[19 BBY]
[Royal Palace, Theed, Naboo, Naboo System, Chommell Sector, Mid Rim]
Sio Bibble found crises never seemed to end of late, though for now it was an indirect one rather than an outright invasion, bio-terrorism, or a mad cyborg seeking to kill them all. Or at least that was the situation for Naboo, as while they were not under immediate threat...for once...the galaxy itself had descended into an even worse crescendo of violence unmatched as the wars worsened. At the hands of a man of Naboo many would claim, and as he entered the meeting of the Royal Advisory Council he himself could not disagree knowing what he knew of Jedi and Sith from history.
"Majesty..." he greeted the young woman who was their new Queen, Apailana, of House Gazlant, with a bow, to which she nodded in greeting "...I trust you are well this day?"
"As well as one can be in these times Governor Bibble, thank you for inquiring" she replied in a polite, friendly, tone as she, and then he, took their seats along with the other arriving Royal Advisors. Her youth, as it had with Amidala, and then Neeyutnee after her, had always been a minor concern, but the combination of selecting for intelligence and wilful candidates for the throne, and ensuring Royal Authority was generalised while the Council handled the details of implementation, had proved more efficient than originally planned. Though the fact the educational emphasis, and then the pressure of the role, bothered him a little in that it cost the younglings the joys of young for the responsibilities and burdens of power.
She waited till the last of the Council arrived before gesturing to begin with a delicate wave of her hand and a holo-globe of Naboo, then the Sector came into existence "It comes to our attention that perception of our people has been less than we would desire, and that we wish to know what can be done to adjust this position, and what changes it shall bring to our world. Governor?"
Sio sighed "Perhaps I shall need a new title Majesty, as it is somewhat clear from meeting with Admiral Tarkin, the son of the...Acting Chancellor...that our own place within these reforms is less than we would have desired in political terms. It is understandable with the perception we have attempted to have influence in all factions in the Republic Civil War, and what we have discovered of the nature of Sheev Palpatine, even if it is entirely untrue"
He tapped on the buttons on the table and brought up a holo-tab before each of them showing the details of the reforms laid out from Eriadu "As I said, the position of Senator and Governor are to be merged, and we shall only be allowed one Senator, which shall be Gungan, though Senator Amidala is not to be considered...treasonous...for her support of the Corellian Coalition as laid out. Having spoken with Boss Nash it is agreed a Naboo shall serve as Vice-Governor..."
The years since the Trade Federation invasion had seen the initially gradual, then rapid, emergence of the Gungans as the wealthier and more powerful faction on Naboo. Somewhat ironically to the opposition of the Gungans themselves it felt at times, but it still happened. First the mercenary group ESS, turned Aegis Guard, had purchased large supplies of Gungan style energy shields, which had only attracted the interest of other such groups such as the ORSF and Ailon Nova Guard. Now there was large scale production and supply occuring sufficient to attract the attention of a senior member of the Eridu Clique and ignore their traditional human supremacist agenda.
'Yes, such a joy to consider that business and our political differences are sufficient to overcome such inclinations' he mused sadly as Graf Zapalo laid out his opinions on the details, and planned joint ventures with the Gungans such as the Mantaris-class transport. Larger ones would now be on the table Sio expected as while the Naboo's political position, at least the human part, was set to lessen the information sent from Senator Binks indicated significant investment and demand for equipment, both civilian and military. After all the destruction caused to their world from the invasions, and the Blue Shadow clean-up, it was something they desperately needed.
The centralisation of the military, and amalgamation and expansion of till recently defunct Republic civilian agencies, was less welcome however, but it had to be worked with, or around. In the end the weakness of the Galactic Republic, and its deep corruption, had always been a matter of anger to Naboo, and it was difficult to show anger when someone attempt to reform those failed institutions. Even if you disagreed with them as Sio Bibble did for both ideological as well as patriotic reasons. After all once this was done they'd have to move unto the Amidala situation, and getting her and, till now secret, husband and now children back home safe to Naboo without a diplomatic crisis...
--
[19 BBY]
[Republic Navy Starship Venator-class Star Destroyer Incorruptible, Allied Miltias Sector Command, In Orbit Kalinda, Kalinda System, Vilonis Sector, Mid Rim]
Rahm Kota, Jedi Knight, Master now, and General of the...Outer Rim Galactic Republic?...stood on the bridge of his Venator-class Star Destroyer, watching as his fleet approached the assembled Kalindan Defence Fleet. Carefully of course, and ensuring a non-threatening track, but with ready status should battle break out at any moment as this alliance was not yet set in duracrete. So he waited patiently, feeling Quinlan Vos approach from his right side. Hardly the best Jedi negotiating team he had to admit, but after the horror that had happened despite his warnings, it just meant he had to make it work.
"Do you think they'll keep their word?"
Rahm nodded faintly at Vos's question not taking his eyes of the distant ships "I expect they will, but even if they just allow us passage it would fulfil our part of the mission. Still, they are no friends of the Separatists and they are getting a very good deal to provide support..."
He trailed off gesturing at the outgunned Kalindan Fleet. Despite that he had no doubt it would bloody his fleet should it go sour, but pressing up this secondary trade route to the Hydian Way was vital to the offensive his allies needed to launch...so here he was. Not that he was overly happy with the 'Military Government' on Coruscant, or whatever they called themselves, but compared to the Sith Lord on Kuat, or the Separatists on Raxus, they were a bitter pill he'd have to swallow. Corellia, perhaps, was the truer Republic...but the Republic had been a flawed beast, and all they'd gotten was the murder of the Order at its hands.
If only they had listened, not trusted in the Clones...
'But that is the past, and I can only live to try salvage what we can for the future' he reminded himself, ordering a response to Kalindan diplomatic message. In a perfect galaxy the Separatists would jump in and do his negotiations for him by attacking the locals, but that wasn't exactly under his control. If they reopen the Hydian Way then there was a route for his fellow Jedi to escape through, to either Ryloth, Naboo, or to the group under Masters Allie and Unduli under the protection of General Stormcrow at the edge of the known space. It wasn't ideal, but it was a chance, and that was better than nothing. He glanced at Quinlan.
"The younglings?"
His fellow Jedi gave a curt nod "Hidden away, we avoided sending the location even with the encryption, and you can trust Khaleen"
Rahm gave an amused, if sad, smile "Ah, well, she is your wife, so I imagine you do trust her. At times I feel I was the only one of all the irregular Jedi as the Council called it, not having secret wives or lovers!"
"Heh, you don't know what you're missing Rahm!"
He gave a snort at that, hands folded across his chest "Aye, I do, but we've a Duty now, one the Council failed at. We have to earn back that trust we've squandered over recent years...decades, or I don't think we'll like what we'll see at the end of that road"
Vos made a face, dreadlock bouncing as he shook his head "I know who I blame. The Sith"
"They're are at fault too..." Rahm agreed "...but we should have seen the trap, not walked into it"
"You saw it, I tried with Dooku, the Stormcrow, sly kriffer that he is tried give warning...Council didn't listen, they never do, do they?"
Rahm sighed, sadly as he gazed beyond the starships and world ahead of them to a place beyond, yet not there anymore "Did, as I don't plan on heading to join Master Yoda on Kashyyyk fighting some noble last stand, or hiding while evil grows. No, I meant we need to prove to the cluster of people on Eriadu around the Tarkins that the Jedi are needed, that we can help the Republic after failing in our Duty. You have to understand they don't trust us, and our main advocate otherwise is the Stormcrow, and he has similar experiences to us...and left the Order. He will never support what once was being restored..."
He shook his head, the visions of fountains and peace in gardens vanishing "...not that be entirely a bad thing, but we need to ensure we have a voice as I know Masters Allie, and Unduli, and apparently the Stormcrow has stolen away her padawan as his lover"
Vos chuckled "I know, it's hilarious, Aayla sent word, and I can just imagine Luminara's face when she found out!"
Rahm gave Vos a look of mild reproach "Please, it will have been hard on her...especially after everything that has happened"
"Yes, but that's why we must laugh when we can..." Vos replied almost seriously "...or the Darkness can get in through the cracks"
"Perhaps Quinlan, perhaps..." Rahm replied shaking his head "...but I worry over Ventress, the Nightsisters Daron Stormcrow has made deals with, and now this sudden discovery of one our own, long lost in stasis...why was he seeking Sith artefacts I worry?"
"Because he's a paranoid little kriffer?" Vos replied and Rahm gave him and another look, getting a "What?" in response along with a shrug before Vos sighed.
"Look, Rahm, I helped with his and his lots gettin' crystals for lightsabers on Illum quest the little green troll loved so much, an' he was like then as well. He don't trust us, and sounds like this Knight Morne from the Dawn'ah Time don't trust us neither...and well..."
Rahm sighed again, tiredly "Yes...trust is the issue of late"
Then shook his head as his communications officer indicated the Kalindans want to meet face to face about his flagship as he'd wanted "So, let us get back to re-earning some shred of that here and now..."
--