STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Broken

Vera-Kin nods.

"Then in we go," she says, walking through the doorway and into the 'throne room' of the Dame Astrune's home. She tries to spot the device as she goes through.

Rianna will enter as well, continuing to sense around for anything that feels wrong or out of place.

You go in, then. Vera-Kin makes an Observation roll... yes, there it is! Embedded in the wall, you see what look like thin vents... and a small LED blinks as you move past them. It runs on a trip sensor.

Rianna and Vera-Kin both full a dull ache within themselves as their lightsabers shut off.

Dame Astrune resides on her throne. She wears all black, with high heels and a belted skirt over a black leotard, with a heavy black visor and a pointy black crown. Tineas stands off to one side, examining you.

"Hello, Jedi," she says. "What brings you here?"

"Matters of great importance," Rianna says. She pauses for a moment before continuing. "I'll cut straight to the point instead of hedging around. Ord Coridari is currently edging on disaster, and it's one that we can prevent with your cooperation."

Astrune does not move, but you can sense her eyes on you, even behind the visor.

"I see," Astrune says. "Pray do tell."

"The miners are about to start rioting," Rianna says, watching Astrune. "And I'm sure you know what riots will mean."

"Chaos," Astrune says. "Isn't this something that the General and his precious military can handle? I am not at all worried about myself, after all."

"The General would prefer to prevent them from even starting," Rianna replies. "And the miners know who signs their checks - or doesn't, as the case may be. Who do you think the main target of their chaos would be?"

One corner of Astrune's mouth curves upward.

"I am prepared to defend myself and my property, if necessary," Astrune says. "You know that I can do so... adequately."

"I do believe that there are far, far more miners ready to wreak havoc on Ine, however. And even the best fighters can only hold out for so long against large numbers," Rianna simply says. "Why have you stopped paying the miners?"

Vera-Kin dares not to intervene as Rianna takes a proactive stance in the dialogue with Dame Astrune. She keeps her senses open, not wanting any unwelcome suprises from the Astrunian Guard or that smug Tineas character. She returns his gaze unflinchingly.

"Oh Rianna," Astrune says. "I hardly think miners will present a challenge to my students. And my answer is simple. Politics."

She cocks her head to one side, a calm and fluid motion.

"Am I to assume that you have not researched me, Jedi?"

"And just what politics could justify this?" Rianna asks. "And some. I know you were in trouble for tax evasion."

"And who imposes taxes?" Astrune says.

"Generally the head of government. So are you basically saying that you have no issue with endangering the livelihoods of thousands of people just to get back at Hirget over taxes that, with the amount of money you have, you can more than afford to pay?" Rianna replies, annoyed as well as a bit disgusted.

"Taxes are not the issue," Astrune says. "Merely the symptom. As are the riots, if they come. No, the issue is General Hirget's socialist reforms, targeted solely at the wealthy of Ord Coridari. He is getting away from the democratic nature of the Republic, without fear of reproach from the Senate. After all, what do they care for our planet? They don't."

"And what reforms are these?"

"The reforms that he levels upon the wealthy," Astrune says. "General Hirget holds no council with representatives, he merely imposes laws as he feels they should be imposed. That, Rianna, is a dictatorship. I cannot allow it. It is not a matter of whether or not I can afford to pay taxes- I very much can- it is a matter of taking a stand against the injustice that General Hirget's iron-fisted rule is."

Rianna glances over at Vera-Kin - this was rather unexpected.

"But aren't there ways of taking a stand that don't involve impoverishing innocents?"

"Forgive the cliché," Astrune says, "but drastic times call for drastic measures. General Hirget intends to push through yet another taxation bill that will sincerely harm the functionality of the mining corporations. His aim is to distribute wealth to the already impoverished, but what good is reducing the wealth of the mining corporations if they cannot afford to employ nearly the entirety of Ine? We pay our miners well enough, better than they would find in the Outer Rim. I say that with certainty.

"I seek to benefit the miners, but obviously they would not understand that. Not until unemployment rates start rising."