Open Bold Ideas = Stupid Plans

[Alexander Xerxes]

Open to all NR Senators/Characters​

Perhaps he should be angry, even furious; at first there were verbal outbursts at the Galactic Senate. Words that could easily pull the Republic, his Republic into open war once again. Now they bordered on sedition in the back alleys of the Core Worlds, a Clone Army, brought by the Credits they all desperately needed to beat back the tides of recession and stagnation, given into the hands of a foreign party to wage a religious war across thousands of star systems. Alexander truly wondered how the idealistic dreamers of the galaxy survived day to day life without stupidly falling onto a blade or blaster. But even with all this floating around his mind, the Supreme Chancellor did not have the energy to boil with furry or rant and rage.

Every day the weight of the galaxy bore down on his shoulders, slowly eating away at his body as the voices of a million voices ate away at his mind. Makeup covered the worst of the weathered effect upon the Hynestian’s face, a full beard helped cover slightly gaunt cheeks. His suit was lined with extra padding to bulk out his body as he strode through the small public viewing area between his private shuttle and the Senate Chamber. Hundreds of camera flashes caught glimpses of the fatigued Chancellor, who strode as strongly as his aching back would allow across the carpet.

A sigh escaped his lips as the doors closed behind him, leaving him in private for a short moment before he once again stepped into the light of the Galaxy. A grim smile was easily seen on his face as he made for the centre of the room. It was an open summoning of the Republic Senate, however strong letters had been sent to the seditious senators strongly recommending they attend the meeting.

Alexander paused, his eyes peered over the senators closest to him before he turned his vision onto Senator Trina Kalist. “My Honourable colleagues of the Republic Senate. The Senator of Kuat has a plan she wishes to discuss with you all. A plan to pull all of us, our planets and our people into open war with the Sith Empire. Please Senator Kalist, explain to all of us how you wish to bring terror and death upon us all.”

@Sreeya @Olwin @LouJoVi @Wit

 

[Trina Kalist]

Theme
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Trina knew this was coming. It was inevitable and only a matter of time. She stepped into the halls, feeling as if she were on trial. In many ways she was. She had thrown her lot in with the Jedi at the last Senate Session, and she knew she would come under fire for that. She had rallied some support and it was time to see what came of that. Gatalenta's senator was already under fire after her entire planet turned on her.

The Senator strode in with her head held high, knowing full well her career may be at risk yet again. However, her family didn’t raise a girl that went down without a fight. She gazed directly at the Chancellor, marveling at the lack of tabloids reporting on rumors of him being an AMS infected.

“I do not know which plan you refer to, Chancellor, but I will happily elaborate on a plan of mine that establishes hope and security,” She turned to address the Senate. She knew she didn’t have everyone on her side, but she would stand her ground.

“Senators,” She began, “I have made no secret of my intentions to ally with the Jedi. While the Chancellor feels this is putting us at risk, I believe the bigger risk is to allow the Jedi to go extinct. Tell me, Senators, when the Killik threat is repelled and the Sith turn and attack us, who will defend against them? Will you bring out your lightsaber to fight them, Chancellor?” She turned to face another Senator, “Will you use the Force to protect your mind from any intrusions?”

“The peace that the Chancellor alludes to is but the whims of the Sith as they feel today,” She stated flatly, “Tomorrow they could very well decide we’re the enemy and we will have no real means of countering them without the Jedi. And for the last time, do not make comparisons to the ISC,” She added before the Chancellor could interject, “The truth of the matter is that the Sith fear the ISC. The ISC have a vast military and economy force. At the present, we do not. Our greatest defense against a Sith attack relies on the Jedi. Which is why we must support the Jedi and provide them with a military force to complement them. This army would help them in the fight against the Killik and, when the time inevitably comes, against the Sith.”

She paused before she continued, “I have proposed the creation of a clone army. It will be funded by myself and other Jedi sympathizers,” Trina didn’t rattle off names just yet in case any of them wanted to back out, “I am repurposing funding I would otherwise give to organizations like the Star Guardians and the GHO, which means it is coming from surplus funding and not at the cost of my planet’s fundamental resources. I believe this is a strategic use of any economic surplus. Instead of simply hoping the Sith don’t attack us, I believe this will position us to have a powerful answer if and when they do. I believe this step will actually put us in line with the ISC - where we have such a powerful defense that the Sith would think twice before whimsically striking us.”

She turned to regard the Chancellor, "Terror and death is inevitable whether from the Sith or the Killik. I would rather we have teeth of our own than be at the mercy of either."

@Braden @Malon @Wit @Olwin

 

[Caliban Drast]

Caliban watched on as Trina spoke, and weighed his options. The path ahead was clear, but he had to choose between offense or defense. Then Trina called the Chancellor out, and that helped make up his mind.

"Coruscant stands behind this proposal," he added as he stood up and activated his mic, "the people of Coruscant support the Jedi, which is more than I can say for you Chancellor." He paused, re-considering one last time, and knowing almost at once that what he was about to do was right. "You speak of drawing us into open war, while your own actions have proved that you're incapable of avoiding one. And if it comes to war, I do not believe you capable of leading us through one. Not months ago a rogue admiral flew into ISC space and almost started a war against the ISC. You cannot control our forces Chancellor, forget the Sith, I fear your leadership might lead us into open conflict with the ISC." He stopped, looking around the chamber, to the senators near him, other Core representatives who historically voted with Coruscant, and even to those who had no love for him. "Everyone sees through the lies of the Sith, their intentions are obvious to one and all. Creating a fake cure for the Killik threat to spread chaos across the Galaxy, breaking the cease-fire to go on mindless killing spree on neutral worlds, invading the Jedi homeworld of Yavin. Everyone sees what they represent, and what needs to be done to stop them. Every Sith empire in history has had the same goal, galactic conquest, to make every single being kneel before them. They will come for us, they are driven by greed, for a need to conquer. Yet the Chancellor plays favorites with them. Meeting with their leader and forming alliances without Senate approval, proposing their return to the Senate and giving them a a voice? You say this action of ours will start a war with the Sith, who allowed them into the Senate so that they could push us into a corner where supporting the Jedi would be tantamount to open war? If I didn't know better, I'd say you were a Sith sympathizer yourself Chancellor."

He paused again, letting his words sink in, before continuing. "I have always done what is best for my constituents, and representative of their beliefs. There was a time they trusted neither Jedi, not Sith. And when they asked I banned their presence on Coruscant, an action you were quick to follow on. But today they no longer hold that belief. Coruscant believes in the Jedi, trusts in them. We see them as the one hope against the threat of the Sith. But Coruscant does not trust in this body, not as it is right now. I hereby put forward a motion of no-confidence in the leadership of Chancellor Alexander Xerxes."

@Sreeya @Braden @Malon @Olwin

 

[Aharon Staergin]

Aharon had leaned forwars in his chair and listened to the other senators (and the communication droid for those he couldn't hear on the right side of him). His purple coat flowed healthily from his shoulders as he sat, unlike the chancellor who probably had some padding to keep him from blowing over, complemented by a pink undershirt, grey vest and pants, and a polished pair of shoes. His lips were pursed, his right pointer finger lightly tapping against the bottom lip, and he slowly tapped his left foot in thought. This was certainly an advantageous position to be in. Champala always voted with Coruscant, so if he voted otherwise the entire senate may raise their eyebrows and rethink what that annoying Calliban Drast would be saying and consolidated power... or he could simply strengthen the argument and further assist with furthering his plans that way.

He had a decision to make, and a large one. Yet Chancellor Xerxes was standing in his way, and wether he liked it or not Drast was offering the perfect way to get rid of him. He knew that he could try and pick off a rival senator here, but that was small change when compared with knocking off the sitting Chancellor and inserting someone who would be more... agreeable to his views. He slowly stood up and turned on his mic. He took a small breath and waited a moment before speaking.

"Senator Drast, you have spoken for many of us here with your statements. I believe that Xerxes is loosing his grip on the pulse of the New Republic. He is not seeing our needs, our peoples needs, our planets' needs. He blinds himself to the outside forces beating in on our doors and windows to keep his power secure. You have banished a potential ally from our sectors and in place of them have made a deal with the devil. The Sith, as Senator Drast said, are after nothing but the supreme and utter domination of the galaxy. All they see before them, they wish to crush, destroy, or bend to their will. Yet you seem to be blind to that. You even see when they lie repeatedly to your face." He reached down for a glass of water and took a sip. He was not thirsty, he simply wanted to add a pause. His eyes looked around the room, seeing the variety of species listening to him. It was rather... pitiful after seeing what it once was. They really had fallen from Grace. And Xerxes was responsible.

"You even seem to have lost the control of our military, which itself is in desperate need of help. Which you have neglected to give. My fellow Senators, heed my words. If we continue this path we will be washed off the map by one force or another. The Sith, the Killik, or even other threats that we have no idea exist yet. To save ourselves from being snuffed out without fighting, and to atleast give the New Republic a chance to not go quietly into the night, I second the motion of no confidence against Chancellor Xerxes."

He slowly leaned back and turned off the mic, before taking a sip of something stronger. His champagne.

@Sreeya @Braden @Malon @Wit

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Spoiler: Aezz's reaction on Kashyyyk

The New Republic Senate session went live, and Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was ready. The Wookiee was watching the livestream from the comfort of his home planet, having sequestered himself inside a private, secure room with a video of the New Republic Senate meeting dominating the room. His aides had taken away his Switter access for the evening, and in return had supplied the Senator with an ample supply of alcohol and Wookiee Cookiees to get him through what was certain to be an eventful evening in front of the holo.

It didn't take long before Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was loudly booing the Supreme Chancellor. "Just ignore the agenda and immediately begin throwing your own senators under the bus!" he exclaimed, sending crumbs flying. "Coward!"

However, he quickly changed his tune when Trina Kalist spoke. His admiration for the freshman senator continued to grow as she displayed every one of the qualities that had already made her the most popular Senator in Kuat's history. "Tell him like it is, Trina!" he cheered. He loved seeing Supreme Chancellors being publicly reprimanded.

Then, Senators Drast and Staergin spoke, echoing Kalist's words and raising what Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had once thought impossible; a vote of no confidence. "About damn time! I've had no confidence in him since he took office!" The news that their constituents also believed in the Jedi came as no small source of comfort to the Wookiee, who had written off the New Republic as unwilling to support the Jedi. Apparently, he had miscalculated.

Another Wookiee Cookiee disappeared, as Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl anxiously awaited what came next.

@Braden @Sreeya @Wit @Olwin

 

[Alyrra Adasca]

Lyra was beginning to wonder if she was cursed.

Since her election, the New Republic had suffered a number of political crisis and embarrassments that meant every meeting she attended now was about how best to fix them. And now this. A senator who wanted religious zealots back within their borders and a motion to unseat the Chancellor. Truly, any of her brothers would be better cut out for this. She just wanted to spend her life racing pods and ships—but she supposed fixing the galaxy's problems would suffice for now.

"Are we quite finished with bravado, my colleagues?" she began, at last activating her own mic. "Forgive me, but the rhetoric has become tired. How many times has this Senate and our galactic counterpart been told that the Sith will 'eventually' turn their gaze to us despite repeated evidence to the contrary." She folded her arms across her chest. She was thoroughly sick of the argument as was her constituents. "The Sith continue to commit war crimes in the Rimworlds. Yes, this is atrocious. They also continue to bother the Free Worlds Alliance. Also unfortunate, but certain representatives of their government certainly go out of their way to provoke them, so it is not surprising tensions continue to simmer."

"But notice something — the Republic has been left untouched. The Consortium, also untouched. The connective tissue between the two? Both have pushed Force users out of their governments and beyond their borders." Now she was tapping impatiently at the interior of her arm. The Chancellor's leadership was not her style, and he certainly had made blunders, but she was not about to take part in his political lynching over stupid statements made by a Senator and a rogue admiral. "Say what you will about the Chancellor's leadership, it was his administration that secured that security and peace for us. I have no love for the Sith, but I am not about to willingly sign on to allow the Jedi back within our borders, much less an alliance. Both of them trail destruction and death everywhere they go. The difference is that the Sith are content to do their destruction out in the Rimworlds and honor our agreements. The Jedi won't be happy until they've dragged us all back into their genocidal war and share in their misery."

She threw a look over at the two Senators who had called for the Chancellor's removal. "As for this motion of no confidence, if we must vote on this farce, fine—vote on it. But it appears to me to be the most egregious act of reactionary politics I have seen in my time in this body. All evidence points to a rogue admiral. Have we investigated what steps the Chancellor took to resolve this problem? Have we consulted Consortium sources to see if diplomatic channels were used? No. I don't think we have. We're making fools of ourselves, and for what? For whose benefit? The Republic is at peace and safe. Will we really throw all of that way, along with the man who secured it, for the Jedi? Not me. Not Arkania." @Sreeya @Wit @Olwin @Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

The soft cushion of his seat felt like solid metal upon his aching back as he took his seat once Senator Kalist began her ranting and raving about the Sith threat, the Sith Threat and of course the Sith Threat. A threat which had not reared its ugly head in the years since he took office, if Alexander had the energy he would feel offended that all of them seemed to take for granted the peace he had given them.

A light chuckle slipped through the man’s lips as Drast called for a vote of no-confidence. The cowardly Senator for Coruscant always crawled out of the gutters when there was blood in the water, always quick to play the blame game even though he never took charge himself. Looking off towards the side, he caught eyes with his aide, Alexander and those he spoke with daily expected something like this may arise quicker than they hoped a slight nod was all the signal that was needed for the woman. Who quickly left the Supreme Chancellors side to see to the rest of his team, a change in government like this could signal civil discourse, something even if he was to leave this chair Alexander wanted to avoid. Once his aide reached the security team outside, an alert would be sent out to the local security to begin preparing just in case.

Senator Adasca, although new to the chamber seemed to have some sense on her shoulders, he doubted they both saw eye to eye on every agenda but at least she was not as war hungry as the rest of the Republic Senate.

Time for some offence.

Pulling himself to his feet Alexander approached the microphone. “So Senator Kalist, you seek an alliance with the Jedi. An alliance which is directly in violation with the New Republic’s stance on the Religious Order as well as our treaty with the Sith Empire. You also wish to finance a private army and deliver it to an external group who have known ties with terrorist organisations within the Outer Rim. I hope you understand the gravity of both of these comments and those you made at the Galactic Senate.”

Alexander sighed, placing both hands on the edge before him looking down at the microphone, the pained voice which he needed to deliver the next lines was easy to come by, such was the agony that rushed through his body every day. “I had hoped that what I had been told was a lie. But it doesn't seem to be the case.” Raising his head he looked up at the Senator. “Guards.” He called loudly. “Apprehend Senator Kalist on grounds of Sedition, Conspiracy with a foreign party, Incitement to war, Conspiracy to finance terror and Procavation of a Foreign Party to declare war upon the Republic.” The doors to the Senator’s pod opened and two guards entered, both were armed encase, their eyes were without emotion as they advanced towards the woman. One held out a pair of restraints. Alexander hoped she would go quietly; he could then deal with this no-confidence situation.

@Sreeya @Wit @Olwin @Malon

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Spoiler: Aezz's reaction on Kashyyyk

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was running out of curse words. "Foul! Cheater! Penalty!" he howled at the holo, incensed by the attempted arrest. "This right here is why we don't have a Supreme Chancellor in the FWA." He reached for his datapad, intending to send out a furious Sweet, but ended up settling for another Wookiee Cookiee instead.

The decision by the Supreme Chancellor of the New Republic to publicly arresting the first person who had challenged his authority would not reflect well on him nor his leadership style, and left Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl seeing red.

"We are NOT going through this again!"

 

[Annelyn Lerytel]

Annelyn watched the entire meeting going out of control. While it wasn’t the first time that she saw something like that happen, the Gatalentan could say that during all her years working in politics she never saw a Senator being arrested this way. It was surprising to say the least.

“Ma’am, we should go immediately! The Chancellor can order that all the other Senators be arrested.” she heard Florian saying, but ignored the droid. She wasn’t afraid of going to prison. Not because she expected that the Council of Mothers would help her leave it. There was no support for her and the Jedi in her homeworld. Apparently the Gatalentans consider the new Jedi Order as a group of clowns.

Her people have a deep sadness for the disappearance of the “true Jedi”. They missed those that followed the Code and spent most of their time rummining about the mysteries of the Force while seated in comfy chairs in a temple at the center of the Galaxy, doing nothing beyond that. She still couldn’t understand it.

The Gatalentan didn't fear prison because she was too old to care how long she was going to stay in it. Annely felt that had already lived everything she needed. If her life would end in a cell, so be it. At least she made an effort to help the Galaxy, even if her own people were now considering her as a madwoman. The Senator was only sad that a young woman like Trina was going to pass through it.

Perhaps it was that which moved her to rise from her seat. “Chancellor, you are being hasty in your judgment. As you see, Senator Kalist is young and fresh. She couldn’t have thought of such an elaborate plan to help the Jedi.” she made a pause, then continued. “It was me who had influenced her to do it. It was me who had convinced her during a friendly meeting. Thus, as the judge, jury and executioner that you think yourself to be, have mercy on that poor foolish girl and send to prison this old treacherous hag.”

@Sreeya @Braden @Wit @Olwin @Malon @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Trina Kalist]

Trina turned to regard the Senator of Arkania, “I see you’ve easily forgotten the attack on Byblos - an attack we repelled only thanks to the Jedi. I see you’ve also forgotten multiple attacks on Coruscant throughout our history courtesy of the Sith. Does an attack have to meet a time period criteria before you consider it a threat? How many lives have to be taken before you consider getting out of your chair to do something about it?”

When Caliban spoke, Trina was taken aback. She had certainly not expected a vote of no confidence. While she had her reservation about the Chancellor, even she wouldn’t have put forth such a drastic measure. While she considered the Chancellor entirely too self serving, there was no denying that his actions allowed a measure of peace.

Even so, unless Caliban chose to step up himself, something he had never done in the past, a vote of no confidence would simply lead to a power vacuum. There was no one else in these chambers that Trina would endorse for Chancellor.

None of that mattered, however, when the Chancellor spoke. Trina had expected a lashing, but she hadn’t expected such extreme measures. Her jaw tightened, but she held her head high. When the Senator of Gatalenta began speaking, Trina didn’t take her gaze off the Chancellor. She continued staring right at him.

“I appreciate the sentiment, Senator Lerytel,” She said loudly while looking at the Chancellor, “But please do not insult my intelligence. I will do as I always have and stand by my virtues,” She allowed the restraints to be put on, her wrists locked in place. She kept looking at the Chancellor.

“If this is the cost of mere words that go against agreements you’ve made unilaterally, then democracy is already dead. Then it is already too late,” Trina turned as she was led out of the chambers, making sure to glance at the cameras that were no doubt tilted towards her, her face impassive, “Long live Emperor Xerxes.”

/Exit Thread

 

[Aharon Staergin]

Aharon sneered as his ally was constrained. This was it, Xerxes had to go. He was visibly disgusted at the fact none of the senators beyond the old crone would stand up for her. He cleared his throat and slowly stood, turning on the mic. He was in the same boat she was, so why not try and bring others into it before the entire Republic sunk into tyranny?

"Ave Imperator Xerxes," he began, mockingly bowing to the chancellor, "may you get everything a tyrant like you deserves. You wish to have a strangle hold on the power of the New Republic, you want to control us. Plain and simple. You wish to force your will upon the senate rather than let it make its own decision." He kept on pointing towards the senator with two fingers whenever he was mentioned, and slowly balled up his fist when mentioning how controlling Xerxes wanted to be to emphasize his point.

"You do not see that we are in danger. The ISC is the only government that is even close to rivaling the power of the Sith, and that is because they are money grubing, spineless, greedy, and selfish. We are in the same boat as with the FWA, that we are not even true threats against the Sith Empire alone. Alone. That is why the Sith focus on the weakest link, simply destroying the weakest to move through the line. We are coming up soon, history has proven this time and time again. If we stand together with those who fight back we will atleast have a chance, and if we fail we will atleast go out kicking and screaming rather than simply rolling over and dying. Yet it seems that no one can get it through your rock-crete skill Xerxes. We are in danger. We need to defend ourselves before it is too late." A detail of security droids had moved from Aharon's ship to the door of his senate pod. The four IG-100's stood sentinel at his door, two flanking the door from the hallway and the other two were on the inside ready to act as backup. He was about to say some spicy things, and he needed to make sure he would not be interrupted by an intruder.

"And defending ourselves from outside threats will do nothing if we can not defend ourselves from internal threats. The chancellor is under a vote of no confidence, that means his powers are currently paused until that vote is passed. The arrest was made on accusations alone, with no evidence beyond words. This alone should be illegal. Yet I have a feeling if we let the tumor continue to grow in our republic, he will make it legal after the fact. There were no formal charges brought out, just accusations. And if we can be arrested on an accusation... what have we become but the Empire our forefathers sought to shrug off?" He paused momentarily before he slammed his hand down on the desk infront of him, looking down for a moment as he breathed visibly. He turned his head back up, his eyes visibly full of fire and energy. Now was the time to fire back in full force. So he turned up how physically worked up he was, and let it all out.

"My allegiance is not to the chancellor. It is to the Republic, to democracy! If none of you can see that he is acting like a slow acting poison to this grand institiution and simply wish to allow this megalomaniac to control the Republic, to twist and turn it to his will, then I will atleast fight until the end! One day, under his rule, we will all end up like Senator Kalist, believing one little thing that may not 100% align with the Xerxes and find ourselves in a cell! Champala will not go back to what it once was, the puppet of an Emperor. We will stand for democracy until the last drop of our oceans have dried up! Semper tyrannis!" At this point he was yelling into the mic, working himself up into a calm yet still passionate ferver, as one would when they gave a speech that would either result in their life or death. The energy he had was practically radiating off of him like a soft glow of anger and passion. He gave it his all, trying to rally the room to his side. Xerxes needed out. Now. He turned the mic off and still stood, breathing heavily. He took a glass of water off the desk and began to drink it as he sat down. He was still riled up on his own speech, yet he was still drained.

@Braden @Wit @Malon @LouJoVi

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

“Senator Lerytel, your passion and willingness to sacrifice yourself is a commendable attitude to have in the public sector. We will need people with your passion in the coming years and I hope to continue to see you within these chambers for a time yet.” Alexander replied with a toothy smile as Trina Kalist was escorted from the premises. Aharon’s security droid’s would find themselves blocked from entry once they departed the ship by a group of soldiers utterly devoid of emotion, the soft lockdown caused by the vote of no-confidence barred any foreign entities entering the building. The fact that the droid’s in question were military grade weapons would probably have barred them from entry in the first place.

“Senator Staergin, I am not sure what you want me to say. A hundred times you and your like have come to this chamber and many others shouting and screaming like petulant toddlers that the Sith are coming for us. That we will be the target of their aggression, that we would all be dead or enslaved before the month's end, but how many years have passed since the peace, the peace I secured for you and your family, how many? How many of these nonsensical fear mongering speeches has come to fruition?

I will tell you, none. Not one of these promises and premonitions you and your ilk has predicted has come to pass! The Warmongering nature this body has adapted over the last year is almost sickening. The people demanded peace and freedom from conflict, so I gave them that. Now you all want to drag the innocent people of this Republic back into a war, why? Because of an empty promise that the Sith might one day attack us? Contrary to every single piece of evidence that has been given against this promise.

Senator Drast, I think it slipped your mind that after I had this meeting with the Sith Empress, you were the first Senator to vote to ratify my peace negotiations, or has that conveniently been omitted from your current stance, so as to better fit with your new friends? You all had a chance to vote down my peace, but alas as seemingly is the norm for the population of this chamber, you hide away until someone with the balls like Senator Kalist speaks up. Also, again to correct your statement ‘Drast’, I only suggested that they have a representative on the Galactic Senate to view proceedings, so as to better help us achieve peace across the galaxy. It was others, not myself who wished to extend their right to vote and have a full say in Galactic Politics.

Now you claim that I am a megalomaniac, a tyrant, a dictator? What have I forced upon this chamber? What have I done that hasn’t come to a vote? I would comment that it was actually yourself Senator Staergin and Senator Drast that tried to bind and force this chamber into allying with your own agenda. Forcing a vote of No-confidence after Senator Kalist proposed we re-entered the war against the Sith and re-allied ourselves with the Jedi. Knowing full well that I am a proponent of peace and would oppose both those items to the best of my ability. So you chose to attempt to forcefully remove me from the vote as to better allow your war party to proceed?

All I have done is for the people, I have kept us safe. Allowed you all to recoup the financial ruin the war had put us in. To sleep easy at night without the worry of air raid sirens and explosions. I have allowed each and every one of you the chance to be with your loved ones instead of fighting a war.

I brought peace to the New Republic, I gave the people a voice, they cried out for peace and I gave it to them. I do not hear them cry out for war, so I will not give them war. I will give them the peace they still cling to, a peace you all seem so willing to throw away, for Glory and Credits.

@Olwin @Wit @Malon @LouJoVi

 

[Caliban Drast]

Caliban was used to explosive sessions of the Senate, both here and in the Galactic Senate. He had seen more than his share of craziness over the years, but what happened next surprised even him. The speaches, the ill-advised self-sacrifice, and the arrest of Senator Kalist. There was of course uproar and an explosion of cacophonous discussion as everyone wanted to be heard, and it was only when the speaker had managed to return some form of order that he stood up and spoke.

"There is a process to how a democratic republic operates. We hold elections to select representatives," he let his gaze sweep around the chamber, at all the gathered representatives present there, "the representatives then get together and make laws, laws that would help the people they represent. They discussion, analyze, plan, and come up with bills, proposals to be brought before this body. These discussions often happen behind closed doors, to work through the pros and cons of the proposal in a smaller, more focused, setting before bringing it before this wider body. A bill is not born the senate floor as many seem to believe, but rather weeks, months, and even years before that. Behind closed doors. And till this body votes on the matter, they remain just that, proposals. What you have charged Senator Kalist for, Chancellor Xerses, is making use of our most basic democratic right as Senators, to propose a bill that is representative of the sentiments and needs of our people. You have arrested her for starting work on such a proposal, simply because you do not agree with it. Instead of letting us work on this proposal and bring it before this body, to be voted on, to be discussed, to be taken through the right legal channels, you have taken matters into your own hands out of fear, a fear of losing power. You know how the people speak, they fear the Sith like everyone else, because they remember where you seem to have forgotten. Byblos, Coruscant, Corellia, they were all Republic worlds when the Sith attacked. Maybe Corellia had the right of it, to leave the Republic, they had lost faith in this body, and today, for the first time ever, I wonder if they were right?"

He shook his head, feeling the weight of the years on his shoulders, the sadness of what had happened to the Republic. Letting his words linger for a few moments, he continued with a conviction that was still as strong now as it had been the first time he stepped into this chamber.

"You throw words such as treason and sedition, and throw those you fear behind bars. What due process was done here, what laws were followed? This is not democracy, this is anything but that. This is not the first time you have taken matters into your own hand in such a manner. Yes, I ratified your negotiations with the Empress, but what choice did I have? Let the Galaxy know that the Chancellor had been running about conspiring with the Sith in open defiance of our constitution? No, I did what I did to hold us together, to keep the Republic safe. I saw it as a sign of your enthusiasm to protect the Republic, and for that I hoped to give you anther chance. And I was not wrong, not then. You are right, you have done well by the Republic, no one can take that from you. But things did not end there, maybe your love for the Republic blinded you to the egregiousness of your own actions, or your fear of letting the Republic fail clouded your vision. But you have fallen from the standards your office must represent. We are in financial free-fall, the Independent Systems, some even in the Free Worlds, they enjoy greater financial security because of that. If this peace you have maintained if because of you, then is this failing also not your fault? Is this slow decay of the democratic process not your fault? Or is it only the perceived victories that you claim ownership of? To leave the rest to us, to the...petulant children as you called us? Our ilk? Is this what the office of the Chancellor has been reduced to? Name calling? What next, will you throw me in prison for speaking against you? For not bowing in reverence and singing your praises?"

"When I stand here and speak for or against a motion, for or against a person, I do so with the voice of a trillion people, a responsibility I do not take lightly. I will not bend to authoritarian tendencies, I will not let the voice of my people be trivialized. I stand by this proposal to support the Jedi because it is what my people support, and if that lands me behind bars, then so be it. But I will not let the people of the Republic be dragged along for the ride as you lead us to a slow, and easily avoidable, death. Arrest me if you will, my motion of no-confidence stands."

@Sreeya @Braden @Malon @Olwin

 

[Alyrra Adasca]

Lyra opened and shut her mouth at least a dozen times before settling on the decision that she would be saying nothing. Truth be told, there was little she could say. The Chancellor was not going to back down off the arrest of Senator Kallist without an inquiry or investigation; and the remaining Senators seemed deadset on deposing him and bringing the Jedi back into the fold after numerous examples of the danger of allying with them.

Nothing she could say would ever sway them from this course. But that didn't mean she had to just stand by and watch her planet be swallowed by chaos. Ensuring her mic was muted, she turned to her aide. "Contact the media back home. Request they run polls at every station to gauge public interest in withdrawing from the Republic. Then see if they'll poll the favorability of President Emryc Thorne and his Consortium."

"Ma'am?"

She knew she would get that reaction. Because her aide knew exactly what she was about to propose. "After that, get me the president of the Consortium. I suspect he and I have a lot to discuss."

@Wit @Braden @Sreeya @Olwin