Kerrick Arkanus returned to a fleet almost ready to depart.
Captain Genkal wasted no time in updating the Marshal. “I hope your meeting went well, because Firebird sustained structural damage from her engine failure and won't be safe for hyperjump until repairs can be effected.”
Kerrick sunk slowly into the command chair of Cavalier's bridge, not bothering to look at the tiny hologram of the Mon Calamari captain as he checked in with his bridge officers. “We're going to give Mr. Stellar the benefit of the doubt for the time being, and make every effort to assist Stellar Enterprises in ensuring its assets aren't misappropriated. Send them the list of confirmed political and corporate fronts, and signal representative Saarkon. Tell him Stellar Enterprises has been cleared for Initiative business.
“Is Firebird the only problem ship?”
Genkal nodded.
“Then we'll leave it for Mr. Stellar to tend to. I'm sure she and her crew will be in good hands until they can return to us. Helm, turn us about and set course for Omwat.
The Rimward Defense Initiative is a peculiar beast. It's not a political affiliation like the League of Nations or a corporate entity like Stellar Enterprises or Vinda Corporation. In truth, its closest parallel would be to a militia, but even then the comparison fails. Perhaps the most appropriate description would be to say that it is an international affiliation of separate militias.
Most of the ships and personnel claiming membership in the Rimward Defense Initiative operate in the space immediately around their homeworlds, working to secure vital hyperlanes and coordinating―when possible―with nearby security and defense forces. “Membership” in the Initiative is a rather unofficial thing, with most sectors containing an Initiative member world assembling a representative body comprised of delegates from dozens of worlds, most of which do not contribute resources of any kind to the Intitiative itself. These representative bodies hold no real authority, however, only able to make policy on behalf of the member groups who explicitly authorize them to do so.
Kerrick's personal force was composed of the various ships and crews released to general Initiative use by their respective sponsor worlds. Intended to be dispatched at Kerrick's discretion and in smaller forces to assist problem areas within the Initiative's regions of influence, the confrontation with Leonia Tavira had required everything at Kerrick's disposal. With most of those ships now damaged and out of commission, and most Initiative member worlds disagreeing with Kerrick's course of action, the “commander” of the Rimward Defense Initiative had recently found himself with surprisingly little actual power.
Even so, he had just secured the support of Rob Stellar and Stellar Enterprises, and opened the door for the Initiative to expand on vast, new fronts. If Mr. Stellar's commitment was sincere, and if the arising diplomatic arm of the Initiative could capitalize on this potential new ally, then the galaxy was sure to become a much more favorable place for both the Rimward Defense Initiative and Stellar Enterprises.
Kerrick's musings faded fast as he came face-to-face with the head of Omwat's RDI delegation.
Anjyl Dal smiled broadly, offering a slight bow as Kerrick turned his attention to her. “Marshal. I understand your mission was a success?”
“As much as could be expected. We'll start with an information exchange and work from there.” Kerrick started walking away, Anjyl breaking from her small group to follow. “I've already sent them our red-flagged list of organizations, and Stellar Enterprises runs its own anti-piracy actions. I need you to make every effort to liaise with Stellar's security force and have them coordinate their anti-piracy actions with existing Initiative efforts. Just knowing where they are and who they're dealing with will work wonders for our resource allocation.”
“You want to push for joint actions,” She said suddenly, grabbing his arm to stop him.
Kerrick smiled wryly. “I dream of joint actions,” He admitted. “I'll settle for us not stepping on each other's toes. Just see if it can be done, will you?”
Anjyl returned the smile, letting her hand slip from his arm. “I'll do my best.”
Omwat didn't have much in the way of warships and soldiers, but what what it did have was an indomitable people possessed of a powerful intellect. Tempered only by the Omwati's peaceful spirit and gentle nature, this world represented one of the Rimward Defense Initative's greatest treasures. The Omwati people had taken control their destiny, and their self-made purpose imparted direction and focus to an entire arm of the Rimward Defense Initaitive's efforts.
Awakened from their slumber by horrific oppression at the hands of sinister outsiders, and freed from that bondage by the arrival of the Rimward Defense Initative, the Omwati people had caught the vision, and they would carry it to destinations unimagined and ends undreamed.
Whether set to tactics, diplomacy, logistics, or intelligence, these dedicated people accomplished their objectives with a competence and passion which brought alive Kerrick Arkanus' dream of a self-made Rim.
This world was changing, its people were changing, and the Initiative which had changed them was now changing by their hands.
The Galactic Coalition's Cooperative stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the men and women of the Rimward Defense Initiative, the reviving economic power of Stellar Enterprises had formed a tacit partnership, and everywhere the free people of the Rim were gathering in hopes of a new dawn, of a guiding light not cast from the spires of Coruscant or the muzzle flashes of invading armies, but forged day-by-day through the sweat of their own brows, the toil of their hands, and the rigorous application of their minds.
As war and chaos raged all about them, the countless masses who had for decades stood on the sidelines and watched the galaxy stagnate and decay were now stepping forward, hand-in-hand to make for themselves the uncompromised peace that no approaching war could bring.
Captain Genkal wasted no time in updating the Marshal. “I hope your meeting went well, because Firebird sustained structural damage from her engine failure and won't be safe for hyperjump until repairs can be effected.”
Kerrick sunk slowly into the command chair of Cavalier's bridge, not bothering to look at the tiny hologram of the Mon Calamari captain as he checked in with his bridge officers. “We're going to give Mr. Stellar the benefit of the doubt for the time being, and make every effort to assist Stellar Enterprises in ensuring its assets aren't misappropriated. Send them the list of confirmed political and corporate fronts, and signal representative Saarkon. Tell him Stellar Enterprises has been cleared for Initiative business.
“Is Firebird the only problem ship?”
Genkal nodded.
“Then we'll leave it for Mr. Stellar to tend to. I'm sure she and her crew will be in good hands until they can return to us. Helm, turn us about and set course for Omwat.
* * *
The Rimward Defense Initiative is a peculiar beast. It's not a political affiliation like the League of Nations or a corporate entity like Stellar Enterprises or Vinda Corporation. In truth, its closest parallel would be to a militia, but even then the comparison fails. Perhaps the most appropriate description would be to say that it is an international affiliation of separate militias.
Most of the ships and personnel claiming membership in the Rimward Defense Initiative operate in the space immediately around their homeworlds, working to secure vital hyperlanes and coordinating―when possible―with nearby security and defense forces. “Membership” in the Initiative is a rather unofficial thing, with most sectors containing an Initiative member world assembling a representative body comprised of delegates from dozens of worlds, most of which do not contribute resources of any kind to the Intitiative itself. These representative bodies hold no real authority, however, only able to make policy on behalf of the member groups who explicitly authorize them to do so.
Kerrick's personal force was composed of the various ships and crews released to general Initiative use by their respective sponsor worlds. Intended to be dispatched at Kerrick's discretion and in smaller forces to assist problem areas within the Initiative's regions of influence, the confrontation with Leonia Tavira had required everything at Kerrick's disposal. With most of those ships now damaged and out of commission, and most Initiative member worlds disagreeing with Kerrick's course of action, the “commander” of the Rimward Defense Initiative had recently found himself with surprisingly little actual power.
Even so, he had just secured the support of Rob Stellar and Stellar Enterprises, and opened the door for the Initiative to expand on vast, new fronts. If Mr. Stellar's commitment was sincere, and if the arising diplomatic arm of the Initiative could capitalize on this potential new ally, then the galaxy was sure to become a much more favorable place for both the Rimward Defense Initiative and Stellar Enterprises.
Kerrick's musings faded fast as he came face-to-face with the head of Omwat's RDI delegation.
Anjyl Dal smiled broadly, offering a slight bow as Kerrick turned his attention to her. “Marshal. I understand your mission was a success?”
“As much as could be expected. We'll start with an information exchange and work from there.” Kerrick started walking away, Anjyl breaking from her small group to follow. “I've already sent them our red-flagged list of organizations, and Stellar Enterprises runs its own anti-piracy actions. I need you to make every effort to liaise with Stellar's security force and have them coordinate their anti-piracy actions with existing Initiative efforts. Just knowing where they are and who they're dealing with will work wonders for our resource allocation.”
“You want to push for joint actions,” She said suddenly, grabbing his arm to stop him.
Kerrick smiled wryly. “I dream of joint actions,” He admitted. “I'll settle for us not stepping on each other's toes. Just see if it can be done, will you?”
Anjyl returned the smile, letting her hand slip from his arm. “I'll do my best.”
* * *
Omwat didn't have much in the way of warships and soldiers, but what what it did have was an indomitable people possessed of a powerful intellect. Tempered only by the Omwati's peaceful spirit and gentle nature, this world represented one of the Rimward Defense Initative's greatest treasures. The Omwati people had taken control their destiny, and their self-made purpose imparted direction and focus to an entire arm of the Rimward Defense Initaitive's efforts.
Awakened from their slumber by horrific oppression at the hands of sinister outsiders, and freed from that bondage by the arrival of the Rimward Defense Initative, the Omwati people had caught the vision, and they would carry it to destinations unimagined and ends undreamed.
Whether set to tactics, diplomacy, logistics, or intelligence, these dedicated people accomplished their objectives with a competence and passion which brought alive Kerrick Arkanus' dream of a self-made Rim.
This world was changing, its people were changing, and the Initiative which had changed them was now changing by their hands.
The Galactic Coalition's Cooperative stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the men and women of the Rimward Defense Initiative, the reviving economic power of Stellar Enterprises had formed a tacit partnership, and everywhere the free people of the Rim were gathering in hopes of a new dawn, of a guiding light not cast from the spires of Coruscant or the muzzle flashes of invading armies, but forged day-by-day through the sweat of their own brows, the toil of their hands, and the rigorous application of their minds.
As war and chaos raged all about them, the countless masses who had for decades stood on the sidelines and watched the galaxy stagnate and decay were now stepping forward, hand-in-hand to make for themselves the uncompromised peace that no approaching war could bring.