Faction The Fate of Alderaan (THR)

[Gram Arranda]

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Fearing an invasion by the Sith Covenant, the government of Alderaan sent a delegation of ambassadors to Naboo with an earnest request: let Alderaan join the High Republic as a member world. Chancellor Dominique Vexx has already agreed to station Republic military forces in the Alderaan system as a gesture of solidarity, but the question of membership must be decided upon by the Senate.

Ambassador Gram Arranda and Junior Ambassador Liana Organa have arranged a reception at the newly renovated Alderaanian Embassy in Theed to promote their cause. The event—featuring live music, food, and a showcase of Alderaanian culture—is open to all interested parties. Make connections and network with political figures, explore the exhibits, and enjoy the festivities. The fate of Alderaan is in your hands.

OOC: This thread will function as the Senate hearing for the Alderaanian Cession Bill. At the end, there will be an OOC vote on the bill to determine whether or not steps will be taken to usher Alderaan into the High Republic.

 

[Gram Arranda]

Gram stood in the wings of the convention hall stage, dressed to the nines and with his hair perfectly coiffed. In a few minutes, he would be going out on stage. His prepared greeting was very short—only a few sentences welcoming the guests and thanking them for coming—and yet he still felt uneasy. His eyes darted toward his wife Vera, who was peering past the curtain. “How many people are out there?” he asked.

She turned to look at him, the long train of her blue satin gown pooling like liquid around her as she moved. “Plenty,” she replied. Seeing the uncertain look on his face, she stepped closer to him, reaching for his hand. “Don’t worry about the numbers. We already know that they hear us.”

Gram sighed, knowing she was right. Ever since he was called upon to lead the delegation, he had struggled with a lingering sense of inadequacy. Much of it could be attributed to being away from his homeworld and living in a foreign land. But he was also afraid, not that they would be misunderstood or misconstrued, but that Alderaan’s pleas would be ignored. Part of him still expected to see no one on the other side of the curtain; an empty room, devoid of hope.

So far the High Republic had been receptive to Alderaan’s plight. The convention hall was far from empty—and it was time for him to go. He gave Vera’s hand a reassuring squeeze, then stepped out onto the stage, making his way to the podium.

“Welcome to the Embassy of Alderaan. Before we begin, I would like to thank you all for coming. Your support means… everything to us. Now, without further ado, please enjoy yourselves.”

On cue, the musicians began playing an Alderaanian symphonic suite. Server droids began distributing food and drinks to the guests. Gram left the stage, still feeling like a great weight was on his shoulders. His hand found Vera’s again, and the couple went out together, mingling with the crowd.

Tags: OPEN​

 

[Liana Organa]

- Open to interaction - ​

Liana flashed Gram Arranda a thumbs up from across the convention halls he stepped down from the stage. There was a decent turnout so far, a mix of politicians, entrepreneurs, and the press. Time would tell if anything came of the gathering. People could flatter and schmooze all night long, but it didn't mean anything until their vote was made. That was what they were here for, she supposed; to convince those sitting on the fence to come on over to their side. To see that Alderaan and the High Republic would both be better off in union with one another. Liana hoped she was up to the task.

The Princess of Alderaan had put on one of her finest dresses: a white and gold gown of traditional Alderaanian fashion. She was pretty sure there was a replica of this exact manner of royal dress somewhere in the Embassy's gallery, which would be a bit embarrassing. Too late to change now. Highlighting their culture was a key focus of the evening anyway. She even had her hair up in old-school star puffs.

As the crowds mingled, Liana positioned herself centrally, so that any who wished to speak to her about the night's events (or indeed the Alderaanian Cession Bill) would be able to locate the young junior ambassador posthaste.

 

[Eadu Yittreas]

The reception was a sea of vibrant silks and the rhythmic clinking of crystal, but his entrance created a quiet, devastating ripple. Eadu was a creature of the rotunda, a fixture of the dark-wood pods and the clinical artificiality of the Senate floor. Seeing him here, amidst the warmth of Alderaanian hospitality and the scent of blooming nectar, would mark the end of Alderaan's hopes for joining the High Republic.

He failed to recognize the worth of a planet that still held onto the notion of noble-rule due to the remote possibility that the King of Naboo might ally with them to secure greater representation in the Senate and therefore increasing the power of the current Chancellor over the other delegations.

To many, such a thought was mere paranoia but to him it was a historical concern. After all, the Republic itself had emerged from the centralization of power within the Royal Naboo Republic. He moved with a quiet grace, his modest black robes absorbing the golden light of the chandeliers rather than reflecting it.

As he passed, the chatter of minor diplomats faltered. He caught the subtle looks of surprise the widening of eyes, the reflexive clutching of wine stems. They were not used to seeing the Senator of Alassa Major in the wild. "Senator Yittreas," a breathless aide stammered, stepping aside. "We... we didn't expect you."

"You certainly didn't, yet here I stand." A straightforward reply that kept everyone in the dark about why he was here.

 

[Rémiel Durevant]

Theed and by extension Alderaan itself was, to say the least, a breathtaking planet, and that was hardly an exaggeration. For someone like Rémiel, whose homeworld was nothing but sand dunes and vast oceans, the scenery felt almost unreal. Though he could easily have indulged in everything this world had to offer, such distractions were not the main purpose of the day even if the guard tasked with keeping him in check had already needed to pull him back in line a couple of times before they even reached the event location.

During the journey from Savareen to Alderaan, Rémiel had reviewed the purpose of the trip: a hearing concerning Alderaan’s integration into the High Republic. If he was honest with himself, he could see the reasoning. For one, it would effectively guarantee aid in the event of an invading force arriving at a world’s borders, and for another, it would open the door to far more trade opportunities and who didn’t appreciate a steady flow of credits?

As the ambassador concluded their introduction to tbe event, Rémiel took the opportunity to secure the one thing that always helped him endure social events: something mildly alcoholic. Fortunately, a serving droid soon obliged. Now, all that remained was to mingle.