[O15 - Bannistar Station - PK] Balancing Act

Provisional Council meetings generally took place in Moff Erask’s palace on Kalarba, but as renovations were under way on the usual chambers, the council would be meeting in the conference room aboard the star cruiser Reign.

This provided Admiral Vesta Rooke, who was not a sitting member of the Provisional Council, with the opportunity to attend. Her brother Cyril had been appointed to the council shortly after the two joined the Protectorate of Kalarba, and while he had shared information with her on the Council’s proceedings, Vesta couldn’t help but feel left out. If it were up to either of them she would be the one with the council seat, Cyril hated politics, but the Protectorate was never going to pass up the opportunity to have a grand admiral on the council.

Moff Leon Erask arrived early to find Rear Admiral Otten already waiting; he would have expected to see one or both of the Rookes this early, but not Otten.

“Admiral,” he acknowledged his old friend.

“Is it true, Leon?” Otten asked.

“I’m afraid you’ll need to be more specific,” said Erask.

“I heard Joshua Neimo would be joining the Provisional Council,” Otten replied.

“That is correct, though I do wonder where you get your information from. There are few individuals who were made aware of that fact.”

“You’ll have to interrogate your nobles. I’m just not sure I agree with your decision, Colonel Neimo only just arrived.”

“What makes him different from Rooke? You were eager to welcome him to the council.” Erask pointed out.

“What makes him different from Colonel Orkzyd? He’s also ISB, isn’t he?” Otten shot back.

“Colonel Neimo brought what Orkzyd did not: manpower and expertise. Orkzyd is a researcher, but Neimo is a security specialist; we need him if we’re going to keep our sector safe while we rebuild our military, so I suggest you drop the matter.”

Otten did not drop the matter, not in his mind anyway. Moff Erask may be fine with ISB meddling in the Protectorate’s affairs, but he certainly wasn’t going to sit around and let them take over like they so often did.

“I’d like to begin today’s meeting with an announcement,” Moff Erask addressed the Provisional Council. “In light of recent events and for the safety of the sector, I’ve chosen to appoint ISB Colonel Joshua Neimo as the newest member of this provisional council.”

The twins exchanged glances, a few of the other officers shifted nervously in their seats. 

“Now, there are only a few matters to discuss today, so let’s try to get this over with quickly; General Ramsey, do you have the latest recruitment figures?”

The general cleared his throat and began reading from a datapad, “Since we started encouraging near-humans to join we’ve seen significant increases on each of our worlds. Kalarba alone has seen over three hundred and sixty thousand new applicants in the last month. Near-humans make up the bulk of the new applicants, but recruiting from the refugee camps has also been proving effective. We are still far from having anything capable of mobilizing outside the sector, but it is a step in the right direction.”

“Very good, General. It is unlikely that we will have cause to deploy forces outside our sector, but the possibility of an attack from warlords or the New Republic remains, and we must be prepared. To counter insurgents, pirates, and other lesser threats, I have given Colonel Neimo and his officers the authority to take control of local militias and planetary defense forces. The inability of these groups to protect our worlds was demonstrated during the incursion of the Baron’s pirate forces. With reinforcements from CompForce and oversight from the ISB, our local forces should prove to be more effective.” Erask turned to Colonel Neimo next. “I trust you have completed interrogating the Baron and his men, did you learn anything of value?” he asked.

Neimo's face was unreadable, and his voice equally so as he responded, “We know he was from the Corweillian sector, and we believe he was acting alone, but unfortunately he died before we could complete the interrogation.”

“He died? Died how?” Vesta Rooke asked. It had been troops from the 9th Fleet–her troops–that risked their lives to apprehend the Baron, and now ISB had lost him without gaining any meaningful intelligence? The thought was inconceivable.

“He was found dead in his cell, apparently by suicide but we are still investigating,” Neimo responded. It was an acceptable explanation, believable enough and leaving room for further information, should the need arise.

“That is unfortunate, to say the least, but in all likelihood he was a simple warlord seeking to extort his neighbors,” Erask said. “Perhaps it is best that we put this ordeal behind us, and focus on rebuilding. Maybe we should even look towards other sectors ourselves, whether as allies or as targets to extract resources from. It does seem to be a strategy worth pursuing.”

“Grand Admiral Rooke spent the better part of a year raiding New Republic convoys, perhaps we should do the same; it would be good for morale,” General Ramsey proposed.

Cyril Rooke finally spoke, “I think that would be unwise. Previously we were without a home to defend; if the New Republic found our flotilla we could simply leave. We lack the ships necessary to repel any serious attack against the Protectorate, so direct action against the New Republic carries significant risk–”

“At least until we can assemble the rest of the fleet,” Vesta Rooke interrupted. Cyril’s expression shifted to one of subtle dismay, but the rest of the council seemed intrigued.

“How long would that take?” Commander Null asked. He had seen some quick movements from Imperial fleets before, but he knew it wasn’t always that way.

Vesta stopped to think before answering, it might not even be possible. “It is difficult to say. Makati had us deployed all across the galaxy before Endor, but if the others are close enough it could only be a matter of months,” she stated.

“What do you think, Cyril?” Erask asked.

“I think it is difficult to give a good estimate on the timeframe, given the circumstances,” Cyril responded, choosing his words carefully.

“Estimates are only so useful anyway,” Erask remarked. “I want you to get to work on this at your earliest convenience, though I’m not convinced war with the New Republic is a good idea. Our defenses are formidable, but many of the greatest powers in the Core are now in support of the New Republic; we can no longer afford to treat them as the rebels they once were. Anyway, that covers today’s short agenda, so–”

“There is one more topic of concern, Governor,” Cyril interrupted.

“Very well,” said Moff Erask. “Let’s hear it.”

“Colonel Magnus Orkzyd has presented to me a rather fascinating project he is working on, and requested that I petition this council for additional funding on his behalf,” Cyril began. “He spoke of a world beyond our space, beyond even time. A dimension that has the potential to influence galactic history. It does sound rather far-fetched, but if such a place exists, it could prove useful to our cause. His research is a continuation of the Emperor’s own, and he believes he is close to completing it. The project is worth considering, from what I can see.”

“Ah, the World Between Worlds, truly a fascinating idea,” Colonel Neimo remarked dryly.

“So you also know of this, other dimension?” Erask asked.

“I have seen the research, but sadly it is little more than an old myth, certainly nothing worth pursuing,” Neimo said. “The Emperor had countless similar projects that didn’t amount to anything, this was no different. Our efforts would be better spent securing the hyperlanes and expanding our military capabilities.”

A few of the others nodded in agreement.

“That settles it then; security of the Hevvrol sector will remain our priority,” Moff Erask rose from his chair as he spoke. “Glory to the Protectorate!”

“Glory to the Protectorate!” the others echoed.