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Phase 8: An alliance tempered

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Interlude: Historical Notes

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"Today marks one thousand years since the Ruusan Reformation that reshaped the galaxy. For almost a full millennium that reform ensured peace and prosperity across the galaxy. It also planted the seeds of the storm that would tear the Republic apart.

The two most important reforms made by Chancellor Tarsus Valorum are often cited as both his greatest achievement and gravest mistake. First was the dissolution of the Army of Light that left the Republic without a standing military of its own. The second was an attempt for a decentralization of power from the hands of the Chancellor, something Valorum could achieve in the first place because of the power he could legally wield. He attempted to diminish the power concentrated in the hands of the Chacnellor and the stranglehold the Core Worlds held over the Senate.

He succeeded in the first and was moderately successful in the second, at best. Valorum's political goals were aimed at reducing corruption and the power wielded by the most powerful Core Sectors. For a time his reformation did succeed in the former. The latter however...

The Ruusan Reformation saw a titanic shift in the way representation in the Senate worked. From the millions of small sectors that existed previously, Valorum's reforms saw them consolidate into 1024 much larger conglomerations and each of them got a single Senator to represent them. That's where his failure becomes obvious – the most powerful Core systems got a Senator representative of their own giving them unique political power. That was not all – many sectors surrounding those systems were often under the political, economic, cultural and often military orbit of those powerful systems. The consequence was immediate and logical – the new Senate was divided into various power blocks, which practically lightly diminished the power the Core Worlds enjoyed before the Reform. Other Senatorial slots were granted for species types, cultural entities and centuries later – economic powers like the Trade Federation thus ultimately subverting the Reform and giving the Core Worlds a practical majority in the Senate.

To this day, the Ruusan Reformation is praised as the dawn of a Golder Age for the Republic, the likes of which this galaxy hasn't seen in the past. A thousand years of peace and prosperity. Even with the consequences plain to see, its hard to argue that the Reformation was a bad thing... at least for those who lived during the last years of that era. Certainly its not fair to blame Chancellor Tarsus Valorum and Ruusan for the unforeseen consequences of their actions.

Many of the people born after the end of the Golden Age tend to disagree. They never experienced the benefits and had to live in the aftermath. The Clone Wars and the conflicts that followed shaped generations very different from their ancestors..."

"The Dusk of a Golden Age:

A thousand years after the Ruusan Reformation"

A GNN documentary

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Part 5

Senator Amidala's office

Senate building

Coruscant

Obi-Wan carefully examined Onara Kuat as they got the pleasantries out-of-the-way. She hid her very good, but below her severe and aloof façade she was tired. To his Force enhanced senses that much was obvious despite carefully put on make-up that made her appear radiant.

"General Kenobi, I can't say I expected a call from you of all people. How can Kuat help you?" Onara smiled pleasantly.

"The Senate is still in a deadlock. Even with our support," Obi-Wan gestured to the gathered people, most of whom were out of the camera's range, "your representative lacks the votes. Too many governments are afraid of further empowering Kuat."

"It can't be helped. After your soldiers turned on Corellia we are the one unshakable pillar the Republic has left." Onara narrowed her eyes at Kenobi. "You still hadn't retaken complete control over your Clones, haven't you?"

This dancing around the issue was a pain, even if Obi-Wan was accustomed to it. He did earn his moniker after all. At least he didn't have to like it. Kenobi declined to play the blaming game. Kuat could have saved Corellia and thus perhaps the Republic. Instead, it was Onara's cold blooded calculus that held back the Kuati navy and left their biggest rival fall.

"We need a capable Chancellor in place. Now." Obi-Wan forged through.

"That we do." Onara simply noted letting out nothing else.

"I will put my name forward in the next session and I ask for Kuat's support. I do have a reasonable odds as a compromise candidate." Obi-Wan put his cards on the table.

"A former Jedi." Onara pointed out. "Not good odds."

"Better than most." Kenobi countered. "We all have certain problems in common, Director Kuat. I offer solutions."

"What problems do I have, general?" Onara showed a hint of amusement.

"Senator Danu and his patron, Kuat of Kuat, agendas. They want to reform the Kuati government and they do have an increasing support base. You attempted to recall Danu when he began to covertly support the Jedi in the Senate after Mandalore."

"You've done your homework, I see. Danu does want an independent Kuat. He wants to diminish the power held by the Chancellor too and that is a blade that cuts both ways." Onara allowed.

Obi-Wan knew that very well. It was one of the primary reasons why his own allies supported the man in the first place. Danu might be the only one who could be trusted with the power Palpatine concentrated in the position of Chancellor.

Most Senators didn't see it that way. Danu's stance alienated some of Palpatine's supporters, who wanted a powerful, friendly Chancellor so they could have an easier way of following their agendas. Most others saw his official stance as an illusion meant for the public. The same was true for those who suspected of the domestic troubles on Kuat. For most of the Senators, the thought of walking away of so much power was simply unthinkable and even if they could conceive of someone being willing to let it go... The next Chancellor was going to need the power invested in the office if they were to prosecute the war and have the Republic work. The current deadlock illustrated what would happen if everything went back as it was during Valorum's time. A single Senator using procedures could trivially deadlock the place for weeks or even months.

Obi-Wan swallowed bile at the thought of what he was going to imply, perhaps go on with in the future. The Jedi in him screamed. His conscience too. The general who was responsible for the well-being of billions of soldiers and the trillions of Republic citizens had to consider the bigger picture. Was it so easy to damn oneself, he wondered?

"If you support me, I can assure you, Senator Danu won't be a problem." Kenobi said it and thus made a choice that he could never do as a Jedi. He felt a part of him shrivel. Was that how Veil fell? A small, necessary no matter how distasteful or illegal step at a time?

Now, that took Onara aback. The visual clues were almost non-existent – a mere brief widening of her eyes.

"Ah. Interesting. However, Kuat would require more than just such an assurance."

"I know. What do you want, Director Kuat? A guarantee that Kuat Drive Yards will continue to be the GAR's primary source of ships, the main centre of maintenance for the Republic navy after the war? Contracts to help rebuild the military to a higher standard so something like this conflict could never happen again? A preferential tax exemptions?" Obi-Wan asked. What he suggested would be the bare minimum Kuat would demand and he would pay any reasonable price. The alternative would be worse.

"A good opening position, general. I do have a few additions. I would require guarantees as well. Suitable positions of people I trust in the government for example..."

So the bargain began.

The whole exercise left Obi-Wan feeling dirty. They did get to an agreement in the end. For all intents and purposes Kenobi had to sell out the democracy he was sworn to protect. The one cause he had left to believe in after the Council's betrayal and he had to strangle it himself.

"Is this how democracy dies?" Padme asked in a dejected voice. "At least there is no one applauding."

"There will be, if this works." Organ's voice was resigned.

"It better work." Yularen muttered. "Otherwise..." He ominously trailed off.

Satine went to Obi-Wan and drew him into a hug.

"I'm sorry." She whispered quietly. "This was my idea after all."

"Yet I agreed to see it to the end, didn't I?" Obi-Wan muttered.

"We need to go." Organa said after checking the time. "The Senate should be gathering already."

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Part 6

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Senate Chamber

Senate building

Coruscant

On the way to the Senate Chamber, Obi-Wan was haunted by his conscience. He knew what he was getting into or at least he thought he did. This cut-throat backstabbing world of politics wasn't one meant for a Jedi. If the mere thought of the consequences wasn't too terrible to contemplate, Kenobi would have hoped that Delkatar was here to take the damned job. A Sith would be much better in navigating these treacherous waters. It would have been a disaster, true but... it was going to be one anyway.

Shortly after the Kenobis and their allies entered the chamber, Obi-Wan looked for Kuat's pod. He saw Danu arguing with his aides. The Senator glanced up and he sent a murderous glare at the former Jedi before he was able to school his face into a mask of indifference.

Danu had to see Obi-Wan's actions as an utter betrayal after the support Kenobi's allies gave him over the past week or so. He might even disobey the instructions he should have just got from Onara. The situation was less than ideal. If it wasn't for the information he got from his intelligence people, Obi-Wan might have come clean with Danu. By all accounts he was a decent man. An idealist even who rivalled Organa and Padme before the last brushes with reality began to change her. The problem was that Danu was adamant in his stance to reduce the power held by the office of a Chancellor and if he was elected it would be among the first things he pushed for. He would likely succeed to get just enough opportunistic votes to do it so Kuat's power would be diminished and thus destroy the power he would need to wield to see the war won. The Senate would continue to be useless.

What was wrong with the universe?! Obi-Wan wanted to scream. Why everyone was so keen on seeing the Republic destroyed?! Why did if fall to him to deliver the killing blow so he could salvage as much as possible from this catastrophe?!

Anger and frustration bubbled in the former Jedi. Thoughts that hadn't even occurred to him before were coming to the surface more and more often. If he became the Chancellor he would have the power to set things right. It was so tempting and the worst thing was that he saw no good option but to go on with it.

When the session opened, the chaos continued. More accusations and demands for actions came from all corners. It wasn't until Bail Organa got to speak, when things changed.

"You are all right!" The Alderaani declared. "We need to act! For too long we've wasted precious time with fruitless debates! The Separatists are fortifying their positions on our doorsteps! The galaxy is burning around is! Some of you condemn Veil while others praise him. The truth is that until our military is able to re-establish a secure route to the Western reaches of the Mid-Rim we can do nothing about him and that Mid-Rim Alliance. All we have is Separatist propaganda! We know precious little of what's happening across most of the galaxy and that is unacceptable. This madness has to end, my esteemed colleagues. That's why I'm calling a new vote for a Chancellor and nominating General Obi-Wan Kenobi to the position!"

"I object!" Danu Kuat stood up among the stunned silence gripping the Chamber and his infuriated voice echoed clearly. "This is nothing less than an attempt to subvert this Senate and the whole democratic process!"

"Order! I will have order!" The acting Chair shouted.

"To the hells with you! Did you listen to Organa?! A former Jedi and worse, a Mandalorian married to their Ambassador! Many of you accuse me of being a shameless tyrant!" Danu spat. "I only did what I believed best for the Republic despite orders from Kuat! And now this! Just a few minutes ago, Onara Kuat, the woman who for all intents and purposes controls Kuat and wants to control the Republic called me! She ordered me to back this insanity and convince every single of my allies to do the same! Onara Kuat and most members of the Kuat family crave only more power and influence! Did you know that during the Coup the Kuati navy could have saved Corellia? It was Onara Kuat who forbade it! Now that same woman wants to buy herself a Chancellor. Obi-Wan Kenobi no less. Tell me, Kenobi, what is your prise?"

The Senate chambers explodes with indignant cries and infuriate shouts of explanation that drowned Danu's next words.

"Well, that could have gone better." Obi-Wan muttered to himself.

It was tempting to back down. It would be so easy. In the same time, Danu's accusations were infuriating even if they weren't too far off the mark. That's why they stung so badly, Obi-Wan knew. He took a breath and gathered the Force.

"My price?" Kenobi's voice thundered enhanced by the very power that bound everything together. "One last, desperate chance to save the Republic! I know why you all argue! You are terrified by the prospect of voting in anyone to a position of as much power as Palpatine held. You won't trust such a person. Power corrupts and there won't be a more powerful person in the galaxy than the next Chancellor... if there's still a Republic for them to oversee. I can't promise you that so much power won't affect me. What I can promise is what will happen if we don't get a strong Chancellor now! The Republic is dying around us. That Mid-Rim Alliance that Veil announced? It's not the problem but a symptom. You look at Shadowfeed's broadcasts and see another group of Separatists rising. What I see is a direct consequence of our actions. The Republic has been leaderless for a month. Our armed forces and bureaucracy alike are paralysed. For weeks now the Republic has been a dying and you've all been fighting over her dying carcass. The Mid-Rim Alliance is doing what they perceive they have to in order to survive. Who will be next?" Obi-Wan spoke before his mind caught up to his heart. He was unable to keep the frustration and scorn out of his voice. "That is my price, Senators and for it I'm ready to sacrifice everything I hold dear. Can any of you tell me the same? Vote for me or don't. I don't care. Just get a Chancellor elected while there's still something left of the Republic!"

Internally, Obi-Wan screamed. He blew it. He lost control of his emotions at the critical moment and he blew the best chance they had of stopping this madness.

Virtually everyone in the Chamber was on their feet screaming. There was a clear minority that obviously supported him but the rest... They didn't appreciate being taken to task in such a manner. It was simply not done.

The Senators did vote. Obi-Wan had about a fifth of the necessary numbers. The only high point was that when multiple Senators called for his immediate dismissal they suddenly found out that they needed a Chancellor to do it. They weren't in his direct chain of command and he was the highest ranking military official in the GAR. There simply wasn't anyone else with the rank to fire him.

"General." Admiral Yularen's command voice cut through the angry buzz of the Senators.

"We're a go. Call our allies. I'm sorry." Obi-Wan spoke just loud enough to be heard.

"At least democracy didn't die with applause." Padme sighed. "Instead it must be ended by those few who actually are willing to fight for it."

Obi-Wan heard the pain of complete disillusionment in her voice.