Populate When The Stars Go Dark [THR Populate of Surron]

[Aurelian Veruna]

Location: Conference Room
Tags: Sibylla Abrantes | Dominique Vexx | Rhys Gorne | Cassian Abrantes

Aurelian watched Sibylla intently. Her words, precise and firm, resonated in the quiet room. As she spoke, his own determination molded with hers.

When she finished, Aurelian exhaled slowly. "You're right," he said, his voice low and certain. "Every word."

He turned to the holoarray, where a galaxy map shimmered in cold blue light. "The Empire's closest territories," he began, "near Loronar, Antar, Reytha. They'll use these lanes to push into Republic space."

"Denon can help hold the north, the Confederacy will secure the southern rim, and local planetary garrisons will cover the gaps while we build our Navy. We'll count on their independence to prevent smaller conflicts from escalating."

Aurelian paused, hands clasped behind his back. "Meanwhile, we reinforce the Mid-Rim and keep core shipping lanes open. The Black Sun will strike the moment we look fractured, so we won't give them that chance."

His amber eyes met Admiral Gorne's. "Admiral, you've witnessed the worst of this, walked the decks of burning fleets. Tell me, how much time do we have before it reaches us?"

Before the Admiral could answer, the doors hissed open.

"Your Majesty," a young aide stammered, his voice wavering. "General Cassian Abrantes requests an audience. He says it's urgent."

Aurelian's head snapped up. "Absolutely not," he cut in, his voice sharp. "Now is not the time for him."

Tona immediately stood. Her gaze wasn't defiant; it was something worse: deep, wordless disappointment. It was the same look she used to give him as a boy, growing up together. Aurelian huffed, matching her stare with stubbornness honed over years. For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then the holoarray flickered. The image above the table changed, showing Project Stardust. The Death Star rotated in stunning detail, its massive dish slowly turning to face the SSD Mon Mothma.

Six green beams shot out, merging into a single, blinding light, like a star igniting. Radiation shimmered across the projection, and for a heartbeat, the whole room seemed to pulse.

Then came the flash. The Mon Mothma vanished in a single, silent detonation.

No one spoke. The air in the chamber felt thinner, colder.

Aurelian's gaze hardened, the explosion still burning in his eyes. "Grant Cassian access," he said quietly. "Now isn't the time for personal vendettas."

​

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique looked over at Sibylla with a warm smile as she acknowledged Denon's willingness to contribute. Aurelian had done so as well earlier, which solicited a nod of acknowledgement as well. It was true such contribution did not amount to the creation of credits, but there were things in life worth more than raw credits. The Republic might be unlikely to shed the involvement of companies on her world, but that too was not nearly the same as being appreciated. Some asked for a demonstration of Denon's capabilities and its commitment... well, here it was. Not that other factions would be as grateful for it, but they should at least see Dominique was more than just a pretty face with a forked tongue.

Aurelian then carried on Sibylla's concerns to point out the one that had been on Dominique's mind for some time now. Since the Galactic Empire reappeared, in fact. She always hoped they could all get along, but if that hope ever collapsed and they thought to invade the Republic... Loronar and Antar were all that separated Denon from Imperial territory. They needed to be prepared for that eventuality. If nothing else it might at least deter a military assault on Denon as a colossal waste when there were other options. In turn, hopefully it would deter an incursion along the North altogether.

The region around Kor Vett was the biggest concern. North and North East were relatively easy to secure. The further out they reached, however, the less responsive the fleet, which is why the Republic was so unprepared to deal with the assault on Wielu. Dominique didn't plan on repeating such a mistake personally. Aurelian's thought of the planetary garrisons covering the gap... well, hopefully he went the Republic would be taking an active role with them merely as support. Few worlds could spend credits to rapidly construct a defense force, and fewer still saw any value in doing so. Fleets required skilled people and upkeep all their own. Perhaps between the Confederacy and Denon, however, they could shore up the center.

Another -- Cassian -- sought an audience with those in this impromptu emergency session, and wasting no time the Chancellor pro tempore sharply cut off the very idea. Even Dominique took a moment to stare at the man. The two hadn't gotten along, but apparently some more recent events had escalated matters? The response was a little more emotional than expected.

The projected image began to shift and her golden eyes lifted to regard the scene that played out before them. Her lips thinned as the Death Star's weapon activated.

Dominique consciously made sure not to move her hands or adjust her posture as the Mon Mothma was destroyed. Rulers had to remain calm even when something as massive, filled with thousands with snapped from existence in the blink of an eye. Everyone else had the luxury of panick, but not them. That did nothing to calm the flutter in her belly, however.

"There are experimental designs," Dominique announced without preamble, "to discourage that thing from visiting our systems." Weapons capable of blasting a hole right through the Death Star. Though much like the Imperial's weapon it took time to arm and required a supporting fleeting to defend it. To say nothing of the cost. Well, perhaps they would need to hasten the construction of the first of its kind. Just in case.

Aurelian Veruna | Sibylla Abrantes | Rhys Gorne | Cassian Abrantes​

 

[Rhys Gorne]

The blast washed over them in silence, that was probably the part that made it hurt the most.
Even though it was only light and data, the entire room seemed to lurch with the impact. The Mon Mothma; pride of the Alliance Fleet, was reduced to particles on a holofeed in mere moments.

Rhys stood perfectly still. Only his hands betrayed him, one tightening on the back of a chair, knuckles white, the other slowly unclenching at his side. He had watched ships die before, but not like that. Not this helplessly. Not so…emptily.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter than the hum of the holoprojector.
“We knew this day might come. But I never thought I’d live to see it…”

He turned toward Aurelian and Sibylla, the authority creeping back into his posture like armour being refastened piece by piece.
“Majesty, you’re Excellency… you’re correct about the borders. The re-established military bill came too late, in my professional opinion we are still vastly under prepared. That’s why this cannot remain a military problem alone.”

He stepped to the holoarray, expanding the projection. The galaxy unfolded before them — lines of hyperspace lanes, fleet dispositions, and coded Republic assets. He pointed to a cluster of faint red markers along the edge of High Republic Space.

“These are confirmed Black Sun operations,” he said, answering Sibylla directly. “They’re circling weakened worlds, either ones that have their own civil matters or have recently joined the Republic. Kenari, Belassa, even as far in as Druckenwell. I wouldn’t underestimate their intelligence and information, it is like they’ve been waiting for this kind of panic. If we pull our assets too tight, they’ll carve through the outer lanes before we can react.”

A flick of his wrist shifted the view again, zooming to the Atrisian system. Dozens of blips danced against the sphere of the Death Star. The coded callsigns for his team burned faintly on the battle map.

“We need to prepare for the worst,” Rhys said, his voice low. “The fall or even destruction of Atrisia, perhaps even the complete collapse of the Alliance to the Imperial Warmachine. The Alliance won’t be able to stop them, nothing short of a miracle will, but as unfortunate as it is, the Galactic Alliance is buying us time...” His gaze was hard as he gestured to the holograph again.

“The truth is, even with them buying us time, we just don’t have the time we need. If that weapon moves into the Mid-Rim, every hour of hesitation costs millions of lives. But as a counter point if we throw everything at it and leave our flanks open, we risk losing the High Republic piecemeal.” He looked between the three of them before him. “Right now we might have to stop thinking like politicians and instead start acting like a Republic that intends to live.”

He activated another layer of the map; a crescent-shaped defensive grid forming around Naboo’s sector, linking Denon, Balmorra, and Malastare. “This is our defensive holding as it is” he continued, “but we can integrate Denon’s fleets in as a deterrent. I know a few of the captain’s and they’re as good as Senator Vexx claims, they’ll give the Empire reason to think twice before entering our territories. We will of course need the Balmorran Senator to agree to having additional corporate ships in the system and the Malastare seat I believe is currently under voting.”

He glanced at Dominique, a faint nod of respect acknowledging her composure in the aftermath of the blast. “I have been asked by the Director General to offer full cooperation on whatever data and personnel you need from aspects of Republic Intelligence, in order to receive any relevant information from your own services. ”

Then his attention returned to Aurelian.
“I also think we can have a conversation about the other side of the coin. The sector fleets are purely defensive in design, but there is an option where we instead go for the head while the Empire continues its attack against the Alliance. I will need authorization to begin preparation for it but there are…ideas that a special operation originating at New Plympto could allow us to reach Coruscant before the main warfront has time to turn its attention from the Alliance and force a surrender of the Emperor. It’s a long shot but one worthy of consideration.”

The holoarray flickered again, the Death Star and the nearly invisible wreckage of the Mon Mothma. For a long moment, no one spoke.

Aurelian Veruna Sibylla Abrantes Dominique Vexx​

 

[Fatine von Ascania]

Fatine didn't notice Cassian, not at first. Like a typical teenager, the entirety of her focus was glued to the screen of her datapad.

When he spoke, however, even the softness of his approach startled her.

"Oh!" She squeaked, jumping slightly in her seat as she was pulled from her reprieve. "N-no, I just…"

With her datapad now resting in her lap, Fatine blinked up at gentleman who'd asked after her. All of a sudden, it was as if the tension drained from her body and she was floating.

That chiseled jawline, those kind, green eyes…Stars, he was handsome! Were all men on Naboo this enchanting? A quick flicker of her eyes down to his hand found no wedding band.

Fatine's anxieties were momentary displaced by a dreamy smile. Oh, he'd asked a question, hadn't he? She should probably think about answering.

"Oh, no. No, I'm absolutely free right now," she insisted. The girl leaned forward, the corners of her painted lips curling into a mischievous smile. A finger slowly twined into one of her dark curls while she offered her free hand to him.

"Fatine von Ascania of Ukatis. Charmed, I'm certain-"

"My Lady!" A maid clad in traditional Ukatian garb hurried into the room. "You shouldn't linger here, My Lady. We-"

Upon noticing Cassian, the maid straightened her posture, then dipped into a bow. "Apologies, My Lord. I've only come to collect My Lady."

"Oh, boo," Fatine pouted.

Cassian Abrantes

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Fatine von Ascania Sibylla Abrantes Aurelian Veruna Rhys Gorne ​

Cassian couldn't help the small, amused smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth when Fatine jumped the startled kind of reaction he'd long since learned to soften his voice to avoid. He'd meant to be discreet, perhaps only offer a polite word before continuing through the corridor, but the girl's flustered response disarmed him.

"You've no reason to apologize." he said with that even Naboo lilt, his voice calm, deep, and touched with warmth. "I only meant to ask if you were waiting for someone."

"Cassian Abrantes." he replied, taking her offered hand with a gentleman's precision. "A pleasure, My Lady."

He might have said more, but the sound of hurried footsteps and the familiar tone of a retainer's scolding cut through the air. Cassian straightened, letting go of her hand just as the maid entered. He responded with a small, respectful bow of his own.

"There's no need to apologize." he assured the maid. "Your Lady was simply enjoying the view."

Then, turning back to Fatine, his tone softened with a trace of humor. "I'd say she has perfect timing, My Lady von Ascania. Though I suspect you'd disagree."

His eyes gleamed a hint of playfulness restrained behind his diplomatic composure before he stepped back to give them space, hands clasped behind his back in that calm, soldierly stance that never quite left him.

"Perhaps we'll cross paths again,." Cassian said with a polite nod. "Naboo has a way of arranging such things."

And with that Cassian turned around and left their presence, making his way back past those in the hall and that was when he heard more hushed and hurried voices. When he finally found the root cause, he gave no immediate response, he was just simply there. A weapon with that much power, should not belong to anyone. It should be destroyed and buried somewhere no one could find it.

The General strode past them as he moved to his destination. As the doors opened before him he could see the group standing there. He moved forward with practiced ease as he gave respectful bow before them.

"Your Grace." Cassian nodded towards Sibylla and then Aurelian. "Chancellor." He looked over to Dominique and and Rhys, giving them a small smile and a simple nod. No doubt they had just seen what had transpired above Atrisia.

Dangerous times lay ahead, for them all.