Bonadan
Her eyes registered amusement at the sight of the Imperial warships holding orbit over Bonadan and at the concern registering in Mr. Vinda's voice when he was flatly being dry.
Very dry wit, Mr. Vinda.., her mind whispered.
"General Kaine must appreciate your mind Mr. Vinda. I've never seen him plan this much for the unforeseen...which is.." she turned and walked closer to him, "exactly what you are. An unforeseen."
Her finger traced the edge of Vinda's desk, it's shine creating a smooth glide. "Imagine the General's surprise when the Vinda Corporation turned out to be the rancor of the Corporate Sector. The Corporate Sector Authority was supposed to wipe the galaxy with you. The Moffs did not, could not believe in your resilience."
Her hand touched the breast of Mr. Vinda's suit. "You see, Tenloss had assured the body politic of the Empire that he would finish off the CSA after they had finished you.
Mr. Tenloss was very pro-Empire when it suited his needs and an Imperial Galaxy would have suited his needs for the former crimelord had political aspirations."
Jenice laughed lightly, knowing she was coming at Seth with turbolasers firing verbally.
"He invested in the CSA credit in order to control the money-flow and manipulate the sector. Alas.."
The blond woman abruptly turned, walked over to the seat she had sat in months earlier and sat down, crossing her legs.
"Programming. That is what has been happening in the Corporate Sector for the better part of a year. Programming an area of space for what is about to be imposed on it."
She smiled sadly, "And that is the crux. For Order will be imposed on the Corporate Sector."
But before Mr. Vinda could react to that bit of unwelcome news, Jenice looked down and stared at his rather expensive electronic organizer on his desk.
"But there are many ways to acheive Order."
Her eyes met his. "Tell me, Mr. Vinda. What does the future hold for the Empire? What is
their goal?"
"With any conflict, an army is only as good as it is supplied. For any living organism, it's health is only as good as it's flow of nutrients. For any galactic civilization, it's greatness, it's control, it's power, it's life.. is only as good as its supply.
Mr. Vinda?..."
Here it goes...
".. The Galactic Empire will be supplied. They question is, by whom?"
"The Moffs had put forth a plan to attack and devestate the Vinda Corporation thus aiding the value of the CSA credit and thus ensuring that Mr. Tenloss' worth and stability remain."
Jenice took a glass of some local refreshment that had been offered to her by a Vinda Corp droid, ironically manufactured on Mechis III. "Truly a good year. My compliments, Sir."
She let the warm drink settle within her and, inside, she was laughing at the offer of the beverage.
Loosening my tongue as much as possible are you? No matter. There are things to be told and actions that must soon take place!
"Kaine had other ideas. 'Never trust a politician's grasp of military matters' as he was always fond of saying that in his oh so serious manner.
He thought, 'why wait for the CSA to regain it's lost strength? Why wait for Tenloss to recoup from his mistake? And, with the help of the Imperial Tactical Engineer Adalric Cronus, the downfall of Tenloss was decided.
Why waste time to achieve in two years what can be achieved now! With Vinda Corporation!"
She leaned forward, placing her half empty glass on the edge of Mr. Vinda's desk.
"You have the infrastructure already! You have the monopoly already on the Corporate Sector. Instead of dealing with Tenloss, why not deal with you?
In this game, the strongest survive. And you have come out the strongest.
This is about Imperial Ascendancy! This is about the full assumption of Galactic Authority! This is about the Empire finally coming out of the shadows and seizing their place!
There are divisive influences in the Empire, to be sure. There are threats that continue to erode at Imperial Order from the outside, certainly. There are the eons old conflicts between the Jedi and the Sith that threaten the very foundations of all that we've built...and then there are men like General Kaine. Men like you, Mr. Vinda."
Jenice's eyes seemed to glaze over a bit as her voice became soft, as if she were speaking her mind...
"Men like you dwell in the shadows content to let others assume the titles, the glory, the positions.. knowing full well where the true power rests.
Within your own hands."
She focussed on the Vinda Corp leader and flushed slightly as if in embarrassment.
"As a woman, it is sometimes hard to realize that there are people who shun the limelight. Sometimes, position and power are all to rare in my kind that we jealously hold onto it with our very lives.
We feel it odd when others do not publicly flaunt their strength. But it's not out of shame. It's not out of weakness... that you lie in the shadows. It's because you are confident."
"Mr. Vinda. A plan
is in place. A plan that is being enacted right now on a galactic scale. A plan to ensure that rise of the Empire.
The inner divisions of the Empire are being put out... sometimes violently. The outer threats are being neutralized...and the Imperial High Command is poised to begin absolute control over the governing Moffs and lessor politicians.
A Galactic Body is being born... Imperial Law.. Imperial Order .. Imperial Protocols and Imperial Procedures are being drafted for this galaxy.
A living organism is starting to grow... the return of civilization to all...
The Return of the Empire."
Jenice looked at the impression (if any) she was making on the face of Vinda.
The man is hard to read.
She became serious.
"Now down to specifics. The Empire is not going to wage war with the Galaxy on some fool quest to simply own what can otherwise simply be controlled.
Any and every faction is welcome to recognize the power and authority of the Empire. Doing so puts the faction in the "sphere" of the Empire. In that sphere, you will be protected, you will be honored, and you will be recognized as if you were solely in the Empire's possession.
In specific terms, your shipping, transport, and interstellar laws will all become subject to Imperial Procedures and Law.. which, to be honest, doesn't change much with current local laws. But it does, however, streamline and maintain the consistency of things.
What you do with your corporation is your own business. Who you deal with is your own business. What arrangements you make with people within the Imperial "Sphere" or without is your own business.
We only ask that if your business takes you out of that "sphere" you keep Imperial interests in mind. Merge them with your own.
What is the benefit to Vinda? Besides rhetoric? Why did we make you halt your crushing of the CSA until things were right to topple Tenloss?
What do you gain?
Quite simply, the Galactic Economy. General Kaine knew that the Imperial Military and Martial Law is ill equipped to handle such a responsibility. The military destroy. The military conquers.. the military protects.. but it does not nurture.
War is good for business.. but it is not business in itself. War does not reach out and connect the planets of the Empire. A stable economy, however, does."
Jenice grinned.
"There
is more than one way to take this galaxy."
Her grin faltered.
"I digress.
I was saying what you gain out of this whole situation, quite simply, it's this:
Cryonic Industries holdings have come under the control of Arliss Towers, Muunilist. We have picked up their contracts, properties and assets by default. The 256th, under General Kaine, went in and assumed control over the corporation's possessions when it became quite clear that the officers were losing everything to bankruptcy and dissolution. The credits they banked on became worthless overnight. Employees were laid off, and their citizens and other planetary residents living under the corporate planets feared for their livelyhood. Riots had begun to break out but the Empire stepped in to prevent total catastrophe.
Not all felt the upset and the Empire would like Cryonic's situation kept as quiet as possible.
But as I said, the Military is ill equipped to run a company. So what better hands to leave those markets that affect the galaxy at large than a successful, tested, tried and true businessman like you?
Vinda Corporation will hold joint ownership with Thyferra, Bespin, Mechis III and Telti. Each planet represents a major galactic market that the Empire will rest on.
You will be given a shipyard on each planet to begin building an even larger shipping/transport fleet to handle this responsibility.
But as such, you will be operating under Imperial Law, and according to Imperial Procedures. However, you will run the markets as you see fit. As long as the Empire benefits from your management style."
Ms. Arliss' eyes lit up. "How does Arliss Towers benefit? While we will not take in the awesome amount of profit you will, we also will not take on any capital expenses. For every sale you make, Arliss Industries will take a brokerage fee of 5%. Small to those corporations who strive to own planets and take on the headaches associated with it, but very large for a company with very low overhead.
We all make out like bandits... except, of course, for Mr. Tenloss."
"Mr. Vinda. You will have political clout within the Empire. You will be the most powerful neutral party within the Empire.
Vinda Corporation will be considered, by the Empire as part of the Empire (due to your accepting Imperial Law and operating procedures).
I think Kaine once referred to the position as 'Moff of the Imperial Galactic Economy'."
Jenice smiled slightly as if an afterthought occured to her. "I realize that you do business with other factions, most notably the New Republic. Imperial Law and Imperial Procedures will not hinder you from continuing.
Naturally, those outside the "Sphere" of the Empire, those who refuse to recognize the authority and power of the Empire will be considered enemies of the state and dealt with accordingly.
Whether militarily or diplomatically, this will be the decisions of the Imperial Politicians and the Military Command. It will not affect business...
..except in times of war. And should the Empire go to war to solidify, maintain, and impose Order upon this galaxy, then only those markets specifically and jointly held by the Vinda Corporation and the Empire will be affected.
How much? and In What Nature? will be left to you. You and your corporate officers will see the situation on a galactic scale and will be trusted to act accordingly.
The General believes in allowing those who know their business best to act with their best. Loyalty is rewarded, trust is earned..and accomplishment recognized.
You have been watched, tested, and found capable.
And so, General Kaine would like the offer I've just spoken to you about to be offered. It was his hope, his plan to set forth an idea that had appeal to all parties involved. A plan where all sides benefited according to what was important individually to them.
A plan that appealed to the best interest to all parties.
It is in your best interests to take on more markets and expand your base of operations. It was in our best interests to make this possible. It's in the Empire's best interests to leave the galactic economy in the hands of those who know how to make the most of it, how to nuture it, and make it grow.
So what do you say Mr. Vinda?"
Jenice took a sip from her glass, her eyes carefully watching the wheels turn inside Mr. Vinda's head.
There were others who might have been listening since Jenice did hear the door open and close several times. Whether it was a person or simply a droid was unknown for she kept her focus on the man in charge.
What happens now?
Truly, at this moment, history would be made one way or another...
