An eerie silence had settled over the command center as the Viceroy, hovering inches above the cold metallic floor stood before them, his green-tinted hands meeting at the fingertips creating what appeared to be a pyramid of flesh. Sitting around a large metallic table sat Trenian Rudic, an esteemed Trade Federation Senator, and exceptionally wealthy aristocrat. Other members of the Trade Federation congregation were Gwatch Runecourt, the Trade Federation's Chief Propaganda Specialist, Tobal Hadul, Chief Science Officer of Leviathan Corporate Industries, and several other top commanders, senators, and aristocrats.

"Not only have we secured an Alliance with the Ancient Sith Empire," Nelix started, "But we have also secured a stronger Alliance with the New Order, whom you all know has helped The Trade Federation equally as much as we have helped them."

Trenian sat up slowly, a keen smile on his face. "All of this is very interesting, Viceroy. But tell me, what's in it for the Senators, and Aristocrats if this motion to bring Hirsi under the control of the Confederacy of Independant Systems passes?"

The Viceroy nodded as he floated back from the Table, his powers as a Sith Lord becoming more prominent after each passing day.

"If the Trade Federation secures this key source of the Strategic Resource known as Rudic, then we will not only have increased our profit margin by at least twenty five percent, we will have more than doubled your current salary, Senator."

Trenian's face shifted from questioning to satisfied as he sat back, folding his arms over his slightly obease stomach. "All is well then, Viceroy. You may continue."

Nelix nodded his head as he took a seat, gracefully placing his arms over the smooth black texture of the chair's arms. "Hirsi will not only come under the control of the Trade Federation, but it's sources of Rudic will be free to export to our benifit. Mister Tobal, if you would do the honors of telling us what Rudic is used for, I'm sure that our comrads will change their minds, and vote in our favor."

Tobal nodded his head, standing from his chair as the billowing white overcoat, common in Scientists, followed him to a large Holonet viewing board. As the board came to life, and Tobal began to speak, a silver Protocal Droid slowly waddled her way around the table, serving refreshments, and drinks to the party.

"Gentlemen, as you already know, Rudic is a key Strategic Resource found only on the planet Hirsi. It is a crystalline mineral used in Sensor Devices on not only Capital Class vessels, but Freighters, and even personnal transport craft. Once found in abundance, Rudic has become quite rare on the planet, and is found in small waterborne pieces, and deep mines. As some of you more educated gentlemen might know, Rudic, and Hirsi have long, and detailed histories, dating back to the times of the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire, which later formed the New Republic we know today. The native Qwohog once allowed the Alliance to establish a mining base on Hirsi, from which they could mine the mineral, however as history shows, the Empire caught wind of the establishment, and the Availability of Rudic on the Planet, and invaded it, plundering the vast resource, which is why it has become so rare."

"Several Military probes on the planet indicate that the natives would be willing to cooperate with the Trade Federation in the event of an annexation, and sources show that Rudic is once again found in abundance in some parts of the planet. Up until now, a small mining company has made a killing off of these supplies of Rudic, and the time has come for the Trade Federation to... pursuade these miners to sell there equipment for a generous price."

The Viceroy nodded his head as Tobal concluded his speach, and once again Nelix stood.

"Well Gentlemen, there you have it. Rudic will not only increase our overall income, but it will ensure that we have something to offer our allies.... something that they can use. Up until now, the Trade Federation has maintained it's Economic superiority by controlling the majority of resources in the Galaxy.... but those times are over. New, stronger companies are rising to take the places of old, and a continued threat to the Trade Federation's superiority remains an issue. I ask all of you to think about that when you vote."

As the Viceroy concluded his subspeach, he slowly floated to the sidelines as several senators stood, shaking there heads as an all out dispute broke out among the Confederate Senators. The Confederacy of Independant Systems had become a neusance. A Neusance that the Viceroy fully intended on dealing with, when the time came. He despised the idea of waiting for greedy senators to make up there minds to benifit there pocket books, and financial futures. The time had come to preserve the Trade Federation's future in the Galaxy.

As he stood, whipping the sweat from his Neimoidian brow, Gwatch Runecourt, a trusted assistant to the Viceroy slowly slithered his way toward him, a devilish grin on his face.

"It's done, Viceroy. Several of the Senators have accepted our bribe, and will vote in favor of the Motion. According to our calculations, this will bring the motion to a pass, with the Trade Federation gaining a four vote lead over the Confederacy's motion to postpone the move on Hirsi."

The Viceroy nodded his head. "Very good, Mister Runecourt..." he started as he slowly pulled a small, vinal bag from within the debts of his black billowing cloak. "You serve your master well...." he continued as he slowly set the bag of Neimoidian currency in his hand, turning to step back out onto the floor.

"Gentlemen, I ask you at this time to cast your vote."

Tobal stood in his shuttle, The Spike, and waited for the other passengers to finish getting ready. He sighed, military men, always so slow in preparing for a scientific expedition.
As he waited for his escort, he mentally reviewed his objectives.

Find a reliable source of Rudic.

A simple mission.
Perhaps.

Rudic had once been a pleneiful resource. But strip harvesting was known to … kill a supply. His lips curled slightly in distain. He had no love for the fanatic resource lovers that seemed to spawn out of the very ground, but he did believe in preserving natural resources.
At least, until one could successfully synthesize the required resource.

"Ready Captain Tobal"

Ready indeed. Certainly they were ready. Ready like automons, the spring would tight. Ready to kill for a cause they knew nothing about. Ready, always ready. But if he must…

"Prepare for entry. Breath masks on… and they stay on until I say so."

"Yes sir!"

The shuttle door opened with a whoosh, and surprisingly no steam erupted from pressurized jets. Tobal hated that; it was simply an effect to impress people.
The door extended all the way to the ground, and rested upon the rocky surface.
Yet no one came out.

"Deactivate deflector screen captain, readings all show normal."

"Yes Sir!"

The deflector screen powered down, and the small party of five exited. Tobal led the way, his bio-metric scanner scanning for the very substance that powered it. Rudic. It took only seconds to find a source. Small shards lay about everywhere.

"It seems we have set down in the middle of an old processing plant."

"Captain," Tobal waved the man over. "Have one of your men begin to collect samples of the Rudic shards. They will come in handy later on."

"Sir… my men are trained soldiers… not a scientists …"

"Go on Captain" Tobals voice dripped contempt.

"Not … sample collectors…"

"Protest noted Captain, and overruled."

"Yes sir…"

Tobal continued his perimeter walk, noting where the borders of the old plant had once been. His scanner collected all the data, saving it automatically. His scanner was programmed to alert him of two things. Any sort of hidden passage way, and Rudic. In under thirty seconds, both alarms had gone off more than once.

"Captain" Tobal waved to the man. "Come here"

The man walked over, flanked by two of his men.

"Captain, prepare for some spelunking. We're going in."

The air all around them was clammy, and warm. Tobal stood in the lead, his scanner pointing the way. Lichen was on the walls, the floor, and the rock spires. His scanner said down. So down they went.

"Watch your step. It's slick"

Watch your own step Tobal, he thought to himself. He clambered for a grasp on the ground, and finally found it. Apparently the floor of the cave slanted down and a significant angle. Almost a 10 degree difference from the previous floor they had been walking on. Tobal pulled out a light, and shined it ahead. The inky blackness swallowed the measly beam, and he learned nothing from the effort.

The small Party proceeded ahead, stepping carefully, and desperately avoiding a tumble.

boop

The scanner went off. A large chunk, or vein of Rudic was somewhere close. Tobal once again pulled out his light, and looked to the left. The constricting walls of the tunnel they had moved into were gone, and there on the ground was a large rock.

"Rudic. Hopefully there is more ahead."

One of the guards in the back spoke up. "Should I call ahead for someone to come and tak………… WOAH!… LOOK OUT….

There was a crashing sound, much like a body hitting the ground. Confusion broke out, and something hit Tobal in the back of his knees. He fell backward, landing on something large and soft. And it was going down. The Slick Lichen only increased his speed, and he and his vehicle proceeded down the tunnel at an ever more dangerous speed.

Tobal ventured a glance back, and learned that he was riding upon the top of a heap of fallen men.

thud

An unconscious Tobal now lay upon the pile, and a large outcrop of rock faded into the distance.