NationStates Jolt Archive

Sion Star System
A brief flash of light tore space open briefly in the Sion star system, and a sleek Ordon Whyatika transport appeared where once there was nothing. The ship's black hull emblazoned with an Ordon symbol along it's side, it cruised past the Apperson sensor stations with a brief radio burst confirming their friendliness.

Bridge
"Master Ajidica, we have passed the first Apperson sensor stations, and we'll be on the planet within half an hour. All cargo checks are confirmed, sensors are reading no other contacts." a sensory officer read off of his screen.

"Fine." the Master said, not even looking at the officer. "Increase speed, I'm getting impatient."

"Yes, Master." the navigation officer said, pushing a dial forward. The ship shuddered briefly under the acceleration, and managed to level off.

Sion IV
The dark Ordon transport ship descended from the heavens onto the House Apperson world, the heat shielding effectively dispersing the massive strain upon the vessel from entering atmosphere. Retrojets fired, leveling the trajectory off.

The ship slowed down, hovered over it's berth in the Sion spaceport, and dropped into place. Landing struts jutted out, and the ramp extended to allow Master Ajidica and his entourage to exit the transport. A separate, larger cargo ramp extended from the other side, delivering a large shipment of 'gifts' to House Apperson - among them, 300 grams of pure, synthesized thyraza. This wealth could buy an entire star system, but for these purposes, it was an enormous bribe to the leaders of the House. It had taken the Ordon several months to synthesize this amount, neglecting several other, small scale orders for their synthesized product.

But this product had a purpose - It would start a terrible plan, that would either save the Imperium - or destroy it.

Master Fen Ajidica, the fifty-first to go by that name, as well as five other Ordon Whyatika men exited the shuttle, their appearance foreign to the Apperson civilians. They were tall, over two metres in height, with the total blue-in-blue eyes that came with Thyraza addiction. Ajidica said calmly to a waiting Apperson guard, "I am Master Fen Ajidica of the Ordon Whyatika. I am here for a..conference with your leaders."

The Apperson guard nodded, his jaw locked as if by steel bolts. He motioned Fen to follow him, entering a squat bunker and proceeding into an elevator. Special arrangements had been made for this meeting, and special care had been taken to ensure that the guard would not talk. While choosing a mute for this mission may have been excessive, it seemed the most logical thing to do. The guard pulled open a small panel in the elevator wall and pressed a button, taking a step back. The elevator was flooded with brilliant blue light, and a high pitched whirring sound seemed to pulsate for a few seconds. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. The guard went over and checked the panel once more, pressing the button to begin the long descent. Only once this elaborate scanning process was complete would the elevator move, any attempt to move it without a scan would result in the elevator being dropped almost a vertical mile.

The elevator came to a stop deep beneath the surface, and opened up onto a small loading platform for an underground tube system. Such systems were all to common on Houseworlds, though they would offer no protection from the ever-present threat of Fractal-C Weaponry. However, the psychological effects

The guard motioned Fen onto a waiting tram and pressed a recessed button, stepping off as the tram built up speed. Fen would travel for a few minutes along the track before he finally reached the basement entrance to the Duke's Palace. More guards led him up several stairways and along numerous corridors, all made of the same cold gray stone. The place looked as if it could survive orbital bombardment, and there was some truth to that supposition. One didn't find bunkers much stronger than a House's main palace. Finally, after several minutes of walking, he entered a room with lofty ceilings and a long table, and knew that he had reached the meeting room.

There were wooden rafters above his head, a tremendous expense, and some of the finest and rarest items in the galaxy scattered about the room. Ivory from this quadrant, a tapestry from that, one of the great books of this age, and even an ornate chandelier from one of the most capable glass cutters alive. Portraits lined the walls,

As Fen looked about at the innumerable excesses of House Apperson, the huge wooden double doors at the end of the hall slammed open. "Fen Ajidica," Called out Emrys Apperson, striding powerfully through the doorway towards him, "I understand you wish to speak to me personally. Well, here I am, let's talk."

Ajidica sized the man standing ahead of him up, his piercing blue eyes staring.

"Duke Apperson. I am Master Fen Ajidica of the Ordon Whyatika. You may have heard of my order before, but it is..unlikely. I have a proposition for you and your House that may make us both..fabulously wealthy." the Master said, pausing for dramatic effect.

"My order produces things that are..taboo, to say the least, in the Imperium. Clones, computers, genetically engineered animals, and that's not even scratching the surface. We have recently come across a formula that may be of interest to you, in exchange for a favor.."

Duke Emrys looked Fen Ajidica over with a wary eye, scowling deeply inwardly. Clones.... horrid abominations of the most foul perversions of human thought. He could almost smell the "clone-ness" on him, it dripped about his every move. They were the most wretched things in all of creation, and the mere sight of one in his hall made him want to spit. They were a damned race, condemned to live out the lives of another, and he simultaneously pitied and loathed them. He should call the guards at once and have this thing drawn and quartered, in the old Imperial way.

However.... he promised wealth. And wealth meant Thyraza, the only real measure of wealth left, especially if Emrys correctly identified what the clone appeared to be holding. Plus, it was nigh impossible to obtain these 'taboo' items for when they were...... distastefully necessary. It took years and thousands of forms to obtain anything even slightly genetically engineered, even something as innocent as a drought resistant species of corn. Though he had a few..... 'items'..... should the need ever arise to use them.

"Alright, from what you're holding and what you're saying, you've interested me." Emrys motioned Fen to take a seat, sitting down opposite him. It was a mindless formality, but the table helped him form an imaginary wall between himself and the...... dare he think it again? The clone.

"I'm sure this formula, which you will doubtlessly inform me about soon, will be of incredible interest. But what is it you desire in return? Gifts are never gifts, I've been a Duke too long to be of that notion. What are you interested in giving, and what do you wish in return?"

"Understand, Duke Emrys, that I know you would rather shoot me right now than be in the presence, because I'm a clone. However, I can bring your House back to it's former glory, and riches to both of us." Fen said, sitting down carefully.

"I'm sure you know about the need for Thyraza in the Imperium, Duke. The current price of a gram of Thyraza is over 600,000 credits. A handful of it can buy a planet. You yourself show the signs of addiction to Thyraza," the Master said, putting a fifty gram container of Thyraza on the table, "this can feed your habit for several weeks. My order is capable of producing Thyraza, one of the few factions that can."

Ajidica paused, debating whether he can really make the business arrangement with this Duke. The Ordon already had orders to destroy Sion if Ajidica didn't return, and raise a new clone of the Ordon Master, but still, it made him a little uneasy.

"Here is the deal, Duke. We will give your House the capability to produce artificial Thyraza, and in return, we will ask your house for..certain favours when it comes time for Imperial Council. If you accept this first deal, I have a second proposition for you that can make House Apperson the most powerful House in the Imperium.."