[Day 2 - MA] Pass the Spasparugus, Please (Closed)

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain took the Senator's hand at his turn and nodded, "Sylvain Torsin."

[Darth Xevious]

“So has the Republic found the cowards responsible for the attack on the Sith? I won’t even mention the death Sith found in Shadowtown, if I were paranoid I would think we were being hunted. Maybe the Jedi wish to resume their agenda of Genocide against the Sith,” Xevious replies.

“If so, start with Torsin.”

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain smiled at Xevious comment, "I think I might be high on the list. Lady Tssilla was present yesterday when a young Jedi took exception to my existence in the Red Light District. They just might be happy to listen to your request Darth Xevious."

[Dapper Dog]

Servers enter bringing the first course, a set of lovely appetizers and sparkling wine. The lead server a droid opens the wine with perfect flair and pours a cup for each person.

“Compliments of the House,” the droid offers.

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa tastes one of the appetizers and sips the wine.

"Excuse me Darth, but did you say genocide?"

[Sylvain Torsin]

"You are not familiar with the history of the last war between our peoples?" Sylvain asked.

[Darth Xevious]

"You are not familiar with the history of the last war between our peoples?" Sylvain asked.

"How quickly the Republic forgets their sins," Darth Xevious responds before sipping wine.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"Perhaps you can hear the tale from Lady Tssilla after lunch; I believe she is well-prepared enough to have at least some idea of the concerns of the Empire and its citizens. From what I understand of your culture, discussions of mass slaughter and unsolicited genocide are not proper meal-time conversation topics." Sylvain replied with a smile.

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa looks to Sylvain

"Even if I do, it would pale in comparison to hearing the perspective on what occurred directly from a member of the opposing forces. History tends to be colored to favor the winners, after all."

Then she shrugs a little.

"Also, I am not a Jedi, and do not make a habit of calling on them for aid. Few in the Republic have the histories of Jedi or Sith affairs outside of the Order."

Adrianaa looks to the Darth.

"The Republic is not the Jedi Order. They are a religious organization who provides assistance, but they do not speak for our people. That role is left to the Senate. Please do not confuse the two of us."

[Herresh Seir’oto]

"Ah! Senator Morindel. You should know how honored to have you on my team," he said before giving her a firm handshake.

Herresh turned to the Sith and waited before speaking. "The identity of the saboteur has not been discovered by either delegation. I have made sure to send word to place military personnel under scrutiny. And I expect Jedi Master Satele Shan to do so the same for the Jedi."

He took the glass of wine and then nodded. "I believe Lord Torsin has made an excellent point. Let us speak of more pleasant conversation topics." He looked to each and every one present. "Would someone like to make a toast?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"If I may Senator, the two are more closely linked that that.... or so I had been lead to believe. It is true that the Republic is governed by the Senate but the Jedi also hold a non-trivial amount of influence over the Senate. And the Senate relies on the Jedi to be many things it cannot... I also believe there are quite a few Jedi in your delegation, certainly far more than would be representative of their proportion to the overall population of the Republic. Is this not so?" asked the colonel. She had begun nibbling on the appetizers with commendable table manners but had yet to touch her wine.

Even so, Hala glanced at Darth Xevious for permission. If not dissuaded, she wrapped a charming smile about her lips and lifted her glass.

"To a greater understanding between our cultures, for insight is a gift."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

"Well, it does appear that way for certain."

Adrianaa takes another sip.

"But I can say with surety, if the Jedi Order was to disappear tomorrow, the Republic would continue to exist with little long term change. The immediate effects of losing such skilled advisors and military generals, in addition to their numerous humanitarian and peace missions would be significantly felt, but the Senate and our people would all persevere."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain smiled and could not help but let a bit of a chuckle out through his nose.

You would be eaten alive by our Sith within ten years.

He raised his glass to Hala's toast.

[Yslane Tssilla]

Yslane just paled listening to this discussion, she steadied her hand then joined the toast. It gave her time to think of a response, "The nature of the Republic's relationship with Jedi is unique, and different from what I gather the Sith is to the Empire." She inclines her head toward Sylvain, "At least from what Mr. Torsin has told me...and what the Foreign Office understands."

"The Senator is correct in saying that the Republic would not end simply from the Jedi's disappearance. But the Colonel is correct in stating the Order's influence is greater then...well any of several other religious institutions or charitable institutions...or for that matter a great many political or social groups. The Jedi have from the Republic's earliest history taken a role in its development, sometimes actively but just as often they have been more passive. It would not be remiss to say the Republic would be changed without the Jedi's role in its history."

"In any case while no Jedi can order a Senator to do what they want, more then a few Senators would at least seriously consider any advice a Jedi would offer." She adds with a nervous smile.

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa raises her glass as well.

"I certainly consider quite seriously any who advise me. Any good leader listens to those around them after all."

[Herresh Seir’oto]

Herresh took the toast as well. "An excellent suggestion, Colonel Moraal. And I agree with Senator Morindel's position. I would not have reached my position without advisers."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"If you do not mind Senator Seir'oto, I am curious what you want in life. Though I suppose the question equally applies to you as well Senator Morindel, and to you Ms. Tssilla? What do you want in life, and what do you want from these talks? If you find wisdom in my toast, then perhaps it would serve us well to learn about each other?" Hala asked, replacing her glass on the table.

[Herresh Seir’oto]

"I have dedicated my life to making a galaxy of representation. No sentient being will be left behind in my ideal galaxy. Your toast to wisdom is aligns with my vision well, Colonel Moraal."

[Yslane Tssilla]

"I'm afraid my answer is dreadfully dull and horribly cliche...." Yslane smiles meekly, "To serve the Republic, which I feel...for all its flaws....is the best chance at a fair government for the citizens of the galaxy."

"Out of these peace talks....well I hope for peace, the stated goal of the talks." She adds, "Of course I honestly don't know if our world views are ultimately reconcilable but there is not much of chance at finding out if the war continues."

[Adrianaa Morindel]

Adrianaa nods to the other two delegates and takes another sip, emptying her glass.

"I became a Senator because it was the biggest way to have an impact on the largest scale. I represent those who elected me on Coruscant with a platform of limited legal regulations, multiple assistance programs for those in need, more personal freedoms, and further separation of religious organizations from the government."

"As far as what I want? That is quite the question to ask. To sum up what one would desire for their life in detail would take hours. The simple 'joy' answer would probably be best though. Happiness is temporary, something you feel from an event and is then gone. Joy is something that comes from a multitude of actions and outcomes, is internal, and lasts a long time."

"Finally, I wish for the Republic and the Empire to co exist. We already have well defined borders. Let them lie where they will and people can decide who they prefer to live under more."

[Darth Xevious]

The Dark Councilor sips his wine quietly content to listen for now.

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain too, simply sat and listened to the Republic representatives and waited to see what Hala might say next.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"So at the table, we currently have one who wishes for representation for all but no stated philosophy on whether the Galactic Senate, a pragmatist who thinks the Republic is the best option she has even if it is not perfect but would rather settle for what she has decided as better than strive for something beyond what she has, and one who would rather let economics and personal preference decide the fate of the galaxy, despite how prohibitively difficult that would be for the majority of individuals on either side......

"So why is that version of your story wrong? I wouldn't be surprised if by the same token you saw two warlords at the head of a system you don't agree with, where I am either the boot on the neck of everyone else to suppress the Empire in their favor or one who is effectively a slave to the same system. Misunderstandings are only natural when there is a lack of understanding between parties, even if we view ourselves as honest brokers, when self interest is concerned. Is that also not so?"

[Yslane Tssilla]

Yslane could only answer for herself, "I think it better to say...at this time the Republic is the best option, and one that can...and has been improved upon for generations." She pauses, "Consider that perfection is an ultimately unattainable goal, for instance it shifts constantly. What was the perfect solution yesterday is merely good enough today. And also consider that for the multitudes of the galaxy, perfection means something different. And that's before considering perfect means many things to many people, and the Republic is trying to help all of them."

"There are no absolutes Colonel," Yslane turns her glass, not looking up, "I see three individuals with three different sets of desires, needs, and personal agendas that are, for the moment, unified by a common plan. The Foreign Office has spent time and effort combing through history and our prior communications, along with whatever information Intelligence is willing to part with...that is to say nothing that would affect the war....to build a picture of what some member of the brain trust would call the 'General Psyche Picture of the Sith, their soldiers, and citizens'. It is as one might imagine a dreadfully dull tome that paints an unflattering picture, and to be fair even attempting to make an accurate picture...arguable admittedly....they were probably working with a biased collage. There are not many refugees driven from their homes who will give pleasant vignettes about the Empire."

"Of course your own dossier on members of the Foreign Office probably go something like this: Weedy petulant bureaucrats clinging to scraps of power by trying, and failing, to play the same game as Republic Intelligence only with more 'openness'. Utterly useless in most regards." She smiles, and adds with a chuckle, "Its probably not too different from the general population's view to be honest."

"But that is the purpose of this luncheon is it not? To clear up misunderstandings, learn a little about each other and...strip away the biases we have built up?"

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain smiled out of the corner of his mouth and nodded his head at Yslane's comments. He sipped a bit of wine as he continued to look around the table, "Well said Lady Tssilla. The realist approach you take I can find a great deal of merit in. Our main problem here is a considerable lack of trust on both ends; and rightfully so on both ends I might add. Trust between enemies who demonize one another is not easy to create. Rather than dwell on who we think the other party 'is', perhaps it would be best to keep in mind that acknowledgement of the other's self-definition is the only way to begin to create ground whereon we may discuss things cordially. We define who we are and what we assess our needs are, and you will define who you are and what your needs are. If there is room to negotiate terms of an end of hostilities base on those needs, then perhaps we will have an accord."

He tilted his head, "We must both merely make sure that our 'needs' are actually our 'needs.' Jockeying over this or that concession that is of no relevance will end all of us wasting our time. I at least hope that the Republic has not come to these talks with the intention of wasting everyone's time. I can see from Lady Tssilla's comments, that there is room for that hope to be based in reality."