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Arrival at Foerost
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| Jericho_Novak | Date: Sunday, 28 April 13, 9:55 AM | Message # 1 |
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| Emerging from hyperspace, the Shattered Hope cut an easy half-circle towards the Foerost Shipyards. Upon being hailed, or when he was, Novak would transmit his identity as a James Timmons, a minor technological dabbler in droid processors who had come at the behest of Pho Nisko for a meeting. As such, Novak would continue his vessel's lazy path until the computer gave him a guide in towards the station.
The Republic craft about the shipyard gave Novak little pause; even for all their bristling cannon and troops, Novak was wrapped in the cloak of anonymity, which, he presumed, was intended by Dooku to keep him safe during this meeting.
Jericho Novak
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| Pho_Nisko | Date: Thursday, 16 May 13, 1:01 PM | Message # 2 |
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| The Foerost Shipyards, a durasteel cathedral to the galaxy's millennia-old defense industry. Floating serenely in the heavens of the planet Foerost, the edifice was huge, visible from as far away as Foerost's moons. Drawing closer, one would see that the serenity was illusory—among the immense, skeletal girders of the shipyards were hundreds of ships both large and small, and thousands of droids busy constructing them. From afar, these worker droids would almost resemble insects feasting on a carcass, much as industrialists such as Pho Nisko helped themselves to what remained, these days, of the Galactic Republic. These very shipyards, in fact, had once belonged to the Republic; another Nisko—Pho's "great grandfather," in Human terms—had engineered the Techno Union's acquisition of the shipyards, and to this day, Pho held the prestigious position of Foreman.
Occasionally, as now, Pho Nisko would stand at the sweeping viewport in his luxurious, highly-pressurized and methane-rich suite in the shipyards, standing at the heart of the Techno Union's power, looking out. Nisko had a small army of lobbyists at his disposal—and more than one Republic senator, if the rumors were true—not to mention a literal army of battle droids defending this shipyard. But it was the shipyard itself and others like it on Corellia, Neimoidia, and elsewhere that was the real power of the Techno Union; questions of war and peace were decided here, for rarely was a war fought these days without Techno Union products, many of them made at Foerost. Many, indeed, being constructed before Pho Nisko's sunken, beady eyes.
One ship caught his attention—the Shattered Hope, conveying Count Dooku's representative to meet with him. Nisko was apprehensive. Dooku promised a movement to destroy what remained of the Republic and bring about a galactic market that was, at last, truly free. Nothing, then, would stand in the way of the Techno Union's total dominance of the galactic defense industry (it should be noted also that the success of the Techno Union was an article of intense, personal pride for the xenophobic Skakoan species). Nothing except, perhaps, for Dooku himself. The Count intended to use the Techno Union for his own purposes; Nisko knew it, and so did Wat Tambor. Of course, this didn't mean that the arrangement wouldn't be mutually beneficial, or that Dooku wouldn't end up being used by the Techno Union instead. Still, Nisko was wary. He would observe this Jericho Novak closely—what Novak was and wasn't willing to do for the Techno Union would settle whether Count Dooku was earnest or not...
... and perhaps decide the fate of the Republic, the Skakoan race, and the galaxy.
Nisko turned away from the viewport, his ornate robe flowing behind him as he went to don his pressurized suit and mask for his meeting with Novak.
* * *
The conference room was far less posh than Nisko's personal suite. Indeed, the room was one of several in the shipyard complex used for board meetings or meetings with customers. Of course, it was used for neither in this case, but the both physically- and electronically-soundproof suite was useful for this meeting, too. A few artificial plants—approximations of Skakoan flora—added some color to the room, but contrasted oddly with the viewports looking out on the shipyard and, beyond it, space. Neither Nisko or Novak would be distracted by the view, however; what the two of them had to discuss was of great import indeed.
"... in other words," said Nisko from his seat at one end of the large conference table, his voice sounding mechanical—and far deeper and louder than his actual voice—through his breath mask, "you help us, and we'll help you. Is that it?" Novak might detect a hint of skepticism in his question, or might not; it was hard to tell with Nisko. Appearing to say one thing while saying another was a trait more common to Republic senators these days, but it was one that he often used to his advantage in business negotiations. "What kind of services do you provide, Mr. Novak?"
Pho Nisko
Foreman of the Foerost Shipyards
Techno Union
Message edited by Pho_Nisko - Thursday, 16 May 13, 1:03 PM |
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| Jericho_Novak | Date: Friday, 17 May 13, 0:48 AM | Message # 3 |
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| Relaxing in the relative comfort of the chair at the opposite end of the conference table (the 'foot' as it were, a fact not lost on Novak), Novak drew his robes about himself briefly, rearranging himself slightly as he considered Nisko's question. "It's the ages-old euphemism, Mr. Nisko. 'You scratch our back and we scratch yours.' A mutually beneficial agreement on all sides around, from the gracious Count to your people and the Techno Union."
Stretching his legs further under the table before retracting them, Novak gave Nisko a knowing smile. "You might call me a jack of all trades. It's more of a question of, what do you need, Mr. Nisko. I'm simply here to make sure that what eases your mind, or your pocketbook, is achieved in whichever manner necessary that I can provide. The ends often justify the means, do they not?"
Jericho Novak
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| Pho_Nisko | Date: Friday, 24 May 13, 10:16 PM | Message # 4 |
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| "Often, yes," Nisko said, motionless as he looked at Novak―or presumably did; the eyepieces on Nisko's mask appeared opaque, thus it was fair to say that the Skakoan had the ultimate poker face. Either way, he was certainly listening closely to Novak, measuring the man and all that he represented here today, though the true measure would be in deed, rather than word. And to that end...
"Very well, Mr. Novak," he said after a momentary pause, "The Techno Union has a problem that you could be the solution to." He explained the situation to Novak, though the explanation was incomplete. For instance, Nisko didn't tell him why the Techno Union was interested in Mr. Antar Ilyone, a seemingly minor functionary on the planet Naboo, but Novak was told that Mr. Ilyone needed to be convinced of something, that there was nothing more important to him than his daughter, Ilanah, and that she could be useful in bringing her father around to the Techno Union's point of view.
"Abduct her," Nisko told him, bluntly. "Deliver her to our friend, Mayor Cambrist of New Centrif. Do this for us," he explained, pointing a gloved finger at Novak for emphasis, "and I'm sure our illustrious Foreman Tambor will be convinced of Count Dooku's sincerity."
Pho Nisko
Foreman of the Foerost Shipyards
Techno Union
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| Jericho_Novak | Date: Friday, 24 May 13, 10:28 PM | Message # 5 |
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Sergeant
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| In such matters as these, matters Novak deemed 'lowly,' in terms of corporations and greed and wealth and higher wants, he did not need to have further knowledge of a being's reasons. It did escape Novak's grasp, perhaps out of arrogance or out of simple forgetfulness that a lot of his own pleasures were funded by the wealth of his parents, which in turn, was a sort of greed. Nonetheless, as Nisko explained what he needed, Novak nodded at the appropriate times and made the appropriate noises of agreement.
"It sounds almost too simple," Novak remarked when Nisko had finished. "That means it is likely to be anything but. With her father's status, I'm sure she is surrounded by all manner of security personnel, or at least a well-trained bodyguard. Doubtful they'll be expecting one man to undertake such an action, so that will give me an element of surprise. As you say, once this is done, Foreman Tambor and Count Dooku will join hands of friendship... but there's something I want to request of you.
"You see, there's something I'm searching for. Something old and extremely valuable; there's a chance it could be quite valuable to the Count as well, though while it is not his top priority, it is something of a desire of mine. The problem is that I do nt have the resources myself to recover it. It is my understanding that the Techno Union possesses a number of Corona-class frigates. They're somewhat dated, but one would serve my purposes quite well. If you would, perchance, have one that could be scrubbed of markings with a crew that is willing to do a few unpleasant things and won't ask questions, I'm sure everyone involved would profit greatly."
Jericho Novak
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| Pho_Nisko | Date: Friday, 24 May 13, 10:50 PM | Message # 6 |
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| Just as a shark smelled blood, Nisko instantly sensed opportunity. He placed his hands gently on the table before him, his fingers interlaced. "What is it you're looking for, Mr. Novak?" he asked, mock-conversationally. But it was, of course, far from innocent banter. Some mysterious, 'extremely valuable' item that Novak, but not Dooku, was interested in? Perhaps this Novak—evidently Dooku's right-hand man—was keeping it a secret from the Count. Novak's ambitions didn't interest Nisko of course, but if this object of 'extreme value' could serve Novak's ambitions, could they also serve Nisko's own? He intended to find out. And so he was purposefully and even obviously evasive, answering a question with a question. Not that he wouldn't necessarily provide Novak with the ship he had requested, but Nisko had every intention of fishing for more information first.
Pho Nisko
Foreman of the Foerost Shipyards
Techno Union
Message edited by Pho_Nisko - Friday, 24 May 13, 10:50 PM |
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| Jericho_Novak | Date: Friday, 24 May 13, 10:59 PM | Message # 7 |
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| "It's a ship," Novak offered shortly. He knew this game of the give and take. "An old ship, very old. Far outstripped in terms of the modern technology offered by the Techno Union, I daresay, and of little purpose to find anything aboard that wouldn't already be created in better form by your engineers, or those within the Trade Federation or any of the numerous droidmakers, engineers or weapon-smiths throughout the galaxy."
Novak needed to keep Nisko interested, of course, but he had no intention of letting a single scrap of the truly valuable knowledge fall into the hands of the Techno Union. That was, if Novak found what he was searching for and if it turned out to have anything worthwhile within it as well. Both were long shots; the second even a longer than the first, but this had been a driving force for Novak for some time and with greater resources, he could cover more ground and achieve more research than he and his apprentice could on their own.
Jericho Novak
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| Pho_Nisko | Date: Friday, 24 May 13, 11:34 PM | Message # 8 |
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| "So... you are a collector of antiques?" Nisko said, puzzled. His enthusiasm had dissipated somewhat, although Novak, again, had tipped his hand—in downplaying the value of this ship as much as he had, he had only re-affirmed that it was, in fact, 'extremely valuable' as he'd first said. But perhaps it was valuable only to Novak. Antiques didn't interest Nisko; he believed in progress, and emphatically did not believe in lost technological wonders of the past. Novak had just said it best: today's Techno Union products—many of them being constructed outside the viewport behind Nisko—were the most sophisticated the galaxy had ever seen.
Of course, the Skakoan had exactly no appreciation of the power of the Force or just how powerful those long-lost secrets were aboard the ancient, accursed object of Novak's search. 'Piffle,' Nisko would scoff. "Well then," he waved a hand dismissively, "I'm reasonably certain we can accommodate your request. Of course, it will take some time, but your ship should be ready upon the successful completion of your task on Naboo." A quid pro quo; kidnap the girl, and the Corona-class frigate and crew shall be his.
Pho Nisko
Foreman of the Foerost Shipyards
Techno Union
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| Jericho_Novak | Date: Friday, 24 May 13, 11:43 PM | Message # 9 |
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| "I'm a collector of knowledge, Foreman, and knowledge, whether I can use it or not, is always valuable to someone, and that is what keeps the the wheels turning, along with credits and capitalism." Nisko's lack of enthusiasm was noted and it was indeed something Novak was grateful for. A Harrower-class dreadnought, ancient though it may be, would be capable of routing a flotilla of Republic Judicial Forces corvettes or more, if it were only in working order. With a few upgrades, it could even be a threat to multiple ships of the Lucrehulk size, or more. While the military application of such a ship or its contents was not lost on Novak, it was the knowledge he wanted for himself more than anything.
"Then perhaps I should be going and not waste any more of your valuable time, Foreman." Standing, Novak bowed briefly. "By your leave. I will head to Naboo." Novak didn't see fit to mention a brief stop along the way at Klatooine, but what Nisko wanted would be done soon enough. "As always, the Count extends his deepest offers of friendship." If Nisko had nothing more to say, then Novak would be on his way.
Jericho Novak
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