Extraordinary Session

[Vehem]

Supreme Chancellor Vilmar rushed into the senate chamber and stepped up to his podium. He felt invigorated, empowered. No longer tired or fed up with petty squabels of young senators. He activated the podium and it rose to a din of a galactic scale.

People of the Galactic Republic... he shouted after the podium reached its full height. I have called this Extraordinary Session to bring to light the events that have happened. The Sith attack on Subterrel, and the recent actions of the Mandalorians. We will now have open debate on these topics. he finished with a powerful voice. He knew what the only outcome of this session would be, The session was only a formality.

[Jenno]

Whispers.

Murmurs.

The planting of the seeds of War.

Senator Duranara shuddered at the thought. He knew all too well the chronicles of the Sith and Mandalorian Wars. Both had ravaged this galaxy. And now the Republic was experiencing new conflicts with both groups again. If one turned to war, the other surely would.

The Bothan Senator had been chosen a few years ago to work on the Republic Committee for the Re-Integration of the Mandalorian Nation, as an expert in inter-species and inter-culure affairs. He had spent some time with the warrior people, and had found them to be a very strong a rich culture, far from the barbarians many in this Senate thought them to be since the signing of the Treaty of Mandoa. That wouldn't exactly help them when it came time to vote. The Mandalorian people had been broken long ago. Duranara didn't know what would happen to them if the Republic declared war. Possibly the death of their culture, possibly extinction.

And so it was not the Mandalorians who Duranara feared. Rather did he fear for them. It was the sith, whom the senator knew much less about, which troubled him. The sith Empire had been growing too quickly for too long. Conflict was inevitable, but he and other senators had always hoped that they would simply rejoin the Republic. But there was too much money on the Outer Rim, and the sith really didn't need the Republic's aproval any longer. They were fast becoming a power in their own right. Many Aristocrats had senators in their control already. And, if left unchecked, the Empire could become far too powerful to be controlled. Perhaps, in this case, War was the logical answer.

But then Senator Duranara stopped thinking like a senator. He remembered his home planet, as well as the hundreds of planets he had been to. Each one of those was a home planet to some sentient. If one war would ravage a planet, two would destroy it, possibly forever.

Suddenly, a cry came out from across the senate chambers from, as it just so happened, a colleague of Duranara's, an ex-military man named Benit who had worked with him on aiding the Mandalorian people in their re-integration. When the Treaty was re-examined twenty-five years ago, Benit had been an integral part of it, supporting the rights of the common Mandalorian.

"The Mandalorians must be defeated and brought back under control. They threaten our peace and mock our government by breaking the Treaty!"

Up until now, the chambers had been mostly quiet, yet somewhat disarming, like a large crate of explosive charges. And Benit had just dumped hot plasma on that crate.

Cries went out.

"War on the Mandalorians!"

"War on the Sith"

"Hell, War on both!"

Again, Duranara shuddered, looking out over the cries and shouts. These were no longer politicians. These were animals.

Though, had they ever truly been anything different?

[\J|K/]

Frey entered the call. Immediately the air of the room pulsed through his veins. He could feel, smell, and taste war. He remembered being on the other side of this debate, waiting as fleet Capitan. The long, breathless hours of uncertainty waiting for the word on whether to take your fleet into Hyperspace knowing that there would be a navy, much like your own, hoping to get the first shots in.

Now it was his turn to direct that army. The call of battle was fierce but he would do his to make the best decision possible. He knew his plan, the Mandalorians were war lovers but they were also on the lower end of technology. They did not, yet, have the ability to spread war across the Republic. A small blockade of the planet would keep them effectively locked in until the situation could be peacefully put down.

The sith on the other hand must be crushed. This would prove two feats. The sith were spread far and the Republic could quickly wipe them from being a threat. Handling the sith in such a fierce manner could gain the respect of the Mandalorians. Also, in a crippled state, the Republic could swiftly step in and rehabilitate the sith into the security of the Republic.

For now, he would let the Chancellor gain control of the room. These senators should be ashame of themselves. The senate was supposed to be the representation of civility. He would wait for order, then present his side.

[Ardenator]

Aiden sat upon his pod, feeling a thrill unlike anything he had ever felt before in his life. An extraordinary session had been called; the Mandalorians had rebelled, and the Sith Empire had attacked the Galactic Republic. There would be war, and there would be blood. Aiden felt it in his bones.

There would be hell to pay.

He calmed himself. He was a senator, it was time for civility, and he had to act to protect the freedom and liberty of all thinking beings, and to insure that true justice were done. He gazed around with contempt at the howling, corrupt animals all about him. They represented everything in the Republic he hated, the things that gave the Sith and Mandalorians a small justification for the things they did.

Eventually, he had had enough. Standing, he disengaged his hoverpod and floated towards the podium, fire in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he screamed at the top of his lungs. "The Senator from Onderon requests permission to speak upon the subject of this Extraordinary Session!"

Standing back, he prepared himself to speak at what would liekly be the greatest event of his life.

(Sorry it's horrible, I promise it'll get better. )

[Vehem]

Vilmar was disgusted with the bickering rabble before him. As soon as the final word passed over his lips they went into a frenzy. He felt as though something terrible was growing in his chest, trying to get free. He watched now as the Onderonian Senator came forward, and bellowed at the Supreme Chancellor for the floor. Vilmar saw the wild look in his eyes and how the passing air currents in the vast arena made his hair look like he just rolled out of bed. He gazed once more about the chamber, bent over his podium, gripping its sides with both hands while his knuckles turned white. He felt the bound monster deep in his chest break free of its chains.

SILENCE! He roared. The beast inside was now rampaging. Senator Aiden! he yelled above the quickly quieting crowd. You have the floor

[Ardenator]

He watched with anticipation as the Supreme Chancellor forward, roaring at the raving senators to be silent. He briskly nodded as he was given the floor. "Thank you, Supreme Chancellor."

Turning, he allowed his gaze to float along the many senatorial pods spread out all around him. Suddenly, he felt a fear rip through his heart. How could he speak before all these men? Setting himself, he fought the fear down, focusing his anger on the task of obliterating it. He was a Baoont, a man of Onderon, he would not back down now.

Taking once last breath, he began. "My esteemed colleagues, statesmen of the Republic, we are gathered here on this grimmest of days to speak of the one thing which all good men fear and detest most: war. War has come to our Republic, unwanted, unrequested, and unprovoked.

"My friends, have we not been good to the Sith Empire? Have we not been good to the Sith Empire? Have we not tolerated their expansionist actions, their spreading of tyranny, their attempted corporate takeovers of our worlds? Did we not recognize them as a Nation, invited their representatives to this chamber? The Sith have committed an overt act of aggression; they have committed an act of war." He paused as a slight roar rippled throughout the chamber. Raising his hands for silenced, he continued on.

"They have attacked us without reason and without cause. They come for power and conquest, to rape and steal. They seek to enslave us with the manacles of tyranny and the chains of oppression. They stand not for honor, nor for chivalry, nor morality; but for all the things that lay men low: Greed, Envy, Wrath." His voice began to rise, as he felt a righteous anger flow through him.

"Friends, they attack our planets, they attack our people, they attack our freedom! They are a people of evil, a nation of tyrants. Their despotism knows no bounds, their stand against liberty firm and unyielding! They hunger for the downfall of our Republic, but more so, to see Liberty and Justice erased from the face of the Galaxy! They are the enemies of freedom, and for injustice they stand! They seek to bring us down, to crush us under their booted heel! They come for our nation, come for our people. The invasion of Subterrel is a crime of the highest caliber, and the Sith Empire must be punished accordingly!" Another roar, greater than the last. Again, he waited for moderate order before continuing on.

"My friends, the Sith, in their actions and in their history, have been shown to be nothing but greedy, power hungry cowards. Aye, the very creation of their nation is a testament of their unwillingness to live in a free, just society, where their evil ambitions are constantly checked. They are horrible men, they are evil men, and they must be crushed. They must see the truth, must be made to know that while they might be able to conquer poor little worlds of the Fringe, they now contend with free men, and that we sons of Liberty will never kneel, never give in! We will fight, and we will see the slavers laid low!"

He moved quickly this time, in order to cut off a fresh uproar he knew would come. "My fellow statesmen, we must move accordingly. The Guardians of Peace, the Grand Army of the Republic, must move to defeat this new threat, before the Sith can move again. History has proven that the Galaxy cannot last long half slave and half free, and we must move before this conflagration consumes us all. The Sith must be crushed, before a new Galactic War can begin. We must fight for our freedom, before the tyrants press the yoke of slavery down upon us!"

"I propose that an emergency legislative session be started, in order to create bills to gear up the Republic's economy for war, to adjust taxes accordingly, and counteract war-spawn inflation. We must also create a new military budget, analyze the security of our planets, and create a Selective Service, ready to initiate a draft, in the case that we do become bogged down in a large-scale war. While the emergency session is in process, the GAR will be divided into three fleets for immediate response. The first will spread out along the border, in order to analyze and bolster our border defenses, and insure Sith interference like the kind seen on Dantooine is immediately ended, as well as to back up the second fleet, which will go directly to Subterrel to liberate the planet, and then counterattack into the heart of the Sith Empire. Then the Sith will be forced to go on the defensive, and they will for once taste their own medicine."

"That now brings me to the final point, the Mandalorians have risen against us, in the hopes of securing independence and freedom from the oppressive Treaty of Mandoa. Truly, Senators, can they be blamed? We have made them second-class citizens, done to them what the Sith seek to do unto us. The Third fleet will blockade Mandalore, retake the Republic base and other government lands, and secure the area so that peace talks can begin again. I propose a new treaty be created, one that guarantees their freedom, makes them full citizens, keeps the peace, and allows them to preserve their cultural identity. Senators, we cannot fight an enemy from without and an uprising from within at the same time. We must make peace with the Mandalorians, make them our allies, so we can defeat the true evil, the Sith."

"Friends, we have a long and difficult road ahead. The fight for freedom will be a bitter and horrible one, but it must be done. We must all be vigilant, so that we never do see the day when Liberty and Justice are extinguished forever. If we act now, and act right, we can win this, and finally erase the evils of tyranny and oppression from the Galaxy. Thank you, and may the Force be with us all."

With that, Aiden sat down, and directed his pod back to it's docking port.

[Jenno]

Senator Duranara had a lot to say. He wanted to speak about the Sith and their style of warfare in the past. He wanted to tell the senate that another course of action would be best suited to facing this threat. The sith always followed the same pattern. They struck at the weakest worlds, fled from Republic fleets, and showed no prejudice or mercy in their attacks. No fleet was large enough to protect all worlds.

He wanted to speak about the Mandalorians, and their strength. The Mandalorians were a powerful people, and they would never let laws hold them down. If they were not listened to know, they would fight and they would eventually keep fighting until they won.

Lastly, Duranara wanted to speak about the principles behind the war, and just how wrong the Repubilc had been those fifty years ago when the Treaty was written and the Sith Empire formed.

All these things to say. But even if he had the floor, the Bothan could never hope to take the room from its cries of war and righteousness inspired by the Onderonian Senator.

Instantly, hundreds of senators began casting their votes to the Chancellor's podium. Not a single person saw the result being anything other than a resounding "yes"

(Go Vehem!)

[\J|K/]

Frey listened to the words of the senator, he had pulled the attention of the entire chamber, save for one he had not met before. It was a Bothan, strange.

"Chancellor!"

The Telosian senator stood, inspired to speak before this most dangerous of audience. He agreed with war, but he feared that the Ondarian had boiled the blood of the room too quickly. He also feared his speech of a military council.

"I request permission to speak before the final vote is cast."

[\J|K/]

He decided not to wait, he knew the Chancellor's voting habits and knew that his speech was needed in this seemingly dark hour. Frey pushed his extension panel and his Hover Pod unlatched and begin its circular path around this great hall.

"With all do respect, the Republic cannot raise a force large enough to protect the reached of the Otter Rim. Our forces would be spread and picked of by a concentrated Sith movement.

"We have seen this kind of action before, have we not? This sith will attack quickly and swiftly at out weakest worlds and our key worlds. Once they gain a firm footing they can easily use our goods and planet hop all the way to the inner core.

"Rather than play border patrol, we should invest our time and material in tracking the sith fleet too wherever they flee. We have strong ties to militia unite like CorSec and the Mon Calimarians who have more than enough power to trap a Sith attack fleet. If more planets provide their own defense, with the aide of small Republic forces on desperate worlds, the brunt of our Naval forces can effectively pincer the wave of sith and then track them to their runaway points.

"They are cowards and attack in cowardly ways. Hit and run. If we let them hit, then we can keep them from running and let them lead us into their heartland."

For a moment he pauses and took the eyes of many of the outraged senators. There was so much hate, so much fear. War came far before the opening declarations and lasted far after the final shots, their task was daunting indeed.

Then in a slower, more humanly voice he began again,

"My fellow Senators, war has come to out front door once more. There can be no true victory over evil and hate and... greed. But it is our duty and representatives of our Republic to see good done in our time. It is time for us to make choices than no man, woman or creature should ever have to face.

"We have the responsibility of sending our boys out to kill and be killed in the name of the Republic. In this dark time why should we be the pain of so many others. Our boys are dieing for peace but it is our our legislation that drives another people to war. On a final note, we must overturn the Treaty of Mandoa, let us not be hypocrites in this dark age.

"It is true, the Mandalorians have done us a great evil in the past, but let us show the a great good. Maybe we can begin to fix the rift between out two nations. That is also our duty... to retie bonds after the scars of war tear us apart."

He did not return to his pod's resting point. He did not open the floor to any now argument. Rather he stood there waiting for opposition to his Mandalorian views to come. Whether if it was his intention or not, the Ondarian Senator had boiled the blood of the Senators, there would likely a fight to secure the freedom of the Mandalorians.

He spoke with passion and that was honorable, but he was young to the ways of the Senate floor. Anyone of his words could be twisted by a warmongering senator who saw war as a method to make money. He was thankful that the Senator had spoken out, but it was his job to refine the argument. He had military experience and knowledge of the inner workings of the senate.

Even if they were to attack the Republic after being free, would it be any different than them attacking them as slaves?

[Corstar]

[[Sorry, thought I posted awhile ago. Guess it didn't stick.]]

Nathan had arrived shortly after the Chancellor, in the senate chambers. He almost could feel the hate. The anger.

All directed at the Mandalorians.

Waves of Senators were at their feet, yelling. Only the more dignified were staying in their seats, awaiting a decision.

Nathan tripped a com panel and brought a com headset to his ear. He spoke a few words and was rewarded by watching several of the Senators who had been yelling their heads off, sit down.

He still had some power.

Sitting back, he crossed one leg over the other. The Corellian waited.

"As if the vote was really in question." He muttered under his breath. It was fairly obvious how the Senate would vote. The question was, how many would stand against it.

[Jenno]

Today, history would be made. All who spoke at this session would be remembered and honored during and after the war. This thought occurred to a few of the other senators who, taking their leave from the Onderonian and Corellian senators, began making grand speeches of their own, all at the same time. What resulted was no longer a simple shouting match, but a pathetic attempt for glory. Vote after vote still poured in, each a resounding yes. It seemed that those who would vote "no" would wait to do so until later.

About halfway through the session, after the Corellian senator's speech, Senator Duranara stood and exited the chambers, which he was not exactly allowed to do. Each session was to be attended from beginning to end. The Bothan knew this fact and, when he was told this explicitly by one of the guards who attempted to stop him on his way out, he replied rather cooly.

"Can't you see that it is already over?"

He asked, before heading to his personal chambers. He had a feeling things were going to take a turn for the worse, and that he would have to prepare for the large amount of work he had before him.

[Ardenator]

Aiden watched as the Senate flew into a frenzy, their blood boiled by his speech. They had been so caught up in their own hate and foolish pride that they would vote for everything Aiden said with a resounding 'yes'. Except for, perhaps, peace with the Mandalorians. Suddenly, the Telosian senator spoke, his speech perhaps the only one worth listening to the entire session. After he spoke, the Senators continued yelling and shouting, and others, searching for glory, began making speeches of their own. The session where Aiden thought he might accomplish so much was beginning to turn into a farce.

Sighing, he disengaged his pod again. He had made them this way, perhaps they would listen to him once more. Turning up his pods volume to its highest setting, he screamed at the top of his voice. "SILENCE!!!" The shrill cry echoed throughout the chamber, reach every senator's ears. Suddenly, most of the speakers has quieted down, although a few were still going on. But that was fine, he could drown out just a few.

"Senators! Please give me your ears! We are not animals! Let some semblance of order come back to this chamber!" He knew he was speaking out of turn, but it looked as if many others had been doing the same. If anything, he should be congratulated on quieting them down.

"I wish to respond to the speech of the Senator from Telos. You see Senator, we can raise such a force. As I stated earlier, the deployment of the three fleets in this matter is simply a preliminary movement, meant as a first response against these new threats. All planetary militias will be called up to help defend their sectors, and the GAR will be working closely with them. And once we have the draft fired up, as well as the economy retooled and ready to produce for a war, we will be ready to bring the full might of the Republic against the Sith. My colleagues, we must play to our strengths. We are a great, huge nation, encompassing over half the entire galaxy. And, if we begin the legislative session immediately, we can focus this great nation on the horrible task at hand.

"And yes, these enemies are cowards, and they fight as cowards. But with the militias ready, and the first fleet at the border ready for rapid response, we can catch them wherever they hit, even if they would be able to hit. For, as I said, the second fleet would drive right into the heart of the Sith Empire, attacking their own worlds. The Sith will have to come out and fight if they wish to keep their nation. With the Sith on the defensive, and our border well defended, we will have the time we need to pass the legislation required to win this war."

"As for your words on the Mandalorian crisis, senator, I wholeheartedly agree. While the third fleet keeps the crisis secluded on Mandalore, we can destroy the treaty of Mandoa, and redraft a new peace, where the Mandalorians are no longer delegated to the position of second-class citizens, and our hands can for once be clasped in brotherhood."

"Now, my Senators, if the time to do what needs to be done. Vote now, and vote well. And remember in your hearts what is as stake, and what is worth fighting for; worth dying for. Let us finish this session and do what must be done, so that our Galactic Republic may remain free."

This time, he allowed the pod to remain where it was, not returning to his spot. IF he needed to speak again, he would.

Whatever was required to help his Republic.

Sighing, he sent his vote towards the main podium. "Yes."

[\J|K/]

This session was quite over. The Republic was geared to war and there was no way around it. Perhaps it was for the best. In any case the Sith movement on Dantooine would be effectively put out.

The senator sat, there was no sense in refuting the Ondarian senator. A draft would never work in this Republic for the worlds were to cultural diverse. But this was to be expected, there would a cultural unification but such a heterogeneous group would crumble under the force of the Sith.

The brunt of the war would be fought by the religiously strict Navy. Debates would be fought in the senate over changing the economy for a war state. Logical methods would be brought up in order to make the Republic most affective durring the war but he doubted any would pass. Though the debate itself and the state of war would naturally set the economy strong.

Capitalism and Democracy was a living and breathing entity. Once set up it could take care of itself. Of coarse there would be hard times but it would always recovered. It looked good to vote for change but it was fruitless to waist the energy in hours of debate.

He was tired, he had spent the night researching kolto and alternative healing agents. Thought tiring he would be glad to return to his normal work.

[harborg]

Hasen watched the debate from afar in his chair. After a few seconds it was quickly discovered that war is unstoppable. He knew this was a perfect situation for his company to earn money, He was guilty of thinking that death was profit but it was his job to think this way. After he saw some people start to leave he moved his chair forward, ignoring the rule to ask to talk in front of the senate

wait senators please dont leave yet. Their is one more topic that you should vote over. My company, Czerka, wants to build a independent army from the Republic to fight against the Sith and Mandalorians. This Army will be supplied by Czerka, and come of no charge of the Republic. The Army will be created out of the droids and the leadership will be people my company decides to hire. Now you will think why Czerka would decide to do this, well my company believes that the Sith and Mandalorians would destroy all of Czerka's assets and factories galaxy-wide. Czerka also loves the Republic in everything it stands for, and knows that the coming war will be difficult. So Czerka decides to stand with the Republic in there time of need.

Hasen waited for the Senates decision.

[\J|K/]

Valore put a hand to his brow. First the Republic faced war from two sources then another asked for the power to control a military. It was true, if things turned bad for the Republic, they might not be able to fund this war. It would be good to have an ally.

The senator was no teller of fortunes and he could not tell how one event would lead to another. All he could see now was a problem and a possible answer to that problem.

Knowing businessmen to be... well business men, he assumes Czerka already had their company battle ready and were waiting for senate sanctioning.

Though this seemed to be a honorable mission, he wondered how long the Czerka cooperation would remain faithful to the Republic. True, they would be friends for now, but what would happen when the Senate does not support a Czerka backed plan. They could be arming a civil war.

As it stood, Czerka had the right to create this army without the say of the Senate. Notable, their numbers would be less and they would have to abandon heavy weaponry on space craft after the war, but all Republic citizens were given the right to defend themselves.

Under war time, merchants were expected to arm themselves to the best of their ability. Space was vast and it would take time for the navy to defend every corer. Under these laws Czerka could forge their army under "War-Time Arms." The use of a droid army would be settled by their need to protect the human life on their company.

He called an assistant, a female member of his staff drew close to him. After a moment she left and went to contact the Cerka official.

Honorable Representative of Czerka. I bring word from Senator Frey Valore of Telos. He wished to meet you privately in his chambers. He promises if you abandon a vote from the Senate he will be able to satisfy your needs on more tolerable timetable.

[harborg]

Hasen agreed to the proposal, Hasen faced the senate. Iam sorry, but i must abandon the vote. Their are pressing issues that require my immediate attention. I must leave now, goodbye. Hasen got up and walked off to Valore's private chamber.