Fwurg

[Serrah]

((OOC: This meeting is private to Serrah of the Veolian Commonwealth, Mister Nathaniël le Froy of the Sundarian Federation, and counselor Saleris of the Hiocan Society.))

The appointed meeting room was near the Ministry of Commerce offices. Though the meeting room had a view of Unity city, it was decorated sparsely. The room featured a large round table, surrounded by three chairs, and a holo projector for presentations and such.

The only person in the room was in stark contrast with the rooms decorations. An attractive lethan twi'lek woman, she seemed to be in her thirties. And she dressed as if she were going to an posh party, maybe even more like a dancer in a very expensive night club. Although her attire suggested she was lost, she sat in the room studying a datapad. On the table in front of her was a neat stack of eight or nine sheets of paper, the topmost paper showing rows of neat hand-written numbers with short notes in the margin.

While reading the datapad, the woman was rhythmically tapping the table with an actual fountain pen.

[Nathaniël le Froy]

Shortly after his response to the message send by Serrah, Nathaniël entered the conference room Serrah had reserved for their first meeting.

He wore the traditional dark blue robes of his tribe, his head was donned with a white kippah and a broche signifying his membership of the Sundarian Council sat on his revers. He carried little more then a small stack of papers and a leather briefcase.

Seeing somebody was already present and waiting, Nathaniël freed up his right hand and subsequently touched his forehead, then his mouth and lastly let his hand rest on his chest over his heart as he inclined his head.

"As-salaam alaikum," He said giving his tradition greeting, "Miss Serrah I presume.. My name is Nathaniël le Froy and I am honored to make your acquaintance."

[Saleris]

After some time a women in white robes comes walking through the doors. Her hair is in a knot and she wears a kerchief. She wears a big ornamented necklace with a Hiocan emblem pendant. She has a datapad in her hands where the Bozzy spine can be seen.

See stand still in the rooms and bows.

“Mister Le Froy, miss Serah, my apologies for being late. I saw the message just now as I was busy with something else.

It an honor to meet you and I hope we will co-operate well.”

She rises and makes the Hiocan greeting of putting to two fingers together and holding the hand upwards palm facing.

[Serrah]

Serrah rose from her chair, and curtsied toward the two other representatives.

"Lady Saleris, Mister le Froy, it is an honour to make you acquaintance. I represent the Veolian Commonwealth at the behest of my owner, mistress Nehket Aeka.", she said in a business-like manner.

"After going over the Bozzy Spine subsidy funds' bookkeeping I found myself slightly shocked by the unkempt state of the books. It seems that though funds have been funnelled to the correct factions, they have not been earmarked and they are being sent directly to each factions hyperspace lane maintenance institution. I suggest we draw up guidelines for the distribution of funds, I estimate one and a half our of work on that."

She motioned to the table: "Please, have a seat and let us get started. Let's be efficient about this, my mistress requested I entertain her tonight."

[Saleris]

Counselor Saleris looked with some surprise towards the Twi’lek woman. She knew the Veolians had a history with slaves and that is now is a luxury only the rich nobles had. Serrah seems to want to do her utmost to please her mistress and also looked quite capable of handling bookkeeping.

“We need to get a good overview of how the situation was, currently is and how we would like it to be. Drawing up some guidelines can be done quickly.
Another time we can sort out the old accounts and try to strike the balance. So we can then continue knowing our funds.”

The counselor takes a seat and starts with displaying the current rules on the Bozzy spine on her datapad.

[Serrah]

After briefly looking over the current rules, Serrah proposed a few changes.

"I propose we earmark the subsidies for Bozzy Spine Junction upkeep, and require that each faction benefiting from such subsidies clearly indicates such in their public records. This will help us keep an overview of the actual tax flow, instead of surrendering ourselves to guesswork and estimates."

((OOC: Translation to OOC terms: all factions that have a Bozzy Spine junction should note the correct Hyperspace Lane upkeep figures with their Union-subsidized hyperspace lane, and a new Union-governed subsidies page will be created to actually send the required amounts of to the different factions. (I will take care of this if we reach an IC agreement on it)

As we can very easily handle this with IC messages and such, I propose we do this for the great extra roleplay this will generate ^_^))

[Nathaniël le Froy]

"An excellent suggestion Miss Serrah," Nathaniël stated, "This will indeed create more clarity and a better overview of the ministry's actual expenses on the Bossy Spine Connection law. It should also allow us to keep a more accurate track on funds still available for other infrastructural improvements such as an extension to Bossy Spine, an capacity increase for the Union tradefleets or improvement of the holonet infrastructure."

[Saleris]

“Rather then just given them the tax, we should first see the invoicing and then they receive the funds. Grants are given to help when needed.

By earmarking it in the report they show that they spend tax on maintaining/building the hyperspace lane and we grant them the fund.
This should be done for all grants not only the Bozzy spine.”

The counselor seems firm to bring order in this chaos. While saying earmarking she looks to Serrahs and nods.

“With this we will be able to handle the funds as we get a better overview of the finance. The main part of our task is monitoring the Bozzy spine which includes checking the quality of the lanes, making sure that new member are connected quickly and making extension."

While saying extension she looks to mister le Froy and nods. She seems to be content with the decision and will make sure that it is implemented quickly.

((OOC: I do not know enough about the turn report to know if the other Union subsidies/grants are marked. Let me know, then I will make IC work of it that this will be done.))

[Serrah]

"If we all agree, I will draw up a letter to advice the current beneficiaries of such subsidies of the intended change in subsidy structure."

She made a short note on her paper.

"Furthermore, I propose we define the roles of the members of this Committee. As the lowest ranking woman, I think it is fitting that I take upon myself the role of secretary. Counselor Saleris, given your insight into the current situation, you would be most suited as treasurer. This leaves the position of chairman to mister le Froy, as the only man on the committee.

Are there any objections to this distribution of roles?"

((OOC: I will create the necessary OOC pages and sent the necessary IC messages with OOC notes attached where needed.))

[Nathaniël le Froy]

"Miss Serrah, Counselor Selaris,"

Nathaniël said as he offered his response to Serrah proposal for a distribution of roles,

"I would be perfectly content with such an arrangement if you feel it best way to promote efficiency and a good working relation. That is to say, please to do not feel obliged to offer me the post of chair, merely because I am a man or supposedly of a 'higher ranking', I prefer the person that is the most suited for the position to be assigned said position."

[Saleris]

Counselor Saleris looks to mister le Froy and firmly says:

"Mister le Froy do you not want to be chairmen?
Then who do you think is the most skilled person to perform the task?
Further what task would you be willing to do?

[Nathaniël le Froy]

"I would honored to chair this committee Counselor" Nathaniël replied, "I merely wished to point out that the both of you shouldn't feel obliged to offer me the position of chairman because of my gender. I believe that I would do well as chairmen as I'm sure would the both of you."

[Serrah]

After mister le Froy accepted the position of chairman, Serrah made a short note, and replied: "So it has been decided. Mister le Froy will chair the committee, counselor Saleris will take up the role of treasurer, and I will take up the role of secretary.

I will adviced the Minister of Commerce on the committee's activities, and send a missive to the embassies. Now if you will excuse me, my mistress demands precision in all aspect of my life."

With her last sentence, Serrah stood and bowed to the two other committee members. She went to the Veolian embassies, wrote a short letter to the minister of commerce to appraise him of the committee's work, and went to the baths to prepare herself for the evening.

[Saleris]

"Good that this is settled now." said counselor Saleris while smiling.

After miss Serrah has left she looks to mister le Froy concerned.

"Mister le Froy, what do you think about miss Serrah status?

She seems quite capable of performing her task in the committee, the only point is that she is not a representative of the Veolian Commonwealth but a property of her master. I am sorry, but I have to be strictly bureaucratic on this matter. I want to make this committee a success and I would not want to let strand is on this matter. Do you have any ideas on the matter?"

[Nathaniël le Froy]

"Counselor," Nathaniël replied, "you raise an interesting point. While I'm unsure about the actual definition and the implications of property in the Veolian culture, I would say that Miss Serrah is in every sense a representative of Veolian Commonwealth.

However I would like to stress that this is not a point of concern, representative or not, it has no impact on her position with this committee. Just like us, she was nominated and accepted, thus she has every right to be a member of this committee. I do not wish the question the decision of the minister in this, nor is it my place to do so.

Nor is her patronage under the Veolian Senator a problem, as long she does her work and there are no conflicts of interest. I to can be held accountable for my actions by my Government, in my opinion that situation is no different then it is with Miss Serrah. Or do you have a different view on this matter?"

[Saleris]

“Miss Serrah has indeed the skills to be in this committee and the minister has accepted her. Maybe I am too concerned about that others might not acknowledge her because of her status. But let’s first get to work and see how things are going.”

With this counselor Saleris lets the issue rest and stands up. She takes her notes and walks out of the room.

[Nathaniël le Froy]

Nathaniël quickly gathered his belongs to catch up with Councelor Saleris as she left. It seemed that the councelor knew something he did not, and that intrigued him.

" Excuse me Councelor," Nathaniël said, "But you seems to know a bit more about Miss Serrah's position, could you elaborate a bit more on what you mean? "

[Saleris]

The counselor waited for mister le Froy to catch up and then continued walking.

"What I mean is that "slaves" are not highly respected in general. Why do you think there is a Slave Rebellion, because the Hutt treat them like garbage. Within the Union there are a lot of different factions and cultures. I am worrying that some will feel offended because of her and not take our committee serious. They could go as far as to obstruct us. I do not want to get caught is some political game, but do a good job of taking care of the Bozzy spine infrastructure."

Counselor Saleris seems a little bit irritated at the end as if she had been through such an annoying political game.