Ask The Wolf and the Throne: One Last Step

[Rafe]

Onboard the Lonely Cub
Open Space
S-10
Near Sleheyron

​

Plan

One should know by now that blasters don’t kill this monster..

The strikingly poor state of the Pyke Syndicate is the result of inept leadership, proof has been provided that one creature stands above the other candidates, and will lead this Syndicate to prestige and riches. Piles of credits already line the pockets of she who would simply sit back and benefit from all of the hard work of others..

No more...

Carr Pyke, the incompetent head, sits on the throne of the Pyke Syndicate fed by the body's sweat and blood.. it was under her failed leadership that Kessel was stolen from the Pykes, and she's done nothing about it.. today, that ends..

The Last Step..
@Rafe must face her alone.. Only one walks away..
1: @Rafe
2: Carr Pyke @Nefieslab

Rafe stood angrily waiting for the ship to dock, his operation had been a success, but his orders had been disregarded, willfully, resulting in a small handful of deaths, even though he had ordered full non-lethal. Rafe would eventually come to terms with the fact that that order had been almost impossible, after all if one wanted to make an omelet, they had to crack a few eggs, and in any event the operation had been a success. He'd bought the crew of the ship with loyalty and credits, so now that the passengers and all those still loyal were being held in the mess hall of the ship restrained and under guard, but mostly unharmed... save for the five or so who had been killed.

Rafe maintained, in the docking bay, awaiting the arrival of the woman who would soon no longer sit at the head of the Pyke Syndicate, Carr Pyke, he supposed this was a usurping, but reasoned that he had led the Pykes in a more profitable and powerful direction than she ever had. She'd inherited a successful Syndicate when she assumed power, since then she'd lost Kessel, the main bread ticket of the Syndicate, and lost the faith and the loyalty of the people. Rafe had brought prosperity to his fellow Syndicate members, stabilized relations with other syndicates, and subjugated a lesser known criminal organization to add additional profits to the Pyke's coffers, all the while this woman sat back useless and lining her pockets with the credits earned by the hard work of not only Rafe, but every person who flew the Pyke flag.

This would be a historic moment, the first ever non-Pyke to lead the Pyke Syndicate... Rafe hadn't even considered that during his crusade to better the Syndicate for everyone within.. either that, or it would no longer be his problem..

A moment later Rafe's comm kicked on as the bridge crew informed him she was preparing to dock, the red spinning light of the docking ring lit up a moment later confirming what the bridge had told him. She would be completely unaware of the situtation on-board as the engineering crew, as well as the bridge crew had successfully jammed any and all outbound communications. This was important to keep her from brining in heavy reinforcements, and possibly blowing the entire operation..

He had considered for a moment just doing this dirty.. just having himself and his loyal Pykes behind him open fire on her as soon as she exited the docking ring.. but Rafe was better than that, he had already decided he would speak with her first.. despite what had happened earlier, Pykes don't kill Pykes.. he thought, but if she gave him no choice.. his Peacemaker remained in his left claw..

Once she exited the ship and was withing the docking bay of the Lonely Cub, a Foray-class corvette, she would see Rafe, his blaster pistol in hand, and a dozen Pyke soldiers behind him, also armed. Rafe was under no illusion that she wouldn't understand the situation.

Carr.. Rafe would say, his tone soft but strong, I think we both knew this would happen one day.. Rafe would continue, Your leadership is no longer in the best interests of the Syndicate, You are routed, there's no reason for anyone else to die.. Rafe explained,

Pykes don't kill Pykes.. Rafe added, It doesn't have to go that way.. You can step down, let me take the lead and you can still help the Pykes from a different capacity.. Rafe explained, the woman had proved she was loyal to the Pyke Syndicate, her leadership had just proved to have become ineffective..

Or you can just walk away.. Rafe added, there was a third option.. but Rafe was truly trying to talk this out first.

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

Spoiler: Carr

Carr of the Pykes had done far worse than kill an upstart because he dared to try and challenge her. Anyone who thought she had a hand in her own brother's death was clearly a liar and a scoundrel but everyone knew that she had moved on from it incredibly quickly. So when she boarded the ship she could feel something was wrong from the get-go and hand palmed her own Peacebringer pistol and urged her bodyguard contingent to do the same.

Three Pykes readied their T-0M E-Guns and a massive Wookiee, Bar'astan, readied his bowcaster. Bar'astan had been with her for years at this point as someone who could offer swift and immediate violence when she called upon him. Just in the same way it paid to keep a savage-looking Nelvaanian like Rafe, sometimes it paid to keep someone close by who could bash in some skulls.

"Anyone else to die - meaning you've already broken that same rule. Pykes don't kill Pykes... but you do if they don't see eye to eye with you, I see." she spoke back with a raised eyebrow underneath her mask, her words more for the other Pykes in the room than for Rafe, "You disappoint me Rafe. Already you break you words to those who would follow you."

She tilted her head up.

"You believe you would be a better leader but already you've broken your own tenants the second it suited you and, worse, you're new blood to the rest of the Syndicates. Good, certainly, but easy to play. You have no experience with manoeuvring at this level, Rafe." She shook her head, "You lead a bloody rebellion and run a few good deals and you think that's all there is to this Grand Game. You're still thinking like a mid-boss. Leaving you alone with the Syndicate would be a disservice to my people."

Carr gestured to Rafe.

"No, I like you gumption, Rafe, but you're not ready. Counter proposal; you become my Second and my Successor. You actually learn what it means to be the leader of the Pyke Syndicate before you take the controls and inadvertently steer us into a black hole."

@Mad Dog

 

[Rafe]

She was partially right, two of the men Rafe had brought had killed Pykes on this ship today, even though Rafe himself didn't commit the murders, he knew it was still on him. But that was a very less important issue, in time it would be known, for now it could rest..

Rafe's entire life was a disappointment, as such there was no surprise with the woman accused him of being such. Rafe simply remained calm as she spoke, he and everyone else here already knew Rafe would be the one to lead the Pykes to prosperity, Fhtagn, he already had.. With Carr as the head the Pyke Syndicate had no income, and was on the verge of collapse, and everyone, including Carr knew that, their numbers fell, and disarray had already started, Rafe stopped that, he brought them back, he turned them in the direction of success, no what she said was false...

Then she made the offer.. it was a hard offer.. and Rafe almost considered it, but he knew it was a pile of Nerf Skat, the minute he turned his back she'd shoot him, just like anyone who got in her way.. he almost wanted it to be true though.. Carr wasn't just the inept leader of the Pykes... she had been his mentor, for a time, someone Rafe had once looked up to..

Carr.. you know as well as I do.. Rafe began, he didn't want this to devolve to name calling and skat talking, but... If it weren't for me, the Pykes would have dissipated.. You lost us Kessel and failed to set up any fall backs.. the pockets of every Pyke, except you, went empty.. if it weren't for me, the Pyke Syndicate wouldn't even exist anymore.. Rafe continued, Under my lead we took Zar four, and made the Materiaalaankopen our lap dogs.. we have a permanent, undeniable income now.. and once we bleed that planet dry we'll take a new one no one's ever head of, without having to fight one of the galaxy's largest governments.. Rafe said, Fhtagn, my work is why the lights are still on in this very ship.. Rafe added, It was all true if Rafe hadn't started the Pyke slaver operation, none of them would be here right now, My work puts fuel in the tanks, and credits in every pocket in this room.. Rafe added again..

Rafe would watch her and the Wookiee closely, the Pykes behind her were of little concern, but Bar'astan was not someone to simply scoff at, he was a dangerous killer, much like Rafe, the difference between Rafe and he was the river of intelligence in Rafe's head.

Rafe saw briefly as the Pykes standing behind Carr looked at eachother, they knew, and Rafe knew even Bar'astan did as well, that Carr didn't have their best interests in mind. Carr it's a new Era, we now have a lasting permanent peace with the Hutt Clans, and with the Zann Consortium, because of me.. in cooperation with other Syndicates we can thrive, the safety of our space has never been more secure.. because.. of.. me.. Rafe said, Step down.. let's do this peacefully.. Rafe added, he knew he was asking a lot, but she had to see she could still be rich, and powerful if she let Rafe lead..

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

Carr scoffed loudly.

"Did you see me surrendering?" she challenged Rafe, before gesturing to the assembled Syndicate members, "Did any of you see me surrendering to the ISC? No. We lost Kessel because a HUTT sold us out. Those same Hutts that you would tie us closer together with because... why? Because things have always been that way?"

The current leader of the Pykes was no fool - she would have destroyed Kessel to rob their enemies of a potential credit-making enterprise and killed thousands of them in return. But no, the faith of foot soldiers on the ground had been in their Hutt 'allies' who had rolled over and presented the white flag as soon as the ISC decided to get bloody.

"Your way would see us scrape for scraps from the table that kicked us to the floor in the first place. Your way has kept us afloat, yes, but draining planets of resources and discarding them like half-eaten fruit? Madness." she scowled underneath her helmet, "The Pykes ran Kessel for millennia... under your leadership it would be a husk inside half a decade."

Drawing herself up to her full height, her supporters did shuffle behind her but they were using their bodies to block what they were actually doing from sight. No one raised a blaster at least and beside her and Bar'astan barred his teeth at Rafe.

"You speak of permanent peace with the Hutts... we had that right up until they betrayed us and handed Kessel over to the ISC. You speak of permanence while also speaking of draining resources dry in the space of months. Your era... I wish it well, Rafe, but it will be quick, bloody and ultimately pointless."

She holstered her pistol and held out her hand to Rafe to shake.

"I've no desire to die and I've no desire to see the last remnants of the Pykes die with you when my men's thermal detonators tear a hole in the side of the ship. Keep what you have earned Rafe - me and mine will leave. There's an Empire that could use a line of good spice. After all... the Galaxy is a big place."

@Mad Dog

 

[Rafe]

She was right, she didn't surrender, but just the same as Rafe was responsible for the Pyke deaths that just occurred, she was also responsible for the loss of Kessel, even though neither of the two actually committed the acts, they both held responsibility for them, such was the life much to their dismay..

As she spoke of the Hutts, Rafe knew a more unified organization was the key to their collective survival, the ISC had come for one group, the Crymorah, and all of them paid the price.. the former weakness of not just the Pykes but of all of their counterparts would be put to an end with Rafe, and the others he was seeing rise.

When she referred to his way as half-eaten fruit Rafe was actually somewhat confused, the time it would take to bleed that planet dry would be generations, there was billions on that planet.. Rafe would probably be long since dead before their pet planet was sucked dry. But slavery was not Spice mining, he had plans for that as well, somewhere other than kessel, but needed to flush the Pyke Syndicate with income first before that could be applicable.

Rafe had been quiet as she berated him, however when Bar'astan's teeth showed, Rafe's grip on his Peacemaker hardened, then... her tone changed, it wasn't so much anger anymore, it had turned to a frustration, Rafe got the impression she was simply fed up with everything she'd had to deal with.. that was fair, the current state of the Pykes even with all of Rafe's work, still had plenty more making up to do.

Is she conceding?.. Rafe thought, she'd holstered her pistol, and spoke about not only not wanting to die, but not wanting the others around them to die, and her intent to simply leave the Syndicate... In Rafe's mind this was the second best scenario, Rafe had really hoped he could keep her on, despite all of the problems she'd left unaddressed her influence carried weight, and she was family..

When she said she and hers would be leaving, a brief memory of the woman, Bar'astan, and Rafe flashed in his mind of the three of them drinking together jovially.. but the Syndicate's future came first before Rafe's personal feelings..

Rafe kept his peacemaker in his left claw, and his eyes peeled on Bar'astan and the few Pykes behind her, but stepped forward to meet her, his massive right claw out to shake her available hand, Carr, despite all of this, you'll always have a home here... Rafe didn't say it, but nodded at Bar'astan to hopefully convey that the offer stood for all of them who were about to leave. The moment was highly emotional, but Rafe maintained his calmness, his preparedness..

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

There was a palpable tension in the hallway even with Carr offering her hand after holstering her blaster pistol. Bar'astan, after all, was someone who's view of loyalty was very different to Rafe's own and the large Wookiee warrior took exception to it being shoved in his face. As much as Rafe was loyal to the idea, to the entire framework, of the Pyke Syndicate, Bar'astan was loyal to Carr above all others. It was only because of that same loyalty that he obeyed when Carr gave no command to attack Rafe and his supporters.

Carr, for her part, was frustrated but she was not one to throw away what she had for the chance of short-term gains. The time might come where she was at odds with Rafe's version of the Syndicate and that time might end up with them being forced to fight to the death but it was not today. They both had options aside from the violence and they were both smart enough to prefer not to risk losing.

Odds might be stacked in Rafe's favour but only a fool threw away a victory for a roll of the dice between success and utter failure.

"Lets be real, Rafe." she shook her head as she shook hands with her former subordinate, "You've taken my home from me, utterly. Any who would welcome me back would be potential dissidents against your rule. Any who do not would hate me. There is no home here - so I'll make a new one elsewhere."

She let his hand go and nodded once.

"Good luck."

Stepping away, Carr would head back to the shuttle which, if given chance, would disconnect from the corvette and head back planetside as the former leader of the Pyke Syndicate flew off toward a new life.

@Mad Dog

 

[Rafe]

The air was thick, so thick Rafe could feel it between his teeth, his heart beating several times faster than normal, he fully expected a surprise attack, especially once his hand met Carr's..

She was wrong however, Rafe's move wasn't just to take the leadership for himself, though from the outside that is what it looked like, but the two of them were on the inside, Rafe just had need of her position to move the Syndicate in the proper direction.

It wasn't a fear of reprisal, it was her logic, stating the other Pykes would hold it either against her or himself if she were to stick around, though it would be best if she wasn't around, Rafe would have seen to quelling that sort of behavior himself to keep her, either way that clearly wasn't necessary now..

Rafe nodded in return, Be safe Carr.. Rafe would respond.

Once the woman left the Corvette, Rafe nodded to his dozen men, and made his way to the bridge, once there he spoke to the bridge crew, Dispatch a few men, make sure she is safe for the night.. Out the transparisteel he could see her shuttle, it'd disembarked from the Corvette and was heading back down to Sleheyron. For only a brief moment he considered turning the Lonely Cub's turbolasers on it, but his word was given, she'd been offered life in exchange for the throne, a deal she'd taken, and Rafe would see to it his word was upheld..

After it disappeared from view, the first step had been completed.. now the real work would begin.. Rafe took his seat..

[EXIT THREAD]
Special thanks @Nefieslab​