Aces High: Royal Flush (open to Imperials and Black Sun)

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

ooc: This roleplay is to generally introduce the Black Sun Syndicate to the new Sw-fans. The setting is a fundraising dinner (500 creds a plate) for the Alderaan Refugee Fund, and is at the Nabooian Queen Casino in the Taapes District of Coruscant/Imperial Center. Inquire by PM if you wish to join and are not an Imperial or part of Black Sun. /ic:

The grand ballroom was sparkling from top to bottom, and many round tables had been set out, spread with white cloths and silver utensils. Crystal goblets sat next to clear water glasses, all awaiting the first of the big shots to arrive.

The cream of the crop would be here - the Empire's finest would not shy away from supporting the Refugee Fund, even it if made them feel a little squicky. Those in the know would be two-faced about it, as they understood that the Empire was responsible for the destruction of the inhabited planet, and those not in the know would spend their time getting drunk on the wine and arguing about "those damn Rebels."

Sasseeri didn't care. Her platinum hair was fixed just so, her milky brown skin was smooth and silky in the soft lighting of the ballroom, and she was poured into an impossibly clingy dress with a slit up to there. She would have a gaggle of officers hanging on her every word. After all, she was half human.

She moved into the gaming rooms, inspecting her employees who were standing at their tables, immaculate in their white uniforms. Sasseeri smiled at the males, and ignored the females. They were all pretty, but their plain uniforms ensured that she was the brightest presence in the casino. Her tufted ears pricked at the sounds of the first arrivals. Sorsha Kasajian would be among the first to arrive, and they would start their dance.

Opposing Vigo's of what remained of the late Price Xizor's Black Sun empire, each female was pushing for the top spot in the organization. As it was, Sorsha and her Black Sun Rodians were just as powerful as Sasseeri's group of casino barons and spice smugglers. It simply would not do.

Sasseeri removed the frown from her face as the first guest arrived. "Ah, so glad you could make it, Generrral." She warmly shook the Imperial officer's hand, and escorted him to the ballroom, hanging on his arm and pointing out the transparisteel cathedral ceiling of the casino. The sunset was brilliant, and cast a soft glow on everything.

Tonight would be a night to remember.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha made her entrance, in contrast to her rival, wearing an elegant eastern style kimono of expensive rodian silk. Absent were her usual company of enforcers, except for the nebari that was always at her side. The rest, she decided, would filter in, and Sasseeri would have to spend the rest of the night trying to guess exactly who they were. She bowed in respectful greeting to the hostess, then made her way to a table with Tirsa by her side ::

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri simply smiled and nodded her head in Kasajian's direction, and returned her attention to the general. "jI'm surrre you'll forrrgjive me, jI must rrreturrrn to my dutjies as hostess."

After a few obligatory pecks on the cheek, she was released to return to mingling among the guests who were arriving.

[Tiberius Anar]

A large, heavily armoured limosine in the company of several escort vehicles pulled up at the main enterance. With lightning speed the doorman was alongside it and opening the door, from the dimly lit interior stepped a thin, elegant figure with white hair and aquiline features.

Tiberius Anar cast a look around his surroundings, taking in the imposing entrance of the casino. He thought the lights that decorated the building were a little guady and the style of the architecture a little too eclectic, but who was he to judge? Clearly he was a little out of touch with fashion- afterall this was a fashionable place for the elite of Imperial Centre to while away their time.

Dismissing these thoughts with a mental snort, he turned to assist his companion make her exit from the passenger compartment.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Already, Miranda could hear amidst the background noise the media scrambling at Anar's arrival. Both her and the Chancellor were informed that the Nabooian Queen's security would allow reporters within an allotted distance so they would be mere gnats of minor annoyance instead of the usual swarming mass. Of course they would still be close enough to throw out questions, the media wouldn't stand to be censored.

A hand gloved in black satin, which matched the elegant evening gown worn, reached out to accept the assistance and Miranda smiled softly to her escort, "Thank you, Chancellor."

She slinked her arm around Anar's, who was graciously leading the way up the red-carpeted stairway. The two of them had received separate invitations to the charity event, but in light of recent events, they had decided to attend together in public as a show of unity for the Empire. A not so common citizen, but a citizen nonetheless, and the arguably most powerful politician on Coruscant made for quite a topic discussion. But then, Anar did admit to her that he wasn't really good at these sorts of things. Miranda was happy to oblige in that regards. Parties weren't for everyone.

"Madame Tarkin?!" A young woman reporter was trying to get her attention. She was only noticed because she was the loudest.

Miranda turned towards Anar and chuckled, "Already it begins." With an even wider smile, she looked toward the general direction of her name and gave the audience a friendly wave to placate them. She wouldn't answer any questions tonight unless incessantly prodded, and Miranda was quite certain Anar felt the same.

[Chase Merik]

The doors lifted in unison from the air speeders in front and behind Chancellor Anar's limousine. For the sake of the cameras and to maintain a social atmosphere, stormtrooper presence -- or at least their visiblity -- was kept to a minimum. Instead only a small handful of officers filed out onto the landing pad, decked out in full dress Imperial black, medals and all.

Lt. Chase Merik stood back by the front sedan, cooly looking over the area as Anar and Tarkin took their holo op. He straightened his uniform and raised his wrist up, softly calling for a check in from all security teams.

Satisfied by the prompt replies, he shifted his optics to scan for transmitters one more time. Not that he was incredibly worried about Anar's -- or especially Tarkin's -- safety by any stretch, but he'd lucked out too big in getting this assignment. He had to do it right.

If this night went smoothly, his superiors would maintain their faith in him as a consistent professional. It was important that they never learn his alterior motives, though. This was no time to have his cover blown by an unauthroized op or rogue Rebel trying crash the party.

[Karuna Kaa]

Along side the Imperials, and the hostesses employees, there was the expected and obligatory handful of the ‘nobility’ of the galaxy. Not royalty or heroes by any means, they were simply the faces that the citizens of the Empire saw every day. They read the news, they sold you breakfast cereal, they championed your favorite sports team. A benefit dinner drew them out like moths to a flame, as there were photo opportunities a plenty to bolster their careers – though some were here for genuine, sympathetic reasons.

Karuna Kaa was not one of them. Though she played the part of the mourner marvelously, dressed in modest black silk, she was here for purely selfish reasons. It wasn’t often that the high-society of the galaxy came together. So rare was the opportunity to brush shoulders with the likes of Chancellor Anar that Karuna simply couldn’t pass it up.

As she walked amongst the guests, offering smiles and brief kind words, she spotted one of the people she had been just dying to get her hands on. Effortlessly and gracefully parting the sea of reporters ahead, Karuna greeted her target with two continental kisses on the cheek.

“Miranda, darling. I’m so glad you decided to come.”

Her eyes turned to Tiberius for a moment, and the smile she wore seemed to somewhat mischievous, if only for a second.

“Both of you, come with me, there’s so much to talk about… and you simply have to try the wine. Fantastic vintage!”

[Kelt Simoson]

Donning nothing spectaculer at all, Kelt was wearing his black leather jacket and sporting casual jeans. He could really never see the point in dressing up elegantly when you had a perfectly nice pair of jeans and jacket that looked nice enough. Ether way really he could care less.

Smoking a stim as per usural the Vigo slid his speeder into a decent parking space as quickly as possible, nearly knocking over a fat rodian who argued with Kelt about the near hit all the way down to the front of the ball room.

'Will you, for the love of mine and your sanity, bugger off'' Kelt had never in his life heard a Rodian jabber on so much about complete and utter rubbish, and Kelt due to Sorshas contacts had spoken to many.

Just as Kelt tried to step in the security stopped him.

' Dress code sir...'

' Dress code?'' Kelt retorted. ' This is my dress code''

' It is formal wear only, Sir.' The big guy said, his hand out to Kelts chest making a point of stopping him.

' Dude-'' Kelt began taking a step towards the security gaurd who probably measured a height of 6'7, Kelt looked right up into his face. '- I have had a very bad day, and if you dont let me in, son, i shall make your;es quite alot worse, you get me? I'm expected by Miss Kasajian, if you want to frell her off thats up to you, mate.''

The security contemplated this for a moment dumbly before nodding Kelt into the entrance.

' Thank you'' Kelt passed both security gaurds smiling and just as he was out of ear shot he lit a stim, instantly his smile vanished ' Gits...''

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

She was the hostess, although she had lobbied strenuously for the Nabooian Queen to be considered by the board of the charity foundation.

And there was Simosen, in classic underground fashion, smoking a stim!? Sasseeri sidled up to him, and slipped her arm in his. He started, and frowned as she plucked the stim from his lips. "Sjimosen, so glad you could make jit. But.. wherrre jis yourrr sujit?"

Her bodyguards, twin twi'leks who stood at three metres tall, seemed to appear in front of them from no where. They were both smartly dressed in proper apparel. "My frrrjiends wjill see you to the back rrrooms. And, don't make a fuss. jI'm surrre they'll fjind you somethjing to wearrr that wjill be morrre... apprroprrrjiate."

Sasseeri stuck the stim back between his lips, and patted him on the rear as the twi'lek's took his arms. "Sorrrrsha would not be pleased to fjind you herrre, lookjing ljike a parrrty crrrasherrr. And - smokjing jis only allowed jin the gamjing arrreas, and not at all durrrjing thjis functjion."

Guests filtered by them, and Sasseeri could see Tiberius Anar and his arm candy being accosted by a blond woman who looked like she'd already drank too much expensive wine. "jIf you'll excuse me, Sjimosen." The twi'leks escorted him towards the kitchens.

[Sting]

Sting came in dressed in black..
Of course his mask was absent. He entered his blond hair and blue eye's painted him the very image of handsome. He did not care for any of that though. Sting's only goal in life was money, power and respect and he would kill, lie and cheat to get it. Let other people be the bottom feeders of society. He loathed those who lacked the ambition to become the elite.

He mingled and to his second shock that month. He ran into the female imperial that had ruined the Pit fight earlier that week..

'Miranda Tarkin' He would mark that name. He would need to do a background check on her later. She turned up at all the right place's a little to conveintly. Sting did not believe in coincidences. Not at all...

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar's face was a mask of perfect politeness as he was led across the ball room, but for a moment it slipped. For a split second he turned towards Miranda with a look that said simply, Get me away from this woman!

The blonde who had ambushed him was clearly teetering on the edge of inebriation and the party had barely started. He dreaded the possibility of some embarrassment casued by too much wine and too little discretion.

[Kelt Simoson]

The two twi'leks escorted Kelt by way of having there arms in his and practicaly lifting him off the ground. Standing at only five feet eleven it was hardly unimaginible to guess that Kelt did not control his own foward motion. It was only when the three were half way through the kitchens where many of the staff were working that Kelt had a sneaking suspition that this was not going to go well at all.

Kelt was litrally then thrown through a pair of doors from the kitchen into a room that was dark and smelt roughtly of a mixture between rot and mold, both twi'leks following him in closing the door behind them.

The room was not exsactly what Kelt would call a walk in wardrobe. It consisted of stone walls, un painted and a large table in the middle, most likely where the meat had been chopped due to the blood pooled on its surface, or human depending on the cat womans victims. On each side of room, meat hung on hooks, as suspected, not a wardrobe at all.

' Well fellas' um, do you know where i can get dressed?' Kelt asked nervously as the two tentical heads advanced on him.

The twi'lek on Kelts left pushed him against the wall and the one on Kelts right throw a punch into Kelts stomerch which hit home and winded Kelt so badly that he doubled over.Then one of them grabbed Kelts coat, ripped it off over the top of his head and then kicked him into the table which sent the Vigo sprawling over the top of it.

From the kitchens, with little concern all the staff could here were grunts and sounds of pain from Kelts mouth, which they gladly ignored.

[Nayala Palain]

Seeing how it was a relif effort, Nayala smiled as she and her escort deaprted from the elegant hover car that brought them to the building from the space port. She was dressed in a soft yellow evening gown, white lace and satin mixed gloves. Her chestnut hair done up on a swept look. Her escort dressed in a fine tux and gloves to match, he carried a onyx topped walking stick.

As they reached the door the personal asked for her name.

" Nayala Palain. I am here to show that Balmorra wishes to offer its help."

She handed the lady 1,500 credits from her purse. 1,000 for the dinner tag of the meal and the other 500 for good show.

Her heeled shoes clicked lighty as another person this time a male showed them to their seats. :: Right this way please Ms. Palain :: Naya's eyes scanned everyone she was close enough to see. The man that had escorted Naya and her well escort pulled out the chair for her to seat at. Doing so she smiled, and tipped the man for his fine service. Her 'date' for no better term of the word took his seat at her right. He ordered them both a glass of red wine then the chance came about. As her eyes scanned the room she had noticed a few others she had seen at a few events held on Balmorra but she didnt bother to make them notice her.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

The holonews personality, Karuna Kaa, had Anar firmly in her clutches and the trio were soon too far away for Sasseeri to get close. Too bad, really.

She checked her silvery wrist chrono, and knew that Sorsha would probably want to talk to her before the speeches started. Plenty of tjime. Sasseeri gritted her teeth and patted the arm of a doting matron who was rich enough to buy ten Nabooian Queen's without blinking. "So good of you to come. Yes, yes, jI jumped at the chance to host thjis yearrrs djinnerrr."

"After ... what happened..." The matron's jowls jiggled with indignation, "We're starting a new foundation, you know, for widows and orphans of the Endor -"

Sasseeri was bored already. "jI'm sorrrrry, please excuse me, jI see ourrr speakerrr has arrrjived." She escaped into the growing crowd.

[Grym Kandle]

Sasseeri stepped into the growing crowd and almost into the two figures waiting for her. Grym Kandle and Bambi Maddox had arrived from a much more quieter entrance and had kept their profiles relatively low as guests to the event. Grym stood to Bambi's side, his arm hooked as he had escorted her through the crowd. His mask and hood were donned, as always, regardless of the situation. The cloak though was designed to more of flare than his usual, bearing a rough and yet sharp look to it. The mask was ivory, unchanged, the red orbs that made its eyes sparkling amidst the ball room lights. The suit beneath was a pale white that matched the color of the mask. It was quite visibly made of bleached trandoshan hide.

Grym slid his arm out of Bambi's and gave a slight bow to Sasseeri. The official records read Grym as a philanthropist, a small time in the big leagues but an individual who played his cards right in the Outer Rim in the galactic leagues of pod and swoop racing. Sasseeri was recieving her normal tribute but this time the funds were being easily transferred through her hosted event.

Grym spoke with his head still inclined to his newly acquired syndicate boss.

"A fair evening, Hostess. I'm glad to see you are enjoying your guests so much and still have enough time to greet two unimportant donators as ourselves."

Grym's voice echoed humility and still the arrogance of the crowd typical of this congregation.

The two had not been working for Sasseeri for very long but just connecting into the web of Black Sun had given Grym's spice business quite a jump in net profits. From what records Grym had seen, at least in his sector, his predecessor had been lacking in the proper entrepreneurship skills. To see the Crime Lord in such a different light was not that shocking to Grym, everyone wore masks, but it was interesting nonetheless.

[Miranda Tarkin]

The reporter Kaa was well known to Miranda, far more then the sauced woman could suspect. She caught a glimpse of Anar's expression and knew she had to intercede quickly so the Chancellor could feel at ease again.

"Karuna," Miranda gently slipped her arm out of Kaa's hold. "We'd love to chat with you later but the Chancellor has yet to meet the rest of the guests. It would be far from polite if he ignored them, but I promise we'll get together later and try that vintage."

She flashed a pearly white smile and snatched up Anar's arm, leading him away from Kaa and into the growing assemblage of people. When Tarkin was sure they were far enough away from the reporter, she reached over and patted Anar's shoulder, "See? Nothing to worry about."

[Tiberius Anar]

"You say that now," said Anar through his smile, "but you have not seen what is bearing down upon us."

His eyes looked in the direction of a rather corpulent woman headed towards them. He felt Miranda shift their course with a barely perceptible pressure, steering them towards a group across the room.

[Sting]

Sting turned and bumped into a couple. A man with a white mask and a blonde hottie. Some women had no taste. He had to admit his suit was sharp though. "Must be scarred bad." Sting thought to himself. Why else would he wear a mask... "Excuse me." Sting said politely.

Sting then smiled to himself. Because he realized he did to conceal his identity. He followed Ms. Tarkin and this Tiberius discreetly. Hoping to glean a little more about who she was and more importantly what she was doing here.

[Bambi Maddox]

Apparelled in classic white slacks and matching form-fitting white blazer, Bambi Maddox complimented her escort's attire in feminine contrast. But where Grym preferred the anonymity of his mask and hood, Bambi preferred to flaunt her more visible features. She wore her blone mane loose and her generous lips red. Her long, long legs looked even more so, ending in a pair of strappy high heels. She was head, and often shoulders, taller than most females (and not a few men) and she in no way apologised for it. Standing tall and loud, without even trying, Bambi was not the type of girl to come to a party and not expect to get noticed.

Politely, she added her murmured hello to Grym's greeting of Sasseeri, but her attention was quickly drawn by the fellow who jostled by them. She accepted his pardon with the barest nod of her head.

Bambi was used to flying with the lower altitude set and tonight was about as far removed from that as she could get. At least in the material end of things. She was in no way under the delusion of the character of individuals she would be rubbing shoulders with tonight, and the thought was a little thrilling.

Belatedly, she realised she had tuned out of the conversation between the Cizerack Vigo and Grym and chastened herself for being so easily distracted. Blinking herself back into concentration, Maddox smiled blankly at them and tried to pick up the thread of what was being said..

[Kelt Simoson]

' Now fellas' that was not a nice thing to do...' Kelt said making an appearence by standing up from behind the table. The two Twi'leks began to advance toward Kelt each one of them going different ways around the table so Kelt was boxed in. Uh, not this again.

To Kelt's right a body of meat hung from a hook, a carcass that was ready to be chopped and cooked. Kelt quickly made a quick dash to it and pushed it as hard as he could into the twi'lek comeing around that side of the table, the twi'lek was hit by the carcass and was sent careering into the wall.

Ducking under the rebound swing of the meat kelt turned on his heel and pushed the meat in the direction of his secon attacker who, on seeing what happned to his friend, dodged the meat flying towards him easily.

Saying nothing at all the blue skinned agressor grabbed hold on Kelts shirt and lifted him off of the ground as easily as lifting a feather. Kelt was about to smash the guy in the head with a fist, which he suspect wouldent hurt him at all when all of a sudden The Black Sun Vigo tilted his head around the twi'lek and raised a brow the twi'lek turned his head just in time to view the slab of meet on its way back which slammed both Kelt and the bodygaurd over.

Kelt landed on his back while the falling twi'lek cracked his head open on the table as he fell, knocking himself out entirly. Just as this happend the first twi'lek came storming over towards the downed Kelt who by this time had grabbed a hook from the box of hooks conveneintly placed under the table, taking a gigantic swipe the hook inbedded itself in the ankle of the on coming tentical head which made him fall over, rendering him incapible of running.

Getting up, Kelt left both twi'leks on the floor both out cold and thanking who ever was watching over the Vigo for getting him out of that relitivly unscaved.

Moments later Kelt exited from the back room wearing a slightly over sized tuxedo, lit another stim and joined the rest of the party with slightly bemused looks from the guests as he folded up the cuffs of his dragging jacket.

In the backroom a twi'lek had been stripped of his suit, unknown to him or his partner who were both on the floor tied up against eachother back to back, out cold.

[Phantom]

With his arms folded tightly over his chest Lucian sat soundlessly beside his date, the queen of Balmorra and close personal friend Nayala Palain. A look of utter boredom and contempt played upon his face. He absolutely despised social gatherings, where the pompous, so called elite of the Empire pretended to care about something other then themsleves, when all they actually did was boast to one another about their fanatical gains, or their newly acquired exotic estates or their new business venues; they were all sheep being led to the slaughter. The Empire would surly come to ruin if these were the type of people leading it. Though he was indeed bored, he was not careless, his nearly black eyes constantly scanned the ever growing crowds, watching for any possible threat. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the wine he had ordered was brought to their table, raising his glass slightly he nodded to Naya, before inhaling its contents entirely. The sooner this night was over the better, he could careless for the people of Alderaan.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha watched quietly from her table as other guests arrived, and raised a brow as Miranda entered with Tiberius Anar. Her attention was drawn away however, as Kelt finally made his way to the table. She trapped him in her gaze and sneered at the stim in his hand ::

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

"A fair evening, Hostess. I'm glad to see you are enjoying your guests so much and still have enough time to greet two unimportant donators as ourselves."

Sasseeri smiled prettily, her white teeth perfectly straight. "You arrre both welcome. Perrrhaps afterrr the speeches arrre concluded we can take some tjime away frrrom the crrrowd to talk furrrtherrr."

Grym's little operation was growing quickly under her care and with her connections. There was always business to discuss, including a small problem with the Sisar Run. "Please enjoy yourrrselves. Therrre arrre a grrreat many jinfluentjial people herrre, and jI'm surrre you'll make some jinterrrestjing aqujiantances."

As they walked through the crowd, Sasseeri eyed the tall blond. She was statuesque, and garnered more than a little attention.

[Bambi Maddox]

Speeches? There were going to be speeches?

Bambi received the news with dismay.

What a downer. Grym never told her there'd be speeches.

Bambi decided her only hope to endure the night was to get very drunk.

Her hopes lifted, however, as Sasseeri mentioned jinterrrestjing aqujiantances.

"Any one you can suggest?" she asked the Vigo with a grin.

[Telan Desaria]

I am late, but fashionably so. I do enjoy an entrance.


Some had chosen to arrive in repulsor limousines, others in extravagant personal vehicles built for speed or at the whim of style. Not the Grand Admiral who was summoned as a representative of the Imperial Navy. Escorted by a flight of new but powerful TIE Vipers, he sat comfortably in the belly of a Lambda-class Shuttle sufficiently polished and painted to glisten and gleam as spot lights traced her hull. The wings folded gracefully, the landing strust extended and she was down. With a hiss of pneumatiuc pressure the landing ramp made contact with the ferrocrete and down strode the youngest member of the Twelve.


By now, much of the entourage at the van had started to dissipate, but the in-bound shuttle had brought them back and they let loose a flurry of holo-recorder flashes to match any cannonade in naval history. Baron Desaria wore the white uniform of his rank and the gold-braided epaulettes also entitled a Grand Admiral. At his neck was the four-pointed Knight's Cross - the highest decoration attainable by an officer; Desaria's bore two senior grades to it, Pforr Leaves and Sabres. Three crests adorned his tunic below his rank plaque belying his aristocratic title, tactical prowess, and meritorious service. In keeping with his reputation, the Grand Admiral wore a p-38 blaster-pistol at his side in a holster of polished leather. Cutting quite a dashing figure, the assembled press were relentless in their questions. He just waved them off and marched beyond the threshold where the evening's activities were already underway.


Desaria marched into the ball room with a smile on his face, though it was more of a disguise of his true feelings. As an aristocrat he loved the pomp and circumstance of any gala affair, but here would be those he hated most - the Empire's politicians. A few had earned his respect while most held his ire. Beings of all kinds sauntered about from humans to humanoids to obvious aliens. The Grand Admiral waded in summoning his wealth of courage and prepared himself for the onslaught.

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri's eyes tracked away from Bambi as the newly promoted Grand Admiral Desaria strode into the main ballroom. "Ah, well, jI'm surrre you'll fjind the jinterrrrestjing ones."

She clicked her fingers and sent over two of the most handsome young men in the casino to take care of the Grand Admiral's needs. One took his overcoat, the other his drink order. Sasseeri did want the military to feel comfortable while they were here, at least inspite of the subject matter.

"A famous fashjion desjignerrr, Varrrgo the Hutt jis comjing. jI would rrrreccomend talkjing to hjim. He'll just adorrre yourrr fjigurrre, Mjiss Maddox." Sasseeri beamed at them both before excusing herself to make sure everything was going well behind the scenes.

[Bambi Maddox]

Sasseeri departed from them, turning heads as she passed through the crowded room.

"Well" Bambi quipped to Grym, "time to aquaint myself with the bar tender"

Grym touched her lightly on the arm. A warning touch. In this den of vipers dressed as socialites in diamonds, she needed to be wary.

She smiled at him, reassuring him.

"I'll be back in two shakes of a Tauntaun's tail"

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar was making a show of being deep in conversation with Miranda, the better to avoid the blonde woman who had molested him earlier. As she passed by he breathed a sigh of relief. This was not his usual social circle. He looked around hoping to find someone- anyone- who he could call one of his own. His eyes landed on someone and a small smile curled his lips.

"My dear, I see someone you must meet," he said to the surprised Miranda and whisked her in the direction of the Baron Desaria. Not exactly a friend, but better than most of this crowd.

[Miranda Tarkin]

Anar taking the initiative did surprise Tarkin somewhat, but it had to be an individual that the Chancellor was familiar with. Her eyes darted about the general direction in which she was led and when her eyes fell upon Desaria, a small confident smile came, "I've heard he recently returned home."

She looked over at her escort in curiosity, "Old friends are you?"

[Grym Kandle]

Grym sighed as Bambi merged with the crowd and the incessant buzzing of social jabber. Many things could be... uncovered in such an event but that was not Grym's forte at all. In fact, all he really wanted at the moment was a stimstik but Sasseeri's comment of Vargo the Hutt had put him on edge. There was no frelling way Bambi would be going anywhere near Hutts.

Grym had past bias against the slugs and the crime monopolies in the Outer Rim. Coming from an often Core World syndicate background, the Hutts had been a nuisance there, but here... They had their fat fingers in just about anything and everything. Grym was aware that Black Sun most likely had dealings with them but still did not mean he had to like them in the least.

And his, most likely, over protective feelings toward Bambi were not just of biased principle. She had been a dancer, and the slugs liked to burn through slave dancers like Grym did glitterstim. One slug gets greedy, a large group of thugs show up to retrieve her, and then what? Resist, murder, and run. Then they'd have a bounty on both of them in the Outer Rim and Grym didn't need that at all. But he was jumping to conclusions, and way too fast. These people and their social "masks" were disturbing him. He'd find a seat and light up the second he could.

[Tiberius Anar]

Anar's social mask was somewhat less fixed than earlier. He was on firmer ground than earlier as he spoke soto voce to Miranda.

"I would say 'acquantance.' He and I move in similar circles from time to time. And you recall he was of use to us in handling Endor..."

They broke through the milling people into the space occupied by Desaria.

"Admiral!" Anar beamed with half-genuine affection for the man before him, "How good to see you. You're looking well. Especially with those new rank bars!"

[Telan Desaria]

The Baron listened quite carefully as he heard the approaching voice of the Lord High Chancellor - as of now, the ruler of the Empire in all but name. The older gentleman controlled the bureaucratic machinery of a million systems and such a device meant he ruled from behind the curtain. But he ruled, nevertheless. As yet, he had failed to repeat the same mistakes as the Emperor by dabbling in military affairs - thankful, the Fleet granted him every respect.


" Your Excelleny." Baron Desaria bowed deeply and kissed the pro-offered hand of the Lady Tarkin, maintaining the aristocrat air cultivated since birth. " The culmination of a career's work. To say that it feels good to wear white would be an understatement. Now my sons will have an even harder time with their own careers, their father the newest Grand Admiral of the Empire."

[Bambi Maddox]

She squeezed herself to the bar between two well oiled Bith and hailed the tender.

"A Corellian Bonerattler, please. Double the vodka"

One Bith swivelled his head to inspect her as she ordered and Maddox withered him with a practiced sneer. Aint enough vodka in this System, pal-y. The Bith turned back, message received.

The drink was delivered and she slipped over enough creds for two more.

"You better keep those coming, bud" she said, fortifying herself for the impending speeches.

[Tiberius Anar]

"Ah, yes your sons," said Anar politely. Then, turning to Miranda he explained, "The Admiral's sons are most admirable young men. They have followed in their father's footsteps by serving their Emperor in the armed forces."

A waiter came past with champagne- Anar liberated a glass for himself and one for Miranda.

"How are they at the moment? I recall seeing one of them gazzetted last month."

[Telan Desaria]

The Grand Admiral had honestly not expected the Lord High Chancellor of the Empire to know anything of his sons. That he did struck an odd chord but one Baron Desaria quickly dismissed.


" They are well. In fact, Firam, my middle-son, has just achieved his captaincy in the Fleet. But you speak of Mikell - his battalion routed a Rebel sortie from its base on Vlax, effectively handing them their hat. He was awarded the Imperial Cross for his actions, the first of my children to do so."

[Sasseeri Reeouurra]

Sasseeri slunk through the room, her dress whispering against suits as she murmured her hellos to those it was prudent not to ignore. There was a big man with a ponytail standing a discreet distance from the gaming tables. She tracked his line of sight and saw Sorsha Kasajian sitting at her table entertaining a wide variety of males.

The Vigo tsked at the sight, and caught the human female's eye. They shared a tense moment, yards apart and surrounded by people. It was interrupted by one of her employees getting everyone's attention.

"Dinner will be served in the main ballroom in ten minutes. Thank you."

"May I escort you, Madame?" An older man, distinguished in Imperial whites and resplendant with medals, offered her his arm.

She looked at it for a moment, and then took it, smiling up at the officer. "Cerrrtajinly, Generrral. But please, call me Sasseerrrji."

[Tiberius Anar]

"Ah," said Anar at the announcement of dinner. "We must part I am afraid, Admiral. I am expected to sit at a particular table I understand. I suspect that these people," he smiled genially in the direction of a former Senator turned arms manufacturer and Party donor, "will have had the forethought or the kindness to place us together."

Bows were echanged and they parted company.

As he took Miranda's to escort her to dinner, Anar muttered to her out of the corner of his mouth, "Well what do you make of the man who saved the fleet at Endor?"

[Telan Desaria]

Wordlessly, the Grand Admiral bowed cordially and accepted the Lady's proffered hand. He placed a kiss gently upon it then released her arm from the grasp of his black gloved hand. The Lord High Chancellor departed into the mass of people. Grand Admiral Desaria turned to find another soldier - any soldier.


Desaria saw a few, but most appeared to be in their own purgatories, discussing things with politicians and fending off the advances off women of the ball who could hardly resist stunning men in uniform. Save General Reticon who seems to forgotten his wife for the feline humanoid. The Grand Admiral chuckled and strode forward after the Chancellor. Deftly appropriating a tall glass of wine from a speeding server-droid, reality set in: he was at the same table...

[Bambi Maddox]

"Stuffy old buzzards"

Bambi twisted her neck to see who had spoken, and immediately regretted it.

One of the Bith who hadn't quite given up the hope of engaging her to some degree was straining shakily forward to speak over her shoulder and into her ear. His breath was not only odious, but hot and blanketed her in a humid wave.

The Bith clarified for her benefit, asuming the pained expression on her face was from incomprehension rather than disgust.

"Those military-types. Like they got broomsticks up their gazoo's with all the bowing and scraping. That one there..." the Bith held up a hand and pointed with his half-full glass, "...he's an Admiral. And the other one's a politician. High Chancellor Anar if Im not mistaken."

Bambi sipped the bonerattler, not quite so bored any more. "You know the Admiral's name?"

The Bith attempted a roguish grin, which looked rather like he had indigestion, "I might.."

In fact, it was almost a certainty the Bith knew who the Admiral was - the race was renowned for their ability to store large amounts of information in a very short amount of time. Not only that, but they have highly developed hearing and are even rumoured to be able to hear frequencies most species are unable to perceive. It was a wonder they had been allowed to attend this event - their abilities making them preternaturally ideal agents for espionage and the like. Bambi would do well to keep that in mind. The crowd she was running with today were not beyond anything, let alone planting an information gleaner in hopes of gaining some advantage over someone, anyone.

However, a good conversation with one of these Bith could probably reveal all kinds of dirt on this current gathering. As far as she was concerned, it was low-risk. She knew nothing worth revealing. Yet.

This fact suddenly seemed to dawn on Maddox and she smiled disarmingly,swivelling about in her chair to turn her charm into high gear.

"C'mon, you know you want to tell me" she poked a finger playfully in the Bith's chest.

The Bith leaned closer in, like a conspiritor. "His name is Desaria. Telan Desaria. Highly decorated. I believe he is a Baron by rite - quite wealthy you know."

"Is that so" she asked, feigning wonder. She had struck gold with this Bith, she was certain and made up her mind to exploit it. But she would have to be careful. She couldnt rush all her questions at once. She wanted to know who the woman was with Anar and Desaria, what their relationship was. So many questions. Instead she opted for the most promising, "So....Who are you having dinner with tonight?"

She flashed another broad smile, which the pale-skinned Bith mirrored back to her, very pleased.