Character
Location: Baobab Complex
With: Leaders of Manda
Goal: Await the End of the Battle [Acquire Member World]
Alessandra was bored to death. As much as she despised a warzone, considering it wrought havoc on her manicure, it was a far cry more entertaining than sitting across from some of the oldest men she had ever met. The air was thick with the scent of age and prune juice. She fought the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. [member="Darth Metus"] owed her for this. Far more than hazard pay, far more than a redecorated office, and certainly far more than a coffee allowance.
The Loyalists weren’t the only ones capable of sneaking someone through the city streets and into the Baobab Complex. The more forward-thinking leaders of Manda had convened here both for protection and to negotiate the terms of their joining the Confederacy. Alessandra did not like this. It was not her job. The Exarch or the Vicelord negotiated for member worlds. She crunched numbers. She decided contracts, taxes, and how much aid they might require.
They could hear sounds in the distance, loud like explosions, and the complement of Magnaguard that she had brought with her remained unmoving at the entrances and exits. If someone came through that door that wasn’t a Confederate, or, a member of the council with proper clearance—they were in for a rude awakening. Her crimson eyed nightmare droids had impeccable and rarely missed unless they meant to. “At ease, gentlemen. There’s no need to worry over a little noise.”
“Worry? Minister Creed, we’re terrified, this battle could cost us everything…”
“It won’t. You called us—Remember? We will see it through.”
That was basically the entirety of her day. They’d spent quite some time drafting up affable terms and the rest had simply been sitting in awkward silence. All they required was the notice that the fighting had ended, that the CIS was victorious, and they would sign on the dotted line. Of this business would be wrapped up in a neat little bow. Just as she liked it.
As if sent by the heavens her comm was finally tapped and she held her fingers to the earpiece. The grating sound of Srina Talon’s freakish little droid rabbits reverberated in her ear, but the news was pleasing, so she kept it short and sweet. It wouldn’t be a good career move to be rude to the albino's pet machines. “Thank you. Let the Exarch know the memo has been received.”
The officials of Manda looked at her expectantly and she nodded her head in order to try and place them at ease. “The Loyalists have surrendered and the blockade is over. The few remaining will be returned to you so that you may sentence them yourselves. They could prove valuable to interrogate.”
There was a collective of relieved sighs that ran through the room. Alessandra kept her expression business-like but polite and controlled. If she was pleased by this turn of events they would never know it. Inwardly, she was jumping for joy. She missed her ship. She missed Adron. She missed anything that wasn’t involved in this dirt-ball. “Now. For our agreement?”
“Yes Minister Creed, of course. Thank you. Thank you so very much.”
The gentlemen at the long roundtable began to pass around a data-pad after pressing their thumbprint to it. Once it made its way back around to her, she did the same, and then offered them an effortless smile. “Welcome to the Confederacy. As our first order of business, we’ll call down a pre-fabricated out-post so that we can monitor the situation. The Loyalists today may have given up, but tomorrow, is a new day. We’ll place it on the outskirts of the city so as not to alarm anyone.”
“That sounds reasonable. Is there anything else we need to do?”
“No. Taxation forms will be sent to your banking administrators. The rate we agreed on will more than suffice.”
The men in the room nodded amongst themselves and Alessandra made herself seem to be the pleasant, polite, and interested party. She excelled at making others feel as if they were the center of the room, though usually, they were the last thing on her mind. Currently, her fingers were moving along her holo-comm to hail the Knight Obsidian that had dropped her off.
<< Ready for exfil. Mission success. Get me the karking heck out of here. >>
