Ask Aligning Motives

[Alexander Xerxes]

As the sun slowly shifted past the horizon, the millions of lights that made up the Courscant skyline slowly flickered into life. One by one Alexander watched buildings light up like Life Day trees as his closed top speeder flew through the sky. A pair of police patrollers flew fore and aft, added protection now that the Hynestian Senator was one of the two candidates for the Office of Supreme Chancellor. That very election is what had brought Alexander across the political district; he was due to meet one of the only other Senators who had raised their voice in the Senate as of late, Senator Jin Vaisra.

The speeder came to a slow stop just outside the building which housed Senator Vaisra’s Courscant apartment. One of the police speeders had already cleared the landing area, the other hovered around the perimeter, its robotic guards keeping an eye out for any threats to Alexander. The door opened and one of his internal security tried to step out first, but Alexander placed his hand on his shoulder to stop him. He didn’t need all this pomp and ceremony, not yet anyway, plus he could ‘defend’ himself when it came to it.

They quickly made their way from the wind swept landing pad and into the building, as fitting those of Senatorial standings the building was opulent in its decor. Alexander moved quickly through the foyer, dressed in his favourite purple. It was to be dinner and discussion tonight, with a view to set out plans for not only Fondor and Hynestia but that of the Republic in totality.

@Song

 

[Jin Vaisra]

Once Senator Xerxes entered the glittering foyer, a servant would be waiting. With a low curtsy, the woman would usher the man through the apartment’s winding halls, past a portrait gallery and up a carpeted staircase, until she stopped short of a set of double doors. Pushing it open, Alexander would be greeted by a large conservatory encased in glass, the Coruscant skyline disguised by orange blossoms and manicured trees. It was like an entirely different planet.

And there, his host would be waiting.

Compared to his guest, Jin wore far more comfortable attire for tonight’s dinner: velvet slippers, a flowing black skirt, traditional robes embroidered with the finest silk. Even what clothes he treated as casual looked expensive, perhaps enough to buy an extra townhouse in Coruscant’s upper levels. Not like he’d need or want one. The smog-choked world was not one he’d found particularly enjoyable to visit. It was like Fondor, but without the pleasures of the royal palace and with twice the number of insufferable bureaucrats.

Jin had to wonder where Senator Xerxes might stand among them. The man had been quite bold in his play for the Chancellory last week—if not a bit shameless—but he certainly didn’t lack for spine. It was the kind of spine the Republic Senate was in desperate need of, and it was why Jin had accepted the man’s offer to meet. Perhaps he could determine just how far that spine could go—or how easy it might break.

“Senator Xerxes,” he said with a small bow of his head. “Welcome. I understand you are a busy man, so allow me to skip the pleasantries and dive straight into business.” He snapped a finger and a servant practically materialized out of thin air, a silver tray of glasses and uncorked bottles in one hand. “What will you have? Wine or brandy?” He gave a warm smile. Obviously the man’s choice in drink was not truly so important, but it was a start.

Regardless of Alexander’s answer, Jin would gesture the man forward, escorting him over the cobblestone paths and to a pavilion made up of teak pillars and a terraced roof. A small table sat underneath. “Come, this way,” he beckoned. “I believe the chef has prepared something special for us tonight. Shucked oysters and herb-crusted rockfish. So, I do hope you aren’t allergic.”

While Jin had promised to cut to business, he also knew rushing to the point of the meeting might spoil the meal. He needed to butter the Senator up, first, because after all, both men wanted something out of this, did they not?

@Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

Without having to break his stride one of Vaisra’s attendants began guiding him through the lavish halls of the Senator. Like himself Vaisra was from their respective planets Royal family, however from the lavish and decadent display of wealth shown here. The Fondor Royal Family had the Hynestian’s beat hands down when it came to cash.

He couldn’t help but let out a small whistle at the sight of the conservatory, from left to right, front to back covered in the beautiful greenery and vivid flowers. Even Jai Vaisra himself was dressed in luxury, although less formal than his own attire, it still showed a level of prestige in its tailoring and quality that matched everything else around. “Senator Vaisra.” He replied with his own small bow of the head.

“Brandy is my preference.” He replied to both the Senator and the servant who poured him a glass of the amber liquid. Alexander took the glass and followed Vaisra across the cobblestone path towards the location of their dinner. “I have to say Senator Vaisra, you do not do anything by paths. Your apartments here are second to none, I have at least seen anyway.”

It could be seen as baseless flattery, but there was a large amount of truth to his comments. “Was much of this brought in from Fondor?” He asked as he reached the table beneath the pavilion. Placing a hand on the back of the chair, he didn't make a move to sit until either Vaisra sat or gave him the ok to sit. No matter the difference in wealth between the two Royal Houses they both still worked on the same basic customs. “And no allergies, thank you.”

@Song

 

[Jin Vaisra]

“Thank you, Senator Xerxes. I appreciate the flattery.” He cast the man a short smile. Jin might have tossed a compliment back his way, but he was not the type to indulge in false pleasantries—especially after the senator’s last question. “Fondor is a bruised, barren wasteland with more steel than grass. I’m afraid all I’ve brought over from it are servants from the royal palace.”

He reached a hand out to brush against the low-hanging branch of an orange blossom, a tree symbolic of his ancestors from Obroa-skai, who’d immigrated to Fondor centuries ago. “What plantlife you see here were imported from the Rim. Gifts, mostly, from Belasco and Onderon.” Both planets had been deeply appreciative of Jin since he’d taken on fleet commissions from Minister Belasi and Senator Graves, and with the Consortium cutting ties, they were clearly desperate to maintain warm relations with him.

“I’m quite popular among the Free Worlds, it seems,” Jin continued as he settled into his seat, gesturing Alexander to do the same. “Since Corellia went neutral, there’s been an astonishing influx of fleet contracts for Fondor, some worth billions of credits. Business has never looked brighter.” A wicked smile played across his lips. “Who would have guessed war profiteering could be so lucrative?”

A servant appeared with a silver tray of tea. Not being one to drink wine or brandy at this hour, Jin took the porcelain cup and held it in one hand, steam rising to his face, the sweet smell of jasmine in the air. “Although I take it you’re not here to ask me for ships, are you, Senator Xerxes? You might as well go ahead and tell me what it is you want. No need to dance around the bushes. We are both very busy men, and I’m sure there are better things for us to do than talk about the weather.”

“Go on, then,” Jin said, sipping from his tea. “I’m listening.”

@Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

“That is a shame, it sure is a beautiful garden you have here.” He replied, as he too took his seat once Vaisra had rested his own bottom upon the exquisitely detailed upholstery. “Wars always blossom the pockets of some, as it always destroys the pockets of others, balancing it out is what politics is all about.” Alexander took a sip of the brandy, enjoying the warmth it brought to his throat and stomach.

It seemed Vaisra did not beat around the bush, without even appetisers arriving he was already demanding the reasoning for Alexander’s visit. Taking another sip of his brandy, the Hynestian placed the crystal glass to one side before interlacing his hand before him. “In simple terms, your Support in the coming election.” He began, he could have left it there but decided to give some context. “This war is more about the philosophical divide between the Sith and the Jedi, not the political divide between the Republic and the Empire. And I am aware of your distaste for the Jedi, so removing them from all Republic Space as I plan to on election, I believe is something that would please you.”

“Removing the Jedi and ending the war with the Sith will help stabilise the Republic Core, allowing us ‘all’ to fully recover from the AMS and Sanctions that have almost crippled our economy and the value of the Credit.”

@Song

 

[Jin Vaisra]

“Balancing the scale sounds like a noble cause, Senator—until you realize the scale tips out of your favor.” Jin stared at the other man for a long moment, the implication of what he said hanging in the air. Even if the war was crushing less arms-focused worlds, the defense contracts he'd received had been incredibly worthwhile, and the thought of missing out on more worried him.

“I will say, the Jedi have always been a controversial subject for me. At first, I supported their partnership with the Republic only because of my support for Chancellor Ro, but I’ve never been fond of their religion, nor their blood-soaked history. Wherever they go, death seems to follow.” The threat of the Sith, for one. That much was obvious. “And their lack of jurisdiction? Unbelievable. I had two Jedi snoop around my property, on my planet, without clearance only because they’d ‘heard’ about an impending attack. An attack that never came.”

“I had to evacuate thousands of workers and shut down production for days clearing through every shipyard because of their ‘hunch.’ Grandmaster Voran offered her own excuses, but I don’t trust the woman. Especially after she blatantly used the Force on Emil. Months before his death, mind you.” He set aside his tea in disgust. Just thinking about it made his stomach turn. “So, the idea of removing the Jedi from Republic space would please me very much. But as for ending the war with the Sith…”

Jin folded his hands in his lap. “Don’t get me wrong, Senator Xerxes. As much as this war has filled Fondor’s pockets, I understand the strain it has on the rest of our economy. The value of the credit has reached irritatingly low records. I wouldn’t mind an end to this useless conflict. What I want to know is if you intend to turn the Republic into a pacifist state.” His lip curled into a grimace. “I want to know if there will be assurances that I can continue doing my 'business' freely.”

@Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

He smiled and tipped his head slightly at the Senator’s riposte. “It seems that some of our past thoughts aligned, before this war when I was younger I saw them as beacons of light. But looking back with the eyes of an adult I can see they only bring death and destruction to those that align with them.”

Taking another sip of his drink as Senator Vaisra spoke, he nodded along. At least he had him agree on the first point, they both wanted the Jedi out of the New Republic. Now comes the real issue, money. Money and power, something that all people be they Sith or Senator desire. Placing the glass back down he lent back in his chair before answering. “As much as I want to see the back of this war with the Sith. I am not going to disband our militaries as soon as the ink dries on the treaty if at all.”

“We have more enemies in the galaxy than just the Sith, someone still needs to answer for Chancellor Ro’s murder and current intel leads to a big player in the galaxy.” He did not elaborate further, he had already named the Five Syndicates in an earlier address to the Senate and the ‘proof’ was slowly lining up for when it was needed. “My vision of the New Republic is a Bastion of Democracy for the whole Galaxy and to defend that Bastion we must have a strong and powerful military. I doubt military spending by our government will decrease in the slightest.”

“Also as I have discussed with a fellow senator in the same ‘business’, Fondor is more than in its own right to secure deals with unaligned planets without having to pass these through the Republic government.” Leaning forward he picked up his glass again. “I hope that eases some of your worries, Senator Vaisra.”

@Song

 

[Jin Vaisra]

So, Alexander was pushing the investigation on Emil’s death. Jin had been following it personally in the last several months, receiving reports from the Sector Rangers on what supposed ‘evidence’ they might have found. He was curious to hear what the Senator had learned, or what answers he might’ve dug up, but instead he kept his lips tight, his brow raised. The man likely found nothing substantial. But if he managed to pinpoint the blame to the Syndicates… well, that would be interesting.

“I’m relieved to hear you say that, Senator,” Jin said once he’d finished speaking. “The Republic will need a strong military to maintain the ‘peace’ you want to bring, and Fondor will happily provide whatever ships are required to do so—” His smile broadened, “—as well as for other governments seeking to do the same.” While the implication might’ve pointed to the Free Worlds or the Consortium, Jin had different plans. The Sith and the Syndicates had plenty of credits to go around.

And they would make excellent business partners in the future.

Before he could continue or elaborate further, two servants arrived at the pavilion with trays of steaming fish and oysters, just as Jin had promised. His nostrils flared at the smell, delicious and sweet, but he stayed leaning against his seat as the dishes were set out across the glass table. As host, he would let Alexander be the first to eat. A common courtesy among royalty. “Please, dig in,” he said, and once the man had made his pick, Jin would follow, slicing through the head of a fish sprinkled with parsley.

“My worries are eased, Senator, but there’s another matter I wish to discuss. That is, your relationship with the Free Worlds.” He kept his tone even and impartial. Personally, he didn’t care much for the Alliance despite the many deals and partnerships he’d made. Prime Minister Belasi, Senator Graves, and even Heraglor. Some might consider them friends, but to Jin, they were merely instruments of his own ambition. Investments.

“What do you intend for them once you are elected?” he clarified. “That catastrophe on Kashyyyk—the one between the Wookiee Senator and the Consortium, I mean—destroyed diplomatic relations between both governments. The ISCRA may very well stop providing aid in future invasions, and it’s clear President Thorne wants nothing to do with them anymore.” He cut himself another slice of fish. “What about you? Just how exactly do you feel about our neighbors to the east?”

@Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

So he had answered one burning question to the Senator’s appeasement. But it appeared that Vaisra still had more he wanted answered. The Free World Alliance was a troubling problem for the Hynestian, he needed them both as an ally and as an enemy. Being able to keep them at the perfect level for both his and the Republic’s future was perhaps going to be his biggest difficulty as Supreme Chancellor.

“The Free World Alliance, are perhaps our biggest potential trading partner, they span the near full width of the Galaxy. So we of course must keep them sweet, we do not have the financial strength to stand alone, not at this time.” The Consortium was a close second and closing the gap quickly, but their staunch nationalism meant that they were more difficult to deal with than the more independent Alliance.

“What happened on Kashyyyk was a farce, that's for sure. However it was a number of issues which led to the Consortium breaking ties with the Alliance that is the straw which broke the Bantha’s back. Although I do believe we can use this as an opportunity to profit from broken Trade routes.” Alexander replied, many worlds on both sides will be hurting now there old trade partners had been cut off, the New Republic could benefit by taking the place of old partners, profiting on this political divide.

@Song

 

[Jin Vaisra]

“You bring up a valid point, Senator. There are plenty of investments to be made in the Free Worlds, and I’m glad to hear you haven’t given up on them quite yet.” He smiled warmly. Jin had to wonder how long that would last. The Alliance made for difficult friends—competent ones, too. Minister Belasi’s spirit was already starting to break, he could tell, and it was only a matter of time before she either resigned or tossed herself over a four-story high building. He couldn’t blame her, not when most of her senators were idiots. A bunch of children in their daddy’s suits.

Jin cut further into his fish, chewing slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. Then he washed it down with another sip of his tea, sighing with satisfaction—both at the meal and Alexander’s answers. “It’s good to know you aren’t a Consortium puppet or a Jedi sycophant. You’re different, Senator Xerxes, and I can see why the others think you’re the right choice for the Republic.” He set aside his tea and leaned forward. “I only have one more question for you, then.”

“What is stopping me from, say, announcing my candidacy at this very moment? I have the most seniority and experience between you and Senator Hedarial, and I suspect I could muster significantly more support. Why should I trust you with the Chancellorship when I can seize it myself?” The question was purely hypothetical. If Jin had to be realistic, a race against Senator Xerxes would be much tighter than he made it sound—or almost impossible, given how far the election campaign had gone.

But if it was possible, Jin could make it so. He had the support of the Republic military in Admiral Odrosess, and Senator Drast had been a consistent ally since Emil’s election. And rival or not, a man like Vaz Du could be swayed to his side, perhaps more willing to support a fellow shipyard world than an icy wasteland like Hynestia. The opportunity was there. It existed.

If only Jin actually cared enough to try.

Still, he was curious. Why did Alexander deserve this position more than Jin? More importantly, what made him such a worthy leader for the Republic? That was the real question he was asking.

@Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

Alexander sliced a piece of fish in two with his knife and placed the delicate flesh into his mouth. Cooked perfectly it fell apart in his mouth, the flavour could only bring a smile to the Hynestian’s mouth. Fish was a delicacy on his home planet, being of short supply in its hostile environment, so Alexander enjoyed every moment he got to enjoy the dish.

He let out a small chuckle when Vaisra mentioned him not being a puppet of the Consortium, some would consider he was perhaps a puppet of the Sith. But the only people who thought that was the Sith themselves, little did they know the strings had been cut a long time ago.

Placing his knife and fork to one side he wiped the side of his mouth with his napkin before speaking. “If you truly wished to have the position Senator Vaisra, you would have run a long time ago. Before either me or Senator Jedarial had gathered the backing within our parties to do so.”

“Don’t trust me.” He said straight to the Senator. “Trust breeds complacency, we cannot afford that. I expect that you as a Senior Senator of the Chamber will keep me in check throughout my term. Question my decisions, criticise my mistakes and keep me honest. Trust and complacency is what led to the downfall of the last Great Republic, we cannot have that again.”

“If you want any further reasons beyond what I have already given you today. I will be blunt with them. You can back me because I will not be the man to fail this Office. Not out of patriotism or fanciful ideals like Raycom, no because I am a prideful man. I do not have it within me to be a failure and I never have. Everything I have set my eyes on has become mine. I do all within my physical and mental abilities to not fail at what I set out to do. So if I set out to do the things I have promised here and in the chambers and Holo’s, then you can be sure it will be done.”

@Song

 

[Jin Vaisra]

“So, what you are telling me is that you deserve to be Chancellor because you are a lazy, untrustworthy and prideful man whose loyalties lie only with himself, instead of the citizens he is meant to serve?” He let the words sink in, staring at Alexander for a long, agonizing moment. One could hear a pin drop in the silence that followed, and only the sounds of the garden—rustling leaves, insects trilling—could be heard between the two men. Then Jin, with all the casual grace of a prince, relaxed back into his seat.

His mouth split into a grin. “Same here.”

He had to admit, he appreciated Alexander’s blunt honesty. He’d half-expected him to dance around the question, or coddle him with more false promises, or list off every one of his achievements since his birth. He was glad the man hadn’t. Else Jin would have had to sit under the pavilion for the next hour, chewing on fishbone and sipping the same teacup, bored out of his mind. He suspected exactly that would’ve happened if he’d chosen to meet with Raycom instead.

Honestly, Hedarial was never Jin’s choice to begin with.

He’d made his decision the moment Alexander had personally reached out to him. Much as he enjoyed the benefits of the war, what with his wealth of military contracts, it was not a good plan for the long-term. There was also the matter of the Jedi, hurting his shipyard production and bringing death and destruction wherever they went. His and Alexander’s interests simply aligned. Partnering and cutting a deal with him to ensure Fondor’s continued success was just an added benefit.

“You’re not an idiot, Senator Xerxes. Clearly you have the mind and the resolve to take on the position of Supreme Chancellor, and I see no reason why I shouldn’t support you in that endeavor.” Jin rose, finished with his meal, unruffling the dark folds of his traditional dress. As if ordained, the sun slipped in between the rows of skyscrapers around the conservatory, casting the pavilion in brilliant, orange light. He reached out a hand to the other man. “You have my full support, Senator.” Then, another smile.

“As long as you can keep your word, I’ll keep mine.”

end thread.​