Onderin Starlisk

Onderin furrowed his eyebrows for a moment in thought. This Sith was a strange one, claiming to have Jedi interests in mind. Perhaps the strangest part was the fact that he had arrived at this moment into a Temple that had been abandoned since the Arach'tar invasion. Onderin didn't believe in coincidence after all those years of serving the Force, but it appeared that the Sith's presence, as strangely familiar as it was, had nothing to do with their mission here. Apparently it didn't even matter. "Very well," he said. "Head into the archives if you wish. This place has long been without power." He gestured at the ceiling, or rather at the distinct lack of one in most places. Snow drifted down through the blasted-away roofing and formed a thin layer under their feet which crunched when they walked--Onderin realized now that the very sound should have alerted him to the fact that the Sith was real and not an illusion. It was the kind of detail he would never miss back in his CorSec days. Presumably not the same CorSec about which the Sith spoke, of course. "As far as the crystals go, I'm not aware of any such stockpile. Traditionally, it is a critical part of one's training as a Jedi apprentice to venture into the caves to find one. But if you're convinced, look around." Onderin turned away from the Sith and back to Aira. The irrelevance of the Sith's quest to their own had taken him somewhat offguard. It was like trying to solve a mystery in a dark warehouse while being followed around by a nosy circus clown. "Perhaps if we head deeper into the Temple, we can find the source of these apparitions," he suggested.

By the Force... Onderin turned away from the gruesome display, even though it wasn't happening now, but rather had before. He had indeed seen many battlefields and endured many terrorizing sights, but there was enough humanity--enough Jedi--left in him to feel extreme discomfort in the presence of this travesty. It was almost reassuring to know that he could feel such vehemence still, to be able to find that shred of compassion which he had thought he was without. He would meditate on this moment, see if he could nurture this seed. Presently he was trying to figure out the riddle that was this other specter, the darker one with the protocol droid that spoke for him. When the droid started referencing current events, the Jedi Master started to figure out that this was not a ghost at all, but actually a man that had shown up at the Temple for information. And when the man opened himself to be felt by the Force, Onderin felt clearly the dark side in him. "The Jedi Order is not in the habit of giving access of the archives to Sith," the ex-Admiral said, the slightest hint of a challenge in his voice. This man had no place here, and yet as Onderin examined him in the Force, he felt something most unusual. The Sith was... familiar to him. They'd met before, he was certain, but couldn't place the man. Like he was an alternate version of someone he knew, or part something else. It was rather like how he'd felt back during his Master trials when he had encountered dark versions of his apprentices, like he knew who they were but they had in some way been fundamentally and irrevocably altered. It was what the dark side did to people. "The crystals are native to this world, and are not bound to this Temple. If you seek only them, find them yourself."

Too many battlefields. That was the only conclusion Onderin could draw when he witnessed the librarian crawl in and he didn't even flinch. He wouldn't realize it until later, but it many ways it reflected how unfit he was to be a Jedi Master after all these years. Later, he would have time to reflect on these moments and he would decide that it would be a long road to get him back to a place in the Force where he could feel people's suffering. But right now, he was missing one of the key elements in a Jedi's life--compassion. He had simply seen too many battlefields. The former Admiral reached out with the Force despite the pain that many would have felt and touched the specter, just long enough to determine that it wasn't real, then strode forward past her. "Something very bad happened here," he said to Aira. He stretched out with his feelings and listened to the echoes around him of events past. There was a lot of pain, but it fell like rain on the stone that was this Jedi's heart. "It had to do with the Sith--that much is clear." He turned and looked at the woman, wondering just how real the apparition was. "Your conflict is past," he said to it, though he suspected it could not hear him. "Please, be at peace."

At some point during the trip, Aira had passed off the pilot's seat to Onderin, and now with practiced hands he eased the shuttle around Ilum's planetary sphere, angling for the visible penumbra where night changed into day. He was already stretching out with the Force, feeling the power of the crystals and the echoes of the conflicts that had plagued the planet during the war... and during the Arach'tar invasion. "Yes, I remember," he said. He'd never actually been inside the Ilum Temple, but during the Arach'tar conflict, one of the major battles had taken place over Ilum, specifically centered around the Temple there. It had been his first direct encounter with the Arach'tar, a critical stage in what had been a tremendously costly but ultimately successful battle. Onderin still had scars from that war, though physical they were not. Presently the Jedi Master initiated a scan of the vicinity in which he knew the Temple had once existed. They had little trouble picking up what was left of it. Time and turbolaser fire had worn away what had once been a grand structure, but a building that large did not fade tracelessly into the frostburned peaks that served as its backdrop. Even more useful than the ships sensors, though, was the sense that its passengers had--their connection to the energy field that bound the entire universe into a cohesive, unfathomably complex unit. "I can feel them," he said, gliding the shuttle down through the atmosphere toward the ruined structure that had housed many students of the Force much like themselves. Soon, its landing pads were compacting square meters of snow until they were tight enough to support the ship's bulk, and Onderin triggered the boarding ramp. "After you," he told Aira, gesturing aft.

"We'll take your shuttle," Onderin replied. "The E-wing in which I arrived will keep until we get back." As a Jedi, he'd never really been big on possessions, down to the fact that he'd only ever owned one ship. It had been some old shuttle he'd bought when Keiran had knighted him, and honestly he had no idea what happened to the vessel. Believe it or not, the Admiral of the New Republic fleet was a pretty well-paid position, and he'd held it for years, just letting the credits pile up in some secure bank account somewhere, rarely spending anything. He figured buying a new personal ship was in order, and it didn't need to be a starfighter. He'd much rather fly something with a little bit of passenger space, for situations exactly like the one they were in now. Without any argument from his old padawan, they quickly made their way to the landing pad and boarded Aira's shuttle. Onderin made his way to the copilot's seat, a veteran combat pilot that was now only too happy to defer the duties. Minutes later, they were clearing Tython's atmosphere and plotting a few cautionary jumps toward Ilum. Then they were gone.

After a little more time had passed, Onderin decided it had been long enough. "I think the communications are up, or at least they will be by the time we get to Ashla," he said. "Let's head out." The Jedi Master immediately started to head toward the edge of the forest dividing the Jedi Temple from the city. He'd only made the walk once, but knew it wasn't difficult or dangerous. It was just a security precaution, and it helped Jedi to gather their thoughts and focus on the Force before approaching Temple grounds. A pragmatic man with years of war experience, Onderin appreciated the dual purpose, even if it had the tendency to make a hurried Jedi impatient. Onderin was eager to get to Ilum and save the Jedi spirits, but for the moment he was content to be working toward the goal. Having all this down time at the Temple was a very different thing for him. Before, any time spent outside of actual conflict with the Empire was drowned in administrative matters. In a way, he was surprised he hadn't trained more padawans during his time as Admiral just to break up the monotony. He glanced at Aira, wondering if she was going through the same things as he after a much shorter time at war. Still, he didn't say anything, content to watch her and make sure his teachings and the war hadn't damaged her ability to be the best Jedi she could.

Wow, Onderin thought. "This is much more serious than I had anticipated," he said, his voice suddenly thoughtful. There was some seriously powerful Sith sorcery at work on Ilum--that much was clear. He searched his memory. Over the years he had studied the history of wars with some focus on the Sith. The galaxy was in such a state that not only were the Sith commonly his greatest enemies, but he'd had a wealth of information on the old Sith and Mandalorian Wars he could study for inspiration. He'd never had to face some of the ancient Sith techniques like Force storms, and he was glad--some such techniques could dramatically swing a battle with little he could do to counter their effects. "Sith always seem to be tethering spirits to places, but usually its their own," he said, his gaze growing distant. He'd never been to Korriban--except perhaps in a vision--but he'd heard there were ancient Sith Lords still residing there as ghosts. Back during the foundation of the new Jedi Order, the revolutionary Jedi Master Luke Skywalker had been hospitalized by none other than Exar Kun, one of the biggest names from the Great Sith War millenia earlier. But there was something which was nagging him from slightly more recent times than that war. "Maybe it was a Thought Bomb," he suggested. "A horrible technique. There was an old site called the Valley of the Jedi, containing the trapped souls of ancient Jedi Knights because someone used the power." His gaze snapped back to Aira as he popped back to the present. "If memory serves, they were freed, which at least means it's possible." He shrugged despite the seriousness of the situation. "Are we still waiting for the comm array to get up? I'd rather not leave those souls trapped any longer than we must."

Onderin was left in the library when Kirlocca excused himself, but he was glad for a little more time alone in a place like this. Still, it was even better when Aira found him and gave him a hint at what they would actually be doing. He allowed a smirk. "Hopefully we'll get a better reception than last time." He'd been to Ilum on a number of occasions, but when he'd taken Aira there, a huge Imperial force had instantly responded to their shuttle and tried to shoot them down. It hadn't take much to disappear again back into hyperspace, but the point was that the end of the war would open the planet back up to Jedi, just one of the many luxuries of peace time. It had been pretty heavily contested a few times, despite the fact that its significance was to the Jedi and not to the Empire or Republic. Even the Augury had taken a crack at it--Onderin had lost a frigate he'd sent to help them out. It was to him their only unsuccessful operation. "I'm always happy to help," he said. "Now that the war's over, I need new things to occupy my time. Want to brief me on our objective?" He was certain this wasn't just a lightsaber crystal run, and because of Ilum's inhospitable nature, that meant it had to be important just to be proposed.

The Jedi Master shook his head. "Unfortunately, I don't have enough information," he said. It was the truth--it had taken him so long to detect anything of the sort in the Force, and now he was left wanting for details as all he'd gotten was an echo of what Kirlocca had felt before. "I just think we should keep an eye on things." Onderin was willing to bet that the Grand Master had already gotten wind of things, and while he didn't always see eye-to-eye with Kitt, the man did almost always have a plan. Now, as a Jedi under that Grand Master, Onderin would default to whatever decision he had made. "I'm stuck here for at least a day until some communications can be set up... maybe things will develop sufficiently in that time." He wished he could be a little more clear on what he was feeling. It was still very diffused, elusive. But all of his time as an Admiral had taught him that a quick reaction off a good plan would be all it would take. He fixed his eyes on Kirlocca, almost hoping that the wookiee would disagree with him and have a less passive course of action.

Onderin's brow creased in concern and he touched the Force, searching his feelings. Kirlocca was obviously worried about something, but as he reached out around himself, he could feel nothing unusual. He felt a large collection of Jedi, several of them eager to get back out in the galaxy and others quite content to spend some more time here and train or be trained, to reflect before stepping foot into a new, peaceful galaxy. Out there was certainly were Onderin wished to be--he had fought for many years to make the galaxy the way it was now, and sitting secluded on this world wouldn't let him experience the fruits of his labor. Maybe that was the problem. The Jedi Master slowly shook his head. "I'm sorry, Master, but I cannot. I must be too eager to get off-world to properly open myself to reasons to stay," he answered. The only alternative was that Kirlocca was paranoid, but he didn't even consider that an option. The wookiee was perhaps the strongest Jedi Onderin knew, one so in tune with the Force that it was much easier to accept that he could sense something that Onderin could not. He shifted on his feet uncomfortably. He didn't really like the way this conversation had evolved, now that he thought about it. He searched his feelings again. "Maybe if I knew what I was looking for..." Was it dangerous? Some unknown effect of the war? Did it have to do with the Jedi all being in one place? Was it a threat to the body or a threat of the mind? Or was it not a threat at all, but another reason to remain here in fellowship for a time longer than appointed? He checked his assumptions again, then started to examine each Jedi individually. Wait... he thought, then his eyes went back to Kirlocca's. "Actually... I might know what you mean." If he was right, then it proved how in tune with the Force the wookiee was. "But what do you want to do about it?" OOC: I'm out of town this weekend, as per my post in the absent thread. I'll definitely be able to post again by Monday, though.

Onderin was glad he had spent enough time around Kirlocca that he could tell what it looked like for a wookiee to grin--an unaquainted man would have seen the bared teeth and interpreted them as a snarl, or perhaps a grimace. The next thing across their mind would be to duck and cover, and it would be much to their embarassment when the misunderstanding was cleared up and they realized it was just a smile. Anyway, Onderin was no such man, and even if he'd not known how to read Kirlocca's countenance, he would have felt just as strongly through the Force the Jedi Master's solemn grief. Still, the wookiee seemed reticent. Onderin suspected that there was a bigger reason Kirlocca had wished to speak to him beyond just reminiscing about the perils of the war. No one knew them better than Onderin himself, as he had opened himself to Battle Meditation at times that thousands were dying around him, screaming out in terror and becoming suddenly silenced every second. It was a phenomenon that had at one point led Aira to withdraw from the Force during battles; Onderin had had no choice but to push through it. Feel it. Ignore the suffering around him. That was something no Jedi should ever have cause to do, and even now that the war was over, Onderin would need a lot of time to recover essential Jedi qualities like compassion while he came to terms with what he had done. It was easy to say it was worth it, but could he really make that decision? "The war was very hard on all of us," he agreed. "But now that it is over, Master, can the Order not recover? "What's really on your mind, Kirlocca?"

Onderin was mildly surprised by the warmth in Kirlocca's voice, even to the point where he wondered if he needed to brush up on his Shyriiwook. He had been doing his best to balance being a good Jedi and a good Admiral for years, but he was straight enough with himself to know that the Jedi part of him had suffered. He had just naturally expected other Jedi Masters to disapprove of some of his choices over the years--Armiena Darkfire certainly had shown up in his office a few times to scold him. At any rate, it did him good to know that there were still Jedi in the Order that put enough faith in him that they didn't feel at all alienated when he let the war come first. Even Jedi that he hadn't served with on the front line before like Kirlocca. The wookiee's question was an interesting one, but Onderin didn't hesitate when he answered--Kirlocca had been one of the Jedi Masters he'd always respected. "I see a wise Jedi, a powerful warrior, and a reliable friend," he said. He knew about Kirlocca's time as a captain in the Augury, the elite special ops group he'd organized with Aryian Darkfire. The Augury had only existed for a short time before the war ended, which to Onderin meant they were wildly successful, even if he didn't particularly support the fact that the other captain had been a Mandalorian. "You managed to accomplish much in the war without sacrificing your Jedi values, something I must admit I did not achieve myself." He was curious to see the relevance, of course, but was glad for the chance to bolster the wookiee, based on what he could feel of Kirlocca's mood in the Force.

Onderin was interested in everything that was being said, but it seemed that the Grand Master really did want everyone to spend some time here before going out, even if it was to do things well in line with the call of the Jedi. He was willing to accept that--the exercise of coming out here at all would be wasted if insufficient time was spent in meditation to actually change anything. At the moment, it was more important than any concern in the galaxy; there would always be problems, but a Jedi that was not in tune with the Force would find no lasting solutions. He still wasn't quite sure what he had signed himself up to do, but Aira seemed happy for his help and so he had no problems giving it. Master Kirlocca wandered past while they were talking, and he was broadcasting pretty openly in the Force. Onderin was good at feeling the emotions in the Force around him--it was how he'd mastered Battle Meditation--and he felt Kirlocca's brief desire to speak with him before moving on. The ex-Admiral glanced down at his old apprentice again. "Sounds like we have a little time," he said. "Let me know when you're ready to leave, Aira." He'd immediately decided to follow Kirlocca, and now he did so, the walk taking him through scenic parts of the Jedi Temple and then to the library. He'd never had much time for libraries in the past--indeed, he'd thought little of anything but war and duty since he'd been Knighted by Keiran Valoria so many years ago.... But that was different now. He would always be a man of action, but now he would first be a Jedi Master. And he would never have risen to that rank without the life-changing trials that this very Master Kirlocca had starting him upon. "Master Kirlocca," he said, greeting the wookiee as he approached. "It's been some time. Are you well?"

When Onderin felt the council breaking up their meeting, he decided he'd go and find Master Fitt. He was more eager than ever to get out into the galaxy and figure out what it would mean for him to be a Jedi and not an Admiral, and he wanted to track down Gren Sairdonga to see if his old friend wanted to finish his Jedi training. But the Force also hinted that there could be something else in his near future, and still it pointed him toward Kitt and the group of Jedi with which he was now gathered. Onderin walked in that direction and it didn't take him long to find the group. Among them was Aira and Kitt, but there were also a couple Jedi with which he wasn't familiar. He was pretty sure one of them was named Xae-Lin, but he was completely at a loss about the other one, and he suspected she was an apprentice or a new Jedi Knight, based on her Force aura. He would have added age to that mix, but he'd learned from Captain Raven that it didn't always mean as much as he'd thought. After all, even Master Fitt was a very young man--Onderin had a decade and a half on him, all spent fighting his war. Anyway, he could tell immediately from Aira's sense that she had decided to do something, and he was curious what it was. She'd shown excellent initiative in the war and had been willing to take command when necessary. Those qualities could no longer be directed into a war, but they would continue to serve her well as a Jedi Knight in this new galaxy. He approached her directly. "Whatever's going on, I think I want in on it," he said with a smirk.

Onderin Starlisk came back around the Temple to the place where he had started his walk, open to the Force. He noted the presence of the Grandmaster with two other Masters now in close proximity--that would be the meeting Jedi Council. He wondered idly what decisions they were making, still trying to make peace with the fact that he now had no position of authority. In a way, he was glad he had given it up, because he had proved to himself that he had not grown so accustomed to it that he was unwilling to step down, even at the bidding of the Force. At the same time, he had grown accustomed to it, and now he was wandering the Temple courtyard when important decisions were being made on a topic in which he had a strong opinion. He ended up feeling a little impotent in not having a voice in these matters. But now that emotion he let flow out of him even as it welled up--it wasn't his concern anymore. He was a Jedi Master, but that was the Council. It was to them that he owed his allegiance, and to the Force. He might not agree with everything they decided (though it was possible that he would), but ultimately it was his job to follow their lead, just as when he was the Admiral he was ultimately answerable to the war council. Basically, he needed to get his mind off of it and just wait for the results. He needed someone with which he could speak, even just to shoot the breeze for a bit. Problem was, he really didn't know anyone except for his padawans.... He could wait a little longer, maybe meditate to clear his mind, and then maybe he would seek out Aira or one of the other Masters with which he was familiar, like Kirlocca.

There was no better time to think than when one was putting one foot in front of the other. Many times throughout his life, Onderin had taken a walk to reflect on the times, on any dilemmas that he was facing, or simply to seek a rejuvenating experience by opening himself to the Force. It was how he had decided to become a Jedi in the first place, leaving his post at CorSec which he'd only held for a few short years. Since then, through meditation and walks like this, he'd made important decisions such as taking padawans--one such meditation had saved the life of a homeless Coruscanti boy that had gone on to be the administrative head of the then-Rebel Alliance. This time, Onderin was met with only peace, and in its own way, that spoke to him just as strongly as a vision. Peace could be the defining characteristic of the galaxy now, and he had no extremely-important, time-sensitive goal around which he needed to plan. He didn't need to take immediate action to save a critical life or deal a critical blow to the enemies of the Force's will--the dark siders that had consistently ruled the Empire. No, the war was over, and Onderin would change with the times. Presently the Jedi Master emerged into a clearing and the Jedi Temple came into sight. It was already bustling with Jedi of varying rank and species. He could feel the Grand Master on the planet, still on the trek over from Ashla. There were a couple of familiar Force auras, like that of Master Kirlocca, but Onderin didn't spend nearly enough time among the Order to recognize the majority of them. It was really a new phase of his life, he realized. But that day when he'd left CorSec, his goal had been to become a Jedi. And now, for the first time since being Knighted by Keiran Valoria, he would make that again his primary pursuit.

A lone E-wing emerged from hyperspace over Tython, still bearing a New Republic transponder signal. Not that it mattered, as the Jedi Temple was so hidden it didn't matter what showed up in orbit. Aboard was Jedi Master Onderin Starlisk, and he was responding to not only the call he'd felt in the Force, but the direct invitation of the Grand Master to attend this meeting of all the Jedi. He had an open mental approach to the proceedings--he was willing now to simply listen and follow orders, for it was tremendously simple and that's what he wanted now--but also, now that he was comitting himself to the Order, he was determined to make sure it did not take a direction inconsistent with the will of the Force, and thus was willing to speak his mind. The one-time starfighter combat pilot set his E-wing down in the city of Ashla, mindful of the Force as it directed him toward the Temple on foot. It was actually a long trek, and Onderin took with him one of the flight meals from the snubfighter as he set out. Otherwise, all he needed was his lightsaber and the few odds and ends he carried on his person--liquid cable and a bit of synthflesh and the like. Presently he entered the forest and immediately opened himself fully to the Force, setting out on a hike that would be reflective and maybe by the time he got to the Temple, he'd have a vision about the future of the Order in this time of peace.

All was accomplished, just as he'd told Aira. Onderin Starlisk was an Admiral no longer--he had but to finalize the status change. He wouldn't be doing it from here, either. The Jedi Master turned and swiftly departed for the hangar, not another word said. Just as the galaxy would soon forget his name, he was content to fade now into the background. Many long years of making difficult decisions that had infinite echoes across the galaxy that he couldn't anticipate left him feeling burned-out. He'd changed the galaxy, and while he thought it was for the better, one man could not bear the weight of such a change... and a Jedi found it difficult to claim that his way was definitely the way of the Force, and that he definitively did everything as it was meant to be accomplished. And so it was the Force that would guide the rest of his life. Onderin soon reached the hangar. He'd arrived in a Lambda, but it suited him no longer. Instead, he took one of the E-wings that had escorted the shuttle here--informing command about his decision so that they could make the transfer official. Formally, he was purchasing it, drawing from many years of military salary that he had never touched because Jedi had few to no possessions. It would be his new personal ship, and he loved the feel of an E-wing. After all, he'd been a pilot for years as he worked through Alliance ranks. Finally, he tendered and transmitted his formal resignation from his datapad, simple and to the point. A minute later, he'd laid in the coordinates for Tython, but decided to take a couple of precautionary jumps first, given that the Dark Lord of the Sith was still here, and many Imperials still hated the Jedi enough to make trouble should they discover that secret Temple. Soon he was off into the tunnels of hyperspace, and he left behind him his title of Admiral.

Onderin allowed one of his amused half smiles. "I've always been a Jedi, Aira," he said. "I'm just one that can't back down from a fight. Now that the war's over, my reasons for fighting are gone, and I'd much rather go back to where my heart is--in the Order." He shrugged. "I'm sorry if you feel distant from the Order because of my training, but you have proven yourself a wiser Jedi than I by taking the initiative to start the peace talks that led us here," he continued. "I would encourage you to come to Tython for the meeting Master Fitt is holding and take the chance to meet some other Jedi. It's the perfect chance to get your foot back in the door." Onderin was interested to see what went on during this meeting. The Jedi had to find their new place in the galaxy, and from what he knew of Kitt, there were some changes that would take place. Always one to take the stand against injustice, Onderin wasn't sure if he would agree with the Grandmaster on all the issues at hand, but it wasn't his place to run the Order. From here on, he was just another Jedi Master, bound to the Order and its Grandmaster's decisions. In a way, it would be nice to take orders for once instead of always shouldering the responsibilities of giving them and dealing with the consequences.

Once the treaty was signed, Onderin let himself relax for the first time since he'd gotten out of being imprisoned in the Imperial Spire. It looked like things were going to turn out all right, at least for now. The war was really over, and a democratic government had taken its place ruling over the galaxy for the first time since the Old Republic. It had really been quite a fight, and now the government would be stronger than ever for it. There was still a lot of rebuilding to be done... but not by him. The ex-Admiral looked at Aira, his old apprentice, and gave a tired smile. "Yes, peace," he said. "My work for the government is done, my war has been fought. They don't need old rebels like me anymore in the military. I'm going to retire from the navy and become a full-time Jedi Master." He ran a hand through his hair, clearly starting to once again think about the future. "And what about you, Aira? It feels like you joined the war right as it was ending, but, like me, you joined it as soon as you were Knighted. Are you going to retain your commission, or move on to a different phase of your life?"

OOC: The cards are down and we're the closest to agreement we're going to manage. Deton, it's been a stimulating discussion, but we could argue forever. Now it's time to try out the system as we have it and we can always evaluate it over the next few months. IC: Talis stepped up again. "Vice-Admiral Sikaot is correct. There is no place for the stormtrooper armor here. However, the Emperor's claims about their effectiveness have been proven throughout the war, so let their training traditions persist." - Democratic Government with Senate and Chief of State - Checks and Balances provided through Advisory Council for all branches - Imperial troop training with stormtrooper standards but no stormtrooper armor - Much of the Imperial military structure, but checked by Advisory council, and utilizing a mix of Imperial and Republic ships and tech - Executor position, which sits on the Advisory Council and, when approved, actually takes the action - The Jedi and Sith will have seats on the council and have agreed to help keep galactic peace against rogue Force using elements - Blanket pardon for war crimes These were the basis for the Galactic Alliance and the results of the meeting. There had been concessions on both sides, and that was the point of negotiation. Now they were arriving at a point where everything could be finalized. Everything was written up. All that needed to be done was the initialization of the positions, but even that could wait until after everyone had signed. A very important-looking datapad summarizing the terms of the peace and the foundation of the government that would be built upon it was brought before former-Emperor Rustic by an aide. "Your signature will be required."

When prompted, Haphaestus spoke in response to Captain Cadan. "This seat we will accept." Onderin had started thinking about how the military would actually look, and now he spoke about it. "A valid point, Captain Raven," he said. Then he spread his arms, "The war is over, and the soldier's place is diminished. While we'll still need a military, especially in these first few years, it can be dramatically cut back. I for one am retiring as Admiral, to take my life in a new direction. I suspect that, our war fought, many of you will feel the same. "As for the face of our military, it will exist simply to combat criminals and protect the citizenry. Stormtroopers don't fit the democratic ideal, so while their training and tradition can remain, the armor that has long been associated with fear must disappear," he continued. "Our new Galactic Alliance can invest the credits that have long been driving war machines back into the economies of our worlds, bolstering our citizens' quality of life." Ambassador Talis stepped forward and looked around the room. "I believe we've now laid down the foundations--the advisory council, the Senate, the supreme commander, the blanket pardon, and the roles of the Jedi and Sith Orders. Now, a constitution can be drafted to formalize our decisions, and we should initialize certain important leadership positions," he said.

Onderin continued to listen intently as the discussion continued. It seemed like everyone was content with a "vigilant" pardon, which sounded like a pretty good idea to him. Unfortunately, elements like Faust could do a potentially large amount of damage before their pardon could be erased, so to speak, but it was still in the best interests of the galaxy when the alternative was tearing apart the government that they were trying to build. The rest of Faust's speech was interesting, and Onderin spoke up. "I never thought I'd be saying this, but Faust's idea has merit," he said. "The Jedi have always been keepers of the peace and law enforcement of a sort--remember, before the Clone Wars, the Old Republic had no military branch, relying on the Jedi for the protection of the citizenry." Ambassador Talis cut in smoothly. "And the Jedi were extremely effective at it. Everyone knows what a danger a rogue Force user can become," he stated. "And it's also known that the best people to take down such a rogue element are other Force users. I think it would be irresponsible of the Jedi not to accept this proposal. And what of the Sith?" Haphaestus stirred. "Faust spoke the truth," he said. "The Sith are ready to do our part. If we are to be given a place in this government, rogue elements will hurt us as much as they hurt this Galactic Alliance." As the Dark Lord of the Sith, he was rather enjoying this--it wasn't every day that the Sith could gain this much galactic status with so few words. Things would be totally different after this, and he would find ways to use it. Admiral Starlisk and Ambassador Talis turned their respective gazes on Kitt Fitt expectantly.

Onderin fought the urge to roll his eyes theatrically. You want to go down this road, Rustic? I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life locked up, he thought. This was not a place the galaxy needed to go--especially not now. It was Talis that responded to Deton's words, however, which was probably a good thing. "Emperor Rustic, I hardly think anyone wants to follow this path. Right now, public opinion holds in their eyes heroes on both sides. The moral of our great governments has never been higher. Pursuing war crimes will tear down the very unity we're attempting to build by letting loose accusations that will polarize us." He shook his head. "War is messy. Criminals who are such by actions outside of a professional military environment can still be pursued, but it takes too fine a judge of character and too great a toll on this new society to pursue war trials exhaustively at this time." At this point, Haphaestus spoke up. "The Sith are uninterested in any war trials," he said darkly, which seemed to be the only tone he commonly used. His tone seemed to infer that some great consequence would follow from attempting to try a Sith Lord in a court of law, but he didn't verbalize the intention, if it was there.

OOC: I'm Haphaestus, if you didn't know, so I shall include his part in this post. IC: Onderin and Ambassador Talis listened very carefully to the proceedings, first as the Emperor spoke, then as others took over. A lot of good things were said--particularly among them that the Empire seemed to be quite willing to accept a democratic government--and a few things that Onderin was outright against. It was time to start addressing them. He looked at Ambassador Talis, and the other man nodded. They would play off each other here. The Admiral started. "Emperor Rustic, first I must say that a balance of power is indeed critical, and the more leaders we have, I think the better, so that no one man has too much power," he said. "That said, I have a few concerns about some of the things you brought up, particularly concerning the military. "You suggested that a military council be created separate from any other council. I believe the provisions that Captains Cadan and Raven laid down preclude that possibility. Indeed, I think it's very important for non-military personnel to have a say in military decisions," he continued, "for war is as much political as it is military." Ambassador Talis took over. "The Admiral is correct. A high council should be appointed with the members Captain Cadan suggested, including and extending to as necessary the positions that the Emperor provisioned. An Executor or Supreme Commander of sorts with some control over minor fleet actions is essential, perhaps to be called upon by worlds that come under attack, but anything major should be passed through this advisory council, made up of enough people to ensure that an issue is being approached from every angle and--" he glanced significantly at the Dark Lord and Grandmaster "--ensuring that the Jedi and Sith get equal representation. "Concerning the Jedi and Sith... I trust that in a galaxy of peace, their religious war can wane as well? I don't think Jedi and Sith should be the judiciary branch, but a full court system is implemented just like both the Republic and Empire have now," he explained. "Let the Jedi go back to their traditional role--as keepers of the peace, separated from the government if they so choose. I have no idea where the Sith fit into all of this." Haphaestus, the Dark Lord, spoke up then, his voice as dark and brooding as his cloak-enshrouded figure. "The Sith will be satisfied with equal representation on an advisory council with the Jedi," he said. "We will find our place in the galaxy, Ambassador--that is not this summit's concern." Onderin frowned. "Unfortunately, the Sith have always been trouble," he said. "I can't imagine how the Empire's tolerated you all these years." Talis cut back in. "Moving along. I would like to address the words of Vladimir Faust," he said. "I think we can agree that this government will suffer if certain high-ranking individuals are removed for war-time trials. Since we're all looking forward, I agree with Faust--a universal pardon for war crimes should be issued. In war, civilians sometimes die, and now we are as two factions uniting into a stronger one, not one that should be riddled with internal accusations. "And to address Captain Raven... I suspect that any rogue Force user, any Jedi that falls to the dark side and begins terrorist operations against the Galactic Alliance will be treated as a criminal according to judicial law," he said. "That goes for the Sith, too--core security and the military exist to protect the citizenry from such threats."