"Sentinel, I think there's been another threat made"
"Perfect just what I need right now" (sighs) "I don't want to know the specifics do I?"
"Nope, but you need to know so here's the message, just arrived by the way"
"Has the ship said anything yet in regards to just how long we've been down here?"
"No, but the Captain is asking for more frequent updates, he now wants them twice a day instead of once a day, something about needing current information if he's going to act on it in time"
"Fine can you pass on a request to our security chief that I want Doland, Katsu, and Michi off this planet? They're good officers but it's for everyone's safety that they are permanently removed from this security assignment"
"Very well, but they won't leave until you get replacements you know that right?"
"I know which is why I am asking you to request that. I don't know the current situation on the ship which is why I haven't made that request myself"
"Well you should get the replacements within the hour, if we're lucky"
"Got it, I'll wait until then to send those three up, and don't worry they already know that they are being sent back to the ship and even why, but the reasons behind that will have to be in their reports I'm too busy right now to write my reasons down right now and they know it"
"By the way the doctor is wondering if you're keeping up with your meditations"
"Yes, it's even easier this time because of the fact that everyone has two hours before evening meal to reflect on the days activities, no business is conducted at that time except what counts as emergency services here, I meditate during those hours so that I can keep a very delicate balance in my life"
"Just remember that if you start to lose balance again you have orders to let us know so that you can regain your balance"
"I know and I completely agree with that policy"
"But what I want to know is exactly why everyone let it get as bad as it had"
"Easy, for my part I initially didn't realize what was happening and by the time I did it was beyond what I thought was the point of salvaging, for the teachers and those in charge they had no idea just how important meditation was because I had yet to explain that to them in my debriefs. The day of the simulation simply brought everything to a head where there was no other choice but to talk about meditation because of the mental breakdown I had been working on since about the second month in the Academy"
"Basically what happened to you needed to happen so that they fully understood the importance behind Jedi meditation?"
"I guess, though we'll never know since things happened the way they did"
"Well I will send in your request, it should be answered within the next few hours but if not it should be answered by late tomorrow at the latest"
"Understood"
The next day she got her replacements and things actually calmed down after that, eventually getting to the point where Starfleet presence was no longer required on the planet and the Yoshimaru was allowed to go on other missions. Most of those missions went well though there were times when things went wrong but everyone managed to compensate for the problems, but at night there was a different story in Portland's quarters because several months after the incident she started to have visions while she was meditating, visions that she didn't fully understand until a new mission popped up three weeks after the visions started. In the conference room
"As you know this is only a peace mission to see if they are ready to join the Federation but I will warn you that their history is strife with civil war, they believe that since they haven't had any battles for over a hundred years since they first started trying to reach for the skies they are ready. I also understand that they have been having issues with food lately and that they are trading with other worlds to provide for their people and also have opened up with everyone both in the Federation and their own people behind some of the reasons behind their periods of civil war which is very helpful is proving that they want peace and are ready for the Federation. Portland I want you to use your usual routine to get a feel on these people"
"Sorry Captain, I have a feeling it will be better that I use the Force inhibitor bracelet so that is out the window for now"
"Any reason?"
"Just feelings mostly, some meditation issues have popped up that have interrupted a good nights sleep but it's under control, if not I would have reported to the doctor I promise. I also think that there should be no telepathic races I don't know why but I just get that feeling, it could be nothing but it could be vital to everyone's safety"
"Very well, now then Lt. Collins I need you to..."
Eventually the debrief finished and Ashland put on the Force inhibitor before she left the bridge, and went back to her quarters for a few moments because they still had half an hour before they reached the planet. Finally they reached the planet and the away team assembled in the transporter room and went down for what would be a very long three days, because from the beginning there were issues that plagued the mission. Most issues were minor and easily solved but there was one issue that wasn't going to be solved so easily
"Why didn't you tell us that there were people fighting entry into the Federation before we arrived?"
"Because we didn't think they were that dangerous or would do anything with Starfleet presence, as it is you're lucky you don't have anyone telepathic or empathic on the planet because they would be the main target instead of anyone in uniform"
"If you're going to have a conference explaining things then we're going to need more security"
"Fine, but we'll be the main providers is that understood?"
"Fine, maybe this conference will stop the rebels and you will indeed be recommended for entry into the Federation but I am making no promises"
"I know and understand"
Sadly the conference did the exact opposite of what they had hoped and once again Portland was declared killed in action. An Ensign was heading to the area of battle that Ashland was in when he heard an explosion and went as fast as he could but all he found was a crater where her weapon lied, he grabbed the weapon determined not to leave it behind
"Goodbye Sentinel Portland, your sacrifice will not be in vain"
The Ensign quickly reports back to his superior officer
"Where's Sentinel Portland?"
"Dead"
He shows his superior the lightsaber as he said that
"I understand, get this back to the ship and report directly to the Captain"
"Yes sir"
The Ensign does as ordered and is quickly dismissed after reporting Ashland's death. The Captain accesses Portland's file and after some hesitation declares her deceased and that's when he got a notice that he had an urgent messaged tied into Ashland's file and he quickly accesses the message
"Captain, if you are hearing this message than that means you have declared me dead, that's actually to be expected which is why I have this message in the first place. I'm sorry for not telling you during the debrief but for the past few weeks I have been making separate personal logs in regards to the visions I have been having these past three weeks during meditation and those logs are also linked to this message. I know that what you will hear will disturb you especially considering the agreement that I made with Starfleet from the beginning but I felt that it was best to keep it hidden in case things became worse if revealed. I also have another confession to make, there might be a slight possibility that I am not dead like you have been told but am actually alive just in hiding. If that is the case then I will find a way to let you know but only you can know the truth for Starfleet's side of things, I might not be able to reach the Jedi Council so if I am alive let them know I have made contact, they will explain things further when you do. If I have died like you have been told yet you can't find a body make demands until you do find my body and then report that to the Council, they will need to know either way though if I am dead you will not find out why you needed to contact them. Captain one more thing, what I am going to reveal in these logs is only a possibility and as such is to be deemed classified to a certain clearance level, Sentinel Portland signing off"
The Captain leans back in his chair and silently prays that Portland was alive and would make contact soon, in the meantime he had a planet to deal with so as to get a search for her body just in case someone killed her and then moved the body. He also starts listening to the logs and quickly realizes why she wanted them classified because the possible future that she was seeing in meditation was dangerous to reveal because they could bring it by doing something opposite from what would be needed to prevent that future, though the explosion did actually happen there was a small possibility she was alive and that helped mute the pain of her possible loss
"I wish she could have felt that she could tell me as per the agreement she had from the start with Starfleet command but I understand why she didn't"
A few days later the search for Ashland's body wasn't going too well but at the same time most of the people opposed to joining the Federation realized that joining the Federation would actually be beneficial for their people and finally agreed to it
"At least some good has come out of all the bad"
"Yes, have the people found any sign of Portland yet?"
"No, and they're wondering about our telepathic and empathic races because it was only the dissidents that had issues with those races"
"They will be allowed on the planet but always paired up with another that doesn't have any mental abilities and at the first sign of trouble regarding that they are to return to the ship immediately"
"Completely understandable and understood"
Suddenly another officer spoke up
"Sir an unknown person is hailing the ship and for some reason I can't trace the signal"
"In my ready room"
He goes to the ready room and is very pleased at the face that he sees on the screen
"Portland I was beginning to wonder if you were alive or not"
"Sorry Captain, I've been a bit busy down here doing my best to make sure that I am not discovered before I even begin my mission"
"What mission?"
"That will take too long to explain right now but just know I am on a sanctioned mission, which was given to me after the log where I mentioned talking to the Jedi Council about my visions, tell Starfleet Command about it and also inform the Jedi Council I am alive and ready to start the mission at my discretion per their instructions"
"Understood Sentinel, and good luck"
"Thank you and I will do my best to report to you on occasion that I'm still alive"
"Very well, if I don't hear from you within three months you are dead to us understood?"
"Yes sir"
The Captain quickly contacts Starfleet command about Ashland being alive but on a top secret mission for the Jedi Council, and that if she doesn't make contact within three months she's dead which ended the conversation quite nicely since part of the alliance was that Starfleet didn't interfere with Jedi missions and Jedi didn't interfere with Starfleet missions, the only exception in either case was if the two missions intersected and then it would be up to the Jedi to decide which mission took priority. Once the conversation with Starfleet ended the Captain contacted the Jedi Council about Portland and was given the basic gist of the mission she was currently on
"I see and you couldn't tell us because of what reason?"
"Simple, while the future may always be in motion we had a feeling it was best to leave Starfleet out of this one just in case there was trouble that you needed to focus on, though we honestly didn't think she would fake her death"
"It is what it is Master Skywalker, I'm just glad she's alive though I am not happy about the fact that I might have to consider her dead in three months if there is no contact but it is what it is. I will keep all of this to myself but I have to keep the search teams going for another two days then we have to abandon the search for her body"
"Got it, what about Starfleet Command?"
"They understand she's on a classified Jedi mission they won't do anything unless the situation warrants their interference"
"I understand, hopefully she will be able to finish the mission early however be prepared for her to be considered dead for months if not years, and I think you might want to keep an eye on your new member considering all the trouble you've had"
"Oh they aren't officially members yet they're just recommended for membership, it might be that their membership will be delayed until we can be positive that they meet all the qualifications and there are no more rifts in regards to joining the Federation"
"A wise policy, we'll be in contact if something comes up on our end as always"
"Of course, oh and tell our representatives that they are about to be replaced with some fresh volunteers it's been decided that our representatives will only serve three to five years depending on their family status and both of them are married"
"Will do, we'll tell them today since they are meeting with us about some things they feel are important to the Federation"
"Okay I will contact you if asked for by the Federation or if the mission ends and Ashland pops up again in our lives"
Communications are cut and the Yoshimaru leaves the area going to their next mission, which in light of their loss was easier than what had been originally planned, instead of dealing with warring factions they were going to help another of their planets with a medical emergency that had been confirmed by the leaders of the planet. Meanwhile Ashland stayed on the planet where she had been "killed" and slowly started gathering intelligence from the shadows on how the planet was adjusting and also if any were Force sensitive, while doing this she had actually been discovered by an official who almost broke her cover if not for the fact that she quickly dragged them into the shadows with a hand over their mouth
"Easy, I don't need you revealing me right now, due to the fact that I am on a top secret mission I need you to promise that you won't tell anyone of my survival until I say so"
"But when will you know when the time is right?"
"Don't worry I will know but for now do I have your word you won't reveal me?"
"Yes you have my word I won't say a word about your survival to anyone without your permission"
"Very well I will show you the way out of this area however I will have to blindfold you so that you don't accidentally reveal my location, oh and if people start suddenly disappearing don't worry most likely there are death threats on them and I have whisked them away to safety"
"Fine, if that happens do I have leave to at least reveal that someone is working in the shadows to keep people safe?"
"No you do not, now then get ready to be blindfolded"
Several weeks later the official hadn't heard anything more about Portland and honestly didn't think anything about it until people suddenly started disappearing just like she had said, and what's more it was discovered that there were indeed death threats against them due to people still not sure about the Federation and the fact that there were telepathic and empathic races involved. The main reason behind that fear was that they thought that their thoughts would be read unwillingly and there would be no more privacy whenever those races were around, even if it was only through touch, those that disappeared were people who were doing there best to explain how things worked with those races and they weren't being listened to very easily. In an unknown location