Planning(Any jedi or Galactic alliance figures available!)

[Derric Starr]

The silence was not golden or lasting, the pros and cons of such a mission were clearly the boiling point of this meeting. And yet the Wayist sat quietly waiting for the madness to peek. It was not about a calm and collected front, it was not about finding a balanced state of being, his silence was about tactics. He had very little to say on the matter, he was a soldier nearly from birth, a warrior and a survivor his whole life. Yet this meeting was not about his life, but in some strange way it was about the future of the Galactic Alliance.

"If I may have your attention, there are two other guest waiting to speak before you,. As Neive has clearly stated Koda Station though sectors away from the borders of the Empire is still dangerously close. Setting aside the importance of maintaining the sanctity of Koda Station there is another issue that has swayed the opinions and minds of the Galactic Alliance Chief of State and Grand Master of the Jedi Coalition. Without further ado allow me to introduce the former members of the Galactic Alliance Senate from Endor and Roche. Ral'zek of Roche and Flinkit of Endor."

As he finished speaking the pair of former Senate members walked into the meeting taking seats that ad remained open for them.

"As some of you may recall the Ewok of Endor stood with the Alliance when we were nothing more than a band of Rebels. Sentient beings fighting for the the rights of our people, for the basic sentient rights of all living beings. In order to escape the ruthless grip of Emperor Palpatine. Now many of you here won't remember what that was like, life under the Empire of old. I recall it clearly what that life was like. Even those of you who have lived through the post Palpatine eras have an understanding of what the Empire's rule is like. But you live in the safety of the Galactic Alliance your people the people of your homeworlds are safe inside Alliance territory. FIrst Flinkit."

The Ewok turned where she sat and climbed almost comically to her feet on the chair she sat upon using the back of the chair fr support. Turning to face the gather Jedi and others she spoke galactic basic albeit with a soft yet squeaky voice.

"At the Battle of Endor, we fought. We fought for your people, to help you free yourselves and our own from the grip of the Galactic Empire. And ever since we stood by the side of the Galactic Alliance through all of these years, from Rebellion to Republic and back again. But where is that support and friendship gotten us? Ruled over by the Empire once again. How has our loyalty to the Alliance been rewarded or acknowledged? Forgotten left to the whims an treatment of the enemy we fought together. We have tried the diplomatic route, even with the support of the Alliance, to no avail. We have no recourse but open war and alone that would mean genocide of our people, suicide at the very least. How can any say it is right to abandon those who have fought and died along side them throughout our history as friends allies and equals?"

"I will not say much more than Flinkit has said, she has spoke wonderfully my own feelings."

Ral'zek stood his mandibles visibly quivering with emotion as he spoke.

"Roche and the Verpine where sacrificed as nothing more than pawns for the preservation of the Galactic Alliance, its member worlds and there safety. All but Roche and the Verpine. We have not forgotten this many of us outside of the influence of Sith who took Roche in the retreat and abandonment of the Alliance still feel a certain level of loyalty and hope when we think of what this mighty Alliance is supposed to stand for. Those of us who remain within the Alliance have chosen to seek aid once more, like the Ewoks and we will stand beside them in the hope of freeing our peoples.

The Wayist stood walking to the front of the room giving Ordona half hidden nod as he passed to draw the attention of the room to himself once again.

"All of this is history, all of this is in the past. But the first and foremost point I would like to draw your attention to is this simple statement of intent regarding the policies and stance of the Galactic Alliance which includes the Jedi Coalition among it's members.

Although these are turbulent times, the Galactic Alliance is determined to shatter the oppressive regimes of the Empire, Sith and their allies. We will continue to strike from a multitude of bases around the galaxy. We are the soldiers of the Alliance, and we are determined to win freedom and liberty for all the sentient beings in the galaxy.

Those words are a direct quote of the Madine Protocol which has been the official policy and stance of the Galactic Alliance since its founding. Upon the ashes of the second Rebel Alliance we founded the Galactic Alliance with the intent of freeing all peoples from tyrannical rulers, of giving all sentient life the choice to life free if they wished it. The Verpine wish for their freedom returned, as do the Ewoks. They have asked for our help, is it not our responsibility our mandate to aid them regardless of the risk?

[Zechs Merquise]

Zechs stayed in the back and silent. He was no one and stood there in his casual jacket. He wasn’t out of sight, but compared to the officials, the living legends, and the Jedi Masters amongst them, he was a fly in a vast mine. His words would do no one good, but the temple drove his mind mad. Here in the mist of an order dedicated to peace war was advocated. It was wrong. It was misplaced.

The Jedi were the light in a galaxy nestled in the dark reality of war. They were a force to be admired. He had heard so many stories of them. There was a Kenobi who did miraculous things in a war between clones and droids. There was the famous Skywalker who got to the Death Star a little too late to save Alderran, but he made up for it later. So many stories where the details had blurred truth into myth. He had come to hate how those were the stories he heard most of the Jedi. They were beyond epic, and the tales of a chat that avoided a war had a harder time of catching on.

Zechs thoughts turned in orbit around the points made. Endor was near, but hyperspace lanes revealed any fleet stationed there or moving along by it would have to cross several worlds before the Jedi were under any real threat. It was an excuse. Nothing more.

The pleas were staging to tug at heartstrings to support a decision already made. The Alliance didn’t need the Jedi to act. It needed only an excuse, and there were many on all sides good at finding them.

Endor had suffered. It had been remade after the unfortunate battle in its orbit. Even some Ewoks had been relocated, by choice, to, for example, Etti IV. Many had joined a special security force there. No one ever expected an Ewok. Yet the plea made a compelling excuse to push that front.

Roche was another matter. That was the sin of this Alliance that needed righting. Borders shifted like sand on a map, but some of it shifted far too easily. War was never something to be welcomed with treats, but when it came, it was best met with honorable resolve.

So Zechs stood there and listened. Silence was his. He was no one. The decision had already been made. It was as plain to him as the light the Jedi cast into the dark. What he wanted to say, he didn’t. War had touched him enough. Death had called his name too many times. Trouble always found him. He let his mouth not get him into any this once, but something stirred within.

It was cold to think it, but it was true. All that was left was to decide how soldiers would die and how much collateral damage would be acceptable. Maybe he was getting bitter at war with his ever increasing age. Maybe he was getting hungry.

[Master Buggie]

From the communications room aboard The Dagger, his assigned CR90 corvette, Buggie watched the proceedings on Koda Station. His mandibles were firmly clenched against one another, and frankly, he was disgusted by what he saw thus far. Everything detail his multifaceted eyes witnessed told him a story. The presence of this meeting on Koda Station spoke volumes. The station was the temple that served as the face of the Jedi Coalition and was the most accessible temple to outsiders, in fact, they were welcomed aboard Koda Station. Still, the temple had a dark past, which only lay in recent memory. The Empire had caused much death and destruction aboard Koda Station as they attempted to recover their Empress, Krynn Karn. Buggie suspected that the setting of this meeting between the Galactic Alliance, the Jedi, and other interested parties was no mistake. Those attending would remember the wounds that Koda Station had suffered, but that wasn't even the most offensive display.

Senator Ral'zek had been paraded before the attendees of this planning session as if to convince those that were questioning the strategic value of the Endor system that even the Verpine, who had been subjugated by the Sith, were willing to stand by the proposed operation. It was as if this liberation of Endor had been drummed up by someone at High Command, and this meeting on Koda Station was nothing more than an intentional ploy to receive the Jedi Coalition's blessings. At that, Buggie could no longer maintain his silence.

"Any system under the oppression of the Sith or the tyranny of the Empire is worthy of our aid," Buggie began, "Whichever Ewok villages that still reside on the Sanctuary Moon are no exception to that, I assure you. Senator Ral'zek, you no doubt appealed to the Galactic Alliance for relief forces to be sent to the Roche Asteroids. When I myself made an appeal, Chief of State Tansir and Chief of Military Operations Antilles personally assured me that no Galactic Alliance fleet assets could be spared to oust the Sith from the Roche system. Fleets are not created overnight, I'm certain we're all aware of that."

If that didn't cause a reaction from the Verpine senator, Buggie didn't know what would. The implication was clear; the Galactic Alliance never meant to liberate the Roche system.

"From my standpoint, which I freely admit may be biased in this case, how does the Galactic Alliance justify the strategic value of the Endor system over a system positioned at a key juncture of the Perlemian? High Command must know that there is no direct hyperlane that exists on any modern chart between the Endor system and the Wazta system. With the Empire pressed between the Galactic Alliance and the resurgent Sith, even the most bold Imperial admiral would not risk a slow series of jumps through uncharted space in order to attack Koda Station. Not to mention, any hope of reinforcements would be just as slow to arrive," Buggie pointed out.

Turning his attention to the so-called ambassador, Buggie pressed, "Ambassador Undant; I believe there is a crucial detail that you have not yet revealed. You referenced an assault on Botajef by 'another force,' but you failed to name them. Who will be attacking the Botajef system and how can we be certain that their strength will attract the desired Imperial response?"

Buggie focused upon Ambassador Undant, carefully reading the Zabrak as he waited expectantly for a response.

[Ordona Vandorak]

Ordona listened to the back and forth. She listened as the Jedi and Alliance members waged a war of ideological positions, the high ground being taken by those who could not hold it. She knew of the invasion of Roche. She knew what had transpired. And then a Verpine who appeared via holocomm cut the argument out from under them. He swarmed the metaphorical hill and planted his flag of righteousness in the soft earth that he found there.

It was a tough thing to listen to though. She had been given a dossier on this meeting, and had studied the current situation on both of the systems that were being discussed. Roche, in particular, caused a lump to form in Ordona’s throat. She had been Sith. Had probably helped train some of those who had assaulted the allies of the GA there. It was tough medicine to take, but now was the time to do something about it. To make a difference.

She just wasn’t sure when she should speak. She was a junior member and while Derric and Deelto had professed their trust for her, that didn’t extend to the other beings present. Nor did it necessarily count for much to a lot of them.Still, she couldn’t remain silent any longer. The Ex-Sith opened her mouth to speak with the aim of persuading those in charge to use the fleet to go to Roche instead. But the Verpine wasn’t done yet.

With his newly acquired high ground he fired a single precision strike toward Neive and the defenses of the plan that he had crafted. The pointed question took precedent over anything Ordona was going to say and so she had to remain silent a while longer.

She took a breath and waited for her turn.

[Neive Undant]

The shot had been fired, and Neive had almost froze in his seat. He couldn't lie to the alliance or Jedi, even if he did they would see right through it, but if he told them... not only would he lose the Jedi's trust, but the plan would be destroyed.
Neive sighed, and thought for a moment.

Finally, he spoke.

"Before I speak next, I need to say one thing. These attacks are on different sides of the galaxy, and for us, there is no risk of attack from them. We and this other party are fighting a common enemy, and although a majority of you will disagree with my tactics, these men are against the empire just as much as we are."
Neive sighed, and again spoke.
"Botajef is a planet just outside of sith space. I suspect that a large scale attack from the sith would force the empire to thin their forces out, but also force them to move forces from endor to the planet to protect the Hydian way from the sith's control." Neive looked down, closing his eyes. "I understand that working with people from the dark side is a major offense to the Jedi and Alliance alike, but against the empire... I did what I saw fit, in order to bring the empire down from its high pedestal that it resides upon right now."
Now would come the objections and calls that Neive has betrayed them. Neive waited for the hate and the outrage patiently, staying calm as he sat, his hands in front of him on the table.

[Annan Rainwalker]

Padawan Rainwalker stared on, mouth slightly agape and eyes wide, as he observed the interactions taking place before him. Ani had witnessed the endless parliamentary debates back on Naboo, it being Alliance capital and all, politicians gathered here and there to exchange views, usually to end in no conclusion whatsoever. Which was technically what was happening here.

So when Recruit Starr called the Verpine and the Ewok, Ral'zek and Flinkit respectively, Annan was rather taken aback by their inspirational words. The Padawan put a hand on his chin, deep in thought. It was basic that, as a Jedi, he was meant to aid others. 'Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy... Jedi use their powers to defend and to protect...', the first two lines of the Jedi Code that he had repeated to himself day and night.

Then what the heck where they doing? There was injustice in the Galaxy, and injustice had to be vanquished by the Jedi.

And then, of course, there was Master Buggie.

Annan admired Buggie, but was not exactly a fanboy of the Jedi Master who was communicating with them via holotransmitter. Okay, scratch that, he was totally a Buggie fanboy, but that was because Buggie was the first Jedi he had ever met, and who had brought him to the Temple in the first place. So, when Buggie utterly destroyed the entire discussion with his seemingly irrefutable logic, Annan became completely lost.

The Alliance had refused to aid a planet being attacked by the Sith?

In a sick twisted way, it made sense: the Sith were natural enemies of the Jedi, not the Alliance. So, the Alliance wished for Jedi help in dealing with their own natural enemy, the Empire, but had been unwilling to return the favour when the Jedi had asked for the same courtesy against their foe, the Sith. While the Padawan reflected on this awful plot twist, his heart twisted into a knot, and mind processing the Alliance hypocrisy with all of shock, self-justification and denial - a ruckus broke out in the room the moment Ambassador Undant announced the identity of the would-be conquerers of Botajef.

Master Mynb was not pleased. Even Master Xin, Master Tallav and the Wookiee Master Shirrwa were taken a back. "How dare you even suggest that?! The Empire may ridden with corruption and apathy, but they have a sense of pride - they don't slaughter younglings, for example!"

"AARRGHGHGH!!!" Master Shirrwa roared in agreement with Master Mynb. Master Xin hesitated to give an opinion, but even he had huge reservations of letting the dark-side loose on the people of Botajef.

Master Sam Tallav wiped his forehead in anxiety. "Letting the Sith take Botajef. Sure, they could drive the Empire out... but what of after that? They will do the same thing to the people of Botajef as they did to the people of Roche... that would be like trying to fix one sin by committing another," needless to say, about this entire meeting: the Tension was strong with this one.

"How about..." Padawan Rainwalker suddenly spoke up - out of place, no doubt, since only the Masters were expected to speak - but when he saw the encouraging glance of his Master, he found the courage to continue. "I know I'm just a Padawan, but please permit me to say this: the first two lines of the Jedi Code should be enough for us... they are for me. 'Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy, Jedi use their powers to defend and to protect,' isn't that sufficient reason for us to help the people of Endor and Roche? I'm not talking about politics or strategic importance, but from the purely moral point of view - from the Jedi point of view - if people are suffering, anywhere, aren't we supposed to aid them? Isn't that why this Coalition exists, and the old Order before it?"

"My young Padawan has a point," Master Xin supported his Padawan, looking at Master Mynb. "We can't sit and let them suffer, otherwise we lose our purpose as Jedi," at this the Head of Koda Station fell silent, and the others who had opposed being involved with more Alliance politics too began to reconsider.

The Padawan looked at the hologram of Master Buggie, and then at Sentor Ral'zek and Senator Flinkit, giving an apologetic glance towards the latter for what he was about to say. "Personally, I wish the Alliance could liberate Roche first - no offence to your people, Senator Flinkit, but just to right a wrong that has been done..." at that he gave an apologetic glance towards the holotransmission of his hero, Master Buggie.

"There is still, as Master Buggie pointed out, the issue of the 'other power'," Master Mynb said, "I think I speak for all of us, when I say we are going to need to be thoroughly convinced that working with the Sith would be to the benefit of all of us, and I consider the masses of Botajef, who the Sith would oppress - or worse - as included in that 'us'."

"I don't see that working, unless we could come up with a clever way to prevent the Sith from taking Botajef but still drive the Empire out," Master Xin muttered with his hand on his chin as an afterthought, but loud enough to be heard.

"And how exactly," Master Sam Tallav began, turning to glare at Neive. "do you aim to convince the Sith to do all of that, Ambassador? And what exactly do you mean when you say, 'I did what I saw fit'? What did you do? And by whose authority?"

[Zechs Merquise]

Zechs was not the Admiral he once had been. He was no man with a spotless record. He had done things that haunted his dreams, but he could no longer remain silent. A line had been crossed. He had to step out of the shadows before a world burned and its people lost. He was no one, but no one could still take a stand.

“Those people should be warned regardless of what banner flies over their world. We should find out all we can about this attack, and do all we can to thwart it.”

The Empire was as imperfect as the Alliance, but both stood above the cesspit the Sith stewed in with at least some respect for the innocent. The information would find its way to them no matter what anyone said, but Zechs didn’t think it‘d require any convincing to get the Alliance or, even more so, the Jedi to do the right thing. In fact, he was but an inch for suggesting this individual with some form of Sith connections should be detained and have the matter discussed at great lengths with.

It was an old dilemma. You know an attack is on its way to a town. You can stop it and save the town. Or you can let it happen and preserve the source of that intel for another day. Or in their case, take advantage of it. Zechs had never had the burden of facing that dilemma. It turned out the he who was now had a far less difficult time with it than he might have even a few years ago.

[Neive Undant]

Neive sighed as he listened to those that were outraged, those who begrudgingly agreed that they needed to continue, and those that sought only to hold Neive for even conversing with such people. However, through it all, there was a choice. Everyone in the room had to make their's, one way or the other.
"I understand that working with the sith is something that none of us want to do. But even so, the empire is just as bad! The sith are cruel, but they don't have near the means to carry out their deeds as the empire does! If endor and the surrounding planets are not attacked soon, it could not only spell disaster for us, but the people on the planets will surely never be freed! The empire is growing, and with their forces comes a stronger grip on the planets they have. If we let them grow, then the sith may stay as they are, but the jedi and alliance both may pay a larger toll than we are willing to give. Botajef is a smaller planet, with a population of slim to none. If we ignore the cries for help close, from our allies, how would we be trusted by those in our ranks to do what is right for them?" Neive stood. "Now I understand that it isn't right to let the people of Botajef suffer... but if they are protected, then our allies and ourselves will suffer the consequences." Neive held his head. "I know it's a hard decision to make, for all of us... but if this happens, we may even have a larger army with more means to fight the empire and sith alike, if the Hydian way is taken from the empire. The potential within this is too much to pass up, and we may eventually be able to push into botajef anyways, depending on how many transports the empire sends north. We can't let this opportunity slip, and if we do... it may be lost forever."
Neive sighed, looking down. "I'm sorry for pushing this decision on you all... but if we don't decide, the sith and empire will decide for us, and we won't like the outcome. I know it is hard, but I believe that the outcome, if we do carry through, will be much higher than the loss if we don't. Botajef will not be completely destroyed, nor will those who inhabit it. I will use everything in my power to make sure of it..." Neive closed his eyes and composed himself, sitting down again and leaning on the table. "My apologies, for my minor outburst..."

[Jarak Kai]

He'd never intended to actually go to this meeting. Jarak felt that his time in war planning and standing atop of a fleet baring down upon another was at least put on hold, but if the whispers he was hearing were true? Surely not. His pace had quickened at the recollection of the rumours. His brown robe bellowed out behind him as the fresh air rushed towards him at each door he passed through, quicker and quicker. The Jedi Knight had walked with such purpose and borderline furious nature, he'd left his hood upon his head, hiding a lot of his features, but every Jedi that passed him, knew his image. It was here, on Koda station that Jarak brought the Empress Krynn in chains to the Jedi. Although, that came with severe consequences, it had gained him respect, after the initial shock wore off from the aftermath at least. Though it was irrelevant, he didn't care. The only one's he sought respect from, he had it. A jedi was usually beyond such things, but he knew if he'd spent his entire life as a Jedi atoning for his early choices, then he'd never achieve anything in the name of the light.

Never did he think that he would be at a war-room meeting with the Alliance and telling them such things as he planned to. The door slid open and he walked in, taking a position along with the rest of them. A few faces he recognized, but he didn't nod or greet them. This was political, as much as they would say otherwise and Jedi wouldn't show favouritism.

"Late to this discussion, I'd apologise but I had no reason to believe I'd have to come and stay our hands from a suicidal stroke." He paused for a moment, now looking at each one of them. "I see maybe half of this room knows war, half again understand it." He looked directly at the Ewok. "I feel nothing but pain for you, little one, but to show favouritism to one world, to send forces to rescue worlds which offer no strategical benefit whatsoever, is madness and not how anyone ever won a war."

"If we rush to aid these worlds, they could be the last worlds we ever liberate. If you must wage war against the Empire, then do it with strategy and not on the back of good intentions and compassion. Every Jedi who ever succumbed to darkness had good intentions, and I can assure you there were many a Sith who did too. I am not the only one in this room to know this is not enough in war." His eyes glanced at the former Sith, someone, finally, knew something of what it was like.

"We Jedi will not assist with the Sith. It is non negotiable. You say the Empire is worse than the Sith? That's not true. They are just a political entity, a consequence of the Sith and their rule, without them they are just a dictatorship and if we do not attack the Sith and destroy them, then such civilizations as the Empire will be used against good people, Endor, Roche, Naboo, anywhere they please."

"Now, I've just returned from my missions into the fringes of Sith space and I can tell you this, it is as we suspected. Sith numbers are growing. They have stronger force users than we expected, lieutenants, captains for their dark forces. You say it is our duty to protect these worlds? We lost those worlds! They are gone! We cannot protect something that has already been taken from us. The Jedi are not the Alliance. The Jedi are the force's answer to the threat of the Sith and we must answer the force's call to action against them, not some Jedi who's become enthralled by the politics of the Alliance. I agree the threat from the Empire is real, but that's what the Alliance Navy is for. Jedi Knights? We're for fighting the darkside, and unless you can prove that yet another Sith rules the Empire, then we have our enemy already. I've been to Rendili shipyards. The fleet, the new Hammerhead Cruisers are ready, but they're not for fighting the Empire, we needed a fleet to defend against the Sith armada and the fleet will need Jedi. Jedi we cannot lose in a mission which is void of all strategy and reason. It pains me to say it, but we cannot go around being heroes and waving banners everywhere we go. We owe it to the galaxy, that if we wage war, we wage war correctly and with intelligence."

He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, but as far as I'm concerned, the Jedi are already engaged in a war and we need to get back to fighting it."

[Zechs Merquise]

The GA’s plan evolved. It changed. Wise words had been said by all sides, but in the end, the Jedi weren’t the military. They’d help when the cause was just and true. The Alliance would do what it felt it must. Politics would demand this. Reality would demand that. It was the way of things.

Everyone left unhappy and unsatisfied, but they left none the less. Except for those who did otherwise.

((Derric’s departure complicated this. We don’t know his plans. What we’re thinking is different.

If anyone wishes to press further, feel free to do so. Just wanted to wrap this up at long last. And free us all up.))