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Phase 9: Shattered union

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Part 8

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Chancellor's Office

Senate Building

Coruscant

It was curious thing, sitting in that chair, behind the desk in the Chancellor's office. Her office. Satine never even imagined that she could hold such an office. She was Mandalorian and despite the close ties her government forged with the Republic before this war and the Death Watch madness, they were a peaceful, neutral power. At least that was what she and most of her supporters told themselves. War was sheer insanity. Mandalore and her people experienced it firsthand. They knew better or so she thought.

Satine closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. She was a Mandalorian. She should have known better. There were many New Mandalorians. Even most of those who clung to the old ways were tired of war long before the Clone Wars began. That however didn't mean that they were ready or eager to put away their weapons for good. Too many of the New Mandalorians heeded Veil's call after Grievous and Vizsla set Mandalor on fire.

She hated it. Hated her brother-in-law for showing her the true nature of her people for what it was. Satine even hated herself because the close calls, the burden of leadership that fell upon her since Mandalore sided with the Republic, they made her heart beat in anticipation and her blood race in her veins. She knew the price of war – the broken lives and people, the destroyed livehoods. Yet...

"Power corrupts..." Satine whispered. "And absolute power..." She grimaced. Satine was the Chancellor of the Republic. Despite the irregular, even illegal way she got elected, the post was hers. While given the situation she couldn't really wield the full powers that Palpatine concentrated in the hands of the Chancellor, Satine was still arguably the most powerful woman in the galaxy. Despite the number of Clone units that went rogue, most of the GAR decided to follow her orders. That by itself gave her more real, tangible power than but a few could match. In pure military terms, only Director Kuat was her peer. Politically however, that was the arena where everything was impossibly complicated.

Satine opened her eyes and sighed. This was the first time she came to the Chancellor's office since the Jedi Coup. The place was restored to pristine condition and still had the furniture and gifts chosen by Palpatine, at least those few that survived. Most of the rafters were empty after the various pieces of art the former Chancellor favoured got destroyed. It was a painful reminder of the dangers associated with her new job. It wasn't just the Confederacy that was the enemy. There were people supposedly on her side that might seek her removal or even death.

Satine's hands went to her midriff at that thought. It has been very long since she thought or even hoped to have children. There was always something more important or at least immediate that she had to deal with... and precious few men who interested her enough to even think about anything but a brief physical relationship. A demure smile graced her face. Satine never really dared hope that anything would come from her indiscression with Obi-Wan all those years ago. After all he used to be a Jedi sworn not to have a family. If there was one thing she would thank Veil about it would be that he helped bring them both together.

No, actually two things. Without that infuriating Sith's presence, it would be very possible that she would still be estranged with her sister. Who would have thought that the presence of a Sith in her life would be a mixed blessing instead of an unmitigated disaster?

Well, it was a disaster too...

The Chancellor's brief respite ended with the beep of a comm unit built in the desk. She smiled tiredly when she answered and saw her husband's holo-image spring to life in front of her. He looked as chipper and dashing in his armour as ever, though his eyes betrayed weariness at least as heavy as her own.

"Obi-Wan. I'm glad you could make it."

"It's no trouble, madam Chancellor." Her husband spoke formally and earned himself a scowl.

Oh, Satine knew that they had to maintain at least the illusion of distance in certain circumstances as it was proper. It didn't make it grate on either of them any less.

"We'll be talking with Alaskan's Prime Minister shortly. Given the circumstances I need a honest assessment on our military assets. How bad do we need their navy? Ground forces?" Satine asked.

That they needed the political support went without saying. With Alaskan's continued backing the Republic actually had a prayer of surviving in one form or another. Otherwise, sooner or later she would have to go after one of the less palpatable options if they wanted to keep fighting the Separatists.

"On paper? Mixed bag. A lot of rogue units still refuse to negotiate and some even still move towards the Senate and other critical objectives. Unless they see reason we'll have to engage them." Obi-Wan grimaced. "Baring a miracle we'll take casualties and there will be significant collateral damage."

"How many?"

"Half the rogues on the ground here on Coruscant are determined to fight it out it seems. There already were engagements on various worlds across the Republic. We either won most engagements or are in the process of doing so but it's expensive in both lives and material." Obi-Wan confessed.

Satine lowered her eyes. That was solid fifteen percent of all Clone ground forces on Coruscant. There were millions of soldiers who would rather die fighting than follow her lead and it was all on her. This whole mess was her brainchild. She saw it through and it was her responsibility.

"What does that leaves us?" Satine asked.

"That depends if you could actually convince the local governments to release a meaningful number of their SDFs so they could contribute to the war." Obi-Wan shrugged. "The new construction that came online more than makes up for any naval assets that chose to mutiny. We're in a little better position than we were when the Separatist offensive petered off. We're have a solid defensive position, however as things stand any offensives we make, especially in the Core would have to be limited in scope. We'll need to keep solid reserves to handle the next major Separatists construction cycle. If we can hold on for about twelve to eighteen months without losing Kuat or another significant chunk of lesser industrial systems we'll be in an excellent position. One way or another the next two years will decide the outcome of the war. Right now I can't guarantee a victory, but barring a total political collapse I can promise that the odds of a military defeat are low."

At least Satine could trust that Obi-Wan was honest.

"You believe that the local System Defence Forces would make such a big impact?" She asked.

For a long moment Obi-Wan just stared at her then shook his head.

"Satine, when combined the intact SDFs in the Core alone are equal or greater in combat power than the GAR both in space or on the ground. A release of twenty to thirty percent, which I hope is doable, would put is in a much better position than we were before the latest unpleasanties began. We would need some time to shape them so they could work together but that's it. Give me forty or fifty percent of those SDFs and I can guarantee you I'll have the Separatists out of the Core before they're ready for another major offensive."

That sounded great. It was probably true even. Convincing the local government to let their armies and navies to play and suffer casualties? That was something even Palpatine was unable to do, though then the strategic situation was different. Most Core government were reluctant to let their people die for the Rim. However, not the Separatists were in the Core. They were clear and present danger. They did sack the Corellian system, attacked Kuat and were like a dagger poised to slice the Republic's throat.

A pained expression mared Satine's face. She had to play on everyone's fears. Veil would approve, the bastard, she was sure of it.

"I'll do my best."

"That's all I ever asked, my love." For a moment, she wasn't looking at General Kenobi, but at Obi-Wan her husband.

A few minutes later, Obi-Wan was busy being the GAR's commanding general and Satine was face to hologram with Prime Minister Calisto Fird. When the pleasantries were out of the way, they exchanged a round of verbal sparing and it was time to begin negotiating in earnest.

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Part 9

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Prime Minister's office

Government House

Xenvaer

Alsakan

Alsakan System

"Tomorrow Parliament will vote on our continued support of your Republic, Chancellor Kenobi." Prime Minister Fird smiled cheerfully. "We do have some concerns about our future relationship that need to be addressed first."

"I see. Please go on." Satine returned the smile though her eyes remained cool and calculating, which was a significant change from what Calisto knew of the woman.

"Alsakan would like a more limited form of economic and political entanglement within the Republic. In the past centuries the Senate has proven that in its current form the Republic is a flawed creation." Calisto continued.

"That is indeed an issue to be addressed. One of the primary goals of my government is to ensure that the past month won't ever repeat. What about military cooperation?" Kenobi inquired.

"We have no issues with a close defence alliance. We won't necessary fight an offensive war that a Republic member ignites for their own gain, however we have no problem protecting the Republic from outside threats." Like the Separatist or more importantly, the Mandalorians, was tactfully left unsaid.

"That's good to hear, Prime Minister. Another standing issue we've had with the Republic was the status of the Jedi and the frankly unreasonable freedoms they possessed to do what they wanted." Calisto picked up a datapad and waved it in front of the holocom's camera. "There are still protests about all over my world about the Baby Ludi case and I'll be facing questions in Parliament about not only that issue but about the Republic's Jedi. What do you plan to do about them in the future? Your plans for the Force Sensitive people in the galaxy?"

That case was a long standing thorn in Fird's administration. The whole mess began shortly after her election and if it wasn't for the Clone Wars erupting a few months later it would have been potentially the thorniest political problem she had to face. The Republic Judiciary was torn – they hadn't really faced such an issue before, the Jedi were particularly uncooperative and there were weekly massive marches on Alsakan. People's Inquest used the case to stir trouble and gain more popularity and half the Parliament was up in arms as a consequence.

The child's mother – Jovana Billane and People's Inquest leader Thrynka Padaunete were already working on a holonet feature that was supposed to "expose all the sordid details" about the Baby Ludi story. It was expected to air sometime in the next couple of months and Calisto knew it would be another major headache for her. Small wonder that her people were at best uncaring when the Jedi attempted a Coup and the GAR dropped on them like the fist of an angry god.

"At this time the status of the Jedi at large is that of traitors to the Republic. Those who surrendered are under investigation about their complicity in the Jedi Coup. In the future the autonomy of any organization overseeing the Jedi and other Force Adepts in the Republic will be significantly curtailed though the precise details will be decided at a later date. If we recover your missing child, we'll return her into her mother's custody, though she will need to have proper training." Satine answered.

Calisto looked thoughtfully at the Chancellor. The woman was married to a former Jedi so she should know if the Council told the truth about the dangers of leaving someone with "their mind opened to the Force" on their own. However, that surely didn't mean that they had to abduct children in order to train them! Bloody Jedi! One the other hand... Satine Kenobi was married to a former Jedi so she couldn't be said to be really objective about the whole mess. The question was if she would be in support of the Jedi in general or against them on principle. After all it was no secret that the Council expelled her husband and that her sister nearly died at the hand of a Jedi during their attempted coup... Politics aside, Satine might be an ally as far as keeping the Jedi on a leash went.

"That's provisionally acceptable." Calisto allowed. "In that case we can come back to the primary issue." Her smile turned predatory. "The future of the Republic."

"What exactly do you want, Prime Minister?" Satine's eyes narrowed at her.

"Federated structure with high autonomy over local matters."

"Define local. High autonomy while you're at it." Satine stated flatly.

"Our and nearby sectors for starters. Our internal politics and affairs are frankly not Coruscant's business. We do value our independent nature as you well know. We aren't that different from your people in that regard, Chancellor." Though we aren't a bunch of conquering barbarians.

"For all intents and purposes you already have such independence under the Republic." Satine reasonably pointed out.

"Only because the Senate was an ineffectual mess. Something that needs to change if the Republic we want to rebuild is to be in any way functional." Calisto cheerfully pointed out.

"Fair enough. You have a proposition to that effect I take it?" Kenobi asked. To her credit, the woman continued to keep her cool mask in place.

"Defined limits on the power of the executive branch of the government in the face of the Chancellor. Clearly defined rights for the various local governments on sub-federal level. A consolidation of sectors to better reflect the real situation within the Republic. I believe your people would be amicable to that therm, especially if the Mandalorians decide to formally join the Republic. Last time I checked about three thousand worlds in multiple sectors took lead from Mandalore, didn't they?" Calisto offered an olive branch.

"The future of my people would be decided on Mandalore by our leader and the Clans." Satine answered as expected.

Calisto wondered if she hoped that Mandalore would return from his vacation to the Mid-Rim as a victorious general or a dead hero. More importantly, which outcome the new Chancellor would prefer? While the man was Satine's brother-in-law, he stood for everything her New Mandalorians opposed. Did the woman change since the Separatists invasion of Mandalore or did she play the long game? Calisto didn't know. She had conflicting reports about that from various sources.

"When the situation with the Clones stabilizes, I'll be hosting a meeting on Coruscant to determine the future course of the Republic. I would like to invite you to these talks." Satine offered.

"Who would be the other notable participants?"

Satine recited a short number of names. At least the woman was a realist. If Calisto played her cards right, Alsakan might finally realise her historic ambitions. Oh, making her world the new capital of the galaxy was probably too much to ask for at this time. Everything else however...