"Mr. Jardec, I promise you that I will be able to answer all your questions in time. But first, I suggest we move off this landing pad so that it may be utilized for its intended purpose."

Tir Esias led Carus and his associate off the landing pad and into the small fuel depot next to. A few moments later the loud hum of ion engines could be heard, and the fuel depot visibly vibrated as a vessel took up refuge on the landing pad. Once the tiny building stop shaking, Tir Esias led Carus and his companion back out into the open.

Sitting on the landing pad was a Delta class escort shuttle, an Imperial model similar in many regards to the famous Lambda class used by many high-ranking Imperials. The Delta class was more of a troop transport than the Lambda and boasted significantly greater firepower. Members of the Imperial military often flew in Deltas because of this advantage, and due to the fact they could ferry around a small entourage of personal bodyguards in its hold. Delta's were not particularly common outside of the Empire, due in part to a large surcharge Imperial manufacturers were forced to add to the price of a Delta when it was not being sold directly to the Empire.

The boarding ramp to the shuttle descended, and a hulking figure began descending it.

"Carus, I'd like you to meet my associate. You can simply call him Qive."

The huge alien titled his head in a slight nod, but said nothing.

"Shall we depart?"

Tir pointed toward the shuttle with his cane, and waited for Carus to start walking.

Carus looked at the shuttle with an slightly suspicious face as he approached it with Treaz and Esias, he quietly examined the shuttle and then the huge alien that came down the ramp. Carus examined Qive for a while after Esias introduced the quiet alien, but then Carus turned his head towards the ramp as Esias spoke to him. Carus quickly looked at Treaz with an uncertain, but decisive face. It was all or nothing now, they could die on this trip or they could find something interesting and unexpected. Carus looked at Esias with a smile.

"With pleasure..."

Carus walked past qive up the ramp and sat down in the shuttle, he looked at Esias and Qive as they entered the shuttle after him while Treaz sat down with her hand near her blaster, she was clearly intimitated by this hulking alien, but who wouldn`t? Carus was no true fighter, he was a man of words and dedication to his cause as he tried to gather all the outcast of the galaxy together to build something what would be their and where none of them would be despised for they all would have gone trough the same thing. Of course traitors were common, imperial spies and sometimes private agents working for someone in the empire. They usually faced a quick death all tough betrayal was the worst thing Carus could imagine among his own ranks. Carus looked at Esias for a while with a pondering face as the shuttle departed from the landing pad towards space.

"Could you now tell us anything that would clarify who you are or what is going on here?"

"I can Mr. Jardec. However, if I do, I must warn you that once you are privy to that information your options become extremely limited."

The insinuation behind that statement was pretty evident. When Carus made no protest, Tir took that as his sign to continue.

"My employer is known simply as the Union. Have you heard of us?"

Carus said nothing, though that was not unexpected. The veil of secrecy surrounding the Union had become frayed but the organization's existence was still a well-kept secret. Of course, part of the reason for the Union's invisibility was its policy towards those who discovered its existence- as to which Xander Griff could attest.

"The Union, Mr. Jardec, is the Empire of the underworld. Imagine for a moment, the notorious Black Sun at its peak... the Exchange at its prime... the Hutts at their zenith. Combine these entities into one, and you have a semblance of understanding about the power and reach of the Union.

The Union is not limited simply to crime. In fact we have transcended the phase when the bulk of our operations were criminal, though crime maintains a prominent role in our structure. The Union's ultimate aim is to concentrate the power that the Empire and Coalition let slip through the cracks: information, money, crime, terrorism.

The Union brings together the Brutus Nogoth's of the galaxy with the Rico Belgardi's of the galaxy- allowing for a synergy that magnifies the individual power of an entity. Creates opportunities for cooperation that would otherwise be impossible. Interconnects groups in ways that have never before been contemplated."

Tir Esias smiled.

"And you, Carus, can become the Union's newest member."

Carus hadn`t heard of any Union nor it was a wonder why when Esias brought up whom were apart of it, Brutus Nogoth, Rico Belgardi, Xander Griff and the galaxies probably most powerful criminal leagues were in it, but one question raised in his mind. Who ran this all? As Esias said he was just a simple middle man all tough had force powers and Carus wasn`t really surprised by the spot that was offered to him among them Union. Why? Carus wasn`t going to be left out alive, if he wouldn`t since such a secret was far more valuable to the Union than he or his petty organization could ever be.

But why did the Union interest with the Outcast? They had potential perhaps, but they were no bigger profit for the Union unless they would give them weaponry, funds and by the sound of this Union it seemed to have it all. Something yet wondered him, if Rico Belgardi was apart of the Union then why not any other business man. Carus finally snapped out of his thoughts and coughed slightly, he quickly looked at Treaz and then at Esias.

"By the sounds of this secret and concerning how powerful your Union seems you aren`t leaving me any choice, but before making anything official and making any plans at all I`d like to meet the man in charge himself. Not just a messenger as you have clearly expressed yourself, but yet I wonder somethings such as if Belgardi is apart of you then... why not any other business man?"

Carus said throwing an interested gaze at Esias since he wasn`t going to be a simple pawn of anyone, but apart of this Union if it just wasn`t a lie and then lie would be revealed, if he couldn`t meet this employer of his, but if he met him then Carus would be satisfied.

"I think a meeting could be arranged."

Tir felt a twinge of suprise eminate from Qive, but continued.

"And to answer your question, I can assure you that the Union's affiliates extend far beyond Belgardi. However, before we get into that, I think a discussion with the Chairman is in order."

The shuttle began to lift off, and head toward the atmosphere.

"Once we reach deep space we can open a secure channel and you can have your discussion."

Excellent, one mistake and he not to mention his fellow Outcasts would be wiped out probably, if he would screw up since they didn’t seem to be the ones that tolerated mistakes. The Union obviously was a secret and now know to one of his group besides him knew the secret, but when he honestly asked himself a simple question he knew that there was a choice ahead.

Can I trust anyone else than myself with this matter?

Carus looked at Treaz for a while as she seemed quiet by all of this, in the end Treaz was the newest of his lieutenants, she could try to betray them all and she had the access to almost everything except the leadership in his group. Treaz had become a threat now that she knew about the Union, Carus looked at Esias whom probably sensed his disturbance with this matter. Carus sat quietly as the ship entered deep space and someone said something snapping Carus out of his thoughts.

"The secure channel is open"

Qive said and Carus was lead to the cockpit where he could have his conversation, Carus signalled Treaz to stay put in her seat in the back. Carus sat down ignoring the strange pilots, they seemed distant and empty since they seemed to be only concentrating in the piloting. Carus coughed slightly clearing his throat as he stared at a first blank screen, then the picture began to clear showing a shadowy figure.

"I presume you are the chairman?"

Estro Sabrino regarded this man quietly from his seated position from the hidden location he was transmitting from. Even after all this time the Union had paranoia down to an artform. So now, Estro Sabrino sat in his white uniform style suit, examining the man who was seeing his own image. Sabrino gave a small, cold smile and finally spoke.

"Yes, I am the Chairman. I take it our mutual friend has informed you of our interest in your little group?"

Sabrino watched Jardec give a small nod and fixed his gaze on the man further, looking him over closely. Few people outside of the Union ever saw the Chairman, or at least did so and lived to tell the tale. Sabrino was sure this man must have that feeling now, if even in the slightest because no one really knew his face anymore. You didn't see it plastered all over the galaxy like Regrad or Simon Kaine. His name even was probably only held in Imperial files since it was the Empire who had occupied and ruined the Jutraalien Empire.

"I hope you realize how serious our offer is, Mister Jardec. If you turn it down you will not leave that ship alive. So, do you think you will be of service to the Union?"

It was serious no doubt, it had been made very clear only by the image that Tir Esias and his hulking friend Qive had given to him not to mention all this secrecy. Carus nodded again, Carus smirked slightly as he was asked how he would benefit the Union. They weren`t the best of friends with the empire, if the GLF supported them so he doubted that the outcasts future was more than well assured.

"Yes...It is quite clear that I am not leaving alive unless I don´t take up your offer, Qive there seems more than capable of killing me and my liutenant in a instant, but seriously speaking I am not a fighter and never have been. I am a man of ideal should I say, my ideal is what will serve you the most. I imagine a galaxy without an the new order or any truly greater power such as the coalition or the dragons, but mostly I was going to find a place where to inhabbit everyone like myself.

Every society has their share of freaks, outcast and criminals, but I won`t pass judgement on them. There might not yet be many of us, but if we would be funded, equipped and slightly helped in some matter I think we could get something done concerning the empire. Since you don`t seem to be a friend of their since you have GLF in your ranks I think your cause is our cause in the end since everything comes together in the Union...."

Carus swalloved and forced a slight smile on his face.

Estro Sabrino calmly steepled his fingers, considering the answer given to him by Carus Jardec. As for cause, that was something Estro would keep to himself. The Union simply sewed chaos because it was very profitable, espeically if they could get a war to occur. Influence was everything to the Union, as was evident by its expansive control over a number of criminal groups and corporations. These Outcast could prove to be just as useful.

"Well then, consider yourself fulling funded, Mister Jardec."

Estro Sabrino gave his cold smile again.

Carus made a slight bow as he got up and smiled slightly, but had a faint of stress in his voice as he pulled his blaster and checked it.

"Thank you chairman I won’t waste any of your aid, but as this matter must stay most secret and I believe that I cannot trust anyone with this issue especially when my group seemingly has a rat since we were ambushed or so I think, but you were aware of that undoubtedly..."

Carus closed the connection looking at the blaster, he opened the cockpit door and walked out with the blaster in his right hand, Qive got up as his intention to disarm Carus, but Esias seemed to be very well aware of the situation. Carus raised the blaster and shot, Carus sighed slightly and placed the blaster on it’s place as Treaz let out her last breath with sudden disbelief and shock in her eyes.

"An unfortunate, but necessary loss I must say, I hope that a dead body aboard wont bother you too much, but in any case I am ready to start doing my part. As you two seem well aware your chairman seemed to agree, but I think you did agree from the very beginning when you set out to find me. We must meet with the rest of my people and then... get to work."

Carus sat down and looked at Esias.

"First of all we need a base where we can rest and prepare for attacks, any suggestions?"