[A holovid begins. The image shimmers, coalescing into the well-appointed office of Senator Aurelian Veruna of Plooriod III. He sits behind a grand senatorial desk, swathed in a black suit. Behind him, the flags of the Royal Naboo Republic and the planetary sigil of Plooriod III ripple gently. His dangerous glare flickers to life.]
Citizens of Plooriod III, loyal friends of Parrlay on Naboo, and to the esteemed beings of the Royal Naboo Republic and the galaxy beyond... greetings.
We live in times of extraordinary transformation. The Royal Naboo Republic, forged in resilience and tempered by calamity, now finds itself on the edge of yet another great leap,one toward a more expansive, unified identity: the High Republic.
Rumors, yes. Whispers in corridors and shadowed forums. But let me be clear: the concept proposed by our sovereign Queen is not merely a dream or an ambition... It is a necessity. As our influence grows, so too must our governance. The Southern Systems cry out not for oversight, but for representation. And I, for one, stand fully behind this vision. A High Republic, for all worlds, all beings, not just the privileged few.
[He leans back slightly, a glint in his eye. His inner thoughts surface, unspoken but palpable.]
It was never going to be just Naboo. That was too small, too provincial. I've outgrown the velvet chains of a second in command to the crown. I see the stars now... and somewhere in that constellation of power, the High Republic, there is an office with my name on it, one of great power.
[He returns to the address. His tone shifts, softens.]
Now, to address the swirling speculation. I know some of you have placed your hopes, perhaps even your wagers, on my candidacy for this new position, Chancellor. And I thank you for that faith. But I must clarify: I will not be a candidate in this election season.
[A pause. Almost imperceptibly, the smile hardens.]
Not yet. Let the galaxy shift on someone else's shoulders for this new venture. Let them face the scrutiny, the slander, the punditry. I will wait. And I will rise when the time is right.
Instead, I will continue my work. I will continue gathering support, refining networks, and preparing for what is to come. Because what is inevitable, my dear supporters, does not need to be rushed.
I have reviewed both declarations of candidacy, the precise, orderly proposal of Senator Sentapoth of Affa, and the visionary appeal of our dear young Queen Kalantha. And I make this next statement not as a loyal subject, but as a fellow leader of the Republic:
I fully endorse Queen Kalantha as the next Chancellor of the High Republic.
She did not inherit a quiet throne. She inherited fire and chaos. And she endured. Through the Planeshift. Through the incursions of the Neo-Crusaders. Through the machinations of the Sith and the terror of Calladene. I watched her bring senators to heel, not with force, but with strategy, with poise, with vision. She commands a room as deftly as one would command a fleet. And she dreams big enough to match this moment.
Let her lead us now, not because she is royalty, but because she has proven herself as a Republic leader.
[He stands now, straightening his cuffs, and delivers the closing line with a hint of mischief curling at the corners of his lips.]
This galaxy is changing. And when it does, it helps to have a leader who already knows how to rule.
Long live the Republic... Long live the High Republic.
[The holovid crackles and winks out.]
