Eppur Si Muove [Ardik/Mantic/Aurelia]

[Natasi Fortan]

The shuttle carrying Aurelia Volcata and her Jedi protector [member="Mantic Dorn"] banked low over the city of New E'y-Akh on Hypori. Aurelia was piloting the vessel herself on this mission, wanting to expose her movements as little as possible to those outside her entourage. Since the assassination attempt on the Minister of State, Aurelia had become slightly more paranoid about her personal safety, receiving daily intelligence briefings and upgrading security at her exclusive penthouse apartment on Onderon. But until she knew that the Republic armed forces hadn't been infiltrated, she had foregone additional military security, instead requesting assistance from the Jedi Order. She glanced around the shuttle, first to the luxurious seating area in the back and then to the passenger seat to see where he might be. "I'll be requesting clearance, so if you'd like to buckle in, now is the time," she announced pleasantly.

"Department of Law landing control, this is Shuttle Merchant Prince, GR Alpha Tango One One Three Eight Delta, requesting clearance to land. We have business with Mr. [member="Gerion Ardik"]. Transmitting manifest now." Aurelia keyed a few controls and sent the manifest, declaring herself and her passenger and no cargo. This was not a mission of espionage, thank heaven, but a trade negotiation. Aurelia was hoping to determine whether the Techno Union could be persuaded to assist the Republic -- or at least to agree not to join their aggressors. It was not a mission for which she had high hopes of success.

"Here we go," Aurelia told [member="Mantic Dorn"], swallowing audibly as she initiated the landing sequence.

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Aurelia Volcata"] | [member="Mantic Dorn"]

The Department of Law was a sensible building. Sensible in the sense that it was plain to look at on the exterior and highly secure on the inside. The Honorable Member for New Holstice and her Jedi bodyguard were received by a single, tired looking legal assistant and escorted into the building proper. There were a myriad of scanners and other security procedures set up to screen people of weapons if they were to enter the lobby and then the building proper. However, the last time someone had tried to deprive a Jedi of their ceremonial weapons on a diplomatic mission, a war had broken out. Then the Republic invaded one of the Black Sun Syndicate capitol worlds and thousands perished in the fighting.

It was not a charming experience.

With that said, neither Aurelia nor Mantic were subject to the procedures. They were quietly escorted through a deactivated security gate without so much as a frisk. After a short elevator ride and a traversal of a hall lavishly decorated with Asheran artwork, they were brought into the Director's office. The office itself was nothing extrordinary, aside from the large window displaying the New E'y-Akh skyline. The Director's desk was situated just in front of it. Gerion glanced up from a document he was signing to see who had entered. "You must be the Republic ambassador." He didn't rise. Then again, he seldom did. Gerion glanced at the Jedi escort, but otherwise said nothing to him directly. He gestured to the two chairs placed opposite of his desk. "You can both take a seat. I'm very eager to hear what the Republic has to say for itself."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Director," Aurelia said to [member="Gerion Ardik"], taking a brief look around the office before she took one of the offered seats. It did not immediately catapult her through the ceiling to her death, so she took that as a small victory and allowed herself to feel slightly optimistic. "My name is Aurelia Volcata, I am the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and Minister of Finance. This should give you some indication of the nature of my intentions here.But I must say, first, how rather taken I was by your collection. Asheran, if I'm not much mistaken? Very impressive." Aurelia shifted in her seat, remaining ramrod straight with her back not touching the back of the chair. She suspected that she was about to receive a diplomatic paddling over the Rebel Alliance and sighed inwardly.

"I'm afraid the Republic has a great deal to say for itself on any number of topics. Is there something in particular you would like to discuss?"

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic had kept to himself during the entire travel through space. Sitting outside the private room of [member="Aurelia Volcata"] or silently meditating in his own smaller quarter.
He did not really know what to expect from this trip but he knew his objective well. In fact the jedi order had used him as senator escort on several occassions by now and he while he had made mistakes he was getting better at the job. Perhaps something about his way made the senators feel securer. It did however not matter.

The Department of law, interesting choice he thought as they entered the building. Why do they let the justice department manage foreign affairs? Maybe the negotiations was going to be short, he pondered but questioned nothing openly.

Well inside the impressive office of [member="Gerion Ardik"] Mantic bowed to the minister and waited until [member="Aurelia Volcata"] sat down before following her to take the second seat. He had not expected to be seated but to avoid appearing impolite he decided to accept it.

This was a diplomatic mission, but Mantic knew better then play diplomat among those more skilled. He would offer advice if asked but otherwise turned inward, focusing on his real mission here - to make sure the senator was safe. While listening he fore most focused on sensing any swift changes or hidden threats that could endanger her. Carefully he prepared himself to extend his protection upon her should anything go wrong. Not that he thought it would happen, it was merely routine for now.

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Aurelia Volcata"] | [member="Mantic Dorn"]

Gerion had stolen all of those pieces of artwork himself when the One Sith sacked the planet. The ones he fancied he kept for himself. The rest he sold off for a tidy fortune. Selling cultural artifacts was a good business. He would have to do it again the next time an opportunity presented itself. "Yes, thank you." She'd forgive him if he didn't digress into a discussion of Asheran artwork. Not when there was a Bantha standing in the middle of the room, so to speak. He removed the document from the desk, some sort of flimsiplast sheet with frequent mentions of Naboo, and slid it into a drawer for later.

"We'll start with something obvious. Namely, the fact that your Prime Minister has direct ties to a terrorist organization. A terrorist organization responsible for bringing the planets of Ryloth and Geonosis to near-economic ruin. The one that bandies about Selectivist ideology, the one that allowed for the slaughter of several hundred members of the Geonosian nobility before that entire caste fled here to exile in Hypori. I think you know that I'm talking about the so-called Rebel Alliance, and that the Techno Union has every reason to acknowledge the fact that their 'benefactor'- if someone who deals only in destruction and economic depression can be called that -and the Prime Minister are the very same person."

Time and time again the Rebel Alliance had proved itself more a menace than a force for good. They could ask the Geonosians' whose brains they fried when they bombarded one of their own factories with Ion cannon fire. Of course, no one could actually ask them because they were dead. How very convenient. "I'm curious as to how the senate views this connection. Evidently they seem to have a very positive view of short-sighted terrorists, considering that the abominable creature leading them still holds the office of Prime Minister."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"With great respect, Director, you are overstating the casualties among the Geonosian nobility. Vastly overstating them, in fact, for if I recall correctly few were killed. It certainly was not a terrorist action and no one familiar with the facts could honestly call it a slaughter. Heavens, you make it sound so grisly," she said with a smirk, clasping her hands together in her lap.

"Come, Director," Aurelia scoffed. "Let us not quibble about the strange bedfellows brought on by war, shall we? You cannot think that tarring the Techno Union with the same broad brush you would use with the Republic would result in a favorable view for your side. Treachery. Murder. Enslavement. Night upon genocide. The Republic does not impute these sins to the Techno Union. Well, not all of them."

She cocked her head to the side. "At any rate, what is the point of splitting hairs about it, particularly when we both stand to gain so much from working together?"

[member="Gerion Ardik"] | [member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Aurelia Volcata"]

His expression darkened considerably as he leaned back in his chair. The reports filed by the Geonosians had been quite descriptive. There were riots, and when security forces requested permission to intervene, they had been ordered not to for fear of escalation. What wonders that fear of escalation had done when things escalated anyway. "I wasn't aware you had paid a visit to Geonosis recently. And then, of course, reviewed the damages and testimony of the Geonosians yourself." Maybe the Rebels hadn't paid attention to their own handiwork, but someone with eyes and the faculties to draw conclusions certainly would. "You'd think I'd have heard about it."

A bemused smile crossed his face when she resolved to scuttle the topic away from their link to the Rebel Alliance. Now they were to talk about sins. Treachery and murder were necessities brought on by war. There were no slaves here in Techno Union space, at least of the non-wage variety. Slavery had been outlawed. As for genocide... Well, genocide was the systematic destruction of a particular group of people. Yuuzhan-Vong were not people, so that settles that. Not that Gerion put any stock into these so-called "sins" anyway. There was but one sin: incompetence, and one virtue: competence. And the Republic and their selectivist lapdogs were guilty of the latter in spades.

"I will ignore, for the moment, that the Republic has not won a single military engagement against the One Sith since their invasion of Carida." He paused, then remembering a news article he read, "I will also overlook the staggering loss of territory the Republic has endured and the fact that it failed to protect your Minister of State and the King of Onderon from an assassination attempt."

Gerion was obligated to hear the Senator out so the Executive Council could make their own decision on the matter. This would not stop him from depositing the requisite observations.

"I do this so I will be able to take you seriously when you clarify, Senator, what exactly the Techno Union stands to gain from the Republic? What does a government that cannot defend itself or protect its officials have to offer anyone?"

 

[Natasi Fortan]

And here it was. The reason why people really shouldn't stage self-martyring drama-whoring events to raise their character's profiles instead of doing it with hard work and (God forbid) talent: because actions had consequences, leaving competent, literate people to clean them up after the perpetrator of the mess has flounced off to their next scheming, social-climbing project.

Aurelia cleared her throat. "The attacks on [member="Cecily de Demici"] and Onderon's king were... unfortunate, indeed, but I don't believe they are any indication of the health of the Republic. I have every reason to suspect that there was some manner of foul play afoot on the part of the Onderon contingent. Sith do not simply infiltrate an event like that without assistance, so there was surely -- well, that's all academic to you, I suppose, so I shan't bore you."

The Minister of Finance closed her eyes and rolled them. "There's a reason why I'm here talking to you, Director. I am the Senate's pet pragmatist, and everything I read about you and your organization suggested I was dealing with like-minded people. Naturally." Aurelia frowned thoughtfully. "Listen. The Republic is going to win this war. It may take time, but it will happen, because the long arc of history always -- always -- stretches towards liberty, in the long term. And that's good for you, because free people buy things. The Republic won't be plagued by the instability that is inherent in Sith power struggles, and stability is good for commerce."

Aurelia leaned forward. "You have problems with the Prime Minister? Director, [member="Geneviève Lasedri"] won't be Prime Minister forever. The nature of the Republican form of government is that policies change over time, rather than at the whim of whatever Sith Lord happens to have the most bodies to throw. I would encourage you to take a long view, both where the Republic leadership is concerned and where the course of the war will take us."

[member="Gerion Ardik"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Mantic watched and listened as he sat by [member="Aurelia Volcata"] s side. He sensed the hidden aggression in the room. But this was not going to turn into a fight of course. But in Mantics eyes, this encounter between the two ministers, this battle between great minds of two galactic superpowers, was far more important then what ever could appear on a regular battle field.

It would never be mentioned, praised. Nor would any songs be written about it. But there would be losers and winners whatever the outcome of the meeting.

As the assassination attempt on @cecilt de demici was brought up Mantic for the first time flinched and shifted his weight in the chair. He recalled the day of mourning. He recalled the words of the senator as she had praised the fallen and urged the republic to stand united.

Then the sith assassin had made her move. He had been there, Mantic had been standing just below the senators balcony. He had failed to intervene at that time. He had however managed to keep the senator alive. It was something he felt pride of, not an emotion he was proud to admit, but it was there. Regardless this was a while back now and security had been tightened around the senators of the republic.
That was why he was here after all. And this time he was not going to leave the senators side for one minute. If sith had managed to infiltrate the courtyard on Ossus, who was to tell they were not inside the corridors of the Techno Union. Despite their thick walls, sith worked in the shadows everywhere. Here was no exception. Mantic had felt the shifting of the dark side in here. While he could not act upon it, it did raise his alarm. Was this man in front of him in control over his actions or already a pawn. the thought did cross his mind. then he looked at the senator he was protecting.

It is a good thing that senators are not allowed to be force users he thought. Such temptations it must hold to wield both the power of the immaterial and material world.

Again he caught himself with thoughts he should not botther with. He took a deep breath and remained still. While the disussion was interesting he needed to leave this to the professional. He continued listening and focused on detecting anything that could be a threat to the senators physical presence.

[member="Gerion Ardik"] [member="Aurelia Volcata"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Aurelia Volcata"] | [member="Mantic Dorn"]

"Liberty? Is that what you think history... Stretches towards?" Gerion snorted. "History stretches towards nothing, Senator. This phenomenon of being 'led to liberty' you're referring to is no more than the endless cycle of governments; a cycle that will continue until the heat death of the universe"

No one seemed to have a grip on how this galaxy operated by now. It was all cyclical and repetitive to the point of annoyance. The Sith, the Jedi, governments, corporations, cults... Everything. The Republic had collapsed into a useless mess in the past. So had the Sith. So had every other government that every rose on any planet. The Rakatan called themselves the Infinite Empire, but as history showed, the only thing infinite about them was their hubris. Now their entire civilization was little more than interesting archaeology.

Maybe the Techno Union and Hegemonic Automaton would outlive him. Maybe it wouldn't. As long as Gerion recognized the impermanence of his favorite things and made the preparations to deal with the aftermath of their collapse... Well, he would always win.

"This is the problem everyone seems to have: you all keep imagining that whatever intergalactic governments you set up are somehow permanent institutions. They are not. They will all inevitably expire, one way or another. It just so happens your expiration date is observably closer than the One Sith's.

Gerion didn't feel he had to re-state his point regarding territory loss and the number of battles the Republic had prevailed in.

"Contrary to whatever images your Prime Minister has endowed you with, there are no jackbooted thugs touring every neighborhood in One Sith space, clubbing to death anyone trying to go shopping. Hegemonic Automaton has shipped droids to our customers in Sith space before and continues to do so now with very little fuss." He gave a light sigh. "And there is little evidence One Sith are suffering from stability issues. An unstable government would be incapable of defending itself."

He gave the Senator with a knowing look.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"Assume you are correct," Aurelia countered. "The Republic is crushed by the One Sith, who extend their hegemony. And then what? A warlike people do not stop making war just because it is finished. Look at the Clone Wars. They were won, rather decisively by the Republic, but they never ended. They just melded into the next one. But with the Sith it won't be some ragtag band of rebels to fight against. Or perhaps I should say, won't ONLY be them. They will turn inwards. They will fight against one another, it is the nature of the Sith."

Aurelia could picture it in her head; by this point she was not posing a hypothetical so much as telling a story that had not yet happened, but surely would. "Darth Darkness will battle Lord Imperious for dominion, or maybe there are three or five or seven. Lines are drawn. Battles rage. People die. Property is destroyed. Is that good for commerce? To say nothing of the awkward position you will be in if Lord Imperious triumphs and you made the mistake of selling droids to Darth Darkness. The logical answer, that you sell to anyone, will mean nothing to people like that. There is no logic in Sith, only power."

She shrugged. "In the short-term, ceterus perebus, perhaps you are right. But with the right kind of support, the Republic's use-by date could be extended a great deal, and in the meantime you would open up whole new markets. By writing us off as a lost cause now, you are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. And we both know a galaxy dominated by Sith won't end any better for you than it will for me."

[member="Gerion Ardik"] [member="Mantic Dorn"]

 

[Caulder Dune]

[member="Aurelia Volcata"]

He raised an eyebrow, scoffing lightly. "So Darth Whoisit and Darth Whatsit ravage the core and a few expansion region planets in their senseless battle. The galaxy is a large enough place. Other markets can be found until the conflict ends. Then when the right Republic restoration movement springs up, the Techno Union will back them and secure their victory. The markets re-open, and they'll be in desperate need of trade by then."

Winning was, no doubt, a foreign concept to the Republic and their allies at this point. The same might have also been said to the Techno Union at one point, but that sordid business was far behind them. The liberation of Geonosis was still fresh in Gerion's mind, and so he imagined that a rebellion in a One Sith state torn by civil war would go off without a hitch, especially if it were backed by the Techno Union. Droid armies and a willingness to get their hands dirty to achieve the necessary results in a timely manner generally helped speed these things along. The moral high ground was usually an impediment.

"I'll entertain the notion of assisting the present Republic regardless. Please, elaborate upon the sort of support you require."

 

[Mantic Dorn]

He was slowly starting to understand the mans position on the matter. Without any need to use the force to sense it [member="Gerion Ardik"] was quite open with his contempt and apparent misstrust of the Republics intentions. War was never a good thing and the Techno Union representative was clearly and from what Mantic gathered, painfully moved by many unfortunate sides of the conflict where the republic had played a failed role, not only on the battle field but also morally.

Inhaling slowly he recognized the reasoning. It was a common opinion in the galaxy, one that diplomats like [member="Aurelia Volcata"] faced far too often. He peered toward here wondering if she could keep it together. It was a stressful situation to constantly be called dubious, constantly be the center of mistrust. People preferred the straightforwardness of evil to the complicated procedures the Republic offered. Tyranny was simple. And [member="Gerion Ardik"] was right that through them there would be stability and a directness. It would be forced and it would be corrupted into its sole bu its very nature, but the surface would be nothing less then beautiful to the tired eye. The corruption and sick power games would be there, people were suffering on both sides. the difference was that the republic announced its flaws and set backs. the One sith would not, ruled by sith pain and suffering is not an issue to them. Thus they appear effective, at least if one does not lift ones gaze to consider the long term costs their rule would mean.

Democracy on the other hand was less then easy to love. It was slow, clumsy and the surface was full of dents, openly displayed to the masses. Democracy requests an active thinking populace to function.
some people don't believe in that concept however. That life has an equal value regardless of species. The One Sith would never value life over power.

Mantic wet his lips. Perhaps he was stretching his role, but he wanted to lend the republic minister a comforting thought as well as give the Techno union minister some more food for thought.

"Compassion." he spoke with a low but steady voice. "While we have failed hundreds of thousands time to execute actions representing the most valuable trait we still strive to accomplish it. That is more then we can say about our enemy. If an alliance can be built upon higher values then compassion is a trait worth to bring to the table Ministers." Mantic inclined his head to both politicians.

He should perhaps not have spoken, he was unsure on what values the Techno Union rested. Perhaps he had just spoken words that would make the negotiations even less likely to succeed. But he had heard that this was not the case with the techno masters. People often did listen to jedi in general, maybe it could grant some contemplation to them.