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Arrival
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| Maximus_Aurelius | Date: Wednesday, 06 Jul 2011, 11:01 PM | Message # 1 |
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| Two days ago...
He stood in his quarters, looking out the window. Borosk was a spartan world... beautiful in its absolute normality and how, for lack of a better word, bland it was. There was nothing spectacular here, really. There never was. And for time immorial, it was a center of military operations, as much as Anaxes or Carida. Rather than Anaxes' focus on defense, or Carida's on education, Borosk's focus was solely on war. It seemed that since its colonization, every major effort in the Outer Rim was staged out of Borosk. It was certainly true today with the Empire. He found himself rarely admiring nature for its mere beauty, usually it was for tactical or strategic reasons, or to survey the catastrophe of a used battlefield. It was something out of the norm, as was his mission. Defend Naboo. He had never had a defensive operation, and perhaps that was why he was given this assignment.
In the entire time Naboo had an Imperial occupation force, every unit since the departure of the 501st Stormtrooper Legion, had been an defensive force or units with a heavy defense lineage. For the first time in eight years, the Empire had set Stormtroopers on the surface of Naboo in Commander Ver's 21st Legion. Now, he was being sent to oversee military operations, as well as take over as Military Governor. He had already made his first move as Military Governor; calling for conscription to field a full Corps , including his own unit which would sit at the lead, of native personnel. All he asked of the Naboo was the easiest request of all, easiest in manpower demands, easiest in training, easiest in proficiency needed among the recruits. Three Line Battlegroups. Just three damn divisions. It was just to bring the garrison up to normal strength. However, the newly elected Governor, Mercutio, objected; well, that was being polite... the man flat out denied him. As did Sio Bibble to all of his predecessors. He knew months ago of this upcoming assignment, and it was his hope that new blood in the Naboo government would allow governing to come easier. Obviously, it would be just as difficult, if not more so. At least Bibble had the courage to use his real name, not some fake state name, to merely hold political office.
He was understanding of a regnal name, coming from Deralia, being the Crown Prince himself, but nearly every politician having a name of the state was ridiculous. He understood Palpatine. He understood Kylantha. Not Mercutio. Naboo would be a very different tour for him... and he had at least a year of doing so, unless High Command made the decision to make Fort Spearhead the 159th's permanent garrison. In that case, who knew how long he would have on the planet. It probably depended on how his handling of the situation went, and how quickly he put down the Gungan dissidents. He was ripped from these thoughts, however, by a knock at his door. It was perhaps a primitive way of thinking in this day and age, considering the knock was in fact a chime through the speakers originated from the external door panel. "Enter."
Behind himself, he heard the door hiss open, some boot steps, and then shut. There was a snap of boots. "General." he heard. He gave a nod towards the window to acknowledge the man, and after a moment, spoke. "Colonel Nuruodu," he spoke, still looking out the window, to his adjutant, Colonel Rathe Nuruodu. He could hear the Echani relax and set down a datapad. "Sir, the entire division has finally arrived on Naboo, with the arrival of Major Vrand's A Battery. We are merely awaiting yourself, myself, and the staff officers for the completion of Headquarters staffing. We are ready to depart when you are, sir." For a moment, he didn't want to look away from the window. He felt it would be a long time before he would see Borosk, and he would miss it. There was something about military planets, perhaps due to his own world, that relaxed him. "Right..." he said, grabbing his tunic from the bed and beginning to button it. "Sir, if i may... command gave you choice over the name of the fort, even though General Samuul's tour was only half-way through. Why Spearhead? It seems to... artistic, for an Imperial fort, to me. Not that I'm complaining, to be honest..." to which he laughed. Once his tunic was fastened and in perfect place, he turned to find a quizzical look on the Echani's face. He walked towards his dresser, and thus him, as he spoke.
"A little under three thousand years ago, the Gungans of Naboo, were locked in a brutal civil war amongst one another. Spearhead was a fortress-city, considered impregnable by all of the Gungan warlords. The 'unifier' of the Gungans, Boss Gallo, had to unite the entire Gungan race against the final opposing warlord, Boss Rogoe, to take down Spearhead, and even then at the loss of almost his entire force, and the loss of all of Rogoe's warriors, who fought to the death. From the ruins rose the Gungan capital city, Otoh Gunga, which sits underwater next to and in the ruins of the ancient city." he told him as he put on his cap and then walked back to the bed to grab his bag. Once it was slung over his shoulder, he turned back around to Colonel Nuruodu. "I choose it due to its connection to the world of Naboo, and to invoke a certain psychological element in the Gungan resistance. That they will have to unite as an entire species against us, but even then, that will not be enough."
The Echani nodded, and they departed the room, walking through the ornate command officers barracks. He could have easily owned a home here, but he decided against it, feeling that he should have to be one among his soldiers, so to speak. They were silent, until they were on the tarmac and walking towards the command shuttle. "So, you're daring them?" asked Nuruodu. "What's that, Colonel?" he asked, at this point his mind had already moved on to another subject. "Spearhead... you're daring the Gungans to attack it?" he asked, now in enough detail that he could answer. "Yes, Colonel. You see, Spearhead is to evoke, what I hope, is the memory of an ancient city. The story of which, hopefully, they know. The Gungan rebels will spend their time building up their forces into one massive force to attack us. However, they don't stand a chance, even if united as one. Be it one climatic, glorious battle to a drawn-out, challenging campaign of several years... they will be defeated, and they will any resistors will die," he said. He didn't have to have eyes in the back of his head at this point to know the acknowledging nod that just occurred. In a couple of days, he would see the fruit of his labor with the commissioning of Fort Spearhead and the formal changing of command ceremony.
Present Day - Morning
Over the orbit of Naboo, a Lambda shuttle dropped out of hyperspace, decorated with the emblem of the Empire on its dorsal wing. It was configured in the command style, being eight suites to hold each of the Staff Officers, the General and his adjutant. It had been a long, two day trip from the practical opposite side of the galaxy, and it would be with slight relief that the Army officers would finally have foot on the ground again.
It was only a short twenty minutes before the shuttle was finally setting down on the landing pad within the walls of Fort Spearhead, which was nestled in the Great Grass Plains, near the location of the Battle of the Grassy Plains, just outside Theed. During the trip, he had time to think about being stationed on Naboo. He no longer dreaded it, and in fact , looked upon it as an honor. Naboo was the Emperor's homeworld, and thus the de facto birthplace of the Empire. Regardless of the endless amounts of irony regarding Naboo and the Empire, he would approach the assignment as the highest honor he could be bestowed... he was chosen to defend the Emperor's home. It was likely the Emperor was involved in the decision, or at least he hoped he was, being a retired Royal Guard. It had been so many years since he had worn the red armor or wielded the Force Pike that he had forgotten the significance of Naboo, for which he mentally pummeled himself.
When he and his staff stepped out of the Lambda shuttle, a small honor guard from Ver's already deployed 21st Legion awaited him at picture perfect points of attention. He walked out, and saluted the Stormtroopers, and walked to the lift to take him down into the crossways underneath the Landing Pad. It was in there that he took a turbolift down to the bottom, where he stepped out into a massive parade ground, which now held the entire 159th, in full inspection readiness. There was something about over twenty thousand individuals snapping to attention in unison, that swelled his chest with undeniable pride. In a small area in front of the assembly, was an area with a small stage and a podium. It was surrounded by Imperial flags, as well as the 159th's flag on one side, and the flag of the 405th Line Battlegroup on the other. He and his staff walked onto the stage, and took their seats, with the command staff of the 405th already seated, and the commanding officer of the Mid Rim Command, High General Antar Hans, sitting in the middle. After a few moments, General Hans stood and took the podium. "On this day, nine years after the founding of the First Galactic Empire, the One-Hundred Fifty-Ninth Assault Battlegroup, of the Fifth Atrisian Corps, replaces the Four-Hundred Fifth Line Battlegroup, of the Thirty-Third Line Corps, as the main garrison force of Naboo. The Four-Hundred Fifth Line Battlegroup hereby stands relieved." read the General, following which two troopers from one of the Security Platoons of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 405th lowered and cased the flag of the 405th. Two troopers from one of the Security Platoons of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 159th then proceeded to raise the flag of the 159th.
Once this was done, he stood, as did Major General Terek Samuul, the commanding officer of the 405th. "On this day, nine years after the founding of the First Galactic Empire, Brigadier General Maximus Aurelius, is hereby enstated as Military Governor of Naboo. General Aurelius, you are to relieve, Major General Terek Samuul, Military Governor of Naboo and commanding officer of the Four-Hundred Fifth Line Battlegroup." read General Hans once more. He and General Samuul walked towards once another, meeting behind the podium, each two feet away from General Hans. "Major General Samuul, you are relieved, sir." he barked. Samuuls gave a slight nod and barely noticeable smile. "I am relieved." he stated. Normally, General Samuul would be given the opportunity to give a speech, as would himself. Both of him, however, in advance, declined the opportunity to do so, now giving each other salutes. Instead the ceremony ended with General Hans shouting, as good as any Drill Sergeant, out to the 159th. "DETAIL, PRESENT ARMS!" to which over 20,000 personnel simultaneously gave a crisp salute, including those behind the three of them which were now also saluting. The two of them turned in synchronization, and gave a salute to the 159th, and then walked back to their seats. They did not sit however, as 20,000 salutes concluded. Instead, General Samuul and his staff entered the turbolift of the landing pad, while he and his staff left the podium and walked through a small gap in the center of the assembled detail towards the Prefabricated Garrison Base that served as the center of Fort Spearhead.
They were, perfect, in their drill. Drill and formation was something that was constantly practiced on Borosk, and even more so by his men. Many complained, but the constant drill paid off in the flawless change-of-command ceremony. Once they were within the base, the detail was dismissed. After a three hour meeting with General Hans, his staff was relieved to square away their personal belongings, and he and General Hans, along with his adjutant, toured and inspected Fort Spearhead while General Samuul left for good from Naboo.
Present Day - Afternoon
After having lunch with General Hans, he left, leaving him to Fort Spearhead by himself. It was in perfect condition, being set up by the 21st when they arrived. Now dispersed throughout the countryside, he was in the war room of the base, observing a holographic map of Naboo. He was contemplating a new dispersal set up, now that his division was set up on the planet. Before he could get into too much detail or thought, he had to leave to do a press briefing.
An hour ago, the Gungan rebel, Bar Tenko, made a "Declaration of Freedom". It was funny that any Gungan felt compelled to do so, as they had largely been left alone with the ad hoc legalization of slavery. Slaving operations on the Emperor's homeworld was to be avoided, but should the rebellion by the Gungans get any worse, it would have to be used, as slavery wasn't necessarily legal as it was more used as punishment for dissidents. The Gungans were pushing the lines in becoming public enemies of the Empire, and one more move would probably send them hurtling over the side of the cliff that separated annoyance and enemy.
Before he knew it, he was standing behind a podium in the press room, the flag of the Empire and the 159th, in a crossed stance, standing behind him. He cleared his throat as he looked to his datapad one last time before he started. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Before we get started, I feel compelled to address the events of this afternoon that I'm sure that you are anxious to ask me about. You will all find that I am a proactive man, who will never leave you in the dark, any more than necessary that is," he said, with some laughter in the room.
"Bar Tenko, is an obviously mentally disturbed individual, as are any who follow him. Despite his extremely shocking grasp of Galactic Basic, despite a total absence of education system in the Gungan society, he still has a ways to go... such as my name." he said, with more laughter ensuing for a moment at the expense of those that had insisted on refering to him as General Relius. "Frankly, we must address the content of his outlandish claims. Firstly, Naboo is a completely sovereign and free world, ran by its own government. My position of Military Governor consists of being commander of all Imperial forces stationed on and in the star system, and a liaison between the governments of Naboo and the Empire. If anyone is stripping any rights from the Gungans, their problem would be with the Naboo, not the Empire. If anyone is enslaving the Gungans, their problem would be with the Naboo, not the Empire. If anyone is destroying anything of the Gungans, their problem would be with the Naboo, not the Empire. However, the Naboo have done no such thing... so these extremists are swatting at the shadows. Let me make this perfectly clear, I will not allow terrorism to take hold on this planet. I will not allow any attacks upon the citizens of Naboo or it's brave sons and daughters of the Royal Security Forces. I will also not stand for false, baseless, and outlandish claims by extremist individuals. Any individual, and I mean any, who breaks the law or becomes an aggressor, will see any and all means necesarry and available, used against them to bring them to justice..." he began, starting what would be a four hour long press briefing, including several hours of questions from the press. He would rest well that evening, but surely have an eventful morning following the events in Kwilaan.
Brigadier General Maximus Aurelius
Imperial Army
Commanding Officer, 159th Assault Battlegroup
Military Governor of Naboo
Crown Prince of Deralia
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| Mercutio | Date: Thursday, 07 Jul 2011, 0:01 AM | Message # 2 |
 Sergeant
Group: Users
Messages: 33
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| A General admiring the desolation of a scorned wasteland outside his window and, elsewhere, a Governor appreciating the majesty of the Solleu River cascading from the Royal Palace in Theed to the verdant plains far below; the juxtaposition of these scenes made the differences between these men all too apparent. In some respects, though, Relius and Mercutio were similar; they were both new to their jobs, and just as General Relius had formed his opinion of Mercutio without having met him, so had Mercutio formed his opinion of Relius. An uncompromising spartan of Deralian temperament, Mercutio had decided. A man as one dimensional in his personality as he was in his motives and methods. The General's first act (demanding conscription of the people of Naboo) confirmed his suspicions of the man as far as he was concerned. He didn't hesitate to have his first act as Governor be to refuse the General's demand.
Mercutio resented the General's very presence on Naboo. He had the distinct impression that the Empire was taking advantage of the death of Governor Bibble and dispatching a "military governor" to usurp power from Bibble's successor—the less established Mercutio. As a result, Mercutio would watch Relius closely and resist anything he perceived as an encroachment on his power or that of Queen Kylantha. One couldn't blame Mercutio for his concern, considering the assassination of Queen Apailana was still a painful rend in Naboo's collective memory. Relius, as the ambassador of the Empire, would not be admired on Naboo. This much was certain.
Whether the General would fit into the stereotype Mercutio had placed him in, however, remained to be seen. Relius was a Crown Prince of his world and presumably had some respect for the institution of monarchy, but he had poorly understood the "name of state." As the Duke of Ferentina, it was not unusual for Mercutio to have a name of state, and his full name—Augustus Lombardo Rossi de Ferentina, or "Gus"—would fill a lot of space on the Governor's stationary (not to mention on a ballot). Mercutio, for his part, would undoubtedly meet the General's expectations of him; Relius considered it an honor to have been appointed to Naboo, but Mercutio was determined to make the appointment lose its luster for him, and fast. His refusal of the General's conscription proposal had been thorough. "The people of Naboo are not at war with the Gungans," he had said in his inauguration speech, directed in part at Relius, "and will take part in no such war."
As important as retarding the encroachment of Imperial power on Naboo was to Mercutio, however, he was also passionate about a host of other causes and he did have other priorities in office. A living wage for Gungan laborers would be controversial; many Naboo were prejudicial to the Gungans (including even Naboo's senator), and businesses relied on them for cheap labor. And from the moment Mercutio examined the planet's finances he came to understand that his promise to boost funding for art, science, and engineering without imposing tariffs or fees was going to be problematic, especially with the Empire leaning on him to approve a stipend to Relius to support his war on the Gungans (something that Mercutio would resist for as long as he could). The consequences of imposing a tariff would be worse than simply breaking a campaign promise, however; the perennially disgruntled spice miner's unions on Rori could go on strike as a result. They were already unhappy with Mercutio's "open arms" immigration policy which, critics said, congested Naboo's ports.
The new Governor had a lot on his plate. Today, he would take it easy, meet with establishment figures and interest groups in Theed and move his staff and personal effects into his new office in the Royal Palace. Tomorrow he would get to work, and sooner or later that meant a meeting with General Relius, face to face.
His Excellency,
Governor Mercutio of Naboo
Head of the Royal Advisory Council, and Duke of Ferentina
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