Hugo Demask wouldn't normally come out to meet a mere viceroy of the Trade Federation normally. As a chair on one of the oldest corporations, certainly amongst the megacorps, he didn't need to meet these nobodies. Of course, when the force itself tells him that it is dire that he meet an individual, he listens. Hugo didn't know what could have caused it, though with the first steps of the Grand Plan coming to fruition there were many aspects of 'danger' that could be. Of course, there were many other threats in the universe, Sidious had even stated something about extra-galactic invaders...
Still, this did not seam to be anything to do with him, these were all things for Sidious to worry about. That poor fool, he was so focused on the Grand Plan that he never truly grasped his focus on immortality was for him! Sidious was so young, at best he merely had 130 years left! Meanwhile even after living for over 300 years** Hugo Demask still wasn't even middle aged yet.
The old Nute in me was giddy as a school girl. This was THE Hugo Demask, one of the chairs for THE IGBC! New Nute was just trying to hold on so they didn't embarrass us in front of such an important figure. "Ahh, hello! When they stated that I would be meeting with and executive I didn't realize it would be you!" I said, wincing internally at my peppiness. And my mood instantly took a nosedive when I could see on his face that talking to me was like talking to the bug in your salad.
"Ahh, no. You will not be meeting with me." He said.
"Oh, sorry, I, I didn't mean to interrupt you on your way! I will..." I started to say. But he held up his hand to get me to shut up. "I didn't say I hadn't come to meet you. I was simply wondering why you were here. We corporations, especially those of a certain caliber, must stick together. There are, certain leeways and privileges that we allow each other, that other august personages wouldn't be allowed." He stated.
"Ahh, yes, yes! Of course!... No, well it is a bit of a private matter... However! There is nothing that prevents me from discussing it with you of course! No, well, I simply wish to insure certain assets, secure some loans, and move some money! Nothing too dangerous, I assure you!" I stated, though my thoughts said I was about to push a succor into a sure lose. Hugo Demask clearly saw through my thoughts, which was weird, because while Niemidians were sleezy, nobody could see through a skilled business mask, they only saw what you wanted them too, which was what they thought they were seeing. But it was almost like he was reading my inner thoughts.
Hugo could read this sleemo's thoughts like a book, and yet he could not, there was more there if he pushed, but that would dull this son of a Hutt's perception, which would be notable. No, it was not worth his time to read too deeply into a disposable bug. However, he remembered now, talking to this used Wookie diaper, that both would serve there purpose and then be disposed of. Yet, it did not seem like that would be the case... which was not a part of the Grand Plan...
Apparently this Hutt oil, wanted to insure his ships against loss. This would be considerable considering where most of them were. The ones that were a part of the trade lanes, shipping his ill gotten gains were one thing, as long as they were outside of Naboo... However, that didn't seam to be the case, no he wanted to insure of them. He should know that the use of ships in illegal practices would void the contract before the flimsi was signed! Yet, he was assured that he would get a significant payout. Then there was the assets, he wanted to sign a 30 year loan on several assets, mostly on those in the core, but also ships and stations. He didn't even own several of these, and looking some even actually belonged to his alter ego, even if used under his name. In particular, he saw a few key research stations, yet it seemed as if ownership of them was 'assured' even though Plagious would never let the research there fall into the wrong hands, like ignorant jedi...
No, looking around, there were many assets that were his, that were 'going to fall' into this Corellion puke stain's hands. Of course, Hugo Demask wouldn't know about these assets, they 'weren't his', but Plagious? No, he had to rethink things. He had to rethink everything. He turned his attention back to this walking pustule. Looking at it, even this money he was moving, almost all of it wasn't even his. Not that he wasn't moving a significant portion of his assets around. But the vast majority was Trade Federation, including a not so insignificant portion of their stock, which he didn't own or oversee. Hugo Demask could see that, and would instantly void most of this, and then turn him over to the authorities for the Trade Federation to deal with in a back ally somewhere.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
But, this societal tumor had brought him a timely warning, and Plagious was not one to kill the force's messengers, no matter how much he wanted too. But he hadn't killed someone in anger for years, at least a decade or two! No, that was for the hypocritical Jedi! So while excising him would be doing society a favor, cancer always has a tendency to come back, there were plenty more.
Hmm, perhaps this Sulustian burning trash heap was worth investing the minimum effort into. "Oh no, I simply wanted to have a nice chat. After all, you don't know what kind of juicy gossip you can get from those, outside your influence. Here, this is my contact information, I hope you know what to do with it. And if there is anything you need from me, feel free to send me a message! It's always good to have more friends!" Stated Hugo.
I quickly flipped open my holocom receiving the information from Hugo Demask. This information might as well be pure Aurum! Of course, I knew what his statement was saying. Don't bother me unless it's something truly important and valuable, and as a mere viceroy I wouldn't have anything truly valuable for him. Even the probably illicit dealings I was about to have were a drop in the bucket for him. The entire Trade Federation wasn't even truly worth his time, while on paper the Trade Federation equaled the IGBC at least in assets when including space ships, the foundation simply wasn't there. This is why the IGBC survived into the waring states period, but not the Fed.
Of course, that wasn't the most important bit. He had called me a friend! This was important. Seemingly the least important aspect, by calling me a friend I could now state I was his friend. This meant I had contacts with people in high places. Still, I wouldn't be a mere viceroy for much longer, and I still had to 'warn' Plagious. I was sure that he would understand the implications once he saw the transfers I was making, but he wouldn't necessarily review every last trade deal. This just simply would float across his desk because it involved assets that Sidious had kept hidden under Nute.
I know though, that these assets were going to lose value or be destroyed entirely soon, simply to satisfy the republics ego. This meant I had to get rid of them like a burning house on the open market, the faster it was sold the less my own money burned. Not that I was using my own money, no. This was the beauty of it, it was only legal after the fact. Once the events hit, and the Republic took control of the assets, or destroyed them, these contracts, particularly the loans, would be void. This would get the IGBCs undies in a wedgy and they would not allow something as small as the Galactic Republic to give them a wedgy. But there wasn't much they could do, this was one thing that couldn't be solved by money. This would then force the IGBC firmly into my camp, at least on the surface.
Sidious would be furious, for a lot of reasons, none of them he could fault me for. But there was nothing he could do here, after all, this furthered our plans right? Only, it outright destroyed one of his great plays altogether while furthering me greatly. But he likely wouldn't find out until he had already supported me through this mess. Not that it would hurt his chancellorship, no, it would support it! That was why he would be so angry, on the surface it helped him even more than me. It was that other play being destroyed that set him back twice as much, or more.
It wasn't simply Plagious being in play that it hurt. Palpatine was going to be forced firmly into camps that would build his powerbase. This meant that as chancellor he would have a leg up over what he should be. On the surface that was great, but Sidious did best as a fence sitter. Best to let the plebs fight it out for king humpty dumpty. However, he wouldn't be able to do that. By solidifying his powerbase he could no longer play the field against each other, shutting off his access to closed clandestine meetings... at least for a time. I had no doubts that he would rebuild all of those relationships from scratch if he must, but it set him back by years. Years I could dearly use in a ongoing PUB game I had just started...
** So, due to healthcare and other advances humans can live up to 200 years in SW. But Muun, which is Plagious live 500-700 years. Neither of these include Jedi which can live theoretically eternally with force powers, though for the Jedi it depends on how deeply they 'channel' the force, becoming little more than a conduit. While Sith simply stay at peak physical fitness for longer even when they age.
