Ask Negotiations

[Alexander Xerxes]

From Coruscant to Vakkar, through the invisible border and onto Roxuli. Now they say in the great darkness of space away from everything, the stars seemed even further away than normal. In the great black void between Roxuli and the Utegetu Nebula sat a station. It was small, no bigger than a few houses, just enough to sustain itself for a few days. Originally designed as a temporary observation platform for studying evolving species on newly discovered planets it had been retrofitted for its new purpose.

Gone was the sensitive monitoring equipment, the sample analysis room. It has all been stripped out to accommodate two individuals meeting for the first time. It was a momentous meeting, but shrouded in secrecy, for if the location got out members from all sides may seek to sabotage it or strike out at the two attendees.

A Single Starhawk floated through the void of space, its escort fleet left long behind back in Republic Space, travelling alone with its precious cargo. A shuttle departed the ship, making its way to the lone station.

Alexander sat inside the shuttle alone, the only other person was the pilot, whos nerves were truly being tested today as he flew towards potential death. For the person Alexander was meeting today was the Empress herself, the big bad of all the bedtime stories, the one with a million deaths on her hands. A true Lord of the Sith.

A thud signalled that the shuttle had attached itself and Alexander pulled himself out of his seat and made towards the door a walking cane in hand. Pulling on his cuffs to straighten his shirt, he passed through the airlock and into the station itself. He had been briefed a dozen times about the station's layout so was able to make it there with ease. The click of his cane along the floor was the only sound within the great metallic structure.

The meeting room was as lavish as could be expected in such short notice, a large table had been set in the middle either side two thick heavy seats suitable for royalty awaited both the Prince and the Empress. Alexander stopped alongside the Republic chair and rested his hand on its back, the cane lent against his leg. “Let us see if you will show, or blow me away, Empress.”

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

At the edge of nothingness, the Arbiter dropped out of hyperspace. In the distance, the Empress could see that the enemy vessel was on the scanners. Approximately comparable to her own vessel, with fortune it wouldn't come down to slugging it out with one another. If it came to that, however, ships stood prepared to rush to the rescue of their Empress, though only a few had the location of the meeting itself.

Both vessels remained "respectfully" out of range of one another, but she could feel the anxiety running through the crews of both vessels even from this distance. She made her way to the hangar bay and climbed aboard a shuttle, which left the hangar and began crossing the empty space. It didn't make the trip alone, however. The Dauntless launched from the nose of the Arbiter and the two ships flew in conjunction with a small fighter escort of the Empress's top pilots.

As the shuttle docked, the escort pulled away, moving back to a further distance to allow space around the facility to remain unoccupied.

Aboard the shuttle, the Empress was accompanied by Sheehan and a team of the most elite Nightsister guards, many of whom had now been trained in saber combat and wielded the more traditional weapons of the Sith. The Empress had been ambushed in one of these meetings before and would take no risks this time.

The Nightsisters spread out in pairs outside the meeting room, but only the Empress herself set foot inside the room with none other than the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. Never one for the extreme, she wore fine and comfortable but not ornate robes of red and black. Her lightsaber - bled from the crystal of a late Jedi Councilor - swung from her belt as she walked into the room.

Chancellor Xerxes. I suppose congratulations on your new appointment are in order, she said.

We're making history here today. It's been centuries since a meeting like this has taken place, she said, this time a bit more thoughtfully. When Palpatine was both Chancellor and Sith Lord was the last time. She wondered if anything would come of this or if it would be as fruitless as the FWA negotiations had been.

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

It was a strange feeling when the Empress’ ship docked. He could feel the darkness flowing off her, a beacon of Dark Side energy flowing through the ship as she walked. He was not surprised that she hadn’t come alone, or that she had brought more fire power to this meeting. It was more likely that she would get ambushed and assassinated than the new Chancellor who with only a week on the job had yet to make too many enemies.

As she entered the room, Alexander had to fight to keep his face straight, even as beautiful as she was, there was death and destruction in her wake. Darkness such as this would make many men break at just a sight, luckily for him he had spent years staring into the darkness. As Andruil approached the table the small camera set at one end flickered into life. “Thank you, Empress Andruil.” He replied with a nod.

These peace negotiations, even if they were only basic, simple requests of one another, nothing legally binding and fleshed, needed to be televised, less the rumour mills of the tabloids and the populists become inflated with lies and deceit. Putting all but a stop to his goals before he got started. “I hope this historic day will reach a historic end. This is an unprecedented meeting between our two peoples. One I hope can end in peace.” Pointing to the chair opposite him. “Please sit.” Waiting for the Empress to sit first, Alexander would then take his own seat before speaking again.

“Empress Andruil, you know the reason I have asked for this meeting. Our two governments have been at war since you took that throne and forged the Sith into an Empire. This is a conflict that has benefitted neither of our two people only caused them pain and suffering. It is a conflict that I and I hope you wish to end. For there is no need for us to fight any longer than we have, no need for loved ones to perish, homes to burn, children to become orphaned.” With the Empress recently becoming a mother herself, he hoped the last point would at least touch some nerves behind that steely gaze.

“So I ask you, will you look on this historic day to peace?”
@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Andruil's eyes flicked momentarily over to the camera as he activated it. Of course broadcasting things to the rest of the galaxy changed the dynamic of things, and though she didn't object, it meant that things in this conversation would be different.

She pulled the chair back and took a seat. It was clear the facility had been made comfortable for the two of them, but comfort wasn't really what all of this was about. But she still liked the cushy chairs.

He got to the substance of the meeting first, and she had no argument against that either. She had seen his address to ban the Jedi, and it had made her ecstatic. It was a massive ally stolen from the Jedi, and it was a major win for the Empire in the face of several recent losses.

I certainly don't think it is outside the realm of possibility, she said. It was an honest but also political answer. The possibility of peace with the Republic was incredibly close, and in truth there was a part of her that wanted that as well.

The history between our two governments has been convoluted, she admitted. The Sith Eternal had attacked the Republic, she had torn down the Sith Eternal and converted it to the Empire, and then the Republic attacked the Empire and the war had continued. She didn't need to educate him on it, however. To say it was complicated was enough.

But I take hope in the fact that the Republic's new leader seems not to be a puppet of the Jedi Order, she said. It was no secret that her criticism of the former, late-Chancellor was intense. She'd all but declared him brainwashed by the Jedi Order and it was a heavy contributor to the war against the Republic.

With that influence removed, I believe a piece between our two people's may be very close, she said.

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

He smiled when she mentioned the removal of the Jedi from Republic Space. It was a hot debate within the Republic and one that Raycom and the Populists had tried to block at every intersection, but as Alexander had always suspected. It would help lead to the peace they all needed. “Convoluted and over complicated by politicians and media personalities all out to make a name for themselves.” He replied.

“That is why I came here myself, I believe that meeting personally can help us avoid anyone trying to play the Hero. Or Villain.” Alexander crossed one leg on top of the other and placed his hands on the table taking a relaxed stance to the meeting. “We have removed the Jedi from our borders and our fleets are now solely stationed within Republic Space. We have ceased all hostilities to the Empire, I believe we are more than close Empress I believe we are both ready for this peace.”

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

She nodded slightly as he spoke. Yes, he had a great deal of resistance in his own government, but he had still gotten things done. He had brought the Republic closer to peace than it had been for well over a decade.

Indeed. Heroes and villains are a step away from propaganda terms themselves, she said. The Republic had blood on its hands and the Empire had done good things for its people. No government was as cut and dry as people wanted to make them look. She knew there were many Imperial citizens who would be glad that one front of the war was coming to a close, and it would bring with it a spike in approval further combating many of the rebel groups leaping up on various conquered worlds.

You've seen what our view of peace is before. The Empire has lived at peace with the ISC for many years now. They also don't levy sanctions against us any longer, she said, clearly bringing up one of the issues that she had that remained with the Republic.

What does "peace" look like to your mind, Chancellor? Free trade? Total isolation? I know some have already proposed closing your borders to the Empire should we find peace here, she asked. The Empire had once pursued a seat in the galactic senate, but these days that body held far less power than it once had. Its members were discordant in purpose and goals.

We have the opportunity to set the tone for countless planets. I don't think either of us wants a further protracted war, she admitted.

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

Much of Alexander’s argument for the possibility of peace resided on the relationship between the Empire and the Consortium, much to the dismay and aggressive language used by his opponents. It being brought up again in this very room once again only gave strength to the Hynestian’s arguments across the campaign and beyond. Alexander was also happy that it was Andruil who brought up the sanctions, not himself. He expected them to be a subject of contestment, but he had to tread a fine line here, he couldn’t just offer these away. The Republic population was too split on the opinions of the Sith Empire, the only way to please both sides was to give these away at a payment for peace, not a precursor.

“Correct, my people have become disillusioned with Force Users, both Jedi and Sith. I would like to be open and honest Empress, even with peace between our two governments I cannot see the opening of travel borders to the Sith happening any time soon. Anger and resentment of Force Users and the destruction their conflicts have caused the galaxy is too high right now. However, I do see the chance to bolster the prosperity and wealth of both our peoples.” He replied.

“The sanctions you mentioned that the Republic currently has on the Sith Empire and its aligned planets, can be placed on the table and a route to removal of some if not all of these sanctions can take place. However I cannot guarantee that all sanctions will be removed, my peoples hostilities towards Force Users may prevent some of these sanctions from being lifted.”

“We are a Republic, although I have the power to do what I believe is best for our people. I cannot willfully ignore their desires, else we push them further down the path of hate towards all governments. Removal of some if not all of these sanctions I see as going hand in hand with the establishment of trade deals, political cooperation and the development of lasting peace throughout the galaxy.”

“That is how I see our futures Empress, I would be keen to hear your own thoughts.”

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

The news that the Republic had become disillusioned with Force-users was no great surprise to her. She had heard the growing reports of dissent on worlds like Denon where discontentment had turned to kidnapping and even murder of Force-sensitive children. It was rather despicable, and Sith had been operating in the region to root it out for some time now, sometimes even crossing paths with Jedi looking to do the same... at least before.

She listened intently to every word he said as well as the things he didn't say. The Force was a powerful tool to sense people's intents and motives. It wasn't as clear cut as simply reading someone's mind, but it could give a great deal of information where otherwise it may not have been. Like body language that your average person didn't know how to hide... except he wasn't just an average person as she knew.

I see no reason that our governments can't begin to build a mutually beneficial partnership, she said. The words may have even been a bit overzealous, but they were carefully chosen.

Many would say that free and open trade is the true measure of peace between two groups, she said.

I have no interest in turning an open arms race into an economic arms race, she said. You leave sanctions, we create sanctions, you increase and so do we, and so on. No one wins in those situations either, she said. They may not get along immediately, but with time they may be able to find some common ground and mutual prosperity.

@Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

The Force flowed around the Empress like a raging sea, it was an interesting feeling and one that he had not experienced for so long. He almost missed it, almost. A mutual partnership was perhaps the best thing he could hope for moving forward, even if they secured a peace there would be no lasting friendship between the Republic and Empire, their governments and their people were too different.

“Understandable, but this as everything takes time. Wounds need to heal and memories need to fade. I can propose an initial removal of all financial sanctions, all frozen assets will be released. With regards to the weapon sales, sanctions from independent companies within the Republic can be removed following the official signing of a peace treaty. However, the arrangement of any military trade deals between the New Republic itself and the Sith Empire will take time and is something I will need to put before the senate to ratify.”

“I would also like to propose a Free Trade corridor, for all raw materials between the New Republic and Sith Empire.” The vast industrial base of the Republic required an immense amount of raw materials to keep moving forward and the Sith Empire’s outer rim worlds could provide them what they needed.

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

Things were going smoother than she imagined, and that usually meant the other shoe would be dropping soon. But perhaps things could simply be as straight forward as they were: peace between two governments. She had never really wanted open war with the Republic in the first place. At least not right now.

She wasn't naive enough to think that members of Republic Intelligence wouldn't still poke around to try to undermine Imperial expansion, but it wasn't the same as open war.

He spoke of the sanctions and the options for removing or suspending them and she nodded.

That sounds agreeable, she said. She understood that things didn't happen instantaneously, and as of yet, they hadn't signed an official ceasefire. They both knew what the other had to offer, and while the Empire had been forced to build - or conquer - many of its own production facilities, they were still less than those held by the Core Worlds.

As far as the weapons and ships went, she already knew the subsidiaries that had been set up in the ISC to funnel those supplies to the Empire. It wasn't something that she would mention here of course, but if that was the only sanction that remained, it was one she could live with at least for now.

How do you envision diplomatic outreach between our peoples working? she asked. Would there be embassies, messages delivered by holonet, or a simply respectful distance between the groups. After all, the Empire was much more than just the Jedi.

@Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

Andruil was living up to her reputation as a ruler not a tyrant, she put her people and their prosperity first. She was not a blood crazed maniac, much to the dismay of many back in the Republic who deemed her so and Alexander foolish for trying to negotiate with her. He smiled at the thought of bringing this peace to the senate, seeing the look on the faces of those who deemed it both impossible and one sided. No the Republic would be walking away from this negotiation stronger, he would make sure of that.

“I believe the best course of action would be to set up an Embassy on both Capitals. The ambassador to the Republic would be allowed to sit in and view all Senate debates, but of course had no contribution. In kind the ambassador to the Empire would be allowed to sit in and view the Lower Council meetings.” It would be a sign of good faith on both accounts if the respective ambassador was allowed a superficial seat within the government buildings. Something Alexander was hoping to open up to the Consortium and Alliance in due time.

“Of course, the ambassador to the Republic should not be a Force User. Ideally a member from your Bureaucratic Elite with a proven track record of not being a member of the Sith Order. I think neither of us want a potential political episode because of one person’s little foray into a Sith Academy during their youth.” Whoever the Sith would send would be under constant scrutiny and surveillance, not by the Republic Government themselves but by the hordes of masses that stood against the Force Sensitives of the galaxy.

He has put forward most of the peace proposals but he had to make sure this was not one hundred percent one sided in a conversation. “In terms of the future, how would you like to see any disputes between our two governments resolved? I hope not by the sword.”

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

She nodded at his proposal of how they should set up political envoys. She couldn't say she was surprised that he didn't want the ambassador to be a Force-user. The Jedi had certainly excluded that possibility with their actions.

One of our more senior governors, then. Being a Force user isn't a necessity to holding power in the Empire, she said. Traivess had gained great power, although he had met an unfortunate end along with the rest of the Council of his day. There were many governors throughout the Empire many of whom had no connection to the Force.

It seems that if Embassies will be opened that a diplomatic approach should be taken, she said, though she did silently wonder how long it would be until the two governments were at war again. Ultimately, she doubted they would be the best of friends with the bad blood between them, but that didn't mean everyone couldn't still win.

The same way governments have been solving their differences for generations, she said. It was impossible to know what those differences would be, but they were undoubtedly going to come up.

I'm prepared to put in place a ceasefire starting today on the assurance that what we've discussed here today comes to fruition with all haste, she said.

@Braden

 

[Alexander Xerxes]

He nodded in kind at her proposal for a senior governor to be given the ambassador spot, it was his own personal preference anyway. Someone with that kind of experience would hopefully be able to keep a level head even within the potential hostile environment of the Republic Senate.

“Diplomacy is always preferred, although in the future once tensions across the galaxy have eased. I would like to explore the opportunity of the Empire joining the Galactic Senate, I know it is something you had proposed a long time ago. And I believe it may be the first step towards Galactic Peace.”

With that little statement said, it seemed as if they had reached an accord. “I am happy to hear that Empress, I two am happy with these terms. And you have my assurance that all agreed terms today will be passed through the Senate. The people are tired of this war, they only want peace and I will not allow a few old warmongers to stand in the way of achieving the people's will.”

With that Alexander took to stand, pushing the seat out from underneath him. Then moved along the table to the far end away from the camera. Hoping that Andruil would follow him to the end where he would hold out his hand. “To peace.”

@Phoenix

 

[Renfry]

It was ironic. The process leading up to this had taken years, but the conversation itself was relatively quick. They had settled several differences, and just like that two groups of trillions of people had been brought from war to an uneasy peace.

As far as the seat in the Galactic Senate went, that was perhaps a question for a different day. The time and situation when she had hoped for that had been very different than the position she sat in now.

Perhaps we'll see where this leads, she said in response. She couldn't imagine the FWA and Empire being in the same body together, but stranger things had happened.

He stood and she stood a moment later, taking the offered hand and shaking it. To peace, Chancellor, she said. She wondered how this would play out in his Senate, and though a part of her wondered how much resistance he would face, she also understood that there were many who had no interest in further war.

@Braden