The Free Worlds Alliance needed to band together, now more than ever, in the face of adversity. The role of Prime Minister no longer existed, conceivably a fate worse than Naeva Rue. The ISC had formally and publicly closed its doors to an alliance with the Free Worlds while the Sith Empire bombarded its planets and the New Republic attempted to coerce its outlier citizens to raise the blue and yellow flag of the Core Worlds through clandestine meetings.
Senators of the Free Worlds Alliance needed to put on a brave face and push through the conflicts that threatened the health, happiness, and very way of life their planets currently enjoyed. It wasn't easy being a politician these days, particularly for the free worlds—the perpetual underdog, scapegoat, and punching bag for the rest of the galaxy at large. Everyone dealt with the pressure differently, from outspoken rebuttal to retreating into isolation. Cassian, for one, had started smoking again. Not to mention drinking. Thank the stars for that second liver of his.
Senator Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had it the worst out of all of them, the poor fellow. Not only did half of his home planet lie in ruins, but he'd lost his entire family, too. All within a matter of hours, days. That was a loss no one, not even an old and crotchety Wookiee could recover from. The memory of fire engulfing the planet's vegetation, of Wookiees crying out and breathing their last would haunt the Senator forever. Cassian could hardly call the Senator of Kashyyyk his friend, but he did pity the Wookiee.
Sunlight framed the Zeltron, warm rays of yellow drifting through the windows and caressing his despondent features. He sat behind his desk, fingers pressed together in rumination, formulating his words. Before the broadcast could begin, Kiacro leaned forward and straightened his employer's tie, ducking out of frame just in time.
"Good afternoon, citizens of the Free Worlds," Cassian smiled easily, as naturally as Emryc Thorne charming the pants off of his adoring public. It would disappear as soon as the broadcast had ended.
"Supreme Chancellor Alexander Xerxes recently announced an armistice between the New Republic and the Sith Empire, a truly monumental point in not only the history of the New Republic, but the history of the entire galaxy." Cassian could only wonder if this armistice would do anything to deter the Mandalorians that had begun invading worlds. Would they ever turn their focus to the New Republic? Or would they, too, satisfy themselves with only the occupation of Free Worlds?
"I applaud the Chancellor's dedication to securing peace and prosperity for his people, as well as the fulfillment of his campaign promises. What more could a people ask of its leader?" The Zeltron continued to smile, adding, "For that matter, I would be remiss if I did not state that I also applaud the President of the ISC, who has managed to check the Sith Empire at the border since the inception of this war. I can speak only for the planet of Onderon, but I believe that I speak for the Free Worlds at large when I say that we do not wish bloodshed upon the New Republic or the ISC, any more than we wish it upon ourselves. We rejoice in the New Republic's most recent accomplishment and the ISC's continued accomplishment."
Momentarily, Cassian hesitated, his smile fading as blue eyes continued to stare into the camera. "Unfortunately, peace was not a luxury offered to the Free Worlds Alliance. The Sith Empire gave us no options and offered us no choice as they drug us into this war that has cost thousands of lives and left worlds torn asunder. As always, I stress that I do not attempt to paint the Sith Empire in one broad stroke. Citizens of the Sith Empire are living and breathing people, just like you and I, but it is time for the lies to stop.
"The Sith Empire claims they desire peace, but their actions tell a different story. The Empress offered us an olive branch after the Sith attacked Denon, after the Sith attacked Taris. First they attack, first they kill our citizens and burn our cities, and then they offer peace. Peace on their terms or no peace at all. They demand the impossible—the expulsion of every single Jedi from our planets—knowing that we will never be able to deliver, counting on it, so they can continue their assault against us, all the while claiming we have brought this upon ourselves."
The Zeltron leaned forward in his seat, never breaking eye-contact. "I've made no secret of my feelings on the Jedi, and I did not support sanctioning the Sith Empire. But the Sith cannot claim that this war they rage is anything less than a terrorist rampage. Denon, Taris—neither of these planets harbored Jedi. When Ossus and Kashyyyk were attacked, the Sith were unaware of their Jedi presence. The Sith Empire play judge, jury, and executioner with an entire alliance of space, with your very lives.
"I tell you this because I do not want you to believe a lie. We might stand alone against the Sith, but I'd rather die standing than live kneeling," he concluded, and the broadcast cut.
