An Errant Venture

[Delgado Xaanan]

CSA Administration Building - Mondder, Etti IV

For what might perhaps be the last time, Delgado stood in front of the mirror in his quarters and ran a hand down the front of his pristine off-white uniform, smoothing out the creases that often formed around where the rotund belly he'd accumulated over the years had vanished during his time as a guest of the Corporate Sector Authority. It wasn't through neglect or lack of good food; rather, the hot and stormy climate of Etti IV made the pounds flow off him in liquid form whenever he ventured outside the compound.

That same weather had made wearing his standard uniform an unwise choice; left to hang in the wardrobe of his spacious penthouse quarters, he never thought to requisition a more fitting replacement except for the few occasions where he actually wore the thing. He supposed that, if today went to plan, he wouldn't need to.

The message from Moff - Empress - Tarkin had come as quite some surprise. Delgado had always considered himself to be an individual who evaded notice and recognition with considerable prowess. He wasn't bitter: indeed, he wholeheartedly enjoyed his work, and the sizable collection of extra-vocational perks that came along with it. If promotion to a position of greater responsibility would require him to move away from his associations with the Corporate Sector, then it probably wasn't a wise move.

But apparently, his efforts had not gone unnoticed. Someone had been paying attention, and had recommended him for a new role. As the Empress had put it herself, the Empire needs a leadership it can rely on. Apparently, someone felt that that he was that sort of person, and that made him proud. Granted, he'd made a career so far of subtly manipulating those around him to conform with the wishes of the Empire; no doubt there was a - probably justified - belief that he would toe the party line. Delgado was happy to do so, for one simple reason: he had spent the last several years trying to make the Corporate Sector a better place for all its inhabitants; the final obstacle - the incumbant Executive Officer - was finally going to be moved aside.

There was of course the small matter of the election. The ExO of the Corporate Sector did not serve a fixed term, but rather remained in office until the Executive Directorship Board raised and passed a vote of no confidence, and elected his successor. For a whistful moment he considered the parallels between himself and Senator Palpatine of Naboo, awaiting the vote that would see him installed as Chancellor of the Republic.

Like Palpatine, there were forces at work that would sway the vote in his favour, but in this case it was not the illegal blockade of his homeworld. The forces this time were allies of the new Empress: businesses whose loyalty had shifted as soon as Miranda Tarkin had accepted her throne. With the backing of economic powerhouses like TaggeCo, Russard Industries and the Kuat Drive Yards, his elevation was assured.

Speaking of allies of the Empress, his conscious mind muttered inside his head, We had better get to the landing platform to give them the greeting they deserve.

With one last tug at the front of his uniform, and one final glimpse in the mirror, Delgado Xaanan waved a hand in front of the sensor that controlled his appartment's lighting, and set off to meet his future.

[Tell Cho]

"Everything is prepared, Sir," Resmi murmured quietly as she leaned over next to him. The stately Gossam nodded his head slightly to acknowledge her. He was early, for once; though it wasn't by design. He preferred to do business via holocam, so that way he could remain out of the way of politics and its myriad plots and intrigues. He enjoyed a good plot and intrigue of course, but only when he was not embroiled in it. He liked theatre, but was no actor.

Resmi Durren had been his aide for some time. Years, in fact, if his memory served correctly. Sometimes he forgot odd things like a single digit on the transcription of someone's identification number; one he'd written several times over to try and stay that circumstance in the first place.

But none could say that he wasn't good at his job, despite some of his idiosyncrasies. Ever since that debacle on a small moon named Muran (for which he'd replaced the former Auditor-General, efficiency in the security forces was up by 26.734122%; piracy was down a staggering 35.397%; and profits were increasing due to a number of new weapons development. One in particular he was "observing" was the streamlining of the formidable IRD starfighters, in particular adding a hyperdrive to it. The most recent information on that was disappointing.

The transport carried him through the halls of the Administration building; he'd passed his "offices" (which he'd never once visited), which was an amusing thing. Even Resmi, gloomy sort as she was, cracked a smile at his wondering if the entire place was coated in dust. He let his fingertips run over the familiar comforting designs on the head of his cane while faces flew by.

"W'at kan yuu tell me, Rezmi," he asked, making a slight grimace of distaste, "off zis... Xaanan?"

"He is a man of the Empire, Sir," she replied. "I've had some dealings with him in your stead in the past, if you remember (here Tell scratched his chin idly as he tried to remember the human's name). He is steadfast, and has been cursed in private for not accepting bribes like a more civilised person in business would. In particular, bribes that would negatively affect the Empire, or would bypass certain laws and statutes."

Tell nodded slightly. The transport halted, and Resmi disembarked quickly, followed by two other CSA guards. Tell stood and hopped down from the hovercar with ease. Resmi and the guards took their places behind him as he entered the Board Room, which was slightly empty, but filling up rapidly.

"Ahh, Auditor-General!" a Twi'lek greeted with a wide smile. The Gossam merely gave him a small look.

"Leef me be," he grumbled, already wondering if he should make the excuse of illness and just leave already. To express his point more strongly (the Twi'lek seemed to have ignored Tell's mien and surly 'greeting' and was continuing to approach), he shook his cane at the taller being.

"Leef me be!" he growled. The Twi'lek barely managed to keep himself from being whacked a few times. Tell punctuated his annoyance with the situation with a snort and firmly planting his cane at his side; the dull tap further emphasized his reticence to engage in plots and intrigue. "Go both-er ze Neimoidiahns. Theirr inefficiency eez well suit-ed to such theengs."

Normally, he wasn't so recalcitrant; however, today was "one of those days", where he'd awakened in a sour mood, and it hadn't yet dissapated. Resmi was already taking the miffed Twi'lek aside and planning on a meeting between some underling of the Auditor-General and the green skinned humanoid at a later date.

It was with relief that he finally settled himself in his seat at the board table, and tapped a few glowing buttons, activated the holonet display. His eyes traversed the figures and news that dominated the the holowaves while he waited for the meeting to start, and more importantly, end.

[Gallus Tagge]

Travelling to Etti IV was something of a homecoming for Gallus Tagge. It was, after all, his late uncle Baron Orman Tagge who had founded the Corporate Sector Authority, under the approval of Emperor Palpatine. It was a rare occasion that the current Baron of House Tagge saw fit to venture into Corporate Sector space – preferring to delegate many business matters to regional directors – but every now and then he liked to travel along the Tingel Arm and remembered just how his predecessors hands had shaped the fate of the Galaxy.

If the other members gathered in the CSA board-room had any awareness of Gallus' history and present influence, they made little show of it. They hadn't become the leaders of powerful corporations by allowing their true feelings to show so carelessly. Taking his seat with the others, his aides and bodyguards standing at the ready just behind him, he smiled with an air of quiet confidence as he surveyed his comrades and competitors.

[Yeart Quenn]

Across the table from the Tagge brat sat Moff Yeart Quenn of Kuat, his telbun standing guard behind him. While he affected an air of utter boredom and aloofness, the table in front of him remaining clear of any of the usual paraphernalia, it was she who busied herself studying last-minute changes in the program, and made the notes. As the alien at the far end of the table sat down and activated its screen, she also leaned forward and did the same for him.

He scanned the news page with unseeing eyes, his mind occupied wondering what would come of this day. He'd come because her royal emptiheadedness had told him so, because someone wanted to push for Imperial rule in the CS - otherwise he'd have left it alone. But at least it had been a way off Imperial Center. And if the Empress herself told you to go somewhere, you'd better do it - at least as long as you were still within her reach.

The sour look he cast at Tagge for being who he was slowly changed into a gloating one as he remembered Tagge's sister. That had been fun.

[Delgado Xaanan]

Delgado stepped into the board room, and was struck by how odd it looked. Rather than the table being surrounded by the usual ghostly apparitions of holographic attendants, the room was instead filled with the physical forms - and smells - of a spectrum of species. They made their shuffling, muttering noises that the holograms were programmed not to transmit, and were somewhat lacking in their own internal luminescense, which left the room feeling somewhat dim. Hesitating just outside the entrance, he exchanged a few muttered words with one of the stewards, and requested that the lighting be raised a few fractions or so. His hope was to set their visitors at ease in the bright, illuminated surroundings: that the room suddenly became brighter as he entered it was purely coincidence.

He forced his eyes not to stray towards the seat that would normally be filled by the Executive Officer, and walked directly to his own. He had been informed via comlink while en route to the board room that he would not be attending this particular meeting, and that the Prex would sit as chairman in this instance. Delgado couldn't help feeling a slight glimmer of disappointment at the news: he had hoped to be able to watch the look on the old man's face when the vote of no confidence was passed and ratified. Still, his absense - not even in attendance via hologram - was tantamount to surrender, and Delgado relished the notion that he had sent his soon-to-be predecessor fleeing into the shadows.

The last few members of the Direx Board filed in, those who were not there in the physical apperating in their seats in shades of blue. Through the main entrance came the Prex, Yuno Zora of Iridonia, the lines of age stretching across his face cutting deep into the tribal markings of his race. He seemed reluctant, but advanced to the station of the Executive Officer none the less.

Delgado appraised his political opponent carefully. A lifetime veteran of the Corporate Sector Authority, he commanded the respect of many of the people gathered today. He would be the main rival, when it came for the Direx Board to vote for their new Executive Officer. The new Empress had provided assurances that her chosen candidate would succeed, but Delgado couldn't help at least a little trepedation. He had learned long ago not to take any expected conclusion for granted.

As silence finally fell across the board room, Yuno Zora drew himself up to his full height, and made his first address in a low, rumbling barotone. "This meeting of the Executive Directorship Board of the Corporate Sector Authority has convened. Let the record show that Prex Yuno Zora stands as Chairman, in the absense of the Executive Officer."

The lack of sound continued as the Zabrak slowly collected himself for further speaking. His eyes swept across the assembled, settling for a slight, uncomfortable moment too long upon the Imperial Advisor. Delgado fought down the urge to shudder. The lantern gaze swept away as quickly as it had arrived however, and with a breath, Zora continued.

"This meeting has been called in response to the submission for a vote of No Confidence in the current Executive Officer's leadership. It is customary in these situations for the incumbant Officer to speak a few words to the assembled, but in his absence we shall proceed directly to to the vote itself." He paused, taking a moment to run a hand down his torso, smoothing out the folds of his robe. "Voting will be by secret, electronic ballot via the terminals at which you are seated, by the fifty-five Direx representatives only."

Another pause, and another volley of glances exchanged with individuals around the room. Delgado couldn't help mimicking the Prex, seeking out the individuals whose votes the Empress had assured - her husband Gallus Tagge, representing Tagge Corp; Moff Quenn, representing Kuat Drive Yards; the representative from Seinar, and a few other arms manufacturers with important Imperial contracts; more, probably, but Delgado hadn't bothered to learn the faces. Perhaps he should, if this all went well.

Lets see how good your assurances are, Empress Tarkin, he mused, reclining in his chair. This stage was perhaps the most frustrating - his role on the Direx Board was non-voting, and thus at this stage there was little he could do to expediate his fate. When it came to the next, however, that would be an entirely different story.

"Please," Zuna said in his low rumble, "Vote now."

[Getar V'al Counis]

Getar hadn't made much of a show of listening all too closely. The proceedings of the voting process were known to him.

But when the Twi'lek - he still found it a little strange to see a non-human chairing something like this but then it was the CS, after all, and not Imperial Center - announced that voting had begun, Getar leaned forward and gave the Imperial's stooge a sharp look. After all - if he really was to elect this fellow, then shouldn't he at least see that the creature was fit for it?

Delgado Xaanan didn't look like the man he'd put up for this position, but then again - he knew no one else himself, so he supposed the Empress knew what she was doing.

'Been nice to be trusted by the woman.

It would be interesting to have a female sitting on that throne. Palpatine had been bad for business - well, not his, but certainly some others - and since Getar was old enough to remember the days before that blackfrocked ghoul had installed himself as unanimous leader, he was rather partial to having something else in charge.

So he'd made up his mind. Yes. Vote now, he had to.

Not letting hiself be pressured to hurry, he let his gnarly fingers move across the interface in front of him, and made the appropriate vote, double-checking that he got the correct option.

Yes. NO CONFIDENCE. Correct one. Old one out, new one in.

[Yeart Quenn]

His mind still on the "entertainment" that Tagge's frigid sister had provided him with, he indicated with a wave of his hand that the telbun should open the voting mask for him on the screen in front of him. So she leaned forward to do this, and while she did - he licked her ear. She didn't even give a twitch.

Yeartel was an excellent little thing, sometimes.

When the telbun had finished her work - in mere second - there was nothing left for him to do other than press his finger on the position indexed by her.

Efficiency was a virtue.

Maybe he'd order her to his bed, once this tedious business was over. It had been a while since he'd been at liberty to do that, due to the situation on Imperial Center. It'd be just the thing to take his mind off the whole matter of his being ordered here by that cireatch.

[Gallus Tagge]

For the Baron Tagge, there was no need to consider his vote. Gallus had already discussed the proposition with the Empress, his wife, and they had come to a mutual agreement that it was an agreeable course of action. TaggeCo alone stood to see at least an eleven-percent profit increase, at the minimum. It was fortunate then, as Gallus found himself juggling the independent yet connected responsibilities of CEO and Imperial consort, that what was good for the company was also good for the Empire.

With a push, Gallus cast his vote. Xaanan had House Tagge's backing.

[Tell Cho]

If there was one thing this old Gossam was sure of, it was that he didn't want to vote for that... man, Xaanan. The Auditor-General wasn't in the mood for more of this human supremacy shuupa (an interesting word that he'd picked up on some forgotten planet in the past); but he knew without a doubt that the voting process, while nominally discreet and anonymous, was in fact anything but. Despite this, he knew that he was well entrenched in his position as Auditor-General, even if he managed to get on the bad-side of this Imperial lackey; it would not be easy to depose Tell Cho.

Would he vote for or against this Xaanan?

Resmi shifted, and his peripheral vision picked up the movement; it was a signal that most of the others looked as if they had finished voting. Tell Cho only sniffed in derision at the choices in front of him, and made his choice.

Now, thought the Auditor-General, let us see where this leads us, eh?

[Jason Russard]

Jason had not made the trip to Etti IV, unable to attend due to prior committments that conflicted with this meeting. Secretly, he was glad of it. Being a home-body, Jason resisted travelling from Imperial Center if he could avoid it and holovid technology saw to it that on this occassion, his participation could be done from the comfort of his own office.

Russard surveyed the present company, surprised that the current Executive Officer was missing. Would he not even fight for his position, Jason wondered? Did he feel perhaps no one might stand for him and therefore was disposed to relinquish his place so readily? Jason was saddened at the possiblity - that the man should feel alone at such a point of transition in his career. Or, perhaps, there was a more menacing explanation? That would be what his father would think - the Old Man quicker than himself to believe in the darker nature of competitors.

Either way, the message was clear. The current Executive Officer was resigning himself without a fight to the inevitable and, in doing so, shattered any confidence to those who might remain loyal that he could still lead them.

Jason registered his anonymous vote of "No Confidence" with the simplicity of a pressed button on a data pad.

[Delgado Xaanan]

Yuno Zora had remained standing; it was hardly worth the effort of spurring his creaking bones into action. The vote was a formality; just as the screen showed, a great swathe of the Direx Board had been turned against the incumbent, and while the vote had been anonymous, Yuno had his suspicions of which key dominos had toppled the alligences of the others. Still, he couldn't help the knot of disappointment in his stomach as he forced the words to his lips.

"The vote has carried. Let the record show that on this date, the Executive Directorship of the Corporate Sector Authority has ruled to remove the Executive Officer from his appointment." His gaze swept out across the assembled. "As per established proceedure, I now call for nominations of succesion."

Delgado too swept his eyes around the room. This was where things would begin to get interesting. While cultivating a lack of confidence in the Executive Officer had been easy, that wasn't the same as ensuring support for himself. There were pleanty of corporate types around this table who had ambitions and alligences of their own, and with the biggest obstacle to their ascension out of the way, there'd likely be a scramble. Yuno would be his biggest rival, but that didn't mean he'd be the only one.

[Tell Cho]

No confidence indeed, the Gossam thought to himself as he watched the others begin their jockeying for position. He knew that if the Imperial, Xanaan gained the position, there would be a chance that a power play could be made on his, Tell Cho's, position as Auditor-General. The Gossam race, even now nearly thirty years after the end the of Clone Wars, was remembered for their allegiance to the Separatists. If only the Republic could have made it worth the Commerce Guild's time. But then, the Gossam race could have very well ended up like the Wookiees.

The chances of such a power play working while so many of the board were themselves aliens and not humans was small, but this was the Empire, and not another company. The Empire had an ideology completely separate from efficiency, or profit. This made them both more easily and less easily predicted. And power could sway. Tell Cho voted, and not for the Imperial he could not see as well, but for the businessman, whom he could manipulate and position as easily as moving a piece on a dejarik board.

Tell Cho voted for Yuno.

Let them try to oust me, he thought. If they do, I can escape. If they don't I'll have gained influence and the chance to push things in another direction. Let them try.

[Yeart Quenn]

Ah he should have enjoyed this part of the proceedings - but her royal emptyheadedness had sent him here with a purpose, and that took all the possible entertainment out of the situation.

Impatiently the Moff flicked his wrist at the screen in front of him; immediately the telbun leaned forward over his shoulder and activated the next screen as instructed before. On it appeared the choices of candidates - probably all deserving of such a position - but Yeart didn't waste any moment on going through them all. Instead, he firmly stabbed a finger onto the bottom left corner where the label read "Xaanan, Delgado" and thereby put the Imperial up for nomination.

There. He'd done his job. Hope she's happy now.

[Delgado Xaanan]

Icky. That's far too many months to have left things. Sorry guys! Rather than beat about the bush... here's a massive chunk of post to just accomplish what we came here to do, so we can all get on with... stuff.

An Hour Later

Time had passed; the votes had been compiled. Unsurprisingly, two candidates had risen to the fore - Delgado Xaanan of course, as well as Yuno Zora. The corporations were split in such a way that it was almost cliché: the divide that pitted the loyalist Imperial businesses against the remnants of the old trade federations and banking clans could be traced back to even before the Clone Wars; the conflict of humans against non-humans was as old as the Old Republic itself.

Though two candidates had risen, neither posessed sufficient backing to command a controlling interest in the Sector. Indeed, the divide was almost a perfect three-way split; the other portion being a myriad assortment of small-time candidates who had no doubt voted mostly for themselves. While Delgado currently held a slight numerical advantage over Zora, official proceedure called for one or other of them to control a 51% intrest. A recess had been called to allow the Direx representatives to consider their options, and for the two leading candidates to prepare an address for the Board.

With honesty, Xaanan couldn't be sure which way the following vote would go. The independent representatives were unpredictable, and many of them would likely sway towards the more traditionalist policies of the Iridonian, if only out of fear of Xaanan's Imperial backing. Things could very easily slip through his fingers; all he had to rely on was the Empress' own political manipulations and, while that in itself was a boon to his ego, the notion that everything was out of his hands left him uncomfortable and anxious.

He cleared his throat, calmly approaching the cluster of non-humans who had congregated around their preferred candidate. "Yuno," he offered as greeting, keeping his voice light and friendly. "I appologise for interjecting in your discussions, but could I perhaps steal you away for a few moments?"

The Iridonian's eyes mused their way into a troubled frown; he fired a curt nod in the direction of his entourage none the less, dismissing them without words. As they drifted beyond earshot, his voice turned low, almost an animal snarl creeping into his words. "I am not interested in hearing the Empire's attempts at blackmail, Xaanan," he growled. "Keep your poisoned words to yourself."

Xaanan didn't let his expression falter, but slid a softer edge into his words. "Please," he appealed gently. "You've known me for long enough to realise that such crude methods aren't my style. Rather, I have a proposition. Hear me out?"

The Iridonian's eyes were narrowed by scepticism, but his intrest was clearly piqued. "Speak fast; my patience is thin."

Nodding in appreciation, the Imperial obliged. "We are subjects of the Empire, Yuno; we always have been. Granted, we enjoy the benefits of a certain level of independence from their government and administration, and that has always served us well in the past." He painted reluctance across his features, a hesitation creeping into his words. "Times have changed however, and the benefits may no longer outweigh the downsides?"

Though the shift was subtle, Yuno's expression became a frown. "To what do you refer?"

A spark flashed in Delgado's eye; a quick quirk of his eyebrows accompanied his new smile. "The Empress wants to install a Governor here. The Empire is slowly bleeding sectors and support; and Tarkin to consolodate what territory she has, and she will be willing to go to great lengths to ensure that the Corporate Sector doesn't slip from her grasp."

The threat was veiled by necessity; in truth Delgado couldn't be sure what lengths the new Empress might actually go to, but after hearing what the Inquisitors had done on her behalf on the day of her ascension, he didn't doubt that Yuno's mind would be conjuring as creative an assortment of possibilities as his own. "We can work this to her advantage, however."

Yuno was renowned for his Pazaak face; even so, Delgado picked up on that hint of a smile. "What are you scheming, Xaanan?"

"Our fleet is outdated." A blunt admission, but true; most of the vessels that the Corporate Sector Authority operated had been constructed before the Clone Wars. They were decades old, and growing tired, but budget constraints had always limited them from a complete overhaul of their fleet. They had their Marauder Corvettes and their IRD Fighters, but none of the more potent vessels that the Empire would normally assign to defend their convoys. And lately, the Rebel Alliance had become increasingly bold: shipping cargo along the Hydian Way was a gamble, and the CSA didn't have the resources to 'hedge their bets'.

Delgado shrugged, continuing to describe his notion. "Let Miranda appoint her Governor. An Imperial Moff typically brings with them a Sector fleet; let the Empire finance our new vessels, and maybe we can 'negotiate' for a little extra help with our Rebel problem as well." He flashed a smile. "We are businessmen after all."

"And in return for this military support, I suppose you expect me to step down; cite some reason for entering early retirement?"

Xaanan shook his head. "On the contary. I am not a fool: neither one of us could expect to be a successful leader without the support of the other. As far as the Authority is concerned, you would remain the Prex. As far as the Empire is concerned on the other hand; well, every Governor needs a Deputy in whom he can place his trust."

Musing twisted the tattoo'd features of the Iridonian, brows tugged low in contemplation. "I will need time to consider this," he stated, confliction in his voice. "You will have my answer before I recall the session."

"Of course." Xaanan's tone returned to gentle and contemplative, but the Iridonian had retreated before he could put it to use. A sigh escaped him, shoulders slumping beneath his stylised uniform. He had done what he could; now all that remained was to wait, and see what fruits were born of his labours.

[Tell Cho]

“Auditor-General Cho,” Yuno said by way of greeting. It had been with his help that the Gossam had ascended to the post he now held, while the vast majority of his people were still enslaved by the Empire. Tell Cho seemed to have no opinion on that, but the Gossam before their enslavement were known to be particularly uncaring, even among their own species. Yuno spared a small smile of greeting to the Gossam's human assistant... Durren was her name. Unlike her more recalcitrant employer, Durren had a personable quality about her and others found it hard to dislike the woman.

“What did the Imperial have to say to you, Yuno?” the Gossam asked, settling himself near the Iridonian, and watching the conversations and politicking around him with a jaundiced air. Yuno noted that a few that had been making their way to him suddenly found themselves engrossed in other conversations. Such was the reputation of Tell Cho.

“Something very interesting, Tell,” the ageing Iridonian replied. “Mr. Xaanan has proposed a deal that will allow us to have the Empire fund our defence needs in regards to ships.”

Tell snorted. “Nothing with the Empire is free. Their notion of payment may sometimes differ from ours, however.”

Yuno let a small smile slip out at that.

“Indeed. Xaanan intimated to me that the new Imperial Empress will want to install a Governor of the Corporate Sector no matter the outcome of this election.”

“Makes sense,” Cho murmured.

“With a Moff comes a sector fleet. And with the Moff of the Corporate Sector being the Executive Officer as well, he implied that he would negotiate for... 'extra help' as he put it, with the Rebel raids on our fleets.”

Cho stayed silent a moment, before saying, “Xaanan is a businessman. This is a tempting offer in terms of efficiency. For all their faults, the Imperials have excellent, if expensive, ships, and I could use such for patrols along the Hydian Way. But Xaanan is also an Imperial, and so the question is: do the profits outweigh the potential losses? With an Imperial at our head, we will no longer be able to operate as freely as we have in the past; at least not for long. Yuno, I am sure you are aware of that.”

Yuno nodded. This was why he'd backed the relatively unknown Gossam for the post of Auditor-General, after all. He would look at all sides of the question before making an opinion, among other reasons.

“But consider this: at the moment, it seems the Imperials will be contented with this sign that the Corporate Sector will not slip from their grasp. They have their own troubles, and I suspect will devote most of their attention to those problems and not with tightening their grip on already willing subjects until those obstacles are taken care of. My opinion is that this is a risky plan. Almost as risky as the gamble Shu Mai made when allying the Commerce Guild with the Confederacy during the Clone Wars, and you know how that turned out.”

Yuno nodded.

“But I suspect you already know which way you are going to take.” The Gossam sighed. “You have my support Yuno. You are too shrewd to be taken that easily, even if this does complicate things.”

Yuno nodded once more. “Cho, you are entirely too perceptive. But, thank you.”

Tell Cho nodded, and watched as the Iridonian creaked off to prepare his speech. Resmi hadn't moved once from her position behind and to the left of the Gossam, but soon stepped forward to his side.

“This will complicate things, Resmi. I sense there is much more to this move than merely consolidation of power. Or perhaps I am already sensing the consequences.” He sighed, and made his way to a seat.

“We will just have to make due,” Resmi said gently. “As we always have.”

Tell nodded, frowning thoughtfully as he sat down with a small breath of relief. “Yes. We will.”