490. Meeting between the two parties
The next day, Speaker Sheev Palpatine gave a speech in the Senate. He once again expressed his hesitation on the issue of war. He claimed that the door to peace was always open and he was still waiting to meet Count Dooku. negotiations between.
"I absolutely don't want to see my compatriots in the same galaxy kill each other." Palpatine emphasized this point again and again.
But in his speech, he still said that the current situation no longer allows him to continue waiting hopelessly like this, and he must make other preparations. Palpatine told those congressmen that he hoped to see the "Military Creation Act" passed, not to increase his power or to provoke war, but to prepare the Republic for the worst.
He also hypocritically said that once Count Dooku agreed to start negotiations and the negotiations went smoothly, he would not hesitate to terminate the bill and return power to Parliament.
The 'Loyalty Committee' he had created in the parliament also began to play a role at this time, and the members of it also began to build momentum for his actions. Under their propaganda, Palpatine indeed became the one who worked hard for peace. Last minute people.
The second vote on the Military Creation Act will take place one week later at Galactic Standard Time.
Regarding this bill, the New Ring members led by Francis Underwood expressed strong indignation in contrast with some members of the Outer Ring Star District who still remained in the Parliament. They claim that if Parliament passes this bill, it will be a trample on democracy and proof that the Republic wants to actively provoke war.
Francis Underwood even threw a glass directly in the parliament hall. He loosened his tie, pointed at Palpatine's nose and shouted angrily: "If this reactionary bill is passed, then this It will be the darkest day in the 25,000-year history of the Galactic Republic!! Because today, you, a dignified Speaker of the Republic, chose war!!"
"I have repeatedly emphasized that peace is my original intention." Palpatine said with a smile.
"Then stop voting on this bill!"
"Unfortunately, in the end, democracy still has the final say."
"In that case, the day this bill is passed is the day we withdraw from the Republic Assembly!! Please remember, Sheev Palpatine! It is you! It is you who single-handedly pushed the Republic into war. To the split!!" Francis Underwood shouted angrily, and then rushed out of the venue without looking back.
As he took the lead, many councilors from the Outer Rim Star District also stood up and left to express their opinions.
Back in the office, Francis Underwood took off his tie, straightened his collar, and asked calmly to his chief of staff, Douglas Stamp: "What happened just now? I feel like I used too much force." ”
"I think it's just right in this situation, sir." Douglas nodded slightly, showing a somewhat sinister smile, "After you make such a fuss, even if we can't influence the overall situation, Palpatine will have to spend more money. Just focus on attracting votes.”
"This is also the last thing I can do." Francis took off his suit and put on casual clothes. "I will leave Coruscant in the afternoon and return to the Dawn Planet. I'm worried that if I can't leave It's too late, Palpatine will not allow me to leave completely. Our final declaration, I bother you to make it, Doug, as long as I am not here, Palpatine will not do anything to you." Fran Seth Underwood said.
"Leave it to me, sir." Douglas Stamp nodded and replied, "An agent code-named 004 already contacted me yesterday. Mrs. M from the Intelligence Department will ensure my safety."
…
At the same time, in the outer ring of the Milky Way, the planet Raxus Prime.
A flash of dazzling white light flashed, and five 1,100-meter-long Cole-class battlecruisers left hyperspace and entered the planet's gravity well.
Tang Xiao was sitting on the main seat of the flagship with his legs crossed, his expression stern, looking at the planet in front of him through the holographic projection.
Severance Tann still stood in a military posture, standing straight with her legs like compasses behind Tang Xiao.
Also accompanying them were 10 Hiigara-class battlecruisers, a fleet brought by Gross-Shelbia in the name of the Fourth Group.
There are already a large number of fleets gathering around this small planet.
Among them is a huge fleet composed of a Rukrihuk-class battleship converted from a cargo ship, 10 Higra-class battlecruisers, and 5 Divine-class destroyers. The logo on this fleet shows that it belongs to the Trade Alliance.
There is also a fleet of 30 Generosity-class communications frigates, which is the fleet of the Interstellar Banking Association.
The Technology Alliance, Business Guilds, and Enterprise Alliance have also brought large-scale fleets. Their fleets are mainly composed of Disobedience-class light destroyers and Generous-class communications frigates.
However, this terrifying fleet that can easily sweep across an entire star region is gathered here not to fight, but to... sign an agreement.
The situation between the Outer Rim Sector and the Republic has reached this point. Many things have been brought to light, and there is no longer a need to gather quietly like the underground party.
What's more, today's meeting is different from usual.
After the fleets of various corporate giants docked in their respective areas, representatives of each company took a shuttle and sailed to a giant closed space port on the main planet of Lasax.
After getting out of the shuttle, Tang Xiao looked at San Hill, the co-chairman of the Interstellar Banking Association who had also just arrived. They exchanged glances with each other and continued walking towards the venue.
The venue was not big. Count Dooku was already waiting at the door. More than thirty people came one after another. That was all for this meeting.
The Dawn Planet, the Interstellar Banking Association, the Commercial Guild, the Trade Alliance, the Enterprise Alliance, the Technology Alliance, the Fourth Group, the Semels Planet, the Yago-Dur Planet, the Geonosian Planet, etc. have highly developed industries. The heads of planets and corporate giants of the system are among them.
In fact, these 30 people are the only ones qualified to attend the meeting among the thousands of galaxies in the outer ring star area that the entire separatist movement can radiate.
Seeing Severance Tann following Tang Xiao, Count Dooku couldn't help but take another look. He smiled and said, "If my guess is correct, this should be a Chiss, right? It looks like As expected, Your Excellency Tang Xiao has great magical powers. He can even find the Chiss who have been in the unknown star field and never come out. And..."
Count Dooku's expression changed slightly, "He is still a Force-sensitive person..."
