Space elevator - Hapes.




"They are expected within the hour. I trust you are prepared."

A prefunctory nod was all that the Crowned Prince needed to give to silence his aide. The aides grey frazzled mess of hair continued to bob up and down, even though he had stopped talking, an obvious indicator as to his academician background.

"And remember, this is only a discussion on the impending anti-piracy agreement. It does not serve our interests to have you bringing up your brother..."

The look that the previous statement invoked was sharper than the Princes namesake.

"Zakharov, i have been doing this as long as you have been advising me..."

The rest of the statement remained unsaid as it was now the aides turn to make a perfunctory nod and smile.

Idle discussion continued regarding troop dispositions along the more pirate affected routes into the cluster, relevant to the summit but something that no leader would reveal truthfully, even to his closest of allies.

"...and i must say your liberalisation policies have decreased, according to the Royal Bureau of Statistics, male 'disappearance' rates markedly. Something that your female predecessors could only dream of."

Dakkon nodded again although this time it was more with satisfaction than anything else. The torrent of rebellious males who had turned to piracy throughout Hapan history was somewhat of a problem to the previous matriarchs, but the Clusters only patriarch had curb it significantly in only a few years of active policy.

"But it still isn't enough Prohktor, if we were fully able to direct our males energy's into the armed forces, we would be rivaling the Empire for military strength."

The discussion would have continued, but it was then a light 'bing' sounded. The space elevator had reached the Starhome. They were now ready to simply wait.

Set before the events in Apparitions: Specters of the Truth...



VCD Rashion


The cross of the "Void", that gap that rimmed the Hapes Cluster was proceeding without incident. This was the second trip Grand Marshall Kaine was making to the Cluster and he wondered what, if anything, had changed.


The relative quiet of the Cluster had allowed the New Order to focus on other issues and Kaine had little reason to hear of it unless Lupercus Darksword, in a drunken stupor, once again tormented someone passerby on Corellia about his plan to garnish support among some of the unmentioned and very mysterious Clans that would solidify his bid for the Hapes throne.

Simon almost dismissed such talk as that of drunk but when that drunk also boasted the rank of Sith Lord, one reassessed their said dismissal. There was more to Lupercus than met the eye and he resolved to keep vigilant.

Still, the Corellia Protectorate and TNSO's presumptions notwithstanding, it was the welcomed strategy to maintain the status quo of the Hapes Cluster.

The Hapes government had issued a welcome to the Imperial Command but Regent Hyfe paid it no mind. What did he care for the Hapan luxury of eating to their fullest or fucking to their fullest? Grand Moff Zell was in his quarters sleeping having stated quite unabashedly that he would need his rest with so many Hapan women running around, male-less.

The Grand Marshall did question why he was being asked to attend in the Regent's stead but Hyfe was insistent. In any event, he put the military on alert and knew his Admiral Chandler would watch the orders that issued from the Office of the Regent. He would also have to watch Isard.

His mind was brought back to the light hum of the engines propelling the Venerator warship across space at an incredible rate of speed.

They would be entering the Cluster soon.

Bridge of the Starhome, low orbit, Hapes.



"Your Majesty, should we begin our security protocols?"

The Hapan monarch could not reply immediately. He understood the key need for security, especially at such a high level conference, but along the same lines he did not want to alarm the incoming dignitaries.

He grunted to himself in thought, before speaking.

"These men are all seasoned commanders, premature hyperspace terminus is hardly something they'll fret about."

It wasn't even something Dakkon had worried about until one of his newer 'advisors' (read: politically appointed busibodies) made the second guessing of his judgement.

"Initiate the protocols."

Off to the Crowned Prince's left numerous orderlies ran off to perform their duties, which moments later resulted in a gravity well 'wall' around the planet.

The grav wells would be lowered once each dignitary was identified to allow them to make the final microjump that would bring them to the conference.

VCD Rashion



"Entering Hapes Space, Sir." the Navigation Lieutenant Commander observed from his place overseeing the navigation personnel aboard the Imperial vessel.

Grand Marshall Kaine walked across the catwalk overlooking the plethora of stations on the Rashion's bridge and noted the timer was ticking off.

As the timer reached zero, he felt the hum of the hyperdrive engines wind down and the warship made a graceful exit from hyperspace several lightyears inside Hapes territory though not within any specific system.

The Hapes Cluster was made up of many star systems and Kaine was not one to rely on half a century old star charts to project the current, relative celestial obstacles that would otherwise hinder a fluid hyperspacial transport.

"All scans set to active." he ordered and the building blocks of stellar cartography for the region began to interwoven with the data stored within the archives of the warship.

"Drop navigation buoy."

"Buoy away!"


Though Kaine had entered the Cluster before on another formal event, he had spent little time charting stellar phenomena and the neglect irritated him. While the Rashion's position put it a distance away from the Hapes major star systems, a scan at their present location would give them a general layout of the Cluster.

The Navigation Department could then later assess changes to the stellar matter comprising the Cluster (if any) such as a star going nova, or shrinking to the gravitational danger of a black hole. Special sensors were alert for any planetary debris, asteriods or gravity eddies that might affect the hyperdrive computer.

Not simply wanting to set a hyperspacial course for the heart of Hapes thus ignoring any defensive obstacles the Hapans may have errected which could pose a dire threat to the Rashion, Kaine decided to put the hyperdrive on a timer and after a certain minute or two counted down the drives would automatically power down.

Always go with what you know...




*


After a time, Kaine ordered their position transmitted to Hapes. A signal was then sent for the appropriate coordinates to effect an eventless travel. It required the Rashion to alter their course and make a few heading corrections so that their straight shot from hyperspace would go smoothly.

A final transmission was sent to Coruscant giving their up-to-the-minute reports before plunging along a course that very few Imperials had set upon before.

"AI and Astromech calculation results concur, Sir."


Simon Kaine nodded and wondered if Dakkon Darksword had changed much or if he would be looking for another female to divide his ruling life (yet again).

Kaine never liked crowds preferring the more anonymous company of a few but with some state affairs sacrifices were required.

"Execute." he said in his quiet voice.

The engines burned and the hyperdrive engaged shooting the warship to it's final destination.

As it stood, due to a number of crisies of varying size, all top officials of the Coalition were tied up. Thus, when the call came out, they were not available to answer with anyone of worthy status.

However, luckily, a military commander highly commended for his diplomatic abilities from the planet of Abregado-rae. Vice-Admiral Ku'un, chief of the Abregado-rae defense fleet, was quickly deployed aboard his Mon Calamari Cruiser 90-class, to the distant and mysterious court of the Hapans.

The Azguards had been barred from the trip. The official reason was that it was to reduce the risk of their home's location becoming known, but the real reason was that Dakkon's brother once led a fleet against an Azguard force. Admittedly, not much fighting occured, but it was the principle of the thing.

And so it was that Ku'un, a slender member of the unusual, mysterious, and (um...) rather worm-like people of Abregado-rae arrived outside the boundaries of Hapan space, on his ship "The Invicible." There had been a mistake by the name-painter, and although it was later corrected, the name stuck. The ship would always be known as the Invicible. What this meant is up to the individual, but it is usually something quite rude.

"Reduce sub-lights, and await a response." said Ku'un. The bridge was tense. When asked about the Hapans, the Coalition Intelligence Bureau's first response was 'the what-nows?' In a time of terrorism, internal trouble, financial crisis, and the constant threat of galactic war, no one was really paying attention to people like the Hapans. There just wasn't time.

So Ku'un sat, and waited.

Central Command Station, Starhome.



"Your Highness, the Star Destroyer Rashion has relayed its position to us." An aide called from one of the many banks of terminals that festooned the CCS. Seconds later Darksword heard from a voice behind his shoulder.

"Probably to acknowledge final approach, your High..."

The voice, owned by a courtisan/advisor attempting to gain favour, was quickly quashed by a stern glance from the Crowned Prince's chief attaché. The monarch had led for too long to not understand such simplicities.

All around him there were already dozens of hapans still preparing for the arrival of both parties. There was nothing else needed except now the Coalition.







Darksword sat limply in his chair as he was run over another aspect of cultural decorum regarding the Coalition diplomat when he was alert enough to spot an incoming soldier, his purpose and urgency clear as he almost barrelled through four fawning courtiers on a direct route for the Prince.

"Excuse me Terrance," he ushered the aide away as the soldier dropped to one knee, "A relay station has just received contact from the Coalition. They have transmitted the travel information to the Invicible which should be arriving shortly..."

"

Entry Vector


VCD Rashion



Hapes, the crown jewel of the Cluster. For centuries the ruling families had held sway, not even the Empire in it's zenith deigned to cross the boundaries to conquer the Cluster.

They Hapes were insular and introverted and such ways were agreeable to The New Order. But for a few governmental functions, the men of the Cluster and the men of the galaxy saw few of each other.

No, if not for traders and the merchant princes of the galaxy there would hardly be contact.



The Rashion entered Hapes space and the navigation systems on the bridge monitored their crossing of the mass shadow of the capital world.


As a matter of protocol, the command ship launched a compliment of escort fighters.


The coordinates were relayed and the Grand Marshall's shuttle launched.

"It appears we have permission to proceed, Vice-Admiral Ku'un." said an officer. Ku'un nodded (sort of, being rather wormlike this was hard) and allowed his bridge crew to go through the last few steps of the journey. The Imperials were already there, so it was important to hurry and catch them up, it was unwise to let them discuss too many terms without a Coalition representative to keep an eye on things.

Ku'un wasn't very demanding, which was important in diplomacy. If you started making demands, people would just think you a self-centered twerp. But if you didn't ask for anything, they'd treat you like some easily-cowed servant. The trick was balance.

Apparently, Hapans were people of decadance, so he was prepared for a lot of trade negotiations, although just what they could want was beyond Ku'un, probably something they felt was missing from their lifestyles, like a brand of wine or some fancy clothes.

It wasn't that Ku'un was prejudiced or anything, but Ku'un saw the worst in everyone effectivly and on a large scale. This was what made him a good commander and an even better diplomat.

_________________________________________________________________

"We're here, sir." said another officer. Ku'un nodded, and made his way to a shuttle. So, this was where he would meet the Hapans. Just to be on the safe side, he ordered the ship to be on maximum alert until he sent a message back that all was well.

Taking off only with a personal retinue of guards and associates, Ku'un set his sights on the meeting place.

Main docking bay, Starhome.



Within minutes of each other two hyperspace reversions were relayed to the Crown Prince as he leisurely made his way into the docking bay of the Starhome. The glorious ship, of sorts, floated majestically above the planet, its many castle spires and revetments glistening brightly in the warmth of Hapes sun. The sight was indicative of the Hapans love for beauty, but its appearance could only marginally disguise the deadly nature of its purpose.

As the shuttles approached both were able to make out the space elevator that linked the castle to its homeworld as babe would be tied to its mother in the womb.

Entering the specially prepared chamber Darksword smiled, content in the knowledge that his people had done their best to properly represent the cluster as the power it was. On each side of the plush carpet that lead to where he stood were arrayed the Legion of the Chume'Dai, the Princes personal unit of the feared Hapan cyborgs, four men deep bearing glistening armour of black and gold, their weapons in parade formation.

The walls of the chamber were ever-changing, at the moment displaying the raging oceans around the Queens Causeway that lead to the fabled Reef Fortress, the clear waters crashing dangerously and yet beautifully against the jagged rocks, sending gems of water cascading into the sky. Moments later the vision changed to reveal the beauty of the Queen Mothers gardens of lush flora and fauna, firedrakes occasionally dashing into view as their shimming wings seeming alight with the fires of a thousand suns.

In a moment of devious afterthought the Prince considered how easy it would be to simply take both envoy's under his control, his troops guns of command ensuring it would be a bloodless seizure, but he was quick to dash the thoughts away.

A product of the old ways...

He glanced across to Zakharov who sent him a warm smile of reassurrence in return.

In the distance Dakkon could see the sleek body of a lambda shuttle begin its final approach to the docking bay, a pair of Miy'Til fighters leading the shuttle and its fighter complement towards them. And not too distantly behind them would be following its Galactic Coalition counterpart.

Examining around himself in final preperation Darksword could simply do nothing but await their arrival...

Andra approached the familiar figure quietly, walking at her own seductive pace. Her hips swaying with every step, and her sleek black gown left nothing to the imagination. The light fabric clung closely to her skin only to fan out at the floor leaving a short train following her.

Dakkon was obviously lost in thought, no doubt contemplating what would be transpiring shortly when both parties had arrived. Reaching out her small hand, she placed it on his forearm and then offered him a reassuring smile. "Everything is in order it seems and you look as sharp as usual, Your Majesty."

Looking up once more she watched as the lambda shuttle touched down in the docking bay. "Do you wish for me to accompany you or would you rather me wait planetside?"