Garbage and Swords

[Arage Bao]

~Raxus Prime~​

~Tion Hegemony~​

In the grand scheme of things Raxus wasn’t exactly a pleasant place to find yourself on, its atmosphere was filled with unpleasant gases giving any possible inhabitants the unpleasant prospect of this or that disease if they overstayed their unpleasant welcome, its landscape was decorated with unpleasant sceneries which could turn your eyes blind with just a graze of the eyesight and-- ​

Well you gather the drift of this talk already.​

It ain’t a pleasant place and that explained the lack of popularity in the greater and lower circles of the Galaxy, people simply had better places to be, more beautiful planets to strip from its resources et cetera, et cetera.​

And yet here we are at the other pearl of the Galaxy.​

Jared Ovmar found himself on one of its continents, which he had purchased for a bargain years ago, the construction of the recycling facility had been completed, the contract for a recycling droid had been executed and now only one other thing had to be done.​

The establishment of a skyhook over the planet to aid in the transport of the recycled goods to places that could actually use it.​

Ovmar, Sith Lord Extraordinaire, waited in a nearby office on the arrival of one of his associates, Rave Merrill. While the skyhook was being taken care of, there was other business to discuss.​

[member="Rave Merrill"]​

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

Unfortunately, [member="Rave Merrill"] wasn't showing up. This was because Rave Merrill was too busy losing invaluable holocrons to teams of plucky space adventurers. In her stead, Janus appeared, because Janus was the well-established "only go to this guy if everyone else is busy" person. Janus was all too aware of this sad fact but had shown up regardless. Because he had little better to do. The sharply dressed Sithling lingered outside the doors to Ovmar's office for but a few moments, before then knocking on the door.

It had been an eternity since he showed up on Raxus Prime. It was time to see how Ovmar intended to screw up the place.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Darth Janus"]

‘Enter.’

It was immediately clear to the other Sith Lord that this wasn’t in fact Merrill coming in to help out on this project. For one the signature was all wrong, furthermore the knock was slightly more feminine than he had come to expect from the likes of Rave Merrill- no offence to the gentle hand of the Darth Fabulous, of course. Not all could be savage Sith Lords with bulking muscles and the like, such things weren’t exactly compulsory in the general curriculum of the Sith.

And so when Darth Janus finally entered the room, Ovmar simply gave him a nod, as if he had been expecting the man for quite some time now. Which wasn’t exactly true, but the truth was an ever-changing thing and so a man in Ovmar’s capacity always needed to be prepared for the worst.

‘It’s good to see you here, Ardik. You are well I take it?’

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

"Not particularly." Janus replied, sniffling slightly. He might have been coming down with a cold.

Hopping from planet to planet was bound to expose him to a lot of foreign bacteria. Even with advances in medical science, the protective powers of the Force, and his own healthy diet, it was only a matter of time before he came down with something. Besides, Coruscant was absolutely frigid this time of year and constantly raining. Sleep deprivation as demanded by his three jobs might not have been doing him any favors either.

"Regardless, I take it you've called me here for good reason."

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Darth Janus"]

Ovmar neglected to mention that he, in fact, hadn’t called on Lord Janus this time. It simply wouldn’t do to try and talk him out of this notion, a man with such a proportional ego wouldn’t be able to accept such a thing.

So the Sith Lord nodded in agreement.

‘Quite.’

But before they could get to business, he extended his hand and in his hand there was a thing.

‘Tissue?’

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

Of course, Janus had been called. Why wouldn't he have been called? Janus was not in the habit of showing up to particular places on particular planets (to help with particular dev threads) if he hadn't been called prior to do so. Janus dismissed the proffered tissue with a wave of his hand, within which was nothing. "No, thank you."

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Darth Janus"]

Ovmar’s writer declined to waste any further words on this particular discussion, it was an exercise in futility. Clearly someone’s ego was getting in the way of common progress, sense and the ol’ way of yore- and if you don’t have a clue what that means, it might be someone’s simply rambling on right now.

In the distance, far in the distance behind the closed door Janus had just walked through one might just hear the blue-collar robots doing their job, finely done actually. Manufactured by Hegemonic Automaton, it seemed they knew their crap; which was surpris-- nevermind.

At any rate, they were busy installing the foundations of the HALCYONhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/19484-hyperspace-assisted-launch-cyclic-onramp-halcyon/. An installation which would make sure that for once Raxus Prime would be more than a simple, backwater planet which was used as the common waste planet that most people used it for.

It would serve as a connecting node, one which would transport recycled goods to all manner of factories and the sort across the Galaxy.

But that wasn’t the reason Janus might be here.

‘So Neuro-Saav has a new producthttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/42710-neurocoat-everlast/ coming up, still in the progress of being tested out properly. But I think it might interest you.’

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

"Oh, really? I had almost forgotten you produced anything." Tyrin started to snicker, but ended up in a fit of hacking coughs instead.

Thankfully, he managed to retrieve a handkerchief from his breast pocket and cough into that, rather than showering Ovmar with dark side-infused phlegm.

Eventually, composure was re-established. "Do share, though."

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Darth Janus"]

Ovmar simply smiled one of his smiles, it wasn’t necessary to reply anything to that- nature itself had struck a blow, ‘least if you listen to that painful coughing you might get that idea.

Outside the foundations were still being installed. One of the droids had fallen on its face and a circle of other droids were currently looking at him, instead of doing efficient things like working. One of the onlookers elbowed the droid next to him and stated.

<< Aren’t we supposed to help him up? >>

The other droid looked back and if its face had any possibility of showing facial expressions it would probably have looked puzzled, an expression which suggested that the first speaker was mad.

<< Our designation is to construct things. Put blocks upon blocks until it looks like something, it’s not to ‘help’ people. >>

With that the crowd dispersed and went back to work, leaving the lonely droid lying in the muck. A sad little shower of rain started to cloud him and make the scene even more pathetic.

In the meanwhile Ovmar and Janus were safely in a warm office, without any rain.

‘Basically it’s a coat you can put on a variety of products, view it as paint that can help curb the common wear and tear of droids, weaponry that sort of things. See where I am going with this?’

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

"I believe so." Tyrin replied, giving a final cough into the handkerchief. He should be alright for a while now. He utilized the hand that wasn't holding the handkerchief to smooth out his magnificent platinum locks, which had been violently displaced during his previous coughing fit.

"Such a thing would likely be good for usage in the more labor-intensive of Hegemonic Automaton's products. I do believe we have a contract of some sort pertaining to my products coming equipped with yours, no?"

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Darth Janus"]

They were more white than platinum really, one could almost assume that Tyrin Ardik was getting a couple of years older and with that came the usual stress, corruption and stress of being an old man. So it really wasn’t surprising that his hair had turned all white, you can’t have everything in the world.

Ardik couldn’t have a brown-colored mane (or whatever color his hair had been before he decided to change his playby like the pleb he really was.) and Ovmar couldn’t have more than eleven products for his Corporation - such was the balance the Galaxy struck for the high and mighty.

‘I believe so, yes. I will make sure the price of the supply won’t be too expensive.’

Who were they kidding here? The construction of the skyhook over the planet and the infrastructure consisting of dedicated train ways spanning the entire continent wouldn’t be finished during one little conversation between two Sith Lords. Such things didn’t happen in real life, it would probably take a few more weeks, nay months before those efforts were properly finished.

‘Want to see what I am doing with Raxus, Ardik?’

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

Platinum, white, brown, it never really mattered. The glorious locks of Tyrin Ardik would forever be held as the most magnificent regardless of coloration. Ovmar was probably right, in any case. Lots of jobs meant lots of stress. Lots of stress meant lots of white hairs, which probably led Tyrin to his current appearance. Dabbling in the corrupting power of the Dark Side was also a likely contributor. Whatever. All the really cool characters had white hair anyway. And none of them even acknowledged that the Dark Side had a tendency to physically rot people from the inside out.

Otherwise they might have to get a more grotesque playby, and who really wanted that?

"So long as-" Tyrin paused, overcome by a sneeze which he directed into his handkerchief once again. That little piece of cloth was taking a beating today. "Excuse me. So long as it isn't as idiotic as other attempted ventures I've seen try to take root here."

He was, of course, referring to when that vapid piece of vegetation had attempted to strip the surface of garbage entirely so she could investigate rumors of ruins and treasure or something. As if such a thing would exist still on a planet dominated by refuse for thousands of years. Tyrin had stonewalled the entire thing. Then there was that bit of business with the black hole or something. An entire star destroyer almost destroyed. The mind of an abject, irredeemable fool was a boggling thing. But at least now with that "blowout auction," he had hope he would never hear of Savan's and her company's idiotic exploits ever again.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Darth Janus"]

Ovmar nodded and brought up a hologram of the planet, with the wave of a hand the hologram focused on the specific continent they were currently on, let’s call it Landmass J for now. Landmass J was slightly larger than the other continents of the planet, larger obviously meant that it had more territory, more territory meant more place to stash all that garbage and at this point…

It meant more money.

On the map there were various red dots, some of them were pulsing while others were seemingly dormant for the time being. An x marked the spot they were currently located and next to it there was the foundations of the skyhook system which would be a doozy.

Another wave of the hand and the map shifted to the concept of the HALCYON.

‘What do you currently know about the HALCYON?’

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

"Never heard of it." Tyrin said, unwilling to admit the first thing he had envisioned at the word "Halcyon" was the visage of that former Jedi Grandmaster.

The one no one liked.

Then again, most Jedi Grandmasters had been rather unlikable. Many attributed such things to their personality, ideology, and ability to make rational decisions. Tyrin, rather, assumed it was the fact that they were Jedi. Truly, the only thing worse than a Jedi Grandmaster of any caliber was a Silver Jedi Grandmaster. It was like the difference between a neanderthal and a neanderthal with rabies.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Darth Janus"]

‘HALCYON, short for Hyperspace Assisted Launch Cyclic Onramp.’ It seemed that Rave Merrill had shared her strange humor and sense of irony with her brother Jorus Merrill (even though they weren’t really related, by who really knew that?)

‘In layman terms it’s basically a skyhook combined with a hyperspace cannon.’

‘See we had some problems while conceptualizing what we would actually do here on Raxus Prime. The arrival, or appearance, of the Silver Jedi in this system only complicated said concept. It was first theorized that we could simply build a recycling plant on the continent, construct shipyards above the planet and then simply transition the resources between the two. Seemed cheap and efficient in the grand scheme of things back then.’

Ovmar waved with his hand, almost waving away that idea with a sheer gesture of his limb.

‘Somehow I ain’t entirely too comfortable with having one of my shipyards in their territory, fact is that they will probably protest, occupy or maybe throw paint balloons at it- or whatever these silver hippies to these days to protest corporate actions of ‘greed’.’

The Sith Lord was about to continue, before he stopped himself and asked Ardik another question. Can’t have a good story when the man in front of you didn’t have all the info, now could you?

‘Did you hear about Baktoid?’

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

Tyrin didn't really understand the need for the HALCYON acronym. It seemed easier to just refer to it as a hyperspace launcher. Then again, that didn't sound very fancy. Rather than prattle on about it, Tyrin kept his response succinct. "Fascinating. Really."

This wasn't to say the Umbaran didn't have a profound appreciation for skyhooks and the like. They were marvels of technology; triumphs of engineering. Tyrin was very much a man of science, even if the finnicky details escaped him. Perhaps it would be more accurate to call him an appreciator of science, and then only in its mechanical forms. Vong technology and its offshoots were revolting.

"I wasn't aware Neuro-Saav was in the business of maintaining shipyards. In any event, this assumption that the silvered miscreants will even attempt to protest anything is ludicrous. It implies that they're even remotely cognizant of what goes on in and around their space." Tyrin snickered, visibly struggling to stifle a cough as he finished. "And yes, I have heard the fate of Baktoid. A fitting end for a useless enterprise."

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Darth Janus"]

‘Neuro-Saav Corporation has not kept any shipyards, until very recently, no. But the plans had been always in the making, there simply had to be an opportunity for it to be executed. Didn’t realize Baktoid would slip up that early though- only shows that at the end every amateur gets run down.’

Ovmar waved his hand again.

‘At any rate. The shipyards aren’t a problem anymore, with Baktoid’s assets absorbed by Neuro-Saav we are now in the possession of those. So we don’t need another one, just an expensive commodity.’ Ovmar wasn’t even sure why people kept building shipyards when they already had a couple- seemed simple, mindless expansions that didn’t actually bring in any money.

Strange people sometimes.

‘We also had problems with how to actually transport all the garbage to the central recycling facility in the middle of the continent.’ another dot flared up at the mention of the facility.

‘We fixed that with your recycling droid, sorta. We have trains all across the continent bringing it to the central hub which serves as the main node in the system- instead of dropping it all in a possible shipyard above this planet… HALCYON allows us to transport the recycled resources across the Galaxy to our shipyards, factories.’

He lit up a cigarette.

‘You name it.’

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

"Color me impressed." Tyrin watched the holographic display, seeing the infrastructure rise and indicate itself at Ovmar's command.

This was a pretty tight operation, he had to admit. Up until now, large scale recycling on the planet hadn't occurred since the ancient Empire. At least, that's what Tyrin assumed. The records were jumbled and contradictory as usual. That was arguably a good thing, as it left more trash laying around for the present day. Tyrin would need to consider purchasing his own salvage rights to this planet, depending on if the Silver Jedi ever became privy to Ovmar's operation and decided to do something about it.

"Tell me, what's the going rate on having recycled materials shipped out? Ord Cestus is not terribly far from here, and using what you salvage here could benefit me economically and Ord Cestus environmentally."

Tyrin himself wasn't concerned about the environment of Ord Cestus, but a growing political faction on the planet was. It was a barren rock, what environment were they defending? Yet they still seemed determined to throw restrictions on the planet's mining industry.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Darth Janus"]

Another gesture and the conceptualizing process warped into a map of the Galaxy, faint blue lines connected Raxus Prime to Ord Cestus through the hyperspace lanes that would have to be traveled during the transportation of the goods. Mathematical equations appeared next to each trip, defining the shortest route, the cheapest et cetera.

Eventually one route remained flickering while the rest went dormant.

‘We can probably make it even cheaper than that, Hegemony discount and all that. Hmm… I think we could work out a deal, maybe get some of your labor droids here to do the heavy lifting and all.’

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

Hegemonic Automaton product being sold? Now there was something that attracted the Umbaran's full attention.

"Of course. I imagine you'll want Z3s to operate the recycling facility proper. Perhaps have them rove about and excavate things you might not necessarily want recycled."

Tyrin gestured, using his own skill in technometry to hijack the holographic display. The whole thing rapidly turned to a conceptualization of the surface of Raxus Prime, albeit one where a legion of Z3 Labor Droids were digging up something huge. It was difficult to tell, but underneath the mounds of trash lay a Hardcell-Class Interstellar Transport. Ancient ships that had once been used to ferry all sorts of supplies and treasures by the predecessor of the modern Techno Union.

"Z4s would be useful in collecting the recycled material the AN1s churn out in the field. Yes, this would all do you well as far as productivity and profit are concerned."

Again, the display shifted, this time to an imagination of an AN1 depositing a half-dozen large cubes of recycled material. Then like vultures descending on a wounded animals, a gaggle of Z4s swooped in, clamped down on the cubes, and soared off-screen to deliver the cubes to wherever it was Ovmar intended to ship them. Probably to the HALCYON.