Reckoning Has Come

[Zef Halo]

So soon after the founding members of ICO had met had conflict made its way to their doorstep. The First Order, an imperial power which has largely kept to itself since the fall of the Galactic Alliance, had decided to put its boundaries outward. At risk of being swallowed was the Commonwealth of Atrisia - one of the furthest members of the Core, but one that shared in the brotherhood that bound all the systems together. As the imperial powers sought to subjugate the Atrisian homeworld, an emergency session of the Interstellar Cooperative Security Council was convened.

Presiding was the Interim ICSC President Arcann Law, representing Coruscant. He wasn't likely to hold the role permanently, but even in the absence of a permanent president of the council was the course of history to be determined. At his side however was his chief, Zearadias Mant, who was determined to not let the First Order's actions go unpunished. How though, or if they would, was not his decision to make, but rather the ICSC's as a whole.

Among the deliberations to address the First Order's encroachment of the Core and infringement of Atrisian sovereignty, discussion about more permanent leadership was likely to take place. Zeradias would also put forth a charter, final language for the Core Defense Pact which would officially bind member nations under the banner of ICO.

As Arcann pounded the gavel to call the meeting to order, he turned to address the representatives in the chamber with his coarse voice:

"We've gathered here to discuss a grave matter so I will be cutting to the chase." Arcann said in his typical and rather informal language. Many wondered how he was placed at such a political position of power. It is because he spoke the same language as the common person. "The First Order has burned Atrisia's sovereignty on a stake. We gather here not only to discuss but also to decide on our reaction towards this needless aggression."

Personally, Arcann cared less for anything but Coruscant. Yet, Coruscant's interests aligned with ICO, at the moment, and through that - Atrisia.

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

 

[Faith Organa]

Atrisia was in trouble and Faith wanted to send whatever she could to help them. She learned that her father was with [member="Shoma Ike"] that was perhaps the best that could happen. She fretted for their safety but so far the word from Atrisia was sporadic and incomplete.

She listened to [member="Arcann Law"] he spoke true how would they react?

What was a good action from a unified front?

"First we need to know Shoma is alright we should be allowed to go and see him under whatever flag is needed." She wanted to add and my family but didn't. She knew that they were looking for a military action.

"We need to find their weakness, everyone has a weakness what is the First Order's weakness?" She knew the FO only from reports but perhaps these in the room with her knew more that would help her to contribute to what to do.

[member="Zeradias Mant"] | [member="Lily Kuhn"] | [member="Shoma Ike"] | [member="Lisza Starseeker"]​

 

[Ellie Mors]

This was something that the Tetan had not looked forward to; the prospect of having to act against the First Order in any capacity that wasn't initiated by herself or the rest of the ICO first. It was both too early as well as not within the realm of choices she wished to make for a military endeavor to be started, but they would have to do something. Remaining silent would show the Atrisians that they weren't valued - something she doubted would happen - but any hostilities would be met with far greater numbers and a much more strained diplomatic relationship in the future than was ideal. She, personally, didn't place too much of an importance in the well-being of the rest of their union, but it was still imperative to treat them as she would her own if she wanted to have a healthy relationship with her proverbial neighbors. In this instance there was little that they could do, realistically, that would halt the First Order's subjugation of Atrisia. Whether or not the rest of the security council believed such to be true remained to be seen, and part of her felt that it would be just as difficult to convince the rest of the representatives of an ideal decision as it would be to deal with the First Order in the way she felt might be best.

Lily had arrived knowing that the issue of Atrisia likely would not be the sole subject of conversation, but she knew it would be the most controversial. Sending help, as [member="Faith Organa"] inferred, would be a great decision - it was a matter of what help to send, and how to supply it, that would likely be a source of concern. Concern for her, anyways, given her.. unique.. relationship with the imperialistic order. "Think twice and act wisely - let's not rush into action before we discern what our best avenues for assisting Atrisia might be. Sending military assistance would be an invitation for the First Order to march towards us and disregard their pact with the Sith Empire, which would help no one and only serve to act as tying our own nooses." She said, shifting her position in her seat. "I offer the suggestion that, in the circumstance we find ourselves unable to deter the First Order from taking total control of the planet and deposing its leadership, we reach out for an offer to give their leadership asylum in one of the various systems closer to the galactic center." Lily added, though she seemed unconvinced that the First Order might allow such a request. "The matter of convincing the First Order to allow civilians to leave the planet, however, might not be quite as easy. I would be willing to engage in negotiations with them, if we decide to take that approach, however." She noted with a small frown.

[member="Zeradias Mant"] [member="Shoma Ike"] [member="Lisza Starseeker"] [member="Arcann Law"]

 

[Raona Cadera]

"As harsh as it sounds," Liza started, "I think the best course of action would be to redouble our efforts in removing the Sith Empire's influence in our side of the Core and better consolidate our resources before we do anything." Atrisia was on the other side of the Core, and even for her in Corellia to do anything within the First Order's "claimed" space would have been dire.

"The First Order does not play nice with others...Their diplomatic talks are little more than shoving a blaster in your system's face and forcing you to sign or be replaced with someone who will." A pause, "Even the One Sith was easier to be diplomatic with than them," she said, referencing the deal between ATC, Vanir Tech, and the One Sith that had left Corellia relatively unharmed during their rule. "The best we can do as Lily said is offering the young prince and whatever other loyal officials asylum within our member planets."

[member="Lily Kuhn"] [member="Faith Organa"] [member="Arcann Law"] [member="Zeradias Mant"] ​

 

[Zeradias Mant]

Zeradias listened as his impassioned deputy and council president delivered his fiery remarks. He was disappointed such urgent action needed to be taken so soon into the infancy of their alliance. He listened intently to the Alderaanian princess's worried remarks, and then the more pragmatic ones of the Tetan empress. The Corellian seemed to agree with Kuhn.

Zeradias was a pragmatist himself. He didn't act on emotion. Every decision he's made was based upon logic, calculated for the best long term benefit. ICO, while pragmatic in nature, was founded upon principle - the principle that an attack against one was an attack against all. If any one of them were attacked, no matter how big the foe, they would stand behind one another to fend off that threat. What was being presented was a half step, if not the complete opposite of the nature of the alliance. They weren't there to help settle displaced persons, they were there to present a unitary front against enemies which would threaten the sovereignty of any member planet of ICO, which is precisely what the First Order sought to do on Atrisia.

"I do not disagree with the need to proceed carefully.", he started. He would need to proceed carefully himself, lest he be portrayed as a warmonger. "Military assistance is precisely what we pledged to one another when a foe threatens the sovereignty of any of our states."

It was a complex situation. The Sith Empire had not yet renounced their claim to their holdings in the Core, bequeathed to them by the First Order. They could very well be perceived as insurgents to the Sith, just as Coruscant had been branded by the Galactic Alliance. Politics was something Zeradias knew, however, and he would play it to his advantage.

"I am not sure the First Order would be so brazen as to attack our systems. Atrisia is one of the worlds they claimed following the Alliance's collapse. Ours, however, are recognized by their own accord to be within the domain of the Sith Empire. I do not think Dosuun would find it wise they would attack a system of the only ally they have. An attack on any of our worlds is an attack on all of them, and should it fall within the Sith Empire's delegated zone as all of ours do, that attack would be an attack on the Sith Empire."

Zeradias stroked his chin. What would a proper centrist do?

"We should first meet Prince Shoma before infringing upon his own right to determine the best course for his people. I would prefer we exhaust nonviolent means of resolution before we result to the alternative. Regardless, the First Order owes answers."

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

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith rubbed her forehead the pads of her fingers making small circles as she thought about what was said. She was a politician and long time politician she should have an answer, a clue to how to proceed. If it was Alderaan what would she say...

So. Stop thinking with your heart, know that your father and sister are fighters....so...how do they help Atrisia, how to help Shoma. Alderaan is known s a bunch of hippies, full of peace and watching the galaxy. "I agree, [member="Shoma Ike"] knows his people but most of all he knows what his people and his home can endure. If the First Order has made any kind of offer that keeps Shoma in power....but prevents the devastation that was brought during the last war there that's good for him and Atrisia." She had seen the results of that war.

She had stood there with Lady Kerrigan and the Lord Protector HK-36 and seen what had remained of Atrisia. She in her heart knew that no one would want that for their home again, not after all this time of putting things back together to uniting the people...to....everything.

"Let's see if the First Order will allow a meeting say on Abregado-Rae its a sector under no one's control that I know of, and it we can invite the First Order let them hear our questions, concerns. Be transparent with them. We need time as a group to build our forces to make other friends, to get other planets here in the core to join us. We need numbers that we don't have..so we have to...stall for time. Let everyone around us think we aren't a threat, that we are too weak.that's to our advantage." Faith sighed, "We need to be cubs until we can be Wolfcats"

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