Faction Zero-sum

[Aerarii Tithe]

LOCATION: Trade Federation Industropolis, Aargau
OBJECTIVE: Spare No Expense
ALLIES: Brama Tagge | Gat Tambor | The Executive | Enlil

“…and based on the actionalsed seven-year rolling average, we’ve identified a number of medium to high risk investments which we believe…”

Aerarii Tithe looked out over the assembled business leaders and tyrants of trade from his seat at the oversize conference table. The summit at the expansive Trade Federation Industroplis, one of the newest yet largest growing industrial megacities on the financial hub of Aargau, was dragging into its fourth day. While the strategists of the Galactic Alliance Defence Force were plotting the Invasion of Ziost, Tithe and his colleagues were unravelling a much more challenging problem.

The corporate takeover of Tiss’sharl.

The call had gone out to all the major finance houses throughout the galaxy. Arbitrage Capital, the firm Tithe had founded and still profited from, was outlaying their suggestions for how the GA’s delegation to Tiss’sharl should conduct their negotiations with the business-savvy therapods. While the greatest advisers and analysts in the galaxy had offered their advice to the assembled group, Tithe still did not believe they had an actionable plan going forward.

Tiss'sharl, and it's inhabitants the Tiss'shar, had been early victims of Sith-Imperial expansionism, with the planet annexed in 851ABY. Yet while the Tiss'shar had long been yoked by the Emperor and his collaborators, Tithe knew that a fire still burned within them, a fire which no amount of enslavement or tyrannt could quell.

Greed.

Alongside the Muuns and Aarguuns, the Tiss'shar numbered one of the species throughout the galaxy most driven by a hunger for credits. Wherever business opportunities thrived, a Tiss'shar investor would certainly be nearby. And that greed was exactly what he and his colleagues planned to leverage in their bloodless coup.

“…if we can secure a 38 per cent credit-flow share we can restructure the combined portfolios to…”

“Yes, thank you Director Ledhor,” Tithe interrupted. “There’s a, ah, there’s definitely merit to a hybrid limited market approach. But first, let’s take a break.”

The executives from Arbitrage Capital gave their thanks for the opportunity to present their ideas before exiting the well-appointed boardroom. Moments later, service droids laden with cuisine worthy of the room's occupants entered and began the lunch service. The Vice Chancellor wanted for the droid to depart before addressing the small but powerful group assembled.

“Nothing, we’ve got nothing,” the Aarguun announced disappointedly. “I'm loath to say this, but I fear we’re coming at this from the wrong direction.” They needed something innovative, a plan bourne not from in the stuffy cubicles of economists but rather an idea which would grab the Tiss-shar's attention, something they had never seen before even dreamed of.

They needed an offer which couldn't be refused.

 

[Enlil]

The King of Ketaris continued to sit with hands folded in front of him and his elbows rested on the desk. Figures and numbers had evolved tremendously since his time, and the minutia of interstellar economies still baffled him. Perhaps it baffled even the economists with how even a single detail could cause derailment and plunge entire star systems into chaos.

He was careful to take the occasional note, though overall, there was less that he could use in the man's words and more in the implications behind them. As the Senator of Aargau stepped in and ceased what had become a seminar, he had to agree with the man's assessment. They were at war, not trying to simply broker a deal.

"I tend to agree, while I support the vested interest that the Alliance has in assets and holdings Tiss'sharl, the fact of the matter is that they have to be convinced that remaining faithful to the Sith will be a net loss."

The Alliance and Imperium both saw the Sith as their enemy. It was perhaps the sole thing that unified them in cause; and he had read the reports. Their chancellor openly denounced any type of friendship or trust toward the New Empire. He prepared for that coming into this meeting.

"They have to be made to understand. If they continue to be complcit, there will be no profits. There will be nothing."

They had already seen what the two Galactic powers were willing to do. They would see it again.

"I hesitate to present it as a nuclear option, however."

Enlil had experience making decrees and watching others adhere or face consequence. There was more subtlety in modern times. These politicians had more experience with diplomacy that didn't involve an iron fist, and he would navigate the murky waters with them as guides.

Aerarii Tithe | Brama Tagge | The Executive | Gat Tambor​

 

[Brama Tagge]

"I hesitate to present it as a nuclear option, however."

"That's the problem with youth." Brama sighed, drawing her hand from scratching the top of her hound's head to knit beneath her chin. Resting her head in her laced fingers, she leaned forward on the table and peered across the surface at the Imperial representative. "You think you have time to prove your point."

While she was always in favour of a good hunt, a long drawn out process with a juicy trophy and reward at the end, the situation The Senate had voted them in favour of didn't merit timelessness.

"The galaxy isn't going to wait for us. We'll have to appeal sooner rather than later, we need the tides of this war in our favour." Wearily, she leaned back and scratched at her good eye.

"It's more about the presentation than the contents itself. I think we have it on good authority," she nodded in the direction of the Vice-Chancellor "That The Alliance's Stygian campaign will continue as a chokehold through Sith Space. What if we accelerate that chokehold, make them see outside the box by changing the box entirely.

The Tiss'Sharl are resilient because they believe they still have power. I'm sure we could insert some agents and constrict the information they have access to. Make them see the future before it happens to their profits and modify their forecasts."

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Aerarii Tithe | Enlil | Gat Tambor | The Executive