The private reception room of the Monarchy, though not as large as the public room, was still grand in scale. Five figures were present, dwarfed by the sheer size of the room.
“And you have agreed to lend assistance to Tholatin?” asked the Monarch. He sat upon a simple, yet obviously fine seat, with an advisor on either hand.
“Yes, your Excellency.” One of the two men standing a few meters away from the monarch said. “We cannot refuse a plea for help.”
“And you wish to receive the loan of our fleet?”
“No, your Excellency. We simply wish a heavily armed ship to transport us to the scene of combat. We would like this ship to be at our command, for follow up subsequent to the battle.”
“I see. You realize the logistics involved of course. You will, in all probability arrive at the scene very late, and will only be able to assist with cleaning up – or the retreat. Depending on how the battle swings.”
“Yes, your Excellency, we know this. Our plans have been in the making for some time now, the call for help from Tholatin has only been the match on the fuse. This battle, in all likely hood is but a small fraction of the damage that will be done.”
“How much of a threat is this … Holy Empire? Not just to Tholatin, but to the galaxy in general?”
The hooded man on the floor blinked. The Monarch changed topics on a dime.
“We believe the threat to be substantial your Excellency. They are well equipped, and appear to have the will to use their might. On a scale of a meiter bug to the Death Star, the Holy Empire is a galaxy gun.”
“I see. You do realize that there has been a war of sorts going on between the generally known republic supporters, and the supporters of the empire. The New Order is rising from the ashes of the horrific Wrath virus, and, from that wild broadcast on the holonet the other day, has begun to exert their vengeance once again.”
“Yes your Excellency. We too have been watching. The original Empire ruled with fear your Excellency, if allowed to they shall do so again. Although the New Order did not reach the scope, or size of the original Empire before the Wrath virus, their tenacity and skill with both political and military weapons has shown us that they must not be allowed to expand onto the galactic scale.”
“You plan to take on the empire? I fear that would be rash.”
“Very, if we were to do so Sire. We do not plan to take the empire on, that is for the more foolhardy, and the brain-dead rebels.”
“I do not understand this then … the enemies of the Republic have always stood together in some way or another, you make an action against one, you make an action against another. If the Bith were to move to assist Tholatin, we would be moving against the empire. When you go to assist Tholatin, you will be moving against the empire. Certain death will follow.”
“The Empire has a name for cruelty your Excellency. We believe they are relying upon their name alone at this critical point. The galaxy is splintering in every which way, and it appears the allies of the Empire are making a massive movement. Where does it stop? If none step out to assist, shall the Republic fall?”
“The Republic has fallen Sir Jedi, it has fallen twice. But you stray from the topic at hand. Do you, or do you not plan to move against the Empire?”
“If we do your Majesty, no one would ever hear of it. Our strength is not in our fleet, but in our silence. If it comes down to the line, where the Empire threatens this sector, we will do what is necessary to protect it.”
Once again the Monarch changed topics, going back to the issue of the republic.
“You wish to support the Republic? The Republic has never been a strong government in recent history. The Old Republic was the strongest, yet the Darkside of the Force ripped it, and everything it stood for apart in a matter of moments.”
“The Dark Side is powerful, your Excelency. The Republic is no more, only fragments of her exist. This is what the allies of the Empire are preying upon. The members of the former Republic and her Allies will always hide in fear, running from the Empire so long as they are fragmented. Only when they are one will they stand strong. To answer your question, no we do not to support the Republic. We will appose the Dark Side of the Force where ever it lives – even if it lives in Tholatin.”
“You wish to reform the Republic?”
“No, your Excelency. Such would be folly at this time.”
“But in the future, yes?”
“Perhaps. The future is ever in motion.”
With a sigh the Monarch stood, and moved across the monolithic room in a gliding stride. As he walked, he spoke.
“This is why we Bith stay neutral, neither supporting nor shunning either side. The Force favors one side, then the other, neither is stable.”
The two Jedi followed at a distance, keeping pace with the pacing Bith.
“When the Empire rules again, do you really think the Galaxy will be stable? Remember the turmoil, the horror the Empire extended. We have no answers for what could be a stable government, but we do know that the Dark Side corrupts all, and that it must be rooted out. The Empire is imbued with the Dark Side Sire.
As they neared one of the twenty towering windows on the south side of the reception room, something occurred to the silent Jedi, and he spoke up.
“Will they will allow you to remain an independent Monarchy? Will they allow you to own your own battle fleet for protection? Or will they force you to use
their protection, force you to
beg for help against the raiders who once preyed upon your planet.”
This stuck a chord with the Monarch, and he stood in silence for a few moments. The Bith fleet was his personal pride and joy; he spent many hours planning its usage and construction. The thought of the Empire once again occupying his land was not unbearable in its self, yet the thought of being forced to deal with biased and speceist imperial officers again sent a bitter taste to his mouth. His advisors bent in to whisper with him, the sounds of their voices not quite clear to even the force enhanced senses of the two Jedi. The brilliant light from the Clak’dor sun flooded over the two separate parties of me, warming their garments. Turning, the Monarch spoke.
“I shall convene with the council tomorrow, we shall discuss the state of the galaxy. The Empire has never been a particularly giving master, yet we loathe making enemies of anyone. What you, and your Order do is up to you. However, do not drag us into it – let us make our own decisions.”
And after a short pause…
“You have been granted a ship. The newly completed
Clak’Dor will be yours to command, it and it’s compliment, and escort. May the Force be with you, Sir Jedi”
With that the Monarch turned, and exited the hall with his two advisors, leaving the two Jedi standing. They too turned, and exited, speaking to each other.
“A cautious Bith.”
“He does not wish for his people to become embroiled in the cares of the galaxy. Yet, the threat of the Empire once again being his overlord made him pause.”
“I think it was the concept of not having his personal fleet of ships. Do you know how long he spends laboring over the fleet?”
“No, tell me”
“I’ve heard reports from two hours a week to ten hours a day… the most reliable being six dedicated hours a day in which he spends time with his fleet department.”
“A passion then”
“Yes.”
“Something to remember, and look into.”
“Yes.”
...
“We will arrive late.”
“Yes, it is unavoidable.”
...
“The Dark Side grows stronger every passing day.”
“Yes.”
“Can we face it alone?”
“No.”
“So the Dark Side has become the strongest.”
“No – the more numerous, but not strongest. Light twinkles still.”
“But, will the light help.”
“Uncertain. The Dark Side, it clouds everything.”
“Yes.”
