Troubled Minds[Jedi Council]

It was harrowing for Vreem to traipse through the halls of the temple. He did not return with any form of good news, only the weight of events that had recently transpired in this war. And now there was a meeting with the council, he had attended only a few since he had joined the Republic’s war effort. But this discussion was to be an important one of significance and he wanted to be there in person instead of through technological means.

He wouldn’t be surprised if there were members of the council, and certainly members of the order, who wanted him dismissed from his position as a member of the High Council. The majority did not look upon his decision to disobey the council’s orders with much sympathy; he had met many Jedi who were not scared to voice this opinion. But there was nothing he could do to convince them. He hoped with time that they would be able to see into the truth of why he came to his decision; in the meanwhile he didn’t have time to explain it to every member of the order that disagreed with him.

In this meeting however, the Jedi Lord wanted to try his hand yet again at trying to convince the council to assist the Republic and its people. His attempts may stir up more contempt, but how the majority felt towards him mattered very little right now, he had a greater mission which warranted all his attention. Finally he had made his way towards the council chambers, he had been confronted by a few Jedi on his way, but he simply tried to move away from any difficult situation as quickly as possible.

Donned in his armour the Jedi Master was quite an obvious sight amongst the regularly robed assembly of Jedi within the temple. But the armour spoke of his decision and his dedication, he would wear it like the Jedi wore their robes and carried their lightsabers, it was another symbolic representation of who he was.

The meeting was long and arduous. He was the main source of information for events that had taken place in the war. He reported upon the loss of Yaga Minor, the loss of Rhissai to the Order, though perhaps the fact she had made the decision to leave hurt more than her loss through battle ever would have done. Another issue he had to report on would very likely not sit well with the fellow members of the council. The Jedi did not like it when the Republic involved itself with their affairs and with such a demanding order he wouldn’t be surprised if there was some contest to this issue. One of the planets which had been part of the Jedi Order for many years named Seraphim, well known for its mighty citadel and been deemed as the best base of operations for the Blades and Republic in the war effort. It was an easily defendable planet with plenty of space for the two groups to work, train and prepare for this war together. But Vreem wondered if the council would be willing to submit to this ‘request’.

Finally in Vreem’s report had been the events of Rhen Var. Perhaps more significant to this council than Yaga Minor because it was a direct attack against the Jedi and at last the truth had been revealed. The Sith were back. Most would have felt proud and boastful after being proven correct but surrounded by his peers, many of whom had doubted his word that the Sith had returned after he had escaped from Korriban, Vreem felt nothing but sorrow at the loss of life that had taken place in the distant temple. He explained to the council how he had received a vision through the force alerting him to the attack upon the temple and how he had gathered what forces he could in an attempt to rescue any remaining Jedi from the planet. He also mentioned the powerful Sith he had encountered and fought with during the battle, Darth Eurachis. He had possessed great strength and Vreem had no doubt they would encounter one another again during the course of the war. But he was certainly an enemy for the Jedi and the Republic to be weary of.

More reports were put forward, for instance Jace spoke of the completion of the new Jedi temple on Tython, a project which had taken quite a while to get done. But a new centre of learning on such a historic world for the Jedi would prove to be quite a helpful thing, as well as being quite a safe location within the Deep Core. But the most surprising news was about the encounter on Subterrel between the Jedi and yet more Sith. It worried him somewhat that they had not even thrown all of their members at Rhen Var and yet had still managed to bring about so much destruction. Though the element of surprise was certainly lessened now, there were still things to uncover about the Sith. This war would not be easy and until more was known about their enemy, Vreem would be careful in his actions.

After all the information had been put out on the table, Jace opened the floor to any who dared step upon it. So far he had been stating little other than fact and he felt that perhaps now was his time to start stirring up the debate. After leaving a slight pause after Jace’s words, Vreem leaned forward slightly in his seat, his armour clanking as it adjusted with him. “I know that perhaps some members of this council do not look fondly upon my actions since the last major meeting. But as these recent reports have shown, conflict is rising, despite the council’s wishes to remain out of this war. I would like to appeal to you all again that you reconsider the Order’s involvement in current affairs. The Jedi’s refusal to go to war didn’t save those upon Rhen Var, they were still targeted by the Sith. If you continue to reject the Jedi’s involvement then what will be next? The temples upon Mustafar? The sanctuary on Ilum? The enclave upon Dantooine has already been taken by the Empire despite the abstinence from war, the temple upon Rhen Var has been pillaged and many of the Jedi there fell to the Sith’s attack despite the fact they were not involved in this war.” He looked around at his peers, hoping to break through the solid shell of ignorance that often accumulated within many of the older Jedi. “If this path is maintained then the Sith will be able to simply pick away at the Jedi until they outnumber us. They certainly aren’t weak, as I’m sure some of you are aware. For instance, the man I encountered upon Rhen Var, Darth Eurachis, seemed quite capable of holding his own against Rhissai. And whilst I respect the desire for caution, if the Jedi continue down this path then it will end in the death of us all and the death of the Republic.”

The Jedi Master was quite aware that such a brief speech would not radically alter the mind frame of any of his peers. But he had addressed the issue and he hoped they would rise to debate what he had said, that way he could try and open their eyes to the fact that by rejecting this war they would be welcoming the death of many people, Jedi, soldiers, politicians and citizens alike. In the eyes of the Sith, they were all the same.

No doubt this would become quite a drawn out meeting, but Vreem was persistent in his cause.

Very new to her position within the High Council as a Jedi Master of the Healing arts. Her arms tucked within the wide sleeves of her dark blue robes. She sat quietly to listen first what the Grandmaster had to say and state about the situation plaguing the galaxy. War was not something she did not want to condone, after all, this was a woman who allowed herself to be impaled upon another's blade to save them from themselves. It is never a matter of 'this is the only path one can conceivably follow', in her mind it simply depended upon how much one is willing to seek other routes, and how far one is willing to go down that chosen route -- for there is always a point there is no turning back no matter how much one may want to.

Listening to the Grandmaster utter the current state of things, the inevitability of war was obvious. However, how exactly the Jedi would proceed is what concerned her the most. After all, the few great wars that the Jedi were involved in only esculated into far more violent, bloody, and disturbing conflicts the more the Jedi chose to dive headlong into them. The track record of such while "victories", per se, for the Jedi and Republic do not exactly have the best track record for promising turn outs. While it may be true there is nothing truly promising about going to war, even conceding to the act itself is the least promising thing. It does not change the fact when the Jedi have gone to war, the enemies did not only weaken but grew stronger, and the "victory" was not determined by favorably for the Republic and the Jedi, but rather the enemy eventually turning on themselves and actual triumph by the most absurd of situations. Not exactly things to become reliant upon for winning a war with a favorable outcome.

Then Vreem spoke, the leader of these Blades of the Order, in a way she saw them as the second coming of the same organization that nearly doomed the Jedi in the last grand conflict with the Sith... as they had became the Sith themselves. Such is often the case for Jedi who only think in the immediate and alter the galaxy into what they think it should be. It is thinking of others only on the superficial, but thinking only of the self deeper within as Lamilia saw it, and viewed it as an immense danger. There should never be a want to go to war, and Lamilia believed that there needs to be an unwavering clarity to that utter lack of desire for wishing to go to war, for if there is even a sliver of desire to do so -- it is exploitable; and that is what had lead so many Jedi in wars past astray. With Vreem's words and doning himself in Jedi armor for this Council meeting, it only exclaimed to her for something to possess a great amount of concern for. It certainly spoke of his disposition to her, and likely other council members, butshe found it to be in poor taste in a way. Despite his intentions being good, she saw him more as a danger, but those with even the best of intentions have lead themselves and many more down a dark path.

Once Vreem finished, Lamilia spoke for the first time amongst the council as one of its members, "Clearly war is upon us, but I am not certain charging the Sith head on, blade upon blade, is the most wise thing to do. After all, in conflicts now long past, doing so has never produced the best results, and only has the Order survived such conflicts by the narrowest of circumstances. How often can the Order continue to rely upon such things and expect to thrive and serve to protect the galaxy? With every war the Jedi has gotten involved in, the battles only esculated into more... disturbing... heights than they initially were. The diatribe against precaution before engaging the Sith, and choosing to indulge their war-mongering aggression have only ever made conflicts far, far worse rather than helpful -- for the Republic, for the Jedi... for the galaxy as a whole. One thing I learned in my youth as a Jedi Healer during bloody conflicts, the more you try to save one, you are inevitably sacrificing another -- it is impossible to save everyone. It leads to the question if seeking to fight the Sith headlong in the name of 'saving lives', while it sounds noble, factoring the Sith's... methods... how many are we willing to sacrifice? A very healthy dose of precaution is exceedingly warranted. Fighting the Sith directly is precisely what the Sith want from us. Why hand it to them willingly? Facing them in a war I do not think is the best method."

The weight of the Dark Side had now been released, and Kaiven felt like it was pressing down on him, applying pressure through the sheer presence. It was not a comfortable feeling. Infact, it was possibly the most uncomfortable feeling that he'd ever experienced. It was one that he wanted to be rid of as soon as he possibly could. But it wasn't something that he could control. Ying-yang. With light, there must be darkness. And so it was with the force.

The discussion inside the council chamber was a very sombre one. He had experienced the events on Subterrell first hand, fought the very beings that were putting pressure on them through their pure existence. He could feel the claws of their hounds in the scabbed, healing wounds on his face and body. He could feel the heat of their vivid red blades. He knew what they were. Sith. Such had already been claimed to them.

The talk of Rhen Var, however, was wat really worried the experienced Jedi Master. He had spent a majority of his life hunting down users of the dark side, and sturggling to find them. The fact that the Sith had so openly attacked a world under the control of the Jedi shocked him. It was a brazen attack, coming directly into the open. They had revealed themselves in force, and made no effort to hide their identities. Lives had been lost... And members lost to the Order. Kaiven looked across at the empty seat. Naturally, the loss of such a figure in the Order had created talk through the entire temple. It was unfortunate, but Kaiven knew that where one was lost in the Order, another would step up. There was no replacing anybody, let alone a powerful master like Rhissai, but he was equally sure that the next elected member would be just as capable in their own way.

He took in the words of all three Jedi Masters before him, listening intently to the different views and beliefs of each. Eventually, however, Master Te'Baas decided that it was a fitting time for him to speak his mind.

"Fellow members of the council, I urge you to remember, the Jedi are here to protect peace in the Galaxy, not fight the Republic's wars. We are a beacon of hope, power and righteousness, yes, but we must think of why the Sith attacked us outright at Rhen Var. I believe that they lashed out against us because they fear us. They use fear to control when they rule, but they do not realise that fear controls them as much as their followers. How do I figure that? They see us as their biggest threat. So much in this Galaxy is decided by those with the innate force abilities such as ourselves, and the Sith. They know that, and they understand that to win this war, they need to be the superior force. I assure you all, that whilst they have a common enemy, us, they will fight as one. There is only one way to combat this threat is to stay unified. We need to be one. We will defend peace by simply existing, as a singular, unified force."

He paused for a moment, allowing those listening to take in his words. He knew that what he was about to say would cause a lot of disputes, but he also knew it may help sway the minds of those uncertain that they needed to make a decision.

"Members of the Jedi Council, I will not decide or attempt to persuade you to either side of this argument. All I say is we must vote on a course of action, and we must all commit to the course of action we decide upon. Be it war or peace, we need to be together. Strength in unity. Whilst we argue amongst ourselves, a solid, powerful and united foe edges ever closer. Do you think that we honestly stand a chance against this enemy if we are in such a state of disunity? No. They will simply sweep us away, continuing on their path to complete and utter dominance. I myself will follow whatever path the council chooses, however I believe we should be absolutely certain on our choice."

Master Roq Nd'ath'terrain'akai was a hard one to read. He looked out-of-place in the council room, and that was less because he had eschewed a traditional councilman's chair for a simple shallow platform, and more for his quadruped build, bony scales, large beak, and fifteen-foot wingspan.

His large, stone-grey eyes had been shifting back and forth for the last several hours, his entire body a conduit for the spoken vibration in the absence of visible ears. He moved little, save for the rhythmic lashing of his tail, back and forth, back and forth, as the grey-black scales scraped the floor.

Within the Jedi's mind, a number of things were transpiring. At every pause, interrupting every predictable speech or comment, he was reviewing. Running in his head, over and over, what had been said.

Again and again.

Like a laundry washer, tossing the clothes, back and forth, back and forth, he rubbed the memories raw. Now, he could remember them perfectly. Everything seen and heard, every fidget, every hesitation, every word. Such was the wonder of a Graarl memory.

But in twelve hours, he would forget most of it. And such was the curse. There were ways to cheat that, however, ways the Graarls had been using for centuries. At least, that's what he thought they'd said but now he really couldn't remember...

So Roq kept reviewing, kept committing everything to memory. If he continued to do this, then by the end of the day, he'd have a long-term memory as vivid as complete as his present recollection. Quite a handy thing, not so handy for others, as he liked to catch them contradicting themselves. This, however, was a grave debate, and required a grave attitude. Most of the time.

"Your words are wise, Lamilia," he said, nodding to her. His voice was deep and rich, more animal than human, and carried effortlessly to every corner of the chamber. "History often repeats itself, and such things must be considered. The Sith crave attention, and if we starve them of that attention, they may become like all starved creatures. Desperate, acting only to satisfy the hunger. This would be the ideal time to strike.

"I do not think the Sith fear us," he said, eyes addressing Kaiven, "Not in a conventional definition of fear. They are so convoluted by the dark side; they see us as an obstacle, not a threat. It is their own inadequacy, their own powerlessness that they fear. For them to fear the Jedi would be for them to respect the Jedi, and the Sith as a generality show no such respect.

"Consensus is not necessary for unity," he continued. "Being a whole transcends our opinions or our votes. The Jedi order is like a body -- the eyes see, the feet walk, the hands shape, the heart sustains. If both the ears and nose smelled, then one would not be needed. Do not get caught in the trap of the enemy! Our opinions and interpretations may differ -- and drastically -- and that is okay. That is good. The moment we decide we all must agree, and that others are the enemy, is the moment we fall apart. If all our perspectives were the same, then the council would be better comprised of a single Jedi."

Roq shook his head.

"Who are we to judge the Force's destiny for each other? Perhaps some of us are destined to fight, and others to protect. Iron sharpens iron, and so we must each help one another make sure we are following the Force, and not our own desires. But if we all follow dutifully the Will of the Force, some to battle and some to peace, are we not all still Jedi? The Sith will win not by making us disagree -- but by convincing us that this disagreement is wrong. Caution yourselves, brothers, sisters. Do not so quickly judge what is not yours to judge.

"Once cannot be certain of one's decision until all is said and done. Hindsight is the clearest vision. The Sith deal in absolutes. Let us not fall into the same trap.

"Those are my words and my warning. No doubt I will soon be compelled to share my opinions on the more specific matters of our conflict, but before words begin to fly, I urge you all to keep the big-picture in mind. There is more than one legitimate perspective."

Roq resettled his wings, shifting the blood after so much stagnation. He sat back on his haunches, head high to watch and survey his fellow council members, ready to hear and consider all they had to add.

Ki'ang Hsun leaned back in his seat, idly stroking the scaly spines on either side of his mouth that some humanoids claimed resembled a beard. He was a large fellow, and consequently his chair was one of the largest pieces of furniture in the Council chamber. The Fat Nikto, the Jolly Green Giant, these names and others had been used over the years to describe Jedi Master Ki'ang Hsun.

"Disturbing developments indeed," he muttered in his deep, baritone voice. "I believe the events at Rhen Var and Subterrel only serve to highlight the folly of rushing to war. True, we know the Sith have returned, but not much more."

He had been at Subterrel. They had won the field at the end of the day, but it hadn't been pretty. They had gotten lucky. The Jedi line had been at one point close to breaking, and the reports claimed that it was only through sheer chance that one of the Sith had chosen to dilly-dally instead of pressing the attack, giving Master Te'Baas just enough time to take the field and hold the line.

Lucky once. It would have been foolish to count on luck a second time.

"We did not know enough about our opponents. We went in blind, and were punished for it. And we still do not know the full scope of what we face. We cannot rush into war to engage the Sith wherever they may choose to appear. I agree that something must be done, but I do not believe that these 'Blades' are the correct way to approach the problem."

"When ridding a garden of weeds, one cannot simply pull at leaves and stems. They will simply grow back. We must study and find the root of the problem, and once it is exposed, destroy it."

Disbelieving glances in the halls. Confused whispers. Rumors had been spread, of course, but few outside of the Council knew for certain. Sage Master Vakkor had joined the Jedi on Druckenwell only after they had come to the planet and had disappeared once again during, even if somewhat accidentally, mind you, and had yet to return to the Temple or contact the Order in any other way since her most recent...death. Months, it had been, the better part of a year since last she'd set foot in these halls, and a great many believed her lost or dead, even after the rumors of her return had passed through, yet here she was, plain as day, briskly walking through the corridors of the Temple for all to see, her presence in the Force wrapped tightly around her, almost concealed to the other Jedi. The only one to seemingly not take any particular interest in her passing was a lone Umbaran who was reading over a datapad as he walked the opposite direction. He didn't even look up as she passed, simply mumbling a greeting.

"Master."

"Phanus."

Times were grim, this much she knew from the few experiences she'd had since...thawing. This much she knew from what she'd seen before. Not all of it was still clear, but the majority was clear enough, and there was no way in hell she was about to sit idly by and watch while everything crumbled around her. If the Council didn't like it, too damn bad, they could bloody well exile her for all she cared, she wouldn't stop now. Not after what she'd seen. She'd die for democracy, for the Republic, and gladly, but she wouldn't just lay down and accept it.

Eyes glazed over as she stared into nothingness, she held her arms folded across her chest, fingers tapping slowly against her forearm as the lift rose to the outer hall of the High Council Chamber. She'd been on her way there anyways, but the Gate Master had informed her of an actual meeting that she'd probably want to be a part of. This was probably going to be an interesting meeting, that much was for sure, and she wasn't greatly looking forward to it. As she came to the main doors, she stopped as voices came through, listening closely. It sounded as though they had just begun. First came Master Beleran's voice, speaking of the Sith's return, Rhen Var, Yaga Minor, and Subterrel, and the loss of...a Council Member? Kellick closed her eyes and shook her head, not looking forward to seeing who wasn't in the Chamber. Next she made out Master Took and his none-to-encouraging report, as well as what sounded very much like a call to war from the man, which she doubted would be met with much enthusiasm by most among the Council, but from what she heard, Kellick agreed wholly with him. After Took came...someone she didn't recognize as part of the Council, yet the woman sounded familiar to her. Words of caution, abolishing Took's aggressive view by calling upon what they knew of the past. Then came Te'Baas, speaking of fear and unification. Roq, the wise old bird, countering Te'Baas on his point of fear among the Sith and expressing that unity did not necessarily mean agreement, a point which Kellick applauded to herself. Lastly came Master Hsun, speaking of a more cautious approach, but she noted not a purely pacifistic one.

Well, enough listening in. She felt like a Youngling spying on the older Jedi hovering outside the door as she was. Clearing her throat, as well as her mind, she drew in a breath and pushed through the door, stopping just inside the room. She looked around the room, taking in the faces of those within, and more importantly those who weren't. Rhissai, then. She nodded slightly and closed her eyes. She would let the sadness over such a loss in later. For now, there was business to attend to. "I apologize for being late, as well as my absence. I was dead." She said in a flat tone, as if it was nothing; she would explain things later, if necessary, but now was not the time. Circling the edge of the room, she returned to her seat and settled in, folding her hands neatly in her lap.

"Personally, I find myself agreeing with Master Took. I have never considered myself a pacifist in any sense of the word, as you likely all know, but even so, risking open war would likely take a great deal of thought on my part. Were it not for the events of my absence, I would likely need a little more persuading, but as it stands, I've thought long enough on the matter. I cannot accurately convey what I have seen to anyone who was not there, but I am more than certain if we do not meet this threat head on, that Master Took will be all too correct in his beliefs. We will be picked apart piecemeal until there isn't enough left to even defend this Temple, and without us, the Republic can only do so much facing a threat such as this, and I, for one, will not stand idly by and allow them to face a foe so far beyond them alone.

Now, I'm not going to ask your help, I'm not going to ask you to stand with me, and neither am I going to ask permission. All I'm asking is that you make up your own damn minds, and let everyone else do the same. Say what you will, do what you want, believe...what you believe. I didn't make it to where I am by being agreeable or gentle, and I've always believed that war can be waged for good, if the reasons are right and the minds strong. Right now, every ounce of my being is telling me that I've got a reason."

The weathered seat was admittedly a new thing to Jedi Master Tyrdo Darkonel; in earnest, it was to his mind as an exotic plant, a new toy in the hands of a bewildered child. He had seen it routinely so many times before in his various visits to the Council Chambers, but yet the actual chair in itself was so... foreign. He was one of the eldest and most experienced Jedi in current times, but one of the most junior of members to the High Council in the fact that he had only been recently added along fellow High Council Masters Lamilia, a fellow human, and Ki'ang Hsun, an aged and wise Trandoshan who was his senior by several decades. In essence, Tyrdo felt as if he were a padawan again, learning the ropes and biding his time to become more schooled.

In an ironic sense, Tyrdo had found his recent appointment to the High Council odd. His history and credentials record had often been one of the vocal maverick; he had been known for his spirit of action and for openly defying the Council at some notable points in his career. Tyrdo's personality was even some-what eccentric for a Jedi; his stark white robes served to link Tyrdo back to his noble heritage on Alderaan; he was one of the few exceptions who had not struck down connections to the life before joining the Order; granted, he had left his family as a child, but something unshakable had lodged and manifested itself in his mind concerning his heritage. Concurrently, this feeling had prevented Tyrdo until now from being on the Council in technical retrospect. As to why he had been appointed now, the venerable Jedi had not the slightest idea; however, as a veteran of the Order, he would fulfill it to the best of his abilities.

Ears tuning in to the debacle around him, Tyrdo noted the voice of the Grand Master, then Master Took, the esteemed leader of the Blades of the Order, which had gained much support in recent times. At first, Tyrdo might have dismissed Vreem and his group as misguided, maybe even deluded, but now... now it seemed as if his colleague was very much correct. There was no possible way in which to avoid conflict now; that much, Tyrdo was certain. It was a physical impossibility to withhold from the inevitable; whether he wanted to admit it or not, Tyrdo knew the only course of action still viable with the time left at hand was full-scale war alongside the Republic. The Sith were relentless dogs; they would continue to fight and bark mindless yelps until completely destroyed or driven back into the Unknown Regions.

Next came Master Lamilia, and then Kaiven, a good friend of Tyrdo. Both made strong, some-what opposing viewpoints, and then came Master Roq, the true voice of reason. In his opinion, the Graarl was one of the most knowledgeable in all aspects; regardless of their contradicting insights, he had heavy respect for her. Her speech was followed by Master Hsun's mixed feelings, which was followed Master Vakkor's opposing spiel, who then the side of Master Took in wanting official action against the Sith Empire. Taking in everyone's words, Tyrdo noted the Council was split somewhat evenly and remained faithfully quiet until he was the last to speak, hunching forward and casting a warrior's gaze across the room.

"I have remained of mix feelings to this point, having thought that perhaps quiet contemplation and the Force might guide us to a peaceful resolution. But now I know this is impossible; the reports from Subterrel and Rhen Var have confirmed this. The time for action has already passed, and every single moment we delay is another moment longer the Sith plots to vanquish us. We all know the dangers of a direct confrontation and the risk of corruption in taking such an approach, but I feel that we no longer have the luxury of passive protest."

Tyrdo paused for a moment, taking a short breath for continuing onwards. He knew his words were a bit too strong for the current mood, but such words were needed if to persuade the others.

"I will take the side of Master Took and the Neo-Revanchists in this matter. A peaceful ending to this conflict, or rather anything not involving a course of action bordering on war, is to me now an idealistic impossibility and a mute point; history has taught us time and time again that the Sith do not play for scraps. They will continue to fight and fight and fight until the complete dissolution of the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic is complete. We will delay only our own destruction with this debacle."

Rayn’s tendency to remain the vigilant silent through council meetings continued to stay true. The small, olive-skinned woman sat in her downsized chair comfortably suitable to her small stature. Yet the cushion beneath her bottom was the most discomforting place to be seated as the current times ran. She’d found herself less and less attracted to the council. Through the halls, she had been filled with such dread. Another decision. More opinions to form. As tangible as water on her face, Rayn felt herself being pressed and squished under the weight of thinking. What was best? What was the straightest course? Which was right? Was there a right?

She’d decided she didn’t like this kind of power. To be head of the council. To be heard and considered and create decisions that the rest of the Jedi would heed. This kind of responsibility felt too great. She was much happier as a keeper of the young, a teacher and a healer. She nurtured and cared for by her nature, she liked to believe. On this council she served to stir up debates and she’d watched in a sort of anguish as Vreem and Rhissai stood defiant and disappeared. They’d been split, and Rayn hadn’t known how to reach out and heal the rift - with her words or her power.

Yet, at this exact same time, she felt she had a duty. If she didn’t join her voice with a certain side, could she trust the other side not to lead them to their destruction? Rayn didn’t want war. She’d once told this council that war was hate. She still believed in all of war’s consuming ugliness and blackness. And she still had her reluctances to join in this war. Rayn couldn’t help but worry and trouble herself with just how many people… no necessarily Jedi but people, though primarily Jedi, they would lose in this war, life or soul.

Then again, how many… how many could be lost in the act of passiveness? Were the Sith passive? Absolutely not. They actually fed upon this war, the sick bastards. They ate up the anger and the hate and the pain. This is what they lived for. Their wars and power and chaos. But wait… in such pasts Rayn knew of, the Sith had set up ruling governments that commanded order, though they used fear as their primary weapon. While Rayn disagreed with such methods, she wondered over the evils of democracy as well – where foul-hearted men could weasel their way into powerful positions and make a mess of peace.

Her head was starting to hurt. Rayn reminded herself she wasn’t contemplating the type of government or the natures of the Sith based upon their paths. No, she was supposed to be deciding the best course of action for the Jedi based on what was currently happening. She refocused her mind, but it wandered back into the circle she saw established.

Sith rise up. Pick on the Jedi. Provoke Jedi to war. Jedi go to war. Jedi are destroyed for a number of years. Jedi rise up. Find a way to eliminate the Sith. Sith are sedated for a number of years. Sith rise up…

As Lamilia said, upon the study of history, the Jedi were destroyed for going to war. If they didn’t take up lightsabers and shout their battle cries, what would become of them? Given Sith hatred for Jedi, the darkness will not falter because the Jedi are hesitant. It’ll continue to swoop in, and those who don’t fight are overrun. Therefore did it really matter if they declared official war or if they sat in their seats and merely counted their breaths until their death?

A dark thought, but it was the conclusion Rayn found she was willing to accept. Yet, she doubted her fellow council members would accept it, given they would even recognize such a thing. They wanted to believe they were fighting for peace and democracy, believe that they might win, when Rayn worried if their arrogance was simply the beginning of their downfall. Should she voice it? Perhaps not.

This was perfectly horrible!

“I think…” Rayn began, rather small and unsure. Her green eyes darted across the floor, gathering her thoughts. She coughed once and lifted her head. “I wonder…” Blast it all, she might as well say it, “Does it truly matter? To war or not, I mean. Go to war and the Jedi just might win. Though the lack of Jedi successes in the past throw a hydrospanner into my beliefs, I’m not going to say there isn’t some kind of hope. My next words would be somewhere along the lines of ‘We must be wary of the dark side in this war’, it’s merely a repeat from some old master’s lips years ago.

“However, I’m sure anyone can agree they don’t want to roll over and expose their bellies to the claws of the Sith. No, we cannot allow the Sith to just shadow and defile our temples and sanctuaries. It’s only natural. Fight for what you believe in. Fight for what’s yours. Master Lamilia, while the very thought of war appalls me, how else would we go about this?” As Rayn gazed at the pretty Hapan master, she couldn’t help but recognize her position from months ago. “In anything we do, except for waving our hands in surrender or turning our backs, we will meet the Sith face to face. At any time, we will give them what they want, as you said.

“In musing, what shall we do otherwise? Find a way to hide every single Jedi across the galaxy? Pile up into ships and shoot for the unknown? If we did that, the Sith would be triumphant, and if we returned, we’d still have to face them in combat to retake what we consider ours. But perhaps if we did that, we’d plan and be able to be successful. This Sith do it. That’s how they win. They know where to hit, when, and with which people. They only become disorganized when their leading man is dead.

“If our leadership is hacked just like that, I fear our downfall as well. I cannot bear to watch Master Took leave here without some kind of blessing to go with him. There cannot be arguments between us, but I cannot see this settling with Master Took and Master Vakkor satisfied without a war, just as I cannot see those who wish not to be on the battlefield agreeing to a war. Do not expect it to end differently.

“I worry over war,” Rayn said gently, this time her eyes turn to Vreem, “Because I worry over the hearts. Perhaps not so much with death, but I am concerned with… betrayal. This is not about vanquishing the dark but about defending our beliefs of what is correct. Protecting that of which we love. Not victories over darkness. Victories are the way of the Sith. I urge awareness over the emotions victory gives. Because the following loss may breed frustration, and from that, disdain, and once there is hate among the Jedi, they aren’t Jedi any longer. That’s when dark side philosophies will make more sense. That’s when the fall begins.”

Discussion had set upon them in an instance. It was quite clear that this council was torn. It was something of a relief to know that he was not alone in his thoughts. Whilst there were those who proclaimed the error in his actions, there were also those who believed as he did, and a few who seemed to waver cautiously between the two schools of thought. However, remaining undecided on a matter such of this did little to help. In a time of trouble such as this, decisiveness was often key to obtaining a good outcome.

There were certainly some comments made by his peers that had irked him somewhat, but the Jedi Master waited for others to speak before he decided to comment on matters again. There were many things to take into consideration from many of those present. But first there was a matter he wished to get straight. “As pleased as I am to hear of your support Master Darkonel, I want to make it clear that we are not ‘Neo-Revanchists’. Using such a term brings with it negative connotations that automatically makes others look down upon our decision to fight. I do not think highly of the media driven name of the ‘Blades’ that we have been labelled with, either. We are Jedi Knights and have adhered to the same teachings and upbringing as all of those who do not wish to go to war. I simply ask that you refrain from using such a term. That is a path we are not looking to head down.” He paused for a moment, shifting his eyes away from Master Tyrdo Darkonel to the rest of the group. It was not the most serious of points he sought to address, but he felt it was significant enough to correct.

But now came the real issue, the accumulation of several inputs had led to a vast mixture of thoughts and ideas circling around in his mind. Without too much of a lapse in discussion, Vreem spoke to the council once more. “Master Gera raises an interesting question... what else is to be done?” Unfamiliar with the feel of his armour in his seat, the Jedi Lord readjusted himself slightly before continuing on. “For weeks now, ever since the meeting in which this council rejected the Republic’s request for help, there have been members of this Order and of this council who have been all too ready to lecture myself, and others like me, upon the dark nature of our decision. And yet, over the course of those weeks, has another idea been put forward that would significantly help us protect the citizens of the Republic? The doubt surrounding my claim that the Sith had returned meant that we dedicated resources to try and uncover more information about this potential threat. But in that time, did we find out anything that remotely compares to the information we gathered from the instances upon Rhen Var and Subterrel, when the Sith revealed themselves? Battling to uncover well-hidden secrets about the Sith is a long and extremely difficult process. And whilst we hope that we can find some significant information, they will have pushed further and further into Republic territory, destroying the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians, not to mention growing in strength and numbers. There seems to be little else we can do in this matter without taking a stand. If you wish to waste more time trying to think of some alternative strategy we can enforce, then be my guest, but this council’s inability to act during that time will cost the lives of people this entire Order has sworn to protect.” He took a deep breath and allowed a sigh to steadily prepare him for yet more speech.

“I have never once said I look forward to the prospect of war. It is not something I revel in and it’s not a thought I enjoy. But the way members of this council see myself and those who agree with me, it is as if in making our choice to go to war we have abandoned all sense of reason and logic. There are sacrifices that I am willing to make, but the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives for the hope that we might stumble upon some potential information which could help us combat the Sith, is not one of those sacrifices. We defend those who are unable to defend themselves. Would you not protect an innocent man if a Sith were to cut him down before your eyes? Those who follow me in my decision simply wish to defend the people of the Republic, we do not want to wage a hate-filled campaign against the Sith. That leads down an entirely different path. With that in mind, do you still want to refuse the cry of help that is before us?” Vreem settled himself into silence. He did not know whether or not the seated members of the council would find the truth in his words, but that was down to them.

He looked over to Jace. The Grand Master had yet to truly weigh in on the discussion and Vreem wished to gain an insight into his friend’s mind.

As a council member, a good deal of Jace's time was spent listening to others. Many would find it trying or tedious task but not him. Long ago he had learned to listen carefully to what others said. One could learn a great deal about the person and even themselves. It didn't necessarily have to be from someone considered wiser or more experienced, Jace learned things even from younglings. A Jedi never truly stopped learning and expanding their understanding of the universe and in turn the Force. Thus when twelve of the wisest, and powerful Jedi were speaking their minds, Jace listened attentively.

It didn't surprise Jace to see that his old friend was the first person to speak. The Jedi master did not relish the fact that they were on opposite sides of the table in this great matter. He didn't like to think in absolutes but at the current point, that's how it was. Both had stood firm for their position and Jace had hoped the conflict at Rhen Var might cause Vreem to reconsider his actions. It had the exact opposite effect though, instead it strengthened his resolve. There was a time when Jace wouldn't have hesitated to be fighting by his friend's side, but he was different now.

The Grandmaster couldn't help but nod as Lamilia began to speak. Her sound reasoning reflected Jace's thought closely. Indeed, he believed it was a common sentiment among many Jedi. They did not want a repeat of the Jedi Civil War. Kaiven continued on from there, followed by Roq. The Graarl had always provided rather interesting input, and today was no exception. Ki'ang was next, the old Jedi's words were short but direct. His reasons echoed the foundation of Jace's thoughts.

The three were followed by Kellick, Tyrdo, and finally Rayn. All three seemed to be in support of going to war. Jace wasn't surprised that Vreem spoke immediately after they had finished. No doubt the 'Neo-Revanchist' label had struck a chord. The term itself was quite discerning and he hoped Tyrdo wasn't ignorant of what it truly implied. In any case, if he hadn't been, Vreem wasted no time in explaining its connotations.

"Now" began Jace "Firstly I would like to thank everyone for being here. I know it is expected but considering what each of us has experienced lately. Many of us have been injured at Rhen Var, Subterrel, and on various other missions. So I begin by saying, it is good to see you all here relatively unharmed."

He paused for a moment, scanning this room full of his peers before continuing.

"There is not much I need to say on this matter of war, for most of what I wished to say has already been said. History is often the best teacher, and none of us want another Civil War. Master Hsun brings forth a critical point, we simply do not know enough. Rhen Var and Subterrel are proof of this. Master Te'Bass is right in saying we are not soldiers of the Republic, but if they Jedi must go to war, there should be a clear need to which I do not believe there is.

I think that is all that needs to be said for my part on the war. It is clear that each of us has a belief on how the Order should proceed. The majority of the Council seems to agree that we should not go to war, or if we must, then we need more information before we can truly make a decision. Of course, what this Council decides obviously hasn't prevented some Jedi from entering this war. All we can do is pray for their safety and hope they do not stray from the path of light"

Jace took a moment to consider everything that had happened up until now, organizing his thoughts before deciding on how to proceed.

"The Jedi have always protected those of the Republic, and have done so without going to war. Thus I believe rather than trying to convince each of other of whether to go to war or not, we should focus on doing what we have always done. We need to consider the events of Rhen Var and Subterrel, the battles there were disconcerting at the very least. Once we have discussed them, we can discuss how the Jedi can still help the Republic without brandishing our lightsabers.

I want to say this on the matter of Rhen Var, as you all know, this was a clear attack against the Order. The planet itself does not hold much strategic value, the Sith's intention was clear. They caught of us off guard much like they had on Subterrel. The fact is that our foe knows too much, and we too little. Our first step must be gather as much information as we can, only then can we truly decide the direction the Order will take.

Now I would like to hear what the rest of you have to say on this matter. Your thoughts and inferences about these recent events, their possible ramifications. Most importantly, how we should proceed from here. What is the next step we must take? How do we accomplish such a step? How can we help the Repbulic without fighting on the battlefield? These are the things we must decide before we leave this room today"

To say the least much of what the Grandmaster had to say and extrapolated on was a relief to Lamilia, and hearing both Master Roq who echoed much of her own point of view she found a level of comfort in. But also hearing Master Ki'ang's reasoning from his own experience within the conflicts, it tended to echo much of her own concern.

However, when she head the term 'Neo-Revanchists' being thrown out, it was all her most profound trepidation realized, more so given that was a Jedi Master who uttered it. For one thing she understood, and she hoped that Vreem did or at least eventually would, regardless of his intentions or how noble his goal maybe -- these 'Blades of the Order' represent precisely the same thing as the Revanchists so long ago. It is a stigma and perception marked within history that cannot, nor likely ever will, be simply shaken regardless of sentiment.

Yet, on another matter of concern she was slightly disturbed by Vreem and Rayn questioning her on what options there were; which lead her to respond once the Grandmaster finished speaking with a solemn troubled expression to her visage as her cyan hued eyes stared off slightly as she uttered,"Master Vreem, Master Rayn... I understand your sentiments, however, because you personally only see one course of action -- does that ever make it the only one possible? I realize I am new to the position, but to seek a method beyond the singular is that not what gathering as a council is for so minds may work together and see perspectives beyond just that singular course of action that is believed to be the only path? As Jedi the very first thing we are taught is there are many paths to walk, and many choices to take beyond just what seems to be the obvious.

"As for how to deal with the Sith themselves, you will find me only echoing Master Roq's words to be perfectly candid, and he already uttered them far more articulately than I could.

"In regards to dealing with the conflict on a militaristic level, the answer is fairly clear. There are many ways to erode a military's strength and power without ever having to raise your blade. Shutting down hyperspace routes, resource outposts, fianance holdings, supply lines, and most importantly: alliances. While also creating such things anew for the Republic whether from scratch or conversion. Each of these things do not require a person to draw a weapon. If done right, they will never know it was you.

"There are far more ways to fight and win a war outside of martial might alone. History has shown and proven this far more than once. Influence is the most powerful weapon of all -- it is what builds and destroys nations -- even empires... without ever even actually having to pick up a weapon and claim another's life. While with the Sith I abhorrently expect death... I see no reason or cause to add more of it ourselves needlessly..."

When Lamilia finished, Kaiven sat quietly for a moment before he began speaking. "I do recognise the concerns that many of you have with the prospect of going to war. I do recognise that worry that some of our number may return as that which we left to fight. I do, however, currently have a slightly different way of looking at this." He stood, looking around the council chambers. His eyes lingered on Master Took for a moment. He knew that what he would say would be welcoming to the other man's ears.

"Let me present you with two scenarios. These are, in my mind, the most likely outcomes of either path of action. Scenario one - We do not go to war. The Sith Empire, aided and aiding those Dark Jedi claiming to be the Sith, slowly and methodically work their way through the galaxy. They will conquer each and every planet in their path to the centre. They are able to do this because the Republic forces are scattered, untrained and in disunity. They are in a state of fear, disorder and panic. Eventually, the Sith Empire will make it to Coruscant. To us. Now we have to fight, but because we didn't act soon enough, our support is lessened and weakened. Not only will we be swept away completely, but so will the Republic." He knew the criticism was coming the moment he finished his speech, but by this time it was too far to turn back.

"Scenario two - we fight now. We unite the different battallions and fleets as one Army and one Navy. We act as the beacons of hope we have become, inspirring the soldiers of the Republic. We have a force with which we can match the Sith. We move, not necessarily in an aggressive nature, but we fight either way. Our forces match theirs, and we match the dark force users. The Republic forces are much more replenishable, as we can draw from an entire galaxy. Whilst a victory cannot be ensured, atleast their forces will be so badly crippled that our forces may defeat them. We will lose planets. We will lose lives. But the result will be a lot better than if we leave them to their own devices."

He looked around, looking at each face in the room. "Members of the Jedi Council, we cannot sit idly by as we watch something we are meant to protect be destroyed by that which we are meant to protect against. I know what must be done, and I will not sit by why citizens of the Republic suffer and die under the hands of the Sith Empire." He moved back to his seat, sitting down and closing his eyes for a moment, calming himself before he finished, "It is just something I cannot do."

Ki'ang Hsun shook his head and snorted like stroking his beard. "Master Te'Bass, you are letting your passion cloud your judgment," he said in his deep bass voice. "You cannot solve every problem by rushing into battle. All you will do here is find yourself reacting to the Sith attacks and spreading yourself thin. The scenarios you have presented are a false dichotomy. It is nowhere near that simple."

His voice lowered, almost as if he was talking to himself. "The Sith... they deal in smokescreens and deceptions. Defeating them in battle at locations of their choosing will not solve the problem. No, that's never been the way. The real question... we see the symptoms of the disease, but where is the source? The center? That's always been the question, if history has shown as anything at all..." He trailed off slowly.

The Republic was powerful, that much was true. But it was slow and cumbersome as well. On the other hand, the Sith,... smaller, faster, more agile. The larger fighter wouldn't be able to win on pure speed. No, he had to keep his blade close, conserve his energy. Find the weakness. Spot the opening. And then strike with speed and power. It was a scenario that Ki'ang knew well.

To follow in the will of the Force at times seemed to be like watching an ever turning dreidel as it poised on the edge of a precipice half between falling and continuation. As if at any moment it could fall and the game would be over. However the anticipation lingered on as you tried to find the end point--tried to anticipate where it might fall. Unlike the sides of a dreidel, though, the question played before them had more than six sides, it had an uncountable number of angles. Eventually that spin would fall against the Jedi’s lot, and they would be left to pick up the pieces of their legend. Mordin felt a sorrow for the person with that responsibility, for when that day came not even the Aquitan would want to be there. If it came to that, though he would pick up his lightsaber and continue on as he always had. Not because he wanted to, but because it was what he had to do as a protector.

Here they stood in the confines of their tower as the sun beat through their windows to warm their skins yet at the same time he felt cold. A shiver ran down his back for the next movement in their plan, for it could decide the next act in their production. In this situation, though, sitting still could land a defeat just as surely as a hasty action, which was why they needed to make a decision. To go to war could mean a number of things, but sitting here could end just as fatally if not worse. No matter what they did though, there needed to be unity in this chamber. They needed not squabble over matters, but instead take the next step with a strong foot to cast their dye with an assurance that the ink would land where they wished it. Of course their hands would stain, but even stain washed off eventually.

One by one they gave their opinion as he simply sat uncomfortable in the seat he had been given not so long ago. It felt as though there could be no ease on these cushions; like the person who sat there had known it was not going to be easy from the start. Perhaps it was simply his imagination, but he knew this would be difficult, however in the end they would make that step. For better or worse, the movement had to be made no matter where it may lead; whether it be their choice or not. There didn’t seem to be any ideal solution; if they followed Lamilia’s suggestion there were so many variables that skewed the ideology. However, if they rushed into war they might find equally devastating folly under Master Took’s suggestion.

When Master Hsun spoke he could remain silent no longer as his sturdy voice hissed out into the chambers, “A clear need?" He repeated the sentiments of the Grandmaster, "We have already been invited to this noose of theirs’. I agree we might fall to their little deceptions if we meet on their terms, but how can we ignore an invitation written in the blood of those we were promised to protect? The Republic attempts to send out their machines of war, yet they do not know what they face. We have the archives, scholars, and while we may not know much about this enemy why let them think that? We know more than the ones fighting the war, for sure. I agree that rushing into the battlefield isn’t the only way; there are a thousand paths we might take with an unaccountable number of ends to each road. No matter which direction we step there is a gamble and I’m not sure I can bring myself to gamble on indecisiveness. We need a plan.”

With a flicker of his tail he went on, “Whether we follow Master Lamilia to the a more behind the scenes form of warfare, or Vreem’s more direct approach we must be unified. The galaxy is already torn asunder and I fear they will not stand while we sit here and contemplate.”

There was a slight moment of pause as he looked over them; Master Ryn, Vreem, Hsun, and finally he centred on the Grandmaster. “I believe that even if we choose to remain out of the lines of battle we must make our faces seen amongst the soldier’s who fight for us. However, if we choose to fight or to stay our wepons for now I feel the grips of the Dark Side are going to descend on us. Therefore I fear I must side with Vreem. If we choose to block off hyperspace routes we chance only furthering the deficit our economy faces, and putting more strain to the Republic. In the event that we trust in the alliances we might make or attempt to break I feel it is risky at best. Us sedentarily discussing this feels like a betrayal to those innocent we swore to protect. Trying attrition will only prolong the war, and could bring revolts if losses were made in this part of the galaxy. In the end I feel an open declaration of war would be the wisest course of action.”

Suddenly he realised the cold had dispersed, and he could feel the warm graces of the sunlight as it slanted through the large panes of glass. A whisper of wind against the face of the building could just barely be heard, however he still felt as though he should shiver as he finished, “In the end I will follow the Council’s judgement, but I can only hope we will be ready the next time this Dark Eurachis or whoever might lead these Sith, decides to strike. For the sake of the duty we are given to all those who have died, and are about to give their lives to us.”

With that he was finished, assured that a Jedi must pick their battles, and this was one they must choose. Not because it was the easy way out, but because the Sith were not something they could let fester. The Dark Side's herald could not be allowed to spread even farther.

Jedi masters spoke in turn, zealous Vreem and troubled Jace, thoughtful Lamillia and measured Hsun, and all the others.

But one Jedi's words pricked him like an electric shock, and set his scales a'rattle. He restrained himself as Hsun and Mordin spoke, then struck upon the pause.

"Master Kaiven," His voice echoed through all the chamber, not with volume but with severity, "Your words trouble me. And not because of their truth -- but because of their deception! Never are there only two futures, never can the effects of one's actions be predicted so... so in shades of black and white. If anyone is to be accused a neo-revanchist here--" He stopped himself. "No. No, my words are out of place. Forgive me." Roq shook his head as if to clear it.

"I wish, Master Kellick," he said, with all sincerity and devoid of formality, "That I could greet your return with a 'Well come'. But it grieves me that the time in which you come is unwell, and refuses such warmth."

He sighed, a weary sigh that seemed to bear all the trouble of the galaxy with it.

"I beg a question," he said, turning his eyes upon each peer in turn. "Why cannot a unified body act in two separate actions? One can at once meditate and move, once can at once converse, and eat.

"Why cannot our body move in such a way? With one arm, strike out against the threat, with the other, shield against attack from behind, and with the trunk support them both.

We, as Jedi, with one hand hold the blade that strikes the enemy, with the other sweep their resources out from under them, and with our core..." He paused for effect. "Our core sustain the action."

His tail lashed. "Do not only hear but listen. There is much wisdom in the past, more wisdom than any man alone can ever hope to claim. The disaster of the Jedi Civil War was due not only to the action of Revan... But to the pride of the Council. They could not understand that the Force could call a Jedi to a path other than the one it had called them to. So, in their 'Wisdom', they cut the arm off of their body. So the arm survived a while, but soon fell without a trunk, until the darkness gave it a new root. And the body of the Jedi, lacking an arm, could not defend itself against the darkness." He settled back onto his haunches, as he'd risen in his ardor.

"If we," Roq's eyes roamed to those who had expressed their reluctance to declare war, "In our pride, assume that the Force can only move in one way, one path..." His tone grew heavy, "Then it is we who have committed the greater sin. It is we who have allowed the darkness in.

"Humility, friends," his tone included himself in the order, "Those of us who choose to remain as the trunk, humility, I counsel you, as much as I counsel the others to listen to the Force."

The Graarl's tone eased -- he was coming to his conclusion. "As for me, the force bids me stay and defend the heart -- for now. But as for my brothers and sisters who are called otherwise," His eyes drifted to Vreem, "I will neither condemn nor reproach them, but rather offer unconditionally my compassion and respect."

Master Roq settled himself again on his pedestal, as if glad, once more, to listen.

Tyrdo smiled somewhat as Master Took explained his position against the term he had used. In fact, the aged Morellian had not been ignorant of its implications; he had, indeed, intended to use it with all sincerity. It was, more or less, an accurate representation of the organization Tyrdo had now pledged some form of support to, and he did not regret saying it out loud in the middle of the meeting at all. In his days, he had done things far more controversial in the eyes of his peers; there was reason he had been labeled a maverick more times than most Jedi had spoken collective sentences. Tyrdo was not concerned, however, with public perception of himself. He was not accustomed to being worried about individual eyes, nor the entirety of the group's vision.

His eyes looked to Master Te'Baas, and although he agreed with him his statements were somewhat brash. Master Hsun was correct, however, that there was more than just two scenarios. This new, unofficial war could continue in any numbers of ways, regardless of current perspectives. The new Battlemaster, Al'Vere, spoke up before Roq countered Kaiven as well Mordin indirectly. A slew of contradicting spiels rocked back and forth, grinding against each other as if each Councilor's metaphors were somehow his shield to the other one's sword. His turn to speak, Tyrdo looked first to Vreem.

"An apology to you, Master Took, if in anyway I indirectly offended you with that term. I did not intend strife with its usage."

His gaze turned back to the wholesome of the Council.

"In an address to Master Te'Baas' statements that these Sith are mere pretenders, I think them to be far more than a simple group of Dark Jedi that has seduced the support of the Empire. The reports from Rhen Var and Subterrel, this 'Darth Eurachis', the organized troops who follow them without question; these suggest a far more potent threat than we initially realized. No simple, ordinary Dark Jedi could arouse such loyalty from his pigs. I mean no disrespect, but in my opinion, to further suggest these Sith might be holding a cowl over their true capacity is fallacy at best.

As for Master Lamilia's approach of indirect passive guerrilla tactics, I do not feel we have the luxury of such simple approaches. These 'New Sith' and the Empire are too well established now for something so simple. We are matched in our own right by a foe we have little knowledge about except in the past; at this point, I do not think they will solve our lamentations so easily. We do not give enough credence to the cunning and intelligence of our ancient enemies; I concur with Roq that our pride blinds us heavily in reaching a consensus on this matter. Still, my stance remains unchanged."

He shifted uneasily, leaning backwards and rubbing the back of his head.

"Whatever we decide, be it war or protest, it must be decided soon. Indecisiveness will be the root of our downfall."

When Kaiven spoke, Rayn had felt her skin prickle while her heart stuttered. Hadn’t she just warned against this?! Several times her bottom lip had twitched and her chin had wrinkled as she braced to speak, but she was beaten to any retort. The Graarl had said it best, she figured, but she felt her center ache. Hopefully Kaiven would recognize his error.

Rayn shifted, drawing her legs into the seat and crossing them while tucking her heels under her bottom. Now she sat up a handful of inches taller, nearer to the level of her counterparts. She swallowed, listening to the somewhat scattered discussion. More call for unity. More for marching into war. More for standing ground on comfortable home soil. Rayn mentally chewed over the suggestion Lamillia had given, an extension and example of what she’d said before. She liked the idea to a certain extent, but she did wonder about the potential bother acquainted with the plan.

“Master Roq, you’ve said it best.” Rayn smiled at the Graarl. “Why can we not do both? There are going to be some issues with the more subtle attacks, but are there not problems within each choice here? Within each decision and within each plan there is a margin of failure. It’s ugly to admit but each option presented before us has its flaws and no amount of discussion is going to smooth out all the rumples. And to be extreme,” Rayn’s eyes darted across Kaiven, Lamillia, Vreem, the Grandmaster and a couple of others, “may not be our demise as much as we might think.

“I do not have them, but look at hands. Being side by side, pressed against each other tightly, they will slide apart easily. That’s how an earthquake happens between the two plates. Now, lace them and squeeze them together and its more difficult to pull them apart. It’s a weave.

“Am I suggesting unity?” Rayn smirked. “Why, yes I am. Unity in a blend. Master Lamillia, your suggestion requires careful strategy, and if done correctly, we can weaken our foes. We simply have to be careful not to damage our alliances, and great minds will do anything in their power to protect their side. However, consider that the Sith will have many resources, many routes, and many counters. But do not be hasty to reject, Master Tyrdo. The ocean takes a long time to erode the coastal cliffs, but little by little, the stone becomes sand.

“Master Took offers his strength to combat the immediate forces. I think we can all agree that the Sith are not going to sit down around their campfires, tell tales, and sing songs. They’ve proven they’re willing to take up torches and burn the very land beneath their boots. If they follow the pattern of the past, the Sith will continue to push forward. They cannot reach our doorstep.” Rayn’s gaze shifted over to Roq, allowing herself to smile. “This is our heart.

“Master Took will not allow the Sith to trample the Republic, much less the Jedi. He is both shield and sword. Boots in the ground, he’ll defend. When the enemy is weak,” an acknowledging eye flicker to Lamillia, “He can pierce. And if and/or when he can punch through, he may just find the control center, Master Hsun.

“By no means am I saying I know the strength of my enemy. There is too little information.” A pointed glance at Master Tyrdo. “As Master Hsun has stated, the Sith deals with deception. I doubt they would showcase their numbers or their power until they believed they had the ultimate upper hand. They will not display their masses until they are convinced they are guaranteed a victory. They will keep us as blinded as long as they can, and we may not understand their vastness until they’ve grown too close.” Rayn paused to draw in a quick breath. “I’d rather not see them outside this Temple.

“We are dealing with an unknown.” Rayn’s lips turned inward and she met the gaze of any council member who would look at her. “Yes, we’re faced with an unknown. Why are we discussing whether or not to be fortified against it? Is it fear? Is it compassion?

“Lastly, where is there a right and where is there a wrong in how to undertake this unknown?” Her feet were hurting. Rayn leaned back and her heels pulled free from under her. She settled crisscross and studied the council for their reactions.

Lamilia could not help but pinch her nose out of a slight bit of confusion from what she is being told by her peers in regards to her suggestions, because they came off absolutely nonsensical to her. Perhaps, it was something she was not seeing and they were, or perhaps she did not vocalize what she was trying to convey properly, or maybe the entire concept of clandestine movements was something the more warrior minded did not fully understand. It in essence lead her to clarify and utter with a tone that was rather more blunt and strong -- clearly trying to make a strong point, "I think I am missing something here... and perhaps it can be more spelled out for me. But, this is how I am receiving everything from those who wish to charge the frontlines...

"Subterfuge methods will not work because the Sith Empire is too well established? I'm afraid I'm going to have to admit to being obtuse on this, because it had always been taught to me that when a government and military is exceedingly well fortified and 'established' that subterfuge and stealth is precisely what you need to utilize in order to destabilize them. After all, it's much easier to bring down an unstable wall than one that is still standing strong. Just as it is far easier to defeat an eroded military and government than a perfectly healthy one.

"As a little bit of a historical reminder, the most common method of an army's defeat from the modern age to all the way back when some of our cultures were still using primative weaponry is actually famine. Do any of us know where the Sith Empire's finance capital is? Do any of us actually know from whom they are getting the majority of their resources from? Do any of us know who their strongest alliances are with? These are the three major components to every government and military to thrive. How do we intend to find out? Continuously charge into battle in one front-line assault after another? It is the unseen hand and the influence and contacts of diplomats and negotiators who often obtain such information. Weaknesses within a strong government and military are only discovered by creating them, and not by blindly diving headlong into battle -- as it only weakens ourselves.

"I will be candid in being slightly disturbed by some dismissing such tactics and information gathering as mere 'guerilla tactics' (as ambushes and paramilitary raids is not what I'm speaking of), or even 'doing nothing' given many pacficist Jedi use such methods to help the Republic by way of their pacifism. Yes, when doing such things we should be very mindful of varying alliances, that is all par for the course, and is why I suggested it be one of the things we seek to cultivate -- the Republic could use more alliances -- on top of strengthening the ones it already has -- after all -- the Republic has hundreds. In regards to alliances, there is the other factor do to the fact the Republic is composed of hundreds of systems. Which is, are we even aware of any who are subverting the Republic by dealing with the Sith Empire? Is charging the front-lines going to help us learn this?

"According to another comment made, the Republic's military is untrained and weak... The Sith Empire's is somehow stronger... I will have to claim ignorance as to how the training methods between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic for their military personal differ given many of them came from the Republic in the first place. But, if our military personal is so... hampered... perhaps us fortifying our own military through aiding in their training and seeking some place to upgrade and sustain their equipment is another thing that can be done? I fail to see how charging the front-lines with our military apparently in a poor state will benefit anyone.

"I do not pocess the arrogance to assume to have the authority to tell another Jedi they should not defend the Republic. However, I will advise that there is more than one way to defend the Republic than claiming as many lives as possible in the frontlines. For that is a very dark path, the label for which the last organization of Jedi who sought only to charge the front-lines has already been brought up here in a comparative sense. Which only makes many of my greatest concerns realized.

"Master Mordin is right... we need a plan... But, charging headlong into the front-lines isn't it -- not without first asking oneself how many lives they are willing to sacrifice first; because it will be many if that is the course of action one wants to take. However, it seems charging the blindly into the frontlines isn't the way, so what does this mean? Another method is utilized in conjunction -- which are the very various methods I'm suggesting. Master Roq, is absolutely right, why cannot both be utilized? How else is militaristic movement and strategy formulated into a plan? It is the very clandestine movements of information gathering and eroding a military and government that enables a force to find and create a weakness in order to strike at to minimize the number of lives claimed.

"My initial point being, do not dismiss pacifist action as 'doing nothing'. Do not regulate it as 'laying down'. As it is often pacifist Jedi who serve as diplomats and negotiators who gain a new supply route for the armies of the Republic. It is often they who also forge new alliances and restablish old ones to re-enforce the Republic's strength. It is often they who keep in contact with diplomats, delegates, and military personal of other nations to gather information to aid the Republic further. More often than not it is these very methods that wind up saving more lives of soldiers and citizens than standing in the thick of battle. Then there are those who serve in the vary infirmaries saving the very lives of the soliders and Jedi who have been lead into the front-lines... Do not say pacifist action is 'doing nothing' within a time of war... If anything in my eyes, it's during a time of war that it is needed most, regardless of whomever it is against. I may not have the arrogance to tell another Jedi they should fight for those they wish to protect form the Sith threat; but I will take on the arrogance to reprimand any Jedi, master or otherwise, who tells another Jedi that their pacifism is 'doing nothing' and 'laying down'."