A Senatorial Meeting (Open to All)

[Terras Zordok]

Alena lifted a cup of coffee off the tray of the service droid that was going around the room, offering coffee and water.

She had moved to the new Republic capital of Anaxes, after Coruscant fell to the hands of the One Sith. It had been a long time since the Senate did anything. Too long, she felt. Alena wanted to see the Senate do something for the Republic for once. She decided to do her part by inviting any available senators to her apartment suite for a discussion.

They were free to discuss anything, really.

"So... my fellow senators, what are your thoughts on the fact that trillions of former Republic citizens are now under Sith control? It would be advisable if the senatorial body was to do something, yes?"

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Alena Beswin"]

Sitting in a comfy chair in the apartment, Aurelia sniffed slightly.

“My thoughts, Senator Beswin, is that the Republic military and the Jedi are failing in their duty to liberate these citizens from Sith tyranny. Those trillions of citizens are crying out for liberation, yet all we can do is repeatedly fail to reconquer Coruscant and Alderaan and open ourselves for further thrusts of the Sith spear.”

“What is it exactly you would have us do? Go to the Sith and ask them nicely not to enslave our people and continue their invasions? We both know that Sith react only to force, and we have thus far shown ourselves incapable of overpowering them. Perhaps the newly revealed Dark Lord would be amenable to a chat over coffee?” she said scathingly.

“The only thing the Sith are interested in is our complete and utter submission and destruction. They do not care for any of their subjects who are not Sith mages, and unless you expect us to grab a blaster and go to the front lines I’m not sure what else we can do!”

 

[Terras Zordok]

[member="Aurelia Saelari"]

"Senator, please do calm yourself." Beswin said pleasantly, not wanting a commotion inside her apartment. Alena was looking for a productive discussion after all. She was certainly disappointed to say the least, of the stance Senator Saelari seemed to have on the issues at hand.

"You are true that indeed our forces have failed repeatedly in retaking our lost planets from the Sith." she began. "I have not come here to speak for diplomacy with the barbaric Sith forces, madam. Instead, I want to suggest diplomacy with potential allies. I understand that we may have faced strained relations with other factions. But now a common enemy unites us all. I don't expect of ourselves to brave the frontlines with blasters... however I do expect us to immediately proceed to send delegations to major factions such as the Protectorate and the Mandalorians to form a unified response against the One Sith."

With that, she leaned back on her comfy chair to hear responses.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Alena Beswin"]
Aurela’s chin rose slightly. She was not impressed, and in the way only she could, she began.

“A unified response? Then what, Senator, was the latest debacle of our military operations? The Mandalorians and Protectorate joined us in a united campaign against the Sith – and failed utterly. The Protectorate, led by their ‘Great Protector’ Cater, seems incapable of doing more than crashing battleships into Coruscant. The Mandalorians, led by the new Dark Lord no less, are an anarchic rabble on the verge of civil war.”

“Let us consider the other factions in this galaxy, shall we?
The Fringe, the group which claims that they ‘fight monsters’ have allied with the One Sith. Part of their band, you note, by the Apostate Jedi-Sith Ashin Varanin. We can expect no help from that band of brigands and traitors, especially as they are led and harbour Sith Lords.
The Moross are egotistical isolationists with no love for anyone but statues of themselves and oppression of the common man. There will be no aid there.
The ‘Albion Systems Authority’, or whatever the Confederacy is calling itself today, have just invaded the Protectorate. Small comfort can we glean from the fact that they are no longer led by Vong. There is no aid to be gained from that cowardly collection of fools.
Black Sun? At least they are open about the fact that they are slavers, criminals and gangsters. But hardly are they likely to join us whilst we still hold their former cesspit of a capital.
At last we come to the two groups who one would imagine would love to help us out against Sith tyranny, but seem oddly reluctant to do so. The Silver Jedi are cowards and traitors, in league with Butcher Ike and who refuse to help, calling us Imperialists! The nerve, the overweening stupidity of that group has shown itself as cowerdice. And the Levantines? They are a bunch of inconsequential hippies and radicals too possessed by their own self-righteousness to stand up for a real cause.”

This rant finally concluded with Aurelia looking at her fellow Senators.
“So where should these delegations go? No, my friends, we can expect no help except possibly from the Protectorate…even if they seem to be having their own problems lately. We are in this to the end, alone. If we cannot defeat the red peril of the Sith then no one else will save us.”

(This writer assumes no responsibility for inaccuracies or hurt feelings from Aurelia’s ranting.)

 

[Terras Zordok]

[member="Aurelia Saelari"]

Alena remained relaxed in her seat, listening to the senator speak. Although she didn't appreciate someone ranting inside her apartment, she did appreciate the fact that the senator seemed quite informed and up to date on factions across the Galaxy.

"Ah, this galaxy of ours certainly is one miserable place is it not?" she remarked in response, looking around at the people gathered around, then back at Senator Saelari.

"We then must at least send a delegation to the Protectorate, it appears to be the most decent out of our available choices. Renewed relations and a better strategy devised between the Protectorate and us may do wonders in contributing to our battle against the One Sith...." she suggested.

"And as Senator Saelari has mentioned, we may be alone in this battle. That is only another reason why the Senate needs to act to do something, anything, to improve our Republic's situation."

"Are there any suggestions on what the Senate can do at this time to help our Republic?

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith was listening very quietly being a junior Senator she was here to learn the ways of the Republic. She knew what they meant when they talked about planets being under Sith control, her own homeworld right now was just that.

They wanted to send a delegation to the Protectorate, had not the Protectorate been on Coruscant most recently and not faired as well against the One Sith. But perhaps if they joined ranks it would improve. She knew they could not ask the mandalorians they were wanting the Republic in ruin to.

Faith finding her courage to speak, "Forgive my ignorance of such things Senators, but what resources does the Republic have that would entice another faction to enter into an alliance with us?"

[member="Alena Beswin"] [member="Aurelia Saelari"]

 

[Terras Zordok]

[member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Faith Balor"]

Alena looked around the room, which was silent for a few moments until a junior senator spoke up.

"Forgive my ignorance of such things Senators, but what resources does the Republic have that would entice another faction to enter into an alliance with us?"

She looked over at the young woman who had spoken, judging her question to be a fair one to ask. "What resources do we have? Well countless resources, from being one of the most powerful factions established in the Galaxy with numerous worlds and shipyards under control. But let's not forget, the motivation why another faction would bother entering into an alliance with us under the current circumstances would not be simply because of resources, it would be because we have a common enemy, the One Sith" she replied.

"So back to the question of what we can do for ourselves, senators... I propose that the Republic moves to double our military spending as well as enact a military draft to further multiply our number of troops. What are your thoughts on this, my fellow senators? The success of the One Sith and our repeated failures are mocking the Republic this very moment."

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Faith Balor"], [member="Alena Beswin"]

"I agree, Senator Beswin. The mere fact we have not put the Republic on a war footing shows that we have either underestimated or been surprised by the Sith. Either one speaks ill of us. As for resources, we have vast amounts of everything an ally could want." She scowled. "Except, it seems, military leaders able to win battles."

"However, I agree. A delegation must be sent to the Protectorate, shipyards must have their production increased, citizens must be called up for the military, and we must try and get at least some of those Silver Jedi to fight with us."

 

[Terras Zordok]

[member="Faith Balor"] [member="Aurelia Saelari"]

Alena nodded, relieved to see that something productive had happened in the discussion. "Perhaps, as Senator Saelari has suggested, sending a delegation to the Silver Jedi may also be advisable." she suggested, looking around the room once more. "Perhaps their old ties to the Republic might be enough to draw them back."

"Are there any volunteers to be a delegation to go to either the Protectorate or the Silver Jedi? I would volunteer myself, but I would not be able to go to both places at the same time. And the problem is, we are running a little short on time. Senator Saelari, perhaps you can volunteer to go have a chat with the Protectorate?" she asked, looking over at the other woman.

"Also, the Senate must assemble as soon as possible to officially pass legislations enacting the military draft and increasing military spending. Later today, maybe."

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith understood now that the Republic had such resources where they could trade ships to these other factions but she also knew they had lost their seat of power in Coruscant, and her home world of Alderaan to the One Sith. So, if they had so many shipyards how is it they did not have enough of a military presence to save those two worlds. This she did not understand right now, perhaps listening would help.

Faith then heard them looking for a delegation, "I would volunteer to go to the Silver Jedi with whomever goes" She knew how to talk to Jedi, and this experience would help her to learn the art of speaking tactfully.

[member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Alena Beswin"]

 

[Terras Zordok]

"Excellent. I will go with Junior Senator [member="Faith Balor"] to go talk to the Silver Jedi, if Senator [member="Aurelia Saelari"] agrees to go talk to the Protectorate." she stated, calmly looking around.

It was funny to Alena that males, who were typically so eager to prove themselves in politics, were lacking from the ongoing important discussion.

 

[Serah Oricion]

Yusan watched them talk, disgust and hate on his face at all of them. They sat here and talked, talked about making nice with friends, when every one of them did not know what the horror of losing people on the battlefield and off it was like. It had been two months now since he left the Senate, two month's devoted to fighting, devoted to training and these... worms sat here and drank their wine and talked as if they could put a number on the faces of those dead.

He had once been one of them... but not like them. No he had always fought for the republic while others cowered and now he watched them silently from the observation balcony, no longer allowed to add his voice to theirs. Worse yet Jedi and Soldiers both knew how dark his aura was now, how twisted his soul had become from the hate, pain, and anger he had been drowning in since Carliah had vanished, since he had been branded a traitor twice. If he could make them all suffer like him he would... but he couldn't. If he did then they would win, he would truly be a traitor and those scum would win, he now as a tool for the Republic, not these Senators, and that was the most dangerous tool.

So stood there he did, with cane in hand, and several guards watching him closely, waiting for him to truly become a traitor to the people he had given his life for many times while these senators avoided all fighting.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Alena Beswin"], [member="Faith Balor"], [member="Memorial"]

"I will go to the Protectorate. I was Chief Minister there after all. I will seek an audience with the Protector and try to gain his support for a joint campaign. If they win at Naboo then I have hope we can combine our energies against the Sith."

Sensing eyes upon her, Aurelia turned and looked at the person holding off screen. Since this writer is not sure whether they are wearing their armour and robes or not, no comment can be made on their expression.
"Can we help you? Are you there for a reason?" she asked, not unkindly.

Had she known the onlookers thoughts, she would have divined a scornful response. After all, someone had to lead nations. Not everyone was a Force wizard suitable for death charging like a certain Battering Ram. There had to be, in the end, someone to run the Republic...and since the Jedi had so resolutely failed to do so, it was time for the politicians to take the lead.

 

[Serah Oricion]

[member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Alena Beswin"] [member="Faith Balor"]

Yusan was certainly not wearing it and looked at her as he stared at the woman, and for a moment the hate lessened as he knew of her reputation... it only lasted a second though as it returned. "None at all...i am simply observing for now Senator..." The last word came out with such venom that it hung in the air as he stood there, still unmoving or touching anything, standing there with both hands crossed behind him.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Memorial"]
Aurelia's eyes narrowed as she looked at the other man. And then she saw who it was. Oh yes, she knew him alright. Contender for the Supreme Chancellor's job, former Vice Chancellor and Senator. Yusann Fenn.

Aurelia Saelari was a woman who didn't forgive easily.
"Your observation is noted, though I had assumed that this meeting was for Senators only. Not for ones of your...status," she said disdainfully.
She rose. "Now, I really must begin my preparations. We have a war to win, after all, yes?"

 

[Terras Zordok]

"Excellent. It's decided, then. Thank you, Senator Saelari." Alena said to [member="Aurelia Saelari"].

"I will contact you before we depart to meet the Silver Jedi." she then said, turning to [member="Faith Balor"].

"I hope that we and our future allies will be able to overcome the One Sith quickly, and put an end to this turmoil with all deliberate speed. Thank you, all senators, for attending." she concluded, indicating that the meeting was over, its purpose fulfilled.

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Alena Beswin"]

"Thank you Senator Beswin I look forward to it" Faith nodded and tried to smile, and she hoped that the Senator was right. It would be nice to be able to go home again. It would be nice to go home and help the Alderaan people.