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Cal Starros

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Senator, Lothal

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Nor'baal
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It was one of the more ordinary sessions of the FWA Senate, a general debate on the relief effort in Firrerree. Cal knew as much as the next attendee, that no votes would be taking place; today's session was merely a chance for members to put their thoughts into words, and some might say, to play up to the camera.

Nursing a speech he had been working on for some time, Cal took a deep breath as the Speaker called his name.

"Order! The Senator for Lothal has the floor."

He stood, aware that the session was being broadcast, and spoke.

“Speaker.”

“I spoke the other day on the holonet, of the threat now posed by the wanton destruction of the Sith Empire, and its agents, in the wake of the strike against the Free World’s on our planet of Firrerre. What we witnessed was a failure to respond fast enough to an act of aggression, which entailed the loss of millions upon millions of our people at the hands of the Sith Empire and their war apparatus. In the coming days, our allies have mustered a response, and I have word that worlds within this Alliance have done likewise. But this calamity shall take many months, if not years, to repair; and it is my belief that the long period of recovery shall only be extended, should our inaction become our natural response.”

“When we consider the heroic efforts of the Free Worlds to liberate from the clutches of this Empire, the people of Felucia, we do well to remind ourselves of the stunning bravery and skill of the people of the Free Worlds. Yet, our adulation must not manifest further into ignorance of the peril we face.”

“I say this not to condemn those people who fought in Felucia, such a statement would be futile. Instead, I recite this today as reminder of what can be done by the brave people of this Alliance when they stand up, when they take arms, and when they fight back. Yet whilst these great struggles commence, and the enemy strikes deep into our very home, there are those in the Senate who would seek to drag their feet, to bicker and delay our response, and protect the interests of a lofty few, whose feet shall never stand in the sodded earth of conflict.”

“Of this I am quite sure. Division between our ranks, and the continued adherence to the doctrine of inaction, shall be our downfall.”

“Therefore I cannot accept the drawing of any Government, be it the Free Worlds, or our allies in the New Republic and ISC, that would suggest the path ahead of us, is one we must walk alone. We must seek to tread this path remembering with whose lives it shall be paved - the lives of our people.”

“Yet we cannot control the actions of our allies. Here in the Free Worlds however, we must push for a leader that is strong, a leader that will do what is needed to bring the great resources and might of our Alliance together, in one concentrated effort against the power arrayed before us. I do not think it advantageous to delay this process. The facts are clear, war is not coming - it is here.”

"The disastrous events of Firrerre, and the unfurling crisis at Denon, should not have come to any of us here as a surprise. The signs have been there for months; in the face of perceived weakness, the strong will always strike. Indeed, if the conflict is to expand as I believe it will, and the Sith are to strike next at the New Republic, it shall make no difference to the resolve of the Alliance and her people to fight on, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. During the last few weeks, we have seen what the Alliance can do when its people rise up, when its leaders stand with them, and when we fight with the passion and power of a free people, protecting that basic right - freedom."

"We have, across the planets that make up this alliance, a very large, powerful and committed military force, in our own way. This force brings together the rugged survivors of Alderaan, who have seen first hand the ultimate cost of war, with the resolute people of Mon Calamari, whose fleets rallied to the aid of the free people of this galaxy, time and time again. We boast the strength of colonies with the proud and storied might of the rimward worlds - and each and every world, whilst separate in its command, is united in its history."

"Throughout our history, the Free Worlds have come together. At Exogol, the people rose up against a tyrant, and took him down. Those not employed directly in the pursuit of victory in the field may find their efforts welcomed in the support of the front lines - starfighter construction, medical care, food supplies, the behemoth that rouses here in the Free Worlds, calls upon all who can bear arms to do so, and all can lend the same to do likewise."

"Our navy, its diaspora spread across the Free Worlds, is unrivalled in its skill, with the leviathans of Mon Calamari supported by the flying sprites of Lothals fighter corps. We know that in order to take action against any one of our number, the enemy must come to us and meet us in the inky mass of space - and that shall be their undoing. For when the Free Peoples fly out to meet them, there shall this Empire be unmade."

"There remains, of course, the danger of another attack such as the one we saw at Firrerre, which will almost certainly be made against us should the enemy see a chance and seize upon it. It is true that the offensive capabilities of the Sith fleets, while smaller in number, are more prestigious in their ability to enact indiscriminate harm. I do not underestimate the severity of the struggle that lies before us, but I believe the people of the Free Worlds will show themselves strong as the Rancor, and capable of standing it. Like the brave warriors of Felucia, we shall stare the enemy down, we shall look her in the eyes, and we shall be unbroken by their destructive ways. Much will depend on the strength of our resolve, every man and woman shall have the chance to show that strength."

"For all of us, at this time, whatever our sphere, our station, our occupation or our duties, it will be a help to remember the famous lines: He said nothing common did or mean, Upon that memorable scene."

"I have in recent days thought it right to come before the Senate and indeed, the Alliance itself, and present some form of argument upon which to base our unshakable resolve to continue the war. There are many people who would say it would be “better to die than submit to tyranny”. My friends, I count myself amongst them. But, I can assure you that there are good hopes of a final and lasting victory against the enemy."

"When I look into the eyes of the men and women of my own world, for example, I do not see fear, I see an unbridled fury at the destruction of Firrerre, I see a burning passion to strike back, and I see a deep and lasting resolve to win."

"I know I look into their eyes, and a hero looks back."

"When the Sith renounced their desire for peace, when they struck out and struck down millions of our people on Firrerre, it became clear to us all. This battle has ended - the war has begun, and the outcome of this war depends on the very survival of the Free Worlds Alliance. Upon it depends on our lives, and the long and continued progress of the principles for which we stand, and for which our ancestors died. The whole and complete fury of our enemy shall soon turn upon us. The Sith believe they have us on the rocks, they see us paralyzed by the horror meted out on Firrerre, they think us frozen in terror and unable to respond. "

"If we stand up to them now, as our ancestors did to their order in the past, the Alliance, nay, the Galaxy, may be free, and move forward into the light as one. But if we fail, the entire galaxy, including the New Republic and the ISC, including those worlds outside such alliances, shall sink into a new age of Darkness, made more harsh and deeper in its cruelty by the destructive powers of the Sith."

"Let us, therefore, brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the Free Worlds and its planets last for a thousand years, people will still say, “This was their finest hour.”"


OOC - Prompted by some chats in the main discord yesterday, I have taken it upon myself to redo a certain speech. Whilst three lines are lifted directly from the speech, I have shorted it (massively) and tried to emulate the style of writing. Two hours of my time, well spent.
 
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