Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

It seemed strange to be using his old childhood playroom as an office. But, well, he did need a space to work, both on Republic business and House Organa business.

The room was well-lit, anyway, with a secured window behind the desk. And childhood toys had been stowed away to make room for a proper working console. And a well-stocked credenza; Niall didn't drink much himself, but he knew how noble business was done. Visitors would be shown up to the office by Organa personnel.

In the meantime, Niall sat at the desk, frowning at his console. T7 beeped quietly in the corner. "I know, I know." Niall acknowledged with a sign.

Niall wouldn't be kept waiting long, as it seemed the Ulgo Knight was someone who liked to be punctual. He was first notified over the comm by one of his subordinates, whom then guided Katarzyna to the office.

Garbed in brown and white Jedi-robes, Katarzyna Ulgo gave the feeling of being much taller than she actually was, and yet she had a sort of calming aura. The kind that when you looked at her, you knew a Jedi was here and everything would be alright.

"Major Organa, good afternoon," she greeted, bowing politely. "Thank you for a moment of your time. The Festival must be keeping you very busy, no doubt."

Niall rose as she came in. "Lady Katarzyna. Welcome to House Organa." He said, smiling. The calming aura was not an unfamiliar one, similar, although thankfully noticeably distinct, from what he felt around Aly.

"Of course. I'm pleased to meet with a representative from House Ulgo." He smiled. "And you're quite right. I've been going from one meeting to the next all day. I hope to have some time to enjoy the festivities with my wife, but, well, my duties..." He gave a vague wave of one hand.

He gestured to the nearby credenza. "May I get you anything? Tea perhaps?"

"Tea would be nice, if it's not too much trouble, thank you." Her calm tone was probably a product of Jedi training and Alderaanian upbringing as well.

"You must probably be counting your blessings in more ways than one then - being a married man, you're saved from the most strenous parts of the Festival. And from all the rumors, it sounds like you and Lady Alysele enjoy a blissful union. My belated congratulations." Kat offered a polite smile, though it was no less sincere. "But, as we are both busy folks, shall we dive right into the heart of the matter of our meeting?"

"Thank you." Niall said, smiling. "We both waited for the other for a long time. I'm very happy that we managed to find the time for each other at last."

Tea was a simple matter; a push of a few buttons. Moments later, Niall was handing Katarzyna a mug on a small plate. "Blue cream or sugar are right there. And please, have a seat." He gestured to both with open palm.

"Right to the point, eh? Very well." Niall smiled, nodding. "I'm all ears, as they say."

Taking the offered seat, Kat was most pleased to have another cup of tea. Alderaanian tea was one of her favorite-types, and she felt she needed it more these days with all that was going on.

"Thank you, but I like my tea plain. Mostly because I'm used to making do without," she chuckled lightly, picking up the teacup and taking a sip.

"Right. We are both familiar with the current situation of things, going into the Festival." The twins being offered up to the suitors, the uncertainity of the line of succession related to the two, the Thuls sinking their claws deeper into Panteer. And of course, the Ulgos being snubbed by the Panteers. "House Organa and House Ulgo are both committed to Alderaan, and to the Republic - question is, can these two houses work together to secure a peaceful future for Alderaan? I think the two of us are also realists enough to see that Duke Bouris likely won't take kindly to being shamed a second time by the crown."

Niall, after a moment of consideration, pulled up another seat instead of sitting behind the desk, angling it to face her. Arranged thus, it felt more like two colleagues speaking than anything else. He leaned forward, sipping tea as she spoke.

"Quite." Niall grimaced. Gaul, ugh. "I very much hope a peaceful future is within reach." He looked at her. "May I ask how House Ulgo sees that goal being achieved?"

"Quite frankly, House Ulgo wishes to see that the word of the crown and Panteer still holds honor and meaning - that the two Houses will be united in marriage. Prince Gaul was after all promised to Duke Bouris' daughter, and well..." she gestured to the air around them. "We know where that led us. If Panteer still honors the promise made however, I consider it most likely that Ulgo will continue to be stalwart defenders of Alderaan."

Kat sighed, placing her teacup down on its saucer. "But I am concerned what will happen if Ulgo honor is slighted once more. Duke Bouris is a proud man. Perhaps too proud, but not a pride that is completely misplaced. We are both familiar with his deeds and dedication to Alderaan's defense against the Sith and the Empire," she said honestly, and managing to keep a frown away from her features considering the topic. "It doesn't only anger Ulgo if it happens, but it also severely weakens the honor and integrity of the crown and House Panteer. I don't think that is a good outcome either."

"I see." Niall said, sipping his tea. He set his cup on the armrest. "House Organa wants the best for both Alderaan, and for the Republic. So long as House Ulgo wants the same, we can continue our close relationship. And we would very much like for that to continue."

He sighed, frowning. "We also support the Queen, and the Panteer family. Let that be clear." He raised his cup, but did not drink. "Do you think we can keep to all of these goals at once?" He asked.

"I cannot speak for the Duke, but as a member of House Ulgo, I will certainly strive to align our movements with those goals as much as possible. My cousin Brannis Ulgo is of a similar mind." And he was a member of Parliment, so he was an influental figure in his own right. And a possible candidate to marry the princess.

"I think that as the Houses come together to secure a peaceful future, by thinking in the long-terms rather than the short-term, it in return will give strength to Panteer and the crown. Though I do believe it will be nescessary to remove Thul from the Queen's side, to make this possible. Their agenda seems to be to continue to drive the wedge between Panteer and the other Houses, to secure more power for themselves - which is currently a high-stakes short-term play."

"Yes. House Thul." Niall grimaced. "They very much concern me. They do seem to intend to weaken Alderaan for their own benefit. I can't help but wonder, is that incidental to their goal, or is that also part of their goal?" He let his eyebrows go up in sinister implication.

After a moment, he sipped his tea. "So how might we achieve that game? Besides doing our best to insure that Thul does not enter into the secession." He grimaced. "Nor has the opportunity to do anything untoward."

"I had the chance of brunching with your lovely wife this morning, talking about this topic with our fellow Knights." Kat paused to take another sip of tea. She assumed at least that the married couple had few secrets from eachother, but she didn't mind sharing the events of that morning.

"There are plenty of suspicions around Thul's true allegiances. As well as that of their Blackguard and various members, such as Duke-Consort Zeno. I think it will be imperative that we uncover the truth of what is going on in House Thul before the end of the Festival, as word is that the queen will make her decision on the successor to the throne then. The only way to cut away the rot infesting Alderaan is to expose it fully with proof, and then remove it. As much as I don't want more conflict, I don't see any other outcome with Thul, unless they for some reason tuck their tails between their legs and run off to their masters."

Niall's expression was grim. "I hope that proof may be enough. Or that House Thul may be separated from its darker elements. If, faced with proof, the Queen denounces Thul, perhaps that will be enough."

He sighed. "We don't wish for civil war. Fighting with House Thul must be a last resort. Perhaps their leaders may realize that it is their guards or them."

Niall's chin tilted up. "If, that is, proof can be found. Is this a Jedi matter, or a House Ulgo matter? Or both?" He smiled wryly. "I know all too well how complicated those intertwined loyalties can become."

"We can hope it will be as easy as that. I'm just prepared for the worst possible results of it," she confessed, truly wishing it would be as simpe as merely denouncing them and they would go away.

"This is a matter for all of Alderaan, I believe. Yes, it concerns the Jedi, as we can't allow the Sith to extend such control over the monarch of a free world, but I speak as an Alderaanian when I say that this concerns us all, and we should try to work at all levels here to get to the bottom of things. Not only the Jedi, but the other Houses, and outside contacts as well that might not draw the same amount of attention as Alderaanians do."

Kat turned the teacup around on her saucer as she contemplated the matter. "I do not have such contacts myself - someone I had considered to ask for help on the matter is someone who is being targeted by House Thul, so their actions would be sure to draw suspicion. What about yourself?"

Niall's lips curled up into a wry smile. "Indeed." He said.

But then his expression turned serious again. "I'm not sure. I can ask my wife, of course, if she's not already working on that." He smiled again; they were almost newlyweds, after all. "Besides that... I may know some people. Espionage is not my forte. Fortunately, delegating is. How very Alderaanian of me." He murmured as he sipped tea.

Then he frowned. "Ummm... can Jedi and Sith not sense each other?" He made a vague gesture. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure how that works."

"Yes, and no," her brow furrowed at that. "I have no easy answer to give. But it's not like I can stand on a planet and have my Jedi-licensed Sith-Radar ping off if there was a Sith within a mile of me. Trust me - it would make things a lot of easier if it worked like that." Kat at least managed a brief chuckle at her own joke.

"It is more like... sometimes you can pick up someone's perfume or cologne when they're nearby? Problem is, I don't think just the word of a Jedi saying this person is using the Dark Side of the Force is concrete enough to throw such accusations around."

"It's never that easy, is it?" Niall chuckled with her, sipping his tea again, barely tasting it.

"Hmmm." That made him frown thoughtfully. "And just like someone wearing cologne, it can be hard to tell exactly who?" The frown deepened. "Which means it requires catching them in the act. Plotting against the crown, or communicating with the Sith Empire. Perhaps some sort of general... Sithiness?" Niall half-smiled, half-grimaced. "If only we could start them monologuing. In my experience, they love doing that."

"Catching them in the act, yes. Something like that. I suspect they will probably on guard around us Jedi, but... at the moment, yes, it seems prudent to focus in on this, where possible. At least leave most of the Sith business to the Jedi - I think most of us here have fought or faced Sith at some point or another."

It seemed a tall order, but they now had a deadline. And a goal.

"But you've asked a lot about House Ulgo. What about House Organa? What do you hope to see at the end of this festival, for the members of your house? Are there any marital alliances you would be looking for?"

"I'll see if I can find anyone who might draw less attention." Niall said. "Or... a different sort of attention, perhaps. That might work as well. Hmmm." He frowned as he considered that.

Setting down his tea, Niall smiled. "House Organa really does want peace on Alderaan, and for Alderaanian traditions to be upheld. That means as peaceful as possible a transition of power, and no Empire presence on the planet. That seems a tall order for a marriage, but if there is one that would help, we would certainly consider it."

"It certainly seems a tall order, yes," she chuckled with some amusement. "I just brought it up with the thought that your house might feel snubbed if you would lend your support to House Ulgo, it shouldn't rule out that we can help in return, but perhaps Organa is truly selfless."

"We want to try to build some that will benefit most, yes?"