HoloNet News Breaking News: Hapes Consortium and Onderon Royalty Announce Historic Defense Pact

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

The logo of CNN splashed across the holo. "We take you now to the Royal Palace outside Ta'a Chume'Dan"

The image dissolved to show the Queen Mother wearing a resplendent green dress. Her hair done in the latest fashion. She stood on the steps of the palace, speaking to a crowd of gathered reporters. "My people mourned the death of King Hakan and Senator Graves at the hands of the Sith. Long have our two great societies been neighbors...collaborators, even, within the Free Worlds." Charlotte pitched her voice high, shaking her head sadly. "But the Free Worlds have failed us. Onderon fought alone when the Sith came...Isolated and outmanned." Tears shone in her eyes, threatening to run down her cheeks. "I vowed to make amends. A promise I made to King Weylin personally." Her voice rose and fell. "While we mourned the death of his father, the Sith came again." Charlotte placed her hands on the podium.

Her knuckles white. "It became clear then that we can rely on no one but ourselves. The King and I have entered into a historic defense pact. Our joined fleets will patrol the space between the Hapes Consortium and Onderon. Should either fall under attack, the other will respond in force. Our militaries will work together to ensure our peoples safety. Finally, we will each open a permanent embassy in the others capital to further strengthen our bond. We will never be so exposed again." She let her eyes harden.

"We have long been proud members of the Free Worlds Alliance. Free to choose our fate. That will never change but it is clear that too many of Free Worlds no longer have our best interests at heart. They care more for Jedi than their own members and so we must defend our own. We must look to each other." Charlotte looked into the holocams. "I invite any others to join us in making our borders safe and fighting for the Free Worlds...not the Jedi." The press conference ended.

 

[Victoria]

 

[Tazlen Axil]

“I have to do what?” Tazlen wasn’t sure how much he liked being one of the diplomacy guys for the Jedi. However, he had been tasked with multiple instances of diplomacy or negotiations since. It was a talent he discovered really by accident since he was sent to do community service. In some ways, he supposed he had Councilor Fynn to thank, Force rest his soul. And so, Tazlen stood before a mic to make a statement, adorned in standard Jedi robes. He wasn’t sure why the Queen Mother had such a distaste for Jedi, but the Order couldn’t afford that haze to cloud Onderon as well.

“The Jedi Order mourns with Onderon,” Tazlen began, “We also mourn the lives of Jedi allied soldiers that died side by side with the Onderon military. As we mourn, so should we celebrate,” He smiled at the camera, “For Onderon ultimately held fast. It did not yield to the Sith. It was Jedi that fought valiantly against the darkness of the Sith. It was Jedi that stood in the face of the likes of Darth Raze. It was Jedi that forced the Sith invaders to flee.”

“Today, I am here to remind Onderon that the Jedi will stand with you to repel any Imperial attacks or threats on its sovereignty,” He stated boldly, “I remind you that you are not alone. Not you and not any other world that would allow our presence. For as long as the Order exists, we will be there. To defend, to protect, and to be the light when there is nothing but darkness.”


@llamallove @Valen Pelora

 

[Arctus Friers]

Arctus watched the broadcast with a frown. He almost hadn't recognized Charlie as she stood in front of the cameras, looking so unlike the woman he met and had shared a horrible time with when they found themselves in that cursed manor on a planet whose name he still didn't know. She looked elegant, befitting her queenly status and yet...

Truth be told, Arctus had no idea what held him back with regards to what he knew about the Hapan Queen Mother. Maybe she left the Sith behind to pursue her rule over Hapes. But even then Arctus knew that he couldn't be this naive to believe that thought.

Picking up his Nalphone, the Padawan's fingers flew across the screen for a few moments to type, delete, then type again words he wanted to say for now. Words he knew she would never read, lost among a million other opinions across digital space. Or maybe, by some miracle, she would stumble upon his message, wondering at the seeming familiarity in her nickname on the screen and who the person behind the Switter account might be.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Reyna Vernize]

Weylin had already overplayed his hand and demonstrated just how infantile the judgements of a prince could be when thrust into the position of a king at war. He was unmitigated, unfit to wear the crown their father had worn for decades. Unfit to sit upon their father's throne and rule the people of Onderon. He had agreed to the first ostentatious alliance that had come along, and from a planet that hadn't lifted a finger to help Onderon in its hour of need. Where had the Hapes Consortium been when the Sith invaded? They hadn't fought for Onderon. They hadn't evacuated its citizens. They hadn't lent a helping hand in the aftermath of the battle. The Free Worlds Alliance had abandoned Onderon, but the Jedi had not.

Perched on the armrest of a linen sofa in her bedroom, legs spilling out from beneath a pink satin nightgown as she watched the holonet, the Princess of Onderon allowed her shoulders to sink. "Is Weylin here?"
A service droid lingered behind her and answered, "Would you like me to request an audience with the King, your highness?"

Reyna's blood boiled. An audience? With her own brother? Her own flesh and blood? The boy that had hidden frogs in her bureau drawer as a small child and crept to her room late at night after their mother had tucked them in bed because he'd dreamed of goblins and monsters. Now she had to request an audience with him?

"No." She hated droids. Hated that Weylin had replaced half of the household staff with cold, impersonal robots. "That won't be necessary." The Princess rose, drawing a robe around her shoulders and tying the sash. She would find him herself.

"Is there anything else, your highness?"

"Yes, issue a public statement."

The Royal Family of Vernize acknowledges, in light of recent and inaccurate statements made by the Queen of Hapes, the Jedi and the great service they extended to Onderon. Onderon did not fight alone against the Sith and are indebted to the men and women of the Jedi Order that fought and died alongside our own soldiers.​

​

Let her brother stew on that.