Private Any Colour You Like | Trade Federation

[Gat Tambor]

HARNAIDAN
MUUNILINST
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER SPACE
A N Y _ C O L O U R _ Y O U _ L I K E​

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Article Five of the Braxant Run Decree did little to truly hinder the Trade Federation's monolithic ability to rebuild and revitalize. The stores of Muun wealth on the world, centered around Harnaidan in conjunction with the initial throws of investment and manpower Gat Tambor had alloted into the planet had seen Muunilinst return to its pre-war glory. Perfectly inlaid infrastructure along a wealth green neo-classically sculpted grand city that was the financial center of the rising New Order.

Kyber Dark was a well and truly bold move on behalf of this New Order. But as much as it proved the solution to grander issue, it invoked many more problems. The rising fires of Sith terror groups such as the Qo'Krataa, the 'Dread Empire' and other Sith Imperial remnants north of the Braxant Run had already proved a burgeoning threat to the Imperials with the fires of conflict erupting on Kalee, Huk and Borosk as they battled the insidious force. So too was the brain trust of the Sith aligned with the New Order drained either in death or narrow escape.

Avernus, Tambor's main pupil and protege was murdered in Ravelin. So too was the Warmaster Kor Vexen and the alchemist Atlas Kane. These were all confirmed, tangible deaths. One man, one of the Galaxy's most brilliant and the soul responsible for the augmentations fixed to many of the New Imperial Order's elite fighting force still roamed the Galaxy a free man.

A free man with a great deal of wealth and a great deal of time on his hands. But no purpose at all. With Gat Tambor's assets well and truly sunken into the war economy of the New Imperial Order and the growing military expenditure of the Galactic Alliance, two nations which had now been postured at odds with one another in spite of a peculiar alliance binding them against the Sith, the Trade Federation needed more brazen and ingenious minds to manage a growing financial and industious empire in the Outer Rim.

Who better to contact than the man who'd established Gat Tambor as a Galaxy known name to begin with at all. He had no reason to expect Adekos might answer his summons, especially not to a place nestled within the control of a nation who wanted his head on a pike and the last Adekos knew of Gat, he'd failed his position placed in CIS. Only to flourish beneath the Iron Sun of the Empire.

As a sign of assurance, Gat had secured and employed every means of authoritative deterence, plausible deniability and administrative bypass to get whatever Adekos favored as means of transit here without so much as an inch of suspicion from New imperial authorities. And as his final ploy, he transferred every share in the IGBC he owned back to Adekos as if to safeguard that any attempt on his life could result in a vie for a power of the organization. And would protect against accusations of conflict of interests in possible dealings to come.

Afterall, within the Muun colonies the word of the Trade Fedation was law. They'd rebuilt the worlds ravaged by the Sith Imperial retreat, insured and invested into the long standing economic institutions on Muunilinst, Mygeeto and Scipio. In doing so, the Trade Federation held the keys to the kingdom of worlds so steeped in financial brilliance and prosperity with access to a brain trust invaluable in the form of the Muun financial and economic administrators.

All this given, Adekos could walk down the precisely paved streets of Harnaidan's to the Trade Federation's offices nestled within the IMP500 Stock Exchange and not so much as demand a wayward glance from even the military presence here so long as he'd had the assurance of the Federation here. And thus he was guided to the very quarter of the building reserved for the Federation's operations surrounding the Muunilinst index of the Galactic Stock Market. Their most prominent and valuable holdings.

Near the top floors of the gargantuan neo-classical structure, the view of the so ornately carved picturesque architecture of Harnaidan could be taken in on its full glory between the glasteel panels before the meeting room was eventually unfurled.

Waiting was Gat Tambor and his newfound confidant and associate in Aerarii Tithe.

"WEEEEWEWRRRRRAAEEEUUU- It has been far too long since we've last been able to speak. Welcome to Harnaidan, my friend. I can only presume you might have an understanding as to why I had ever reached out to you to begin with, yes?" Gat inquired, rapping the tips of his fingers against the other over his chest as he arched a brow in curiousity to what his response might be.

Aerarii Tithe | Caulder Dune​

 

[Caulder Dune]

Gat Tambor | Aerarii Tithe

Caulder Dune - or Darth Adekos as Tambor had recently uncovered - wearily entered the meeting room. He was followed, as always, by a sleek and sinister looking protocol droid. The doors slid closed behind him, but not before offering Tambor and Tithe a glimpse of a second, identical droid that remained outside.​

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Yes, it seemed Kyber Dark had prompted Caulder to double his security detail.​

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He looked much the same as he always did: a withered old man in a sharp suit, kept upright only by an expensive cane he toddled on. Teeth too white to be real. Practically luminescent. Caulder smiled as if being subjected to a terrible pain as Gat's vocalizer warmed up.​

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"It is a pleasure as always," said Caulder, "I may have an understanding indeed. But you might say so yourself, if only for the record. Posterity."​

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Dull eyes shifted from the Skakoan to Aerarii Tithe. "You seem to be doing well, Mr. Tithe. I always took you for a survivor."​

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It was difficult to say whether that was meant as a compliment.​

 

[Aerarii Tithe]

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Gat Tambor | Caulder Dune​

The newly-elected Senator of Aargau had imagined his first days in office would be devoted to his homeworld, one of the few financial hubs to rival Muunilinst. Indeed, the devastation wrought to the Muun world had seen increased activity through the banks and stock exchanges of Aargau, though confidence would soon swing back to the grand vaults of Harnaidan. In the meantime, Aargau stood to make itself a great deal of credits, and Tithe intended to use his influence and connections to ensure the rivers of gold continued for as long as possible.

Instead, Tithe had been summoned to attend to Trade Federation business. Not that he minded, Trade Federation undertakings generally proved themselves to be highly lucrative. Sales of weapons and materiel had boomed in light of posturing between the New Imperial Order and the Galactica Alliance. Even if the two powers never raised a weapon to one another, the shareholders of the Trade Federation stood to benefit generously from the panicked arms race.

“I, ahh, what can I say - I find a way,” he replied to Caulder Dune. The two had history via the IGBC, during which time Tithe had operated under the moniker ‘Lord Exchequer’ to avoid the scrutiny of the Sith Empire. While Tithe had long cast off the pseudonym, he had suspicions that Dune likewise operated behind a veil, though he held no evidence to the fact. “The downfall of Bastion had provided boundless opportunities for those with the tenacity to grasp them.”

 

[Gat Tambor]

'Calder Dune' and that iconic sleek protocol droid companion of him was ever a welcome sight as anyone could be to the Trade Federation Director as he leaned back into his seat, only ever narrowing his eyes to gauge the genuineness of the man before him. How true the sight was. It was that droid that gave it all away...that there was something off. Perhaps if it wasn't for Voyance having the very same he would've never noticed but...correlation is more likely than coincidences, especially given the common ground of IGBC business between all three of them.

But the IGBC and the boys club of corporate oligopolies and currency manipulation that it showed itself to be to the Skakoan was an old gig. The Trade Federation, while resurgent and growing in scope had a far higher ceiling of opportunity to shape the Galaxy in line with the lucrative ambitions of the three men assembled.

Three men once all but 'exiles', now at the reigns of opportunity.

"Hmmm, and of that Mister Tithe is most certainly correct. The Galaxy is in a position more peculiar than ever. No Galactic scale government can well and truly claim they are safe. That they are certain in their permanent sovereignty on the Galactic Stage." Tambor says, adjusting himself in his seat.

"To put it simply, gentlemen...they're afraid. Deathly afraid. Of each other. And there is no greater motivator than fear, no greater means of control. The New Imperial Order...where we are now is all but surrounded by enemies. The Sith, the Jedi and the Alliance who, while they ally with now, their iedologies conflict too much not to come to blows. The Galactic Alliance itself is in the same circumstances, with the violet curtain drawn along its southern borders, choking trade from the outer rim and vital resources from Confederate space...all the while they can not be too certain in their ideological draw to the Silver Jedi, nor their alliance with the Imperials. All the same, the Sith Empire is on the verge of collapse, the Bryn'adul is on a rampaging march unto the rest of the Galaxy and the Confederates had been brought to kneel by glitter donned terrorists. None of them are safe." Gat states.

"Thus, we need to manipulate this fear. The Alliance and the Imperials will no doubt enter an arms race as the Imperials consolidate with the chilling of their war upon the Sith...all the while the Sith open two more fronts of conflict concurrent with the Silver Jedi. These are prime grounds for manipulation, to stack the deck wholly in our favor. So that when the Galaxy burns...we grow richer. But...Mister Dune...do I have your guarantee that you will join us in our ambitions...so long as it is lucrative of course." Gat inquires.

Caulder Dune | Aerarii Tithe​

 

[Caulder Dune]

Gat Tambor | Aerarii Tithe

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If there were truly no greater means of control than fear, then Bastion wouldn't have been a smoldering ruin. But they hadn't gathered here today to have a debate on political economy. His dream for the Banking Clan had been to bind the galaxy with trade - to make war too expensive and peace too profitable. But Harper had not the cunning or the ideology to do it. And Dune himself had been hamstrung by his largely ornamental position in the organization.​

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Now there would be no peace in the immediate future of this galaxy. Not with the honeymoon between the Alliance and the New Order having ended so abruptly. All that was left was to skim credits from the fallout; fatten his pockets in preparation for the next attempt fifty years from now. It was not an exceedingly original plan, but the most reliable schemes seldom were.​

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Caulder gave an airy sigh. Resignation. A hamster coming to terms with his place on the wheel.​

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"Very well, Mr. Tambor. It would be my pleasure. What can I do for the Trade Federation today?"​

 

[Aerarii Tithe]

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Gat Tambor | Caulder Dune​

By means of his distorted vocoder, Gambor painted an image of a galaxy in strife, perpetual wars spread from one corner to the other. Innumerable worlds would be consumed by the recently ignited conflicts. Only one commodity, despite innocent lives, would be consumed faster - credits. As warring factions clambered for military superiority, the pockets of war merchants such as the Trade Federation would overflow.

“The assets of the Trade Federation coalesce around the galactic centre and north,” Tithe explained as he summoned a holographic galactic map to slowly rotate before him. “While we, ah, see these as being the most lucrative markets, there is always room - always room - for aggrandizement. The Trade Federation always, ah, finds a way.” The map magnified to display the galactic south, much of which was under the sway of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and until recently, the defunct Outer Planets Coalition.

“Establishing a foothold in CIS space is a preeminent issue for the Trade Federation. However, progress has been protracted, slower than is acceptable. We would very much like to leverage your, ah, how can I say this, contacts and influence in the region.” The IGBC had established a network of ownership throughout the star systems of the CIS through its aggressive acquisition of major business interests. If these corporations could be brought into the fold of the Trade Federation, or at the very least come on as partnerships, the might of the Trade Federation would be all but unrivalled.

 

[Gat Tambor]

H A V E _ A _ C I G A R​

With Dune now fully onboard with Tambor's machination of a Galaxy unified in the fires of war with a Trade Federation in its shadows there to reap the shadows of devastation and build a new realm with a Trade Fed foundation behind it. Under this doctrine, there would be no shortage of profitable ventures to the Trade Federation. Caulder would get his idealistic peace he'd always wanted. What he failed in was placing any trust in the Galactic governments of the Galaxy, in the greedy and hate wrought souls of the people they presided over.

Gat Tambor knew the name of the game well enough to trust in this plan's ability to make well on his ambitions. And make them all a great deal richer in the process. Tithe introduced the inevitable question of the Confederacy. Gat Tambor had all but abandoned his business assets there with his leaving of his seat as Viceroy to Christophsis following the implementation of CIS First. After all, it would've ended his career when the line of business of his arms and warfighting materials headed the way of shell companies operating in New Imperial space at the time or with the manufacturing stamps and serial numbers scraped off to be given to rogue militant groups in the Core and Mid Rim.

With a Trade Federation control of the Northern hyper lanes, this wasn't any issue. Hardly any convoy tripped the radar of Alliance or Imperial authorities of black market goods headed into the hands of the Rebel Alliance or the Atrisian Imperial Front.

"I would need to see a proper dissolution of their Confederacy First mandate before we move to establish ourselves in that market. Getting arms to the Twi'lek Freedom Fighters on Ryloth was a difficult task enough. However...if the Confederacy is intent on still using the Galactic Standard of the IGBC...perhaps that currency can be manipulated. If the Galactic Alliance as well can transfer its official tender to the Trade Federation Credit then perhaps we can tank the value of the Galactic Standard and isolate the Confederacy completely until they are enticed to return the Galactic markets. The Alliance made substantial work in the Starbird Trade Spine but we need to properly starve them out to the point of submission if we are to exploit them." Gat suggests.

"Perhaps, Tithe...you could play the role in getting our Coreward friends to shift hands to the Trade Federation Credit. They'll be wary I'm sure with growing Anti-Imperial sentiment and there may even be a push for the Core to press its own credit...which will be just as easy to manipulate assuming you can use your position of financial acumen to get yourself on the board of their central bank. We can 'cook the books' of Mygeeto's financial records if need be." The Skakoan says.

Caulder Dune | Aerarii Tithe​

 

[Caulder Dune]

Gat Tambor | Aerarii Tithe

Contacts in Confederate space. Of course. The rolodex in his head flipped through all the cards, searching for such persons. Caulder did not like visiting the Confederacy, nor did the Confederacy seem overly keen on him - or anyone with decidedly unpleasant things to say about Confederacy First - visiting.​

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So the rolodex reached the end without turning up much. A few minor planetary functionaries, maybe, left over from his stint in the region a lifetime ago. Maybe he could meet with Maliphant’s girlfriend if he asked politely, but what was she going to do? Too many other people had the power to obstruct tangible change in the Confederacy. It would be one of their redeeming qualities, if they did not squander it on mindless protectionism.​

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This was a task for a substantially younger sort of person. Caulder raised his fist to his mouth and gave a raspy sort of cough into it.​

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“The Galactic Alliance is not going to adopt the currency currently favored by its closest rival,” Caulder said, frowning. “Not without ending the rivalry and promoting shared commerce… Which is decidedly not your desire, based on what you said earlier.”​

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He folded his hands so they were now resting neatly on the head of his cane.​

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“Unfortunately for you both, the Galactic Standard Credit is both stable and assured by a pristinely neutral party. Even if it were manipulated, these people would just as soon start printing their own. How exactly do you intend to convince anyone that the Trade Federation Credit is a better option when its primary adoptee is currently feuding with a bastion of all that is good and democratic?”​

War or cold war with the Alliance would turn off the Silver Jedi and the Confederacy. That was all three worthwhile markets stripped from the table in one fell swoop.​

 

[Aerarii Tithe]

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Gat Tambor | Caulder Dune​

Tambor’s ambition knew no bounds, and often caught out those who had not dealt with the Skakoan before. Tithe had certainly made the mistake when he had first made the Tyrant of Trade’s acquaintance, but since then had become accustomed to his scheming. Indeed, the formation of the Trade Federation seemed to have only fuelled the ambitions of its board, who continually pushed the boundaries of wealth, grower richer both individually and as a collective.

“I'm must say, I concur with Mr Dune,” Aerarii replied. “While the Trade Federation Credit is positioning itself as the premier currency in the business world, the Alliance will be more, ah, disconcerting about its wider application.” Tithe avoided Caulder’s gaze - some time ago he had vowed to supplant the Sith Imperial Credit with the IGBC-backed Galactic Standard Credit. The scheme had been doomed from the beginning, and not something Tithe thought even himself capable of, but it had bought him a valuable seat at the table of the IGBC.

He took some comfort that Dune did not strike him as the type to dwell on the past when there were profits to be made in the future.

“If we cannot impose a new credit on the Alliance, we could seize control of their, ah, current standard. Certainly, the Trade Federation has the required assets to subsume the IGBC.” Whether that was credits to purchase the bank, or military might to take it forcibly, Tithe did not elaborate. Indeed, returning the IGBC under the umbrella of the Trade Federation would restore historic norms.