Private Return to Sender

[Alicio Organa]

NABOO
ABOARD THE GIFT OF PEACE
- Kalantha -
​

"Fifteen minutes until arrival, your Excellency. Theed Palace has been updated."

"Thirteen," the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Alliance mumbled absently to himself, too quiet for the Captain to hear.

Alicio frowned thoughtfully, staring out the viewport of the cockpit. It appeared to be a lovely day, as Alicio's shuttle soared over the wilds of Naboo. The sun was shining, the sky and waters held an azure sheen, and the flats outside the city were greener than even the most vibrant of Alderaanian summers. It brought to mind his honeymoon- he and Amani had spent one of the sweetest weeks of his life in a remote cabin in the lake country.

It also brought to mind all the atrocities that the planet had overcome, in it's ancient past, near history, and recent days.

He had been cautiously optimistic about this meeting when he'd first proposed it to his staff, but his hopes had since cooled. From the way his people had told it, talking to the Royal Naboo Republic's people, reception had been... not cold, but chilled. He'd worked to temper his expectations since.

No matter it's outcome, Alicio was sure this was a meeting worth having. If for no other reason than to see it all for himself.

The Gift of Peace entered Theed airspace, directed toward it's landing destination.

 

[Kalantha]

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Royal Palace, Theed

Kalantha thanked Shiraya and all the stars above for the blessing of mentors like Shineke Dravenné and Joran Del-Finn who helped her keep her wits about her. Their wisdom and strength had certainly guided her hand in recent months, when crisis after crisis beleaguered the Republic. Queen Kalantha was by no means a stranger to threats both foreign and domestic; she lead her people through a renaissance after the First Cataclysm and the collapse of the CIS, parlayed with the Alliance and Sith alike at an open gala, and reinforced her people alone against the looming threat of the Mandalorian Enclave.

Today, she would face yet another giant, though this time on Naboo’s terms.

Kalantha first met Alicio Organa when he was the humanitarian senator of Alderaan, but he had since ascended to the office of Supreme Chancellor, unmistakably the highest position a living being could possess in the Core. A great deal had changed, both in the dynamic between them and between the Republic and Alliance. Where once Kalantha was requesting support and protection, she was now requesting that the Alliance repatriate their refugees and withdraw from Republic space.

It would certainly be jarring, should the Senate have failed to inform Chancellor Organa of the way relations had cooled over the last few years.

As Alicio was escorted to the Royal Assembly’s chambers, Kalantha hoped that things would end amicably between their nations. As her advisors put it, there should be no inherent need for tension or conflict in the simple disengagement of diplomatic relations where none had truly existed before. Joran would undoubtedly encourage, if not expect, trade agreements to be established. Kalantha would keep as much in the back of her mind, should the subject come up.

The queen bowed deeply and respectfully when the Chancellor arrived in the chamber. She was adorned in an elegant, yet comfortable, gown, befitting an important meeting between two galactic superpowers.

“Chancellor Organa,” she said welcomingly. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, and an honor to be meeting with the Chancellor of the Alliance.”

The round table situated between them was topped with a few datapads on the queen’s side, and a holoprojector in the center. Maps, records, and other documents could be retrieved easily and displayed by either party, should the need arise.

“Shall we begin?”

Tags: Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

“Chancellor Organa. It’s a pleasure to see you again, and an honor to be meeting with the Chancellor of the Alliance.”

"Your Majesty." He nodded to his host, his eyes traveling to the ground for a moment, before returning to her. "Thank you for receiving me. I hope I didn't upset your schedule too terribly with my dropping in."

Alicio felt a grim pit of deja vu in his stomach as he entered the presence of the Queen, his simple black cape, with icy blue calligraphy collaring his neck, betraying none of the importance of his station. His unease didn't stem from their previous interactions- despite being so long ago, and the dynamics between them having been upheaved, their first meeting had been a pleasant one. Even if little had ultimately come from it.

No, he'd just had... poor relations with monarchs, in recent days. To put it extremely lightly.

He found his spot at the table, standing aside his seat until the Queen found hers, if she decided to use it. If not, he was more than happy to stand. "I'm not one to stall. Let's."

"Naboo wishes to return it's refugee population from the Core." There was no offense in his voice, not even a question of why. Simply a statement of fact.

- Kalantha -

 

[Kalantha]

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Royal Palace, Theed

"Indeed," the young queen confirmed.

"Naboo has happily cared for refugees from the Core, but with the immediate threat to their lives now subsiding, the Republic wishes to see them to the next step in their journeys. The Royal Assembly has proposed a bill in the court, the Refugee Repatriation and Naturalization Act. Its provisions offer a choice to refugees who are GA citizens: repatriate to Alliance space with aid from the Republic and Foundation, or naturalize as citizens of the Republic or one of our allies."

Both the Foundation and Confederacy were more than happy to grant citizenship to those who had fled Alliance space, and the amount of families who had grown to love the Southern Systems was certainly not negligible. Together, the three great nations of the galactic south had banded together to construct homes and rebuild lives. The RRNA would see to it that the people can continue their pursuits here, and that those who wished to return to the Core could do so without threats from pirates, Sith patrols, or Neo-Crusaders.

Kalantha watched carefully as she proceeded. "An additional provision of the bill stipulates that refugees who apply for citizenship in either the Republic, Confederacy, or Foundation space must relinquish their Alliance citizenship. Our three parliaments have agreed such measures are necessary, and the Royal Assembly impressed upon me the importance of highlighting this provision."

It wasn't Alicio's resistance to accepting the Alliance's refugees back that had troubled the queen about this meeting, it was the renouncement of GA citizenship by those who chose to stay. Kalantha was prepared to answer any questions the chancellor might have, and as such offered him a respite to mull over the Republic's legislation before continuing their discussion.

Tags: Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

"Indeed. Naboo has happily cared for refugees from the Core, but with the immediate threat to their lives now subsiding, the Republic wishes to see them to the next step in their journeys. The Royal Assembly has proposed a bill in the court, the Refugee Repatriation and Naturalization Act. Its provisions offer a choice to refugees who are GA citizens: repatriate to Alliance space with aid from the Republic and Foundation, or naturalize as citizens of the Republic or one of our allies."

Alicio's still, thoughtful countenance was unwavering as he listened to the Queen. It was obvious she had his full attention- he studied her face with dutiful care, his own passive but rapt. Only the occasional micro-expression flitted across his face, betraying a deep concentration.

He noticed she took care to phrase the proposed bill in the most cushioned way she could towards the Alliance. As if padding it against retaliation. What did she think he would think?

After a moment longer of thought, the Chancellor flashed a subtle smirk. "If I could dispute one portion of the Assembly's bill... If it helps push it through the courts, I can convince the Alliance to completely front the transportation costs for those that wish to re-enter the Core. And even if I can't, Alderaan has the resources to do so. They are our citizens. The least we can do is pay for them."

Perhaps not the answer she expected. Alicio elaborated. "We spoke last time that my background is in relief. I've seen what happens when a planet feels their refugee population has overstayed it's welcome. Neglect and abuse. I'm not saying your Republic would ever stoop so low... but that lesson was burnt into me, and I don't intend to get burnt again."

"Can you ensure the people that decide to stay and naturalize will be treated with the full rights and respects dictated by their adopted governments?" Something similar had happened on Alderaan, after all. Many Shi'ido had decided to put down roots in Maranatha, even after Lao-mon was freed from Sith rule. As far as Alicio was concerned, this was the easy part of their meeting today.

- Kalantha -

 

[Kalantha]

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Royal Palace, Theed

Kalantha thought over the Chancellor's proposed amendment. The Assembly would certainly push back against allowing the Alliance to foot the bill of emigration, but Alderaan was within the realm of possibility.

"I have doubts that our senators will feel comfortable shifting the financial responsibility to the Alliance as a whole. Respectfully, we have seen what relying on the GA has yielded us in the past. But if Alderaan is willing and capable, I believe that option would attract far more support." She spoke with transparency, believing that to be the most effective way to ensure both nations got what they wanted without pulling wool over one another's eyes.

To his following question, Kalantha nodded with sincerity. "Absolutely, Chancellor. Those who naturalize in the Republic or with one of our allies will be extended the same status and benefits as our respective natural-born citizens. They will be afforded every civil right and liberty guaranteed them in the Constitution of Naboo."

There were many unknowns in the galaxy, but that much she could promise. Those who naturalized under the protection of the Royal Naboo Republic would become one of their own.

Tags: Alicio Organa​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Kalantha had been kind enough to leave an opening to what Alicio truly wanted to speak about today. But he didn't jump on the opportunity. Not yet.

Instead, Alicio's eyes shaded, and he nodded. "That, we can do. Much of Alderaan's budget is reserved for projects exactly like this." No need to mention that the effort would certainly be funded at least in part by SELCORE. That was the nature of an Alliance. They all helped each other.

"Absolutely, Chancellor. Those who naturalize in the Republic or with one of our allies will be extended the same status and benefits as our respective natural-born citizens. They will be afforded every civil right and liberty guaranteed them in the Constitution of Naboo."

Alicio nodded, his lip thinning. Her declaration did ease him, if only a little. "If I have your word, Your Majesty, I believe you."

The Chancellor canted his head to the side. "If it isn't too forward to ask, why would your Senators trust the abilities of one member world of the Alliance over the collective efforts of the whole?" Curiosity wasn't the word for the expression on Alicio's face. Expectation, more like. This was the talk he'd wanted, all along.

He could only hope not to get shut down too early.

- Kalantha -

 

[Kalantha]

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Royal Palace, Theed

Aside from the obvious, Kalantha wasn't quite sure how to answer the Chancellor's question. Naboo had opened itself many times to deals with the Alliance, and each time, her people had been left high an dry.

Accepting refugees and sending medical ships in exchange for protection from the Sith Order when the RTL collapsed? No aid ever came.

Requesting ambassadorship in the Alliance Senate to advocate for her people? Naboo's voice was never acknowledged.

Supplying Coruscant with plasma and defense grids? Nothing in return, only more displaced refugees.

Frustration was beginning to build beneath Kalantha's otherwise neutral face, but a suitable response crossed her mind before she rattled off an itemized list of the Alliance's shortcomings in the realm of international diplomacy.

"The Alliance is many parts made into a whole. Hundreds of worlds, cultures, and species, pooled together and presented as one. It's like a galactic buffet, which to some may be more than appetizing, but to the Naboo... we desire one dish: independence. Allowing the whole of the Alliance to involve itself in the affairs of the Republic is leaving the door open for unwanted relations. Why do that, when we can deal with one planet individually? One who's reputation precedes it as a world that values its image as an altruistic icon, if nothing else."

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[Alicio Organa]

"Unwanted relations," Alicio repeated, thoughtful. He heard her words, but sensed, whether through his training in the Force, or his time as a diplomat, that she had more she wanted to say. He was still deciding whether he wanted to exacerbate that building tension or not when he spoke.

"Well, I doubt the slope between sending ships to pick up civilians, and complete subjugation by the Galactic Alliance, is quite as slippery as your senators seem to fear. We have trade agreements with plenty of worlds outside the Alliance, and they stay as independent as they like." His eyes softened, even as an eyebrow rose. It was important, at least for now, that he only picked at these amorphous collective politicians. "Speaking of... If relations with the Alliance as a collective is the only roadblock, I'd be happy to get you in contact with Vandelhelm, or Lohopa, or Lazerian IV to work out trade deals. Vandelhelm especially could use the stimulated economy- their shipyards are still recovering from an invasion themselves. And I imagine the Republic would find a lot in common with the people of Lazerian." Namely, that they found Alicio distasteful.

Still, the look persisted in Alicio's eyes. That continued expectation. His offer may have been genuine, but he had little hope in the Queen's acceptance. It was... an invitation for elaboration. A request for truth, wrapped in nuance for if Kalantha wished to politely disregard it, but a request nonetheless.

- Kalantha -