"It's only natural, to want to know what's next." Yusanis replied easily, "We've been on the defensive ever since Taris. Until now, we've been focused on restructuring the military- centralizing it. It's always been systems' militia heading rimward- only to get crushed. Now we're bringing colonists and troops<em>in</em>, consolidating the armies. The Mercy Corps' not just Jedi, you know."<br/><br/>"Revan talks about counter attacking." He said inbetween a sip of brandy, "He's right, though. We need to go on the offensive. We held the Mandalorians off at Ithor,<em>barely,</em>but we didn't capitalize on it. He's right, of course. We need to go on the offensive."<br/><br/>"When, I can't say." Yusanis shrugged, "Nobody wants to be the man or woman who<em>attacks</em>the Mandalorians and gets an entire fleet annihilated. This war's got a lot of the old blood scared."<br/><br/>"Not Revan, though." Merryn said softly.<br/><br/>"No..." Yusanis replied, "Not him. Figures the Jedi would be so fearless." His hand found Arren's and he held it fondly, "That's why I like them so much."<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Elsewhere, the sun was setting over the senate district and the white glow of utilitarian lights began to arc up, illuminating the high towers and floating architecture that made up the most prestigious part of the city-planet. The senate building was the most visible of all, the round dome standing lone and monolothic high up above the towers.<br/><br/>"-And so I plead with you one final time!" A dignified and impassioned woman said, standing upon her platform to address the senate rotunda, "Vote Yea tomorrow, for the safety of our Republic. I am calling for a total and complete shutdown of all so-called 'refugees' into our systems. They look like us, they speak like us," She began pumping her fist into the pedestal in front of her, "But they are not<em>us!</em>"<br/><br/>Soon her speaker was deactivated, followed by the Chancellor Tol Cressa's droll admonishment that she'd exceeded her elapsed time. The chancellor announced, "The floor yields five minutes to Chairman Stayr Vrim Valorum of Ardat-Sienar Technologies." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yiAgWkX91g&feature=youtu.be)<br/><br/>"Stayr." the Kel Dor turned to look at the frail-looking representative, offering a comlink in his hand. The man looked down at the device and then up to the fearsome alien beside him. He took it and stood, hooking up the comlink to the platform.<br/><br/>Stayr Valorum leaned in towards his microphone, neglecting the controls to move the platform towards the center of the rotunda, "On behalf of my company and also three other corporations and seventeen systems, the names of which will be published later today," He began, "We hereby end all ongoing private and public contracts with the Defense Ministry and your respective systems, senators and representatives-" The chamber was immediately in an uproar, though only one voice echoed through the great theater as he hurriedly rushed his statement, "I am here to tender our secession from the Galactic Republic, and to send a message on behalf of our new benefactor."<br/><br/>He quickly set the comlink to play and sent the pod slowly drifting away from the dock. The three quickly made their way off of it before it could float too far. "Now get me out of here." Stayr said after he hopped off, looking quite shaken.<br/><br/>The pod drifted into the air towards the center of the chamber and quite abruptly, a holoprojection appeared... towering twenty feet tall and fearsome even in the ghostly form of such a projection- Mandalore.<strong> "Members of the Galactic Senate. Coruscanta adate... I now presume to have your attention. No more will your propaganda deafen your people to us... The time has come for you to make the choice between life and death."</strong><br/><br/>He wore a golden mask, the 'T' visor unmistakable upon it- a flowing red cape and brown heavy armor. Mandalore the Ultimate- covered head to toe and every bit as immense as his reputation had foretold. Holonet stations scrambled to interrupt broadcasting for this monumental declaration.<br/><br/><strong>"To those who surrender! -you will treated as the sons and daughters of Mandalore, as if you were Taung yourselves... A glorious life, and a stronger galaxy! Yet to those who resist... you and your kind will be annihilated wholesale, your worlds purged of their life. The earth shall be turned to glass, your monuments dashed to ruins- and your bloodlines extinguished."</strong><br/><br/>Stayr walked at a brisk pace, flanked by his escorts, through the hallways of the senate building. Five armed republic guards approached them, their squad leader with his blaster drawn and the other hand out to stop them, "Chairman Sta-" The large Kel Dor seized the officer's hand, relieving him of his weapon and then bashing him across the skull with it. The two Mandalorians went to work dispatching the guards sent to arrest Stayr as he looked on, wide-eyed with alarm.<br/><br/><strong>"Serocco, Cathar, Althir, Nouane, Eres, Wayland- They are all now but dust and ashes..."</strong>Mandalore said, his voice booming and dark as he gestured extravagantly before the Republic,<strong>"Yet what of the Iridonians, the Zeltron, the Mandellians and Togorians? They are all our brothers... Mandalorians! They do not suffer your false republic, or the laws made by this corrupt gathering of politicians and liars."</strong><br/><br/>The trio hurried marched down into the elevator and immediately began to plummet down to the underside speeder docks. The other human, thick-necked, eagle-eyed, and clean-shaven with a scar arcing on the side of his head, plugged the officers' comlink into his ear as the Kel Dor tied a belt a blaster around his waist. He handed one to Stayr, who looked down at it and then up to the fearsome alien, "I don't know how to use that."<br/><br/>The Kel Dor dropped the spare belt and blaster and looked out the window at the sunset, "You will, soon enough."<br/><br/><strong>"Therefore, I have but one thing to say to you now, men and women of the Republic. If you are warriors and will fight, then fight! If you cannot fight, then prepare to defend yourselves. If you cannot defend, then flee as far as you can...<br/><br/>But if you will not retreat- <span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="bbc_u">die.</span></span>"</strong><br/><br/><hr/><br/>Back at the Galatina, a chirping sound came from Yusanis' pocket. He furrowed his brow and leaned back, producing a comlink and grimacing at it, "Must be an emergency. Excuse me."<br/><br/>The General relieved himself and stood up, putting some distance from the table. Arren Kae worriedly watched him go, but the Jedi Master soon turned her attention back to the group and offered a smile, "I apologize. He's very busy now."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Perception check to notice a<em> lot</em> of important-looking people getting similar calls...<br/><br/>DC: 15</div></div>