Miriah sat at her desk, very still. She had been in meetings all morning, with Hylo and Nico on the hyperroutes and trade routes, Chancellor Rans with updates from Ossus, and Aric and Solasta, on the information Theron had relayed. She'd only been back to work two days, and she felt well, but she was tired of being treated as if she were delicate. She snorted just thinking of it, which garnered her some looks but no one spoke. Lana was going over the Riggsville progress and timeline for being operational, and Miriah was trying to pay attention. When Lana was done, Miriah thought for a minute, asked a couple of questions, and then nodded. She stood, thinking about lunch, and saw her oldest sister in the doorway. Thus far, she'd had only one visit from Mags since her sister had returned, and it had been brief since Miriah was still resting after her back surgery. Now, Miriah leveled her gaze at Magdalane, and motioned her inside.
"Mir, I just wanted to check on you," Mags said, her voice hesitant. She was well aware that her absence had cost Miriah, and she wanted to do whatever she could to manage any complications, emotional or physical.
"I'm fine, just ready to move around a bit after sitting all morning." It was the most words Miriah had said to her since she'd returned, and it gave Mags hope.
"I'm all moved in with Mom," she said, but Miriah's expression never changed. "She seems in good spirits and wanted to invite you over this evening. She said to tell you she's cooking." Here Mags smiled, her lack of culinary ability was well known in the family, but again, Miriah's face was unchanged.
"I'll let Corso know, we'll message when we know if Caly's cooked for us." Miriah moved from behind the desk, and Corso moved with her. They reached Mags at the same time, and Corso invited her to lunch with them at the cantina. Mags declined, she felt that Miriah wouldn't relax and enjoy her break with the tension between them.
When Mags turned to leave, Corso bent to Miriah. "Darlin', she only wants to make amends."
"I know, but I'm not ready yet," Miriah said, and started forward, Corso having to jog to keep up. They waited for the detail, and made their way to the cantina, where they sat in a booth.
"Miriah, I love you," Corso said/
Miriah smiled, and he saw her relax. "I love you, too." They ordered lunch, each aware that they had different opinions on Magdalane's status, but also aware that they'd work it out.
Arcann walked his path around the ship building scaffolds, but he'd been bothered by a spear of darkness he'd felt in the force as of late. It was brief, and seemed to be quickly covered by light, but it was there. He'd mentioned it to Devin, and the younger man had confirmed his own knowledge of this, which made Arcann even more vigilant. He looked around him but only saw the workers as they went about their tasks. His eyes fell on someone new. He's one of the recent refugees, he realized, but saw nothing in the man that made him suspicious. Still, this bears watching, he thought, and made the turn into the second ship's structure, his mind going through each individual he encountered.
Magdalane made her way back to her new home, and Sarai met her as she entered. "She's still mad," Mags said with a sigh, and Sarai patted her shoulder.
"She won't be forever, hon. She has pressures on her that we can only guess at. I'm thinking she's mad just because now, not about anything specific." Sarai handed Mags a cup of tea. "We'll just wait her out."
"I know, you're right," Mags said, "but I hate knowing she's still stewing."
"Nothing you can do about it, Magdalane. Miriah has always had to work things through on her own before she can accept it and move on. This is no different." They enjoyed their tea and scones, and when they had finished, Mags eyes grew heavy. Her energy had gone, and when she lay down on the sofa, Sarai covered her and left her to nap. Both girls just trying to fight through, she thought about Mags and Miriah. Only Maura is on an even keel. With that, she made her way to her craft room, working on a commissioned gown, her mind on her family.
Maura changed Caitlin and then swaddled her in a soft blanket. In minutes, the baby was asleep, and she joined Aric and Coleen for lunch. "She's growing so fast," she remarked.
"She'll be ready for her first set of armor soon," Aric said, then laughed when both females glared at him.
"By the time she's ready to pick a career, I'm hoping we don't need armor anymore." Maura's statement sobered them all, but Aric gently shook his head.
"Even if all the conflicts are over, we'll need to keep a force ready," he said.
"I want her to always have a feeling of safety, of love," Coleen said wistfully. "I know, it's not as easily done as said, but that's my wish."
"Even now, when the Alliance is in great shape, there are threats," Aric said. "Our trade routes, vendors, border worlds. All only as safe as we make them." Oblivious to his daughter's shocked face, he continued to eat, enjoying the orobird he'd gotten them all from the cantina.
"What do you mean, the trade routes?" Maura asked. She knew she was a little out of touch, but this was news to her.
"Nico had to do some re-routing on his last run, and we've been getting reports of Empire ambushes of smaller vessels in the Hutt routes. We're working on a solution but right now our supplies are being threatened." He saw the concern around the table and put the fork down. "It's okay, guys. We're working on it. No need to worry."
"There's always something," Maura said, patting Coleen's hand. She knew there was more to it than that, but hated to see Coleen worry. Changing the subject, they enjoyed the rest of their meal, and left Coleen to rest. On the way to the offices, Maura stopped her husband. "Tell me, this is all really happening?" At his look, she blew out a breath. "I need to stop spending so much time with the girls."
"No, you don't," Aric replied, hugging her to him. "We're all working on this. Everything is fine." He started toward the offices again, Maura at his side, hoping his face didn't show how serious the current issue really was. No need in everyone being anxious.
Miriah was quiet during lunch, but her afternoon was a whirl of calls and meetings. There were reports on the trade routes, and then she had all her advisers in the conference room. Lana reported on the skirmishes on their border. Everyone had an idea, and Corso saw his wife rub her temples. He quietly made his way to her side, slipping a square of chocolate and a fresh bottle of water into her hands. She glanced up at him and grinned before putting the chocolate in her mouth and letting it melt. Her eyes closed for a few seconds as she enjoyed it, then turned her attention back to the meeting. He knew her mind was filled with plans and details, and didn't want to distract her, but he knew her energy was waning this late in the day. He worked around her, giving her options to be more comfortable. He straightened her chair so that she could sit if she wanted. He checked the thermostat to make sure she was warm. He adjusted the lighting subtly so that they could all see the holo display easier. When he'd done all he could, he sat to the side, already familiar with the details of the presentation Hylo Visz was showing.
Miriah knew what was going on, and relieved, she sat. "So we can use these routes and our ships and supplies will be safe?" she asked, and saw Hylo's gaze drop to the floor before returning.
"They'll be safer."
Miriah's face showed her worry in a frown. "But not totally safe. There would be a risk. But they'd be safe in the Republic's routes," she said, and sighed. "Okay, thanks everyone. I've got a few other things to consider, but I'll be letting you all know our plans going forward by tomorrow." The advisers all filed out, and Corso materialized at her side. "Sugar, you're a lifesaver," she told him, and he pulled her close.
"You can have a break now, right?" he asked, and she thought for a moment.
"Just for a few minutes. I'm expecting a call from Chancellor Rans shortly," she replied, and he nodded. Once they were in her office, he led her to the small sofa, and had her stretch out on her stomach, so he could rub her shoulders and neck. He could feel her relaxing under his hands, even though she was quiet. He covered her with the throw that was on the end of the sofa and let her lie there, hoping she could get just a few minutes of peace.
Aric came to the door, his hands full of food. Corso met him there and they talked quietly in the hallway. "I just brought some snacks and cocoa for the boss," he explained, and Corso nodded.
"She's had a full day, for sure. I'm sure she'll..."
"Is that cookies I smell?" Miriah called out, and they joined her, Aric handing her the bag and putting the cup holder on the table. Miriah took a sip of the cocoa and closed her eyes, letting her head rest on Corso's shoulder. "As soon as I can talk to Chancellor Rans, I'll put out a statement on the current status," she said.
"It doesn't have to be today," Corso started, but Miriah sat up and turned to face him.
"We have fifty-three ships in route, either to us or to a supplier. We're scheduled to launch forty tomorrow. These are lives I'm not willing to risk." She could see by Corso's face that he had no idea of the scope of this danger. "Before this day is over, we will have safe passage or there will be no other trips."
"But, Mir," Aric said, but Miriah shushed him with an upturned hand.
"No," she said, and stood, taking her cocoa to the desk. She settled in her chair and started to work on her datapad. Almost an hour later, Chancellor Rans was on the holo, and Corso and Aric stepped out into the hall.
"The detail's been working almost ten hours now," Corso said. "Maybe we can let them go home and just have us with her."
Aric snorted. "Check with the detail captain and he'll tell you they're all just fine. I did that about half an hour ago."
"They really are the best, Aric. I'm so glad you insisted on having them all the time." They settled in some chairs then, knowing that Miriah was going to work until she met her goal.
Lana and Tali had cooked together, and waited for Nico to wash up. "We did good, Mama," Tali said, her little smiling face easing the tension Lana had brought home with her.
"We certainly did," Lana confirmed, and saw Nico's broad smile as he sat down with them. They ate and Lana felt the tension draining from her as Tali and Nico laughed and joked. When they were done, and everything cleaned up, Tali had Nico reading her bedtime story. Lana took her datapad out and wondered if it had lost it's charge, since there was no message from Miriah. She should have news by now, Lana thought, but hesitated to check with her boss. Instead, she clicked on the holo net, and when Nico joined her, they snuggled on the sofa, just enjoying being close. It was getting very late when the sound from the holo made Lana sit up. Across the image was a graphic that read "Special Announcement by the Commander of the Eternal Alliance". Nico woke when she sat up, and she merely pointed to the screen, unable to get any sound out.
Miriah finished her call with Rans and stood, stretching. She paced for a bit, and Corso could see her fatigue, but knew she wasn't ready to quit. After another hour, Caly brought dinner to the office and they ate in silence, Aric joining them after sending Maura to help Coleen. Miriah ate like she hadn't all day, even seconds. When she was fueled up again, she stood and went into the refresher.
"Think she's made some decisions?" Aric asked, and Corso nodded.
"She may not be entirely comfortable with them, but they're there." A few minutes later, her hair freshly brushed and her lips a berry color, she breezed past them into the hall. The detail dropped them at the conference room, and Miriah took a few deep breaths before opening a channel to the holo net, one she'd agreed to with the galactic media.
"Good evening, Alliance. In the past few weeks, since our involvement in the Ossus evacuation, our shipping and trade routes have been compromised. Our pilots have encountered increasing patrols from the Empire, and the Hutts have declared their routes will have unreasonable tolls attached. Therefore, after much research and discussion, I can announce that our pilots and crews will be learning new routes. Well, not exactly new, but ones we've not traveled in some time. As of tomorrow, we will be allied with the Galactic Republic, and will be using their routes. In exchange, we help them train their military, which has been decimated by their past conflicts. Nothing about the Alliance will change, we will remain sovereign and separate, and will continue to provide for our people and worlds. I know those of you who have family members whose work is to bring goods in and out of our planets will rest easy, knowing they'll be safe and will return without any interference from the Empire. Thank you for listening, and I return you to your programs." The light from the holo winked out, and Miriah slumped into the chair, her body refusing to go any further. Corso rushed over to her and lifted her in his arms, heading for the door. Aric and the detail fell in around them, and once they were home, Corso took his exhausted wife to their bed, getting her settled. He stood but she grabbed his arm. "Was it okay?" she asked, her voice hoarse and rough.
"It really was, darlin'," he told her, and kissed her forehead. She grew still and he only watched her, loving that she cared so much but hating that it took so much from her.
Everyone in the cantina had seen the announcement, and it was met with cheers. The spy had taken a deep breath and waited, at last having something to report.