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Phase 6: Lootforce One

=RK=

Part 6

Minister Tannon Praji's office
Ministry of Ingress

Obi-Wan's first impression of the minister was that of a plump, jovial man. Despite few unpleasant rumours the former Jedi heard since the war began, the feeling he got through the Force simply reinforced that impression. Praji didn't feel like the uncaring heartless monster who put a halt of refugee immigration to Coruscant in the wake of First Geonosis because he supposedly didn't give a damn about the suffering of the displaced beings.

The office on the other hand resembled closely what one might imagine when thinking of a rich tycoon playing politics to pass the time. The room was large and well lit, richly decorated too. Kenobi saw many stands holding pieces of art from all over the galaxy, from incredible sculptures and portraits to twisted piles of what appeared to be junk.

Tannon Praji raised from behind his wooden desk and smiled pleasantly at his guests. He seemed relieved to see them, however his eyes bore into them with an intensity betraying keen intelligence. There was more to this man was much more than the rumours indicated.

"Ambassador Kenobi, general, it's good to finally meet you!" Praji gave them an impeccable bow and jovially waved them towards a small caf table in one corner of the office. It appeared to be sculptured of a single piece of crystal that gleamed in the light. "Please be seated. We have a lot to talk about." Tannon straightened up and his bearing shifted a bit. "I had the office swept a few minutes ago and there are multiple jammers on. We can talk."
"Minister Praji, it's lovely to meet you." Satine put on her best smile and gushed at the man. She commented some admittedly impressive art that Obi-Wan failed to recognize and with the bit of small talk that protocol all but demanded out of the way, they set up to talk business.

"Minister your man indicated you had information of an acquaintance of mine. General Veil I presume?" Obi-Wan went straight to the crux of the matter. The latest session with the Senate had his significant reserves of patience all but drained.

"I do. An acquaintance of my family specializing in quietly delivering sensitive items arrived in Republic controlled space a few days ago. It took that long for my father and House Praji's allies to make their mind about the contents and send it to me along with a message that's addressed to you in particular, general Kenobi."

"That's certainly resourceful." Obi-Wan allowed. What was Veil thinking? More importantly, what game was he playing? Was this him being a Sith or simply acting in his position as Mandalore?

"You didn't arrange this meeting just to deliver a message to my husband, minister." Satine stated. "What did Mandalore suggest to you and your allies?"

"That the Republic needs strong, competent leadership. General Veil has been out of the loop since the coup. While he indicated his hope for a swift resolution of the current political crisis, he and allies he made at Eriadu suggest that you general Kenobi would be suitable in such a role." Praji's eyes bored into Obi-Wan.

"I see..." Kenobi trailed off. So this was his game at least on the surface. "I'm a former Jedi. Despite my long service to the Republic I don't believe I have a chance of assuming such a lofty position."

"Not without allies, true." The minister agreed.

"Does House Praji propose such an alliance?" Satine inquired. Despite her light tone, the tension in her voice was obvious to Obi-Wan. She was worried and excited.

"Houses Praji, Draal, Motti and Tarkin among others are ready to offer their support in exchange to certain concessions. The same concessions we had arranged with Chancellor Palpatine." Praji didn't waste any time by mincing words. It was probably Kenobi's new status as a Mandalorian and supreme commander of the Republic combat forces.

"This, while certainly unexpected is a pleasant news, minister. Mandalore hasn't been discarding his duties to his people I see." Satine said.

It took Obi-Wan too long to register his wife's words. His mind was busy processing what Praji just told them, especially the bit about deals with Palpatine. Despite evidence that the former Chancellor was in fact a Sith, a part of Kenobi had hoped that he had been somewhat similar to Delkatar – not necessary out to get power and crush the Jedi as a matter of course. No evidence had been recovered yet to indicate that Palpatine had been anything that he appeared to be – a Sith hiding in plain sight in order to avoid Jedi repression. Even his dead man's switch could be explained as a gift intended to fix the corruption in the Senate if he was removed from power. Obi-Wan did suspect that Palpatine might have been the Sith behind the war, yet he had no evidence to support such bold claims. With Veil, Dooku, those other Old Republic maniacs running around... Kenobi didn't know what was true any more. Yet, Praji's words indicated that Palpatine wasn't as nice as he presented himself to be.

"Would it too bold of me to ask what deals House Praji had with Chancellor Palpatine? After all you do want the same concessions that he offered, do you not?" Obi-Wan had to use every trick he learned in his years of negotiations all over the galaxy to keep himself outwardly calm and collected.

"We expect increased autonomy, trade concessions and security guarantees when you reform the Republic. Places in the government for at least few competent members of our houses. A voice at the table when important policy decisions concerning us are made." Praji explained.

That... The Jedi in Obi-Wan was spluttering in outrage. Doing so would be nepotism, corruption and subverting democracy itself.

"That might be possible." Satine said before Obi-Wan could formulate a denial. "Please enlighten us about your deal with Palpatine. What did he hope to achieve with your support? Let's put our cards on the table, minister."

Obi-Wan shot his wife a glance but kept his expression carefully blank. He needed to hear what Palpatine had been up to. He had to know what price he might have to pay if he wanted the deadlock in the Senate broken, even if it meant that he became the next Chancellor. If Obi-Wan was honest to himself, his faith in the Senate was all but destroyed lately. He found it harder and harder to find reasons to keep following their barely existing lead or acknowledging their authority. That was very dangerous state of affairs and a slippery slope he was sliding down upon. Unfortunately, Kenobi couldn't see good alternatives that wouldn't make things even worse.

Veil, Praji and the minister's clique of allies... Obi-Wan might have to make another deal with the devil in order to protect the Republic from itself. He wondered for how long that would be enough. How long before he lost himself. He was figuring out that the way to moral ambiguity and darkness didn't necessary lay at a single crucial decision. It could be cheerfully walked by doing small compromises with the best of intentions, because the alternatives were much, much worse.

"After the Naboo Crisis, the first one, Senator Palpatine began approaching various power blocks with feelers. He wanted to prevent such a disgrace happening again and found out the truth." Praji spoke after pondering Satine's request for a few seconds.

"And what truth did he find?" She asked.

"The deadlock forced by the Trade Federation wasn't a failure of the Senate. It wasn't a subversion of the system as many still claim." Praji frowned. "Ambassador, you're from Mandalore. I hear that most of your closest allies since arriving on Coruscant are among the more... shall we say idealistic crowd except Amidala. How much do you really know about how the Senate and the Republic for that matter really work?"

"I'm well versed in the legalities of the matter. I'll admit that my familiarity with the various factions in the Senate and government aren't yet as good as they should be. A significant part of my information is now obsolete after so many Senators were removed from power either due to Separatist actions, the coup or investigations. However, I find it curious you don't include Padme Amidala with the idealists. You could argue that I'm one too." Satine smiled demurely.

"You wanted me to speak plainly. Do you really want me to believe that Queen Amidala, now Senator Amidala wasn't on in and backing Palpatine?" Praji made a great show of rolling his eyes.

"I think we've got a failure of communication here, minister. I'm getting the suspicion that Palpatine did a great many things that Senator Amidala wasn't aware of." Obi-Wan intoned. There was no way Padme supported Palpatine if she knew he was a Sith. She had been one of the opponents of him gathering so much power in his hands. This was the first time Kenobi figured out that most Senators wouldn't see it that way. Did they really perceive her actions as a mere act to gain popular support and sympathy? Perhaps even get an in with Palpatine's political opponents?

That theory actually made a great amount of sense...

"If you want to play it that way. Let's pretend that the former Senator from Naboo and the Chancellor for the past decade worked around his own government and without their support." Praji snorted at a notion he clearly saw as ridiculous. "Palpatine has been making deals with every important government in the Core for over a decade. How do you think he got all those amendments and laws increasing his power through the Senate? At the very least he aimed at a reformed Republic led by a very powerful Chancellor. For that to happen, he needed support and not just the Senate but the people whose interests the Senators represent. This comes back to my earlier question. Ambassador Kenobi is from the Rim and you general are a former Jedi. You might well know the legal way the Republic is supposed to be run. I didn't ask about that. I'll repeat myself, how much do you really know about how this government works? Why it works?"

"I'm inclined to believe that whatever we think we might know won't align very well with reality." Satine said in a thoughtful tone. "I'll admit we're aware that there are currents bellow the surface that baffle us about the way the Senate has been acting for the past month. What we know of the factions and people involved... A new Chancellor should have been elected couple of weeks ago at the very worst. The Senate simply isn't functioning and good enough reasons as to the why escape us. Is the Republic that rotten and corrupt?" Satine asked bluntly.

"I expected the last question from the general." Praji smiled briefly at Obi-Wan and shrugged. "To answer your question – it depends how you look at it. You see the current situation in the Senate and assume the obvious, that the system is broken and needs fixing. The same is true for what happened during the Naboo Crisis. The truth of the matter is different. The Senate, the whole Republic – they work as designed. There are no tools for a quick and clear resolution of certain issues and that is intended. The why, well that should be obvious. So obvious that people often miss it."

"I'm certainly missing it." Obi-Wan frowned.

"You'll have to do better than this if you want our continued support, general Kenobi." Praji chided gently. "Perhaps it couldn't be helped given your sheltered upbringing. The answer is simple – the local governments, the important ones with real say in the Senate would never allow it under normal circumstances. For most intents and purposes Naboo was and still is an insignificant Rim world. It's only their location and the cheap plasma they mine that made it possible for them to be relevant. They crossed the interest of certain Core worlds and got invaded in response. It wasn't a coincidence that the Senate failed to respond. The truth is that the Republic is dominated by the interests of the Core. The Core has the industrial, economical, political and military power along with more than half the population of the whole Republic... and our Republic is a democracy when all is said and done. The Senators represent the interests of their governments if not necessary those of their people. Ever since its establishment, the Core worlds were the ones setting the tune so to speak. They built the Republic, their representatives vote for laws that guarantee their interests, you see the pattern, right?"

"Then how was Palpatine able to gain so much power? What did he get from the deals he made? What did he offer?" Satine shrewdly asked.

"Power. Many worlds in the Rim had been growing in all respects over the thousands of years since their establishment. It was still some way off, perhaps decades, perhaps few centuries, but when the general demilitarization of the Republic, coupled with distance and the need of the worlds of the Rim to build up their forces to fend off outside threats an unpleasant trend made itself known. Dooku and his Separatists merely jumped the gun so to speak. Palpatine proposed a reformed, powerful Republic. He offered more power to both individuals and governments, the continued primacy of the Core over the rest of the galaxy. The first attempt to do something about the perceived danger was the Katana fleet but when that disaster happened and separatist tendencies increased, people suddenly became quite interested in what Palpatine could offer them."

Just as Palpatine intended. Listening to Praji, Kenobi had no more illusions about the former Chancellor. The Naboo Crisis, everything that followed – it had been arranged by Palpatine in order to consolidate power. He played on the fears of the Core, offered members of their governments power and security, through Dooku helped engineer a threat that would make it all possible in his lifetime... Oh, Palpatine's actions still could be a response to the Trade Federation's invasion. There certainly was no proof of the contrary, but something deep in Kenobi refused to believe it.

"Too many powers made deals with Palpatine." Things were falling into place and Obi-Wan hated the picture that was emerging. "All those amendments and laws the Senate passed to increase his power – they're very much on the books. Very real and whoever's the next Chancellor would have near dictatorial powers from the moment they are voted in. The people you represent, the rest of the Core's governments – they won't have deals in place to ensure the Chancellor keeps their interests in mind."

"Yes. Danu for example – with Kuat's backing he'll be practically a dictator and could act freely without restrain. At this juncture, I can guarantee that the majority of Senators have firm instructions what kind of Chancellor is acceptable. A powerful independent one who can actually run the Republic doesn't meet that criteria." Praji confirmed Obi-Wan's fears.

"You want my husband to replace Palpatine. To make the same deals, give you what you were promised." Satine concluded.

"That's what your Mandalore suggests. He wants control of the military and offers you the political reins of the Republic. With our support that could happen. You will get a working Senate, the tools you need to win this war. We get what we want too." Praji nodded.

"And kriff the rest of the galaxy." Kenobi whispered.

"The Republic is democracy and we in the Core represent a clear majority of the Republic citizens. Do you really expect us to act against our own best interests? Look, I don't like what I have to do to protect Coruscant. I hate the necessity of this war but its very existence proves our fears. The Republic must remain the dominating power in the galaxy otherwise there will be more conflicts like this one, more senseless slaughter and destruction!" Praji pleaded. "The Core worlds would accept nothing less than a dominating position – and don't particularly care about what happens with the most systems beyond the Inner Rim."

Obi-Wan was stumped. Praji felt genuine through the Force. He really loathed the decisions he had to make as a minister. He was speaking earnestly and honestly about the situation. Kenobi closed his eyes and thought furiously. Technically Praji was right about the Core at least in economic and population terms. It didn't make things right but did it really matter? How much did good intentions matter? Perhaps as a Chancellor he could do something about this appalling sate of affairs. And perhaps once upon the time, before he became a Sith, Sheev Palpatine had similar idealistic intentions.

If he accepted the offered deal... Could he somehow change the Republic against the wishes of the Core worlds? Praji was right about the power they wielded. With the state of the galaxy right now, for all intents and purposes the Core was the Republic. The Senate would fight tooth, nail, claw and tentacle to prevent another Secessionist movement from becoming a threat and as consequence that would consolidate even more power in the Core. In order to prosecute the war, Obi-Wan would need to make it so at least in the short term anyway.

His mind blanked and he had an epiphany. Was this why the Council went for a Coup and damn the consequences? Was this the reasons Director Ivon Fell and so many high level operatives backed the coup too? Did they know the truth behind the façade the Republic showed the ordinary citizens?

Of course they did. It was their job to know the dirty little secrets and make sure they remained buried. Was the Republic really beyond salvation? Were they right? Did Obi-Wan need to destroy the Republic before he could save it from herself?

If what Praji obviously believed was in fact mostly true, that very well might be the case. If Kenobi went in this scheme, his actions might be the death knell of democracy. He would be a dictator in all but name, he would have the power to change things, just not what truly needed to be changed to fix the Republic.

Perhaps Veil was right. Was a benevolent Empire the answer?

Obi-Wan froze. Where did that thought come from? He was a Jedi. He was sworn to protect the Republic. Freedom and democracy. The fact that the Council in their infinite wisdom kicked him out of the Order didn't change that fact.

Frustration and anger grew within Obi-Wan. Did this kind of democracy was worth of his protection? What good did it do the galaxy? But that was the rub of the matter, wasn't it. It wasn't about what was good of the galaxy, nor the whole Republic.

Where did his allegiance lay now? The Republic? Mandalore? His wife, certainly. The people under his command who he vowed he wouldn't fail again after Ryloth...

Things were supposed to be simpler. He was a Jedi. Figuring out what was right shouldn't be this hard! What was happening to him?! Was the Council right? Did Veil corrupt him already?