Past & Future[TRE Dominion of Yavin IV & Gromas]

[Vrak Nashar]

Gromas
The Tyrant [4/20]
[member="Dilbert Zambino"] | [member="Antherion"]

"Just Councilor." He corrected the Senator.

The direct approach had worked surprisingly well with him before. Though usually Vrak would have held a certain amount of disdain for those that came to negotiate with him it helped a great deal that Dilbert wasn't human. The usual contempt that he felt for that species weren't applicable here, and even though the man was rather forward he was at least not one of those detestable creatures. That alone meant he was already on better footing than half a dozen others who had spoke to Vrak over the last few weeks.

"Our intent is simple Senator." He spoke plainly, his voice even. "We stand for reclamation."

Korriban, Thule, Ziost, those worlds were already there's but some that were sacred to them still lay outside their sphere of influence.

Vrak intended to reclaim them above all others, Kaas still sitting as the shining jewel among them all. His gaze drifted over towards Antherion for a moment, then floated back towards the Bothan. He lingered there for a few moments.

"What of you? What does the Dominion seek?" He'd heard reports, but precious little.

 

[Ao Xian]

"Pretty? Feh," Kuraii scoffed.

"The jungle is alive," she rumbled. Pausing beside the tree [member="Kala Maedrin"] was leaning on, she didn't look down at her smaller friend. Her ears flickered, this way and that, rotating slightly to catch the barest sounds.

While Kala was in her element in the library, this was where Kuraii felt the most comfortable. The most at home, if such a thing were even truly possible. There was little about the galaxy that the Trianii could teach Kala- she struggled learning the glyphs the girl called 'letters'. But here? She knew.

"You are treating it like a pathway, like something static and dead." Kuraii crouched, using her tail and powerful hind legs to balance as easily in that position as when she had been standing upright. "And that is why it is difficult to navigate. It's not pretty. It's wild and free and breathes."

Other than when she told stories, she wasn't much of a talker. This was different.

"You push against it, only using your eyes," she murmured, pressing a claw against the girl's chest. "Stop looking at what you think it is, and see the truth of it. There are many kinds of power, Kala. Your books. Locks'..... everything. But here the power is in our ability to see clearly, and to respond, rather than to fight for what it should to be. Sometimes, knowing when to adapt is stronger than anything else."

It was perhaps the only place Kuraii could take that route and embrace it.

 

[Yidhra]

2
Location: YAVIN IV > Jungles
[member="Vraukt"] | [member="Neesa"]

“Good,” she replied, unusually curt. Her mind was full of noise these past few days. Plans upon plans, schemes, a finger in every pie. Everything was coming together, plots were coming to fruition, ideas coalescing into theories. The future lay pregnant with promise, teetering on the cliff of irreversible change.

And the Empire would be there to give that final push. It was time to upset the stagnant, to extirpate the rotten, to stir the Forcedamned pot.

“The Massassi shall push ahead as vanguard,” she raised her voice, commanding the squads that had disembarked along with the Kissai. Still others were pouring from the landing craft, led by different members of her caste. Proud red chins jutted out all over, shrewd yellow eyes looking from above with disdain.

“We will follow at a distance. These woods are rife with ancient danger.”

The air changed. Besides the smells wafting from the thicket, Yidhra felt a cooler presence shift behind her. It was subtle, hidden well beneath the overpowering humidity of the jungle.

Half-turning, the Pureblood reached out in the Force, brushing against the new arrival in greeting.

You will join us, Hand?

 

[Arage Bao]

In truth Kala had not expected this strong a reaction from her friend, but thinking about it that had been her mistake.

This was [member="Kuraii"]'s domain after all.

The one place where she was in her complete element, where mind and matter merged together into a graceful shadow that brushed past zones of conflict, instead of blundering through like she did not belong. It was beautiful to see, how deadly, how confident, how the roiling muscles beneath the fur and skin coiled and only underlined that this was where the lion belonged. To a degree it made Kala pause and wonder how much it costed her friend to stay with her, instead of simply losing herself in the wilds and live the life she wanted to live.

But the budding Sith had too much respect for Kuraii to make note of it.

Instead little hand briefly touched the big paw resting on her, brushing and giving it a squeeze, before giving a nod of acceptance.

"You are right." Obviously. There was no reason to try and argue her points, they were well-backed with experience and expertise, but that did not mean that she could actually use those same words.

"But this is not something I can learn within the span of ten minutes."

Kala looked past Kuraii and towards the temple that rose itself up past the treeline.

Her legs were still burning, but there was little to do about that. If anything it simply whispered to her that she was improving and that there was still a long path to go from improving to mastery. Which was fine, Kala could handle that, as long as there was a clear path ahead of her? There was little that she could not accomplish given time and sweat.

"We should go, Locks will not be pleased if we return with nothing, I suspect."

 

[Kratacos]

Post Two.
Yavin Jungles.
[member="Yidhra"], [member="Neesa"]

Where was Drakash? Vraukt thought to himself.

Chances are his Master thought himself above scouring the jungles of an Ancient Sith World. He saw himself as a soon to be Warlord, the two of them forging out from the Resurgent Empire to create new alliances for the betterment of the Sith species.

Despite the ever increasing size of the Massassi Caste, Vraukt didn't join those warriors who went forwards. Instead, he'd be in the immediate vicinity of their apparent Kissai leader as her protector. Old lightsabre on his belt, he gently brushed the metal to give himself some form of comfort as he touched upon the traditional Sith lanvarok on his forearm leading down to is wrist.

And then they were off.

The orange hues of Vraukt ever searching the jungles, seeking out danger.

 

[Ao Xian]

Kuraii chuffed in amusement, laying a large paw gently on [member="Kala Maedrin"]'s head and ruffling the girl's hair.

"You learn everything else so fast, sometimes I forget your limits. Specifically that you have them."

It was hard to envy her- Kala shared her knowledge without hesitation - but Kuraii knew that she wasn't as smart as her friend. Clever, resourceful, making connections that slid right beneath her own mental musings. The Trianii was not stupid, by any stretch. But Kala had a capacity for thought and the sheer absorption of facts that she could never duplicate.

She tried to be more conscious of picking their path forward the last of the way to the temple. The forest went almost right up to the stones of the entrance- she didn't think anyone had visited, let alone offered attention or upkeep, to this particular temple in a generation. Maybe longer.

Kuraii paused while Kala rested again. Her head tilted one way, then the other, studying the moss covered stones.

"Can you read this?" She asked, large paw reaching out to scrape a layer of creeping vines away from a section of the wall. Beneath it were a series of squiggles that Kuraii assumed were letters. Of course, whether they were in a language Kala understood or not didn't even occur to her. Writing was writing.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

​

Jovan Station - Gordian Reach​

​

Years ago Clan Rekali sold Jovan Station to Tenloss.

These days it was still a commercial hub for trade within the Gordian Reach at large and Jovan system locally.

This made it a perfect neutral ground with the attention the region had attracted from the Remnant Empire. A neutral ground between one [member="Judah Dashiell"] and one Lord Tai Fa, one of these was native born to the Reach while the other had extensive business dealings around some of the more important worlds the region boasted.

Yavin IV was a natural place of interest for the Sith and Judah was starting to consider his investment in the moon a liability. They had previous business dealings, which is why Tai was comfortable with extending a lifeline to businessman.

The interest into the Gordian Reach was something of a genetically encoded thing for the Thirrikens. He was unsure if he could actually pull off a diplomatic approach with the Sith, but surely it was worth a try? It was for this reason that Tai invited Judah over to Javin Station, to have a frank discussion about this matter.

To see what could be done and decided for the benefit of both.

Lord Fa had already arrived about ten minutes earlier and was currently waiting in the private hangar bay he was renting from Tenloss.

There Judah would land and together they could wander over to a conference room. To talk about opportunities, possibilities and what path laid open for them going forward.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Yavin IV had been a liability for awhile. First the Mandos but they had merely been more of a whining nuisance with some false saber rattling. Sith were on the horizon now. Judah typically avoided Sith, beyond a few business sentients that seemed to be in the gray zone.[member="Tai Fa"] was one of those business sentients.


They both were meeting on neutral ground, away from the rumors of a new government rising in the area. It made sense, both business and self-preservation wise. Government could get wind of the transaction and wipe out the deal from underneath both of them. Nothing was technically stopping such a thing. A massive waste of time and credits if something did occur.


Sirena had landed on Jovan Station at the designated hangar. It took a moment for Judah to descend down the ramp and come out to meet the large avian, although he didn't keep Mr.Fa waiting for long.


"It seems we meet again."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Tai inclined his beak slightly in a sign of respect, before gesturing with his wing for [member="Judah Dashiell"] to follow him.

This man, Judah, was an interesting humanoid. The Thirriken did not really like humans all in all, far too arrogant and presuming, but there were specific individuals who seemed to lack these undesirable qualities. Judah was unassuming, didn't consider himself superior to others - as far as Tai saw - and had a basic understanding of diplomacy and mutual respect.

More than most humans could boast of.

"Yes." Tai simply responded... not in haiku this time. He did not use haiku when the situation was important, crucial or extremely serious. This was not the time to be ambiguous or to test the patience of his business associates.

Time was of the essence and this deal would be quite important for a number of reasons.

"Thank you for meeting me here." They walked through the corridors towards the conference room already set up for them. "I assume your trip was pleasant enough?"

Just a little small talk to bridge the gap.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah was thankful to be past the haiku stage of business with [member="Tai Fa"] .It seemed like one of those odd tests that 'old money' business types had at their disposal. Something that they thought separated the strong and possibly quirky from the rest of the herd. By now the avian was gesturing for him to follow down a corridor. Potentially a lounge or conference room if he had to guess.


"No problem, happy to come out."


Small talk. Interesting.


"Trip is a trip. Nothing incredibly exciting. Once you've been on one business trip you've probably been on most of them in this line of work. Curious you picked this station, you own it?"

 

[Neesa]

[member="Sorvae Sunfell"] [member="Vraukt"] [member="Yidhra"]

Neesa felt the question brush up against her mind. In deciding on the answer she turned her attention to the massassi spreading out ahead of them. Her first instinct was to travel ahead of the main party, scout out the path of least resistance.

However, those warriors made such a commotion crashing through the undergrowth that she would have to travel kilometers ahead of them to catch any potential dangers unawares.

She walked over to the rearguard of sith too important to immediately go forcing their way through the jungle. She cast another glance over her protector before addressing the sorceress.

"Indeed," she said. "And this time if we uncover something dangerous enough to murder us all could you at least try to seem dismayed?"

 

[Placeholder 06]

Reclamation.

A simple word with a thousand different meanings. It was carnage and nationalism rolled into the vague promise of progress: a politician's word. Clawed fingers tapped quietly against Dilbert's furry arms as he considered the Sith Lord's words. He had not expected a straight answer, to do so would be foolish, but this would require further digging. Brown eyes darted upward to meet the veiled gaze of the counselor and his subordinate, and they narrowed with something akin to amusement.

"Reclamation eh?" The Bothan turned to stare out at the stars beyond the bridge. "That what I had assumed. From what I hear, much of old Sith Space is yours, but the Silver Jedi still hold one of the crown worlds." He let that sit for a moment as his attentions turned back to the duo. A simple suggestion spoken like a statement, but then Dilbert wasn't about to go making recommendations for strangers that would find offense from it. He was not a force sensitive. In the eyes of the Sith, his blood might as well have been mud for all for all it was worth.

"You ask a difficult my friend," Dilbert answered, his tone taking on a more somber candor. "We seek land for the refugees of our past war. We seek security in a galaxy that's become rather hellbent on murdering anything that disagrees with the popular ideologies," the Bothan's brow furrowed. "Above all else? Many of us want revenge. We're a democratic people, but the popular vote suggests war. We lost a few million people to the Galactic Alliance and their allies."

The alien paused just long enough to gather his thoughts. "There are Sith within our ranks. Jedi as well, and every other culture under the sun. We do not seek war unless it is brought to our doorstep." An explanation unasked, but one better given sooner rather than later.

[member="Antherion"], [member="Vrak Nashar"]

 

[Vrak Nashar]

Gromas
The Tyrant [5/20]
[member="Dilbert Zambino"] | [member="Antherion"]

Vrak stared at the man for a few moments. There was still some lingering doubt as if to the genuine nature of all of this. A part of him didn't believe a single word that the man said, mostly because Vrak was inclined to believe that everyone lied all the time about mostly everything.

That was the nature of being a Sith. Growing up Vrak had heard nothing but lies, in his adulthood he had done nothing but tell them himself. Politics among the Sith was just a collection of lies wrapped in a pretty bow, though once upon a time he had been told it was like that everywhere. For a moment more the Pureblood simply lingered, staring at the Senator until finally he let a small smile cross his features. Part of him wished that he had Seraphina here to offer her snark, it would have been amusing.

"So then really." He told the Senator. "You've come here to find out if I've brought you war."

It was a valid question.

One that Vrak had no problem answering. "I have no designs or interests upon your people."

Not now anyway, not with Jedi still lingering besides The Empire.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

"Not at all." Tai responded after a moment of thought, before the magnetic doors slid open and paved way towards a conference room that was currently empty.

Long table in the middle of it with an integrated holo-projector. There wasn't really anything else that they would need for this meeting, so Tai hadn't bothered with requesting it here. After allowing Judah entry, the avian himself hopped in and pushed himself off the ground to settle quite neatly onto one of the seats.

"Tenloss bought it from the Rekali Clan sometime ago. But this station is a commercial hub of the Gordian Reach, so I decided this was quite fitting."

His head cocked slightly.

"I assume that by now you have been made aware of the designs the Remnant Empire has on this sector and specifically Yavin?"

 

[Arage Bao]

It took Kala a moment to fixate her attention on the mossy stone.

Mostly because catching her breath and trying to translate the deep scratches into letters and those into meaning was very difficult to do at the same time. But eventually the Devaronian managed it, if only just so. Breath steadying out again and letting her focus, her eyes passed across the surface many times. Her lips moved in accordance, because she had read that trying to formulate the words themselves could help... somewhat.

"Massassi, definitely." Kala responded after a moment, before brushing the raw glyphs herself. It was difficult to catch the full meaning of the words.

Massassi was definitely not an easy language to master. So many phonetics and rough throat noises that you needed to emulate, something as small as half a pitch up or down could shift the entire meaning.

"Fire? I think it says fire."

A shrug followed her, before she looked up towards the great stairway that led out of the treeline and up towards the entrance of the temple itself.

Kala looked away from them and to [member="Kuraii"], before giving a careful smile. No words were spoken. There was no need when the hunger for exploration was keenly shared between the two of them. It would be a long track up, by the looks of it, but as the Devaronian took the first few steps...

She couldn't help but realize that she didn't care that all her muscles burned.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Tai Fa"]


After coming to a stop down a gleaming corridor,the conference room opened to reveal sparse contents. He was happy about that, there was no need for pop and circumstance in this case.Judah settled down into a plush chair at the long table, kicking back slightly.


"I wasn't aware this was the commercial hub in the sector. Learning all the time."


Easy smile before continuing.


"I've been made aware. It's been of some concern for awhile now. Can't say I'm very surprised. Been waiting for something like this to happen honestly."

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

Lord Fa inclined his head.

The Gordian Reach was a large region after all. It could not be expected that every single corner of it would be known to all of them - Tai simply knew because this was his original home, it was from a young age that the Thirriken had toured every single corner of this large sector to see its wonders... and disasters. That had been before the Mandalorians had arrived here, of course. No matter, no matter, it was a long time ago and there was little to be had by walking down memory lane for no reason whatsoever in this moment.

"It was bound to happen. If there is one thing that never ends it is the conflict between the Jedi and the Sith." A shrug of the little shoulders followed soon. "It may rest or sleep for a while, but it will always return."

And the little people were always stuck in between.

Of course, Tai was not one of those little people and in truth was part of the entire problem.

But that was a little detail that mattered very little in this moment. What was important was the solution to a particular problem, which was [member="Judah Dashiell"]'s situation with Yavin IV.

"Have you considered your options yet?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Tai Fa"]


"True, does cause some discord throughout the 'verse from time to time."


Judah wasn't one of the 'little people' either but it still effected him. It always effected salvage prices, typically the price rose and was good for business. However he had increased costs for security in Sith controlled areas, mainly due to the typical neutral-to-light affiliation his company maintained. Add in a number of his products were bought by those in the Outer Rim with limited funds.....disruption of goods and credits would remain and issue.


"Yes and no. I've considered placing it in a type of trust or holding with limited liability until the entire thing blows over. Leasing has been a potential option, but difficult due to the presence of the Sith. Selling would be another idea. I've left a few options open."


"There were plans to do mining in the area but I refuse to pay the Sith a tariff or taxes to support their government."

 

[Ras'kala'han]

Location: Gromas (Orbit), The Tyrant
Post: 2 / 20
Nearby: [member="Vrak Nashar"], [member="Corin Zanith"], [member="Dilbert Zambino"]
Objective: Seizing Opportunities

The implications of the gaze shot at him were not lost. The best Sith knew how to speak without speaking -- and despite being unwilling to give Lord Nashar that honorific, he could hold him in a strange, grudging sort of respect. He had defied his expectations and created something of surprising unity and strength. These things did not appear by being stupid, or overnight. If he were to further himself, there was profit in working with him. Exactly the sort of thoughts the Councilor no doubt wanted to hear.

He stepped forwards, his shuddering, stilted gait like that of someone very elderly, out of place on a body that was unusually suited to youth, pale-skinned and flush-cheeked.

"Allow me to guide you to a place where we can speak further. The politics of ruling an Empire weigh heavily on Lord Nashar, and I wouldn't wish him bothered while we have the matter of the Gromas to deal with." He nodded to the Pure-Blood, offering an atrociously formal and archaic farewell in the Sith tongue, the way his father had taught him.

Were it not for his own mother's thin blood, Antherion may have been born Pure-Blooded himself, like Hadram had been. His life would have been better... but not of the consequence that he now could hold. He wondered if Lord Nashar could see the mark on him, if there was a mark, or whether the DNA rested inert in his veins.

"Senator Zambino, I am Antherion. I hold a number of titles, but what matters most currently is what I do. And that, sir, is diplomacy." As he walked, it could be aware that it was more than the painful thinness of his body, especially his legs, that made it strange to see him move, but the motions. Functional, but unnatural -- not originating as they properly should, the right muscles tensing at the wrong times. He spoke with easy confidence. "You want security in a galaxy of turmoil. Our leader, in my experience, is a dependable and honorable man, strangely so for a Sith. But I can understand if you don't take our word for it. Tell me, what concrete gestures the Sith can make to ease the worries of the Dominion populace?"

 

[Jairus Starvald]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

That would most definitely be an issue.

Lord Fa was neutral at the end of the day. His entire public persona was centered around the principle that he did not pick a side, not in the sense of business anyway, which meant that he paid taxes to the Alliance and the First Order, the Mandalorians when they were still a thing and to the Coalition of Free Worlds. It meant that he simply followed the laws according to what they set out in the areas he operated in - more often than not that simply worked out and people understood his position. In a Galaxy such as this one there was no room for morality plays and principles.

"I can see how refusing to follow their rules would be an issue, yes." Tai was already made aware of such stipulations, when they showed up in the Sith Worlds and looked at his facilities there.

It was a careful balance between independence and subservience in his experience.

But the Thirriken had been able to balance on the edge for now. There was little reason for him to expect that this would change in the future, but who knew at the end of the day?

"As you may expect I did not call this meeting simply out of curiosity. I am quite interested in Yavin IV myself and would be willing to carry the risk of purchase."

There were several options that Tai could offer Judah, but first he needed to know how likely it was that the businessman was interested in selling it. It was one thing to simply speak of it in a discussion. It was an entirely different thing to discuss it with a potential buyer, who had extensive history of being a sentient who got things done and rather quickly at that.