TKR: Daily Holograph

[Lyanna Drast]

Lyanna was of the opinion that if you wanted someone to work for you, fight for you, then you needed to be something more to them than some distant figure.

You needed to either know them on a personal level or you needed to be larger than life - something, someone, so much their greater that they felt there was no other way for them but to obey and adore you.

It was the first part that brought her here today - she was here to speak to a figure within the Imperial Republica who needed to be met in person. Reports said that they were a mover, a shaker, and Lyanna found herself in need of people of such skills.

But with this man?

It was also the second one she supposed.

There was something to be said about having a good working relationship with a reporter and there was something to be said about the range of influence that they actually had. That was one of the reasons why she was sat in the green room before the interview was actually due to begin.

Her security detail was practically smothering the production crew but that was to be expected - she was the Empress after all. She was dressed in a black dress that her stylists had assured her was the height of fashion. She honestly would have preferred showing up in armour or casual clothes but it wasn't one of those interviews - not yet.

This man would have to work with her, build a rapport with her, to earn himself a candid interview after all.

Following one of the assistants out of the green room, she sat herself down in one of two chairs that were set up to face one another before the cameras. They weren't rolling yet so they could have a moment or two to speak before it actually began.

She smiled.

"Lovely to finally meet you." she declared happily, holding a hand out to shake, "One of my cousins - Ned - seemed to have good things to say about you. And I did enjoy your pieces on Elix."

She had as well - anything that tore at Elix had been amusing to watch.

@Insalius

 

[Rowan Harlow]

In truth, Rowan had not expected such a chance as this to come his way so early in his career. True, he had been friends with a member of the Drast family, named Eddard, but he was fairly far removed from the ruling branch of the family and so the chance to meet someone of more importance had been very low. Speaking of Eddard, there was a deep-buried flame of hatred that burned at the death of Rowan's best friend. They'd done such good work together, and the way he had died in Imperial Hutta was just...It wasn't what Eddard had deserved. At one point Rowan had considered being sympathetic towards the Mandalorians for the glassing of their world. Now, they could all burn in the same fires. When he had the power to enact such a vengeance, at least.

When the Empress entered the room, Rowan removed his hat and bowed deep in respect. Elix hadn't been worth the gesture, but from what he'd heard about Lyanna she was quite different. The fact she pulled off a coup like this without a single lost life showed how much of a tactician she was, something that Rowan could relate to. He didn't want to give a bad show, so he tried to be as extravagantly noble without going overboard. Despite his family's low status, he was still a Noble. As she sat down he took her extended hand, sitting only when she had gotten comfortable out of respect of her position.

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. Rowan Harlow, of House Harlow of Alderaan, at your service. I'm honored that Eddard spoke of me so, and you have my deepest condolences on his passing. I may not be able to bring those responsible to justice now, though one day I shall have that power. And they shall rue the day they killed him." He smiled, changing the topic to better news. "As for my pieces about the former Emperor, I'd hoped that the harsh messaging would have stirred him to action, even at the risk of being labeled an enemy of the state for being critical of him. Unfortunately it seemed neither myself nor my...colleague, Jacob Tagger, could affect him enough to take action. I am profoundly glad that you were able to solve one of the biggest problems the Republica has had in centuries."

@Nefieslab

 

[Lyanna Drast]

Rowan Harlow - of the disgraced Harlow Family.

Her security detail had tried to warn her that the man could be dangerous but she simply waved them off. This man wasn't going to be a danger to her. Not here and not now - potentially not ever but she was a Sith and she refused to accept becoming complacent and accepting anything on faith. So she was confident that Rowan would not turn out to be a threat to her but she was hardly banking on it.

She smiled brightly and shook his hand.

"Thank you for your kind words Mr Harlow." She nodded her head, her smile twitching downward ever so slightly, "Eddard's passing is... lamentable. But we cannot allow it to cause us to lose our focus for even a moment. Instead we can let it galvanise us - push us onwards."

Pausing for a moment, she laughed a little bit.

"I'm so sorry - that sounded like a sound bite and we haven't even started recording yet." She apologised brightly before nodding her head in agreement, "Elix... well. The less said about Elix off the record the better. This is a chance for me to set the record straight on my ascension and my priorities as Empress."

Speaking of the record - it was probably about time they started recording.

@Insalius

 

[Rowan Harlow]

"Very well said. On that note, how about we begin the interview? I know the people are dying to learn about their new ruler." Smiling, Rowan gestured for his cameraman, Jimmison, to set up and start recording. Both had been thoroughly frisked for weapons, as Rowan had none on his person, but that wasn't a problem. Par for the course, really. He wondered if the Empress saw him as a threat or as an ally. He really did want to be the latter, as he wanted to bring peace and order to his people and the Republica in general. But everything would be done in it's time, as if the plans were rushed then they would ultimately fail.

"Welcome, citizens of the Republica! This is your favorite reporter, Rowan Harlow, coming to you from a most special place with the most special guest! I give you the new Empress, Lyanna Drast! She is here to introduce herself to her knew subjects, something that not even her predecessor deigned to attempt. Without further ado, let us ask this young lady to introduce herself to you! Ms. Drast, if you would be so kind, we would love to learn anything you would be willing to tell us of yourself, to start with." His tone and face turned bright and charismatic, though fake to those with a more discerning eye. Lyanna would know that this all was just a tool to him, a building block to true power. Soon, he'd have control over a power all rulers craved: The hearts and minds of the people. Control of the media was a powerful thing.

@Nefieslab

 

[Lyanna Drast]

Lyanna smiled and nodded when he suggested that they actually begin the interview itself. It was time for her to speak out and make her first declaration to her people. She would much rather that she did that before her face started to hurt from smiling too wide for too long - it was always awkward when that happened.

Turning her attention to the lead camera, Lyanna smiled through it to the viewers who would see their Empress from across the Galaxy for the first time. Waving a little bit, she was slightly amused that a clapping-track was played in the studio to simulate a studio audience.

"Hello to you all!" she greeted them brightly, "As you know I am Lyanna Drast and it is my deepest honour and greatest pleasure to be your new Empress."

Her smile dimmed slightly.

"I know our Empire has had it rough recently... but I'm not here to be my predecessor or follow in his footsteps. I am my own person and I am here to make sure that you all get a chance to see that." she chuckled a little bit, turning back to Rowan, "Always rather nervous introducing myself I'll admit... so much easier when you're face to face."

@Insalius

 

[Rowan Harlow]

Unconventional, and thus brilliant in it's execution. Elix would NEVER have greeted the people of the Republica that way, and in that broken expectation she had captured their attention. Lyanna was no one to underestimate, though Rowan hadn't done so. In his line of work, it was dangerous to underestimate even the most seemingly innocuous of peoples or places. That wasn't here nor there, though. As Lyanna finished speaking he gave a chuckle, as if he was sharing in her discomfort and laughing it away, just like normal people did. Lyanna and Rowan, though, were NOT regular people. It was important to make the commoners think they were, though.

"I doubt you are the first or the last to feel that way, Lyanna. I think I speak for my viewers when I say, though, that you're already the most personable Empress we've had in a long time. Definitely not something that your predecessor would have done. I doubt many of our viewers even knew what he looked like." His face became a bit more serious, but it was just a show. Now was time for the 'hard' questions. "Speaking of the former Emperor, there have been a lot of nasty rumors floating around about his conduct. The glassing of the planet Medriaas, the apathy against attacks by the Mandalorians of Clan Solus, and a bevy of other issues. You may not have had a part in these actions, yet you now inherit the fallout of them. What words do you have for our viewers on how you intend to rectify these injustices caused by your predecessor?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Lyanna Drast]

Playing up for the crowd - it was something she had experience with over her short life. She had been playing up for crowds since she first realised she had the power to convince people of what she was suggesting. It was nice, in a way. But it was something she was absolutely not above using to get her point across.

As Rowan spoke she made sure to take a small drink of water from a prepared glass.

"You are correct Rowan - I find myself in the unenviable position of having to clean up Elix's messes. Simply put my first step is already underway and something I could never fathom leaving out but he apparently did; interacting." She shrugged, "I don't know what was going through his mind but he interacted with so few people. Generals and Moffs didn't get their orders, so soldiers and Sith alike stood idle while their worlds, their homes, were attacked."

She turned to address the camera, the audience, directly.

"There is an insurmountable will within the hearts of each and every Imperial Citizen. A steel in our spines that means we do not bow easily before the unworthy." She declared firmly, "And I intend to bring my own will, my own steel, to the forefront. I may not be a frontline fighter but I will be damned if I sit behind my walls and hide within the Capital - I refuses to stand by. I will be there. I will be there wherever the Empire falters, to pick good, hard working, citizens back up and help them defend their homes."

@Insalius

 

[Rowan Harlow]

"Well said, Lyanna. I'm sure my viewers, just like I am, are reassured by your strong words of comfort and support. You already set yourself far apart from your predecessor, whom need not be mentioned again. Though, this does in part bring us to a more complicated question." Rowan knew that this next question wouldn't be easy, yet if his tactical mind was worth anything at all he knew that hacks like Jacob Tagger and anyone else wanting to make a 'statement' would eventually bring the following point up. Best to head the issue off at the pass instead of allowing it to remain hidden and thus fester into a secret wound, harming the Imperial Republica as a whole. It may be a bit painful now, but they were both strong people. A little pain up front could help stave off disaster in the future.

"It's clear that the so-called 'Old Empire' is at war with us, the rightful rulers of the Empire. It is also clear that, due to the inaction of certain parties, the Mandalorians have also risen up in revolt and have begun attacking us. We are at war, whether some among us would prefer to say we are not, and we lose good citizens and soldiers with every strike. Due to our size, these can come from any number of places, meaning our ability to protect our own may not be as quick as we would want. As we focus on one threat or another, it is possible more of these attacks could occur and thus more lives be lost. What do you have to say to the people affected by these attacks, even as we try to bring the galaxy back into it's rightful state of order under the rightful Empress' control?" It was important that the Empress show she cared for those who would be harmed, as it was impossible to protect everyone at all times. This could be a pivotal point of the interview, he just hoped she would deliver and he hadn't set her up for failure.

@Nefieslab

 

[Lyanna Drast]

The question of the war and what she was going to win it, to protect her Empire and her people. It was a solemn topic and her smile fled in the face of it, to be replaced by a more serious expression. At length, she answered, her tone reflecting the change in attitude as well.

"Indeed, we are at war and our people suffer greatly." she agreed quietly, "Already I have begun to enact measures to relieve those in pain and those who's livelihoods have been damaged by the stresses, the horrors, of war."

She placed a hand to her chest.

"We are bleeding as a people and I am attempting to stem that bleeding; to heal us." She held up a hand, "But defence and recovery are merely the first step. They will never be enough to end a war on their own."

Lyanna stared hard at the camera.

"We are at War and the only way to protect our people is to end the War!" she declared firmly, "Already I have plans to strike at the heart of those who have attacked us. Force them to the peace table, destroy them utterly or absorb them into the Empire - no option is being ignored."

She took a sip from her water.

"You shall all hear about my plan against the Old Empire - the plan to bring out people back together, without endangering our people further."

It would only endanger herself.

"I hope that answers your question Rowan but if we need a soundbite?" she smiled ever so softly, "We will fight our enemies and make them bleed as we have bled and recover."

@Insalius