Contact with Bakura

[Camellia Swift]

The Rendili Admiral sighed as the Hammerhead Frigate, Guardian, exited hyperspace and a planet loomed in the distance. That planet being Bakura. This was not exactly a mission she was sure she was ready for. As it was less dealing with problems as it was trying to convince someone else there was one. . . .and that their response should be to do business with Rendili to prevent such issues from rearing their heads in the future. Camellia did not look forward to playing the role of business representative to persuade the Bakuran officials to increase the size of their defense fleets by purchasing from Rendili's shipyards. Even if the ships they purchased wound up being cargo freighters, profit was profit. The shipyards merely wanted more business of any sort. Though personally Camellia wished they would aim to buy warships. They would go a small way to bringing Rendili designs back on the map.

"Open up communications to the official we spoke with before. Let him know Rendili's representatives have arrived. We'll need the coordinates they'll want our 'shuttle' to land at."

 

[Kenico]

Reggie wasn't much for Uniforms, but for formalities sake, He arrived on the bridge wearing one. He had been in the company of the Hutts to know that to kiss butt you had to put your best foot forward...and Reggie pulled out all the stops. Reggie sported a clean shaven face, well cleaned nails, shined teeth, and his long Blonde hair was tied back into a ponytail, which he place a Cap over. He brushed his Raider's uniform to ensure it was in good order and stood up straight, taking a deep breath as he waited by the Turbo lift. He decided to keep quiet till addressed...

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

It had been too long since Warren Cidiv had tasted such serenity. His son had survived the plague of Bakura, and despite the fact the the Hutt Cartel and the Jedi had been unable to reach an agreement on the supply of Bacta to the disease ridden planet, the sickness was now properly quarantined and would certainly disappear within the next few months. It was tragic, how many lives had been lost. Many children had lost a parent too soon, many parents had lost children even sooner. But now was the time for those who remained to put their families back together. It was true that Bakura sat in a state of temporal weakness but those who survived would soon have their full strength.

True to their word, the hands of the Jedi had been soothing, even if their numbers had been overwhelmed by the magnitude of the sickness. But their attempt had only solidified the admiration he carried for them since the day of the Galactic Alliance, an admiration that had begun to foster in the hearts and minds of some Bakurans, mostly the poor as far as he could tell. But ultimately he knew that the Jedi would not always be able to help, and given the aggression that the Imperium has displayed in these last couple of weeks, Bakura would need to be ready without them. To that end, Warren Cidiv had been made the new Chairman of Bakura's military sector. He had not asked for such a position, but he had lived a long life full of hostility and military protocol, this combined with his amiability made him one of the men Bakura counted on most in these times, despite his controversial empathy for the Jedi.

It was hard to pass up the ability to live in peace and on his own, as he had when first contacted by the Jedi Knight Ze'kyre Bladedancer, but his people needed him. All he wanted to do was go back to spending his time with his wonderful wife, and his beautiful little boy, Konnur. But now would not be the time for that.

"Chairman, the Rendili representatives have just entered the atmosphere. As you requested, they should be touching down any moment now."

"Thank you, Jacen." Warren's voice, although aging, was still strong and authoritative. "I shall greet them myself."

And with that, he stood from the table and travelled deliberately down a short hall outside of the conference room. When he appeared on the landing pad, he was reminded just how many stories high he was. But he did not allow the revelation to get the best of him, standing firm as his simple, grey robe billowed about his legs in the wind. He looked up into the dusk sky, and with the aid of a scope made out the foreign ship. He had never seen a Rendili frigate, long ago was their hay-day. But their hammer-headed design had always been somewhat legendary in the Naval community, perhaps for good reason.

 

[Camellia Swift]

When the coordinates for where they were to land did arrive, Camellia nodded thanks to the communications officer before standing up. "Right, relay to them we will be along shortly then. Place the Guardian in a stable position, we won't be landing her planetside. Getting into atmosphere was just to make a bit of a show, hopefully it impressed them a little. I'll be taking the gunship down to their landing pad then." Turning to head toward the bridge's exit to the turbolifts, the Rendili woman looked at Reggie as she approached it. "You'll be coming along as well I believe right? Let's get going."

Moving on with him in tow, the Radier Admiral quickly departed to the hanger until they reached the BT-7A in the hanger bay. Where upon she entered it and sat herself behind the pilot in one of the passenger seats. "You can bring us down today Reggie."

 

[Kenico]

"I will be today, Admiral." Reggie said in a professional, with a hint of sarcasm, tone. Though he was a fun loving guy, his experience with the Cartel and Owen taught him that joking around constantly was an invitation for death. He followed Admiral Swift to the Gunship and boarded her controls. He took his cap off and cracked his neck several times before the ship was fully online.

"Hang on back there..."

Reggie grabbed the controls and within moments, the Thunderclap was airborne. The gunship screamed out of the Guardian without incident and made its way down to the surface. The fact they were already in atmosphere helped with the decent. Reggie was looking at the controls astounded.

"Damn Admiral! This baby is sma-OOTH when it comes to handleing! She's a hell of a lot more fun to pilot than my old Manta!"

 

[Camellia Swift]

Camellia wasn't sure if she should smile or frown as the Thunderclap class Gunship sped out of the hanger bay with no hesitation to thought of concern. She admired the new Raider's enthusiasm and confidence in his piloting skills, but nonetheless it was rather reckless and standoffish. She hoped it wouldn't give the Bakuran official a bad impression if he was watching and thought their take off speed was odd. Still, perhaps she shouldn't be concerned. After all exiting a hanger quickly could be important in battle, but then again one could say taking a cautious approach would also be preferred, so she would leave judging his actions aside for now.

The Admiral merely decided to be pleased with the new recruits excitement for their mission and admiration for Rendili tech. Though she would remain quiet as she took the final stretch till they landed to relax. When they did touch down though Cam was quick to stand up from her chair and head toward the ramp as it was lowered. Where upon she turned to face the individual who had been standing atop it most likely awaiting their arrival. "Greetings. It's a pleasure to be visiting your world of Bakura at this time. You seem to be experiencing lovely weather."

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

As Chairman Cidiv peered through his lens up at the large ship, he saw the shuttle race from the hangar and dive down towards him. "Going quite fast, aren't they?" He asked rhetorically of the men behind him. He did not doubt the skill of the Rendili pilot, but he still thought it fortunate that the air traffic was light. He handed the scope off to the guard behind his right shoulder, and waited for the shuttle to touch down. When it did, the Admiral he had been awaiting was prompt in departing down the ramp.

Her youth was quite surprising for one of her title, but he hid his surprise well. But she seemed quite pleasant, and so he could not help but smile as he stepped forward to greet the young woman. "To you as well Admiral Swift, welcome to the city of Salis D'aar. We Bakurans could certainly use the sunshine right now," he mused with a somber smile. But he soon put the thought behind him, and extended his hand towards Camellia in the friendly premise of a shake.. "My name is Warren Cidiv. It is nice to finally meet you."

The chairman's gaze than shifted from the admiral to her companion, and he held out his hand once more. "And you must be the daring pilot of this shuttle here." He said with an amiable, pearly grin. "Remind me never to dogfight against you."

"So, Admiral." Warren turned and began to lead them back into the building. "You have come all this way to personally show us your catalog. I assume this is not all we have to discuss, is it?"

 

[Camellia Swift]

"It is nice to meet you as well Chairman Cidiv. Honestly though everyone could always do with a little extra sunshine. It doesn't happen often enough these days." The Bakuran was certainly a pleasant individual. Although his expressions and tone when commenting on the sunshine was rather depressing, not that she could blame him. There was plenty of turmoil in the galaxy at the moment, and from what she had read up on before departing for Bakura it seemed like the people here were no strangers to some of it. Still, after shaking the man's hand the young Admiral was relieved to know that perhaps Reggie's stunt with the ship hadn't come off on the wrong foot.

Thus it was she followed after the Chairman into the structure. "Not at all you are correct. However, the other matter is entirely contingent upon whether or not Bakura may wish to do business with Rendili. So the sooner we are able to discuss that business it isn't necessary to bring up what ifs."

 

[Kenico]

Reggie gave a proper smile and shook the gentlemen's hand, "I trust that day never comes sir." Reggie took his hands back after properly shaking his host and then stood at attention, ready to follow Swift and the other gentlemen.

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Warren listened carefully as the admiral spoke, careful to soak in any spare details as to the Rendili agenda that she might let slip in passing. "Fair enough," he replied with a nod as the three of them, followed by Cidiv's security detail, entered the room he had been inhabiting originally. Walking around to the far side of the desk, he gestured to the two seats he had prepared for his guests. "Please, take a seat with me."

The chairman waited for his guests to sit across from him before continuing their conversation. "Rendili Stardrives was one of the founding shipyards, long ago. If my old history instructors had their accounts right, the subsidaries owned by your age-old predecessors amassed to quite a fair sum. Perhaps I am a bit out of touch but I must say... I am curious as to where they have been for the past, near a thousand years."

 

[Camellia Swift]

Camellia followed the Chairman in silence after that point until she accepted his offer to sit down when they finally arrived at the room the Bakuran had had prepared. Once the conversation picked up again the Rendili woman couldn't help but smile pleasantly a little at what the Chairman brought up as the first topic. He was certainly well informed. She wasn't sure if she should feel proud or insulted if there was a hidden meaning behind what he was saying. "Stagnating really dear chairman. When once Rendili supplied a majority of the galactic government's needs now it rarely sees service outside filling out orders for independent systems and individuals on a smaller scale. The shipyards are still in business and profiting, but not at center stage. Not that we have been in a while. We still have excellent facilities though, larger than Bakura's own I believe. Though we have had a time advantage. Which is one of the reasons I believe we should do business. Rendili can still meet demands much faster than your own planet's facilities. I believe a business venture to produce more ships for your world's use would benefit us both."

 

[Kenico]

Reggie was offered a chair but he respectfully declined, standing near the door with a professional look on his face as he stood at parade rest...

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

"True enough," Cidiv replied as his fingers met before him in a patient and observant manner. "If you have the same facilities as of old, I have no doubt what you say is correct. But I am still quite curious, what is it that you guys have to gain from us? Why not somewhere else?" He raised an eyebrow inquisitively as his eyes remained on the Admiral. Perhaps it was true that he had heard more than he let on, but he wanted to see exactly how forthcoming this visitor of his would really be.

 

[Camellia Swift]

The soft smile still sat on the Rendili woman's face as she took in what the Chairman was saying next. He really was a dubious one wasn't he? Well, as the head of a planetary government that was a good quality she supposed. Plus regarding this specific matter there wasn't an absolute need to hide anything, so indulging in his curiosity wouldn't hurt. "Because business within the empire is stale. For much the reasons I mentioned, the Imperium itself does not deal with Rendili as much as it does say Kuat or Ord Mantell. And what planets would waste credits when an Imperial battlegroup is 'protecting' them. Although after what happened in the Mandalorian Sector, specifically Taris if rumors are true, then maybe that might change. Still, for now there's little reason. For you out here on your own though, why surely you have more of a need unless you soon intend to place yourself under the Imperium or another group." She wondered if maybe she was too blunt though. Still, there was little worry here about being overheard by the wrong crowd.

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

"The Imperium has been rather aggressive, but we are out of the way, far from their space." Chairman Cidiv was not foolish enough to think that the Sith were not a threat, but he certainly was not going to make this easy for the young admiral before him, not without finding out everything he felt the need to know.

"Even if they do decide to direct their attention towards us, do you really think your products offer enough fire-power to hamper an Imperial fleet?" He did not mean to be overly skeptical, but it was a fair question. Cidiv activated a button on his desk, turning on the holo-receptors that lit up a part of the desk a bright blue. If the Admiral had a datapad on her, she could lay it upon the desk and begin to show him what exactly was on the Rendili catalogue. "Well then let us see what you have to offer, shall we?"

 

[Camellia Swift]

The Chairman was too bright for his own good. Well for Rendili's good it seemed at least. He probably also knew that a defense fleet would mean nothing to the whole Imperial Navy if they ever really set their eyes on Bakura. However, it was only the young Admiral's goal to convince the Chairman that appearing too troublesome to attack was a better interest. At the very least to provide better bargaining chips for him if the Imperium ever did make an appraoch on his homeworld. "Of course for the moment you are safe. . . " Bringing up the datapad she had brought along, Camellia plugged it into the holoreceptors while she spoke. "However, Imperium borders are always expanding. Yag'Dhul for example, is much closer to Imperial space than what it once was. Although the Imperium is not your only potential concern, nor would I say a likely one considering what can be 'heard' nowadays. Pirates and brigands are afoot in independent space and are a much more immediate concern. Bakura has several valuable exports and is quite far out as you so said yourself. It might be an appealing target for such unsavory types."

And with that she flicked the display on to allow ships to appear and cycle through Rendili designs:
The Katarn Class Boarding Shuttle
Conductor Class Landing Craft
The Aurek Tactical Starfighter
The Liberator Class Starfighter
The PT-7 Bomber
The BT-7 Thunderclap
The Praetorian Class Corvette
The Foray Class Gunshp
The Hammerhead Class Cruiser
The Dreadnought Class Heavy Cruiser
The Victory Class Star Destroyer
The Valor Class Carrier
The Invincible Class Destroyer
The Inexpugnable Command Ship

"See anything you like?"

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Admiral Swift made sense, although Bakura was typically fortified enough to fend off petty pirates and other low-lifes, this most recent strain of the Bakuran Fever had left them in a crippled state for far too long. Who was to say when some ring-leader would amass a sizeable fleet and attack an isolated part of the planet? Bakura's defense fleet was comprised of primarily Corvettes and Gunships. Although effective they would not serve to hold off the Imperium for long. Perhaps having one of those Inexpugnable command ships floating about the planet would prove more than effective at warding off pirates, but it would take more than that to hold off the Imperium should they encroach too closely to the system.

He remained silent as he thumbed through the holograms. Another moment as he transferred the catalogue to his own network for personal review, granted the Admiral's data-pad would allow such a procedure. "The rates are quite high." Of course money was not the issue, Bakura was resource-rich and at a time like this it was not the hardest to increase military spending. "But with some creative banking I do believe I can pass many of these designs through review. I've studied many of these models as a young one. They are old, but well known for their effectiveness. I trust that your facilities, materials, and products do not reflect such longevity in a rustic fashion..." He smiled lightly as the hologram disappeared from above the desk, leaving nothing but empty space and an oaken desk between the young admiral and the aging chairman.

"Of course, that will take more than a day or two. You know how bureaucrats can be." Warren had no doubt he could have this spending approved. Surely the other chairs would see the necessity after he explained it to them. "Now perhaps, that leads us to the other matter."

 

[Camellia Swift]

"Of course." The young Rendili woman couldn't help but wonder if perhaps she should have asked her grandfather to accompany her here. Perhaps he might have been able to hit it off with the way the Chairman apparently seemed to operate. Although then again, her grandfather merely had that talent to endear himself to everyone as laid back and talented as he was. That aside though, things were going well for her, and thus Rendili, in this discussion it seemed. However, she was really not a fan of this roundabout business and posturing. She was much happier to have the business side of things over with. "The other matter was merely wishing to place a request for permission to keep a small surveillance post on world for the Raiders. We're always looking to deal with pirate and slaver threats, especially with trade partners. Of course we wouldn't wish to infringe on your planet's hospitality if you did not so desire our presence."

 

[Kenico]

Reggie kept eyeing the room as the two spoke in Diplomatic lingo. He was making sure something wasn't a foot. Thought apparently it wasn't going to happen, Reggie was always on the lookout for something wrong. And besides...if anything happened to Admiral Swift His friend Admiral Leliana would have his head on a blue plate with bits and butter...

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

"Ah yes. The Rendili Raiders you're called." The name had escaped him, although something within his paradigm kept him cautious as to the monicker they had given themselves. The term raider to him seemed no more savoury than brigand or even pirate. However even the Jedi were seen as terrorists to some in these times. Who was to know if words were more or less than what they seemed.

Still, he did not let his guard down as a smile touched his lips. Admiral Swift seemed to be very forthcoming, the man behind her respectful and polite as well, but things were not usually as they seemed with galactic visitors. And with the world on his shoulders he could not afford to rush on with reckless abandon.

"First, Admiral, if I may..." He held up a hand, courteously putting their conversation on pause as he looked over her shoulder to the other raider. With a polite smile, he addressed Reggie.

"I'm sorry young man, I did not get your name." He paused, allowing his guest the chance to answer before inquiring further.

"Tell me, son, what does that uniform mean to you?" Warren had only in weeks recently past heard of any exploits of these Raiders, and he could not afford to be intuitive as to their motivations. Too often in the past had he been politicked, he wanted to know what the lower pay-grades thought.