A/N: Wow! I've nearly caught up with what I had written! Only about a chapter ahead now! Crazy! Oh well! Hope you enjoy this one!

Chapter 14

The trip to the Senate Plaza passed in a haze of traffic and lights. I zipped past open businesses and pedestrians, as I zig-zagged through other vehicles. Arriving at my destination, I pulled over to a stop near the entrance where Elara was waiting for me.

Striding over to join her, I asked, "Ready?"

With a nod, she replied, "Whenever you are sir."

"Let's go," I said, as we entered the cavernous building.

We passed the statue in the entry way and made our way around the circle and into the main part of the building. We crossed the chamber and took the stairs up to General Garza's office. Entering, we passed the secretary's desk in the outer room and since she was expecting us, went into the General's office.

"Major, stand at ease," she said, as we saluted her. "Let's get straight to the situation at hand."

'Lets,' I silently agreed. The sooner I finished this mission the sooner I could return to Aric's side.

She explained, "After we destroyed the Gauntlet, General Rakton called a 'diplomatic summit' with the heads of state of several Republic aligned planets along our borders."

This doesn't sound good…and why the hells would they go?

"The summit was held aboard a neutral space station, where Rakton's troopers seized the heads of state by force. They are now hostages of the Empire."

Well, I saw that one coming. If you go to a meeting with the Empire, plan on being stabbed in the back.

"How does this tie into Rakton's invasion plans?" I asked.

While not a surprising move it was a curious one.

"This is Rakton's invasion plan," General Garza explained. "With their leaders held hostage, our allies are allowing Imperial troops to pass through their systems and strikes us where we're vulnerable."

Not a bad plan. It would give the Empire unmolested access to some of our lesser protected core worlds, before we could pull troops back to counter them. More importantly to me, at the moment, the security of Coruscant was at stake!

"Our forces are at their limit. The Imperials will overwhelm us unless we rescue those heads of state and block Rakton's invasion routes," Garza added.

"What's our intel on the hostages' location," I asked.

We need to know where they are, if we're going to rescue them.

"The station where the heads of state are being held is called Outpost 256. Imperial security is tight but we've developed an entry plan," the General answered.

Good! Otherwise she's wasting time better spent with my injured teammate.

She continued, "Helik, a diplomat for one of those worlds is flying there to surrender his government security codes. He's volunteered to sneak your team aboard."

'Brave man,' I thought. If the Imperials found out they'd kill him for sure.

"How can we minimize the risk to the hostages when we storm the station?" I asked.

It would take time to reach the hostages, during that time they'd be vulnerable.

"Lieutenant Yuun will be responsible for that portion of the plan," Garza explained. "Your ship will ride along Helik's detaching at the last second and landing in an unused maintenance hangar aboard the station."

So far, so good though it still doesn't explain how we can protect the hostages from retribution during the operation.

"Lieutenant Yuun will slice into the station's security and stop any alarms from sounding while your storm the crew area and secure the hostages. Understood?"

That would work, if nothing unforeseen happens. Unfortunately, it's rare that everything goes according to plan. There was definitely potential for someone to be harmed.

"I'm ready to begin immediately General," I answered.

I just wanted to get this mission over with, so I could return to the medical center. I hated being off world right now and running this mission without my XO felt wrong.

"Helik will rendezvous with you at these coordinates. The Imperials are expecting him to deliver the security codes very soon, so move quickly," she said, as she pulled a datapad from a pocket.

I plan on it!

"Remember, the safety of the Republic depends entirely on the safety of those men. Good luck."

No pressure or anything. Geesh! More importantly to me, Aric's life depended on the security of Coruscant.

As I turned to walk towards the door, the General said, "Major."

Stopping I glanced back and answered, "Yes Ma'am?"

"How is Captain Jorgan doing?"

"Still in the kolto tank," I replied, "But slowly getting better."

"Good, good," she said. I waited for a second, before turning back and starting towards the exit again, only to have her stop me, "I had no choice Major."

For a long moment, I stayed silent and refused to admit that I heard the General speak, finally I asked, "Permission to speak freely sir?"

"Go ahead Major," she answered.

I turned back and looked at her, I reined in my emotions before speaking, "I realize Havoc squad is the best choice for his mission but we are not at full strength and there are always," and I stress the last word, "other options. We are not the only spec force squad the Republic has."

There is ALWAYS a choice and while we may be the best squad for the job, we are NOT the only option for this mission and she knows it.

"You may not be the only spec force squad we have but you are the best," Garza counters, "And this situation requires the best."

"Maybe," I acknowledge, "But we're missing a key member of our squad and we aren't the same without him, sir." Silently I added, 'I'm not the same.'

"I believe you can get the job done Major," the General said.

"Probably sir," I conceded.

We stood quietly for a few moments. While she may or may not be sympathetic about my desire not to leave Aric, I don't think she really understood how I was feeling. From what I heard, the other woman had always put her career and the military before any personal entanglements and expected others to do the same.

"May I be dismissed sir?" I asked, "I have a few things I need to take care of before leaving the planet."

"Dismissed Major," she replied with a nod.

Without another word, I walked out the door, Elara at my shoulder. We continued silently down the corridor, stairs and across the main floor to the exit. I fumed the entire way. I did not want to do this mission.

"From the General's point of view it makes sense to send us sir," Elara bravely offered, "We are currently between assignments and we are on Coruscant."

"We're here because Aric is in a kolto tank in the med center," I argued, "Leaving us a man down."

"True, but we worked more than a man short before," she returned, "And if I may say sir, we did it well."

"We did," I agreed, as I swung a leg over my speeder, "I just don't like it!"

"I understand," my medic agreed as she started her bike.

"It feels wrong without Aric," I sighed.

"I know sir," she agreed, "But the squad has your six."

Taking a deep breath, I calmed my emotions and said, "Thank you Elara."

"You are most welcome sir."

"I'm headed back to the medical center," I explained to my companion, "I need to speak to Aric's doctors and arrange his care while I'm gone."

"I can accompany you if you would like sir," Elara offered.

"No, K'eegan is there. I should be okay," I said. "You're acting XO until Aric is back." I refused to think about the possibility that he may never return. "I need you to inform the crew of our mission and prep the ship."

"Yes sir," she answered, sitting a little straighter on her speeder, "Thank you for your confidence sir."

People always judged my medic for being Imperial, failing to look beyond the obvious, to the woman underneath. She was intelligent, competent and deserved this opportunity. "You're welcome," I replied, "but you earned it." Turning my bike towards the medical center, I called over my shoulder, "I should be back to the ship in two hours."

"Don't worry Major," Dorne reassured, "We'll be ready."