Chapter Three: The Brush Fire Wars

[Akirapryde]

Morning after the Chaos
Galactic Senate Building
Senate District
Coruscant
Date: 2920 AOK (Less than a week before New Year Fate)
 
The Grand Convocation Chamber, also referred to as the Senate Rotunda was filled with senators and representatives from across the Galaxy. News from across the Senate and Federal Districts were both alarming which was the reason why an emergency meeting of the entire Senate was called by the Security Council. So important was this meeting that members of the media were summoned. The chatter in the chamber seemed like a soft roar. Absent in the center of the convocation chamber was the thirty-meter-tall podium of the Supreme Chancellor, the elected leader of the Galactic Republic.
 
Members of the media spoke about the rouge, misleading reports made by CNN the night before. Currently, CNN’s sound stage remains offline. Some media outlets have accused much of the chaos last night due to that single report. Each holding to the promise that much of the misunderstandings and fake news from last night would be explained. Like the members of the Senate, all eyes were on that missing podium and who would be addressing the Senate, and the Galactic Republic.
 
Without warning, the center light of the Convocation Chamber was cast on the place where the podium is supposed to be. The floor opened and the podium slowly rose to its proper height. To the left of the Chancellor standing in the position of Vice Chair, Tal Merrick. To the right of the Chancellor, standing in the position of Senior Staff Aide was a sharply military dressed Wilhuff Tarkin. As the podium slowly rose, the chamber was filled with a mixture of applause and boos. For in the center of the podium, the position of Supreme Chancellor, stood Finis Valorum.
 
He raised his hand and commanded silence,
 
“Last night, the Security Council gathered for one of its most important meetings in nearly a thousand years. These brave members of the Council hold the mission of protecting the Galactic Republic from all threats. Both foreign and domestic! Last night, they heard evidence that the former Chancellor of the Republic had violated her duty to protect the Republic. Not one occasion, but on many occasions. Her mismanaging of the OPA Crisis as allowed Republic Worlds to become occupied by a terrorist organization.”
 
He smiled as he searched the stunned faces of those witnessing the speech, “yes I said it. Terrorists, the OPA are nothing more than terrorists.” He raised a hand as he collected his thoughts. “The Security Council issued General Order Sixty-Five. Yes, there were exchanges of weapons fire between loyalists to the Republic and those who were fooled by the Chancellor. However, those clashes were short lived and the injuries were limited. The most serve of these clashes were between a small group of warships over the Grand Coruscant Military Base. There were many deaths.”
 
He lowered his head, “These deaths were very tragic, on both sides. These men and women gave their lives for what they believed in.” He raised his head, “which is why I am issuing this order. For all those that feel their loyalties to the Madam Syrdash, ask yourself. When you choose to serve the Republic. Did you choose to follow this criminal or follow the Republic. We welcome you back home, lay down your arms and help us make the Republic great again!”
 
“As for our former Chancellor, my Senior Staff Aide and leader of Coruscant’s defense force cornered the Chancellor’s flagship. Despite the attempting intervention of the Vengeance, Admiral Tarkin had destroyed both the Victory and the Vengeance. While removing this corrupt, this crooked Syrdash, many lives were lost. Admiral Tarkin gave Crooked Syrdash the opportunity to surrender. Sadly, so very sadly, she chose to sacrifice those who followed her.”
 
“With the Crooked Syrdash removed from power, I have ordered the Senate Bureau of Intelligence to work along with Bounty Hunters to weed out those supporters of Crooked Syrdash. They will do anything to destroy our Republic. These people are dangerous! Dangerous to the Republic! Dangerous to you and your families. You can’t trust them. If you are aware of any of these sleeper agents of Crooked Syrdash, notify the authorities at once.”
 
“As we move to continue to weed out these dangerous, blind supporters of the Chancellor, we will continue to work to undo the damage that Crooked Syrdash has done to our Republic. But we cannot forget the threat that Crooked Syrdash and her supporters have helped create. Public Enemy number ONE is Unna Chaanu,” an image of Unna having dinner with Graff and Jenna is presented before the entire Senate. Nothing of the image indicated an official meeting. The image suggested a more informal, friendly lunch. “She was the eyes and ears of Crooked Syrdash as they helped create the OPA!”
 
“Is it any wonder that wherever Ms. Chaanu was, there is an OPA victory. Did she betray the Republic? I don’t know. But we all know what we see,” he said pointing to the image. “Take the loss of Olivan, how many innocent lives were lost and there was Ms. Chaanu, in the center of it all. Would you like to know how corrupt this Unna Chaanu was? She was stealing from the Republic to the sum of hundreds of millions of credits. And this wasn’t the worse of it. These two crooked politicians were planning a wedding for Ms. Chaanu to the sum of over two million credits! Taken right from the mouths of your children. Right from the mouths of your family.”
 
“I have ordered the reason of all documents supporting these charges to the Media. And this is the reason why this embezzler, this THIEF will be brought to justice! I will put the entire resources of the Republic to find Ms. Chaanu, and apprehend her. Standing here, before you as your New Chancellor, I promise you. I promise your families that this monster. This spy, this architect of the Outer Rim Crisis will be dragged before a panel of military judges and found guilty for her crimes against our Republic. Her crimes have made the Republic unsafe. Unsafe for you, and your families.”
 
“It is time for leadership to return to the Senate. It is time for order to return to the Senate. I am going to work towards ensuring that no more could some elite corrupt politician like Crooked Syrdash could seize power in the Republic and hold good and innocent people like you and your families hostage. The Senate will begin a new working towards getting everyone back up out of this slump we have all been in since Crooked Syrdash stolen power.”
 
“But we cannot forget the threat that Crooked Syrdash and Chaanu has created in the Outer Rim. The OPA and their rouge Jedi have been given an ultimatum. Return to proper order of the Republic or face Fire and Fury of the like no one has ever seen.” He paused as he picked up a data pad and waved it as he spoke, “I have issued Grand Master Dooku an order to deal with the Rouge Jedi with extreme prejudice.”
 
“No longer will you and your families be placed in harm’s way because leaders refuse to act. I will act, I will act for you.” His tone lowered a bit. “I know that there are sacrifices to be made on this long road. We all will have to make sacrifices if we are to make our Republic Great Again. I, and I alone will bear the worse of these sacrifices. The weight of this office rests heavily on my shoulders.”
 
“But that pales compared to the awesome responsibility of protecting your families, and protecting your lively hood. A sacrifice that I humbly accept, for you and your families. Together, we will rid our Republic of traitors like Chaanu and other followers of Crooked Syrdash. Together, we will deal with the OPA and their Rouge Jedi allies. TOGETHER! We will make this Republic Great AGAIN!”
 
Thunderous applause drowned out the boos and shouts of ‘Usurper’ as the New Chancellor of the Republic is lowered back down to his office. The entire time he waved to supporters and enjoyed his moment in the spotlight. One Supporter of Chancellor Syrdash went on record claiming that a minority of Senators within the Senate carried out a military Coup and murdered Chancellor Syrdash.
 
Within the hour, cases of arrests were being reported on by the media. The official story was that these pro-Syrdash supporters were caught attempting to plot a coup. In one such case, three senior aides were observed being dragged from their homes beaten by authorities. Weapons and explosives were also recorded being taken from the three different residents.
 
One quote that sent a chill down the spine of the Republic was given by Officer Dell Hemn, “We got a tip from a neighbor. Good thing, too. They were just hours away from exploding bombs in the public space. You can never trust these people. They are terrorist and without their Chancellor in power, they are showing their true colors.”