[P17 - Zhar - FZ] The Fall of the Pirate Lord Drego Karsk

High above the forest canopies of Gall...

The calls of tropical birds drifted through the open windows of the conference room, mingling with the warm evening air. Beyond the transparisteel, Gall's endless forests, and the grand structures that pierced the leaves, stretched to the horizon, bathed in the fading orange glow of sunset.

Drego stared out at the canopy and found himself wondering why he and Lukar had bothered coming.

The Shipsters Union and CorDuro Shipping had demanded a meeting on neutral ground, claiming his pirates were strangling their businesses. As if that wasn't exactly what pirates were supposed to do.

Still, these negotiations were usually profitable. Shipping companies paid handsomely for promises of protection, and Drego was always happy to collect tribute before sending his crews right back out to raid the same trade routes. Until the New Republic decided to intervene- and there seemed little chance of that happening- his operation remained untouchable.

The armored guards standing silently in the corners of the room unsettled him, however.

Relan and Jonas had claimed they were hired security. Drego preferred to see them as a grim evidence of his reputation.

He smiled. "All right, Relan. Jonas. Let's make this quick. I understand you're unhappy about my crews attacking your ships. But if either of you paid your tribute in full, my captains might be less inclined to take what they deserve."

The two shipping executives exchanged uncomfortable glances. Jonas spoke first.

"Drego, we've done everything in our power to appease you. The fact that we can't move freight through one of the sector's primary hyperspace routes without being attacked is making our operations nearly impossible."

Drego spread his arms. "Then this sounds like a solvable problem, my friends. What have you brought me, to ensure my crews stop liberating your cargo?"

Relan shifted nervously. Jonas looked away.

"Well?" Drego barked. "Let's have it."

"No credits today, Drego."

The voice came from the hallway beyond the conference room as the doors slid open.

A chill ran down Drego's spine. No... It couldn't be.

"Carm?" he breathed.

The man who entered was different from the green recruit Drego remembered.

A polished cybernetic arm replaced the one he'd lost. His face looked weathered for such a short amount of time. His expression was hard as durasteel.

Most importantly, the blaster in his hand was pointed directly at Drego's chest.

"It's good to see you again, boss," Carm said. "What do you think of the new arm?"

Across the room, Lukar immediately raised his blaster. The Shistavanen's lips curled into a snarl.

"Easy now, dog." One of the armored guards snapped to action. Gire leveled a rifle at Lukar while extending his free hand in a calming gesture. "Let's not make this more complicated than it needs to be."

Drego looked around in disbelief. "What is this?" he snapped. "Jonas? Relan?"

The shipping executives immediately raised their hands. "We're staying out of this," Relan said.

"Seems like a personal matter," Jonas agreed.

Drego turned back to Carm. "I heard about Barkhesh. The Imperial ambush." He forced concern into his voice. "I only wish I'd been there to help, my boy."

The words bounced harmlessly off Carm. "You and I both know how the Empire found out about that arms deal."

Silence settled over the room. "You sold me out."

Lukar growled. Drego could feel the situation slipping through his fingers.

"Carm, my boy, I had nothing to do with that unfortunate business. I've only ever looked out for you."

"Let me finish this whelp and be done with it," Lukar growled.

Gire chuckled beneath his helmet. "I wouldn't recommend that, you mangy mutt. Unless you want your boss catching the next blaster bolt."

Carm never took his eyes off Drego. "I know it was you." His voice remained calm. That somehow made the situation more menacing.

"I lost an arm. I nearly died. The last few months gave me time to think. To plan my revenge." He took a slow step forward.

"You should have asked the Empire to send more than one trooper- the only person who knew about that meeting, that wasn't actually there, was you."

Drego's face tightened. The room fell silent.

There was no denial this time. No excuses or lies.

Carm stopped on the other side of the conference room table.

"The Markedons saved my life, gave me their support, and I joined the Flame of Zhar."

Drego laughed nervously. "And what exactly do you think happens now? Even if you kill me, every pirate on Cinder Station will hunt you to the edge of the galaxy."

For the first time, Carm smiled. A cold smile.

"I bet on that." He activated a holoprojector mounted on his wrist.

The image of Cinder Station appeared between them.

Red markers flashed across its decks. "That's why I didn't come here until everything was already in motion."

Drego stared.

"My brother's mercenaries. My crew. A host of LOM droids I had built just for this moment."

Marker after marker shifted from red to green. "They're securing the station as we speak."

Drego's stomach dropped. "You're bluffing." Carm ignored his blubbering former boss.

"Every pirate is being given a choice. Join the Flame of Zhar, or leave Farstine's orbit immediately."

The hologram continued updating.

Almost every marker had already turned green. "Cinder Station belongs to me now."

Drego looked to Relan and Jonas. Neither man looked surprised. The realization hit him like a proton torpedo.

They had all known... The meeting had never been a negotiation, it had been a coronation.

Carm lowered the projector. "The only thing left in the way... is you."

Drego reached for the blaster at his belt. Carm was faster.

A single shot echoed through the room, and the pirate lord collapsed from his chair, dead before he struck the floor.

For a moment, nobody moved, then Lukar howled and lunged. Gire intercepted him instantly, slamming the Shistavanen into the floor and wrenching the blaster from his grasp.

"What do we do with this one?" Gire asked. Lukar snarled and struggled beneath him.

Carm looked down at the bodyguard. "Get him out of here, and then let him go."

Gire blinked. "Seriously?"

"I won't punish loyalty." Lukar stared up in disbelief.

"Your master sold out his own people for credits," Carm said. " If you're still willing to die for him after that, then that's your choice."

Gire released his grip, bringing Lukar to his feet. The Shistavanen looked once at Drego's body, then at Carm. Gire gave him a shove, and he escorted him from the room.

The doors slid shut behind them.

The room was quiet once more, and Carm turned to the shipping executives.

"Now that we've settled that unpleasant business, let's discuss the future." He activated a projector at the head of the table. A green holographic map of Farstine and its surrounding trade lanes appeared before them.

"You'll each provide twenty percent of profits generated through Farstine's shipping corridors."

Jonas opened his mouth to protest. Carm raised a finger. "As I originally promised you both, your vessels will receive my guaranteed protection. Cinder Station will serve as a refueling and repair hub. Pirates operating in my territory will answer to me- or they won't operate at all."

Relan studied the map carefully. Finally, he nodded. "It's a better offer than Drego ever gave us."

He extended a hand. "If you can deliver on those promises, CorDuro Shipping has a deal."

Jonas immediately frowned. "Oh, absolutely not!"

Relan looked over.

The Human pointed accusingly. "I'm not about to let CorDuro claim credit for stabilizing the sector!"

He turned toward Carm. "The Shipsters Union accepts as well."

For the first time all evening, Carm genuinely smiled.

Outside, the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond Gall's forests. Drego's pirate kingdom had died with the sunset.

By dawn, a new burning flame would rise in its place.

---

Well- that's a wrap for Drego Karsk and Carm's revenge story! It's been fun to see this story come full circle from my first post for Factions 🙂 Don't worry though, the journey will continue. There's still the Imperial Remnant that eagerly acted on Drego's request to take out Carm, and there's a whole galaxy of potential stories to come. As always, I'd love any and all comments, suggestions and feedback!