[Day 2 - EA] Imperial Court: Feast or Famine RP

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

Jo'ren looked at Hala and gave her a tight nod. "Colonel. I think you're mistaken. Still, you came to explain your argument. Who's conducting the quarantine? The Military. The best trained medical personnel belong to? The Military. Since the military is doing all of the heavy lifting anyway, why not make sure they're supplied across the breath of our space?" He sighed and gestured to the gathered dignitaries. "You've won the floor. With luck we won't rue this day."

Time to step up my programme.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"What I understood from the Grand Moff's propositions, the military in the Rim would receive support. As to why the military shouldn't just receive broad support, I see two related reasons. First, the military is not an end to itself. It is a means to an end. A strong military with a haggard populous is a strong muscle with only chalky bones to leverage it.

"Secondly, funding the military does not implicitly mean that the funding will be placed into quarantine procedures, emergency medical supplies, and bulk cargo transport to do the heavy lifting. It will also be placed into expensive research projects, unlikely to be funded except for a sudden large source of liquidity being made available. It will be placed into new generations of ship construction, and it will be grifted away by soldiers who want fancier offices, nicer food, or custom uniforms. And the military was involved on each side of the kaggath, too."

"I do agree though, my lord. I do hope that I am not wrong. I simply think that this is the most efficient allocation of our resources given present data. That does not mean I'm right, just that this is the most rationally justified position I have."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain began to notice the discussion taking place a short distance off and turned his ears to hear the exchange as Col. Moraal spoke.

[Lord Tenebrous]

Shaisha nodded to the colonel's words. As she had said herself, all the options have their own risks and drawbacks. "Thinking ahead, preparing, and planning. None of the options presented were without weaknesses or risks, and most of them had some merit, one way or another."

She sighed a little at that. "You know I want to start the war just as much as you, Lord Rath. But as someone in the competition for the Council, I must also demonstrate that I see the bigger picture and consider the responsibilities of such decisions."

[Jaheem Abasi]

Jaheem shook his head "Peace is a lie. This peace is a farce. The Sith Empire signing peace accords goes against the core of what we are, what we are meant to be. Greatness is forged through conflict and strife, strength is what matters. The colonies are important but investing in our strength is more so. Colonel sending supplies to the Rim does exactly what you says it does not. It robs our military that is the whole reason we are here. There is not enough for everyone and we decide who goes without. The Outer Rim is full of sedition and dissidents who will also grow stronger. Some will always bite the hand that feeds no matter how generous that hand is. As Lord Rath said though you all have won this day, and I hope I'm wrong."

[Lord Tenebrous]

Now she couldn't help but to smirk.

"Peace is a lie, yes... but are not lies too a weapon and a strength we should use when we can?"

[Jaheem Abasi]

He fixed her with a hard look "So long as we do not fall into the folly of believing our own lies."

[Sylvain Torsin]

Sylvain interjected politely there, "I can assure you that even those who were instrumental in the creation of that 'peace' have never been duped by our own lies."

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Who has done that? Have we retired our military and turned turbolaser batteries into miniature fusion reactors? The wisdom of 'peace is a lie' is best observed when you look at the entire scope of the system, rather than complaining that warships are not engaging. There is more to conflict than war, and war is not the opposite of peace in the same way that black is not the opposite of white. Surely you see this, Lord Abasi?" she asked.

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

Lord Abasi received a respectful nod before things started to get weird.

Jo'ren arched an eyebrow at the Colonel. "You were just suggesting that our military is incapable of wisely using its resources to combat an internal threat. I've seen your work Colonel, it's been first rate, so if our military is so mismanaged what's your plan for fixing it?" He pulled out a datapad and made a few notes. "Oh, and we should meet to discuss your evidence of graft. Darth Vengean won't tolerate that shit. Tomorrow?"

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"I think that our military should be focused on order, discipline, skill, and training Lord Rath, rather than allowing disorder and disrespect for the chain of command to spread by encouraging and participating in bar fights. I am thankful for your appreciation of my service, but any time I spend dealing with internal failures of order is time I cannot spend fighting against enemies who intend us harm rather than problems we create for ourselves out of neglect or shortsightedness. Every bar fight is remedial training rather than range time, and every incident I get pulled into sorting out is time I am not able to conduct other investigations. Every time we teach bad habits is a gift to our enemies, and time we will never get back. Wouldn't you agree, my lord?" she said, addressing her attention towards Jo'ren.

[Lucinia Malveaux]

Casting a glance over at the argument going on, Lucinia smiled. One hand came up, fingers going to the corner of her mouth, perhaps to quiet her inevitable laughter.

"Oooohohohoho!" The hand wasn't very successful.

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

"No. I'd say a good off-duty fight once in a while is good for morale Colonel. Letting off steam is perfectly natural for frontline troops. Maybe not for bureaucrats." He shrugged.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Perhaps, but we should all be thankful that troops on Ziost are not on the front lines," Hala replied with a shrug.

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

"As long as they've got fight in 'em for the enemy when they get shipped out to it." Rath nodded. "Like I said, a good bar fight is good for morale. A fight on the training grounds? Now that would be a clear lack of discipline."

[Jun-Tsu Farro]

Jun-Tsu had, for the most part, stayed in her assembly seat, content to look out over the proceedings after she had offered her, admittedly, rather ignored piece. However, as the session dragged on, and with a growing consensus, there was a growing unrest in the witch. Her attention began to waver to the other delegates who had already turned from the politicking to focus on their own private conversations.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Any unauthorized scuffle is a lapse in discipline and that was far larger than a scuffle. And while your considerable talents may be enhanced by morale and conflict. Good morale can be encouraged in less destructive ways, but discipline is either practiced or atrophied. If they fight now, then it becomes acceptable that they fight in more serious situations. And when they fight in more serious situations, then maybe they have to fight for their lives with bruised eyes swollen half shut and cracked ribs.

"And," she added, "Bex Company already suffers a deficit in rigor and discipline. What they need is not the ability to blow off steam, nor excuses for continued displays of their failings."

[Lord Jo'ren Rath]

"Nonsense Colonel. Aggression and violence require an outlet as surely as discipline requires training. You clearly lack understanding of what it means to brawl. Passion. Strength. Power. Victory." He shook his head. "You saw how well Bex Company performed today. They pushed harder, followed their orders perfectly."

He paused, temper cooling as an idea came to him. "Well there's a thing. I think there's a way to unify both of our lines of thinking Colonel."

[Ilar'Shala]

Sitting quietly by himself, Ilar observed the growing tension with fascination.

[Col. Hala Moraal]

"Bex Company was accompanied by a cadre of officers, specialists, and Sith that are not inside their TO&E. Without the assistance for command, control, and security, I do not think they would have fared as well. I saw weakness and inadequacy. But I would like to hear your idea. Is it competitive sports perhaps, or formalized combat days where they are allowed to fight watch other within military discipline?"