Within The Dark(Chiss)

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Inrokini'kol'airik"] | [member="Chaf’anta’natrano"]

He had always wondered why exactly the Chiss had turned out the way they did.

Most of them lacked emotional expression, most of them thought logically, most of them moved to better their people as a whole rather than themselves. There were the few odds and ends of course, the outer members of their society that worked for themselves, but more often than not Chiss sought to improve and push the Ascendancy forward rather than work for their own personal gain.

Alric knew that because he had had close ties to the Ascendancy once. He had been friends to Aristocra's and Syndic's alike, and had profited from those associations. Of course that time had passed, and most of his old friends and allies had either succumbed to the Netherworld event, or had been pushed out by new blood. Such was a the way of things, but it still left him wondering.

What made the so different?

He supposed that he would never find out, he wasn't a researcher of such things after all.

Oddly enough it didn't bother him. Perhaps in his youth it would have. That mystery would have driven him to madness. It would have been a part of winning the game. Yet now, in his old age, Alric realized that it didn't matter. All that mattered was what him and Danger were trying to do, what they would accomplish in the coming months.

A small smile crept on his face as the hiss of the boarding ramp resounded in his ears, thoughts of the future rolled through his head as he stepped off his ship.

 

[Chaf’anta’natrano]

Clothed in a yellow dress and draped in lush white furs, Fantana made her way through the Csaplar spaceport with a modest entourage of Chiss assistants. Csaplar was still on orange alert after the recent terrorist attacks on the Chiss tube system, so the Aristocra of House Chaf also brought along a few soldiers from her House Phalanx.

The Chiss was back on Csaplar to meet with one of the most intriguing figures in the galaxy, the former CEO of Titan Industries, [member="Alric Kuhn"]. Fantana had always been familiar with the name, but due to her Ruling House's isolation from the rest of the galaxy, was not intimately familiar with his resume. From her research on Kuhn, he was a creative entrepreneur whose desire for innovation revolutionized galactic business. The now-defunct Titan had been a giant, and although its demise had been unfortunate, Mister Kuhn seemed like the kind of man who would land on his feet.

Fantana was scheduled to meet the businessman at a cantina in the spaceport to talk about some of his new ventures. At the bow of her mind was always House Chaf, and the Chiss was eager to see what kinds of irons Alric Kuhn had in the fire.

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Chaf’anta’natrano"]

Alric moved through the starport rather quickly.

His face was recognizable, even out here in the Ascendancy. Those who wanted to follow him could accomplish it quite easily, but that didn't mean he didn't want to make it harder. The Chiss were important to the next step, important to what came next. Of course right now only he and Danger knew that, but he was still weary, paranoid even, of someone else catching on to what he was planning. His lips thinned slightly as he turned a corner, and slowly he moved into the Cantina.

It wasn't hard to spot her, it never was. Aristocra's dressed differently, but more than that they carried themselves in a certain stature, that stature was as easy to spot as a white feather dress. They stood out, even among the rigid society of the Chiss. It was funny, he wondered if they ever tried to hide.

"Aristocra [member="Chaf’anta’natrano"]?" Alric spoke in perfect Cheunh, practiced for more than half of his life, though there was still an odd inflection in his tone.

 

[Inrokini'kol'airik]

"The Aristocra of House Chaf has chosen to meet-"

The slightest fraction of a pause before the alien term.

"Mister Kuhn."

"Interesting."

Was the only reply from Nikolai as he scanned reports his own Aristocra was too busy for. Nikolai was often busy. After all, House Inrokini was responsible for a great range of businesses and services within Chiss space. Apparently many of [member="Alric Kuhn"]s own business ventures aligned with those of House Inrokini.

Aligned.

An interesting word. It suggested unity of purpose. Heading towards one goal. Of course, sometimes it was a communal effort, and sometimes it was a race. The trick lay in telling the difference. Alric Kuhn was not a Chiss. He would never be a Chiss. His interests were not Chiss interests. He did not associate primarily with Chiss regardless of what he had done in the past. Instead he was seen almost exclusively in the company of yet another human business owner.

House Inrokini worked for the glory of its name, and for the Chiss people. Humans worked for themselves. When two who thought themselves big players, and perhaps they were in the rest of the Galaxy, started sniffing around Chiss space? It was unlikely to be for the good of the Chiss therein.

But.

Hasty decisions were rarely wise ones. Nikolai was rarely hasty. Just because the humans did not truly mean to be of use did not mean they could not be used. There would be no harm in hearing him out. Plus he had been forced to play diplomat often enough that he understood the worth of humoring other races. To a limited extent.

"If he has come to discuss business, House Chaf will require assistance."

Very nearly a joke.

"These reports are completed."

No more than that was necessary. They would be filed where they belonged. A copy sent to the Aristocra for a review it likely wouldn't get. He'd long since proven himself capable. They would be saved in more than one location. The Chiss had long since learned to preserve knowledge. With the uncertainty of the Galaxy, one could never be too careful.

Otherwise they might have lost such basic things as the exceptionally detailed star charts of their own space after all the hundreds of years of careful exploring they had done and might actually need to do something drastic like hiring Non-Chiss for things as basic as safe Trade Routes. Luckily that had never happened, and never would. Even the thought of it was utterly ridiculous.

With an internal spark of amusement at that foolish thought, Nikolai rose and made his way from his office, a few of his staff falling into step. Not too many, just enough that House Inrokinis sway was understood. He was only Syndic after all, and he was capable enough and his House strong enough that a full entourage was unnecessary. They would reach the new Aristocra and Mr Kuhn soon enough.

[member="Chaf’anta’natrano"]

 

[Chaf’anta’natrano]

For having human vocal chords, Alric's Cheuhn was impeccable, and that made a good impression on the Aristocra. She rose from her seat and gave the businessman a cordial bow.

"Good afternoon, Mister Kuhn. I want to thank you again for attending my inaugural event, and please give my regards to Miss Arcaneau as well. What brings you all the way out to Chiss space?"

The Aristocra had been raising eyebrows among her House Phalanx for adventuring into new business territories with outsiders such as Alric and [member="Gerion Ardik"]. House Chaf had its share of old guard of Chiss isolationists who did not agree with her flexible stance on trade. Fantana paid them no mind. After all, the ideals of the Red Flame did not solely pertain to military goals. One needed to be courageous, cunning, and prepared in business, technology, and even trade.

Other Ruling House Syndics and Aristocras had been contacted about today's meeting with Mister Kuhn. If her instincts were correct, Fantana knew at least one bearded Syndic who would be in attendance.

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Inrokini'kol'airik"] @Chaf’anta’natrano

"Business." Alric answered simply and with a smile. "It's always business, Aristocra."

How true that was.

He had connections with the Chiss, a friend who himself was an Aristocra. Yet one friend didn't help him, didn't meet his goals. He and Danger had plans, and those plans would only be met if he could get the Chiss on board with them. Of course he could have taken other avenues, but this, this seemed the most likely to succeed and not end in blood. It would be good to stop the blood, for once.
"I have a proposition for yourself, and the Ascendancy as a whole." He smiled at her, and then slowly took a seat, unbuttoning his suit jacket in one smooth motion and placing himself in front of the Aristocra.

The former Titan practically oozed confidence, his face holding a calm smile and his hands, though gnarled with age, placed comfortably in front of himself on the table. His back was stiff, and his bright blue eyes stared straight into the glowing red of the Aristocra's gaze.

 

[Chaf’anta’natrano]

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

"Unfortunately I can't say that I represent the Chiss Ascendancy as a whole. Although I'm happy to put in a good word, as you know, business proposals that affect the Chiss people generally have to be given careful consideration by Parliament. I'm sure you're aware of how long this process can take."

When Fantana thought about the delicate dance of power between the Houses, it seemed like a wonder that the Chiss got anything done at all.

"There are ways of getting around the log jam that plagues our governmental system," she quickly added. "Parliament has no control over any private business deals I make for House Chaf and for Sarvchi."

She gave the CEO a ferocious blink. Fantana knew it was shockingly uncharacteristic to go against the established collectivist-socialist economic system. However, as House Chaf was used to being on the outside of the power structure looking in, she was not too concerned how these proceedings painted her Ruling Family.

"With that in mind, what is your proposal, Mister Kuhn?"

[member="Alric Kuhn"] [member="Inrokini'kol'airik"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Chaf’anta’natrano"]

He smiled.

So plainly spoken, how refreshing.

"I am a capitalist, Aristocra." His tone of voice could have been likened to a snake in the garden. "I am an opportunist, and with this new rise in activity from both the Ascendancy, and your house, I see opportunity."

That was putting it lightly. It seemed that as of late the Ascendancy was moving again, rising and pushing itself forward as it had in ages passed. Of course he doubted they sought to break away from the One Sith, he doubted that they would even want to, but Chiss would always strive for some measure of independence, even if it was only on a few worlds. Alric intended on taking advantage of that. "I want to offer the assistance of my company to yourself. At a great discount I could assist with building outposts, facilities, even Shipyards if the Ascendancy requires it. I imagine the Civil Defense Force still has to protect the worlds that do not fall beneath the protection of the One Sith."

He chose his words carefully, not wanting to insult the woman.

 

[Chaf’anta’natrano]

Fantana lifted an exquisite blue black brow. "What kinds of facilities are we talking about? If you're talking about weapon manufacturing facilities, well, as you know the Chiss are quite particular about the types of weapons created on our soil. As long as the product is up to our standards, and uses our technology, then I don't see a problem with Vanir manufacturing in Chiss space."

She drummed her fingers on the table, her glowing red eyes fixed on his. "I find your proposal intriguing Mister Kuhn," admitted the Aristocra, almost begrudgingly.

"A construction boom would be beneficial to Sarvchi and its surrounding planets. I can lobby for you in Parliament to get you some contracts on Csilla as well, provided you use Chiss labor."

She tilted her head as another question occured.

"If I give you the greenlight, would you be willing to make the Ascendancy some specialty items at a discount?"

[member="Alric Kuhn"]

 

[Alric Kuhn]

[member="Chaf’anta’natrano"]

He nodded. "Of course."

That was a given. The Ascendancy would grant him a new avenue of business. Not just to the government, but to the people themselves. The Chiss were always looking to get ahead as individuals, to aid the collective. Vanir Technologies would provide that. Of course construction contracts as well as those of sale would be of great benefit. If he could expand into the ethos of wild space, move into the Ascendancy and the sectors about it, it would greatly help him.

Not to mention the expanse the Ascendancy would gain.

"Shipyards, Factories, Fortresses, Shopping Centers, Vanir has built them all." From his pocket he took out a datapad and opened a few schematic designs to show her. "Whatever the Ascendancy needs, I can provide."

He smiled slightly, and then shifted in his chair. "Involvement of the Chiss in any of these facilities would be more then welcomed. Yours are a hard working folk."

 

[Chaf’anta’natrano]

Fantana's red orbs politely scanned his impressive schematics, but did not linger on them lest she seem too eager. Although Mister Kuhn's proposal seemed to have no immediate downsides, time would certainly tell. Hopefully Vanir Technologies would not put the welfare of the Chiss people above profits or exploit any natural resources. Either way, she was confident that the business contract that her House would work out with Mister Kuhn's people would put safeguards in place to prevent those sorts of unfortunate outcomes.

"We have a deal then," she said, gingerly offering her hand the way that humans did when they consummated business deals.

"You're welcome to come to the Palace on Sarvchi any time you like. If you need a place to hang your hat while you scout out locations for your facilities, our palace security is unrivaled in all of Chiss space.

A barest trace of a smile appeared on her glossy red lips.

"As is the company, Mister Kuhn."

[member="Alric Kuhn"]