Fwurg

[Nehket Aeka]

((OOC: This thread contains a communique from the offices of the Minister of Defence, in the senate buildings, to a few of her underlings at Ministry of Defence.))

Nehket Aeka looked at the holographic star map projected into the space in front of her desk. The map displays a series of strategic evaluations of the evolving situation around the Mandalorian fleets, taking into account multiple unexpected developments such as the sudden involvement of the Core Hegemony.

The current scenario projected a collapse of union territories ranging from sector 7 -4 along the bozzy spine to 8 -7, with the resultant loss of the My'enru system. Distracted with the projected loss of the hub-ward union territories, the minister did not note the person entering the room through one of the side doors.

"Mistress", said the lethan twi'lek woman, "the summary of available defence funds you requested." The woman dressed both expensive and provocative, and was clearly not one of the usual aides of the minister.

She walked up to the minister, disturbing the holographic display in the process, and handed over a few sheets of actual paper. "If it pleases you, could I have the afternoon to myself to visit the city?", she asked softly, as if sharing a secret.

"Thank you Serrah", Aeka accepted the paper, "And yes, you can have the afternoon. Make sure you are present this evening. I am entertaining yet another of my mother's latest attempts to get me married, and I would have you distract him so I can accuse him of slighting me."

With nothing but a knowing smile, the twi'lek left the office again to go about her own business.

Knowing the pride Serrah takes in her work, the veolian minister sat down and only glanced at the bottom line.

'If only the Echani had included some data on the workings of their vessel with their strange gift...', Nehket Aeka pondered whether the investment would be worth it. Coming to a conclusion, she activated her communications console.

After her aide set up a connection to the bureaucrat in charge of the day-to-day operations of the ministry: "Please start a full-scale analysis of the Echani vessel, the required funding will be made available within the day.", she replied, having already freed up 10.000 to allow the engineers to spare no expenses in getting every last bit of strategic advantage from the Echani gift.

Next she informed her aide that she wished to speak with Union Defence high command. Once connected she gave clear and quick orders: "Given the current developments, I have freed up 4000 for the improvement of defensive positions and military support in sectors 7 -4, 7 -5, 7-6 and 8 -7. The first 3500 is available for immediate transfer, the other 500 will be transferred in the coming week. Please keep me posted."

The last 1000 she had saved for a special project of sorts. With all the different factions joining the Union, each with their own military traditions, the Union Defence forces were becoming a unordered amalgamate of disciplines and units. Minister Nehket Aeka contacted the research staff of the ministry: "I have made 1000 available toward studying the impact of the different military traditions of Union members, with the goal of determining common grounds of the different traditions and improving the integration of member millitaries into the Union Defence Force structure in the event of a crisis."

[Mercury]

Soon, the Minister got report from her department that a small army of engineers, scientists and analysts had been assembled to tend to the Echani vessel, which had been brought into a specially built docking facility where it could be studied safely without the risk of leaks.

Using the funds for improving defensive positions, three fleets were activated and repositioned, and supply lines were set up to allow quick transfers of troops and ships to the sectors she had indicated to provide backup in case the need arose.

Finally, a detailed study was started into the different armed forces. Given there were so many, it would take a little time to finish however.