The Meeting…
“So, it all boils..” (Arliss raised his eyes at the term used), “down to this little feller here.” A man who worked for his daughter stated.
“Correct.” The Kamino alien agreed. He had just given the group a fair amount of information on their failed sedition against the Mon Calamarian occupation.
Seamus stared at the floating squid in the seemingly harmless liquid. “The Mon Calamarians are fools.” He said with relish, as his eyes began to light up.
Ideas were flowing at the possibilities.
The one good thing.. .
No! The one good commodity ..
..that Kamino boasted of was their cloning facilities. No other group of people could make the creation of clones an art out of the science the way Kamino’s inhabitants did.
“To get control over that technology would generate so many avenues of revenue.” Mr. Conrad said, looking over the figures.
“What remains to be seen, though,” Jenice’s voice carried over the group, “is whether Arliss Industries has the resources necessary to venture into this opportunity?”
“That is the question..” Seamus agreed. “Mr. Conrad?”
“It depends on what
type of venture we are talking about.” The rather thin Financial Officer of Arliss Industries stated, pushing his wirey, antiquated eye-piece higher up the bridge of his nose. “Are we talking, a hostile takeover? If so, we would need monies to funnel into an existing political party..assuming we don’t have to form one out of the blue, and then doctor the elections ..again assuming the Kamino government is a democratic one.”
“Given the Mon Calamarian preference for things Republican in nature, it would be safe to assume that a democratic system would be ‘pushed’ upon the people.”
“Point taken,” Mr. Conrad conceded, “But what I was attempting to suggest, is that too much money goes into too many (ultimately irrelevent) areas… areas that will not contribute to the direct assumption of control of Kamino.”
“So we cannot do it?” Jenice asked.
“Not alone. We are not Vinda Corporation who uses military conquest to achieve the necessary capital to finance the growing population of individuals under our sphere of influence. They HAVE to expand or they have nothing with which to bank their credit on.”
“Or their debts.”
“Vinda was shrewd to tackle entertainment as a means to offset the growing expenses of his company.”
“Be that as it may, we are off topic. If we cannot go in and push the Mon Calamari out, what can we do?”
Jenice’s eyes lit up briefly as she turned to her father. “Perhaps..”
“NO!” Seamus suddenly and firmly spoke, interrupting his daughter. “Muunilist has been free from the Empire for ..”
“The Empire still has many garrisons stationed, even if they are haphazardly maintained.” Someone mentioned.
“Being cut off from Imperial Center, those garrisons had to find local support.” Jenice smiled, “And we support them handsomely. So handsomely, in fact, that we hold a monopoly planetwide.” Her smile faded, “However, the Empire is not going to forget their soldiers are here. Sooner or later, they will return.”
“You mean
your Imperial will return.” Mr. Conrad retorted. “Of course,” Mr. Conrad turned to Seamus, “If we can control your daughter, we might be able to control this Simon Kaine.”
“No.” Seamus said, after some thought, “their relationship (he said the word ironically) is not like that. He would be the kind of man that would cut his losses. A true soldier.”
“So, with a hostile takeover of Kamino out of the question, what is left?”
Seamus looked about options and sighed resigned, “The Empire.”
“Then with the specific course of action decided, we must figure out how to carry it out?”
‘That is why we have our little friend here.” The Kamino alien, ignored during the discussion now stood straighter as a finger was pointed to the squid.
“A bio-engineered solution.” The alien spoke, with obvious pride. “You see, all species native to a particular planet inherently share with their world of origin a common bond on the genetic level. It is one way scientists learn the where a certain species of animal or plant originates. On the atomic level, there are certain familiar characteristics so one would be able to discern, if the proper test was performed, that a Wookiee would not be a native of, say, Yavin IV.”
“What accounts for this familiarity?” Jenice asked.
“Well, on an evolutionary scale, different species revolve around the particular environment that their initial one-celled existence sprouted from. By way of a simplistic example, one species may have more carbon in their chemical makeup whereas another species may have more copper, iron or whatnot. Every planet is different and every planet has their own particular signature determined by natural system stellar activities to name but one.”
“So…” Seamus connected the dots, “you engineered a weapon designed to attack your oppressors based on their atomic makeup.”
“Correct,” The Kamino answered excitedly, “By giving us pet squids, they gave us the necessary supply of biomaterial. Enough to not only create but also to test.”
“And it only affects?”
“Mon Calamarians.”
“Aren’t there… Az… Azz..” Mr. Conrad looked through his papers, “What the frell are their names?”
“Azguardians.”
“Azguardians,” nodded Mr. Conrad, “who also live there?”
“They are a minority as are most other members of the Mon Calamari Coalition.”
“So, a strike eliminating the Mon Calamarians on your planet would punch a large enough hole to overcome their defenses.”
“Wait!” Jenice suddenly interrupted sharply. Looking intently on the alien she asked, “The Mon Calamari were building their “Reef’ Town… the foundation being underwater yes?”
“Correct.”
“Wouldn’t the coral used in the Reef’s formation also contain the same atomic structure the bioweapon is engineered to attack.”
“Of course. Once launched, there will be no halting the breakdown of the Reef.” The Kamino suddenly lost his amiability that seemed to identify the typical Kamino personalities. “The town will die.”
“Why come to us?” Jenice asked, which Seamus had to admire about his daughter. He already knew the answers but seeing her grasp details and implications seemed to reassure him that The Towers were under tight control.
“Because, while we had enough biomaterial to create the formula for the weapon, generate a lab sample and test it, all we have is what is in this container.”
The alien looked at them.
“We require you to make more.”
“What makes you think that the Empire will be ‘better’ than the Mon Calamari?”
“Ms. Arliss. Our society has always been rather small and isolated. We wish to do that which we are good at. We wish for our art to come alive once more. We have had dealings with the architects of the Empire during the formation of the Grand Army of the Republic. Working with the Pre-Empire and subsequent contracts have proved most lucrative and beneficial for both sides. And while I harbor no illusions that our business relationship may differ should the Empire have a more direct hand in matters dealing with Kamino, we do feel that you would appreciate just how skillful we are.”
“What is in it for Arliss Industries?”
“Arliss Industries would serve as the liaison between Kamino and the Empire. I assure you, middleman fees would generate quite a healthy sum.”
The Board contemplated that and the meeting was adjourned.
*
The Towers – Residential Floor
“Did you obtain DNA samples of our resident Kamino?” Jenice asked as her father and Mr. Conrad entered the private office in her residence.
Seamus only smiled.
“Imagine that an entire species can be linked to one particular planet.” Jenice cocked her head to her father, “I wonder if anyone has found the planet where humans sprang from?”
“Ahh, the Origin Question.” Seamus murmured as he sat down on a couch and stretched out. “Scientists of the Old Republic were working on that very question when it fell. I don’t think anything ever came of their research.”
“Something for the Jedi?” His daughter asked, curious.
“I do not think so. The Jedi are always more concerned over their damned religious squabbles.”
“Well, one thing I know is that there are more humans per capita in this galaxy than any of other species. With the galactic market saturated,” Mr. Conrad grinned, “Life is cheap.”
“It is tough for the Slaver’s market out there. Perhaps they should diversify.”
When all three were comfortable, Seamus brought the conversation back to the topic at hand. “The way I see it, in order to liaison with the Empire, we would need to direct operations through the Towers lest other companies from Coruscant try to undercut us were we to go directly to Imperial Center.”
“For that to happen, the Empire would need to return to Muunilist.”
“What do you think about the bioweapon?”
“Given that it is only dangerous for one species, I don’t see what long term harm it could do. Still, I would prefer a more conventional approach.”
“And if the Empire fails?”
“We try unconventional means. Remember, just because the Empire will bring Muunilist back into the fold, do not think that I love the Empire. But for now, it’s the best we can do to further our goals.”
“Besides,” Mr. Conrad stated smiling, “When the Empire controlled Thyferra, Bespin and other former Cryonics holdings, we did stock quite a bit of material. That should endear us to the Empire before they have to deal with LFX.”
“LFX.. now there’s a company. With the speed with which they wanted to control former Imperial holdings one might think they had designs on Coruscant itself.”
Seamus smiled, “One might..” he commented.
“By the way, Ms. Arliss, did you hear that it is no longer styling itself LFX?” Mr. Conrad asked.
“No? What do they call themselves?”
“The Holy Desmo.. Desmo… well.. whatever.. Empire..” he stated.
“Holy?” Jenice said.
“Yes. Ironically, Seti Ashar has found God.”
“If God exists within the boundaries of the Empire, perhaps we should ask Seti for his address so we may bill Him rent.”
Seamus grinned at the CFO’s gumption.
“Ususally people turn to religion when they have committed s crime so heinous they can’t live with themselves.
Mr. Conrad grunted, “Whatever helps him sleep at night.”
Seamus merely gave an overexaggerated sigh. “Why.. why, why do companies turn a blind ear to the ONLY God in the galaxy that has ever aided them? And then only to pursue flights of fancy?”
“What God is that, Seamus?” Jenice asked.
“Why the Almighty Credit, child! The Almighty Credit! Tell me, what good is your religion if you ignore the credit and cannot buy bread?”
“Man cannot live on bread alone..” Jenice stated philosophically.
Seamus snorted derisively at that. “No, but without bread, you die. So what good is your intangible faith then?”
Mr. Conrad laughed at that which, to Jenice, seemed an odd occurance to behold.
“If man cannot live on faith without bread, and yet
can live on bread without faith, tell me, which is the stronger?”
“You talk like a Jedi Seminary teacher..” Jenice murmured, has her hand went to her forehead.
“Bah!” Mr Conrad blurted out, “The only thing ‘Holy’ means is that you can fleece your flock with the staple of divine approval." He mimed a religious leader, "‘God spoke to me and had me instruct you to give me your personal shuttle, your house, your wife and daughter so His will be done.’” He looked gravely at the father and daughter, “It’s official. This is a galaxy of fools.”
All three laughed at that.
When they had finished, Jenice seriously asked, “What is to be done when the Empire finishes the reserves?”
Seamus thought long and hard about that for a bit. “We do this..”
And the three talked on into the night.
*
Imperial Center
Jenice Arliss walked into the rather tall dome that house the Empire’s Military Command. Of course, while the come itself rose several stories upward, most of the Military Command was hidden under the planet’s superstructure of relentless urbanization.
“Can I help you, Ms.?”
“Arliss. Jenice Arliss. I am looking for Grand Marshall Kaine.”
“I am sorry, Ms. Arliss. The Grand Marshall is offworld at the moment.”
“Do you know when he will be returning?”
“I am sorry Ms. That information is classified.”
“I spoke with an under-officer and I was directed too..”
“I am sorry Ms. But the Grand Marshall is not here.”
“Very well.” Jenice relented. Most of the time she might have roughed the man over to get her way but this was the Imperial Military she was dealing with. It would not be unheard of for people who made nuisances of themselves to disappear.
As she walked away slowly, passing two Spartans, a voice rang out. “Jenice? Jenice Arliss?”
She turned sharply her eyes scanning the crowd for the origin of the voice. Upon seeing a uniform moving toward her she groped for the man’s name.
“Captain.. Chandler is it? Of the ..
Victory?”
“Admiral, now.” Corrected the rather tall and thin man. He was older than the Grand Marshall, his hair having been sprinkled with gray for quite some time. “What brings you to Imperial Center?”
“Business.. and,” she hesitated, “..and I am looking for Simon.”
“The Grand Marshall is offworld.”
“Yes, so the aide informed me. I was hoping…” she then shrugged. “I am here to facilitate Muunilist’s return to the Empire on a more formal level.”
If Admiral Chandler showed any surprise, he kept it hidden. “I see.”
“I was sure… well, I was hoping that since the 256th once used Muunilist as it’s port..” she let the implications remain unspoken.
“Walk with me, Ms. Arliss.”
As the two found their way onto an elevator that descended, Chandler began to speak. “A voluntary admission by Muunilist will be looked on with favor from the governing Moffs.”
“Moffs? The Imperial Senate then is..”
“Dissolved.” Chandler answered confirming her suspicions. “The threat from politicians siding with that New Empire debacle signed the Senate’s death warrant in the eyes of the Regent.”
“Then, anything we can do to curry favor among those handling the administration of the Empire we shall do, of course.”
Chandler smiled, “Of course. But why now?”
“My father and I think we have something that just might prove interesting to Grand Marshall Kaine.”
“That would be?”
“Let’s just say that an assault on Kamino might prove… what? Why are you laughing?”
Chandler’s eyes danced with amusement. “An assault is currently underway as we speak?”
Jenice suddenly looked around and Admiral Chandler waved his hand as if to ward off any worries. “My lady, we are in one of the most secured facilities on the Empire. I assure you,” his grin stretched farther, “only Imperial Intelligence and Military Intelligence have recorded our words.”
As they entered the Admiral’s office, she noted a small model of an Imperial Star Destroyer. When they were both situated, the Admiral looked at her squarely and asked, “What sort of reception could the Empire realistically expect should a reclamation force be sent forth?”
And she told him.
And then she told him of their plans.
After she was finished, the Admiral scratched his chin. "Bold." was all he said at first.
Looking at her intently for a minute, his next words were chosen with some care.
"Kaine would have approved."
And Jenice sat a little higher in her seat causing the Admiral to smile inside.
