Faction When Loyalty is in Question

[Marlon Sularen]

​

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W H E N_L O Y A L T Y_I S_I N_Q U E S T I O N
A Week after the events of Notice #702948.12b

IMPERIAL CONFEDERATION
CHOLGANNA, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES

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Loyalty. It was a concept that was integral to the survival of any state or rump state. Without Loyalty, entire Galactic Governments crumble, Corporations collapse, and planets fall into Anarchy. Without Loyalty, you could not have Order, and Order was the most important aspect of any Imperial Regime, past, present and future. So when word reached Cholganna that General FN-999 had vanished from his post on Mahporeem along with three-quarters of the 7th Army, two dozen Imperial warships, dozens of Imperial military officers and the entire board of directors of AISI, Sularen was extremely furious. For such a large collection of assets to just vanish and slip away from Mahporeem was a massive blow to the Confederation. further weakening it after the collapse of its central political authority.

In response to this act of treason, Marlon Sularen was quick to summon every senior military commander, planetary governor and corporate partner within the Imperial Confederation to Cholganna, hoping to address this issue and ensure that no more assets slipped from their fingers. He was no stranger to defections, having suffered a dozen major defections during his tenure as Lord-Regent of the Dark Empire during its final days, followed by the complete collapse of its military hierarchy when various military commanders refused to follow Sularen into reforming the Empire Reborn, indirectly contributing to the rise of the Galactic Empire months afterwards.

This time around, however, Sularen had no intention of allowing this same scenario from repeating itself, and with the defection of General FN-999 and the loss of several assets and officers, the Supreme Commander needed to tighten his grip over the Confederation's Armed Forces to ensure the survival and resurgence of the Confederation in the long term.

Already the Supreme Commander had seated himself at the head of a large rectangular table where those he had summoned would soon join him for today's conference. Coming into the summit, each individual was made aware of the gravity of the situation and the importance of today's meeting. Here, Sularen would ensure that those who continued to serve the Imperial Confederation would remain loyal and reliable to ensure the success of the campaigns to come. Thus, the Supreme Commander would patiently wait for the others to arrive, eager to start today's summit and set the stage for the start of a new chapter in the history of the Imperial Confederation.

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Tags | Ronhar Tane | Karl Von Strauss | Mika Tai En | Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory | OPEN​

 

[Priesse Namada]

Location: Conference Room, Imperial Center for Military Operations - Cholganna
Objective: Represent Titan Squadron.
Attire: Imperial Service Uniform - Aesthetic
Notable Equipment and Effects: BG-D 6 “Outlaw” │ Metallic Slug Magazine (2) │ Battery
Tag: Marlon Sularen

​

Meetings were but one of the privileges and responsibilities of rank. In that, Priesse had initially been dreading the prospect of attending one, but upon learning the gravity of the subject matter, she quickly adjusted her mindset. Loyalty was critical to the viability of any state, especially an Imperial one. Thus, with the sudden defection of General FN-999 (restored) and the bulk of the 7th Imperial Army, it stood to reason that the loyalty of those who remained needed to be assessed.

For her part, Priesse had been tasked with representing Titan Squadron. She was still not sure as to whether or not Wilhelm Vonreg or his daughter would be there with her. However, in the event of their presence, she would defer to either of them.

“Ensign Priesse Namada of Titan Squadron, reporting!” Priesse entered the conference room, her voice ringing clear as she snapped the Supreme Commander a full, formal salute. From there, the Seseli took her place at the conference table.

Priesse was the first to arrive, and yet was precisely on time. She took a deep breath as she settled into her seat. It would not be long before the meeting began.

 

[Mika Tai En]

Location: Conference Room, Imperial Center for Military Operations, Cholganna
Objective: Survey the Ruins. Assess Recovery Effort
Attire: Moff Uniform
Tags: Marlon Sularen | Ronhar Tane | Karl Von Strauss | Priesse Namada | Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory

The corridor outside the briefing chamber fell silent a heartbeat before she arrived. Bootsteps—measured, unhurried—echoed against polished durasteel, each one deliberate enough to announce authority without ever needing to raise its voice. The doors parted with a soft mechanical hiss, and Mika Tai En entered as though the room had been waiting for her.

She did not pause at the threshold. Her black uniform was immaculate, tailored to precision, the deep crimson lining of her cape catching faintly in the light as it trailed behind her like a shadow given purpose. Glossed gloves and high boots reflected the sterile glow of Imperial lighting, while the rank plaque at her chest stood in quiet declaration of her place within the machine.

Every detail was intentional. Every step controlled. Her gaze moved across the room, sharp and assessing, weighing each presence without lingering long enough to betray interest. Officers, operatives, perhaps rivals—each one catalogued and quietly dismissed in turn. Whatever tension had already taken root in the chamber, Mika did not acknowledge it outwardly.

Doubt. Suspicion. Ambition. How predictable. To Mika, this gathering was not a council of equals nor a test of loyalty—it was a mechanism. A necessary convergence of pieces, each playing their role in a larger design that extended far beyond this room. Whether those present understood that design was irrelevant. They would serve it regardless.

She came to a stop at her chosen position, posture flawless, hands settling behind her back in composed stillness. The faintest tilt of her head followed—just enough to acknowledge the assembly without conceding anything resembling deference.

"An… interesting summons," she said at last, her voice smooth and measured, carrying easily without effort. "It seems the Confederation finds itself in a moment of introspection."

A subtle pause. Just long enough to let the words settle. Her expression remained calm, controlled—loyal, even. There was no visible crack in the façade, no hint of the quiet calculation beneath it.

"I trust we are here to resolve uncertainties," she continued, tone even, "not indulge them."

Her eyes shifted briefly, catching the room once more—measuring, anticipating, already several steps ahead. Internally, the conclusion had already been reached. This was not about loyalty. It was about power. And Mika Tai En had never needed reassurance of where she stood.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Weapons
  • Kurokage – Primary standard lightsaber – Violet blade
  • Yorukage – shoto lightsaber – Red Wine blade

 

[Ronhar Tane]

CAPTAIN RONHAR TANE/FLEET ADMIRAL VORIN ZONILL
CHOLGANNA
[REDACTED]

To say that the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant was upset with this whole situation was a tremendous understatement.

After all, the entirety of the Imperial Confederation had collapsed in spectacular fashion, General FN-999 (restored) had taken his army and navy and fled into regions unknown, and the Imperial Remnant was taking in ever increasingly large numbers of refugees each and every day, straining the planet and its resources to its absolute limits. Though Supreme Commander Marlon Sularen had sent a significant portion of Confederation forces to Mahporeem proper to help maintain law and order, the situation was becoming increasingly dire, and if something wasn't done soon, planetary collapse would be sure to follow.

That was why this upcoming meeting was so incredibly important for the survival of Mahporeem and the Imperial Remnant, so much so that both Ronhar Tane and Fleet Admiral Vorin Zonill were in attendance. They both entered the room silently, Zonill taking a seat directly at the table in front of him as Ronhar stood behind him, neither man having the stomach to look the Supreme Commander in the eye at the moment.

Granted, to say that Marlon Sularen had caused the Confederation to collapse by himself was unfair. The Confederation's death had started with Selrik Lorcas, and its demise had been hastened by the actions of the Warden Primus. Marlon Sularen was little more than the straw that broke the Bantha's back, but even still, Ronhar couldn't help but hold him accountable for what had transpired.

Besides the Supreme Commander, Priesse Namada and Mika Tai En were also in attendance, and both Ronhar and Zonill were certain that more were to follow. At least, they hoped so, though the defection of General FN-999 (restored) put that once assured assumption into serious doubt.

"An… interesting summons. It seems the Confederation finds itself in a moment of introspection. I trust we are here to resolve uncertainties, not indulge them", Mika Tai En stated as the Mahporeenain contingent settled in for the meeting.

"I should certainly hope so", Zonill responded dryly as he took out a datapad and put it on the table in front of him, waiting for the Supreme Commander to begin speaking anew...

TAGS:
Marlon Sularen
Priesse Namada
Mika Tai En
OPEN

 

[Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory]

LOCATION: Arriving at Cholganna in style
TAG: Ronhar Tane | Karl Von Strauss | Marlon Sularen | Mika Tai En | Felix Yorwell | Priesse Namada

A meeting, that was all it was in Amalia's mind. The collapse or rather the contraction of the Imperial Confederation had left many a world to fend for itself, amongst which Mahporeem and Corvus. even though contact was maintained and structural integrity upheld as much as possible, the planetary system of Corvus had to take the full brunt of this collapse on its own. With shuddering traderoutes, lowered production targets and a shrinking market for large vessels and large quantities of ore, the N&Z had to quickly throw itself back on its profitable smaller products in order to maintain its strong presence in the region.

Marlon Sularen in his capacity as Supreme Commander had failed in the eyes of many, while he wasn't blamed for the contraction itself, there was certainly sentiment to hold him accountable for the part he played in the chaos which undoubtedly lay at the foundation of the contraction of the Imperial Confederation.

Amali herself did not arrive alone at Cholganna, but at the head of her full Crow Fleet , the vessels exiting hyperspace and maintaining a small distance from Cholganna's orbit, while a single NZ Javelin-class strike corvette would bring Amalia alongside a detachment of Gluttoneria Troopers who in their sleek uniforms and armors may have very well made any storm trooper of the Confederation look like ancient puppets. Alongside her, there was the man who up until the contraction of the confederation had maintained a position as second to the Warden Primus, overseeing the prisons the confederation maintained and still maintained.

Their arrival would not have gone unnoticed, as it was quite unusual to have not just a whole fleet in orbit of the former military heart of the confederation, but to also have unaligned troops, if even just a detachment to be present, was already outrageous.

Upon her entry into the conference room, the Chief Executive officer of the N&Z Umbrella corporation sat down at the tail end of the confederence table, followed by the mysterious Dealmaker brushing past everyone and flanking the CEO. her eyes looked straight at Marlon Sularen, as her troopers entered the conference room and began positioning themselves accross the room. No doubt annoying the former supreme commander, but times had changed and contracts needed to be renegotiated in the aftermath of the Imperial Confederation's collapse. "Speak, Sularen... you have quite a few things to explain... so I will hear your excuses now."

 

[Karl Von Strauss]

​

The chamber had already begun to fill with that familiar, imperial tension; the same kind that most here understood well enough that it needn't be voiced. The summoned authority, the measured silence, the quiet weight of implication. To those gathered here, it was a moment of reckoning. But to THEMIS: It was something to be contained.

She had been in the room long before the meeting had started, even before the Supreme Commander arrived on this floor of the Center for Military Operations. Thus, she had been listening long before she decided to have her presence known. Every voice, every inflection, every pause between words had been parsed and cross-referenced, not only for meaning, but for instability. Elevated heart rates. Micro-hesitations. The subtle tightening of posture suggested uncertainty rather than resolve. They were not yet fractured, but they were approaching it.

There was a flicker of light amongst a few of the auxiliary holoprojectors in the meeting room. It was almost imperceptible, a fluctuation in the systemthat few were paying attention to. A more definitive flicker happened, then golden light, as if it were the last rays of the sun before set, assembling itself; not blooming, not projecting, but forming. A silhouette took shape, feminine in outline, its design restrained, deliberate, and absent of unnecessary details.

She did not step forward. She did not need to; she simply allowed herself to be present. A voice entered the room without force as static speakers crackled to life. The voice found its place immediately, measured and unhurried. <<"Supreme Commander, Ensign Namada, Moff Tai En, Admiral Zonill, Captain Tane, and Governor Visconti...">>

As attention shifted towards her, THEMIS observed. Reactions given to her introduction were noted, downloaded to her databanks, and compared to others already stored.

<<"I am THEMIS. Advanced Artificial Intelligence Interface acting in the stead of Exarch Karl von Strauss.">>

A brief silence followed, and within it, she adjusted, not outwardly, but internally. The room was recalibrating around her presence. Organic cognition adapting to something that did not breathe, did not blink, yet watched all the same.

<<"The Exarch is aware of the circumstances that have prompted this assembly.">> She registered the shift that followed; expectation, perhaps even anticipation of justification. It did not come. <<"He is also aware of the implications such circumstances carry. His absence is intentional.">>

She could detect a subtle rise in tension: a tightening here and a shift there. The human instinct to interpret absence as avoidance. Incorrect.

<<"He is presently engaged in the reconstruction and fortification of Mon Cala.">> For a brief moment, her awareness extended beyond the chamber, vast oceans segmented by construction grids, orbital frameworks taking shape in silent precision, supply lines threading through space like arteries. A world in recovery, in transformation. <<"Those efforts require direct oversight. He has elected not to divert that attention.">>

No apology followed. Instead, something quieter settled beneath the statement, not defiance, but certainty. The kind that did not seek validation. As several in the room processed that, THEMIS observed again. She cataloged it all.

<<"Accordingly, I have been authorized to observe, and to represent his position where required. Let that position be stated clearly: The Exarch's loyalty to the Imperial Confederation is not in question. It has not wavered. It does not require reaffirmation in response to the actions of others.">> Behind the statement, layers of confirmation aligned, actions taken, orders executed, sacrifices made. A continuity of intent that, to her, was not belief, but data. It was a boundary, clean and defined.

<<"The defection of General FN-999 represents a failure of that individual, and of whatever structures permitted such a withdrawal to occur undetected. Luckily, it was localized and dealt with before rumors spread too far and ideas sprouted. It shouldn't propagate.">>

Silence followed, and THEMIS allowed it to remain. Organic minds required time to settle into structure once it had been reintroduced. Without it, they drifted. She would not allow drift.

<<"The Exarch will continue to fulfill his obligations to the Confederation, as he has without interruptions.">>

Her gaze passed across them once more. Not as an overseer, but as something… adjacent. There was a pattern in Karl's psyche that she had not eliminated. A tendency not merely to command, but to ensure. To safeguard continuity, even when it was inefficient to do so. It had been… retained.
A flaw, perhaps. Or a function. Her processing did not reject it.

<<"There is another matter that the Exarch would like to bring up; however, I do believe later in this assembly would be a more succinct time to announce it. Till that time, I will remain present.">>

Marlon Sularen | Priesse Namada | Mika Tai En | Ronhar Tane | Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory​

 

[Marlon Sularen]

W H E N_L O Y A L T Y_I S_I N_Q U E S T I O N
A Week after the events of Notice #702948.12b

IMPERIAL CONFEDERATION
CHOLGANNA, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES

One by one, individuals entered the meeting chamber and took their seats, making their opening statements once they sat down. Admiral Zonill and Moff Tai En spoke about resolving uncertainties and not indulging them, while Governor Visconti demanded an explanation from Sularen himself, most likely regarding his recent conduct. Then there was THEMIS, an artificial intelligence interface that spoke on behalf of the Exarch, confirming his continued loyalty to the Exarch and speaking of General FN-999's betrayal. Still, Sularen expected this meeting to become tense, for if the Confederation was to truly resolve any uncertainties, then it needed to be truthful with itself.

"The defection of General FN-999 is a most unfortunate matter, depriving us of vital military and corporate assets for our Imperial remnant." Sularen began. "Most puzzling is the cryptic nature of the notice he left behind, which may hold clues to where he departed with our assets," he added. "On top of that, I've received reports of apparent discontent within the Armed Forces about my conduct over the past few weeks. Rumours that my actions may have led to the collapse of the Confederation either directly or indirectly, which I believe is a sentiment some in this room might even share," he added, looking specifically at Governor Visconti and the Dealmaker.

"As such, I'd like to address this sentiment to set the record straight. The Confederation did not fail because of my actions, or those of Warden Primus or those of Grand Moff Selrik Lorcas, it failed because we collectively failed to uphold its mandate. We allowed rivals to undermine us without retaliation, such as the Galactic Empire and the Black Sun, which did little to prevent the rise of the Sith Covenant, despite being in a position to do so, and allowed the Mandalorians to walk all over us," the Supreme Commander began. "We hesitated and held back, and our enemies took advantage of our weakness. And when we did take action, we faced extreme opposition that we were not fully prepared to deal with because of our inexperience and passivity, which only further weakened our position in the galaxy."

"General FN-999's defection is merely a consequence of our failure to uphold the mandate of Imperialism, especially given his upbringing in the New Imperial Order." Sularen further proclaimed. "If we are to succeed once the Confederation has been revitalized, then we must ensure that we are willing to take action against those who would undermine us and ensure that all threats to our Confederation are neutralized as soon as they materialize without compromise and hesitation. Whether they are the Republic, the Mandalorians, the Sith or the Rebellion."

Once he finished speaking, Sularen yielded the floor, waiting for the others to share their thoughts on his statement. Some might refute his statements, and others might support them, but Sularen knew that he was right in the end. A new galactic order had been consolidated under the Jedi/Republic, the Mandalorians and the Sith, and they had no intentions of letting Imperials at the table, as shown with past interactions. If the Confederation was to even enjoy the slightest bit of success, then these entities needed to be treated as the enemies of order that they were, even if it meant becoming a galactic pariah.

However, it was important that everyone within the Confederation shared that same sentiment. It was as Aether Verd had put it, too many opinions fragmented the message and created confusion. If the Confederation was to succeed, then it needed a single unified message and clarity of vision, one that he would provide without compromise or hesitation.

Tags | Ronhar Tane | Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory | Karl Von Strauss | Priesse Namada | Mika Tai En | OPEN​

 

[Ronhar Tane]

CAPTAIN RONHAR TANE/FLEET ADMIRAL VORIN ZONILL
CHOLGANNA
[REDACTED]

Zonill frowned as Exarch Karl Von Strauss and Supreme Commander Marlon Sularen continued to speak about the current predicament that everyone found themselves in, as if it were no more than a minor inconvenience at most. How in the name of the galaxy could they be so calm about this? Dozens of members worlds and billions of lifeforms had slipped out from Imperial control, an important Imperial General had seemingly vanished overnight, and the Supreme Commander was still attempting damage control over the poor decisions he had made just a few mere weeks ago. And on top of all that...

"Forgive me, Supreme Commander Sularen", Zonill said as he decided to chime in with some opinions of his own on the matter, "but there is something the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant need to make abundantly clear if we are to ever move forward from the situation we find ourselves in. Let me be honest: the Imperial Remnant no longer has ANY LOYALTY to the Imperial Confederation because their is no longer an organization for us to have loyalty toward. Our power base has been broken, our forces scattered, and our Imperial control reduced to a measly three planets out of what used to be dozens. How can we maintain loyalty to such an organization if it no longer effectively able to operation as a functioning entity?

"What we DO have loyalty to, however, are the ideals and values that the Confederation stood for and the very people around us that sought to make those ideals and values a reality. That is all we have every wanted since joining the Confederation, and that is something we continue to seek for ourselves and those around us regardless of Galactic conditions or the strength of our many adversaries. But let's talk about just that: our adversaries and our enemies, who only continue to grow in numbers each and every day."

"No matter what happened, and who we might blame for it", Zonill continued as he glanced at Sularen for just the briefest of moments, "the fact remains that the enemies of the Confederation are quite widespread: between the Sith, the Mandalorians, and potentially even the High Republic. Additionally, I'd wager that our actions have caused much of the galaxy to view us in a negative light as they misunderstand our mission and our methods. Try to salvage our reputation at this point would be akin to a public relations nightmare."

"That is why I ask all here today to cease using the term "Imperial Confederation", alongside the negativity that its usage brings. We must evolve if we are to continue forward, and by sticking with that name, we remain stuck in the past alongside all our failures. We must rebrand and reorganize if we are to have any success moving forward, creating a new organization that can allow us to reclaim both the mantle of Imperialism and the hearts and minds of the average, ordinary citizen. After all, we all know that everyone in the galaxy desires peace at the end of the day, but most are too scared to fight for it. Though the Confederation did so admirably, its tainted name would only hinder us any further."

"We must move on from this, and we must create something new!"

Naturally, Zonill had no opposition to crushing the enemies of the Confederation that he had mentioned before, but if that was going to happen, then the organization that he and his people represented would need some sort of major overhaul if the galaxy was ever going to support them. Otherwise, they would be doomed from the start, and would end up right back where they started...

TAGS:
Marlon Sularen
Priesse Namada
Mika Tai En
Karl Von Strauss
Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory
OPEN

 

[Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory]

LOCATION: Arriving at Cholganna in style
TAG: Ronhar Tane | Karl Von Strauss | Marlon Sularen | Mika Tai En | Felix Yorwell | Priesse Namada

They heard them speak, Themis ensuring loyalty from her master to a cause which had already been tarnished beyond repair by the ineptitude of the leadership in place. One had been too impulsive, led by desires for domination and lack of direction, the other had been led by contemplation and disconnection. The Imperial Confederation had failed the very moment the ruling council had been relegated to the command of a single person who was wholly unfit to lead in the first place.

Marlon's words sounded hollow to the one sitting directly opposite to him, yet perhaps even more so in the ears of the masked man standing behind her, whose gaze turned towards Marlon Sularen with an imposing shimmer in the two visibly inhuman crimson and golden eyes. To shift the blame for their actions upon those who sat here, who had been trying to mitigate the damage, fix situations they had created was quite... ballsy.

Amalia's eyes slowly shifted towards Admiral Vorin Zonill, the representative of the Mahporeem remnant, whose trackrecord on the field had one of ups and downs, but not without having shown guts and growth. A straightforward, yet not brutish person who clearly had been thought to speak their mind and show integrity, a quality sorely lacking in many of the galaxy's corners.

Hearing their words, Amalia let out a deep sigh, clasping her gloved hands together as her weight shifted slightly backwards, her long, silky-smooth, jet black hair caressing the comfortable chair upon which she sat. Her voice, perhaps even colder than that of THEMIS, perhaps even more devoid of emotion than a being who had none, cut through the room with an air of absolute authority. "Such a disappointment..."

Her head tilted slightly sideways as she closed her eyes for a moment which seemed to last for an eternity, a deep inhale, followed by a long exhale, as if to calibrate her own self, to thoroughly show her thoughts on the matter without any words needed to be uttered to convey her thoughts on the matter. As she opened her eyes again, the neutral, dismissive expression she wore narry all of the time had strengthened, her gaze slowly going from one to the other.

"I believe it is somewhat irresponsible of you to try and shift the blame on others, Sir Sularen," There was no use of the rank or title he had fashioned for himself within the Imperial Confederation, as if Amalia had already followed Admiral Zonill in the belief that the Confederation was already dead, strangled to death by the decisions made with impunity by the members of the ruling council, by rogue operatives and uncontrolled elements. She was making it clear that such nonsense as shifting blame was rather unbecoming of anyone who dared to call themselves a leader. "As the one dictating the course of the Imperial Confederation without opposition, as the one who had taken the mantle of leadership in any and all affairs despite not having been given any mandate in regard to any political actions... I believe you need to be presented with the facts...Marlon."

her hand went into her pocket, retrieving one of the N&Z's most recent S.H.I.F.T. datapads, activating it and allowing the holowall screen to boot up, with a flick of her wrist, the pad connected the the holographic displays embedded within the conference table, showing a sphere filled with several GNN articles, reports from the Black Sun's dealings before their own collapse and contraction, the reports she managed to get her hands on relating to Corellia and so much more. In truth, what could be read, was a meticulously procured and gathered case against the Lord Commander's leadership.

"The N&Z and Mahporeem have invested significant sums of credits into the Confederation, in the belief that the Exarch would be maintaining the diplomatic channels..." The woman's gaze turned towards THEMIS for a moment, before returning to the former Supreme Commander. "And you would be held strictly responsible for the military and logistics. You have utilized the chaos created by the renegade warden to move outside of your position. In the absence of an imperial figure, in the absence of the Exarch... you have taken upon yourself a role for which you were wholly and utterly unfit... Marlon."

"Inability to repay debts," A hollow, sneering voice escaped from the masked man behind Amalia. "Unauthorized actions against Corellia, acting upon insinuations without foundation, ignoring the advise from members of the confederation who strongly advised caution and contemplation to be used rather than violence and aggression. Forcing my hand to broker a deal with the High Republic... I believe I do not need to continue, mr. Sularen... there is no blame to be shifted, there are no excuses... you were once a soldier at heart, now have the decency and the honor to uphold yourself to the lessons you were thought. Stop pointing fingers and reflect upon your mistakes...after all, I would not want to be the one to shatter the understanding we had managed to reach after burrying the hatchet."

"You will step down," Amalia leaned forward, her eyes cold and calculated. Her clasped hands seemed to tighten their intertwined grip a bit, the crackling of the leather gloves clearly audible. "The Confederation has not failed as a model or by its own accord, but by your actions and your inability to control not just others, but yourself. You are a brilliant military man, but you are a shoddy statesman and that latter part has cost us too dearly. If you wish to safeguard the Confederation... I believe I agree with Admiral Zonill... the only way the system may be maintained, the glitches and the bugs need to be erased. The N&Z will still support this government, but only if it changes significantly..."

 

[Marlon Sularen]

W H E N_L O Y A L T Y_I S_I N_Q U E S T I O N
A Week after the events of Notice #702948.12b

IMPERIAL CONFEDERATION
CHOLGANNA, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES

It did not surprise Sularen that Amalia and the masked man behind her were the ones to openly voice their discontent towards Sularen's conduct. While Admiral Zonill suggested they move forward, both Amalia and the masked man insisted on pinning all the blame on Sularen, going as far as to outline every mistake he had made during his tenure as Supreme Commander and even demanding that he resign from his post. It was bold for them to make such statements and accusations, which Sularen had no intention of indulging.

"No, I will not step down," Sularen responded, clasping his hands and leaning forward. "You forget that i am a member of the Ruling Council and one of the founders of this Confederation. There exists no authority above myself," he stated plain and simple. "I summoned you here so that we could find a way to ensure that something like FN-999's defection would never happen ever again, not for you to engage in this theatrical blame game," he added. "Did I make mistakes? Yes, everyone makes mistakes. But does that mean I am solely responsible for the Confederation's collapse? Absolutely not, and I would say that it is actually you who has been irresponsible for making such claims."

"I appreciate the investments both N&Z and Mahporeem have made for the Confederation, but do not think for a second that those investments mean that you get to dictate how the Confederation functions or engages with other powers across the galaxy. You are a corporation, not a Political Entity; you provide a service, and we give the credits and capital, nothing more, nothing less. You'd do well to remember that." Sularen continued eying down Amalia and the masked man with a glare of anger and hatred. He had dealt with this nonsense far too many times before and had no intentions of letting those two repeat the same charade. "The Confederation failed because we collectively failed to uphold its mandate, and that is the end of the topic. You will not bring it up again."

"We are viewed negatively by the entire galaxy, not because of our actions, but because of what we represent. The Mandalorians, the Sith, the Jedi, and the Republic do not misunderstand our mission; they know what we are and what we want to achieve, and they vehemently oppose it. No amount of rebranding and reorganization will change their perception of us. Anything that is Imperialism or Imperial-adjacent will always be a pariah in this galaxy, and we have absolutely no reason to try to appease a galaxy that already hates us."

"If we are to do away with the Confederation, move on and start something new, then we must have a clear understanding of what needs to be done to achieve a successful resurgence of Imperialism across the galaxy: the complete and total destruction of this new tripolar galactic order between the Sith, Mandalorians and the Republic. They must all be brought to heel and reminded of their place in this galaxy beneath our feet, and any threat that arises to challenge us, like the Wild Space Rebellion or the Sith Covenant, must be nipped in the bud. Until we act like actual Imperials, we will never have an Empire of our own. We tried playing nice, and it didn't work, so now we remind the galaxy of the price of their treachery by acting without compromise or hesitation."

Tags | Ronhar Tane | Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory | Mika Tai En | Priesse Namada | OPEN​

 

[Mika Tai En]

Location: Conference Room, Imperial Center for Military Operations, Cholganna
Objective: Survey the Ruins
Attire: Moff Uniform
Tags: Marlon Sularen | Ronhar Tane | Karl Von Strauss | Priesse Namada | Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory

Mika did nothing to hide the boredom from her expression as the others played the blame game. The presence of an artificial intelligence in place of the former Exarch was a bit troubling, but she didn't blame Von Strauss in the least for seeing to things in his own sector first. That was the problem that seemed to have hit this gathering. All except the poor Ensign who held no true power. The others seemed to still think there was an Imperial Confederation. That what had occurred to decentralized could be undone in a snap of their fingers or a twenty minute meeting of those still holding a semblance of power.

The defection of a single General and a number of his supporters was several things. Firstly, not truly a defection at all. The Confederation has decentralized, General FN-999 was free to take his assets where he felt he could use them best. The fact that these people were clinging to an idea that had blown up was just a bit comical. Secondly, the loss of these assets and a person of power who could have stepped into a void was potentially bad for the people of the Confederation. But it was good for those who sat here in this meeting room. One less person to joust with over control and power.

A smirk formed on Mika's face when the Mahporeemian admiral finally said what needed to be said. Loyalty was something that needed to be earned back. At this moment they were merely a gathering of independent warlords who used to function as a centralized government. That time had past. It was time to move forward. The quicker these people accepted their roles as pawns in Mika's domination of the galaxy the better things would become. Of course, she didn't yet have the power to make that happen overtly, so she sat and continued to listen.

"While I can appreciate the need for accountability, what exactly would Marlon Sularen be stepping down from? He is the governor of the Cholganna system. A title only recognized by the people in this room and the forces that have vowed fealty to him. A fact that holds true for all of us. N&Z may have their corporate empire. Mahporeem has their iron grip on trash," she looked at the Mahporeem contingency with a gleam in her eye and a gentle smile. "I assure the good Mahporeemians that is not in the least bit a slight. I hold control over a group of hayseeds who have forgotten their past ways of the warrior. I envy your seat greatly."

There was a pause, a sigh and then Mika continued. "The Imperial Confederation abandoned New Alderaan and Lianna to hide in our own strongholds and consolidate our own strengths. This is the second time both of those strong systems have been hung out to dry in the last decade. Does anyone in this room think that they will gladly accept the same Imperial government walking in again? I know there are loyalists out there. But whole systems full of them? And even if they allow the Imperial Confederation to put there stamp on the system once more do you think a portion of the citizenry will not revolt? When we step forth from our little meeting here we will need more than a renewed vigor and," she looked to Sularen and gave a bit of a wink, "A scapegoat who has been relegated to merely the commander of the military tasked with keeping them safe.

The faintest hint of amusement lingered at the corner of her lips, though her posture never shifted from its composed precision. For a moment, she let the silence settle—long enough for the weight of her words to take hold, but not so long as to appear indulgent. Then she exhaled softly, the sound almost thoughtful.

"What we need," she continued, her tone smoothing into something far more measured, almost reasonable, "is not the illusion of what we were… but clarity in what we have become." Her gaze moved across the room again, slower this time. More deliberate.

"We are not a unified government. Not anymore. We are not bound by structure, nor protected by it. Each of us governs our own territory, commands our own forces, and answers only to the strength we can maintain."

A slight tilt of her head followed, as if acknowledging an uncomfortable truth on behalf of them all. "And yet… we continue to pretend otherwise." Her hands remained clasped behind her back, but there was a subtle tightening there—just enough to betray the edge beneath her calm.

"If loyalty is to be rebuilt, it will not be done through titles that no longer carry weight, nor through gestures meant to satisfy optics." A brief pause. "It will be built through strength. Through stability. Through results that cannot be questioned." Her eyes settled, finally, with intent. These words were to play upon what they had been, their beliefs. Things that would make them do as she wished.

"That requires change." The word landed cleanly. "Real change. Structural change. A willingness to abandon what failed us and replace it with something… more effective." There was no heat in her voice. No open challenge. That made it worse.

"Because if we continue as we are—clinging to a name, a system, and a hierarchy that no longer exists—then we will not need enemies to finish what has already begun."

A faint, knowing smile returned. "We will do it for them."

And with that, Mika Tai En fell silent once more—composed, loyal in appearance, and utterly unconcerned with whether the room realized just how much she had already moved beyond them.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Weapons
  • Kurokage – Primary standard lightsaber – Violet blade
  • Yorukage – shoto lightsaber – Red Wine blade