The cold highs of Almania

[Lady Sendrenis Autumn]

"What about that worker that died during the construction ?" the man asked smoothly, eyes locked on Sendrenis' face from across the room.
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The Moff gave it some more thoughts for a quick moment. She closed her eyes slowly, tilting her head. The silent vibration of the circuits inside the huge table could be heard as no other sound interfered with the peaceful noise. She opened and then gazed at the officials sitting at her table, as if she would find a solution standing behind one of them. Yet, it was all a game. She already knew what to do about it. She just appeared to think about a complex solution in order to look brilliant.

"Rename the factory with the dead man's name. Offer his family about a year of credits and contact the Corrors Company. We will compensate them with some credits so they don't start arguing about it. It'll make them look strong to obtain repayment from the government. The building will still be theirs after all, i'm sure they'll agree. They already did. Secretly.
Now... she glanced at the table and it's interface, we'll finish tomorrow. Same hour. I have an appointment.
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They all left pretty quickly. Busy people they were, or trying hard to look like it. It was part of the game to make people think you were important, or at least very active and serious about your work. Sendrenis herself walked to the highest tower of her Palace. The observatory. It was only comprised of an elevator and the room it was leading to. A large dome, entirely made of glass. A thousand people could fit in this room, for it was absurdly big. The warm colors on the flat ground forming a safe haven from the windy and cold environment outside. From there, an immense valley was visible. Leading to one of the main cities.
The palace being in the mountains, it was said that the complex was in fact extending so deep inside of the rock that it's true size was ten times the emerging building. A flattering rumor, but a fake one. The one that said that it was the most prominent and elevated point on the planet and that it was allowing an incredible view in each direction was, however, true.

Some refreshments had been placed on the lonely round table near her favorite spot. As well as two comfortable seats made of silk. She poured some light alcohol in two glasses. Hearing the elevator being activated and departing noisily, she faced the exterior of the dome and glanced absently at the few trees brave enough to live that high against the coldness. Their bending branches allowing her to visualize the direction of the wind... and... the elevator again.

"Welcome, she turned around elegantly, it is a long way to Almania. I hope your trip was pleasant.
I am Moff Sendrenis Autumn, but please, call me Sendrenis. A pleasure to meet you in person."
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@Prudence​

 

[Prudence]

The reflective chrome of the interior of this turbolift acted as a perfect mirror for Kira as she leaned in close, inspecting her face. Her fingers lightly danced over her face as she inspected her features, casually touching up bits of her perfectly crafted makeup as she did so. When she felt the turbolift begin deaccelerating she tucked the small makeup kit back into her bag. In it she had her lightsabers, her datapad, comm unit, and other personal effects. As the lift stopped, and a chime sounded opening the doors, Kira stepped out.

The Moff's breath caught in her throat as she looked over the view, it was absolutely beautiful, and massive. She could see the other woman now, standing there, her back facing Kira. Brushing a stray hair back, the Sith took a step forward. Her skin tight black dress was short cut, and had a daring slit that worked its way up her leg to meet her hip. The hem of her dress fluttered a bit as she moved, though not enough to make a sound.

The woman spoke as Kira approached, welcoming her to the place, before turning around to address her. Kir had only been appraising the woman from behind, but now she could take the woman in from the front as well. She had heard that the Hapans were some of the most beautiful people alive, and as such she had done her best to top the woman's beauty. Kira knew that she too was beautiful, and found herself a bit jealous of the Hapan.

"It was of no extrordinary nature, which is to be expected." She nodded towards the woman, "Moff Kira Elan, a pleasure to meet you as well."

 

[Lady Sendrenis Autumn]

A warm smile found it's way on Sendrenis' face. As expected the woman was a bit younger than her, and slightly shorter. Nothing to be ashamed of, though. The lady was taller than most after all. She also quickly noticed the efforts she made in order to look good for the occasion despite being a sith. Siths that Sendrenis often saw as impulsive and not really caring about anything else than war or power. Either she was wrong about them, or she has found a special one. The kind of special she wished she would find.
She made a small step on the side, moving an arm gracefully to gesture at the seats. Her long grey dress echoing the shades of color of the outside discreetly swaying at her movement. A thin line of white fur around her neck, her sleeves and the bottom of her dress. Everywhere the fabric ended.

"Please, join me and have a seat."
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She sat herself after her guest did - or did not - and reached towards the table to seize the two glasses, handing one to the sith. She gazed at the valley absently as she was chosing her word, before coming back to Kira. When she spoke, it was with her calm, slow and smooth tone of voice.

"This world may seem unhospitable at first, but it really isn't. And i've grown quite fond of it. I could have chosen to build this place on one of it's moons, Pydyr, full of resources to be at the closest of our thriving industry and it's wealthiest people, or to surround myself with the brotherhood military to ensure my protection on Auyemesh. But instead, i decided to remain here, and lead and govern where most of my citizen actually lived. The landscape has something tragic in it, like a piece of art really.

But you are not here so that i can bother you with my likings, aren't you ? So... perhaps, you had something to ask first, before i go straight to the main subject ?" She inquired softly.
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She moved her drink to her lips, taking a silent sip as she listened to the response. Trying to catch any hint about the woman's personality, not hiding her interest. Who would be offended by such a flattering thing, after all ? It was common courtesy to look interested even when it was not the case. This time, however, Sendredis had to find out if her potential new ally would be adequate. She would examine her words, the way she says them and her facial expressions as she would be talking. Trying the figure out who the Moff was in flesh and blood, not from the reports and the general informations anyone could find about her.​

 

[Prudence]

The eccentric Hapen ushered her to sit, and Kira willingly obliged her, taking a seat in one of the comfortable seats. Turning her head to face the woman she listened as she spoke about Almania, and nodded along. The woman was quite intriguing, because to the best of her understanding she wasn't force sensitive. An oddity among the ranks of Moffs within the brotherhood. What then was the trait which she brought to the table so well as to award her the prestigious seat?

"Inhospitable worlds are not necessarily a negative trait. I hail from Rhen Var, far more inhospitable than Almania, so I can sympathize with your desire to defy the odds and build your structure here. This castle is far more beautiful than the Citadel I reside in." Though likely far less defendable.

"You seem to have risen to power rather quickly, Lady Autumn, do tell me where you found yourself before the Warlord awarded you the Governor's seat?"

 

[Lady Sendrenis Autumn]

'Ah yes', she thought, 'there we are'. The sith's question masked another : How exactly did she get here ? A pertinent question, and a reccuring one. That was the question the previous governor asked her when she made herself noticable in the system. The one his counsellors asked her when she became one of them. The one the Brotherhood's intelligence undercover agent asked her a few weeks before her nomination.
What should she say ? That she was supposed to be in jail amongst her kin, but she stole a capital ship and fled with a few followers ? That she carefully selected her destination and used her charms at the right time and on the right persons ? That she waited purposely for the situation she found the governor and his supporters in to deteriorate as much as possible, before saving the day without asking anything in return in order to ''prove'' her loyalty and earn his trust ? That she turned every potential threat for her to succeed him against each other ? That it was not her competence nor valor that awarded her this rank but plots and intimidation ?
She smiled maliciously. She knew that force users had certain... skills to perceive fragments of the mind of others. However, she also knew from famous stories about the jedis how skilled liars could still mislead them or hide their true intentions. Perhaps that sense they had was not so different from intuition. She would simply obey the same rule she usually followed : Do not lie when you can avoid it and persuade yourself that it is the truth before you do.
Now, she had no hostile or particularly misleading intentions towards the Moff, but she had to be careful not to reveal too much. For one without secrets is one without power.

"I used to live with my own people, like most hapans do in the Hapes Cluster. I just had different political views than most of the elite there, so i had to either flee or spend the rest of my days in jail at some point." She began, nearly whispering. "I happened to end up in that system, and got along with the previous governor. I gave everything i had to him in return for a decent place to live with my followers. I gave him my ships, hapan technology and my sincere advices when requested. I helped him defeat some treasonous ideologists trying to turn Almania into an independent system as well as a few greedy rivals and became his most trusted advisor. He finally ended up poisoned by a jealous lover, so... here i am now.
Quite dramatic isn't it ?" She laughed softly.

"When he departed, i was the only person around with the necessary knowledge and the credibility to get the position. So i did, then became Moff when it came to that. It does not make a huge difference to me, but why not...
I do not really have higher goals or ambitions. My current position suits me well and I am already blessed with what I possess." She glanced at her with a knowing smile. "I would be too much of a target otherwise... and quite the easy one i'm afraid." She seemed sad as she spoke these words, but resigned.
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She took a sip of her drink, gesturing invitingly at her to do the same. She would observe her reactions carefully, especially since that face of hers was all but unpleasant to stare at. The choice of her words would reveal what she sought to know as well.

"May i ask you how you managed your position ? You do seem quite young. Your power is probably beyond what i can imagine, but if you had the patience to reveal how you accomplished that much in so little time, i would be interested to know for sure !"
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She was playful in her way of returning her the question, but not enough not to be respectful either. She had that superior but calm and not judging at all expression on her face. A near motherly way of staring at her, trusting and caring if not tender.
Politicians...
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