Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 157, Section 159 - Summit Terms
“Very good!” Separatist Congressman Tereker Bremark said crisply, with a hint of barely perceptible impatience. “Now that both sides’ ‘observers’ have made their positions clear, Republic delegation, could you please explain what the Speaker and the Republic Senate believe to be the core terms of a peace solution acceptable to both sides? We are not demanding a complete end to the war now, but at least a clear framework for ending the current large-scale fighting is needed.”

The relaxed atmosphere vanished instantly, and the air seemed to freeze.

The real confrontation has begun.

Padmé's heart tightened.

She was somewhat surprised that someone as tough as Terreka Bremark would so directly hand over the right to speak to the Republic.

This senator from the Lahara sector served in the Republic Parliament for many years before leading the entire sector to join the Separatist Alliance.

She was not an isolated case, but the Lahara sector's secession from the Republic was memorable largely due to Senator Bremark's famous farewell speech.

Most sectors that chose to leave tried to handle the situation discreetly, but Bremark made a resounding declaration at a plenary meeting:

"I have no doubt that many of my colleagues here do not know where the Lahara sector is on the star map."

Even if their political lives depend on this, they probably couldn't point it out on a map of the Milky Way!

But for a long time, we have borne heavy taxes, only to receive almost nothing in return.

Perhaps, you won't truly 'see' Lahara until we leave!

Even now, recalling it, Padmé feels a familiar burning sensation in her chest—a deep sense of shame.

She was sitting down there and was acutely aware that she was one of those colleagues who "didn't know where Lahara was."

She deeply understands the sting of being ignored.

Padmé glanced cautiously to the left and right, his gaze sweeping over Bel Organa's composed face, Bana Brim's thoughtful expression, and Senator Dasana's still cold profile.

She was assessing whether to seize the initiative offered by Bremark and negotiate more favorable terms for the Republic.
Or should we take the initiative to show goodwill and lay the foundation for a long-term peace with separatists?

Bell nodded very slightly, his eyes conveying support.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Padmé took a deep breath, clasped his hands on his knees, his palms slightly cool, “please allow me to begin my presentation on behalf of the Republic delegation.”

First, His Excellency the Speaker and all members of the Senate fully understand that there are fundamental differences in perception between the Independent Galaxy Confederation and the Galactic Republic regarding the cause of this conflict and the attribution of responsibility.

Several hardline representatives of the Republic showed a hint of disapproval on their faces.

But when Padmé caught glimpses of the separatist representatives, especially Mina Bontri, leaning slightly forward with a focused look in her eyes as she listened to the words, she felt the candor was worthwhile.

“Therefore, on behalf of the Republic,” Padmé’s voice was clear and solemn, “I acknowledge that the Republic must bear corresponding responsibility for the diplomatic failure of the Geonosis affair, which became the fuse for the full-scale armed conflict between us…”

Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a sudden and loud sneer.

"A diplomatic failure?!" Senator Esu Rossinu of the Abrion Sector suddenly raised his voice, his tone full of sarcasm. "Excuse me for speaking frankly, Senator Amidala! Everyone here knows perfectly well that when the Jedi Order led the clone army to launch an attack on Geonosis, the Republic had already fired the first shot of this war!"
The Confederation had every reason to believe that the Republic bore full responsibility for the outbreak of this war, especially given that diplomatic channels were not yet completely closed at the time!

“We must clarify that the decision was by no means made lightly,” Bell Organa’s voice remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable force. “Your head of state, Count Dooku, illegally detained two Jedi Knights and a Republic senator at the time… I remind you that these three individuals are present right now.”

“The three were engaged in espionage and were caught red-handed,” Tereker Bremark replied coldly, his sharp gaze piercing Padmé like needles.

“You mentioned diplomatic means, Senator Rossinu,” Bana Brim’s voice was as sweet as ever, yet sharp, “However, the Separatists did not choose any diplomatic means at the time, and regardless of whether Senator Amidala and the Jedi were involved in espionage, they should have the right to a fair trial within the Republic’s or the Separatist’s judicial system.”

But Count Dooku arbitrarily decided to hand them over to the Geonosians for a bloody and cruel gladiatorial execution. Perhaps our understanding of 'diplomatic means' is fundamentally different?

As the argument grew increasingly heated, a dark-skinned separatist senator, Toni Ames from Desix, gently raised her hand and pressed her palm flat but firmly onto the smooth stone tabletop.

The action wasn't intense, yet it strangely attracted everyone's attention.

“I think, ladies and gentlemen,” Tawney Ames’ voice was not loud, but carried a calm strength, “Senator Amidala has just made it very clear that both sides made mistakes in a series of decisions made before the outbreak of the conflict, leading to open hostility. Can we put aside our childish accusations and look to the future? Senator Amidala, please continue, what are the specific conditions for the Republic?”

Padmé struggled to suppress the deafening noise and the fear of death from the Geonosis Colosseum.

She could sense a faint, restrained satisfaction spreading across the Republic delegation's side due to Senator Brim's reasoned and well-founded rebuttal.

Her eyes met Mina's briefly, and Mina's eyes held a hint of encouragement.

Padmé nodded slightly.

She took another deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the tension, anticipation, doubt, and hope that filled the hall, and to feel the complex undercurrents surging beneath the calm and focused surface of the crowd.

Then, she exhaled slowly and clearly.

“The Republic’s core demands are as follows,” Padmé’s voice regained its composure, “first, the complete cessation of all hostile military operations between the Republic and the Confederation on the main fronts in the north, west, and south.”

Second, both sides must withdraw 500 parsecs from each side of the current de facto border, creating a demilitarized zone with a total width of 1,000 parsecs. Within this zone, the movement of refugee relief personnel and supplies must enjoy absolute security, free from any form of harassment or obstruction.

After she finished speaking, she turned her gaze to Breha Organa sitting at the table, who nodded gratefully and solemnly.

A low murmur immediately rose from the separatist delegation.

The representatives exchanged glances and whispered among themselves, their opinions seemingly divided.

The volume fluctuated until Mina Bontri finally tapped the table lightly with her knuckles to signal everyone to be quiet.

“Then,” Mina leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharp, “what about those planets whose sovereignty is currently disputed? And what about those planets that are currently besieged?”

“All military sieges must be lifted immediately,” Bell Organa said firmly. “All forces on the disputed planets in an offensive posture must withdraw. Thirdly, the Republic demands that both sides immediately cease issuing any form of capture or retaliatory license to any privateer, pirate gang, bounty hunter, or any private armed force not directly commanded and bound by the regular military establishment of the government.”

Mina subconsciously turned halfway to the side, her gaze falling on Renn behind her.

The authority to issue arrest warrants did indeed fall under the jurisdiction of the Confederate Navy.

Ryan was somewhat taken aback, not expecting the focus to suddenly shift to him.

"Regarding this..." Renn frowned briefly in thought, then answered decisively, "The Confederate Navy fully accepts it."

Mina clapped her hands lightly with satisfaction. "Very good. Based on the three demands put forward by the Republic, the Independent Galaxy Confederation has agreed to them all... Now, it's our turn to put forward the Confederation's conditions."

Padmé's heart involuntarily quickened, and a sense of unease quietly rose within her.

She glanced instinctively at Bell and Bana Brim beside her.

Mina Bontri was her friend, but at this moment, they were on opposite sides of the negotiating table.

The fact that separatists so readily accepted the Republic's demands in their entirety can only mean two things.

Either these demands do not touch upon their core interests.

Either they were certain they could use these concessions to gain the Republic's equal recognition of the Confederation's key demands.

The reporters, like birds of prey that have caught the scent of their prey, greedily captured every word on the negotiating table, their recorders flashing.

The Republic's situation instantly became delicate. If the Republic could not accept the Confederation's conditions as readily as it had, it would be accused of "lacking sincerity" in the public eye.

Padmé and her colleagues considered the acceptability of the Confederacy's potential demands as much as possible, and she believes Mina did the same.

“First,” Tereker Bremark’s voice rang out, her gaze fixed on the Republic’s representatives as if trying to pierce their hearts, “the Republic’s Supreme Speaker and Senate must issue a formal and legally binding official statement that clearly recognizes the Independent Galaxy Confederation as a fully sovereign and legitimate interstellar nation, the foundation of peace.”

“This is the cornerstone of peace, and it is only right and proper.” Bell Organa nodded in agreement without hesitation.

“Second,” Tereker Bremark raised his second finger and continued, “a completely new interstellar alliance must be established, the core purpose of which is to provide a mechanism for mutual protection of political independence and territorial integrity for all nations in the galaxy, regardless of size or strength.”

The subtext of these words is very clear.

Any future conflict must be resolved only after exhausting all diplomatic means before resorting to force.

Senator Bremark deliberately avoided using the phrase "between our two countries," emphasizing instead "all nations." This clearly indicates that the Republic and the Confederation are not the only players in the galaxy; in the outer rings and even uncharted stellar regions, there exist thousands of independent star systems and civilizations.

“This proposal is very strategic,” Senator Dasana pondered. “It requires more detailed debate and institutional design in the Senate of the Republic, but overall it is acceptable and very wise.”

Senator Bremark's lips curled into a satisfied smile.

A new round of whispers and discussions began within the separatist delegation, apparently to finalize their third demand.

Since the Republic put forward three points, the Confederation also followed the unspoken rule of "three points against three points" in order to achieve some balance in the negotiations.

“Thirdly,” Mina Bontri finally spoke again, her tone heavy with a barely perceptible, almost apologetic tone, “this concerns the regrettable ‘grey area’ behavior that existed on both sides during the war.”

Although the highest levels have announced a cessation of hostilities, actual fighting has not completely stopped in some sectors.

Both sides have taken advantage of this nominal ceasefire period to seize a considerable amount of territory from the other's actual control.

These actions contradict the original intent of the ceasefire and damage the foundation of mutual trust.

She looked around at the representatives of the Republic, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

(End of this chapter)