Post by John Hammond on Mar 1, 2009 17:27:31 GMT
Hammond sat in the throne, with the Moff governors sitting in holographic chairs, and, at the other side of the holographic table, the Honourable Assembly of the Corporate Sector.
"Supreme Commander Hammond, your blockade of the Corporate Sector is outrageous! We have done nothing to your Empire, nor do we plan to. What gives you the right to cut off all of our trade, in fact, to cut off all of our supplies and life support?" The Tradesman spoke heatedly, forgetting he was in the tactically weker position. Hammond smiled slightly; the Sector was cornered, and they wouldn't resist losing much more of their precious money any longer.
"Your Sector trades with the Republic, our current war enemy. As such, you are responsible for helping their war efforts. I want this to change."
"We don't deal with pirates! Word has gone around you assassinated the honourable Grand Admiral, Hammond! You speak of the Empire, but you yourself are a traitor. Why shou-"
"ENOUGH!" Hammond slammed his fist on the table, making every hologram in the room sputter for a moment. "I never killed the Grand Admiral. In fact, I never even met him. I was woken to protect this Empire, and this I shall do, to my last breath. Now, as for you, pathetic scum of the Corporate Sector, the reason you should-" Hammond took a deep breath, and resumed, slightly more calmly, "The reason you should trust me is because I have assembled four battlegroups to invade your Sector the moment this conversation is over. Their task is not to conquer, just to wreak havoc. You have two choices: Betray the Republic who hasn't helped you, who has taken your money, or become my allies. I assure you, once you sign this treaty, Ruuria will have free passage once more." In fact, the Ruuria fleets had already been, mainly, removed, but the cowards, who didn't dare lose any more of their ships, hadn't noticed.
The Corporate Sector politicians talked. They argued between themselves, and Hammond could see they became more agitated by the second. Suddenly, one of them spoke:
"If we join you, we get unlimited trade. What do you get out of it, Commander?"
"You have a large fleet of Carrack Cruisers, Crusader Class Corvettes and Starblaze Lancers, as well as some Confederate Head Ships and Droid Armies. I want complete control over all of them, and over all of your resources."
A dumbstruck silence.
"What? You would take all of our defenses?"
"Yes. Don't worry, you will not need them, I assure you."
Once more, the Corporate Sector argued. They motioned, and shouted, then muttered, stood up and sat back down. Finally, they stopped quibbling.
"Our fleets and armies are all under your command. The Corporate Sector will submit itself to Empire Rule." And the hologram disappeared.
One of the Moffs turned to Hammond.
"You played it close, Hammond. All we have left is Beta-1, and some starfighter transports. What would you have done if they had declared war on us?".
Hammond turned, and smiled,
"I would have crushed them. Just like Coruscant."
Hammond stood up, and, with his cape swirling around his battle armour, exited the Throne Room.
"Supreme Commander Hammond, your blockade of the Corporate Sector is outrageous! We have done nothing to your Empire, nor do we plan to. What gives you the right to cut off all of our trade, in fact, to cut off all of our supplies and life support?" The Tradesman spoke heatedly, forgetting he was in the tactically weker position. Hammond smiled slightly; the Sector was cornered, and they wouldn't resist losing much more of their precious money any longer.
"Your Sector trades with the Republic, our current war enemy. As such, you are responsible for helping their war efforts. I want this to change."
"We don't deal with pirates! Word has gone around you assassinated the honourable Grand Admiral, Hammond! You speak of the Empire, but you yourself are a traitor. Why shou-"
"ENOUGH!" Hammond slammed his fist on the table, making every hologram in the room sputter for a moment. "I never killed the Grand Admiral. In fact, I never even met him. I was woken to protect this Empire, and this I shall do, to my last breath. Now, as for you, pathetic scum of the Corporate Sector, the reason you should-" Hammond took a deep breath, and resumed, slightly more calmly, "The reason you should trust me is because I have assembled four battlegroups to invade your Sector the moment this conversation is over. Their task is not to conquer, just to wreak havoc. You have two choices: Betray the Republic who hasn't helped you, who has taken your money, or become my allies. I assure you, once you sign this treaty, Ruuria will have free passage once more." In fact, the Ruuria fleets had already been, mainly, removed, but the cowards, who didn't dare lose any more of their ships, hadn't noticed.
The Corporate Sector politicians talked. They argued between themselves, and Hammond could see they became more agitated by the second. Suddenly, one of them spoke:
"If we join you, we get unlimited trade. What do you get out of it, Commander?"
"You have a large fleet of Carrack Cruisers, Crusader Class Corvettes and Starblaze Lancers, as well as some Confederate Head Ships and Droid Armies. I want complete control over all of them, and over all of your resources."
A dumbstruck silence.
"What? You would take all of our defenses?"
"Yes. Don't worry, you will not need them, I assure you."
Once more, the Corporate Sector argued. They motioned, and shouted, then muttered, stood up and sat back down. Finally, they stopped quibbling.
"Our fleets and armies are all under your command. The Corporate Sector will submit itself to Empire Rule." And the hologram disappeared.
One of the Moffs turned to Hammond.
"You played it close, Hammond. All we have left is Beta-1, and some starfighter transports. What would you have done if they had declared war on us?".
Hammond turned, and smiled,
"I would have crushed them. Just like Coruscant."
Hammond stood up, and, with his cape swirling around his battle armour, exited the Throne Room.