[D5 LM] Gosh Darn the Queen

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno stood in the docking bay, waiting for the others to show, leaning against his ship. He seemed mostly bored.

[Durasay Mixo]

"You know, I have to admit, she's a very fine ship." Durasay walked up, hands tucked into the pockets of his trench coat. He smiled at the Sith Lord, giving a polite nod.

"I meant to tell you that during that first dogfight. Very good lines. A credit to your eye, and to the designer. Durasay Mixo. Good to finally meet you."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Could be under better circumstances than having a pirate queen wanting to destroy us," he says. "Especially since I preferred the idea of working with her. I would turn the rodian over to her still at this point if I thought she'd accept that... but I can't imagine she would."

"It was honestly a poor decision on my part. And on yours to go along with it or agree. I'm not a schemer. All this over your concern for a lousy rodian. I've half a mind to cut my losses and pay the bitch for the privilege of turning the rodian over."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa walks to the bay and gives a short wave to the two men.

When she gets within earshot she starts in right away, interrupting whatever conversation was happening.

"I told Durasay one idea last night. He countered with a better one. But what are your thoughts, Lord Deathwright? Also, we might be having some of my friends show soon. Backup against the Queen."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"She's going to wait. She won't risk me killing the Rodian and costing her the information probably. Just because she's likely livid with us doesn't mean she's going to give up her pay day. We need to check our ships for tracking devices. They were mostly unattended when we spoke with her."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

"Doing a thorough sweep of all our ships is an excellent idea. Have you had a chance to get the information from the Rodian yet? Or given thought to what we will do when we get to the ship?"

[Zeno Deathwright]

"I haven't extracted the information yet," he says shaking his head. "Just been giving her water and basic rations and keeping her locked up. I let her use the refresher in my ship to clean up earlier because she was starting to smell. When we head to the ship site we should use a ship that isn't one of ours. Potentially hire an old freighter with combined funds. Because at the end of the day I still don't trust anyone here."

[Durasay Mixo]

"Allow me the opportunity to see if I can get her to cooperate. Jubba fruit work better than sticks." He withdrew his hands from his pockets.

He hated that the Sith had beaten him to Bindo. They weren't known for their compassion. Still he didn't allow it to show on his face.

There was a sharp curl to his lips when the Senator arriced.

"Well, there's the difference between you and I, Lord Deathwright. I see putting a crimp in a pirate queen's operations as a benefit. For the Galaxy as a whole."

He mused for a moment, considering the possibilities. "I firmly believe she'll strike the moment we find the treasure. So wr have to be sure we have our own trap ready to go."

[Fredtrey Belestor]

Fredtrey was accompanying the Senator, listening to the other participants of the conversation. So far, he was really liking what Durasay was saying, he looked like a principled man, the kind of man he respected very much.

He spoke up finally:

"Forgive my intrusion here, I am but the pilot for Swamp Dog, but I think mister Mixo is telling the truth, Lord Zeno, I doubt the pirate queen would have helped us in any way, I suspected she would betray us from the beginning. Surely, this is an affront to you. We could possibly get to her in a way she would never recover from."

He took a pause, looking at each participant.

"I gathered that this pirate faction is only 'tolerated' by the hutts because they do not cause any big trouble. Perhaps we could find a way to convince the hutts that this arrangement is not to their benefit. This old hutt treasure ship is a good opportunity to do so, we help the hutt get an old historical ship back, they become thankful to us and they will have to revise their relationship with those pirates. They would probably help us get rid of those pirates. We have one advantage for our credibility: we do not seem to exhibit any bias. We are formed of Republic, Sith empire and unafiliated factions. All and all, we could push that we are all looking for their benefit, without looking for ours first and have a lot of credibility."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Another possibility, which is likely, is that the Hutts tolerate them also for bribes and gifts. Removing that benefit might make them uninterested in getting involved."

[Fredtrey Belestor]

This was starting to get in the political and scheming game and Fredtrey was a man of action, not a diplomat, but he saw one last argument that might convince the sith lord. If that failed, he would resort to the more shrewd people present to do the talking.

He turned to address the sith directly. He stood at attention, a mark of respect in most military.

"Lord Zeno, if this is true, then all those bribes come from the goods of honest merchants pillaged on their way to the Hutt's core system. Surely this is to a disadvantage to their economy in some way. I am not versed in economy, but wouldn't it better to get their money in taxation rather than criminal bribes? That legitimate trade gets them benefits on Nar Shaddaa too, the bribes would not seem to bring those advantages to their local economy."

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno chuckled at that. "I'm not sure what portion of the merchants that run routes to Nar Shadda are honest, but it's most certainly not all of them. And I have no doubt that the Hutts squeeze what they can out of them regardless. If it was really that big of a concern to the Hutts, I have no doubt they would have taken care of the pirates long ago."

"But it's not only the bribes I'm sure. Having one annoying queen that you can deal and negotiate with is probably preferable to the menagerie of bottom feeders that would crop up in the power vacuum if the queen is removed. I'm not saying that the Hutts wouldn't necessarily appreciate Kess going away... I'm just saying that there is not a high likelihood they'd be willing to commit any resources to an already managed problem. Piracy won't disappear from a crime riddled corner of the galaxy and it's probably currently in a manageable state for them currently."

[Fredtrey Belestor]

Fredtrey was at a loss for words, the sith lord had good arguments.

Damnit that's why I should have kept to the fighter squadron! I am not a good debater! Better acknowledge him and back away. Let other, more capable, people talk.

"I understand what you are saying, Lord Zeno, but I still believe we can manage to convince the hutts to help us... However, I will have to admit I will let my shrewder counterparts try to convince you. In the end, I execute actions, I do not take decisions."

After that, he takes a couple of polite steps back.

[HX-S4]

HX-S4 would begin descent as it neared the docking bay, the silent thrust of the jets turning to a light puttering of the anti-grav compensation system on the lower frame. Nearing it, the droid would turn about, scanningt the situation carefully. Locating the senator... a pilot from before... and two unknowns, HX would turn towards the group. Hearing the tail end of conversation, HX's central optical scanners would light up with the voice modulator, each hard syllable creating an visual feedback as it flashed the lights.

"Of course, pilot! Focusing on piloting should be your primary directive, unless this one is needed to handle that operation as well! I do not know this lord, but if the Senator requires him, he must have some capability of use. Please explain, so you may e quantified!"

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa motions toward HX.

"May I introduce one of my friends. HX-S4. A prototype mini-fighter. I thought it would be useful to test its combat capabilities against the Queen's fighters. My other friend should be here soon. Kyr'ad, a Mandolorian warlord who has promised me use of his squad."

"That should give us more than enough firepower. It's just a matter of 'how and when' now, I think, as long as everyone is on board with eliminating the Queen..."

[Nekoinu]

Adrianaa would receive a commlink call from one Kyr'ad Kelborn, ready to be received.

[Adrianaa Morindel]

"And speaking of, here he is now. Though not in person."

She answers the line.

"Kyr'ad. Nice of you to ring. Remember how I was telling you I had a fight? We're planning it now. Got a minute to listen in and get to know the plan so your boys can raise some hell?"

[Nekoinu]

"Greetings, 'Swamp Dog.' I regret to inform you that I will be unable to accompany you.

"As we speak, I am traveling light years away from the Y'Toub System along with the rest of my Clan and numerous others." The holoimage turned to Lord Zeno and then back to the Senator. "You can blame his military for forcing our hand." He chuckled. "If I was younger, I'd rush in to help a lovely lass like yourself in an instant. But I don't have that time anymore."

He sighed. "However, I wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure there are many that would grovel at the opportunity to serve a Sith Lord."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa frowned.

"I see. Well, enjoy the Lesai. Keep in touch. And...let me know if there is anything I can do to help later on in private."

She turns back to the group.

"Well, just us then. No matter."

[HX-S4]

"This is of little concern. I am more than capable of eliminating any number of pirates." The droid simply moved closer to Adrianaa. "Though if the imperialist has sabotaged your mission, it may be advisable to execute him now and locate another asset for whatever use you had planned."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

"HX, first, Lord Zeno can hear you. Second, we are trying to make peace with the Empire. Third, he and only he knows where it is, and without that asset, we cannot find the treasure ship. "

"I just need you to listen right now and inform us of capabilities you can handle when we get down to eliminating the Queen."

She turns to Zeno.

"My sincerest apologies. As I said, prototype."

She offers a genuine smile, a bit of laughter in her eyes.

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno can't help but smirk a bit at that new development and the exchange.

"Well, mixed news for me," he says with a shrug. "But this is just another example of how politics can have an effect on our endeavor."

"At the end of the day this is an alliance of convenience because we have a personal stake in it alongside each other. Who knows, if you droid performs well, maybe I'll see about acquiring it for reproduction."

"This will need to be done in stages which will require understanding. I can't imagine the treasure ship is the only sizeable hutt ship that's gone missing. Maybe we could identify a different ship to draw her to or something."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

"Even if we can't find another lost one, it wouldn't be hard to blow up something and give it a fake IFF. Let's hear you plan. Durasay and I already discussed a few last night. Time is ticking and I'd like to be able to start putting things in motion."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Just draw her into thinking we've found it, murder the goods she sends. Maybe she'll be present to take care of her as well. Go from that position to the actual ship, since she might know our last location, but she wouldn't have the setup to track us from there to where we end up."

[HX-S4]

If being scolded mattered to the droid, it didn't show it, instead whirling around the participants, not so much buzzing them around, but seeming to do some processing as plans were discussed. This was the boring part of any hunt, where people told HX were to shoot things. The droid would appear behind the Senator, turning to make sure not to hit her with a wing, as it finally spoke again.

"The plan is to agitate pirates and systematically eliminate them? This should be simple. But the prey may retreat."