[18 BBY]
[Office of the Supreme Chancellor, Senate of the Galactic Republic, Senatorial Secure Chamber, Galactic City, Coruscant, the Core]
Justus Fird, of the Glorious and Ancient Core World of Alsakan, found being Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic a rather taxing experience as he fought to shore up the crumbling house that was said Republic. It was something he'd feared would occur when the madness consumed the galaxy at the hands of that madman from the savage Rim who'd turned out to be a Sith…or Dark Jedi…they were all the same really. Now he was in the chair, in the Republic's darkest hour, he couldn't even say 'I told you so' to his detractors as many of them were already trying to shot him with blasters, after one of them had use atom-splitters during the overthrow of the tyrants.
Failed overthrow in truth with Republic splintered as badly as it was now with Kuat and Corellia leading coalitions in open rebellion against his government in the same manner as the Separatists. Now the writ of the Republic extended only as far as the power of the Grand Army of the Republic extended. Something the current details before him once again reminding that area was truly only the majority of the Core, controlled hyperlanes, and the northern sectors of the galaxy. Oh, many areas claimed loyalty to them, such as Noune's little Defence League, the various fleets out on the Rim under not-warlords, and, of course there was…
"So, they continue to declare their loyalty while spitting in our faces?" he said to his 'Cabinet', one that represented the various military and industrialist factions he owned for helping keep the Republic together, as he held the data in one hand "This is confirmed I assume?"
Gentis was the most important of this, standing now as the Chief of Staff of the reformed Grand Army of the Republic, and the man nodded "Yes, one of our forward escort patrols was….politely reminded…taxation policies were handled from Eriadu not Coruscant over M'haeli. There was no difficulties, the Revenue Collection vessel simply returned to Chardaan with the patrol, but combined with recent talk out of that so-called Senate of theirs…"
Justus Fird nodded tightly, sitting back a little into his chair, putting the data-slate on his intricately decorated, and bomb proof supposedly, desk "Yes, Tarkin and his cohorts are certainly stepping beyond the bounds of what is reasonable and appropriate for those of their station. These measures are offensive to the very traditions that have sustained the Republic and have been rejected countless times in recent centuries for just that reason. Now they throw out measures that even the Separatists wouldn't have been radical enough to pass"
Then he sighed unhappily, for there was more to the situation "Unfortunately it is a situation we must allow to persist for now I imagine?"
His Generals glanced amongst themselves, Gentis as ever taking the lead "Military action is possible of course, but it detrimental to the overall war effort as GAR-South's forces are significant, and they are supplying us with resources which we badly need to restore our shipbuilding to needed levels. Essentially their insubordination is offensive, but we cannot do anything more than suffer greater losses ourselves should we attempt to deal with them as they deserve. Not with the Kuati and Correlian forces waiting in our rear while we combat the Separatists. In the long run Chancellor….the Eriadu Authority, along with several others, will have to be brought back into the fold, but right now we need them to confront our great foes"
Justus Fird gave a bitter smile "Compromise, after compromise as ever, unfortunately"
"Indeed Chancellor…" the other man agreed equally as unhappy "…but we have stabilised the worst of the rot, and our foes time will come, eventually"
He nodded to the Commander of the GAR, as this had been merely a chance to vent really as he himself had already known those facts. Moreover the true concern was how long before the threadbare authority over them could be maintained without some sort of active reprisal beyond diplomatic notes. Most of it's old Hegemony had answered Corellia's call, as had a number of other ancient coalitions, Alderaan leading one to Corellia for instance, while that creature Palpatine continued to incite 'democracy' rebellions where the Republic had restored Law and Order to deal with Traitors, Debtors, or those recalcitrant in serving the Republic.
After all the Galactic Banking System had utterly collapsed in the wake of the Restoration, all that sleemo Palpatine's and the Kuati Houses fault of course, and decisive action had to be taken. The Core could not be expected to carry all the burdens of fighting this war. Certainly not after funding the backwards Rim worlds for centuries, and been met only with ungratefulness and treason when times got hard. They had brought the light of civilization again to the, as always, at the time traitorous worlds that had served the New Sith, and they couldn't even be dignified enough to pay back their fair share for that honour. Spirits how he hated those ungrateful savages….
But that was for the future, likely the far future, so he nodded "Of course my good General, that time will come indeed. Now, unto the next issue, that our reintegrating loyal Jedi into our forces in the wake of this further treason from those that claim to represent that former institution on Corellia. Something a positive for our cause with the public at large, and I do believe we can build on that, but I want best guesses on what that will do for the numbers the Corellians could conceivably add to their forces by that announcement…"
--
[18 BBY]
[Training Room, Personal Deck of Moff Daron Stormcrow, Eriadu Authority Republic Navy Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Republic 5th Fleet, Terminus System, Kallea Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
I missed Barriss, what with her headed to my home world without me to play at being Jedi, but I lots of things to do myself….and I really wanted to avoid looking like I was involved in the Jedi sort-themselves-out meeting that better be going on right now. Otherwise I'd be very cranky when I got back to Eriadu proper and had to deal with the issues associated with my elevated position of Moff. That day wasn't overly far away now, and I'd also War Games and crew combat training to do in meantime…out here at the edge of known space, away from prying eyes, while also reminding the locals of certain facts.
It was amusingly enough why time in the training rooms was the relaxing part of what were turning into very long days indeed. Here I could concentrate on the combat, also because I really, really, needed to as Celeste Morne was a combat machine and sparring/training with her was certainly an experience. One I needed, badly, especially without my droids and other tricks, as maintaining and improving my lightsaber skills was potentially lifesaving in the days ahead. Despite that I was really glad to be finished my training spar with 'Knight' Morne and to sit down, drinking a cool, refreshing, energy drink.
Karis and Naa'leth were next in line for the programme as their lightsaber skills were not up to Jedi standards, which was today's standards rather than the combat dance of Morne's level. Right now though they were practicing with Aaron and Abigail, my older and most experienced bodyguard droids in an effort to gear them up to take on me, and then Celeste, in a little while. So watched them move about, not particularly impressed, as I mentally noted down some corrections to help them improve;- I'd handle it during the spar, and then later today when going through the Nightsister ritual-talk with them.
"If you are going to improve from our spars, it would be best if you fought as you would in actual fight"
I frowned, taking another drink, before sighing and glancing at Celeste as she watched the other spar "Oh? Well, yes, possibly, but right now I do actually need to improve my form before we go for field exercises…that and its easier with the training rooms for this style of sparring match"
"Hmm, understandable perhaps, but your frustratingly defensive in spars while what I've seen in assaults you utilise blasters, jetpack, and numerous other tools"
I shrug "I favour Niman and Soresu…" because Niman had a rather large boost at it at the start from being a combat oriented Mystic Theurge in a life not my own "…and defensive style is how I fight without my tools"
"Yes, which is my point…" she argued calmly, arms folded across her chest as she watched the two battling Nightsisters "…you utilise Form III almost exclusively in our spars, or without armour, but Form VI more commonly in actual battles"
I paused, then nodded, though in truth I also indulged in Trákata along with spell-casting and telekinetic bladework on black ops. Niman offered greater opportunities and mobility in coordination with my droids, shields, armour and other tools "True, that I'll admit. We'll schedule something in the future planet-side on a site we can afford to wreck"
"Indeed?"
I nodded "Yeah, yeah, just not now. Too many things on the horizon to do right now. Such as have you given any further thought on what I suggested?"
She glanced at me "Of course, though I am still surprised at such an offer, you barely know me"
"No more than I know anyone in this position…" I answered back honestly, shaking my head and standing back up "…nor is there a great variety of opinions available to do what needs to be done. Because there is no in the Nine Corellian Hells is anyone on Eriadu going to hand power back to whatever Jedi Order that Stass and Barriss get the others to form up. Nor would I support that….but….we do need ways to deal with those who go Dark Side juice insane, or simply for hunting down rogue Jedi and wannabe Sith. So, I'm not exactly proposing to make you High Inquisitor or whatever you want to call it. Just what needs to be done"
"Your own personal force of Jedi Shadows it sounds like to me"
I frowned at that, shaking my head "Hardly, and you should realise that Celeste from what I've written so far. I know, we both know, regular Judicial Forces won't be able to deal with rogue Force-users easily, but simply trying to hand that duty over to the Jedi is a disaster in the making…"
Considering her response, as best I could tell, being calm and attentive rather than challenging I suspected she agreed with me already, but wanted to draw out more from me. I could understand that, but the simple truth was the Jedi weren't getting 'arrest me because I'm a dirty heretic' powers ever again, and no way was I not going to fight such. But we did need, albeit not in name, something like the Jedi Shadows or Imperial Inquisitorious, save actually Republic Legal and not completely Evil. Jedi would Fall, because it would be so easy to Fall in the monster I'd helped create with the Republic's Fall, and those dangers needed to be dealt with.
Despite that I wanted to cripple the Jedi Order, to make it merely one sect amongst a number, with no centralised powers to dominate me should we, eventually, survive and win this. No, I wanted an Enforcement Branch that drew from the new Republic Military, reformed Republic Judicials, and various Force-user groups under our control. Proper Special Forces, like the old Republic Commandos mixed Antarian Rangers, to deal with Rogues and Criminals….but that needed a few Force-users as well to ensure adequate training, as well as a combat multiplier…
--