Ask De-Cyphar-ing

[Wodan]

The sun glinted through the shuttle windows as they slowly moved out of the shadow of Cyphar’s shadow. Wodan squinted as he looked out towards the Space Station beyond. The orbital platform was the primary spaceport and sole port of entry to the planet below. The Cyphar looking to keep their planet as pristine and clean as possible permitted only select ships to descend into their atmosphere and if permitted they all descended at the same point, high above the planet’s largest ocean.

“I hope the delegation appreciates our proposal.” He said, turning his head towards the silver haired diplomat sitting next to him. Wodan was dressed in a dark blue business suit, a white shirt and deep red tie. It was perhaps the most dressed up he had been in a while, most days he wore working attire or armour.

The pair were here to ‘induct’ the planet into the Sith Empire, another building block for the Southern Sith Empire, hopefully one which Wodan could count on in the future. “You also look lovely today Miss Atredies.”

@Wit

 

[Jasnah Atreides]

Jasnah smiled at Wodan's comment, having noticed that bit in his academic records, a serial charmer one of his instructors had called him. "You only get one shot at making a good first impression," she replied, not directly acknowledging the comment, but reciprocating it with a nod of her own towards his clothes, "something you seem to be well aware of as well."

Just then the ship reached a landing bay set aside for the Sith and the shuttle door slid open. Jasnah peeked out the viewport besides her seat and noticed the welcoming party outside. Beyond the shuttle door the two Sith could spot dignitaries and guards waiting.

"Well," she commented as she got to her feet, "at least they rolled out the red carpet. That's always a good sign. After you!" She gestured for him to lead the way out of the shuttle. They would be greeted with ceremonial drinks and garlands as soon as they stepped out, and after a round of elaborate greetings finally find themselves face to face with a Chief.

"Honored guests, we welcome you. Come, there is much to be done today." With that he would start walking towards a waiting transport, little more than a large open top carriage drawn by even larger beasts that looked like insectoid oxen.

@Braden

 

[Wodan]

A smirk revealed his sharp canine teeth as Jasnah returned his statement even if not in as many words. A small bump signalled that the shuttle had made ‘landfall’ within the floating station. Peering through the window he could see the rather interesting selection of creatures that were awaiting their arrival. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight, most of his days were met with physical struggle on the battlefield or in the training room. It was nice to have just a pleasant visit such as this.

With a nod, he took the lead exiting the shuttle into the fanfare which erupted at their arrival. By the time they had reached the Chief, his head had been thoroughly spun around with the greeting. Wonder was clearly evident in the Firrerrian’s eyes as they boarded the large carriage. “Chief Moko, thank you for your custom.” Wodan finally managed to spit out after they were on their way.

The insectoid turned what Wodan assumed was a smile filled his face, though Wodan couldn’t help but feel a little creeped out by the Chief’s look. “You are most welcome, as honoured guests we are privileged to offer you our culture. Would you like something to drink?” With that a smaller Cyphari appeared with a tray of assorted drinks, at first glass none of them seemed apertising and after the stories of the Killik drinks, Wodan struggled to make a decision. “Do you have just some water? Hyperspace never agrees with me.” He said with a smile.

@Wit

 

[Jasnah Atreides]

Jasnah, guessing some of Wodan's apprehension about the drinks, was glad of the one of her standard preparations for any such mission. She raised a hand and the protocol droid that had followed them stepped forward and pulled out a decanter of fine wine that it carried in the satchel that also contained a wide assortment of documents relevant to their mission.

"Chief Moko," she said with a smile as she took the bottle from the droid and offered it to the insectoid being, "might I honor you with a drink from my home? It is customary for my people to bring gifts when accepting the hospitality of their friends." She wasn't entirely sure if the reaction on the chief's place was a pleased one, but it seemed to be the case. At the very least he didn't seem entirely insulted by the offer.

"Of course," he spoke up a moment later as servants walked up at a gesture she had missed. "you honor us by this offer of friendship." As the drinks were poured out, Jasnah managed to briefly catch Wodan's eye as the bottle was passed around to serve the other Cyphari dignitaries and gave the acolyte a quick wink.

"To new friends!" She raised her glass in a toast, and the Cyphari followed, with what she hoped were expressions of pleasure on their faces, and the chief followed her in making a toast of his own.

"To the Empire!"

@Braden

 

[Wodan]

It seemed that Jasnah had seen through his concern when it came to accepting drinks from an insectoid race and had supplied a drink of her own. He happily accepted the Imperial glass, relief clear in his body language when he took a mouthful of the fruity liquid. “To the Empire!” He called returning the toast from Chief Moko.

The little precision continued on its assigned route as they carried out the pleasant formalities of such a meeting before the real conversations and work could begin. Wodan was paired up with the Chief’s main advisor Kulk whilst Jasnah had the Chief all to herself. “So what does the Empire offer in terms of defence?” Kulk asked the Firrerrian. It seemed he was the more direct and brash of the pair, whilst Moko was prim, proper and civilised in his conversational process.

“All planets that are under our protection have the full backing of the Imperial Armed Forces and the Imperial Navy, both second to none in the Galaxy.” Wodan replied with a faint smile.

@Wit

 

[Jasnah Atreides]

Moko, having overheard the conversation between Wodan and Kulk, spoke up. "And what of the ISB? This Security Bureau of yours? What will their role be in the governance of Cyphar?" Kulk, most likely aware of the Chief's thoughts on the matter, stopped talking and waited with a neutral expression on his face. "Will we have Imperial spies sniffing around, looking for traitors where none might exist?"

Before Moko could go on, Kulk interjected. "Perhaps we should continue this discussion in a more private setting?" The Chief nodded, and the procession moved towards a nearby structure, which seemed to have been built specifically for this occasion, given that it stood out from the surrounding structures and more closely resembled something humanoids could call home. By the time they were indoors and seated, Kulk had spent a more than a few moments whispering urgently to the chief, and when the talks resumed he seemed more calm than before. "Forgive me for the bluntness of my earlier inquiry. There are those, a minority of course, who worry about their liberties. They fear that Cyphar joining the Empire means a loss of their freedoms." He gave Kulk a quick look, who nodded in response, before returning his gace to the Sith. "I am the chief of all my people, even the ones who let their imaginations run wild. It is my duty to ask the questions they would want answered."

"Of course," she wondered how much of this was about their people and not about these men themselves, knowing from intelligence reports that the Chief was about as corrupt as they came, "we would expect nothing less. There is a great deal of misinformation about the ISB, they are not some secret police running a-mock across the Empire, doing as they will, arresting whoever they want. Nor do they spy on Imperial citizens. If your people have committed no crimes, then they have nothing to fear. Of course," she paused for a moment, giving Wodan a knowing look, "if they do have something to hide, then you too would want their crimes brought to light, would you not?"

@Braden

 

[Wodan]

The Firrerrian’s head turned to the Chief as he shouted over towards the pair. His outburst obviously showed that Moko was a little intimidated or afraid of the ISB and their apparent reputation outside of Sith Space. Wodan frowned a little in response, before Kulk interjected and signalled that they should perhaps retire from the public space and into a private one.

The newly crafted building seemed a little crudely made, obvious signs of a rush job were visible beyond the flashy exterior. Large and sloppy weld lines could be seen across the inside of the structure as they passed through a few corridors into the audience chamber. Wodan took a seat towards Jasnah’s right, allowing the Champion and head of the negotiations the seat opposite the Chief.

His eyes danced between the pair as they spoke, Jasnah’s response was as politically detailed and refined as he expected. Causing the Chief to splutter a little before he could respond. “Of Course, Of Course Not. We expect all criminals to be punished for their deeds.” He replied in an elevated voice, obviosully showing panic to everyone in the room, including Kulk who betrayed his frustration in his body language.

“If I might ease some of your concerns, Chief Moko, the Empire allows all worlds and peoples that join our sphere of influence peacefully, freedom within the Empire. The right to govern themselves and police their streets. We act as a protector of your interests as long as they do not conflict with the Empire’s own.”

@Wit

 

[Jasnah Atreides]

The Chief seemed somewhat placated by Wodan's response, though Mojo seemed to have his concerns, and Jasnah had to wonder to the exact dynamic of the situation between aide and chief.

"The Empire also looks after its own," she chimed in, "infrastructure, development, medical advancements, education. There are many programs that the Empire supports, and even encourages. If you wish to make such improvements for the people of Cyphar then resources will be made available. This would be of great benefit to your people." She could see the glint in the eyes of chief and aide alike, and it wasn't hard to guess just what was going through their minds.

"And who would oversee the implementation of these programs? Of course you must have protocols in place, but what works for the Empire might not work for us. There are customs, practices we have followed for centuries. I hope we aren't signing up for an imperial supervisor to look at a report and reprimand us for doing things how we have always done them?"

This wasn't the first time such a question had been asked, and she was sure it would not be the last. "There are procedures in place, allowances for local customs, planetary restrictions. Of course, within reason. Violence, extremism that harms the citizens of a planet, there are issues we would like member states to slowly start stepping away from."

@Braden

 

[Wodan]

“As much as the Jedi and the Free World Alliance try to make us out to appear as despots and totalitarian dictators, Chief Moko. That is simply not the case, we strive for peace and prosperity throughout the Galaxy, not just the Core Worlds or the Imperial Homeland, throughout. We are a guiding hand through the Darkness and a Shield against the violence of the Galaxy.” Wodan added onto the back of Jasnah’s comments.

“What about the worlds you conquer and burn?” The aide belted out, it was an expected question. One which was seemingly brought up at every opportunity by the enemies of the Empire. Wodan sighed, before lifting his head to give the same answer as always. “We only attack worlds which wish to do us harm, both the Free World Alliance and Jedi Order have been in open aggression against our Empire. These strikes that you speak of are only in defence of our homeland and peoples. We do not seek to cause pointless murder for the sake of it, we are not tyrants only people desprate to see the safety of their friends and family upheld.”

@Wit[/color]