Private The Way Ahead Group

[Natasi Fortan]

SABLECROSS COURT
THE GREENWOLD - 190 MILES FROM NEW STERANDEL
AEGIS - THE RENASCENT HEIRATE​

One could be forgiven for being reminded of an old Galidraani murder mystery novel or film. An eclectic group gathering at the idyllic country estate of a wealthy matriarch was a classic of the genre. Playing the role of the grand dame and inevitable murder victim was Natasi Fortan. The usual suspects: Dyrn Grav , Duke of Suffolk and her loyal husband; George Vitalis , soon to be invested as Prince of Aegis and her heir; Reima Vitalis , erstwhile daughter and, unflatteringly, the spare; Wedge Draav , Reima's betrothed; Renata Westaway , the Prime Minister; Lord Rookwood, the Foreign Secretary; Cressida Tolliver , the Renascent Heirate's representative to the Galactic Alliance Senate; and Alaric Drummond, Secretary of State for Defense.

Natasi rather doubted that she would fall victim to foul play this weekend. Even if there was a motive -- and George didn't seem to be that eager to take the reins from her -- with Dyrn by her side, no assassin stood a chance. Besides, each of the guests was chosen because the weekend was no ordinary social gathering. It being held out of town, at Natasi's private summer retreat, was not just for the fresh spring air but for privacy. There were matters of discussion afoot that would set the direction of the Renascent Heirate's foreign policy for the foreseeable future, and she wanted the opinions of those closest to her -- those whose opinions mattered, regardless of their possession of a title in government.

The other guests would be arriving later in the afternoon, to give them time to settle and dress for dinner. After lunch, Natasi gathered The Firm -- the family -- in her private sitting room, away from the prying eyes of the domestic staff. It was a casual affair, with no protocol strictly enforced. Natasi perched, by habit, in a plush, upholstered armchair by the fireplace, though in the warmth of the season no fire had been laid. She carefully stirred her cup of coffee before setting the spoon in the saucer and setting the whole works to one side, watching the comings and goings of her family and those soon to join it, dark eyes impassively drinking in the scene. Despite the circumstances, she was grateful that they could all be together, all whole, all in one piece.

Her legacy, as it were, if she were to die today. A strong Heirate with a strong heir, who would have all the benefit of a strong and stable stepfather in Dyrn, a compassionate advocate in Reima, and a competent strategist in Wedge -- all without the burden of the hidebound, haughty old woman that was Natasi Fortan.

"You've all seen and heard the latest by now," she began unceremoniously as the last of them filed into the room, and Reima shut the door, leaving them secluded. "We'll know more about how things will play out when the Senate chooses its next chancellor, but I think it would be beneficial to discuss our path forward in either case. I suppose we can all them Plan A -- the Alliance elects someone with a backbone that will stand against the Empire; and Plan B -- the Alliance chooses one of the wets that will sell parts of the Alliance down the river. Whether those parts are to include the Renascent Heirate remains to be seen and I suspect even those pushing for such appeasement have not landed on a firm limiting principle." She really meant to say the bottom of their own cowardice but she didn't want to poison the well of the discussion.

"The Government will have their own ideas, but they will be looking for my input. But since this your home, your work, your lives, as much as it is mine, I am looking to you for input." She paused and gestured to a notepad she had balanced on her other knee. "I'm taking notes, but that's just to keep track of questions, action items, etc. Nothing anyone says here will be quoted publicly with your permission, so feel free to speak freely. I hate the phrase no bad ideas in a brainstorm -- so let's say, instead, at this point nothing is off the table."

With that, Natasi leaned back, picked up her pen, and prepared to listen.

​

 

[Dyrn Grav]

It had felt like a long time since they had all been together like now. It was pleasant. Dyrn enjoyed the extension of family; his own had been incredibly small, and the individuals that Natasi had called to gather were those that Dyrn could trust. As far as Dyrn trusted, that was; his upbringing left him with a persistent state of cautious awareness, no matter who it was, save for Natasi herself. Still, that didn't detract from the pleasantness of seeing family.

When the private sitting room was entered, alongside his wife, Dyrn went about his checks. Mainly out of habit. He casually ran his fingers along ledges, under trappings, and he even poked at the fireplace with his shoe. When convinced they were fine, Dyrn turned and rested an elbow on the fireplace mantle, somewhat relaxed - that told Natasi all she needed to know.

Dyrn listened.

The situation with the Galactic Alliance had gone from bad to worse. There didn't seem much they could do right, in the current state of things, and there was a growing sense of dread over what could happen next. The Galactic Empire, despite Imperialism once being a strong part of Dyrn's lifestyle, was doing what it did, crunching planets underfoot and moving through the core. They would not stop. Dyrn knew that much. And there was no way to know what concessions the Alliance might allow to save its own skin.

Natasi said as much.

"We cannot afford to be caught unprepared," Dyrn said after a moment. This wasn't the first time Natasi and he had spoken of similar topics. "The Alliance may demand more in the way of military support, and we should retain a measured force for our own protection. I would be surprised to learn if other planets were not doing the same, simply out of a necessity to prepare for either option."

Protection, security, and having the resources to ensure both, that was Dyrn's concern. He couldn't care less if the Alliance managed to clear out the core worlds and sweep the Empire from the galaxy, because it didn't matter at all if he was unable to keep their planet safe. That was vital right now, especially with the galaxy being in such a state of fluctuation.

"There may be motions by a new Supreme Chancellor to increase planetary supply demand for war efforts. We need to be wary of idealistic sorts pushing fast and hard to take as much as possible, to pursue victory or their own agendas. Industrialists and suppliers do enjoy war, after all. My suggestion, in that instance, would be to understate our resources to a reasonable degree, to preserve this world's safety and economic stability."

Aegis would not be stripped clean to the bone, for the Alliance to squander what they took.

Their military campaigns have been a shambles.

There would be other concerns, of course, but those seemed most important to Dyrn to start with. He was curious to know what the rest of the family and advisors had in mind...

Natasi Fortan | George Vitalis | Reima Vitalis | Renata Westaway | Wedge Draav​

 

[George Vitalis]

Natasi Fortan Dyrn Grav Reima Vitalis Renata Westaway Wedge Draav

He nodded approvingly following Grav's words. It was still sometimes tough to think of him as his stepfather, but Dyrn had a way of cutting through the nonsense and right into the heart of things that George appreciated. Besides it was nice to see his mother smile, a rarity still, but at least it wasn't a mythological occurrence anymore.

"I agree. We all know that the Alliance is a hungry beast constantly consuming, irrespective of what is good for the internal parts." While Lord Admiral Bao's defection to the Empire had been a shock, her constant conviction to keep Alliance at bay had been an inspiration to himself. It was the way it ought to be, but the federalization of the Alliance was a continued trend.

"It is how we got here in the first place. How else would a fledgling nation like the Empire be able to rip core worlds from under it and then take both Coruscant, Arkania and dozens of worlds in between?"

What the Alliance had seen as strength in actuality turned it brittle.

His fingers tapped against his elbow as he shifted on the couch. It was a lot to consider and think about. How much to support the Alliance, how much could they keep for themselves and would the latter be enough if the Alliance crumbled and the Empire came knocking? It was enough to give him a headache already.

No wonder mother rarely smiled.

"We should be prepared to defend our nation if the Alliance falls. While we understate what we have right now, we should invest into growing our strength at the same time. Shipyards, defense stations... I do not think we could stand against the Empire if the Alliance couldn't, but perhaps we could make the prospect so painful the Empire will look elsewhere first in the worst case."

To turn the system into a pincushion, hurting anyone trying to embrace it.

That's how Arage Bao had forced every nation that tried to subsume Humbarine into respecting its independence. Perhaps that was how they could do it too.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi's dark eyes took in Dyrn as he made his opening suggestions, then pivoted to George as he concurred. That was a good sign. Both men were intelligent, both had martial training, and both were dedicated to the project of the Renascent Heirate. "You might be on to something there," she mused, stroking her jaw with her thumb absent-mindedly. "It seems a little -- underhand -- to make misrepresentations. What would you both think about directing Senator Tolliver to inform the Senate that the Heirate will be keeping its scheduled tax receipts in escrow, pending proof of measures put in place that the Alliance will operate in good faith in the defense of its member worlds."

She paused a beat, looking between the two men. "To include the Heirate, of course," Natasi said.

"Meanwhile, we will redouble our efforts at the Tregessar Facility. We need more ships operational than we have." She tapped her pen against her notepad, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment. Trying to make figures tally to a number she could live with and failing. "It might be worth seeing if we can finance another undersea facility. It's only credits, after all."

Dyrn Grav | George Vitalis | Wedge Draav | Reima Vitalis
Cressida Tolliver | Renata Westaway​

 

[Wedge Draav]

​

Wedge took a deep breath, thinking for a moment. He was lounging in one of the chairs. He was dressed in something unfamiliar to most gathered, in honest experience- a typical jacket and fatigues befitting a man from Anaxes- the heavy leather blocked the wind and kept the elements out. The wool around the collar kept the heat in- making it an extremely warm coat, even for the fringes of space. And Wedge had just come in from another route, another patrol, another training exercise- and hadn't stopped flying since. The holster on his chest was also empty. Not that he wouldn't mind carrying all the time lately, but-

He wanted to show everyone that he was infact, not going to shoot them.

"We should be prepared to defend our nation if the Alliance falls. While we understate what we have right now, we should invest into growing our strength at the same time. Shipyards, defense stations... I do not think we could stand against the Empire if the Alliance couldn't, but perhaps we could make the prospect so painful the Empire will look elsewhere first in the worst case."

"Not if, but when."

​

Wedge said, his eyes flicking upwards to meet George's. George and his relationship was much more honest now, and Wedge had rarely lost his charisma and charm. But this? This was another matter, another whole entity of issues that one could not simply ignore and hope for the best. No, the reality was that the Alliance was going to fall.

"The Alliance cannot protect us, so why should our citizens be paying into it's dying body?"

 

[Reima Vitalis]

Reima stood at the sideboard, fixing a cup of coffee for herself and one for Wedge. "It's hard to argue that," she conceded her fiancé's point, as well as her step-father's and her brother's. She crossed the room to stand behind Wedge's chair, resting a hand on his shoulder as she leaned over to place the coffee on the side table next to him. "But I'll do my best. Not that this should be misconstrued to be defending the Alliance as a concept, mind," she added, squeezing Wedge's shoulder subtly. "But if there's going to be someone spending money and ships to slow the Imperial incursion, I'd much rather it was their money and ships."

And men, was the unspoken truth understood by everyone in the room, no one more than Wedge except perhaps Natasi herself.

"It sounds callous," she confessed, glancing to her brother and nodding towards the coffee. Want a cup? in the silent shorthand they had built over years. "But the truth is I really doubt whether we could stand up against the combined might of the Galactic Empire. The question is whether starting an altercation with them makes us more likely or less likely to get Imperial attention. I'm afraid I just don't know."

She finished George's coffee, then turned to Dyrn. "Drink, Dyrn?"

George Vitalis | Dyrn Grav | Wedge Draav | Natasi Fortan​

 

[Dyrn Grav]

Good. We are unified to begin.

Dyrn listened as the family and Wedge spoke sound advice. He had always admired their pragmatic approach; it helped remove much of the emotional knee-jerking that some leaders or advisors could stumble with, and ultimately helped the discussion progress effectively, because, when it came to planetary defense, it was optimal.

Reima offered a drink.

"Yes, please," Dyrn nodded. "Water would suffice. Thank you."

He wanted to keep his mind clear. Dyrn turned to Reima's fiancé and raised his eyebrows, also noting the empty chest holster.

"Wedge, I understand you have been taking part in patrols. Have there been indications of increased presence from unaligned contacts? Smugglers, pirates, mercenaries, anything that may imply reconnaissance or defensive prodding?"

If the numbers were increasing, that could indicate concern.

Dyrn turned to look at Natasi and George.

"Should we seek to further our own personal alliances with neighboring worlds?" he asked, though he assumed talks had already begun. It was better to left nothing important unsaid. "We may not rely on the Alliance as a whole, yet a sector of worlds within it, working in unison, could assist in providing that higher degree of strategic difficulty George suggested."

Natasi Fortan | George Vitalis | Reima Vitalis | Wedge Draav​

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Natasi considered Dyrn's words, her eyes lingering on him, her gaze thoughtful. "The Foreign Office briefs tell me that Senator Tolliver has made friends -- or at least, friendly relations -- with Veradune's new Senator, Alexandra Feanor . I don't know that it's strong enough that we could necessarily rely upon them for a mutual defense pact, or that that might even make a difference if the Empire should turn its attention to us."

She touched the controls on her datapad, drawing up the holographic map of the galaxy and placed it on the table between them, watching the map slowly rotate. "We don't know anyone on Mokk IX. I have a good relationship with the Organas on Aldraan -- or with Alicio Organa , at least I think so -- but they're even closer to trouble than we are, and much more prominent. Ought we to lash ourselves to them?"

It felt cowardly, somehow, to make that observation, but Natasi felt the fate of the Renascent Heirate and its population weighing heavily on her. Principles were all well and good, but when it came to risking the lives of the people she reigned over there had to be a balance. Being too outspoken, too flashy, gaining too much attention could put a target on the people she loved most outside the people in this room: the citizens.

"With the way things are going I don't think it's going to be a hard sell to withhold our funding," Natasi mused thoughtfully. "Or more."

Dyrn Grav | George Vitalis | Wedge Draav | Reima Vitalis​

 

[Wedge Draav]

​

"Wedge, I understand you have been taking part in patrols. Have there been indications of increased presence from unaligned contacts? Smugglers, pirates, mercenaries, anything that may imply reconnaissance or defensive prodding?"

​

Wedge clicked his teeth, taking in a deep breath through his nose before responding. Wedge Draav, actually taking a second. He looked across to Dyrn, nodding solemnly.

"We've tailed a few unidentified ships. Haven't engaged with the only TIE patrol we came across- but, frankly, there's three different groups of assholes running around with TIE fighters now- could be the Empire, the other Empire, or, the other other Empire. Engaging didn't seem to be our strongest option. That, and three TIEs on recon or patrol- not particularly our concern."

He turned his head to Natasi after her last two words.

"You don't want to send the Alliance anymore troops, do you?"

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