Outer Rim systems. The ideals, philosophies and ties connecting the Imperial remnants to the Tarsai Vigil's representative within the Nabooian aristocracy were antithetical to the High Republic and their laws thereby creating another reason, or excuse, to prevent Her from becoming a naturalized citizen.

Although a current minor player in Republic politics and economics those who were aware of Her questioned whether or not she was a criminal due Quin's allegations regarding the fate of the Larkspur Crescent and the connections to an imperialistic superpower who had annexed several sectors in and surrounding the Tion Hegemony. As such a successful application for naturalized Republic citizenship was far from likely. Criminals, and in particular, Imperials, were not welcomed in the High Republic. That was, unless, Her could convince Aurelian to conspire with them against the august body he sat at the top of.

"I have yet to make my application under the terms of the repatriation and naturalization act that was initially proposed by Joa Lodi," Her continued to explain to Aurelian.

"It is my concern that if I were to make my application for citizenship now then it would be rejected despite no evidence that I was involved in the Crescent's disappearance. There is also, of course, bias against me due to my involvement in the commission for civilian interests in New Aldera. Whispers of Imperial spies are so common now after what happened to the alliance..."

"However, if you were to intervene and dissuade these rumours, then my application will not be subjected to such things. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my concerns. I do believe that we can help each other with our respective issues, Chancellor. We can change things when it comes to the Black Sun Syndicate if you were to help me with my application..."

The reflection pool was still, and reflective in the hour of dusk, as Her and Aurelian talked. It mirrored two snakes, who had found themselves in advantageous positions of power, both abled and capable of solving each others issues concerning the naturalization act, or the Black Sun Syndicate crisis, if a deal could be struck. But they both had a well crafted, protected image to maintain and protect themselves. Aurelian was meant to be the High Chancellor, and this type of talk aired the type of corruption that could end his political career if the wrong people were to learn of it, and who was Her to suspect that he was the type of man to do such things in the first place?

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[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Rainspire
Tags: Her

Aurelian slowed his steps, letting the cool indigo gleam of the reflecting pool catch his eye. The Moonwater Terrace always made him appear serene, even monastic; a useful illusion when the things he said here were the complete opposite.

"Naturalization is a delicate subject this season," he murmured, his hands clasped behind his back. This posture looked statesmanlike, but it was truly just to keep him from fidgeting. "Half the Senate is afraid of ghosts, the other half is afraid of headlines. And you, my dear, seem to inspire both." He glanced her way, his expression calculating. "If I move your application forward, I will have to silence the rumors about the Larkspur Crescent and ensure your Imperial ties don't explode in my face. That is... quite an investment."

Aurelian stopped at the pool's edge, turning to face her fully. He looked every inch the young Chancellor, and every inch the boy who had learned too early that power was a blade best used before it was used on you. "What you're asking isn't impossible," he said, his voice dropping low. "But it is expensive. Not in credits, but in consequence. And if I'm to risk my position to shelter you under the High Republic banner, I need something substantial in return."

He stopped at the edge of the terrace. "And you didn't travel from Enarc to tell me what the Committee already sends to my desk in weekly reports." Aurelian turned fully toward her, his posture loose, deceptively open, as if discussing the weather. "So," he said softly, "what is it you're actually offering?" This was an invitation.

"My influence is not infinite, and I don't waste it shielding ghosts or gambling on strangers. If I move the weight you're asking me to move, it will cost me. Politically. Personally." There was a moment he let the silence linger. "I assume you came prepared to make that cost worthwhile."

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[Her]

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Naboo, Parrlay, Mid Rim systems;
The Rainspire, Seat of House Veruna.
Tags: Aurelian Veruna

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"I assume you came prepared to make that cost worthwhile."

"Yes," Her replied to Chancellor Veruna as they paused their walk to turn and look at each other fully. As she regarded Aurelian, Her confirmed things that she had seen or heard about him back when Aurelian had played dinner host at the silvered shores of Kadaara, and also during his public engagements as the interim Chancellor as Veruna negotiated the political landscape that were mired by the increasing criminal activity wrought by the Black Sun Syndicate and also the looming threat of the two dark-side Imperialist powers who surrounded the High Republic in both the Core Worlds and Outer Rim Territories.

Aurelian was a shrewd operator, and nothing got past his desk that was worth not knowing. At least that was what he wanted Her to think as he took the time to consider her proposition in person. The Larkspur Crescent allegations had been made several months ago, back when the Five Veils Initiative had been the Republic's verse in the political hemisphere, before the Black Sun begun targeting them. Whether or not Aurelian had been tracking the situation for quite sometime, to be used later when Her came to him to discuss business, or if she had just reminded him and he was now cleverly reacting to her explanation, remained unclear at this time.

One thing remained as clear as it had been on the night Her had quietly watched him from the side-lines of his dinner banquet among the Nabooian aristocracy he was sat on top of.

Aurelian would not be an easy man to play with.

"Recently the elected sitting Empress for the Imperial Confederation was removed from power by the current Imperial Exarch," Her explained to the interim Chancellor as she begun crafting her proposal. First, she would give him context, and then secondly, an idea that could be to his benefit.

"The decision has opened up scrutiny and an idea that a coup d'état has occurred. For me it revealed an opportunity that I would like to make available for you today..."

Taking a step to Aurelian's left, Her caught a glimpse of themselves reflected in the water and quietly chastised herself. She shouldn't be here trying to spin an elected, prominent politician at the head of a galactic superpower to fit into her own schemes. This wasn't what Sochi Ru had trained her for. But in this life, when you are walking down the path, you have to do bad things-- terrible things-- in order to finish the work.

Her could spend the time loathing herself later, in those quiet moments of solitude between the planets, as she set course back to New Aldera enarmoured with what she entered into the Rainspire to deal and collect with.

"There is currently an investigation into the special measure that von Strauss initiated to remove Deschart from her office," Her continued to explain to Aurelian as she turned her crimson gaze back to him to provide further context for the proposal she was crafting. "I initiated that investigation because I know things about the man that can easily be fitted into my findings that would create political unrest among the Imperial remnants if they were to be revealed. Things that I would be willing to keep out of the I.C.D's findings if he were to play ball with me."

This woman is as corrupt as she comes. Her doesn't speak like an Imperial nor an aristocrat. She sounds more like a gangster who seems to know far too much and appears willing to use them to their advantage. Is she the type of ally Aurelian wants, or a foe to keep at bay, and to destroy, before she comes for him next?

"I can share that the Mahporieem have already threatened to leave the Confederation, as a consequence of the investigation, after one of their representatives in the Imperial armed services were listed as a person of interest and was subsequently detained for a day without due process. Political pressure on von Strauss and the COMECI is currently at an all time high..."

Although Her had not been forthcoming to the interim Chancellor (with the secrets that she knew about Karl Von Strauss ) it was nevertheless clear that she believed, at the very least, that Her had in their possession enough things to exert political pressure upon the Imperial Exarch in order do what?

And what did this have to do with the Repatriation and Naturalization Act?

"I firmly believe that there is now an opportunity for me to convince von Strauss to do the unexpected. As a member of the Imperial Ruling Council he has the ear of Marlon Sularen, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Confederation's armed forces, and who has enough sway to move the Imperial remnants towards an attack on a star system currently in the hands of the Black Sun. The agricultural world of Alee, for example..."

Now it made sense and begun to click. Her, as well as the face of the Tarsai Vigil, was also the Warden Primus of the Imperial Corrections Directorate under the umbrella of Exarch von Strauss' Commission for the Establishment of Civilian Interests (COMECI) on New Aldera. After announcing their investigation into the Exarch's decision to remove Liraeth Deschart from the office of Imperia Empress, Her believed that she could now exert enough political pressure to convince von Strauss to use their own political capital to launch an attack on the Black Sun Syndicate.

"My colleagues on New Alderaan have been well aware, since at least Atrisia, that the Black Sun deployed their agents to work on behalf of the Dark-Imperials. They have effectively placed themselves as enemy combatants against the Imperial remnants who considered their former associates on Coruscant traitors and zealots after they were debriefed about an attack on the Cademimu system which saw to the extermination of several Imperial strongholds leftover by the Dark Empire."

"So, the investigation into von Strauss, combined with the Black Sun's alignment to the Galactic Empire, would give me the necessary levers to pull the Imperial Confederation into targeting the Alee system. Reasons for their attack would include the deprivation of agricultural supplies to numerous star systems in Hutt space that are currently under the control of criminal cartels supporting the Fossk regime in the Core."

"Another would be direct response to the Black Sun's participation at the Battle of Atrisia, where the Death Star threatened to destroy the Imperial remnant strongholds, just like what happened to Cademimu, and lastly, von Strauss' desire to remain a free man, with a career unblemished by accusations of a coup d'état, who I can exonerate as I am the head of the investigation into his decision to remove Liraeth Deschart from power."

Turning her gaze away from Aurelian and back to the water, Her quietly finished crafting her proposal with a reminder as for what she had come for. "I can convince the Imperial remnants to attack your enemies, Chancellor Veruna. To critically damage, and perhaps even destroy, the Black Sun Syndicate. All that I ask for, in exchange, is for you to assist me with passing the naturalization process in return..."

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