An unofficial meeting (OP & VA only)

[Darth Banshee]

Sabrina had arranged to meet the leader of omega protectorate, one [member="Sarge Potteiger"]. The meeting was not to be formal, but it would form a basic understanding of would be neighbours. There was lot things to they could talk about, none of which need a formal treaty. This could be anything for agreeing they could trade with one another, that if members of each faction did something to the other, it would not result in war. Though the later would increase tensions, and there was no saying if it did how that would end. She was also was worried, after all she was there prisoner on hoth for a while. She had been beaten by them, and given a death sentence. The was also some other dubious things that happened, in that prison stint.

She arrived in a corvette her new Firestorm class, she also had few others with her who were waiting to disembark when she did. She was unsure how this meeting would go, but for sake her daughter she wanted to make sure they relative safety for her new place in the galaxy. The ship passed overhead of the planet , she looked through view port as they did. She could still see some of scars of the battle that took place, when she was still a sith on the planet. She wonder what had happened to captain markus, and her crew that day. The ship landed just outside of naboo capital, under the cover of darkness. So none of the locals, or anyone else who did not know about the meeting would get the wrong idea. As this was as informal as it could get, she took with her a loaf of bread. It was old tradition, done with ex-enemies. One that symbolised you could forgive, but not necessarily forget. As she disembarked the corvette, she looked around to see who was there to greet them, and take them to the meeting point.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Sabrina Kotass"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"]

Solan yawned as he walked, his hands stretched out behind him while he strode forth. On his back was the Krath War Blade he used, though it remained in its sheathed. On his body was the normal things, a Jung-Juu Fiber Armor under his normal clothing with the Viola Trenchcoat on over those. Inside it was a datapad, numerous other instruments, and lastly his commlink. He did keep the two DC-17 blasters that he had had made due to their versitility during the far off clone wars and not knowing of any weapon that would be able to deliver the same punch yet remain compact. Of course he would hand over the blasters and his blade before he came anywhere near the Omega Protectorate. Hell, he would do it out of the respect for [member="Feena Mason"] who ruled the planet and it gave him curioisity if she would be here. It would be nice to see the woman that taught him healing.

"Hey, Sabrina, how did you even get them to hear us again. Last time kind of went no where..." He was curious but he in no way was complaining. He had fought for the Omega Protectorate before, defended Naboo. Infact the mere placement of this meeting was more than welcome to him, it always felt like a welcoming and beautiful place. His hands started running from his head to behind him, crossed and placed carefully there. Looking over at the woman near him as he waited for her to speak and waited for anyone to show up for this meeting. After all, as head of the Diplomacy corp in the Vitae... Solan was more than excited.

 

[Feena]

Feena Mason, Queen of Naboo, Master healer, and possibly the worst mother on this side of the galaxy, was tired. Not sleepy. She was beyond that now. She was just... tired. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. The job, the politicians, the illness, her son's recklessness. It was going to kill her and she knew it. One day she'd be meeting with a leader of another world and the next? Bam. Pushing up daisies.

Maybe today would be the day.

She sat alone quietly in the large meeting room, hands folded neatly in her lap. She did not sit at the head of the table. That was reserved for who had called this meeting. She was really only making an appearance because it was polite. She was the Queen of this planet after all.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

[member="Sabrina Kotass"] wasn't greeted by the Lord Protector, who was on his way in from his home in Lake Country. Rather, she'd find herself facing a pair of power-armored warriors sporting the digitized camo of the OmegaPyre, bolters held in firm - but not threatening - grip. Their barrels were pointed down. They didn't say a word to either her or [member="Solan Charr"], but they would escort her to the meeting room where [member="Feena Mason"] would be.

By that point, Sarge was there; somewhat.

Dressed only in a fresh set of fatigues in the mottled blacks, greens and browns of the Protectorate, his shape was made indistinct and hazy by the camo cloak wrapped around his shoulders. He hadn't 'called' the meeting, but he wasn't going to let guests come in and sit at the head of his table. So it was that [member="Mara D'lessio Merrill"] came to be here, with a specter of hazy air at her shoulder.

With his head down and face hidden, it was hard to tell who or what was there. He just wanted to see how this played out.

If he were to openly be here, he'd probably need to arrest Sabrina; that would not do good for 'informal diplomatic function.'

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Feena Mason"] [member="Solan Charr"] [member="Sabrina Kotass"]

"Hi," said Mara brightly. As her godfather had instructed, she sat at the head of the table. Her stomach rumbled as she noticed Kotass's ceremonial loaf of bread, but it wouldn't be polite to ask. Maybe she could prevail on the Queen's staff for a snack afterward, and namedrop Dad if necessary. He'd captured or killed two hundred Templars at the Theed wall breach. Least the Nabooians (great word) could do was offer her a sandwich if she asked.

"I'm Captain Mara D'Lessio Merrill." At least when her parents let her fly her own little ship, which was sometimes. "The Lord Protector's asked me to be the one to, uh, welcome you to Naboo." She could talk like a formal grownup if she had to; at a guess, today she had to. Sarge hadn't given her too many instructions beyond 'don't screw this up,' so it was kind of a 'your discretion' thing. Learn to talk like the people you're around, Dad had always said, and she'd done her level best.

Besides, even in a worst-case scenario, Naboo had elected queens her age.

"So, we welcome the representatives of the Vitty Alliance." She'd checked with a protocol droid, who'd admitted that it didn't know how the Alliance pronounced its own name, but who had told her that vitt-ee and vy-tay and vy-tee and vee-tay and vee-tee and vittay were all possible pronunciations. Feth; she'd already screwed up. She'd meant to guess 'vittay.' She compensated with a beaming smile.

 

[Darth Banshee]

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Feena Mason"] [member="Solan Charr"]

As she disembarked from the ship, she saw her escort two power armoured warriors. The guns were held respectfully, but she was under no illusions they would and were capable of using them. She gave them a slight bow as sign of respect, as they escorted her and solan to darkened speeder. They were taken directly to the palace, they did not deviate from the set route. The was no conversation on route, from the guards or the driver. They pulled into an underground area of the palace, so less people would see them arrive. The corridors she was taken down, had no one else in them which was a little strange. Though when she arrived at the informal meeting with solan charr, she saw a table the queen of naboo, a young girl who possibly had some zeltron blood in her. The very species that the sith were massacring, that made her and [member="Darth Veles"] leave the sith. Though he had fallen back into old ways, she had remained true to herself stayed away from them. She fallen in love with [member="Rexus Drath"], and hid for while with him whilst there little baby girl was born. She was safe on there home world, she was going to risk herself for a chance of peace for her.

She waited to be greeted with solan, and told where they could sit. She also put the bread on the table she hoped one of them would realise it was symbol and what off.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Sabrina Kotass"] [member="Solan Charr"]

[member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Feena Mason"] [member="Solan Charr"] [member="Sabrina Kotass"]

"Hi," said Mara brightly. As her godfather had instructed, she sat at the head of the table. Her stomach rumbled as she noticed Kotass's ceremonial loaf of bread, but it wouldn't be polite to ask. Maybe she could prevail on the Queen's staff for a snack afterward, and namedrop Dad if necessary. He'd captured or killed two hundred Templars at the Theed wall breach. Least the Nabooians (great word) could do was offer her a sandwich if she asked.

"I'm Captain Mara D'Lessio Merrill." At least when her parents let her fly her own little ship, which was sometimes. "The Lord Protector's asked me to be the one to, uh, welcome you to Naboo." She could talk like a formal grownup if she had to; at a guess, today she had to. Sarge hadn't given her too many instructions beyond 'don't screw this up,' so it was kind of a 'your discretion' thing. Learn to talk like the people you're around, Dad had always said, and she'd done her level best.

Besides, even in a worst-case scenario, Naboo had elected queens her age.

"So, we welcome the representatives of the Vitty Alliance." She'd checked with a protocol droid, who'd admitted that it didn't know how the Alliance pronounced its own name, but who had told her that vitt-ee and vy-tay and vy-tee and vee-tay and vee-tee and vittay were all possible pronunciations. Feth; she'd already screwed up. She'd meant to guess 'vittay.' She compensated with a beaming smile.

"Please," said Mara, gesturing at the empty chairs, "have a seat. Don't hesitate."

Oo, formal. Nice. Maybe I can get the hang of this after all.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Sabrina Kotass"] [member="Feena Mason"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

Solan was far less formal in movement or looks than Kotass already as he looked at those around the table with a smile. Feena Mason was indeed here, a woman he smiled at and bowed his head to for a few moments while they were greeted and he took the moment to then look at the other one. Someone young, a few years younger than he had even been himself when he set out on his own. He had a unique view on how mature one could become through early years, far more mature than most pampered youth ever were.

So he entertained the thought and turned his focus directly to Mara. "Thank you for greeting us Captain Merrill. Are you related to lady Rave Merrill?" He would wait for her answer before turning his head to his seat before grinning and speaking once more. "And don't worry about the name, i can't pronounce either. Just call us the Canine Alliance, our leader is part dog afterall. And some would probably classify me as one myself. But i digress. My name is Solan Charr, one of the leaders of the Vitae. Sabrina Kotass is one of the leaders as well. A less... outgoing one at that."

His body would slowly lower itself into the seat before he spoke one last sentence. "None the less though, it is a pleasure to see meet you Lady Merrill and see you again your majesty."

 

[Darth Banshee]

[member="Solan Charr"] [member="Mara"] D'Lessio Merril l[member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Feena Mason"]

Sabrina smiled at the young girl, and replied Thank you. She then moved to seat and pulled out and sat down, and placed the bread on the table. She said First off I would like to apologise for my actions, last time I was here. That is no longer me, and I have left them behind. If there is any compensation due, please let me know. So I can replay it, and make some recompense for those actions. She wanted to get this out the way first, as it would be the biggest ortlan in the room. So to get this out the way, meant they could talk about more pleasant things. Though to be fair her actions were limited, she was captured by [member="Ayden carter"] trying to get on board a starbase, so she could sabotage it. Then again they may use it against her know, and try carry out that death sentence.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Solan Charr"] [member="Sabrina Kotass"]

"Rave was my aunt," she said quickly. She'd been asked that before, often enough that losing her aunt didn't sting like it used to. "Nice to...meet you, Mr. Charr, Ms. Kotass. And don't bother with 'Lady'. 'Captain' will do just fine."

She glanced at that symbolic loaf of bread and felt her mouth water. But nope. Time for business.

"Ms. Kotass, this meeting's informal. I'll pass your apology on to th'Lord Protector, and maybe he'll have something to say about paying it back." Or, knowing Sarge, payback -- but that was neither here nor there. If the camo-cloaked bodyguard wanted to talk, he'd talk. "The whole thing's a little over my head." Short joke, short joke, keep'em guessing. "So let's move on. Go ahead and speak your piece. What brings you to the Omega Protectorate?"

 

[Aithne Charr]

He remained silent this time but noticed Mara's gaze at the bread for the moment and smiled to himself as he thought about the trip here. He wouldn't be opposed to something like a good meal but he would let business be business for now. After all, no need to insult our hosts with something so trivial as food. He turned his eyes on the captain again out of curiosity. She was the niece of the famous woman. Curious. He wondered who her parent's were, but that was a thought for another time and not one for now. Kotass could answer this one though, it seemed she was addressed as it was and he could do for a moment where he didn't talk. That and he was already thinking of something else too. Lots of things on his mind and alot of things to think about these days.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Sabrina Kotass"] [member="Solan Charr"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Feena Mason"]

There was a long and, for Mara, uncomfortable silence. Something needed to shift before they'd be comfortable talking to her. She could take the edge off, at a cost to her professional (heh) image. And progress was progress, in the end.

"Well, come on," she said, trying a smile on for size. "Let's be real. You're after safety or advantage or maybe both. Probably just aiming for an informal non-aggression pact with a side of free trade foundations. Standard package. I hit the nail on the head, or what?"

 

[Aithne Charr]

Solan sighed as he smiled and nodded. "I believe that we can both see the benefits of such a pact. Granted as you said it will be highly informal, probably not come towards anything big for a decent time until the Vitae can further prove its ability to stand against some of the powers as widely capable as yours. But there is the fact that safety for our people need be considered. The Vitae has no delusion that you are a danger to the well being of the galaxy, especially considering who your current leaders are as a whole. The same cannot be said about how you view us, which i am sure is not anywhere near highly if i am correct?. So simple non-aggression pacts and free trade between us both serve as a beginning for the future as well as increased prosperity between our peoples. No?" He smiled and was much happier that the whole stiff neck deal was over, people needed to relax more anyways and to just let bygone be bygones. But hey, that's the Galaxy for you sometime. You steal a cookie from the jar, they blow up your planet... or was it you steal super weapon plans. Meh, Solan forgets from time to time.

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"] [member="Sabrina Kotass"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Darth Banshee]

[member="Sarge Potteiger"][member="Feena Mason"][member="Solan Charr"][member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

​Yes that would cover the most of it, though I would like to ask. She paused for a moment, then spoke, If one ours of your people happen to break local laws, then not to hold it against the rest of us, not to intervene with local justice. This was basically asking to respect each others borders, she took a sip of glass of wine, hers eyes moved to cloaked figure, she knew who he was after all she met a couple times. He was the lord protector after all, and she was quite accomplished spy. Very few thing got past her in an open room, but then again he would not show himself, as he may be forced to arrest her.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Sabrina Kotass"] [member="Solan Charr"]

"Well, I'm not exactly empowered to negotiate," said Mara with half a grin. "But if you're asking for the Protectorate not to intervene if you arrest their people, that'd depend on what happened and how. I'd think you'd want to be pretty careful about who you arrested. See, on the flipside, when it comes to the Protectorate maybe arresting some of your people in Omega territory, it'd depend on what they'd done, but Protectorate justice systems have been around the block. They're solid. Proven. In the Vitae Alliance, who's got power to arrest folks, try them, and stick'em in jail? And have they had those positions for longer than a couple of months? See, sure, it's tit-for-tat, but it's a little lopsided. What would you say about that?"

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

There was a major reason Sarge was allowing Mara to do this in his stead - and it was mostly because the Merrils had a proven track record of knowing what to say, when, and how forcefully. Verbally, the Lord Protector was much the same way he was in a hand to hand fight; in your face, rough, and all too keen on pinning you down. But if he'd had an inkling that Sabrina had puzzled out what the ephemeral haze was, he didn't show.

That was his favorite part of the camo cloak; working off of photoreactive fibers, it essentially created a shimmering haze in the air with an indefinite shape and proportion. Depending on the angle, you could catch the shoes the person was wearing. In this case, said boots were standard issue Pyre boots.

But being a spy and being observant were two different ball games, and Sarge could play both with the best of them.

However, that story was for another time and another place, perhaps when he could sit down with his goddaughter and talk about what she shouldn't be doing but was. Like, for example, hosting a meeting with a wanted criminal whose idea of an apology was 'here's some bread.'

 

[Darth Banshee]

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

Sabrina looked at her, and replied If they break the law and have legal and fair trial, so be it. She was referring to her own fate, she found guilty with no trial no legal representation and at end all she was, was a pow. Though I am sure, you make that happen being a fair lawful people. She was bitter about it, the very fact she slept with one them in attempt to escape. She was attacked in her cell by one them, and he never asked her anything. She hoped they remembered that bit, after all they were guilty as well. Though she was not going to hold a grudge, as she had been trying to redeem herself.

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Sabrina Kotass"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"][member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

Solan caught the bitterness and that was not something he was going to let happen while he was in the meeting. "Sabrina... perhaps we should give them an answer they ask?" He turned his head to Mara and smiled before bowing his head. "We would be but hypocrites to reserve someone from justice, protecting them from the judgement they deserve..." He breathed in and smiled a bit wider before nodding.

"The same could be said for all upstarts like the Vitae, and yes i am using such terminology. There is a reason for that. In the eyes of the Sith, or the Mandalorians, or the Republic, or even to you no doubt we are but a... distraction. Atleast until we have as you said proven ourselves. That si why we came now, even in this informal fashion to talk with you. We are attempting to do just that and prove ourselves, secure our place before we become a danger to ourselves mostly in trying to expand in influence or power. Just as you pointed out we are untested, we have few rights to try people. I assure you, Sabrina here, Vulpesen back in our space, or myself have no delusion of falsely trying people for crimes that hold no weight behind them. Just as we would hope you would not simply do so. A stable relation of any kind is built on the trust between two bodies, whether it be a ruler and her subjects..." He paused to turn his smile to Feena. "... Or two warriors facing a common enemy. Or even a Soldier, a Captain, a Queen, a King, and a Pheonix."

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Sabrina Kotass"] [member="Solan Charr"]

Mara, half-Zeltron and talented with the telempathy of her people, wrinkled her nose at the bitterness she felt in the woman. The subject appeared to have hit a nerve.

"Just remember," she said, "I'm not law enforcement, and I'm not here to arrest you or get you talking about whatever it is you did. That ain't the point of this meeting unless you make it the point of this meeting -- unless you've got something to say. If you don't, then keep talking."

Half a smile twitched at the corner of her mouth. It didn't reach her eyes.

 

[Darth Banshee]

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"] [member="Solan Charr"] [member="Sarge Potteiger"] [member="Feena Mason"]

Sorry, she was bitter about it though, and she had to remember to let go for emily's sake. Know back topic at hand trade, do you any objections to us trading with people in your area influence. She need access to metals, and components for her starships. So she bit her lip, and prepared to carry on the talks. That was the point of making peace, you can only do it with people you don't hundred percent like.