Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 80 - Agreement Reached (Sneak Attack, Thanks for Your Monthly Tickets)
“I…I don’t think it’s someone you know.” Ryan had read “Revenge of the Sith” and knew this outcome: “I guess Dooku will just pick some nobody as a target.”

Nobody?

Ah!
Ryan chuckled at his own lame joke.

But Carly didn't find it amusing; she stared at Ryan as if he were a Felucia slug soaking in nutrient solution.

"Then...who do you plan to send to speak in the Senate?" she pressed, leaning forward slightly. "You mean yourself?"

Dooku has likely investigated the origins of the alliance and certainly knows the names of the thirty-odd officers who originally signed the agreement.

Rennes' name is very likely on this list as well.

He just hoped his name wouldn't be among the first few listed.

In fact, he guessed there was a 50% chance that Carly's name would be at the top of the list.

“Actually, the person I’m thinking of… is you!” Ryan frankly revealed his plans, and seeing that Carly was about to explode, he quickly added, “I mean, you are the representative of this alliance. The Salvara campaign made you famous, and more importantly, you were once Dooku’s second-in-command… If you stand up against him, the influence will be extraordinary.”

“Raine!” Carly let out an incredulous sneer, her eyebrows rising so high they almost touched her hairline. “I’m Dooku’s second-in-command. I’m not going to gamble my career on a vote that might win or lose… I’m not like you. I can’t afford to lose.”

Once you're on this boat, getting off isn't so easy.

“But you’re still cooperating with us,” Ryan continued, his tone probing. “If you really are Dooku’s second-in-command, shouldn’t you…”

He suddenly stopped, a chilling premonition washing over him, as if the pressure inside the "Repel" had suddenly become unbalanced, a heavy force pressing down on his chest, making it very difficult for him to breathe.

"What's wrong?" Carly asked immediately, her eyes sharpening.

“I heard something from Holgo Schiff,” Rein said, pausing briefly before lowering his voice. “It’s about someone leaking intelligence about the movements of the ‘Aurora’ auxiliary fleet to the Republic Navy.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Carly's eyes, followed by wariness and unease.

She concealed it quickly; someone else might not have noticed at all, but Ryan had known her for too long and was too familiar with these subtle changes.

"What do you mean by that?" Her voice turned cold, full of defensiveness, like a drawn blade.

'I'd say you're a spy for the Republic. Or more accurately, you're a spy for Dooku, while Dooku is the Republic's spy.'

Renn pondered this in his mind, but he also understood.

Carly wouldn't know these things, and she would never believe them.

“You broke the radio silence and sent Dooku classified intelligence containing information about our fleet’s movements, which was accidentally intercepted by the Republic’s intelligence department.” Rein rephrased the statement, directly accusing him, “That’s why Dooku gave you such an important position in the Alliance; you are his eyes and ears planted within us.”

This also means that he has likely already been exposed.

Depend on.

Carly's gaze was as cold as the deep sky. "I neither admit nor deny anything."

“Carly, don’t give me that.” Ryan retorted without hesitation. “Holgo and Jom need an explanation. If I tell them this, you’re finished.”

"You do not dare."

Renn really didn't dare.

But he was betting that Carly would be intimidated by his bluff.

Carly's position in the League is rock solid.

Once this matter is leaked, the authority she has built up will collapse instantly.

Conversely, if even Carly Trilm, the key figure who brought the alliance together, couldn't keep a secret, then who can we trust?

The league's morale will collapse along with Carly's reputation.

Worse still, this could push Carly completely to Dooku's side.

Ryan understands Carly.

What she cares about most is her political status and reputation.

Her pride would never allow her to suffer such a blow, not even the possibility of it.

Ryan was betting that the proud, assertive Carly Trilm he knew was genuine and without any pretense.

"They think I leaked the information," Ryan sneered, a hint of self-mockery in his voice. "Look at my current situation, and then tell me if I would dare to do it?"

Carly gritted her teeth, her jawline tense, and after a few seconds of silence, she slowly said, "...What do you want?"

Bet right.

“You know what I want.” Ryan was secretly pleased: “Just help me get this Senate matter sorted out. If you can’t do it, find someone who can.”

"Why don't you do it yourself?" Carly retorted, her voice tinged with resentment. "Didn't you already make some connections through Mina Bontri?"

Knowing a name is different from knowing what a person looks like.

Raine wanted to postpone showing his face to Dooku as much as possible. Just standing next to Ventress was enough to terrify him.

He really didn't want to face a genuine Sith Lord right now.

"Are you in or not?" Renn asked again, his tone forceful.

“…Alright!” Carly finally relented, her voice deep. “I’ve thought of a suitable candidate, but to get this done, you have to be 100% sure that the person Dooku is going to nominate is currently a complete, absolutely unknown nobody.”

'So this person will be a career soldier.'

The key point that Ryan understood was that at that time, very few people knew who Griffiths was.

If Dooku were to personally unveil this metal monster, those high-ranking officials who hadn't yet been bribed would certainly strongly oppose it.

At this moment, he was very curious about who Carly had contacted.
But one thing cannot be denied: Carly's eloquence is absolutely first-rate.

“I’m sure.” Ryan gave her a meaningful look. “You don’t need to worry too much. I’ll make some preparations.”

Carly's face darkened, and she cut off the communication without saying a word.

The relationship has now become strained.

does it worth?
Renn wasn't sure either; he could only let time tell.

"HAL! Where are you?"

he shouted, raising his voice.

Two long ears peeked out from a corner of the lower control panel. "Reporting, Master, I'm here! What are your orders?"

“Contact Senator Greshad.” Ryan rubbed his slightly tense cheeks.

Hal deftly picked up the holographic projector with the tip of his ear and hopped back to the command post.

Less than a minute later, Greshad's image reappeared.

Renn couldn't help but chuckle to himself, imagining the guy waiting by the receiver the whole time.

“Brigadier General Bontri…?” Greshad remained polite, but there was a hint of surprise in his tone. “Considering this is your private communication frequency… is there anything I can do for you?”

"You mentioned earlier that the alliance can get the support of your community's votes in the Senate."

"It's about the upcoming Supreme Commander election, isn't it? Count Dooku has personally come to bribe our votes." A shrewd glint flashed in Greshad's eyes. "Let me guess... you want us to vote against it?"

"Did he succeed?" Renn asked calmly.

“Brigadier General Bontri!” Greshad grinned, revealing a set of neat teeth. “The Community is not some commercial guild. We cannot be bought with credits. If we were that easy to buy, we would never have been formed in the first place… Do you know how many Core Worlds have tried to sabotage our alliance?”

“Then we're on the same page. I hope the community votes against Dooku's nominee.” Ryan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “I'll make sure your previous proposal is accepted by the league.”

“That’s not enough, Brigadier General, you know that.” Greshad interlaced his fingers and leaned forward slightly. “This is clearly your personal proposal. What additional…guarantee can you offer us?”

“The Alliance,” Rein said bluntly. “If Dooku’s nominee is elected, the Alliance will cease to exist, and… unlike us, the new Supreme Commander will not be someone you can sit down and do business with.”

At this moment, Greshard was probably calculating in his mind, guessing that Rein was doing this in order to preserve the alliance's autonomy.

Many officers, in order to maintain their independence, will instinctively oppose a strong leader.

In this situation, the alliance is like a union that doesn't want to be controlled.

However, this was not Renn's true intention, but the current situation provided him with an excellent cover.

“You know who he nominated,” Greshad stated calmly. “Who… no, wait, how do you know? Did you plant an informant in his inner circle? Or… were you eavesdropping on his communications?”

Ryan really wished he could eavesdrop.

He even paid professional hackers, bounty hunters, to try to set up listening stations on his frigates.

Unfortunately, there has been no news of them to this day.

"More or less," he said vaguely.

Simon Greshard leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face, his fingers lightly tapping the virtual desktop. "I... understand. I think we can reach an agreement."

Renn leaned forward slightly, waiting for his terms.

“Give me your private contact information,” Greshad demanded. “In exchange, you will receive our votes.”

“Deal,” Ryan agreed immediately.

Greshad broke into a sly and smug smile. “I will speak with my friends. I’m pleased to have reached an agreement with you, Brigadier General Bontri.”

Renn nodded, a calculated, satisfied smile creeping across his face. "Likewise, likewise!"

perfect.

Now only one thought remained in his mind:
Where did Severn Tann go?
(P.S.: Thank you all for your monthly votes. I said I would add an extra chapter when the monthly votes reached 1,000. There will be three more chapters today. I will post them as soon as they are written. I was planning to save up some drafts over the weekend, but it seems that won't be possible.)
(End of this chapter)