The news came over the HoloNet.

News on the HoloNet had a tendency to illicit a sarcastic laugh or comment from the members of the Ghost crew. Not this time. There was only silence. Even the Empire had managed to outdo itself.

"They must want us to win."

Finally the sarcastic comment, but it wasn't said ironically. The words were soft, echoing the knowledge that the latest Imperial law would be causing a lot of pain around the galaxy.

Hera felt the cold shiver run up her spine.

It's not because you're affected by it... she told herself. You care because it's cruel.

She cared about all the injustices the Empire caused, but this one had hit so close to home that it felt so much more raw.

The others began filing out of the room, glancing at Hera, as though wanting to say something supportive. No one did. It just didn't feel like the right time.

Hera mulled over the news in her head again.

The Senate has passed a new law making inter-species relationships illegal.

The Empire had been marching along to the cadence of human superiority since its inception, but this was something completely different. And in true tyrannical style, the Empire hadn't revealed any notion that such a law was even being considered. Hadn't allowed for the populace to contact their senators…. Which meant that the Senate probably hadn't voted on it. Bail Organa would have fought it. Mon Mothma would have fought it. They would have been vocal.

Hera frowned.

The news report had been vague. No mentions of time tables or when this would go into effect. Or what the punishment would be to breaking this law. No word on if divorces would be implemented, or if a relationship happening at any time in the past was enough to be guilty.

No, the report was full of language meant to enforce opinions, not give facts. Compassionate, they called this law. A protection for all peoples of the galaxy. A way to celebrate differences.

Just opinions. Stated over and over again, elegantly worded to distract the audience from developing an opinion on their own. Enough to ignore the implications of what steps a law like this was taking.

It was enough to make Hera sick.

Hera's frown slowly turned upwards.

The report had been vague about details. Which meant there was only one way to find out if people were being rounded up for breaking this law, and where they would be imprisoned. And that would be to break the law. Publicly. As far as missions went, this one would be fun.

She went to go find Kanan and tell him her plan.

-SWR-

Eli Vanto tried not to read the news.

Most of the squabbling that made up the news were over things that didn't affect him anyways. There were too many worlds, with too many people, with too many conflicts to keep track of them all. And besides, most of the times he found himself in the midst of a conflict, he was creating the news, not reading it.

Though if he'd kept up with the news, he probably wouldn't have walked into so obvious a trap.

As it was, he stood in the lift, blearily staring at nothing, a hand wrapped around a cup of steaming caf, all but oblivious to the others entering the lift with him.

Mornings were usually like this. Stumbling out of bed, forcing his unwilling mind to go through all the routines necessary to get himself somewhat presentable for a day of work. Depending on if he slept in his own quarters or not, he'd either make a cup of caf with the room's machine, or else – like today – he'd have to stagger down the hall to a break room and wait for the chance to have a cup served to him.

The caf hadn't kicked in yet. He took another cautious sip, mentally cursing himself for asking for it black. It was going to be hot for a while longer.

The doors to the lift opened and Eli glanced up to see what floor they were on. It was his. He took a step forward, and stopped.

The people in front of him hadn't moved.

It's too early for this.

"Excuse me," Eli muttered.

Again, no one made the slightest move.

This was something new. Usually, merely stepping forward triggered other passengers to step out of the way. Saying something definitely would. And now-

The doors were closing.

"This is my-" Eli said, trying to force his way between two of them – his heart squeezing in his chest as he fought his natural inclination to shy away from physical contact. But it was too late. The doors closed again, and Eli could feel the lift begin its decent down.

Eli took a step back, maintaining some distance as he felt his adrenaline kick in, the caf forgotten. He glanced between each of the people who were in the lift with him. Not a single one of them had so much as reacted to Eli's attempt to leave the lift.

Questions bounced around in his head, and momentarily he flirted with the idea of announcing his rank as a way to demand answers but -

The doors opened, and a pair of heavy hands fell upon his shoulders.

"Commander?" one of the officers finally turned to acknowledge him. "If you could come along willingly?"

"Willingly?" Eli asked.

They were in a hanger bay.

An all-but-empty hanger bay. Vacant, except for a lone shuttle parked unusually close to the lift doors.

"Where are we going?" Eli asked. "I have-"

"Orders from Coruscant."

Eli could feel the blood rush to his face. Of all the words that could kick off a bout of anger, the capital world could surely do it.

He loathed every moment he'd ever spent on that rock. Perhaps it had something to do with his upbringing – fiercely proud of his heritage as a family of pioneers settling the far-flung Wild Space worlds. Perhaps it had to do with his anxiety – the noise, the bustle, the constant motion of everything. Or perhaps it was his experiences – hunching his shoulders as insults were whispered in his direction from his peers at the Royal Imperial Academy…

Any order whisking him away to Coruscant was unwelcomed. He could have been getting promoted to an Admiral and it would still be bad news as far as he could see it.

"Orders from Coruscant get delivered like this now?" Eli asked, glancing around his entourage, a touch of twang on his words. "Must be some kind of order."

"Life changing," the other said.

Eli tried to ignore the shiver running up his spine as he boarded the shuttle.