Grand Vizier,
I was considering Hector Cynum. He's a crude rabble rouser but is a hero to the Tionese.
The Tionese are a people who have suffered much, for better or worse. Since the days of their wars with the Hutts they have suffered. But I do think it is worth remembering that the Tionese were our stalwart supporters over the Empire. The Tionese are extremely hardy, producing some of the most formidable human stock - they represent a marriage of the Thoroughbred Core genes with the suffering of the Rim.
The Tionese have a hero, he has been hailed by some as "Hector the Despot" (a title of some reknown as it was the title of their Folk Hero "Xim the Despot" who was slain in battle against the Hutts). He's a dangerous man, a man who has the potential to unite the Tionese either for or against Imperial Rule.
I propose we take one of the following options, after the conflict with Lorrd is resolved (with whatever outcome).
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Option One
1. Senator Ordan is instructed that he will file a motion to make Cynum "Imperial Advocate of the Tionese", a position which confers a seat in the Senate for life, a Barony of the Empire and a pension on Imperial Center. This position (being an Imperial Office) would require the giving up of the reigns to Planetary Governance and Military Command.
2. Hector Cynum would be thus relocated to Imperial Center, and removed from command. The Auril Union will disperse without his vision and leadership as it's dictator and voice. On Imperial Center, he would be on our leash; and could sign whatever we gave him to sign, including documents calling upon Tionese to enlist in the Military (and indeed the hardy Tionese would be an asset if whole regiments of them could be formed for the army).
3. The Core Worlds would facilitate the disarmourment of his Military by offering worlds generous deals to vend their starships to them; I have enough favours owed to assure this.
4. Hector could have a remote "kill switch" implanted covertly, so that on the Empire's order he might be discretely killed. Although I doubt this would be needed - he dreams of the Core and Imperial Glory, I do not doubt that he would sing the music given to him if he was allowed into the Choir. We'd gain another Imperial voice in the Senate, and the control of a whole ethnic group that can be easily mobilized overtly or covertly against our foes.
Benefits:
Cynum becomes our man, the worrying ascendancy of the Tionese is quelled and co-opted into an upsurge in support for the Empire.
The process of dismantling the Auril Union can be done at a controlled rate.
Risks:
Cynum could fail to play ball - in which case we kill his family, then him.
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Option Two
1. I have him killed. Poison for preference.
Benefits:
Quick ending to the problem of Hector Cynum.
Cheaper than option one.
Risks:
A stronger leader might emerge from the Chaos in the wake of his death.
Imperial involvement being revealed might turn the Tionese against us wholesale.
General lack of control on the situation - in the even chaos broke out then the Empire would be forced to use force and publicly act to fight fires. This would be expensive and risks internal cohesion.
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I favour Option One, but I'd be interested to hear your view. I personally favour a Option One and the Cynums becoming our pets and tools to assure the loyalty of their people. Personally, I would sooner have Cynum inside the tent pissing out, than risk his people being on the outside pissing inward; I think we have an extreme amount to be gained from pulling his strings.
Do you have any thoughts?
