Tang Xiao returned to his office and connected to Gali-Ulan's communication.
Originally, following Yarno's suggestion, he should have changed into more formal attire. But Tang Xiao decisively rejected the suggestion, telling Yarno that there needed to be a very clear hierarchy between himself and Rendili.
The communication connected, and Gali-Ulan's image appeared in the holographic projection. However, the projection was heavily distorted, the image flickering constantly. Clearly, there was some source of interference on Rendili's end.
Tang Xiao also noticed that Gali-Ulan was no longer wearing his usual ornate but impractical clothes, only a work uniform. It seemed he had been extremely busy recently as well.
"My apologies, Governor. I'm contacting you through encrypted communications. The Republic Intelligence Department has set up numerous signal interception devices around our system, attempting to eavesdrop on every hyperspace transmission sent from here," Gali-Ulan said apologetically.
"The Galactic Republic does not know nothing. Since Palpatine single-handedly created your current predicament, your response naturally falls within his calculations as well." Tang Xiao repeated what Yarno had just told him.
"You mean Palpatine did this deliberately?"
"I already told your father, Bangjila-Ulan, the same thing. By now, I believe you understand that the question facing Rendili StarDrive is not whether to raise the banner of rebellion, but how to safely leave the Galactic Republic," Tang Xiao said.
Gali-Ulan sighed. "I just can't understand it. Why did it have to be us who died? Why not Corellia Engineering Company or Kuat Drive Yards?"
"The rise and fall of Corellia Engineering Company concerns the entire Corellian system, the five habitable planets within it, and the vast, prosperous Corellian Corridor. Do you think Palpatine would dare touch them?" Tang Xiao asked coldly. "As for Kuat, they began making their political investments long ago, and their flashy warship designs appeal