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?"

 

[Karl Von Strauss]

Tag: Xiaan Torr

Karl walked between the lackeys, following the one in front of him close enough to not encroach on the one trailing behind him. As his arms followed his body's movement, he casually flicked his wrist in a circle, then brought it up to his chest with a slight tss coming from his lips and rotated the wrist a bit more, playing into the arthritis that people his age usually had. He, however, did not have arthritis, and the flick of his wrist was a signal to his cloaked bodyguard, C1RC3, to begin scoping the area around the factory.

He entered the conference room and saw the young Twi'lek dressed in her scantily clad outfit, he made the effort to look her up and down as if showing interest. He knew that in particular deals, it was better to play into the situation to make it seem like you have no idea what you're doing. He smiled as she approached, introducing herself as Xiaan Torr. He began to take off the poncho as he spoke, "It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of a beautiful young woman as yourself, Ms. Torr." He purposely allowed a flask to fall from a pocket inside the poncho, he quickly snatched it up. "Sorry about that, I'm not used to these clothes. My son picked them out for me. But, I digress, let's get into the meat and potatoes of this meeting, shall we?"

He cleared his throat with a gruff hmpf before continuing. "I am in need of extra funding. I have already liquidated most of my personal accounts to help fund things thus far, but without a new line of credit, my control over the Mon Calamari Sector grows... insufficient."

 

[Xiaan Torr]

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

A tiny smirk formed on Xiann's lips as she saw Karl's eyes take in her appearance. She was too well trained to think one look had wrapped the Moff around her finger, but there was some reaction which was good for her. As Karl removed his outer layer of attire, an effort to get comfortable Xiann guessed, her grin grew slightly. Then the flask fell free and the grin disappeared. There was nothing in her notes to suggest a drinking problem. Was the drop staged to make her think she had an advantage? Karl was seasoned in many areas of expertise, Xiann would need to be very cautious.

"It is a bit of an adjustment from the penthouse to the basement," the young Twi'lek responded with a nod. "Don't worry we will have you back in that handsome uniform soon enough."

The Moff was straight to the point. He needed capital, something that everyone heavily invested in the Empire was suffering at the moment. The Kilran credit was all but useless. "I can see your accounts amply filled in the matter of hours. Some Imperial citizens were not afforded the luxury of using only Imperial credits. Seems that has become a blessing instead of a curse now. Are you looking to procure a loan? An investment? The two have very different terms."