Ask Onderon Businessing the Unbusinessable

[Larson Kao]

Businessing the Unbusinessable​

Onderon was not a planet Larson had ever expected to visit. It just wasn't really his sort of place. To old. However, business called, and so he had hopped on the first shuttle over to the distant world, heading down from the Corporate Sector the day after his meeting with another business associate. This time, however, he was not expecting to meet with a Sith powerbroker, but rather someone far less trustworthy - a Senator.

Stepping out of the transport, a briefcase in one hand, he checked the time on his Chrono on the other hand. "You know this guy is always in the papers?" his assistant chimed in over the comlink. Larson laughed as he walked across the large arrivals bay "Yeah - seems like my kinda guy." he replied.

"Impulsive and without shame?"

"Your words not mine buddy. Call you back." he ended the call, walking toward a waiting cab, which he quickly ducked into. "116 Prisa Way." he instructed the pilot droid, who replied with a simple 'boop'. On the way over, he ran back through his pitch, interrupted about twenty minutes later by the cab touching down, and the droid demanding payment.

Paying, he stepped out of the shuttle and walked toward a figure waiting for him at the entrance - either the Senator, or one of his staff.

 

[Cassian Graves]

Larson Kao, a rising star in the world of business and co-owner of Kao, Udin, & Stargazer Commercial Combine, a conglomerate based in the Corporate Sector. A registered trademark worthy of Senator Aezzairfhowrrhuhrrl in length and complexity, and certainly a mouthful. Cassian would opt for its simpler abbreviation, KUSCC, just to make sure he didn't make a fool of himself. The company had spread its net wide, specializing in automation, munitions, and agri-tech, but until recently had remained a fixture of the Corporate Sector, where businesses could blossom and commercial laws were largely non-existent. Now KUSCC was looking to expand their clientele and make a credit or two off of Onderon in the process.

Their spirit of nonpartisan entrepreneurialism was refreshing, actually, especially these days. Large corporations and entire bodies of government turned a blind eye to the Free Worlds Alliance, understandably afraid to become embroiled or associated with the war that raged on between the Sith Empire and the FWA. Chiefly a one-sided war, and one that the FWA had never asked for or wanted, but every planet still had to deal with the consequences and the fallout. The FWA was currently the weak link in the galaxy, doomed to crumble beneath the weight of the looming dreadnoughts and vast armies of their enemies.

"What can you tell me about this guy?" Cassian asked Kiacro, his personal assistant and right-hand man. The Bivall was comfortably situated in an air conditioned office eight or nine floors up, while Cassian lingered just inside the entrance to the government building. Minutes earlier, the Zeltron had returned from a meeting with King Hakan. It was no real sacrifice to await Larson Kao's arrival on the first floor and would only further his appeal as a gracious host.

"Ex-military. He was a pilot with Vardos' 19th Ace Squadran. Apparently, he was a real whizz. Since being grounded, he's built his father's old business up and routinely hires veterans looking for work." In other words, a real bleeding heart in the eyes of the public. Perhaps he was just the sort of man the FWA needed right now.

A taxi raced to a stop outside of the government building, and a moment later the Zeltron had thrown open the door and offered the businessman his hand. "Welcome to Onderon, Mr. Kao. I hope you had safe travels," he said with his best winsome smile. Once they had passed through security, Cassian would escort the man up to his office. @Nor'baal

 

[Larson Kao]

"Thank you Sena -" he caught himself "Consul." Larson hoped the man had not noticed, as he shook his hand and walked with him to the office. Every few feet another person snapped to attention and saluted the Consul as they walked past, Larson was secretly delighted to no longer have to be doing that anymore.

After a few moments, they arrived at the office.

"Onderon has quite the reputation in the Corporate Sector." he commented, as they walked inside "How you have managed to steer this world through the break-up of the Alliance, and so much more, and still ensure the growth of your economy is the talk of most of the Sector."

He lied.

Nobody cared about Onderon on Etti IV, but Larson wasn't above lying for the sake of deal.

"So tell me, how can we do business together?"

 

[Cassian Graves]

"Does it really?" Cassian asked, lips pressed into a fine line. He found that hard to believe. Onderon and the rest of the Free Worlds Alliance were certainly a topic for conversation, but not for any of the reasons Larson Kao mentioned.

The sudden and unexplainable departure of Korre Belasi, half the plants seceding from the alliance in the months that followed, the fall of New Alderaan—those were the topics of conversation. Not the alliance's occasional, diminutive successes. It was almost enough for Cassian to consider an early retirement. Almost. "I'm flattered."

Not true. A rising businessman and a politician, neither gentleman were accustomed to speaking with veracity. When they did, it was among friends. Something Cassian didn't have many of. The office doors closed behind them. "I must confess, I hadn't heard of you until a few days ago when your assistant contacted my office."

A hard smile settled on his features, the Zeltron crossing the room to the wet bar situated at one end. "No disrespect of course," he added with practiced sincerity. "Your business model is impressive. You must be proud of everything you've accomplished. Not to mention your military record. Would you like a drink?"

Regardless of Larson's answer, the Zeltron would begin fixing a drink. "You tell me, Mr. Kao," he replied, blue eyes fixed on the bottle in his hands. Larso Kao had instigated this meeting, and Cassian intended to hear him out. "What does KUSCC have to offer Onderon?" @Nor'baal

 

[Larson Kao]

Straight to business, just how Larson liked it. "There is a range of services we can provide, spread across three areas of operation at this time - defence materials, agriculture and automated logistics." he began, placing a range of holoprojectors on the table between them, as he politely shook his head at the offer of a drink.

"We have a small range of bespoke firearms that we can provide, but I feel that our main area of interest might be more relevant to you. Specifically automated logistics." he gestured to the first of the projectors, which showed a small rotating image of a droid "We can provide a range of astromech droids, binary load lifters, and even security units, on a lease, to cover major facilities - such as prisons and more. However, the main area of interest is supporting import and export work, where we base these droids and their command and control units, on an orbital station, to oversee import and export to this world."

He gestured to the next holoprojector "We also have more commercially focused services as well, specifically agriculture. We can bring together a range of droids and facilities to make fully automated farming units. This comes at no cost to you, as they are instead going to be used to produce food for commercial use."