Participants: Xiq’Vuular, Xani'Ulun, Gevieve
Location: Public Spaceport – Idar Prime
The Spaceport on Idar Prime is busy, as usual. Hegemonic Military ships load up with troops and supplies, while civilian and Mercantile ships come and go at all hours. With recent events on the front line, and back at home, Imperial Guard troops monitor the area and search ships at random.
From overhead, a medium sized cargo freighter comes into view then lands in the spaceport. After a few moments, the doors open, and several Mercantile members disembark. One of which is Xiq'Vuular. As he gets to the end of the landing platform, he is approached by several Guards who demand to be let aboard the ship. He complies, ordering the crew to remain with the ship as it is searched.
A couple of heavy Kirvir freighters are resting on the landing pads here, men and women in labouring to shift crates both in and out of them. Sitting in her cushioned hoverchair, well back from the work but no so far that she can't see and yell directions where required, Gevieve lounges, her tail shifting lazily over the side of her chair. The cushions look soft enough to sink into, and she does just that, stifling a yawn behind an orange paw as she watches the Kirvir labourers work. The new freighter coming in, and the stir that it causes pushes the fox-like creature onto one elbow to watch.
Among the Merchantile members aboard the freighter that has landed is Xani'Ulun who stands not far from Xiq'Vuular as the order to stay near the ship as it is searched. The blue Idaran smirks a bit and says under his breath, though just loud enough for Xiq to hear "So much for random."
"They are targeting Mercantile ships. Looking for weapons, explosives." Vuular replies to Xani'Ulun, as he watches more armed guards board the ship. "They won't find anything. They'll download our logs too. Hoping to get some information on our operations." He snorts, shaking his head as several guards push their way through the crew, looking at identification and asking questions. "Just don't do anything to provoke them."
Gevieve sinks back into her cushions and stretches. She looks like she could happily go to sleep, despite the fact that it's outside and the smell of starship engine exhaust is almost insufferable, causing her delicate whiskers to twitch every now and then. It seems for the moment she's happy to watch and listen to her hoverchair whirring to support her . Xani'Ulun chuckles a bit and replies "Wouldn't dream of it. After all I stick out just a bit, they'd probably remember me." He finshes this statement just before he himself is asked to provide I.D which he does wordlessly.
Vuular hands over his identification, and after a moment the guards leave - seemingly pleased with what was found. He looks to his companion, motioning for him to follow. "Sometimes I don't know who we need to protect ourselves from - the Myini, or our own people. If the Quorum gets any more ideas, we'll all be locked up next." He sighs, seeing the Kirvir ship in the distance. "Interesting.. never actually seen one of them before." He says, pointing to the ship.
Several members of the Imperial Guard approach Gevieve, weapons in hand. The lead guard, a big fellow, looks down at the creature. "I want your cargo and passenger manifest, and you will submit to search."
Gevieve hauls herself up straight, mustering a look of disdain so strong it must have taken years of practice to cultivate. "You will show a member of the Gisrah due respect! To insult us is to invite the retribution of The Kirvir Imperial Family." She huffs, chin up, looking away from the guard that approaches her. Of course, she still doesn't bother actually getting out of her seat.
Xani'Ulun sighs a bit at that and replies "And don't think that I don't know it. " He's then distracted by the other freighter that's being searched and notes once more "My, they are having some luck with the dice on these random searches. A Mercantile and a Kirvir ship." This is said in a hushed tone, of course.
"So it would seem," Vuular says. "I've read quite abit about them. Some of our people have had extensive contact with them, I haven't though." He pauses, watching the guards. "I'm not sure if we should step in or not." He sighs, thinking.
The large guard snorts ath the Kirvir, unimpressed with the threat. "I don't care. You're here. You will submit to a search, or you and your crew will be detained, and cargo and ship siezed. Take your pick."
"Hmmph. I'm not here by /my/ choosing, that much is certain! You... barbarians wouldn't know manners if they slapped you in the face. You may search the vessel, I hope you find what you're looking for. A bit of charisma, perhaps? No doubt your advances on what passes as your women have been rejected thus far. As for the manifest, speak to my captain." With a wave of her white furred palm she dismisses the man and leans back in her chair, positively fuming.
Xani'Ulun looks back to Xiq and replies "Well it certainly seems like she isn't happy with the Imperial Guard. Perhaps it would be prudent to see if she likes us a bit better?" He smirks a bit and indicates his blue scales adding "After all that sticking in the memory thing can work for the positive too."
Nodding to Xani, Vuular motions for him to follow along. "I suppose you are right. At the very least, we can get them off their back." He chuckles, and moves towards the guards. "Major, is there a problem? You could always go help with the search of my ship, I know you all have something out for us Mercantile folk." He says, chuckling, not afraid of the Imperial Guard.
The guard shakes his head at the Kirvir, "Search the ship." He orders his troops to do, before turning to the Idaran merchants. "I think we might do that, pray we find nothing aboard, or you will find yourself rotting in a dark cell for a long time." He snorts again, then boards the ship behind his troops.
Leaning up, Gevieve sees Ulun and Vuular for perhaps the first time. Certainly it's the first time she's paid an interest to the pair of them. Still lounging on her hover chair she scratches her midsection. "I am Lady Gevieve Nyir of the Gisrah. Nobles of the Kirvir. Who might both of you be?"
Xani'Ulun smirks a bit to the apparent noble and inclines his head to her as he states "Xani, would be my casual name. Xani'Ulun if you want to be professional about it." The blue scaled man eyes the Guards just a bit as they go into the ship with the slightest hint of distaste, but makes no comment as he simply turns back to the woman in the chair.
Vuular isn't as polite about the entire 'noble' business as his companion. He nods politely, offering a smile. "Noble, you say? Wasn't away Kirvir's had nobility. But then again, there is much about your people that are a mystery to us. We are so focused on conquring the Myini we have lost sight of other races out here." He chuckles. "But I digress. I am Xiq'Vuular, of the Toro Mercantile Authority. Our ship is taking on supplies, and my crew is taking some leave here. What brings you to Idar Prime?"
"My father brings me here. The spirits know that I wouldn't step foot on this rock without such a reason." Sighing she slides from her hoverchair to stand up to her full height of just under six feet. Of course, from the look of her, walking isn't something she does often, and she has to take a moment to smooth her rather expensive dress out over the small mound of her stomach. "The Gisrah are charged with maintaining peace in our realm, and forging peaceful and prosperous relations with other races."
Xani'Ulun smirks a bit and replies to her "Yes, and being forced to be searched isn't exactly the greatest foot to start out on, I suppose. A shame really. I'm sure you'd have been treated better had you visited my own home planet instead." To Xiq he adds "And Idar Minor is so nice this time of year, too."
"Idar Minor is much nicer most times of the year, if you compare it to this rock." Vuular jokes to Xani. "But, if you haven't noticed we are having some internal problems of our own. The Toro Mercantile Authority would be prepared to open up peaceful negotiations between us, of course, you would need to negotiate independently with the Hegemony and the Quorum."
Eyes narrow and Gevieve turns to Xani'Ulun for a moment. "And what exactly about this do you find amusing? Is this what passes for a joke in your backwards culture? Twould not surprise me." She flicks her tail and folds her arms across her chest. "After the reception I've had here, I've no inclination to visit any more of your worlds. Nor am I well versed in the current political climate. I will see what passes for a governor and speak to them, that our worlds might become closer."
Xani'Ulun smiles a bit to the noble woman at that and replies "Nothing I said was funny. More an amusing situation, really. Though speaking of amusing situations, I imagine you must simply be the most incredible politician ever conceived if you can acheive complete peace between races without even vaguely knowing political situations." The tone used while the blue scaled Idaran says this is one of an amused man, however. Looking to Xiq he adds "A rather impressive skill, wouldn't you say?"
Vuular raises his hand at Xani'Ulun, not wanting to cause a diplomatic incident - the Mercantile Authority is having enough issues internally as is, without adding outsider issues to it. "I apologize, madame. I assure you no insult was meant. The Quorum of Governors is made up of leaders of the various clans that rule our people. Recently however, they have lost sight of what they are ruling. They have been using the Imperial Guard and Naval Authority to quell possible uprising by certain civilian groups. The war with the Myini has taken its toll on our people, we want change. But the Quorum is intent on war, no matter the cost."
Gevieve raises a dark eyebrow. "I assure you insult has been taken! Keep a tighter leash on your subordinate. Even the most pathetic of grease monkeys knows it takes not a genius to maintain peace between two races not at war, and to the greater extend of my considerable knowledge, the Kirvir and the Idaran are not at war. Though how my betters have managed to put up with this blatant stupidity, I will never know." Turning away from Ulun, as though he no longer existed, the fox-creature focuses now on Vuular. "Now, this change you speak of /is/ interesting. /I/ think we should speak more on it. You will not find me powerless, Xiq'Vuular."
Xani'Ulun does indeed stop talking when Vuular indicates it but he apparently feels no harm in sneering at the keep subordinate's on a tighter leash comment from the noble. Though through sheer force of will he manages to remain silent.
"This is, perhaps, not the best place to discuss this." Vuular replies. "Too many Imperial ears here. Not to mention the possibility of Hegemonic Intelligence operatives everywhere. If you are here for a few days, we should meet privately. In Dal Xelen, just outside of Dal Sempora, there is a Mercantile outpost where trading occurs, I can guarantee your safety there if you wish to discuss this in the next few days. In the mean time, perhaps you should meet with the Quorum, and we can compare notes afterwards."
Scratching her midsection again, Gevieve seems to consider the offer for a moment. Finally she nods and slides back into the velvet cushions of her hoverchair. "Have your contact frequencies sent to my captain. He'll make sure I get them. I may just attend this outpost of yours. If, as you say, you can guarantee my safety." She smiles then, for the first time since the authority's freighter landed. "It's nice to know that not all Idarans lack respect."
Xani'Ulun loses his sneer after only a moment and takes a deep breath before replying "Forgive the disrespect, please. Conversing with nobles, or anybody of true importance isn't exactly a common occurence for me. I suppose it's something I should learn to do properly."
"You will learn." Vuular says to Xani'Ulun. "But if you would excuse me, I need to get back to my ship and make sure they aren't running off with anything from the ship. I will ensure the information is transmitted to your ship. It was a pleasure to meet you." He nods, and turns back to his ship. "Feel free to stay and talk, just don't cause any problems." He says to his companion, chuckling as he walks off.