While the Senate always welcome new members, I'd like to ask you a question, to which I am sure you could answer. What are your agendas?

Tremaine Fowlkes,
Senator of Mowgle

See to it, the Common Charter is respected, clarified, and enforced.

Begin progressive economic policies to aid our corporations in easing out of war material production and into other successful pursuits. (i.e. helping KDY, or CEC, or Fondor Independent Shipyards in begining a majority of civilian applications and production)

Ensuring out Shipyards, even in peace, stay open and prosperous.

While I believe we should avoid conflict, we should be ready to deliver a hammer to aggressive opposition. As such, I believe the NRDF should still maintain a combat ready stance.

I believe relations between the Jedi and the Republic have not been as beneficial as in the days of the Old Republic. I wish to see a reworking of this relationship, and begin talks with the Jedi on what we expect of them, and alternatively what they wish from us.

You believe that my defense cuts will infact result in us being "caught with our pants down"?

Does this mean you are notionally against cuts in the fleet number in principle? (as my fleet steamlining proposals have not been released yet).

I think you unfairly characature my cuts as leaving the New Republic at risk, even with a massive reduction in numbers (>60%), we would still outnumber and outgun the Imperial Fleet.

Is it your opinion then that we must maintain a massive all powerful fleet? (as we do now) or do you consider it adequate for us to maintain a fleet which allows us to defend ourselves and still provide an effective deterant to any who would propose to cause a conflict with us?

To address however his points, I believe he misunderstands my words. I am not advocating an increase or buildup of the NRDF. I merely against an increase, and will be until full-scale galactic war breaks out again, however I am against decreases as well, until the galaxy becomes more stable. I merely do not believe that now is the best time for reduction in our force projection, and I believe some points have recently been made, that we have perhaps not entirely looked into the economic impact on a reduction in forces, however controversial that point, or rather its source, may be at the time...it is a valid concern. I do believe we eventually need to begin a reduction, once stability is solid and we have economic policies in place to counter any effects of such.

Economic impact is a primary concern of mine due to the conditions in Tapani Sector at this time. The Sector is the midst of a depression. Over the past decade, the InterGalactic Mining Core practically took control of the Sector. They were the power on every world, they were the major employer, contracts at Fondor were halved between the NRDF and IMC. In protest to the signing of the Bastion Accords, the IMC withdrew entirely from Tapani Sector...so there went what was essentially a government for us and our employer. There are no jobs, and most of Tapani's economy was military industry, a field which is slowing down. The NRDF has no need for ships, and the IMC isn't making ships at Fondor, so our slips sit empty, and our dockworkers are idle, if they still have a job. Massive layoffs have occured at Fondor, with more on the way. And now, over the past year, we have tried to pick up the pieces, but it is a long process. I do not want to see this happen to places such as Corellia or Kuat or Balmorra. That is why I am so concerned over the economic impact. With a standing force, at least this provides these dockworkers income by allowing them to conduct the necesarry repairs, refits, upgrades, etc. that are needed. And while keeping such a force requires taxes remain the same, this will not impact the lives of the ordinary citizen.

As to Senator Cambrist, yes, I would say that the collective Imperial Remnant is the biggest threat we have faced. Although now one could say a new kind of enemy is surfacing, a ruthless one driven by greed. I believe piracy is rising, and they have become rather ruthless individuals. The NRDF would be needed for stopping such criminals. This kind of piracy almost has a same level of threat as the Remnant, but in an entirely different way.

And while I thank Senator Forte for his words encouraging a quick approval, and for his support as well as Senator Ryuun's, I welcome questions to clarify myself as a person...and shy away from individuals such as Page, Covell, Oriel, and Novak.

I for one approve of allowing the sector to be represented once more within the Republic. We must allow people and planet to have a second chance. Where would we all be now, if someone in our lives had not given us a second chance.

Ja'nar would move to sit back down, as she glances to the male beside her. He would sit after she did, his eyes staring at those in the chambers.