I am aware that the Chief of State has made a statement on this matter, which as you say was consulted by you. Now for the purposes of this committee, please could you give me a full run-down of the defenses surrounding Dantooine. This answer will be considered classified and as such will not be published in the public account.

Secondly, in the opinion of the NRI would Senator Exar Ray have been aware of the defenses standing as they did at the date of the Statements in question?

I thank you General Cracken, you are more than welcome to return to your duties in the meantime.

Senator Ray, you stated on the date in question that the Dantooine defenses were at one level, and in fact they were considerably stronger, one could say that you decieved the Senate into voting for a bill to grant you an even larger number of defenses, This is at the very best, a very serious mistake and demonstrates very little respect for the Senate, the Galactic Legislature, and as such very little respect for the Citizens whos representatives you are accused of lying to.

So I will give you the chance to admit your foolish mistake to this committee, and present a full and frank apology if you wish later in these procedings.

I ask you Senator Ray, did you knowingly Lie to the Senate with relation to the Dantooine Defense and Recovery Act? A Yes or No answer will suffice at this stage before we present further questioning. Bear in mind Senator Ray, you are under oath.

To answer your question, no. I did not intentionally lie to the Senate to aquire more defenses for the planet. whoever said that it was my goal to lie to this body is a grave mistake at best. As for what demonstrates what, Senator, I hardly believe that a man such as yourself is in any position to tell me what a mistake is. Because of this session, Dantooine citizens now are in jepordy because our defenses are out in the open. That means that any Imperial or neutral slicer can get their hands on the information and coordinate an assault. While they have the numbers, I will refuse to give up the locations of the defenses mentioned. I kept the defenses a secret because I do not believe that planetary defenses should be in the open. If anyone had any concern, then they should of consulted either myself or the Chief of State before voting. But you, Senator Kruus, have the nasty iritiation of sticking your nose into something that shouldn't be. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings when you proposed making the entire New Republic military droids, but for the life of man and civility... get over it.

As far as an apology goes, I am sorry to the citizens that they are now more in jepordy then ever by the greedy curiousity of Senator Kruus.

I am done here Senator. We can discuss this in private if you wish with the contents of the meeting being made to the public at a time. We have more important matters to attend to, and I have no more time for these games. Dantooine has now proper defenses and that is all I ever wanted, was a fighting chance. Thank you, and good day.

Senator Ray, do you mean to suggest that the charge of telling a lie to the Senate in order to pass legislation is a a minor issue?

So you Senator, admit lying openly to the Senate? Motives aside?

Attacking the head of the Economics Committee in such an ad-hominem fashion is rather a pathetic move and possibly the last bastion you can muster before you acknowledge that in this matter Senator, you were wrong, you lied to the representatives of the Galaxy and thus to every New Republic Citizen. Whats more you are only brining more shame to youself by refusing to apologise for the lie! Even if you had reason for it, it was a barefaced lie.

This information was undoubtedly in multiple databases already, the NRIs and Dantooines for example, I don’t see as any harder to slice now. Regardless, as you are declaring these weapons, but refusing to actually give locations which we can verify, I will lead an Economics Committee Investigation to Dantooine, I will personally inspect each weapon and see if there has been any further foul play here.

You are not free to go at this stage Senator, whatever you may think, you will stay and answer our questions or I will be forced to write a letter to the Chairman of the Senate and Seargeant at Arms in order that you do come and answer the questions posed to you. Whether you feel this committee is important or not is irrelevant, the law finds it relevant, and this committee finds it relevant for you to be here to answer our questions.

So to you, Senator Kruus. You may try to step foot upon my planet to investigate, however without a written warrent from Chair of the Senate Emerest himself, or Chief Justice Neolight... the visit will do you no good, and I will simply ask you to remove yourself.

And also Senator, being a patriot of the New Republic and of the people of Dantooine, I would never expect someone such as yourself to understand where I come from with this all. It takes a man of true heart to understand me... something which appears you lack Senator.

Exar Ray
Senator of Dantooine

Exar Ray
Senator of Dantooine

Senator, I thank you for your admission of misleading the Senate, although I feel that while you may believe it common, neither I nor other Senators see it as acceptable for someone in a position of authority to mislead the Senate over a matter so specific to their area.

As such, this committee finds unanimously that you, Senator Exar Ray very likely mislead the Senate intentionally. And finds it certain that the Senate passed the Dantooine Defense and Recovery Act on the basis of false information.

Now, moving onto the next matter, I would say the siting of the turbolasers, and all other weapons on Dantooine is an Economic matter, the value of these weapons upkeep in local conditions must be assessed, the worth of the real-estate they are on, etc.

As such, a full investigation will be dispatched to Dantooine forthwith, and will report back to this Committee in the coming weeks, any members of the Committee who wish to attend will be more than welcome to do so, as their expertise will be valued.

*Kruus handed a copy of the warrant, signed by the Chair of the Senate to an aide, who carried it over to Exar*

You will find my paperwork in order, the investigative panel will leave in 8 standard hours.