Private A Moff's Ransom for an Empire's Birth

[Karl Von Strauss]

​

Set before the events of "From the Ashes..."

Karl felt the, Celestia slightly shift rearward; a sign that the ship had completed its journey from Mon Cala to the manufacturing world of Jaminere. As his ship dropped out from hyperspace, her white hull was not seen, as she had activated her cloaking measures briefly after entering real space. To sensors of civilian ships, it would look like a hyperspace disturbance or a fluctuation in their system's programming. To those aware of his arrival, it was a sign that he had arrived and should be expected.

His ship moved on a predetermined path, plotted by a datapad he received about a week prior. It was unmarked, aside from a small, almost unnoticeable krykna spider inlaid into a button on the side of the device, and a timed lock not allowing the contents to be read until a certain time. Today was that day. The ship shuddered as its landing procedures began, sitting down in a small, private hangar owned and operated by who-knows-who. Karl stood at the top of the landing ramp as the ship powered down, ending its cloaking. He quickly looked above to see if the sky was visible; he eyed the industrial smog-covered air, but only for a moment as the overhead doors clanged shut.

He walked down the ramp towards two individuals, who he assumed would take him to a meeting place. Karl was not wearing his normal black and dark purple uniform, but something ignoble. Dirt-covered boots and pants, a grey hooded poncho that covered a synthleather jacket with too many years worn into it, his hair wasn't styled but instead pulled back into a messy ponytail that left far too many strands of hair behind.

"Well then, gents. Shall we get going?" he asked, putting his hood up.

The Krykna

 

[Xiaan Torr]

Objective: Facilitate economic stability of Calamari Sector government
Location: Factory District, Jaminere
Outfit: Tank and Skirt
Tag: Karl Von Strauss

The two lacked did their job and brought the subject to the agreed upon location. The factory was not exactly something that the Krykna hid amongst their assets. Until the riots on Lianna, the use of this facility as a meeting place would have been outlandish. Not because the Krykna were in danger on Lianna, they were more free now than ever before, but because the people needing their aid and/or protection were not welcome. On Jaminere the only thing that mattered to the public was that the machines kept running and jobs continued. The Krykna did that.

Though payments, bribes and other business was done in Imperial credits, the holdings of the Imperial underworld were purposely kept in more universally spent forms of currency. That being the case, this was not the first meeting made with the governors of the fallen Empire. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Xiann sat on the long table in the center of the conference room that had been set aside for the meeting. Nothing about her appearance portrayed her as a being with the power or savvy to make galaxy altering deals. Scant attire was a blatant distraction attempt for any subject with interests in female companionship. Youthfulness and doe eyes portrayed an innocence that should be easily taken advantage of. Both were mirages, Xiann was a clever calculating agent of the underworld. This arrangement might end up being easy for the Moff, but it would only be because Xiann wished it.

The shabbily outfit Moff was led into the room and only Xiann's strict discipline kept a smirk from forming on her lips. She pushed off the table and bounded energetically to her feet. The young Twi'lek started towards the Moff in equal parts sensual sway and energetic skip. She grinned as she looked over Karl.

"You clean up well Moff," Xiann commented with a laugh. "I understand you are in need of resources. The Krykna is happy to enter into a mutually beneficial arrangement. I am Xiann Torr, voice of the Domina. Shall we start discussions of how we can help each other in the trying times?"