Senator Star, Senator Oriel's legislation only prevents multiple banks of turbolasers. My Carrack cruisers are armed with turbolasers, twenty each to be precise, and they fall within the bill's limit. Their hyperdrives do not require limiting either. Defensive forces do not need to employ such massive vessels.

Surely, Senator Star, your world could benefit from such?

And pardon me if I'm being a tad underwhelming in my knowledge of defense stations and the such - I am a Senator, afterall, not a naval tactician - but the flaw in space stations is in the lack of mobility that you yourself mentioned, Senator Oriel. How can a space station, or twenty space stations, or even a hundred be expected to repel an attacking force of any size, if said force enters the system out of the station's weapons range? Unless you plan on ringing every planet in these structures, I cannot see how any station can compare to a mobile, versatile capital ship with the means to defend itself.

Do as Senator Star says, gut the fully-armed ships of their hyperdrives, or whatever else will help you feel safe while you sleep at night. It is the opinion of my people that this debacle has gone on long enough without compromise, and at this point I would politely ask the chair to intervene and provide an ultimatum, if so willing.

But my knowledge of spacial defensive emplacements notwithstanding, my vote remains the same until I and my people can be convinced that the removal of a defensive ships heaviest weapons is, infact, a benefit and not a complete detriment and invitation for anarchy.

There's nothing stopping worlds having planetary turbo lasers though... So one could hardly think them under defended when they are able to mount weapons which have the firepower of whole ships.. But this is no problem, as they have no application but defence.

It is quite reasonable to place defensive stations, even more than one if you wish, around a planet.

It is quite reasonable to buy several smaller, more defensive minded vessels.

It is quite reasonable to commission several squadrons of fighters for defense.

It is even reasonable not to like Senator Oriel's bill, even vote against it. I did at first, if you recall.

It is not reasonable, however, to pursue legislation against his bill as if you have a vendetta, or as if you are a spoiled child. As Senator Lohden said, it is taking up extra time and wasting that which the Senate could be using to address other matters.

The manner in which you fight against this and the amount of time you are putting in attempting to change it makes me wonder if perhaps the stress of the Senate is hitting you too harshly, Senator. Perhaps a break is in order for you to recover yourself?

That is the reason for my steadfast opposition to this piece of legislation. It threatens to harm the glorious progress we have made here by weakening planets and forcing the Imperial fleet, as mighty as it may be to guard every planet which is not logistically possible. This is a dangerous galaxy senators, made no less so by the remnants of the separatist fleets, by the insurgents which use cowardly acts of terror against this government, and by the host of pirate and gang fleets which plague planets and trade. This is a dangerous galaxy and we must be prepared by allowing systems and planets to look after themselves as much as possible so that the Imperial Fleet can deal with the threats that arise without having to worry about protecting planets.

In these hypothetical situations that have been tossed around you have often mentioned until the imperial fleet arrives. Why make it even necessary for an Imperial Fleet to respond when you can defend yourself? That is the reason for my measure to protect the right of ALL worlds to defend themselves.

As you mention, I bring up the Imperial fleet arriving in these cases because, even with your single, solitary massive warship, you cannot hold off a fleet of ships. You cannot hope to stop even a ragtag pirate fleet that can simply remain out of a Venator's weapon range and send its smaller ships to assault your holdings. Invest in smaller vessels that you can afford; multiple vessels, that can better defend.

I repeat the question of Senator Ryuun, and I too feel that perhaps the strain of office is a little too much for you Senator Star. To effectively demean the Imperial Fleet and call the Empire's territory "unsafe" is nonsense. It is scaremongering nonsense that is meant to threaten the cohesion of the Empire and everything we stand for. There are no pirate fleets or gang fleets with anything more than minor vessels, and certainly none could threaten a member world, thanks to the Imperial Starfleet.

Senator Star's seditious speech certainly seems short sighted, scandalous and silly, as well as a matter for concern on a psychiatric level. Perhaps it would be just as well if the Chair ordered a psychiatric investigation into Mr Star, for his own health?

It is a true shame, Senator Star, that you cannot be an example to the people of the Senate and go with Senator Oriel's bill. Is a heavy blaster better than a blaster? Possibly, but two blasters are likely better than one heavy blaster. It is not such an onerous thing that has been proposed here. Sluis Van was opposed to the measure for different reasons than yourself, Senator Star, but this bickering must come to an end.