Forming a Fighting Force (Private)

[Jadoch Taithum]

::As soon as Jadoch left the meditation room containing the Healing Crystals of Fire, he'd gone to his room to grab a datapad, then to the central comm center, from where he'd selected a private room to make a call.

He dialed the comm frequency, and as it was connecting, hooked his datapad up to the inputs provided. He brought three files to the forefront, prepared to send them across the Holonet to the person he was contacting. When the comm first connected, Jadoch was presented with someone other than who he wanted to speak with. After a few words with the human he was speaking to, he was put on hold again.

He waited patiently, knowing that the end-goal would be worth the wait. After nearly forty-five minutes, the hold screen finally buzzed into a static-filled one, which slowly formed up into the image Jadoch had expected to see. The human male was dressed in normal civilian wear, not the business attire that he'd been wearing when Jadoch had seen him before, but wasn't much less professional for it.::

Tyasty here.

[Jadoch Taithum]

Tyasty, this is Jedi Jadoch Taithum. I was in some time ago to purchase a custom fighter. Not sure if you remember me...

Of course, you were here with Master Farcil, right? Could never forget that starfighter, it was quite the creation.

Correct. I've worked with you before, and was rather pleased with the result, so I wanted to work with you again. Besides, I don't know if you get commission or not.

Not with these types of orders, no, but I appreciate the sentiment. I assume you have an order for me?

I do indeed. Stand by for a file transfer.

::Fingers nimbly danced over datapad keys as Jadoch linked it in with the transmission, then transferred the first to Tyasty.::

File sent. In summary, an Imperial-II class Star Destroyer with a different shell. The opening image in the file is an early sketch, one that shows the bridge tower a bit higher than desired, but the specs on the following pages are as desired. Two main engines with supplements, et cetera. I want it to be armed and shielded like a normal Destroyer.

::Tyasty had obviously opened the file and was glancing through it. He wasn't an engineer, but he'd apparently been doing this sort of thing long enough to know the gist of it.::

So I can see. Is this going to be a Galactic Alliance vessel or your personal vessel?

GA. Its on the GA's bill too. I want its transponder to give the name Guardian.

Easily done. You do know that this is going to take time, right? And are you going to keep the rights to this design?

I'm aware of the average time frame, yes. As for the design rights, no. However, I do want credit for the frame concepts, recorded only, no monetary compensation. And the assurance that it is sold ONLY to the GA for the term of my life, any others that wish to purchase it must be approved by me.

Generous of you. I'll ensure it is done. Should I send you a message when construction is complete?

A message would be great. I'm not done with the order, though.

Oh really? I begin to see why you called me in particular.

Indeed. Two more files coming through.

::A few more clicks on the dapatad. Since the connection was already open, it took far less effort than before to send the files.::

The first is a landing craft. Just a wireframe shell, sketch, and scale, so go crazy with it. I want the essentials: heavy shields, and both anti-aircraft and anti-infantry guns. And the standard countermeasures. This is going to make up the majority of my landing craft, so I want them placed in the Guardian. Second is the base for a small frigate or corvette. No scale, not much beyond a basic frame. I won't be ordering any of these, but the design should be well-accepted by the GA military leadership.

::Again, Tyasty was clicking through the screens of data. He had to wonder why the Jedi was giving him this information. Naturally, he'd get a bit of recognition for the creation of the shape and design - if he wanted the same deal as the Destroyer - but this was a bit over the top. It made Tyasty slightly suspicious.::

And why give us these? I'm assuming you want the same deal as with the Destroyer, just an acknowledgment for initial concept.

Same deal, yes. However, in return, I want a ship. Personal ship, plans owned by me, no sales to others, same general deal as with my original fighter.

I can't authorize that, not anymore. I caught some flak for doing that with your fighter, now I have to go through my superiors for that sort of thing.

I'm sorry to hear that got you in a bit of an issue. It wasn't intended to do so. Go ahead and work it through with your superiors, I can wait. With what's being offered and ordered, I don't doubt they'll approve of the transaction, perhaps a bit reluctantly. Text file headed your way.

Perhaps. Lets see, file contains your comm information...good to go. I'll contact you when my superiors give me an answer.

Within a Coruscant week, Tyasty. I'm not going to freely give to KDY when you're going to make a profit off of my designs. If I don't get my ship, I'm going to want monetary compensation for each ship sold.

I'll pass that along. Was there anything else, Jedi Taithum?

Not for now, thank you. Talk to you inside a week.

Very well. Goodbye.

::With a sigh, Jadoch leaned back. He didn't like delving into the older styles of compromise, the corporate mess, but in this case he didn't have a choice. He wasn't going to spend the money his parents provided for him unless he needed it, and he had several ship designs laying around from years ago. Bartering took far more out of him than he liked.

Standing, he unplugged the datapad from the computer. While they'd had an open transmission, multiple files had been surreptitiously uploaded to the KDY computers. They made up a passive logger that, once accessed, would allow him to view the company's data without being detected by quietly uploading it to an outside server. Slight modifications or module additions could make the program virulent, allowing him to change data or even wipe the mainframe. However, those programs were more easily detected by security programs - he'd know - and were more likely to be caught. Best to keep it simple for now, until it was needed. Too, the entire exchange had been recorded, possible proof against KDY. The entire thing was like playing politics.

Once he had his datapad, he headed out of the Temple. He had a scheduled meeting with a high-ranking GA military official to select a team...and to give them advance warning and descriptions of possible ship designs coming down the corridor from KDY.::

[Jadoch Taithum]

::Upon entering into the Galactic Alliance military base, Jadoch was efficiently escorted to the General's office. Darria Terhn was one of the highest-ranking generals in the military, and as a result she sat on several boards and commissions that were relatively unknown to the public - black ops. Too, she was a friend of the Jedi, and one who had pushed for Jedi actively involved in war efforts to receive military support squads.

Jadoch had called to set up an appointment with the General on his way over to the comm center. He'd been answered with a slight reserve, exactly what he'd expected from the seasoned officer. He'd gathered - based on what she'd said - that such meetings weren't normal, but that she wasn't adverse to one. However, her only opening for the next few days had been now, a short break between her other meetings.

He shortly found himself standing before the General. A woman quite young for the position, she was also quite a bit shorter than he. They shook hands, then sat.::

I know you don't have much time, General, so I'll get straight to the point. I've recently been promoted to Knighthood and informed that I can choose a squad for military applications.

If you are a Knight participating in combat, yes, you are assigned a team. Is there a particular style you're looking for?

Indeed. I'm looking for a squad that can do anything. Not just a front-lines squadron, I want more of a commando squad capable of doing anything between dropping behind enemy lines in civvies to front-lines fighting to protection detail. And I want them to do it well.

I see. We have a number of squads that could potentially fit that profile. Why don't you give me a comm frequency. I'll look over the squads and send you files on them, pending your clearance is actually good.

Thank you, General. I appreciate your time with this matter.

No problem. I'll talk to you sometime soon.

::With a nod, Jadoch stood, and a handshake had him out the door on his way back to the Temple. Plans were now in motion.::

[Jadoch Taithum]

::Two days later, Jadoch had a comm message from the general. It didn't say much, simply that names and key details were omitted from the reports for security purposes, and it contained a link. Opening up that link through a different program led to a blank page, but using the link provided sent him through a series of pages. It was far too quick to see, but flashes of various colors led him to believe his computer was wading through firewall after firewall.

Eventually he found himself on a page stripped of everything but the reports he was looking for. Three folders were on that page, each without a name. Instead, each had a symbol overlooking a black background. There was an image of a hawk, an image of a skull, and an image of a star. Inside the folders were pages grouped together, providing low-res graphics of the squad members and details about some of the work they'd done. There were gaps in the profiles, enough that Jadoch knew certain details had been left out.

An hour after opening the files, Jadoch had an idea of what squad he wanted, but he needed to take a closer look at their file. In coming to this, he had two choices: he could ask the general for more information, or he could hack it. Considering that this was the amount he'd gotten when asking before, it was probably a better idea to hack, even though hacking was quite illegal and was going to be extremely difficult. Fortunately, he had a helping hand in the matter.

He slipped a datacard into the appropriate slot in the datapad, then started the program that was on that datacard. He hadn't had much free time, but this was a compilation of a good deal of his work, so he'd actually put little time into this exact program. Since he already had a secure connection to the file he wanted to view, all the program needed to do was give him access higher than what he'd already been granted. Relatively simple. He sat back as the program ran, and within minutes he was granted the information he wanted.

The squad's performance was exemplary. There were a total of eight members in the team: five were typical soldiers, each with a skill that added to the team's repertoire. Three of them, though, were atypical. One was a mechanical expert, adept at even biological computers; another was a blademaster; the last was a 'spotter', a director. He was the one with the connections, and as the ranking officer, he did what he pleased within reason.

Jadoch disconnected from the files and ejected the datacard, replacing it with a different one, a red one. He restarted the datapad and allowed it to run from the card. The program would erase and overwrite - with random, unusable data - everything on the datapad...there would be no record on Jadoch's side of ever using the hack. Once it was done overwriting - several times - it would reinstall the basic architecture needed to use the datapad. It would take several hours at least.

In the meantime, he placed a call to the general.::

General Terhn, this is Jedi Taithum.

If you're calling to look for more access, Jedi Taithum, the answer is no. I've given you what I can.

Jadoch, General. No, I understand the need for security. I was calling to request either a meeting with a specific team or to be assigned that team.

That was quick.

I'm very good at intuiting details from the most minor of things.

I see. Security told me just minutes ago that we had a breach on the page you were looking at. You wouldn't happen to be behind it, would you?

General, I am a Jedi Knight, sworn to uphold the Galactic Alliance. Would hacking the file be for the good of the GA?

No. But it could be determined to be a 'gray' area, a morally neutral one. Would you be willing to have your computers searched?

Believe what you will, General. I'm willing to have your people search my computers, but since the Temple is a restricted area, I'd have to bring them to you.

Then the point is moot. Which team would you like to meet?

The team with the Hawk as its symbol.

I see. They're currently offworld right now, but they should be returning within the week. Is there a particular reason you wanted to meet them?

Classified files are all well and good, General. They're less helpful when they're redacted, though. Still, files don't tell you everything you need to know. I'd like to know how well I'd work with the team, and if they'd be willing to work with me.

They will work for whoever they're assigned to work for.

But they'll be under my command, not yours or anyone else's until released. I need to know if they can and will do that. I'm willing to leave the choice up to them.

I see. Very well, I will set up a meeting. Say, five days from now? That should allow them to return and to get some rest before meeting you.

Five days will suffice. You have my frequency, call and give me a time?

Very well, Jedi Taithum. Good day.

::They hung up simultaneously, and Jadoch leaned back again. He'd been very careful not to lie when talking about the security breach, but it had still been somewhat of a strain. He could tell that the general had her suspicions, but she hadn't called him on it and probably wouldn't, if he read her right. It would prove to be an interesting meeting.::

[Jadoch Taithum]

::Mere minutes after ending the call with the General, Jadoch received another call. This one's origin read as Kuat...should be interesting.*

Yes.

Jadoch, this is Tyasty. Hold for one moment.

*Interesting indeed. They'd been connected for ten seconds and already Jadoch was being put on hold. The only time that ever happened was when the caller was transferring him to another person; logic demanded that this was one of Tyasty's bosses.*

Jadoch Taithum. I am Audco Balken, one of Tyasty's superiors. I regret to inform you that the trade you offer is unacceptable.

So despite the fact that I am giving you three ship designs, two of them immediate orders and the other a near-guarantee of purchase by the GA military, and demanding nothing but credit for the design, you are declining my offer. That's interesting, because based on how well freelance ship designers are paid on average, you'd pay me more if you didn't take the trade than the ship is worth.

I am aware of this, yes. However, you're asking for a second custom ship that we won't get the designs to, this one for free. Unacceptable.

I see. You do realize that I won't be getting it for free, I will essentially be placing a one-time order in lieu of a lifetime's worth of payment on three ship designs. It may take a couple years to make up the payment of the ship, but I'm going to be alive for many years hence.

It is what is, sir. I apologize.

*Odd. They were willing to pay Jadoch far more than the ship was worth simply because they don't get the designs to it. That made little economic sense.*

Fine. I've got a fourth design here, one that I'm willing to part with. Its more comparable to the Star Destroyer design, far more fleshed out than the two frames I gave you. Designed to go with the drop ship. Will that addition be acceptable for me to get my ship?

Lets see the design.

Stand by for a file transfer.

*Moving quickly, Jadoch brought the design up on his datapad and sent it. The lag was barely noticeable, the transmission speeds were top notch, then.*

This will do. Your terms?

Like before. Sold only to the GA, my name attached as designer. And I get my ship.

Done. Send the file on your ship and we'll get it started. Should have it done for you in a month or so, depending on the size.

File sent.

We will contact you when its complete. Good doing business with you, Jedi Taithum.

*Without responding, Jadoch ended the call. He knew that the KDY executive had essentially swindled him, but he had nothing else he was going to do with the designs, they were just something he did in his free time. The next thing he had to look forward to was his meeting in five days.*