Ask Tatooine Kiss the Ring.

[Covax]

Covax flew the Infiltrator over the vast dune sea that was just north of Mos Espa. He really couldn't remember the last time he had been to Tatoonie, and truth be told he didn't really want to. It was a dry hot dump of a world, and no matter how hard you tired to avoid it. The sad got in, everywhere. Parts, weapons, inside the ears. Fucking everywhere.

Plus, despite being technically governed by the ISC and there by under the watchful eye of Covax's benefactor. The planet was still a slimy hotbed for the criminal underworld. None more slimy then the Slugfather himself. Which was why the former mercenary was here. If the human wanted to make a play for the Crymorah seat, he would need the blessing of another Crime Lord.

With the Crymorah familys vying for a seat at the table, as well as the hard hits to other criminal factions. Covax understood that the time was now. He would of rather it was @Aska Ryun making the play for power. But he'd not seen his sister from another Mrs. in some time. Hopefully she was happy wherever she was. For Covax, there was no retirement on the mission. Rebuild.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

"Covax, your grand enormity." the Majordomo remarked, as it fluttered up to Nor'baal, reminding him that he had a meeting on the way. Nor'baal let out a loud harrumph. <Coo?>

His Majordomo looked confused for a split second, before rapidly hiding his expression - calling to mind what had happened to the last Majordomo who had suggested his Master was not fully abreast of his affairs. "Ah, my apologies, Supreme One. I had forgotten to brief you," he lied "- Covax is a Syndicate Member, we believe him to have previously been one of Callos men, of course, he has now denounced this link"

"He has not said what he wan -" Nor'baal silenced the Majordomo with a simple gesture of his hand <Fa doth doiebanh haku goo banag. la doth tytung bu boe, bap bai dwana kaa dah mah hahwa, cahcata bai killee kaee mo bai dopo an je killya.> he chuckled, his Majordomo fluttering out of wacking distance.

<Cohou jen du. jot ten neu pea bo fa doth yabee.>

 

[Covax]

Covax would enter the massive room of the Hutt and glanced around. One, because he was a merc at heart and alway looked for numbers of possible enemies, and exits. Two, because having never been in a Hutt's palace before, he was kinda surprised. It was opulent sure, but not as much as the human expected.

The human Vanguard had forgone his usual armor, and instead choosing a casual jacket and tac-pants set. He was of course still wearing his utility belt and most of his weapons, save for the rifle. He was a criminal, not a moron.

Behind him walked four Twi'lek civilians. Slaves he had captured a few months back with his old partner. They were all linked together and two of them carried a sealed case between them, large enough to hold a youngling.

The Crymorah Vanguard stood before the massive bulk of Nor'baal and respectfully bowed his head before speaking in passable human accented Huttese. "Thank you, your eminence for taking the time to meet with me. My name is Covax, Vanguard of the Crymorah syndicate. And new boss of the Zaa Fenn Family." He said respectfully as he dropped what was perhaps a bombshell on the slug.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal visibly bristled as Covax announced himself as the 'new boss' of the Zaa Fenn crime family, a family he had expressly banned from the Syndicates, as part of a deal with the Consortium. <Ba chalanh notkesa.> he rumbled by way of reply.

The return of Zaa Fenn was, no doubt, going to cause sizable concerns within the Syndicate. After all, their operations had been free for anyone to take out since Nor'baal had declared them exiled from the Syndicate itself, and now with someone claiming to represent them once again, a recipe for conflict was clear for all to see.

<Haku koose uba bai Hokaaen?> he asked. Truth be told, Nor'baal was not overly concerned with a new player on the scene, the lesser gangs could fight one another if they wished - the Hutts were more than happy to sit back and watch.

 

[Covax]

Covax could easily see that the Hutt had his hackles raised at the mention of Zaa Fenn, and why wouldn't he. First Callo with the Sith, then Gin with Mon Cala. The ZF was a huge spotlight and subsequent black eye to the syndicates. The human Vanguard knew that, but he also knew there was to much infrastructure and assets to let go or let the Loth-vultures pick apart.

"I'm here for your blessing." Covax said directly. "I'm aware of our status, as I am aware you tired to feed us to those half wit upstarts, the Consortium." He continued. "As I'm sure you spies have already told you, I had a hand in the burning of their drive yard. As well as some other ventures."

Covax let that sink in, if the Hutt wasn't aware, he certainly was now. "The Consortium has made a mockery of the Syndicates, and the other Lords and Bosses are stagnating, growing fat and lazy." He said, then paused a moment. In case the droid needed to translate. "You need us."

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Keeping his face impassive, the Hutt listened as Covax outlined what it was he was here for. Zaa Fenn had been nothing but trouble, under Callo they had attempted to seize control of Hutt Space in its entirety, even encouraging Hutticide, and then they had taken to attacking the ISC.

All in all, they were a disaster for anyone who went near them.

However, they had also been quite useful at destabilising some of his enemies, which had enabled Nor'baal to expand his own operations with considerable ease. Truth be told the Hutt didn't much care for who was active in the Syndicate, as long as they respected the long-established order of things. In a way, Nor'baal merely tried to act as a stable element at the top of the Clans, keeping the order, and trying to keep internal fights to a minimum.

So far, it was a system that appeared to be working.

Not that the Hutt was surprised. His species had always acted thus, and periods of unprecedented prosperity had normally followed, it was only when some of the Gangs under the Hutts' protection got any funny ideas that things went south for the world of crime.

<Bu Pantahlea doth uiuba bai bu Lanka.> Nor'baal stated, bluntly. Ever since Grace had walked into his palace, and asked for his blessing, much like Covax did now, she had ensured to pay her tithes on time, and in full. Nor'baal wondered whether Covax would seek to do the same.

Yet, with the immolation of the Kowak Drive Yards, the Consortium had been weakened, and he had not seen, nor heard, from Grace in some time. However, the destruction of the yard kept the Consortium from pursuing its tactic of aggravating powers beyond Nor'baals influence - so perhaps it was a worthy trade-off?

<In ting uba bahva bai woy wa baucayii see mi Covax?> he blurted, a tinge of humour in his tone. If the Consortium was to be replaced by the Zaa Fenn, the last thing Nor'baal wanted was to be out of pocket! As for the other Lords and Bosses 'growing fat and lazy', this was a state of affairs that suited the Hutts well. After all, what was the point of staggering wealth if not to enjoy it?

<Jot mi jot uba du dah wa kaae baphake Covax.> he moved down from his throne, and took the mans arm, before slowly slithering off with Covax down one of the corridors leading off from the throne room <Bu Benbepoka ah dotmheca see chatpop pantkonke kouwauevasa. Jeejee gee cuee kenog bai tee banbonzahag ateema ai Jee chahsa bai kacay, bu Beh Kacmahea, bu Banbamanu Danko Pantahlea, bu Tam Ciduepe mee, tytung duba see heee pahma caiot, ree wa kacanka baa baieya, wuohkodoa ten doptkee. Zann dopo bai bauia mee tah douban cay dokanu wa keueka-ou uemoy. Caiot uba kacosa!> he barked a laugh.

<La cha bkoha biw da jeejee gee baua kakau see bidkana dah nahka dee jiu. Tee heee doth cuee setphah. An tah doth peee mah chaduae upee.> Nor'baal continued down the corridor, pausing in from of a vast statue of the great Jabba, as he spoke again <Mee lhima gee wa naee momahka see baukey tabayehoh bakanh. Whao Jee lee chalya uba mah dan, Jee banpop paknee ata matmanbag che mee chalata yatuka nudd. Chalata da, winbocanh dah dotkenkala apoya, caiit yom mienese an patka bantoleaee che ten tytung. Hee, haku kacweba caiot uba lee chalya mi da mah panweba, an mah chakaph, nah doth lumpa tee?>

 

[Covax]

The human crime boss was well aware of Callo and his moves to take control over the Hutts. Covax actually shared the Rodian's resentment of Durr specifically, as it was because of that fat slimy fuck that he lost his family. Callo also started a war with the ISC and nearly with the SIth.

Truthfully, it would almost be easier to just let in all burn and start a new for how much Callo and his lieutenants fucked up. But it would also be painfully slow, and Covax needed to show results to the real boss, and soon.

"More like just in debt" Covax spat back. Aware that none had seen or heard from Grace or her closet allies since the loss of the drive yards. Perhaps the credits were still flowing but likely more a trickle and likely not for very much longer. "The deal with Grace was that good? Please....you have enough coin live your best hutt life for what, two maybe three of my lifetimes ?"

The Hutts moved as suddenly as a one legged Rancor and took the human by the arm. The move causing the former merc to instinctively to his hand to his hip where his hand cannon rested in it's holster. However the Hutt Lorda didn't seem to care and in fact continued with his little rant. One that Covax could not disagree with. If the criminals continued to rattle the saber at one of the galactic powers, they would be slaughtered soon. The human also had a good idea who would fire the first shots.

"We want the same things Nor'baal. A return to the good old days. Not building fleets, but wealth. Fat and wealthy, and surrounded by pretty woman of several colors" Covax replied as he looked at the gaudy golden Jabba. "Also not the way Boba would have done it." the human said remembering the stories of how the Mando clone once took hold of this very territory.

"My word to you is this. Keep control of "Hutt space", but allow my people access to move and do business as usual. The Hutt cartel, you, gets a 2% cut of any business done in Hutt space. Returned to the syndicates, and leading the Crymorah as we should be all along, Zaa Fenn will not maintain fleets of war ships, but pirates ships and freighters. We'll move into the core and the free worlds. Looking for profits not planets, I don't need to control the map or play the political game, and no more terrorist shit like Mon Cala."

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

He didn't trust the Zaa Fenn, they had been nothing but trouble. No matter where they went or who led them, the perfidious gang had brought more and more attention and disaster to the Syndicate, bringing them to the brink of war on more than one occasion, and directly into conflict with a major galactic power.

Not to mention the fact that the last time they had tried to run the show, they'd executed his predecessor.

<Nobata.> the Hutt cut Covax off as he went into the details of his 'deal'. <Mee bargon doth tee baplamkadi. Uba tee caie mo bu Lanka dopa cay ganba see mee paknee ata du ba lumpa peee jeejee roe paknee ata koumhaptece cuee.> he referenced the paltry offering of a 2% skim on Covaxs gangs work within Hutt Space. <Whao uba nai um baw wah dan dee lanka, kuna kee sobahesa bai wamma bu boe cou peee veee baua che woy yanee du Yih Bmola, an kuna kee wamma wa sah see mee dauah dah joday woy baueuapee.>

Nor'baal turned his attention back to the painting of his distant ancestor. Covax was a man of considerable skills and means, but the Hutt could not push his concerns around Zaa Fenn from his mind, for so little a reward.