Purported "Sith" Seeks Senatorship

SENATE HALL, CORUSCANT - Jericho Novak, a self-described "Sith," has appeared before the New Republic Senate seeking to represent the planet Druckenwell and claiming to be its chosen delegate. The application has ignited a fierce and derogatory debate over the man who identifies himself as a former apprentice of Emperor Palpatine, allegedly preserved cryogenically since the Clone Wars and only recently "awakened," along with his own fleet. The story has been met with skepticism.

"I am, as the Jedi have informed you, a Sith," Novak announced to the Senate, when confronted during the proceedings with warnings from the Jedi Academy, noting that he had never intended to hide the fact. "I will say the Sith have had a bad name for many eons. This is not unearned, I will admit," he continued, "I do not think of myself as a member of the old Sith, who believed in death, destruction and chaos... I am not here to undermine the authority of any being and I do not wish to start a second Empire."

"I ask you not to judge me by the title of Sith," Novak concluded, "I ask instead, that you will judge me by my actions in support of the New Republic against the Remnant, for the good of all peoples."

The announcement was rejoined in the Senate with unanimous suspicion. "If your masters," asked Representative Dannil Bo'var (IMC), "meant to take down the Republic then how are we to assume that you do not still have those similar goals? Perhaps it is your intention through subterfuge to infiltrate the ranks as Chancellor Palpatine... what assurance can we have to assume you are indeed representing the will of Druckenwell and not some Sith cause?"

Novak reiterated his intentions and noted that "... it hardly marks for subterfuge when I openly state I am Sith. I fully expect that I will be watched closely for years to come; perhaps always. That is not conducive to a hostile takeover, Representative."

Chief of State Eli Fitzgerald (Ralltiir) offered the strongest opposition yet, stating that a vote to confirm Novak's application would be a "vote to make a farce of this Senate." Fitzgerald went on to say that Novak, "seem[s] mild and deliberate, but so did Palpatine, and so did Palpatine—through subterfuge—destroy the Senate and the Republic, not to mention that he could read and corrupt the minds of men through his manipulations of the Force. That is the history and the propensity of the order that you identify with, Mr. Novak, and the one that everyone here has spent much of our lives to destroy."

"I will not support an application to join the Senate, when the applicant has made an unambiguous political statement that he associates with all of the principles that this Republic opposes," he continued. "Too many of our crews and soldiers, too many of our friends and family, and too many people throughout all history have died to now allow what they fought against to make a farce of this democracy that they fought for."

"Surely, Mr. Novak, you would agree the people of Druckenwell would not be well served to have you as their Senator... and neither would the people of Dantooine or any of us be well served by a Sith in this chamber," Fitzgerald concluded, referring to Senator Exar Ray (Dantooine), the only delegate of the over 900 member Senate thus far to vote in support of the application. Senator Ray's office was unavailable to respond, and an official on Druckenwell had "No comment" to The Coruscant Journal's inquiries.

We will continue to follow the story as the debate continues. Live coverage of the Senate proceedings are also available on Holonet Channel 11.