Chapter 5

Competition, the essential component to determine the most wealthy, the most powerful and the most resilient. Everyone below the most powerful are the most envious, some wanted the same power, some wanted more power and others hate the feeling of being belittled. Republic politics run under that mantra and without it, their is no order, no hierarchy and no government. Power struggles are inevitable, but the most important aspect of maintaining that power, is to have adversaries with unquestionable loyalty towards your cause. But even the most loyal, can plot on your demise if crossed.

Presidential Apartment 22, Corellia.

"Get me another drink, D2T8." The asteemed Chancellor Valorum asked the astromech droid.

"Enough with the drinks! We have business to attend to." Talus Manmara, President Of The Core Faction said. Senator Manmara is widely known throughout the galaxy as the most influential aristocrat in the Galactic Republic. Most Senators don't have much leeway in decision making, unless they had the same power Manmara had. Not even the Rim Faction could compare to the amount of influence Manmara had on Republic politics and his wealth. He has held the seat of President for almost a decade, without any sort of threat towards his influence, some say he's corrupt, others claim he's as gentle as a Jedi youngling.

"Ah, don't tell me" Valorum replied, rolling his eyes; "Is this about that Carmoda boy?"

"Of course it is, that bastard is a traitor to our cause." Manmara said.

"Why should we care? We're the ones that gave him his notoriety." Valorum replied, taking another sip of his wine.

"Finis don't be so damn dense!" The Core Faction President said in anger; "A smear campaign from a former Core Faction member is a major a blow to our reputation!"

"Hmhm." Valorum said casually as he continues to indulge in his wine. Talus smacked the wine out of his hand, breaking the glass in the process. "What the hell?!"

"I need you to focus Finis! If Carmoda manages to get support from the general public then our whole organization will crumble before our eyes." Talus explained.

Valorum signed; "Look, Senator Antilles is still leading in the polls, The Rim Faction barely has any support from the general public and Carmoda created his own Faction without a team or any financial backing, no Candidate in history has ever been successful without the backing of the Rim or Core Faction."

President Manmara stood up and started pacing in frustration; "No...this is different." Talus walks toward the glass window and gazes at the industrial landscape in front of him. "Senator Carmoda wasn't the most popular member of our Faction but a lot of politicians respect him and in turn might support his 'Seperatist' Faction. It's easy to sway the general public...but political support is a whole different type of power."

"What are you trying to say?" Finis asked in curiousity.

"If his campaign gains any credibility or support from within the Republic and if our secrets we're to be revealed...everything that we worked for will go down in flames, we might even end up in prison." Talus explained.

"Prison? I wasn't the one that rigged my second term in office." Valorum replied in a cocky tone. Talus rushed over and grabbed Valorum by his neck, looking directly at him with his piercing eyes. "And who's going to find out?" he said in a quiet tone.

Struggling to breathe, Finis started slapping Manmara's arm to make him stop. After a couple minutes, Manmara released his grip, causing Valorum to fall before him as gasps for air. "We need him gone, we can't have whistleblowers ruining our organization." President Manmara stated.

Valorum cleared his throat; "Killing him won't work if that's what you're thinking." He said as he got up from the fur carpet.

Manmara scoffed; "It's an option." Manmara turned toward his colleague; "This discussion shall only remain between us, understand?"

Finis signed; "Understood."

"Now leave, I need time to reflect." Manmara commanded. Finis Valorum got up and dusted off his robes as he made his way towards the door, Two Republic guards follow him from behind as they both exit the apartment, leaving The Core Faction President by himself.

Coruscant

"I don't know what to do!"

Bail Antilles paced back and forth in his apartment in frustration as the hologram of Heigo Damask II stands before him. "Something like this can ruin our campaign! If he manages to expose the Core Faction-"

"And what if he does? How does that effect us?" Plagueis questioned.

"How does that effect us?!" Antilles repeated, glaring at Damask as if he insulted him. "If The Core Faction's reputation is destroyed then my reputation is also destroyed! Which also means their is no chance of me winning the election."

"The Core Faction is useless to us, if Carmoda decides to destroy them, then so be it." Plagueis replied coldly.

"What about me?! What about the Election?!" Antilles replied.

"I'm the one who made sure you succeeded in the polls while The Core Faction gave up on you when Palpatine was alive." Plagueis explained; "If it weren't for my support, they would've left you in the dust to rot."

"Well Carmoda is going to undo that with his campaign!" Antilles exclaimed.

"Not if you disassociate yourself from the Core Faction." Plagueis said.

Antilles stopped for a second and looked at Damask with a confused look; "What you mean?"

"If Carmoda plans to tear down the Core Faction with his campaign, his first target will be his opponent." Plagueis said; "If he manages to convince the public to turn against you, the Core Faction will respond by using you as a sacrifice to save themselves from destruction."

"How does betraying them help my situation then?" Antilles asked in a annoyed tone.

"If you announce your departure from The Core Faction before Carmoda's next rally, It will leave Carmoda without a target and The Core Faction without a candidate." Plagueis explained. "If you play an independent role against Carmoda, he will be forced to change his narrative and that move will help your campaign succeed."

Antilles stood for a second, pondering on his decision. He knew he owed his loyalty to the Core Faction for making him a respected senator among politicians in the Republic. Without them, he would've been seen as a joke; A privileged royal who wanted to become a politician, with zero support from his own people. He also knew the dark side of The Core Faction and their contributions to the Crime Underworld of Coruscant. He knew that if it was exposed, that he'll go down with them. He looked up at the tall slender Muun and said; "Okay, I'll do it."

"It must be done tomorrow, we cannot waste a second and let the Election slip from our hands." Plagueis stated.

"Wait!" Antilles said as Plagueis was about to shut off the holocall. "What if the Core Faction targets me?!"

"If they are smart enough, they won't, it would only increase the flames that lay beneath them at this moment..."