A Contract and a Member

[Alexander Sannes]

Alexander drew his hand across the table and started tapping, watching the time tick by, the seconds passing one by one.

The woman he was suppose to meet was named @camellia, the one who was commonly considered to be the chief authority of the planet from what he had been able to gather. He wanted to know what it was about this person, but also wanted to pry into her mind, to pick it and see if a deal could be made. After all, Rendili had at one time been a strong supporter of the Republic, and a supplier of space craft that could not be taken for granted.

Rendili's addition to the Republic, and a contract with the company itself, would make the Republic's return be ever smoother and more interesting. After all, Rendili, along with Kuat Drive Yards, were two of the closest producers of craft to the Republic, and if each planet joined the Republic, their place in the galaxy would certainly increase in standing.

His hand continued to tap on the table, until his guest would arrive, the passage of time a slow one.

 

[Camellia Swift]

[member="Alexander Sannes"]

Camellia made sure she was punctual in her arrival, though there was merit to be had to keep the opposing party waiting to wear away at them in negotiations. However, this meeting was not one of business, at least not entirely, instead it was about what faction sought to control Rendili this time. Though she wasn't the government leader of the planet, such a position was that of the Arch-Provost, the Croa woman was in control of the Rendili Stardrive shipwright whose influence was not to be underestimated. While it was not necessary to include a business owner in galactic expansion, it wasn't wise to slight someone in such position either given the resource she could provide. So she appreciated the offer to meet, especially since it was also in the other party's favor to curry her support in smoothing out negotiations with the actual government later. She was friends with the Arch-Provost after all, the two women enduring the Sith occupation and recouping the planet's neutral stance afterward.

So long as the incoming galactic power wasn't hostile or seeking to undermine the local authority without providing adequate compensation and representation there would be no problems really though. Being invited to this meeting meant Camellia would find out first about the people's intentions she supposed. Traveling around wasn't much her style these days though so she hoped the matter could be settled easily enough as she entered the room. "I hope you were not waiting long, I know I'm not late, but since you're hosting I suppose you were here early. Now then, where would you like to begin with this meeting of ours."

 

[Alexander Sannes]

[member="Camellia Swift"]

Alexander stood and smiled, moving around his desk as the woman came into the room. He would normally be more shocked by the woman's appearance, but considering the appearance of the Jedi's Grandmaster, this was nothing new.

Instead he just smiled and held out his hand as he moved to shake the woman's hand if she would accept such. His smile was kind and his tone soft, the young man a strange sight for an Echani. He often laughed at how he would probably be called soft and a pacifist by his people if he had not proven himself in the old days of the Republic before it's fall and proven himself in the time since.

"I have not been waiting long at all. Honestly, you coming early is very much appreciated as it clears up the rest of my day." He would return to his seat after she rejected or accepted the handshake. His hand moving to retrieve screens and papers concerning Rendili's products, past deals, and any other information needed.

"I hope you understand my reasoning for approaching you in these matters?" He looked up, a more serious and business like expression claiming him.

 

[Camellia Swift]

[member="Alexander Sannes"]

Taking her host's hand when offered, the Croa woman flicked her tail behind her as she assumed he was an echani by his appearance though he could also be a typical human she supposed. Regardless, Camellia followed him to the seats while he reached for data screens and flimsiplast documents. "I'm glad that it works out to your benefit then. The same goes for me as it means returning to business, though I haven't pushed for aggressive marketing campaigns lately." It was a lot easier than trying to keep up with the senseless direction the galaxy had taken. Established rules, matters of honor that wars abided by, all of it gone as if a higher power didn't care about the effort of others and wanted to let idiots freely do whatever they pleased without putting forth the effort or etiquette of their more worthy counterparts. At the very least this group she was meeting with now was a less violent sort and a tad more thoughtful.

"I have an idea of why you would come to me. I'm not blind, even if I have taken a more passive approach to galactic affairs. I still retain some measure of respectability and authority, even if the scope of it has diminished the position and products I wield are valuable as is the world I have influence within. I have no false illusions of the worth I can provide. My question is simply what you want it for and what use you desire from Rendili."

 

[Alexander Sannes]

[member="Camellia Swift"]

"Rendili Stardrives has long been one of the key manufacturers for Republic spacecraft and is an entity that I can't simply ignore as being a beneficial supporter of the Republic like it has in the past. It is my belief that with Rendili standing beside the Republic once more, things will progress quite significantly." He tapped his hand on his leg and thought on what else to say as he returned to his chair, leaning forward over the desk.

"Your home is another topic altogether. It would benefit our relation if Rendili were a member world, as your ships at that point would be considered domestic products and the taxes placed on buying and importing them would be far lower. It would mean that world rejoins the fold though, and as such it would recieve a place in the senate, with all rights and benefits afforded to it." He smiled a bit more. "Including the defense of the planet, if that was not obvious. Such an important system is not one that we would allow to be thrown to the wolves if it joined the Republic.

Alexander was kind, but he knew what spoke to people like this. That was money, security, and the status quo being maintained. He knew the likelihood of simply getting this woman on his side with a contract alone was naive.

"What do you think?'

 

[Camellia Swift]

[member="Alexander Sannes"]
Admittedly Camellia was enjoying the peace and quiet of not seeing her homeworld embroiled in galactic affairs, but she was not naive enough to believe it would last forever going unbothered. At the very least she appreciated the efforts of someone seeking an agreeable approach, peaceful efforts offering measures of status for the planet in question were far more reasonable and easy to work with than conquerors or authority figures who simply believed they could win over worlds with just promises. Which was why just taking things at face value now would be foolish as well given the Rendili woman was unfamiliar with the man in front of her. He was certainly professional and well spoken, and she was pleased he was seeking this line of inquiry at the very least. She just hoped it wasn't a facade.

For now she had the gist of what they were looking for out of the discussion though. "Just to be clear then, you're letting me know you're interested in doing business with Rendili Stardrive for new Starships and contracts with our existing catalog. With potential preferences toward you given the shipwright's ties to the Republic through history. I can understand most of that, but I'll say business is business as well. I see no problem in bringing up the old Republic contracts for the ships we once supplied them to pursue new contracts with your group if such is possible and agreeable with similar guidelines as before. I'll wait to see if you all stick around before any talk of preferential work or discounts enter negotiation though. Rendili has changed hands several times after all."

As for the rest, she knew what he was looking for from her and what she had to say in response. "I'll be honest that I've enjoyed Rendili going peacefully ignored and free to be neutral, being a member in your senate is more beneficial to the businesses like myself than the general populace. They lose many freedoms our government provides them they would have to exchange for the Republic Bureaucracy. All the same, the trading benefits are appealing if we don't lose out too much with other factions and worlds, which would undergo review by both parties no doubt, but I don't foresee the Republic losing anything out of acquiring Rendili unless we posed an internal threat to your existing infrastructure. Security is debatable given how the Republic pulled out last time is not a pleasant memory, nonetheless should the Republic maintain its defense for Rendili it certainly would boast more soldiers and vessels than the Planetary Defense Force and Rendili Stardrive's Security Teams could muster. I don't see the trading benefits or additional protection being a bad deal, we'll probably gain better economic status than we lose by becoming a member world. It'll be a matter of how the Arch-Provost sees the bureaucratic turnover and how it affects the populace."

Smiling, the Croa woman flicked her tail as she spoke and tapped the desk. "Which is why you discussed business with me first I assume, to see if I'd support the endeavor and talk on your behalf with the Arch-Provost to point out the benefits in lieu of her concerns to the contrary? I confess we are friends since the Sith occupation brought much of the planet together, so I could speak with her, and would regardless of your request. I'll be honest and say I would indeed speak favorably about the benefits of protection and the pros and cons of the trade deals we'd gain and lose by adopting a stance as a member world with you. I know we'd lose some business, but gain enough to offset it, and I don't believe you have offended too many to cause us economic problems and costing us trade partners unless we'd be prohibited from trading with other factions independently, so long as it were not an opposing faction at war. As for the senatorial and legal matters if it's the same as the Republic a decade so ago then I don't see much issues. We'll lose some individualistic integrity but gain solidarity. At least unless your Republic falls apart as well. I don't mean offense by that, but just being a realist about how fluctuating the galaxy and politics are for the wide spanning governments. If I've covered most of the gist of what you're alluding to let me know, if not fill me in on whatever I missed or mistook. I apologize for rambling on but I like to think things through their entirety."

 

[Alexander Sannes]

[member="Camellia Swift"]

Alexander was not surprised as she tore apart his intentions and cut through the reason he was here like a hot knife through butter. He knew that coming here would bring the idea of bringing Rendili's powerful economic sector under their hold if at all possible. It was that reason that he had done it, knowing the benefits the world would bring with it and knowing what could be gained on both sides. It was one thing that caught his attention though, a very clear bit of information he had to correct.

"In some ways, the Republic is like its predecessor, an unsurprising fact considering our leaders and our influences. But to think the Republic is any more like the past is a bit... short sighted. We take what is the best of our predecessor yet cast down those which harmed it, such as the influence of the Jedi on the Republic's government. We do not wish to drag the worlds who form under our banner into needless and damaging conflicts unless we are struck at by those who would make enemies of the people and the planets in our borders..."

His eyes dragged across to the side and he sighed.

"Regrettably, the Republic cannot sustain a war effort if such was to happen. While we have the capabilities to manufacture weapons and vehicles, we do not have the capabilities to do so with naval craft and starfighters. That is why I came to you, and yes, you are correct. I would be appreciative if Rendili joined us in this path, stood beside us as we united worlds under our banner and protected them. But I do not expect you to push for that or even to convince your peoples of that. If you believe me to be lying or giving you some kind of act, you can dash that though now. If you wish for Rendili's Soveriegnty, or even if your people wish for it when a vote is given to them in regards to membership, you will find the Republic understanding."

He left with that and crossed his hands on his lap, letting her process what he said.

 

[Camellia Swift]

[member="Alexander Sannes"]

Camellia drummed her fingers on the table for a minute as she mulled over the discussion. She had already put together her best estimates and reports since she had suspected the talk would lead this direction, but numbers and hypothesis never mattered much in the end when people and events were far more chaotic than the precision a computer or keen mind could apply logic to. Still, he did seem to take something wrong. She wasn't accusing the new Republic he was representing of being the same in matters of personality. She didn't assume it would just abandon Rendili like before, but she could very much assume as a bureaucratic democracy it shared some of the inherent weaknesses. It always came down to the efficiency of the Senate and the elected government figure head as well as the strength of it's member worlds. If the foundation was weak it could fall apart good intentions or no.

Yes, she didn't mean to make her words imply an insult. The Croa woman merely meant that a Republic was still a Republic with inherent flaws. It had its own benefits too, but people would remember the bad over the good far more easily. Nonetheless, it wasn't as if the odds of the Republic falling apart again was certain or likely so there hardly a fair analysis to go off of. So long as the Arch Provost made treaties that ensured Rendili wouldn't bleed dry for the galactic faction it'd be alright, and Camellia knew her friend was intelligent enough to ensure that. Flicking her tail, the Rendili woman stopped drumming the table and pulled out her company catalog to slide over. "I'll compare the economic weigh in one more time and give my recommendation to the Arch-Provost. I feel the trade benefits are worth the taxes and shift in our partnerships and trade routes. As for social integrity I'll leave that to the Arch-Provost, though if you mean as you say I doubt Rendili and it's people, human and non, won't experience much change in law or status. Which leaves the military support . . . .Rendili's Planetary Defense Forces are a mix of Stardrive's Security Personnel and Veterans who had served the prior Republic and remained on our homeworld after the Sith occupation. If called upon their experience ranges from combating piracy to full on military campaigns. I confess our equipment for personnel isn't as stellar as our naval assets so if the Republic is calling upon PDFs for support issuing Republic equipment would improve their effectiveness. I only point that out since most are Croa because of the Sith's occupation and such, which while humanoid do have troublesome ears as you can see."