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Post by Dan Zorko on Jun 16, 2009 21:53:18 GMT
OOC: Ok then, whatever. Doesn't matter to me. You take the next post, Smurfy.
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Post by Jalua Solast on Jun 17, 2009 1:08:47 GMT
Jalua smiled and nodded to a couple of servants who approached. "We'll get you a room sorted in the palace for now but when your ready, you won't have a problem returning to your ship" she said, before turning slightly to Dan. "I bet he will be pleased when he finds out his Empire's basically declared war without him" she muttered, careful to avoid anyone listening in.
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Post by John Hammond on Jun 17, 2009 1:28:35 GMT
Once in his room, Hammond was quickly debriefed by a petty politician operating in Salanda. John could almost feel the effect of the medicine draining away.
"THEY WHAT?!?" Hammond stood up, in his armour towering over the aide. He grabbed the poor man by the scruffs of the neck and held him up against the wall. "When did this happen?"
"Fl... fleets... Omega... fleet is already at... Ban - Bandomeer. ROE is Fired if - fired if fired upon only. Consul Werck is.... delivering an ultimatum - Please!" Hammond released the politician and struggled back to his wheelchair. Once there, he called for a hospital ward, and made his way back to the Empress.
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Post by Jalua Solast on Jun 17, 2009 1:37:00 GMT
Jalua had just concluded her business with the Coalition's various governments and was walking with Dan back towards her throne room when a servant told her that John was already there awaiting her presence. Nodding and looking at Dan with a 'told-ya' look, she finally entered the room and saw John in his wheelchair. "What's wrong John?" she asked, deep concern in her tone and face.
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Post by John Hammond on Jun 17, 2009 2:49:10 GMT
All of a sudden, John realized that he was at a stale-mate. In Gyndine, he was an easy target, and Jalua and Dan had been behaving extremely cozily with the Mandalorians, and they could very well have some hidden treaty written up somewhere he couldn't get at. However, he thought, these people had just saved him: Why would they kill him?
"Empress. I need to get to Mandalore, and unfortunately I need to make demands that all Mandalorians retreat from their invasion." He paused for a moment, and asked, "Did you know about this, Empress? And if so, what is your take on the Mandalorian Initiated Invasion?"
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Post by Dan Zorko on Jun 17, 2009 11:03:44 GMT
Dan looked longingly at the throne room, then back at Jalua, who had just entered Johns room. With a groan, he held his hand up in front of his face, with his thumb and index finger a centimeter apart. "That close..." he muttered, then turned and walked into the room, just as John was asking the Empress about the Mandalorian invasion.
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Post by Jalua Solast on Jun 17, 2009 12:28:04 GMT
"Well..." Jalua began, hesitating a moment, knowing it was a tricky subject. "I've been watching it develop when i can and from what i can see, Kuar shouldn't have been taken but really, Bandomeer was originally considered by the Mandalorian's to be theirs. Them fortifying the planet seemed like an invasion and to be honest, all of this dispute should really be focused around that planet. Bandomeer is a very important strategic point for both parties, so if you can't agree who the owner is, then why not organise a Joint-Government? I'm sure that way a lot of bloodshed could be avoided because although you will continue to bombard them into submission, they will hold out due to their warrior nature, even on the defensive, they will continue to hunt down your forces. Is Bandomeer really worth that?" she asked, turning the question back onto him.
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Post by John Hammond on Jun 17, 2009 20:09:37 GMT
"It's not my problem the Mandalorians don't know where their border lies. Furthermore, why would they retake a planet that is theirs, after all? An armed movement shows that they clearly know it is NOT a Mandalorian planet, doesn't it?" Hammond was beginning to become more disgruntled than preoccupied, and he began moving his chair on his own, hoping Jalua would follow. "I'm not worried about fighting them. I'll kill every single Mandalorian if I have to. However, I suppose if I did this, then the Coalition would take sides, am I correct?" Hammond purposely didn't look at Jalua, he knew he would likely be alone in a Mando-Imperial conflict, and he didn't want to make the Empress feel more uncomfortable than she should. "At any rate, it looks like I'll be going to Mandalore." He stopped moving, and looked directly at the Empress. "Will you come with me, M'lady?"
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Post by Jalua Solast on Jun 17, 2009 20:16:19 GMT
Jalua followed but made a visible sigh with his questions, it was something she had really wanted to be kept out of for a while. "To be honest, you will be alone if you invade their territory. Bandomeer should remain a disputed system and i told you to organise a joint-government, you do realise that your asking for war by doing this. You could defend the Braxant Run well, but they can't defend their empire if you take Bandomeer, i bet your fastest ships could reach Mandalore in less than an hour from that system" she said, working finally to her verdict. "If you attack, or if they attack, I'll be forced to act. I can't have a war so close to my borders, I simply won't allow it. I might not take sides, but I will send peacekeeping forces into the region if i have to, it's disputed anyway so they won't be invading until all of this is sorted. So order your ships to hold a ceasefire and sort this out properly, because the Mandalorians won't give up on this, they are too determined and their views on death before dishonour will serve their cause for war".
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Post by Dan Zorko on Jun 17, 2009 20:18:42 GMT
OOC: Yeah... I'll let you 2 battle it out before I post...
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Post by John Hammond on Jun 17, 2009 20:30:27 GMT
Hammond stopped in his tracks and turned his wheelchair. His face was deadly serious.
"I'm going to exhaust every single diplomatic channel before I decide to start a war with the Mandalorians, Empress Solast. May I remind you that the taskforce currently on Bandomeer is simply holding its ground, and reinforcing the Imperial strongholds on the planet? Now, if you'll come with me to Mandalore, it would be my pleasure. If you won't, I'm sorry, but I have a war to prevent."
Without further ado, Hammond turned and started wheeling away again. Then he stopped, and scratched his head. He started turning, then changed his mind and tried to go the other way. He stopped. He was lost. Red in the face, he waited for someone to get there to show him the way to wherever he was going.
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Post by Dan Zorko on Jun 17, 2009 20:37:31 GMT
Dan kept a straight face, and leaned over to Jalua. "Wanna see how far he can get by himself?" he joked.
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Post by Jalua Solast on Jun 17, 2009 20:41:05 GMT
Jalua sighed and walked over to his wheelchair, pushing him along. "I won't go, I've got my own problems here. We're introducing rationing and making sure every household is equipped with supplies and ammunition to hold out against war. It's not just a practical test to see how our nation can cope, it's also a preventive measure after we've had some bad intelligence. If i don't keep with my people, they'll soon ask why they are being put on alert. So you deal with Mandalore, it's between you and him. I'll act as an outside peacekeeper if i have to" she said, repeating basically what she had already said to give nothing away.
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Post by Dan Zorko on Jun 19, 2009 12:01:09 GMT
OOC: Who was supposed to post next?
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Post by Jalua Solast on Jun 19, 2009 18:01:07 GMT
OOC: John
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