Red dawn

[Willan Tal]

​

Alderaan was an impressive planet, its high spiralling towers and grandeur casting a magnificent figure across the skyline as his Imperial shuttle made touch with the private landing bay. He had been to Alderaan only once during his time as a lost Galidraani youth who left his home to experience a taste of life beyond the halls of Galidraans nobility. It was a beautiful place despite past downfalls, and he was glad that it was once more a planet, no longer a collection of fragmented rock and space dust and a legacy of the old Empires destructive might.

In some small sense, he was glad Alderaan was willing to open itself up to more agreeable actions when faced with the looming prospect of Imperials on her doorstep. Other planets that dared challenge change found themselves soon under the robust boot of the Imperial military, less fortunate cultures were forced to become 'adjusted'.


But that could all wait, what mattered was getting the planet under Imperial law with minimal bloodshed and two content parties. Faith seemed to be a woman made of logic and reasoning, so he had no real reason to suspect she would baulk at the terms facing Alderaan.


Tags: [member="Faith Organa"] [member="Tariq Hejazi"] [member="Isobel Mattis"] @Hatim i give up on spelling your name etc [member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Hatim al-‘Abbās As-Saffāḥ]

Diplomatic meetings cut a sharp contrast from the past few months of constant battles and military offensives against the opponents of the state. Though he was no stranger to all that brute jargon, Kandara had become embroiled in its insurgencies and inner conflict for the past century, all had been as brutal as the next in terms of destruction.​

​

​

Flanked by his comrade Tariq and an entourage of officers, Hatim followed Theodore's lead as they proceeded through the landing bay and past lines of Alderaanian security officers who watched them apprehensively. In some small sense he could feel the waves of disdain roll from them unto the Imperial procession, unlike other worlds they had not resisted and instead lay down smartly. Sometimes you had to swallow your own pride when faced with death, Faith had done so and saved millions of Alderaan's from a short and bloody takeover. That took true courage to do, which the Mandalorians could take a note or two from. The so-called premier warrior culture had either crumbled, ran away or put up only token acts of fierce resistance against the Imperial army and its paramilitaries. Sometimes a beat dog had to know when to lay down and tuck tail.​

 

[Enedina Tal]

Major-General Tariq Hejazi,​

Kandaran Fedayeen, ​

​

​

To say he was not used to the colder climes of Alderaan was an understatement within itself, being from Kandaras desert made Tariq not great at handling 'colder' temperatures. Draped in his overcoat and uniform typical of the Fedayeen, he cut a smart figure amongst the procession. Though he looked composed and well maintained, he still bore the weight of seven weeks worth of military action. All he wanted at this point was leave and some time away from the Fedayeen. But duty called, and here he was, with the minister of foreign affairs and the Secretary-general of the Fedayeen.

Hopefully, Alderaanian hospitality was as good as its architecture and wine. The journey here had been long and tedious. He'd rather be home on Kandara, but he had responsibilities and ambitions of his own.

 

[Faith Organa]

Capital City - New Aldera
Place: The Palace
[member="Tariq Hejazi"] | [member="Theodore Royce-Clarke"] | @Hatim


"They are here Mam...do we take them into the throne room?" The first thing they would see would be the entry way, the high ceilings, the sweeping staircases, the well dressed palace guards, the Queen's personal guards. They stood as a sign that she was in residence. The staff peered around corners watching while Faith prepared.

Faith exhaled waiting for her mind to balance and to remember who was coming, and why. She looked down again, 'a contingent of diplomats and officers to discuss Alderaan's role within the Confederacy." She smiled 'nice way to say we got you'

"No Becca not this time. This is a meeting of different proportions." Saved lives she had to remember that was first and foremost after everything that Alderaan had been through saving lives was key. "The balcony facing the mountains, bring a few bottles of the emerald wine, as well as stimcaf, tea, water...and wahtever...finger foods available." If she fed them and gave them drink the meeting should progress under a friendlier umbrella rather than one of conquer and conquered.

"Mam?"

"We are making friends Becca dear so we put our best appearance on and show some....compliancy." She swallowed hard on that word. She had not given up...but she had. It was time to pay the musician.

"Smile big, and be sure to bring them promptly out. Don't dawdle. Understand?"

Becca stood like stone play nice? be friends?...words hung in her throat. She nodded without words she headed back to make preparations.

Faith in turn made sure to take a peppermint...fresh breath...and then there was the benefit of keeping her stomach calm.

[member="Duke Kyle DeVoe"] | [member="Marina DeVoe"] | [member="Delila Castillon"] | [member="Laira Darkhold"]

 

[Marina DeVoe]

Location: Mt Ceitri, Northern Alderaan
Tag: [member="Faith Organa"]
Posts: 1

"I don't understand as to how our friends could allow this to happen, father.."

Diplomacy...the killer of spirit and hope. it were what Marina had come to experience concerning diplomacy. it seemed it were full of compromises, full of false hope, as it never seemed to be for the greater good of the common folk, but for the governing bodies of governments.

She couldn't argue with her father, for he were Duke and she had yet to step up to the role her elder sister held; Duchess.
Alderaan along with many of her close friends (allies) were diplomatically negotiating a peaceful joint venture...a takeover in Marina's eyes.But this weren't her stage. She were her queen's intern and had to support what the High council had decided upon. And of course her father Duke Kyle DeVoe was on the same Council. Marina could not oppose what had been decided by greater leadership. She loved her father, loved her Alderaan and loved her queen. Her own feelings and needs could not outweigh these three factors. She had no recourse but to support them all.

Marina always had her eyes to the skies..the night sky when it were filled with so many stars that to count a fraction of them with her naked eye would have taken a lifetime. but counting she did not. rather she had been determined since a young girl to take to the stars. her spirit seemed to call her to do so and she had been undaunted in doing so.
Naturally it were not her father's, nor mother's wish for her to take to the stars. But he grandfather understood her and as such, her own father had tolerated her space faring spirit...up until recently. That is her recent involvement with opposing oppressors such as the sith and the Empire. The same Imperials now encroaching on the capital. Only that Aldera was welcoming them..for diplomatic reasons.

"I'll be heading to the Royal palace in the hour father.." She replied.

"Yes...see that you do." He replied, eyeing her a moment.

"Sigh...dad..." she shook her head.
"...I'm one to least worry about. It's not like my ship has armaments.." No it hadn't. The Mariner IV was unarmed.

"What would you call that seismic detonator you brought back from Commoner, aft of the ship?" Her father replied.
Yes, he knew about that. But it weren't so much a weapon. Not in terms of how she had used one of the two she had picked up on Commenor when the sith invaded it. She had released one during her flight out with evacuees. The ship she were piloting had been an old federalist cargo ship and it were full of Commenori children. She had made a desperate flee through the blockade only to be nabbed by one of the sith's platform stations orbiting the system. They had locked a tractor beam on the old freighter and she released one of the seismic detonators. it readily got swallowed up by the tractor bean and detonated between her ship and the platform, severing the tractor beam and enabled their escape..into hyperspace.
Needless to say, she returned to Alderaan with the Commenori children in that old freighter and kept the other detonator, installing it on her ship, the Mariner IV.
So no, it weren't a weapon to ever be used against personnel, but one that came in handy should she find herself in the clutches of a tractor beam again.

"Sigh...yes, still have that." She replied.
"Do you wish it removed?"

"No.
Truth be told, I'm quite impressed at your means of resolve." Yes. Yes, he were. The Duke were proud of his daughter and her undaunted spirit. Then again, she were her brother's twin.
"Just asking you to tone down that attitude a little."

"Yes, father... I didn't mean to." She replied, lowering her head. She loved her father.

"Marina." his tone were that of a father, than that of a Duke.

She looked up as he approached her, opening up his arms to embrace his daughter.

"I love you, dad." Marina said, holding fast to her father. It were a loving moment between father and daughter. No words were spoken...not till they let go.

"Godspeed Marina. Remember to remain vigil beside your queen." He then said, taking hold of her hands. He wished to hold on to his daughter more, but the hour was quickly passing and Marina was already due at her queen's court.

Nodding, he let her go.

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Faith Organa"] | [member="Marina DeVoe"] | [member="Tariq Hejazi"] | [member="Theodore Royce-Clarke"] | [member="Hatim al-‘Abbās As-Saffāḥ"]


Delila was balking at the idea of having diplomatic talks on the balcony. Eyebrows knit in frustration as the palace staff worked hard to make the balcony a more hospitable place. It was clear she didnt agree with the entire plan. Both sides - the Queen, the diplomats, and even the Imperials would be easier targets. There were shields and various security measures in place, no way a Queen would be allowed on an unprotected balcony ever. Yet she wouldn't be happy.

It wasn't her place to say. Delila was here just to fill in, be an extra set of muscle in case something happened. Or perhaps for show, there was a saying about pissing off redheads. Maybe this was a warning to those they were meeting.Shoulders squared and she took a position off to the side, one that gave a better visual advantage of the entire balcony itself.

 

[Faith Organa]

The eyes were on her as she stood there even without her being directly behind her Faith knew [member="Delila Castillon"] was not happy. She half turned looking towards Dells, "Don't frown so much it will give you wrinkles. Leave frowning to me."

This room where they stood now had heard many an ambassador, representative, king and queen come and speak to the leaders of Alderaan. "the throne room is too showy, I don't want to give them an impression that we are fighting them. A meeting here at the palace tells them I am Queen. Meeting them on the balcony takes the royal edge off." Now she turned to face Dells that look on her face that she had seen a few times.

"Would you prefer a meeting at the space port in a conference with the military standing guard everywhere, and the Alderaan knights in full regalia weapons out?" She smiled then teasing Dells just a little.

"They have not asked for the removal of the monarchy. We just have to knew their terms." That deep sigh of frustration combined with resolution made an escape, "until the galaxy turns once more."

She breathed again.

Marina should be arriving soon as well. They would meet the Confederation full on.

[member="Marina DeVoe"] | [member="Tariq Hejazi"] | [member="Hatim al-‘Abbās As-Saffāḥ"] | [member="Theodore Royce-Clarke"]

 

[Delila Castillon]

[member="Faith Organa"] | [member="Marina DeVoe"] | [member="Tariq Hejazi"] | [member="Theodore Royce-Clarke"] | [member="Hatim al-‘Abbās As-Saffāḥ"]


"I would prefer an undisclosed underground bunker with a full military force. However, if her Highness prefers to be out in the open on the balcony, asking to be blown up, then so it shall be." Gaze drifted along the distant mountain ranges, taking in the snow capped peaks. "They will not ask for the removal of the monarchy Your Highness because they will take it by force. I am not so certain their intentions are honorable."


Delila offered a small smile.


"Don't mind me Your Highness, I'm just an old rambling soldier."

 

[Marina DeVoe]

Location: en route to Aldera
Tag: Open for anyone
Posts: 2

She fired up her drives and lifted off. Her father were among the few hangar crews below. A storm had been heading over to Aiden pass and the crew were readying to secure the estate for it. But at this hour, the sky were as blue as the Alderaani seas that reflected in her eyes. Marina lifted off.

The short flight to Aldera took but 20 minutes, just barely even cresting mach speed. No sense in thundering over the valley, she had too much respect for her kinsmen. There would be plenty of thunder coming soon by way of storms that would come in many forms.
But Alderaan in its present state and past form had seen many wars and invasions across it's pristine landscape. They had survived once survived the Galactic Empire and the current wrath of the zealous sith empires that followed. They would survive this, for Alderaani spirit could never be snuffed out like a candle... they were strong willed and always prospered through any storm and hellfire.

Still...nothing ever were left to chance anymore. Not with the likes of Marina anymore. She had seen too many systems including her own shake and shudder under the heavy boots of war machines. This new occupation whether it transitioned peacefully or not, were eventually going to boil over.
As thus and even without her father's knowledge she had contingency plans already set to spring. It were why she were taking such a short hop to Aldera and to the palace grounds with her ship, the Mariner IV. Her normal means of transportation from her mountain home to Aldera had always been by family speeder. A corvette class commute was overkill, but in lieu of the new overlords setting to sit their Imperial keisters on her world; necessary.

Aldera were coming up fast and as expected she were hailed and could only continue her approach after transmitting clearance codes...after all, she were approaching with a sizable craft from her providence.
The route she were instructed to take and set her ship on were not as close to the palace as she had hoped for. But permission to land within Aldera's royal grounds were sufficient enough for her.
"Lieutenant..." She recognized Alderaani security ranks, spotting his own approach toward the ship's ramp.

"Apologizes Lady DeVoe, most of the air space and landing platforms around the palace have been set for open grounds." The security personnel, greeted her as she disembarked off her ship.
"There is a limo speeder that can take you and your party over to the palace."

Marina looked over to the palace in the near distance. Yes, she could see that it were not at all crowded with ships and transports flying about all over. It made sense... it were made to appear like Alderaan was just rolling over into another day...nothing too out of the ordinary.
Yet the impending storm were fast approaching.
"No party, just me.
Queen [member="Faith Organa"] is expecting me." She replied, as the speeder pulled up next to her ship.




[member="Delila Castillon"] / [member="Faith Organa"]

 

[Willan Tal]

Theodore Royce-Clarke,​

Imperial minister of foreign affairs,​

Location: Waiting room.
Tags: [member="Faith Organa"], [member="Tariq Hejazi"] @Hatim with the hard name [member="Marina DeVoe"] @Delila Castillion

​

"Just remember they might be laying down arms, but one must treat them with respect regardless," Theodore remarked as casually as one would as he inspected a piece of expensive china that caught his fancy while waiting. He knew the two men to be upstanding Imperials and fantastic leaders, but they knew nothing of etiquette and diplomacy. Fine arts that one had to master if he wanted to survive both the battlefield and the political landmine field.

In another reality, he might've been treading these halls for a different far malevolent reason altogether, as one had done when worlds refused Imperial dominion. First always came the proud boasts of Independence, then cries of furore and war, and then pained silence as they were crushed under the Imperial armies methodical like crawl of destruction.

It would've been a crying shame if that was Alderaan, cast to the same fate that was originally bestowed upon it by the original empire. But thankfully one had to admire a Queens humility, which was oft braver than the foolish heads of open defiance. He had to admit as a noble himself and Galidraani, he did envy her collection of fine treasures.

 

[Marina DeVoe]

Location: en route to the Royal Palace
Tag: Open for anyone
Posts: 3



"No...my droid will not be accompanying me." She replied to his inquiry as to making accommodations for her companion.
The speeder limos they were using to shuttle Alderaani delegates and representatives to the palace were not geared up for astro-mech class droids. But whether they were or not, Marina's plans didn't include her droid by her side.

RU-TK1213, her faithful astro-mech chirped what sounded like a question before starting to beep it's objection.
Marina looked over to it as the security officer opened up the speeder door for her to enter.
"No TK...you're to remain here with the Mariner IV." She instructed.

But the little tin bot started to beep again, only to stop it's fuss when Marina jutted an index at it to keep quiet.
"You know your place." She then said before getting into the limo.
Her droid complied, moving just a few threads of track back. It then watched her head toward greater Aldera, via the crossing...the major speedway heading into the heart of the city.

TK, then whirled about once her speeder disappeared into the tunnel, an underground labyrinth of subway tunnels that branched out from underneath the greater city. many, if not all of the buildings including the Royal palace had underground access. Only such access to the palace was reserved for queen and VIP. marina being an intern would have her surface in the front courtyards of the palace.


"Sigh..." She knew to compose herself...had to appear undaunted by the fact the pigs of war were once more at her doorstep.
But there was little they could do. Their allies had fallen twice over in the last two major sith strikes. Alderaan had run out of allies. Not that Marina wished for more fighting, no. She detested wars and violence. But with enough allies on one's side, that itself were most often a good deterrent to oppressors, especially the likes of Imperials. They were a bit more savvy when it came to balancing the cost of a war against the gains. They weren't as wasteful this past millennium as they had once been. It were the empire of the sith that laid waste more often than it gained.
...well, that were Marina's take on it.

The quick trip through the designated underground tunnel was for the most part nearly deserted. Not many speeders had access to the palace grounds anyway, but at the moment it seemed she were the only one heading in that direction.

In no time, the speeder headed up one of the surface ramps and emerged in the front courtyard of the palace.
"Lady DeVoe..." the door opened and the driver held out his hand to guide her out. It were part of proper etiquette and she complied, now fully composed as she were expected to be.
"Should I call for proper escort?"

"Thank you, kindly. " She then said, looking up at the majestic Royal Palace and the great marble steps leading up to the front ornate doors.
"But I can walk on my own."





[member="Faith Organa"] / [member="Delila Castillon"]

 

[Faith Organa]

[member="Marina DeVoe"] | [member="Tariq Hejazi"] | [member="Hatim al-‘Abbās As-Saffāḥ"] | [member="Theodore Royce-Clarke"]

"Underground bunker...wow. Let see what would that say.....we on Alderaan like to hide our heads in the dirt?" She nodded her head no, "[member="Delila Castillon"] no let's not give that impression. I don't want them to think us bantha. Domesticated in such a way that they could feed upon us without us even making a move." No she wouldn't have that.

Becca was in the outer rooms greeting their guests she caught the one admiring the decor of the room. It was all she could do to keep from uttering a sarcastic remark about keeping his hands off...but. She knew her Queen would have her head on a plate for the remark...."Good Morning. I am Becca Sinclair the Queen's assistant. I welcome you to Alderaan and the Palace here in New Aldera. Queen Faith of Alderaan is expecting you if you would come with me. Please." There she was courteous, formal, and did her best to make sure Alderaan was mentioned as much as she could fit it in. She smiled.. then motioned.

It was then she noticed that Lady DeVoe had arrived. For a moment she felt a panic rise. Becca swallowed hard what to do..um...she hesitated. "Lady DeVoe...it is a pleasure to see you here...today....will you please join us as we go to meet with the Queen." She gave her the weirdest most uncomfortable smile of...well...yuck would describe it some.

Faith smiled at Delila it was going to be alright. She believed this.

 

[Marina DeVoe]

"Huh?.." She did a full head turn. Had her mother Sansa convinced her father to come too?
But no, her mother had not come to New Aldera, which it would have been a surprise for Marina anyway as the Duchess were with her country folk. There was a lot of anxiety about Alderaan with the presence of the Imperials on their beloved Alderaan once more.
Her mother were currently about in the providence, visiting schools...easing the minds of Alderaani and their children that she would be there with them, as she had always been..through sith hail storms and overlords. She could suffer through this with them again...with brave heart and dignity. And of course, if all turned hellfire again, then she were withing arms embrace of Alderaan's children. She would lead orderly evacuations, being the last to leave.

"Oh Becca..." Marina then picked up what had been a kind of somber pace toward the palace doors.
"don't you go starting with the 'lady' thing again..." She got to where her friend were standing waiting for her and could see how distraught she were. Marina could tell..could see through the thin guise Becca was trying to pull off.
Marina knew, because she herself were in the same near folds of panic too. But she knew to remain strong and stand her ground.

"Sigh... No no...I'm sorry, Becca." It hadn't been her intention to get on her friend about etiquettes. here in the palace and especially when they would be in the presence of the queen and court, they were encouraged to use proper form.
"... I were meaning to-" And well, she stopped there and gave Becca a hug. It were what she had been meaning to do when she met up with her cohort again.

"It'll be alright..." Marina gently patted her worrying friend's back, as she embraced her.
"Queen [member="Faith Organa"] wouldn't have allowed us here, if she believed things were going to go bad." She spoke in a near whisper.
There were already what she could only assume were some Imperial delegates...if one could even call them that. Were there such a thing as military politicians?

"Pleasure to be here Miss Sinclair." She then said, breaking away from their hug.

Marina took a step back, well damming those tears that were eager to crest over and put on her sunny smile. She weren't going to flounder like a fisdh gasping for air in their presence, no.
"I hear our queen is confident that our Imperial friends will be open minded about reaching a fair agreement.." No, she really didn't have confident that the Imperials could even phantom any such talks. But she were her queen's intern and as such were being primed for the political arena.

Marina, like her queen and countrymen, would be as cordial as patience would allow before these new overlords. It were now a matter of survival. They had gone through this many times before. No Alderaani were worth a sacrifice to simply open defy their enemies. It were a matter of will power and stay. And history proved that the heart of a people, any people could not be broken, by neither whip nor gallows.
These Imperials would ultimately fail...like all their adversaries had in the past...if not in this generation, then the next.

"Come, let us walk in together, side by side, and stand by our queen." She broadened her smile.

Alderaani would always survive, beyond the flames which would raze their homes to the ground. Alderaan was in their hearts and no Imperial could extinguish that...not even the sith.




[member="Faith Organa"] / [member="Delila Castillon"]

​

 

[Faith Organa]

Becca felt a giant lump grow in her throat as Lady Devoe hugged her any other time this would be a welcome gesture but right now she felt...ill, "Lady Devoe, I'd like to introduce the contingent from the Confederation." She smiled weakly her knees already felt like they were going to give out.

Becca found suddenly she couldn't move her nerves were now completely shot. Lady Devoe had said nothing that certainly wasn't expected from any citizen on Alderaan. Becca just had missed the part about introducing who she was walking with before asking her to walk with them.

The words formed in her mouth but when she opened them to say more she couldn't. Oh the Queen was going to fire her for sure this time!!! ohhhhh she whimpered in her mind all while trying to smile....

She finally found a way to move her feet, "Queen Faith is this way" She did not know if anyone had heard her but if she walked perhaps they would all walk too.



[member="Marina DeVoe"] | [member="Tariq Hejazi"] | [member="Hatim al-‘Abbās As-Saffāḥ"] | [member="Theodore Royce-Clarke"] | [member="Delila Castillon"] |