Contractor's Office

Rising above the city on Nar Shaddaa is the Guild's Headquarters signifying its power in galactic affairs, situated atop this building is the office of the Contractor of the Guild. A large window fills up an entire wall displaying the filthy view of Nar Shaddaa. In front of this window is a large desk where the Contractor sits(facing the room, not the window), surrounding the table are several comfortable leather chairs.

Five stairs lead up to the raised area where the desk and chairs are, inbetween the two flights of stairs is a saplying(though large) Great Tree from Endor. The rest of the room is open and decorated in the style of Endor, in exotic hardwoods, earthy tones and various sculptures, ornaments and decorations of Ewok design. A large Guild logo is branded into the dark brown hardwood floor.

Outside of the room is a secretary's office, controlling all incoming traffic to the Contractor. Noone but on offical business and with special appoitment(exceptions are made, but rarely) is allowed into the office. A door in the right wall(when facing the secretaries office) allows access to a private elevator for the Contractor that gives access to the lower levels of the building, his personal quarters and personal hanger.

The elevator doors loudly screeched open and the pint-sized Contractor walked boldy through. The metal walls were stained by the filth of Nar Shaddaa, the few bright spots shone in defiance to the grime covering the rest of the wall. The condition of the Guild Headquarters frustrated Romanus, he felt a certain pride in his Guild and to see its main building in such a state of filth disturbed him greatly. But he realized soon after the third time of cleaning the walls that on Nar Shaddaa nothing stayed clean from the filth spewing from the streets. So he lived with it, learned to live with it, the only spot he demanded cleanliness was his personal quarters and his office, and luckily for both The Guild and Romanus' sanity he got it.

"Back so soon Contractor?"

Romanus was amazed at the female Twi'leks ability to know he was coming even before he got to her alcove office. Crossing it and looking down into her recessed office he was also amazed at her stuning beauty and seductivness. "Yes, unfortunatly Nawara, though the Cantina was a blast I knew I had piles of work to do."

"So back to the forest, sir?"

Romanus laughed, "Yes, back to the forest of Endor", with this he continued his walk and entered his personal office. He had entered his office a hundred times since its remodeling but even after all that the room still gave him pause. It was no so large as so magnificant. A giant tree, a Great Tree from Endor, dominated the entrance to the room, its grandeur not dimmed by the fact it was only a sapling. A giant window spanned an entire wall allowing the sunlight to brighten and enlighten the room, giving to the hardwoods and earthy colors a vital life. But the center of the room was not the Great Tree, nor the wall-window, no, not even the magificant desk, but the Guild logo branded black into the rich dark browns of the hardwood floor, its power and emminance excentuated by its simplicity and boldness. It begged for attention and, in fulfillment of the minute Contractors wish, it got it. The room spoke of magnificance, granduer, and power, not conflicting with the small, seemingly weak Contractor that occupied it, but complementing him.

It was as Romanus wanted it, a piece of Endor brought to the filth of Nar Shaddaa. One room, a showcase of the power of The Guild.

He had inherited a weak Guild, a player in the politics of mercenaries, a powerplayer yes, but not the powerplayer as its Contractor wanted. His last aborted attempt at mercenary work had taught him one thing: the Contractor cannot be a Bounty Hunter, he is one or the other but cannot be both. It was a sad lesson to learn for Romanus, he had always loved the thrill of the hunt, the thrill of the capture was even better, but he held the mantle of Contractor, it was a heavy responsibility, and he knew galivanting across the galaxy, while enjoyable, would only lead the Guild down the path of decline it was already taking.

"Though I think I will enjoy a little action during the war, whats a war for but enjoyment, anyhow?"

Striding confidently over to the monsterous desk Romanus mounted his chair and got to work. Romanus had always wondered what the Contractor did, there were no soldiers to lead, no diplomacy to conclude and no paperwork to do. Or so he thought.

In fact there were mountains of paperwork and diplomacy, running the Guild was more like running a State than leading soldiers. Diplomacy had to be conducted among states, bring their contracts into the Guild without taking sides, as well as with other mercenary companies. Paperwork, a highly outdated term Romanus decided early on, was neverending as not only the contracts necessary to sustain the thousands of mercenaries under the Guild, but also the day to day running of the Guild passed through his desk. Certainly this last part wasn't necessary, there were subcontractors and dozens of secretaries to handle the paperwork, and Romanus did make use of their services, but he also felt certain things needed his person touch. That was the reason for the mountains of padds covering his desk, to say nothing of the massive pile of information padds under his desk.

Currently only one of those padds interested him, it sat neatly tucked away in one of the desks drawers, the contract on Deltha Darklighter. Once the knowledge reached Romanus that a Sith Master had departed their order he was quick to take action, a former Sith Master would be a powerful asset to the Guild. The prestige and power that the Guild would recieve from this Darth Daux would lift the Guild above any other mercenary company, for why would a state go to a faction that could provide 100 blaster armed mercs when it could go to The Guild which could provide it with a Sith Master! The thought had also occoured the Romanus, quite early on in fact, that a Sith Master working for the Guild would enable the Guild to forge its own interests. Perhaps in time the Exchange would be eclipsed by the power of the Guild, then the possibilities were limitless.

But that seemed a little too far thinking. As his father had taught him, "Don't count your enemy's heads until they lie in your basket." As leader of the largest mercenary faction in the galaxy he had to think about the here and now, and the here and now was war, diplomacy and paperwork, whehter he liked those or not.

He just wished so dearly for SOME excitement in his day...

Con Art nervously opened the doors and walked into the building. He approached the stairs as he was stopped and asked if he had an appointment.
He simply said....

"I am here to see the contractor wether you like it or not..."

Then he walked up and entered the Office were he made eye contact with Romanus

"To Whom it may concern:

The KXC-119 Blaster Rifles delivered to the Guild of Bounty Hunters on 23 May were pronounced defective by our Weaponsmith and are being sent back to Kurious Manufacturing. Your employeee will be released from our custody when Kurious has refunded our full purchase amount and credited our account with 15,000 credits or another load of blaster rifles for our inconvenience.

Hoping to hear from you soon(so is your employee),

Romanus Affectus
CONTRACTOR, GUILD OF BOUNTY HUNTERS"

The small Ewok leaned back in his custom made leather chair and placed his paws behind his head sighing deeply, "Ahhhh, the joys of paperwork, at least it can be exciting sometimes." He chuckled to himself at the incompetence of both the Guilds previous contractor, who had allowed such grievances as the above, and Kurious Manufactering or delivering such garbage. But at least it gave him some entertainment in the day.

Suddenly the swisshing of the Door opening disrupted his pleasant thoughts and a Bothan in full body armor ran into his office. Fluidly grabbing a blaster pistol from beneath his chair and jumping off it, landing softly behind his desk Romanus aimed the pistol at the Bothans wild form. He calmly yelled out, "Personal Security to the Office!"

Smiling the Ewok looked the Bothan in the eyes, "My personal security force will be arriving here in approximately thirty seconds, you have that long to tell me what you are doing here."

No Need to be alarmed... I am just here for 1 reason.... To say goodbye. I will not be taking anything from you anymore.... I Quit te guild. Now you make sure that all of your security leaves this place at once or it is going to end badly for the both of us.... -Ignites light saber- If you catch my jingle you'll put the gun down imideatly.

- takes 2 steps back -

Now. I am leaving the Guild and i am sorry... well not really... i feel the Sith will do me better.... Good bye..... So with that i will leave......

-disengages lightsaber-

Security: Get on the Ground Now!!!!!!

Me: As you wish..... - Jumps out the window behind Romanus and disappears......

"No need to be alarmed, I am just here for 1 reason...to say goodbye. I will not be taking anything from you anymore, I quit the guild." The bothan looked around, "Now you make sure that all of your security leaves this place at once or it is going to end badly for the both of us," suddenly he reached within the folds of his cloak and pulled out a silver tube which he ignited into a long purple lightsaber. Smiling he looked back at Romanus, "If you catch my jingle you'll put the gun down immediately."

Romanus grinned at the young Bothans courage, or stupidity. "Bothan I have defeated foes far greater than you, including my share of Sith that have been trained far more than you have," he laughed at the experience he had with the Sith on Elija, though he knew in his heart he was exagerating his skills with the Sith. Yet he admited this Bothan bounty hunter must be as well, looking him over he seemed hardly a Jedi or Sith, and his ability to get INTO the Guild seemed questionable. Yet he claimed he was in it and wanted out, and seemed to be going about it all the wrong ways.

"Noone ever leaves the Guild, junior, and especially not my threatening the Contractor. I don't know how you got into our fraternity of assassins and at this point I really don't care, but I do know your future." He laughed, "Yes I am granting you your wish, have fun with the Sith by the way, but know you have not heard the last of the Guild of Bounty Hunters," he paused and looked down as he heard his security coming up, "watch behind your back, always. From this day forth you shall never have a day of peace never have a day of rest where you are safe. Sweet Dreams, Bothan, for they shall be your last in this universe. The Guild does not suffer traitors or deserters, and I fear for you that you fit both.

Blaster bolts shot over Romanus as the Bothan jumped agily through the forested office and through the Open window. Romanus shook his head in disgust and walked over to look down the 200 levels to the ground of Nar Shaddaa below.

"My sincerest apologies, Contractor, we were training on Sublevel D when the call came in!"

The ewok turned his head with fire in it, "Alpha Six, you are my best soldier, the best bounty hunter in the Guild sworn to protect me...yet you fail SO miserably. Return to your quarters I'll deal with you later." The Contractor turned back to the large open window, the breeze of Nar Shaddaa waving his fur, "It doesn't matter though, death up here would be merciful, his life will be hell for betraying the Guild..let him live with that."

He turned slowly back to the rest of his shadowy personal guards, a smile on his face as he cotemplated new stratagies and evil thoughts, "The rest of you may return to your training, I'll call for you when the time comes. And I assure you all, it is coming soon."

OOC: I'm not exactly sure what your in character name is Romanus, unless it is simply Romanus. So in this post, thats what I will be calling you.

IC:

Teleq was at the space station, ready to take a flight to Korriban for his final words with Deltha, before they will either, one, be enemies, or two, someday again be allies. This flight was strange. Teleq had never been nervous about something such as a fellow groupie leaving the group before. Maybe it was just the plot behind what he was up to. He stepped on board the newly flown in ship. The inside was nice, no dirt or trash, looked as if it had been newly refurbished or cleaned regularly.

"Valley of the Dark Lords." he spoke to the pilot, without making eye contact. The pilot didn't need it though. The force was strong with Teleq, and he knew better than to cross lines with a Sith. Teleq took several deep breaths, and then sat down. Pretty soon he was sending Romanus a message.

"The meeting with Deltha Darklighter, former Sith, will be located in the Valley of the Dark Lords. It will for sure be the last time he is called a Sith."

He was back at his desk, moving the padds around once again, once again back into the role of a Contractor. The moment of excitement had been fun, and he had relished in the rush of adrenaline once again, the feeling of fright and anger and excitment that all accompany looking down the hole of a blaster. The repair crew had already come and gone and his giant window was yet again in place, though the room still smelled of the fumes of Nar Shaddaa. something only time would fix.

So now Romanuce Affectus, Contractor of the Guild, sat doing the same tedious paperwork he had been doing for the past three months he had sat down as Contractor. He was bored, he was bored of ordering his bounty hunters to make fantastic catches while he sat high in the office signing padds and approving contracts and, worse of all, requisition forms. He needed something more, more than just working...he needed something fun, something exciting, something dangerous. His mind wasnt being stretched 100 stories above Nar Shaddaa, he wasnt having to think on his feet primarily because he was never on them anymore. His combat suit sat gathering dust in his Contractors armory and his neat and polished weapons stayed neat and polished from his Twi'lek servants.

Sighing the Ewok turned back to the latest padd:

To whom it may concern,

My name is Jarr Duran and I am a wealthy noble living on Iradinas III, a large agricultural planet near Dantooine. Three days ago my daughter, Iridina, eloped with a rascal of a young man named Diranus Khan. This is very damaging to my social position, as I am sure you are aware, and I must have her back and that rapscallion killed. I am willing to pay the Guild 600 credits for the completion of this task. Do not turn me down, I have friends in even higher places than myself.

His Most High Noble, Jarr Duran
Lapscala Plantation

Placing the black padd slowly down as to not disturb the massive pile underneath Romanus let out a laugh at the absurdity of the "contract" and the pompous arrogance of the man who wrote it. Yet it was a contract, and he was duty bound to place it on the lengthening Contracts list...and if anyone took it and completed it the Guild would pocket an easy 100 credits. "Not much, but it pays the bills," Romanus mused to himself.

"Now onto the next one..."

A soft beeping and the flashing of a small red light on his computer access terminal called his attention to an "incoming message". He could feel a slight burst of excitment, he rarely got private messages that bypassed his secretaries and Guild Security, probably beause only a handful of people in the galaxy had the necessary code. He pressed his paw against the small button and the Guild logo on the terminal flashed away to reveal a strangely familiar face.

Shadow and a sickly dark green hood covered most of his face, yet the sickly gray skin and piercing yellow eyes still shone forth. Teleq, Romanus' Sith contact. Teleq looked quickly around and then stared at the screen, "The meeting with Deltha Darklighter, former Sith, will be located in the Valley of the Dark Lords. It will for sure be the last time he is called a Sith." Then the screen flashed black, then back to the Guild Logo.

Romanus leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin with curiosity, "Hm, apparently that Kirsten wasn't succesful in her mission to track down this Darklighter." Smiling evily he reached down and grabbed a Guild Branded knife from his desk, holding it up to his face to examine the flat of the blade, "Yes, perhaps this is a job suited more for the Contractor of the Guild, and perhaps this is a Contractor that needs the job."

He jumped off his desk, "So, we go to Korriban to retrieve us a powerful ally, or destroy a powerful enemy. I go to retrieve my honor, my life, my destiny."

"I really don't see how giving out our services, and more importantly our weapons and soldiers, for free will in any way benefit the Guild!"

The Zabrak Assistant Contractor was leaning over Romanus' large oak table staring down at the diminuitive Contractor as the contract they were both working on sat uncompleted in front of him. "Please, Dajara, please, haven't I already been over this?"

The Zabrak looked annoyed and sat with a deep sigh in one of the chairs across from Romanus, "Yes, of course, and I summerized it and manipulated it to the Chancellor's Jedi in order to convince him our price was reasonable," she paused and gave Romanus a look he knew meant nothing good for him, "and it was ridicously reasonable, we offered them the entire services of the Guild, thousands of soldies and even the Talon for a paultry 5000 credits a week! And they rejected it, that smug Jedi said it would leave the Republic in a weakened state! Well where does he think they will be left if they don't get our help!?" Romanus held up a hand to no avail.

"We could've held out for a little longer, one battle lost by the Republic, one planet obliterated by the Sith and I promise you they would've come begging for our help, we could've exacted any price we wanted out of them!"

Nodding his head in agreement Romanus held up his hand again and this time accompanied it with words to his most trusted friend and advisor, "But by then the Republic could have slipped off the cliff, we can not sit by and wait for a better short-term profit while the Republic is destroyed. Now, if you will wait for a moment I will explain exactly why I did what I did."

"The Republic is necessary for the stability of the Galaxy. Its moderate centralization and control allows everything that happens in the galaxy to happen, the galaxy is able to maintain a semblence of autonomy and independence but is regulated to prevent excess and overbalance and interconnected to ensure the stability of economies and ideas. A Sith takeover of the galaxy would usher it into a Dark Age where the freedom of ideas and the freedom of practice is restricted, where the Sith brutaly control everything. Mandalorians, Sith and Exchange members would flood the galaxy destroying anything but the scum they valued or could use. The simulations all return the same thing: The Guild is out of a job, out clientelle and out of favor with any ruling Sith faction."

"I like profit as much as you do, Dajara, but we can't sacrifice the long-term stability of the Guild for a few paultry credits that will be spent and wasted in a standard year! And please, Dajara, we are hardly doing pro bono work for the Republic, no I would never do that, I've made sure the concessions we get through this war will be far more valuable than any credits. I've only abandoned a large shorterm gain for a gigantic long-term reward, and believe me my friend it will be worth it."

Sighing Dajara gave him the "I-know-you're-right-but-I-still-don't-agree" look that he knew so well. "Ok, Romanus, you win...now what are we talking about?"

A large smile breaking out across his face Romanus leaned over the contract padd in front of him and scrolled through it, "You've negotiated a simple claim on wreckage, and while that is an excellent beginning I intend to do far more. Permanent Guild influence throughout the entire galaxy, control of all Exchange bases and operations after the war, administration of the remnants of defeated empires, the right to pillage Korriban...its all in here Dajara, and I plan to pull the wool right over this Qel-Droma's eyes. The Republic will stay, but the Guild will expand to its greatest and most magnificent extent in its history, and I will be leading it to its final victory."

Looking up at his friend and advisor Romanus chuckled at the evil smile breaking over her usually unreadable face, "Alright, then, lets get to it!"

Romanus' fur was sweaty from the four hours he had been laboring over the contract, but it was finally finished. He looked up at Dajara, equally tired from the exhaustive writing with her cloak and armor off, her shirt opened low revealing an exquisitely shaped body. "Now do you understand, Dajara?"

Smiling she looked up at her friend and leader, "Most defininately, Romanus, most definiately."