All the Help We Can Get

[Ahdam]

Ahdam had left the hearing on the Battle of Ando Prime before he could be caught up in the commotion of the Supreme Commander's shooting, only being informed about it later—he hadn't heard the shots and, unlike some other Senators, stayed in the building for a few hours.

He spent that time reviewing the transcripts of the pieces of the hearing he'd missed. Ahdam may have been new to politics, but a few things stood out very clearly to him. For starters, the hearing seemed to be more focused on blame rather than recovery and renewal. Some questions were directed at the systematic failure of leadership, but the majority seemed to be about blaming the Republic officers or the Jedi leadership.

No doubt Chancellor Hoshiko wasn't a fan of such proceedings. He'd followed her career for a long time, knowing that Alcor had been a political mentor to her, and one thing he knew was that she'd spent her time in the Senate calling for reforms to the military command structure. If she was able to rise above the blame game being played by the Senate, it was entirely possible that her newfound executive authority would allow her to implement those changes.

The other thing that stood out very clearly was the actions taken by the Jedi that fled Ando Prime. Master Haung made it unfortunately clear that he blamed the Republic for the failures of the battle, leaving very little room for blame to fall upon the Jedi forces. Whispers were already spreading throughout the Senate, and likely the public, that it was his testimony that led to the shooting that nearly killed the Supreme Commander. It would be a public relations nightmare trying to fix that.

Which was why, without the direct consent of the Senate or the Chancellor, Ahdam had asked the Jedi Master to join him in his office. The Chancellor could be a strong ally, but Ahdam felt that if there was a Bac on the side of the Jedi, particularly now that Alcor was gone, it would be easier to defend the Jedi. He hadn't shared that with the Jedi, though, keeping the meeting private and its subjects off the record until Haung arrived.

The Bac family had always been supporters of the Jedi, even during times of great mistrust, and the recent tragedy in the family could help garner some sympathetic attention to their continued support of the Jedi. After all Ahdam had done, it was the least he could do now to carry on that legacy.

"Kayla," Ahdam said over his intercom to his young new personal secretary, a rising star in the Senate offices, "let Master Haung in as soon as he arrives."

"Sure thing, Ahdam," the twenty-three year old Alderaanian replied, referring to him by his first name at his insistence. He was trying to keep a more informal atmosphere in the office, finding it uncomfortable being referred to with such formality.

Until the Jedi Master arrived, Ahdam would wait, continuing to review the transcripts of the hearing and the reports that were filed before it.

 

[Will]

Huang walked into the plush senate building. He had been summoned almost straight after his escort of the Coruscantii Senator, delaying his report to the Grandmaster. But, it was for a Bac, and Huang had heard that Bacs were not to be kept waiting. He was still wearing formal robes, black with a dark red as trim, his force Katana belted at his hip.

It was probably to do with that abomination of a senate inquiry, that had quickly become a blame game. Huang was not proud of it. The paths of conversation had leant that way. Now was a time to make up. He would hold his views, but not stoop to the mudslinging that had become so popular.

The aide reacted admirably to the Sword Master. No stammer, not even much of a double take. They did well here.

''He'll see you now.''

''Thank you.''

The doors opened with a satisfying swish, and the senator turned to face him.

''Senator Bac of Alderaan. You wished to speak with me?'' He looked down at the shorter man as he spoke, not in a haughty way, of course.

 

[Ahdam]

"Yes," Ahdam said as he stood to look up at the abnormally tall Jedi, giving him a cordial nod of respect, "thank you for coming, Master Jedi."

Ahdam sat back down behind his desk, wasting little time on the formalities of proper introductions and "getting to know" one another. Ahdam's schedule was completely filled, and he barely had time to fit this impromptu meeting into it. Not to mention the fact that the Jedi Master seemed to have little patience for the distraction that likely took him away from his return to the Jedi Temple.

"I'm sure you're very busy given all that's happened lately," Ahdam told him, "so I'll make this quick. As you know, my family has supported the Jedi for thousands of years. We've always had a strong allegiance towards one another, so count on me to continue that legacy of loyalty."

He leaned forward on his desk, clasping his hands together, his voice sounding somewhat frustrated, "Today's events complicate things. I'm still with you 100 percent, but you're going to need stronger support than just me and my family. The media is already blaming you for the shooting earlier, and in some ways they may be right."

Ahdam thought for a moment about what he was saying. He meant no offense by it, which he was sure the Jedi could sense was true, but reports from the scene indicated that the shooter was set off by the Jedi Master's testimony during the hearing.

"Long story short, this is a PR nightmare," Ahdam told him. "It's going to take a lot of work. Please tell your Jedi Council that I intend to start putting together a coalition of Senators who will make it clear that the Republic stands with the Jedi completely, regardless of what the Jedi or the Senate have said about Ando Prime."

He leaned back against his chair again, unfolding his hands, "And it wouldn't hurt if you walked back some of your stronger statements about the Supreme Commander."

 

[Will]

''I am sure the Grandmaster will be glad to hear of your support of the order, Senator Bac.'' Huang replied, a smile fixing onto his face. It was an alien feature, quickly banished.

''From the opinions of many during that enquiry, a coalition may be hard to forge, senator.'' Huang remained standing. It was apparent this was to be quick. He liked that.

''I admit what I said was a little...strong. In hindsight, an error. I had just gotten free of a massacre. It was a slip in judgement. I truly wish I could take it back. My views on the failings on the part of republic leadership still stand, but, I could have... framed it in a different way.''

It made Huang glad that there were still members of the republic on the side of the Jedi, willing to co-operate, rather than keep them at arms length or try to get rid of them.

 

[Ahdam]

"The way I see it," Ahdam told him, "you've got two options. One, you'll be thrown under the bus by the Order. Two, you're going to have to walk back what you said and maybe even apologize for contributing to the shooting. Whether you were right or wrong in what you said doesn't matter. The Chancellor will be implementing necessary reforms."

He sighed, "I know it sucks, but what you do is going to mean the difference between you being a pariah or someone who's been misunderstood who had a momentary lapse in judgment. If I were you I'd get out in front of this thing so the Council didn't have to throw me by the wayside. It could go a long way towards reconciliation."

 

[Will]

''It is interesting that you think the order will 'throw me under the bus.' I had no idea you spoke for my Grandmaster.'' Huang replied curtly. All the republic ever sought was control over every tiny aspect of life.

''I did not contribute to that shooting. Everyone would have known the Supreme Commander was in command of the mission. There are always those rendered senseless by emotion. It was simply a matter of time. I take shame in speeding up the process. I stand by my views, however. I cannot broadcast something I do not believe in, no matter how it is dressed.''

He did not like the fact he had to argue with an erstwhile ally, but, if he continued to seek control under the façade of camaraderie, Huang would simply leave, washing his hands of this affair.