In the Harshest Conditions, Blooms a Desert Rose [The Hutt Cartel Dominion of Nar Kreeta]

[Sempra the Hutt]

Objective: 1 and 4 Assume rulership over Nar Kreeta, persuade local hutt rulers to join the cartel
Location: Sempras slave bazaar
Allies: The Hutt Cartel
Enemies:
Post: 2/20

Sempra rested on his throne with his usual calm face. It was a good turn up and the set up had been perfect. Since the slaver bazaar was drawing so much attention anyone who was something on Nar Kreeta was more or less forced to pay it attention. The hutts who had come were mostly groveling before him, recognizing his superiour status. All but one.

Guckla of the Arten clan was still holding him in contempt. He had several crucial operations on Nar Kreeta that made him the most influental individual on the planet. While Sempra could have overan the world with military might this planet needed to see the unity of the hutts rather then some internal struggle and therefore an alternative route had been chosen.

With sly eyes he glanced at @ashala ky as she left. She was one of his best body guard but her talents did not end with that. HEr skills would soon be felt in Gucklas organisation and while she was handling those affairs [member="Tiali Orazio"] would be around for security. There were several other guards but those two were dangerous enough to even make a sith think twice before attempting something on the supreme moguls life.

In mockery he instead raised his glass toward Guckla.

"It delights me to see that the hutts of Nar Kreeta has come to celebrate under the Cartels banner on this day." he toasted loud enough for all present to hear.

While most raised their own glasses there was still hesitation in the air.

"Do not assume we are here to celebrate Sempra..."

"Why is the cartel here on Nar Kreeta I instead ask myself? There is no threat against the hutts on this world that would require the archon of our species to be here. We are capable of our own defences cousin. But perhaps you merely wishes to stretch your tail and then be on your way?" Guckla hissed in response without joining the toast.

A slight murmur broke out among the hutts. The dice had been cast and it was time to start picking sides...

[member="Ashalah Ky"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Location: Outside the Slave Camp
Allies: Possibly [member="Lady Kay"]
Enemies: Maybe [member="Lady Kay"]
Post:#1/20

Nar Kreeta. Connor stood wrapped in a tan cowl that covered his black and silver amour. Thankfully this wasn’t his cowl at all so he didn’t need to care if it got lost or burnt or destroyed during this little “off-the-grid” expedition to the planet that was of interest to him.

Also of interest was a name he’d heard more than once. Kay - Senator of Commenor in the Galactic Republic. Connor had been involved with numerous slavery operations to bring them down, liberate those caught up in the mess and shut down the rackets behind it. Now and then, the Hutts had come up, that was expected. But later the name Kay came up more than once. A liberator? A vigilante? A traitor working to start a war?

The Silver Sanctum didn’t need to know Connor had come to the planet on the word of a liberated slaver now residing and working in the Temple on Voss. This was for his own curiosity to see this slave market in operation and to see if this “Kay” would turn up. If so, she could be a pivotal piece in stopping the very trade that had led to the death of his old Master, Sochi. Now coming from the auction that was full of scum and vagrants willing to barter with life for profit, Connor masked his presence, effectively blending in with the milling crowd to learn of the slave camp outside of Nar Kreeta itself.

That was before. Now after a good walk, he was outside the fabricated walls of the camp, walking along with a knobbly stick to look like just another vagrant, a chancer, a lone traveller passing by. Glancing up from under his cowl, he noted the ramshackle efforts to pen the slaves in, and the number of uninterested guards milling around. There was activity on the horizon, but he didn’t have chance to watch the figure before his body was blown sideways, pushed out a number of yards into the sand dunes.

A number of explosions went off from the camp, the roar ripping through the desert and the shockwave kicking up sand and throwing bodies (and limbs) in all directions. Connor was one of those bodies, thankfully far enough between the blasts to avoid death, but close enough to lose all sense of direction and for his muscles and body to give up for a few moments and sink into the warm sand as everything went a little hazy behind closed eyelids.

 

[Matreya]

Objective: Purchase a Slave
Location: Moving around
Allies: N/A
Enemies: N/A
Post: 2/20

Asher moved like a ghost amongst the stalls, eyeing the wares that surrounded himself. It was a massive display of many types of goods: food, cheap jewelry, to weaponry. At the last stall he spotted a small device that beeped and blinked every few seconds.

Figuring it was expensive he smiled at the owner, flashing a new color than the black the rest of his body was made of, pearly white. "How much for that sword?" He asked as he gestured to the wall behind the man.

When the other turned, Asher reached out to grab the item and immediately took off like a bolt. Being who he was, he had the practice of making almost imperceptible sound when he moved, thanks to the practice and heritage that he was.

When he rounded a corner, he paused to check whether he was being chased. Seeing as he was not, he smiled and readily sold the item to the next stall he passed. It got him 2,000 credits!

Putting the credits into a pouch that he hung from his waist, he concentrated again until he began to shift back into his gaseous form. Halfway he ceased concentration and launched himself into the air. As if a balloon attached to a weighted string, he rose high into the air and sailed over towards the slave auctions before swiftly lowering back to the ground below. If he hadn't the need to hold the credits, he could have flown with ease as he achieved utter weightlessness. But with a completely non-corporeal form, the throng that held the credits would have fell through the flesh it was bound to.

Next to the auctions, Asher waited for one he would purchase...

 

[Ashalah Ky]

Objective: 4
Location: Nar Kreeta
Allies: [member="Sempra the Hutt"]
Enemies:
Posts: 2/20

It was pretty finding all of Guckla's men. They might as well be wearing bright pink clothing, waving around flags that say 'I'm with Guckla. Come kill me!'. In actuality, they were all wearing the same badge, a stamp of honour and importance from the ruling Hutt. That honour was going to be stripped from them very soon.

Ashalah began to approach the first man, one of the organizers of the slave market. Drawing him away from the crowd with propositions and promises of credits for his 'wares', she quickly put a knife in his back. Of to find the next one.

 

[Eric Quill]

Objective: 1) Buy Slaves​

Location: Slave Bazaar
Allies: Hutt Cartel, fellow Mercenaries
Enemies: Alcohol, None at the moment
Post: 3/20
Eric let off a short smile as the transition ensured. He tucked the document into a custom tailored pocket on the inside of his leather jacket, he opened up a zipper and placed the document in before zipping it closed. He held the gleaming iron key in hand and pulled on the chain connecting to the neck of the Ewok, making the Ewok babble something unintelligent before trudging forward as Eric let him along, gloomily. Eric's padded boots clamped against the ground lightly let still with firm direction and discipline as he approaching the cage and he unlocked the cage, making the cage let off a series of clicks and clanking as the cage folded outwards. Eric hurried the Ewok into the cage and then closed the small door to the cage and tucked the key back into the tailored pocket on the inside of his leather jacket. Eric then overheard the same woman who gave him the Ewok announce a sell for a Gungan.
"I'll pass this time around, I need to save up some credits for something 'more powerful' oh and 'bigger'"

Eric then turned and walked towards the tent he rented out for the occasion. It had a area that could be opened up if the flaps covering the area were tied to the two wooden beams going horizontally across the entrances. An temporary ivory colored sleeping bag was laid upon the ground of the tent, sprawled across the sandy ground which was hidden by a used red carpet as to keep him comfortable when he was sleeping and to stop sand from getting upon his stuff. There was also various weapons in a small pile off in the corner. Eric then turned a corner and walked into the tent and took off his jacket it and folded it and placed it in a backpack and then he laid down upon the bed with his arms behind his head. After a few minutes he sat up from his back and then stood up and clasped his shotgun to his back and walked back out of the tent to the Slave Bazaar.
"Let's see if they have anything new in store"
[member="Vinskk Revamp"] [member="Sempra the Hutt"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"] [member="Thais Kallisto"] [member="Rayl Wilded"] [member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

Objective: D - Erect a Distribution Center
Location: Nihass - Construction Site
Tagged: [member="Flannigan Mcnash"]
Posts: [03/20]

Security would inevitably pass the man through, escorting him to the taciturn Umbaran who monitored the construction site like a hawk. Gerion only raised an eyebrow in response to the man initially, and then proceeded to dismiss him. "If mister Sempra has any concerns or inquiries, he can forward them to my office on Lianna. I do not visit slave auctions under any circumstances."

There was no need to elaborate further. Dealing in the same sector of space as a gaggle of slavers was already rather degrading to him. Gerion was certainly not going to degrade himself further by actually wandering into those disgusting hovels; cesspits chock-full of every sentient rights violation possible. The very idea, as should have been obvious, disgusted him. Gerion wasn't foolish enough to write Sempra off completely, of course. He retrieved one of his business cards, gave it to the peaky man, and the two droids that had brought him forward swiftly escorted him back out.

It was more than likely Sempra wouldn't be cleared for any en masse purchases of war droids. If he wanted some secretaries, probe droids, servants, or just general labor, perhaps that could be arranged. It just wouldn't be done in a slave bazaar.

 

[Matreya]

Objective: Purchase a Slave
Location: The Bazaar
Allies: [member="Sempra the Hutt"]
Enemies: N/A
Post: 3/20

Asher stood in the rear of the main area that housed the Bazaar. With a keen eye, he stared around to pick which he should pick from. Selecting at random, he headed for one he would eventually find was Sempra's. There were slaves all about, and in the center stood a massive Hutt, whom Asher approached.

"How goes sales?" He asked calmly, while many would be wary of being around one of such power, Asher was not, "Any beings that you would recommend purchase of? I do not have a massive fortune however. Only 2000 credits."

With the words he spun about so he could eye those about. There were a few beings worthy of purchasing. But he needed the prices.

 

[Rafeesh]

Objective C: Guard the Slave Camps
Location: Caves
Allies: Slavers [member="Darth Mythos"]
Enemies: TBD
3/20​

​

Good, most of them had it down, there were still a few slower people, but Rafeesh knew they would get the hang of it. He spoke loudly so that all could hear, the sound of his voice reverberated off the walls of the cave, creating an echo. "Men, now that you can see through the Force, follow me. Try to keep seeing using the Force, we won't be using lights down here so you're going to have to work in the dark if you can't use the Force."

Rafeesh turned away from them, he began taking long strides down the tunnel. He looked around him and saw the sides of the cave, there wasn't a stark difference between the air and the cave walls, it was somewhat difficult to see them, but he could make out the differences and made certain to see them. He was more focused on making certain that no other people were around though, he was here after all to be certain that no threats would make their way through the caverns. He didn't see any auras, but that didn't mean there were none. He heard the distinct sound of a person running into a wall and cursing, he smiled to himself. He stopped and opened his eyes to the darkness, he allowed himself to rest as he waited for the rest to catch up.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Objective: A (buy some slaves)
Location: Sempra's Slave Bazaar
Allies: Their Employer
Enemies: None
Posts: 5/20

Lurch eyed the huddled mass of twenty Zabracks. He watched as they cowered and peered at him and his crew, as well as [member="Vinskk Revamp"] . They almost seemed timid. Weak.

"25,000 a piece for them?" Yes, Lurch could calculate math problems in his head. He brought brains as well as brawn to the table, so to speak. "Look at them. Weak, pitiful. I could not spend anymore than 5,000 a piece."

And so the bartering began. Of course he had a price in mind, but he wanted to see how low he could go first.

*****************************************

Objective: C (rescue the slaves!)
Location: Outside the slave camp
Allies: Herself
Enemies: Everyone else


The explosion caused her to jump, even at half a kilometre away. It was amazing to see, as far as explosions go. Sand and debris flew, only to rain down below. Now she waited. And waited. And waited. Where were the slaves? Why weren't they running out and following the directions that she drew for them in the sand? Something must have gone wrong.

Kay got to her feet and approached, keeping her small blaster out and set to stun, as always. A short time later, as she got closer to the carnage, she saw why the slaves didn't flee. Her hand quickly covered her mouth as she saw body parts and burned bodies amongst the debris. She forgot to tell them to get away from the fence. And now...for the first time ever, she had killed someone. And more than just one. It was an accident of course, but it still caused her to drop to her knees as she started to feel sick and dizzy. Being a healer, she was used to seeing various injuries, but she was never the cause of them. "....I'm sorry....so, so sorry.."

And then she spotted [member="Connor Harrison"] lying in the sand, partly covered by it. Was he alive? She glanced at the remaining few guards, who were too busy arguing over who was going to tell the Hutts about it, or if they should take the easy route and cover it up, pretending that it never happened.

Kay then crawled over to Connor, tucking her blaster in her belt. His clothing was a bit burned, but he was breathing and....wearing armour? Who was he? She poked and prodded his shoulder. "Hey...hey ..Wake up!"

 

[Connor Harrison]

Location: Outside the Slave Camp
Allies: Could be [member="Lady Kay"]
Enemies: More defiantly [member="Lady Kay"]
Post:#2/20

It was actually nice to feel warm and cozy, no worries and no troubles, just resting and relaxing as the body was prodded and poked along with a loud voice calling you back to reality –

-what?

Connor grumbled and came to, away from his dizzying dream and back to a dull ache at the front of his head and a shrill ringing in his ears, and a voice of a woman bringing him around. Shifting over, instantly remembering where he had been, he rolled over and looked over to the roaring flames along the edge of what was the camp. Buckled fences and walls, scattered debris and dead bodies of those caught in the blast were mixed between the smoke.

”What… was that?” He spoke, half to himself, half to the woman.

Turning on his belly to look at the voice beside him, she was shrouded in clothing to keep her covered, and he noted the blaster at her waist, and something about her that was calling to him through her aura. His eye narrowed slightly and he pulled the charred cowl over him to cover the armour.

”Who are you and what the hell have you done?”

It didn’t take a genius to work out a woman covered in the desert, holding a blaster and looking unscathed after a large explosion was here out of sheer luck.

 

[Vinskk Revamp]

Objective: Sell some fine specimens.
Location: The Slave Bazaar
Allies: Hutt Cartel
NPCs: Free-Eyes and Darkgear; Miles joined the show now, too!
Post 5/20

Revamp clicked shortly, the equivalent of a scoff. 5,000 each? Because they looked pitiful? Looks had nothing to do with it. They were still Zabraks, still one of the most pain tolerant species in the galaxy.

"Gentlemen, I could not part with them at that low of a cost. It was quite expensive to acquire these specimens, and while they may not be the picture of perfect health, I assure you that they will become...robust...once they have found a permanent housing site. The process of bringing them from there to here is tolling on any species. So, for the healthy specimens they will be, but cutting off a little for their initial condition, I will charge you 15,000 credits each for them."

The Trandoshan crossed his arms, not wanting to budge from that price. 10,000 credits down was a steep drop, but, to be fair, he was charging them more than they were worth initially. Now, the price was about fair.

Meanwhile, at the Auction House...

The Gungan was still up there on the platform. Several others had bid on the gangly alien, ramping up the price to 60,000 credits. The bartering was still going on, with the female slaver continuing to call for more and more credits.

"Folks, this is a rare, unique creature, hard to find, even harder to catch! Can I hear 65,000 credits? Anyone? 65,000 credits?"

The bidding was about to close at 60,000 credits, unless someone decided to bid an extra 5,000 credits at the last moment.

(OOC: First person to bid 65,000 or more gets the Gungan!)

[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"] [member="Thais Kallisto"] [member="Eric Quill"] [member="Toby Meriet"] [member="Crix Meriet"]

 

[Sempra the Hutt]

Objective: 1 and 4 Assume rulership over Nar Kreeta, persuade local hutt rulers to join the cartel
Location: Sempras slave bazaar, inside hutt only tent (+ trustees).
Allies: The Hutt Cartel
Enemies: Guckla the hutt (npc)
Post: 3/20

Sempra rattled his large tongue, tasting the air. It was thick with tension, suspiciouns, fear, anticipation and contempt. Who wanted what among the hutts gathered was hard to tell but one thing was sure, Guckla was not to bow down to Sempra and his cartel without a fight.

"Guckla, Guckla... my dear cousin..." Sempra began making an appearance of hurt feelings.

"Why would you make me feel unwelcomed in this way? hum? I am merely here to ensure that Hutt interest lies first among the populace of Nar Kreeta. Why do you question my intentions on that? "

Guckla hissed in response, his tail rattling with anger.

"You speak of hutt interests Sempra. Well how come that you even dare sit among us claiming the seat of Supreme mogul when you do not even have the support of the council? How come that you do not even dare visit our glorious jewel? How come that you once launched an attack on our throne world and then fled like a coward? Why should we bow to such infamy and anarchy that you represent?" Guckla leaned forward glaring at all the assembled as Sempra's eyes were filling up with rage.

Guckla had touched a very sensitive crack in his armor, the fact that the red ravens, now under Technocrat rule had banished him from his home world, Nal Hutta.

He hated them above all else for it and Guckla was clearly a supporter of their oppinion.
This one needed to be gaged quickly....

[member="Ashalah Ky"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Objective: C (rescue the slaves!)
Location: Outside the Slave Camp
Allies: Herself
Enemies: Everyone else, quite possibly [member="Connor Harrison"]
Posts: 6/20


What the hell had she done? Killed some people. That's what she had done. And some of those people she had meant to rescue. [member="Thraxis"] was right. At least the Thraxis in the mental institution was right. She was so focused on freedom for herself and forcing it on others, that she would break rules to achieve it. And now lives were lost because of it. But was she even at the institution? Or was that just a dream? She was getting so confused with what was real and what wasn't lately, when circumstances fit.

"I made a mistake. I acted too quickly and didn't think things through properly." But she had so much going on in her mind. And others paid the price for it. The stranger had every right to be pissed.

Kay got to her feet and held out her hand for him to help him up if he wanted. Though she didn't quite expect him to take it. "And now I have to see if there are any survivors and help them once I know that you're all right."


******************************************

Objective: A (buy some slaves)
Location: Sempra's Slave Bazaar
Allies: Their Employer
Enemies: None

Fifteen thousand each was exactly the price he was looking for. Lurch reached into his coat and pulled out the money pouch. He counted out the correct amount of credits and then slipped the pouch into his jacket. "Three hundred thousand for the twenty Zabracks...." He would hold his hand with the credits within as though to shake the Trandoshan's hand to seal the deal. The other members of his crew kept their eye on the situation, especially as the credits were exchanged.

[member="Vinskk Revamp"]

 

[Vinskk Revamp]

Objective: Sell some fine specimens.
Location: The Slave Bazaar
Allies: Hutt Cartel
NPCs: Free-Eyes and Darkgear; Miles joined the show now, too!
Post 6/20

Vinskk nodded. That was a reasonable price.

He extended a taloned arm, careful not to scratch Lurch's arm as they shook hands, the credits being passed into Vinskk's grasp. They let go as soon as the money was transferred, and the Trandoshan quickly pulled out a pouch from the folds of his tunic, depositing the money and replacing the wallet.

"Very good. Free-Eyes, please take care of the transaction. I must deposit this money immediately."

With the credits now in his hands, the Slave Master's attention went elsewhere, namely the Auction House. He walked off to his tent, leaving the entourage behind on his way to the safe, thinking about his customers. Something wasn't right about them.

He could just sense it.

The Gran smiled and put away his datapad, where he had inputted some data for Revamp's personal use.

"Thank you for selecting Semper Slaves Incorporated. Please, follow me."

Free-Eyes went up to a group of slavers on staff, here to assist with the transportation of cargo.

"All of the Zabraks in that lot, men."

The group of men bustled to the lot, whips and stun batons at the ready. The tribe was cuffed and chained to each other in a gang, making it unlikely that they would be able to get far if they did try to run for it.

The head slaver nodded to Free-Eyes, signalling that the Zabraks were ready to move. The Gran slicer turned to Lurch and his men again, speaking.

"The employees will take the specimens wherever you want them to go, good sirs. Just tell them where to go."

The slavers were ready to be lead by the group of men, who in turn would lead the captives with force and stun batons.


[member="Lady Kay"] [member="Sempra the Hutt"] [member="Eric Quill"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"] [member="Thais Kallisto"] [member="Toby Meriet"] [member="Crix Meriet"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Objective: A (buy some slaves)
Location: Sempra's Slave Bazaar
Allies: Their Employer
Enemies: None
Posts:7/20

Lurch grunted to [member="Vinskk Revamp"] and then signalled to his crew to follow as Free-Eyes led the way. As the approached the slaves and after they were prepared to leave, Lurch held out his hand. "Keys for the cuffs and chains. My crew can handle it from here. It won't be that long of a walk to Harsh Realm."

He half expected the slavers to double-cross them en route to their ship. But he had no intentions of releasing the slaves from their bounds until after they were on board and put into their quarters.

 

[Ashalah Ky]

Objection: 4
Location: Nar Kreeta
Allies: [member="Sempra the Hutt"]
Enemies: Guckla the Hutt (NPC)
Posts: 3/20

After dispatching the next slaver from Guckla's force, Ashalah moved to the next one. This general was found in the market, scoping out the freshest fruit to buy. As he moved from the fruit stand to the jewelry stand, Ashalah followed. She stood next to him, her knife hidden at her thigh. When the merchant was distracted with another buyer, Ash plunged the dagger into his side. She pulled it out and went on her way.

Hearing his body collapse behind him drew a few gasps of surprise. But none of shock or horror. This was Nar Kreeta. One of the major worlds of the Hutts. Assassinations and murders were commonplace here. This was just another victim. Slipping into an alley, Ash wiped the blade clean of blood in the sand, sheathed it, and moved onto her next target.

3 down, 2 more to go.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Location: Outside the Slave Camp
Allies: Who Knows
Enemies: Looks like [member="Lady Kay"]
Post:#3/20

Connor looked to her outstretched hand, and then her face, and back to the hand. And he took it, pulling up onto his feet. He pulled the cowl around him and looked back towards the devastation.

”Ok, so tell me,” he turned to look at the woman, ”who are you and what are you doing here?”

Something told him to turn to the flaming fence, and as he did he saw the guard aiming a rifle at the pair. Connor's eyes went wide and hr grabbed the woman's arm and pulled her across the sand, one hand reaching to his side and pulling out his lightsaber.

With a snap-hiss the blue blade came into life.

”Well if you wanted to do this quietly,” directed a green bolt into the sand, ”you failed! Move!”

Whoever she was, she was certainly trouble.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Objective: C (rescue surviving slaves)
Location: Outside the slave camp
Allies: Herself
Enemies: Possibly [member="Connor Harrison"] , slave camp guards
Posts: 8/20


Just as she was about to give hum her name, the stranger grabbed her arm and started pulling her away. The fact that he had a lightsaber and knew how to use it was indeed unexpected. She took out her blaster and started firing the stun bolts towards the guards as they ran.

Kay tugged on his grip to get her arm free as it was easier to run without getting held. "I have a ship two kilometres out over the dunes. Unless you have something closer, that's our best option." Of course there was always more options. It's just all that she could think of at this moment in time while.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Location: Outside the Slave Camp
Allies: [member="Lady Kay"]...for now
Enemies: Guards Who Can't Shoot
Post: #4/20

He was already in a life-or-death situation; cover blown, as well as his ear-drums. Connor threw off the cowl, his black and silver armour sticking out against the harsh desert like a sore thumb, but when one wields a lightsaber alongside a shrouded women shooting a blaster, you didn't try to just "blend in".

”Lead the way!” Connor turned his back to the woman and swept his left hand up and out, using a burst of Force energy to effectively blow the raging fire from the explosion across the path of the guards, shooting and shouting in both fear and pain.

Then Connor ran behind the lady, killing his blade and working against the soft sand. He needed to sit down; his body ached. This whole operation had gone from bad to worse in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, a ship came into view, so there was no time to stop and think about what to do.

It was time to just...do. Story of his life.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Objective: C (rescue surviving slaves)
Location: Outside the slave camp
Allies: Herself, possibly [member="Connor Harrison"]
Enemies: slave camp guards
Posts: 9/20

Up and over the dunes they went until her freighter was in view. Well it wasn't her freighter, she had hired it. Kay didn't own her own ship, never has. Maybe it's because she never took too much time to learn how to fly one properly. She would just help out the pilots when they needed it.

Anyone seeing them fleeing would think that she was being chased by the black clad man. But he didn't seem to be running at full speed. Once they were near the freighter, she signalled to the pilot to start it up and lower the ramp to let them on board. Kay wasn't exactly done with that slave camp. She planned on going back there very soon. Maybe in the night. It was better to act quickly. But for now she needed to find out who this stranger was and to regroup her efforts.

Stepping inside the freighter, Kay removed her face covering and immediately took out her water rations, handing it to the man. "My name is Kay, Senator of Commenor. And you are?..." Of course this line of work wasn't something that most normal Senators for the Republic did.