For some time, Setarkos had simply sat on the corner of the Senate building, leaning on one of the window ledges of the room, looking out over the tumbling waterfall that fell away beneath him. He was allowed into the building as one of the Representatives of one of the planets within the system of Naboo, his home, and whilst he was constantly amazed at his ability to somehow keep his job, Setarkos none-the-less enjoyed the challenge and stimulation it provided.
This session of the Senate had been called to address a crisis, one that Setarkos had watched with some interest since it had first begun; that of the 'AMS' illness. Today the Senate was required to make a choice - whether or not to support a joint task force to help bring a swift resolution to this issue.
Setarkos sat in silence, as he listened to the points being raised by his peers, and in many (if not most) cases, his betters. Emryc, a whispy looking fellow, who you almost certainly wouldn't take on as a house-sitter, began by calling for a military response force, something which solicited some considerable amount of supportive chuntering from the assembled. Soygun York was next to their feet, pouncing on the back of the supportive noises Emrycs followers had begun to make, calling for a 'multi-pronged' approach, effectively requesting a massive amount of centralised coordination, almost certainly to be funded by the already over-stretched core.
Finally, Setarkos was pleased to hear the voice Vyss Jakar, who offered a voice to the opposition of a military response. Setarkos did not look away from the window, instead, he listened to the Senator suggest that we should be 'doing more' without being challenged as to the realism of their proposals. Setarkos for one had not heard of a Laboratory that could be constructed within a single month, and still perform the onerous tasks expected of it.
Once again, Emryc was back on their feet in an instance - indeed, Setarkos was unsure if they had ever resumed their seat in the first place. The man seemed to rather hold court in this place, some of those gathered holding onto their every word; well considered as they were. And so the debate continued, back and forth, becoming more bogged down as it did so. The matter moved, as it often did in debates in the Senate, to the subject of 'who would control what?' and 'who would contribute what to what?' - effectively, the issue was getting lost in the discussion pertaining to its solution, and that in turn was getting lost further, in the power plays of those present.
And yet, as the discussion continued, the power of persuasion won out, and it was suggested that Emryc themselves 'commanded' the task force. Their qualifying factors? Experience.
Setarkos rolled his eyes.
'When your home is a-flame,' came the deep voice of Setarkos as he stood from the window sill and walked to the centre of the debating floor '...do you argue who best to fetch the water pail? No. For when calamity strikes, the first inclinations are of the heart, not of the mind. You do not see the house a-flame and, in that instant, consider who best to fetch the pail, or perhaps consider what new home could be built when the flames have settled. Should you not first seek to put out the fire?'
He shrugged.
'That is perhaps a simplification of the events facing us today, but possibly, one that is needed. Why should we focus on the material cost, the political cost, and more on resolving this calamity, when we should instead commit to doing whatever is needed to resolve it. We cannot rebuild a home if there are no builders to do it, and we cannot even call it a home if there is nobody to live there. Senators, are you not lost? Caring more about who commands and who provides, rather than what they would command in the first place?'
Setarkos paused as if thinking of what to say next.
'But, even when we get to the position of 'Commander', an odd term to use for such a task, we seem all too eager to make such a decision, one that carries with it considerable power, and therefore, considerable responsibility. We have already seen people ready to throw their support behind a leader, Emryc, with haste, and nobody seems to have asked why? What we are asking is for someone with the capability to command such a large endeavour, the knowledge to tackle the challenges that it faces, and the desire to surrender such a responsibility when the time is apt to do so. All of these questions and more have not been answered, and I would like to know some of the answers before I cast my vote. Emryc, do you want to lead this mission? If you do, why?'
This session of the Senate had been called to address a crisis, one that Setarkos had watched with some interest since it had first begun; that of the 'AMS' illness. Today the Senate was required to make a choice - whether or not to support a joint task force to help bring a swift resolution to this issue.
Setarkos sat in silence, as he listened to the points being raised by his peers, and in many (if not most) cases, his betters. Emryc, a whispy looking fellow, who you almost certainly wouldn't take on as a house-sitter, began by calling for a military response force, something which solicited some considerable amount of supportive chuntering from the assembled. Soygun York was next to their feet, pouncing on the back of the supportive noises Emrycs followers had begun to make, calling for a 'multi-pronged' approach, effectively requesting a massive amount of centralised coordination, almost certainly to be funded by the already over-stretched core.
Finally, Setarkos was pleased to hear the voice Vyss Jakar, who offered a voice to the opposition of a military response. Setarkos did not look away from the window, instead, he listened to the Senator suggest that we should be 'doing more' without being challenged as to the realism of their proposals. Setarkos for one had not heard of a Laboratory that could be constructed within a single month, and still perform the onerous tasks expected of it.
Once again, Emryc was back on their feet in an instance - indeed, Setarkos was unsure if they had ever resumed their seat in the first place. The man seemed to rather hold court in this place, some of those gathered holding onto their every word; well considered as they were. And so the debate continued, back and forth, becoming more bogged down as it did so. The matter moved, as it often did in debates in the Senate, to the subject of 'who would control what?' and 'who would contribute what to what?' - effectively, the issue was getting lost in the discussion pertaining to its solution, and that in turn was getting lost further, in the power plays of those present.
And yet, as the discussion continued, the power of persuasion won out, and it was suggested that Emryc themselves 'commanded' the task force. Their qualifying factors? Experience.
Setarkos rolled his eyes.
'When your home is a-flame,' came the deep voice of Setarkos as he stood from the window sill and walked to the centre of the debating floor '...do you argue who best to fetch the water pail? No. For when calamity strikes, the first inclinations are of the heart, not of the mind. You do not see the house a-flame and, in that instant, consider who best to fetch the pail, or perhaps consider what new home could be built when the flames have settled. Should you not first seek to put out the fire?'
He shrugged.
'That is perhaps a simplification of the events facing us today, but possibly, one that is needed. Why should we focus on the material cost, the political cost, and more on resolving this calamity, when we should instead commit to doing whatever is needed to resolve it. We cannot rebuild a home if there are no builders to do it, and we cannot even call it a home if there is nobody to live there. Senators, are you not lost? Caring more about who commands and who provides, rather than what they would command in the first place?'
Setarkos paused as if thinking of what to say next.
'But, even when we get to the position of 'Commander', an odd term to use for such a task, we seem all too eager to make such a decision, one that carries with it considerable power, and therefore, considerable responsibility. We have already seen people ready to throw their support behind a leader, Emryc, with haste, and nobody seems to have asked why? What we are asking is for someone with the capability to command such a large endeavour, the knowledge to tackle the challenges that it faces, and the desire to surrender such a responsibility when the time is apt to do so. All of these questions and more have not been answered, and I would like to know some of the answers before I cast my vote. Emryc, do you want to lead this mission? If you do, why?'