The Prince of Profit (Star Wars x 40k/Rogue Trader)

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 45;
The Trail of Profit

Arthurius felt the stress of the events recently begin to drain away as he returned to his capital. It was a problem that he had little doubt would flare up once more. But the events had had curious impacts on their relations with the other powers. While there were many who complained about the slaughter and barbarity of it all, the general sentiment seemed to be 'good, someone took out the trash'.

His own feelings however were tempered by something else. "Margaretta, I need a full accounting of our costs in this endeavour." He said, studying the Seneschal Primus over the table as he forked something called 'Porg' into his mouth, a small annoying avian of some forgotten world.

There was a sigh, that was never a good sign. "Exhorbitant my lord. We expended almost seventy percent of our atomics stockpiles and each of those will cost thrones or favours with the Mechanicus to replace. If that little demonstration had gone on any longer we might have had to change to using the Nova Cannons instead."

He frowned, eyes narrowing at her. "You have an... opinion on whether we should have executed this action?"

She flushed with embarassment momentarily. "If I may speak plainly," Arthurius nodded, "The expenditure of atomics was wasteful and while a response was necessary it may have been more economically viable for the Biologis Facility on Bloodstone to produce virus bombs and utilise those."

"No." Arthurius said plainly, "The Bloodstone facility is not rated to produce the Life-Eater virus, meaning we would be dependent on whatever viral weapons they could produce, and while the warheads may have been a cheaper alternative to atomics,..." He picked up a datapad, with his free hand and passed it over to her, "I considered the option and investigated its viability."

"You did not ask for my assistance?" She said disbelieving.

"In this case no, I didn't want our own information. I wanted to know how the galaxy at large would perceive such. The fact our response was in answer to biological weapons is a surprising source of sympathy for us... look at this." He picked up another datapad and passed it over.

"ForceStarter? Wh... people are trying to donate money to afford mass food shipments?" She said in disbelief.

"Indeed 'for the unfortunate victims who will starve due to the Hutts actions'.. they are insane." Arthurius responded and Margaretta did not comment, as forward thinking and liberal as Arthurius was, he was still a Rogue Trader, and the concept of charity was almost considered heresy to most of them. "No, I have asked the Bloodstone Facility to shift gears."

Another datapad. "Rejuvenat." She said and began studying the report. "Very well. Do you need me to run the numbers?" He nodded and she began sorting through her own files as the servitor with her personal cogitator waited while she continued to strike keys and study the reports as they came in. They'd moved past a crises and were immediately back in consideration for how to recover from it. And of course to make money.

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Juphukk So arrived in orbit of the world that they called Memoria Terrae. It had another name not that long ago, but that didn't matter. His Star Cruiser was largely configured as a luxury liner but that didn't matter, he was here for the purposes of trade with the strangers. He opened up his communications. "This is Mon Cala vessel Fine Trade Currents to Imperial World Memoria Terrae, requesting permission to initiate trade discussions."

Other Mon Cal around the bridge watched nervously, they knew full well that they were in weapons range of the strangers. And the orbital elevator coming from their capital had a large orbital station at its zenith. Turrets the size of CR90s, or bigger, were cranked around to face them before the communications channel came alive. "This is Memoria Terrae Traffic Control to Fine Trade Currents. Please proceed along the following vectors and transmit cargo manifest for evaluation."

"Coming to course. Transmitting manifest." He stabbed several buttons and waited, waited for quite some time before another voice came across the network.

"Greetings Fine Trade Currents, I am High Factotum to Governor Edmund Haig, the local governing official for the Von Hydraxius Dynasty. Please proceed to dock twenty, the course will be transmitted immediately. Please ensure you maintain course accurately. Be aware that the Lord of the House is in residence and may also choose to make contact. We see that you've brought forty thousand tonnes of Seafood?" The question came.

There was a hesitation as Juphukk decided how to answer. "Yes Factotum, we secured forty thousand tonnes of seafood that are suitable for human consumption, if you wish, we can arrange for a tasting?"

"I will present that idea to my Lord. If I may help facilitate trade, what are you requesting in exchange for your cargo?" The reply was polite, but curiously insistent.

"Ten thousand tons require no payment but were secured by several charitable funds that wished to alleviate the risks of starvation, it isn't much. For the rest, we are perfectly willing to negotiate, and find something we can both agree upon."

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The bay that the vessel occupied was under strict quarantines and Edmund studied the vessel with a critical eye. "It looks like a turd." He said out loud as an airlock was extended. "If I went to the ablutions, fished out what I dropped in their, painted it blue-grey it would look like a model of that ship."

Darius McLaughlin found he couldn't actually argue with the assessment, the civilian ship had very few weapons, but it had every appearance of a loaf that had been pinched off in a hurry. And when the airgate found somewhere it could actually mate with, they descended the decks and stood with their bodyguards. Edmund stabbed his elucidator..

"They're horrifying...." He said in High Gothic. And Darius merely nodded. Hitting on in the eye with a laspistol wouldn't be all that challenging. But even so they advanced with all the confidence of men of business and Edmund activated his elucidator again. "Welcome to Emperor Resplendent Orbital Station. I am Governor Edmund Haig and this is my High Factotum Darius McLaughlin. Please, come with us." He turned and walked towards the station as two of the Mon Cal bore a heavy looking barrel on a repulsor sled. Proceeding deeper into the station the Mon Cala looked around them with wall-eyed expressions taking in the luxurious designs, garish ornamentation, and frequency of turrets mounted in the corridor ceilings. And yet, they reached a resplendent room whose floor appeared to be a single unbroken slab of black marble two hundred metres square.

The xenos hesitated as they saw the table at the centre of it. "Don't worry friends, this table was manufactured from a small ventral plate of a Tyranid Hive Ship." The bleached bone appearance gleamed from the oils it was treated with. "Please feel free to set up your tasting display." The Mon Cala looked at one another and shrugged and proceeded to do just that. Once it was set up an array of people filed in, including three that were cybernetically enhanced. Moving on track units they went straight for the displays and a dizzying array of probes emerged and were run over everything, including taking samples directly from the produce.

"Many of these are considered delicacies across the galaxy," The xenos in charge of the group said as he lifted up a small squid-like creature, "others are more common and are not normally traded far from our homeworld."

The Governor looked at the results on the screen and turned to two of the other humans who picked up some of the first display, carefully putting it in their mouths. "Of course, am I to understand the cargo is frozen or otherwise stored in salt water?"

"Yes, to preserve freshness we transport live, or frozen." He answered.

"You don't employ stasis units for preservation?" The words made the fish alien blink idiotically, though Edmund struggled to remind himself that he had no idea about the body language of such a radically different, if revolting, species. Even the Ork did not look so vile to human sensitibilities.

"As an independent captain I do not have the funding for such an extravagance." The xenos answered and the Governor nodded.

"Very well, I can understand that, does it not limit the reach of your ability to trade however?" The xenos' mouth moved in what was clearly a smile, or at least a deliberate effort to produce one a human would recognise.

"It does, but by less than you might expect, our Hyperdrive is quite fast." He answered and Edmund nodded.

The Governor studied the xenos for a while, "Well, our testing does show that the produce is safe, I'm sure you can excuse the concern. However I am lead to believe Dac is a predominantly aquatic world, in that we have procured this list from the Seneschal Tertius of product we are willing to exchange for the remaining thirty thousand tonnes of seafood." The datapad was passed over and the Mon Calamari's eyes narrow.

"I was lead to believe that you have billions of people on the verge of starving, I had thought you could offer something more substantial, raw materials are not so difficult to acquire, we don't even consider them to be a significant import. As such we won't be accepting that as trade, what else do you have?" The Mon Cala smiled one of its false smiles once more.

 

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 46;
The Scale of Profit

Juphukk felt a sense of confidence as the High Factotum and the Governor talked, even though he didn't understand their language, the translators that had been used disabled while they conversed. He was not the best versed in human body language, but what put a spike in his confidence was the apparent fact they were completely calm. They didn't have the expression of someone who was put into a position of having to give away the farm to save their people. When a skull flew into the room through a port in the wall he almost jumped out of his skin as it moved up to the Governor and his aide. It chittered and and the Governor nodded.

A tapped button and the High Factotum began to speak, "If you will excuse the Governor, he has pressing matters on the surface." The man turned and left the chamber, relaxed and fluid in his movements. "In his stead, I have been bidden to make several inquiries before any further negotiation."

That startled Juphukk. "What... kind... of inquiries?" The High Factotum picked up a datapad as the Mon Calamari asked the question.

"A number in fact, the first of which is, is this a one-time trade, or are you considering contracting for longer term supply/demand contracts." The man said turning his expression on them and waiting.

The question was a good one, "At this time, we have only planned for this engagement. However, should it prove to be profitable we might be willing to engage in longer term contracting."

The High Factotum nodded. "As interested as we are, at this stage your volume is, as you might expect, too low to do more than whet the appetites of our people. At this stage, for volume we are looking at approximately sixty point six billion tonnes of various grains, three point six billion tonnes of proteins, twenty billion tonnes of vegetables, thirteen million tonnes of salts, spices that is food spices, not the narcotic, and about one point seven megalitres of water, annually. The water is less of a concern, our recycling facilities can already serve most of that need."

Juphukk's eyes went wide. That sort of volume was far far beyond him. "That is quite significantly beyond my means, I am unsure that my homeworld could provide anywhere near the volumes you need in the time span." Even if all they supplied was proteins, that would be nearly ten million tons, daily."

The High Factotum wrote that down. "Thank you. Would you be open to franchising?"

"Franchising... for..."

The Hi... Darius... continued to read his document. "For expansion of business opportunities, you have a single ship, with approximately forty thousand tonnes of capacity. But what if we were to invest in your businesses instead, we have several Lucrehulk class vessels that we can refit to replace the Hyperdrives we previously extracted from them, each of which has a capacity for twenty five megatonne cargo capacity." Juphukk almost spluttered audibly in surprise. "We have two that we are prepared to sell, or invest. If you wish to buy them, you would be contracted to provide foodstuffs until the value of the vessel was paid off. Should you wish to take it as an investment, the Von Hydraxius Dynasty would be prepared to accept a 45% ownership of your company, and you could pay off 55% of their value in cargo, with all independent trade after that point being a profit share according to ownership, in which Von Hydraxius would own 45%."

A datapad was passed over translated into common. "From there, we could invest in further business together, such as potentially inviting the people of Dac to assist in developing the aquaculture on our Agriworlds to maximise the food production capacities of their oceans."

There was a wall-eyed blink from all the Mon Calamari. "You are proposing an extended business venture that would tie me to Von Hydraxius concerns?" Juphukk said plainly. "And I am afraid that Dac still might not have the production volumes you need."

Darius nodded and Japhukk blinked again, "Perhaps it does not now, when accounting for all other obligations, but with aquaculture growth on our own worlds, your production capacity might be greatly expanded in the long term. Ten, perhaps fifteen years of seed-stocking oceans with hardy, nutritional seafood livestock from Dac, breeding or even cloning to meet demand, and the available stock to Dac might double." He looked at his datapad once more, "We might even see our way clear to a business loan of a hundred million credits so that you could make bids on the farms and fishing concerns that you could use."

There was heavy labored breathing from the Mon Cala. They were proposing jumping an independent captain, who was successful enough with his Cruise ship to even make this attempt, straight up into megacorporate standings. Japhukk meanwhile thought back, "If I may, where would you acquire a hundred and fifty million credits?"

"We have recently been making inroads on a life extension product to humans from both the Confederacy and Republic, as well as nominally neutral systems. It is unsurprising how much the wealthy will pay for another eight decades." Darius shrugged.

"And what would be the terms on this... loan?"

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Arthurius watched the pict-monitor with a smile as he studied the xenos. "Governor, I recommend you give your High Factotum a raise before I decide I need a fourth Seneschal to manage my businesses." The man preened under the praise and made half hearted affirmations that he definitely would. Armand and Vanessa were studying the files that were being typed out directly to the High Factotum by Margaretta.

"Father, I am unsure I understand the terms of the loan being offered?" Armand asked, frowning, "The interest payments do not seem overly... strenuous."

"Because they are not." Arthurius said plainly, "Fifteen percent annual compounding interest, the major element that they might miss is that failure to make payment will entitle us to a percentage of the business, as well as until the loan is paid off we are entitled to inspect the business and levy recommendations that they will need to take. But you are correct Armand, I am not trying to squeeze them for everything they have. Tell me, what did Saint Homobonus say where the three primary currencies of a successful business?"

Vanessa spoke before Armand could, though twins there were times when their competetive streaks came to the fore. "Coin, Cargo and Character. Without coin a man has no business, without cargo a man has no ability to make coin, without character none will be willing to make business with them."

"Very good Vanessa, and correct. Here we are building character, right now we have demonstrated that we are not to be crossed, that we can and will defend ourselves against those considered unassailable, the Republic and CIS have engaged in trade with us, and we have treated with them honestly, if overly generously, this negotiation here may set the ground for our greater reputation to come. How will we do business when we don't want to employ threat, or the lever of our technology to weaken purse strings?" Arthurius patted his son on the shoulder.

"So instead of robbing these Xenos blind, we deal fairly with them... and they tell others we dealt fairly with them in turn?... not only dealt fairly... but were willing to invest in helping..." Armand nodded rigorously, "willing to invest in building up businesses to help our own concerns. We're not just merchants trying to rob them in exchange for glass beads, we're trying to build partners."

Arthurius nodded. "Exactly." He smiled down at his son. "Which is why I have another task for you." He gripped his sons shoulders, "I want you to take the Free Trade Gambit, with Pirates Bane squadron, to Thyferra."

His eyes lit up like miniature suns. "Yes father!" He said puffed our chest, preening. "And??"

"I want you to negotiate with the Thyferrans about the transfer of Bacta, the Magos biologis want a significant sample to work with, you're authorised to trade some secrets of how we manage our continent-wide agriforming to aid in improving the yields of Bacta, suggest that we are willing to enter into a business partnership to expand production from Thyferra to site less well known and very well protected in exchange for some secrets on how it is produced." Arthurius released his son's shoulders, "Seneschal Secundus Montcroix will accompany you to represent my interests and serve you as an advisor."

"I won't disappoint you father!" He snapped to his feet and saluted, and surged out of the room.

"I know you won't Armand." Arthurius whispered as his boy left. He turned to the other figure in the room who had affected a bored countenance. "Captain Celdona, I would consider it a blessing if you followed, should my son prove unsuccessful on the second half of his mission, I would appreciate it if your people could find those secrets for us. We must get this Bacta."

 

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 47;
Rejuvenation

Palpatine stood before the senate upon his podium and pandemonium erupted. After a scheduled absence and treatment, with security and even a Jedi protection, he now stood before them in the body of a thirty year old. And absolutely all other topics scheduled for discussion ceased to exist in the uproar. Padme saw the effect on the chamber with a degree of horror. She looked at the bill that she had proposed and had the support of Senator Chuchi and Onaconda Farr as well as several other anti-war members of the Senate.

Proposal for the Censure and Sanction of House Hydraxius for the Hutt Space Genocides.

It was dead in the water now she knew that as a matter of objective fact. Even if every other alien member of the Senate voted for it, there were enough old and powerful humans to prevent it passing. Palpatine looked young, vibrant, powerful. "Senators, please, please calm down." He motioned for calm and slowly, very slowly, the uproar began to die down. "Yes, I appear to be younger thanks to the vibrant and revolutionary rejuvenat technology of House Hydraxius in the Awaited Imperium."

Those worlds rolled around the chamber and a susurration began to roll around the chamber. Not even a single senator failed to connect the name to the bill that Padme had been about to present. "Be still my friends. I have two Jedi Knights, as well as my own security detail, who were all present for the entirety of the procedure and can verify I am who I say I am." He smiled charmingly and Padme had to smile too, he was even more charming. Why though had he sought the procedure despite knowing what the House had done in Hutt Space?

"How do we get it!?" One of the Senators barked out. Ister Paddie was not a young man and it took little to understand why he was asking the question.

"Out of Order!" came several barked calls.

Palpatine held up his hands. "Be calm, is Senator Paddie out of order? Perhaps. But I see this question is not going to go away until I answer it, this procedure is only available from House Hydraxius and it is exceptionally costly. However, it has been developed for humans, and as far as we know is only compabible with humans or near-human species. More testing is needed to see if it would work for other species. Now, let's not discuss my glowing complexion all day, let us begin with the daily agenda, first up is the proposal by the Senator for Naboo to censure House Hydraxius for its conflict with the Hutts. Senator?"

She activated her repulsor pod and... lights began to flick off on the pods for senators one after another as those uninterested displayed their vote on the bald face of it.

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Palpatine was crowing internally as he watched the display, Padme continued to give her speech quite publicly as more and more senators shut down their pods showing their stance on the subject. The fact was that the Rogue Trader had displayed a power and ruthlessness that the Sith Empire of Old would have admired. And now with her anti-war sensibilities, his arrival, and appearance, had killed any kind of formal reprimand before it could even be voted on.

He didn't need to lift even a single finger to do so. Cries of 'let her speak' were drowned out by general derision. One Senator even cried out "Do you want to provoke another war little girl!"

"ORDER! ORDER!" Mas Amedda stepped up to interfere. "Senator Ungulate you are out of line. Senator Amidala, do you wish to call for a vote?"

Palpatine watched Padme as she studied the senate chamber with a lasers precision gauging things, and buying herself time to consider the situation, she already knew the answer, how the vote would go. Right now, he could sense it as she struggled with her desire to do what was right regardless of all other factors...

And her knowledge that if she called for a vote now, she would be undermining her position even further. If she pressed here, what proposals might she endanger down the line. The internal struggle was enormous. He saw her look towards her allies and he too studied them. One after another, they all solemnly nodded.

A fire lit in Padme's eyes. "I... withdraw the motion pending revision, it is my belief that as a people we cannot allow this to go unanswered and that we censure them for their actions, but we will work on a less inflammatory motion to appeal to the conduit worms who would prefer to suckle at richer circuits." The Repulsor pod returned and he had to resist clapping at her clever use of a Coruscant insult that all present should be familiar with.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The man stood in the upper reaches of the senate chamber observing quietly, studying who voted for what. His pressed suit was black and the cloak he wore seemed to shimmer when he moved as it change to blend into his surroundings, the speaker of the elucidator was disabled and connected to an earpiece as his only role here was to listen. Several pict and vox skulls loitered in the dark corners of the chamber, protected from discovery by the lights shining down, discouraging anyone from looking too far up.

His right ear hissed at him. "Report." He nodded to himself and began to subvocalise, the vox thief on his throat translating the subvocalised words for his handler.

"Senator Amidala's motion has been struck down and she has vowed to re-examine it and rework it before presenting it again. I have been marking Senators connected with the vote that it may prove prudent to cultivate into assets." He continued to study the chamber. There was a curiously strange mix of the very young, all the way to outright elderly Senators.

"Very well. Begin your withdrawal."

 

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 48;
Battle March

The crashed Acclamator burned against the setting sun as the CIS forces descended from orbit to take it on the ground, lead by General Grievous. He studied the crashed ship with a critical eye as he looked around at the new core of his forces. Two thousand Kaleesh warriors equipped with M36 Pattern Lasguns. The dropships were still unloading largely droid forces, and they would carry the beginning of the assault on the survivors of the Republic vessel.

"General Grievous. The Republic forces have been encircled, the clone meat is attempting to unship their heavier equipment for the defence." His second in command was a Kaleesh woman called Mior Savesh, and she was demonstrating a unique penchant for competence.

He studied the hologram showing the battlefield. "Have the J1 Cannons begin firing to suppress or destroy the defensive batteries. AAT's to be positioned here, and here. I want that unshipping process interrupted or prevented as much as possible. B1's to advance with a screening group of B2's in the rear. And make sure the order is given for a zero tolerance for fratricide. As amusing as it is to see a B2 smash B1's, I would rather not waste resources needlessly at this stage." He cocked his head. "Get the Long Death into elevated positions with the 'Longlas' weapons. I want them to dome any Clone that looks like they're in charge." The unit was a collection of sharpshooters from his homeworld, with several B-X commando droids as supporting forces.

The burning Acclamator was not entirely defenceless, though its main batteries were silent and dead, its secondaries and point defence were largely intact. And one by one the sound of the J1's beginning to fire filled the valley in which the vessel had crashed as B1's loaded the weapons breech.

Then he saw what he'd been waiting for. The first of the lightsaber ignitions. He raised his right arm and waited for his bodyguard droids to join him. "Mior, take over the battle. I will dispose of the Jedi scum." He surged across the battlefield at speed, his aggression hammering to higher levels, but not beyond what was natural. The thought drove his mind to the trip into Imperial space alone in his Bellabub fighter to covertly seek an audience with the Rogue Trader. Of the further trip to a world called Tanakred where he met the Fabricator General.

Of the four hours he spent in a surgical theatre as they carefully accessed his brain and disabled the chip that had been put there by his lord and master. But now he surged into the battle as the five Jedi and the Padawan were pressed further into the ruins of the ship as his army obliterated the clone forces, the disorder caused by the spears of ruby laser beams from Longlas fire growing with every shot. And then he was amongst them, the Padawan panicked at his approach and he crushed the boy underfoot, gripping his head in his right foot and twisting it through a hundred and eighty degrees before planting it in the dirt.

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Sent by Kenobi and Skywalker the ARC Gunship gunned it at full speed, taking advantage of the wreckage to maintain stealth as they moved to rescue the Jedi trapped in the wreckage of the crashed Acclamator, the site of the battle was terrible to behold, the Droid Army having baled them up inside the wreckage, and yet now they held their fire as something went on inside. "Captain, we have J1 Proton Cannons present as well as OG-9s."

"Fly well. Get us in so we can get them out. ARC Troopers, inspect your gear and prepare for the shit." He grabbed a loop on the roof as he inspected the weapon he bore in his other hand. Seeing all was in order he pondered his own armour, the ARC Trooper armour was good in its original conception, but it was heavier now, the ceramite coating bolstering its protective properties. He felt more than heard the rocket launchers firing at the crashed Acclamator to make a hole and turned to his men. Most carried DC15's, but there was a rotary blaster... and an Imperial Grenade Launcher rechambered for their own munitions. The doors slammed open and the light went green. "Go!"

And they surged out into the battle to see General Grievous slaying Tarr Seirr and moving on to his next target. "Go, get Secura and K'Kruhk." He ordered, spotting the two wounded Jedi sa Ki Adi Mundi and Shaak Ti struggled against the murder blender of the Droid General. "Fire!" He ordered as Shaak Ti was a victim of a saber slash that wounded her before a kick sent her into a weakened wall. "Get them back to the gunship!"

It was only then that the IG-100's stepped from the shadows igniting their electrostaves. The wounded Jedi were slowly dragged back as this secondary attack began and only the interruption of the Gunship saved their lives, using its missiles and turrets to force back the Droid General and his bodyguard.

"Run away Jedi. We will meet again." The sound of lightsabers being disengaged filled the space.

ARC-77 felt a terrible premonition settle over him. He almost felt like they were allowed to rescue the Jedi and withdraw.

 

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 49;
The Cartels of Cures

The Clone Wars had done much to help the bacta cartels in their growth and development to supply Bacta to both sides in the conflict, and though the Confederacy's third fleet had spent some time in orbit maintaining control over the world from orbit, it had moved on and they had worked to preserve their nominal neutrality. And thus, when a new fleet appeared in orbit the certainty of the future began to flee once more. And yet, the larger vessel so much bigger than its companions glittered like liquid gold, the ostentation of its construction screaming to the entirety of the void that its master was fabulously wealthy beyond any sensible measure.

The five point one kilometre long Free Trade Gambit moved with a deceptively agile grace, the grav-repulsors and gravity sails manipulating a fundamental force of reality like a fine violin to turn it into a direction that would inject it into geosynchronous orbit. Those with a perceptive persuasion would also notice that it lacked the colossal guns familiar to its kin, its flanks studded with flight decks instead. The same however could not be said of the smaller vessels escorting it, one point three kilometres long they had no flight decks.

The beaked prows looked like a bird of preys hawkish and deadly, and none of the four vessels did anything to disguise or hide the massive laser macrobatteries that served them well as long ranged firepower to protect their mother bear. And then its communication arrays barked, first to the four vessels that began to stagger their formation and were moving in for a far faster, lower, orbit.

Thyferra's traffic control was thus thoroughly disconcerted as, short of skimming atmosphere, all four vessels shimmered for a moment before being rendered invisible by the empyrean mantle cloaking devices. The next time its comms array barked however it was in the clear. "People of Thyferra, I am Armand Stirling Wolseley Von Hydraxius in command of the Free Trade Gambit, we have arrived to discuss trade and business opportunities. I welcome replies on this frequency."

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Armand stood on the bridge and waited as he studied the world below. "A beautiful world is it not Captain?" He said without looking at Captain Adrianne DuChamp. The void-born woman looked out of the viewport at the world they had come to orbit. Her left hand involuntarily adjusted her uniform at the sight.

"Quite revolting. Planets are such unsanitary things, can't even avoid rocks." Came the answer and Armand turned to face the older woman, her almost unnaturally pale skin did not hide her expression as she looked out of the viewport, he realised quite quickly that the woman was not being facetious or trying to amuse him, but was genuinely horrified by the prospect of setting down on the planet.

He frowned, "And if I asked you to join me on the surface, to be honoured as the Captain of this vessel?"

"Then Prince Hydraxius, I would with the utmost respect and due honours, carefully, remind you that my contract with Lord Hydraxius expressly grants me the right to refuse debarking from the ship onto a planet under any circumstances." She said with a wry smile, "Fortunately for me you are a wise and noble son of House Hydraxius and neither of us would have to be put through such an experience."

He felt a spike of irritation, but suppressed it, because without checking her contract himself it ultimately didn't matter. He smiled politely instead, "Quite fortunate Captain, in the Emperors truth however I would feel much more comfortable in orbit manning the Free Trade Gambit anyway. I will feel safer with an experienced hand at the helm."

Her face softened, marginally. "Very good si..."

"Incoming communiques." Came from the Vox pit. "We have invitations from the Zaltin and Xucphra corporations, as well as a number from smaller corporations. The local government is commanded by the Ashern and has authorised us for access to the planet provided we come with peaceful intentions."

"Thank the Thyferran Government for their permission to approach and signal our desire to meet with a government representative who might be best able to represent our interests on Thyferra and to whom we might be able to best communicate our interests." Armand stood, "I will make my way down in the Aquila Lander, Captain please mobilise a squadron of Fury Interceptors and a Shark with a security detachment."

Captain Duchamp bowed slightly. "Your will."

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The verachen watched the skies, though they did not trust their sense of vision. And the approaching craft made them nervous. A beautiful winged craft was followed by a massive brickish vessel five times its length, and escorting them was a squadron of twenty craft longer than a Gozanti cruiser. Human representatives of the Bacta corporations milled around, and personal security studied the incoming fleet nervously. "We never sanctioned an invasion fleet!?" One remarked out loud attracting a frown from the others.

But at fifteen thousand feet the twenty craft began burning in a complex pattern providing a close air patrol, the two that continued the descent until they settled on the landing field. The more perceptive souls noticed that they didn't use their powerful belly jets, instead cushioning on a repulsor field. The main ramp of the larger of the two craft opened and fifty men in powered armour marched out, moving twenty of them into a pathway with guards flanking both sides, the remaining thirty spreading out into a semi-circle facing away from the field towards the city. Watching for threats with massive firearms gripped in unshaking fists. Only then did the belly pod of the winged craft lower, its hatch opening and a menagerie of folks emerging.

... and now the humans in the group grew discomforted, for the group emerging from the ship was headed by a fantastically tall and chiseled young man in a severe black material, it was to their surprise semi-transparent and light cloth, but the coattails were being supported by the very object that discomforted them.

The gargoyle-like countenance of the cherubim floating on their suspensors behind him, chubby hands gripping the cloth tightly like children frightened by loud noises. Which was entirely at odds with the mischivous and almost evil expressions on their faces, childlike only through the lens of poor vision. The Thyferrans could not have known that they were considered repulsive by most, and that Armand was not foolish enough to allow them in his father's presence.

They sang a hymnal as he advanced on the group. Several of the human Thyferrans stepped back, gone green and in a flash of insight he held up a hand and made several gestures, the creatures released their grasp on his coat and flew lazily back into the lander.

The leader of the Verachen stepped forwards and canted its insectoid head. "Welcome to Thyferra Prince Armand von Hydraxius." It lifted a hand to touch the mans face and instantly the twenty men who had provided an avenue were on edge, hands on weapons. Armand held up a hand and they lowered their weapons fractionally. The Verachen, who had frozen at the reaction waited.

"My apologies, my security detail is understandably zealous in my defence. With our history many view it as too much risk to allow an heir to a dynasty to be touched. But it is my understanding that to your people sight and hearing are not to be trusted, artifacts of the past as seen and spoken?" His words weren't delivered with the power his father might have, but his father would have never allowed a physical contact.

The vratix all bowed their heads slightly, "I am Verachen, Lquerl. It is an honour to meet you."

"The honour is mine. I bring you a gift." A large container was brought forth. It hissed with vapours. "My father is bequeathing a hundred Grox calves to start a herd, we also have a dozen gaksmen who have volunteered to take care of the herd for you, including the lobotomisation and implant of aggression suppressors."

"Lobotomisation?" One of the humans asked surprised.

Armand nodded, "In their natural state Grox resist herding and are extremely fast and aggressive creatures, they are not entirely dissimilar to very small Krayt Dragons perhaps. But cared for properly, they make an excellent livestock and produce a quite delicious meat." Armand smiled, "Now, shall we talk business somewhere more convivial to civilised discussion? Your world is beautiful and its humid atmosphere is pleasant, but a landing field is hardly the place for business no?"

 

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 50;
The Healing Touch

Armand observed the people as they moved through the Thyferran capital, the Vratix forming a significant portion of the visible populace, but it was clear that the humans present had profited heavily from the Xenos. And he had to work to suppress the sense of revulsion he experienced at observing the almost tyranid-like monsters that were so vital to this world and its product. Actually letting one touch him had, despite his words, almost driven him into an apoplectic fury and only an absolute expression of willpower had prevented him reaching for the master crafted bolt pistol he wore on his hip. Of the humans however he observed a familiar kind of decadence, and the tropical environment combined with high humidity meant most people wore transluscent clothing, shorts and light summer dresses that the sun shined through appreciably. He also noted the human Thyferrans tended towards being attractive or even beautiful.

"I see a lot more of your people than human?" He asked casually as if it was something that barely occurred to him.

But the verachen was content to answer. "Only approximately twelve percent of Thyferra's population is human, though they manage most of the corporations and companies that ship bacta to the wider galaxy." The procession had not stopped as they entered a municipal building and began to go up the levels. The light and airy construction of the building was clearly intended to aid in the passing of cooler air through the structure. "If this pleases you, this can serve as the quarters for your stay on Thyferra."

Armand mentally threw up. "I am afraid it is unsuitable, due to our own requirements we will simply return to orbit and our vessel, this will enable us to resume communication with our capital and receive updates. If we may move somewhere we might begin negotiation?"

The surprise on the Thyferran party was poorly hidden. "Have we offered some slight?"

Armand smiled, "Not at all, but I have spent the majority of my life upon vessels of the Imperium, and as heir to the dynasty, even quarters such as this threaten to cause a claustrophobic reaction. Additionally, the Astropaths I would use for secure faster than light communication are on board my vessel. Please take it as no slight, I am sure these quarters are fine for any visiting planetary dignitary."

The Verachen nodded slowly, accepting the answer as the humans looked confused at it. "Please, this way." They headed into a positively palatial negotiations room with a large table and a holographic projector at its centre.

One by one the Thyferrans took seats and Armand took one, with several of his people flanking him leaving only four robed figures to stand, hunched, at the back of the chamber.

+++

"How is it that Thyferra can help the House Hydraxius and its Imperial Worlds?" Began a representative from Xucphra. The portly man was atypical of those present in appearance. "As you may be aware, there is a civil war in the galaxy and Bacta is in high demand, not only by the Republic for its clone army, but by many thousands of worlds for victims of the war."

Armand nodded, "It is in high demand, this is true. And for its demand, the limited production capabilities of it seem to be singificantly below what might be expected. As might be expected I am here to secure a cargo of Bacta of various grades and qualities."

"How much might you be desiring to procure?" This from the Zaltin representative.

"Fifty megatonnes." One of the Xucphra representatives was suddenly, and very literally, choking on her glass of water as she tried to take a drink. "It is my understanding that the standard transport vessel used by Thyferra for the transfer of Bacta can move approximately half a megatonne."

There was a moments hesitation as they all looked at one another before a brave soul spoke. "Mr Hydraxius, I apologise if I sound... well rude, but do you have any concept as to what you are asking? Three such transporters can represent up to several billion Republic credits worth of Bacta, and one is enough for most worlds needs. What could you possibly offer in exchange that even comes close to that value?"

This time the answer came from within the Xucphra camp, by one of House Dlarit. "Rejuvenat." He said, almost disbelieving, "You are offering rejuvenat."

Armand cocked his head slightly, "Not its secrets certainly, but yes, we are offering every certified ranking member and the family of same of Bacta Cartels willing to provide for our Bacta rejuvenat treatments for two hundred years. We are willing to extend this if you are willing to enter partnership with House Hydraxius and begin a mass expansion of Bacta production capacity. If I may ask a question?"

"Please, do." An older member of Zaltin asked plainly.

"Right now, the civil war for all its cruelty is manageable and Thyferra is not overly taxed with providing for needs. Or so I suspect, but what would happen if a pandemic were to occur on Coruscant, a fast acting virulent cross-species pandemic. Let us say that even twenty percent of its population became afflicted. Could Thyferra provide sufficient quantities to deal with the situation?" The looks on all of their faces answered the question as quickly as it has risen. "Right now you are content, and have a little price gouging on the side, an admirable squeeze an untouchable monopoly. But what would happen if such a pandemic were to occur."

There was some muttering, and another brave soul spoke, "Are you suggesting that is likely to happen?"

"Yes, eventually. That is the nature of disease and illness. But if you are asking if I am trying to extort? No. Bioweapons are a decidedly unclean weapon, it would be heresy to use something like that. What I am suggesting is a partnership, continental mass-farming techniques." Armand plugged a datastick into the port and a hologram of an Agri-world popped up. "Expansion of production and the development of Agri-worlds whose entire purpose is the development and production of Bacta."

"But that would drive the prices down?" One man whined.

"I could produce a lasgun and sell it for fifteen thousand credits, and get one buyer. Or I could build a factory, produce fifteen thousand lasguns and sell them for a thousand credits each. While high value items are just that, of high value and importance, medicinal products are best produced en-masse and sold for cheap to reach the widest possible customer base, your profit per unit does go down yes, but the number of units sold reaches a volume that exceeds the losses of the single unit." Armand shrugged.

"So why do you want the Bacta?" This one from the Dlarit man again.

"Two reasons, first of all, we have billions of people who could receive better medical care with it than we can provide without it, second, we might be able to study how the Bacta works to improve Rejuvenat and perhaps even make it available to more than just humans." There was a casual shrug.

Armand smiled internally as he baited the trap with the lure of not just marketing rejuvenat to human beings, but to all beings.

 

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 51;
Agreeable... No?

Armand was perched over the table studying the dataslates as the various representatives of Thyferra were equally engrossed in their own holdings. "So, Thyferra as it stands is unable to meet a fifty megatonnes demand for Bacta without tapping into critical reserves. Between all the Cartels, accounting for free product not already promised to other customers, we can secure forty point five megatonnes of Bacta. In exchange, we want a fifty percent stake in any bacta-enhanced rejuvenat profits, as well as securing investment in no less than three new of your 'agri-worlds' whose primary product would be the kavam and alazhi for the production of more." The chose representative of these talks said plainly.

Armand cocked his head slightly. "I may not be my father, but I am not a fool." He said frowning slightly for effect, "While we do fully understand the value of Bacta, what you are asking is quite the gross exaggeration. We accept that Thyferra may not be able to provide the volume requested, but if I wanted to be robbed I would go to Tattoine and negotiate with Jabba instead." There was a murmur of protest, "The setup costs for an agriworld are not insignificant in and of themselves. At a baseline of two million Imperial citizens shipped to form a population base, we're looking at two months use of a Universe class Mass Conveyance..."

He paused. And everyone present began to listen.

Six months, O&M, Universe Class Mass Conveyer; 15.3 million thrones.
Six months, rations and crew of same, 0.8 million thrones,
Rations for two million settlers; 26.67' million thrones,
Twelve months supply for habitation on the surface; 53.45 million thrones.
Six months, O&M, Universe class Mass Conveyer; 15.3 million thrones.
Six months, rations and crew of same, 0.8 million thrones,
Ten million tonnes prefabricated buildings; 60.2 million thrones.
Five thousand mega-harvesters; 100 billion thrones.
One thousand logging landships; 5 billion thrones.
Fifteen thousand miscellaneous vehicles; 20 billion thrones.
Sixty million tonnes fuel-grade promethium; 51.9 billion thrones.
Adeptus Mechanicus Enclave; 20 million thrones.
Erection of surface to orbit defences; 25 billion thrones.

He paused and stood, "This is just a preliminary assessment assuming a standard terracompatible world, and the baseline totals are already in the ballpark of two hundred and two point zero nine two billion credits. And you want us to produce three of these worlds, dedicated entirely to production for you despite being unable to meet our target goals AND a fifty percent stake on profits from the potential of enhanced rejuvenat?" He shook his head again. "We will consider that your upper end offer and a very fine joke."

"And if we insist?" The Dlarit man said.

"Then I would counter that such an offer would only be acceptable if the Von Hydraxius Dynasty, on schedule to become some of the largest producers of the key ingredients of Bacta, received no less than a twenty five percent share of each corporation that agrees to the deal." Armand answered.

"Are you insane!?" The man barked in surprise.

Armand cocked his head, "That is much what I thought at the initial offer presented to me. Which seems to present the House Hydraxius with all the risk, and investment capital." Armand stepped back from the table. "Unless you would agree to such a term, I would prefer to solicit a more serious negotiation."

The woman leading the Thyferrans held up her hands for silence as she conferred with her people. "Mr Hydraxius, 40.5 megatonnes of Bacta, on an average, comes to approximately eight hundred and ten billion credits, seeking only three agri-worlds is in fact a favourable outcome for you, saving you a significant chunk of the costs, so may I ask what is so..."

"Those figures are only the initial outlay of actual colonisation, and omits the construction costs involved in the machinery, the secondary and tertiary transport requirements, as well as the fact that such worlds are ongoing costs. But even so the outlay of the colonies is not where the objections are born from. But the excessive secondary concerns." Armand said plainly, "While we envision that Bacta may be a valuable method to further strengthen rejuvenat, or even make it available to more than just humanity, it is not worth losing fifty percent of the profits from."

The rep for the Zaltin Corporation stood.

"How about this, four Agri-worlds are established," Armand's face darkened but he held his peace, "These four worlds will be shared settlements, as the Vratix are essential for the Bacta refining and production stages, we invest if the Vratix are willing by also providing the Vratix settlers we need. These worlds are set up with subsidiary companies to their Thyferran investors, with House Hydraxius retaining a twenty five percent share of those subsidiaries on those worlds, we receive a fifteen percent share of enhanced rejuvenat treatments, you keep your twenty-five percent of the bacta produced by those worlds for your own use. Thyferra will also produce and supply the Bacta transports needed to ship the product." The Xucphra representative, the Dlarit man, looked ready to decry the woman and call her a traitor. "Including a non-compete clause that would prohibit House Hydraxius from trading Bacta anywhere except the Outer Rim and Mid Rim."

Armand took a seat and studied the Zaltin rep. "Your deal is far more palatable, but involves an even higher outlay of resources. Especially personnel."

"And if we provided fifty percent of the population? We may need to for the Vratix anyway, we will also have to provide the processing plants and factories for producing the Bacta." The Zaltin representative said.

Armand thought about it. Then nodded, "I will take the offer to my father."

 

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 52;
The Negotiator

Arthurius studied the datapad handed to him by the astropaths as they worked tirelessly. The message from his son contained the agreement proposed by the Thyferrans. Gwendolyn meanwhile was running the hard numbers and projections. Careful pacing of the room helped him read it without scoffing out loud. "There is no way I would consent to this. All of this for a lump sum of Bacta, and twenty five percent of what we produce on worlds they want us to colonise for them?"

The fact Gwendolyn didn't immediately answer sparked his interest. Eventually however she spoke. "Armand does say that he is working on an alternate proposal and has no intent to accept. He is surprised that they didn't include the access to rejuvenat in the package." And now she mentioned it, its omission did surprise him. That had been thought to be a primary selling point. "Why wouldn't they?" Her question was a good one.

"Because that's a bargaining chip they're unsure of." Arthurius said as he considered it, "Thyferra is a wealthy world, extremely so, and uncertain of rejuvenat's running value they are hesitant to make it part of their renumeration. They figure they can buy it more easily than be bought with it."

"So are we going to tip our hands in, or trust him to come up with something?" Gwendolyn asked.

This time it was Arthurius who did not answer quickly. "We will see what he comes up with." He declared.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Armand did not hover over the Astropath begging for a response, he had work to do and the fact was that while the deal was more favourable than the original, it was wrong. "Samuel? Your thoughts?" The Seneschal Secundus had been extremely quiet during the work so far and now he was so for a moment as he squared away his thoughts into a presentable order.

"The Thyferrans are basing their bacta values on, predictably, current value. While also trying to avoid examining that once even one of the Agri-worlds came into its full production that the price of Bacta may fall precipitously. The extremely high cost outlay of finding, colonising and developing four worlds with significant tropical zones is quite frankly a waste of resources. Thyferra lacks our continental farming techniques and already produces a 'sufficient' volume for the galaxy under most conditions, I am aware they do have some satellite colonies, however..."

Armand cocked his head with a grin, "However, one properly built Agriworld could output fifty to a hundred times that of Thyferra alone. The price of bacta could fall from an average of twenty credits per litre to less than half a credit per litre." Samuel nodded, agreeing with the boy.

"And four of them would drive the price to almost a tenth of a credit." Samuel Montcroix said pouring himself a measure of Amasec.

Armand frowned and stood, pacing his state rooms quietly, "The Zaltin representative knew this, they wanted to craft an unacceptable narrative. Either they want to avoid a trade with us, or were trying to undercut Xucphra."

"Xucphra, and the other cartels, would almost certainly see past this if that is the case. The only material advantage was putting the offer back in our hands." Samuel declared.

"Very well. Let's see how they like my counter-offer then."

"Do tell?" Samuel asked. Armand smiled, and Samuel knew that expression.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The teams of negotiators were once again assembled and everyone found themselves in the chamber waiting with bated breath to hear what the young man from Von Hydraxius had to offer. "It is our concern that, the deal offered by the honourable member of Zaltin is eminently unworkable, and based on a misunderstanding of just what is being offered, available, and practicable." There was a murmur around the table. "If you will, please explain how much of an increase in product you expect these four imaginary worlds to have?"

They stood, frowning, "I would expect that each would contribute a similar production capacity to Thyferra itself."

Armand nodded. "What is the annual production of Thyferra, not in Bacta, but in total grains and the like, including food grade production?" The question startled them and made them pause, bringing heads together to call the data from the central computers.

"Approximately two and a half gigatonnes annually." Came the answer. "Three quarters of which is for bacta production."

Armand nodded. "Then you have failed to understand the scale of what we in the Imperium call an agri-world." He said plainly. "A terracompatible world of Thyferra's size can be expected to output approximately a hundred and thirty eight point four gigatonnes of grain produce annually. If just one of those worlds put seventy five percent of its power into growing the precusor products for bacta that is still a hundred and three point eight gigatonnes of product for the production of bacta. What would happen if four times that volume of bacta entered the market..."

Lights began to come on in their minds. "The value of bacta would cease to exist... there would be so much of it flooding the market that we would earn... almost nothing. Thyferra would be bankrupt..."

"And so my counter-offer is this. One agri-world, with Thyferra providing half of the population, including the Vratix needed to product the bacta. The ownership and shares of the bacta produced by this world will be divided in half, with the half owned by House Hydraxius being limited to the Outer Rim and Mid Rim leaving the Thyferran monopoly over the remainder, and keeping the scarcity of the material high enough to retain value, if not quite as high. As originally offered, rejuvenat would be offered to the leading members of Thyferra for two hundred years at no extra cost, and any enhancement made to the rejuvenat will result in a one percent share in the cost of rejuvenat per decade of life it extends beyond original specification, up to one hundred and fifty years, or fifteen percent."

There was some anger in the chamber as each part of the deal was said out loud. But he continued, "This world will operate under Imperial Law for human inhabitants, and be expected to provide a tithe of men and women for a PDF to see to its own defence if necessary. The Vratix will be given the freedoms to operate under their own laws among their own kind, the Vratix will also be considered equal partners in this." The words seem to bite in the mans throat for a minute. "To even it up however, I would offer that the Imperium and House Hydraxius sign a mutual defence pact as such that should your vessels come under attack, or Thyferra itself, we will mobilise in its defence provided Thyferra remains a neutral party and takes no sides in the conflict."

Armand stood, turned and headed for the door. "I will give you time to think. Failing that, I believe Ryloth might be able to provide Ryll as an alternative."

 

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 53;
A New Law

The Action IV drifted, it's distress alarms screaming into the void as its gunners tried, with limited ability, to stand up and fight off the pirates that had descended upon it, with the central power of the Hutts broken far too many groups had decided unilaterally that now was the time for them to declare themselves the next generation of pirate kings. "Bendis! How long until that hyperdrive motivator is repaired?"

There was a bark of nonhuman speech as the verpine engineer barked back something at him that was not translated, and he felt it was best if it were not. He decided not to ask again as he tried to re-acquire a lock on a pirate with the concussion missile launcher. "Sithspawn! Hold still you Hutt cloaca licking frogdog."

The ship rocked as another pair of laser blasts slammed into it. He fought with the controls of the launcher. "Where are my shields!" A Sullustan said some extremely unflattering things about his parentage in response. No shields. Got it. He thought to himself as he finally got good tone allowing him to stab the trigger throwing two concussion missiles into space. "Anyone got odds on us getting help?"

"You didn't install the weapons because we were going through CorSec space." Came the answer from the actual XO of the ship, a Corellian woman. And damn it if she wasn't right.

"Well, we can't reach this 'Imperium' and buy some Lasguns without taking the risk!" He snapped back, "And don't say anything about odds, you know neither of us belie.."

"Incoming hyperspace tracks?" She said suddenly...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The swirling tunnel of hyperspace disappeared as they reverted to realspace and Flight Captain Andrius Van Dool checked over his systems as he looked nervously at the new systems. But the reaction jets flickered perfectly, the new reactor hummed somewhere in the belly of the beast and the scream of the new ion drives that had replaced the massive turbofans was blocked only mostly by his audio suppressors. He activated the communications. "This is Imperial Patrol Annihilator Squadron. Surrender and be destroyed."

There was a pause, a hesitation as the pirates attacking milled confused for a moment, aborting attack runs, allowing missiles fired from the ship to catch up to on unlucky pilot and scattering his atoms across space. Then the communique came back. "Don't you mean Surrender OR be destroyed?"

A flicked finger armed the Thunderbolts weapons. "No." The four multilasers that had replaced the autocannons came to power followed by the pair of lascannons above them. And then. All six of the Void Killer missiles under his wings.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Look at these bloody idiots! They can't even get the ultimatum right! Let's clean up before they can phon..." He stopped as he saw his scanner. The squadron that had arrived to assist the ship was almost forty strong. And while the gravity well of the moon that kept the ship trapped now kept them trapped. And his squadron of mismatched fighters taken from wherever they could be found or stolen only numbered fifteen. He turned to the navigator. "Climb! Get all the engines on this bitch burning, and inform the fighters I want a solid cover until we escape the gravity well."

"Missile launches!" The cry came up and he snarled, the enemy fighters were twenty five kilometres away! They couldn't have launched missiles. But the missiles fell through the gravity of the moon anyway towards his craft as they began climbing. He frowned as the gunners continued firing at the Action IV with the turbolasers.

"Adjust course, I don't want that bastard to get concussion locks on us." The enemy craft continued to fall on them and then the first blossoms of fire filled space, the missiles launched by their attackers did not come around if they overshot their targets, simply self-destructing to try and catch them in a storm of shrapnel. The problem from his point of view was that a large number of those missiles were wearing down the forward shield of his ship

"At least they're not proton torpedoes!" One crewman observed and he nodded before catching himself. Proton torpedoes fired from twenty five kilometres away wouldn't have been any threat to him. "Another hyperspace track." The words came quieter, almost unmentioned. "It looks like a corvette."

"Keep on course, once we are free of the gravity well initiate a four second blind jump, then change course and begin another microjump. We can all rendevous at the Pirates Booty." He ordered, and with precision his comms officer relayed the orders.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The pirate vessel was a stolen Y-wing that some edgy teenage pilot had decided to weld a pointless array of spikes and blades to, if they had been home it would not have looked out of place among a chaos cultists panopoly. Fortunately for their soul they weren't back home.

Unfortunately for them, they were in his crosshairs. And while the twin laser cannon fire struck his shields all four multilasers spun up and filled an arc ahead of him with lambent death its shields glowing, turning a cherry red then failing. A flick of his finger switched to lascannons and a stab of the trigger fired both weapons as they burned through the head and cockpit of the enemy craft before touching off its reactor sending a wave of debris ahead of the short-lived, and oxygen starved, fireball that was forced to feed off of the limited oxygen in its cockpit.

He heard a curse across the comms, there were two and a half Thunderbolts per enemy fighter. They did not stand any chance. Crashing waves of multilaser fire intersected on one craft, a N-1 starfighter that had been heavily modified, and as he had, once its shields failed its attackers switched to lascannon and burned it to ashes.

One of the pirates ejected from his craft as laser fire chewed it from aft to fore only for another Thunderbolt to gun down the pilot with multilasers. He turned back towards the Pirate corvette and smiled as he saw what was going to happen next....

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Terror filled his soul as they burned up... and the Imperial corvette burned down. The Boxy craft was shielded heavily and the turbolasers now focussing on it were having difficulty coming to bear, and the reason wasn't all that hard to understand. It was charging at them head first. The slab sided prow aimed straight at the bridge of his CR-90. "Helm, can you NOT charge that thing head on!?"

"Uhm... technically, no sir... it's adjusting course to match us."

The shields on the craft collapsed under the turbolaser fire and... the ship closed. And on getting closer, the glare that had obscured their vision was cleared as the craft obscured the sun with its body and terror filled his soul.

"COME ABOUT! COME ABOUT NO..."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Shark Assault Boat slammed into the nose of the CR-90 at enough of a closing velocity that the hydraulic rams slammed home into the craft even as its nose began to crumple under the violent connection of the boarding vessel. Atmosphere hissed out as the magna-melta cutters engaged for a moment and the assault airgate was extended.

The Flight Captain smiled at the sight. "Look at that boys, Imperial justice. Delivered straight to their faces."

 

[Kadaeux]

Chapter 54;
Stocks and Fortunes

Nute Gunray stood in his chambers studying the screens occupying the walls. For all that must be done to maintain power, few appreciated truly the economic aspects of their role, and he wondered at this peculiar weakness when the Confederacy was built on the backs of so many corporate entities. There were no shortages of dangers involved in the economics, especially during wartime.

And yet. Something had been shifting and changing the dynamics of the equations. Luxuries and military stocks were flourishing around the galaxy, it was a good time to be in either industry. Medical stocks were also a viable investment. Less valuable stocks and products were seeing their values tank as galactic transshipment of them became less desirable as the risk to move them outweighed their value in trade. He squinted more than usual. There was something strange with the economy.

His intelligence people had been working magic to get as much information as they had but...

The door opened and a younger Nemoidian entered, passing him a dataslate before backing out without saying a word, it was that which cued him into the more important nature of the communications. He frowned as he keyed on the screen and began to scroll through the data, data he had bribed an extraordinary amount of people for. And he saw why values were being affected the way they were.

House Hydraxius wasn't just buying material and technology. They were actually engaged in other markets now. Investments in MandalMotors, Seinar Fleet Systems, Kuat Drive Yards, the Corellian Engineering Corporation, Incom, the Haor Chall Engineering Corporation, Hoersch-Kessel Drive... weapons manufacturers, starship manufacturers, mining concerns, agricultural combines.

The investments did not seem too significant on the face of things, if that had been all it was it was doubtful it would have produced the effect it was having. For all their technology and power their level of influence was still somewhat trivial and he suspected if they made a concerted effort it would take little to stamp them out.

But it was influence. And in their short time in the galaxy they were already stamping their mark on the face of it. Others were noticing the investments and following suit, leading to sharper turns in stocks than should have been expected. But the pattern of investment was of more interest to him.

A casual observer might remark that they were all sensible investments in a galaxy which was engaged in a civil war. But he was not a casual observer. These investments were leveraging them into positions that would grant them access. Was he seeing the beginnings of plans for hostile takeovers? Even with their technology and rejuvenat he doubted that they had anything like the capital to make a serious attempt at that.

Or were they testing their influence? Were they too, as he was, observing how other markets reacted to their purchases and studying how many bought stocks where they had laid down capital? He shuddered. He hoped not, if that kind of action was in thier interest, they could threaten companies simply by selling all of their stock low and causing a panic with those following their lead ditching stocks and wiping off billions of credits of value at a conservative estimate. But the numbers were too low for attempts to aim at a seat on the board of directors for almost any of the corporations...

He began searching the intelligence files for anything that seemed to stand out in particular. But nothing stuck out at first look, it all appeared to be entirely above board and without anything particularly troubling or out of place. Technology firms, biomedical groups, engineering companies, survey groups...

He cursed and tossed the report onto the pile and picked up the next. One that stopped him for a moment. The prior report covered stock and publicly traded information. The buy and sell of stock on publicly traded exchanges. This report came from one of his more... covert... employees. A spy he had in the banking clans monitoring persons of interest, and the IGBC was one of the major exchanges that House Hydraxius was trading through.

There were no major moves like that they were observing with the stocks. But his spy rapidly decided to report on a series of oddities. They were investing in a number of well outfitted survey groups with excellent reputations, not buying anything as crude as stock, but buying the human run companies wholesale.

He pressed an intercom. "Saum, I want you to investigate further on Report ID; L33T-TR4D35."

"Sir? What information do you need?" Saum answered from her reception desk.

"I want to know about these survey groups, and what they are now being employed to survey. According to the report House Hydraxius has purchased over sixty small time survey groups with excellent reputations, and cancelled all standing contracts." He explained and waited for Saum's answer, she was smart. Far smarter than he gave her due credit for.

"Yes sir. I'll see what I can find out about what, and where, they're surveying now. I'm sure they have some crew who feel talkative with a few lum ales." She answered and the intercom clicked.

He leaned back, studied the first report more... and placed a few hedges on stocks the Imperial seemed to favour.