"Even so," the Diktat says. She looks back at the seated men. "We should begin the session. Please, be seated."
Sky opts to stay by the door to the room, just in case.
The Diktat calls the meeting to order. She is met by rabble; the officials are in an uproar over the death of Senator Fordox, which is just as well as his assassination is the first issue of the meeting.
Some men are quick to accuse CorSec of not doing enough to stop the attack. Shyla calmly assures them that they are doing everything possible to combat the growing danger but they are not omnipotent.
One man even accuses the Jedi protectors of not doing anything to stop it beforehand. He does not address Shyla about it; he calls you out.
"My sources tell me that the Jedi were on Corellia before the assassination," he says. "Why did you not use your powers to foretell this tragedy?"
Alright fine, I'll do it.
"I was called here to help protect the Diktat. This is an extraordinary time, and Cor Sec thought the the help and advice of a team of Jedi were useful. That is all. I cannot and will not speak for Cor Sec. We are helping to track down those responsible and bring them to justice."
"Are you satisfied, Lord Fenring?" the Diktat queries.
"Yes, Diktat," the man replies, returning to his seat.
Lord Fenring seems to be one of the youngest men in the room, but he is still probably a few years older than yourself. He is very handsome, with dark hair and fair skin, but he wears the same traditional garb as the rest of the officials.
After Fenring, nobody pursues the issue further. A few of the officials seem glad to have the Jedi brought on, some possibly catching the similarity of your appearance to that of Officer Trilanger. But many are unhappy that Corellia had to look outside itself for aid.
Diktat Merricope presses the emergency meeting onwards. She tells them that there is an ongoing investigation being placed into the death of Senator Fordox. But they need an official to temporarily fill the seat of Senator until a new one can be officially elected.
"I request that you select a member of this congregation for temporary duty to the office of Senator," the Diktat says. "Understand that currently this will be a very difficult position and your life may be at risk. But it is necessary that the office be filled."
All but two men are reluctant to voice their interest in the office; you sense a lot of fear coming from them.
The two are Lord Fenring and another man, with neatly combed hair and finely trimmed mustache, named Garm Bel Iblis.
You think you have heard of Iblis. A young political activist and something of a war hero after some debacle with pirates. But nothing comes to mind when you think of Lord Fenring. He does seem young for a Lord, though.
With only two candidates interested in holding the office of Senator, the Diktat puts it to vote. As head of government, the Diktat does not vote, but it appears that as head of CorSec, your father does. He goes with Iblis, as do more than half of the officials, tipping it in his favor.
You notice that Gabriel frowns when the votes come in for Fenring.
In any case, Iblis is awarded the Senatorial position, and thus is placed under your care!
What is it specifically you wanted to ask the Diktat about Iblis and Fenring?
She tells you that Garm Bel Iblis was her personal choice for the Senatorial position, had she been allowed a vote, and she is pleased that he was voted in.
"He has a noble heart and good intentions," Shyla says. "He has made his patriotism known in war and in peace, and I think his leadership will be beneficial to the current crisis."
As for Fenring, she knows that he inherited his title and estate from a late Lord with no heir that he had befriended, and he used this to push his way into politics. He is very outspoken and sometimes controversial with his views.
"He is not against forming a treaty with the Uhl Chirq Uldyr," she says. "Such a thing would involve seceding from the Republic, which very few are willing to consider. Corellia has stood by the Republic since its foundation, but Fenring feels that leaving its embrace to save our people is of greater importance."
He has voiced other strange opinions, but his loyalty to Corellia and its government is unquestionable.