Meditation is an important aspect of being a Jedi. We have to meditate to get in touch with the force, we have to meditate to calm our emotions, we have to meditate to process our decision making process. In economic terms, the more time one spends meditating, the more credit they make as a Jedi. This is so ingrained in the local culture of this galaxy and the Jedi temple specifically that it is considered rude to disrupt a meditating Jedi except for matters of extreme importance.
Like a master taking her apprentice on a diplomatic mission that has been delayed for far too long as it was. The situation on Ryloth has historically been, in diplomatic terms, a near endless stream of shit being piled onto the local populous. The closest analogue from my prior life would be to combine the conditions on the sugar plantations in the Caribbean with the exploitative slave trade practices the Europeans used in Africa during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. As Jedi Younglings, we were assigned to write research papers on a current topic and possible solutions to resolving the issue. I had looked into the illegal slave trade in the galaxy and focused in on the Twi'leks as an interesting case study.
It would appear the high council has reviewed my proposal and final are implementing my suggestions, having my master and me go to see how viable the plan was. I was going because it was my plan and the Jedi liked to reward insight with missions. My master was going to watch over me and stop me from actually making the situation worse.
"You will be taking the lead," Sar Labooda began the briefing without any preamble. "As such, I believe it would be best if you briefed me on the mission."
Bowing my head, I took the data slate with the mission information and took a deep breath before beginning.
"This mission is to act as a proof of concept of an alternative strategy towards the still common and illegal slave trade in the outer rim of Republic space. As a trail, the plan is to disincentivize the continuation of the exploitation of the Twi'lek people through alternative profits and reduced expenditures. In order to enact the plan requires additional funds and authorization of the current exports of Ryloth. As such, an invite for a meeting was sent to the Banking Clans and the Techno Union. We will be meeting with the representatives and a group of local leaders to discuss the details and meditate a mutually beneficial deal."
"And the details of this plan are?"
That question lay at the heart of the problem with my plan from a Jedi point of view and the major reason the Jedi council reviewed the proposal for so long. I cannot say for certain why the council finally decided to approve of the plan, but my thought is that it is to be my Trial of Insight. A trial meant to test a Padawan's ability to see through deception and understand a person's true character.
"There are two major exports for Ryloth; slaves and spice. The spice is mined by slave labor. The plan is to first implement a cheaper alternative to using slaves by introducing droids to the process. The initial cost of implementing the droids will be high, but the long term cost savings will more than make up the difference."
"And the illegal drug market will be flooded with an increased source."
Nodding my head, I took that comment as an indication to speak on that point. "Indeed, recreational use of spice is illegal. However, ryll spice has several legitimate uses in the medical field and reducing the suffering of sentients is one of the principles our order strives for. Even if that may result in us supporting certain criminal organizations."
Taking a deep breath, I reveal an aspect of the plan that was unfortunately necessary. "As such, I fully suspect a Hutt representative to be at this meeting as well. This meeting is not exactly being kept top secret and the Hutts have many ways of gaining information. To that end, getting the approval of the Hutts would be ideal. They would be able to provide extra protection against the slaving guilds while also being a primary buyer and transporter of the spice. Meanwhile, we will have a new place just outside of Hutt space for the Hutts to patronize for their pleasure."
"Your tone suggests you dislike this aspect of your plan."
"The rule of law is in place for a reason. Those who operate outside the rule of law cause problems for society as a whole. That said, the strength of enforcement of the law is currently weak in the outer rim, leading to a situation where a criminal organization is a more stabilizing influence than anarchy. Until such a time that dismantling the Hutt cartel will not create a worse situation than leaving them be, we must work with them to eliminate the worst aspects of crime. And the Hutt are relatively easy to work with from what I have researched, money and pleasure are the two things they care about."
"Going back to the plan, you mentioned the first part is to change the mining of the spice. What is the second?"
"The second is where we go after the sex slave industry. By making the Twi'lek employees at various resorts, casinos, amusement parks, and supporting industries that we will have built on Ryloth. These businesses will bring in tourism money as citizens from across the Galaxy, but especially from Hutt space, come to relax and have fun. That money will then go to paying off the banking clan's loans, hiring and equipping a planetary defense force and police force, and further expanding both the mining operations and the tourism operations based upon demand. By employing the native Twi'lek people in these roles, we are providing them with the funds to defend themselves while also making it more difficult for slavers to get their 'merchandise' if for no other reason than an annoyed Hutt can be incredibly petty. And a Hutt whose pleasure got disrupted by slavers stealing the employees that are supposed to be operating all these facilities will be an incredibly annoyed Hutt."
"You seem to have a good idea of what your goals are, but how do you know the various interests will agree?"
I could feel a smile threatening to show on my face. While I died working in Human Resources, I had cut my teeth climbing the ranks in my last life making deals in the Sales Department. And that was without the cultural and societal benefit that being a Jedi had in this world. Many consider the Jedi the great upholders of law and order, which makes a Jedi supporting a business venture a great PR move and would be amazing for advertisement.
"Greed. This operation has the potential for high profits for relatively middling risk. It also gives these businessmen the idea that the Jedi are open to helping business ventures that agree with our morals which can be leveraged in those businesses appealing to the general public into buying into said businesses as being in the Galaxy's overall interest."
My master closed her eyes and took on a thoughtful pose. Master Labooda was well known in the order as being a particularly insightful and thoughtful Jedi, so I was sure she would see the benefits to my plan, but I was concerned that I was overlooking something. There was so much about this new life I did not know that could cause me problems in the future. Knowledge that otaku that killed me probably one and was lording over me from my past now.
My master nodded and rose from the meditating position she had assumed for the briefing. "Well, let us get to it. We have a long trip in front of us."
—-
"This is an interesting development that I can make use of either way. Keep me informed of all developments." A hooded holographic figure spoke to his subordinate.
"Yes my Lord," Viceroy Nute Gunray responded with a deep bow before the holocom shut off. Standing straight and fixing his ceremonial robes up, he turned and got onto the shuttle that would take him to what promised to be a most interesting meeting.
While his last encounter with Jedi had not gone well, he managed to get out of being punished too harshly for the blockade of Naboo and attempted assassination of the Jedi. And now he was meeting up with a different one who has proposed a new way of exploiting Ryloth that hasn't been attempted before. As an added bonus, those foolish Jedi had gathered all the leaders of the soon to be separating Confederation to one place, giving them a wonderful opportunity to scheme without drawing suspicion or leaving an unusual communication trail.
The trip down was quiet and uneventful followed by a traditional pre-meeting meet and great dinner where a few side discussions occurred, but the primary gossip was centered on the two female human Jedi in their unassuming garb and what the full scope of their proposal was.
It was at the presentation the following day that the small Jedi presented the proposal. A well researched, in depth proposal with a lot of interconnected parts that each would prove highly profitable for all involved if given a chance. The logistics were laid out in a beautiful blueprint that just requires funds and resources to implement, the profit margins and room for further markup exquisitely delicious, the demands of the Jedi reasonable.
The Jedi would take a pittance of 10% of the profits, a number that Nute was sure would be negotiated even further down, and the guarantee that Ryloth would become a slave free planet. In exchange, the Jedi would use their network to open a few doors for the corporations to set up trade and transportation networks for the goods and people that would be traveling to and from the system and the two Jedi who were proposing this would become the public faces of the endeavor, keeping the humanity first supremacists from causing too many issues and gaining the support of all the Jedi loving fools in the galaxy.
Nute Gunray was salivating at all the potential profits this was going to give him, but he had to play it cool. This plan needed the Trade Federation in order to transport the spice and he could also get a luxury transportation set up between Hutt space, the mid rim and the core easily enough. All he would require is a slightly larger cut of the profits and a few bribes along the way is just common business practice.
And if his Lord, Darth Sidious wanted to interfere, the Viceroy was certain he could still wrangle a few bribes and concessions from this meeting. Oh yes, the profits were going to be delicious.