[b][i]Scipio Industries and Finance + Ken Neumann[/i][/b]

But when Ken was next summoned to Leonard's side, it wasn't to discuss the Believers and Scarif. Rather, it was to discuss further plans with Raj Vizsla and Rule Findos, the Neimoidian who helped manage the CEO's economic affairs. Leonard grinned at Ken, saying, "Kenny, we have good news. Granted, it is mostly business stuff, so I'll have to simplify it; no offense. Basically, the Imperials tried to use weather satellites to make Naboo uninhabitable; they were foiled by the New Republic." A thin smile. "This made the Naboo and Gungans [i]very[/i] angry, and in their anger, there is opportunity; do you know that the Gungans once defeated General Grievous?"

Ken replied, "At the sacrifice of one of their own. Are you thinking of supplementing our forces further with Gungans?"

Leonard shook his head. "No, but in the chaos of Naboo's liberation, one of my...contacts managed to get schematics of the Gungans' mobile shield generators. While said generators are primitive, if retrofitted with better reactors, better materials, and better circuits..."

Ken smiled, "Your ground forces will not have to fear long-range attacks from enemy artillery or even starfighters!" [i]Good thing you've thrown in your lot with us.[/i] "Orbital bombardment will still be a problem, though, unless you increase power efficiency to that of a stationary shield generator."

Rule Findos interjected, "We still cannot do that, but nevertheless, it's an increase in the efficiency of our forces especially if we use only Battle Droids. But the most promising outcome of this conflict has been the exodus of plasma merchants from Naboo with as much of their cargo as they can take with them." A frown. "This means that for a short period of time, plasma is cheap as there is more of it. Then it will become expensive again. We bought it while it is cheap, and are now hiring smugglers and other discrete people to bring it to Scarif."

The Neimoidian then brought up a hologram, this time showing Lothal.

"The disorder of the Galaxy and the lifting of Imperial communications blackouts all over the Outer Rim has also proven one thing: the planet of Lothal is free and has been since before Scarif. And more importantly, not all the Ore Crawlers brought in from the Imperial occupation have been scrapped during the liberation and the years afterwards." A hologram of the Ore Crawlers began showing. "These too, will be smuggled into Scarif."

Leonard then reclaimed his position as 'main expositor'. "And finally, I've been having my shell corporations buy up various mining and construction [i]starships[/i] and having them go to, well, Scarif. These will then make use of the planet's abundance of materials that can be used to build new vessels."

It dawned on Ken. "So, just in case there isn't anything useful to discover or salvage in Scarif, you're planning to use it as a place to construct a Navy. But wait, what will the Believers' place be in this plan?"

Leonard went over to his lover and patted his shoulder. "Tell me, how would you like several thousand tons of blasters, body armor, explosives, and an even better version of the personal shield generators you favor so much? All you have to do is rise up in the ranks and keep attacking the Hutts with guerilla strikes while I build up my forces. This isn't even underhanded; both our factions stand to profit."

A smile from Ken at that.