500 Republica

=Capt. Ruluwoor=
"You are quite welcome." The Selonian repeated. She could feel her cheeks warming. It was a good thing they were covered in fur. "I will see you there." She bowed to Belfima, then turned, acknowledging her silent companion with another bow. "Senator Qoode." Senators were busy people, and she knew better than to waste their time. She also knew how dry and forced politics could be. This was definitely not her preferred arena. She was only here to deliver a message, not to linger. With the bows as a formal goodbye, she was gone, disappearing back into the crowd as smoothly as she had appeared from it.

Crom'nen did not flinch, did not move, showed no emotion whatsoever. This being had insulted him. Normally, Crom'nen would have been quite irked at this, but with Ludo, he was relieved. This was some mad man whose paranoia had led him to Crom'nen. Ludo was a threat, for sure. But he was one of many gamesmen that Crom'nen had interacted with. He would serve no danger until he had played his game. Crom'nen was in little mood for play. He had other, more immediate dangers to deal with.

If you are seeking someone to play with, might I suggest gambling? If you seeking something more primitive, then I suppose we could find a quiet corner of this world where we could try to beat one another senseless, though I doubt I would fare well against a Ranger. I have little time nor inclination for play. You may not have heard, but I have a planet to rebuild. As far as my petty schemes, I'm not sure of which time in the Senate to which you refer, but whether it be my fight against Baal or freeing hundreds of thousands of enslaved beings. Regardless, I found the pursuits worth my time. Either way, of this you should be aware. I do not respond kindly to threats. You might choose your next words carefully.

Though Crom'nen had no way of knowing it, F'rarl, the defel, took one step forward in anticipation. Between his species natural camouflage and his natural ability in Force Stealth, he had gone completely unnoticed in his corner.

“I see,” Zarine replied in a concerned tone, “That is the hardest bit, isn’t it? Knowing that something is wrong, but not being able to prove it.” She hadn’t heard of the attack on Corellia, and with difficulty she refrained from reaching for her unavailable datapad. She’d been carrying it when she was stopped by her disapproving secretary. The woman had confiscated it while telling her that the purpose of this gathering was to socialize publicly, not research. Not for the first time Zarine reflected upon how different from Yavin IV the Core Worlds were. Even with the Holonet, some news just did not make it. She did not wish to admit her ignorance of what had happened on his world to Dmitri, especially as it was obviously something that mattered to him.
"Perhaps we can talk of this more later then, after all, you have yet to visit my office, and I promise not to sweep you off your feet," she let him know she hadn't forgotten the unorthodox manner of their introduction, while at the same time letting him know she had no hard feelings over it. Besides, she desperately needed to do something about her office anyway. She'd move that to the top of her priority list. It was shockingly bare of personal touches at the moment, and it certainly didn't feel as homey or lived in as Koronov's had. But then, he had a head start on her.

She put on a brilliant smile for the benefit of anyone watching as she leaned closer to Koronov for a moment, hoping that this was the right move and that she hadn’t misjudged him. “If I can be of assistance, let me know,” the Yavinite Senator assured him, dark brown eyes reflecting the concern she genuinely felt, as she straightened.


“That is a pity, however, we don’t know what will happen yet. He might find his way back in,” she mused. Things were rarely what they appeared to be. Overall she agreed with him, the universe really did not seem fair.


She idly toyed with the stem of her glass before picking it up as he asked “Not even me?” Zarine blushed faintly, biting off the words that instantly rose to mind with something she hoped was a bit more innocuous, “Is this the famous Corellian grin of which I’ve heard so much?” Almost she wished he had kept going---she finished the last of her drink, placed the glass on the table, and rose to her feet with a lithe grace as the Alderaanian Senator approached.


The Yavinite suddenly felt the difference between the two of them. She was more pragmatic in her approach, blunt even, although compared to many from Yavin, she was a picture of grace. However, Standash Thul was clearly the result of centuries of aristocratic breeding. She’d been born to turn heads. Zarine smiled and replied with due politeness, accepting the other woman’s greeting at face value, though realizing that not many people would refer to Yavin as beautiful on first acquaintance. It was a world of jungles. “I have heard Alderaan referred to as a jewel hanging in space that makes even an old and embittered spacer’s heart smile. In your presence I almost suspect that is an understatement of its effect upon beholders. Senator Thul, it is a pleasure to meet you.”


A close glance showed her that like herself, the Alderaanian Senator had arrived on Coruscant and promptly submerged herself in politics and the personalities of the Senate. Suddenly the other woman felt much more human, although the cynical part of her mind snapped back with the fact that for the Alderaanian royal family politics was as easy as breathing.


She shot a look over at Koronov as if to say "I know you faked that," but his move had given her the Senator's name so she couldn't call him out for it.

Nodding his head a few times in agreement Xeonons face grew somber for a moment.

Yes, as we should all care, given recent events. The two factions Republic, and Emp... Dark Tide had managed to cooperate for some time I understand before certain parties proved that such a thing could not feasibly work. If it had though, I bet the galaxy would have known peace for the first time in many years. 

This part was true, something he always hoped for but knew it would never happen. Peace. The Fels had managed to do it, the Old Republic, hell even the Galactic Alliance had formed the New Republic but maybe those were simpler times. Maybe the inevitable heat death of the universe was at hand and they were all going to die. 

Yes, you could say I had a falling out of sorts. The position is held until you are unable to hold it and cant protect the Emperor. Getting cut in half and dying can get you kicked out pretty fast. I held the position until the months leading up to the Mandalorian Crusades, and let me tell you had I been in charge then I would have sent every Knight and Knight in training at them to stall it. My replacement though well, there is a reason the ranks have swelled. 


Despite his humorous tone Xeonon was being very serious. He had been bisected in the defence of Prakith and he had died. That was the only way anyone left the Imperial Knights and not be branded a traitor. Death. For years he had been a Ghost, then a Shade and finally sent back to the land of the living. As he spoke the latter half of the statement his hand clenched into a fist, he was first and foremost a patriot and not one to sit by in the saftey of the Deep Core while innocent lives; force user or not were being slaughtered. 

So now I sit at the head of Solomon Mines, named after my Master and Mentor I inherited it after his disappearance and have made it flourish into the Empires single largest business. Its time we gave back a little to the universe. 



Extending his hand Xeonon shook the Emperors. 

Its good to see you again, and you are right. Without getting into to much detail lets just say I pissed off the wrong Whills and they gave me back to the land of the living. For realsies. I take it you took my advice and made yourself the Emperor, and reinstated my Imperial Knights. 

Despite using the term my Xeonon did not really know his position now. By customs the gaurds had all the rights to kill him, hopefully they wouldn't try but they would be in their rights. Hell even Delvaradus could order it if he wanted. He had just used the title to get into the function here, as he had an inkling that something might happen. Thinsg always do. 

"Congratulation on your business success." He responded with a nod of acknowledgement. The Mines might be why this man was here, but for the Corellian, it was the least interesting part of his story. His tenure with the Imperial Knights was much more relevant.

And the story was fascinating. Kel did not sense any particularly overpowering level of deceit in the man's words, but the description of death was eerie. If the man had died, he should not be here. Kel could think of two plausible explanations for this, and neither was particularly encouraging. Either Solomon did not know the full story himself (for example, he could be a clone of his original self), or the Dark Side was involved somehow. This second possibility was particularly concerning. The Jedi Master's acknowledged respect for the historical Imperial Knights stemmed from their rejection of the Dark Side. He had hopes for the modern organization, but perhaps it was not so strictly aligned after all.

Idly his gaze dropped to Xeonon's hand as it clenched and unclenched. He could sense the man's frustration at the Mandalorian incursion. "And what do you suppose is drawing in those new recruits to their ranks? Is it a sense of duty, or a quest for power, or is it all about the paycheck?" He asked with a smile, once again probing for information. The Jedi really knew almost nothing about their counterparts, either positive or negative. Kel had been surprised by their presence tonight, and chided himself for not researching them sooner. He needed to know where they stood.

He remained silent for a few moments trying to think of how to best answer this. Although the words could easily be interpreted as idle chit chat Xeonon knew them for what they were. This was a test. He had spent enough time around politicians to look beyond what you saw at the true meaning.

When I was in charge I would personally go to Imperial held worlds and select hopefuls. Those who needed to join up as much as we needed them. The idea behind the Imperial Knights is that you are selected to join by your dedication to the Empire. If you are deemed unworthy, or just doing it for the paycheck; which is pitiful I might add, then you are denied entry. This way only those who are loyal to the Empire and the Emperor may join. It weeds out those with ulterior motives. Like wise if you had any darkness in your heart it was purged or you would be.

As had happened to him. Darkness had taken hold through a seemingly innocuous gift, looking back it was obvious that something owned by Dragus would be evil but he had felt he was powerful enough to resist it. That hubris is what had gotten him killed. Hindsight is 20/20

As for right now I could only guess. Krieg was always, excuse my language but a media whore. His parents were actors and he got their good looks, it made him a poster boy even though others did the hard work. My guess is that with him at the head of the Knights he is using that media to draw in recruits. Something that I never tried to do, I am sure they are all as vigorously tested before admitting them just as they always have. 
 
Although his words said one thing his heart told him another thing. Krieg was a fool, loyal and strong in the force but weak of mind. A puppet. Xeonon feared that by admitting so many Knights that they were taking in people weak. Knights that on the surface were great but were like a virus corrupting the order from the inside. He obviously wasnt sure as he had not seen them, nor been to Kuat since coming back to life but it was a real possibility. 

=Jordan Halcyon=
Cass had a point, the Jedi Knight conceded to himself, as he considered his answer. Jordan had been hoping to learn more about the man's ambitions and desired job, rather than any specific powers or skills, but at the same time, he was not in a position to press too deeply, nor was it in the other's best interests to share it. And he could only expect Cass to trust him to a certain point. He had no hard evidence yet to prove that the stranger was a threat, and his (apparent) honesty so far was too his credit, but the matter was clouded. Arresting him and taking him before the Jedi Council would not only be difficult, it would also be difficult, and probably extremely messy. In fact he would probably need help to do it. And they would only reinforce their status as enemies or antagonists to Cass. Patience, he felt sure, would be a better course of action.

"You are partially correct." The Corellian took a deep breath, and exhaled it slowly. "Knowing what I now know about you, the Jedi Order will have questions about you and your allegiances. Some of the Masters will never trust you, and others will remain suspicious of you, but if you are open and honest with them, and you are truly committed to the Light, they will be forced to accept your existence outside of the Order." He hesitated, a nervous smirk floating across his face. "As for me, I was raised on Corellia, and in my youth, our Jedi Academy was widely known as a friend and home for Grey Jedi and other Lightsiders who refused the overall authority of the Jedi High Council. So do not assume I am so very close-minded. If you have been honest with me, then I will be happy to call you a friend."

The safest play here was to direct Cass toward a friendly employer, one who would use his talents for good, and not use them to subvert the Jedi or the Republic. It would allow the Jedi to observe him from a distance, if necessary, and it would buy Jordan time to consult the Masters. He did not want to do anything rash, but he did not want a being as powerful as Cass to disappear until they knew his true allegiances, either. "So I take it you are seeking a mentor, or perhaps more correctly, a benefactor within the Republic leadership?" He continued. "Perhaps a Senator with deep pockets and an ambition to see the Republic expand its horizons?"

=Jordan Halcyon=
Jordan glanced down at the saber hilt he still held in his hands. He was reluctant to return the weapon, given the damage it could inflict, but he had already admitted that the allegation of stolen property was nothing more than a negotiating tactic with the Vor, and Cass had very clearly demonstrated his familiarity with the weapon. Unless the younger man said anything new that placed himself under suspicion, as matters stood he had no probable cause to detain the man or impound his weapon.

"Well." He replied. Cass was clearly still uncomfortable around the Jedi, and there was no reason to drag this out much longer. He should trust the Force and his own patience, and let the man go on his way, so that he could return to his duties inside. "I don't know many of the Senators personally, but if I were seeking an employer in the Senate--"

The Jedi broke off his sentence as the door behind them opened, and a blue-skinned young Twi'lek woman in a sleeveless white dress slipped gracefully through the doorway.

=Aylee'saresh=
Catching the Jedi's last sentence, the Twi'lek's gaze shifted quickly between the two men several times, as if reading the situation. Aylee could see no signs of hostility, and the topic of conversation implied cordial relations, at the very least. The Knight still held the intruder's lightsaber, but his hands were relaxed, rather than the strong grip of one who anticipates a threat. Neither one seemed agitated or out of breath, so if they were arguing, it had not been heated. Overall, it seemed that the situation had been defused, as she had hoped.

"I do hope I'm not interrupting, Master Jedi." Senator Koronov's secretary said politely into the awkward silence.

=Jordan Halcyon=
"Not at all, Secretary. Your timing is impeccable." He flashed a toothy smile. "Cass, this is Aylee'saresh. She is chief of staff to Senator Koronov, from my home planet of Corellia. Secterary, this is Cass Raklin, prospective civil servant. You are undoubtedly much more qualified to answer his questions about the Republic than I am."

All is well, thank you for your concern Senator.
She gives him a flirtatious grin. It wasn't all politics and an act. He was old yes, but he was still cute. Plus he was smart and successful in Galactic politics. More than physical attraction, elements like this where her biggest turn ons.
How is your home? Has it fully recovered from the attempts at destabilizing it?