"Despite what you have found out about him, he is stronger than ever, militarily and politically. His combination of pro-Damagran patriotism and anti-alien rhetoric has made him absurdly popular. Only my predecessor, Derin, could make any form of decent political opposition, and even he had lost by the time the agents of this 'Kuylen' person blew him up.
"This popularity is what won him his vote on seperation. But it is all based on falsehood! Faylar has played a dangerous game and assumed too much of the people. They like what he says, but now they find themselves almost at war with the Republic, absolutely at war with each other and their planet blockaded and with large shortages; the whole Confederacy tearing itself apart and rumours of this alliance with Dark Jedi that Faylar had. This isn't the future that Faylar promised. I am sure that if we can shake off his military hold his popularity will wane once people see what he has done... well, I can only hope.
"But whole he occupies our second largest city his position is untouchable. His beachhead attack occured even as the final vote on independance was being taken; it took us by surprise. He took K'rra Chi, but in a large battle afterwards we drove him back. He's holed up in that city now, under siege. It's a complete stalemate for both sides; our whole region is paralyzed while he holds that city but he can neither leave it nor advance onwards. This war could drag on for years... unless the Repuiblic intervenes," he adds, hopefully.
"The thing that concerns us most... almost ALL our intellignece tells us that Faylar is preparing a fresh assault to relive his position and attack our capital directly. We have found evidence of plans, dropships, attack vehicles... everything he would need for such an invasion. But he hasn't the men! He cannot land more forces on this continent and only has enough at K'rra Chi to hold the city! We cannot work out WHY he would plan an invasion he has no men for.
"The only thing we could think of was Faylar's money. As you know, with all the gold mining from Avalar he has become a very rich man. So we wondered if he was buying foreign mercenaries. But with the blockade in place, he ccannot get any through! It is a total mystery."
"Yes, K'rra Chi is all but impregnable right now," says Verlaine. "As for your Dark Jedi... I am afraid we know nothing about that. We don't have the ability to monitor the space lanes any more since the blockade started.
"Certainly we have had no sighting of them INSIDE the city. I would be surprisaed if they can find a way in with no help."