A meeting on Horuz

[Krassus Horuset]

Part III: A future dictated

"And what of Operational Command?" Kemma asked, her fingers still clutched around the governor's rank slab. "I assume an Imperial Governor is allowed to oversee war fighting in her own system?" 

"Only partially." Graush said, his smile widening as a flicker of cruel amusement danced across his hateful gaze. "The former Nam'ta Security forces will be enrolled in the Imperial Sector Defense Force, and as governor you will, in theory, have full command over them of course... But I am sending a 'Crisis expert' along with the Conquest Consolidation Corps."  Graush explained, his gaze shifting to Ensign Loring, who elaborated.

"Colonel Dramath Rennab." Loring explained. "His family has a long history of proud Military service. The colonel himself  has served with the Coslidation Corps since the fighting on Balmorra, he is an expert at exactly this sort of fighting. His Service record will be provided to you, Governor." 

"Indeed." Graush butted in. "He will have full command over the forces of the Corps... And while they remain planet-side, the Sector Defense Forces will be placed as subsidiaries to his command. Your authorization on their deployments will of course still be necessary, Governor... You will pull the trigger, but Rennab will point the gun. I expect you will have such a fun time working together."

Ralter's jaw tightened, her expression hardening. "Nam'ta's military commanders will not so easily accept an off-worlder's orders, Moff Graush. This will not be easily explained to our people."

"Then don't." Graush said flatly. Raising a hand. "Your people are citizens of the Empire now, Governor. And Imperial Citizens do not get explanations. They do as they are told." He explained, parting his arms in a welcoming gesture.

Kemma inhaled sharply and parted her lips to retort but was quickly interrupted by the Moff before she could. "There is more." He said, raising his hand once more to silence the foreign president turned underling. "You will be pleased to hear that our dear friend Ozil Kaldon has also been granted an official Imperial Commission."

Kemma blinked, her posture further stiffening. "Commission?" 

"Indeed. 'Imperial Commodore of the Nam'ta System,' No less." Graush purred, clearly enjoying himself. "He requested the rank personally." 

"Commodore?" Ralter repeated, scoffing slightly. "A Naval Rank? He has no fleet." 

"No," Graush said. "But He does have thirty-five thousand loyal mercenaries turned Imperial Privateers, a dozen artillery battalions, nigh endless capital and an entire one of your moons under martial law." Graush paused. "He chose the rank, Apperently, because he prefers the color scheme of an Imperial naval uniform. Finds it more 'Flattering' to his complexion. And he likes the sound of 'Commodore.' it has, and I quote, 'A ring to it. It was all quite endearing, so I humored his request." 

Graush said, chuckling to himself as he examines a reflection of himself in the polished datapad laying on his armrest. "Let us not underestimate the merit of pageantry, Governor. You may loathe him my dear, but you cannot do without him." 

It is then that Reina stirred at last. "Madam President, Your Excellency... With all due respect but I cannot hold my tongue on this." He said, his voice trembling slightly in frustration and fear. Not used to speaking out in front of his batters. "You would grant a commission, an *Imperial Commission*, To Ozil Kaldon? To give him such a say in the future of our world?" His aging features flushed with rare fury.

"This is madness. His so-called army of 'Privateers' is a horde of hired thugs, mercenaries and conscripted prisoners dragged from detention blocks and debt camps!" Reina spoke, the eyes of everyone in the room shifting to him. Ralter surprised, Ensign Loring uncaring, and the moff? Thoroughly amused, resting his right cheek on his fist, letting the Ambassador continue. "He has no loyalty but to his own balance sheet. He didn't liberate Nam'ta Secundus from the rebels, he conquered it. He shelled population centers, burned whole districts to the ground as he advanced, and seized the factories for himself." 

Reina's Voice rose, echoing against the vaulted chamber walls. "If he aided the government's war effort in any way, it was by accident. Not by design.  He is nothing but an opportunist! Everything he touches, he claims for himself. The people of Nam'ta will never accept a man like that to hold such sway. His actions go against everything the Confederate Charter stands for." 

"The Confederate Charter is dead." Ensign Loring said, cutting off the Ambassador before he could continue, his voice thick with a Ziosti accent. "You do not seem to get it, Ambassador. There is no more Confederacy. No Charter, no council of representatives, no democracy. Your people are Imperial Subjects now, their opinions matter very little to us."

"Madam President!" Reina pleaded, turning in desperation to Kemma who has stayed quiet thus far. Her lips tightened, her gaze briefly averted to the ground. "Surely you cannot stand for this! The systems and principles that have governed the Confederacy for millennia can surely not be undone so carelessly?" He begged.

Kemma did not speak, it was the Ensign who replied. "You truly haven't been paying attention to the Rumours surrounding the governor-elect have you, Reina? She has all but undone those systems and principles herself since assuming office and the war began. There is a reason that her detractors claim Kemma Ralter has always been a true patriot. But whether to the flag of the Confederacy or that of the Empire...." He mused, his voice trailing off. 

"Hold your Tongue, Ensign." Kemma then hissed at last. "As Governor I will not be slandered by a junior officer, especially not by a Moff's Glorified bookkeeper." She said, tightening her jaw. The Ensign simply bowing his head.  Kemma then looking to Reina. "It is best for our people, Valco. To push Kaldon away from us will only lead to more chaos. We cannot contain his influence and that of Barracas at the same time... And it is Governor now." She said, with a deep sigh.

Graush laughing at that, finally meddling in the Conversation. "Aaah~ Such fire! I told you she had quite the feisty temperament, Cestus!" He said with another boisterous laugh that made his cheeks jiggle. 

"Indeed." The Ensign replied. "And already embracing her new position." 

Graush mused softly at that before turning his hate-filled gaze to Reina again. "Three of your sons serve in the Security forces, do they not, Ambassador?" 

"Two, your excellency." Cestus corrected. "The Eldest was recently killed in action on the frontlines of Nam'ta III." 

"Ah~" Graush said, his expression softening slightly. "My Condolences, Reina.  I will forgive your outburst... It is always difficult to loose a loved one, a child especially I imagine... Having so recently lost my own brother I empathize." He said, holding his hand against his chest where his heart would be. "As a father I would imagine you would do anything you can to protect your other sons... In times like these junior officers are often rushed into dangerous postings on the front before they are ready... Let us pray they are spared from such assignments, Hmmm?" He said. His expression hardening once more, a not so subtle threat. 

Reina, parted his lips to speak, but bit his tongue. Inhaling deeply as he bowed his head in submission.

A cold silence lingering throughout the throne room for a long moment before Kemma spoke up once again.

"Was there more, Moff Graush?" She asked. Her tone, polite but clearly frustrated.

"There is~" Graush said, sitting up in his throne again....