Ask Able Hands

[Crix Aran]

Crix was excited... he'd actually heard of Vandelhelm before the briefing came up and he was very excited to meet with some of the representatives of the planet and of their famous Metalsmiths Guild. As an engineer himself, with a literal degree in droid engineering, he had heard much about them by reputation and had used some of their various alloys on projects both for his studies and for the Order as well.

It was probably one of the reasons why he was kind of nervously pacing as he prepared for the meeting with the leaders of the Vandel and Helm families. They seemed to have managed to do the co-monarchs thing a lot better than most places that tried it so hats off to them for that for sure. Still, he had a folder by his side full of datapads and other sources of data.

He had... probably over-prepared for this.

He turned to his partner for the mission.

"How does my hair look? Can't go into a meeting with such giants of the metal industry with messy hair!"

Crix paused after a second before groaning and running a hand over his face.

"... I spent too long researching. Should have slept... forgot I don't even have hair..."

What could possibly go wrong?

@Wit

 

[Jon Antilles]

"We do have a few minutes," Jon replied, face deadpan in an impressive imitation of his more stoic Sephi cousins, "I'm sure we can find some place to get your horns waxed. Get a nice shine going?"

After a few moments he smiled, a twinkle in his eyes as he briefly glanced sideways at his fellow Jedi, noticing everything he carried on himself and how under-prepared he himself was by contrast. He wasn't even wearing Jedi robes, simply because he didn't own a pair. But this was who he was, and if he wanted these nobles to get in bed with him he wanted them to see the truth, and this was who he really was.

"Relax," he said as they turned down a corridor that would lead them to the meeting room, "you'll be fine." But before he could say more they were interrupted by the arrival of a woman, one almost as tall as Jon himself was.

"Ahh, perfect. The Jedi." It wasn't a question, whoever she was she was expecting them, and after she sized them up for a moment or two she nodded to herself and continued. "I'm Kiara Vandel, my father is unfortunately held up, so I will hold this meeting in his stead. Please, this way. You don't mind if we talk on the move, right?"

She didn't give them the opportunity to answer, and simply started walking. It was immediately evident to Jon that this was someone who was used to getting her way, though he did not get the impression that she was arrogant or spoilt, simply very confident in herself. So, with no other option, he gave Crix a shrug and started after her.

@Nefieslab

 

[Crix Aran]

Crix wasn't tired enough to miss the Straight Man that Jon was playing in this situation but it didn't stop him from seriously considering a horn waxing for a handful of seconds. It would make a good first impression and he couldn't... gods he couldn't remember the last time he'd had his horns waxed. Part of him wanted to say that he hadn't have them waxed since before he left Coruscant for the first time.

Damn that was years ago.

Still the second piece of advice, to relax, was one that he was in a hurry to obey. It was something he knew he could actually do - he took a slow, deep, breath before letting it out slowly. He raised an eyebrow when someone introduced themselves by way of stating who they were... before moving his gaze up.

Damn it, he wasn't short - why was everyone he dealt with these days over six foot four? He was of average height for his species, damn it!

"Of course Miss Vandel." he hurried to agree as he fell into step slightly behind her, shooting Jon a raised eyebrow before schooling his features, "Will a representative of the Helm family be joining us or do you wish to discuss our mutual interests before the third party joins the discussion?"

Jedi were all about unity and harmony... but business deals were very seldom about the same. And if there was a wedge to be driven between the two families that might benefit the Jedi Order? Worth it in his opinion. Kiara Vandel raised an eyebrow as she eyes both Jedi even as she strode onward.

"We will be meeting Danian Helm shortly. I did not expect the Jedi to be open to... side deals alongside the main one."

@Wit

 

[Jon Antilles]

"We are not always what everyone expects us to be," Jon replied to Kiara's comment, "and the Jedi are no different. You will find us to be pragmatic, a trait I have heard you are blessed with as well." Walking behind her as they were, neither Jedi could see how she reacted to the comment, but hearing no objection Jon continued. "While Vandelhelm as a whole might benefit from an alliance with the Order, there are those within the Jedi who would benefit from working directly with you. There are things we can offer which you need, first hand combat experience for instance, and the benefits and shortcomings of design choices. Information that few in the Galaxy could share with you."

Before the meeting word had reached Jon from some of Emilia's rebel contacts that the Vandels might know more than they were letting on, maybe all shipwrights hung out in similar circles, or they had simply done their homework before meeting the Jedi. But there was a chance that they already knew about the ships the Jedi were building. So he decided to drop a hint, something that would only make sense to her if she really did know.

"Information that has already born fruit for us, and could similarly benefit you."

At that comment Kiara did stop, and turned around to face the Jedi, a smile on her lips. "So the rumors are true? They are, aren't they?" Glancing to the side, he caught Crix's eye, and nodded towards her, asking him to take over. Jon had seen some of the plans, and even flown a prototype, but Crix knew the actual technical details behind the new ships, details that Kiara would expect. If they were to convince the Vandel family to deal with them they had to draw her in, and Crix could do it in a way Jon never could. How she had learned about the Jedi's growing technological enterprises he did not know, at least not yet. But now that they knew that she knew, well they could use that to their advantage.

Kiara seemed to get the hint from Jon's reaction, and turned her attention to Crix. She seemed eager, excited even. No longer was she the diplomat, this was simply one creator seeking out another. "Show me!"

@Nefieslab

 

[Crix Aran]

Oh hell yes.

A chance to tech nerd over something and have it turn out for the betterment of the mission? He was ALL over this and before Jon even gave him the look he was already pulling out one of his design datapads. The design datapads were a different model than standard ones because they were originally marketed to engineers and the like who needed access to their designs in, sometimes, unusual ways.

He keyed it up, ready to be the dramatic bitch he was always going to be.

"They are." he agreed with a grin, "Voila!"

An interactive blue and white hologram of a Malla-Class Starfighter was produced from the datapad's surface. He was almost certain he heard Kiara 'Coo' over the ship as he used his fingers to expand and pull apart the projected image of the starfighter in front of him.

"The Malla-Class Starfighter. Currently twelve and a half meters of Sith-fighting, pirate-smashing, durasteel and transparisteel style." he declared with a fond smile, "They're my babies. But they could be so much better..."

He let the last comment linger and Kiara picked it up with a twinkle in her eyes.

"By becoming twelve and a half meters of Sith-fighting, pirate-smashing, Vandel-Alloy and transparisteel style?"

Crix got a mischievous look in his own eyes.

"Why Miss Vandel I believe that is a proposal we would be very interested in."

Said Miss Vandel hummed thoughtfully with a little smile but didn't give them an answer right then and there. That was alright though, Crix would have distrusted the answer had it come immediately since she would need to check it over with the rest of the family. Kiara led them to the main meeting room - the doors opening ahead of them as a protocol droid asked if they would care for any drinks. Across a large boardroom table a clean-cut man in his early forties sat wearing a stylish grey suit.

"Danian Helm." Kiara introduced him as she took a seat beside him, "Current patriarch of the Helm family."

Danian stood from his seat and leaned over the table enough to shake both of the Jedi's hands.

"A pleasure Masters Jedi. Shall we get down to the business at hand then? Excellent." he steepled his fingers, "What can the Jedi Order offer us? Why should we help your friends and allies?"

@Wit

 

[Jon Antilles]

Jon could only watch and smile as Crix and the Vandel heir participated in what he could only describe as nerd flirting. It was cute, but more importantly, it seemed to be effective. Kiara did not openly respond to Crix's last comment, but she did seem impressed, and if Jon wasn't mistaken she also seemed interested. Maybe if this whole thing fell into place this little side deal with the Vandels might just work out as well.

But for that to happen they first had to succeed at their primary objective, to form an alliance with both families. Having greeted Danian, Jon took a seat across from the duo and prepared to speak. "Opportunity," he started, "an opportunity to be part of something bigger. To grow beyond anything you have ever imagined. Your shipwrights are famous, but your production facilities are dwarfed by the bigger shipyards. Kuat, Fondor, Corellia." He didn't say it to belittle them, they were simple facts that they were well aware off. "I know you are limited by the resources at your disposal, and you can't acquire enough to expand your operations. Not without the financial backing of an entity like the Republic."

He pulled out a holodisk from his pocket and placed it on the table, switching it on as he pulled back. The projection of a space station came to life, floating and slowly rotating between them.

"Nomad City, you must have heard of the unrest on the station. I know you have felt the effects of erratic supply from Nkllon. What we offer is an exclusive deal to all minerals mined at the station, everything you would need to scale up production."

There was more, more that they could offer. But Jon did not want to show all his cards straight away. He could not gauge much from Danian's expression, but Kiara leaned forward, intrigued.

"And how do you plan to do that?"

Jon smiled, and turned his attention to her. "Nomad City's administrator is a corrupt gambler, and his workforce is even more disillusioned with him than you are. We will help them get proof of his crimes, and to elect a new leader. One more suited to the role, one you won't have to bribe to ensure your shipments aren't withheld."

@Nefieslab

 

[Crix Aran]

There were only so many people that Crix could really nerd out with - he might have been a droid nerd (engineer) himself but that didn't mean it was the extent of his nerdiness. Despite not being someone who could fly/drive very well, Crix had been working on engines, speeders and ships alike, for years. If he was going to get to have more conversations like this with people like Miss Vandel? Might be worth considering it as the focus of his second engineering degree.

Might be able to collaborate with the Vandel family on some papers?

Kiara and Danian shared a look and Crix almost winced. It was the kind of look that most people did when they were thinking about the Jedi Order these days - they were weighing up what they offered against the potential of utter destruction. Because it was becoming something that the Order could honestly say that was becoming something of a pattern. They made allies, they helped them and then the Sith came for them and they burned.

It was disgusting that it was something that followed the Jedi around like a bad smell but that was just what the Sith were. Something that the Jedi Order had not yet had the chance to burn away first. Something that they were finally getting pushed toward actually doing.

"Our alliance with the Jedi... would it be made public?" Danian asked with a raised eyebrow, "I notice you made little fanfare on your way in here."

Crix smiled brightly and took a sip of a glass of water he poured himself.

"Would you prefer we spun our lightsabers on our way out?" he joked lightly before setting the glass down on the table, "Or... perhaps you would like to be part of the problem instead? I'm sure the Sith would be happy to give you a contract for reporting us."

The two across the table shared a confused look so he continued.

"The Sith understand things in a very black and white manner. Oh they pretend they live in shades of grey but they don't. At the end of the day, you're either with them or you're against them." he ran a fingertip around the rim of his glass, "We can make your quite a bit of credits with our deal but I'm certain that the Sith could make you more. Your names would be out there for the Galaxy to see... emblazoned on the side of the next bombing squadron that glasses a planet which refuses their terms. Perhaps on the armour that turns away the blaster bolt from some plucky rebel that results in their entire family being executed."

There was an awkward silence that Crix had specifically crafted and he let it hang there, uninterrupted as he eyed Danian and held the other man's gaze. Danian broke first.

"Vandelhelm was founded with the belief that there are credits and then there are values beyond credits." Kiara announced quietly but firmly, "You would use our products to effect change on a local level like with Nomad city? Is that it? The extent of your ambitions?"

@Wit

 

[Jon Antilles]

Jon wanted to smile on seeing how Crix had shut up the two heirs with his words, and Kiara's response showed that he had struck deep, and struck well. It was also good to see that there was still some decency left in the Galaxy, or at the very least the self awareness to show some shame.

"Small changes add up," he replied to Kiara's question, "and over time they bring about big changes. But no, that is not the extent of our ambitions. There are goals we can only achieve with your help, goals that would align with your values. The Galaxy is suffering, be it because of the AMS virus, or Sith atrocities. We want to help, provide medical aid, help relocate refugees. But we need ships, ships that are beyond out own capability to build. And it will be your ships that will be the face of that humanitarian effort. Our ambitions," finished off with a glance at Danian, before retuning his gaze to Kiara, "would be limited by how far you're willing to walk with us."

Kiara seemed satisfied by that answer, quietly contemplating the response, and Jon started to hope. He wanted to believe that these were decent people in the Galaxy, and they would be willing to work with them to help others. But the thought was cut short when Danian spoke up.

"And what happens when another Jedi pulls a stunt like on Kashyyyk? Tying children to a ship? Will you have our ships be the face of such a disastor?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Crix Aran]

Thankfully it seemed that Jon was more than capable of picking up where he left off - it really leant into the idea that the Jedi were smoothly in sync. In this case? Crix liked to think it was true. Between the two of them, they seemed to know how to pivot around each of the objections of the two heirs.

Ultimately it seemed that his own conversation with Kiara before the meeting proper had gotten her at least partially on side and Jon's own argument seemed to have done the trick of winning her over the rest of the way. Danian seemed to be the more cynical of the two heirs and that was perfectly fine.

Crix had shown his earnest desires and passions to Kiara and Jon had shown he was level-headed and got the ambitions of the Jedi Order across wonderfully.

So it was time for Crix to out-cynic the most critical of the heirs.

"Mr Helm, I could tell you that it is unlikely to ever happen again. That the Jedi responsible have been stripped of the Force and sent off to the FWA to be tried. I could tell you all that but I honestly don't think you care."

There was another silence.

"Then what can you tell me that will sway me?"

Crix grinned - all teeth.

"One question... that's it. If you can answer it, honestly, then I will concede the point."

Danian seemed more intrigued that he had been for the entire rest of the conversation, crossing his arms.

"I'll take that bet. Ask your question."

Got em.

"Simple really... can you name the manufacturer of the ship used by the two Jedi?"

Another long beat of silence as both Helm and Vandal heirs tried to wrack their brains to see if they could actually recall what model of ship the Jedi had used during that misadventure. Eventually, Danian was forced to shake his head and Crix picked up his point again.

"Tykannin Driveyards. No one holds a grudge against Kuat Drive Yards for the Victory-Class Star Destroyer. Or Sienar Fleet Systems for their interdictor star destroyers - and they were immediately recognisable. No one holds blastech responsible for the deaths their blasters cause do they?" he raised an eyebrow ridge, "You would know we were using them. But your sales aren't going to be affected if another pair of Jedi lose their minds, anymore than if a Sith glasses a planet with them. We offer you a good credit deal, new lines on supplies, same again on labour and all we ask for in return is a discount on your wares."

The discount on the table was... significant of course, at approximately 45% mark down price. But with the Jedi bringing in new labour and supplies to help make those ships and more? They'd make the difference back easily enough. Kiara and Danian excused themselves from the room to discuss things in private and Crix leaned back in his seat slightly and turned to Jon with a grin.

"I think I get why some people like working in marketing."

@Wit

 

[Jon Antilles]

This time he did smile, it was fun to see these princelings getting tongue-tied. "I think you just have a knack for this sort of thing," he replied with a chuckle, "keep this from Alex or you'll probably end up having to run the Order's PR. Which, could do with some help."

Before he could say more the two heirs returned, and took their place across the table, though neither took a seat. Mix that with Danian's stoic expression, and Jon would have started worrying, but Kiara was straight up smiling. "Despite what you might think of us, we are not quite as credit hungry as everyone thinks. But though the two of us might agree that working with the Jedi is the right choice, we do have others we have to answer to. You convinced us Master Jedi," he addressed Crix as he continued, and Kiara, still smiling, actually gave him a quick wink, "and if you can secure operations on Nomad City then you would make it easier for us to silence anyone who would question this decision. I hope you will not make us regret this decision."

Danian gave the Jedi a short bow, and left, leaving them with the Vandel heir. "Come," Kiara gestured towards the entrance the Jedi had first walked in through, "let us formalize the terms of this new alliance." At the door a legal droid was already waiting, ready to draft up the paper work. While the hard part was over, the tedious bit was about to begin. "And we can also conclude our earlier discussion. I would love to see one of these ships, maybe fly one if possible."

"Yeah, I'm sure that can be arranged." Jon replied with a glance towards Crix. "Right?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Crix Aran]

He shivered.

"Don't even joke about that within twelve parsecs of Alex." he told Jon in both jest and all seriousness, "If I end up doing holonet addresses and charity can food drives I'll know you squealed and I'll... I don't know, prank you or something..."

Yeah trouble with being a decent person (and a Jedi) was that most threats kind of lost all meaning and those that didn't very much lost their heat straight away. Instead he threw it a laughable 'punishment' and called it a day - he really hoped he didn't end up doing press releases though for sure.

The actually acceptance from Danian was actually still somewhat surprising.

Sure, Crix liked to think that he had made a compelling case but it always came as a surprise to him that he was actually, by evidence alone, something of a decent diplomat. He'd always thought a diplomat had to be someone who was good at un-ruffling feathers... Crix's own style of diplomacy was to ruffle the right feathers.

... that was a weird metaphor he was definitely not sharing with anyone. He was going to need to think of a new teachable metaphor for his cute little Padawan.

"I'll see to Nomad City personally." he assured the two heirs with a small smile, "I make good on my promises."

It was half flirt and half promise - just how he liked to relax! The tension was easing out of him as the rug was most definitely not being pulled out from under him at this late stage. He smiled a little bit before grinning when Danian left, leaving Jon, Kiara and Crix himself alone in the room. Crix held out his arm for Kiara to take as he flashed her his best half-smile-half-smirk.

"By all means - allow me to show you the ship I travelled in. Maybe even a test flight?" he looked past her to give Jon a sly wink, "Jon can make his own way home I'm sure."

/End Thread

@Wit