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"Madam Chancellor, esteemed colleagues," Verity began, economical in both words and movements as she stood straight in her pod, slowly orbiting the Chancellor's podium. "I rise this morning to formally introduce the Displaced Persons Relief and Resettlement Act. This bill is designed to supplement existing High Republic laws regarding immigration and refugee to account for the realities that are faced by individuals fleeing the Core and other devastated regions -- to wit: being unable to offer a complete package of documents currently required due to the documents being either inaccessible or destroyed because of the current violence being perpetuated by the Sith Covenant and the Sith Order. The Bill offers common sense solutions, recognizing these realities, by providing an avenue for refugees to enter our Republic with slightly relaxed documentation requirements, while at the same time requiring robust security vetting and safeguards to ensure that the nation's efforts to address the matter of refugees is not take advantage of by bad actors."
Verity shifted her weight, one foot to the other, the motion all but imperceptible in her simple dress. "The Bill leverages existing security, law enforcement, national security, and immigration and border enforcement agencies, financial incentive channels, and other resources. It creates no new agencies and it recognizes the Chancellor's executive prerogatives and imposes no additional burdensome oversight requirements. Nothing within the Bill obligates member world participation. The Bill is designed to provide a tool in the Chancellor's toolbox which she may reach for -- or not -- as per her best judgment."
"I reserve the remainder of my time and yield."
Allows (but does not require) the Chancellor or a designee to identify 'Designated Crisis Zones' (DCZs), refugees from which are eligible for entry into the High Republic under slightly relaxed documentation requirements in recognition that access to official documents in violent warzones or other catastrophically impacted areas may be limited.
Requires the publication of basic quarterly reporting to include data and statistics on displaced persons, resettlement outcomes, and security audits.
Requires refugees utilizing this program to comply with intensive security controls, including the collection of biometric data, background reporting and screening, immigration interviews, and the requirement to carry documentation and report to refugee authorities on an ongoing basis.
Imposes penalties, including deportation, for individuals entering the High Republic under this program who are convicted of crimes while present in the High Republic.
Provides broad discretion to the Chancellor for national security considerations, including:
The authority to suspend the program, if implemented, for up to 90 days at a time with notification to the Senate, which can be extended indefinitely in 90-day increments
The authority to review and redact quarterly reporting prior to publication for national security purposes. Notwithstanding this provision, the Senate shall have access to unredacted quarterly reporting subject to existing classification regulations.
Does not create new ministries, departments, or agencies.
Does not impose Senate oversight over the Executive Branch, beyond the right to receive quarterly reports and review/debate but not override the Chancellor's decision to suspend the program once implemented.
He focused on the pad for this one. Made sure to read the ins and outs of the proposal rather than lean on his aide. Not because he didn't want to but because unlike the last few bills proposed, this was a bill that actually mattered. This was, if he was to accomplish anything, exactly the kind of bill that Lex was into office to pass.
Displaced Persons Relief and Resettlement Act. The DPRaR Act. There wasn't even a stupid acronym for this one. Lex glanced over the rim of his pad towards Stuyveris as she announced the bill. He had only been here for a short while but it was increasingly clear she was one of the big players in the room. She wasn't afraid to turn an idea into a bill and see what stuck around. He could admire that approach.
From the looks of things it was a bill that could help Nubia a lot. He wasn't aware of how many others were senators of border worlds and in truth he didn't care. His people had voted for him and on this day they would be heard.
"As I understand, this proposes a way for current member worlds to essentially volunteer as worlds that would accept refugees from the war." Lex's voice boomed across the senate. His aide lowered his voice again. He glared towards Column 53 and shook his head. Idiots.
Ayumi sat perfectly centered in her repulsor pod, her frame projecting a warm, welcoming and architectural elegance that matched the atmosphere of the Senate. She was dressed in a pristine white command blazer, a garment of sharp lines and structured shoulders that showed amazing and disciplined tailoring. The fabric was a heavy, materia silk that resisted wrinkling even as she shifted, accented by thick gold piping along the lapels and cuffs that caught the shifting light of the rotunda. Beneath the jacket, she wore a high-collared ivory dress secured by a band that was doing all of the work, a choice that projected an image of professionalism
Her lightly bronzed copper skin appeared radiant against the stark white of her attire, a natural glow that remained constant under the artificial neon of the legislative dome. Her straight, dark-honey hair was meticulously bound in tight mission braids, ensuring that the golden-threaded strands remained out of her face as she leaned over her holographic terminal. Ayumi's deep honey eyes, flecked with sharp amber, scanned the text of the Displaced Persons Relief and Resettlement Act with efficiency. While she remained silent during the initial presentation, her focus was entirely on the mechanical vulnerabilities of the bill. To her, the bill could be seen as dangerous as a live thermal detonator but they said the same thing for her last bill so.
She adjusted her seated position, her waist-length braids shifting against the gold-trimmed white fabric of her outfit as she began to rise and the repulsor pod came forward with a look. "The Senator Stuyveris intent is noble, but the mechanics of this bill are porous," Ayumi began, her voice projecting with a neutral care edged clarity that cut through the low hum of the pod. She adjusted a gold cuff, her movements precise and devoid of wasted energy. "I am submitting two amendments to address the 'Designated Crisis Zones' framework. First, the reliance on existing security vetting is a fantasy when we are dealing with systems currently being dismantled by the Sith."
She said it but was looking to make sure her tone was fine... she wasn't against it. She rarely saw Verity's bills as unneeded as some would imply. "I move that we mandate a tertiary biometric sweep conducted by Judicial Forces for any individual lacking a verifiable digital footprint. If the home-world database is dark, we do not simply 'relax' our standards; we shift the burden of proof to a localized forensic audit. We are opening a door, not inviting a breach, and I would like the language of Section Two to reflect that distinction." She looked around, the gold lines of her dress catching the light as she watched the reactions on the surrounding pods.
"Furthermore," she continued, her voice came out with a small movement, "the Chancellor's ninety-day suspension power is insufficient without a mandatory 'Deep-Freeze' clause. If this program is halted due to a confirmed security compromise, my amendment requires a retroactive audit of every refugee processed within the preceding sixty days. If a danger has already crossed the threshold under these relaxed rules, a simple pause of the program does nothing to find them. We must have the ability to re-verify every shadow we've let into the refugee sectors.." She said it and was a little tougher but at the same time knew even with all of the security proposed most didn't care.
"The honorable member for Nubia has the right idea," Verity confirmed. "But if he will indulge me, at the risk of being overly-explanatory, I would stress that the scope of this Bill is necessarily limited to refugees admitted under the terms described -- not all refugees generally. Whatever laws currently govern the settlement of other displaced persons would remain unchanged. The framework applies only to those whose documentation may be incomplete under existing refugee requirements, and those hailing from worlds the Chancellor's office identifies as being within Designated Crisis Zones."
"Some planetary governments may, for example, view the absence of a complete documentation package as an unacceptable security risk, even when counterbalanced with robust vetting." She paused briefly to look around the chamber. "This Bill gives member worlds a choice -- not an obligation -- to accept these refugees."
Verity turned her attention to Ayumi Pallopides
, her lips twitching up at the corners, and a nod of friendly recognition crossing between them. Pallopides always had big ideas, and usually valuable ones. "Perhaps my honorable friend the member for Denon would be kind enough to provide a detailed definition of a tertiary biometric sweep that might be workable within this framework. As impressive as it sounds, it is unclear how exactly that would differ from what is being proposed in the original text."
Her hands clasped behind her back. "While I am no stranger to a rhetorical flourish, it borders on mischaracterization to suggest that this legislation suggests a relaxation of standards. It is, rather, a relaxation of some documentary requirements, with a corresponding increase in vetting to assure those who enter under such a protocol do not pose a risk higher than a refugee who enters with, for example, a birth certificate. That being said, if the gentlelady has some textual amendments to suggest -- something more operational than ornamental -- she will find me fully prepared to second her amendment."
"As for the second amendment," Verity said, fingers flexing minutely behind her back as she considered this slightly stickier wicket. "I think the gentlelady knows me well enough by now to know that I appreciate instinct toward caution. But a mandatory, retroactive audit may not be appropriate in all cases. The Chancellor may pause the program, for instance, not in response to a breach but in anticipation of one -- a preventative measure based on credible threat intelligence. That is not necessarily a moment to consume resources chasing phantoms."
Verity's voice softened a measure then, though her posture remained unmoved. "However, I am not opposed in principle to the prudence the amendment demands -- assuming, of course, that we as a body are now comfortable in issuing direct operational mandates to undertake significant action to the Executive Branch."
The pause housed a mild, all but impassive glance toward Dominique Vexx
's podium, her blue eyes flinty, but at this distance there was no way to gauge a reaction. She turned her eyes back to Ayumi Pallopides
. "Nothing in this Bill limits the Chancellor from ordering such an audit through her intelligence services, law enforcement, and other executive agencies -- in fact I suspect were it warranted she almost certainly would. But it is unclear to me, as things stand today, the extent to which this body is authorized to direct her or the agencies within her control to act."
Aurelian had half the pod turned into a reception lounge. Delegates from Plooriod III lounged around a low table, glasses in hand, plates half-finished. The Senate droned on in the background while business, politics, and mild indulgence blended together.
His old world. The one he had represented before Naboo crowned him king. He did not miss it. Well. Not much.
Aurelian leaned back, watching the chamber rotate slowly around the Chancellor's dais. Plooriod was quiet. Naboo was… Naboo. Elegant headaches and diplomatic theater. Sometimes he missed the simplicity of a world where the most controversial debate was unemployment rates.
The bill caught his attention when the delegates began murmuring. Senator Stuyveris again. He skimmed the proposal on his datapad, one brow lifting slightly. Solid legislation. Humanitarian. Very on brand for Verity. Another attempt to keep the Core crisis front and center in the Senate's mind.
Hard to argue with this one. Plooriod III would opt-in, Naboo would not.
He glanced across the chamber toward Naboo's neighboring pods, eyes briefly searching for Eadu Yittreas
. No obvious reaction yet. Pity. Aurelian enjoyed a little political theater with his afternoon drink.
Still, one detail made him pause. The Chancellor could redact portions of the reports. Necessary, perhaps, but it left plenty of room for suspicion later. Secrets had a way of aging badly in the Senate.
He sighed quietly. No drama today, it seemed. Tragic.
Aurelian rose, the motion smooth and unhurried. His pod drifted forward as he spoke, a smile already forming. He knew exactly the look Verity would give him.
"I applaud Senator Stuyveris for finally presenting a well crafted bill. It is refreshing to see a proposal arrive fully assembled rather than stitched together."
He paused just long enough for a few amused glances across the chamber.
"My friends and delegates from Plooriod III have expressed interest in participating in this program. Both Naboo and Plooriod will be voting in favor."
Behind him, the delegates straightened, pleased. "However, I would propose a minor adjustment regarding the sunset clause."
Aurelian folded his hands behind his back, gaze drifting across the Senate. "Five years is a short horizon for a program of this scale. It encourages short term planning and politically convenient decisions. Refugee integration requires stability."
He tilted his head slightly toward Verity's pod. "I propose extending the sunset clause to ten years. A longer term would encourage meaningful resettlement planning and prevent the program from vanishing midstream, leaving those it was meant to protect stranded between systems."
Aurelian let the silence settle for a moment, studying the chamber. Senators calculating. Delegates whispering. "I yield."
He sat again, lifting his glass as the delegation from Plooriod smiled beside him. Ten years of funding would make their little world very happy. And Aurelian, unfortunately for everyone involved, enjoyed making useful friends.
Ayumi rose once more in her repulsor pod, the gentle hum of its stabilizers underscoring the deliberate calm she projected across the chamber. Her white command blazer remained immaculate, the gold piping catching faint glints from the overhead illumination as she placed both hands lightly on the podium's edge, a posture of steady engagement rather than demand. "Thank you Senator Stuyveris all for the thoughtful questions and requests for further clarification on my previous statements regarding the bill." She spoke with a nod of her head. "I appreciate the thoughtful clarifications offered in response to the questions raised, both from the floor and in direct address."
She looked at it but wasn't going to go into as long or stamina requiring a speech. If anything she was looking for a little ease which was why her outfit while ornate and design to be eye catching was not nearly as intricate. "The intent behind the Displaced Persons Relief and Resettlement Act remains one I support in principle: providing a compassionate, pragmatic pathway for those displaced by the Sith Covenant's aggression and the broader devastation in the Core and Outer Rim, while preserving the integrity of our Republic's security architecture. The bill's careful avoidance of new bureaucracy, its deference to executive discretion, and its voluntary nature for member worlds are strengths that deserve recognition and preservation."
She waited and truthfully preferred this. "My aim in offering refinements has never been to obstruct but to fortify to ensure that what we build endures scrutiny, withstands exploitation, and ultimately succeeds in its humanitarian objectives without compromising the safety of our citizens or the stability of our worlds. The realities of active warzones, where planetary databases may be offline, records incinerated, or civil administration collapsed, demand we adapt; yet adaptation must be paired with layered safeguards commensurate to the risk. I therefore wish to elaborate on the two points previously raised, in the spirit of collaborative refinement."
She allowed a measured pause, her honey-flecked gaze sweeping the rotating pods to gauge attentiveness before continuing. "Regarding the framework for Designated Crisis Zones and the associated relaxation of documentary requirements, the original text wisely relies on existing vetting mechanisms across Judicial Forces, intelligence services, and immigration authorities. However, when a refugee originates from a system where Sith forces have actively targeted or dismantled governmental infrastructure including biometric registries, civil identification networks, and secure data archives the absence of a verifiable digital footprint is not merely an inconvenience but a foreseeable condition."
Her eyes flicked for a moment but she continued. "In such cases, the 'corresponding increase in vetting' described must be explicitly robust enough to close potential gaps that bad actors could exploit. My proposed amendment for a tertiary biometric sweep, conducted under Judicial Forces oversight, is intended as one such operational layer: it would entail cross-referenced forensic analysis of available biological markers such as genetic sequencing where feasible, dermal pattern mapping, or behavioral biometric baselines gathered during initial interviews against any surviving Republic or allied databases, supplemented by real-time field verification where possible. The truth is a powerful tool as much as anything."
A small pause as she knew a few who saw that as relative but there was power in a world of fronts and face to reveal it all both good aand bad but it was a card you only played once. "This is not a departure from the bill's philosophy of increased scrutiny in lieu of documentation; it is a specification of what 'increased' means when the baseline documentary package is verifiably unavailable due to conflict conditions. Far from fantasy, such measures draw from precedents in past refugee processing during regional crises, where multi-modal biometric confirmation has proven effective in distinguishing legitimate applicants from those attempting insertion."
Her hands went to the railing of her hover pod and there was a small look of interest in it as she continued. "I remain open to textual language that achieves the same outcome with greater flexibility perhaps through a requirement that the Chancellor's designee certify equivalent alternative vetting protocols when standard biometrics are infeasible provided the end result maintains parity of security assurance with conventionally documented entrants. Clarifying this in Section Two would strengthen the bill's defensibility, broaden its appeal among cautious member worlds, and better equip the Chancellor to implement it confidently."
Ayumi shifted slightly, the motion subtle yet purposeful, as her braids settled against the structured shoulders of her jacket. "On the matter of the ninety-day suspension authority and the proposed 'Deep-Freeze' clause, I fully concur that not every pause necessitates a resource-intensive retroactive review; preventative suspensions based on intelligence indicators alone should not automatically trigger full audits that could divert assets from active threat response. The bill already grants broad executive latitude here, which I respect as essential for nimble national security decision-making." Ayumi was flicking her eyes around more where she was able o look but her head never needed to turn while the pod hovered and rotated around the chancellor.
"My concern arises specifically in instances where a suspension follows confirmation of a security compromise whether through detected infiltration, compromised vetting at origin, or post-entry intelligence linking processed individuals to adversarial networks. In those narrow but high-consequence scenarios, the ability to retroactively verify the cohort admitted in the preceding sixty days becomes a necessary corrective mechanism to contain damage and restore confidence in the program. Without it, a pause halts new entries but leaves potential risks already within our borders unaddressed, potentially eroding public and senatorial support for the very tool we seek to provide."
She checked more while she looked over a few others and there might be anticipation for Eadu to do something. "I therefore suggest language that triggers the audit provision conditionally: upon a suspension accompanied by a formal finding of compromise as certified by relevant intelligence or law enforcement entities, rather than applying mandatorily to every pause. This balances prudence with practicality, avoids overburdening executive resources in precautionary cases, and ensures that when action is warranted, the mechanism exists to pursue it." Okay mentally she was waiting for several showy ones who liked to but there was a chance she debated.
"The Chancellor retains full discretion to initiate such reviews independently at any time, as Senator Stuyveris rightly noted; codifying a conditional pathway here would simply make that authority explicit in statute, providing clarity without encroaching on executive prerogative. I welcome counter-proposals or joint drafting to refine this balance, as the goal remains a bill that can pass with strong consensus and function effectively in crisis." She straightened, hands clasping once more behind her back in a gesture of readiness. "I reserve the remainder of my time and yield, hopeful that these elaborations advance our shared objective: a resilient, humane framework that aids the displaced while safeguarding the Republic."
An intriguing proposal. Matters regarding the integration, dispersal, and incorporation of refugees had been brought up before, but often in the wake of very specific crises. This Act, on the other hand, afforded broad authority in the management of such crises without mandating it be discussed at length in Chamber. All without surrendering their own authority for oversight and review.
Of course, there was a certain burden conveyed by this Act. Verity had not formally expressed it previously or now, but it was difficult to miss how often the word 'Chancellor' was thrown around in discussing the proposed legislation. Yes, with power came responsibility. Responsibility a political body would gladly leverage if they felt it necessary... or convenient.
It was because of its practical applications that Dominique would refrain from more... sweeping recommendations. The language used in this Bill were not so easily exploited. Something Dominique had yet a chance to ask if Verity had intended the matter of State to contain such. As Eadu made clear so often, the words used could carry great significance -- to the point it could completely undermine even good intentions.
"It is wise to establish a standardized approach to handling those seeking asylum from turbulent regions. Such consistency ensures equipment, procedures, and even personnel can be assigned to support each of our member worlds in fulfilling the vision of this legislation. That in addition to all members remaining confident that we each handle this unique circumstance in unified manner."
Dominique regarded those in attendance. If any of them supported any amendments presented thus far, she hoped they would second the motion so they were included in the vote. Otherwise, the Bill would be voted upon as-is. Not that she was going to suggest they favor any particular one.
The Ithorian's broad shoulders rose and fell in a slow, thoughtful breath as he listened from within his Senate pod to Verity Stuyveris
. One of his throats gave a low, resonant hum of approval, the sound drifting softly through the chamber like a contented chord.
"A splendid bill indeed," Senator Eharl Sarn murmured to himself, the elder's eyestalks tilting with quiet satisfaction. Not only was there wisdom in it, but prudence and compassion, the balance of it pleased him.
Yes, she was blossoming in her role very well.
His long fingers folded together over the rim of his teacup as he considered the chamber below. For worlds such as Enarc, which had seen its share of displaced souls in recent years, such thoughtfulness carried weight.
Without further ado, the Ithorian would activate his microphone and relay the following support of the original bill.
"Enarc seconds Displaced Persons Relief and Resettlement Act as it stands. I implore my fellow Senators to look deep in your hearts and see the prudence of such a measure and act." Even if Aurelian Veruna
King of Naboo had wanted to include a 10 year sunset clause, a 5 year one served just the same when it could be reauthorized. And while Ayumi Pallopides
did provide amendments for additional security, they had to juggle things appropriately without significant bottlenecks. Yes, even the High Chancellor Dominique Vexx
was of the same accord.
Yes, in this day and age, action had to take course!
A long finger shut off the microphone and then one of his eyestalks turned toward the neighboring pod where Senator Lex of Nubia had appeared and asked a question.
"Hmm." Sarn set the teacup down with careful deliberation. His aide, Alexi, was busily absorbed in a call and his datapad was off to the right. That, the Ithorian noted with quiet delight, was an opportunity.
With the gentle sway of someone who had lived a very long and patient life, the Senator rose and began to shuffle toward the pod's exit, moving with surprising stealth for someone nearly three meters tall.
If Alexi noticed, he gave no sign.
Sarn slipped out into the corridor and ambled toward the Nubian Senator's pod, eyestalks bright with curiosity.
"Senator Lex
," the Ithorian greeted warmly once he drew near, his voice carrying that calm, melodic timbre Ithorians were known for.
"I hope I am not intruding. I wished to say that I find Senator Verity's proposal… most encouraging."
One eyestalk tilted slightly, studying the Nubian with gentle interest.
"And I wondered what a fresh perspective such as yours might think of it. The matter of displaced peoples is… one that weighs heavily upon many worlds."
It became a back and forth that tugged on his nerves. The picture Pallopides was painting of herself wasn't a pretty one and it took active effort to remember she spoke for her people and not her own interests. At least that was what Lex hoped.
The proposed amendments were ludicrous at best. Given the confirmation from Stuyveris, Lex felt at least a small measure of vindication that he was still able to read legalese like a sane person. Which was to say barely.
When the kind representative Sarn asked for him to speak, well, it was really just a prod for him to do what he was going to do anyway. Probably.
"Members of the Senate," he began as his podium floated up into the chamber. "I'm not a very eloquent man, I leave that to the more experienced of you in this room. However, thanks to a career in development I can quite comfortably read between the lines."
"Representative Pallopides, your amendments are quite frankly outrageous." His hands grabbed firmly onto the railing of his podium. Anger? No. Fear of heights? Absolutely. "In a previous bill you suggested subdermal tracking. This time it's an insistence on biometrics for people who already lost everything."
"You are showing a clear distrust of our people without a lick of concern for these people's privacy. Your amendments are essentially creating a second class citizen out of people who already lost everything to the war, and all because you see that an enemy could use the system to infiltrate us. The message here isn't that we care, the message is that everyone who flees for their life is a terrorist unless we say otherwise."
"If we're worried about our enemy infiltrating the Republic, there are clearly easier ways to do that than to masquerade as a refugee. At least if the unconfirmed rumors of Sith presence at the Chancellor's fundraising gala is anything to go by. For that reason alone, Nubia will reject Denon's amendments, approve of Naboo's amendments, and I yield my time for now. Thank you."
Ravion Corvalis rose. He did not rush it. He never did.
One hand rested lightly against the edge of his pod, the other clasped behind his back as his gaze drifted; not to the Chancellor, nor to the sponsor of the bill. Instead it cast itself across the Senate itself. He had a way making it feel Measuring, almost like he was indicating who had spoken, the weight of their words, the indication of their intent.
Then when he finally spoke, his voice carried across the chamber without effort.
“Senator Stuyveris has presented us with something…rare.”He paused and allowed his smile to be seen by the cameras and the holoprojections of the chamber. “A proposal that is not a corporate thinking sentimental goal, but something functional.”His head inclined, it would be the closest thing to acknowledgement he would offer.
“The Republic must address the reality before it. The collapse of the Core has left entire systems reduced to ash. Citizenship Registries erased. Sector wide Population displacement beyond our comprehension. To pretend otherwise is not compassion…it is utter denial.”
Around the room he noticed a few nods. Some relieved expressions that the Magistrate was not throwing his usual roadblocks into the act. Ravion let them have that, for a moment at least.
Then his tone shifted; it was subtle, but unmistakable.
“But I find myself increasingly concerned that this chamber continues to confuse compassion with carelessness.”Silence settled more firmly now. “We are not discussing the relocation of citizens from one stable world to another. We are discussing the mass intake of undocumented populations from active war zones; regions where our enemies operate freely, where identities can be manufactured as easily as they are destroyed.”
His gaze sharpened as it moved across those same people that he had before. Behind him Kayrce coughed and a piece of holoplast was placed into his hand.
“And we are proposing to do so under a framework that, while well-intentioned, remains…permissive.”Not weak. Never say weak. He had to let them hear it themselves. Ravion straightened slightly before casting his hand towards the screen where the bill continued to display. “I will not oppose this bill.”
That landed. It never failed to do so.
“I will not stand in this chamber and argue that the displaced should be abandoned to the void. The Republic does not endure by turning its back on those in need.”A very un-Malastare approach he knew, but maybe his Naboo grass-roots would sell the point. “It endures by ensuring that aid does not become a vector for its own destruction.”
Now he would move. Slowly and deliberately. He presented the posture of a man not reacting, but reminding that his office was one of control.
“If this Act is to pass, and it will pass; then it must do so with the clarity that we are no longer operating in peacetime conditions.”His hand rested against the podium, fingers closing as though tightening something unseen. “This administration needs to be considered not as relief but instead as internal security.”
The words hung there. They were uncomfortable, but absolutely necessary.
“Any individual processed under this Act must be entered into a centralised Republic registry. Not a local one. Not something sectoral. It must be Central, here in this senate. On Naboo.”Again Kayrce coughed and handed him another note. “Security screening must not be a single event at intake, but a continuous condition of presence.Full Audit authority must not be reactive, it has to be persistent. Constantly rolling. Uninterrupted.”
His eyes flicked briefly toward the Chancellor’s podium. Was he looking for reaction? Of course not, this handed powers to that chair. He was hoping for responsibility.
“And where risk is identified, the Republic must retain the authority to act without delay. Relocation. Detention. Revocation of status. Whatever is required.”He knew this would cause a stir now. There was rising tension and some resistance. All from worlds far from the war torn borders.
Ravion did not raise his voice.
“We are told this programme is voluntary for member worlds.” He gave a faint, almost thoughtful tilt of his head. “Very well. Then let us also be honest about what follows.”
His gaze swept the chamber again, slower this time, catching the eyes of particular senators from worlds he knew he could talk to in this matter.
“The worlds that stand forward and decide that they accept the burden, those who uphold Republic security standards, who demonstrate alignment with the stability of this body will, of course, receive the full support of the Republic.” He did not need to offer the alternative or elaborate on it. “Protection. Investment. Priority.”Then, softer he added. “As is only reasonable.”
Finally, Ravion allowed the tension to crest before easing his foot off the speech.
“This bill, as written, is a beginning. But it is a beginning framed in the language of a Republic that no longer exists.” His voice lowered in weight. Almost becoming the equivalent of your teacher, or your neighbour as if speaking only to the person who heard and not the chamber as a whole. “We are not navigating isolated crises. We are living through an era of sustained instability. That reality demands legislation that does not expire with our optimism.”
A glance towards the royal box, brief yet dangerously deliberate.
“I find myself in agreement with the proposal to extend this Act’s operational horizon.”Of course he did. “Five years assumes recovery. Ten years acknowledges reality.”
And then, as Kayrce tapped her foot against his ankle he took the final turn.
“I vote to pass this bill, by all means.” A nod of his head was offered towards it’s origin. “But I stress that we do not merely pass it as an act of charity.”
His gaze hardened, just for a moment.
“Pass it as an instrument of order.”He allowed a pause. Just for a moment. “Or do not pass it at all. I give the floor.”
He stepped back.
Proposed Security Amendment to the Morale Improvement Act
Count this as a single Amendment yet covers the following points.
All individuals processed under the Act must be entered into a single, centralised Republic database
Ensures full executive visibility and tracking across all systems
Security clearance is not permanent upon entry
All entrants are subject to:
Ongoing monitoring
Periodic re-evaluation
Legal status becomes conditional, not guaranteed
Establish a permanent, active audit mechanism
Not triggered only after incidents
Operates continuously under executive authority
Grant authority (to Chancellor and extended office) to:
Relocate individuals deemed a risk
Detain individuals pending investigation
Revoke refugee status immediately without lengthy Senate process
Replace broad Senate transparency with:
Restricted, classified reporting channels
Reports delivered only to:
Chancellor and extended Office
Public disclosure may be limited or redacted under security grounds
Worlds must meet Republic-defined security standards to participate fully
“Certified” worlds receive:
Priority refugee placement
Increased funding
Enhanced military/security support
Expand and reinforce the Chancellor’s authority to:
Define what constitutes a “crisis zone”
Adjust designations without Senate delay
Support Aurelian’s amendment to extend programme lifespan:
Verity listened as the act was debated, proposed amendments bandied about. Even the Magister and the King of Naboo seemed to approve -- in their characteristically backhanded ways.
The more she considered Senator Pallopides' amendments, the more uneasy about it she became. Even when pressed, she had been unable to provide details about what she meant in terms of more vigorous -- tertiary -- security screening. What exactly could be smuggled into the bill under such a guise? Senator Vreen raised a good point, too; under the abortive attempt to pass Ayumi's most recent bill had been a move to literally chip people like pets. That seemed extreme, even in service of a noble goal like security.
Surely there was a way to keep the Republic secure, but also dignified. The question was how. And that question was broader than what would be decided today, in this chamber. She made a note on her datapad to follow that up with Senator Vreen. Lex
seemed like he might be amenable to a broader civil rights framework -- something Verity's office had been kicking around in a nascent stage almost since she arrived on Theed.
Verity signaled her pod mechanism. "Point of Order, Madam Chancellor. By my accounting -- and do, please, correct me if I am mistaken -- only one motion has received what could be construed as a second, that of my honorable colleague for Naboo to expand the sunset provision of the bill to ten years, vice five." She paused a moment. "If I am correct, in the absence of other seconds and noting the passage of time, I would move to vote on the amendment and the bill on the floor."
"The Senator is correct. The motion to extend the sunset clause from five to ten years was seconded." Aurelian and Ravion had proposed as much. "A motion to proceed to vote has also been seconded," which Sarn, Ravion, and Verity herself supported.
"Those gathered here are committed to the ideals of the High Republic. A collective with the resources and talents to support one another through any crisis. Yet displaced persons can stress the resources any of our members may face in the pursuit of those ideals. It is prudent to enable the facilitation of refugees and to extend the resources of this Republic to those worlds able or willing to step forward."
There were worlds that could make use of new members of their workforce. Though it was important to ensure those new persons were not saboteurs in disguise. Dominique was in favor of bolstering their capabilities, not in leaving the gate unlatched for the wolves.
"With that, I call this chamber to vote on the proposed Amendment, and the Displaced Persons Relief and Resettlement Act, S.B. 7005."
