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Post by johma on May 26, 2011 20:58:45 GMT -5
Johm'a silvery eyes snapped open as the intercom buzzed to gain his attention. He was on a Republic shuttle, heading to a critical meeting with a man whom Johma had never thought he would be assigned to speak with. The ruler of the Empire and Lord of the Sith, Darth Spellca. The Jedi Knight was informed that the shuttle would be docking with the SoroSuub Horizon-class star yacht which was hanging over the world of Myrkr. Soon after the update, Johma felt the feeling of being cut off from the force. He had been prepared for it, but it was still awkward.
He was still dealing with the unexpected task assigned to him. He was a full Jedi Knight, worthy of respect and prestige where he traveled, but this was a task he had felt should have been handled by a council member. Though he couldn't argue with the factors that led to him being chosen for this mission. Much of it was to do with his outlook. He only hoped that it would be enough to keep the hostilities from escalating to a point that things would only be made worse.
Soon the shuttle was within visual range of the yacht. Johma appreciated the sleek lines. It was a perfect ship for this meeting. Sleek and elegant while very capable of defending itself without seeming threatening. The shuttle soon docked and Johma was led to the dining room where he and Spellca would meet. The crew were not members of either the Empire or the Republic, and had been screened by both factions. The two representatives would be able to focus only on each other and the business at hand.
Out of respect, Johma had not taken his seat, but stood patiently at the side of the table, wanting his presentation to be respectful. He wanted this to run as smoothly as possible, and showing courtesy was an excellent way to start.
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Post by Emperor Spellca on May 26, 2011 21:55:57 GMT -5
The Dark Lord's shuttle arrived at the destination. He exitted his shuttle with his escort of red-draped Royal Guards. When he arrived at he meeting room, he felt a disconnection from the Force and smirked. His intelligence report was correct - no Force powers.
Seeing his Jedi opposite standing, Spellca just gave a cold glance before sitting down. "Let us begin, then. If your Republic wants to end this war before the real punihsment begins, it will cost them dearly." The Dark Lord nodded and a black R5 unit rolled up the corridor. "If I may make my case against the Republic..."
The holoprojector on the droid activated and a image of the galaxy was formed. It zoomed in onto the planet Tython. "Surely you know, Jedi, of the Tragedy of Dart Tyrannicalus? He went to negotiate the end to an older conflict between our ideologies only to be destroyed in a savage explosion. How can I agree to any treaty or agreement when you may just blow me up after I sign?
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Post by johma on May 26, 2011 22:24:23 GMT -5
Upon seeing Spellca enter the room, Johma gave a curt nod in greeting, waiting until Spellca had seated himself before sitting down. He let the man have his say and gave a nod to the mention of the past negotiations as he had been familiar with the incident.
"I understand your views upon such matters. I myself find such tactics deplorable. A meeting like that should never end in such a way." He said.
"I would have you keep in mind that my purpose is to open the negotiations that can lead to some form of truce. So the terms of resolution are only to be explored in this meeting, not decided upon." He mentioned while keeping his tone neutral.
"As for assuring you that I will not stoop to any low measures, I will be present in these talks as one sentient being to another. Being a Jedi will be a minimal factor. While I chose a different path than you, I do not follow the order blindly. Though there is conflict, we need each other, and this could be the chance to reach some form of balance. For the sake of that chance, I would defy both the Republic and the Council if they were to assign me to attempt to harm or kill you or those with you." He replied with an open honesty that was clear enough a person without the force could sense it.
"And that is all I would expect in turn. Not letting the paths we chose take priority as to how things should be decided." He added before relaxing in his seat. Being tense would serve him no good at all.
"As for the cost to the New Republic for this potential truce, I will be able to assure you that they will only let go of so much. Terms can be acceptable, but they will not simply hand off something and not want to gain something in return. So I will of course listen to your proposal and we can work from there." He said, hoping that despite being new to such a situation, he would be able to work with the man sitting across from him.
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Post by Emperor Spellca on May 26, 2011 22:49:36 GMT -5
Spellca nodded. "So, you know the truth, then...don't you Jedi?" He paused before he continued. "You know that the Republic is merely a puppet for the Jedi Council to dance about. You know the Senate has no interest outside of preserving the Jedi shadow government. That is the glory of my Sith Empire, our diplomats know they answer to the Sith rather than some mock congress."
Spellca gestured with his hand and the hologram changed to an image of Korriban. "Republic vessels approached our defensive blockade of our capital at Korriban. Any treaty we agree to will give the Sith Empire the right to our ancestral homelands in the Outer Rim such as Korriban, Yavin IV and soon Dromund Cass. We also want access to the Deep Core allowing us to occupy Byss with a massive Sith fleet."
Spellca knew how this was going to end. One way or another Dromund Cass, Byss and other Dark Side worlds would be re-occupied by Sith forces. It was just a matter of time; treaty or no treaty.
"Jedi, I have a Sith fleet heading towards Muunilist that would initiate the invasion upon my order. This war is about to intensify from a mere petty conflict to a devestating galactic cataclysm. You are the one man diplomatic party who can end a major war before it starts, fail Jedi, and the blood of trillions of life forms would be on your hands."
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Post by johma on May 26, 2011 23:44:33 GMT -5
Johma gave an unassuming shrug.
"I don't pretend to know what goes on between the Republic and the Counsel, nor do I have much interest. That is likely the reason I was selected." He replied as he then listened to what the Sith laid out as his terms. Personally Johma saw little problem with the matters, aside from the fact that in the face of a betrayal from either side, the Republic would have a severe strategic hindrance.
"While I understand the concept of inherit privilege, I can only petition your interests when I report. I'll make a case for it, but you can not be realistic and not expect this matter to be debated. However, I promise I would push for the quickest decision." He replied, falling into the situation a little more comfortably. Spellca was being reasonable, and that was all Johma needed to work with the man.
"While it may take some debating, I have a strong feeling that is Republic boundaries are honored, they may not be happy about the situation, but they will likely be much more susceptible to the terms. If they are violated, the peace would be shattered, and I will inform the councils of both the Republic and the Jedi that it must be both ways. To violate Imperial boundaries would of course be held as unacceptable." He said.
He gave a slightly dark look to the Sith Lord.
"As for those millions, from what I can tell, many lives will be lost no matter the outcome. All I can do is keep them at a minimum. The blood of those lives will be on the hands of those who struck them down, not mine." He replied. He never cared for that tactic being used.His hand reached out and a holo of the galaxy was brought up, zooming into the areas in question.
"However, we are here to decide the foreseeable outcome of the current strife. Now I would suggest something of a joint border patrol. There may be some tension, but if both sides can keep an eye on each other, well it can relieve some worry. And by doing so, you chances of getting what you want without the Republic wanting to take something in return are much more likely." He said as he leaned back, waiting for Spellca's input. The terms were known, now it was time to figure out if it could be made to work.
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Post by Emperor Spellca on May 27, 2011 0:08:40 GMT -5
"Remember young Jedi, that the Sith has nothing to lose. Your people killed my master's master, drove my master into madness and leave me as the sole heir to their legacy. " He coughed. "I am here to give the Republic a chance at mercy and to prevent a genocide of untold proportions. We have nothing to lose as all our forefathers and foremothers have died for the Dark Side. Let it be clear Jedi, if the Sith do not get every point we wish to express without any major gives to the Republic, war will be on."
The Sith looked at the Jedi without emotion and spoke coldly. "Don't act like a neutral party or someone who will advocate the Sith's demands before the Jedi to preserve peace. As I speak for the demise of the Jedi, the Jedi speak for our demise. Do not act like you will stand for us against your peers and masters, don't lie in the face of the Living Force. I feel disdain in you, Jedi, I sense a lack of trust and a lack of control - let yourself be free and end these negotiations. Join me as my apprentice and we can finally end the true evil oppressing the living across the billions of star systems: The Republic and the Council of puppet masters."
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Post by johma on May 27, 2011 0:23:58 GMT -5
Johma simply sat back and let the Sith Lord go on and while he paid rapt attention, he was suppressing a smile. Spellca wasn't a fool, but he was showing a typical arrogance of one who had faced little opposition as of late.
"Both sides have committed rather terrible acts to each other Lord Spellca, it was not just the Republic and the Jedi order. While the actions are not justified, you are not using a rational basis of argument in that matter. Peace is desired, but it will not be through submission. You and I know the Republic and the Jedi will not accept that any more than you would if the positions were reversed." He said calmly before taking a deep breath.
"And while I mean no disrespect, you do not seem to have the insight into me that you are portraying." He said, doing what he could to keep himself calm.
"While I may not trust you or stand against my fellow Jedi in a battle for you, there are orders I will not follow. I see our practices as two sides of the same coin, that is the balance so sought out, is for both sides to exist." He said before giving a slight smile.
"And if this meeting was some ploy at recruitment, than the talks apparently will not go any further my Lord. If you wish to take this continue with the set purpose of this meeting, I will be quite willing to work this out with you, but I need to know that you will work with me to the extent that I am working with you." He stated, smoothly rising to his feet as he readied to call the shuttle for his departure, keeping on his guard. The Sith Lord had hit the nail on the head with the trust bit, he didn't trust this man in the slightest.
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Post by Emperor Spellca on May 27, 2011 0:58:04 GMT -5
"Peace is an ideological illusion. Both sides believe total control will be the sole option for peace. the only way to do that is mass destruction. The Sith were born from those the Jedi rejected, it is just and rightous for us to want the best for the galaxy...no, the universe. We want to ensure the oppression ends and that knowledge of the Force can move freely. The ability to rule over our ancient homelands is step one. The end on the Republic power monopoly in the galaxy." The Sith nodded as he spoke.
"Let me tell you this, let's cut the Bantha fodder and get back to reality. This was will occur, we should be preparing for the battles ahead."
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Post by johma on May 27, 2011 1:38:50 GMT -5
Johma gave a sigh, this was a lost cause.
"It's rather arrogant to think that claiming what you want is just and right. That is much of the reason I stay away from these matters. It was hoped that a more open mind could help with delegations, but that's clearly not going to work." He said as he signaled his shuttle.
"Prepare to retrieve me and depart. We are done here." He said as he started heading to the door.
"Do not presume that you will have an easy time of this attempt at conquest. Neither of our factions got to where they are by being the type to be swept aside." Johma said as he paused in front of the door, letting it slide open.
"Farewell for now Lord Spellca, it seems we are likely to meet under less comfortable conditions in the future." He said as he walked from the room, starting to head to his shuttle.
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Post by Emperor Spellca on May 27, 2011 2:12:27 GMT -5
As the Jedi left, an Imperial Star Destroyer left hyperspace in the area. Spellca went to the cockpit of the ship, unleashed his blood red lightsaber and took out the pilot. At the same time, the Destroyer caught the Horizon-class star yacht in its hanger.
Stormtroopers filled the ship and captured all the ysalamir lizards to add to Spellca's personal collection. With the animals locked away in the cargo bay, Spellca contacted Korriban.
"Prepare my Sith, upon my return, I shall call them to order."
LOCKED
Victory: Draw; No planets taken or lost
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[M:585]
