"The galaxy is a rough place," I said, taking another sip from the fluted crystal glass. "It takes people like us to put it back in order."

Hyne didn't seem to believe me. Her eyes continued to dart around the room, as if every pillar and potted planet had a sniper team hiding behind it.

"Focus on the job. Let the security team handle security."

"I would, if they were ours."

I shrugged. It was true that the Royal Guard of Ukio had turned our armed escort away at the door, but it wasn't as if we really needed them. There were already armed men and women at every door and window.

"You aren't in Hutt space anymore. Relax."

Hyne took a breath and finally swallowed a few swigs from her glass. "Ok."

"Come on. I see the Trade Minister over by the bar. I'll take the lead."

The two of us got up from our elegantly decorated table and began to move our way across the room. The event was being held in the palace, known as 'The Throne of the Gods' in the ancient tongue of the aliens who inhabited the planet. It was a building constructed partially of red brick and surrounded by vineyards and pristine fields of wheat to reflect the planet's agrarian roots and impress the Moffs, Governors, CEO's and others coming to schmooze the royal family.

The smoke-spewing processing plants and conveyor belt slaughterhouses laid on the other side of the snow covered mountains, pumping out enough foodstuffs to keep the core worlds fed and the planet wealthy. Formal events tended to stay far away from those areas.

"Minister!" I called out. "I was hoping I could speak to you for a moment."

The fat-headed alien turned to look at me, rolling his eyes when he saw my uniform. "The Blood Battalion has returned. How did you even get in here?"

"We were invited, actually."

He rolled his eyes, yet again. "I already told you, the tariffs are set in stone."

"But it's so unfair to the people of Ukio," Hyne said. "Jack and I just want to give the businesses of Ukio the chance to sell to us without paying these ruinous fines."

"The tariffs are set in stone."

"Our sources say the Empire has much lower-"

"The Empire blows up planets!"

I interjected, "But it just seems unfair to levy these hefty fees, when so many of your manufactured goods are exported anyway."

I feigned a look of innocence, but we knew exactly why the export tariffs were there. We were standing in an opulent palace that the royal family had paid for with those fees and fines, but the Brass were the ones whose job it was to wriggle out of situations like that.

"Ok, I get it. I apologize for disturbing you."

"Thank you," he said.

Hyne looked rather shocked, until I suddenly called out, "But, just for the sake of our job security, would you at least allow us to take you out to lunch?"

The Trade Minister turned back around and raised one of his hairless brows. I fought not to shudder at the sight of him.

"If I don't make a dent in my expense account, my boss will think I wasn't even trying, so let the Blood Battalion buy you a meal. Lunch always tastes better when you can write it off as a business expense, am I right?"

He finally chuckled and let the slightest grin slip past his lips. "Alright, just one lunch."

"Thank you. You're doing us a huge favor, probably even saving our jobs."

"Think nothing of it," the alien told us, basking in the praise. "I should be going."

"Of course. Have a blessed day, Minister."

He waddled off while Hyne and I stood back and smiled.

"Not bad."

"Well this is just round one. We should look over his file again, before lunch tomorrow."

"I remember he likes that spiced liquor from off Manaan. I'll send over a bottle, once we get back."

"Great idea," I told her. "Maybe you'll move up to Second Brass, if you think ahead like that."

"You thought the idea was that good?"

"No, I just think everyone else is that incompetent." The two of us sat back down at our table and I polished off my glass. "You'll go far."

"But you still got promoted before I did."

"Well, I didn't say you'll fly as fast or as far as I will."

She lightly punched me on the arm. "You are ridiculous."

"Yeah, but in the best way."

She smiled, before turning away to study her datapad. "The new file just came in."

"The new job? Where is it?"

"Kuat."

"At least we'll be back with humans."

"Don't be like that."

"What? I'm just saying-"

"Don't be like that," Hyne insisted, so I held my hands up in surrender. "Kateel of Kuhlvult's dosier is pretty lengthy and Deep Space really needs to get materials from them for cheap. We should start studying this, tonight."

"We never get a break from saving the universe, do we?"

She rolled her eyes. "Call it whatever you want."


Jack Orin walked up the steps and felt nervous, which was a rarity for him. He had always worked very hard to be on the winning side, but today he wasn't sure exactly how things were going to turn out.

The door slid open and he confidently strode into the great hall, only to see several dozen wall panels pop open with no warning.

"Blood Battalion Officer, surrender yourself," the battle droids said in unison. "Otherwise, we will open fire."

"I surrender. I'm not here for a fight."

Several disappeared back into the walls, but most kept their rifles trained on Orin. One approached and slapped a pair of binders on his wrists, as Carnada and her Jedi entourage emerged to find out what all the ruckus was about.

"Orin, what are you doing here?"

"I came to help."

Thayla and Jon looked suspicious, but the High Counselor gave a wicked grin and approached the diplomat. "Oh, really?"

She quickly patted down his pockets, but after not finding anything she turned to the nearest droid.

"Scan him for electronic devices, please?"

"Is that really-"

"Scanning," said the droid, not wasting a beat.

Moments after it's jewel-like eyes locked on Orin, it's mechanical hand reached out and snagged the tracking device sewn into his dress uniform.

Jack wept over the hole in his trousers, while Carnada held the device up to her eye. "It's turned off. So, was that your plan?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Sell out the Blood Battalion, then activate the tracker and say you got captured if they won. That was your plan, right?"

Jack's face was suddenly drained of blood.

"In my younger days, it's what I would have done," she said, still wearing that wicked grin. "You think your smart kid, but you would have been eaten alive in the Imperial Senate."

"Ma'am," Thayla asked. "What should we do with him?"

Carnada handed the device back to the droid. "Run this all the way across town and activate it, preferably somewhere well defended."

"Yes, High Counselor." It sprinted off without another word.

"Thayla, go ahead and bring our guest to the war room, so he can fill us in on the Blood Battalion's battle strategy."

Jack still looked like a mynock staring into the headlights of an oncoming freighter, but Carnada kept up her smarmy attitude. "Welcome to the Demagogues, Jack."