New Republic Archives

Roleplay Logs

26 May 2002

Unexpected Developments, Part II. . . txt (this post concerns many of you!)


IP: 152.163.195.213
Posted on 05/26/02 at 20:12:55 by Alicia Marniss, Jedi Knight

The first meeting of the emergency session was marked by emotion, whether anger directed towards the Pentastar Alignment, sadness for the hundreds of Corellian servicemen and civilians killed during the attack, or furious criticism of the Chief of State for authorizing the attack on Coruscant that had reduced the number of vessels available to respond to the arrival of the Alignment fleet.

For the most part, those criticisms came from the same group of senators, mostly those representing outer and mid-rim sectors in the borderlands region. The one major exception was the one that hit closest to home. It came from Councilor Archellius, the Corellian senator and chairman of the Senate Council on the Common Defense, one who had historically been among her strongest supporters.

Finally, mercifully, after countless hours of fiery oration, accusations, and frayed tempers, the meeting was adjourned and the Senators began to file out of the Senate assembly chamber. Alicia watched them leave, infinite sadness in her sparkling amethyst eyes.

Councilor Sian Tevv shuffled towards her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder as he sat down beside her.

[Be strong, little one.]

“I try to, Councilor, I try,” she replied. “Sometimes I wonder why I work so hard to hold this Republic together when all I get is criticism.”

[We all feel that way sometimes,] said the Councilor. [When we look back at these trying times, we realize that they have only made us stronger.] He stood up. [Come walk with me.]

The two walked out of the convocation chamber into the sunlit Grand Gallery of the Senate Hall. From the ceiling of the gallery, which encircled the Senate convocation chamber, hung the banners of each of the one thousand and twenty-four sectors represented in the Senate. Spaced between the large transparisteel viewports were statues of famous statesmen of the Republic.

The Sullustan councilor stopped before one particular statue, that of Viceroy Bail Organa of Alderaan. [Read the inscription on the pedestal, little one,] he said. [It’s something Bail once told me once a long time ago, and something I think you’ll like.]

Alicia looked down at the inscription. “Do not expect to be applauded when you do the right thing, and do not expect to be forgive when you err, for even your enemies will respect commitment, and a conscience at peace is worth a thousand tainted victories.”

[Bail told me that once, back in the days of the Rebel Alliance, back when I was still young.] The councilor chuckled. [Remember it whenever you feel disheartened or disillusioned and you’ll feel much better].

Alicia smiled and hugged the aging Sullustan councilor. “Thank you, Councilor.”


~ A little while later ~


“If it wasn’t before, it’s now obvious that there is a security leak in the highest echelons of the New Republic government.” Admiral Graf, the head of New Republic Intelligence, slowly looked around the room at the others present to gauge their reactions.

It was a couple of hours after the emergency session, and Alicia had called an informal meeting in her office to discuss the recent developments in the Corellian sector. Present were the seven members of the Inner Council, First Administrator Engh, Admiral Graf, Admiral Jhemiti, and Master Jedi Kid Sampson. Right now, Graf was addressing some of the accusations that had been made previously, whether during the emergency session or outside.

Graf continued. “The Pentastar Alignment would not attack a member world of the New Republic, let alone Corellia, without knowing that the Third Fleet was away on mission.”

Beside Alicia, Bothan Councilor Borsk Fey’lya spoke up. “Admiral Graf, are you in fact saying that one of us is responsible for the information leak?”

The admiral glanced at Alicia for a second, took a deep breath, and turned towards the Bothan Councilor. “If you would please hear me out, councilor.

“Knowledge of Operation Katarn was limited to the Chief of State, the chairmen of the Defense and Intelligence councils, the Supreme Commander, the commanders of the various fleets, and myself. Consider that, and then consider the planet that was attacked. On top of that, keep in mind that the media agency to report that the Fleet was elsewhere was a local Corellian agency, not one of the larger-scale agencies with better intelligence resources.”

“Admiral Graf, do you know what you’re saying?” asked Admiral Jhemiti, the ranking officer of the Fleet present on Ambria Prime. The Mon Calamari admiral’s voice had taken a cautionary edge.”

“I am quite aware, Admiral.” Graf looked meaningfully at Councilor Archellius, who had remained silent during the entire meeting. “Consider what I’ve said, and then consider this. Just before the attack, a heavily encrypted message was sent to the Pentastar Alignment from the Councilor’s residence on Corellia. Subtract the time it takes for a fleet to get from Jaemus to Corellia from the time between its receipt at Jaemus and the arrival of the Pentastar Alignment ships at Corellia, and the result is almost exactly enough time for those ships to have been prepared and their crews briefed.”

Graf turned to the Corellian councilor. “Councilor Archellius, did you in fact contact the Pentastar Alignment and tell it to attack Corellia?”

Around the room, Alicia could hear surprised gasps from the others present. She turned to look at Master Sampson, who stood impassively in the corner of the room.

“I will neither admit to nor refute any charges,” said Archellius.

At this time, Alicia stood up. “This is all nonsense. Councilor Archellius has asked for a brief leave of absence to return to Corellia and I will grant it. While he is on leave, I will have Senator Miatamia serve as acting Chairperson of the Defense Council. This meeting is over.”

Two blue-robed Republican guards came to escort Councilor Archellius to his waiting shuttle. As the councilor reached the arched doorway, he turned his head to face the young chief of state. His eyes slanted and the room darkened. A vicious smile appeared on the councilor’s face. A lightsaber appeared in his hand, and with a distinctive snap-hiss, its blade came to life.

Master Sampson’s hand dropped to his own lightsaber, but it was too late. With two quick strokes, the two guards fell, their torsos cleanly sliced in two by the brilliantly glowing crimson blade. The Councilor brought the blade up in a salute, and seemed to melt away into the shadows.

Diabolical laughter echoed through the room.


~ The next day ~


Alicia found a message waiting for her on her desk from the Minister of State. Without explanation, nearly a thousand systems had withdrawn their treaties of confederation and had called their delegates back from Ambria Prime.