Ask Trading for Glory

[Wodan]

Glory, fame and strength were the only things which could truly keep a member of the Sith Order from being snuffed out by a rival or disgruntled senior within the ranks. The Firrerrian seemed to suffer from the last of those three, so he would have to concentrate on the others instead. The dire straits the Empire had found itself in were a perfect place for Wodan to gather a little Glory and Fame which didn’t involve him swinging his lightsaber.

He was due to head out to meet both with the Corporate Sector and the Chiss Ascendancy, however both of these were with other members of the Empire. Even if he led the expeditions, the Glory and Fame would be spread between them, here on Nal Hutta anything good and anything bad would fall solely on his head.

With that mental pick me up fresh in his mind, Wodan strolled through the waiting room of Nor’baal Desilijic, the Hutt had been around long before The Firrerrian had made his entrance into the Galactic Stage and he had no doubt he would be here long after Wodan took his last breath. That was just how the Hutt’s seemed to exist within the Galaxy, constantly there, on the edge of everything, there slimy little paws prodigy at the edges.

Wodan couldn’t help but nearly gag the first time he landed on the planet, his sensitive nose assaulted by the intense concoction of foul odours. Luckily, he had not been seen straight away and the hour he had waited allowing him to take control over his reflexes so as he entered the Hutts audience chamber he didn't hurl on the floor.

He wore a simple black uniform, a thick eyepatch covering the empty socket and was followed by two individuals. The first was an Imperial protocol droid, Wodan knew a few languages but Huttese was not one he had ever had the chance or desire to learn, so he required something to translate for him. Or at least to confirm that the Hutts translator wasn’t being purposefully inaccurate, the second was a Green Skinned Twi’Lek female.

Wodan understood the moral compass that had guided the Empire to ban slavery within its system, but he wasn’t so morally strict to not allow his own compass to drift to fit into the world of the Hutts. Once he was introduced to the Hutt he would give the giant slug a deep and flourished bow. “Supreme Mogul, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with me today.” The years of court training he had as a child coming to the front as he spoke.

“I come to discuss a business arrangement between the Hutt Clans and the Empire. But first, please accept my gift.” He pointed towards the Twi’Lek woman who stepped forward, her head slightly bowed in fear of both the Sith and the Hutt who was her new owner.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Sith seemed to be like number nine busses.

You didn't see any for ages, then two came at once!

Since the recent attempt on his life, Nor'baal had quadrupled his guard. Rancors and their handlers patrolled outside the walls of the Palace, and rifle-armed guards dotted the walls, manning E-Webs and wandering to and fro. Within the grounds of the Palace, Skorpenek Droids stood guard, accompanied by clusters of Gamorreans. Whilst inside the throne room itself, Nor'baal had gone a little....overboard.

The room had been restructured.

His throne now rested on elevated dias, and was beneath a large door, enabling the Hutt to elevate the throne and flee upwards in case of emergency. Gone where the revellers, replaced instead with armed and armoured Gamorreans, vast axes in their hands, who lined each wall. At the base of the dais stood a line of larger Gamorreans, boars from the finest bloodstock, shock mauls in their right hands, and a Corellian Hound with a quick-release collar held back in their left.

To say the Hutt's paranoia had reached new levels, would be an understatement.

As Wodan entered, he was escorted by three Gamorreans, and a Rodian with quite the reputation, who ordered him to stand in a specific spot before the Hutt. There was a plate beneath him, through which electricity could course at a simple gesture from the vast slug before him.

Nor'baal looked at the man, as the four escorts took their positions in a line behind Wodan, their weapons bared, and mumbled something to his Majordomo, a fluttering Toydarian new to the job, who quickly translated "My Master is pleased with your gift, she will make a fine addition to his Palace dancers. Yet his most excellent majesty is curious, for the last time a loathsome Imperial came into his august and domineering presence, bearing appeals for 'business', he did make an attempt on my Master's life!"

The Gamorreans snarled, the dogs yelped and slathered at Wodan, as the Hutt looked furiously down from the dias, before finally speaking through his Majordomo once more.

"They even took the life of his slave!" the Toydarian nervously added, recalling hos his predecessor had died "My Master bids you speak with haste, for his patience with the spawn of Korriban, grows thin!"

 

[Wodan]

The sheer colossal amount of security was alarming to the Sith, though he believed it was just part of the Hutt’s mad paranoia. When he mentioned that another Imperial had come to do ‘business’ and ended up threatening to end the Supreme Moguls life, Wodan let out an audible sigh. Raising his hand to rub the bridge between his eyes, what idiot had chosen to try and alienate one of the only Galactic forces which the Sith didn’t have any animosity with.

Letting his hand fall from his face he gave the Hutt another bow, thought not as deep and lavish as the first. “I can only apologise for the foolish behaviour of my fellow Imperial Colleague. I hope this beauty can help ease the burden on your mind from losing your slave to that villain. Though may I ask the name of the idiot who dared offend his Supreme Majesty?” He asked, a thick emphasis on the Hutt’s title. Wodan was already fighting on a back foot because of the doofus who came before.

“I will cut to the point of the matter then. Supreme Majesty, I wish to arrange a trade deal between the Sith Empire and the Supreme Mogul for the purchase of both Starship Fuel as well as Medical Supplies.” That was the basis of the deal, the public facing side of it at least. It would be what was reported to the masses at least. Wodan would hold his tongue, he had another item to help sweeten the pot but wanted to see what the Hutt would say first.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

An apology was not what he expected. Partnered with a gift, the duo made a potent mix to assuage the Hutt's ire. <Paknee ata uen koumhaptecee!> he confirmed, having the Twi'lek led out of the room as he signalled, as clearly as he could, that the gift Wodan had offered was acceptable. "Draugr." he spat the name of the offender out, in answer to the Imperials question.

The deal that the man proposed was of considerable interest but carried great risk. Nor'baal had ordered not travel through Hutt Space for Sith transportation after all. The deal struck with the Consortium had expanded his access to Kessel in return, making it less expensive to do business there.

Technically he had not embargoed the Empire. Technically he could do business with them. He just would not want that matter public.

He decided the play the fool <Bo dee mayan uba boonowa fa hee koucaue bai banbonzay dhiuox'a an wanka mee doth heoi pee dee youkesa dah mee banba hhe Yih Bmola.> he replied <Ateema, Dobra toupee dotkot heee vehpe hee jecesaee, um la tee caie doth woy du bu kouwahe- banang dah mee tam ponoi um baw wah bacota bai jaa bimhee.> he added, signalling he was open to an offer, but would need to matter dealt with under the wraps.

Nor'baal could always entrust this matter to one of his children, or indeed to an affiliate group. Nobody would be shocked to hear that the Hutts intended to profit from a war, and profit they would if this deal went ahead - the Sith would not be getting 'mates rates' from the Clans, that was for sure. However, Nor'baal was keen to push just a little further <See pacmhanaduee bu metpa doth lhonu, fa caiot doth wa jazetkepa hahihtanha, cohka cay paupe see tee chamy dhiuox'a, notkesa wata du Yih Bmola, an dwana hoohah bai bu lhima da, che tytung Jee bla, banba wa dhopa bai paniena mi, an peee da flunka, banba wa baucayii.>[/abox3]

 

[Wodan]

A smirk split across Wodan’s face when Nor’baal mentioned Draugr’s name. Fate truly was an interesting mistress. “Ahh, I see, the Zabrak always seemed to be rather hot headed. I am not surprised he tried to threaten your Supreme Majesty, although I can see by the fine health you are in, that you were easily able to squash Darth Draugr.” Blowing smoke up the Hutt’s ass was one of the only tricks Wodan could rely on. Nor’Baal was in a strong negotiating position and both he and the Hutt knew it.

The conversation took longer than normal, Wodan having to wait for his droid to translate the Hutt’s words before he could reply. He bit his lip as Nor’Baal mentioned that whatever deal would have to be silent, he could do with the public press and praise to help him in his endeavours. He would have to do with only a select few knowing, it could work but was no ideal for what he had planned.

“I understand your concern, Supreme Majesty. However I might add something to this deal if I may. As you are aware there is currently a strict lockdown on all traffic into and out of Sith Space, unless sanctioned by the Imperial Military or Security Bureau. This of course limits some of your more lucrative business deals from being conducted within our territory.” Began Wodan, not wanting to outwardly mention illegal activities unless he accidentally offended the Hutt he hoped the Slug man knew what he was talking about.

“Now any shipments of Fuel and Medical supplies would be permitted entrance to Sith Space with little to no checks required. This would of course allow certain business transactions to forgo the need to be carried out by expensive intermediaries.” Wodan hoped that the chance to be able to push his wares, collect his security money and deal in whatever illicit items in the back alleys of Imperial Space. Would be enough for the Hutt to put aside his neutrality.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal mulled the proposal over. There was enormous risk to such a deal, the Hutt did not know how the Consortium would react if word got out that he had facilitated what would amount to moving war materials to the Empire. However, the lockdown in Imperial Space made the movement of goods much harder over, as Wodan had correctly stated.

<Uba pacmhan tee mi.> he cautioned the man. Nor'baal was deeply cautious about doing business with the Empire, especially after they had recently tried to have him killed. Of course, Nor'baal knew that the Imperial hierarchy was divided, that Draugr could have acted alone, but he could not be sure that his attempt on the Hutt's life was not part of a deliberate strategy to bring him down.

He continued <Bu jahkala bai woy yanee du D'emperiolo Bmola doth kaa Meecooda bargon cay, cueciukeu banbonzahag dah mee monbox'a dodueu mi bai patka kiuke cuee bai yatuka dan don bu bapkaha.> he added. Nor'baal could double, even triple his prices to get past the ISB blockades, he figured.

<Hocan Jee bkoha bai logna kaae doi bidkana bu D'emperiolo Keueketkoha, um whao doukhaia, Meecooda koose bu Pantahlea joniu dah Yih Bmola. Jee gee nobata siw jeejee caiot sawanba kae, um bu patka noa-a wa besnewe beanee bai mah chaweka.> he added. A war with the Consortium would be expensive, and Nor'baal quite liked to keep his money moving, rather than spending it on blowing up Consortium ships.

 

[Wodan]

Wodan nodded along as the droid translated the Hutt’s concerns, they were valid and to be honest he nor the Sith didn’t have much they could offer to ease such a threat of the ISC turning up on their doorstep. The only thing either of them could really play on is the past. “I do not believe that would be the case, Supreme Majesty, less President Thorne become a hypocrite.”

Having stayed in one place this entire time to not agitate the already agitated guards, Wodan’s limbs were starting to become restless. “Do you mind if I smoke?” He asked, pointing at the top pocket of his jacket, before slowly moving towards them and pulling out a pack and lighter. It was the only thing he could do to stop the nervous tick that made him want to grab from the Shard which was hanging underneath his clothes. After the Hutt had decided if he was able to smoke or not he continued.

“President Thorne, made a big deal and verbal outcry of the New Republic and Free World Alliance looking to force the Consortium into embargoing the Sith Empire, whilst they were at war with us and he was not. Eventually reversing all previous decisions and opening good trade links between our two Governments. If he was to now turn his back on this argument and not allow yourselves, an independent and neutral party the same rights as he once cried out for in the Galactic Senate. This would only harm his political prestige in the eyes of the Galaxy.”

“As much as the Consortium is a political, financial and military powerhouse. They still require the greater galaxy, to trade and parley with. If the Consortium begins to be seen as a with us or against us political entity. They would quickly run out of neutral parties to do business with.” Granted this was all talk, with little substance beyond the character of the man in question and Wodan’s limited knowledge of Galactic Power Politics.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal was confused as Wodan spoke, his brow remaining furrowed as he made mention of the alleged hypocrisy of the President should he move to Hutt Space. Then, Wodan reached for his top pocket, the droid translator desperately attempting to convey his request to the Hutt in time.

Yet it was too slow.

Nor'baal recoiled, rearing up in horror as the Sith moved his hands upwards. Force lightning? Maybe he intended to snap his neck just like Draugr had done to his beloved Majordomo?

<UKAUETH, KAHKESONH!> Nor'baal screamed, a desperate, strangled noise, guttural and horrific to hear.

He was going to kill him!

Paranoia swept through the Hutts body, his tail lashed and spittle flew from his mouth and he moved to slam his hand down on the trigger of the shock plate. Only to halt, as his droid desperately garbled the translation to Wodans request. Nor'baal collected himself, the room remaining tense as Guards clenched their weapons.

The droid did not translate Nor'baals outburst, allowing Wodan to continue.

He narrowed his eyes as the Imperial spoke of politics. Nor'baal did not care the comings and goings of the Core and the other planets. A nest of vipers, but lacking the venom to back up their hollow words. <Dotlamka taneee hatkocanh chahsa whao keueka-ou doth banang dah bu Lanka. Jeejee tee dotke bu woiay wei dee Kankahnox'a, bu yae an twa yiconaebee cohanlala chahsa kaae um baw wah kotka raca.> he sneered at the Wodan, his finger dangerously close to the activation button of the shock plate upon which he was standing.

<Toupee mi, D'emperiolo- uba gai lhonu metpa, um tee toupee mi see bancaie meoo uba caiot sanuba mi? Hocan, tytung tee-tocky Jee gee ba D'emperiolo bai bu Nupee, goo kon mi mooljee wodue mevag. Lwaa Jee gee jen woy fa maee?>

[/abox6]

 

[Wodan]

Maybe having a smoke was not the best thing he could have done at that moment. The Hutt was clearly hysterical after Draugr’s idiotic ploy before and that small move almost cost him his life. After both the Hutt and his guards had calmed down Wodan was able to light himself a cigarette taking a deep pool to both calm his own and Nor’baal’s nerves. “I believe you are selling yourself short, Supreme Majesty, the Clan’s are much more powerful and distinguished within the Galactic eyes than you think and any attack on your Supreme Majesty would be felt throughout the Galaxy.” Now Wodan was blowing real and figurative smoke around the Hutt.

“I am sure you will find I do not fetch a high price if any at all I am afraid, Supreme Majesty.” He replied, bowing his head in mock shame. “I am not the Dark Lord nor the Emperor, so I cannot bequeath you lands, subjects or immediate cash prizes. I can only offer you the ability to make vast sums of money by both selling Fuel and Medical Supplies to the Imperial Military as well as allowing easy and cheaper access to ‘profitable’ markets within Imperial Space. And perhaps more importantly the ability to leverage this partnership against your rivals, both within the Clan and without.”

“Neither the Pyke, Crymorah, Crimson Dawn or Black Sun groups will have the type of access to Imperial Space that you and the Clan’s have. You may do with this power as you wish, but I hope you and I both can see the opportunity this presents you, financially, politically and militarily against the other Syndicates.”

“I can’t off you much up front, but I can offer you the chance to become the richest Hutt the Galaxy has ever seen.”

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

The Imperial did make a good point, perhaps he was selling himself short? Besides, Nor'baal could already conceive of a way to make this advantageous to him. The Hutt did like a gamble and the pledge to offer 'vast sums' by selling fuel to the Empire was one he liked the sound of.

It was worth the risk.

<Dobra uai bankop bai paknee ata tah metpa, um Jee hatkocanh bakanu wa joniu beeska mu-moolee, coh pa uba nobata siw kouheve mevag caiot cahcata. Du moova mee, Meecooda katka wa shlon uemoy an gee fa banba biweoo dhiuox'a bai pawa bo see mee keueka-ou uemoy.> he agreed, nodding slowly. The cargo ships he already had, a Hutt Lord could lay their hands on basic hauliers with ease. He would install the lead ship with AI Newton had gifted him, and staff the ships with droids in order to avoid attracting suspicion if they where inspected or seen.

<Mee cuaee lhonbe uemoy, caiot manpanh mah nakiheu boga ree bu monbox'a> he added. If Nor'baal was to take a risk such as this, he did not want to see his efforts go to fuelling something unimportant, after all.

<Woy jeejee gee wa bargon?> he asked, silence falling across the room, as the Hutt played his hand, and waited for the Imperial to agree.

 

[Wodan]

“Once we have concluded our business here I will send word to Imperial Command informing them to prepare the required payment for the Fuel.” He replied, it seemed the deal was almost complete, it was just the final details which needed to be ironed out.

Wodan’s eyes widened slightly when Nor’baal mentioned bringing their largest fleet to be fueled, which would help drastically in their ongoing war effort. “The bounty of your generosity is truly the vain of all Hutts.” He replied with another eloquent flourished bow. Nor’baal could have just half assed this, get the money and access to Imperial space with the minimal amount of actual impact on the Imperial war effort. Protecting him from any potential backlash the ISC could kick up, but no the Hutt was going all in it seemed.

“We have a deal, Supreme Majesty.” He replied, dipping his head. “Now if you may allow, I should contact the Imperial High Command to arrange the fleet.” If Nor’baal allowed it, Wodan would excuse himself from the audience room and back into the waiting area.

Finding a private hole in the wall, he would use his secure encrypted comm to contact the Empire. After a few rounds of security he would be patched through to the one person who could trust. “Altair (@Sreeya) , I have been able to secure a source of Fuel and Medical Supplies from the Hutts. Our graceful supplier his Supreme Majesty has requested we assemble our main fleet for him to refuel. The meeting point has been arranged within neutral space, I am sending coordinates. Your Welcome.”

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

<X'hoo. Jee lwaa woy chamoha-oba- cha koupankankesa mi, D'emperiolo, che Dobra paknee ata wa lhonu metpa woy yanee cay uba.> Nor'baals voice echoed across the room, as he dismissed the Sith with a wave of his hand. There was much to do, resources to muster and ships to mobilize, and Nor'baal would uphold his end of the deal...

---

Some days later...

It had taken some doing, but with the resources the Supreme Mogul cold command, he had mustered a flotilla of ships and enough coaxium to fill their cargo holds to the brim. Nor'baal expected to be richly rewarded for this job, thanks to the promises made to him. As such as he sat in his Palace on Nal Hutta, Wodan long since dismissed from his presence to no doubt inform the Empire of his success, the Hutt opened up a video screen and conversed with the commander of the flotilla.

A line of Interceptor Class Bulk Cruisers had been made available for this job. Each was packed to the gunnels with Coaxium, each ship to be paired up with an Imperial Warship as per the Siths requests. Nor'baal had staffed each of the ships with droids, doing his best to make it as hard as possible for information leak about this venture.

There would be one ship for each warship the Empire sent. The lead cargo ship had been fitted with the S3 AI, which Newton had give him. Nor'baal was loathed to see it used in such a way, but he was determined the payoff for this mission was worth it. "Are you at the rendevous?" he asked the AI across the communications suite.

It blinkered and replied "Affirmative. The Coaxium is safe, we have made gradual progress to ensure safety, each pallet of the product has been kept on repulsor-sleds to ensure stability." it confirmed. Nor'baal nodded, if those sleds fell of gave way - he shuddered at the thought, they would not, he was sure.

"Very well. Open a link to Wodan." he ordered, hailing the Imperial. Once the link was opened, the cargo ships would form a long snaking line, close enough to one another to stay secure, in a convoy, and enable the Imperial Warfleet to connect to them, one cargo ship to each war ship, and commence the transfer of their precious cargo.

 

[Wodan]

The fleet which had been assembled was not the largest the Empire had to offer, they could not rule out treachery and having their greatest military asset pulled massively out of position during a war was not ideal. But the fleet itself was still large enough that the fuel shipment would still be felt across the Imperial War Effort. Wodan had also secured fuel haulers of his own to take any excess fuel that Nor’baal had supplied and return them to Sith space.

Although Wodan had secured the deal himself, he still did not have enough clout within the Empire to be put fully incharge of the operation. Admiral Onass, instead led the fleet out of Hyperspace at the rendezvous point. “Champion Wodan.” The comms officer called out from the small section behind the bridge of the Resurgent Class Star Destroyer which was the fleet's flagship. Turning and stepping away from Admiral he nodded at the officer. “Encrypted line from Hutt Space.” “Put him through.”

A moment later the tell-tale voice of the Hutt Supreme Mogul could be heard. “Supreme Majesty, it is an honour to hear your voice again. We are in position and ready to begin the fuel transfer. Once hooked up, the transport attached to this ship will be supplied with the agreed funds.” To help secure both the Hutts secrecy and their own, the payment was to be made in rare metals and credits rather than Intergalactic Bank Transfer.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

<Fa doth dan bai babau doi uba.> the Hutt lied. He wanted his reward, his riches as promised. Slowly, the fleet moved into position, connecting up to the various warships that had been sent, as well as to the additional fuel tankers which had been available by Wodan and the Admiral. His payment was to be made his 'flagship', the AI-fitted cargo haulier, it would seem.

Nor'baal licked his lips in anticipation, as the ships started linking up.

<Jee paupe dotmay uba tee dotke dopo bai kouuanu uonza mi D'emperiolo.> he snickered down the communications link. As his ships connected up, Nor'baals AI informed him it would take some considerable time for the docking tubes to be connected, around five minutes, followed by upwards of an hour to get the cargo transported over.

He waited for conformation that the Imperial ships where connected, so he could give the order to commence unloading to his droids.

 

[Wodan]

Wodan was rightly nervous of the entire situation. It didn’t take much for this to turn sour and betrayal was not something so far from the Hutts table. The fact the idiotic Draugr had so recently tried to kill the Hutt meant that Nor’baal had more than one reason to double cross Wodan and the Empire. “I have thrown in a few personal gifts, as a thank you for being such a gracious host.”

Along with the aforementioned rare metals and credits was another pair of beautiful Twi’Lek women, ‘liberated’ from a nearby slave trader on orders of the Sith. Along with a baby Rancor the Firrerrian had purchased personally. Both he and the Empire needed this transaction and the ones to come to run as smoothly as possible, buttering up the Hutt was the best way to continue this partnership and mend the damage caused by the Sith Councilor.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

As the convoy connected up to the Imperial Warfleet, the commander of each bridge crew confirmed that the connection had been made and the cargo was ready to transfer. In the cargo bays across the convoy, astromech units moved into position next to the sledges carrying the load, prepared to do their task. Nor'baal waited patiently as every ship linked up, ready to give the order to proceed.

He licked his lips, the taste of the reward for his task palpable upon them.

<Doa.> he gave the order across an open channel to all his cargo ships, and the droids undertook their task. As one, the astromech units deactivated the hover sledges holding the Coaxium, destabilising the canisters as they crashed into the floor, detonating en masse across the entire length of the convoy.

Each vessel linked to an Imperial Ship was stacked with the stuff. Twenty kilotons of highly volatile Coaxium went up in a matter of seconds, tearing through the cargo ships and the imperial vessels to which they were attached for 'refuelling'. Nor'baal remained silent as his communication link to Wodan echoed with the sounds of alarms and panic.

He was silent for a few moments as the S3 AI blinked out of existence, immolated in the devastating explosion that would tear apart the Imperial Warfleet.

Then, he spoke down the communicator with deadly calm <Mee Kacmahea banba kahkesonh bai mah banki danko! Uba dopo bai killya, mi!>] he snarled down the communications channel <Banba hea kahkesonh peee uba banag. Um cobaya gahkesa, joppay Jee banba bo bai D'emperiolo Bmola, Jee lwaa tee dayan bai banba andoba!>

Nor'baals tail slammed against the base of his throne as he undulated at his victory. He reared up to his full height, rejoicing in the sounds of carnage that came down his communicator. This deception had cost him a fortune, but fortunately, Nor'baal the Hutt had several of them to call upon. It was worth every single peggat. He sneered, a job well done.

<Hhonoo hhonteu>​

/exitthread

 

[Wodan]

Perhaps the ease at which this had all taken place should have rung alarm bells for the Sith. But his pride and desire to help Altair and the Sith war effort had seemingly blinded him to any betrayal from the Hutt. The smile on his face as the transfer began quickly vanished as explosions began to erupt across the convoy ahead of him. In that moment he knew it had all been a ploy, ever since he stepped foot inside the Hutt’s palace this had all been a game to Nor’baal a chance to enact some greater revenge on the Sith Empire for the fool Draugr’s stupid tantrum.

Wodan was moving before he even realised it, sprinting towards the nearest escape pod, The Force pushed through his body as he moved. The Sith knew time was of the essence and he didn’t have the time to wait for others, as soon as he was in the pod he hit the escape button. Leaving the rest of the bridge crew to die, Nor’baal’s words echoed through his head as he drifted through space.

One day he would have his vengeance on the Hutt and all that wronged him. But first he had something he needed to collect…

____
End Thread