Submit and Conquer?

[Saric Noms]

The Lesser Hall, Republica Senate Building 0300

Saric squeezed in at the back. This was supposed to be the secret committee meeting for the future of the Empire and succession. Saric was not a committee member, but the thing about committees was that they were public events. The committee has tried to get around this by billing it as the committee for freight timetabling and listing it at this antisocial hour. Unfortunately, this had backfired as it was precisely this unusual timing that had brought everyone's attention to it. And so, here Saric was, in the dead of night in the capital, in a room too small for the hundreds of people who wanted to know what the future holds.

Moff Tillbury, he recognised having worked under him in the Gamor operation. The person in the chair's seat must be Moff Suberpim. He looked around for other faces he recognised.

Suberpim called the room to order. An expectant silence fell.

"Well I must say, there must be a lot of anoraks in the room. Who knew trade freight timetables could be so popular."

Tillbury retorted: "With all due respect, they know. Now pay them the same respect and get on with what we need to do. The enemy is at the gate and we need to know: are they an enemy, or to be greeted with an embrace as brothers - all forgiven?"

Saric could not read his face as to how the Moff wanted that last phrase to be taken. He thought there was an edge of cutting sarcasm

[Open to any with a lawful reason to be on Coruscant]​

 

[Harrison Fletch]

Harrison had found himself in the Republica Senate Building attending a confidential committee meeting to decide the future of the Imperial Republica. While Harrison was not a committee member, he was among a few dozen Imperial Agents from the Imperial Intelligence department. The room was filled with sith and agents from all the different individual divisions. Harrison had arrived early which was why he was in the front of the room. At the front of the room was a person of immense power and influence, and the person leading this meeting. Moff Tillbury quieted the crowd, and spoke.
@Ulysses

 

[The Confessor]

A secret meeting of the council to decide what to do about the relationship between the Sith, both on the true Imperial Republica side, and the heretics who believed in the Old Empire. This is what would happen at midnight and Eriana Fox would not miss that meeting. Thankfully they were hosting it on Coruscant where Eriana lived and worked. It was not far of a shuttle ride so she, like a few others, were first to arrive. She was dressed in her full Sith maurader gear only hers had been tailored to look more like some domineering sadist. That was her goal of course because she wanted to instill fear in her enemies. The armor was lacking around the shoulders and instead focused on the vital organs and fit her body like a corset; it also gave her a rather nice hourglass figure which of course the proud Coruscant native was proud to present. Living in the Core, one had to look presentable at all times.

The rest of her clothing was made of a fine fabric that had extra fibers to stop a knife, but not so much anything else. It was basically a suit that would protect her should she fall off some great height, or off a moving vehicle. That sort of thing. Though, she still kept the arm gauntlets and shin guards for martial combat. Around her waist she proudly displayed two curved lightsabers which said more than enough for her reputation as a Sith. The handles were identical, saying she had enough money to purchase duplicates of the parts and hadn't just thrown two haphazard pieces together. They were also curved, giving her that graceful and sleek look which again would speak to her Core upbringing which made her feel like she was better than everyone else around her. The kind of attitude a nobleman would get. Though her rank in the Sith did not equate to that fact, her last name of Fox would. Her mother and father were both respected members of the high class society so those who gathered in those circles would know the name of the blind Sith, Lady Eriana Fox.

Sitting peacefully in one of the closer chairs, Eriana folded her hands in her lap while crossing her legs over one another. Her long black trench coat with the Imperial Republic insignia stitched on both shoulders gently rested over her tiny frame. She sat up straight, presenting perfect posture and form that only the spoiled bothered to exhibit. But for some it was a way of life and near impossible to break. Another oddity of the woman was the fact she never bothered to look around the room. Her eyes stared straight forward to the table ahead of her, but never strayed too far from one single spot. This was due to her blindness. While she physically couldn't see what was going on in front of her, Eriana would be able to see the world through the eyes of the Force. Using her gift she'd known since a young child, Eriana saw everything around her as if she saw the world three hundred and sixty degrees at once. The people around her were simple balls of flame that represented their auras. Some were larger than others, especially those who could connect with the living Force.

But not everyone had that touch within them, one of which would sit beside her (@One For Sorrow ). Talo Geist had been her trusted friend for several months now. She'd gone on several missions with the Nagai agent and they'd formed a bond Eriana had no doubt would never break. She'd wished he had the connection to the Force, like she, but it allowed her a certain humility to not try and control his life. Eriana had a habit of doing that. She saw the world differently than other Sith. While her brethren believed in anger and rage being the true emotions of power, Eriana believed in Faith. Blind devotion toward the Darkside is what gave her the power she had and she'd argue that until the day she died. Eriana hoped to share some of this wisdom with the council today. Here, she hoped to bring about her idea of a Church of the Sith. And she already had a planet scoped out.

Ilum. The frozen tundra of ice and snow. It was a nexus of the Force and a treasure trove of untold riches within the glacier walls. Eriana had dispatched several units -paid for by her own finances- to investigate the system. So far, initial reports were proving the planet would suit her needs. Now Eriana just need to spread the word. Her church would accept all Sith, not just those loyal to the Imperium. She wanted to bridge the gap between them and her fallen brothers because she believed they'd lost their way. They simply needed to remember that it was the Imperial Republica that had lasted these last five generations. But even more than that, they were allies in spirit. They both worshiped the Dark side of the Force; though, Eriana believed they were doing so improperly. That was another reason behind her wanted to preach. Hopefully this meeting would clear many things up.

While she waited for others to arrive she would lean into Talo's shoulder and speak with him about small things. Nothing too outlandish as saying her brethren were abusing the gift of the Force. She didn't want to get shunned before the meeting even got started.

 

[Shikari]

Shikari sat in a seat around the middle of the assembly hall, feet kicked up on the seat in front of her, watching as the crowd of sith and imperials flowed in silently to this semi-secret meeting. Obviously, the meeting's secret status was not appropriate anymore, as many had shown for the event. That was fine. Good, even, as the message would pass many more ears and many more lips this way.

As people filed in and found seating, Shikari became impatient. She wanted to get this ball rolling, as there was much to discuss. Off to the side she saw the comms system for the room as well as the controls for the hologram display in the center of the floor. If no one else was going to make a move, then she would. Rising, she quietly made her way over to the controls while everyone else's attention was elsewhere. She quietly switched on an earpiece to broadcast her voice and flipped on the hologram display. A hologram Rose from the center of the floor, depicting the Galaxy with faction lines in red.

Shikari walked towards the center of the room to stand by the hologram, nodding towards the Moffs. She hoped they did not protest to her stating her piece. "Ladies and gentlemen. Honored assets of the Imperial Republica. I am Acolyte Shikari Gale. I have little to no authority to speak, but I feel strongly that we must address the Bantha in the room. The state of the Republica, to say the least, is not good. Our empress, newly anointed, is dead. I don't know on who's advice she chose to challenge Vrael to kaggath, but clearly it was an unwise decision. Now the Republica stands leaderless, and there is no one to rein in the imperial Senate. Vrael and the Old empire now stand at our borders knowing we are a snake without a head. They are making moves already to take advantage of the situation in Imperial Hutta. Bleeding us slowly. The Mandalorians have been a constant irritation since their uprising, but the success of their numerous recent terrorist attacks seems to have emboldened them. We are now receiving reports of Mandalorian sittings in the space around Onderon, a key world for the Republica. Should they attack and manage to conquer it, we will certainly feel the repricusions. As if this all wasn't enough, our ancient enemy, the Jedi, have suddenly resurfaced. Their total extinction 500 years ago appears to have been greatly exaggerated. Why they chose to reveal themselves now, I'm sure I don't know. Perhaps they were able to sense the precarious situation the Republica is in. Regardless, they appeared next to Mandalorians. Solus clan, no less, suggesting the two are connected. So not only do we have 2 enemies rising against us, but they are United. To make matters worse, half of our empire, the Imperial Hutta is under attack. We dont seem to know for sure who attacked the holonet, whether it was old empire sabotuers, Mandalorian terrorists, or Jedi scum... Or perhaps even another foe we don't even see yet, it has launched all but a full scale war within Hutta."

Shikari paused to let it all sink in. "We have Republica assets in the outer rim joining with Old Empire forces, seeking out an engaging the Jedi as we speak, while as a state, we sit here doing nothing. So, my question to the court and to all present is this: Should we consider an alliance, or even submission, to Vrael and the Old Empire?"

 

[Wes Thul Drast]

.

Though he'd been silent thus far, the Drast had arrived fairly early, being one of the first to hear about the secret meeting. Unlike the rest of the attendants, his presence was, for better or for worse, mandatory in a social sense; should he not show up, the royal court would assume he is uncaring about matters regarding the future of the Imperial Republic, and he would be much less popular where it really mattered.

So here he sat, on one of the designated balconies, his posture laid back, but his eyes analyzing everything with a cunning shine. Wes was in his Drast robes—black, with red linings and accent of purple to symbolize his own trademark. At his waist, held up to his belt, was his lightsaber, next to the lightsaber of a Jedi Master he had slain on Illum. Those in attendance would surely know about it by now—word traveled fast in Coruscant.

Shikari was speaking, the Pantoran he had met during the Illum campaign. Wes listened patiently, brows furrowing as he took in all the information. His ears damn near perked up when he heard "Vrael." Then, without hesitation, he became the first to stand up and respond.

"That is, for now, completely out of the question," he began, rising from his seat and speaking into his microphone. All eyes turned to him, everyone looking up at the mahogany-eyed Drast boy, still an acolyte, but more opinionated than one. "The Old Empire has shown us nothing but hostility for months. They have only worked with us because it was necessary, and they did not want to expend too much of their own force to deal with the Jedi pest. They sent us to take care of the small fires while they set to put us on the chopping block." He paused for dramatic effect, though mostly to give people a chance to think through what he just said. "If we were to make any more concessions, we would be showing them too much weakness—they already consider us an empire of cowards!"

Murmurs broke out throughout the chamber, but he pressed on. "If the Old Empire wants relations, let them approach us first. Though it's only a matter of time before they knock on our door, their entire fleet behind them. Our most pressing issue right now is leadership, without a shadow of a doubt. Where is our Emperor? Where is our Empress? Who the hell is making the decisions?"

He sat back down to a decent amount of applause, before the room quieted for the next speaker, if Shikari did not respond.

@Yuan

 

[Saric Noms]

Saric was among those applauding.

He did not know the young Drast speaking, but he respected his point. As far as Saric was concerned, the so-called Old Empire were upstarts and rebels, posing more of a threat than the recently exposed "Grand Alliance". At least they stood for something other than power and destruction.

Had he been of a more rash disposition, he would have made a speech in support. As it stood, he had neither birth-right nor professional standing to do so. However, if the silence continued, he may still do just that.

 

[Harrison Fletch]

.

After the Moff spoke, a sith acolyte boldly stood up and walked to the front of the room addressing the crowd. Harrison listened, and understood what the acolyte was trying to say. He did not believe that they should join the Old Empire. Weakness would show if they were to join and make an alliance. He agreed with the young Drast. Harrison stood up to offer his own opinion of the situation. "I am Harrison Fletch from Imperial Intelligence. Desperate time calls desperate measures, but this does not mean that we have to even consider making an alliance with the Old Empire. Yes we are now weak, but that does not mean we give up, we stick together and show the galaxy that we are strong. While we have no direct leader, we have several Moffs and Grand Moffs who are the now highest living role."

 

[Shikari]

Shikari glanced back and forth as responses came in to her proposal right and left. She recognized some of those who were present. Eriana Fox sat towards the front of the room, gazing out at nothing with her blind eyes, but hearing everything. Her gaze drifting from nothing to nothing gave her a slightly eerie presence, but even with her blindness she seemed to command the attention of the room, though she remained quiet on the subject at hand. Perhaps she was reserving her commentary until she had gathered all the information she could. Another sith stood and called out his response from a balcony above. Shikari recognized the face of Wes Thul Drast. With his lineage, it made sense to her that he would be against the merger as he was technically in line for the throne. He may be a long way off from it, but he was still a prospect. Then another man Shikari didn't know spoke up. He introduced himself as a member of the intelligence division. So, he wasn't a sith, but it was good to hear the view point of one of their non-force-using allies.

As Harrison finished his comments, Shikari walked up to the center stage to stand in front of the Galaxy hologram. She wasn't technically the leader of this meeting, but someone should act as host since the Moffs who had started the meeting seemed to want to stay out of the conversation. "I am delighted to hear this proposal receiving such opposition. Believe me when I say that it is not my desire to see Imperial flags flying over our world's. I merely made this proposal as a suggestion to gauge the attitude of our peers, and it seems that Republican pride still lives strong."

Shikari tilted her head to the side and swung to her right, pacing that direction a few steps. "That being said, there are some issues that i think need to be addressed here. The primary is our military resources. The Republican fleet is currently scattered across our empire in their various assigned stations, and without a singular source of leadership, unifying the fleet for any singular purpose is a dubious proposition, filled with red tape to hold us back. As I'm sure you all know by now, Imperial Hutta has fallen. We still have holdings there, but our enemies have claimed the lion's share of the territory. I myself led our fighter squadrons into battle to defend our interests there, but to little avail. I did not see our fleet flying across Hutt space to defend our holdings against our enemies. No single one of us has the power to summon the fleet. If we were to face a crisis, such as Vrael rolling up to our doorstep with his fleet in tow, even with all of us present here and those who declined to show, the military might we could muster would pale in comparison to our enemy. I am of the opinion that we should all begin working on gathering as many military assets as we can to ourselves. This way, we may face our enemies at home and abroad with a military at our back. Without this our work outside the Republica and our defense of our current holdings will continue to face fierce opposition which we may or may not be able to handle." Shikari paused to allow commentary on her new topic.

 

[The Confessor]

Much to her surprise, it was not one of the Moffs who spoke up next, but a female voice. Eriana recognized that voice. It was Shikari's voice! Had she not just been on a mission with the girl it was likely Eriana might not have recognized her so quickly. Still, she reached into the flowing power of the Force and searched out the aura attached to the voice. Sure enough, it had the same color that she knew was the tattooed agent. She would go on to recap the most recent events they all knew: the death of their leader. The Old Empire standing on their doorsteps. Nar Shaddaa falling from their grasp. The Mandalorians' ever growing resilience. And of course...the Jedi.

And she would pledge her support of an alliance between the two Sith cultures. Another familiar voice would rise up and challenge her word. Eriana recognized that voice too. Wes Thul Drast. She'd been on two missions with him as well. He apparently was not at all for them joining. His reasoning was sound, the old Enemy had been enemies with them for months. But even he threw in the point about how they helped when only absolutely necessary. Eriana would argue that: weren't things absolutely necessary now? Wes continued, saying out they'd no sooner burn us down as soon as the battles were over.

Another man whom she did not know would come and speak his mind now. He tried to calm down some of the crowd it seemed. Just because they had no direct leader didn't mean they were powerless. And then Shikari would come and speak again. She thanked everyone for listening to her proposal, then moved on to speaking about their resources: specifically the military's. Eriana didn't have much opinion on unifying the troops or not, but she did have one idea that she felt needed to be addressed.

"I for one, am still in favor of trying to bring both sides of this war into one unit. Sith alike, we are brethren. Fighting against one another over a simple matter of leadership is a foolish way to get ourselves killed."

Eriana would then stand and put her hands up for a moment to gesture something grander than herself. "The Sith must unite. And in doing so, the enemies military might will not be able to stop us. Solving this problem fixes both issues. This is what I wish to resolve. My Sacellum on Ilum will be the perfect place to establish this. We can meet with our brothers and sisters and come to an alliance. If we do not, the Dark side of the Force will surely bring about our mutual destruction. Please, allies and friends alike, do not ignore my words today. We must come together and not let the Light come into power."

With that she sighed and put her hands in her lap, hoping someone would support her. She already knew Shikari was in line with her thoughts, if not for the same religious way of thinking that is. Wes she knew would argue once more, but she hoped and prayed that he'd see things her way. The Force would betray them if they kept fighting. Only unified would they have the full power of the Dark with them.