TKR: News of the Worlds

[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, "I watched some of your other stuff."

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

@Lucid

 

[Jacob Tagger]

The ridiculous security detail, body guards and whatever other hidden protection she had lying around made Jacob just the tiniest bit nervous. Not, of course, that she'd have reason to kill him. He had directed most of his commentary directly to Elix, whom she had killed for the very reasons Jacob had illustrated. This was bound to be an interesting interview. Jacob had a number of questions to ask her and none of them were going to be easy.

Dissent had been rife in the galaxy for some time and *especially* in Republica space. The Mandalorians had everyone jumpy and the Old Empire was active on border worlds. If she wanted to truly save the Empire and herself, since Jacob was reasonably certain that he held no true feelings for her people. Whatever she wanted, wherever she wanted to take the Empire, Jacob would be there.

Whether or not he was a thorn in her side, an active member of some resistance organization or a champion of her actions was entirely in her hands now. He wondered if she had the experience to tangle with him in the public forum; Jacob was much more dangerous than he appeared.

"Indeed, it's a pleasure," he said blandly, smiling slightly at the comment about his other pieces. "I'm certain you have. Elix was a fool, he had it coming." Jacob began pouring disdain so strongly into the Force that even her Force-blind goons were effected. They looked up sharply but nothing had been an overt threat. "And you're even younger than he. I wonder if you'll be able to have the strength of character required to lead...the Empire is more than media games, Lyanna."

@Nefieslab

 

[Lyanna Drast]

It seemed that Jacob Tagger was rather opposed to her but so far he was almost entirely certain that he was more opposed to her on principle for now. The man had no experience with her but had invested a lot of time and effort into discrediting the efforts of the monarchy within the Imperial Republica. It would be strange for him to suddenly be eager to meet her, even if their assessments of Elix had been comparable.

She raised an elegant eyebrow.

"Oh I agree but perhaps you should pull back on projecting your emotions into the Force?" She suggested mildly, "You're likely making the crew and the security detail awfully nervous."

Nodding, she smiled a little bit.

"I am rather young but I would usually prefer to associate my age with a fresh perspective. Youthful vigour." she joked back lightly with a bright smile before answering, more seriously, "We've seen it before in the past that sometimes it is the young who need to lead the way. We saw it was many of the rulers of the past - not least of which was Andraste herself. I hope to prove myself as more than just a pretty smile however and have plans to do just that. I won't be just a poster child like the last one."

She was rather flippant with her disregard for Elix but with good reason - the man had been a tool.

@Lucid

 

[Jacob Tagger]

"I'm sure they can handle it," Jacob said, looking around at the goons and shrugging. "They look like big, strong lads. I'm sure they're used to it." He signaled to the cameras to start recording. He wasn't interested in being schmoozed by the Empress. If she wanted to try and woo him, she'd be better to be quick on her feet. This was an interview, and, given the abrupt change of leadership there were many things to be addressed. If Lyanna thought she could assume control and escape public scrutiny, she was wrong. Well...she might be right, but Jacob intended to put her through the wringer if he had any say about it.

"What we've seen from the past was genocide, terrible war and insurmountable will. With the galaxy already turning to war once again from a variety of fronts, how do you plan to preserve the life of the people?"

@Nefieslab

 

[Lyanna Drast]

What a crass way to put it.

It was almost as though Jacob Tagger thought himself above the likes of the security details because he was a Force Sensitive. Some Sith believed that when they began their training but they usually had it beaten out of them during the academy. Naturally Jacob hadn't had that. Instead of rebuking him further, she instead reached out with the Force and, with the skill of someone fully trained, instantly protected the security detail from his crude emotional projection.

Turning her attention to the camera and Jacob in equal parts, Lyanna didn't smile as wide as she usually did, instead just focusing on the question itself. When it came it was disappointing. Was this the man that Elix had been so afraid to answer questions for? She hoped that Jacob was merely warming up.

"Well you've partially answered the question yourself Jacob; with insurmountable will." she replied smoothly, "War has come to the Galaxy and to our Empire - this is a fact. But with insurmountable will, I will work together with our Sith and armed forces to attempt to ensure an end to the conflict."

She held up a hand.

"This will not be easy. We are at war and we are under attack - but peace can be achieved. There is no avenue closed to us. Diplomacy. Ceasefire. White peace. Total victory." she nodded once, "But war is certainly upon us and I urge all citizens of the Empire to contribute where they can and how they can, to help bring an end to it. However, I would also like to remind the citizens of the Empire to stay safe in these trying times."

@Lucid

 

[Jacob Tagger]

He decided not to press it too far with the Force and dropped his projection of disdain as quickly as he had created it. He turned his attention to Lyanna's response. She had dodged his question elegantly but in doing so had revealed what Jacob believed to be some of her true nature...and he intended to call her out on it. It would be what everyone was expecting of him, of course, and it was also something that he was genuinely curious about.

"Lyanna," Jacob said acidly, "that is not what I asked. I asked what your plans were to protect the life of your citizens as war comes to their worlds." Jacob was impressed by her talent for getting herself so quickly into a sticky situation. "Looking to history, when war came to the Sith the will and drive of their leader has had a profoundly detrimental effect on their people. Some of that we see echos of even today."

Jacob took a sip of water from the glass provided and continued. "Many parts of the Imperium Republica are impoverished. These people will be the first to fall under fire as the Mandalorians move or as the Old Empire renews aggression. Your plan, as you have already said, is to ask these people to give as much as they can. Give what exactly? Plenty of people have nothing and deserve your protection. You ask to give and give and give until there is nothing left.

"A warning to stay safe is not enough, or what I would qualify as a direct answer. So I will ask again, how you do intend to protect your citizens who cannot protect themselves in the coming war?" Jacob was determined to get an actual response and not a deflection. He wasn't finished though. "I will say that it is noble and right of you to mention diplomatic avenues. However with a studied look, that seems rather closed. The Mandalorians have a deeply rooted hatred of the Sith and the divide that created the separation between the Old Empire and the Republica is a theological difference, yes? So while you may wish for a diplomatic solution, analysis of the current political state of the galaxy points to the war coming to blows."

@Nefieslab

 

[Lyanna Drast]

Oh what an ugly little personality the poor man had. Lyanna felt sorry for anyone that Jacob spoke to for an extended period of time - it must be dreadfully uncomfortable for them. She waited for him to finish speaking, a lone eyebrow raised as he attempted to rip her words apart but instead just did a very good job of destroying every speck of journalistic credibility he actually had by letting his emotions take control of him to begin with and then hounding her for an answer.

"I am aware it is not what you asked, Mr Tagger." She told him simply, outwardly unconcerned in the face of his acid, of his venom, "But what answer did you honestly expect? What are my plans for when war touches my citizens? Why it is simply this; to fight the war in defence of said citizens. You'll excuse me if I don't go into specifics of battle plans and defences with an unqualified reporter who's show is broadcast to loyalists and traitors alike. If you want a slightly more specific answer? We shall fight them wherever we find them and we will do whatever we can to ensure that our citizens survive this terrible war."

Mirroring him, she took another sip of water.

"As for what people can give - you assume I'm asking for credits. I am not. I am asking for whatever support people can offer. If that is merely a showing of support to the Imperial military? Then I gladly accept that. I am not out to exploit my people, Mr Tagger. I do not seek to exploit their fears and their worries for my own end."

There was a twinkle in her eye and it would be clear that there was an addition to that sentence - 'unlike you, Mr Tagger'.

"As for diplomacy - yes it will be difficult. Would you like me to rule out options because they are difficult? If so then I'm afraid you and I are quite different Mr Tagger, for I will not be deterred by what is difficult." She replied with a small smile, "And, eventually, all wars come to diplomacy anyway. Just because the situation now does not immediately suggest diplomacy to be an option, doesn't mean that it will always be the case. So make no mistake Mr Tagger - we will fight this war and we will fight to win but if, along the way, peace is available by other means? Why... it would be rather disgustingly selfish of me to not seek an end to the fighting, wouldn't it? I want my people to be safe, my Empire to prosper and my reign to be one remembered for all the right reasons. I didn't choose this war, I didn't start this war but please, Mr Tagger, understand that I will end this war."

@Lucid

 

[Jacob Tagger]

Just how naive was this girl who fancied herself Empress? Had she no idea of the scale of her Empire and the complexities that came with running it during wartime? Jacob was no expert but he had prepped for this interview well. Conversations with political and cultural analysts from outside the Empire had offered him some keen insight that he intended fully to share with Lyanna. He knew what she was trying to do, undermine his integrity but he had long since realized that journalism that sold copies and had an impact in the public eye was dramatized and overblown.

"Of course I'm not asking you to reveal battle plans. That would be treasonous, wouldn't it?" He was throwing caution to the winds and he didn't care. His opinion of the woman was lowering by the second. "Assumptions are dangerous things, Lyanna. I was in no way suggesting that you were calling for credits; I was thinking on a much larger issue which is: why do you think the citizens would at all support the Imperial armed forces?" He shifted his position in his chair, crossing his legs and leaning forward toward her.

"So far the armed forces that you command have done nothing, granted you are new to the position and such things take time but as it stands now independent analysis of support for the Empire shows that it's at an all time low. The damage that Elix did to the Empire is massive; worlds that received little in the way of Imperial support are beginning to question whether remaining allied to the Imperial Republica is worth the effort and expense."

He stared at her with raw intensity. He had moderated the negotiations between the Mandalorians and Bandomeer. For all they were seen as mindless, war loving brutes they had political skill and tantalizing offers. "Other options are suddenly popping up around the galaxy. The Mandalorians, for all the damage they have done to the Republica at Kuat, Bilbringi and Fondor they are not mindless. They have won the allegiance of key neutral worlds such as Bandomeer, with its critical positioning along the Hydain Way and Contruum, with its massive industry--through diplomacy and support of local governments alone."

He left unsaid, much like she had the end of the sentence--'Unlike your regime, Lyanna.'

"Further more there has been indication of their presence on Umbara and Gizer. Small worlds yes, but worlds near your borders nonetheless. What's to stop your border worlds form realizing that perhaps they stand to gain more by allying themselves to a new galactic power?" It was a legitimate question and one that would push further.

"You ask them for support of your armies; made up of beings from all worlds under your control, yet you offer little support back. Would you blame them for choosing what is best for their people? Or would you answer with that 'insurmountable will' of yours and level their planets like your predecessors did at Medriaas?" That he knew, was truly inflammatory but the damage had already been done.

The seed of an idea had been planted in the minds of all who watched and that was a very dangerous thing indeed. He had left the topic of diplomacy largely untouched but the implication was clear. She had diplomatic issues to worry about in her own state before she could turn her attention to issues beyond her borders.

@Nefieslab

 

[Lyanna Drast]

Lyanna smiled a little bit in the face of the reporter as he continued on his rather unprofessional tyrade against her. She was perfectly fine with him continuing however as he was proving himself to be a lovely little font of knowledge and was readily preparing his own grave in his efforts to besmirch her.

She could appreciate his dedication.

Even as he continued to speak however, her security team began to move his crew from the room and more members of the security detail took their place. Two of them moved closer, standing behind Jacob with stun blasters at the ready, pointed at the reporter.

Lyanna herself stood from her chair.

"Not supporting the Imperial Government and Armed Forces is not treason." She declared with a small smile, "But colluding with the enemy is, Mr. Tagger."

She gestured to one of the cameras still running.

"As is not sharing information on the movement and activities of enemy forces." She shrugged slightly, "We have heard vague rumours and the like from Contruum. Nothing about Umbara and Gizer. Bandomeer we didn't really hear much about either... only that you had left Imperial Space headed in that direction."

Lyanna smiled and it was unkind.

"Jacob Tagger, you are under arrest as a suspected traitor."

The feed was cut, leaving the audience in the dark as to the man's fate. Lyanna herself didn't waste time however. She drew her lightsaber and activated it blade with the customary snap and hiss. She wouldn't give him the chance to explain himself or even really speak out against her. She would instead immediately move to cut through his chest, the two security guards firing stun blasts at him from behind as well.

She wasn't going to allow such a rebellious, treasonous, voice to continue within her Empire when he had no positives to give her.

@Lucid

 

[Jacob Tagger]

Jacob felt the security team start to close in from behind and he knew he had pushed to far. He slid a hand discreetly into his pocket as Lyanna stood up, and clicked his comm on. It was a default connection, direct to Nastia Vant's personal line. Whether or not she picked up, audio would be recorded and Lyanna was making no effort to keep her voice down as she revealed just how lax Imperial intelligence actually was.

"I am not a citizen of your Empire. Freedom lies in being bold," he said clearly as she smiled cruelly at him. His fate was sealed, but he would die happily for his cause. For all those who would be given the knowledge they needed to be able to chose what was right for themselves. "When someone is denied the right to live the life they believe in, they have no choice but to become an outlaw."

"Jacob Tagger, you are under arrest as a suspected traitor."

The cameras had caught his final words before he died and the comm in his pocket would catch what followed. Jacob knew that his time was over even before her lightsaber cleaved into his body. The Force swirled around the two, polar opposites. One side sought to do what was right and the other sought only to control. Jacob died, but he did not die a pointless death. His network had the footage of the interview, the HNN cameras had been streaming realtime back to the network.

Perhaps his death had come sooner than he had wished, but it could not have happened in a better way. He accepted his death and gave his life freely to his cause. His life's work had been to bring another view to those who had been so carefully under the thumb of the Empire. To give them the knowledge that there was something more out there, another option to choose from, another life to live.

He trusted his friends and peers to make something of what he had given them here. Worlds would know that freedom and the right to govern themselves was out there. The people would watch Nastia's final report and know that they had a choice. If one life could help to fuel change in the galaxy then Jacob would make sure his final act was to be that catalyst.

Jacob Tagger died a free man. His body faded into the Force, a sign to the twisted girl Empress that not everything was under her control.

It would never be.

@Nefieslab

 

[Lyanna Drast]

Lyanna cut the man down with her blade and stared down at his corpse for a moment.

Doubtlessly this would be known to the rest of the Galaxy within a few moments - she was not foolish and Jacob Tagger hadn't been either. They would have both thought to come up with a fail-safe and she would admit to being disappointed had he merely died without any final, parting, shot.

She didn't think, not for a moment, that his line about being an outlaw was the extent of it. The line wasn't even than good as far as last words went. When his body faded into the Force she raised an eyebrow and toed his clothes with one foot. It was... unexpected that he would manage to pull that off.

It was not, however, a big deal.

No one outside of this room knew he had ghosted like that and her security detail were incredibly close mouthed. Instead she just hummed a little bit as she extinguished her lightsaber.

"Publish every dirty little secret he has." She ordered her security, "Get them into the hands of other news outlets. His deals made with the Mandalorians and whatever else you can find."

She tutted once, reaching into his clothes and turning off his com link by crushing it with the Force.

"He would have made a good political attack dog... but it does not do to allow the dog to bite the hand that feeds."

/End