Ask To Woo the Woostri

[Jasnah Atreides]

Gopsthal, Woostri​

Gopsthal, the capital city of Woostri, was a technological marvel. With almost every aspect of the planet's civic operation automated and controlled from here, the capital was the heart of the planet and a showcase for everything that the planet hoped to represent. Traffic flowed smoothly, any emergencies were immediately dealt with, the police force had almost no delay in response times, which in turn cut down on crime. It was impressive, but it wasn't why they were here. As great as the planet's automation as, it was a result of their near peerless research facilities, and the repository of data stored in the HoloScan Database. Access to those research facilities and the data stored in the Database would be an immeasurable asset to the Empire.

The only problem was that the Woostoids knew that, they knew just what their worth was, and how much they had to offer. This had meant that any attempts to deal with them had always begun with the Woostoids having the upper hand. But times had changed, the emergence of the Killiks had changed everything. The Woostoids were academics, almost peerless in their areas of expertise, but they were not warriors. They were not prepared to defend themselves against the Killik threat. And the Sith, the Sith had made it abundantly clear that they knew just how to deal with this new threat. That was their in, the bargaining chip they had been looking for.

"All these people." She mused as she stared out the speeder window at the sea of bodies milling about outside a building that their pilot droid had identified as the Woostri University. "Completely oblivious to the significance of our presence here. Must be nice," she turned to give Imani a smile, "not having such burdens to carry on their shoulders. Do you ever wonder, what it would be like to be one of them, to lead a simpler life?"

 

[Imani Din]

The Tiefling woman listened to Jasnah muse about the ignorance of the masses with half an ear while she looked out the window herself. They were here to convince the Woostoids to join the Empire, which meant convincing them that they would benefit from the Empire - and not just the other way around. There would be, of course, benefits, but getting the proud species to see that might prove a bit of a challenge.

"Borin' to us, perhaps," Imani answered with a non-committed tone. She'd grown up on a farm, and while things had been far from simple, it was certainly much more simple than what she did now. Sometimes she missed it, but she knew she could never go back. "Shall we get a move on?"

Being late to the meeting would definitely not be a good first impression.

tag: @Wit

 

[Jasnah Atreides]

As the speeder came to a stop outside a large building, and the droid left moments after the two Sith had stepped out. A Woostoid woman was waiting for them, and approached them with a welcoming smile on her lips.

"Representatives of the Empire," she said as she reached forward with a hand to shake their hands, "welcome to Woostri. I am Mizu Tahan, minister of galactic affairs. Please, this way." She began leading them into the building, past a security check and onto an autowalk that lead deeper into the building. "I must say what an honor it is to meet you both. I did my thesis on the old Galactic Empire, on the successes and shortcomings of Emperor Palpatine's government. It is remarkable how easily your Empire has recreated the order and structure that was the highlight of its predecessor."

"Uhh," not having expected that, Jasnah took a moment to compose herself, "thank you. It...it is what we strife to achieve." Mizu smiled, pleased that the Sith seemed to agree with her, and as they stepped off the autowalk she turned down a corridor and through a doorway into a decent sized conference room.

"Please," she pointed towards the two seats on one side of the oval table in the center of the room, as she took the only seat across from it, "have a seat." As they got seated, droids poured in, serving drinks and setting out snacks before them.

"So, shall we begin?"

@lizziie

 

[Imani Din]

"Minister Tahan," Imani responded with a respectful dip of her head, then accepted the Woostoid woman's handshake. "I am Imani Din, and this is Jasnah Atreides. It's an honor to meet you as well," she added warmly, not visibly taken off guard by the woman's apparent familiarity with the "successes" and "shortcomings" of the former Empire. Clearly, there was a purpose to the statement, and Imani figured it was some sort of tactic to get them on the defensive. Clearly, she wanted them to know she knew about them.

Imani stood in front of one of the seats Minister Tahan gestured to, but didn't take a seat until after the minister had.

"Let's. But first, I'm curious. It's been a while since I've spoken to someone so familiar with the old Galactic Empire. What got you interested in the topic for your thesis?"

tag: @Wit

 

[Jasnah Atreides]

"It was not my first choice," she began with a smile, "I was a semester from graduation when the Sith revealed themselves, and the Empire started taking shape. It was a gamble, one that payed off." She picked up the glass of water before her, taking a sip before continuing.

"There can be no lasting peace without order. Order brings stability, stability brings progress. We have found order and prosperity on Woostri, we live our lives not consumed by a daily grind for survival, but rather pursuing our own passions. The Empire," she continued, her passion on the topic very evident by the manner in which the words just rolled out, "presented an opportunity to offer the same for the Galaxy. A galactic utopia, if not for the obvious flaws in their diplomatic inclinations. War, is not the way to bring peace. The return of this new Empire presented an opportunity for me to study the old Empire in a new light, to hypothesize how it might succeed where Palpatine failed."

"So," Jasnah chimed in, curious to hear an outsider's take on the matter, "are we living up to those expectations? Or are we repeating the mistakes of the past?" Mizu smiled, and nodded before responding.

"I cannot tell, not yet. But there is hope, there are signs that give me hope. Tell me, what makes your Empire so different from its predecessors? What do you think brought us here, that made people like me root for you?"

@lizziie

 

[Imani Din]

Imani listened quietly while Minister Tahan spoke, giving the woman her utmost attention. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Jasnah as well, curious to see how the woman would conduct herself in political settings. After all, between the two of them, Jasnah was the one with the stronger diplomatic background. Imani hoped to jump into such a position one day, but for now, she only had her ISB background to aid her and her diplomacy.

To Jasnah's question, the Minister Tahan gave a neutral answer. She couldn't tell yet, Imani thought to herself, repeating the woman's own words in her mind. What made the Empire so different from its predecessors, and why did people like the Minister root for them?

"What makes a father different from his son?" Imani asked, throwing the rhetorical question out into the air with a moment of pause before she continued. "The father teaches his son all he knows, but as the son grows and learns from those lessons, he not only sees the good in his father's teachings but the flaws as well." Imani clasped her hands together in her lap and leaned forward ever so slightly. "Though the Empire today shares a name with the empires of the past, we are not one and the same. While the Empire of yesterday was more interested in resources than people, the Empire of today is much more interested in the mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Do you mean allowing governments to keep up their current operations?" the Minister prodded. "As I recall, your Empire has not always left things as-is."

"Like I said," Imani would continue with a pleasant smile. "Our Empire has no interest in domineering over those who do not need it. There is no need to fix what isn't broken, so to say. Woostri, if they were to join the Empire, would not experience any major changes to their government. Especially if their representatives-" Imani strengthened her eye contact with the woman and smiled just a tad bit wider. "-Understand the mutual benefits of such an arrangement."

tag: @Wit