Open Galactic Senate Expedited Assembly

[Dimon Fee Simm]

Rolling to his feet like a duck in roller skates, Dimon spoke: "Speaker, I thank the House for allowing this motion. I yield the remainder of my time to his Excellency, rhe Supreme Mogul of the Hutts."

OOC - Will post with Nor'baal to magnify the Hutts argument.

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

It would help if you used formatting.

Make this post extraordinary, translate it from Huttese to basic, and put it in the 'abbr=' code, Norbs. It was what the writers wanted; it was what the players wanted.

But fi, fi upon them Nor'baal, they'll take our ramblings and enjoy it.

---

For once, calm descended upon the assembly of galactic representatives.

Nobody cared.

Why should they? They wanted drama and chaos - it was what they foolishly continued to vote for. Build a wall, and make Corellia pay for the wall.

Democracy.

The Senate was a living example of why the Hutts had never allowed such an idiotic concept to root itself.

Who needs diplomacy anyway? Just vote to turf the forces we don't like out of the Senate - that was how diplomacy worked, right?

Nor'baal looked around the assembly, a chamber of hot air and hypocrites; the inflated self-importance of the self-righteous practically overwhelmed him.

This was an assembly renowned for its inaction and inactivity.

It was the embodiment of a contradiction. People yearned for representation but continued to vote for a body that delivered nothing short of a failure.

A cavern of criminals.

Nor'baal felt more at home here than he did on Hutta.

"I thank the Senator for Ubrikkia for his time." Nor'baal began. He breathed in, taking in the majesty of the place around him and taking the chance to stare down the considerable number of Senators he was confident he could buy off or intimidate sufficiently to vote for his motion.

"Since this body's founding, it has been tasked with representing the population and planets of this great galaxy. Yet, since its founding, the Hutt Space and its many trillions of citizens have failed to be represented here. I ask this body a simple question - why?" The Hutt Supreme Mogul paused and drank in the reaction of the worried Senators.

Who could provide a reason to exclude Hutt Space that did not, in some way, exclude them?

"Let us join the galactic community, with equal representation, and step forward to help solve the problems faced by our combined galactic community and step out of an old age into the new." Nor'baal lacquered on the sincerity, entirely faked, of course, with the professionalism of Kuati Ballet Dancer.

Hopefully, the good people of the Senate would respond with the warmth of a newly bled radiator and welcome him with open arms.

 

[Hugo Parasini]

Hugo was intrigued with the gift Nor'baal offered. But before he votes one way or another, he would just ask. "It is interesting to see that Hutt Space is looking to connect with the rest of the galaxy.." he said. "Just be sure, how many seats in the senate are you seeking?" he would ask.

Is Hutt Space looking for representation on par with the Empire and ISC's twenty seats? Or the same arrangement as the Corporate Sector, with 10 seats? Maybe less? We shall see.

@Nor'baal

 

[Makari de Nolay]

The Senate became more and more of a troubled parody of itself with time. Two of its governing bodies had collapsed from internal conflict, leaving behind a swathe of independent polities waiting to be gobbled up by the next power. But the ISC seemed content to follow its policy of gradual, organic buildup and sensible, non-interventionist foreign policy. The Empire, too, continued to grow in size and influence; gobbling up Jedi and neutral worlds alike.

With this pretext, the Senate felt almost like a silly endeavor. Just look at the proposals. Vote out the Empire? And then, what, sanction them again? Had any of the measures the Senate had taken to restrict the old Sith Empire worked? No! The Empire was today ever-growing, while the New Republic and the Free Worlds Alliance were both washed away by the tides of history. The Galactic Senate was now a glass desk built on a tower of sand - the first crashing wave would destroy its tenuous structure.

And then that blathering about 'The Force' and leaving that aberration Raze to the Jedi. It was only fitting that the Hutts join now. They didn't even have the decency to buy off their senators anymore - they had to get it in themselves. Perhaps next, the Senators could allow Jawa scavengers to pick apart the Senate halls and sell it for scrap.

But who was Makari to criticize? He, too, was a part of this strange game.

"Alsakan supports the Hutt's entry into the Senate. The...honorable Nor'Baal has demonstrated a clear contradiction in our Senate: That there are peoples and worlds of the galaxy that desire representation but do not yet have it." Perhaps this would light a fire under the Core Worlders' behinds - another insult to our collective prestige and honor. With the Hutts in the Senate, they would be the third most powerful faction. Everybody gets a seat at the fucked up table. Let the Jedi in, while we're at it, and let things get really weird for a while.

They always said in art school that a period of experimentation preceded any new great era in artist's work. While that was an incredibly reductive way at looking at the development of art, perhaps it could apply here: They could try out a really bad idea and just see how it shakes out down the road. Realistically, the Hutts were not an active threat to the existing Senatorial powers, the Empire and ISC - only to the independent worlds, like his, that couldn't endure the stench of the Hutt presence alone. The opportunity to ignite the Senate further down the road seemed too interesting to pass up.

"If I may, though, it would be rather unusual for a whole body of space to join under a single distinguished representative." That is, an open, known, and flagrant crime boss. "I would welcome Nor'baal as representative of Nal Hutta, presumably, but unless there are other senatorial candidates for the worlds' termed 'Hutt Space,' I see no reason to consider the other planets and sectors for admission." Perhaps a little too bureaucratic, but hopefully helpful in limiting the influence of the Hutts. Give them one seat and make 'em figure out how to get more over time. It would, at least, limit them from instantly ballooning in votes to rival the Empire, Corporate Sector, or ISC.

Hopefully, at least, the Hutts or other senators would respond. Nothing would be worse than keeping a stale topic going on too long. Anyone who has been to a Senate party would know just how torturous that can be.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal pondered.

He pontificated.

Huttily, he thought.

Ruminated.

He reason, contemplated - even considered.

Finally he spoke.

"30." the Hutt spake, with a voice of immutable wisdom and grace.

 

[Makari de Nolay]

"This proposal treads the line of insult. Speaker, I repeat my proposal - one seat for the honorable Hutt. If the Hutt Cartel takes thirty seats, there will be zero seats left for my world, zero for Ubrikka who cosponsored the bill, zero for Chandrila, Gatalena, Coruscant.” ‘Hutts’ and the good faith negotiations mixed like oil and water, but to suggest a greater stake in representation for the Hutt Cartels than most of the senators present at the assembly had put together seemed near ludicrous.

The senate charter left 100 seats to senators. The Empire held 30, as did the ISC. The Corporate Sector had 10. If the Hutts wanted the rest of the seats in senate, they would have to pry it from his cold, dead hands. Or have the decency to offer a bribe big enough that he could just take off for the rest of his political career. That Nor'baal Desjiliic also operated crime rackets deep within the territory of the ISC on Tattooine and the practically everywhere in the rest of the galaxy made the claim all-the-more bold. It was a shameless power grab, one that highlighted just how distant the Senate was from any real political vision.

Time to filibuster! "This underscores a greater problem, fellow senators. The galactic senate was designed with our predecessor governments in mind. Without the Free Worlds Alliance and the New Republic, without any form of interplanetary unity, we are vulnerable. Our charter does not make any provisions for us."

He refocused on the speaker. "One voting seat for Nal Hutta. Any other individual worlds in 'Hutt Space' must apply on their own. Perhaps they can build their voting base on their planets."

@Nor'baal

 

[Hugo Parasini]

Hugo would push the button of 'Nay' now that the Great Hutt signaled that the Hutts were seeking thirty seats. Not even the shady Governor of Opportunity could get behind that.

If the Hutt lowers the seats he is seeking or go with the Alsakan senator's suggestions, Hugo will reconsider his vote.

 

[Ceridwen Adalia]

Governor Adalia's sharp gaze watched the Hutt as they spoke and pondered. Thirty seats, they asked? To be seen as and matched with legitimate governments? Even the Corporate Sector didn't have such weighty representation, and they were a major cog in the galactic economy.

Reaching for power and representation from a culture of criminal debasement the likes of which the ISC's very founding had come into being to counteract. The Consortium brought the disparate and forgotten Outer Rim together into something greater, better for its people. The Hutt Cartels, older than the Republic itself, had always represented the opposite and so been denied a seat in the Old Republic. Ceridwen felt they should be denied it yet again.

She listened to the Alsakan Senator's points next and his call for a single seat: Nal Hutta itself. She decided she liked this senator. The people of the Pacanth Reach, Epicanthix and Firrerreons alike, openly abhorred the very same slavery that was key to Hutt power in the galaxy and expected the same from their rulers and governors. Even if Adalia personally wanted to vote 'yes' -and she did not- her people would riot for her choice. When Makari de Nolay's speaking was done, she had opinions of her own.

"The Pacanth Reach supports the Supreme Mogul's call for Hutt representation in the Senate. Respectfully, however, it rejects the idea of the Hutts speaking for worlds in chains. The Reach agrees with the Senator for Alsakan. One seat."

Governor Adalia pressed 'nay' on her console, rejecting the proposal as currently presented. Like others, she may reconsider if the proposal was altered.

 

[Steela Bol]

The request for thirty seats from the Hutt seemed rather absurd to Steela. While she had initially considered supporting the motion, she found it impossible to align herself with the Hutt's request. Granting those seats would result in the immediate expulsion of not only herself but also several other independent planets from the Senate.

She quietly remained in her pod, finding no justification to interject when numerous other delegates had already expressed their opposition.

Should the motion remain unamended, she would be voting 'Nay'.

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

And at last, the blatant and unbridled xenophobia of the so-called 'civilised' planets was laid bare. Of course the do-gooders of the Core and Mid-Rim didn't want their precious apple cart upset by admitting one of the largest population centers of the known Galaxy!

Nor'baal scoffed at the ludicrous suggestion of the half-witted Senator for Alaskan, a planet he had never even heard of, and formulated his own reply. "Alaskan makes a powerful point, and one that highlights the need for this Senate to be open to reform so that it can work in the favour of the untold trillions who lack representation in this place." he replied, moving to address the crux of the Senators point.

"How can we claim fairness, how can Senators honestly suggest that this body represents the broader interests of the people, and not the narrow interests of a select few, when it locks representation leanings in favour of the Consortium and the Empire? We have a population at the very least, equal to, but far more likely - greater than, these regions of space, that the Empire, than the Consortium." he threw his hands wide, his face transfixed with faux horror.

"Are the people of Hutt space less worthy of representation in this august body than those of the Consortium and the Empire? Are they of lesser value?" he was aghast.

Aghast I tell you.

"I say our request for thirty seats is far below what our population, number of planets and sectors, would call for if weighted accurately. Therefore I call for the motion to grant thirty seats to the Hutt Space, to be amended, expanding the number of seats in this body to one-hundred and thirty - broadening representation." he looked around the gathered Senators and sneered.

If the amendment fell, the initial motion of admitting the 'Hutt Space' under one seat, would therefore go to a vote. Either way, Nor'baal got two shots at what he wanted.

Let them scrabble to defend their power, and in doing so showcase it was they who where the real galactic criminals, cruelly denying the rights of trillions to be represented on this body, just so they could preserve their own febrile status.

 

[Victoria]

Victoria rose to speak on the matter after carefully considering her words.

"We support including the Hutt delegation into the Galactic Senate on the basis that they do represent a number of peoples that currently do not have a voice within the Senate." But on the matter of how much representation was not something that could be easily solved.

"If I am not mistaken, the seat allocation has not been properly adjusted to account for the status quo changing. Perhaps it would be wiser to admit the Hutt's under one seat and formally review this for the entirety, after the session is complete."

 

[Hugo Parasini]

"Great Hutt" Hugo would address the Supreme Mongol politely. "If I may." he would stand up from his seat. "Hutt Space needs to have a system organized where representatives are present in the chambers and are given the power to represent their planet or system - much like how Senators represent their part of a greater government. One person cannot speak for all of Hutt Space, and one voice cannot speak for thirty seats, or twenty seats .etc ... Same as how one person can't speak for the twenty seats of the ISC, the Empire..." he paused.

"I will vote in favor of Makari de Nolay's proposal, but not anything else. One seat for Nal Hutta for now, until Hutt Space has a system of senators sorted out." as for the other thing that was brought up.

"As touched on by Senator Victora, the issue of expanding the total number of senate seats in this assembly, or any other overhauls of the assembly should be an agenda topic for another session, another time."

Hugo would check the chrono, time for this item is fast running out...

 

[The Storyteller]

"Due to failing to acquire the votes needed for the resolution to pass, and the time ran out. The agenda item "Admission of Hutt Space into the Galactic Senate' fails to pass. Also having never accepted the proposal of one seat for Nal Hutta, no seat is granted in the senate .

Next. 'Initiating an Anti-Piracy Taskforce' introduced by the Senator of Champala.

Senator Staergin, speak."

@Olwin

 

[Dimon Fee Simm]

Simon rose, and made a point of order.

"Speaker, I thank the House for indulging me, but we have not followed the correct process of voting. It is a well established custom that you vote on amendments as they are received, and that voting down an amendment doesn't void the initial proposal. We should vote on the amendment for the seat number to be 'thirty', and then vote on the motion itself. From what I have seen here the senate voted down the proposal for thirty seat, and you then closed the debate off. This is not the correct process, we must now vote on the proposal of admitting Nal Hutta into the Assembly, on one seat.""

The Senator snapped from his podium, keen to ensure process was followed, and not ignored out of haste to move into another motion which would almost certainly be ruled out of the scope of the senate anyway.

 

[The Storyteller]

"I believe you are misunderstanding the proceedings. When asked to clarify at the very beginning of how many seats Nor'baal was seeking, it was said thirty. That was the initial motion, which was rejected, and amendment of additional seats added to the senate overall got no support.

The counter-proposal by the Alsakan Senator of one seat for Nal Hutta was effectively dismissed by Nor'baal doubling down on thirty seats." The counter-proposal was for Nor'baal to accept, and he didn't. Had Nor'baal accepted the compromise, then the vote would have been on it. Why would there be a vote for something Nor'baal showed no interest in having? Also, one can not 'game' the Galactic Senate by proposing hundreds of amendments then having hundreds of different votes.

"The entire talks about the topic have already went way past the allotted time and I was generous enough to extend it well beyond what I should have. It's done. And it's long past the time we moved on to the next topic. If you have any objections, feel free to voice a concern to the Galactic Senate Headquarters. Also you are welcome to try the motion again the next session."

@Nor'baal

@Olwin post

 

[Aharon Staergin]

Aharon swallowed his own saliva and felt his heart pulse. He had not seen the other issues on the docket when he had submitted his. He felt his was small and insignificant in this meeting, but he knew in the grand scheme of things this would be a major issue for centuries to follow. The Senator had sipped from his glass one last time before standing.

"We are on the verge of war. The galaxy is still reeling from Coruscant as the shadow of Raze grows taller and taller.
We will need everything we can to even stand a change against such a threat. All of the allies, all of the manpower, all of the weapons and ships and ammunition and material and supplies to keep going. All of our industrial and scientific might must be running at peak efficiency for us as a galactic community to have a chance. Yet there will be those who wish to raid our lines for whatever profit they may gain. They scour our hyperlanes, terrorizing civilian, corporate, and national ships alike. There will be those who already are doing such a task, savaging our major trade routes now that their protection faded with the New Republic."

The young Senator paused for a moment before he sipped from his water again. The room was dry to him, very dry. Humidity on Champala was much higher than this. And the heat from the spotlight didn't help things. He got out of the habit to coming to their functions, and had to get used to them again. So, after his pause, the young man began to speak again.

"Raze is an enemy of the most ruthless sort. He is willing to go to the center of our known galaxy, the heart of galactic politics as we know it, and obliterate anything within his grasp. So what's to say when he eventually escalates he won't preform similar levels of barbarism to our supply lines? If he has any intelligence he would strike there first. And he most likely will not attack through direct means. He will offer these buccaneers riches and power beyond their wildest dreams, and they will greedily gobble up any bounties or contracts they will find in their way. So why should we not stop them now before we are plunged into war and they strike like never before?

"As a body of planets, we are spread across the stars. We have groups in the core, mid-rim, outer rim, everywhere. We are as spread out as we can be. That means if Raze does rise up against the galaxy his first targets will not be individual planets, but the hyperlanes. That is why I say, now, we need to establish an Anti-Piracy task force. We shall clear our lanes of any pirate activity, keep the transportation of material up as much as we can, and brace for the storm. This way if there is assaults on these lanes it will not be splitting our forces and focusing much needed military power on some small bands of raiders, but it will be directly assisting us against Raze. My vision is that they shall be an extra-political force, our first attempt at cooperation between governments big and small. This way we not only do away with those who have harmed our economies for centuries, but also learn how to cooperate as a unit against a much smaller threat than what we will face against Raze. Any questions about structure or composition or anything as specific as that I leave to the rest of the Senate to discuss. But I wish to establish this so we at least have one preemptive move against this most dangerous of foes." He finished but kept standing, his back straightening as if ready to be blown over by a strong gale. He was ready for the hurricane of comments destroying his offer. They did not see what he saw happening. And Aharon knew if they didn't unite they would die.

 

[Makari de Nolay]

It was always about task forces with the senate, wasn't it? Never about actually solving the problem, always about talking about the problem. To his credit, the Senator of Champala seemed like a noble sort, but this was an idea that would be a logistical nightmare to coordinate, and he had announced the entire strategy of the plan to publicly recorded senate proceedings.

"The Senator of Champala raises an excellent point. Our worlds are especially vulnerable." However, earlier in the session, the defense secretary of the ISC had already voted down an offensive action against Raze. To offer another, instead cloaked as an anti-piracy effort, seemed like it would have the same result. Because, frankly, both the ISC and the Empire were already superpowers. They could fortify within their borders and just wait out the Raze incidents, if so they felt, and only intervene if it touched their worlds. And likely, the ISC was tired of having to coordinate, lead, and be the bulk of forces for every intergalactic mission that existed - without a real government or alliance coordinating the Core Worlds, they were weak. "But the protection of the Core is not the responsibility of the entire galaxy. It is our responsibility. I leave the floor open to delegates from the Empire and ISC for comment, but otherwise, I would suggest this item be tabled and presented to individual governments in the Core Worlds first, outside of Senate chambers. Without a cosponsor prepared for this endeavor, this is putting the cart before the horse, no?" Who would foot the bill? Always the question with these efforts.

Of course, Champala was welcome to do as it pleased. To Makari, who generally aligned with the idea, it would be far more impactful if the Core Worlds already had built a stabled joint defense pact. To do so would take work, but it would feel less hectic than the current proposal. Lest this anti-piracy Taskforce turn out like the last one.

@Olwin

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

With his efforts to join the Senate thwarted by the self-interested core, Nor'baal saw no reason to remain in this forsaken place. Gesturing to his modest entourage, he left the chamber.

<Uba, wata!> he barked at his Majordomo in Huttese. The Toydarian fluttered over nervously as the Hutt made his way from the rotunda and back to his ship <Kuna kee matka wata, kloonkee bai bu Yih Bacdotou. Jee banag da Cohai banieie cay binuaieza kahse.> he sneered, as the Majordomo bowed and made his own way back to the Embassy.

/exitthread

 

[Trina Kalist]

Trina had remained silent during the voting of the Hutt inclusion. In truth, she wasn’t thrilled about it, but 30 seats was an absolute no. Fortunately the motion was passed with one seat. (canonizing our discord votes) (@Nor'baal )

“Senator, while I echo the sentiments that piracy is a problem, I have to caution us against attempting to thwart any potential ally Raze chooses to seek,” Trina said, “With the power to sway minds, he could start pocketing diplomats and leaders from other planets as well. Are you suggesting we put together a task force for every single avenue Raze may explore? For all we know, pirates fear him just the same as the rest of us,” She highly doubted pirates found the thought of being around abominations appealing no matter the price.

“Our focus needs to be on Raze himself, which we have already voted on prior. This means understanding where to find him and how to defeat him. Something like him will manipulate and sway the minds of anyone he seeks and I cannot support funneling resources towards both Raze and also a vast, complex pirate network.”

Trina paused there, “The piracy problem has gotten worse, and we do need to address it. But we need to address it regionally, as Senator de Nolay suggests, instead of bringing it to this forum.”

@Olwin @The Good Doctor

 

[Hugo Parasini]

And suddenly, there was a snap election done via the terminal on the senate pods. And suddenly the Hutt Space was granted it's one seat for Nal Hutta. Interesting

---

Hugo listened to the Champa Senator's speech, and then squinted his eyebrows in the confusion shortly into the said speech as to why there was talk about Raze in a resolution that's supposed to be addressing pirates. He went on the terminal and wondered if there was a mistake for this session's agenda. But hearing more of the speech, it wasn't a mistake.

But why is Raze being brought into this, he wondered. Then he realized. Ah. To monger some fear of course! To try and scare the others with the shadow of Raze to tackle on a completely unrelated threat. The threat to - as pointed out so kindly by the Alsakan Senator - the Core's trade routes. He is on to Staergin. He would narrow his eyes in focus, in suspicion. To the side, his litigator droid would take notes.

This is another resolution that would need the ISC to do the bulk of the work for very less-capable entities. Something that gains the Core Worlds the most and everyone else not so much on top of that. And speaking of Raze, the ISC made it a point not to antagonize Raze.

"If this is about the Core, then lets dismiss this yes." Hugo said, then he shrugged.