How Much for Just the Planet? (Alicia Drey)

[Ashin Varanin]

CHANDRILA

Initial consultations between Shambleau's employer and one [member="Alicia Drey"] had revealed interest on both sides. Shambleau's assignment, so far as she understood it, was to present her employer's proposed terms for the purchase of three properties in the Outer Rim. One was a series of factories on Dubrillion, another an underground facility on Mytus Seven, and the third an office block on Kalee. What made this transaction delicate, requiring some discretion on Shambleau's part, was that her employer was acting as Lady Cardei of Theed, private citizen, rather than Ajira Cardei of Theed Palace Space Vessel Corps of Engineers.

Apparently Lady Cardei of Theed was branching out -- to properties very, very far away from Naboo. Some plan or larger deal was clearly in the offing. Shambleau's prep docket for this meeting had some, but not all, of the details. In the end, though she'd gotten quite good at guesswork, she had no real idea what a Naboo noble house wanted with a jungle-moon factory, an office block, and a crypt on a prison world.

A slim, chrome Naboo yacht touched down at the indicated platform, and Shambleau exited the vessel. She'd arrived at early evening, when her species' unique sunlight sensitivity wouldn't be an issue. In the gloom, and even in artificial light, she could pass for a Zeltron, an Umbaran, or maybe a shaven-headed Omwati. The look let her blend in just about anywhere.

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Lady Shambleau"] |

Alicia had tasked Serj Sularis to meet with Shambleau. She was dealing with other matters, off world and away from the Chandrila system. The Muun was waiting for the Umbaran to arrive at the designated platform, his flaccid face betraying signs of fatigue. His employer had tasked him to meet with the buyers representative at short notice. He had been on Eriadu, dealing with other matters for the IGBC at the time, so it had been a none stop flight from the Seswenna Sector to make it on time.

"Welcome to Chandrila, Lady Shambleau," Serj said, as the Umbaran climbed off. "I have a venue already prepared inside the spaceport, for our meeting. If you will follow me..."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Alicia Drey"]

The Muun looked tired, not that Shambleau was much good at reading Muuns. Frankly, she wasn't much good at reading humanoid forms in general, no matter what she looked like. Her Force senses, though, indicated that the Muun was about as wiped out as she'd guessed.

"Of course. Thank you, Mr. Sularis."

Muuns were gigantic, by human standards; following him, she barely came up to his shoulderblades. Not that she found him intimidating any more than a human would be frightened of a really large steak. Her stomachs growled.

Inside the spaceport was a good deal more light, artificial but high-quality. Sometimes faux-natural lighting froze her. She paid attention for the prickling that preceded freeze-up, but nothing. The spectra didn't align.

As they reached the meeting area, though, she opted to sit in the dimmest corner of the room.

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Lady Shambleau"] |

Muun's didn't like to eat during business. Serj had met a dozen Humans who ate meals whilst discussing business and it had always disgusted him, as it did to the majority of his species. There was a time and place to eat and it wasn't at the negotiation table.

Lowering his body into the chair across from Shambleau, the Muun opened the discussion. "My employer has given me permission to represent her in these negotiations over three properties. I am ready to hear your offer for each."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Alicia Drey"]

Brevity was in everyone's best interests just now. With a firm nod, Shambleau placed her datapad on the table and activated its holoprojector.

"Dubrillion, Kalee, and Mytus Seven. For these three facilities, Lady Cardei would like to offer these base sums." The holoprojector showed three numbers, in keeping with market value, local conditions, and the condition of each location. Nothing surprising in those numbers.

"Lady Cardei has instructed me, though, that she would like to make a composite offer. Over and above each of the monetary offers, Lady Cardei has close ties with Theed Palace Space Vessel Corps of Engineers." The image shifted, becoming a rotating depiction of a large, elegant starship.

"This is the new Indispensable-class corporate flagship. It's a self-contained, highly modular vessel that can serve as any combination of office space, processing facility, factory, sales floor, and so forth -- completely mobile, without the shipping premiums you get from a planet's gravity well. Uniquely, and secretly, stygium cloaking devices are built into the holds, to protect corporate secrets from unfriendly scans or overly zealous customs officers. It's fifteen hundred metres long and has a class-point-five hyperspace rating. It is the only ship class of its kind."

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Lady Shambleau"] |

Serj looked over the numbers displayed on the holoprojector and nodded. "They seem in order," he admitted. They've obviously done their homework. Turning his gaze to the hologram of the Indispensable-class flagship, the Muun leaned across to upload the schematics of the ship to a datapad. Reclining into his seat, he reviewed the ship before lifting his gaze back up to Shambleau.

"I will have to contact my employer before I can agree to your offer," Serj explained. "Remain here whilst I make contact with her." Lowering the datapad back onto the table, the Muun stood back up and exited the room to contact Alicia.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Alicia Drey"]

"Of course."

Shambleau watched the Muun on his way out the door. She continued sitting, doing nothing -- didn't play with her datapad, didn't fidget. Mikans knew patience like few other species. They spent just about every day paralyzed, hibernating but aware, from sunrise to sunset. He could take a few minutes, half an hour, more, and she'd still sit here thinking her thoughts, barely blinking. She liked to spend this time considering how to kill and eat everyone in the vicinity, more as an academic exercise and a survival strategem than out of any particular malice. Humanoids were the natural prey of the Mikan species.

Some Darksiders loved to use the predator/prey metaphor to discuss their relationship with Jedi or non-Force-sensitives, but they didn't really understand the metaphor, or at least used it imprecisely. There was little gloating in Shambleau's attitude toward humanoids, any more than a nexu felt arrogance while on the hunt. A thrill, to be sure; a confident certainty regarding her own abilities. But mostly she felt about people the way people felt about food.

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Lady Shambleau"] |

The conversation between Serj and his employer had been short. Receiving the go ahead to accept the offer made for the three properties in question, the Muun entered the room and took back his seat. "I have received confirmation. We are ready to accept your offer."

As he finished speaking, Serj felt a rare but extremely nervous shiver run up his spine. He wasn't sure what it was, but the woman that sat across from him made him feel uneasy. He would be glad to end this meeting, as soon as possible. He simply didn't like the way Shambleau was looking at him.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Alicia Drey"]

Shambleau offered the Muun a satisfied smile. "Lady Cardei will be thrilled," she said, rising. "Her office will send along the paperwork within the hour. I'll see to it that the corporate flagship arrives at Chandrila - or Muunilinst, if you prefer - in a week or less, barring unforeseen events." She didn't extend her hand to shake. Some beings found the experience unsettling. "I'm starving, sir, and I've got dinner waiting for me on my yacht, plus a contract draft to finalize. If you'll excuse me...?"

 

[Alicia Drey]

| [member="Lady Shambleau"] |

Serj nodded, rising back up to his feet. "Of course. I will walk you back to your ship." It was short a negotiation. One of the shortest that the Muun had been involved in. Normally, other species enjoyed unnecessary conversation and discussion over topics that had nothing to do with the reason why they had convened, but Shambleau had been precise and her presence had quickened the proceedings.

 

[Alicia Drey]

On the Hunter's Moon Sojourn, CEO of Chandrila DataTech Alicia Drey found herself a richer person at days end. Serj Sularis, her Muun representative, had sent word that the transaction had been completed and the properties sold. Award Serj a commission for his work, as per their business relationship, Alicia funneled the cash into DataTech's escrow, planning to use the new credits generated from the sale for a new upcoming project.