"Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward."
Doctor Emery Halcor was jolted from his reverie by a new round of shouting that heated the atmosphere of the conference hall. The negotiations had started a day ago and an agreement had yet to be reached. The Ubese doctor watched as one of the participants loomed over his peers, pounding the table with a closed fist as he practically roared in dissent.
"Absolutely not! The good of our people and homeworld, indeed! You sir, are a coward," Regent Bernas Parta snarled, gesturing at an older man across the table. Though he was inches shorter than the target of his ire, Parta's rage made up for the difference in height. "And you," Parta continued, pointing vehemently at an adjacent nobleman with braids in his goatee and thinning hair, "are a crass profiteer!"
Regent Lu Heitman, leader of the commercial subfaction of Sarrahban's Traditionalist faction, smirked at his opponent's accusation. "Standing firm in our independence is the best course of action," he replied calmly, "and we can do that by maintaining our trade agreements with the various corporations and traders who buy and export our products as well as import what we need. Let the Empire - and even the Rebellion - buy their supplies from those we sell to. This status quo has served us well in the past, it can continue to do so now."
Meanwhile, Regent Marcus Fallon, a graying, hawk-nosed and slender man, remained unmoved by Parta's bluster. "Rhetoric and obfuscation," Fallon countered, crossing his arms and reclining in his high-backed chair. "What could the Empire offer us that we and our countrymen cannot provide for ourselves?"
"Security," replied a dark-haired woman, the Imperial rank placard on the left side of her uniform catching the light. Captain Jenis Fenral smugly looked down her nose at the Restorationist faction's delegation as its leader rose to counter her simple statement.
"Security," scoffed Regess Marg Henoin, "with the Empire's fist clutched 'round our throats and a blaster at the collective heads of our people? Never."
The aged matriarch continued before Parta could launch into another tirade. "Our homeworld prospered during the days of the Republic, even during the Clone Wars. We maintained our independence even though their troops were here on our soil. Now we are expected to give up our liberties and freedoms in exchange for so-called security. And who is offering that security? The corrupt shade of a once-noble power."
"Your alternative is no better, Regess Henoin," replied Fallon. "To ally ourselves with the Rebel Alliance would benefit no one. It would only provide the impetus for a full invasion by the Empire. No, it is better to stand resolute than to give into fear."
Parta smiled coldly, ice coating every cruel word. "What do you expect from common rabble who align themselves with terrorists and criminals?"
The jab brought a new round of protestation from Henoin's side of the table. To her left, a younger man quickly rose to meet the insult. On her right, an older Regent rose slowly to lend his support in word and act, a medical droid painted in House Henoin's red and silver livery standing at his elbow.
Z2-1FM, "Zed" to the members of MSU-4, bent slightly to quietly offer aid in the elder Regent's ear. "Master Tambrin," Zed intoned quietly, "do you require additional aid? A bronchodilator or analgesic?"
"No, no," grumbled Regent Venn Tambrin."I merely need to vent my spleen. All this gall is irritating me to no end."
Zed briefly pondered the elder Regent's statement. Was his charge's biliary system also in need of medical attention? The droid's presence in the conference room was a mere "formality." While Regent Tambrin suffered from a congestive pulmonary disease that sapped his breath and strength, he rarely needed more than a breath mask after great physical exertion.
Before Zed could issue a query, Regent Tambrin gave voice to his outrage. "Mynocks and skrill-eaters! The Empire only takes and gives nothing in return! Alderaan and Kenari were just two examples it set. If we give away our freedoms for the Empire's illusion of security, then we deserve neither!"
Halcor stepped forward and offered his arm to Regent Tambrin as the elderly man sat back in his chair tiredly. The young physician then offered his own words to reinforce the Regent's outrage. "The Empire is indeed an efficient predator. Once you make a deal with it, once you let it in, it will take what it wants, when it wants."
"Do you always let your underlings do your talking for you, Regent Henoin," Parta snidely commented, a smirk contorting his arrogant face. "Or is it that you are merely a puppet for anybody who buys your vote? House Parta and its allies have given their people stability and prosperity with the aid of the Empire and COMPNOR."
"Ah, yes. Prosperity and stability, with the Imperial flag rippling in the wind," Regess Henoin opined. "And meanwhile, conformity and blind allegiance keep the people safe from free thought, free will, and new ideas. Heaven forbid our constituents should be able to determine their own fates and discover their own destinies."
A blue-tinged figure seated at the head of the conference table rose and touched an unseen control button, sounding a chime that brought discussion to a halt. Despite being a hologram, the man maintained a palpable air of nobility and poise in light of the heated arguments voiced in the room. "It would seem," Prime Regent Aron Nessus interrupted, "that we have reached an impasse at this point in the negotiations. I move we declare a recess and regroup. When we reconvene, perhaps cooler heads will prevail."
Regent Heitman rubbed his graying beard and nodded in agreement. "I second the Prime Regent's motion for a recess and recommend we reconvene in an hour."
"All in favor," queried the Prime Regent. The vote was swift with only the Imperial-aligned delegation voting against.
* * *
Kakk was bored - as bored as a Jawa could be when in an interesting setting and being told to leave things alone. MSU-4's diminutive scrounger looked around at his surroundings. The guards posted at either side of the dining chamber's door looked as bored as he felt. Well, one of them did. The other looked down his nose at the Jawa as if someone had stuck a dead sandskink up it. Kakk smoothed the crimson and silver House Henoin tabard he wore over his robes and tried to look friendly.
The team had arrived on Sarrahban a week prior to brief Regess Henoin and her allies on the Rebellion's strategy and fallback plans and to be briefed on Sarrahbani protocols and culture. The latter was to help the medics and their fellow Rebels blend in seamlessly during the gathering. The former was to prepare the Rebel sympathizers for what was likely to be the inevitable outcome.
Kakk, being more accustomed to the scavenge-and-scrounge lifestyle of a Jawa than the military protocols of the Rebel Alliance, had been given a special job. He was to keep his eyes open and his hands off anything he thought might be worth credits. Knowing his first mate and engineer's kleptomaniacal tendencies, Maze Cooper, pilot for the Rebellion (for the time being), had made it clear to his little friend.
"Now listen, Kakk," the smuggler instructed, handing the Jawa a comlink, "we need you to be our eyes outside the meeting room. Even if you see something worth making credits off, leave it alone. Some of these folks will lock you up at best, or punt you out an airlock at worst, if you steal from them. We need their help and they need ours, even if they don't act like it. If you see anything hinky or things start going sideways, click the comlink twice."
Kakk turned Maze's instructions over in his head as he watched one of the black and gold House Fallon servant droids shuffle by. Avarice glittered in the Jawa's glowing eyes. One of those droids would be useful with a bit of reprogramming. He could use another set of hands on their freighter - if they ever got it back.
Maze and Kakk were forced to leave their ship - their home - on Stend VI after a disagreement between his captain and their previous employer, Krellig the Hutt. A lot of Jawas had no issues working with the Hutts. They paid well as long as you brought in the goods or info. Kakk, however, couldn't abide by the sleemos, especially Krellig. Krellig was a particularly dreadful specimen of his people. The Hutt made use of a cybernetic exoskeleton and a prosthetic arm to make up for the physical deformities that plagued him since childhood - if a Hutt could ever be said to have a childhood. The little Jawa shivered inwardly as he remembered the telltale "tak-tak-tak" that heralded Krellig's arrival in a room.
The horror was quelled by the opening of the conference hall's door. Regents Leitman and Fallon strode out with their aides, neither pair looking at the other. They were followed by Regess Henoin, Regent Tambrin, and his junior, Regent Tolik. Zed followed as the rearguard of the trio, attempting to keep pace with a somewhat rejuvenated Regent Tambrin.
"C'mon, Kakk. We've got some plotting to do," Maze said, catching his first mate's attention. Kakk immediately fell in rapid step with his captain. Doctors Borill and Halcor brought up the rear, sharing a concerned look.
* * *
The quarters allotted to Regess Henoin were small, but no less opulent than befit a member of the nobility. Halcor, having long forsaken his Ubese roots for reasons lost to his past, felt a slight unease at the decor. The mystery lingered at the back of Halcor's mind, then dissipated fully as Regess Henoin addressed the group.
"Gentlebeings, we are at an impasse," she said, swirling a glass of Ithorian brandy in her hand. "Although Regent Fallon's faction is divided, they remain dedicated to Sarrahban's neutrality and independence. Despite that, I fear Partas and his fellow Imperial hounds will find a way to usurp the rule of law."
Tolik and Tambrin nodded gravely in agreement. "I for one will not sit still for this," growled Tambrin. "If we can win the hearts and minds of the people, they will surely fight for their homeworld. Conditions in some of the Imperial-aligned regions are reportedly poor enough to foment some form of insurgency, however small."
"Exactly," interjected Tolik eagerly. "If we can arm the commoners, we might be able to tie up their forces enough to - "
Henoin was quick to interrupt the young man and dissipate his excitement. "No. An armed insurrection would only bring the Empire down on us faster than if we worked to turn Fallon and the Traditionalists to our side."
Borill and Halcor exchanged knowing looks as Henoin turned their way. "What is your assessment, Dr. Borill? As both a psychologist and Lorrdian, you must have some insight."
Borill straightened a bit and gave his honest opinion. "I agree with your own assessment of the situation. Prime Regent Nessus is indeed concerned for the safety of Sarrahban and its people. Even though he was present by hologram, it was easy to see he is upset over the divisions that have developed."
"Go on," encouraged Henoin.
"Fallon and Leitman are of like mind. Both are equally dedicated to maintaining Sarrahban's independence, but they're equally frustrated over how best to do it," Borill noted. The psychologist's tone darkened as he addressed the bantha in the room. "Parta and Fenral are archetypical in their shared stance - arrogant and overconfident in the Empire's perceived superiority."
"So what do we do?" Tolik pressed, his voice sharp with irritation.
"We beat them to the punch, young Tolik," harrumphed Tambrin. "We do this the old-fashioned way - we talk to them in private, get them to see our side of things before Partas and his lackeys browbeat them into submission."
Maze, Kakk, Halcor, and Borill seemed to sigh in unison as the nobles turned to look at them.
This mission was certainly going in more directions than they had envisioned.
* * *
FADE OUT TO A STARRY BACKGROUND
THE FOLLOWING MEMORIAL FADES IN OVER THE STARS
CUE "THE CLONE WARS SUITE" BY SAMUEL KIM
THE MEMORIAL FADES OUT
END CREDITS FADE IN AND OUT OVER STARS
Maze Cooper - Howard Bunyard
Dr. Emery Halcor - Jason Dulin
Dr. Borill of Lorrd - Forest Pavel
Kakk - Philip Spidle
Supporting Cast/Gamemaster - Dale Meier
