Andro, upon seeing the ball drop in the center, wonders to himself how he always manages to place himself where the ball isn't. He immediately rushes into No-Man's Land to Block for Gallagher, whom he sees making for the ball.
(Andro will run into No-Man's Land and Block anyone who tries to interfere with Gallagher.)
Ok, Jelena contacting her mentor- ask away! Contact is easily established. Any other plans?
-
Remember, you can only declare one action in the hockey game. Although you can try and pursue a target who started in your area, if you declare a Move, you cannot also Block or Tackle. You CERTAINLY cannot Gather and Sidestep!
After another scramble, Deel gets the ball...
-----
CURRENT SITUATION- Spiridos Hockey Match. Score: 1
Your third
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
No-Man's Land
Gallagher: Skill 11, Initiative 7
Andro: Skill 14, Initiative 9
Red Droids (x3): Skill 10, Initative 7
Deel Twain: Skill 13, initiative 7 Ball
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
Father Varm: Skill 12, initiative 8
Their third
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
-----
Jelena will explain the current situation, Volun's views, what he plans to do with the Vault if Kuylen goes after him, etcetera.
"But Master," Jelena says. "What worries me is that I agree with Volun. I am supposed to be impartial, but I feel that he is right. But agreeing with him would most likely bring down the Z'Har, and not agreeing would bring about the destruction of everything in Vault."
"Also, my visions have me very wound up. I keep having...well, not so pleasant thoughts."
Unable to assist Gallagher with the scuffle at mid-court, Andro sets his sights at the new Ball Carrier, Deel Twain. He launches himself directly at him stick at the ready, trying to get the ball from him.
(I'm going to try for that TACKLE again. It has to work sometime. *waves hand in Ush's face.* whistling
Oooh, you'd need a good roll to pull that off against Twain... and -3 isn't it, I am afraid!
Twain goes for a shot again, his path pretty clear... he shoots and scores! One turn's grace before the ball is returned...
-----
CURRENT SITUATION- Spiridos Hockey Match. Score: -1
Your third
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
Gallagher: Skill 11, Initiative 7
No-Man's Land
Andro: Skill 14, Initiative 9
Red Droids (x3): Skill 10, Initative 7
Deel Twain: Skill 13, initiative 7
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
Father Varm: Skill 12, initiative 8
Their third
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
-----
-
Besh considers all this for a long time.
"Very well, Jelena," she says. "My advice to you comes in several parts.
"Yes indeed, as a first priority you are impartial. Your role is that of arbitator, not interventionist. Yet the Council expects you to take the initative when necessary. Just because you are impartial, that does not mean you must give all sides the same weighting- only the same chance to explain themselves. You must not be unfair on any side- yet you must still judge each point of view on its merits. Else your role would be that of a mere robot. When a Jedi is sent, it is expected that he will seek the wisest and most helpful resolution, not merely sit as referee. So do not feel you are losing your way because you have strong views on a side, so long as your judgment does not become clouded.
"My other points, I am afraid, are spoken against your view. Please no not see these as reproach, but I urge you the value of considering all views that do not necessarily meet your liking on first review.
"My second point, then, is that Cassillis is a law-abiding planet with an impeccable Republican record. We have no legal recourse to acting as outside interventionists in their political development- that is entirely an internal matter for them, as a soveriegn world. The only worlds who we can ever act so against are those acting illegally, or flagrantly immorrally, as happened with Lanzar, centuries ago, or as now, with your comrade Master Marcus being sent to Charaeus. You must not be seen to be deliberately entwining yourselves in Cassillian politics.
"Thirdly, regardless of the righteousness or otherwise of his cause, Volun, knowingly or otherwise, seeks chaos. He speaks perhaps truer than he knows when he talks of the default political state of that area of the Galaxy. He himself mentions a void that the Z'Har have filled, in lieu of an aristocracy. Either by forcible agreement or by bringing public sentiment, Volun seeks to destroy the Z'Har- in a fashion that they cannot possibly be amicable about. If he succeeds, he would create that very vacuum on Cassillis that the Z'Har have filled. The Z'Har have ruled there for as long as the Jedi Ordr has existed- the planet simpl cannot adjust that fast to such radical changes without the most dreadful chaos and confusion; it would be a disaster for Cassilis, and their very society will shake apart. If the Z'Har were ever to cease their rule it would have to be an exceptionally protracted and well-regulated occurrence, which these actions cannot possibly bring about.
"Fourthly... you are entering very dangerous territory when you start to make moral judgment of another world's culture. This, again, has limits; the cultures of obviously evil worlds are beyond consideration, and as Jedi we are expected to be able to make such judgments, though never hastily. But consider the number of strange worlds you have been upon in your career, Jelena. We are always respectful and mindful of the cultures of other peoples- and the way things are on Cassillis are very much part of their culture. We do not dictate to others about how they should behave unless their behaviour is beyond the pale.
"Fifthly... you have heard what a charismatic man Volun is. He is obviously a charming and intelligent person. But also determined- he will be trying to win you over as much as he does anyone else. He says the entire world other than the Z'Har does not like the tax plan- can he prove that? Can he even prove it for just the farmers and trarers, whom he represents, and even if he could, what does that say of the rest of the planet, whom he does not? He makes out the whole world does not want the Z'Har in charge; that I flat out do not believe. He has rebelled with thousands, not millions, and I do not see countless millions coming to his support- perhaps you should judge popular opinion there. He is exaggerating to make his own case, as all people do, Jelena. As a diplomat you must look out for that.
"Sixthly, and this is important... it is true that democracy against oppressive regimes on many worlds have only come about, historically, from civil disobedience and revolution. But these have had to come after extreme provocation and unpleasantess. Look at Cassillis, Jelena- does it strike you as a world of evil? If Volun achieves political change- that, lest we forget, would grealty benefit him himself- merely because he broke the rules and launched a violent attack on the Government- and no matter what he says about non-violence, I doubt it looked like that to the Z'Har. nor will it to others- and if the Jedi, if anything, seem to endorse it... it will become a public rallying call for the entire Galaxy to try and set aside law and order in return for seeing their own goals met. Any nobility in Volun's actions would soon be swept aside. That is wromng both morally and, I am sorry to say, practically- for consider this, Jelena. You know of the seperation referndums being proposed by dozens of worlds. There are hundreds, maybe thousands more worlds whose loyalties to the Republic are, at this point, shall I say... 'delicately balanced'. To see overthrow at the heart of the Republic... on Cassillis... at the Sanctuary? Their cause would be boosted a thousandfold. The Republic itself could be seriously harmed, Jelena.
"And so I come to my final point. I am sorry, Jelena. I see very much the frustration and injustice that motivates Volun, and I see why you identify with it. What would we not give to all live in a free and fair Galaxy? But this, as Volun himself has told you, calls for perspective. In a fantasy world, replacing the opressive Z'Har with true liberal democracy would being a better Government and a happy ending. But both are just that- fantasies.
"You must see this from two angles. First of all, not only have the Z'Har led for 25000 years, they have done so peacefully and without mishap. Compare the Boyar, a hotbed of intrigues and competing interestd, and compare the rest of the Galaxy, where 100 years is often an old age for any system. Do you really think the Z'Har have endured this long by an iron vice of power? Do they look like that sort to you?
"Now, Volun is right, the Z'Har ARE unfair, and they have become very self-rationalised about that. But I think you have not researched the Z'Har well enough, Jelena. It does not exist merely for the propogation of intelligence. The central tenet- the mission, almost- of the Z'Har is to use all that intellect for the public good. They seek continously to bend their energies to what is right and moral for their people. Self-appointed guardians they may be, with no right to do that- but they still TRY.
"Look at Cassillis. The longest governmental 'dynasty' in the Galaxy. Rich and prosperous. Crime- unheard of. A social programme beyond the dreams of the greatest Republican worlds, from Corellia to Coruscant, even to Alderan. Every citizen there has the greatest benefits in health care and education, at no cost. There is no poverty, virtually no want in any significant sense. The restricted mandate for representation aside, its populace are free- and happy.
"I remember you coming to see me before you went, Your party was talking of how you thought the Cassillian senator was trying to trick you- as I am sure he was- but found that incongruous against his apparently clean voting record. And it is VERY clean- Cassillis has come firmly down against the Trade Federation ad Techno Union on every vote, supported intervention at Naboo, backed the Jedi Order with all the help they have asked for in these last few years, tried desperately to lobby against corrupt interests in favour of greater social programmes in the Galaxy, and time and time again have tried to institute a programme of diplomacy, rather than confrontation, with the potential seperatist worlds. I do not know of any major world that has been so moral in its actions.
"Think of the Good King, the one that cares for his world, and brings them untold benefits. Does it excuse autocracy? No, for there are no checks and balances, the Good King comes only by luck, and for each good King, there are a hundred bad. But what if they were ALL Good Kings? How bad would it be then? Would fairness be worth the risk of losing the benefits of that man? The Z'Har have ensured 25000 years of good and moral Government. Can Volun replace that with something better?
"No. He will not. He will make Cassillis like every other world. The second angle is what the alternative is. Look at this Galaxy, Jelena. Look at everything Master Marcus, and Roan, and maybe yourself too, hate about it. Greedy, corrupt Senators, looking out only for themselves and not the people,. Unrest rising, discontent rising, crime rising. None of that on Cassillis- it has remained free of it. Its Seantors are pure- they have no corruption at all. What did Volun say about having more power than the Z'Har? Why? Because he has influence over Senators. From what? His money. Think about what that means, Jelena. He seeks to bring the gift of freedom to Cassilis. That is not the only gift he would bring- he would bring greed and corruption as well. Volun is a capitalist; he would make Cassilis a place where money talks.
"And that is the truth of the Galaxy, Jelena. All thee free worlds- yes, they are free. But who is in power? Who are the Ministers and the Senators? The common man? No! The powerful families, the powerful trade unionists- and the rich people. Everywhere you go, money and influence are needed for power. How 'fair' is that? How much better chance will the average farmer have of being elected on Cassilis in that situation than they do now? Volun said one other thing, Jelena- that he has more money than the Z'Har. The reason for that is very simple. The Z'Har don't have much money! They do NOT live like Kings. They are postively austere. They spend all their money on the planet! It's unique. It is part of what makes Cassilis unique and special. How hateful to see it go.
"So I have warned you on three counts, Jelena. First, that what Volun wants is not as undoubtedly good as it first seems. Second, that he is going about it the wrong way. And third, that even if he was right, the planet simply cannot survive such radical change.
"But of course, I am not there. Perhaps my words are just that of the establishment. You must judge for yourself. But I have said what I have said because it strikes me that your tensions with the Z'Har have prevented you from fully understanding their views. You must work on those tensions, Jelena. You say both Kuylen and the Z'har seemed automatically hostile to you. Have you actually found out why? Or have you just made assumptions? Appearances are deceptive, and assumptions dangerous. Once more, you are a diplomat on this mission, and overcoming these problems are a hallmark of that trade- do not be easily thrown into dislike.
"And although it may not be entirely fair or relevant, this is hard to dismiss. If you find yourself, in your mind, siding against a system which confers power and responsiblity to a very select minority based merely on their advantages of birth... I would look at yourself, and see how open to charges of hypocrisy that might make you.
"One final thing, Jelena. I... have a bad feeling about your position. The situation you describe is... ridiculous. There have been no records of protests and demonstrations on Cassillis. I do not understand how it has gone from nowhere, to THIS extreme, so fast. You have a mystery in the device you have found; I doubt it is the only mystery you have found. Be careful, Jelena- and unravel these mysteries.
"And be careful with Miran. He is an important person- perhaps more so than you realise. Roan in particular should be careful.
May the Force be with You."
"Ohh, lucky, I am sure," says Twain.
Ball comes out... centre!
-----
CURRENT SITUATION- Spiridos Hockey Match. Score: -1
Your third
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
Gallagher: Skill 11, Initiative 7
No-Man's Land
Andro: Skill 14, Initiative 9
Red Droids (x3): Skill 10, Initative 7
Deel Twain: Skill 13, initiative 7
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
Father Varm: Skill 12, initiative 8
Ball
Their third
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
-----
Oooh, another almighty tussle, but both Twain and Varm roll badly, and Andro is the fastest to the Ball!
-----
CURRENT SITUATION- Spiridos Hockey Match. Score: -1
Your third
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
Gallagher: Skill 11, Initiative 7
No-Man's Land
Andro: Skill 14, Initiative 9 Ball
Red Droids (x3): Skill 10, Initative 7
Deel Twain: Skill 13, initiative 7
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
Father Varm: Skill 12, initiative 8
Their third
Blue droids (x1): Skill 10, initiative 7
-----