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Roleplay Logs

24 May 2002

(Ric, with your permission. . .) Surrender of Coruscant. . . txt


IP: 64.12.105.177
Posted on 05/24/02 at 16:02:05 by Commander Katrina Alistair

For thousands of years, Coruscant had been the capital of the Republic, the seat of power for the legitimate government in the galaxy. As the millennia passed, the Republic grew, and likewise, the buildings of government, as well as the supporting bureaucracy, became larger.

Eventually, the sole purpose of Coruscant became galactic administration, and the planet lost any self sufficiency it may have had in the past. The capital city grew and grew, eventually covering most of the planet in a metallic urban sprawl, with skyscrapers and city decks replacing canyons and plateaus. Today, though much of Coruscant was in ruins, it was still a marvel to behold.

Near the palace district, three shuttles bearing the graceful swept crest of the New Republic landed. Out of the lead shuttle strode a noble-looking Dornean fleet commander. Hundreds of battles and thousands of deaths had obviously taken their toll on him. Behind him came a number of other senior officers of the Fleet and Intelligence Service who had taken part in the furious battle earlier in the skies above Imperial City.

An officer standing beside a number of speeder transports approached the officers.

"Admiral A'baht, sir," he said, saluting. "The Imperial commander is waiting for you."

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Above the palace district rose the majestic spires of the Imperial Palace, standing defiant over the battle-damaged buildings that surrounded it. The speeders glided to a stop before the Palace, and the officer stepped out of the transports onto the carved marble stairway that led up to the arched entrance.

At the entrance, an Imperial general and his aides waited, looks of haughty, even defiant, pride upon their faces. The general stepped forward and glanced at Admiral A'baht.

"This is an insult," he sneered. "Am I to surrender Imperial Center to this. . . thing?"

"No, General." Beside the Admiral, whose face had attained a stony appearance, a young woman in a black flight suit, her flight helmet tucked under her right arm, stepped forward. "It would be an insult to him to have to receive Coruscant from the likes of you." She placed added emphasis to the pre-Imperial name of the planet to add injury to insult.

Something about the woman's face and her demeanor. . .

Blinking, the General stepped back. "My apologies, m'lady." Composing himself, he took a deep breath, and slowly let it out before continuing. His former haughtiness and defiance had vanished, replaced by a sense of deep regret and resignation.

"Lady Marniss, I hereby entrust this system to your care." He nodded with respect to the young Chief of State, and then after a moment of hesitation to the Dornean fleet admiral, before turning and returning into the Palace. Likewise, his aides turned and fell into step behind him.

Alicia turned to Admiral A'baht. "I must return to Ambria Prime now, Admiral. I trust that you will not encounter much more difficulty here."

"A safe trip home, M'lady," the Dornean replied. "And may the Force be with you."

Minutes later, a quartet of sleek black interceptors angled away from Imperial City and made their way into space. Once the vessels had cleared the planetary gravity well, they accelerated and vanished into hyperspace.