Some New Beginnings [Gerion Ardik]

[Natasi Fortan]

Beneath the shuttle bearing Natasi Fortan, Lianna City stretched out in its gentle, curving sort of way. It was beautiful, Natasi thought as she stared out the window at the spires rising from the surface. Someday, she would build towering buildings, impressive structures that would rise from nothing due to her efforts if not her actual physical labor. Those who had buildings and cities named for them didn't often slum it with the laborers, but that was besides the point.

"Governor," the voice over the intercom crackled. "We're making our final approach. Please fasten your seatbelt." Natasi did so and worked her feet back into her shoes. She was out of her uniform today, choosing instead a simple black pencil skirt and a white satin blouse. It wasn't often that the Governor allowed herself to wear beautiful and fashionable things; as the highest-ranking civil servant in the First Order, aside from the Supreme Commander and Supreme Leader, she felt it was her duty to set a good example, which meant wearing a uniform daily. It was so... unfeminine. But no one said governing was going to be stylish. Natasi liked to think she left her mark in other ways.

After the shuttle set down and she disembarked, Natasi was greeted by a protocol droid who welcomed her and ushered her into the office of an old -- what? Friend? Flame? It was hard to tell with [member="Gerion Ardik"] how he felt, but Natasi's heart was tap-tapping a little more rapidly than normal when she entered, and her dark eyes brightened when laid upon him. "Mr. Ardik -- thank you for taking the time," she said after a start, smiling politely. "You look well."

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

There was never a time when Gerion's desk didn't have some kind of paperwork on it. Even now, the industrious Umbaran was sifting through documents and reports, trying to figure out what required his direct attention. Something of an escapade was underway elsewhere on Lianna. Despite the fact that this was the same planet Hegemonic Automaton placed its headquarters on, local authorities in the city Anxarta were pitching a fuss about a distribution center being established. Whatever their reasoning was, it went on the back burner when Natasi entered. "It's my pleasure, Governor Fortan." He slid the assorted documentation off to the side. He gestured to one of the open chairs on the other side of his desk. "Make yourself at home."

He heard about Skye. He heard about lots of things where the First Order was concerned after they had taken the liberty to glass some large sections of Eriadu City, if not the whole thing. Lots of people had died, lots of buildings were destroyed. This included people on his payroll and buildings he had paid to construct, not to mention the economic backlash that came with razing the capitol of a major trade world. At least they had made up for it with killing some Yuuzhan-Vong on Rothana. If it weren't for that and who the First Order had sent, he probably would have dismissed the idea of a meeting immediately. Suddenly when Natasi was seated in front of him, bickering and arguing over the petty details of who killed who seemed less important...

"As always, I am at your disposal. What can I help you with today?"

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"You look busy," Natasi observed quietly, her eyes sweeping the office left to right and back again. "But then you were never one for resting on your laurels." She was impressed, as always, to see how easily [member="Gerion Ardik"] managed to take it all in stride. Every change, every development, every new opportunity -- he always seemed to be with it. "I gather you've heard about Eriadu," she said, sitting in the offered seat and smoothing her skirt primly. For some reason she felt slightly guilty, despite the fact that she had not been involved in the chain of decisions leading to the destruction of the capital city of the planet she had once served upon. "I am sorry about the... collateral damage." Her eyes flicked up guiltily and she frowned.

Ardik did take these unfortunate incidents things rather personally -- it was almost as if he didn't quite grasp the realities of war, which couldn't be true, since he had run a government on at least one occasion, and Force knew how many people died, not necessarily as a result of his governing, but certainly under his watch.

The young Governor crossed her ankles and leaned forward, brushing a strand of chestnut locks out of her eyes and behind her ear. "But I was hoping to discuss something else. How would you like to get rich -- you know, richer -- and make me very happy at the same time?"

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

"It's exceptionally rare that I don't hear about it when people on my payroll are-" He was about to say 'systematically murdered, alongside the rest of a gargantuan civilian populace, for a decision they had precious little to do with,' but it caught in his throat. He coughed into his fist instead, then continued, "-unfortunately caught in a crossfire." Gerion was still signing compensation cheques to the families of the dearly departed. He suspected they were going to sue for more. Eriadu was supposed to be one of the more peaceful worlds and that shield generator should have helped. But it didn't, and now the grieving families would probably try and fill the holes left by the loss of their kin with gratuitous amounts of money. Oh, the times. Oh, the morals. How was a corporate stiff such as himself to cover those losses?

Sign contracts with the people who killed them, of course!

Gerion meshed his hands over the desk, expression as placid as ever. "Nevertheless, I appreciate your condolences and would love to make you happy. What do you have in mind?"

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi's lips twitched. It was difficult to tell with [member="Gerion Ardik"] what was sarcasm and what was not, thanks in large part to his deadpan delivery. "I have been tasked by the Supreme Leader to oversee the settlement and processing of the First Order's holdings. I hope to do so in the most efficient and humane," at this word, her large dark eyes looked up from his desk to his face, "way possible. That will involve commissioning city planners, architects, and so forth. In the interim, I need to have shelters and facilities for my government, my troops, and my citizens. I'll need fencing and gates -- modular and portable, obviously, because as we expand our permanent structures, we'll want to move or store these temporary facilities."

She frowned and reached into her handbag to draw out her small datapad. "I've done some research and I think some of the better pre-fabricated units would be ideal for this purpose. Something sturdy and defensible, but not so heavy that they cannot be moved around as needed, even between planets, and obviously not prohibitively expensive," she added with a smirk. "And of course I thought of you first. I'd much rather deal with someone I know and trust than take my chances with the charlatans in the marketplace."

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

They called their head of state the Supreme Leader? That was almost as much of a red flag as someone who called themselves the Dark Lord. And this talk of processing could have meant anything. Were they slapping barcodes on the humans and shipping the aliens off to death camps? He really didn't want to know. Besides, whatever cliched, villainous moniker the First Order's leader went by and what use they intended to put these garrison bases to use were only secondary to how much money he was willing to spend. At least it didn't sound like any repeat Eriadu City-like events were on the horizon.

Or so he could hope, for Natasi's sake. "I don't deal in prefabricated bases, unfortunately. My factories are configured for droids, computers, electronics. That kind of thing." He leaned over to his left, opening up a drawer on his side of the desk and perusing the assortment of files located there. He liked having paper documents. It made meetings where he needed to show them to people a lot easier, as opposed to yanking out datapads and trying to sync everything up that way. He'd rather just hand the person across from him the physical file- which he promptly did, sliding a folder labeled "Rothana Heavy Engineering" across the desk.

"RHE has been designing prefabricated structures for centuries, I believe. They're certainly not charlatans. If you'd like, I can get in touch with them and collaborate on a base design that suits your needs."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi canted her head to the side. "I knew you would know what to do for the best," Natasi murmured. "Since most of the setup and removal would have to be automated, I had hoped that you could assist with manufacturing the appropriate droids and computers and create an integrated and secure software system that would coordinate what we require." The Governor crossed her ankles and leaned forward a little, dark eyes studying the Umbaran in front of her.

She leaned forward and took the folder, flipping it open. "I've researched them in my time, though I confess I'm not yet intimately familiar with their catalog. If you recommend them, then certainly I'll take that into consideration. Can their processes integrate with your droids and software?"

[member="Gerion Ardik"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

These days it seemed Hegemonic Automaton did a lot more mechanical work than selling droids, automating production facilities and the like. Not that Gerion could complain- this was where the money was at these days. Far more profitable than getting people to buy a few hundred droids and never calling back. "Interesting. We've tackled similar automation projects, but never prefabs. I'm confident that if we work together, integration will be simple."

It would be difficult, but the best projects often were. Another notch on Hegemonic Automaton's belt, another ounce of prestige in the market of automating things, it all went a long way. Gerion liked making dreams come true, especially where those dreams made him a wealthy man.

"I'll make the necessary arrangements with Rothana Heavy Engineering and we'll get a research and development team assembled as soon as possible. I'll also relay to the team what you have told me here, but I'll put you into contact with the team as well in case you have any other, more specific requests for the design. Are there any First Order personnel you would like assigned to the project?"

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi smiled. "I knew I could count on you," she said. "I always could." She crossed her wrists and rested them on her knee. "I hope it isn't vulgar in me to suggest that the First Order is looking for reliable partners. If we can make a success of this project -- on time and under budget and all that -- the First Order Government will be seeking to work on additional priorities. I know you won't need to have this spoken aloud, but I don't know about these Rothana people."

The Governor felt some tension ease from her shoulders and the core of her back. This was going better than she thought it might. "I'll stay in town for the estimates and to sign the contracts, obviously, once everything is sorted out. And perhaps longer -- we'll see how it goes -- I think I want to meet the team," she said casually, shrugging. She could do most of her job remotely, and the First Order was such a well-oiled machine that being out of the physical office for a few days or weeks wasn't going to cause any problems. "I'll be the First Order contact. Everything goes through me, and if we need to involve internal engineering or whatever else we'll make that jump to lightspeed when we've got the coordinates."

"At any rate," Natasi said pleasantly, "I imagine you're scheduled to within an inch of your life here, so I oughtn't take more time than I need -- but..." She paused and smiled awkwardly, her lips suddenly feeling tight against her teeth. "I was going to ask if you had any recommendations for a hotel in the city? Perhaps we can catch up over dinner while I'm here. I'm dying to hear all about your operation here."

[member="Gerion Ardik"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

Gerion was also looking for more reliable partners. Probably not in the same sense that Natasi meant, but rather in a more vulgar one. He nodded sympathetically along, meshing his hands on top of the desk as she spoke. All the necessary arrangements would be made and great care would be taken to make sure this was the smoothest project Hegemonic Automaton launched in the last few years. A small sort of grin tugged at the edges of his mouth when she veered off the subject of business. "Oh, I'm actually quite free these next few days." Nothing was further from the truth, but pending Natasi's departure a slew of appointments were about to be canceled. There was really no point in being timely and efficient his whole life if he couldn't occasionally bend his own rules...

"I can arrange a room for you at the Centrality Hotel. It's in the commercial district and not terribly far from here." The Centrality was one of the more prestigious hotel chains on Lianna, unimaginative name notwithstanding. "As for dinner, it would be my pleasure. I must admit, I'm also very much interested in hearing what you've done with the First Order."

Besides... Killing people. Obviously.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Thank you, Your Grace. I appreciate it very much," she said with a slight bow of her head. [member="Gerion Ardik"] would always be royalty to her, regardless of his current station. If his Sith Empire still stood, she could conceive of no greater endeavor than to serve it. If his Sith Empire still stood, she would not be sitting opposite him but rather working alongside him. Fond memories brought a touch of warmth to her otherwise glacial face. She stood and gathered her things, draping her traveling cloak over her shoulder once again.

"I'll get out of your way now," Natasi said pleasantly as she tucked her handbag under her arm and then extended her free arm across the table, hand extended for shaking. "Thank you for your time. Shall we make it eight for dinner?" She glanced at her chrono on the underside of the non-extended, slim wrist. "That will give you some time to work and me some time to unpack. Oh and do send word what kind of clothes I should wear. I travel with one of everything, you know, so I can make it work. Until then, sir."

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Natasi Fortan"]

Gerion chuckled nervously, awkwardly, at being called a grace. He shifted in his chair and quickly interjected, "You don't need to call me that... Please." If Gerion's Sith Empire still stood, he would have hung himself with his own entrails by now. The Umbaran could scarcely imagine a fate worse that being perpetually in charge of that cesspit of screaming, super-powered men-children. Corporate empires were more his scene now. He could now fire most uppity incompetent employees without them launching a destructive rampage, hacking to death the useful ones with glowing swords. Nine times out of ten.

It all depended on your vantage point during the regime. Fortunately, few from that time were left to corroborate either of their memories. It was infinitely better that way.

"Eight 'oclock, of course." He took her hand. Perhaps held it a bit longer than was necessary. "You'll hear from me before then. Here, I'll show you out." He rose to make good on that offer. It was bad enough he hadn't been out there to receive her in the first place, he wouldn't stand to leave her un-escorted now.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi bade [member="Gerion Ardik"] goodbye for the moment and boarded her shuttle without much further adieu. She flew across the city to the Centrality Hotel where she was checked into a suite without incident. As the bellboy stood in the foyer of the suite, Natasi strode through the sitting room to the bedroom and bathroom, pausing in check for a ring around the tub or any stains on the towels. She looked out onto the balcony and adjoining room for her maid, and then returned to the foyer. "Is everything to your liking, ma'am?" asked the bellboy proudly.

Natasi bristled. The suite was nice. The hotel was luxurious and seemed to know what it was doing. But Natasi didn't like being prodded by the staff for unnecessary praise, so she said rather coldly, "It will do." She reached into her handbag for a credit chit and pressed it into his palm. "It's not brilliant but it will do. Leave the luggage there and I'll have my maid unpack it," she said, indicating with her free hand to the bedroom.

A few moments before eight, Natasi found herself in the hotel bar, clutching a sidecar and chatting amiably to her plainclothes guard and waiting for Ardik. He would find her in a club chair, in a gray shimmersilk evening gown (for she was still in half-mourning, and thus a vibrant color would be inappropriate) and tasteful jewelry accouterments.