Naraka had been in the middle of his ninth situation briefing in a row when General Tolmar's priority call had come in. Not one for bucking his schedule, he had the call held until the meeting was over, even though he had wanted a word with the General in any event. Now that she'd had a chance to explain the reason for her urgency, the fact of the delay certainly didn't help his mood.

"WHAT?" he demanded of the videophone in front of him.

"Obviously, I refused to comment and strongly warned against speculation," Tolmar's image said. "But I think we must regard the question itself as something of a warning that their outlet knows of the plan."

"I do not take warnings from the Dollet Times!" Naraka exploded. "They take warnings from me! I want an immediate investigation into how this information came into their possession; and if the media causes any difficulty for us in executing the operation, there will be hell to pay — beginning with their outlet being shut down!" His voice became a few degrees more calm. "You're the one they approached, so you handle the matter. No need to publicly draw anyone else into it."

"Of course, sir," said Tolmar. "But we should consider the possibility that the Times is not the only publication with knowledge of the plan, and others will certainly investigate after hearing this reporter's question. There's no way to warn them off the story without signaling that it has merit."

"Which is why you promptly find and severely discipline the source of this leak," said Naraka impatiently.

"Of course, sir. However, given the scale of the operation, it would take some time to conduct a comprehensive review." Tolmar hesitated. "Sir, it's hardly encouraging that word of the operation has reached the media before it has even been approved. We may have to consider it an operational reality that there can't be any guarantees regarding secrecy on an undertaking of this scale."

"We are operating at a serious force disadvantage, General, that can only be overcome effectively by surprise. Therefore, any threat to that element of the operation must be treated as a grave operational threat; is that clear?"

"It is, sir, and I agree. But should the operation be implemented, subsequent phases would be far harder to mask, especially with the media on the lookout." She shook her head. "At this point, I seriously doubt the Frostwater contingency is feasible at all."

Naraka narrowed his eyes at her. "There is no other deployment that can satisfy our goals as effectively."

"No," agreed Tolmar. "But the plan does leave little margin for uncertainty, and I fear we have already exceeded that margin."

Naraka was silent for a moment, fixing Tolmar with a wary look. "I understand," he said finally, glancing down at the report on his desk, "that the SeeD operation assisting our search force in Centra has been terminated."

Tolmar nodded, frowning at the sudden change of subject. "Yes, sir. By decision of the review officer; the SeeDs were becoming too curious about their target."

"Indeed, the report essentially concludes that they knew themselves to be tracking other SeeDs."

"Yes, sir," Tolmar confirmed.

"Yet I also understand that these SeeDs were simply taken back to the continent, and released." He eyed Tolmar. "I assume this was at your discretion."

"Their contract specifies treatment in the event of its nullification," said Tolmar. "There's no basis on which to detain them."

"You aren't at all concerned that they might return straight to Garden with this information?"

"I am," Tolmar said. "However, I don't believe we have any options at this point."

"And I imagine you had doubts regarding the wisdom of that operation as well," he said.

Tolmar blinked. "I'm sorry, sir?"

"The SeeDs represent an operational threat to critical ongoing and future missions," said Naraka, "including Frostwater. They should have been neutralized, or at least delayed from contacting Garden until they were too late to do any good. Instead, you have allowed them to compound the uncertainty that so concerns you." His tone had become dangerously harsh. "I know your opinion of my strategic policy, General, but until recently you have at least been competent in executing it."

Tolmar was clearly taken aback. "Lord-General, I simply didn't think it prudent to abrogate our contract with Garden over an operation that has yet to be approved."

"An operation you wish not to take place. General, I respond quite poorly to those who attempt to undermine my agenda."

It took Tolmar a second to organize a response to this. "Sir, I have no intention of undermining our national security," she said, "or your efforts to preserve it." Her tone, until now carefully even, was becoming strained. "But with respect, Frostwater was always only the most severe of several options, and others remain available to us. We have high-confidence reports suggesting that a policy of measured deterrent escalation could still produce a favorable outcome, given the political realities in—"

"That's enough, General!" Naraka snapped. "I will not consign Galbadia's future to political guesswork! Nor am I interested in hearing excuses for why a thing cannot be done! Now, you will find the traitor who has been talking to the press, and you will ensure that there are no others to follow; you will ensure that the media do nothing to jeopardize any element of our national defense, and you will accomplish these tasks without reservation, as I will hold you personally responsible for their success. This operation is critical to Galbadia's future, and it will be accomplished! Is that clear?"

For a moment, the two simply stared at each other through the screen. Then, Tolmar straightened. "Absolutely, sir. Will there be anything else, sir?"

Naraka's face had come within a few centimeters of the screen at times during the conversation. Now, he leaned back. "You've always been an effective officer, General. Loyal." He hesitated for the barest second. "But I do not have time for doubts or half-hearted execution. Once you have completed your business at South Lanker, report to East Academy to review the garrison there. General Sarden will take over your responsibilities."

Tolmar looked down, and almost imperceptibly shook her head. Then, she saluted. "Sir."

"That will be all," Naraka said, terminating the link.

- - - — — - - -

The day was turning out to be rather overcast, which wouldn't make their search any easier. They had been zig-zagging through the remains of the Timber forest since dawn, having left their vehicles behind when the terrain became unmanageable for them, without any clear sign of Squall or Rinoa. Even so, Quistis was sure they were getting close.

She had barely slept the previous night. The more she thought about it, the more sure she was Squall would be heading for Timber — it was at least somewhat familiar terrain, and he could at least potentially get medical care for Rinoa and find someplace to hide out, to say nothing of the possibility of linking up with the Forest Owls or another resistance faction that might be sympathetic. Given what they knew, it seemed to be his best option.

What this meant for her, then, was that they had to separate themselves from the Galbadians sooner rather than later. If they had to enter the city, they needed to do it without a Galbadian escort, so as not to alert the soldiers there of the circumstances surrounding their presence; and there would be no better opportunity than while they and a relatively small contingent of Galbadians were off in the woods, cut off from any support.

But sound as the logic was, the actual act of turning on their escorts was something else, especially as Quistis couldn't quite rid herself of the fear that she might be entirely off-base about Squall's actions, and wind up tipping her hand too soon.

"Sir!" called one of the soldiers, kneeling down by one of the smaller trees that was trying to grow amidst the burned-out stumps.

The Galbadian captain headed over to join him. "What is it, Private?"

"Broken stick, sir!" the soldier said, holding up the stick to demonstrate. "Could be a clue!"

Although Quistis couldn't see the captain's face, she was sure he rolled his eyes at that. She smiled despite herself.

While the Galbadians' attention was distracted, however, she swallowed and turned to her fellow SeeDs. "It's almost time to act," she said, sotto voce.

"Finally!" said Zell, slamming one fist into his opposite palm for effect.

"When?" asked Nida.

"On my order," said Quistis.

"You think we're getting close?" asked Irvine.

Quistis sighed. "I think so. Just be ready."

But Jeck was shaking his head. "This is crazy," he said. "We're seriously gonna turn on our employer to hunt down a renegade?"

"How can you say that?" demanded Paige.

"Hey, Squall never asked for our help," Jeck shot back. "He ran off and left us in jeopardy. If it was you or me who'd done that, you think anyone'd be running to help us?"

"Yeah, I do!" Paige said, glancing at Zell.

"Look man, Squall's our friend," Zell said. "So why don't you just shut up, okay?"

"Guys," said Nida, eyeing the dozen Galbadian soldiers in the area, some not all that far away. "We probably shouldn't be —"

"No, why don't you start using your brain, okay?" Jeck said. "Suppose Squall was trying to protect us when he ran off and beat the hell out of you and Quistis. What you're talking about would completely undo that, and Galbadia would probably retaliate against Garden!"

"Jeck, be quiet," said Quistis. "This isn't a discussion."

"I haven't even got to the part where it's totally against our contract," Jeck said. "So under what basis am I supposed to take your orders?"

"You know, I've really had enough of you," Zell said.

"Well, ain't that tragic," said Jeck. "This is idiotic, and so are you for going with it!"

"Hey, you take that back!" Selphie snapped.

"It's like the Sorceress got you all under some damn spell," Jeck said, looking disgusted. "She burns down a hospital and Squall wants to protect her, and you want to join her? What —"

His sentence was cut off as Zell shoved him, hard. Jeck stumbled backward, tripped over a tree stump, and fell on his back.

"Zell!" Quistis snapped.

"Her name's Rinoa," Zell told Jeck. "Don't call her 'the Sorceress.'"

Jeck got up, glaring at Zell. "Hell with you," he said, and took a swing at Zell's head. Zell dodged, grabbed Jeck's arm and used the momentum of his follow-through to swing the other SeeD around, then flipping him over his left leg; Jeck fell back to the ground, but managed to hook his own leg around Zell's and knock him off balance. He then threw a handful of dirt at Zell's face, and tried to kick him in the groin. He missed, striking Zell's hip instead, but still managed to knock him off his feet as well. Both of them were on the ground by the time the Galbadian captain came running up.

"What the hell is going on here?" he demanded. The other soldiers were closing around them as well. "Don't you people have any sense of discipline?"

"Don't worry about it," said Jeck, picking himself up. He was still clearly furious. "Just a little tactical disagreement. It's fine."

"The hell," said the captain. "You two are finished. Sergeant!" He pointed to one of the other soldiers. "Escort them back to the trucks!"

"What?" Zell demanded.

"I said, don't worry about it," Jeck growled.

"You're all on a short leash here," said the captain. "And I'm not bothering with anyone who can't keep themselves under control. Surrender your weapons."

A pair of Galbadian soldiers stepped forward. "Get off me!" Jeck snapped as one grabbed for his flail; he batted the man's arm away, and before Quistis could react, they were wrestling for the weapon.

"—Hey!" she shouted, but was too late to prevent Jeck from decking the soldier with a nasty swipe of his elbow.

And that was it. One of the Galbadian officers fired a single shot at Jeck from his arm-gun; it caught Jeck in the shoulder, but didn't injure him seriously. A second later, Irvine had snapped up his shotgun and unloaded both barrels straight into the soldier's chest. Zell sent both the Galbadians near him to the ground with a sequence of jabs powerful enough to shatter both their helmets. Quistis had her chain whip out wrapped around the Sergeant's neck before he knew what was happening; one swift tug, and his neck was broken. Paige and Karenna were sparring with a trio of soldiers for about four seconds before Selphie whacked one in the back of the head with her nunchaku, distracting another long enough for Karenna to drive a dagger in just under his chestplate. Paige hit the third with a Blizzaga an instant before she herself was targeted with a Firaga blast. Seven Galbadians were dead before anyone had a chance to think.

When Quistis did get that chance, the first thing she did was find the captain. "Regrou—" he managed to bark before she had shaken her chain whip free of the Sergeant and sent the business end of it straight toward his throat. He managed to stop the bladed end with his arm, but the force still smashed the radio she assumed he had been about to use to call for backup. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Zell taking on another one of the officers, a recovered Jeck finishing off the soldier he had knocked down to start all this, and the others teaming up on the remaining two. But she didn't have a lot of attention to focus on any of that, as the captain had recovered, and looked quite furious.

"Damn SeeD," he growled. "You been planning this all along?" He charged at her, swinging his gun-arm too hard and fast for Quistis to dodge; she twisted to deflect a bit of the blow, but still staggered under it. He took advantage, and cocked the weapon directly at her head. "Traitors!"

Quistis' whip lashed out again, wrapping around his arm; she yanked it off to the side as he fired, then delivered a jump-kick that was supposed to knock him off his feet. Instead, he took the blow, and whipped out his sidearm with his left hand. The shot caught Quistis in the side, and it was she who fell to the ground. The officer aimed to shoot her in the head this time, but she struck his legs with her whip, knocking him down as well. Her GF allowed her to shrug off the gunshot enough to hop back to her feet and kick the pistol out of the soldier's hand. He looked at her with a tremendously hateful expression, evident even with his eyes hidden by his helmet, and swung his arm-gun up, meaning to take another shot at her; but she had brought her chain whip down squarely on his neck before he could.

"I am sorry about this," she said, as he died. "It isn't personal."

She then looked around. All the Galbadians now lay dead, and the SeeDs were all on their feet, if bloodied and more than a little dazed. Jeck in particular was looking around at the scene, wide-eyed.

"...Okay," she said, doing her best to ignore how hard her own heart was pounding. "We need to get all their IDs, then leave the area as soon as possible. And look for a place where we can hide the bodies."