Ask Courting Loyalty

[Max Dram]

"Two minutes to port"

Max cracked his knuckles anxiously as the shuttle banked over the lights of the city. This was not his scene.

If they were landing to storm the palace that would be one thing. He had taken bigger fortresses for the Empire in his short time. But the only thing they hoped to take this evening was a small step, a shuffle towards dialogue and discussion. Drinks as he understood it, perhaps even a dinner. It almost made him gag.

"Can we just land already, I really-" Commander Barron's voice trailed off. The old man looked ready to gag for real. He leaned against the shuttle bulkhead, leather gloved fingers gripping the handholds. The old crusty had not been well for a week or more now and the journey to Naboo had not improved his condition.

"We need to show strength, Sir" Max said through gritted teeth, leaning down to speak in his superior's ear. The Commander was a small, wizened man. A poor advert for an Empire that ruled billions.

"I'm well aware, Lieutenant" Barron coughed in reply, but he staggered all the same. "I don't need you to, don't need-" he stopped suddenly, his legs seeming to go from under him as he fell to the floor.

"Medic" Max called, barely loudly enough for the men behind to hear. A trooper rushed forward a few moments later, busying himself over the fainting Commander.

"The Commander's fever is much worse, Sir. He's not well at all..."

"He needs to rest" Max answered with finality, even as he felt the shuttle touch down on the ground. "Leave him aboard, with a guard. We move out".

"But Sir, who will treat with the Queen?"

Max was already stepping out the hatch, black trenchcoat flying wide and his medalled chest glinting in the evening light.

@Nor'baal

 

[Sandé A Veruna]

"You still haven't found out why the Sith Empire wanted to meet?" the Queen enquired as her diplomatic advisor looked sheepishly at his datapad as if busying himself to try and find an answer. She had asked for the meeting records to be suppressed, unsure about the nature of the Sith visit, and had therefore come to the hanger in the Royal Palace reasonably 'low-key'.

"They didn't make it overly clear, you Hig -" she sighed, cutting the diplomat off. Watching as the Imperial vessel landed, the Queen was flanked by her two handmaidens, both discreetly armed with traditional firearms, and a detachment of ten of the Naboo Royal Guard from her close protection team. They could, at least, be relied upon for discretion, if nothing else.

She wore a light-grey dress; her hair swept back in the traditional (and somewhat uncomfortable) monarchial style. Watching as a man in a long trench coat left the ship, she introduced herself with a polite smile "Welcome to Naboo. Queen Réillata," she nodded slightly "I must admit, we had not been expecting Imperial visitors?" she asked, desperately attempting to probe a little to understand the nature of this visit.

 

[Max Dram]

Max strode confidently down the boarding ramp, his peripherals taking in their surroundings. His mind worked quickly, turning over the few details from the mission briefing. Commander Barron had kept any negotiating strategy he might have had to himself, but it didn't matter. Max was an improvement on the Commander in every way. He would not fail.

The welcoming party stood waiting to greet them, ten Royal Guards to match the ten troopers fanning out behind Max. They were Barron's men, not his own, but they would do. A few glorified footmen and two handmaidens were hardly-"

Then he saw the Queen. She was quite something, more than he had expected actually, with a pretty face and bright swept hair. She stood statuesque in a light-grey dress, like an elegant winter bird perched regally among the sparrows. He smiled at her in spite of himself, hazel eyes trying to see beneath a beauty that gave little away.

"Thank you, your Highness" he replied, broad shoulders bending in a half bow "a pleasant surprise for you I hope". He flashed her another smile, already wondering if there might be more than one way of winning this woman's favour. "Lieutenant Maximus Dram. My Commander and I came to speak with you, if you will. The Empire prefers to keep in touch with all worlds and noble people like the Naboo most of all".

Max spared a glance around the hangar, running a finger down the cording of his dress uniform. "Commander Barron has sadly taken ill, you Highness. Is there somewhere where you and I might talk instead?"

@Nor'baal

 

[Sandé A Veruna]

She was pretty unsure of what to make of this 'DIplomat'. As he made his introductions, she was caught by the admission of his commanding officer, the person she was meant to meet, having been 'taken ill'. She neither knew nor cared whether this was some odd manner of 'Sith-speak', a coding phrase to hide what he was doing. Instead, she replied "I'm sorry to hear that, Lieutenant. We have extensive medical facilities here on Naboo, which I shall make available, should you need them?" she invited, giving a short pause for him to reply before she moved the introductions along.

Keeping her decorum, the regnal persona of 'Queen Réillata' superseded Sandés' interest in the opposite sex as she focused on the job at hand. Keeping her expressions neutral, as was expected of the Monarch, she merely continued the introductions saying "We are not used to Imperial visitors, Lieutenant. Such interactions are normally carried out at the Consortium level."

It was the closest to a diplomatic rebuke she could get without directly lodging one.

This interaction with the Sith, beneath the Consortium's nose, has the risk of being highly improper if its reasons were equally as untoward. Of this, the Queen had been made acutely aware by her diplomatic staff. She gestured for the man to follow her as they left the hanger to somewhere more discrete. A side room, where intergalactic guests could be received privately, would suit.

She walked inside, her guards waiting outside and her handmaidens entering with her. Once inside, she dismissed the handmaidens, with a slight nod, to the door at the room's rear. Turning to the diplomat, she asked directly "Why are you here?"

 

[Max Dram]

"Of course" Max replied, glancing back towards their shuttle "We would be most grateful for any help you can offer the Commander. My men can take your medics to him". He motioned for most of his unit to stay put, with just two troopers flanking him as he fell into step beside the Queen. He hoped her people wouldn't rush to Barron's bedside. It would suit Max just fine if the meek old man succumbed to his frailties.

Réillata moved off, her pretty face as impenetrable as a glacier and her words dry. Such interactions are normally carried out at the Consortium level. It was true of course, but it was the answer of a functionary, not a Queen. Max wondered if she felt a Queen at all, being so quick to put aside her own ancient rights.

"These are not normal times, your Highness. Business as usual is leading the galaxy nowhere".

He could tell she did not like that he was here or the manner of his arrival, but there could be different reasons for that. Not all meant his visit would be fruitless. He left his two men outside as he followed the Queen into the side room. It was a spur of the moment decision, but he had the sense a show of force would only be counterproductive. Stepping inside, he was almost surprised when she rounded on him, her question direct.

"To talk" he replied, giving her his full attention "about a fractured galaxy, with a Queen who cares about her people. Half a dozen powers compete for control of the stars. Naboo has chosen the Consortium, believing it best. But it is mistake. Ultimately, in the end, one power must unite galactic north and south, one thread must bind all people to a common cause. There will be no peace and prosperity without it. It is, it must be, the Empire".

Max paused, catching sight of the lights of the city outside the window. "They need its protection" gesturing to the roofs and spires of the skyline. "The protection of a power that stands above planetary self-interest. The Consortium will collapse before that weakness in time, your Highness. They all do".

"So we were sent to talk, your Highness, that's all for now". He folded his arms, looking down at her expectedly "talk about what it might take for Naboo to rethink its future. Calmly, quietly..." he glanced around the room "...and in glorified storerooms if we must".

@Nor'baal

 

[Sandé A Veruna]

To say the direction of this conversation unsettled her would be an understatement. Max was a direct individual, who cut directly to the chase as she had hoped, but his words alarmed her. He spoke with the passion of a zealot, a man born into the Empire and raised on its teachings. It was bold to talk of splitting from the Consortium with the Monarch of one of its earliest members.

"I appreciate your candour." she replied, giving herself a handful of moments to consider the most appropriate response. She was not entirely sure if Naboo even could split from the Consortium; nobody had before, nor did she think it particularly opportune to do so. "I have my reservations about the ambitions and approaches of the Empire. Whilst I do not deny that there are, of course, merits to a 'common cause', I have reason to believe the Imperial cause is somewhat at odds with the general sentiment and values of the Naboo." it was more of an observation than a question.

"However, I am interested in why you think such a move would benefit Naboo. The Empire has fallen in the past and has ruled at significant cost to its people in ages gone - how is this one any different? Besides, what makes you think the Empire will succeed when the Consortium, which is not blighted by the lessons of history, will not?"

 

[Max Dram]

It was not a no. That was good.

"Our values, your Highness..." he took a slow step towards her "couldn't be more aligned". He turned away at the last moment, scenting her soft perfume on the air. A Queen for sure.

"Naboo stands for tradition, nobility, civic pride" he went on, pacing towards the window "so too does my own world, Adumar". His swelled in spite of himself, thinking about home. "Growing up, I always believed we were the strongest people in the galaxy. Our rulers are born, not elected. We fight for survival, for our place in society, from childhood. We wield the blastsword, we forge missiles, we make war".

He let the word war hang in the air. Partly because he liked it, but also because it was the elephant in the room.

"But even we Adumari are made stronger by the Empire." He looked her straight in the eye now, in the grip of a sentiment he truly believed. "We no longer think small, about the narrow interests of our own world. We can bring the best of us to every Imperial world, combine what we are with the best of each of them. We are not many hundred, but one". He held up a clenched fist. "One people, one destiny, greater than anything we could have imagined."

"This Empire will best its enemies because of those who build it. Not just those with the Force, who will never have a true stake in your Consortium. But those without, those men and women of true nobility...." he rubbed the finger where his signet ring once sat "my own House goes back centuries, but in the Empire I can take it to new heights".

"You can too".

@Nor'baal

 

[Sandé A Veruna]

"Forgive me, Sir -" she replied as the diplomat brought his somewhat zealous remarks to a conclusion "I am unsure as to how you can claim that 'those of the force' will never have a true stake in the Consortium, and allege that they shall in the Sith Empire." the Queen was genuinely somewhat perplexed by the man's approach. As far as she knew, the Sith was a religious order, and its Empire was ruled over by the leading member of their organisation - in which you had to master the force to progress. "The Sith are a religious order; your Emperor is their leader and by extension, so is their Government."

The Queen struggled to find the words to try and get her point across without offending the diplomat. "The Consortium does not require its leaders to be part of a force-sensitive religion, Sir. If you believe otherwise, I am afraid you have been misinformed." she added, before focusing on the man's point about families 'born to rule'.

"Finally, on Naboo, our Monarchs are elected for a maximum of two terms, each of two years in length. We do not adhere to the dynastic hereditary approach, rather we draw our authority from the people of the Naboo. Sir, I understand your passion for your Empire and for your people, but I cannot see how the approach of the Naboo, and the approach of the Sith Empire would be compatible. We have no interest on becoming 'stronger', such is the language of conquers - and we Naboo, are not that."

 

[Max Dram]

Max ran his tongue along his teeth as the Queen spoke. The more she said, the more any hope he had of reaching through to her evaporated. "Perhaps I was not clear, your Highness. I am a soldier after all, not a diplomat". In truth, it was the Queen who was not listening.

"The galaxy is defined by the choices of Force-users, just look at history. Ultimately, it will belong to the Jedi or the Sith. Those with the Force will stand behind the Empire, or a Jedi-led equivalent. They lust for one or the other. They will never hold your Consortium in their heart. That is why it will not last".

Max held his hands wide, offering a simple truth. "The Sith lead the Empire yes. But those without have a place in it too. Those smart enough to recognise we must choose between the Sith or the Jedi in this life, not try to avoid the choice entirely".

He gestured a final time to the city outside. "I get that you're not conquerors, your traditions and people are different to mine. Fine. I happen to think they would enrich the Empire and vice versa anyway, but put that aside. Do you really believe the Consortium will protect Naboo, when enemies appear in your skies?"

Maybe she did. Maybe she was so passionate about the Consortium she was not able or willing to explore gains for her own world. But Max saw no passion at all, and if there was a personality in there it was well hidden indeed.

"No one is suggesting Naboo join the Empire tomorrow" he said, half in exasperation "just that you be open to how we might help each other in future".

@Nor'baal

 

[Sandé A Veruna]

She breathed a sigh of relief as the door opened to their hidden meeting place, and her handmaiden entered. As they had agreed many months ago, after a certain period passed in which the Queen was in a private meeting, she was to be interrupted on 'urgent business'. It was a policy as simple as it was apparent, and yet she saw no reason to have it changed. Her handmaiden approached with haste, whispering something with urgency.

"Sir, I am afraid we must call this to its end. I thank you for your visit, and your overtures, in the good nature in which they were intended." she replied, as she accompanied him to the door and back into the hangar proper. "There is room for further discussion as to how we might cooperate," she stressed the world, so as to try to not give the man false ideas "- please do not feel as if your journey was in vain."

 

[Max Dram]

Too soon Max found himself back where they had started, physically and metaphorically. The ice cold Queen, her vague pleasantries and a drab hangar. It tasted like failure, particularly when the young monarch had appeared such a promising fruit.

"Never in vain, your Highness" Max replied, leaning down in a bow even less sincere than the last. "Cooperation is all the Empire seeks and if you're open to that, perhaps this won't be my last time on Naboo in civvies". He hoped she would be smart enough to honour her words. Or one day he and thousands more would be back to visit again, in the military grade boots of conquerors.

The Lieutenant turned and stalked back up the ramp to his ship. For his part, he would be smart enough to blame any failure here on the sickly Commander and take away what few lessons he could. Above all, that the Queen of Naboo would be no friend of the Empire.

/END

@Nor'baal