Intelligence Permeation Act

[Geneviève Lasedri]

It was time to be proactive.

The Senate had been idle--and reasonably so--for a time due to the straining circumstances surrounding the recent events that had apparently spared no people. The entire galaxy was on crutches, still recovering from a massive population dilution that had yet to be actually explained. However, while all may not necessarily be well at this point, the Senate could afford sit on their haunches no longer.

The Prime Minister was here to shake them back to action. And it was time to create new ways to combat the Sith if they hoped to continue even while the Republic's wound scabs were still malleable. She was not going to let the nation slip down the drain if she had anything to do with it.

"Senators of the Republic," the white-hatted Minister opened, glancing about to see how many empty seats there were now. "As you most certainly should be aware if you even think you belong here, the Republic forces have been pushing tirelessly to regain control of the worlds we have most recently lost in a race against the enemies that have wished to destroy us even before these recent, unfortunate events.

"I have spoken with the leaders of our military forces and have come to learn of the lack of support they have apart from the fleet itself." [member="Kayleigh Tyven"] was quite a nuisance to her, but she respected at least some of her opinions and advice on present matters involving the defense forces. "It had also come to my attention prior, that we were losing the intelligence war, which has cost us dearly. I'm sure still many of you are quite familiar with the surprise attack and betrayals at Coruscant--not to mention what has happened afterwards. We have discovered an alarming amount of traitors within the ranks, and unfortunately after the fact. Which leads me to believe that we must step up our intelligence gathering and field procedures if we wish to prolong our days as a unity.

"This bill is for us--all of us. Think of the Republic as a whole, for once."

Bill 72541.1 Intelligence Permeation Act

1. A Republic Intelligence Bureau (hereby known as RIB) shall be established.
2. RIB shall be deployed to enemy worlds and Republic border worlds to report anti-Republic activities and enact proactive process to preserve the safety of the Republic.
3. RIB shall be led by a Director of Intelligence (hereby known as the Director), who is selected by and reports to the Senate via the Prime Minister.
4. The Director is responsible for the maintenance and documenting of all activities any and all active RIB agents have partaken in.
5. The Director may be discharged and presented to the Senate for legal hearing at any time by the Prime Minister.
6. RIB will be authorized to commit any sufficient and disabling acts against Sith at the Director's discretion.

[member="Faith Balor"], [member="Elizie Adasca"], [member="Adrik Turov"], [member="Lionel Roux"], [member="Persephone Callas"], [member="Jack Sparrow"], [member="Aliannah Sophia Filia"], [member="Valen Cerezo"], [member="Carlos Castillo"]

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

The Senator of Eshan looked tiredly at the bill having actually reviewed the non-public copy which went into the lengthy details, checks, balances, and essential loophole fillers. Did the Republic really need something else to worry about? If history had proven anything it's that giving too much power to such an agency is dangerous yet not enough and it'll be ineffective.

"What lengths is our administration going to assure that this isn't another credit-guzzling shipwreck?" He inquired before the senate. Although Lionel wished for a proper war, it was of utmost value that a certain level of trust be placed into the citizens of The Republic. Already did they fail to provide security, if they then fail to provide essential liberties it wouldn't be a surprise to see citizens happier under Sith rule.

Reaffirming himself, "If experience has taught me anything, ma'am, it's that too much caution breeds inefficiency yet too little breeds corruption. Might I suggest instead a counter proposition."

"Let us see the principle of this agency on a smaller scale... A test run, if you would, to see if it's truly effective. Find those within administrative and military roles suited to running a small-scale version of the R.I.B. and allow us to observe the effectiveness -- make tweaks when needed. It would be a shame if time, money, effort and brilliant minds are yet again wasted on naive propositions." His words probably lacked Charisma but it was clear the man was tired.

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith carefully read the document, what was left out of this was how would this agency be funded. The last meeting she was in was all about how the Republic had no credits, so how would they fund a new agency.

And while there were clearly consequences for the Director. Who would oversee the Director's behavior? How would the agents of this new agency be guided? While she was no lover of the Sith she certainly would rather see them brought in for justice, if possible.

Faith took a deep breath she listened to the Senator from Eshan [member="Lionel Roux"].

While she could agree with him, "How would this new agency be funded?" A simple question, so far.

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Valen Cerezo]

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"] [member="Lionel Roux"] [member="Faith Balor"]

Valen rubbed at his eyes, the dark circles a reminder of the nightmares that still plagued him from his experience being sucked into the Netherworld. He had found his way out by tagging along with a small group of Jedi, and while he still didn't have any love for those that used the Force, he was grateful they had helped him out.

Reecee had fallen to the Sith, but Valen and a portion of the planet's remaining population had taken refuge on Onderon until the Republic could reclaim his world. But now, looking over the bill on the floor, he sighed as Senator Balor brought up a very good point and he was wary of trusting such an organization.

"I second the opinion of Senator Balor, we need to know how this agency would be funded and what checks would be in place to make sure there aren't abuses that aren't discovered until decades after. We can't establish a group like this and take the moral high ground if they employ tactics just as ruthless as our enemy."

 

[Persephone Callas]

[member="Valen Cerezo"] [member="Faith Balor"] [member="Lionel Roux"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

Miracles of miracles, Duch'a Callas, Senator of Hapes was actually in attendance at Iziz. Perhaps it was because of the distance between Onderon and Hapes -- or maybe it was due to a desire to perhaps discuss matters with other powerful women that were near...

Either way, the proud noblewoman would peer curiously at her fellow brethren. A small fan would snap in her hand, and she would delicately begin to fan herself.

"So... in essence, you seek to reestablish a form of the Senate Bureau of Intelligence?" came Persephone's query, an auburn brow arched.

"An espionage agency? And what is the scope of operations as a whole? What expanded powers will they be given?"

 

[Thalia Rist]

Thalia blinked as she read the Bill and reread it and just to be sure she saw the words right, she read it a third time and blinked. Her words adding to the others but rather than immediately question the bill and the suggested agency itself she had a different question that couldn't get out of her mind.

"Does the Republic not have an intelligence division... forgive me for asking this but i seem to remember there being one... What was the acronym for it... I believe the name of the organization is the GIA?" She racked her mind as she went over the letters and tried to piece together the organization she was thinking of when she mentioned what she did.

"Other than my concerns about the previous organization and my not knowing of its dissolving... had it dissolved? I agree with the others in asking what makes this so different from the previous intelligence organizations and if the funds will be diverted from state, military or otherwise budgets to fund it? Do not get me wrong, unlike the Senator from Eshan i see an intelligence force as a necessary tool in dealing with the Sith problem as well as other threats. But what i ask is simply how it would be funded."

[member="Persephone Callas"] [member="Valen Cerezo"] [member="Faith Balor"] [member="Lionel Roux"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Jack read the bill, then proceeded to read it a second time while the other senators proceeded to voice his very concerns. It wasn't much, but there you have it.

[member="Thalia Rist"] Persephone Callas Valen Cerezo Faith Balor Lionel Roux Geneviève Lasedri

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

New politicians are always eager to make their mark. Gen was no stranger to this, herself. Thus, she was not in the least surprised by the prompt reaction of the seemingly exhausted Echani senator. "The fact is that I don't think we have time to go through such an extensive trial run, especially if it's to be overseen by the military. I find that suggestion to be a bit contradictory to your pursuance of checks." Other senators seemed to have brought forth similar concerns, however, which were indeed well-warranted. This bill was only in its first stages, after all. "And I find the suggestion that this would echo the former Senate Bureau to be much of a jump to conclusions. There is no intention for this to be an internal program. This is not the GIA.

"The GIA has faded beyond its usefulness," she declared, acknowledging the representative from Onderon. "Not to mention it has been plagued with problems involving artificial intelligence in the past. I'd be inclined to terminate the organization if I felt I'd have the backing.

"And, as for funding..." The Prime Minister scrawled a note on her viewscreen. "I'm sure we can take from the GIA allotment. And I'm open to an option that would allow them to directly fund themselves through embezzlement of Sith capital. I know we all love incentive here." A trace of a sneer revealed itself on her lips, but she added no further accentuation to her remark.

Bill 72541.1 Revision 2 - Intelligence Permeation Act

• A Republic Intelligence Bureau (hereby known as RIB) shall be established.
• RIB shall be deployed to enemy worlds and Republic border worlds and operations to report anti-Republic activities and enact proactive process to preserve the safety of the Republic.
• RIB shall be led by a Director of Intelligence (hereby known as the Director), who is selected by and reports to the Senate via the Prime Minister.
• The Director is responsible for the maintenance and documenting of all activities any and all active RIB agents have partaken in.
• The Director may be discharged and presented to the Senate for legal hearing at any time by the Prime Minister.
• RIB will be authorized to commit any sufficient and disabling acts against Sith at the Director's discretion.
• Funding will be diverted from the GIA allowance, and supplemented by capital confiscated by RIB.

[member="Lionel Roux"], [member="Faith Balor"], [member="Valen Cerezo"], [member="Persephone Callas"], [member="Thalia Rist"], [member="Jack Sparrow"]

 

[Thalia Rist]

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

She listened to the woman and raised a brow at the words. "So, correct me if i am wrong, but i must ask another question. Why not just restructure and fix the problems in the GIA instead of spending more money and time that would be better served elsewhere that could be used to improve programs that are doing well. Forgive me but i do not see the point in wasting the time and money to do what could be done in a much quicker and safer fashion financially." She crossed her hands, eyes piercing over the space as they found their way to the woman that led the Republic. Her hand tapping as she looked at her assistant and asked for any information on the GIA or on the finances spent on the program.

 

[Macharius Solaire]

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"] [member="Thalia Rist"] [member="Jack Sparrow"] [member="Lionel Roux"] [member="Persephone Callas"] [member="Valen Cerezo"] [member="Faith Balor"]

Macharius listened intently to the debating Senators. He was new to the Senate, not the world of politics though. When the time came and he had something to input he'd darn well do so. One by one his eyes looked over the assembly. It was almost unnerving how young most of the Senators were. One who's age he knew, and currently speaking. Senator Rist; was eighteen years old. It was a joke to him. What sense of economic knowledge could she have? Social policy experience, public relations, inter governmental relations too. Not to forget the general wisdom age bestowed to help make these truly critical decisions. He held these to the Prime Minister too, while she had more experience sure. Twenty nine to be leading The Republic! Funnier than the farce was he was agreeing with her.

Macharious rose before the assembly. He was alone today. The Senator was away on some important business on Denon. Tirelessly working to integrate their world into The Republic. So it was just him. "Senators. I am Macharius Solaire, representative of Denon. In the Senators stead I speak for him today. And may I say it is an honor to be amongst you and speaking here for my first time. I'll now move us back to the business at hand".

Macharius shifted his weight forward. Planting himself with palms to the table he stood behind. "I agree with Senator Rist. That a a pre-established intelligence agency exists. For what flaws it has, we should not tear it down and start anew. Losing the experience it already gained throughout it's operational history. Reformation and restructuring should be the course of action. Restore the GIA to efficiency and we will see the results a good intelligence agency should be producing. Which should have been done long before we reached the point of now". Macharius felt himself on a roll here. Best to keep that momentum up to bring the other concern he had to the debate.

"While I also have the floor Prime Minister I raise question of your proposal to fund a new agency. The R.I.B. Partly with embezzled funds from the One Sith. There are many core banks and the IGBC operate between both nations. Would any funds seized be from them, or loaned to the Sith be taken. They could easily take issue with us. And retaliate by raising interest rates on our loans. Or worse. So if it were still in the plan to use such funds. That protections be in place to prevent such actions. Thus keeping the banks neutral, and us from potential financial crisis. I propose amendment of Section Seven of Bill 72541.1 Intelligence Permeation Act to address such issues that would negatively affect The Republic". Macharius took his seat. Feeling pretty good about how that went. Now to wait for the wind to blow back against him. How would she react he wondered? He had little interaction with Republic Senators in his few years as a politician on Denon. It would be most interesting.

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith nodded, "Yes I agree with Represenative [member="Macharius Solaire"] and Senator [member="Thalia Rist"] if there is an agency in existence then restructure it into what is needed, rename it whatever it takes. And I noticed that you said funds would be diverted from GIA to RIB. Which would indicate that GIA would still exist." Faith laid her datapad down.

She looked to those around her, and then to [member="Geneviève Lasedri"]



[member="Jack Sparrow"] [member="Persephone Callas"] [member="Lionel Roux"]

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

"If we are to continue the GIA program, then we must go through a complete housecleaning. The organization is dilapidated and corrupted--not to mention it was compromised by use of AI in the past." She had read the records. Everything was not entirely clear for a simple reinvigoration of the agency. It required an utter retooling.

"Representative Solaire," Gen addressed, a tinge irritated by his stray commentary on banks. "May that be the penalty to the banks if they would operate with the Sith as clients. We've embargoed the Sith's empire on our end. It won't affect our economy negatively in the least. We all decide what we're worth, anyway."

Done with that, the Prime Minister returned her attention to the rest of the Senate. "It seems as if the majority of you have expressed a desire to follow the path delineated in this bill, but would rather reconfigure the Galactic Intelligence Agency than establish a new entity. Is that correct?"

[member="Faith Balor"], [member="Macharius Solaire"], [member="Thalia Rist"], [member="Jack Sparrow"], [member="Persephone Callas"], [member="Valen Cerezo"], [member="Lionel Roux"]

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Jack removed his hat and spoke up. "Kashyyyk would support a reconfiguration of the Galactic Intelligence Agency, and nominate Faith Balor to oversee the reconfiguration committee." With a flourish, he set the hat back down on his head and took his seat once more. He had momentarily considered recommending Macharius Solaire, but rumors of the man's prejudices ran deep, and as someone who had a large percentage of aliens both on his crew and on his contact list, he didn't feel the need to raise the senator's political stock.

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"] Thalia Rist, Persephone Callas, Valen Cerezo, Lionel Roux Macharius Solaire

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith choked right there in the Senate Chambers. "Thank you Senator Sparrow" She had never in her entire life done anything that would give her the experience it would take to reconfigure the GIA.

I would need access to subject matter experts for advice and input from the military for covert operations. That is if I were chosen to do so.

Had she just volunteered to revamp it! Good Goddess she needed to learn to check her self.

[member="Jack Sparrow"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"] [member="Macharius Solaire"] [member="Thalia Rist"] [member="Persephone Callas"] [member="Lionel Roux"]