Breakfast on Balmorra (Ayra)

[Ashin Varanin]

The ink was still fresh, figuratively speaking, on the sale contract, but iBorg's legal, finance and tech people had already taken a thorough look around every facility associated with Hudrel. For a Balmorran arms company, it seemed to be in good shape; Alicia Drey's plea of personal indisposition apparently hadn't masked any special flaw in Hudrel's background. There had been some unpleasantness in the early days, but nothing insurmountable. For the price of a nice corvette or a very cheap frigate, Selka had picked up a firm capable of constructing droid prosthetics en masse.

Throughout the evaluation, bidding, and purchase process, though, she hadn't met with the former owner. Tionese secret files, courtesy of Rave Merrill, gave Selka some idea that Drey was more than she seemed -- but unlike Merrill, Selka absolutely didn't care. She had no grudges against [member="Darth Ayra"] , Circe Savan, Subach-Innes, or any Sith whatnot. All she wanted was to build droid arms.

A woman of simple pleasures, really.

Pursuant to this objective, she'd asked Drey to meet her for breakfast in a Bin Prime cafe, overlooking a nicely pacified city. The former owner had opted to remain onboard as a five-percent shareholder. Alhough Selka had no plans to dismantle or radically restructure the company, she did plan a partial shift in focus, the kind that was best discussed with one's fellow shareholder.

 

[Darth Ayra]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

The news that Alicia Drey had been injured to the point that she could no longer run Hudrel Robotics and Chandrila DataTech was a lie. The objectives had changed for Darth Ayra and they no longer included the running and maintenance of either companies and their assets. This was something that the new majority holder of Hudrel would come to understand when the two of them met.

She wore a white t-shirt and black pants, with designer trainers to accompany her look. Alicia left the Lightsaber and her other belongings on the Niathal-class transport she had purchased from Jorus Merrill. The Sun Guards who had accompanied her from Sojourn would guard her ship whilst she made her way to the cafe Selka was using for their first meeting. They had orders to destroy the ship and her belongings if she gave the order. She had much more to lose than a ship and a few minor trinkets.

Alicia spotted Selka and moved to take the seat across from her. She ordered a glass of water with no ice with a waiter, before turning her hazel eyes to the woman that sat across from her. "Hello Selka. It's good to finally meet you."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Ayra"]

"You too, Alicia."

Selka was likewise unarmed, except for her ever-present necklace, which could unfold into a tiny knife if necessary. Hardly worth the name of weapon, really. For her part, she was drinking Reloovian mint tea, cooled with a touch of the Force. Ayra would sense her as not especially Dark, and Force-weak -- which was partially true. Selka Ventus had most certainly washed out of AgriCorps for being weak in the Force...just as a young Jorus Merrill had once left the Jedi. They just hadn't found their very specialized talents at the time, and where Merrill had blazoned his across the hyperlanes, Selka still kept hers a secret. In many ways -- layers within layers, plans within plans, trust doled out to only a few -- she was downright archetypal.

Just less capable-of-everything than most who merited that designation.

"I can see why you set up shop on Balmorra. Lovely place, and the factories are top-tier."

 

[Darth Ayra]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

Her Force-sensitivity had been concealed, as it always was in meetings such as these. Although Rave Merrill had come closest to revealing the existence of the Rule of Two that Darth Pandeima had begun several decades ago, meaning that there was the possibility that others knew of her powers such as the woman that sat across from her, it wouldn't help to bring more attention to herself than she would like. Secrecy was her greatest weapon, something that both women could agree upon, if they could see beyond each others facades.

Alicia thanked the waiter when he returned with a glass and bottle of mineral water. She unscrewed the cap and poured the bottles contents in the glass, before taking a gulp and lowering it back down onto the table. When she was done quenching her thirst, she crossed one leg over the other and turned back to Selka to reply. "I presume it was much nicer than what it is today. The riots that unfurled after half the worlds population disappeared over night left cities such as Bin Prime in a right state. The One Sith restored control over the system, leaving a rebuilding job. That was going to be my business strategy when I brought out the company from Terrik Hudrel, who passed away during the disaster."

"The factories are quality. I've recouped the credits I spent investing in their restoration from my sale, leaving a nice tidy profit for little work. What will be the business strategy that you wish to implement going forwards?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Ayra"]

"As I'm sure you know, I'm the majority shareholder of a Manaan prosthetics and cybernetics corporation called iBorg Prosthetic Augments. Hudrel interested me because my people inform me that these factories can be shifted from droid robotics to prosthetics production in relatively short order. And," she added, sipping her cool mint, "because you can't do business in the Core Worlds without a foothold. Balmorra is that foothold for iBorg. I've arranged for the necessary relationships with the One Sith, not for the first time. Cross-border shipping is still problematic and financially prohibitive, what with the war on, so being able to manufacture iBorg prosthetics within One Sith territory will open up a host of options for Core markets. I plan to reach out to the Ag Circuit for agriculture-related implants and augments sales, and the war veteran communities. It's a model that's worked well for us on Manaan and in the Corporate Sector."

 

[Darth Ayra]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

"What of Hudrel Robotics?" Alicia replied.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Ayra"]

"Hudrel won't be disincorporated. It'll retain ownership of the Balmorra factories, but Hudrel will have a significant iBorg contract for production in One Sith space, a contract that'll take up the majority of its factory space. Hudrel's own research and development divisions will be evaluated case by case, with an eye to pursuing valuable existing concepts while shifting focus toward technology that can be fitted to a prosthesis. A droid arm is a droid arm, whether it's attached to a droid or a sentient. The technology is largely the same in most cases. For virtually all Hudrel personnel and facilities, it will be business as usual.

"Hudrel may be absorbed in the future; if so, your stock would of course be honored by an appropriate conversion into iBorg stock. But that's a conversation for the future, depending on how profitable the Hudrel factories prove, and what contracts we can net in One Sith territory."

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Selka Ventus"] |

"I see." The liquidation of Hudrel Robotics was becoming more profitable with the introduction of Selka and her buy. In comparison, iBorg was a better developed, maintained and profitable corporation than the one that Alicia had just sold. It was becoming obvious that Selka had not invested the credits into buying Hudrel Robotics to begin the manufacture of droids, but for the real estate that the corporation owned.

"Before I put up Hudrel for liquidation, I met with One Sith representatives. We toured one of the factories. They've made it clear that they would like a supply of droids. Probably military grade. Their annexation of Balmorra goes beyond territory and expansion. They knew about Balmorra's history for droid manufacture, based on my meetings with them."

"Before any investment on your part in regards to setting up a contract with iBorg, I would sort out the standing and position of Hudrel with them before moving forwards."

Alicia picked up her glass of water and took another gulp. She emptied the rest of the bottle of water into the glass, then leaned back into her seat to listen.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Ayra"]

"I see. I've found it's not wise to renege on a...gentlebeing's understanding with a Sith." Selka grimaced faintly and drained the last of her cool tea. She mulled that over for a moment. Crossing the One Sith was rarely wise, even less for her than for the person she pretended to be. And whether those unnamed representatives -- or their superiors -- would be satisfied with access to combat-grade cybernetics was another question entirely.

It didn't help that iBorg was still based in the Republic, whose business policies had become...erratic in previous administrations. There was a point at which diversification represented an unacceptable risk.

"Which representatives were these, and what were their ranks? I'll have to make inquiries and see about an appointment. Thank you for letting me know."

 

[Darth Ayra]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

"You're welcome Selka. I appreciated the quick sale that you provided for Hudrel Robotics and my inclusion in your plans. You didn't need to set up this meeting and involve me and the real estate that leased to Hudrel. I'm sure you would have eventually found another way into the Core."

"Their names were Darth Ferus and Arcanix. I am not sure what position they fulfilled in the One Sith. I don't have contact with them, beyond our meeting and tour. They just made it extremely clear as to what they wanted."

"Has iBorg had dealing with the One Sith before? What regions do you operate in?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Ayra"]

"Ferus, Arcanix. I know of them, but nothing more. It's impossible to contemplate business in the Core without gaining some familiarity with the greater names. I'll have to make inquiries...look into the hierarchy. I've done enough business with people like this to know how to tread lightly." Or when to consider going over someone's head. There are Darths and then there are Darths. "iBorg is based out of Manaan, but we also operate on the worlds of the Corporate Sector. Dangerous place, that -- there are always vested interests at work, Masters and capitalists of every description. I'm lucky enough to have the right connections; otherwise I think the Corporate Sector would be a much more difficult market to get into. I can only hope that the Core is easier; I don't have connections here. Not to the same level, anyway."

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Selka Ventus"] |

"Are you familiar with Emeritus Industries?" After her question, the waiter return to inquire as to whether or not the two women were ready to make their order. Alicia ordered toast, scrambled eggs and another cup of water. It was a small, light breakfast with plenty of protein, which she had been suffering with withdrawals after the birth of her child.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Ayra"]

Dray appeared to be settling in for a longer and more comfortable breakfast; that was fine with Selka. For her part, she wasn't fond of what baseline Core humans called the traditional breakfast foods. The Balmorran menu offered a sweet mush of cracked local grain, heavy with bran and nuts, the kind of thing that would have kept her going for a couple of days as a kid on Metellos. She ordered that and sat back to view the last of the sunrise. A rare moment of gratitude overtook her -- gratitude that she had her eyes. iBorg was working on some phenomenal things, modules that could let you perceive into the infrared, the ultraviolet, farther...but could it really replicate natural vision? Would it still feel real if your eyeballs were made of transparisteel? They tested these things on people who'd lost their vision recently, but experience could be tinted by desire as much as by bitterness.

"I'm not familiar with that name, no. Not off the top of my head, anyway. What brings it to mind, Alicia?"

 

[Darth Ayra]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

Whilst she waited for their breakfast, Alicia and Selka continued their conversation. "Emeritus Industries is a corporation that I and my partner hold an equal fifty-fifty stake. We have connections to the Core that I believe I could pass onto you to use. My partner has had dealings with the Sith in the past and it is likely that she would be ready to use them if your inquiries do not work out."

"I will leave it up to you for now. Hudrel and it's real estate belongs to you. If your inquiries are unsuccessful, then feel free to get in contact with me and I will see what I can do to help you. Our next meeting, whether it would be in regards to your business with Hudrel and iBorg or anything else would be at my residence on a moon called Sojourn. It is far more secure and private, which is something that I prefer when it comes to business or pleasure with partners or friends."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Ayra"]

"Sojourn...I'm actually a little familiar with it. Something about pre-Empire Sith, if I remember right. A secret place, up near Muunilinst. Apropos."

There weren't many ways to know about that moon, all told. In another life, a borrowed and fragmentary life, she'd stolen the Sith Empire archives alongside the archivist Dissero. In those archives she'd found...everything there was to find. That had been Velok who'd done that, and her portion of his memories was far from complete, but the name Sojourn conjured up details she hadn't known she remembered. Old things.

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you for the offer." She smiled, and to her surprise it was genuine. "What a bizarre 'verse we live in, where we need to make deals with devils to find any kind of success -- where we all need to make Sith contacts, and then we dance around them in conversation in case the other person is less pragmatic and more easily shocked. Necessity."

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Selka Ventus"] |

"Indeed. Who else has shareholdings in iBorg or are you the only shareholder? I confess, I haven't heard it before you made contact in regards to my liquidation of Hudrel. Do you run any other corporations? Do you hold any shares in other companies?"

Breakfast was served. Alicia applied a light sprinkling of salt and pepper on her eggs. She took a drink of her water and begin to carve a mouthful of egg and toast with the knife and fork provided.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Ayra"]

"I own sixty-one percent; I came in as an investor with industry experience. The founders have the other thirty-nine percent. My last job was interim CEO of Akure Executive Interstellar, cleaning up after Rave Merrill's...departure. Before that, I sat on the Silk Board of Directors, and spent some time as Silk's interim CEO. I cashed out, you might say. iBorg is my retirement project. Ah, here we go."

Selka dug into her cracked-grain gruel with some enjoyment.

"And you, Alicia? Apart from five percent of Hudrel and fifty percent of Emeritus -- what business did you say Emeritus is in?"

 

[Darth Ayra]

[member="Selka Ventus"]

Alicia paused for a moment, when she heard the name. Rave Merrill. She had been well trained, however. The moment passed her and she continued to eat her breakfast like nothing happened. Still, for a woman that had suffered with an unadulterated rage that had once culminated in the death of her family, it was a difficult task to hold her temper.

She managed it. Barely.

"We deal in ship manufacture, design and production. We've been known for the creation of stations as well. In times of war, it is profitable to be in the arms race that is going on. Emeritus competes with other corporations such as those seen on Kuat and Mandalore, but we hold our own."

"What happened to Akure? I've heard the name before, but never did any dealings with them. What is your plan going forwards with iBorg?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Darth Ayra"]

"Merrill was more a creator than an administrator. It's a lot like politics -- it takes a different skillset to win than it does to lead. Merrill tended to win things, but let's just say I had my work cut out for me when Akure signed me on to replace her. She did her level best to make sure her alchemy work couldn't be duplicated, to the point where most of Akure's alchemists still have memory troubles -- or are dead. Then there was the half-finished hyperlane, the canned meat contract to uphold, the farm repossession...well, suffice it to say, there were issues. But I managed to get the company back on its feet and restructure it enough to move forward. All old news. As for iBorg, frankly, we're cornering the market in the same way that Akure did for low-grade alchemy. Our closest competition is probably InVal or NeuroSaav, and they're both anemic. We're looking into the military veteran, agricultural labour, and cybersocial/transhuman advertising angles -- Nar Shaddaa, Vorzyd Five, Coruscant, that kind of market."

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Selka Ventus"] |

"My next venture on Chandrila was to begin cornering the agricultural market there. There isn't a big name or corporation that is established there. As my family began cornering the import of technology to Chandrila, I think the next logical step for me was to begin cornering it's export as well. Effectively, the two corporations would form a conglomerate, becoming one of the wealthiest companies in the Core."

"My liquidation of DataTech was to get the money to invest into Chandrila Group, the name that I will give to the company, whilst maintaining a shareholding so as to bring the person in control of DataTech into my plans. My acquisition of Hudrel Robotics was to have the option of creating a droid labor force at my disposal. I mention it because of your business strategy for iBorg."

Alicia fell silent, finishing her breakfast.