Those bastards had screwed him, and screwed him hard! Nute Gunray had several important meeting to attend to, not to mention all of the other stuff to manage, yet what did they do? Send him on an 'important' trade mission to Hutt space, Hutt space! Those were the missions that disposable assets went on. Those were the mission that the powerful kept at capitol ship length, bristling with turbolasers, between themselves and the Hutts. And here he was, being shipped off into Hutt space while he had to cancel on meetings with important individuals like the IGBC, and the Commerce Guild.

  He had complained to Sidious, but they seemed unbothered. It wasn't surprising, the viceroy was ironically his only asset in the Trade Federation, at least that high up. This wasn't going to look good in his coming court dates. At least he could dump all the slaves and all the cultural artifacts. He can honestly say that he didn't deal in 'slavery' or the 'misappropriation of cultural artifacts'. Not to mention all the other small things he was dumping into Hutt space.

  Of course, to make matters worse, he had to use to dump all those items into Hutt space. He had to get rid of them fast, and he was burning credits on the deal. Normally he might have been a little more scrupulous about what where when, but he needed thing shipped now, even at a... *gasp*... deficit!

  ----------

  I made my way to Hutt space in my ***. I realized that my trap was going to place it's jaws on me. When this was all over I was going to be interviewed and accused of different things, having to defend myself in court. Going to Hutt space was REALLY not a good look for me. Going to Hutt space as someone as important as myself, was even MORE of not a good look. Going to Hutt space after I had just sold a bunch of slaves, sorry indentures? While I held too much power to be thrown in jail when I landed back on Curescant, that wouldn't protect me when the chips were down. And even though I could easily pay my way out of it, even with what I have, I might wish I stayed in jail when my 'associates' get a hold of me. Safer with the murderers and bounty hunters.

  I needed to burry the trail. That ended up being simple enough. A quick call to the Curescant diplomatic office later and I was an official diplomat for the republic, and thus 'above' bribes. Not that any of these Hutts except the greatest would be able to offer me anything anyway. Oh, they will try, even so forcing such things into my hands. But, I was a viceroy of the trade federation, anything they could get their dirty hands on, I could easily buy and have delivered. No, anything they bribed me with would go straight to the republic... mostly. If that republic was the Trade Federation.

  No, it wasn't the bribes that got me, I could easily claim that was Hutt culture and therefore take my due officially now. It was how easy it was to become a diplomat. I suppose it had more to do with the fact I was heading to Hutt space and was a qualified businessman. Nobody wanted to go to Hutt space on diplomatic missions, who knew? The fact that my seathipede shuttle was unarmed only helped matters, because why would we arm the standard Fed personnel transport? It made me want to cry, but I understood why. Instead I had cooked up some removable weapon mounts. Easily visible would be that the weapons are removed, or added.

  And, guess what? As soon as I hit Hutt space there was a blockade of 5 fighters and an upguned freighter as a gunboat, surprise surprise. Well, they knew I was coming. However, they couldn't catch up to me before I left the system thankfully, though there calls of "Surender viceroy!" over the coms made it obvious what they were after.

  But that didn't mean I would get lucky in every system. So when three systems in, as I was about to jump to hyperspace... or well, my pilot droid was... and was contacted by a small fleet jumping into the system... right on top of me. Luckily they were far enough away to run into me. Unfortunately they were more then close enough to file my ship full of blaster fire.

  They did not ask me to power down my engines, but instead stated that they were from The Great Mordello the Hutt. He wasn't someone I heard of from the series, but I knew who he was, a council member from one of the many Hutt councils. He just happened to be one of the Hutts I was going to meet. Another thing was that according to unwritten Hutt law, you could imply you were from another Hutt faction, even say it outside of Hutt space. But while in Hutt space you didn't state you were from someone else's faction unless you wanted to be obliterated from all sides. And considering that Mordello had actual influence in the Hutt Cartels, it was unlikely that another Hutt, even a young Hutt, would be using his name.

  So, I command the droid to keep the hyperdrive ready, but not activate it. I wanted to hear them out, hopefully before they volleyed a round of turbolasers at my ship. Looking at the ships arrayed in front of me I see a as well as an class fighter leading a half squadron of with a single c type variant mixed in. As well as a mixed full squadron, with multiple variants, including the iconic ** to the a light freighter that when upgunned doubles as a fighter.

  While I was relatively sure that no Hutts were flying in this escort, because it was an escort and therefore beneath them, several of these were iconic Hutt ships that I knew they did fly. Though mostly, the Hutts saw star fighters as more powerful escape pods that they could get away with.

  The Hutt vessels arrayed themselves around me very quickly, but none actually took my rear around my engines. While Hyperspace drives punched holes into reality, they needed the engines to actually move through that hole. So it was reassuring that none of these vessels even attempted it. That was likely the point. Listening to the open chatter, or the chatter that they didn't think was open, but even now the Trade Federation had the best com gear, and thus the best e-war gear. They seemed to think that this was beneath them, but decided to abandon their usual tactics, which Nute was pretty sure were just piracy. They seemed to be bummed out enough about not shaving a 'fat bantha' anyway...

  Nute's Sheathopede dodged some more turbolaser fire as another one of the more ambitious Hutt spawn launched their fighters at him. Most just turned around at the name of his protector... now that he had them. The Republic didn't send its diplomatic vessels into Hutt space because The Will Get Shot At. And Republic law stated that a diplomatic vessel must be unarmed. The Republic Red is enough to deter them!... Yeah, that doesn't go over so well in Hutt space. Luckily, the Trade Federation is not immune to paying dues *cough* bribes, to... incentives good trade deals. So long as they make money, they do not mind, but if it is no longer lucrative, they will leave you high and dry, while you have become dependent on their trade.

  It wasn't eve the Trade Union's fault that all of the local traders went away, they were kind of like a more aggressive walmart, which in itself is kind of impressive.

  So finding myself having to take controls from another droid so that I can guide my pilot is... tragic really. I could obviously pilot the ship, but my reactions would be slower and less accurate. However, a droid cannot predict or react to variables well. That is why I am currently telling it what they are. Still, I'm pretty sure these board pirates on babysitting duty are letting them scrape my hull. They should at least know that if I die that so will they, and much worse then they can imagine as well. But that doesn't stop them from letting the occasional starfighter through. As another Z-95 dives through the safety cordon and blasts my shields, I know that I need to do something, or these assholes will let my ship get damaged, or even explode.

  Another starfighter, I can't tell the make, cheap and unreliable is probably the name. Annoyed at the growing incompetence and rampant bullying of my escort I make a snap decision. I order my droid to dive under the minstrel. This has an instant effect as now the minstrel doubles it's fire and the other ships on escort start to actually pay attention. It was fine when my ship was getting the paint scrapped, but if they messed up one of Mordello's hulls they would have to pick the body parts that would be used to repair it. While this actually slows down the hunt on the enemy fighters, the competence increase by magnitudes. Soon the enemy tries to run, but it is no use, not with a minstrel to gun them down as they turn their backs, and starfighters of our own to pen them in.

  Of course, just when they finish up on that side, is when another ambitious little squirt tries from the other, now that all my escorts are out of position. I have the droid but the engine to the other side of the minstrel, just in time for a proximity alert to light up and an explosion to light up against it's shields.

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  "What the frak yu doin' sleemo?" screams the captain of the minstrel. There was still no real damage, but that could not have been good for the shields. "If you did your job, I wouldn't need to out maneuver ." I reply.

  This seems to have really riled them up. No sooner do I say this then more missiles fly, only they come from my side. Soon the other squadron is wiped out, but there are even less of them on this side than the other. If this keeps up they may need resupply. Fighters are capable of flying down the routes, but it is either they fly long distance, or they fight, not both. and they have been doing a lot of fighting. Granted, that fighting is more skeet shooting, but still.

  I can't believe I am saying this, but I can't wait to get to Nar Shada. Of course, Nute has been there before, but Usually that is in no less than a lucrehulk, and with no more than a few battalions of droids along for the ride. This time I have simply brought a few specialized droids, and very few b1s. Those that are here, are for piloting and guarding the ship, and they can only do one or the other.

  Soon enough, but not soon enough, we end up in Nar shada space. And I am welcomed by a beautiful sight. In front of me is a . Of course, it would be more intimidating if I couldn't see that it was venting atmosphere, and that only some of it's engines are working according to sensors. Not that most ships would get close enough to see that most of it's turbolasers are none functional or have even been removed. Still, it is a beautiful, ancient, and not really functional. But this wasn't for me, though I can't say I am blameless. Nar Shada is the eye of the storm, it can be said to be safe to those that are protected in it... At least if your not weak and nameless.

  So by bringing in several lucrehulks, granted most do not actually go to Nar Shada itself, I have stirred up a Fefze hive. However, that is nothing new, and certainly not enough to bring out this relic from a distant era. No, there is something else going on, and I think I know what. There just so happens to be one Count Dooku** running around here. He just so happens to be gathering his allies and having a meeting right now. I'm unsure yet if he knows about my involvement in his rise to power, but it would not be good if he did.

  Still, there were some power players here already, I know that a rep from the IGBC was here, amongst other such as the Commerce Guild, and a rep from my own Trade Federation. That wasn't even to mention several outer and mid rim senators. The warship was for them, and to remind both them and the other Hutts that there is always a bigger fish. I honestly just enjoyed looking at a museum piece from a time long before anything that has happened. The Dor'bulla was built for an ancient war, to protect an even more ancient society. Anybody that think the Hutts aren't prepared for war are more foolish than the Republic thinking that they are.

  I left my escort behind, and we were both glad for it. I sent them a few peggats in drinking money. At least until I remembered that they could by an entire starship with what I had sent over. But that was fine, I was the generous business man, and honestly, I could by a lot with my pocket change. It might not be good to show how much I was actually worth, then again it might also be better. Even the piracy in Hutt space was hierarchical. They couldn't raid anyone worth too much by themselves, and would instead have to run it by somebody else, or face the consequences.

  Now, some might think that with a high enough score they could disappear and live the life of luxury. That might be true in the republic. But it was impossible with the Hutts. They WILL find you, and when they find you, you will live to regret it. The Hutts have made a reputation of extending the lives of their victims to make them suffer more. Still, for most victims of the Hutts they describe their lives as 'too short' to really torture them.

  I have to say that I respect the Hutts***. They have built an empire that while reflects the ancient Egyptians, eclipses them in every way. It's hard to argue when you are actually superior to your subjects in every way. Slavery in the Republic is cruel and inconsistent. Slavery in Hutt space is just another form of citizenship. There is a hierarchy and an understanding, even respect. And it would be foolish to not respect an empire that has literally lasted longer than recorded history, for any Other race...

  I move my seathopede to a landing site nearby to were my contacts are. I will be staying here a while, but it will mostly be to cover my tracks. Sidious is also not pleased, and the less I know what for his displeasure is going to take the better. I have a meeting with Mordello**, but that isn't for another week. I will be meeting with many other people, even his own, long before that meeting. Of course, others of my council have also made it planet side. They will be establishing the meeting with Mordello in his open hearings first. Honestly, we had already established the meeting beforehand, it was just another power move. Everything on Hutt is a power move. Because if you can't flex as a Hutt, well... To put it simply, they consider a Hutt without several slaves and a few droids as to be physically disabled.

  So when I brought out my B2 bodyguards and droidika obviously the first thing is I get a gun pointed at my face. Or well, I would if I didn't have two B2s blocking them. I brought four of each out on this expedition. I left the six piloting crew back on the ship. Honestly, even OOM B1s weren't going to do anything, and the regular B1s aren't even a thing yet. I'm just lucky that I have B2s and Driodika. The B2s that I have aren't even the ones from the series, those were designed for the war, these are just beefed up B1s, literally B TWOs...

  So it's no surprise that the first thing that happens on Nar Shada is a guy holding a gun to my 'face' and says "Those are some nice droids you have, be a shame if they got messed up. Mind if I hold on to them for you, for safety purposes of course. Hutt space can be very unsafe."

  "Thank you for the warning, but I think my muscle can handle it." I say. I gently nudge the droids to give this pour soul a demonstration. Quickly, before he can react a B2 picks him up, he fires off his gun ineffectually as he flails around, shooting the ground of all things. Another B2 disables him while the last two move in closer to me to make sure they soak up any stray bolts. Meanwhile my droidika unfurl and make sure that nobody else in the crowd gets funny ideas.

  I pick up the gun, I recognize it as a piece of functional cheap shit. If he had maintained the weapon it might have been useful, but he hadn't even done that right, so instead the stun function no longer works, and there was a short that took up half the capacity of each shot, doubling the drain on the reserves. "Pathetic, grovel, and I might grant you clemency." I state, again, power moves.

  "Wha, what'd you say?" he announces eloquently. I signal the B2 holding him to toss him and it does. "Beg for you life nerf, or lose it." I state again.

  "I, I, I, be, beg," He states, before trying to outdraw his holdout. But my B2 is faster, on account of already pointing its wrist blaster at him. While not the true canon it will become, it's more than enough. Instead of a canon, it is a rapid fire blaster meant to be hidden inside the 'loader bot's arm. He dies before he can get a shot off. I simply have the B2 smash the pistol before someone else can think of sticking me up. I see several homeless urchins glare at me, probably thinking of keeping or reselling the pistol. I don't care, they all answer to the Hutts regardless and I am their guest. If I had to kiss up to somebody or ask for information that would be one thing, it is not.

  So I have my marines close up and lock the door on the shuttle. It is a private hanger, and the lowlife that waylaid me wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. I have another group of B1s lock down the hanger, it is mine for the duration and I intend to keep it that way. It is clear to see that there are several emplacements inside the hanger, mostly to keep the ship in, not out. I have my B1s take over these emplacements easily. I also see why and how they sleezy bastard got in. There is a hidden smugglers entrance to the hanger, and it is only lightly monitored by the Hutts, easily bypassed. Good to know, better for plausible deniability.

  I start off my trip with nowhere in particular to go, however, there are a couple of clans I would like to meet, and maybe set up a meeting with. They mostly work with the Mundoola clan, that Mordello is a clan elder of. These clans mostly work with electronics, such as droids, or even fighters. Though the Hutts hardly produce anything they refurbish everything. You could even get massive frigates or battleships from bygone eras. These are usually then sold to pirates that need them. There are even ships that could take down my lucrehulks for sale here. of course, that assumes that they aren't armed and armoured, something I hope to change...

  ** The wookie page says that it was introduced around the clone wars, but it has been used in fiction since much earlier than that. So, I'm going to say it was produced a much longer period. Most likely years before even the invasion of Naboo. This makes it an old, tired, and tested design. Likely the ARC-170 was it's replacement as an attempt to upgun it into something between a small gunboat and a fighter, the ARC-170 included large lasers, which, even the medium lasers on the z-95 and later x-wing was considered an overpowered stretch... so, I just think that that ARC-170 just simply wasn't used right... like a lot of star wars stuff is...

  ** I don't know when he becomes 'Count' Dooku instead of Jedi master Dooku. I just know that around the time of the invasion of Naboo he was being turned by darth plagious and that there were some events around this time. As stated the order of events are out of whack, so take them with a grain of salt.

  ** For those that don't know, Mordello is pronounced (MordeRRo) But the Rs are rolled and deeper, more base, humans just can't differentiate them. This is why it is spelled with an L which isn't in the Hutt language. Not that Hutts speak basic, just that they prefer not to as some type of power move.

  *** This is the opinion of the MC and doesn't reflect on the author at all. An example is, the Nazi did many things that increase the scientific field of today, does not mean that the author respects them, respects them for what they did, which was the stupidest way of doing science by the way, or holds any respect for the nazis or their 'scientific method'. Some people however, DO respect them at least in parts and pieces. I in some ways respect that if I don't agree with it in any way.