Private Shooting the messenger

[Vemric Keldra]

KELDRA
PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE | ROTHANA
TAG: Ala Quin

ADAGIO​

He expected some kind of probe into what happened.

While this visitation was labelled as "non-official", Vemric knew better. The girl-queen Kalantha was probably biding her time before officially accusing the Confederacy of warcrimes during the battle for Dee'ja Peak. Vemric was equally waiting for that to happen, even though the incident occurred months ago already.

So the Sephi knew this "unofficial" visitation from a Republic Jedi was the girl's first probe into the matter. The gathering of her evidence. As if the Republic could afford to lose the Confederacy as an ally with the Sith on their doorstep. She might be naive, but Vemric knew that it was only a matter of time before the Sith turned on that Compact that was made during the mission to Calladene. Never trust the word of a Sith. The previous Confederacy learned that the hard way.

"Pardon, Sir, but Jedi Master Quin is here to see you." said Otto from the door that he so diligently guarded.
"I'm expecting her, so send her in, Otto, thank you." said Vemric from where he was going over military reports.
"Yes, Sir." he said.

Shortly after, what quite frankly looked like a girl entered his office. Vemric couldn't help but cock a brow at this small creature bearing the title of Master. She differed from the Grandmaster as night differed from day.

He would have preferred dealing with the Grandmaster as she had some presence at least. He was going to have a hard time taking this small woman seriously.
"Please, have a seat, Master Quin." his bored baritone said as he motioned towards one of the chairs in front of his desk.

He then leaned back in his chair, steepling his long fingers as he regarded her for a moment. If Kalantha wishes to accuse them of warcrimes, she'd have to send someone a little bit more impressive to gather the information she needed to call an allied assembly. But perhaps he should humour this little Jedi just a little.

"Now, what brings you to the Confederacy?" He still sounded bored.​

 

[Ala Quin]

She stepped into the room with quiet formality, but it was hard not to notice the soft weight of emotion she carried with her — as if the battle she had come from still clung to the hem of her robes. The deep red gown she wore, trimmed in Nabooian gold, gave her the dignity of a diplomat, though her anxious posture betrayed her discomfort in such a rigid space. Her mass of dark curls swept rightward, as always, revealing the gently pointed ear of her elven heritage — an unmistakable silhouette, even for those unfamiliar with her.

Ala bowed her head politely as she approached. Not deeply, but with sincerity.

“President Keldra,” she said, her voice quiet, steady, and undeniably warm. “Thank you for receiving me.”

She took the offered seat without hesitation, though the chair seemed far too large for her — not in size, but in presence. She folded her hands in her lap, briefly smoothing her thumb across a wrinkle in her sleeve. The small motions betrayed the nerves she was clearly mastering, one breath at a time.

When she met his gaze, however, it was with eyes that did not falter.

“I bring greetings from your allies in the Republic. But I am not here as a judge,” she said gently. “And I wasn’t sent with an ultimatum. I was…at Dee’ja Peak, during the fighting. Not in the sector under investigation — but close enough to feel the aftermath.”

Her smile faltered briefly, the memory of the day bringing the only shadow to her countenance thus far.

“I asked to come,” she admitted quietly. “Because I’ve seen what war does. I am a survivor — barely — of the Bryn'adul invasion. I fought the Maw. And I have died at the hand of a Sith, only to be reborn. And through all of that I have learned one thing...there are people behind every decision that leads to moments like Dee'ja Peak.”

Her voice trembled slightly on the last word — not from fear, but from the weight of what it meant.

“I came here to understand you, President Keldra. I hope that is not too much to ask.”

| Vemric Keldra |​