Room Where It Happens [Day 3, Early Night, Closed]

[Honor]

Stood in his office the governor, Viktor Talcik, stands by the window behind his desk. From here he has a view of the people still protesting in the streets, their assertion that if their families cannot come home neither should they. Viktor listens to their words and absorbs them, he understands them.

Having sent for Lassa, he asked to otherwise not be disturbed.

[Lassa Tenro]

Lassa opened the door to his chambers quietly and walked inside.

[Viktor Talcik]

"Thank you for coming.." he said, coughing deep to waken his throat. "Have you.. have you had any trouble since I've asked what I've asked of you?" he asked, his mind elsewhere.

[Lassa Tenro]

She shook her head, “No, no trouble at all. There’s a palpable distrust towards the Empire. Especially concerning this incident in the mines... You can see it in the streets tonight.”

[Viktor Talcik]

"That is good... I was afraid, given the condition tonight. I.. I feel like I've failed them and yet, like the task was also impossible. They sit outside and demand answers that I have not been able to give, that I wish I knew myself. Yet, knowing this.. I stand here and believe they are right. That if their families should not be allowed to go home neither should we, I."

"Yet.." he rested his head, held it low in regret as he let the sigh come from deep within his chest. "This is not how to run a city, we need to keep active or our people, our city, may very well fall apart."

[Lassa Tenro]

She nodded and came to stand next to him. Her cooling presence attempting to help calm the beleaguered governor.

“The people have been asked to put up with a lot. It heats their blood like water slowly boiled under a weak flame. Turn up the heat and it will boil over... and with it a mess worse than what we have on our hands currently will be in store.”

[Viktor Talcik]

"Perhaps that is what I fear most," he scans the entirety of the gathered protesters down below them. From so high he watched over them, they watched over them, their shouts were completely drowned out by the sheer distance above them they were. Sturdy materials blocking out the sound of the city around them. Yet, they could be seen.

"I fear that when I look at them, and I see what this could become. What their fear could lead them to, their anger, for the injustices they must suffer. I fear that.. I fear that when I look at them I cannot hope but to believe that they may be the ones who are right. That the resignation I feel in my heart when I think of these events, how I try to guide us to a more passive future where we may find some measure of peace. That it is me who is wrong. That I am not the leader these people require, the one they need."

"Or perhaps.." he reclaimed the silence, "perhaps I have stayed up far too many nights thinking of the wildest things."

[Lassa Tenro]

She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, "The weight of responsibility is a hard one for anyone to bear. There are rarely any perfect answers. The simple-minded wish to push things to one extreme or the other. It's easy to run away... to shirk one's responsibilities. The path of violence that some of those rioters down there purport is just as easy. But I will share with you something my sister once told me back when I was a girl. 'To die for one's people is a great sacrifice. To live for one's people... is an even greater sacrifice'."

She paused and looked down at the people far in the distance, "If you feel there is something that they are right about... You must live in a way that helps right the wrong they face. Whatever way you feel compelled to do so. You occupy an unenviable position. Distrusted by all on both ends of a potentially violent system. You must find a way to navigate the neverending pull of these two opposite forces. And you will, sir. I'm sure you will."

[Viktor Talcik]

"Thank you," he said, looking to her with a weathered smile. "Thank you for your words. I believe, I believe I know what I must do to move forward. How we might get through this current crisis," he said. Turning toward his desk and looking for some papers, statements, reports.

There wasn't a knock on the door but they entered...

[Scene on hold for now]

[Honor]

Entering into the room, a soldier in the flight-jacket usually reserved for pilots stepped in. Secured the room and then spoke something over their intercom but the vo-coder scrambled the words so that they were unintelligible from the outside. Not long after a man standing tall and proud stepped in with the escort of two other soldiers geared similarly.

[Vigo Cerasin]

"Governor Talcik," he said, looking to the man and then to his aid. "I have been briefed, and see outside your window.. you have a problem with the citizenry? One that has been going on for quite some hours, I see."

[Viktor Talcik]

"Y-yes," he said, turning fully from his little corner and walking around the desk to more properly greet the Admiral. "They have largely kept themselves peaceful, a testament to our peoples spirit even in such a trying time-"

[Vigo Cerasin]

"You've gone too easy on them, Governor. Your lax treatment of your people has kept them from work, and disrupted the cities activities. Perhaps, they merely believe that wasting our and the cities time that they can gain what it is they wish. That is not so, it is through compliance and service to the Empire that they might gain the trust that is required of them. They have merely squandered that trust. You have failed them in doing nothing to curb this.. protest."

[Viktor Talcik]

"My people need time to vent their frustrations, they need to feel they've been heard. What else would have had me do?" he asked.

[Vigo Cerasin]

"Merely, governor, learn from my example," he said directing his attention toward the window. Outside, the Imperial military that had landed with him had encircled the people below and started moving them outward. As the support shifted toward peaceful, many of the people kept each-other in check and that kept the hostilities down.

However, even from up here or especially from up here, it was clear that the Imperial forces had begun clearing out the protesters with force. Shock sticks and stun batons kept the crowd moving out. Separated down other streets so that the mass of the mob would be dissipated. Slowly and methodically the people were being dispersed.

[Lassa Tenro]

Lassa simply stood next to the governor quietly as the two men continued their exchange.

[Viktor Talcik]

Viktor Talcik was stunned by the display, and his heart sank and watching the despair of those most in contact with the Imperial forces. Almost unable to keep his eyes off the sight of it.

[Vigo Cerasin]

"When the people revolt, you remind them that they are a part of a machine that instills order in the galaxy that we might all benefit and find peace. Now, I must attend to other matters. Aboard the Star Destroyer I am leaving here with you is a man I trust to see to this situation on the ground. You will aid him in his efforts to pacify the populace as I have ordered. He will be aided by a specialist force that may remove any of these subversives, of which I have received troubling reports about from an ISB agent on the ground. Who has been here some days and will make proper contact with you directly soon."

"For now, I ask that you remain here in your office. To this effect, I shall be placing Commander Talcik here with you," he said, "I take my leave," he declares before exiting the room. All but one of the soldiers that entered with him have left.

[Lassa Tenro]

Lassa continued her silent vigil as the number of occupants diminished to three.

[Viktor Talcik]

"Ahem," Viktor cleared his throat, looked back to the people suffering and then to Commander Talcik. "Illyrca, you.. you've risen quite far. Personal guard to an Admiral?" he asked, walking forward a few steps.