The collected crowd of reporters and observers waited with growing excitement as the emergency session had been called by the Imperial High Command. Such sessions that were handled by the High Command usually involved military conflict of some sort and so the gazes were curious, questioning and downright paranoid.
Simon Kaine, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces, walked out and everyone rose. Kaine's public presence had been extremely limited as of late but what startled the crowd most was that he was not alone. To his side also walked Grand Moff Azrael Zell wearing a bitter, scowling and angry expression. The Supreme Commander's expression, though calm, seemed tired.
The audience shifted uncomfortably and sat as Kaine's voice rang out over them, his gloved hands holding a datapad of perhaps a recent report.
"As of 1800 hours, Imperial Center local time, Prime Minister Regrad, of the New Galactic Coalition, in an address to his own political leaders...."
Kaine's voice seemed to stop, as if continuing to speak further were something disgusting to contemplate. The audience grew fearful.
As usual, Azrael Zell had no such inhibitions and his strong voice rang out, "..declared fucking war on the entire fucking galaxy!"
The noise level in the room suddenly grew exponentially as the news began to sink in. "War?", "Crazy", "Alien", "Crazy Alien War!" were harsh whispers buzzing around as well as "preparations?" and "what the fuck?" (which started a rumor about Theren Gevel being in the audience somewhere but was later disregarded).
Kaine looked over, his look of disgust turning to one of amusement at the words Zell spat out. "The Address was intercepted by the Ministry of Information's.."
"..shit detectors!" Zell interupted, drawing a laugh from somewhere.
"...Holonet detection devices and the signal was immediately disseminated and routed to INS. Given the inflamatory nature of this particular government's leader's views, we wanted to avoid the spread of panic or worry among our citizens. We want you to prepare yourselves for this statement is not pretty and, given our last major encounter with them a few years ago, fearful.
We are going to break this transmission down simply to explain what is happening so I ask that you hold your questions until the end:
A holonet projection suddenly appeared before Simon Kaine and Azrael Zell, both moving to either side of the transmission leaving the visual in the center.
It looked somewhat hazy at first but then the image clarified...
Regrad - Prime Minister of the New Galactic Coalition - ascended the last few steps to the podium erected on a jutting platform before a vast crowd
"Gentlebeings of the galaxy. I come before you today as Regrad, Prime Minister of the New Galactic Coalition, to speak of the Coalition for which I stand, the galaxy in which we live, and the vision for which we fight. It is a vision for the Coalition, a vision for the galaxy, a hope I hold dearly in these dark days."
The image stopped and the crowd shifted nervously.
"I am stopping this to show that what he says next is not directed just at us. He is taking the entirety of the galaxy into his..."
"..grand fucking vision!" snapped Zell.
"That." Kaine stated afterward seemingly to agree.
The image continued:
"I forsee a day that may come where the galaxy is no longer fractured, where war no longer wracks its' worlds and persecution no longer hounds its' people. I have a vision of a galaxy not simply united and not simply no longer at war - I have a vision of a galaxy at peace! A galaxy not just free of the wars of soldiers, but of the wars of races, of beliefs, of rulers against the ruled and of Order against Freedom.
"I believe this vision can come to pass, and even in these darkening days with war ever-present on the horizon, I believe there is still hope to see this vision in our galaxy. There is still a hope in the Coalition, still a hope in the galaxy, and still a hope in it's people that we can achieve what has for more than forty years been denied - the birthright of every sentient in the galaxy, the rights to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness irregardless of species, gender, belief, heritage, creed or faith."
"Then perhaps he should stop hating on the Empire and practice what he preaches, the fucking hypocrite!" Zell snarled. "As I recall, it was their fucking hatred of us that landed the attack on Corellia in the first place! Now he's fucking telling everyone how they should think!?"
He turned to Kaine, "I bet you after he talks about his wonderland where everyone thinks the same and is experiencing this fucking liberty drinking Coalition juju juice he does a 180 on us. US! Tell me I am wrong!"
Kaine merely shrugged and the statement continued.
"Even now hope endures for this vison, with the dark shadows of continued strife and pain circling ever closer, with the tempting promises of a New Order that will bring with it peace and fraternity - but that temptation must not be heeded! What they bring is exactly what is promised, Order without freedom, Order, without liberty, Order without the pursuit of happiness and Order without peace. The masters of the New Order lash out and rage and bite, but in the end, for all their rhetorical claims and their elaborate promises that submitting to Order will lead to a better life for all, all they offer is Order, and it is a cold and heartless Order that believes in nothing but it's own survival. For the citizens of the galaxy to submit now is to betray everything that we know is right, that we have known from the Republics that is right - it is to betray ourselves, and submit to the easier road, the quicker road, but we will not find what we seek there."
Kaine looked out over the audience. "The Empire is tempting because what it offers is real. Not some pie-in-the-sky vision of utopia. We deal with real world problems and real world solutions. Granted it's not a perfect system but then no system ever is." Kaine's eyes hardened. "And if anyone says otherwise, they are simply fooling themselves."
"How many times have we heard how evil the Empire was? How evil the Emperor was and how all would be so happy and jolly once he was dead? The insurgents of that time killed Palpatine. They splintered the Empire into a shadow of its former glory."
Kaine's harsh voice called out to a still audience, "WHERE IS THEIR UTOPIA?
Where was this grand realization of liberty?"
Kaine's voice became hard, "First came the New Republic who said, 'let's kill the Empire and Palpatine, then we can live in happiness and joy!' They created a Civil War that killed untold billions! Then came the New Empire who also promised a utopian dream after the Empire was killed but brought the Wrath Virus and again! Billions died!
Now comes the New Coalition..."
Kaine looked up and said dryly, "Guess what they promise if our Emperor and Empire is killed?"
"After all these fanatics have come and killed and burned and died, we come back and keep coming back to stem the tide of bloodshed and establish something safe for our citizens and their families. And the Prime Minister dare to call us 'cold and heartless'? It is fanatics like these that constantly make the Empire think and act on it's survival!"
"If we put a fucking battlefleet over his head let's see how soon they start thinking about their fucking survival!" Zell commented.
Simon went quiet waving Zell's comment aside. "What concerns me is this statement right here: betray everything that we know is right.. As I stated in an earlier briefing, just after the Coalition's last great announcement that incidently was their declaration of war, Right and Wrong are religious distinctions. And given his use of the term 'vision', this whole Address becomes one of a most disturbing nature. Religious Zealotry disguising itself with moralistic intent. What he is doing is outlining that the galaxy's entire code of morality should be based on the Azguard philosophy.
Anything not agreeing with their philosophy and religion is therefore classified as "wrong"."
Zell growled, "I don't know about you but I don't want some Azguard religious nut telling me what I should think! Do you?"
"It is easier to say these things, however, than it is to act. It is easy to say that there is a vision for the galaxy, to say that there is still hope in the hearts of it's citizens, but it is far harder to act on it and even continued resistance is painful. As the people suffer and the galaxy is torn apart from within, we must stay strong and stand together again, for only through our rejection of the temptations of Order shall we overcome, and find ourselves once more in the light of Peace.
"There are those who doubt my words, and there are others in whose hearts my words will sow doubt - I ask of you, if there is any doubt of any kind in your hearts, seek the truth out of your own accord. Seek it in the ruins of the planet Dubrillion, that dared to stand independant of the Empire and was reduced to ashes, survivors fleeing to the city of New Dubrillion on Rattatak. Seek it in the wreckage that still orbits the world of Tynna after the Empire tried to storm it and claim it from it's soverign place in the Coalition by force, only to be driven back bloodily with many unnecessary losses on both sides. Seek it at Roche, where the Verpine were terrorized and coerced by Imperial armed forces who thought nothing of firing on their asteroid homes to try and steer them away from their own decisions. Seek it at Bimmisari, where the Empire unleased new weapons of war on the defenders for no other reason than to spread death and mayhem. Seek the truth, and in finding it, face your doubts and consider what truth still remains in the New Order and it's promises."
"You'll notice he never mentioned any of the worlds his race, fueled by their wacked out religious beliefs, brutally attacked in the last war. Where the fuck was their high minded righteous rhetoric then? Perhaps they could look at the death and mayhem their own fucking beliefs brought out? But perhaps they do not value life like we do.." Zell purred.
Kaine frowned, "What do you mean?"
Zell grinned a shark's grin. "I remember a discussion with one of those buggers about their value of life. In fact, I have the fucker's response right here..."
On the audio speakers the harsh alien voice of an Azguard was heard with a computer translating in cold monotone.
"What is it worth to an Azguard? Just as much as it can give to the greater good of the race. I would see myself and ten Kin die without a second thought to save my general, if I thought by saving him he would be able to go on and do more towards victory then we who died."
Zell cupped his ear with his hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't get that. You were saying something about unnecessary losses and respect for life? What?
Fucking hypocrites!"
"There are yet other terrors that lurk in this galaxy, from the terrorist cells of the Union to the harsh and isolationist Black Dragon Empire to even a new race of strange and enigmatic conquerors who wiped out the people of Kiyar and the Coalition relief effort of that world. Against so many terrors and their suffering, what hope can there be? What vision can stand against such numberless hordes of horror?"
Kaine raised an eyebrow and looked to Zell who in turn gave an incredulous glance at the audience.
"Who the fuck is the Union?"
Kaine sighed. "Apparently, it might be the group behind the GLF attacks. It's nice that our partnership in combatting terrorism yielded such cooperation!" Kaine's voice was sarcastic.
"That information could have helped save numerous lives. I wonder how many months the Coalition and Regrad simply sat on it. Were they trying to teach us a lesson?" He leaned forward. "It makes one wonder just how much value they place on human life if any? Did they share this info with any other galactic government who suffered from these cowardly GLF attacks or did they just think Imperials weren't worth it?"
Zell placed his hand on the podium and his voice rang out deeply, "They are trying to divide us but it makes you wonder just what kind of Coalition one would run too?"
"The truth is, however, that it is we who outnumber them. This vision that I speak of, a vision of a free and united galaxy, of peace and cooperation, is one shared in the hearts of people from every walk of life on every world where life exists and people live. It is in the hearts of the subjects of the Empire and the hearts of those subjected by the Black Dragons. It is the same vision that has been followed by good people since the first civilization rose. Our numbers are countless, our strength infinite, our vision on the cusp of reality. The only thing that stands in the way of this galaxy of peace are the masters of Order, wether it be the New Order of the Empire or the religious orders of the Black Dragons or any other Order that proffesses the interests of the people and yet pits good people against each other."
"You don't fucking hear us calling the Coalition evil bastards!"
Kaine's eyes narrowed, "Remember this phrase: a vision of a free and united galaxy. Remember it well."
"This is where the action behind my words comes from. This is where we win this vision of peace and fellowship. This place, in the hearts of all, where the desire for those things denied by Order, is where the battle is to be fought for the heart of the galaxy. I ask, nay I plead of you throughout the galaxy, to join this battle of spirit, to reject the Order and embrace instead a vision of what once was, of what could be, of a peace of nations and societies, of a freedom of spirit and mind. Do not bend to the will of Order, do not bow to the wrath of Order, find your strength instead in the hope of a vision, a vision of a galaxy united not by strength of arms or force of will, but by this vision that we share, by this desire for peace and for freedom."
"These Azguards have a problem with order. They feel, apparently, that any society dedicated to organized, ordered government is evil. They are asking for anarchy, to throw off government. To what? Should they throw off civil and social programs? Should our nationalized healthcare also be thrown off or is that suddenly 'ok'?
But what is really fearsome is that they feel everyone shares their religious visions, their 'respect' for life, their love of anarchy, and their desire to bring Coalition rule throughout the galaxy as shown in the next statements."
"With this battlecry, shall I rally the Coalition. We have rebuilt our nations, we have regained our strength slowly and methodically. Where war had ravaged, we have healed. Where tragedy had befallen, we have lifted spirits. United in heart and mind, I shall not rest until the galaxy is free to take up it's vision and it's people free to follow it. We will not bow to the aggressions of Order nor to it's threats of war. We will not bend to it's will nor it's agenda. Here shall the line be drawn where we shall say 'Not one step further!' and take back the galaxy, take back the people, from these masters of Order that have ensnared it."
Kaine looked out over the audience, "So they are marshalling their strength. They are gathering their forces. They have been allowed to rebuild by us only to turn on us once more. To treacherously strike once more. But their ambition is not only the Empire this time. It is subtle but it is there!"
I shall not rest until the galaxy is free to take up it's vision
"Apparently the galaxy's vision and the Azguard vision are one and the same. Why it has to be a Coalition vision and not a Hapes one I don't know. Why it couldn't be a Commonwealth vision or even a Jedi vision for that matter.. No they mean to wipe all different visions away in lieu of their own.
They have drawn the battlelines once more and the Coalition is being gathered. The question then is, who will they strike first?
Commonwealth?
Hapes?
The New Order?
The Dragons?
Naboo?
It is the same arrogance they accuse us of. Of believing all peoples of the galaxy should believe the same as we do."
"In the fading light of this long day, shall follow a terrible darkness. Through this darkness we shall have to percivere, and it cannot be done alone. The hope for this vision lies in the hearts of everyone in the galaxy, and only through your rising shall the hope outlast the dark night of Order. But it is a finite night! For ever day, for every hour, for every minute that passess, it becomes closer to that glorious time when the Order is rejected and a new dawn of peace shall fall upon all the people of the galaxy. I call on everyone, from the tribes of Rattatak to the officials of Coruscant, from the nobles of Corellia to the soldiers of Azguard, from the bankers of Munnilist to the artists of Mon Calamari, I call on you all to look within yourselves and look across the galaxy and look to the Order and finally look to the vision - the vision that you all know well, for it is the vision you find in your heart - and decide what must be done in this galaxy. For my part, I shall return to my own vision, and I shall labour every hour sent to me to make it come to pass, a galaxy of freedom, of liberty, of fellowship, and of Peace. Good night."
"And there is his call to war. Any government in this galaxy should feel threatened by this call to Jihad. A Coalition religious war bent on hatred of everything they do not consider right is not what I wanted to hear about when I woke up this morning. I don't think any non-Coalition government official and military leader did.
This hatred of ordered government...
This Coalition seems too dark in some misguided attempt at revenge..."
Kaine's voice trailed off.
"I don't know where the fuck these Azguards get off telling us how to think and live. Sure, there are some freedoms we do not allow. You are not free to commit murder! You are not free to rape! You are not free to commit treason! Order prevents anarchy and criminal activities.
But I also know you can't reason with an Azguard."
The audience shifted, alarmed.
"While I overheard that little bit about their lack of respect for their own lives (you think they'll respect yours?), I also got a clip on where most of their beliefs come from, who controls their thinking. Because, on the surface, let's think about it, some of his stuff is appealing. But here you hear it from the gaffer's..err.. Azguard's mouth:"
The alien voice came back on the audio..
Our philosiphers and Gods have brooded over what they have said and what we have seen, and they have deemed it good. "And to be quite frank, to I and the people of Azguard, that is enough.
Zell's voice whispered, "And screw anyone who doesn't worship their fucking philosophers or Gods."
The holographic projection disappeared and Kaine went back to the podium. "The Imperial Armed Forces are on high alert in case there is an attack. We have sent ambassadors to the various governments to see how we can all respond to this Religious War the Azguards are trying to build. Together and coordinated, perhaps we can provide a reasonable deterrent to any rash action. Other nations are showing dismay that the Coalition would keep information regarding this Union to themselves despite our publicly united front. This despicable act hints at a darkly sinister intent. I am appealing to any Coalition leaders to take action now. Either remove Regrad from power or at the very least, prevent him from speaking publicly about plunging their nation into a war that will only devestate them further.
Ironically, by uniting the galaxy against a Coalition Jihad will perhaps bring about that hoped for peace."
Zell stepped up, "And if we find ourselves attacked, I'll personally march into hell, take their God of the Azguard Underworld and cut his fucking balls off! At least, that is what Emperor Hyfe would order me to do!"
The chuckling going around the room eased the tension. And while most places in the Empire would have to censor Zell's colorful use of Basic, their confidence would prove more calming than mere platitudes could give. This was not new territory for them nor for the Empire.
Regrad's announcement was not without effect within the Empire however. While the citizenry largely was unaffected as yet, power shifts began to form within the bureaucracy. Analysts noticed a trend of the moderates losing support and even grumbling over the way the former Grand Marshall handled the last war by negotiating rather than destroying their enemies. Whispers about a heavy hand then would not have brought the current crisis to bear.
How the Emperor would react to the rumor was as yet unknown.
But the military was becoming polarized as Moffs, Grand Admirals and Admirals each ventured their own ideas in responding to the current situation.
The vagueness of Regrad's speech regarding the future and every government's place in this Azguardian/Coalition utopian vision left most governments wary.
"I'll take your questions now.." Kaine commented...
Simon Kaine, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Armed Forces, walked out and everyone rose. Kaine's public presence had been extremely limited as of late but what startled the crowd most was that he was not alone. To his side also walked Grand Moff Azrael Zell wearing a bitter, scowling and angry expression. The Supreme Commander's expression, though calm, seemed tired.
The audience shifted uncomfortably and sat as Kaine's voice rang out over them, his gloved hands holding a datapad of perhaps a recent report.
"As of 1800 hours, Imperial Center local time, Prime Minister Regrad, of the New Galactic Coalition, in an address to his own political leaders...."
Kaine's voice seemed to stop, as if continuing to speak further were something disgusting to contemplate. The audience grew fearful.
As usual, Azrael Zell had no such inhibitions and his strong voice rang out, "..declared fucking war on the entire fucking galaxy!"
The noise level in the room suddenly grew exponentially as the news began to sink in. "War?", "Crazy", "Alien", "Crazy Alien War!" were harsh whispers buzzing around as well as "preparations?" and "what the fuck?" (which started a rumor about Theren Gevel being in the audience somewhere but was later disregarded).
Kaine looked over, his look of disgust turning to one of amusement at the words Zell spat out. "The Address was intercepted by the Ministry of Information's.."
"..shit detectors!" Zell interupted, drawing a laugh from somewhere.
"...Holonet detection devices and the signal was immediately disseminated and routed to INS. Given the inflamatory nature of this particular government's leader's views, we wanted to avoid the spread of panic or worry among our citizens. We want you to prepare yourselves for this statement is not pretty and, given our last major encounter with them a few years ago, fearful.
We are going to break this transmission down simply to explain what is happening so I ask that you hold your questions until the end:
A holonet projection suddenly appeared before Simon Kaine and Azrael Zell, both moving to either side of the transmission leaving the visual in the center.
It looked somewhat hazy at first but then the image clarified...
Regrad - Prime Minister of the New Galactic Coalition - ascended the last few steps to the podium erected on a jutting platform before a vast crowd
"Gentlebeings of the galaxy. I come before you today as Regrad, Prime Minister of the New Galactic Coalition, to speak of the Coalition for which I stand, the galaxy in which we live, and the vision for which we fight. It is a vision for the Coalition, a vision for the galaxy, a hope I hold dearly in these dark days."
The image stopped and the crowd shifted nervously.
"I am stopping this to show that what he says next is not directed just at us. He is taking the entirety of the galaxy into his..."
"..grand fucking vision!" snapped Zell.
"That." Kaine stated afterward seemingly to agree.
The image continued:
"I forsee a day that may come where the galaxy is no longer fractured, where war no longer wracks its' worlds and persecution no longer hounds its' people. I have a vision of a galaxy not simply united and not simply no longer at war - I have a vision of a galaxy at peace! A galaxy not just free of the wars of soldiers, but of the wars of races, of beliefs, of rulers against the ruled and of Order against Freedom.
"I believe this vision can come to pass, and even in these darkening days with war ever-present on the horizon, I believe there is still hope to see this vision in our galaxy. There is still a hope in the Coalition, still a hope in the galaxy, and still a hope in it's people that we can achieve what has for more than forty years been denied - the birthright of every sentient in the galaxy, the rights to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness irregardless of species, gender, belief, heritage, creed or faith."
"Then perhaps he should stop hating on the Empire and practice what he preaches, the fucking hypocrite!" Zell snarled. "As I recall, it was their fucking hatred of us that landed the attack on Corellia in the first place! Now he's fucking telling everyone how they should think!?"
He turned to Kaine, "I bet you after he talks about his wonderland where everyone thinks the same and is experiencing this fucking liberty drinking Coalition juju juice he does a 180 on us. US! Tell me I am wrong!"
Kaine merely shrugged and the statement continued.
"Even now hope endures for this vison, with the dark shadows of continued strife and pain circling ever closer, with the tempting promises of a New Order that will bring with it peace and fraternity - but that temptation must not be heeded! What they bring is exactly what is promised, Order without freedom, Order, without liberty, Order without the pursuit of happiness and Order without peace. The masters of the New Order lash out and rage and bite, but in the end, for all their rhetorical claims and their elaborate promises that submitting to Order will lead to a better life for all, all they offer is Order, and it is a cold and heartless Order that believes in nothing but it's own survival. For the citizens of the galaxy to submit now is to betray everything that we know is right, that we have known from the Republics that is right - it is to betray ourselves, and submit to the easier road, the quicker road, but we will not find what we seek there."
Kaine looked out over the audience. "The Empire is tempting because what it offers is real. Not some pie-in-the-sky vision of utopia. We deal with real world problems and real world solutions. Granted it's not a perfect system but then no system ever is." Kaine's eyes hardened. "And if anyone says otherwise, they are simply fooling themselves."
"How many times have we heard how evil the Empire was? How evil the Emperor was and how all would be so happy and jolly once he was dead? The insurgents of that time killed Palpatine. They splintered the Empire into a shadow of its former glory."
Kaine's harsh voice called out to a still audience, "WHERE IS THEIR UTOPIA?
Where was this grand realization of liberty?"
Kaine's voice became hard, "First came the New Republic who said, 'let's kill the Empire and Palpatine, then we can live in happiness and joy!' They created a Civil War that killed untold billions! Then came the New Empire who also promised a utopian dream after the Empire was killed but brought the Wrath Virus and again! Billions died!
Now comes the New Coalition..."
Kaine looked up and said dryly, "Guess what they promise if our Emperor and Empire is killed?"
"After all these fanatics have come and killed and burned and died, we come back and keep coming back to stem the tide of bloodshed and establish something safe for our citizens and their families. And the Prime Minister dare to call us 'cold and heartless'? It is fanatics like these that constantly make the Empire think and act on it's survival!"
"If we put a fucking battlefleet over his head let's see how soon they start thinking about their fucking survival!" Zell commented.
Simon went quiet waving Zell's comment aside. "What concerns me is this statement right here: betray everything that we know is right.. As I stated in an earlier briefing, just after the Coalition's last great announcement that incidently was their declaration of war, Right and Wrong are religious distinctions. And given his use of the term 'vision', this whole Address becomes one of a most disturbing nature. Religious Zealotry disguising itself with moralistic intent. What he is doing is outlining that the galaxy's entire code of morality should be based on the Azguard philosophy.
Anything not agreeing with their philosophy and religion is therefore classified as "wrong"."
Zell growled, "I don't know about you but I don't want some Azguard religious nut telling me what I should think! Do you?"
"It is easier to say these things, however, than it is to act. It is easy to say that there is a vision for the galaxy, to say that there is still hope in the hearts of it's citizens, but it is far harder to act on it and even continued resistance is painful. As the people suffer and the galaxy is torn apart from within, we must stay strong and stand together again, for only through our rejection of the temptations of Order shall we overcome, and find ourselves once more in the light of Peace.
"There are those who doubt my words, and there are others in whose hearts my words will sow doubt - I ask of you, if there is any doubt of any kind in your hearts, seek the truth out of your own accord. Seek it in the ruins of the planet Dubrillion, that dared to stand independant of the Empire and was reduced to ashes, survivors fleeing to the city of New Dubrillion on Rattatak. Seek it in the wreckage that still orbits the world of Tynna after the Empire tried to storm it and claim it from it's soverign place in the Coalition by force, only to be driven back bloodily with many unnecessary losses on both sides. Seek it at Roche, where the Verpine were terrorized and coerced by Imperial armed forces who thought nothing of firing on their asteroid homes to try and steer them away from their own decisions. Seek it at Bimmisari, where the Empire unleased new weapons of war on the defenders for no other reason than to spread death and mayhem. Seek the truth, and in finding it, face your doubts and consider what truth still remains in the New Order and it's promises."
"You'll notice he never mentioned any of the worlds his race, fueled by their wacked out religious beliefs, brutally attacked in the last war. Where the fuck was their high minded righteous rhetoric then? Perhaps they could look at the death and mayhem their own fucking beliefs brought out? But perhaps they do not value life like we do.." Zell purred.
Kaine frowned, "What do you mean?"
Zell grinned a shark's grin. "I remember a discussion with one of those buggers about their value of life. In fact, I have the fucker's response right here..."
On the audio speakers the harsh alien voice of an Azguard was heard with a computer translating in cold monotone.
"What is it worth to an Azguard? Just as much as it can give to the greater good of the race. I would see myself and ten Kin die without a second thought to save my general, if I thought by saving him he would be able to go on and do more towards victory then we who died."
Zell cupped his ear with his hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't get that. You were saying something about unnecessary losses and respect for life? What?
Fucking hypocrites!"
"There are yet other terrors that lurk in this galaxy, from the terrorist cells of the Union to the harsh and isolationist Black Dragon Empire to even a new race of strange and enigmatic conquerors who wiped out the people of Kiyar and the Coalition relief effort of that world. Against so many terrors and their suffering, what hope can there be? What vision can stand against such numberless hordes of horror?"
Kaine raised an eyebrow and looked to Zell who in turn gave an incredulous glance at the audience.
"Who the fuck is the Union?"
Kaine sighed. "Apparently, it might be the group behind the GLF attacks. It's nice that our partnership in combatting terrorism yielded such cooperation!" Kaine's voice was sarcastic.
"That information could have helped save numerous lives. I wonder how many months the Coalition and Regrad simply sat on it. Were they trying to teach us a lesson?" He leaned forward. "It makes one wonder just how much value they place on human life if any? Did they share this info with any other galactic government who suffered from these cowardly GLF attacks or did they just think Imperials weren't worth it?"
Zell placed his hand on the podium and his voice rang out deeply, "They are trying to divide us but it makes you wonder just what kind of Coalition one would run too?"
"The truth is, however, that it is we who outnumber them. This vision that I speak of, a vision of a free and united galaxy, of peace and cooperation, is one shared in the hearts of people from every walk of life on every world where life exists and people live. It is in the hearts of the subjects of the Empire and the hearts of those subjected by the Black Dragons. It is the same vision that has been followed by good people since the first civilization rose. Our numbers are countless, our strength infinite, our vision on the cusp of reality. The only thing that stands in the way of this galaxy of peace are the masters of Order, wether it be the New Order of the Empire or the religious orders of the Black Dragons or any other Order that proffesses the interests of the people and yet pits good people against each other."
"You don't fucking hear us calling the Coalition evil bastards!"
Kaine's eyes narrowed, "Remember this phrase: a vision of a free and united galaxy. Remember it well."
"This is where the action behind my words comes from. This is where we win this vision of peace and fellowship. This place, in the hearts of all, where the desire for those things denied by Order, is where the battle is to be fought for the heart of the galaxy. I ask, nay I plead of you throughout the galaxy, to join this battle of spirit, to reject the Order and embrace instead a vision of what once was, of what could be, of a peace of nations and societies, of a freedom of spirit and mind. Do not bend to the will of Order, do not bow to the wrath of Order, find your strength instead in the hope of a vision, a vision of a galaxy united not by strength of arms or force of will, but by this vision that we share, by this desire for peace and for freedom."
"These Azguards have a problem with order. They feel, apparently, that any society dedicated to organized, ordered government is evil. They are asking for anarchy, to throw off government. To what? Should they throw off civil and social programs? Should our nationalized healthcare also be thrown off or is that suddenly 'ok'?
But what is really fearsome is that they feel everyone shares their religious visions, their 'respect' for life, their love of anarchy, and their desire to bring Coalition rule throughout the galaxy as shown in the next statements."
"With this battlecry, shall I rally the Coalition. We have rebuilt our nations, we have regained our strength slowly and methodically. Where war had ravaged, we have healed. Where tragedy had befallen, we have lifted spirits. United in heart and mind, I shall not rest until the galaxy is free to take up it's vision and it's people free to follow it. We will not bow to the aggressions of Order nor to it's threats of war. We will not bend to it's will nor it's agenda. Here shall the line be drawn where we shall say 'Not one step further!' and take back the galaxy, take back the people, from these masters of Order that have ensnared it."
Kaine looked out over the audience, "So they are marshalling their strength. They are gathering their forces. They have been allowed to rebuild by us only to turn on us once more. To treacherously strike once more. But their ambition is not only the Empire this time. It is subtle but it is there!"
I shall not rest until the galaxy is free to take up it's vision
"Apparently the galaxy's vision and the Azguard vision are one and the same. Why it has to be a Coalition vision and not a Hapes one I don't know. Why it couldn't be a Commonwealth vision or even a Jedi vision for that matter.. No they mean to wipe all different visions away in lieu of their own.
They have drawn the battlelines once more and the Coalition is being gathered. The question then is, who will they strike first?
Commonwealth?
Hapes?
The New Order?
The Dragons?
Naboo?
It is the same arrogance they accuse us of. Of believing all peoples of the galaxy should believe the same as we do."
"In the fading light of this long day, shall follow a terrible darkness. Through this darkness we shall have to percivere, and it cannot be done alone. The hope for this vision lies in the hearts of everyone in the galaxy, and only through your rising shall the hope outlast the dark night of Order. But it is a finite night! For ever day, for every hour, for every minute that passess, it becomes closer to that glorious time when the Order is rejected and a new dawn of peace shall fall upon all the people of the galaxy. I call on everyone, from the tribes of Rattatak to the officials of Coruscant, from the nobles of Corellia to the soldiers of Azguard, from the bankers of Munnilist to the artists of Mon Calamari, I call on you all to look within yourselves and look across the galaxy and look to the Order and finally look to the vision - the vision that you all know well, for it is the vision you find in your heart - and decide what must be done in this galaxy. For my part, I shall return to my own vision, and I shall labour every hour sent to me to make it come to pass, a galaxy of freedom, of liberty, of fellowship, and of Peace. Good night."
"And there is his call to war. Any government in this galaxy should feel threatened by this call to Jihad. A Coalition religious war bent on hatred of everything they do not consider right is not what I wanted to hear about when I woke up this morning. I don't think any non-Coalition government official and military leader did.
This hatred of ordered government...
This Coalition seems too dark in some misguided attempt at revenge..."
Kaine's voice trailed off.
"I don't know where the fuck these Azguards get off telling us how to think and live. Sure, there are some freedoms we do not allow. You are not free to commit murder! You are not free to rape! You are not free to commit treason! Order prevents anarchy and criminal activities.
But I also know you can't reason with an Azguard."
The audience shifted, alarmed.
"While I overheard that little bit about their lack of respect for their own lives (you think they'll respect yours?), I also got a clip on where most of their beliefs come from, who controls their thinking. Because, on the surface, let's think about it, some of his stuff is appealing. But here you hear it from the gaffer's..err.. Azguard's mouth:"
The alien voice came back on the audio..
Our philosiphers and Gods have brooded over what they have said and what we have seen, and they have deemed it good. "And to be quite frank, to I and the people of Azguard, that is enough.
Zell's voice whispered, "And screw anyone who doesn't worship their fucking philosophers or Gods."
The holographic projection disappeared and Kaine went back to the podium. "The Imperial Armed Forces are on high alert in case there is an attack. We have sent ambassadors to the various governments to see how we can all respond to this Religious War the Azguards are trying to build. Together and coordinated, perhaps we can provide a reasonable deterrent to any rash action. Other nations are showing dismay that the Coalition would keep information regarding this Union to themselves despite our publicly united front. This despicable act hints at a darkly sinister intent. I am appealing to any Coalition leaders to take action now. Either remove Regrad from power or at the very least, prevent him from speaking publicly about plunging their nation into a war that will only devestate them further.
Ironically, by uniting the galaxy against a Coalition Jihad will perhaps bring about that hoped for peace."
Zell stepped up, "And if we find ourselves attacked, I'll personally march into hell, take their God of the Azguard Underworld and cut his fucking balls off! At least, that is what Emperor Hyfe would order me to do!"
The chuckling going around the room eased the tension. And while most places in the Empire would have to censor Zell's colorful use of Basic, their confidence would prove more calming than mere platitudes could give. This was not new territory for them nor for the Empire.
Regrad's announcement was not without effect within the Empire however. While the citizenry largely was unaffected as yet, power shifts began to form within the bureaucracy. Analysts noticed a trend of the moderates losing support and even grumbling over the way the former Grand Marshall handled the last war by negotiating rather than destroying their enemies. Whispers about a heavy hand then would not have brought the current crisis to bear.
How the Emperor would react to the rumor was as yet unknown.
But the military was becoming polarized as Moffs, Grand Admirals and Admirals each ventured their own ideas in responding to the current situation.
The vagueness of Regrad's speech regarding the future and every government's place in this Azguardian/Coalition utopian vision left most governments wary.
"I'll take your questions now.." Kaine commented...