Cassian doesn't think he's ever been more frightened in his entire life, and there's absolutely nothing he can do about it. The fate of the world is in the hands of a couple Jaegers and their pilots 36,000 feet below the ocean's surface.

The operations center is crowded with personnel, from General Draven and the other officers to whatever Jaeger tech and base personnel can squeeze into the room.

Despite the crowd, the room is nearly silent and the tension is thick in the air.

Of the two Jaegers they sent down into the Breach, only Rogue One remains. Spirit Guardian was damaged fighting off the Class 4 Kaiju Garrison, then destroyed when a second Kaiju, their first Class 5 and code named Death Star, emerged from the Breach. There's no word yet on Guardian's pilots, Baze Malbus and Chirrut Imwe, but they haven't detected any escape pods and Cassian has a bad feeling they won't find survivors.

They haven't had any word from Rogue One yet either since the damaged Jaeger plunged into the Breach with Death Star thrashing in its grip.

Cassian's attention is focused intently on the LOCCENT operator who's frantically scanning every available channel and trying to boost their sensors to get some indication of the status of Rogue One.

Suddenly the speakers fill with sound, a screeching static that has everyone wincing.

"… successfully … Breach … Repeat. Rogue One … crossed … anyone hear me? … Bodhi … unconscious …ejecting … read? … damaged … detonate manually … don't … make it ... LOCCENT, do … copy?"

The words are faint and the message is garbled by static, but the voice is unmistakeably Jyn Erso's and it's clear at least that Rogue One has made it into the Breach.

Even as a muted cheer goes through the room — rapidly cut off by Draven's stern glare — Cassian can't release his white-knuckled grip on the console behind him. Erso had said that Bodhi was unconscious, and Cassian can't help but fear the worst.

They're teetering on the edge of their last chance of beating back the Kaiju, and all Cassian can think about is the fate of one pilot.

Cassian hadn't expected Bodhi Rook to come to mean so much to him so quickly, but once they'd finally admitted their mutual feelings, Cassian had been helpless to stop his headlong plunge. (And, quite frankly, hadn't wanted to.) In these last precious days before the assault on the Breach, he's grown so much closer to Bodhi and found his heart so entangled with the other man.

He's not sure what he'll do if Bodhi doesn't make it.

Over the roaring of his worried thoughts he hears the LOCCENT officer's determined attempts to raise Rogue One.

"Rogue One, we hear you. Do you copy? Come in Rogue One."

Only static greets them.

Cassian watches the screens monitoring the Breach with singular focus, and only moments later sees a signal emerging from the Breach. The LOCCENT officer sees it only a second after Cassian.

"We have a pod," he shouts. "An escape pod from Rogue One!"

Bodhi, Cassian thinks, tracking the pod with his eyes. In the background, he can hear Draven issuing sharp orders for the deployment of search and rescue helicopters.

He's interrupted by a sudden shouting from the LOCCENT officer.

"Sensors reporting a massive explosion of energy! The Breach is destabilizing!"

Everyone's attention snaps to the monitors, watching with bated breath as the holographic representation of the Breach shivers, then collapses in on itself.

"Can you confirm?" Draven snaps.

The room roils with barely contained energy as the LOCCENT officers frantically confer and check their monitors and sensors.

"Confirmed," one of them says finally. "The Breach is closed."

There's a moment of utter silence, then an explosion of noise as the room bursts into applause and cheers. Cassian finds himself buried under a crowd of dancing Jaeger techs. The crowd spills into the hallway and Cassian barely manages to extract himself before he's carried off.

He too feels the bubble of euphoria rising in his chest. They've done it. The works of decades is over. The Breach is sealed. Rogue One did it.

And as soon as Bodhi is back safely, he'll be happy to join the party.

Until then it just won't feel right.

He winds his way back to the operations center and sets to work. He works through the beginning of the party on base, sending out notifications to the Council and other world leaders. He works through the fireworks nearby Yavin City sets off in celebration, coordinating a recovery and reconnaissance mission for the now-closed Breach. He works until he receives word that the search and rescue helicopters are on their final approach to the shatterdome.

And when Bodhi, shaking and dazed, is helped off the rescue helicopter Cassian is there to sweep the other man into his arms, press kisses to his forehead, and hold him close as he trembles. Cassian doesn't care that Draven and half the base are watching from only a few feet away.

Bodhi is alive and here and that's all Cassian needs.