Fly High (Lorelei Drake)

[Nameless Knight]

@Lorelei Drake

Knight didn't know who this woman was but the Lord Protector had gone to her before. She was the head of one of the best shipyards in the galaxy and one of the oldest next to the corellian ones that Ayden controlled but Kaut had something no other place in the galaxy had... shiny ships made for stealth and with the Rassilon she had gotten the Exarch wanted to have a collection of ships she would never be able to fly. Her luck of crashing things before even taking off had held and it was why she preferred being on the bridge of the ships giving orders. Or with a pilot who would take her where needed.

Then she was walking down the ramp of the ship, a common enough sight from the protectorate and not really armed but good enough to sleep on and the hanger would be able to hold what she needed to hold. The exarch walked letting her pink robes flow with long bubblegum colored hair and visible her tonfa's but was prepared to surrender them to security if need be. She didn't know if this woman would be suspicious of a force user or welcoming for business and she couldn't really sense anything different about her. "Exarch Knight for a meeting with the Lady Drake."

 

[Quietus]

"That would be Queen Darke, Exarch," the receptionist intoned with a great deal of emphasis on the placement of consonants, "pronunciation is tantamount. Of course, if you care little for titles then the Queen will return the favor, not that she should wish to besmirch the budding relationship between KDY, CEC and your Lord Protector. Nor should any of us, hm?" the neatly dressed man sniffed lightly, moving to press at a holokey on his desk display, "Miss Hardt, I have your 3 'o clock, Exarch Knight of the Protectorate, here to see the Queen."

"Send her up," the intercom replied.

A lift off to the left opened. The receptionist swayed a hand towards the wall by the gates where a duraglass panel slid open to reveal an embedded case.

"If you could please, Exarch, place your weapons in the repository case by the lift before proceeding up. They'll be waiting for you when you're finished."

[member="Knight"]

 

[Nameless Knight]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]

Knight bowed her head in respect and spoke softly. "Apologies." She looked up and at the repository while opening her robes. The two tonfa's sliding together into her hand as she walked over and set them inside giving a moment to show there was nothing else. Her hands remained to the sides and up for any other searches they might have wanted to do, being a queen meant two things as far as she was concerned.... Healthy paranoia and well she had observed some fell into the benevolent or malevolent ruler who was loved or feared. She could respect that and her datapad for funds and records was the only thing in her pocket.

 

[Quietus]

OOC - Apologies for the delay. Just catching up on all the things from my LOA.

Knight was then granted passage to the lift, accompanied by a fully-outfitted guard in dark red and black armor, and up-up-up they went. She might enjoy the view afforded her by the reinforced duraglass panes of the lift: all of visible Kuat and drive yards greeted her, glimmering and buzzing with activity. With a soft ping the lift came to a stop and opened its gates to a long hall of polished black tile, deep red and ebony banners baring the Darke family sigil, pictures of previous Kuatian leaders and CEOs, and images of the KDY in various states of its very long-extended life. At the end a large set of black doors hissed open to reveal the Queen's private office and flat. Knight was lead past a massive council round table build around an equally large holoprojector; past several more vacant standing operations desks, and up a short set of stairs to the Queen's office level.

Lorelei looked up from a pile of datapads currently being discussed with her Head of Operations, DiVanca Leonardi.

"Come in, come in," she greeted shortly, muttering something to DiVanca about her 1 o' clock before pressing a pair of half-moon spectacles on the bridge of her nose. She peered at a datascreen to her left, "Exarch Knight, is it? My we've certainly become popular with the Protectorate. I do hope I have your proper title in this file or I'll have to have a word with your Lord Protector about finding a new Secretary."

[member="Knight"]

 

[Nameless Knight]

[that is fine no rush]

Knight liked the view, it was quite a sight and more appealing then some of the sights on Thyferra and a smile played across her face for a moment while she was escorted and bowed her body. "Your Highness." The mention of her title was one of enjoyment, she preferred not to be called or acknowledged by it whenever possible unless it was absolutely needed. "You are correct but I try not to use it unless needed. I prefer simply knight your highness." Knight kept her head bowed and didn't make a move beyond getting into a formal range, she'd take a seat when offered and knew how to prostrate.

 

[Quietus]

"As you wish," Lorelei replied, looking at the pink-haired woman with a ponderous gaze for a beat, "please, have a seat. Would you like refreshment? Tea? Water? DiVanca, send Miss Hardt in on your way out."

"Of course, Eminence," the blonde took a moment to organize the pile of datapads on the Queen's desk, taking a stack with her, before taking her leave through a hidden side entrance in the wall, heels clicking all the way.

"I'm afraid I haven't much time," Lorelei began, "I've been overbooked, so let's get straight to it then. What can I do for you, Miss Knight?"

[member="Knight"]

 

[Nameless Knight]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]

Knight gave a nod of her head and moved to the seat pressing her knee's together and placed her hands on her lap. "Tea if it is not to much of a burden your highness." She took a moment to think of how to word it. "To be quick and proper the Protectorate acquired a very strong stealth ship but it has proven useful for small teams. I am looking to expand on that and was directed toward your Blackbirds instead of using more resources and funding to try and make another. Using the navigational computer we acquired above Muff Fallow and have been working to understand we can make a small group of quicker, scout ships for insertion. All I require is pricing for your companies Blackbirds please."

 

[Quietus]

"The Blackbird..." Lorelei eyed [member="Knight"] for a moment, acidic green gaze keen but a small smile of intrigue showing through, "yes, that one has become quite popular recently. It enjoyed its obscurity for so long. Makes me wonder..." but what it made her wonder she didn't say. The Queen perused the model file on a datapad, dark brow lofting as she considered the price.

She slid the datapad across her desk to the Exarch, "That is list market pricing. I'd be willing to offer the Protectorate a deal if you're looking to purchase several."


[[If you want an actual price you'll have to give me time to come up with a number because truthfully I haven't a clue.]]

 

[Nameless Knight]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]

In truth she had been looking to get two but a handful to add with the black ship HK had gotten could prove useful and with the right enhancements to the Nirvana they could have a small insertion squadron for running ops in enemy space. It was a decent deal and she did have some power to operate in the center of protectorate space. "A small handful of these could help tip scales on worlds we need to insert covert teams. I know the commander of Omega Pyre would find it handy." She was still nervous but shifting a little so any perspiration was hidden Knight flicked her eyes around looking for the datapad to sign. "This could prove to be a better investiment then I originally thought your highness."

 

[Quietus]

"Five would be the optimal number, all parts of the manufacturing process considered, and the Protectorate will receive a 15% discount on the total order. This doesn't cover the freight costs for delivery, I'm afraid." With the shadow of war upon the Republic, shipping anything lately had been more than a nightmare but less than a disaster to business. Security was tighter, lanes of people migrating away from the storm had jammed up hyperspace lanes, and already sector codes had changed more than twice in the last month. Lorelei handled it with the same amount of tethered patience that she had shown and practiced years ago with her young children. They were still alive and healthy, so that bode well for the Republic at large.

"Is that agreeable?" she queried [member="Knight"]

 

[Nameless Knight]

[member="Lorelei Darke"]

"Very." And it was, five at a discount not including shipping but then she could handle some shipping easily enough. Getting them to Thyferra and the protectorate would be both easy and hard. Growing war led to more people looking but sometimes lax security. With all eyes looking at Coruscant and the sith the south could have less security. The exarch cracked more of a smile. "The transport shouldn't be a problem, thankfully the Protectorate and Republic aren't pounding their chests at each other so moving is slightly easier. I thank you for your business your Highness and don't want to take more time then needed."