Ask Matters of National Security

[Alexander Xerxes]

When Alexander had told Senator Du of Kuat that he had the authority to make deals with unaligned systems this is not what he intended. The Senator had not only made a deal for Republic warships, but also to a known criminal organisation. The Hynestian prince rubbed the bridge of his nose as he tried to get a grasp of the entire facade, he like everyone else in the room had seen the news announcement as well as some of the documentation around it.

But this type of thing still needed an official hearing, one that as Supreme Chancellor Alexander had the right to chair. The fact he had a small part to play in Vaz Du’s stupidity gave him reason to sit in the chair.

The small room which was set aside for such hearings was full to the brim with interested parties. To his right sat the Chief Legal Advisor for the Colonies (@lizziie ), to the left the head of the Coruscant Police forces. If Vaz Du was to go into custody, this would be the man to place the cuffs on the tiny little alien. Before him sat the Senator himself (@Mad Dog ) as well as the Sector Ranger that had lead the investigation (@The Good Doctor ). Behind them, interested parties from all parts of the New Republic took up the remaining seats; there seemed to be more than a fair number of Senators from other industrial worlds. Salivating at the prospect of the mighty Kuat falling.

“Now all have arrived, please be seated. Ranger Hackett as the man who uncovered this, development. You have the floor.”

 

[Alton Hackett]

Alton never thought he would in the spotlight like this, after shockwaves were sent out all over the galaxy following the holonet announcement that exposed all of this. Senator corruption uncovered, New Republic military vessels sold to dangerous criminals. And he's now in a court room with the newly elected Supreme Chancellor himself, not wasting any time going through these procedures.

The young Sector Ranger took the stand, wearing a dress uniform that neatly pressed, boots polished .etc The ranger would salute the Supreme Chancellor and then speak when he has the floor. "Yes, Your Excellency" he said with respect and professionalism. "The interim administration" After the late Chancellor Ro's death but before the Chancellor Xerxes was elected "assigned me and private detective Flynn Rider to look into the missing and unaccounted for New Republic ships, they were last docked at the Kuat shipyards. We had warrant and authorization to search the shipyards. Our first move was to search one of the terminals. From there we found logs and invoices from two large transactions that listed ships that were previously specified as missing and the source listed was Senator Du."

"The first transactions was listed as to" que finger quotes "'Grace Star' from the company 'Outer Rim Territories' The second was 'Klatooinian representative' with the company being 'Outer Rim Territories'" a very bad cover-up. Alton would resist the urge to shake his head and facepalm. "We then took a shuttle to the frigate in the system that was used for these meetings checked the terminal, and asked the duty officer some questions, he said that at their respective times specified in the report where the credit transfers were approved, Grace and the Klatoonians did arrive onboard to meet with the Senator." The records, invoices, and credit transfer logs prove the transactions happened, the duty officer confirms they were present for their respective meetings with the senator, and the ship log doubly proved that the crime lord was indeed there. Although Zann confessed to the purchase and with a threat after the holonet posted about it.

"We checked the terminal again, and we found that the Skipray Blastboat used by Grace was actually registered to 'Grace Zann', not Grace Star. And having seen the feed of her and double checking afterwards, we confirmed that it's Grace Zann." She making big obvious moves in the galaxy, she's far from an unknown entity. Either way, Vaz had no right or authority to sell off Republic-owned property regardless. In any case, the Republic has copies of the datachips, they have access to all the data and the recording. With the eyewitness and logs, there was no doubt of Vaz's complicity in this.

Alton recounted what happened during course of the investigation on the shipyards. There is a bit more to the story, more evidence other than just that. Alton looked stoic and collected, professional. He is able to answer more questions, go on, if needed or if nothing else he can take a seat or be dismissed.

@Braden @lizziie @Mad Dog

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

Alexander sat back in the high chair in the centre of the room taking in everything the Sector Ranger said. The fact a Ranger itself, a party Vaz was openly hostile against, was bringing this information forward did not help the Senator’s desires to get rid of them from Republic Space. “Thank you Agent Hackett. Senator Du, the crimes are extreme indeed as is the evidence brought against you. I do not expect you to deny such things, the fact Grace Zann herself confirmed this to the whole galaxy means you are guilty. Yet before we look to confirm any punishment, I wish to hear your side of the story.”

He doubted there was much the man could say to alter anything but the most extreme punishment they were able to give. But he had to give the man his say, one it was his right and two it might allow Alexander to get a better read on the alien for the future.

@Mad Dog @lizziie @The Good Doctor

 

[Vaz]

Vaz sat in his seat in the courtroom, this whole thing was ludicrous. As the Sector Ranger recounted his investigation, Vaz fought hard not to roll his eyes, though he remained silent out of respect for the process, and for @Alexander Xerxes.

Finally, he was addressed, Thank you Supreme Chancellor, I'd like to open with the fact that I have always been openly apprehensive about the Invasive totalitarian behavior of the Sector Rangers, I understand they invaded the Kuat Drive Yards and aggressively questioned a janitorial supervisor, they failed to provide the man with his right to legal counsel, and told the man they had a warrant that they not only did not provide to him, or other more appropriate avenues would have been available. The believed premise for the unauthorized entry into restricted areas of the KDY was to investigate missing Republic ships.. further the KDY is a privately owned entity, meaning that any products fabricated by the KDY are the property of the KDY until sold, the Republic is not an empire, the government does not own its people or the businesses that operate within its borders, thankfully we are all free people..

Vaz had begun, much was on the line right now, and a precedent would be set by this case.. To reiterate and clarify, the ships in question were the EF Seventy-seven Nebulon-D escort frigate, and the Starhawk three class Battleship, both of which were designed and produced by the Kuat Drive Yards, at the Kuat Drive Yards, using Kuat Drive Yards materials and labor. Now, acording to tradition, these ships have been solely fabricated for and sold to the Republic Navy since their original conception, however that does not provide the Republic with the sole right to ownership over such ships, or any product fabricated by any manufacturer that operates within the Republic and sells their products to the Republic armed forces, until they are purchased by the Republic... Vaz continued long winded.

In recent years the Kuat Drive Yards, and Kuat by extension, has taken the front on increasing sales to bring outside funding into the Republic economy, it's no secret that as of late the Republic credit has taken a bit of a hit, in an effort to prevent economic catastrophe, the KDY has been tasked with catering to viable consumers outside of the Republic. This will allow the Republic to bring in a greater GDP.. Vaz paused for a moment and looked at the Ranger sitting on the opposite side of the room, To clarify that means Gross Domestic Product... He said, And prevent a false economic boost by shuffling the same credits around in a circle within the Republic, and eventually leading to economic collapse... Vaz explained.

@Braden @The Good Doctor @lizziie

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

Alexander frowned at the miniature Senator when he took to sly digs at the Ranger who brought this forward. “This is a hearing into your conduct Senator Du, not that of the Sector Rangers. If the Sector Rangers acted outside of their remit this will be looked into in a separate hearing. Though I would remind Agent Hackett that any breaking of Republic Law in gaining this information will still have consequences, even if it has brought this revelation to light.”

“Firstly Senator Du, I would ask you to check your records, the Starhawk-III was co-developed by Kuat Drive Systems and the Republic Engineering Corporation. I would also add that development of the Nebulon-D was co-financed by the New Republic as part of our modernisation plan for the New Republic Navy. So we have considerable investment in both of these items and selling them to outside entities must be confirmed by the Senate Naval Committee.”

“I would also add the TwinTail fighters sold were not developed by Kuat either.”

Alexander shuffled the papers in front of him, moving the details of the ships to the back and moving Grace Zann’s file to the front. “You are correct in stating that Kuat Drive Yards have the right to sell product to outside sources to increase trade and credit flow into both Kuat and the Republic proper. However, selling to a known criminal organisation is a different fact. The Zann Consortium, who Miss Grace Zann belongs to and the wider Five Syndicates are an organisation which thrive on criminality throughout the Galaxy. This includes conducting activities within Republic Space. Although we are not at a hostile standing with the Syndicates as a Government they are still deemed as criminals in the Republic Court. As such, dealing with such criminals has implemented both yourself and Kuat Drive Yards as accomplices to criminal activities throughout the Galaxy.”

“As I hope you can see Senator Du, this is something the Republic cannot ignore.”

@The Good Doctor @Mad Dog

 

[Alton Hackett]

The Ranger remained stern and professional as the blatantly corrupt Senator tried pleading his case. Alton did not feel the need to respond to Vaz's claims nor react to his sly digs and him treating him like an idiot, the Chancellor gave a reminder to Alton but he knows his investigation was done in accordance with established procedure and he didn't break any Republic laws.

Until the Chancellor asks anything of Alton, he will remain where and how he is, content to let the Senator continue to digging his own grave further and further while the Chancellor laid down some facts on him.

One of Alton's old Ranger instructors had a wise saying: Everyone wants to be the criminal, up until they get caught. Apt especially now, given how the Senator of Kuat is squirming.

@Mad Dog @Braden