[Day 4 - EA] My Fair Lieutenant

[Jocasta Teraan]

Before going on her early morning run, Jocasta had received a formal invitation to the palace this evening, which set into motion a flurry of events.

Now she stood in her suite, furniture moved out of the way except for a table set for two and a cleared space, in her finest ensemble courtesy of Cedonia, waiting for her tutor.

[Count Serenno]

The Count appeared as requested, having sent an advance note of his intention to come. Arriving, he bowed courteously.

"Good afternoon, Lady Teraan. Always a pleasure to answer your call."

Then he got seated. "How may I return the earlier favour and be of assistance?"

[Jocasta Teraan]

The Count appeared as requested, having sent an advance note of his intention to come. Arriving, he bowed courteously.

"Good afternoon, Lady Teraan. Always a pleasure to answer your call."

Then he got seated. "How may I return the earlier favour and be of assistance?"

Jocasta met the Count at the door, returned his bow, and showed him inside.

"Count, thank you for making the time to meet with me. I have received an invitation to a formal dinner tonight with the Royal Family.

Now, my father did his best to educate me on how to act among nobles, but it has been a number of years since I have exercised this education. I couldn't think of someone with a better grasp of civility than you and I hope you can spare some time to help me prepare for tonight.

I thought we could also catch up on the events of the last few days while doing so."

[Count Serenno]

"It is quite unlikely that you'd need an education of that kind as you already carry yourself with dignity and poise, and treat your noble obligations seriously. Unless you mean specific table manners. Then perhaps I can of some assistance."

The man nodded, and smiled faintly. "On the developments, I'd surely enjoy an exchange of thoughts."

[Jocasta Teraan]

"It is quite unlikely that you'd need an education of that kind as you already carry yourself with dignity and poise, and treat your noble obligations seriously. Unless you mean specific table manners. Then perhaps I can of some assistance."

The man nodded, and smiled faintly. "On the developments, I'd surely enjoy an exchange of thoughts."

Jocasta waved a hand to the cleared area of the room. "Before we begin with lunch, shall we see what my footwork has to offer?"

She started some music and let the Count take the lead. Following him along through the dance, consistently half a pace behind as she tried to keep up and remember where her feet should be.

D4, EA, Training Montage #1, Coordination/Dance: 2eA+1eC+1eD 0 successes


"As for developments," she spoke as they twirled around the room, "I believe I've made a good impression with the Panteers, except possibly Prince Gaul. I learned the hard way that not every decision with far-reaching impacts is driven by the powers that be. Sometimes the matters of the heart are just that. But he did seem a good sport about it."

Jocasta missed a step, but the Count led her back into form. "What about you?"

[Count Serenno]

"Beyond partaking in what is considered official courtship on Alderaan, I haven't been terribly active. What impression I have made is not for me to judge. The Queen did raise her concern about my age as an inauspicious factor during the thranta flight though." He did quickly cover her misstep so they could continue. "I have had some talks and have done some research no what can be called the Killik problem."

[Jocasta Teraan]

"Beyond partaking in what is considered official courtship on Alderaan, I haven't been terribly active. What impression I have made is not for me to judge. The Queen did raise her concern about my age as an inauspicious factor during the thranta flight though." He did quickly cover her misstep so they could continue. "I have had some talks and have done some research no what can be called the Killik problem."

The music came to an end and the pair head to the table.

"Well, you have the vigor of a younger man and the wisdom that they lack. I've lost count of how many young troopers thought 'Hey honey' was a satisfactory pickup line."

The droid came in and began serving the light, multi-course meal that simulated a formal setting. Jocasta was able to select the appropriate utensil and managed not to spill soup all over the place (as she might be prone to usually).

D4, EA, Training Montage #2, Charm/etiquette: 2eP+2eA+2eD 2 successes, 1 advantage


"I'm interested to hear what kind of research you've been doing about killiks. They're a scourge on the Alderaanian people, just the night before last I accompanied some others on an extermination mission."

[Count Serenno]

"Pick-up is a rude concept anyway. Conversation holds an intrinsic value without being goal-oriented. Thank you for your kind words, Lady Teraan. Indeed, if I believed I can only waste the Panteers' time I wouldn't have come here. But given the importance of this escapade for the course of my planet, I need to be mindful of the chance of being spurned."

He nodded at how conducted herself at the table.

"As for the Killiks, I am interested in the root cause of their hostility toward humans. They are, or at least used to be, an ancient race, cogent enough to conduct spacefaring of some kind. It is unlikely they have degenerated into such mindlessness that their behaviour is not rational in some way. But on the question, 'why is this violence', I haven't found a satisfactory answer yet. If extermination is how the Alderaanians routinely deal with the challenge, then the reason at this point might be grievance. It is of course not a critique, Lady Teraan, merely some inference from facts available to me at this point."

[Jocasta Teraan]

"Pick-up is a rude concept anyway. Conversation holds an intrinsic value without being goal-oriented. Thank you for your kind words, Lady Teraan. Indeed, if I believed I can only waste the Panteers' time I wouldn't have come here. But given the importance of this escapade for the course of my planet, I need to be mindful of the chance of being spurned."

He nodded at how conducted herself at the table.

"As for the Killiks, I am interested in the root cause of their hostility toward humans. They are, or at least used to be, an ancient race, cogent enough to conduct spacefaring of some kind. It is unlikely they have degenerated into such mindlessness that their behaviour is not rational in some way. But on the question, 'why is this violence', I haven't found a satisfactory answer yet. If extermination is how the Alderaanians routinely deal with the challenge, then the reason at this point might be grievance. It is of course not a critique, Lady Teraan, merely some inference from facts available to me at this point."

Enjoying the meal and feeling confident about her table manners, Jocasta listened as the Count spoke on the subject of the killiks.

"Spacefaring?" she asked incredulously. "Are we talking about the same bugs? They're as clever as a bantha. Is it possible your research could be wrong? Maybe they were brought here by some ancient spacefaring race or maybe the source you read was some joiner that still had half a mind to be able to write out some fanfic fantasy?"

She thinks of the possibilities for a moment. "If they were smart enough to travel to other systems, I imagine they'd be a bigger threat than the Sith Empire."

[Count Serenno]

"I believe we shouldn't judge a fish by its ability to fly, Lady Teraan. I assure you, they are more intelligent that banthas, though perhaps not as individual specimens. Killik mounds can be found on many worlds, even in the Wild Space and beyond, most of them deserted or dormant. But a lot points to the fact that Alderaan is where they had originated. They may once have been treated as coolie labourers by pre-Republic civilisations and thus ferried across the galaxy, but that would mean there were ways to communicate with them and integrate them into the social order that are lost to the contemporaries."

[Jocasta Teraan]

"I believe we shouldn't judge a fish by its ability to fly, Lady Teraan. I assure you, they are more intelligent that banthas, though perhaps not as individual specimens. Killik mounds can be found on many worlds, even in the Wild Space and beyond, most of them deserted or dormant. But a lot points to the fact that Alderaan is where they had originated. They may once have been treated as coolie labourers by pre-Republic civilisations and thus ferried across the galaxy, but that would mean there were ways to communicate with them and integrate them into the social order that are lost to the contemporaries."

"The thought that they could be, or were in the past, a more advanced sentient race only makes me feel more anger at the death they have caused and dread at the danger they could pose."

[Count Serenno]

"Then you probably can empathise with how they may be perceiving the acts of extermination against them: with anger and dread. The vicious spiral of violence is already spinning. If you choose to escalate, the practical problem is whether you can muster enough determination and firepower to stop the spin by killing them all." He said mirthlessly.

[Jocasta Teraan]

"Then you probably can empathise with how they may be perceiving the acts of extermination against them: with anger and dread. The vicious spiral of violence is already spinning. If you choose to escalate, the practical problem is whether you can muster enough determination and firepower to stop the spin by killing them all." He said mirthlessly.

"Regardless of the past, I don't know what kind of diplomatic in roads can be made that wouldn't have already been attempted. It's as practical as saying the Serennonians should've asked the Sith to leave politely, except the Sith can actually sit and listen to what you have to say."

She paused a moment to let her point settle. "My hope is that this new device is the solution, either to repel the killik and check their expansion into any civilized areas or to eliminate them. My first and foremost duty must be to the lives of Alderaanian citizens."

[Count Serenno]

He shook his head. "I couldn't be further from challenging the merit of your patriotic commitment. Still, statecraft is hardly about absolutes, as complete and lasting victories are very rare. However you dislike it, the Republic has accepted a peace treaty many find unpalatable, but thanks to it it has secured its survival and a chance to rebound. The rebellion against the Sith on my planet succeeded because we had a real shot at succeeding and we grasped it. I have no illusions about the permanence of our accomplishment. The Empire will encroach on us again. Unless I find ways for credible deterrence, I may experience a necessity to compromise. After all, diplomacy has been invented not to deal with friends, but with enemies."

He sighed faintly. "You dedication to your people is very close to my own heart. And while I'd have no qualms about sending myself to die because of such dedication, I don't have what it takes to send my people to pointless death so they could satisfy my personal ideals. There is this passage from the old annals of strategy, to first secure victory and then use violence to cement it rather than to escalate violence and hope victory shall emerge from all the indiscriminate death and destruction."

[Jocasta Teraan]

He shook his head. "I couldn't be further from challenging the merit of your patriotic commitment. Still, statecraft is hardly about absolutes, as complete and lasting victories are very rare. However you dislike it, the Republic has accepted a peace treaty many find unpalatable, but thanks to it it has secured its survival and a chance to rebound. The rebellion against the Sith on my planet succeeded because we had a real shot at succeeding and we grasped it. I have no illusions about the permanence of our accomplishment. The Empire will encroach on us again. Unless I find ways for credible deterrence, I may experience a necessity to compromise. After all, diplomacy has been invented not to deal with friends, but with enemies."

He sighed faintly. "You dedication to your people is very close to my own heart. And while I'd have no qualms about sending myself to die because of such dedication, I don't have what it takes to send my people to pointless death so they could satisfy my personal ideals. There is this passage from the old annals of strategy, to first secure victory and then use violence to cement it rather than to escalate violence and hope victory shall emerge from all the indiscriminate death and destruction."

Jocasta nodded along as she listened. "You speak with what I can only imagine is hard earned wisdom. As a mere lieutenant, my decisions are often clear cut, light and dark, but I am beginning to see the man shadows cast in matters of the state."

She hesitates for a moment, but then finds her resolve. "I must ask for your advice on a shadowy matter that has recently come to my attention. It concerns something you likely have regrettable familiarly with from your time battling the Sith, betrayal. A trooper who had served under me has recently returned, but I learned that he is part of the anti-Panteer movement. He is going against the very ideals we fought for, putting innocent Alderaanians at risk. I want to do whatever I can to help this trooper, I feel he is my responsibility, but I don't know how to pull him away."

[Count Serenno]

The Count thought about it for a moment.

"Pulling him away may or may not be possible. However wrong his narrative may seem to you, it may be the one that gives him purpose in life in ways the patriotism you represent does not. He is unlikely to abandon it unless his current dream is exposed for what it is, and crumbles. Hence, a pathway presents itself for you to act on the rapport you once shared to get to the heart of the conspiracy, the instigators who have poisoned his mind. Only striking at the heart can you hope to prevent further corruption of the ranks of your soldiers, disenchanted by the Republic's defeat in war. It is for the leaders to understand the painful reality of the need to compromise, but it doesn't absolve them from acknowledging the common man's simplicity of worldview that drives their purpose. The struggle for hearts and minds is not with your soldier, but with his current masters."

[Jocasta Teraan]

The Count thought about it for a moment.

"Pulling him away may or may not be possible. However wrong his narrative may seem to you, it may be the one that gives him purpose in life in ways the patriotism you represent does not. He is unlikely to abandon it unless his current dream is exposed for what it is, and crumbles. Hence, a pathway presents itself for you to act on the rapport you once shared to get to the heart of the conspiracy, the instigators who have poisoned his mind. Only striking at the heart can you hope to prevent further corruption of the ranks of your soldiers, disenchanted by the Republic's defeat in war. It is for the leaders to understand the painful reality of the need to compromise, but it doesn't absolve them from acknowledging the common man's simplicity of worldview that drives their purpose. The struggle for hearts and minds is not with your soldier, but with his current masters."

"You have struck true. He has gained new purpose in this cause. The problem with disillusioning him of this cause is they have used half truths to construct it. His commitment stems from his instinct that the Empire is dangerous and a threat to Alderaan. I think the Queen and Duke Ulgo could come together and personally tell Julio that this Treaty is a necessity and he would still hold his beliefs."

[Count Serenno]

"Half-truths are essentials of any broader narrative, yours, mine, or his. In a competition on veracity, either might hold ground. It is their ethical layer that needs to be discredited for them to collapse, to show how they bring about what they promise to eradicate. The easiest way to do so would be to demonstrate that your soldier's masters act on Sith mandate. That isn't unthinkable, and may actually be true. What is brewing on Alderaan bears the mark of similarity to what Darth Bellious has fomented in the Outer Rim."

[Jocasta Teraan]

"Half-truths are essentials of any broader narrative, yours, mine, or his. In a competition on veracity, either might hold ground. It is their ethical layer that needs to be discredited for them to collapse, to show how they bring about what they promise to eradicate. The easiest way to do so would be to demonstrate that your soldier's masters act on Sith mandate. That isn't unthinkable, and may actually be true. What is brewing on Alderaan bears the mark of similarity to what Darth Bellious has fomented in the Outer Rim."

"There is more than a passing resemblance between the actions and policies of the Sith and those of these protestors, House Ulgo, and House Rist. They may well have been influenced by their past encounters with the Sith. They have stooped down to the level of their enemies."

Jocasta ponders for a moment while desert is served. "Perhaps, as you recommend, if I can show him examples like Darth Bellious, make him see how he has lost his morality in trying to overcome his enemy... But I will need to be subtle about it or I may alienate him."

[Count Serenno]

"Probably the best way is to plant the idea in his mind and let it grow on its own. Too much persuasion will harden his convictions." The Count agreed, glancing at the dessert.