Alderaan
"Master It'kla," Kalla said with a big smile. Amidala turned to face their visitor, her welcoming smile turning to a frown as she recognized the sadness in his eyes.
"Ylenic," Amidala said softly, as she rolled the ball toward the three-month old Leia. The baby gurgled as the ball bumped her arms. "What has happened?"
Ylenic bowed his head. "Master Halcyon is dead." Amidala closed her eyes as she remembered the Jedi who had been her protector and friend. "I have sensed a great disturbance-I can't place it, but I can feel it." He glanced at Kalla.
The princess nodded, then left. Amidala knew the princess would eventually find out. "Master Halycon?" she asked softly.
Ylenic took a deep breath. "We tracked down a group of dark Jedi with a connection to Sidious...Palpatine. Kenobi hoped they would-" Both turned as the door opened behind him.
"Ami," Kalla said, "Master It'kla." Her voice was totally without emotion. "It's Caamas. The first reports are just coming in."
"Clones?" Amidala asked quietly. She picked up Leia, while Kalla went to comfort Ylenic.
"No one knows. I've ordered the Alderaan relief effort to prepare ships." Kalla glanced at Amidala then wrapped an arm around Ylenic. "I'm so sorry."
Ylenic's eyes were closed as he spoke. "Palpatine?"
"Perhaps," Kalla said. "The republic is reportedly sending ships. I shall lead the Alderaan fleet. I would like your help." This she asked Amidala.
Amidala bowed as Kalla left and prepared to follow. It was time for Leia's nap. Ylenic placed a hand on her shoulder. "Your daughter is indeed strong with the Force. I promised Obi-Wan...Ben that I would watch over her and perhaps train her when the time comes."
"I would be honored," Amidala whispered as that soft pain in her heart returned. "But it is not my choice."
"I understand." Ylenic bowed as he stroked the infant's forehead. "She is the future: through her and her brother the Jedi will survive the coming darkness."
She barely heard his last words. "The Jedi on Caamas?" she whispered. Amidala was one of the few people in the galaxy who were aware that the remnants of the Jedi Academy had sought sanctuary on Caamas.
"I fear the worst," Ylenic said with unusual pessimism as the baby began to fuss. Ylenic straightened. "She is sleepy."
"Perhaps," Amidala said. She couldn't help but wonder if the baby was simply over-tired or sensing the strong emotions in the room. She held her close and started to sing, unconsciously choosing a Naboo lullaby her own grandmother had sung to her so many years ago.
Caamas (4 months after A Lost Hope)
Amidala shuddered as the wind howled through the scorched trees and destroyed buildings. She couldn't believe the devastation-and she'd seen and survived the war with the Clones. The survivors of the little village were gathered in a motley collection of tents grouped around a large fire. Ylenic It'kla's face was a complete mask. Only the stiffness of his stance gave her any indication of how he felt. "I would be honored to meet your family," she said.
"It is a miracle that anybody survived this." It had been quickly determined that Caamas had not been attacked by some remnant of the clone armies. The destruction pattern was different, and not as complete. A great many of the Caamasi had survived. Someone had estimated maybe as high as thirty-percent of the population had survived, but the planet was destroyed. Fires still raged in the forests and the larger cities. Republic scientists feared the atmosphere would be completely depleted within a few years.
There were several shouts from near the tents, and a young Caamasi child emerged and ran toward them. "Uncle!" he yelped as he wrapped his arms around Ylenic's waist.
"Hello, Elegos." Ylenic hugged the child and then his other relatives as they approached. Amidala smiled at the happy reunion that seemed oddly incongruous, given their surroundings.
After the initial euphoria had subsided somewhat, Ylenic introduced her to his family. Their greeting of her was less enthusiastic, but welcoming none the less. The taller female placed her hand on Ylenic's shoulder. "Brother, it is good to see you alive."
He bowed. "Y'lgo, I have much to tell. Alderaan has agreed to establishing a settlement..." His voice trailed off. Amidala had been there when the surviving remnants of the Caamasi leadership had agreed to resettlement on several different worlds.
"Several planets have agreed to this." Amidala watched curiously as Y'lgo pulled away from him. "Kerilt has made the same offer. Their world is more like our own." The Caamasi female glanced at Amidala. "You must understand-we would prefer to live somewhere that reminds us of home."
"I understand all too well," Amidala responded. "I, too, am a refugee. Alderaan offered me sanctuary."
"I'm sorry," Y'lgo said. "I didn't know." She turned to face Ylenic. "I know you too well, brother. You will go to Alderaan."
He smiled sadly. "I made a promise, sister." Ylenic glanced quickly at Amidala, his look informing her in no uncertain terms that he would not accept release from that promise.
"I understand, Ylenic," Y'lgo said. "We shall honor you in our memories. Elegos will miss you most of all."
Ylenic hugged his sister, then his young nephew. "I would like to honor him with a gift." The child's eyes opened wide. "I have memories to share that must be saved for the future." He knelt so that he was level with Elegos. "Someday you will know what to do with it." Y'lgo nodded her agreement, then took Amidala's hand.
"The sharing of memnis is usually a private affair," she whispered. Amidala followed her quietly until they reached the fire.
"Memnis?"
"We Caamasi have an unique ability to share certain memories with others in our clan. By sharing a part of himself, Ylenic will always be with us."
Amidala smiled. It was a beautiful idea. She wondered what memories they shared, but decided it was far too personal a question. The female spoke quickly with another, then spoke again to Amidala.
"Our family would be honored if you would share our meal." Y'lgo took her hand. "It may not be much, but we won't take no for an answer."
Ben Kenobi stared at the ruins of the many buildings where the Jedi students and faculty had been housed. The destruction here was complete and total. There were no survivors. The new Emperor-and Ben was convinced that Palpatine was responsible-had acted quickly on his plans to exterminate the Jedi. Over two-thousand had died here. He reached down and ran his hand through the still warm coals, like he had on Coruscant so many months ago.
"Why?" A voice said. He stood to face the slim human woman.
"Mistress Gallia?" She had aged so much during the past year that he hardly recognized her. Her hair was graying and she walked with a slight limp.
"Obi-Wan Kenobi, don't tell me I've changed that much?" The quip was lost in the deep sadness of her eyes. She stared out over the rubble. "I don't understand."
"Hatred," he whispered. "The darkside has risen." He took her hands in his.
"I have sensed the darkside becoming stronger." She looked at him sadly. "I survived the attack on Coruscant and ran away-I should have remained. Perhaps..."
Ben shook his head. "No, if you had stayed, you would have been killed, too. I can help you..." He almost said flee, but instinctively knew that word would make her stay. "Leave. The Jedi are in grave danger." She looked at him sternly.
"I shall stay, I'm old..."
"Yoda would not call you old. Neither do I."
"There are not many Yoda would call old," she retorted. She motioned toward a young man and woman circling the building. "Master Djinn's former students. They served with the Chandrilan fleet." Ben nodded. He'd met the pair a couple of times during the war. "Geith has brought me disturbing intelligence." Her voice grew softer. "The one advantage of age is recognizing what is happening-even when it is too late. Emperor Palpatine is out to destroy the Jedi-Geith has brought me news of a secret project apparently ordered by Palpatine himself."
"Tell them to be careful and not to underestimate the powers of the new emperor." Ben hesitated. "You are going with them?"
"No, young man, I have more sense than that. They will investigate and report back to me."
"May the Force be with them," Ben said. "What will you do?"
"Help where I can." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Mace?"
He closed his eyes to block the sadness. "Dead. He died giving me time to escape from the emperor and his forces."
"I thought I'd sensed his death." Her voice became distant and lonely. "The Force is no longer coherent. The galaxy's despair is overwhelming it. Take care, Master Kenobi." She stepped away from him. "The Emperor's hatred of you is as great as his fear. He will not spare any Jedi, young or old."
"I know," Ben said as he glanced around. "I have never seen such power..." His voice trailed away as he remembered Mace tumbling over the railing on Spaarti.
"The darkside destroys-that's all it can do." Her voice carried a warning. "Do not succumb to the temptations of the darkside or you, too, will be lost to us." She smiled. "Your young lady is jealous?" Ben's head snapped up as he looked past the ruins. Baryl waved and then hurried over.
"She's here with CorSec," Ben explained.
Adi nodded twice. "I shall be leaving soon. Watch her carefully-a great sadness I sense about her. Farewell, Master Obi-Wan. Remember, I shall help where I can. May the Force be with you."
"And you, Mistress Gallia." He felt empty as he watched her walk away with the pair of younger Jedi. Another link with the past gone. "Farewell." The crunching footsteps of Baryl's approach shook him out of his musings. "Anything?"
"It's definitely not clones." She stared after the departing woman. "She should be careful. Palpatine is expected here tomorrow."
Ben swung around. "I didn't know." His mind raced to Amidala. She had insisted upon coming to this world, and unfortunately Princess Kalla had agreed, saying that Amidala's experiences in helping with refugees would be useful. "We have to get Amidala out of here."
"I've already told her. And you should consider leaving as well."
"I can't..."
"You have no choice. Ylenic will be going with you." She kissed him quickly. "Before you leave, Senator Bel Iblis asked that you join him and the others." She motioned toward the remains of a temple. "Be careful, Ben, he suspects that Palpatine has spies here."
"Who would have thought that," he quipped. She squeezed his hand.
"Take care. I love you." They kissed again before she returned to her team. Ben watched her leave, then reached out with the Force. No one seemed unduly interested in him, but it wouldn't be wise to become careless now.
As Amidala waited, she stared at the stars. Thousands upon thousands of stars. Many of the stars had planets. Most of these were inhospitable to life: either too barren, too hot or too cold; but a few were inhabited. She wondered if Caamas would someday again be capable of supporting intelligent life. The many scientists agreed that the atmosphere had been damaged, and there was no way to stop its loss. They figured anywhere from five to twenty years before the chemical reactions started by the unknown assailants destroyed the planet's atmosphere completely. There was even less time before it was too poisonous to breath.
A branch snapped behind her, causing her to start . She quickly pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. "Who's there?"
"You're a long way from the nursery," a woman's voice said. Amidala turned to face the red-headed noblewoman from Alderaan.
"I have experience in dealing with refugees," she replied calmly.
The other woman stared at her. "Who are you? I never heard of you before the birth of the Princess Leia."
"It is enough that Princess Organa and her husband know of me."
The other woman's expression remained cold. "Lady Ami, a widow..."
Amidala maintained a steady glare as she tried to remember the woman's name.
The red-head snarled. "My father had assured me that the position was mine. Imagine my surprise when I learned a nobody, not even a member of the royal court, had been given the position."
Amidala didn't bother with a retort. She'd had experience with this type before. As queen of the Naboo, one of the more annoying duties had been dealing with such petty complaints.
"Don't get too comfortable," the woman warned. "I have friends." She turned and left.
Amidala didn't bother to stare after her. She debated informing Kalla for three seconds and then decided against it. If the matter became official, there was a risk that her story might be revealed.
Ben quickly greeted the trio of senators, then took the offered seat. They waited quietly while Bail took out a jammer. "I had my quarters swept-but I've been informed that my staff has been infiltrated."
Bel Iblis and Mon Mothma nodded as Bail continued. "Emperor Palpatine has put together a committee to investigate Jedi involvement in the creation of the clones. The committee is made up almost entirely of his supporters."
"I've heard," Ben said without any surprise. "Palpatine is still-publicly-acting in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Republic. That will eventually change-and when it does, I want to have a way to help fleeing Jedi and other refugees who wish to escape."
"Risky," Garm said as he leaned forward in his chair. "Palpatine's spies are sure to find them."
"I'm open to a better idea, senators?" He glanced at Bail, then the other two. "Is there any chance we can expose him?" he asked, even though he knew what the answer was.
Mon Mothma stood slowly. "We're not exactly in high-standing with the Republic Senate. The few hints I've dropped have either been missed or, as in the case of Senator Brial, simply raised questions about my sanity." She shrugged. "Our best chance is to try to limit his power. Garm's bill is gaining support."
"Was," Garm said. "I've been informed that since news of Caamas broke, three governments have dropped their support. They're scared."
"Of the wrong thing," Mon Mothma said angrily. She gripped her hands tightly around the arms of her chair.
"And the Sullusti government has voted to rejoin the Republic," Garm added quietly-Ben could sense an aura of fatalistic resignation. "We're too weak and too broken to fight back. The Clones devastated the Republic." Ben understood. It was easy to see the devastation of planets like Y'mala, Naboo, and Caamas, while the real evil remained hidden behind the galaxy's fear.
"In the chaos, darkness reigns," Bail said as he quoted an ancient text-Ben couldn't remember exactly which one. "Alderaan will help with your plan." Ben bowed, grateful for the support. The other two senators also offered aid. Ben wondered, though, if the Corellian senator knew how involved his planet already was.
Baryl took the offered drink from her boss and new partner and sat down. She wasn't surprised to discover Horn had a bottle of Corellian brandy with him. "Sir, the two Jedi will be leaving in an hour. What about the Emperor?" She glanced at the tiny green light blinking on his chair. Rostek Horn turned and nodded. She quickly switched the jammer off. If there were spies-and she rather suspected the young lieutenant who drove Horn's transport-they would become suspicious if the jammer was left on for too long.
"Emperor Palpatine will be arriving tomorrow afternoon. His advance team is keeping the actual time a secret." His shrug indicated his opinion about that. "Damage report?"
"The temporary Jedi Academy was completely destroyed, as were most of the government buildings and temples. The upper atmospheric suffered severe damage. This attack was not the work of the clones-it had more finesse."
"If not the clones, who? Is this the beginnings of a new war?" he asked.
She shook her head. She didn't think so; it felt more like the final salvos in an old war.
"Like Y'mala," she continued with her report, "The planetary shield generators were destroyed before the attack began." The two events had other similarities-she didn't think they were mere coincidence.
"I see." He made a quick motion and she swiftly turned the jammer back on. "And?"
"We don't know who was directly responsible for destroying the generators on Y'mala-and, I suspect, we may never know."
"I understand." They both knew that Palpatine was involved, but proving it would be extremely difficult and dangerous. "On the other matter, I have a few contacts who would rather not deal directly with me..." She smiled at this. His contacts were some of the better smugglers. "I made a few promises, and they will help. The Carok case."
"Drop it, sir?" She groaned inwardly as she wondered just how many such deals they would have to make in order to effectively run the escape routes. The Carok brothers were a couple of inept burglars with some interesting contacts. "The forensic evidence was contaminated before we could complete the tests."
"That will do. I'm sorry, Baryl." It had been her first case after returning from her so-called extended leave.
"Can I ask with whom you made the deal?" she asked even though she had a pretty good idea.
He shook his head. "Just be careful-when his agents..." He paused and looked around. "And watch my pilot."
"Sir." She switched the jammer off and they returned to their analysis of the attack.
Emperor Palpatine stared at the destruction of the Caamasi homeworld and felt nothing. The destruction was not as complete as he would have liked, but the point had been made. The galaxy was a dangerous place, and only a strong centralized government could offer the necessary protection. He would have smiled, but the officers and senators gathered around him would have become suspicious. He didn't need the Force to tell him that some already were. Senator Organa and his small group of followers stood slightly to the left of the crowd, watching him warily.
"Your Majesty," the sallow-faced admiral said as he snapped to attention.
"Admiral Tarkin, you may dismiss my security escort."
"Sir? That would not be wise."
Palpatine did smirk at this. Little did the recently promoted admiral know just how unnecessary his security force really was. Tarkin clicked his heels and motioned for the two blue-robed guards to depart. The Admiral then hesitated for a second before he too did a snappy about face and departed. Palpatine probed him with the Force. Ambitious, savvy, greedy-all attributes he would exploit in the coming years, but Tarkin might be a little too ambitious. He would bear watching.
Senator Brial of Coruscant bowed as he approached. "Your Majesty, it is truly a great calamity."
"It is," Palpatine answered as he looked around again. "The Galactic Republic must help the Caamasi and all the other refugees." This was a foregone conclusion, as was the fact that once again most of the galaxy would allow a greater massing of power on Coruscant. He didn't bother acknowledging the challenging stares coming from his left-Organa and his followers were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. One he would like to remove, but it was too soon for an "accident" to happen. He continued to listen with a solemn face as Senator Brial described the relief efforts.
"Colonel Arasta?" The young man reached out and touched her shoulder. "You are Colonel Arasta?" Baryl just nodded, more than slightly annoyed at the intrusion. She handed the container to her assistant.
"Yes. You are?"
"Oli Varsh, Coruscant Hourly News. What is Corellia's interest in Caamas?"
She waved toward the devastated landscape. "We want to find out who did this, to prevent it from happening again."
"So, you don't think this was a clone attack?"
"We haven't eliminated that possibility, but preliminary evidence suggests it wasn't."
"Will CorSec be making their report soon?"
She glanced at her assistant who quickly nodded, then left. "Our efforts will be coordinated with the other investigation teams. There will be a joint report when the investigation is concluded." She tried to maintain a patient outer exterior, but a cold draft caused her to shiver.
"And the galaxy's right to know?"
"That is not my decision."
"And the rumors of Jedi involvement?" The reporter quickly entered something in his notepad.
"Nonsense," she retorted. "The Jedi are the protectors of peace."
"I have sources who say there is a senate subcommittee investigating Jedi involvement."
She gave the reporter a thin smile that conveyed her disdain at that notion. "I for one find it..."
"I understand you carried out a secret mission for the Independent Alliance just before the end of the war. What was that about?"
"To find the secret Spaarti base of the clones."
"Did you?" The reporter whispered.
"Read the official account of that for your answer." She knew full well that her presence was not in that report-but that her two Jedi companions were named as being conspirators.
"The truth is not always in what you read." The reporter's voice was even softer. She stiffened at his next two words. "The Sith."
"There is no evidence of their existence."
He waved her off. "Yes, I know. They all died a thousand years ago." His tone implied his curiosity. "What do you know?"
She hesitated as she listened to the sound of approaching voices. This was not a conversation to be having in public, especially with the new Emperor now only a hundred meters behind her. "That this can be a very unhealthy topic."
"I did my research. Eleven years ago there were rumors that the Neimodians were backed by a Sith Lord-isn't it convenient the viceroy died and the others were isolated on a planet under embargo?"
She ran a hand through her hair. "I would not..." She closed her eyes. "You should be careful. *If* the Sith exist, they wouldn't want anyone to know." He stared at her, started to ask something, then nodded.
"Thank you, Colonel." She didn't bother to correct him-her sideways promotion into the civilian branch of CorSec was still very recent. She didn't wait for him to change his mind. She almost ran to where her assistant stood. The dark young man handed her a datacard.
She gripped her hand around the card as she glanced back at the reporter. She turned away quickly, hoping the young man understood her hint or that the blue-robed guards prevented him from talking to the Emperor.
Alderaan (6 months After A Lost Hope)
Ben rubbed his face as Senator Organa responded to yet another interruption. He took several deep breaths. The Emperor's timing was impeccable. Bail was extremely disappointed that during the two months since the destruction of Caamas, the majority of the senate was again strongly behind Palpatine.
"I'm sorry," Bail said as he returned, letting the door slam behind him. "The Calamari are worried."
"They should be," Ben said as he stood. "Palpatine is ruthless."
"They still refuse to rejoin." Bail clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes focused on a spot beyond the Alderaan palace walls. "I don't know if I should try to convince them to return or stay far away." He shifted and stared at Ben. "You saw what he did to Caamas." Neither man commented on the lack of evidence of Palpatine's involvement.
"Evil for evil's sake. I don't understand it either." He remembered Yoda's words from a decade earlier, 'Hard to see the darkside is.' Even after he knew exactly where to look for the evil, it was still hard to see.
Bail exhaled. "I fear..." His voice trailed off, and Ben realized that Bail was also worried that Palpatine would strike at him and their allies. The senator looked at Ben hopefully.
He shook his head. "I've not seen anything." He did not feel the few glimpses of the Future he'd seen should be shared with anyone else.
"I understand." Bail took another breath. "There are rumors..." He hesitated. "Of a presence on Coruscant."
"I see," Ben said, he turned away from Bail. He'd heard a similar story from Garm just a week earlier. He suspected that was why Bail had wanted this meeting on Alderaan, safely away from prying eyes and ears. "What do the rumors say?"
"Nothing really, just shadows in the new Imperial palace," Bail snarled the word imperial. "Visitors feel uneasy." He pulled several round items out of a pocket. "And these." He tossed them toward Ben, who caught them easily. "Listening devices."
Ben glanced at them quickly. "High quality."
"And no, I can't prove anything. Political games have a long history on Coruscant." He almost grinned. "We've all done it. Knowledge is power. But there are unwritten rules. I found these in my apartments. Garm and Mon Mothma have found similar devices." He held out his hand and Ben tossed them back, using the Force to make sure they landed in Bail's palm.
"There is more?"
"That's harder." Bail cast the devices on his desk and again stood at parade-rest. "I find members of my staff where they shouldn't be-always with very good reasons."
"Palpatine has always been more subtle." So had the Sith in general. For a thousand years even the Jedi hadn't suspected their existence. Though with hindsight, maybe they should have. He amended that thought. *Most* of the Jedi hadn't suspected anything.
"But the game has expanded," Bail said. "Others are becoming involved. Ever hear of an Armand Isard?"
Ben shook his head. Bail continued speaking. "I met him on Caamas. He's Palpatine's man. He was asking questions of my staff that were totally unrelated to Caamas."
Ben grimaced as he imagined what kind of questions. "You'll have to be careful. You opposed Palpatine earlier. He'll target you and the others."
"We know," Bail said quietly. "We met with him before departing Caamas. I no longer know if I'm seeing threats in everything he says-or if they really are there. He talked of galactic unification under a strong, central government as being the best way to preserve the peace and prevent similar events from happening to other members of the Galactic Republic."
"The threats are real. I should have done more." Ben said quietly, his thoughts in the past. How many times did the Jedi miss a signal or a disturbance that should have told them that the Sith had indeed risen?
"Don't," Bail said, guessing his thoughts. "Let the historians lay blame. Right now we need to focus on the here and now."
"And to be mindful of the future," Ben added with a sad smile at a long ago memory.
"Yes."
Corellia
Baryl pointed toward the Coronet City space port quickly, while making sure the three children and the dark-skinned woman understood where they were to go. "Remember," she said as she handed them their new travel documents, "Avoid talking with anyone." She knew from experience that people traveling under false documents tended to give themselves away in conversation. She hoped that Jedi training would keep the kids from blowing their new identities.
"I understand," the woman said quietly. The three children nodded their heads. "I'm their nursemother and we are returning from a vacation on Corellia." Baryl could sense the woman communicate with the kids via the Force. The youngest, who looked to be around eight, bit his lip and Baryl again wondered if he was about to cry. The older two had that same stoicism she'd come to associate with Ben when he was bottling up his emotions.
"And be careful using the Force. You never know who might pick up on it." She smiled at the woman's quick look of surprise.
"Point taken," the woman said softly. "And thank you." She glanced around the crowded street. "I'm still not sure I understand why all this is necessary."
"The less you know, the better." Baryl glanced around quickly.
"I know Master Obi-Wan fears the Jedi are in danger..." The woman's voice trailed off. "And I know there is a growing hatred of the Jedi. But..."
"That's the simple answer," Baryl responded. The oldest child listened carefully-the other two were more interested in their drinks. Baryl started to say more, but decided her first impulse had been correct. They didn't need to know the whole truth. "May the Force be with you," Baryl said quietly as the ersatz family headed toward the space port. She waited a few seconds before heading back the way she'd come. Treasure Row was not one of her favorite areas, but it was busy enough and unseemly enough to hide them. She waited for her shadow escort to catch up.
"Well done," he said. "It worked?" She turned. Rostek Horn rubbed some of the grime off his face.
"Very well. They said there was a minor glitch on Commenor." She grimaced slightly. "I still think we should remove Commenor from the route. I didn't notice anyone following us, except you, sir."
"Good." Horn shook his head. "Commenor could be a problem." They continued walking and kept their voices low. Both were lightly disguised to avoid casual recognition.
"Well, considering their official positions on the Emperor and the Jedi..." They headed toward CorSec Headquarters. The holonet reports had announced just that morning that Commenor had passed a law imposing stiff fines for speaking out against Palpatine.
"Commenor always had a soft spot for despots." They both smiled. She'd met Lady d'Aryl once-it had been enough.
"I never understood why they sided with the Alliance in the first place."
Rostek chuckled. "Never underestimate what inbreeding can do to the mental processes." He became serious. "They wanted their independence, but wanted to be on the winning side even more. The core worlds will probably become the Emperor's staunchest allies in the coming years." They started to walk faster as the first drops of rain began to fall. "I need a favor," he said as they rounded the corner. She almost stopped in surprise.
"Sir?"
"Senator Bel Iblis wants a security check run on his staff. And right now there aren't many I know for sure..."
"I understand. And the Express?"
"If it can't run on its own, we'll have to fix it so it can. There are some non CorSec people who I've recruited." Rostek's frown grew darker. "Considering the Diktat asked Bel Iblis to withdraw his bill..."
"Understood." She frowned. She understood too well why the senator wanted his staff investigated. "Sir, am I doing a public investigation or will this be on the quiet?"
He smiled. "Colonel, I'll leave that to your discretion, but if at all possible..."
"Quiet."
