Malastare

Stratos Starport – (Newly constructed)



From the roof of an adjacent tower block, (it too being of new construction) , a middle aged, ambitious alien watched as the very first spacecraft landed on the huge new complex that now dominated this area of land.

Just the first successful step of many more to follow.

The port was vast, big enough to accommodate both the industrial and the commercial demands its designer had in mind when he first conceived of its construction.

Now it stood , its plush interior , rounded edges , towering height, its gigantic white dome roof encompassing it all, all added to the breathtaking view.

It was now open for business.

Out from it, in its outlying areas, equally vast housing schemes were also nearing completion , a boon for those who were now to work at the Starport.

Just the port alone would create large numbers of jobs for the planet’s population, as well as putting them in the centre of a new commercial development which would see trade and commerce flow straight through, instead of straight past Malastare.

Which, in itself , was strategically placed to provide it.

Both the planet’s species of aliens, the Dug’s and the Gran had jumped at the chance of having such a huge investment in their future on their planet.

It came with a price of course, (as all such investments do), but after extensive talks and endless debates, both agreed to the terms and the conditions. Although both had expressed a wish to remain autonomously self governed within the political sphere of its new benefactors.

Zim Brandt looked out whilst shielding his eyes from the sun, and smiled broadly.

The past eight months had been …phenomenal…


His thoughts flashed back…




Eight Months Ago




” we need someone with vision, and ambition, drive, in short, we need you, Mr Brandt, you’re the right man for the Job…”

Brandt looked at the visitor with a mixture of awe and disbelief, for him to even be in the presence of such a man was akin to meeting his idol…

“ I don’t know what to say?…I’m shocked…”

The man smiled…

“say, yes, Mr Brandt…”

Zim’s eyes widened as his mind raced with all the questions, all the possibilities , and all the risks involved…

Swallowing hard , he got a grip and scanned down the data-pad he was still holding…

The information was scarcely sinking in.

“well, Sir, in that case…yes…”

The visitor smiled once more…

“congratulations Mr Brandt, Brandt Enterprises is now officially in business…”

…and Zim’s heart raced in response

Taku turned away from the viewport. He found the lights, colors, and shapes of hyperspace disorienting.

Malastare.

Taku had almost lost it all in a podrace on Malastare. That race was nadir of his life. The pod that Taku had thought would surely win came around a corner to fast, hits its afterburners, and was turned into atoms when it hit a barrier.

Those days are over.

After he had lost Grange Shipping Co. to gambling debts Taku checked into a clinic. He had been obsessed with gambling. Gambling had ruled his life.

Those days are over.

Now Taku was back in it again. No more gambling. Most of the money he made he put into a account that went to the families of the employees that had their lives ruined when Grange Shipping went bankrupt.

The Republic Sienar Systems Marauder Corvette exited hyperspace. Behind it came a huge fleet of various super freighters. All the cargo was heading for the new spaceport on Malastare. Taku headed over to comm center. He found the frequency for Mr. Brandt's comlink.

"Mr. Brandt. Your cargo has arrived."

Malastare was an interesting place, no doubts there. All the loving dank and decay of an urban core, combined with two of the hardest, unfriendliest races the galaxy had to offer, constantly living in close proximity to each other and constantly picking fights. It was somewhat strange that in all the planets of the galaxy, Brandt had chose to station himself there of all places. Of course, were he predictable, then Fineus probably wouldn't be meeting with him right now.

Who was Fineus? A Bimm. Like many of his race, he hardly reached up to the waist of most other sentients, but nature had squeezed twice the cunning of a regular sized being into half the height. With all the economic knowledge and knack for bargining he could carry, Fineus was flying through the inky blackness of space to meet with Brandt as a client. A representative, if you will. No private shuttle or fancy escort accompanied him, simply a protocol droid and a spot on a regular commercial flight.

"So, what more can you tell me about this Brandt guy?" said Fineus, to the droid H2-0.

"Well, our files indicate he was comparatively unknown eight months ago, when a sudden and massive spike in funds and contracts turned him into what can be equated to an overnight success. He may not rival some of the bigger corporations of the galaxy yet, but he's certainly close to their league and he has yet to stop climbing. It is unknown if he has had any government sponsoring, and we also don't know just what stimulated this success. We do know he is now a dominant figure of power on Malastare, close to out-classing the regional government itself."

Fineus considered all of this. "Interesting. So what you're really saying is, we don't know for sure where this guy comes from or how he got here, but now that he is here we want to work with him."

The droid's photo-receptors dimmed temporarily to confirm this, then brightened as he said "Yes."

Fineus sighed "Typical. Another promising job, then."

"The situation is not yet as bad as it could potentially be." said H2-0 "We don't yet know the measure of this man, it is possible you will find a most worthy partner."

"Yeah, yeah. Better not to think about if for now. We'll know more when we meet the guy."

H2-0 shut down for the remainder of the trip, while Fineus considered what was to come. Business was his speciality, his calling, and he had worked on behallf of a lot of people for a lot of people, but that didn't make him feel any more confident. Flying blind into a meeting? He'd feel safer flying blind into a Star Destroyer - at least then you know what'll be shooting at you.

Taku stood on the new V.I.P. landing pad. His Corvette had been able to land here by only a small margin. He looked around. In any given direction the Corvette had no more than fifteen meters of clearance. He then looked of towards the south. He could see some of the smaller freighters being unloaded. He looked up towards the sky. There were hundreds of low-orbit ferries bringing cargo down from the ships too large enter the atmosphere.
Many of those ferries were carrying raw materials. These materials were being taken to factories to be processed. Most of the smaller freighters were carrying finished goods. These goods would be stored in warehouses for later use or sale. Taku checked in his wallet.

No credits, no credit cards, no temptation, just a debit card linked to an account with less than a thousand credits in it. I'm all set.

Time to got meet Mr. Brandt.

Taku climbed aboard the waiting air taxi and went on his way.

Zim Smiled as his Vice-Prex called in over the comms, he acknowledged quickly and sent him up to join with him.

He glanced down at a datapad he had with him, and the smile got broader…

This Star-port and its housing redevelopments was just one of many, and this one was the last to have been completed…

The last of ten, in fact.

Anoat, Warmart , Rattatak, Krakken IV, Tynna, Mon Calamari, Leritor, Bimmisari ,Tirahnn and of course, Malastare…

All equally as big, and all equally as important…

He chuckled to himself as he remembered the meeting between him and the head of Magnusson Industries, Karl Magnusson, the man had almost choked on his caff when he handed him the contract.

Zim pondered as to whether Karl had considered retiring simply on the back of it, a lucrative contract to be sure.

His face had been something to behold…

A mixture of both euphoria and disbelief, a businessman could operate for a thousand years and not see a contract like that.

Even now, the difference had been felt, with the newly constructed mining and refinery facilities around Nkllon, Raw materials could be shipped across the galaxy in a fraction of the time it would have taken before.

New up to date facilities had been needed to keep up with the scale of this careful, industrialization and civil development , and Magnusson Industries, had thusfar, delivered.


Another comms alert brought from his thoughts…

“Sir a Fineus Flagrant is here to see you”

Zim , smiled once more, yet another step on its way to be fulfilled…

“…send him to my office, I'll be there in half an hour, oh! and inform Taku too”

The secretary acknowledged and signed off, leaving Zim to his own thoughts once more…

Taking a final look at his new asset, he straightened his suit in preparation for his meeting…


…this is gonna be interesting…

Taku stepped off the air taxi and on to the platform. He was somewhat nervous. This was his first meeting with Mr. Brandt since he was charged with the aquistion of the first convoy. He stepped into the hall and checked his datapad.

I hope everything is in order.

Taku continued walking down the brand new hall. He stopped in front of the receptionist's desk.

"Hello, I'm here to see Mr. Brandt."

"Come right this way Mr. Grange."

Taku walked down a short hall into Mr. Brandt's outer office.

"Wait here. Mr. Brandt will see you after he finishes up some paperwork."

Taku sat down on a plush chair as the receptionist left the room. He made sure his tie was tight and his hair parted. A few minutes later the receptionist returned.

"Mr. Brandt will see you now."

"Thank you miss."

Taku walked opened the door into Mr. Brandt's inner office. He saw Mr. Brandt sitting behind a large desk. Taku smiled and put out his hand.

"Mr. Brandt, it is so good to see you again."

Fineus felt good to be 'suited up' before his meeting, it gave him a measure of security - like a soldier dons battle armour in war, so too does the business man wear clean, pressed suits before engaging in his craft. It was an odd quirk of his that he even had his protocol droid wear a suit to important meetings. He often explained this by saying "Well, you wouldn't let me go in naked, would you?"

At first he was tempted to do something he did to businesses he wasn't sure about. Waiting fifteen minutes outside before entering the meeting, to gauge their reaction, was a surprisingly effective way of learning something about those he was meeting with. He decided against it, this time, and instead proceeded to the Turbolift.

"Excuse me." said a secretary stationed just next to the Turbolift. "Droids are not permitted unless you have an appointment."

"Ahem." said Fineus, and the secretary leaned over the desk to look down at the Bimm.

"Oh, my apologies. I... uh... didn't see you down there. Go right on ahead."

Fineus waved dismissively. He'd worked with much larger people before, by comparison that was nothing. Someone mistaking him for vermine, now that's when it gets embarassing.

The Bimm and his droid rode the turbo-lift, a long trip, as it would be on any self-respecting corporate stronghold.

"So... anything more you can tell me?"

"Well, sir, it appears he has made an odd choice for his vice-president. Our records show he was a skilled businessman, but a gambling addict - and not quite so good a businessman to keep up with his habit."

"Hm... you're right, odd choice. Still, it shows he has trust for people. That might be good to know. If you find out anything else, feel free to tell me - unless we're in the middle of a meeting! Now that could be embarassing."

"Yes, sir."

"Mr. Brandt, it is so good to see you again."

Zim greeted his first with enthusiasm, Taku had done well, and Brandt was in a good mood.

He gestured for Taku to take a seat...

"Excellent work Taku! I never thought I'd get that shipment through!..."

He leaned on the edge of his desk as he spoke...

" actually you've made good timing, I'm expecting a visitor..."

...and before he could elaborate further the door alert chimed, causing Brandt to throw Taku a broad grin...

He moved to the door quickly and opened it to see his expected stranger standing before him...

"..ah welcome to Malastare Mr Flagrant, please come in, we have much to discuss..."

..and with that stretched his own hand out in greeting.

Fineus managed to reach the proffed hand with only some minor difficulty, and gave it a vigorous shake. "Discuss? I didn't come all this way to discuss, I assure you! Let's skip all the discussing and get right down to some good old fashioned business, eh? Save us all the embarassing weather anecdotes?"

With that, the little businessman clambered into a chair clearly too large for him around the meeting table, and gave an unflappable grin to the two men across from him. "Well, if you feel you must, I could sit through a few formalities like the old 'How was your flight?' and 'what do you think of (city's name here)?'. Of course, my personal favourite is 'Would you like another drink?', but I'm willing to forego that one as well if necessary."

His droid moved to his side, allowing the Bimm the comfort of all of his relevant portfolios and business notes within hand's reach. An eyebrow rose, and he said "Taku, I take it? Don't believe we've met either. Heard you were quite the character in the day - oh, listen to me, breaking my own rules!" he said, and laughed lightly. "But seriously, gentlemen, glad to be here and good to meet you both. Any opening questions or the like before we begin?"

It was mostly sincere, which was why it looked entirely sincere. You learnt after a while how to be nice to business people no matter the situation and no matter how much or how little you knew of them - or what that knowledge might consist of. He knew they'd have a few queries, either for him or for each other before they began, so he sat for now relaxed, waiting for them to speak.

Taku turned around an saw a short alien and a protocol droid enter the office. The alien climbed into a chair and began talking about skipping all the small talk and getting down to business. Another droid with a tray of drinks entered the room. Taku turned around and flagged it out of the room.

Go away! Taku mouthed.

Taku, I take it? Don't believe we've met either. Heard you were quite the character in the day - oh, listen to me, breaking my own rules!" he said, and laughed lightly. "But seriously, gentlemen, glad to be here and good to meet you both. Any opening questions or the like before we begin?"

"First of all, I would rather we not discuss my rather colorful past. That was many years ago, a lifetime at that. I work for Mr. Brandt now so does anything else really matter?"

Taku paused for a moment to collect his thoughts.

"So Mr. Flagrant, lets talk some business."