Private Forefathers: Emmen Tagge & Sssar Taszzn

[Sssar Taszzn]

Location: Tepasi
Tagge: Emmen Tagge

---

The H-2 Executive Shuttle crossed the open air of Tepasi, soaring above the lush forests of the venerable planet, destined for the residence of the long since retired first Chancellor of the Galactic Alliance. An invitation had not been extended to the Senator of Eclipse, none had ever truly invited the large serpent to their homes. Only shady locations for committee meetings or for vote planning. It was no surprise to the Filithar that this was the case and had been the state of affairs for him since he began his career in public service "Senate Guard Station to Unknown starship; identify yourself." crackled a male voice over the shuttle's communication system "H-2 Shuttle, designation Eclipse, Senate Guard Station. Requesting landing authorization at the behest of Senator Sssar Taszzn of Eclipse." replied the human pilot while his Rodian co-pilot brought out a datapad and began to flip through a series of protocol callsigns in case they were needed. The silence continued to permeate until the co-pilot leaned over and whispered something into the pilot's ear. He nodded several times and called again "Eclipse, Senate Guard Station, requesting landing authorization. Code: Endor Moon." with that the Senate Guard responded "Senate Guard Station, Eclipse, authorization granted. Welcome to Tepasi, Senator Taszzn."

As the luxury shuttle landed on a raised platform just a few hundred yards from the residence of the former Chancellor, Sssar unfurled himself and turned his large head towards the protocol droid attendant nearest him "The hat." he instructed. The protocol droid complied by placing a very large, woven, hat on the giant serpent's head "How do I look?" he asked the droid "Completely unthreatening Senator!" Sssar gave an approving nod of his head as the ramp below the hull of the shuttle opened and extended downward. When Sssar emerged he was greeted by two Senate Guards who saluted him "Welcome, Senator, we did not know you had an audience with Chancellor Tagge." the Filithar gave what he could of a smile "Neither did he."

 

[Emmen Tagge]

Sssar Taszzn

​

Tepasi was a truly stunning planet.

It had taken Emmen almost 70 years to come to that realization. Sure, he had always loved it and its people; but it was only now, in his twilight years, that he realized just how beautiful it was. Staring out into the valley that his cliff-side estate overlooked, it seemed impossible for anyone to ignored the planet's charms for so long. Nevertheless, life had always just been too busy to appreciate the small things.

Sipping from his cocktail glass as he leans on the balcony railing, his mind wanders to the memories of the many fictitious battles he'd won against imaginary forces in the vast forests below. Scanning the scenic vista before him, he can't help but draw a slow breath and smile.

It had taken almost a full decade for him to finally let go of everything: His regret for walking away; His guilt for not doing more. There were many long nights watching the GNN as war gripped the galaxy, wondering if he could have changed anything that happened. All the lives lost under the Starbird banner he'd so passionately raised. Overwhelmed, he'd withdrawn completely.

It took finally returning home to finally put everything behind him. No more Sarini Island estate, nor Tetan vacations . No more HoloNews. No politics. Just a cool mountain breeze, an even cooler Hapan gold, and a thousand miles between he and the next sapient being.

Or so he thought.

"Master Tagge, you have a visitor."

With some surprise, Emmen turns to regard his hospitality droid.

"I beg your pardon, G-NA?" He lowers his sunshades, certain he must have heard the droid wrong.

"A visitor, Master Tagge. Senator Ssar of Eclipse Station."

"Senator Ss-" he pauses, his brow furrowing in confusion as he hands his drink to the SE8 holding his parasol, "How did they-? Why are they-?"

G-NA's synthetic voice interrupts his stammering, "Unknown. Would you like me to send them away, Master?"

With a sigh, the old man shakes his head.

"No, that won't be necessary," he glances to the SE8, "2-PAC, fetch me my robe."

--------------------​

It is only a short wait until the ex-Chancellor arrives in the foyer of the grand manor, decorated with relics of Tepasi's history; marble statues of ancient characters, ancient weapons and armour, and a few restored tapestries, as well as paraphernalia of both the Core and Galactic Alliances.

Despite his 78 years of age, Emmen hardly looks a day older. Only his thickened beard betrays that any time has passed at all. At this age his health was a testament to anagathics and modern bacta treatments, but also a statement of what privileges wealth and power can afford.

"Senator Ssar," he calls out with all the practiced politeness of a true career politician as he walks, the weight of his left leg on a cane, with G-NA at his side, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Come to stand before the serpentine senator, Emmen's eyes glance to the wide-brimmed hat atop his head.

"And might I add; what an excellent hat."

 

[Sssar Taszzn]

Location: Tagge Estate, Tepasi
Tag: Emmen Tagge

---

Sssar's eyes were fixated on Emmen as he stood before him and greeted him, as if no time had passed from when they were in government together. They had neither spoken much or been particularly close so this was the only version of Emmen he knew, and to that Sssar drew some small measure of comfort that the elderly, at least for humans, former leader had not deteriorated in an ignoble way "You approve? Yessss, thissss hat wasss highly recommended." the Filithar jovially responded then with a motion of his head he gestured to Emmen's question "Reminisssscence, I ssssupposssse. It occurred to me that dessspite your long ssservice we had been dissstant. I then came to the realization that perhapsss I had misssssed an opportunity. With the number of our peerssss who have come and gone in the ssspan of time, you are one of my lasssst early contemporariesss." Sssar looked the human over with a visible turn of his head up and down "You know I, and the people of Eclipssse, owe you a great debt? Raissssing the ssssmallessst and mossst forgotten people of the Alliance into a posssition to confer with the likessss of Corusssscant. To participate in the greasssstest nation the ssstarsss had sssseen ssssince our predecesssssssorssss." the senator paused then straightened his posture "Among other thingssss Emmen Tagge I want you to know that while Eclipsssse may fall back into obsssscurity the people there will never forget your name. Nor will I."

For a few moments Sssar seemed without words more to speak "I can ssssee that you have retreated from the circlesss of elite for a purpossse. To ressst easssy without involvement. And yet here I come to your ssssanctuary, a sssspecter of the passsst and pressssent. My apologiessss. If I may imposssse for a while longer I'd like to take thissss chance to know you assss Emmen Tagge the man, not Emmen Tagge our mosssst cherisssshed leader. And perhapsss together appreciate the Alliance we built, with a hundred othersss who cannot be here thissss afternoon." his voice was steady though held gravity to the occasion.

 

[Emmen Tagge]

Sssar Taszzn

​

While Emmen did not appreciate unannounced visits (or any visits at all, these days), the fillithar Senator's sentimental intentions were nevertheless admirable. By now, he realized, Sssar Taszzn must be one of the longest standing members of the Alliance Senate. Despite his isolation from the the modern political stage, Emmen certainly hadn't forgotten that Eclipse Station had been one of the first stellar colonies to embrace the Alliance's claims over the Core Worlds.

Sssar had personally hosted some of the Alliance's first conferences, and participated in the earliest debates and conflicts that shaped the government into the body it became. He had witnessed Emmen's Starbird speech, in which the then-Chancellor declared the first Unity Day, and watched Adhira Chandra rise from Senator to Chancellor when Emmen stepped away.

Somehow, it felt like both a lifetime and no time since they'd last shared a room.

Resigning himself to accept their meeting, he reaches up and pulls the shades from his head.

"Well," Emmen finally responds, tucking the classes carefully on the collar of his floral shirt, "in that case, I'm happy to welcome you into my home as Sssar Taszzn, not as the Senator of Eclipse Station."

Gesturing to follow along, Emmen turns and begins to pace slowly passed several historic pieces on his way toward the exit to the balcony. Passing a statue of a faceless Jedi Master that had apparently been recovered from the lower levels of Coruscant, he begins to speak casually.

"I appreciate your words, Sssar. I feel so distant from everything these days; It's good to know such things have not been forgotten," he glances fondly toward several fragments of Alliance armour from the One Sith's invasion of the Core, "I'm sure we both know how quick the galaxy is to forget. For better or worse."

"Indeed it was my ambition to rebuild a platform from which all could speak as equals," entering a wide corridor connecting the foyer to the rest of the building, many replicas of early Core and Galactic Alliance legislatures and declarations are hung and framed in plasteel casings. Among the relics of those early days hangs the Grayson Imperium's Declaration of Incapacity, with Emmen's signature one the dozen or so attached.

"I am happy for the people of Eclipse," he continues, "but their successes are your own, Sssar: Accomplished through your resolve and determination. I built a stage for you to stand on, but I never gave you a script to read."

Finally, the two arrive in a tall and open room that appears to be a combination of a dinning, living and study area. The area is decorated with modest furniture geared more towards comfort than any one style. Warm light spills in from the many window panels that make up the far wall, offering a view of the cliff-side balcony and picturesque valley beyond it.

"2-PAC, pour me another Corellian Sour, and whatever our guest would like," he gestures to the filithar, prompting him to order. "Don't worry, I'll see that he aids you with the drink."

 

[Sssar Taszzn]

Tag: Emmen Tagge

---

Sssar followed the former Chancellor through the hallway which was decorated by the various historical symbols. They seemed to each have a particular importance to Emmen, though Sssar could only guess at a very surface level what all of them truly meant to the man. As the pair entered the large room Sssar found himself a spot that was unobtrusive for him to begin coiling up without knocking over his host's furniture or tables "Thank you for your generoussss offer." he nodded his heavy head and then turned it towards the droid "I will have the ssssame. Though admitted I have never had thissss drink before. A new experience." with his order given Sssar returned his attention to Emmen "Your wordssss are kind. I thank you for them... while in your retirement have you traveled far from home? Revissssited any favored desssstinationssss?" to someone like Sssar who had traveled much within the Alliance he was difficult for him to believe that the Chancellor could suppress his own wanderlust in a time where intersystem travel was accessible. At least to the political elite like Sssar and Emmen.

The Filithar looked around the room to examine it carefully "Do you have hobbiessss? I have been told many Humanssss occupy their sssspare time with recreational activitiessss like hobbiessss." it seemed, at least as far as Sssar went, the notion of something aside from working towards a penultimate goal was somewhat foreign.