Ask [Taanab] Letters of Marque

[Hergalor]

"Senator togTherador?" The Orcoloan guard at the check-in desk raised an eyebrow as Hergalor repeated his request. "You want to see the smuggler?"

Hergalor strode with purpose through the halls of Panath City's underground jails. Crime was rare on Taanab: poverty was low enough that few were forced into a life of crime, and laws were already so lax towards the Taanab Agroecological Cooperative that white-collar crime could hardly be prosecuted. That left the small, pristine facility to become a dumping ground for the world's problems: Serial killers, political dissidents, and the occasional off world smuggler. Today, Hergalor had the pleasure of meeting the latter. Smuggling was one of those crimes Hergalor wished the Taanab Planetary Defense Force dealt with off-planet,along with piracy and stellar robbery. From space, maritime law could dictate the fate of criminal perpetrators: Those who would deprive Taanab of safety and profits deserved little more than a short trip out of an airlock.

But this one was different. At the very least, it provided an opportunity to Hergalor. As Taanab's investments grew, so too did the target on its back. While Hergalor had worked out peaceful trade deals with both the Sith Empire and the Independent Systems Consortium, the increasing boldness of pirates and syndicates across space was a cause for concern. He hoped to avoid situations like Mon Cala and Kessel, where conflict with the Syndicates created an overt crisis and led to the end of whole regimes. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way for everyone to win.

A little creativity could help. Hergalor pulled the folds of his red robe into his hands, hoping to avoid the dipping his fabrics to the floors of the prison. It was more symbolic than out of any real concern for the quality of his robes or the floor - he hoped to maintain a certain air of dignity throughout his dealings today. He would be Hergalor, elder statesman - not Hergalor, part-time fisherman.

Two guards flanked behind him as he approached the brightly-lit cell. With a buzz, the cell door opened, and Hergalor stepped inside. The guards took positions outside the door - allowing the pair some privacy. Hergalor took a seat in one of the clear, plastic chairs of the single occupancy cell. From the folds of his robe, he produced two cans: two flavors of a vanilla-tea-latte-in-a-can drink Hergalor liked. He cracked one open and put dual-pronged straw into it, one that fed into both of the Ithorian's mouths. The other, he offered to Crix.

"Mister...Dolan? I apologize that we must meet under such circumstances." He offered a hand to shake. "I'm Hergalor togTherador, Senator of Taanab. I was hoping we could have a civil conversation about your stay on Taanab."

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan]

Crix counted the the duracrete blocks along the ceiling of his holding cell. He ran over the series of events leading to this point a number of times and was still unsure why he was here. By the time the security forces had apprehended him, he'd already offloaded his job. Sure, the military maneuvering jets on the outside of the Freebird were a red flag, but his IFF spoofer should have covered that.

Luckily, he and Beegee had plans in place in case something like this happened, and even right now the little droid would be stowed away in one of the many hidden compartments of his ship waiting on his signal. Now, all he could do was wait out this weird little show of force and get some answers for what the hell he was here.

Suddenly, the field outside his cell dissipated and Crix sat up. Maybe, just maybe he was about to get some answers. A middle-aged Ithorian dressed in robes and flanked by two guards strode in the room. He took the only seat in the cell and offered Crix a latte. The Smuggler sat up and eyed the drink deciding to decline. He didn't trust this guy and wasn't one to be won over with small gestures.

Crix shook the senator's hand and said, "Uh, sure thing, what do you want?"

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Hergalor]

"Well, first, I would like to congratulate you. You're being released today, after this conversation." Crix had covered his tracks well enough that there was no real evidence of a crime being committed - for all intents and purposes, he was just an unlucky traveller. "I hoped to meet here before your release so that we could have a semblance of privacy. You seem like a capable sort, and I find myself in need to qualified help." He didn't want to rush ahead of himself, though. While Hergalor was certain the two of them could formulate some plan together, it would be helpful to have a certain rapport. Fear had been an ineffective motivator in the past, and he couldn't work with someone he hated. Perhaps it was a weakness of his, but...why not try to be friendly?

"I don't want to rush ahead. There's a sizable credit chit waiting for you, compensation for the unfortunate circumstances of your stay here." His long, bony arms gestured to the bright, white cell they sat in. From beneath his robes, he produced said chit and tossed it to Crix. "If you reject a business offer out of hand, I only request that you leave this planet and not return."

"I would like to know just a little more about you, first. You were a citizen of Denon when it was a member of the Free Worlds Alliance, no? You did not opt to stay there when it joined the Sith Empire. Help me understand why." Taanab had negotiated a peace treaty and business dealing with the Sith Empire. If Crix was particularly spiteful towards the Sith for their attack on Denon, then he could hardly . Better put, Crix could hate them all he wanted, as long as it didn't interfere with the way he did business.

Rather than beat around the bush further, though, Hergalor would answer the man's original question. "On Taanab, we produce goods to sell across the galaxy. We are one of the breadbaskets of the Rimworlds and our portfolio grows. Such an enterprise requires an extensive shipping operation." While a deal with Canto Hyperspace Drives had secured the shipping lanes of the Corporate Sector to the Sith Empire, there were more localized concerns. Pirates, brigands, other smugglers...these outside elements defied the laws of Taanab flagrantly. "And, frankly, that is not in my control. While we are quite capable of producing goods, I admit I lack the experience in shipping that professionals like yourself have. My goal is simple: I want Taanab to manage of all aspects of its own trade, from production, to shipping, to sales."

"But that is a goal. I have several ideas for first steps on that road, but I must admit, I am curious to hear your perspective."

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan]

Crix cocked a skeptical eyebrow at the Ithorian upon hearing he was free. He settled into a Sabacc player's veneer and decided to see how this played out. If this politician was looking to play dirty, Crix might be able to help him with that.

Hergalor seemed to like the sound of his own voice. He was speaking with double meaning and Crix was following along easily enough. It was clear to The Smuggler that the Ithorian wanted either his help or his consultation moving goods.

"Thanks, but let's call this what it is. I was incarcerated here. I didn't stay." Crix let his words hang between them a minute be he smiled. "I'm just teasing, this isn't the first time I've spent the night in jail."

Crix considered the ultimatum and was just curious enough to bite, "I'm interested. Why don't you elaborate a bit."

Instead, the senator sidestepped the meat of their conversation and decided to fall back on small talk. "They killed my family. Didn't have any desire to stay."

Hergalor seemed to consider this for a moment before changing the topic again.

Now, they were getting into the real purpose of the conversation. A wry grin spread across his face as he considered the situation the senator was in. Taanab was trying to claw it's way up the pecking order, but The Smuggler wasn't sure The Senator understood the perils of that position. Anything that appeared to have power of any sort was a target in a galaxy at war.

"I think you're gonna need friends."

The Smuggler crossed his arms over his chest and elaborated, "What you're looking to do is going to cost a lot of credits, I mean a LOT of credits... Unless of course, you're willing to play the game."

It was Crix's turn to speak in veiled meanings, "You seem like a smart guy. We both know why I'm sitting here. Let's put our credits where our mouths are, huh?"

Crix's grin broke into a smile, "What's the test, boss."

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Hergalor]

Hergalor nodded as the man spoke, considering his responses as he did. The smuggler had a charm to him, an easygoingness. It was pleasant. And pleasantness counted for something in Hergalor's book. "A lot of credits? I believe that, I can assemble." It helped to think of these things as investments - a high up front cost could be offset by the potential returns that monopolizing trade in his region of space could ensure.

"Yes, perhaps I should stop beating around the bush." Hergalor would have hired a freighter company if he only needed freighters. Smugglers and pirates provide a certain brutishness that a typical freighter does not. It was the reason for the conversation. "I want you to ship something for me. Your evasiveness on my planet denotes a level of skill in your craft, no? That you can slip past a planet's sophisticated security systems?"

He looked to the two guards outside, furtively, before leaning to whisper. "As I said, Taanab has several different needs. For generations, we have been plagued by privateers operating out of Norulac. Ages ago, General Lando Calrissian assisted our world in our defense against them. Today, they are stronger than ever, fattening off of raids to our shipping lines." Hergalor detested this state of affairs, and Taanab's fleet and planetary defense force was spread far too thin guarding its investments to protect every ship. "You said it best, though: We need friends. I know that the allegiances of pirates can be bought." He was no anti-piracy expert, unfortunately, but briefings with Taanab's generals had given him small insights into the business.

"The way I see it, we have a few options. The stick and the carrot, obviously, are two: Taanab could hire you and other mercenary forces to destroy their meager fleets. Or, we could arrange for you to mediate; we offer a bribe through you to the pirates, and they halt their attacks against us. A third option is infiltration - if you took over their roughshod organization, your own operations would be expanded and you would have the official approval of a government in the Free Worlds Alliance." A letter of marque.

"But, I fear that I alone cannot see the whole picture. I know you only have the limited information I've shared with you, but does anything I've said strike your fancy? If you have insight into the inner workings or motivations of pirate cabals, I would appreciate to hear your perspective."

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan]

Crix stood and stretched his lower back. There was an opportunity here, if what Hergalor said was true, then not only would he be able to lay claim to a hand full of ships, but he'd also be able to jump-start his plan to take Crimson Dawn. He rolled a kink out of his neck as he played the possibilities out in his mind.

Shit, I might actually be able to do this.

"Done. I can move whatever you want anywhere you want it to go."

Hergalor's gift of gab was starting to impede their progress. Crix was growing tired of being in a cell, and he missed the weight of his weapons on his hips. All he needed to start infiltrating this pirate fleet were coordinates. He needed to know where ships were being hit and how many were there when it happened. If the crew was small they'd most likely have a hand full of modified light freighters and a fighter or two. Anything larger than that would have already caught the attention of the Syndicate.

"I know enough about pirates to be sure I can ferret them out and dismantle their operation without word of it spreading around."

He leveled the senetor with a serious stare and said, "Make no mistake, senator, I am not Calrissian, but so long as this "partnership" stays profitable, you have my word that I'll do what it takes to protect your ships and grow the commerce of Taanab."

Crix would give the man time to consider what he'd said. The Smuggler was honest to a fault when it came to business. Hiding information or hoping for misunderstanding was a coward's game, and he didn't play it.

"You send me coordinates, and I'll come up with a plan to either take control of or destroy them."

That was all The Smuggler could offer on that front. He wasn't an open book to people he'd just met. His time as a Denon Partisan had been extensive enough to understand the hit and fade tactics employed by these thugs. With a small squad, he was confident he could take them down with relative ease.

"Now, what do you need shipped, and where do you need it to go?"

@Fine Dining Set

 

[Hergalor]

Hergalor didn't need to know the details of Crix's plan. In fact, it was better if he didn't; part of the benefit of this arrangement would be an element of deniability, of willing ignorance. Hergalor needed results, and to get those results, he needed a blind eye to whatever indiscretions The Smuggler needed to operate. He took a long sip through of his latte before he responded.

"Wonderful, Mister Dolan. You're quite an enterprising fellow, if you're able to handle the pirate problem and manage shipping for me."

His shipping concerns were more mundane - he simply wanted an inside team, capable of shipping whatever wherever. He could see Crix's anxiousness to get moving, get out of the cell. He would try his best to be brief, but there was always a need for loquaciousness as a Senator. "This one is a simple spice and gun run. The target is Tirahnn. They're a society on the brink, where the poor suffer at the hands of the rich. We're going to lend some arms to the poor. I can have a detailed report sent to your ship."

Hergalor eyed his companion once more. Crix Dolan...he was a lifesaver, a blessing sent by the Mother Jungle to aid Hergalor's ambitions. So long as their interests were aligned, the roguish human and the aging Ithorian could have a productive relationship. They could build each others' careers, build an empire together. And Hergalor had long needed an unseen hand, like the ones that many other senators commanded; he needed an ally in the underworld to avoid the bulk of their wrath.

"Thank you for your eagerness, Mister Dolan. There's one last matter - I have drawn up the paperwork for your shipping business to become a member of TAC. This would enable us to solidify our working relationship, and offer a more direct way that our investors can pay you for your services. Whatever you need, we would be there. I would." Hergalor imagined that there could be some fringe benefits to having a legal company with government representation on the books -

Hergalor rose from his seat. "But that's your decision to make, of course. Either way, I would like to build a relationship here, with you." He rasped his long fingers on the wall, indicating to the guards that it was time to dissipate the energy shields. "You're free to go, Mister Dolan. Unless you have any other questions, of course."

@Zay

 

[Crix Dolan]

"Both are well in my wheel house. Guess it's your lucky day."

The Ithorian detailed the smuggling mission and Crix didn't hear any problem with it. "Good, I'll take the supplies on my way out today, but just so we're clear, we drop the load and we leave. We don't fight battles we run the goods."

His statement was final. The syndicate wouldn't be freedom fighters for the disenfranchised. Getting entangled in the small politics of a single planet when an entire galaxy was on the verge of burning was just silly. The amount of money to be made was the only thing he had the luxury of caring about right now. However, if this little business venture worked out, he'd be that much closer to achieving his goal.

An eyebrow arched skeptically at the mention of an organization, but he wasn't thrown by it. All planets and systems operated explicitly through one form of bureaucracy or another. This would be no different, but that didn't mean he was going to blindly sign on the dotted line.

"Sure, send it over I'll have my people look it over," and by his people, he meant himself and his broker Barlo.

With The Senator satisfied, Crix nodded in agreement, "I look forward to the future, Senator."

Herglor asked if he had any further questions and The Smuggler replied, "Only other thing I need from you are my guns and directions to my ship. Other than that, I'd like to leave."

@Fine Dining Set