New Republic Territory
Mid Rim
Nakadia, current capital of the New Republic
Quarrow, capital of Nakadia
New Republic Capital Building
Iden Versio POV
My name is Iden Versio and I am a former member of the Imperial Special Forces squad codenamed Inferno. I defected to the rebellion several weeks after the Battle of Endor when the Empire attacked my home planet of Vardos during Operation Cinder. A contingency issued by Emperor Palpatine in the event of his death, the Empire was to destroy several planets using weather satellites. Except loyal planets were targeted too and that was why I defected, the Empire was supposed to provide security and protection not bring about the destruction of those it was sworn to protect. These thoughts were simmering the background of my mind when Alderaan but I had to push those thoughts down as I was young and naive back then, I told myself that Grand Moff Tarkin was just a rogue moff. Then I saw how the Empire operated and I knew the mistake I made.
The Rebels had learned about Operation Cinder when they took the Imperial base on Endor and dispatched their fleets across the galaxy. They arrived at Vardos just in time, they saved the planet and saw me rescue civilians while fighting stormtroopers. They gave me a position in the Rebellion and I accepted. During the battle my father, Admiral Garrick Versio, and a member of Inferno Squad Gideon Hask fled and remained loyal to the Empire. Hask was dedicated to serving whatever the Empire was at that point but I could sense hesitation and doubt in my father. I had to find him and convince him to come with me.
I journeyed the galaxy on my ship, the Corvus, along with the only member of Inferno to stay, Del Meeko. We were going to stop Operation Cinder and anything like it from striking the galaxy while also searching for my father. Over the course of this campaign I began to see Del Meeko as more than a soldier and a friend. Then we arrived on Jakku where we faced off against Gideon in what proved to be the last battle of the war. My father died in the Battle of Jakku and Gideon disappeared. Now Del and me arrived Nakadia, a Mid Rim world that is currently serving as the capital of the New Republic. The New Republic rotates its capital regularly based on senate votes, when a capital is voted on the Supreme Chancellor election is not far behind. We were called here by Leia Organa for unknown purposes.
"If we were to get married I think I should take your name." Del said as we walked through the halls of the New Republic capital building.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you're you and I'm me." He responded.
"That's not even a reason. Look Del, we can discuss this more later but right now Leia needs us." I responded as we approached the door to the room we were told to go to.
"Alright, alright but I didn't hear you say no." Del said, chuckling to himself. The door slid open revealing that Leia, Ackbar and a man were already present.
"Iden, Del good to see you both. I'd like you to both meet Sinjir Rath Velus, former Imperial Loyalty Officer and current political advisor to Chancellor Mon Mothma." Leia said.
"Pleasure." Del said, extending his hand to Sinjir. Sinjir took it and shook it.
"Nice to meet other defectors." He said.
"Why are we here? Was is with all this secrecy." I asked.
"Mon Mothma is about to make a huge mistake. She is actually going through with a military disarmament act, cutting down 90% of the New Republic Military." Leia said.
"It would leave us vulnerable and unable to enforce the senate's authority over laws that they make. Following the Battle of Jakku we've had a better time tracking Imperial targets like high ranking officers, fleet movements and bases. We've noticed a large number of them are missing, there is no trace of them anywhere in the known galaxy." Ackbar said.
"And if these targets are going missing, you can bet the Empire is gearing up for retaliation." Sinjir added.
"So what do we do, we're not going to interfere with a senate vote, are we?" I asked.
"No, we will do nothing of that. That is what the Empire did." Leia answered.
"I've scouted out the senators and I've identified one who will speak out in the next senate session on the disarmament act. He will also probably argue for a military expansion and a more centralized authority but that's a subject for another time." Sinjir said.
"If this works then we will still have a fleet and army to maintain, Sinjir and I can use our positions as advisor and Vice Chair of the Senate to suggest to Mon Mothma to create several construction contracts for military maintenance and expansion. This will incentivise companies like Kuat Drive or Sienar to remain loyalty to the New Republic and not any Imperial remnants. Core Worlds like Kuat or Anaxes while they have membership in the New Republic will now strengthen their ties with us. Not just the Core Worlds but other regions like the Colonies, Inner Rim and the Outer Rim will also strengthen their ties with the New Republic." Leia said.
"Then what do you need us for, sounds like you have everything figured out." I asked.
"I don't want to think about it but war with a resurgent Empire is a high possibility, we need people with skills and trust in certain positions. Iden I want you as the Director of New Republic Special Forces." Leia said.
"Me?" I asked.
"Yes you. You've already built up a reputation among the military as being effective special forces officer. And with the death of Crix Madine there is an opening." Ackbar said.
"And what will I be doing?" asked Del.
"You will be one of the first members of a new division I plan on creating it. We don't want to push the galaxy into a war that cost lives, I'm hoping war will never be an option. But I'm not naive to think it is not a real possibility, which is why we need a vanguard. A military force dedicated to being a guardian of the New Republic. Officially it will have no ties to the New Republic, unofficially it will be funded by the New Republic. I've chosen Admiral Ackbar to lead this new vanguard." Leia said.
"Officially I will resign from the military shortly after the war is concluded and retire to a peaceful Outer Rim world but in actuality I will be leading the vanguard." Ackbar said.
"I don't want to see anything like Operation Cinder threaten Vardos or any other worlds. Count me in." I said.
"Me too." Del added.
"Good, may the Force be with you." Leia said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I can't see this through to the end. I have a child to raise and a people to protect, when the Empire destroyed Alderaan they left countless of its people homeless. I have to help them rebuild their way of life and government, to balance things with the surviving aristocracy and the people who aren't nobles. I've already selected a world to colonize in the Core Worlds, my father had it selected as a potential colony world as it is just like Alderaan in every way and now it will be our new home. Once all the war is over and everything has cooled down then I will petition the planet for New Republic aid and membership. I will have to resign from my position as Vice Chair of the senate but I will be helping my people. The new planet will be named New Alderaan." Leia explained.
"I wish you good luck in rebuild, Leia." I said.
"Thank you Iden, and good luck to you to." Leia responded.
New Republic Senate Building
Senate Chambers
Leia POV
I sat on the right side of Mon Mothma in at the head of the Senate floor overlooking the other senators. I could sense their nervousness, especially from Mon Mothma. She was doing what she felt was right but I could tell she was worried about the future but was still going through with this. I respected that about her, even she had doubts but when push came to shove she stood by her principals.
"This senate is now in session." Mon Mothma said.
"Today's agenda consists of various pieces of legislature but our main one today is the Military Disarmament Act proposed by Supreme Chancellor Mon Mothma of Chandrila. This will be the last opportunity for debate on it before we vote, please make your opinion known now." Leia said.
"I would like my opinion known." A voice called out. Everyone turned their heads towards the voice which turned out to be a yellow male Rodian.
"The floor recognizes Senator Coller Klen of Rodia, you have permission to speak." Leia said
"Thank you Vice Chair Organa. Senators, friends, colleagues the Military Disarmament Act is a disastrous mistake. My homeworld of Rodia like many others was enslaved by the Empire, my people forced off world or into slave camps to build weapons for the Empire like the Death Star. My own parents and sister fell victim to this with my mother being killed right in front of me as we were dragged off to a slave camp. My father and sister were sent off to another camp where they were executed as an example. When the Rebellion rose up I felt that the galaxy had finally realized that action needed to be taken. Now we are about to squander the sacrifices of not just my family but countless other families and the soldiers who died for our New Republic. Imperials are vanishing and we don't know where they are going but rest assured they will not rest until they've taken revenge for losing the war. I do not want, and the galaxy does not want to see another war but our enemies will not have the same feelings. We must be on guard and we must be ready to defend ourselves should the need arise." Senator Coller said.
"Thank you for your speech Senator Coller, free speech is the foundation of a democracy." Mon Mothma said.
"Is there any others who wish to voice their opinions?" Leia waited a minute. "Then I hereby order the voting process on the Military Disarmament Act to begin at once."
Iden POV
After the senate finished voting Leia called us back to the room we were in. There was no word yet on whether the Military Disarmament Act passed or not. Del and Me got there, Sinjir, Leia and Ackbar were already waiting.
"Thank you for once again coming when I called. I'll be brief, the Military Disarmament Act did not pass. Mon Mothma is disappointed but the senate has voted and she will respect its decision."
"That Senator Coller though, already rumors are running around that he will be running as the next Chancellor." Sinjir said.
"Ackbar, we need to discuss some logistics. I've already brought up the idea of the vanguard to Mon Mothma. We need to star setting up bases for it." Leia said.
"I believe we should set up the vanguard in the Trans Hydian Borderlands, the area that borders the known galaxy and the Unknown Regions. The Unknown Regions are where we believe these Imperials are feeling to. I've decided on the planet Odessen, it is an ideal world with vasts forests and mountains. Perfect cover for the Vanguard's headquarters." Ackbar said.
"You've already sent over the plans for the headquarters and it is massive." Leia said.
"I intend the Vanguard to have capital ships and several starfighter wings. So the headquarters will have massive underground hangars to house both the capital ships and the starfighters as well as other facilities like a command center and barracks. I don't want to take any chances." Ackbar said.
"Then today the Starbird Vanguard is born. It will use the symbol of our Rebellion, to symbolize its nature as the protector of the New Republic." Leia said.
Author's Notes
To answer a previous review, Malgus is Snoke. Malgus is an ancient Sith so he's been known by many names over the centuries with Snoke being one of the recent ones. With his war on the Jedi and new Republic about to commence he has gone back to using his original name of Malgus. In other news I saw the Last Jedi a while ago and my thoughts are that it is a good movie with some of its execution could use improvement. Also I don't like what they did with Phasma. Other than that I juggled with naming the vanguard the Starbird Vanguard or the Resistance but I ultimately decided on Starbird Vanguard. Let me know what you thought of this episode and what name you would have prefered.
