Dominion Portents of Change - THR Dominion of Cularin + Hoylin

[Lachadann]

STYBLA'CHA'DANNI
BOUNTY HUNTING LICENSE #014
SEEKING: Lorn Reingard (bounty)
TOGGLE: Verified

GALLO MOUNTAINS
GENERAL AREA OF SHIRAYA'S SANCTUARY
FORCE CLOAKING PERIMETER — DEPARTING

Lachadann kept to this area, a beautiful sector of green hills, while she dealt with a new conflict: the excitement of feeling this close to her target, and the well-honed navigational instincts that had brought her here, versus the common sense of do not get any closer to the heavily guarded probably-secret mystic war temple. The latter instinct won the draw. She moved sidelong, ambled even, taking pictures in all directions and keeping her distance from both the sanctuary and its guarded approach points. A small herd of wild falumpasets lowed mournfully in the forested crags. She got quite a few shots of them.

A portion of her time went toward photographing the sanctuary for any glimpse of her long-term target. A flicker of movement drew her eye and camera lens to where a man stood at a window. He looked reasonably consistent with the photo she had, but then again, bearded human males in Jedi robes were somewhat plentiful on the grounds. She got the sense that the room behind him was large and perhaps formal, but couldn't see much from this angle. If she'd brought a surveillance drone she might have been able to take a closer look at a higher risk of capture and a much lower grade of deniability.

No, there was really no way to even get in charric range of her target, let alone get him alone, let alone get away. Not today.

Finding the place was something. She could be satisfied with that for today. Underequipped as she was and without even the rudiments of a plan for escalating, she had to be satisfied.

Frustrated but maybe closer to a plan for snaring that hundred-thousand-credit bounty, she headed back along the green hillsides to photograph some lovely globular shaaks. The sanctuary disappeared behind her.

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Cularin
Objective: 3
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Companion: Grisial
Equipment: Lightsaber, Nightsister Energy Bow, Ichor Sword
Tag: Voli Cholrass

Dreidi's eyes sharply turned to Voli who spoke, disappointed to see that her Padawan broke her rule right from the start. Turning her gaze back over to the mercenary. "I do not need my Padawan to assist me in dealing with you or your friends. However, if you insist on these petty insults and derogatory comments, then I will ensure you return to your home with either limbs missing or broken." Her nails tapping slowly over her sword's hilt, her golden eyes looking around as she assessed the bigger threats and the ones she needed to take out first.

"What I would really enjoy is if we could come up with a friendly, peaceful negotiation that will stop this illegal operation." Dreidi spoke in a calm, unbothered tone of voice. Dreidi breathed in deeply, "see I could just charge you all with illegal strip mining a sacred, protected location. Arrest you, send you to prison and not think about you ever again."

Dreidi exhaled slowly, the energy tense and powerful around the Jedi Knight was palpable. She was much more intimidating even in her slender, short appearance than the man she stood in front of. "We could go down that route. But I feel like having a nice, pleasant conversation. Where you answer my questions, you leave here with none of your ill-gotten gains and we just leave bygones as bygones."

She gave a wink to the mercenary. Showing a confidence and silent acknowledgement of her skills were far superior over those around them.

 

[Briana Sal-Soren]

​

Briana's hands remained folded in her lap as she quietly absorbed the voices around her, most of those in unanimous agreement with the proposal she'd brought to the table, ready and willing to set their future on a new course.

All except for Brandyn.

From the moment she first started drafting her vision for their Orders future in the weeks prior, she knew her brother would be the last hold out. To most, The Order of Shiraya was just a name — but for Brandyn, for both of them — it'd been so much more. It was a dream fulfilled too late, for their mother who would never get to see it. Her last breath given form, an Order that'd become as much a symbol of Naboo's hope, as it was a monument to Teyla's memory. Letting it go now, even for her, felt like nothing short of erasing the last traces of their mother from the galaxy.

It was painful, but change always was.

"One of the hardest trials we can face," Briana began softly, finally adding her voice to the mix. "Is learning how and when it's time to let go." A concept she'd yet to fully master herself, and one she often failed in private moments... but leadership demanded truths, even the ones that cut both ways.

"Whether we're surrendering control of that which we can't change, or making space for something new to take root and grow." She studied Brandyn for a heartbeat, lips pulling into the flicker of an almost mournful half-smile.

"The Order of Shiraya carried our people when the rest of the Galaxy was too embroiled in their own problems to care about what had happened here. It gave the people a promise of hope to cling to, when they'd felt forgotten. It was a necessary foundation, but it's not large enough to hold the future we have to build. The Sith sit at our borders, the Underworld has begun to bleed into our streets, and the blight of Imperialism grows bolder by the day. As most here have already said and agreed, if we hope to meet any of these threats with the strength they demand, we must embrace the next chapter and let what started here extend beyond us. If we don't, then we fail the people we swore to protect when we took our oaths as Jedi. We let the deaths of those who have sacrificed their lives for the dream of that future, die in vain."

She drew in a deep breath, looking to the faces of each of each present member before standing. "And so, with the authority entrusted to me, and with the consent of the majority of this Council, the Order of Shiraya will be known from this day forward as The Jedi Order."

Lorn Reingard , Brandyn Sal-Soren , Lossa Aureus , Elias Edo , Vizion Trozky
​

 

[Rowan Ee'everwest]

Rowan stood outside the Assembly Chamber's primary blast doors, his arms clasped behind his back in a pose that felt ritualistic, though he held no faith in such things. The faint hum of his datapad pulsed at his side, its screen casting a sharp blue light against his gloved fingertips as votes tallied in real-time. The Sarn revision for immediate aid, with its limited oversight window and Tarasin-led advisory council, was fighting tooth and nail against Vonn's Clause 9-B, which promised endless delay dressed up as respect.

It was too close, closer than it should have been. He watched the numbers stall, one side bleeding votes while the other clawed forward. Abstentions were shrinking, but not fast enough. A tie.

Rowan's jaw flexed. His eyes flicked up to the heavy doors before him, layered durasteel holding centuries of tradition. There would be deliberations now, another round of debate, another stall. Just another chance for Vonn to coil herself tighter into the Assembly's nerves. Rowan didn't have time for deliberations.

He keyed his comm. "Team Theta, lock positions. Sector Nine and South Platform." There was a brief pause, then he continued, his voice calm, "Confirm arrest protocol for Senator Calia Vonn. Live extraction." No confirmation came, none was needed.

Two Assembly Guards moved to flank him, not questioning, not hesitating. These guards were trained for ceremonial duties and rarely saw real enforcement action. But Rowan, he wasn't ceremonial. He was contingency.

The doors parted. Inside, the chamber lights gleamed across marble and silk. Senators turned mid-sentence, their voices dying in their throats. Vonn stood near the central dais, a vision of composed authority, her voice still mid-rhetoric. Even the air seemed to hesitate.

Rowan walked in, taking one deliberate step, then another. He didn't shout or grandstand. His voice cut through the Assembly with the cold clarity of an execution order whispered in a prayer hall.

"Senator Calia Vonn."

She froze.

"By the authority of the Domestic Security Division, under Doctrine 44-C of the Republic Intelligence Charter, and pursuant to active investigation into treason, sabotage, and conspiracy with Black Sun affiliates... you are under arrest."

Silence descended. Vonn's mouth opened, but no words came out. Then the Assembly erupted. Voices crashed, some senators surging to their feet, others sitting frozen, eyes darting between the senator and the guards like witnesses to a myth unraveling.

Dominic Praxon | Sibylla Abrantes | Xazzex Xivar | Dominique Vexx​

 

[Sibylla Abrantes]

Dominique Vexx Dominic Praxon Xazzex Xivar Rowan Ee'everwest ​

The moment the Republic Intelligence Service Officer's voice sliced through the chamber, Sibylla froze, her head swiveling towards the doors, the beads of her headress swaying with the abrupt movement. Just as quickly, her eyes snapped toward the central floor where the guards moved without hesitation. It played out as if this was one of the tension packed political thrillers holoseries The Northern Wing.

"…conspiracy with Black Sun affiliates…"

Gasps rippled through the gallery and across the chamber. Sibylla's veiled head turned sharply up toward Sarn, her hazel eyes widening in stunned disbelief. The Ithorian's eyestalks looked back as both of his throats pulsing once in a sign of rising alarm.

"We need to rein them in," Sibylla whispered to her mentor as she stepped closer to him to keep her voice low.

"Focus the chamber. It must move to vote -- now."

Sarn gave a small nod, the elder Ithorian collecting himself with a practiced breath. Once again he stepped forward, lifting both hands to command the chamber's attention but not with force, but with urgency.

"Esteemed colleagues," his voice rang out in a calm but firm above the chaos, "while the matter that just unfolded is… grave and must be addressed in due course, we have a duty that cannot be delayed."

The murmurring Senators swiveled their attention slowly turning back to the dais to the SEnator of Enarc.

"The emergency on Cularin has not paused for us. While we are not judges of Senator Vonn's fate, we are guardians of the Compact. Let us move forward with the vote. Now."

He activated the motion protocol on his podium and a chime rang.

"Motion called. Vote to proceed on the Cularin Emergency Aid and Protection Act, with Amended Clause 9-B."

AMENDED CLAUSE 9-B
(Proposed by Senator Sarn of Enarc and Dominique Vexx of Denon)

A Cultural Compliance and Infrastructure Readiness Review shall be conducted concurrently with initial emergency aid and protection efforts. A provisional operations window of thirty standard days shall be authorized for humanitarian and ecological deployments under tribal advisory oversight. Within this period, the joint oversight commission must deliver an initial compliance report to the Assembly, after which continued operations shall be reassessed and adjusted as needed.

The vote was quick, and as the result came in, Sibylla let the whosh of air slip from her lips in tempered relief.

"It's something," she murmured. "Cularin won't wait for us to be perfect."

Beside her, Sarn gave a quiet nod, his expression unreadable but the Ithorian's shoudlers slowly began to release the tension that had tightened them. Before them the chamber still buzzed with chaos, but the vote had gone through.

Senator Sarn's and Senator Vexx's amendment had passed.

Spoiler

THE ROYAL NABOO REPUBLIC

ROYAL ASSEMBLY OF THE HIGH SENATE

SENATE BILL No. 3912-HR

THE CULARIN EMERGENCY AID AND PROTECTION ACT
Proposed by Senator Amare Veyan of Wielu​

---

PREAMBLE

In light of increasing environmental destabilization, cultural desecration, and illegal offworld extraction operations on the planet Cularin, whose tribal communities have formally petitioned for assistance, the Royal Assembly, in accordance with its founding principles of unity, purpose, and progress, enacts the following:

---

ARTICLE I. TITLE

This legislation shall be known formally as the Cularin Emergency Aid and Protection Act (SB.3912-HR).

---

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

To authorize immediate ecological, humanitarian, and peacekeeping support to the planet Cularin; to formally recognize Cularin as a protected member world of the Republic; and to enshrine legal protections for the preservation of culturally and ecologically significant sites belonging to the Tarasin people.

---

ARTICLE III. DEFINITIONS

The Republic – refers to the governing body, institutions, and military apparatus.

Cularin – refers to the planet Cularin and its inhabited territories, including those administered by Tarasin tribal councils.

The Accord – refers to the formal agreement signed between the Republic and the tribal communities of Cularin regarding cooperative aid and recognition.

Sacred Groves – refers to regions designated by the Tarasin as ecologically and spiritually protected, with particular reference to ch’hala forests.

Emergency Deployment – refers to the authorization of non-combatant and combatant forces in response to ongoing criminal activity.

Illegal Extraction – refers to unauthorized harvesting, transport, or export of native biological matter from Cularin, especially in reference to the ch’hala trees.

---

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION

The planet Cularin is hereby recognized as a member world of the Republic.

The Tarasin people, as the planet’s governing tribal authorities, shall retain cultural and ecological sovereignty over designated Sacred Groves and ritual lands.

As a member world, Cularin is entitled to:

• Protection under Republic law.
  
  
• Representation in the Senate Assembly.
  
  
• Access to Republic infrastructure, aid, and development programs.

---

ARTICLE V. EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT

The Republic may, upon passage of this Act, deploy the following personnel to Cularin in accordance with the Accord:

• Humanitarian medics and relief personnel,
  
  
• Ecological engineers and preservation experts,
  
  
• Military detachments and peacekeeping units, operating under tribal advisory constraints.

Deployed personnel shall:

• Assist in containment and investigation of illegal extraction operations.
  
  
• Protect Sacred Grove boundaries from further degradation.
  
  
• Provide support without interference in religious or tribal governance.

---

ARTICLE VI. ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY

Republic forces shall have full authority to enforce Republic and tribal protections in all ecological emergency designations and zones.

---

ARTICLE VII. CULTURAL PRESERVATION

Republic agencies operating on Cularin shall work in consultation with tribal spiritual leaders to:

• Preserve ch’hala forests and associated flora.
  
  
• Avoid desecration of ritual sites.
  
  
• Ensure respectful integration of Republic systems with local ecological rhythms.

---

ARTICLE VIII. IMPLEMENTATION AND OVERSIGHT

The Ministries of Galactic Environment, Public Health, and Interplanetary Aid are charged with immediate implementation.

A Joint Oversight Commission on Cularin Integration and Restoration shall be formed, consisting of:

• Republic representatives.
  
  
• Tribal envoys.

This commission shall report quarterly to the Assembly.

---

ARTICLE IX. ENACTMENT

A Cultural Compliance and Infrastructure Readiness Review shall be conducted concurrently with initial emergency aid and protection efforts. A provisional operations window of thirty standard days shall be authorized for humanitarian and ecological deployments under tribal advisory oversight. Within this period, the joint oversight commission must deliver an initial compliance report to the Assembly, after which continued operations shall be reassessed and adjusted as needed.

 

[Xazzex Xivar]

Xazzex sought to rile other Senators to action about the Clause that could forestall an otherwise pointless motion. With their precious trees ruined what did that backwards planet even have worthy of them being ushered into the Republic in the first place? They'd be a money pit. To say nothing of their ignorant representative no doubt going on endless about their precious flora -- as if anyone else in the chamber would care -- and how those of the wider galactic community were the savages. Oh, how a Falleen looked forward to hearing that prattle.

Amidst everything and as matters near a vote, however, a voice rose from the side. One that wasn't broadcast clearly for all to hear, but demanded attention regardless. It caused Xazzex's shadow to stir. Fortunately, it wasn't some protestor or fanatic that'd broken through security, but someone flanked by the guard.

A frown touched the Falleen's black lips as the man continued.

Her legs uncrossed as she stood to her feet and stepped forward to slam a hand down on the desk. "This is outrageous. Unless the Senator is being accused of being a present danger to this chamber, any such accusations must be made after session! We are gathered here to debate the future of this Republic, not engage in unsubstantiated melodrama."

Her golden eyes shot over toward Sarn with a scowl Xazzex didn't bother to conceal. "This matter is far from over," she spat in Rowan Ee'everwest 's direction as the Ithorian moved matters ahead. The Senate had seen her annoyed, but they had yet to see her offended. Once their duty was over, the Falleen was going to have no shortage of words about the violation that just occurred. The breach of decorum and conduct was by far the most disgusting display she'd ever seen on or around Naboo. It biased untold jurors against the Senator by having this on public record with no evidence put forward, nor any substantiated. Why if anyone could just barge in there and start laying down accusations they would have Xazzex some rather unique ones for their constituents to chew on.

Sibylla Abrantes | Dominic Praxon | Rowan Ee'everwest | Kalantha | Dominique Vexx​

 

[Dominic Praxon]

The vote screen flashed above. Amended Clause 9-B, Sarn amendment. The room was chaos. Someone was still shouting. He couldn't tell who.

Dominic stood. Silent and alone. Reevaluating his entire political career.

He cast Vonn's vote in absentia. Out of sense of honour, he voted for Vonn’s version of the ammendment. It was a final courtesy. A quiet gesture of principle. Even if principle had abandoned her.

He felt her eyes on him as the tally moved. Then her voice, low and near the edge of breath, "Don’t fall on your sword, Dominic. Not for me."

She slipped something into his hand. A datachit. He palmed it instinctively, concealing the gesture as she taught him.

His expression did not change. Neither did hers. The vote closed. She was already gone.

⸺⸺[ ⚜ ]⸺⸺

Later.​

He stepped through the long outer corridors of the Royal Assembly, flanked by silence, reporters behind transparisteel panels watching his every move. Not one senator addressed him directly. Even those he'd lunched with days before kept their gazes fixed ahead.

Guilt wasn’t unfamiliar. But this kind felt personal. And entirely unearned.

He had known. Somewhere beneath the reverent speeches and soft tones and confident dismissals of oversight. He had known.

When she’d brushed aside intelligence briefings. When she’d pushed back against transparency clauses in the first drafts of CEAPA. When she told him, “A Republic doesn’t need to see everything to act justly.”

He’d nodded. Had agreed. Had smiled. He had enabled her. He had believed in her. Now he wasn't sure what she believed in at all.

Dominic exhaled and approached the security checkpoint. A bored functionary lifted a datapad for scan. “Clearance authorized.”

He didn’t stop. But he did glance at the guard on Rowan Ee’everwest’s flank. “Tell me the name of his superior.”

The guard blinked. “Sir?”

“The officer who sanctioned an arrest inside the chamber. I want it on the record. Though I bet…” he paused with a wry glance, “…they're already aware of this foolishness.” He walked on.

⸺⸺[ ⚜ ]⸺⸺​

Outside the Assembly, the holocams swarmed like insects. A reporter called out, “Advisor Praxon! Do you have a statement regarding Senator Vonn’s arrest?” Another, “Were you aware of her alleged ties to Black Sun?”

He took a moment to compose himself. His voice was even, carefully measured. “I believe in the integrity of this chamber. I also believe in the presumption of innocence.”

Cams clicked.

“The vote has passed. Cularin will receive aid. That’s what matters.”

“But do you condemn the Senator’s actions?”

He met the reporter’s eyes. “I think the people of the Republic are capable of reading the situation, and I think they will agree....votes ought not be swayed by the person holding the blaster.”

He turned from the cameras, letting them follow his back as he disappeared into the corridor beyond. The datachit was still in his palm. And he yet to start asking his own questions.

Sibylla Abrantes Rowan Ee'everwest Xazzex Xivar EXIT
​

 

[Vizion Trozky]

CROSSROADS
COUNCIL CHAMBERS ☛ SHIRAYA'S SANCTUARY
GALLO MOUNTAINS, NABOO
​

When Brandyn dove right into what was the last item on the itinerary, forgoing the rest that would provide context to the decision for change - a decision not made lightly - he breathed in, held it, and slowly released the breath. In that time, the other members of the council began to respond in defense of the change, and for once, he could see this being a meeting that didn't devolve into whatever every other council meeting in the once-fledgling Order had been.

"There's not much for me to say that hasn't been already said about this," he said, rising and tenting his fingers on the table, "but I support this change for the reason of the other items on today's list," he flicked a glance at Brandyn, "a list that more than supports the need for broader representation and inclusion. We are not asking you to give up your culture or traditions ," then he cast a glance around to the other members of the council - He knew Briana's thoughts on this change, at length, "not any of you, and we won't ask it of any Jedi enclave that joins us."

Emphasis on the Jedi - dark practices would be scrutinized in accordance with doctrine and Republic law. Every enclave he had spent time with over his years as a Jedi had its own ways and feel that made the Jedi experience more vibrant.

"Now, onto those other, more pressing matters."

And the meeting wound on, discussing the enslavement of Jedi and Republic citizens alike, which was only one part of the growing threat of crime encroaching on the southern systems; the Sith presence and the Blackwall to the Republic's south and east; concerns with the routing of the Five Veils Trade Route, and more besides.

They had to be meeting more often than this, to be more effective.

A proposal for another time, perhaps.

Brandyn Sal-Soren • Briana Sal-Soren • Elias Edo • Lorn Reingard • Lossa Aureus​