FOR ALL TO READ: Holonet cast from Coruscant - The People Are Not Forgotten

((I have a serious question: Why would you broadcast exactly WHERE the mass of your fleet and army will be?))

Suddenly, the image on the projector in the middle of the room flickered, as did the holoscreens that had been set before the Senators. They glanced around in confusion as a new image resolved itself on the screens--a mysterious-looking figure dressed all in black, standing tall and proudly. The figure's face was obscured, but it was somehow not threatening...in fact, it was projecting an air of worry. "This vote must stop at once!" the figure cried plaintively, the voice reverberating around the room.

Now that he had the Senator's attention, the figure calmed down somewhat, but he still had an aura of worry and pleading about him, and it bled out through his voice. "My friends, I am sorry for interrupting you in such a manner, but I had no other way of getting your attention. There is much at stake here, and it was of utmost importance that my message get through."

"What have the Jedi done for you, for Coruscant? They abandoned this place, left it to the criminals in the underworld, and allowed the planet to crumble. They didn't even make a stand against the Sith when they returned, and I doubt they ever would have. It was left to me, the one you may know as the Dark Knight, to clean up the mess the Jedi neglected, the mire of crime, and up to the Wayland Empire to liberate you from the Sith. And yet, now the Jedi return, after the problems have been taken care of, and they try to claim credit for this! It's the same old thing that they have always done, in their never-ending quest for power."

"Moreover, let us not forget that these Jedi are not even as virtuous as the Jedi of old. They seized power even within their own Order, holding a secret ballot so as to ensure that they would be the ones selected, and they now return to dictate what you--the government of the Republic--are to do. I ask you, can you trust such people, based merely on the fact that they tell you you can trust them? They have only just returned, and they think not only to decide what course this government will take, but they also ask you to go to war for them! Oh, they say it is for liberty, but do not be deceived--that's just clever rhetoric to get you to go along with their bidding. Meanwhile, the Wayland Empire was the one who liberated this world from the Sith, and the Jedi the ones who sat back and watched while they did it."

"I beseech you, my fellow people of Coruscant, do not give in to the tyrannical ambitions of the Jedi. Do not believe their lies and rhetoric. Do not allow them to take over the free government of the people, and do not allow them to drag you into a war you do not need to fight and which you cannot win. I regret also that I don't believe I shall be able to offer my protection any more while the Jedi yet hold sway over the planet, for lone dissenting voices such as myself will be silenced. Only together can we stand up to confront this menace and drive these enemies of peace and freedom off of our planet!"

The Senate chamber would fall silent as the figure did...silent, but for the Senate aides who had come into the chamber during the speech to inform their Senators that the message was being sent as an emergency broadcast all over the planet, and people were listening. Suddenly, the Senators' desires to do as the Jedi directed them were considerably diminished as they considered this new information.

In an underground bunker not far from the Senate building, Slayer fought back a smile. People--especially politicians--were so easy to manipulate, and the Jedi weren't making it any harder with their actions, which were so easy to twist into being something monstrous that he wondered if his accusations were that far off the mark. Of course, it didn't really matter, so long as this delayed the vote that was about to take place, and he was confident that it would--not only would the Senators be considerably more uneasy and conflicted about voting to support the Jedi personally, they would be so professionally, as well, for because he had sent the message around the planet, the Senators would be worried about the resolve and the will of their constituents--the ones that kept them in office. Something as big as voting for a war--especially one that might not be justified, and one that might not go very well--could tarnish their reputations forever and doom their chances at higher office...or even at maintaining this one. No matter what the Jedi said, Slayer knew that the chances that the vote would progress today were approaching zero, and the chances that they would recall their war resolution for further scrutiny were astronomical. The Jedi would have to completely persuade them--all Slayer had to do was plant that little seed of doubt in their minds.

He was fortunate to have such an excellent slicer in Blancna. She was second to none--or maybe second to him--in the slicing world, and this had enabled them to pirate the airwaves with little to no difficulty...of course, the Republic slicers would likely already be attempting to wrest back control of the airwaves, but Slayer was confident that she would be able to hold them off for as long as was necessary, as well as conceal their location...she had, after all, learned from a master. Once they had control of the broadcasting system, it was a simple matter to change Slayer's image and voice on the screen, as his natural appearance and voice would not be conducive to the task at hand.

Blancna, who was seated at a computer terminal nearby, gave him the thumbs-up, indicating that his message had gone through and was being broadcast to the entire planet. Slayer made no acknowledgement, knowing that any movement he made would be projected onto the image onscreen, but he was satisfied...now that the clip had gone out, it would be replayed over and over on news stations, and the people would remember that much better than the speech made by the forgotten Jedi, and no matter how the rest of the confrontation went down within the Senate building, the Senators would have to be mindful of the feelings of the people themselves.

((Just thought I'd make it a little more interesting. We're treading into interesting territory, now...we have to figure out the reactions of NPCs that neither one of us should have the ability to control. Not sure exactly how we'll work that out, but we'll have to manage.))

((I'm afraid it's not that easy, Wind. Firstly, you can't just expect the people to blindly believe everything that you say, not now that it's been called into question. Since Slayer got in the crucial first strike, he's put your character on the defensive, and when you're in the political realm like this the person on the defensive always loses. Now that Slayer has planted that seed of doubt in the peoples' minds, Wind isn't going to have nearly the amount of support he would have had before, because the people are going to be suspicious of his words. Secondly, you can't really cause the people to question Slayer's honesty like that because he's made no outright lies, just twisted the facts. Yes, they are falsehoods, but when he's undermining your honesty, you can't just say "I said this before" and have people accept that as absolute proof of your intentions--now that they're looking at you with a skewed perspective, they aren't going to accept that as readily as they would before. Saying something does not make it so, and Wind's at a bit of a disadvantage here in that he has to win the trust of the people. Slayer just has to undermine their trust in you, to make sure they have reasonable room for doubt, not to completely convince them of your untrustworthiness or to convince them of his own trustworthiness. A lot of lies combined with a little bit of truth can take you a long ways, and the Senators, being politicians, are certainly going to be mindful of that, which is going to make them worry about the opinion of their constituents and would probably end up making them delay any vote they were to make--voting for something as big as a war and a new Chancellor can be a career-breaking move if the people don't agree. Thirdly, Slayer has a few more advantages in that he struck first in a dramatic fashion, which is going to be much more memorable in the minds of the people. Wind's speech wouldn't be seen as much more than a defensive rebuttal, and one that would be overshadowed by the manner in which Slayer sent his message, as well as the content of Slayer's message--which is somewhat more interesting, if not as truthful, as what Wind is saying. Rebuttals are generally not noticed nearly as much as the speech itself is, anyways, as only the most informed care enough to watch them. Also, Slayer has an established record right now under his assumed persona the "Dark Knight." Under that pseudonym he brought crime down to record lows, and even though the people can't be entirely sure that he really is who he claims to be, the content of his speech is much more important than who he is...although the mere possibility that he is who he says he is would get people's hopes up and make them want to believe him.

Finally, of course I expected you to have a rebuttal. I'm not as much of an idiot as you all seem to think I am. I had this ready for you to further throw Wind's speech into obscurity.))

Fighting a smirk off his face, Slayer listened to Wind's rebuttal. The Jedi obviously had no idea that his words were not currently being broadcast to the galaxy--even if Slayer had wanted Wind to be heard, he couldn't have accomplished that without removing his own image and sound from the screens, since the input of sound was coming from two completely different places--Slayer himself had to listen to Wind's speech through a tiny device he had fitted into his ear. He raised his head slightly to look up at Blancna, who still sat behind the recording device, and she raised one finger in the air, the signal that she was freezing his image on the screens of the Senate while allowing him to continue to be broadcast in real-time everywhere else. It was important that Wind's remarks be contained until later--Blancna could probably slice into the holocams in the Senate building and prevent any of Wind's speech from being captured on tape or film at all, but they would still remain on the official Senate record, and Slayer didn't want it to seem like he was silencing the Jedi...this way, he would avoid that impression, as well as rob Wind's rebuttal of any of its momentum, turning it into almost an afterthought on the events that transpired today. Some people would see it on the news later, and those in the Senate Chambers (mostly Senators) would see it as it unfolded, but it would lose much of its significance, as well as most of its audience. This was a difficult trick, and Slayer would have to finish his message quickly if Blancna were to maintain this for the entire speech.

"Of course, the Jedi would never admit to these allegations. I feel the need to point out, however, that what they have been saying does not add up. They say they were too weak to deal with the Sith and the criminals on Coruscant, but evidently now that the Wayland Empire has done their work for them they believe they're strong enough to come in and 'save the galaxy' by reinstating and helping to run the new government. Need I remind you that the Sith were only just recently run off this planet? They were too weak then, but not now? Evidently, also, they aren't too weak to send one of their new Council members off to finish off a personal vendetta at the same time as they try to run this government. It seems they were never too weak at all, only unwilling."

"The Jedi are currently coercing the Senate into making a war resolution against a superior force. My fellow citizens of Coruscant, there's something wrong with that picture. Why would the Jedi say they wanted to protect us, and then encourage our leaders to get us into a costly war, one that is avoidable and, indeed, completely unnecessary, against the ones who truly liberated our planet from the Sith? This, coupled with their complete unwillingness to help us in our time of need, would seem to indicate their aims are rather to rule over us, or perhaps destroy us, than to protect us. Who are they to tell us we need protection, when we have already been liberated both from crime and from the Sith? The Wayland Empire has not always been our friend, but they, at least, liberated us from the Sith--far more than these so-called Jedi have done. We do not need the Jedi's protection. We do not need them meddling in our governmental affairs. And we do not need their behind-the-scenes tyranny. My fellow people, my Senators, I beseech you, don't allow them to hold sway over you. Don't believe their deceit and lies, for beneath their benign exteriors and pretty words lie dark intentions. Even within their Order, these Jedi are not held in high regard, despite their current rank--no matter what they may tell you, I know there are Jedi who were not able to attend this vote of theirs, Jedi who oppose this Council as usurpers who strategically held the vote when only their supporters among the Jedi were around. If they would ostracize their own members and deny those dissenters a vote in order to gain power, what more will they do to us? If the Jedi themselves do not hold them as the leaders of their order, why should we hold them as having any authority within our government, when traditionally Jedi have stayed out of our affairs? I beg of you, please think long and hard about this before you hand them the reigns of power."

With that, Slayer made a subtle wave of his hand, and Blancna cut the feed to the surrounding area. As Wind finished his speech, she started the recording they had just made of Slayer's second speech, broadcasting it to the Senate chambers. That should at least keep the Jedi busy, and Slayer and Blancna would take turns monitoring the airwaves, making sure that no similar large-scale broadcasts were made by the Jedi. They would get their say on the news, but in nowhere near as dramatic a fashion.

((Not what I meant it to be, but I had to write it fast and cut it short because I'm not going to be around this weekend, so I didn't want to keep your characters stuck here. What I think should happen, pretty much no matter what Wind says, is that the Senate adjourns for security reasons, as well as their need to figure out the current public attitude towards these issues--running polls, mostly. That should go on at least a week IC, more likely two, along with some public-relations stuff that the Jedi have to do in order to restore their tarnished reputations after this, and then, assuming there are no further disturbances, they could reconvene and adopt these measures. I'm not trying to bring down the whole operation, but I'd like you to at least have to work a little harder at it.

However, I'm going to allow you to make the NPC's do what you will, and I'm not going to argue about it when I get back, even if I disagree. I would just hope that you would take my arguments and suggestions into account when you do make your decision. Have a good weekend.))

Terand had made it to Coruscant just in time to hear about a meeting formed with a new Senate to elect a new chancellor. Wanting to have an ear inside the meeting without actually being there, Terand paid a visit to an old friend, Chris. Chris was skilled at slicing into security systems and projecting back the feeds he desired. The man had sliced into the Senatorial building so that Terand could watch and listen to what was being done and said. The signal used to hack in was relayed through several places on Coruscant. Anyone that had managed to catch on to the hack would find it hard to trace back to the proper origin because of the replays and the several dummy computers set up to look like multiple hacks. Terand had no desire to intervene with the new Jedi Council's plan. He was only curious to know what was going on.

The following message from the mysterious figure that called himself the Dark Knight made the event more interesting. It was obvious the man was trying to discredit the Jedi Order in the public eye, but for what reason? This made Terand curious of the matter. Maybe a private investigation would be called for if the Jedi did nothing on the matter. What truly captured his attention was the talk of the vote and the Jedi Master's rebuttal about those that opposed the current council. Though no names were mentioned, Terand knew he was indirectly referenced. What made things strange was how the Council already knew about his thoughts and opinion on the matter. He had no contact with any of them personally so it seemed impossible that they knew anything on the subject. Whatever way they found out about his disagreement with their decisions, it seemed like the Jedi was trying to slander Ashaiya's and his image with lies for their choice of action. This was something Terand wasn't going to allow to continue if he could help it.

"Tap in so I can send an audio only message."

Chris merely nodded and went to work. Terand worked out in his mind what he would say. He knew whatever he said to the whole Senate would become a political matter. It was a delicate issue that he would have to be careful with. Chris gave him a thumb up to let Terand know he had tapped in to the frequency of the Senatorial Chamber.

"Fellow Senators, I applaud you for your courage to take up the mantle left by your predecessors given the events that have occurred. Brave people such as yourselves are what your people need most in these struggling times. I trust all of you will think on the best course of action to take, given the things said just now. My message to you however is not to sway your choice on the matter, but to clear up some of the things said about my fellow Jedi by the Jedi Master here.

"During my time as a Jedi I have followed the Jedi Code. There were times when going against the code would prove the best thing at the time but I have managed to stick to it none the less. The things we Jedi do should be done for duty and the greater good of the people, not for personal gratification. I will admit the things I myself have done were not that significant compared to others but I still did not seek praise or recognition for my actions. Doing such would only be seen as bragging and Jedi shouldn't brag about the things they have accomplished. Our goal should be to serve the people, not take recognition for our work.

"I hold no ill will against those that were selected to the new Council. The Jedi that were present to vote made their choices based on who they felt best to lead them, just as all of you will if you find the need for a Supreme Chancellor to be the best decision for your people at this current time. However there are other things that I have received word of that I feel I cannot condone. The slandering against my fellow Jedi by Master Leingod has further reinforced my decision to submit my resignation from the Jedi Order. This doesn't mean I will stop helping the people in need for I will assist them in any way I can. I pray you all the best of luck in the times ahead and may the Force be with you all."

Terand lowered the mic as he looked over at Chris. Chris took this as a sign to cut the transmission and did just that. Terand figured the Jedi Master would make a reply to his speech and possibly turn it against him, but he didn't want to make this a debate. He told no lies or twisted truths. He hadn't tried taking claim for the things he had done nor had he tried taking claim to things he hadn't done. For now Terand would only sit back and continue watching the meeting as it unfolded. Perhaps now the Jedi Master would be more careful of things he spoke of that he didn't know about personally.

((Just to throw in my opinion of how the public would react:

Star Wars has shown that the people actually don't care much for the Jedi at all... Sidious was easily able to fool what looked to be 95% of the senate into thinking the Jedi had rebelled when it was in fact he who, the Galaxy turned against the Jedi... That's evidence from the films, now lets look at books... In the vast majority of books I've read its become very clear to me that the public are often willing to turn against the Jedi when the smallest bit of mistrust is placed against them... Plus I don't see why one played character Jedi is allowed to decide how the republic reacts...))

Mark Kenobi wrote:

Redack wrote:

((Just to throw in my opinion of how the public would react:

Star Wars has shown that the people actually don't care much for the Jedi at all... Sidious was easily able to fool what looked to be 95% of the senate into thinking the Jedi had rebelled when it was in fact he who, the Galaxy turned against the Jedi... That's evidence from the films, now lets look at books... In the vast majority of books I've read its become very clear to me that the public are often willing to turn against the Jedi when the smallest bit of mistrust is placed against them... Plus I don't see why one played character Jedi is allowed to decide how the republic reacts...))

(You make some interesting and true points, but most of the time the doubts were cast with considerable care and precision, while Slayer here has already outright lied about what Wind proposed in front a lot of people, speaking exactly contrary to Wind stated just moments before.

While it might unrealistic for one Jedi to overcome all the obstacles you noted, I would see the odds are in Wind's favor - he has told the truth about he said (and the people cannot really deny it). He is also the thread maker, which to some degree allows him to have special control over it.

After all, I don't see the difference between the Sith invading Coruscant while no one is there and presuming to conquer it with no real resistance and a Jedi Master merely proposing the election of a new Supreme Chancellor and succeeding to convince the people. It's basically the same controlling concept for NPCs.

To be honest, Slayer is coming with allegations out of nowhere. Wind simply proposes to elect a new Chancellor, and Slayer suddenly begins slandering and lying against the Jedi Order? The people always want a Chancellor, why would they not elect one because some random person casts very questionable doubt on the person who proposed the election? Let's get real here.)

((Don't get me wrong, I want the election to happen and for a new supreme chancellor to be elected... I don't agree that the people would necessarily WANT to vote for a Supreme Chancellor when they have a "perfectly good" government currently governing them {and letting them go about their normal lives just as the republic would}... Also using the Sith invasion of Coruscant wasn't a good example (because they pretty much killed off the Republic so the people had little choice but to obey them at the time), but I get your point and I suppose I agree with it- I just never looked at it that way in the first place ^_^ Anyway enough ooc from me...))

((LIke I said, I'm not going to argue about what you decide to do. I do want to clarify one of the points that I brought up before, however, as it appears it wasn't as clear as I thought it was. Slayer told no lies that could be completely disproven by the factual evidence--the only facts you would be able to base that on are what Wind himself said before, which are never a good proof of anything if you're being accused of being dishonest. What Slayer was trying to do was push enough doubt into the populace's mind to make things difficult for the Jedi--Redack said it right when he noted that it's not hard to make people turn on the Jedi.

That being said, this is my last comment on this issue unless it's absolutely necessary.))

(Gonna be short, because I don't feel like replicating my previous post)

Wind, standing atop the podium overlooking the mass crowd of Senates, would hear the explosion, as would his peers. It would erupt through their ears just as Diabolus intended it to do. Nature was about to take it's course on Coruscant, and it was only a matter of time before the Jedi fled back to their crevices, beseeching the darkness not to take them away. A pity, really, that they once again plagued this poor planet.

The explosion would shake the very foundations of the building, sending the Senates and presumably all whom rested in it to terrible, worried fits. With the end of the explosion still ringing through each occupants ears, and now that the new smell of smoldering cement and flesh drifted amongst the room like an uninvited guest, Diabolus made his entrance.

Opening one of the few unoccupied Senate's bridges, he strutted out, draped in black and crimson, his intimidating figure cleared way to the speaking podium. Clearing his voice so to grab everyone's attention, he used the rooms loud speaker, which each Senator had at their respected bridge, to announce what he was up to.

"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am sure you all have more than a few pressing questions that need answered today. That's all well and good but I'm afraid I haven't the knowledge to answer more than a few. I am but a simple traveler of the universe, mostly unknown to the inhabitants of this dear planet. You see, I have come here to enforce a few rules that Coruscant has needed for oh so long! Why listen to me you ask? Well, from what I just saw happen ...hmm... an entire bank and roughly 4,000 men, women, and children were just blown to little tinie tiny bits. Not by me, no, of course I haven't the heart for something like that! But it did happen, and now I'm afraid not only did the population drop considerably, but you are short a bank..... Yeah, sorry about that everyone!

With that he doubled over in his stance, removing the hood that concealed his putrid face and rotating his neck to the right, making direct eye contact with Jedi Master Wind. He knew only a few souls in the entire galaxy could know who he was at this point, but either way he used the force to suppress some of his power, if only to look like a simple Sith pawn. Wind would no none the better to that point. But still, he stared at the man's face, cackling a bit at the oddly placed band around the eyes of the Jedi. He continued his speech on from there...

"I'm sure you want answers, Ladies and Gentlemen, but I can't give them! I can only give you one thing, and that's, well let's call it food for thought. The Jedi have started to rebuild on this planet, and they have started to reinhabit it. My friends and I, we have a problem with this... and in the past Coruscant hasn't fared too well when the Jedi are under attack by my Order. Please keep that in mind at this most fearful of times. Remember how the Jedi couldn't protect you in the past, and ask yourself, have they ever really done anything in your favor? Well, while you contemplate that I will leave you with these terms...

The Jedi can either leave here and stop the rebuilding of the temple, or more people will die... every week... until they cease to exist here. If they refuse I implore you... no I beg you... to take action against them yourselves. My friend's are pretty good with promises."

Breaking the contact with Wind he looked over to a particularly fat human Senator, probably in his late forties. He smiled, inviting the man to make eye contact with him, and then once again spoke up.

"You there, do you have children?"

"Ye... Yes... I have a son."

"And what if, because the Jedi didn't leave this planet, next week someone decides to blow up school while your boy, your innocent, darling son is studying? What would happen then?"

He didn't leave time for the Senator to rebuttal, as he figured he had left a big enough splash amongst this council. Instead he again gazed back up at Wind, not missing a beat in his movement.

"I once again beg you Senators, consider your options..."

Pausing to listen to a bit of the conversation, Dawn followed her Master.

Explosion?

Shaking her head in denial, Dawn followed Zanic, catching up to him quickly.

(( Left post ))

(This whole thing, as Lancer said, is relatively pointless. No one can really control how NPCs act thus they aren't siding with anyone. But I will continue on for a bit if I may...)


"A fine argument, Master Jedi... or so I safely presume? The one thing that you forget in your truly..."

He snickered fiendishly and relaxed himself back into a controlled state of mind, or as controlled as he could muster.

"Your truly heart felt speech.... The one thing you forget is that the choice is not the people's to make at this point on who stays safe, but your own. Please, confide to them the great alliance you made with Redack's armada, or perhaps you don't want to detail that! Maybe because you personally insulted and angered the Wayland Empire. Maybe because the reason you take refuge, and make no mistake about it, you are taking refuge, is that you are scared of the possibility of an unstoppable force. Perhaps maybe I should spell out for these fine citizens what you are doing.

You see, Ladies and Gentlemen, these Jedi whom are so good and caring, have placed a very, very elaborate target right atop each and every head in their pitiful Order. And as you all know, where there is a Jedi temple, there must be Jedi. Being the only establishment left after he finishes your armies, where do you think Redack's subordinate and the entire Wayland Empire will come? Oh, right back to Coruscant, the very planet they destroyed so easily just a few years ago. Seems odd to me that the Jedi would do something like that... maybe that bombing of the bank was just your wake up call... So I say wake up, Ladies and Gentlemen, wake up."

((Character: Redack (Insane) ))

"And so your salvation comes great people of the Republic." A voice said from one of the senators. It was, of course, Redack D'Zor. The man famously known as the Emperor of the Wayland Empire, even though that had been taken away from him by Jacen Valor. He was wearing just your average senatorial clothing, nothing too special for the occasion but it was a notable difference from what he usual wore. "Grand idiots of the Republic, I come to you with words of wisdom... Are you right to mistrust the Sith. Of course not, you have never given them the chance to do anything good for you. They care not about your deaths or punishment, they care only for the destruction of their enemy which is naturally the Jedi..."

Redack waited for two men to follow in behind him, both visually identical to Redack himself. Both were clones he'd awoken and brainwashed using the very same nanites he'd used to take over Auron Tribal's mind years ago. Both of the two additional Redack's were carrying bags filled with something, although it was impossible to see what was inside a Jedi or Sith would be able to sense life from within the bag. About twenty small lifeforms to be exact. "And so I bring to you some orbs." He pulled a crystal orb out of one of the two bags his fellow clones were carrying, inside was clearly visible some form of black entity. "With these orbs you, the senators of this Republic, will be able to see the future. You will be able to predict what the Jedi are going to do before they can even think of it themselves... And I offer you these gifts for free."

Redack raised his left hand a clicked his fingers, a several hovering droids came over to him and took two orbs each. The two Redack clones handed out the orbs to the droids and the droids began taking the orbits to various senators in the room. Who, being curious and clearly wondering if Redack's words were true, would take the orbs and hold them in an attempt to gain the false power they possessed... Presumably anyway... Redack of course had two additional much smaller ones made of glass in his clothings pockets, but those weren't to give out. Those were for something else. What say you to that, Jedi?"