Being promoted to be part of the new triumvirate of the First Order should have been something exciting. It should have been the highlight of a career for a petty officer with no illustrious background to speak of. But for the past seven to eight months, Captain Peafound himself more often than not being the third wheel in the acrimonious relationship between the Supreme Leader and General Hux. In fact, Peavey was actually convinced he was really there to prevent the two from outright killing each other. It almost felt like a dream to witness them having a peaceful, almost civil discussion first thing in the morning.

"More and more Republican planets are offering to submit to us," Hux held out a couple of holopad containing the treaty offers the First Order had received since yesterday. "I believe it'll be wise for us to accept their offers."

Ren picked up one of the holopads and swiped his finger across the screen. The offers came from planets already sympathetic to the fallen Empire in the first place, including prominent ones like Mandalore and Arkanis. Places that had waiting for the longest time to rush forward and embrace the Order openly.

He handed them back to Hux, who had been looking on expectantly. "Tell them that we will consider, but the offer shall be made by us. On our terms, not theirs. But... there is a particular offer..." The Supreme Leader appeared to hesitate before he named the planet. "Chandrila."

Hux's reaction was a smug smile. "People are fickle, Ren. And in politics, even more so. My mole assures me that support for the Order in the Chandrila senate is all but confirmed."

Ren met his words with silence. Peavey knew he was mulling over what Hux had just said. It sounded too good to be true. Chandrila was one of the prime seats of the New Republic. Their politicians might be divided over how they perceived the efficacy of the Republic with cynicism over the years, but if anything, they were known to be fervently against the Empire and anything resembling it. The First Order would have been its new natural enemy.

But Ren eventually spoke, and his words took his two deputies by surprise. "I will go down to the planet to assess the situation myself. Have your men prepare my ship."

Both Hux and Peavey almost leapt out of their seats upon hearing it. Hux in particular was near-seething as he demanded, "Are you doubting my informants, Ren?"

Ren merely looked askance at him, a slight frown marring his stony face. "Why, General? Should there be reasons for me to doubt your men?" He leaned back in his chair, eyeing Hux carefully. "We are all familiar with Chandrila's reputation. To suddenly have them offer us a peace alliance... It's a very curious thing. But if the Senate is already in favour of us as you've just told me, General, then I don't see any issue if I were to go there."

"...I'll inform my men in Chandrila to prepare for your arrival," Hux muttered, settling back into his seat and pulling his holopad towards him.

"No, don't bother. Keep my visit confidential. I don't need a large number of men, either. Around five will do. This is a diplomatic visit, not a siege."

Peavey had been quietly observing the exchange, but suddenly Ren turned to him and said, "You have something on your mind, Captain."

He winced. Was his disapproval too evident? He had been been overhearing things from the Stormtroopers for quite some time. It usually didn't bother him. But somehow today, Ren's announcement of his decision brought those things back to mind.

Ren was still waiting for a response. Peavey shakily clearly his throat and steeled himself to address the Supreme Leader. "It has come to my attention that your... frequent absence is starting to cause discord amongst our men."

"I don't recall the former Supreme Leader being more present than I am with them currently."

"No, but these men have seen you join them on the battlefield. It seems that they expect your participation to continue."

"And?"

"The Resistance." Peavey suddenly became more conscious of the words he would speak next. "Some of our men are questioning your lack of action against them, even though we've encountered them a couple of times since Crait. Also..." He peeked at Hux furtively, but the general pretended to not notice the conversation playing out as he busied himself with his holopad. "There is a rumour going around that you are planning to replace them with clones. I was wondering...might it not be better for you to address our men, before their faith in your Order dwindles any further?"

Peavey expected the Supreme Leader to scoff at these revelations. After all, Ren had a valid point. Snoke was even more detached from the First Order military than him. And in his capacity as Supreme Leader, Ren was under no obligation to listen to these complaints. The Stormtroopers and the military command existed for the First Order. This was their raison d'être, and everyone knew it.

To his surprise, the first thing that Ren said in response was, "Captain, I understand."

Peavey dared to raise his head, but only to see that Ren actually looked troubled. Even when he answered Peavey, his voice carried a faint trace of regret that the matter transpired the way it did.

The Supreme Leader continued, "But I also ask that you and your men understand the situation. The First Order is no longer an outlier regime. The Republic is dead, and we have taken its place. If we hope for the Order to bring stability to the systems, then we must not make the same mistakes as the Empire."

"And the future of our troops?" At some point Hux had tuned himself into discussion, or perhaps it was the only point he wished to press Ren on. Peavey suspected it was the latter. "I recall you considering the use of clones in the past, when you doubted my men."

Ren inhaled sharply at the interjected, but when he replied, it was quiet and measured. "I have requested my Acquisitor Knights to no longer induct children into your military programme. There will be adjustments, and I will let you know when the time comes."

"You will let us know?" Hux nearly shrieked. His hands slammed down on the meeting table, and he used it to push himself out of his seat. He glared at Ren, fuming. "You cut off our supply of men, and you didn't even inform us! I have been here in the Order long before you. I oversaw the formation of our stormtroopers, I trained them. I brought the Order to its hei - urkkk!"

The venerable general never got round to finishing his words, because he had to redirect his energy to struggle against being choked by the Force. Once Hux looked like he would quieten down, Ren released the hold. Hux continued to glower at him even as he furiously rubbed his sore neck.

"I don't like to repeat myself, General. But I will say it one more time for you." Ren had modulated his voice to remain soft but in a way that reverberated around the room. Both Hux and Peavey shivered as goosebumps crept up their back. "The First Order is no longer a massive military unit for you to play with. We must prepare to govern, General. I had thought you of all people would be intelligent enough to grasp this."

"Forgive me, Supreme Leader," Hux hissed out an apology that had zero possibility of being sincere.

Or being heard, for that matter. Ren had moved on to the next item of their agenda: a handling of the First Order's accounts. He pointedly ignored Hux as he directed his questions and requests to Peavey. It appeared that Ren wanted a full audit in order to trace the sources of their finances. It was also to decide whether it would be worth it to continue repairing the Supremacy, or it might be cheaper to do away with it and build a new dreadnought altogether.

Throughout the entire exchange, Peavey could feel Hux glaring at both of them with a deep-seated hatred. It wasn't the first time he had been slighted by the Supreme Leader, but definitely the first in a very long while since he was Force-choked. In that moment, Peavey wondered if he shouldn't start worrying about Hux more seriously now. After all, Hux was raised and trained to kill while making murder look like an accident; how else did he depose his own father? It was an open secret within the corridors of the First Order, and many - including Peavey - knew to not inquire any further, in case the general caught wind of it.

A message beeped as it came onto their holopads: the Supreme Leader's command shuttle was ready. Ren stood to leave without another glance to Hux, but nodded his head in acknowledgment of Peavey. The two military officers stood to see him out wordlessly. It was only after Ren had fully left the space, and the doors long closed behind him that Peavey could hear Hux exhale loudly - and with much frustration.

"How irksome," Hux might have intended to mutter it but the words rang out clear as day. "Absolutely nothing like a Supreme Leader."

Peavey sighed inwardly as he reached to pick up the holopads and datapads. "You mean like Snoke?"

Hux sneered back. "I take it you prefer Ren's leadership, captain, seeing that you're where you are today thanks to him."

Peavey wished he could pummel the younger man in the face. Maybe break his nose. The Supreme Leader might have done better if the Force Choke had damaged Hux's vocal cords. That would be better for everyone.

It didn't look like Hux was backing down from a challenge so Peavey replied, "Yes, but not for that reason alone. Under Ren, there is less fear amongst the top brass. I much prefer that. We have more autonomy."

Hux snorted. "Which is why he cannot command respect. And do you really think we have more autonomy when the Supreme Leader is this intrusive?" By now Hux was positively railing, letting out all the thoughts he was forced to hold back from articulating in Ren's presence. Peavey had to lean back slightly in case some stray spittle flew in his direction. "He should have more faith in us, Captain. But instead, what did he do? Put an end to our soldiers without telling us."

At the mention of their men, Peavey's face became clouded. Hux could see doubt settling back in his eyes.

He patiently waited until Peavey finally admitted, "General, I didn't want to believe about the possibility of the clone replacement. But after Ren told us about the Acquisitors..." He shook his head. "I am not too sure. The strength of our men is precisely because they are trained from birth."

Hux hesitated slightly before he said, "Captain, I wonder if... No, I shouldn't say it."

"Say what?"

"No, it's treasonous. If it comes to be known by the Supreme Leader then -"

"Just tell me, General," Peavey resisted the urge to sigh. Again. Why did he have to work with such exasperating, overly dramatic figures?

"Look at this, Captain." Hux pulled out his holopad and loaded something to be projected from the screen. "Some of our technicians came across this footage while repairing the Supremacy. I... It's hard to believe... That we've been lied to all this time..."

Peavey peered closer at the footage playing out in front of him. He recognized the throne room, he saw Snoke... And Snoke sliced in half. His blue eyes widened when he saw the blade flying towards Ren, caught mid-air by that scavenger girl... And the massacre of the Praetorian Guards. The girl struggled but Ren mercilessly took down two, three, four...

"It wasn't just the girl," Hux interjected quietly. "She had help from Ren. The Resistance had help from Ren."

Peavey shook his head in disbelief, but it was no longer possible to deny the truth. "Have you shown this to anyone?"

"Of course not. Do you want me to get killed, Captain?" An obvious lie, and some of the tapes were already being transmitted out, but Peavey didn't have to know any of that.

Hux watched on curiously as Peavey impatiently checked into his commlink. Once his officers were on the line, he demanded, "Has the command shuttle left?"

"The Supreme Leader's? Yes. But..."

"But?"

"The Stormtroopers who were supposed to escort him. They've been ordered out of his ship. The Supreme Leader wishes to fly alone."

"Fly alone?" Peavey echoed, glancing at Hux to make sure the general too was catching on to their conversation. Hux's face darkened. Peavey took it as his cue. "Everyone to assemble on deck. Troopers, officers, everyone. Now."

Hux of course heard everything, and he could imagine why Peavey did what he did. But better to feign ignorance and play along, anyway.

He made sure to exaggerate his frown before he asked, "Captain, what are you planning to do?"

Peavey looked at him pointedly. "General, with your permission, I'd like to show those holotapes to our men. The Chandrila Senate may be in favour of us, but..."

"There is no guarantee Ren is heading there to meet them," Hux finished for him. He pretended to consider Peavey's request for a brief moment, before he finally said, "Very well, Captain. You may proceed. Our men need to know that Ren is selling the Order out to the enemy."

Up to this point, everything was as Hux had planned. What he did not expect, however, was for Peavey to stamp his foot to stand at attention and salute him.

And uttered the words he longed to hear: "Long live the Supreme Leader."

Hux beamed.