As promised by the commanding officer of the Sovereign forces who recently seized the planet of Abregado-rae from the Empire in a swift military victory, Ralen Me'Vere has emerged for a press conference. Taking up in the old political office on Abregado, he is flanked by Vice Minister Dal Egum and the recently liberated Admiral Joren Arden of the Galactic Coalition.
The aging admiral - probably thirty eight now - stood before a podeum, clutching either side with his hands. Behind him was the enormous symbol of the Sovereignty, before him were the hundreds of reporters who had flocked here to see this promised chance to speak with the mysterious admiral
Ladies and gentlemen of the galaxy and galactic conference, fighting men of the Galactic Coalition and Outer-Rim Sovereignty, and humans and non-humans alike who were forced to endure the cross-fire of the fighting on Abregado-rae, I step before you now to be the first to greet you, to welcome you as citizens of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty.
I know I've come before the galaxy once before - in response to various claims made by the Imperial High Command that Sovereign forces were firing upon civilian targets, most poignantly being a shopping mall in the Spaceport district. The last time I stood before you, the Imperial High Command was issuing numbers of lost civilians, stating tens of thousands were disintegrated in mere seconds by a dauntless "alien army".
Whether these were lies or simply the Empire going on false information we do not know. We had no way of confirming the civilian death count until now, when we have wrestled the planet from their grip. Of course, the Empire had no way to confirm collateral damage themselves, the command staff we found was hidden in a bunker three kilometers below the surface.
We managed to capture this staff who is currently being ferried to an undisclosed location deep behind Sovereign lines. To those families who had loved ones fighting in this conflict - we assure you there is little for you to worry about.
The prisoners will be questioned and held for at this moment an undisclosed amount of time. They will be returned from our prisoner facilities at the soonest possible time - they will not be mistreated.
Our attack - which I had refused to comment on before - was a swift one, hoping to catch the Empire off guard and cut them off - as well as re-capturing an important military target. Part of the ever present need for this system is the trade routes it opens between the Ison Corridor and our other Outer Rim systems - who so desperately needed an easier way to conduct civilian commerce.
We encountered no Imperial space or air resistance and upon attacking we found no shields and limited anti-air craft batteries. An orbital bombardment dispatched of key military targets before the ground war - where we encountered very limited and tired Imperial troops.
Though the numbers are high in Imperial casualties for security reasons Sovereign Intelligence has asked me to not release these figures. However we ourselves lost approximately six hundred men in the course of the attack and no fighters of any sort.
Our biggest loss came at an anti-fighter battery that took down a shuttle before it had the chance to land - which was dealt with immediately.
We received the surrender from Imperial forces seven hours ago, in which time we managed to release Joren Arden of his bonds, who will be sent back to Galactic Coalition space as soon as possible.
Outlying transports and starships I had waiting outside the planetary system itself are now pouring in thousands more soldiers to occupy the planet with an appropriate defensive force, as well several battalions are being called in from the Ison Corridor and reserves.
This was a very well coordinated military strike and we managed to cut off the head of the viper before it had a chance to strike.
Questions?
Several hands raised, and the admiral nodded to one Duro female in the front. She rose and looked at her datapad
Duro: Admiral Me'Vere, several sources have indicated that you were targetting such things as foodstuffs and stores belonging to civilian companies - which you slightly commented on, can I get more information on this?
Ralen: We targetted no structures that did not directly belong to the Imperial military. However there were elite forces on the ground - as of yet we are unsure of they are Imperial or not - who were sabotaging civilian targets to discredit the incoming Sovereign attack. We are further looking into this and assure you that our only objectives were confirmed military targets.
The admiral nodded to a Bothan from the Central Galactic News. He stood.
Bothan: There is no doubt several political actions currently occuring between the galactic government of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty and the system of Abregado-rae, but I am curious as to what role the United Bothan Clans and Diversity Alliance will play in this reconstruction and economic build up act - if any.
Ralen: We will accept any help offered us, but we will not go about asking for this help. I however am not a political officer and while I am taking a very serious role in the rebuilding and reconstruction of the territories damaged in the Abregado-rae attack, I won't be involving myself with the prospect of diplomacy. I'll leave that to Vice President Meer and President Griff.
The Bothan sat down and this time Ralen selected a female human with long blonde hair, a member of the Core News Broadcasting Network, an Imperial controlled news network.
Woman: Admiral Me'Vere, several reports also indicate that you were here out of a vendetta wrought against the admiral Bhindi Drayson - and that your attacks were blatant and harsh in order to draw her out. Furthermore it is wondered by many if this attack was as legitimate as you claim and if you are really attempting to span an Outer-Rim Empire, using Abregado-rae as the foothold with which to assault other peace-loving Imperial targets and systems throughout the Inner Core.
As Ralen tried to open his mouth to speak, the Vice Minister stepped up and took over.
Vice Minister: Such claims are incredible and false. The New Order, having taken the planet from the Galactic Coalition, did very little in the ways of assistance economically, politically, or industrialy. We were back at step one with a cruel regime, stripping us of our defenses and emplacing a minimum military garrison. When push came to shove they simply ran with their tails between their legs like whipped dogs. If Admiral Me'Vere and his staff chooses to progress throughout the Inner Core then I certainly hope other planetary systems receive the same joyous liberation Abregado-rae did.
Ralen: (moving back to take the podeum) I have to essentially agree with the Vice Minister, my objective was to rescue Joren Arden and if possible take the planet from the Empire. I cannot comment on whether it was full-blown liberation or military victory, but either way I can offer that we are here for no other reason than to bring the war to the Empire. This 'Bhindi Drayson' woman is a young and hoping commander - she has famous relatives and wants a chunk of it herself. I personally have more important things to do than to challenge little girls.
This time Ralen selected another human, this one male.
Man: Can you comment on these "shielding" techniques that many talked about concerning the Empire apparently hiding behind civilians?
Ralen: The term "shielding" has been thrown around and abused quite abit lately, the Empire was not as much hiding directly behind human shields as much as they were attempting to arm supporters and make them fight in the front. Some were willing, some may not have been, but the fact is when the Empire's army was met in combat they fought. I cannot further comment on tactical situations, but though the Imperial forces did attempt to expire militia first, there were no stormtroopers lifting civilians in front of them so they would die before them.
The press conference continued on to explain how Admiral Me'Vere is currently attempting to contact President Griff to budget an 'Abregado Reconstruction Act' for 6.9 billion credits, and how Sovereign forces will be making way for a planetary military after the system has been secured, rebuilt, and refinished.
The aging admiral - probably thirty eight now - stood before a podeum, clutching either side with his hands. Behind him was the enormous symbol of the Sovereignty, before him were the hundreds of reporters who had flocked here to see this promised chance to speak with the mysterious admiral
Ladies and gentlemen of the galaxy and galactic conference, fighting men of the Galactic Coalition and Outer-Rim Sovereignty, and humans and non-humans alike who were forced to endure the cross-fire of the fighting on Abregado-rae, I step before you now to be the first to greet you, to welcome you as citizens of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty.
I know I've come before the galaxy once before - in response to various claims made by the Imperial High Command that Sovereign forces were firing upon civilian targets, most poignantly being a shopping mall in the Spaceport district. The last time I stood before you, the Imperial High Command was issuing numbers of lost civilians, stating tens of thousands were disintegrated in mere seconds by a dauntless "alien army".
Whether these were lies or simply the Empire going on false information we do not know. We had no way of confirming the civilian death count until now, when we have wrestled the planet from their grip. Of course, the Empire had no way to confirm collateral damage themselves, the command staff we found was hidden in a bunker three kilometers below the surface.
We managed to capture this staff who is currently being ferried to an undisclosed location deep behind Sovereign lines. To those families who had loved ones fighting in this conflict - we assure you there is little for you to worry about.
The prisoners will be questioned and held for at this moment an undisclosed amount of time. They will be returned from our prisoner facilities at the soonest possible time - they will not be mistreated.
Our attack - which I had refused to comment on before - was a swift one, hoping to catch the Empire off guard and cut them off - as well as re-capturing an important military target. Part of the ever present need for this system is the trade routes it opens between the Ison Corridor and our other Outer Rim systems - who so desperately needed an easier way to conduct civilian commerce.
We encountered no Imperial space or air resistance and upon attacking we found no shields and limited anti-air craft batteries. An orbital bombardment dispatched of key military targets before the ground war - where we encountered very limited and tired Imperial troops.
Though the numbers are high in Imperial casualties for security reasons Sovereign Intelligence has asked me to not release these figures. However we ourselves lost approximately six hundred men in the course of the attack and no fighters of any sort.
Our biggest loss came at an anti-fighter battery that took down a shuttle before it had the chance to land - which was dealt with immediately.
We received the surrender from Imperial forces seven hours ago, in which time we managed to release Joren Arden of his bonds, who will be sent back to Galactic Coalition space as soon as possible.
Outlying transports and starships I had waiting outside the planetary system itself are now pouring in thousands more soldiers to occupy the planet with an appropriate defensive force, as well several battalions are being called in from the Ison Corridor and reserves.
This was a very well coordinated military strike and we managed to cut off the head of the viper before it had a chance to strike.
Questions?
Several hands raised, and the admiral nodded to one Duro female in the front. She rose and looked at her datapad
Duro: Admiral Me'Vere, several sources have indicated that you were targetting such things as foodstuffs and stores belonging to civilian companies - which you slightly commented on, can I get more information on this?
Ralen: We targetted no structures that did not directly belong to the Imperial military. However there were elite forces on the ground - as of yet we are unsure of they are Imperial or not - who were sabotaging civilian targets to discredit the incoming Sovereign attack. We are further looking into this and assure you that our only objectives were confirmed military targets.
The admiral nodded to a Bothan from the Central Galactic News. He stood.
Bothan: There is no doubt several political actions currently occuring between the galactic government of the Outer-Rim Sovereignty and the system of Abregado-rae, but I am curious as to what role the United Bothan Clans and Diversity Alliance will play in this reconstruction and economic build up act - if any.
Ralen: We will accept any help offered us, but we will not go about asking for this help. I however am not a political officer and while I am taking a very serious role in the rebuilding and reconstruction of the territories damaged in the Abregado-rae attack, I won't be involving myself with the prospect of diplomacy. I'll leave that to Vice President Meer and President Griff.
The Bothan sat down and this time Ralen selected a female human with long blonde hair, a member of the Core News Broadcasting Network, an Imperial controlled news network.
Woman: Admiral Me'Vere, several reports also indicate that you were here out of a vendetta wrought against the admiral Bhindi Drayson - and that your attacks were blatant and harsh in order to draw her out. Furthermore it is wondered by many if this attack was as legitimate as you claim and if you are really attempting to span an Outer-Rim Empire, using Abregado-rae as the foothold with which to assault other peace-loving Imperial targets and systems throughout the Inner Core.
As Ralen tried to open his mouth to speak, the Vice Minister stepped up and took over.
Vice Minister: Such claims are incredible and false. The New Order, having taken the planet from the Galactic Coalition, did very little in the ways of assistance economically, politically, or industrialy. We were back at step one with a cruel regime, stripping us of our defenses and emplacing a minimum military garrison. When push came to shove they simply ran with their tails between their legs like whipped dogs. If Admiral Me'Vere and his staff chooses to progress throughout the Inner Core then I certainly hope other planetary systems receive the same joyous liberation Abregado-rae did.
Ralen: (moving back to take the podeum) I have to essentially agree with the Vice Minister, my objective was to rescue Joren Arden and if possible take the planet from the Empire. I cannot comment on whether it was full-blown liberation or military victory, but either way I can offer that we are here for no other reason than to bring the war to the Empire. This 'Bhindi Drayson' woman is a young and hoping commander - she has famous relatives and wants a chunk of it herself. I personally have more important things to do than to challenge little girls.
This time Ralen selected another human, this one male.
Man: Can you comment on these "shielding" techniques that many talked about concerning the Empire apparently hiding behind civilians?
Ralen: The term "shielding" has been thrown around and abused quite abit lately, the Empire was not as much hiding directly behind human shields as much as they were attempting to arm supporters and make them fight in the front. Some were willing, some may not have been, but the fact is when the Empire's army was met in combat they fought. I cannot further comment on tactical situations, but though the Imperial forces did attempt to expire militia first, there were no stormtroopers lifting civilians in front of them so they would die before them.
The press conference continued on to explain how Admiral Me'Vere is currently attempting to contact President Griff to budget an 'Abregado Reconstruction Act' for 6.9 billion credits, and how Sovereign forces will be making way for a planetary military after the system has been secured, rebuilt, and refinished.