Luke Skywalker, the Last Jedi, faces his toughest challenge yet. To rebuild the Jedi Order, he must give up his personal hopes and dreams. Every move is critiqued by not only the New Republic Senate but also the Force-ghost Jedi Council of the past...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
❶ Leia milled around the Senate Hall. Clusters of senators huddled. Votes bought, delegates bribed, even blackmailed. The real work of the Senate took place on the floor, in the corridors, in the ramshackle bars that popped up around Capital City. Her belly roiled. Not sure if I this is the morning sickness or if I've lost my stomach for political intrigue.
She weaved through the crowd and engaged Senator Tai Linn in small talk about his family on Ryloth. What I want to know is what Wexul is up to with Timna. He looks like a vulptex ready to pounce.
The young Senator Timna from Ruusan pulled on his chin and narrowed his eyes while whining to his partisan Grattle Wexul from Paqualis III. "I'm not sure how long we can keep absorbing new territories." His whispers echoed through the corrugated steel temporary Senate Hall.
Wexul rubbed his long nose. "Didn't you hear?"
Timna's eyes widened. "No. What?"
Looking from side to side, Wexul whispered. "We're already losing systems. The Empire has already overrun some. And that's not all."
"Well, go on." Timna shifted his weight and leaned in to hear Wexul's hushed words.
"I hear that some have actually seceded from the Republic voluntarily."
Representative Javan from Ord Mantell, a graying human woman, who still looked like she could vanquish any foe, sidled up to the men. "Rumors indicate the Empire has obliterated many cities. We'd never hear that here, though." She threw her hand up and snorted. "It's all joy and sunshine according to the Republic. I can't tell you how many tribes that we lost on my planet already."
Wexul nodded. "We need stronger leadership, or the Republic will fall. I'm calling for a vote of no confidence in Mon Mothma. Are you with me?"
The other two nodded their heads.
"Delegates, Senators, I call this session of the New Republic Senate to order. Speaker, would you please call the roll?" Mon Mothma addressed the crowd.
Leia glided to the front and initiated the lengthy roll call, half of her mind on her task and the other half on the whispers racing around the room. I wish I had a moment to warn Mon.Why are they doing this now? Don't they know we need solidarity?
Mon cut off the last name as Leia called it. "Honored Members, I present to you the honorable Grand Admiral Ackbar of the Republic Fleet."
While the Mon Calamari tottered to the floor, Leia slid into her seat on the front row. The distressed Ackbar addressed the Senate, his chin flaps shuddering as he spoke. "I present you, Members of the Senate, a horrifying report. The Galactic Empire has violated our treaty and attacked the Slice territories of Randon, Chacta, and Cyrillia. Intelligence has confirmed that the Empire will not stop until they have conquered the entire Slice."
