Out of Many, One

[Zeradias Mant]

M E T E L L O S

The Galactic Alliance had held dominion over countless planets of the galaxy. Following the sack of Coruscant, the Alliance saw a sharp decline in power, eventually leading to their withdrawal from Coruscant along with most of their territory. The mission of Coruscant First complete, the task before it lay far beyond simple reconstruction after the razing from the Sith Empire.

Independence at last, and Zeradias was the leader of the planet at when it was obtained. Though a fierce patriot and populist leader, he was not devoid of the importance of foreign relations, nor were many other planets which had been governed under the clutches of the Alliance. While larger, parent factions attracted enemies of their own which wrought destruction upon their subjects, as demonstrated on Coruscant, independent factions were not immune from hostilities or other encroaching powers seeking to engulf the planets for their own domain. They could resist, but the prospect of defeat at catastrophic cost was too real to stand alone. Others seemed to share this sentiment, as intelligence reports cited that foreign leaders had similar concerns Zeradias confided in his Cabinet.

Independence was had, and independence must be maintained. Collaboration with other planets was not just a necessity, but a fact of life. In an encrypted communique to select foreign leaders, Zeradias would invite those leaders to meet on neutral ground to engage in deliberations in which their respective worlds would collaborate for safe and secure future in which they may protect their independence and way of life.

No more would these planets suffered in one way or another at the hands of a foreign power.

No more would these planets submit themselves to foreign mandates which might dictate their loyalties.

Their heads were bloodied, but they were far, far from broken.

In a shared endeavor for the preservation of their way of life, should they answer the call, would work collectively to ensure they wouldn't be subject to the same fate as their predecessors before them.

 

[Faith Organa]

Her thoughts were thousands of miles away, her concerns weighed heavily upon her shoulders and once more she was traveling under the guise of a trade agreement mission this time to Metellos.

As per her usual behaviors Faith looked up everything she could find to read about it. She liked being prepared. This group though was significantly smaller there were a few missing one particularly. She had not yet accepted the death she wasn't sure she could it just seemed to surreal, it wasn't real. She swallowed her sadness closed her eyes and kept the tears in check.

This meeting to discuss the events from around the core what was the fate of the worlds that the Alliance once protected. How could they once again fight the good fight to keep back the dominion of evil that was slowly slinking across it. Was this the platform or was this just to be another session of oh woe is me we are lost.

She and the Alderaani continually got up and brushed themselves off the rest of the galaxy must learn to do so as well. Coordinates were up ahead she would be landing shortly.

She wiped away the grimace and found the smile half hearted as it was. She couldn't get away from black though it was how she felt...dark

[member="Zeradias Mant"]

 

[Ellie Mors]

Coruscant and Teta were alike in many ways, but perhaps their greatest common ground was the desire to remain free from the chains of bondage from yet another foreign power. There was no desire in her heart to play the part of galactic police - she knew well enough that her own ideals were not shared by even her neighboring systems, much less those far removed from the deepest reaches of the core - but the possibility of having allies in the instance of a Confederate or Mandalorian invasion was too good of an offer to pass up. Certainly Teta had its own surge in nationalism and a shift in ideologies from passivity to aggressive expansion, but it would be far more beneficial - and far easier - for them to make allies out of their neighboring worlds and seek expansion in a colonial manner than to potentially engage in conflict with them.

Lily found herself enroute to Metellos, little more than a handful of minutes away now, for this very purpose, traveling alone this time despite the vulnerabilities of a hidden pregnancy. 'Things will be different this time - I'm not signing up to be monitored by a holier-than-thou alliance of Jedi with a fetish for control.' She assured herself silently, justifying the choice she made to keep the Krath from emerging as a central power in the core prior to her departure. A few were unhappy of course - those that were a little more into the idea of being a galactic superpower, that is - but she had the final say as their leader and the empress of the very system they made their home in. It was by her choice they were even involved in her return in the first place, after all.

At the very least she expected some common ground between the Coruscanti leadership and herself, though perhaps rooted in different causes.

 

[Raona Cadera]

The U-wing touched down at the coordinates she had been given before hand, a private starport on one of the many floating cities that lazily hovered above the Stratablocks and industrial complexes of Metellos. Two CorSec officers in old, CorSec colored, Galactic Alliance heavy armor exited the similarly painted shuttle before aiding Lisza onto the landing platform. The shuttle's engines tossed the wind around her in sharp gusts, sending parts of her dress and hair into a tussle. With a hand attempting to hold the delicate bun in place she was escorted inside.

She had never been to Metellos and had only heard tales of the floating cities and massive stratablocks that dotted the city-planet. They were awe inspiring but were a telling sign of the true state of the planet's people. Her heart went out to the poor souls who scrounged for food and worked the merciless hours of the elites she was now using to further Corellia's, and her own, political ends. The Galaxy was truly in chaos now. The Alliance had crumbled from insurgents which left the First Order and Sith Empire to stand over the scraps of the Core. Once again, Corellia was under the rule of an oppressive regime, though this time Danger and her husband had nothing to sway the Sith Empire with. Already the notoriously independent Corellia had already been blockaded by the Sith's massive Star Battlecruiser and a small contingent of heavy cruisers along with a battlestation. CorSec fleet movements had been all but disbanded and it seemed like more and more of Darth Carnifex's Imperial troops were making landfall every day.

She and her colleges may have had their differences, but she had somehow managed to secure a position representing Corellia, a job she was not going to let a few Imperials stop her from completing. She was a Corellian after all, rebelling was in their blood...For better or worse.

The double doors hissed open and she was led to a secluded room with a holoprojector in the center surrounded by chairs. She took a deep breath and thanked the CorSec officers. They had done their job, now it was time to do hers.

 

[Zef Halo]

The floating cities of Metellos were truly a sight, that Arcann could not deny it but his love for his homeworld of Coruscant transcends the amazement felt upon laying his eyes on the spectacular cities of the planet. There was no place like Coruscant in the galaxy, truly.

"It's a bold idea but not foreign to Coruscant." He addresses Zeradias while adjusting the collar of his shirt. Beneath it a scar shines recently acquired from the sacking of Coruscant. "It threads a thin line between what we stand for and what we stand against." Arcann is no fool, he knows perfectly well that the situation requires it. Foreign relationships based on some form of unity are truly essential in their current state. After the Alliance was broken the Core was left a mess but Mant seemed like he expected it.

The conference room remains empty except of Arcann's informal sitting with his legs on the table and Zeradias' foreboding presence.

They had conquered their independence but for how long?


[member="Zeradias Mant"] [member="Lisza Starseeker"] [member="Lily Kuhn"] [member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Zeradias Mant]

His closest confidant had taken a more casual approach than Zeradias to the matter at hand. Metellos was foreign land, and though Zeradias was well traveled, he loathed to be off Coruscant, especially after the dastardly Sith attack. It was neutral ground, though, relatively unscathed from consequence of larger faction meddling.

"You of all people should understand the struggle for true freedom.", he reminded Arcann as he stood with arms crossed, looking into the table at the center of the table.

"Cooperation is necessary essential not only for the survival of government, but essential to the administration of good government."

Zeradias and Arcann came from two completely different walks of life, yet they worked well in tandem with each other. The intricacies of government and law may sometimes go over the head of his cohort, but he was no fool. He understood the perspective of the common man, and it was the common man which made Coruscant First possible. He provided invaluable insight and advice to the mayor, and was steadfast in his own unconventional form of leadership.

"I trust you will see that we stay the course."

As the last word rolled off his tongue, the door to the room whooshed open. Zeradias saw the shadows of an escort fade, and from them a foreign face.

[member="Faith Organa"] | [member="Lily Kuhn"] | [member="Lisza Starseeker"] | [member="Arcann Law"]​

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Lily Kuhn"] | [member="Zeradias Mant"] | [member="Arcann Law"] | [member="Lisza Starseeker"]

Their arrival it seemed had been anticipated with a bit of direction Faith was soon walking through the halls to be taken the conference room with her the royal guards ensuring that nothing or anyone sought to harm her or take her. Just ahead of her she saw another group she stepped to the side to get a glance.

The guards fell back hesitantly then her own looked at her questioningly, "It is fine. Stay near just in case" She looked to the door took a deep breath reminded herself of why she was here then cautiously approached.

Who was inside?

Also she did not want to hit anyone with the door. Gently she pushed there were others in the room voices, and shadows to her. None that she recognized. She stepped to the side and stood beside the wall listening.

 

[Ellie Mors]

The Tetan's arrival was uneventful, although it had appeared that she was the only one who had either trusted those she was meeting or herself to not bring her own security detail. The small transport had docked soundlessly and the only confirmation of her arrival was the momentary confirmation of her identity and the clicking of the heels of her shoes against the floor as she strode towards their meeting place. Unlike the Corellians, and possibly the Alderaanians - she wasn't too sure of the specifics of the latter - Teta hadn't faced any sort of blockade, which was perhaps something to do with the sympathies that the First Order and the Sith had for her system. It wasn't really something to brag about, of course, not when the others she'd be joining shortly might take offense or suspicion to such a circumstance.

Much like the Queen of Alderaan, Lily's entrance was punctuated by a hesitant push of the door due to the uncertainty of how small the room on the other side might be, and how many other worlds had their representatives present. Noting the quaint appearance of the interior, and the sparse amount of attendees, she slipped into the meeting with the procurement of a well practiced, manufactured, smile. "A pleasure it is to meet all of you." She said quietly, finding her way to a chair. She was quite a bit more reserved than [member="Arcann Law"], finding herself sitting with her legs pressed tightly together and both hands folded over the other in her lap, and marveled at the ability to remain so open and lax despite the purpose of their meeting.

[member="Zeradias Mant"] [member="Faith Organa"] [member="Lisza Starseeker"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

He was running late, but there was naught be had for it.

Positioned on the western edge of the Core, Atrisia's location led to any number of concerns regarding the First Order. The sudden collapse of the Galactic Alliance had thrust the historic union of Kilea, Frisal, and Atrisia into dire straights. After all, Atrisia was still rebuilding from when it had been razed by the combined efforts of the Alliance and the One Sith.

In an effort to not give the First Order the details that the de facto Atrisian emperor was off planet, the Atrisian noble was arriving by means of a stealth ship whose technology was made available to the Atrisian Commonwealth by the impressive talent of a Silver Jedi scientist by the name of [member="Jessica Med-Beq"]

An invitation from Coruscant First would have gotten Shoma's attention absent any other facts. That Alderaan was participating in these talks only incentivized the negotiations for Atrisia. [member="Faith Organa"] was easily recognized through the years of good will between their two planets.

Otherwise, the people in the room were strangers to him. "Shoma of Atrisia," the teenage prince remarked, supplying an introduction as he entered in behind the Alderaan noble. Giving a bow toward the assembled dignitaries, the youth added the obligatory pleasantry in his native language, "Dozo yoroshiku."

[member="Lily Kuhn"] | [member="Zeradias Mant"] | [member="Arcann Law"] | [member="Lisza Starseeker"]​

 

[Garith Darkhold]

Location: The Meeting with everyone else.​

Objective: Try to play a supportive role for Shoma and Faith.​

It was the sound of a steady rhythmic clicking of beskar upon durasteel, which echoed down the corridor outside of the main meeting room the gathering. It echoed into the room right before and after Shoma Ike came into the room. It was a sound [member="Faith Organa"] was very familiar with. It was just a small breath of time that the next man walked into the room.

The man did not appear to be a Yovshin (Swordsman/Samurai) guarding Prince [member="Shoma Ike"]. The armor the man was wearing looked more like battered plate mail maybe of an ancient Mandalorin design. The sword upon the man’s hips was clearly a Kanata but the man did not share the same familiar futures a fellow Atrisain. This man was tall and muscular. His skin was a darkish tan but he did not look native to Atrisa.


The cloak pin attached to the red cape upon his cloak was Atrisan in origin. The cloak pin made of gold and jade, dragon with its tail making up the circle around the main body. The jade made up the eyes of the dragon. The gold encompassed its body. It was the symbol of house Togashi and the man who just walked through the door was the Jun (Lord) of House Togashi. He also happened to be Faith Organa’s father.


“Faith”, the Elder Kashi’s eye fell upon his daughter. It was not a look of surprise. In fact the Atrisan Lord dared not show any sign of emotion or caring in a room full of people. He was simple saying hello to his daughter. Whatever he felt she would know. Garith had simple spent too many years as a Sith to go blindly walking around showing who he might care for. He had lost too many friends and family over the years to carelessly walk around and give his possible enemies or ally’s knowledge it happens to be none of their business.


[member="Lily Kuhn"] [member="Zeradias Mant"] [member="Arcann Law"] [member="Lisza Starseeker"]

 

[Faith Organa]

She was preparing to move to a chair, she nodded to everyone, "Greetings to all of you. I am greatful to have been included in this gathering." Just as she slid into a chair the door opened and another came through she immediately recognized [member="Shoma Ike"] she couldn't help but smile at him. She was preparing to give a personal greeting when familiar armor entered the room.

Faith stood up she had not been prepared for him to be there. Not after everything but then maybe this was the perfect place for him to be. His gruff baritone voice said her name she nodded, "My father" for this room Dad was a bit too informal. One of the reasons that Alderaan was close friends with Atrisia first it seemed sith liked to visit and destroy each planet when the whim hit them and second she had family there.

She slowly sat back down it would have been a lie if she did not say she felt great relief at his presence.

[member="Garith Darkhold"] | [member="Lily Kuhn"] | [member="Zeradias Mant"] | [member="Arcann Law"] | [member="Lisza Starseeker"] |

 

[Raona Cadera]

Lisza bowed her head to the others and also took a seat. The Atrisian representative was so young...She had heard rumors that their Emperor was a child but she always assumed he was at least military age. Atrisia had a proud military culture, and outstanding naval competence if she remembered correctly. Admiral Kahoshi had led the Republic's navy for a time before its collapse. It was obvious why they were here. The First Order was at their doorstep, if not already forming blockades and patrols in Atrisian space and like many of the worlds represented here, they were still reconciling with damage from wars between the Galactic Alliance and another power.

Then there was the monarch of Empress Teta. While she was all for self-determination and freedom from the watchful and often mis-managed eyes of larger powers the Green Jedi seemed to be worried about her sudden rise to power. "Dark skies" or something like that Julius had told her. Her yellow orbs watched her carefully.

Zeridias Mant was another known quantity. He had caused many a political and logistical problem for the Galactic Alliance. In some circles his rise to power was considered one of the driving factors to the Alliance's fall. The Sith Empire saw weakness in the heart of the Alliance and took advantage of Coruscant's poor relationship with the Alliance. They were opposites in terms of how they thought of the Alliance, though she was a minority in the political maelstrom that was Corellia right now. Alderaan's representative Faith Organa was probably the only fresh of breath air in this room for her. She wondered if Lady Organa would be the saving grace of this group. For now she waited though, legs crossed and hands folded patiently over her knees.

[member="Faith Organa"] [member="Garith Darkhold"] [member="Shoma Ike"] [member="Lily Kuhn"] [member="Zeradias Mant"] [member="Arcann Law"]​

 

[Zeradias Mant]

Alderaan, Atrisia, Corellia, Coruscant, Empress Teta. Out of many, one. It appeared to be a concept foreign to the galaxy at large, but these planets would bring the concept to fruition. An uneasy tension fell over the room as the representatives of their government gradually began to assemble in the room. As the door opened, Arcann's casual demeanor tightened up and he sat up straight, removing his feet from the table on which they previously lay. After everyone had assembled, only one face aside from Arcann's was familiar - the boy prince from Atrisia. They'd previously met making diplomatic arrangements between the Galactic Alliance and Iron Empire respectively, though neither represented their homeworld at the time. This was different.

"Thank you all for coming. Please, sit.", he notioned as he himself took a seat at the round table. In a movement such as Coruscant First's, principles mattered. Zeradias was careful to choose a round table, so no one individual would hold the head. They were all equals here. Though Zeradias maintained some sentiment of superiority, he didn't show it.

"I'll not pretend to lament the downfall of the Galactic Alliance. Coruscant is finally free, but at the cost of one final razing from the enemies of the Alliance.", he led. His gaze shifted around the table as he spoke, locking momentarily with those seated around him. "Whether we like it or not, the collapse of the Alliance has left a vacuum in the Core, a vacuum others will soon seek to fill." There was almost an ominous undertone to what he was saying, and should it come to fruition it would almost certainly bring forth continued servitude to foreign powers.

"No one knows our people like we do, and no one is in a better place to govern our worlds than us. Why should we pledge our economy, our people, our way of life, for 'protection'? That protection is meaningless when they're the ones who bring conflict to our doorstep."

This was not Coruscant. These were leaders, nobility, heads of state. They might recognize the charisma in Zeradias, but they would not be so easily charmed as the people of Coruscant would. Fortunately, Zeradias seldom relied on charm, but rather pragmatism. What he said carried weight because it was real.

"Individually we are a drop. Together, we are an ocean. Collective security should be at the forefront of our minds. Let the rest of the galaxy consume itself in war, but let us secure our homes in the Core."

[member="Arcann Law"] | [member="Lily Kuhn"] | [member="Lisza Starseeker"] | [member="Faith Organa"] | [member="Garith Darkhold"]​

 

[Ellie Mors]

Security appeared to be at the forefront of Zeradias' mind as he made his introductory speech, and she was quite aware it was something that likely resonated well with all of those present. All of them hailed from worlds that were sites of the most vicious of battles during the wars leading up to the formation of the Alliance and its inevitable downfall, and many of them perhaps relied a bit too much on the Alliance as their protectors - she couldn't quite help but assume that a planet like Corellia, given their prominent Jedi, were more than happy to take part in a system that espoused an alliance-wide military that forced a Jedi ideology on everyone that belonged to it.

Security, of course, was less of Lily's concern than working with the other planets of the core to form better relations in the years that would see a lack of Sith or Jedi occupation as a galactic superpower. Mant had mentioned a power vacuum and the likelihood of it being filled in the same breath, a fact that she and the Krath had already worked towards preparing to fill just prior to receiving this invitation. Progress that would need to be diverted into a different contingency, given what she was hearing now. It would be easier to act as a colonial power from within an allied core than to wage war on unwilling planets in the core - and she certainly preferred the route of wary rivalry than despised conqueror. Unlike the Sith and the First Order on either sides of the galaxy, she was more than willing to leave the neighboring words to their own devices if they could agree on a mutual defense pact rather than expand and force a centralized government on them all.

Not that those gathered here had any such knowledge of her previous intentions, nor did she intend to share.

"Collective security at what cost?" Lily asked, after a moment or two had passed following his posturing. "I am willing to offer the protection of the other members of such a hypothetical alliance, but I do not wish to be a part of some military superpower that requires us to adhere to some ideological standard in return for protection." She explained. The Tetan leaned forwards in her seat, her hands shifting from her lap to the tabletop. Her amber gaze swept across the faces of those seated around the table, recognizing only [member="Faith Organa"] as one of those, aside from herself, that predated the Alliance occupation of their worlds as a ruler. She didn't recognize [member="Lisza Starseeker"], which she supposed wasn't too odd considering neither she nor her mother, the empress before her, had any diplomatic relations with Corellia.

"As long as such a pact for defense will not intrude in the affairs of its members, except to defend each other from foreign invaders, Teta is willing to take part in such an alliance."

[member="Zeradias Mant"] [member="Arcann Law"] [member="Garith Darkhold"] [member="Shoma Ike"]

 

[Zef Halo]

"Foreign invaders is what we fought and paid the price with the sacking of our world, Empress." Arcann said coarsely and directly typical to his style. The man's frown locked with the younger girl. "And we will pay it again if we have to." His eyes shuffled through each one of the other representatives before his grim demeanor faded away replaced by his ever present cunning smirk.

He didn't even need to state the obvious - everyone had gathered here for their own interests. This was politics, not childhood friendship.

"Right now, as Zeradias said, our top priority would be handling the looming threat of neighboring powers seeking to reclaim the Core for their own machinations." Arcann echoed Mant's statement highlighting its importance before adding darkly. "If that is not your top priority, you will realize it will soon become that."

Governments were quickly crawling and vigorously throwing their grasp at the seat of galactic power - the Core.

[member="Lily Kuhn"] [member="Zeradias Mant"] [member="Garith Darkhold"] [member="Faith Organa"] [member="Lisza Starseeker"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith did what was common to her family she listened.

She could hear the enthusiasm in [member="Zeradias Mant"] as he spoke about individual sovereignty, the fallen alliance, and then what sounded to like isolation.
She lifted her chin and glanced from face to face trying to judge how they were taking this message. She had to control her emotions in this. She wasn't sure she was ready for isolation, but then she must not assume she must remember to ask.

She tilted her head towards [member="Lily Kuhn"] as she spoke and what she said Faith agreed with. Protect each other in times of war but leave the direction of the sovereignty in the hands of the sovereign and their people. That is what they had tried to do with the Coalition but the problem had become that so many worlds gathered to one flag did not often have the resources it took to do such an endeavor. The larger ones ended up providing more while the smaller ones seemed to lose nothing. She had learned many valuable lessons being a member of the Coalition.

She thought again about the worlds represented there, Coruscant - weren't they still rebuilding? Atrisia she thought they too had recently started new efforts for their military. She did not know about Empress Teta and as for Corellia how much military did they offer. Alderaan now..still recovering some from the Sith attack but most of their defenses had been easily fixed but they were planetary defenses. It would seem Alderaan if to join this effort would need to build a larger fleet but also to Faith it seemed many of these worlds would need to do the same.

They clearly were all gathered out of a need to protect their homes, their people, and their way of life.

She could offer what? They had no major military...they had their border patrols, and a small navy to protect their trade routes.

Her thoughts lingered on this proposal as [member="Arcann Law"] spoke, "That is true" she agreed with him about neighbors claiming the core. "The core worlds are the prize for anyone seeking power." The core worlds are the trophies as they were the long standing governments the beacons of what democracy and freedom stood for. She thought again about the beating Alderaan had taken three times at the hands of the sith three times in just her lifetime already.

"Are you suggesting we become isolationists?" Faith took a small breath. She was a person of few words and she hoped that she made her words clear and understood.

She knew her father [member="Garith Darkhold"] was not one to sit by and let things happen, he preferred to take them by the throat and teach them a lesson. He had seen too much damage happen to worlds and family. Faith was beginning to understand this train of thought.

She didn't want to see Alderaan beaten down again her people couldn't take it.

[member="Shoma Ike"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

If there was one thing that his upbringing had prepared him for, it was sitting in a room full of his elders who were all debating the right of it.

Quietly, the boy watched as the conversation traveled from [member="Zeradias Mant"] to [member="Lily Kuhn"] to [member="Arcann Law"] and finally [member="Faith Organa"] in turn. Briefly, the boy glanced over at [member="Garith Darkhold"] even as he mulled over whether what he had to say was adding any value to the conversation.

"The preservation of our cultures," the boy remarked finally, glancing first to the representative of Empress Teta as he felt as though they might have a connection on that point.

He could appreciate the appeal of isolationism. He was Atrisian. For much of their history, Atrisian had closed itself off from galactic politics. It had become something of the default for his people, save for when they found themselves pulled into the Galactic Empire, or the One Sith, or the Galactic Alliance.

Part of the struggle with the collapse of the Alliance was trying to come to terms with what it meant to be Atrisian. Those were struggles of cultural identity that needed some space in which regional and global conversations could take place. Foreign interference into the internal affairs of the planet only complicated those affairs.

Even still, the galaxy relied on commerce and trade. And Atrisia was no exception. Atrisia was still recovering economically from it's liberation from the Sith by the Alliance, so foreign investment and trade partnerships would keep them from becoming isolated again.

"Not isolationist, but committed to the idea that the people of our respective planets should be the ones who determine their destiny, not have it dictated to them by some foreign body," the youth offered quietly, folding his hands down on the table in front of him as he looked around and added. "This is what I want to defend. And not just for my people."

Even if his own people were a bit more of a priority for him. But that was doubtless true for every one in here.

[member="Lisza Starseeker"]​

 

[Raona Cadera]

Her dark brows rose slightly in surprise at the youth's words. Very sure of himself and with an established view of what he felt was right for his people. Maybe Atrisia would be stable with him leading, especially once he got older. She nodded in agreement, however she still had questions and felt that Lily's had only been partially answered, if only because she was focused on ideologies being forced down Empress Teta's throat.

"I echo Lily's question still," she started, "While we all seem to be in agreement that we wish to keep our cultures and people safe its quite obvious not every world in the Core is represented here. Is it us happy few that are to take control of our respective sectors and defend them from other invaders? I think a full standing army while expensive and a symbol of the power we've come here to erase from the Core, is almost impossible to avoid with the Sith Empire holding a lightsaber to our throat and the First Order a blaster to our backs. The Mandalorians have seem to be a problem more and more often as well."

"And while I definitely appreciate the sentiment of being able to fully invest in the Corellian Sector's defense, I fear that even should we bring our militaries together, not only do they pale in comparison to the armadas of the Sith, First Order, and Mandalorians, but our military doctrines have been too different in the past to assume we'd all be incredibly effective should the full force of any of those three nations came to us with war in their hearts."

Her rectangular pupils scanned the room.

"So I echo Lily's question. Collective security at what cost?"

[member="Shoma Ike"] [member="Faith Organa"] [member="Arcann Law"] [member="Lily Kuhn"] [member="Zeradias Mant"] [member="Garith Darkhold"]​

 

[Progflaw99]

"I think you're asking the wrong question."​

​

Emerson's voice broke the momentary pause after the Quarth woman's words. The representative from Centares and the Mara-Perlemian Trade Council had arrived late, the journey much longer for the man than the others. Truthfully, he wasn't even sure he should be here, but at this point he couldn't afford not to. Too much was on the line. "The more pertinent question would be, what is the cost of not doing anything. Maintaining the status quo?"

Before he continued further, he introduced himself. "I know you may not give my words credence but as a representative from the Mara-Perlemian Trade Council, I think I am uniquely qualified to speak as to the ever increasing threat to each of our independent nations. My name is Emerson Cardiff, our capital world is Centares. If you're unsure as to where that is, it is on the very edge of Sith controlled space. Each day they use the trade lanes, blockade the trade lanes, and we are powerless to stop it. You ask what is the cost, and I beseech you all to consider - what is the cost should nothing change? I won't bore you with the statistics, but weeks past the Empire of the Sith has expanded almost exponentially. Is there any cost you would be unwilling to pay to secure for yourselves safety from a threat such as the Sith Empire or even the First Order?"

Aggressive. Yes. Overstepping. Perhaps. It needed to be said. The younger Cardiff didn't even know if these representatives from the Core would hear him out, his people's plight wasn't exactly their problem - at least not yet. *But it would be eventually.* so he was convinced. The realm of galactic politics was always changing but with the collapse of the Alliance, things seemed to be speeding up, escalating even. In such a vast vacuum of power there was always uncertainty. If one thing was clear to the man, it was each world and coalition's intent to remain sovereign in their own right. Emerson would have considered no less. Under the Alliance, a single point of sovereignty had arguably been their undoing. Emerson nor the others here were yet ready to accept another yoke upon their shoulders. *But is it possible?* he caught himself thinking. *The Republic did it almost a century ago, is what we desire so different now?*

Of course a republic didn't start overnight, and even that was perhaps a step too far in the direction of a centralized government. The Trade Council was already a small conglomeration of worlds and Emerson saw how difficult that was to manage which is why it thrived on each world's individuality rather than the sum of its parts. Perhaps the words minced here could do something of the same between those present, and maybe even those absent. Often, all it took was a good plan put in motion to see others begin to follow suit.

[member="Lisza Starseeker"] | [member="Zeradias Mant"] | [member="Shoma Ike"] | [member="Arcann Law"] | [member="Lily Kuhn"] | [member="Faith Organa"] | [member="Garith Darkhold"]​

 

[Raona Cadera]

Lisza crossed her arms delicately and tapped her index finger along her forearm as the late newcomer spoke. She was only aware of the Mara-Perlemian Trade Council on a surface level. With little interaction with the Core and being a relatively new player on the Galactic playing field they had always been periphery topics of discussion in Corellian political matters and with them being so far out from the Core she didn't know if many of the others would frankly care about their plight considering they seemed more concerned with their own small corners of the Core and without a push seemed more likely to be content with their own planetary run defense forces.

Lisza on the other hand, had other ideas. Whether or not her colleges actually wished for a larger military defense force or not she knew that they couldn't hope to survive the next decade without one the way the Sith Empire and First Order were carving up the Galaxy and so be it fate or not, this Emerson Cardiff had given a decent segway into what she believed would save their stars.

"Thank you for coming Mr. Cardiff, and I extend my thoughts and prayers to your people." She nodded to the man courteously, "But I might not have been clear earlier. Corellia is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the tyranny of the Sith Empire and First Order out of the Core. My question to you all should have been...Are you all willing to put forth the effort to create a stable and protected and unified Core? We may not need the massive fleets of the Alliance, but we can't be naive enough to think that we individually would be able to protect all of the Core. We need to keep the places far from our own homes safe as well and to be frank, none of us have the force alone required to keep the spacelanes of the Galactic Core safe."

"If we are to come together I propose a Joint Military Command. We each consolidate military personnel to a neutral and central location and allow these men and women the ability to patrol the spacelanes where our individual sector forces are thinnest. Our first line of defense against pirates and those that would see harm to the Core. Something of this level I believe will be necessary to keep the Sith and First Order from our boarders in their attempted conquest of the Galaxy."

[member="Emerson Cardiff"] [member="Shoma Ike"] [member="Faith Organa"] [member="Arcann Law"] [member="Lily Kuhn"] [member="Zeradias Mant"] ​