Tautening the Leash [Republic Senate and Military]

[Geneviève Lasedri]

If Supreme Commander [member="Kayleigh Tyven"] thought the absence of something the size of her Avenger-class star destroyer in Republic space would go unnoticed, then she was sadly mistaken.

Geneviève Lasedri was not happy.

The Republic people were at major risk of being invaded every second of the day, and that the commander of the entire armed forces would take part of the main fleet to help the Mandalorian nation in their pursuits of territory was incredibly irresponsible. This should have been quite obvious as an affair that the Republic had no business dealing in. The recent alliance with the Clans had been strictly on a military basis--not associated with the Mandalorian domain. No, the Supreme Commander had blundered on a big scale.

While the Prime Minister was the only non-military leader to have information on the whereabouts of Tyven's armada, that would soon change. The most prominent senators needed to be aware of this and put an end to the impetuous maneuvers of this fleet's command. The Republic people came first.

Plucking her hat up off her desk, Prime Minister Lasedri arose and fit it against the crown of her head, ready to meet the senators who might be assembled to discuss the matter at hand. They still did not know of the specific issue, but they would soon.

She turned to the silver-haired teen who was the only other occupant of the office at the moment. "Do you want to stay or come along?"

[member="Faith Balor"], [member="Elizie Adasca"], [member="Adrik Turov"], [member="Lionel Roux"], [member="Persephone Callas"], [member="Jack Sparrow"], [member="Aliannah Sophia Filia"], [member="Valen Cerezo"], [member="Carlos Castillo"], [member="Thalia Rist"]

 

[Mariya Pyne]

REDACTED

 

[Miria Lasedri]

Lost in thought for a long moment, it took Miria a few seconds to process exactly what had been asked of her, and she simply blinked in response, remaining silent. Not that her lack of words was necessarily uncommon, given that her muteness remained stubbornly present no matter the company. It was an intrinsic part of her being, just as firmly rooted as her silver eyes that raised to the raven-haired woman a few seconds after the inquiry was posed. For a second all she did was shrug before raising her hands to sign in that nonverbal language of hers, 'I'll come along. It would be interesting to see how politics function here.' Her own experiences were limited to her homeworld of Chandrila, a life she had left behind only weeks ago.

Her head tilted almost imperceptibly to one side. There was something off, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Something was bothering Gen, and it wasn't another issue that could be explained away and waved off with nothing more than a short dismissive comment. Besides, it wasn't as if she ever gave up that easily when it came to figuring things out, anyhow. And she had been extended an offer to accompany her, which meant this was one thing that wouldn't be kept under the rug. It wasn't as if a number of subjects were withheld from her, but there was enough to make her curious. Political life, at least on such a large scale as this, certainly was confusing. 'What's the meeting about?'

With one hand she reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, standing and stretching for the briefest of moments. This was still something that took adjusting to, being welcomed to attend so many events when previously she had been doing all that was possible to avoid being seen in the public eye. It was quite a reversal of lifestyles, and one she still hadn't quite adjusted to. Besides, this was a meeting with the Republic Senate, of all the beings in the galaxy. She couldn't exactly imagine them taking kindly to a teenager standing in their meeting and listening to the words traded. There had to be some rule against that. Then again, she was standing in the same room as the Prime Minister.

Her pale countenance was a stark contrast to that of her adopted mother as she moved to stand on the opposite side of the desk that currently divided them. 'Won't a kid stand out?' Regardless of what came of this meeting, it would certainly make for a tale to tell later. If she had to guess, it wasn't likely the others brought their children into play, if they had any at all. At least she wouldn't interrupt things by being boisterous, nor would she interject her own opinions. Verbally, anyhow. This was one way to make a first impression, and quite an impression it would turn out to be.

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Thalia Rist]

Thalia yawned as she leaned forward on the table with a glass infront of her containing a tea she had had her assistant bring to her. She wasn't tired from lack of sleep, more so exhaustion at having to keep her heart in check during her training which took a heavier toll on her than it would someone with a normal body. She wondered for a few moments if the heart would kill her some time or another but shrugged and just looked about before leaning forward on her hands again. IT was funny how much she stuck out around these other people, though it was the planet of her own people they were on and for some reason her family thought the political experience would be good for their heir so she sucked up the schedules and took a drink from the tea.

[member="Miria Elysar"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Valen Cerezo]

[member="Thalia Rist"] [member="Miria Elysar"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"] [member="Kayleigh Tyven"]

Valen yawned as he waited for the Chief to arrive at this meeting. He had finally gotten a bit more sleep that wasn't plagued by gruesome nightmares of . . . that place. Still, he wondered what exactly the meeting was about. He had an inkling it involved the military considering who had been invited, many of the attendees the more prominent Senators, along with several military officials. While Reecee was in Sith space now, he still had a duty to the Republic and to the people he had managed to evacuate.

He and the other leaders of the Reecee refugees were looking for another world, other than Onderon, to actually head to and eke out an existence until their home was liberated.

 

[Aleksandyr Gaillard]

The Senator from Eshan inspected the others who were waiting for the PM.

Late again?

Why was he summoned here? That's what the Echani wanted to know; he almost felt it was a waste of time.

Looking over a small datapad he was reviewing some recent proposals by his people for Senate bills. Smaller matters never escaped the man's grasp even when more important things were on the minds of others. If you didn't serve the people then what was the point?

A hand reached out for a glass of water which he carefully sipped.

[member="Thalia Rist"] [member="Miria Elysar"] [member="Kayleigh Tyven"] [member="Valen Cerezo"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Faith Organa]

The Senator from Alderaan walked slowly looking around taking in the things around her then she entered the conference room. She looked around and nodded to everyone. What were they doing today, what was on the agenda?

Sometimes she feared these things she wondered if at any time some group wouldn't seek to do them harm as had been done during the time of her mothers short stint as a senator. Back when her father rescued her mother and then spent a couple years on a planet rebulding the ship, and living off the land. Faith still wanted to go there, wanted to see what was so special about that place.

Oh Faith then realized she must still be tired thinking of all this...so..why was she here?

[member="Lionel Roux"] [member="Valen Cerezo"] [member="Thalia Rist"] [member="Miria Lasedri"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

"Just find a seat somewhere in the back," Gen answered the girl before opening the door. "You won't be able to be in the room for the actual security discussion, but you can be there as long as the doors are open."

She tread out of the office and down the hall, navigating towards the conference room where the senators would be gathered at this point. The Prime Minister wasted little time upon entrance, only taking a brief glance to check if Miria was following her or not before breezing into the room. "Senators, thank you for being able to come on short notice. I promise you that the issue at hand deserves attention."

She take place within the assembly of the planetary representatives and glanced at each one of them, not bothering with taking a stand behind a podium to address her associates in the Senate. "As you know, we have recently formed a military alliance with the United Clans of Mandalore in our war against the Sith. This was considered a necessary act, considering how much we have suffered against them on our own. And I believe the Mandos consider the Republic to be a sort of 'buffer' between them and this evil empire.

"However, it seems as if the definition of 'military alliance' has been plied and 'readjusted' with intent for a different kind of gain." She removed a remote control from her pocket and faced the front of the room, clicking on a holoprojector to show the schematics of two rather large capital vessels. "Supreme Commander Tyven brought along two vessels--the Avenger-classhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/35724-avenger-class-republic-star-defender/ star destroyer Caledonia, and the Deliverance-class carrier Argus--out of Republic space to help the Clans acquire territory at Toprawa, removing them from their posts to safeguard our national security.

"To have our fleets and highest-ranking military official leaving Republic territory in order to aid another nation in its pursuits of expansion..." she concluded, turning back to the assembled politicians, "...is irresponsible and endangering to our population. So I have asked your presence today to discuss what we are to do about this independence the fleet seems to be showcasing. I believe it is a true concern if they are allowed to simply do as they please." The military needed to be strong, but bad things often happened when it went unchecked. Geneviève did not want to wake up to a thousand turbolaser batteries and troop transports turned on the capital one day.

[member="Miria Lasedri"], [member="Thalia Rist"], [member="Valen Cerezo"], [member="Lionel Roux"], [member="Faith Balor"]

 

[Macharius Solaire]

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"] [member="Faith Balor"] [member="Lionel Roux"] [member="Valen Cerezo"] [member="Thalia Rist"] [member="Miria Lasedri"]


It was an interesting set of events that they were to discuss today. The Republic's Supreme Commander was in hot water. Perhaps boiling would be a better term to describe this situation. Absconding with a fleet, dereliction of duty, helping invade a world without Senate approval, the grocery list goes on a length more of possible charges. Senator Solaire may have been new to a political stage of such grand proportions. But military law was something he'd been able to learn over a twenty five year career as a combat engineering officer. More than once he'd been involved in a military tribunal. The outcomes not turning out well for the convicted.

"I completely agree Prime Minister. Discipline in the officers core must be kept just as in the ranks". Macharious folded his hands together on the table, adding a slight lean to his posture with a throat clearing grunt. "Supreme Commander [member="Kayleigh Tyven"] has committed a number of criminally liable actions in her... unapproved operation". Quick as he had joined hands they were broken to scoop up a data pad. Solaire wasn't one to be unprepared in any circumstances. A brief glace over some of the display undertaken before he continued. "First an foremost she can not retain her position, security clearances or any others powers granted. They must be stripped as any investigation is ongoing, by you. Then the military will undertake their trial as I assume they will. Unless charges of treason are to be laid by the Senate. These actions will keep anyone from thinking of taking on their own authority. Addressing the military personally about the matter would also reinforce that. Lastly some formal internal uhhm, program or such for lack of a better word undertaken by the military to ensure the chain of command is followed, even by the highest of ranks. That is my rough opinion on what should be done. And that is speaking as a former officer and my political slant on the issue".

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith listened as always it was best to listen before jumping., when she spoke she made sure to have her words chosen carefully.

"Field Marshall Garon had brought the Ori'ramikade to assist the Republic in their offensive at Attahox. And they have sent people to work with our military with their fighting skills. I'm sure all of that costs them something, and that they would come on behalf of the Republic and leaving their loved ones unguarded, using mandalorian resources. I would wager that their governing body is not calling them before a tribunal asking them to explain their actions. The Republic won Attahox with Mandalorian help. I'm sure Commander [member="Kayleigh Tyven"] was just returning the favor."

Faith looked around the room, "If we are allies is this not what allies do?"

She took a pause and then continued, "And since the Commander is part of the military why would the Senate be looking into it? Should not the military look after their own?"

She knew that this may not be well received.

[member="Macharius Solaire"]
@Genevieve Lasedri
[member="Lionel Roux"]
[member="Valen Cerezo"]
[member="Thalia Rist"]

 

[Thalia Rist]

[member="Faith Balor"] [member="Macharius Solaire"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"] [member="Lionel Roux"] [member="Valen Cerezo"]

"The Supreme Commander took military action without clearance from the government it serves miss Balor... that is why she is liable for her actions and why we are here. I am on the same grounds as you that we should help allies in any opportunity that we can... but this should be a chance to learn from the mistakes that were made in due part to our alliance with the Mandalorian people. In short might i offer a comprimise... Commander Tyven deserves reprimands for acting on her own like an upstart warlord. But she should not lose the position she so well holds, i even ask if you didi remove her from her place who would you even place there. Im willing to be like myself very few of you know what a battlefield is like? Now, with that out of the way, i ask for something else, a new treaty be written up with the leaders of the mandalorians that make aid clear so that we do not have this sort of situation ever again." She shook her head, all the blame or none of the blame, how come it was difficult to find a middle ground.

"That is my feelings, while Tyven acted on her own and took Republic ships and men without authorization to expand the Mandalorian Empire and effectively went AWOL let this seerve as a warning that it will never be taken lightly. But she is still more experienced than the majority of you in terms of warfare and myself. So i move she stays in her position and be reprimanded in another way... perhaps docking her pay or something. Secondly we rewrite the treaty with the Mandalorian's leaders in which we can clearly detail what actions if any can be taken without the approval of the government."

 

[Miria Lasedri]

Now, Miria may not have been the most well-versed in Republic politics, or any galactic politics at all, but she knew when it was best to save what controversial comments would eventually be made for a later time. While she wasn't quite sure just what everyone was having such a fuss about, it didn't take long to put the pieces together. Apparently this [member="Kayleigh Tyven"], whomever that individual was, had disobeyed direct orders to stay behind in friendly space. The woman certainly sounded like an important figure, especially given they referred to her with the title of Commander, and was apparently in charge of the Republic's fleets. Still, she could understand where both sides were coming from.

From her seated position near the back of the room she listened silently to the first two statements made by the other senators, her tail, the only sign of her Ryn heritage, swaying absently from side to side. It wasn't that she was bored, regardless of how that gesture may have been perceived. No, she was merely processing what had been put forward so far, attempting to formulate her own opinion about the entirety of it. Some of it was nothing more than a matter of opinion as to how exactly a military alliance was defined, and what sort of unapproved action was condoned with no repercussions of this nature. Sometimes textbook definitions were the only ones referred back to.

Her silver gaze went back and forth between the two that had spoken before returning to [member="Geneviève Lasedri"] in order to gauge her reaction. This was interesting enough to be observing, let alone participating in. Her own opinion was far more reserved than those held by the senators present, though she found herself agreeing with what the last speaker, and seemingly the youngest of those politicians present, had to say. It wasn't exactly perfect, but they couldn't seek out perfection when in the middle of a very real galactic war. What was good enough would have to serve, hopefully standing effective against further events similar occurring. That even she could see clearly.

As much as she wanted to participate in the discussion she didn't make her own thoughts known, however silently and unobtrusively they would have been communicated, not to mention the fact that those present, excluding Gen, likely wouldn't have understood all that she was trying to say anyhow. Still, she was far from the proper politician at this point, and it wouldn't do any good to give them cause to wonder about just who she was any more than they likely were, though it seemed they were doing a fine job of tuning out her presence so far. All the better to watch without any interference, so she couldn't complain, however non-verbally.

[member="Thalia Rist"], [member="Faith Balor"], [member="Macharius Solaire"], [member="Lionel Roux"], [member="Valen Cerezo"]

 

[Valen Cerezo]

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"] [member="Miria Lasedri"] [member="Thalia Rist"] [member="Faith Balor"] [member="Lionel Roux"] [member="Macharius Solaire"]

Having not said much, preferring to wait and hear more about the situation and the opinions of others, he did have a few questions for the Prime Minister.

"Prime Minister, where exactly were the ships the Supreme Commander took with her to Mandalorian space stationed?" he asked, his deep voice still calm and unflappable even if his eyes bore signs of restless nights. To him, this would matter more if they had been taken from a region of Republic space that was still in relative safety or if they had been taken from the border worlds.

"I would have to agree some action must be taken, both in regards to the treaty and for the Supreme Commander's actions, but the severity of such things should be determined by just how . . . compromised her moving of two ships to support the action at Toprawa were. I'm not a military man by any means, but I do have some basic concept that moving pieces in safe zones is better than moving pieces from the border.

"Furthermore, we should also take into account that her actions might have helped cement slightly closer ties with the clans," he continued, taking a sip of water from a glass in front of him. "We need all the close allies we can get, and Mandalorians respect two things above anything else, strength and honor. The Supreme Commander, while her actions clearly were not the best solution, did accomplish showing the Mandalorians we have strength still and we will honor our alliance with them. That is a rather powerful effect."

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith looked over to [member="Thalia Rist"] and nodded her house and House Rist had long known of one another.

"We have a known treaty with the Mandalorians, I'm sure the Commander was and still is aware of that, as are we all. I'm feel certain that in her judgement she felt she was upholding a known treaty agreement. That already has the government's blessing on it. She was upholding a Republic Agreement, why does she need permission to do that if it already exists? "

Faith was not a diplomat she was too direct for her own good, this was one reason her sister did this better than she. Faith shifted slightly. "It is a military oath she took which includes swearing to protect the Republic I believe it goes - I, having been appointed an office for the Galactic Republic solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Laws of the Republic against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." Faith had to take a breath again it took a lot for her remember that oath.

"Duties of her office. Defend the Laws of the Republic. I maintain that she executed the duties of her office by upholding the Treaty with the Mandalorians. The Treaty existence gave her permission to render aid, that was government permission from my point of view." She looked at those around the room.

"But only she can answer that question, but it is not for us to ask her, but her superiors" Faith licked her lips, never ever in her entire life had she said so much as once.

"If you can show to me that she violated her oath, violated Republic laws by her actions then I would say she is not a woman that seems irresponsible and has performed her duties quite admirably. And if she has been remiss in her duties in regards to her response to aiding the Mandalorians then and only then should she be reprimanded, a loss in pay, but no loss of rank or position."

Faith took a breath she thought a moment about the Mandalorian treaty, "And if you are going to renegotiate the Mandalorian Treaty then all treaties should be renegotiated for who knows similar circumstances may happen again with another one of our allies."

She smiled, "But do remember that what we do to them, they will in turn do to us, and regulated too much the Republic stands to lose what allies they have gained."

Treaties were hard won to upset the balance could once again leave the Republic without support.

[member="Macharius Solaire"] [member="Lionel Roux"] [member="Valen Cerezo"] @Genevieve Lasdri

 

[Geneviève Lasedri]

Geneviève sneered a bit--not at any of the senators present, but just out of disgust for the fact she was about to lay out. "The Caledonia is supposed to be stationed in this system, actually." That was the truth, and she hoped that sunk deep in the senators' minds. "Yes, it was posted in the Onderon System, to defend this Republic capital. May I mention that this world has few defenses--no offense to Senator Rist--to protect itself from invasion. Thus, the Republic navy must have a strong presence here, or we are all in grave danger." Nothing better to stir a group of politicians up than to let them know how their safety had been compromised. They all seemed quite affected by that, even while many would rather squabble over bills intended to favor their backers than concern themselves with the general population's security.

"The treaty we have forged with the Mandalorian clans is nothing more than a military pact, currently. It denotes that we are to abide by their laws in their territory, and they in ours. Other than that, it simply dictates that we are to work together in the fight against the Sith--not local dissenters." She was not exactly reading from the fine print here. But many of the law-makers rarely even read their own bills thoroughly. "This action the Supreme Commander has taken may gain favor with our Mandalorian freinds. However, the fact still stands that we allowed the capital of the Republic to be vulnerable to attack in order to expand another nation's boundaries."

Turning to the senator from Alderaan, the Prime Minister gave little show of humor. "I think that's a bit of a stretch as far as interpretation goes. Militaries are run on discipline, as Senator Solaire just noted. If the military's highest-ranking leaders do not know discipline, how can we expect the remainder of our armed forces to do the same? Admiral Tyven should be leading by example--or we can expect our troops to simply wander off as they wish." Sometimes she felt too much like she was just here to clarify things and not actually execute.

[member="Miria Lasedri"], [member="Thalia Rist"], [member="Valen Cerezo"], [member="Lionel Roux"], [member="Faith Balor"], [member="Macharius Solaire"]