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 Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:25 pm
"When one nation levels a sword at another and that nation desperately talks of peace, how long will it take before appeasement becomes surrender?" Giddean shook his head, "The core and rim worlds are economically co-dependent, so long as they are ruled by separate governments without legalized trade the economic tailspin that has engulfed both nations will continue."
Giddean settled in a chair across from the Senator, "From the demeanor of the negotiator they sent I can tell you the Confederacy is planning on taking the offensive against the Republic, probably using the Dac conflict as the flashpoint. As it stands the Republic doesn't have the military might to fight them. What if I offered a way to maintain military parity with the Confederacy?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:50 pm
"If the core and rim are economically co-dependent as you say, then you would think that the Confederacy wouldn't dare risk profit. The truth is they are not as co-dependent as you think. The Confederacy has held off years from invading the core. They had chance after chance. The Confederacy didn't take Kashyyyk yet, despite having the entire system surrounded. Dac has not yet fallen to them. The truth is the Confederacy doesn't need a single gun to take down the Republic; it is failing from within."
She turned to her mirror again. "You came to me because my influence is greatly exaggerated for where it should be. But consider this: if you are so willing to save the republic, why did you sell to the confederacy so quickly, instead of sending word to us? I may be young, Master Giddean, but I'm not entirely stupid. You obviously have some interest in the core, as you stated 'kuat serves no interests but its own'. So you obviously have some form of interest in stirring up a war we're sure to lose. You should know more than I about this, shouldn't you know about the upgrades the Confederacy has made? Wars are fought not in space alone. The confederacy not only has more guns, but more soldiers, and more experienced soldiers. Not to mention, their droid technology is superior to that of ours, so even if we fought man to man, they have attrition on their side. Tell me, how will you even begin to match the sheer number differences in ships? What about soldiers? Vehicles? Time? You are but a buisnessman; It took us years to gear our industries for rebuilding and stop the inflation. Now you seek to unravel all of the time and effort we put in, ignoring the people that we promised to help. Tell me, isn't that what created the confederacy in the first place? When a number of disgruntled people, armed to the teeth with weapons and more money than brains, decided to start fighting over things they did not deserve?"
Vossa took a sigh, before turning to the Kuati. "Say by all miracles that we do take up some offer to build our military back up. Say by all miracles that the time needed to train our soldiers, to convert reconstruction efforts into war mongering efforts, that we by sheer luck manage to fend off a trained army with fresh recruits who haven't seen battle or are far too old to carry a blaster. Millions will die, and we repeat the clone wars. We would need far more than a couple ships and a month's time to fend off the Confederacy..."
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:18 pm
"You greatly underestimate the military potential of your worlds Senator. A trained man, flesh and blood, is easily worth ten or twenty battle droids. The one thing the core is not lacking is population. Moreover the Republic fought the clone wars with one hand tied behind its back. You relied on Jedi and clones to fight your battles and now that both are kicked aside you think you have nothing to fight with? If the Republic is to survive it will take the courage and blood of its citizenry to win it a future. I can arm that citizenry, but you must have the courage to call upon them."
"The truth is that recent changes in Confederate leadership has placed elements with a desire for revenge against the Republic in positions of power." Giddean glanced at the senate feed. "Moreover the fall of the Republic would have significant strategic repercussions that would bode ill for Kuat. Years ago Kuat was a member of the Trade Federation, and we have no desire to be under their dominion once again. If my nation is to remain an independent entity it must help to maintain a balance of power between the Republic and the Confederacy, so that no one nation may seize the upper hand and become a threat to smaller nations."
"In order to achieve this I'm willing to offer a simple barter trade. In exchange for the Republic Sienar Systems assets nationalized by the Republic during the Clone Wars I will provide enough ships to match those being delivered to the Confederacy."
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:43 pm
"A good soldier may be worth 20 droids, but unlike the Confederacy, we don't have the luxury of cannon fodder," Vossa commented. "You're insisting that I go forth, in front of the Senate, tell them we're out gunned, out powered, out numbered because of a deal you brokered, that our only way of survival is to dismantle the entire republic, replacing it with an executive government with full wartime powers, essentially displaying that the republic is not only willing to fight, but ready to, to buy a bunch of ships, made by you on a promise, which is incrediblely weak in resolve since you cannot risk missing quotas already made to all your other clientel, and fighting off a fully trained and prepped army with what you've described as little more than a militia of drug addicts, beurocrats, and city folk whos only experience in combat is fleeing from the police after breaking the law...."
Vossa took a small breath, as she thought about it a bit more. "Essentially, you're asking us to just throw our civilians as meat shields in the way of Confederate blasters. You are a very poor general, or a very brilliant one. It would depend on how well you can sleep with deaths in the trillions on your hands. I think you greatly underestimate the moral implications of the choice you're asking any one person to make. For someone who is into buisness, you are very bad at public relations. What you suggest is to become the Confederacy itself. Kuat cannot be a neutral participant in a one sided war without witnessing one side falling. These are the concerns that the rest of the senate will be demanding answers from. Investigations launched, committees set up, discussions for months before altering our budget... There simply is not enough time for you to get this approved in the senate without an outright declaration of war. It would be the only way to transfer the money and manpower fast enough to make a difference."
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:30 pm
"I'm not saying you should openly declare war, but admit to yourself that you are already at war, albeit not openly. A cold war, and that is by far the best kind of war there is."
Giddean smiled, "Your populace needs work, your economy an infusion of credits, and your military an upgrade. A military buildup solves all three of those problems at once. The Confederacy will attack if it senses Republican weakness and it takes time to start the resource cascade of a military war machine. Far better to begin building and training an army under the senate's leadership now then have one hastily created six or nine months down the road under emergency powers. The Republic has gone to war without sliding into a dictatorship several times in its history. Senatorial oversight may be maintained even in a war, it is only by the machinations of Palpatine that the Republic slid as far as it did."
"I am not suggesting that you assemble an army of mere conscripts, that would be madness. But you have an officer corps that could mold an army of volunteers into a fighting force of comparable strength to the Confederacy. If our experience with cloning technology has taught us anything, you can not under-value training, no matter if flash learning or genetic aptitude, training is the key to a fighting force." Giddean glanced at the Senator. "Republic Sienar Systems manufacturing had more than enough capacity for the ships you'll need, and we'd be employing Republic citizens as well, boosting your economy in this uncertain time."
His eyes glinted, "It's certainly better then the other plan I was considering."
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:45 pm
It wasn't easy sneaking into the Ringali Shell. Jag couldn't openly wear his armor, had to pass himself off as a tramp freighter captain, and temporarily de-fang one of his vigos. Then, with a "requisitioned" cargo of cheap foodstuffs, he and a few picked men had to risk the pirate infested spacelanes to reach the Republic Navy infested Core lanes. The Hassle was necessary, however. He had buisness in the Core.
Dirtside on Brentaal, a major trade center for the Republic Reminant. Jag had his hat down low as he stepped off the shuttle service from the Spaceport. His eyes darted about at the upscale housing, then he glanced at his bracer computer, punching up the directions he had aquired.
After an hour's walking, Jag finally reached the address of the Le’Bell's.
"Hell, the got a front gate and everything." Jag muttered as he rang the intercom buzzer. "Seems she's done well."
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:20 pm
"For a buisnessman, you know a lot more about things involving war and theory than you do abotu economics and history. Don't you know that military based economic buildup relies on you one day /using/ those weapons? Either way, I'll take your advice into consideration. Reopening Republic Sienar to us would give us than enough manufacturing we need, and since we already employ our populace to do infrastructure, the committees wouldn't have any issues about rediverting the reconstruction efforts from other planets to them if it could knock out the defense issues to Dac. I'm afraid I must be rushing though. I'll contact Raith tomorrow myself," Vossa said giving a smile.
"Plus, I know a few senators who would enjoy an updated model for a personal shuttle."
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:44 pm
"The only problem with that plan being that Raith has been out of business so long. You have shipyards but no modern designs to build."
Giddean smiled, "Perhaps a compromise is in order."
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:46 pm
A recessed circular plate on the gate popped open and the large mechanical eye attached to the end of a long multi-jointed arm shot out. Its eyelid like dust plates sprang open and the thing looked the individual up and down before demanding his identification and purpose for being at its masters gate. Popping the code-slicer off her window lock and palming it back into her pocket Niomie smiled slyly as she slid the window up and slipped out onto her bedroom balcony. Moving with practiced ease she set her hover-board onto the railing and climbed up, spreading her arms to keep her balance she placed her feet on the board. Niomies bedroom door flew open and the servant quickly stepped out of the way of the Lady of the House, Niomies Mother. “Just what do you think you’re doing young lady!?!” Sara Le’Bell demanded with eyes opened wide as she stared at her beloved daughter. “I’m suffocating in this house Mom.” The Teenage girl replied calmly, eyes judging the distance to the ground. “I got to get out ‘a here for a bit.” “You will do no such thing young woman! You will come back in here and finish your studies.” She ordered as only a mother could. Niomie just looked at her and smiled, tipping two fingers from the rim of her helmet in mock salute and tipped the board over the railing. “Latters Mom.” She said as she diapered over the side. “I’ll be back for dinner.” Sara gasped, rushed over through the open window to look over the balcony railing, releasing her held in breath when she saw her daughter carving her hover board through the flower garden and out on to the manicured imported blue grass lawn.
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:06 pm
((Jag came alone))
Ignoring what commotion was going on on the far side of the wall, Jag focused on the eyedroid and adjusted his cap.
"I'm here to see Sara Le'Ball." Jag told the droid. "I have buisness to discuss with her regarding her daughter. My name is Jag Rohtul."
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:57 pm
A commlink beeped in a platoon barracks where a squad of men were sleeping. The commlink was that of one Sgt. V. Fraust and it was not going to stop until he picked up.
Sergeant. This is a priority call. Calling Sergeant Fraust.
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 1:23 pm
"Perhaps it is. I imagine Raith will probably ask for his designs back, and the Senate will simply have to oblige. Until he is up and running, we'll be forced to utilize the other shipyards. None which will the Senate will enjoy, but will make the places like Corellia more than happy," the senator stated, pulling an leather scarf around her neck.
"We're in a terrible position, master Giddean. The confederacy bears our guns on us, the trade routes drain our coffers, and we can barely keep peace in our own systems. Until the Dac and Kashyyyk issues are resolved, I'm afraid there is nothing the senate can do to promise anything stable. Come, walk with me, I have matters to attend to with my assistants, and my pending trip to Dac. We'll continue to discuss your assimmilation back into the Republic."
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:38 pm
Giddean contained the fumes of annoyance at the mention of his world's chief competitor, CEC. The damn Corellians had sold their designs on the open market all through the war, and so it had not been uncommon for the mercenary elements of the confederacy to wield CEC produced vessels, something the senate was all too ignorant of.
"If I may be frank, Corellia may not have openly seceded from the Republic, but their shipyards are interested in coin, and that is something that the Republic can not provide in the current economic climate." Giddean followed the Senator out the doors. "Corellia has long had isolationist and separatist elements, so I find it amazing that they have remained in the Republic while conservative nations such as my own have left."
"On the issue of returning to the Republic. Kuat has every intention of taking its place in the galactic community, but the economic ruin and political upheaval of the Republic makes it impossible for us to return. If conditions improve and the confederacy elects to return our world will gladly rejoin, but at present that seems far from occurring. So long as the Galaxy is split between the Confederacy and Republic the Kuat Sector will stand independent of the dispute, by joining either side we ensure economic ruin, and economic ruin will spell political and cultural ruin for our sector."
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:20 pm
Vossa gave a sigh as the elevator came to their level.
"Master Giddeon, if you make up your mind, this discussion would be much easier. First you seek to tell me kuat only looks out for it's buisness and economic stability, but you are willing to sell to a "economically ruined and politically upheaved" republic. You chastise the CEC and Sienar for being interested in coin, yet are you not here to monopolize upon the republics weakened state by being the sole provider of it's military force. You complain about others who are traitors and seperatists, yet both CEC and Sienar have at least remained in the republic, whereas Kuat has done only what it can do for it's own self. You have already admitted to having committed your shipyards to an order made by the Confederacy, yet you seek to take our laborers to build ships for our 'enemies' which seek to destroy us, when they have only to sit back and watch us tear ourselves apart from the inside.... I only speak for myself, not the senate. Why are you here, if you have so vehemently pointed out that you have no desire to help us?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:24 am
Panting, Valkore tossed his helmet aside, face moist. The comm-link was audible, and Valkore jumped to grab it. "Sergeant Fraust," he said into the comm-link, leaning on the bed. After speaking into the comm-link, he stood up and grabbed his helmet, waiting for orders.
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