A few days later…

Rey stood nervously before the holoprojector, on the bridge of the Redemption, trying hard not to fidget.

"You can handle this." Ben said, placing an encouraging kiss on her brow. "I'm going to be right here with you, and I'll be right here," he tapped her temple. "When you need me."

She grimaced. "I don't understand why I can't just wear my own clothes, I wouldn't be as nervous in them." She gestured at the fitted black First Order uniform he'd insisted she wear. "This is more uncomfortable than a wet flightsuit. How do you wear this stuff all the time?"

"I told you, they wont believe you're really a military commander if you don't look like it." He ducked his head and looked her in the eyes. "You're gonna do great, just try to relax. You'll only see them one at a time, pretend it's just you and them."

"Ten seconds." Perez warned.

Ben backed away a few steps so as to avoid interfering with the transmission.

Perez counted down to one then nodded at her to let her know she was being broadcasted.

"Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen, and nonbinary beings. Thank you all for agreeing to meet with me today." She clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking. "The reason for this conference is to discuss the formation of a new system of government that we can all agree upon and prosper from."

'Don't forget to breathe.' Ben whispered into her mind.

"You've all had a month to consider the First Order's proposal and I'm sure you have plenty of questions and suggestions. I would like to respond to those, so please press your call button and I'll respond as best I can."

'Doing great!' Ben thought encouragingly.

The first speaker, a representative from Sulist, appeared as a holoprojection in front of her.

"Thank you, Supreme Leader," He began formally. "The leadership of the Sulist system has examined the First Order Proposal very carefully. Our main concern is this proposed Federation Congress." He grew even stiffer. "Do you honestly believe that densely populated systems, like ours, should have the same amount of representatives as less populated systems? How can our interests be adequately represented by the same number of people as is granted to a system one tenth our size?"

"That is a fair question, sir, and I am glad you asked it." She looked at Ben through the Sulistian's holoprojection.

'Because every member of the federation is equally important to it's success.' He prompted.

"By insuring that every member system has an equal voice in this federation, we insure not just the Federation's success but the success of those member systems." She took a deep breath. "Think of it like a body… it can be argued that the brain is the most important part of the body and so should be given extra consideration… but what good is a brain without nerves to carry it's signals throughout the body? And what good are nerves without muscles to perform the actions requested? And what good are muscles without bones to stabilize them? All member systems, large and small, are necessary and important to the success of the Federation. They will be granted equal representation reguardless of how densely populated they are."

'Amazing answer! Keep this up and you'll have them climbing all over each other to join up immediately.' Ben's voice sounded in her head.

"So, you're saying that a planet like Kessel is equally as important as a planet like Coruscant?" The Sulistian said argumentatively.

'Without Kessel there is no Bacta!' Ben prompted.

"Coruscant has long been a center of government power, it has a storied history and a huge population, that is all true." She listened to Ben list off the more important aspects of Kessel as she spoke. "Kessel is mostly populated by miners, prisoners, guards and spice runners. That is also all true." She relaxed slightly and moved her hands to her hips. "But consider this, the vast majority of the spice mined on Kessel is refined to make a number of very important medical products, including Bacta." Her voice raised as if in sermon. "The prisoners held on Kessel account for most of the worst criminals in the galaxy, aren't those guards doing us all a huge service by keeping them there?"

She began to speak with real passion. "And without those miners, how would we be able to gather the spice that gets refine into the Bacta that saves countless lives each and every day?" She squinted at the holo. "How many people in the galaxy have benefitted from the existence and industry of Kessel? Do you honestly believe, sir, that Kessel deserves less of a voice in government because it is less densely populated than Coruscant?"

"Well… uhh… that's just… uhm…" the being stammered then cleared his throat. "I have no more questions." He disappeared.

A scaley skinned Arutian appeared before her.

"Good afternoon, Supreme Leader." It said in the whispery hiss voice of it's species. "We Aru have read your proposal." It's lips pulled back, revealing a mouthfull of needle sharp teeth. "We wonder, what is in it for us? We do not need your trades."

"The Federation is about more than trade, it is an alliance, a partnership if you will." She said and thought toward Ben, 'Help!'

'Aru has been in a state of civil unrest for centuries.' He prompted, flipping through pages on his datapad.

"It is my understanding that Aru as a history of unrest. If Aru were to join the Federation the Arutian people would be able to request military assistance to finally bring a lasting peace to their homeworld and the Federation will even help them to rebuild and repair their society from the ravages of these past centuries of war." She answered with feeling.

"We will consider your proposal further." The Lizard creature assured her and disappeared.

On and on it went, question after question, species after species, concern after concern. Ben, used his datapad frequently to fill her head full of needed information so that she came off as informed, confident, and intelligent. The two of them working together won over many skeptics.

After the conference ended Poe called, "You were amazing!" He said, glowing with pride. "I didn't know you knew so much about so many places!"

"I don't," She beamed. "If not for Ben I'd have been completely lost! He's the amazing one!" Ben stepped up next to her and waved to Poe. Rey hugged him around the waist. "He fed me all the answers! I swear it!"

"Well, you both did an amazing job, then." Poe said with a broad smile.