[Citadel - Goronak Memorial Auditorium] The Public Debate (Open)

The Goronak Memorial Auditorium is a large open-air auditorium in a public park on Tayseri. Regularly used by theater troupes and musicians for free shows, the large stone 'half an egg' design was created by an Asari some two millenium ago out of Thessian marble, and was designed for almost perfect levels of acoustics. Over the past week, it has been commandeered by various news organizations funding a debate between two candidates for the local Citadel Assembly chair.

The night has finally come, and the auditorium's chairs had been set up for a large crowd. Before the elevated stage, a Salarian sat at the moderation table. He dutifully checked over his notes, then activated his omnitool. A member of the auditorium staff gave him a signal. The entrance ways to the auditorium were unblocked, and the gathered crowds began to file in and find any free seats.

After the crowd settled, the Salarian stood to face them and the media, adjusted his collar, and spoke into his omnitool's projection software.

"Good evening. My name is Gadlek Reggs, and I am a political analyst for Westerlund News. Tonight, I am moderating a debate between two candidates running for the title of Citadel Assemblyman, Mr. Randall Buckner and Mr. Max Vallario. If you would like to submit a question in this open, public debate, please type it into the haptic interface in the front of your seat and hit the 'send' button. With this, I would like to introduce the candidates."

Michelle Rondor took a seat, admiring the beauty of that particular marble. She idly wondered the story behind that asari work with this distinctive batarian name. Her mind came back to why she came. Max Vallario, that she had considered a gun totting buffoon for a while, had shown a rare interest in the duct rats, and now was pitted about a proven buffoon. She was curious about how that would play out, and was hoping maybe to catch Max afterward.

Joset Phraag had all but marched down to the Auditorium. The latest incident in Tayseri - he shuddered right there, thinking of how close he'd come to an actual bloodied murderer - had set him on the warpath. His salarian heritage had never been more apparent as he practically raced into the Goronak, power-walking through the door, whizzing around the edge of the room at almost comical speed before taking a seat near the edge of the front row - upon which he immediately began fidgeting.

Something had to be done about the crime levels on the Citadel. He'd been saying it since the war had ended, and things continued to devolve. He'd been relieved to see Vallario's prior focus on the issue, and he was here to put the man to the test. Show some moral support should Vallario meet expectations, make a fuss if he didn't.

Joset was good at making a fuss. The thought left a twinge of shame.

"Seriously, why do you insist of dragging me along to these kind of events? I mean one is sleazy opportunistic politician and the other one might as a well be a vorcha! Why are here anyway, this isn't a backroom meeting."
Jaquento let off an exasperated sigh as he sat down next to his cousin who was eagerly awaiting for the opponents to appear.
"Then I guess you will be entertained tonight. Events like these bring the who-s-who of the local elite here, the cameras, the attention from the electorate and not to forget company representatives trying to push thier agendas on both. And if you want to get into franchising your business you will eventually have to deal with all of them."
Karsten straightened his suit and reached for info sheet.
"Look, if you want you can stay put and pester the candidates while I will do my thing. Deal?"
Jaquento rolled his eyes.
"Whatever, just don't drag me into something I might regret, like the time you funeled an absurd ammount of credits through my accounts for one of your clients. Stop pulling those stunts!"
"In my defense, I did get the tax fraud investigation sorted out, did I?"
With that Karsten made his way to what he called the important people.
Jaquento stayed behind, slowly simmering in his own contempt.
"We need more Vindis in the politics..."

With an orchestral version of the Rhode Island Knights fight music, Randal Buckner approached his podium, and he looked a little worse for wear. His hair was long (longer than it was back when he was doing political ads) and he appeared to be growing a four-day beard. The man ran a hand through his hair and looked over the podium with a worried glance, before straightening his back and staring forward at the gathering crowds. He mouthed something under his breath.

He was met with polite applause.

The salarian moderator cleared his throat into the projection unit before him and spoke clearly. "Ladies and gentlemen, the opposing candidate, Mr. Randal 'Buzzsaw' Buckner. Mr. Buckner is known for his heavy stance against crime and his career in the combat sports industry, along with other... entertainment industry attempts."

Kayana held her omni-tool up to chest level, leaning to the side to take a picture between the two heads in front of her (no flash, no click, of course).

She was wearing yet another one of the political t-shirts (this particular one had an image of a kid in a breather and drell script reading My Ancestors Prayed for Rain) but it wasn't one of Krios Memorial's designs-that had been the deal.

Kayana lowered her camera. The drell girl was taking notes.