Ask Mining for Prestige

[Edward Warwick]

Jabiim wasn’t a pleasant world, it was harsh and arid, life was difficult here, people liked non-fragranced soap, hard liquor and sports. It was a place neither Edward nor the man he was sent to run defence for Senator Xylan Shrialla would ever venture on their own free will. Both of them Tionese were born to know and experience better, but Jabiim had something the Empire and in extension both of them needed, Ore and vast amounts of it. Hardly tapped since the end of the First Order-Resistance War, Jabiim was a money making factory ready to supply the Empire with everything they needed to kick on the rebirth of the fallen Government.

Bringing a prize like this to the Empire was a feather in the cap of both of the two men, annoyingly for Edward however, it would probably be Xylan’s name first on any awards ceremony, being the diplomat for this venture. Edward was here only because his extended family had the contacts on Jabiim and with the Shiralla to bring them together. He was the only member of his extended kin to be in service on a ship near to Jabiim. So strings were pulled, Incomparable was moved off patrol to escort the Senator and Edward was assigned to his detail.

The shuttle they were both in had broken through the atmosphere, only a few bumps signalled they were no longer in zero G. “Speech prepared?” He asked looking over at the other man.

@LouJoVi

 

[Xylan Shrialla]

While the shuttle broke through the atmosphere, Xylan aligned his clothes for the fifth time since he had entered the transport. Anyone that saw the Senator would think that he was doing it due to nervousness, since it was going to be his first official mission as a diplomat of the Empire. The only person that had an idea of how he could be really feeling was Zanah Covos, his chief aide and bodyguard, who was positioned behind him like a shadow with a stoic face.

He was acting this way was only part of his facade. He wanted to have the others around him think that it was a bit nervous, after all it was normal when it was the first time conducting a diplomatic mission. In reality, Xylan couldn’t wait to finish this and leave that dirty ball and the animals that called themselves Jabiimi. Only low and stupid creatures could feel happy living in a place where half of the year was a ball of dust and in the other half was covered with mud. A true pigsty.

The Senator regretted a bit for having bought such a fancy outfit that would inevitably end up covered in dust, but he wanted to make a good impression on the other diplomats. Besides, he would never be caught wearing the same clothes twice. Xylan could maintain the facade of a sweet golden boy, but even that had limits. He expected himself and his entire staff to be pristine.

Unfortunately, the only one that escaped from his complaints was Zanah. She would always be wearing a yellow turtleneck sweater, a black dress jacket, black pants, and black medium-heel shoes. On top of all that was her glasses and the black hair pulled back in a bun, with some gray strands starting to appear among the black ones. It was exactly the same way that Xylan saw her dressing since he was a toddler.

While he knew, more or less, what to expect of his Morellian babysitter, Xylan was still unsure about his company for this mission. Lieutenant Edward Warwick had stayed in silence most of the time and they didn’t have much time to talk, not that the Senator needed more details about the older man’s life. Always wanting to be prepared, he read what he could find in legal ways about Warwick. Since they aren’t enemies or anything like that, the young man didn’t think that paying to dig up the dirty secrets would be necessary.

When he heard the man’s voice, Xylan stopped his fidgeting and turned to look at him. “Of course. It 's right here.” he gestured with a hand toward Zanah, who gave him a datapad without moving from her place. “I finished it shortly before we left. Do you want to give it a look?” he smiled excitedly. Internally he wanted the man to say no, he wasn’t in the mood to do a speech in front of people that would have no idea about what he was saying. Besides him, Zanah and perhaps Edward, the guards with them are a bunch of simpletons with no knowledge of the nuances and vocabulary of Galactic politics.

“Oh, I forgot! How is our security? Any problems so far?” he said, more to escape needing to make the speech here than of fear about the security. However, Zanah was now closer to him, wanting to hear what the Lieutenant was going to say.

@Braden

 

[Edward Warwick]

Edward dressed in his dress uniform, a perfect blend of greys and blacks washing out his pale complexion was surprised when the man offered the script. He had expected Xylan to just dismiss him off the cuff and go back to shifting around in his fancy outfit, but he had surprised him. Edward was tempted to look, but thought better of it, he was sure it was filled with multiple synonyms of how great both the Empire and Jabiim are and how they are best together, the usual shit that politicians sling when trying to play nice with each other. “No, I am ok.” He replied, as they slipped past the last of the planet's cloud cover.

“Well we have yet to be blown out of the sky, so that is a start.” Edward began, unlike Xylan he was seated in the shuttle, a datapad in one hand a vape in the other. He hadn’t smoked the thing since entering the ambassador's shuttle, but at least the feel of it in his hands eased some of the craving. “A few protestors have assembled around the spaceport, but that is to be expected wherever we go. Local law enforcement have them under tight watch.”

@LouJoVi

 

[Xylan Shrialla]

”Oh, ok. That is fine.” Xylan said, looking down at his datapad before passing it back to Zanah. While he gave the impression of being disappointed with Edward’s refusal, he was relieved for not needing to do it. The troopers around them would understand nothing from what he would say. The Senator would only tire his own voice by throwing pearls to these pigs.

“This is good, right?” Xylan said, before pulling his best hopeful smile. “I mean, since they aren’t targeting us, this means that they are interested in what we have to say.” or that they were planning to attack them once they landed. “I believe that this mission is going to be a success!” he smiled, while clasping his hands in front of himself. The Senator looked like a boy that was dreaming with his next birthday gift.

He couldn’t avoid thinking how acting this way made him look stupid and sometimes the Tionese hated the character that he had created, but people liked the innocent and sweet boy. They also underestimate this type of person, leaving openings for him to strike if necessary.

While Edward talked about the protestors, Xylan contemplated how the Lieutenant looked like some hyper-stereotyped decadent soldier from a cheap holomovie, with that vape at his hand. It was ridiculous and non-professional. If he pulled a bottle of cheap brandy and started to drink it from time to time, the stereotype would be complete. Then the Senator would file a complaint about lack of professionalism.

“Excellent! Then we have nothing to fear!” the Tionese smiled, showing that he trusted in the capacity of the local government in maintaining the peace during their visit. However, he doubted that the Jabiimi were capable of doing anything besides digging ore.

With the shuttle soon going to land, Xylan finally took a seat. Fidgeting, the Senator turned to look at Edward, then back to his front, then back to the Lieutenant. While acting this way could be tiresome, playing this character was an exciting game. He always wondered if someone would see through his ruse.

“You are Tionese, right? Our families knew each other before.” he said, after acting uncertain for some time. “Did you…” Xylan paused, while biting his lips. “Did you meet my parents?” he asked more in attempt to maintain conversation, than out of curiosity. The question made Zanah turn his head to look at him, before looking back to the front. The Senator didn't notice her brief reaction, or he would have thought that it was strange.

@Braden