Arsenal of Freedom

[Maelion Liates]

The shuttle passed through the orbital defences and down to the surface of Lianna. The planet, owned and run by the powerful Santhe family, had granted an audience to Archangel Research and Technology for the purpose of a business deal.

As the shuttle settled onto a landing pad, Maelion composed her expression into a human one and headed for the exit ramp. Doubtless they would be met by someone from Santhe who would take them to their meeting with the mysterious Sasha Santhe.

[member="Sasha Santhe"], [member="Moira Skaldi"]

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Maelion Liates"]


Moira, alias Nalia Alderana, had never encountered Sasha Santhe, but had dealt extensively with Velok. Moreover, as of late she had often worked with Jared Ovmar, CEO of Santhe/Sienar Corporation and powerful member of the Fringe High Council. Such as lately during the mission to terninate Je'gan, who had been swarmed by Sith Masters.


That had been a most successful venture, especially since Tahira Solo had apparently perished as well. However, today the two terminatrices were not here for murder and bloodshed, as useful as such activities were. There was a time for that and a time for business and now was the latter. So she stepped out of the shuttle alongside Maelion, infiltration protocols perfectly geared for the occasion, not a hair out of place on her fetching but placid features.


Lianna stood at the heart of the great trade nexus that was the Tion Hegemony, a federation of capitalist enterprises, most secretly run by Sith Lords, with whom Archangel did plenty of business with. A world Moira intendend to expand towards soon. If productive this meeting should be a step in that direction.

 

[Sasha Santhe]

[member="Maelion Liates"] & [member="Moira Skaldi"]

Two women, strong women, were to meet with Sasha today. They each had a reputation in certain circles, and Sasha had heard about the Sith's latest adventure. She wasn't, of course, part of it. Someone as public as her couldn't afford to risk her position. No she wasn't in the business of galactic domination, she was all about the credits, and today's meeting would help solidify arrangements to make her more of it.

Men met the two women and escorted them to a luxury furnished dining room. There was food aplenty and exotic drinks from across the galaxy. Anything anyone could want was presence. "Welcome to Lianna, and the corporate headquarters of Santhe Corporation," Sasha said as they entered the room. She walked forward and gave each a single kiss on the cheek. "If there is anything you want, you need simply to ask and it shall be provided."

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Sasha Santhe"]
[member="Moira Skaldi"]

Maelion, aka Anna Comnena, allowed the kiss, though found it yet another mystifying organic tradition. Regardless, the meeting room was tricked out exotically and there was much food and drink evident. Selecting a glass of sparkling wine, Maelion drank it in a measured way.

“Thank you, Ms Santhe. Your Headquarters are certainly impressive. Thank you also for this invitation today. You naturally know who we are, so shall we get down to business?”

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Sasha Santhe"], [member="Maelion Liates"]



Organic customs mystified Moira - or Nalia Alderana, as her official cover identity at Archangel was called - but she likewise allowed the kiss. If she had been a certain woman-shaped battering ram who as of late loved to overindulge in aristocratic decadence she might have become distracted, but she was a droid who just wore the face of a woman and had her memories.



The meeting room was the very definition of opulence and luxury. Something Moira attached to value to, though she understood the importance organics placed on it. "It is an honour to be received by you, Ms Santhe. I have worked with Lord Ovmar and your firm in the past. We hope to do business for our mutual profit."

 

[Sasha Santhe]

Sasha couldn't help but chuckle a little bit at [member="Maelion Liates"]. "Straight to business. That's alright. I understand your desire to get straight down to the nitty gritty." She nodded to [member="Moira Skaldi"], "As it has been said, we've done business in the past. What I'm now suggesting is an expansion upon the past good relations we have had. I wish to make a contract for a free exchange of products between each other. Santhe has components of various types and ships for the open market. Instead of negotiating each time you wish to include any of these things in a product the other is making we simply put in an order via a contract. It would be a reciprocal relationship obviously. This would help your sales as we sell masses of ships and have major contracts from across the galaxy. We simplify the process of sales between our two corporations and profit."

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Sasha Santhe"], [member="Moira Skaldi"]

Maelion nodded. "This is agreeable to us. Santhe Corporation has many products that we desire, and I trust that our goods will be of interest to you as well."
Santhe, owning Sienar, had ships, vehicles and equipment that Archangel needed, but was also owned by someone who would not ask difficult questions. This was all to their advantage.
"Our main item of production is Human Replica Droids. Is that an item which interests you?"

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Maelion Liates"], [member="Sasha Santhe"]


"Our HRDs are highly versatile and can perform excellently as bodyguards, infiltrators, personal assistants. They will obey any order given to them. Likewise we design our own combat droid, a modern version of the droideka, droid tanks and artillery," Moira spoke up. The deal was agreeable to her for the aforementioned. Santha was a major corporation that had access to many things Archangel would desire, but was also run by pragmatic people. A close relationship with them was a good way to gain a foothold in the Tion Hegemony trade nexus.

 

[Sasha Santhe]

[member="Maelion Liates"] & [member="Moira Skaldi"]

"Oh yes indeed, you see I like droids of all sorts, and human replica droids could be exceeding useful as Miss Skaldi pointed out. Bodyguards, doubles, infiltrators. Exceedingly useful in my line of work." She nodded a little bit and sensed the machiney bits of the two women across from her. Droids were also easy to control and with her power of mechu deru that control could be near complete. She had used droids in the past as simple puppets using them to fight her battles. Yes she liked droids. "And the battle droids, Santhe Security protects our factories across the galaxy. We could always use more reliable and sturdy droids within its ranks. Now the question is what exactly do you want from us? We have a full catalog of products. In addition we'd be willing to use your products such as droid brains and other components over your competitors such as Baktoid."

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Sasha Santhe"], Moira Skaldi
"We are no longer associated with Baktoid in any way, as you may have heard. With this in mind, we are interested in your droid TIEs to replace our current units. We would like to purchase two of them to test their effectiveness and usefulness in the sort of operations we undertake. There are other items doubtless, your catalogue is extremely impressive."
This writer is able to provide action and excitement if required by Sasha's writer. Sadly, Maelion and Moira were completely asexual, so unlike another business couple they were not inclined to sex anything with 2 x chromosomes and a pretty face!

 

[Sasha Santhe]

[member="Maelion Liates"] & [member="Moira Skaldi"]

"I'll do you one better. If your company makes Droid brains I would have no problem using your product in the newest production run of TIE Droids. A superior product design to boost the capabilities of the craft would be appreciated. In return it would earn you profit from sales you'd generate to me. Win win all around I believe." She smiled the smile that had earned her stardom in tabloids. "Mutually beneficial relationships are the best relationships aren't they?"

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Maelion Liates"], [member="Sasha Santhe"]


Speaking of oversexed couples, Moira was designed to be as different from Siobhan Kerrigan as humanely possible. This is the reason why this writer slightly likes her instead of hating her. Anyhow, back to the plot before this writer delivers a redundant rant.


Unfortunately, as Moira lacked the capacity for desire she was not capable of appreciating Sasha's magnificient smile, though she possessed the capacity to know that an overwhelmning portion of the galactic population would be entranced by it and probably manifest desires of a carnal nature. "They are, indeed. This seems a reasonable arrangement and a sound basis for future cooperation. Archangel could provide a sophisticated droid brain for your TIE Droids. Our work on HRDs gives us...ample experience on creating droid minds that have great versatility and flexibility." This was not dramatic rony at all.

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Sasha Santhe"], [member="Moira Skaldi"]

Indeed, it was not dramatic irony at all. Well, maybe just a bit!
“Yes, we are skilled in the creation of machine intelligences. We could develop the brains for the TIEs. This would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Like Moira, Maelion had no real use for human attractiveness, but she did understand it better. Her original creator was, ahem, attached to his bodyguard. If Maelion was an organic one might draw inferences as to why she wanted to purge all organics. But such a thing was silly for totally logical machines. Right?

 

[Sasha Santhe]

[member="Maelion Liates"] & [member="Moira Skaldi"]

"Ample experience indeed," she said. "Amicable relationship, mutually beneficial." She looked around the table, "These are all words. And this," she indicated the contract that she slid across the table. "ink on a page." Not that there was a lot of ink and paper actually used in contracts anymore. Sasha stood up and extended her hand to the two 'women'. "But this," she waggled her outstretched hand, "is my bond. Together we will make some money."

 

[Moira Skaldi]

[member="Sasha Santhe"], [member="Maelion Liates"]


Moira looked over the contract, mechanical eyes giving the terms a thorough review, though this all would take place within the blink of an eye, before signing it. She likewise arose and shook the hand of Sasha. Her grip was firm, confident, though she knew her own strength and thus there would be no risk of her crushing the woman's bones.



After all, that sort of incident was probably not conducive to an amicable business partnership! "Indeed, we shall reap considerable profit. This has been a very productive meeting. We look forward to working with you and your company in the future, Ms. Santhe," she said warmly.

 

[Maelion Liates]

[member="Moira Skaldi"], [member="Sasha Santhe"]

Maelion too shook the proffered hand carefully but as naturally as possible. Crushing someone’s bones because you squeezed too hard generally put a damper on business deals!

“Excellent, Ms Santhe. Is there anything else wish to discuss today whilst we are here?” Maelion asked.