Fwurg

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Senator Zalyass waited for the crowd in the senate to settle down. She wondered how many of these people would still remember that she herself had been standing here about a year ago to ask for entry into the Union. The senate had approved, but the membership had been shortlived. Oh how much things had changed since then. Upon the announcement of her name to the senate, she did notice that some of the senators raised their eyebrows as if they had heard the name before. She knew she had a lot to explain to and a lot to ask of all of these people. Zalyass just hoped she was up to the job.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the senate. It is a true honor for me to be welcomed by you all once again. Yes, once again. It was a bit over a year ago that I fist stood here as the senator for our glorious empire to ask for admittance into the Union. However, not long after the Unified Empire of Azaryan Colonies had been approved, I am ashamed to say that we disappeared without a trace. For this we owe you all an explanation. Though I guess that our 'explanation' has already shown its true colors even to the Union."

Now the next bit was the most difficult. Zalyass just hoped that the State Secrets Act was what they made it up to be. If the following information would fall into the wrong hands, it could have terrible cconsequences.

"You all might have heard about our race and our ability to link our minds together to work as a streamlined team. As one. Almost literally. Usually, this ability can only be used if all people present agree to it. However, almost a year ago our prized ability had been turned against us. As you might know the bond to our empress, our Mother, is especially strong. This goes for all Azarya. Somehow, the Mandalorians unexpectedly managed to take advantage of that by using a kind of empathic amplifier in combination with some unknown mind control method to forcefully link up all Azarya. They then used all of us to create an outpost for their schemes right on our world. This went on for almost a full year."

Clearly, she had difficulties keeping her emotions in check. The entire situation had been really harsh for her. It had been so on all of her people.

"Due to some kind of miracle, I somehow managed to break free of this control effect a few months ago and managed to send out a distress call picked up by the Veolian Commonwealth. They and the Union responded in secret by sending in a special taskforce to liberate our Mother. Thankfully they managed to do just that. They liberated our empress and managed to move her to safety, along with me, our young Jedi and most of the people from our parliament. We are now in exile on Unity as the Mandalorians wreck havoc on our planet Nest. We had even heard that there are currently two Mandalorian fleets set on a course for our system. The Azarya is a proud race that can easily overcome most hardships, but this is too much too soon. Most of our people haven't even fully recovered from the hostile takeover. It is like part of you is forced out and is unable to get back inside afterwards."

Zalyass shivered. She had the luck that she had never had that much aptitude for their telepathy. She had often cursed that handicap but it was probably because of her 'problem' that she had managed to break free. She looked around, checking whether her speech had been passionate enough.

"So here I stand before you once again, dear senators, pleading for re-admittance into the union. Pleading for assistance for our planet, which has been ravaged by an evil people. Assistance both in military strength to chase away the evil that has infected our home world and in knowledge and funds to relieve our suffering race and for rebuilding our infrastructure and broken economy after this conflict. I am pleading for housing for our exiled parliament. Last but not least, in name of all Azarya, I am pleading for forgiveness for sheltering an enemy of the Union, even if it was against our will."

Zalyass waited for a few moments and then bowed deeply.

"I place the fate of myself, the UEAC and our race in your hands."

[Senator Ardios Eldrilith]

"Welcome back in the senate.

This is grave news indeed. Unfortunately, If this information would have reached our cabinet earlier we could have reacted earlier.

As Minister of Defence I will personally reinstate your worlds status to Minor World and ensure Union protection.

On the initiative of the Veolian Commonwealth we are coordinating a strike against the invading fleets. A fleet from the Veolian Commonwealth, supported by a Praetorian fleet and a fleet from the Kingdom of Komes will arrive in 121. "

[Nehket Aeka]

"The Veolian Commonwealth also wishes to extend its welcome to our neighbours.", the veolian senator spoke after standing up.

"Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya", the veolian woman continued, "While we do not forgive the Azaryan people for harbouring an enemy of the Union, we do feel that the situation should be investigated before they are condemned for their actions. If it is indeed so that their world was held hostage through mind affecting technologies, we must given them the benefit of the doubt and allow them to prove themselves worthy as members of the Union."

The veolian woman then addressed the whole senate.

"Based on the warning sent by senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya, a strike force of veolian imperial guards led by a trio of Jedi was sent out to rescue the Azaryan empress and other officials. Though I shall not go into details, I want the senate to know that thanks to the Jedi, the threat from within the Union has been made public. The Jedi have again shown their dedication to the Union through their actions, and I think we should offer them greater responsibility and recognition for this.

As the minister of defence already said, the Veolian Commonwealth and House Shebi in particular have taken the initiative to relief the siege of Nest, and drive back the Mandalorian invaders. We hope to strike a serious blow to the Mandalorians, thought they will feel this loss the strongest if we pressure them at the front. I call upon my fellow senators to convince their governments that together we will beat the Mandalorians!"

[Senator Salixa of the Silver Forests of Remunzia]

"I mean no offence, but if what you say is true, how do we know you aren't still being controlled by the Mandalorians to set us up for a trap?"

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass made absolutely sure everyone had said the things they wanted to say before standing up straight again. She felt relieved; it was good to see that they were so readily accepted back into the Union. Of course there were still those with doubts...

"I am glad to hear that the Union accepts our request for re-entry into the Union. I think we can mean a lot for each other. I would like to especially thank the Defense Minister and all the parties who are sending a defense fleet to protect our home world from the Mandalorians. You have my utmost gratitude and your actions will not be forgotten by the Azarya for some time to come. The same goes for the Jedi who have so valiantly fought to free our Empress."

Now that the 'thank you' part had been dealt with, Zalyass focused on the very valid question that had been posed by senator Salixa. How was she going to explain that? Zalyass knew that a wrong explanation now could have a terrible outcome.

"As for the quesion posed by senator Salixa... I understand your caution. I will try my very best to take away all doubts with you and the rest of the senate. First of all, upon arrival at the location where our Mother was held, the party reported her being in a comatose state inside a sustenance chamber with all kinds of equipment attached to her. Senator Nehket Aeka might be able to confirm this, since a lartge part of the rescue party were in fact from the Veolian Commonwealth. Our empress and our powers are not a liability that can easily be tampered with. If she had been conscious at that time, it would not have been possible for the Mandalorians to control her. They also used an empathic amplifier which has been deactivated by the rescue team... Usually, our telepathic bonds cannot be forged unless both sides are willing and disappears as soon as someone wants to quit. It is somewhat like our body is on autopilot, but we can step in whenever we want or need to. This amplifier forced our ego so far out, that none of us were able to resist anymore."

Zalyass sighed deeply. She could clearly remember the helplessness, the inability to do anything, standing by as a witness while the Mandalorians desecrated their world... She was at the point of spacing out when she realized that she was in the senate on Union and that everyone had been listening to her.

"Ah, my apologies. I am afraid my own scars have not been fully healed either. Anyway. The fact that our self, our ego is pushed aside is another effect of our telepathic bond. When our minds link up, we are no longer individuals, but just extensions of one single mind as it were. However, this mind has no ability to communicate with other beings than those linked up to each other. This means that if I would be still linked up, I would have not been able to explain our situation to you. I would have appeared as a mindless drone to you. Since I am not, well... I hope that this explanation on the nature of our abilities combined with knowing how many difficulties the Mandalorians had to go to to have this much influence on our Empress, gives you enough reason to believe that I am in fact telling the truth. "

[Nehket Aeka]

After senator Zalyass explained how the Mandalorians could control her world, senator Nehket Aeka stands up as well.

"Fellow senators,

I can confirm that the description senator Zalyass' gives about the condition of the Azaryan empress is true. I can also confirm, from personal observation, that the telepathy of the Azarya species does not afford them with any possibility for communication other than the established bond. Though I must admit that it seems likely that foreign forms of mind-affecting technology or abilities might influence this.

If need be, we can call upon Jedi Master Qun Treen. He and two other Jedi personally led the rescue mission, and will be able to confirm what senator Zalyass has explained to you all.

However, based on what I have personally witnessed about Azarya telepathy, and what has been reported to me by both Veolian officers, and the Jedi leading the rescue team, I am confident that the Mandalorians no longer have control over the Azarya."

((OOC: It has already been established that a few NPC Jedi were involved with the rescue effort ^_^))

[Senator Salixa of the Silver Forests of Remunzia]

"Thank you for your explanation. I wish you and your people hope, for hope must be the start before one can begin to heal." the senator sounded quite sincere.

[Senator Acehtoo of the Miomanian Colonists]

"I pray your people will be able to overcome this great challenge and tragedy." the chancellor added.

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Once again Zalyass bowed deeply. This time, a careful smile appeared on her face. It seemed like Nest was going to have Union protection, this meant that she would still have a home world left to fight for after the coming s. Now that the Azaryan seat in the senate was once again secured, she dared to attempt to ask for a bit more.

"I thank you all for your understanding, compassion and cooperation. I can ensure you that it warms my heart to see so much positive response, even with the justified caution. Though your actions are much more than I could ask for, I still am obliged to ask the senate for something else. As we speak the Azaryan Embassy is extremely overcrowded. The building originally assigned to us was suitable for ten to fifteen people, which I have to add was ample when we first settled in. Right now we are living there with almost fifty people. I am ashamed to say that our Empress, our Mother, barely has her own bedroom while the other rooms are much too crowded for any normal embassy work. Right now, our embassy would be best compared to a barrack filled with refugees. I humbly ask of the senate to appoint us a larger embassy building or at least a building where our empress and her staff can reside with dignity. I would be ashamed to receive any visitors right now..."

Zalyass looked around once more. The look on her face was earnest. The embassy had been way overcrowded and Mother was living in circumstances far from befitting a royal.

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

The Sundarian senator was visibly moved by the appeal made by the Senator of the Azaryan Colonies, as she took a moment to address the Senate.

"Senator Zalyass,

Even though our people haven't had much contact in the past, I feel it is no more then my honour bound duty to assist and aid where we can. Though we can do little in term of direct military assistance to help free your home world from Mandalorian oppression, we can offer a measure of humanitarian aid help rebuild your world once this conflict is over.

As I realise that moment might still be a good while away however and your people are already struggling, you are welcome to house some of the refugees at our Embassy. We will provide them with everything they might require. Should your Empress so desire, we can also offer her, her staff and any of your people that may wish to join, temporary asylum on our homeworld Glasslyn."

[Senator Zalyass al-Chak'zya Azara-ya]

Zalyass was pleasantly surprised by the Sundarian senator's offer. She had already hoped that someone would offer them a proper place to stay, but she hadn't been counting on it. Hearing someone offer them just that and humanitarian aid made her really happy. It wasn't too hard for the other senators present to tell this from the look on her face.

"Thank you, senator, for this offer. I will gladly accept both the assistance and the temporary relocation of our leaders to your home planet. I think that our Mother will be really pleased with this, I will convene with her and our parliament to tell them of this offer and will inform the Sundarian embassy of the results."

Zalyass looked around the senate. She was happy to be back, even though both she and her people were having a hard time now. Well then, time to put this meeting to a close.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate. I humbly thank you for your time and assistance. If it were not for you all, the Azarya and the UEAC would surely lose against the Mandelorians. We are all in your debt and will be for some time to come. For those who have sent their troops to our system, I wish you all luck, wisdom, strength and victory. Please, help us take back our world..."