Aboard the Imperial Battleship Tormentor, hovering over the world of Vladet.........

Vice Admiral Kraken tried out his third uniform delievered to him from his custom tailor. This one was the classic white uniform worn by Imperial Grand Admirals, and Warlords. Deciding it was a little too posh, he discarded it. With that, he brought up the fourth item. Classic Imperial olive color, with matching hat, belt, and boots. The classic Imperial officers uniform. He decided that this would be the one in which he meets the delegates from the Black Dragon Empire, and New Galatic Coalition. He checked his chrono. It was twenty five minutes before the expected arrival of the ships from the two different factions. He didn't know if any other factions were joining in, or whether or not other ships were coming in from the other various Imperial Protectorates, but this was more than enough to begin with right here. Admiral Kraken decided that the three ships that would be on display for fleet week for the Empire was the Illustrious Fast Attack Cruiser, the Intrepid Gunship, and the Starfury Assault Starfighter.

With that taken care of, and with the defense fleet ready to meet any emergency means, the Fleet Week was ready and raring to go. Which only left the ball to deal with. Admiral Kraken could have held it in the military base, but he decided that a volcano was too borish and dangerous even though it was silent. Instead, he would hold it at a grand hotel and convention center at a nearby coastal town. Even now the center was being readied for the ball, and would be completed shortly.

With that, Admiral Kraken merely awaited for the delegates to arrive in order to commence Fleet Week......

Onboard the Viscount, flagship of the New Galactic Coalition military.
Jan watched as the stars streaked by. Peace had been made across the galaxy, and this was been shown in the best way. Delegates from the New Order, Black Dragon Empire, and New Galactic Coalition had been invited to Vladet to participate in a Fleet Week. This would be the first time the three governments had warships together in the same system, at the same time, without a war going on. Escorting him was 12 Defender Gunships, 326 MC-10 Starfighters and 72 SAB/SFFs onboard the Viscount and Defender Gunships, as well as various shuttles. The Defender Gunship, MC-10 Starfighter and SAB/SFF was the NGC contribution to Fleet Week. The Viscount Star Defender was also there, and could be contributed, but if just the TNO and NGC delegates showed up, there was not point to featuring it, because they both had the ship.

"Sir, we will revert from hyperspace in five, four, three, two, one. Welcome to Vladet."

The fleet was arranged so that Viscount was in the center of a 12 pointed-star, formed by the Defender Gunships. This was standard parade formation for the New Galactic Coalition, and could be easily modified for various senarios.

"Excellent. Communications?"

"Yes?"

"Broadcast the prepared message, and reroute any replies to my shuttle."

"Yes sir."

Jan quickly took the turbolift to the closest docking bay, where his Sentinel Shuttle was waiting for him while his pre-recorded message played.

"Vice Admiral Kraken, this is is Fleet Admiral Jan Dondana, of the Galactic Coalition, requesting permission to bring my shuttle and escorting craft down to the surface to participate in this history making meeting. I will need room for 1 shuttle and 12 escorting craft."

Jan prepared to launch the Sentinel Shuttle, which he would be piloting, waiting confirmation from the surface.

The Black Dragon Empire fleet of Tion Star Destroyers, Tion DragonClaws, Shotos and various other battlecruisers from its territories approached the planet of Vladet at cruising speed. The armada of battleships were massive-- each a city itself-- yet they moved with deliberate grace, like the giant colo-claw fishes of Naboo. They were accompanied by dozens of Deathgliders-- black curved combat fighters that zipped back and forth around the battleships' perimeters: scouting, sounding, docking, regrouping.<center>



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Soundlessly the main bay of the Tion Star Destroyer opened. There was a brief ignition-flash, as a Tion-class shuttle emerged from the darkness of the hold into the darkness of space, illuminated at times by the nebula in the background. It sped toward the planet with quiet purpose, accompanied by a full squadron of Deathgliders flanking it.

The small Tion shuttlecraft, its markings identifying it as belonging to General Grevious, knifed through starry blackness toward the emerald bright planet of Vladet and the cluster of Imperial and New Coalition fleet ships that encircled it. The ships were huge fortresses, some wedged in shape, which sheltered the bridge, communications center, and hyperdrive.

Armaments bristled from every port and bay, and Imperial and New Coalition fighters circled the big beasts like gnats. The Black Dragon Empire's shuttle, with it's dual-engines, curved body, and rounded-off cockpit, looked insignificant in the shadow of the Imperial and Coalition battleships, but it continued toward them, undeterred.

Commander Zem Renneyn sat at the forward console, hands moving swiftly over the controls as she steered closer to the ship with the Imperial insignia emblazoned on its bridge. From time to time, she would glance uneasily at her scopes, and noticed activity already in motion over Vladet's orbit.

She then noticed a small wing of fighters flying away from the main flagship, cruising on an intercept course toward her. The pilot tapped at her controls and activated her comm system. Zem quickly hailed the battleship in front of her scopes, assuming it was the main flagship of the Imperial armada.

On the small holoprojector in front of her, captured from his position on the bridge of the battleship toward which she was headed, was Vice Admiral Kraken, his eyes staring out at her, expectedly.

The image flickered. "Welcome to Vladet, delegates of the Black Dragon Empire. We will expect your presence shortly on the surface of our planet."

Zem replied through her comlink. "Acknowledged, Vice Admiral. General Grevious is with me and he is most eager to meeting your presence. I take permission is approved to enter Vladet?" Her voice was deep and smooth, but the measure of resolution it contained was unmistakable.

The Vice Admiral nodded quickly. "Yes, of course. We would be happy to receive The Black Dragon Empire at their convenience. An escort is arriving toward you on an intercept course. Follow their lead to the surface of Vladet. A landing platform will be prepared and waiting on its capital."

The image faded. The pilot veered the shuttle toward Vladet. She watched silently as the planet loomed before her, filling the canopy with its emerald surface, the Deathgliders quickly flanking her as they escorted her toward the surface...

Meanwhile, aboard a unobtrusive Coalition vessle, Frakutsk the Gungan Jedi, minister of peace of the New Galactic Coalition, was worried about other things. It was his job here to improve relations with the Black Dragon Empire and whoever else showed up.

Frakutsk really coulden't care less about what fleet of Tion Star Destroyers, or how many dozens of Deathgliders were present, he was here to solidify the peace. And, thought Frakutsk, parading the ships was a much better alternative the fightning with them.

Frakutsk's ship decended onto the planet. The scene of the rebelian, in which his shuttle had crashed onto Ando, flashed into his mind. Would he be forever cursed with that picture of horror whenever he was landing on a planet? Frakutsk shivered and shook his head, he hoped not.

Frakutsk recieved all the proper clearance, and descended through the atmosphere onto the planet.

Landing on the planet, Frakutsk exited his ship, suddenly realizing that he didnt really know where he was to go. He presumed that there would be some sort of meeting, but apparently he subconciously presumed that someone would be there to lead him to it, because he surely hadn't asked for directions... he?

He stood by his cooling shuttle craft, looking around and wondering where he was supposed to go. How like a Gungan to forget.

Suddenly, a droid came out and half-pushed Frakutsk down some stairs, through a long corridor, past the ice macheine, and into the room is which the meeting was to be held.

Frakutsk was suprised to see the Diplomats all already there, and even more suprised to see that they were all now stuffing their faces full of cream pie. Frakutsk sat down, nervously, and a pie instantly landed infront of him. He pushed it away. How was it that the Gungan was the only one acting civalized?

Kraken promptly jumped out of his chair and but his arms out like an airplane, only to run around the table several times making zooming noises and then to sit down again.

Was this the other side of the dark side? Frakutsk cleared his throat. "Wesa are heresa today to strengthen de peace, and to disascuss thingsas such as-"

But he was soon interupted by a large cream pie in his face. He quickly lapped the whole thing up with his very long Gungan tounge. Huh, it was actually pretty good!

A stunned silence fell across the entire room. And then, suddenly, they all burst into mad cheers and appluase. "Amazing!" Shouted Sully. "None of us could ever do that! Your race is clearly far superior."

Well, thought Frakutsk, i AM here to improve relations. Frakutsk stood up and took a bow. Then he sat down and launched a balloon into the air, begining to eat some pie himself. Where do they make balloons?

The elegant, wood-carved table in the main conference chamber was set, the food was being served, and the Coalition's officers were just pouring the green champagne when the chime was heard for dinner, after the appetizer of cream pie was concluded.

General Grevious remained at his place at the table, sitting alongside Supreme Regent, Sully Anre, and a small compliment of officers and Captains from the other Tion Star Destroyers. "This <i>does</I> often make for an interesting evening," the Regent chimed a comment. "Particularly..." he eyed the Gungan, "... when discussing the future of relations between our factions."

"Relations?" Kraken echoed carefully, sipping at his champagne.

"Yes," Admiral Vaako said as he interrupted, as a waiter scooped a serving of stew into a bowl and setting it in front of him. "To be precise, the freedom of expansion upon our galaxy."

A flicker of surprise, almost too fast to see, crossed Sully's face. "Yes, I am quite interested in the opinions of the others." The Regent took a sip of his stew and was served a filet of nerfsteak.

"The Coalition and the Imperial Empire's progression have been quite impressive with me. I am sure your goals are still unquestionable in both expansion and dominance-- unless I have been wrong otherwise?" he asked, with a slight nod.

Admiral Vaako's lip twisted. "Yes, I wonder. What is this plan?"

Frakutsk, glad to be starting the meeting for real, began to speak. "It is mesa hope that our faction may livesa in peacesa for all times. Expansion is wonderful for da bolth of usa, just so longsa and itsa is directed in a peaceful fasion, and not where desa expansion could causa harm to other factions."

"Today," Frakutsk continued, "We are discussing da future of de entire galaxy! Think to yousa selves, do you wantsa your children to grow up in a war-torn violent society? No! What wesa do here today, and if we follow through later, will have effectsa on trillions of peoples!"

"Mesa propose dat wesa draw a newsa, stroger, peace-agreement. Dis includes all factions here, and will never be broken."

Then, Frakutsk looked around at the others reactions. Dark-siders, he thought, will they never learn?

Frakutsk took a few bites of whatever he had been served.

(OOC- Dont laugh.)

Vice Admiral Kraken had taken his seat at the head of the table along with the other officials and delegates. Today's menu had a choice of either refined moon steak made from a very rare animal on the planet of Almar topped with the best of caviar, and served with a hot bowl of calamari chowder, or a refined and specially spiced smoked bantha steak, served with a side of Fondor fries and calamari slaw. Kraken opted for the first, insisting on royalty. Since the Coalition delegates were gungans, Kraken thought they might for the latter, and they did indeed.

"Welcome, all of you. We each have represenatives here today from the Light Side, Dark Side, and Neutral Side. As Grevious has pointed out, let us begin today's talks with the talk of Relations. Not too long ago, the Empire, and the Black Dragon Empire allied in order to defeat the Galatic Coalition. Now the war is over, and peace reigns. We are here today to ensure that it remains this way, for as long as possible." said Kraken with a fine elegance of smooth talk.

"I, on behalf of the Empire, have no quarrels against the Galatic Coalition for it's recent war against us. I am now interested in signing accords of formal peace, along with accords of trade, and mutual benefit, and......." said Kraken turning to General Grevious, "I would hope that the same can be signed with the Black Dragon Empire, both strengthning our ties, and healing old wounds with the Galatic Coalition." Kraken paused to eat a Fondor fry after dipping it in the rich ketchup provided by one of the many famous Coalition spice companies, and to wait to see what their reaction to his words would be.

The entourage of the Black Dragon Empire sat back and waited for the criticisms to start, after Vice Admiral Kraken made his announcements to the table. High Regent, Sully Anre, glanced across the table to the members of the Galactic Coalition. "As the representatives of the Black Dragon Empire, we have ceased all hostilities toward the Coalition, now that the Outer Rim Sovereignty is no more." He looked to the Coalition leaders. "As long as power is stripped of the criminal, Admiral Griff, there will be no call to arms against them."

"As for the Imperial Galactic Empire," the melodic synthesized voice of General Grevious put in. "The Imperium will consider trade relations and an accord, in exchange for letting us expand into the Outer Rim further. We are aware the Empire has a considerable amount of territory acquired in the galaxy, especially within the Mid-Rim and Core Worlds."

Sully grimaced before he could stop himself. "We would like to propose," he said, forcing himself to look at Vice Admiral Kraken, "to eventually expand into the these sectors of the galaxy and acquire worlds of our own to establish active trade routes to the Tion Cluster, the Kessel Sector, and the Centrality."

"As for the Outer Rim, we wish to expand the Imperium furthur," Grevious cut in. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sully give him a warning look. He ignored it. "We have expanded to three outposts outside of our realm. We wish to establish trading routes that will connect from these outposts to the Tion Cluster. These routes obviously, will require planets to be subjected..."

Admiral Kraken listened very carefully to the words spoken by the leaders and delegates of the Black Dragon Empire. When they had finished, he thought several seconds about their words, and how he would digest them, along with his reply. Finally, he began to speak again.

"The Outer Rim Sovereignty is no more, and Admiral Griff, from our latest accounts, is now dead, by an unfortunate "accident". At the height of the war, during Operation Malestrom, on one side we had the Outer Rim Sovereignty, the Galatic Coalition, and the Diversity Alliance against us, the New Order, the Black Dragon Empire, the Cree'Ar Dominion, and the Anthos Republic. Since the war has ended some alliances have also ended, but not others. The fragmented shell of the Outer Rim Sovereignty was absorbed into the being of the Galatic Coalition, being renamed the New Coalition. The Diversity Alliance was shattered in a open revolt that left worlds in ruin, soon afterwards to be consumed by nearby goverments. I realise that, in order to meet your needs, BDE, will require that worlds within the Empire's boundarys to be secured, and that warships and freighters will transit the routes already used by our warships, and freighters. If we sign accords now, this will help prevent any accidental engagements or crisis, or in the event that it still happens, will help us to smooth it over before it would break out into full scale war." said Kraken.