Governance & Placing Care (Lucien Cordel)

[Manu Xextos]

Sv'Yato Fleet Flagship Brynjar
Gunray-Class Star Destroyer

Fleet Admiral Manu Xextos had been pulled up from the surface of Sabarene to clean up, take a shower and meet with the first member of the Fringe High Council he'd see: Lord [member="Lucien Cordel"].

Outside of Fringe Space, on the raggedy edge of the galaxy, Sabarene was an indecently needed defensive position and potential boon for the Confederation. What did a new colony need, with its infrastructure being built and its potential as a military offsetting point?

Laws and governance. Was Manu about to breach the wall to become once again a leader and policy maker for another planet? Had he done so before, when it had been his wife Erryn who ruled and he could concentrate on Mastery of the Force and Naval control? Dressed in his finest uniform Manu looked like a tower of white and silver. His silver and white boots were filigreed and swooped up toward his knees, the chest plate decorated with the devices of his station as both the ancient Husband of the Kae and Admiral of the Sv'Yato Fleet. Although his wife's reign ended 750 years prior, her husband was still the progenitor of noble Houses. His honour guard included a few men whose faces matched his own, a testament to his heritage as their ancient father. House Najwa, House Xextos.

For the Lord Cordel Manu had set tea and brandy in his office, but for the moment he and his Honour Guard waited at the docking bay for Cordel's ship to arrive.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien's yacht slid slowly onto the landing strip. Lucien enjoyed nothing more Thank imposing harsh, unforgiving, draconian justice on lack witted savages yet to experience the dawn of civilisation. Those who had experienced the dawn of civilisation were slightly less enjoyable to subjugate however one could still have a little fun.

His honour guard concisted of some farther pompous looking soldiers with pikes and rehearsed marches they would be about as much use in a fight as an inflatable dog. Of course they were there for show his bodyguards where hidden in plain sight poised to kill any threat. After the opening act of his little show Lucien himself appeared his entrance emphasised by the ringing of his cane on the gang way. Lucien was as ever dressed at his best suit finely pressed waistcoat buttons polished. He tugged at his overcoat to fight off the draft. He was closely followed by his personal assistant just a few paces behind. Lucien stopped just in front of [member="Manu Xextos"] "Admiral a pleasure I'm sure" he said removing the glove from his left hand and offering it to Manu

 

[Manu Xextos]

The youngest of Manu's Honour Guard (all arrayed in matching House Xextos Royal Guard uniforms and energy pikes) stifled a giggle at the prancing soldiers. He bit his lip and Manu glanced back at the boy, barely out of his teen years. Taking a deep breath, he waited for the Lord [member="Lucien Cordel"] and once the tap, tap, tap of Lucien's cane hit the gang plank Manu centred himself.

He would have to make a great deal of a good impression on the man, or Sabarene was a flash in the pan. Manu came to attention and took Lucien's hand, years of standing at his wife's side at Royal Court dictating his every twitch of muscle. "Lord Cordel, indeed it is a pleasure. Welcome to my Flagship. Thank you for taking my request on such short notice. I trust the voyage was pleasant?"

A stoic-faced blonde woman stood one step behind and beside Manu's left shoulder, her uniform was that of a Naval Captain, and her hair was pulled back from her face in an intricate braid at the back of her head. If she smiled, she would be gorgeous. "This is Captain [member="Livia Maddox"] of the Vi'Nu. She's been given the assignment of handling Sabarene's logistical development and she will be a part of our meetings. I'll let yourself and your staff get arranged, the meeting is scheduled for 1615."

The young Captain snapped to attention, saluted Lucien then offered her hand. "Greetings, Sir. I've read your recent governance shifts on Zaadja. Your expose on the grounding of the legal system has been an integral piece of wisdom I use to command my ship. Thank you for coming."

Manu smirked down at the staunch Naboo, "Captain Maddox here has a reputation for the unequivocal. Lord Cordel, this way."

The Echani Dowager Prince turned crisply and walked toward the conference room and adjoining guest suite, his Honour Guard following behind in its' natural flow. Captain Livia Maddox waited for the rest to turn before she moved, attempting to take up the rear.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien smiled politely veiling his utter disgust , he didn't take kindly to being mocked and were this his own ship the young soldier would have been before an executor within the hour. Sadly for Lucien this was not his ship, he would need to resort to more subtle means to repair his stung pride. He would sqaure that debt later, for now [member="Manu Xextos"] was the primary focus .

The interection between Lucien and Manu went like clockwork, this was of course to be expected both of them were practised hands in this sort of situation. "It is quite alright Admiral, it is always a privallage to help my fellow leaders bring civilisation to their people ... My voyage was pleasant, thank you for asking.

Lucien nodded as the captain was introduced " A pleasure I'm sure captain, I look forward to working with you" he nodded staunchly as she commented on his frankly illustrious career in govenance. Lucien did enjoy a good flatterer but Lucien was also of the opinion that captain Maddox was bullied in school and to this day had few if any friends. Lucien never had such issues of course he was always highly popular, Lucien knew that this was soley due to his charisma and had nothing to do with his inheritance. " I am pleased to hear you found it useful, I am firmly of the opinion that we must all be unequivocal sometimes.”

With a third polite smile Lucie followed the admiral leaving his assistant to coordinate the removal of Lucien's luggage. He offered his hosts a nod " If you would excuse me I have a few things to organise before our meeting I will see you at four fifteen, Your majesty ... Captain" and with that he whent into his room to instruct his lead inquesitor on his desire for vengeance on the childish soldier. Then he organised his files and had a cup of tea. At 16:15 exactly Lucien and his assistant entered the meeting room.

 

[Manu Xextos]

Manu leaned against the table in the long windowed conference room watching the fabric of stars. He rubbed his eyes and sniffed. With [member="Lucien Cordel"] putting himself together and preparing, the octocentarian admiral-prince had a chance to breathe. A flash of glistening light sheened across the viewports, Manu's eyes didn't need to veer to his reflection to feel the striking slashes of concern stroking across his companions. Bringing a hand to his eyes, Manu saw through the skin and vessels to brittle, clear bones. His eyes shut. He drifted to a long exhale.

"Any word on Ahani?" He eked out, watching the shake of their faces. "Keep looking."

Sitting at the head of the conference table, Manu leaned back in his chair and a humming thrill of the Light of the Force came upon the room like a blanket of fresh snow. The transparency of his crystalline skeleton and skin began to milk over as the blanket of the Light swayed and flowed around him. The pale Master curled his fingers on the arms of the chair, his voice a whisper. "Give me a ten second lead on Lord Cordel. Get me Maddox."

 

[Livia Maddox]

Captain Maddox waited until everyone had turned and the Lord [member="Lucien Cordel"] was gone before she held out her hand and a junior officer passed her a black cane with silver cap. The tap tap tap of the cane punctuated her walk down to the conference room.

Walking into the room, Livia saw the Admiral's relative transparency and pursed her lips. "Brilliant. When's the last time the Admiral has taken his constitutional? Lord Cordel'll be here in a minute. Man like him is never late, just our luck." One of the Echani shook his head, she could never tell which was which. . . not that it mattered to the young Naboo. With a roll of her eyes, Livia limped over to the youngest member of the guard and grabbed him by the ear amidst his yelps and cries to the contrary. "Oh shush you baby. It'll only feel dreadful for a minute. Hour tops. Pansy. Places, everybody our guest is nearly here!"

At the side of Manu's chair, Captain Fury put her hand on the guardsman's shoulder and nodded down to the Admiral. "Go on. Do it, Admiral. He'll be fine. Young. Bounce back neatly. Now, Xextos!" Manu threw his hand up to the guardsman's face and in a wash of light, the fatigue, the ache, the exhaustion of the Master of the Force seemed to wash away.

Just in time for the ten second count on Cordel. Livia whirled around, threw her cane aside as the door opened and the Guardsman hit the floor. "Xextos. Najwa. Take Giggles to the Brig. Chop chop!" Two Guards swept in and carried the young Echani out past Lord Cordel. "His lack of protocol irked me. New recruit, you understand of course. Lord Cordel, do have a seat. The Admiral and I welcome your expertise. We have a situation where multiple cultures are melding together on the same planet, and it proves to be tricky at times. Language differences and combat-as-life and all that. Tea?"

Maddox glanced to the corner of her eye to see the Admiral [member="Manu Xextos"] sitting quietly in his chair looking pale as a sheet, but otherwise right as rain.

Fewf.

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien sat down and watched as a show was put before him, he was subtly bemused. He saw through the façade, Admiral [member="Manu Xextos"] had given "Giggles" two in the knees so Lucien couldn't give him one in the head. Lucien supposed he aught to be flattered that they saw fit to go to so much trouble, he would therefore let the matter conclude on Manu's terms. Lucien smiled at the captains words " Indeed I do I have seen many of his ilk before , I am far less lenient than yourself but your method has its strength ... Tea Would be most welcome ..." He turned to his assistant "Avaline you will assist the captain ..."

As his tea was prepared Lucien thought on the circumstances faced by the admiral, one must be sure of the approach they take in these matters. He remained in deep thought for a few moments before the sound of his cup and saucer being placed roused him. He unwebbed his fingers "Thank you" he said as sugar cubes floated into his tea. He remained ever silent as he mixed speaking only as he replaced his tea spoon on the saucer. " The planets populace present An all too common situation it is a mess, you need to make sense of them... " he took a sip of tea then resumed holding his cup in midair "find the culture that reflects your values and bring it to dominance let it subjegate the others a divided people can't resist at that point you can inpose your law on them"

He put the cup down "of course what that law will be is imeasurably more complex ... We ought to draft that now and I can help you choose your dominant culture"

 

[Manu Xextos]

Manu leaned an elbow on the table and stuck a smooth grin on his face. "His first assignment. Wife's cousin, you understand." His silver eyes flickered at the exiting Guardsmen, this was what the meeting was for, wasn't it? Giving the Echani and Chandaari a fighting chance at order and a new planet to survive on when he was gone? [member="Lucien Cordel"] would be one of the few who knew the dream for Sabarene, and passing that torch helped his aching bones.

"Echani. The predominant culture is Echani. The Chandaari have a presence, too but they've been moulded by Echani culture too in some ways, or at least the ones that came with us. We can work with that. I do have talks going on with Zambrano about having an Epicanthix colony on the other side of the planet, the Epicanthix and the Echani are two warrior cultures, so it should work out on paper. The strangest thing for others is probably our use of violence and combat as a form of communication. How a person punches and moves tells us more than a book's worth of information. Things like assault? They'll have to be handled in a different way. What are your thoughts, Maddox?"

A cup of tea found its way to Manu and he wrapped his hand around it. The steam seemed to seep into the man himself, the tea growing cold in seconds.

 

[Livia Maddox]

"I do agree, Sir. But for the Admiral's personal sense of life and wholeness, I would heartily agree and recommend no leniency at all. Master Xextos is a man of legend and mercy, he was the marauding star and one of Palpatine's last forays into Force-Sensitive Echani boys. I doubt nothing of his methods, they would not work but for the near religious respect the Echani pay him.

He was their Queen's consort. Their king and father of Houses." The Captain caught a reproachful glance from her Admiral, and bowed her head. "Excuse me, Lord Cordel. Avaline, is it? This way dear." Maddox waited until she thought [member="Lucien Cordel"]'s eyes were elsewhere before she moved, one hand pushing against her left thigh in an attempt to negate the limp that rested there.

Livia Maddox would appear whole, or she would not appear. The tea was brought on silver trays and placed with utmost care, before the Captain Fury took her seat at the table.

"I do have one thought. The planetary defences will be controlled by Sv'Yato Fleet. Our plans for a military base to conjoin with the Fleet are under development, but the defence grid may be needed to turn inward, in contingencies." Livia caught the grimace from [member="Manu Xextos"], he went to speak but Maddox put her teaspoon on her saucer and gave a pointed glare.

"I trust Kaine Zambrano as far as I can best him in a run. The Epicanthix must be controlled if they are to be amongst us. In their own colony, fine, but where our colonies intersect, our order must be the predominant order. So how do we create an environment where militia and populace are separate, when the predominant culture carries the arts of war as deeper conversations? It is a problem I am neither familiar with nor understanding of. It is like the separation of church and state. Essential, but terribly overwhelming to lesser minds.

What was it that Zambrano asked of you, Admiral? An arena in which to release tensions and bond the cultures together? What could we do with that? An appropriate place for the violent behaviours?"

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien drummed his fingers atop the table " Zambrano must be watched, I doubt he will enjoy playing second fiddle even to you ... I council that you give him two things firstly build his areanas then let him control them thereby throwing him a bone and chaining him down, even in his own colony he must never be allowed to rise so high as to be in a realistic position to challenge you" Lucien had headed only third and tales of the king of Thule but the man was a relic of the old empire and that told lucien that he was a snake, no one rose so high and grew old unless they were Lucien was rendered a degree less useful when the question of defences was raised he was no military man he had experts on such matters. He held his hands up "I am afraid the question of planetry defences is one that extends beyond my capabilities my usual input in this situation would be to ask your military for there opinion but your all the military so that is out of the question"

He was in no difficulty in providing a view on separation "You must give the people a place to let loose there aggression controlled chaos is good and these proposed areanas can be useful for dealing with inconvinances. Isolate the militia it will make them feel special and the mystery will distract the simple minded" he took another drink of tea " I feel I have talked enough for now and I fear I am ill informed who else has approched you and what is the planet like at this at the exact moment?"

 

[Manu Xextos]

Manu leaned forward and put his elbow on the table. "Do you think Zambrano will be a serious challenge? I can't sense him empathically or mentally. Epicanthix and all. In that case, maybe [member="Livia Maddox"]'s idea of planetary defences under our control would be our best playing card. Outward-focused, secretly able to switch. I didn't used to be a military man, it came with marrying my wife. The Kae needed her Consort to be a military leader and strategist, someone able to take charge of the navy and army in times of need and I had my times to take. Maddox, we can handle the implementation of the planetary defences as long as we have accepted authority from the Fringe High Council to do so. Although it's my wish we never have to use them, I'm not naive enough to think we never will. Yes, we'll set up the arena. Maybe throw [member="Marek Starchaser"] a bone. He'd love setting up something of that nature, and it would help that he's got the funds."

Separating the militia. It went against much of what he was taught as a youth, but concessions had to be made. Not every Echani would be a warrior in the ranks, as not every Chandaari would be a merchant. Manu looked Lucien over before continuing. "When Admiral Varanin gave me Sabarene, she mentioned there had been a battle on it. The corpses still littered the ground. We've given them respectful burials and set up the city of Abha. It's growing and comfortable for our 150,000 foundational settlers. The only thing keeping us from more is water. Once we find a better source for drinkable water, we'll be able to expand as far as that water will run. Maddox has the beginnings of a Military Academy in the works, and I've got the plans for a Temple of the Force out by the ocean's edge. My fleet could use a re-fit or upgrade, if we are to guard the Fringe against the Unknown Reaches and any attacks or invasions of your cloning worlds and shipyards.

Regardless, Sabarene's a desert. It'll be decades before the terraforming process has made the entire planet comfortably habitable. If we get that Temple set up, with enough Force Masters of the right persuasion, I can enhance my energy with their own and have the planet terraformed in as little as five years. Altering the environment on a planetary scale and making it stick. . . might be quite the feat to put my name on, eh Maddox?"

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien nodded "my lord, I know Zambrano is your single greatest threat. He has tasted the sweet offerings of an empire and has sat the throne of Thule he is about as likely to bend the knee to you as I am to take up residence in a Dose house" he paused and took drink of his tea. Placing his cup down and leaning forward "If you need evidence of the danger he poses you need look no further than his continued existence, he served high offices under the regimes of Mordin right through to the empires fall and never once did the daggers of the sith ever come close to striking him ... It is a rare gift to outlast ones emperor ... Leash him swiftly my lord or you may soon find that it is your knee that is bending." Lucien nodded as [member="Manu Xextos"] gave support to Maddox's idea "The high council will not pose an issue , act as we plan and leave the council to me ... " he may not be the sole holder of power anymore but he still liked to believe he still had concederable sway. Lucien lent back when talk moved to the areanas he had heard little of this starchaser "I can comment on who you aught to appoint, it is my advice that you let your chosen supervisor feel indebted to you people are less rebbelious if they constantly question their suitability." It was a harsh method but an undeniably effective one.

Lucien smiled "Your fleet needs refitting? Well it seems you wish to negotiate on this I will need more tea ... " how much lucien enjoyed the coming conversation would depend very much on what the admiral asked of him. "Avaline you will pour" he added in a stern tone turning to his assistant. She hooded with the standard reply for staff who still had need of their tongues and faces "As you command your grace" having received his tea Lucien thanked his assistant and slipped his suit jacket off. The conversation had just reached the relm of brass takes "So admiral what do you require of the fringe , ask and I will attempt to provide ... For a price of course. " one required certain assurances before yielding aid to a man you barely knew.

Sadly tera forming and lightside mubojumbo rarther extended beyond Lucien's capabilities. He knew only of the darker voice of the force, the light stopped talking to him years before. That did not mean lucien couldn't provide helpers for Many so long as he was happy to use convict labour and press ganged enemies of the state ... A war would yeild able minds and bodies on a frankly excessive scale. It was at this point Lucien contemplated requesting to view the planet first hand.

 

[Livia Maddox]

The High Councillor [member="Lucien Cordel"]'s words sent chills rocketing down Maddox' spine. Zambrano was that dangerous and Manu was going to let him have a homestead on Sabarene? The Admiral was forgiving but not daft, yet mayhaps he expected his ability to handle the Epicanthix was higher than his chances of success. "I'll make a note to keep warheads primed and ready to take out Zambrano should the need arise." She caught a glint from her boss, but Livia looked straight forward and at Lucien. "A necessary precaution unless you want to have another grudge match for the ages, Admiral Xextos. Might I remind you your wife is on Sabarene?"

The ill taste in Manu Xextos' mouth must have somehow ferried over to her own lips and teeth. She swallowed and went to pour more tea, but the Aide of Cordel had done it already. Thank the goddesses she didn't have to get up and show off her damned limp. A powerful captain like her - limping! The woman was more conscious of her physical ailment than she was of the stars and their charts. A deep emotional unsettling shook the table, slicking upon it with the unguarded first steps of the Force from the woman who had no idea she could use the Force at all.

She slid her finger across the holotable and a projection of the Sv'Yato Fleet as it was appeared between them. "This is the current fleet. 5,600 m in length, with cruisers, corvettes, star destroyers and drop ships. The best plan for the fleet is defence against the Unknown Reaches and any foolhardy group who thinks sneaking up on the Fringe's Spine is a good idea. We need faster cruisers, and another star destroyer or two. We would also like to approach the Fringe to stabilize the region with a refuelling, docking and repair space station outside Sabarene. It would be a valuable asset to the Confederation to have in that sector, as currently you must go as far as your shipyards to properly refuel. If Sv'Yato Fleet and Admiral Xextos hold the keys to the sector, and the surrounding space above Sabarene the likelihood of Zambrano or other entities attempting to intervene on the grand scale is slim. I like weapons armed to the teeth and officers who tread quickly when I command them to defend our homes, your Grace.

I have begun construction of a Military Academy on Sabarene, graduating officers need places to serve. The Admiral has put myself in charge of the construction and development of the Military Academy and the orbital defences of Sabarene. I am his Senior Captain, Sir. I was also Handmaiden to Abhayaradha of Theed. Logistics is a speciality dealt with before."

 

[Manu Xextos]

"Oh goodie. Another megalomaniac." Manu sighed and sat back in his chair. A shiver crept down the side of his neck and he raised an eyebrow at Maddox. The girl was wearing her inner feelings on a gossamer wing across the room and the Master of the Light exhaled discretely from cracked open lips. The unsettling feelings subsided, he looked at [member="Lucien Cordel"] as he finished speaking of Zambrano and hoped the other man hadn't sensed what Manu had known for some length of time: [member="Livia Maddox"] was ripe for training in the Force.

"Thank you for the advice, Lord Cordel. I'll handle Zambrano with more than care. I'll handle him with my metal boot." His lightsabers were going to be getting more practice, he figured. The Admiral sat back to let Livia say her piece. The woman was efficient and thrifty, but she spent where it counted and that made him trust her all the more. "What cost would you like to receive? Sabarene is undefended and derelict, we bring the Fringe a planet which in a short time will be a land of plenty. It also guards against a flank which is currently under-manned. The benefits of the Fringe Confederation supporting the occupation and settling of Sabarene are enormous. But the cost is also great. What would interest the Lord Cordel, hmm? What is it you need and desire most in the universe, eh? Men like us need our reasons, we always do."

 

[Lucien Cordel]

Lucien nodded "The docking and refueling stations I can authorise personally and without issue or delay, I can also help in a somewhat less direct manner" he drank of his tea before continuing to talk "I maintain a close relationship with the High councilor for military affairs and I could convince The Department to give you your ships and find position for your officers ... In fact I am willing to take on an officer as my Batman, it would need to be a person of good stock however" Lucien could not have just any runt serving him, especially in a warzone. He had said all he could on zambrano. The man was trouble that was certain but [member="Manu Xextos"] would do as he pleased.

It was the admiral who spoke next, asking Lucien's cost. This brought a smile to his face What could the man with everything possibly asked for. Lucien lent forward " your majesty it is certainly true that your actions will certainly aid the relm and I'm sure you will be adequetly rewarded however I am not content to serve only the relm ... " Lucien webed his fingers "... I want admiral what all humans want ... Power, I want to be a king " he lent back, gesturing as he continued "I understand that you can't just give me that so from you and your people I ask instead for your support for when the time comes that I choose to take action..." He left his request hanging in the air. Remaining perfectly still , his breaths controlled.

After a few moments Lucien spoke again "So what do you say Your majesty ... Do we have an agreement ?" He was slow smooth and cool, being careful not to push too far.