[D4 MM, In Space Approaching Dock] Spirited Discussion

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno waited just outside the docking pattern, but near the astroid, waiting for the others to show. His channel was open for the moment as he waited. But he also was prepared to punch it should the others try to turn this into a space battle. He looked back at the Rodian, but didn't say anything for now.

D4 MM, Cool, Recover Strain: 1eA+1eP 1 success, 2 advantage

[Adrianaa Morindel]

"Umbral Vanguard, Swamp Dog. I heard you got the Rodian?"

Adrianaa hails Zeno from aboard the Night Saber, sitting in the cockpit next to Fredtrey

[Zeno Deathwright]

"I did, and you wanted to be informed of such and talk," he replies.

[Adrianaa Morindel]

"I did. You obviously hold the power here, and I can't do much to stop you, but is there anything I can do to convince you to let her go? After we get the information of course."

[Zeno Deathwright]

Zeno flips a switch to start recording the call. He didn't want her to potentially try and spin things later without having evidence. She was clearly not a fighter and was more of a schemer and plotter.

"Well, to be honest, the Rodian means nothing to me personally and a great deal to Thaya Kess. I understand that your sensibilities won't allow you to participate in slave trade or the like, but you are willing to work with those that do. I'm willing to work with you as well. What could you possibly offer that wouldn't result in you basically purchasing a slave from me and stealing away Thaya Kess's sense of justice?"

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa drums her fingers on the console in thought for a few moments.

She looks to Fredtrey again and then back to the communicator.

"It is my understanding that the Sith routinely have power struggles and infighting. Swamp Dog controls a large number of underworld contacts. Is there any Sith you currently have a problem with and would need it taken care of?"

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Unfortunately I don't. I'm not so keen on the political game. In fact, I'm a bit more of a patriot that's more concerned with the well being of the Empire as a whole and find such in-fighting wasteful. I'm far more concerned with relics, objects of power and other such things. Crystals, sabers, holocrons, texts, relics... those are the types of things that tickle my fancy."

[Fredtrey Belestor]

Fredtrey makes sure to take off his headset and whispers to Adrianaa:

"I am not sure we do have any of those, senator, and even if we had one of those... Wouldn't the Jedi greatly disapprove of giving potentially powerful artifacts to a sith lord? I really despise having to make such a pragmatic and cold-hearted decision, but if we have to weight the possible pros and cons... I think just giving the rodian to the pirate queen may lead to less harm."

Fredtrey has a thousand yard stare by the end of his point.

I feel so dirty, but a shower can't clean you when it is your soul that gets dirty.

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa nods and frowns, whispering to her lieutenant:

"Perhaps we can convince the Queen to let her go later on. Damn it all, if only I hadn't been so slow!"

She takes a breath and then says back to Zeno:

"Well, unfortunately I do not have any of what you are looking for at my disposal either. It seems that unless the Tortoise and their crew have something to say in this matter, we must go in and deliver the woman as the Queen wishes."

The Senators face is clearly set in a scowl, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

[Nudimsu]

It wasn't long after that they brought out of their sublight speed and started to make their way to it. It

"Tortoise coming into position." He hits the comm, travelling alongside of the Durasay. "Assuming you have not yet delivered the package?"

[Zeno Deathwright]

"That's correct, waiting on you folks," Zeno confirms over comms. "The Night Saber's Adrianna wanted a conversation before drop-off, so I waited."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

"I was asking Lord Deathwright if there was any way we could convince him to let the Rodian go free. I do not have the means to, but perhaps you and your crew do, Tortoise?"

[Durasay Mixo]

"The Queen only valued the information she held." Durasay spoke with confidence, but his voice was calm, cool, and collected. His lips pursed, as he leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the console.

"We could be of assisstance. We're used to finding significant cargoes and getting them where they need to be. While we have nothing of the sort on hand, I'm sure my compatriot would agree, for a payment of thr Rodian, in good health, we can be used to haul cargo or smuggle things that need smuggled."

This was his arena.

[Zeno Deathwright]

"Apparently you weren't listening when the pirate queen was speaking. She even told me to leave some for her," Zeno points out. "She valued information and she wanted to reacquire the traitor. The question is... what is of equivalent worth to the favor of the pirate queen. And that is potentially worth more than credits. I don't ship or smuggle. I'm a warrior, not a trader. Power is what all Sith seek, and favor from Thaya Kess would just as likely net smuggling opportunities. That's not an offer that's worth more than what I already have, and in fact is worth less since it's likely to result in her being displeased at not getting her traitor back."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa scowls again and looks to Fredtrey.

"So what do you think Lieutenant? Let the Sith hand her over and then try an arrange a rescue later on? It seems the Tortoise doesn't have what this Lord wants either. "

She presses her comm button on again for a moment.

"So you bring her in and we start the next leg of this operation then, is that the plan?"

[Fredtrey Belestor]

Whispering again to the senator, Fredtrey responded:

"I think we have no choice in the matter now. If it seems feasible, we could try a rescue operation later on, but the pirate base is well guarded and we'll need significant firepower and preparation. It is unlikely we'll be able to pull it off... Unless..."

He took a brief pause.

"These pirates are 'tolerated' by the Hutts, we could see if we could convince the Hutt that the pirates are getting power hungry. If we manage to pull this off, we could possibly have the support we need. In this hypothetical situation, we could try and free all the slaves in the base. Again, just a suggestion."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa looks to Fredtrey again, her hand off the comm button.

"I like your thinking. Plus, if this really is a lost Hutt treasure ship we are after, giving it to the Hutts instead of the Queen could be the means to spur them into action. Lots to think about here. Remember though, we only have another 7 days or so in this system, so we will have to work quickly..."

"I have a lot of contacts I can attempt to reach out to as well once we know a bit better what we are dealing with. When we land with this Sith to deliver the Rodian, keep your head on a swivel. Take in any details that could help us if we needed to conduct a raid."

[Fredtrey Belestor]

Fredtrey stiffens and there is an intense look in his eyes.

"Roger Wilco."

[Durasay Mixo]

"I, in fact, did hear that." Durasay clenched his jaw in dealing with this Sith. Stretching his neck, he relaxed into a confident smile. "I also heard that without the information, this Rodian's life was not valuable to her. This is a business transaction, with abstract terms as opposed to credits or goods. There's a reason I'm here." Giving a nod to Nudimsu, he leaned back in his chair.

"You want power? You think that she, a Pirate Queen, will honor a favor? No, the favor is simply her allowing us to risk our ships, our lives, to hunt down the treasure ship for her. And if you think she won't simply try to blow us out of the void once we find it to claim the treasure completely for herself? I'm not sure how many pirates the Sith deal with, but they don't have honor, or believe in favors. What you have, is leverage. You're a Sith lord, noted, and powerful, from what I've heard. If she moved against you, she'd incur the wrath of your comrades. She's not going to be upset at you for... losing the Rodian when you got the information. Irritated for about twenty minutes, tops, because in the long run, she's going to betray us all, anyway."

The Pantoran never sweat, never worried. He had probably one of the best starpilots in the galaxy at his side. And a Republic envoy as well, with another talented pilot, if the first morning's action was any indication.

He cut off the comm, looking to his friend. "Stay sharp. I don't like this."

[Zeno Deathwright]

"If you wish to come at it from that angle, assuming that she will turn on us, then there is no real purpose to going down there is there. How about this. Do you believe yourself renegotiating with the pirate queen is possible?" he asks.

"The rodian stays with me. Let her know that if she comes after me, the Rodian dies. If she harms you, the Rodian gets sold to the hutts, if she stands aside she gets a fair cut and the rest of the treasure ship when we're done in repayment for the pilots and ships she lost. Any sniff of interference or involvement and she loses anything, she stays out of the way she gets a profit for no effort. And at the end of the day I would still have no personal use for the Rodian who you can have to set free like a pretty butterfly."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Again Adrianaa raps her fingers on the command console of the Night Saber.

"Interesting. So, he keeps the Rodian with him for protection against the Queen."

She closes her eyes to think.

"Let's see what the Tortoise says. This development was a bit unexpected."

[Fredtrey Belestor]

Off comms again, Fredtrey expresses:

"Yes, that's quite a turn of the situation. At least there's a chance the Rodian will be released. In any case, we could still implement our plan later if it seams feasible."

[Nudimsu]

"I didn't like this from the start, Durasay." He grunts after hearing the Sith. Although, if he were being honest with himself, his logic and reason were quite sound; though he'd never give him that benefit to admit it.

"We'll assume that the Catar will tolerate this sort of play and move forward as we must. All we can do, really."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa queues up the comms again.

"So, what, the Tortoise and I land and tell the Queen Zeno has the Rodian and the information, but is holding the Rodian for safekeeping? Then just ask her to tell us the next part of the job?"

[Durasay Mixo]

"No. We don't land. We lose our leverage." Durasay's voice was unwavering, with a certain air of command. He smiled, a slightly arrogant smile as he looked out the cockpit.

"I think I know what you have in mind, Lord Deathwright. Move to your safe position. Swamp Dog, would you mind flying into formation with us? I'm going to hail the Queen."