Open Order in the Senate

[The Storyteller]

Open to all NR Senators or affiliated Characters with reason to attend a Senate meeting

As the sun set on the federal district, tainting the thousands of windows of the government complex with an eery red, the hundreds of Senators, aides and scribes entered the Senate Rotunda garbed in their finest apparel. Some odd groups of parleying senators yet had to break up, and some of their small talks continued even into the Grand Convocation Chamber before it slowly died down. As always, the time needed for the Senate to truly get into the session was horrendous. Even as the first hover pods began to levitate in the chamber, with senators vividly checking microphones, their earpieces or reading their last notes in preparation for the ensuing discussions, the journalists in charge of the broadcast were in the process of assembling cameras and connecting devices. After all, snippets of what they were about to capture today would be played and replayed galactically in the coming weeks.

 

[Raycom Hedarial]

Raycom Hedarial, Senator of Byss had been among the first in the chamber, and he had watched through it all. It was astounding to bear witness to everything in person. He had talked to Senators, watched the broadcasts and even attended as a guest many times before, but this was the first time that he was part of it himself. Today was the grand day, his first address to the Senate, his first act as representative of Byss. And if he failed today, it would be as good as his last.

Grinding his teeth he looked down on his own datapad, the notes of his "grandiose plan" laid out before him. It had seemed so simple and easy from the comfort of his desk when he wrote it, but now, here, he was no longer so sure. He had had to make quite an investment into today's session, pull far more favours and contacts than he had wished necessary, and betting much too much on this single card. Newby senators normally didn't request such crude agenda points for discussion, yet now he could do little more than wait, and pray that it would all work out as he had planned.

Roaring on the inside, and with slightly shaky knees, yet completely composed on the outside, fake smile on his face, he greeted the Senators entering the repulsorpod next to him and waited as the chamber filled up. Soon it would come, soon his moment would arrive.

 

[The Storyteller]

The Republic Senate chamber had nearly filled up, a full turnout was as unlikely as ever, and even an untrained eye could see many of the Senate pods were still empty, yet that did not stop the Senate from convening at the agreed time. As the pod of the chancellor lifted into the air, completely filled with the expected faces, the last trickle of conversation in the chamber came to an abrupt halt, and a heavy silence set in. The speaker of the Senate made his opening statements, reading them by the book. He then handed over the word to Senator Hedarial, so he could begin his resolution on the "Swift Handling of Sith Invasions". As the speaker took his seat, the chamber once more fell into silence. Only some bear down faces remained in the toom, as this last-minute resolution was not in the notes of any senator, especially those lacking contact to the Chancellors inner workings. It was apparent, that this point in the agenda had not been on the plan for a long time.
[/abox]

 

[Raycom Hedarial]

Rising from his seat, the young Hedarial needed to swallow one last time before stepping towards the podium of his repulsorpod. A smile still plastered on his face, he began to let his gaze trace through the hundreds of faces around him, where all sorts of aliens and humans with their unique styles gazed back at him. He had prepared for this moment a long time, yet no preparation could have made this moment any less grand as seeing it with his own eyes. And the very fact that he had made it so far, gave him the confidence needed to speak:

"Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr Chancellor, dear fellow delegates of the Republic systems. I stand before you on a controversial point, a recent action that had not only the members of our nation but the whole galaxy is shaken. I of course refer to the attack on Dennon, a world to our border." He paused now, looking towards the central pod. No doubt, the chancellor was believing that he would now hear the words of an ardent defender emanating from this pod. Hedarial had been careful to only cash in favours and call those contacts, that would no longer dare work with him after today's session. And he had been very careful in the wording of his motion to the chancellor. Of course, a starting statement friendly to the chancellors cause would be beneficial to the new chancellor, who too had yet to solidify his stance. But Hedarial had other plans.

"I would like to start by pausing in honour of the innocent victims, of the unjust attack, the civilians that had no chance to seek shelter or fight back when the unheralded, shocking attack commenced on their homeworld." So far, the centre aisle and its inhabitants seemed pleased, Clearly, he was talking about the Sith, but... "The very attack that was conducted by OUR own forces"

As he paused, mystifying whispers began to populate the hall, and the Byss's Senator watched intently if he could see the slightest twitch in the chancellors or speakers visage. Now he had the undivided attention of the senate, with these lines, he would certainly score major headlines and exposure as well. And if judging the Chancellors approval rating son Byss correctly, he would have also scored with regard to his own constituents. He did however not grant time enough for anyone to interrupt, and after the quick pause immediately resumed speaking. If any members of the Senate began to shout lamentations, he would just speak right over them.

"Already we have left too much time pass since our own chancellor, using our armed assets as his personal hitmen, has not only breached his area of action but has in all but name launched an unsolicited act of war against a world of the FWA. His reckless and arguably unlawful actions have rippled far and wide, not only through our Senate and institutions, but even so far that last he sat in the Galactic Senate, members of the FWA tried to hold him in contempt for his actions!"

Raycom looked through the room, composed and calm, watching from one outraged senator to the other, gauging the atmosphere of the chamber. The sun had all but set in the meantime, and only the lights of the chamber remained. With a sigh, he continued in his little speech.

"I am as well aware as anyone in this chamber, that the Chancellor is the Commander and Chief of our Executive branch, yet last I checked it is written nowhere, that the office of the Chancellor has the right to attack an allied planet, without warning or prior discussion in the Senate. I am the last to begrudge you, Chancellor Ro, for wishing to attack the Sith. Yet your unauthorised action has not only lead to the death of what could be dozens of innocent lives, but has also severely damaged the credibility of the New Republic in the Galactic community, and badly hurt our ties to the Free World Alliance! This attack has the potential to turn into a political crisis of unforeseeable size. Your actions have not only threatened the inhabitants of Denon, but are in breach of law, custom and our procedures."

Pausing once more, Hedarial gestured to his peers, his face now sombre and collected. "I must therefore proclaim, that it is of the utmost need, that the senate should address the state of your aptness as leader of the Republic, and your actions in Denon. I call for a discussion to determine our next step and a possible investigation into the whole affair! The people of the republic should know all details. No reprisal attack on the empire, however good your reasoning may seem to you and you alone as it was the case here, will end the problem. The galactic community must act together, and your actions have seriously hurt those prospects. Mr Chancellor, I believe, it is only fair if the Senate may voice its concerns on the aspect!"

Whilst Hadrial yielded the floor, and returned the voice to the speaker, he listened to the shouts of some senators, as the hall was suddenly filled with loud utterances from all edges. Gone now were all his chancellor friendly contacts, he could be sure of that. But if things went his way, this was still preferable then playing the loyal dog in the long run.

@Emil Ro @Raz Chak @Sibyl Lassiter @Jana Kang @Caliban Drast @Sutton Rayne @Eumi Redrish @Jin Vaisra

 

[Eumi Redrish]

The Senator of Kuat rose, activating her microphone after having indicated to the Speaker that she would like to address the Senate next, her dark eyes leveling with the Senator of Byss. She would wait patiently for a few seconds though, as the Speaker got control of the more unruly of the other New Republic Senators – the ones making fools of themselves after being stirred up by Hedarial's speech.

“Senator Hedarial, while I do appreciate your energy and I agree with your stance, I would ask you to please try to contain yourself. It will do our esteemed Senate a great disservice to allow this discussion to devolve so quickly into shouting matches when cooler heads should prevail.”

Turning her head, she would look to Chancellor Ro next.

“Your Excellency. As I stated during our last session with the Galactic Senate, you have made a terribly grave error as your first action as Chancellor. You were voted into office with such great hopes of change and responsible leadership, and you have repaid those hopes by stepping well outside your predicated role and placing the very Republic you claim you want to protect in undeniable jeopardy. You have attacked a Free Worlds planet in our name, killed Free Worlds civilians, and have drawn the wrath of their governments and their peoples onto our heads.”

She paused, looking around the room to be sure everyone was paying attention, her datapad held firmly between her delicate fingers. She would lift it so he could see it clearly.

“I have already spoken of your intended duties as Chancellor once before, but I think it deserves a second reading ... just to be certain you understand the rules by which you were expected to conduct yourself, and to give you ample opportunity to defend yourself to this Senate while having these rules fresh in your mind.” She cleared her throat then, lifting her datapad to read from it as she had before. “As Chancellor, you are meant to be the face of the New Republic. You lead us in that you are meant to be an example for us, keeping us united, active, and on task. You act as an officiator of parliamentary procedure. You organize legislative plans. You count and declare votes on domestic matters. You bring motions to the floor for a vote, call emergency sessions of the Senate, and you act as a tiebreaker when necessary.” She paused, taking a breath before continuing. “As I stated in the Galactic Senate, nowhere in this document does it state that you are in command of the Republic Fleet, nor does it state that you can act on behalf of the New Republic with total impunity. In fact, it very clearly states that you cannot act at all without a majority vote in your favor. That most definitely includes actions that might be construed as 'acts of war' such as your attack on Denon.”

“Before you attempt to defend yourself, I want to reiterate that if the Free Worlds do not want our assistance in safeguarding or liberating one of their planets of the Sith, it is not your place nor ours to force it upon them. Yes, Denon sits on the edge of Republic space and can possibly be a weak point for the Sith to exploit if they so choose. But the more pertinent fact is that Denon is not a Republic world. It is not under our jurisdiction.” She kept her tone even. “You should have brought it to the floor, Your Excellency. You should have called an emergency session, proposed your course of action, and let it be voted on by the honorable Senators that sit with you here today. Instead, here we are.”

“Tell me, Chancellor Ro, how would you choose to punish someone in your position? From the outside looking in, of course. If our previous Chancellor had so woefully misjudged his actions that he brought the entire New Republic to the brink of war … how would you admonish him?”

She kept her dark gaze on the man of the hour, her expression muted but unmistakably serious, her posture stiff, her demand for the Chancellor to truly and honestly reflect on his actions – absolute.

@Mockingjay @ThisIsHowLibetyDies @Wit @Eccles @LouJoVi @Feng Mian @Reyn @Charndley

 

[Voren Dhur]

At this time of day the New Republic Senate building was a hub of activity, as Senators, legislative aides and civil servants hurried back and forth about their business. Voren however, sat in one of the many bars that dotted the upper levels of the building, could not care less. He was polishing off his first drink of the day and scrolling down through the lobby paper to see if there was anything worth heading to the press gallery for when he spotted something vaguely interesting.

"A special session on the Chancellor?" he mumbled under his breath, lighting a stim and heading up the gallery with his bag slung over his shoulder and press pass around his neck.

He dashed into the gallery, and took his seat behind the glass, getting out his datapad and stylus, as he watched the speeches being made below.

 

[Emil Ro]

The Supreme Chancellor of the New Republic wasn't sure if the senators who had gathered to crucify him expected him to wither under their criticisms or beg for their forgiveness; but Emil Ro was not the type of man to ask for forgiveness, or apologize, for that matter. He had accepted the call for a special session of congress out of constitutional obligation, and another objective which was long overdue. He waited until the senator from Kuat was done monologuing before taking the central podium and activating his mic.

"You make a number of presumptions, Senator," he said more icily than he had ever addressed a fellow politician, glaring down at her from the dais. "Do you think you alone have the means to punish me? You who were silent when Fierrero was bombarded? I recall a number of senators whose worlds sent aid to ease the pain of that carnage. But not yours. Forgive me, it is charming that you have finally decided to do your job as the appointed representative of Kuat, but not all of us have the luxury of acting only when the media spotlight is so conveniently centered upon us."

"As I said before the Galactic Senate, the attack on Sith assets on Denon was meant to protect the New Republic. Unlike the leaders of the Free Worlds Alliance, I do not wish to wait until a New Republic world—Kuat, Fondor, Byblos, Coruscant, or any other—is glassed before I finally take action. Were I to have done so, this meeting would have been called to 'punish' me for my inaction, as it did for my predecessor." He let his gaze rake across the room, eying members of both the Senate and the press. "It might interest you to know that since then, the Sith have returned to Denon to resume their occupation. And once more, the good leaders of the Alliance are silent, as were you, Senator Redrish. Perhaps it is the influx of credits from Sith contractors purchasing Kuati Star Destroyers for their armadas that endears you to side with them over the New Republic, but I have no such biases."

"The simple fact of the matter is that the Supreme Chancellor leads the New Republic's armed forces and take action when they believe its interests are threatened," Emil continued. "It is your right as representatives to hold an inquest and take whatever action you deem necessary. That goes for both Senators Redrish and the hyperbolic Senator Hedarial. But don't presume you alone have the authority to punish me, representative. I think you will find that not all of your colleagues find the action I took at Denon completely abhorrent. If anything, they were vindicated when the Sith not only returned to Denon, but subsequently invaded Ossus. Thank the Force the Jedi we have been led to despise were there, else I shutter think what might have happened to another Free World."

"I shall end my remarks with this." Now, he addressed the whole Senate. "If you are no longer satisfied with my leadership, by all means, hold a vote-of-no-confidence. I'm certain Senator Redrish's corporate donors could locate a Senator like my predecessor or the Free Worlds Alliances' Prime Minister, scared of their own shadow and quivering in inaction. Perhaps Senators Redrish or Hedarial would like to take this podium themselves, and if that be the case, i say let them take it. Let them see what difficult decisions have to be made in conjunction with a Senate that barely does its job, and whose members rarely show up to votes." This, obviously referencing the absence of Senators at his own election. "See if they do a better job of securing your interests and defending you from the Sith."

Emil cut his mic and sat. No doubt, his words would only stir the pot, but the hell with it. Let the Senators eat themselves, make an ass for themselves in front of all the galaxy. Emil would not apologize for necessary action. Not so long as he held this podium. @Tess @ThisIsHowLibertyDies @Wit @Feng Mian @Eccles

 

[Caliban Drast]

Caliban had requested the floor after the Senators from Kuat and Byss had made their statement, more than anything to clarify some points concerning the legality of the Chancellor's actions. But then the man himself had opted to speak up in his defense, and Caliban had opted to wait till after he was done to speak up.

"Before we continue with any arguments of legality, might I share something from a document I have here?" When there was no objection he continued, picking up a datapad to read verbatim from the document he had pulled up moments earlier. "The Supreme Chancellor is the head-of-state of the New Republic and the Commander-in-Chief of its armed forces. It further reads, The Chancellor wields significant executive authority, possessing the power to direct the agencies of the executive branch via executive order." He paused, handing the datapad to his aide while he let the words sink in. "That was read from the Constitution of the New Republic, the very document that defines what powers each and every one of us wields. And it clearly states that the Chancellor was well within his power to mobilize our fleets, and by executive order use them as he did in a time of crisis. So I assure you his actions were very much legal."

"Now, coming to where his actions were directed. Let us not forget that he acted to repel a Sith invasion, an invasion that threatened our borders, and one which the Free Worlds had done nothing to resist. Even now they do nothing. So let's not act like anyone has a moral high ground in questioning what was done." He paused for a moment, looking around to get a feel for those gathered in the chamber. "Was it hastily done? Maybe. Should he have informed the Senate of his intentions? Maybe. Did he need to? No. Was it legal? Yes. Denon still bleeds, not because of the Chancellor's actions, but because of Sith aggression and Free World inaction. So I ask you this simple question Senator Redrish? With whom do we stand at the brink of war? The Sith? We have already been at war with them for years, ever since they attacked Ranger Command on Corellia."

@Tess @Wit @Feng Mian @Eccles @ThisIsHowLibetyDies @Mockingjay

 

[Sibyl Lassiter]

While Hedarial, Redrish, Ro and Drast argued their points, Sibyl was typing on her Datapad. Dressed in an emerald green dress, the Senator was paying little attention to what was going on in the Senate, far more interested in the message that she was working on. With Tristodd still out of commission, nothing seemed to be working in her office. Her other aides were a bunch of incompetents, at least the Brentioch boy was an idiot competent. Due to that, she decided to write the message herself.

“You should say something.” Dongwa said to her. The woman looked at the droid and sighed. He was right, but if Emil Ro is now the Chancellor it is partially due to her fault, after all she voted for him. Talking against the man would show that the Brentalaan woman recognized her error and she refuses to do that. A Lassiter is never wrong! Like all the other Senators, she had been deceived by Ro. She neverimagined he would be so stupid as to make such blunders. The Chancellor was a full plate for the tabloids, making the entire New Republic to shame. He was unable even to hide his love affairs. Even her was being called as one of Ro’s hypothetical lovers. She had lost count of how many times journalists had asked her what the name of Emil's Firrerreo lover was and if she participated in a ménage á trois with them. This was absurd! She would prefer to marry Claudias Tannaras to be the lover of an impulsive and imbecile being like Emil Ro.

Sighing again, Sibyl rose from her seat. Leaving her Datapad there, she approached the microphone of her pod and activated it “Colleagues of the Senate, I think that all of us here agree that the Sith are dangerous to the Galaxy and that what they did to Firrerre was an atrocity. While I believe that Chancellor Ro had the best intentions in wanting to retaliate this attack, he ended up acting without thinking.” she made a pause, watching the reaction of the other Senator. “In his eagerness to avenge the poor souls lost in the attack on Firrerre, the Chancellor ignored the authority of the Senate, launched an ill planned attack on Denon and now the New Republic is being vilified by the Free Worlds Alliance. I believe that Ro should have held an assembly to discuss and vote on the approval of this attack, after all we are a democracy and now all the planets we represent are being considered guilty for the deaths of the civilians in Denon. If this oucome was the result of an attack approved by the Senate, I would remain silent. But this was the result of our leader's well intentioned, but rash actions. This way, I believe that Chancellor Emil Ro should respond for ignoring the principles of democracy.”

After finishing her speech, Sibyl returned to her seat. She picked her Datapad and continued to work on her message. It should be perfect, after all she was going to talk in the name of all the Brentaal Houses. It was going to be an invitation for Governor Galek Ordalos to visit Brentaal to discuss important matters.

@Wit @Mockingjay @ThisIsHowLibetyDies @Feng Mian @Tess @Eccles

 

[Raycom Hedarial]

Listening to his subsequent speakers with a grim face, Hedarial started to regret the severity and alarm that he had utilised in his rhetoric and his quite direct accusations. Alas, it had left him wide open for enemy jabs. Yet, it had had the desired effect to bring Ro into a defensive stance. The man spoke quite emotional, and in his ire had committed mistakes that were necessary for him to push his line.

Yet it had backed the Chancellor into entrenching himself in his position and lured him into the reach of quite bold and inaccurate statements. He was burning for his chance to deliver his answering remarks. Yet, Senator Drast with his cooler and calculated statement presented a problem. He could not attack the Chancellor directly around these new points and had to heavily incorporate them into his deliberations. Luckily, Senator Lassiter evened the ground a bit and brought the discussion back in the right direction. After applauding her remarks, he decided it was necessary to get back into the fray. Mentally connecting the topics, he rose from his chair and strode to the podium, a stern look on his face.

"Mr Chancellor, my fellow Senators, I apologize for taking the floor once more, yet I am required to elaborate on the Chancellors questions directed at my person." He nodded towards the central aisle, his expression severe.

"To answer straightforward, Mr Chancellor, I do not believe that I alone have the means to punish you. I never suggested as much, yet the Senate as a whole can indeed move against your actions and has the power to respond to your motions. And I invoked this body, not to administer any penalty outright, but to decide how it must respond to your unlawful actions."

He cleared his throat, glancing shortly down to his notes, before looking throughout the Senate. "Furthermore I must admit, that I truly did not send aid in the role of Senator after the attacks on Firrerre, yet that is because I was not Senator during these events. My predecessor, acting for a party on the other side of the political spectrum, had sadly not seen it as a desirable motion. Thus I was only able to send my own money through charity, as I was a mere campaigning politician at the time. If you were to take a look at my campaign speeches, then you would know that I took the matter seriously and that I diverted a serious part of my spending to charity organisations aiding locally, imperilling my chances of ever standing in this very chamber. I believe it quite presumptuous then, that you so coldly accuse me of standing to the side."

He met the icy glare of the chancellor, before moving on in his monologue. "Furthermore, you and Senator Drast have been quite adamant in reminding us all that you are the Commander and Chief of our forces. A fact that I even stressed in my opening statement. Yet, the fact that you can legally command the forces of the Republic, does not make any command legal by default. Our nation, the New Republic, did not have the right to enter the Denon system. The Free Worlds Alliance did not clear this operation. Furthermore, at the time the Republic and the Sith were not officially in a state of war. And whilst you can command our troops in war, you can not freely start wars as you like."

Gesturing through the room, he aimed his following remarks at the fellow delegates around him. "Is it not this hall, this collective of representatives at the heart of our nation and our constitution should decide with whom we fight or is it true that the man leading us and commanding our forces, can start wars with any entity as he pleases?"

He looked back to the Chancellor. "Mr Chancellor I understand your frustration and your will to act. My remarks in the last Galactic Senate should be proof enough, that I believe decisive action needs to be taken. Yet that desire and your right to command our troops does not elevate you above our nation's borders, it does not authorise you to go behind the elected governing body of this nation, and it does not empower you to conduct "bombing raids" with entire armadas as a reprisal to a Sith Attack on a non-Republic world. You can not bomb occupied FWA worlds as a reprisal for the Sith bombing unoccupied FWA worlds without involving the Free Worlds, or our won Senate if we are neither at war with the Sith or cleared to operate in FWA space. That alone has breached so many, many regulations!"

Resting his hands on the podium he sighed, before ending with his final statement. "Worse than the legal aspects is the fact that your actions entirely ignored the democratic principles our nation is built on. Furthermore, it offended our allies of the Free World Alliance and rendered you and our whole nation less trustworthy as an ally and military partner. I understand your intention, yet your decision on how to enact them has not only backfired but poses a vile threat to the Republic as a whole. I can not ignore such intemperance, even if it was done in good faith. Too many atrocities have been done in the name of greater good. With that I yield the floor"

@Emil Ro @Raz Chak @Sibyl Lassiter @Jana Kang @Caliban Drast @Sutton Rayne @Eumi Redrish @Jin Vaisra

 

[Jin Vaisra]

“Senators, I don’t understand what you expect.” Jin stood from his pod, clearly exhausted by the proceedings. “You demand a response, but Chancellor Ro has already made it. Twice, in fact. Here, and in the previous assembly on Naboo. He has made his stance very clear. One that remains with his original decision.”

“Chancellor Ro reacted in the face of planetary genocide, driven by a feeling that you might know as ‘empathy.’ An unfamiliar concept to some of you here, I am sure, since you would rather bellyache about red tape and political regulations.” He clasped his hands together in false sympathy. “Of course, the civilians caught in the crossfire is a tragedy that cannot be undone. I would expect Chancellor Ro to offer reparations to the families of those unfortunately involved. That is the least they deserve.”

“However, if I have to hear one more hour-long speech about why the Chancellor is an idiot, I might have a stroke. We understand. I’m sure he understands too, and has learned not to react so impulsively the next time millions of innocent people are killed.” His voice was dripping with sarcasm. Why was everyone so worked up about a few dozen dead civilians? They were minor collateral damage. Compared to Firrerre, the toll was insignificant—but he supposed that was how people viewed disaster. A million was a statistic. Twenty was an outrage.

Jin knew he was making a mistake by alienating his colleagues, but why should he care? Fondor and Kuat had been at odds with each other for centuries, and he’d heard rumors of Sibyl consolidating her power base on Brentaal, likely in order to stage a secession or a coup. The Republic was on the road to destruction. Jin could see it plainly, and if he wanted to keep Fondor afloat, he would align his planet’s interests only with those strong enough to resist grade-school peer pressure from a headless foreign power like the Alliance.

Making an enemy out of Hedarial was a shame, though. But Jin liked having powerful enemies. It made him feel important.

“Let me make this clear, I do not excuse the Chancellor’s actions. But it is ridiculous to malign him for not politely asking every single person in the galaxy what he ought to do. This Senate is already plagued with bureaucracy and corporate interests. An assembly to discuss a retaliatory attack would have taken weeks, and a committee with the Alliance months. Plenty of time for the Sith to mobilize and stage a first strike into the heart of Republic space, as it had with Byblos not long ago.”

His eyes flicked to Senator Kang. Jin wondered when she might join the debate. He wasn’t sure what side she would choose, but with the room evenly divided on how to handle Emil, her opinion held considerable weight. “I do not stand directly beside Chancellor Ro, but I will stand against any attempts to unseat him and cause further humiliation to this Republic.”

@Eccles

 

[Jana Kang]

"Chancellor, my fellow senators-" Jana said when it was her assigned turn to speak. "-it appalls me and does a great injustice to the many victims of the Sith attacks on my homeworld and other members worlds, that there are some among you that still do not consider themselves at war."

If member worlds of this body were invaded and its people massacred. If another New Republic prison was massacred because it held Sith war criminals. If neither was enough to move this supposedly close alliance of worlds to act in their shared best interests and their own safety.. then would there ever be?

"I hear the senator from Fondor and shall keep it brief. Byblos shares the sentiment as voiced by the senators from Coruscant and Fondor."

 

[Raycom Hedarial]

Hedarial bit his lower lip and courtly shook his head. He could only believe that these Senators were unwilling to now move against a chancellor they had supported. Probably through some inexplicit feeling of being tied to his fate. Did they not understand that this was the chance for them to untie themselves and walk away with their heads high? By now backing him up, they sealed the ties that they suspected, and they truly would be tied to the Chancellor... and once that happened, the Senate floor would devolve into entrenched lines, those for and against the Senator, and politics and pragmatism would take a backseat to blind loyalty. He swallowed, Hedarial was no idealist, but such a notion caused even him to worry, it would murder all process, possibly even until after the chancellor was gone.

Thus he decided to rise as soon as the next break led itself for him to take the floor. Striding to the podium with a quick step, his face now had an honest expression of worry. He cleared his throat with a silent harrumph and addressed the chamber:

"My fellow Senators, fret not, this will be no hour-long speech about how our esteemed chancellor is an idiot. I believe none of my addresses had the length or content, but it will be an answer to the sentiment of my fellow delegates." he nodded towards Kang, and Vaisra before continuing with his short interjection. "I know of the Chancellors response, yet it is no defence to his actions. Our chancellor has no special status as commander and chief in the FWA, and our forces have no right to enter their space. I also do not ridicule his decision to not politely ask everyone in the galaxy. Such a bombing run requires secrecy to work, but he can not set himself above the law due to rage and wish for revenge because the Sith have bombed a planet that is not even part of our Republic."

"I understand his frustration and earnest sorrow, yet he would have needed to clear permission for his flight path. Had he, and would he know stand in the central aisle waving a decree that permits him the action by the competent authorities of the FWA, then I would be amidst his strongest supporters today. I believe the war with the Sith can not be taken too lightly." He sighed, remembering the discussion in the Galactic Senate. "Yet we need a competent leader who can contain his impulse and act in the area allowed to him by galactic rules laws and regulations. A man that respects democracy and who can have a clear head in the face of destruction, hatred and injustice. A man that can unite the Factions opposing the Sith into a combined effort!"

He then gave some concessions, to be less attachable overall. "Yes, he should care and he should burn with an inner fire in the face of injustice, but he should not draw wedges between the factions opposing the Sith. By further complicating the dialogue between the Free Worlds and the Republic, he has done us no favour. The chance that they will now clear their space for our operations is even lower, and we can be lucky they have not raised any large diplomatic moves or sanctions against us. Because what we did was, if perceived in that light, an act of war against the FWA just as much as the Sith."

He prodded himself against the podium, his expression now hard and filled with sorrow. "I too would like to jump at the ones responsible for all this suffering, but within the law! Let us declare war on the sith and make it completely official. I am fully in favour of that. Mobilise our planetary forces, strengthen the navies. If you, my senators, are so in favour of that, then let us organise it. But, then I have to question why so many of you did oppose my proposed embargos against the Sith in the Galactic Senate and call them too extreme."

He leaned forward looking through the ranks of senators that were now openly endorsing the Chancellors actions. "I think that for many, this is just a sense of party loyalty. That we have the case of a well-connected politician, encircled by his supporters. Though I warn you, Senators. This action will not blow away, and he will not be the only one to feel the repercussions. And if the Chancellor acts again in an equally incautious and inconsiderate fashion, then the people will hold you, you claim he must have learned from this fault, to blame as much as him. We are setting a dangerous precedent. If we sign this action as alright, we can never be able to stop a chancellor from starting a war with our allies. If all that is needed to start a war is a good cause, then I fear we can never stop the office of chancellor from starting any war they like. The conclusion of This session reaches further than the attack on Denon. It will decide how the Republic stands to war, and what powers the Chancellor shall have."

"It is your duty to support him if you deem it right, yet I would think before supporting his actions so graphically in words and deliberations. It will be your names that will in the future be named by chancellors that have started wars in the name of the "Greater Good". Your words today, and in the following months will be used against you, just like mine against me, by newspapers, other delegates and even your opponents in the campaigns to come. I yield the floor to you know. Let us pray, that your words will aid you in the coming months and years."

He then marched back to his seat, hiding a smile. This chancellor would not hold on to power forever. If politicians truly wished to taint their image being his patrons, then he would not stop them. And by calling them out, he was sure to learn more about which of these Senators he should make himself more familiar. He had a lot of networking before him.

@Emil Ro @Raz Chak @Sibyl Lassiter @Jana Kang @Caliban Drast @Sutton Rayne @Eumi Redrish @Jin Vaisra

 

[Voren Dhur]

I reckon with a few acting classes, I could ace being a Senator. Wouldn't even need to clean up my act. Maybe the drink and the skag might help, the lovable rogue? I swear I've met cleaner crooks on 1313 that on the surface, at least the crooks down there don't pretend they ain't gonna waste you, and at least they do it themselves.

---

Vorens hand was a whirr as his stylus passed back and forth over his datapad, taking notes as the Senators engaged in their back and forth with one another. He had a little recording device on the seat next to him, his commlink doubling up to record what was going on for later reference. From what he could tell this session was not being televised in full, and even if it was, Voren wanted to live script, not the ones the broadcasters let him see.

He didn't really care for the different relations between the various Senators, most of this was posturing anyway. But one thing that didn't escape his notice was Emil Ro and the absolute shade he was throwing.

Watching the Senators having a go at each other was better than most pay-to-view fights on the holo-feeds these days, and only slightly less scripted. Especially as the Chancellor was coming out with some absolutely beautiful lines.

'Unlike the leaders of the Free Worlds Alliance, I do not wish to wait until a New Republic world—Kuat, Fondor, Byblos, Coruscant, or any other—is glassed before I finally take action.'​

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.... you could practically feel the heat on that one. His insult to the Senator for Kuat was just, well, sublime. It was a miracle the Speaker had allowed it to pass unchallenged, but maybe the New Republic was less strict on that front - not that Voren cared, made for damn good stories. Emil Ro was defending his actions exceptionally well and was playing to the gallery like a pro - guess that's why he's chancellor and you ain't buddy, Voren chuckled to himself pointing down to the Senators below who railed against the Chancellor.

"I mean this shits just gold." he laughed to himself, earning a tut and a sigh from the more highbrow journalist sat behind him. He got to work....

 

[Landall Charilla]

The distinctive crack of a metal-capped speakers staff rang out across the chamber as Vice-Chair and Clerk, Landall, rose to his feet, soliciting a general hush from those gathered.

"Order!" the command rang out, as Landall sternly looked at Senator Hedarial, who he could have sworn shrunk into his seat just a tad, as Landall did his very best stern headmaster look. "Supreme Chancellor, Senators, you are reminded that this is a courteous Chamber, and members must be allowed to address the points levelled at them, without interruption, and without the offering of insult."

Landall looked over the room with an immense degree of pomposity as he continued.

"There have been accusations made in this debate that some Senators are allowing alleged private interests to influence their decisions here. The Chair reminds members that such allegations are disorderly, and requests that they are not continued. Furthermore," he paused to consult the written record "- Senator Hedarial, I must apologise for perhaps somewhat disrupting your prose, but the record reads that you stated, and I quote 'The conclusion of this session reaches further than the attack on Denon. It will decide how the Republic stands to war, and what powers the Chancellor shall have.'."

He paused, hearing a mutter from the floor and bringing his staff smashing down once more.

"Order! I will have order!"

"There is a suggestion here that it is your intention to move a motion relating to the Supreme Chancellors powers, and further, to the process through which war might be declared. Senator Hedarial you must come to the point, please, if this is your intention - the Chair asks that you state it plainly for the record."

Once more, the staff cracked down.

"Order! Senator, you have the floor."

OOC - Posted by @Nor'baal at the request of @ThisIsHowLibetyDies. If others want me to thwack the floor and shout at you, let me know.

 

[Raycom Hedarial]

Rising once more to the podium, Hedarial had trouble hiding a smile. Yes, he had intended to do just that. But with the tempers in the room flaring, and with the heat of the opposition, he had hoped for the last few statements made without caution, statements that would then be quite hurtful when he made for a motion.

"Mr Speaker, I thank you for your observation, and thank you for the floor." he kept his tone level, and his face composed, as he now addressed the room. "Supreme Chancellor, fellow Senators. No matter your stance, you must agree that the passage that was read to us from the constitution is lacking depth and clarity. It is a matter of interpretation, a matter that would and in this case might still land before the courts if challenged. So I propose that we shall elaborate further on the power of the Supreme Chancellor in his role as commander and chief. Have it written down that a chancellor would not only break intergalactic law with an inopportune strike but that our national jurisdiction can then act against such a move directly! We need to limit the chance of future accidents akin to this one. There needs to be ensured that the office of the Supreme Chancellor does not indulge in complete power over all war actions.
This occurrence heavily influences how we interpret the power of the office, and as we judge the seated Supreme Chancellor, we should also write down our conclusions for the men who shall follow in his eventual wake."
With that, he inclined his head slightly to the speaker. "WIth that, Mr Speaker, I yield the floor!"

 

[Emil Ro]

Here, the Chancellor saw an opportunity. The thought of his power being limited greatly annoyed him. The New Republic Senate was lazy and ineffective, less so even than its galactic counterpart. If the Senators gathered stripped him of all ability to respond without their explicit permission, the Republic could very well crumble under bureaucracy as the Old Republic had before it. But there was a way he could give his critics something they wanted, if they were willing to budge and give him something in return.

Rising, the Chancellor took to his podium once more. "Senator Hedarial finally makes a salient point," he said amicably. "The Constitution only vaguely defines the Chancellor's powers. And while I am loathe to surrender authority to conduct military action to a bumbling and divided Senate, I can see that there may be some room for compromise here."

He had to choose his next words carefully. The intergalactic press was in the room, after all. "I will agree to a resolution that restricts my rights as Chancellor to order entire battlegroups into foreign space without explicit Senate approval. I will also agree to an amendment that would make it necessary for me to inform the Senate whenever I intend to take military action, even in a crisis. To ensure this resolution passes, I will use the tie-breaking vote, if necessary, to see that it makes it into New Republic law." Here, he paused to let his offer sink in. "In exchange, I would like two things. An official declaration of condemnation of the Sith Empire by this body to complement the sanctions that were passed by the Galactic Senate earlier this cycle. And," Here was the risky suggestion, "I would like this body to formerly acknowledge the New Republic's friendship with the Jedi Order. The Jedi helped us in the recent relief missions to the Anoat sector, and they prevented the Sith from subjecting Ossus, another Free World, to Sith invasion and occupation."

"The Jedi would have no role in our government, nor role in our military. They would merely be allowed to establish temples on worlds that approve of their presence, starting with the old Jedi Temple here on Coruscant. It is long time the stain of the Empire was removed from that building, and I can think of no better way to do that than to return it to its original owners." He paused one last time. "You may, of course, add amendments to this resolution, but on these two issues, I stand resolute. They are the price of my compromise."

@ThisIsHowLibertyDies @Feng Mian @Wit @Eccles @Tess @LouJoVi

 

[Jana Kang]

At her assigned time, which was surprisingly early this round, Jana pressed the button on her microphone. "Mister Speaker, Byblos voted in favor of the sanctions against the Sith Empire and is very grateful towards the Jedi Order for they helped defend us from a Sith Invasion not so long ago."

Without the help of New Republic reinforcements and Jedi Knights engaging the Sith Lords, Byblos would have no doubt fallen to the horrors of the Sith and suffer the same fate it had last time the Empire reigned supreme.

"Therefore, Byblos will enforce the sanctions and be proud to call the Jedi Order their friends." thus signalling she was in favor of the two conditions the Supreme Chancellor had requested for the compromise. There was one thing that didn't quite sit well with her, though. "I do believe that establishing jedi temples on worlds should be a decision by their respective governments and not something we as senate impose on our members. On the suggestion of the Jedi reclaiming their old temple Byblos abstains to leave that decision solely for the representative from Coruscant."

Then, with another press of the button, the senator from Byblos yielded the floor.

 

[Landall Charilla]

Once again there was a general hubbub in Landalls immediate vicinity as a clerk handed him a ream of a paper. He was unsure why the New Republic Clerks insisted that a physical copy always be on hand in this day and age, but that was no doubt, an issue for another time.

With practiced ease, he brought the butt of his staff clanging down, and called the session to order.

”Order!”

“The question has been put to the chair that this Senate consider the following - ‘In relation to the authority of the Supreme Chancellor, it is proposed that the holder of that Office require a vote of this Chamber to move battlegroups into foriegn space. Furthermore it is posited that the Supreme Chancellor be required to inform the Chamber of their intention to take military action, prior to it being pursued.’.”

“As an addendum to this proposal the Supreme Chancellor moves that - ‘The New Republic Senate formally condemn the Sith Empire, and formally acknowledge the New Republic's friendship with the Jedi Order.’.”

“Supreme Chancellor Ro has proposed the motion, and, with the stipulation that the re-opening of the Jedi Order Temple on Coruscant be left at the liberty of the Government of Coruscant, I believe Senator Kang has seconded the motion?”

He paused the confer with his aides on the correct procedure moving forward, before slamming the staff back down, calling for order.

”The motion is moved, the New Republic Senate thus calls the roll, those in favour Yea, to the contrary, Nay.”

OOC - Posting at the request of @Mockingjay, and to focus the debate onto the proposals being put forward. @Eccles I added you as a second, if I misinterpreted your post let me know.

 

[Eumi Redrish]

To say Eumi was shocked to hear the Supreme Chancellor speak to her in the way he did wouldn't come close to describing the level of astonishment and repugnance she felt for the man when he spat his venomous accusations at her. She was not the one who led the New Republic Fleet to attack an allied government's sovereign territory. She was not the one who killed innocent people and thought 'reparations' would be enough to gloss over his committing a war crime on an allied state. She was not the one standing in the middle of a Senate of her peers throwing baseless, traitorous, and downright belligerent comments around instead of doing what he should have done from the very beginning – apologize sincerely for his missteps and accept punishment for them.

No, he was too proud for that. Too proud of his bad decisions and too proud of the perilous position he'd dragged them all into against their will.

She was so caught off guard by his slander that she just stood there as the other Senators spoke back and forth, airing their own complaints at one another and the Chancellor. The Speaker tried to keep order for the most part, but there were still heated debates nonetheless. It took a blip from her datapad to finally bring the Senator of Kuat back to reality, and when she read the message from the Principal Director, she felt her heart sink into her stomach. She had new orders. She began reading what The Ten wanted her to say and how they wanted her to say it. They were livid, to say the least, and she honestly would've been surprised if they weren't. But this was... this was serious.

They had a lot to say, so she took her time reading it over twice before pressing the button that indicated she wanted to speak once more.

Hopefully, she wouldn't screw this up.

Stepping up to her mic, Eumi lifted her chin as she let her eyes fall on the many Senators gathered. “Fellow Senators, Speaker, Supreme Chancellor... before I cast my vote, I want to make a few things very clear. Kuat has been a loyal Republic System for almost the entirety of our more than twenty thousand year history. We have built your fleets. Your warships. We have fought alongside you in every war.” She aimed a sharp gaze at Senator Drast for a moment, harkening back to his earlier questioning of where Kuat loyalties might stand if the Galaxy went to war. “When we were occupied by what became the Galactic Empire, it took thirty years to gain back our independence, and if any one of you thinks for one solitary moment that we would allow the Sith back into our good graces … or that we would build anything for them after what they took from us, you are very wrong.”

Her words were like ice.

“And where you accuse us of not sending aid, Chancellor, I would like to offer a rebuttal. We did and we are sending aid. We've sent goods, medical supplies, and transports. What we did not do, was announce it to the whole galaxy so we could get a pat on the back... something which you seem to think we desire. What we desire, Chancellor, is for an acceptable explanation for your deeds, one that would appease our allies and prevent an all-out war with the FWA over what was solely your actions. Instead, you choose to throw insults and further sully the honor of the position you hold.”

“Does not your attack on Denon, and the subsequent reoccupation by the Sith, speak more to your incompetence than it does anything else? You say you bombarded Denon to save the innocent civilians from the Sith, to protect the Republic from the Sith, and yet the Sith are still there. Do you suggest we bombard it again? Glass it like the Sith did Firrerre? Where is the line, Chancellor? When will the ends finally justify the means? No. There is no vindication in bombarding a planet only for the same scourge to return the very next day. There is no win there. And no matter what reparations we offer-” Her dark eyes fell on Senator Fondor and his laissez-faire position with regards to the war crime that was committed on Denon. “-they will bring little comfort to those who are dead and those who have lost loved ones. If you think that is what 'empathy' is, adding more death to the millions already dead and dying, then I pity you.”

Her gaze stayed on him for just a moment longer. “You speak of humiliation? What more humiliation can our Republic possibly endure? First we had a Chancellor who didn't take action, and now we have one with the blood of civilians on his hands and an ego that would happily lead us all to ruin if he felt like it.”

She shook her head then, letting her eyes fall on every Senator in the room in turn. “Search your minds, your hearts, and your souls, Senators. Think about the precedents we set here today, and the repercussions that we should expect if we treat the Supreme Chancellor with kid gloves. Think hard on how many fronts you want the next war to be fought on, because if we cannot appease our allies... they will not be our allies for long.”

Finally, she was done. She had said all that The Ten wanted her to say, and she could breathe easier. After a brief pause, she concluded her time on the floor by addressing the vote.

“With that said, Kuat votes yes. Both on restricting the Chancellor's powers that be, and on condemning the Sith Empire. They reached out with an olive branch, then showed us their true colors just as quickly. As we already knew, they are not to be trusted. Not now, not ever. Kuat also votes yes to formally acknowledging our friendship with the Jedi.”

“My own amendment to this motion is that the Supreme Chancellor be formally censured and compelled to write a formal apology to the Free Worlds Alliance for his actions on Denon. Along with reparations and, hopefully, talks regarding a joint operation to free Denon and any other FWA worlds currently under Sith control, we should appease our allies.”

"I yield the floor." She announced, bowing her head respectfully to the Speaker before taking her seat.

@ThisIsHowLibertyDies @Nor'baal @Mockingjay @Wit @LouJoVi @Feng Mian @Eccles @Reyn @Charndley