Negotiations with the Minister of State

[Faith Organa]

[SIZE=12pt]Faith had made a promise to [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] to get him a meeting to see if a trade agreement could be reached between his company and the Republic.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Faith was slightly hesitant on this she could have sworn she saw Jaster within the confines of [member="Sempra the Hutt"] entourage but she was not sure. She knew that he had come to Alderaan to help remove some of the vong forming and for that she was greatful.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]She had contacted [member="Cecily de Demici"] for the meeting. Faith would make introductions and then leave them to negotiate. Since Cecily had been among Sempra’s people perhaps she would have seen him there, and have more of a knowledge of his doings.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Her findings on him had him identified as dar’manda from the mandalorians. CEO of Umbrella Interest, and at times the Representative of the Trade Coalition. GRIM was still pulling the information about him out.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]painted in a bad light Faith made sure she kept her promise and represented the Republic positively.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Today, they stood in Aldera City on Alderaan waiting for the participants to show. Faith had chosen home because there were places to go for a meeting, and the Guards were nearby.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Her own guard, [member="Marev Priest"] had been called home by the Mand’alor and it would seem he would not be returning to her service. She would once again have to find a body guard.[/SIZE]

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Cecily de Demici"]

Jaster was returning to the planet of Alderaan to check on his scientist and hunters who were left to round up the Vong Mutated Creatures. Of course this was no easy job, so Jaster just left some officers in charge and went back to the Congloemrate. Now he returned to check their progress and then recieved a message from, [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] that he was to meet with the Minister of State. He had been away from Republic Politics for a little too long, as it were, so he was unfamiliar to who this was. He left, none the less, a meeting with a Republic representative was what he asked for after all.

He arrived at the senators arranged location looking down at a Datapad, unfortunalty work couldn't stop for anyone. He was a mediator between a handful of companies and was to sign off for nearly everything. Much unlike a president of a nation, as the Viceroy of a trade empire that covered a quarter of the galaxy, his boarders were invisible, intersecting with competitors nearly all the time. So as to continue the spread of such things, Jaster had to stay up to date with every movement his Merchant Fleets made.

He then proceeded to wait to be brought to the senator, or possible the Minister if they were already here.

 

[Cecily Demici]

It was not long before the Minister of State appeared, escorted for the first time by the Ministerial Guard (more commonly referred to as the Rainbow Guard.) The diminutive blonde official was flanked on both sides by six beautiful young women in orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet gowns. Directly to her right, clutching her arm was the seventh member of the guard in red. All seven women could have easily been mistaken for the Minister herself.

However, Cecily was older than her guards. It showed in her face, on the crows feet that flanked her eyes and the smile lines that framed her pearly white teeth. She was also dressed in more elegant attire. A gown of navy, embroidered with electric orange in the shape of the foliage that grew on her home planet of Onderon.

"Minister Balor-Organa," Cecily beamed, flinging her arms wide to embrace the Senator of Alderaan and her colleague in the Cabinet. As she did so the six guards, in perfect step, split and established a wide perimeter around them, while the seventh young woman stood close by.

"Has Jaster arrived yet?" she queried as she glanced around for the business contact they were to be meeting with, "I asked Minister Volcata to join me as she manages the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury, though I'm not certain if she will be joining."

[member="Aurelia Volcata"] l [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] l [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith had word that [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] was waiting, she immediately sent word to bring him to the hall. As she finished the message [member="Cecily de Demici"] appeared with her ladies, guards.

As it would be just outside the Alderaan Guard had taken positions up outside and along the hall. Today they should be well protected. Faith returned the hug of the Senator, "It would be good to see [member="Aurelia Volcata"] here on Alderaan." Faith smiled.

Yes she thought let everyone see what we are doing on Alderaan, how at least the Capital City of Aldera is coming back slowly. Jaster's people were catching some of the creatures a great relief to her, and her family.

"Jaster is here they should be bringing him in any moment." It was dangerous for the three Ministers to be in the same place at the same time. "Was your flight in enjoyable?" Faith would make the required small talk while they waited for Jaster.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Aurelia arrived to the location set by [member="Faith Balor-Organa"]'s with her lone assistant, dictating the end of a rather unpleasant letter to an uncooperative tax accountant. "...and furthermore, pursuant to RRC one oh seven six point three dash B seven, the Ministry will be imposing sanctions upon the firm itself equal to the amount that it assisted its clients to illegally shelter, should the board fail to provide the information and access requested. The Ministry looks forward to your reply by certified transmission as of..." she glanced at her chrono. "...whatever end of next week is. Thank you for your prompt cooperation with this matter, yours truly, Aurelia Volcata, et cetera, et cetera. Make sure that goes out today."

"Aurelia Volcata, for the Minister," Aurelia told the security detail. "I believe I'm expected."

[member="Cecily de Demici"] | [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Aurelia Volcata"]

[member="Faith Balor-Organa"] had sent word to a secretary to lead jaster to the chamber where he was to meet with the senator as well as the minister. He finished the small amount of paperwork and approvals before letting the assistant lead the way, he would finish the rest on his shuttle ride home. He noticed that Alderaan Guards were stationed rather heavily around and in the building. He was to admit, they were close to the Sith boarder, but he thought their was peace between the two, was he wrong, did something happen. Maybe protection of a diplomatic Minister was top priority, but it wasn't until he entered the room that he relized the protection detail was a bit much. Possibly it was for him, and not the threat of a Sith Invasion.

He looked into the room as he entered and say the Alderaan Senator, and another women he recognized, [member="Cecily de Demici"]. A very renowned senator, known to be very active within the republic and her allies, not very surprising she was promoted to such a posistion. Sempra had told him on multiple occasions of this women and her negotiations with them. That of course was the last he ever heard of such an alliance between the Criminal Nation and the Republic. He only guessed as much, but he let Sempra dream his little fantasy, while he of course skimmed the profits of transportation and trade.

He stood in the doorway and bowed, "Hello Madam Senitor and Minister Demici, I am Viceroy Jaster Awaud, Represinative for the Trade Conglomerate, it is a pleasure and honor for you to allow such an audience."

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

Faith did not think to warn Jaster of the extra security. Since the attack on Cecily everyone that held an office within the Senate, and each Royal family increased their guards. If someone could get to Onderon they can get anywhere.

Precautions, and tensions were high throughout the Republic. "Greetings Viceroy Awaud, and welcome. You already know Minister [member="Cecily de Demici"] let me introduce Minister [member="Aurelia Volcata"] . I have a room set up for this meeting, shall we go in, sit down." The room had a round table, covered in a blue table cloth with a white runner. A pitcher of water, with four glasses was placed at the center.

Faith nodded to the guards who shifted positions as those they were there to protect moved.

 

[Cecily Demici]

[Apologies for this very very late response.]

"Aurelia!" Cecily stepped forward to meet the Minister of Finance to embrace her warmly, "I am glad you could make it, Faith has arranged what I'm sure will be an interesting engagement!" The diminutive blonde winked in Faith's direction as the final guest entered the room. The man they had all gathered here to meet.

"Viceroy," the Minister of State nodded formally, not really sure if additional greeting was yet merited. Still she beamed and gestured to the table where negotiations would soon take place.

"The pleasure is ours," another formality, "I was surprised by the request to treat with the Republic, but ultimately... or should I say obviously, the Prime Minister deemed this meeting appropriate! So, perhaps you should start, not much has been revealed to us in the way of your thoughts for an.. arrangement"

[member="Faith Balor-Organa"] l [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] l [member="Aurelia Volcata"]

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Cecily de Demici"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] [member="Aurelia Volcata"]

Jaster looked around the room, some very influencal people where they were now seating. Senator Organa, a stronghold world, and one of the last republic worlds to resist the Sith, Minister Demici, most vocal of the senators, also a very accomplished diplomat, then there was Minister Volcata, little was known about her, but Jaster knew enough from local Media outlets. He took a seat across from the delegation e was to meet with. With news of the cease fire between the Republic and the Sith crawling across his desk, he looked to exploit this. His organization was well off, securing nearly 65% of all trade routes in the South West Quadrent. With the fall of the Omega Prys, and the fall of the Fringe, his organization was slow to disrupt the last few remaining pockets. Again though, his allies and himself were not freedom fighter, but buisness people, looking to find profits where they could, not fight wars they didn't see profit in. Yet they had a lot to offer.

he looked to the delegation where he knew he wasn't truely welcomed with open arms. "Now why would you be surprised Madam Minister, my organization is in the buisness of peace, we are a neutral Represinative of companies that wish to sell our goods across the Galaxy, with rumors of peace, civilians are more willing to purchase good then save up in case they need to flee worlds, and with your nations tariffs, you also will make good profits from my organization transporting those goods.

Jaster was a very secretive man, never easy to penetrate by spies or intelligence agents. He valued information as the highest of currencies, so to pay for the best counter intelligence operatives was worth it, but even the best couldn't secure all of Jasters secerates.

 

[Cecily Demici]

Cecily considered the Viceroy carefully with a slight tilt of her head. As Jaster spoke she managed to cast a quick glance in [member="Aurelia Volcata"] 's direction as if to secretly convey her interest in this proposal. She and the Republic were certainly interested in as many allies as they could muster and a powerful trade partner boded well.

"Perhaps 'surprised' was not the most accurate term, but it has been many years since we have been engaged by potential new trade partners," she said truthfully, in the wake of the old wars, the Republic grew distrustful of the influence of large corporations, going so far as to ban their formal participation in the Senate. Vast networks of ethical committees were established to remove corporate influence from Republic politics. However, that did not mean they were not still welcome to work with the ancient galactic government in other channels.

"The Republic welcomes your offer of cooperation, but do tell me more of the Trade Conglomerate? Your operations, services, goods? With whom do you currently trade?" Cecily had received a hefty dossier on the organization and on its leader (a much thinner file,) but she always found things sounded different coming straight from the horse's mouth.

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"] [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] [member="Aurelia Volcata"]

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Faith Balor-Organa"] [member="Aurelia Volcata"] [member="Cecily de Demici"]

Jaster looked quriously at the Minister, his organization was in one of the few Neutral Relms of space. Selling to every faction was not illegal nor was it frowns apon. He could only guess that with the Cold War between the Sith and the Republic they were fearful that weapons they were buying were not used against them. Yet Jaster could not divulge these secretes as he could not tell as he along with other members of the Conglomerate were under a Non-Disclosure Agreement about all Trade Routes used by the organization.

"I do apologies Madam Minister, but you should know that the Trade Conglomerate is under strict Neutrality, meaning our members may support whoever, as well as supply whoever they wish, as Viceroy of the Conglomerate I only wish to open the option for my members to open trade with your Nations Military and Civilain Population, if it would help you clear your misunderstanding, my company, Umbrella Interest only hold contracts with small companies and have never sold a weapon to either the Sith or the Primeval,"

Jaster moved on to discuss about the Conglomerate itself, "As for the Trade Conglomerate, we are a small organization in which hold True Netrality to all conflicts, we also have a military force that is currently cleaning up the Fringe Territories as well as Wild Space after the fall of the Fringe Confederatcy and the crumbling of the Omega Prys, our membership is allowed the ultimate of autonomy as their membership may be kept a secrete and all dealing are also kept secrete, we do not do this to cheat our clients, but as we do not own the companies that are the bulk of our membership, it would be ill willed to divulge objects they may not wish to be in the open, we have Companies, Politicians, and Mercinaries at our disposal to secure our Trade Routes in Neutral Systems, but should we come to an agreement here, protection of our trade craft would be negotiated."

 

[Cecily Demici]

Cecily ran her tongue along the inside of her teeth as the man spoke, reflecting carefully on his words.

"Neutrality?" The Minister of State was a master of diplomacy and the notion of neutrality was one she had encountered a number of times in her dealing with particularly stubborn systems. In terms of planetary government, remaining neutral was a way of backing out of committing to the efforts of the Republic. In this case, Cecily reasoned that the motivation for neutrality was profit.

"Viceroy, while I am pleased to know you have not yet had dealings with the Sith, I will remind you that the Republic will not associate itself with any who service the One Sith or any of their subordinate organizations," her tone was not threatening or rude, but it was blunt. She wanted to be sure her message came across loud and clear.

"The Galactic Republic will gladly open its borders to your organization for trade... however, I would highly recommend you adopt a policy of non-cooperation with the Sith," she strummed her fingers absently on the table before her, "I'm sure you understand that if you were to engage in dealings with our enemies, we would be forced to withdraw any trade agreement with your organization."

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Cecily de Demici"]

Jaster figured that such a strong supporter of the Sith-Republic War she was, yet to let the opertunity of multiple companies coming to the aid of the Republic was.... Interesting. He himself was driven by profit, the next gain was not who built it better, but who sold more. His company believed in making cheap, light weight weapons to not just sell to poor countries, but that merger nations could purchase these in large quantities. To have this women speak in such a way that even involvement with the Sith could ruine the Trade Conglomerates Routes, then this Negosiation was meant to fail.

"I do apologize Madam Minister, I was unaware that you were currently in a conflict with the One Sith, all my source were notified that a Cease Fire Negosiation was in the works, even rumors of a Peace Treaty had caught my ear, as a Neutral Trade Organization we will be forced to conduct meeting with the One Sith as many of our Trade Networks are in the Unknown Region in direct path of the Oe Sith Expansion, this is the reasoning behind our Neutrality, though it may seem we are only in it for the profit, it is the only thing we can do to stay out of the war path of the One Sith."

This wasn't true, the One Sith though they did encroach on TC Trade Routes had yet to acturally capture a TC Planitary Route. Most of not all TC Unknown Region Trade Routes were kept in secrete, top Explorers and Smugglers were payed off to secure the Data for the Maps. One Sith Vessels, unless looking had enough, could never really find these routes.

 

[Cecily Demici]

Cecily's brow furrowed in confusion as he spoke about the prospect of a peace treaty with the One Sith and quickly exchanged looks with the other Ministers of the Cabinet. Surely, the Viceroy had either been incredibly confused or his information was simply outdated.

"I assure you, while the notion of a peace between the Republic and the One Sith would be... preferable to war, no such proposal has ever official been considered by the current administration," the Prime Minister would sooner be the last woman standing than allow the One Sith to get away so easily, this much Cecily knew for certain.

"The One Sith is still very much the enemy of the Galactic Republic, in fact, the One Sith is considered an enemy by almost every major state in the Galaxy. They are at war with the the Republic, the Mandalorians, and have been assaulting the Silver Sanctum through a proxy war led by the Primeval," the Viceroy would find little sympathy for his desire to be neutral among the major factions, "as lucrative as this deal may be, Viceroy, I will not compromise our moral duty to oppose the Sith for a few measly Credits. A single sale within Sith space is another innocent slaughtered at their hands."

"You seem like a good man, Viceroy... and where there is evil, all good men must stand against it, lest they assure it's everlasting victory," she was grave now, "there comes a time in everyone's life when the choice between what is right and what is easy must be made. Perhaps that time has come for you?"

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Cecily de Demici"]

Jaster frowned, the insight of no Peace Treaty was unsettling, his organization was on the brink of collapse. If local factions such as the Galactic Empire, the Outer Rim Imperium, and lastly the Covent of the Black Rose ever found out they openly sold weaponry to their enemies, they would be subjugated before they could be of any use. It would seem the Galactic Alliance was their only hope to stay True Nutrals in this time of conflict. They were already deep in conflict as warlords and pirates revenges their trade routes. To enter a direct conflict with other more organized powers would possibly end his dreams of a Trade Empire that stretched the Unknown Region and the Core Worlds. There was no way to find a solution to complete this transaction of Trade and prosperity as dealings with the Sith were inevitable, they could not rely on the Republic to keep them out of a Conflict with the Sith if they ever came knocking at Conglomerate Prime.

"This unfortunately has nothing to do with being a good man, madam minister, we are to far separated from the Republic to be of either help, or assistance other then purchase of our goods, we have military duties as beacons of safety in the old Fringe and Omega Territories, we unfortunately can not enter a conflict not only with the Sith, but their beacons of Darkness which have surrounded us, we stay neutral to keep our employees and civilian population out of harms way should either your forces or the Siths ever capture one of our facilities, if I were one company, your comment would stand more boldly, but as I run a conglomerate of both Buisness and People, I can not take my personal feelings into a negotiation of an organization, if you grant us a extended leasing Trade Program so Buisness that wish to join your cause may do it in secerate then we may continue this Negosiation,"

Jaster sighed as he looked into the ministers eyes, he was known as somewhat a selfish individual, but in his heart, he would never cause millions of casualties on an agreement he orchestrated, "if you require some type of string that limit our ability to work as a Neutral State outside the Republic, other then a Buisness Lease, then I can not agree to much else, it is what is best for my people."

 

[Cecily Demici]

"All due respect, Viceroy, it has everything to do with being a good man," Cecily stood, now, and smoothed out the front of her gown, "the Sith are not a Republic problem or a Mandalorian problem. You too will know their ravages... eventually, and when you do, perhaps you will see the value of a relationship with the Galactic Republic."

"This is not personal, but my mandate is to uphold the ideals of the Republic, and at this crucial stage in the war we cannot afford to engage in practices that may be seen as... unwholesome, however vague," her tone indicated that this conversation was drawing to its conclusion now, "I shall consult with the Prime Minister and contact you when I have her answer. However, for now, my answer must be no. Good day, Viceroy."

Cecily gave a small bow of her head to the trade mogul before turning to leave. As she departed from the room she was flanked by the Ministerial Guard who escorted her back to her ship where she would depart from Chazwa.

[member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

 

[Jaster Awaud]

[member="Cecily de Demici"]

It would be unfortunate that the Republic could not look past their wayward narrowness, what she was asking was something Jaster could not promise. Without the Prye as a buffer, the TC was now open game to any nation that held the power to take them. With the Unknown Region Hyperlane still unders construction, it may become a strategic position to the Unknown Region, but then again that was why he was creating it.

As the Minister stood to take her leave, Jaster stood slowly as well, bowing as a sign of recognition of her rank over him. As he kept his eyes to the grown he spoke, "If you and your Prime Minister can not look past your territories and see the what risk I have put my people through just by speaking with you, then I do not think the Republic is ready for a Trade agreement with the TC, I only hope you can find allies in this time of Chaos."

Jaster looked to the Senetor and the Minister of Finance one the State Minster left, "I do apologies that we could not come to an agreement at this time, I do hope to see you again under better circumstances that is, I hope you both have a safe trip."

Jaster left the room, he would now be heading to the Galactic Alliance to see if they had any interest in a secrete supplier of weapons ask droids. Jaster knew if he could get the greedy eyes of the Sith off of his organization as conquest, he long with his Merchant Board could possibly find a way to keep their neutrality like the Techno Union. He reached his ship where he would travel do Denon, to visit an old friend and tell him the news of the Negosiation so far.