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Post by Valerian Khaal on May 5, 2011 19:27:15 GMT -5
Khaal found his escorts interesting. There was nothing unusual about the use of go-betweens in the bounty hunting business. Whether it was the thugs of a Hutt gangster, the flunkies of corporations like Czerka or the servants of wealthy upper-class citizens that had some dirty work to be done it was typical for the client to send someone to fetch him. It was sometimes used as a tactic to impress the bounty hunter with the power and status of his client, sometimes to try and intimidate him into not refusing an offer or simply because the client wasn't used to doing things himself. Regardless, it often spoke volumes about the client to Valerian before he ever set eyes on them.
For instance the gentlemen that had sought him out on Alderaan while he was visiting home were an interesting case. They weren't thugs by any means or even legitimate hired muscle. They moved with professionalism and confidence. Again, not quite unusual as many mercenaries were once soldiers of some kind before turning to more lucrative careers in the private sector. However, their body language, behavior and equipment lead Khaal to believe that these men were military and not formerly so.
This intrigued him as it was unusual for military types to employ the services of bounty hunters. Not completely unheard of but quite rare. Usually if one had an army or fleet of ships at one's disposal it wasn't necessary to hire someone to do your shooting for you, as a rule.
More interesting still is that much of the equipment was Republic standard but nobody wore any such insignia that Valerian had seen so far. His curiosity had lead him to accept the invitation and to his surprise he had been taken to a fleet not far from Alderaan itself. Again some of the ships seemed to be standard military cruisers but there were a few that Valerian didn't recognize at all which was unsettling as much as intriguing.
All in all, this promised to be a fascinating business proposal if nothing else. |
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Post by Lock Terrik on May 6, 2011 20:59:40 GMT -5
Lock heard on the comm that the man was docking, and stepped out of the doorway into the hanger.
He waved a bit, smiling, while tugging at the bottom of his uniform. He stepped down the stairs slowly, as the ramp on the small shuttle opened, revealing 3 men, one of which was obviously the bounty hunter.
The two guards Lock had allowed to follow him had tensed up, and were quietly turning there guns to stun, one of them seemed to be fighting himself on whether to go to kill or stun. Lock waved at them, and they relaxed, though they didn't change there gun level.
"Hello Mr. Khaal. We have been expecting you, though we hadn't thought you'd be here for some time. Were you on Alderaan?" Lock said inquisitively, still putting on the charade of smiling for the guest. But this guest could probably see right through it.
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Post by Valerian Khaal on May 7, 2011 2:54:18 GMT -5
If having guns leveled at in his direction disturbed Valerian in the least, there wasn't a hint of it on his face or in his behavior. He pointedly ignored the guardsman and focused instead on the man who addressed him. The bounty hunter's sharp eyes took stock of the man with hawkish intensity and he inclined his head in the faintest of nods by way of acknowledgement. Clearly, if this man wasn't the absolute leader here he at least seemed to be an officer or authority figure of some sort. Valerian was mildly surprised at the pleasant if somewhat less than sincere greeting.
"Why, yes, actually." Valerian replied urbanely, flashing a warm smile full of dazzling white teeth that didn't quite touch his flinty eyes. If the potential client wanted to exchange pleasantries, that was fine. This situation intrigued him and his curiosity would ensure his best behavior. If this entire venture proved to be a waste of his time, however, it might be necessary to educate this bunch in good manners.
"I keep a little place here on Alderaan as sort of a private retreat in between contracts." He explained smoothly. In truth his ancestral estates were on his homeworld below and despite the Khaal family's fall from grace Valerian insisted on maintaining his family home as a matter of personal pride. "These gentlemen managed to locate me rather easily to extend your invitation though they were rather vague as to what I might do for you."
He still wasn't even quite sure who he was dealing with but also had no intention of yielding any metaphorical ground in admitting that and again in bounty hunting it wasn't uncommon to deal with a more or less anonymous employer. If introductions or explanations of this fleet were to occur, it would be fantastic given his curiosity but he knew better to pry. Answers would come in time or they wouldn't, it was simple as that.
At least, as long as they could provide the required payment.
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