On the afternoon of Galactic Standard Calendar Year 4, November 13, the leaders of Bespin, the Jedi Temple, and the Galactic Senate held a frank and constructive discussion in the Supreme Chancellor's office.
All three sides agreed that a healthy, stable Bespin was important to the Galactic Republic, and committed to resolving issues related to regulating Bespin's tibanna gas exports and its economic transition through dialogue and consultation.
They also exchanged views in depth on the historical issues between the Mandalorians and the Jedi Order, the training and development of Force-sensitives on Bespin, and the assistance policies and dedicated funds Bespin could access, reaching partial consensus in several areas.
However, decisions by the Jedi Temple required a vote by the Jedi High Council, and decisions by the Galactic Republic required a vote in the Senate. As a result, that afternoon Max Vizsla did not formally sign any agreements with Master Yoda or Chancellor Palpatine.
It's worth noting that during the discussion, Palpatine was so proactive and enthusiastic he practically acted like Max's own grandfather.
"Chancellor Palpatine really is a warm, responsible leader," Christopher Rane couldn't help but remark admiringly after the meeting—despite his usual skepticism toward the Republic.
"This is the 'Nova' Fund—an assistance fund specifically for worlds newly joining the Galactic Republic. Over eight hundred years ago, when my homeworld—Naboo—first joined the Republic, it successfully applied for this fund. Lord Vizsla, look here: to apply for the 'Nova' Fund, you'll need to prepare the following materials…"
"This is the 'Starlight Beacon' Fund—targeted aid specifically for remote Outer Rim worlds…"
"And this is the 'Glory of the Republic' initiative…"
When the conversation turned to what aid programs and special funds Bespin could qualify for, the office practically became Palpatine's one-man seminar.
He didn't make wild promises off the cuff. Instead, based on the practical details Orn Free Taa had provided about Bespin, Palpatine recommended specific programs and funds that were actually suitable for Bespin to pursue.
At the same time, he shared "successful application" examples from worlds that had used those very programs—so hands-on it was almost like he wanted to teach Max how to fill out the paperwork line by line.
Max barely had a chance to speak. He focused on listening and taking notes. For him, more aid and more funding was always better.
Of course, Max's real goal was only to secure "observer state" status for Bespin within the Republic, which meant the assistance and funding available would be limited. Still—something was better than nothing.
As for the obligations that came with those benefits, the main requirement was cooperating with the Judicial Forces to establish an inspection station on Bespin and ending illegal, unmonitored tibanna exports. Max didn't particularly care. The Judicial Forces' official stipend was pocket change—would it really be higher than the "supplement" Max could provide to any personnel posted to that station?
When the discussion touched on Mandalorian–Jedi history and the training of Force-sensitives on Bespin, Palpatine also took an unusually friendly stance toward the Mandalorian side, offering suggestions that benefited Max's position.
"Master Yoda, I have a rather unpolished suggestion—perhaps you could consider it," Palpatine said with a genial smile.
"Speak, you may," Master Yoda gestured.
"Take Master Tarre Vizsla's relics—the armor. If it's displayed in a museum for visitors, replicas would suffice. Would it not be possible to return the original to Tarre Vizsla's descendants, as a symbol of friendship—opening a new chapter between the Jedi Order and the Mandalorians?"
"Mmm. A good suggestion," Master Yoda nodded. "Discuss it, submit it to the Jedi High Council, I will."
…
"As for the ways of the Force, a layman like me understands nothing—I won't pretend otherwise. But to my eyes, Lord Vizsla carries himself with righteous bearing, and you're clearly a fine young man. You look… very much on the side of the light," Palpatine said, then turned to Max with a fist-pump of encouragement. "Lord Vizsla—may the Force be with you. I believe you will pass the Jedi Temple's evaluation."
("You old snake. Nicely played.") Max smiled warmly. "Thank you for the blessing. I hope so as well. May the Force be with us."
…
At 17:00, when the Senate workday ended, Max didn't drag the Chancellor into overtime. He left the Chancellor's office with Christopher Rane and prepared to return to Republic Executive Building 500 aboard Aayla Secura's shuttle.
That evening, the Senate would host the official welcome banquet for the Bespin delegation in Building 500's banquet hall.
If Max received the Jedi Temple's investigation report regarding the museum placard incident before the banquet—and if he found it satisfactory—then he would return to the Jedi Temple the next morning for formal talks with the Jedi High Council.
When Max arrived back at Building 500, two Jedi who had attended the morning's welcome—Master Jocasta Nu and Master Coleman Trebor—were already waiting in the suite's visitor reception room.
"Lord Vizsla." Nu and Trebor bowed together. "We are sorry."
"I speak for the Council of First Knowledge," the elderly Master said.
"I speak for the Council of Reconciliation," the "dinosaur" Master said.
"For the unpleasant incident this morning in the Jedi Temple Museum, we offer our most sincere apologies to you and to Clan Vizsla." The two Masters bowed again.
They brought Max a detailed investigative report.
The report explained a simple reality: the placard beside the Tarre Vizsla relic display had been in place for more than a hundred years, and the wording on it had not been updated in over six hundred. This had been an accident and misunderstanding born of arrogance—the Jedi Temple had not taken the Mandalorian visit seriously enough to conduct advance checks. But it was still only an accident and misunderstanding; no one had deliberately intended to insult the Mandalorians.
The report included supporting materials: historical holophotos of the placard, archival holovids, and Temple records. Those materials could be forged, of course—but Max didn't care. The Jedi Temple's attitude was acceptable to him.
"Lord Vizsla, the placard beside Master Tarre Vizsla's relic display—and all other Jedi Temple archives that mention the Darksaber, including text, audio, and video—have replaced the word 'stole' with the neutral term 'took,'" Master Jocasta Nu explained.
"This is the right way." Max nodded. "I accept the Jedi Temple's apology, and I accept the Temple's handling of the matter. Let the unpleasantness from this morning be put behind us."
"Thank you for your generosity, Lord Vizsla." The two Masters bowed. "May the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with us. Please convey to Master Yoda—we'll see him tomorrow."
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