There was little to say after the last Senate meeting had transpired. There were many that populated Coruscant’s streets who wanted vengeance. Their lives, for the last decade, had been shaped by the ever-looming shadow of the Sith Empire and their raids. When the time came for when they could seek revenge? There was no shortage of volunteers. Thousands flocked to one recruiting station after another, fleshing out the rank and file of the Galactic Alliance’s Defence Force with new blood. They were eager to get into combat with their former Defilers, and it would’ve been foolish of their elected representative to deny their wishes. So, without hesitation, Senator Shule voted in the affirmative for continuing their war against the Sith and their Empire. Those vile sorcerers would taste their own foul concoctions, as Alliance Marines and their Jedi allies marched through the smouldering ashes of their profane temples and baroque fortresses.
At least, that would be the hope. There was still a chance for failure. Where the tides of defeat could rise up and swallow them all. Yet, that slim possibility wasn’t set in stone. While many sorcerers claimed that they could see the future, their words were only true in part. They could only see one potential path that the future could take, where every action - no matter how large or small - altered the outcome in some fashion or another. Where one valiant deed could mean the difference between Victory or Defeat. Thus, to secure their collective future - action needed to be taken. The Galactic Alliance couldn’t allow for their laurels to be passed down by others, or their crumbling alliances. They needed to secure their tomorrow with their own hands, and Otto was glad that a majority of the Senate agreed. This was surprising, to say the least, as the Senate floor often found itself to be the most divisive body within the entire Federation.
But, after the decision was made - not everything proceeded as the Replica Droid had expected. Something changed that upset the branching paths of the future. Dark whispers spread across the Starbird Trade Spine, as early-warning stations fell silent and entire caravans of spacers were pushed aside. While the Senate’s decisions weren’t secret after they were made, it seemed like something tipped off a Sith-aligned Empire in the Western Reaches. They heard of the Alliance marshalling their banners and sought to meet them in battle; either seeking retribution for unpunished deeds or honouring their word to a crumbling dynasty. Otto couldn’t be sure - but their reasoning mattered little. All that did - on the other hand - was that this tide of darkness was coming.
While his position within the Galactic Alliance had changed over these past few months, the connections the Replica Droid made hadn’t. Sure, he may no longer be the Head of the Republic Engineering Corporation - but he was on the Board of Directors. That seat at the table provided him with a great many insights into the events unfolding beyond the boundaries of their beloved Federation. It was how Otto came to have such information before it was revealed on the Senate floor. He was the one that helped sponsor, chart, and build the Starbird Tradespine after all. The only difference between his information and the data provided by the esteemed Chancellor was the intended target. Supposedly, their information came from the Strategic Intelligence Agency - which gave the relayed message some credibility.
More so, at least, than the words of chatty Spacers looking to score their next fix.
Nevertheless, the combination of these rumours and the relayed information proved to be more than enough to influence Otto’s next decision, as there was little time to tarry in the wake of such dire news.
“I find myself hard-pressed to believe that the Eternal Empire would be concerned over economic and political retaliation,” the Replica Droid said, as he looked towards the Figure seated at his side. “They, like many other Stellar Nations populating the Stars, seem to be wholly self-sufficient. Capable of calling upon thousands of Soldiers and Warships at a moment’s notice, with little concern for replacements should they fall in battle.”
“The miracles of cloning and mass-production,” the Figure whispered.
“Quite,” Otto replied. “But, therein lies the issue. How do we punish the unpunishable? Do we adopt the tactics and strategies of those we’ve denounced and openly defy? Do we become the very evils that we fight against in the hopes of achieving victory? Many questions need to be asked, but I’m afraid that not many would like the answers. Hell, even as… detached as I am from my humanity, that’s ground I fear to tread.”
“Such is the burden of good men,” the Figure said, his tone slightly louder and fringed with an almost wisened inflection. “I have sought my salvation, and that of my people, by dragging us through the depths of purgatory. I sold my soul to a proverbial devil, but the coward refuses to face me and earn his moment of justice. It’s not something this Alliance should consider, lest it wishes to follow the Sith Empire’s path towards its demise. They’ve come eerily close to making that mistake already by getting into bed with the Confederacy, whilst an Imperialist Sith lords over his vast holdings.”
“It was either that,” Otto said, with a tinge of remorse. “Or wage war against them to reclaim Alliance clay. A hard decision, by any means. One that I doubt any of us would’ve taken lightly, let alone done differently.”
“This is true,” the Figure replied. “But, my spy network is abuzz with the possibilities these new Warfronts provide. Especially regarding the movements of your neighbours to the South. War looms on the horizon whether you’d like it or not. All that remains now, is what nation shall strike the first blow and where.”
“You speak as if it’s inevitable,” Otto stated plainly.
“That’s because it is,” the Figure intoned. “They are an Empire like any other. They seek nothing more than to rule the Stars, and with a Sith seated upon their Throne? It’s only a matter of time until every world is forcibly bending the knee to the Confederacy and their ilk. Lest someone rises to challenge their alleged right to rule.”
“I’m sure someone will,” Otto replied. “If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my many years studying you Organics, is that Empires’ never last. They’re nothing more than a violent flash in the pan when the grand scheme of the universe is brought into perspective. The same could be said about our current regime, but at least we aren’t ensnared by hubris to label ourselves as Eternal in the hopes to defy the odds.”
The Figure laughed softly, then.
“Wish me luck, then,” Otto said as he roused himself from the aft section of the Repulsorpod. “I’m likely to be labelled as nothing more than a Warhawk for what I’m about to say next, and my words are likely to - yet again - fall on deaf ears.”
“Maybe one day, they’ll listen.”
Otto waved aside the comment and turned towards the integrated podium. He keyed in a short series of commands that saw his Repulsorpod withdraw from its housing and float towards the centre of the convocation chamber. When the assigned vector was set, and the slow-moving vehicle came to a halt - the Replica Droid activated the terminal before him.
“Coruscant seeks recognition,” the Senator began.
“I would second the concerns brought forth by the esteemed Representative of Alderaan, as the Eternal Empire has proven themselves to be wholly self-sufficient in the past. They’ve only sought after allies in the hopes of safeguarding themselves militarily-speaking, but also refused to pursue the myriad avenues of trade with their galactic neighbours.”
“I fear that any economic or political sanctions from this august body would be met with nothing but mockery on the galactic stage. While I do agree that the path towards peace should be the route we pursue, it's unlikely our efforts would bear fruit. I believe that the Eternal Empire, like the Sith Empire before it, seeks nothing but our destruction. It is why they are going for the jugular, so to speak. They seek to destroy the Starbird Tradespine at its source and cripple our Federation’s entire economic structure in the process. There is no future where these Imperialist Dogs back down from a fight. Not when we’ve set ourselves on the path to raze the Homeworld of the Ancient Sith.”
“So,” Otto said as his arms slowly began to spread wide as he addressed the Senate proper. “I say that we should answer their First Strike in kind once Victory in the Deep Core is assured. That we should go after the heart of their vile war machine in the Western Reaches of the Galaxy, and tear it out with all our might. Such a message would resound across the Stars themselves. One that not only speaks towards protecting our own with all of our collective might - acting as a beacon to would-be joiners - but one that also says we do not let any blow go unanswered.”
He smiled then, a passionless and eerily cold expression.
“Perhaps then, the Eternal Empire would think twice about striking our beloved Federation again and reconsider the path towards peace.”
Without fanfare or any further theatrics, Otto yielded the floor to the uncertainties of the future.
Carolina Tevinter
Reginald Orian
Sssar Taszzn
Seto Du Couteau
Ce-Pas-Ton
Aerarii Tithe
Faith Organa
Seth Saaliche
Skawn Kru
Urban Dreyson
Maou
Otto Shule
Hinter Staakten
Donavon Arturo
Julius Loghain
Brama Tagge
Greeble the Hutt
Auteme
Gat Tambor
