"As many know, the former leader of the Trade Federation, Hask Hald, conspired with the Xucphra Corporation for personal enrichment. They created an artificial shortage, using the help of pirates under the command of Iaco Stark, with whom we decided to negotiate at the last session," Finis began. "I led the delegation on your orders, Supreme Chancellor. And I included in it the Jedi: Master Tivokka, Master Qui-Gon, Master Adi Gallia, and their Padawans. The negotiations with Iaco Stark went off plan from the very start; it was clear that even without our fleet appearing in the Troiken orbit, Stark had no intention of negotiating with us, pursuing his own personal ambitions, not even taking into account the ambitions of the Trade Federation. I attribute the emergence of this situation to the following reasons... Widespread crime in the Outer Rim and the bacta shortage.
Well, would you look at that, he listed almost all the reasons from Wookieepedia... I remember being curious about the reasons why the Republic had ended up in such a state that any pirate who had, more or less, amassed a decent fortune could start thinking about political leadership, or rather, making claims to it. And Stark, practically, wanted to become the 'King of the Outer Rim.' And the main reason, in my opinion, is precisely the lack of a full-fledged army, a fleet... Because if the Republic had combat units, a professional army, whether in the form of conscription or a militia more serious and numerous than the Judicial Forces—which are essentially a colossus on clay feet, monstrous, ineffective, and lacking a strict operational protocol... Namely, until a Jedi or a Senate order comes down from above, the Judicial Forces might as well be napping on the job. That, by the way, is exactly what happened with Stark. Part of the personnel were bribed, part just gave up because they couldn't stand up to the rapidly growing fleet, which was now mired in internal squabbles over leadership.
"Honorable senators," Valorum continued, "I want you to pay attention to the Outer Rim. And not only those who are senators from an Outer Rim sector, but also those from sectors closer to Coruscant. We need to increase pressure on those who break the law. Not long ago, Chancellor Kalpana proposed tightening some punishments for criminal acts."
Another smart aleck who thinks harsher punishments can prevent crime. Maybe the death penalty might make some people think twice about committing a crime. But for the most part, criminals are sentients who are either desperate or think they're the sneakiest and smartest. Therefore, even the harshest punishments, even the ultimate measure of social justice—in common parlance, the death penalty—is not a panacea for crime. Statistically, it's a drop in the ocean. Probably not even ten percent of criminals think about what they're doing. The Galaxy is big; maybe no one will notice. However, the talk about 'tightening laws' caused a murmur among the senators.
"Order!" the Vice Chancellor called. "Order!"
One of the galleries separated. A Dug clearly wanted to ask a question.
"What do you mean by 'tightening the laws'?" asked the senator from the Dustig sector, where Malastare, the homeworld of the Dugs, was located. "And why, since the last 'tightening,'" he said with skepticism in his voice, "has crime in the Outer Rim only dropped by half a percent? How does this actually affect the crime rate, Senator Valorum? There's a Jedi among us who participated in conflicts in the Outer Rim. Have the criminal syndicates, smugglers, and pirates become weaker after the last amendments?"
"The last amendments were aimed at lone criminals, Senator Vilcum," Valorum answered the Dug. "I am proposing amendments aimed at organized crime."
"Without discussing this with the Senate Committee on Organized Crime?" a very fat Twi'lek literally shouted over everyone. "I don't recall us having a session on your issue!"
"If you analyze their public meeting log," Celeste said, deciding to comment on the developing verbal battle, "they've only met twice in the last ten years. And the last meeting was five years ago. The previous amendments were three years ago... Even amendments to the Republic law articles they oversee aren't a reason to skip the celebrations in the five-hundredth building on Republic Avenue."
"They don't even bother to hide it," Master Tivokka noted.
"They're working half-heartedly, like almost everyone here," I shrugged. "A typical situation for a country that's about to fall apart for a variety of reasons. Contradictions are piling up, various forces are asserting their right to use violence. And the legislative body is busy passing the dumbest laws. This can only end in civil war, mark my words. Someday, some megacorporation that's gotten too much power will decide to carve up the feeding trough at the very top. And that's it... Game over."
"When was the last time you even held a session?" came a question from another senator. "And besides, should a senator from the Gaulus sector (Author's note: that's where Ryloth, the Twi'lek homeworld, is located) be talking about this and sitting on the Organized Crime Committee?" he said, clearly hinting at slavery and the ryll trade.
"You're overstepping..."
"Quiet!" the Vice Chancellor shouted everyone down. "We've strayed from the topic of the session!"
"And not just from that," I snorted. "But also from your primary function. It seems that hospital where they treat mental health was created precisely for those who've listened to these 'senators' too much. Some don't work but pretend they do, while knowing they do nothing, yet still try to meddle. And others watch it all and don't even try to change it. Master Yoda, maybe we should change the youngling training program. We're clearly describing this place too rosily."
"Disappointed, you are," Yoda remarked to me.
"More like outraged," I found the answer. "I can't describe my state any other way. Incompetent, for the most part, stupid demagogues, bureaucrats, and populists of the worst kind. Watching them confirms the main points of my report."
"Speaking of which," Windu noted. "You never let the High Council fully review it, yet you're speaking on behalf of the Jedi Order."
"Afraid, Mace?" I asked Windu. We could speak informally, as holders of similar ranks. Plus we were almost the same age. He was about two years older than me. "Don't worry. Whatever I say, this crowd isn't ready to change even the composition of toilet paper. But... what I say might come in handy later."
"And what do you intend to say?"
"You're smart, figure it out," I grinned. "Or try to predict it. Unlike me, you have a direct talent for sensing, so you should be better at predictions than me."
"Just don't try to drag combat instincts into politics," Mace said. "Politics has nothing to do with duels against dark-siders."
"Quite the opposite," I shook my head. "It's the same battle, only here you need to know how to talk, not hit, and find allies. A slightly different approach, but not a different essence."
Meanwhile, Valorum had finished his report. His report was met with applause from some senators. Mostly those who were part of the Loyalist faction and supported Kalpana. Next in line was Ranulf Tarkin. I was interested in his speech. If Valorum is a kind of pacifist bureaucrat who would paint everything in the colors of 'The Republic is great, we need to change a few things, but it's great,' then Tarkin had every reason to tear the Republic a new one and, given his involvement in the victory—much less than mine, but still some involvement—he could start lecturing everyone... And in that respect, he would be right.
"Are there any questions for Senator Valorum?" the Vice Chancellor asked. "Anyone may ask a question."
"I have a question," the Alderaan gallery separated. "Bail Antilles, Senator of the Alderaan sector," he gave a slight bow. He introduced himself according to protocol before asking the question. Well... In private life, he didn't care much for formality. "Senator Valorum, we all listened very carefully to your report on the crisis that occurred between the forces of the pirate Iaco Stark and the Republic. However, we didn't hear any conclusions. What are you proposing... I know you started talking about harsher penalties against organized crime, but is that all you have to say? That seems like rather few conclusions."
"I've stated what, in my opinion, could help solve this problem," Valorum replied.
"So, the problem by which criminals gather in the Outer Rim and some of them unite into criminal syndicates like Iaco Stark's is that the laws regarding criminal groups are too lenient, is that what you believe?" Bail asked.
"Yes, and I am proposing a set of measures to tighten control over organized crime."
It's so tempting to ask: 'And with what money do you plan to organize all this?' The Judicial Forces are weak, as I've noted many times. Besides, some groups are created by the security departments of megacorporations for their 'dirty work'... Valorum is a smart man, but he's a few steps short of the conclusion that 'we're in deep shit.' The system needs to be overhauled from top to bottom, not just piling more laws on top of it... Not creating entities out of thin air.
"I doubt that will work," Bail snorted.
"And what do you propose, Senator Antilles?"
"What do I propose?"
"Yes," Valorum replied, his gallery not hurrying back to its place. "If you criticize, suggest."
A stupid setup. But let's see what my former classmate has to say.
"I believe," he answered, "that the problem is not in the legislative framework, although there are flaws there too. The problem is in the material support of the current peacekeepers."
"What, we don't pay the Jedi enough?" one senator asked sharply, interrupting Antilles.
"We don't pay them at all," Bail noted. "The Jedi Order's finances are acquired by the Order itself." And that was true. The Order possessed enormous financial power, mainly because it dealt with important, pressing issues of the Galaxy, such as food and medicine. Although saying we aren't paid isn't entirely accurate. We aren't on a salary; we are bound to the Senate by the Ruusan Reformation. But what about income? They essentially buy our services for medicine, galactic exploration, and food that our AgriCorps can produce. The AgriCorps really works on adapting beneficial crops that sentients consume to different biomes and planets. The nuance is that the Order provides its services to the Republic practically at cost. "I mean the Judicial Forces. The Jedi are, after all, too few, and there are specific conditions for joining the Order. The Judicial Forces are, in my opinion, the reason the Stark conflict arose. If the Corps were strong enough, Stark would never have gained the power he had before the events on Troiken."
"And are you proposing we increase their budget?" another senator asked sharply. "To increase the budget of an armed force that could limit your freedom?"
"A group of pirates with blasters, not destroyed in time by the Judicial Forces, will limit your freedom far more, Senator," Antilles replied.
"These are all conjectures," the senator snorted. "In the end, everything turned out fine."
"And how long will our luck hold?" Antilles asked.
"Enough," the Vice Chancellor interrupted the brewing argument. "We've heard you, Senator Antilles. If there are no more questions for Senator Valorum, we will move to the next speaker. Senator Tarkin."
The platform of the Senator from Eriadu separated. Ranulf Tarkin looked like a proud peacock... He stood, thrusting his chest out and clasping his hands behind his back, in a uniform. He looked at everyone like they were dirt.
"Honorable Senators, Supreme Chancellor Kalpana!" Ranulf Tarkin began his speech. "The bacta crisis occurred not long ago, in which I distinguished myself. As I said before it, 'negotiating with pirates who think too highly of themselves is nonsense.' That's why I began gathering my family's fleet, to have the means to punish Stark's pirates in the name of our Republic. In the name of preserving order and stability!" Oh, laying it on thick. "In the course of this event, I hope everyone noticed that the Republic has grown too weak, because what did we do?" he asked. "We sent a full senator to negotiate with a criminal—an event that disgraces the very title of senator! I believe the Republic's weakness is due to the fact that it is ruled by frankly weak individuals."
"What are you insinuating?" Chancellor Kalpana asked. The Chancellor's gaze turned steely, fixed on Tarkin's platform.
"I am insinuating that we need a new power," Tarkin replied, "a power originating from a stronger sentient, one who foresaw the conflict and resolved it as effectively as possible."
"You foresaw it?" Valorum asked, practically shouting over the murmuring senators. "Possibly. But did you resolve it? Hardly. You didn't command the fleet, nor did you prevent that fleet's disaster."
"I did! It was me! Senator Valorum, you are a stupid fool if you think I wasn't the one who dealt with Stark..."
"Senator Tarkin," the Vice Chancellor said, "I would ask you to watch your language. Such words are not used towards one's colleagues here."
"I only... Wanted to demonstrate the depth of Senator Valorum's incompetence."
"And you've only proven your own incompetence," the Chancellor noted. "In the end, you simply started insulting someone who disagreed with you, and disagreed justifiably... You said, Senator, that we need a stronger ruler of the Republic, a stronger Chancellor... Well then... What's this... Who will you propose to replace me?"
"I believe the best candidate would be the hero who solved the problem with Iaco Stark!" Tarkin declared loudly. "I gathered the fleet and led the attack on Iaco Stark! I will make the Republic great again, restore its sullied honor!"
"And what do you have to do with it?" Kalpana inquired. "We are aware of all the events of the Stark Conflict. If we follow your logic, Senator Tarkin, a very strange situation arises. For the first time in many years, a Jedi is being proposed as Supreme Chancellor. And I am inclined to agree to step down in premature resignation, Senator, if the Senate promises to elect Master Light Flyingstar in my place."
"A Jedi?" Tarkin asked. "But Jedi are not allowed to participate in politics at that level! And Master Light cannot be Supreme Chancellor."
"Neither can you," the Chancellor noted, to approving murmurs from the senators. Clearly, few people here liked Tarkin. Maybe the 'Militarist faction,' but after the Stark Crisis, his reputation among the militarists was tarnished. Why suddenly? Because Tarkin painted himself as a general, a strong military man, a smart and calculating commander. But in the end, he didn't even think about conducting pre-flight checks that could have detected the virus, and he constantly shouted that 'the fleet is mine,' wanting glory for himself... Relevant holo-recordings were circulating all across the HoloNet and had already garnered millions of ironic comments. They were published by an 'unknown person' on one of the video hosting platforms.
I published it. At first, I considered Ranulf a potential ally. But I saw him as roughly the same hypocritical, narrow-minded man he was in the Republic comics. So from the very beginning, I put him "in his place" in a harsh way. But Ranulf himself comes from the influential Tarkin clan, from Eriadu. And I couldn't afford to make "an enemy of that kind." Tarkin before the conflict — an influential and highly respected senator. Tarkin after the conflict and the corresponding records — a comic figure. A clown, a puffed-up peacock... People laughed at him more. Naturally, I edited the records so that evidence of the controversial moments, where I was even a little rude, was removed.
"Forgive me, Ranulf," Kalpana continued. "But I don't agree to hand power over to someone who won't even check his own ships before a hyperjump. And you turned out to be just that kind of person. So if you try to call a vote of no confidence against me, I hope the senators won't support it. Or you, as a candidate for the new chancellor."
"You're being rude to me!" Tarkin replied. "With your disrespect!"
"I'm only stating facts," Kalpana replied. "That's your problem, since you find these facts unpleasant. Is your praise-filled report finished? Can we now hear from the Jedi?"
The senator from Eriadu clearly had no more words.
"Then we move on to the final report on the past crisis," the Vice Chancellor said. "To deliver it, I invite Light Flyingstar. A Master of the Jedi Order and the commander-in-chief of Republic forces in the Troiken conflict."
I stood on the platform and used telekinesis to press the platform's buttons. The Jedi box, with the Grand Master, Celeste, Tivokka, and Mace Windu inside, slid forward. The Jedi generally acted more as observers and listeners. They rarely used their box to speak in the Senate.
"Good day, esteemed Senators, Chancellor Kalpana. I am Light Flyingstar, Jedi Master," I introduced myself to the respected assembly. "Since you've allowed it, I will share my thoughts regarding the past conflict. I'll begin, perhaps, with the wisdom of the author of a political science textbook I read when I had the honor of studying at Alderaan University, majoring in Public Administration." The esteemed Professor Trasken Organa wrote, five hundred years ago: 'The distinguishing and most important feature of a fully formed state is its monopoly on violence. Only the state's army and police should have the right to use weapons, and only by order of state bodies.' However... this postulate is ignored in our times. The Bacta Crisis, as it was called in the media, was caused not only by the conspiracy of Hask Halda, the former Viceroy of the Trade Federation, and the political ambitions of Iaco Stark. The main problem, in my view, is the Republic's lack of a monopoly on violence. This, according to Professor Trasken's work, makes the current Republic a non-viable state. You may tell me, Senators, that an army is a problem, because it generates violence. And you would be right. But we must generate violence with the army only against those who threaten the Republic's existence. Those whose ambitions endanger our state and, above all, the lives of our fellow citizens. Ask yourself — what would a company of pirates, bandits, and smugglers under Stark's leadership have done if he had achieved his political ambitions? Is there anyone among you who can guarantee me that if Stark's ambitions were realized, peace would await us, no one would suffer, and everyone would live happily?"
I paused, clearly expecting someone to interrupt my speech. No one did, so it was time to continue.
"No one can guarantee that, because if a bureaucrat leads the government, it will be a bureaucrat's government. If a farmer becomes the ruler, it will be a farmer's government; if a businessman becomes the ruler, it will be a businessman's government... And if a pirate and cutthroat like Iaco Stark becomes the ruler, it will be a pirate and cutthroat's government, with all the ensuing consequences for the sentients under his control. And we should have nipped this problem in the bud. Why, in your opinion, did Stark start doing what led us to the conflict at Troiken? Because, as my old friend Bail Antilles said, the funding for the Judicial Forces is appallingly low. We do not have a monopoly on violence. And when I say 'we,' I don't mean the Jedi, but the Republic itself. Conflicts like this will continue to arise, esteemed Senators, more and more often — because other groups will see that we can't stop them immediately. As long as the Republic lacks an army, a fleet, and proper funding for the organization that investigates crimes, the situation will not be good."
"Jedi Master," one of the senators spoke up. She was a tall woman with chestnut hair. "Senator from the Bormea sector, Alira Mothma. I would like to ask you a question. Creating an army is not only a drain on the Republic's budget, but also creates situations where someone might try to use the army to fulfill their personal desires. It is a means of restricting freedom and democracy."
"A group of heavily armed pirates who captured you, Senator, because there were no armed forces to disarm them beforehand — that is the real threat to your democracy. Because a sentient standing at blaster-point will be guided not by the principle of free will, but by the principle of survival. The simplest example: let's say a power crisis occurs on a planet. The planet's ruler refuses to step down at the end of his term; let's say it has a presidential system of government. He gives an order to the army, which obeys him, seizes the government, turns its weapons on the people, and then the ruler decides to hold a vote, something like: 'Do you grant him the right to be the 'Great Leader' for life?'... And the sentients will vote yes. Not because it is their will. But because blasters are aimed at them. But if there were a Republic Army and a strictly established law for this case, according to which — the order of power transfer on the planet was violated, and we remember that the order of power transfer is different for each planet, but violating it with violence is forbidden. The sentients would suffer under the rule of the newly emerged dictator... But we could send in troops. And by the same logic — we could act against any armed bandit, Senator Alira. Or let's take another example: a megacorporation seizes several hundred sectors of the Republic at once because it has its own army and declares independence... Why could this happen? Because the megacorporation has an army, has a fleet... And we don't. So they can do whatever they want with us, however they want. But to answer your question... How to prevent the army from being used 'for personal gain'? And the answer is actually simple. I propose abolishing the 'Senate committees' and creating full-fledged ministries. Bodies of power and administration for the corresponding spheres of society. For example, the Ministry of Defense — will handle, according to my project, the army and navy. The Minister of Defense will oversee the deployment of the army; he will be accountable to the Senate and the Supreme Chancellor. In addition — I recommend starting to form military units to be ready for such situations."
"You are ignoring our freedoms!" a loud voice rang out.
"Exactly! You're taking too many liberties, Jedi! Our freedom must not be restricted by the army!"
"And who should become the Minister of Defense?" the Vice Chancellor asked.
"I would suggest someone from among the senior officers of the Judicial Forces who has distinguished themselves in command. I believe that only those who have served in the army or navy should be considered for this position. And preferably — someone who has participated in some military conflict. Even if it was just chasing pirates for twenty years... But definitely a military person. It would be foolish to give this position to someone unconnected with the army or navy."
"You would suggest," one of the senators mimicked me. "We will never accept such a bill! You, Jedi, were supposed to only report on the Troiken conflict, not stick your nose in with your stupid advice."
I focused on the senator. The speaker was a man of medium height. His sector in the Mid Rim? The Beus sector, a senator from the planet Lohopa-2, known for its tourism business and mountain ores.
"Be careful, Senator Gors," I said. "Insults are forbidden here."
"You're not a senator..."
"And therefore the rules and laws don't apply to me?" I asked him. "Does the Republic Constitution state that you are above me in status? Or haven't you read it?"
"Senator Gors," Kalpana said, "the Jedi Master is right. You are going too far. At the same time — your report deserves attention. I believe it will give us a few more reasons to all convene. Would it be difficult for you to transfer your project plans for the ministries to me?"
"A Jedi cannot participate in politics!" another senator said loudly.
"So I'm not participating," I replied with a smile. "I'll just hand over my projects to the Supreme Chancellor." But don't worry. The time for my participation in politics will come. In the end, I achieved my goals. I built myself a reputation along the lines of 'I told you so'... And now — the more Palpatine and Damask stir up trouble in the Galaxy with conflicts for their own rise... the more reputation will trickle in for me. Still, they decided not to hold the session behind closed doors. And since I was speaking on behalf of the Jedi Order, the Order would get some too. And later, this political capital called 'reputation' I'll be able to use it for a good cause. The reformation of the Republic during one of the bifurcation points... I just have to wait. But I'm patient, and I'll wait...