Ask Let's Expand

[Dusty Daytonus]

Dusty Daytonus, former swoop racer turned Governor of Ploo II, sat back in his inner tube in the governor's mansion's pool. Ruling suited him (though whether his ruling suited his planet was another matter) and he was in the mood to do some serious politics. He woke up relatively early for him, around 1 PM, after a night of suitably drunken shenanigans and adrenaline rushes and was anxious to start off his meeting with his 5 Syndicates benefactor, @Nor'baal Desilijic. The Hutt had helped fund Dusty's campaign and, as a result, much of the casinoes, newly formed Podraces, and underground activity were now under the supervision or control of the Hutts. And, frankly, Dusty couldn't have been happier with the results thus far. Organized crime meant that random speederjackings and muggings went way down (loose cannons were bad for Mafia business) and the people seemed entertained with the new races and avenues of gambling available to them.

"Frankly, N-Man, there's a bit of culture you got to understand about Ploo II. We've been going at it with the Fluggrians on Ploo IV for more centuries than I got fingers. And I think it's about time we stepped things up a bit. You and me, we could seriously put a hurting on them and put the whole damn system under our control. But first we gotta get out of this Free World Alliance thing - it's holding everyone back here and it seems more and more are leaving it every day. What do you got in that big slug brain of yours?"

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal dominated the centre of the room, reclining on his hover sled, flanked by his guards as he listened to the Governor of Ploo II. If he was to be honest, the Hutt wasn't entirely sure who the man was, they had only met once, the remainder of their business being conducted through middlemen and third parties ever since. However, his Majordomo had assured him that this 'Dusty' was in fact, the man who to speak to.

And he had, apparently, become ambitious.

The Hutt was not sure what he thought about that. Underlings with ambition made his skin crawl. Next thing you know, they'd be wanted 'fair treatment' and 'days off' and other such wishy-washy core-world fantasies. <Wa keueka-ou?> Nor'baal shook his head <Keueka-ou doth koudane che yanee, Masonka.> he added, waggling his finger at the man for added effect.

<Bamee, uba cha dayan bu cahcata dee Jeday Danko Kankahuesa bai ritke jot- uba caiot ritke, uba caiot ritke bolla?> he mentioned. There was, after all, no need to stay in the Alliance, one could just declare independence.

 

[Dusty Daytonus]

"War's bad for business. Winning a war is good for business. Ploo II been doing real well for you guys, no? Well, how about a whole other world with which to do business on? If I rule the system, you'd get my say so to put up whatever casino or fence you want up in there." Dusty offered to the Hutt, sipping on his drink as he continued to wade around his swimming pool. He found himself wondering if Nor'baal, with his bulk, could float if someone were to push him into the water. Granted, you'd have to actually find someone (or some ten) that was actually strong enough to push the bloated slug to test that little experiment.

"And yeah, Ploo II can leave the FWA, no problem. But I can't just attack Ploo IV with them being in the FWA or the whole damn alliance will be at my neck. But what I could do is have you attack it. Think about it, you probably got some kind of corsairs who'd love an easy score. You get them to attack Ploo IV, I show up with some flyboys as a hero and Ploo IV might just consider leaving the FWA. Hell, they might even consider being a, what do you call it, a protectorate of Ploo II." Dusty offered. Fighting pirates? A daring decption? Syndicate involvement? This was the kind of adrenaline-fueled stuff that got Dusty out of bed in the morning. Plus, he was a Glymphid at heart and any chance to get one over on those damn Fluggies was a good plan in his book.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

<Uba banag mi bai bakopa wa danko, ree mah doutmaya, hee uba caiot pha fa?> Nor'baal asked, mildly impressed with the ambition his business associate was showing. However, there was far too much risk associated with this specific line of planning - and all of it was on his side of the deal. No no no, that would not do.

Wriggling in his place ever so slightly, Nor'baal mulled over what to do next. <Um bu metpa see tah metpa doth hih bo wuona? An tytung Jee yoieu doi fa doth baueha bai wa tam danko, da Meecooda baueha roe? Nobata. Tah doth tee biweoo ree tytung. Cua, pasa Jee cha banag mah uokoh Banokon bai jot bu Kankahuesa?> he lamented. Once again, the interests of the great Nor'baal had been overlooked. He looked crestfallen.

What was the point of having a pet Senator if they wanted to leave the Senate?

He shook his head <Jee hih bacaka uba dotkola du bu Banoh Cauie. Jee wamma dan moulee rah che mee douah, catke cohka tytung.> he boomed, interested to hear his repsonse.

 

[Dusty Daytonus]

"Senator? Sluggy, I'm the governor. You're the one that funded my campaign, remember?" Dusty said when he heard the term "Senator." Maybe his Hutteese was rusty? The Glymphid continued talking, even as he stepped off his inner tube and started to towel off. Talking wasn't his favorite thing in the world - he much preferred the death-defying stunts of swoop-racing - but he supposed these negotiations had a certain gravitas that was exciting.

"Nor'baal, we're not just talking about one planet here. Ploo II and Ploo IV are the only planets that mean anything in this system. We get Ploo IV and you potentially have a whole system that's friendly to you." Dusty pointed out. Ploo had always played second-fiddle in galactic affairs and Dusty would love to see it (and him, by extension) become truly respected in galactic affairs.

"You're right though, I guess I could always hire my own pirates if the great Nor'baal is feeling squeamish. But then I don't really have any reason to cut you in afterwards now, do I?" Dusty asked thoughtfully.

"But if all you need is for the deal to be sweetened, name something on Ploo II and I'll see if I can't make it yours"

@Nor'baal Desilijic

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Weighing up his options, Nor'baal smarted slightly against the mild-mannered insult offered to him by the Governor. <Dobra tee du bu pikee paknee ata metpa joppay tanea doth catkiueke.> he replied, seeking to remind the Governor of his position. <An uba caiot hhonoo mi doi mee kankahpantanka whao uba nai.> he added, a sly grin breaking across his face as he added <Meecooda vee boonowa andoba Masonka, catke cohka tytung.>

Nor'baal was not entirely pleased with the Governors tone.

Seeking to cut the Hutt out of a deal was never a particularly good idea, especially when the underworld of the crime-addled world was controlled by the same person he was now threatening. Nor'baal fell completely silent, and stared at the man - waiting for his reply.

 

[Dusty Daytonus]

"Look, Norbie, I'm not trying to cut you out. But you gotta recognize a golden opportunity when you see it. I thought we were equal partners on this planet.Dusty said placatingly to the Hutt. Though inwardly, he was seething slightly. They'd had a solid business relationship for how many years and this is how the overgrown slug acted?

"But look, let's put this aside for now. You don't want in, you don't want in. But if I'm taking on the Fluggies on my own, I'll need a little extra firepower. You strike me as a guy who knows how to get his hands on a few walkers. You do that, and I'll give the Syndicates and any corporations you got drilling permits on Ploo II. In this galaxy, free fuel is something you can't say no to."uDusty counteroffered.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

The Hutt kept his focus on the Governor as he outlined his plan. Dusty, it seemed, was flexible, and willing to readjust his plan to account for Nor'baals unwillingness to take on too much risk, something which suited the Hutt enormously. He nodded <Meecooda yauma uba, banbonzay ceabehonkaee, paupe, du moova mee um baw wah chamana day cahcata.> he agreed, already seeing the potential earnings.

<An, peee mee koona che tah tam danko setiaum, Meecooda neu haku wanka mee Meecooda moolee, um Jee jah bu bidchkap ree ahban, pacdoke, kacmuepeza doi mah lamba.> he added. As Lorda of the Hutt Clans, Nor'baal simply could not support an invasion of a potentially non-neutral planet, and in doing so, risk bringing his entire Clan into yet another conflict.

 

[Dusty Daytonus]

"Alright then, let's shake on it." Dusty said, disappointed he didn't get the full support but satisfied that his secondary goal was achieved. As he toweled off, he extended a hand for Nor'baal to shake.

Dusty's enemies would pay and he intended to be on the front lines to make it happen, getting a whole bunch of adrenaline in his system and glory across his planet. He'd only ever performed tricks in swoop racing and in his starship but he wondered if he couldn't do some tricks in a walker on the battlefield. Could an AT-AT do an ollie? Dusty was eager to find out.

/ExitThread

OOC: @Nor'baal - up to you how many walkers/what kind Dusty receives.