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This is TriNebulon News at 8. Tonight, an exclusive interview with Ryv Karis, Sword of the Jedi.
While the cameras remained trained on the interviewer, Ryv sat off to the side with his personal holo-device in hand. He held it horizontally and stared intently at the screen. A wide grin split his lips as he watched Chancellor Chandra's address only an hour earlier. It took all the discipline he had as a Jedi Knight not to break out laughing while the journalist nearby prepped the evening viewers for the coming discussion. Ryv couldn't help but respect the full transparency and overall sassy demeanor that Chandra wore out in public. She might be different than Emmen, but her love for the Alliance burned just as strong.
If not for the gentle nudge from the makeup team as they packed up around him, Ryv likely would've missed the visual queue notifying him the interview was about to begin. He hastily shoved the device into his pocket, smoothed out his jacket, and reclined comfortably in the seat. When the cameras panned out and revealed the Jedi Knight to the evening audience, he smiled and offered a practiced wave.
"This evening, we are joined by a familiar face here in the Core! I would like to extend a warm welcome to Ryv Karis, Jedi Knight of the New Jedi Order. Though, you're known among your own people for another title, isn't that right, Mr. Karis?"
"Please, Halifax, Ryv's fine," Ryv met the interviewer's infectious enthusiasm with his own. "And yes, there are Jedi out there who would know me as the Sword of the Jedi. It's a lot more ceremonial, so let's just stick with Jedi Knight for now."
He winked at the interviewer.
"Very well, Ryv! Thank you again for joining us. While there is a lot I'd love to ask you, I'd rather jump right to the good stuff! We've had a busy evening here at TriNebulon, with both the Chancellor and a homegrown hero such as yourself joining us. Just for the viewers at home, I have to ask. You're a recipient of the Golden Starbird, right?"
"Yes sir, awarded to me by the former Chancellor, Emmen Tagge," Ryv pulled aside his jacket and revealed not only the Golden Starbird but five other medals as well. The Victory Medals for both the Braxant Run and Kyber Dark hung proudly side by side. Beneath them, the Medal of Imperial Merit and Valor, with the Obsidian Heart rounding it out. "I'm lucky enough to say I've been to Hell and back. Got these cool medals to prove it."
"And so young, too," Halifax said, head momentarily tilted in sympathy for the cameras. "It's safe to say you're familiar with the state of the Galaxy right now, right?"
"I'd say so, yeah."
"That's wonderful because we have a lot of questions to get through, and we're hoping you're the guy to answer them," Halifax lifted a datapad from beside his chair and tapped at the screen. He nodded and looked back to the Jedi Knight. "Now that the Galactic Alliance has resumed their conflict with the Sith Empire, how do you believe they'll fair?"
"Shouldn't be a problem," he stated with utmost confidence. "The New Imperial Order and Galactic Alliance have been at the forefront of this war from the beginning. The Sith couldn't stop us then, they certainly won't now. They've lost more territory in the last few years than they've gained. With fewer people to conscript and planets to pillage, they'll lose steam and sputter out soon enough. And when they do, the New Jedi Order will be there."
"That's good to hear," the interviewer said. "What's your take on this whole, Elder Compact, business?"
"Uh... I think the Confederacy and Sith Empire are aware there are now powers in the galaxy that can and will contest them. I mean, the Sith have been hammered by NIO and GA. CIS lost their hold on multiple planets to glitter bombs and gaudy armor. If ever there was a time for the Sith to fear, it be now."
"Do you imagine the Confederacy will maintain their alliance with the Sith Empire?"
"I dunno," Ryv shrugged. "I don't think it's a good idea, personally. The Sith aren't gonna suddenly stick around cause a few inept generals and admirals decide to throw in their two cents. Hell, it's weird they're doing it at all. Before this war even broke out the CIS allied with the Silver Jedi Concord against the Sith on Kintan. I would know, I was there."
"I do recall hearing about that. The word on the street is this 'Elder Council' has united against the Bryn'adul. They are a pretty big threat to the galaxy, aren't they?"
"Oh, absolutely," Ryv leaned forward in his chair. "The Bryn'adul want to destroy, conquer, and kill everything and everyone. Real bad guys. Thing is, the Compacts claims are BS. It's just something they're telling the galaxy to keep whatever moral high ground they believe they have. If this was to deal with the Bryn'adul, the CIS would've deployed fleets all along the Concord and Sith-Imperial border. Not prepare to counteract the New Imperial Order's push for Dantooine, a planet on the opposite side of the galaxy."
"So, you're saying this is posturing?"
"For sure."
"Then what about the claims made by Exarch Adron Malvern?"
"Who?" Ryv asked, head tilted to the side in confusion.
Halifax laughed and turned to the camera. "Not too different from the Chancellor, huh?"
"Oh!" the Jedi Knight laughed along. "That's the Confederacy dude who said the Galactic Alliance is doing nothing about the Bryn'adul! That's crazy. Funny enough, the Alliance and the New Jedi Order have faced down the Bryn more than the CIS and TSE combined. I'm pretty sure the CIS were at both Yurb and the Pabol Hutta hyperlane. I guess I'd wanna forget Pabol too, considering their new allies blasted an entire ship full of refugees, killing them all."
"No," Halifax covered his mouth, sadness prevalent in his eyes. "That's terrible."
"That's what the Sith do," the Sword declared. He turned to the camera. "This Elder Compact will feed the galaxy lies in order to hold onto the power they've obtained. This isn't about the Bryn'adul. We've beaten them without the Sith getting involved. And you know what? If they really wanted to hedge their bets on this, they'd of contacted the First Order and the Imperial Order. That's how you can tell this is all bantha sh-" a bleep censored him. "- and not actually for the betterment of the galaxy and its people. The Sith are scared. Both those in the Empire, and those hiding away in Confederacy space, and lemme tell you all something."
Ryv stood from his chair and reached towards the camera. The view of the stage swiveled as the camera flew through the air and landed within the Jedi Knight's waiting hands. He adjusted it for a moment before looking past it.
"This thing got a good view of my face?" he asked. After he received affirmation, he looked back. "This goes out to the entire galaxy. You lie in bed with the Sith, you can't just wipe it away and pretend like it never happened. Inaction in the face of evil is evil. So, this is my warning to every last one of you cowards in league with the Crimson Saber. We're coming for you. The galaxy is done letting you run rampant and do awful for the sake of awful. This is your last chance to remove yourself from the equation, cause you sure as hell won't be happy if the New Jedi Order have to do it for you."
The view fell away for a split-second before Ryv pulled it back up.
"And let's make this one a personal shout out from Ryv Karis and all the others of the New Jedi Order," he grinned. "Carnifex, Prazutis, Metus, and Talon. Your days are numbered. We'll see you soon."
The camera was promptly handed off and returned to the stand at that. It managed to catch the tail end of the Jedi Knight as he walked off the stage and left the interviewer to his own devices.
