A/N: I had to cut this chapter short because it started getting way to big. The next chapter is written, it just needs to be polished up a bit. Enjoy!


Javen

"How are you settling in, Dorne," I asked. I had gone in to the med bay to see how she was doing on the way to Nar Shaddaa.

"Sir, my equipment and personal effects have been stored full accordance with transport code section two. If I may say so again, sir, it is an honor to be selected for Havoc Squad."

"I'm glad to have you on the team. First chance we get for a break, I'll take the team out for a drink as sort of a welcome party."

"Thank you sir, although that is not necessary. I intend to begin immediately reviewing and memorizing all relevant dossiers and intelligence reports on our assignments immediately. If I discover any points of confusion or where I believe I can contribute, I will submit a full 587-B report."

"Carry on," I said.

"Hey LT," Jorgan said, sticking his head in the med bay. "We just landed on Nar Shaddaa and Garza's on the line."


Elara

I saw Lieutenant Terral and Sergeant Jorgan sitting at a cantina table waiting for the SIS agent to debrief us regarding our encounter with 4X. I quickly caught a waitress's attention before going to join them.

"Where did you get off to Dorne," Sgt. Jorgan asked as soon as he saw me approaching.

"Reviewing a section of the Code of Conduct regulations."

"Of course you were," he snickered.

"What were you looking up," the lieutenant asked.

"Chapter 631, Subsection 2.5A."

"Conduct concerning liberty and off duty personnel," Lt. Terral responded.

"And how do you know that off the top of your head," Sgt. Jorgan asked. I had to admit I was a little curious as well.

"Chiss may not officially be Imperial," he answered with a smirk, "but knowing regulations is one of those things that get us hot and bothered."

"Explains why your copy of the regs is sitting next to a box of tissues," Sgt Jorgan replied.

I continued as Lt. Terral barked out a laugh, "According to paragraph 3 of that section, off duty personnel, with permission from the unit's commanding officer may consume beverages of an alcoholic nature. The regulation states personnel may only consume 3 drinks or not consume beverages in excess to cause blood alcohol level to surpass the limit set forth in paragraph 1 of Subsection 2.5A to account for the different metabolisms of different species."

"So what you're saying is I can drink," Sgt Jorgan stated, looking around for a waitress.

"Only if the Lieutenant grants permission," I corrected.

"At this point I think trying to stop him would be hazardous to my health," he sighed.

"Damn right," Sgt Jorgan replied shortly before demanding, "Where the hell are all the waitresses in this bar?"

"I hope you won't assume I'm being presumptuous, but I took the liberty of ordering the first round." I was afraid Sgt. Jorgan would suffer from whiplash with how quickly he turned to stare at me.

"Did you just admit to acting without permission," he asked dumbfounded.

"Certainly not," I assured him. "I simply analyzed the situation and planned according to what I perceived as the most likely outcome."

As soon as I had finished talking the twilik I had given the order to appeared with the drinks.

"What made you take the first round," Lt. Terral asked. "I seem to recall insinuating it was mine."

"I hope you will forgive me, Lieutenant. It is just at my first command it was tradition for the new members to get the first round."

"Damn Imperials," he replied. "Not only are they the scourge of the galaxy, they make their new recruits go broke paying for their booze."

I was about to protest when I saw his smile and realized he was teasing. Instead I asked, "Did you have any traditions like that in the Ascendancy?"

"Yes, but it was always the highest ranking officer present who got first round since he's the one with all the credits. So since Dorne disobeyed a direct order, I'll just have to take the next one," he said with a wink.

"I'll admit, I was a little worried when you said you were ordering, Dorne," Sgt. Jorgan admitted, taking a drink. "Was afraid you'd just order some water downed swill. Glad to see you got an eye for booze."

"Thank you Sergeant."

After a few minutes of companionable silence, Sgt. Jorgan broke it by asking me the question I feared answering. "So, Dorne, how does a proud member of the Drumond Kaas aristocracy find herself slumming it with some Republic grunts?"

"It is a rather long story," I stammered and quickly took a drink.

"And judging by the look on her face she isn't nearly drunk enough to tell it," Lt Terral interceded.

"Well what about you, boss? How did you get here after growing up in the Empire?"

"The Chiss Ascendancy is not a member of the Empire," the Lieutenant corrected. "We're the Empire's only allies."

"Why would the Empire be allies with you? Don't they look down on aliens?"

"They have something the Empire wants," I answered without thinking, "and they are too afraid to fight them."

"The Empire fears the Chiss," Sgt. Jorgan asked incredulously. I noticed Lieutenant Terral was also giving me a curious look.

"My father is a powerful Moff in the Imperial Military. I overheard him talking to one of his advisors once. The advisor wanted to go to war with the Ascendancy for some imagined wrong, but my father was adamant. When the advisor pushed harder, my father went completely out of character and yelled he would never face the Chiss in battle. That is the only time I've ever seen my father that angry or afraid."

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised," the Lieutenant said, breaking the growing silence. "I always knew there was a reason they made an alliance instead of going to war. I wonder what it is they want…"

"Father never said. In fact, anytime the Chiss came up, he would immediately change the subject."

"All fascinating, now quit delaying boss," Sgt. Jorgan said. "What's your story?"

"Such a charmer, for a plebeian," he said to me with a mischievous smile. "Sgt. Dorne isn't the only one to come from aristocracy," he started to say before the Sergeant interrupted.

"You too," he demanded.

The lieutenant shrugged before continuing. "My house was one of the founding members of the Ascendancy, and the oldest of all the founding families. My brother, Javus, was the heir to the house, and he was welcomed to that stress. I tried to enlist in the Army, and when my father found out he was furious."

"Didn't want his little boy getting hurt," Sgt. Jorgan mocked.

"No, he didn't want me enlisting. 'No member of this house will concede to such a lowly position,'" he said, adopting a lower tone as he imitated his father. "'We lead, never follow.' When I asked how one can learn to lead if they never learn to obey, I was backhanded. It didn't help that I intentionally pushed his buttons in front of 3 Moffs and a Sith Lord. So I was sent to officer school and spent 3 years serving the Ascendancy. My father tried to keep me behind a desk, but I was quickly promoted to command of my own advanced recon team."

"You told me you'd never commanded before."

"A squad like Havoc. I never said anything about not being in command."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"And miss that look on your face," he laughed, signaling the waitress for another round.

"So what made you decide to leave," Sgt. Jorgan continued to press.

Lieutenant Terral stared at his glass for a minute before continuing. "Right after my 24th birthday all hell broke loose. I was on leave at the family's estate with my two brothers when we got news of Kessik IV."

"That's the second time that's been mentioned. What happened there," Sgt. Jorgan asked.

"A massacre," I answered, trying to keep the emotions from showing. I still had nightmares from that day. When I saw the looks I was getting, I quickly covered, "It's one of the reasons I defected."

The answer was enough for now. Lieutenant Terral nodded and said, "My cousin was stationed there when it happened. We never heard the details of the attack, just that the Empire blamed the Cathar settlers and there was no body to ship home." Guilt gnawed at my stomach as he took a drink to fortify himself. "My cousin was like a brother to us, we were all close. My leave was extended for bereavement. Most nights I couldn't sleep, I wasn't eating... One night insomnia hit and I started walking around the estate. I passed by my father's study when I heard him talking to the Sith Lord that seemed to have taken up a permanent residence there. I was going to walk away when I heard my father mention an attack planned on another house. From the way the Sith was talking, no one was to be left alive. The house my father was going to attack belonged to my betrothed."

"You were engaged," Sgt. Jorgan repeated.

"Arraigned marriage," he clarified, "although I was good friends with Nee'ran. As soon as I heard 'no survivors' I ran to my brothers' rooms to tell them what I'd heard. I was prepared to go alone to save whomever I could, since acting against the family would guarantee exile. I went to my equipment and grabbed my blaster rifle. As I reached for my pistol, my youngest brother, Jarvel, grabbed it instead. I turned around to see Javus behind him placing his duel pistols into the holsters on his belt. Before I could say anything, he asked, 'What, you think you're getting all the fun?'

"By the time we got there, the only one left alive was Nee'ran, and they'd captured her and set her in front of a firing squad. I pushed my way to the front of the group, demanding the right to take the traitor's life. I still remember the anger in her eyes. Without warning I turned around and unloaded on the men while my brothers did the same from behind. When the last man fell I used my field knife to free Nee'ran from her binds."

"What happened," Sgt. Jorgan asked when he paused.

"She hit me. Then she pulled a blaster pistol on me. If the Jedi master hadn't shown up when he did she probably would have killed me."

"Jedi?"

"He was tracking the Sith Lord at my estate. When he saw us head out he decided to follow; apparently my younger brother was strong in the force. Anyway, he was able to convince Nee'ran to not shoot me. She lowered the weapon just to pistol whip me before taking off. I never heard what happened to her," he said sadly. "After that, Jarvel convinced the Jedi to help us escape the Ascendancy and he would agree to study the Jedi teachings. The Jedi kept his word, and after we commandeered a ship he helped us escape to Republic space and helped me enlist in the Republic Army."

"Whatever happened to Javus," I asked.

"The Jedi offered to get him in the military too, but he declined. Last I heard he was chasing Nok Drayen's lost fortune. When he's not transporting questionably legal cargo, that is."

"A Jedi, a trooper, and a smuggler," Sgt. Jorgan laughed. "Sounds like the opening to a bad joke."

While Lt. Terral laughed, I took a large gulp of my drink to help bolster up my courage. After the story the lieutenant told, there was no way I could keep silent. I just hoped at that when I had finished he would be able to forgive me.