BIG SHOT: Meet the 'philanthropic' presidential candidate whose money comes from arms deals.
He'd only just turned eighteen. Signing up for the Kobalt Sector Force, Dramm had been the pride and joy of his family, a young buck heading out to keep his sector safe.
But with a range of over a kilometre and packing enough of a punch to blaster through a wall, in the hands of that droid sentry - the AZ-7 Ion Disruptor Rifle, made short work of him.
Described as 'an up-and-coming young protege', Dramm was left little more than a pile of atomized dust.
The AZ-7 Distruptor Rifle is illegal on New Alderaan.
Hell, it's illegal almost everywhere.
Like many in its class, disruptors are banned on most planets with an active police force. This weapon is no different. Firing five shots of an 'explosive ionized beam' over 1200 meters, it can disintegrate most materials - taking out those sheltering behind cover, for example, in seconds.
Everyone knows these weapons exist.
Most people understand what they do and agree (based on recent polling) that they should remain banned.
Few people know that the company which makes the AZ-7 Disruptor rifle, Azura Systems, is owned by one Ceris Odrosess - a candidate to be the next President of New Alderaan.
In a recently announced candidacy, Odrosess (who owns a string of businesses, including the Club Euphoria) began her pitch for president outlining her track record in the industry, following rumours she was dismissed as a New Republic Admiral.
In her announcement, the candidate announced she would remain at the helm of the weapons company she founded, promising to donate 'all my future endeavour's profits to fund our planet' - in a move that has concerned regulators.
She even pledged to build a 'bio habitat city' on the planet.
Outlining three core principles for her campaign, she said she would stand for New Alderaan being 'a beacon of freedom for those who have lost their own homes', support fine arts, and turn New Alderaan into 'the most technologically-advanced haven this galaxy has ever seen'.
She did not address that her company has profited directly from the wars she now seeks to offer people safe haven from.
A track record to die for.
Born on Coruscant, Odrosess was part of a wealthy core-world family with a rich New Republic Naval command history. She was educated on Naboo and wanted for remarkably little throughout her formative years.
Returning to her homeworld, she was quickly elevated into the ranks of the Navy and rose to the position of Fleet Admiral at the age of twenty-five.
However, her official biography, accessed on her candidate holo-page, neglects to point out that she had played an essential leading role in the Bombardment of Denon. Widely panned at the time as a wanton attack on civilian life, the then-Captain carried out her orders to the letter, laying down a 'prolonged rain of fire' long after key military targets had been destroyed.
Sources close to the former New Republic administration confirmed that she later risked war with the ISC after threatening a Consortium flotilla and breaching the Consortium-Republic border agreement.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that she was soon dismissed from her position in the New Republic Navy.
Fortunes favour.
Yet it was not all bad news for the aspiring young weapons mogul. Fresh off the heels of committing a few war crimes, the former Admiral inherited a small fortune and a modest castle on New Alderaan following the unexpected death of her Grandparents.
Enabled by the new injection of funding, she founded Azura Systems soon after.
And she didn't hang about.
Applying her military knowledge to the field of war-profiteering, she soon developed the AZ-1 Blaster Pistol, which was solely sold to security forces, the military, and law enforcement.
When this was published, the Herald failed to get a comprehensive list of customers.
Next came the AZA Sonic Grenade, which marketed itself as being able to cause people to 'lose hearing' and 'bleed from their ears' - once again, marketed toward security and military forces.
After that, the product line took a harsher turn. The AZC Carbonite Rifle, which fires canisters of industrial carbonate fluid, was released. Once again, security and military customers were the main targets of this product.
The disruptor rifle came next, after which a rotary cannon capable of firing 2160 shots a minute was released.
This weapon is illegal for civilian use.
Rocket launchers and heavy blaster rifles are the most recent weapons to fall of the production line of this firm, which prides itself as aiming 'to help the common people who live and deal with the constant challenges of the Galaxy'
Presumably by disintegrating them.
Pacifist Planet, Warmongering President.
Yet, as New Alderaan heads to the polls soon, observers are left to ask if they had any knowledge of one of their candidate's chequered pasts before the publication of this article.
From the sources we spoke to on the ground - the answer seemed to be 'no'.
New Alderaan has long been a peaceful planet, a haven for refugees, and a safe and reflective world shaped by the tragic necessity of its founding.
Forged as the result of a war that benefits only the makers of weapons, taking in refugees fleeing wanton destruction (such as on Denon), and shaped by a past spotted with warmongering and fuelled by calamity - New Alderaan is, understandably, a world of pacifists.
Is it ready for a President whose wealth stems from the trade of illegal weapons, whose track record is blotted with war crimes, and who - perhaps worse of all, has hidden that from the voters?
On polling day - we'll find out.
OOC - Bit of a different run this week, as I had numerous people submit variations of the same story to me, and nothing else! So, this week is a special edition, with apologies to @Altaria, who has the honour of being the latest subject of a 'hit piece' by the Herald
