The Military Expansion Act [PASSED]

[Faith Organa]

Faith did not know if she could vote or just to listen. Her sister was the senior Senator and she was no where to be seen. And then there was the position of Alderaan. She had no world, she was merely just someone who represented a place that no longer had a place in Republic space.

A sad day again. She realized she should notify her mother and see what she advised. A Queen without a world as well. Faith was waiting on the wheels of time to change things, when Alderaan would once again be a member of the free galaxy.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Alena Beswin"], [member="Persephone Callas"]

Aurelia remained standing and affected a shocked, even scandalised expression.
“I am sure your constituents will be most pleased to hear that only 5% of them matter enough not to be sent to the trenches,” she retorted.

“Once again, I must agree with the good Senator from Hapes. We are a Republic, a democracy, thus this labelling of only part of the population is being productive is wrong headed, even offensive. It must also be said, Senator Beswin, that you think too much within Kuat’s narrow boundaries if you think we would have our citizens become your Janissaries as well.”

“Therefore, I move that this be revised. I say we should keep the training academies, but make them voluntary and to offer scholarships to those who excel in maths, science or physical disciplines. They will indeed make fine leaders for the expanded army we all agree is necessary.”

“With this in mind, simply doubling the money is not what’s required. What’s required is to learn how much is needed and then apply that much. Flat increases creates waste as the allocated money is snapped up whether it’s needed or no.”

“My plan is simple. Make the people of the Republic want to defend their homes, and make it worthwhile to do so. Open up general recruitment, offer as generous terms as we can, and for those soldiers in the force already with long service, merit based advancement. We need to create a national army, not just local forces from Pylos, Kuat and Hapes. Too long our own divisions in command have been exploited. We need a national effort, a national army and national unity. The Republic can win this war, but not with conscripts.”

 

[Terras Zordok]

Alena listened politely to her fellow senators voice their thoughts freely. She was open to revising the bill, and after the senators finished with their rhetorics. She gave Senator [member="Torill Holgor"] a thankful nod for his words towards all senators to stay focused.

The Kuati woman decided to respond to Senator [member="Persephone Callas"]'s snappy rheotrics first. It had slightly offended Alena to be called an imperialist. "Oh..? Well, how brave of the Hapes Consortium as part of this Republic to pursue 'isolationalist policies' and do nothing but sit and watch as fellow Republic planets, such as the planet of our Senator [member="Faith Balor"], fall into the evil hands of the Sith!" she remarked.

Senator Beswin then turned to face Senator [member="Aurelia Saelari"]. She shook her head in disbelief at what the senator said regarding her constituents. Although the numeric percentage wasn't as low as 5%, it was simply an understood fact that the powerful and affluent top elites of Kuat were Alena's real constituents. Besides senators of Kuat were not elected, it was in reality the Queen of Kuat that appointed senators. She had heard about her predecessor named Senator Brunswick, who had absolutely disregarded the rulers of Kuat, and only championed his own individual notions for Kuat and democracy. She had been reminded of this by what Senator [member="Aurelia Saelari"] had said.

Keeping a neutral expression, Alena spoke. "Well Senator Saelari, I would be delighted if you could somehow come up with the numerical value for 'how much is needed'. I would be happy to revise the bill to apply exactly that much, instead of doubling the expenditure."

"I would like to discuss conscription just a bit further before I would like to make your revision happen, senator. First off, can any senator please inform us all what in the world is the Republic's current system for military recruitment and what it's terms are? Although I find Senator Saelari's ideas just fine, I would like to question if the current system doesn't offer generous enough offers to our troops."

 

[The End Narrator]

Alyesa raised an eyebrow from her seat, her legs crossed at the knees. Yes, it was still required for her presence to be made in such affairs in the Republic...regardless of the current status of her planet as she had other duties to attend to. Granted, the current situation on Alderaan was a major distraction but it didn't hinder what she was always best at...serving the Republic in a selfless manner.

Alyesa calmly raised a hand, more so to gain the attention of the holocam and the speaker in general. Once she was recognized she would clear her throat and slowly rise up from her seat. Her hands would calmly place themselves behind her back, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she listened to the squabbling and bickering. There were valid points, but there were better ways to eliminate something that you disagreed with without attacking culture and ways of life.

"From my understanding, as the Chairman of the Security Committee and an active member of the Military Oversight Committee, this is an issue to which we need to address within those two circles before we bring it to a broader spectrum." She made a general motion towards the Senate as a whole. "Such as this Senate floor." She turned to [member="Persephone Callas"] and then [member="Alena Beswin"] "Regardless of ways of life, what we believe and desire, we have a working system and procedures to which must be followed."

She took a bated breath. "That being said, I make the call to strike this bill in it's current state and ask it be put through the proper procedures and committees before being presented to the Senate."

 

[Torill Holgor]

[member="Alena Beswin"] [member="Persephone Callas"] [member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Alyesa Praxon-Organa"]

Torill listened to the speakers shaking his head slightly before his attention was grabbed by a new speaker. Torill listened to what she said and nodding seeing the wisdom in her words as the conversation crossed different spectrums of ideas raising more questions than were being answered.

Addressing Alyesa Torill spoke.

"There are apparently some questions that need to be answered before an informed discussion can be had." "I agree with your notion to strike the bill in it's current state." "If you need a second than consider it seconded."

 

[Terras Zordok]

Alena looked over at the new speaker, Senator [member="Alyesa Praxon-Organa"]. "I am happy to submit this current bill to the committees to take a look at and vote on, before we vote on this as a Senate." she replied, not allowing her slight frustration to show on her face.

"However, I would like to know if any bills in the past were actually 'put through the proper procedures and committees' before reaching the Senate." she stated. "In fact, I don't think your own bill in the past, Bill 69743.2 Revision One - Execution of Sith Operatives, was given a chance to be actually discussed or debated on within a committee, that is, the Security Committee. I appreciate your productive suggestion, senator, however I question the necessity of abiding to supposed 'proper procedure' that the Senate seems to have never adhered to."

 

[Quietus]

From her office within the orbital drive yards of Kuat, the Queen watched the live feed of the Senate discussion with a tight expression that spoke of the headache she felt forming.

Without looking away, she leaned to press a button on the control panel beside her, "Lacey, do I have any of the Protectorate Reserve Corellian Whiskey left?"

"The bottle gifted to you by Lord Protector [member="Ayden Cater"], your Highness?"

"That's the one."

"You do, your highness."

"Good, put a shot of it in my tea," Lorelei released a long breath through her nose, eyes narrowing at the screen as the subject of imaginary Kuatian Slaves was brought up yet again, "make that two."

"Yes, your highness."

 

[Popo]

[member="Lorelei Darke"] [member="Alena Beswin"] [member="Torill Holgor"] [member="Alyesa Praxon-Organa"] [member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Faith Balor"] [member="Nitram Ozio"] [member="Persephone Callas"]

Popo looked up from his place at the Supreme Chancellor's podium and blinked slowly, the Hutt equivalent of sarcasm.

"Perhaps the Senate has a collective point. Why should the poor go out and fight and the rich buy their way out of the drafting process," Popo said quietly, his words amplified by the comms built into his lectern.

"Perhaps the bill should be amended, Senator Beswin. Perhaps we are looking at the wrong place for conscripts and recruits. The other Senators have a very good point. Perhaps we need to look for volunteers who are dedicated to the Republic cause, not conscripts forced to fight in a war they don't want."

With that, Popo let his eyes travel over the Senate as a whole. Each one was required, or at least required to give the appearance of, dedication to the Republic as a whole. Democracy and freedom on a galactic scale. In concept, the true leaders of peace and freedom were, in practice, sitting here in this room.

"So, I'll simply say this. Will any of you volunteer to join the Grand Army or Grand Navy of the Republic and fight on the field or in space against the One Sith as I have? As Senator Praxon-Organa has? Stand up and let me see you. You'll be exempt from your duties as Senator, but not removed from them, and we'll get you through basic training and issued weapons and gear. I figure I can have the local recruitment office staff here in ten minutes to get you processed. Any volunteers?"

With that, Popo rose up to his full height, his equivalent of standing up, and waited to see if anyone else was brave enough to do so.

 

[The End Narrator]

[member="Alena Beswin"]

Alyesa raised an eyebrow and then shook her head softly. "That bill was brought under the Defense of Freedom Act and approved by the Supreme Chancellor prior to being brought before the Senate." She sighed and then gestured with her hand towards [member="Alena Beswin"]. "If you'd care to make the vote now, I propose that we opt in the striking the bill down as it stands until further discussions are done through proper channels."

She brought her hand down. "However you wish to sum that up, either way, getting rid of a bill that resembles an assembly of the Grand Army without proper authorization." Her hands would come to clasp infront of her. "Or you can continue this pursuit and meet heavy resistance and most likely ensure the failure of your bill in the end, choice is yours Senator."%

OOC - Damn, Popo posted as I was writing. Please consider my post before his for all purposes of making sense Thank ya!

 

[Torill Holgor]

[member="Lorelei Darke"] [member="Alena Beswin"] [member="Alyesa Praxon-Organa"] [member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Faith Balor"] [member="Nitram Ozio"] [member="Persephone Callas"]


Torill looks up as the Supreme Chancellor speaks taking in what he says before speaking again having no need to consider what is said.

"Supreme Chancellor."

Torill paused briefly for a moment before continuing.

"On my home planet of Morellia I am not just an Ambassador but like many of my kind I serve double duty has an Enforcer of Morellian law." "It goes without saying that should battle be necessary I shall be found quite easily among the soldiers of the Republic Army." "I do not wear a Blaster everywhere I go just for show." "If you need or require for peace of mind or for formalities sake to put my words to pen then call your recruiters." "I shall meet them in kind."

 

[Persephone Callas]

Persephone gave a tight smile, her fan fluttering to send fresh hair to her delicate face.

"Nay, Hapes will not volunteer any of its citizens. And it will certainly not stand for any draft of this bill in it's present state." This was really no surprise, Hapes has always had this rather isolationist policy when it dealt with the greater galaxy. They left it well enough alone and expected the same.

"Now if there are any who so choose to volunteer themselves, then that is up to each and every Hape citizen. But I shall not force a single woman or man, " oh everyone well knew her position with the men, her emphasis on their lowered status was clear, "To be forced into a Galactic Navy or Army by measure of some galactic decree."

 

[Popo]

[member="Lorelei Darke"] [member="Alena Beswin"] [member="Torill Holgor"] [member="Alyesa Praxon-Organa"] [member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Faith Balor"] [member="Nitram Ozio"] [member="Persephone Callas"]

"In hindsight," Popo began as an idea hit him. "The opposition has a point. Who are we to demand a draft of those who may not wish to fight? Who are we to demand the poor to fight the wars they may not desire?"

The Hutt turned to Senator Beswin and nodded to the woman.

"Senator Beswin, there is an alternative to a draft of the population of the Republic," he said calmly. "We need not draft the citizens, but the planets themselves. The galaxy has seen what the One Sith do to planets they take; they hand them to the Vong and allow their Vong allies to terraform them. Slaughtering whole ecosystems to their perverse religion with no care of why or how. The people may not see the value in the war... but those who lead them do. The people may not wish to fight a war, but they do not wish to lose their homes. Let us not draft the citizens, but instead require the planets and their leadership to provide soldiers to us. Let us require each planet capable of doing so to supply a regiment of soldiers or task force of ships to the Republic effort. Those that cannot simply supply credits or materials. We have scores of worlds and such a move would give us scores of regiments or task forces to fight the One Sith. It would give us thousands of soldiers and hundreds of ships to fight in the war."

Popo gestured at Senator Callas.

"The Hapans are isolationist, but if the Republic falls, they may be at your door. Perhaps your gallant women and men, the best of your fleet, would desire to test the Sith. To understand their tactics and share them with their sisters and brothers within the cluster. To better prepare against them," he then gestured to the Kuati dignitaries. "Perhaps Kuat could supply us a small fleet of valiant ships and sailors and bring glory to the Kuat system and the noble families that reside there. Perhaps Kuat's next generation of rulers and nobles could be built on the glory and honor of combat in the defense of the Republic. Perhaps Morellia could gather its sons and daughters and send them forth to do battle against the legions we face, to hold fast in the face of the enemy and show the courage of their people. Alderaan is lost to us, for now, but there are many of her sons and daughters astray in the galaxy. Let them rally to our cause, our banner. Let them take vengeance against the Sith for the desolation of their world. Let them unite under this cause and take back their homes and rescue their families. We are a conglomeration of dozens, scores of worlds, but we all have one reason for being here: Democracy. Fairness. A say in how things are run. A voice among equals. No one world's voice holds more sway than the other. Yes, I know this is not always the case. Yes, bribes and payoffs are known. Yes, there will always be corruption in any government. Yes, I am a Hutt, a species known for corruption and deceit and a people whose hands dig deep into the galactic underworld."

Popo looked at the Senate slowly and carefully, gauging them in his mind.

"But I stand here before you today. I have no agenda, no private goals. I desire no money for my position, no gains or benefits. Were you to decide today that I were not fit for the position, I would step down without argument or qualms and report to the front lines where I can still help the Republic. We must all do our part. The Republic looks to us. The people look to us. We must all hang together in this conflict or we will all hang separately."

 

[Quietus]

Kuat
KDY Command Center - CEO's Office

Interesting. The Senate now wished for Kuat to provide them with yet another fleet of warships. Not as like she planned on denying them, but had she ever? It was no secret that the majority of the Republic's freighters and flagships were supplied by the KDY, and had been for the last several notable skirmishes between galactic factions. Curious how all the previous and current business, military, and machine efforts of the KDY had suddenly been forgotten.

"Perhaps, Lacey," the Queen intoned, "three shots."

Lacey ground to a halt on her way into the office, tray of fine porcelain and glass whiskey bottle clattering softly. Wide green eyes glanced down to the contents she carried and a short simper filtered from the Assistants lips, "I'll put in word to the Lord Protector to send you another bottle, your Highness."

"Make it a case," Lorelei turned from the screen back to the stack of project datapads on her desk, eyeing them dejectedly, "we're going to need it."

 

[Torill Holgor]

Torill listened to the Supreme Chancellor speak glancing every few minutes to see how much time had passed. When the target amount of time had passed Torill spoke up once again.

"Supreme Chancellor I pretty speech to say the least." "However I am a few questions for you."

"You speak of not conscripting people but it's planet.......... are the people not the planet?" "Are they not one in the same?" "Where would such planets get these people you if not from their own citizen's." "You can give it any pretty little name you want it but in the end the result is the same putting weapons in the hands of children."

"You want the Kuati people to provide you a Fleet?" "I admit being from wild space and while I am not an expert on the Republic I was raised in the outer rim but does the Kuati not build ships for the galaxy as a whole with includes the Republic already." "What has the Republic done for the Kuati people that would encourage them to drop their other clients endangering their largest economic base to give tribute to the Republic?"

Torill pauses.

"Furthermore calling a people Isolationist Imperial does not incourage them to rally to your cause." "Perhaps the Hapan people are looking for some glimmer of ability for the Republic to be able to handle it's own messes before sacrificing it's sons and daughters to your cause." "Surely you don't think alienating a people is going to curry favor with them?"

Torill takes a breath for a moment before hitting his final point.

"Tell me some thing Supreme Chancellor." "You want the sons and daughters of Morellia to rally your defense." "My question is why should I forward that request to my people." "Morellia is not in Republic space Supreme Chancellor, what has the Republic done for the citizens of Morellia to warrant such as sacrifice?" "I pledge only myself to see what the Republic has to offer no that of my people until you can show me this Republic is worth the bloodshed to protect it."

"Which brings me to my final point." "You very boldly called out every member of the Senate to pick up a blaster and stand on the wall." "Ten minutes is what you said was it not?" "Well your ten minutes has passed twice over Supreme Chancellor."

Torill scans the exits as he finishes.

"I see no recruiters." "Bold words with no follow through is as useful as a flower in a rancor pit."

Torill's gaze lands on the Supreme Chancellor as he finishes.

 

[Jessu]

Ozio agreed with Popo, sitting in his robes and acknowledging each word with a hefty bob of his chin. He stood and offered his support, "Carida's fleet, and her armies were devastated by the Sith. We held onto our planet by a thread, of hope and sacrifice. In our hour of need, it was the Republic who held out a hand of aid. We took it. We can only repay this debt back by offering the Republic our help. I will speak to the planetary leaders of Carida, and I'll do my all to convince them to send reinforcements to help the war effort. I dare say, it shouldn't be hard." He swept his gaze, pinpointing the objectors, "I only pray, in your hour of need, you don't regret your decisions. The storm isn't coming, it's already here. And no matter how hard you batter down the hatches, it's coming for all of us. We need to stick together."

 

[Terras Zordok]

[member="Popo"] [member="Torill Holgor"] [member="Alyesa Praxon-Organa"] [member="Aurelia Saelari"] [member="Faith Balor"] [member="Nitram Ozio"] [member="Persephone Callas"] [member="Lorelei Darke"]

Throughout the seemingly endless dialogue, Alena remained calm, listening to each and every voice in the Senate. She then spoke when her turn came. Although Senator Callas of Hape seemed reluctant to listen to her, Alena hoped at least the Hapan senator would take into consideration what the Chancellor had said. It would make little sense for Hapes to recieve all the benefits of peace and security when every other planet in the Republic worked hard to keep the Sith forces away.

"Your excellency," Alena stated to the chancellor. "I do believe now that your idea, combined with that of Senator Saelari, will produce a better solution to the issues at hand than outright draft. I am ready now to amend my bill, but before I do so..."

"I would like to not hesitate in informing you that there is no need for the Republic to request Kuat for additional ships. At this very moment, there are thousands of workers working in Kuat, producing high quality starships and starfighters for the Republic. For the Republic Navy, Kuat Drive Yards has produced fleets upon fleets of reliable, high-tech ships in the past and will continue to do so in the future. The issue here, rather, should be focused on the contributions of other, non-contributing planets in the Republic. I believe it is a fair proposal to request soldiers and/or credits from planets to defeat the Sith forces."

"Would anyone like to discuss the Chancellor's proposal further before it is amended into the bill?"

 

[The End Narrator]

[member="Nitram Ozio"], [member="Torill Holgor"], [member="Lorelei Darke"], [member="Persephone Callas"], [member="Aurelia Saelari"], [member="Faith Balor"], [member="Ayden Cater"], [member="Kiskla Grayson"]

Alyesa raised her hand towards [member="Alena Beswin"] "Each planet contributes enough as it stands, be it trade goods or taxes. We are not going to ask that additional supplies be contributed through bodies and equipment." She turned to face the Supreme Chancellor, her hands grasping the small podium before her. "This requires elements beyond the Republic, beyond simple alliances. We must honestly seek out other options beyond bleeding our own dry."

Alyesa hesitated for a moment, closing her eyes. Her next statement very well could be political suicide.

"I call for the Galactic Republic, it's people, the very Senators that stand before me to consider this option..." She opened her eyes and gazed around the room. "Perhaps it is time we consider forming a new government, one with our closest ally..." She clenched down on the podium. "The Omega Protectorate..." Her facial features expressed a bit of confidence behind her words as she listened to the murmurs around the Senate Chamber, all the while she would remain calm and poised. "This government would represent the ideals we hold dear and allow us to alleviate the stresses that are bearing down upon us now without sacrificing what some of you might consider to hold dear..." Her eyes shifted around the Senate, within her mind, she was searching for the right word to use. Instead of using the word power, she would opt for a more choice word...

"Democracy. This new government would be a triumvirate if you will..." She made a gesture towards the Supreme Chancellor. "The Supreme Chancellor..." Her other hand gestured outwards. "The Grandmaster of the Jedi Order..." and then the same hand which gestured towards [member="Popo"] came to rest upon the podium. "And then the Lord Protector..."

 

[Persephone Callas]

( OOCly, Remember, any motion to merge with another faction must be okay'd by an open (see who is voting) majority faction member vote by both factions before it can be approved...)

Persephone's lips grew thin. She was not pleased. The low murmur of the rest of the Senators certainly gave an indication of just how this matter was taken. It was abrupt, out of left field.

That the Senator of Alderaan had so taken to bring this up right now during the discussion of a bill for a draft of it's poorest in the Galactic Republic only made it worse. In one hand, there was a Senator requesting a draft of citizens of republic worlds, while in the other it was suggesting a merger with an entirely different government altogether? One that although they had an alliance due to war, had seen several disagreements and different views on how to run their separate governments?

Just how mad had this Senate grown?

"I would ask Senator Praxton-Organa focus on the matter at hand. If one seeks to do proposals of such a vast and important nature, perhaps it should be done on its own merit instead of in the face of the proposed bill by Senator Beswin."

This was by no means a method of piggyback riding for an entirely different matter all together. It was absurd. In one hand, they had a proposal for a military draft. Then in another, they ask instead for planets to volunteer more resources. Then when that doesn't seem to be enough, the sudden desire for the Republic to join that of the totalitarian Omega Protectorate?

Lips would purse tighter in her displeasure.

"We are discussing the bill of the Military Expansion Act in it's current form. Not a proposal for this Senate to abruptly form an Omega Republic."

Whispers around the senate that would side on the line of the Senator of Hapes would rise at the audacity. Others would be stunned, held in a state of shock and disbelief for there had been no word or whisper such an unprecedented motion.

This was a day that will forever be held in infamy.

 

[Aurelia Saelari]

[member="Persephone Callas"], [member="Popo"], [member="Alyesa Praxon-Organa"], [member="Alena Beswin"]
(This writer apologises for the late reply, they were on LOA yesterday)

"I would request that discussion in the Senate stays on track. We are not discussing any union now, we are discussing increasing our military within the Republic."
It is ironic, Senator, that for someone so obsessed with defending democracy neither the Jedi nor the Protectorate are democratic in their policies, she thought.

"As for the amendments, I would want to know details about what allocation is assigned to each planet before agreeing to any such thing. Who would decide an appropriate amount?"

 

[The End Narrator]

Alyesa frowned. "I believe the Senators Saelari and Callas need to recognize that this falls in line with Military Expansion." She motioned to her left. "This also prevents a further burden from being placed upon the citizens and economy of the Republic." She turned towards the pod of [member="Persephone Callas"]. "So forgive me for trying to prevent the Hapan people from being further taxed or asked to contribute such an absurd amount for forfeiting bodies or equipment." It didn't matter, it would be something that obviously would have to be saved for another time as apparently the focus was on money and self-preservation as opposed to preservation of the Republic as a whole.

It wasn't that Alyesa was against Military Expansion, more so against the further taxing of planets who refused to contribute resources in the form of individuals or materials beyond their means. "Senator Saelari, that is the problem, we will be here for potentially hours or days while our people discuss proper amounts for individual planets." She waved her hand. "Or even a general sum for every planet." She sighed heavily. "One thing you all must realize is that not every planet in the Republic is equal in the sense of economy and we cannot ask one to pay the same amount as another." Her hand came to her forehead. "This is starting to sound like the Empire of old, tax our people, expand the military by forcing the people within to sacrifice more and then what? Someone actually executes a variant of Order 37?"

OOC - I understand that [member="Persephone Callas"] and it's been something multiple people have been working on. *shrugs*

[member="Aurelia Saelari"]
[member="Alena Beswin"]
[member="Nitram Ozio"]
[member="Popo"]