Chapter 7 - Political battlefield (2/2)
- ”How are the things going in the internal elections?”- asked Mon Mothma enjoying the food in front of her- ”I heard that the polls show a very good support to you, Amilyn.”
- ”The people recognize the best candidate, Mon”- said Holdo who showed a confident smile- ”I am sure that the results will not be surprising for us.”
Amilyn Holdo was a female human that represented the planet Gatalenta and she was a member of the Populist political faction which was one of the two major political forces clashing each other inside the Galactic Senate. Leia and Mon Mothma could be considered also part of the Populist faction but they were more of the right side of it and Holdo could be considered a Far-left Populist which wanted total equality and justice to all races and total independence for all the planets to choose what to do without the intervention of the Senate. Leia disagreed with this since total equality was an absolute impossible taking in consideration that every race and culture was different and force equality would be impossible since they would not even be able to define what ”equality” means and Leia knew that the galaxy needed the Senate. If each planet was given total freedom independently from the Senate, it would be millions of people disagreeing instead of thousand of senators disagreeing making the taking of decisions impossible. Also, who would be able to stop local tyrants and maybe a new Emperor rising without the watch of the Galactic Senate.
- ”I heard it's not the same for you, Senator Casterfo”- said Holdo looking at the thin, tall, white man with gray hair and cleanly shaven face- ”Maybe you would have better results if you let your bigotry and racism behind.”
Ransolm Castesfo was a senator representative of the Planet of Riosa and he was a member of the opposite faction in the Senate which were the Centrist faction which looked for more control over the systems and planets to make the galaxy stronger and who looked for a strong leadership that maximized the results. Leia disagreed with them since they had the same tenets of the dissapeared Empire and as its opposite faction they had radicals inside which were in contact with the First Order but Casterfo had a more mild approach of the Centrist ideas.
- ”Hehe, that's funny from a person who hates males and is surrounded by only human females”- said Casterfo smiling without showing any anger- ”though I should not surprised such words from an emotional and cringing leftist like you.”
His voice was such that one could have just imagined he had said something nice to her. Leia and Mon Mothma stayed in silence knowing that Holdo had asked for it herself and to be honest, Leia thought the same as Casterfo, Leftists always cry discrimination and bigotry when they could not win by debating and it was them who were like that mostly. Holdo was at loss from words when she heard that and she just took a glass of liquor knowing that if she reacted violently, she would be giving Casterfo the reason.
- ”I prefer to be that and not a tyrant who oppress people”- said Holdo who was incredibly red from fury- ”I suppose you still continue with the Empire ways.”
- ”Ho! Again you let your emotions blind your reasoning. Didn't Gatalenta get its current development thanks to the Empire economical projects?”- said Casterfo who was a veteran diplomat who always liked a good chance to debate.
- ”We got what we are by our own means”- said Holdo with security.
- ”But using the legislation and support of the Empire”- said Casterfo looking at Holdo with superiority- ”Too bad you have to suffer a decline of 51% in your economy since the fall of the Empire.”
Leia and Mon Mothma smiled but said nothing. They knew it was better to let these two burn their fuel before talking about the main topic of today.
- ”Also, order and discipline are not oppression but ways to boost development. I thought you had learnt that after you begged for the Senate to approve a loan to your planet after you defunded yourselves due to stupid social projects that helped none.”
- ”We used that money to help the minorities and oppressed groups.”- defended Holdo- ”we have to show generosity if we want results.”
- ”And were those results positive?”- asked Casterfo looking at Holdo grinning. She just stayed in silence knowing the results were not good at all- ”Uncontrolled generosity only leads to the destruction of economy, which leads to the suffering of the people that have nothing to eat.”
- ”Do you prefer to let those poor people die?”- asked Holdo desperately and shocked.
- ”The majority will not”- affirmed Casterfo- ”people are tougher than you think and they will find a way... but if you just give them money for free, they'll get used to it and they will become a weak and useless burden but you should know better of that, right?”
- ”We only want that everyone is equal and has the same opportunities.”- said Holdo.
- ”That's another way to say that you want certain groups to be pampered”- said Casterfo shaking his head- while you abuse of the real hard working people. In simple words, you make the working class pay for the lazy class that you call oppressed.”
- ”I don't care about your opinion”- said Holdo with a horrible face- ”I will defend the oppressed even if none else thank me.”
- ”Haha!”- Casterfo laughed- ”my poor Holdo... you speak as if those so called 'opressed' people thanked you for your efforts... isn't your government suffering daily protests by the same people you try to help?”
Holdo tried to say something but she could not say a thing. Casterfo had just presented the facts and she could not defend from that.
- ”I'll tell you why and it's very simple”- continued Casterfo as if he was talking to a students- ”Lazy people are like black holes, no matter how many resources you put on them, it will never be enough. They will always want more and more without a word of gratitude and the day you can't continue, they will attack you and rip you apart trying to get whatever they can from you before you die.”
He started to chew a fruit while letting the ideas he said sink in the environment. Leia could not deny this since she has seen many examples of it.
- ”That's why in my system, we follow capitalism and meritocracy”- explain Casterfo with a calm tone- people know that if you work hard and follow the rules, you can prosper and none can stop by law, unless of course you're breaking it in which case you will pay the consequences. If you are lazy, none will help you, why would we? So the majority finds a way to survive and even prosper. Thaks to that our economy is bustling, our crime rates are low and our publicmanagement is improving by the day. Can you tell me the same, Senator Holdo.”
Holdo just stopped talking and it was obvious who was the winner of the exchange. He then vanished his smile and looked at Leia and Mon Mothma who were listening without commenting.
- ”It's that same weakness that has infected the New Republic”- he said in a cold tone- ”it was because of this that the First Order has been able to grow so much.”
- ”I thought you would love to see the First Order thrive”- said Holdo- ”since they have similar principles to yours.”
- ”And that is why you should do your homework, Holdo”- said Casterfo and they could feel his anger- ”the First order represents all the negative aspects that the centrists like me are trying to improve.”
- ”The Empire had nothing good!”- said Holdo.
- ”Everyone here knows better”- said Casterfo- ”As for political philosophy, all we Centrists want is to take a fair look at what aspects of the Empire actually worked. Centralizing power, creating maximum efficiency, binding the worlds of the galaxy closer together. Can you honestly say it did no good whatsoever?”
- ”Whatever good came of the Empire came at too high a price.”- said Leia with serious eyes- ”should I remind you of all the atrocities the Emperor commiteed, Senator Casterfo?”
- ”I agree completely, Senator Organa”-said Casterfo kowing that Leia Organa was a different kind of material than the explosive and easy to beat Holdo so he used a more polite tone with her- ”But what if we could achieve some of those same benefits without repeating Palpatine's mistakes? That's what we want... but the existance of the First Order just damage our goal and must be eliminated.”
- ”Then we agree in the most important”- said Leia who took the opportunity- ”which is why we must now hear your opinions about the topic of the next week motion and the next election for the Supreme Counselor in a month.”
- ”If you're talking about the motion for decalring the First Order a terrorist organization”- said Casterfo smiling- ”then I can ȧssure you, Senator Organa that we are on the same side.”
Leia could not help but smile to this affirmation. This was the reason he had looked for him, Senator Casterfo may be cold and tough but his core was still democratic, a tough democracy but a democracy still. Even if many could dislike his personality and means, none could deny the great social and economical development that was starting to make Riosa bloom and soar in the galactic scene.
- ”It's nice to hear that”- said Mon Mothma- ”but I would like to know what the opinion is in the majority of your respective factions.”
- ”There's some disagreements in my side”- said Holdo who seemed a little shaken- ”there are some who say that we are looking for a useless war that will bring unnecessary suffering to the galaxy. But I ȧssure you that the vast majority will vote in favor of the motion.”
- ”What about your side, Senator Casterfo?”- asked Leia looking at the diplomat.
- ”I can't deny that many systems and planets from my faction admire and even have relationships with the First Order”- admitted Casterfo and Holdo harrumphed- ”but I still can ȧssure you a 50% in favor of the motion. Especially after the internal elections in three days. I have a great chance to win and if that happens the umber of votes I can ȧssure you will increase dramatically.”
- ”I've heard Ormes Apolin will be a tough opponent”- said Mon Mothma- ”According to my sources he has a very strong backing.”
- ”He has a lot of allies, true...”- said Casterfo with an annoyed expression after the mention of his political enemy- ”but his popularity has fallen after the publishing of the last actions of the First Order. Also, people are starting to hear some rumours about his plan to use the Republic in order to get his personal vendetta.”
- ”A vendetta? Agaisnt who?”- asked Leia who had heard these rumours for the first time.
- ”The supreme leader of the First Order”- said Casterfo and Mon Mothma immediately looked at Leia.
- ”Snoke...”- she said and her voice had such hatred that the other people felt a shiver in their backs- ”how are they related?”
- Hum... according to my sources...”-explained Casterfo trying to control himself- ”Apollin was supposed to have ȧssumed the leadership of the First Order since he was one of the original founders of the group... but then, for some reason, the leadership was taken by Snoke who was someone who had just arrived and entered into the group. Soon after, he abandoned the group and started his political career.”
- ”It's no surprise he feels angry at Snoke and the First Order.”- commented Holdo- ”He just want to use the Republic for his own means.”
- ”I don't personally mind”- said Casterfo winning another disguted look from Holdo- ”but he's too careless and he will never be a good leader against the First Order. That's why the next elections are critical. If I'm chosen as their candidate for the next election in a month, not only I will give you more votes for the motion against the First Order, but I will lose the Supreme Chancellor in favor of Mon Mothma. Of course, you will have to abide to you promise of giving my faction a determined quantity of seats in the parlament and ministries.”
- ”I ȧssure you I will remember you when that happens, Senator. You have my word.”- said Mon Mothma.
- ”Then, I am reassured”- said Casterfo smiling- ”We must have both factions equilibrated if we want to maintain stability.”
- ”You also have our support, Senator Mothma”- said Holdo- ”however, I must ask the same in order to pacify the opposing voices.”
- ”You both have my word, too”- said Leia who added a strong tone to her comment- ”just deal with your respective factions and make sure the motion passes next week. It's the only way we can defeat the First Order before it's too late. Now let's talk about the specifics.”
After that, the four of them started to discuss the next movements and deals with each faction and how they would act in some specific circunstances and they also signed documents where they accepted the agreements of the meeting. Many hours passed before they finished and Casterfo and Holdo stood up to go. When they finally went. Leia sat down feeling terribly exhausted.
- ”Good job”- said Mon Mothma- ”it went better than I expected”.
- ”Yeah”- said Leia smiling- ”with this, we will have the legal tools to stop the First Order. That is of course if none of them decides to change sides at the last minute.”
- ”I certainly doubt it”- said Mon smiling at the always cautious Leia- ”they have nothing to win by betraying us. They know the opinions about the First Order are going down. They will not risk going down with them.”
- ”I hope so...”- said Leia and then she saw Taslin touched his intercom and changed his expression to a very worried one.
- ”What is it?”- asked Leia.
- ”We have received news from Jakku”- said he and passed a holotablet to her where she could see the inform. Leia sighed.
- ”Bad news?”- asked Mon looking at the face of Leia.
- ”Terrible”- said she and started to type some orders in the tablet she had sending some orders- ”Prepare the ship Taslin.”
- ”Yes, General”- said Taslin and h immediately went out.
- ”Poe and the information are lost in Jakku”- explained Leia to Mon who showed a shocked expression- ”the first order attacked during the mission.”
- ”Do you have any backup?”- asked Mon.
- ”One that is already on the way”- said Leia taking Mon by the arm and goign out the room with her.
- ”Is this backup trustworthy?”- Mon Mothma asked and Leia smiled.
- ”I don't know if that word applies to him”- said Leia remembering certain moment in the past- ”but I ȧssure you that he's a very capable man.”