Ask Learning the Game

[Alistair Blagden]

Alistair's office, Columex​

Since his recent promotion to Senator, Alistair knew that establishing rapport with the other senators was his highest priority. Disagreements on policies would arise, of course, but networking was just good business. While he had read the minutes of the recent Senate session, an inside opinion on the governing body was far more preferable.

His new office struck a perfect balance between utilitarian and luxurious, providing an air of refined taste without being ostentatiously lavish. Just as Alistair preferred it. His garb likewise reflected this preference, a simple yet refined collared overcoat on top of his dress shirt and pants instead of his Imperial uniform. That would wait for official occasions - if there was one thing the Empire could stand to improve, it was their sense of style.

Pouring himself a glass of flavoured sparkling water from the pitcher on the table, a gentle automated voice chimed from a nearby control panel. "Senator Blagden, your guest has arrived." "Excellent," he replied, settling into his seat. "Send them in."

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

Walking through the door was a crusty old war dog from Ord Mantell. A lifetime of military service behind his appointment to Senator. For this particular occasion the old veteran was wearing an olive-drab polo with Ord Mantell's Defense Corps emblem on the breast, tucked into a pair of tan khakis. He was on the heavier side of weight, but it was clear that it wasn't just beer and steaks. He had arms that could probably arm wrestle a wookiee, and had the stubborn mentality to do it too.

"Senator Blagden," John said. His voice low and gruff, as if he smoked a pack of cigarra's a day for years on end. Truth be told, it wasn't until he'd met his wife that he actually quit the habit. "It's good to finally meet you outside of the arena." John extended his hand toward his fellow Senator to shake the man's hand, ready to be directed to sit where ever his companion decided. He also held out the bottle that he was holding in his other hand for the man: An unopened, single barrel Ord Mantellian bourbon- cask strength. It was the best of the best on Ord Mantell.

"A gift from Ord Mantell," he said with a slight smile.

@Shalken

 

[Alistair Blagden]

Standing to greet his guest, Alistair took John's hand, his grip admittedly much less firm than the old veteran's. As expected. "Likewise, Senator Tyr. And please, accept a bit of Columex hospitality in return," he greeted, thankfully receiving the bourbon and offering a bottle of the most prized Columexian spiced rum to John. A callback to the planet's pioneering, seafaring age; the ships changed, but the rum stayed.

Gesturing openly to the couch around the table, Alistair sat across from the other senator. "Tell me, what are your thoughts on this 'arena'? I would imagine a man of your talents has a unique perspective," he began. While he could open with more generic pleasantries, John seemed a fellow that would find obtuse small talk to be obnoxious.

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

John didn't pay much attention to how firm the man's handshake was. His own was as firm as a rock from calloused, working hands and the muscles that rippled up his arms, not by some unsee-able virtue. Anyone willing to serve, whether it be in the military or the Senate was someone he'd respect. Except the Hutts. Every time they plied him with a gift on the Senate floor, he had used it personally to buy munitions to drop on their make shift palaces on Ord Mantell.

He took the bottle of rum, taking a good look at the bottle before making his way over to the couch. While Ord Mantell had been at war for millenia, Columex seemed to have a more sea-farring history. Just the thought of combining a Navy oriented fighting force with the heavily organized Defense Corps on Ord Mantell was enough to send a shiver of excitement up the old veteran's spine.

"My wife would want me to say it's the path way to having peace in the galaxy," he said. "But if honesty is the word of the day, it's a crock of shit without a governing body. We're a collection of independent worlds, and large bodies of influence, mingling about trying to make legislation for a galaxy, while waging war on one another in the meantime. You think the Hutts will ever vote to end their expansion on Ord Mantell? Or the Empire will ever lose a vote to stop the aggression against a bunch of glowbat toting hippies? At this point the Senate floor might as well be a weekly memo sent over the HoloNet. The question I pose, is how do we fix it?"

@Shalken

 

[Alistair Blagden]

Pouring his guest a glass of the non-alcoholic sparkling beverage, head tilting in contemplation. A governing body? Interesting. "Peace in the galaxy - an idealist mindset, for certain, and an honourable overarching goal to have. One that swings too widely, though. Government requires precision." Alistair leaned back into his seat. "But how do we fix it, indeed. One way to stop these different governments from voting on the same things would be to remove their chance to vote altogether...but then we would have no need of a Senate. An extreme measure, of course." Each governing body in the Senate was sure to have its own agendas they were trying to fulfill, and John was right. None of that would change if the status quo remained.

"Tell me, do you miss having a governing body? Do you miss the Republic?"

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

John listened carefully, taking the sparkling beverage. He would wait to drink it, of course, until the man drank his. He'd been in the game far too long for that. Removing the chance for governing bodies to vote would be a fix, but maybe not the right one. Another option would be to get rid of the Senate entirely. What good is a galactic body if it does not, in fact, work together? John hummed a deep growl as he thought.

"The Senate made sense when the Republic was around. I would say the Republic was just as prone to the same problems we're having now," he said. "Where should Republic resources go? Who should run the committees? It was just as indecisive. What about you? Someone in your position is between a regulation axe and a lightsaber, no? Out the Ord Mantell way we only get to hear stories."

@Shalken

 

[Alistair Blagden]

Taking a sip of the beverage from his own glass, Alistair nodded at John's observations of the Republic. "Quite so. And yes, Imperial senators do have set boundaries we must follow, but otherwise we have free reign within those boundaries."

Gazing out the window at the traffic flying by in the afternoon sky, he continued. "If anything, the Senate provides a place where we can vote to stop motions we disagree with; however, just like all governments, greed is rampant. It would be all to easy for, say, the Hutts to have some funds go "missing" and suddenly earn new support in the next session." He looked back to John. "It seems to me that a governing body - whatever that might be - would need to police what happens outside the Senate rather than inside, no?" A reason for an overarching body seemed a good place to start before deciding who.

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

John smirked, following Senator Blagden's sip of the beverage with his own. It was sweet and bubbly; Kiyomi would like it. Didn't provide quite the same punch in the face, and heat in the chest that liquor would provide, though. This Senator was smart. John could see why they were elected to represent their world. He turned his own gaze out the window, the curious thought of Senator Blagden spending his off time back home in an actual sailing ship crossing his mind. That would be something he'd love to see. Maybe even go fishing without the threat of a terrorist cell dropping a mortar next to you.

"In order for the Senate to police the galaxy, it would need to come together enough to form some sort of mutual defense committee, and planets with the means would need to provide support- logistical or military- to said police force," John said. "I believe last major session an anti-piracy motion was brought up, and shot down quicker than discussing Hutts having more seats in the Senate. Anything brought to the Senate to regulate will always be shot down."

"My concern is the Hutts. You should visit Ord Mantell sometime, Senator. See what unregulated Hutt expansion does to a free world. At that point the question becomes whether or not criminal syndicates deserve representation in the Senate, or should be expelled in favor of actual talks being able to be had. My vote would be on the latter."

@Shalken

 

[Alistair Blagden]

Alistair was impressed by the comprehensive structure for a galactic defense force that John had already put together. If there was a man needed to organize such a movement, the veteran would certainly have Alistair's vote. "Ah, yes, I did see that outcome. An unfortunate demonstration of the Senate's current state. Though perhaps," he mused, "a galactic force would be too big? Rooting out corruption in the entire galaxy at once is a truly insurmountable task. But the Senate itself would be smaller in scope to police. Make sure the good of the common folk is what's being voted on instead of how much they can be squeezed to line another Hutt's pockets. And if a consensus cannot be reached on the issue, then perhaps an...external force would be necessary."

Having such a motion carry would certainly be difficult. Though many a Senator would agree with working for the greater good of the galaxy, Alistair could see very few actually enjoy entertaining the idea of being investigated. But if solid evidence of corruption was collected and brought forward to the Senate, a more compelling case could be made.

"I would be delighted to visit your home planet. By your example representing the people of Ord Mantell, the Hutts certainly have their work cut out for them before they can totally take over your home. You make a good point as well. Crime syndicates should not be allowed on the Senate; while they may control planets, they don't care for their citizens' well-being."

@TheDudeMike

 

[John Tyr]

"An external force sounds to me like a multi-faceted governing body," John said, picturing what Senator Blagden in his mind. There would always need to be checks and balances, at every step of the way. The hard part in balancing that out was that every step of the way would be corruptible, even if there an entire bureau made up of security droids who's sole purpose was to root out corruption and eradicate it. "At the same time, most independent planets don't want to be governed by anyone other than themselves. At that point the Senate might as well just be a galactic community where we air grievences and issues, and talk about glowbat toting hippies for light and dark."

He had certainly griped enough about the Senate and its failings. John took another sip of the drink. Again, too sweet. He didn't know why the flavor didn't change for him. Wishful thinking, probably.

"Ord Mantell Defense Corps has a pretty good hold on the Hutts. We can keep them at bay, but they have constant funding to supply pirates, gangs, and terrorist cells, and the Corps can't catch them all before they blow up a civilian building or seize a neighborhood. Senate won't exclude the Hutts, try as we might. Only thing that uproots Hutts is artillery, and enough funding to keep the ammunition coming." That was more than he'd even say on the Senate floor, and he was paid to speak there. Another sip of the sweet drink to wet his lips and tongue. He really wished it was an old fashioned.

"I do appreciate the kind words, though," he added. "You mentioned Columex were old sailors. What's it like?"

@Shalken

 

[Alistair Blagden]

Alistair nodded in resigned agreement with Ord Mantellian Senator. It certainly was a difficult problem to tackle, and one that Alistair already knew a sound solution to; one that John would likely recoil from. Few would be eager to join the fold of the Empire. Perhaps in time. "The Jedi and Sith are religious fanatics that believe their abilities gives them the freedom to control worlds as they see fit. This could not be farther from the truth, and they must be shown the error of their ways. I have nothing against their monastic beliefs, but being able to alter reality does not make them experts on humanitarian aid or government. They seem unable to learn this fact, despite their millennia of history and gathered knowledge," Alistar commented wryly.

As usual, the Hutts were causing mayhem when they could. "Even more reasons why the Hutts should not sit on the Senate. A nation governed by crime is not governed at all." Yet another problem that the Empire was in a uniquely capable position to solve. Alistair sipped his beverage once more, noting John's distaste for it. Momentarily rising from his seat, the Columexian approached a beverage cabinet, pouring a glass of fermented pepperbark extract. Non-alcoholic, but no less bite than a decent whisky. "You are a man of refined tastes, I see," he observed, handing the other Senator the fresh drink before standing by the wide window. "Both in beverages and in sport. In ancient Columex history, there was an age of naval trade, piracy, and privateering that has coloured our culture ever since. Even now, we keep swathes of ocean clear for sailing. It's a point of pride for every Columexian, and we bring that to the table now that we are a galactic trade hub." Alistair gazed out at the ocean sparkling in the distance beyond the skyscrapers for a few moments as his words lingered in the air. "What about you?" he asked, looking back to his guest. "Tell me what Ord Mantell prides themselves in."

@TheDudeMike