Captain Gutt


"Future protectorates of the Empire! Agro Incorporated and our most glorious Empire are working together to put a stop to the anarchy plaguing our galaxy. Given the product you manufacture for the benefit of millions and the benevolence of the Empire to make use of this, I know that together we can strip our enemies of their hateful goals!"

He raised his glass.

"To Agro Incorporated!

Gloria Imperium!"


His hand squeezed Bobbi Byllard's side.




Captain Yatta


The speech in itself was unimpressive. What was impressive to the Captain was that his old friend, Ortho Gutt, had deigned to give one.

He must be a little drunk.

Still, he laughed slightly causing his companions, two minor assistants on either arm, to look at him strangely.


The Empire was there to stay and the women knew which way the winds blew..


At least the thought comforted him.

He raised his glass, "Gloria Imperium!" he shouted out and grinned at the general clapping.


Now where did that stiff necked Sansa get off too, he wondered looking around.



Captain Sansa


Captain Sansa looked over at CEO in quiet contemplation. "If I accept, you realize that I will have to prove to the Empire that those transports I attack are GLF? At the very least, they will want to know the source of my intelligence. To inform them that it is from you would go quite a ways in reforming your reputation in the eyes of the Empire."



He leaned forward. "But I accept your offer, Mr. Hilter." he finally stated taking the datapad.


On one level, he could not help but admire the forward thinking Hilter.


Change is always coming. It's just not always what we think.


What Hilter had purchased was a favor.


Shrewd, when one thought about it on the surface.


"I shall send this to the Necleas for analysis. We will probably leave tomorrow to take advantage of this information."


As Sansa stood he held out his hand to shake the CEO's. "I am sure your company and Agro Incorporated will benefit from our mutual relationship, Mr. Hilter."

Before he turned to walk out of the office and back towards the dinner, he stopped and asked, "Hilter is a very odd name. I've not heard it before? What does it mean?"

Hilter smiled at the final question.

"It means 'He who stays in the shadows'."

Hilter stepped out from behind his desk.

"I'm sure we'll speak again."

He nodded his head slightly as final farewell to the Imperial captain.




The party was still going on when Hilter Afdol returned to the conference room. His face was solemn, and his eyes were lit with what could only be described as a tremendous firestorm of fury. He immediatly sought out Captain Gutt, his eyes wandering only momentarily to the gorgeous figure at his side. The crowd seemed to focus in on the pair as Hilter approached the Imperial captain.

A waiter carrying drinks scurried across the CEO's path, momentarily shielding Hilter from view, but after he past a pair of drinks had materalized in his hands. The look of hatred had dissapated from his face, replaced by a genial smile, the wrathful eyes subdued. He handed a glass to Gutt, and then raised his own drink to the ceiling.

"To the beginning of a glorious... and most profitable relationship."

He took a long quaff from the glass, draining a good portion of the amber liquid that filled it.

Then, in the same boisterous tone, he let loose a second toast.

"Gloria Imperium!"

And he proceeded to drain his glass.

Captain Sansa


The Imperial Line Captain walked out of the room passing Captain Marlicos waiting outside. He strolled down the hall stopping occassionally at a piece of unique artwork. Several times his fingers grabbed the frame as if testing to see if the frames were heavy.

They were.

It was a testiment to just how much wealth Afdol Hilter and Agro Incorporated traded in.

That, more than the other outward displays made an impression on the man. When he was a good distance away from the trailing Agro Head of Security, he spoke as if into the air.

"Ironside, you still standing by?"

"Still here, Captain." the man replied.

"Download everything onto my equipment and have it ready for my return." As Marlicos closed the distance Sansa continued, "And I trust you were alone?"

"I was not born yesterday," came an irritated growl from the comm.

"Very well Ironside. Did you get the information I had requested?"

Marlicos came within hearing distance when Ironside's voice, aboard the Necleas, continued, "The father's name is Jorlin Marlicos. A teacher in the Duro District and before that, a CORSEC officer. Quite a good one by the looks of it. Had some ideological differences when Kaine arrived."

Sansa saw the Head of Security's face turn red as his father's information was relayed over the communication channel.

Keeping an eye on Captain Marlicos, Sansa turned back to the comm, "Priority order to CORSEC Command. I want Mr. Jorlin Marlicos reinstated to full honors. That should wipe the Republic stink from his record for the benfit of the ISB. Get his benefits going and be prepared to have the department apply all applicable back-pay to his account."


"I'll see to it."


"That is all, Ironside. Close channel."


"Ironside out."


As Captain Marlicos stood there surprised, Sansa turned to him. "Your Hilter has just given me a bit of information and now has a 'favor' owed to him." His lips pressed together grimly, "On account, as it were."

Then he sighed. "I have no idea what the man may ask for. Therefore, I am granting your father and the rest of your family a good life on Corellia."

He turned to the Captain.

"Why?" Sansa asked as if reading Marlicos' mind. "Because now you will owe me a favor. Just like your boss, I may or may not collect."

He leaned in closer to the Captain. "You seem to be a good man, Captain, and I respect that. Therefore, I shall caution you: You work for people that play a dangerous game. Watch your back."


And with that, he walked off.




Captain Yatta

The Imperial Line Captain woke during the night, two administrative aides resting peacefully on either side of him. As their stomachs rose and fell with each breath his thoughts turned to the report Captain Sansa had given him and Captain Gutt.

Gutt was really too drunk to understand the nuances but then, that's why Yatta stayed around. The agreement, being channeled through the Imperial Legal Department and ratified by the Adminstration of Commerce and Intergalactic Trade, would be a boon in all of their feathered caps.

Gutt stood to make quite a bit of money by making Garqi an Imperial Protectorate while serving as a Governor.

Though Agro Incorporated would have full autonomy, the Empire would ensure that it's purchase demands for grain were met on a timely basis. The introductory orders placed by Sansa were extremely large and even paying half the costs the fair market value to Agro's other customers were being charged would give Agro Incorporated a very large influx of credits.

In two days, the second fleet that Kaine had sent would be arriving and they were charged with setting up stations and waypoints for efficient transport loading and offloading. Costs that Agro would normally have had to front were being covered by the Empire. But then again, the Empire was going to use Garqi as it's Agricultural Capital of the Outer Rim.

The products purchased would be used to support Imperial operations within the region for years to come.

Both Captain Gutt and Captain Yatta were on permanent assignment to Garqi, and two Imperator's in standard orbit over the planet and patrolling the system would do much to secure Agro's claim to the region as well.

He drifted off to sleep with a smile on his face.



Captain Gutt


Even drunk, Captain Gutt knew what went where and why. And as he grunted and strained, rutting like a wild animal (or at least an animal unrestrained), his body plunged against Bobbi's with all the zeal his mind could achieve. And as his body sweated over hers, a spasm of pleasure shot through his body and he shuddered in response.

"I shall make you Queen of Garqi!" he whispered. "You shall be wealthy beyond your wildest dreams!"

He vaguely remembered Sansa talking about an agreement reached but he didn't need to know the particulars. All that mattered was that at this moment, he was King.



The Next Morning...


Captain Sansa


A shuttle was taken to the outer plains, the site to where the fires had burned. The shuttle, having to land a bit farther away to avoid the grain fields, touched down and Sansa walked to the site on foot.

He surveyed the sea of grain covering the horizon as far as the eye could see in some directions. He knelt down and scooped some soil into a container and walked back to the shuttle.

His job was done here.




ISD Necleas


"Welcome aboard, Line Captain Sansa.." Ironside remarked the moment the Imperial stepped onto the hanger bay.

"Now can I have my ship back?"

Sansa grinned. "Not quite, Captain. We must lead a taskforce against some wayward GLF terrorists. Be prepared to get underway within the hour."

"The Predator and the Veritol?" Ironside asked.

"They will remain here to oversee Imperial interests. The rest of the fleet will arrive tomorrow." Sansa replied and Ironside breathed a sigh of relief. He was not a fan of either Captain Gutt or Captain Yatta.

"Course?" he asked.


Sansa smirked slightly, "You should be receiving instructions from the Office of the Grand Marshall. They will inform us where we are to pick up our taskforce and from there, Irodnia. We will need to act fast on this, Captain."


Ironside nodded and moved off to comply as Sansa headed for his quarters.

The quarters were spartan and as the door closed, his fingers went to his face to remove the flesh prosthesis, literally pulling off his face. It was an act that he had perfected over the years and he had long since grown used to the sting.

He passed fresh prothesis on a nearby desk as he passed the remnants of his face into the atomizer. Then he began to disrobe and fed his clothes one by one also into the atomizer.

Next came the sweep of his quarters for listening devices or spyware. When one was in the business he was in, one did not simply trust fellow Imperials; especially Kaine or Isard.

After checking all the rooms of his quarters he sealed the doors and went to the fresher to shower.




Feeling cleaner and years younger, he opened an encrypted channel to Simon Kaine forwarding the recordings through the open comm he carried and analysis.


It was late on Coruscant but Kaine was instantly awake to receive his signal. A slightly disheveled hologram of Kaine came into view and the Intelligence Officer grinned. "Did I catch you at a bad time?"


Kaine merely grunted looking over the summary of Ciscero's report. "So the bastards are linked and now we have proof. You took the soil samples?"


"The Necleas' computers are chewing on it. The results should be received in a few hours."

Kaine nodded absently, "I can't believe the nerve of this guy."

"He's got guts, Hilter does. Hell, he'd make an excellent Imperial. But what I want to know is are we going to act on the proof?"

Kaine looked up and rubbed his eyes. "What did I tell you before this mission started. It really doesn't matter one way or the other. If Hilter is willing to play ball, then Agro will become the primary resource for our Outer Rim operations. I am banking on him being more of a wealthy businessman than a short-lived terrorist."

"And Irodnia?"

"We have some assets in the area that we can muster. I will send coordinates to Captain Ironside once I confirm the logistical side of this."

"So we act."

"Hell, yes, we act on it! Once we've crushed the GLF on Irodnia, we will credit it to the aid given to us by our association with Agro Incorporated."

Ciscero smiled. "It will begin to alienate Hilter from the rest of his terrorist friends."

"Exactly. And if GLF or any other terrorist cronie try to get revenge on Hilter, he has Imperial power backing him up."

"Thus putting Hilter into our camp." Ciscero concluded. "Just do not forget to credit the attack to Captain Sansa and make sure he is suddenly on the fast track to Admiral."

Ciscero leaned back on a chair, "And Captain Gutt and Yatta?"

Kaine chuckled at that. "They are out of our hair for now. And if Hilter tries to become problematic, I think the two Captains should occupy his attention for the most part. And Ortho, you know, has no morality issues." Kaine's eyes went cold, "He will act with all deliberation to protect his newfound wealth and lifestyle."

Ciscero yawned. "I guess I shall contact you when we link up to the taskforce."

Kaine looked up, "Ciscero, you might want to get Regrad or the GC in on the kill over Irodnia." A shadow of a smile played on his lips, "It is an interesting thought at any rate. I'll leave to your discretion."


"Ciscero out." and the Intelligence Agent switched off moving over to the room's bed. "Next stop, Irodnia." he whispered.