Imperial Entanglements

[Zeradias Mant]

​

BOTHAWUI, LOW ORBIT
GALACTIC EMPIRE AIRSPACE

White turned to blue, blue turned to black, and the view out the bridge of the ISV Resolute returned once more to the vacuum of space. Before it lie a lone planet - Bothawui. The homeworld of the Bothan race lie on the edge of the Galactic Empire's territory closest to the Iron Empire, with the Commenor Systems Alliance encroaching to it's galactic north. It was a suitable location for the meeting of the representatives of the two empires, where they might forge a relationship for the present and the future.

The Galactic Empire has proven to be an unpredictable power in the galaxy. Expansionist one minute, they've ventured far beyond the reaches of their immediate territory to combat the Silver Jedi Order. At one point, Zeradias had provided direct support for conflict for the Silver Jedi over Bimmisaari while the Galactic Empire invaded Charros IV. It was an inefficient mistake and miscalculation on the Silver Jedi's part - the Iron Imperial fleet would have been better suited to directly engage the Galactic Empire's naval forces. It could be argued though, that the Iron Imperial presence provided a considerable deterrent for spreading the engagement beyond Charros IV. As the Galactic Empire's campaign against the Silver Jedi continued, Iron Imperial support for their informal allies waned. However, whether it was due to their thirst for blood was satiated or they just lost interest in an enemy that posed little retaliatory threat, the Galactic Empire looked within and continued to expand it's borders in a campaign to expand influence. Their capital world of Kamino had also been the subject of an unprovoked attack by the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

While the Galactic Empire was hard at work in the intergalactic community, the Iron Empire continued to build upon itself at a slow but steady pace. After discovering the planet Olstyn and a Valkyri/Mandalorian population, the Iron Empire reached out to their Iron Praetor's kin on Midvinter and invited the Dawnguard to Olstyn in an effort to bring the planet into the fold without bloodshed. Under nigh paranoid leadership, Olstyn suffered a major rift in Valkyri-Mandalorian relations. After deposing the oberjarl, relations began to improve, though tension remains. The Iron Imperial capital city of Csaplar also became the target of organized crime - something that could not be permitted to persist in either nation.

There was much difference between the two nations of similar build, but there was also agreement to be had. What exactly though, that would have to be discussed between the Vice Regent and Grand Moff.

[member="Tanomas Graf"] | [member="Aster Rose Baelor"]​

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

ISV Resolute
Bridge

Escorted by Felix Rourke, one of her Wolfsglaive, Aster entered the bridge of the starship, greeting [member="Zeradias Mant"] with a polite nod of her head as she approached the man. "Hello, Grand Admiral Mant," she smiled politely at the man then stared out of the viewport at the Galactic Imperial planet. It seemed that they were about to arrive at the destination at any moment.

Still a novice in the art of diplomacy, the teenager hoped to nurture her skills as a diplomat so that she could become less a celebrity of sorts and more a leader in the Iron realms so that she may be of more assistance to her uncle. You will do fine, she encouraged herself as her heart beat harder with every passing second.

Concealing her nervousness under a serious expression, Aster shot a glance at member of the Wolfsglaive who had accompanied her and fought back her desire to smile. Rourke's presence had a way of making her feel a bit more confident and brave.

[member="Tanomas Graf"]​

 

[Tanomas Graf]

The grand moff knew perfectly well that an Iron Imperial fleet was present over Bimmisaari during the opening conflict of the Imperial-Jedi War. In fact, he had counted on it during that time as the Information Office didn't miss a step in informing the Moff Council of the alliance between the Iron Empire and the Silver Jedi Order. But he also knew that allegiances and alliances changed all the time, Graf himself would be a hypocrite if he didn't acknowledge this.

This is why he agreed to have delegations from both powers meet at a determined location for some talks, so that they may forge their own alliance. Currently, Tanomas stood on the bridge, staring out into space when the ISV Resolute leapt out of hyperspace over Bothawui. "Grand Moff Graf, sir, the Iron delegation's vessel has arrived. How should we proceed?" A lieutenant asked from the edge of a crew pit, looking towards the old man for guidance.

"I believe a show of power is in order. Decloak the ship." He commanded, his moustache ruffling as his lips curled into a smirk. To those aboard the Resolute, they might notice that a large area of space in front of them began to disfigure, numerous panels of durasteel appearing out of thin air until they finally converged to form the silhouette of a massive vessel. Five kilometres in length, it was another one of the Empire's treasured super star destroyers, with this one being far sleeker than the dreadnought known as the Pellaeon except it was still under construction, portions of its superstructure missing with some of its frame exposed underneath several sections.

"Open a channel to their ship." Graf beckoned, before most likely appearing on the Resolute as a hologram. "Vice Regent Mant, this is Grand Moff Graf. The Galactic Empire welcomes you and your people to Bothawui, I assume you had a pleasant trip from the Unknown Regions?" He queried, opening with pleasantries to test the water.

[member="Zeradias Mant"] | [member="Aster Rose Baelor"] | [member="Desmond C'artyom"]​

 

[Zeradias Mant]

His gaze remained unmoving, his posture the same as the crown princess approached. "Princess Aster.", Zeradias greeted in return. If the light footsteps didn't give it away prior to her speaking, it was the metallic clanking of the Wolfsglaive guard in her company. The crew continued their duties in the background, but being around them long enough, it wasn't difficult to filter out the inane chatter.

"Sir, we're picking up a signal right in front of us.", the radar intercept officer called out. His voice, while decisive, almost lacked a tone of certainty that usually came out with message relays. Zeradias was looking right in front of them. There was nothing. The view of the planet began to obscure in the moments that followed, though. It couldn't have been the transparisteel. Condensation was nonexistent in space. As the Resolute floated forward, a massive star destroyer formed out of the blur. Despite the Resolute's large size, it was obviously nearly twice as large.

"Grand Admiral, incoming transmission for you, sir.", the comms officer called out more confidently than the last. It took a second for Zeradias to pry himself from the bridge viewports. The stealth star destroyer was a technological marvel, or at least appeared to be thus far. It showed obvious signs of incomplete construction. One could say that both sides were lucky they were meeting with relatively friendly intent. Incomplete, the iron battlecruiser and it's dual frigate escort could likely defeat it. Upon it's completion though, Zeradias didn't like those odds.

Beelining to the comms station, Zeradias placed his hands at the small of his back before giving the nod to the comms officer. A small holographic image of a mustached figure appeared before him.

"Vice Regent Mant, this is Grand Moff Graf. The Galactic Empire welcomes you and your people to Bothawui, I assume you had a pleasant trip from the Unknown Regions?"

"About as well as it could go, Grand Moff.", he answered. He wasn't one for idle small talk though. His time was valuable, and only when his schedule permitted would he entertain the notion of being idle. As he spoke, the marine detachment commander approached silently from behind the hologram. The shuttles were ready.

"It goes without saying our permission to board has been granted?", Zeradias presumed. He didn't care to leave things to chance and assumption, though. His calculating disposition demanded he receive confirmation before placing himself, or a member of the Royal House in harm's way.

[member="Tanomas Graf"] | [member="Aster Rose Baelor"]​