The Announcement (Raider's Coalition)

[Emma Lou]

Kamryn Valtiere waited patiently in one of the vast meeting chambers that the headquarters provided. It was her favorite meeting room, the one she had helped decorate. The walls were painted a soft blue color that she felt made it more cozy and not so rigid like the rooms with no color. She had called a meeting of all the Coalition personal to make two very important announcements concerning the future.

She had opted to wear a dark green flowy dress with her beautiful dirty-blond hair falling in curls over her shoulders. She may have been in her forties with three children raised, but she still looked as stunning as she did when she was twenty.

She had not seen Ivan in a few weeks and she hoped that he would attend this meeting and stand by her side in support. Her thoughts about her husband were interrupted as the members of her beloved group started to trickle in and she smiled warmly at each, waiting for the everyone to be seated and quiet.

 

[Phil]

CDR-382 had arrived not too long ago and had been making his way towards the meeting room. It has been awhile since he has done some work with The Coalition, and he was anxious to return to one of his rightful duties. He wore his heavy, battle scarred Alsakan armor that was still red til this day, and his pistol was holstered at his side in case the need arises. His helmet was in similar, but working condition as it hid his face, which had aged him 20 years and was showing signs that he was getting a little old, but not willing to step down. He was part of security during the meeting and while he would listen in, he would also make sure the others were listening aswell.

When he walked in, he saw others had started to arrive as he looked straight ahead and saw Kamryn Valtiere, one of the bosses of The Coalition. He looked around the room briefly, and walked over to an empty space on the wall that was a good spot and leaned his back against it, crossing his arms as he watched more people starting to arrive.

 

[Will]

Ivan entered by the back door. He looked as if he hadn't aged a day in the last twenty years, much to the known envy of his wife. It was the mark of his race, the Sephi. He had a far longer lifespan than any human. He had not told Kamryn that he would outlive her.

He grinned widely as he surveyed the scene, briefly squeezing Kamryn's hand. ''Been making quite a few executive decisions, i hear, dear?'' He whispered to her. And even more quietly, he whispered ''i missed you.''

He had recently been out on a hunt with Hasdrubal, learning about ths son he never had as they took down creatures many times their size with naught more than vibroknives and grit. It was good to be home.

 

[Dan.]

Soto arrived, walking through the door with the delicacy of a gentleman in a leather tunic. The past 20 years since the end of the Alsakan Crisis had been mostly good to him, and for that matter, the Coalition. His previously beautiful golden fur had dimmed a little, a few gray hairs may have popped up, and his trim figure had become a little...less trim, but his eyes were still bright, his mind still keen, and his claws still sharp.

For the moment, though, the claws weren't necessary, so he looked around the room a bit. Ah-ha! Kamryn! His favorite boss! Soto walked up to the striking woman with a smooth, feline grace befitting his species.

"Madam Valtiere!", Soto said, and as he saw Ivan, "Master Valitere! How good to see you both! It's been too long."

 

[Emma Lou]

Kamryn slipped hand into her husbands and was about to reply as Soto entered her view. They both smiled as him and after he had taken his seat, she continued. She leaned in close and placed a soft kiss on his cheek then wispered.

"Someone has to do some work around here since not all of us can enjoy vacation"

She smiled sweetly and then continued.

"And I missed you too"

She looked around. Not everyone was here so she decided to give it a few more minutes and let them talk among themselves.

 

[Will]

Ivan nodded to Soto, before turning to his wife. ''None of the Children will be here. Dagan's being a good brother. And Hasrubal's being Hasdrubal.'' He grinned a knowing smile at Kamryn.

Times were good. They had had a good haul recently, even with the iron grip on the trade lanes by the new Supreme Commander. He commended the Republic crews, certainly better than those Hutt fleets, but the Raiders were better. They were the best. The original Pirate fleet.

 

[Lavi]

Marien was next to enter the room. The twenty years since the formation of the Coalition did not do much to his appearance, though his eyes showed signs of age. As one of the original members of the Bloodied Hand, hand-picked by Ivan, he had the slight aura of seniority about him.

He tipped his hat to the Valtieres, verbally greeting them individually, and gave a nod towards Soto. He sat down at his seat, placing both feet on the table and busied himself with a cigarette. It will take a while for the meeting to start, anyways.

 

[Emma Lou]

Meara Furtificus snuck through the door right after Marien and took a seat close to Ivan and Kamryn. Seeing them made her miss Venator and she hoped he would return soon.

----------------------

Kamryn smiled at Meara and decided that it was time to get started. A few people were missing, but she knew the word would trickle down to them eventually.

"Thank you for coming everyone, I have two very important announcements to make and they are very serious"

She paused and took a few seconds before continuing.

"First, I am proud to announce that we are officially allying ourselves with the Hutts. This means that if you have any connections in the Republic, which you shouldn't, then you need to sever them or I will do it for you"

She knew this would cause some commotion so she waited to see their reactions before continuing.

 

[Darth Nyne]

He slipped in as quiet as possible, definately bad form to be both the newest recruit, and late to a meeting.

He just managed to catch the first announcement, an alliance with the Hutts. "Seems like the profitable choice" he thought to himself, as he took up a post with his back against the wall next to the door.

 

[Storm]

((OOC: Just a heads up, em might be away for a little while. If she is, this thread will just turn into a "What shall we do next?" meeting.))

The Raider's Coalition had grown in twenty years, grown bigger and stronger. Now, with Venator commanding the entire Hutt military, they had weapons and credits to fund them. They were stronger, and many of the old groups that had been adversaries years ago were closed or dead; that was the way Venator liked things. The announcement reached Venator's ears as he entered, his armoured frame pushing in under the doorway and locking it behind him. "Ladies, gentlemen." He nodded, around him. It still surprised him he had the courtesy to say that; truly, the twenty years of marriage had tempered him. He'd known most of those now involved with the Raider's Coalition for quite some time now, and considered many more than associates, friends. The Valtieres especially; it was testimony to this relationship that a criminal organisation, a coalition, had lasted for over a year, let alone twenty or so. He stood, for a moment, letting his presence wash over the room, before sitting down in the seat set aside for him. Of slightly better quality than the others of all those but the Valtieres, it denoted his rank.

"As Ms. Valtiere says, we're now allied with the Hutt Empire."

Venator surveyed those gathered. Many, such as CDR, were old comrades from the time of the Alsakan Crisis, who'd served in the Alsakan Military alongside him. Most had no love of the Republic, and he couldn't remember any major trade ever with the Republic. He, at least, hadn't. "They're military support and backing has helped us greatly, and my position as Supreme Commander of the Hutt military forces has undoubtedly added to this. Regardless of my own stance and affiliation, most of us here are wanted men by the Republic. Many of us have no love for them, and I don't think anyone here is particularly attached to them." Venator tapped his fingers against the table, in thought. "The Hutt Empire, in contrast, stands for ideals more similar to our own." Venator laughed, a harsh bark of laughter, at the irony of the statement. "Idealistic? Criminals like us? Who'd have thought it? Nevertheless, their support and backing has made us strong. We may take false, minor missions for the Republic, however the goods will be delivered to the Hutt Empire, and soon they will call our ruse."

"Then, they shall stop paying for our services."

Venator shrugged, a large gesture to show his contempt of any possible actions by the Republic to the rest of those seated there. "We've coped without the Republic being our primary, or even a large, customer before, we'll cope now. We're stronger than ever, and the Hutts will always be willing to fund us in greater quantities than the Republic, for obvious reasons. That is why, as Ms. Valtiere says, we're now allied with the Hutt Empire. If anyone has any problem with that, I advise them to speak now." In the meantime, however, Venator didn't intend to spoil Kamryn's meeting. It was a formality that he still called her Ms. Valtiere, so as not to undermine her authority in front of others. In actual fact, all three leader's of the Coalition were on first name terms. There was far greater trust between them than in the founding days of the Coalition. He wouldn't be spoiling what was her announcement now, and commandeering it. That would be rude, wouldn't it? The thought flashed across Venator's mind, causing him to smile under his mask. Once, he wouldn't have cared about such trivialities.

"Please, Ms. Valtiere, do continue."

 

[Emma Lou]

Meara had found a place next to her husband and slipped her hand into his carefully.

"I missed you"

------------------

Kamryn smiled at Venator as her finished speaking, she was glad to have him back among their ranks since so often the Hutts kept him very busy.

"My second announcement is one that some of you may not like...we are declaring The Sontrebren Crew as our enemy"

She again paused and waited for the murmurs to stop before she continued.

"You may have ties with some people in this crew and I want them severed as well. This may be harder for you than with the Republic, but I don't care...I want every last one of them dead"

 

[Storm]

Venator smiled, beneath his helmet. He longed to take it off, to embrace her, to kiss her, yet they were in meeting and he knew he could not. In the mean time he instead slipped his hand into hers beneath the table, self consciously looking subtly around. Yet, if anyone noticed, they would not remark upon it. He frowned, as Kamryn stated the second revelation. To be truthful, he had seen it coming. As a leader he'd been one of those who'd discussed it, and yet... well, perhaps this was being proposed now, in front of the whole group. That would make up for not discussing it between the three of them. "I agree." Venator said. "I welcome it - I feel that the group is growing too powerful." They had always put their competitors out of business, either in this way or others. "I met their former leader with the Hutt Empire recently." Venator smiled, remembering the arrogant young man he came so very close to killing. As it was, the man had died another way.

It was no real surprise, the man acting as he did.

"The question now is how we do it." Venator pondered for a moment; he'd been considering proposing the same thing, and so had a number of ideas ready for prospective use. They were new, fresh, they wouldn't be too hard to destroy when the Raider's Coalition had broken older, bigger businesses that once vied with the Raider's Coalition for strength in the galaxy. "I do not know their new leaders," Venator confessed, "however who they are is irrelevant for this plan. Were we to prospectively invite them to a meeting, we would be able to surround them - have their leaders trapped. Invite them to a meeting on board our ship, say. Perhaps say that it is a large meeting of important leaders, and kill them. Without leaders the group will be easier to destroy. We can destroy the remnants more easily, more quickly, and profit from it far more." Venator smiled with the exhiliration that always came with plotting the downfall of another.

He'd experienced it for so long now.

"The rest, perhaps I shall have men within the Hutt Empire, or assassin's in the Coalition such as Eclipse monitor. We can either assassinate them quietly one by one, or we can crush them in a big raid. Perhaps assassinate those who are stronger, better, and then raid them in bigger, more audacious raids. After all, we could crush them with one big raid, perhaps, but..." Venator smiled. "Why waste such valuable personnel as we have on such fools? Were we to lose one employee it would be a waste, as they do not merit such a loss on our behalf. My suggestion is as I have said." He leant back in his chair, his piece done. "I welcome any further suggestions or proposed amendments." He looked once again at Kamryn; he presumed she would have plans. After all, she was the one who had suggested the move, and she was clever enough to have thought of plans prior to the meeting, was she not? Venator had known her long enough to know that.

The Sontebren Crew had no real chance.

 

[Lavi]

"I'm sure that they wouldn't feel comfortable upon one of our ships," Marien inputted. "Personally, I'd put a bait, perhaps a convoy, lure them in, and open the box. Arc Corporation pulled it on us once, and that was an enormous pain to work out of."

He never met any of the Sontebren, so there were no real ties to sever, added to the fact that he didn't really care much for why the crew has been targeted in the first place. The Coalition's alliances are few and far in between.

 

[Darth Nyne]

"If you were to ask me," Lucius chimed in as he lit a fresh cigara, continuing after a long inhale smoke rolling out of his mouth as he continued to speak. "if they're smaller, and they operate openly as pirates, why not push them into an all out battle with another group. Pheonix perhaps, or some upstart, and we could simply pick off the survivors."

A couple more drags as he contemplated a couple other courses of action, pushing off the wall and taking steps closer to the small congregation. Another long draw from the cigara pre-empted his next few lines.

"We could also simply take out the leadership, and try envelope the survivng members into the coalition, rather than simply shutting them down we can bring in any of their resources that we can and boost our own output." he personally thought this was the best idea. "But all in all my guns are available for the cause, and I'd personally like to be able to take a shot at one of the higher ups."

 

[Phil]

"Why wipe them out right away?"

382 asked, still leaning against the wall as he looked towards the leaders infront of everyone else.

"The previous bosses were fools and chose to agitate the wrong people and ended up dead. Who ever is leading them now could possibly be better, and could be useful. My suggestion? We could... have them work along side us, and once their usefulness is no longer required, we dispose of them and take what is theirs. Of course, if they always prove difficult like before, then I like the sound of Commander Ikoga's idea. "

382 finished, no one could see the smile under his helmet when he heard the Sontebren Crew were now enemies. Thoughts of hunting them down and making examples of their corpses to the other members started to materialize inside his head.

 

[Will]

''No.'' Ivan said, looking at the former Alsakan.

''We crush them now.'' He sat back in his imposing chair.

''Also, a meeting won't work. Would you go to one of their ships? i know i wouldn't.''

He looked into his hands for a few seconds. ''Where we find them, we kill them. Lure them into traps. Hit and run. As with all challangers, we need to wipe them from the space lanes.''

 

[Emma Lou]

Kamryn let out a quiet chuckle as her husband spoke up. He would be the one to want to kill first and ask questions later.

"I am not going to be in charge of how they fall...I am simply making announcements. I am putting the Lords in charge of this and they will assemble whatever strike teams are needed for their plan"

 

[Phil]

''No.'' Ivan said, looking at the former Alsakan.

''We crush them now.'' He sat back in his imposing chair.

"As you would have it, Lord Valtiere."

382 replied, quickly dismissing the thought of using the Sontrebren Crew as their own tools. Lord Valtiere must have had good reasons for wanting them dead, and it was not 382's place to question why. The Sontrebren Crew was wanted dead and wiped from the Galaxy, and 382 would aide the Coalition in it's extermination.

He then went back to listening in and looking on at the others in the area, noticing that some did not seem to pleased with severing their ties with the Sontrebren Crew. They would fall in line eventually, and realize it is for the best of the Coalition... and their own fair being.

 

[Darth Nyne]

"I am putting the Lords in charge of this and they will assemble whatever strike teams are needed for their plan"

He shrugged and turned heading back to the wall, a long puff of smoke trailing above his head as he retook his leaning position.

"As you'd have it," he remarked almost uninterestedly "I still think turning others against them that might have more reason than us to see them dead get's the job done and keeps our hands clean of the messy business."

 

[Storm]

Venator smiled. "It might work. There's no worry in trying. Perhaps not on board a ship, but wherever it would be, we could manipulate the circumstances to our benefit. After all, the Sontebren Crew's former leaders were stupid enough to board another ship and die aboard it; who says that this new leaders won't be on an unintelligence level of the others? They've had little time to settle in; they'll need allies to cement their position. This is when we need to strike them, now, when the iron is hot. Then we can crush them and take what they have, which we'd get less of were we to ally with them." The idea of allying with them was one that Venator had toyed with, but if they were to ally with every reasonable sized new group and then destroy them it wouldn't work after a while or would give impetus to the cause of the smaller groups, who'd feel the Raider's Coalition was growing weaker. And an enemy buoyed up by morale was far more dangerous than one who felt they had no chance of success. Indeed, that was how Venator liked it.

Crushing the weak under the heel of his boot.

Putting his ideas into words, Venator turned to CDR. "I had the same idea as you, however if we do that to every group we shall appear to be losing our grip, and the smaller groups will rebel against us, with greater morale than ever." Venator didn't need to explain the dangers of such a possible event to those around the table; they were all clever enough people. "We shall crush them and make sure the galaxy knows that we are still strong. When they know we are strong they will continue to fear us, and when they fear us they will pay us, either willingly... or we shall take what we want by force." Venator brought his fist down onto the table, to emphasise the point. "The Raider's Coalition is one of the longest surviving criminal groups in the galaxy, one that wasn't expected to last beyond the first year. We've lasted for over twenty, and now we have the strength and the reputation to be able to hold the galaxy as we've always done. We won't stop our ways now."

Not now, Venator thought, not ever.

Venator let out a bark of laughter as - Lucius, wasn't it? - spoke. "Getting our hands dirty?" Venator laughed again. "We've never had a problem with that before, if it involves our benefit and someone elses loss. Whatever way we take will always be a so called "messy business" with destroying the Sontebren Crew. We don't shun that, we won't avoid it. If the "messy way" is the quickest, easiest, best and most effective method of dealing with this problem on our hands, then we shall take it." Venator smiled, as an idea reached him. Eclipse was probably the best assassin on his hands in the Raider's Coalition. Perhaps this man had a skill in that area? "If I were to give you a target," Venator said, slowly, directing his words at Lucius, "would you be able to assassinate a target?" The correct answer is "yes", Venator thought silently. Hopefully this man would have the spine to be able to accept the mission.

Or the eloquent speech to get out of it without appearing weak and foolish.