Name Sei Maru

Title Former Director General, Free Trade Directorate

Biography A native, embittered Sullustan who took over SoroSuub Corporation and integrated the former Sullustan industrial giant into the one-time powerful corporate lobbying oligarchy, the Free Trade Directorate. Maru’s goal, then, was simple: obtaining political and economic power through any means necessary. Born to humble workers during the Old Republic, his knowledge and experience spans many different eras, most of which was spent developing his strategy to become the most powerful Sullustan in the sector. His rise to power was swift, taking over several offices within the administrative division of the SoroSuub Corporation before setting a corporate agenda that rivaled much of the competing voices on the company's board of directors, including the incumbent chief executive officer. After taking the reigns as the chief administrative officer and leader of the corporation’s intergalactic affairs initiatives, Maru backed his only major internal competitor into a corner, forcing him to resign—leaving him with provisional authority over the company. No one contested him for power, and he continued to portray a public perception of having reluctance to exercise such power. After establishing his power base, he implemented his plans by first presenting them to the Sullustan Council. First, by officially becoming their president and gaining favor on Sullust, then directing these same representatives to accept the complete authority of his proposed trade consortium. Immediately, Maru established his newfound organization, proclaimed himself Chairman of the Board of Directors through the Council’s unanimous consent, and took the title of Director General of the Free Trade Directorate. His control stemmed from his uncanny capacity to persuade through charm and external pressure to ensure the councilors of the Sullustan Council, SoroSuub’s privy board of directors, and his own cadre of aides in his secretariat executed his will. Maru maintained a visceral relationship with the media: his public perception dropped since he rose to power, taking over the corporation unofficially. When the Free Trade Directorate finally took hold, his public favor completely seized. Quietly, he scours the galaxy looking for prospective industries, most particularly in the Outer Rim, to join his quest for political and intergalactic control. By forging these alliances, he hoped he could become the node for all directorate central interest, Maru could forge a major directive in his political favor and secure some valuable galactic interests for Sullust. Fortune did not always favor the bold. Maru lost favor. A poor business deal with Rob Stellar led to an untimely shift in balance, which required Maru to counterbalance by establishing an effective, surreptitious alliance with the Imperial forces. The strategy was politically suicidal. The past of being under Imperial thumbs spelled doom for his political mandate. Little had Sei Maru realized that this very alliance would end up working against him. After years of slow progress and little to show for it amongst his people and elite figures in power base, he started to fear of insurrection at all turns. In an effort to stem unfavorable tides, he consolidated influence by establishing a very complex web of influence with him as the spoke, essentially making all effective decision go through him with his second in command, who he unwittingly trusted, to provide the necessary legitimacy of his leadership. Maru lost his grip on power when a rebel faction destabilized his power base, convincing his protege, Gvrin Nplr, to take over once Maru was taken into custody. Alexander Strum led a team to capture him, bringing his political legitimacy to an end, and with Nplr declaring the Free Trade Directorate disbanded. In mere hours, he lost everything he took so long to build. While detained on the shuttle, he swore he would exact his revenge, convinced Sullustans threw themselves at yet another master willing to exact control over his people.