The General was meant to stay on the base; everyone had decided that was best. She was more useful and vital behind the scenes then on the battlefield. Not that anyone would dare claim that General Organa couldn't handle herself on the front lines. Her stories during the Imperial War were the stuff of legend; the fall of Jabba the Hutt and The Battle of Endor just to list a few. Still, it was no scandalous thing to admit that she wasn't nineteen anymore and that she had a more personal stake in this war. It was too great a risk for her to be in the invasion; not when Kylo Ren and the First Order had her listed as a prime target. This what what everyone (including the General herself) had agreed upon. This was why Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix was taken aback by her superiors' sudden statement.

"I'm going to find him." she said, closing her holopad and heading off to her chambers.

Admiral Ackbar occasionally told stories of a young Princess Leia defying orders (or rather the wishes since her place in the Rebel Alliance was more complicated than that). While it had always worked in her favour, be it looking for the last Alderaanians or playing decoy to distract the Empire, they often were preceded by vast amounts of trouble. So it didn't surprise anyone when the admiral asked the people in command to keep an eye on her. Typically he did do himself but he was overseeing the aerial squadrons.

Still, the lower ranked officers were struck dumb as their leader went off to fight. Kaydel had promised not only to watch General Organa for the Admiral but had also sworn to serve The General herself. While it had more directly meant in the Resistance, Connix justifying this as service was the only thing strengthening her to speak out. "Forgive me General," she spoke, trying to keep her voice steady. "This might not be my place; but I don't believe this is a good idea. We need you here."

General Organa's voice replied sharply, "You are right." she answered, still heading through the corridor as the Lieutenant picked up her pace. "This isn't your place."

Lieutenant Connix flushed a bit but she felt that there was a look in the general's eye that was touched a little by her concern for her. "General, I must urge you to reconsider. Entering the battle could not only risk your life but also the success of the assault. Our own soldiers would easily do something foolish to protect you and the enemy wouldn't hesitate to pull out all the stops for your capture if not-"

"I am well aware of the risks." General Organa intervened, reaching her office and stepping inside it's doorway. She gave her a look that gave Connix a sense that the General herself had already weighed these options in her head. "Which is why nobody outside of command is going to know. Follow the assault as planned and do not do anything to let the enemy know I am out here. And yes, I see your face, that means should I get into trouble you will do nothing."

The Lieutenant's face must have reflected her horror. It was a disaster on the surface; it was extremely likely that misfortune would befall her. The thought of not only losing the General to capture (if not worse) was terrible enough but to know that they did nothing when they could… Well, the Republic for starters would be furious and Connix did not want to think about what would happen on the base when news came out.

"General, please I beg you…" Kaydel's voice quivered, betraying her true emotions as she pleaded. "We need you not just in the command center; but above and beyond all of that. I fear going down to the surface will lead to.." she couldn't even voice the words. They were too painful to think about. She turned away slightly, not wishing the General to see the weakness in her.

Kaydel had lost her family at a young age, her family having known the the then Senator Organa lead the woman to make sure that she was taken care of. Finding her relatives and settling the affairs as a gesture to her late comrades friends. The senator didn't interfere with her life but had kept her eye on her out of respect for her parents. The senator had been the one to recommend her when she had taken an interest in politics.

Kaydel had been shy of eighteen when former senator had been publicly disgraced as the news of her parentage became known. For a brief shameful moment, Kaydel doubted the person she had known. The moment passed when she remembered the Senator Organa she had known her whole life. The one who visited with her son before he left for training. The one who always remembered her birthday and the anniversary of her parents death and reached out for both. The one who believed in her enough to get her the job in the Senate. The one who forgave her momentary lapse and welcomed her to the Resistance with open arms. In a way, General Organa was like family to her. She had looked out for her as much as her parents and extended family had. "...you are more important than you understand."

The General must have picked up on her feelings. Her face softened and she reached out, placing her hand on Kaydel's shoulder. For a moment, she felt her heart leap with the possibility that she had convinced her but that became crushed when sadness flooded her features. "Do you remember when you came to me? When you were afraid to face me after believing some terrible thoughts about me?" her voice was comforting, almost motherly. "You knew you had done something but you went to face and own up to it. You did so knowing that it might not end well but did it anyway." This time the General didn't meet her eyes, as if ashamed. "This isn't exactly the same. The stakes are bigger and the risk is greater but… I need to try to fix my mistakes."

Lieutenant Connix bit her lip, letting her words sink in as she understood there was no changing her mind. In fact, in retrospect she might have been a fool to think she could to begin with. "General.." she began but what could she say? Her mind was made up.

"You've grown so much…" General Organa mused, as if realizing this for the first time. "Sometimes I still picture the little girl your parents used to bring to meetings. They would be proud." Kaydel was surprised but very accepting as the General pulled her into an embrace. The last time she had hugged her had been the day she left her with her aunt and uncle, giving her the strength to be brave and let go. "I am very proud." she whispered between the two of them before letting her go and stepping inside her office.

Connix stared at the door for a few moments, unable to shake the feeling of doom inside of her. Taking some deep breaths, she wanted to be gone before the General reemerged in fear that she would never let her pass. No. She wanted to respect her wishes, even if it hurt her to do so. Pulling herself together. Connix headed back to the control room.

As she sat back in her seat, she couldn't focus on the screens before her. The junior officers looked at her in quick glimpses as if hoping to read what had happened on her face. Kaydel tried to blend into the commotion but it was short lived as almost 20 minutes later a sensor across the room picked up on something. An unapproved departure from the landing bay. A trooper Connix couldn't remember the name of called out. She closed her eyes as Admiral Ackbar went to survey the scan.

"...is very strange. Did the General approve this?" Ackbar's voice sounded from across the room. It only took a quick scan of the room to see the blanched faces of the crew for him to sense something was right.

His voice was steady but it was clear he was worried about this latest development. "Where is General Organa?" Nobody spoke a word. The admiral grumbled before speaking. "I am giving you all an order. Now tell me, Where. Is. General. Organa?"

Connix squeezed her eyes and braced herself as she rose from her seat. Turning to face the admiral she sensed all eyes on her. It was a direct order but could she betray the General? She hadn't said that the admiral couldn't know. After all he was part of command; but it felt like a betrayal nonetheless.

"Yes Lieutenant…"

Connix opened her mouth but before she could panic over how to explain that she let the General leave; she felt herself make a decision. "The General went to handle something. I shall go get her for you."

If the admiral asked any further questions they were lost to her because in a swift motion without looking back, Lieutenant Connix left the command room. Running on autopilot, she found herself headed towards the hanger. A Droid, L3 YZ was prepping a ship for takeoff. "You there, Droid. Can you navigate?"

The Droid beeped back in binary, Yes.

Taking a sharp breath, she gave him a nod. "Good. Activate authority Blue Harvest. I need to follow the ship that just left fast." That action alone could get her court marshaled. BLUE HARVEST was an emergency protocol that could override almost any other set procedure. It was meant for life or death scenarios when the fate of the Resistance was at hand. A code only the highest ranks knew. A code she barely had the privilege of knowing and would likely end up in some form of punishment for misusing. However there wasn't time to argue over the ethics of this. Kaydel knew the risk and was facing it anyway.

"I'm going after General Organa." she explained as the Droid slid into its compartment and set their course. "We have to leave quickly, nobody else knows and we will be seen as deserters until we succeed our mission. Our mission is secret until we return. Disguise us. Don't let friend or enemy know who we are or our goal." she commanded as she switched the control to the Droid.

I'm coming General. Not to stop you, but to help you. This is what a team does. This is what a family does…