A Kuati Business To Take Care of (Lady Silencia)

[Darren Brunswick]

Kuat, 10:00 am Galactic Standard Time.​

Darren Brunswick was a busy man. Well, at least for today. Being the Senator of Kuat was not, by any means, an easy thing. Neither it was being part of the Kuat Drive Yards Council. And it most certainly wasn't easy being both a Senator of Kuat and a part of the KDY Council. His grandfather gained the Brunswick family a seat in the Kuati council, and after the death of his father, Darren had been in his family seat in the council. Today was supposed to be his day to kick back and relax and maybe get to spend some time with his wife and kids. But before he did that, he had to meet up with a very important person: Lady Shamalain, Sovereign of Kuat and the Kuat Drive Yards.
"We're coming out of hyperspace, sir." His personal spaceship's pilot's voice echoed across the ship as Brunswick watched the briliant light of hyperspace fade away and be replaced suddenly by his home planet, Kuat. Encircling the Kuat was a large aritificial ring, where the Kuat Drive Yards have been manufacturing its products since its start of existence. His spaceship flew towards the aritificial ring, not the actual planet, for it was where his meeting would be taking place today. As his starship slowed down for its approach into the hangar in which Lady Shamalain would be waiting, he could hear his pilot speaking to the Kuat Traffic Controller: "Requesting permission to land in Hangar 015, this is Priority Flight 255 from Courascant."

 

[Quietus]

"Permission granted. Your route is clear. Welcome to the Kuati Drive Yards."


"My Lady, Senator Brunswick's ship has just exited hyperspace outside of sector seven," DiVanca looked up from the holoscreen at her desk, pointer finger punctuating the intercom button, "shall I direct him to the Council Chambers once they've docked?"

"No," came a short reply, "we'll be meeting in my office. Greet him in the hangar and see that he is securely guided in. He'll have his own retinue, of course, but that's hardly adequate. That's all." The dismissive tone cured DiVanca from any desire for rebuttal and the Assistant promptly stood from her chair, gathered her coat and holopad and made a clipped exit from the room.

Lady Lorelei Shamalain sat at her desk staring at a broad spectrum of screens displayed on the opposite wall of the room. News and stock reports filtered through, separate pieces on each screen depicting questionably important materials from all across the galaxy. A long time ago, eons perhaps, she would have scoffed at this. Of course a long time ago Silencia had sat at the head of the Sith Council and administered her knowledge by means far more arcane. Her dark methods at that point in time often left her drained mentally and emotionally, but deeply connected to galactic events involving her less than pleasant comrades.

This way, she mentally remarked, was by far more convenient, although delving through the muck and muddle of politics and getting to the true grit of things was more often than not a laborious undertaking. Still, if one paid close enough attention and if one's mind was worldly, they knew what sorts of things to spend time on. For now her time was spent looking over recent movements made by the Senate. It had been too long since her last report with Senator Brunswick, so it was due to meet with the man again and perhaps include him on a few of her own plans.


~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Good morning, Senator Brunswick," DiVanca stood just beyond the walkway leading in from Hangar 015, "good to see you again. If you'll follow me, we'll take the shuttle to the Council Sector."

 

[Darren Brunswick]

"Permission granted. Your route is clear. Welcome to the Kuati Drive Yards."

With their landing clearence, Brunswick's two pilots flew their ship slowly down into Hangar 015. Brunswick himself quickly straightened out the suit that he was wearing, adjusted the tie a bit, then stood infront of the starship's main exit as he listened to the unmistakenable hissing sound of the landing gear slowly making contact with the floor of the Kuat Drive Yard's hangar. With another hiss, the door infront of him slid sideways, and a stair platform was lowered to the ground. 'A few hours of this, and I'll have the rest of the weekend to spend with my family.' thought the senator happily as he put on his best smile and greeted the aide.
"Good morning, Senator Brunswick," DiVanca stood just beyond the walkway leading in from Hangar 015, "good to see you again. If you'll follow me, we'll take the shuttle to the Council Sector." said DiVanca, the lady in the hangar.
"Ah, good to see you again my dear. Lets get down to business, shall we? I'd hate to keep Lady Lorelei Shamalain waiting." he remarked, following her.

 

[Quietus]

"That is well," DiVanca replied, unamused, "the Lady Lorelei hates to wait."

A short while later the Assistant, Senator, his personal Guards exited the tram shuttle just outside the main Council Sector lift. They were greeted by a retinue of KDY Guards assigned to the sector and escorted in. This area of the Drive Yards was likely the most hospitable and eloquent while maintaining the rigidity of the structured establishment it sat within. Here, at least, a bit of decor from Kuat's most notable artisans were on display. Every few feet their footsteps fell deftly as they crossed hand-weaved carpets. At the center of the grand entrance hall the ceiling arched upwards to where a ornamental chandelier cast its glow. The group passed through congregations of assorted Aristocrats and big-wigs, many of whom bowed and greeted the Senator properly. DiVanca did not allow him to become entangled in talks of politics, as many would attempt, and instead dismissed them all tersely.

When they arrived, finally, at the antechamber of the CEO's suit DiVanca lead him through the exterior office where her own desk sat and swept through the doorway into the expansive observation chamber that was the CEO's throne. The room itself was wide and broad, the entire far end wall lined with ten layers of duraglass windows that overlooked the main hold of the Drive Yards. From here it was easy to observe. Easy to think. It was quiet and ethereal - somewhat like being underwater with the thousands of bodies of ships gracefully passing by like schools of fish in a current.

Lorelei sat off to the right at a holoprojector table overwhich the images of her latest project, a massive beast of a ship brought in for repairs by Lord Samoth, was currently twinkling in blue light. She looked up as they entered and smiled graciously, "Senator Brunswick, always a pleasure. I trust your journey was uneventful and that you are eager to start. I won't keep you from your family for very long..." chuckling, the woman stood from her seat and approached, holding out her right hand to shake and leaning in to kiss the man's cheek.

 

[Darren Brunswick]

Brunswick had ridden the tram shuttle hundreds of times before. But he had never felt as nervous like now... He, however, made sure to keep the nervousness out of his face as he smiled, grinned, and shook hands with the congregations of Aristocrats and big wigs that he passed by. The grand entrance hall simply was a magnificent piece of art... It would've cost vast sums of credits to even buy half the carpets that they were walking upon. Slightly to his disappointment, DiVanca did not seem to want him to get tangled in talks with the people, but he reminded himself he had a family eagerly waiting for him in the family estate back below on the planet of Kuat.

The CEO's suit. The dream of every Kuatian. One rarely ever got to set their foot upon this chamber, only if they had a special arrangement with the KDY's CEO. And CEOs did not invite people into their personal offices too often. The room itself was wide and broad, the entire far end wall lined with ten layers of duraglass windows in which he had a clear view of the fleets of ships that KDY were in process of manufacturing, others he could tell were being repaired or reinspected. The Kuat Drive Yards always kept their products up to date in technology: after all, why else would they be the #1 shipbuilder in the Galaxy?

"Senator Brunswick, always a pleasure. I trust your journey was uneventful and that you are eager to start. I won't keep you from your family for very long..." came the voice of the Sovereign of Kuat, the very woman that could move vast fleets of KDY simply using the finger tips and a holographic tablet. Brunswick jumped a little when she guessed what he was thinking about: his family. How she did that all the time, he had no idea. She always seemed to read people's thought quite easily: another reason not to lie to the lady. Senator Brunswick quickly bowed, and kissed the lady's hands when she held it out. "I hope you have had a delightful month, m'lady. Always a pleasure meeting you... you're looking as beautiful and young as ever, ofcourse." he said pleasantly, keeping a delighted smile on his face.

 

[Quietus]

Smile tightening as she pulled away, the Lady eyed the Senator dubiously, "Please, Senator," and suddenly all warmth in her smile froze inside those lurid green eyes, "sit." The word was spoken shortly, carrying with it an uncomfortable edge. Movements hastening in directness, she turned to the holoprojection table and moved to key in a code. The twinkling blue image of the gigantic vessel dissipated and was quickly replaced with that of Kuat and the surrounding drive yards.

"Do you see this here?" she pointed to an area of sector 11, "That is Sector 11 of the KDY. Why, Senator, was I just informed that it is in the process of being purchased by Alderaan." It was times like these that the blurring of lines often came into effect. A darkness settled in the room, making even the bright stars beyond the massive viewport seem to grow dim. The Senator would feel a heavy weight settle on his chest, a feeling of dread, of deep, sickening guilt. Was that the light playing tricks on him, or were the Lady's eyes suddenly pinpricks of visible, heated fury?

 

[Darren Brunswick]

Senator Brunswick blinked slightly in confusion when Lady Lorelei seemed to almost order him to sit. He quickly sat at a nearby chair, wondering what could've suddenly had made the lady so annoyed. He watched as the Kuati CEO's holoprojection table projected the image of the planet of Kuat and its artificial KDY orbit, and zoomed in slightly on sector 11 of the Kuat Drive Yard's artificial ring.
"That is Sector 11 of the KDY. Why, Senator, was I just informed that it is in the process of being purchased by Alderaan."

Was it only him or did the room grow dimmer quite suddenly? And... was the lady's eyes almost burning in what seemed like burning fury? He could tell simply by observing that his CEO was ready to shoot him out of her office via an air lock exit if he didn't give her a pleasant answer. Brunswick however, calmly straightened his suit and returned a calm gaze back to Lady Lorelei's furious glare.

"M'lady, you have been misinformed. Yes, certainly, the Senator of Alderaan indeed has offered a fortune to purchase that sector. But as you will perfectly well know, the KDY Council and you, ofcourse, disallowed this purchase. I, as my duty as the Senator of Kuat calls me to do so, has clearly told Alderaan's senator as well as the entire Galactic Senate that KDY's ship yards weren't for sale due to the decision made. We are not selling Sector 11 to Alderaan, and whatever Alderaan claims is incorrect. I have come today to make positive discussion with you on the future of Kuat and its drive yards. If you, however, are interested in questioning my loyalty to Kuat, m'lady, I will be more than happy to answer your questions in perfect honesty."
A little disappointed that the Kuati CEO might've simply called him to her office just because she wanted to question his loyalty and duty to his planet, he continued to simply gaze at Lady Lorelei, no longer with his fixed smile.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Avadreia Lacroix had been overseeing a factory fire in Sector 8 when the time for the meeting came, but she couldn't hear the plaintive cries of her assistant over the roaring fire, crew movement, and alarm klaxons, so she arrived to the meeting a few minutes later than she would have liked. "Is he still alive?" Lacroix demanded to DiVanca as the aide ushered her through the suite. She thought she saw a smirk on the professional's face; Avadreia's own lackey gave a sycophantic guffaw.

"Don't overdo it, Jarn," Avadreia murmured as she stopped to check her appearance in her compact. "I'd hate for you to strain something. Go back to the office and make sure the yards don't burn down."

A moment later the Director of Operations entered the office and offered a courtly bow to Lady Silencia. "Ma'am. Ah, Senator, how nice to see you," she said in a tone that suggested it wasn't nice at all. Avadreia stepped further into the office and waited to be invited to sit, folding her hands behind her back after self-consciously smoothing her high-necked, hip-length jacket.

 

[Quietus]

"Save your face, Senator," Lorelei replied waspishly, "it's not your loyalty I doubt. Only your penchant for worrying over comma placement. Miss Lacroix, welcome. Senator you are familiar with our Director of Operations. I invited her to this meeting be sure nothing is overlooked."

The CEO invited Avadreia to a seat with a sweep of a hand but remained standing herself.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Avadreia took a seat and crossed her ankles, pushing her feet to one side of the chair together. "Thank you, ma'am. I trust, Senator, that you haven't found any new and interesting ways to nationalize KDY while I've been putting out the fire in Sector 8. No novel attempts to test the limits of the Constitution for the time being?" The Director folded her hands over her knees and smiled across the room towards Senator Brunswick.

"I certainly hope you weren't attempting to tell our Sovereign that you weren't involved in some sort of attempt to sell a section of this shipyard. Do I need to summon the transcripts from the Senate?" She sighed and pulled a datapad from her breast pocket. "Let's not, shall we? The point isn't that you complied with the Council's decision, Senator, it is that you attempted to make the deal in the first place. I really can't fathom it."

 

[Darren Brunswick]

Brunswick wasn't feeling the slightest bit amused at these remarks. Well, these remarks haven't been made to be amusing anyways.
"Save your face, Senator," Lady Lorelei replied waspishly, "it's not your loyalty I doubt. Only your penchant for worrying over comma placement. Miss Lacroix, welcome. Senator you are familiar with our Director of Operations. I invited her to this meeting be sure nothing is overlooked."
The Director of Operations of KDY soon entered the CEO's office. When the woman entered, Brunswick did not return her greeting.
"Thank you, ma'am. I trust, Senator, that you haven't found any new and interesting ways to nationalize KDY while I've been putting out the fire in Sector 8. No novel attempts to test the limits of the Constitution for the time being? I certainly hope you weren't attempting to tell our Sovereign that you weren't involved in some sort of attempt to sell a section of this shipyard. Do I need to summon the transcripts from the Senate?"
Brunswick snorted slightly. 'Right... and what are you to 'summon' things from the Galactic Senate? You're not even part of the KDY Council.' he thought to himself.
"Let's not, shall we? The point isn't that you complied with the Council's decision, Senator, it is that you attempted to make the deal in the first place. I really can't fathom it." At that point, the Kuati Senator was ready to push someone out of the airlock. This was plain outrageous.
"Well, director. I too hope that you haven't found any new and interesting ways to burn down the KDY shipyard while I was in Courascant trying to get legislations passed to lower taxes on KDY." replied Brunswick quite coldly. "So, ma'am, what you are telling me right now is that I, the democratically elected senator of Kuat and the member of the Council of KDY, had intentionally tried to sell a part of our company's precious shipyards when I was clearly aware that no such thing could possibly happen? I would love it if you could possibly 'summon' transcripts from the Senate."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

The Director smiled her saccharine, not-quite-sweet smile and tapped her datapad. "Senator, has anyone ever mentioned that when you try to speak authoritatively on the running of the Kuat Drive Yards, you look like a dilettante? Let's leave the heavy lifting to those who know better. The Kuat Drive Yards is full of fuel and fire and metal being worked with at breathtakingly high temperatures. Fires are a routine part of the operation here. It's what happens once the flame erupts that counts, and we have the most efficient suppression and containment system in the galaxy."

She paused a moment, glancing down at her datapad before putting her bifocals on to read. "And I quote from Senator Vincent Ventare, '...the good senator from Kuat has already agreed to the terms...' Forgive me, Senator Brunswick, but is there another Senator from Kuat that I have not had the pleasure of meeting? Or did the official Senate record misquote Senator Ventare?" She smiled primly, the look menacing rather than friendly.

"Oh and Senator? You cannot think that I would allow KDY to burn under my watch. Not when it is the lifeblood of Kuat's economy and galactic power. And not when it has the capacity to have such a great influence on Kuati politics. For instance, it could donate significantly in the next Senate election. Perhaps enough credits to turn the tide. Now how could you think I would let all that burn up?"