As the dinner approaches, those who are attending are provided formal wear of their choice, with no particular concern for gendered clothing. [Nim can wear a gown or suit, for example].
This is, clearly, a large dinner. Formally, it is to celebrate the return of the Prince Consort. All strangers to you, it seems many of the nobility of Alderaan are in attendance. You also notice many aliens among the dinner guests. Alderaan has become a refuge for those escaping Imperial persecution throughout the galaxy, and the people of Alderaan have welcomed the dispossessed with open arms. Their enthusiastic presence here confirms that.
The room is seated when you are ushered in and announced. Places have been set aside for you, intermingled among the crowd but near enough to be close to one another.
Of particular note - many of the people in attendance at the dinner are wearing military-style clothing. There is no sign of an Imperial presence anywhere, and throughout the evening, anyone in attendance is greeted with warm smiles and enthusiastic hand-shaking from random strangers. While no one appears to know the details of your recent exploits, they all seem to know you had a prominent hand in them.
The dinner is, by any objective standard, amazing. There is a wide range of dishes on offer, from the light to meaty, for any number of palates. The kitchen staff also appear to take care to prepare traditional foods from other cultures, for a broad range of biologies. Everyone is made to feel welcome at the queen's table.
Entertainment is present, and easy enough to concentrate on if you feel so inclined. But it is also subtle enough to be ignored in favour of conversation.
About an hour into the meeting, the Viceroy taps his glass as the queen rises.
"Ministers, nobles, colleagues, friends and visitors. You have been invited to this celebratory feast to welcome home our beloved Prince Consort, Bail, and our beloved daughter, Princess Leia. They were away, working for the good of the Galaxy, when they were waylaid by forces belonging to the Empire. Their diplomatic missions had failed - indeed their very lives were in the gravest danger. Both were thought lost, and we grieved for them. yet, unlooked for, strangers from across the Galaxy banded together to rescue them from the very jaws of defeat, and reunite our family. We personally - indeed all of Alderaan - owes them a great debt. For not only did they reunite our person with our beloved consort and daughter, but they allowed their diplomatic mission to succeed.
"Deep in the forests of Kashyyyk, our Viceroy met with Senators Garm Bel-Iblis of Corellia and Mon Mothma of Chandrilla. There they agreed on the terms of an agreement. I will read thje words of this historic accord for you now."
She produces a datapad.
"We, the beings of the Rebel Alliance, do this day send forth this Declaration to His Majesty, the Emperor, and to all sentient beings in the Galaxy, to make clear to all the Purposes and Goals of this Rebellion.
"We firmly acknowledge the importance and necessity of the institution of Galactic Government. We accept that all must subjugate themselves to that Government, giving up certain rights and freedoms, in return for peace, prosperity and happiness for all.
"We believe that the Galactic Government derives its power and right to rule from the consent of the governed. We believe that, should the rights of free beings be wilfully and malignantly usurped, it is the unalienable right of said beings to alter or abolish said Government.
"We believe that the Galactic Empire has wilfully and malignantly usurped the rights of the free beings of the Galaxy and therefore, it is our unalienable right to abolish it from the Galaxy.
"We do not take this course lightly. Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes, but when a Government displays a history of usurpation, abuse and moral atrocity, displaying a clear design to subjugate totally and absolutely beings born free under the auspices of nature, it is our right - our duty - to depose of that Government.
"The history of the present Galactic Empire is of repeated injuries upon its members, with the direct objective of establishing you, Emperor Palpatine, as absolute tyrant over the Galaxy:
"You have ignored the Senate, the voice of the people;
"You have instituted a policy of blatant racism and genocide against the nonhuman peoples of the Galaxy;
"You have overthrown the chosen leaders of planets, replacing them with Moffs and Governors of your choice;
"You have raised taxes without the consent of those taxed;
"You have murdered and imprisoned millions without benefit of trial;
"You have unlawfully taken land and property;
"You have expanded the military far beyond what is necessary and prudent, for the sole purpose of oppressing your subjects.
"We, the Rebel Alliance, do therefore in the name?and by the authority?of the free beings of the Galaxy, solemnly publish and declare our intentions:
"To fight and oppose you and your forces, by any and all means at our disposal;
"To refuse any Imperial law contrary to the rights of free beings;
"To bring about your destruction and the destruction of the Galactic Empire;
"To make forever free all beings in the galaxy.
"To these ends, we pledge our property, our honour, and our lives.
"We have made this pledge this day, and signed Articles of Rebellion."
On behalf of our people:
Senator Bail Organa, Voceroy of Alderaan
Senator Garm Bel-Iblis, of Corellia
Senator Mon Mothma, of Chandrilla"
She lowers the Datapad.
"Alderaan has always stood for peace and freedom. We, perhaps more than many worlds of the Republic, have learned the heavy cost of war. But we have also learned through bitter experience that freedom is not free. Sometimes, those seeking peace must take up arms to ensure peace for all. This day I have added my own signature to this declaration of rebellion. We join our resources to those of our allies, with the goal of ending the reign of Emperor Palpatine, and restoring peace and freedom to the Galaxy."
Cheers erupt in the room.
After a moment the Queen sits, and the Viceroy stands, taping a glass with his fork for a few moments to gain quiet.
"We have taken the first steps toward freeing the Galaxy. But already we have paid dearly. Our friends have returned us to the side of our queen, but many more were involved in that journey that did not survive it. On Corellia, where we were first captured, 80 men of general Kota's militia, sixteen Alderaan Guard, and twenty Chandrilla Armed Forces members gave their lives defending us. Later, on the station, at least sixteen Wookie slaves broke free of their captivity, and threw themselves at their captors, causing destruction and confusion among the Imperial soldiers. Commander Dailen, former Jedi and hero of the Clone wars fell in our final escape. And finally, a man named Galen Marek. From the very beginning, this alliance was only made possible through his actions. He fell in the end, holding back Imperial forces to allow our escape. Each of these 118 people contributed to this success, and their selfless dedication to the values we hold dear shall be a constant reminder of what we fight for. We will not let their sacrifice be forgotten.
"A manument has been erected in the Royal Square that will display the names and faces of the fallen. These are, I fear, merely the first sacrifices among many to come. But they felt giving their lives to a greater cause was a worthy end. Let them be a beacon to those who follow. Please join me in a moment of silence to honour the fallen."
He bows his head, and everyone else in the room does so as well.
When a minute has passed, the Viceroy turns to his wife. "My dear, I fear I have cast a pall upon your celebration. Forgive me." She smiles. He turns to the crown. "Please, continue with the celebration. But let it be tempered with the knowledge of the price paid."
Entertainment resumes, and fresh refreshments are brought. The formal part of the dinner is ended, and the crowd slowly breaks into knots and tables of conversation, but always there is a press of people seeking to thank you, and offer their praise.
[OOC: There is plenty of opportunity to make contacts here if anyone feels so inclined. The crowd is receptive, but to cultivate anything meaningful you will need to focus some time and attention. Each of you present may attempt to establish a contact with certain skills. Anyone wishing to do so may make a [Bargain, Investigation, Persuasion,] roll DC 10. You may make up to three such rolls, but a failure means you can make no more rolls. We canwork out the details of the primary skill / information your contact has later.]
