"...each one is over four hundred years old, and, I am told, is quite exquisite ..."

Seti picked the crystal bottle and admired it. He had, of course, heard of Norvanian Grog, even sampled it on several occasions. He knew that it was both very valuable, and very, very rare.

...complimnets of Vinda-Corp..."

Seti set the bottle on the desk and nodded to the CEO.

"I am sure you're correct, Mr. Vinda. My thanks to you. Perhaps in the future I will be able to repay this gift. I am quite sure that something suiting can be found," he cast a careless glance around the office, "here, to suit a man of your... calibare."

Seti motioned for all to be seated in the oversized leather chairs and waited patiently for TK-558 to take their drink orders. The Trade Federation Vicrory, he had noticed, had yet to speak. But it appeared that that was about to change.

There was a brief spell of pleaenstries between the gathered parties, before the Vicory turned to face Seti and spoke to him directly for the first time.

"And the infamous Seti Ashar..... I would like to kick off this meeting with a proposal, extended on behalf of a close ally of the Trade Federation, the Jutraalian Empire. Prior to the War with the Galactic Defense Initiative, a ship was stolen from the Jutraalian Empire, a Disruptor-Class Super Star Destroyer. The Trade Federation would like to see that ship returned as a sign of good faith, on your part..."

Seti relaxed back into his chair and swirled the contents of his glass, mulling over the Vicory's remarks. The ship in question, the Super Star Destroyer Deal-breaker, was by now probably somewhere near Despayre. And in her place....

He nodded politely.
"Ah, you refer to the Deal-breaker, Mr. Galdra. The ship in question, I'm afraid, is no longer with us... it was traded away some time ago. Business is business, Mr. Galdra."

The hint of a smile appeared on his face. I wonder why the Vicory is so eager to see the ship returned to the Jutraalians? Note to self: Trade Federation working with Jutraalian Empire.

The Viceroy raised a pail green-tinted Neimoidian eyebrow before nodding his head, a skeptic look in his eye.

"I understand exactly what you mean, Mister Ashar. But, why auction off a ship of such power, and magnitude so suddenly?"

Before Seti could ansert, the viceroy sat back in his chair, resting his Neimoidian hands on his formal robes.

"And why have you called us here today?"

He let a smile linger on his face as he listened to the Vicory's question.

"Well, Mr. Galdra... the Viscount del Forza was quite... convincing in his proposal. I could hardly say no."

Nelix stands up from his seat, and leaves.

"What did I say?" The CEO stared for a moment at the door, and turned back to the other man in the room. When the news came some time later than the Trade Federation ships had broken orbit, it would come as little surprise.

Vinda had sat silent, but bemused , at the exchange between the two men, and was just as surprised as Mr Ashar at the Viceroy's sudden , abrupt departure ...

"What did I say?"

Vinda, simply raised an eyebrow in response...

...maybe he didn't like the wine after all...

Straightening his suit jacket, Vinda glanced back up to the LFX CEO...

"...well...that was brief..."

"...that was brief..."

He nodded, silent for a moment. What could cause such a man like Nelix Galdra, who claimed to be respecable, to take such an action, was beyond Seti Ashar.

"Back to business then, Mr. Vinda, I suppose."