Faction The Fate of Alderaan (THR)

[Sycorax Laveaux]

"I am here to be the dissenting voice, Chancellor. Every beacon needs a shadow to define its edges, does it not? If the Senate only ever hears the harmonious chorus of Naboo and Alderaan singing of unity, it might forget that overexpansion is the death-keel of factions. As records have shown from the fall of the New Imperial Order, the Galactic Alliance, and the Hutt Space Consortium to name a few examples."

"I used to fancy myself a dissenting voice."

Sycorax approached the two from the side. She was dressed to the nines, a sparkling purple liquor clutched in one scarred white hand. She glanced between Dominique and Eadu. "I don't mean to intrude. I just couldn't help but overhear you and was intrigued."

She sipped her drink. "In my experience, being a contrarian gets old quickly. You'll find yourself doing and saying things just to prove a point, not because you actually believe what you're saying. It kills the soul. Much better to simply think and reason for yourself."

Eadu Yittreas Dominique Vexx​

 

[Verity Stuyveris]

Verity snagged a pair of champagne flutes from the tray of a waiter who paused to offer them, handing one smoothly off to Calren with a murmured, "Anything to worry about, Mr. Voss?"

"Only if you consider your senate colleagues a threat, Senator," Voss replied smoothly, lifting his glass to sip before a brief whisper. "Five o'clock, got a fast mover."

"It usually depends on the colleague," Verity quipped, not moving too quickly. "And the day. And whether I've said anything naughty about them in print that day." Finally slowly turning, as if in the natural course of things, and smiled broadly when she spotted Ayumi Pallopides . "Senator Pallopides -- radiant, as always. Let me get a look at you." A glacial gaze swept down the woman and up again, admiring her costume, before glancing to Voss. "May I present Mr. Calren Voss? He is a... friend from home," Verity said with a slightly affected sense of delicacy. "Calren, Senator Ayumi Pallopides of Denon, quite the best dressed woman in the Senate."

Verity leaned in to listen. "Terraforming, you say?" She echoed, head tilting forward with interest. "That sounds rather promising. I'd love to be taken through it all.bwould it be terribly gauche to whip out our calendars and settle it right here and now?"

Thankfully the Senator was saved from the potential faux pas by the arrival of a towering figure in Alderaanian public life: Queen Amani Serys herself. Verity took the proffered hand in a respectfully firm but not bonecrunching grip and, in deference to the fact that they were diplomatically speaking on Alderaanian soil, offered a shallow curtsy. More of a subtle head bobbing, really. "Your Majesty, it is an honor. But I'm afraid you give me too much credit." Her gaze swiveled to where Liana Organa and Gram Arranda were holding court across the room. "The truth is the Princess and Mr. Arranda presented Alderaan's case so well and so convincingly that it was the natural conclusion. And anyway, to leave Alderaan -- a world of such importance on so many levels -- out in the cold while those madmen lick their chops... Well, it's unthinkable."

She slipped her champagne and let her gaze turn to Ayumi to hear her response to the queen. Was there anything Denon could not achieve? she wondered idly, gazing over the rim of her glass at her colleague.

​

 

[Eharl Sarn]

​

Rémiel Durevant

Senator Eharl Sarn listened in stillness, his broad frame unmoving as a low, contemplative hum resonated from both of his throats. The music in the hall swelled and dipped around them, bright strings attempting to outrun quieter anxieties woven between conversations.

The Ithorian inclined his great head slightly.

"You do not read too deeply, Senator Durevant," Sarn replied gently through his translator, peering down at his compatriot. "Joy offered in uncertain times often carries… a tremor beneath it."

Those long fingers settled together before him, tenting them together as if even now he measured growth against circumstance.

"The Covenant's presence is no longer a distant storm. It presses upon many worlds leaving nothing but wreckage in their wake," he continued in a serious humming tone, "And yes, while fear can hasten decisions, it can also clarify them."

Those older amber eye stalks turned fully toward Remiel as the elder Ithorian Senator seemed to search the younger politican's mind and heart.

"I would hear Savareen's wisdom on this matter. How does your world judge the Covenant's intent? Are they seeking dominion… provocation… or something yet unnamed?"

A quiet hum underscored his next words.

"And more importantly....what do you believe the Republic must do in answer?"

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

Verity Stuyveris Amani Serys

Her smile at the compliment was wonderful. "I only do it to keep up with your natural beauty." She looked to her guest with a nod. "And fair point this is about Alderaan though the demonstration might be able to aid them as well. I'll have to see about that." She looked at Amani and bowed as the woman approached and then spoke with a nod. "You are welcome, the Commander of our defense force assures me the Keth will do everything you need and more." She said it with a small smile. As she got a drink with only the water in the glass as opposed to the champagne. Her preference for a clear head in important meeting there.