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A Few Drinks for Business
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Saturday, 26 Nov 2011, 11:31 PM | Message # 16 |
 Generalissimo
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| Deftly setting the still nearly-full bottle on the table next to his glass, both of which had been gripped by his right hand, Stark settled himself across from her, letting his sight sweep over the couple in the distance, as well as the area around him. Tasteful. Very tasteful. It was a rather pleasant spot she had access to, just the thing for such a meeting as they were having. It made him wonder, idly, how many others she'd met with here; not in a jealous sense, for Stark was not a jealous man when it came to women, but meetings of the business variety, though, even in hindsight, there were many weapons a woman could wield against the male sex. It made for an amusing moment's thought as he collected himself to begin.
"I could say galactic peace, but that would be a joke, Senator. Such can never exist; will never exist. The sooner certain bodies in the Senate realize that fact, the better off we all will be. While it is true what you said, who can truly know what occurred between Deralia and Dantooine, such events had the ability to leave many people displaced, homeless, without the means to aid themselves. Some time ago, Chad was struck by horrible natural disasters. How long does it take for the Senate to vote to aid people? How long until the poor remnants of Aeeq are resettled and aided? The Senate will likely debate more on who guards the corpse of Aeeq than to help the people. That is what I plan to do, Senator.
"Out of my own pocket, I will ask every Senator to purchase ten square miles of land on each of their planets. Ten miles at the most, I might add; if all they can spare from a world such as yours, an ecumenopolis, is several city blocks, then so be it. This nonprofit organization will be equipped at my expense to provide aid and succor to any worlds in crisis, with starships purchased by myself and workers and equipment, food and items also purchased by me. Being outside of any one planet's jurisdiction and being civilian and not related to any planetary military, they will have the means to respond to any calamity, outrage or catastrophe without needing for the red tape to be shed. It is a humanitarian ideal, Senator."
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Avadrie_volFyr | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 0:19 AM | Message # 17 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 338
Status: Offline
| She was leaned back in her chair, her bright green eyes politely intent on him as he outlined his plan. She took note that he seemed very disillusioned about the entire political process, that much was obvious - but hadn't he said as much already before? She took a long sip of her second drink as he continued and finished up with his initial points about the inefficiency of the Senate and the time it took government to act. Chad and Aeeq were of course lamentable events, and it was a shame that ordinary citizens might feel as Mr. Stark did.
"Hmmm." She mused aloud as he finished speaking. It was as he said a humanitarian ideal, but there were lots of logistical and political concerns that perhaps in his zeal to do good, he had neglected to consider. Namely, she considered the liability that privately owned property on so many worlds set aside for the use of a private (albeit a humanitarian) organization outside the control of the established governments. Then, perhaps he has massively rich privately, or had access to an organization of more than considerable means, but what he was proposing would by definition require the support of the governments involved. She knew she herself wouldn't want a private organization dumping large amounts of foreign refugees on her world at the drop of a hat. It would destabilize things - and considering not every need for such succor would be the same, it would have an unpredictable effect on whatever worlds agreed to it. But perhaps such relocation wasn't the intent of this man's plan?
"It is a noble idea, but I would myself have some concerns regarding its implementation. Do you mean to transplant refugees to your organizations private property on participating world at short notice, and without consideration of the world itself? Or what about long term, will you always plan to return people to their worlds, or not? Or do you plan to simply use the participating worlds as storage units for your supplies and material and ships that then provide the support you speak of? If that is the case, wouldn't it be easier to commission strategically located space stations? You must be fantastically rich, to be able to conceive of funding such an endeavor all on your own."
Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
Defense Committee Member
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 6:18 AM | Message # 18 |
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Generalissimo
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| With Stark, of course, the humanitarian side was in truth a noble ideal; respectable, honorable and well-intentioned. There was of course a second side that was less well-intended, but Stark, being who he was, was not about to reveal that to the good Senator whom he'd only known for a short time. Alas for lack of knowledge, for both of them could likely have profited and met similar ends much more easily. Nonetheless, it was what it was, and that was how it would be unless both parties came to a better knowledge and understanding of one another, and who could say what would happen, or even if such would occur.
"Each world would be compensated by annual taxes on the purchased land, much as if, say, a Rodian purchased a home on Empress Teta. The host worlds would of course be informed and, at their discretion, be allowed to scan the incoming, shall we call them refugees? Yes, refugees. The refugees would be scanned at the discretion of the host world to ensure that no criminals currently in the Empire's system were parceled in. Of course, what constitutes short notice? A day? An hour? I would say a minimum of a week's notification, and that in itself is part of the point of having multiple stations. If one world cannot, for some reason, accept said refugees, then another world is likely to. As for long term, I would see that all inhabitants of a catastrophe-stricken world would be returned to their homes, if possible. Any who did not wish to return would be given a temporary living area until the visa for the planet of their choice came through. This also helps discourage despicable slavers from taking advantage of a population in turmoil.
"I had considered commissioning a number of space-based facilities, yes, but with such comes extra costs and problems. If I have space facilities commissioned, I must hire extra guards or mercenaries to man weapon emplacements, and most worlds will likely demand I field at least a squadron of starfighters, for if they are defending my property, then surely they will expect my forces to aid in the defense. In truth, while it may seem as if I am being cheap, a planet-side based facility will be less costly and easier to staff and maintain in the long run."
When she mentioned how rich he must be, Stark declined to comment, answering instead with only a small, knowing smile as he sipped once more from his drink. "Despite the potential drawbacks, which can be hammered out, I believe it is a worthwhile plan."
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Avadrie_volFyr | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 6:34 AM | Message # 19 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 338
Status: Offline
| He expected to be maintaining forces on these host worlds as well? This piqued her interest. It seemed that there was more to this, and it wasn't well hidden she thought. Some kind of power play? A hidden legion type ploy to lure loyal Imperial worlds into creating havens for populations under Mr. Stark's control? Or at least beholden to him? She sipped on her drink again, giving herself several moments as she considered what he was proposing.
"I'm not sure how I feel about the idea, Sheriff." She smiled.
"Empress Teta itself is a very multicultural world, and yet in light of things and the policy of Human High Culture, the galaxy is a very tense place, and I don't want to see you take your noble idea and have it shot down by the more bellicose Senators, which I fear it will be, if they attend your gathering at all." She sighed, setting her drink down on the table.
"Sitting here with you, I can probably name several worlds whose Senators would support your plan a moment after hearing of it, but if you are to meet you larger goal I would suggest perhaps using your gathering as an opportunity to network, develop more contacts among the Senate and perhaps announce the formation of your humanitarian, non governmental organization? Ask for donations, file with the Empire for tax benefits and the like. Also...." She drummed her fingers on the table top,
"Perhaps instead of asking for small tracts of land on many planets - splitting up your resources, perhaps you could commission a search for an uninhabited world or moon that could be engineered to be lived on? You avoid the discomfort that some might have about giving refugees carte blanche permission to relocate onto their worlds. I would be willing to commit the resources of my office to assisting your organization in locating a suitable world for such an operation."
Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
Defense Committee Member
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 6:42 AM | Message # 20 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| If anything, her assumption, while natural, was incorrect. Stark was trying to do quite the opposite of placing armed beings on host worlds. Of course, with his statement, he could see how she might have arrived at that conclusion, had she said as much. "I do plan to develop more contacts within the Senate, yes. I am currently in communication with at least two other Senators, yet I have not fully breached my ideas to them. You, however, seem more receptive than most, a good trait to have. Part of the problem though in finding a world to use falls back to the use of having a space station. I do not want armed men on other worlds, or even armed forces of all, especially ones privately beholden to me. This is a fully humanitarian aid effort, not a concentration camp, after all, or even a detainee camp. As for relocation? A temporary relocation to a host world, with a maximum dwell time of six months while having food and housing and medical supplies paid for by myself, seems quite reasonable, especially if the host worlds are making an annual fee from the land and they, in effect, pay nothing out of pocket in return.
"The tax benefits, however, are a quite reasonable idea and something I will need to pursue. Having your office to assist me as well would be a great favor that I would be in your debt for. It is quite exhausting attempting to lobby this idea to so many."
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Avadrie_volFyr | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 6:53 AM | Message # 21 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 338
Status: Offline
| "Oh? Which other Senators are you currently in contact with? Perhaps I could contact them as well. I'd like to say that I support the goal you have, if not necessarily your plan in its present form. I would just think you'd be better served by finding an uninhabited world or moon to take ownership of." She explained, as she gestured with her left hand towards the rest of the nearly empty VIP section.
"You see, there is a way things are done here on Imperial Center. I fear that if you invite the Senators to your home and present an idea that is based so squarely on your shoulders, there will be concerns that....you have ulterior motives of some kind? It is the nature of the galaxy, it is a suspicious place. As you've said, worlds and leaders always vying for power and advantage and everything else that goes along with it. So why not draw up a formal business plan for this organization and convince Senators to present it as an initiative within the Senate itself and gain the full support of the Empire to make this happen?"
Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
Defense Committee Member
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 6:58 AM | Message # 22 |
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Generalissimo
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Messages: 1359
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| A smile grew on his face as he considered her words, accompanied by a slow nod. Her idea had quite a bit of merit, and of course, many people in power were paranoid of anyone outside attempting to do something selfless for others. It was a sad galaxy they lived in indeed. "I have had brief contact with Senator Cerra of Garos IV, though I've not fully pitched the idea to her yet. I've also contacted Senator Tu'Rot of Acherin, but I've yet to receive a reply on the brief thought I threw his way. Both are minor players in the Senate in some ways, and both have been cited as somewhat radicals. You, however, have not fallen to either side, preferring to maintain a middle ground from what I have gathered. As such, I figure you are my best hope of spreading this idea. I can draw up a formal plan, yes, but then who will pitch it? You, perhaps?"
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Avadrie_volFyr | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 7:10 AM | Message # 23 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 338
Status: Offline
| "I could perhaps once I've had a proper opportunity to review it. You must understand I can't commit to it until I've had a chance to review the formal proposal, but I'm willing to entertain the possibility." She said with an easy smile on her face, taking a moment to glance from him to her shimmering pink drink and then back to him. She shot a spare glance at the thin black chrono she wore on her wrist.
"I've had limited dealings with either of those Senators." A diplomatic enough way to put it. She had once voted for a censure on Senator Cerra, and took her to task for digging a hole for women in the Empire with her behavior and antics within the halls of the Senate. She personally had a bitter taste in her mouth about the hole thing, but that was an understandable conflict for them to have. Avadrie was content to play the part of a socially submissive woman, content to remain mostly under the radar and going along with the flow in what had become a human male's galaxy with the rise of the New Order, at least in public.
"I trust then, that you can have such a proposal delivered to my office prior to your gathering on Llord?"
Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
Defense Committee Member
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 7:31 AM | Message # 24 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| "I can do better than that, Senator. I can have such a proposal drawn up for your check-over done within the day." Stark raised his glass to her in a salute. "I hardly expect you to sign off on an idea without looking it through first." It was good in a number of ways that she was not closely tied to either Cerra or Tu'Rot, from a political standpoint; that could well become an issue if his idea were to require a majority vote. Still, all the help he could get meant swaying the hardliners as well as the fringe senators; no easy task what with such as Terrawin and Ordan.
"Tell me though, if there is anything I can do for yourself or Empress Teta in return. I have a number of aiding companies who might be able to assist you in exchange for the aid you've given me so far, and make worth your time and effort if you do decide to take the trouble to aid my idea."
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
Message edited by Alyn_Stark - Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 11:29 PM |
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| Avadrie_volFyr | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 7:56 PM | Message # 25 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 338
Status: Offline
| She assumed that he must have already had his plan in some kind of written form to have it prepared so quickly, which simply stood to reason. She had set her drink back down on the table top when he spoke of offering services to herself or Empress Teta in exchange for her office's assistance in this matter. She smiled sweetly then as she leaned back in her chair and shifted her legs, uncrossing and then recrossing her legs but on the opposite side now, moving for comfort having been sitting like that for a while.
"Oh? And what sort of companies might those be, and what services can they provide?"
Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
Defense Committee Member
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011, 11:33 PM | Message # 26 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| "Oh, the usual. Mining, shipping and transportation, construction, retail, shipwrights. It's a rather large bunch that are spread out here and there. I also have a few consultants of sorts to assist in more private matters, but such would largely be inconsequential to Empress Teta and yourself." That, perhaps, might be the closest he would ever come to openly admitting his hand in being in quite the large amount of criminal activities. Of course, the actual companies he'd mentioned were exactly that: legitimate business companies kept entirely separate from his extracurricular activities and especially separate from his pastime as the Reciter.
"I believe that if nothing else, we may be able to do business with each other on a personal level."
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Avadrie_volFyr | Date: Monday, 28 Nov 2011, 0:46 AM | Message # 27 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 338
Status: Offline
| "So you've retired from politics to become a prince of industry. I imagine since you'd understandably have people to run those businesses it would become a certain kind of peace and quiet, if not the life of a hermit." She commented, swirling her straw in her half empty drink. She had had her fill of it for the night, and as the waiter passed she asked for a bottle of designer water. She was a woman of taste, after all.
"And by that do you mean the matter of your organization and its humanitarian proposal, or do you have something else in mind, Sheriff Stark?"
Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
Defense Committee Member
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Monday, 28 Nov 2011, 6:53 AM | Message # 28 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| Seeing the Senator slow her drinking, Stark had done the same, and the largely-untouched brandy now sat near his right hand, counterpoint to the half-full and now equally untouched glass near his left. "I retired from politics because they didn't suit me and I was a stranger in the arena. It was never meant to go to me, after all, but to my brother. Now House Malos is in the hands of someone better suited to the ruling houses' trust than I was. Of course, the life of a hermit is peaceful. There are few things I could want for on Lorrd, or Cambria if it suits me.
"And of course, the organization and it's proposal could always aid you, but I referred to legitimate moneymaking dealings as well. That is yet another reason I encourage your presence on Lorrd, where you may see more of what I speak of and then better understand how my companies may assist the economy of Empress Teta in their own small way while in turn your people help mine. A mutually beneficial agreement, I would call it."
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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| Avadrie_volFyr | Date: Monday, 28 Nov 2011, 8:15 AM | Message # 29 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 338
Status: Offline
| She smiled and nodded,
"Well, Sheriff Stark, I'll be sure to review your proposal with my staff and the Tetan Minister of Finance - and I'll get back to you regarding whether or not by itself if Empress Teta would be willing to participate in your plan, and..once I have received a formal draft of the business plan I will review it, and perhaps with Senator Cambrist, the chair of the finance committee in the Senate? I don't know him personally, but he is highly regarded and perhaps with his guidance and wisdom - and almost assuredly with his support we could make it an Imperial supported initiative." She paused for a moment then, glancing down to the black clutch that rested at the table top, then back to Mr. Stark.
"Is there anything else you'd like to discuss before I go? I fear the hour grows late and I have an early morning in the Senate. It has been simply charming to meet and speak with you Sheriff, and I would like to hear from you again."
Lady Avadrie volFyr
Senator of Empress Teta
Defense Committee Member
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| Alyn_Stark | Date: Monday, 28 Nov 2011, 4:29 PM | Message # 30 |
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Generalissimo
Group: Users
Messages: 1359
Status: Offline
| "Nothing further, Senator volFyr. It's been a pleasant evening indeed, and I thank you for the company and the time to hear me out." He raised the half-empty glass in a salute to her. "I may linger here for a tad longer myself; the atmosphere is certainly pleasant. By all means though, do what you must do with the plans I have forwarded to you. I hope that between yourself and this Senator Cambrist, you can come up with something workable. Have a most pleasant evening, my dear Senator."
Alyn Stark
Lord of Kinyov
Senior Captain, Retired, Republic Navy
Head of House Malos (former)
Licensed bounty hunter
Majority shareholder, Lorrd Engineering
Owner, Stark Defense Conglomerate
Civilian Medal of Honor recipient
Representative, Lorrd (10 BBY-9 BBY)
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