Kale Degan

Kale Degan is the current Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. Previously he served as Senator of the world of Melida/Daan. While there certainly more accomplished Senators in the Senate, there is arguably none more respected.

Early Life
Kale was born on the war-torn planet of Melida/Daan in the middle of its long-spanning civil war. His parents were, just as everyone else, deeply embroiled within the war as soliders. As a young child of the Daan tribe, Kale was raised with only the barest of educations - most notably basic soldiering, and the dastardliness of the Melida tribe.

Child Soldier
By the age of 8 Kale, like most other children of his tribe, was enlisted into the Daan Military Forces. He was destined to be a foot soldier, and began training as one. Survival training, hand-to-hand combat, sabotage, marksmanship, all the hallmarks of a good solider.

By the age of 10 he was in the trenches alongside his fellow soldiers of all ages. He did well enough to not only stay alive, but begin advancing through the ranks - though that didn't start until he was 14.

By the age of 16 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and in charge of his own squad of soldiers - most younger than him, but a few slightly older. It was not long after his company was involved in a battle in the plains outside of Zehava City. The battle was devastating for both sides, and a bitter loss for the Daan, and resulted in the total destruction of his company. Kale, with only a couple other soldiers, managed to survive by hiding within the drainage pipes of the area, eventually making their way through the sewers of Zehava City.

It was in these sewers that Kale met with a group of young people of both Melida and Daan who were actively working to end the war. Kale joined with them, having become disillusioned with Daan propaganda and the righteousness of the cause. He knew there was no difference between the people of Melida and Daan, and he wanted to see them working together in peace. The group's methods, however, were just as violent as either side, involving sabotage of the commands and leadership of either tribe and did nothing to end the war, merely continue it.

Post-War Life
Eventually Jedi Knights were dispatched to the planet to mediate in the conflict, and were able to secure an uneasy peace. Kale immediately distanced himself from the young group he had joined up with, and joined a bi-partisan group of diplomats in Zehava City that would work to keep the peace. Untrained in diplomacy as politics as he was, Kale set himself to working hard to learn, determined to do everything he could to keep the peace.

For the first time in a long time, too, the peace did hold. The bi-partisan group did its job effectively, working with both tribes to address concerns and mediate, providing both a proper outlet outside of violence (though some skirmishes did happen, of course, on the fringes).

Entering his 30's, Kale was tapped to help lead the newly founded Melida/Daan BlastWorks, a jointly-owned and operated venture between both tribes to manufacture and sell the weapons the planet was so adept at making to fight each other, and sell them to the outside Galaxy. He was mildly successful, though most of the time efforts were spent on convincing weapons experts of either tribe to divulge their secrets.

By the age of 35, Kale was asked to serve on the Joint Melida/Daan Council of Government, tasked with governing the planet in a joint venture between the two tribes. As a politician and mediator he became very successful in this position, and gained a reputation of trust from members of both tribes. He continued to serve in this role, until the age of 42 when he was elected by the Council to serve as the Senator of Melida/Daan to the Galactic Republic.

First Senatorship
Kale was not the first Senator for Melida/Daan to the Republic - but he was the second. The second, at least, in the current reign of peace. As he entered his Senatorship, the peace on Melida/Daan had now lasted for 20 years, and was no longer standing precariously on the edge of war. Kale could turn his attention to attempting to better his people through the Galactic Senate and the Republic as a whole.

Nearly immediately Kale cemented his legacy. Though his first stint as a Senator was short and specifically unremarkable, he quickly established himself as a well-spoken orator and trusted mediator. His depth of understanding of Republic law earned him the role of Minister of the Judiciary, in charge of not only the Judiciary Forces of the Galactic Republic, but also direct legal advisor to the Supreme Chancellor.

Times at home, however, called for Kale's attention and he was forced to step down as Senator and return home.

Second Senatorship
Kale's second stint in the Senate came only a couple years after he stepped down. This time was not only just as impressive, but far more remarkable.

As Kale was re-entering the Senate, the Galactic Republic had called for a Constitutional Convention to write a formal Constitution of the Galactic Republic, laying out its principle beliefs, laws, and mechanics. Kale was an integral part of this Convention, inputting on several key points of the mechanical workings of the Senate and the Republic.

After the passing of the Constitution, Kale was re-appointed Minister of the Judiciary, and later was the writer of two key pieces of landmark legislation: The Ministries Act and the Defense Reformation Act.

It was also during this time, however, that Kale found himself in direct conflict with the Supreme Chancellor - Lucretia Ro. As bitter political rivals, the two often butted heads over how they believed the Republic should be run. This did not, however, prevent Kale from saving the life of the Supreme Chancellor on at least one occasion. Things came to a head, however, when Chancellor Ro ordered an invasion of the planet of Tattooine with the Judicial Forces. With a measure to order the removal of these forces failing to reverse the Chancellor's actions, Kale was forced to call for a Vote of No Confidence against the Chancellor, which succeeded. With her removal from office, the forces were removed and a snap-election was called.

Following Ro's removal, the rest of Kale's Second Senatorship continued on relatively quietly. He was recalled, however, after Melida/Daan's concerns over the invasion of Tatooine were furthered by the lack of response by the Republic to the (temporary) secession of Alderaan and natural disaster on Ryloth, and Melida/Daan decided to suspend its representation.

Third Senatorship
Kale was sent to the Senate again some years later. Now approaching his sixties, and with his third time as Senator, the Senator was beginning to slow down - but was by no means ready to hang it up yet. During his time away he had purchased a number of fathiers, and had co-founded the Melida/Daan Raceworks Swoop Racing team.

Early in his term, Kale introduced the Sentience Act which also passed.

Towards the end of the third Senatorship, the Onderon Crisis threatened the stability of the Republic, with Onderon's government proclaiming independence from the Republic. As the situation deteriorated, Kale was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense, and due to the absence of a Minister was promoted to Acting Minister of Defense. Under his direction, Task Force 33 of the Galactic Republic Naval Defense Force was dispatched to Onderon to end the crisis peacefully, which it succeeded in doing so.

Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic
Following the crisis, and the bungling of it by Acting Chancellor Rex Cordona, Kale decided the time had finally come for him to run for Supreme Chancellor, now thoroughly fed up with the string of inept or inactive Chancellors during his tenure. Despite a close campaign with the Senator of Commenor Neshan Sarafean, Kale was elected Chancellor in an overwhelming majority.

Personality and Traits
Kale Degan is a human male with brown eyes and brown hair (currently streaked with gray). Prior to his role as Senator, Kale served as a local diplomat on Melida/Daan - a war-torn planet to which he was born. He himself fought in the war, but joined groups seeking to end the conflict after becoming disillusioned to the propaganda, understanding that people on both sides of the conflict had the issues but were, at the end of the day, the same people.

A competent strategist both politically and militarily, Kale has set himself apart from his colleagues by his calm, sage-like demeanor. Though he has his beliefs and seeks to further the cause of those beliefs, his chief goal among the Senate is to encourage critical thinking and learning among all Senators. He is known for hard questions and sound advice, without specifically telling someone what to do.

Likely one of Kale's most long-lasting legacies is also one of his greatest shames, what he views as his forced call for the Vote of No Confidence against Chancellor Ro. While Kale views the move as in the end necessary, he wishes there had been another way at the time to prevent the Chancellor's actions and preserve the sanctity of the Republic and the Office of the Supreme Chancellor.

Authored Legislation
Constitution of the Galactic Republic

Ministries Act

Defense Reformation Act

Sentience Act

Held Positions
Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic

Acting Minister of Defense

Finance Committee Member

Chairman of the Finance Committee

Minister of the Judiciary