Pavo Prime

The Belgardi Universal Bank bustled with the usual activity that it would on any busy day. It was a reminder of the dominance of Belgardi Universal on the world that was its corporate headquarters. People moved about with the casual rate of a set routine not really paying much attention to a new face amongst them. The young man had entered into the lobby with a briefcase and looking around. He was greeted by a receptionist droid that sent him along towards a waiting banker. The two spoke for a few minutes before the man excused himself to go to the restroom. Once he was out of sight of the bank employee he made an immediate exit from the building and tapping a button on his watch once a block away. With a shaking explosion, the Belgardi Universal Bank was no more.

The Committee

"How dare you target my bank!" Rico Belgardi shouted indignantly across the table at Brutus Nogoth.

"It was necessary for my agenda," Nogoth replied coldly and calmly.

Estro Sabrino sat at the head of the table watching the two Committee members arguing now. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he watched this play out. He couldn't believe that Nogoth had done this without asking permission.

"This is going to cause complications," Trachta said quietly at his side. The former head of COMPNOR had recently been providing his services as an adviser. Sabrino didn't trust the cyborg but knew he gave sound advice and functioned as an excellent devil's advocate.

"Damnit, Nogoth! This is what the Committee is for! So our assets don't go brutalizing one another without consultation! I could have moved a number of valuable employees out of their for the day!" Belgardi slapped his hand on the table.

"Sacrifices must be made for change," Nogoth said dismissively. This earned a number of agreements from the other more militant Committee members.

"Sacrificies?! Those were valuable employees!" Belgardi snapped back and a number of the corporate members shouted their agreement.

Recently the Union had come under strain between its more radical elements and the more business oriented ones. The corporate and criminal members had much disdain for ideology that didn't benefit them. In recent months the militant groups had begun acting more independently. This was likely due to Sabrino being more silent at Committee meetings and actions. He was in all honesty growing tired of supporting the terrorist elements of the Union. They were not profitable anymore nor useful when the Union had its own resources now.

"Are you going to let them continue like this?" Trachta asked quietly and curiously.

"Let them bicker, this was going to happen sooner or later," Sabrino muttered in reply.

"If they come to blows, the Union could suffer," Trachta warned.

Estro Sabrino slowly turned his head to look coldly at Trachta. The cyborg saw the hard expression on his face and backed away with a simple nod in understanding. This was meant to happen. The Union could not continue on its current course of action as certain elements were beginning to go rogue. The goal of the Union was to create a cooperative network of business and criminal interests. They had made the mistake of incorporating terrorists whose methods would alienate people too much. It was time to purge the ranks with bloodletting.

"I've had enough of this, you are the enemies as much as anyone else," Nogoth stood from his chair calmly and turned to leave.

"You can't just walk out on the Committee! We all agreed to this, damnit!" Rico Belgardi shouted at Nogoth.

The other militant leaders in the room started to stand and leave with Nogoth now. The criminals and businessmen all seemed stunned as the Committee lost several integral members. Several turned to look nerviously at Sabrino, still fearful of his wrath on some level. Others had looks of contempt that he hadn't stopped him, standing and leaving as well. Sabrino simply watched them leave, his hands clasped together in thought.

"So this is how empires fall," Trachta mused quietly from behind him. Sabrino just gave a very cold smile in response to that.

"Not so much a fall as a cleaning of house," Sabrino noted as he stood up, the remnants of the Committee standing as well to show respect. "I suggest that all of you prepare for what is likely to come now."

The others just nodded, knowing the Committee had fallen apart. It was the Union's only real form of governance and now it had fractured. Sabrino moved to return to his offices with Trachta following along behind him. He stepped in and dropped down at this desk.

"So this is it then? You're going to let them start killing one another?" Trachta asked in a very matter-of-fact tone.

"The Union will need to restructure after this. Our efforts while expansive have perhaps become too much. There is no profit or power in terrorism save for backing them long enough to cause an event we need. This will sever the ties and purge the ranks of unnecessary groups," Sabrino replied.

"Even useful ones at that. I fear we will lose our corporate members just as quickly as terrorist ones once this starts," Trachta warned.

"They'll hold their tongues then if they don't want to be found with their throats slit open," Sabrino said sharply.

He was sure some would try to share data but that mattered little. The Union would be stronger for this even if depleted on many levels. All that was required was for the fighting to start. Only through internal strife would they be able to gain what was needed and discard the useless.

Somewhere on Sinsang

The symbol of the red star of the people of Sinsang appeared on the screen, as a quick paced treble track played. Upon the screen quickly came from nowhere the words 'The People's News'. The screen came into view of a very stately older woman, with her hair up in a neat bun and sitting at a desk. The business suit she wore adding more to her very formal appearance.

"Welcome to the People's News. News for the People, by the People, from the People." She said politely as the camera changed angle. She met the gaze of the camera and promptly resumed.

“In light of the fall of Coruscant, more chaos has griped the Galaxy.”

“Violence has erupted across the galaxy this week, as corporate entities in the mid-rim have been hit hard by a string of terrorist attacks.” A picture in the background showed the burning wreckage of the Belgardi Universal Bank, as the newswoman continued. “It all started with an attack on Belgardi Universal’s holding. Officials believe it has to do with funding going towards Imperial assets, in light of a growing spread of uprisings across the Empire.”

“When asked on the subject, Rico Belgardi, CEO of Belgardi Universal, had this to say.”

Rico Belgardi now took up the screen, with a small marquee scroll underneath listing other headlines. Droids flew around from different media outlets, each getting their own camera angle, hoping to be the ones to best capture the moment. Lights flashed around him as he looked over the podium to the crowd of reporters below.

“All of Belgardi Universal is shocked by this unprovoked attack. My hopes and prayers go out to the families of the victims in this dark time. The men and women lost can never truly be replaced. But, the Galaxy can rest easy knowing that I will do everything within my power to ensure that whoever was behind these heinous crimes will be brought to justice!”

The feed once again shifted to the news anchor.

“Powerful words. Rico Belgardi has been unavailable for further comments. A representative from the League of Nations offered-”

The feed went dark, as the Council representatives looked at each other, a moment of silence taking them from the monumental event that had just passed. After years of business, the Union had begun to turn upon itself.

“I suggest we look to our holdings.” The old man concluded, breaking the awkward silence which had grasped the room.

“We will be expected to pick a side in this conflict.” The baritone-voiced man added. “Our rackets are too powerful to ignore, and we have our hands in too many things to be left in peace. One will want our businesses, our guns, our smugglers….”

“Then I suggest we take the initiative to pick a side, before we are forced to pick one. It would grant us the chance to negotiate.” The woman pointed out, taking a long drag on a cigara. “I fear what would happen if both camps try to come here at the same time. A mob war on our doorstep would be far too costly. It’d be far better to simply space anything that gets too close.”

“Agreed.” The rest of the Council concluded.

“Then allow me to nominate our lot goes with the Chairman. Our dealings with him have always been straight forward, and with the openings on the Union council that were just opened, I am certain we will now have room for a direct voice in business affairs.” The silver-tounged member of the council declared to the room. “Besides, he was not the one who threw the first stone in this. A bombing of a bank building? Seems more of Hilter’s style.”

“And what if Hilter decides to make us a target of his abominations? We broke our ties with the League after that madman Chadd Fearsons got their ears. Do you think the Civic Defense Force could hold their own against the likes of his genetic weapons?” The old man chided.

“And do you think we will survive as a hive for that sort of stuff? Do you know what Hilter would do with our facilities at his beck and call? His likes have no mind for business. They’re out there simply to spread chaos and terror.” The silver-tongued man responded, his voice tinted with outrage of the very thought of Hilter’s works.

“We have a rare opportunity to show these knuckle-dragging terrorists that we may do business without their likes.”

“It seems like we have little choice in the matter.” The baritone-voiced man said, looking around the table.

“Very well.” The old man conceded. “We shall send a message to the Chairman and let him know the Shadow Council grants him their full support on this matter. May our steel strike swiftly.”

The Union was falling apart. Sabrino could see that with ease from the reports that were coming in to the Midas. More attacks against the corporate and even the political factions in the Union. The retaliation had come fast and viciously as the more legitimate factions started selling out those who had attacked them. Apparently they had been gathering some intelligence of their own. Sabrino had to honestly give them credit for that along with keeping it quiet. If he had found out before now someone would have been very dead for this. Now he wanted it to happen, wanted to see his own organization continue to rip itself apart.

"I was hoping the find a more stable employer when I decided to join the Union," Trachta commented in his metallic voice.

"Yes, I imagine you were. A pity that the Committee can't provide that for you at the moment," Sabrino replied as he continued to read the report.

"What precisely does this accomplish?" Trachta asked as he took a seat across from the Chairman.

"The Union has been slowly collapsing for some time now, Trachta. As hard as I try to hold it all together. Even now many are starting to pull away their support. Too afraid to turn on us but also unwilling to participate anymore. Its just as well, my own agenda requires furthering now anyways," Sabrino noted calmly.

"And is this agenda worth following?" Trachta asked carefully.

"It is if you tire of the stagnation that Imperial dominance has caused," Sabrino replied with smile.

"So this has always been about revenge on some level?" Trachta asked in surprise.

"My life was ruined by the Empire, they crushed my own government which in turn threw me to the wolves. Nothing but an empty pension to get drunk on. I turned to crime as a means of gaining some control. I've hidden in the shadows for too long, playing puppet master. Its time I started doing something new."

"And you think I would turn against the Emipre?" Trachta asked.

"You already have, don't play that game with me. You have no master left save for me considering the treason you have committed. Besides, you don't strike me as terribly adherent to any doctrine," Sabrino retored as he tossed Trachta a datapad.

The cyborg picked it up and read the message on it. It was clear that Sabrino did indeed have a plan in the works now. This offer of support would aid the Chairman of the Union in reconstituting what was left of the group. As he finished they felt the ship shake beneath their feet.

"What was that?" Trachta looked up from the pad.

"What's going on?" Sabrino demanded from the comm unit on his desk.

"Sir! We seem to have slipped into a mine field!"

"What?!" Sabrino stood up from his desk and looked over at Trachta.

"It would seem someone decided to remove your mobile headquarters from the equation," Trachta noted.

Sabrino cursed and ran past Trachta towards the bridge as the ship was rocked my more explosions. Alarms were beginning to sound along the corridors. The black clad crew were moving about with panic as Sabrino came to the bridge with Trachta following behind him.

"Sir! More impacts and what seems to be internal explosions!"

Sabotage, one or several of the Union members had willingly carried out acts of sabotage to set this trap. That shouldn't have been possible, only Union personnel had access to the ship. Sabrino turned to the security terminals and watched a firefights started breaking out. The necrotroopers were attacking his men. The Union's disposable army had been turned on it but that shouldn't have been possible unless...

"Where's Dr. Mengax?" Sabrino demanded of the captain.

"He just departed half an hour ago, sir. Said he had things to take care of with his projects on the Forge," replied the captain as he tried to maintain control of the ship.

"Damn amoral traitor," Sabrino snarled.

Doctor Mengax was the Union's chief scientist and researcher. A twisted Falleen genius who only cared for his research. He was also the only person with the command code access to make the Necrotroopers do this. The damage to the Midas was becoming extensive and it seems that a few Necropolis carriers had shown up to ambush the unprepared ship. Sabrino cursed and ran off towards the turbolift. He entered in a private code, making the elevator go down to the ship's computer core. He heads to it, typing in a central command code and triggering off an override not even Mengax knew about. The Union's material infrastructure had been compromised which meant it had to be disposed of.

"What are you doing, Sabrino? We need to get to an escape ship!" Trachta shouted over the alarms.

"We can go," Sabrino replied coldly as he walked past Trachta now.

They head down to the large docking bay of the Midas where a vast number of ships waited. The area was also a battlefield as the Union's mercenary army was currently engaging the necrotroopers for control of the bay. Sabrino clambered onto a waiting yacht after punching him command code into it. Trachta ran in after him, slamming the door shut. The ship whirred to life, its shields coming online to protect it.

"Where are we going to run to? The Forge?" Trachta asked as he took the co-pilot seat next to Sabrino.

"There is no more Forge. I just sent it the auto-destruct command. When Mengax arrives there to claim it he'll die with it," Sabrino said in a cold tone as he brought the yacht around to begin his escape. The ship shuddered under flechette fire but shrugged it off as Sabrino flew out of the bay and away from the Midas.

Sabrino entered into the course and then watched the rear camera. The Super Star Destroyer Midas erupted into a fireball as it self-destructed rather violently. The pair of Necropolis carriers erupted shortly after it.

"What, what just happened?" Trachta was surprised the aggressors had gone up as well but he had a suspicion.

"I've killed the Union's military power. Every active ship we have under our direct control is going to auto-destruct. All the Necropolis carriers had this function and they were massive storage units for necrotroopers. Even if Mengax survives the Forge I want to leave him with nothing," Sabrino said bitterly.

"Where do we go from here?" Trachta asked as he considered his next action.

"Taris. The Exchange will be a suitable front to take direct control of," Sabrino replied.

"Won't they resist?"

"That's what you're for, Trachta."

Taris

Taris was a world of misery, even with the rebuilding it had gone through over the years following an ancient massacre. The passage of time had left the ruins of a great city. But the world had not been left for dead as others came to resettle the planet. The new people of Taris were skilled in shipbuilding and applied that to reclamation of the city. Taris was graudally coming alive again those this new population were being more careful about ruining the world self-sufficiency. The Exchange had come back to life on Taris as well, a criminal syndicate with it hands in the reconstruction effort. The local head was a man by the name of Radox Nariv. He was not well liked by the locals but he held firmly onto the underworld. Currently he was trying to figure out who the hell Estro Sabrino was.

"So you're an associate of Hitona?" Nariv asked with uncertainty as he looked at the man in the white suit and his black clad cyberntic subordinate.

"Oh yes, we've been in business for a while together now. We've made a lot of money off one another," Sabrino offered with a calm smile.

"And so why aren't you off seeing him then? Not too keen on visiting Ryloth?" Nariv smirks some.

"More that I know recently you've wanted to take over the Exchange in general. Recent events had lead me to believe I should offer my support to you. I've had a recent falling out with some of my associates," Sabrino replied.

"So you just figure you'd come to Taris and get in on the action?" Nariv asked curiously.

"Oh yes, like I said I've had a falling out. I can assure you my associate and I are more than capable individuals with some connections that could benefit you," Sabrino said as he shfited in his seat some.

"I notice he hasn't said much," Nariv commented as the eyed the pale cyborg.

"He doesn't need to at the moment. He is quite skilled in his fields of work though. For example most people can't find you very easily but he managed to find you," Sabrino said with a grin. "I'd say that is someone you might like to employ."

Nariv considered all of this, a little wary as these two hadn't been introduced to him. The Exchange generally worked that way, subordinates would check out potentials and then introduce those they thought useful. Sabrino had easily found this place and introduced himself and his associate. It made Nariv a bit uneasy at the moment, meaning he'd have to keep an eye on them.

"Well, I'll take that into consideration. First I'm going to have my people run some background checks on you both. The last thing I need right now a government spies trying to get in on my stuff," Nariv replied.

"Of course, take you time. We'll see about setting something up for you when we meet again. Something that might tip the balance in our favor," Sabrino said as he stood up to leave.

Sabrino and Trachta exited the building getting a reasonable distance away before speaking.

"That man is our objective. See what you can do about that, would you?" Sabrino asked as he looked over at Trachta.

Trachta simply nodded and vanished into the crowds after that. He would have to ask around a bit more and tap into the funds that Sabrino had access to. Money made things a lot easier when you knew the right people to bribe. It would also make if far more simpler to deal with Nariv whom it was clear they both wished to remove now. That meant gathering enough dirt on his subordinates to blackmail them into cooperation, something Trachta looked forward to doing.

The casino buzzed with the usual electronic noises and low chatter to be expected within such establishments. Trachta walked through the building, looking around casually, earning one or two looks but not many. Taris had slowly been coming back alive for ages and the many different looks of the galaxy didn't phase people much. His gaze swept over several security guards as well as hired muscle in civilian clothing. This was all too likely the place he was looking for then.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Cog?" asked a voice to Trachta side, prompting him to turn and find a beautiful woman dressed in a business suit.

"Yes, I am. Would you happen to be Moira Lintha?" Trachta asked.

"I would be. I'm supposing you picked that name just to make it easy to spot you?" Lintha asked with a calm smile.

"Of course, why complicate things when we have matters to discuss?" Trachta replied.

"Follow me then," Lintha said as she walks past Trachta.

Trachta followed her, noting that the muscle he'd spotted earlier were starting to move along with them as well. It was a good indicator that this was indeed who he needed to meet with. The last thing he needed at the moment was to be given the runaround by some low level functionary. Instead Lintha herself had come to greet him, living up to her reputation that Trachta had learned about while scouring the underworld of Taris for a more viable ally.

"I'm assuming you're just the middle man in this?" Lintha asked very bluntly once they entered the turbolift and she swiped a keycard.

"I have full negotiating authority. But we must first see if you're up for what is to come," Trachta replied.

Lintha raised an eyebrow at that, not really sure what to make of the pale cyborg. This Mr. Cog or whoever he really was clearly was used to this sort of thing. Just as well considering she had little time for idiots. If he knew how the game was played then these talks would at least be amusing even if she didn't take whatever deal he had for her.

"How might I address you,?" Trachta asked politely as the turbolift opened into Lintha office which overlooked the gaming floor.

"Lintha is fine, I don't go for titles and honorifics and you sure as hell don't know me well enough to call me Moira," Lintha said with a chuckle as she went to take her seat.

Trachta took his seat across from her, amusing himself with a confirmation of a psychological profile of crime bosses. Even Sabrino did this sort of thing though admittedly only with those who even knew he existed these days. But then again, that office was gone, a lot of it was gone save for the money. The one thing Estro Sabrino had plenty of was the vast sums of money that he had access to through the collapsing Union's assets. He'd practically seized control of most of it now, starting a cycle of money transfers that would render it laundered as well as out of sight and out of mind. The collapse of the Union had made the former Jutraalian admiral very rich indeed and he had a plan for that money.

"Very well, I represent an individual that believes there needs to be changes made," Trachta said, being very ambiguous on purpose.

"Definte changes, Mr. Cog or I'll have my associates escort you off the premise roughly. I'm not in the mood for games," Lintha said coldly.

"You have ambitions to be the major player in the less legitimate business of Taris, correct? My employer wishes to assist you in this affair in exchange for a partnership," Trachta replied.

"What sort of partnership?"

"One that will make you very wealthy and influential. Afterall, you've maintained a legitimate front quite well. Few people realize what else you do. You would head a new company we will be forming here on Taris. Admittedly my employer would control the majority in voting stock," Trachta noted.

"Sounds more like I'd be an employee than a partner," Lintha replied, her eyes narrowing a little.

"You will be given control of the rest of the stock. As well as access to a fledgling corporation that you can shape into something grand. My employer has connections and information that would give you a rather unfair advantage in a number of situations," Trachta replied.

"And what does your employer get out of this?"

"A new power base to operate from behind the scenes. We wish to raise Taris up into a new center of trade and political power. Its position on the Hydian Way helps us with that greatly. This company as a means to achieve that. We both get what we want out of this arrangement."

"You do realize there's someone else we're going to have to deal with, don't you?" Lintha asked with a sigh.

"Radox Nariv, we are already setting things in motion to deal with him," Trachta said off-handedly.

"You... you what? You're serious. You've got that kind of pull?" Lintha looked on at him in surprise.

"On some level, yes. Radox Nariv will have a choice to make. Dependent upon that, he will either be arrested or be dead. In either case you will be in a position to benefit. What do you say to that?" Trachta asked curiously now.

Lintha remained silent for the moment, considering all of this. Whoever this employer was, he had some skill at pulling strings. She might as well go along for the ride for the moment. Afterall, if this was a trick she'd be more than happy to deal with them in a more unpleasant manner.

"I'm in on this for now. You must keep me informed," She said calmly but with a cold smile as if in warning. "For your sake this better not be a trick."

"I can assure you, this is the opportunity it appears to be," Trachta said as he stood giving a polite nod before turning to leave. He had a report to make.

Augustus Mond sighed some as he fixed his tie, looking out at the cityscape of Taris. Far off he could just make out the world's ocean which made him feel a little more comfortable. Recent events and the unsettling collapose of the Union's command structure had forced him to flee Aquilaris along with all his possessions. The world had suffered a recent streak of terrorist attacks by GLF backed elements throwing the government into disarry. The Union's former pet terrorists had gone rogue, attacking who they pleased even if they had lost their financial backing.

"Damned terrorists," Mond muttered to himself, irked that the Aquilaris government had basically been thrown out in emergency electiosn from a vote of no confidence. All of the politicians he had backed had lost and he was forced to flee the world out of fear of being a GLF target.

"Sir, your guest has arrived," replied Mond's M-390 unit. Mond just nodded, walking past the droid to Estro Sabrino sat waiting for him in his parlor.

"I'm so glad you could make time to see me, Augustus," Sabrino said in a calm voice.

"Well, you did invite me to relocate here once things started falling apart. I never thought it would go this far. The Union is a mess, two of my fellow colleagues have gone missing. I have to start over again," Mond replied in annoyance.

"A fine world to start over with here, don't you think?" Sabrino asked as he stood and walks toward the balcony.

Mond followed him, contemplating pushing the former Chairman of the Union over the edge into the cityscape below. He ceased that when he noticed someone else in the room lingering at the doorway. He turned to see a pale skinned cyborg and immediately recognized Trachta.

"I thought you were coming alone," Mond inquired as he walked to stand by Sabrino.

"I did, Trachta came on his own. He doesn't trust you and his well being is linked to my continued existence currently," Sabrino said with a cold smile.

"And you would trust a former Imperial agent? One who was willing to betray his former masters?" Mond asked with his own smile.

"I trust him to be self-serving, which in this case means continuing to serve me with his talents. He was a criminal before joining the ranks of the Empire afterall," Sabrino replied as he looks out at Taris.

"So what do you want, Sabrino. You dragged me to this world for some reason. I could just as easily have set up on Serenno or Phindar. I still have some sway there," Mond said.

"You're a politician, Mond. You'd get bored on Serenno and you wouldn't fit in much on Phindar. But I have something in the works right now, something I want you to sign on with me."

"Is the great Chairman of the Union asking for help?" Mond asked with a bit of a sneering smile now.

"Yes."

Mond paused at that and looked at Sabrino with surprise. This man had been the autocratic master of the Union. A person everyone was afarid of because he could kill any member of the Committee on a whim, though he never did. Anyone executed was killed for a reason. Sabrino was a cold and methodical leader who rewarded success and brutally punished failure or betrayal. Yet he was asking for help. He wasn't threatening, wasn't commanding. He had approached Mond as an equal.

"You're serious? What's prompted this new humble attitude?" Mond asked.

"I've seen two great entities fall apart," Sabrino said, his voice low and tight with strain. "I was there when the Jutraalian Empire was taken and made a joke. And now I'm here after the Union has devolved into a parody of itself with no leadership. Admittedly the second was my doing, because I had thought the Union was growing out of its bounds. It fell apart more spectacularly that I could have thought, more so than I wanted..."

"So what? You want a partner? What do I get out of such an arrangement?"

"Power. Taris used to be a major player politics in this part of the Outer Rim. We could build something new here. Something that might endure. Taris' position on the Hydian Way makes it a perfect center of something new. Imagine if we were to form a new government out here? A government that might be able to challenge a besieged Empire," Sabrino said.

"You still want revenge. After all this time, the great Estro Sabrino still wants to see the Empire fail. You were willing to sell the Union's services to anyone but that was it wasn't it? You were building power to challenge them someday," Mond said with a sad chuckle. "You're still a soldier at heart, how amusing."

"I am, but I am no politician. I want to make something powerful and successful. But you know more on how to do it. I can provide the needed support with finance and intelligence. I've already set things in motion to take control of the Exchange here on Taris. Consider how much easier things would be with the local organize crime under control? Hell we could co-opt it to aid in making money for us and allow us to make illegitimate dealings," Sabrino said with a grin.

"You've thought this through. I can see why you managed to pull the Union together in the first place. So then, I get to play politics and woo the people. What will you be doing?"

"Well, a new government needs a new military. I was considering becoming an Admiral again," Sabrino said with a chuckle.

"So you and I would be calling the shots?" Mond asked curiously.

"Oh no, we will have a third partner in this endeavor who will be managing the new company that will help make Taris stronger. I've invited Moira Lintha into this plan. We'll hold the control shares but she'll run the company. Lintha is very adept at financial problems, her addition is needed for this to succeed."

"So you're building some sort of triumvirate of business, military and politics? I suppose that could work if done correctly. So how are we going to manage this?" Mond asked curiously now.

"First, we get you elected to the Taris Parliament."