Open Coruscant What the Future Holds

[Caliban Drast]

Senate Building, Coruscant​

Open to FWA/New Republic Senators Only​

A week had passed since a delegation of Senators representing the Free Worlds had met with Emryc Thorne, and a special session of the Senate had been called to discuss the proposal put forward by him for the formation of a Galactic Senate. Caliban had used that week to make calls, get in touch with the few Senators he was on talking terms with, having had barely any time to set up much in the ways of a network on contacts within the Senate since taking his position. He wondered if this was the best or worse time to be taking office. One the one hand he was sure his predecessors, as capable as he was, would have taken too passive an approach in current events to be of much use to anyone. But on the other hand a seasoned and well connected operator might have been just what needed to operate recent events, both things that Caliban was not. A few years of peace and calm might have prepared him better.

But be as it may, he had to make do with the hand that had been dealt to him. He had met Thorne first hand, spoken to him in a far more personal environment than most of his colleagues. And while that gave him a distinct advantage in dealing with the man in the future, convincing his fellow Senators of accept his assessment of the man and how to deal with him was a whole other matter. Even if he represented Coruscant, he was still a rookie Senator who most barely knew. And if the reactions of Kattada's Senator on Naboo was anything to go by then many might already have opinions formed against him because he represented Coruscant.

So not only was the path ahead not clear to him, even if his intended destination was, he knew it was going to be full of hurdles. And as the Senate was called into session, Caliban had to prepare for the first hurdle. The speaker brought the senate up to speed regarding the meeting on Naboo, playing a recording of the proposal put forward by Thorne, and then opening the floor up for debate.

"Before we begin," Caliban spoke up, "I would like to bring the Senate's attention to recent events on Coruscant. Everyone knows of the events on Naboo, of the Sith attack on Mr. Thorne's ship, and the subsequent anti-Force protests that took place. As of this morning many such protests have been held on Coruscant as well. Similar protests have been reported across the Galaxy, within and outside the Free Worlds." He looked around, noticing a few nods, a few uncomfortable shuffles, confirmation that most weren't hearing of these protests for the first time. "If it pleases the Senate, I would like to bring these protests to the floor as an additional topic for discussion. I strongly believe it ties in with the proposal that we are here to discuss. Whether or not we are to join the Galactic Senate that has been proposed by Mr. Thorne, we need to first consider if it will further enflame the situation."

 

[Oluma Pwathi]

It had been some time since Senator Pwathi had set foot on Coruscant, as recent galactic events has led to the formation of an emergency Herd Meet to discuss the rising threat of Sith, expanding galactic crime syndicates, and the faltering public image of the Jedi Order. The meeting, as always, had moved slowly yet steadily toward the nearest solution that would keep Ithor out of harm's way: letting the Jedi and the FWA bear the brunt of the combat while they stayed home. Oluma had spoken against this line of action, reasoning that Ithor was highly vulnerable and needed to take a more proactive role in the Alliance. Her (controversial) opinion was noted, considered, and ignored.

Then overtures of a united Galactic Senate came to their attention, and the Herd Meet was thrown into, admittedly gentle and soft-spoken, chaos. The split came down primarily between the more progressive, communal Ithorians who saw the concept of a united Galactic Senate as a boon, and the more conservative, pro-Ithor voices who feared outside interference. The meeting was ultimately inconclusive, but this suited Oluma just fine as it let her take the lead on Ithor's response to the proposal. In the world of polite and debate-laden Ithorian politics, a firm stance on a controversial issue could tilt the planet's politics.

For her part, Oluma favored the concept of of a Galactic Senate as a sounding board for various factions to voice their opinions and coordinate responses, but she was cautious about the amount of sovereign political power this body might have. A toothless organization would be useless in combating the rising threats of the galaxy, but a political body with too much power might become just as despised as their enemies.

As the junior Senator of Coruscant opened up their discussion with the full proposition and a note of the recent anti-Jedi and anti-Sith protests that swept the galaxy, before rising to speak up.

"Honorable Senators," She began formally, but firmly. "In such a heated climate, it is likely that any action will, to some extent or another, enflame this already tense situation the galaxy finds itself in. Therefore, I propose that our priority should be to find the solution that will allow us to de-escalate these tensions as quickly and thoroughly as possible."

She would hold her actual stance on the matter for now, instead probing to see what the motives of some of her fellow Senators might be. In the world of galactic politics, even common sense could be secondary to ideological, personal, or financial motives, and Oluma hoped to get a ready on the quiet, awkward chamber before speaking her mind.

 

[Soygun York]

York stood. He could feel the room. There were his supporters. There were those that did not at all appreciate his demeanor and readiness to quarrel. There were still those who liked what he said, but not how he said it. He could tell that many of the smaller planets had gravitated to him, proud to see someone from a small planet taking a stand. Many of their senators have thanked him for standing up to the "traditional powers." York wondered if he could parlay that into some sort of senate voting bloc because there were far more small planets than large, powerful ones.

Here, he would have to be careful in how he would say what he was about to say. He didn't need to alienate anyone before he proposed what he wanted to propose. He also needed to get this proposal out there early before one idea or another picked up steam. He needed this proposal to pick up steam, and for once, he was thinking about the survival of the all the FWA's planets' way of life. This was not a power play as much as it was survival. This would require some savviness and some tact.

"Fellow members of this body," York began, "one way or another, we stand at the precipice of a new future. Either that future will be one where we foster the ideals of this body- freedom, democracy, justice, and peace. Or the future of the galaxy will be tossed into chaos and fear and tyranny. Make no mistake, history tells us there is little middle ground, and the decisions we make together will require us to be mindful of each other. History also tells us that this body must be decisive and we must not compromise our ideals to those who wish to undermine them. This may sound strange coming from me, but we really must put politics aside with this issue."

He would nod to Drast and then to the senator of Ithor. "I agree wholeheartedly with the two senators that spoke before me. We need to take these protests seriously. We need to move forward in a way that honors the movement of the people we represent and does so in a way that will promote peace and deescalate our current situation, especially on our home planets."

He paused for a moment and scanned the room. "That is why I suggest this body, the FWA, reconvene the Senate amongst ourselves. We begin the foundation of the Senate right here with the nations we have as part of our defense pact. There will be no representation in this new senate by the Jedi or the Sith. This Senate would not use the Jedi as some sort of special forces unit military wing to win conflicts across the galaxy. We make that clear and that should help quell the protests. We, the people in this room, have the ability to make the rules of the Senate. We can determine the rules for admittance of new planets."

He could hear the murmuring around him. Some were shouting. There were some cheers and shouts of support. He knew it would be wildly polarizing. "We would be foolish to hand Thorne what he wants. We know nothing about him. The planets flocking to him are not nearly as influential, large, or powerful as the nations that constitute the FWA. The idea that we would create some sort of commission that gives him equal footing to the FWA in negotiations is incredibly irresponsible. I am a businessman from a business family, so believe me when I say the FWA is in the dominant negotiating position. We can strengthen that position even more by reconvening the Senate amongst ourselves. We can flush our advantage right down the drain by agreeing to the sort of body that Thorne is suggesting."

York tapped into the datapad on his desk, and instantly beeps and blurps sounded all over the senate chamber as the representatives start getting information on their own datapads. "You are getting my proposal now," York said as he stood upright and tall. "I officially propose we transform the FWA into the Galactic Senate with roughly the same structure as it always had." Again, there was an uproar of various opinions. Some in favor, some against. Some just smiled because of the big set of balls required to propose it. "Imbedded into the proposal are several committees that will act as processing committees for different sectors of the galaxy. Applications for planets and systems that wish to apply for representation in the Senate will have their applications sent to the appropriate committee. These committees will give recommendations, yay or nay, for their admittance to the Senate, and this body will give them all an up or down vote."

York leaned forward and pointed slightly down and in various directions to show that he means this body. "If the future of our galaxy hangs in the balance, it should the planets represented in this room that should have the largest voice. Our freedom and peace may well depend on it!"

York turned off his microphone and sat back down.

@The Good Doctor @Wit @The Captain @Forsythe Crowholde @darkrei9n @The Gatekeeper @Darasuum

 

[Caliban Drast]

Caliban was reading the proposal, trying to figure out how best to point out the various fallacies in the proposal when an aide started whispering in his ears. She handed him a datapad, showing a prominent news channel discussing York’s proposal. That was far too quick, someone had leaked the information and for so prompt a response from the news channels it had to have happened before York made his proposal.

The fool leaked it.

The realization hit Caliban the moment the datapad in his hands brought up the image of Emryc Thorne. Caliban read the transcript that was being generated as Thorne spoke. This was bad, so very bad.

Whatever York had intended, he had made an utter and complete mess of the situation. The Free Worlds were now in a much worse situation than they had been. What was he thinking of accomplishing, renaming this body to the Galactic Senate while the rest of the Galaxy formed their own coalition that the Free Worlds had no say in? Did he think the Fre Worlds could exist in on their own with no repercussions if this new body was formed? What about trade, what about travel restrictions, border conflicts. The reason the Free Worlds existed was to allow better cooperation among its members, but now they could not achieve it with their new neighbors. And Caliban had no doubt that Thorne would form this new galactic body.

"Members of the Senate," Caliban spoke up, taking back control before anyone else spoke up, "I need to bring everyone’s attention to events occurring outside this body. Moments ago the contents of Senator York’s proposal were broadcast all over the holonet. Not moments after he finished speaking the contents were being discussed in detail by multiple news agencies. And to make matters worse Mr. Thorne has responded to the leak, the story has already gotten away from us. I’m afraid whatever we decide here might be wholly pointless." He took a moment to let the words sink in, to let others pull up this information and to process what had happened. "Before we begin, I would like to investigate the source of this leak and explore if it was Senator York himself or someone from his office that leaked this information to the press in preparation for his speech. Till then I would like to table further discussions till the Senator is censured and escorted from the chambers for the rest of this discussion. We cannot risk more leaks that will further compromise this body’s effectiveness."

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[Morndell Avon]

The past week had been riddled with one holonet broadcast after another and to say that the news have begun to grate on Morndell's nerves was an understatement.

He had forgone so many things after the last Senate meeting, more so watching the broadcasts, and focused on doing his duties in his homeworld. The senator left the anger-inducing task of watching the news to the level-headed Ramone, letting the latter run the reports by him in a straightforward manner and exchanging insights after. Edmund, for his part (and surprising his older companions), had been quiet during the whole exchange.

Morndell would've laughed off the news of him sending some dumb reporter a death threat if he hadn't been so irritated with the growing anti-FS sentiments. No more Jedi? No more Sith? Fools, the lot of them. While he held a grudging respect for one Emryc Thorne for having the guts to speak his mind and show his support to independent planets that weren't part of the FWA, Morndell couldn't help but feel annoyance for the young man for stirring up more trouble than the galaxy was already facing. The senator of Chalacta supported the campaigns against the Sith – and by extension the Jedi Order and the Sector Rangers – but to rally the sentients against both factions of Force-users?

And now he was back to Coruscant, inside the Senate Building and listening to the discussion before him. For the second time this day, Morndell asked himself if he had done the right thing in diving headfirst into the world of politics. He refrained from traveling to Naboo to meet with the other Senators and Thorne, only hearing from Ramone that the latter had been attacked by a Sith (presumably) before his ship could even touch the ground. The news would've given Morndell more ammo to use against the Darksiders but the failed assassination attempt only stirred the masses further on their anti-FS ramblings.

While Ramone had argued about the benefits of attending the meeting on Naboo, Edmund assured Morndell that the Senatoe had just saved himself the trouble of entering a potential warzone with words as their primary weapon.

And, sitting here, arms crossed over his chest, Morndell watched the proceedings with mounting annoyance.

A karking warzone, indeed.

Morndell couldn't trust himself to speak, at least not yet, because he feared that the only words he could offer the delegation was one curse after another. The galaxy was doing its utmost best to set itself on fire and the Senate was doing, what? Convening? More talks instead of actions?

"Why did I become a politician again?" he asked his aides, the rhetorical question and the discussion before him sending in a headache.

To his left, Edmund gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You're doing this for our homeworld, General," said he. "Just focus on our people. Though, if it helps, maybe think about shooting the idiot who proposed–"

"I would've been duly impressed if it weren't for the ensuing violence," Ramone muttered, handing Morndell his datapad when Senator York mentioned his proposal.

Transforming the FWA into a... Galactic Senate? Having planets or systems apply for membership to be given the right to represent themselves? And where would they fall, those whose applications for membership would be denied?

Annoyance turning into anger, Morndell turned to look at Ramone to speak his mind about the madness he was reading on his own datapad but the look on the young man's face halted him. Intrigued, Edmund stood from his seat and stepped behind his fellow aide to look at the datapad.

Senator Drast's words did not help.

"Damn it all to high hell!" Morndell hissed, reading the news about York's proposal and Emryc Thorne's answering statement. He lifted his gaze to look at the senator in question, hands clenching into fists in anger. Did the senator of Kattada know about this? Did someone else leak the proposal, or had York done it himself? Either way, the damage was done and the FWA would be left floundering about how to address this grievous mistake.

It seemed the galaxy didn't need the Sith to rain down chaos upon itself. Not when politics itself could do the division among the worlds for them.

 

[Nicolas Clément]

Nicolas Clément is a man with a lot of patience, but his patience for Senator York was running thinner and thinner with every word spoke. His prospal, Nicolas would disagree with on a number of points as well. Ultimately, he feels that discussing specific proposals isn't the best thing to do with Thorne isn't in the same room to discuss it with them. After all, even if the FWA backs this, then there is the possibility that Emryc will not agree on certain parts, if not the whole thing. Where as if they were meeting, it would be easier to talk things out and meet half-way, then take it to the FWA senate.

And then Senator Drast pointed out some troubling news: This whole thing was leaked. Nicolas would have his aides find it on their datapads to verify it. And it is true. Going by the headlines, it was leaked. It was titled like clickbait, gotten views, and Thorne responded to it, and the headlines paint a bad picture for this for the FWA after things were starting to move forward after the forum on Naboo.

"Well kriff" the New Alderaan Senator muttered to himself, only his staff close-by to hime could possibly hear. He would facepalm and cringe at the current situation.

Well, not much else to do right now. Nicolas would would then respond to Drast's motion. "I second Senator Drast's motion", Nicolas had a stern expression on his face, and spoke in an annoyed tone, with York's proposal and the leak that just happened with him. The motion should pass and hopefully that would get the Vice Chair to escort Senator York plus any staff from the chambers.

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[Soygun York]

Soygun York walked back into the senate chambers after his rendezvous with the press and sat back down at his desk. Tensions did not seem to be drastically better. That was good as far as York was concerned. If the body was arguing amongst themselves, it would be more difficult to cut a deal with Thorne. Allegations got thrown about. Some used the word "crime." York did not get rankled. He listened, his unlit cigar still hanging from his lips. At one point, someone didn't even use the rules of order and just shouted for York to respond. York stood slowly and looked at the entire senate and just shook his head.

"Look at us. Look at what we're arguing about. We are upset because the people...." he pointed outwardly...somewhere and hung on to the word "people." "The people that we represent have knowledge of what we're doing." He shot a hard glance toward Drast and shook his head again. "The nerve that the people who rely on us to make decisions that directly influence their quality of life...the nerve that they know what we say and do. We should be ashamed!" He pounded his fist down on the table. The microphone picked it up and echoed through the hall. "We work for them." He pointed at Drast. "You work for them, not the corporations and trillionaires that run Coruscant."

He did a great job of acting like he was holding back anger. He took some long, slow breaths to pretend to calm himself down. "I did not 'leak' anything. Look around this room. How many people are here? We have senators, aids, security. Damn near everybody in here is a source for some news organization. I'm a small-time Senator from Kattada. You think I'm a source big enough to have something broadcast all over the galaxy? You would think that would be more likely from a senator from a planet like....Coruscant." He gave Drast an accusing glare before turning back to the whole senate.

"Be that as it may, it's good that it is out. The people of the FWA worlds have a right to know. These closed door sessions are an affront to democracy. But that doesn't bother many of you, does it? It doesn't bother Senator Drast at all. He very much approves of it. He wants to escort me from the premises right now. He wants to go ahead and have a censure vote. All of this without any evidence. Senator Drast not only is against the right of the people to know what he is up to. He is also against due process. I suppose we should not be surprised. My question is, what is Senator Drast hiding? Why does he want to hide behind these walls? Why does he want to rush to judgement? To me, those questions are much more pressing than who let the people know what they very well have a right to know."

York turned off his microphone and sat back down.

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[Naeva Rue]

As so often seemed to have become the norm within the hallowed and illustrious senate chambers of the Free Worlds Senate, what should have been a simple meeting and discussion of current events had devolved into one over-eager politician's attempt at political grandstanding and petty schemes. Or so it seemed.

The Prime Minister sat at her desk, calmly listening to the discussion of the various senators. She much preferred to allow the representatives lead the talks and debates wherever possible, serving as something as a moderator and guiding things in the right direction as needed. At the same time, however, rumours abounded of her whip-sharp tongue cutting into senators or guests who drew her ire and disappointment. This was unfortunately one such case.

But before she'd even finished leaning forward in her chair, having been quite busy reading through the truly fascinating porposal by Senator York, Senator Drast had spoken up all on his own, calling for York to be investigated and escorted out. The sentiment seemed to be shared rather succinctly by Senator Clement, which only further reinforced the Prime Minister's position on the matter.

In fact, she had been about to say as much when the Senator of Kattada casually walked out of the senate chambers in the middle of being accused of serious crimes and, based on what Rue's aide was telling her, immediately began speak of senate goings-on to the media outside. Her eyes narrowed into twin daggers thrust toward the senate doors for a moment before she turned to her aide and spoke in hushed tones. The aide dutifully nodded and rushed off behind the desk to a secure terminal, tip-tapping away at it with precise and practiced quickness.

York returned, sat in his chair, and very predictably set off on an incredibly pretentious speech about how it was obviously the fault of Senator Drast and certainly wasn't him, how the closed Senate sessions were an affront to democracy. Perhaps the Prime Minister had underestimated this new Senator, but she supposed it made perfect sense considering the kinds of legal troubles his father had found himself buried in. The golden boy was looking more and more green with every word he spoke.

Naeva Rue leaned forward on her desk, arms resting upon the polished surface and fingers intertwined. The Speaker clanged his staff on the floor twice, bang bang, the call for silence and order that by now was well familiar to the Senate. The Prime Minister's gaze turned to look at York.

"I'm curious, Senator York. How many resorts was it your family owns again? You see I've never been entirely sure, since it seems on the verge of changing every day." She raised a hand behind her, the gesture seeming to summon her aide to hand off a datapad. The Prime Minister placed it in front of her and ran her eyes across the screen.

"Several quite large ones, it seems, despite having enough pending and in progress lawsuits to bury them all in paperwork. It sounds monumentally expensive, perhaps even for infamously wealthy house of York." Her eyes turned back up to look at the senator over the top of her datapad.

"The senator of a corporate planet, from a corporate family embroiled in legal battles and bad press as a result of alleged corrupt business practices, lecturing a career lawman from a distinguished family of public servants on taking the side of corporations? You don't have the privilege of playing the small-town senator card and railing on about big money with a history like that, Senator York." The datapad was neatly placed down in front of her and she leaned forward once again, fixing the Senator of Kattada with a steely-eyed stare.

"Fortunately, however, the issue at hand doesn't include the York family's poor business practices. A proposition from within these walls was leaked- yes, leaked is the word, Senator York- nearly the moment it happened. I must concur with Senators Drast and Clement, an investigation is warranted to determine the culprit." She leaned back in her chair and spoke a word to her aide, who once again scurried off to some task before the Prime Minister had even turned back around to look at York.

"While the source of the initial leak will require looking into, a second issue related to it has come to my attention." Her hand swiped across her personal console, a media recording from when York had walked out and spoken to the press just minutes before.

"What mad notion lead you to walk out of these chambers, in the middle of a series of very serious allegations toward your office regarding a leak of confidential information, speak directly to the press regarding the contents of that leak, and make attempts at rabble-rousing and redirections toward Senator Drast?" She tutted disappointedly, shaking her head slowly back and forth.

The Prime Minister turned and gave the Speaker a look, who once again pounded his staff against the ground, once, twice, three times. The signal for a matter for security personnel, who had already been informed of the situation by this point by Rue's aide. A pair of senate guards stepped from in front of the doors and made their way to Senator York's station, planting themselves just behind it.

The office of Sector Chief Hudson had been called to arrange for the rapid dispatch of officers to make an arrest under probable cause and begin a subsequent criminal investigation. The guards were there to make sure Senator York stayed put, and his mic was locked offline.

Prime Minister Naeva Rue turned back to address the Senate as a whole, hands placed back upon the desk before her.

"The motion of formal Senate censure and investigation proposed by Senator Drast of Coruscant, and seconded by Senator Clement of New Alderaan, is moved forward without discussion, given the nature of the issue."

Each personal console- other than Senator York's- was presented with a voting option. His proposal and subsequent flouting of Free Worlds law and thrown accusations had unfortunately won him no favours among the majority of the voting body. The Free Worlds had first come to be by breaking off from the Republic not so long ago, and suggesting a return to that system was tantamount to political suicide.

Republic planets made up the most 'no' votes, with some exceptions, but the rest voted for the motion. "The motion to censure is carried. In accordance with Free Worlds law regarding formal censure, Senator York is hereby stripped of the rights of his position, pending the results of an investigation of his office regarding the allegations of leaking confidential government information to the press."

She turned once more to look toward the Senator of Kattada, her expression coldly disapproving. The man could have easily walked out under his own power if he hadn't felt the need to pontificate at length to the press in a fit of profoundly damning arrogance. The investigation at that level may not even have found anything to nail him. But with everything said and done, the law was now directly involved in the proceedings and he would be walking out of the Senate chambers in handcuffs.

"It would have been much smarter to keep your mouth firmly shut, Mr. York. I solemnly hope your family can afford an extra lawyer."

@Wit @The Captain @Isen @Forsythe Crowholde @The Good Doctor @TerranSteel @Eccles

 

[Corran Velt]

It wasn't every day that Corran got called down to the Senate building on Coruscant. He'd never been called down there before, in fact. Two additional Sector Rangers also made the trip on the transport speeder that hauled from over to the storied building. Being the highest ranking, the blond lieutenant would be the one commanding the situation. They had all come armed with only blast vests, blaster sidearms, and handcuffs. All of them dressed professionally and as rigid as Corran usually was. No show of force was intended. Just officers of the law serving the public.

Once the shuttle had set down, the rangers disembarked and were immediately greeted by Senate guards. "Lt. Corran Velt. We're here to take the suspect into custody," the young man introduced himself stoically. The more senior-looking guard nodded and provided escort to the location of the suspect. As careful as he was with his words, Corran couldn't help but think about the man they were called here for. Senator York of Kattada. Not long ago, the Senator had been part of the impromptu committee overseeing the information obtained by the Sector Rangers on the Sith Empire and what the lieutenant requested to be done about it. That hope was entangled in the cogs of politics and democracy; a slow churning machine if there was one. But laws were laws. Just as Corran had to wait for whatever came of his request, so too did Sogyun York had to abide by its justice.

After a long stride down prestigious hallways lined with burgundy carpet and various pieces of art and galactic memories, the trio of Sector Rangers arrived at the door behind Kattada's senatorial booth. The two guard escorts stood aside, joining the two others that kept the suspect contained. A quick swipe of a keycard opened the door with a shiiish. Blue eyes settled on the man sitting in the very halls of power. "Senator York," Lt. Velt spoke in a serious and authoritative tone, "Please come with us, sir." Law enforcement was well within their authority to cuff the politician right then and there in the booth. Corran decided that it best to avoid a confrontation in the very heart of the government and instead let York come quietly. It would also likely save him and the Senate some embarrassment.

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[Soygun York]

York watched and listened. He was berated. He was chastised. He had to fight back a smile. There was the mudslinging regarding his father's legal troubles. He gave the Prime Minister a small nod of approval for her doing her homework. Well done, Prime Minister. There would be an investigation of him and his staff. They would monitor communications and check time stamps and all of that. But they would come up empty. It was not that York was not behind the leak. Of course he was. He just would not leak it from one of his aids, his droids, or from himself nor would he be so foolish to do it from the Senate building. That would be silliness. He knew someone would come cry foul on the word getting out so soon, and he imagined very well that it would be Drast.

To be fair, the censure and arrest was taking him by surprise, but the more they made a ruckus over trying to hide the senate dealings, the more of his point they were proving. And, the more they drug him through the mud only to come up empty on the investigation, the more they thrust him into the moral high ground- even as unfit as he was to take it. He could play the martyr, the Senator sticking up for the small planets getting railroaded by Coruscant and the political elite.

"Senator York, Please come with us, sir," York heard the officer say behind him. It was a familiar voice. York calmly removed the unlit cigar from his mouth and slipped it into an inside pocket as he stood, giving a slight nod and a smile to the Prime Minister as he did. He turned to see Lt. Velt behind him. He remembered him from the welcoming.

"Lt. Velt. Very good. Wish it was under different circumstances obviously, but still, a pleasure." He stopped just short of the Ranger officer and asked, "Are we doing the whole handcuffs thing? I'm not going to give you any trouble, mind you. But, I know rules are rules, right? If it's absolutely necessary...Seems a bit drastic for what I've been wrongly accused of, I'd say." he outstretched his hands to him. At this point, the bigger the show without York pitching a fit, the more he would have to preach on when this matter got put on the back burner. The issue of being cuffed on nothing but the suspicion of a non-violent offense, a breaking of FWA protocol, would be just one more point in his next round of pontificating, and York could use a few more points.

/Exit thread

OOC: I figure I'm done here. No reason I can't see for Velt to take me out of the chambers where I will no longer be part of the meeting.

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[Corran Velt]

Despite it all, Senator York was the definition of composure. Most people when greeted by authorities were livid; shouting with spittle flying from their mouths. Others were dejected, silent, like they weren't even there. Their thoughts lightyears away from reality. Soygun was neither of these extremes. He was polite and precise. Clearly still the politician Corran had met not too long ago. Professionalism demanded that the ranger officer only reply to the politician's greeting with a curt nod. Any type of uttered favoritism or geniality could be misinterpreted in the court of law and public opinion.

Two hands rose steadily towards Lt. Velt. Senator York was right about one thing - the rules were the rules. Sector Ranger policy clearly stated to handcuff a suspect when taking them into custody. Rank, social status, wealth or connections didn't matter. Still... Corran glanced from the hands to the Senate room that opened up over Soygun's shoulder. Countless booths held representatives of hundreds of worlds. It wasn't long ago in the timespan of history when Imperial stormtroopers had cleared these halls to finish off the last remnants of the Old Republic. Just as laws were written code, traditions were their own unwritten ones. Something felt... wrong about using force here. To detain someone. Democracy wasn't destroyed overnight. It was weakened over time by small acts. Small acts like this.

The officer's gaze settled back onto the politician. "We will escort you out, Senator." Corran stood aside from the door way, forming of a tunnel with the two Senate guards on either side of the door, two rangers on one side and the blond lieutenant on the other. "Right this way, sir." There would be no hand-cuffs today, unless Soygun made them necessary. If he truly came peacefully, the Sector Rangers would form an escort with two at the politician's shoulders and one bringing up the rear incase he tried to make a run for it. Unlikely, but a textbook formation for guarding a prisoner. Outside the halls of the Senate would be a police shuttle that would take them all to the appropriate station.

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[Caliban Drast]

Caliban was contemplative as events unfolded faster, and more disastrously than anything he had heard of from a Senate session. York left, returned, gave mud slinging another try, got censured, and then got escorted from the premises. Through it all Caliban was observing the various news networks. He didn't much care for the allegations York had made about him, the truth would ultimately come out, what he was worried about was the damage he had done to the Free Worlds. There were bound to be those who would believe everything York had said, and imagine the worst. There might already be irreparable damage done to the reputation of the Free Worlds.

And then there was Thorne. Caliban's first impression had been of shrewdness, and the swiftness with which he had jumped on the opportunity presented by York's actions did nothing to disprove that impression. With his interview, even more than before, he was driving the narrative. He had already moved to lock the Free Worlds out, with any way back involving some level of humiliation for the Free Worlds. Some might believe that a rogue Senator had tried to sabotage this entire operation, but many might would not. The move had been so brazenly rash that some might believe that it had to be something the Senate agreed with. York had tried to force them into a corner, and though things might not have played out exactly how he had planned, in a corner they very much were.

When the floor was finally opened for speak once more, Caliban requested to be acknowledged by the Prime Minister and stood up when allowed to speak. "As most of you must be aware by now, the proposal put forward by Mr. York is all over the holo-channels," he was somber in both demeanor and tone, thinking of the best course of action going forward even as he spoke, "and Mr. Thorne has used the opportunity to his advantage. We had the opportunity to have a seat at the table when the Galactic Senate he proposed was being conceived, but who knows if that is still a possibility. It seems obvious to me that such a body will be formed, and by not being a part of it we will only be hurting ourselves. Isolation will do us no good, we need them just as they need us." He looked around, trying to gauge the reactions of his fellow Senators. "So I propose that the Free Worlds joins the Galactic Senate, and to make as swift an announcement as possible to clarify our intention to work in co-operation with everyone to create such a body, without any of the previously leaked conditions. The details can be figured out, but if we do not move swiftly I fear we might be left behind, looking in from the outside."

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[Oluma Pwathi]

Oluma had to take a minute to fully process what had just happened to in front of her. Not only had a fellow senator's proposal was plastered all over the holonet, the instant he finished discussing it, the man chose (in the middle of his own defensive diatribe) to walk out of their session and address the public before returning. After that, the esteemed Senator York was censured, cuffed by a Lieutenant Sector Ranger, and carted out of the building without so much as a single complaint. And that was all without the Senator from Chalacta essentially storming out of the meeting before the arresting Ranger even arrived on the scene.

This was all far too coincidental for Oluma's liking, senatorial discussions spreading across the holonet the instant they were done, Senators leaving in-progress meetings to address the public, and York himself seemingly caring little about the implications of such a massive breach of security. They needed to take a deep breath, look at the full scope of what this event could mean and where they should go from here, only for the young Senator Drast to motion in the opposite direction. Oluma, likewise, requesting for recognition as well, and stood to deliver her counterargument.

"I firmly disagree with the proposal of Senator Drast," She began in a somewhat commanding tone. "I believe rushing into a decision at this critical moment may leave us open to exploitation. If we allow this event to pressure us into approaching the new Galactic Senate without any formalized proposals or plans, our desperation may cost us more at the negotiating table than inaction."

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[Morndell Avon]

What was the Senate devolving into? Weren't the representatives standing in the very halls of democracy supposed to exemplify the very essence of what and how an educated person behaved? Morndell was no stranger to mud slinging – hells, he'd received a lot when he decided to run for senator – but in this place? From one fellow senator to another?

He knew that politics tended to veer into directions such as the current one he'd found himself into, but maybe he had been a fool to expect that his newfound experience as a senator wouldn't allow for him to witness Senator York's downfall. Morndell might not have agreed with the man's proposal, but it did not mean that he'd want for the latter to be stripped of his position and arrested. Whether if York was behind the proposal's leak or not, Morndell knew that the investigation team that would have to handle this case must be impartial and thus could never be bought by certain parties that would surely benefit fron the fiasco the FWA now faced.

To Morndell, however, the Senator of Kattada had brought himself his own downfall. What was he thinking, stepping out of the Senate to address the media regarding his proposal? Pointing fingers at Drast? Morndell was looking at the news from Ramone's datapad, his own still displaying York's proposal. His aide had been quiet, possibly thinking of the consequences of York's action to the FWA itself and Thorne's response to it. The Senator of Chalacta was doing the same, and he turned to look at the Ithorian senator when she spoke.

Morndell agreed with her.

"The words of Senator Pwathi is seconded," he said, nodding at said senator in agreement. "We cannot let one man's blunder pressure this body into joining this– this new Galactic Senate in light of recent events. The galaxy will view the Free Worlds Alliance as a desperate body that will rush headfirst into making sudden decisions without even carefully studying matters at hand first. If we are to discuss details, then they must be discussed now than later. The FWA can't afford to be exploited just because we have been quick to agree to something in order to rectify a... mistake."

Sure, it would take even more time to go into another session discussing this new Galactic Senate, and while Morndell hated inaction he hated marching into battle without a plan even more. There was nothing more to add to the Ithorian senator's counterargument – at least not yet. He would wait for the other senators should they speak in agreement with him and Pwathi or not.

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[Caliban Drast]

Caliban had been on Naboo, he had spent more time exploring the possible repercussions of joining a Galactic Senate than the rest of the Senate. Most had not received the report from that meeting till days later, and probably had little more than a few days to react to it. So he wasn't surprised that not everyone agreed with his proposal to join the proposed galactic body.

Once the Senators from Ithor and Chalacta had spoken, a vote was called to vote on the motion, and it went against Caliban's proposal. Close though it was, he didn't get the votes he needed to push his motion through. He had to concede that the opposing Senators made valid arguments, but at the same time he knew some sort of immediate response was needed. So as the discusion began once more, he prepared to push that through at the very least.

"Members of the Senate," he spoke up once he had the floor, "while I stand by this body's decision to discuss things further, I firmly believe that we do need to release some sort of statement at once. Even now every news and social media platform across the Galaxy is broadcasting our supposed stance on this proposal, even though we are nowhere close to coming to a decision." He had to but glance at the datapad sitting on the table in front of him to spot another channel discussing York's proposal as if it had the full backing of the Free Worlds. "Whatever our final decision with regards to the Galactic Senate, we should make it clear that such a decision is yet to be made and any reports to the contrary are false."

This time though there was not much resistance to his proposal, almost everyone saw the benefits of such an announcement. It bought them more time, while also distancing them from any claims of a rushed and ill advised decision.

OOC In the spirit of speeding things along, going to assume that a motion to make a holo announcement passes.

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