[font=Verdana]Hyperspace[/font]
[font=Verdana]Inner Deep Core[/font]<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Lance Vaggle hummed quietly to himself as he read a datapad containing a report of the Tagge Company's most recent investments. A number of them were going towards establishing new mining facilities to expand the Tagge Mining Company which did a lot of major work to produce materials for the galaxy as well as the Tagge Company's many manufacturers. Currently, Lance himself was a employ of said Tagge Mining Company on a probing mission into the farthest reaches of the Deep Core. Few people had entered as far as he was going now and lived to tell the tale. This was due to the fact that at the center of any galaxy exists a massive cluster of black holes sucking in anything that gets within their reach. Hyperspacing far into the Deep Core was practically committing suicide.<o:p></o:p>

[font=Verdana]Well, I was always told I had a death wish...[/font][font=Verdana]<o:p></o:p>[/font]

Lance chuckled at that thought as his proximity sensors started going off. He looked at them first in panic and them calmed as the ship smoothly reverted to hyperspace. From the look of the sensors, a black hole's gravity well had tugged him out of his journey but his ship was still at a safe distance. He then heard the system humming to life as it began to perfrom long range scans for anything worth investigating. He calmly hummed to himself not expecting to find anything and was abruptly brought out to his senses when the systems started beeping in a confirmed find.<o:p></o:p>

"What? A planet out here?" Lance asked in surprise as he looked out the view port. A massive swirling cluster dominated his view and that was obviously the black hole.<o:p></o:p>

As he focused his sensors and displays though, he spotted a planet. It was a dark world with no sun since the black hole's massive gravity well had obviously been pulling at it for hundreds of thousands of years. Even now, it would still take much time for the world to be pulled fully into black holes grasp. In a way, it was the perfect world for stripe mining. It was doomed anyway, no matter what was done to it.<o:p></o:p>

[font=Verdana]I better see if its worth mining though.[/font]<o:p></o:p>

Lance engaged his ship's engines and began the journey towards the planet. After several days of travel, the ship was close enough to begin scans. As he did so, Lance was startled by just how rich the resources on this dead world were. It was completely untouched which was obviously because no one knew about such a world existing.<o:p></o:p>

[font=Verdana]Man, I'm gonna get a huge bonus for this![/font]<o:p></o:p>

With that thought in mind, Lance recorded the coordinates for this world and began his journey outside of the gravity wells were he could reactivate his hyperdrive and make his way back to the Tagge Company HQ on Tepasi. He was sure Edipus Tagge would be very pleased.<o:p></o:p>

[font=Verdana]Deep Space[/font]
[font=Verdana]SSD Midas[/font]<o:p></o:p>

Tir Esias sat calmly within the Chairman's office along with several other key members of the Union Committee as well as its operatives. It wasn't often that the Chairman called meetings like this, but then again it wasn't often the chairman showed his face either. Estro Sabrino was strangely reclusive, even aboard his own base of operations. Now though, Esias could sense the Chairman facing those sitting around his desk.<o:p></o:p>

"Gentlemen, thank you for coming at this time," Sabrino said in an unnervingly calm voice. "It is not often we hold such meetings as this, but some events are now in the making that must be taken advantage of. Edipus, report."<o:p></o:p>

Edipus Tagge looked calmly over at the man dressed in a white collared suit. It was reminiscent of Imperial military uniforms minus any real rank insignia. Sabrino's features held a calm, collected intelligence behind them that could be considered disturbing at times. It was hard to think someone like this could be the head of something so expansive as the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place>Union</st1:place>, but it was the truth. This cold hearted machiavelli was the true mastermind lurking in the shadows while others like Brutus Nogoth made themselves publicly known and drew attention away from anything else.<o:p></o:p>

"Recently, I just recieved a report from one of my employees of a resource rich world. Its positioning makes it almost impossible to find and we could turn it into the <st1:place>Union</st1:place>'s first true base of operations. The Empire and Coaltion are too busy trying to counter Nogoth's activites to even care about entering one of the galaxy's death traps," Edipus said with a proud smile.<o:p></o:p>

"Please continue," Sabrino said calmly.<o:p></o:p>

"Oh yes, the worlds precise location is what makes it the best. It is ever so slowly being pulled into a massive black hole. Fortunately, it hasn't reached the point of no return yet. The <st1:place>Union</st1:place> could establish a production facility here and literally strip it to its bare bones because no one has any claims to it. I've even made sure to register the black hole there so people will go out of their way to avoid it," Edipus said now eagerly.<o:p></o:p>

"Excellent work, mister Tagge. I wish to have our best contractors sent there to build us this grand project. Once we can establish our facilities there, we can begin to turn the world towards its true purpose that I have for it. For now though, I have specific assignments for all of you here. Esias, you will remain here on the Midas to superivse a special project," Sabrino said calmly.<o:p></o:p>

Esias, though blind, nodded in understanding. If the Chairman wished him to remain here, then the project was obviously important to Union affairs.<o:p></o:p>

"Deraggo, you and 8t88 will accompany me to Nal Hutta for our operations there" the Chairman continued.<o:p></o:p>

Esias felt as surprised as everyone else obviously looked at this announcement. The Chairman almost never left the Midas since its construction. He had always remained in the shadows. This was an odd manuever for Estro Sabrino to do after so long.<o:p></o:p>

"I'm sure you are all surprised, but I have my reason. The two major Hutt kajidics, Besadii and Desilijic, are currently in a power struggle. I wish to accelerate this and bring whoever we choose to support into the <st1:place>Union</st1:place>. The Hutts must be made to serve us and I plan on overseeing that personally," Sabrino said with such icy determination no one dared to object.<o:p></o:p>

"Now then, Edipus, your job for now is to help in establishing the base and facilites on this new world of ours. From here on out, this world will be referred to in all communications as the Forge so as to spread confusion should someone ever intercept one of out messages. This world is the linchpin in a plan that will make the <st1:place>Union</st1:place> an true galactic power to be feared, though no one still knows of our existence," Sabrino said with a cold smile.<o:p></o:p>

Those seated around him laughed coldly knowing it was the truth. Estro Sabrino had done something no one had ever thought of before. He ruled an organization that controlled entire criminal and corporate empires. He also made sure that all of them were so loosely connected that no one could ever link one front to another or even link them to their controller, the <st1:place>Union</st1:place>. Belgardi, Tagge, and Agro all remained vicious competitors even if they all served somthing far greater which made them impossible to link to anything. It was all part of the great illusion of noexistance Sabrino had weaved to ensure the <st1:place>Union</st1:place> would remain quietly in the shadows unnoticed while its extensions carried out its biddings. However, the time would come when the <st1:place>Union</st1:place> would decide to make its presence known. When it did, the galaxy would learn to fear it.

"I believe that settles everything, you are all dismissed," Sabrino said calmly as he stood up from his desk.
<o:p></o:p>

The others all quietly stood up and bowed and began to exit. As Edipus was turning to leave, he felt a hand settle on his shoulder. He turned to find himself facing the Chairman.
<o:p></o:p>

"Edipus, I have one more task for you to do to ensure the Forge's secret is secure," Sabrino said in that same calm tone he always used, even when ordering someone's execution. From the look in his eyes, he was about to do just that.

Tagge Manor
Tepasi

Edipus Tagge fumbled quietly with the datapad in his hands. The last order given to him by the Chairman was one he did not want to carry out. Edipus wasn't a murderer and he wasn't completely heartless like the Chairman apparently was. Any man who held control over someone like Brutus Nogoth willingly was more or less a monster.

But I dare not disobey him or I might be seeing my own blood pretty soon.

Edipus' hand raised to his throat thoughtfully. Union execution demanded that the victims throat be slit from ear to ear always as some sort of morbid calling card. Currently, most people would probably assume it was a quirky order of the Galactic Liberation Front since most of the Union's victims had died with the GLF taking the blame.

Yes, the Chairman has done a fine job covering his tracks. Everyone pays more attention to that maniac Nogoth than anything else.

Edipus sighed quietly and looked down at the datapad again. All the needed personnel for the Forge project were now being quietly whisked off the to Midas where they would be given their orders and other items for their great job ahead. It was an odd choice for a world though. A dying planet that the Union would use to manufacture its weaponry and devices that it wouldn't risk making with one of its sudsidiaries like TaggeCo or Belgardi Ltd.

"Mister Tagge?" a voice asked form Edipus' comm, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Yes?"

"Your shuttle has arrived, sir." the voice replied

"Very well, I'm on my way," Edipus replied and walked out of his room.

In Orbit
Nal Hutta

Estro Sabrino stood quietly on the bridge of the Punisher Pocket Cruiser Venture as it calmly passed the orbiting moon of Nar Shadda and began to enter orbit. The Hutts were not happy with a warship being parked above their world, but figured they would be fools to fire on the Hutt world.

Such arrogant and egotistical beings. It will be much easier to manipulate them than I had thought with the way they behave. However, I must tread lightly. My own power cannot be permitted to be known to these arrogant fools. They will make an excellent addition to the Union though.

Estro now sneered coldly down at the world as he clasped his gloved hands behind his back. The Hutts would never suspect that orbiting their world right now was a man who held more power and influence than any of them ever would or could. No one outside of the Union knew of it, Estro continually made sure of that through his constant support and funding of the GLF which kept everyone too distracted by more visible threats to ever think that there was a puppet master pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

What are a few thousand lives in comparison to what I have achieved?

Estro turned from the bridge to the those standing about him. 8t88 was currently standing very still and obviously going through his databanks on any and all information he had currently on the Besadii and Desilijic kajidics. Deraggo was currently leaning against a wall with a bored look on his face and idly playing with one of the knives he always had on him.

A killer and a calculator, what an odd pair I've chosen for this little operation of mine.

Estro turned back towards the window and looked down at the world. It was a marshy, disgusting planet which wasn't surprising considering what lifeforms liked to consider it their home. Estro detested the world, but knew he would likely have to go down there to meet with the current head of the Desilijic kajidic. From what he understood, it would be best to support the traditionally more powerful family that Jabba himself had been a member of. The Besadii's though had something very valuable that Estro needed for his schemes and he would acquire it while he played off this little power struggle that would place one of the two kajidics on the top of the food chain in the Hutt underworld.

"Sir, we are now entering geosynchronos orbit," the ship's captain replied a little nervously.

"Excellent, Captain; Have our shuttle prepared, I have a meeting that I wish to go to," Estro said calmly as he remained facing the window.

"Yes sir," the Captain said with a stiff bow before returning to his duties.

Deep Space
SSD Midas

Tir Esias sat calmly in the largest medical laboratory currently housed aboard the massive vessel. He wasn't sure why, but the Chairman had taken interest in the experiments of a wanted Falleen doctor who was a former member of the Imperial Bioweapons lab on his homeworld before there was a containment failure and the whole city was sterilized; by turbolasers. Since then, the doctor had been in hiding, practicing his immoral and unethical experiments on worlds such as Nar Shadda and Ord Mantell. It had been quite easy for the Union to track him down and make him an offer. Since then, he had been carrying out some little pet project that the Chairman had watched it with great interest so far. Now Esias would get to witness what these experiments could do.

Its obviously something vital or the Chairman wouldn't have had me stay here. I'd have been the one going to Nal Hutta instead of him.

As Esias sat there, he felt an approaching presence and turned his head to where he knew the door was. He then heard the distinct hiss as it slip open and felt someone enter the room.

"Good day, Doctor Mengax," Esias said with a calm smile.

Esias felt the falleen jump slightly and turn to where Esias was sitting. The slight twinge of fear his gave off merely made Esias smile. He may have been blind, but he was one of the Union's most feared servants, especially by those who served it. Esias was the Chairman's right hand man. His lack of site also only made him even more feared since many believed his strange ways proved him to be a force user. Esias himself wasn't exactly sure, but he could care less about the concepts of lightside or darkside. To him, they were merely silly little ideologies for the weak minded who couldn't go down their own path like he had.

I've become a figure to be feared without babbling on about the force.

Esias emitted a low, barely audible chuckle at that thought before turning his attention back to the jittery falleen scientist he had been waiting on for the past few minutes.

"Please Doctor, have a seat. I wish to discuss your little pet project with you. The Chairman has been showing great interest in it."

"He has? I wasn't aware he even knew I was on the ship at all," Mengax said as he walked over to his desk and sat down.

"Why do you think you've been given access to almost unlimited funds?" Esias asked cooly.

"I assumed the Union did that with all of its recruited scientific personnel," Mengax replied calmly as he poured himself a cup of stim tea.

"Oh no, most have some limit on their spending and resources. Your projects though are why you have so much influence in our financial department," Esias said ruefully.

"Ah, that would explain a bit then, including why my request for several loads of slaves was carried out so quickly," Mengax said as he realized just how much time and money the Union was putting into him.

"I've been given the reports and gone over them thoroughly. The Chairman now wishes me to evaluate this project and see if we can move it into the mass production phase," Esias replied.

"Mass production?" Mengax asked in utter surprise. "But why on Earth would you want something like this on mass production scale? I mean, wouldn't it just be cheaper to use droids?"

"Droids, while just as expendable, do not hold what your project does. The Union needs manpower for the coming times and your project can ensure we will never have to worry about manpower again," Esias replied confidently.

"But.....my process isn't fully perfected yet. I wouldn't be able to meet any quotas. I don't even have the facilities to carry all this out. Do you know how large of a complex we would need to do what you are asking of me?" Mengax demanded.

"Actually, yes, we know exactly how large of a complex. In fact, even now, our agents are working towards its construction as well as the storage facilites along with it. The Chairman has put his faith in your plan, I suggest you do not disappoint him," Esias said in a calm but menacing voice.

Mengax just stared in disbelief at the Chairman's blind minion. He most definately understood why people feared Tir Esias so much. His mere presence, while calm, exerted a force that made you understand he was dangerous. It was no wonder why the Chairman kept such a man as his chief operative.

Hyperspace

Edipus Tagge sat quietly within the confines of the shuttle with Lance Vaggle sitting next to him with a smug expression on his face. He had good reason to look smug too since he had just seen the credit transfer to his bank account from the find he had made. He had a considerable sum of money now and he intended on spending it after this business trip with Edipus.

The poor, naive fellow; he has no idea he isn't going to survive this little encounter. A pity, but either I obey or be executed and I'd prefer it to be his blood on the floor rather than mine.

Edipus gave a small, a very quiet sigh at having to lose someone as valuable as Vaggle, but the Chairman had personally ordered the execution. That alone was a rarity to be sure since the man more often than not lingered in the shadows, but it just showed how important it was that this man be gotten rid of. The safety of the Forge's location had to be ensured. As the shuttle shuddered slightly in hyperspace, Edipus knew they were starting to revert to real space and the current location of the Union's massive mobile headquarters, the Executor-Class Super Star Destroyer Midas.

"Where in the devil did TaggeCo get the money to pay for something like that?" Vaggle asked in shocked wonder as they made their approach to the massive black vessel sitting idly in deep space.

Edipus elected not to answer his question right at that momnet. Instead, he watched as the slowly approched the enormous docking bay beneath the vessel and began to approach one of the smaller shuttle bays. As the shuttle made its touch down, Edipus felt the repulsor lifts deactivate as the landing gear settled to the bay floor.

"Come along, Lance, we need to get things moving," Edipus said gravely as he unfastened his seat restraints and moved to the ships entry point was.

Edipus walked calmly down the ramp with Lance in tow as a squad of men in black military fatigues which bore an odd emblem on them stood waiting for them. One with a rank insignia saluted Edipus before shifting his gaze to Lance. The man's stare made a shiver run down Lance's back for some reason but he was not sure why.

"Quick and painless, Captain," Edipus ordered and walked past the men.

Lance moved to follow, trying to figure out what Edipus had just said when two of the men grabbed him by the arms and restrained him. He felt panic sweep through him as the Captain of the group walked up to him and pulled a small vibro blade from his pocket. He then used one hand to shove Lance's head back, revealing his bare neck. With one swift, skillful slash Lanc'e throat was sliced from ear to ear. Lance gaged, as he felt his life fading away and then felt himself falling as the guards released their grip. He writhed on the ground for several moments before finally expiring in a pool of his own blood.

It was you or me, Lance, and when it comes down to it I'm just more valuable then you are.

Edipus Tagge thought that solemnly as he watched the Captain wipe his knife off on Lance's clothes before the guards dragged the body away as a small force of cleaning droids appeared and began to clean the mess up.

If there is one thing I admire about the Union, its their efficiency...

Nal Hutta

Estro Sabrino watched quietly as his shuttle began it decent towards the boggy and disgusting swamp world that was referred to as a glorious jewel in the Hutt language. As far as Estro was concerned, there was nothing glorious about it and it more resembled the sewer systems of Coruscant than some jewel. These opinions, however, would be kept to himself since he did not wish to insult the beings that he wished to make part of the Union.

The Hutts and their silly little honor systems. They don't obey it half the time themselves, yet they had the ego to take offense if some other species says something about their miserable little bog of a planet.

A yawn penetrated Estro's thoughts which caused him to turn towards Deraggo who still looked bored. This was understandable from the viewpoint of a hitman. His job was to liquidate people for the Union and he enjoyed it, but it was obvious he took no pleasure in the waiting and finer points of schemeing that went into ordering and arranging those hits. He was a weapon, nothing more, nothing less. A tool for the Union's sole use until the day he died.

Everyone has a purpose within the Union, some though do not appreciate its vast intricacies. Only the Committee seems to grasp the measure of our power that we weild, though never flaunt like governments will.

Estro's gaze shifted over to 8t88 who idly went over a number of datapads and datadiscs all of which held vast amounts of information on the kajidics of Besadii and Desilijic. There was enough information and evidence there alone to make the Empire declare an all out war on either family if they could ever link it to them. They wouldn't though; the Hutts were masters of covering their tracks and the only figure who could track down this information was the droid currently sitting in front of Estro going over said information. 8t88 solely served the Union since the coup enacted on Jutraal which had placed the Jutraalian Syndicate under Estro's complete control and brought Black Sun in as the first member and co-founder of the Union.

To think, from that simple act, I began my network and gained employees many governments would kill to have under their direct control. I relish the thought that they are still ignorant of our existence.

Estro gave his usual cold smile as the ship recieved clear from the Nal Hutta port officials to land at a docking bay. Everything was going according to plan and he would soon be in the presence of the current head of the Desilijic clan, a certain Plurga the Hutt. From what Estro could make of the recent reports, this Hutt had originally opened a deal up with the Bothans before serious political strife, as often occured in Bothan society, destroyed their chances. Plurga was noted as open minded in making his business deals especially with the constant power struggle between his family and the Besadii.

Yes, I'll play off their hatreds until only one side is left in enough power to call the shots. Then they will have no other choice to to work for us.

Estro smiled coldly as the shuttle slowly neared the docking bay that his men had arranged for them to get. With little effort, the trio disembarked from the ship and were met by a small Hutt which easily denoted his low rank status within the Desilijic. Estro was amused that Hutts more often based rank and power by how fat each of them were but it also made sure that even other species could tell who was higher up on the food chain in Hutt society. So, when Estro regared him, it was as a superior to an inferior.

"Are you the one sent to meet us?" Estro demanded in his often cold, casual tone.

"Yes, great sir, I am here on behalf of my master, the oppulent Plurga the Hutt. He sends his greetings to you and apologizes for not meeting you personally but he refuses to leave his stronghold even for family matters currently due to the power struggle going on," the small Hutt replied and made as best could be described as a semi-bow.

"Very well, lets get on with this then. This audience is very important," Estro said as he continued to watch the small Hutt.

The small Hutt performed another semi-bow before slithering towards a waiting repulsor barge. Estro, Deraggo, and 8t88 followed, though all obviously alert for any sort of treachery. One does not go to Nal Hutta and not assume that something might happen to them just after setting foot on the ground.

Deep Space
SSD Midas

Greph Flanag stirred wearily from his sleep as the klaxon sounded for the slaves to get up. He wasn't really sure where he was and that frightened him slightly. He'd been a slave for most of his life out in the lawless regions of the galaxy and then some man flashing a lot of credits had bought him and a whole shipment of slaves. In the beginning, Greph thought the man had been some rich farmer, but his ideas were shattered when the transport's hold opened to the sterile bay of a large ship. Even now, Greph wasn't sure how large the vessel was, but he knew it had to be pretty big to hold all of the slaves as well as the crew that he saw moving about. The emblems they bore though didn't stir any memory. Even during his slavery he had seen GC and Imperial emblems along with a few more well known groups but this emblem was an enigma. Its looked oddly like the old fashioned shutter seen on the photoreceptors of older farming droids. Each shutter bit covered the one after it into a perpetual union.

Who are these people?

The main door slid open and the men in black military fatigues that bore that odd emblem appeared again. They began walking through the slave barracks and picking specific slaves from the ranks. When seeing this, Greph began to slip into the back but feels a strong grip settle on his shoulder and a pull as one of the guards yanks him into the group of slaves being taken somewhere.

What are they going to do with us?

The group of slaves were led quietly along the long corridors oddly lit by lights fixed mainly into the side walls in stripe clusters. An odd design, but strangely familiar on a vessel of Imperial design. The trip seemed uneventful as they continued to push along the corridors until they passed through a cluster of half a dozen blast doors into a massive medical bay were there were ordered to stand in line. What came next was an odd site as a pair of men entered in behind them. One was an odd reptile like species with his single strand of long black hair braided and wrapped around his neck. He also wore a white suit and overcoat of a doctor. That wasn't the oddest of the two though; the other man with the reptile was what really unnerved Greph. That man wore a red suit coat of some odd silk material along with black gloves, pants, ang boots. His circular sunglasses prevented anyone from seeing what he was looking at which made some sense as Greph watched him move. The man's head never moved like a normal person's would but simply seemed to stair ahead at times.

A blind man?

The so called blind man stopped easily nexted to the reptile and spoke very calmly.

"Do these specimens please you, Doctor Mengax?" the blind man asked calmly.

"Indeed, they all seem healthy enough for the procedure," the reptile, obviously Doctor Mengax, replied with the cold, sterile smile of a doctor or scientist.

"Excellent, begin at once," the blind ordered with a calm smile.

"Of course, guards, take that one, that one, and that one for processing," Mengax said as he aimed his finger at Greph.

Greph's eyes bugged slightly as he realized that they were going to try to do some sort of medical experiement on him. He knew he had to escape and turn to run, only to run directly into a guards arm that had just shot out in front of him. Greph fell backwards and felt his head crack against the sterile metal floor before slipping into darkness.

Deep Space
SSD Midas

Edipus Tagge fumbled quietly with the comlink in his hands as he stood on the bridge of the SSD Midas. The entire ship was going to make the jump into the farthest reaches of the Deep Core and it unsettled him a fair bit. The Union may now have had a safe path in thanks to Lance Vaggle, but it still made him nervous. The Union's mobile base of operations though carried enough equipment and personnel to do what was going to be done. It was all part of the Chairman's grand plan to give the Union something to fight with. To make them be able to strike down those more powerful than them. In his honest opinion, Edipus would more likely be behind something like that rather than in its way.

"Sir, everything all systems are go to initiate hyperspace jump towards Forge. Shall we commence?"

"Yes," Tagge replied as he looked out into the depths of space.

The white specs of starlight before him stretched as the Midas engaged its hyperdrives and lept into hyperspace, bound for a world that would produce the arsenal for the Union to utilize in its campaigns of death and destruction.

Nal Hutta

Estro Sabrino stood calmly in his white uniform style suit, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched the vile scenery of Nal Hutta pass by. The sail barge trip was taking a bit but it was a necessary trip to pull another member into the Union's web of influence that Estro had painstaking contructed with the utmost caution. Secrecy was the word when it came to the Union. No one outside of the Committee knew of the Union's existence except for operatives like Deraggo who were often privy to Committee meetings.

Estro turned his gaze over to where Deraggo now stood no longer looking bored but in a more alert stance. He knew they were in dangerous territory and Estro was happy that the Union's top assassin recognized that. Dealing with Hutts was a tricky business and Estro had be tread lightly while in their territory until he could bring them under his thumb. Once he had influence over the Hutts, he would have control over a fair share of the galaxy's criminal networks. That was the sort of power Estro preferred though his other plans would soon give the Union an almost unlimited supply of manpower they could use in their efforts.

But I must stay focused on my plan at hand or the Union will never be able to achieve the notoriety I wish it to have once we finally reveal ourselves to the galaxy.

Estro Shifted his gaze forward again to a large guarded fortress compound that they were now approaching. It was obviously the palace of Plurga Tiure Desilijic. Estro looked upon it, seeing common sense in its construction rather than luxury. It was obvious why this Hutt retained the mantle of leadership over the Desilijic kadijic. He bore practicality over opulence which made him a likely valuable member to the Union's Committee if Estro could pull the necessary strings once within the presence of the large slug.

Yes, get the Hutts under my control and retrieve a very valuable piece of data that will help me further my own plans. A pity that it is currently in the clutches of those foolish Besadii.

SSD Midas
Doctor Mengax's Medical Wing

"Unit 1, wake up," the cold voice of Doctor Mengax ordered.

Greph's eyes flew open to alertness and he saw Doctor Mengax looking down at him. He felt that his hands were not bound and tried to reach out and strangle the cruel Falleen scientist. His hands would not obey though which frightend Greph.

Have they paralyzed me?

Doctor Mengax gave Greph a cold smile as he saw the panic in his eyes. It was obvious that the wicked Falleen scientist had something to do with Greph's inability to move and now took pleasure in his victim's helplessness.

"Sit up, Unit 1," Mengax ordered cooly as he stepped away from Greph.

Greph felt the very sudden impulse to do so and obey quickly and quietly. Mengax merely smiled as he looked at the neck collar around Greph's neck. That piece of machinary was what made all this work possible. The Falleen now proudly stroked his braided hair and look on at his test subject.

"You see, the device ensures complete control. Once the mind conditioning is added, we'll be able to produce men capable of fighting and dying for the Union with little concern for themselves. This prototype merely gives us verbal control, but once I put more work into it this man would be able to move freely with no worry of rebellion. The implant is connected directly to his spinal cord," Mengax said towards Tir Esias who stared straight ahead but bore a pleased smile on his face.

"Excellent work, Doctor Mengax. I suggest that you then push ahead in the implants development. We need out little puppets to be autonmous if the Union plans on getting anything done," Esias said with a calm air.

"Of course, I'll begin work immediately. Unit 1, go back to sleep," Mengax ordered.

Greph suddenly felt himself slip into unconciousness right where he was standing. His body remained still and standing which made Mengax chuckled before waving to two guards who grabbed it and layed him so him face down, his head laying on a special support that made accessing the implant collar easier. Mengax then pulled up his schematics on the device before opening the device up and inspecting the circutry to begin his work.

[font=Times New Roman]SSD Midas
Forge Orbit[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]The journey into the system that Forge lay in was a tedious one, especially when trying to maneuver a Executor-Class Super Star Destroyer through a system on the fringe of a black hole’s gravity well. Edipus could only ask himself why in the name of all existence he was here. This wasn’t his sort of operation. He was a businessman for crying out loud, not some sort of contractor. Yet the Chairman had charged him with the job of building the massive base and construction facilities that would fuel the Union’s secret war machine, most likely involving the experiments of the Falleen scientist, Mengax, who was performing some odd experiment with a large batch of slaves the Union had purchased for him. Edipus had passed through the Doctor’s so called medical wing and thought it looked more like a military barracks. All of the so called test subjects now wore combat suits and armor along with helmets and face masks with lenses that glowed an eerie red, likely carrying some sort of electronic sensors. It had been disturbing, especially considering the fact the test subjects now all carried high powered semi-automatic flechette guns of Tagge Company manufacture and none of them even tried to turn their weapons on Mengax who walked about them freely, testing their equipment and collar implants. It was all so unsettling; those things had once been living thinking beings and now they seemed like nothing more than droids, obeying orders and moving with an inhuman lockstep when in formation. It did present an interesting investment though, having mindless soldiers willing to fight to the bitter end. Such a force could prove to be even more deadly than stormtroopers, especially if they could manufacture enough of these puppet soldiers.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“Sir, construction teams report touchdown. They are now beginning to deploy the excavation, smelter, and construction droids. We should be seeing the first beginnings of the base within a few hours.”[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]Edipus merely nodded and stared down at the dead world. It would obviously serve its purpose quite well as all the pieces began to fall into place for Tagge. This whole operations and the equipment with them would permit them to build massive facilities both above and below the ground, permitting continued expansion even as the original base facilities were completed. It now made all too much sense that the Forge would live up to its name, churning out soldiers being refined by the nefarious Doctor Mengax. All of it carefully hidden away where no one would care to go or explore, especially with the constant worries of galactic war as the major governments continued to plot against one another in the perpetual power struggle that had been fought since the days of the Great Hyperspace War and before. They only difference now was that the Union had plans of becoming a player in the game itself, perhaps it might not seem to have such a major role yet but power flowed from more than just military might. The Union, thanks to the clever machinations of the Chairman, had built itself so deeply around puppet organizations that no one had yet found out it true existence or actual scale of size. It was slowly swallowing up corporations and crime syndicates across the galaxy to gain an influence few others could muster. All it required now was the manpower to have a more physical exertion.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]Nal Hutta[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]Estro walked calmly down the corridor of the immense Hutt fortress flanked by Deraggo and 8T88. Their procession was being led by a sycophantic Twi’lek major domo and they were surrounded by a contingent of Nikto guards, all watching them with the severity of guard dogs. All of it was an obvious show of force and security as they drew closer to the inner sanctum of Plurga Desilijic Tiure, head of the Desilijic kadijic which held a great sway over spice smuggling, gunrunning, and Outer Rim politics. The problem was that it had to be this Hutt here and now to be brought into the Union and not from the other, more insidious Besadii kadijic. Durga the Hutt had long ago proved the Besadii kadijic was not one to be trusted due to the Darksaber incident so long ago. Now though there was a need for the Desilijic kadijic who held far more esteem and could easily seize up control of the other Hutt kadijics if it was brought into the Union. There were enough freelance assassins and necessary funds to bankroll a massive terror campaign through the Hutt underworld to make it quite clear to them who was in charge if Plurga could be convinced that becoming a member of the Union and a part of its Committee would serve his interests best. Estro could only give a small cold smile at that thought because Hutts would do anything for more influence and power.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]The journey to the audience chamber soon drew to a close after the trio of Union members passed through several strategically placed blast doors and into an awe-inspiring, though empty chamber at the center of which sat a circular dais. On the dais sat a greenish Hutt with blue and red tattoos around his eyes, mouth, and nose. His large orange eyes fixed upon Estro, singling him out and the leader of this group. The large Hutt heaved himself more upright, revealing his muscular, serpentine form. From the looks of it, Plurga the Hutt was not as indulgent as his fellow slug brethren. That information was irrelevant though, what mattered was that this meeting proceed accordingly and the Desilijics began to consolidate the Hutt crime clans under their rule and under Union control.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“Presenting his eminence, Plurga Desilijic Tiure,” the sycophantic Twi’lek major domo said before bowing out of the chamber, leaving Estro, Deraggo, 8T88, and the Nikto guards alone with the immense slug.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“What business does a former admiral of the Jutraalian Empire have with a member of my most esteemed kadijic?” Plurga asked imperiously in smooth basic.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“I see you’re information networks are functioning as efficiently as ever, Plurga,” Estro said with calmly as he stared back at the immense Hutt.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“And I see you know more about me than you let on, otherwise you wouldn’t be meeting me right now. You know, I’ve heard whispers recently of something or someone out there, ruthlessly uniting the crime syndicates. The funny thing is, my informants all seemed to have met unfortunate ends after delivering their information. Apparently they were all slipped poison during meals or were ‘mugged’ while returning to deliver their full reports,” Plurga said with an amused grin as he continued to regard Estro who stood there, his hands clasped behind his back.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“These things happen, such is the fate of life. You never know quite what is going to happen next,” Estro replied coolly with a now vicious smile.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]Plurga gave off a booming laugh at the comment and raised his hand. The Nikto guards left the chamber, leaving the Hutt alone with the Union men.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“Do you think I don’t know about you, Estro Sabrino? The Empire and others may be too occupied slitting eachother’s throats but I am not. We criminals know how valuable knowledge and I know you’ve come as a representative of this so called Union; the deranged dream of uniting all criminals under one banner, one ruling council. Do you honestly think that’s possible?” Plurga heaved another booming chuckle and looked at Estro with curiosity.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“Yes,” Estro replied in the same cool tone, making the Hutt stop laughing.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“And so you’ve come for me, have you? Come to strong arm my kadijic into your criminal conspiracy? Think again, human! We Hutts shall never bow to a simpering human master!” Plurga now bellowed angrily.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“You can either join, or be left behind. I really don’t care which, just as long as I get what I want,” Estro said in a cold, deadly tone.[/font]
[font=Times New Roman]Estro now began to walk closer, his white suit only amplifying the commanding presence he now seemed to resonate as he grew closer to the enormous slug. Plurga shift in anger, watching as the human defied his fury and drew closer, almost threatingly.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“You don’t seem to understand, dear Plurga. I’m not just after you’re kadijic, I’m after all of them. Once I find a kadijic to sponsor, I’ll wipe out everyone else. There won’t be a single Hutt not part of the Union by the time I’m done. Your only choice is to join us now and assure your domination for all time.”[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“What makes you think I’d do that anyways?”[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“Well, if you aren’t interested, I guess I’ll have to go to the Besadiis. I know [/font]
[font=Times New Roman]they’d love to get back in control again,” Estro said cruelly.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]Plurga’s eyes widened for a moment, his mouth quivering with anger at the mention of the sworn enemies of the Desilijics. He’d never allow the Besadiis to become the masters of the Hutt syndicates, which left only with the option of cooperating with this nefarious, white clad man and his cronies. Plurga regarded Esto coldly, considering simply rushing him and turning this insolent human into a red smear on his floor but his eyes shifted to the other human whose hand he realized rested on some sort of projectile weapon he’d gotten past security. His stared fixedly at the weapon and then heaved a sigh, seeming to deflate before [/font]
[font=Times New Roman]Estro who still stood before him commandingly.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“Very well, Sabrino, the Desilijics will be your puppets, to ensure the safety and continuation of Hutt business as usual.”[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“Don’t think of yourself as a puppet, Plurga, think of yourself as a business partner,” Estro said with a cold grin. “Now, lets get down to business.”[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]SSD Midas
Doctor Mengax’s Medical Wing[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]Submission. Conformity. Obedience.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]Those three words ran constantly through Greph’s head as he stood there in his full combat suit and armor. His flechette rifle hung idly in his arms as he stood at attention, staring out into space along with the other hundred slaves who’d been converted into new soldiers for the Union. Black uniformed Union soldiers with black berets stood around, regarding them with disgust. It was obvious that Doctor Mengax’s experiments had so far proven successful. Every last converted slave now could be trusted with a weapon and not a worry in the world about them trying to escape. Doctor Mengax walked directly up to Greph, who was now simply known as Unit One both to the Union and to himself.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“I’m quite pleased with my work,” Mengax said calmly as he pulled Unit 1’s helmet and facemask off and began examining his retinas with a small light.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“As am I,” Tir Esias replied as he stood at a more comfortable distance, his cane resting idly in his hand as he started blindly ahead like the implanted and brainwashed slaves turned soldiers. “The Chairman will be quite pleased, especially once you complete the first battalion.”[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“Battalion? Are you telling me that I’m to make more of these?” Mengax knocked Unit One’s armored chest before replacing its facemask and helmet.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“We bank rolled this little pet project of yours for the sole purpose of having a disposable military force. There is also the fact that we’ve purchased enough slaves in reserve for several battalions. Only one is necessary to prove to the Chairman for now though. Besides, if your do get full approval, you’ll be a very busy man once the first cloning vats are operational on Forge,” Esias said with a smile.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]Mengax nodded and looked back into the glowing red lenses of Unit One’s facemask.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]“Very soon, you’ll have many fellow brethren, all willing and loyal puppets of the Union,” Mengax said cold, analytical smile.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]A subconscious thought, the only remaing part of Greph’s mind that hadn’t been completed twisted by the brainwashing process mentally screamed out in Unit One’s head, but was quickly drowned out again by the conditioning. Only one thing ran through Unit One’s mind.[/font]
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[font=Times New Roman]Submission. Conformity. Obedience.<O:p</O:p[/font]

Nal Hutta

Estro sat idly in his suite within the fortress of Plurga the Hutt. His chair as always, high backed, hiding the fact he was sitting in it facing the window, staring out into the swampy gloom that was Nal Hutta. No one really knew why the Chairman of something so expansive as the Union cared to stare out at scenery, but it always cleared his mind. It was all converging now as the Hutts were being pulled into the Union's grip of influence. Soon, very soon, the Union would be ready to reveal its presence as small, if dangerous power. All that mattered was that Edipus started began operations at Forge.

Once we have that world and I can review Doctor Mengax's project, we shall begin to show some bigger, sharper fangs than just bombings and terrorism that is all mainly Nogoth's handy work.

Estro gave a cold smile at this thought, for all his life he'd served someone else, fought for some silly political cause. Now. Now he was in charge, behind a growing entity that could very likely survive his own death once the final building blocks were put in place. The Committee could govern the Union, but its was he, the Chairman, who ruled and guided it. It held sway over criminals, businessmen, terrorists... very soon even governments. Afterall, who needed an army when you could collapse an entire system from the inside?

"You requested my presence, sir?" the calm voice of Deraggo asked from the gaping silence.

"Yes, it is time to carry out your task to solidify Plurga's standing amongst the Hutt kadijics. You know what you have to do," Estro replied calmly without even turning.

There was no reply, merely the barely detectable sound movement as some unseen figure departed from the suite. Estro gave a calculating grin, knowing the assassin's preferred methods of elimination and expected to be seeing a plume of smoke over the city very soon. It wasn't the most subtle method of elimination, but it would get the job done as usual. That is all that mattered in the end, doing what you were being paid to do.

Forge

Edipus looked out across the cold, dark, and barren landscape of Forge. He was miserable in his environment suit, but its was necessary if he didn't wish to be flash frozen by the world's freezing temperatures. What he saw before him was almost awe-inspring. A massive base complex was already forming and Union troops were already moving in to install the first of many power cores to power the facilty. The droids doing the contruction and other work moved on tirelessly, only pausing for recharges. This world was opportune for them because there was no chance of them overheating in this desolate, sunless environment.

"Everything is going accordingly, Mister Tagge," said a foreman droid walking up to him.

"Excellent, what is the status of our the first factory chambers?" Tagge asked curiously.

"Moving along slightly ahead of schedule, the rock is much more pliable than earlier thought. This planet is prime material for all the underground facilities we shall be constructing" replied the foreman droid.

"Good, and the first facilities are up and running?"

"Yes, Mister Tagge, its all being occupied now by the troop battlions and operation crews. Once they're fully set up, construction will go much faster with newer plans and methods being poured in by trained engineers"

Tagge gave a nod and looked up into the great dark sky, seeing the immense wedge shape of the black hulled Midas drifting in orbit. It was dumping out even more droids and contruction equipment, plus fabricators needed for the electronics being installed. This world, this single world, was at the beginning of its new life, as the Union slowly turned it into an immense factory, ready to pour out all the ships, weaponry, and soldiers needed for the insidious organization's schemes and operations. It was a necessity really, especially since the Union couldn't afford exposing its corporate puppets for the rest of the galaxy to maul in its malice. The Union needed this hidden, dead world to pour out needed items.

"Is the command center up and running?" Tagge asked.

"Yes sir," the foreman droid replied.

"Good, take me to it, I want to be out of this damn bloody suit" Tagge replied

The droid nodded and indicated for Tagge to follow him. The pair began to walk towards the immense dome before them, the mere top of a huge bunker complex being built beneath the surface. It would likely become the nerve center, housing an immense droid brain that would dicatate all manufacturing orders across the entire planet. It hadn't been since the Clone Wars that such a facitily had been operational besides the droid factory worlds of Telti and Mechis III. But those worlds only built droids, the Union needed more than droids. The Union required weapons, warships, vehicles, explosives. More things than just a single item and this world could be used to produce almost all of that, even soldiers.

A shiver ran down Edipus' back as he considered the Union's schemes for the brainwashed, unfeeling soldiers being created by Doctor Mengax. They terrified him more than anything else in the Union's growing arsenal. They were almost droids if it weren't for the fact they still slept and breathed. They were undyingly loyal to their Union masters thanks to the severe conditioning and implants put into their bodies. It was almost too easy, and less expensive than battle droids. What's worse, the things, since they really couldn't be called human anymore, seemed unable to feel pain. Edipus had what as Mengax had literally shot one to death and it never even screamed. It simply stood there and took the hits, unable to fight back since Mengax was on the special friendly list inside its mind.

What have I done to deserve being involved with such butchers? Such madmen? The Chairman obviously isn't insane, but Mengax... he's just sick. Esias is worse, he serves the Union unflinchingly, even approves of this soldier project... I've even heard rumors of reverse engineering a Spaarti cyclinder... my god, clones... clones fitted with that conditioning and implants...

Edipus felt as if he was about to vomit in his suit. This world he was building for the Union would unleash an army on the galaxy worse than almost anything seen before. Unfliniching, emotionless, unfeeling, and completely relentless. These things would swarm forth from the Forge, feeding the Union's need for manpower; Maybe even exceeding it as it just kept pouring them out. It was a sick and twisted dream, one that would lead to many bloody and vicious wars in which only one side would often be screaming in pain as they died.

"What have I done?" Edipus whispered under his breath.

"What, sir?"

"Nothing, lead on"

Edipus and his guide walked on, taking Edipus further on into his great sin against all life. The current head of the Tagge Company noticeably gripping his hands tightly, wishing he could just whip off his suit helmet and end it all, but he couldn't. He was too much of a coward to even end his own life, much less try to stop what was happening now. The Union had him in its grip and its claws dug in very deeply.

Nal Hutta

Deraggo lingered in the alleyways of Nal Hutta, making his way closer and closer to the holdings of the Bilihac Besdaii, who was very soon fated to die in a rather nasty explosion once Deraggo placed his packages he had with him. It wouldn't be the biggest explosion Deraggo had caused, but it would come close. It had to if it was going to kill a thick skinned Hutt, especially one as large and corpulent as Bilihac was rumored to be. But all that mattered was success, the Union didn't take failure very lightly. Hell, its didn't take anything very lightly. It was always moving, always plotting, shifting through the shadows of the galaxy like a wraith.

At least I've got a good constant employer, especially since the Chairman pays me extra for these personal assignments.

Deraggo smiled to himself at that thought. He loved money more than anything. It was the life blood of the galaxy in his opinion and the Union was willing to pay his high fees just to keep him under their constant employee. It was much better than working for an actual government like the Empire or Coalition. The Union just wanted someone dead and they told you so, governments complicated things. And this death was definitely going to be a messy one, it would make it very clear which Hutt would be calling the shots amongst the kadijics.

Its always me who gets the insane missions...

That didn't really bother Deraggo though, being a hitman for the Union was worth it in the end. They'd keep him protected no matter what as long as he remained loyal, even to the bitter end. That was real job security for someone like Deraggo, who didn't care to deal with bureaucracy or getting medals. He'd rather be alive, though he knew he might as well kill himself if he ever got caught in something inescapable because the Union would execute him otherwise. That thought made Deraggon nervous somewhat because the Union had agents in many places, ready to wipe you out if you tried anything they didn't like. Would he see his assassin coming if he messed up or went turncoat?

Probably not...

Deraggo knew the Union had other agents and assassins under its employ and some of them were just as good as he was. They would find him eventually.. and when they did there only be a corpse where Deraggo had once been.

Snap out of it and do your damn job!

Deraggo mentally scolded himself and moved on through the shadows.

SSD Midas
Mengax Wing

The block formation of soldiers stood unnatrually still, thier conditioning and implants permitting nothing else. Tir Esias stood above on the observation balcony, staring off into space as usual but obviously aware of his surroundings because he had the air of a general taking in his troops. Doctor Mengax stood to his direct right, watching all of the soldiers with the interest of a child with a new toy. He had made these new weaopns, these new soulless puppets for the Union's twisted schemes.

"I must admit, they are quite impressive" Esias said, as he seemed to be regarding them somehow.

Mengax frowned slightly, not really wanting to trust a blind man on such an assumption when he couldn't even see anything. Even as that emotion and thought passed through him thogh, Esias turned towards him and seemed to glare coldly from behind the glasses hinding his blind pupils.

"You don't find my opinion satisfactory, Doctor?" Esias demanded

Mengax stammered and paled as he looked at Esias. It was one thing to deal with a blind man, but another to deal with one who could seem to sense what you might be thinking, especially when his empty gaze just seemed to bear into you like a laser beam. Mengax back away slightly, not sure what to do or say.

"I will report your progress to the Chairman when he returns, he shall be pleased. Now you need to work on that Spaarti cloning cylinder we worked so hard to acquire for you. You know what we want, so get it"

Esias turned coldly and exited, his cane never touching the ground, only unnerving Mengax even more because Tir Esias truly was physcially blind, but somehow, someway, he could see or at least sense things. It was a disturbing sight but its wasn't Mengax's main worry. Reverse engineering a cloning cylinder was. Mengax could only guess how long that could take, but it was required if the Chairman ordered the project to push ahead, they'd need plenty of specimens for conversion to fuel the soon to exist Union war machine likely to be employed in mercenary operations.

I only hope I don't suffer for gaining the ire of Tir Esias, the last thing I need is to have my project inhibited by his actions. But more so I need to perfect the final version of these implants before I design the Unit Twos or Threes. Until then, the Union can suffice with Unit Ones for their military plans.

Nal Hutta

Deraggo strolled calmly through the muddy streets of Nal Hutta, cursing the filthy, disgusting slugs that occupied this world and dared to call it 'Glorious Jewel' in their tongue. Right now he'd like to cut that tongue out if he had any say about it, but he'd just as well settle for blowing up one of the enormous bags of lard for Sabrino. These filthy slugs deserved to be enslaved by the Union; they were devious and self-serving so it only fit that someone put a leash on them before they ripped out and ate anymore of the galaxy's guts for themselves. This Plurga was a shifty one, but anyone from Jabba's family usually was. They knew when to use brute force and when to linger in the shadows. The Besadii lingered too much, as proven by Durga during his folly of a Darksaber project which had ended in failure and shaken the Hutt power structure only temporarily. Power vacuums in Hutt space lasted only very shortly because there was always another fat slug willing to fill the void with his girth. Currently, the one ready to fill the void Deraggo was about to make was under the influence of the Union, directly by Estro Sabrino himself. All that needed doing was carrying out the execution to make the needed events occur and give the Hutts a better, more controllable driving force behind them.

Deraggo looked upwards, taking in the immense palace that was the headquarters of Bilihac the Hutt, current ruler of the Besadii kadijic. Once that corpulent slug was nothing but a grease smear against his own walls, the Union would all but have a leash on the Hutts to make profit from them and use their influence which reached widely across the galaxy in almost every government and independent system out there. As he got closer he felt greasy rain begin to fall on his black suit, his eyes focused on the compound itself as he quietly manuevered around it, looking for the back entrance that would obviously exist. These stupid Hutts had to have a back door for the servants and food to come in. Of course, for all Deraggo knew, there was only one gate in an out of the palace walls. As he swept the perimeter, this became more obvious, which meant that he'd have to go in through the front door. This wasn't a problem to be truth full enough, but it just made things a tad more complicated. Deraggo sighed and vanished down the alley, heading back towards the front.

A repulsor truck slide quietly down what could be called the main road as it approached the main gate to the palace. Two very irritable looking nikto guards stood there, one holding a long shafted vibro axe, the other a blaster rifle, both more than capbable of killing someone who might just have given them a funny look. The truck slid to a halt in front of the gate and the ax weilding nikto walked up to the drivers window. As he and the driver exchanged some words, the other nikto stood to the side and thought he saw a darker shade of black come up behind the truck in the greasy black night. He grunted and began walking that way, his boots squleching in the mudd. As the rain pattered off of his armor, he looked around the back of the truck and saw nothing, only the darker opening of its back. He shrugged and went back to his post, knowing you'd have to be insane to try to sneak into Bilihac's palace. The other guard was already back at his post and speaking into his comlink. With a metallic whine, the large gate slid open, permitting entry into the grounds of the palace. The truck slid by and the gate began closing. As it did so, a dark figured dropped out of the trucks back and began moving across the dark grounds, making almost no sounds even in the mud.

A weequay stood calmly in the rain, walking along his patrol route, making the rounds he was paid to do, though he'd much rather be on enforcer duty right now. Guard duty is probably the worst form of punishment capable of being thrown upon any thug who take great pleasure in inflicting pain on others. As he turned the weequay heard a shift of metal, like someone opening the hatch to the palace sewers. He whirled in that direction, but found the hatch closed and seemingly untouched. He glared at it coldly for a moment before turning and walking off as Deraggo walked through waist high waters beneath him, trying to not vomit from the intense smell of filth.

Deraggo worked his way along the sewage system, knowing it all lead to the central septic pool, or hoping anyways. As he moved, he heard gurgles and felt movement as dianogas moved below the surface. He ignored them, but kept his blade handy just in case a bigger one got any ideas. The last thing Deraggo needed was for one of the damn garbage squids to eat one of his bombs before he could place it. A low thrumming slowly grew louder as Deraggo reached the central pool and grunted in disgust as he waded towards the main access port which would take him up into the palace. He pulled himself up the ladder and made his way up towards the hatch but paused as he listened to any noises from above. He then slid it open and raised his head searchingly. No one was around, so he pulled himself up and slid the hatch closed again. He then slid out of the chamber and moved quietly down the dark corridors, stopping here there to place a bomb, slowly working his way towards the audience chamber where Bilihac would be.

This whole damn operation would be for nothing if he got caught right now. This last bomb was the most imporant, it had to be placed near the Hutt himself to insure the great fat slug died since Hutts could survive in just about any condition otherwise. This bomb had to be close to do the needed damage before the rest of the palace crumbled around it, burying everything and everyone with any loyalties to the Hutt. So, Deraggo now inched towards the guard quarters where he heard some exchange in Huttese between two guards.

"So, what duty are you doing?"

"Audience chamber, Drubel needs to be relieved before he passes out from the boredom"

Deraggo slid quietly into the chamber, listening to the two chatter on. He grinned as they turned to go fetch their weapons from the attached armory and slid up to the armor of the guard going on duty. He reached down and replaced the thermal detonator on the belt of the armor with his explosive and then exited quickly and quietly from the chamber, making his journey back towards the sewers and dreading the smell he was about to experience again.

The weequay guard squelched through the rain, still irritated with his post as he thought he heard something behind himm He spun on his heel, blaster ready, only to find the open darkness of the palace grounds facing him. He squinted into the darkness and gasped in shock as a vibroblade came swinging through the night and cauht him between the eyes. He gurgled helplessly and fell to the ground as Deraggo walked up to him and pulled his knife out of him. Deraggo didn't even glance down at his victim but instead moved on as he spotted the truck he had come in on getting ready to make its exit. He slithered into the back again and waited.

The two guards outside heard the metallic whine as the gate slide open again and the low hum of the repulser truck as it slid past them. As it drove on, the metallic gate closed shut, but a low sound was audible as the truck vanished down the road.

Beep Beep Beep Beep...

Both guards turned to look at one another and then looked down to see a blinking thermal detonator between them. Both of their faces contorted into masks of horror as the small explosive went off, killing them both. Deraggo, safely in the truck pulled out his detonator and chuckled, pressing the activation trigger.

Plurga's Stronghold

A mushroom cloud rose from the palace of Bilihac the Hutt after it was consumed but several huge fireballs. Estro merely gave a cold smile at this from his office facing the area the immense palace had once been. Deraggo did very good work with explosives. They'd likely never find Bilihac's body and now Plurga was in position to make his powerplay in Hutt space. It would be easy since the Besadii had no more strong leaders left to fill the gap. Things were looking up fo the Union.

Forge

Edipus sat quietly in the central command center, watching technicians and droids work away to get the nerve center of the Union's soon to be factory world up and running. They were making very good progress so far. The first groups of mining droids and refineries were already up and running. Very soon they'd have the first scaffoldings up that would slowly grow into immense shipyards. Building warships though was only a small operation compared to the immense facilties being built underground. Immense labs and containment facilities were being built and a number of medical droids being installed for the main use of Doctor Mengax's project. This whole stupid world was going to become a factory of something worse than Edipus could have imagined. The Tagges had always been weapons merchants, but making soldiers? This was just outright insane.

"Mister Tagge, progress reports have just come in. The first conversion centers are now up and running."

"Very good, inform Tir Esias and Doctor Mengax. I'm sure they'd like to review the facilities," Edipus replied blankly

The technician nodded and walked off towards the recently established com station and sent the message up to the Midas floating above them. The massive black Executor-class Super Star Destroyer had been the Union's primary base, a clever idea since it was always mobile, traveling through the empty reaches of space, avoiding detection. It would likely retain a very important role since it held the main meeting room for the Committee, but Edipus remembered seeing blueprints containing high luxury living quarters and a meeting room here in the Forge command bunker even as it was continually being built deeper and deeper into the surface. This facilty could likely survive multiple planetary bombardments, which might be useful if anyone ever discovered the Forge and got past the defense arrays that would soon be under construction here. Edipus sighed and decided to go to his office and take a short rest before Tir Esias and Mengax arrived.

An Hour Later

Edipus stirred from his bed, grumbling and left his offices, running for the landing bay as he saw what time it was on his wrist chronometer. He arrived just in time to see a Lambda-class shuttle touching down and watched as black clad Union mercenary troops marched down the ramp followed by Tir Esias, as always clutching his cane in a gloved hand, and Doctor Mengax in his white scientific tunic, his braided hair wrapped around his neck proudly. They were a nasty pair, Tir Esias, who seemed to almost sense what you were thinking, and Doctor Mengax, a butcher of a falleen scientist whose twisted knowledge of medical science and electronics where soon to be put into the most grotesque project the galaxy had faced since the Yuzhuun Vong invasion when many became well aware of the horrors of genetic monstrocities.

The pair walked quietly forwards, the black clad guards falling in line behind them. Edipus nodded to Tir Esias and completely ignored Mengax because there was a difference between a killer and a butcher; You could still look at a killer and see them as a creature with a concscience, even if it was a withered twitching thing. Edipus had long ago seen that Doctor Mengax had no such thing as a conscience. Falleen were always cold bastards, but Mengax was worse, he'd proably just as soon cut up his own people as his test subjects. Butcher. So Edipus began leading the group through the finished sections of the Central Bunker before taking an underground tunnel to the first complete facilites of the Forge. After the tour and investiagtion was complete, Doctor Mengax returned to the Midas while Tir Esias remained down at the Central Bunker.

"The Chairman will be most pleased, Mister Tagge. I expect that both he and the Committee will be most pleased when we adjourn here at the Midas for Phase Two operations," Esias said with a merciless smile.

Edipus merely nodded and looked out into the darkness of Forge, knowing that this place would be fueling a monstrosity he had helped create. He felt his hands tremble, moving towards the blaster positioned at the side of his in its holster almost harmlessly. How could he possibly have alllowed himself to become involved in something like this? Terrorists, crimelords, butchers... They were all part of the Union, which was growing very carefully in the shadows. Could he end it now? Could he save his family's honor?

No....

He couldn't....

The Union held all remaining stock for the Tagge Company. Even if Edipus died, the Tagge name would still be under their control, pouring money into their coffers. Their schemeing Chairman and his operatives all would easily seize control and stabilize the corporation even if Edipus killed himself. It was all best if he didn't complicate things and was around to help manage his company. At least he could leave some sort of legacy to any family he might live to have. He sighed and moved his hand away from the blaster and watched in horror as Tir Esias turned towards him with a knowing smile.

"Good man, the Union still has use for you. No need taking a life that we can use."

Edipus backed away in horror at the blind man and turn and sped off to his offices, wanting to be away from the horrible corruption of the Union as long as he possibly could and hide within his quarters, looking after real Tagge business, the legitimate things that didn't make his skin crawl.