The Treaty of Bastion

[Malon]

Sunlight broke on Bastion, shrouding the Imperial Palace with beams of sunlight from the Bastion skies. On a nearby landing pad, crews were finishing the preparations of the area for a very important diplomatic meeting that was only moments away. The Chiss diplomatic vessel was in orbit over Bastion at this very moment. Touch down wouldn't be long now.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Throne room, several aides met with the Emperor, Darth Judicar, to discuss with him the importance of this meeting.

"Might I remind you all, that I need very little advice from aids. I know the importance of the Imperial-Chiss alliance and I don't need any of you to remind me!" he barked.

The aides bowed in fear and left the Emperor's presence. Through the Force, he could sense the Chiss leader on approach. This was an important day for the Empire. It was a day that would show both the Jedi and the Alliance that the Empire still had friends in high places.

The Chiss had been allies of the Sith for far longer than the Sith had been in control of the Empire, but relations between the Empire itself and the Chiss Ascendancy were unclear. Now they would be.

The Emperor lifted himself out of his throne, summoning his four Red Robe Imperial Guards, and made his way to the treaty room.

Yes, today was to be a defining day for the Empire indeed...

 

[Mars]

The dawn was breaking on Bastion, a new day on the Empire's capital world and a new era in galactic dominance after today was over. The Chiss and Sith had been secretive allies for some time, well before the dark siders took over the Empire, but now the final terms of an official and public alliance would be ironed out.

A Chiss transport ship dropped into the atmosphere of the fortress world carrying rather precious cargo. The second Imperator of the Chiss Ascendancy rode aboard and it was protected by a group of five clawcraft starfighters. It was rare that Archaon left Csilla, prefering to send ambassadors and diplomats to deal with things relating to politics. This, however, was a full military alliance and so he would negotiate the terms himself.

The tall Chiss head of state stepped of the landing ramp with his five seasoned bodyguards, all wearing matte black armor and wielding high end Charric weaponry, not to mention the energy blade that could be activated from their right wrists. Arch didn't expect combat and frankly he was a dead man if double-crossed, however that'd be very foolish on Judicar's end. His face an impenetrable mask, his emotions in check and his voice emotionless, he stepped into the treaty room where Judicar was already present.

"Greetings Emperor. I presume the Empire is ready for the fast approaching war with those Alliance scum?" A slight grin touched his features for but a second. "How are you this morning, Judicar?"

 

[Malon]

The Emperor's chair swiveled to view the door as the Chiss Imperator, Arch'ao'nuruodo, often called Arch, walked in, flanked by his own security team. Hardly a necessity. True, it was the way of the Sith to betray, however, in this case, betrayal would only harm the Empire and the goal of the Sith. Still, Judicar didn't have much room to talk. His own Red Coat Imperial Guards flanked his seat. He couldn't take any chances.

"I'm doing well, thank you." Darth Judicar replied, putting on the facade of an elderly chief of state, though he was anything but. "I trust things are going well on Csilla?"

Darth Judicar had known the Imperator since the Sith took control of the Empire. The two had spoken many times, so for the Chiss to address him as "Judicar" was forgivable. Though he was among the very few tolerated to call him such.

 

[Mars]

Archaon maintained excellent posture in his seat with zero signs of a slouch or even bend in his back. He looked proper, but his body language showed he was relaxed and not tense. He'd deal with the Emperor before and he would have to do so more down the line so this was something the Imperator needed to have a level of comfort with.

"Yes, quite well. My people are ready to expand. Our sector of space and few outpost worlds can only contain us for so long."

Arch exhaled slowly before speaking again, folding his hands and placing them onto the table. This time his voice took on a more serious tone than before.

"I've heard reports from my agents abroad that the Mandalorians are preparing for war once again. They could be a major thorn in your side. I wondered how you planned to deal with them on the brink of war with the Alliance, fighting them as well would be rather.....difficult, no?"

The Chiss have been allies of the Sith since before they took the Empire by storm and this would give the Emperor an opportunity to utilize that so long as he listened to Archaon's request and was wise enough to see that someone else needed to handle the Mandalorians.

 

[Malon]

The Emperor also clasped his hands, reclining in his seat as if to fully take in what the Imperator had said.

"I am aware of the Mandalorian movements. I saw them in a vision through the Force. They call such a power, Farseeing. The Empire will find it most difficult to deal with the Alliance, the Jedi, and the Mandalorians." Judicar admitted, but then leaned forward, so that his elbows rested against the smooth table surface. His clasped hands supporting his aged chin, "I was hoping that I could request the Chiss people to deal with the Mandalorians. We could include it in the terms of the treaty we've come to discuss."

Once he had finished saying what needed to be said, the Emperor relaxed back into his seat. His manipulative abilities were at work. He wouldn't need the Force for this. By appearing to be a friend, a good one at that, he could garner all the help he needed from the Chiss, while focusing the Empire's efforts elsewhere.

 

[Mars]

Excellent. Judicar acknowledged needing the Chiss in order to fight a proper war against the Alliance and Jedi Order. Given their current attitude towards expansion, the Chiss welcomed an opportunity to further strengthen ties with an ally that could give them more land. Their military was well-prepared for taking on the Mandalorian war machine, they were the scalpel to the Mandalorian's sledgehammer.

"That is certainly a possibility. However, my people do not start wars unless provoked or given very good reason to do so. Whilst the Mandalorians are a bunch of barbaric fools stuck in some ancient way of life, I would not waste men of mine on purging them just because. You see, Emperor, we require some.....compensation."

Archaon allowed a slight grin to play on his features as the last word exited his mouth. He'd placed the ball back in Judicar's court and would wait to see what he offered to keep the Chiss in this fight.

 

[Malon]

The Emperor cracked a grin at this. The Imperator was so unlike the older generation of his species. Chiss were usually non-aggressive, as he had just said, however, they had gain a viciousness to them lately, due in no small part to the Sith involvement with them the past thirty years.

"Ah, yes. Compensation." Judicar began. "Once the Mandalorians are conquered, you and your people can move into Mandalorian space. It is only fair, as you will be their conquerors."

There was no change in inflection in Judicar's voice, but the man knew, secretly, that he was lying through his teeth. The Chiss would hold off the Mandalorians, hopefully even defeat them, and by that time, Judicar would have his throne where it belonged; Coruscant. He could then dispose of the Chiss and rule the galaxy unopposed.

However, at least for now, Chiss involvement was crucial to his war effort, and so the evil dictator kept these thoughts to himself. Not even his apprentice knew them. It was all apart of his plan, his vision.

 

[Mars]

Archaon's face didn't change at all. His tone gave enough of a clue as to how he felt at the moment.

"You seek to divide the spoils when the war is yet to be won, this is most foolish Emperor. As of now, the only thing I'll ask of you is simple. Free movement throughout your borders to allow me to strike at the Mandalorians. Aside from this, you offer me garbage even in the event that we do win. Broken worlds that will have been destroyed by the wars waged upon them. You'll have to offer better than that to force my hand Judicar."

Arch exhaled slowly when he finished speaking. He was insulted by the "compensation" the Emperor proposed. Judicar knows it is not like the Chiss to make the initial strike and to offer so little in exchange for a bold move like that was borderline idiotic. His emotions faded quickly, not allowing his brief spot of annoyance to get the better of him and cloud his thinking.

For so large an Empire, they surely had more to offer.

 

[Malon]

The Emperor was use to such outbursts from this one. The Chiss had changed because of the Sith, though the majority of them refused to admit it. The Emperor wasn't about to let his counterpart dodge that matter, however.

"My dear friend, do not play politics here in a closed door meeting. The two of us know the Chiss government repealed the Anti-Aggression policy and you yourself have admitted to seeking expansion. It will not take much to force your hand." he hissed, though he kept his expression calm. "Now then, I'm not without the willingness to compromise. Name your terms, and I will consider them here."

To Judicar, it didn't really matter what the Imperator asked for. In the end, the galaxy would belong to him, and he would reign for a thousand years as both Dark Lord of the Sith and Galactic Emperor. But he could not put a wedge in his plans by offending the Chiss. For now, they were a necessary pawn after all.

 

[Mars]

Archaon's hand rose to his forehead, rubbing the space between his eyes with his thumb and first finger. He was far from a big fan of bartering and wanted to get this deal done.

"I'm not going to waste time arguing over the value of my services to you. As I said before, give the Chiss unrestricted travel through Sith territory. No escorts, checkpoints or any similar hinderance. A system that my people can move to will serve as a forward operating base for any attacks and expedidite the fall of the Mandalorians, after which we can aid against the Alliance."

Taking a breath, he looked up at Judicar, meeting the gaze of the Dark Lord with his own red orbs.

"They will be a major thorn in your side otherwise. Give me the tools so that I may help you fashion your empire."

 

[Malon]

The Emperor sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin for a moment, as if thinking. Finally, he wearily nodded his head in Archaon's direction.

"Very well, I can agree to such terms." he said in a rather elderly voice.

The Emperor was inclined his head forward soon after, however, "If that matter is settled, there is something else I'd like to propose during this meeting."

 

[Mars]

Archaon's facial expreession remained the same. He'd gotten everything he could have wanted from the treaty already.

"What is that Emperor?" he said. This meeting was nearing its end and Arch was eager to leave. There were things that needed doing on Csilla to prepare his people for another war.