"Yes, Thank you."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Click.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

At last, the tedious talk with the tiresome and heady politicians halfway across the galaxy was over. The Chief of State of the New Republic closed her eyes and slouched back into her chair, then rested her head against the headrest, allowing a few precious moments for the tension to seep from her body.

The comm unit that she had just shut off did not stay silent for long, however.

"Ma'am, the Commander is here to see you, as you requested."

The sudden message jolted the relaxed Leia Organa Solo out of her chair, and after a moment of recomposure, she activated the voice pickup.

"Very well. See him in immediately."

She looked around the office she had been given as her position required. It was deep within the main government center of Corellia, but was still sparsely furnished.

But she knew that had to do with her operating mainly out of Theed instead of the New Republic's capital. Most all of her things were on Naboo therefore, leaving only duplicates and essentials here to be used when she was in.

Oh well. Things still got done correctly. With efficiency.

Completing her survey of her office, Leia looked down at the portable holoprojector sitting on her desk, projecting the image of a rotating planet over her desk. Right now on her side of the desk the night side was visible, and millions, though realistically the number was far more, of pinpricks of light could be seen on it's projected surface. She stared at it contemplatively, and through the hologram she saw the door open, and her visitor step in. She stood to be seen over the hologram.

"Nice to see you again, Commander...."

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Resting the emaciated fingers of one scrawny hand in the other, Xylon stood firm with arms intercepting behind the back. His face flushed of the arrogant aristocrats and enraged bureaucrats constantly having demanded reform, the stoic presence's posture was strung blankly on the moment. Little movement faltered his tendrils...second nature the position had become.

Wavering curiously on the extreme rear was a lone scribe nervously switching application between the two officials. The man's chubby face appeared embroidered by dashes of brown stubble, exploiting the care given by blunt razors and encrusted towels. Exhibiting both fatigue and lack of personal care, the discomfort he held overtly mimicked that of what Xylon concealed.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "As I feel the same, Ms. Solo."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> In spite of urges to lurch forward and inspect what appeared to clutch Organa's scrutiny so forcefully, the temptation had been quelled quickly and replaced with the awkward sensation lurking amongst the shaken scribe. Gesturing faintly with an outstretched finger, the gawky man soon accompanied Ranthra in completion of an inelegant stride. Feeling the essence of notice lathering him, he became rigid and palpably embarrassed.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Bellowing naturally in a monotone harmony of grave echoes, Ranthra unclasped his wet lips and addressed the figure before him with an increasing ease.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "I hope you do not mind my fascination...however please be forthright, this only vexes me."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

*Han was going to knock on orgnaa's door, but saw thta it was open, and that Organa and Xylon were already in deep conversation.*

"If i may interrupt a second, Counsellor Solo? I have the intelligence files that we have on Coruscant that you requested."

The rogue cop who'd cleansed Coruscant of the most vile gang of theives, drug dealers, and cold-blooded killers that Coruscant had ever seen- the Vril Syndicate- sat quietly in his office at the Zacharov Sydicate building. It was a pretty nice place; with Trez Vril and his gang gone, Zacharov Blazeris' group was getting a lot more business.

While percieved as being a similarly corrupt group, Zack's gang was definitely the lesser of all the evils on Coruscant; they killed, but they had morals: no one was a saint, these days.

Not even those kriffing Jedi.

In the days since Xarrin's little adventure with destroying the Vril sydicate and seeing to it that the crooked Commander Glareson spent a lot of time getting to know a few durasteel bars, he'd been spending a lot of time helping Zack manage his group- as long as they ruled the Coruscant's streets, things would a hell of a lot safer. For civilians, anyway.

And as far as Crae was concerned, thugs were out of his jurisdiction, in terms of protection.

Not that he really had one anymore. A jurisdiction. He'd been honorably discharged from the force, with a helping hand from a lawyer Zack had bought for him. And now, he was keeping Coruscant clean through a trully odd force, another gang.

Xarrin's resources streched the length of the planet, which was one big city, save for the polar ice caps- he now had thugs under his command from north to south, east to west. Though, Zack always went for quality, not quantity- members of the Zacharov Syndicate were always good people. Good at what they did, and morally strong enough not to fit into the typical, brutal gangster image.

Which was how he came to be in the position he was now.

"You're kidding me."

Zack's aide stuttered his response, still clearly in awe of Xarrin, given his record of killing about 50 hoods.

'Y-y-yes, s-sir! I mean, n-n-no... sir! The J-j-jjjedi are p-poking around on Coruscant.'

"Physically?"

The aide shook his head, seemingly put more at ease by Crae's friendly, easy-going demeanor. Which was his good side; if he chose to let his bad side show, the man would be screaming and wetting his pants.

'No, sir. Our sources report the N.R.I. are sending out feelers... it's probably that Han Skywalker putting together a report for Organa Solo.'

Xarrin nodded. With the Eternal Rogue Order gone from their leadership of Coruscant- under very mysterious circumstances- it only stood to reason the Jedi would want Imperial Center back.

"Get Zack in here. And find me a frequency I can get one of those kriffing Jedi on... Organa Solo or Xylon Hexyra. Can you do that?"

'Yes, sir.'

"Good."

Xarrin wasn't really sure what he wanted done about this. One thing was for sure... If the N.R. intend to leap onto this rock with guns blazing, and expect no resistence, they can dream on... Coruscant has had enough violent conquests.

Leia nodded.

"Good. We can use those now."

Han set the files down on her desk and turned to leave, but she motioned for him to stay for a minute.

"Recent reports coming in state that the Imperials are showing an interest in Coruscant. I expect them to make the lunge for it. And knowing their usual ways, they're probably destroy half the planet and it's population in the process.

Coruscant is the political center of the universe, and one of the most heavily populated planets there is. Can the galaxy who wants to remain free, or the people on Coruscant that will needlessly die in an Imperial conquest, really endure easily if the Imperials pick up Coruscant?

Obviously the New Republic and it's members would gain much by getting to Coruscant first, though there is no doubt in my mind that if we successfully brought Coruscant into the New Republic, that the Imperials would stage an attack to take it while the defenses are weak. We would have to bring sufficient forces to repel such an attack.

I suggest we take a task force and go to Coruscant, and open political talks. For now we should stay peaceful for as long as we can. I fear that soon enough that peace will be broken anyways..."

Who the hell knows what Jedi want? Sometimes they're the protectors, sometimes they're the meddlers. Sometimes they're wanted, often they're not, but it never seems to phase them. That diplomat, Leia, was always coniving, or at least it seemed that way to the general population- a Senator with Jedi powers, and the ability to change the minds of others with a wave of her hand? Suspicious, always.
<hr>
'Come on, Xarrin... eet is notheeng, I am sure! The Jeedi are curious people; they probablee wish to see what is occuring down here!'

Xarrin shook his head. Too far fetched- wishful thinking was nice, but it wouldn't get them anywhere. When the Jedi started poking around, it was never, ever, just for kicks; there was a purpose behind it, and Xarrin Crae was going to find out.

"No, I can't bring myself to believe that. Zack, we're sitting in Imperial Center, here- when the N.R. took it the first time, with that Wedge Antilles fellow, it was the ultimate prize: they were hailed as the winners of the galactic war!"

'Yes, but-'

Before Zack could finish, Crae cut in. He knew what he was thinking...

"Yes, the Krytos virus. It was a trap. I know, I know- and yes, the Imps or the Sith will probably try something like that again. It's easier to attack without morals than to defend with them."

'Exactly.'

"But I think the Jedi are stupid enough to do it twice."

Zacharov just shook his head. Xarrin could bet he knew everything he was saying to be true, but didn't want to believe it- Crae was just too much of a realist to delude himself that way.

At that moment, Zack's aide entered, with a slip of flimsy in his hand.

'Mr. Crae... here's the frequency you wanted. It's a private one... to Organa Solo's office.'

"Thank you."

The aide set the piece of flimsy, or 'paper', on Xarrin's desk. The rogue cop took it, and punched the number on it into his holocomm system. Looking up at Zack before it went through, he spoke.

"Let's hope we can work this out without killing anyone, eh?"

As Zacharov nodded, Xarrin spoke into the comm, hoping it would get where it was supposed to go.

"This is Xarrin Crae, formerly of the Coruscant Security Force, currently employed by Zacharov Blazeris, whom I am sure you will find in intelligence files. Whom do I adress?"

Despite the fact that Xarrin had put his call through to Leia's private channel, the secretary in the antechamber outside Leia's office still picked up the call first.

"This is the secretary of the Chief of State. Please hold."

Leia had just finished talking when her secretary leaned in the still open door.

"Excuse my intrusion, but you have a call from Coruscant on private line 4, Ms. Solo, the caller claims to be one Xarrin Crae, a former Security Force member from Coruscant."

Leia looked confused.

"How would someone like him get my private line number?"

The secretary shrugged. "I don't know, Ma'am."

Leia was silent for a moment, in thought. Then, finally, she spoke.

"Put it through, I'll take it."

"Yes Ma'am." The secretary dissapeared, and a moment later Leia watched her comm device go active. She selected it to pick up her voice only, but decided to let all in the room hear what came through.

"This is Leia Organa Solo of the New Republic. You are Xarrin Crae, of Coruscant?"

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> In an irritable guise, Xylon's poise became distorted with the overlap of tendrils upon his chest. With eyes transfixed on Organa's every action, only thick question polluted the candid environment.

Skepticism associating suspicions of imprudent forecast puzzled Xylon. He found it peculiar that a being maintaining a superior permutation disposition had permitted a reconnaissance leak. The only conclusion linking his scattered thoughts was a comprisal of inefficiency complexes directed onto the young politician, truthful or not. Fury was apparent; nevertheless sarcasm rocketed due to his figurative demeanor.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "Quite an intelligence bureau we harbor."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Hexyra drooped his arms and pivoted in distinction to the squirrelly scribe skulking beneath a forest of light. A pause initiated as he scanned the bleak corridors outside the vast office. Before long, murmurs of frustration erupted vigorously between the two under obvious impression of Solo's preoccupat<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "Y-Yes sir, consider it done."<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> A mere lingering musk of expired scents illuminated a faint specter of the man as his stroll trailed away. A cringe was all Xylon had to offer the departing man, set-aside an intense debriefing engraved into his psyche.

Turning to include Organa's presence in his visionary span, Hexyra's eyes fell towards the miniscule communication device in which a rough voice emitted. He went as far to pity the commanding faction situated on Coruscant; an inexperienced courier he found to be ludicrous. His anticipations of an omniscient stronghold were diminished amongst the first of addresses...siege would prove of ease.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

When talking to Jedi, keep your tounge sharp and ysalamari close by. Words to live by.
<hr>
Grinning up at Zack, Xarrin spoke quickly, and with an utterly sarcastic tone.

"No, the Queen of Asthentia, here! I'm calling for my son, Searthen, would you put him on?"

Even Zack laughed. Crae was playing dangerous games, with dangerous people, but these days, it was joke or cry.

"Yeah, it's me, your Highness. I'm calling to let you know that your intelligence operatives, though effective, are noisy and predictable- and drop too many hints. Planning a takeover of Coruscant, are you, while the planet is ripe for the pickings?"

It was a bluff, of course- for all Xarrin knew, they were looking for some smuggler who'd stepped on the wrong toes. But bluffing was all part of the game.

"I think you'll agree when I say we've had enough of your politics, down here. I don't really give a damn how badly you want Imperial Center, or how much of a symbol of power it is: we've got enough problems, without big Mon Cal cruisers knocking shots into the planetary shield."

A few years ago, Xarrin would have watched his language when on the line with an important N.R. dignitary. These days, he couldn't care less- these were his people he was fighting for. He had nothing to lose, and nothing holding him back- the good and the just were like gold on Coruscant.

Xarrin had no delusions.

He wasn't one of them. He was a cold, dirty, son of a bitch, who only cared about the people he was still sworn to protect. Justice could kriff itself.

"Now I know you think we're all privvy to this little war you're having, but I don't give a kriff, and my friend Zacharov here doesn't either. If you think we're going to let you come in and destroy life on our planet again, then Princess, you're dreaming in holo."
<hr>
Even then, in the background, Zack was talking to his aide. The man left, and brought back in something I'd come to know a lot about... a carbon-freeze box.

With an ysalamari inside.

It looked like we'd need all we could get.

All the while that Xarrin had been talking, Leia had been reclining back in her chair. But now she abruptly sat up straight, her chin raised, her shoulders moved out of their slouch, and she leaned forward and flipped the holovid on, which meant her image was about to abruptly appear in front of Xarrin, so that he was looking directly at whom he was throwing ignorant puns at. Her expression was hard.

"The Republic does not intend to destroy life. It is true that the Republic wishes to bring Coruscant into it's membership, but this is not to be achieved by a military takeover if we even decide to forgo such a thing.

These are times of peace. A military takeover is an act of war, and the Republic does not condone such acts within it's conduct when far more peaceful options are available.

The Republic wishes to open peaceful negotiations with the heads of Coruscant to discuss the possibility of Coruscant becoming a Republic planet. This is beneficial to both sides, as Coruscant is the center of the universe. But also... the Imperials are biting at the reigns to get there as well.

If the Imperials take hold of Coruscant, they will take it militarily. People will die. People will suffer. Things will be demolished and destroyed. What little rights some have now will be taken away completely. You know this. It has happened before. You are sworn to protect those people, keep them from such evils.

The Republic is sworn to protect the people should they accept it from those evils.

I as a Jedi am sworn to protect the people from those evils.

People like yourself may like neither the Republic nor the Empire, nor the Jedi. But perhaps it shall come down to the lesser of two evils.

Our Intelligence operatives for the past few months have been monitering Coruscant's situation, judging just what needs to be done, what doesn't. You may have interpreted their presence as a military op, but it is not. Now you know why. It was not for a future military strike"

Leia paused for a moment to catch both the reactions of her two guests and Xarric.