Chapter 466
Chapter 467 Bargains and Threats
Rainer’s face stayed flat and unreadable.
#5 Pedne
“Ms. Kaelin, don’t twist my words. This third-tier planet belongs to Federation territory. We will not back down p>
“Your territory? Ha! You’ve got some nerve p>
Before Lyra could type a single word, Leif cut in with a sneer.
At that, Rainer shot him a sharp, icy glare.
“Winners write history. What right do you have to speak?
“I’m only letting you sit here out of respect for Ms. Kaelin. You’re nothing but clowns who hide in the shadows and play dirty tricks p>
Leif didn’t grow angry at all.
“Oh, sure. We’re just clowns.
“I wonder which ingrates first came to our land under the pretense of helping us develop it.
“We welcomed them with kindness and gratitude, and those monsters dropped all pretense. They slaughtered our people without mercy.
“After seizing our home by force, you dare stand there and call this your territory?
“Commander Knox, have you no shame p>
Rainer’s expression darkened under the scathing accusation.
As Lyra listened, memories from her old life on Earth drifted through her mind.
She typed, “Commander Knox, I have to side with them on this.
“You seized this land and killed its original inhabitants. It is only natural they would rise revenge once they grew strong enough.
up
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“You planted evil seeds, and now you must reap what you sowed p>
Leif glanced toward her, faintly satisfied.
“Ms. Kaelin is fair-minded p>
Lyra nodded.
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“The Federation acted unjustly first. What if we unite against them, take back the whole Federation, and make them taste what it’s like to lose their homes and become refugees?
Leif’s eyes lit up. “Sounds good!
& Pearle
“The Federation is guilty of unspeakable crimes. They deserve to be exiled to some diant barren planet.
“We only want our original homeland. The rest-Core Prime, all second-tier worlds-o may claim for yourself, Ms. Kaelin p>
Rainer’s face turned even grimmer as he listened to them plotting how to split Federation lands right in front of him.
“Ms. Kaelin, you said you wouldn’t become the Federation’s enemy p>
Lyra smiled softly.
“Commander Knox, circumstances change. For one thing, your side was in the wrong from the start. For another, you rejected my earlier proposal, didn’t you?
“So I have no choice but to set aside my promise and find another way to secure my safety.
Rainer pressed his lips tight, his chest rising and falling heavily with suppressed anger.
Lyra was threatening him.
If he refused her demands, she would ally with the rebels and turn against the Federation.
She was a newly risen faction. On paper, she had almost nothing-no supply lines, no civilian population, barely any heavy weapons.
Even the Sentinels following her were pitifully few by either side’s standards.
Yet she earned her seat at this table for one simple reason-her unbeatable psychic shield.
No one dared provoke her. The smarter play was to win her over.
Whoever gained her support would hold the upper hand and nearly guarantee victory.
Rainer forced his rage down and calmed himself.
“Ms. Kaelin, you said you didn’t wish to see more bloodshed.
“With the rebels’ methods, countless innocent lives will be wiped out.
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“You have a kind heart. Can you truly bear to hear endless cries of suffering p>
ra smiled inwardly, knowing she had hooked him.
On the surface, she put on a look of hesitation.
“Well p>
Seeing her waver, Leif hurried to speak. “Don’t listen to his nonsense, Ms. Kaelin,
“They’ve spent years destroying our reputation exactly like this.
“You’ve spent time with Reid and the others. You know our beliefs and how we operate.
“We would never slaughter innocent people unless cornered p>
“You don’t slaughter innocents?” Rainer’s voice turned cold. “Then who is responsible for the devastation on Core Prime p>
Leif shot back unflinchingly, “Don’t take that accusatory tone with me.
“The lives we took are not even a tenth of what your Federation killed back then.
“Across two planets and the smaller worlds around them, how many died because of you? From the highest ranks to ordinary civilians, it must have been hundreds of thousands p>
Lyra fell silent again, quietly letting them argue
it out.
“Why grow so heated?” Draven walked over, carrying drinks, smiling as he tried to calm them. “Ms. Kaelin invited you two here to negotiate a peaceful path forward p>
The two men paused, still glaring daggers at one another.
Leif went on, “Ms. Kaelin, I give you my word. If you join us and defeat the Federation, Core Prime and the second-tier planets-the richest, most habitable worlds-will all be yours. We will only keep our third- and fourth-tier planets p>
Rainer’s face hardened. “Ms. Kaelin, these rebels are devious and ruthless. They will stop at nothing to get what they want. Don’t let them fool you p>
Leif scoffed, “Who is the one speaking with a forked tongue?
“Ms. Kaelin was forced to go to Core Prime. And your side kept pushing her, threatening her again and again. What makes the Federation any better p>
Lyra still said nothing, sipping her drink calmly.
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Shaper 467 Bargains and Threats
She would hold her tongue until the conversation reached what she truly wanted.
Riner could not deny the truth of Leif’s accusation.
“Ms. Kaelin, those were only a handful of bad actors. I swear the Federation’s future leadership will never repeat those mistakes. I will personally oversee it p>
Leif cut in, “That still means Ms. Kaelin would have to bow beneath your rule.
“I’ll say it again. If she joins us, those two prime worlds are hers. Equal standing. Isn’t at far better p>
Lyra set her cup down.
“That does sound tempting p>
Now that she had the power, why would she submit to living by rules written by others on Core Prime?
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Bere Sentinels Obey Only Her
Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.