The world of Aquilaris glistned quietly in the morning sunlight as a figure sat quietly on a veranda at a table with only four places to sit. It had been a long time since they had met like this, but it was often necessary nowadays. The Genoharadan had become a ghost of itself, ruined thousands of years back by some unknown Jedi. Since then, the group had faded into the shadows and quietly evolved more into a group determined to manipulate politics than to simply preserve the Republic as Xim the Despot had intended for them. The latest group of leaders broke the number one rule of the old Genoharadan, they all knew one another.

Augustus Mond had been an assassin for many years in the often ignored Outer Rim territories that were often ignored by the other governments, including the isolationist Black Dragon Empire that swallowed a piece of the Outer Rim. BDE had become a concern for the Genoharadan, but its reach into that place was impossible currently. They were too weak and other large governments were more concerning. The Azguard dominated Coaltion and the conquest bloated Empire both drew the gaze of the weakened Genoharadan. Augustus though had stayed often in the free systems, getting assignments to kill or manipulated specific local politicians and rulers. He had become very good at his job and so he was surprised one day when his employer contacted him and informed him of just what Augustus had been serving for so long. This information, however was only given on his employer death bed as the man had become very old and withered, surrendering his position as a Genoharadan leader to Augustus.

With the title came a huge new flow of information and resourses, including the secret history of the mysterious group. The first big problem Augustus had seen was the fact the leadership was so mysterious, even to itself, leaving openings for opportunistic fools to kill the others and ruin the ideals of the organization. So Augustus set about hunting down the location of each leader and bringing them together to form the new Genoharadan, turning the four person leadership into an interconnected and organized oligarchy. So now the Genoharadan met, the group technically made up of only four members, each with their own organization and techniques of manipulation. And now the time had come for the quiet little group to begin mobilizing to form a front against all these other insane governments.

"Sir, the other's have arrived, would you wish for me to show them in?" asked Shado, Augustus' modified black 3P0 class protocol droid.

"Yes," Augustus replied, calmly reaching for his cup of stim tea on the table and taking a drink from it as the droid walked off to show in the other members of the Genoharadan.

An old lambda class shuttle landed down onto the ground, soon the ramp came down revealing two figures wearing oversized robes and hoods over their heads, and they both had some sort of mask before their mouths. Only the masks and eyes showed from the hood’s shadows, the first one`s that walked in front had a different mask than the second one. The second one had a smoother lined mask than the crude version of the other, they both looked around and the first one turned to the second beginning to move his hands in an odd manner that was unrecognizable to most races in the galaxy, not to mention the odd fact that they had six fingers in their hands.

Are you sure this isn’t a trap of some sort? If the three others will truly be here, they all or one might try to kill the others all tough there is no true power yet among you four Genoharadan, but someone might want to claim the Genoharadan leading place, if they have some hidden assets. Still it all seems too gloomy here.

The second hmphed and made a slash like move with his hand, he looked at the other and then shook his head before beginning to move his hands to an answer.

I know you have your suspicions, but I’d rather take this risk than stay as a petty merchant for the rest of my life without no true power all tough my visions seem strange to you they are not to be questioned. Besides if they would try to kill me then you would of course step in to protect me since you are efficient enough in killing so I doubt that protecting me is too difficult fr you against assassins or some thugs. Ah, a droid they are expecting us...

The two figures proceeded forwards towards the droid, the second clearly the master was named as Yardo, he was a son of a merchant from Yablari, an anomid. The anomids were pale-skinned humanoids with grey hair and silver-blue eyes; they were among the galaxy's wealthiest societies, thanks to their natural technical aptitude. Anomids had been part of the Galactic Republic, and were seen throughout the populated galaxy as technicians, explorers, or tourists. Their masks reflected their social status, family origin, or profession in their society. Yardo`s mask was customized to have a smooth lines, it was a dark purple with some parts in golden colour, the others whom was Yardo`s faithful servant, bodyguard, spy and assassin had a crude mask with grey colour. Yardo had made a good success in business throughout the galaxy thanks to the anomid technology, which was actually what he tended to sell. Funny enough most Anomid`s were pacifist, Yardo surely was and he always solved situations by negotiating, but his bodyguard was another case.

His bodyguard represented a younger generation that had been slightly more radical, Yardo thought that violence wouldn’t do any harm really when negotiations failed, but he liked to have others do his dirty work for him. He was a traditional yet in many ways a radical, he would take every opportunity he could to make money and he was actually involved in technology spying. He hired spies to steal technologies, and then he sold them to the highest bidder making money besides his own trade. They stepped before the droid; it seemed to be having been waiting for a while there.

"Good day there sir, I am here to show to the meeting"

"Lead on.."

Yardo said trough his mask that worked as a vocalize mask to communicate with other species since he didn’t believe that the droid had been programmed to understand the six finger hand language of the anomids. The droid turned and the anomids followed it, they looked around slightly nervously, but weren’t jumpy all tough they thought that a certain level of caution should be held up. The droid stopped before a door, the door opened showing a room with a table and chair around it. The anomids stepped in and stopped to look around; there was a man in the room whom was waiting for them. Yardo signalled to his bodyguard to look around and be on his guard, and then Yardo examined the man for a while until he threw his hood down revealing his face. He stepped forwards and sat down by the table.

"I suppose I am the first one here and that you are the one that arranged this meeting?"

Augustus Mond nodded and calmly stood up, revealing his finely tailored black suit. He examined the anomid rather quietly, already remembering what he looked like from information gathered by his own spies. His gaze moved to the apparent bodyguard but then shifted away as Shado stood calmly in the background, watching the bodyguard much more closely than Augustus did. Shado looked like a normal protocol droid but he was equipped with enough weaponry to take out just about anything. For this reason, Shado was always with Augustus, acting as his bodyguard, translator, and sometimes assassin. Augustus shifted his gaze back to the anomid and smiled.

"That is correct, Mister Yardo, I am the one who called this meeting."

A low tone sounded and Shado disappeared for several moments before leading in two more beings. One of them was a muscular, four armed Codru, dressed in a modified sleeveless shirt. His name was Tokka and was head of the Tokka Cartel, a known transport and smuggling group that operated in the free Outer Rim territories, providing the mean for some worlds to stay connected with the rest of the known galaxy. The other being was a Bothan female named Minra Fey'Kre, her eyes were a rich cold color and her fur a deep cream color. Her choice of attire was a deep red vest over a blue shirt and blue pants along with black boots. Her gaze was calm, but cold as she ran a small crime syndicate known as Venom. Both of them looked weary, also obviously worried this was some kind of trap.

"Please, all of you sit down, I assure you, there are no men hiding in the shadows waiting to kill you, no poisons, no weapons. All there is here is what each of you have brought with you. However, Mister Yardo, if your bodyguard could wait outside, this only involves the Genoharadan itself."

Augustus gave a small wave to Shado and the protocol droid turned and walked away to hide himself at a doorway in case one of the other members decided to be opporunistic. He then took his own seat and took a sip from his stim tea. Tokka moved and sat down first, crossing his thick powerful arms across his torso, waiting with Augustus for the others to join them.

Yardo examined the others quietly and then nodded as Augustus suggested Yardo to sending his bodyguard away, this man nor the others seemed stupid enough to try anything besides they all could benefit from this. They had everything to gain and nothing to lose so far, Yardo turned to his bodyguard Zelkar beginning to use their language.

Zelkar wait outside, keep guard, but if you hear any sounds or suspecting check it out and be ready to kill, if I call for help

Zelkar nodded and left the room, as the door closed Yardo turned around and sat down in the chair. He looked at the three others as he straightened his robes while sitting, everyone probably had a every different background because Yardo would have learned about their backgrounds well enough, if they had been opposing him on the market or been his targets. Yardo brushed his long grey hair back and took a thought before continuing to talk to the three.

"We all have our source income and connections, we are here of course to bring true power to us, but... the question remains where will we start this? You seem to have a plan ready or did you just want us to gather here how to do it?"

Yardo said pointing this to Augustus, but meanwhile Zelkar stood behind the door at guard. He didn`t like the dealing about this meeting all tough there had not been any trouble yet since it would have come from the others, if there had been any. Zelkar heard something, his eyes went around the hallway and he pulled out his blaster. He threw his hood off to add his vision to see better on his sides as he proceeded down the hallway, he looked around quietly, but there was nothing there and no one there. Zelkar shrugged slightly and walked back on his post, but as he had turned a dark figure had sneaked past him into the other hallway.

Augutus nodded slightly and reached across the table, pressing a button that trigger panels in the middle of the table to slide away, revealing a holoprojector. The projector flickered to life and the image of the galaxy appeared with colored regions representing the current major governmental powers in the galaxy. Augutus looke around the table, examining each members of the Genoharadan for the first time in person. Augustus had more than succeeded in getting information on all of them beforehand, even images and other items, primarily personal, which could be used to eliminate them if they chose not to go along with his plan and rebuild the power of the Genoharadan.

"My fellow members, as you all know the most physically influential force in the galaxy is government. Why else would there be a Galatic Empire or that farce of a democracy called the Coalition? There is one point of space that all of these governments, including the Black Dragon Empire have more or less left to survive on their own."

Augustus pressed another button and the galaxy map zoomed in on the Outer Rim regions, a huge empty swath of unoccupied territory minus the area occupied by the fanatical Black Dragon Empire.

"The Outer Rim, no one gives a damn about it, no one wants it, they're all too busy spilling eachother's blood over current territorial gains. As such, we now have the opportunity to bring forth a new government in this region, starting with Aquilaris here. The Prime Minister of Aquilaris is a very influential and charismatic man, one we could use to begin uniting the Outer Rim under its own government. My proposal is to use what little assets we have currently to influence a unifcation movement across the Outer Rim, create a desire for the people to defend themselves against the conquest bloated Empire or the self-rightious Coalition or even the insanely fanatical Black Dragon Empire. We can create a confederation of worlds, a area of space truly governed, at least in the eyes of the people, by a democracy."

Augustus presses another button, highlighting specific territories, ones that only the eyes of the Genoharadan now could see as he laid out his plane for unification.

"Obviously, we must remain behind the scenes to keep the government in check and running as the Genoharadan sees fit, but if we can gain enough worlds, we could turn this Confederacy into a Republic. Our purpose will then have returned and Xim the Despot will not have created our group without reason. This will take a great tast and some time, but I believe that we can do this, that a new government can be born free of the others, except perhaps in trade," Augustus said with a small nod towards Yardo and Tokka.

"And what if we fail?" Minra Fey'Kre demanded calmly as she looked across the table at Augustus.

"Who cares if we fail, I think this is worth the risk," Tokka replied before Augusts could say anything.

"I wasn't asking you, you four armed brute, I'm asking the human."

"What did you call me?!" Tokka snarled, standing up, his hulking mass looking much more intimidating now that he was angry.

"You heard me, you overgrown wolfman," Minra replied coldly.

"Enough!"

Both stopped and looked over at Augustus who was now standing there, looking very angry. He looked over at Tokka who seemed to suddenly go from angry brute to tamed animal as he made an apologetic motion only a Codru-Ji could do with their four arms and sat down. Minra also looked at Augustus as Yardo sat aside quietly observing this.

"This is NOT what the Genoharadan exists for! If we start infighting, we will be no better than damn assassins and conspirators! We have the chance here to return to power and bring something to the galaxy and you two are already tearing at eachother?" Augustus slammed his fist on the table.

"The only one here even seeming to care to show civilitiy is Yardo, why not take a page out of our anomid member's book and control yourselves!"

Minra and Augustus held one another's gaze for several moments, almost seemingly a battle of wills before she looked away at them map. Augustus then sighed and sat back down at the table.

"As an answer to your question, Minra, it is a risk we must take. The Genoharadan has sat on the backburner for too long, watching the other governments run around unchecked. We must do this, if anything to protect our interests as well as the people of the Outer Rim. So, I ask you, are you with me? Are you going to held resurrect the real power of the Genoharadan?"

Augustus looked around the table again at the other three members, waiting for an answer.

Yardo himself had carefully stayed out of the imperial, coalition and the black dragon empire influence. He tended to do trade in free worlds and rarely approached or even entered the three spaces; he didn’t want to get caught for anything, if someone had picked up his trail trough some of his spies. It was most amusing to see the two others act like children about this issue as, if they had to fight, which was actually what Yardo began to fear the most. These two seemed more aggressive than Augustus, he was calm and in control without letting any feelings rise up except when he expressed his thoughts to the two other members. Yardo would keep an eye on these two, but wouldn’t mistake to trust Augustus too much all tough he seemed the most rational person in the room after Yardo himself.

Truly his plan had a good basis and his words had truth in them, many outer rim planets were left alone most of the great factions tended to be around the core and there were many planets that no one touched. There might be problems with funding, but with them four united and their resources together they would find what they would need. Every single power needed an army, this would prove as the most difficult part perhaps, but he suspected that Augustus had thought of this and Yardo could present some of his stolen technologies all tough many were in the making still. If they all took this risk unity would be their greatest asset and salvation, if they would run into trouble, but going for each others throats would be their demise. Yardo tapped his six fingers against the table slightly and then looked at them all.

"I agree with him, violence amongst ourselves nor in our business solves nothing and I suggest violence to be our last option in creating this confederation."

"So says a weak pacifist..." grunted Tokka as a protest to Yardo`s comment into, which Yardo coughed.

"Yes I am physically weak and yes I am a pacifist like most of my race, but if we present this confederation as a non aggressive, but yet holding enough military might to repel any threats towards it we have created a strong basis for this puppet confederation. Any blood spilled would stay in the confederations inhabitants minds; they could revolt, create riots or begin some sort of freedom fighter group. When we have our own backs covered with happy and supportive inhabitants there will be more people to serve the military. What comes to the military we must build one fast and it should be quickly capable to defend the confederacy. Good planning will create a strong basis for our cause that no one will know of course..."

Yardo finished and crossed his hands on the table and looked at Augustus.

"I am in with these terms and I believe that you agree with my terms, then I of course hope that you two listen to some sense as you have seemed to be incapable of doing so far. No offence…"

Yardo added with a slight smile that his mask covered.

There was a loud sound and the door burst open, Yardo's bodyguard being thrown to the floor and a headless Shado as well. Both lay there as strange and quiet soldiers walked around the group, standing at attention as another figure entered the room. It was a obviously a man, dressed in black with steel colored armor plates on his body. His face complely hidden by a facemask that only showed a single eye on the orange side of the mask. The
Genoharadan all looked at Augustus who raised his hands.

"They aren't mine."

"That is correct, Mister Mond, they are mine," replied the masked man as he walked up to the table.

The Genoharadan now eyed this odd man as he stood there, his soldiers all looking rather odd just standing still, as if waiting for a command. Minra's hand was slowly slipping towards what must be a concealed weapon, but Augustus quickly shook his head, telling her not to. Minra merely sighed and stopped reaching, knowing with these odds it probably was pointless.

"It is pleasing to see that such an old instituation as the Genoharadan can still exist," the masked man said.

The Genoharadan stared at the masked man as if stung, no one was supposed to know about the Genoharadan, or at least no one that the group didn't have influence over. It's unbelieveable that they were found out by this masked man and his odd soldiers.

"Who are you?" Augustus demanded calmly as he looked across at the masked man.

"Your salvation, Mister Mond. My name is Omega Thrax. I am hear to give the Genoharadan what it needs, more resources. I represent an interest group that has a great deal of influence in certain areas that could, perhaps, ensure the success of your little plan here."

"How do you know about that or the Genoharadan?" Tokka demanded, his large muscles bunching, looking ready to attack if something went wrong here.

Omega Thrax reached beneath the table and pulled out what looked like a small listening device. As he did so, another vicious looking man walked in from the doorway, toying it a knife.

"Deraggo is very good at his job, which includes planting listening devices if necessary. Thanks to this and the meeting, you have confirmed the suspicions of my group that you are, in fact, the Genoharadan."

"Just who is your group anyways?" Minra asked, looking over at Omega Thrax.

"We are simply known as the Union," Thrax replied, causing a small spark of recognition inf Minra's eyes

"You've heard of us?" Omega Thrax asked calmly.

"Not exactly, just a bunch of rumors. But the name always comes up in some way, about a union of criminals or something like that."

"Its seems your Bothan Spynet connections have served you well, Ms. Minra. However those rumors were purposefully leaked. We require some mystique to operate under and what better way than the rumor mill that is underworld talk?"

"So what do you want with us, precisely? To become your pawns?" Augustus demanded coldly as he looked at Omega Thrax.

"Not necessarily pawns, the Union requires strong leaders over its many... parts and we wish to incorporate the Genoharadan into the Union. You will be free to act as you will as long as you remember we hold sway over you. In return, we will finance and supply you to our best abilities, including finding ways to provide military hardware for your new government. Sadly to say though, you have but two choices currently. Accept the offer, or die."

Omega Thrax's only visible eye sweeped over the gathered group. Augustus eyed the merciless gaze of the masked man before looking around the table at the other members of the Genoharadan. They had all come here with a hope for something, and perhaps it was still there but now they had a choice to make. Live and try to do as they wish, occaisonally having to answer to this new master of theirs, or die and let the ideals of the Genoharadan die with them, ruining a legacy of Xim the Despot. Augustus couldn't let that happen, not after all he had done already, he couldn't just die now even if that meant becoming a quasi-servant to these Union types. The thing that caught his attention was their willingness to finance and support the Genoharadan. And so, Augustus stood from his chair, hearing the strange soldiers around him shift slightly at the movement.

"I don't know about the others here, but my portion of the Genoharadan accepts the offer."

Augustus then looked at the other three, waiting for a response. Tokka was brooding but obviously considering acceptance as well, but Minra was hard to read though it was unlikely she would commit suicide over this. Yardo was another question, what with his preference from pacificism, could he take answering to something so deep and dark as the Union?

As the door opened and the headless bodies of Zelkar and Mond`s droid were thrown into the ground, Yardo himself jumped up fearing for his life and cursed, but calmed down as the newcomers weren’t attacking or making any aggressive moves. Their boss, obviously, the man with the mask was indeed strange and Yardo like the others looked at Mond whom retorted by raising his hands, then the stranger spoke and Yardo turned to look back at him. As the conversation proceeded Yardo calmly sat down in his chair as his thoughts began running faster with the growing fear. Yardo looked at his servant’s dead body and sighed slightly, what a waste, but he sort of doubted my dealings all tough he was more radical than he himself was. When Mond accepted Omega Tharx`s offer Yardo looked at him with a slight warning in his eyes, he didn’t know very much of this Union or trust them by the picture they had given of themselves already.

They could have probably just knocked their servants out, one life lost for no reason not to mention in a shameful way. Losing your heard wasn’t exactly how Yardo liked anyone to see die or he didn’t like the smell of death at all. He was a peaceful man with principles, but now he had a choice. To stick strictly to his principles and die or to live, get rich, gain power and only try to stay with his principles in this dark union. Die with honour or shake the hand with the devil, what nice options he had been laid before him, but when he looked at Zelkar`s body cold chills ran trough his spine. Yardo got up looking at Omega Tharx with his bluish eyes, he wasn’t going to make any deals without making sure some facts and rules about this Union.

"Tell me then mr. Thax... You very well know us all without a doubt since you seem so powerful, will you require us to use unnecessary force? For instance slaughter populations of some planets for I have my principles and that’s why I refuse to join you, if you do such acts....

But in this case I’ll make an exception, but I will make objections, if things get out of control and yet I prefer staying alive so consider half of us at your side."

Yardo sat down in the chair with a pondering and concerned face as he eyed the two others that had yet to pledge themselves at the Union disposal.

The other Genoharadan member watched quietly as Yardo spoke and then turned their gazes back to the masked man who had put them in this now very unfortunate position. Omega Thrax seemed to consider his answer to Yardo's inquiry and then began walking around the table.

"The choice to use unnecessary force is up to you, the Union doesn't care to dictate such things to its puppets. You will be free to act as you will, all we ask is that you do certain things for us at times. If you wish to convert worlds by peaceful means, then do so. The Union has no issue with what methods are used, just as long as you are successful."

Omega Thrax remained silent, letting this sink in as the other two regarded him. It was apparent they were the other half of the Genoharadan and their choice was just as simple as it was for Yardo and Augustus. They could pledge their portion to the Union as well or be gunned down and most likely replaced by a subordinate. Tokka seemed to reach a decision first, he gave a defeated sigh and just glared coldly at Omega Thrax.

"I'll pledge my portion to your little group as well, just don't cross me."

This only left Minra Fey'Kre how sat there, her golden eyes showing not a trace of what she was thinking but Augustus could take a good guess. Minra crime syndicate was small but very successful because of her administartion and clever planning. She knew when she was beaten and when to concede, such an ability had gained her many jobs and payoffs from the Hutts who were close business associates of hers. She then gave a small nod.

"I'll pledge my portion as well so there is no need to ruin the Genoharadan's leadership with bloodshed."

"Excellent, a most wise decision on all of your parts. With that said," Thrax snapped his fingers and the strange soldiers turned and left,"I welcome you to the Union and send the congradulations of our Chairman for being so wise to do so. I will contact you again soon, for now however, please continue with your own agenda. We will do what we can to help you."

Omega Thrax turned and left with Deraggo in tow, leaving the Genoharadan alone again with the two dead bodyguards on the floor. Augustus looked across the table again at the other members and sighed.

"Well, this situation cannot be helped but we must do what we plan to do, Union or not. Pime Minister Mykal Goru and his ruling Manaka Party are already in my pocket here on Aquilaris thanks to rather large debts he and key members of it owe me. I've already informed them I'll consider their debts suspended if they will lead our little movement and be its public face, which places the government of Aquilaris under our influence already. That leaves only our next choices. My belief is that there are a number of worlds that were fought over during the Clone Wars that would be prime for incorporation into the new confederation. Either way, it must be all done diplomatically besides our behind the scenes manipulations. None of the governments will question the Confederacy's credability if we get the leaders of other worlds to sign the charter and join it apparnently willingly."

Augustus looked around the table again.

"So, are all over you prepared to take the next step from here on Aquilaris?"

Yardo was relieved of Omega Tharx`s answer, but feared that the three others might not agree with his pacifism, especially the two other aliens whom had been the last to agree and were the most hostile beings of the Genoharadan. Yardo didn’t even want to think what would have happened, if anyone of them had refused, but for some reason he had hoped that the two had refused since they seemed such brutal entities. They seemed more like thugs that collected unpaid debts and killed those whom couldn’t pay, Augustus instead gave an intelligent picture of himself and didn’t seem to be willing to use violence so Yardo`s terms would be put to use. Yardo sighed and leaned onto the table to answer Mond`s question.

"And that next step is? Creating an army or gathering more planets under our banner, I know few people with influence on some outer rim planets not to mention I have numerous spies all over the non imperial space to steal my merchandise. If we are signing names up of the planet leaders I could visit Serenno and as you know it was a confederation system once, I have actually met the leader of the planet once or should I say self claimed since he isn’t really the official count and I think that no one is. Yet he is a wealthy and ambitious man so I believe I can persuade him on our side easily not to mention the surrounding systems of Bandomeer and Phindar.

Phindians are usually known as isolationists so what we will offer is to leave them alone and make sure that there will be less as possible connecting with them, but a certain rate. We might need their diplomats here and there sometimes, but they would rarely be disturbed and of course every planet needs trade not to mention others supplies. Bandomeer on the other hand has considerable mining operations all tough the original inhabitants won’t give it all away like they did with the republic so we could only have a part of it, but I believe that we are after the planets and its inhabitants support. As you realise I have done some background checking on many planets that I have visited..."

Yardo finished and leaned back waiting for a response to his proposal as he crossed his hands.