Post by Rugs on Feb 13, 2011 22:13:32 GMT -5
Asir Vereek reporting in for the Republic News Network.
Today I bring word to you of a disaster that has sent shock waves rippling to the very heart of the Republic. It is something that's very near to my heart, so please, for the next few minutes, allow me to speak plainly.
By now, nearly all of you know what happened in R. Delspoden Stadium. How could you not, right? It was broadcast live for the entire Galaxy to see. I would know; it was my broadcast. It was supposed to be a show of strength, a sign that this Republic will stand strong against any threat, no matter how dark the days seem to be growing. It was to be an inspiring clarion call for us all to come together and prepare to do whatever it might take to defend to defend this Republic that has endured since before the times of our forefathers' forefathers.
I cannot say in words how much I wish that the day had finished the way it was supposed to. Everything to that point had been fantastic; the parades were awe inspiring, the festivities were fun and lively, and I was fortunate enough to bear witness to one of the most brilliant fireworks displays I've ever seen in my life before we all packed into that stadium.
But you know what they say about wishes and flying.
Chancellor Naaden's arrival at the stadium and subsequent speech were to be the high points of the day, the riveting climax that everything had been building up to. An announced crowd of 105,632 people--the most that have ever crammed into the 104,234 capacity Delspoden Stadium--were all waiting with baited breath to hear what the Chancellor would have to say. I can't even begin to fathom how many more were watching across the Galaxy from their homes.
The sight is still fresh in my mind. Chancellor Naaden came out, flanked by her security detail, with extra security provided by the Jedi Order. The crowd roared for her until she got to the podium and made ready to speak. Then a silence fell. She said sixteen words.
Sixteen.
Before any of us knew what was going on, one of the Jedi on the stage moved, using her power to do something. Then something hit a speaker, sending up a shower of sparks.
It all happened so fast that the silence for the Chancellor remained unbroken, and in that silence, we all heard it. We all heard the sound that shattered our collective sense of pride, broke our anticipation, and set us all to flight with terror. We heard the sound that, had it not been for the Jedi, could very well have broken then back of the Republic.
What was that sound?
The crack of a rifle in the distance, of course.
I will spare the details of what happened after that. They are memories I won't be rid of any time soon, and frankly, memories I would prefer not to dwell on. Suffice to say that all hell broke loose in that stadium. It didn't last long, though it felt like an eternity. The Chancellor escaped without getting harmed, which I suppose is a solitary bright spot in a night that was filled with blood and misery.
And amidst all the swirling rumors, rumors that it was an inside job, that the Jedi were behind it; all the usual conspiracy theory crackpottery that follows in the wake of disasters like these, there are a few facts that remain.
This attack was made by the Sith and the Sith alone. Say what you will about the Jedi and whatever role they may or may not have played in the assassination of the previous Chancellor, but they played no part in carrying this out. I watched them fight to keep the Sith away from the Chancellor, watched them fight to keep the Sith from killing more innocents.
In light of this fact, there should be no doubt in any of our minds about the nature of the foe we've found ourselves staring down. The security in that stadium was the tightest I've ever seen, but still, they found a way in, and the attack itself came from outside the stadium. Hundreds, if not thousands of people are dead due to the attack, and for what? Because the Sith botched a shot at Chancellor Naaden. Maybe, but I do not think the assassination itself was their sole intent. Succeed or fail, they meant to send a message to us; a message that no matter how safe we think we can make ourselves, they will find some way to try to reach out and hit us.
So what will we do, then? Will we hide in our homes and lock the Chancellor away in some bunker, never to see the light of day for fear that the Sith might try something? No, and knowing what I do about Chancellor Naaden, I doubt she would allow it even if we wished it. We cannot allow this attack, as tragic as it is, to push us into so deep a fear that we lose the will to fight back. This is our home that the Sith are attacking. It was our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters that they killed in the stadium. And they will continue to do that until they finally have their way, or until we stand together as one to push them out.
The road ahead will be difficult, make no mistake. It will be hard, and there will be more loss along the way. The Chancellor's speech, which I've seen the transcript of, acknowledged as much. But we cannot flinch in the face of adversity and stop from doing what must be done.
Perhaps the Chancellor did not get to deliver her speech, to make her call to the Republic. But if one must have a rallying call to know that we must stand to defend our homeland, then look no further than the events in Delspoden Stadium.
Asir Vereek signing off for the Republic News Network, and may the Force be with us all.
Today I bring word to you of a disaster that has sent shock waves rippling to the very heart of the Republic. It is something that's very near to my heart, so please, for the next few minutes, allow me to speak plainly.
By now, nearly all of you know what happened in R. Delspoden Stadium. How could you not, right? It was broadcast live for the entire Galaxy to see. I would know; it was my broadcast. It was supposed to be a show of strength, a sign that this Republic will stand strong against any threat, no matter how dark the days seem to be growing. It was to be an inspiring clarion call for us all to come together and prepare to do whatever it might take to defend to defend this Republic that has endured since before the times of our forefathers' forefathers.
I cannot say in words how much I wish that the day had finished the way it was supposed to. Everything to that point had been fantastic; the parades were awe inspiring, the festivities were fun and lively, and I was fortunate enough to bear witness to one of the most brilliant fireworks displays I've ever seen in my life before we all packed into that stadium.
But you know what they say about wishes and flying.
Chancellor Naaden's arrival at the stadium and subsequent speech were to be the high points of the day, the riveting climax that everything had been building up to. An announced crowd of 105,632 people--the most that have ever crammed into the 104,234 capacity Delspoden Stadium--were all waiting with baited breath to hear what the Chancellor would have to say. I can't even begin to fathom how many more were watching across the Galaxy from their homes.
The sight is still fresh in my mind. Chancellor Naaden came out, flanked by her security detail, with extra security provided by the Jedi Order. The crowd roared for her until she got to the podium and made ready to speak. Then a silence fell. She said sixteen words.
Sixteen.
Before any of us knew what was going on, one of the Jedi on the stage moved, using her power to do something. Then something hit a speaker, sending up a shower of sparks.
It all happened so fast that the silence for the Chancellor remained unbroken, and in that silence, we all heard it. We all heard the sound that shattered our collective sense of pride, broke our anticipation, and set us all to flight with terror. We heard the sound that, had it not been for the Jedi, could very well have broken then back of the Republic.
What was that sound?
The crack of a rifle in the distance, of course.
I will spare the details of what happened after that. They are memories I won't be rid of any time soon, and frankly, memories I would prefer not to dwell on. Suffice to say that all hell broke loose in that stadium. It didn't last long, though it felt like an eternity. The Chancellor escaped without getting harmed, which I suppose is a solitary bright spot in a night that was filled with blood and misery.
And amidst all the swirling rumors, rumors that it was an inside job, that the Jedi were behind it; all the usual conspiracy theory crackpottery that follows in the wake of disasters like these, there are a few facts that remain.
This attack was made by the Sith and the Sith alone. Say what you will about the Jedi and whatever role they may or may not have played in the assassination of the previous Chancellor, but they played no part in carrying this out. I watched them fight to keep the Sith away from the Chancellor, watched them fight to keep the Sith from killing more innocents.
In light of this fact, there should be no doubt in any of our minds about the nature of the foe we've found ourselves staring down. The security in that stadium was the tightest I've ever seen, but still, they found a way in, and the attack itself came from outside the stadium. Hundreds, if not thousands of people are dead due to the attack, and for what? Because the Sith botched a shot at Chancellor Naaden. Maybe, but I do not think the assassination itself was their sole intent. Succeed or fail, they meant to send a message to us; a message that no matter how safe we think we can make ourselves, they will find some way to try to reach out and hit us.
So what will we do, then? Will we hide in our homes and lock the Chancellor away in some bunker, never to see the light of day for fear that the Sith might try something? No, and knowing what I do about Chancellor Naaden, I doubt she would allow it even if we wished it. We cannot allow this attack, as tragic as it is, to push us into so deep a fear that we lose the will to fight back. This is our home that the Sith are attacking. It was our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters that they killed in the stadium. And they will continue to do that until they finally have their way, or until we stand together as one to push them out.
The road ahead will be difficult, make no mistake. It will be hard, and there will be more loss along the way. The Chancellor's speech, which I've seen the transcript of, acknowledged as much. But we cannot flinch in the face of adversity and stop from doing what must be done.
Perhaps the Chancellor did not get to deliver her speech, to make her call to the Republic. But if one must have a rallying call to know that we must stand to defend our homeland, then look no further than the events in Delspoden Stadium.
Asir Vereek signing off for the Republic News Network, and may the Force be with us all.