Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

The Alderaan Affairs Summit was a last-minute addition to the schedule and it spoke well of Gaul’s skill as a politician and organizer that he had found remote location that had been used in the past for such talks and had it prepared in a short time frame for the disparate guests. His hope is that they could avert a civil war, no pressure.

None. He waited for the guests to arrive via shuttle.

OOC: At most two PCs from House Thul, House Organa, and House Ulgo for this thread please. Other guests have been notified.

Perhaps surprisingly or not, Zeno was among the first to arrive. He wasn't certain how he could help, but he seemed like he was willing.

Arriving with Yulastranza, Kat was maybe not a surprise to see here. Dressed in her usual browns and whites, she focused on keeping a calm and serene aura to her being.

Katarzyna Ulgo wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 06, 2021 8:01 pm

Arriving with Yulastranza, Kat was maybe not a surprise to see here. Dressed in her usual browns and whites, she focused on keeping a calm and serene aura to her being.

Their chauffeur for the day, Garth was not far behind them.

He was not a great speaker, but his romantic intentions this week might lend some weight to the hope that bridges could be built and fences mended.

Yulastranza found a seat and waited quietly. Dressed more as a soldier than nobility.

Niall, as a mild contrast, was dressed as a noble soldier. He, too, took a seat.

Xero was present and sat next to Zeno. They brought scones.

Olak arrived in uniform and stood not taking a seat yet. He crossed his massive across his barrel chest.

Omandri arrived right behind the mountainous cybernetic man. The doctor was dressed in something similar to his cruise appearance a fine black suit with black undershirt and emerald green tie and gold accessories to round out house colors.

He looked around the meeting place giving nods to all the familiar faces but deciding not to speak for now.

In theory, Tethys could have caught a ride with any of the others coming from the vicinity of the Grand Spring Palace or the nearby House Organa facilities. However, this is one of those situations in which efficiency comes second to independence--and, even more importantly, to the appearance of independence.

Her small rented airspeeder touches down a slight distance from the meeting site; she uses the short walk over to center her thoughts before entering the building.

"Good morning, gentlebeings," she says mildly to those assembled, as she steps in out of the (inevitably lovely) morning sunlight.

“Good morning, master Jedi, and to representatives of the Houses, welcome. I am hoping today will be a short but effective session to try and hash out the differences between the Houses and expose outside influences that seek to bring our families into conflict.”

Gaul continued as a droid handed out a data pad to each family with information about recent events, the attacks on the Panteer, manipulations of the Houses and inferring that an outside party with a vested interested is trying to drive the houses to civil war. “We have plenty of reasons to distrust and even despise each other but we have more reasons to come together for a better Alderaan. It is my sincere hope that we can put aside our differences and approach these matters with the best interests of our people in our hearts.”

“The short of it is that we are being manipulated by an outside party, using our division and suspicion against us and drawing us closer to actions that could leave Alderaan in ruins. I am a dedicated son of Alderaan and I will not stand by while our world burns because of our actions or inaction.”

Niall nodded. "I can confirm this." He cleared his throat. "Yesterday, we apprehended a freelance slicer who had been working for this outside party. We've recorded her testimony, which includes information on their activities, some of the members of the group, and a number of cells."

Carefully, Niall pulled out a datapad. "Due to the nature of the organization, we wanted to avoid transmitting any information over the holonet. But I have the complete report and recordings here."

Zeno accepted a scone brought by Xero, nodding to the man. He took his time eating it as others talked. He nodded his agreement with Gaul's statement. At Niall's revelation he seemed interested. But for now he waited to see if Ulgo would sling blame and slander at Thul. He hoped that they had seen through the lies of the outsiders instead.

Kat nodded to Niall. "Likewise, I too can confirm this, from my own investigation and from sources I trust. Intel has been falsified and distributed among the Houses... this slicer, among other clues, have pointed to a point-of-contact known as the Cunning Man. It's a name known in the criminal underworld, with no known affiliation to any major organization, Republic, Empire, or other power."

"I think we should put aside our differences, and focus on uprooting these elements that are trying to tear down Alderaan."

"Cunning Man or not, Thul killed Bryson Rist, and that demands retribution," Olak replied.

Zeno looks to the man that is saying such things. In response, he simply looks around. "And you assume that after hearing these malefactors are faking intel and causing us to point fingers, that this is not more of the same? I went looking for him, asking a mutual associate about him, so I could have him questioned by proper authorities. It was believed he knew the people responsible for this mess. If he were alive then we might be able to get closer to this unseen enemy. You think we would want an invaluable source that could clear our involvement further dead? Furthest from what I wanted."

"Thul lies... and Jedi lies... Jedi Knight Hoshin killed my friend, Galen Rist! Thul kills my friend, Bryson Rist! Hrrmph perhaps one of you will kill me next," he said darkly.

"I have no desire to see anyone here dead. You in particular have proven yourself an ardent defender of Alderaan in the past. That keeps the world safer for my daughters. So thank you," he says with a respectful nod.

From the seat to which she'd helped herself, Tethys clears her throat. "Excuse me. I've been asked to sit in here as an impartial party, so I'll leave the final conclusions about evidence to all of you, on this occasion at least. But I think you will find that in the data Prince Gaul and Captain Organa have provided you, there are several examples of this Cunning Man's organization deliberately, and with great sophistication, muddying the waters to sow blame among nearly all your Houses for various of his crimes. Organa and Rist for cyber-sedition, Knight Hoshin for murder of a living woman, Ulgo and Thul for... ordinary sedition, and so on."

She looks around the room at the assembled nobles, endeavoring to project calm. "I'd suggest that it may be a good idea to be especially cautious about preliminary evidence that just so happens to align with any of your pre-existing lines of conflict."

Tethys Carrack wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:04 pm

From the seat to which she'd helped herself, Tethys clears her throat. "Excuse me. I've been asked to sit in here as an impartial party, so I'll leave the final conclusions about evidence to all of you, on this occasion at least. But I think you will find that in the data Prince Gaul and Captain Organa have provided you, there are several examples of this Cunning Man's organization deliberately, and with great sophistication, muddying the waters to sow blame among nearly all your Houses for various of his crimes. Organa and Rist for cyber-sedition, Knight Hoshin for murder of a living woman, Ulgo and Thul for... ordinary sedition, and so on."

She looks around the room at the assembled nobles, endeavoring to project calm. "I'd suggest that it may be a good idea to be especially cautious about preliminary evidence that just so happens to align with any of your pre-existing lines of conflict."

OOC: Leadership or Coercion at Average please. Get a boost die for words.