Ask Lothal Crisis Point

[Cal Starros]

Sunrise on Lothal was always best in the autumn, where it waxed for far longer into the morning than during any other season. It was one of the best sights on the idyllic world, and Cal took the opportunity to take it in before the day's work began. Leaning on the balcony atop the Capitol building, he breathed it in - despite the sentimentality of his actions, there was a purpose to them still, a useful reminder of what he wanted to, no had to protect.

That was why today was so important.

With each passing day, the threat on the uppermost borders of the Free Worlds Alliance grew, and, if he was honest with himself, Cal did not think they could stop it alone. That was why he had asked his aide, the ever-capable Sanna, to reach out to an old University friend of hers, who now worked in the Ministry of Defence over at the Independent Systems Consortium, and together they had worked to arrange a meeting with none other than the Secretary of Defence himself - a man named Carrick.

Turning away from the view, he straightened his Senatorial robe, cut in the classical style, and headed toward the landing bay set aside for the visitor, atop the Capitol building, to greet him upon arrival.

@Nefieslab

 

[Carrick]

Carrick had never been back to Lothal.

He had nothing against the planet but he had still never been back, even when an opportunity presented itself. The planet had bad memories for him to be certain and it was only one of his aides bringing a meeting to his attention that brought him back again. It had been decades since he lost his parents in a riot on the streets of Lothal's capital city and now here he was again for the first time since that passing Jedi had taken him away.

Back again, back home.

Turning away from the view his shuttle afforded him, Carrick took several deep and calming breathes before he nodded to his staff and security detail to open the shuttle ramp. Dressed in his suit with it's hidden armour plating in the lining, he cut a more modern figure than the senator come out to meet him but no less regal in it's own way. He smiled as he left the ramp of his ship and approached the senator for Lothal.

"Senator Starros." he greeted the older man, "A pleasure to meet you and a delight to be back home."

His face said that it was a delight.

Hell, even his eyes lied and said he was thrilled.

@Nor'baal

 

[Cal Starros]

"Secretary Carrick, you honour the people of Lothal with your presence. It is always a pleasure to welcome a Lothalite home." Starros extended his hand in greeting, warmly shaking Carricks as he smiled "I know the journey here is a long one, especially from ISC space, so thank you for making the effort." he added, by way of an acknowledgement as to the remoteness of his world.

Releasing the man's hand, he made further introductions to his team, gesturing to each of them in turn. "May I introduce Sanna, my aide and advisor, and D3, my protocol droid. In fact, D3 would scold me if I do not offer you refreshment after your journey here?" the Senator asked, gesturing for the Secretary to walk with him as they left the landing pad.

Walking through the large double doors into the capital building, they emerged into a corridor that would lead them down toward the balcony at which he had stood earlier. Whilst he had been gone, making his introductions, capitol staff would have dressed the balcony with a table, a set of chairs, and - of course - the banners of Lothal and the ISC. Making their way down the corridor, Senator Starros continued to converse with his guest.

"I believe this may be the first official visit of an ISC Governor to Lothal, and so, to mark this occasion, I have a gift for you." on cue, his aide stepped forward, a smart box in her hands "A traditional Lothalite painting of one of our most famed creatures - the Loth-wolf. It would look smart in your office!" he laughed "I can arrange for it to be taken to your ship, Secretary Carrick, if you would like?"

They continued down the corridor, arriving at the balcony - at which point, the Senator would take a seat, and gesture for his guest to do likewise.

 

[Carrick]

Lothalite... ugh, Carrick had not been one of those even when he was a child he didn't think. As much as he knew that Lothal was a lovely planet, objectively speaking, he also knew that it was not a home of his. It hadn't really had chance before it was ripped away from him and he knew that would colour his perception of the planet regardless of his training to be more open minded.

"The journey wasn't too terrible - I was in the neighborhood as it were." he joked back a little bit, "Mon Cala is much closer to Lothal than Christophsis after all."

Carrick nodded in greeting to the advisor and the protocol droid both - it wasn't seen as a requirement in polite society to respect droids but Carrick was fond of them. And it didn't take much to acknowledge that politicians would be in a far worse place without protocol droids to assist them. Carrick himself had a few assigned to his office, even if he hadn't taken to having a personal one yet.

Something to think about perhaps.

"Some water would be lovely, thank you."

On they continued, stepping away from the view of the city that he had vague and uncertain memories of. Away from the past and onto the present, the future perhaps, instead. He smiled a little wider, in a slightly more genuine manner, as they began an exchange of gifts.

The painting was actually quite welcome - his office was rather spartan for now.

"That would be excellent, thank you Senator Starros. When I have you over for a visit to Tinnel IV you'll see it in pride of place I assure you. For my own gift in good faith - I'm afraid it's somewhat smaller."

Gesturing for one of his security detail, he was handed the gift which he then presented to Starros. A desk ornament in the shape of a thin, rectangular, plaque that would have been rather plain had it not been made of Christophsis Kyber Crystal. It was nearly entirely clear but whenever the light caught it, the entire thing would shine a mixture of light blue and earth green, the colours of Lothal from orbit.

"I don't remember much of Lothal but I remember the site of it from orbit - the colours of it. You won't need to go into orbit to see them again with this."

He smiled as they sat out on the balcony and he thanked the protocol droid as it brought him out a glass of water as he had requested.

"Senator Starros you do the Alliance credit; this truly is the most lovely welcome I have received in a very long time."

@Nor'baal

 

[Cal Starros]

Perhaps surprisingly, Starros did not expect a member of his staff, or those of the Capitol building itself, to fetch their drinks, and instead he rose from his seat to retrieve it himself from the small bar behind them. Listening to the Secretary as he poured the mans water, and another for himself, he hurried back over to the table and placed the drinks down as Carrick presented his own gift. Rather taken aback with the thoughtfulness of the item, he was briefly lost for words.

Briefly.

"Secretary Carrick this is a, well, a beautiful item." he held it up to the light as encouraged, staring into it and making out, clearly, the distinctive colours of the world he had called home for over four decades.

"Senator Starros you do the Alliance credit; this truly is the most lovely welcome I have received in a very long time."

"Thank you, Secretary. I find it is easy to welcome people home, most especially, when their home is Lothal." he placed the crystalline item back in its box and took a small sip of his drink.

"If I may, I shall come directly to the point - as to why I extended an invitation to you, and the ISC, to Lothal. I know well that the recent session of the Senate made it appear as if the Free World's were closed to other Governments, but here on Lothal, we have always been a welcoming people. The votes of some of my colleagues do not change our will to engage with all who share our values, and would wish to see them enhanced and advanced."

"Indeed, recent events have made it clearer and clearer to our Government that now is not the time to abandon our long-held tradition of engagement and cooperation, and whilst we must hold true to our desire for self-sufficiency, I am not blind to the magnitude of the threat we face. Secretary Carrick - Lothal would like your help."

"And we are willing to do what is needed to meet the support of other Governments and worlds in kind. We face two threats, the AMS Virus, and the open hostility of the Sith Empire. So my questions are two-fold. The work the ISC is doing to combat the AMS Virus is admirable beyond words, and I would like to know how best the people of Lothal can join that effort, and provide relief for worlds in desperate need."

"Secondly, whilst we have to upscale our defensive operations here on Lothal, building a rapid response fleet, and erecting defensives around our capital city, I am not ignorant to the need to do more. I know that the ISC has connections in this industry, and experience in expanding its defences - Secretary, I know the Free Worlds Alliance turned down the offer of aid, and without wishing to be indelicate - I would like to know if there is anything the ISC can do to work closer with us, in ensuring what happened on Ferrera doesn't happen here."

 

[Carrick]

Kyber crystals had captured the imaginations of dozens of races in the past and not just for the Force-related implications. Even from a purely aesthetic point of view, they were crystals of almost unparalleled beauty. That they could power some truly amazing, and truly terrifying, devices was often a secondary thought at best. It was one of the many reasons why Christophsis had gained regional power - gem trading.

As someone still connected to the Force, Carrick found them to be a calming influence though he would admit that recently they seemed less receptive of him connecting to them than before.

But that was not why he was here today - no, Starros cut straight to the chase and Carrick appreciated it. There were many things he could be called but direct was one of the most common. Being asked for help was something that happened often for him but usually it was from people within the ISC asking for favors or the like. Having the senator of a planet under the banner of the FWA asking for help was... different.

He leaned forward slightly in his seat as he continued to listen.

AMS and the Sith.

Felt like everything in the Galaxy boiled down to those two issues these days - it didn't, of course, but it was hard not to feel that way from time to time. Taking a sip of his water, Carrick nodded in understanding and moved to address each point in turn.

"I would be delighted to aide the noble planet of Lothal, as would the ISC, against threats both viral and Sith in nature. Of course, you understand that what aid we can supply is limited in nature by your planet not being part of the ISC." he shrugged ever so slightly, "Such are facts in politics that some things we can only offer to our own, I'm sure you understand. But the ISC does not blind itself to the needs of others - especially in regards to the virus so it would behoove us to discuss it first."

He pulled out a datapad and brought up some information on @Dr Ilana Morata and her company. It was widely known throughout the Galaxy, as was her close ties with the ISC. Alongside that he had some information brought up about the mercy fleets of the Jedi Knight @Zathria who he had personally worked with as well.

"On a personal level, Knight Zathria's mercy fleets could be persuaded, quite easily, to make Lothal a key point in delivering medical care to this section of the Galaxy. Perhaps, should funding allow, we can pay for a second task force to be raised to better cover the area and ingratiate the planet of Lothal to these healers." he proposed, taking another sip of water, "Doctor Morata is another matter, of course. Her company is independent of any government, truly, but we have many 'ins' with the good Doctor. One thing she finds herself in need of are testing and medical production facilities - and staff who are willing to assist. Personally I feel she may very well be convinced of the value of the hardworking people of Lothal rather easily, given the right introduction."

Carrick grimaced ever so slightly.

"Naturally I would love to include Lothal in the work conducted by ISCRA but, I'm afraid, that the level of control and security that is required for that means that the ISC military would need to be heavily involved. And I could not, in good conscience, offer this without ISC membership - Lothal has a terrible history of being occupied by outside forces and I would not dream of adding to that, even with the best of intentions."

Left unsaid was that if Lothal was a member of the ISC, it would not be occupied by outside forces at all and Lothal would be eligible for the benefits of ISCRA and how that could boost both the refugee handling capacity and bring in good labour to the world.

@Nor'baal (@Killa Ree @Phoenix Mentioned)

 

[Cal Starros]

He would have been lying if he said he was not actually reasonably surprised at the openness of Carricks offer.

At least he is getting right to it the Senator mused as he listened to the Secretary suggestions. There was not doubting the man's intentions and the depth of his meaning. Perhaps it was being back here, on his homeworld, that spurred him to such a generous set of offers? Cal did not dwell on it. Carrick was a powerful man, and his time was of considerable value, so Cal got to it.

"Our most pressing demand is our anti-viral security, and that of our neighbours, partners and friends. Lothal and her people would like to contribute as best we can, from our current position within the Free Worlds," Cal ruled out membership of the ISC "...and to that end, anything we can do to support Dr Morata, and Knight Zathria efforts to fight this virus and its effects, both direct and otherwise, we shall engage with to the utmost of our modest capabilities. I am happy to promise here and now, Lothal shall open its doors to Knight Zathria's fleets, and we are happy to join in with your funding of a second task force. Whilst we cannot match it, we would be happy to make a contribution."

"MorataCorp, and their continued work is something Lothal is delighted to be able to support, in any way we can. In the northernmost part of this region, we still have old imperial-era facilities, mostly mines - their tunnels and storage areas - which we can make available for testing in a secure environment. I believe we even have some old ore crawlers up there, in storage we can make available?"

He would have his aide send the details over to Carrick.

On the next point, Cal understood that they could not be involved in the ISCRA - and the idea of a heavy off-world military presence here was not something his people would tolerate.

"Secretary," he raised his hands in a placid gesture to show he was fine with the man's statement "I understand the political sensitivity of the suggestion, but I know you have a greater grasp of the details here than I. Please, consider the suggestion moot - thank you for your openness. With the fleets of Zathria and the facilities of Morata, we have more than enough to be getting on with regard to the Virus."

Cal paused, before saying, with a degree of caution "If you are agreed, would you be able to set such arrangements in motion?"

 

[Carrick]

The best thing about his offers so far was that he was being so very generous and it was, so far, costing himself very little and the ISC itself literally nothing at all. Tinnel IV, his own planet, had been doing fundraising for an extension to Zathria's work anyway as a goodwill and PR stunt if nothing else - Carrick, personally, wished the Knight well in her work but he was not above getting his own positives just from the act of helping her.

That Starros was putting it plainly that Lothal would not be joining the ISC was a pity in some ways but something he was grateful for in others. Pity that they wouldn't join but he was grateful that the Senator was being so incredibly upfront about it. There wasn't going to be any attempt at a courtship that could prove costly in time, effort and materials when it was clearly stated that Lothal currently had no intentions to join the ISC.

At this point at least... Carrick could honestly see them deciding differently once they had worked more closely with the ISC.

"Senator, I believe that we are in agreement that these measures are for the best for your people and something the ISC is more than happy to assist with." he agreed with a wider smile, "I would be happy to start making personal calls to both the good Doctor and the Knight in question - once I have some time to present the facts and figures as they stand in a manner that is easy to digest for them."

It was often the terrible fact that civilians just did not understand the language used in a lot of documents and agreements made between politicians. Personally he put that down to them not wanting to make the effort to learn but oh well - he was probably biased. Luckily, between the two of them and their aides they could get that written up fairly easily.

He took a sip of his water and mentally put a pin in the viral defenses section of their discussion for the moment.

"But we return to the original second point - defense." he smiled a little bit more, "This part of our discussion may end up being more difficult I fear. Due to the nature of the threats the FWA has stirred up that may come calling on Lothal, there are limits to what we can agree to; we are not going to be having any discussions about ISC ships defending Lothal I am afraid, though, I'm certain you already know this and are not expecting this."

Carrick tapped at his datapad screen again, this time pulling up a 3D image of a starfighter.

Spoiler: TE-34 Wing Fighter

"I will speak plainly, Senator, because matters of defending our people should, in my opinion, be blunt, clear and precise." he gestured to the fighter before gesturing to the balcony, "A licensing agreement between the planet of Lothal and Christophsis Driveyards to permit Lothal to produce TE-34 Wing Fighters. The old TIE production facilities are still here and with a little work can produce these instead. Clauses will need to be included, of course, to ensure they are only produced by yourself and used for the defense of Lothal alone, however, the production run would be split 60-40 in your favor."

For every 100 fighters produced, Lothal would be allowed to keep 60 and send the remaining 40 to the ISC. It would grant Lothal a fighter design it could produce using its own resources, meaning it wouldn't need to rely on Incom or Kuat or other driveyards selling their stock to them. Carrick, however, was happy about how many fighters it would send back to the ISC. Even with Christophsis working at full capacity, they needed more fighters than they were currently producing for their carriers.

It wasn't his only thought on the matter of defense but it would serve as a good litmus test.

@Nor'baal

 

[Cal Starros]

With the AMS response agreed, Cal and his guest went on to the more direct and noticeable threat to the people of Lothal - the fact their planet could be glassed from orbit without delay. He thanked the Secretary as the offer to make the initial calls to Morata and the Jedi was made and then focused his attention back onto the next matter.

War.

"I completely understand the delicate political situation of Lothal asking the ISC for support in its own defences. There is no doubt that anything we decide must be done in accordance with our shared desire to not see anyone dragged into a conflict that is not of their making." Cal made it clear that he had no desire to see the ISC dragged into a conflict.

When the proposal of shared ship production came up, the Lothalite Senators eyes lit up. "That would be most agreeable Secretary. I believe we could, here on Lothal, rezone one of our industrial areas, a factory as you propose, in the same area as the MorataCorp medical manufactories. I will have the area zoned as a 'Special Economic Zone'...." Cal went on into the nitty-gritty detail of the proposal, whilst is aide, Sanna, had to fight to contain herself.

The Senator was suggesting a shared economic zone, to come into force before his own bill proposing a sanction on weapons trades came into force. The old bastard was going to exempt the ISC factory from the sanctions he was proposing!

"I believe this would be most agreeable Secretary Carrick." he smiled

 

[Carrick]

Special Economic Zone eh?

It was catchy enough that he was sure Starros would end up using the name liberally. Carrick personally was not a fan of naming things that did not need names above their station but, he supposed, such an industry might end up becoming integral to Lothal's economic growth in the future. He was certain that it would be an area of the planet that saw a rapid boom and he was glad of it - if only because it would showcase to the people of Lothal, and of the greater Galaxy, the benefits of working with the ISC.

For were they not generous?

For were they not merciful?

"I will leave the specifics up to yourself Senator, so long as the standard of starfighter produced is in line with the quality guidelines of the ISC, I can't see any issues with letting you run the sector as you see fit." he agreed with a bright smile, "A profitable arrangement for us all I'm certain."

The specifics were good when they got going as well, nothing slipped in there that could be used against the ISC from what he could see. Instead, they would gain and so would Lothal - win win as far as he was concerned. Of course it was not his only suggestion.

"Lastly one final military suggestion - war games." he suggested with a smile, "Fighter and bomber tactics are incredibly vital against Sith fleets. Their ships are most vulnerable to swarmed fighter and bomber attacks rather than ship-to-ship combat so I suggest we hold war games where teams of naval officers from both sides hold simulated battles with different compositions. We learn and grow in experience together even if we never technically go to war side by side."

@Nor'baal

 

[Cal Starros]

Even when faced with 'death by jargon', Carrick kept his cool; something which did not escape the notice of Cal. This was a good deal for Lothal, of that the Senator was extremely confident.

Jobs? Check.

Starships? Check.

AMS support? Check.

What was not to like.

"Lastly one final military suggestion - war games."

Cal was somewhat caught short by that prospect. But, he weighed it up in his mind. There was technically nothing wrong with the suggestion, after all, what was wrong with a bit of preparation.

"An excellent suggestion Secretary Carrick. I believe we have a deal."

Something of a traditionalist, he extended his hand - a final shake to finalize the deal.

 

[Carrick]

A deal indeed.

Once again, the ISC got a chance to be magnanimous and open to working with planets that others would have seen written off instead of focusing on. The FWA had, by and large, left both Mon Cala and Lothal - hell, their entire sector - to die on the vine, secure in the knowledge that they weren't going to leave. So that meant they could be so freely neglected, so freely left to rot at the arse-end of the FWA and forgotten about?

Well not as far as the ISC was concerned and it was nice to see that both of the planets in question recognized that about the ISC and working with them.

That the ISC gained from the relationships was even better.

"Then let us get it all drawn up, all signed up, announce it and make sure we make a big show out of toasting it." he declared with a wide smile as he shook Starros' hand, "Let the Galaxy know that Lothal is ready to start making it's mark on the sector and the FWA as a whole - that this breadbasket can be so much more."

And that it had these opportunities because of the ISC.

@Nor'baal