Crom'nen
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Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on May 13, 2013 7:31:11 GMT -8
Crom'nen's office, like his home, was neither overly high, nor overly low, but just in the middle of the building's suites. As a more senior Senator, he could have moved up, but he did not wish to.
As one entered the front door, one would find a broad, open office. One small desk was for an intern, who could answer calls, greet guests, and do some research. Along a side wall was a another desk off behind the first, Bel'fima's, who could oversee the intern, do more in-depth research, and anything else Crom'nen required. This arrangement allowed her to not face the door, but to no one to see what she was working on.
Through another door lay Crom'nen's office. It was as large as the outer office, and sparsely furnished. Crom'nen desk and shelves was solid wood, and darkly stained. The walls were lined with shelves, and contained lots of datacards. The walls were white, and the carpet the color of sand. The only decoration in the room was a mask, with two daggers in an "x" behind it. The whole set was bronzed as a trophy.
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Crom'nen
Member
Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Sept 2, 2013 18:22:44 GMT -8
Belf'ima quickly entered the office. There was not reason for her to do so, but she wished for a moment to herself. With the door closed she looked around, making sure nothing was out of place to ensure that the office had not been searched in her absence. Once satisfied, she pressed her hand to the simple wooden door that was to Crom'nen's inner office. It was sealed, as it had been for months now. Still no word. She quietly said a prayer to the Mother Goddess of her people. Crom'nen didn't believe in any gods, and Belf'ima didn't really either. Still, she thought it would do no harm to try. With that done, she left once more.
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Sara Ruluwoor
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Post by Sara Ruluwoor on Sept 9, 2013 20:54:12 GMT -8
=Aylee'saresh=
A slender young Twi'lek woman entered the senatorial offices of the delegation from her homeworld of Ryloth, and looked about casually, a perpetual smile creasing her blue face. Her gaze quickly drifted to Belf'ima's desk, which was unoccupied, and to the closed wooden door that presumably led to the Senator's office itself. Undeterred, Aylee approached the intern who was acting as a greeter, and waited patiently for the receptionist's attention. With the representative apparently absent, there was no reason for her to interrupt the intern in his work. As she waited, she glanced down at the light green sleeveless blouse, knee-length charcoal grey skirt, and black high-heels she had worn to the senate meeting, ruefully aware that they were not anything like the traditional dress of her people. She hoped it wouldn't matter.
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Crom'nen
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Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Sept 10, 2013 5:39:09 GMT -8
The intern leaned around his monitor.
Yes?
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Sara Ruluwoor
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Post by Sara Ruluwoor on Sept 19, 2013 20:58:20 GMT -8
=Aylee'saresh=
Aylee smiled warmly, not revealing any trace of her disappointment at the representative's absence. "Hello, I am Aylee'saresh, first secretary to the Senator from Corellia." She explained briefly, not dwelling on her own credentials like some me-first politician. She didn't name Koronov, because his name was not important, and it would be easy for the intern to find if he needed it. "I would like a copy of the treaty between Ryloth and the Republic, please -- especially the provisions concerning Ryloth's defense." It was a simple request, and one, she hoped, would be interpreted as genuine interest in Ryloth's objection to Senator Darma's defense bill, not dismissed as some attempt to find a loophole. When Belf'ima arrived, she was prepared to elaborate further on her intentions, but for now, she would wait.
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Crom'nen
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Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Sept 20, 2013 10:37:02 GMT -8
The intern smiled, as was his duty. His job was to say "No comment" when the press asked for one, answer calls and tell them that the Senator was unavailable, and aide Belf'ima in research and other duties. It was a glorious job, despite its monotonous description, and he had already learned much. In some other offices, interns might even proof-read speeches and written statements, but Crom'nen had no speech writer on payroll. The "Golden Tongue" trusted no one to put words in his mouth but himself. I do not have records at this station. Perhaps acting Senator Belf'ima does. Let me check.
Just as he was trained, he locked down his station before leaving, even moving to the terminal at the back of the same room. Crom'nen had absolute paranoia, but he was one of the most hated and threatened beings in the galaxy. The intern logged into his profile on the secure terminal. While he looked, he could not help but be overwhelmed by his curiosity. He had little doubt that Crom'nen would have fired him for this, but the otherwise empty office gave him boldness.
Do you mind if I ask you a question? You don't have to answer if you don't want, but why Koronov? Why Corellia? I mean, if it's not too forward.
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Sara Ruluwoor
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Post by Sara Ruluwoor on Sept 21, 2013 0:29:52 GMT -8
=Aylee'saresh=
Aylee laughed lightly. Ordinarily, she would have avoided a direct answer, not wanting to stir up any rumors, but in this case, revealing a little more information was likely in her best interests. "It's no problem at all. Senator Koronov has some concerns about the defense bill, and is planning to offer an amendment. But there's no point in continuing unless Corellia's amendment solves the objections that have already been raised." She gave the intern an honest but relatively generic answer. "Since the issue of Ryloth's defense treaty was raised at this morning's session, I was tasked to do some research."
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Crom'nen
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Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Sept 21, 2013 5:40:55 GMT -8
Hm... The intern stared at the screen, his lekku twitching in annoyance. It seems that I cannot connect to Ryloth's central computer for some reason. I'm going to have to search the records we have here.
As he continued to type, he continued to speak with hesitation. That question... isn't exactly what I meant, per se. What I was wonder was why you are working for him. Corellia has a ton of humans, Selonians, and Drall, but I've never met a Twi'lek with ties there.
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Sara Ruluwoor
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Post by Sara Ruluwoor on Sept 21, 2013 18:50:59 GMT -8
=Aylee'saresh=
"Oh." Aylee said, slightly taken aback by the question. That was much more forward a question than her previous interpretation, and she wasn't sure she wanted to get into the details. Her previous political career had been tumultuous. She paused, considering how best to explain the situation. It was a common question, but just thinking about Nicas and his betrayal still made her blood boil. Her lekku tensed, displaying some of the unease she felt -- it was a non-verbal cue that her story was not entirely a happy one.
"Most people don't know it, but Corellia has a small Twi'lek immigrant population." This was true, although it was an irrelevant detail. "I first arrived when Corellia was the capital of the Galactic Coalition, to work in the office of one of the former Chiefs of State. When his term ended, I had nowhere to go, and the future Senator Koronov, who at that time was Corellia's representative to the Galactic Coalition, offered me a job in his office." She shrugged, her lekku relaxing as she reached the happier portion of the tale. "When the Republic was re-formed, Koronov brought his whole staff with him to the Senate."
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Crom'nen
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Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Sept 23, 2013 12:47:23 GMT -8
The intern continued to type away at his search. I never knew that. I've never heard of any of our people being on a Core World besides Coruscant.
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Sara Ruluwoor
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Post by Sara Ruluwoor on Sept 26, 2013 21:31:53 GMT -8
=Aylee'saresh=
"Most people haven't, but you'd be surprised." Aylee's smile broadened, revealing her shining white teeth. "Corellia alone has Selkath, Nikto, Gran, Rodian, Ithorian, Gamorrean, Aqualish, Klatooinian, Bothan, Mon Calamari, and Twi'lek populations, and that doesn't count the species living on the other inhabited planets in our system. I'd imagine most of the Core Worlds are much the same." Her eyes began to twinkle as her voice took on a dramatic tone. "The lure of fame and fortune pulls on all sentients." And then destroys us, more likely than not, if we haven't trampled each other first. She was very aware that she was one of the more fortunate ones. Nicas' betrayal had provided a healthy slice of perspective, and now she was here, at the center of the Republic, hoping to prevent others from being trampled under vain hopes and short-sighted arrogance. It wasn't easy.
She glanced toward Crom'nen's shut (and presumably, locked) office door. "If you don't mind my asking, is everything well with Senator Crom'nen? He's been gone quite a while."
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Crom'nen
Member
Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Sept 27, 2013 5:47:38 GMT -8
Stymied at yet another path along the search, the intern started another. His lekku twitched with frustration. I'm not sure. All I know is that after a meeting with the Military Committee, the Senator left. As acting Senator, Belf'ima had the ability to look into the records, so she knows the nature of his mission, but that is all. I know that she worries.
You know, you talk about people seeking fame and fortune. Senator Crom'nen isn't like that at all. He spent a literal fortune seeking freedom for our people galaxy wide. He has spent time prosecuting slavers, and rescuing or purchasing our people. His ship is not his own; it was given by the Twi'lek Clan Council. His crew are all unpaid volunteers. He has a charity that allows him to continue his work. Rumor has it that he declined the position in order to continue his work, but the Clan Council ordered him to be Senator. Nawara'passik is a great man.
The young intern, like most people in the galaxy, believed every word. While everything he said was true, there were very few that knew of Crom'nen's dark side.
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Crom'nen
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Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Oct 3, 2013 4:39:53 GMT -8
Ah... here we are.
The intern handed over a datacard copy of the treaty. It had the standard Republic involvement and taxes, with an additional addendum that the Republic would provide a fleet to help protect the planet and capture slavers. The Republic was also to train Twi'lek personel in the operation of those ships to take over, but that no such training had yet taken place. The Republic has also offered ground troops, but had been denied outright.
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Sara Ruluwoor
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Post by Sara Ruluwoor on Oct 14, 2013 18:46:44 GMT -8
=Aylee'saresh=
"I'm sure he is." Aylee replied. "There are many good men and women here in the Senate. But they all feel that pull, just the same as those who exploit our people -- and they choose to fight back, rather than to turn a personal profit. You speak of Crom'nen's charitable work. It would not be necessary unless he felt the chaos around us."
"My former employer told great lies about what life would be like in the Core. Naive girl that I was then, I believed him, and came here. But I quickly learned it wasn't all golden place settings and gargrell petals. People suffer, the same as they do out on the Rim. While that barve was busy committing high crimes, I tried to clean up his messes ...."
Her voice trailed off as she realized that she was saying more than she intended, and Aylee glanced at the uncooperative computer terminal. The young Twi'lek wondered to herself how long it would be before Belf'ima returned. The sincere belief of the young intern in Crom'nen was heartwarming, but it held little value. She needed to talk to someone more senior, if she wanted an opinion that mattered.
Just then, the intern made a small exclamation, and moments later, handed her a datacard.
"Ah, thank you." She flashed a toothy grin, and took a few steps back, settling into a chair and producing a datapad from some unseen pocket. "Don't mind me, I'll just try to finish some research while I wait for Acting Senator Belf'ima to return."
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Crom'nen
Member
Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Oct 16, 2013 6:43:13 GMT -8
=Intern=
You know the Senate is in committee, right? She might not return today.
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Sara Ruluwoor
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Post by Sara Ruluwoor on Jan 16, 2014 20:24:02 GMT -8
=Aylee'saresh=
Aylee glanced at her chronometer in some surprise, and then nodded slowly. "I presumed that she would return, if only momentarily, when the session concludes. But perhaps that was an unwise assumption." She raised an eyebrow questioningly as she paused. "You know the acting Senator's habits far better than I do. If you do not expect her today, then please inform her that I visited, and would wish to speak with her whenever she has a moment." Truth be told, her mind had been focused more on unraveling Koronov's legislative puzzle than on the time of day.
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Crom'nen
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Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Jan 17, 2014 6:45:12 GMT -8
The intern leaned forward and spoke quietly. Truth be told, I'm not sure who is the bigger workaholic, the Senator or the acting Senator. But they don't always work from here. I work long hours, but they usually both beat me here, and are here after I leave.
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Crom'nen
Member
Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Feb 11, 2014 9:30:31 GMT -8
Before Belf'ima made it back to her office, she had read the reports from Ryloth, including a transcript of Crom'nen's speech that reassured the people. How he had come to be on Ryloth, she did not know. She was also away that the Sith governor of Kuat's secret arrival. After all, in many ways, and intern is able to create better contacts than the Senators. She had cultivated friendships with some of the guards. She was not aware, however, of the visitor to her offices.
=Belf'ima=
I need-- noticing the visitor --My apologies.
=Intern=
This is--
=Belf'ima=
Aylee'saresh, I know. Nice to meet you in person. I need a moment.
She knew she was being rude. It was a clear violation of her training, but she needed something to settle her nerves. She unlocked the door to Crom'nen's office, a door which had not been opened since he departed. Closing the door behind her, she walked to the room's one decoration. It was a bronzed trophy. The trophy was a mask and with two daggers, placed in an "X" behind it. The mask had once belonged to a terrorist, which had become a personal obsession of Crom'nen. Their battle was a personal war with mass casualties until Crom'nen finally lured the terrorist into a match and beat him to death. This epic struggle had been little known, but the very fate of the galaxy had rested in Crom'nen's ability to outwit this terrorist. Despite this great victory, Crom'nen kept the mask as a tribute to what he believed to be his only failure, in that he had not succeeded in killing the terrorist when they first met, even losing in the process one of the few beings in the galaxy that Crom'nen had ever respected. But what Crom'nen saw as a reminder of his only failure reminded her of his ability to survive anything and come through victorious. She caressed the mask lovingly, as if it were Crom'nen's very soul. She took a moment to whisper a prayer to the Twi'lek deity. She knew Crom'nen did not believe and she was not sure she did either, but figured it could not hurt. She then she returned to the outer office with a smile on her face.
=Belf'ima=
What can I do for Corellia's senatorial aide?
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Crom'nen
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Posts: 868
Affiliation: loyal only to himself, working with Ryloth and the GR
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Post by Crom'nen on Mar 31, 2014 12:19:43 GMT -8
After a long, emotionally draining day, Bel'fima just wanted to go home. She felt more at home working than anywhere else, so she returned to her office. She walked in, the weight of the day truly bearing upon her. She then sat down at her desk, and began to work.
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Sara Ruluwoor
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Post by Sara Ruluwoor on Mar 31, 2014 20:34:13 GMT -8
The exact continuity of storylines was in question, but the writer decided to just roll with it.
=Aylee'saresh=
"Acting Senator Bel'fima, I wished to discuss Ryloth's defenses in a little more detail. Senator Koronov believes he may have a solution to the disagreement in the Senate over defense funding." The young Twi'lek woman held up the datacard in her hand, then inserted it into her personal datapad once more. "Your intern has already provided me with the details of the original treaty between Ryloth and the Republic, but I want to share our ideas in private, before we bring them to the Senate." Her lekku twisted, indicating that collaboration was needed, for the good of all.
"There's no reason for Koronov to introduce an amendment unless it can actually pass." And unless it solved all the problems -- not just Ryloth but Drall and others as well.
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