Sanctuary

[Eugen Aker]

Through old back channels used by the Old Republic in its first bout of diplomacy with the First Order, Suravi transmitted an encrypted holo-message directly to the office of the Grand Moff. From there she would just have to trust that it reached its intended recipient. The encryption was quite advanced, but that was meant to prevent just anyone from viewing it. With the resources that the First Order had at its disposal, she was certain they would decrypt with some effort.

Upon playback, the holovid would display her standing aboard the empty bridge of her flagship, White Base, dressed plainly in black fatigues, red hair tied back in low ponytail. In her current situation, the warlord had no use for her old fineries.

“Greetings, Grand Moff Fortan. I am Suravi Teigra, formerly Supreme Commander of the Galactic Republic. My people and I now find ourselves without house and home. I’m aware of how well you received refugees from the One Sith regime in the past, and I was hoping you would be willing to extend that same kind of hospitality to those of the Republic and Dominion.”

The One Sith hadn’t come empty handed, but with a great bulk of their fleets. Suravi commanded of an even larger armada that could still go toe to toe with any current power, provided they had the right logistical support. She hoped the Fortan would read between the lines to see what she was offering in exchange for sanctuary.

“If you would like to take this further, then I request a face to face discussion within the next 48 hours. Attached to the message are coordinates for the rendezvous. Feel free to bring as large security detail as you see fit.”

“I do hope to see you there. I see many good things coming out of finally meeting. Until then.”

The holovid would then cut off a few moments after Suravi finished speaking, lips upturned in a smirk.


The coordinates provided would take Fortan in neutral space between Bakura and Mundas. That had been no accident on Suravi’s part letting the Grand Moff know she was hanging around in her backyard.

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"This is a bad idea," said Clémence Wallace, the Grand Moff's new Principal Private Secretary, following the death of Sioux Chambers at Kaeshana. She was standing in front of the Grand Moff's desk aboard the Frontrunner, the Grand Moff's personal transport. If Natasi was traveling only in the Frontrunner, which was a very lightly-armed Consul-class Diplomatic Frigate, then she might agree. But the Frontrunner was enveloped in the hangar bay of the FIV Concordia, the flagship of the Second Fleet and Battlegroup Nebula. The Concordia was a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer, its sleek hull marked with red diplomatic marking and bristling with guns.

The message was clear: we come in peace, but Balance help you if you screw with me.

The Grand Moff took off her reading glasses and gestured for Nicola to take a seat across from her. "What is your objection, Clem?"

The woman sat down and smoothed her skirt, then blew out a sigh. "We're talking about the Supreme Commander of the Galactic Republic. Not the most inspiring of choices to meet with you, ma'am."

"War makes strange bedfellows, wouldn't you agree?" Natasi asked as she tucked her reading glasses into their case and reached for her glass, taking a sip of her cocktail. "Besides, the Republic -- or what is left of them -- owe no loyalty to the Galactic Alliance. Perhaps they view the Alliance from a place of reality: as terrorists and killers. At any rate, I'm not willing to ignore the invitation." Natasi shrugged. "If you'd prefer to wait aboard the Concordia...?"

"Not a chance," said Clémence flatly.

Natasi nodded. There was a chime from her comlink. "Ma'am, this is the Captain. The Concordia will be reverting to realspace outside the system in a few moments. From there, it will be a brief jump to the coordinates, and we'll be monitoring your vitals. Recall your panic button. In signs of trouble, you push that button and we'll be in system in under a minute." Natasi was glad she didn't have video conference at the moment, because she didn't want the Captain seeing her roll her eyes.

"Thank you, Captain. Commander Jensen," she said, now addressing the pilot of the Frontrunner. "Take us out immediately upon our reversion."

Five minutes later, the Frontrunner reverted to realspace near the coordinates, and made a heading towards the point in question, broadcasting on the diplomatic transponder.

[member="Suravi Teigra"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

There would be nothing there for the consular ship as it made its way to the coordinates in deep space. Nothing aside from a few probes in the area, which would relay the signals of the transponder to its masters elsewhere.

Minutes later, a single black Star Destroyer would revert into realspace. No cronau raditation was emitted during reversion, but the hull shimmered with exotic red energy that it would discharge in large waves. The ship had reverted far off from the precise coordinates provided to Fortan, as the wake could shear nearby starships into pieces. Despite its size, its signature was rather minuscule, more like that of a small starfighter. Its bleeding edge reactionless drives emitted zero exhaust to track, either.

The Destroyer would squawk back codes the First Order would know to be associated with the Old Republic, then made an attempt to hail the Frontrunner. During transmission, the Destroyer would identify itself as Shadow of Elysium. There would be no records of a ship of its make anywhere. Something new the Remnant had been cooking up during their extended stay in the Deep Core.

If they were to answer, then they would see Suravi's smiling face on the other side, ready to exchange some pleasant greetings.

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi stood at the front of the observation chamber, dwarfed by the massive viewport, just as the Frontrunner was dwarfed by the Star Destroyer. The ship hailed them, identifying itself as the Shadow of Elysium. Natasi was patched into the communications so that when they answered the hail, the face of [member="Suravi Teigra"] appeared on the screen to her right. The Grand Moff gave one last, wary look at the Star Destroyer before turning towards the screen.

"Greetings," Natasi said graciously, inclining her head politely. "Allow me to introduce myself; I am Natasi Fortan, Grand Moff of the First Order. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. May I present my Principal Private Secretary, Clémence Wallace?" She studied the woman on the screen in front of her. She looked to be around Natasi's age, but it was always difficult to tell. She seemed to carry herself with a cheerful presence, though Natasi was also hesitant to rely upon first impressions where that was concerned. She was ready to view her as a trickster and trap, but... perhaps this was all on the level, and right now she would take what she could get.

"How can I help you, Supreme Commander?"

 

[Eugen Aker]

The Frontrunner accepted the hail of Elysium, and she was the greeted with the sight of the Grand Moff's face. She nodded in acknowledgment as the other woman introduced herself, then her aide Ms Wallace. Her greeting was cordial, but through the Force, Suravi could feel her apprehension. Understandable, as Fortan - and Bakura - was completely at her mercy. Though as the moments slipped by, there would be no surprises to spring up from the depths of space. Just the one big black mysterious Star Destroyer.

In her greeting, the Grand Moff had addressed her as Supreme Commander. She hadn't been referred to that title in a long time. However, Supreme Commander had a nicer ring to it than simply Warlord, sounding more official. She considered taking up the mantle again for future dealings.

"Thank you for coming, it's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

"How about, we begin with a tour of the Elysium, and continue our discussion here? It would be nice to have a conversation in the flesh."

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Delighted," Natasi responded to the invitation and she bowed her thanks to the screen. "I'll give instruction to my pilot, Lieutenant Mondel."

Minutes later, Natasi was headed for the ramp as she waited for the Frontrunner to land aboard the Shadow of Elysium. Meanwhile, Clémence was chasing her heels. "Is this really a good idea, ma'am?" she asked. "I mean, a stealthy Star Destroyer, a shadowy mission? Is it wise for you to go -- you know -- deepthroating around in the middle of space, like this?"

The Grand Moff popped open her compact and examined her appearance, baring her teeth to make sure she didn't have spinach in them, or lipstick on them. So far, so good. She took out a liner pen and touched up her eye makeup before handing it back to Clémence. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained, Clemmy," she muttered. "Besides, Concordia is right outside the system. If anything should happen, they'll be here like a shot." She adjusted the brooch on her chest before looking over her shoulder at her PPS. "Try to relax."

A few moments later, the boarding ramp engaged and then lowered. The Grand Moff slowly strolled down the ramp, quite alone.

[member="Suravi Teigra"]