Ask Subtle Moves

[Cipher Six]

Six wasn’t expecting the history lesson, but it was all data she could file away to learn more about the man. She couldn’t entirely disagree with his sentiments. Her family had served the Sith for generations and there were plenty of buried, unpleasant secrets in her household. She was surprised when he went right for the scotch. You could always count on the wealthy to start drinking at 10 am on a Monday.

Six touched her glass against his before taking a sip, stewing on the question he asked. For a moment her gaze lingered on him. He would be able to tell calculations were being made, gears were turning and she was weighing her words. Six finally took a longer sip before clearing her throat, “From the Empire, darling,” She admitted flatly. It was a gamble to reveal this now, but quite frankly he had proven himself to be aggressive and tactical when he needed to be. Shrewdness was exactly the kind of trait that the Empire sought.

“We usually accommodate people that want…how did you put it?” She smiled, “All of it.”

@Raydo

 

[Alexi Stravos]

Their eyes met, and Alexi could see the chess pieces moving, the wheels turning as she studied him. There was something else there as well, something predatory. Most would have turned away, but he met her eyes with an amethyst gaze of his own.

Her next words actually surprised him a bit. He obviously knew she was a scientist turned whistleblower, but the Empire? That was something he hadn't really seen coming. A smile tugged at his mouth. "Fascinating.." he said, meaning purposefully ambiguous. Her background was interesting, but it was more than that. He found her fascinating as well.

Alexi crossed one leg of another and leaned back in his chair slightly. "I very much like being accommodated.." he smoothly commented, steepling his fingers together in thought, his own wheels turning. "There are certainly easier and more profitable shipyards to obtain closer to the Rim; what is the Empire's game in Core?" he asked curiously.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

It was difficult to nail down the perfect sabacc face for most people, but this young gentleman managed it perfectly. She couldn’t tell if he was thinking about how to organize his investment portfolio or about screwing her against the floor to ceiling transparisteel windows that overlooked the cities. Perhaps both. He was dangerous and she quite enjoyed dangerous men. She had to keep from smirking, sipping her 10 am scotch like a rich middle-aged housewife.

“Easier, yes,” She said, “Profitable? No,” Six admitted, “The Core is where the credit is- where they have always been. The Empire won’t use the silly concepts that the Sith pushed with bullish aggression. No, this Empire operates with a surgeon’s precision to cut into exactly the right target.”

Six gazed away briefly, watching ships take off from the shipyard in the distance, “Nothing comes for free, and a man like you can appreciate that. You understand going down this route means your commitment to the Empire,” She looked back at him, quirking a brow, “I don’t suppose you have any interest in politics?”

@Raydo

 

[Alexi Stravos]

He listened patiently, allowing a brief silence between them as her gaze drifted off. She, of course, was right. The Core was where the money was and, in turn, where the power was. The Empire would be relegated to the sidelines as long as they floundered about in the Outer Rim.

They both knew he was interested in politics or at least the power that could come from it. He was already wealthy; it would have been a waste of time if that was the only this he was after. "Since you are here, I think you know that question.." he said.

He had no moral qualms about working with the Empire, even the pre-reformed Empire. He wanted what he wanted and didn't much care who he had to get into bed with to get there. "And what do I get? I will need far more than an assistant and dance partner, however talented she may be, before I tie my ship to Drast's."

The Empire had been in decline for the year since their little breakup. They were poised to begin making their comeback, but they were a bit of a risky bet. Luckily, Alexi saw the value in risky bets. If they managed to turn things around and he was on board early, he would be in a better position of control. Even as he played out the pros and cons of the idea, he listed for her response.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

There was a subtle tightening of her jaw at the mention of Drast. It was very easy to miss, but someone as perceptive as Alexi would perhaps catch it. Six said nothing about it, of course, “A chance to be Alexi Stravos without being ‘another Stravos’,” She said simply, a smile gracing her face. She knew what he desired most of all. Deep down under the many layers of wealthy affectation and impassiveness, there was a boy that yearned for validation. Validation that never came from family, but could perhaps come from the galaxy at large.

“A chance to disentangle yourself from simply being an heir to the banking clans,” Six said, “A chance to carve your own legacy, to be there at the conception of a new regime. After all, do you not see how the governors of the ISC have thrived?” Those that got in early were still riding the wave decades later, their children and children’s children benefiting from the investments they made early on.

“Anaxes is a start,” She said, “With the right moves, your influence could expand to Fondor or perhaps even Kuat.”

After all, there was no New Republic or Free World Alliance to gatekeep things anymore.

@Raydo

 

[Alexi Stravos]

His eyes shifted ever so slightly, noticing the slightest twinge from her at the mention of their new Emperor. He honestly hadn't paid much attention to the developing situation within Imperial Space, though he would need to now.

The idea was intoxicating, admittedly. His siblings all had fallen into line, Daddy's little helpers. They had been more than willing to whore themselves out in service of the Banking clan. Their lives would be full of lavishness and the finest things this Galaxy had to offer, but no one would remember their names in a hundred years.

The ISC would have been a safer bet. They would have been able to support him if trouble arrived. He would make himself a target by siding with the Empire, but that is what he wanted after all. He wanted to be watched. He wanted to be feared. His face remained even though she had done her research, likely knowing the chord she struck.

"Might as well play all the cards, dear. What if I say no?" he asked, grin reappearing. The danger of the moment sent his spine tingling. Most would flinch away from it, but he reveled in the feeling. She had set things in motion by revealing herself. Obviously, they wouldn't want their interest broadcasted before they were ready. Yes, she had presented opportunities, but he also became a potential loose end if he didn't play ball.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

He liked playing games. Someone with less patience would have grown tired of this. However, she didn’t get this far without knowing when to be impulsive and when to bide her time. If he thought his comment would get a rise out of her, it didn’t. She calmly stared back at him, always that faintest tug of a smile threatening to appear again.

“Then you continue on your path towards buying Azure and become another faceless CEO,” She shrugged, “I’m nothing but an assistant and a dance partner, as you say. There is nothing to bury. We part ways and carry on as if we never met.”

Her gaze fixed on him for a moment. It was impossible to tell whether she was telling the truth or not. Whether it really was that simple to part ways. Six threw back her drink, “So do we have a deal or not, Mr. Stravos?” She purposely used the title his father went by. A reminder of how he would be known if he never broke out on his own.

@Raydo

 

[Alexi Stravos]

He thought momentarily, holding his glass in one hand. It was never as simple as that, but if she had come out and said everything, she likely wouldn't have been a person that would have caught his interest in the first place.

She had proven invaluable so far; if that was a taste of what the Empire had to offer, he was impressed.

He was quiet for a while longer, the distant noises of speeder traffic outside in the background. "You have a deal, Ms. Durst." he finally said as he put his glass down. "Now, we have a company to take over.." he finished, picking up his datapad. There were a long three days ahead of them before the board meeting. He was more confident than ever that Azure would be his, and then Anaxes, and then....only time would tell.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

A few days later, as promised, the meeting was set up with the board. Alexi was likely the youngest person to walk through these doors, but hopefully he would make up for it with his game plan. This was an area where Six let him put most of it together instead of volunteering information. In order for him to succeed in the role the Empire had for him, he had to do thinking on his own.

Right away, the two were led to a room with three individuals - two women and a man. They were all in their 40s and 50s, sternly analyzing Alexi as he walked in. Six took a seat next to Alexi, opening up a data pad.

“Thank you for having us here today,” She said in her practiced professional corpo speech, “May I present Alexi Stravos, a member of the banking clan conglomerates. We are here to express our interest in the acquisition of Azure Manufacturing. Mr. Stravos will present his strategic roadmap for the future of the corporation and improving its image and revenue. Are there any questions before we begin?”

One of the women - Nalina Darvos - studied him with narrow eyes, “What experience do you have with running any kind of industry? Historically the banking clans are only involved with loans and investments. What qualifies your move to becoming CEO?”

@Raydo

 

[Alexi Stravos]

The previous three days had been a blur of preparing and spinning the narrative for this day. Everything up until this point had all led to this one meeting. If he failed, not much would change, he would still be wealthy and have other opportunities, but he had been infected by the image of himself that could be. No, he wanted this and wasn't about to let a room full of ancient board members stand in his way.

They stepped into the room, Alexi forgoing his usual stylish attire for something more conservative, a perfectly tailored blue suit. Alexi took a seat, unbuttoned his jacket, and sat quietly, a confident look on his face as he was introduced. "How do you think the banking clans decide who to give loans or invest to? We start by studying business," he said, letting a somewhat patronizing tone bleed into his answer. "I have worked for and studied under some of the best minds in industry and business. Anymore insulting questions?" he said, eyes getting colder as he stared down Nalina Darvos. In reality, her question had likely been fair, but he wanted to set the tone. He wasn't here to answer to them, but they were here to answer to him.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Im not here to apply for a position, and you are not here to interview a potential hiree. We are here because funds in this company were grossly mismanaged, and because all of you failed to see it, the stocks are in freefall." he said, looking around the room, demeanor relaxed. "You have other options; I knew of a few myself, but what do I have to offer that they don't." He paused as he looked around the room. "Salvation," he said finally. "If you sell to your other offers, this company will be stripped apart piece by piece and absorbed by other shipyards. So ships continue to be made on Anaxes, but you won't see another credit from it. "You will be out in the cold, the laughing stock of this industry," he said, pausing to sip from the water that had been placed in front of every chair.

"But say I take over this company, I don't have interest in other shipyards as of yet; this business won't be stripped of all its values. Many, if not all of you, will remain here. The company has a credit issue and a perception issue, both I am more qualified to solve for this company."

"So you can sell your shares to the other bidders, taking pennies for everything you put into this business. Or you can choose me, and we can all make a lot of credits.." he said, tapping several buttons on his datapad and bringing up his five-year plan on how to right the ship.

"Here's how we are going to do it..." he said as he started into his plan.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Nalina’s jaw tightened. The others shifted uncomfortably in their seats. While Alexi’s words were harsh, they were true. They were the ones in hot water with their stock price plummeting because of the scandal their former CEO brought on them. On top of that, their previous partnerships with Vance Corp and Shipyard Tech were muddied with the media blasting them. The paths to turn to were limited.

“I must say..” She said, her expression softening, “The timing of your arrival is…very opportune,” The woman voiced. Her gaze briefly flicked over to Six - whose expression remained impassive - before she looked back over at Alexi.

“Let us hear your proposal then..”

The rest of the process was more administrative than anything. Legal was involved and a bunch of forms to sign. At the end of it, Alexi Stravos was the new CEO of Azure Manufacturing.

@Raydo