[OOC] Decided I needed to go travel around the galaxy a bit and drum up new business.  Humor me for a bit. [/OOC]

After the setbacks of the past few months, it was odd to be away from the office - both the Army and Imperial Center ones. However, this was a working vacation no matter how hard he wanted it not to be.  The shipyards of Fondor shown brightly against the blackness of space as Fury placed down some New Republic credits and ordered another drink. It was a pity that the yards had surrendered so quickly to the new galactic rulers.  Having a large intact military production area near to the VE systems had always been a concern to the High Council.  A long, protracted battle would have left this area in ruin.  Maybe someone would destroy all the equipment here, but it would not be the Empire.  Not that he was here to dwell on lost opportunities.  Thinking too much about the shipyards would allow him to slip and make one comment too many.  That would likely land him in a NRI detention facility.  He was by no means on any New Republic wanted posters but you never passed up the chance to bag an opposing general.  Ever.

Waiting usually made him uncomfortable.  Waiting while in a bar on a space station orbiting a New Republic fortress world even more so.  Which is why his contact had set this up; just to remind him that both sides of this negotiation had some muscle to back their words.  Presently, a bartender came along with a fresh drink and a note poking out from under the drink coaster.  Fury gave it a couple of minutes, scanned the note and took his drink over to a private booth.

The first to meet him was a rather large Cathan, looking down at him with large feline eyes.  After a moment he stepped aside and let Fury into a booth where two humans, a Twi'lek, and a red-skulled Sakiyan sat.  The Sakiyan presumably would be the guy with the heavy blaster.

"Administrator," spoke the Twi'lek.  "Welcome to Fondor.  I presume this is as neutral - and as dangerous - a meeting place to both of us."

So there was time for some banter.  Fury decided to play along. "I don't know what you are talking about.  I am merely a store owner."

"And I am merely a freighter captain." came the pirate's response.  His companions chuckled at that. "Fair enough. Let's get on with it."

"I am interested in doing some trading in the Parmel sector.  As you know, this is not an area of space known for its stability.  Both an Imperial fighter wing AND Churhee's Riflemen made a name for themselves in the region.  Not to mention the Kibilini Smuggler's Guild."

Pratari Cinn grimaced at that and one of his lekku quivered a bit.  The blaster scar on his left cheek was earned during the infighting between the Kibilini and Anavill guilds.  Once he started his own black market outfit, he had never looked back.  "Yes.  Not the best place to run a business.  So, what can my organization do for you?"

"I want to do some business of Atraken.  I know the mines are up and running again.  AND I know that someone is snooping around the old battlefields.  Both are of interest to me.  I can offer you significant upgrades to your fleet in return for a few no questions asked shipments to the Kattellyn system.  If it looks profitable, we can discuss a long term trade route between Etchik and Trilos."

"Your intel is good.  Too good, frankly.  No one knows about Atraken. In fact, I don't actually know about it firsthand. This so completely stinks of Imperial business.  Why me?"

"Because you are on your own, free and easy.  You owe no one money and have allegiances to no one but your crews.  I like that and I think I can work with that.  I promise to do my best not to taint your reputation by aligning you with the Empire.  This is just a friendly business proposition.  Take it or leave it."

Cinn pondered that one for a moment.  "You speak freely, but I know and you know there is no one else to do the job.  I'll consider it, but here's the counter offer.  I'll take the weapons and engine upgrades along with any knowledge on counter measures to the new NR fleet ships you may have learned of.  In return, you outfit a nice big ship for me to use on the first few runs.  I'll crew it, I just don't want my transponder codes tied up in this."

"I can't promise you naval intelligence you understand...."

"Yeah, yeah.  That IS the only deal I am cutting however."  Cinn looked a bit satisfied with himself. 

"I'll see what I can do.  Next meeting....your place or mine?" Fury got a chance to grin back.  No one really knew where Pratari Cinn ran his operation from. And he doubted he'd be learning it any time soon.  Cinn confirmed that immediately.

"Three weeks.  Varonat.  I will send you a manifest on my shipping fleets specs.  I trust they won't go further than your offices?"

"I am capable of compartmentalizing Cinn.  You want to do business as much as I do.  Why would I screw that up from the get go? You'll have an answer as to what hardware I can provide you and I will find something to give you on Varonat concerning those pesky New Republic customs craft."  With that, Fury got up and left as quickly as he could back to the Kodama.  It did not appear he had been tailed but he would likely use another ship the next time around anyways.  Besides, he was partial to the Citadel Cruiser and did not want it on some slime ridden jungle planet.

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Tropis-on-Varonat was slightly better than your average Outer Rim settlement.  It reeked of the smell of Morodin slug slime but once inside a cantina, it wasn't so bad.  Fury had taken the time to get here early and case the joint out.  Bringing in a heavily modified Action V freighter was already enough to arouse the attention of the locals.  He didn't want to get into a shoot-out because he missed something obvious by hurrying.

The tough part was sending his crew back to Etchik without him.  They just did not want to leave him here.  Not that there was a lot to do at home with the store shut down.  Inventory work was no more of a picnic than hanging out in some jungle nightmare.  Besides, all he had left to go home with was the old starfighter he had transported with the freighter.

On his third day hanging around the cantina, he had already negotiated two minor cargo deals with the local innkeepers when he spotted Cinn's Sakiyan on the other side of the room.  An hour later he left the bar and Fury followed.  Fury walked into an open courtyard overseeing the treetops of the yellow jungle trees below and came upon the Twi'lek and the rest of his staff having drinks.

"Ah, Administrator, I hear business is good." began Cinn.

"Not bad.  I always try to turn a profit wherever I go.  How are your ventures?"

"Terrible to be honest.  I had to dump a cargo over Esselles and still got a ship impounded." Cinn was obviously playing his need for new tricks, true story or not.  Maybe he really was feeling the pinch.

Fury passed over a datacard.  "Specs on the powerplants and shields of the new Ranger class gunships.  Also some weapons data on the Warrior gunships and the Agave picket ships. Use them in good health."

Cinn looked at the card, shook his head and handed them to the human to his left. The tech slotted the card into a datapad and started tapping away with a stylus.  "You ARE serious.  I never expected to get any of that information.  Alright, I'm in." He looked over to the tech who lifted up his head and nodded solemnly.  "Okay, when do we go live?"

"There's an Action V over at the starport.  I have the security and transponder keys here," as he held up another datacard "and the coordinates and timeframe for the pickup on THIS card," as he pulled another one seemingly out of the air.

"Nice trick.  I didn't see the other card.  Remind me never to play sabacc with you."

"Pity.  So, as soon as you agree to the cargo run, you can sign this agreement," pushing over a datapad, "and we'll be on our way."

Cinn grimaces and then looked up, "Wait a minute...Nkllon Mining and Merchantile?"

"Yeah, it's a front company.  I told you I'd minimize your exposure from dealing with Imperials."

The Twi'lek grunted noncommitally and spent a moment going over the contract.  "Looks legitimate.  I'll send a couple of freighters over to a shadowport and have your techs work on the upgrades.  Once they confirm the parts are as requested, we'll have the Action V meet up at the coordinates you just gave us and we'll do this little job for you.  Once done, fair is fair and we can pull out at any time."  It was not phrased as a question.

Fury caught the datapad as Cinn tossed it back to him after tacking on his digital signature.  "Agreed.  Nice doing business with you.  Enjoy the sights." he added as he waved a hand out over the endless jungle below them.

They all managed to get a laugh out of that.  Twice in two meetings. Nice to know the pirates weren't completely humorless.