[Closing weeks of 17 BBY]
[Office of the Supreme Chancellor, Senatorial Palace, City of Runcapir, Alsakan, Alsakan System, Alsaka Sector, The Arrowhead, The Core]
"…no, thank you Representative Vaapet" Justus Fird, Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic said to the Muun from the InterGalactic Banking Clan as they finished their negotiations for the day "Our negotiations have been most fruitful, and it is a true pleasure to engage in such discussions now that some measure of peace is restored to the galaxy"
Unfortunately, it was a peace born of weakness…but one that he, and Alsakan, could live with. For now, at the very least, even if that time may not be for very long. The member of Clan Vaapet voiced his agreement, then taking his leave as Justus stood up from his desk and then walked the old fellow to the exit, passed his guards with amiable feelings between all. Actually, honest feelings for once with all these meetings as the negotiations held the potential to restore some financial stability to the territories to what had once been the ancient Alsakan Axis.
Something that was urgently needed as the galactic economy was utterly collapsed, and that was having a dramatic effect on The Core and Colonies. That and Justus had a war to fight, likely a long war, with the ancient upstart enemies of his homeworld in Corellia and Kuat. Defeat, and that was what the Galactic Republic had suffered against the Separatists, was disastrous and negotiations had merely mitigated the damage in the Core and Colonies. But only there in truth. The Outer Rim was gone almost entire, and even Eriadu had turned traitor, albeit in a very pretending not to manner. When they had won the war in the Core that would have to be dealt with, but that, unfortunately as with other things, was likely years away.
"I feel that went well" Justus murmured to his two aides, now Senator for Alsakan, Luciana Dulas of the House of Dulas, and his own cousin Rigus, as he came over to the pleasant looking habitat filled the funny looking lizards called Ysalamiri. After tapping on the hardened dura-glass, Justus brought his hands behind his back, studying as one of the creatures ate an insect "Do you agree?"
Luciana was the first to agree "Indeed Chancellor, it should go a long way towards stabilising the Galactic Credit when taken in line with our recent efforts. Let alone that such extensive ship construction projections are, in fact, needed for the war effort. That the Republic can once again make proper borrowings, and with recalcitrant Corellians to oppose such necessary debt taking…"
"Hmm, indeed" Justus murmured, though some of the borrowings would likely go to various bribes and kickbacks to ensure continued support amongst those involved on worlds that mattered "Though I am loath to grant such rights as requested to Muunilist's clans…yes, both for the war effort, and from simple economics, we need to put our people back to work…or in uniform. While we have avoided societal disorder, the usual suspect worlds are in chaos, Coruscant, Alderaan, and Humbarine to name a few. Agitated of course, but we can gather where the offensives shall come towards the Grand Army of the Republics High Command assure me"
Coruscant…well, the Corusa were ungrateful, arrogant, kriffers at the best of times, and now with his efforts to import good old fashioned Alsakan values like hard work, clan values, and trade agreements had not been met as desired. Not that he had not expected such, and it had served to draw the worst of the expected rebels…and allowed them to be crushed. It had also allowed him to get the GAR to agree that relocating the Senate and his own self to its natural place…to a safer location. Like Alsakan.
Where it had always belonged, and, most importantly, where planetary riots had not needed to be suppressed by several legions of the Grand Army of the Republic. Both Corellia and Kuat had been sending in agitators to nearby systems, along with various shades of Jedi and arms shipments, and it was clear a hammer blow was about to come out there soon. His own military advisors had informed him that major efforts were being made, and large, fresh, legions were being established from veteran cadres but…
'But, yet again unfortunately, that takes time, and we're going to take some losses before we can launch any counteroffensives' he considered, turning to his advisors "We must likely have to secede systems in the southern trailing Core due to the salient created by the Kuati on one side of the hyperlane, and the Corellians on the other, though with our Mid and Outer Rim Oversectors no longer under such severe threat…well, reforming our forces may take time, but it will be done"
His cousin frowned "Unfortunate"
"Indeed" Justus agreed with a nod "But such is the nature of our upholding the Republic while the others attempted to sheltered behind our forces. Our dear old Sheev Palpatine is proving most tricksy, and historical records assessed by the GAR have indicated concerns based on known details of his particular sect of the Jedi, let alone the knowledge of the clones"
Rigus perked up "Then you have my proposal…"
Justus hummed as if in thought, nodded. After all, consulting such records were vital for his improved security measures, as well as means to deal with the rather big problem of their own Jedi "Yes. Authorisation for the reactivation of the old plans from the Axis vaults, and what records we have of the Republic Special Projects Division from those times are to be reactivated"
He gave Rigus a firm look "Under GAR supervision, I shall speak with Gentis on the matter in the coming days. We have other, more pressing matters, such the enemy offensives, and Eriadu turning traitor, to discuss in more depth first…"
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[Closing weeks of 17 BBY]
[Hotel complex, near New Senate District, Eriadu, Eriadu System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
Riyo Chuchi, Senator for the proud and ancient world of Pantora, sipped at some local alcoholic beverage, one of those her physicians had cleared, trying to stand proud and not uncomfortable as she felt. Standing amidst so many of colleagues, along with those who were now her colleagues, at yet another informal meeting where everyone was plotting and grasping for influence. Much as the blue skinned female Pantoran would like to deny it, she too was playing that game, and often in a base manner to her mind. Baron Notluwiski Papanoida was a great help there, but blackmail was…should not be an indirect icebreaker for conversations, nor did she like the concept of political marriages in this day and age.
But…
The Galactic Republic was, for all intents and purposes here on the Mid and outer Rim, dead beyond what could be salvaged here in the wake of the coming peace treaty signing. She, herself, was not happy with this Empire business being laid out in slow building blocks, day by day, at both formal and informal meetings such this but it was broadly popular across political lines. Oh, she knew the Tarkin family and Eriadu were exploiting this at every opportunity, but much of what she was seeing were compromises to gain the so-called New Order that Chancellor Tarkin spoke of. Deals were the name of the game here yet again, and Riyo had resigned herself to it even if the dress she wore, 'traditional' to her world as it were, felt overly revealing.
'Just be glad you are not melting with the heat' she reminded herself as the crowd swirled about again, and she found herself, conveniently, across from a useful source "General Syndulla, you are looking well, though perhaps you feel as uncomfortable at these dinners as I do?"
The Twi'lek male in the Eriadu Authority Republic, one of the elite Aegis Guard units, turned with a glance at her, clearly avoiding the other, far larger and fatter twi'lek Senator from their world's delegation. Both's near hatred of each other was reasonably well known, with Syndulla's rival having once been a firm Palpatine supporter to a Tarkinist as the war changed. Though, in terms of support and political goals, that rivalry did not seem to play into it, and the twi'leks goals seemed almost turbolaster focused on their objectives "Ah, I'm sorry…"
Riyo offered her hand "Senator Riyo Chuchi from Pantora, we have similar interests in this New Order, and I thought it best to introduce myself. We too have a need that slavers and Republic corruption does not return to our sector in the future"
That was true, and why Riyo had led with it as the twi'lek accept her greeting, taking her hand and actually doing a kiss-hand greeting of some sort instead of a handshake "A pleasure to meet you then Senator, I expect we have much to discuss on those subjects during this time of reorganisation"
Reorganisation. That was a nice way to describe such as this. Most of the basics had been laid out by their future ruler, but there was still so much discussion on the minutiae of those proposals. Such as the fact slavery would be banned on a Federal Level as it was called, along with transport of slaves outside any system, but on a planetary level it could be legal. That was…hypocritical in Riyo's view, but it was effectively targeting trade in slave trading rather than fully overhauling Republic Law, instead being almost a reset to a legal framework of over two or three thousand years ago. Back when slavery had been less common in these regions of the Outer Rim territories.
What the Tarkins and various 'core' central government supporters wanted was relatively clear when they spoke of a New Order. Much of seemed to be a significant, standing, standardised, well paid, military, that was integrated even down to sector, system, and even planetary level, followed by taxation reform and a vast array of anti-corruption measures. That, at the very least, was something Riyo could get behind as corruption had been, and was, the bane of the Republic and the ideals it had professed to hold. Even if it had been simply about restoring the old measures, positively ancient really, to fight corruption would have won her support…ensuring they were implemented fairly then was one of personal goals now as such.
So, Riyo gave a warm smile "I would hope so, ensuring support for anti-slavery measures is always harder than we'd have liked in the Senate. This new division of the Senate, and with this new House of Titled Nobility…well, Pantora has always been very democratic, but our feudal roots remain at times. An interesting proposal don't you agree?"
The twi'lek male nodded after a moment "Yes, Ryloth intends to take up all related responsibilities of course, not any of this faint heartedness of some few worlds, as our voice was often not heard on Coruscant. We intend for it be heard in the successor to the Republic"
"Even if it is paid in blood?" she asked politely "Service and duty requirement as I've heard"
"Better as soldiers than slaves my people would say, we always pay in blood either way" was the response with a shrug "Oh, we have concerns, but not with the threats that ever lay out there"
She nodded solemnly "Yes, the atrocities of the confederacy against your people should not be forgotten and was a warning to us all I'm sad to say. With that in mind my own people intend to commit fully to the New Order, harsh responsibleness that it carries for all the rights granted by it and all. My people have already committed heavily to starfighter operations during the war, and this new Imperial Starfighter Corps and associated training programme is a tithe we eagerly pay to stay free when surrounded by slavers and pirates"
Syndulla nodded as the crowd continued to swirl around "That is good hear, as such a Corps has been a…surprising focus of some elements of my people"
'Meaning your females flock to it, as apparently the same qualities that make them excellent slave dancers makes then excellent starfighter pilots' Riyo didn't say, and considering what she knew of the Ryloth culture, and often selling out of females by certain twi'lek males she could see herself doing the except same as those females in a heartbeat "I have a heard, along with a positive relationship with the Jedi and their successor chapter. See? We have much in common already!"
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