Open Onderon Alliance Bonds

[Victoria]

Victoria's life couldn't have been any busier with the ISC making big waves in her backyard, and the Sith reeling from the losses. The FWA had come under attack from the most unlikely of places, the NR's 5th fleet under the direction of the Supreme Chancellor. This was a complete shock as she'd expected the Republic's sentiment to at least be neutral, if not favorable to the alliance considering the circumstances of a wider galactic war.

She still clung to hope that the new prospective allies she had made within their halls might prevail but made a mental note to reach out to them when they were available. In the meantime, she had to find a way to manage the internal politics of the FWA, which was under a direct threat from at least two fronts. Onderon had come under attack by the Sith in the past and it was likely to be in the firing line again sometime, while work had been done to prepare for their return, Victoria sought some more assurances of this case.

Fortunately, she had already met Princess Reyna and they were on good terms as far as the senator was concerned. Victoria would start by holo-calling the princess, although if any other alliance senator was available, they'd also be let in on the call. She'd hope Aezz might pop in at some point, but for starters, they'd discuss Onderon's concerns.

"Princess Reyna, thank you for taking my call. I hope the recent news hasn't been too distressing. I was hoping to speak with the King but I hear he's been terribly busy trying to ....beat his PR in the gym?...uh either way I'm happy to reach you."

After a few pleasantries, they'd have to get to the meat of the conversation quite quickly. "What little forces we can spare in the South will be sent your way to assist while the Sith are disorganized here, but we will need to cover a few bases. Firstly, I need to know what can be done to protect Onderon and its people in case you become targeted by either the Chancellor's fleet or the Sith. Secondly, how can we help?"

Victoria could handle the political side of things, working with elements in the NR and reaching out to the ISC for help if it came to that, but the FWA would need to at least attempt to patrol its space even against the massive fleets the NR or Sith could field compared to their own. She could only hope they wouldn't be lost in the process.

Note: Open to FWA & Friends

@llamallove @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

The bombardment of Taanab had sent a shockwave throughout the Free World's Alliance, and also exposed the flaws in the FWA's current dispersion of forces. While that problem would be somewhat rectified by the rest of the Free World's Alliance mobilizing in response to the threat of war, it was clear that security was at the forefront of many worlds' priorities at the moment.

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had accepted Victoria's invitation to the holocall with Reyna, blinking in from the bridge of a large ship. The aged Wookiee looked older and more tired than ever, leaning heavily on his Wroshyr staff, but Reyna and Victoria would have his full attention as they discussed Onderon's security.

@llamallove @Xorism

 

[Reyna Vernize]

Reyna Vernize sat alone, shoulders straight and head held high, the exemplar of composure and poise as she reposed against the button tufted back of a traditional black leather chair. Her mind lacked the equanimity that her countenance suggested. The sun had begun to set in the west, gradually disappearing behind Iziz's skyline as the last rays of daylight drifted through glass behind her and fell on her auburn hair.

This was one conversation she did not want her elder brother, increasingly paranoid, and his collection of service droids to overhear. For this reason she had sought refuge in Cassian's old apartment, and it was in his desk chair that she now sat. The apartment sat empty now and had for months, but she just couldn't bring herself to sell it. It was all she had left of him now, since his office had been destroyed.

Since the Sith's invasion, Onderon was more reclusive than ever. Anti-Sith sentiments had never been higher, and with the recent attack on Tanaab—a planet that it had had business dealings with in the past—their hatred for the Empire had only grown, but there were still many Onderonians that wanted nothing to do with the war. They did not want to get involved again, preemptively or otherwise, while others were just itching to strike back at the Empire.

The Princess of Onderon fell somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. "Thank you for reaching out to me, Senator. Onderon is indebted to you," the half-Sephi replied in an even voice, dark eyes settling on the screen in front of her. She had met both the Senator of Gannaria and the Senator of Kashyyyk while attending the Senator of Trandosha's brithday party. Like every other planet within the borders of the free worlds, Onderon had been busy since the news of Tanaab had broken.
"We've tightened security of course," she explained. The Royal Guard had begun to undergo additional situational awarenss training in preparation for the war that undoubtedly laid ahead of them. They would not go unnoticed by their enemies forever—if not the Sith, then the New Republic. The Royal Guard's presence on the planet had been expanded. Spaceports, both orbital and planetside, would closely monitor all incoming and outgoing travelers, with security forces doubled at each. A considerable number of Untamed mercenaries, who ultimately answered to the Crown of Onderon, had been ordered to the capital to serve as reserves, just in case the city were to be attacked again. The majority of the planet was an uninhabitable and treacherous jungle, and that made Iziz the primary target to any invaders.

"We have a fleet, and we've begun the process of mobilizing it." It was nothing when compared to the vast fleets at the disposal of the New Republic and the Sith Empire, but it was better than nothing. Onderon did, however, possess a substantial number of transport ships. Their own and the fleet Cassian had commissioned from Fondor, which had only been used once to help evacuate citizens from New Alderaan. "We are prepared to evacuate in the event of another invasion or bombardment." The princess also had an alternative evacuation method in mind, but that would have to be explored.

Win or lose, she didn't want a massacre on her hands. The safety of Onderon's citizens was her first and primary concern. "Ambria concerns me," the half-Sephi admitted, when Victoria asked how Gannaria could be of assistance. A Sith world right in Onderon's back yard. "It cannot go ignored, and when the time comes I hope Onderon may count on Gannaria for assistance." Kashyyyk, too, if it was able.

While Onderon and Kashyyyk were close to the planet of Tanaab, where the New Republic had invaded, Gannaria was closer to the fighting in the south between the ISC and the Empire. One good turn deserved another. "And Gannaria? How can Onderon help your citizens, Senator?" @Xorism @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl listened as Princess Reyna updated them on the situation on Oneron; King Weylin had been... unpredictable at best, but at least Reyna had a good head on her shoulders. Lessons from Kashyyyk had clearly been applied to Onderon's defense plans, including the use of private ships to supplement the public fleet in case of invasion or bombardment.

"Given the extreme sanctions levied by the Corporate Sector and the ISC, and Ambria's complete isolation within FWA space, perhaps the leadership there might be open to negotiations now that they understand the folly of siding with the Sith." Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl stroked his chin. "We may be able to avoid conflict altogether by touting the economic advantages of joining the FWA."

Onderon was a more complicated situation, however. The planet had found itself at the center of a significant amount of attention recently; first with a failed Sith invasion and then, if reports were to be believed, the Queen Mother's attempts to expand her influence to the planet. Although Reyna's presence here today seemed to indicate that the planet still owned its own allegiance, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was nonetheless keen to make sure it stayed that way. Fortunately, Kashyyyk was one of Onderon's closest neighbors, making supporting each other militarily easier. "You will have Kashyyyk's full support should Onderon come under attack again" he promised. (@llamallove) He'd been stretching the military budget of his planet recently, but finally he was confident in Kashyyyk's capacity to again look beyond its own system, and the combined fleets of Kashyyyk and Onderon would give any invading force pause.

As for Gannaria, the planet's relative isolation compared to the rest of the galaxy had resulted in quite the backlash when Victoria had sided with the Jedi at the Galactic Senate. Senator Winterblaze had managed to weather the storm, but a fleet traveling through hyperspace would take days to respond to any distress signal. And so, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl looked to Victoria for ideas as to how to best support their ally.

@Xorism

 

[Reyna Vernize]

"Thank you, Senator Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl," Reyna replied, an expansive sensation settling in her chest. This time it would be different, she told herself, should the Sith attack. Onderon would not stand alone against the onslaught of the Empire. Cassian had been the match struck to light the resistance of Onderon, even against her father's wishes, and she would attempt to be the oxygen to ensure that that flame did not burn out.
Unlike Reyna, the Senator of Kashyyyk's first thoughts for action in regards to the situation on Ambria centered around diplomatic overtures, not infiltrating the planet and ordering a strategic bombardment against the Empire's planetside military bases. This made the half-Sephi pause, almost losing the thread of conversation as she watched the lengthening shadows that fell across Cassian's old apartment. That surprised her, coming from the Wookiee that had witnessed the destruction of the Clone Wars and the death and destruction of his own planet in recent years. He, more than most, knew firsthand the cruelty of the Sith Empire.

Had she become so acclimatized to the gruesome nature of war that her first inclination was to strike out first, to respond in kind as the Empire did? Had a single battle and the loss of the two most important men in her life stripped her of all magnanimity, of all the decades of solicitude for humanity her mother had endeavored to instill in her? Was she so susceptible to the baser instincts of man, the very transgressions she had always distanced herself from? Perhaps she was. Evil came in many forms. It could be extreme, but it could also be banal. Beneath the desk, out of view of the other senators, her fingers clutched at a pendant around her dark wrist, a silent prayer offered up to the gods of Onderon for guidance.

Still, this was war. The Sith Empire was responsible for the destruction of millions of sentient beings. There was no end to the depravity they practiced in the dark and brought to the light, and that same darkness had claimed many of her loved ones, but this was about saving lives, she reminded herself. Not about excusing the evils of the Empire. The Senator of Kashyyyk was right. If they could avoid conflict, they could save the lives of Onderon's soldiers and possibly even lives of Ambria citizens—all of whom had once been citizens of the free worlds.

"I see the wisdom in your suggestion, Senator Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl," the princess spoke at last, once the Wookiee had finished. The Wookiee had more experience than her, with the Sith and with leading a planet, and she did not take his words lightly. "If you both think it is a wise course of action, I will make arrangements to meet with Ambria's leaders." @SlagathorTheUnknown @Xorism

 

[Victoria]

It was good to see an old friend join the call as well, Aezz was a sight for sore eyes. The more prominent senator could often sway a room just by voicing his thoughts on a matter, but generally speaking, they were more aligned than anything right now.

"I'm glad to hear it Princess, of course we must do everything we can to protect all member worlds, but I wouldn't want to see Onderon attacked again in such a short time. In any case, it is vital that its people are safe, even if its surface isn't so I am gladened to hear of your efforts."

Victoria continued to listen as they both spoke about Ambria, the pros, and cons of either plan. It made military sense to strike the Sith and knock their presence out of the heart of the alliance space, but to try and be diplomatic during a war risked the Sith being better prepared to resist.

"It might be wise to conduct this covertly, away from the eyes of the Sith if possible. Do their people have a past relationship with Onderon that you could use? But even if their people agreed to cede the shackles of the Sith, we should still be prepared to assist them even if they wish not to join the alliance."

As for Gannaria, Victoria was a little hesitant to extend any requests for aid given the circumstances. "I thank your kind words, but given the circumstances, I think our position is a little safer than yours presently. Our defense fleet has improved in the past few years, with help from Rata and the like, but more work is needed. We must coordinate with the ISC and our member planets to protect our space from this rogue 5th fleet - but more importantly, we must take the fight to them. I have a risky plan in the works to do this, but it will take a portion of our fleet from the borders. What is the status of Kashyyyk, Senator? do you need further support?"

@llamallove @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

Oh, how Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl appreciated a productive meeting. He, Reyna, and Victoria were more or less on the same page- finding cooperation much more beneficial than individualism in the face of so many threats- and between them existed a level of trust that wasn't always found across the Free World's Alliance. The Senator from Kashyyyk took stock of Victoria and Reyna, whom he both considered to be rising stars of the FWA.

Victoria had survived a tumultuous start to her term as Senator of Gannaria, emerging with more popular support than when she'd first been elected. The human had shown great resiliency and poise in navigating circumstances that would've spelled the end of far more experienced politicians.

Princess Reyna was a newer acquaintance, but like Victoria, had a good head on her shoulders. Unlike her older brother, who was seemingly more fond of doing his worst Emryc Thorne impression than running his planet, Reyna was prioritizing her people and their safety amidst times of crisis.

It was a necessary step, as Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had learned the hard way. Now, years after the bombardment of Kashyyyk, the planet was nearing its full capacity; the terraformed planet's increased growth rate had helped in its recovery; what would take other planets decades to recover had been done in significantly less time, and the refugee program he had implemented had helped in the recovery of the planet's population as well. In addition, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had invested heavily in his planet's defenses.

"Kashyyyk is as strong as we have been at any point since the bombardment" the Wookiee announced. "My hope is that we can begin focusing on matters outside our own system, now. What do you have in mind, Victoria?"

@llamallove @Xorism