#Senator Lott dOD

[sw5w]

And on the Payroll of the Trade Federation, I Might Add

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 01:28:20

[intermundia]

"Anyone sitting down to write a screenplay on November 1, 1994, as Lucas apparently did, would have been interrupted eight days into the writing process by one of the most seismic midterm in postwar American history. Republicans took the House and the Senate for the first time in 40 years. A resurgent GOP under House Speaker Newt Gingrich started pushing its tax-cutting, regulation-slashing 'Contract with America.' Democrats, whose messaging had improved since Ted Kennedy's 'Star Wars' flub, started calling it a 'Contract On America.' It was perhaps no co-incidence, then, that Lucas started writing about a 'Trade Federation,' aided and emboldened by corrupt politicians, embroiled in some sort of dispute over the taxing of trade to the outlying star systems. We never learn what the dispute is about — whether the Trade Federation was pro- or anti-tax. But what we know is that the name of the leader of the Trade Federation — never actually spoken in the movie, but noted in the script from the start — was Nute Gunray. By 1997, when the GOP Senate leader was Trent Lott, Lucas named the Trade Federation's representative in the Galactic Senate: Lott Dodd. We're a long way from the subtlety of his [George Lucas's] [North] Vietnam metaphor here." Taylor, Chris. How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchisen. Basic Books, 2014.

You know, I've read the names of the Trade Federation leaders Lott Dod and Nute Gunray a thousand times, and never really processed the fact that Lucas named them openly after conservative American politicians. Senator Trent Lott and Senator Christopher Dodd, and Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan.

[speedgeek]

A little something for WIP Wednesday, very rough. Satine & Jango during TPM, part of a time travel fix-it, although neither characters are the Peggy Sues (that's Anakin and Obi-Wan). The warrior Satine mentions is Obi-Wan and she's going a step further by trying to go after Skeevy Sheevy because bad vibes. Jango's chasing Dooku's bounty on Komari Vosa, that landed him on Kamino. This is a convenient chance meeting on Coruscant.

“You’ve heard of what’s happened on Naboo?”

He nodded. “The blockade. It’s been all over the holonews.”

“It’s not a blockade anymore, it’s an invasion. I got a message from a warrior I knew from the Clan Wars. He was caught up in it, but he got footage of the droid ships landing and the battle droids rounding up everyone in Theed, including the Queen and her retinue, to go to camps. He helped her escape the planet and was able to send me the footage ahead of her arrival on Coruscant. But he added a message- Duran Gorr.”

“Wasn’t that one of your father’s advisors?”

“He’s the reason my father is dead. He was conspiring with Death Watch to overthrow my father, but he was manipulating both sides. He intended to take control for himself. He told me I would make a very pretty martyr.”

“Please tell me he’s dead. If he’s not, I’ll kill him for you.”

“I killed him myself at the Battle of Sundari. Last person I killed.” She looked at her hands. She knew they were clean, but sometimes she still could see the blood on them. “I hate the fact I don’t regret it. Not for a moment.”

“As it should be.”

She wanted to argue, revenge hadn’t gotten their people anything more than endless bloodshed, but she was here for a reason. “Anyway, I took the footage to the Senate. I didn’t want Naboo to accused of manufacturing it by the Trade Federation, so I didn’t warn their Senator of what I was doing. I saw him when I introduced it. Senator Palpatine was furious. Not at the Trade Federation- at me. It was just a moment, just a brief flash. I thought maybe I misunderstood. Trade Federation objected, of course. And then Queen Amidala arrived and spoke to the full Senate. It didn’t do any good. The whole thing dissolved into arguing and objecting and stupid demands with no resolution. Mandalore’s pod isn’t far away from Naboo’s. Her Senator was in her ear the whole time. She called for a vote of no confidence in the Chancellor since he was useless. It passed, Valorum isn’t popular. Someone nominated Palpatine among a lot of others. Bail Antilles of Alderaan was the leading candidate. Then the vote happens and Palpatine wins on the first ballot.”

“That’s how elections work, you know that better than me.”

“No, you don’t get it. There hasn’t been a first ballot Chancellery election in almost 300 years. It just doesn’t happen, especially with the candidates we had. It should have gone to at least three, if not five. Valorum’s first election, he won on the tenth ballot.”

“Pity vote.”

“This is the Galactic Senate- there is no pity,” she said bitterly. “But if Palpatine had this kind of support, where was it when his Queen was speaking? When she was begging for someone to help her people? And get this, Lott Dod of the Trade Federation voted for him.”

“Suspicious. Why are you so invested in this, Sati?”

“I was that girl once, begging for help from a deaf galaxy. And she’d make a pretty martyr too. She’s fourteen, Jango. Do you remember being fourteen and having the fate of our people on your shoulders?” Satine paused. “I can’t ease her burdens and I can’t send her an army, but I can take this off her shoulders. Maybe keep the knife out of her back.”

[dapurinthos]

the living force takes place near the end of 7944.

which means 7944, now, essentially goes:

republic intervention ends the kaleesh-yam'rii war (ig-100 droids, built at grievous's request, have been manufactured by the time of the xrexus cartel's capture of eldra kaitis. grievous's shuttle has not yet been sabotaged to ensure his transformation into a cyborg).

holonet news runs an exposé on corruption in the senate (c. 7944.169.1 / 02.22), focusing on high-ranked connections with the pyke syndicate (supposition: a committee forms to deal with the fallout and potential underworld gang war).

plo koon retrieves ahsoka tano from shili (legends addenda: in the wake of the yinchorri uprising, given that 1. plo was involved with the mission to yinchorri space; 2. shili is very close to yinchorr). this is around the beginning of 33BBY (03.09).

sifo-dyas contacts the kaminoans to commission an army for the jedi order. soon after, his shuttle is shot down by the pyke syndicate over the oba diah moon.

the eriadu conference (assassination of non-human members of the board of the trade federation. legends addenda: placed at the mid-point of 33BBY [32.5BBY], c. 08.08).

lott dod replaces nute gunray as senator for the trade federation; gunray becomes viceroy of the trade federation (presumably in wake of the eriadu assassinations).

the xrexus cartel auctions off captured padawan eldra kaitis.

the high council decamps for kwenn ('months' beforer the phantom menace, but also close enough to the end of the year for there to be a final list of senate recommendations, re: assets of the jedi order).

republic senate passes proposition 31-814d, instituting taxation of the formerly free trade zones (legends addenda: roughly a month after the eriadu conference).

the trade federation threatens to begin blockading planets in retribution for taxation. this occurs around the same time as the failure of the nautolan-anselmi peace treaty (legends addenda: valorum is placed under investigation for corruption and his powers limited).

[tamsinswriting]

WIP Wednesday

@auburnlaughter sent an ask of the Kallus Time Travel story and I'm happy to deliver. Thank you!

"

Lott Dod strode towards him, his red eyes darting over the members of their party nervously.

Dod said, “Senator Amidala, an unexpected privilege. I had no idea you were coming.”

Senator Amidala’s eyes widened, but she quickly dipped her head in a gesture of respect. “Senator Dodd, please forgive me for arriving unannounced.”

Clovis smiled greasily. “My fault entirely. I forgot to mention this earlier, but I’m sure you’ll be able to accommodate the Senator?

Cloves probably kept her a secret in order to make this a power play between them, Kallus guessed.

[amberskyyking]

Chapter 24: Lott Dod Really Did Rehearse This In The Mirror, Didn't He?

It had been him.

She recalled their last personal encounter, the time she found the Pantoran chairman’s daughter, Chi Eekway, held hostage on a Trade Federation ship after the girl had been kidnapped by Separatists. The revelation had been enough for her to negotiate the lift of a blockade on her home planet, costing the Trade Federation dearly in finances and reputation. Yet that was merely politics at play. Had he really taken their rivalry so seriously, so personally-

“Yes, that’s right Senator,” He wore a satisfied grin. Some of her shock must have shown through on her face despite her efforts. “I know all about your escapades. The credit transfers, the late night meetings, the time you’ve spent on her ship. Perhaps your business with her is even a conflict of interest given her own affiliations with the Trade Federation?”

“You dare assume that I-” Her cheeks flushed at the accusation of treason, she presumed, though in reality she wasn’t quite sure what he was implying. Regardless, it couldn’t be anything good.

“I dare because you claim to have the ethical high ground between the two of us and yet here I hold evidence of you regularly soliciting services from a known prostitute and member of my own Trade Federation!” He seemed to relish each word, and she realized why with a start. These were the very same words she spoke to him months before upon that ship, twisted and hurled back at her. “I understand your position, but I doubt the rest of the senate will!”

Riyo sat stunned, yet not for the reasons Lott Dod may have expected. He must have quite literally rehearsed this moment in order to recall her own words so perfectly, and she only had moments to put the pieces together and choose how to best react. Her mind worked fast. 

He’s talking about Luz, she knew, Yet he does not know the true nature of the activities I recruited and outfitted Luz to perform. Surely he would have included far worse accusations in his threat if he was aware of what they were really up to. Instead, he has assumed that I purchase my time with Luz. Because apparently, Luz had more of a reputation than Riyo had been aware of, something they would have to discuss at a later time. All of which is untrue and easy enough to disprove. However, revealing the truth could cause infinitely more damage…

“Blackmail,” She spat dramatically, fixing him with an accusatory stare. This was, after all, the next thing he had said to her in their exchange aboard his ship months prior. If he wished to play a little game of role-reversal to satisfy his fantasy of petty revenge, she would have to indulge him, for now.

“No. Business,” He grinned predictably. “I could of course be persuaded to overlook your unfortunate circumstances and refrain from bringing them to the senate. That is, if this bill fails to reach a vote.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” She scowled compliantly, noting the look of victory on his face with her own mild satisfaction. So long as the Representative was placated with the delusion of winning, he would not look deeper into his own claims. Luz, the clones, and their operation would remain safe… Though she would have to take the time later to weigh the cost of that safety.

Full Chapter (and story!): Lott Dod Really Did Rehearse This In The Mirror, Didn't He?

[star-wars-crisiscouncil]

PR#15 By Padme Amidalla

"The Banking Clan — lost because of Lott dods death — has been lost and ignored with no leadership to take over. Because of this, Galactic Senator Padmé Amidala, Bail Organa, and Satine Kryze have taken over the Baking Clan with the hope of allocating the necessary funds to aid to show the Republic's genuine commitment to peace and alleviate the suffering of innocent lives."

[short-wooloo]

So I've noticed something in posts discussing the relationship between the Jedi and senate

Every once in a while you'll get comments/reblogs that say something along the lines of "ok but a corporation shouldn't have a senate seat"

Like

That's not something the Jedi have any say over because 1. They reject power, and 2. HOLY FUCK it is a bad idea to have those charged with upholding the law be the ones deciding who gets to have political representation, it flys in the face of the idea of checks and balances/separation of powers

And also, you're getting it but you're not getting it, the whole point of the "corporations have senators" thing is that Lucas was saying this was a bad thing, it's showing the corruption of the Republic

It's also satire of contemporary (late 90s, not that its gotten better mind you) us politics and corporate lobbyists, the trade federation senator's name (Lott Dod) is literally a portmanteau of two us politicians/corporate lobbyist names

Satire works by exaggerating the real world to logical extremes

Lucas took the state of us politics with representatives/senators being bought by powerful corporations and ran it to the logical extreme of "corporations are so powerful they can have senate seats"

It also can be a case of dialogue flowing better

Having a character say "that guy is the senator for a corporation" flows easily in the scene and gets the point across more succinctly than saying "that guy is the senator from planet x but he is also bought out by corporation and effectively is their representative"

Plus if you go off supplemental material the corporate senators are a lot more like real world corporate lobbyists

In the films and shows it's kept simple, the corporate senators are literally just senators who represent their corporations not their worlds

But eu stuff will say "officially these senators represent these worlds, but the world's in question are controlled/owned by the corporations, making the senators basically representatives of the corporations"

[nahoney22]

My Touch is Power

Tech X F!Senator Reader Series ~ part 2

The story of how a Senator of the Galactic Republic finds comfort in one of the most interesting clones they have ever met.

Introduction

one | two |

warnings: none. just a little one.

“Who does he think he is talking down to me like that, Vasha?”

Your handmaiden looked up at you, the soft and expensive fabric of the back of your dress clinging in her hands for dear life as you stormed the corridor. She tried to give you a sympathetic look but you weren’t even looking in her direction.

“I’m sorry m’lady. You shouldn’t be spoken to in that matter.” Vasha spoke freely, overhearing what the foul Lott Dod had spoken about you whilst leaving the Galactic Senate Chamber.

Quickly, you had dived into an unoccupied lift, Vasha hurrying up behind you as you practically slammed your fist to the floor you resided on and huffed. Jaw clenched and sure that steam was coming out of your ears, you carried on your rant.

“I mean of course I am young and new to this but I will not be classed as just a ‘young thing to look at’ in front of my peers!” This was true, Lott Dod had interrupted your point of interest in regard to the Trade Federation only for the Neimoidian and his counterparts to have a chuckle and state how you were too young to understand the complexity of it all. As if you hadn’t been studying and researching for the last two years. Never had you been so embarrassed and appalled.

Your friends Padme and Chuchi were just as young as you were and not once were they ever criticized for their age. Supposedly as a new person you were easy pickings. Regardless, it has pissed you off beyond belief.

“New or not m’lady, he tried to embarrass you.” Vasha shook her head.

“Tried? He did.” You sigh softly and Vasha smiles sadly but expressions had changed once the lift door opened and you were hurriedly rushing to the end of the hall to your apartment.

You stop for a moment, turning to Vasha with wide eyes as a horrible feeling piques your stomach. “Did you see Redarr at all when you were outside, Vasha?”

Vasha quickly picked up what you were suggesting and begrudgingly with gritted teeth, shook her head.

You let out a small annoyed whine knowing that if he wasn’t sauntering around the building then there was only place he would be; yours.

“I can’t do this today, I really can’t.” Tone low and grumbled, you carried on your quick pace, Vasha gasping at your sudden movement as the dress was yanked out of her grasp.

The door to your quarters slipped open and instantly you felt the urge to walk straight through to your bedroom but by the sound of Redarr’s voice, you had to stop and face him eventually.

And that was the reason why you were so short with the unsuspecting clone trooper.

When you finally managed to secure yourself away in your bedroom, you walked towards your desk, sat behind the chair and placed your head down against the table.

Vasha could only smile in amusement and began helping you undress for the night, allowing her to slip off your dress and swap it for some silk bottoms and you decided on just a floaty oversized shirt.

Slumping back, you felt yourself slowly relax despite today’s complications replaying in your mind.

“Is there anything else you need m’lady? Would you like me to prepare you dinner?” Vasha had asked, hanging your dress away among the sea of gowns in your closet.

You shook your head with a yawn and set up your system that allows you to fill out reports, a hologram shining up on your desk as you swiped a hand through. “No thank you. I’ve lost my appetite for the day.”

“You said that yesterday.” Vasha countered and you could only laugh, standing and walking towards your en-suite to wipe the markings from your face.

“I suppose I did but who else was here yesterday?” You ask rhetorically, looking at her through the refresher mirror to see her understand your sentiment. “I’ll get something later. I don’t fancy having him stay for any longer than required.”

“And what of the Clone? Anything you would like me to relay to him?”

You were midway washing your hands when you’re suddenly reminded of the poor clone you had taken your anger out on. Freezing up, you let out a frustrated sigh. “Kriff… do you think I was harsh?”

Vasha shook her head, hair hidden behind her hooded sunset coloured cloak that herself and many other Handmaidens wore. “I don’t believe so m’lady. He was touching your personal possessions.”

“I know he was.” You reply, stepping out of the refresher and taking a seat back down behind your desk feeling fresh faced and ready for bed. “But if the circumstances were different I never would have spoken to him like that. How can I be a good representative for the lives of Clones if I’m rude to them?”

“You were rude to one, by accident. Redarr should have told him but for now do not dwell on it. I will leave you to rest.” Vasha left your room, closing the door behind her but stops when she spots the clone on the round sofa, glancing up in her direction and standing.

Vasha glanced around again and saw no sign of Redarr. Thank the Maker.

“M’lady is resting now. It’s best not to disturb her this evening.”

Tech nodded his head understandably. “May I ask what her routine is in the mornings?”

“It varies,” Vasha answers and moves to stand in front of Tech and rests her hands behind her back, “most mornings she wakes at 0700 hours but that depends if she has meetings to attend. Tomorrow she doesn’t but she has been invited to lunch at 1200 hours and it’s imperative that she goes despite her… reluctance.”

“Reluctance?” Tech questioned with an arch eyebrow, glancing towards the closed bedroom door and then to the young handmaiden in front of him.

Vasha sighed. “The Senator is never really this brash. She had an unpleasant meeting and unfortunately you were just in her line of fire. I would not take what she said to you seriously.”

Tech hummed. “Thank you for your input but I’m a Clone, a defective one at that. I am used to being spoken down to. I will get used to her.”

Vasha’s eyes widened and she shook her head quickly. “There is no need to get ‘used to her’. Senator L/N is one of the kindest people I have met and I stand by her always. She has always treated me as an equal when other Senators would never ask for my name.” Vasha made her way to leave the quarters, glancing once more back at Tech. “You will see.”

Tech watched the handmaiden leave and thought back on the day's events. Separating from his brothers for the first time in a long time didn’t feel right to him. Redarr was one of the most infuriating people he had not the pleasure of meeting and you… he didn’t know what to make of you yet. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

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[sw5w]

Will You Defer Your Motion to Allow a Commission to Explore the Validity of Your Accusations?

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 01:28:30

[kweh-chan]

From a two minute trailer, I now know:

-The Lucrehulk is an over-200 year-old design, meaning it’s a reliable model and truly is the Neimoidian version of the 747.

-The Lucrehulk has the same antenna array as the Vuutun Palaa, so droid control ships are at least a 200 year-old design.

-The Trade Federation has probably been around at least 200 years, likely retconning its significance in Neimoidian culture back into canon!

-Lott Dod’s diamonds on his mantle are likely an historical Neimoidian symbol of power/prestige.

-If those ARE the actual diamonds he eventually has in Episode I, either that Neimoidian is a senator and the diamonds are passed from senator to senator, OR he’s a Dod and those diamonds get passed from Dod to Dod.

-If the Neimoidian is a senator, the Trade Federation has possibly had Republic representation for over 200 years.

-If he ONLY represents the Neimoidian sovereignty, then Neimoidians have had Republic membership for at least 200 years.

[gffa]

YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW GOOD THIS EPISODE IS UNTIL LIKE YOUR THIRD FULL REWATCH OF THIS SHOW AND TWO STRAIGHT YEARS OF ARGUING ABOUT STAR WARS POLITICS AND ALSO FANDOM POINTING OUT EVERY SINGLE “ECHO AND RHYME” WE CAN POSSIBLY FIND. The first time I saw this episode, when I was tearing through TCW at speed because it was new and I was hooked and it was so good, this one didn’t really have much of an impact on me.  Not my favorite characters, I appreciate that Toydarians got some better portrayals other than Watto, but man the middle of it definitely dragged for me. Then I rewatched it, after two years of examining politics in Star Wars and having fun with all those parallels and echoes of stories.  And this time the episode hit me like a goddamned brick. It’s an episode about whether or not Toydaria should remain utterly neutral in the war or let themselves become a staging area for humanitarian aid to Ryloth, which has been under siege by the Separatists.  Lott Dod of the Trade Federation pops up and is like, yes, but it’s under a Separatist Blockade and, if you help, the Separatists will see it as breaking your neutrality.  Which means your entire planet will be at risk, your own economy could tank because you have vital contracts with us and it’ll force us to cease trade with Toydaria.  You can’t just have a humanitarian base, you’ll get drawn into the war, you’ll be a military base, that’s how war goes. Bail Organa counters with that the Twi’leks didn’t ask to be invaded by the Separatists, they didn’t ask to be taken hostage and dying in a war they didn’t ask to join, either.  Don’t let them suffer just for the sake of your neutrality! King Katuunko and his advisers debate for a brief while--all while clones and Jedi and Twi’leks are dying on Ryloth--and eventually says that we cannot get involved in this war.  No matter that compassion is one of the most important tenets of our society, for the sake of my people, we must remain neutral. Stuff happens, King Katuunko eventually realizes that neutrality is maybe not actually a great thing when people are out there dying and you’re not doing anything to help--yes, even if that means you get drawn into the war. That’s it, that’s the message:  When innocents are dying at the hands of invaders, neutrality is not a compassionate, caring choice. What of course made me sit up and take notice was the deliberate use of the word “compassion” being used as one of their tenets and we all know who that reminds us of:  The Jedi have compassion as one of their central tenets as well.  The Jedi, who have already been drawn into this war. And this is exactly why I don’t think the Jedi could have made any other choice, shouldn’t have made any other choice, about joining the war. Billions of lives are at stake--even Hera Syndulla says in Rebels, how she remembers that clones and Jedi working together saved billions of people, including herself.  We literally see the innocent people of Ryloth suffering because the Separatists attacked them.  It doesn’t matter that many of the people in the Separatist Senate and worlds who joined did so because they were sick of the Republic ignoring them and their valid concerns.  (Doesn’t matter in the sense of whether or not it affects trying to remain neutral in the war, not doesn’t matter in the sense of trying to find peaceful solutions, that’s an important difference.)  Because this was always going to happen.  Innocent worlds were always going to be invaded and held hostage and murdered and stripped for resources because of who was running the show over there. Being neutral in such a conflict was narratively shown as the wrong choice, that’s why Katuunko realizes his error.  That’s why Bail Organa (a character we know is caring and compassionate) argues in favor of the Republic, why Alderaan joined the war.  That’s why Padme, even when she wishes she could remain neutral, argues her way back to saying she must try to change things from within.

This is a sentiment that’s at the heart of the theme of the episode, that Ahsoka echoes it in the classes she teaches to the Mandalorian cadets.  And it’s one that’s important to the themes of Star Wars characters’ actions, especially in the prequels--that it’s the very heart of the Republic vs the Separatist war. Do you remain with the system and try to improve it from within? Or do you leave it and bombard it from the outside in hopes of burning it down to create something better? The answer depends on context and the situation and whether or not there’s hope for rooting out the corruption.  For example, Padme believes that they’re at that point with the Republic.  Bail believes they’re at that point with the Republic.  That they still have the belief they can make it better.  They still have hope. This is why Bail joins the Rebellion under the Empire, though.  Because the Empire being worse isn’t just a matter of contrast, but it illustrates having passed a moral event horizon, where it’s not possible to salvage it anymore. The issue of the above and the issue of neutrality overlap a lot in this episode (”Corruption”), but the point of many in the Republic is that neutrality was not an option because it ignored that they could be doing something. And that’s why I cannot possibly imagine the Jedi not trying to help.  I cannot possibly imagine them saying, no, we will abstain from this war, when people were going to suffer and die if they didn’t.  That’s even setting aside that George Lucas describes them as literally being drafted into the war, that that was the narrative take-away, how could they possibly have refused? Even in Kanan: The Last Padawan, Depa says she thinks they made a critical error in accepting titles in the war, but the clones vehemently disagree, because she’s underestimating the importance of clarity of chain of command, so that people know what they’re doing and where they’re going and how to get organized, so they’re not half-fighting each other and half-fighting the Separatists, which would have gotten even more people killed.  There’s no clean answer to that problem, because they can both be right--the Jedi accepting titles in the war led them into being seen as the villains of the conflict by those who were tired of the war (Star Wars Propaganda makes the very clear point of how this narrative was painted onto them, rather than what they created for themselves), but the clones are also right that unclear lack of chain of command would have made everything an absolute hot mess. So, neutrality was a really shitty option and, further, what does it even gain anyone?  Satine Kryze fought so incredibly hard to keep Mandalore and the other worlds neutral, because she didn’t want to drag her people into war, and how did that end up for Mandalore?  Even setting aside that they were refusing to help fight against the evils being inflicted in the galaxy, even setting aside that whatever points they made, they ignored worlds like Ryloth? It got them nowhere good:

Their neutrality still didn’t protect them from trade routes being closed to them and their world suffering through a supply crisis. This is what politics in the GFFA does.  You cannot just ignore it and say, “Fuck politics!  We’re not going to play that game!” because then you end up like Mandalore--starving and cut off from the connections you need to survive. That would have happened to the Jedi in a heartbeat.  Their granted legal authority to help anyone?  Cut off.  Their Republic funds for their Temple, their home, their food, their clothing, their ships?  Cut off.  Add in scary mind powers and people would turn on them incredibly quickly, as well as they have the hauntingly clear illustration of what happens to neutral worlds when people are in a war and scared and not thinking clearly--they lash out, they react, they turn their backs.  Mandalore managed to scrape by for awhile, but it was unstable and chaotic and we can see how that unfolded. It doesn’t make the situation right, not even close.  But it’s the situation that you deal with, you work within the system of government you have, you do what you can to try to make it better, you try to help as many people as you can. And neutrality doesn’t help anyone but yourself--and, even then, ultimately that’s not true, either.  We see that illustrated very clearly.

[palpameddaislife]

What if someone-else-was-the-sith-lord au?

Some other senator maybe, like Lott Dod (the Confederacy would occupy the Galaxy).

Or Bail Organa, which would be a major unexpected plot twist, that also would devastate Padmé and other pacifist senators like Onaconda Farr, which somehow would also result in Sith Leia (he'd somehow abduct her but would fail to get Luke, and they'd grow up to fight in what would be the OT timeline).

Or one of the Jedi, like Master Windu who is totally adamant about the Jedi tradition, as if he would want to hide something.

Feel free to add on the aus!

[countessofbiscuit]

sphere of interest

A couple posts went round a month or two ago about Riyo Chuchi being a uniquely corrupt character. That she’s privileged and participates in a corrupt system (for better or worse) is true enough, but those posts stuck with me particularly because the OP bemoaned Riyo’s portrayal as a knock-off Padmé and seemed to take issue with the fact that she’s written as humanitarian, soft-spoken, and compassionate (which I see nothing in canon to contradict) — as if those qualities cannot exist in a character alongside diplomatic cunning, ethical ambiguity, and a mastery of realpolitik. Or, that her nuance is somehow universally lost on fandom because folks enjoy writing this minor character sweetly wining and dining and fucking rather than, idk, engaging in a heated disagreement with Bail Organa about installing Rush Clovis as head of the Banking Clan. 

I can’t really speak to OP’s frustration with fandom iterations of Riyo (I’ve only written her, not widely read her); but their mention of Padmé was interesting because a) I’ve seen a very distinctively characterized Riyo badly scrubbed off a fic to be replaced by Padmé, and b) the entire premise upon which Riyo’s alleged corruption hangs — undisclosed evidence that the Trade Federation, specifically their senator, Lott Dod (though, as I pointed out, OP had confused Lott Dod for an unnamed TF ambassador), is in cahoots with the Separatists — forms a significant part of an earlier episode in the timeline featuring … everyone’s favorite do-gooder, Padmé Amidala. 

In “Senate Spy” (s02ep04), Padmé witnesses and obtains actual fax hard evidence (a data chip handed over to the Jedi Council) of Senator Lott Dod’s collaboration with such Separatist big-wigs as Poggle the Lesser, in financing and supplying a droid factory for Count Dooku; furthermore, Padmé suffers attempted murder at Dod’s hand in the form of poisoning, which Anakin and Senator Clovis both witness. 

Now, Padmé was too ill to converse with Dod and so escapes any accusations of blackmail, spying, and theft by a bad-faith actor (luckily for her character, I guess), and Anakin was too busy saving her life … but to explain how Lott Dod is still kicking around in the Senate to falsely (though perfectly legally) claim neutrality and practice nefarious misdeeds upon inhabitants of the galaxy at the time of “Sphere of Influence”, I suppose we have to assume that neither Padmé nor Anakin nor the Jedi Council reported, privately or publicly, Dod’s active collusion and attempted murder.

If we’re talking a breach in ethics, this assumed non-disclosure on Padmé’s part is a pretty egregious one; the intelligence she collected during the impromptu sting would not have been affected (given that its theft was known to the Separatists, there was no Enigma Dilemma involved). And silence on this misconduct was very probably illegal, because we can suppose Senators were technically required to report the crimes of other Senators (especially in the case of treason, which was tried in the Senate itself) to the Internal Activities Committee.

The Internal Activities Committee was a political committee of the Galactic Republic Senate that was part of the Judiciary Committee and was considered to be a spiritual partner of the Ethics Committee. Distinctively from the Ethics Committee, however, the Internal Activities Committee had the power to bring forth criminal charges on individuals. The Internal Activities Committee of the Galactic Senate supervised the affairs of senators and other ranking Galactic Republic officials, such as the Supreme Chancellor, ensuring that they did nothing unethical or illegal. If such misconduct was found, it was the Committee's duty to notify the Supreme Court and hand over all evidence of misconduct for prosecution. (x)

OR … we choose to operate under the assumption that Padmé did talk both ways and sideways and upside-down in the Senate about Lott Dod’s villainy, and yet ... there was nothing that could be done; no charges could be filed; perhaps the Supreme Court has no affirmative duty to prosecute, even when presented evidence of factual guilt; and this blatant criminality by a Senator had no practical effect whatsoever in convincing the Senate to revoke the Trade Federation’s representation, or to end that corporation’s galactic monopoly. Lott Dod himself had already denounced the Viceroy of the Trade Federation (Nute Gunray) as a Separatist on multiple occasions (even to Bail Organa), and this too was not enough to move the Senate to act. Clearly, we can expect the Trade Federation to act with impunity, whatever iota of intelligence Riyo Chuchi does or does not preach to the choir about a diplomat when she successfully negotiates for a peaceful end to a blockade that is having fatal consequences on her home planet. 

There are probably examples, too, where Padmé secretly negotiates with the enemy to end or prevent some hostility or other. If anyone can think of times she’s doing this without a blaster in her hand, I’d like to hear it! 

Maybe I’ll tackle diplomatic immunity, duty of care, and limits to public disclosure, and my other objections to that Riyo meta and its value judgements, and its application of American law to what is clearly an international incident in the narrative, in another post. 

[amberskyyking]

Disillusioned Chapter 33: You Might Be Bad At Flirting But Your Hot Friend Isn't, Oops

LOOK AT THESE CUTE LIL BESTIES MY FRIEND MADE AAHH!!!!

If Senator Chuchi didn’t have such exceptional control over her emotional presentation, their cover would be long blown. Luz lounged in the doorway of a seedy hotel room in what she clearly thought was a seductive pose, one hand raised but not quite reaching the doorframe, back arched, shirt collar down, batting her eyes like people did in all the cheesy tales of romance they read growing up.

“Soooo good to see you again, Senator,” She drawled, barely stifling laughter of her own behind that hood. 

Stars, it’s still wise to keep her face hidden, isn’t it, Riyo thought.

“I take it you’ll have me for the... usual time tonight?”

Riyo gave her a longing little smirk. If they were really going to use this as a cover now, at least one of them needed to be convincing, and besides, Luz was still largely to blame for this in the first place. She wasn’t about to let her friend off the hook that easily. “Oh maybe a little more than that,” Riyo practically purred, gracefully sweeping an arm around her friends waist. “It’s been so long…”

Luz let out a genuine little gasp. Their faces were suddenly so close. Riyo allowed herself a coy smile, reaching a hand under that dark hood to delicately brush her friends cheek. “Come inside now, before someone sees,” She whispered loudly, practically able to feel Luz blush deep red at her touch.

“O-Okay,” Luz stammered, and Riyo drew her in tighter, pulling her from the doorway into her waiting arms. That should certainly be enough of a show for anyone watching, she thought, satisfied, as the door clicked shut behind them.

“Kaaark, Ri!” Luz said breathlessly with a shiver the second they were clear. “Give me a little warning next time you’re gonna do that to me, would you?” 

“Do you want this to be believable or not?” Riyo teased the flustered Devaronian and flipped on the digital blocker. Anyone outside could assume what they wished about its use, so long as they were able to talk freely. “What even was that voice you were-”

“I don’t know!” Luz half shrieked, half giggled, smiling and shaking her head. “I have no idea what I’m doing with this whole thing! It’s amazing anyone believes me at all, I swear I’m so bad at it!” 

“Well it was enough to fool Lott Dod, at least.”

“That’s a low bar and we both know it.” 

Full Chapter (And Story!): You Might Be Bad At Flirting But Your Hot Friend Isn't, Oops