Led by the Sykmites, the group was escorted into the bridge. Their eyes held a mixture of tension and curiosity, as if they were stepping into an entirely new world. The scene on the bridge left these Rebel Alliance visitors utterly awestruck.
On the enormous hard-light display, intricate star maps and streams of data flickered. The silhouettes of the Blood Raven warriors, reflected on the screen, looked especially cold and imposing. The Major and the pilots scanned every corner of the bridge, and when they caught sight of Magnus—standing taller than five meters and almost godlike—their hearts pounded with a mix of shock and fear.
Fortunately, as battle-hardened veterans who had long opposed the Galactic Empire, they quickly composed themselves, at least enough not to reveal their terror. Cassian and the Galen father-daughter duo, meanwhile, appeared relatively calm yet maintained a wary gaze. After all, their friend Ryan had not been brought along, which added an extra layer of unease. They couldn't tell whether this meeting was truly friendly or if some unknown danger lurked beneath the surface.
Chirrut and Baze stood off to the side, clearly unwilling to participate in the negotiations. For these two Temple Guardians, their duty was simply to protect their comrades and ensure the meeting's safety; they preferred to leave diplomatic matters to the professionals. In fact, after spending time together and observing, they had come to realize that aside from that strikingly handsome yet cold and oppressive genetic original—Curze—the actions of the Human Empire remained within acceptable bounds.
"As long as we do our own part," Chirrut murmured quietly to Baze.
Baze nodded, his eyes a mix of vigilance and curiosity.
"Welcome aboard the All-Knowing Mystery."
Magnus's deep, authoritative voice shattered the silence on the bridge. The genetic original slowly swept his gaze over the assembled crowd. His long robe, hanging from his power armor, billowed slightly behind him. Though his tone was calm and even, his towering presence and piercing look still exuded an indescribable aura of pressure.
"I am Magnus, the original of the Children of a Thousand Scars," he announced, his voice resonating like a great bell that struck each heart in turn.
He then gestured with his left hand toward the man standing beside him. "This is Gabriel Angelos, the Captain of the Blood Raven Company."
Gabriel offered a brief nod. Though he said little, his commanding presence was not to be underestimated.
A deep breath escaped the Major as he tried to steady his racing heart and quell his unease. Stepping forward with a mix of respect and resolve, he said, "Thank you for receiving us, Lord Magnus. We represent the Rebel Alliance, and we have come to establish initial diplomatic contact with the Human Empire."
Magnus nodded, a flash of approval in his eyes. His voice remained low, but now carried a touch of warmth: "Your courage and determination are admirable. The Human Empire is willing to cooperate with all forces committed to advancing human prosperity, fairness, and justice."
The atmosphere on the bridge seemed to ease somewhat with Magnus's words.
"Our Rebel Alliance also looks forward to cooperation with the Human Empire," the Major said, his voice laced with a slightly stiff smile as he continued sincerely. He paused, then, glancing toward Gabriel Angelos and the Sykmites present, added, "However, what exactly does your side expect to gain from an alliance?"
The Major was taken aback—he had not anticipated such a direct question from Magnus. He quickly adjusted his composure, striving to remain calm. In order to demonstrate sincerity, he answered frankly, "We—indeed, we lack the military might to stand against the Galactic Empire in a conventional battle. Our Rebel Alliance is but a fraction, a thousandth, of the Empire's size. We have few capital ships and can only engage in guerrilla warfare."
He paused, casting a brief glance toward Magnus's companion Gabriel and the Sykmites, before continuing, "But your side wields forces that can count as ten, even a hundred for one. Therefore, we propose that we work together: first, to weaken the outer grip of the Galactic Empire, and then gradually erode their territory to liberate more oppressed people."
Magnus listened silently, his expression one of thoughtful consideration as he weighed the Major's proposal. After the Major finished speaking, Magnus first expressed tentative agreement. "Hmm, that is a relatively prudent proposal." But soon his tone shifted. Crossing his arms over his chest, a wry smile curved his lips as he said, "According to your plan, the Human Empire wouldn't need the Rebel Alliance at all—we could achieve it on our own. So tell me, what tangible benefit would an alliance with you truly bring? Hmm?"
His tone carried both mockery and challenge, as if ridiculing the Major's naïveté. Then his voice turned sharper, his gaze like a knife as it fixed on the Major: "Are you suggesting we bear the brunt of heavy enemy fire, secure impregnable positions, and then let you go proclaim fairness and justice to the suffering masses? Ha, don't make me laugh."
At that, Magnus's laughter, edged with undisguised sarcasm and cold indifference, followed: "My friend, the Human Empire is not in the business of working for others. What real leverage can you offer?"
For a moment, the Major was at a loss for words, sweat beading along his brow as his mind raced to formulate a suitable reply. The Rebel Alliance had been founded by a group of former Republic senators united against the dictatorial rule of Palpatine. Later members joined simply to oppose the Empire's oppression, without ever considering what "leverage" they might bring—only a shared desire to fight back.
Looking up at Magnus and Gabriel, the Major understood that the genetic original was not joking; he was getting straight to the point—what exactly could the Rebel Alliance offer the Human Empire?
"We…" the Major began hesitantly before his voice gained firmness, "Perhaps we may not have overwhelming military strength, but we possess deep intelligence on the Galactic Empire—especially a robust network of informants and popular support in the outer rim. These assets could aid your operations."
Magnus continued to feign deep thought, though he had anticipated such a reply. His tone turned cold: "Intelligence and popular support? That sounds promising, but they do not constitute sufficient grounds for an alliance on their own. We require tangible benefits, not nebulous promises."
At that moment, Cassian stepped forward, interjecting, "We may not be able to provide extensive military resources, but we can offer you comprehensive internal intelligence on the Galactic Empire—detailing their military deployments, resource distribution, and high-level decision-making. Furthermore, we can assist you in building a support network among the populace in the outer rim, laying the foundation for future governance."
Magnus's gaze swept over Cassian, a flicker of approval crossing his eyes. His tone softened slightly: "That is indeed an interesting proposal. But…" He drew out his words, then said bluntly, "The precondition for cooperation is complete trust and coordination. Are you willing to submit fully to our command and direction?"
A look passed between the Major and Cassian; even the pilots and the Rebel Alliance's special forces exchanged uncertain glances. Magnus's words made it clear that the Human Empire intended to act as the "alpha wolf" in this alliance—a stance that instinctively made the Major, Cassian, and their colleagues feel that the Human Empire was not fundamentally different from the Galactic Empire. If the Human Empire were to dominate the entire galaxy, would the galaxy not continue to suffer under tyrannical oppression? This thought struck them like a dagger.
The Rebel Alliance would never be content to merely serve as allies; they sought to be the dominant force in the war—a fact that left the Major at a loss for how to respond. Yet, Chirrut and Baze, as well as the Galen father-daughter duo, remained largely unmoved. Chirrut's face was calm and deep; he sensed that Magnus—and even the Curze who had raged on the Death Star—were not truly aligned with the dark side. Their power, though formidable, did not stem from evil and destruction. Thus, the Force-sensitive among them believed that Magnus's words were more a test than an outright threat.
Baze, leaning casually against the metal wall of the bridge with his arms folded, wore an expression of lazy indifference and disdain. To him, such diplomatic disputes were far less interesting than a good, hard fight; he had no desire to involve himself in these convoluted discussions and simply observed the situation with detached amusement. The Galen duo, meanwhile, stood aside with cautious, thoughtful expressions. As long as they could secure the protection of the Human Empire and ensure that their family would remain unmolested, they had little reason to object. After all, their intuition told them that even if the Human Empire were not perfect, it was still far superior to the Galactic Empire.
A soft laugh from Magnus broke the oppressive silence on the bridge, as if a gentle breeze had eased the tension. His expression softened as he approached the Major; his immense figure, like a moving mountain, caused the metal floor to tremble with each step. He raised his left hand and lightly rested his index and middle fingers on the Major's shoulder. The gesture, though casual, carried overwhelming authority and pressure. Then he continued with a meaningful smile, "Do not worry. The Human Empire is by no means as brutal and heartless as the Galactic Empire. Although in some aspects we will demonstrate to aliens and heretics what true fear is, for the most part, we only wish for human civilization and our people to thrive under our protection."
His voice, deep and resonant, seemed to soothe the Major and Cassian, easing their inner anxieties. Yet his next words carried an ambiguous depth: "As for your concerns about authoritarian rule—well, that is difficult to explain, because our Human Empire is also led by an Emperor, and he is the father of me and our brother originals."
At these words, the Major and Cassian felt their relief slip away. To them, "Emperor" and "monarch" were nearly indistinguishable—both symbols of absolute power and latent oppression. At that moment, Magnus's eyes suddenly glowed with golden light, like twin burning stars that made it nearly impossible to look directly. Soon, his entire figure began to radiate an uncanny light—a brilliance that, though dazzling, brought with it a sense of warmth and tranquility, as if bathing everyone in gentle sunlight.
Meanwhile, in the minds of the Major, Cassian, Chirrut, and others, a rapid montage of images and memories flashed by—scenes from the founding of the Rebel Alliance and the true nature of society under Imperial rule. They saw countless humans prospering under the Empire's protection, witnessed the rapid pace of technological development and the vibrant cultural fusion, and observed how the Imperial forces repelled invaders and defended their territory. These visions flowed into their hearts like a warm current, dispelling some of their earlier doubts.
Yet intermingled with these comforting images were disturbing fragments—images of the Empire's ruthless suppression of aliens and heretics, its extreme pursuit of order, and its merciless punishment of dissenters. They realized that the Human Empire's rule was far from flawless, and in certain respects, bore shocking similarities to the brutal oppression of the Galactic Empire. What unsettled them further was that Magnus constantly emphasized the word "human," as if the existence of other races held no value.
This, coupled with the name "Human Empire," made many pilots and special forces members—who had fought shoulder to shoulder with Wookiees, Mon Calamari, and Togrutas—feel a deep sense of alienation and resentment.
Yet, as these feelings of discontent and repulsion welled up, unexpected images filled their minds—images of Astartes warriors fighting alongside the Sanheli (elite) forces, of elven soldiers cooperating with elite agents from the Investigation and Supervisory Departments on covert missions, and of dwarven artisans forging and casting weapons by the furnace. These scenes completely dispelled their earlier discomfort.
They realized that the rule of the Human Empire was not solely about oppression and exclusion; in some cases, it had established deep cooperative relationships with non-human races. The valor of the Sanheli, the agility of the elven warriors, and the craftsmanship of the dwarven smiths had all left indelible marks on Imperial history. This made them understand that the governance of the Human Empire was complex and diverse.
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American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
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I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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