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Phase 5
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Part 1
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Chancellor's office
Senate Building
Coruscant
I honestly didn't see this coming. The likes of the Trade Federation and Techno Union having Senators acknowledged reality and gaming the system. The new Emergency bill put forth openly by the Union was concerning. That was especially true considering the current makeup of the said organization. While I did have the backing of Tambor and some of the organization's cyborg leadership, the truth was the group's name was to the point. It was a union representing the interests of many member corporations and a handful of nations. The Techno Union also facilitated technological exchanges that might be otherwise unthinkable between its members, subsidized education, and championed a path toward technological advancement.
As a group, its members profited greatly from the current state of affairs, tax-wise. The mere fact I looked at a bill proposed by them aimed at increasing taxes across the board was telling.
"Sate, I need to see the Techno Union's newest economic projections. Please get in contact with our backers there. If you have to, irritate the Foreman and speak with him directly. I want an explanation."
Pestage typed a few notes on his data-pad and left, leaving me to ponder the situation alone.
Even if most of the people who ran the Techno Union thought I was their creature, blind-siding me this way without warning was irritating, to say the least. However, that was of a bit of concern right now. What mattered was what drove the Techno Union to break protocol in such a way as to make a statement. Their bill should have come from a neutral corner of the Senate.
It didn't tell me much, and I was not too fond of the message's implications. The Techno Union's Senator wouldn't have dared do something like that without backing from the major players within the organization. This meant that both Corellia and Kuat were becoming greatly concerned by the state of the economy.
I had the nagging suspicion that even the worst-case scenarios my economic advisers gave me were based on faulty data. Garbage in, garbage out, so to speak. That was why I needed to see the Techno Union's latest projections and compare them with what 'my' people came up with.
Depending on the numbers and the next few days in the Senate, jumping ship and distancing myself from the coming catastrophe might be the only viable option I have left.
If this crisis didn't end my political career, I needed to get a good picture of how I stumbled into this mess to avoid repeating it in the future.
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Late that evening, after an exhausting day of meetings, wrangling Senators and economists, I found myself lying on my couch with my head in Sly's lap.
Sate was finally back, carrying news, both exciting and disturbing.
"I have the projections. One of the financial droids is doing a comparative analysis between theirs and ours." Pestage reported after crashing on a nearby couch. "We'll have an answer shortly." He poured himself a hefty dose of Corellian Brandy and drained half a cup in one go. "Next, I talked with our unreasonable backers and got an explanation for their actions. From what I gather, ever since the Nebula Front murdered the previous Trade Federation's leadership and the resulting unpleasantries, some people saw the writing on the wall." He finished his drink and went for another one. That, more than anything, told me Sate was both tired and in a bad mood. "There have been groups of financiers and people with a lot of credits to burn who decided to take advantage of the troubles they foresaw. That might have been manageable if the Trade Federation didn't first invade Naboo, only to fail miserably. Then it had to further enhance its reputation for incompetence under the new Neimoidian leadership."
I was grateful Sate didn't mention I was the reason why the Trade Federation went that route. Then again, I had yet to learn what they might have chosen originally to deal with the fallout.
"The people responsible for the rampant speculation," I said instead.
"The Techno Union analysts agree on that point. It's a decentralized effort by people all over the galaxy who saw an opportunity and jumped at it without considering the consequences. Now that the economy is in danger, at least some of them see an opportunity to make fortunes and retire before everything falls apart. Our ability to deal with that issue is currently non-existent. It's too broad and decentralized to combat effectively. In that regard, speculation, perhaps direct actions to intentionally further destabilize the economy, might be coming to counter our attempts to contain the crisis."
That explained why Sate was doing an excellent job of getting himself drunk. Did I mention I didn't see this kriffing idiocy coming?
In theory, if I had enough support, I could use this situation to move towards more government involvement and control of the economy to preserve it against the free market. After all, too many actors have already proved themselves irrational. Any natural corrections that might happen in the distant future would likely be too little too late. Said corrections would come in the form of an economic crash, which might be a small price to pay for those liable to make fortunes from it.
The price everyone else would have to pay would be anything but small.
People playing such games back in the Empire would get killed by either Imperial Intelligence or the Sith when it became clear what they were risking to make money. By the Force, I was sure that back in the day, the same might have happened in the Old Republic as well.
The Republic government, in general, and my office, in particular, was supposed to have tools to keep the situation from getting as bad as it was now. As the Chancellor, I should also have the means to deal with people trying to make it worse.
The Senate gleefully stripped said tools from the Chancellor's control and ensured that the few still existing were impotent by design. After all, that way, these tools couldn't be used against the various factions behind the Senate when they played their dirty games.
"Sate, get it out of your system by sunrise. I need you sharp and bright-eyed, ready to work. Sly, I need you to arrange meetings with certain Senators. Kuat, Corellia, and the Techno Union – I want those three together in my office first thing in the morning. My patience with this ongoing insanity is at its end. Suppose the Republic wants its economy to recover instead of racing off a cliff. In that case, I will require some concession to make it so."
Kriff Palpatine and his plan. I would get the tools to solve the problem and recognition for solving it. If not, I would go with plan Besh and see how much money I could make from the economy collapsing and potentially fracturing the Republic.
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Part 2
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Scores of Rim Faction Senators speak against the Emergency Measures Act proposed by the Techno Union! The most common claim is this is nothing less but the first step towards renewed Core and Corporate oppression over the Outer Rim!
GNN Evening News
Lok Revenants were driven from Lok but not destroyed! Controversial Hero of Naboo, Feeorin Captain Nym swears to continue fighting Trade Federation oppression on the Rim!
Theed News Service
Chommell Sector Senator Greejatus confirms rumors that he would seek Senate pardon for the actions of mercenaries who aided in breaking the Trade Federation's blocade of Naboo! This includes controversial Captain Nym, leader of the pirate band Lok Revenants, and mercenary Vana Sage.
HoloNet News
Senator Dod protests Naboo's aiding and abetting of pirates at a time when piracy is at all times high. Is Naboo further risking the galactic economy out of spite?
Galactic City News
Judicial Forces recall Wullf Yularen, the hero from the Battle of the Malastare Narrows. Government officials confirm that the Captain is being tapped for a special task force to suppress piracy on the Outer Rim. Further, the Judicial Forces issued a clarification on Captain Yularen's rank. While he holds the rank of a Rear Admiral in the Kwymar Sector defense forces, he remains a Captain within the Republic's Judicial Forces.
GNN Core News
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Chancellor's office
Senate Building
Coruscant
Early in the morning, my temper was more or less under control. That said, the general sentiment from last night persisted. My patience with the unfolding madness was at its end. I wondered if there were a chance I would manage to keep a lid on my frustration for the next decade, if not longer.
No wonder Palpatine was destined to go full-crazy Sith on the galaxy. After two to three decades of this, I would be gleefully ready to burn it all and kriff all consequences.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to focus on the task at hand.
Sly entered my office, followed by three Senators.
Gume Saam was an odd amphibian creature that looked like a mix of a dinosaur and a featherless bird. Two eye stalks almost hung to the side of his head, holding slit yellow eyes. He had a beak that would make any bird of prey proud. The Ishi Tib alien was the current Senator representing the Techno Union.
Risi Lenoan walked in next, wearing a traditional Kuati dress in bright red. She was quietly talking with Garm Bel Iblis, who had a roguish smile on his face.
"Good morning, esteemed senators!" I managed to plaster a pleased smile on my face as I welcomed my guests. "Please take a seat. We have a lot to discuss!" My smile quickly vanished, replaced by a concerned frown. "I would love to hear the thought process behind the Techno Union's bold actions."
Saam twitched in his brown silk robes. His eye-stalks glanced at the other Senators, who refused to look at him. Meanwhile, Sly walked around my desk and took a position beside my chair. She crossed her hands behind her slim waist and looked expectantly at our guests.
"I believe it should be obvious and most welcome, Chancellor." A translator hidden in the Ishi Tib's robes answered in a Basic with an upper-crust Core accent, which sounded damningly like British. It was just loud enough to cover most of the clicks that came from the alien's beak.
"That's curious. One might think that the Trade Union's official stance was carefully chosen to stir up more trouble in the Senate," Sly countered. "I have virtually the same list of demands from a long list of Rim Senators. They all want reassurances that the Republic isn't preparing to oppress and exploit the Outer Rim Territories in earnest and using the current unpleasantries as a cover."
Saam's beak clacked in what might be anger at either being spoken that way by an aide or at the insinuation. I couldn't be sure without actively using the Force or being more familiar with his species.
"We had to make a point!" The Techno Union's Senator snapped after rapidly recovering. "The economy is in peril! Everyone must understand how dangerous the situation is and act accordingly!"
"The Techno Unions' hasty actions might force many Senators to vote against vital bills because they suddenly have more important things to worry about than the economy." I pointed out and looked at the other two Senators.
"Our representatives who are part of the Techno Union took all alternatives under consideration," Lenoan countered, speaking in a strong and clear Kuat upper-crust accent. "The Senate and the people it represents must be painfully aware of what is at stake before the next session."
"Chancellor," Iblis added in a soft Corellian drawl, "The economy can't be allowed to crash. At this time, the best option is for your Office to receive the necessary funding and authority to fix the piracy and, thus, supply issues plaguing the Rim. The other realistic alternatives are more direct corporate military involvement, which can't and shouldn't happen…." He grimaced. "That, or direct intervention from the System Defense Fleets of the most powerful Core alliances. We believe that either of those two options would cause more outrage and resistance than the Republic doing its job."
He politely didn't mention why the Republic was in no position to do its job now without multiple emergency bills and Acts that the Senate still needed to pass. I didn't mention it either.
"Well, at least two of you know my stance on the matter. Am I going to get the needed tools or not?"
The Senators looked at each other.
"The Techno Union and all its affiliates are behind the Emergency Act we proposed," Saam affirmed.
"Kuat, KDY, and our allies are backing it to the hilt. We're ready to shift contracts and open shipyard space for the immediate needs of the Judicial Forces. Upgrades, refits, and new construction contracted by the Republic government will receive absolute priority." Lenoan promised.
"We're on the same page. Diktat Mericoppe pledges full Corellian support to the Judicial Forces. This includes an absolute priority for upgrades, supplies, and new construction. We are also ready to launch a campaign for volunteers to join the Judicial Forces when the vital bills to expand them pass in the Senate."
"That is the first good news I've heard since this debacle began. Unfortunately, as you are well aware, I can do little beyond making suggestions and requests right now. That's far from sufficient even to begin fixing the problems facing us, much less get the crisis under a semblance of control." I reminded them.
"We're aware of the limits your Office is operating under, Chancellor," Lenoan noted. "We will do our utmost to lift enough of them in the coming days and weeks. However, let's make one thing clear. We will require results."
"The sooner I have the legal authority to act, the better. The longer events have to unfold, the harder and slower solving the issues at hand will be." I shoved the ball back into their corner.
In a sane galaxy, the Republic, through my Office, should have been able to take constructive actions to stabilize the economy at least a week ago. As things stood at their best, I couldn't start doing anything beyond preliminary planning for days. Until we secured funding, anything but forming a strategic framework would be a pointless waste of time. The available financing would govern what forces we could gather, outfit, dispatch, and maintain in the Outer Rim.
I told them as much. Politely at that.
"Perhaps it would be best if we show a united front before the Intergalactic Banking Clan," Iblis suggested.
"They are the first organization I will have to negotiate with if the necessary bills and acts pass." I agreed.
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