Ask Belasco A Step in the Right Direction

[Korre Belasi]

"Thank you for joining me here for this, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl."

The two of them stood just outside the building of Korre's office, waiting for Alex to enter the atmosphere and land upon the space in front of them. This was the second time Korre would meet with the Jedi grandmaster. It was for a similar reason, but this time, Korre had more power in her hands to get things done. She'd brought Aezz too, mostly for his ardent support of the military, but also because he was vocally pro-Jedi.

"If things go well today, between the Fondor and Blackwell commissions... we should be fit to fight the Sith before long." Her sentence ended in a sigh, but she sounded determined.

Her datapad beeped, alerting her that security had allowed Alex into the atmosphere.

tags: @SlagathorTheUnknown @Valen Pelora

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

There were several reasons that Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was coming to appreciate and even admire Korre Belasi. One reason was that she had borne the burden of leadership gracefully, and had shown a firm hand in guiding the FWA through crisis after crisis. Another was that she wasn't going to roll over and watch as the Sith continually invaded the Free World's Alliance, having spearheaded talks that had led to the FWA mobilizing for the first time since Palpatine. Even more impressive was the fact that she was willing to work with the Jedi to do what was right by her people; even after the Grandmaster had faced widespread scrutiny for her actions in a past Galactic Senate meeting.

In Korre, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had found a leader that he was willing to follow, so it was an easy "yes" for him when the Prime Minister requested his presence at a meeting with the Grandmaster. "Thank you for having me, Prime Minister" he rumbled, inclining his head to show his gratitude. Although he'd suffered a heart attack recently, the Wookiee would not let that slow him down; he did, however, lean even more heavily on his Wroshyr tree staff as a result, and hoped that Grandmaster Voran would soon be joining them.

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[Alexandria Voran]

The Aurora burst from hyperspace. The Jedi Corvette pulling smoothly through the planetary fleet. A shuttle raced from the hangar a mere handful of moments later. That shuttle carried Grandmaster Alexandria Voran swiftly to the surface. She was meet Korre and Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl for a second time. She had been dressed as befitted a Jedi on those prior occasions. Today, Alex was fitted for war. Her armor creaked beneath her robes. Her sabers clipped openly to her belt. She was not entirely the same woman they had met before. War had come to Yavin and Andruil had made her galactic intentions crystal clear. Stolas may have died but a war criminal now spearheaded the Empire. Alex was finished watching Jedi die while Sith escaped imprisonment.

She had truly believed in Emil. Their relationship may have soured but Alex had known his heart beat for freedom. With his death, the Republic had returned to their old ways. They were unhelpful and uninterested. The Free Worlds and the Order bore the brunt of Sith aggression at the hands of their Mandalorian attack dogs. Enough was enough. The shuttle landed graceful as these thoughts whipped through her mind. Alex took a deep breath before walking down the landing ramp alone. She nodded politely once she stood before Korre and Aezz.

“Prime Minister, Senator…it is good to see you both.” Her face remained smooth. Jedi composure at its very best. “These are uncertain times.” One did not need the Force to see that. The galaxy was in upheaval with no clear paths forward. The Order fought tooth and nail to repel the Sith but they were not an army and they could not be everywhere.

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[Korre Belasi]

"Please, just call me Korre," she insisted upon Aezz's response. "We rarely use last names here on Belasco." Though there was an explanation, it was also her way of extending out a hand of friendship between the two. If he was going to be one of her most active supporters, she wanted to ditch the air of formality between them.

The Jedi Grandmaster would arrive to see Korre's bright smile. Though their last meeting had not gone in a way either of them wanted, the Belascan held no ill will against her. Frustration was only a temporary emotion, after all, and Korre was known for being friendly for a reason.

"Grandmaster Voran, welcome back to Belasco! It's good to see you as well." With a slight gesture of her hand, Korre would motion for the two of them to follow her back into the building. She led them down two hallways and up a flight of stairs before they reached her office, the sight of which would be familiar to Alex other than a few minuscule changes in decoration. Rather than speak to the two of them from her desk, she gestured for them to take a seat at a round table tucked off by the windows. Once they were all seated, Korre would begin.

"But yes, uncertain times indeed." Uncertain might even be an understatement. "To get straight to the point, my Senate has approved the formation of a military. We have some amount of planets pledging existing forces to the fleets, and various commissions to supplement that. However, it would be unwise of us to ignore the effort the Jedi have put into the war on our behalf." Korre, before becoming Prime Minister and even initially, had a very neutral opinion on the Jedi. It had soured briefly after the Jedi were kicked out of the Galactic Senate, but it was hard to hold that opinion when they came to the defense of the Free Worlds over and over again without asking and in return for nothing.

"By the end of today, I hope we can find a way for our military and the Jedi to be able to work alongside one another," she continued. Her tone had morphed from cheery to business-like, though her bright eyes and resting smile still remained. "Many of my senators still distrust the Jedi, or do not want them around in fear of the Sith attacking. However, as we have seen on multiple occasions, the Sith have no issue attacking planets without a Jedi presence. It will take a bit of time to convince them otherwise, but I don't think that means other things need to wait as well.

"Ideally, and since our military will already rely somewhat on hired mercenaries, it shouldn't be too much of a puzzle to find a way to work this out. I'm curious to see if you have any ideas, either of you?"

tag: @Valen Pelora @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was solemn, awash in the feeling of the significance of their meeting. While the Order had been heroically defending the galaxy without being asked to, it still felt strange to now be petitioning for their official help- especially when the last time the Jedi had fought alongside armies had led to their near extinction. He consoled himself by remembering that this time, the Sith were out in the open, and that a large-scale purge such as the one that placed Palpatine in power would be impossible considering the varied armies that the FWA brought to bear.

"For too long, the Jedi have been fighting alone" he rumbled, his eyes gazing apologetically down at the Grandmaster. "Now that we have raised an army, that burden can be shared... as it should be."

Try as he might, the Wookiee did not have a clear sense as to how the Jedi might approach such a partnership, if they were indeed interested. This was, of course, the same Grandmaster who had advocated for peace with the Sith. "What obstacles stand in the way of this alliance?"

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[Alexandria Voran]

Alex returned the smile in kind, following Korre and the Senator through the halls of the building. Soon, they arrived at a very familiar sight. The tenor of the meeting was far different this time. Alex took her offered seat and waited. She did not have to wait long. The Prime Minister swiftly delivered the point of their meeting with Aezz following her sentiments. The Morellian Jedi stayed silent for a moment. She leaned back in her chair to take a steading breath. Her mind flashed to the Force for answer…but there were none. Her vision remained clouded. Was this a test? A test to see if she would fall to her basest impulses…to craft the military she swore to avoid?

Or was it the path she was meant to be on? The path the Force prepared her to take? All that loss, those failures…readying her for this fight. Alex was uncertain. A simple truth ran through her mind. They could not continue to stand alone against the Sith. “I was stupid for ever believing Andruil wanted peace. She set the trap and I walked right into it.” She shook her head. “Everything has changed now. They came for our home…they sent that monster to Yavin. The Yavin Temple is where we train the younglings…” She trailed off. They would have slaughtered children given the chance.

“We won’t return make the mistakes of the Old Republic. No Jedi Generals or Commanders…which I doubt you want.” She smiled. “But I’m tired of only reacting. We will do whatever you need but we must find a way to carefully integrate the Order.” Her face scrunched as she thought. “Formal titles may be a mistake, but some kind of partnership that lets us all work tightly together.” Her mind continued to turn. This could turn the tide of the war. The Jedi would not become a military but they did want to fight.

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[Korre Belasi]

"Perhaps the Jedi could work alongside the military in a similar fashion as our Rangers," she mused aloud. "The plan right now is to coordinate between the Sector Rangers and the military's Taskforce. It shouldn't be that hard to work the Jedi into that equation."

Korre turned her gaze to Aezz. "Would it be a bad idea to declare a formal alliance with the Jedi?" Though she knew the man was biased in favor of the Jedi, she also knew he received the most backlash from other senators for that opinion. Declaring an alliance would allow the two factions to exchange assets in a more simple fashion, but it ran the risk of raising hackles in the Senate.

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[Alexandria Voran]

Alex ran her tongue across her teeth, her fingers interlacing. “That seems possible.” Working alongside was a far cry from commanding. “We work together but you’re in charge.” Alex furrowed her brow as she thought. “There are some Jedi suited for tactical command, but they are few. Your officers and generals will be far better served with the Order as support.” She leaned forward to put her elbows on the table. “I have promises of my own I have to keep. I believe this allows us to do that.” The Morellian Jedi nodded slowly. “And of course, we will continue to provider whatever assistance we can off the battlefield.” She could feel the Force pushing her forward.

“A formal alliance, if you can withstand the criticism, would aid us all.” She shook her head slowly. “The Republic has retreated into their old ways with Emil’s death. This war belongs only to us.” A sad but impossible to deny truth. The Republic remained safely behind their barrier of FWA planets. Emil had pushed those boundaries but with his death…the old status quo came rushing back.

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[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl let out a breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding as the Grandmaster committed to working with the Free World's Alliance against the Sith. The Jedi had, of course, been aiding against the Sith even before the FWA had mobilized, and while he'd more or less expected them to continue fighting part of him had been worried that they held no interest in a formal alliance.

It was, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl reflected, a relief to have an ally that he knew he could count on. The many worlds of the FWA weren't even in agreement that the Sith Empire was a threat, so to have the backing and support of the Jedi- both on and off the battlefield- was a powerful boon. "We will not forget your service to the galaxy, Grandmaster" he said. "And criticism is a small price to pay for what I believe is the best outcome for both of us. No longer will the Jedi alone shoulder the burden of defense... or offense." The Wookiee was one of a few Senators who favored an aggressive campaign with the Sith. "And we will take every precaution in order to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated." In that, the Wookiee was certain; the diversity of the Free World's Alliance meant that a sudden purge could not and would not happen.

His piece spoken, the Senator of Kashyyyk favored Korre with what passed for a smile in his culture. He'd had his doubts when she first took the position of Prime Minister, but she'd showed remarkable poise amidst a string of crises.

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[Korre Belasi]

"I can withstand a bit of criticism," Korre assured, her expression unchanged. "I think that between Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl and I, we will be able to convince our Senate of the alliance." At this point, what other choice did they have? Like it or not, she was sure the majority of her senators would at least begrudgingly agree to it. It only stood to help them, at least. The Sith would attack and conquer regardless.

Korre would return Aezz's smile with one of her own, then direct her gaze back to Alex. "The Republic is...I don't believe their input is completely over, but if the ISC continues to absorb their worlds, it might be soon." The ISC was entirely neutral in the war, but how long would that last? Surely the Sith would turn their sights to them sooner or later.

tag: @Valen Pelora @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex could sense the accord growing in the room. This was the alliance she’d never thought possible. The alliance she thought they had created with Emil. “Then we do this together.” She trusted the people in this room. How far would that trust get them? She could only hope. “I will make one other promise…for myself.” Alex let her thoughts gather for a moment. “I had a great deal of respect for my predecessor. He had a kind soul and a good heart. He was a true Jedi…a better Jedi than me. But he stayed on Ajan Kloss until it became his grave.” Oota died protecting his family.

As she would die protecting hers. “I will not ask anyone to take a risk that I am not willing to take. I’ll command the Jedi forces on the front lines.” She knew the risks and she knew why she took them. Few could stand against Raze or Andruil. Her choice had been made years ago.

“The matter of the Republic is something else entirely. If we get past this first step, we should discuss that further.” The Republic withered on the vine. Their fleet remained one of the galaxies greatest but now firmly on the sidelines. It could not remain so.

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[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

As much as the Senator from Kashyyyk wanted to bask in the success of the moment, the conversation swiftly turned to the matter of the Republic, and he found his good mood retreating into disdain. "The Republic hides behind the cushion provided by the FWA" he grumbled; the Republic's inaction never failed to grate on his nerves. "And instead of rally around the death of their Chancellor, they flee like womp rats to the ISC." Only the serene presence of the Grandmaster kept him from going on a tirade against the ISC, his other least favorite galactic government.

His decision not to continue his railing against them allowed him to consider the potential unspoken words behind Alex's statement about the Republic. The hair on the Wookiee's neck stood up, both in alarm and cautious excitement. Surely it was just harmless comment in passing?

"What..." Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl almost had difficulty getting the words out, feeling very much like he was standing on the cusp of history. "What do you mean, Grandmaster?"


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[Korre Belasi]

"You worry for the future of the Republic?" Korre couldn't say she didn't feel the same. Many of their worlds had already jumped ship to the ISC, and she would be surprised if she didn't see a few more float that way within the next couple of years. It wouldn't bother her if it didn't mean they were losing their ally in war bit by bit. Who knew if the ISC would ever aid them in war? Korre worried they were likely to watch the Sith consume the Free Worlds, then be consumed themselves.

But Aezz was right. They didn't need to worry like the Free Worlds because they were sheltered behind them. They moaned and groaned and accused them of doing nothing, but did nothing themselves.

tags: @Valen Pelora @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Alexandria Voran]

“The Order will not become an army, but it is obvious this war will not be won through diplomacy. The cost of peace will be blood.” Alex was surer of this than anything. Peace with the Sith was fever dream. One she no longer thought possible. “We have a fleet, some soldiers, and commanders. I intend to grow those resource and lead them myself.” She shrugged. “Forgive my ego, but Raze and Andruil are incredibly powerful Force users…there is only one of us who can stand against them.” The implication was clear. Here. “If we are to win this war. I must take that risk.” Finally, she turned her attention to the Republic.

“Unfortunately, we all know I soured relations with the Republic all by my lonesome.” She smiled to take the edge off. “I share the Senators concerns but the two you would be better suited to find a solution. Although, we will offer whatever help we can.” Their meeting was slowing down. An accord of sorts had been struck and the wheels set in motion. The Sith's time was ending.

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