Ask The Plan Comes Together

[Darth Draugr]

Nal Hutta, Syndicate Space, 1400 Hours

Draugr was coming here to meet with the big slug himself, Nor'Baal. This was a meeting for the supplies he would need to rid the Empress the Empire he wanted to thrive. She had done her job, and now was the time for someone more fit to sit upon her seat. Draugr was seeing to it that he be that someone. This was one of the first steps. He had placed his seeds, now he was watering them.

Once the Sith Lord had arrived, he would be clad in his First Blade Armor and filling the air around him with his cold aura. This wasn't some shmuck looking to make a quick buck. This was Lord Draugr, the First Blade of the Empire, the Red Warden of Dathomir, the Red Blade of the Empire. He had other titles gifted by the men and women of the Empire as well as the other factions, but this wasn't the point. He would surely be one of, if not, the most important clien the slug would have yet.

Out of respect for the slug's home, he wouldn't barge in. Instead he stood outside waiting for the doors to open and for the two to finally meet in person. The Hutt had what he wanted, and Draugr had plenty of money to gift in return. Now it was time for this transaction to take place.

@Nor'baal @Taz​

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

It was not without considerable trepidation that Nor'baal had agreed to meet with a Sith Lord. Yet, with the war on the frontier that could spill over any day now, it was something that may be fruitful for the Hutts to engage with. What he had not quite been able to make sense of, however, was why the Imperial had requested Covax be present as well.

Yet, if the Crime Boss was willing to cross the Galaxy to come to the meeting, then Nor'baal was more than welcome to accommodate him.

Upon their arrival, the Sith Lord and the Crime Boss would be welcomed into his throne room as guests of the Desilijic. Divested of their guards, they would be escorted to the throne room, Covax (or his representative had he chosen not to come in person) escorted in first.

The Throne room was to be accessed down a flight of curved stairs. It was rectangular, with the Hutt's throne at the far end and two alcoves off to each side. One alcove was laid out for the Cymorrah, with a recliner and a throne bearing the criminal groups sigil, as well as food, two Gamorrean Guards and a translator droid for their use. The other alcove was set aside for Nor'baals trio of Corellian Hounds.

Nor'baal welcomed his guests, ordering the musicians at the back of the throne room to be silent. Behind him, coming in from the doorway position behind the throne, his Majordomo gave the large gathering of guards a stern look as if to reinforce his master's appeal for silence.

<Yanay Lotka, uba doth chobaso wata bai bu Nal hutta. Bacdop see uba gee nagozet koumhaptece, hee Jee dotmay bu lotkoca dee Yih doth kolka bai uba. Tanee jot fa doth sey jeejee Yih cha hhoph tee lotka tee.> he boomed in Huttese, the translators doing their work if needed <Toupee mi, haku koose uba bai Yih Bmola?> he asked, waving his goblet at a slave, who quickly filled it with wine, pushing their way past a tall figure, with a peacemaker at its hip, who stood in the shadows behind the Hutts throne - deft Rodian fingers gracing the butt of its weapon.

Nor'baal was curious about what the Sith wanted and why it required both the Hutts and the Cymorrah to be present at this meeting. Covax had yet to make a move on the operations of the Clans, he had been busy in the North, and if rumours where to be believed, was doing well for himself there. Perhaps the Imperial wished to do business with them both, or maybe, he had something more nefarious planned?

 

[Covax]

Freshly departed from his Infiltrator shuttle, Covax made his way from the private landing pad and into the belly of the beast. The human Crime Boss had not been in Hutt space for some years now, and he didn't do so lightly now. Understandably, he had his reservations of coming. After more recent encounters with the king of the slugs, as well as the invasion of ISC space and a fresh galactic war. There was risk.

But it wasn't everyday that a sitting member of the Sith Council ask for anything, let alone an audience. So here he was. Dressed as usual now, In a tailored black suit with his pistol concealed. He didn't wear any armor. If the Sith Lord wanted to kill him, he was going to dye comfortable. Still, he brought along his bodyguard droid, ZED just in case. Just because he knew he couldn't take a Sith Lord, didn't mean he wasn't going to defend himself.

After entering the thrown room, he followed the slug and his droid to his clearly marked alcove. Say what one will about the slimy oversized worms, they knew how to treat a guest. Even ones they didn't much care for. Covax took his seat in the easy chair, then lit a cigar with his lightsaber lighter. Taking a pull from the smoke before addressing the two other Lords in the room.

"Humble as always. Just like your cousin." He said to Nor'baal with a slight smile with the verbal barb. "Darth Draugr, how is it that we haven't met before ?" He asked the Sith Lord. He'd done many jobs in Sith space, most of them for Art. Never once had be met the Sith of so many titles.

@Nor'baal @Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

Draugr nodded to return the greeting to Nor'baal. The Hutts were despicable, but in many ways so were the Sith. The Hutts were not a group to trust but, with enough money or value in return they won't risk losing more business. In this case, their lives. Draugr was more than capable of slaughtering them all, they knew it. He knew it. So business should be good. When Nor'baal asked what business brought him here he would speak up crossing his arms to stand in a power stance.

"Coaxium. I'll need enough to blow up an entire room and ensure the ones inside aren't alive." Draugr wa sblunt, and straightforward with these criminals, it was the best way to make sure he got what he wanted. "I'll also need access to Kessel. I understand you once held that territory and you know the way in. If I can get that information and gain a victory in that battle, I would gladly gift you free travel and business on the planet and the surrounding area."

He figured Thorne would have done the same, but the Hutts have had very successful business with the Sith, and the Sith didn't take the planet from the Hutts. In fact in a way, they were gifting it back to them. Then turning to Covax who had asked why they hadn't met, Draugr simply gave him an icy stare behind his armored mask, his eyes glowing through it, "Simple. I have had more pressing matters to tend to til now. Now, if we could, I'd like to discuss what this would cost me?" Draugr turned back to Nor'Baal who was clearly the leader of the Hutts.

@Nor'baal @Taz

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

<Uba katka nan bai Yikke cuee awh Covax, kuna kee uemmahee tee ree tee pauapka.> Nor'baal replied to the Cymorrah Crime Lord. It was rare for a leading member of a rival Syndicate to come into his presence in such a manner, rarer still for them to be working together (or at least seeming to do so) in the presence of an outsider. As such, Nor'baal made the most of the opportunity to showcase his power, and his willingness to do things the 'proper way' with his fellow Criminals.

Darth Draugr on the other hand, was of great interest to him. The foreigner cut to the chase without the pleasantries one would expect when addressing the Leader of the Hutt Clans, and Nor'baal saw this as insulting, to say the least. Perhaps the Sith had forgotten he stood in the home of one of the most powerful beings in the known Galaxy?

Nor'baal chose to take the opportunity to remind him.

<Uba neu mi peee was cahbayae hee?. he enquired, the smile dropping from his face, as he played with his hookah pipe. <Uba nai che baueha bai mah kolki mallya naee, an hee mo mi da pea Jee roe gee- baueha bai Pattee- du moova mee?> he snarled at the man. Nor'baal had routes to Kessel, be they covert or, more recently - opened with the blessing of the Consortium President.

What need had he to open them to an offworlder in return for nothing.

As for the desire to purchase a large amount of explosive fuel from him, Nor'baal found this specific demand interesting indeed. It was clear the purchase was intended for nefarious use. Otherwise, the Imperial would have bought it on the open market. The specific request that it be sufficient to "blow up an entire room and ensure the ones inside aren't alive" made the intention of its use obvious.

Assassination.

He was not about to let the Siths snide remark to his guest go unnoticed, nor without remark, either. <Uba nan don mah banki danko, nobata samou, nobata sanog, nobata bashodue. Uba oto ta baueha bai mah danko.> the Hutt made a slip, referring to Kessel as 'his world' in a display of shocking arrogance <An hee oto ta Jee dwana uba wa dacda, bankop kantiuka wa lotka du mah bamibath, chakaph an gahkesa biw mah masii? Toupee mi, modanko-> he clenched his fist, before resting his hand on the arm of his throne.

<Kava che hatkocanh bu Kacmaheatkhena wamma che mee kloonkee?> he sneered <Tah doth Yih Bmola, hhibiua, tee paupe Beh gacdokee pocma che uba bai cohou du. Cohou bu paniane matmaph bai mee doe kankee, an in ting hee jeejee lwaa kanbiusa mee dodei cah, joppay bu paniane meiahanla, an uyat che hee cah, doth yo ho.>

 

[Covax]

The human crime boss gave another warm smile toward the Hutt. Drool filled as they often were, the slug never spoke a word he didn't pick carefully. Covax understood this, and knew that go down likely meant as a snack of his pets in the floor below. "Perhaps I'll bring some friends, make it a real party." the human retorted in Huttese.

The little barbs back and forth were just the way Covax talked to the Hutt. Despite all appearances the the contrary, and how other syndicate leaders felt about Tenloss' hold over the Crymorah. Covax did it the right way, mostly. He kissed the ring and offered a percentage when the Hutt held the thrown of total syndicate power. He could trade with Nor'ball because he earned it.

To the Sith though, there was no respect earned of given. Covax met the Council member's cold stare and gave him and amused smile. While his bodyguard droid took what a more readied stance, calcuating angles and presumed actions of the alien taking a more threatening tone with his Master.

As expected however, Hutt leader quickly showed the Sith Lord the error of his way of thinking. Covax just sat back, smiled, and watched the show. If this went sideways however, the Crymorah boss was resting his on his leg in just such a manner as to be ready to draw his weapon if needed. Covax would prefer to not to have to replace another limb, but was more than ready to go out in a blaze if it came to that.

@Nor'baal @Scoobert

 

[Darth Draugr]

As Draugr stood with his arms crossed, he couldn't help but smirk behind his mask. A fight against them would be fun but that wasn't why he was here. The Sith simply tried to make a business deal and it turned into a small pp contest. Draugr ignored most of what was said, and would choose to answer the final question.

"I haven't done anything to offer disrespect, I only speak the truth. Figured you would value honesty over lies." Draugr turned to Covax for a moment, he could see the droid ready for a fight. It'd be light work, just a simple lightning attack or maybe crushing it with the force, either way it wouldn't last long. Covax had his hand at his side ready to grab his gun and die. Draugr had thought it was pretty pathetic, to wanna die for Nor'Baal of all beings in the galaxy, but to each their own.

Turning back to Nor'Baal he would look him in the eye, choosing to ignore the comment about superiority, Draugr knew he could crush his oversized windpipe with ease. "I only seek Coaxium and ISC territory to switch hands. We could help each other, we get information and free passage to the planet for our attacks and the Hutts and Crymorah can cut their deals in the Sith space, and every planet taken in the war as well."

It was a great offer, even if they had access to Sith space or to Kessel, being able to go there free and whenever they felt like, seemed like a fair deal. Plus some of the Planets that the Sith could possibly take in the war had quite the wealth, spice and other drugs would sell well there. Draugr had his sabers on his belt ready for use if need be. The Zabrak was strong enough in the force he could manage to handle two at once and then the last, but something told him it wouldn't be necessary, "I'll tell what, I'll throw in a couple Rancor and a Chyrodactyl as a peace offering between us. How does that sound?"

@Nor'baal @Taz

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal did not respond, at least not immediately. Instead, he waved forward his Majordomo, a stocky-looking Twi'lek. The creature offered a bow to his master before speaking to the Imperial. "His most eminent majesty, the magnificent and omnipotent Nor'baal Desilijic, Supreme Mogul of the Hutt Cartel, Oyabun of the Hutt Council and divinely mandated ruler of Hutt Space, already has access to Kessel and its surrounding planets." he paused, looking at his master as if for permission to delve into more detail.

His master nodded, and the Twi'lek bowed and continued. "Such is his excellent wisdom, deal-brokering faculty and great perspicacity that Nor'baal, all praise be to him," he bowed again "- already 'cuts deals'," he made an inverted commas sign with his hands "- in Sith Space, as is my Masters wont." the Majordomo reminded the Imperial before stepping back.

Silence reigned for a few moments as Nor'baal puffed on his pipe and made the assembled court hold that silence until he was done.

<Jee panwata bai wa lhoba see panwiya.> he said, in a calmer, but no less stern voice <Bu Kacmahea tee caie donmanakha Pantahlea Bmola. Uba gee nobata dhiuox'a, dolke, rulya mo Tibanna, chakee da chayanh du bahia mee, sonpa bai bu duapoba hhont bu Yoskah.> he remarked with a sly grin.

Nor'baal whispered to his Majordomo, who let out an obviously fake and hollow laugh before speaking "My Master wishes to know how you intend to get your armies to Kessel without the fuel for your fleets - he asks if you intend, to walk?"

 

[Darth Draugr]

Draugr listened to what the Hutt was saying, and then the translator began explaining a little further, but in more insulting fashion. Now if this were some Acolyte or maybe the Grandmaster of the Jedi and less, then sure they'd sit here like a good dog. Take this disrespect and smile and thank Nor'baal for it. This though, was none of those. This was Lord Draugr, who has won enough battles to make him the most dangerous man in the room. The one who had, despite all of the Sith, had rose to be one of the most powerful beings in the galaxy.

Draugr would keep in mind that Covax and his droid were to the side, and if they moved he would have them in his peripheral as well as feel them through the force. He had come down to what he wished wouldn't be necessary, but will be fun regardless. "I'm glad you think this is a joke.. because," Draugr would use the force to snap the neck of the Majordomo with ease and swiftly pull out his sabers and ignite them ready to deflect any blaster fire. Should there have been blaster fire incoming he would have them immediately set to block and deflect them, "Now I'm not asking.."

If Covax and his droid were smart they would stand down, or meet their end. As for Nor'baal, he should reassess as he now has a very pissed off Sith Lord ready to see what the insides of a Hutt looked like.

@Nor'baal @Taz

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

"How dare you damage my property!" Nor'baal screamed, slipping into basic as his anger rose to a tumult. Spittle flew from his lips, his eyes rolled in fury. The Hutts tail slapped against the floor as it writhed in anger, his sentence concluding as the man ignited his lightsabers.

Yet Nor'baal had not managed to live for just over four-hundred-and-fifty years by leaping into action at a moment's notice. Especially not when a man was drawing fancy energy swords in front of you. As the two Gammorrean guards in front of his throne drew their short swords, and the phalanx at the back of the room did likewise, a combination of pistol and blades being readied, Nor'baal considered appealing for calm.

His Corellian Hounds, in an alcove off to the Siths right, yapped and snarled as if begging their master for the nod to continue. The youngest of the trio, unable to contain itself - lept toward the Sith as it saw the blades ignite, accurately perceiving a threat to its owner, and leaping to its master's defence.

All of this happened without the Hutt's notice. He howled in anger, paranoid that this was all a grand scheme to assassinate him - here in his own home. As Nor'baal considered what to do next, a mere handful of seconds had passed since Draugr had snapped his Majordomos neck.

Fortunately for the Hutt, there was another member of his retinue in the room from the very beginning who had far faster reactions.

OOC - Cleared with staff. Please see post #1 referencing "a tall figure, with a peacemaker at its hip[...] deft Rodian fingers gracing the butt of its weapon."

 

[Preef Callo]

THEME​

The rodian whose deft fingers had been gracing the butt of his peacemaker from the shadow of the Supreme Mogul's throne spurred into action the second Darth Draugr snapped the Majordomo's neck with the Force.

Its peacemaker -set to stun- was out faster than the Sith Lord could even reach for his lightsabers. The name on the barrel betraying the name of its wielder. PREEF

The legendary gunslinger and quick-draw who climbed through the ranks from scoundrel to the boss of the Crymorah Syndicate by just his one skill to shoot faster and better than anyone who had ever dared to challenge him.

The first heavy stun bolt flew straight for Darth Draugr's upper torso. The time needed for this First Blade of the Empire to block it effectively? More than he had. And that wasn't adding all the other Hutt lackeys that would be responding to serve as distraction.

Still, the old rodian kept his aim regardless of how sure he was to stun his target out cold. He had made a promise to the Supreme Mogul that while he lived, so would the Hutt.

@Nor'baal @Taz @Scoobert

 

[Covax]

The Sith had come to the Hutt's house overconfident. Both in his ability to broker a deal with crime lords, and his ability as a force user. However it made for a fun time to watch his anger grow as he was being belittled by the Majordomo. Right down to the comment about walking to Kessel. Then it all went sideways.

Draugr's first mistake was killing the slave rather then aiming for the guys with guns. Covax was no force user, but he was as quick with a pistol as the Sith was with a blade, maybe even a little quicker in this case. As domo's neck snapped, Covax hand was on the DA34, drawn and firing two shots toward the Sith's mid-section before the snap-hiss of his red blades filled the air. Only a hair slower than the gunslinger who fired from the shadows.

@ZED the bodyguard droid was a hair slower in his reaction but what the droid lacked in speed he made up for in fire power. Again ready and waiting and already calculating how to fight the force user. The droid drew the hand cannon BM-357 clicked to heavy accelerate and fired, aiming for the Sith's shoulder closest to him.

In the few split seconds after the shots were fired, Covax got to his feet. Still aiming at the Sith, but eyes finally catching the face behind the heavy blaster bolt in the corner. "Fuck!"

@Scoobert @Nor'baal @Eccles

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

<Paknee ata jen koumhaptecee, an luoleeha jen du pohdanoka.> Nor'baal barked as a detachment of guards hefted the Imperials body away, there to convey him to a cell for freezing at their master's wish. The Hutt, now in quite the state, dismissed the others, sending a droid scurrying to Covax to inform him their meeting would be rescheduled for later in the day.

---

A few hours later...

Location: The Dungeons, Hutt Supreme Palace

It had taken several hours and extreme amounts of food, but finally, Nor'baal had been calm enough to meet Covax again. He had sent for the man to join him downstairs, where the now frozen form of his attempted killer would be held. When he arrived in the dimly lit corridor, dotted with cells, Covax would see Nor'baal standing at the end, entering a large circular room, with the frozen form of his attacker hovering upright in the middle of it.

Covax would pass by two Gamorreans by the door but, once inside, would find himself completely alone with Preef and Nor'baal. His droid was stopped from following him, and Nor'baal turned as the man entered.

"To think, we could both have died today, Covax." he began, affording the other Crime Lord the rare honour of conversing in basic. "At any moment, it could all come crashin -" he stopped himself, blinked and shook his head as if to move him from a trance.

"It is not always this eventful, I assure you." a ghost of a smile playing across his lips. Nor'baal always knew this life was dangerous, but unlike most criminals, Nor'baal had been living it for far to long - the thought of it all stopping at the swing of a lightsaber sent shudders of fear and anger through him. "Still, business continues. You have been doing well of late, so well you have caught the attention of the Clan." he commented, looking directly at the Cymorrah leader.

"Many seek to tear down the Syndicates' success. As you have seen today." Nor'baal added "Tell me, and do not worry yourself, you are protected by our traditions here, ones that have stood for thousands of years, and shall stand for thousands more - are you confident you can protect your successes?" he asked before adding, with severity in his town "And do you intend to magnify them, or to take them from others?" he reared up, almost subconsciously, his voice rising as he sentence ended - the implication clear - Nor'baal wanted to know if the Cymorrah intended to make themselves his enemy, or his friend.

 

[Preef Callo]

Preef had been observing Shane Covax from the moment he had entered. His focus on the man who claimed to have defeated Marissa, rodian eyes burning into the human's skull, seeing the infrared of the man's very brain, had almost made him miss the Sith Lord's attack.

Unlike the Sith, the rodian did know the rules of Hutt Space. The rules of the Hutt Cartel under which oppression he had first learned to walk, learned to hold a blaster and snuff out another alien's life. The Hutt was right. If the Sith Lord had succeeded in killing him, then Covax would've been dead, too. Not by the Sith's hand, but by Preef's.

So when Nor'baal asked if Covax was going to try and magnify his successes, the rodian was able to hold his tongue no longer. "Like you magnified your reputation," the coldness in his tone of voice had once only been reserved for the likes of Gori Xaa Hafven and Durr the Hutt, men who deserved it.

It was a well-known fact that Shane Covax boasted of killing Durr the Hutt as part of Preef Callo's Legends. In truth the assassination -or rather the justice carried out- on Durr the Hutt was an application to see which merc was all reputation and who could actually back it up. A test that Covax had failed. The only notable deed the human could boast of that day was being unsconscious amidst hundreds of AMS zombies and the major explosion of Durr's palace and making it offplanet alive. "Falsely claiming you're one of My Legends," the rodian sneered, but he made sure Nor'baal knew that he wasn't about to make a move or try to upstage the Magnificent Supreme Mogul.

"Heh," Preef made a throw-away gesture, "Leading based on someone else's reputation," the rodian knew that Aska Ryun, who had earned it, was a close friend of Shane Covax, "and no doubt with someone else's credits and connections, too." Preef and Nor'baal had discussed this before and although they had yet to figure out how the mercenary could suddenly afford to project a greater military power than Preef had ever been able to himself, there was no doubt in the rodian's mind that the one who had proven that he couldn't match his reputation back then, also wasn't capable of doing what he claimed to be doing now.

So, deeming Shane Covax to be the same simple merc as he had been once, Preef stepped forward and walked passed him. No more words were necessary, but "Kara should've put a bolt in you back on Coruscant."

Not to further disrupt the meeting between the syndicate boss and the Supreme Mogul, the rodian simply left. His keen senses alert in case his successor did try to do anything, after all. Kara, Gareth, Pidge and him would laugh about this tonight over some noodles.

/exit thread

 

[Covax]

After Draugr was taken away, Covax would retire to his shuttle to await Nor'baal's next invitation. While he waited, he sent an encoded message to his partners that Preef Callo was alive and working for the Hutts. There were already rumors that remnants of Zaa Fenn were making moves. Kara Lok was doing a poor job of covering her tracks, and the Crymorah leader had already been long ago informed of Gareth Gin escape for prison.

Finally, hours after the shootout, Covax would return to the palace. This time in the dungeon. As the Hutt likely expected, it put the other Crime Lord on edge. Covax understood the game though. The slug was making a point, before making his inquiry.

He raised a brow in surprise as Nor'baal began to speak in basic. He knew the old Crime Lord COULD do it, but rarely ever did so. Covax nodded to the first statement of nearly losing it all. Much as he absolutely hated to admit it. The rodian likely saved them both from severe injury if for nothing else.

"Perhaps not for you it isn't." Covax mused with a smirk. The Hutt had been around much longer then most, and parts of his criminal empire were already established by other clans when he took the thrown for himself. In more ways than one, Covax was building his from the ashes of others. He was about to continue, when the Hutt's newest slave decided to speak.

Covax turned to face the green skinned alien. Meeting the former crime boss' coldblooded gaze with his own. "The only one who cared for your legends, was you Callo. And what reputation? You ran from a war you helped start. Playing dead after having your ass handed to you by the Empress. Leaving your family in the hands of psychopathy and his girlfriend. And when the poodoo hit the fan, your family left Gareth twisting in the wind. He had to hire out and that couldn't save him."

Covax's tone was amused. He even took a moment to pull a cigar from his jacket pocked, and light it. Taking a pull from the smoke before continuing. "And your right, after I burned down your sorry little bar, I took a vacation. Let someone else try to build from your scrap pile, and when they pissed off the galaxy I helped burn that one down as well. Then took their spice for myself." He was of course telling half truths. Though more than half of the funds did come from the bounty of Gin, and the stolen spice. He did have a backer, and only Covax and Aska were aware of Emryc Thorne's involvement. The Hutt and the Rodian could speculate all they liked.

Covax shoulder checked the smaller former crime boss as he passed. "Your right. She had her shot to stand up and fight for her family, her supposed friend. Instead she ran like a coward. Not unlike yourself Preef." With that he let the little green man walk away.

Careful not to take his eyes off the Rodian until he was out the door, Covax then returned his attention to the Hutt. "Tenloss does have plans for expanding our business ventures. But I've learned from the mistakes of others. We don't want to control grids on a map. Just distribution of commodities. So long as you keep that one out of my business, and our old deal still stands. I see no reason to change that."

@Nor'baal @Eccles

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal kept to himself as the two rivals verbally sparred. He looked up at the frozen form if the Imperial, deep in thought as he listened to what the two men said to one another. The younger life forms really did get quite heated in the moment.

Preef stormed out of the room, rather quickly. Nor'baal had to wonder if he had heard any of Covaxs reply, such was the haste of his departure. Nor'baal slipped back into Huttese - clearly basic was to exiting for the others.

<Tee kougine bargon bancaie bkoha uba sey?> his interest piqued as the man spoke of their old deals. Back when the Zann Consortium had attempted to step into the fold, Covax had come to him after that groups unlucky fate, and proposed a deal that had been of interest to the Hutt. <Jee kacay fa pioye fa doth ata yeahe. Uba nan bai Hokaaen, saconba che mah dan dah mee donkhamhan. Du moova mee uba sanuba tee woy peee baua gee woy, tee bai pantkhee uemoy, bacenbie panwuepka.>

A long-lived being, Nor'baal had an excellent memory, especially when it came to business. <Hocan uba gee woy da, gee uba? Tenloss ah keueh wehca, kava gee uba bidkana mee wen dee bargon, joppay uba puna puna fa cay bu vap cohka see mee yanee?> he asked, keeping his gaze locked onto the static form of the frozen Imperial as he addressed Covax.

<Jee kacay uba kantiuka ten bapionh, lohonkeola bai wamma koumi du samou ai kae baua donba- kaa Jee dopweneha.> he reminded the Cymorrah leader <Hee Jee bauuot bai wa kaae
panwiya, Covax.>

Nor'baal paused for a second or so, stroking his sizable chin and saying <Uba yoieu mah dan, Jee woy bai paknee ata matmanbag che mee chalata peee bo cay mah chakaph, an doi haku Meecooda neu uba flunka bai bidkana mee wen dee bargon?> he recapped over his interpretation of what had taken place.

It was a complicated situation. From what Nor'baal could see, Covax had pledged to do something and then not done it, only to come back into the field once more, with credits and support, but not with the footprint Nor'baal would expect to back it up. He had mused in the past that someone or something was backing him, a rival Clan perhaps?

Covax had done little today to reassure him this was not the case.

<Um, jeejee caiot jot bu dotkenkala consue ten, mo jeejee caiot yatuka biy wa cua dan jewz ku.> he elevated his tone, as if to signify a lighter mood <Uba gee saiankesa bai manpanh, pea maeha paupe tee-tocky, peee cohka see bargon yanah, an uba banpop banag mi bai oto vo Callo an bo donba doi mee bawaha. Heee doth phike saconba, um Dobra gahke jeejee caiot bakenu wa bargon.> he remarked, before adding <Tytung caiot doth cohbana cay phabeka.>

Finally, he turned to face the man saying <Hee, sauveza bu bargon.> Nor'baal was interested to see what the man would offer, for it would need to be generous indeed.

 

[Covax]

Covax rolled his eyes as the Hutt returned to his spat filled native tongue. Just because the human crime lord could speak it, didn't mean he enjoyed doing so. His distaste for it only grew now, as Nor'baal unexpectedly recalled the parts of their old deal that the Crymorah leader had actually forgot. A mistake to be sure. A slight the Hutt seemed to want to bring attention to.

Covax gave a slight sigh along with a irritated or perhaps bored look to the larger crime lord. Then took the cigar into his lips a moment and re-lit it as be puffed away. When it was smoking one more, he took a long look at the symbol of intimidation that the Hutt was trying to express. The frozen form of the Sith.

He sighed again. Then, deciding to continue to speak in basic, replied to the Nor'baal finally. "Do not speak to me about courting conflict while hiding the dregs of the Zaa Fenn in your house Hutt." Covax said with irritation. "They did little else but cause conflict. Of that we both bare the scares."

"As for the ship, you are right. I did tell you I would not raise a fleet. While it was never my plan to change that, the opportunity was to good to pass. Now with galaxy on fire once again, I see it as insurance, or at least a reasonable level of defense." His voice taking a more calm tone as he took another pull of the cigar.

Covax then tapped the cigar to ash it over the floor of the dungeon. "You price was insulting." He said flatly. "The consortium took the deal because they were fucking stupid. I took it because I needed your blessing in order to address the other families." Both facts of which the Hutt was well aware.

Covax then turned to face the Hutt, or at least what he could of the massive slug. "I kept my end of the deal right to the point that the little alliance with the syndicates was dissolved. Then I built my station, and my fleet. I paid your price, until I had total control over the Crymorah. Then I left you to run your little worlds."

It wasn't that complicated really. The old bosses had failed. All of them dead or on the run, save for Nor'baal. The fallout of which gave way to rising leaders, like Covax and @Terra Lanris. It wasn't overnight. It just wasn't a slow a climb for the human as it had been for Nor'baal. Because there was no one to climb over. Perhaps @Emryc Thorne helped with some of the cash flow sure. But it was Covax who put in the work. Literally picking from the ashes of the Zaa Fenn and the Lower Five gangs. Stealing ships and spice from the left overs of Zann Consortium. Either with Aska or mercs like @Aden Archer.

As for his connections, even Nor'baal the Hutt knew of Covax's reputation prior to joining Preef in his quest to kill Durr. Covax was a mercenary who literally worked for anyone and everyone. Crime Lords, Sith, even a joint operation for the New Republic and Jedi. If the Hutt and the Rodian didn't see Covax's footprint on the galaxy, they were blind.

Covax took another long pull and then admired the smoke, as he now admired his own realizations of his efforts. "So here's the deal. Any business done in Hutt space, the clans get ten percent off the top. Including access to your smuggling routes. So ten percent of cargo value, I know how you love those little details. I'll even throw in those three little worlds the ZC took over without contention, cause I know how much you Hutt's love owning big useless rocks. In return, Your thugs keep out of my business, and mine will be out of yours. Win win."

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Gently, the Hutt turned away from Covax as he spoke, moving back toward the single portal into the room in which they spoke. He pondered what the man had to say as he did so, ‘stepping’ through the door, and back into the corridor proper as Covax mentioned the ‘insulting’ price the Hutt had offered him in the past. Nor’baal was unsure what to make of the man, a Sith trigger-man who had recently acquired a source of funds, and then claimed ownership of a criminal family that, from what the Hutts had seen, has little to no previous dealings with him.

Covax claimed command over the Cymorrah, yet the Mothkari did business with the Hutts, and the Zaa Fenn had internal disputes that still had yet to be settled. Nor’baal did not know what the other families had done within Cymorrah when Covax had taken over – nor did he care. What Covax did have was a collection of ships and a space station, purchased from Blackwell, or some middle-man, in Corporate Space, using credits that Nor’baal guessed, were not his.

What flabbergasted the Hutt was how the man could welch on a deal, then insult Nor’baal in his own home, mere hours after the Hutt had effectively saved the mans life, and then demand to be treated as an equal.

Perhaps it was the Hutts arrogance speaking, but Nor’baal did not view Covax as an equal, in any way. The ‘little worlds’ (as Covax called them) that Nor’baal and the Clan controlled numbered in the thousands, billions of sentient beings worked or slaved for the Clan, and a multitude beyond Hutt Space did likewise. To hear Covax effectively admit that he had abused Nor’baals patronage to take control of Cymorrah, was shocking.

But not as shocking as Covax believing he had ‘left’ the Hutts to run their worlds.
The implication perhaps being that Covax felt that it was only his lack of intervention in Hutt affairs that had enabled the Clans to control Hutt Space to begin with. He turned back, his frame blocking the door, the two Guards by the door stepping in front of him to act as a literal meat shield. The rest of his retinue filled the corridor behind him,

Nor’baal weighed his options for a matter of moments.

Zaa Fenn had assets across Hutt Space. Those assets were not controlled by the Cymorrah, they had done nothing to make that the case – Nor’baal considered them his. He saw Covax as little more than a two-bit mercenary, his pockets lined with the credits of an anonymous benefactor, and his client list consisting of Sith Order members, who now lacked the credits to enable Covax to take jobs with them.

The man was no threat at all.

”No deal.” he spat in basic. Here’s my counter offer.” Nor’baal stated flatly ”Cymorrah assets outside of Corporate Space will fall under the protection of the Hutt Clans, your spice, your smuggling, your slaves –“ he stared at the man ”-everything, I will take as payment for your unpaid fees, a fine for you breaking our deal, and as a down-payment on the debt you now owe me for not allowing this Sith to remove your head.”

His tone was hostile, and his guards could feel it. They snarled at the human, as Nor’baal rounded his counter-offer up ”The three ‘little worlds’ the Zann took are mine anyway, as you already know – I was their patron, everything they have, is mine by right.” he spat on the floor, the disrespect emanating from the Cymorrah infuriating him immensely. He had supported the Zann from the beginning, and they had come to him asking for, and securing, his support.

To be offered to keep planets that were already his, was nothing short of an insult.

Covax seemed to have forgotten he was not addressing some minor planetary crime lord, but the Leader of the single most significant organised crime cartel in the Galaxy, not to mention one that controlled a vast swathe of space.

”In return for what is mine, you can keep your stations, your ships, in Corporate Alliance space only. I’ll leave it to you to explain to your suppliers how you intend to pay them.” he sneered, before closing the door and leaving Covax trapped inside.

”Think it over.” he remarked, via the intercom, before heading off down the corridor.

Time would pass, some hours. After that, Nor'baals guards would enter the room, knock Covax out - and thereafter freeze him in carbonate.