Buying Space Reality (Lorelei Darke)

[Noah Corek]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]
Starships. Never Noah's forte, he preferred weapons, armor and vehicles, something that actually touched the ground when you used it. But he was looking for his company to expand its product line and starfighters and droids were the only way Hekler'Kok could expand. So he began thinking of companies that could help. Subach? Nope, to much bad blood between Subach and the Protectorate. Baktoid? Nope, Noah didn't trust Wren, since she use to be married to one of the Protectorates most wanted. That left Noah with one option, one of the most notorious ship building companies in the galaxy. Kuat Drive Yards, headed up by one Lorelei Darke. He didn't have any beef with her, she had done right by both of the Protectorate and Republic, he respected her for that. So he had sent her a message and now here he sat in a waiting room in a KDY office, waiting for her.

 

[Quietus]

The reception hall of the KDY Operations Center was quiet today, which that in and of itself was somewhat unusual. Regardless, a lift nearby opened, revealing a guard dressed in full dark red and black armor and a young, smartly dressed blond woman.

"Commander Corek?" she looked up from a datapad, "Queen Darke will see you now."

The lift ride was lengthy and afforded Corek an uninterrupted view of Kuat and it's glimmering, bustling crown the drive yards. At the precipice, it opened to a long hallway lined by columns, polished black marble tiles, and images of Kuat and the KDY in various stages of existence. The pictures of Kuat's preceding leaders and figureheads watched with judgmental stares. The hall ended at a set of large black doors that hissed quietly in greeting. Beyond that, the whole span of the CEO's office lay before them with multiple levels, a full sized meeting table, and a ceiling-to-floor wall of reinforced duraglass that overlooked the yards.

Lorelei looked up from her desk over a pair of half-moon spectacles. She did not smile.

"Hello Commander, please come in. The Lord Protector has spoken quite highly of you, it is a wonder it has taken so long for our first meeting."

[member="Noah Corek"]

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]
When the receptionist came to get him and addressed him as 'Commander' instead of 'Colonel.' It was one of Noah's few pet pevee's when someone didn't address someone with a rank properly. Noah silently followed the woman into the elevator, not correcting her, since he decided to be polite. Once in the elevator, the ride lasted for a few minutes, the Noah didn't mind though since the view of Kuat's ship yards was beautiful, in a industrial sort of way. He could see the yards in overdrive, pumping out ships for the inevitable offensive to take back Coruscant and all the other territories that the One Sith had taken. Of course the view couldn't last forever, as the elevator finally reached the top and stopped with a audible pinging noise elevators usually made. It was then the doors opened to reveal the hall with many statues, Noah had to admit, he didn't like it, he was a simple man and oppulence always seemed to irk him. It was then the door opened and reveal the office of the Queen Darke, the office was just as oppulent, if not more than the room before it. It was then saw the Queen siting at he desk, at nearly the same moment she saw him. Again the rank 'Commander' was used and Noah decided to correct them. "Colonel, not 'Commander'!" Noah lightly snapped as he walked towards the Queens desk.

 

[Quietus]

The Queen looked on, nonplussed, and tipped a brow at him, eyes glancing down to the data on her desk screen detailing the man she was set to meet, "Forgive me, Colonel, I am merely going off the information on you relayed by your Lord Protector. Allow me to send him a missive to correct his mistake. Certainly he will be most embarrassed to learn about it."

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]
"My true rank is Colonel, but people call me 'Commander' because I'm the commander of the Omega Pyre." Noah informed her as he took a seat in a chair that was in front of the Queens desk. "I'm sorry for snapping at you your majesty. I come from a big military family and regulations were drilled into at a young age." Noah informed her , bowing his head in a small apology.

 

[Quietus]

The Queen's acidic green gaze followed the man, unwavering, as he moved to take a seat. A silent pause while she took him in, an expression not unlike predator sizing up its prey.

"Indeed," came her level reply. With a sharp inhale she broke her stare and turned it downwards upon the datascreen laid out before her, "Well, I can appreciate a man of disciplined upbringing. I understand you came to inquire about some ships and," she perused the file, "space stations was it? What can I do for you, Colonel?"

[member="Noah Corek"]

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]
Noah smiled as they finally got down to the brass tacks about why Noah was here. "I'm here to buy two Cardan I-class space stations and one Cardan III-class space station. But recently I've accquired a naval architect who specializes in restoring and updating old archaic designs. So I was also looking to see if I could get licenses to sell some of your more archaic designs. Like the Acclamator and Victor-class ships." Noah informed her, being a little creeped out by the way she stared.

 

[Quietus]

"I see," another pause, the woman's eyes narrowed slightly, "one thing at a time then."

Tracing her fingers across the holoscreen, the Queen brought up the plans of the aforementioned stations, "A sizable order of business, Cardan stations," she commented, "is this a personal venture or one funded by the Protectorate state?" One could hardly expect a single man to afford such a massive bill on his own, but etiquette demanded she inquire. Private purchases this large would require an extensive credit and history check, and nobody wanted to deal with that.

[member="Noah Corek"]

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]
"It's a personal venture, but don't worry, I recently closed a deal for supplying a faction within the Republic, it was a deal in which my company, Hekler'Kok Defense Industries, acquired two and a half billion credits, which I believe should be more than enough to purchase the Cardan's." Noah informed her, leaning back in his chair slightly waiting for her to bring up the other reason he was here.

 

[Quietus]

"Very well," Lorelei offered the man a tight smile, "all the same, routine procedure for such a substantial order applies." Not even the Lord Protector's word would sway her from checking up on the man for a few billion credit.

"Once you're approved, it will require a 50% downpayment and finalized blueprints and planning. Sectional construction will begin within the Drive Yards at which point is the only time you may make modifications to the designs. The sectionals will then be transported to the desired final location where then a second payment will apply. Upon completion and pass of inspection, the final payment will be due. It will be your responsibility to see that the locale is set and clear for the construction teams before they move in. Kuat will provide security detail, but given the current situation growing within the Republic, it would be wise to discuss added military defenses within the construction zone."

[member="Noah Corek"]

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]
Noah smiled as the proceedings continued after Lorelei's little 'credit check', if that's what one could call it. Noah listened intently with everything she said, making sure to take it all in. "I've already set aside all funds needed for the project and I could easily wire the fifty percent to you now if needed. The stations will be transported to Fenessa, for the III, and the I's to Taloraan and Korbin and don't worry, security will be handled."

 

[Quietus]

Despite a most advanced technology, a galactic billion dollar transaction credit check didn't simply happen in the blink of an eye.

Lorelei maintained a stoic complacency en face of his enthusiasm. The woman nodded to him and calmly looked to her left, pressing a button on the console, "Miss Hardt I'll take that tea now."

"Be right there your Highness."

With the new information on location at hand, the Queen turned her attention to the second reason that had brought the man here today. She tapped her fingers lightly over they keylog, eyes now trailing the extensive project list and write up, "Everything for this project seems to be in order. The check will take a day or so, during which I am willing to supply you with very comfortable accommodations if you choose to stay on-planet.

Lacey Hardt, the CEO's Secretarial Assistant, stepped in carrying a tray with hot tea. She set it down on the Queen's desk to serve.

"Colonel," Lorelei said as she took her cup, "tea? Cafe? Poison?" She smiled wryly, easing back into her chair and taking a sip, "As far as your secondary endeavor, I'm afraid the simple answer is no. The licenses are not for sale."

[member="Noah Corek"]

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]
(OOC: I'm sorry, I completely spaced on this thread.)
Noah smiled when Darke asked what he wanted. "Corellian Whiskey mixed with a bit of Sullustan Gin." Noah then frowned upon hearing that he wasn't going to be able to produce the ships that he had asked about under license. "That's okay, I've acquired a gifted Naval Architect anyways." Noah told her as he leaned back in his chair.

 

[Quietus]

The Queen offered a prim smirk at the man's answer and nodded to Lacey for the woman to fetch his order.

"I'll have that for you in just a moment Sir," Lacey said to him with a bright smile.

"I have admired a great deal of CEC's work in these past several years," Lorelei began, stirring honey into her tea, "The Lord Protector and I are currently working on a few partnered projects. If you'd be interested in something of that sort, I'm quite open to ideas. Stagnation is not something I can abide by."

"Your drink, Sir," Lacey placed a second platter on the desk before [member="Noah Corek"].

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]
Noah chuckled to himself when she mentioned him helping with designs. "I don't think I could be of any help to you with starship designs, I'm more about weapons and armor, never been good at designing ships, but that probably stems from me not being able to pilot them either." Noah told her, throwing in that little joke at his own expense. When the woman named Lacey came back with his drink, he muttered his thanks and took a sip from it, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat.

 

[Quietus]

"Well, one must always play to their strengths, hm?" Lorelei responded, "Curiosly enough, I was recently approached by someone inquiring about mecha war suits. Is that something your knowledge of weapons and armor would extend to, Colonel?"

[member="Noah Corek"]

[Seems we're both space cadets! Apologies on the wait, I missed the notification on this.]

 

[Noah Corek]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]
Noah whistled when she mentioned Mecha's. Scratching the back of his head, Noah looked Darke right in the eye. "Whoever approached you has some very deep pockets if they are talking to you about war suits. I've only ever seen a pair of them up close and even then that was a quick glances at their most basic weapons and systems. But in a nutshell, they're walking tanks. I've actually made something quite similar."

 

[Quietus]

"Most people who approach me for anything have very deep pockets, Colonel."

Lorelei eyed the man over the rim of her glasses and made a pointed glance at the chamber around them. This was Kuat Drive Yards. Home of the galaxy's finest capital ships. They lived to serve those with deep pockets.

Nevertheless, monetary gain wasn't an issue here. But expansion into new technologies was something she pursued actively.

"Have you now? Fascinating. They're an interesting package of technology, firepower, and modern design, far more intricate than most ships. Small wonder there's a shortage of companies focused on their production. Does the Protectorate employ their use on the battlefield?"

[member="Noah Corek"]