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Chapter Twenty One

Silvas straightened the crisp lines in his dress uniform. The sharp red lines, signifying the colors of his province, contrasted sharply with the pale blue of his uniform tunic, and the light brown slacks added to the overall effect. He quickly recited the main points of his speech to a translator droid, then exited the hotel room and into the hover limo that would take him to his meeting with Ruler Mehand. Even before the increased pirate activities, Silvas had been pushing for a fighter-training program, but now he was in desperate need of pilots. He needed brave people to pilot the crafts, but if they could draft citizens to into the fighter service, then the increase in numbers would counteract the increase in pirates, and save his men. He needed this to pass, and Elassi Mehand would be a great person to help advocate his cause. If he could get her to side with him; then he could get his program started.

The limo pulled up at the Provincial Ruler’s estate and the guards admitted him. As he climbed up the grandiose stairways to the Ruler’s meeting room, Silvas finally saw the difference between political and military actions. Both depended on brains, but in military actions, brawn was also needed to pack an extra punch to your actions. In politics, Silvas noted quietly to himself, you must rely completely on your mind, and the more cunning you have become, the better off you are. However, just like one starbuster missile, a single line could destroy your entire argument, and cause you to lose the battle. Silvas paused as he stood before doors.

“It’s now or never.” He quietly said to himself.

He opened the door and saw that the Ruler was being attended to, and he was immediately put on guard. “I am terribly sorry, my lady. Am I interrupting anything? I can always come again later?”

“No, Commander Orian. Please do come in.” The elder stateswoman waved him inside.

As Elassi Mehand dismissed her servants, Silvas strode up to an empty chair. After receiving a polite nod from the ruler, he sat down.

“How may I be of assistance to you, Commander?”

Silvas drew in a long breath and let it out slowly, trying to expel his nervousness with the breath. It did not work.

“I have come to speak with you regarding the sanctioning of a program for the military. I have attempted to bring this up with the Provincial Ruling Council, but they have refused my requests. I believe that if I obtain your support it will greatly aid the military in creating this new, and terribly vital, program. This program will be critical to the safety of every Chandrillan citizen.”

“Silvas, please tell me what it is you are trying to do, and then I will tell you if I feel it is worth all of this build up.” Ruler Mehand diffuses much of the formality of the situation with this simple phrase. “I believe that I have known you long enough to know when something is important. And I also believe that you know enough about me to know that if your request is reasonable, I will give it proper consideration.”

Silvas relaxes, just a bit, across the shoulders and continues, “Ruler Mehand, I believe that the times have made it imperative that we strengthen our defenses. It is my belief that a mandatory draft into the starfighter service will be just the boost we need. Our defense platforms help to protect the cities, however, our spaceways have become even more dangerous in the process. I fear that something along the lines of a trade blockade is inevitable if we do not make a good show of protecting those willing to trade with our world.” There, it’s all out, now I just have to wait.

And wait he would, as Elassi Mehand lowered her head and placed her folded hands under her chin in a pose of contemplation. Several moments passed, in what appeared to be an eternity to Silvas.

"Commander, I must tell you that I worry deeply for our people. Defense of the planet and its people are of the utmost importance, and the state of that defense, of late, has caused me great pain... But one of the things I pride myself on is the fact that our people have been given the right to choose their own path. Creating a program that will involuntarily indoctrinate our citizens into the military will destroy all that I have worked so hard to provide them."

Silvas, flustered, responded. "Ruler Mehand, I am well aware that you wish to protect our people's ability to choose, but you must realize, if you wish to protect those same people, sometimes sacrifices must be made, and I believe this to be one of those times. If Chandrila falls to the tyranny of these pirates, there will be no freedom to protect. We need this program."

Elassi considered Silvas’ final remarks and knew that this was not something she could ignore any longer. Then, after expelling a long breath, she said: "Your points have been well said, Commander... I will look into this matter further, and then I will make my final determination known to the Council."

Later that day:

Silvas sat down in the quarters of his ship. The meeting had gone much better than he had expected, and the queen had promised that she would talk to the Provincial Ruling Council.

He surveyed the room, and then remembered a passing thought from many weeks passed. Remembering the situation with the smugglers in the Grand Lecture Hall, he opened up the recorder:

My dearest Xana;

Please forgive your Dear Uncle Silvas, as I am very sorry that I have not spoken with you in such a long time. And the fact that I have not even so much as sent you a message in that time is unforgivable in my eyes. It is my fault, but I sincerely hope that this message will help to make up for our lost time.

When I retired to my cabin this evening, I remembered seeing you in the Universite when I came through (under stressful circumstances…) and saw you for the first time in so long. My Dear Young Girl, you have grown so much in that time! You are every bit as beautiful as your dear, departed Mother. I am certain that you are astounding everyone with not only your beauty, but also your intelligence at the Universite. The Universite should be appreciating your every day in their midst. It is my sincere belief that your parents would be most proud of you my Dear Xana.

As for myself, military life is hard, but it is worth all of the sacrifices for the strides I have been able to achieve. Defending the planet and defending our people gives me great pride, and is keeping me quite busy.

I understand that your dear sweet brother is about complete his tenure at the Corellian Academy of Militaria. It has been brought to my attention that he has petitioned for acceptance into our starfighter program, anonymously mind you. Please know that his petition is being met with the same scrutiny as do all of our petitioners. Though I love the boy dearly, I will show him no favoritism. That being said, he has shown great promise at the academy and the selection committee has placed him in high standing. However, I am certain that you would not ruin the surprise for your Dear Brother, knowing how much you do enjoy torturing the poor boy.

My time has grown short, so I fear I must wrap this up. It is my hope that we should find the opportunity to meet when we will have the proper time to sit down to meal and catch up on all that I have missed in your treasured life.

Love, as always,

Uncle Silvas

Creator: Miccu_Resea (Mike)

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