FORSAKEN IV - Harbinger of Chaos

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Waiting is not an option," said Rhea Dhorr from her repulsorpod in the Senate Chamber. "Crime in the Outer Rim Territories has gone unaddressed for too long. These systems have been abandoned by the law and order the Empire proclaims to champion for all species. The military has ignored the problem. Smugglers, pirates, spice runners, arms dealers, slavers; these people have operated with impunity in the farther reaches of the galaxy. Criminal cartels have flourished to the point they present a clear and present danger to the stability of the Empire. Some, like the Hutt Cartel and the Pyke Syndicate, claim entire sectors as their own fiefdoms. No one is safe. Not the citizens, not the corporations, not the Empire. No one.

"The Outer Rim Security Act will put an end to this pernicious issue by allowing the security forces of individual systems to help the Imperial Armed Forces fight these blights. It proposes to allocate money and resources to expand the size and scope of these law enforcement agencies to effectively combat crime in their sectors, as well as foster their cooperation with the Imperial Security Bureau.

"There's no doubt about the effectiveness of our military when it comes to war. But this is a different kind of battle. One that requires a more localized and specialized handling. I say, let the Imperial Military do what they do best: the handling of outside threats; but free the Outer Rim systems to fight the enemy inside. Thank you."

Dhorr's repulsorpod floated back to its dock in the chamber to a mixture of jeers and cheers. No pod remained empty in this session, as every senator wanted to see what the controversial representative from Ryloth would do next.

"Order! Order in the chamber!" said Sly Moore, standing next to the Grand Vizier in the central podium.

"Thank you, Senator Dhorr," said Mas Amedda. "The Senate will take your bill under consideration and cast their vote at the next session."

Bail Organa walked in the conference room of the Chandrilan senator behind Mon Mothma's repulsorpod. With him, the white and blue R2-series astromancy droid scanned the room.

"Don't worry," said Mon, pouring a couple of glasses of water. "The room was just swept for listening devices by my people."

Bail waited for the droid to finish before he talked, "One can't be too careful these days. Thank you, R2."

The droid replied in Binary.

"So, what do you think?" Mon placed a glass in front of Bail and took a seat.

"That bill is dead on arrival," said Bail, joining her at the table. "The Joint Chiefs will never allow individual systems to have that kind of autonomous law enforcement power. The potential threat to the Imperial Armed Forces hegemony is too great."

"I wouldn't be so sure. She has been quite busy meeting with other senators. Kessen, Renking, Tills, Sejan, Vaspar—even Matrin. They all have expressed their support for the bill."

"I know. So does Gram." Bail sat at the table. "Apparently, the Ryloth Senator not only has a gift for rhetoric, but she's also a skilled diplomat. If she can bring a hawk like Quorl Matrin to her side, she has a good chance to push the bill through."

"My biggest concern is how this is going to affect the parties working within those systems," said Mon.

Bail understood what she meant. His thoughts also dwelled on the various rebel groups operating in the Outer Rim. "It's the veritable double-edged sword. If we vote for it, we would endanger a lot of people, and if we don't, we risk losing a lot of political currency among our allies that could compromise our legislative efforts."

"Politics are not a zero-sum game. Where do you stand on this?"

Bail sighed. "To be honest? I agree with her. The less Imperial military presence in the Outer Rim, the greater the autonomy for those sectors."