Title: Inner Demons, Outer Evils

Summary: A tragic event sets Rogue Squadron on the path to the truth...and sends one of the Rogues on a collision course with himself.

Disclaimer: Star Wars is, quite clearly, not mine, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is not written for profit.

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Chapter 10: Strategy

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Wes slipped his arm around Jesina's waist and she was surprised at how natural it felt. He'd had more than his share of undercover assignments and usually he was more than a little uncomfortable. A quick glance as she stepped forward told her that their "advisors" had formed a solid line behind them, except for Face who, acting as a personal assistant, had handed the planetary security officers their information. "Dack and Laryn Tesa of Coruscant. Purpose of your visit to Zhar?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Tesa are here on business, seeking to expand their shipping business," Face answered for them. "I am Mr. Tesa's assistant, and these," he gestured to Gavin, Kell and Tyria. "Please direct any questions to me."

"Business," the official muttered, eyes narrowing in Face's direction. "Welcome to Zhar."

He stepped aside to allow them to pass and as they walked by, Jesina laid a hand on his arm. "My apologies. My husband's assistant is slightly...overzealous."

"Welcome to Zhar, ma'am," he said again.

Hobbie, Inyri, and Myn followed the "advisors." Myn handed the official their identification. "Marik and Teryn Seltin and Turyll Jeva. Purpose of your visit?"

"Relocation," Hobbie, as Turyll, said, barely masking his disdain. "My sister's husband is trying to get her as far from our family as possible."

"Not your family," Myn retorted. "There's two much crime on Coruscant. It's not safe for her." Inyri rolled her eyes and looked ready to kill her "husband" and "brother."

The official shook his head. "Welcome to Zhar." He sighed as they passed, and it was Jesina's guess that it was a sigh of relief that they were moving on.

Mara, as herself, was next. She wore a smile that was obviously forced. "Friends of yours, Captain Jade?"

He smile turned to a scowl. "Good money, but Sith take them all. Though I do feel for the last girl. If it were me, I'd have shot them by now. She probably would have too, but they won't let her near so much as a kitchen knife."

He shook his head. "Business as usual, Captain?"

"Business as usual. And when I leave, no passengers. Possibly ever again."

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Jesina placed the last crate gently on the floor and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Faces briefing on this place had failed to include one fact – this world was hot. Not Tatooine hot, but hot nonetheless.

She sank to her knees in the middle of the floor. There was nothing to do for now. They couldn't unpack – if anyone saw the assortment of explosives, blasters – pistols, carbines, and rifles – and other weaponry they possessed, they'd be in big trouble. Although, if anyone got close enough to the area to know it was inhabited, they'd be in trouble, so she guessed it was a moot point, but the less trouble they set themselves up for, the better.

She stood and sighed. Later they'd have a brief planning session when Hobbie, Inyri, and Myn came over from the apartment they'd "rented." But for now, there was nothing to do but act the part of Janson's wife.

Janson's wife. Face Loran was going to pay for this one. It was his idea of a joke, she knew, although Janson pretending to be even remotely serious about anyone would be a joke in and of itself. The Rogues signature woman-chaser would never settle down, and definitely not with her. Though Force or Fate might find it amusing to prove her wrong on that.

She shook herself out of the strange train of thought. There was one thing she could unpack, and they'd certainly need it later – the caf machine.

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Nightfall found the nine of them sitting in a circle on the floor in the middle of the cavernous room.

"All right," Face said. "The ground team got word to us that some of the windows in the target section of the complex have been filled in with duracrete."

"Safe bet that that's where the prisoner is being held," Wes commented, sipping his caf distractedly.

Jesina nodded. "They also tell us that there are sentries posted outside the building at all times."

"There are some inside, too, but not as many," Tyria told them.

"So we need to figure out who it's going to be easier to take out," Hobbie said.

"Outside, they're bound to be farther apart and the natural noises will help cover up our actions," Tyria pointed out.

"But either way, we're going to have to take all the guards out of the picture," Gavin observed. "Think about it – to get in we're going to have to deal with the guards inside. And if they're like any operation we've ever broken up before, the guards outside will be in regular contact with the ones inside. And the moment someone doesn't reply, we'll have them – and whatever reinforcements they call in – to deal with, too."

"Right," Inyri agreed. "But we don't need nine people to go in after this prisoner. We should reorganize into two teams – five go in and four take out the exterior guards."

"Good idea. I should probably be outside," Myn pointed out. "You won't need a sniper inside."

"True," Tyria said. "And that means Wes should be inside. He's the best with a pistol.

"You should be outside," Wes told her, tacitly agreeing with her assessment. "Having you inside would be a waste of your talents." It was true. Tyria was the most skilled ground operative in either unit, having relied on her abilities for years just to survive on her home world.

"I think Jesina should be inside," Kell said. "She's mission commander, and it's important for her to be where things have the most opportunity to go wrong, so she can fix any problems."

Jesina had remained quiet for most of the conversation, preferring instead to let the others have a role in the planning. It was the same approach Wedge often took with the Rogues and Wraiths. If anyone had said anything that she disagreed with, she'd have spoken up before now. But she did want to make sure she had some control where this was going, and that key aspects that she didn't want overlooked. "All right. If Wes and I are both going in, I want someone I'm familiar with to be outside. That means you, Hobbie."

He nodded. "You should take Tainer. We won't have need for explosives outside. At least, we shouldn't. If we do, we'll be in more trouble than we have a right to get out of."

"So that leaves me, Face, and Gavin," Inyri said. "I don't think any of us have any particular strengths either way."

"Except that Gavin's big," Face reminded her. "I'm betting that the prisoner isn't going to be in any shape to walk out of there."

"Which means that someone will have to carry him. And with their specific skills, Wes and Kell might both be otherwise occupied," Jesina continued. "So, Gavin, you're going in, too."

Tyria spoke up. "Since we're splitting up Rogue command, we should probably do the same with Wraiths and put you outside, Face."

"Good enough. Now we just need to figure out how to get in and out," Face said.

"And say a few heartfelt prayers that the ground team is ready to get us out when we're ready to go, Jesina added.

"Well, we can take care of the praying thing after," Wes replied. "But what say we figure out how we're going to do this? Because it won't matter if they're ready for us if we go and get ourselves killed."

"So how are we going to get in?" Gavin asked. "Going through the main door means taking out the guards outside first. Which would give our friends inside warning that we're coming."

"Taken care of," Face said. "Another useful bit of information I got from Kirney. Apparently, before Zhar had a world government, this complex was the site of the home of the leader of one of the nations. When it was built, they put in underground tunnels. When it was torn down, the tunnels were sealed – but not so thoroughly that we won't be able to get through them. One starts outside, just beyond the back wall of this building, and comes up just inside the main door to the Northwest cluster, where our prisoner is supposed to be."

"But how do we get in?" Inyri asked. "I'm assuming it was sealed of with duracrete. That's what they usually use."

Face shook his head. "Not here. They used durasteel. And we have – among other things – a handy little laser welder that will do nicely."

"Sounds like you've got everything all figured out," Wes commented. "I say we let him do all the work, too." He put his hands, clasped, behind his head and leaned back. Jesina, as revenge for him getting a little too into their husband and wife roles, reached over had gave him a not-so-gentle shove. Only his quick reflexes kept him from hitting his head on the floor. Sitting up with a scowl, he feinted toward her but she scrambled away.

"I wouldn't. I've had hand-to-hand training more recently than you, and I'm faster."

"Ah, but I've got size on you."

"Where?" she asked with a smirk. "Your mouth? Yeah, I'll agree with that."

Hobbie shook his head. "The man who invented Lieutenant Kettch and the woman who mocked General Riekkan to his face. Tycho's right. You two do belong together."

To her dismay, Jesina felt her face grow hot. She turned to Wes. "He's right. We're setting a bad example for the children. We'd better shape up. Wedge will kill me if I bring him back a squadron full of the two of us."

"Point taken. So, he turned back to face the rest of the team, "all that's left is to figure out how to coordinate our attack from inside with your attack from outside."

Tyria leaned forward. "How conspicuous is the area around the entrance to the tunnel?"

"It's hidden pretty well, by trees and some bushes," Face told her.

"Hidden well enough for the inside team to go through it tomorrow night, to time how long it takes? And so cutting their way in is one less thing for them to have to worry about the next night?"

"Kind of a dress rehearsal?" Face asked. "Yeah, I think we can do that."

"And we've got a couple of those camouflage tarps to lay over it afterward," Kell said, "so no one should notice our handiwork."

"And it'll prevent us from going stir-crazy from just sitting around waiting," Gavin said.

"Though we'll still be doing a lot of that," Wes warned him.

"The only problem with this is that it increases our risk of getting caught," Jesina reminded them all.

"That's true," Myn said. "But knowing a time frame could save all our necks. I say we do it." There was a murmur of agreement around the circle.

"All right," Jesina said finally. "I want the interior team to meet here tomorrow at, ah, 1900 hours. It'll be starting to get dark, so that'll give us some prep time before the sun is completely gone. Then we'll do our stuff and everyone – both teams – meet back here at 0130. Good?" Among a chorus of "yeses" the room slowly emptied of everyone but her and Wes. Slowly she stood and tried to shake away the feeling of dread that had suddenly settled over her.