Log:Senate Meeting: Jedha Issues
Senate Meeting: Jedha Issues
OOC Date: June 12, 2020
Location: Chandrila - Senate Building
Participants: Septima Carnine, Naome, Aure Deserra, Aras Khan, Tyrius Bodega, Bizz Bliptettjupp, Qesteris Uvallian, David Ironside,
Chandrila is a beautiful place and the weather is lovely. That means that EVERYONE is inside at the Senate Building listening to things. And not outside enjoying the day. Senator Carnine had been helping with making sure that there are things seperated and that the techs had everything they needed before she got to her seat with Mekil and settles in.
"It is Katunda the 17th, in the month of Melona and year of 1160. This is a closed Senate meeting for Brother Bizz Bliptettjupp to discuss the issue of Jedha with the Senators and Representatives of the New Republic." Septima states from her seat. She's dressed just as plainly as she usually is in a cobalt blue dress and her hair is braiding back. Once she is done talking she settles back against her seat and talks quietly with her guards.
Seated quietly, without his retinue right now it seems is Senator Khan. His large blue eyes scan the room and those assembled, as he sits back in his seat waiting for things to begin. Nodding slightly to Senator Carnine's opening statement, he sits and waits. As seems to be the way of the senate.
It's no surprise that Eedulk managed to worm his way out of Senate guard duty, off 'vetting possible homes'. Of the two zabrak with Gath clan markings that precede Sesti into her space, one looks like they might actually be interested in the proceedings, while the other looks like they'd rather have their teeth pulled. Or, that could just be the way their tattoos make them look.
Sesti files in with her advisors, a zabrak, a twi'lek and a human named David. She nods to them as she takes the central seat for them to make themselves comfortable in the seats around her. Her expression as she looks to the other nooks to see who is present and who is sending a holo of themselves is easily neutral with mildly amiable nods to those she recognizes.
Lady Naome is seated as well, wearing a fashionable green dress, glittering sandals, and silver jewelry. Her hair is pulled back in a manner that accentuates the wavy chestnut brown, and her eyes catch the, showcasing a lighter brown. Her expression is neutral, and by nature, she's quiet and contemplative. She folds her hands over her lap and crosses one leg over the other, idly rocking one foot which peeks beneath the hem of her beautiful dress.
The Senator of Aurea is present, colorful in her usual garb as she sits ready in her pod to listen. Qesteris stands beside her in that quiet observation. She idly lifts a hand to push back her dark hair, smoothing it into the bun that is wound at the back of her head and pinned by bright jewels. She reaches for her water, sipping from it as she looks to the speaker and lifts a datapad to prepare her notes of the session.
Armored up to his neck, David stands in the Iridonian representatives area, electing not to sit but to stand towards the rear of the pod. His legs are slightly spread and his hands clasped in front of him, glancing around as the important folks speak. Today's meeting seems to be about a subject he has no prior knowledge of, being out of the loop as he is. His gaze glides slowly from one other pod to the next, taking in each pod's senator and representative quietly.
Bizz Bliptettjupp is seated on a bench reserved for witnesses, experts, and others who lack status as official delegates but must give testimony to the Senate nevertheless. In his kasaya robe and with his uneti-wood stick and prayer beads, the monk appears the part of the wise patient sage.
A not so looming blue stringbean there at The Aure's elbow. Staff out and held more or less at ready visor opaqued and his comms tuned in to pick-up from Senator Deserra if needed. But otherwise he's a simply positioned fellow, doing his guarding duty while keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.
Septima gives a look to the floor and things, then she gives a look to Bizz, "Brother Bizz, please, when you are ready." she nods to the Ugnaught that is here to speak to the Senate. "If you need anything from us, please let us know. I have all the files and things loaded that we've been able to for visual references and things of that nature." she tells him. With that, she settles back into her seat and lets the man prepare for his speech and lets others deal with the floor.
Bizz waddles up to the central floor, nearer the central podium where the Chancellor stands, and gestures for the holo-photo to be projected. A blue projection of a Star Destroyer hovering over the rebuilt city of NiJedha springs to life, large enough for all to see. "Senators, delegates, gentlebeings from the New Republic. My holy moon of Jedha has been invaded! The First Order and their dastardly whiteshell scallywags have made an unprovoked invasion. Many Jedhans have died. There has been fighting in the streets. The Church of the Force and other ancient religions are being repressed. And most importantly, the kyber mines are being taken over by the First Order, for some NEFARIOUS purpose. Just like when the Empire took over many years ago, to gather Kyber crystals for their Death Moon."
Aras Khan listens to the story that Bizz describes, looking over the projection of the Star Destroyer. A low and quiet sigh escapes the senator's mouth as he looks about to the others, wondering and hoping if this may go differently.
Sesti leans back to her advisors. "Whiteshell Scalawags is now our official designation for stormtroopers. WS for short." Although the suggestion may carry some humor, her countenance does not. "With the destruction of the ice moon, Jedha is probably the best place to..." her voice trails off as her eyes narrow. "Now it makes more sense," she muses to those with her, still waiting to see what else the others have to say. "No slaves to mine the kyber on the ice moon, plenty of slaves here." She clasps her hands together, and listens to see what ideas others may have.
Naome remains quiet as she observes the image and listens to Brother Bizz speak his bit. While not nearly as vocal as she had been about the Troiken case, a level of consideration was needed here. Even in a closed session of senate, their words carried weight and meaning. "Has Jedha rebelled against this expeditious occupation. I understand you referenced fighting in the streets, but it doesn't convey the scale of fighting."
Aure's slender fingers make quick work of her notes, lowering the datapad as she glances to the Representative, a brow arching curious when she picks up the colorful name as it were and then mmms. "I have to ask, what is the current positioning of the Order? What are the ships still in orbit and what do the groudn troops look like. As the Senator of Naboo said this is will be fought on a much larger scale and of course we understand your plight. This will be no easy task."
Bizz is peppered with a few questions. "Senators and representatives, I am not a spy or a military commander. I am just a simple monk who follows the FORCE. Some Jedhans have risen up and fought, but Jedha has no military. It is a small moon run by religious orders and mining guilds. It is an ancient, holy place." His thick fingers move through the lacquered wooden prayer beads that dangle from his left hand, encouraging meditative thought with a soft clack-clack sound. "The status of the First Order and their positioning is a question for a military person. I sneaked into Jedha to rescue my children, and there were patrols that we fought, but that is all I know."
Brow cocking slightly at the choice of language, clean or not, Qesteris continues to stand. Statuesque, and positioning his feet to balance himself out in a way to keep himself from aching as badly as he might later. Years of work like this.
That's not quite true. Before the protection job he was often sitting. Or reading. Or playing Spanuckle. Or other oddly named card games.
Septima is listening to things and allowing Bizz to get everything out. "You are asking for the New Republic to intervene in the goings on at Jedha. Is there someone that we can talk to from the area that can give a military side of things? Or is it something that we'd need to send a scouting mission to?" she asks.
Aras Khan goes to look towards another senator, but stops, taking a breath before looking back towards Bizz. "I wonder, if there will be a time where someone will come before this senate, and we will have all that we need to take action. And that action not be, we shall look further into your claims." he holds up a hand, yielding to the others as he sits back and closes his large blue eyes.
Sesti looks around and then stands, requesting permission to come forward. Her pod floats out slightly and she steps forward so her voice can be projected. "It is not unknown for kyber crystals to be used for the construction of large scale, planetary damage weapons. We know that the Galactic Empire had this technology, and it is possible for the First Order to be exploring this technology. While we know very little at the moment, there is one thing that I think we can all surmise, that the First Order would not be mining kyber crystals for any peaceful uses." She pauses. "As there is very little here for us to plan any sort of action, we propose that a small unit that knows what to look for be sent to infiltrate Jedha and bring us more pertinent information as to what exactly is going on there and assess whether or not we have the capability to take action, as well as whether or not we can prevent the First Order returning to try again once we have succeeded in driving them away if that is the action we decide to take."
Tirus enters the 'closed' meeting late... which is probably fashionable for him. He was an old man, likely got stuck trying to relieve himself in the refresher. Avoiding the risk of any unpleasent imagry in anyones heads, he slinks his way towards his pod, doing his best to go unnoticed. He's dressed in a cape with the colors of his Royal family, ornate sword on his belt. The rest of his attire served as some type of uniform if not without its own colorful spin.
"I think it's clear that the First Order has a presence given the visual representation Bizz has provided. And while the Representative of Iridonia's proposal is a sound one, I'm not certain even we as Senators have the authority to authorize the use of covert units or direct military action. Bizz has provided these details, and I believe his account, and those of any companions that were with him may be able to provide those details. I don't imagine a mere Monk was able to escape the First Order alone with children."
"If military action is to be warranted, I will support it, but my proposal is that we push this to our military intelligence, and let them determine what should be sent. The military command will not have to diliberate, and will be more apt to action, which I believe, is what Mr. Bizz here is soliciting for."
Naome has remained seated the entire time for this small delivery, and when finished, she lifts her glass of water for a long drink, her throat dry.
Listening as the offering is made of suggestions, Aure nods her head to Naome. "I agree with the Senator of Naboo. We need more information before we make any move. We should see to arming ourselves with the most information we can before making any moves with our military. When we are ready for such a positioning of our people I suggest we bring in our military leaders so that they may work with Bizz." She inclines her head to him.
"First we must prepare our people. So I support a gathering of information to arm our military with."
Brother Bizz raises a hand off his walking stick. "Myself and my holy order, the Guardians of the Whills, do encourage a military expedition for intelligence gathering. But we do ask that you hurry! The Jedhan people are dying as we speak! The situation is most desperate. The First Order destroys all it touches and blights this galaxy and the Freestanding Subsectors.
Septima gives a look to Aras, "I wasn't asking to look into their claims because I don't trust or believe them. I was asking if there was someone that had information of what we'd be going into. Numbers of soldiers and ships and those things. We do not need to go into situations blindly. That risks us and the people on the planets surface that we are trying to protect and free." she states. "I am sorry if it came off as anything else." she adds.
Then she listens to Senators and Reps and there is a nod of agreement to Aure and Naome, "The Senators from Naboo and Aurea are far more eloquent than I am this evening and I agree with what they have said." she states to that with a gentle nod of her head. "And Brother Bizz is extremely concerned for his people so maybe this needs to be down with haste." she adds.
Brother Bizz raises a hand off his walking stick. "Myself and my holy order, the Guardians of the Whills, do encourage a military expedition for intelligence gathering. But we do ask that you hurry! The Jedhan people are dying as we speak! The situation is most desperate. The First Order destroys all it touches and blights this galaxy and the Freestanding Subsectors."
Aras Khan remains quiet, though finally opens his eyes to look out over the senate, and listens to his reply as the senate looks for more information. A blink, and he looks about to the other senators, attempting to gauge their emotions at a distance.
Tyrius takes a moment to listen to what is going on and can pick up on it pretty quick. "If I may interupt..." comes the Rep from Drik, "The Lovely Senator from Naboo has a point. If Jedah is under First Order control as has been reported, we are currently at War with them I think and it is best delt within the military. THey will know how to best distribute resources. Kyber mining asside, there may be more important military targets to seek out first... to help grow our confidence and support. I beg you, speak with General Dameron or Admiral Antilles. I'm sure they will lend an ear."
"Unless something has happened since the first discussion of Troika that I have missed, we have not decided on action there, yet. The last I knew there was difficulty in deciding in what we should do about a moon that basically runs on illegal trade," Sesti says in a low voice back to David, dropping her voice even lower for a moment before she straightens and returns to her speaking droid. "We concur that, if possible, having the military address the matter directly themselves is the best solution for this situation. It does not mean that we are not sympathetic to the plight of the people on Jedha and Brother Bliptettjupp's brothers plights. But," here she directions her attention to Bizz, "as Brother Bliptettjupp himself has urged a military expedition, then speaking directly with the military would take out the middle man, as it were. We are sure this can be arranged, as Representative Bodega has said, it is almost certain that they will be interested in what you have to relate."
Naome nods. "Then it is settled. We will request a military advisor to speak with Bizz about this plight and the invasion, and leave it to them to decide on what action takes place from there. Should it require a senatorial vote. Then, Bizz, I give you my word. My vote will be for action." Naome sits back in her seat, switching which leg crosses the other, and idly rocking her foot.
David lets that slight smile widen into a grin at Sesti's admission, watching the conversation pass around the hall again. His gaze is momentarily distracted by shinies coming from the Naboo area, because sometimes, shiny things distract David. It's not new, but it doesn't last too long. As the decision seems to be set for Bizz to meet with a military person, David stands in the Iridonian pod, ready to escort Sesti elsewhere before long.
