"They are if the fallout would tarnish the Clan's reputation." Brils Los spoke up. Second in seniority only behind Damask and the most entrenched in the organization's internal politics, he was usually relied on to mediate any dispute that arose during the Core Five's meetings.
For him to side against Hego spoke of the precarious position he was in. An agreeing humm from Jildia Cinir, the only female member of the Five, only confirmed it.
...
"The Republic relies on the Clan because we are seen as reliable," Tahm said, seizing the initiative.
"If rumor spreads that one among our highest echelons had been financing a resurgent Jedi Lord that could threaten the Republic's peace, this reliability will be called into question. I ask you to cut off investments to this… 'Outer Rim Alliance'." His last words might as well have been bile for the disgust behind them. "Otherwise I will have no choice but to petition to remove you as one of the Five."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Brils Los raised a placating hand. "No damage has been done yet. I hope I do not have to lecture a businessman of your caliber on the difference between risk prevention and jumping at shadows, Sipas. Not to mention, sacrificing one of our own for the sake of a client is unbecoming of the Clan."
He turned to Plagueis. "But it is a very lucrative client. It might indeed be wiser for the sake of the Clan's business to pull out now, Damask. And rest assured, should you do so, I will make a petition for Damask Holdings to be compensated for the losses." Sipas' protests at the words died in his throat under Los's stern gaze.
Plagueis leaned back in his plush chair, taking a long drag from his inhaler as he felt a headache building. Unlike Sidious, he had no patience for politics, and in moments like these he was reminded why he entrusted dealing with them to his apprentice… who ironically enough was the cause of his current predicament.
He didn't think so little of Palpatine as to presume he held the Trade Federation in anything less than an iron grip. The pirate raid was authorized, if not with his explicit permission, then at least with his acknowledgement. Yet not a word of it reached Plagueis' ears, not until his shipyards were bombed.
Had the pirates reached Serenno and destroyed the sacanium mines, Dooku's alliance would have looked too weak to attract new members. Over time, it would shrivel up and die, the enemy of the Republic gone before it was truly born. The Great Plan would be set back years.
A quiet anger began to boil inside Plagueis. Sidious was willing to sacrifice the Plan and his chancellorship both for a chance to strike at his hated Nemesis. Had Plagueis not felt the wave of insurmountable hatred in the Force and sensed his apprentice's intentions back then, decades of planning would have been squandered. He was not fit to continue the Siths' great work anymore, and Plagueis will need to do more than just keep his old friend in check.
He will need to replace him.
Hego's back straightened as his resolve firmed. The wisdom of the parable the Heiress of Serenno treated him to rang truer than ever. The Shogun proved more than just untrustworthy, he had proven treacherous. Only a fool would continue relying on Sidious to provide Dooku with allies for when the time was right. Plagueis' eyes laid on the four Muuns still awaiting his response. No, he will have to provide them himself.
"Is it?" He finally replied.
"Is it what, Damask?" Tahm Sipas huffed in annoyance.
"Is the Republic truly that lucrative of a client? Or rather, how long will it remain so?" He continued. "I will not insult your intelligence by asking if you know of the recent happenings in the Abaar sector."
In the Force, he could feel the consternation and anger at the topic. Of course they knew. And they knew what it was a symptom of. "An entire sector, in the Mid Rim might I add, conducting test runs of an internal currency to replace the credit. How does that make us seem reliable?" Hego faced Sipas, his face set into a deep frown.
"Have your ears caught the whispers regarding that? Mine have. And they tell me more will soon follow in Abaar's example. The Clan will bleed influence as the Republic weakens, whole star systems and sectors slipping between the fingers of our waning grasp."
"What do you propose then?" Brils Los asked, urging him to continue.
"An alternative. Or at least a diversification of the Clan's assets. Dooku's alliance in the Outer Rim is rich in resources and manpower, but lacks the credits and expertise to tap into it. With my help, that has begun to change, and already I can see the possible returns it could bring.
If the Clan as a whole was to invest, they could bring a powerful new ally onto the galactic stage, one that would ensure our continued prosperity once the Republic starts to crumble."
"You overstep your bounds, Damask," Tahm growled out. "On the Senate floor, this would be considered sedition talk, and would cost you your office."
"Fortunate then, that we aren't meeting in the Forum." Hego smiled.
"Diversification itself isn't a problem," Brils Los chimed in. "Many clan heads are already purchasing hard assets in Chiss Ascendancy and other independent polities on the Galactic fringe.
The Clan will easily survive the collapse of the Republic, as it did many times before. What I am curious about is why you chose Dooku. His enemies are powerful, and his allies insignificant, present company excluded. In my many years serving as one of the Chairs I knew you to be bold, but not foolish, Damask. So I ask you, why ally yourself with a Jedi Lord, one who holds corporations and galactic law in open contempt?"
Plagueis stroked his chin in pretend concentration for a few seconds. He had long since thought of possible excuses, but in the present company offering them immediately would look suspicious. Finally, he spoke.
"My reasoning is twofold. Long term, I want to install a strong polity in the Outer Rim, to serve as buffer for the rest of the Galaxy, keeping more ambitious Hutts in check, along with whatever new insane Force cult crops up, as they always do whenever the Republic wanes."
All Chairs except for Tahm gave him a small chuckle, Brils urging him to continue. "In the short term, I want to curtail the Trade Federation's growing influence. Dooku wasn't the only one disregarding Republic law during that trial.
Corporate accountability and impartial courts might be polite fiction, but it is fiction we have at least pretend to follow, lest we galvanize the public too much. The favoritism the Senate shows to the Trade Federation not only spits in the face of that, it is unfair to the other Corporate interests, and despite initial expectations, electing a senator from Naboo as the Supreme Chancellor did little to curtail that."
The Core Five bristled. Compared to the ancient Banking Clan, the Neimodians were upstarts thought undeserving of their influence and attention. The invasion of Naboo gained them little friends and made many enemies, as was always intended.
Tahm was the first to break the silence, his eyes narrowed, and mind full of suspicion… and greed. "Isn't Palpatine your friend? Why didn't you do your duty to remind him where his interests lay?"
Hego had to fight the vicious smile that threatened to creep across his face. "A year ago I would have said yes. However, due to his recent actions, we had a falling out." He laid out the bait plainly, and to his satisfaction, felt Tahm's mind immediately become alight with calculating intent. Go on little schemer, Plagueis thought to himself, I will eat you for breakfast.
"Why forsake such a valuable asset?" Brils asked.
"Because Sheev Palpatine proved himself treacherous and opportunistic," Hego replied, putting just a bit of heat into his voice. "He thinks nothing of his people or friends, using them as he sees fit to advance his career. I have nothing to gain from continuing our cooperation, and everything to lose."
His words were rewarded with feelings of consternation across the board. As cutthroat as they were, the Muun of the Banking Clan put loyalty in high regard.
"Your reasoning is solid Damask," Jildia Cinir spoke up, "but in my humble opinion the Clan simply cannot afford a risky investment such as Dooku's alliance. Fully supporting the Outer Rim Alliance would put us in open conflict with the Trade Federation, upsetting the status quo even further, which for the moment simply offers far too few benefits.
Hego nodded. It was always a long shot, and he wasn't surprised the other members of the Five saw the Count's burgeoning alliance as too weak and uncertain to invest in. But the seed of doubt was planted.
Of the Five, it seemed like Tahm was the only one firmly committed to interfering with Damask. The others were ambivalent, maybe slightly annoyed with him, but for now unwilling to do anything. Apathy was something Hego was happy to use as well.
"Rumors in the Senate are hardly something to be so worked up about, Tahm." Plagueis gave his most reassuring, grandfatherly tone. The one that seemed to work on very few, and infuriate many. It was having the desired effect on Tahm, the young chairman responding to the condescension with obvious irritation. "Perhaps when the Senate is seriously planning to take action, you should inform me then? For now, I don't think this has been a productive use of our valuable time."
Jildia Cinir hummed in agreement with Hego, and now the chairs were all focused on Tahm, waiting for his response. He glared at Damask across the room, before at last nodding, sitting back. "Very well. We will table this discussion for now and return to it, when it becomes a more pressing concern."
Damask gave him a deliberately patronizing smile and nod, before the meeting was adjourned.
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