Open The Free Must Decide

[Dusty Daytonus]

Dusty Daytonus. A political beloved by the common man and despised by anyone who followed politics. Criminals sought his blessing. Academics were baffled by him. As for the Glymphid himself, he couldn't be bothered with any of their opinions. What he loved was thrills and a good time, both of which happened to be sitting in front of him.

Deetay Pilo was a renowned Kessurian socialite who was renowned as a galactic beauty and a charismatic presence. Dusty had recently met her at a party and, to his dismay, had found out that she was an astute thinker as well, keenly interested in politics. While Dusty had put the ole Daytonus charm on her, she seemed more interested in the good that Dusty's position could do the galaxy. Wanting to appear as more than he was in a bid to impress Deetay, Dusty had bragged about his longstanding ties with the FWA and how significant a faction they really were in galactic affairs. Even showing her the holovideo of him blasting his way out of a Killik horde along with the other members hadn't seemed to convince her, so Dusty was desperate enough to go with his last resort.

He'd actually do his job.

He had sent an invite out to all FWA officials and representatives to meet him at his bantha ranch on Ploo II. It was a charmingly rustic spot with spacious enough room to accommodate a great number of beings. The nature of this summit was ostensibly to discuss the future of the FWA and how it should respond to the significant events of the galaxy, from the continued Killik threat to the fragementation of the Sith Empire, to the growing number of refugees in the galaxy. Dusty had put on his best tuxedo, grinning at Deetay, as he stood by the door of his ranch, uncharacteristically polite in his greetings. Servant droids were around to take people's coats, serve refreshments, and translate if need be.

So, there it was. The possible fate of the galaxy could be decided in these halls, all to impress a date.

OOC: Open to any FWA players

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Although Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl considered the summons of Dusty Daytonus to generally be a waste of time, his aides finally convinced him that he needed to be seen in public- and offplanet- from time to time, in order to maintain a token presence in the eyes of the galaxy. Besides, the Glymphid had a point; the layout of the galaxy was shifting, and the FWA needed direction. It was the the thought of Dusty Daytonus being left to his own devices that finally convinced Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl to go. And so the aged Wookiee arrived at the summit, leaning heavily on his Wroshyr staff and wrinkling his nose as the wind shifted to put the banthas upwind. His counterpart from Dosh would love this place (@Olwin).

"Senator" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl said, extending a hand to shake Dusty's. "Thank you for your most generous hospitality."

Politeness? Manners? Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl reflected that he was really getting quite soft in his old age...


@Fantasy Liver

 

[Rrodossk]

Rrodossk has brought Yossk with him to Plo II as an added deterent. Even with the Carrack-class Frigate, Powerslave. Even with the numerous smaller frigates and corvettes and warships and bombers and fighters. Even with the dropships and shuttles of soldiers he brought, a force built of droids and biologics of various species. Even with the arms and armor rolling around. Even with the mounted cavalry made up of machines and beast. Even with Rrodossk himself, having recently returned to his usual strength, riding upon his AT-RT as a charriot. Even with this impressive protection detail Yossk brought to the bantha ranch Rrodossk still felt he was not safe enough. Yossk straddled a simple dewback as his mount, riding along side his father in lockstep. With saber on one hip, vriboaxe on the other, and rifle slung on his back, the way he held himself made clear he was in charge of this detail.

Rrodossk had already sent word to Dusty that he would be bringing a rather well armed security detail, but what he did not tell was the gift he brought. In his lap on the walker he had a small package that was somewhat smaller than his lap. It was solid, deep brown wood which made a soft clack as his fingers gently tapped on the lid. The walker was the first to stop at the front gate, yet many mounted and foot-bound guards reached it first as they went inside. The large Trandoshan lifted himself up and out of the machine and began to move towards Dusty with his present. Yossk dismounted his Dewback to get into the AT-RT as another mercenary took the animal as their ride.

"My friend Dusssty," the large Trandoshan spoke as he approached the smaller being with a large smile, "I thank you for allowing me to bring with the sssecurity to your wonderful ranch. And thank you for bringing the entire Alliance together for a meeting. In return, let me presssent you with a gift." His large, clawed hands reached out to offer the smaller Glymphid the box. Inside was a large, swooped black cape with a red strip along the edge. It was perfectly sized to the being who would be gifted the cape. Even though it was a very dark color, it would also be a rather cool cape. Both visually and temperature wise.

@SlagathorTheUnknown @Fantasy Liver [USERGROUP=80]@Free Worlds Alliance[/USERGROUP]

 

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

Charlotte gagged. Covering her mouth with a white gloved hand. Why the fuck had Rrodossk brought all of Trandosha to Ploo II. Aezz had brought a modest contingent. She had done the same. The Royal Fleet hovered above Ploo II but only her loyal Chume’doro accompanied her to the meeting. She was feeling entirely better about herself.

Celeste had done the noble thing and died…keeping Charlotte’s spicy little secret safe. The meeting was entirely sad. The last few remnants of the Free Worlds meeting to bury whatever they had been. Charlotte arrived and smiled sweetly. “Boys, shall we get started?"

@SlagathorTheUnknown @Olwin @Fantasy Liver

 

[Victoria]

Victoria hadn't even been sure that she would show up to this impromptu meeting. Going out was probably healthy, given the circumstances rather than hiding away and bottling her feelings. Though in the time since the incident, she had been to see someone about those, so perhaps it was for the best to mingle with some familiar faces once more.

Arriving alone she quickly spotted a familiar face and made her way over to the big hulking Wookie, aiming to catch his attention as she did. The senator's eyes were reddened but dry, and with a half smile, she waved toward him. "Aezz.." before seeing the others nearby.

Even if she wasn't keen on being there, it was important that she was, given how few there were left.

@SlagathorTheUnknown @Olwin @Fantasy Liver @Valen Pelora

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl knew that Dosh would be represented at the meeting in some way, but even he wasn't expecting Dosh to be represented in such a significant way. Briefly, the Wookiee wondered if he should've arrived on the Kashyyyk, but just as quickly dismissed the thought. The Trandoshans had been staunch allies since Rrodossk had become their Senator, and perhaps Rrodossk was realizing just how dangerous being a FWA senator was. Ancient eyes took in Rrodossk's spawn, the one called Yossk. The younger Trandoshan had handled himself well against the Joined 5th Fleet; perhaps his presence here was as much for preparing him for eventual leadership as some extra security. (@Olwin)

Once again, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl's thoughts returned to Celeste, who had chosen to take her own life rather than submit to questioning from the Jedi and the FWA. And just as before, he was left without any answers- other than the Celeste that he had known and befriended had quite possibly died long before her capture by the Jedi. A somber nod in the direction of Victoria shared more than words ever could; like her, he grieved for Celeste. (@Xorism)

Between the pungent smell of banthas, the hovering fleet reminding him of the war-torn galaxy they lived in, and the empty chairs around the table, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was all too happy to forego further pleasantries and begin the meeting. He simply nodded in agreement at the Queen Mother's words, before turning to address the one who had summoned them here. "Senator Daytonus, what would you have us discuss today?"

@Valen Pelora @Fantasy Liver

 

[Dusty Daytonus]

"Yeah let's get things started, Fuzzy. I could go on a long-winded preamble that would bore us all but basically, the long and short of it is, what are we doing here, people? Look at all these empty chairs. The Jedi are fighting the Sith, the Sith are fighting the Empire, the Killiks are killing everyone and where are we in all this?" Dusty asked the crowd, his natural charisma trying to cope for what his public speaking ability couldn't achieve.

"The other day I heard a little Glymphid kid ask 'who gives a wampa's fart about the FWA and I gotta say, I find it hard to disagree with him."

"I have some proposals for you cats but I, uh, I guess I'm supposed to hear what you all have to say first."

@SlagathorTheUnknown @Olwin @Valen Pelora

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Fuzzy? Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl's eye twitched- and not from old age- as he listened to Dusty's words. The Glymphid spoke like he'd spent the past few months reading the comments section of Holonet tabloids. How did this man get elected? Back in Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl's day, the FWA had had standards for their politicians.

The Wookiee sighed internally. His day had come and gone; like it or not, the future of the FWA was in the hands of people like Dusty Daytonus, and despite the Senator's crude approach the Glymphid did have a point. Starting with the entrance of the ISC into the war, the FWA had seen the threats to their sovereignty evaporate, with the exception of the Kiliks. If there was a time to determine the course of the faction's future, now was as good of a time as any.

May as well get this out of the way to begin with Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl thought to himself, internally bracing for more of Dusty's... casual... tone. "What do you have in mind, Senator Daytonus?"

@Fantasy Liver @Olwin @Valen Pelora @Xorism

 

[Dusty Daytonus]

"Hard hitting sons of bitches, that's what I have in mind, pal." Dusty told Aezz, giving Deetay a wink as he got in the groove of speaking. God he was good at politics. Whoever said that a swoop racer with criminal ties couldn't be a politician was deluding themselves.

"Look, I was there on that Ruusaan convocation where the Killik Chancellor tried to kill everyone. Some of you all were too. And if I didn't happen to be a badass, I would have died because the FWA didn't do diddlysquat for me that day. Sure, our individual bodyguards and security teams helped get us all to safety but kark it, we should have had an army to squash those bugs the second they made a move against us. How could any new planet want to join us when we looked like jokes on a galactic stage?"

"That's why I'm proposing the FWA form an army reserve. We don't need to pay for a standing army or build a fleet or anything like that but we need a better system than counting on "whoever isn't busy today" showing up when shit starts popping off. Member worlds should contribute troops and ships and train together every 30 rotations or so. So if the next disaster strikes, we can muster up an army that actually means something."

"I got more ideas but that's the biggie. What da ya say fellas? And lady fellas?"

 

[Rrodossk]

"You know Ssenator Daytonuss, I wass going to ssuggesst ssomething ssimilar mysself. I wass there at Russaan and becausse all I had were my own planet'ss vessselss with little outsside ssupport I nearly was felled mysself. After that time one of our now late ssenatorss and I were working on a project to revive at leasst the naval portion of the Alliance. Ass we have spent much of our own military fundss on the dessignss, Trandosha is willing to turn over the designss to thosse willing to consstruct them for a ssmall royalty. Thiss will then go towardss the revitalization of Trandoshan bussinesss, which in turn shall bring out new dessignss to keep uss on the bleeding edge of ship and weapon dessign." The Trandoshan knew it would be a tough sale, but in all reality Rrodossk knew that his planet needs some form of economic boost.

Their economy was rather undeveloped, with most of it being based around their hunting lodges ad well as some minor trade. This had led to the planet not developing much during the last few thousand years. They still were tribal in government. They still were clan based in structure. They still were a backwater planet that was viewed as nothing more than a mud hole filled with monsters and slavers. And Yossk, and especially Rrodossk, knew that their planet had to evolve to survive. So Rrodossk looked over to Yossk and nodded, his son tapping something into a keypad. In reality there was a signal sent to the Powerslave, which was then sent out to a near by source.

Above the planet new ships began to arive, summoned by the signal Rrodossk sent off earlier in the conversation. A eight corvettes, each pair of four being seperate models, and two frigates were the first craft to arive in the system, the silhouettes unfamiliar but the codes being known in the FWA system from their prototype phase. It was clear, however, these machines were now fully into production, initial models rolled off the line before they were ceased. But that was not all. A minute or so later a much larger vessel appeared, its size moving it easily into cruiser territory. Its design was very similar to the smaller craft but blown up and amplified. As they neared the planet, fighters would begin to drop from the larger warships. Warpigs, Adders, and Super Kobras began to enter the atmosphere to land and be made display of as a presentation.

"Today, Dussty, it sseemss that my dissplayss will help you with your idea too. I never formally introduced the dessignss we have produced. Behold project Beasstmasster, and meet a part of the offeringss Trandosha iss willing to share. The AA-110 Warpig, the AFC-1 Alliance Adder, the AFC-X1 Ssuper Kobra, the Katarn Patrol Cruisser, the Nexu Corvette, the Cooha Frigate, and the Battle-Hydra Cruisser." His claw pointed up into the sky, each time he listed a new name it pointed towards the ship in question. "To not overshadow your offer Dussty, I wish to offer thesse men as my offering to your initiative. And my sson hass offered to be an officer in our virgining navy, sso long ass you will accept him." From the tone of his voice and the look on his face it was obvious that Rrodossk did not care that this may be seen as him trying to sell his wares, to him he was clearly proud of what his planet had been able to pull off. A step in the right direction for the new age of Dosh.

@Fantasy Liver @Valen Pelora @Xorism @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Victoria]

The Gannarian senator listened as the various members spoke about this and that, but the discussion about creating an army of sorts caught her attention. With the threat posed by the Sith severely diminished, it wouldn't have made much sense to have a large, active standing army.

But Dusty's proposal for an army reserve was different, each planet had varying levels of security forces and no real uniform structures across the alliance. While in theory, this provided the ultimate expression of freedom that the FWA was always known for, it did rather limit its effectiveness when going up against professional militaries.

Before she could commit to a hard yes or no, Victoria wanted to have some questions answered first.

"Firstly, this would be calling for volunteers I would hope. Secondly are we opposed to asking for outside help in establishing this reserve?"

With no standardization of training, weapons, or anything beyond the ideals of the alliance they would be a difficult group to have a meaningful training session.

"What if we were to establish an academy on say, Kashyyyk. We invite officers from the ISC to help establish some basic guidelines and each member world contributes volunteers to study at this academy. Once they are ready, they can be deployed to any member world to train collectively and learn how to work with each planet's forces. If this project works, it can be expanded as needed."

@SlagathorTheUnknown @Olwin @Fantasy Liver @Valen Pelora

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl stroked his chin; this was not the first time that such a proposal had been put to discussion in the FWA, and already the same questions were popping up: who would contribute troops or materiel, who would pay for it, and how it would be organized. Earlier propositions had been defeated by the simple fact that the FWA couldn't compel its member planets to do anything, putting great strain on the planets who did choose to risk the lives of their people to defend the FWA. However, perhaps the continuing threats to the FWA meant that interest in a mutual defense force had reached a critical mass.

Even so, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl frowned as Victoria suggested bringing in the ISC to help facilitate the creation of the reserve. "The FWA has effectively fought together before" he reminded her, having personally led a successful engagement against the Kiliks. "And involving another government, even a neutral one, is a huge security risk." True, the ISC's military was the gold standard for the galaxy, and had likely answered some of these very questions, but Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was loathe to involve the ISC in sensitive FWA business. "Furthermore, such an initiative loses credibility if it is done with outside help. This is a proposal by and for the Free World's Alliance." The whole galaxy knew how difficult it was for the FWA to do things, so keeping the proposal- and the success- localized was very much in Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl's interests. @Xorism

Which, unfortunately, meant slogging through the details that had derailed such proposals in the past. "A proposal for a reserve army might succeed where one for a standing army previously failed" the Wookiee mused; the idea had merit, and was far more in line with traditional FWA mobilizations of the past. Likewise, logistics such as the chain of command could be adapted from the FWA's command structure from their recent war with the SIth. "But what of planets who choose not to contribute to a common defense?" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl asked, curious what Dusty's response would be. If the Wookiee had his way, anyone wishing to receive the protection of the army reserve would also have to contribute somehow. Dosh was clearly all-in on the idea. @Olwin @Fantasy Liver

Other tag: @Valen Pelora

 

[Dusty Daytonus]

"Personally, I say screw 'em. What good is an Alliance if member worlds can pick and choose what to contribute? We're loose enough as is; if they can't handle supplying a squad of gunslingers and a beat-down landspeeder with a big blaster mounted on the back, do we even want them in our group to begin with?" Dusty posited, before taking a swig of juri juice from his hip flask? Meetings were normally pretty boring but impressive aerial displays of military prowess and some booze? Maybe this thing would be more exciting than he thought?

"That said, are we good to put in a vote for the creation of the reserve army? Where all FWA worlds must participate in by supplying troops to be trained on Kashyyyk? Sounds like our boy Rrodossk is already abord!"