New Republic Releases War Criminal

Senate Rotunda, Coruscant — Chief of State Ponc Gavrisom has agreed to release Gordon Holt, a former Star Destroyer Captain and convicted war criminal, to the custody of the Imperial Remnant in exchange for the release of a New Republic vessel and its crew, which were captured last month for allegedly violating Remnant space. Holt, who was convicted of crimes against civilization, served 9 years out of two life sentences. He was quietly released from Centax-1 Maximum Correctional this week, while the crew of the New Republic gunship Pioneer was welcomed home in a ceremony on Bandomeer.

The Chief of State's announcement brought about a heated debate in the Senate, which resulted in two Senators—Cul'utaan Forte (Ryloth) and Eli Fitzgerald (Ralltiir)—being called to order for profanity. "This is a disgrace to the New Republic," Forte declared. He also referred to Gavrisom's decision as "a smack to the face of the members of the administration," who he claimed were not consulted on the matter. "And although they won't say it," he concluded, "I'm sure the crew of the Pioneer would rather be in Imperial prisons than to let this bastard [Holt] go free."

"Mr. Holt was sentenced to two life terms," noted Senator Fitzgerald, "and yet with his release now he will have served less than 20 minutes in prison for each death he's caused. What sort of justice is this? I second the words of Senator Forte, that were I the one captured I would gladly volunteer to remain in a cell if it means that a monster the likes of this man remains in one as well." Both he and Senator Forte were called to order by Gavrisom, and threatened with expulsion for obscenity.

The crew of the New Republic gunship Pioneer was released in a jubilant ceremony on Bandomeer, in which they maintained that they had not, in fact, violated Imperial Remnant space as its officials had claimed, when they were fired upon and captured by the Star Destroyer Marathon near Bimmiel—Imperial Minister of State Walther Fiske earlier comdemned the New Republic in a letter to Gavrisom, stating that "one of your vessels has willfully violated [Imperial space], engaged one of our Star Destroyers, and was accordingly seized by the Galactic Empire."

Admiral Kieran Nadia, the Inspector General of the New Republic Defense Fleet, was among those captured and freed on Bandomeer this week, and who also maintained the Pioneer's innocence to reporters from The Coruscant Journal. Chief of State Gavrisom assured Minister Fiske "that Mr. Nadia will apologize for his actions... in writing. This affair is most torrid and unfortunate."

"We must reiterate," Gavrisom went on, "this is not the policy of the New Republic military, and not a failing thereof, simply—seemingly—a very serious mistake by an officer of our fleet, which will be investigated to the most stringent standards." A New Republic Intelligence (NRI) report on the incident, presented to Gavrisom, concluded that the Pioneer was not at fault, according to an official familiar with the report who spoke to The Coruscant Journal on condition of anonymity.

Gavrisom, during the Senate debate, defended the prisoner exchange. "[Holt] is being released to the Imperial Prison Service in order that he serve out his sentence in the Remnant," he said, "to be in prison around his own people on humanitarian grounds, not in order that he be released fully." He also noted, in response to criticisms, that "Imperial prisons are considerably less pleasant than our own. I am quite sure Captain Holt will be far less happy in their custody than in our comfy cell."

Gordon Holt was convicted in 11 ABY of crimes against civilization for the bombardment of several worlds during the war, which resulted in the deaths of millions of civilians including refugees from earlier bombardments. The campaign was carried out in retaliation for the Empire's defeat at the Battle of Yavin. Holt was sentenced to 2 life terms, and had served 9 years of that sentence at Centax-1 Maximum Correctional, in orbit over Coruscant, when he was released this week.

Forte and Fitzgerald were not the only ones to oppose the prisoner exchange, which even Chief of State Gavrisom referred to in remarks to The Coruscant Journal as "an unpleasant, but necessary affair." Senator Carson (Kuat) was among the strongest critics. "I find not only this act, but this entire chamber preposterous saving for those precious few members I could count on one hand. And for those not well versed in human anatomy let me stress that I have only five fingers on each hand, if I include the thumb," he said.

"I can barely restrain myself from [expletives] as an excuse to be removed from this chamber," Carson went on, "Frankly speaking, Sir, you should remove yourself for such an obscene gesture as allowing a war criminal with the record of Gordon Holt out of his cell alive! If I may quote a fellow Senator, 'this is an outrage!'"

Senator Illanah Thanatos (Chandrila) also joined in condemning the release. "I can hardly believe that the elected Chief of State could even think for a moment that this prisoner of war, Gordon Holt, will actulaly remain in Imperial custody if released," she said, "President Gavrisom, think about the safety of the people and the worlds that you have sworn an oath to look out for the best interests of. What would those people think if you were to allow this to happen? How exactly do you want your term to be remembered?"

Even Gavrisom's allies in the Senate were notably silent during the debate. Senator Borsk Fey'lya (Bothawui), the Chairman of the Senate Justice Council, contacted The Coruscant Journal to clarify that "although I advised the Chief of State that it was within his authority to release [Holt], I did not make a recommendation to that effect." Senator Luuneray Kruus (Neimoidia), called the prisoner exchange "a regrettable necessity," while Senators Cambrist (Brentaal) and Vanden (Naboo) declined to comment.