"There has still been no statement from Chief Saelari on the crushing military defeat the rampaging hordes of the One Sith have inflicted upon the Republic on Manaan. Ahto City was sunk, the Progenitor, the source of the kolto that has saved so many lives over the millennia, is dead, and what is the Senate doing? Voting for a new Speaker."
The passion-filled, fervent voice of Maerys Cadalthor thundered through the holotelly as the Pundit of Pulchritude and demagogue launched into a diatribe about the Battle of Manaan. While Maerys' voice became more fervent with every word she said, Kaida, wearing but a sweaty tank top and shorts, worked herself through an intense fitness routine, of push-ups and sit-ups.
"Truly, this will strike fear into the heart of the unseen Dark Lord," the voice of Maerys was dripping with scorn and sarcasm. While Senators debate, Anaxes, Bilbringi and many other Republic worlds have been rocked by protests. How many more millions of innocents must fall under the yoke of the Sith before we get true leaders who realise what the true reason for the Republic's malaise is: Traitors in our midst, for how else could every single Sith invasion be a surprise attack, when the Republic or the Protectorate cannot even infiltrate a single special forces team into Sith territory without it being detected at the first opportunity?"
Naturally the analyst and news commentator was showing plenty of leg along with truly regal cleavage. Behind her was a large screen that showed casualty reports from Manaan, blended in with scenes of utter devastation as the Sith sacked the city and it sunk beneath the ocean. Her apartment was more utilitarian than comfortable and sparsely furnished. A couch, a dining table with chairs, a few lamps and really that was about it, aside from a plush bed off in the other room and two book shelves, which were stacked with various volumes, some of a historical nature, others novels.
Then the images on the big screen shifted and in their place the viewer could make out scenes showing the Senate holding yet another debate, with various politicians speechifying. This was followed by a scene of common citizens protesting outside of the Senate Building. Protesters who carried placards bearing slogans such as 'Hang the Traitors', 'The only good Sith is a dead Sith', 'While our children die, the rich party' could be seen being blocked by a pordon of Senate Guards, who had to stop a number of them from storming the Senate Building. Briefly there was a scene of protesters demanding peace negotiations clashing with the security forces. Then the screen shifted again and showed representatives from the Ession Reformation pleding themselves to the Army of Light.
"Is the Army of Light our new hope? Or is it yet another group of cowards and traitors that will disappoint us at the earliest moment? The One Sith and the Fringe, founded by the apostate Jedi Ashin Varanin, have a solid Axis? Why is Spencer Jacobs still Queen of Eshan, when her Fringe is in bed with the Sith barbarians? Where are our allies...the Protectorate, the Mandalorians? Are they so naive to think they can profit from..."
Maerys droned on for a while in this vein before Kaida got fed up and simply switched the holotelevision off with a simple mental command, whereupon silence descended upon her small apartment. She found that she preferred it that way. Long speechifying and demagogic outbursts had never been her cup of tea.
By now the Eldorai had moved on to doing chin-ups on a pipe suspended from the ceiling of the room, with a look of focus and concentration etched upon her features. The Cryomancer was by no means that physically strong, but she clearly kept in shape and her toned muscles glistened with sweat as she pulled herself up and down again and again. Before she finally pulled herself up over the beam and tossed herself over, spinning as she leapt down to the ground. Letting out a breath she picked up a towel to wipe the sweat off her face and back. The queen is just a massive demagogue eager for high ratings, but she sort of has a point, Kaida thought to herself regarding the 'news' broadcast. As they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day. The clouds were darkening and the Republic was in its death throes, about to be devoured by the Sith.
The Cryomancer had no strong feelings on the Republic, but it was still a cause of worry for her for Kaeshana's sake. After all, Fringe was right across the border. The truth was, it was naive to think that the great flood would simply pass by Kaeshana and leave it as an unspoilt island. What had Maerys said once during a broadcast, 'I can see Fringe from my house!' However, this did not change the fact that Kaida was a simple soldier. One sworn to protect Kaeshana from all enemies internal and external. She would have to do her duty to the best of her abilities, even if it meant facing a downfall.
Banishing these grim thoughts from her mind she quickly hit the showers and after emerging to get dressed had a quick breakfast. Which consisted of several nice burgers and veggies because, well, she was an Eldorai and thus had a fast metabolism. A strong wind blew her way when she stepped out of her apartment. Judging by the dark clouds up above and the tingling she was feeling in the Force there would be a storm coming today.
Kaida debated for a brief moment or two whether she should take to the sky and let the winds carry her through her prowess in the Force, then decided against it. Whilst flying was good fun, it was also very energy-intensive and thus wasteful. Although she was becoming proficient in it, it was still new to her and she knew that she would need her energy for what she had planned today. Over the years she had become a powerful cryomancer who could achieve remarkable feats of power by manipulating water and ice. However, her intense focus upon this art had meant that she neglected other avenues of advancement or let skills deteriorate. This was something that she could not accept. It was time for her to take yet another step into a larger world, as cliched as that sounded, to further her understanding of the Force and her repertoire of skills, as a soldier of the Eldorai people.
Thus she embarked upon her speeder, powered up the engines and took off into the sky. Her destination was the Citadel of Santaissa, where the barracks of the Angelii, the praetorian guard of the Star Queen, were located.
The passion-filled, fervent voice of Maerys Cadalthor thundered through the holotelly as the Pundit of Pulchritude and demagogue launched into a diatribe about the Battle of Manaan. While Maerys' voice became more fervent with every word she said, Kaida, wearing but a sweaty tank top and shorts, worked herself through an intense fitness routine, of push-ups and sit-ups.
"Truly, this will strike fear into the heart of the unseen Dark Lord," the voice of Maerys was dripping with scorn and sarcasm. While Senators debate, Anaxes, Bilbringi and many other Republic worlds have been rocked by protests. How many more millions of innocents must fall under the yoke of the Sith before we get true leaders who realise what the true reason for the Republic's malaise is: Traitors in our midst, for how else could every single Sith invasion be a surprise attack, when the Republic or the Protectorate cannot even infiltrate a single special forces team into Sith territory without it being detected at the first opportunity?"
Naturally the analyst and news commentator was showing plenty of leg along with truly regal cleavage. Behind her was a large screen that showed casualty reports from Manaan, blended in with scenes of utter devastation as the Sith sacked the city and it sunk beneath the ocean. Her apartment was more utilitarian than comfortable and sparsely furnished. A couch, a dining table with chairs, a few lamps and really that was about it, aside from a plush bed off in the other room and two book shelves, which were stacked with various volumes, some of a historical nature, others novels.
Then the images on the big screen shifted and in their place the viewer could make out scenes showing the Senate holding yet another debate, with various politicians speechifying. This was followed by a scene of common citizens protesting outside of the Senate Building. Protesters who carried placards bearing slogans such as 'Hang the Traitors', 'The only good Sith is a dead Sith', 'While our children die, the rich party' could be seen being blocked by a pordon of Senate Guards, who had to stop a number of them from storming the Senate Building. Briefly there was a scene of protesters demanding peace negotiations clashing with the security forces. Then the screen shifted again and showed representatives from the Ession Reformation pleding themselves to the Army of Light.
"Is the Army of Light our new hope? Or is it yet another group of cowards and traitors that will disappoint us at the earliest moment? The One Sith and the Fringe, founded by the apostate Jedi Ashin Varanin, have a solid Axis? Why is Spencer Jacobs still Queen of Eshan, when her Fringe is in bed with the Sith barbarians? Where are our allies...the Protectorate, the Mandalorians? Are they so naive to think they can profit from..."
Maerys droned on for a while in this vein before Kaida got fed up and simply switched the holotelevision off with a simple mental command, whereupon silence descended upon her small apartment. She found that she preferred it that way. Long speechifying and demagogic outbursts had never been her cup of tea.
By now the Eldorai had moved on to doing chin-ups on a pipe suspended from the ceiling of the room, with a look of focus and concentration etched upon her features. The Cryomancer was by no means that physically strong, but she clearly kept in shape and her toned muscles glistened with sweat as she pulled herself up and down again and again. Before she finally pulled herself up over the beam and tossed herself over, spinning as she leapt down to the ground. Letting out a breath she picked up a towel to wipe the sweat off her face and back. The queen is just a massive demagogue eager for high ratings, but she sort of has a point, Kaida thought to herself regarding the 'news' broadcast. As they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day. The clouds were darkening and the Republic was in its death throes, about to be devoured by the Sith.
The Cryomancer had no strong feelings on the Republic, but it was still a cause of worry for her for Kaeshana's sake. After all, Fringe was right across the border. The truth was, it was naive to think that the great flood would simply pass by Kaeshana and leave it as an unspoilt island. What had Maerys said once during a broadcast, 'I can see Fringe from my house!' However, this did not change the fact that Kaida was a simple soldier. One sworn to protect Kaeshana from all enemies internal and external. She would have to do her duty to the best of her abilities, even if it meant facing a downfall.
Banishing these grim thoughts from her mind she quickly hit the showers and after emerging to get dressed had a quick breakfast. Which consisted of several nice burgers and veggies because, well, she was an Eldorai and thus had a fast metabolism. A strong wind blew her way when she stepped out of her apartment. Judging by the dark clouds up above and the tingling she was feeling in the Force there would be a storm coming today.
Kaida debated for a brief moment or two whether she should take to the sky and let the winds carry her through her prowess in the Force, then decided against it. Whilst flying was good fun, it was also very energy-intensive and thus wasteful. Although she was becoming proficient in it, it was still new to her and she knew that she would need her energy for what she had planned today. Over the years she had become a powerful cryomancer who could achieve remarkable feats of power by manipulating water and ice. However, her intense focus upon this art had meant that she neglected other avenues of advancement or let skills deteriorate. This was something that she could not accept. It was time for her to take yet another step into a larger world, as cliched as that sounded, to further her understanding of the Force and her repertoire of skills, as a soldier of the Eldorai people.
Thus she embarked upon her speeder, powered up the engines and took off into the sky. Her destination was the Citadel of Santaissa, where the barracks of the Angelii, the praetorian guard of the Star Queen, were located.