*****
Here follows a broadcast from the Senator of Lothal
*****
Here follows a broadcast from the Senator of Lothal
*****
A single spotlight picked the chromium podium out from the centre of a dark room. Tinged with a light blue, which contrasted with the rich white hair of Senator Cal Starros, of Lothal, he clenched his grip on either side of the podium, and took a deep breath, for all to see. Slowly, he raised his head and looked forward, as the music died down.
"What does it mean, when we say that we are free?"
"For many, it means the choice to live as they chose, the power to stand and be elected, to participate in a flourishing democracy, in a society that respects, values, and promotes our differences. Yet, with such freedom comes the burning passion to see it upheld, and must be met with the strength to protect it when it comes under threat."
"In recent weeks, months, worlds that once looked to the heavens and saw the open skies above, now see a foreign presence in the reaches above them one that; history has shown, does not share the values of Liberty, Justice, and Peace, that we do. For many, this imposition on our way of life and our values, is of little concern, for it happens far from our sight."
"But I know differently."
"We have only to look through the annal of history to see that the powers that would seek to wrestle our freedoms from us, do so not in a crash but in a creep, slowly they chip away, they encroach like a disease until it is too late to stop the spread. No imposition is 'too far away' for it to matter, for an attack on the freedoms of our members, is an attack on our ideals - and one, we must stand forward, and challenge."
"My friends. We all know of what I speak. The Sith Order presents the greatest threat to the security, stability and peace of the Free Worlds Alliance, and of the Galaxy at large, since the Final Order, all those years ago - and whilst we have all ll seen the olive branch extended by one of their number, be not fooled."
"War is not just coming."
"War is here."
"From the Office of the Prime Minister to the Halls of the Senate, its drums have been met with silence - and I say enough."
"Many years ago, the Starros family joined hundreds upon thousands of patriots, of heroes, in the skies above Exogol. Good people united in the fight and triumphed against the Sith on that historic day, and once more, good people, united in the common goal of protecting the freedoms our ancestors fought for, can come together again, and with one voice say - enough."
"My friends, I am not afraid."
"I am not afraid to make my voice heard."
"I am not afraid to take action."
"I am not afraid, to step forward."
"Whilst diplomacy takes precedent to war, we must be ready to protect our homes, our families, and our freedom. Look to those around you, make your voices heard, and together, like in the generations that came before us, we will be heard once more."
"In the coming days, I will meet with the Chancellor, with the ISC, with the Prime Minister of the FWA, to impress upon them the vital importance of taking a united stand against the encroachment of the Sith Order on our borders. And, I will speak to the Sith directly, should they listen, and tell them we shall not be cowed, we shall not be swept aside."
"My friends, I asked you "What does it mean, when we say we are free?"."
"I know this. I know it is worth fighting for. So join me, Senators, Brothers and Sisters, Citizens - and say with one voice, enough."
With that, the light dimmed, and the broadcast drew to an end.
Now off-camera, Cal walked away from the podium. He had work to do