Another Strategy Meeting

POV Rio

I was watching the news as I usually did in the Morning when a report came on that made me stop.

News: "A recent increase in a strange case of fake babysitters has recently caused quite a stir in Washington DC. Reports state that the fake babysitter will arrive shortly after the parents leave and when the parents come home the house will be a mess. Witnesses claim that it was the work of an anthropomorphic cat with a red-striped hat. There has also been a report that this Cat with a hat has attacked a child with a baseball bat. Here is an image captured of the mysterious cat."

[Image Here]

Rio: "Huh, I wonder if that is my fault?"

I think for a moment.

Rio: "Nah, must be my imagination. It must be a crazy coincidence that an anthropomorphic Cat In The Hat appeared at this time of year at this time of day in this part of the Universe, localized entirely in Washington DC."

'I suddenly have a hunger for steamed hams.'

I go to the kitchen to make some food, but I am stopped by a message from Mace Windu. I answer it, and they tell me that the council meeting has been moved up and that they need me to come in sooner. I look at the kitchen and then back at the schedule.

'Hmm, I still have time.'

20 Minutes Later...

I arrive at the meeting with some hamburgers. And pass them out to the council members. Of course, for those who don't eat meat, I had vegetarian options available.

Mace: "Okay, the meeting has started. The biggest thing I have to report is that the 9 Realms Alliance has officially dissolved."

I do a spit take.

Rio: "What!?"

Mace: "Yes, it was a surprise to me as well. They had been discussing it behind closed doors with the Federation and then they held a vote to dissolve the alliance. It was unanimous. They also tried to convince me to convince you that we should join the Federation."

Rio: "Which we are not going to do."

Mace: "I agree the Federation is a mess and they are clearly intent on attacking the Synthetic Queen. Which is why the decision by the Alliance confuses me."

Padme: "Perhaps it has to do with the drastic change in the Multiverse. From what you have told us the 9 Realms all contain powerful beings that would likely be able to sense such changes. There is safety in numbers."

Thrawn: "But they would be joining a group that is clearly set on fighting a war in the near future."

Tempest: "Hmm, will this war bleed over into our territory?"

Thrawn: "Highly unlikely. The Nova Empire is on its last legs. Given the current fighting position and our good relations with Cetana, it is very likely that once the Federation declares war, Cetana will start in the south."

Rio: "You think she will target Jotunheim first?"

Thrawn: "It is the southernmost inhabited world in the Federation. And it would avoid the chance of refugees escaping into our territory. Based on her past actions it is safe to say she wants to eradicate all life and not let any beings escape from her. It is the most logical choice which is the most likely path she would take."

I think about it and review a galactic map.

Glitterhoof: "The 8 Realms are not the only ones who have joined the Federation. A small empire from the far west has joined as well and has even started using the Nova Empires' planetary movers to transport their planets to the Federation. Including ourselves, there are only 5 or so Neutral groups left in the Universe. 2 of which are the BCA and ourselves. Another is Thanos but he has been making strange moves recently and is likely going to send his troops to assist the Federation. The last 2 are the Krut Ascendency and the Kingdom of Nalan."

Yularen: "Which brings me to this. The Federation is blockading the Kingdom of Nalan. Our sources indicate that the Federation is doing it to force them to join the Federation. It also threatens anyone else who wishes to remain neutral."

Rio: "That is troublesome but has The Kingdom of Nalan requested assistance?"

Yularen: "Not yet. But the government is considering asking either us or the BCA to mediate."

Rio: "What about the Krut Ascendency? What do we know about them?"

Yularen: "2 years ago they were known as the Kingdom of Krut. But the royal family was overthrown and replaced by what our sources say is a Technocracy. Though said sources are unreliable."

Rio: "Why is that?"

Yularen: "Most of our information has come from a group of Pirates. They claim they are rebels and freedom fighters. But the official statement from the Krut Ascendency is that they are pirates and have no relation to their government."

Rio: "What do we know for certain about the Krut Ascendency?"

Yularen: "They only have one star system under their control. Said star system is similar to Sakaar in that they are isolated from other galaxies. Their home system has 4 planets and 2 moons. Their homeworld is an ocean world with almost year-round storms. The planet's population is concentrated in the few mountains on the planet. Which are mostly located on the Northern Pole of the planet. The population is only 720 Million. They are currently isolationists and as such getting more info is difficult."

Rio: "Okay now what do the pirates claim?"

Yularen: "That they are members of the royalist faction and that the current government is illegitimate. That they are practicing Eugenics and that they killed most of the previous royal family. And that before the coup the planet's population was nearly 830 Million."

Rio: "Can we confirm that there has been a regime change? And further the claims about Eugenics."

Yularen: "Both have been confirmed. And even now the population of the planet is decreasing as the world is in the midst of a civil war. The Pirates have never attacked BCA or Imperium property. They are stationed in Sakaar and it is where they obtain a large amount of their wealth. Admiral Dao has had numerous encounters with these Pirates. And each encounter has been peaceful with them mostly asking for free passage through our territory."

Rio: "For now deny them. Keep an eye on them and the Krut Ascendency. There is no need to get involved with them and I doubt the Federation will either. Instead, we should be more focused on the Kingdom of Nalan and what the Federation does next. The next thing should be our preparations for the Trial."

Thrawn: "We are on schedule for our estimated goals."

Rio: "We might need to accelerate our goals. Before I was considering April or May but I think we need to push it up to January or February at the earliest. Cetana has become far more active and I am not confident that the Federation will last very long once the war is declared."

Lex: "That's not impossible but we will have fewer ships to fight with."

Rio: "What kind of numbers could we expect to have?"

Lex: "We would have to abandon the plans to retrofit the Great Fox. We could expect to have 2800 Trifighters, 250 N-1 Starfighters, and 250 T-65 X-Wings ready for combat. And we would have to use some less than preferable ships. What is slowing us down is the Retrofitting. Many ships need to be upgraded and we don't have much time to do so."

Rio: "Upgrade what you can and we will work with what we get. The next thing on the list is the reports about the Dungeon and the effectiveness of the Falna program."

Tempest: "It has been performing excellently so. Our troops have increased their abilities vastly and even common citizens have been having success in the new Adventurers Guild. The taxes we collect have made the entire operation a massive success. As for those who use Falna outside the Dungeon we have seen an increase in the efficiency of those given Falna. The average is 119%. We have also recieved more requests by others to be given jobs in the government."

Rio: "I don't see much of a reason to open up government jobs. The Elder Liches are vastly more efficient than any other option. And they are incorruptible. Maybe if someone has a high-level Falna then I could consider it but otherwise, they will have to accept the current situation."

Tempest: "I thought as much. The only other point of interest is that the Senate is saying that they wish for the Senate Guard to be less invasive of their privacy."

Rio: "Absolutely not. If they want to serve the public then they must accept that the Senate Guard will watch them at all times unless they are having intercourse. Corruption can never happen if they never have the chance to be alone. If they don't like it they can resign."

Tempest: "I shall let them know."

Padme: "Are you certain that such invasive methods are necessary?"

Rio: "Absolutely. You have seen what corruption can do to a senate firsthand. Do you think Senators who serve the public should be given the chance to take a bribe or donation? Many Empires and nations throughout existence have fallen because of corruption. I will not let such things occur in the first place. If you serve in a position like the senate then you should expect to not have much of a private life anyway. I am just ensuring that no one will be harmed due to malicious actors."

Padme: "I won't say I agree but I won't oppose it either."

Rio: "That is all I ask. Just watch and you will see the results."

We discuss a few more things before ending the meeting. They thanked me for the food and we went our separate ways.

----------------

Authors Note:

Despite what Rio might try to convince you he is indeed the cause of the Live Action Cat In The Hat causing chaos. Until next time Ciao.