"You know Duke M'pat will not condone to your jurisdiction of the massing fleet, right sire?" Advisor Laet'Vew stated the obvious to Prince Isolder, whom was now enthralled at the sight of the passing speeders and air cars on the grand chamber of Hapes. Its beauty voraciously gnawing at his gut. A prolonged silence fused the room as Laet'Vew's attention was turned to the tapestry behind them of Queen Mother Ta'Chume, whom was now spending her time on a vacation to the Ghroman System, resting on the planet of Daeduin.
Finally Prince Isolder spoke. "Yes, I know," he said solemnly, focusong on one air car inparticular in the distance.
"Then why now do you stand here when you could prevent his sanction?" the advisor accused.
"Look out thsi window Laet'Vew, tell me what you see."
Laet'Vew emerged toward the transparisteel windowand blossomed a pride-filled smile. "Why that my lord is the grand highway of Hapes, casting out its spectacular brilliance with the assortment of expensive speeders and air cars careening before the royal cathedral." Laet'Vew finished his description with a warming smile. PRince Isolder relished a grin.
"Exactly, this is why I won't stop him," he said matter-of-fact. Lat'Vew showed him a puzzled expression.
"Sire, what do air cars and speeders have to do with an assault on Maires, a planet toward the end of the Cluster?" he asked sardonically.
"House M'pat is the third most powerful in the Consortium, possibly the second now with Milyark's decent to rebellion. Obviously Ta'Chume could crush them, but look at this spectacle. It would be the heart of the war, destroying the beauty we worked so hard to attain. Let him assault Maires and bring the Rogue Empire further into the conflict...let Fearsons destroy him and spare Hapes."
One thing the advisor had to grant Isolder was how his wisdom had grown in the years. Now he had this all thought through, and seeing as his word was law there would be no contestation.
"I see my lord, what shall we do then?"
"I don't know..."
M'pat watched the
Infernal Glory race past the bridge of the
Defiant Tyranny toward the nav buoy leading toward the Maires system. The My'til fighters were already out and examining for potential threats. So far none were reported.
A hand left his side and made for his smoothe, jawline, untainted by unshaven scratch. The bridge of the
Defiant Tyranny, the Hapan BAttle Dragon flagship of House M'pat, was sparecely active, quieted for the sake of concentration. Prince Isolder, surprisingly enough, had not objected to his use of the royal fleet. A strange yet convenient turn of events that would let the duke hit with such force that Maires did not stand a chance.
"My'til fighters reporting sir," one of the helmsmen suddenly said from the relay station. M'pat nodded for the man to continue. "The Rogue Empire has brought in a support fleet sir, approximately four Corvette analogs, and two Star Destroyer analogs. Apparently there is another outbreak...on the moon sir."
M'pat scowled at the news, the sinking disappointment had bellowed two fold. A Rogue Imperial Fleet would result in ample protection to Maires. They would have to distract them somehow.
Elart Crenstalker gently patted the butt of his cigarra against the Barkhesh Oak desk in his office as he glanced over the text of his durasheet documents; death-rates, trade incomine, financial loss, and spy reports on the current rebellion. Recentlly Maires' moon, Ort, had joined in the uprising.
Staging as a businessman for both sides, Rylick Industries had just recently "placed an embargo on all trade of weapons and likes to the rebels", supplying on foodstuffs and bacta supplies. Munitions were strictkly to the Consortium...or so they thought. The Hapan dictators would see how useful the weapons were.
Lifting his now lit cigarra to his lips and puffing at the tabacc, he glowered down over the aurabish words. His back to the transparisteel viewport, every now and again a Z-95 or a Rogue Imperial TIE would zoom past the space station. However, a sudden knock on his office door broke his train of thought.
"Who is it?" he asked, a hint of startaldness in his voice.
"A business associate," a soft, enthralling female voice called back. A short grin folded Elart's lips.
"Come in!"
The door opened gently for the young woman, whom was gowned in shiny glittersilk, with long silvery hair reaching down to her elbows. Her skin however was of strange texture of indigo and feathery smoothe. But beyond all this, nothing cought the man's attention like the glowing hue of her pupiless crimson eyes cast. There were only two other men he'd ever seen those eyes on.
"Well hello there Miss...?"
"Nyena," the woman said to the businessman in an enchanting tone.
"Of course, now how may I help you?"
"I have a bussiness offer for you sir."
"Really now? What kind?"
"My people would like to help you in your war..."
The
Black Dragon's curving wedge of a bow pierced toward the planet Maires, specifically monitoring for something like starfighter trouble. There were only a few starfighters that caught their attention...
"Attention Admiral Blackblade," they called, "this is the Star Destroyer
Black Dragon. Cease hostilities and return to the
Dragon at once!"
