Ribbon Cutting - 10.029

[Taataani Meorrrei]

The massive hull of a Lucrehulk battleship eclipsed the stars above Ossus as she eased her tremendous frame into high orbit of the new Jedi homeworld. From within her massive bays, a shuttle emerged, seemingly a speck against the mother ship. The shuttle accelerated forward to the planet, flanked on either side by X-Wing fighters.

It had been barely over a month since Taataani Meorrrei's inauguration, and despite her initial misgivings about taking the post (not that one could easily refuse the High Mother's edict), Taataani had concluded that there were definite perks to being a Senator of the Alliance of Free Planets. Of minor note was the customary free transport. While the Baroness Executor of Koensayr-MeorrreiCorp could certainly handle that pittance without effort, the austere lines of a Sienar Lambda shuttle (one of many the Alliance had captured) certainly fit her political station.

Fitting too was the company she kept while en route to Ossus to dedicate the new Jedi colony. Of course there was Kallum, ever-increasingly useful to a woman who demanded access to useful men who were easy to look at. Further, there were the other Senators - like-minded politicians who either earnestly championed the return of the Jedi to their state of prominence, or at least wanted to exploit the event for some matter of gain.

But no, none of that held the Cizerack Senator's intrigue. She was well-accustomed to powerful people and the company they kept. What interested her instead were the dozen figures seated to either side of the Senatorial entourage - all clad in the same stately garb of the Old Republic Senatorial Guard. She couldn't take her eyes off of them, her expression struggling to remain inscrutable but the amusement of it all clearly evident.

"And thejy'rre trrajined to jusst...sstajy sstjill? Not a worrd?"

[Tell Cho]

Tell Cho adjusted his robe and blinked his beady eyes at the still and silent guardians.

"Yes," he answered shortly. "It would be a distraction for them to speak or move unless commanded, would it not?"

[Taataani Meorrrei]

"Perrhapss jin a prroperr venue..."

She'd committed Senator Cho's voice to memory as one to pay attention to. The former Corporate Sector technocrat had a reputation she'd since confirmed, and they seemed to share more in common than merely pet projects like christening a Jedi sanctuary world with the Alliance's blessing.

Still, the guards amused her. Taataani's left ear flicked as she leaned closer to the nearest one. True to his training, he remained eyes forward. The Rrou'fai's impish smile grew.

"A sspecjiess of sstatue, arre thejy not? We could have drrojidss that sstand sstjill forr a pjittance!"

Though the guard's eyes remained ahead, he visibly frowned, to the Cizerack senator's delight. If the guard's understandable faltering was detected by anyone else, Taataani did not betray it. She patted the guard's knee and nodded.

"Perrhaps not."

Savoring the remnants of her amusement, Taataani was again reminded that she was still cooped up in a shuttle - even if the furnishings were accomodating. Surely they were landing soon? She could use a stim.

"Senators and other passengers, we're on final approach to Ossus. Please secure your harnesses and prepare for arrival."

The shuttle captain blissfully solved the issue before it was an issue at all, and Taataani sat back in her seat to await their arrival.

[Tell Cho]

The shuttle experienced little turbulence as it entered the atmosphere of the Jedi homeworld. This was Cho's first time as the Minister of Commerce visiting the planet, and it was as a functionary.

He spared little thought for the Cizerack senator, a woman who seemed to be born for a role of political intrigue and back-room dealings. She had undoubtedly studied him, but he felt that she thought of him as a senator also rather than a minister. The Gossam in the Alliance had debated offering him the position, but he had declined. His experience would be better suited to getting the Alliance's economy running to a point where it could compete with the Empire's.

There was also talk of making him head of state for the Gossam within the Alliance as well, but he was sure it was the Gossam he'd helped liberate from their Imperial and Corporate Sector masters that were pushing for that. It was strange, and somewhat saddening that his race had needed utter defeat and years of intense slavery before they had begun to rise from their almost maniacal focus on greed and corporate power.

And there was still Castell to think on as well, where the majority of his people still were enslaved.

"Preparing to land."

And here he was, to offer what help could be offered to a group claiming the name of Jedi; his old order. They were pioneers.

The shuttle shifted slightly as the struts made contact with the surface.

They were on Ossus.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

In unison, the Senate guards were on their feet, shuffling two by two down the gangplank in advance of the entourage to form the honor guard. Taataani diverted her attention from her most recent plaything, and with a close minding-to by Kallum, was ready to debark. The Senators and Minister and their aides rose at once, and began to file out of the craft, getting a glimpse of the Jedi sanctuary for the first time.

As Taataani stepped down the gangplank, the view that greeted her was a shade disappointing, though whatever thoughts she had of the shantytown before them were dispelled behind an inscrutable expression as she placed her feet on terra firma. Her nostrils flared a bit, taking in a bit of the air around her. It at least smelled liveable. That in and of itself was an improvement from the recycled air of the Wheel.

Ahead of the politicians stood a throng of Alliance military staff and Jedi, waiting to see the representatives from their fledgling government as they arrived to inspect the Ossus camp.

[Serena Laran]

Serena stood with the rest of the present Council members, a little in front of the gathered Jedi. To her right were the Alliance officers in their own group. There were no flashy guards present - each Jedi knight was more than capable of protecting themselves and others - and the shiny Senate delegation looked out of place in the rough hewn town that they were still building.

She stepped forward, her background in diplomacy (no matter how out of date) making her the defacto speaker for the Council. "Welcome to Ossus, honored Senators, Minister." Serena nodded to Minister Cho. "We have rooms set aside for you and your entourages, if you need to rest from your journey."

The rooms were not fancy, but they were clean and in one of the pre-fab buildings. Many still lived in tents or on the Whaladon if they could stand it, and the living quarters had only been completed for a week or so. The guest rooms were simple and adequate, and had been prepared by a fleet of padawans for the arrival of the delegation with fresh flowers and clean linens.

[Taataani Meorrrei]

A glance to her entourage was all it took to set them to task of moving the luggage to the agreed-upon area. Of course, Taataani had absolutely no intention of being a homebody, and as Minister Cho made his own greetings to his friends, so too did the Rrou'fai Senator. She stepped forward to Serena, pecking at each cheek in salutation.

"Ja'irra korra nai, Massterrss Jedji. The Alljiance jiss jin jyourr debt. jI hope ourr cooperratjion herre jiss the fjirrsst sstep among manjy jin rrepajyjing that debt. Thank jyou."

Making a show of taking in the air, Taataani inhaled deeply, her ears rising with the theatrics as she looked at the ruins beyond.

"Mjy feet, thejy can rresst laterr. jI look forrwarrd to sseejing jyourr new ssanctuarrjy. jI've sspent tjime among jyourr convojy, and alrreadjy jI can ssee thjiss wjill be a much betterr venue."

[Tell Cho]

Cho bowed.

He had words prepared, as any real politician does for any situation, but he said nothing. What was there to say? For the first time, with the Council radiating relative serenity directly in front of him, he regretted his decision to remain apart from the Order as it had been reborn. The Force was with these people, and though he had not been forsaken completely, he knew now how much he had lost over the years.

"Welcome to Ossus, honored Senators, Minister," a red haired human female spoke then and nodded at him. He returned the gesture. "We have rooms set aside for you and your entourages, if you need to rest from your journey."

He fought to regain control of his emotions, and finally stepped forward, greeting each of them individually, followed swiftly by the Cizerack Senator, who spoke of the Wheel.

"I wish for a list of essential supplies needed," he said simply. "If it is within my power and the Force grants me the ability, I will see them sent."

[Serena Laran]

Serena smiled at the Senator's eagerness to get started, and nodded to Minister Cho. "Certainly. We have prepared such a list in anticipation of your arrival. I was not planning on presenting it to you immediately, so I do not have it with me at the moment."

She gestured the government officials forward, "If you would follow me, we can take a tour of the camp."

[Taataani Meorrrei]

Taataani followed as commanded, casting eyes briefly on Kallum as she did so to make sure that he would be near to parcel off any requests that were to be made of her.

"jI too wjill naturralljy make anjy arrangementss to accellerrate jyourr prrogrresss herre, Massterr."

She cast an eye to the camp as they approached.

"Ssurreljy jyou have dessjignss forr a morre rressplendent home. A Temple, even?"

Though perhaps not willing to raise the jewel of Coruscant Past on her dime, Taataani was already looking at their surroundings with an eye to what might become.