Private Proud as We Are

[The Director]

|| PROUD AS WE ARE ||

~bring it all to the light~

TAG: Alicio Organa ​

ALDERAAN

<Officer, I want everything in, out, and approaching the airspace and hyperspace monitored, controlled, and reported. I'm never here, I am in my office in Fondor.> I commed the Comm-Traf officer as my A/GA-09 I-wing Reconnaissance Starfighter exited the hyperspace. I'll be the first to say that a work trip like this is not one I often partake in. As the director of SIA, it's paramount for me to keep public appearances close to zero. Not to mention all the strategic-level work still piling up from the previous administration. Yet this specific situation is different.

Alderaan has always been considered one of the Galactic Alliance's core worlds. Their government and senator are up there with the likes of Corellia and Duro; well-respected by the good people of the Alliance and the righteous rest of the Alliance worlds. There have been... rumours, of conflict brewing between Alderaan and opportunistic actors that exploited the threat of a treacherous and illegitimate coup attempt to extort the most honourable House Organa, and by extension, the government of Alderaan.

It would only be logical for the SIA, sworn protector of the Alliance to capitalise on such conflict to establish a foothold on the Alliance's political theatre. After all, how could one seek to protect freedom and democracy if one cannot intercept malicious entities from abusing it? Thus, the meeting between I, the Director of SIA, and the King of Alderaan was set.

For privacy and security concerns, I landed my starfighter on a designated private landing pad that has been agreed upon previously, where the King and his selected few entourages are reported to be waiting. I looked at Kriang Krai Ferrer, my trusted and only companion for the day, signaling for us to get out of the starfighter and meet the King.

"Your Grace... I hope you've been well," I extended my hand once we reached the welcoming parties. "This is my shadow, Rook."

Let's hope that this will be a fruitful meeting, for the good of the Alliance.

​

 

[Alicio Organa]

ABANDONED DOCKING BAY, SANCTUARY CITY
ALDERAAN
​

It was a quiet evening when the stealth craft slid into the empty docking bay, at the edge of Sanctuary.

When disembarking, they would see only one person- Alicio, wearing a dark, nondescript overcoat. His guards were around, secretly protecting the entrances, but only King Organa was there to see the agents' faces. But he wasn't looking yet.

No, he was gazing over the refugee city with a wistful sort of dread. The lights were just starting to come on, a constellation of stars forming around the tall, elegant skyscrapers. It had been his whole world, at one point. He'd poured his soul into this city, bled for it, ground his fingers to the bone... It hurt him, to see it in danger.

As the Director and his attache approached, Alicio turned, a somber sort of smile on his face his only response to how well he's been. "Thank you for meeting me." He reached out a hand to shake, then extended the same to the man's plus-one. "Rook."

On another day, he might insist they call him Alicio. The kingly titles had never stuck, in his opinion. But today, his mind was far away from titles and addresses. Instead, it was on the Future. He didn't understand the extent of what the meeting was about, but he knew it wasn't good.

"Is Alderaan in danger, Director?"

- The Director -

 

[The Director]

|| PROUD AS WE ARE ||

~bring it all to the light~

TAG: Alicio Organa ​

ALDERAAN

“There are rumours Your Grace,” I nodded at Alicio, answering his somber smile with an empathetic expression. “It’s not a secret that the succession crisis your world went through caught the attention of the Trade Federation.”

I shifted my sight from Alicio to my surroundings. Such a beautiful planet, Alderaan is. It’s not a surprise that foreigners often underestimate them, it’s such an exquisite place to possess any sort of danger, but behind the beauty lies sharp blades ready to strike. It seems that Rook has also noticed a couple of guards hidden along the way to the entrance as he nodded his head towards it.

Good, but Alicio will need much more than that when the actual threat is coming.

“My sources reported that they intend to brought their claims loud and clear. How much will they escalate, I can’t give you a firm answer yet. But they have taken their armada into hyperspace, you’ll have to be prepared for the worst.”

The Comm-traf had detected the movement, yet without any further proof of what they are doing with their armada, there’s nothing anyone can do. The Alliance is the galaxy’s biggest market, so I’m sure the Trade Federation would have their justification ready for whatever action they are going to take.

“If it’s true that Alderaan has a legitimate outstanding debt that hasn’t been paid to the Trade Federation, then there’s nothing that the Alliance can do but mediate the negotiation, at least officially.”

I chuckled at the word ‘officially’. The GADF might not be able to legally do anything, but the fact is whichever side of the legality it may fall into, it’s not good for the Alliance. And if it is endangering the Alliance, the SIA has the people’s given right to take whatever action we deemed necessary.

“All this noise, all this tension, it’s bad for the Alliance Your Grace. We’re in the middle of a war and the biggest corporation in the galaxy is threatening to take action against one of our core system. We all know what it will do to our morale.”

Truth be told, on face value, we don’t care about the nature of the conflict and its players; House Organa, House Thul, House Ulgo, nor the Trade Federation. They are all just names and faces which value is directly tied into their relation with the Galactic Alliance. And between a regional power fully under the thumb of our government, and an opportunistic entity which influence spread wider than the Alliance, we find it easy to decide which of the two should we back.

Now it’s just a matter of making the right course of action, and what extra information can Alicio provide, since what we know is just a little more than what is known by other politicians in the Alliance.

“So tell me, Your Grace, what we’ve missed and what we can do to make things right?”

​

 

[Alicio Organa]

So that's what this was about. Ransik Ulgo.

A stray hand caught Alicio's chin, rubbing along his jawline in thought. He'd thought the problems that came with House Ulgo had already been resolved, but apparently, they still wanted a piece of the pie.

A stab of white-hot anger caught his chest, showing on his face for a moment, before resting neutral again. "Okay. I think I understand."

"Either someone in my government has been making deals with the Federation behind my back, or their lawyers consider my vague insinuations during the succession talks a legally-binding contract." He crossed his arms. He had no reason to hide anything.

"They all but threatened to bankroll House Ulgo in a violent coup. I didn't dispute their... desire to be compensated when they backed off. It's hardly grounds for invasion."

- The Director -

 

[The Director]

|| PROUD AS WE ARE ||

~bring it all to the light~

TAG: Alicio Organa ​

ALDERAAN

“Not ground invasion Your Grace, that’s unconstitutional, they wouldn’t dare,” I suggested to Alicio. A single look was enough to notice his exasperation at the mention of House Ulgo and the Trade Federation. “Although a naval blockade is not beyond the realm of possibility.”

It’s a complex situation that just happened to take place in the most tumultuous period of the Alliance. It’s almost too late to prevent the blockade, but it could be salvaged into a show of power by a united Galactic Alliance front.

“If it’s just based off a nonchalant insinuation I’m sure it wouldn’t take long for us; that being you and the central government representative, to solve the issue, the demand wouldn’t stand in the courts of law,” I told Alicio, as I frowned at the prospect of the Trade Federation walking unscathed by this whole ordeal.

“Yet, it’s still a bad look for Alderaan and the Alliance as a whole, especially if the Trade Federation would just wiggle away from their egregious accusations and whatever nasty course of action they are taking.”

Looking at Rook, my mind quickly went to Task-Force Yggdrasil. Perhaps we could dispatch them to kidnap some other Trade Federation’s higher ups if we can get it out of Nute Griimda, if all else falls through. That should be a last resort however, it’s much better for everyone to solve it diplomatically.

“We don’t want that Your Grace, if they proceeded with a blockade or worse, they should be punished, not according to law, but to compensate what damage they have cause our mighty Alliance.” We shall make an example out of the Trade Federation, lest it become a precedent to threaten your fellow Alliance members with force anytime the favour doesn’t swing your way.

“If you have anything to indicate the Trade Federation’s involvement in propelling a coup, or even worse, treason against the Alliance, that shall help all of us here.”

Let’s hope for our sake that it all can be settled through the politics of the Senate, not by embargoes, or worse, bloodshed.

​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Alicio's countenance had become grim, but thoughtful. He knew the enemy, now. There was some small comfort in that. Though the way the new SIA director was talking... made the former Count cautious.

"If they seek to hurt my people over that... they need to be checked. Hard." Iron was hardly a new compound in the mixture that was Alicio Organa, but it was tempered by something colder, today. His jaw clenched, as one hand trailed up, hiding his mouth in thought. "I don't think I have anything. They never outright stated that they would back Ransik's war, and trade deals with House Ulgo are hardly damning. But I'm sure I can back them off. I have... weight, in the Senate. If I wanted..." Alicio could ruin them.

But did he want to?

"That being said... you know what happens if the Alliance becomes inhospitable to the Trade Federation." His face set. "You know where they go."

The Alliance couldn't place one valuable corporation over the lives and livelihoods of it's people... but they were at war, and there was a lot at stake. Nothing could be decided rashly.

- The Director -

 

[The Director]

|| PROUD AS WE ARE ||

~bring it all to the light~

TAG: Alicio Organa ​

ALDERAAN

“Had it be another way, if they just come to negotiate what they perceive as Alderaan’s debt to the Trade Federation, we would be a neutral party in this conflict,” I responded to Alicio’s worries about the Trade Federation leaving the Alliance to either the Dark Empire or the Sith Order. That is a risk that we have to really calculate, as that would be a huge loss in our economy, war effort, and admittedly, even for the sustenance of some of our member worlds.

“But if they have the audacity to actually lay a blockade to another Alliance world in the middle of the war…” The risk is high but we have to stand our ground and draw the line somewhere. I looked beyond the abandoned docking bay, to the rest of what’s visible of Sanctuary City. The hidden guards that I’ve noticed earlier, the beautiful scenery we can observe from here, the people that reside on the city, the planet, the system, and our grand Alliance. They are our stakeholders, they are why we are fighting the war we are in.

“What would they think about us, Your Grace? If we, SIA, the Central Government, and every single one of Alliance member worlds, in a time of war, had let one of our core worlds violated by a corporation, without any consequences?” I asked Alicio a rhetorical question. The consequences of such negligence, on our stability, on our wartime morale, on the confidence on our leaders, would be much more catastrophic than losing the Trade Federation.

“Let’s try to do things smoothly so we won’t have to face a Trade Federation exodus. Push them around in the Senate with a coalition. Just a small coalition, but a strong one. Alderaan, Corellia, Duro, add one or two more of our core systems. We’ll resolve the conflict, we punish them on an agreed and acceptable term.”

Just as I was about to ask Alicio for his piece of mind on the plan, Rook signalled me to take the comms, one which I quickly apologised to Alicio before accepting the transmission.

<Director this is Officer Tito of the Communication and Traffic Division, we are expecting the Trade Federation fleet to exit hyperspace in fifteen minutes,>

This is it then. Whether it’s truly a blockade, or just a negotiation party, we’ll never know until their ships arrive above Alderaan. I guess it’s time to leave the planet and get on with the plan.

I regrettably informed Alicio of what I just heard, indicating that I now have to leave. “Would you rather stay here or present yourself in the Senate, Your Grace? My starfighter is for two and Rook can stay if you need a lift,”

​

 

[Alicio Organa]

“Let’s try to do things smoothly so we won’t have to face a Trade Federation exodus. Push them around in the Senate with a coalition. Just a small coalition, but a strong one. Alderaan, Corellia, Duro, add one or two more of our core systems. We’ll resolve the conflict, we punish them on an agreed and acceptable term.”

Alicio's shoulders relaxed a little. The city looked just a little brighter, a little more safe. "I agree with... a tempered response." The former Count's hands caught each other behind his back. "And that kind of coalition is certainly possible." A flicker of the Future caught his eye. His gaze trailed up towards the sky.

"But I'm afraid it must begin without me."

The Director stepped away for a moment, then came right back, offering an escape. Alicio looked morosely over the city, his city, his people- before returning his gaze to the Duros. "I'm needed here. A King doesn't abandon his people in their time of need."

"But maybe I can help, remotely. Would you like hidden ears in the negotiations? Assuming they happen?"

- The Director -

 

[The Director]

|| PROUD AS WE ARE ||

~bring it all to the light~

TAG: Alicio Organa ​

ALDERAAN

“Then the SIA is at your service,” I answered as Alicio had notified that he’s unable to start such coalition by himself due to this unforeseen circumstance. This whole coalition idea could very well be a double-edged sword. Who knows if our vision will still align once the threats of the Trade Federation and all the other galactic mega corporations are reasonably subdued. But it’s also a strong ground to lay a network in the Senate, a brilliant first move. We can always make mitigation plans later, after all, what are we if not damage control savants.

Perhaps a chat with the Chancellor should follow. If the rumours are true, I need to start forming a more radical, SIA-serving wing of the coalition.

“Very well then,” an honourable decision by an honourable man. A convenient cop-out? Can be. A strategic move, even more likely. Either way, put us in the forefront and beneath the shadow and it’s always will be a dozen birds. “An earpiece would serve us well,” I accepted Alicio’s offer, taking it swiftly. The battle has to be fight both in the orbit as well as on land. Negotiations and morale rallies.

It’s time, then.

​