Of Death, Betrayal, and Alliances - Part 1, Section 2
Several men sat in a large room. It was not overly elaborate in décor, a simple room adorned in the various cultural artifacts representing the clans that resided on Ryysak. At its center was a large table and twelve chairs carved from indigenous trees.
Most days the room was empty but today servants rushed about, tending to the personal and professional needs of those who occupied those twelve chairs. At the head of that large table the leader of this clan council, Asar Moeb, sat with his eyes closed, fingers steepled as he was deep in thought. The past few months since the Empire had formed had not gone well for his people. Now nine months later chaos was erupting and something needed to be done about it. He took a deep breath and prepared to listen to the complaints of his fellow clan leaders. He signaled for his assistant to gather the attention of the fellow clan leaders. The deafening roar of several voices were silenced by the sound of a large bell being rung.
Ademola Nnamani, of the Nnamani clan, opened the discussion with an edge of anger in his voice. "Asar. When you first went to the Republic with the idea of asking for protection during the war we agreed, but that was because you said that they would agree not to interfere in our planetary affairs. Then we exercised patience in dealing with this Regional Governor Rygel that was appointed to oversee system affairs, but this governor has taken liberties to make new laws concerning our peoples without respecting our authority or cultural history. The only person on this council that this man will even talk to is you. He disrespects us by not even speaking with us. While the Moeb clan is the largest allowing you make the final decisions of this council… we are beginning to question your reasoning in this matter since you're doing nothing about it!" Asar was quickly growing angry at this outright attack on his leadership, but decided to keep his temper about him and keep listening.
Hakaru Tsai spoke for the Tsai. He appeared more to be pleading with the Moeb clan leader. "Our livelihoods are suffering, Asar. Since the Hutts were run out of this system some clans are not able to support themselves, entire clans are growing desperate. If they are not asking others for aid, then they are taking what they need by whatever means they think of. Not to mention trade has went down considerably." He paused for a brief moment before continuing. "Yes, this Governor Rygel managed to bring trade back up from the terrible decline that hit us at first, but it is still not enough. Clans have been suffering and relations between them are getting worse."
The clan leader of the Jaafar, Naeem Jaafar broke in immediately after. "Governor Rygel does not respect our people or our way of life. When he sent his officers down to assess our worth to the Empire he did so without an ounce of care as to the privacy or personal rights of our peoples, or the environment of this planet. He then had the nerve to be upset when clans complained. When we protested he met us with his storm troopers and took away our civil freedoms and sanctioned us!" His fist pounded down on the table and with a show of embarrassment, he immediately attempted to control his frustration before continuing. "How did this man think we would take this? Lying down peacefully? You of all people know that this is not our way! We are warriors! We fight! We do not lay down like weakened fools! This man has basically done everything but declare an official war against us!"
Tarik Khalaf spoke for his clan with a tone of concern more than anger. "You know that there is talk of clan war again, don't you, Asar? After almost two decades of peace we are looking at going back to fighting one another again. My clan would rather take this up with the Imperials, though. We say take the fight to the people who actually started this mess."
Asar exhaled slowly as he bit back the words that he really wanted to say and instead tried to take a more diplomatic approach to the matters at hand. "Look. I know very well the problems we are facing here, and yes, I do feel that this situation has gotten completely out of control. Every time I speak with Governor Rygel I feel as if we are being treated without respect and I'm personally tired of it! I realize that something needs to be done about this disparaging situation, but I feel that unless we all work together nothing will be accomplished. We need solutions here gentlemen, not more complaints. I do have my own ideas on what should be done. Although, I leave the discussion open to suggestions any of you might have."
Molari Zaire of the clan Zaire, looked around to all of the other leaders before looking directly at Asar. "I think you know what we need to do, Asar, and you just don't want to admit it. This man needs to be taught a lesson on what happens when you don't give people the respect they deserve as sentient beings. He treats us like we are savages to be dealt with accordingly. We need to show him just how savage we can be when all diplomatic solutions are ignored."
A sly, broad smile spread across Asar's face as he leaned in towards his fellow clan leaders. "My thoughts exactly, but perhaps we should start with a diplomatic approach. My plans are that we force a meeting with Rygel and demand that he let our own people conduct whatever assessments need to be done and if he doesn't listen… we take back the control of our planet, by any means necessary." Asar stated watching each of his fellow clan leader's expressions.
There was a moment of silence as they all contemplated what had just been said. "Shall we work out the details of how we should do this?" The leader of the clan council arched one brow inquiringly as he realized he truly had their attention. Within a couple of hours all of the clan leaders finally agreed on a plan of action and laid the responsibility with Asar Moeb to carry out their plans.
Imperial Governor Nathar Rygel was not a patient man and demanded immediate results of his officers and himself. Not exactly a young man any longer, he had spent most of his adult life pushing his way up the political ladders in the Republic only to get nowhere fast.
Then the instillation of the Empire came into effect and his life took a sudden change for the better. His hard work seemed to have finally paid off as he was noticed by someone in the upper echelons of Imperial Command. Two short months after the Republic became the Galactic Empire he received a letter of promotion. He was being assigned as an Imperial Governor to the Ryysak system. It sounded great at the time, but he soon realized upon arriving on Ryysak that it wasn't the job that he had expected.
It was his job to assess the planet's worth and that of it's people, and to take over as it's primary ruler according to the general mandates set forth in Imperial governance. World leaders were to merely become token figureheads under Imperial rule. The position wielded high power, but the system was a host of backwater planets basically ran by the Hutts and the primitive clans that lived there. So far both were proving to be of little value. After extensive threats the Hutts finally pulled out of the system, but then violence erupted between the indigenous people and Imperial officers. It seemed that the so-called clan leaders were doing nothing to stop it.
Now the Head of Ryysak's Clan Council, Asar Moeb, insisted upon another pointless meeting, and this time he wanted all clan leaders with him. 'This had better be worth my time, or perhaps a few of them will meet some unfortunate demise.' he thought with extreme malice.
Rygel sat in his office trying to maintain a level of civility as he met with these men. While he had agreed to this meeting with all of the clan leaders, he made it a point to say that only Asar Moeb would be allowed to speak. The clan leader began to speak in his usual diplomatic, monolistic tone. "I speak on behalf of the people of Ryysak when I say that we do not wish to cause any further trouble to the Empire, but we have always been self ruled and represented ourselves within the Republic whenever we had any dealings with it. We wish to do the same if we are to be a part of this Empire. If you give us control of our planet again I, and the rest of this council, will guarantee that the peace will be restored. We can also assure you that we are completely capable of giving the Emperor a complete report on how valuable this planet and its' people can be to the Empire if you give us the time and resources to do research in our own manner that doesn't disrupt the order of our people. We've enjoyed a relative peace for over almost two decades and now the peace has been disrupted by this misunderstanding of how to handle these matters. We wish to end these conflicts before a full scale war is started here. We implore you to give us back the control of our planet and remove your officers and soldiers from here."
Rygel chuckled at what he considered a ridiculous plea. "This has been discussed on several occasions Mr. Moeb. The Emperor has ordered my stay here and to gain control of the people of this planet by whatever means are necessary. As long as your people continue to attack my officers the sanctions and military action will continue. For the sake of your people pray it doesn't get any worse."
He stood and readied himself to dismiss the clan leaders. "If you have nothing more to say, or offer, I call this meeting to an end; and I add that it has been a frivolous waste of my time."
Asar and the other leaders stood in what appeared to be a sign of respect. Asar put his hand out in what Rygel took as an offer to initiate a handshake. He at least gave the man the common courtesy to accept it. "I'm sorry that you feel this way, Sir. I had really hoped that we could have worked this matter out in a more peaceful manner." Asar stated flatly.
Suddenly, Asar's other hand produced a dagger that he quickly thrust into the heart of the Imperial Governor. Rygel looked down at his chest in shock at the realization of what happened and before he could say anything he felt himself begin to fall as his world faded to black.
At the same moment the other clan leaders stood and pulled their blasters. They began to shoot at the few stormtroopers that were supposed to protect the governor. Within seconds the clone soldiers were all dead.
All over Ryysak a surge of attacks were being carried out on Imperial officers and soldiers stationed in various settlements. The people of Ryysak were determined to make a solid statement to the Imperials. Leave or suffer the consequences.