The Mestra System; where destruction once reigned supreme, an entire system was destroyed. In their wake stretched one of the Galaxy's largest Asteroid Fields, the Mestra Asteroid Field. Estimated to hold over one hundred trillion pieces of rock, many of them able to rival small moons, the system had veen mined for the abundant Durelium Ore, found within the rich asteroids. But those days were far from over. The Viceroy of the Trade Federation, and CEO of Leviathan Corporate Industries was back at his scheming. Having gone through several transactions, and espionage deals, the Viceroy had somehow managed to bankrupt the Minos-Mestra Corporation, which had harvested the rich source of Durelium for hundreds of years. All that would soon change....

The Trade Federation Ship, deemed Darkflame by the Viceroy had entered the system only days after the bankrupt corporation had ceased mining, taking the system in the name of the Trade Federation, Confederacy of Independant Systems, and Leviathan Corporate Industries, all of which were owned, at least in part by the Viceroy, the wealthiest man in the Confederacy. He stood calmly next to his protocal droid, TK-421, a Protocal droid he had come to posess in his childhood, and had grown up with. She stood silently, her silver metal body shining in the light of the Command bridge.

"Viceroy, we will be entering the Asteroid field in less than five minutes. Shields have been raised to the fullest of there extent, and our gunners are alert, and ready to destroy any rock that might damage the ship."

The Viceroy turned to face the figure of a young Neimoidian, no more than seventeen years old, and from the look of his uniform, he was a new ensign. Nelix shook his head, and slowly stepped up to the boy, his tall figure quite intimidating.

"I thought I ordered that no rocks be damaged. The more damage we do to those precious treasure chests, the more I loose in profits. Though this system may be abundant with precious Durelium ore, I do not want to take a chance. Keep the ship on the edge of the asteroid field, and make no attempt to move any ship into the field without a specific command from me. Understand?"

The boy nodded his head quickly as he swollowed hard. He was obviously new to the fleet, and not yet aware of the protocal of command.

"Order the rest of the Fleet to do so as well."

Once again, the boy nodded, frusterating the Viceroy. As the boy walked away, the Viceroy made a mental note that, should he mess up again, donate him to the Nemesis Project. Turning to another, more skilled officer, he began to speak.

"Get me a readout of this system's rotational cycle, as well as how long the average day lasts."

"Yes sir, working on it...... The asteroid belt circles the system every 611 local days, as measured from the asteroid Javis-12. The average day in the system lasts about 45 standard hours, which is the median rotational period of the largest asteroids." Pausing, he continued "There are a large number of rumors on record sir, and legends which describe ancient troves of weapons, treasures, and artifacts that are hidden within the asteroids, although no one has yet brought forth physical proof."

The Viceroy nodded his head, and turned back to the viewing port of the Darkflame, which had just entered the system. Calmly, his Protocal Droid handed him a small packet, containing the Fleet Manifest of the Command Fleet, which would carry out 'Project Phantom Haven'.

Myn looked out the viewport of the flagship of the Trade Federation, the Darkflame. The Viceroy had requested him to come here, onboard his ship. He assumed that the Viceroy had an offer to make to him. He couldn't wait for it to be voiced, as he had searched for a long time for someone to help hi start a mining company of Garos IV. Now it seemed as if the waiting was over. The Viceroy ahd brought him here, to the Mestra System, which was covered by the Mestra Astroid Belt. The astroids were supposedly full of durelium, the ore used in hyperdrives. Most likely the offer would say that the Trade Federation would help him start the company, and in return he would help them mine the astroids, resseaving a portion of the ore mined. Also he woudl most likely have to provide them with a supply of Hibridium, the ore foudn on Garos IV. He had no problem with this agreement, if it happened. He would quickly move on to other areas, mining where other people had failed. Nkklon, the planet of the scorching hot sun. He would have to build shield ships and then invent a machine to keep the mining base on the night side of the planet. Aridus, the planet with the annoying atmosphere. He would have to invent a machine to get signals through the atmosphere to mining crews, without hurting the aliens living there. The planning would take a while, but the payoff would be great. He would create a vast mining comany, giving everyone in the galaxy the minerals they wanted, that would be hard to come by if it wasn't for him. A deal would have to be made with the Mon Calamari Republic for mining rights on Kessel. Savradoc would be seeing some action as well, the andris there wouldn't go to waste waiting for soemone to mine it. Roonstones would to extracted from Roon, once he got ships there that dangerous area. Ambria would provide a large amount of jewels for him to sell. Soon everyone in the galaxy would know the name of Winger Mining Corporation as the best corporation to buy your minerals and many other items from. They would ahve discoutn prices, and a large defense fleet for the miners. He wouldn't get involved in the galactic politics, that would just get his miners killed. Treaties would be made with many of them, even if it was only a business deal for his products. Yes everything would be good for his coporation.

Myn watched as the Viceroy argued with some officer about something. Once the discussion was finished he walked over to stand beside the Viceroy, waiting for the words that woudl surely come.

As the Viceroy finished speaking, he turned to the figure that was being lead onto the Command bridge of the Darkflame by his personal protocal droid, TK-421. With a brigh tsmile smeared across his face, he spotted a man he had longed to meet, Myn Winger. Taking a few steps toward him, the Viceroy extended his hand as he began to speak.

"Mister Myn Winger, I presume. Welcome aboard my Ship." he said casually, but did not allow the man time to reply. as the Viceroy started walking toward the large viewing ports of the ship, motioning for Myn to follow him.

Only a few hundred meters away streached the Mestra Asteroid Field, one of the largest Asteroid fields in the Galaxy, dominating an entire Star System.

"This, my good man, will be our haven. A haven for the development of the Winger Mining Corporation. As you know, I have pulled some strings to get the Trade Federation to fund this project entirely, so that all funds will be taken care of on behalf of the Winger Mining Corporation as a gesture of good will."

He paused for a moment, looking at the man before looking back out over the Asteroid field and continuing.

"In return for our generousity, we'd like you to mine the Durelium Ore found within these Asteroids, since you are one of the top mining corporations in the Galaxy."

The Viceroy once again looked at Myn, before TK-421 approached them, holding in her hand a silver tray with two tall wine glasses filled with a tangy red substance. Nelix took his up, and smiled.

"I'd like to propose a toast. To this most historical day when the Winger Mining Corporation, and the Trade Federation come together as friends to take on this magnificent feat."

"I would be happy to agree to that toast, but first I think it would be better to clarafy a few points, such as since we are mining to ore, do we receive any, or do we have to buy it through the channels that other corporations would have to. And if we did receive some and a bit to much, if we are allowed to sell it, or if that would be viewed as a rival corporation. And we need to make a deal about how much Hibridium Ore I will ship to you, since you are sure to want it, to power any cloaking shields you might have. I think it would be best if we have the deal outlined, before moving on to other stages, such as proposing toasts of things that ahve yet to happen. Furthermore since I will be expanding, it would be better if we both agree on the terms, because I ahve my eye set on soem systems, with ore that you are sure to want, such as Nkklon, and Alzoc III. And my scouting ships assure me that they will find planets with valuable minerals on them soon. Shouldn't we make a long term agreement, about me shipping materials to you? And what about defenses and transportation. Another corporation has promised to ship my products across the galaxy, perhaps you would like to have your products shipped by them as well?"

"Who is this corporation?"

"Damorian Manufacturing Corporaton, and they will also be supplying me with ships, inexchange for my materials."

"I have had a few dealings with them. Recently they sold me six Imperial Mark Three Star Destroyers, four heavily modified Corellian Corvettes and a Dreadnaught Heavy Cruiser."

"Really? I had not heard of those deals, but they have promised me ships similar to those, but in different quantities. Perhaps if you called Mr Scottie Gill here, we could all make a corporation agreement, inexchange for numerous things?"

Myn glanced out the viewport, gazing at the astroids full of Durelium Ore, products which woudl soon be his to mine.

The Viceroy paused for a moment to listen to the rather long, and thought out plan that Myn had developed, and it was indeed a glorious plan. The Winger Mining Corporation would mine this supply of Durelium, The Trade Federation would sell it, and the Damorian Corporation would export it, as the Trade Federation's Merchant fleet's were still too small to go Galaxy-Wide.

"Brilliance. Absolute Brilliance." the Viceroy started as he placed his hand on the sholder of the man standing before him. The Viceroy stood quite a bit taller than the Human, as Neimodian men tended to be anywhere from six to seven feet tall, depending on how they developed.

"The Trade Federation would be happy to have Mister Gill meet with us here." he said as he turned to his communications officer, as an invitation was dispatched to the Damorian Corp's homeworld, extending the invitation to Scottie.

"As you know, the Trade Federation, while one of the wealthiest factions in the Galaxy, has the ability to fund these massive mining operations. We would be happy to have an exclusive contract with the Trade Federation, in which you mine our resources, and we sell them. In return, the Trade Federation will offer protection of your mining stations, funding for most of these mining operations, as well as a large quantity of the minerals we mine. As for selling these minerals, I'd prefer that you not as the Council of the Confederacy of Independant Systems wouldn't like it, however you could stockpile your resources, and, in a time of need, sell them to allied factions, or directly to the Trade Federation."

The Viceroy paused to take a sip of his drink, before he continued.

"As for Mister Gill, we will discuss a simular contract with him, when he arrives..."

Scottie listened to the message which had just arrived direct from the Mestra System. It seemed Myn Winger, head fo the Winger Mining Corporation, a customer of Damorian Manufacturing Corporation and Nelix Galdra, the Viceroy and head of the Trade Federation, also a customer of Damorian Manufacturign Corporation, were both int eh Mestra System, meeting together to discuss an alliance and they wished for him to join them, and join in on the negotiations. Most likely they wished for his impressive shipping fleet to transport they're materials across the galaxy for them. The only problem was that it would take him a while to get to the Mestra System. The ships Damorian Manufacturing Corporation ordered that were ready would have to be prepared and crewed. His personal flagship would need to be notified and brought down to the surface. At least one of the modified YT-1300s would need to be brought, to be used as a shuttle, if nothing else. Then the whole Damorian Manufacturing Corporation's Financial Advisory Staff would need to be notified and brought along. Also the hyperspace travel to the Mestra System wasn't the shortest in the galaxy, and would take a while. But, if he wanted to do it the fast way, he coudl get one of the Yt-1300s prepared, to be used as his personal ship, he could leave for the Mestra System by himself, get the ships for the Winger Mining Corporation prepared, and talk to the Financial Advisory Staff over a Holonet communication. Tht would would be fastest and only take an hour. He quickly reached for his comlink.

"Get one of the Yt-1300s prepared and ready. Get it flown to my office as soon as it's ready. Prep the new ships for Winger Mining Corporation and send them to the Mestra System after me. Then notify the Financial Advisory Staff to get to a conference room and wait for a Holonet communication from me in about about an hour and a half, if the negotiations go smoothly."

"Yes sir. May I ask waht is important in the Mestra System?"

"Only one of the few sites of Durelium Ore known to the galaxy. And the head of Winger Mining Corporationa dn The Trade Federation, two of oru best customers and the suppliers of two rare ores,a nd most likely soon more then two. The two roes woudl be Hibridium and Durelium. Also the chance for large profits for us and more jobs for our citizens, since our shipping fleet will most likely soon be active at all times, shipping Durelium and Hibridium Ore."

"Oh." The officer glanced down at hsi datapad. "Your t-1300 is preped and is flyign to your building now. The advisory staff was notified and are att he conference room. The other ships will be preped in twenty minutes and at the Mestra System in about an hour and fourty minutes."

"Excellent work. Send a message to the Mestra System sayign I'm coming."

"Yes sir."

With the message sent Scottie ran up to the roof, where the landing pad was located. He cran up the landing ramp and intot he cockpit. The pilot, seeing him coming, climbed intot he co-pilot seat as Scottie sat down into the pilot seat. He checked that every system was a go and then asked for clearence.

"YT-1300 you have clearence. Launch when ready. And have a good trip Mr Gill."

"Thank you Control."

The YT-1300 blasted off towards the Mestra System, and two people who would be sure to order his services...

Myn listened to the Viceroy lay out his plan. It was an excellent paln, but again in a few areas it was lacking. All that the Trade Federation would receive was the Winger Mining Corporation Mining their Durelium Ore in the Mestra System, but Myn had contacts which told him the Trade Federation had ships in the Tava Yagen System, most likely there to discourage other corporations from securign mingin rights in that System. Also the Trade Federation would most likely try to secure other planets with valuable minerals on them. And Myn wanted to speakw ith him about the Hibridium Ore he would be ming and shipping accross the galaxy. The Trade Federation would surely want to secure a large shipment of it, per standard galactic month.

"A good plan, but it still needs soem modifications. We would be delighted for you to par expansion costs and in return we woudl gladly mine the Durelium Ore and receive suffeciant products in return, but what if you take another planet or system with valuable ore in it? Would you want the Winger Mining Corporation to mine them for you as well? And what if we needed some of the ore? What about my supply of Hibridium Ore? Surely you want some of it? And what if we expand to other planets as well? You would want some of that ore as well. My proposition is that the Winger Mining Corporation mines all the ores and minerals that is found on Trade Federation worlds or Winger Mining Corporation worlds. We each send each other a supply of our ores to at least last each other for each standard galactic month. Damorian Manufacturing Corporation, will transport our ores accross the galaxy. The will also make limited ship building contracts with us, in return for our ores. The part with Damorian Manufacturing Corporation would of course need to be talked over with Scottie once he gets here."

"I have news about him. Twenty minutes ago a message came in saying that he had just left at that point. My my calculatiosn he should be here in about fourty minutes."

"Excellent. What do you think of my plan?"

Myn took a sip out of his drink, waiting for the response.

OOC:We have 2 968 words at the end of this post.

Taken from Everything is a War: The Mighty Bacta Squabble, by Viryn Quell

Fast forward a few years, and history replays itself like Gash Jiren's speaches on his government-funded networks. The Rogue Empire decided to release a list of those recieving tibanna gas, conveniently blacklisting anyone who hasn't taken our good friend Mr. Fearsons out for an icecream cone. Most notably, most unsuprisingly, and perhaps most devastatingly, the New Order is featured on this list of factions who will no longer recieve their reccomended daily intake of tibanna...

But, really, the fault can't lie with them. After all, no one could have anticipated that earning the enmity of the largest distributor of bacta while choosing not to negotiate any deals regarding the precious, as the ever-eloquent Gash Jiren put it, "laser fuel". No, the fault lies with Chadd Fearsons, who has once again turned a seemingly-benign entity into an instrument of his conquest.

Nevermind the fact that tibanna drives the galaxy's economy, or that even Palpatine did not regulate tibanna flow in such a way. The mere idea that Fearsons -- who is known for attempting to buy the faithfulness of Imperial loyalists while also attempting to do the same with Republicans and rebels by supporting the rebellions morals -- would dare restrict such a thing to buy himself yet more leverage in his constant quest for power. Once again, he has taken the high moral ground, and is defending it with all the stoicism and fortitide with which Emperor Palpatine resisted the Dark Side...

I'm not naiive enough not to understand free market economics, but I'd wager that Chadd Fearsons doesn't. This isn't free market economics -- it's politics and war, played out on the stage made of tibanna gas. And this isn't a comedy.

Because the only ones who take a hit, in all this bickering and spiting and gnashing of teeth, are the people. The actual economy, and not the people looking to exploit it to expand their territory wider than the stretch of the imagination it takes to see a Death Star as a negotiations room.

And once again, we are trod upon for fun and profit.

"And here, we find it happening again. The Trade Federation, for fun or profit, cutting off essential supplies. Why? To meet their own selfish ends, no doubt.
The Trade Federation cares not for the lives of the billions of innocents who will be stranded on the ground when the New Order shows up, their hyperdrives shot and worthless.
They don't care that in the next three months, if past estimates are worth anything, 612 000 000 innocent men, woman, and children will be raped and tortured by the Empire, all in the name of peace. And stopping terrorism. The Trade Federation does not care that the Galactic Defence Initiative has been their strongest supporter since the rebirth. They do not care that their actions cause the galaxy's only remaining loyal superpower to falter. They do not care that their actions doom the galaxy to another dark age.
For fun or profit, the Trade Federation has turned against the galaxy."

<hr>

Mestra System

The great blue/black hull of the mamoth Super Star Destroyer Blaze of Glory pushed across space, her angular prow seemingly cutting apart the stars as she passed. The ship was often referred to as a dagger, for that was what her shape most resembled. And, in a sense, she was a dagger. A mamoth knife, cutting her way through space, ready to be plucked up and defend the freedoms of the galaxy enjoyed.

Or, once enjoyed. Since the fall of the Empire nearly three decades ago the New Republic had shown the galaxy peace and prosperity. But the Republic was corrupt, faltering, ended. And a new enemy had arisen. The Galactic Empire, reborn under Fleet Commander Zell, took the galaxy by storm. Those that stood in their way were crushed dispassionatly. Any who denied the Empire's road to power was destroyed without mercy. The New Order took back the reigns of power.

And so the galaxy came to be their pawns. Pawns, in a great game of galactic chess. But, like a game of chess, pawns are always the first to be sacraficed. The first, though certainly not the last, was to be the Galactic Defence Initiative.

Since the first campains, the GDI had stood as the only barrier between the light, and total blackness. And that barrier was faltering. But maybe, just maybe, they could keep back the darkness long enough to prevent catastrophy. And whether or not they could, they would die trying.

On the bridge of the great Star Destroyer Blaze of Glory, Admiral Fo'din watched as the Mestra system grew nearer. This system, a planet destoyed untold eons ago in a galactic tragedy, was now the prime source of Durbelium Ore in the galaxy.

And the Trade Federation had taken that fact and turned it against the galaxy for their own profit.

"General, sir. We have entered Mestra proper. Our scopes show several vessels in the system, all are registered to the Trade Federation."

The General nodded. No surprise there. The Trade Federation had claimed this system their own. A fleet was not to be unexpected.

"Time to detection?" Travelling on purely kinetic energy and manouvering thrusters, a fleet of Star Destroyers could remain hidden in space for a great deal of time. Especcially compared to the Trade Federation Star Destroyers, each with a mamoth trial of ion eflux issuing from what were evidently hot engines.

"Six minutes, give or take." Fo'din smiled.
"Arm all weapons. Shields up. All systems to combat readiness. Block all communications from the Mestra system and engage the sublight drives. The rest of the fleet is to do likewise. All ships to prepare for combat."

The orders were carried out with the usual effiecncy. Within seconds the ships were ready to fight. Even now, the General knew, the ships would be appearing on Trade Federation sensors.

"Raise the Abolisher fields." The deadly fields came up, effectively trapping the enemy ships in the system. Unless, of course, they wished to make the jump and be shredded. It would serve them right, too, Fo'din thought. But then, looking at the shapes of those ships, so close to his own...

Those warships had once belonged to the Galactic Defence Initiative. They had been traded for certain assets that the GDI wished to aquire. But the Trade Federation had never completed the deal. And those ships, along with this system, would have to be siezed.

"All systems are go, sir. The enemy fleet is trapped. All communications are blocked, save for in-system coms between ships. Maximum range of six kilometres on those, by the way."

"Excellent, Major. Once we are within range, open a communications to the Trade Federation leader."

"As ordered."

The fleet moved forward.

<font size=-2>(OOC: The above post starts directly after this post. I will make another post following this post, as well, and that will be what happens after the above GDI post.)</font size=-2>

"I will gladly accept your invitation, Mr. Winger."

With that, the Trade Federation ships left the system to meet Scottie Gill's ship.

The Mining ships, registered to Winger Mining Corporation eased across the system, seemingly unaware of the projected danger of the approaching Galactic Death Initiative ships, until red sensors started alarming.

"We've got a situation here, sir." a young miner said as he swiveled his chair around to the man in command of the largest mining ship in the sector."

"What is it?" the man replied in a seemingly confused tone.

"Galactic Defense Initiative ships have entered the system. Sensors show that they have severed all communications, and have hailed our ship."

The man, a human of about fifty nodded his head.

"Open the channel."

As the young man did, the chief miner leaned over a small communications microphone, and began to speak, having no up-to-date communications output aboard the vessel.

"This is the Winger Mining Corporation Chief Mining Operations Vessel. You hailed us?"