Title: At All Costs
Author: Jesina Dreis
Timeframe: approx. 15 ABY
Characters: Rogues, Wraiths, others (see Dramatis Personae)
Genre: AU, Action, Drama, Angst, Romance (in that order)
Rating: PG-13, probably
Disclaimer: Lucas owns; I don't.
Summary: Wedge is given the opportunity to learn what Hekrig's game is – and with that, why one of his oldest friends has died – and put a stop to it. But to take that chance may cost him his career – and his life.
A/N: This is the fourth story in my Jesina!verse. The first story is A New Path, set during the OT, which you can find on TFN's Jedi Council boards. The second is Bitter Reunion, also at the JC boards and the third is Shades of the Past, found at DownTime's pilot!fic board. You can read this story without reading A New Path but you'll probably struggle if you don't read Bitter Reunion and Shades. You can find the links to these at my livejournal, which is listed as my home page in my profile here. Jesina Dreis is my own creation.
A/N 2: The timeline for these stories, since people were getting confused (me included):
A New Path started about the time of A New Hope, with the Prologue set about 9 months before Yavin and the Epilogue right before Empire Strikes Back.
Bitter Reunion started a couple of months after Starfighters of Adumar, a little more than 13 years after Yavin, and ended a few months before Shades of the Past
Shades of the Past starts approximately 14 years after Yavin, and will cover a time span of several months.
At All Costs begins about a month after the close of Shades of the Past, almost 15 ABY, and will cover a couple months' time.
A/N 3: My plan right now is to update weekly, at first, potentially moving to semiweekly. There are about fourteen chapters complete as of right now.
Dramatis Personae:
Note: I will add characters as they are introduced, if necessary.
Rogue Squadron
General Wedge Antilles - Human male from Corellia
Lead - Colonel Tycho Celchu - Human male from Alderaan
2 - vacant
3 - Lieutenant Ensa'Dura - Twi'lek male from Coruscant
4 - Captain Bror Jace - Human male from Thyferra
5 - Major Wes Janson - Human male from Taanab
6 - Lieutenant Kiel Devan - Shistavenen male from Uvena Prime
7 - Colonel Jesina Dreis - Human female from Alderaan
8 - Captain Myn Donos - Human male from Corellia
9 - Commander Corran Horn - Human male from Corellia
10 - Captain Ooryl Qrygg - Gand male from Gand
11 - Flight Officer Rinaa So - Rodian female from Rodia
12 - Captain Gavin Darklighter - Human male from Tatooine
Wraith Squadron
Commander Garik "Face" Loran - Human male from Pantolomin
Lieutenant Shalla Nelprin - Human female from Ingo
Lieutenant Tyria Sarkin - Human female from Toprawa
Captain Kell Tainer - Human male from Sluis Van
Lieutenant Hohass "Runt" Ekwesh - Thakwaash male from Thakwaa
Lieutenant Dia Passak - Twi'lek female from Ryloth
New Republic Intelligence
General Ada Daliis - Human female from Onderon
Agent Iella Wessiri Antilles - Human female from Corellia
Agent Winter Celchu - Human female from Alderaan
Agent Kirney Slane – Human female from Coruscant
Agent Zan Driix - Human male from Chandrila
Other New Republic Personnel
Admiral Ackbar - Mon Calamari male from Mon Calamari
General Garm Bel Iblis - Human male from Corellia
Captain Dehra Ackrand - Human female from Anaxes
Captain Jeskha - Mon Calamari male from Mon Calamari
Major Iline Jesmin - Human female from Commenor
Major Pash Cracken - Human male from Contruum
Commander Nuko'us - Twi'lek male from Ryloth
Captain Inyri Forge - Human female from Kessell
Imperial Personnel
Admiral Ytach Hekrig - Human male from Carida
Captain Varik Meday - Human male from Thyferra
Kalira Astar - Human female from Alderaan
Prologue
Tycho stood at the back of the briefing room, conscious of Leia Organa Solo to his left and Winter to his right. He listened to Wedge rehash the events at Udaaro, marveled at his ability to draw attention to the few positives in the midst of the tragedy.
"Inyri Forge, Captain, retired. Please step forward."
Inyri started and Tycho saw Wes give her a gentle nudge in the shoulder. He knew that Wedge had specifically asked her to come but it'd taken Wes's intervention to convince her that she should really be there. He had some idea why but wasn't certain.
"Captain Gavin Darklighter, please step forward."
He saw Gavin frown slightly but do as he was told. "On the ground in Udaaro, you were both forced to take control of a difficult situation following the loss of a superior officer." Wedge's words were formal, stiff, and he was clearly avoiding as best he could identifying the exact circumstances although they were fresh in everyone's mind. "You displayed impressive leadership under fire and your actions saved many lives. For that, you have both been awarded the Medal of Honor."
Jesina stepped up, bringing her hands from behind her back. She produced two medals and although all he could see were the red ribbons as Wedge placed them over first Gavin's and then Inyri's heads, he didn't have to see it to picture the award. He'd watched the very same medal awarded many times, and possessed one of his own. It was, however, the first time he'd seen it awarded to an Alliance officer no longer in service.
Wedge gave them both hugs and Jesina smiled. Gavin stepped back and Inyri moved to follow suit but Wedge caught her arm and shook his head. "I'm not finished, Inyri."
Tycho caught movement out of the corner of his eye and turned, frowning, to watch Leia move to the front of the room. She stopped in front of Inyri and Wedge moved to the side, exchanging a whispered word with Jesina before they both focused on the Chief of State.
"Approximately fifteen years ago, I stood on the bridge of the Death Star and watched my homeworld destroyed. Governor Tarkin was under the assumption that Alderaan's destruction would cripple us, and he died for his error in judgment. Alderaan's death galvanized us, reminded us all of what we were fighting for and while I wish my home had lived on to see the fight through to its conclusion, whenever that may be, it is only fitting that we honor its sacrifice. The Star of Alderaan was established to honor a person serving our military forces for gallantry in action against an enemy. It is my own honor to award the Star, sadly posthumously, to Major Derek Klivian." She accepted a small, open box from Wedge, which she in turn presented to Inyri. "On his behalf, Captain Forge, and my condolences on your loss."