Galactic Standard Calendar Year 5, April 1 — Pyke Syndicate Office, Ryloth
"Still can't reach Senator Orn Free Taa?" asked Frank Lucas, the Pyke Syndicate's man on Ryloth.
"Still no contact."
"Bang! Son of a bantha!" Frank Lucas slammed a fist into the table. "That fat bastard—takes the money and never delivers!"
Someone at his side suggested, "What if we leak the fact he's been taking our black money?"
"Where's your proof?" Frank Lucas shot the man a glare. "Anonymous account to anonymous account transfers."
"Then we pay the InterGalactic Banking Clan a little 'information fee'?"
"Idiot—"
The InterGalactic Banking Clan wasn't something you bribed with pocket change. Frank Lucas was about to chew the man out, but he swallowed it back down. Fine. Desperate times. He waved a hand. "It's yours. Go talk to the Banking Clan."
…
Late March (Galactic Standard Calendar), the Twi'lek Jedi Master Aayla Secura visited the Pyke Syndicate's Ryloth office and delivered news the Pykes absolutely couldn't accept.
"The Twi'leks plan to reclaim the mineral rights that belong to them?" Frank Lucas asked, frowning.
"That's correct."
"But we signed land-lease contracts with local landowners, Master Jedi."
"I reviewed those contracts. The Pyke Syndicate leased the land under the pretext of building communal farms. Clearly, you are mining—not farming. A normal lease typically includes a clause stating that 'if Party B fails to use the land as agreed, changes its use, damages basic irrigation infrastructure, or causes permanent harm to the land, Party A has the right to terminate the contract.'"
"Heh." Frank Lucas smiled. "Our contract doesn't have that clause."
"Then it constitutes fraud." The Jedi—flower of Ryloth—raised an index finger to emphasize the point. "Republic law states that a fraudulent contract is voidable. Ryloth's own law states that any contract that harms Ryloth's interests is invalid."
"Alright." Frank Lucas shrugged. "Then we can sign new contracts with the landowners."
"Mr. Lucas, I don't believe you'll get that chance."
"Oh?"
"Free Ryloth intends to drive you out by force and seize the mineral sites."
"Then, Master Jedi—will you intervene?"
"I came here to resolve this through negotiation and prevent bloodshed."
"If negotiation fails, will you intervene?"
"This is Ryloth's internal matter. The Jedi Temple will not interfere. But we urge both sides to show restraint and resolve the dispute peacefully."
"Thank you for your goodwill, Master Jedi." Frank Lucas smiled as he rose to see her out. "The Pyke Syndicate will give your appeal serious consideration."
…
"Manager," another Pyke walked in, "the Mandalorians replied."
"What's their stance?"
"They said they have no interest in our conflict with the locals. But…"
"But?" Frank Lucas's brow tightened.
"They said they have their own business—Zygerrian slavers kidnapped and trafficked members of their families. They're here to settle that score. The Mandalorians warned us not to interfere with their operation, or else…"
"Or else what?" Frank Lucas glared. "Spit it out."
"They said if we interfere, they'll wipe us out too."
"Hmph." Frank Lucas sneered. (Arrogant… but Mandos have the muscle to back it up. They really can fight.)
After a brief pause, he ordered, "Keep contacting the Mandalorians. Tell their leader the Pyke Syndicate wants to hire them. Price is negotiable."
"Yes, Manager."
If the Jedi didn't intervene and the Mandalorians didn't intervene, on paper the locals were weaker than the Pyke team on Ryloth. Free Ryloth could barely scrape together a handful of skiffs; the Pykes at least had an armed cargo-ship flotilla.
But paper strength was paper strength. What a real fight would look like—Frank Lucas wasn't sure.
For years his people had lived quiet, comfortable lives. Free Ryloth's desperados, on the other hand, regularly fought local warlords and landlord militias. In combat experience, there was a gap.
…
"Send those Holonet entertainment pieces to the Pykes over there. Tell them the boss likes Twi'lek female Jedi and doesn't want to end up on the Twi'leks' opposite side. Unless they pay more."
"Yes, boss."
"Are the 'Hutts' in position?" Max asked.
"Since yesterday, twelve Kimogila-class starfighters from Kite Squadron have been running combat air patrol."
Late March, a task force built around the Bespin Mandalorian Armed Forces Navy's Dol'Bura-class heavy cruiser Dragon (formerly the Iwona) and the Second Fleet arrived at Ryloth. Bespin's defense was handed off to the rebuilding First Fleet, the newly formed Third and Fourth Fleets, and the Corellian Republic Navy's Bespin Independent Squadron.
Of the twenty-six Kimogila-class starfighters carried aboard the Dol'Bura-class (two hangar queens, twenty-one captured in surrender, three recovered from the battlefield), twelve from Kite Squadron bore highly conspicuous Black Sun markings. They would pose as Black Sun assets and provide air cover for Free Ryloth.
Max's plan was simple: if the Pykes paid enough, he'd have the Second Fleet's Flamingo Squadron "train" against Kite Squadron in a dogfight exercise and ultimately "drive Kite off"—of course, only after Kite had already destroyed the Pykes' air assets.
"Boss, the Pykes are offering fifty million Republic credits, with twenty million upfront as a deposit."
"Take it." Max stood. "Have them wire it to the Corellia Beskar Steel Security Company account. Tell them the moment the money hits, the starfighter wing launches."
—
PS: I was going to grab a random drug lord name. Looked it up, found someone named Lucas—so, sure, it's him.
PPS: Under the Anaxes War College classification, a 1,200-meter Dol'Bura-class should count as a Star Destroyer. But since it doesn't really have "planet-killing" capability, official material labels it a Dol'Bura-class warship. So I'm calling it a heavy cruiser here.
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