"...The troops' morale is high, our forces are battle-ready, and even the captured Titan ships are being repaired and could be deployed. It's not as though we lack the strength to attack," Chairman Maxwell said reflexively, apparently shaken by the president's forceful manner. Then his face darkened, and he nearly slapped himself.
"But a preemptive attack needs a reason and a target, doesn't it? We can't just fight our way all the way to the Celestial Domain," Edward Shona said.
President Niheeta still wore a fanatical, almost excited smile. "A preemptive attack! We strike the Empire hard, then propose peace talks. That is the proper course! That's my opinion. Who's in favor? Who's opposed?"
But even faced with the president's imposing confidence, the room's response remained tepid. Some looked lost, some confused and uncertain, some exchanged glances, while others let their eyes wander.
President Niheeta's confidence no longer seemed quite so firm. His fervor and determination gradually faded, replaced by a kind, humble, professional smile.
In a mild, amiable tone, he explained, "We all understand that, given the Blue Star Commonwealth's current capabilities, defeating the Galactic Empire outright is nearly impossible. Completely ending the Dragon King's tyranny is unrealistic, too. So we need to find a dignified way to bring this to a close."
"Understood. We need to demonstrate our value as an ally," someone said.
The president nodded. "Right, right—ah, no, I mean we need to show our dignity! We have to make the Tirillo understand that humanity cannot be conquered, and that cooperation is their only option from now on. We won the War of Independence once. If we do it again, we can secure peace for generations to come."
He seemed quite confident, and in a way, his words weren't entirely unreasonable.
"Of course... in exchange, we'll