Classified Location, Fresia
Organizing the meeting with all of the Anti-Palpatine Senators was not an easy thing; while they had heard of Ciaran before the request for them to go to a clandestine meeting on Fresia was not exactly an easy sell especially given the war. But with Padme and Bail vouching for her, the eclectic group of Senators gathered at a hidden meeting room to hear out Ciaran.
The atmosphere was tense as some of the senators stared down Ciaran, trying to gauge her motives, while others quietly conversed with each other in hushed voices. For her part, Ciaran had steeped her fingers, waiting for the final participant to arrive.
"How much longer are you going to drag this out?" Senator Chi Eekway Papanoida demanded, glaring at Ciaran. "As far as I can tell all of the relevant participants have arrived already."
"Indeed," Senator Nee Alavar commented, staring at Ciaran. "You seem like you are waiting for someone still, but surely all of the relevant participants have arrived?"
Ciaran glanced at Alavar. "Almost. We still need-"
A beep from Ciaran's communicator interrupted her.
"Ah, there he is. He will be joining us in a few seconds."
Senator Garm Bel Iblis grunted in annoyance. "Well, whoever it is had better be worth waiting for."
As if on cue, the door opened to reveal the final guest-Seti Ashgad, completely nonplussed at the audience before him. Upon seeing him, many of the Senators had various expressions of shock and confusion, though none of them were as surprised as Bail.
"Seti!? You're-what!?"
Seti calmly took a seat before replying to the rest of the Senators. "Yes, as you can clearly see I am quite alive, though the reason behind my 'absence' is why Lady Ciaran and I have called this meeting."
"Palpatine was behind that, wasn't he?" Senator Wuxod declared, his voice betraying the vindication he felt. "I knew that he was responsible for your disappearance, but no one could find anything-"
"Because he made sure that there was nothing to find," Seti replied, cutting the man off. "That is why you are all here. So that you can understand how much of a threat the Supreme Chancellor is, not only to your lives, but to the galaxy as we know it."
"We already know how anti-democratic the man is," Senator Lexi Dio replied. "and for that matter we know how much our lives are at risk these days. I seriously considered not coming here once I heard from the SSS about how much I've been at risk lately."
Seti calmly nodded. "Indeed. However there is much more at stake than you all may realize." With those words, he called up a map of the galaxy, the various territories held by the Republic, CIS, and CNS clearly marked on the map. "When I was exiled, I was taken to Nam Chorios, which is located here," and with that the planet on the map, "in the heart of Separatist space. Despite the fact that I was moved across a highly active warzone in an unmarked transport, we were never once accosted by any Separatist vessels, military or otherwise."
The room went silent as Seti leaned forward to emphasize his point. "Most of you have already rightfully considered Palpatine to be a threat to democracy. However the man is far worse than any of us could have imagined; it would seem that he is more than willing to raze the galaxy to the ground so long as he can rule over its ashes."
The silence continued after that, though a number of people turned to Alavar, whose face was ashen.
"...I cannot see any signs of deception. As far as I am aware Master Ashgad is not lying to us about anything."
"This is madness," Senator Tendau Bendon quietly said, his eyes closed. "So many people are dying right now for the sake of his lust for power."
"And more are going to keep dying until he gets all the power he wants," Senator Feng Zar said, holding his head in his hands. "I know we have to stand against him but how many more are going to die if we do?"
"We must consider what would happen if we did not stand against him," came the calm but firm voice of Senator Mon Mothma as the people in the room focused on the young woman. "If Master Ashgad's exile is any indication should Palapatine succeed in his ambitions we would face a galaxy under his cruel tyranny, where countless people would suffer under his reign. If we do not stand against him here and now, no one else will."
"Surely the Jedi could help us?" Senator Giddean Danu suggested. "If ever there was a time for them to come to the aid of the Republic-"
"And what exactly would or could they do?" Ciaran interrupted, the first time she had spoken since Seti arrived. "Right now we only have Seti's word to go on, something that Palpatine can easily brush aside as slander at best, treason at worst. And for that matter you're all surely aware that Palpatine is no longer a being that can be dealt with overnight. He's had time to expand his influence and embed himself in the Republic's workings. If he were to be removed from office right now the effects would be catastrophic."
"Indeed," Seti commented. "For now what we must do is act, but cautiously. While I myself cannot appear anymore the rest of you are capable on your own. Find allies. Consolidate your positions. And do whatever you can to ensure that Palpatine cannot gain ground."
"Perhaps Senator Taa could help us?" Senator Zar noted. "I know he is friendly with Palpatine but maybe we could use him?"
"I am unsure the risk of telling him about this would outweigh the gains," Senator Mothma noted. "His friendship with-"
Blinking in realization for a moment, she turned towards Padme. The woman had gone pale, not even able to properly speak as Senators Silya Shessaun and Onacanda Farr were both quietly reassuring her.
"Padme?"
At Senator Mothma's voice she looked up at her, the young girl's eyes wide. "I did this," she said quietly, her voice trembling. "I was the one who called for the Vote of No Confidence on Valorum. If it wasn't for me he-I-"
"Stop that."
The sudden interruption from Ciaran caused everyone's heads to swivel in her direction, though she was focusing entirely on Padme. "It wouldn't have mattered if someone else was in your place. No matter who it would have been, Palpatine would have used them as a stepping stone to power without a second thought."
Padme didn't respond, but Farr nodded his head in appreciation at Ciaran's words.
"I think we could all use a breather while we go over the news," Senator Papanoida commented. "Let's take a break and catch our breath, then come back to this in a few hours, shall we?"
Sounds of affirmation came from everyone in the room as everyone filed out save for Seti and Mothma, though Ciaran remained in the doorway to listen in on the conversation.
"As much as I do respect the risks you have taken in coming here, I do want to know what you believe should happen in the event that Palpatine is removed from office," Mothma said, facing down Ashgad's clinical gaze.
"Given the amount of political strife it would generate, a strong leader would be necessary in the interim to ensure that the Republic does not collapse from the strain," Seti replied.
"And who would be that leader? You?"
"If it is necessary."
"You have been just as ambitious as Palpatine himself at times. How would you be any different than him?"
"In the strictly hypothetical event that I became Supreme Chancellor, I would act to ensure that the galaxy is at peace and the scars from the war would heal as rapidly as possible for the sake of the people affected by the war."
"Admirable as that motivation may be, you would still need a considerable amount of power in your own hands to ensure the success of those ideals."
"A certain amount of centralized power is necessary, yes. Valorum was unable to retain his position because he could not gain that authority. Palpatine has been able to succeed in his place by maintaining that power."
"It would be undemocratic and could easily lead to tyranny."
"It would be necessary to preserve the Republic."
The room went silent for a moment before Seti spoke again. "Do not mistake my disagreement for personal distaste; your convictions are strong and well-reasoned. However I fear that you are too naive."
"And I fear that you are too cynical," Mothma responded."
Seti nodded curtly. "Much as I would like to continue this debate, I believe we should continue this at another time. For now Palpatine is our more immediate concern."
With that, the two left, though Mothma stopped to face Ciaran down. "You were the one who specifically called for this meeting yet you never truly explained why."
"Isn't the fact that I helped you meet with Seti enough indication of my motives?" Ciaran replied, arching an eyebrow.
"Master Ashgad spoke far more than you ever did," Mothma noted. "You could have spoken more but instead you remained quiet and allowed events to unfold of their own accord, except for when the subject of a Jedi intervention was brought up."
Ciaran shrugged. "I knew that if the idea gained momentum it would be more difficult to argue against it. And for that matter the points I made stand. I've spoken with the Jedi enough times to know that they are hardly reliable when it comes to politics."
Mothma's eyes narrowed. "You seem very intent on not having the Jedi intervene in any capacity."
"If they did intervene, the results would be disastrous. Simple as that."
Mothma continued to stare down Ciaran before she spoke again. "Very well. We can discuss the matter in further detail once the meeting resumes." With that, she walked away, leaving behind a frowning Ciaran.
The less they know the better. I doubt that most of them could muster up the courage to go against the will of a Sith Lord.
This isn't going to be enough to stop Palpatine in his tracks on its own. But it is a good start.
Now...now it's time to really start playing the highest-stakes game of politics in the galaxy...
Rewards: Anti-Palpatine faction organized/rallied, additional Senate-based actions available.
AN: It's finally done! I tried to give everyone mentioned some face-time, and I think I did a decent enough job at that. Though I did have an unexpected amount of fun writing Mon Mothma's debate with Seti and her conversation with Ciaran. Also poor Padme.
Anyway. I haven't rolled for the troop increases and CNS recruitment yet; that will all be done later tomorrow when I have the time. For now, enjoy~