Facing Wilhuff Tarkin's questioning, Dunn Vesex adopted a stance of righteous indignation. "I only want to ensure peace and stability in the Empire's Northern Territory! General Gillard Perine's record has already proven that the Geth can be defeated! If we don't block the Geth in the Northern Territory now, or even wipe them out entirely, what will we do once they rampage through the rest of the Empire!?"
At the mention of Gillard Perine, Wilhuff Tarkin's expression darkened further. In his view, Gillard Perine should have been his man. The fleet initially dispatched to Faida Planet had also been transferred from his command. Yet now, Gillard Perine had sided with Dunn Vesex. That was undoubtedly betrayal! A shameless betrayal!
He snarled, "Do you think the Geth are the Empire's only threat? Count Dooku still has heavy forces stationed on Saleucami Planet! The Separatists are still running rampant everywhere with Raxus Planet as their center! And Dawn Star Planet—do you truly think Dawn Star Planet has surrendered? You, 'Governor,' who threw away three hundred capital ships!"
That crushing defeat was forever Dunn Vesex's most untouchable sore spot. His face twisted as well. "Don't equate me with Onana Kuat's stupidity, Tarkin! And don't forget how your cowardly brother set up Governor Octavian Grant!"
"Shut up! Both of you!" Palpatine growled.
The two hurriedly fell silent, though they continued glaring at each other with fire in their eyes.
"The Geth, having mastered warp travel, could indeed become a grave threat to us. If the Geth were to appear in the Core Worlds, the consequences would be unimaginable! Their appearance on Scipio last time already put us in an extremely passive position! If it happens again, we may lose the support of many families in the Core Worlds! The InterGalactic Banking Clan helped clean