When You Give a Man Power
Chapter 17

A slime-covered fist smashes into a metal table echoing across the room along with a growl sending many dishes of delectable foods falling to the floor in a jumbled heap. One of numerous Hutts within the palace either in person or on a holoprojector that we look upon while we wait to collect our reward. Despite the obese appearance of the Hutt he had managed to dent the metal table before bringing his hand back and putting some food into his mouth from the same table.

He glares and makes it abundantly clear what he thinks of what we told the group of slugs. Others reacted in different ways but all had one thing in common. They were not happy and looked ready to teach someone a lesson they would never forget. The Hutt who had smashed the table pointed at us talking with the food in his mouth sending it flying as I hid my grimace at the disgusting slob.

“The mighty and powerful Chulgac and the other Lords and Ladies are pleased that you managed to make it back alive. You will be paid the full amount despite not acquiring Rune himself. The Trade Federation will pay dearly for spitting in their faces when they offered them a rather generous deal to avoid this conflict. They must be made an example for all to see that you do not cross the Hutts.”

After swallowing the food in his mouth can he be heard far more clearly. “We have many jobs coming for you four bounty hunters in the near future. For now, rest and resupply for after this meeting we go to war with the Trade Federation. We will contact you when we need your services.” He says as the protocol droid translates for him he raises his fist holding something wiggling in it in the air as many of the other Hutts follow him in raising their fists.

Glancing over at the others they all look professional but a certain eagerness can be seen in their eyes. Well besides Jango courtesy of his helmet. After getting our payment for the job Jango hands me far more than what I was supposed to get.

“What is this? I was supposed to get less.” I say to him, handing it back to him. Some might misunderstand this for me being fair but that is far from the truth. Bane and Aurra both give me weird looks with their species equivalent to a raised brow. 

“You came back for me and Bane when you could have left us. Put yourself and your ship at great risk and managed to get us out of there. As far as me and Bane are concerned you get a bigger cut. You earned it.” Jango tells me before shoving it into my hands I look down at it before looking back at him several times before shrugging my shoulders and accepting it. 

The reason for me being hesitant to take it is simply because money makes people do stupid things. Sure according to Jango I had earned more than the original cut I was supposed to get but I had heard stories back when I was with Miguel about how some people had pulled a hustle and despite one of them doing something that would get them a bigger cut the others would not allow it. If one did give them the extra cut others would want it for themselves and do something to get it.

Quickly getting out of the opulent castle that is just an eye sore for how it is so needlessly gaudy and a waste of precious metals and gems. Like nearly anything the Hutts owned had to be flashy and showy just screaming out look at me, I am rich! 

Between that and the smell of the room. For people like Jango, Bane, and Aurra it may smell bad but you can tough it out.

For me it was horrendous. Only my memories of the Boston wasteland and those of Skyrim going through sewers and long-forgotten ancient crypts with the many bad smells that I had to endure kept me from making a scene. 

“Corvo.”

Glancing over and seeing Cad Bane with Jango behind him. “Was going to head over to Shey’s bar. Are you up for a game of Uno later?”

At the mention of that game a big smile forms on my face. “I see you want to get me back for those plus twos I gave you. Alright, I’m game later on. We will see you if you have what it takes!” 

Bane lowers his hat as he has a smirk of his own. “I intend on being the victor. Be seeing you later then Corvo.” He gives me a nod before walking off with Jango who gives me a nod as well.

Shaking my head in amusement at people really enjoying Uno of all things. From what I had heard once we got back it had gotten rather popular once word of it had spread. But for now, I need to focus on other things. After all, there's a lot to do now. Need to make sure my Death Korps are getting where I need them to be in their training. Hopefully, they have improved since I left with the others for that job. Even if it is only marginally. 

Still working on the spell that will help me get them all trained in mass without having to waste time getting them there when I need them now. But it is coming along as the spell slowly takes form working whatever flaws or issues it would have out of it. 

What makes it far more difficult is it is a cross between Conjuration and Illusion. Normally spells are just a part of one branch of magic. But regardless of the difficulty it will not deter me from accomplishing what I set out to do. If it wasn’t worth doing then I wouldn’t be putting in this much effort for it.

Then making sure the necessary weapons and equipment are finished and ready for deployment. Like weapons that would help me quickly and swiftly eliminate large groups of droids as efficiently as possible. For both myself and my ship. It has some decent upgrades but after that dogfight with the droid fighters, I have more ideas on what I could do to make it far better.

Making it back to an apartment that I had gotten for myself on the higher levels near the surface that didn’t cost an arm and a leg and is in a better area so I don’t have to constantly wave a blaster around at any idiots I didn’t have time to waste on killing unless I needed more souls.

Glancing over at the ping I just got on my comlink seeing the delivery of gems and jewels is done and Jugo is pleased with the last order of gems sent to him as my apology for potentially getting him in trouble with the mass of drugs I had pilfered and traded to him. He was even nice enough to give me an extra Kyber crystal, this one green along with the blue one he used as a substitute.

Jugo had been aware of the drug's origin after the whole fiasco had happened with the Hutts ready to rip into whoever was encroaching on their business. He managed to make some extra money by giving the information to the Hutts. He was rather surprised that I would do what I did but he has been good to me and if it helps curry favor I’m all for it.

Not like I am hurting on money either with the small fortune I have amassed for myself from the gems to my hunts, and going to the occasional casino to win some and back out without getting too greedy and return later after some time had passed so I don’t get kicked out.

Pulling up a hologram with a display of more droid designs as my mind makes up designs and weapons on the fly far faster than I could even comprehend in my old life. Helps to have a level eleven intelligence with the perks from Fallout further bolstering it. 

Unlike the game, they have uses beyond just letting me unlock certain craftables. Like helping me design and create things far faster with innovations or with the technology here helping make them compatible and working together like a nice well-oiled machine.

My Assaultrons are a prime example of that. To think they are only prototypes and not the final product. As nice as the Death Korp is, I intend to help them by adding machines sprinkled into my forces. As things stand there are plans in place to get me a way to start mass producing my droids but it is far in the future and if the plan works and doesn’t fall apart as time goes on.

For now, wait and see how the war between the Trade Federation and Hutts goes. If it doesn’t work out then I simply find another way.

…

“What is the Viceroy even thinking!?” Haado Kumil all but shouted his thoughts in the large control center for the Lucrehulk he was placed in charge of. He had heard about how the Hutts had put their company in a bind accusing them of muscling in on their drug trade using some random fallen merchant. 

As likely as the Republic is to say no to the Trade Federation and start purging all the corruption from the Senate. He snorted at that thought. But the problem is that despite the absurdity of the accusations they do give the Hutts a cut of the profits despite it grating on their Neimoidian instincts for business. Simply because you don’t cross the Hutts.

Maybe the Viceroy thinks we can beat them? After all the Hutts are not like their war-like ancestors of old and have gotten rather fat and lazy. They have managed to take advantage of the flaws within the Republic to their advantage and if it comes down to it they could get the Republic to come and send Jedi to help them.

With that last thought and knowing they had armies of battle droids at their beck and call Haado had once more calmed himself down having these thoughts for some time since word had spread about their defiance of the Hutts. It won’t be the last time but like any Nemoidian he has a healthy dose of fear to keep him in check.

Many looked down on their people for their cowardice but if anything it was a boon. They know when to back out of something that is far too risky and it is why he and many others of their species view themselves as the rest of the galaxy's races as their betters. If it wasn’t for that same fear and their superiority how would they have taken over the Trade Federation and made it into the power that it is within this galaxy?

“Sir we have several contacts coming out of hyperspace!” One of the skeletal b1’s says to him on the command bridge as he looks at it a bad feeling begins to form. Looking out the viewports of the ship's command center he sees to his horror several vessels armed to the teeth.

Worried at first he remembered his ship was a Lucrehulk famed for their powerful shields. Snorting to himself worried about a few pirate ships before the terminal the b1 made more noises indicating more ships. What was originally three rather sizable ships that most pirates shouldn’t have quickly escalated into fourteen as they came out of hyperspace with their fighter complement quickly leaving the ships.

“They are not accepting our attempts to contact them. Orders, sir?”

His hands turn into fists knowing what is happening. The Hutts are making their displeasure known it would seem. “Mobilize our forces. Shields to full power and get the fighter compliment ready!” He says quickly taking command of the situation as the ships begin opening fire on the Lucrehulk's shields but to his horror several open fire on the transport ships that are bringing cargo down and back from the nearby planet.

“No no no! Protect the transport shuttles!”

“Yes sir!” The b1 says sending out the fighters to protect the transports to his relief the enemy ships deploy fighters as they swiftly close the distance to his ship to his growing worry seeing far too few droid fighters intercepting them.

“Where are our fighters?!” Haado yells out cupping the sides of his face with his hands as the fighters break past their shield the turbo lasers start firing and hitting a few of the enemy's craft but there were too many! Opening fire on his ship some of the shots get too close to the command center for his liking as it shakes and rocks.

Nearly falling over before catching himself on a terminal before the b1 responds. “You ordered most of them to go protect the transport ships, sir.”

He just stares at the stupid droid with his mouth hanging open before anger and rage consume him. “I didn’t say all of them! Split them up to protect us and the ships.” He yells out waving his hands at the droid who looks around awkwardly.

“Uh, sir we didn’t have enough to split up between us and our transport ships. Budget constraints you had put in place for this journey since they cost too much to have them ordered from the rest of the Trade Federation and found them unnecessary for your ship.”

His face paled as he now remembered. “Oh no oh no oh no.” He says moving around giving whatever orders he can to try and salvage this as he sees his ship's turbo laser emplacements getting destroyed as the enemy ships shoot them down with what looks like transport vessels coming to board. Most of the fighters he sent have been destroyed with the few left fighting to protect the cargo haulers but they are losing and fast. 

The cargo ships had their thrusters destroyed leaving them drifting in space. All that product and the money they would have made from selling it to the core worlds… he almost wanted to cry. But that ever-present fear helped him make the decision that he needed to make. “Get us to hyperspace-”

His order was cut off as an explosion rocked the ship and the room shook once more sending his obese form rolling across the floor with many droids falling with him crying out. 

“What was that?” He says heaving deep breaths feeling like death is just around the corner.

Another droid gets off the floor and looks at a terminal. “Several of the main thrusters have been taken out sir with the backup thrusters being destroyed as we speak. We have no means to escape.”

His heart sank at the information being dropped on him like a turbo laser salvo on a planet. Much like with Haado numerous attacks on the Trade Federation were carried out across the outer rim and mid rim as groups of criminals whether they be small-time pirates and gangsters to large criminal organizations that saw an opportunity to take advantage of the situation and plunder whatever they can from the Trade Federations misfortune.

…

“-nder attack across the galaxy! What are you going to do to make this stop?” One of their bigger investors demands Nute Gunray as he feels a headache beginning to form as he tries and is currently failing to appease his investors. 

The Nemoidian continues to tear into him as Rune stands further away from him hunched into himself as Gunray tries his best to not look back at him in rage at what he had gotten them into. If Gunray had it his way he would pay the Hutts whatever they wanted if it meant getting them to leave them alone but with Sidious breathing down his neck he can’t!

The Hutts attacked all at once with numerous other groups looking to take advantage of the situation as several of their ships, mostly smaller ones, were lost along with a few Lucrehulks to these attacks that were suspiciously synchronized as they attacked when they were at their most vulnerable. When they have cargo ships coming to and from planets the precious cargo is lost with the ships using the tried and true method of cutting back on the droids stationed on the ships.

Anger and rage fill him at the mere thought of all his money being plundered by some barbaric pirates and gangsters who wouldn’t know the value of such commodities even if it slapped them in their dirty disease ridden faces. 

Clenching his fists Gunray has had enough as his rage has reached a boiling point. Contrary to what most of the other species think of his people, Nemoidians can and have felt rage like anyone else enough to try and kill someone despite their cowardly natures and as a result can lash out. 

“Shut up.” 

The investors fall silent as they look on, not comprehending what they just heard. It took Gunray a moment to realize it was himself who had uttered those impossible words. 

“Gunray who do you think-”

“I will deal with the Hutts. My company has dealt with those fat lazy slugs for far too long indulging their supposed superiority to everyone. No more. They want a fight then they just got one.” Gunray says with clenched teeth as he seethes remembering all the times he had to lick the slugs equivalent to their boots as he tries to appease them enough to not personally go out of their way to attack his ships.

“How are you going to do that?” Another investor says, frowning and glaring at Gunray for ordering them to shut up.

“Simple. We have many battle droids in use for our ships. We raise the bar on our budgets and start bringing in more forces to protect our products and to further reinforce this we will call the Republic to give us aid. I doubt the Hutts would like the idea of fighting a task force full of Jedi!” He all but shouts slamming his hands down on the durasteel table in the large meeting room on his personal Lucrehulk. 

The anger and stress slowly leave him as he vents at his investors while trying to not grimace at the ache in his hand. Thankfully none of the investors notice this as they fall silent thinking over his idea. 

“That… could work so long as we manage to find a balance on how many droids to keep on standby. If you can manage to get the Republic to get their defense forces to help us and send in Jedi then this should force the Hutts to rethink this attempt at attacking us.”

One of the investors says more to himself than to the others as the rest nods at him and sound more appeased now that they have a plan of action. 

“What if the Hutts don’t back down and simply redouble their efforts?” One investor says making the others rethink Gunray's plan his lips turn into a thin line as he huffs at that. 

“Then the Hutts get a war that has been a long time coming.”

All in the room from the investors to his underlings sat in their chairs and even Rune was looking at him like he had grown a second head.

“Think about it. How many of us here have had to bow and beg those fat lazy slugs just to be able to go to the outer rim and get some product to trade to the core worlds and then have a group of pirates attempt to attack our ships when the Hutts said we would be safe from them?”

Silence greets Gunray. “How much money did we have to spend on lawyers to show us loopholes in the Republic's laws to then have to pay a large fortune to get our ships proper upgrades so we could fight off any attackers looking to make a quick credit off of us? Far too much I say. Now it’s time for us to return the favor to the Hutts. Think about it-” Gunray says standing up and walking around the room getting more heated as he speaks.

 All within the room are enraptured with him not just with what draws their attention to his voice but also because they all agree with him.

They all have had to deal with the Hutts and quite frankly this is a situation that if it is happening to the Trade Federation how many other companies will suffer the same? Even if the rumors of Rune Haako trying to do something behind the Hutts' backs are true, it ultimately remains the same for them.

“-if we can push the Hutts back and do enough damage we can not only show the rest of the galaxy that we are not ones to be pushed around but we can also take over the Hutts' rather profitable spice trade.” 

Shocked gasps greet him as Rune himself looks on in jealousy. “Gunray you do realize that is going to be incredibly difficult, don’t you? You, like any of us, know the Hutts are not to be trifled with.”

“Of course I know!” He shouts at the last one to speak and shakes his arms in the air with his fists closed as his anger burns stronger. Most of them don’t even know how to react to this since Gunray is normally rather easy to push around so long as you have the means to do so yet the man that stands before them seems to not even care.

“But think of all the money we can make! The Hutts have managed to live in wealth for millennia from the spice trade using those and other drugs to make a massive profit. Enough so most people have made no attempt to even fight them simply because of how much they have. If we can beat them back and take it forcefully from them we would be capable of not only making up for our loss in revenue from the attacks and our retaliation but even be capable of expanding both our wealth and business like never before!”

Now this got the room’s attention. Gunray wasn’t wrong in that if they could take over the Hutt's business and retain it the wealth it would generate would bring to new heights never before seen. An untapped market that none of them had attempted to break into. The risks were high but the droids at their disposal could tip the scales and add in the Republic helping them by getting several Senators to force their hand they should be capable of taking the Hutts out.

Hands clapping breaks the silence. One of the investors nods his head and smiles as he keeps clapping, soon joined by the rest of the room. Only one person that the rest besides Gunray didn’t notice that they were not clapping was Rune. A grimace could be seen on his face, not happy at Gunray for taking his idea even if he had failed and got them into the mess with the Hutts in the first place.

But this can only end horribly for them.