He shook the hand vigorously, could not find the strength to smile at what he assumed was intended as light-heartened humor.

"If others would take into account the welfare of the galaxy before they acted, we might not find ourselves today in deadly peril."

"Perhaps we would not." Gash said, noting the severe tone in the man's voice. An Imperial with a conscience, or an Imperial pretending to have a conscience?

Did it matter.

Gash sat again, motioning to the door. "Go back to Bastion, Aevan Drakiss, and tell Imperial high command that regardless of past transgressions, and whatever those intentions may be, the Republic cannot help but acknowledge that, in this instance, you have taken the moral high ground. That deserves some sort of respect, regardless of why you have done it."