Edboy4926: As always cheers for the reviews and the encouragement. Yes, Kuvira is determined to not place so much faith in Starkiller. A brute force worshipping person like Hux sees Starkiller as the sole factor in this war. Kuvira by contrast, only sees the value of Starkiller as an opening salvo. But she knows that it will take the entire First Order Fleet and careful strategy to truly win this war. So, she is planning how to conduct the war without Starkiller, as she believes in contingency plans.
Above all she is determined to avoid the mistake Palpatine made by placing so much on the super weapon. She wants to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself.
In answer to your Dragon Age question. (I assume you looked at my other story Return of the Imperium). It would take Kuvira at least a couple of years to place Thedas under the First Order (assuming she arrived alone). If she brought the entire First Order with her? A year at most. As for who she would support? Hmm, Kuvira is very much about law and order. And she will always do what she considers strategically sound, rather then what is morally right. So, she might support the Templers.
However, the Mages do present a considerable opportunity to bring the power of magic to bear against her enemies and so she might side with the Mages for the sake of convenience and military might.
In the end it depends on the circumstances of her involvement in the Dragon Age world.
Loyal Imperial: Thank you for your support. Like you I am a supporter of the Imperial/First Order side and I am determined to have the story told from their side. All the movies, tv shows, comics etc are almost exclusively from the Rebel perspective. But each war has good and evil and flaws on both sides. I am adding a little balance to the conflict. So, you can rest assured that whatever happens there will be little 'redemption' in this story as I am well and truly sick of that happening in previously awesome 'bad guy' fanfic's.
Random Reader: Thank you for the review. I was originally going to leave Hux completely out of this story. But some power plays and potential infighting and assassinations always make for more interesting reading.
Chapter 8 – Ultimatum
Starkiller Base
Kylo Ren POV
Kylo Ren watched as Admiral Kuvira and General Hux left the room to see to their various matters. For the moment, he was only thankful that Admiral Kuvira would undoubtably be seeing to the majority of them.
Kylo Ren tended to want to oversee everything himself as he constantly believed that (if left in the hands of others) the task would fail if he was not present to make certain it succeeded. If Hux was the one in charge of the First Order's operations he would most definitely feel that urge. He would have wanted to leave the room right now to make sure that pathetic fool did not cause further problems for him or his master.
However, with Kuvira taking charge of the opening salvo of the war against the New Republic, he felt he could trust that she would ensure it was carried out correctly.
As his thoughts turned once more to the Admiral he found himself watching her as she strode out of the room with Hux following close behind her. He black greatcoat billowed out behind her as she walked out of the room, in a way that was somehow impressive. Hux's coat was doing the same thing, yet somehow the sense of power did not carry over to him.
Not surprising since Kylo Ren could sense his petty jealously and anger swirling within his soul. At best he could project a sense of danger. But it was not the danger felt when confronting a worthy and skilled enemy. It was the sense one got when confronted by a rabid animal.
His attention turned once more to Kuvira.
He observed the way she walked in a way that projected confidence and command as easily as a sun projected light and heat. He had often admired that about her. He strength, fortitude and resolve were the equal of durusteel, and she projected her power so effortlessly, like breathing.
He had seen that power projected during their many sparing sessions on their respective flagships. The strength and poise never lost its intensity. Even in the moments when she had been knocked to the training ring floor, she was not weak, never weak.
He observed the way she marched with purpose and her eyes remained focused forward as she was clearly already running through the calculations and requirements that would need to be addressed before she could begin to conduct the next phase of their operations. He privately admitted to himself that he liked her eyes. Their vibrant emerald green colour that seemed to blaze like fire when she was determined was constantly impressive and almost hypnotic.
He observed the way that, even though her uniform, the hardness of her muscles and the curve of her ar…
With a mental (and almost physical jolt) he slammed his mind closed before his thoughts could travel any further down that path!
Such thoughts were beneath him!
He was Kylo Ren! Apprentice to Supreme Leader Snoke, the most powerful being in the galaxy. He was the heir to Darth Vader, heir to the Sith, heir to the Dark Side itself.
He had no time to indulge in pointless musing and even less reason to. His opinions of the Admiral were respectful and nothing more. He was confident of that. Besides if his master had sensed that thought, it could have led to difficulties for both him and the Admiral.
With an effort (that was far harder then it should have been) he dragged his thoughts away from the Admiral and turned them back to his master. Who still loomed over him in his black robes.
Snoke remains sitting in his throne like chair. For a moment he simply observed Ren as he let the two military commanders exit the assembly chamber completely. When he did resume speaking, his voice contained a new intimacy that had not been present during the military briefing.
Snoke nodded and continued. "I have never had a student with such promise before you." He spoke the words softly and with an emotion that could almost be called affection.
Kylo Ren internally glowed at the praise from his master. But he would not let it show. Either on his masked face or through the Force. "It is your teachings, that make me strong, Supreme Leader" He said bowing his head in respect.
Snoke demurred. "It is far more then that. It is where you are from. What you are made of." Snoke proclaimed.
"The Dark Side."
"And the Light"
"The finest sculptor cannot fashion a masterpiece from poor materials. He must have something strong, something pure, something unbreakable with which to work. I have you." He finished with a dramatic pause.
Snoke paused for a moment. Then continued his lesson.
"Kylo Ren, I watched the Galactic Empire rise, and then fall. The gullible prattle on about the triumph of truth and justice, of individualism and free will. As if such things were solid and real instead of simple subjective judgments."
He paused as he seemed to let the memories of a time long since past carry him away. But Kylo Ren knew better. His master was never lost in thought. After a second he seemed to come back to himself and regarded Kylo again.
"The historians have it all wrong. It was neither poor strategy nor arrogance that brought down the Empire. You know too well what did."
Ren nodded once. "Sentiment."
Snoke nodded in turn. "Yes. Such a simple thing. Such a foolish error of judgment. A momentary lapse in an otherwise exemplary life. Had Lord Vader not succumbed to emotion at the crucial moment—had the father killed the son—the Empire would have prevailed. And there would be no threat of Skywalker's return today."
Kylo Ren stiffened his resolve at begin reminded of his grandfather's mistake. "I am immune to the Light. By the grace of your training, I will not be seduced." He assured his master.
Snoke regarded him. He was pleased by his apprentice's confidence. But he sensed that it was not as strong as he was desperately trying to make it seem. "Your self-belief is commendable Kylo Ren. But do not let it blind you. No one knows the limits of his own power, until it has been tested to the utmost. As yours has not been. That day may yet come."
He paused to let the message of his words sink in. Then he continued.
"There's been an awakening in the Force. Have you felt it?" He asked Kylo Ren who only took a second before answering.
"Yes".
Snoke nodded approvingly. "The elements align, Kylo Ren. You alone are caught in the winds of the storm. You bond is not just to Vader. But to Skywalker himself."
"Leia."
Kylo Ren flinched as the names of the two people in the galaxy that brought him such emotional distress were mentioned. He felt his emotions roiling and the Dark Side gather around him as he felt his rage, anger, resentment and sorrow building.
"There is no need for concern. Together we will destroy the Resistance, and the last Jedi."
Snoke appraised him for a moment. Then the Supreme Leader responded to his apprentice's reassurance.
"We shall see. We shall see." The Supreme Leader's voice had not finished echoing through the assembly chamber before the holoprojection vanished from sight, leaving Kylo Ren alone with his thoughts.
Kuvira POV
Kuvira looked up from the holographic central display in the centre of the Central Command bunker on Starkiller Base.
She had spent the last couple of hours observing the galactic map that was being displayed on the holoprojector. She had been moving icons displaying First Order fleets and armies arranged all across their vast territory through the Unknown Regions and the Outer Rim.
She had been observing hundreds of reports and calculations detailing numbers, experience, ammunitions, officer lists and ship status for dozens of separate fleets, hundreds of strike forces, and thousands of personnel. It had been up to her to place the right units in the right positions at the right time.
After hours of ceaseless concentration and countless alterations to the strategy map. Along with ever changing information as her team of officers, aids and droids kept updating her statistics. She felt that she was drawing to a close.
She stepped back and observed her final result.
All the fleets of the First Order (minus the forces that would remain in their territory to keep the peace and defend against any incursion) were placed on the frontiers of their territory and all of them were poised to strike into the galactic core and the heart of the New Republic when the word was given.
All forces had been placed on alert and the commanding officers and army units had been informed that they would be required to move at a moments notice.
On the galaxy map key target planets had been marked and each had a similarly marked fleet that had been assigned to conquer it.
The 2nd Fleet was assigned to Chandrila. The 3rd Fleet would be heading to Corellia and Kashyyyk (as the Wookie's had no space force), the 4th Fleet would head to Mon Cala and the 5th Fleet to Coruscant. Each fleet would move to their target the second the opening attack had been completed. The delay was to allow any unseen effects of the Starkiller weapon on the galaxy or hyperspace to dissipate or at least be observed and assessed.
The 6th and 7th Fleets would be tasked with securing the territory of the centrist worlds that were preparing to secede from the New Republic. The expected territorial gains were massive. Dozens of systems would suddenly be under their control. Therefore, a large effort needed to be made to ensure that the territory was protected and properly integrated into the First Order as fast and efficiently as possible.
They could not afford to be fighting rebellions and large-scale battles from the locals of those worlds if they were to continue their quick advance into enemy territory.
Based on repeated surveys and the undercover actions of the First Order Security Bureau, that did not seem likely. However, they could not afford to assume anything.
The 8th and 9th Fleets would be dispersed across the New Republic to begin the dismantling of the rebellious government and the surrender of those worlds to the First Order.
Some worlds had strong orbital defences or a planetary militia, and in some cases even a planetary defence fleet. Those worlds might require a small number of star destroyers to bring to heel. But it was likely that they would recognise a hopeless flight when they saw one.
Besides those defended systems were few and far between. While the New Republic maintained an adequate military and starfleet, some Centrist senators like Erudo Ro-Kiintor of Hevurion had lobbied for more government funding to be diverted to shoring up the defences of individual worlds.
Kuvira could not help a sardonic smile forming on her lips as she made a mental note to thank the good senator for all his hard work on their behalf and to send him a gift after Hevurion officially joined the First Order.
For worlds that had no standing defences, a single Imperial Class Star Destroyer would be enough to cower the resident into surrender and after that some simple rotation of their forces between those worlds would ensure that their forces remained mobile but were still in a position to remind the residents at the folly of resisting them.
One of the worlds they were going to focus on was Lothal.
The mess that the rebel forces had caused the Empire on Lothal during the Galactic Civil War was legendary. Especially the actions of the infamous 'Ghost Cell'. They along with the rest of the rebels had caused Lothal to rise up and become a hotbed of dissent and rebellion.
The members of the Ghost cell were no longer on Lothal. They had scattered across the galaxy along their own paths after the war had ended. Their locations were currently unknown. But their memories remained strong on the planet. And just because they were not there now, did not mean they could not return.
While Lothal had not prospered under the chaos of the New Republic, it was more then likely they would see the First Order's return and remember their time under the Empire. This would undoubtable cause them to reignite the memories of the notorious Ghost rebels and strive to oppose the rule of the First Order.
Worst of all. It was through their actions that Grand Admiral Thrawn had been taken from them. It was because of them that the Empire had lost its greatest military leader right when it needed him most.
That was something that Kuvira would never forgive Lothal for. She was convinced if Thrawn had been leading their armies at Yavin, Hoth and Endor. Matters would have resulted differently.
Kuvira refused to allow that world to become such a problem again. So, she had ordered that four Resurgent Class Star Destroyers be stationed at Lothal during the opening campaign. If she had to bombard Lothal into dust to make sure it would not cause such trouble again, she would do so.
The 10th Fleet (Hux's fleet) would remain within their territory in the Unknown Regions and guard their borders with the Grisk, the Chiss and the other regional powers. If only she could have placed Hux with them and out of her way! She thought with a mental grimace.
But she could not let the fool out of her sight. The best way to make sure that he caused no damage or danger to their plans and strategy was to keep him within reach and within her personal sphere or influence.
Finally, the 1st Fleet would be left under Kuvira's personal command. Their task would be to protect Starkiller in the immediate aftermath of it being fired. And once the Resistance base was discovered through their spy network, they would immediately jump to the base and wipe it off the map.
With two dozen Resurgent Class Star Destroyers, ten Imperial Class and six interdictor cruisers making up the 1st Fleet, the Resistance would have no chance of opposing their attack openly.
Kuvira backed away from the galactic display map and took a moment to observe her strategic planning. She checked, and double checked as she observed all her placements and their relevant missions.
She had back up plans of course.
She had a plan in case Starkiller Base did not work.
She had a plan in case the New Republic Fleet survived the destruction of Hosnian Prime
She had a plan in case the Resistance was able to convince the New Republic to declare war first.
She had a plan in case Luke Skywalker returned.
And she had a plan in case Hux tried something stupid.
She was a firm believer in the philosophy that a plan must be made for every possibility no matter how unlikely. However, she also understood that no plan survived contact with the enemy.
She turned her back on the display, confident that she had made as effective a plan as she could make. Anything from now would simply be second guessing. She turned to the small army of aides and officers that occupied the chamber with her.
The stood in silence. Waiting for her command.
She soon gave it.
"The plan is complete. Note down the information and relay the necessary orders to the relevant fleet commanders. Ensure that they understand that they are only to take their assigned positions. They are not to move toward their assigned target until the order is given by either myself, or the Supreme Leader himself." She stated simply but unmistakably.
"Make sure they are also aware that they are to operate under the strictest secrecy. They and their first officers are the only ones to know what the preparation and movements are for. To the rest of their forces this is a simple relocation until further notice. I will let them know when they can revel their mission to their crews."
The crew nodded and at her signal, began to move toward the projector so that they could download the data and begin to send the needed information to the relevant commanders. The process would take some time. The logistics and military aspects of the plan had been calculated but would need to be actually implemented.
However, that was to her advantage. What she had planned would require at least a day or two to be finished. It would also be a last chance to grant the First Order some galactic sympathy. And no matter what, it would destroy what good will the Resistance had managed to retain these last few years.
She turned to Nephitina, who as always was standing vigilantly to the side of the room with her datapad in hand.
She beckoned the Twi'lek over to her as the chamber staff began to send out the various messages to the commanders of the First Order Fleets and armies around the galaxy.
"Contact our ambassador to the New Republic senate. Tell him that I need to address the entire Senate as soon as possible. Tell him to make it clear that this is a matter of urgency in response to a diplomatic incident performed against the First Order on their behalf." She said to the Lieutenant
Nephitina typed for a few seconds and then turned back to face Kuvira.
"Message sent Admiral. I figured that you would want to address the senate at some point, so I had the message drafted ahead of time." She said with a gloating smirk.
Kuvira raised an eyebrow for a second before she allowed her lips to break into a small grin. "Excellent work Lieutenant. I trust that you will show equal skill and speed when sending the numerous covert messages to the centrist senators that we have a vested interest in?"
Nephitina let out a small sarcastic huff before she got to work typing furiously as she moved toward the doorway and out of the room.
Kuvira watched her go. She was content to give Nephitina the rest of the day off while sent the coded messages.
Besides Kuvira had her own preparations to make.
She walked towards the doorway that Nephitina had just exited from. She would return to her quarters and get prepared and properly attired.
After all it was not every day you got to address the entire Republic Senate.
Hosnian Prime: New Republic Senate
Korr Sella POV
Korr Sella (known as Kory to her friends) walked down the halls of the New Republic Senate building on the capital world of Hosnian Prime. She wore her green Resistance uniform with the symbol of her Lieutenant's rank displayed proudly over her left breast. As the official ambassador for the Resistance to the New Republic senate, she made a point of looking her best and professional at all times.
She had been informed via the senate's private communication network that an emergency session was taking place today and that attendance was required.
That would not have worried her much. Except an attachment to the announcement had stated that her presence as Resistance representative was not only required.
It was demanded.
As she walked through the halls and the crowds of senators, ambassadors, aides and civilian workers, she saw them look at her uniform with mixed reactions.
The civilian labours more often then not gave her a nod, a smile, or a casual thumb's (if they were a species with thumbs) up. She smiled and gave as professional a gesture in return when she could. Civilians were sometimes the most respectful and trusting of the Resistance these days.
It made sense. They (like her) had been raised on the stories of the glorious and heroic rebellion and they were happy to support the new successor organisation that had been built on its memory. The problem was they did not really no anything about the larger issued that were at the heart of the Resistance's existence.
Oh, they knew about the First Order of course. It was common galactic knowledge after the last few years.
But to the everyday citizen of the Republic. The First Order was just a little-known galactic government in the far outer rim that had decided to keep the institutions of the Empire. They knew that the First Order was expanding into the outer rim Republic worlds. But to most citizens in the core, that was not their problem to deal with.
Korr sighed. The Resistance seemed to have support from a lot of the Republic citizenry. But it was support that was built on nostalgia, childhood stories and rumour. They had no desire of the true dangers and possibilities in the future. Nor did they seem to want to find out.
Still she should be glad they supported them that much. As she walked past the senators and the other government officials the reaction was very different.
Some of them flat out ignored her as she past by. And yet they were the ones that she preferred,
Of the rest of the senate, half of them their snickered behind their hands at them. Laughing behind their backs (and sometimes to their faces) about the Resistance. How they considered it a useless organisation, filled with idealistic idiots. And founded by an old woman who was so desperate for attention that she had recreated a mini rebel alliance to remind her of her glory days.
She clenched her fists as she walked past on of those senators. She overheard him whisper to his friend that General Organa was like one of those crazy spinster ladies who collected hordes of pet Gizka in her home. She thrust her shoulders back and put a lid on her anger as she continued towards the senate chamber.
Unfortunately, along the way she encountered some of the other group of senators. Those who thought that the Resistance as a dangerous 'borderline terrorist' organisation that was actually causing harm to the Republic by provoking the First Order.
Those ones actually made her madder. They had no idea what was coming if they continued to ignore all of the Resistance's warnings. They had no idea what the Resistance was risking and had lost to try to keep them and all the Republic save!
Instead the preferred to go to fancy senate parties and in the brief moments when they actually did their jobs, simply argue about nonsense while achieving nothing!
She settled for shaking her head in disgust and carried on.
Kory made her way into the senate chamber and made her way to the area that was reserved for the Resistance among the hundreds of other sections of the member worlds of the New Republic. As the Resistance was not recognised as a sovereign entity amount he New Republic. They did not have their own separate stand or most of the other attachments to a Republic member world.
However, as a notable private military force that was attached (unofficially or not) with the New Republic government. They had access to their own residence in the district and could ask for schedule time for address the senate with urgent matters.
However, this time they had been the ones who had been called to attend this time. Usually the senate tied every trick they could think of to prevent them from ever setting foot in the chamber, from miscommunication to increased guards at the door.
So, this sudden demand for the Resistance's presence was a little disconcerting.
Still, this might be a good thing. This might be a sign that they were finally starting to listen to them. That maybe they were finally seeing the First Order for what it was. It was the Empire come again. And they needed to be ready to fight them. To fight them and destroy them if the Republic and democracy was going to survive.
She took her place at her reserved podium with her staff and looked out across the chamber as she watched the senators take their places at their usual podiums. However, as she watched them she could not help but notice the way they hurried to their podiums, and the absence of the usual chatter.
Normally she would wait for at least half an hour she watched the hundreds of senators make their way lazily into the chamber to their usual seats chatting and making idle conversation or last-minute political deals.
Now, it almost seemed like there was an air of foreboding hanging over the entire senate. She could not help but start to get nervous. Just what had happened?
Had the First Order attacked? Were they official at war? Did they want her here to ensure that the Resistance would help the New Republic fleet?
She doubted those thoughts, as the Resistance would certainly have contacted her if war had been declared.
But then, what was the problem.
Quickly, very quickly. The entire senate was called into order and the Chancellor of the senate stepped up to the central platform began to type away into his control console.
Official the head of state for the New Republic would be the Supreme Chancellor. However, since the abdication of Mon Mothma years ago, the position had been deliberately left mostly redundant with the deduction in central power.
The current head of state was Chancellor Lanever Villecham. He had come to power with the numbers barely needed to take the position. This was mainly because with the factions of the senate being completely divided against each other. Almost no one could attain the needed votes for the position.
He had focused his term in office around improving trade relations with neutral systems in the Trans-Hydian Borderlands, as they had been disaffected from the Republic for decades. His time in office also saw the rise of the First Order, as successor to the Galactic Empire. Unfortunately, Villecham did not consider the First Order a threat so long as they abided by the dictates of the Galactic Concordance.
A viewpoint that Sella and the Resistance had not been able to change. Despite repeated efforts.
More recently the Republic had voted to create the post of First Senator to take over the role of Supreme Chancellor. If nothing else it would make the New Republic more effective.
(Not that it could get much less effective)
At first Senator Organa had been the Populist candidate for the position of First Senator. But with the revelation of her relationship to the infamous Darth Vader her political career had been utterly destroyed.
And after that the creation of the First Senator position was placed on hold. So, the Chancellor was still was given the responsibility of placing matters before the senate and overseeing the procedure.
And now, Chancellor Lanever Villecham rose from his seat and opened the voice comm to enhance his voice across the chamber. And the multiple camera drones that floated endlessly around the room ensured that his voice and words would carry across the holo net and galaxy.
"This emergency session of the Republic Senate had been called to order on matters of the most seriousness." The Chancellor boomed out. His voice was not one of authority or leadership. But the severity of his words did the job for him.
"The chair calls on representative Korr Sella of the private military known as 'the Resistance' to stand before the senate." Villecham demanded.
That immediately signalled to Kory that something was very wrong. However, with as mush dignity as she could, she stood up on her podium and activated the comms and camera feed.
Trying desperately to ignore the jelly like feeling in her legs.
"The chair also recognises ambassador Selek Tann of the First Order". Villecham announced. Across the room another figure stood, and the camera feeds locked on as they activated their podium controls too.
She was a woman of roughly Kory's age. She had a lithe figure, with short cropped blond hair, blue eyes and some form of cyborg implants just above her left eye that seemed to act as a metal eyebrow. She was also wearing the standard black First Order military uniform. Not surprising given that the First Order was more of a military junta then a proper state.
Two stormtroopers in white armour flanked her at all times, and even now stood guard on her podium.
It caused another flash of anger in Kory. The Galactic Concordance expressly forbade the training of new stormtroopers. But the First Order could show proof that they had broken that term right in the senate chamber, and still nothing happened!
The ambassador stepped forward and began what could only be described as a rant.
"Senators of the New Republic." She began in a voice of such icy calm that it almost made Kory shiver. Based on how many senators shifted in their seats, they felt it too.
"Exactly two standard rotations ago. The First Order's citizens were suddenly and deliberately attacked and killed. By hostile forces of the terrorist organisation known as the Resistance! This attack took place on the world of Jakku. Which as we all know, was formally ceded to the First Order prior to this attack as part of a legal and completed transaction between this senate and the First Order High Command."
Kory could not help herself as these accusations were spewed. Yes, she knew that the mission to Jakku had taken place. But given the battle that had happened, the First Order was hardly blameless.
"This is a lie!" She yelled into her comm as her voice rang out over the chamber. But the Chancellor muted her podium immediately
"The senate does not recognise the representative for the Resistance at this time!" Villecham thundered. With no way to make herself heard, Kory backed down.
Ambassador Tann nodded her thanks to the chancellor. "I do not make this statement without ample proof. I have a data file, taken from the security and forward cameras on our diplomatic ships which catalogue the attack in question". Tann typed a few commands into her podium and after an approval from the Chancellor's podium a massive screen was displayed to the entire senate.
The holo displayed what Kory recognised as Tekka's village on Jakku. The senate watched as the First Order envoy stepped out to meet Tekka and the conversation was transmitted via the ships forward camera.
"I am Lucius Varro, of the First Order Diplomatic Corps. I have been sent to find you and request that you accompany me back to my superiors. They want to ask you a few questions about Jedi Lore, which we understand is your area of expertise."
"I thank you for the invitation, but I must regretfully decline. I have a number of responsibilities here that I must attend too." Lor stated in an equally polite but clearly distrustful and disinterested tone. He felt the people around him shift as if expecting combat.
"My superiors have instructed me to assure you that you will be very well compensated for your time and aid. You must know that the First Order is very wealthy. And, forgive me for saying so, but surely you and your people would enjoy better accommodations then this."
"I am afraid my place is here, where I am needed. As you have already pointed out Jakku is a harsh and difficult world. And here all must pull their weight and make their contribution to the community if the community is to survive. If I were to leave it would be a selfish action."
"I understand completely Mr Tekka. After all, that is the entire principle behind the First Order. Ensuring that all work together to ensure that the unified whole prospers as one. We too take a heavy stance on those who would seek individual profit instead of aiding to help the unit.
With that in mind, I have a final offer that I am sure you would agree is mutually beneficial.
My superiors have confirmed that if you were to aid us in this endeavour. You and all you fellows in this village would be offered residence on one of our newest and most idyllic worlds, possibly Urdak. There you would live comfortable lives together, you could continue your studies, and you would enjoy the full protection of the First Order. In addition, within 20 years, you and all your colleagues would also be granted citizenship, with all the rights and privileges thereof.
"I would rather toil in the burning sands of this planet then aid the First Order in its quest to plunge the galaxy into darkness."
Whatever Varro said in return was hindered by a sudden burst of corruption and static in the video feed. Kory suspected what had been said had been needed to be removed from the video to make the First Order's case more effective.
The next audible part of the video that could be seen or hear was the sight of the villagers shooting Varro and the stormtroopers that had come with him dead.
The Senate gasped at the display of violence and the death shown before their eyes.
Next on the recording, a figure came running out of the darkness and into the First Order ship. The camera shifted to a different camera inside the ship's cockpit. Just in time to watch the figure blast the two pilots who had only just managed to leave their seats before their bodies collapsed down to the floor.
As the figure turned away to leave the ship the camera froze and homed in on his face. Tann immediately muted the feed and reactivated her comm system. "As you can plainly see. The assailant is Poe Dameron. A well-known member of the Resistance and a man who had cost the First Order many lives in his terrorist activities." Tann announced.
The senate began muttering to themselves and casting accusing looks at Sella. But Tann was not finished. She activated the feed again and it displayed Poe blasting more Stormtroopers during the attack and finally his capture at the hands of Kylo Ren. Finally, she turned off the footage and readdressed the senate.
"As you can also see the Resistance terrorist Poe Dameron killed First Order pilots in cold blood. Along with a number of our valiant soldiers and finally, he attempted to assassinate one of our highest-ranking leaders in Lord Ren. And all of this took place on territory that is official recognised as belonging to the First Order! "
Tann had begun to shout out her condemnations and her voice echoed around the room.
"This is undeniable proof of what the First Order and many in the New Republic have known for years. That the Resistance terrorist organisation has become an intolerable threat to the safety and security of the First Order and its citizens!"
She turned her blazing eyes to face Kory's direction.
"And I have been informed that the Supreme Leader has decided to eliminate that threat once and for all. We will not stand for these attacks on our person any longer!"
The senate began to shout out and argue amongst themselves. However, from what Kory could hear, the vast majority of the senate was supporting the First Order's accusations, and many were looking at Kory with condemnation (and in some Centrist cases triumph) in their eyes.
The Chancellor muted the senate podium speakers and called for silence, which eventually returned.
"Do you have anything to refute this evidence representative Korr Sella?" The Chancellor asked her.
Kory through desperately. Trying to think of something that would prevent this latest disaster for the Resistance.
But there was nothing.
The attack had happened on a First Order world. The ambassador had clearly not made any threatening move before he was killed. And Poe had clearly killed those people in the pilot cockpit while they were unarmed.
She knew he must have needed to do it for the sake of the mission. But that did not change the fact that it put the Resistance in the wrong in terms of intergalactic and diplomatic law. And since she had been told that the community on Jakku had surrendered and were spared after the battle. She knew she could not turn the pressure of a moral/ethical embarrassment back on ambassador Tann.
Even if she mentioned the greater mission to recover the map to Luke Skywalker. She knew that the senate would not be impressed. To them Luke Skywalker was nothing but the lingering gasp of a religion that should have died long ago and faded into myth. And still others now only saw him as the son of Darth Vader. And potentially another Vader in waiting.
Even those that remembered him as the hero of the rebellion would not be willing to risk their political careers over him.
The Resistance had nothing to justify their actions to the Senate. And even as Sella tried to think of something, anything to mitigate the damage of all this. It seemed that Tann was not prepared to grant her that time.
"I will take the terrorist representative's silence as confirmation that they have nothing to counter these outrageous acts and the avalanche of evidence against them. This is after all, not the first unprovoked attack that the First Order has had to suffer at their hand. So, I will make our position clear."
Tann straightened and placed something into her podium command console. "I have been given a message to deliver to this senate directly from the Commander in Chief of the First Order, Admiral Kuvira.
As the senate began to gasp and mutter between themselves about the situation that was unfolding a giant-sized hologram of the Admiral appeared to dominate the entire chamber. She stood in parade rest with her full uniform clearly newly pressed and cleaned for this occasion. And as she spoke, her words contained seemingly barely contained fury.
"The terrorists that call themselves 'The Resistance' have carried out a barbaric attack on our people, our citizens and on our own territory." Her amplified voice rang out across the chamber. Her tone causing many senators to shrink in their seats as if they were scolded children.
"Among the dead was a man who had devoted over a decade of his life to the pursuit of peace and diplomacy. Envoy Lucius Varro." Her words trailing off as she bowed her head as if in a morning gesture of respect
The senate began to give the hologram and Tann sympathetic looks and even offered whispered condolences. While others began to turn even darker gazes towards Sella.
Sella wilted as she watched these events take place. Even as she felt her hatred of Admiral Kuvira skyrocket for taking advantage of this faked emotional response. She had to admit she knew how to play to a crowd.
Kuvira continued. "This is only the latest attack committed against the First Order by the Resistance. And once again our citizens lives have been lost. We will suffer this no more!"
The hologram boomed. And the entire senate flinched.
"Therefore, we present the following ultimatum. The New Republic has 48 galactic standard hours to disavow and reveal any and all Resistance members, bases, ships and locations to the First Order. Additionally, the Resistance had the same amount of time to contact us and agree to total surrender to our authority and to face our justice."
"These demands are not negotiable, nor are they open to debate. If we do not have the official and full surrender of the entire Resistance within the 48-hour limit. We will consider the events on Jakku as approved by the New Republic senate and view it as an act of war!"
The Senate gasped, and Sella began to feel faint at the implications of what was unfolding. But Kuvira had one more thing to say.
"If you are watching this members and leaders of the Resistance then know this. Your actions and aggressive attacks have forced our hand. If you do not surrender yourselves to face justice for your many crimes against the First Order. Then all that follows will rest squarely on your shoulders."
With that Kuvira gave a short pause and let the weight of her final words sink into the air.
"48 hours".
Then her hologram faded, and silence filled the senate hall.
Then the chamber exploded as chaos erupted from every throat as the governing body of the New Republic descended into anarchy and no amount of calls for order by Chancellor Villecham could force it to abate.
Sella was forced to practically flee the senate chamber as the condemnations, accusations and in some cases near physical assaults came at her and her team from all sides.
Finally, she managed to reach her representative office where she wasted no time in sealing off the Resistance office block from the rest of the building to bar the entryway to the quickly growing crowd of protesters that was increasing as word of the events in the senate spread across the planet.
The last thing she did before she collapsed into a chair next to her offices decorative ch'hala tree was to fire off an urgent message to D'Qar explaining the situation and asking/begging for instructions.
With that done Sella let the stress of the day take her as she closed her eyes, lent her head back and listened to the protesting crowd grow in size and anger outside the senate building.
Starkiller Base
First Order Security Bureau
"Sir, Delta Source has been activated!"