Ask Little Shocks

[Maxims Tionson]

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The Tigris was a little bit cramped with himself, Buddy the droid and two Padawans along for the ride but it was still his only option for the time being considering he had crashed The View awhile back. Until he managed to get himself a personal ship with a little bit more room, the old Quad Five Courier would have to do. At least it had a fair bit of speed to go along with it's small size so he didn't feel too bad. He nodded to Buddy.

"Alright Buddy, go ahead and start sending off the access codes we were given for the hanger." he instructed his astromech, "Paint it on the scanners so we can just glide right on in."

Turning away from the cockpit, he trusted Buddy to keep them coming in slow and steady as he made his way into the rear of the ship. He had left the two Padawans with Miako Armored suits to get changed into, though he had come dressed already in his own version of the suit. He took out a cigara from the cigara case he carried with him in the inside pocket of the suit and lit it with a spark of the Force.

Buddy beeped at him indignantly.

"Turn on the air conditioner or something." he shot back at the droid, "You can't even smell anything anyway!"

He took a pull on the cigara and stuck his head into the passenger section of the ship, checking on the Padawans he was bringing with him. Taking another drag, he blew the smoke toward one of the vents rather than in their faces.

"Alright equipment check time kids; you both suited, booted and lacking any weapons?"

Diplomacy didn't cope well with weapons.

Spoiler: Max

@Stick @Xian

 

[Rishe Vakren]

Rishe didn't mind the cramped spaces of the skiff, even if it made changing a little problematic. Some bumping of the head, smacking a hand on the bulkhead when she tried to toss the jacket on. It fit well on her, and even if it didn't feel very special, it lent a protective, reassuring quality with the two or so extra 'features' and armoring it was promised to have. She'd take all the security she could find.

Still, she'd rather have been wearing her robes. Separated from them and her lightsaber grated on frayed, tired nerves so soon after she'd found solace on Yavin IV. She didn't want to feel further apart from the Order or their symbols. "Dressed and unarmed, Master Tionson."

Rishe replied in (what she hoped was) a self-assured manner, smoothing away both suit wrinkles and her unease. She'd left her lightsaber and robes bundled in a footlocker. It would be nice to have it, but if she was searched or scanned, she might jeopardize everything. Not a risk she would allow herself to take... even if they were headed for a planet that had, in ages past, been aligned with the Sith in some capacity.

She shook off the chill, instead asking, "Do the Trade Monarchs know that they're being approached by the Jedi? Or are we in suits and leaving behind our lightsabers to try and hide that from them, too?"

Conversation and action helped to calm nerves. And she always felt better when she was intimately familiar with a plan.

@Xiann @Nefieslab

 

[Xiann]

Xiann was not a fan of changing clothes in confined spaces, as evidenced by nearly smacking the other padawan in the back of the head when she pull her arms into the sleeves of this suit. When she was done she twisted from side to side looking over herself to see how she looked. Horrible. She felt a little uneasy in formal wear to begin with, but this was just way beyond that.

She let out a sigh when their Master came in to see how it was going, “I never thought it possible to disarm these curves, however the Jedi never cease to surprise me. But yes, dressed and unarmed.” She nodded along with Rishe’s question and added her own, “And what’s the worst case here? Will we be shot at? Lightsabers swung at us? Or just plain old locked up?”

@Nefieslab @Stick

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Rishe seemed at ease in the formal wear in a way that Xiann simply was not. It made a little bit of sense now as to why he had been feeling so much unease through the Force. Xiann looked about ready to tear the suit from herself and throw on some work overalls any second.

Usually Max wouldn't care but...

"Don't wreck the suits." he warned them, though mostly Xiann, "The Order isn't made of credits and these things may as well be."

The ship began it's landing sequence so he filled them in a little bit.

"Yes, they know we represent the Jedi Order but we are only letting them know it, not the rest of the Galaxy." he told them simply, "If all goes well? We'll be in and out without even a hint of violence."

He shrugged once.

"Just remember that they are... rather rude, don't let it get to you."

The ramp lowered and Max led the way down onto the landing pad. That Buddy had landed without crashing was something of a miracle but he wasn't about to tell either of the Padawans that. He smiled, meeting their welcoming party of a Neimoidian and half a dozen droids. They weren't the frail B1s either but the B2 'super' Battle Droids.

They had had their integrated blaster removed to serve more firmly as muscle and protectors. The Neimoidian leading them gave the approaching Jedi a short bow.

"Master Jedi and Apprentices - please follow."

Without another word, the Neimoidian turned and started walking away with the droids forming a protective cordon around the entire group. Max whispered to the two Padawans.

"Stay frosty kids."

@Xian @Stick

 

[Rishe Vakren]

Maybe Rishe should have helped Xiann with the suit more earlier. Less flailing, less near misses, and it might have been less awkward. "It looks good. Want some help with the cuffs?"

She'd say, and offer the last minute helping adjustments to her fellow Padawan, since Xian's discomfort was obvious to her as well. Unless you wore formal attire often as Rishe once did, it could be a frustrating, unfamiliar chore. "And you can leave the blazer and the collar on the shirt unbuttoned. It's a popular way to wear these, and it's less restrictive."

Master Tionson was clearly experienced, scarred from conflict, but comfortable being only armed today with a cigara, suit, and confidence. She'd trust his instincts today, even as much as she hated the idea of taking the Neimoidians' disdain and abrasive natures lying down, it would be hard to screw up handing over a charity project.

She flanked the Jedi Knight as they stepped onto the landing pad. The Clone Wars era droids surprised her. Of course, she wasn't mechanically minded at all, and couldn't recognize anything different about them. After she returned the bow, they were surrounded, expected to follow.

"Frosty... for something specific, Master?" She asks in a similar low tone. She depended heavily upon the Force, and kept her senses attuned as best she could, but she was still a brand new Padawan. What would she know to look for, to be listening for? She'd never truly experienced danger like the kind she met - no, she felt - at Ajan Kloss. That raw, corrupted hunger, the death of the surrounding wilds. She doubted any threat here would be so obvious a beacon by comparison, like looking for candle flames when forest fires have been burnt into her vision.

Those weren't thoughts to dwell on, though. Rishe instead sought information, turning to Xian if she was close enough to hear and adding another question in a whisper. "Aren't those droids a hundred years out of date?"

She didn't know Xiann very well, the other Padawan would probably know more about the B2s and their actual, current capabilities.

@Xiann @Nefieslab

 

[Xiann]

Xiann gladly accepted the help offered by her fellow padawan, smiling in thanks as the ramp lowered. She straightened herself in her new clothing, “Not sure I’ll ever get used to wearing stuff like this.” She fidgeted one last time as they were greeted by a lot of B2 droids. These things were practically ancient. She was surprised they were even operational.

She nodded slightly and leaned back towards Rishe, “Yeah, give or take. They were battle droids, had wrist mounted blasters. Though these ones seem to have theirs removed.”Not that that really mattered, so much time had past that the blasters they came with could penetrate even the thinnest piece of modern armour.

As the group walked on the young Twi’lek would keep pace next to Rishe, opposite Master Tionson. She looked around at their surroundings, if there were this many droids at the welcoming party there was undoubtedly many more out of sight. More than likely those ones would be armed too. A thought crossed her mind and she leaned back to Rishe, “Also, very illegal to own. There are technical loopholes but…” She cleared her throat, “But I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

@Nefieslab @Stick

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Their guide didn't seem to actually want to speak to them and that meant they were a rather low level. Chances were they had been sent to guide them and had chosen to bring along the droids as a show of force, to try and act as though they were of a higher station than they actually were. If the guide had actually been of a high station they wouldn't have actually left the administrators control room.

"Stay frosty for anything off with our guide." he clarified quietly so only they could hear him, "Neimoidian society operates on odd rules to you and I - their leaders don't leave their control rooms much unless they have no other choice. Because those lower ranked than them like to try and take over when they're gone."

It happened so often that the ships used by the trade federation had control rooms with control rooms almost as secure as bunkers just in case of mutiny. Probably had something to do with why they let droids do most of their fighting for them as well actually but that was something a social scientist would be able to figure out, not an old cop and Jedi Master like Max.

They were walking through a series of rather bland, featureless, corridors that... all looked the same. Taking a few turns here and there with the droids still surrounding them but otherwise no one else in sight.

"The droids? They're newly manufactured but based on older designs - they're not relics, see the bolts? No marks... not tighten yet because they've not had chance to come loose from use yet." he reasoned quietly, "And they're not armed because it would be illegal to arm them. Without weapons they're 'assistants'. Also..."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Our guide is attempting a power move to advance their own station. They're leading us around in circles - time for a Jedi lesson kids." he spoke with a smile, "I want you to feel the Force, trust your instincts, and agree on a direction. Focus on our goal, the administrator's control room, and let the Force guide you."

Every day was a school day after all.

@Xian @Stick

 

[Rishe Vakren]

The differing answers confused the padawan. "Are they upgraded... old droids, or brand new?" She mutters to herself. Xiann seemed to confirm their extreme age, but Master Tionson said they were brand new. Padawan solidarity aside, she'd again have to trust the Knight's judgement on the matter. At least the things were disarmed.

"I'm sure the Neimoidians are excellent at slipping through those loopholes, and would like to keep it that way. That could be something we can use, the threat of a loophole or two being... tightened, you know?" She points out to the other Padawan as they walk. She only really was noticing by now that the walking was taking quite a while, but hadn't yet noticed anything awry, instead playing along with Xiann's supposed lack of knowledge. "Do you think someone unspecific would know enough to help us mention that, if we needed to?"

When Tionson mentioned they were being led in a circle, "He's posturing, then." Rishe replied to the Jedi Knight, her tone containing an all-too-familiar exasperation with their guide and this sort of game. Getting away from it was why she went to the Order. But, Master Tionson was delegating this to them, probably testing them.

So she turned her mind inwards, towards the Force. She could feel the quivering, taut chords of emotion and purpose through Neimoidia. Rigid, structured on the exterior, but tangled and gnarled within. She couldn't truly feel the planet, or much less the entire facility they had landed at, but touching her mind over the nearest and closest surfaces was enough. One emotion stood out to her, familiar, overwhelming, and disgusting, like a wretch she once sought to abandon by burying it deep in memory. Envy. It powered the twisted underbelly behind the plots, the posturing, the senseless power moves that adjusted nothing over the grand course of history.

And she felt as though she knew where it could lead. With TIonson's suggestion that the Control Centers were the possible seat of power, she pulled on the Force. Like tugging a cord out of a tangled bundle - except she was following a thick cable. The subordinate Neimoidians might have subconsciously aimed their desires towards the one location that was now pettily denied to the Jedi.

"I can follow the stronger undercurrents of emotion. Resentment. Desire. All aimed towards that office that they'd steal if they could, Master Tionson. I feel if we take the... third left fork upon the loop, we'd be heading in a better direction." She suggested. But the inexperienced padawan's indecision was clear with her next question, pointed at Xiann. "But our guide might not like us trying to disappear on him, and I could be inaccurate. What do you feel?"
@Xiann @Nefieslab

 

[Xiann]

Xiann listened as Master Tionson pointed out the details indicating they were manufactured new and not refurbished old ones. Which only raised more questions. The Twi’lek gave the Master’s back a skeptical look when he told them to use the Force to find their route. Her record with using the Force effectively was dubious at best, but she might as well try.

The Padawan began to try to concentrate, but before she could even begin to properly focus Rishe had already decided a direction. So she stopped trying and responded to the questions instead, “They are old models, but seem to be manufactured recently. Which is odd, but that combined with that none of them have their blasters means they are probably trying to avoid the whole ‘No Personal Armies’ Laws. So while shady, it is legal. Difficult to negotiate around it, but I’m sure our Master will be able to work something out.”

Xiann smiled at her fellow Padawan as she slightly slowed her pace, they were approaching the corner Rishe has mentioned. Time for a distraction. As she lined up with the droid at the back of the group, she looked across it’s chassis, ‘Definitely the same build as the old B2s. Which means…’ She flicked out the hidden blade in her wrist and as quick as lightning thrust the blade under the droid arm and into its shoulder joint, severing one of the power cables there.

The immediate result of this was an electric current flowing through the blade and into Xiann’s wrist making it go numb after a moment of intense pain. She quickly withdrew the blade with a slight wince of pain before skipping for a couple of steps to meet back up with Rishe. A few moments passed before the vocabulator of the droid began to malfunction and stutter. Swiftly followed by the droid shaking violently and finally it went silent as it fell forward with a loud thud, narrowly missing the Twi’lek. “Ah! Kriff, what kind of mechanics do you have here?!” She looked to her fellow Padawan looking horrified that she was nearly crushed by a malfunctioning bot. But her emotions were perfectly calm and collected. She was simply trying to sell the bit.

@Nefieslab @Stick

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Neimoidians? Posturing? Well there were stereotypes of them doing just that but Max tried not to buy into stereotypes until at least five of the stereotyped group of people, independent of each other, confirmed said stereotypes. By themselves stereotypes weren't all bad - they were often based on a small amount of truth. Depending on how much truth was there they could be either a useful cultural tool or the tool of the ignorant.

Rishe came out with the direction first and she was right - well, right enough. The route she had highlighted was actually the route the guide would have taken them on if they had woken up on the right side of bed that morning but even on the right side of the bed, their guide was petty so it was slightly longer than the most direct way to the control room.

Still, she was right enough that he just nodded.

"Right you are Rishe." he agreed with her before glancing at Xiann as she started flexing her wrist, "And we might soon have our distraction."

It wasn't how he would have done it personally but that hardly mattered - what did matter was that it was both very distracting and, with just a single sentence, it could be turned into an insult to the Neimoidian's pride. Which would need to be answered by fixing the problem that had been incurred by their incompetence.

"Indeed, it seems as though someone had not been maintaining their personal droids well at all." he agreed loudly, eyeing their guide pointedly as he did, "Poor showing indeed."

Their guide hurried to the droid in question - giving the Jedi their chance to break away from the group. Walking with purpose (aka half-running to make good time without making it look like they were running), they managed to get round a corner before the guide looked up again. Stealthy exit achieved!

"Good work, both of you. Now sorry to sound like a teacher - but what did you learn from that little encounter? Can be about the Force or Neimoidians or yourselves - but you'll have learned something I assure you."

@Stick @Xian

 

[Xiann]

Xiann quickly and quietly skipped along the corridor and around the corner with her companions. “Good job they hadn’t rewired the internals.” She looked up at Master Tionson when he spoke as their mentor, which wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Jedi Masters seemed to have a talent for turning anything into a lesson. Sort of amazing in it’s own way.

The young Padawan thought for a moment, what could she have learned in such a quick succession of events? “The Force still eludes me mostly. It’s still difficult to draw on it when I need to, perhaps I focus my training more on improving that. The Neimoidian’s are as proud as they are petty, something we should both use and be wary of in negotiations.” She turned and smiled at her fellow Padawan, “Also Rishe seems to have a solid grasp on the Force as well as tactical mind. Always good to learn about those you work with.” Her smile widened and practically beamed at Rishe, “How about you Rishe?”

@Stick @Nefieslab

 

[Rishe Vakren]

The other two hammered the point home well enough, so Rishe didn't want to gather the guide's attention by kicking the Neimoidian when his droid was down. She did flinch when Xiann disabled the droid, but adapted quickly, following the retreat with the other two, adrenaline and surprise fueling her speed to keep in step.

"That was a faster solution than what I had in mind." Rishe admitted, casting a final look down the hallway before looking forward. Master Tionson might not take the lead to continue the test, so it was an exercise of her own to focus on following the hints in the Force, keeping attuned to it in her mind's eye as she navigated and kept in step with the other two.

What she wasn't as good was open self-reflection. She did have to think, processing answers for a little too long and clearly looking for something that would satisfy the Knight. The other padawan's answer saved Rishe, but only for a few moments.

"I didn't notice we were being led in circles until you mentioned it, Master. It seems like such a simple thing to not even suspect." Rishe surrendered, embarrassed. Though, Xiann's energy and smile didn't allow for eternal moping, and even Rishe's own perfectionism couldn't hold herself to task for that. She'll just perfectly perform the rest of the mission - a rational thought for an inexperienced Padawan. "I... also feel the same desires and emotions burnt into Neimoidia as I do on others, even if everything else may be different. Like Xiann says, they are proud and petty, as all species can be. With how they use droids and like to waste our time, having Xiann along is also valuable. She knows droids, and has the assertiveness and knowledge to cut through time wasters."

At this, she had to stifle a brief amused noise, mimicking the stab her fellow Padawan had done earlier. "Cutting in a literal sense. Which, speaking of, you've actually dealt with Separatist droids before, haven't you? Or do you really learn that from repairing them?" She finishes with the question, curious.

@Xiann @Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Xiann was quick to go into the 'failing' she had had with the Force and what she thought the reason for it was. He, personally, didn't see it as a failing and that was something he would have to pass along to whoever had taken up the role of teaching her about the Force. Though she was also quick to move on from her perceived failure and graciously congratulate her fellow learner for succeeding.

It was good to see.

Rishe was more what he expected - he had heard that she took no small amount of pride in her skills and being logical, rational, in how she acted. Personally Max was perfectly happy with everything she had shown so far today. Not noticing something that was designed to be unnoticed wasn't a failing as far as Max was concerned.

Time to be the teacher.

"Xian, drawing on the Force at a moment's notice is difficult and there's no one-size-fits-all way to do it. There are various ways that work for a lot of people but everyone has their own ways on drawing on it. I know of at least one Jedi who uses memory triggers to help them." he admitted with a smile, "And it was some quick thinking and quick knifing on your part as well."

As for Rishe...

"You were hardly the first to not notice it, Rishe. It's a technique some people use in business and political circles; if it can trip trained politicians up then it's a fairly well hidden trap." he assured her before drawing on what both of them had said, "Neimodians are as you say; proud and petty. But also cowardly by nature, only acting aggressively when they feel as though they hold all the cards. Or that they can flip the table."

They were approaching the control room and already Max could tell that they were approaching the right place. There was a LOT of pride in the room ahead of them so when they arrived at the door, which was guarded by a pair of droids he'd not seen before (commando droids) with a protocol droid there with them.

"Ah you are the 2pm appointment for their Eminences, are you not?"

Max smiled widely.

"We are indeed."

The protocol droid nodded once.

"Please wait here for me to announce you."

The droid entered through the doors, which shut hard behind it. Max and the padawans were forced to wait in front of the door. Max took the time to prep the padawans some more.

"Alright time to let you in on the play here - we're going to convince them to allow refugees from the Outer Rim come here as part of a charity that we convince them to set up." he smiled a little bit, "We will not be known to be part of this. As far as anyone will know, this charity is set up and run by the Trade Lords of Cato Neimoidia and Clan Syndulla of Ryloth. No Jedi had a hand in creating this. Ready to try and make our case?"

Diplomacy was something best learned in the real Galaxy as far as Max was concerned.

@Stick @Xian

 

[Rishe Vakren]

"Then it won't trip us twice." Rishe replied, brisk in pace and reply. She was already thinking towards the next problem, despite Tionson's patient and mentoring manner. She could sense that, in his own way, he was genuine and warm to his Padawans, especially Xiann.

The control room screamed out to Rishe in a unique way. Just as their creators were kept at bay, the envy stopped at the door. Within was that pride, so suffused into the area that the door felt as if it barely contained the vanity within. That didn't give her as much pause as the droids. She couldn't sense them, she wasn't a droid person, but she had studied the Clone Wars, and knew that like the rolling Droidekas, these models were more than capable of being lethal to even capable and armed Jedi. From what she'd watched, anyway.

Even while Tionson explained their mission, she kept the commandos within her periphery. This wouldn't be difficult. Hand a pre-packaged charity with foolproof and effortless positive press, to a greedy Trade Monarch. The droids still unsettled her, and Tionson's comment from earlier came to mind, of Neimoidian aggression when they feel they have all the cards. What were they doing today, if not handing every card to the Monarch?

Rishe set her shoulders, straightened her posture, adjusting the suit to keep her appearance tidy. That's how she kept the unease at bay, preparing, stoking herself up with her own unique mixture of stubborn willpower and pride. She wasn't a warrior, but even with a 'basic' diplomatic mission, she was considering angles of attack, substituting battle lines for negotiations. "Ready." She answers for herself. "Though, the Monarch will probably ask the question of why we're so willing to hand them this opportunity on a platter. Their greed can't be completely insatiable, or someone would have taken advantage of it to dethrone them, no?"

@Xian @Nefieslab

 

[Xiann]

The engineer eyed the commando droids guarding the door to the command room before leaning over to Rishe, trying not to be overheard by the droids, “I think these guys are in a worse place than they let on. This is another old model of droid. Effective but old. Modern blasters would just eat through their armour plates. Probably more for show than anything.”

She straightened back up before properly looking at her fellow Padawan, “My usual diplomatic tactics probably won’t work here I don’t think, so why don’t you take the lead and I’ll back you up.” She beamed her smile at Rishe before turning back to look at the door, “All greed is insatiable, it’s your job to exploit it. But they know that and will try to use that against you, don’t let them. And stay on task, tangents are bad.” She tugged on her suit to straighten it out properly once more and waited for the droid to return and let them in.

@Nefieslab @Stick

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max hummed a little bit in agreement at Xiann's statement because she was closer than she realized. Cato Neimoidia was the largest colony of the Neimoidians and it had been the seat of power for the Trade Federation... which had long since been absorbed by the Empire and then left forgotten due to the passage of time. That had had the unfortunate effect of leaving Cato Neimoidia with both a terrible reputation and a lot of assets seized by the Empire and, in some cases, destroyed by the Rebels and New Republic.

Viceroy Barka Lamaredd was a 'viceroy' of a planet that had a lot to offer still, with good trade routes, natural resources and dedicated programmers and workers but... a toxic reputation when it came to larger scale business. Max smiled ever so slightly to both of his young charges.

"Just remember - they need to feel as though they are needed. Important."

The doors opened again and they were bade inside by the protocol droid. Said protocol droid left almost immediately afterward however, leaving the three disguised Jedi in a room that only contained three seats. And all three seats were occupied by Neimoidians, staring down at them from a slightly elevated dais. In the middle was 'Viceroy' Barka Lamaredd and he had his two most trusted aides to either side of him - his son Brakkan and his daughter Hyantha.

Max bowed his head to the assembled Neimoidians as 'Viceroy' Barka spoke.

"Ah yes the team sent to negotiate... please ah, introduce yourselves first."

It seemed they hadn't been expecting them so soon. How... telling.

"I am Maxims Tionson." he introduced himself with another short bow, "A pleasure your eminences."

@Stick @Xian

 

[Rishe Vakren]

A realization hit Rishe, her gaze sharpened on those doors, and an imperceptible "Oh?" escaped her.

These guys are in a worse place than they let on. They need to feel as though they are needed. The observations of Xiann and Master Tionson reminded her of one of her Master's few lessons; that threatened creatures would often try to make themselves seem more dangerous than they really were. And in a way, the Neimoidians were doing the same thing. An armada of droids to try and display prowess, but toothless and outdated. Wasting Jedi time with a roundabout guide to buy themselves more time and make themselves seem less available. To seem exclusive and important when they weren't, since despite their resources, nobody was willing to deal with them save the Jedi.

She could almost emphasize with the thought, not wanting these Jedi to know your weakness, to try and preserve a dignity and power long since stolen, to greedily cling to a change to restore everything. But it could be taken advantage of, and as far as Rishe was concerned, the Neimoidian leadership deserved it due to their history of Sith collusion, slavery, and of taking all they could get from a deal while giving as little as possible in return. The Jedi were giving handouts to leaders that didn't deserve it. Tionson might be too diplomatic to drive this point home, and Xiann was deferring to them both. If someone didn't curb the game the Neimoidians were playing, Rishe was sure they'd keep trying to walk over the Jedi, or worse, they'd try to pervert and corrupt the organization given to them for profit. Maybe Tionson had something in mind to prevent that, but wouldn't it be easier if the Neimoidians were cowed and willing to bend beforehand? Even if there wasn't direct Jedi involvement, they could get the Neimoidians to agree to oversight they might not permit otherwise. And they should be grateful anyway.

Rishe returned Xian's smile before the protocol droid returned, whispering back to the Twi'lek, "The tactics can be fine, it's just a matter of rephrasing how things are said. I'll show you."

She could twist that knife. Confidence, misplaced or not, straightened her back and had her settle her gaze on the three Neimoidians as the Jedi entered. She had a plan; something to impress Tionson and the rest of the Order. First, Tionson introduced himself. Curt and simple. She spoke next, "I am Rishe Vakren, grand Viceroy." She lowered herself to a proper bow, "I apologize that we've outpaced your guide. Our schedule has other candidates we've yet to meet. Though - Force Willing - I hope that your shrewd trade sense and esteem may be able to save us from them today."

A small nod to the attempt to delay the Jedi, some information (half true, half false) that the Jedi have a deal, other potential targets, and are willing to walk away just as fast due to a time constraint. And some ego stoking to follow it up. Though there was a risk that Tionson would throw her out before the Neimoidians did.

 

[Xiann]

Xiann’s smile widened slightly at her comment. If only she knew the tactics the Twi’lek meant she probably wouldn’t be so quick to suggest their use in this situation. She then offered to show her junior how it worked, “Of course, every situation has potential to learn. You show me your tactics here, and perhaps I’ll show you mine another time.”

Her grin reset back to a pleasant smile as the door opened and the protocol droid returned to invite the trio in to meet the leaders. Xiann glanced around at the near empty room, ‘This is what they are all fighting to get control of?’ As the three Jedi took their place in front of the three leaders, Xiann waited for her turn to introduce herself before bowing, “And I am Xiann Sivron. It is an honour to meet you.”

As the Twi’lek straightened back up she finally noticed that the droid that let them in had already left. Did they not trust even their own droids? Were they so paranoid they thought the constructs under their direct control could rise up against them? How could a person, let alone an entire race, live like that? In such fear of everything.

@Nefieslab @Stick

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max was convinced that Rishe was happy enough to continue, happy enough to give it her best shot at negotiating. If it worked then he would be happy to tell anyone who ended up teaching her that as well and if it didn’t then he would be happy to point that out as well. That she immediately led out the gate with a half-truth about having other potential targets was bold but he couldn’t honestly say that the way the Neimoidians squirmed ever so slightly wasn’t quite interesting to watch.

He knew well enough that the Jedi were handing out a lifeline to the Neimoidians in terms of PR and they couldn’t afford to turn it away or spoil it somehow. Rishe was just reminding them of that and that had a chance to work. Xiann introduced herself cordially and Max followed the way Brakkan, the son, followed Xiann with his eyes.

There was something there that… was… was the Neimoidian viceroy’s son crushing on Xiann? It did seem to feel that way through the Force so that was interesting. Something that his two young Padawans were likely to sense themselves as well. Viceroy Barka and his daughter, Hyantha, had eyes for Rishe first and foremost however.

”Yes it appears as though your guide has gotten quite lost. Most unfortunate indeed.” the viceroy agreed as pleasantly as he was able, ”Daughter – please ensure that the guide is properly addressed.”

His daughter nodded and already from such a short motion, Max was reasonably certain that the guide wasn’t going to be alive come the dawn of the next day.

”Of course, father.”

The Viceroy obviously didn’t pay it any mind as he turned back to the assembled Jedi. He looked nervously between Max and the two Padawans, obviously expecting Max to be the one to address him. Likely it would be ‘beneath him’ to discuss the deal with Padawans but Max just raised a single eyebrow slightly.

He wasn’t going to talk so the Viceroy would have to… and their were only two Jedi willing to talk beyond the introduction so far.

”Ah yes welcome to our planet. As you can see, we have many industries that would welcome new workers and already have plans in place to help the poor refugees… ah… adjust to live within the FWA.”

The son took this as an excuse to take a datapad from his pocket and make the short walk over to Xiann, where he would tentatively, shyly, offer her the datapad with the contracts expected to be given to the refugees. Most of the work available was lower skilled work but other positions were available dependent on the actual work skills said refugees had. It would be clear that most of the industries on Cato Neimoidia were running on skeleton staff currently and would need refugee employees to grow.

Whether or not the Padawans knew it or not, the Neimoidians agreed to offer guaranteed jobs and pre-fab housing to the refugees but because of these accommodations they would be docking the wages of each worker by approximately 40% for the first five years of a ten year contract.

@Stick @Xian

 

[Xiann]

Xiann watched Neimoidians closely as they didn’t even introduce themselves before speaking to the ambassadors before them. She wasn’t exactly up to date with the rules of these negotiations but was that not just good manners, let alone good protocol? Though the Viceroy himself was rather easy to identify, the others were a mystery until he spoke, calling one of them daughter. These must be his children. So the Neimoidians kept leadership in the family, a good note to take.

As she watched she felt a little twinge of guilt when the order was given to ‘address’ the guide.Whatever his fate was to be was partially their fault for cutting him loose. Then again, he shouldn’t have been messing them around. She spotted that one of the trio before them was keeping an eye on her and trying to be subtle about it. Unsuccessfully. The Viceroy’s son she guessed, either way it didn’t matter. The look he gave her was extremely familiar to her. It seemed she would be able to Rishe her tactics after all.

The Viceroy spoke and his nerves were immediately apparent even to someone as inexperienced at diplomacy as she was. The fact Rishe had him this shaken after a couple of sentences was impressive. The way this was going the two of them could probably take control of the entire system by the end of the day if they really wanted. But for now, they should stick to the refugees.

Xiann widened her smile and added some of her sultry glances towards the boy as he approached with a datapad. She reached out and put her hand under the datapad, slowly running her fingers along his as she took a grip on it. She bowed her head slightly without breaking eye contact, “Thank you…” She let the sentence linger to see if he would give his name before smiling and quickly glancing over the contract.

The Twi’lek looked back up to the boy, she gently placed her free hand on his arm to indicate for him to stay close by, “I’m sorry, the skill to properly navigate such a well written contract is one I have not yet mastered, so perhaps you can help me with something here.” She kept her tone light and bordering on the edge of flirty but trying to still keep her air of professionalism. A skill she had mastered. “It says here that the refugees will have 40% of their pay go straight to the FWA. Now i understand the need for them to pay for the amenities you so graciously supply them, but I’m not sure why it needs to be so high and for so long. Perhaps you could walk me through the specifics?” She batted her eyelids at him as she handed the datapad off to Rishe to look over. Xiann was sure the other Padawan could handle the already nervous Leader.

@Stick @Nefieslab