[D3 LM] Eggs, Bacon, and Sith

[Niall Organa]

Niall hadn't quite managed to get breakfast before he got a start on the day. That happened rather often, in fact.

This time, though, he decided to do something about it, rather than just power on through to lunchtime as he so often did. And so he sat in a midscale restaurant, peering at a menu, and sometimes at his datapad. He wore his Republic uniform, of course, feeling the slightest bit conspicuous in its blues. Still, the restaurant was quiet, and no one seemed curious.

[Sylvain Torsin]

A man wearing a dress Imperial military uniform entered the restaurant and asked for a table. Being sat at the table adjacent to the young Republic soldier he offered a polite nod before taking a seat and pulling up a menu.

Sensing the man's eyes on him, he looked up from the menu and asked, "Would you happen to know what is good here fine sir?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall's eyes widened ever so slightly at the appearance of an Imperial officer, and a tiny bit more as the waiter sat him next to Niall. Was the waiter trying to encourage interfactional communication all on his own? Niall's eyes narrowed again, as he tried to make out insignia on the fellow's jacket.

Niall cleared his throat in response. "I'm afraid I don't. I was thinking I might just choose the simplest item on the menu and eat that." His lips twitched. "I should have picked a simpler restaurant, I think." He nodded. "Captain Niall Organa, Republic military." His hand twitched, but it seemed a strange place to shake.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"Sylvain Torsin, Sith." He replied with a polite nod.

"Would you mind if I kept you company?" He asked warmly.

[Niall Organa]

Niall's lips twitched ever so slightly at the word Sith.

"Please do." Niall shifted, waving to the seat across from him. His lips twitched again. "We can be an example of Republic and Sith working together by helping each other choose what to order." He said, his tone dryly humorous.

[Sylvain Torsin]

"The first step on the path to peace, no doubt." Sylvain replied with his own dry humor.

"Captain Organa, you say? Would you happen to be a resident of Alderaan then?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall frowned a moment, but then nodded. "I was born there, and have lived most of my life there, yes. I've scarcely been there in the last four years, though. A few weeks, here and there. A month, not long ago." His eyebrows went up slightly. "Are you familiar with Alderaan, then?"

[Sylvain Torsin]

He nodded, "Somewhat. I made an acquaintance from there not too long ago. Pleasant enough man. I have hopes to travel there one day. I hear it's a beautiful place."

[Niall Organa]

"It is." Niall's expression softened almost imperceptibly. "There is a great deal of natural beauty there, with forest, lakes, and mountains. And man-made, too; Alderaan is known for its arts, after all."

He looked down at the menu. "You must be hoping for the peace talks to go well, then?" At least, he hoped that was what he was hoping.

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain nodded, "That is my personal hope, yes. I think it is possible too... given the right circumstances."

He smiled and asked, "Are you one of the more peace-friendly Republic citizens, or more of a hawk yourself?"

[Niall Organa]

"You do?" Niall said. "That's one of the more optimistic assessments I've heard from one of the Sith. You would be the fourth that I've spoken to. Ah... right circumstances."

He smiled, just a little. "Oh, but I haven't answered your question. Yes, I favor peace. True peace, not a temporary end to the fighting, or just limiting the fighting to certain regions."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He smiled and tilted his head, "So you seek peaceful co-existence with the Empire?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall looked up from his menu. "I favor peace. This uniform and what it represents somewhat limits my ability to choose what I seek; a distinction that you appreciate, I'm sure. And I'll admit that 'somewhat limits' is not complete." His lips twitched. "So I suppose the short answer would have been yes. I just felt it necessary to add some provisions."

"I am curious though, Lord Sylvain, about the circumstances where you think such a thing would be possible."

[Sylvain Torsin]

He tilts his head, "Unfortunately... I don't know if such a future is possible my dear friend. Temporary cessation is possible... and preferable I would say. But ultimately I do not see either of our governments maintaining peace for an indefinite amount of time in the future."

[Niall Organa]

Niall sighed, his eyes going back to his menu. "That was the second most optimistic assessment as well. She said that the Sith Code is incompatible with lasting peace." He flipped the menu over, studying the other side. So to speak. "Are there too few points of commonality between us? I spoke with an officer in your military the other night. Our shared experiences gave me some hope."

[Sylvain Torsin]

"There are many points of commonality. But there are also serious points of divergence." He replied.

"I needn't remind you it wasn't the Empire which sought to exterminate the entire Sith race last time our two sides fought... Our ideas and government pose just as deep a threat to your people as you do to ours. The Republic is just as unlikely to maintain the peace as we are... is my humble assessment."

[Niall Organa]

Niall's lips press together, but he said nothing for a few moments as he continued to study the menu.

Finally, he spoke. "I suppose that would be the first serious point of divergence. I don't think it's quite enough to sustain nearly endless war, though. What do you see as another?"

[Sylvain Torsin]

"The philosophies of our respective... 'spiritual leaders' are another point of serious contention. Fortunately not all Sith are blood-thirsy murderers... but neither are all Jedi peace-loving philosophers. Resolving that battle, between Light and Dark... is one that I fear will always linger."

[Niall Organa]

"The Jedi aren't the Republic." Niall said. His lips twitched. "I don't suppose you and they could fight it out on your own? Better yet, over a game of Huttball? That's quite nearly as violent as battle with lightsabers."

He sighed. "I suppose it wouldn't matter. While the Jedi are not the Republic, they are in some ways the spirit of it. I don't think the Republic would function with Sith as her spiritual leaders. And no doubt the reverse is true."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain laughed in a friendly manner, "If it were only that simple Captain."

He smiled a bit and shook his head, "The Jedi are not the Republic, but the Republic would not function without them. Our Sith take a more immediately active role in our politics, but your Jedi have and equal if not more important role in maintaining peace and stability. They provide the feeling of an arbiter... one who is always watching over and will act to eradicate any social deviants that stray too far from your principles. It is exactly their mystic powers, and general 'warm' philosophy which enables them to fulfill that role in a way no other entity could in your Republic."

He nodded slightly, "They also are the only way your armies are able to compete with ours despite us having fewer resources and men. My father was the chief military official for the Empire for nearly the past twenty years, and even with the restrictions on us in terms of logistics, we were able to push your forces back across a significant portion of the galaxy. Without the Jedi to counter our Sith commanders... We would be negotiating on very different terms during these talks."

[Niall Organa]

As he listened, Niall's lips pressed together once more, his grey eyes steady. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table.

"I have the utmost respect for the Jedi and the work that they do. I don't underestimate the amount the contribute both to the continued functioning of the Republic, and to the quality of life of the its citizens." His eyes tightened, just a touch. "At the same time, I'd ask that you not underestimate the resolve of the soldiers of the Republic military. I quite nearly gave my life in service to the Republic once. I would do so again without hesitation, if I thought that it might make things better for those who come after me."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain nodded, "Resolve is not the question here Captain. I for one do not doubt your resolve. Our methods have proved to be objectively superior in this war, that is all. And to remove the Jedi from that equation only makes the metrics appear much much worse for your Republic. I am sure you are a fine soldier, your commanders are most likely capable individuals as well, but on the aggregate it is evident that we have something that rests in our favor; despite common knowledge suggesting that we should have been dealt with fairly easily by your superior numbers and firepower."

[Niall Organa]

With a sigh, Niall pushed his menu aside. "Was there a third thing, then? Or is a mutual suspicious and religious differences enough, in your opinion?"

[Sylvain Torsin]

He smiled, "I'm sure there are a multitude of things... but what is necessary now is to seek those spots of commonality you referred to earlier."

[Niall Organa]

"That may be a better place to start." Niall said, his tone dry. "At the very least, life in the military seemed much the same, or so it seemed to me when speaking with one of your military's officers. I don't know how much that extends to citizens of your Empire."