Private Blood and Industry

[Ukvax the Gilded]

Ukvax the Gilded Darth Empyrean

Jutrand.​

Capital of the Sith Order and the concentration of industrial might - the Emperor's own citadel loomed in the distance like a towering Hive Spire. The enslavement of its people, brutalized and beaten for their toiling labor. Yes, Ukvax the Gilded, Archduke of Stalgasin Hive, found it most wonderful. A non-Geonosian who embodied the essence of what it meant to be Geonosian. Duality and contradiction yet conjoined in awe-inspiring fashion. The cane clacked with a soft thwamp as the small Archduke made his way past the hangar, escorted by a trio of Sith guards. It had been the Archduke who petitioned the Emperor for a meeting. It had been the only request he made that seemed odd - a insectoid protocol slash translator droid waddling alongside the Archduke. If need-be, he would send the droid out if the Emperor understood out.

Still, better to ensure that precaution was taken, or else this meeting would fail before it began.

The Geonosian slowly made his way past the hallways of the Emperor's capital. Gloom and ill lighting bothered not the Geonosian, whose deft nature saw an odd fascination. A purity of function, yet subtle form that appealed to the senses. Yes. Ukvax the Gilded knew he was working with a man of action, not the other polities with their politics. For as the cane thudded to a stop before the doorway of the Emperor's own personal meeting chambers, the Sith guards departed. It was not as if the Archduke exactly proved threatening, and he had been disarmed and searched, same as with the protocol droid. Horizontal-slitted pupils focused on the doorway as it slowly opened, and then he walked. On, and on, and on... Until what stood before him was an icon of death.

Of the cold. Of the void. Of the final shape.

The Geonosian Archduke bowed his head in respect. He would never kneel - it displayed only weakness, and no respect to a peer of equal station. The Geonosian, once his head lifted, motioned the protocol droid onward, and supplied the first series of words.

[GEONOSIAN]: "Soyuek-hoytek meeeeeeeeeekegat m'tik-tik, ka-kliak mwooooooump. Muwuek-siek gaek-hoyuek."

The droid took a moment to process, and then responded.

[BASIC]: "His Divinity, Emperor Empyrean, Supreme Master of Blood, here comes His Eminence, Archduke Ukvax of Stalgasin Hive, Supreme Master of Industry. The Archduke bids you fair and warm greetings; he has come to discuss matters of state and business, as well as a most intriguing proposal. You have right of first refusal or question, His Divinity."

A nod, and the Geonosian awaited his words. His questions. He intended on keeping his word, for the Emperor proved a most intriguing business partner, and one Geonosis needed if it was to survive the civil war...

 

[Darth Empyrean]

Empyrean sat amongst towers of books, garbed in odd Sith robes carefully crafted to withstand the wound in his chest and its all consuming nature. It made him more accessible, less disgusting, but it was still clear he was missing half of his torso, and an entire arm. The Emperor's metal eyes moved in their sockets, no pupil or faux iris to shape them, only thousands of intricate runes turning and settling before watching the Geonosian with a stare that felt like oil on the skin.

The Emperor glanced at the droid as it spoke of rights, of refusal, of question. Empyrean sneered at the thing, then looked back to the Archduke;

"My brother had to right to promise you to my doorstep. Nor do you have the right to speak to me, regardless of his agreements. You stand here now out of courtesy, of mercy, of sympathy. The Jedi will soon take your world, and your people, with them - they will turn your industry against me as a weapon. For this, I will burn your world and its people.", he said flatly, declared like it was already preordained.

"I will, however, offer you the chance of mercy. Turn your people against the Jedi, work on behalf of the Sith, and I will spare them. Whatever it is you offer, consider my own first."

Ukvax the Gilded

 

[Ukvax the Gilded]

Ukvax the Gilded Darth Empyrean

Mercy.​

It was clear the Sith Emperor proved... difficult, to work with.

But not impossible.

The main and key wording is that of working with the Sith, not underneath them. The Sith are deceitful creatures, yet in the man's arrogance, even if he seemed very unnatural... But there is potential here.

The Archduke stroked his chin, and then gave his reply.

[GEONOSIAN]: "Haeh-haeyh-ha, ayotuek'mayuek wrrrk. Wrrk ka-kliak scouff-skuff."

The protocol droid was fed its words, and with it, confirmed the reply in its own translated dialect.

[BASIC]: "His Eminence, Archduke Ukvax, accepts your offer of mercy - the Jedi and their allies have only proven disastrous for Geonosis' populace, as have the other factions vying for our interests. We will agree to supply the Sith Order and its interests exclusively. However."

A pause, as the protocol droid was fed its next lines, and then spoke on.

[BASIC]: "We will need to discuss the offer made in gratitude, as well as issues of security and state. As it is understood, the Foundation, amongst other factions, vies to control Geonosis directly. We are currently in the throes of a civil war - we guarantee none of the other Hives will work against your interests. However, if the Sith Order was to... secure, Geonosis' space, and to do so quickly, there is no reason to presume Stalgasin Hive could become a valuable supplier of the Sith Empire. We have the industry and the means to ensure so - we only ask for Sith military presence after the civil war to be limited, and for the Sith Order to allow us to expand operations across your space as to better supply industry. We understand that the provision of labor and industry in twinned tandem will allow the Sith Order to drastically expand its military operations, likewise."

A pause, then, as the cane is thwacked once against the ground, before the Geonosian spoke.

[GEONOSIAN]: "Syouek-seehk-mahukeo me'he'ha, wakasak. Beh-hea-hae. Vrrrrrk'wrrrrk, ayo-toek."

The protocol and translator droid pivoted to face the Emperor after the Geonosian Archduke spoke.

[BASIC]: "His Eminence, the Archduke, wishes to propose the idea of exporting some of the smaller Geonosian Hives off-world and placing them under Stalgasin overseers to serve in developing Sith Order worlds yet untouched as valuable pillars of industry, in addition to the offer containing the provision of skilled architects. Additionally, His Eminence has... design, plans, for the elements of the Ultimate Weapon, retrived from data-copies made by the Geonosians of the past from Stalgasin Hive. It will never function as a superweapon again, unfortunately; it could serve, however, as a valuable mobile shipyard if properly constructed. His Eminence only asks for support in the civil war, and for Geonosis to retain autonomy under the Sith Umbrella - let us govern our own affairs, and in turn, a beautiful partnership can unfurl in time."

A nod, as the Geonosian Archduke awaited the incoming response.

It was all he could do to ensure his people survived...

 

[Darth Empyrean]

The Emperor glared.​

​

"So you would ask I spend my Legion's lives for your world, pay for your expansion, your industry, your wealth, and in return I would have no control over you?"​

​

He set down the book he had in his hands, rising to stand before the two as his dead expression deepened into a furrowed brow;​

​

"Do not mistake my offer of mercy as stupidity, Hive-Lord. I don't kill your people, and I make them industrious under the Order, and you pay the tithe for protection. The Jedi will take your world before my Legions arrive, and as such I will spend lives to take your world were that my prerogative. My prerogative, however, is not your world, nor your weapons, nor your industry. I face a war on all fronts, and even as my enemies collapse under the weight of war and their own failures, more arise to think themselves my killer."​

​

"You are critical in your mind, because your scope is limited to your world of Queens and Drones. In mine, you are just another world, another ambitious bug, and another player in a game larger than you can imagine. If I ordain your world with the glory of the First Legion, it will be done on the condition of subservience. You will rule your world, but you will rule it in my name. If you wish to expand your industry, the Sith will fund it - but it will be done under the purview of the Sith, not your Stalgasian loyalists."​

​

"Do not mistake this for negotiations. I am the only one that will save you from the Jedi. The only one capable. If you think the Mandalorian's capable of such a task, I encourage you to seek them out. Here, you will find only my dominion, my will, my Empire."​

​

Ukvax the Gilded​

 

[Ukvax the Gilded]

Ukvax the Gilded Darth Empyrean

Complication.​

There it is then.

An ultimatum.

The Emperor is truthful. The Emperor is deceitful. Which components correlate to which statements, he knows not.

In truth, the Jedi would not save his world; their concern is not the Geonosians, or what happens after. The Foundation cares more for the plight of refugees, than that of fair Geonosis. Other polities vie for control, yet in the end, control is what he must give to the Emperor. The Archduke knows he is taking a gamble, a risk, even speaking to the Emperor is fatal. If he refuses, there is no escape from whatever death - or worse, he wishes to inflict. There is clarity. There is murkiness. In the end...

The decision is difficult.

But it is made.

[GEONOSIAN]: "Ayu'tek, wrrrrrt, soyuek-soyuek m'rek'ak."

The protocol droid turned to face the Emperor, and with it, spoke.

[BASIC]: "His Eminence, the Archduke of Stalgasin Hive, agrees to your most generous terms. We see no error in your logic, in your reasoning. If Geonosis is to survive, then we will pledge fealty."

For all of his flaws, the Archduke was loyal to his word - to be otherwise meant to be deceitful, and he knew such matters would wind up... poorly. So, to this end, there come the end of the negotiations, or at least, the terms given. The Geonosian Archduke chittered-chattered, as with it, he merely awaited the droid to speak.

[BASIC]: "In exchange, Geonosis will need liberation from outsider control, and the support of Stalgasin Hive in its civil war to secure Geonosis. We will ensure that whichever power not of the Sith Order that seeks to control us, will be stymied and blocked in their efforts. until such time the world of Geonosis is freed into Sith control, and thus consequently able to contribute to the war effort. Would this be a reasonable accord to strike?"

The Geonosian Archduke patiently bade his moment in the sun...