The Birth of Many Ideas

[EmKay]

Atretes sat in his room aboard the Hand of Fate. He poured over his datapad, while sponging a wound on his right arm. He'd taken a good blaster hit on Druckenwell, and now he was studying. He needed more. The events at the Shipyard planet were revealing to him about things called weaknesses. He had many, simply by his skill level and inexperience. Experience was something gained, but skills could be honed. Trained. He could gain knowledge.

Power.

Knowledge was power, and he needed more of it. He needed to learn. He started with the battle readouts over the course of the battle for Druckenwell. He even had Emah detail out the attack patterns, attempted feints, everything he couldn't see while he took shelter.

"While you cowered." Sigma challenged him. He didn't deny it. He was afraid, too afraid to face those assaulting the planet. The loss was as much his failure as it was those of the fleet he was studying. The first thing that came to his attention was that the Confederate Fleet was ever so slightly outdated. Older technology, less effective. The planetary defence was strong in itself, but the poor choice to fire on the shipyard cost the entire gun emplacement array. A foolish move, he would have to have words with this Commander Briggs. Yes, words.

Something snapped inside of Atretes following the Battle for Druckenwell. He was suddenly more aware of faults. Of flaws. Of things that needed to be corrected. Of his own shortcomings.

"Fear is the mind killer." Sigma offered. Rhoujen agreed again with his mental counterpart. He was afraid, and it wrought within him the inability to act. It dampened his senses and muddled his thoughts. Thoughts that, now clear, turned to the status of the Confederate fleet. Old technology. He liked technology. He pulled a second datapad he'd found and pulled up the structure of the CIS. [member="Marek Starchaser"] popped up as the Techno Union Foreman. While he had no idea what that implied, he was the top of their authority structure, so he kept the name on the side to contact later. He also noted that his datapad was wearing out its usefulness. He'd need a new one soon. In fact, that would be his next project after this knowledge hunt. He was setting himself many paths to follow, goals to accomplish. He would not fall prey to the mistakes of the past again.

 

[EmKay]

Rhoujen let out a sigh, then started doodling in a notebook, writing out ideas and drawing sketches. His eyes widened a little, and he snapped his fingers in thought. His pen went flying over the pages of flimsy, ideas rolling from his mind, onto the paper, and into the potential for fruition. This particular section regarded upgrading his datapad by constructing a pocket secretary. Highly versatile, easy for him to use, and with all the accessories he'd makeshifted onto the datapad he currently used. A few pages were all it took for him to get the main points down, but he was satisfied. He collected up the two datapads and headed off to the storage areas on both his and his master's ship. He had a project to do.

[Filler at: Handheld Evolution]

 

[EmKay]

After he woke, he took another shower and sat at his desk to give his new device a few runs through simulated slicing and testing application stability. Happy with his accomplishment, Atretes used a notepad application in his new pocket secretary to keep track of further notes, and he also created a document with the schematics to his current device and locked it into a backup, in case he ever needed to build a new one. Then he split application windows and started more research.

The KWS Movak was a reliable ship, he could say that much. However, it was extremely outdated. In fact, his ship was older technology than the Confederate fleet, and that was apparently obsolete enough to fall to the Protectorate. He looked through the shipyard and manufacturing companies, and while there were many local companies to browse, he remembered something from his past.

"The Morvak will serve you well, Rhou," said Captain Mako while she smiled up at the ship, "but one day, whatever your reasons are, you'll want or need a new one. That's just how it works, kid. So when you finally get around to it, go Corellian. You'll never regret it." she grinned at him. That crooked, pirate's grin, and then nodded for him to go into the ship.

"Go on, go live." she smirked, before sweeping around and returning to the Riposte with her brown duster trailing behind her.

Those were simpler times. He was never one to dismiss advice, though. He popped open the Corellian Engineering Company's holonet site, and started browsing through their freighter manifest. None of the latest models appealed to him, but in their 'Classic Catalog', he saw something that appealed to his taste greatly. The VCX-820 Escort Freighter was exactly what he needed, but first he'd have to speak to [member="Marek Starchaser"] about what kind of modifications to put on it. He added more to his notes regarding the ship, and added a hyperlink to the 'Request an Order' page of the CEC site, before he opened a communications channel to mister Starchaser for the discussion.

"So, I'm getting this ship, but I need a few tips..."

 

[Corey's OOC]

There was so much to cover in thegalaxy right now. Marek Starchaser was making it so most of the calls were not focused towards him. Anyone that really needed to discuss anything with the Techno Union could contact the Public Relations department. There were only a few calls he was taking. So much work to do.

The Techno Union was there at Druckenwell, he was there, helping with evacuation. Sure, Miss Danger Arceneau covered the majority of that, but Marek Starchaser did make a government call on how to handle that. Dump cargo, bring all ships to the world, get them out. And when the fighting started and took a turn for the worst, they were there with the Protectorate and the CIS to retrieve any souls and cargo and data from the dying world.

Now he had to figure out just where to go. What to do to fix this.

Sighing, he leaned back in his seat and looked up. What was contacting him now? There were only a few people that had his primary frequency. Running a hand through his hair and getting the yawn out, he opened up the channel.

“Mr. Rhoujen, to what do I owe the surprise?” A ship? Well, that was easier than the political and relations tower of poodoo he was in. “Who’s ship?”

[member="Atretes Rhoujen"]

 

[EmKay]

The yawn came across as an exhale across the channel. Rhoujen hadn't considered that someone in such a high-stakes position would be very busy. He frowned, but got on with what he needed anyway. The damage was done, and hanging up would only serve to cause irritation.

"My ship," he started, faltered, then continued, "Well, the personal ship I want. I'm not sure how advisable it is, but an old friend told me to look at Corellian Engineering if I ever wanted a new personal ship, and well," he dragged the link for CEC's VCX page and dropped it onto the channel so the message would pop up showing the catalogue entry.

"The VCX-820 Escort Freighter is along the lines of what I'd like. Fast, has good firepower and shielding, it's basically a tiny tiny cruiser." he said it in such a way that it was nearly like he was trying to sell it as a product. He had to be convincing, didn't he? What better to appeal to a businessman than by sounding like a businessman.

"What I'd like to know from you, is what kind of upgrades I could reasonably attach to it. Even a complete gut and overhaul of it would do, since the company F.A.Q. said they can fulfill almost any order." he reclined in his seat and unclipped a small earpiece from the side of his pocket secretary and put it on to ease the continuation of the conversation. It slid out of the sleek frame from a groove that, even with the earpiece removed, looked like it was just part of the design.

"Perhaps I could even simply buy the stock freighter, and bring it over to a shipyard of yours for... reconstruction?"

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

 

[Corey's OOC]

As stated, this was something he didn’t mind handling. He enjoyed the technology side of the world. It was something simple. Maybe he was actually learning from Sindy a bit. Being around her, and seeing how she worked the Force. It was nice, whatever it was, and compared to the PR nightmare and trying to make sure everyone was on the same page with the Techno Union and Arceneau Trade Company’s involvement with the rescue attempts at Druckenwell, this was a field day.

A nice vacation.

“The Sea Ee Sea does a lot of good work, their ships are nice.” Marek had to give them that, he did own one, granted, he had it modified by Haor Chall, but that was just because he wanted to have his company’s tag on something he was flying, much like the Dark Tide that they created.

Opening up the CEC holonet site, he was accessing the Escort Freighter in question. Maybe it was because of his homeworld, but the CEC ships always felt like they were the best in the galaxy. What kind of ugrades? “Well, what are you hoping for it to do for you, Mr. Rhoujen?” [member="Atretes Rhoujen"]. Sigma, whatever.

“And as much as I know through connections in the Techno Union, we can work to modify that ship, its up to you if you would like to have all parts from Sea Ee Sea, or a conglomerate. Their ships are pretty hardy for all kinds of updates, however."

 

[EmKay]

He tapped a pen on his desk and thought for a moment. What did he want for it? In short...

"Anything," he said, "Everything. Short of a cloaking device -- because I think having cloaked freighters is impossible, I'd like to get the most out of the ship. I plan to keep it for a long time, and much like the little pocket secretary I just built yesterday, I'd like to be equipped for almost any foreseeable possibility." he kept it honest, simple, as was his way. He thought he heard the term somewhere, among the Confederate soldiers. 'Min-max', they called it. Pulling the most performance you could out of the smallest possible framework. It sounded a little silly at the time, but now he found himself doing that very thing.

Funny how it happens.

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

 

[Corey's OOC]

Marek couldn’t help but let a grin creep across his face. This Obsidian Cadet had his mind in the right place. He was nodding and letting the thoughts enter and go through his mind. What did he want to do? Everything. “Well, I am sure we can accommodate the request.” Haor Chall could definitely work with several other industries from within the Techno Union. Still, there was also the shuttle that the Union was working on for the Knights and Viceroy.

Maybe some things were going to need to go on the backburner.

“Well, that is the real trick, finding the way to approach any situation. I understand the need for that. Especially in the line of work you find yourself in.” Foreman of the Techno Union could learn a great many things. “If you’re interested, you can meet at one of the stations around Hypori, and we can do an assessment of the vessel, and work a few things up?”
[member="Atretes Rhoujen"]

 

[EmKay]

"Sounds good," Atretes replied, watching the other window for further replies from mister Cater. He was honestly surprised that he was doing business with someone from this side of the recently made fence, but Rhoujen supposed it would be different if Kal Strife came knocking for a ship. He was a nobody right now, and that made his life easier.

"I've just placed the order for the freighter. It'll cost me three hundred thousand since they're making the whole thing from scratch based on blueprints," he informed [member="Marek Starchaser"], "and I told him to put whatever he felt would be useful into the ship, as well as a couple of fancy things. You'll see when I get there." he said with a bit of a chipper tone. Getting a proper vessel to replace his hashed together junker felt somehow fulfilling. It was the same sensation he got when he made his fancy new toy. A sense of progress. He liked it.

 

[Corey's OOC]

That was the thing about merchant types. If they could make money, they would theoretically handle calls from anyone. It just made good business sense. For the CEC to refuse a private buyer was something completely different from refusing to assist a military with a contract. At least, that’s how Marek would handle it. The crimes of the state are not always the crimes of the one.

“That’s the trick with purchasing ancient ships, sir.” Marek couldn’t help but smirk as he spoke. “I’d like to see what they add to it, for their surprises.” Would it be too much to hope that they didn’t sabotage the vessel? “Once you receive it, you’ll have to go through an extra bit of scanning, so we may confirm its safe for our station. Alright?” Seemed simple enough to him.

[member="Atretes Rhoujen"]

 

[EmKay]

"Right." Atretes said simply. He'd just received notice that the 'VCX-820c' was under construction and should be done in merely a few days. He lofted a brow, impressed at the speed of the Corellian Engineering shipyards, and decided that that would give him enough time to do some research other aspects of his training. Namely, his brief and uninformative interlude to Sith Alchemy, and more pressingly, the construction of his own lightsaber. He searched through public records, and ultimately found what the general public of the galaxy had access to to be overwhelmingly useless.

"Hey Emah," he called out to the AI, to which he got a bored 'hmm' in reply, "Can I get a code to link my device with your database?" he asked. The resounding huff was entirely too audible, but after a long time persuading the AI to cooperate with him, she finally gave him the access code to view her information database on his pocket secretary. After a rather long loading time, and several restarts, the device finally synchronised on a one-way feed into her databanks but not allowing her into his. Atretes was certain that Emah could breach the A21U if she was interested enough, but he just didn't want her running around turning it on and off or something. He flipped through the catalogue of information that Salem had gathered or that Emah had downloaded over the years, and found several detailed schematics for a lightsaber. He tabbed them out in his device, then clicked it off and stood. He put on some more presentable clothing and brushed his hair through, then headed out for his final voyage on the KWS Morvak. He strapped in, and it slid out of the Hand's hangar in its dagger-like silhouette for the final time.

"Alright Kawys," he said to the droid he never truly interacted with, "kill all records and databases, and wipe the navicomputer. The only records I want left on the vessel are from this trip. Also, wipe your designation but retain all other memory." he said. The droid beeped at him inquisitvely, and he replied, "Yes, I essentially want you to forget your name."

The process took awhile. In fact, Kawys, or rather, the Morvak's companion droid had just finished when the alert for reversion sounded. As soon as they were out of hyperspace, he unplugged the droid. It beeped in alarm, but Atretes silently pried open its main compartment and removed the droid brain, memory core, and other key components that made this little droid who it was, and leaving the husk of machinery behind. He tucked those parts into his coat and piloted the ship down to the CEC docks.

The transaction was short, an exchange of credits and signing of license of the two ships to exchange hands, then Atretes hopped into the VCX freighter. He looked around, and was amazed at how different a brand new ship looked than a barely-put-together vessel he got off Nar Shadaa. He felt his way through to the cockpit, and took a seat there at the pilot's seat. He felt over the control panel, gaining some sense for the vessel, before he touched the ignition and the engines roared to life. He felt giddy. The repulsors kicked in, landing gear retracted, and as soon as the young man was clear of the shipyard he gunned it out into space, before he tapped the coordinates for Hypori and the vessel shot off into hyperspace like a phantom.

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

 

[Corey's OOC]

Marek was almost excited to work on this ship. He had worked with CEC before, but that was because they were his home world ship builder, and for him, that gave him the feeling of patriotism? Even if he didn’t live under the rule of the governing state of Corellia. Sometimes he wondered if that made him a bad Corellian, but truth be told? He could deal.

Turning in his seat, he made to send a message off allowing for a new ship to arrive, giving Rhoujen’s new ship’s estimated date of arrival. On top of that, he made note to keep himself around Hypori on the day before, day of and day after the arrival. If all else failed, [member="Atretes Rhoujen"] could wait a few hours for him to arrive and help out.

Standing in the Techno Union’s VIP Hangar, which was supposed to have better security than the others, Marek was watching the VCX-820c enter atmosphere and slowly touch down. Right, this was the ship they were dealing with? Not bad, CEC pulled out all the stops for this black vessel.

Waiting for the gangway to open, Marek stood to attention, stepping away from his own personal CEC vessel, the Vagrant Wind.

 

[EmKay]

The light seemed to be absorbed by the flat black paint that covered the surface of the VCX-series freighter, the cockpit's interiour light the only indication that the thing wasn't a spectre of shadow. Rhoujen was having fun reading the owner manual included, and familiarising himself with all of the controls. He just closed the book after a head-aching yet highly informative read when the ship finished guiding itself into the hangar and touched down with a much gentler jolt than he was used to; in fact, it was hardly a jolt at all. He brought his feet off from the console and stood, offering a friendly wave to whomever it was outside. He walked through the ship, a miracle in itself after having to weave through the last one, and tapped the console to open the loading ramp.

It slowly swung open with a hiss of whatever hydraulic-like mechanism powered them, and Atretes stepped out, his clothes remnants of the formal wear he'd been wearing. His previously tucked red shirt was untucked and unbuttoned at the top, revealing a white undershirt, and it was held in place by his black vest. His pants were still black slacks, but now they were tucked into polished, yet slightly scuffed, black Imperial-style boots. Over everything was the dark long coat that a lover had given him, which shrouded his attire in a semiformal, yet distinctly smuggler-like appearance. Strapped to his thigh was his slugthrower, and clipped to his belt on the opposite side was the lightsaber he used, though it was not his. He expected the weapons to be confiscated, but he didn't want them left aboard. Safer in a locker than tumbling around underfoot, right?

Rhoujen's eyes roamed the area slightly, taking in the hangar, before he zeroed in on the man who looked like the picture of @Marek Starchaster.

"Mister Starchaster, I presume?" he asked politely. Part of his mind still operated in business, just like part of his outfit did. It was a strange balance he walked right now.

 

[Corey's OOC]

Marek was a bit more confident in his abilities as a hunter and seeker, observant and able to discern what was in front of him, and a Force user, a Sith student, Zeison Sha student and… Master with the Knights Obsidian? He was able to feel a bit of the energy coursing through the ship.

Hearing the pneumatic hiss as the gangway, Starchaser looked up. The one known as [member="Atretes Rhoujen"], the agent that seemed to work close with the Knight Commander disembarked and Marek nodded. The agent seemed to know what he was doing, at least looking the part of a Corellian stepping from the ship. Keeping an eye on the weapons, Marek having replaced his Czerka slugthrowers with the new BlasTech models, as well as having the slugthrower built from some ancestorial Starchaser lightsaber, on his hip, he smiled. It was nice to see others using slugthrowers as well. Blasters were nice, and the ammo was easier to carry, but there wasn’t anything better than shredding into another with a slug.

Maybe that was a bit too dark?

Being approached, the Foreman only nodded. “That’s me, just Marek works. You’re a Knight, after all.” Meaning part of the group, not the rank. “Welcome to Hypori.” He grinned, extending a hand to the pilot. Looking at the ship, he nodded. “She’s just off the line, isn’t she?”

 

[EmKay]

"Nice to meet you, Marek," Rhoujen said, taking the other man's hand in a firm grip and following handshake, "I go by Atretes, Rhoujen, or Sigma. All three are names given to me, so pick whichever you prefer." he said. He'd accepted that the lab-born label was a part of him now, and nothing would change that. Breaking the handshake, he turned to the VCX freighter than sat nearly elegantly in the hangar.

"That she is." he said, his eyes gazing over the ship as though it were a fair maiden. Unnamed as of yet, he decided to save such things for when she was fully complete. He turned to look over at [member="Marek Starchaser"], then spoke again.

"So what all can we do? I'd like her to be faster, while still retaining some good measure of firepower and shielding. Extra cargo space isn't a big deal -- I don't expect I'll be shipping anything -- but more small storage containers such as drawers, bins, and lockers would be good. I tinker quite a bit. Ah, if you have a spare workbench or something similar, I'd greatly appreciate that." he said. He was essentially trying to turn this ship into a mobile self-defended home. Somewhere he could relax, tinker, and do what he liked to do.

 

[Corey's OOC]

There, that was a bit easier. The Corellian hated titles, he was learning to accept Foreman, and ‘Master’ was one he was okay with for years now. Granted, that was master, lower case, but whatever, not here nor there. So, this one, [member="Atretes Rhoujen"], could be given a numeral for a name? Probably either cyborg or genetic experiment. The latter, that was more interesting to Marek, he’d seen plenty of cybernetically enhanced folk. “A pleasure.” His tone was dry, but he knew the record here. That made it simple.

At least he could appreciate a ship. And handle her properly. Marek nodded as he gave the ship another look. Corellian engineering at its finest. Too bad the Confederacy and Omega Protectorate didn’t get along, business wise it would be the Starchaser’s wet dream to work alongside CEC.

Listening to what Rhoujen was saying, Marek was making a bit of a checklist in his head. “So, we want firepower, speed, and her to take a hit. If you’re looking to lose cargo space, I’m sure we can make her faster in zero G. But I’m not sure how that weight displacement will make her handle in atmo.” Looking at the ship and taking a step up to it. “How long do you want your trips to last?” Organization could happen after, what he wanted to know was how long the Knight was going without restocking his stores and wares.

 

[EmKay]

It took the young man a moment to consider the question. Often his trips away from the Hand lasted no more than a few weeks, yet the possibility for being stranded... he gave a soft hum and a nod to himself before he answered the question.

"Three weeks to two months, give or take, I'd say." he answered. While it was a broad spectrum, it was an honest answer.

[member="Marek Starchaser"]

 

[Corey's OOC]

It was one of those logistical things that people needed to consider. Since he took over the Techno Union, logistics and how to keep an army going were things that Marek held fast to. He might not be a soldier, hell, he was barely a Force user most of the times (unless he got really dark), but a war could be lost or won by logistics alone. He smirked at the younger Knight.

“Lets shoot for two months in the plans, if we cut it down, at least we won’t be leaving you with only one meal.” A grin crept across his face. Stepping around the vessel, he was wishing he had Sindy here, or someone that could perform Mechu Deru, and really feel this vessel. He needed to find a holocron for that. “So, she’s armed how you want, and we want engines, sensors?” He looked back to [member="Atretes Rhoujen"].

 

[EmKay]

Atretes pulled out his pocket secretary and looked through the schematics he'd downloaded from the ship. He nodded to what [member="Marek Starchaser"] said, and replied in kind while he looked over the technical readouts that he only vaguely understood.

"Yeah. Better speed and maneouvreability, better sensors would be good..." he looked up at it and the bright light coming up from the cockpit and shot a side-glance to the Foreman.

"Don't suppose you can give a one-way mirror finish to the cockpit windows?"

 

[Corey's OOC]

That was a unique model of PDA, there was already more to Mr. [member="Atretes Rhoujen"] than met the eye. Marek smiled a little as he listened to the list of issues and requests for the ship. They could, of course, do a lot of that. It was a matter of how stable the vehicle was going to be. “We’ll do our best. SLAM boosters would help momentarily increase your speed. Maneuverability, we’ll see what we can do. Might have to try a few things.” But they were going to do their best.

“One way mirror. That should be simple enough. We’ll need to do a little construction into making it out of transparisteel, however. But yes. I don’t see a reason why not.” Hell, put it inside the transparisteel.