Chapter 56 - Interlude: Uncertain future (1/2)
Relay station Sigma 061-T1
Dark space
Unknown regions
A rough sphere with diameter of two kilometers floated in the void. It's surface was made by a hundred meter thick armor belt that was covered by pockmarks left by stray asteroids and one particularly unlucky lost comet.
The all but forgotten installation had laid dormant for almost three thousand and seven hundred years, when a certain distress signal reached it. The encrypted FTL message washed over meticulously maintained holo-comm station's receivers, went through a series of anti-viral scans and finally, two point three seconds later, the data was decrypted. A not too bright computer that had been awake for millennia scanned the message and noted it's importance.
It was the main reason for the station's presence in the region.
The ancient computer followed up its directives, booted up slumbering generators and finally, a few hours later sent an encrypted data-burst to similar station a floating a few light year from Dromund Kaas, before going into stand by mode, while awaiting an answer.
=RK=
GNN Shenanigans
”Good Afternoon, Coruscant! I'm Brosk Tonfa and this is Galactic Politics!”
”Good Afternoon! I'm Victoria Halcyon and today we'll be discussing the latest crisis raging through the Senate!”
”Professor Nindo Morati and former Chancellor Finnis Valorum!” Brosk smiled to the cameras.
”It's good to be here!” Professor Morati grinned and waved at the audience. He was a quite charismatic Dug, who was teaching political science in one of Coruscant's premier universities.
”I find it refreshing being back on Coruscant. Thank you for this invitation, Victoria, Brosk.” Valorum smiled and nodded at his hosts. He was wearing simple black robe and looked much older than his last public appearance on the capital world of the Republic.
”You're welcome, Chancellor. As most of our viewers probably know by now, what was once seen as minor troubles on Mandalore, has grown into a large problem that resonates strongly even here, on Coruscant.” Halcyon nodded to the cameras.
”Various Senators called for emergency session tomorrow to discus the Mandalorian crisis.” Tonfa continued. ”This happens amidst a lot of questions and accusations.”
”Indeed, Brosk. A large diplomatic mission, led by Senator Bail Organa was supposed to leave for Mandalore a week ago with General Veil attached as adviser and commander of their military escort.”
”That by itself was source of some controversy, but little did we all know – it was just a sign of things to come. First, Senator Organa was delayed – his presence was needed in the Senate when questions were raised about Alderaan's support of the war that made his presence here necessary.”
”However, that was not the end. The diplomatic team that was supposed to go to Mandalore was broken up and reassigned to deal with other issues, leaving only General Veil as the sole Republic representative to negotiate with the Mandalorian government.”
”Then, we learned about something even more irregular!” Brosk exclaimed. ”The Republic ambassador to Mandalore had been recalled and in fact left Mandalore mere hours before General Veil arrived, leaving him as the sole person responsible for negotiating with Duchess Satine's government.” Victoria stated.
”That lead to a lot of accusations within the Senate, rumors of a set up and even conspiracy theories!” Brosk nodded vigorously.
”What do you think about this strange situation? What's your analysis?” Victoria turned her attention to her guests. ”You have more hands on experience with the inner working of the Senate, so lets start with your opinion, Chancellor.”
”Well, Victoria, this is a thorny issue. As you noted, the sequence of events that led to the situation on Mandalore is highly irregular. While negotiations in the name of the Republic aren't necessary carried by the Diplomatic Corps - we've used Jedi in the past as ambassadors with great success, it has been a long, long time since a serving general of the Republic military has held such a position. Given the Mandalorian culture, outside the New Mandalorian faction, sending a decorated military officer as a part of the diplomatic team makes sense. I can even see how some people might think that letting General Veil be in charge of the negotiations could be beneficial in this case.”
”True enough. We're talking about Mandalorians here. They respect only power.” Professor Morati grumbled. ”What about the rest? That was the most obviously underhanded set up I've seen.”
Valorum sighed and nodded. ”Certain partied within the Senate and the Diplomatic Corps need to answer some very pointed questions.”
”Do you really think that's enough? Valorum, you're singing the same tune you did when you were the Chancellor and we saw how that ended – the Senate did nothing, Naboo remained occupied until the locals managed to kick out the Trade Federation and you lost your position. Do you really believe that the Senate would actually solve this problem? It's clear to anyone with a pair of braincells to rub together that this whole Mandalorian crisis was engineered to tarnish the reputation of a Republic general. It is obviously an attempt for political ȧssassination that might yet succeed and I don't really see the Senate doing anything to stop it.”