Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 111-112 - Ceasefire Agreement
Ryan gestured with his thumb toward Godell behind him.

Godell immediately began directing the orderly rotation of non-essential personnel from the bridge to leave their posts.

Then he continued, "According to the intelligence we have, the Republic Fleet has only retreated to the defensive boundary of the Central Ring Starfield. There is no indication that they will continue to retreat. They obviously want to consolidate the existing defenses and ensure that the strategic locations they have captured will not be lost again."

Tann's expression turned serious and focused.

Raine could imagine that she had already begun to sketch out new fleet deployment plans and possible attack routes in her mind.

“Please forgive my intrusion, General.” Raine cleared his throat and straightened his collar slightly. “Commander Vinok once told me about your extraordinary insight… I dare not claim to understand the mysterious workings of the Force, but may I, based on the current situation, make a… personal prediction about the near future?”

"Speak," Tann said, seemingly with a hint of interest.

"I believe... a ceasefire agreement is imminent!"

General Tann turned his head to Ryan with an extremely slight, almost imperceptible movement, a subtle gesture that convinced Ryan that she had captured his attention.

"The fact that the Republic has spared no expense by deploying two 'Commissioner-class' interstellar dreadnoughts at the same time sends a strong signal."

Raine analyzed, "They are determined to win, and this crushing defeat has been a near-devastating blow to their morale and strategic resources. Shadow News will inevitably take advantage of this to incite anger and a desire for revenge among the people throughout the Republic."

Not to mention, we also have a large number of captured high-ranking officers and noble sons in our hands, who are being continuously transferred to prisoner-of-war ships.

"...Regarding the ceasefire agreement you've speculated about," Tann pondered, his gaze sharp, "do you think it can last? Or rather, will it be respected?"

This is an exceptionally sensitive issue.

Renn's heart tightened.

He judged that Tann was not presupposing a "standard answer," but the question itself was indeed worth pondering.

Did Severn Tann, the commander known for her iron fist and ambition, truly wish for the war to end?

“No, sir.” Renn chose to be frank. “Those who truly control the core of power do not want the war to truly end. Proposing a ceasefire in the Peremian region at this time can achieve three objectives: first, to buy the Republic valuable time to rebuild its military; second, to promote the exchange of prisoners of war between the two sides; and most importantly, to ‘reset’ the public opinion in the Republic that has been dominated by feelings of defeat and anger.”

Tann's blood-red pupils suddenly contracted, sharp as knives: "The prelude to a 'false flag operation'."

“I completely agree with your assessment, General,” Ryan replied immediately. “It is very likely that a meticulously planned ‘attack’ framed against us will become the perfect excuse to break the ceasefire and reignite the war.”

Raine then pointed out the deeper and more sinister political motives behind the ceasefire.

To prevent the election of the Confederate Supreme Commander.

Once a ceasefire agreement is reached, the cloud of "the imminent threat to the Republic" hanging over the Senate will temporarily dissipate.

Without this greatest external pressure, the "Alliance," a temporary political alliance painstakingly built by Raine to support Tann, will quickly lose its cohesion, and its members will go their separate ways.

Count Dooku could then take the opportunity to calmly promote his preferred candidate, such as General Grievous, to the position of supreme commander.

That's why the election must be rushed and passed before a ceasefire agreement is reached!

“Alliance has never been a stable, long-term solution,” Ryan further explained. “Once the external pressure disappears, it will crumble as quickly as a fortress on the beach. Similarly, the support of the pacifist lawmakers we rely on will only be steadfast when they genuinely feel the threat of war. Now, at this moment, with all the right conditions in place, it is a once-in-a-lifetime, fleeting window of opportunity for us!”

“Brigadier General Bontri,” Tann’s voice was deep and imposing, “is all that you’ve said based on reasonable speculation about the battlefield situation, or… do you have some intelligence that we don’t yet know?” “General,” Raine met her gaze calmly, “If I were a hardline senator in the Republic’s parliament who advocated war, I would have planned it this way. Of course, it’s also possible that I’m overthinking it and overinterpreting it… After all, strategic political maneuvering has long been far beyond the scope of my duties as a frontline commander.”

General Tann stared at him, his gaze seemingly piercing his soul.

After a moment, she spoke slowly, her words carrying an undeniable air: "I think your current state of thinking 'outside the scope of your responsibilities' probably won't last much longer."

“Uh,” Renn paused, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart, “What…do you mean by that?”

The cold, metallic footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, their rapid rhythm carrying an unquestionable sense of authority.

The sudden sound instantly broke the tense silence between Raine and General Tann, and made Raine swallow back the question that was about to burst out.

Hal's deliberately lowered, steady voice came through the communicator: "Sir, the shuttle has arrived at the hangar."

Rein responded quickly, but his gaze remained fixed on the general's face: "Understood, Hal. Keep a close eye on the bridge for me, and report any developments immediately."

He then turned to Tann, an Ondron man who was tall even by human standards, and now stood ramrod straight, regaining the imposing bearing he was known for in the Confederate army.

Raine found that he could look directly into her sharp, inhuman eyes almost without having to look down, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.

“General, there’s something else,” he gestured invitingly, “would you mind coming with me?”

“Yes.” Tann’s voice was concise and powerful.

The two walked side by side into the darker area deep inside the "Repelling" ship.

To prioritize power supply to the ship's self-repair system, most lighting was turned down to its lowest brightness, and some areas were even completely dark.

Only the emergency lights cast short beams of light.

The air was filled with a faint smell of ozone and the scent of cooled metal.

Approaching us were the bridge crew members coming to change shifts.

When they recognized the general, everyone seemed to be drawn by an invisible thread, turning around in unison and saluting solemnly.

They didn't resume their march until the general and Ryan had passed, and their footsteps echoed again in the silence.

Tann's lips twitched up very slightly. "Even your crew adheres strictly to your high standards, Brigadier General Rein."

Ryan cleared his throat, seemingly considering his words.

As they entered a relatively quiet side road, he spoke: "General, if I may be so bold as to ask... about our heavy cruisers..."

He paused, observing Tann's reaction. "Were you aware of this beforehand?"

Tann did not answer immediately; her deep red pupils stared directly into the endless darkness of the passage ahead.

“I don’t know.” Her voice was low but firm. “But I will find out the truth. I heard that Grievous almost got my current position, and now, he is the one commanding the cruiser that fired at me. What do you think about that, Commodore?”

(This has been revised; this retrospective description makes it more reasonable for Grievous to take action, and the details will be revealed gradually as the story unfolds.)
(End of this chapter)