I do not own any of this.

Mace Windu in a moment of contemplation.

DON'T ASK….. DON'T TELL…..

I need some time in the training Salle, and a stiff drink, in that order. Today I allowed the breach of one of the Inner Council's unacknowledged rules. This is war. Risks must be taken, sacrifices made. Have lost more than I gained in this negotiation? I made the practical choice.

Neeja's reasoning had been flawless. Positive outcomes for all the parties involved on this side of the conflict. I grimaced at the memory. I had let my eyes scan deliberately through the proposed list of personnel and equipment in front of me. The war was spreading on so many fronts….. There were so many trouble spots and so few Jedi…..

I let the force flow, to guide me how best to deploy our scarce resources. I hadn't the gift of foresight, but I let the shifting of the force guide me as I perused the list.….

Then I saw IT and I fixed Master Halcyon with my best glare. Several possibilities that made my blood boil had raced through my mind. I took a calming breath to release some of my righteous anger to the force. I queried sharply 'Why Skywalker?' I intended to put Neeja off the idea with my tone. I should have known the Corellian Jedi better.

Master Halcyon simply listed his reasons. It was an opportunity for Padawan Skywalker to have his own command in a supervised situation and thereby complete his task-list for Knighthood. Obi-Wan was concerned enough to mention it to Neeja that Anakin's training was suffering because of their current assignments. I had to agree Anakin would be an asset in the Praesitlyn Campaign, where areal confrontation was quite likely. And, for all Kenobi's efforts, Skywalker had actively refused to blossom as a diplomat, making him especially unsuited to carry out any of the other missions that were likely to come up now. Master Halcyon was right in his assessment. This was the most efficient and beneficial deployment of the available personnel.

There had been no hint of deceit as he spoke, no gloating anticipation. He had genuinely selected Anakin for military and professional reasons.

My problem was that unspoken rule.

Fraternization among the secretly married was to be strictly avoided. We had evidence that 300 among our ranks (including some of our strongest warriors) fell into this category, with 200 more suspected of similarly inappropriate informal attachments. Discovery of each other would encourage a unionized movement demanding a review of the Code's interpretation, and possibly another Schism.

Assigning Halcyon and Skywalker together was a risk, but I couldn't accuse my colleague of what I was thinking without conceding awareness of their marriages.

I had done what I could instead. I approved Master Halcyon's request with a stern warning that the Council would be watching. Neeja reacted with the briefest flash of concern for his own situation. Even I would have misinterpreted his feelings if I had not known the truth.

After Praesitlyn I will know whether my warning was adequate deterrent.