Watching the flow of Rebels coming and going, Kallus considered slipping into the common room, but, after more consideration, he decided against such action. There was urgency in the men and women who strode in and out of the impromptu base of command. Blood stained clothes marked those who were working in the cargo bay treating the wounded. They would be delivering the latest casualty report to Hera and Dodonna. Then there were the weary-eyed Rebels studying inventory pads. Kallus could tell that no matter how many times those Rebels ran the numbers, the supplies on hand weren't adding up to what the fleet would require.

He did not envy Syndulla and Dodonna's positions at the moment. There would be many hard choices yet to come, and Sato's death would be weighing heavily on them.

Earlier, Kallus had overheard Rebels discussing the Commander's death. He'd been surprised to hear the great Commander Sato had fallen, but then Kallus' thoughts drifted back to the memory of the Rebel ship ramming Konstantine's Destroyer. That had to have been Sato. It was his sacrifice that had saved them.

Kallus strained to hear more of the conversation about Sato's death, but the Rebels moved off, stirred by talk of rations being doled out near the cargo bay.

So, from his position in the passageway, Kallus continued to watch and wait. It wasn't until he felt the light pressure and warmth on his shoulder that he realized how entirely engrossed he'd become in analyzing the comings and goings of the common room. He turned to find Kanan and Ezra had come down the hall behind him. Kanan's hand was on Kallus' shoulder.

Reaching out for physical contact seemed to be a new trait the blind Jedi had developed. Kallus couldn't blame him, but, all the same, he wasn't exactly thrilled with it either. After all, he hadn't had a lot of experience with touching in the Empire. So, he found it terribly foreign now.

"Hera would like to speak with you," Kanan said quietly, his hand giving Kallus' shoulder a brief squeeze before he let go and moved past. "Come on."

Ezra trailed behind the Jedi. That annoying spark of energy typically fueling the boy was absent. Feet dragging, eyes half lidded, Ezra gave a sideways glance as he neared Kallus. A small smirk appeared on the boy's face.

"Good job not getting killed," Ezra offered.

Kallus let one low huff of amusement escape. "Same to you."

Kanan and Ezra were entering the common room before Kallus had even mustered the resolve to start moving, but he was glad they hadn't waited on him. He was feeling far from nimble at the moment, and he wasn't incredible eager to start relying on anyone for help just yet. There was something about his injuries that had him starting to feel too exposed. He'd suffered worse working for the Empire, but treating injuries there had been impersonal, almost anonymous. Somehow, he doubted that would be the case here.

Pushing himself off the wall that had been so dutiful helping him stay upright, Kallus started down the passageway. He realized rather quickly that there would be no hiding the limp any longer. A sharp pain filled his right knee with every step. That discomfort he could bear. He was far more concerned with the constant pounding in his skull.

Lost in thought, he suddenly realized he'd limped himself directly into the center of the common room. All eyes were on him, studying him, faces laced with concern. Kallus took a quick inventory of those present: Hera, Dodonna, Sabine, Tristan, Ezra, Kanan and three more people he didn't recognize.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," Hera said, rising from her chair and coming to Kallus' side. Her hand slipped carefully onto his shoulder. "Have a seat."

The tactic was subtle, that gentle guiding hand that lead him to the chair. Even if Kallus had wanted to refuse the offer, he wouldn't have been able to. He could tell that Hera wouldn't take no for an answer.

With only minor difficulty, Kallus sat. Getting up, he thought miserably, was going to be much more problematic. He could see Hera leaning in, studying him more closely, concern evident in her expression, but, thankfully, a distraction arrived.

The door to the room opened and Garazeb strolled in. The Lasat stretched and yawned. "What'd I miss?"

"Hera was getting Kallus settled," Sabine answered. The Mandalorian was slouched at the booth, Tristan at her side.

"And," Ezra added, "she was about to ask him how he was feeling."

"I'm fine," Kallus grumbled. He felt a bit of tightness ease from his shoulders as Hera finally withdrew her hand. Honestly, he hadn't been aware that he'd tensed up under her touch.

"Yeah, like we'd believe you after that face you made when you sat down," Ezra scoffed. "You are not fine."

Garazeb was quick to chime in. "I'm with the kid. You look horrible."

Kallus shrugged and decided his best option to avoid any overly annoying nurturing moments was to divert the subject. "What are your plans now? We still have one more hyper jump after this one, correct?"

Hera was eying Kallus carefully. He'd known she'd see right through the maneuver, but he'd hoped she also realized that he wasn't yet ready for their help. Her scrutinizing stare kept on him, until she finally relented.

"After this hyperspace jump, Sabine plans to return with Tristen to help Clan Wren battle Clan Saxon." Hera sighed. "We will try and come to their aid as soon as we can get everyone settled on Yavin IV, but that may take some time."

Ezra stepped forward. "I'm going with Sabine." There was defiance in the boy's tone, as if he was ready to argue the point, but he was only greeted with a soft laugh from Kanan.

"I'd expected no less," the Jedi replied. "I suppose we should pack our gear then."

"Then….You're going too?" Ezra asked, his guise of teenage rebellion shedding away.

Kanan gave a slow nod. "We owe them this."

Kallus couldn't help but notice how Kanan's words seemed far more directed at Captain Syndulla than his Padawan.

"I know we do." Hera replied softly. "Just….be careful."

"Aren't I always?" Kanan quipped.

A rueful smile crossed Hera lips. She opened her mouth, ready to respond, but Dodonna cut her off.

"My apologies, but, before we make our last jump, it would be prudent to try and piece together how Thrawn found the Atollon base. If it can be helped, we must try and assure he doesn't use the same method to track us again." Dodonna paused. His gaze shifted from Hera to Kallus. "If you could tell us what took place on Lothal, that might be of some help."

This was it. Kallus drew in a deep breath, ignoring the protest from his ribs. For a moment, his eyes met Garazeb's. There was a mixture of curiosity and worry etched in the Lasat's face. His ears twitched ever so slightly. Finally, Kallus looked away.

"I'd been preparing for the Rebel attack," he started, gaze focused on the floor in front of him, "seeing what Imperial protocols I might be able to exploit to leave some openings in the base's defenses. By chance, I'd overheard that Thrawn was to have a meeting with Pryce–a meeting I was not to be privy to."

"So," Ezra said, "of course, you had to find out what was going on."

Kallus nodded, but didn't look up. He felt overwhelmingly tired. Perhaps sitting had been a bad idea. It was as if the slight comfort had triggered his body into shutdown mode. He forced his weary mind to continue on. "I used a droid in the vents to record the meeting. From that recording, I learned that Thrawn knew of the upcoming attack on Lothal. He was preparing forces."

"We wouldn't have stood a chance," Hera muttered. "We would have lost every ship."

"But, how did Thrawn know?" Dodonna asked.

Kallus shrugged, daring to look up at Hera. "I'm not certain. I didn't overhear those specifics, but I knew I had to get a warning to the Rebel fleet."

"The message we received?" Garazeb asked. "But it was incomplete. It sounded as if you'd been cut off."

Kallus frowned. A numb dread seeped into his body. "It had. I'd started to record the message, using the transmitter in Bridger's tower, but Thrawn was there. He had a jamming device." Kallus paused, not sure if he could get the words out. "It was a trap."

The room was near silent, save for the low growl that emanated from Garazeb.

Unsure of how it even escaped him, Kallus gave a weary, sad chuckle. "Thrawn even knew my code phrase."

"You fought him," Hera said, her voice even, sure. It wasn't a question. "And you destroyed the jamming device."

"And what little you had been able to record was sent," Kanan added.

"It didn't matter…" Kallus started, but Hera was quick to speak up.

"It mattered." Her voice was raised, passionate. "It might not have given us a lot of warning, but even seconds matter in battle. We might have lost so much more if you hadn't…."

"NO," Kallus shouted, and then quickly stilled his tone. "Thrawn used the trajectory of my message." He paused, knowing what needed to be said but finding the words a jumble in his head. "He used it to find the Rebel base. I didn't save anyone. I led Thrawn to Atollon."

Zeb stepped closer. "He couldn't have found us with that alone."

"He had the trajectory of Dodonna's fleet as well," Kallus replied. After he'd said it, and witnessed the agony and remorse that flashed across Dodonna's face, he'd wished he'd broken that news with a little more tact.

Dodonna started pacing, his hand stroking his beard. "My fleet was being tracked? I led the Empire to Atollon?"

Kallus' vision blurred as he watched the General, and then the room felt like it swayed. He blinked hard, fighting to regain focus, but it did no good. He could feel fatigue shutting his body down. Eyes closing, Kallus slumped to the side and felt gravity pull him from his seat. He had no defense against it. His body refused to obey him, so he mentally braced for the impact, but none came.

"Karabast," a voice growled. "I could use a little help over here. I knew he wasn't okay."

He was dimly aware of points of warmth holding him. Hands? Yes, hands were on him. There was the sensation of movement. Blast it, was he being carried? Kallus fought harder to regain full consciousness. The struggle was infuriating.

"Set him here."

More hands were on him. His arms were lifted and he was surprised by the groan he made. He felt the brush of cloth rush past his head and a coolness settled over his upper torso. An inner voice called to him to give in and let the unconsciousness take over, but he fought against it.

"Whoa, that looks painful…"

"Ezra, go see if we have any medical supplies that can be spared."

Gently, he was lowered so that he was lying on his back. A delicate touch explored his face and head.

"There's a pretty big welt. He probably has a concussion." It sounded like…Hera?

With less tenderness, a large hand skimmed over Kallus' right leg. The pressure sent a jolt of pain shooting up his body. His groan was louder this time.

"Zeb! Be careful."

Kallus' stubbornness paid off. Through his intensive struggles to gain control over his body, he managed to get his eyelids to flutter open. Vision still blurry, he let his gaze slowly wandered.

"Hey."

Kallus' eyes drifted to the figure leaning over him.

"Take it easy, okay." Hera's voice was soft. "We're going to take care of you."

Still, Kallus fought to remain awake. He knew it was foolish. There was nothing he could do, but it was as if his mind was stuck in survival mode, refusing to give over.

Another figure drew near and, for a moment, Kallus' vision cleared. He could see Kanan standing beside him, hand raised, two fingers extended. The last thing he remembered before passing out was the lone word the Jedi uttered.

"Sleep."