Hallowed Halls: Bounty Hunter's Guild

[TAC]

Hallowed Halls
Bounty Hunter's Guild

Bounty Hunting is by far, one of the oldest, most lucrative, and dangerous professions in the galaxy. While recognized throughout all parts of the galaxy, the profession itself remains an umbrella term, enveloping a vast array of groups, individuals, clans, and law enforcement underneath it. Having existed long before the Republic, and throughout its history, there has been little effort to ban or incarcerate individuals for the practice.

Though the Republic is expansive, the galaxy beyond is absolutely massive in scope. Countless groups, and a single sleeping giant, as far as the Border Alliance seems to be concerned, loom in the distance. With such threats easily hidden outside of the Republic's jurisdiction, certain individuals are bound to crop up that are deemed too dangerous to move freely. Though many view Bounty Hunting as a seedy profession, Bounty Hunters are well known to go above and beyond what is required to secure a contract, with efficiency often their core objective. For that very reason, the Republic has been known to post bounties.

Organizations such as the Bounty Hunter's Guild would eventually begin to form through direct interference on part of the Republic. Though law enforcement agencies have been trusted to hunt criminals in the past, they are more often than not limited to the borders of Republic space. Bounty Hunters, in contrast, are able to move unhindered through the entire galaxy. With this in mind, the Senate has been issuing Republic Peace Keeping Licenses to the Bounty Hunter's Guild for the past few decades. While the Republic can't extradite criminals hiding in the wilds of the Outer Rim, they are completely within their ability to finance others to do it for them.

The growing portrayal of Bounty Hunters as lawless assassins in media has brought the practice of contracting them into question. Eventually, these Peace Keeping Licenses would come to represent the Republic in a way that makes its more independent citizens uncomfortable. This growing unpopularity in this policy has recently lead to a shift in support in the senate. Relations between the Guild and the Republic have now become far more tense than they have been in recent memory.

In a bid to bring about a stronger and well defined policy regarding this complex relationship, the Senate has "invited" representatives of the Bounty Hunters Guild to defend their continued use of Republic Peace Keeping Licenses in the greater galaxy. A panel of three Senators, appointed by the Chancellor, will hear their defense before passing it on to the Republic Senate for a final decision.

Senators Gavin Cain of Raithal (@Grim), Aren Krass of Corellia (@Prudence), and Mauve Codi of Empress Teta (@Latte) would be seated in a well polished hearing room near the main Senate chambers, spaced out along a long, crescent table that sat opposite a much smaller, but majestic, square table. Here the Bounty Hunter's Guild Representative (@Kiro) would defend their institution before the panel, whose word would hold incredible weight in the full-Senate vote that would decide the Guild's continued relationship with the Republic. As the Ranking Member, Senator Krass would chair the meeting and represent the panel before the full Senate.

 

[Aren Krass]

Aren Krass leaned back in his seat at the head of the table, steeped his fingers infront of him, and looked intently at the man standing before him. Before him was the polished professional room that the Senate had prepared for them. A long brown wooden desk that curved like a massive 'U' to accommodate a full panel of senators should one be required. Presently, though, there were only 3 senators on this hearing. Plenty to hear out the Bounty Hunters Guild. The sound of air scrubbers lightly hummed in the background, other than that, it was completely silent.

He reached forward and pressed a capacitive button on an inlaid datapad in the large table.

"I will inform all of you, for the sake of record keeping and review, this hearing is being recorded and saved for later viewing. The Senate investigatory hearing on the 'Bounty Hunting Guild' is now in session. I am Senator Aren Krass, of Corellia. To my right is Senator Mauve Codi of Empress Teta, and to my left Senator Gavin Cain of Raithal. The committee welcomes the representative from the Bounty Hunting Guild. We are here today to discuss the continued legality of the Guild, at least within Republic space. As ranking member upon this committee, I will chair the meeting. "

Krass glanced down at some flimsi and datapad notes that he had in front of him. "I'll start by addressing the recent actions of some of your registered members. As I'm sure you are aware, there has recently been a shift of opinion by a majority of the public, and by a majority of senators regarding the BHG. Random acts of violence from your members has increased by ten percent in the past four years according to the latest galactic statistics. Personal property continues to be damaged and apprehended by guild members seeking out a quarry, with little to no repercussion or reaction from the Guild. The facts laid out before me would seem to represent that you have trained, dangerous individuals roaming the galaxy with little to no foresight.

In addition, you seem to afford your guild members a bit of extra-legal status, by providing 'sanctuary' to those who disrespect port authority, or other local law enforcement.

My question to you, representative, is what awards the guild such specialized treatment in the eyes of the law? And how could law makers such as myself blindly ignore the actions of your more reckless members?"

 

[Kiro]

Zae Tannarah, the Master and current head of the Bounty Hunters' Guild, one of the most feared and respected Hunters in the galaxy, stood before the trio of Senators with a calm expression upon her face as the Corellian windbag spouted off a big mouthful of bantha excrements about the Guild's members. Her broad, three-toed, paw tapped against the highly polished hardwood floor. Unusually for her, and unlike her companion standing to her right, the three-tailed Edemmian did not wear her usual bright red armour, but elected instead to wear a simple white tank top, and dark knee-lenght cargo trousers. Her long red hair was done back in a pony-tail, the locks of hair constrained by an elastic band.

"If I may, honoured Senators," Zae began, while producing her own datapad. Walking forward, she placed it before the three Senators overseeing the hearing, activated and displaying a specific set of data. "If we move past statistics, which I am sure such august beings as yourselves are fully aware can be skewed and altered to say exactly whatever you want with ease," she continued in her native accent, which gave her voice an almost purring quality that would be pleasing to the human ear. "And just focus on the raw data itself, you will see that almost thirty percent of these incidences occurred when civilians, or local law enforcement, began to interfere with a legal hunt posted and sanctioned by the venerable Republic itself, even after the Hunter in question identified themselves as a Guild member."

As the Guild Master spoke, and her three fluffy tails wove their own intricate and at the same time utterly subconcious patterns behind her, she was producing copious amounts of the pheromones that made the Edemmians part of a very select group of species, which included the Zeltrons and Falleen. Beings capable of producing an airborne biochemical agent that lowered inhibitions, aroused desires, and acted as a potent aphrodisiac. But unlike the Falleen and the Zeltrons, Edemmians like Master Tannarah were entirely unable to control it. They produced it constantly, whether they wished to or not. With Senators Krass, Codi, and Cain being sequestered in a moderately small, closed, room with Zae and her Mandalorian companion, they would most certainly be feeling the effects of said pheromones upon their systems, making the three-tailed crimson vixen, and her ideas, seem far more appealing.

"In these thirty percent, I am sure you can all see that our Hunters were clearly defending themselves, just as any Republic Law Enforcement Officer would if he came under attack, no?" She queried with a warm smile, her hands folded behind her back, just above the base of her three, pheromone-producing, tails. "And in these circumstances, the Guild's own litigators and lawyers contacted the local offices in question, and settled the matter in-house, with the families of the civilians and the unfortunate law officers being paid in repairs from the Guild's own coffers. We wish only to work with the Republic and the many honourable law-enforcement groups that work within it, such as your own CorSec, Senator Krass. I have nothing but the utmost respect for their officers."

Then her ears fell forward slightly, the tips drooping ever so faintly, while her face took on a saddened expression. "Now, I won't say that the Guild is entirely blameless. Indeed, some of our members have acted as you describe, Senator. But these make up only fifteen percent of these instances. And if you'd scroll to page four on the datapad I provided, you will see that like before, the Guild has made reparations to the stricken civilians in these instances, after ensuring that their claims were legit, of course." She gives another bright smile to the gathered politicians before her at the last comment, stressing the word 'legit'. "And if you'd scroll down to page six, you'll find the fates of these Hunters that break the rules of the Guild, such as harming innocents and causing unnecessary collateral damage," she continues cheerfully, while the Senators would see that indeed, the perpetrators that the Republic's own local investigators had identified, were either currently in a Republic supermax prison, or just dead, with their deaths certified by a Republic forensic examiner. "I'm sure you'll all agree that is sufficient... how did you put it, Senator? 'Reaction', from the Guild, no?"

Still smiling, Zae gestures for the Senators to keep scrolling down. "Now, we've covered fourty-five percent of these incidents... what of the remaining fifty five, I hear you wondering? Ah, well, that's the easiest to explain, praise be to Elassah," the Edemmian smiles, and habitually makes a circle over her bosom, before tapping both of her temples in quick succession with her right index and middle finger. "They are, quite simply, impostors. Some are thugs and goons that want to become Hunters, and claim to belong in the guild for bravado or to intimidate, or even defraud the local Republic offices. And some are simply non-Guild hunters, whom are not bound by our laws and guidelines. The average citizen, and sadly, even your average law enforcement officers, don't know the difference between a Guild Hunter and an independent one. To them, we are but faceless, armoured, figures that disrupt their daily lives. And of course, you always have saboteurs and those that would see the guild brought down, causing chaos and carnage in our name, to defame the Guild, and disrupt the wonderful and close relationship with the Republic that we in the Guild so cherish."

"Now, as to the matter of sanctuary..." Zae begins, while bringing her hands in front of her again, while rolling her shoulders. "Well, it is true. We do offer sanctuary to any of our Guild members that might require it. However, that is not to say they are allowed to flaunt the laws of the Republic. Quite the opposite. While they are the beneficiaries of our sanctuary, we will not turn out a Hunter to anyone. However, we do investigate the circumstances of their request quite seriously. If it is simply a matter of having waived a docking fee or something like that during the course of a hunt, the Guild's lawyers will work something out with the local government directly. If they have committed a heinous crime, such as commiting murder in cold blood, we will withdraw our sanctuary, and promptly hand them over to the proper authorities immediately."

 

[Sreeya]

Talia was stopped on the way into the chambers to drop the cigarra hanging at the corner of her lips. Grumbling to herself, she followed Zae into the hall. She knew this would be a painful process. Despite handling numerous diplomatic scenarios in the past, it always reminded her of how much she despised dealing in bullshit.

The woman came to stand next to the edemmian, adorned in black, form-fitting leather armor and pants. The woman’s black hair was short, a few strand bangs falling to the sides of her angular face. Steely blue eyes would peer up as the senator rattled on the various ‘crimes’ the Guild had been committing. Talia cast a sideways glance at Zae, biting her lip to stifle a grin. She knew Zae would have a hard time fighting the urge to deck the man in the face for spouting such blatant lies.

Once Zae began to speak, Talia breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t let the senator’s accusations get to her. The response was precise and thorough, each and every fact addressed. As Zae spoke, Talia kept her gaze on the senators, looking for their expressions. She looked at their eyes, their faces, looking for the ways their lips twitched, an eyebrow raised, or any uncomfortable shifting. She could tell this was far from their first or last meeting with factions that wanted to ally themselves with the Republic.

Zae’s pheromones were noticeable even by her. They had an alluring effect on her at the beginning, but over the years of knowing her, Talia had grown immune to it. However, that didn’t make the effect on others any less amusing. As Zae finished her thoughts, Talia gazed at the senator that had addressed them with a smile.

“Senators. I’d like to echo Zae’s appreciation for allowing us this opportunity to represent the Guild. I hope you will come to an understanding and see how serious we are about apprehending anyone that steps outside of the laws of the Republic.”

She looked to each of them.

“Furthermore, we can be of upmost help in this growing conflict you have to face against the Sith. There are members within the Guild that are proficient in dealing with force users. High profile targets within their realm can be taken without having to resort to conflict engagements the Republic would rather avoid. This is only another means by which the Republic can utilize what the Guild has to offer. We hope to strengthen our ties with the Republic and put this misunderstanding on how we operate behind us.”

 

[Grim]

Gavin Cain sat as comfortable as he could in the chair while he listened to the rather long winded speech given by Senator Aren Krass. While Gavin himself had had little interaction with either of the Senators, he was sure that he wasn't a huge fan of the Coreillian male. Then again he was sure there were plenty in the Senate that felt the same way about the young gun he was and complained about him. He was here for a job so he wouldn't let it get in the way.

Once the meeting started he made sure to pay attention to them, trying to get a read on the representatives from the Bounty Hunters Guild. The ladies before him clearly were mercs and from the way the stood good at their jobs. The way the stood easy yet tense made him remember his days back in the service. You could always tell who the more veteran ones were just by how they all more or less stood in that stance, coiled like a spring. However he found himself not really listening to what Zae was saying. Finding himself almost enchanted with the moving of her tails, the simple moving elegant in motion very much the opposite vibe he got from her facial expressions. She was used to being in command and he could feel her contempt for even having to be here. He found himself slowly slouching back and relaxing, letting her words almost flow through his mind.

The Bounty hunter indeed did have good rebuttals and he could feel himself cheer a bit inside. Something about her words was rather intoxicating. Usually he would thoroughly read over all the words on the screen but now he found himself just skimming. He kept listening as she continued on about this and that for for awhile and he he started to realize something. It took him a moment to figure it out, but once he did it was all he could think about for that short minute. His leg wasn't bothering him, while that isn't something weird, he had found that the chairs they sat on would irritate his leg and cause him to feel some phantom pains in his missing leg. Yet he had been so enchanted he had almost forgot, then he realized he wasn't reading or fact checking but just nodding along. It was too surreal and he found himself digging into a pressure point discreetly on his leg until he found himself snapping out of that trance. It was one of many tricks from his in his days in Force Recon. He found he had to work to keep himself focused but now he could well and truly hear their words.

He didn't let himself show his change outwardly but he was sure they might be able to notice him grow a bit more intense as they wrapped up their opening arguments. "Before I get into it, Let me first thank you for coming here today to speak to us on this matter. Sorry to take you away when you could be out doing your jobs. I have looked over these reports and while I find them reasonable. I do feel it might be best if at the very least we find a way to integrate you into the official Security channels. It would help reduce some of the instances that have happened in the past and allow you to fully work in and outside of the Republic. I had the thought of having your members when hunting the Republic territory submit to receive a License that would make them a quasi-deputy of the law in the Republic. Once the contract was completed or dropped so two would their license, also you could perhaps endorse a member for a more permanent permit. This would hopefully ease tensions on both sides when security and police forces arrive."

He pause to let it sink in and then finishes by looking towards the other female Talia, "Just an idea as I find for the most part you have answered well enough and I personally have the feeling we will be needed you and your hunters sooner rather than later. As you said, we may need you to help us with rogue and dangerous Force Users."

 

[Kiro]

If Zae had been a study in being calm and collected during her exchange with Senator Krass, then it was equally a textbook example of incredulity and disbelief as the duly elected Senator of Raithal began to speak, proposing his ideas for a way to integrate the Guild's hunters into the Republic's security channels, and to have the be issued with permits and licenses in order to hunt within the Republic. As he continued to speak, Zae's fuzzy, claw-tipped hand gradually rose, until her palm covered her face, and she sighed loudly. These Senators' ignorance was truly astounding. Did not a one of them do any homework and research before heading a hearing such as this?

As her hand fell from her face, the Master of the Guild released a loud sigh as she dug into her pocket, before producing a laminated plastic card onto the table, much the same size as any business-man would carry around, but with several key differences. "Zae Tannarah, licensed Bounty Hunter. My Republic Peace-Keeping Certificate code is one-one-three-eight-zero-zero-niner-niner," she stated, her voice revealing her disappointment in Senator Cain's preparations prior to attending the hearing. "We're already licensed. It's what separates the Guild from the independent bush-leaguers. Every Guild member that passes our strict standards and entrance exams are officially licensed by the Republic Office of Criminal Investigations, for a one time fee of a thousand credits to any governmental licensing office, and each licensed Hunter pays a fee of twenty-five credits a day to the Republic in order to access the Republic Law Enforcement DataCore, which is where we pick our Republic contracts. We've had this system in place for centuries, Senator.

"These licenses even come with conditions, set by the Office of Criminal Investigations, such as the fact that unless a contract says to bring in an Acquisition in dead or alive, you bring them in alive. And even then, preferably alive. The acquisition must be given the chance to surrender. However, flight, refusal to comply with the directives of a licensed hunter, prior activities indicating a predisposition to resistance to capture, resistance, or assault is considered refusal to surrender. Thirdly, injury, incapacitation or death of the quarry may only occur if the acquisition has refused to surrender peacefully, however, the same exceptions that apply to the second rule also applies. Fourth, only a reasonable amount of force is to be used. And finally, we've all promised not to take any... shall we say, extra-legal contracts within, or against, the Republic.

"These are your regulations upon us, Senator, in addition to our own Creed and the Guild's internal laws, for we are after all, a body that operates both within and outside the borders of the Republic. We wouldn't be much better than the Sector Rangers if we didn't."

 

[Grim]

Gavin started by shaking his head apologetically, "Forgive me, it seems I didn't make my self clear as I had hoped, " He sat a bit more forward, "Right now as you said you exist solely as an asterisk on the chain of law enforcement. You are technically part of it but most security forces don't see you that way. Most see you as little more than goons to who the laws don't apply. An unfair and wholly wrong statement but it is how they see you nonetheless."

He let that sink in for a moment before pushing on, "What I mean to do is give you an option to be deputized. Let you go from being an asterisk to an actual member of official Republic Security forces. This would make it so planet side Security Forces have to take your requests much more seriously. While those hunters who get this might loose it if they are found unbecoming of an officer of peace as it were, the would have lost it at the time the contract was complete anyways. As you said it wouldn't even be needed it would be there to allow the local populace a sense of legitimization for your profession when in the Republic. Outside as you said there is little the Republic can truly do and that will as it ever has been left to you to police. As your partner has stated, it would be foolish of us to ask you to rein in your long reach. There is a war coming and that means there will be plenty of things needing a bounty hunter's touch."

 

[Mauve Codi]

Mauve had been quiet throughout the entire meeting, unsure of how to speak up on this issue. Always unsure. Always feeling as though he was treading on glass and about to make an enormous mistake somehow. He had little concern about the BHG, for he had actually heard next to nothing about them before he'd been assigned to the panel. Due to a brain failure, he'd been unable to get much research done beforehand and scarcely remembered any of it. Taking Senator Krass and Senator Cain's word for it, as well as listening openly to Zae Tannarah and her colleague, were the best he could get for information at this point. Might as well hear it from the mouths of the BHG themselves, though, no?

His hands were occupied with fiddling with a small plasticky tangle, colored neutrally so it would be less conspicuous. Kept his fingers busy and released the stress buildup he often incurred during long meetings. Mauve had had to sneak it in though due to his aids becoming severely irritated when he had to stimulate himself in such a "juvenile" way. His eyes, however, had been tracking Zae and Talia the entire meeting. He couldn't care less how Senators Krass and Cain looked, for he had seen them countless times before. But these newcomers from the Guild were fascinating to look at. Talia's hair was short with long bangs like his own, a long pretty face with fuller lips and a sharp chin, with bored but still piercing eyes. She was clearly watching him just as closely as he was watching her.

Zae, on the other hand, was of an interesting species, unknown to him (though not much of a surprise, considering he knew so relatively little about the wider galaxy). Her red hair was flowing and curly, sharpened ears poking through the top strands on her scalp. Her tail wove intricate patterns behind her, captivating him for a brief time before frustrating him with their lack of order until he looked away, though the randomness still buzzed like a bothersome insect in the back of his head. She was giving off something interesting as she looked at them with a smile... almost too pleasant of a gaze... He couldn't put his finger on it, but as he glanced to his fellow senators, he had a feeling it was some sort of seduction, and as he looked back at Zae, he nearly rolled his eyes. Not at her, no, but at his colleagues. Were they seriously so overcome by their inner desires that they couldn't stay focused past the mere sight of a woman? Vaping idiots...

"Senator Cain, if I may," he interrupted before either he or Zae could speak again. "The licensing seems to be in very good order, no doubt. My biggest concern while listening to both sides is the imposters which have driven up negative statistics. However, given Senator Cain's proposal to make you all of the Guild official deputies of the Republic, rather than merely a side branch contracted out, I do believe that would solve quite a lot of the imposter issue at hand and bring down the number of incidents caused by these fakes."

Mauve sat up straighter, right hand gripping the tangle while his dominant hand went to his mouth a moment as he considered. "My other concern is tied in with this proposal. I see it less as an option to become deputized, and more as a necessity, really. With the Guild's expertise in law enforcement, you very well should be presented to any normal citizen of the Republic as a respectable agency as you are, which then separates you from the riff-raff of normal bounty hunting. However, this deputization would still afford you distinction as well from normal Republic law enforcement and allow you to retain your control and operations as you already have established."

 

[Sreeya]

Talia stayed silent as Zae spoke, marveling at how oblivious the senators appeared. However, she couldn’t fault them. She, after all, didn’t know everything about the inner workings of senators. Talia would allow them the benefit of doubt and listen politely. Zae was quick to remind them that the licensing had already existed, and the senator reiterated himself.

As the third senator spoke for the first time, Talia shifted her gaze to him. She could tell that the pheromones from Zae were having an impact, though it would wear off soon. The woman glanced at Zae before looking back to address the senators.

“We are very honored by this proposal. However, I have two main points to make here: The first is that as the Bounty Hunter’s Guild, our goal is to hunt targets with a price on their head. It could mean we utilize whatever means necessary to capture the target alive or dead if desired, but respect the law. If we become an officially recognized agency of the Republic, we would have to change our foundations into becoming law enforcement itself. We operate within Republic law, but we do not enforce the law. Becoming an agency means becoming the face of the Republic to some capacity.

Second point, which builds upon the last, is the fact that becoming the face of the Republic brings some potential public relation disasters for you. Imagine a scenario where the Senate would like a highly corrupted official in a location outside of Republic jurisdiction. We go out and obtain said target by whatever means necessary. This could mean things such as slicing into networks that are not Republic sanctioned or tapping into resources not mandated by you. At the end, our actions would directly reflect the actions of the Republic. So now you have this planet outside of the Republic believing that it was the Republic that did this, whereas if we retain our autonomy, you can wash your hands of any uncomfortable scenarios that may rise from us taking down a target.

We believe that the current set up is best, and we would be honored to continue working side by side with the Republic. Deputization, unfortunately, will not cut down on the amount of imposters and freelance bounty hunters. They will exist no matter what, and we promise to do our best to remove as many from the equation as possible. We are more than satisfied with the level of distinction we have now. We humbly ask for your continued support.”

 

[Aren Krass]

Aren sat back, and felt himself shift. His mood shifted, instead of the former strong willed hard stance he had held before, he felt himself growing more agreeable, even slightly aroused by the two BHG women speaking infront of him. As the leader of their delegation brought him a datapad, he examined the contents as she spoke, following along clearly. Everything she was saying seemed to make sense, though he was still taking notes for later examination. As they continued to talk, he found his concentration quickly waning, and his mind wandering anywhere except for the meeting he was in. The groaning of the air scrubbers once again caught his attention until he realized the Mandalorian woman had made another speech he had missed entirely. He glanced down at the notes he had, and was generally pleased with the data gathered. He would examine this later in his personal time, and take it before the senate. Should he find himself with anymore questions, he would certainly call the two women back in for another hearing.

"Well spoken words on the behalf of the Bounty Hunters guild. On behalf of the senate I must thank you for taking time out of your day to come and speak with us, and provide us with more facts. Unless there is more you would like to offer us, I believe we will be closing this hearing now. I will take this information, study it with my fellow senators, and present it to the senate along with my recommendation. I will provide both of you with the information as to when that will occur should you like to attend it personally.

Thank you, you are free to leave."

He blinked a few times, trying to bring his mind back into the game, but seeming to fail at it.

 

[Mauve Codi]

Mauve listened carefully to Talia speak, staring her down hard in his creepy unbreakable eye contact he often did without meaning to, which was known widely on Empress Teta from holovid footage of him on the throne. Talia and Zae were both becoming more and more offputting to him by the minute. Sure, quite a few of their words made sense, but then again, why did the BHG want to work so closely with the Republic if they were unwilling to follow the law?

And as if an upsetting incident would really put that much of a black mark on the Senate itself, considering all the much worse scandals which had occurred in centuries past. Mauve pinched the bridge of his nose as he cast his brown eyes downward at the wooden desk, one fingertip tracing small outlines in the wood grain. Shaking his head minutely as he thought more, looking up sharply when Senator Krass told the two women they were free to leave. He couldn't gather the words to stop them, everything becoming muddled and short circuited in his brain. Blast it, Krass, what the hell are you doing, letting them go?

Mauve huffed once the women left, grabbing his tangle and twisting it angrily before turning to the two Senators, bristling with irritation. "Have you lost your mind? They just want to be free of restrictions they should rightfully have if they want to be associated with the Galactic Republic. They should be deputized if they want to continue working as an extension of Republic security, we should not be giving them more freedoms than they already have. Whatever could they need it for?"

 

[Aren Krass]

Krass turned his head as the younger senator began speaking harshly towards him. He listened until the man was done, before drawing his breath and formulating his rebuttal. Already, now that the woman was gone, he could feel his head clearing. He knew it had been the work of pheromones. Decades of service in the senate and never before had he just completely lost focus like that. He shook his head,

"No, Senator Codi, I am not letting them go without restrictions, and I assure you I am of right mind. I'm not sure if you are experienced and comfortable enough in your own skin to notice or not, but we were all under the influence of biological pheromones, altering our judgement. I gathered the notes I needed, including their data. The longer the women stayed here, the further our judgement, and possibly opinions, would have been skewed. Believe me, good senator, my motion will not reflect an easy get away for the guild."