Tang Xiao! You betrayed me! Count Dooku's furious roar echoed through the communications room.
In the holographic projection, Count Dooku, his hair and beard gray and clad in an expensive velvet cloak, remained as imposing as ever. But the anger on his face could no longer be restrained. Even his usual composure and elegance had vanished without a trace.
Betrayal! Yes, this was betrayal!
"What I don't quite understand is, how did I betray you, Count Dooku?" Tang Xiao looked calmly at the lion-like old man before him.
"You actually made peace with Palpatine behind my back! If that isn't betrayal, what is?!" Count Dooku roared.
That was right. Regarding the Dawn Accord, Palpatine's side naturally publicized and touted it as the Duchy of Dawn's surrender. On the Confederacy of Independent Systems' side, however, it was merely that the Duchy of Dawn had bypassed the Confederacy of Independent Systems and made peace with the Galactic Republic on its own.
Tang Xiao sighed and said helplessly, "Dawn Star Planet has reached its limit... During the Galactic Republic's two-pronged offensives, they committed more than a thousand capital ships. Being able to repel them was already a miracle. Their warships even bombarded Dawn Star Planet."
"That is not a reason for your betrayal!" Count Dooku snapped. "Our fleet is also resisting the Galactic Republic's main force at Saleucami Planet! Your betrayal may very well lead to defeat on the Saleucami Planet battlefield!"
"I have done everything I could, Count Dooku," Tang Xiao said. "But if we did not seize this opportunity born of a miraculous victory, Dawn Star Planet would have faced utter destruction next."
"Do you think Palpatine will spare you just because you have betrayed us?!" Count Dooku said. "There is no room for another person beneath his throne of power!