The Rebel Faction

Yolem pulled a lever and pressed a button. There was a distinct phut noise as the hyperdrive stopped and regular engines took over.

The Imperials are never clear about anything if it isn't about what they want, Yolem reflected. He was only half-sure they were permitted to visit, but it didn't look like they'd get any other replies.

Regrad was tired of the whole war and destruction, as he realized that it accomplished nothing. He sent his loyal subordinate Yolem and a team of body-guards to Coruscant, in the hopes of stopping the horror, and gaining peace. "By any means nessecary." Regrad had said, and Yolem would remember that at the negotiantions table.

"Hey, that's my cushion!"

"Is not, idiot."

"I have three more degrees then you, philistine!"

"In Philosophy!? They don't count!"

"Just shut up, all of you!"

Oh yes, and Regrad had said that things might be a little tense on Coruscant, so he had sent Azguards' answer to the Everlasting Question Of How To Be Funny, three scientists and an Admiral.

Of course, Yolem wasn't letting them off the ship. If they caused a mess of things Yolem was just going to leap off the tall towers of Coruscant. Ten hours of the liscense plate game, nine spent arguing on wether ships had liscense plates or not, was grinding on his nerves.

"Well, here we are, Coruscant system. I'll clear us through the customs and port authority and bring us down on the Imperial Center Landing Pad, ok?"

His four guards nodded. They were all very quiet, this was an important moment in Azguard history.

Oh gods I hope I don't screw this up, though Yolem.

"They want to what??" Groder asked lifting his uncombed hair from the mounds of papers, the words that held the Empire's many faces to the outside galaxy, lying in and around his work area.


He flipped on a monitor and noted the rather small diplomatic craft surrounded by the warships of the Empire.

No doubt being heavily scanned as well as having it's own sensor efforts blocked...

"I thought we made peace?" he noted irritated. "Aliens.." he muttered shaking his head.

He was already working on a little piece of work entailing the 'brave efforts of the Empire to push back the edges of the "Blight of the Galaxy" called the Outer Rim Sovereignty.'

He smiled turning to look for the recent report regarding the speculation on whether the Outer Rim Sovereignty was behind the terrorist attacks by the self proclaimed 'Prophet of Doom' Brutus Nogoth.

He continued to write until a stormtrooper walked into his office handing him a slip of paper informing him to meet the diplomats.

He paused for a few minutes wondering who the hell he pissed off when he started to laugh.

With the war with the Sovereignty continuing, the Empire was marching headlong to Endgame.

He smiled at the dual meaning of the word both describing the situation as well as a past operation known so well within the upper echelons of Imperial power.


"The Circus is in town and it needs a ring leader." he murmured.

Still, these aliens may have something more worthwhile to say and the note did make mention of an appearance by the Grand Marshall. Already, the Marshall's appearances are far too few to satisfy the media's desire.

"Perhaps there is something to this diplomatic gesture after all..."

He wondered who else would make an appearance.

He pushed himself up, donned his best hat that did little to cover his curly, scraggily hair and maneuvered his person around the maze in his office and out the door.



*



The diplomatic craft was cleared to land on one of the highest landing pads on Imperial Center.

Groder Stu was on hand with a cadre of Stormtroopers and a few TIE Fighters flying cover to meet those that would be descending.

His personal comm logged a message that a Perrin Descartes might be joining but even then, the note was vague.

He wondered if he should straighten his stance when meeting the diplomats when the point became moot as the landing ramp began to descend.

His expectant eyes scanned it's slow fall trying to make out any glimpse of who was visiting.

Frakutsk stumbled comically on his robes only *occasionally* as he exited the ship. However, before he got very far from the ship, he heard a clattering behind him. Those idiot explorers! It hadnt been enough for them to have blundered the takeover at cerea... wait, were these the same ones? And hand on a moment, could you really call that a blunder? Well, that matter aside, the explorers were trying to escape the ship, and definately that could not be allowed.

The fools were now trying to pry open the door, their fingers inserted in the tiny crack between one half of the door and the other, they were pulling, two on each side, to try and get the door open.

Frakutsk stumbled back and pushed a few buttonson the door control pannel. The airlock door closed, and the explorers could not get out.

Frakutsk then went and followed Yolem and the escort, nodding cordially as they continued to walk.

Frakutsk thought about what he would say first, "Hello, we are here to discuss some things with you." No... to vague. "We are here to get you fools to understand the concenp of PEACE!" uh... where did that come from? "Thank you for your plesent greeting, we are here today to discuss peace with you" There, fine.

"Oh, we have." He said, very pleasently "But peace should not just be to stop shooting at each other. Besides, The Outer Rim Soverinty and your nation are still at war, and if I may, I would like to discuss where that is going and how much longer it may last. We are saddened to know that a war who's purpose was so unusual, so mistaken, is still being fought.

"My Jedi friend here would also want to speak of such matters, and is accompanying me not as an escort, but as a fellow diplomat."

He took a moment to look around. "I think no Azguard has been to Coruscant, but I cannot be sure. We are not a great travelling race."

Finally, he made sure the ship was safely locked and parked correctly. "Shall we go? Oh, and my name is pronounced Yo-lem."

Groder feigned surprise at the alien's words. "But we have stopped shooting you. The Coalition and the Empire have reached an understanding so I am still unsure of why you are here."


The group crossed over to the transport and it began to descend on it's private course through the majestic towers of Coruscant.

He turned smiling slightly. "If the ORS wanted peace, then they should have an emmisary here. Not you." Then he sighed, "The fact that you are here is an indirect slight. That they feel the Empire is not good enough to deal with one to one and they must use one of their allied nations to broker something.."

"My Jedi friend here would also want to speak of such matters, and is accompanying me not as an escort, but as a fellow diplomat."


"Jedi... interesting.." was all Groder murmured.


I think no Azguard has been to Coruscant, but I cannot be sure. We are not a great travelling race."


The INS man turned to the Coalition ambassador and grinned, "then I suppose it's unfortunate for us that a spacefairing novice such as the Azguard found their way to Corellia."

Before the Ambassador could respond, he burst out laughing at his own joke. "But that is water under the surface ..."



The transport landed onto another platform, the steel being polished black. It was an interesting contrast provided by the white stormtrooper honor guard and the aliens were directed into the only facility situated on the platform.

The facilty stood in the center while the platform extended in all areas around it allowing for ships to land on any edge of the platform they might be directed too.

The parties entered a conference room of sorts with a polished black granite surface and leathery comfortable chairs situated all around.

It was noted that there were comfortable chairs designed with the alien physiology in mind as well.

In the center was a silver serving tray with refreshments.


"Please be seated." Groder started as the honor guard stayed outside leaving only two troopers standing on either side facing the table.


The Jedi spoke.

"Wesa are here, to talkabout peace with da New Orda. Too many lives havesa been lost, sir, andsa with what reason? Whysa do all these innocent people die each day wen fighting against Da Outer Rim Sovreighnity? Wesa belive that the ceasesa fire with da Galaction coalition, sir, is a goodsa step toward peace, but notsaxactly enough. Wesa are willing, sir, to agree on your terms, provided that theysa are reasonable."


Groder smiled at the words. Quaint.


"As I understand it, the Coalition attacked Corellia because they interpreted our liberation of Kamino as an outright unprovoked attack upon their so-called sovereignty. The Empire believed their liberation of Kamino to be exactly that. A stopgap to the agressive behavior displayed by Mon Calamari government.

As things stand now, this ..misunderstanding, caused our briefly heated conflict.

We have found peace.


The Outer Rim Sovereignty, on the other hand, had NO such reasons to attack. There was no burning outrage. They saw an opportunity and they took it by attacking us as we were distracted by the Coalition.

This opportunistic faction is now reaping the benefits of such a course of action. The Outer Rim Sovereignty attacked US without provocation.

While the Coalition's reasoning behind Kamino does make sense and works for you, it does not hold true with the Sovereignty."


A serving girl entered quietly and began filling refreshments.

"And so the Empire is striking back." Groder finished as he leaned back.

"I am not here to say that we are throwing away your offer of cease-fire.... but I want to be clear on the Empire's view of things. Knowing how the others view matters is the first road to finding a common solution, would you not agree?"



Then he turned to the Jedi, "Besides, what assurances do we have that the words you speak or agree too will be honored by a faction whom you do not belong too or hold any rank in?"

He leaned forward, "If the Empire makes an offer and it is rebuffed by ORS, will the Coalition stand with the Empire to put an end to the warmongering Sovereignty forces?

Together the Coaltion and Empire could decisively and permanently enforce it's peace on the Sovereignty. Is this not so?"


He sat back and waited for the other's to comment.