Ziost - Crown of the Sith Empire

Sylvain returned home directly from the field exercises to his communications room. His cloak still bore a bit of frost on the shoulders as he opened the frequencies and hailed Lord Grathan.

A droid answered, "Good morning my Lord. How can this unit serve you?"

"Sylvain Torsin for Lord Grathan to discuss matters of importance to his holdings." He replied.

“I have not felt so popular since my wedding,” the old man said as he came on the holo.

“What does the lapdog of… well damn it whose lapdog are you these days?”

"I have a hard time tracking that one myself recently." He said with a smile.

"Darth Malgus was the one who saw to my appointment on Zygerria. So he is my most recent and supportive benefactor in a way. As a neighbor I wished to reach out and discuss our collective problem."

“Well you have my attention and if you try and fleece me like that Moff just know I got enough ships to turn whatever backwater you call home into a marble,” he said grumpily.

“I am not the fleecing kind. I hear you are in the market for allies. That your systems suffer greatly. I would like to help alleviate the problems. Your Sector is far too vital to let all the resources therein go to waste.” He replied.

“I very may well have the resources heading my way to help building a way out. I simply need to know the nature of the obstacles you are facing so as to best create a strategy for success.”

“The blasted plague,” he said as if it was obvious.

"From what I understand you are well-equipped militarily. Quarantines are not going as you'd like? I suppose Linvar's actions are to thank for that?"

“I won’t pay his extortion so that is likely,” he responded bitterly.

"I have made some progress with the Moff as of yesterday. He sits atop a precarious fence. On either side there are spikes awaiting his arrival if he falls. He has come to understand that a bit more and has promised to set up more safeguards along the hyperspace lanes with the help of my system. I could possibly leverage this for your own systems as well, but I would need your support in my initiatives in the region."

"Well don't keep me in bloody suspense, what are these so-called initiatives," he responded.

"I am currently heading up an initiative on finding a medical cure for the disease. If we are successful I may need access to the factories your systems possess. Additionally, we must look to the potential for piracy and stamp it out in our own systems. Your troops and supplies would make that much more possible."

He paused, "Our efforts in the sector are far too divided at present. The various loose ends in the sector need to be pressured into consolidation. With your muscle and my potential access to a cure... we could leverage the other disparate systems in the Corporate Sector under our respective umbrellas. Maximizing our gains without having to waste resources stamping out those who would resist."

“All well and good but without this cure I am not about to commit to an action without something concrete. Best I could potentially agree to is offering military support, but I will need to think on it. Tomorrow my wife and I will be throwing a party, perhaps I will be better disposed to your ideas in person,” he said.

He nodded affirmatively, "Of course. If I have nothing to give, there can be no expectation to get something in return. I look forward to your party. I have a bit of a party before yours tomorrow. It is in fact my wedding day. If you are available... and have any desire to endure a full day of social events... then I would welcome you into my home as well."

"I am sure my wife will attend, she enjoys such things," he responded gruffly.

"I will look for her then." He said with a polite smile. "Thank you for your time today Lord Grathan. I will see you on the morrow."

He ended the call.