Nightmare

[Jairus Starvald]

[SIZE=10.6667px]Expansion Region - Kelavine System[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.6667px]Taloraan[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.6667px][member="Sinistra"] | [member="Danger Arceneau"] | [member="Cryax Bane"][/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px][/SIZE]
Mexican standoff; (noun)
1. stalemate or impasse; a confrontation that neither side can win.

[SIZE=10.6667px]Such was the feeling that Carach got the moment Bane decided to be a sassy little Chiss instead of shutting the kark up like a good little boy, but perhaps it was simply fate that one day Cryax would walk headfirst into a wall with a man… that wasn’t like other men.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]See, Carach had been quite amicable to the idea of being lenient to Bane. It hadn’t been his pride or reputation on the line and so showing himself to be gracious with his insolence? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]Well, it would have scored points in all the right corners.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]But instead Cryax decided to be the schutta of the party, taking the insolence even further and insulting the Voice of the Dark Lord himself. His lips curled down just a fraction - that and the sudden intensification of the yellow in his eyes were the only two signs that the Sith Lord was just a little bit pissed off. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]Can’t be a good guy always. Gotta do whatcha gotta do.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]It was then that Cryax crumbled to the ground screaming in pain. Carach’s eyebrow rose a little bit, until he noticed the Sith Bodyguard behind Bane - at least [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px]some[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6667px] men weren’t forgetful of their position within the hierarchy.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]“Was he also protecting you when he decided to insult me, miss Arceneau?” the Voice of the Dark Lord finally replied to Danger’s appeals to a Sith’s humanity.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6667px]This thing had just turned more complicated, and Carach hated unforeseen complications.[/SIZE]

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Darth Carach"] [member="Cryax Bane"]

This, was a very precarious situation to be in.

Danger knew it. Carach knew it. Bane, well, now that he was writhing on the ground, knew it well before, but was quick to act. He may have the backing of another Voice of the Dark Lord, but ... these matters were of a delicate nature.

Anything could happen.

Her face, while a shade paler, did her best to keep her bearing. Panicking, or reacting brashly was not going to do them all any favors.

"The Governor is certainly passionate," she said carefully, with as much of a neutral tone as possible. While she had prejudice against Force Users, Danger was still an educated woman. Who didn't know the Sith Code? "After all... from passion... does one one gain strength?"

Granted, there was passion and there was being foolish. And Danger could only do so much for Cryax with all of her negotiating.

 

[Cryax Bane]

Throughout the facilities, dark sounds could be heard. The snap hiss of lightsabers hummed, and the screams of the innocent pierced the air. Perhaps the Sith had descended, just as the raven-haired Sith Lord promised, or perhaps these were simply rogue Lords doing their Dark Lord's bidding. Cryax didn't know. He had very little line of sight from his position on the meeting room floor.

Despite the burning pain in his lumbar region, Cryax began to very slowly creep to his feet. The Chiss shot a fiery glare to his Sith "bodyguard" as he dusted off his expensive suit jacket and gazed around the room. Cryax could not hear Darth Carach's inner monologue, but if he had, he most certainly would have found it quite hypocritical that he was the schutta. Considering all of the nubile young Sith apprentices Carach regularly cavorted with, Bane might have even said something along the lines of pot, kettle, black, or more aptly, blue.

He turned to Danger with trepidation in his glowing red eyes. If anyone could make this right, the honey-toned Trade Queen could, but these were Sith they were dealing with. Could they respect the power of words just as deeply as the power of might? Bane himself figured the best thing he could do to help Miss Arceneau at this point was to say nothing. Force only knew what kind of venom he would spew if he opened his mouth again.

[member="Danger Arceneau"] [member="Darth Carach"] [member="Sinistra"]

 

[Sinistra]

[member="Darth Carach"] [member="Danger Arceneau"] [member="Cryax Bane"]

There's always a bigger fish. And Sinistra knew when she was outclassed by one. From the position of Ms. Arceneau and Governor Bane, she was small time. An unknown. A Sith, nonetheless but hardly someone to who held weight to them. It was the sign of a spymaster's job well done that marks did not know her, although this would certainly open their eyes to her existence as Sith now, but her profession within the One Sith empire was still relatively safe. For the moment.

However delicious the tension in the room from the Chiss and Arceneau were, she had another pressing matter in her ear.

::One minute.::

She slowly reached to her earpiece and quietly gave new orders to Demarus.

"Hold position and wait for my word. "

There was a pause, where she knew the huge, white Cathar male was cursing about changes in plans but his bass spoke again into her earpiece.

::Acknowledged. Holding position above landing pad.::

Her saber hilt felt like a growing weight in her hand as her other hand descended back to her side. She looked on the scene in otherwise silence. After all, observation was the cornerstone of learning and she was learning much on this mission.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Ah, the acts of the bold. Perhaps Carach should have expected this from Arceneau, but even still the Sith Lord found himself impressed and just a little bit amused - not that the Sith Code had any real value for those that followed the Dark Lord and believed in the brotherhood that the entity represented towards the Galaxy.

“How deliciously… refreshing, miz Arceneau.” the Sith finally responded with a half smirk up.

“Because you have the audacity of a Sith with the common sense of a businesswoman… I grant you your life, you are free to leave this place and we can sit down and talk about Taloraan and the Unions another time.”

Those burning eyes resettled on Cryax.

“First, it seems we have to start dishing out punishments.”

[member="Sinistra"] | [member="Danger Arceneau"] | [member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Danger Arceneau]

[member="Darth Carach"] [member="Sinistra"] [member="Cryax Bane"]

Danger knew she was riding a fine line. A very fine line. She could leave, and let the Governor of Csilla serve the consequences of his actions. Or she could attempt to bargain.

Well, she was always a tit for a tat. And one deserves a lot of tat for what she had to give.

“You honor me, Lord Carach,” she would state, honeyed words conveying her gratitude. “And while I realize your time is precious… I had hoped that perhaps a discussion on the production of the Maladi for the One Sith by Arceneau Trade would entice a moment of your time.”

And hopefully lessen the punishment of the Chiss. The last went unsaid, but the context was there. In her cordial expression and in the bargaining in her eyes. It took all she had to still the fluttering of her heart at her throat and to remember to breathe.

Bearing. It was all about maintaining cool composure, to keep her head in the game. She was playing a dangerous game of Sabaac.

Would the Sith take the offer?

 

[Jairus Starvald]

“Playing a dangerous game indeed, miss Arceneau.” the Sith Lord gently chastised her, but otherwise the large man did not move one way or another.

A few moments after Royal Guards started to fill in the room, rows upon rows of red armor arraying against the walls - some even wearing the gigantic, heavy power armor. Then a couple of the normal Royals detached themselves from the red mass while carrying objects with them: a table and three chairs.

It seems the Voice of the Dark Lord had decided to listen to the offer afterall.

One chair was set for Danger, and two others for Sinistra and Carach. He settled himself down in the chair and studied the woman in front of him.

The One Sith still had a fair amount of Maladis in its fleets. That’s what happens when a nation buys their military hardware in bulk, but of course it would come in handy to be able to produce more of them - to be able to replace the ones lost in battle. The question was if Carach cared more about the well-being of the One Sith in contrary to a plausible bruised ego.

It all depended on what Danger knew of Carach’s reputation. On what she thoughts he valued more.

“I am listening.”

[member="Sinistra"] [member="Cryax Bane"] [member="Danger Arceneau"]

 

[Sinistra]

The introduction of more royal guards than she could shake a stick at was enough that Sinistra quietly clipped her saber hilt back to her belt, and politely took the proffered chair. She sat straight up, shoulders back, head up and hands folded neatly in her lap. There was nothing, however, pleasant or delightful in her gaze. She was merely going to be a witness to the proceedings, her gaze occasionally drifting to the Chiss on the floor in pain.

Another business meeting, another display of bored detachment from her civilian cover. She was used to these. Even if she did have Lorta to manage most of her daily tasks of the merchant house, she was still required to make the periodical visit in person. Too many of them lately, if you asked her. She was sent the details for this mission, told to be on the transport and so she had come. You did not challenge your superiors. As the Chiss so eloquently found out.

Sitting now with Danger Arceneau, she thoroughly regretted not defying the explicit instructions against suiting up in her armor. Just having this little sit-down could compromise her entire civilian cover. It might have been intentional, a way to sabotage her career. Or a way to push her towards a different path. At any rate, she would address that later. Right now, she waited quietly for the very cozy negotiations to begin.

[member="Darth Carach"] [member="Danger Arceneau"] [member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Danger Arceneau]

@Sinistra @Darth Carach [member="Cryax Bane"]


Danger knew her time was short and she had to be succinct. Okay, breathe girl. Just breathe, she told herself, keeping a cordial but dazzling smile upon her full lips.

With grace that she truly did not feel on the inside, the Queen of Trade took her seat. Left leg would cross the right, and those cool, green eyes would pan from one individual to the next. She knew she was picking between One and Fourteen, slang from the Lythos system between potentially equally bad outcomes.

"Your time is precious, Lord Carach, so I shall be brief," she would state, the inflection of her drawl floating over the group. "Titan Industries no longer holds the luxury of the right to produce or maintain the Maladi Class." A pause. "I do."


"I offer to return that to the One Sith, and provide production and maintenance towards the One Sith Fleet for the Maladi through Arceneau Trade."