Stranger in a Strange Land

Brandon Rhea

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This was not something Jhon wanted to be doing. He was not a politician, nor a diplomat, nor an ambassador, nor anything else that qualified him to lead the Galactic Alliance, even as the interim leader. The Jedi High Council said that's why he was the most qualified for the assignment; they said Jhon was the most reluctant yet still had proven he possessed the qualities necessary to be a leader, which was what a good Chief of State should have. Jhon was not convinced, but he accepted their collective wisdom as the will of the Force.

Now he was on Coruscant, a planet he never felt comfortable on. It was so industrial, metallic...lifeless. Trillions of beings lived there, of course, but the planet itself was essentially dead, kept alive through artificial means. He almost would've sounded like the ancient Alsakan Union had he said that out loud, though theirs was a naive, murderous quest.

Still, even though Jhon was more comfortable at his home in the Sage Halls of Empress Teta, he had traveled to Coruscant, and now he once again stood in the chambers of the Galactic Congress. Only this time he wasn't a guest. He was here to lead.

With a deep sigh, he finally he spoke, "My friends, I come before this body again. Not as a Jedi guest this time, but as the reluctant, temporary leader of this Galactic Alliance. I usually am not a public speaker, so I will keep my remarks short.

The Jedi and the Alliance exist in harmony and unity. We have done so for nearly a thousand years, which is why, many centuries ago, this process was put into place to allow a Jedi High Council member to serve as the interim leader of Congress and the Alliance when a Chief of State resigned or passed away. This is not the first time a Jedi has taken up this role, and regrettably it will not be the last.

Normally the Prime Envoy would take this assignment, but, due to other commitments, Master Kane was not able to fulfill that role. The Council and Congressional leaders have chosen me to do so in her place.

This is not a job a Jedi wants. This holds true with me. I am a sage and a healer, not a politician, so my duty now is to ensure a swift transition to a new administration. I will be speaking with Congressional leaders and the executive staff shortly so we can begin the process of electing a new Chief of State.

Above all, let us all pray for the health and safety of our friend, Valafar Lamartine. He was an exceptional Chief of State, and I for one wish him all the best as he begins a new chapter in his life.

Thank you. I will open the floor to questions, should you have any. Please keep it orderly and civil."
 

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Cane Es Cade had heard reports that Valafar had suffered a heart problem, but didn't realize it would have led to this. Then again, Cane wasn't in the position to speak badly against Valafar's decision. Cane knew what the former Chief of State felt, considering his own chronic illness. However, it was a shame to lose their figurehead.

"It is a shame that Valafar Lamartine has left us, but this is not the time to be distraught," said Senator Es Cade at last. "War looms upon us, as Master Cordatus has revealed the last time we met. We must unite. Even though Master Cordatus is only an interim, we must show him the same respect, the same dedication, that we showed Valafar Lamartine or any other Chief of State. We'll deal with a new Chief of State when the time comes, but until then, we must not quabble amongst ourselves, else the Empire has already won. The Empire is a threat not to be taken lightly, and only united will we succeed against this thread."

Es Cade turned to face Jhon, giving a slight nod of respect and acknowledgement. "The Jedi have been our protectors, and I apologize that we must ask for the aid of peacekeepers to aid us in this time of approaching war. With your guidance, I hope the Alliance and Jedi will be able to work together to combat the Sith. I might suggest we open arms to others. After all, as they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The Mandalorians seem eager to fight this new threat against the Sith Empire and Chiss Ascendancy. I would suggest we do the same to some of the more smaller affiliates in our midst. The Kushari Federation is already with us, but what about the Centrality? Will they help us? Will we allow other Force Factions such as the Imperial Knights and the Order of Luminado to fight alongside us? What say you, representative of both Jedi and Galactic Alliance?"
 

Brandon Rhea

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The Sage Master nodded at the suggestion, though it was only his opinion that it was a fair enough suggestion to attempt. It was not, under any circumstances, an executive decision. Jhon may have had to accept the fact that he would sit in the Chief of State’s office for a short time, but he had no intention of assuming that gave him the right to redirect the policies and affairs of the Galactic Alliance. He still considered himself a guest in this Congress.

"Your suggestions are not without merit, Senator," the interim Chief of State said, "but, while the Congress is free to debate this matter, I do not feel it is my place to direct military policy or sign any such legislation into law except in emergency situations. I will be here to direct the transition to a new administration, at which point the next Chief of State is obviously free to pursue such policies at their discretion."
 

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Es Cade bowed apologetically. "My apologies. I meant no disrespect. I was only offer a suggestion we open communications to these groups. Basically, try to foster relations that will bring them to the table for when our new Chief of State is chosen. The suggestion was also branched towards the Jedi, specifically in regards to the Imperial Knights and other Force affiliates that exist in the galaxy."
 

Brandon Rhea

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Jhon smiled. It was clear that he and the Senators still needed a bit more time to get to know one another better.

"No disrespect taken," he said with a nod. "I will relay your suggestion about the Imperial Knights and other groups to the Jedi Council the next time I speak with them."
 
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