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[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Spoiler: OOC

Celeste Stythani has been released into Jedi custody, specifically Hera's, by the ISC. They are currently hidden in space inside Jedi territory

It was a rare side of Councilwoman Hera Albion, but it was a side that would be seen on this occasion. To those who did not know her, she would seem no different than any other Jedi. About her person, she wore her green armor, blackened goggles, lightsabers, and councilmember robe. Standing in the prison cellblock of a Nesuto-Class Combat Carrier, looking directly at the form of Celeste Stythani, Hera was the perfect picture of a form most frightening to anyone who knew her. If Dash were here, he would have instantly known at a glance that something was deeply amiss with Hera.

Hera was not smiling.

The vessel they traveled on, after taking custody of Celeste, had dipped into a secret hyper lane and dropped into a gravity well in dead space within a single jump's range of the full Jedi fleet. Celeste would not be taken into a Jedi location for full custody, not yet, though Hera already had a few locations in mind for the Sith once they were done. This location was known to absolutely no one, save those Jedi personnel onboard this vessel and the Jedi fleet awaiting orders nearby. The Free Worlds Alliance Senators would be contacting Hera soon in order to meet, but their conversation would be kept strictly over holo-communications. Grandmaster Alex would also be on her way, though physically or via holo-communication Hera was unsure of yet.

Before the Free Worlds Alliance could speak to Celeste, before even Grandmaster Alex, Hera wanted to speak to this Sith herself. While there was still time to be alone, the red-headed Jedi wanted to hear what Celeste had to say straight from her. No one else around to influence or convince. Just Celeste Stythani and Hera Albion. Hands clasped behind her back as she looked through the red laser shield, Hera spoke, "Why were you on Manaan, Miss Celeste?"

@LadyRen @Valen Pelora

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Handed over like cattle...this was how it felt like. The Consul of Gannaria had presented terms but in order to get through with her petition, she'd have to rally a whole bunch of senators. In the meantime, the ISC had no business in keeping the known Sith Champion, so that at the earliest occasion she had been handed into Jedi custody. There had been nothing she could have done against it and she hadn't even said a word. The ex-senator accepted her fate and was apparently waiting for a hopefully fair trial from the Jedi side...

The one who was accompanying her? The red-headed, exuberantly annoying Jedi that had been on Manaan when they had caught them right in the act as Vahliri had commited a terrible mistake Celeste still couldn't understand: A violent display of the Force, attempting to do what exactly? It had been a mistake that had cost them all everything. Celeste had no idea about her own fate and hadn't heard from the others, but she expected them to be held in ISC custody for now. Celeste had plenty of reasons to be fuming, but obviously she wasn't. She was as controlled as ever, the senator having the emotional conversation with Victoria still in her mind and knowing damn well that there was no way in fighting any of it.

The demeanor of the red head she had met a little while ago had changed drastically and Celeste began to analyze her more closely. Her expressions were relatively neutral but there was even a mild hint of curiosity bleeding into her features. They were alone and she didn't feel any other presences close by, but she was questioning whether the Jedi only wanted to talk.

"I was on Manaan because I was told to come. A Sith Master and the ISB made me accompany them". This was indeed nothing but the truth and Celeste obviously wasn't afraid to share it. "Why? I don't know. I was neither trusted with concrete details nor giving any real tools to aid the mission". Also a fact. They had trusted Celeste to help somehow, but it had all gone downhill anyway, even without having her actively manipulate things from within.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

"Don't lie to me." Hera practically growled the words out, her fists tightening until her knuckles turned white. There was a great turbulent rage that surged within the Jedi, but Hera would not lose her cool here. Suppressing it and forcing her hands to relax, Hera spoke once more. "Don't lie, not to me. You were not forced to do anything. You are Celeste Stythani, you were a senator of the Free World Alliance before mysteriously disappearing. Then, you appear with two people you claim to be a Sith Master and a member of the ISB."

Then, Hera twitched. With a quick snapping of muscles, the woman slammed her fist into the wall opposite the cell. Her emotions ruled her for the moment as she shouted, "You were on Manaan! You could have said something to anyone at any time if you were a prisoner or being coerced, but that's not what you did! You did more than play along with your Sith companions, you defended them at every turn and worked as hard as possible to get me and my companions to leave you alone! So you could do what?! Am I to believe you were there to sight see?!."

Hera screamed in frustration, then, as if a switch had flipped in her brain, sighed with complete calmness. The feelings of rage and anger that Celeste would have easily been able to sense had disappeared entirely. She did not turn around, not yet. Hera was still struggling to keep herself under control. But the feelings that ruled her were kept in check enough that Celeste would no longer sense them. Quietly, just loudly enough for Celeste to hear, Hera asked,

"Why did you become a Sith?"

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

The uncertainty about the reason of their little chat kept bugging her, but she kept swallowing it down. But what happened next completely caught her off guard. Without any warning, a sudden rage flared up in the Councilor and Celeste froze up in shock. Was that supposed to be a test? The thought immediately crossed her mind. While she took a few steps back, her mouth literally flapped open and she was focusing to stay on those emotions. Under different circumstances a Sith would have been amused by such an outburst coming from a Jedi and like a shark smelling blood, they would have taken the bait.

Perhaps it would have even been way too easy to dive right in and enhance the rage the apparently slightly mad Jedi was caught in. That was what she wanted, wasn't it? To check whether Celeste was as stupid as some Sith, not able to control oneself. This was still about survival and despite everything that had happened, self control was still a forte of hers. "I don't even know your name..." she stated calmly, taking one careful step in her direction. "Are you okay?". The version of Celeste presented was the one known by most. A caring woman that had been hurt because she had cared. Yet, she really found the Jedi's descent concerning and wondered whether she was in desperate need of help for a moment.

After a moment, all of the emotions radiating off the red-head ceased and there was nothing but an eerie calmness. Actually a state Celeste knew as well. It was as if she was shutting all emotions off and from one second to the next, a whole different woman emerged once again, so that after a moment Celeste calmly began to elaborate. "I was born into it and I was once at a point where I thought it was the right thing. I've been fighting it ever since...while being angry, do you feel that pull? The Force is all around us and you Jedi know it better than everyone else. It's all about self-control. We actively need to lock it out, we need to keep fighting and so I always did". She was not intending to lecture her, but rather emphasizing her point about having been on the wrong path in the past.

There were still others questions to adress: those she had posed in her outburst, so Celeste cleared her throat and forced her muscles to relax. "I couldn't have just blabbed...Vahliri Kahtal would have killed me before I would have been able to finish the first sentence. I couldn't ask you Jedi for help for the same reason. She is dangerous. The ISB was in on it as well. They all are dangerous, so even Manaan was at risk. From the very moment I was safely away from them I talked. I didn't want to endanger any unnecessary lives...". Wouldn't that be something a Jedi would understand? A normal Jedi perhaps, but she was concerningly unstable...

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera did not speak as Celeste replied, attempting to explain what she saw as her side of the story. It almost sounded as though this woman attempted to lecture Hera. She compared the pull that Hera felt to the one Celeste doubtlessly felt. However, Hera held her response in the chamber for that. The rage that boiled inside Hera Albion was a bullet not to be wasted upon Celeste Stythani.

Listening and calming herself, Hera stood straight up as Celeste finished speaking. Turning toward Celeste, it would be apparent that Hera's face did not reflect the emotions that the Jedi felt. Hera grinned widely as if she had just been told a bad joke and was trying to pretend it was funny. "Yes, oh so righteous, so you will not mind opening up your mind to me then? If you truly have nothing to hide and you truly wanted nothing more than to not endanger any unnecessary lives, then let me see."

At that, Hera would truly relax her emotions. Celeste would be able to feel this as well, a certain happiness bubbling up from beneath the surface of the Jedi. She felt joy once more, and it was with joy that she reached out to touch Celeste's mind. She sought many things with this reach, to search Celeste's thoughts and emotions, to see the history that Celeste remembered of Manaan, and, most importantly, to sense if there was any darkness within her.

If Celeste wanted to prove herself to Hera, this was her chance.

@LadyRen

 

[Celeste Stythani]

Of course the other woman ignored the olive branch Celeste was offering, a seemingly genuine attempt to check in on tbe obviously troubled Jedi and without further ado, she even pushed further. Despite being in a much calmer state, the smile that graced the Jedi's lips all of a sudden looked more manically than soothing.

The veiled jab didn't go unnoticed but Celeste calmly left it uncommented. The Jedi questioned her righteousness but while she definitely had right to do so, she was entering dangerous territory as she happily carried on. Undoubtedly, as her red-haired counterpart relaxed herself further, she already began to reach out.

She'd find a wall though at first. A tough, hardened wall Celeste had built up throughout all the years. If not intended of Celeste, she wouldn't just breach it. The training hadn't been in vain. Mind tricks, alterations and fortifications were her forte and she had received special training from Raze himself, so there was no way the Jedi would simply take control here as those had been skills she had always practiced. From the outside it would seem like she was carefully weighting her options, before she closed her eyes.

Celeste inhaled slowly, freeing her mind and focusing as she allowed her to slip in slowly. However, with the intention of not having Hera noticebat all, she would open up a specific entrance through which she'd guide the Jedi, letting her explore a brief insight on a twisted memory in which a genuinely nervous Celeste glanced around until her gaze met the first Jedi - Hera - who had adressed them first.

"Hello! I am Hera Albion, Jedi Knight, I am here on behalf of the Jedi Order-" and that was when Hera would actually sense a flicker of hope through the memory in Celeste's mind, before Celeste pushed her out at once. Hera's smile - despite being way over the top - had an uncannily infectious hint to it and so a soft, however apologetic smile crossed her own lips as she slowly folded her arms in front of her chest.

"No...Wait. You've just asked to rummage through my mind...you and I both know the risks such procedures bear". There was no way to tell whether the other Jedi had also been specialized in mind manipulation as well, but the chances weren't high, she presumed. "I don't want to think about the damange you could inflict inside...and sorry, but after everything that happened, I'm not giving away trust easily. Your outburst earlier worries me. I have never seen a Jedi like this...". The controlled features shifted into genuine concern as she took a step back again, slowly rubbing her right temple.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera and not necessarily waited for permission to enter Celeste's mind, and certainly found the walls constructed there. But whether or not Celeste knew it, Hera could sense something intensely dark and horrible from those walls. Hera latched onto that like the hook claws of a Nexu and funneled all of her energy into examining what it was. While Celeste attempted to open a small passage into her memory for Hera to examine, Hera looked elsewhere.

Hera did not find more of Celeste's memories, nor did she break the other woman's mental defenses. No, instead Hera found herself pulling and revealing the fingerprint touch of someone else on Celeste's mind. A sudden and intense horror would fill the entire room, spreading out until it had encompassed the entire ship in an incredibly evil and powerful darkness. For the first time in Hera's life, she felt a cold shiver up her spine.

Someone far worse than Celeste had touched this woman's mind. As quick as the dark feeling passed over the massive vessel, it passed away, but not before leaving its cold touches on anything and everything linked to the Force in this vessel. Hera would not know what she had just experienced, but the arriving vessel of the Grandmaster (@Valen Pelora) would have felt it, Alex would know whose trace Hera had just encountered.

Celeste had met Darth Raze (@Sreeya), Celeste had been trained by him, his evil was not something that could be hidden or ignored. Stepping away as Celeste refused to allow Hera to look further, Hera remarked, "No, I've seen enough." And, at that, she turned to head toward the hangar bay. She could feel the arrival of the Grandmaster and Hera desperately needed to speak with her about what she had just found.

After Alex and Hera spoke, they would head toward the bridge to begin preparing for the meeting of Free World Alliance senators VIA hologram communication.

@Valen Pelora @LadyRen

 

[Alexandria Voran]

She had been here before. She could have sworn. A Sith captured by the ISC, Hera beckoning her forth. An air of true uncertainty. What would the Jedi do with their prisoner? The balance of power in the galaxy was rapidly shifting. The old powers splintering by the wayside. The New Republic lay in tattered shambles. The Empire split with their Sith masters but ruled by a man who nearly sat at their apex. The Sith were scattered but not gone, the ISCs power ever growing and here the Jedi finally found some stability. A moment of piece in the chaos. Only to have a Free Worlds Senator thrust into their lap. Alex shook her head. The Free Worlds sagged under the weight of their indecision still. Against it all, hanging over them like executioners axe, we’re the Killik. Yes…for once the Order marched in the right direction…united…while the galaxy came apart at the seems. Today would further shape that course.

Alex’s shuttle was securely provided the encrypted coordinates of the fleet’s location. The Council taking extreme measures to ensure Celeste’s location remained a secret. The woman’s danger went far beyond her abilities in the Force. Hera had taken custody and was patiently waiting Alex’s arrival. Her shuttle burst from hyperspace. Smoothly nearing the hangar of the ship playing home to their guest.
Cold fingers gripped her heart. Squeezing…tighter. An unmistakable sensation passing over her soul. A darkness she could not mistake. One she had not felt reach out into the galaxy for a very long time. Alex steeled her heart. Her hands brushing against her saber hilt. Troubling. A quick breath settled her mind. The sensation was gone. He wasn’t here…but something conjured that image. She quickly removed her crash harness, the Grandmaster stepping from the shuttle.

Hera was there waiting. Ever dependable, ever faithful. The Councilors signature in the Force hummed. The slightest hint of a wobble visible only to her eyes in the Force. Even more concerning. Balance was needed here above all yes. She smiled softly as she walked down. “We have ghosts on the ship, Hera. What did our guest bring with her?” Alex’s voice was calm. The seriousness of the situation not lost on them.

@Black Noise @LadyRen

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera greeted the Grandmaster as she stepped off the shuttle with a grin, her joy genuine but clearly struggling with something else deep inside. "The fingerprint of a dark presence, and I do not think it merely a ghost. Something much stronger than our guest has interacted with her. I would be lying if I said I thought it was a concern to be merely dismissed." Then, she began walking and relaying her previous interactions with Celeste to Alex.

As they walked, Hera directed Alex toward the bridge. There was no need to continue speaking to the prisoner before the meeting unless Alex had more private questions, at which point Hera would follow the Grandmaster. The Senators of the Free Worlds Alliance were due to buzz in hologram at any moment, though they would be denied access until permission was granted by Hera. Regardless of their direction, Hera would speak with Alex.

"Our guest, Celeste Stythani, is the notably former senator of the world Rattak- is that how it's pronounced?- Though it was a Free World before being taken over by the Empire then mysteriously released, likely due to the Empire not having enough spare ships to rule it." Hera would stop walking momentarily to make a point, speaking with a smile that did not match the emotions that began to rise beneath. "She is, in my opinion, a compulsive liar. One of the most dangerous kinds, Celeste is someone who lies purely by omission. There is so much that she alludes to, claims, and acts, but she will reveal no pure truth."

A flash of rage surged in the Jedi and Hera let a true opinion slip out, "I'm sure you could tear the truth out if you wanted-" Then, as quickly as it began, Hera calmed herself. "But that would be most unkind, I think." Hera found no fault in her anger. It came from a place very deep inside herself, but it was also a reaction to the injustice she felt about the whole situation. 'Here is a Sith,' Hera thought, 'That our supposed allies are prepared to prostrate themselves for? It doesn't make any sense to me.'

Reaching the bridge or the prison block, wherever Alex directed, Hera would finish with her smile returning. "Shall we begin?"

@Valen Pelora @LadyRen

 

[Alexandria Voran]

The smallest of frowns tugged at the corner of her mouth. Hera had felt it too. “Raze.” The word was barely a whisper on her lips as if speaking it might summon the beast. What game was Celeste playing. No rank and file darksider could conjure such a powerful impression in the Force. “We’ll deal with this business first.” Before the Order could delve into the greater mystery of the Senator, they would be forced to deal with their allies.

Alex walked beside Hera. Following the Councilor towards the bridge. She had little desire to speak with the prisoner. She’s had her fill of the twisted logic of the Sith. Tia, Asminys, Draugr…the list bled on. What had those conversations ever accomplished? Nothing. Alex still believed in redemption, but it was for the few. Not the many. In time, the Grandmaster would take the measure of Celeste. It would simply not be today.


For now, she listened to Hera recount her interaction with the women. That flash of anger, white and hot burned in the Force. Alex knew Celeste embodied what stoked the greatest fires in Hera…a lair. “I could…” Few would resist when her full strength was applied. “We could…and I have.” Alex had made that mistake before. Ripping into the minds of the unwilling. “It is a choice I would not make again.” There were some costs simply not worth paying. She reached out and put her hand on Hera’s shoulder. Her eyes locking. “Your frustration, your disappointment, is justified. I understand, but we should not rush to judgment until we hear what they have to say.” She nodded slowly. ”These months have been hard. I know. Lean on me, as I have leaned on you.” Perhaps she had put too much on the fledgling Councilor. “And know we are of one mind.” Alex raised one eyebrow. They had reached the bride. ”We shall.” She walked onto the bridge to face the collection of the Freeworlds.

@Black Noise @LadyRen

 

[Charlotte Le'Anna]

Self-preservation. That was her only goal, her single driving force. The Sith Order was dead and gone. Scattered to the winds like rats in a cave. Charlotte had no idea what had happened to those few who set their sabers down. They did not know her, and she did not know them. One thing was certain. They were not Sith. The Empire offered equally poor refuge. How would the new rulers react to her little secrets. No. Charlotte was adrift without allies. All her carefully crafted plans in ruins at her feet. She cared for only one thing now…survival. That was what drove to flicking her holocam on.

Celeste was perhaps the last Sith living who knew Charlotte’s truth. A risk she could simply not allow to remain in Jedi hands. There was no telling what horrible secrets the Jedi might pry from the woman’s mind. The Queen Mother could only pray the former Senator was strong enough to resist. That did not account for the possibility of outright betrayal. A truly stomach-churning thought.

Taking a deep breath, she faced the holocam. Charlotte sat resplendent in her throne room. Green dress splayed around her. Celeste was coming home. Of that, she would make damn certain. The woman did not know each other particularly well but there was a bond. More importantly, Charlotte couldn’t afford another lose end in her life. If the Senator could count on one thing, it was her selfishness. The holo sprang to life and she was met with the images of the Grandmaster and Councilor Albion.

“Ah, Grandmaster Voran…Councilor Albion…you have our thanks for rescuing Senator Stythani.” The Jedi had refused to provide her location which was a concerning development. There were also worrisome gaps in the intelligence regarding exactly what information had already been spilled or the full extent of galaxy’s knowledge of Celeste’s return to the Sith. “My fellow representatives should be joining us shortly so that we might arrange a return of our friend.” She smiled. Safe from the prying force of the Jedi with plenty of parsecs of galaxy between them.

@Xorism @SlagathorTheUnknown @Olwin @LadyRen @Black Noise

 

[Rrodossk]

The Trandoshan was rough before this call. The months before were chaos. The FWA was indecisive, the galaxy was in complete chaos, and the Trandoshan was stretched thin. Yet when he learned of this meeting, things changed. The muscle he lost was regained, the greying scales painted, and the vigor in his veins flowed wildley. This whole situation seemed to refocus the Trandoshan and breathe life into the cold fire that burned around his heart. He threw on his large black Wookie pelt cloak, the maroon tunic which displayed his son's victory over the New Republic Dreadnaught, and went to work.

Rrodossk was the second senator to appear. He was siting in his throne-like seat, with his son standing by his side. The lithe former Jedi has his arms crossed and his saber on his hip facing towards the camera, looking down on the Jedi with a soft sneer. The father, the being taking up most of the screen, to most beings, would be the most intimidating sight. He was large for a Trandoshan, which was large for any being. But what was the worst part was his face. Those slitted eyes were narrow, his fangs were beared in anger. It was clear if he was in the room he would bite into the object of his anger and rip their throat out. And that object... was Celeste.

His head slowly nods towards the Jedi, greeting them in silence as he sat there. He sat there and took in the entire area. The ship, the occupants, the prisoner; all of this information being quickly processed and already began to be twisted towards how he could take advantage of the situation. He knew he would have to take the role of the tough being in the room as the rest of the Senators would try to blow smoke up the Jedis' posteriors. He knew Hera by reputation, being one of positivity yet still of brutality and hard headedness. Rrodossk decided to work his magic on Hera, though not at first. He needed to be fierce, vengeful, and angry. And he would control his emotions enough to show that in force.

@Xorism @SlagathorTheUnknown @Valen Pelora @LadyRen @Black Noise

 

[Levik Karn]

As the interim-commander of the Taris Imperial Peacekeepers, Lieutenant Karn was hunched over three datapads while a larger holographic data-screen ran passed event-alerts of criminal and Sith activity inside the Taris Sector of space. He had personally seen to the eradication of the Sith Order on Taris and had been present during the raid on the Korriban Academy before bagging the traitor Max Dram -Celeste Stythani's lover- on Rattatak.

All of this coincided with the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) filing the files on 'Sith - Stythani' under his name, making him the person of contact. Perhaps it was an overly bureaucratic and adminstrative process, but it was easy to automate and thus the scheduled meeting had appeared at a duly hour on his own schedule.

When he activated his holo-cam he was already looking at 'Celeste Stythani's extended Imperial dossier'. When prompted to, Levik offered the appropriate introduction and reason for being on the call. He wore the black uniform of the Imperial Peacekeepers and the rank-insignia of Lieutenant was clearly visible despite it being a hologram.

"I am Lieutenant Karn of the Imperial Peacekeeper Corps. Here to request the known Sith Celeste Stythani to be delivered to us for trial and judgment." Imperial track-record in dealing with the Sith post-expulsion was probably well-known among all present, holo or otherwise. For those that weren't, they would quickly find that the way the Empire deals with the Sith is easily summarized in too distinct words: Summary Execution.

 

[Victoria]

After their brief meeting, Victoria had been busy attempting to rally as many senators as she reasonably could make their case for Celeste's return. Surprisingly, she had then been informed that her return trip had been canceled as the prisoner had been transferred from ISC into Jedi custody. While this didn't exactly change the goal, it certainly made things more interesting.

The Jedi and the alliance had worked together countless times, and it was not lost on the Consul how much was owed to their support over the years. That was one of the many reasons that Victoria had become a vocal supporter of the Jedi, long before the Sith were expelled from their empire. It was hard to believe so much had changed in the galaxy over these past few years, even with all the violence and conflict that raged, it seemed for the first time in a very long time, that peace could be right around the corner.

Connecting to the holo-call, she listened quietly as each person arrived. It was perhaps to be expected that the empire would send an unsavory type to try and collect Celeste, but more surprising that they had been informed at all. As much as the imperials would like the galaxy to believe that they had changed, their brutal actions proved they had in fact merely changed its face but nothing else.

"Grandmaster, Master Albion, Senators...thank you for giving us this opportunity to discuss an important matter. I hope you are both in good health and spirits."

Victoria had not yet the opportunity to speak privately with the grandmaster, although she had seen the woman speak a thousand times before. Albion was a little rough on the edges but she seemed to have a good heart, and Victoria closely remembered what she had done for Tanaab.

@Black Noise @Valen Pelora @LadyRen @Olwin @Eccles @SlagathorTheUnknown

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

In the months following the destruction of the 5th Fleet, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had taken to appearing less and less in the public eye. The Wookiee now rarely spoke in public other than at carefully selected events, as his office- along with a sympathetic local press- had coordinated to strategically mask the Senator's ailing health. His few public addresses were shorter than usual. Cameras weren't activated until Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had been assisted out of his wheelchair and to a specifically-designed podium that hid the way the aged Wookiee leaned on it for support. So it was that the requirement to meet via holo did not faze the Wookiee, who now took most of his meetings virtually anyways.

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl glanced around at the other holograms on the call through a pair of glasses, humble frames whose high-tech lenses could automatically adjust to whatever his vision needs were in any given moment. Some of the faces he recognized, and some he did not. Rrodossk was there, looking healthy and strong, and so was the Queen Mother. An imperial agent who the Wookiee quickly dismissed as irrelevant. Two Jedi Councilors- Voran and Albion- and the woman at the center of this all... Celestina.

Wait- Celeste. Yes, that was it. A memory stirred, something about a catamaran flight, but details eluded him. Suppressing a growl of frustration at himself, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl forced himself to focus on the meeting. The narrative surrounding Celeste's whereabouts the past few years was confusing, and the subsequent opportunity to return her to the FWA had come as a surprise. He'd have preferred that the FWA been able to meet beforehand and discuss what they actually hoped to accomplish, but in typical FWA fashion that probably wouldn't have solved their diverse opinions on the matter.

"Grandmaster, Councilor, Senators" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl greeted the Jedi, also greeting his fellow FWA Senators. He wasn't even certain what his preferred outcome was, here; except that he would not see her handed over to the Empire.

"Why is he here?" Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl asked no one in particular, indicating the Imperial agent.

@LadyRen @Valen Pelora @Olwin @Eccles @Black Noise @Xorism

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

'Finally,' Hera thought, 'The players have gathered, so let's enact this little show.' Clapping her hands together as the Wookiee Senator from Kashyyyk spoke, Hera smiled and greeted all, clicking a small button on her holo-communicator as her projection began to speak. "Senators, Lieutenant Karn, I am pleased to meet with you. Let's outline exactly why we are having this meeting before we proceed any further."

At that, Hera began to walk. She moved very slowly, but deliberately. She was making a circle so that each senator and the Imperial might get a closer look at her face while she moved. There were points that needed to be made, a setting up of exactly who they were talking about and why. Hera started the recording of this conversation for teaching purposes, it would not do to look hasty and quick to judge to the Padawans. "We are here to discuss what should be done with former Free World Alliance Senator Celeste Stythani. Specifically, we are deciding to whose custody she will be given for proper judgment of her crimes- and crimes she had committed I should say. To those who have not yet been informed, Celeste Stythani is a Sith."

Hera paused, allowing that information to sink in for a moment, watching the faces of the senators to see who would at least act surprised, and who would not. Then, with that damnable smile still on her face, Hera would continue, "A Sith that was apprehended on Manaan with another Sith Master and an ISB agent in an act of supposed terrorism and espionage." Hera stated what the ISC accused her of, though their evidence for the first crime was thin, "Now, it is important for our purposes to note the conflict between the Empire and the ISC is in the process of being resolved with the Sith now being ousted from the Empire completely. Correct me if I'm wrong but I do not recall even any border skirmishes between the Empire and the ISC or the FWA since the ousting of the Sith, right, Lieutenant Karn?"

Again, a pause, the war was effectively over between the Empire, the ISC, and the FWA. There was only the matter of terms left to be discussed now. "While the forgiveness of the deeds of the Empire is a topic for another time, the forgiveness of the deeds of the Sith is something we are not going to do as Jedi. We Jedi are religious people, we know in our annuls and our histories exactly what the Sith are and what makes a Sith. To us, the Sith are evil. They must be removed from the galaxy, either imprisoned or destroyed. However, our histories and beliefs are not facts to be presented to judge a person in the galaxy. Because of that, I would ask for facts."

'Finally,' Hera thought, 'finally,' "Lieutenant Karn, please tell the Senators what we previously discussed. Tell them exactly what the ISB knows about Sith Champion Celeste Stythani."

@Eccles

 

[Levik Karn]

Listening to the Jedi and the many times she mentioned his name, Levik was starting to feel somewhat important on a galactic scale. As opposed to his law enforcement duties on the planet of Taris and suffering underneath the biased rules of his superiors and commanding officers. He, ofcouse, did hold all the proof in his hand. He could deny Celeste Stythani's allegiance to the Sith, but according to her files she had actually been a 'close friend' of the prospective new Emperor and the current Warmaster of the Empire; Lieutenant General Din. Would saving her get him in the warmaster's good graces, or would his loyalty to Empire prove his merit towards future promotions?

It wasn't something he had given much thought before and right now he wasn't given the chance to reconsider, as the Jedi gave him the room. "Thank you, master Jedi," he began, slowly and surely to allow the present senators another moment of reflection. Recognizing a Sith wasn't that difficult, in his humble opinion anyway. The lightsaber and orange eyes usually gave it away just fine.

"The Imperial Security Bureau has ample evidence of Celeste Stythani's true vocation as a so-called "Champion of the Sith". We have first-hand testimony of Imperial soldiers who witnessed her massacre of dozens of Ewok families on the planet of Endor. Fear -as usual with the Sith- kept the soldiers in line." he paused here, to allow those present another moment to think and attempt to reconcile the two different images they seemed to have of the former senator. "More and more evidence is coming to light with the fear of Sith repercussions subsiding. What is undisputed is the following;"

Although he was unable to show all of them the contents of the Imperial file on Celeste, the limitations of this holographic meeting being evident, he did make clear that he was scrolling through a large file filled with activities and evidence of Force user -the Dark Side variant- and personally committed massacres and slaughters.

"Celeste Stythani used the Force to massacre an entire village on the planet of Endor. She is a Sith who has trained under two Dark Lords of the Sith. Darth Raze and Darth Tempest. Is flagged by the Imperial Security Bureau as highly dangerous and the amount of evidence of her atrocious acts -the massacres and evil deeds- combined with the names of her personal teachers and her ability to fool so many of you, make her one of the biggest Sith threats to the galaxy."

He paused, realizing that this would be a blow to the present senators and perhaps even to the Jedi Order, for knowledge of a Sith's master isn't always known. That is, if you're not the Empire and you've kept meticulous records of everything.

"The Empire has been ridding itself and the galaxy of remnants of the Sith Order after Lieutenant General Din's proclamation. We humbly request the Sith to not be released and instead be handed over to the Empire where we can present the vast amount of evidence against her in a trial."

 

[Alexandria Voran]

The holos slowly flickered to life. Each representative introducing themselves one by one. The introductions a formality more than a necessity. They all knew each other…with the exception of the Lieutenant. A wrinkle of the vastly altered political landscape. A chance for the Jedi to push the galaxy closer to peace. Alex remained silent through it all. Her hands held lightly at her sides, her face carefully neutral. The show, such as it was, belonged to Hera. She trusted the Councilor to steer the conversation in their desired direction. Celeste was a Sith. The Free Worlds needed to be made to see it and the Empire provided an eye opening view.
Silence settled on the bridge. The Lieutenant’s words hanging in the air. Celeste was a war criminal with a past they grossly underestimated, touched by the greatest depths of the darkness. How would the Free Worlds react? She would never truly get to know.

Raze

The words whispered in her mind. Heard in her own voice. The feeling swept over her suddenly. A ripple and then a wave. A clang in the heart of the Force. Discordant. A note that didn’t belong. That same feeling as when she had arrived…but that had been a cheap imitation..this was something else.

It flashed in her mind. That masked face the galaxy knew so well. The monster under the bed. Alex’s eyes hardened. Hera would have felt it to. She’d had such hopes for this meeting. Those were gone. Her voice cut through the silence. “Raze has returned.” For years, the butcher had been missing. Some presuming him dead, but always they knew better. “And he has touched the mind of Celeste Styyhani’s mind…she has secrets she can no longer be allowed to keep.” Alex’s eyes were hard but her voice remained precisely even. “Lieutenant, if you speak to the Warmaster. He will tell what I say is true and he should share our concern.” The Grandmaster turned to Aezz. “You must believe me old friend. He is alive. He is back and he is a threat to all life.” Finally, to them all. “She should be tried but not by the Empire alone. When our work with her is done, her fate should be decided by all she has wronged. The ISC, the FWA, the Jedi and the Empire. With each to present evidence of her innocent or guilt…but Raze must come first. Every second we waste is a life lost.” She looked to Hera, her mind flashing out.

“I will not ask you to join me, but I must see into her min…whether she agrees or not.” Alex had long sworn to never walk that path again. She prayed Celeste would make the right choice. She would do what was necessary if the woman did not.

@Black Noise @Sreeya @LadyRen @Olwin @Xorism @SlagathorTheUnknown @Eccle

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

A flaring of Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl's nostrils indicated the deep emotions he felt as the Jedi backed up the ISB agent's claim that Celeste was once again- or perhaps had always been- a practicing Sith; a pupil of Darth Raze, the terror of a thousand worlds. The Wookiee said nothing of his private criticism of the Warmaster, who now claimed to hunt down Sith while having previously given them time to flee the Empire. Instead, his thoughts were centered on one painful, unavoidable feeling.

Betrayal.

Now he remembered; he had met with Celeste on Kashyyyk to broker deals between her planet and his, showing her the ways that his planet was healing from the Sith bombardment. He'd carried her unconscious body to the safety of a Sith shuttle during the events of Ruusan. There had been embarrassing Holonet rumors that had misinterpreted their close working relationship as romance. He had allowed his hope that there was still good in the galaxy to disarm him of his usual skepticism. Of course it had been too good to be true. A Sith turned FWA Senator, proclaiming peace? Somehow he'd allowed himself to believe it.

Never again, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl promised himself, hardening his wounded heart. The woman he'd known- or, more accurately, the woman he thought he'd knew- was just another lie. One of his worst fears had been realized in the understanding that he'd misplaced his trust. And somewhere in the shadows lurked Raze; biding his time. A slight incline of his greyed muzzle would signal to the Grandmaster his understanding of her words.

"A public trial risks complications" he said, finally. Who knew how many allies the Sith still had, scattered across the galaxy? "The ISC has entrusted Celeste to the Jedi Order on account of her being Sith. The other parties harmed by her actions are all represented here. Let us decide her fate now." Too many Sith had escaped justice in the past, only to return to cause harm and discord throughout the galaxy.

Never again.

@LadyRen @Eccles @Valen Pelora @Olwin @Black Noise @Xorism

Edit: Text coloring

 

[Victoria]

Victoria sat up in her chair with an incredulous look cresting her face. Was there so little faith in people that a woman was so easily condemned?

"Celeste is a troubled woman for sure, is she completely innocent? of course not. I cannot speak to this Raze being, nor his supposed impact upon her but I can assure you that deep down there was still good within her when she was with us. On Ruusan, was she not right beside you Grandmaster, saving those unable to save themselves? Or how she worked with Senator Rrodosk to rebuild the alliance fleet after his tragic losses. Or the times she spent supporting the alliance and Jedi Order against the Sith in the Galactic Senate at great risk to her own life?"

There were still parts of the consul that was worried about Celeste, recalling their earlier meeting. But what she had hoped to see vastly differed from whatever this display was considering.

"Do we have any reason to doubt the ISC report from Maanan? does it not plainly state that by Celeste's own testimony, she was under the control of an ISB agent and Sith master against her own will? and to comply with their demands lest face imminent death? And now we have another agent of the very same ISB, offering her the same fate after she failed to comply. Curious, no?
The very same agency responsible for fabricating a cover story for their operation is now insisting that they can be trusted at face value."

"Does the record not show that Celeste cooperated with authorities once the threat to her own life had evaporated?"

It was impossible to know if anything she was saying would be in vain if the decision was already set in stone. But saying nothing was not something she would let linger on her conscious nor would she abandon Celeste in her time of need when the woman had been there for hers.

"If Sith cannot be redeemed nor given another chance when they ask for it, then why do you so quickly rush into bed with the new emperor? A former Sith himself, with a fancy new title, doesn't make him any less dangerous. Celeste cannot undo the actions she has done, but will you not even give her the chance to try and make up for it?"

@Black Noise @Valen Pelora @LadyRen @Olwin @Eccles @SlagathorTheUnknown