Ain't No Place For No Hero [ TSE Dominion of Tion ]

[Sasha Santhe]

Sasha looked over at [member="Alec Sienar"] and smiled a little before returning her gaze to [member="Josephine Lorraine"]. “The Silver Jedi violated their treaty with us repeatedly.” Sloshing a drink into her mouth she continued on to the table were a server would make sure her glass was never empty. “We are a proud people, and an industrial powerhouse in the galaxy. Many large galaxy spanning corporations make this sector their home.” Her nose wrinkled as she thought about all the people not with them now. The old whiphid who had been replaced by a younger one, the drunk casino owning self styled playboy, the sad wallowing little man obsessed with droids and commerce, and of course the red headed queen of trade herself; the core group of the secret cabal of Tionese business men and women.

“There is this wonderful stereotype for the Jedi and Sith but so far all Sith Regimes that have managed to do good by us.” Sasha shrugged. “Our people have had enough of the Jedi I think. How many times have the Jedi committed mass slaughter while condoming the Sith for the same thing? Manaan, Nal Hutta, Ruusan, Manaan two more times, and Korriban. No we are well rid of them. Already a number of vessels used in your navy is build and engineered by Our corporation.” Turning to [member="Darth Carnifex"] Sasha nodded and said, “And myself and your Emperor have a relationship going back a long time. We have always come to an arrangement and long have I supplied his ventures. We ask only that we be allowed to do as we have always done, and maintain our own affairs."

 

[Rosalina]

The Tion Cluster
Capital City, Rudrig
Slaver Huntin’
Allies: [member="Darth Prazutis"]
Post: #4

Alm’s eyes widened suddenly, the muscles in her body contracting as the Shadow Hand reached back beneath the folds of his cloak. Her instincts told her to tense in preparation for an attack, and for a moment her mind ran through everything she could have possibly done wrong in the past few minutes. Lord Saarai was a firm but fair Master, though Alm had seen some Sith act cruelly to their apprentices. When she saw that she was not about to be cut down, her expression changed into something more curious.

Prazutis produced a datapad and horrific images began to flash across the screen—emaciated and helpless slaves being beaten down and tortured by their masters, women and children crying as they ran from the cruelty of the lawless Tion Cluster, heroic Blackblades as they mowed down the enemy. As someone who grew up where news was spread by word of mouth and had no access to the holonet, these images were especially impressive and elicited a sense of horror within her. Alm was too innocent to really grasp the idea of propaganda and truly believed that the Sith she had joined were out to right the galaxy whatever the means may be. The Jedi were weak and ineffective as she’d been taught and this was just more proof of their shortcomings.

Combine all that with a teenager hungry to belong to something and you get an angry amazonian woman with a heavy hammer.

“They die” Her voice had hardened as she believed that now, she understood. “I help.”

Full of righteous fury and passionate adrenaline, Alm strode into the building with her hammer at the ready. If there was anything inside her that thought this was a bad idea, she pushed it aside in favor of doing what she deemed to be right in her wildly emotional state with a smidgeon of approval seeking.

The hammer came down, and it was a bloodbath.

 

[Zef Halo]

SECOND MOON OF TION
OPERATION: IMPERIAL SOLIDARITY
STILETTO TWO-ONE

The squad turned a corner just round where the site of the explosions was when a building opposite of the street they marched on crumbled sending the soldiers into a state of increased alert. Trained to react quick, the Sith-Imperial troopers moved to the most tactically viable positions on the street.

Shouts emerged from the ruins. The three floored building was unfortunately inhabited.

:: Stiletto Actual, this is Stiletto Two Actual, how copy? ::

:: Loud and clear. ::

:: Building just crumbled besides us, cap'n. Possibly numerous casualties. Please advise. ::

:: Affirmative, Stiletto Two Actual. Alerting emergency services at the moment. Immediately begin rescuing attempts, secure the area and be vigilant. ::

:: Roger that, Cap'n. ::

Scipio hurried down towards the ruins while urging half his men to begin helping out with pulling out any survivors and tending to them, while the other half would secure the perimeter for any unexpected threats. The lieutenant hurled his rifle behind his back and began trying to pull massive chunks of construction material to free trapped people until the emergency services arrived.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​Just like that he changed a young acolytes future by giving her a peek behind the curtain, a glimpse behind the scenes of what really went on. While [member="Alm"] wouldn't completely grasp the idea of propaganda at this stage, it was something she would in the future. While it was a lifetime ago he still remembered what the feeling felt like wanting to be part of something. It was the first step down the path of the dark side. The hunger for knowledge, to learn and absorb everything masters teach you went hand in hand with it. The visual awoke a palpable anger within the youth that glowed like a flame.

​Death followed.

​The Shadow Hand followed Alm inside as she unleashed all of her fury on the slavers, choosing a giant hammer instead of a lightsaber. Instead of precise cuts and severed limbs from the burning blades of sunfire this combat was visceral, raw. As the hammer came down bone cracked and split giving way before her great strength. As it came down again and again blood splattered in every direction, he could smell its copper tinge in the air. It was savage, a frenzied slaughter. One of the hiding cowards even managed to get past the youth and made for the door behind Darth Prazutis, escape was just a few feet away.

​He never made it to the door.

​The Sith Lord simple rose his hand into the air his clenching his thumb and pointer finger together, and a swift spin of his fingers saw the man's head twist like a top the sickening sound of snapping bone filled the air as he tumbled to the ground.

Post 5

 

[Dante Sotari]

Location: Central Tion Museum of Art
Objective: We're off the clock
[member="Morgan Vance"]

It wasn't a date. If anyone had asked her she would have denied it. Possibly (likely {definitely}) rudely. Just two people, taking in the sights. Yep. That was all. Pals being pals. Not even- they worked together. Yeah.

That was it.

"Excuse you, I look nothing like that," she said, frowning the exact frown he was talking about.

The frown got frownier at the look he gave her.

"Ugh, you're impossible. Come on, I'm hungry."

Avoidance, dismissal, and a hair toss thrown in for good measure- Dante turned her back on the painting.

But she didn't forget it.

"Think we can get a glass of wine here? Or is this too 'family friendly' for that?"

 

[Kenth Typho]

Location: Central Tion Museum of Art
Objective: We're off the clock
[member="Dante Sotari"]

Morgan on the other hand wasn't really concerned about the status of this shindig they were on.

Date, not date, friendly trip down memory lane, it was all the same to him. Sotari was pleasant enough company when she got out of her own head and Morgan liked spending time with her. That was all that really mattered to him, just some downtime with Dan rather than getting shot with Sotari. "I doubt they got more here than crackers and some water, Dan."

He eyed the marble.

"Champagne for the VIPs, maybe." Head tilted. "We could go... check it out." It was probably illegal, no, most definitely illegal. But in truth Morgan was really bored with this entire thing.

The security here didn't look all that tight.

Besides, if they did get snatched, they could just make something up about running down more leads of the smuggler connection or something else.

Probably.

 

[Josephine Lorraine]

Josephine listened to both [member="Alec Sienar"] and [member="Sasha Santhe"] with the same pleasant smile on her face. She was the face of warmth, of pleasantness, and understanding. Of course, it wasn't true, but what really was in politics, these days?

She understood the reasoning behind the alteration to the garrison, she really did. How would she have felt if she was in their place, negotiating for Talravin? She had no doubt she would have the same in their position. It would seem both Talravani and the Tionese were proud peoples, determined to stay sovereign.

"I completely understand, my lord and lady. Consider the garrison gone. However, I must insist at least an outpost somewhere in the system. Viable for fleets and soldiers. Not to keep an eye on you, of course, but to provide overwatch in case of enemy attack. The treacherous ways of the Jedi are indeed quite apparent, and once they regain their strength, they may return. Or perhaps another enemy of order and law shall appear in the Outer Rim. If that day comes, it would be in both the TIonese and the Empire's best interest to have a quick launching point for our forces. And of course, we can keep it away from the main sight of your people, if that will make them feel better about it."

Also [member="Darth Carnifex"] was there.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Sasha Santhe"] | [member="Josephine Lorraine"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]

It was impossible to expect them to have no presence whatsoever in Tion space.

That would have been an unreasonable expectation and whilst some of the other noblemen might have been interested in pressing the issue... Alec was not one of them. This was a reasonable compromise- an outpost that would serve as a defensive staging ground when it was necessary, but basically with a skeleton crew so it would not infringe upon Tionese sovereignty.

Alec could swing that with the others.

"I could see a path where that becomes stomachable by the rest of the Tionese nobility." Sienar acknowledged with a nod. "We could find a spot where it doesn't draw too much attention, perhaps constructed with Tionese ingenuity." This was shared with a glance towards Sasha. Which other corporation would have been a prime candidate to make such a project feasible in the Cluster if not for Santhe.

It made a lot of sense.

"If that seems reasonable to everyone here?"

 

[Sasha Santhe]

"Right" Sasha said looking over at [member="Josephine Lorraine"]. "Obviously with new governnance comes new enemies and we need to be defended. We've done this a few times really we're well used to smooth transitions of power. We've always managed to maintain our autonomy" Smiling she looked at the assembled men and women. "If we are all agreed in principal we can have documents drawn up." she put a hand on the blonde woman and smiled. "And I have to introduce you to this delightful dress maker I know. I think if you show up in the latest Lianna fashion for a public appearance or two it would go a long way to showing a good face for the Empire." Waving a hand at [member="Darth Carnifex"] she smiled, "He's a bit gloomy for that role I think."

With a batting of her eyelashes in Kaine's direction Sasha turned back to Josephine practically hooking her arms and dragging her from the table. "Oh and we can gossip in the powder room. How lovely. I can tell you all about how I used to braid Alec's hair when we were younger." Turning to [member="Alec Sienar"] she winked. "Oh and it was scandalous. You know the family wanted us to be married? Unite the Santhe-Sienar lines. Outrageous! I told them I'd marry who I damn well choose and of course they relented."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

That was Kaine's cue to speak.

"That is a compromise the Empire is willing to make, Lord Sienar. Our people have always been allies, and I assure you that the injustices inflicted upon the Tion by the Silver Jedi will be avenged." It was an easy tool to use to sway the former peoples of the Silver Jedi to the side of the Empire.

The Jedi abandoned you. The Jedi betrayed you. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Some even came willingly, others needed to be coaxed. It was fortunate that the houses of Santhe and Sienar had not forgotten who had been their patrons many, many years ago.

Speaking of Santhe... "If that is all we need to discuss, I recommend that we officialize this agreement as swiftly as possible. Lady Santhe, would you mind joining me for a moment... alone."

He had words.

[member="Sasha Santhe"] | [member="Josephine Lorraine"] | [member="Alec Sienar"]​

 

[Sasha Santhe]

Sasha looked over at [member="Josephine Lorraine"] and gave her a polite smile. "I'll be right with you dear. I'm sure this will only take a minute it. Won't it?" Her smile turned into a smirk as she stared at [member="Darth Carnifex"]. Words. Right.

"Kaine," she said curtly when she was sure everyone was out of the room. "You don't call, you don't write, you just show up on my doorstep?" Sweet smiles and smirks changed to a flat expression. "A little courtesy would have been nice."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord rose and moved to face Sasha once the room had vacated, his dark eyes glimmered with annoyance. "Don't act coy with me, Sasha."

He pointed a finger at her, accusingly. "Why are you here? This was an official meeting between the Hegemony and the Empire, I was to meet with Lord Sienar with minimal intrusions. And what do you do? Show up unannounced and act like a child."

He was understandably peeved, Zambrano wasn't one to tolerate such nonsense when on official Imperial business.

"Do I need to discipline you like before?"

[member="Sasha Santhe"]​

 

[Sasha Santhe]

Sasha shrugged a little at Kaine. "If you're here for official Hegemon business you should know that I am a Hegemon official. Where I choose to go and what I choose to do is of my concern." Her eyes narrowed. "Besides my cousin is able enough but I wasn't sure what Sith you might bring and what they might try. I of course hold you in higher regard. Given our past relationship I doubted you'd try to manipulate my cousin through sorcery. Still can you speak for all your people? I've been in an Empire of Sith. There is always one or two who try some chicanery." Sasha shrugged. "And that pretty little blonde you brought. What if she was an agent? Better to let her think I'm the ditz that the media often portrays me as. Of course they are split between that and genius inventor. I like to leave people guessing."

The young woman started to turn to walk away. "Oh and regardless of what we do determine we need someone on point. A Pretty charismatic Blonde woman feeding the media details about how joining the Sith Empire would be beneficial to us would strike a better accord than a walking a corpse don't you think?" Inclining her head she looked over at the man and smiled again. "I'll follow you as Emperor, I'll respect you for your accomplishments in uniting the Sith once again, but I want you to know... I liked you better as a Corpse. Now when I talk to the Media am I going to have to explain away a bruise?"

[member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Alec Sienar"] [member="Josephine Lorraine"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Don't test me, Sasha," he growled, "Otherwise you will not find me in such an agreeable mood."

He lowered his hand, the threat of beating sense into Sasha passing as quickly as it came once it proved to be an ineffective tactic. "You think too lowly of my people if you believe Lorraine to be an enemy spy, I would not have brought her with me if she had proven to be anything less than loyal. And if she was, how it would it look on the Empire if it allowed fools to have a seat at the table of Lords? Your facade was more potentially damaging then you realize."

Still, he knew that despite all of Sasha's foolishness she was not one to abandon old loyalties anytime soon.

He could live with that, at least.

"It is fortunate that Lord Sienar doesn't share your disposition."

[member="Sasha Santhe"]​

 

[Sasha Santhe]

"Lord Sienar," Sasha said rolling her eyes. "Could learn a bit. I risked very little. With you here I knew everything would be fine. We've always been good together. Alive, dead, it doesn't matter we've always carried on with mutual respect and admiration." she let out a sigh and sat down on the conference table. "Besides I didn't know how many Sith would show up to this little shindig you had here. You can understand my desire to protect the interests of myself and my family. If nothing else I'm sure you can relate to that."

Another smile crossed her face. "Besides. I'm charming. [member="Josephine Lorraine"] will be a media darling. [member="Alec Sienar"] will continue to run the business and all will be fine in the galaxy. Nothing I've done jeopardized that. And if it hadn't just been you and your cure little diplomat I might have been a bit more professional." Snorting she added, "you're taste hasn't really change that much on that front has it?" She Winked. Sasha Santhe winked at the Dark Lord of the Sith, Emperor of a large swath of space. "Besides whats the point of life if you can't have some fun? I'd have assumed after your death you'd have learned that much. So I think I'm going to try to schmooze with Josie and do girl stuff. If you don't mind?"

[member="Darth Carnifex"]