High Council Spire

Master Rawkill's attention was momentarilly pulled towards the High Council seats as Master Jade announced the appointments to the 3 sub-councils, his name being mentioned as apart of the CoFK, alongside Raylia Venci. He felt a great deal of honour towards his new appointment, knowing that it also meant there was a lot of work and travel ahead of him. He then turned back towards Master Frantz
=Jedi Master Rawkill=
Kush is Master Venci?

Well this is a rather odd turn of events. A sudden very large shift in the leadership of the council with myself as a member of the new order. Such a strange thing that I'm almost unable to fully understand it as my name is called. I watch as the others make their way forward and make speaches and look confused and do whatever it is you're supposed to do when you are placed at the head of an ancient order. Me? well I took a drink from my flask. What else were you expecting? Taking a step forward into the circle I raise my flask for what looks like a toast when suddenly.... this really obnoxious holovid projectser starts flashing and making a lot of noise and generally being really annoying. It looks like someone really wants to talk to us. Since I'm already in motion I take a quick look at the origin and raise an eyebrow before pressing the "Answer" key.

Hello, you have reached the Office of All of the Masters of the Jedi order, this is Mike, how can I assist you today? Sure I'm answering a call from what seems to be some of the most bad force users in the galaxy, but hey, if you don't have your sense of humor what do you have? Besides I'm somewhat curious if Sith Lords even know what humor is. That and this meeting has been far to serious lately.

A roaring laugh escapes my lips before I have a chance to stop myself. Now wasn't this a surprise. Not that we don't appreciate the offer but you have to admit it's a little funny. Sith frightened enough to call for Jedi aid, it's just not something you see every day. I pause for a moment to take a swig from my flask and straighten my face. On a more serious note however, how do we know this isn't a trap? Sure it wasn't all that likely but at the same time it's the sort of thing Sith would do, using innocents as bait to goad the Jedi into action, it wouldn't be the first time. Not that we don't trust you of course... but.... I shrug, almost as if I'm asked this sort of question on a daily basis we don't.

It's not like their arrogant and almost snide request didn't seem genuine, it just wasn't usual. Of course it's not like you could expect Sith to beg or even ask politely, so perhaps the fact that they were acting normal made it less likely to be a trap. Or they knew that we would think that way and purposely did it to make it more believable, but then what if.... Wait, no. They are known for going layers and layers deep in their plots but this line of thought is only going to give me a headache. The prospect of more than three and a half billion lives meant we would obviously become involved one way or another, but I would like to try and get some feeling of what the sith mindset is before we go to help them. How do we know you aren't going to stab us in the back once it's over, or during for that matter? I figured it was a valid concern in any case. I take another sip from my flask as I wait for answers that will most likely be rude or apathetic at the least. Perhaps a bit of "well if you don't do anything the lives of those innocents are on your hands" or some such other manipulative speech that the Sith are so fond of. It looks like we would soon be involved with the Sith for a while one way or the other... but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

The Old Zelosian was hardly noticing the uncomfortable posture of the High Councilor chair before the holocom rang. Taking to his leadership duties, or perhaps secretary duties, Mike answered the ring and the whole of the Jedi Order was presented with the most unique of circumstances: One of the most powerful Sith Lords, in the Galaxy, pleading for help. It wouldn't be like them to beg, but this was enough to understand their current mind, clouded with desperation. Lord Sinistra was her name, the files were likely an arm thick on this one, having committed crimes across the galaxy, a mile long. She had painted a bulls eye on her back some time ago, discrediting the Jedi Order for welcoming Dace Concordia, and added Kuat as her background. She was a master of the game, it seemed, as she was well accustomed to the ways of manipulation, turning the attack on Garqi into a positive for the Dark Tide. Such was the impression of the Jedi Master, having once watched the Holonet recording that Lord Sinistra had released.

He leaned forward in his seat, hands cradled within each other, as Mike first responded to the message and then Devlin responded in kind with a speech aimed to push motivation. Eli looked towards Devlin and gave the faintest hint of a smile. He may have not been a Councilor anymore, but his opinions and words would always be welcomed in these hallow halls.

"A coward dies many times before their death, the valiant taste death but once..." The Zelosian almost spoke in a feint whisper, as if he were showing, in a subtle manner, that he agreed with Master Dewe. He turned his head back to the Holorecorder and thought over the words of Master Frantz, agreeing that such notions were indeed in need of answering. However, he didn't find humor where Mike did. If the carnage and destruction were so wide spread and impending that the Sith now sought to ally themselves with those of the Light, it was worse than the Jedi Order might suspect. Since she had failed to properly introduce herself, Eli took the time to fit that into his up and coming questioning.  His expression changed from jovial to a hard stoicism, a manner he equipped to deal with the expected cynicism of the Sith.

"Lord Sinistra, you cannot expect us to consider you ally..."As this could just be a plot to break the back of an already wounded Order. But if even the slightest flicker of hope existed, that they could set their differences aside to save the lives of countless innocents, then Eli, and maybe even the Council, wasn't in a place of outright refusal."You come to us for aid and we should fall upon the old questions. What would you do in our place, would you help your eternal enemy against the more pressing foe?" He leaned back and shook his head."But we will not ask such things, because those of the light are beyond such fallacies, we are above holding the survival of your innocent people over your head as if some valuable resource...as such a thing is beyond priceless." He looked towards his fellow councilors."The good cannot coexist with the evil, as much as the light cannot coexist within the shade. But between the two, their lies a threshold, and for the sake of billions, we must consider the consequences of our inaction." He chose not to present Lord Sinistra with additional questions and instead gave her ample time to respond to Master Frantz. Such was his way, one of patience and profound consideration.

*And so it was that Aerandir was to remain on the Council, and yet he did not feel relief. No, the position of High Councilor was more a burden than a privilege, and he knew it firsthand. But then, being a Jedi was already a burden; the life of a Jedi was to serve, and some were meant to serve more than others. In a way, he could be envious of the departing Masters, their burden being lessened, but that was not a proper reaction; his mission clearly was to continue to serve here, and thus he would.

He had given his new fellow Councilors welcoming smiles, though of the four of them he truly only knew Mike Frantz well; Master Matango he was acquainted with and Aerandir had even bestowed upon him the rank of Master, but he didn't know the man too well on a personal level, though he was aware of his accomplishments. The other two, well, Aerandir would become more acquainted with them in no time at all, more than likely. Force willing.

But all thoughts and discussion were interrupted at the sudden alert of a very urgent message, which Master Frantz amusingly answered only to reveal the image of a well-known Sith Lord. Aerandir's eyes narrowed; what callous message had they brought for them now, in the middle of this gathering of healing? He knew they were low beings, and he was ready to move in an instant to prepare for defense of the temple and its occupants. But to his surprise, there came no threat from the holographic mouth of Sinistra, but a plea for aid, and Aerandir should have found himself realizing earlier that the Sith would be foolish to threaten Jedi while both groups were already targeted by the Mandalorian Crusade, which indeed had not been only assaulting worlds of the Jedi.

Other Jedi spoke, expressing distrust, hesitance, immediate will to aid, and other emotions. Aerandir's mind could only wander to many years past, to the great Plague War, when the infected horde threatened to spread and engulf the galaxy. And then what after? Aerandir didn't want to think about that. But in that war, Sith and Jedi had stood together and even shared barracks as they plotted, together, on how to eliminate the threat. They had—together—and went their separate ways when it was all said and done. Not to say it was completely smooth sailing; while for the most part the two sides managed to put aside their differences and act amiable in the open, there were still some conflicts, clashes of philosophy... Aerandir himself had been involved in one. In the end, it meant nothing, for the two still managed to work together in a cohesive group and eliminate the threat.

Aerandir stood.*
I say there's really no question that we should help them. Those that remember the Plague War also remember that Sith and Jedi successfully joined forces long enough to combat the horde and eventually wipe them out. There's no reason history can't repeat itself, especially with an equally-coordinated threat that wants to destroy, rather than assimilate. Arguably, the need is more dire.
*No flowery speeches, lengthy anecdotes, or in-depth descriptions of past events; those had already been given. Aerandir gave his focus to the hologram; he'd noted that Master Vandal had referred to her as Lord Sinistra, as did the records. For what reason she wasn't referred to by the title "Lady," Aerandir did not know, but somehow he had the feeling it was best he didn't question it and just go with the title used everywhere else.*
Lord Sinistra, you will have our aid, if I have anything to say about it.
*And technically he did, but there was little room nor time for arguing and discussing this point at length; they had to make their decision and finalize it. Then they would have to mobilize. The threat was in the air, and they had all the information they needed; it was time to make use of it.*