They hadn't gotten much time for introduction when the two Jedi had landed on the landing platform hovering over the traffic and urban landscape. Instead there had been a simple handshake followed by their contact guiding them into a large speeder. The thing had a sleek and silvery design and looked awfully expensive, the interior hidden by tinted glass.

Now the two jedi sat in the rear of the vehicle, a cushioned wall between their compartment and the controls preventing any contact with the driver. Not that he had seemed that important when they had met their contact, the dark suit and grim face spoke of a man used to keeping secrets and not asking questions.

Their contact sat opposite them, leaning against said cushioned wall he looked tired. His hair was grey, thin and combed tightly backwards. His head was squarish and wrinkled by age and worry. Dressed in a wide dark robe and dark gloves made him look as if he was on his way on a funeral. The weary grey eyes focused on the pair were clear however, and the glitter of intelligence there spoke volumes of the career the elderly senator had had. "Senator Olmark, I must once more thank you for receiving us."

"There is no need for that." The older man waved aside the words and Mira found herself already liking him. He didn't seem as false as Mira had expected a senators to be, of course that could mean he was merely being good at hiding his falsehood...Mira pushed the thought aside after a glance at Atton who didn't seem the least worried. "Me and Mical go back a long way, and mostly share the same opinions." He notice Atton stiffen and smiled. "I'm not half as annoying however..." Atton chuckled.

Putting a hand on Atton's arm before the scoundrel begun sprouting out some nonsense about whatever his chaotic mind could come up with Mira said: "Mical has of course briefed us on the sensitivity of our visit, but is this rush really needed?"

The senator nodded, face grave. "Indeed it is. There is a large group within the senate who's firmly against jedi ever since the civil war, I wouldn't put it past some of them to attempt something before you've been taken to some place safe." He shrugged. "I have actually arranged for you to be moved to the jedi temple."

"The jedi temple? Isn't that a little obvious?" Atton smirked, obviously sharing Mira's appraisal of the man.

"Quite the opposite actually." The senator smirked back. "While the temple is heavily guarded from unlawful entering, due to the sensitive nature of the building and its content, but anyone with the proper authorization can enter without actually being double checked. I believe the senate mostly likes to pretend the building is no longer there."

"Ah, and a senator with a few guests are of course allowed?" Atton quizzed, suddenly grinning. Mira sighed, apparently the scoundrel still liked the idea of fooling the authorities.

"Indeed, and I doubt they'll notice that the guests never return with said senator." Olmark lowered his head slightly as he added: "That said I will not have time for a meeting, I must continue on with other matters, I do not wish to risk my position before we are prepared. We must be subtle."

Mira felt a pang of irritation, force knew she was good at the whole cloak and dagger thing, but she still hated it. "In that case we should use our time well. How would you put the situation?"

"We have three groups of senators on this subject. First there is of course those supporting me, those who believe the jedi instrumental in rebuilding the republic." He raised a finger, face carefully neutral. "We are the smallest group however. The largest is those who simply do not care much for the matter, they might fear the jedi a little, some seeing them as a useless burden, both financially and otherwise. All in all it's a group carefully negative to the jedi, they are open to convincing however."

"The third, I suppose, is bigger then ours? And more hostile?" Atton asked.

"Correct. They hate jedi with a passion, many willing to kill a jedi thinking they've done the republic a service." Olmark scratched his chin. "They are not much larger then us but...we will not be able to sway their position, they have all lost either loved ones or entire populations to the civil war."

"I suppose they got a right to be angry..." Mira muttered as she looked at her feet and crossed her arms, memories of the mandalorian wars flashing before her. The jedi had been terrifying...and the time after that had been no better, Nar Shaddaa had been filled with refuges...starving and hopeless because of a war they couldn't understand.

Blinking in surprise she felt a soothing presence upon her mind, like a warm blanket bringing her comfort...the harmony of the force. Atton wasn't looking at her however, not willing to acknowledge his kindness. "But we could outnumber them with the second group's numbers right? So we just have to convince them to vote our way."

"That's the gist of it." The senator nodded. "That would be difficult however. The agreement Mical has outlined would work on some. Sworn protector of the peace, sworn allegiance to democracy, a direct link of communication between senate and jedi council...not to mention a legal obligation to complete senate approved missions." He counted off the familiar list. "I guess the last one is the heavy one and one which might disappear after a few generations, Mical is anything but short-sighted, I give him that."

"But it won't be enough?" Mira asked, having regained her composure.

Olmark shook his head. "Oh not nearly enough, it gives us merely a dozen votes at best." He grimaced. "The rest will be more difficult. The senate turns every credit twice before spending them on anything, while the money to fund a small group of jedi is minimal many will say no by virtue of principle. Others will be pressed by their planet's population to go against the jedi, as such they will all need convincing that the jedi would in fact strengthen the republic."

"Oh? So fancy words aren't enough for the senate anymore?" Atton's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"They seldom are actually, not that dirty rabble as yourself would know anything about the dangers of politics." The senator took the implied insult with a smile and a retort that left a grin on Atton's face. Mira rolled her eyes at them, no matter how old they got... "Most important votes are actually settled beforehand. Minor deals between planets is the commodity to make bigger votes in the senate pass, that or large credit donations."

"Ha! I knew it!"

Ignoring the pleased look on Atton's face Mira said: "Okay, so we need to show our willingness to help? Or a...gift of some sort?"

"I wouldn't call it a gift so much as a show of what a jedi can-" Olmark was interrupted as the speeder with a shudder landed on what had to be one of the few patches of grass on Coruscan. "Oh...we're here, come then, we must get you two out of sight."