Drekkin Hart
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- "Poodoo"
- — Drekkin Hart, many times during the Fall of Consortia
The Droid Business
After the death of his mother Drekkin Hart left Dac at a young age with his father, Acktor. During the funeral for Mekba Hart, Acktor's brother-in-law, Opaga Rikter, had taken he and Drekkin aside and suggested that they come to Tyrena and make a new start. A successful lawyer, Opaga's work focused on patent, industrial and trademark law, and he knew several contacts that would be more than happy to swing work to to skilled engineers capable of manufacturing whatever was required of them. Drekkin and his father had never been the biggest fan of Opaga, but saw this as an excellent opportunity to establish the Hart name on Corellia as a trusted manufacturer of quality droids. Acktor was soon making travel and transport arrangements, keen to take Opaga up on his word and hopefully acquire enough contract work to provide the funds to get more independent business up and running.
Due to the exceptional skill they possessed and their passion for their trade, the Hart's prospered during the times of the Republic. Before long they were tendering for larger contracts with droid manufacturers such as Cybot Galactica, Arakyd and Industrial Automaton, and eventually started distributing various units for these corporations.
Business took a downward turn with the start of the Clone Wars, since the popularity of droids dropped in several sectors. It was theorized that this change in the droid market was a subconscious backlash or protest on behalf of consumers, due to the change in public perceptions that came with knowledge or direct experience of the droid armies of the Separatists. It's more likely that the war took it's toll financially and 'luxuries' - such as protocol and astromech droids - were no longer seen as a viable purchase.
The Hart's had to evolve, and several years into the galaxy-wide conflict around them, had to start taking smaller contracts and scaling back their open sales in favor of more custom jobs. They also found themselves working on more and more utility and defensive droids.
The PK-series worker droid became one of their most popular products - if not the backbone of their business. Drekkin himself also garnered several contracts for droid brains, showing a proficiency for AI and personality chip manufacture. The intricacies of these units required far more hands on care and attention, which he was more than prepared to provide.
While profits plateaued out, the Hart's had achieved their goal of establishing a reputable name. Unfortunately, some cracks in their relationship had begun to form.
Dodgy Customers
When the Republic was swept aside and the Empire established, the Hart's were confident that business would once again pick up. And, in a manner of speaking it did. The market was suddenly flooded with demand for new product according to very specific design, and in great number. Due to the largely homogeneous nature of the product, however, the work was primarily done by the larger manufacturers themselves, rather than releasing smaller tenders where some variation and modification would take place. Anything being produced was also monitored and controlled, which increased the amount of bureaucratic impediment for smaller business. As a result, the corporations put more into developing and automating their existing large-scale production, and less into developing and issuing tenders. Things became worse for the Harts.
The tensions between the two increased. Drekkin wanted to scale back, and become more personal, but Acktor insisted on spending time trying to win the contracts that had established their business. This larger disagreement was accompanied by quarreling in the workshop, where even the choice of a wiring's color could turn into an argument.
The biggest disagreements were around the projects that Acktor started to acquire. Suddenly some very shadey characters were sliding some contracts into the Hart workshop. Whereas the pair would have scoffed at surveillance or probe units in the past, or turned their nose at a job involving anything where the droid was armed, suddenly they were listening to proposals. Acktor had also started to increase his drinking, and often frequented a local cantina, where many of these deals were no doubt being done.
The RA-7 Job
When things seemed to be getting desperate, Opaga suddenly presented them with a golden opportunity - Arakyd were offering a tender for development of a number of the new RA-7 protocol units. It wasn't as big as some other contracts they'd gotten in the past - but it would certainly ingratiate them with the new Empire, since these units were reportedly going to be for senior staff.
Despite chasing contracts, for some reason Acktor seemed less than impressed. He saw the Empire as largely responsible for the downturn in business, and were not paying as handsomely as they presumably could. After all his waiting and work, it seemed to him to be a slap in the face. He agreed to the work, but when it came time to do alot of the legwork and assembly, it was Drekkin that was now greasing the wheel. Acktor's drinking increased, and he was absent more often.
Acktor quickly grew to dislike the droid. Not only did it represent an Imperial slight, and Drekkin now spent more time talking to it than his own father, but it had cost money to procure that took away from the profit of a job that was already underpaying. This hostility towards Ray only served to increase tensions between the Harts, which came to a head one night when, drunk and raging, Acktor flew at the droid wielding a laser-cutter, knocking it down with intention to dismantle. Drekkin moved to pull him away, but in the scuffle that followed, he punched his father in the face.
There was a stunned silence for a time. Then Acktor simply hissed "Leave". Drekkin packed his things and left for a hotel. It was there that he started looking into setting up a shop of his own, intending on expanding the Hart name to Coronet - if only for the distance. After a couple of days, he decided to present the idea to his father, and hopefully make amends before he departed.
Imperial Action
He saw the pillar of smoke from a distance. A Fire Ship had just started spraying the building from above when Drekkin had run into it. Shielding himself from the flames, and not able to move through the doorway thanks to debris, he found his father exactly where he'd knew he'd be - at his workbench - dead eyes staring. He was slumped over a PK unit as if protecting a child, a hydrospanner held loosely in one hand. He was just about to try and go after the body when hands grabbed him and dragged him out.
He'd been so upset that when CorSec arrived they almost asked medical personnel who attended the scene to sedate him. Drekkin did his best to collect himself. Eventually, after the greatest of his grief, anger and confusion had cleared, he found out from neighbors that Stormtroopers had been seen entering the premises, which had begun to smoke from the workshop windows before they'd exited. Some neighbors also pointed out other things that they deemed important too, mostly their opinions on what may have lead to the outcome, centered around Acktor's reputation. Surly. Argumentative. Drunk.
Drekkin ignored them, and waited till they'd slunk back into their homes before he considered the news. He looked to a nearby banner proclaiming the new order. Imperials. But why? Ray stiffly marched up to stand by his master's side, and Drekkin looked into the eyes of his mirror-image in one of the droid's bulbous, mantis-like eyes. Could it be something to do with the RA-7? He had to know. Had to understand why his father had been murdered. For there was no doubt in his mind from what he'd seen. His father had been executed.
He immediately made contact with Opaga, only to find that almost simultaneous to the tragedy that had befallen his father, the once respected lawyer had been fired from his prestigious position with his local firm. Drekkin returned the favour Opaga had once shown him, and immediately employed him - his task being to oversee the liquidation of the Hart family's assets in Tyrena. All property. All equipment. All resources. Everything.
The droid business would wait. Drekkin had a new goal now. He wanted answers. For almost fifteen years he had not paid too much attention to the conflict that had engulfed the galaxy, but now he had a reason to hate the Empire.
Joining the Resistance
Before anything else though, Drekkin made arrangements with local authorities to have whatever remains could be found in the burnt-out workshop recovered and completely cremated. He then took the urn containing the ashes of his father back to Dac for a memorial service.
On his return to the Mon Calamari homeworld he visited his uncle, Markel, who was on his deathbed. Markel was a hero amongst the Harts, and the local population, being one of the Mon Calamari Knights that had fought in the Clone Wars. He had always spoiled Drekkin, and never having children of his own, almost made his nephew a surrogate son. And yet, this second father was also about to pass from a cancer eating away at his lungs. With difficulty, he attended his brother Acktor's memorial, and seemed pleased that he would soon be joining him. Drekkin stayed with Markel in his last days, and through him learned of the Resistance Movement. Thanks to Markel's connections with figures in this effort, Drekkin was soon shaking hands with fellow Mon Calamari he hoped would put him in position to both begin working against Imperial occupation and eventually access any and all information possible that might eventually lead him to details of one particular resident of Dac - his late father Acktor.
Upon Markel's death, almost two months after his brother's memorial (Drekkin's companionship and desire to resist the Empire stirred the dying Mon Calamari war hero, giving him a new lease on life for a time), he left one one of his most prized possessions to his nephew, a Belbullab-22 christened Hart's Legacy - a spoil of the Clone Wars.
For almost a year, Drekkin moved between Corellia and Dac for extended periods, relaying information between the two worlds. Having established a small engineering business in Coronet with Opaga - who became the principle coordinator and vendor while Drekkin was away - Hart contributed to the Resistance taking place back on his homeworld. Whether by direct action, such as sabotage of Imperial facilities, or indirect, where he leaked stories to Corellian media about the slavery of his planet, Drekkin gave everything he could to the effort.
The Liberation of Mon Calamari
Drekkin was was actually in the main office of the Corellia Times in Coronet, meeting with Dax Hydana, his contact there, to prepare an article countering Imperial propaganda, when news came to Hydana of three cities on Dac being destroyed by orbital bombardment.
For the months following, Drekkin was one of those guarding the Mon Calamari shipyards against the threat of reprisal as they began to produce the new MC80 fleet. When the Alliance arrived in lieu of Mon Mothma negotiating a treaty with the Calamarian Council to supply warships, Drekkin saw an opening, and immediately volunteered his efforts to aid the Rebellion. He was offered a more permanent fixture with the emerging Calamari Defense Force, but Drekkin needed flexibility that would allow him to largely return to his engineering business back on Corellia. He was also disappointed that his homeworld was still reluctant to commit entirely to the Rebellion's cause, and in falling in with the effort, Drekkin saw a greater opportunity to take a more proactive stance against the Empire not just at home but abroad. He believed the fight should now continue elsewhere - wherever decisive blows could continue to be taken. As a result, Drekkin nevertheless started helping the Rebel Alliance whenever he could, being better situated to keep in regular contact with them based on Corellia.
In the meantime, and due to efforts to avoid Imperial interference, most of the work being done by Drekkin to keep up his manufacturing business in Coronet was now with the same unsavory types that had approached his father. Suddenly Drekkin was making battle droids alongside the same surveillance units that had previously been the cause of his unease. He also found himself under increasing pressure from a bounty hunter named Pakbus, who started making threats and trying to intimidate him. Eventually this lead him to seek out a larger umbrella organization known as The Consortium, who were in Coronet recruiting members in their burgeoning ranks.
Joining the TCON Ranks
After submitting an application and talking with a few members of the organization, Drekkin met with Tymme Hunt in an office space that TCON had leased in Coronet during the course of their recruitment efforts on Corellia. After hearing about the threat that Pakbus posed, Tymme introduced Drekkin to the head of security in TCON at the time, one Jaden Katrell, who immediately put the Mon Calamari's droid workshop under supervision.
Pakbus and his cronies were eventually confronted and advised to leave Drekkin alone. The bounty hunter did not respond well. A brief firefight followed that resulted in the death of Pakbus and one of his goons, a Quarren, before the third, a Rodian named Chordro, fled the scene.
The Bela Consor site was soon packed beyond capacity with new recruits and those friendly to The Consortium, as well as a daily influx of clients. The space was becoming popular to the degree that plans were made for TCON's membership to look into constructing a city of their own.
Mighty Consortia
The Consortia site on Lok was chosen from a shortlist of potential development sites were put forward. A recon effort had collected data on a number of locations, and after internal debate, the planet was chosen primarily for it's potential for expansion unmitigated by zoning requirements or other bureaucratic holdups, and it's ability to be a salient feature on an otherwise disreputable planet known mostly as a pirate hub thanks to Nym. Lok presented a chance to develop a commercial capital where traders and spacers could stop-over in the sector without having to worry about the lawlessness that effected it previously.
As expected with a frontier project, however, the rapid construction efforts were hampered by pirates and corsairs raiding for resources, and the destructive rage of local kimogila, who took umbrage at the sentients moving in on what had previously been a mating ground. Drekkin picked up a weapon and joined the defense of the city's foundations himself, even as his businesses resources were being shuttled in to his new residence.
Once the city's commercial and defensive network had been set down, clients immediately started flooding in. After acting independently for a time, Drekkin started to sell droids from a merchant tent set up in the main market space. This tent, known as 'The Rusty Droideka', was a joint venture with engineering prodigy, Ka'lie Okota. The locale quickly developed into a commercial metropolis, and for some time enjoyed a great deal of success and renown.
The Fall of a Capital
The Shantipole Project
After The Fall of Consortia, in light of his actions against the Imperial forces during the conflict, Drekkin initially fell back in with the Rebel Alliance as a skilled pilot. Knowing that his skills as a trooper where no longer as acute as in his youth, he still had the steady hand and eye coordination required of a pilot that years of working on droids had only refined. He also felt that the Rebellion would be on the move constantly, and have far more resources at their disposal to track the Empire's movements. As a result, for a time, he lived aboard the larger Alliance fleet.
After engaging in a few skirmishes, he was assigned to Ackbar in the Roche Asteroids to both test the new B-Wing prototypes in development, and provide whatever hands-on technical experience he could. When Bane Nothos finally made his move against the Shantipole Project, Ackbar entrusted Drekkin and several other pilots with B-Wings that they were asked to smuggle away during the conflict. The first fully fitted combat models flew the assault against Nothos - later being christened Dagger Squadron - while Drekkin and others flew the remainder, first in light escort of escaping transports, before entering hyperspace to liaise with different Alliance fleets.
Drekkin Meets Draash
Drekkin flew to Dantooine, but not only found himself at a remove from the Rebel vessels, but instantly detected by an Imperial TIE Interceptor patrol. Whilst he was accustomed enough to the experimental ship to be maneuverable against the Empire's speedier TIEs, his lack of a full weapon load-out meant that he'd be in trouble before too long.
It was then that he had his first encounter with Draash Krissk. The Jedi suddenly appeared in his Eta-2, the Antagonist, and quickly turned the tide. Krissk then escorted Drekkin to the Alliance Fleet.
The two soon became good friends, each appreciating the others gruffness and dedication to principle. Unfortunately, during a raid on the Imperials on Dantooine's surface, Draash was later captured. While reports were that Krissk was alive, the Rebellion had to make the unfortunate decision to leave the sector - their recent activities having attracted Victory class ships to the area.
Disillusioned, Drekkin knew it was time for him to once more leave the Alliance, contact with old friends revealed that TCON was building up the population of Tyronet, Corellia - where it intended on creating another commercial capital. On behalf of his friend, Drekkin also organized for the Antagonist, as well as a pet adolescent Gronda named Babar that Draash had brought to Dantooine, to be transported to Corellia with him. The Gronda seemed to appreciate the return to what was presumably the terrain of its youth. In caring for it, Drekkin started to develop his interest in bioengineering.
Rescue of a Jedi
In Tyronet, two recently arrived smugglers named Riz and Arkhamm revealed that they had information on Draash. Apparently they had raided a small prisoner transport convoy on it's way from Lok, intent on rescuing a compatriot on his way to Dathomir's notorious prison, and had captured information that stated Draash Krissk was currently being held on that world. Unfortunately, after a stay in which he had been revealed as a jedi, mainly due to his resistance to interrogation, he was soon to be handed over to the Inquisitorius on Prakith. The prisoner transport responsible for collecting him would be there within the next two days.
Drekkin once again contacted the Alliance, and after some convincing, and providing Arkhamm's stolen information, the Rebellion organized a small strike force, particularly in light of other key prisoners it had identified as being on board. Drekkin's B-Wing, now fully equipped, served him well in the following assault against an escorted Lictor-class dungeon ship. The operation was a rousing success.
Drekkin is now under the jedi's protection, who considers it a life-debt. He has also established himself in Tyronet, near the blue Mon Calamari, so as to watch over him, and the general population of the city.
A Shake-up and a Change of Scenery
Nothing could be done to avoid nature's devastating effects on the settlement when a large earthquake destroyed much of Tyronet's industrial sector some months later.
As per Corellian law, when River Haven became a city, Mayor Bel-Havok took a position on the Corellian Council. TCON had also grown to sufficient size as a commercial power to merit a Council seat, and Drekkin was approached to take this role, which he did reluctantly. His concern was that the role would take him away from his trade and raise his profile to a degree that could prove an issue for both the Rebellion and Jedi fugitives such as Draash. Both TCON Founder Spiglord and CEO Ceres had declined the position for similar reasons. Despite his initial reluctance, Drekkin grew to relish his position.
Freedom calls...
- "Go, boy. The droid can see to me. Freedom calls..."
- — Drekkin Hart's last words, said to the Mon Calamari medic that had been looking after him.
Drekkin Hart was present during the Battle of Bothawui due to the political situation that had developed with the Caamas Document Crisis. Loyalties to the Rebellion, political freedoms and Bothan friends from TCON meant he found himself caught up in the situation, though largely by association. When the battle developed over the planet, Drekkin got involved despite his advanced age.
Unfortunately, his ship, Hart's Legacy, was irreparably damaged and he was forced to eject. Drekkin then spent several hours floating in the vaccuum of space before he was recovered. He was immediately taken to sick bay in serious condition, and despite some time spent in a bacta tank, the Mon Calamari's age meant he wasn't going to bounce back.
He was moved to a bed and kept under observation, mainly by a young Mon Calamari medic who had heard much of Drekkin's history. When Hart regained consciousness, he spent some time talking to the elder.
As news reached the medical frigate that the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty was about to be signed, the medic was called away by celebrating friends. At first reluctant to leave Hart in his condition, his patient insisted he go and be a part of the historic moment - the end of the Galactic Civil War. When the medic returned to inform Drekkin of the news, he found that the 'Old Fish' had passed away.
Behind the Scenes
Drekkin can be found as -Drekkin Hart- in game due to "reserve" naming issues during transfer from Wanderhome to Starsider
Categories: Characters | Pilots | Mon Calamari | Rebels | Males | Droid Engineers
