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 Nov 7, 2013 10:35:01 GMT -8
Bel'fima, despite her training in regality, was somewhat nervous. She was not sure of the protocol for these smaller meetings, so she chose to stand at the far end of the table.
Thank you, Vice Chancellor, for allowing me to speak first, and congratulations on your election as Vice Chancellor.
Senators of the Republic, there is not one of us here who would deny that the Republic is in dire straights. Our Jedi protectors have been engaged in war, while our enemies have multiplied and become more brazen. I believe that each of you would agree that liberty has not been in more danger since the days of the Emperor himself.
While the Vice Chancellor's proposal, while at first glace is kind-hearted, leaves for much outside interpretation, as I believe that I proved in the Rotunda. This bill looks like an attempt by the wealthu, human-dominated Core to dictate and control the will of those on the Rim. You need to understand that the worlds that do not have fleets do not because of fiscal or even moral reasons. I believe that in putting this regulation on, not only will you make Rim Worlds like Ryloth reconsider their importance and therefore alliance with the Republic, but will also make other Rim Worlds hesistate to join. We cannot both uphold the memory of the Republic while doing something that would violate the memory of worlds like Caamas and Alderaan which sacrificed so much to uphold an ideal.
As I said in the Senate Chamber, I believe that a better solution is to carefully craft a proposal in the form of a resolution instead of a bill, allowing worlds to participate at their discretion. I also believe that, for appearance sake, it should come from a neutral party. Koronov, perhaps? It will appear that he negotiated a moderate approach. It will be political collateral for whoever proposes it, as well as for those of us who can go back to our worlds and show that we work together for the greater good. It is a win-win-win.
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Post by Vice-Chancellor Darma on Nov 7, 2013 19:43:05 GMT -8
I give a brief sigh, as I listen to Bel'fima's idealistic words. Those very ideas had cost Caamas and Alderaan their very existence. Is that an acceptable price to pay for such ideals? I cannot say that I agree, but I am willing to work with the senate to make the republic a safer place to live for everyone. I am most reluctant to voice the obvious problems with the proposal she has laid before the council but they must be addressed, so I brace mentally roll up my sleeves and respond in a cool kind manner, that is not quite patronizing, but isn't far from what a teacher might explain a complex issue to a particularly bright student after class.
Thank you Bel'fima, you're doing a fine job of handling things in senator Crom'nen's absence, though I do miss his sharp wit. I hope things are going well on Ryloth and that he may return safely to Couruscant.
I see two difficulties raising their ugly heads based on what I've heard you say. First, worlds are allowed to choose if they wish to participate. On the face this is a wonderful ideal, however, who will protect those worlds that choose not to participate? The republic cannot stand by and leave these worlds undefended, but at present it has nothing with which to defend them, thus my proposal being a bill, in the hopes of spreading the burden as equally as possible to all worlds for the same benefit to each, which I understand is not the best approach available from a political stand point.
Second, Those that have held so strongly to the idea of peace as Alderaan and Caamas did have paid for it dearly; and I am reluctant to see anyone else pay such a steep price for an ideal, even one so noble as peace. This is not an ideal galaxy we live in, unfortunately, and even Rendili, my home world, has suffered from holding to the idea of peacefully negotiating away all our problems away. It worked for a time, but violence found us still, and worse we were unprepared for it. Because of that, I now know the pain of knowing that some of my people are living as slaves out in the galaxy somewhere, and there isn't anything I personally can do about it, except to fight slavery, and the promotion of slavery, as hard as I can. A defenseless world is easily raided for slaves and plunder, the Empire, Hutts, and others, have shown us this many times over. Will we still adamantly stand proud over piles of broken arms in the name of peace? I do not claim to have the answer, but my world has chosen to defend it's peace with lethal arms. This may not be the right choice for the republic, but I feel certain that no defense is certainly not the right choice for the republic. I know I asked for a lot, but I did so because I believe that there is a lot worth protecting in this republic and many who steal, kill, enslave, and/or destroy all of it with no further incentive than what they already have.
Bel'fima, I do not want to misunderstand you or what you are trying to communicate. Can you please describe what each kind of world would look like? A world that chooses to participate in this resolution and a world that chooses not to, specifically in terms of how they would be defended from an invading force? I want to be sure that I understand your thoughts on the matter.
Darma, wondered if his wondering mind had convoluted his points, and suspected they had, but perhaps the request for a working model would help both parties see what was actually on the table here, instead of hearing words and perceiving separate ideas entirely. He thanked his experience in the corporate world for the idea to ask for a model of the idea in action, as that tended to take most problems into account when made properly and often showed how each was neatly dealt with, or left open for suggestions if no solution was readily available. Perhaps he should have offered a working model of his own bill, but that would not have answered all the questions and he would very likely still be here. Darma turned his attention back to the meeting at hand, and hoped that the comity would be able to find a workable solution to this problem soon, before yet another world was forced to suffer at the hands of some nefarious group.
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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 Nov 8, 2013 6:58:31 GMT -8
Belf'ima's blue skin turned a redish tint of embarassment. The VC had not stood. Aparently the sub committees were not so formal. She took her seat again rather sheepishly.
I appreciate the Vice Chancellor's compliment. You must understand that the Twi'lek see things differently from you. You must remember that during the Old Republic the nearly sole export of Ryloth was slaves. The Republic went as far as to make an alliance with the Hutts to allow such a practice to continue. It was not until the Bacta War which liberated this very Coruscant from the hands of Isard that ryl became a viable export and allowed us economic freedom.
While Rendili made Star Destroyers for the Empire, other worlds suffered at the hands of those vessels. While I commend Rendili for changing to do what you believe is right, I need not remind you that there are those who are still prejudiced against your people for that very reason. You said just a moment ago, "My world has chosen to defend it's peace with lethal arms." Others may chose not to do so. Would you deny them that choice by force if they refuse to follow your law? That is the very thing many of them fear.
Can you defend a people by stripping away what makes them unique? You and I both come from warrior cultures. I fear we cannot understand those who choose to defend an ideal instead of defending their people. But just because we cannot understand them does not mean we should change them. And even if we should, would we? As a part of the Republic agreement with Ryloth, the Republic was to provide a fleet and training for Twi'lek warriors to man them. The fleet came, but the training has yet to begin. If we cannot train those who wish to possess a fleet, can we train others to do so against their will?
As far as a practical answer, you must please forgive my ignorance. There are no transcripts of these secure meetings, as the information on fleet deployments and strength are to secret as not to expose. I have only been able to rely on Senator Crom'nen's personal notations, which are sparse, to say the least. That said, was not the intention of establishing this committee to be able to move those fleets to cover planets? Those who choose not to participate will know that they run the danger of having transmissions jammed, and even if they do get distress communicated, that they will have to endure the time it takes to mobilize fleets from various neighboring systems. The risk is great, but the risk is theirs to assume if they choose to do so.
Again, it is my belief that most systems will participate. For those that do not, we might send an attache to attempt to change their minds, perhaps even get them to sign a waiver if they do not?
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Post by Vice-Chancellor Darma on Nov 10, 2013 20:01:07 GMT -8
I am also plagued by how to do this well. As Vice Chancellor of the Republic, I am responsible for the safety of every citizen, regardless of how they feel about it. As such I want to protect them, but how far is to far, the point where I destroy the very things I want to protect. How do you defend a world that hates war and blood shed, to the point of disarming themselves? Darma failed to notice Bel'fima's embarrassment as she sat back down, in truth things were much less strict in regards to protocol, mostly because such things tended to be inefficient in meetings where seconds can be the difference between a massacre and an ordered withdrawal. His preoccupation with the present problem was such that, as she finished her response, after sitting back down, he stood and pushed his chair in and began pacing the floor behind it as he pondered the difficult task laid before the military comity. I will never be satisfied until every world within the republic has a defensive force, but what do you do about a people that would rather be exterminated than defended? Then I recall an odd factoid, and wonder if this will prove permissible to such cultures, by taking advantage of a potential loop hole. I decide to run it before the comity, surely Bel'fima or one of the other senators would be able to weight the option more evenly then I can alone. I stop, and turn to face the comity, with one hand held behind my back the other used for emphasis, and divulge the possibility that has just wandered into my conscious thought.
Would it be any less offensive to a pacifist culture, if the defenders were all droids whose programming would not allow them to take offensive actions? That would allow them to retain their beliefs about warfare, without leaving themselves wide open for salvers and despots to destroy them at a moments notice. There is still the issue of funding, but we will get to that in a minute. Is this an acceptable defensive force? Because I am very much at odds with the idea of leaving any republic world defenseless, and I don't believe a planetary shield system will be any cheaper than small task force, though that is another alternative we could look into.
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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 Nov 11, 2013 6:09:46 GMT -8
=Belf'ima=
I believe that would be perfectly acceptable, but there is still the issue of funding that looms larger. These worlds might still object to funding of armorments, even if the loss of life is a lesser threat. Passifists do tend toward emotional reasoning rather than logical reasoning. Then again, any of us who fools ourselves into believing differently of ourselves only blinds ourselves to this weakness.
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Post by Vice-Chancellor Darma on Nov 11, 2013 19:18:09 GMT -8
Darma, listens to Belf'ima's response and nods before he continues pacing, his mind once more slipping form the room to better consider the difficulty at hand. It is several minutes before he speaks again, and he does this under his breath, before shaking his head and continuing to pace the floor. Then he considers a thought, looking to the ceiling as he pauses his pacing once more. Grimacing he tosses the idea on the table, wondering if will prove to be as disastrous as his previous "solutions" to the cost of the republic's defense.
Would ... If we totaled the cost of every defense purchased, and spread it out over the entire republic, so that each world payed an amount of the bill determined by its GDP divided by the Republics total GDP? That would put the majority of the cost on the most productive worlds, and less of the cost on the less developed worlds of the republic. Is that a fair solution?
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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 Nov 13, 2013 5:58:41 GMT -8
Belf'ima tapped one finger on the graceful slope of her jawline, deep in thought. What about if we crafted a bill seperate from the defense fleet resolution, a general raise on taxes due to each world's GDP. We give it a name such as the "Refugee Relief Act" or the "Victims of War Act." This is a temporary tax on member worlds, with the stated goal of helping the war effort. Funds can be used for both funding of the war effort and supporting those worlds devestated by war. Those worlds that oppose war can find solace in the belief that they are helping the innocent suffering.
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Post by Vice-Chancellor Darma on Nov 13, 2013 21:21:50 GMT -8
Clever girl... Darma only wished he'd thought of that. Still, as long as a solution had been reached he was satisfied. And it looks like Belf'ima had just wrapped up the biggest loose end on the whole problem since its conception. Darma turned to her and gave her a sincere, if theatrical, bow in the fashion of ancient human courts, and allowed a smile to creep across his face. This was promising, things were likely to progress nicely now, and finally the republic would be a safe place once more.
Excellent idea! That should work quite nicely, indeed. Very well, since it was your idea, Belf'ima I'll leave the details of that bill to you. That said, what should we say is funding the defense bill so as to protect the sensibilities of the idealists of the Republic? As we have seen before that is a major point of contention in the senate currently. Shall we say it will come from private donations and the general defense budget? A little PR and the possibility having a ship named for after anyone giving a donation, the size of the ship named scaling directly with the amount donated of course, might prove to be sufficient incentive to get the private sector also involved in funding the republics defenses. All funds of course would go into the general defense budget, or the Victims of War Act funds, if the comity thinks that more appropriate.
I take my seat once more, pleased that things were finally coming to fruition. I notice that my data-pad has a new message from my security chief, but it isn't marked urgent, so I ignore it for the time being. Focusing instead on the meeting at hand, hoping to wrap things up and get these new bills out on the floor once more, and hopefully through from there, so that the Republic could start defending itself.
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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 Nov 14, 2013 5:42:52 GMT -8
Belf'ima nodded at the compliment and acknowledgement of the directive. She began typing of the bill when he spoke further. He was still insisting on a defense bill. She continued to argue her point.
I still believe that a defense resolution is the proper measure, allowing worlds to fund their own fleets and allowing us to raise taxes only minimally so that they might fund their own ships. As for the thought of of individual or even corporate funding, I believe this is a dangerous path. For example, if you name a ship after an individual, do they get access to the ship? Do they get command, or to select their own commanders? Say it is a politician, do they get to staff the ship with their consistuents? It seems to me that this is a recipe to have ships like the Errant Venture running around loyal to none but those who signed the check. This does not even begin to go into whether such an individual would then have access to this committee and its members. Even if the answer to each of these questions is "no," that may still be the perception on either the part of the individual or those who have sent us to represent them. I believe this would be a poor decision on our parts and a harmful precident to set.
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Post by Vice-Chancellor Darma on Nov 17, 2013 19:59:18 GMT -8
Darma, grimaced as she clearly pointed out yet another flaw in his reasoning, still, he thought, and now the grimace became a rueful grin, better to be shot down by allies on the drawing board than enemies in the field. He mulled the idea over, but then decided that Belf'ima was right again.
Very well, it will be a resolution, but let the resolution also state that if a world decides to neglect its defenses, the republic will not be held responsible for any damages incurred by the failure of said defenses. And for the record, the answer too all of those is in fact no, they would only receive bragging rights with their peers, and a ship that shared a name with them. Your point is valid however, so that idea can be forgotten. Did anything else need to be changed?
I set a reminder in my calendar to revise the current proposal, and gear it to fit a resolution instead of a bill. I only hoped that the various members of the Republic would see the need for a strong defense in this galaxy rife with conflict.
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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 Nov 18, 2013 5:38:32 GMT -8
Belf'ima quietly looked around at the others, as if expecting someone else to say something. Though her perfect posture and noble expression did not show it, inwardly she was beaming with pride. She believed she had accomplished much, and earned respect. She had also done so with a measure more respect than Crom'nen, who took joy in opponents humiliation.
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Post by Chancellor Cihlbar on Nov 21, 2013 23:28:58 GMT -8
The entrance to secure Military Council chambers opened, and the Senate Guards let a prominent looking Mon Calamari enter adorned in the naval whites of the Galactic Republic, insignias on the collar denoting him an appointed member of the Joint Chiefs of staff by Supreme Chancellor Cilhbar himself, Admiral Vrenka enters looking quite frantic. He spoke with a bit of baded breath and the gravelly aquatic accent.
Representatives, excuse my tardiness, but the Supreme Chancellor's office is receiving disturbing reports from the Jedi.
Vrenka finds a seat and begins scurrying through the datapad, sorting through. . .well the logistical data of what was reported; his webbed hands working as the pupils of his bulbous eyes wide. . .
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Post by Vice-Chancellor Darma on Nov 23, 2013 13:17:54 GMT -8
Darma almost sighs, he'd been looking forward to finishing the meeting feeling productive and pleased with himself in general for having finally worked out a solution to the glaring security problems in the republic, granted it wasn't more than a patch, but it would have to suffice for now, when in walks a dac who should have been here from the get go and it sounded like he had yet more bad news to share with council. Darma hoped it was not something that would require a great deal of military force from the republic, as quite frankly, the republic simply didn't have a great deal of military force to wield.
Welcome Admiral Vrenka, thank you for joining us. What do the jedi want from the republic now? No, let me guess, more alcohol, hallucinogens, phrik, ships, and taxpayer credits in no particular order?
Darma's views of the Jedi had dropped precipitously since the bombing incident, a few weeks ago. He had looked into some of the acquisitions the jedi made with taxpayer credits, and it had astounded him to see where some the money went. He used to believe that the jedi used their power to assist the less fortunate, but now I had seen that very few of the jedi actually did that any more. Most were merely interested in building up their own little temples into indomitable fortresses, replete with armies, fleets, exotic gardens and even zoos sometimes. All of which was funded almost entirely with taxpayer dollars of course.
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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 Nov 24, 2013 4:46:29 GMT -8
Belf'ima blinked surprised at the VC's comments. She supressed the urge to say "Why, Vice Chancellor, don't let Crom'nen hear you talking like that, or he might think you have something in common." She thought Crom'nen was the only one that cynical.
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Eli Vandal
The Jedi Order
High Councilor
Posts: 64 
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Eli Vandal on Nov 28, 2013 13:40:27 GMT -8
The doors were newly embellished with a coat of polyurethane near an inch thick, yet the productivity of the committee wore the brass handles down and carved the slightest hint of a half circle in the polished marble floor. As it pushed open, the guards walked forward and paved the way for an average man, dark of skin and hair, and within the waning years of life. His eyes shined an emerald glare, pupil-less, as he scanned the room and observed the members. There were members of numerous cabinets and positions, each holding distinctly unique positions of importance. Eli gave a nod as the door closed behind him. He wore khaki clothes and the jacket atop him resembled an off world duster, likely colored naturally from intent or debris.
“Military Committee. I am Councilor and Jedi Master Eli Vandal, sent from the recently convened Jedi Order.” He looked to the Vice-Chancellor, or who he assumed was the Vice-Chancellor, given the information on his data pad and the current seating arrangement. “I have news of Jedi abroad and recent developments on the Mandalorian front.” He raised his chin and looked back over the council. “If you would allow me the time, I believe I could deliver you the illumination you need to move towards planetary and galactic considerations.”
This was a matter that surpassed the needs of just one planet, but even then, presenting the group with direct and urgent considerations may hasten deliberations. He felt the shallowest hint of doubt towards this groups concern for Kuat, as it was not part of the Republic. But that was the choice of the leaders, who chose the path of darkness, and would be an affront to decency to punish the civilians held beneath the sharp heel of the Dark Tide. That’s what he was here for, for the innocent people of the universe incapable of influencing those of power towards their own needs. And he wouldn't let his soon to be restrained doubts interfere with his duty as a member of the High Council and, even more importantly, as a member of the Jedi Order.
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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 Dec 1, 2013 8:29:10 GMT -8
Belf'ima sat back in her chair. She had never met the previous Jedi representative to the military committee, who had gone off to fight in the war. They had been without one for months. Now she glaced from the admiral to the Jedi Master, and waited for one to speak.
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Post by Vice-Chancellor Darma on Dec 1, 2013 18:56:04 GMT -8
I look up at yet another late arrival, and lean back in my seat as the jedi addresses me. I am very careful to maintain a neutral, calculating mindset. In the hopes of minimizing what the Jedi would be able to pull from my thoughts. Sometimes paranoia was a blessing, I only hoped today wasn't one of them. As he finishes, I nod in acknowledgment and gesture with one hand for him to continue, indicating that there weren't any pressing matters being discussed at the moment. Though the words Mandolorian front caught my attention, as until this point nothing beyond rumors of war and that silly broadcast the mandos had made had crossed his desk. He wondered if they had finally struck the republic, and if so where.
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Eli Vandal
The Jedi Order
High Councilor
Posts: 64
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Eli Vandal on Dec 1, 2013 20:49:13 GMT -8
Eli noticed the minuet gesture of the Vice-chancellor and the abundant silence of the rest of the committee and assumed it permission to begin the briefing. He would prefer not to have to step on any toes, especially in an area he didn't quite feel welcomed in. As he made the mental note to move forward, he felt the slightest vibration in the datapad held in hand, giving a brief synopsis of the current conversation occurring in the High Tower. If he couldn't stay there, he would remain connected. With a furrowed brow and extended arm, a holorecorder began to play back.
"Esteemed Committee Members, thank you for letting me speak...The galaxy is under attack." He paused to withdraw the holoprojector back into the folds of his jacket."Sernpidal was home to over 8 million, Carida was an additional 25 million. Ossus has been attacked and Yavin has been attacked, to which we are now receiving intelligence towards a potential blockade. The matter of Yavin and Ossus remains clouded but we know this...they have been wounded."
The furrow of his brow deepened and the slightest hint of a frown burrowed itself within his skin. He did not like the next part of the news, but it was a responsibility he had accepted as his own."The context of the previous message was unclear and I apologize for that. It was sent to Lord Sinistra, of the Dark Tide, to Kuat...home to over 3.6 billion people. The perpetrator and sender: Taung H'rel, of the Mandalorian army. Sinistra has requested the aid of the Jedi Order to protect and evacuate the civilians of Kuat and we have responded, sending what aid when can to fend off the horde that would see all force users, and those who had ever helped them, removed from this life."
The Old Zelosian knotted his hands behind his back, a practice often employed by his kind to symbolize the bracing of the bark against the unkind environment. And he was sure he would soon feel this reluctance from the committee after hearing of the Jedi Order's support towards the Dark Tide. "We are moving towards a new era where ideology must be temporarily set aside towards hope and survival. This threat, this army of unprejudiced hate, must be stopped. The Jedi Order has answered this call..."He paused and scanned the room, his emerald eyes were deep pools of evergreen. He wasn't nervous, he wasn't passionate, he was merely matter-of-fact. In his mind, the only manner of disarming this threat was the total cooperation of the Jedi and Darkside, a thought that nearly brought bile to back of his throat."Will the Galactic Republic sit back and argue towards resolutions passing in the next fiscal year...towards proposition of taxation that would fund this military front...towards the insularity of rich worlds that could hardly donate money to the needs of the needy...or will they unite together to push back against an unprecedented force that threatens everything the Republic stands for?" He was blunt but only spoke from his experience, the letters of requests that had always been denied. He had every intent to come to this committee guns blazing, as if time was of the essence, because it was. "Because I fear that should Kuat fall, Coruscant could be next." Not so much fear as a gut feeling. It's just that fear was so much easier to understand.
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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 Dec 2, 2013 6:43:28 GMT -8
Belf'ima, the beautiful blue-skinned Twi'lek who wore an orange dress and sat at the end of the table nearest the Jedi spoke first. Let me see if I understand this correctly. The Jedi were supposed to have liasons for both this committee and the Senate at large, but we have seen neither for over a year. You have, in fact, largely abandonned Coruscant resulting in acts like the bomb set off in the lobby of this very building less than an hour ago. You have moved Republic fleets at your own whims, usurping the authority of this very committee. You have now taken the ships meant to defend this Republic over to our enemy to aide them while our own citizens are under attack. And your solution toward mending this rift if to insult and lecture this committee, whose resources the Jedi have taken away to begin with?
It seems to me that you are a braggart, Jedi master. Were Senator Crom'nen, whom I represent, present today, he might very well stand in this meeting and slap your face for the insulting manner in which you address rightfully elected representatives of the people, while you self-appointed guardians troll around the galaxy seeking trouble. Belf'ima stood to emphasize her point. Lest we forget from the notification of war sent to the Republic, this is a war on the Force users. You brought this war upon us. The Republic could have absolved ourselves of this war by chosing to sever our connection with you. It is we, the Senate, who have chosen to loyally stand by the Jedi while you have galavanted across the galaxy as a child who has stolen their parents freighter.
Belf'ima sighed heavily, and returned to her seat, as if suddenly a great weight rested upon her. Senator Crom'nen is well known for his dislike of the Jedi. I have never supported his position, our of respect for you. This day, you have done more to prove the Senator correct by not showing us any manner of respect that we have shown you. You have abandonned us, come today to insult us, and now you ask for a boone. Perhaps the Jedi should do whatever they want, as they have chosen to anyway.
I will say this. We are at war. This should be a time where we should seek to be as united as possible. You could have come today to created unity and solidify the relationship between the Jedi and the Republic. Instead, you have chosen to come today creating division. That is disgraceful. Perhaps you are the self-centered, self-righteous, naive, nerfs that Crom'nen always claimed you were.
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Eli Vandal
The Jedi Order
High Councilor
Posts: 64
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Eli Vandal on Dec 2, 2013 8:41:05 GMT -8
If it weren't for the expectation of such narrowness and need to find insult, a concept he was well versed in with regards to the Senate, Eli would have been overtaken with awe at the turn around of his word. Only in the mind of a politician could one look to make personal amends a priority over the lives of billions of people. Planets are being blown up, mass groups of innocent people are being removed from existence, and this person elects to bring up a bombing of a single structure on a planet with over 1 trillion people, nearly none of which were affected. The naive response, the almost child like retort, nearly pulled the wind from his sails as he looked forward at the Twi'lek. Eli's lower chin jutted out slightly in the most sincere gesture of inner thought, as he flicked his tongue against the top of his teeth.
"I am a humble representative of the Jedi Order, gladly accepting responsibility for any act that may have helped to prevent the total annihilation of a great many people. Whether you judge it as significant or not." He found himself removed from his own ego and the inner toil, the need to defend the actions of the Jedi Order. But the chasm between the two bodies, created to protect the people, was more deep and outstretching than he could possibly imagine. He looked to the committee.
"For whatever the Jedi Order has done to slight or usurp your authority, I apologize for that. While I do not find total fault in their actions, I grieve that you have been burdened with unintended insult, mine or the Jedi Order's fault." He looked back to the Twi'lek and held his arms open. "Representative, I come to you with open arms. That we may overcome what differences we may have once had for the better good. If you don't like a single structure being destroyed, just imagine your homeland turned to asteroids. Imagine Haruun Kal, removed from the galaxy, just because Korunnai exist. It is the greatest action towards genocide that we have every experienced. You say that you have defended the Jedi Order, and I thank you for that. But we have not brought this war to you..."He cupped his hands together. "This war is an unprejudiced downpour and we will all feel the touch of it, force sensitive or not."
He looked back to the committee as a whole, no longer giving the Twi'lek the attention she felt she deserved."The Jedi Order has responded, but not with the like of republic resources. Masters, Knights, Councilors, and Watchmen, all move towards the unified goal of aid. Be it on the field or in the medic bay. I have decided to stay and help sway preparedness for the coming fight and to plead with you for aid, be it medical ships or assistance with temporary evacuation housing and resources. Together, we can make more of a difference than apart."
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