2007-10-23 - Senate Introductions

This building is a wide, low circle of silver durasteel, overlooking itself with four floors of balconies. On every balcony flags of the Republic hang red and sharp next to flags from all over the galaxy and soft subtle light from hidden alcoves gives the place a feeling of quiet that it rarely sees.
Further back the balconies are supported by great heavy columns, obscuring the towering walls in shadow. The space is enormous: capable, at a glance, of holding more than a hundred thousand sentients comfortably. The balconies themselves are unfurnished.
Down the middle of the bottom floor a dark red carpet runs from the main entrance of the building, across the long floor to the foot of a well-lit white dias. Upon the dias is a light silver chair, and on its high back is the sigil of the Republic. Behind it a vertical slash of glass rises up like a wild brush-stroke to break the continuity of all four floors of the balcony: the building's only window.
The bottom floor descends in four circular steps, making a sort of stage of the lowest platform. This cylindrical recession is well lit with white lamps set in the step above it, and the red carpet spreads here to fill the circle in the center of the room.
Despite the building's size, it is always crowded. Senators and bureaucrats come and go from here at all hours of the day and night. Informal debate and political scheming fill the hall when legitimate government does not.
Senator Antilles stands to one side of the Senate Floor, surrounded by senators allied with Corellia. "My friends, the growing criminal hegemony in the Outer Rim is a danger to us all. And as of now, Corellia is on the front lines, standing between order and lawlessness. Corellia takes this burden seriously and we shall lead efforts to hold back the Hutts. But we cannot do it alone. Corellia looks to the Republic and Her members to aid in this struggle. Thank you." Corellia's bloc applauds as Antilles switches off his mike.
Meena Tills enters the senate, and takes his seat in the Mon Calamari seat ... he looks around, taking it all in.
The Honorable Senator of Merr Sonn is given the floor. Tarkin, dressed in his finest black suit, speaks into the microphone, "The Republic's rule of Peace and Justice has lasted ten thousand years. Ten more years of complacency will be enough to end it all. The Republic cannot quell lawlessness outside of its borders while it allows lawlessness within. Security forces across the republic are not only dangerously under-funded but they are not trained to deal with the modern threats created by recent technological innovations. This must be corrected if we are to have any hope of dealing with the criminal elements."
"Hear hear!"
A place for the Jedi is always set aside to watch the affairs of the Senate. High up in his balcony perch, Tuil watches the proceedings with interest.
The Senator of Corellia finishes shaking hands with Corellia's most loyal supporters in the Senate and then starts towards the Senator of Merr Sonn. "Senator, a word please."
A gavel bangs and a voice booms across the Senate. "THE SENATE WILL BE IN ORDER! Senators will take their private conversations off the Senate Floor!"
Tarkin turns off his microphone and begins to study the assembled senators, probably looking for signs of support or disfavor. He notices the senator from Corellia and answers the request with a nod.
The Presiding Officer looks around and then appears to be satisfied. He waits then for someone rise and take the floor.
Meena Tills is presumably going to make his maiden speech as a Senator sometime this morning. But he seems in no hurry.
The Senator of Corellia makes his way over to the Senator of Merr Sonn and extends his hand. "Senator, good words. I trust you are well."
Tarkin shakes the offered hand, "I will be better once this trial is over," he smiles, "Governor, Senator, Entrepreneur, Lawyer.. I will feel a bit better when I can remove one of my hats."
Meena Tills frowns as he peruses the list of senate resolutions. He begins to type into a small hand-computer, and read earnestly.
Senator Antilles looks over his shoulder to see the Senator from Chandrila begin speaking. Turning back to Tarkin, Antilles leans in. "Senator Organa's absence has left Corellia in the lurch. As you know, Alderaan donated the bounty offered on Daving to Corellia and Ord Mantell. More funds were promised and I have been planning on them being available. I am hoping I will have your support if Corellia should need funds from other sources."
Tarkin frowns and shakes his head, "I'm afraid I have little in the way of funds to provide, senator. I have my own people to look after." He sighs, "My predecessor left Merr Sonn with its industry, yes, but little else. I have to build a police force from scratch."
"Of course. Merr Sonn is a friend of Corellia. If there is any assistance we can render, please let me know. Please excuse me." Antilles smiles before straightening and looking around. Finding what he's looking for, the Corellian makes way towards the Senator from Mon Calamari.
Meena Tills frowns in a Calamari manner, and puts the tablet down. Something in his manner seems disturbed.
A young feminine voice fills the Senate with eloquent words regarding justice and equality for all sentient beings across the Galaxy.
Tarkin scratches his chin and begins to study the gathered senators once more. His eyes focus on the newest senator, Meena Tills, from Mon Calamari. Lord Tarkin rises and follows his colleague from Corellia.
Meena Tills must have eyes on the back of his head, for he seems to sense the approaching Senators and turns, rising to greet them.
With an easy smile on his face, Senator Antilles comes up to Senator Tills and again puts out his hand. "You are our new friend from Mon Cal! I bid you welcome from Corellia and all of our friends. How are you doing? Are you settling in well? Has Palace Space Management assigned you an office yet? They can be pretty stubborn if you don't keep on them about that."
Meena Tills takes Senator Antilles' hand, and shakes in a friendly way. "Alas," he replies, "No office yet. The trial has been keeping me busy elsewhere than an office, so far."
Tarkin smiles, "Welcome to the senate." He extends his hand also, "I know what you mean about the trial, I haven't even had time check to see if I have an office."
Meena Tills again a shake of the hand. "So you are newly seated, too?" Meena Tills replies. "I have been trying to catch up on events, read the evidence, and decide on how to vote on resolutions. An interesting scene, to see the father volunteer to be the prosecutor."
Senator Antilles turns to Senator Tarkin and laughs! "It has become an obsession of mine to know when Senator Tarkin gets his office. He has been here almost as long as I have and he still does not have one!" Turning back to Senator Tills. "Lask Daving. An interesting man. His pardon is sitting on my desk back home on Corellia. Of course he does not know that. So much the better."
Meena Tills frowns. "Indeed?" JHe pauses. "Who sponsored the resolution currently on the floor?"
Tarkin smiles knowingly, "It certainly caught my client off guard." He scratches at a bit of stubble on his chin, "Of course, the entire trial is a bit odd. I don't know what possessed Justice Palpatine to appoint me as Amalfiel's defense. I sponsored the resolution, incidentally."
Meena Tills looks at Senator Antilles. "A most strange series of events, I m ust note. Whatever possessed the young man?"
Senator Antilles shakes his head at Senator Tills. "I believe Amalfiel Daving to be quite insane. Anyone with hair like his must be." The Corellian chuckles. "What do you think Senator Tarkin? Insanity defense?"
Meena Tills gives a small, prim smimle.
Tarkin smiles, "Fortunately or unfortunately there seem to be miss--ah! I'm afraid I can't talk about that!" He runs his fingers through his hair and gives a rich chuckle, "I need to make sure a reporter doesn't corner me. They are even more persistent than you are."
Meena Tills seems to remember something. "One matter I do not understand," he says to Tarkin, "and as the sponsor, perhaps you can enlighten me. What is the connection between the first point and the remaining points in that bill?"
A young Senate page appears and hands the Corellian Senator a scrap of paper with a note scrawled on it. Senator Antilles reads it quickly before crumpling it in his hand. "Your pardons, please. There is a transmission from Corellia I must take." Antilles turns to Tills. "A pleasure meeting you. If you need anything, please let me know. And that goes for you too, Senator," the Corellian says to Tarkin.
Meena Tills gives Antilles a bow.
Tarkin sighs and raises a hand in surrender, "Amalfiel's declared intention was to free Ord Mantell. At one point he managed to usurp control of the planet and during the hours that he held power, he liquidated all the planet's assets then took his newly acquired fortune to the outer rim, leaving his home world in poverty. The bill is to provide relief for Ord Mantell." He also bows to he departing senator.
Antilles returns the bows and then departs.
Meena Tills nods. "Why then provisions 3A and 3B? They seem to be close in status to a basic amendment.
Category:October 2007 RP Logs