WotH Chpt 52

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 52==
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===The Motivations behind the CIS's formation===
Location: MMS (Marksman Mercenary Ship) Katana, Coruscant System
 
"Senator Amidala," Colonel Hull stood and greeted the woman, helping her into a chair as he moved to the other side of a small table. "This is Representative Clay, he'll be representing the Confederacy of Independent Systems in the talks with the Republic."
 
"Senator Amidala," the older man stood and kissed her hand. "It's a pleasure."
 
"Colonel Hull, Representative Clay." Padme acknowledged the two men. "I had originally only thought to meet with Colonel Hull, here. When we last met, you said something in a language I had never head before, and my protocol droid was unable to translate it with any true success."
 
"Oh," Hull raised an eyebrow. "You'll have to refresh my memory a bit, I've had quite a few important meetings happen since then."
 
"You said Si vis Pacem, Para Bellum," Padme replied. "You also told me to find time to meet with you if I wanted to discuss more of this. So," she spread out her hands. "Here I am. Now, explain please."
 
"The words you were unable to recognize are from a dead language from my homeworld," Hull finally said after a moment. "In Basic, they would most closely translate to. "If you want peace, prepare for war."
 
"That ties in heavily with what I have been studying as of late." the brunette finally said after a moment of thought. "Colonel, Representative, tell me. Do you desire a war with the Republic?"
 
"God no!" Hull shook his head. "I've got enough work with pirates and other scum that I don't need a war to feed my people."
 
"The CIS would like to be at peace with everyone," Cassius stated firmly. "I however, am personally pushing for a war with the Hutts. Slavery is a bane everywhere among the galaxy, and I would have us firmly stand against that evil no matter where it attempts to lie hidden."
 
"Then why secede?" Amidala asked. Why not try to change the system?"
 
"Do you think we were idle?" Cassius sighed. "No, we attempted every legal means that were available to us to change the system. And some of us attempted illegal means to do so. But it was not enough. The Republic is bloated, and many of them refused to listen or even move to assist us when we were dealing with pirates. If they would not move to help Eriadu, one of the staunchest supporters of the Republic among the Outer Rim, then why would they listen to the likes of my homeworld?"
 
"I see," Padme sighed and seemed to deflate a touch as she considered Clay's words. "What are your intentions for the negotiations. If they are not unreasonable, then I will do what I can to support you."
 
"It's simple," Clay met the Senator's eyes. "We want the Confederacy recognized as an independent and sovereign nation. And we want Orn Free Taa handed over to our courts so that justice may be rendered."
 
"And what will this justice consist of?" Padme crossed her arms over her chest. "I will not agree unless it can be made plain that he will be given a fair and just trial."
 
"There will be one judge," Clay stated. "He will be able to find an attorney, or one will be provided by the CIS. Regardless, it will work much the same as the courts in the Republic. Only we have some more strict penalties for the crimes that he was engaged in."
 
"Then you have my support," she replied. "Now, onto some questions I had for the colonel regarding the formation of a military for a planetary defense force."
 
Cassius leaned back and simply listened as the next generation began to discuss what the future held, and smiled as he closed his eyes. Regardless of which side was chosen, the future was in good hands.
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===Seeking justice in senate of chaos===
Date: September 2, 3015/ 02.09.1954 CRCLocation: Senate Building, Coruscant, Corusca Sector, Galactic Republic
 
"How long does this drag on for?" Hull leaned forward, a pained expression on his face. "I've been sitting in this chair for hours, and it's really uncomfortable."
 
"Would you rather be standing?" Sienn asked from her chair, the gown she had chosen flattering her figure but not revealing the sheer amount of concealed weapons she carried. 
 
"Honestly?" the Colonel sighed. "Yes. I'd rather stand in the sun or fight on the battlefield than be here."
 
"Patience," Siri cautioned. "The Senate often deliberates on subjects such as this for hours on end. We may not even get an audience for another day or so."
 
"Unacceptable," Clay shook his head. "We are not some backwater cluster of planets that can be dismissed so easily," the old man typed a message into the pad in front of him, and two different heads met his eye as he gave them a sharp nod. "Now, we shall see how they handle this."
"The Senator from Naboo motions to allow the Representative from the Confederacy of Independent Systems a chance to speak," Mas Amedda announced.
"Corellia seconds the motion," Senator Garm Bel Iblis glanced at Clay. "They have made an effort to attend, they should be allowed to speak."
"Eriadu agrees in full," The entire floor seemed shaken as Senator Gideon Tarkin from Eriadu stood tall in his military-esque uniform. "The Confederacy are made up of systems that are our brothers and sisters among the Mid and Outer Rim. They were within their rights to choose a differing form of government. If they should desire it, then we should treat with them. Let us not find ourselves lacking in Governance or in compassion in regards to other nations."
 
"The motion carries," Amedda spoke. "The Chair recognizes the Honorable Cassius Marcellus Clay and Colonel Mark Hull as the representatives of the Confederacy of Independent Systems."
 
"Good afternoon," Clay gave a small bow as the pedestal moved out to the middle of the senate floor. "I am, as the Chair said earlier, a representative for the Confederacy of Independent Systems. And I stand before you, God, and those who we represent to demand one thing."
 
"And what might that be?" another senator scoffed. "It's not as if we've done anything that could possible harm you?"
 
For once, the senate floor was silent as each of the pedestals chirped with the receipt of a message, and it was clear where the message was from as the silence was broken.
 
"Justice," Clay said softly. "Justice for those who were harmed by the one who was supposed to serve those who he represented. Justice for those who were sold like cattle into slavery because of the policies that were applauded and put into place. Justice, for those who were recently captured as hostages, simply because they wished to find a better way of life. Justice, for those who Colonel Hull rescued that had been raped, tortured, and God alone knows what else. 
 
"I say to those of you who have any sense of morals and ethics left in your veins. See to it, that good is done today, that the wrongs are righted. Orn Free Taa has done something reprehensible, and we, as law-abiding citizens of any nation, cannot abide by such a thing being done. Whether it is within, or without our borders." 
 
"And what would you do with him, were he to be admitted into your care?" Senator Mon Mothma asked. "Would you simply allow your citizens to do as they desired? Would you let him be tortured or for any other means of cruelty to come to him?"
 
"What manner of beings do you believe us to be?!" Clay recoiled as Hull put his hand on the representatives shoulder as he stood up. 
 
"Senator Mothma from Chandrilla, was it?" Hull asked.
 
"Yes." the woman nodded. 
 
"Are you aware of my chosen profession?"
 
"I know that you have chosen war to be your profession," she replied. "What has that to do with justice?"
 
"That, is where you are sadly mistaken." Hull allowed his hands to rest calmly at his belt. "I am a mercenary, not merely a soldier who is told to go and fight for a his nation in a foreign land. What that means is that my word and promise are unbreakable bonds, that whatever contract I sign I am not only responsible for holding to the letter of, but to the spirit of also. Without such trust, I have no work, and I become a step closer to a common bandit as I drift about looking for a way to feed those in my care. If you cannot trust anything else, you can trust that I will personally see to it that Orn Free Taa is kept safe until his trial. And, should he be sentenced, I will also ensure that he is alive to see his sentence carried out. Anything after that, will be beyond my concern."
 
After that statement, the Senate dissolved into chaos as it usually was, with the various power blocs arguing over what was to be done while Amedda uselessly called for order while the CIS's pedestal drifted back into place and locked itself down.
 
"And now we wait for the storm to settle." Siri leaned back. "After this, we shall see where we have to apply pressure in order to get the cracks to spread."
 
"It's just like being on another op." Hull sighed, his duster falling back as he stretched. "Which means that something's about to start shooting at us, mark my words."
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Chapter 52