"Coruscant?" she asks. "At the Imperial Academy?"
"Yes," Einar groans. "Forsaking his homeworld in pursuit of knowledge, hmm?"
"I wouldn't go so far," Anaztazia replies. "Melkor may travel more than the average man of this world, but that does not mean he has abandoned his people. He is no traitor."
You are not sure what they are on about, Melkor. It is well-known that your father was reluctant to send you away to Cassilis and Alderaan and Coruscant, but never once were you labeled a traitor for it.
Melkor nods and gives an approving smile to Anastazia.
"Indeed, I don`t see why I cannot serve my homeworld away, especially on Coruscant. We really need to protect our interests there.... armies of the Boyar are one of the few major remaining military forces in galaxy, and it is known that Empire is wary of it."
"Wary of it? He says they're wary of it!" Einar says, mockingly. "For all your education, you seem to have little knowledge of the Galaxy."
"Perhaps the topic is not taken quite so seriously outside of our system," Anaztazia proposes. "It may be a significant matter to the citizens of Erengard, but seen in a much more trivial fashion to the populace on Coruscant."
"That's because the Coruscanti are blinded by the power of the Emperor," Einar wearily states.
"Power of the Emperor is a fact, not illusion, Einar, as is the power of our Houses." -Melkor responds calmly, than looks back at Anastazia. "And in times of centralized galctic goverment, we would indeed benefit of taking the views of outsiders into account."
(What would Melkor know of these issues, since I am not supposed to know less than Einar, right?)
From what you can tell, there seems to have been a current event that occured on Erengard before your arrival.
"What I mean to say," Anaztazia says, "is that perhaps, being the company of men on Coruscant, you were not informed of interactions between the Empire and Erengard."
Einar is grumbling to himself.
Einar sighs.
"The Empire has approached Erengard with unreasonable demands," Einar tells you. "A proclamation has been issued to all member worlds of the Empire to assimilate their armed forces with those of the Empire, joining them with the ranks of stormtroopers. If this is contested, then the armies must be dissolved. Such is the will of the Emperor Palpatine, as dictated to us by the Commissariat."
...dictated by who?
I quess Esgabath never heard of Commisariat? He is not going to admit it... He hesitates a moment before speaking, absorbing the news.
"Commisariat.... yes, they are a new creation, but apparently they are starting big. I don`t see us and most Houses agreeing with it, though of course it depends how strictly they define this requirement of assimiliation, maybe just integrating command structure with Imperial High Command could be enough?"
It is certainly difficult to imagine the likes of Esgabaths or Kuylens agreeing to pur Stormtrooper uniforms on their men.
The Commisariat must be a newer addition to the Empire, Melkor. Otherwise, you would have known about it.
"It is not the command structure they want," Einar says. "On the contrary, they want all loyalty directed onto the Emperor. We would still train our soldiers, but they would not remain under our control. It is an outrage to ask such a thing of Erengard."
"I do not see why," Anaztazia says. "The varied worlds of the Galaxy have no need for armies, not since the end of the Clone Wars. The Galactic Empire will see to it that no world suffers under the protection of their forces, I'm sure."
Actually, the Kuylens might not have many complaints. They had a strong sense of duty to the Galactic Republic, which they have now vested in the Galactic Empire.
"You seem to understand the wider perspectice well, Anastazia." Melkor seems happy to again agree with her. "We Erengardians are very proud people, but we must adapt our ways to the changing galaxy, so we are not..... forced to do it." -He ends with uneasy note.
(not sure about etiguette, but I think young nobles of similar station could use just their names)
First-name basis does not seem to bother anyone at the moment.
"Taking away our army is the equivalent of taking away our culture," Einar says. "You're a fool, Melkor. You understand so little of your own people. Well, you can be sure that the Empire will not be forcing my hand. I will force theirs."
He gives a curt bow to Anaztazia.
"If you'll excuse me, I have an investigation to begin. Hunting season is on."
He stomps off, furiously.
Anaztazia laughs a little, watching him go. "Oh, so patriotic is Einar... but so narrow, it seems. Ah well. I will admit he is kind of cute when he is angry, but I am not here to gain the affections of men."
She casts a sideways glance at you. "What do you think?"
Melkor grins as Anastazia laughs. "Oh, Einar is exemplary Erengardian soldier, with qualities that our women are supposed to admire...kind of cute you say? Trust me, you wouldn`t consider his anger cute as his younger sibling." Suddenly he shakes his head, shaking off his attraction to the young noble as irrelevant in light of his other concerns.
"Frankly, I think that Einar`s actions may lead to disaster. He has no idea about diplomacy, and Emperor doesn`t take no as an answer lightly."
"I take it that you are a supporter of the Empire, then," Anaztazia says. "Solstheim admires this age of peace that he has ushered in. My father has vowed to support the Emperor should anything come of this rumored Rebellion, but I doubt it will come to that."
She pauses.
"Would your father really let Einar refuse the Emperor?"
"I am sure my father is more reasonable that this... on the other hand, he is struck with grief at the moment and giving Einar most responsibilities." -He pauses for a moment, cheching the refreshments, than looks back at Anastazia.
"And of course, we shouldn`t act without consulting with Antonon. Kuylens are proud as well, but have always been loyal to galactic goverment."
"Their opinion is known. I find it unlikely that Charnel would deliberately aid the Empire in striking at your world, but they certainly would not help you if Einar angered the Emperor. They are staunch supporters of Galactic policy and will remain so. As will Solstheim."
She turns to pour some wine into her glass, then takes a sip.
"You said you were enrolled at the Imperial Academy on Coruscant, did you not?"
"I take it you wish to contribute in the Empire, since you cannot ascend to the title of Castellan with your brother in that position...
"And you have exquisite taste, Melkor," Anaztazia says, examining the refreshment table. "It just so happens that I am not a great fan of wines, but Alderaanian, I admit, I have a taste for."
Rare cases, Melkor. Rare indeed. But most occur during times of war. The most recent time that it has happened was as far back as the New Sith Wars, when the Castellan and his eldest son were slain by a Sith Lord of the Brotherhood of Darkness. The next would-be inheritor was then killed by the Creatures, which were terrible new additions to Erengard's ecosystem at the time.
In that case, the youngest of the sons took the title of Castellan and, without help from the Jedi Order, drove the Sith off of Erengard.
But that was a thousand years ago. Such cases are rare.