The Beginning of Something New

[Aithne Charr]

Solan sat back in a chair in the boarding room of the Saluecami office for Aurora Industries. He was here not for business with Aurora but simply because it was a more reasonable place for a meeting with the woman whom he contacted. The former leader of the Black Suns, or was it current... he had not a worry for the titles as that was not important. This meeting was a simple deal that needed to be worked out between the Confederacy of the Outer Realms and the company known as Phenix. All he needed now was for the woman whom he was waiting for to show.

The Room was simple, one window that looked out over the city that resided on the planet Solan had chosen for the meeting, the table was simple. Even the chairs themselves were simple and lined up neatly around the table. There would be no weapons allowed in the meeting, not that Solan expected her to try and kill him nor did he want to kill her. And most importantly nothing would be recorded. They could talk and make this deal without anyone having anything on record of what was said. Those pesky records always did bite him in the ass later on.

 

[Domino]

It was a small room Domino was sitting in and rather uncommon for most ships. The room itself was perfectly spherical save for the entryway that was cut out so one didn't have to stoop through a hatch to enter and was maybe five meters across. Water came up to the lip of a square platform strewn with cushions in the room's dead center where Domino now sat. Before her stood a clay vase filled with dirt, two sticks of burning incense sticking out. On either side the meditating woman was flanked by a sharp pyramid lacquered black and dully reflecting the dim light of the burning incense. It was here, surrounded by the base four elements and simple geometry that Domino relaxed best into her deepest meditation. For today she would have to travel far and with perfect clarity. Not even an out of place audio recorder blinking before her distracted as the blue-skinned woman's breathing stilled.

At the far end of the Silver Jedi's territory and a bit beyond into what had once belonged to the former Vigo, [member="Solan Charr"] would feel Domino's presence a moment before she herself appeared. Sitting with legs crossed in the middle of Solan's conference table, her force illusion would appear real enough to anyone that viewed it aside from the other Master. Force users could typically see such illusions for the ghostly after-images they were. "Pardon the theatrics," Her voice was solid enough, "This is easier for me than traveling and far more secure than any comm link."

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Domino"]

Solan turned his head as the ghostly visage appeared on top of the table and his brow rose for a second before thinking. "I cant tell whether this is a creation of White Current or of a simple illusion, nor where it is that you are projecting this from but i must say that you surprise me none the less. My former ally had told me of the skill that your people had but he never told me of your own abilities... that man seemed to be holding out on information..." He didn't clarify who but he smiled none the less as he waved to a chair. "Perhaps you would like to take a seat, not that your incorporal form is not fun to look at on top of the table but should our meeting be disturbed i do think that it would be strange to find you sitting there, would it not?"

He leaned back as his hands crossed infront of him and he looked at the woman. She was a new one, the former Vigo of the largest criminal organization to grace the galaxy in hundreds of years... only to disappear in aa fraction of the time it reigned. He wondered if she was still as impressive as reports led him to believe but business before curiosity. "I must say though this does make things simpler and if i had known you would come this way i could have held this meeting in my garden, atleast then we would have something past business to talk about."

 

[Domino]

Inclining her head at the compliment, she waved away the apology. "It's an illusion combined with a few other things, simply on a larger scale." 'simply,' right... As she spoke in Solan's office, so to did she speak in her meditation room. It was simpler than differentiating the two perceptions in her mind and left her a recording of at least her side of the conversation. Couldn't remember every minute detail after all. "Also since I'm not physically here," the ghostly image reached out a hand to a chair only to have it pass through. "Can't pull out a chair to sit in it."

"So, to business then. Your invitation said you were interested in purchasing from Phenex Industries without attracting much attention?"
[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Domino"]

"For now that is, i have bought from you before for a different group but this time is a deal in which to serve a different purpose. I represent a growing coalition of words... well soon to be growing, for now it only remains to be two worlds in particular. My point is though that we are in desperate need of ships that are able to protect the trade and worlds of this coalition. Our official name is the Confederacy of the Outer Realms, a bit wordy but most groups are these days." He leaned forward as his chin fell on top of his hands, staring at her as it was propped up.

"Your ships and a few of your vehicles are of very high quality for someone in my position and i would like to be able to acquire a long standing deal with you concerning the purchase and use of your ships as well as the future development of projects of my own. In return i will help fund your own movement with soldiers and resources as well as a place to hide out in times of need. Of course i will be paying for the ships to keep a public face but i had more than that in mind in terms of my throwing some weight towards your way." He smiled at her as he sat there. Two years ago he would have hit on her without even having the mind of a business man. Today he had enemies and worlds to look out for, and more importantly a bit of revenge that needed sorted out. "Shall we begin discussing your products first?"

 

[Domino]

"My own movement?" She asked holding up a hand to forestall any further conversation. This had actually confused her a bit and she didn't mind showing it. Most would have assumed it feigned anyways. As far as she was aware, she was simply making business deals on both sides of conventional law at the moment. Her only movement was to end the stagnation of those she was responsible for. The rest of his deal sounded just fine. Actually a bit too good for her tastes. Soldiers were something she preferred to acquire for herself, less questions of loyalty that way.
[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Domino"]

He smiled and waved his hand at the question before continuing with business. He would need more ears and eyes before he said anything indefinite. "I had been searching through the public manifests that had been shown to me by your company's storefronts and i must say they impress me more than a little bit. What i was most interested in was several of your ships as well as the hammer class walker and the judge class tank. Further more the Nimix and Adventurous cruisers were of great interest. I will be frank though, this deal will if you agree to it i be a long term production deal in which your company will see a stead flow of income from the words in which need the weapons of war... as we can both confidently say that these are such things."

 

[Domino]

Domino wasn't enough of a child to roll her eyes, but in that moment she almost wished she was. Of course people could never answer a direct question, they had to be mysterious. "Normally on something like this I'd ask for standard pricing plus five percent to keep the delivery crews quiet, but with your other offers I don't think that'd be necessary. Overall I have no problem acting as a long-term military supplier for your Confederacy though I'd like you to go into more detail of what your promising in return. As well if you wanted the ship's hangers pre-equipped or not, delivery location, or any other preferences." Despite his earlier attitude, Domino was secretly pleased. He'd picked out several of her favorite products on offer and it always felt good seeing them go out into the galaxy. Hmm, maybe she should start making posters of them for kids to hand on their walls.
[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Domino"]

"The Confederacy is in a prime position in which i can confidently offer you resources that are held on the planets that we are looking to add into the Confederacy or even that may come out of the surrounding locations. Being located near Eriadu and Sluis Van i do so expect us to be able to fund projects in which you deem as useful for us as well as to pay you for the current ships. Further more the troops i spoke of are of a experimental variety... But we can further discuss them in the future. But, most importantly i can confidently offer you future asylum for your associates and yourself as well as prime locations to expand your operations whatever they may be from shipbuilding to more." He tapped his hands on the table as he continued speaking. "As for delivery... Stripped Hangers, they should be brought to Kesh where they can be kept in the shipyards over the planet and i do ask that your people forget anything important they may see on the planet if they decide to come down. Its so hard to keep company and territorial secrets at times. As im sure your past could help you understand what i mean."

 

[Domino]

"Kesh... I can deliver there." The name brought forth anticipation and practically rolled off her tongue as she said it with a sly smile. The planet had always been a place she'd wanted to visit, few gave it much thought these days yet as a student of history it was one to see for herself. "If I may make a suggestion though, I'd like ten or so square kilometers of land adjacent to an ocean in a mild climate zone bequeathed or sold to me. Naturally I'd like to establish a small factory to build replacement parts and vehicles on hand to ease long-term supply." Naturally shipping costs would drop and it'd also provide a convenient place to give her crews a place for R&R on planet without the risk of them noticing 'anything important' while waiting for a return ship. Domino expected Char to recognize all that though and didn't patronize him by walking him through all that. Everything else he'd offered could happen there as well, from ship building to a place of refuge.
[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Domino"]

He leaned to the side and onto his hand before nodding to her. "That can be done quite easily, i already know a few places close enough to towns that you will be able to have localized work without putting them in danger if corporate war would begin between your company and any other... it seems to occur quite often in the galaxy in recent years so do forgive me for being cautious of my people's safety. I simply do not want any of them caught up in something they had nothing to do with." He looked at her for a few moments in order to make sure her expression did not change in any way that might draw alarm before his hand went to his side and he removed a datapad. "I can have the agreement drafted up and sent to you by the end of the week, detailing the ships and vehicles that i wish to acquire as well as the details of where your factory will be there."

 

[Domino]

"That would be acceptable to me." Domino didn't expect any corporate war to reach the hidden planet, but it did pay to be cautious. It was also a relief to find someone more worried about their citizens than the benefits a new industrial area would bring them. Perhaps this would be worth something more than a simple supply base for the Confederacy should Solan's rule prove earnest. "Is there anything else you'd like to discuss while I'm here? More than an hour of this starts to wear me out and I've got a lot to do today." The effects of sustaining such a complex illusion over such a huge distance were already wearing her thin after just a few minutes, not that she'd let him catch on though. Her illusion appeared just as happy and healthy as when it'd appeared even though beads of sweat were starting to form on her forehead lightyears away.
[member="Solan Charr"]

 

[Aithne Charr]

[member="Domino"]

He crossed his hands and nodded, speaking softly. "No i do believe that is all Lady Domino. I must say that in addition to this deal if ever there is a need for my aid do not hesitate to ask as i am more than glad to see your company and more survive the coming days and weeks. Now, seeing as we both are satisfied with such i do invite you to Kesh some time in the future, i am sure that ill be holding a get together for people from around the galaxy concerning the formation of my new government and i must say that i would be more than interested to see you there when it is hosted, though of course there is no need for you to be there." He smiled at her as he spoke and even drew a hand over his datapad in which sent the deal to Domino's main office, for her to sign when she got the chance.

 

[Domino]

"Of course, I'd love to attend. The beauty of Kesh is one of the few things that one can consider common knowledge about the planet. Just let me know when you're having your gathering." As she spoke, Domino's image began fading away as she began withdrawing power from the connection until last to go was her parting smile like some Cheshire dream until she was gone from his office.

In her meditation chamber Domino slumped forward in exhaustion and wiped a sleeve across her face before laying back to gulp in the cool air. Disassembling the illusion like that hadn't been easy, neither was creating sound or moving her perception across the galaxy like that. She'd really downplayed the complexity to impress. Sounded like it'd worked though and now she'd secured patronage from another faction, granted it was a smaller one, but great things had tiny beginnings. She was proof of that alongside thousands of other things.

Fumbling around by her leg, she shut off the recorder and punched the comm button that'd put her through to a protocol droid. "Put my tea on and then contact the company offices. Let them know I'm expecting a message from the Confederacy and to route it to me here. Once it's arrived have us jump to the next set of random coordinates." Goddess she ached and she'd rather not be around if someone came snooping around to discover what a force user had been doing in the darkness far between systems. And she'd agreed to another political party... Great. Those things had been bad enough when she was Vigo, well when it meant something anyways, now she'd imagine all the planetary courtiers there to curry favor would see her as little more than another industrialist. Something to dissuade them of then, she thought with a predatory grin that was quite unlike the one she'd shown Solan.

[member="Solan Charr"]