Faction The Sundering Dawn | Act I: The Rumblings - A Forum of Fear (Diarchy participation in Event Thread)

[Maldor Mecetti]

The Sundering Dawn | Act I: The Rumblings - A Forum of Fear

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"I hereby bring this Seventeenth Session of the Grand Forum of the Chancellorate to Order."

Maldor's giant head floated in the vast central space of the Forum, where Chancellors of Trade, of Culture, and of Administration had gathered to discuss the urgent matters of the day. Honored advisors were also present: The Heralds of War, the Speakers for the Brotherhood. Even officials of the Network- usually present in their capacity as security for the event- but today present to provide intelligence insights.

"I regret that the matter of Mygeetan Trade Taxation must be set aside, today. I know this was an issue important to the peoples of our newly annexed territory. However, as you all know, more important matters have risen to the surface.

Ships have gone missing. Well-mapped hyperspace corridors have become unsafe. Collisions are up. Even destinations seem to have shifted. Galactic movements that were well understood have become chaotic, mysterious, and perilous.

Moreover, Force-sensitive members of our worlds have begun to receive unsettling dreams and visions. A sense of foreboding that has driven some to the brink of insanity, while others merely have the increasing sense that something is not right.

We are here in an attempt to grasp the scope of the problem. There appears to be a galactic shift of unprecedented scale, and its impact on our nation is difficult to overstate. I have invited representatives from all branches of national service to contribute to this discussion, lifting access limits so that we may benefit from the intelligence and wisdom of everyone in service to the Diarchy.

Now I invite our trade, military, intelligence, and scientific minds to speak. Tell us what has happened, what we think will happen, and what we might do about it. We must have recommendations of action which our noble Diarchs can consider. Together, we can prevent a crisis and adapt to these emerging conditions."

Maldor sat down, clearing his visage from the holoprojector and paving the way for the first commentator.



Diarch Reign Diarch Rellik Laphisto Maldor Mecetti Darth Nexion Lady Nocturne Zara Saga Darius Vex

 

[Yorran Vosk]

The Sundering Dawn | Act I: The Rumblings - A Forum of Fear

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"Vice-Adjudicator Yorran Vosk," the computerized announcer of the Forum declared, "of the Diarchal Network."

There was a murmur among the attendees as the grim visage of the half-Bothan Vice-Adjudicator was projected and declared into the Forum. The Network was the secret police and intelligence service of the Diarchy, whose operatives were responsible for the security of this very building. Yorran Vosk had come to prominence only recently, having ascended to the Vice-Adjudicator position after quietly helping to build the Network for years.

The High Adjudicator was rarely seen, but the Vice Adjudicator was more and more visible in public affairs. There had been seven assassination attempts against the man already, and he had only recently taken office.

"Honored membership," Yorran intoned, "I come to you with a brief report on our intelligence of the current... event."

He paused to let the murmurings of the chamber die down before going on.

"The current troubles first came to our attention on time index twelve, day thirteen of the current cycle. We lost contact with two operatives in the Droplexi system, and initially believed they had been found out by the local government."

Some murmurs resumed. The Droplexi system was not currently a member of the Diarchy. It was unusual for the Network to admit to their operations in a foreign system. Operations were always underway, of course. But admitting them in the Forum suggested that the matter at hand was much more serious than a potentially compromised intelligence mission.

"However, upon sending agents to follow up on the missing personnel, it was discovered that the Droplexi system was no longer where it was expected to be. Eventually, our missing agents there managed to return to Bastion to make contact with the Network directly. Droplexi had somehow been moved. Seven parsecs from its former position.

We took this to be an isolated event, indicative of a threat force testing a new superweapon. The ability to move stars and planets with a hyperspace tractor beam is precedented, but has not been recorded in millennia. The rediscovery of such technology by a potentially hostile power became our chief concern.

However, reports began to come from elsewhere. Galactic Alliance traders. Imperial refugees. Sith adherents on pilgrimage to holy sites. The instances of lost ships and lost planets was coming from every corner, with no discernible pattern. There was also word from naval vessels about navigational disruptions and collisions, though I will leave this to the Heralds of War to relay to you.

The lack of pattern, the lack of parties unaffected by this phenomena... it points to the fact that this is not one of the 'usual suspects' threat forces acting with a newly discovered, rediscovered, or unearthed technology.

The entire galaxy appears impacted. As the High Chancellor indicated, the problem is not merely navigational. Both Light and Dark Side Force adherents have reported disturbing dreams, visions, and inexplicable Force-related phenomena. Admissions of Force-sensitive individuals to mental institutions is up 300% from last year.

There can be no definitive conclusions drawn at this time, but it is the opinion of the Network that the Galaxy may be experiencing a kind of Galactic Reformation imposed by an extra-galactic power or an awakening of a previously unknown native entity of immense capability."

That was it. He sat back down. His visage faded.

No recommendations. No hope for amelioration. Just a terrifying supposition about the likely cause. He might as well have said that God was Angry, for all the hope it gave anyone to do something about it.



Diarch Reign Diarch Rellik Laphisto Maldor Mecetti Darth Nexion Lady Nocturne Zara Saga Darius Vex Yorran Vosk

 

[Merion Oreno]

Admissions of Force-sensitive individuals to mental institutions is up 300% from last year.

There can be no definitive conclusions drawn at this time, but it is the opinion of the Network that the Galaxy may be experiencing a kind of Galactic Reformation imposed by an extra-galactic power or an awakening of a previously unknown native entity of immense capability."

As a disaster connoisseur turned navigator, and a relatively new member of the Diarchy's adherents, Merion had come expecting the usual mix of conjecture. Instead - sitting among the concerned citizens in the packed galleries - he found himself chilled and ill at ease. The bluntness of Yorran Vosk 's input took the potential severity of this crisis up a notch or three.

He'd grown up on his grandmothers' stories of the two Akala Crises. If this was a third...well, Merion wasn't sure what to make of that, but it felt portentous and far, far above his pay grade.

The name Akala was being whispered among the older people in the galleries. He wasn't the only one thinking of this, or at a loss He thought of a world he'd heard whispered of among the Cult of the Central Isopter: Springheel, under a bruised sun whose light forbade the Force. Places like that or Myrkr were a curio, but also a refuge. A contingency, even.

He kept his seat and kept listening in hopes the Diarchy had the answers and options that just had to exist. Just had to.

 

[Zara Saga]

Tags: Maldor Mecetti | Yorran Vosk | Merion Oreno​

Zara sat poised on the bench near the upper tiers of the Forum gallery, her legs crossed with the kind of casual grace that made even the stiffest military officers risk a second glance. She wore her robes a touch looser than protocol allowed, more fashionably draped than formally fastened, but it wasn't vanity. Not exactly. It was armor. Presentation was her game, and she played to win, even in rooms full of paranoid chancellors and jittery spymasters.

A soft tension lined her features, the usual feline amusement in her expression dimmed by the creeping sense that this was more than politics. She brushed a stray lock of golden hair behind her ear, gaze locked on the central holoprojection as it cycled through speakers. Her eyes, sharp and blue as frost, didn't miss a twitch, a fumble, a pause. She was curious, of course she was, but it was the kind of curiosity born of necessity. Something had gone very wrong in the galaxy, and she wasn't about to let her students drown in it without answers.

Zara herself had received a vision, though calling it that felt generous. It had come like static on a weak channel, jagged and chaotic. A broken mirror of sensation: darkness cracking like glass, stars bleeding across maps that no longer made sense, a low hum beneath it all, like something ancient breathing in the dark. She hadn't made much of it at first. She wasn't one of those melodramatic prophets who declared doom over every weird Force hiccup. But then her younger students started to lose sleep. Started screaming in their sleep. One was found catatonic, murmuring in a forgotten dialect. Another simply ran. Ran and ran until they collapsed outside a loading dock on the far side of the city.

So she'd come.

Not just as a representative of the Brotherhood, though her station made her welcome, but as a surrogate mother to a gaggle of fragile, gifted souls who looked to her for safety she couldn't currently promise. Zara leaned forward slightly, elbows on knees, chin in her hands. Her manicured fingers curled inward as she listened, carefully, to every word spoken below. She didn't yet know how she could help. But she would find out.

Someone had to, and it certainly wasn't going to be the collection of crusty diplomats and shaken generals still hoping this was someone else's problem.

 

[Diarch Rellik]

The Sundering Dawn | Act I: The Rumblings - A Forum of Fear
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The Diarch pressed the button on his desk that signaled he was to speak. He arose from his seat and stood before the forum. It might have been a rare site to see him directly involved but that was only because he trusted those who were here.
​

Thank you, High-Councilor Mecetti… and Vice-Adjudicator Vosk, for your candor."

Rellik's voice resonated clearly through the chamber, measured and resolute. He stood without the use of a holoprojector—no illusions, no magnified head—just his presence alone, calm but firm.

"There is no denying what we face. Fear has swept the stars. Entire planets have vanished from the maps. Systems shifted. Routes once as stable as stone are now as unpredictable as sand beneath the tide. Dreams haunt the minds of the Force-touched. The people, our people."

His words were a mixture of pain and anger. Yet he stood as a beacon of resolve and hope. Even if he himself had seen such visions. He was battle tested, not only in war but in the mind. As the Diarch saw ancient gears turning in his dreams he awoke not in sweat but in determination.

"To that end, let it be known: look to the Diarchy not for empty comfort, but for strength. the Diarchy will commit all means at its disposal to safeguard our systems and reclaim those that vanish—no matter how far they drift from the bounds of our northern sector. If a world falls into chaos, we will stabilize it. If it ends up in the dominion of a foreign power, we will negotiate. And if it is taken by violence, we will answer in kind. Logistics. Diplomacy. War. These are not tools we fear to wield—they are paths we know well."

He allowed that to settle. Not a threat. A promise.

"Within our homes, our schools, our planets and our sector; we harbor some of the greatest scientific minds and visionaries the galaxy has come to know. I am calling for the immediate formation of a multidisciplinary initiative - a grand task force of scientists, engineers, navigators, seers, and strategists to investigate every report, every irregularity, every anomaly reported through our channels. Let every branch of our people, from the lowliest scout to the highest chair, be part of this effort. Knowledge is our weapon now. Let us sharpen it."

He slowed down a pace. His hands remained at his sides, not clenched, not posturing. It was an executive action enacted by the Diarch in a time of crisis. His back was straight and although a shorter man he towered within the assembly. His calm and stoic demeanor counteracting the scared whispers of the Chancellors present.

"We are not alone in facing this storm. The galaxy as a whole along with every major player within it is dealing with these issues. It is for that reason we must now remember who we are. Trust in ourselves, in our vision, in our right to exist free. - these things cannot be allowed to fade in the shadow of cosmic upheaval and pressure from other Alliances, Federations or United planets. The Diarchy has always offered the galaxy peace in one hand, and war in the other. If our neighbors come to us in good faith, bearing intelligence or a shared desire to end this crisis we will listen. We are not tyrants. But we will never sacrifice our identity to fear. We will never bend to those who demand we forget who we are for the sake of survival. It is each of us that makes up our whole and that is our strength. Look to your brothers and sisters who meditate or practice rituals, your friends who study science and engineering, your civilians who provide shipping and industry. From the top to the bottom we are the spine of the Diarchy and we keep ourselves upright and we will continue to do so no matter the problems we face."

The Diarch ended his speech with a resolute message to the galaxy. Not just the Forum.

"To all worlds under Diarchy protection—no matter where the stars cast you in this chaos—you are still our family. You are not forgotten. Your lives remain our responsibility, your safety our charge. To protect you is to protect all of us. That is the bond of the Diarchy. That is the strength we carry forward - IN UNITY!"

Rellik moved back to his seat within the chamber and watched the proceeding reaction from the Chancellorate. He glanced once toward Mecetti, trusting him in the following moments.

Tags: Maldor Mecetti Merion Oreno Zara Saga Yorran Vosk Diarch Reign

 

[Maldor Mecetti]

The Sundering Dawn | Act I: The Rumblings - A Forum of Fear

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Diarch Rellik did not use the mechanisms designed to amplify his presence and allow him to be easily seen by all those gathered here. But neither did he need to. There was something almost otherworldly about the Diarchs. A presence that transcended the bounds of physical presence. Although the man was an ant-sized figure at the far end of a vast chamber, he did not feel like one. Not to Maldor. Surely not to any who sat in the forum.

The speech given by the Diarch resonated in the room, but it also resonated in the minds and hearts of those present. The room had been laden with unspoken terrors a mere moment ago. Now, Chancellors thumped their armrests enthusiastically in response to the optimistic speech that pushed the membership to action.

Maldor waited for the man to finish and for the last echoes of his voice to fade before addressing the assembly again himself.

"Assembled Membership - We have Our Directive!"

He looked out over the Chancellors, wondering how to articulate a solid plan of action to go with the Diarch's commandment and declaration.

"I propose this directive be fulfilled as follows:

Chancellors of Culture- your task is twofold. The Historians among you must seek out any historical precedents for the current dilemma. The past is prologue to the future, and thus has potentially laid the architecture for current events. Meanwhile, the psychological experts among you must work with the Brotherhood. Interview those who have had visions, carefully document what they have seen, and look for patterns in the Force revelations which have unfolded to our citizenry."

He shifted his gaze.

"Chancellors of Commerce - your task is also twofold. You must seek alternate supply and trade lines to make up for systems temporarily lost to the Diarchy, so that no world experiences a shortfall or famine. Further, you must work diligently to map out the changing landscape of the galaxy, ensuring that no other systems slip past our understanding of how to reach them. To this end, I recommend the hiring of necessary hyperspace researchers and scouts. But also-"

He shifted his gaze again.

"Heralds of War- I hope you will take to your military forces a request for aid on two fronts. First, the use of military ships to further aid in the re-mapping of hyperspace lanes. Space is vast, and even if we hire every freelance scout in the galaxy, it will be a drop in the bucket compared to our cartographical needs. With military scout ships, long-range fighters, and other military hyperspace craft aiding the mapping effort, we may more quickly achieve our ends of understanding the new galactic landscape. But further, as some hyperlanes slip out of reach and understanding, others are surely coming upon us without our knowledge. New vectors where enemy forces might invade our nation. We must identify these and place patrols to prevent unauthorized entry."

Once more, he looked in a new direction.

"Brotherhood- in days long past, Force-sensitive navigators were used as a means to feel out the course of hyperspace vessels, using intuition to understand where safety and danger might lie. It may be that those times are once more upon us. I implore you to lend your Force-trained membership to efforts to navigate the shifting space-lanes, avoiding collisions and loss of ships."

Now it seemed Maldor's gaze came upon the Vice-Adjudicator of the Network.

"Our Network- The Diarchy has the very best resources, and the very best people. But we don't have all of them. The Network should make efforts to find out what other galactic nations know about the current disruption. It is possible they know something we have not yet discovered. There is no shame in that. Only in remaining ignorant. Also, we must make special efforts to arrest any who would use this crisis to attempt to destabilize the government."

He took a deep breath.

"For my own part, I intend to make diplomatic outreach to our neighbors, as the Diarch has suggested. Both to secure the safety of drifting systems, and to work cooperatively to understand the nature of this strange event.

What say the membership of this proposal?

And what say the Diarchs, who shepherd us to a better tomorrow?"





Diarch Reign Diarch Rellik Laphisto Maldor Mecetti Darth Nexion Lady Nocturne Zara Saga Darius Vex Yorran Vosk Merion Oreno

 

[Merion Oreno]

I am calling for the immediate formation of a multidisciplinary initiative - a grand task force of scientists, engineers, navigators, seers, and strategists to investigate every report, every irregularity, every anomaly reported through our channels. Let every branch of our people, from the lowliest scout to the highest chair, be part of this effort.

This, said Merion to himself, sitting there in the gallery. This might be it.

You must seek alternate supply and trade lines to make up for systems temporarily lost to the Diarchy, so that no world experiences a shortfall or famine. Further, you must work diligently to map out the changing landscape of the galaxy, ensuring that no other systems slip past our understanding of how to reach them.

That sank in like a dagger. It had to be what purpose felt like, and everything he'd called by that name before looked cheaper in comparison. This is the answer, he found himself saying in the privacy of his mind. This is who I could be.

What say the membership of this proposal?

And what say the Diarchs, who shepherd us to a better tomorrow?"

There was a widespread cheer or shout and Merion joined it. Mecetti had called on commerce, military, and Brotherhood alike to make charting their top priority, and Merion could find himself a firmer place with any of them. That first call, though...that moment of vision when Mecetti laid out the necessity of supply lines...that feeling. He wanted that feeling again. Commerce it was.

 

[Vyllia Santhe]

Objective: Organize response to galactic event
Outfit: Dress
Tag: Maldor Mecetti | Merion Oreno | Diarch Reign | Diarch Rellik | Zara Saga | Yorran Vosk

Vyllia had always hated board meetings as CEO. She was a product of legacy. Ship engineering was not something that came naturally to her, cousins had always managed to make Vyllia feel ignorant at best with discussions of the new innovations that would be rolling out of Santhe-Sienar factories. But still Vyllia was the one tabbed to run the family company.

Meetings of the Chancellorate were slightly better. Vyllia wasn't sure that she belonged in the gatherings. She hadn't really come to grips with the fact her home might not be Lianna and her company might not serve those people any longer. Was she ready to commit completely to the Diarchy? For now the question was moot. Her fate, her fiancé and the Diarchy were woven together in the short term. Her legal education and business acumen had her installed as the Chancellor of Commerce. Whether she felt comfortable or not this was where she belonged during the current galactic events.

Vyllia went through the motions of sharing her company's issues with transport since the event. And that she as Chancellor of Commerce had reached out to others. She had started a report on which Diarch systems were most destitute. Many were not self sufficient and would require supplies sooner than later. That report was not complete, but it was coming. To answer Maldor's call to action Vyllia stood and addressed the gathering.

"We are very lucky to have such generous inspirational leaders in the Diarchs. As Chancellor of Commerce I promise that we are working diligently to identify our assets and where to deploy them to best serve the Diarchy's people. Engineers on Yaga Minor have begun working on methods to lock in on a planet's new location and ways to quickly recharge the Diarchy so that this phenomenon affects as few people as possible."

 

[Diarch Reign]

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Location: Grand Forum | Bastion
Tags: Diarch Rellik Maldor Mecetti Zara Saga Yorran Vosk Vyllia Santhe Merion Oreno

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Reign had sat in silence up until this point, he had heard rumblings of the information presented within the forum and wanted to see the new High Chancellor at work. To that end, he waited. As the members shifted and spoke, Reign studied. He was not often present at the Forum, but the extreme nature of the crisis at hand had necessitated his presence.

As the representatives finished speaking, finally Reign himself stood. Similar to his brother, he used no force power or technology to be heard, when the Diarchs spoke, the people listened.

"Distinguished members of The Chancellorate, I thank you for your presence within these hallowed halls today. I must mirror what my brother has shared here. We of the Diarchy must remember that we do not face this alone, but there are those who don't have the systems that we have or that the Galactic Alliance may have in place."

He paused briefly, locking eyes with many of the dignitaries present before continuing.

"We must not forsake those who have no support! Yes ensure the stability of our people, but the people of the Galaxy are our people as well. We are the bulwark of order that stands against the ever encroaching chaos of the galaxy, and now, my brothers and sisters.. These beings need us. We must act as their shield as well."

He sat back down without flourish or pomp and awaited what the gathering had to say.

 

[Diarch Rellik]

​

Diarch Rellik rose, his voice calm but commanding, resonating through the chamber with the gravitas of shared purpose with his brother Reign and the entire Chancellorate.

"High Chancellor Mecetti—your words carry the clarity of a man who understands both the storm and the foundation upon which we must weather it. You have not only heard the call, you have turned it into action. You've taken our declaration and forged a plan—measured, expansive, and wise. And for that, you have our full support."

Rellik awaited a moment for his praise to be resonated to all before firmly stating their stance on all proposed actions from the High-Councilor.

"Let it be known that the Diarchs affirm this directive! Let it be solidified into the recording of the Seventeenth Session of the Grand Forum of the Chancellorate all that follows"

Rellik listed off a shortened version of what Maldor had advised.

"That the Chancellors of Culture will dig into the bones of history and the dreaming minds of our people.
That the Chancellors of Commerce will stabilize our flow of life and ensure our reach remains unbroken.
That our Heralds of War shall not only guard our borders, but chart the stars we must now relearn.
That the Brotherhood shall once more become Navigators—feeling the tides of the unseen, guiding us through the storm.
And that the Network will extend our awareness beyond our borders and beneath our skin - knowing what we must, stopping what we must, and learning what others already know."

The crowd of the chancellorate was now in full upswing. Due to the combined effort of the higher eschelon of the Diarchy the people were no longer afraid. They were ready to be warriors in the coming war against the galaxy itself.

Rellik raised a hand, palm open—not in command, but in solidarity. He had a large smile on his face but wished to continue with the proceedings after a short burst of celebration. His eyes flashed with quiet intensity.

"When the stars settle and the galaxy rests. The Diarchy will not only stand, it will have taken its next steps as a collaborative force that has seen struggle and risen above it. Let our unity now move us as a single body, with many hands."

His closing words were given to all who were present. Starting with the High Chancellor and than by name to all who were in attendance.

"You have honored your title, High Chancellor."

His words were sincere and soft. Than as he turned to the rest of his compatriots his words rose in passion.

"Now let us honor our people and those here today fighting on their behalf. Vice-Adjudicator Yorran Vosk who risks his life daily for the safety of us all. A shield in the dark who comes to light to aid those un-heard and un-seen, Vyllia Santhe our new Chancellor of Commerce, who has already spoken to engineers on Yaga Minor along with working towards how we can best serve our citizens and uphold their quality of life - showing her dedication and foresight. To Zara Saga the youngest Archon ever appointed to the Diarchy's High Council, Who serves as a roving enforcer, emissary, and educator. Yet most importantly as a leader of our Brotherhood. Here on behalf of those who are suffering due to this mental affliction. And yes, even those in the gallery who are here to either learn, support, or join outright the Diarchy ( Merion Oreno ) - THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK AND EFFORT. LET US RISE!

The Diarch stayed standing as majority of the crowd broke out in celebration and discussion. Already a new wave of ideas and effort were to be put forward due to the rallying from all within the Diarchy. At Maldors discretion this meeting could be settled - allowing more to be discussed or it could be adjourned. Either way Rellik would be within the chamber for some time doing his most to talk to every member about individual and group plans.

Tags: Maldor Mecetti Vyllia Santhe Zara Saga Merion Oreno Diarch Reign Yorran Vosk

 

[Zara Saga]

Tags: Maldor Mecetti | Vyllia Santhe | Merion Oreno | Yorran Vosk | Diarch Reign | Diarch Rellik​

Zara sat motionless for a moment, absorbing the shifting momentum of the Forum as Maldor's proposals echoed through the chamber. She tilted her head slightly, the corner of her mouth curling in a thoughtful, almost amused line as she listened to the Brotherhood's assignment: using the Force to guide ships through the chaos of this rewired galaxy. Of course they want the mystics to fix what the scientists can't. A classic move. Still, it meant she'd be in the thick of things, exactly where she belonged.

As Diarch Reign and Diarch Rellik stood to deliver their stately assent, a flicker of movement below caught Zara's eye. Slipping between a pair of grim-faced trade delegates and an overfed military attaché was a familiar figure, sleek, stormy, and unmissable even in the crowd. Lady Nightmare. Sixteen, full of fire, full of sharp elbows and sharper eyes, and currently looking slightly windblown from pushing past three rows of officials to get to her.

Zara's face lit up. Really lit up. That rare kind of glow that melted the usual frost in her eyes. She opened her arm in invitation, and Nightmare immediately leaned in like a missile seeking warmth. Zara wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close in a one-armed hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her dark head.

"It's been ages." Zara murmured, low and warm, as though the rest of the Forum had gone conveniently deaf.

Nightmare scoffed softly, angling her body toward Zara, the glint of excitement in her eyes almost masking the tired smudge beneath them. "You know they keep me locked up like I'm some kind of precious relic."

Zara smirked. "You are a precious relic. Just a bratty one with an explosive temper and better eyeliner than me. So, how have things been learning with Mom and Dad?"

Nightmare rolled her eyes hard enough to nearly tilt her head off her shoulders. "Ugh. Father's been teaching me all about being a leader of men and women, and I never can do anything perfect like Mother likes."

Zara laughed under her breath, tilting her head to rest briefly against Nightmare's. "I missed this. I missed you. You coming back to the Crucible for a while?"

Nightmare nodded quickly, the fire flickering higher in her expression. "Yes. They said I need exposure in a more structured environment. So… here I am. With you."

"Poor thing." Zara whispered dramatically, pretending to comfort her with a pat on the head. "Sentenced to hang out with your fabulous older sister-figure in designer rags. Tragic."

The two huddled together, their whispered barbs and affectionate jabs soft enough to disappear under the hushed murmurings of the rest of the Forum, where members debated whether the session would continue or adjourn. But Zara and Nightmare didn't care.

 

[Maldor Mecetti]

​

Maldor smiled as his fiance spoke to the membership- her first words as a Chancellor of Commerce for the Diarchy. She started with praise for the leadership. If it was genuine sentiment, he loved her for it. If it was calculation, then he loved her more.

They were both survivors. Part of surviving meant knowing the paths to tread. Sometimes, that meant mimicking the guise of a loyal servant, as he had with Velran. Sometimes, it meant becoming an actual loyal servant to worthy persons. The Diarchs made that part easy. They actually seemed to give a damn about the people under their care... and saw them not merely as a means to enjoy power.

Maldor's personal feelings aside, he did not expect his soon-to-be-bride to share genuine sentiment. If such blossomed in her, good. And if not, she knew enough to pretend that it was so. That, too, was good.

She was a partner to be relied upon.

The Diarchs spoke again, and Maldor knew that the growing loyalty within him was more than a product of necessity.

He liked these two. Not just as leaders, but as men.

They had endorsed action, and the membership was roused to patriotic response. That was good. That was useful. He would not muddy that by getting into the weeds, now. This session would be adjourned while the call to action was in everyone's heart.

The ways and means could be discussed at the next session.

"With this direction of the Diarchs," he intoned, his voice carrying throughout the chamber thanks to the touch of a button, "I bring this Sixteenth session of the Great Forum of the Diarchal Chancellorate to a Close.

Now rise, as the Diarchs have commanded, and begin the march to a secure tomorrow!"




Diarch Reign Diarch Rellik Laphisto Maldor Mecetti Darth Nexion Lady Nocturne Zara Saga Darius Vex Yorran Vosk Merion Oreno

 

[Laphisto]

While the summit carried on, Laphisto stood in silence at parade rest, hands folded behind his back as one speaker after another delivered promises, coordination efforts, and hopeful declarations. Their words were comforting, even admirable, offering solace to those unsettled by recent cosmic upheavals. And yet, it was that very upheaval the event that hurled planets from their sectors and warped the lanes of travel that had brought his long-lost homeworld back into the galactic fold. Or so he assumed.

Politics were never his strength. He wasn't built for diplomacy. Laphisto was a soldier, a weapon, a figure of war and intimidation. That was all he had ever been, all he remembered being. And so, despite holding a high seat within the Diarchy despite being its Chief Military Executive he rarely spoke. He wouldn't know what to say. What he did know was movement: orders given, threats emerging, sectors once thought stable now uncertain. Hyperspace lanes were collapsing, shifting, being born anew. The galaxy was unraveling and remaking itself at once. That was what concerned him. That was where he fit in.

He listened, patiently, as both Diarchs spoke. Then, finally, when it was time, he stepped forward. With a calm motion, he pressed the button that allowed his voice to be heard across the chamber. "I cannot offer the kind of speeches our gracious leaders have delivered. But I can offer certainty security.Some of you know me. Many do not. I am Laphisto, High Commander of the Lilaste Order, and Chief Military Executive of the Diarchy's armed forces. The strange events that brought us here have exposed vulnerabilities across our systems. And so, I have authorized a full mobilization of our naval forces to reinforce and secure our borders. Patrols have increased. Trade fleets will be guarded.Furthermore, every planet within Diarchy space whether central or remote will soon receive new orbital defense platforms. Our goal is simple: no threat, foreign or domestic, shall breach our skies. Every world shall be defended as well as Bastian itself." With that, he stepped back into formation, arms once again folding behind his back, his gaze drifting across the gathered assembly of representatives

 

[Zara Saga]

Tags: Maldor Mecetti | Vyllia Santhe | Merion Oreno | Yorran Vosk | Diarch Reign | Diarch Rellik | Laphisto​

The Forum finally concluded in a rustle of robes, hushed conversation, and the subtle click of polished boots against stone floors. As the last words of the session hung in the air like smoke, Zara rose smoothly from her seat, straightening her robes with a flick of her wrist. Beside her, Nightmare stretched like a coiled cat finally released from stillness, cracking her knuckles with a grin that betrayed equal parts boredom and mischief.

They made their way down the forum, weaving effortlessly through dispersing diplomats and stony-faced administrators. Zara's hand grazed the small of Nightmare's back now and then to guide her through a particularly dense cluster of bodies. It was a casual intimacy, unconscious and practiced, like older sisters slipping out of a dull family gathering.

Across the vast hall, they spotted the knot of power they'd been looking for: the Diarchs stood side by side in quiet conversation, radiant in a way that made the very air seem to stand straighter around them. Flanked nearby was Maldor and beside him, a beautiful woman with a calculating gaze. Zara arched a brow. So that's the rumored fiancée. Gods help him, she's gorgeous.

Nightmare beat her to the greeting, raising her hand in a lazy wave. "Hey! That actually didn't suck." she called out, loud enough to draw a few sidelong glances from more formal delegates.

Zara chuckled as they reached the group. "We thought it went well." she offered smoothly, all graceful charm and wry amusement. "Stirring, even. Diarchs, as always, your words made our hearts thump with national purpose."

Then her eyes flicked to the tall, silent figure just behind them.

"But..." she added, already smiling, "if we had to pick a favorite…"

Both women turned toward Laphisto.

Zara took the lead with absolutely no mercy. She dropped her voice into a gravelly growl and struck a comically stiff pose. "I am Laphisto. High Commander of the Lilaste Order. Chief Military Executive of the Diarchy's armed forces."

Nightmare joined in instantly, mimicking the same solemn cadence. "No threat, foreign or domestic, shall breach our skies." she intoned, holding a dramatic hand over her heart and fluttering her lashes with fake reverence.

They both burst into giggles.

Zara elbowed him lightly, her eyes sparkling. "Honestly though, it was impressive. You might've actually made half the room feel safe for the first time all day. Don't let that go to your head."

 

[Maldor Mecetti]

​

Laphisto closed the session with an assurance of duty and protection.

Then Maldor went to join the Diarchs and his fiance' as the membership broke up, formed cliques for discussion, or meandered out to go home or to their offices. There would be much to plan and much to do in the days ahead.

As he reached the cluster of... well, elites, frankly... a voice called out.

"Hey! That actually didn't suck." Then another voice, "We thought it went well."

​

Maldor wasn't sure if she was referring to the Diarchs or to himself.

"But..." she added, "if we had to pick a favorite…"

A rather well-played satirical reenactment of Laphisto's speech followed. Maldor tried not to chuckle.

"You have a future in theater, Miss-" his face squinted as he thought, "Saga, is it? Of the Brotherhood, if I'm not mistaken? And..." He shook his head, "I'm afraid I don't know your name," he apologized to Nightmare.

"But we haven't been formally introduced. Maldor Mecetti." He omitted his titles. "Soon to be of House Sancetti." The planned union of the Santhe family with the Mecetti family. A cadet House with the potential to be greater than either of its parent branches. From the embers of Empire, a phoenix of possibility gleamed in Maldor's eye.

"This is the Lady Vyllia Santhe , Chief Executive of Santhe Sienar, a Diarchal Chancellor of Commerce, and soon... my wife."

​

Maldor Mecetti Vyllia Santhe Merion Oreno Yorran Vosk Diarch Reign Diarch Rellik Laphisto Zara Saga

 

[Diarch Rellik]

The uproar of all members of the chancellorate was at its peak after Laphisto's words. In the hustle of commotion the Diarch arose. He wanted to speak a bit to several of the world leaders and his friends. Even the worst of times at least gave them all a chance to see each other again. As his moved from his chair to the gathering floor below - his droid Onyx matched his stride with Rellik giving him several commands.

"Ensure there is an upkeep of Kyber krystal mining on Dantooine, We need the brotherhood to not fall behind on weapons in case there is a specific living force behind these planet disappearances. Furthermore, planetary safety comes from the Navy. Help Lady Santhe with anything she might need in regards to her Driveyards, than Laphisto - ensure his orbital stations are in top shop. See to these matters as I begin researching things myself. Understood?"

The droid nodded in silence. The two were striding past some dignitaries and stopping for a moment to discuss things. Onyx silently recording everything so that Rellik did not forget it later. His mind a constant buzz of many worlds and intricacies among them.



Finally after what felt like two whole days, he made his way to his friends. An enormous smile on his face as he saw his Niece. Onyx - Detain Lady Nightmare for harassing Laphisto. The Diarch snickering to himself as the events unfolded.

Onyx walked up behind Lady Nightmare, surprisingly quiet. He put his hands underneath her armpits and lifted the little hellion. :Criminal delinquent detained - My lord do we terminate?: Onyx knew who she was and that the Diarch was purposefully messing with her. The droid was not an AI but it did have its own sense of humor.

Rellik walked up as Nightmare was kicking Onyx and trying to wriggle free. "I am lady nightmare! Princess of the Diarch, you will unhand me Onyx!"

"Ah so Zara is rubbing off on you little one." He said while giving Zara and silly smirk and wink. Rellik walked up and gave her a hug. Nodding his head to Onyx to let go as Rellik put her back on the ground. "Now little perfect one, you must show respect to everyone. We are all not perfect all the time." Roughing up her hair a bit as to give her a reason to feel a little more personal.

He looked around to the group as Nightmare cursed under her breath. Rellik truly did love her more than everything in the galaxy.

"I appreciate you all coming to show support. This was a big day for us all. If anyone needs anything of me specifically do not hesitate to ask."

The Diarch stood resolute with his hands clasped behind his back.

Maldor Mecetti Zara Saga Diarch Reign Vyllia Santhe Merion Oreno Laphisto