Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 118-119 - Supreme Commander (First Update)
"...Sir, you're not really planning to just let this go, are you?"

Raine's voice was filled with disbelief.

"Now more than ever, we need capable officers to participate in the core operations of the nation's military machine," a sudden uproar in the council chamber below interrupted their conversation, and they involuntarily turned their gaze back down the railing. "General Tann and I have discussed this issue in depth, and I agree with her assessment. Get ready for a promotion, Brigadier General Bontri. Soon, you'll have just as many generals as we do."

at this time.

The speaker cleared his throat.

The entire parliament hall fell silent instantly.

"Voting is over!" Lauvis's booming voice echoed throughout the hall through the loudspeaker. "Final vote count: 276 in favor, 30 against."

The Speaker paused for a moment before continuing, "The nomination has been approved by an overwhelming majority! General Severn Tann is hereby officially appointed as the Supreme Military Commander of the Independent System Confederation Armed Forces!"

The deafening applause erupted like a tsunami.

The applause came more from the officers' observation deck upstairs than from the members of parliament below.

Whether they were "peace-loving" people worried about the escalation of the war or "war-loving" people eager for revenge, although their reasons differed, a superficial atmosphere of enthusiastic support had already formed in the entire council hall.

Even so, many members of parliament clapped their hands only politely and somewhat reluctantly, but the outcome was already predetermined.

As General Tann stepped forward, preparing to solemnly recite his oath of office, a crucial question once again flashed into Raine's mind.

“General,” he said, his gaze fixed on Trench, his voice low and clear, “why did you choose to openly oppose General Grievous? It took immense… courage.”

“Commander Carly Trilm,” Trench cracked his insect-like jaw, making a slight clicking sound, “she had a… very persuasive conversation with me.”

A very persuasive conversation?

Renn silently repeated it to himself.

The only plausible explanation he could think of was that Trench remembered that he had saved his life.

It's a pity that this favor wasn't used in a more crucial area, but he felt that the exchange wasn't too bad.

“You’ve misunderstood,” Trench said, as if reading his mind, his cold, mechanical eyes turning to him. “It seems you don’t know Commander Trilm as well as you think you do.”

Ryan turned sharply to look at Trench, puzzled, and asked, "Excuse me? What do you mean by that, sir?"

"For the sake of owing you my life, I, Trench, will remember it," General Trench said, turning his gaze back to General Tann, who was receiving his new rank insignia below. "But Commander Trilm, in order to persuade me to stand on your side, voluntarily put herself in a considerable debt of gratitude to me."

what?
Renn's brows were furrowed tightly.

Carly Trilm?

Would that woman who never bows her head willingly let herself owe others favors?
This is simply unbelievable.

and many more……

If Griffiths and Tonys went west, what about Carly?
What is she doing right now?
Rein felt his lips were a little dry and subconsciously licked them. "Where is Commander Trilm now...?"

“The Foremerald Sector,” Trench answered quickly, as if he had been prepared, “is currently leading the fleet to drive the Republic forces back to the Central Sector, while reinforcing our western defenses to prevent the enemy from further encroaching on our territory.”

"..."

“You want me to tell you what I think of Carly Trillm,” Trench let out a low, electronic laugh. “Let me put it this way, she’s the same kind of person as Count Dooku at heart—proud, ambitious, and as dazzling as a star…and she utterly despises living in anyone’s shadow…her pride would never allow her to act in someone else’s name.”

"..."

"Take a word of advice from me, Brigadier General Bontri..."

Just then, they noticed a messenger hurrying in through a side door, running straight to Senator Avi Singh, and whispering in his ear.

Senator Singh's expression instantly turned serious.

Trench continued, “You must do everything you can to win Commander Carly Trilm’s heartfelt loyalty. Once you are promoted to general, you will be able to completely step out of my and Tann’s shadow.”

Your future achievements will belong only to you, and will no longer be a footnote in your superior's record of merits.

Your name will appear in news reports, on the questioning list of the House Military Committee, and may even appear directly on Count Dooku's desk.

At that time, you will need truly reliable and capable friends.

In my opinion, Commander Trilm has already demonstrated a basis of trust in you.

"This... is really hard to believe."

Renn's voice carried a hint of bitterness.

Just then, MP Singh suddenly stood up, strode through the crowd, and rushed to Mina Bontri's seat, urgently conveying the message brought by the messenger to her.

The usually composed Congressman Bontri showed an unusual expression of extreme shock.

She stared wide-eyed at Singh, then abruptly looked up, her gaze anxiously sweeping across the upper observation deck until it met Ryan's. "If you and she have a disagreement," Trench's voice held a worldly-wise calm, "then you must find a way to resolve it and reach a consensus before it escalates into a battlefield catastrophe."

“I will keep your teachings in mind, General,” Ryan finally replied solemnly, his thoughts a mixture of emotions.

“I believe you will…” Before Trench could finish speaking, a suppressed, panicked murmur spread like wildfire through the parliamentary seats.

Normally, Speaker Baker Lauvis would immediately bang his gavel to demand silence.

But at this moment, even this parliamentary leader, known for his composure, was staring intently at the information displayed on the control panel in front of him, speechless with shock, and momentarily forgot his duties.

Mina Bontri looked anxious, her gaze turning to Ryan again, as if seeking some confirmation or instruction.

Raine met her gaze, nodded almost imperceptibly, and silently conveyed a message through mouthing.

Mina Bontri's tightly clenched lips finally twitched slightly upwards.

Speaker Lauvis took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and his voice echoed through the deathly silent hall via the microphone: "Silence! Silence! We...we have just received an urgent diplomatic note from the office of the Supreme Speaker of the Republic, forwarded through neutral channels!"
The Senate of the Republic has passed a momentous resolution, formally proposing a peace initiative to the Independent Galaxy Confederation!

They requested to begin preliminary negotiations with us to end the state of war!

Are you kidding me?
A variety of expressions and reactions were displayed in the parliament hall.

"Peace?!" Senator Vo Atl was the first to jump up, his roar instantly shattering the previous silence. "The Republic has just suffered a defeat, and now they want to sue for peace?! How many star systems have we lost? How many of our compatriots have perished in the war?! This is clearly a delaying tactic for them to end things gracefully when things turn against them! Now that General Tann leads our powerful army, we must press our advantage and reclaim all the homes that have been invaded!"

The war faction and the senators from the occupied "Alliance" planets erupted in thunderous roars and howls, denouncing the Republic's proposals with the most vehement words.

Their planet is still in enemy hands, and peace means giving up hope of reclaiming lost territory.

Meanwhile, the peace faction on the other side was far from jubilant.

Instead, a murmur of panic and bewildered glances filled the air among them.

This is a bolt from the blue!

It was their compromise and support for the war faction's nomination of the supreme commander that led the Republic to immediately sue for peace?
This puts them in an extremely awkward position, and they may even be accused of misjudging the situation.

Mina Bontry stared intently at Ryan, observing his slightest reaction.

With a determined look in his eyes, Ryan gave her another very slight nod.

Mina took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

"Please maintain order in the parliament!" Speaker Lauvis said, trying to keep the situation under control. "A special session will be held immediately for a formal debate and vote on this peace initiative... Now, please welcome Senator Bontri of Ondron to speak."

“Mr. Speaker,” Mina Bontri’s clear and steady voice rang out, instantly drawing everyone’s attention, “on this important issue, may I propose that we first hear the professional opinion of our new Supreme Commander?”

As soon as Congressman Ong Tak Lun finished speaking.

Ryan saw the "war faction" members of parliament suddenly lean forward, their faces filled with disbelief and anger.

Meanwhile, the "peaceful" lawmakers looked bewildered and confused, completely disbelieving that this was something Representative Bontri should have said.

Both the "peace faction" and the "war faction" are making silent appeals.

What gives Representative Bontri such confidence?
How could she know if General Tann would support the negotiations?
Dozens of holographic camera robots, as if drawn by a magnet, quickly circled around General Severn Tann, who had just completed his oath.

The newly appointed supreme commander stood tall, his uniform impeccably pressed, his expression solemn, radiating an undeniable authority.

"As the supreme commander of the Confederate armed forces!"

Severn Tann's voice wasn't loud, but it strangely pierced through all the noise, plunging the entire hall into absolute silence.

"My primary duty is to defend the fundamental mission of the Independent Galaxy Confederation."

"To ensure that every member world successfully escapes the tyranny of the Republic and gains freedom and security within the borders of our Alliance."

"At the same time, the mission of the Confederate army is also to protect the lives and property of our people and to uphold the dignity and effectiveness of our Constitution."

Therefore, even if it ultimately proves that this peace initiative cannot achieve our ultimate goal—

General Tann's voice suddenly rose, filled with power, and his piercing gaze swept across the room. His powerful aura made the members of both sides temporarily forget to refute him. "As the Supreme Commander, I formally recommend to the Parliament that it respond positively and prudently to the Republic's proposal for peace negotiations!"

She paused briefly, letting each word strike the hearts of her listeners with resounding force, before continuing in an unquestionable tone:
"This is not just my personal suggestion!"

"This is the duty we pledged to the Constitution and to the people when we took the oath of office."

"That is, under any circumstances, we should do everything in our power to seek a peaceful solution!"

"Please trust me, representatives of each sector: if the Republic's negotiations lack sincerity and fail to meet our core demands, the Confederate army will not hesitate to return to the battlefield and fight them to the bitter end!"

"But until the Republic demonstrates its undeniable absurdity, the separatist army's will to fight at the negotiating table will be as unwavering as it is on the battlefield!"

(End of this chapter)