Hello dear readers, I know it's been a while since an update, but I have been quite busy in writing on this piece and other projects, so I thank you for your patience.

jafkdb: The 'We Love Each Other' series really is my baby, but thank you for the praise and I hope this update will be satisfactory.

Fanfic-Reader-88: Dusty can be stubborn, no matter the universe. They did finally get where they needed to get and some happy news all around, but such as the fortunes of war, it may not last.

Rating: T

Chapter 15: Change in Plans

Conference Room
ISD Relentless

Grand Admiral Thornesmith sat at the rectangular conference table, patiently hearing the latest reports from one of his staff officers—Marshall, someone he had dismissed and reinstated several times due to his own petty reactions—with a large video monitor behind him.

Marshall cleared his throat, a bit nervous in having to be the deliverer of bad news after reporting on the great progress of their advancements into Cardassian and Klingon space, then continued his briefing, "…In regards to Federation space… Howard's former command is at half strength and Brigg's forces… the late Admiral Brigg are down to half strength as well… along with losing the Geslok System. Howard's former command has hooked up with our forces stationed in the Sentria System while Brigg's forces rendezvoused with the invasion fleet of the Gorn's home systems."

Mason rubbed his chin as he studied the strategic map displaying behind his staff officer. The screen showed the upper portion of the Federation, the western portion of the Gorn Confederation, eastern portion of the Cardassian Union and the northern portion of the Klingon Empire, nearly twenty-five million square light years where Imperial forces were holding a tactile holding.

He remarked out loud that was a clearly disapproving tone, "We're strung out over a ten thousand light-year long front…"

Marshall wasn't sure if he was supposed to reply, but he answered, "Yes sir… we have successfully maintained connecting the three prong attack as the Emperor approved from the Imperial High Command."

"And stretched us out pretty thin in the process… any other news?"

The staff officer looked at his electronic pad then hesitantly answered, "Our contacts indicate that a Federation envoy has not only reached the Rebels to attempt to form some kind of alliance, but managed to rescue the princess right out from under Lord Vega."

The Admiral sat up straighter in his seat, surprised by both bits of news and curiously asked, "I wasn't aware that we had infiltrated the Rebels or the Federation."

"The Imperial Intelligence Service hasn't, but we have a few contacts in Vega's fleet."

Mason gave his subordinates a questioning gaze at the idea they had operatives spying on fellow fleets.

He nervously laughed and answered, "I thought it would be prudent to have operatives within his fleet to keep tabs on his movements since he isn't within the command structure. He's already a wild card to sound military doctrine and the only way for you to be able to timely adjust your plans to anything he does is with as much lead time as possible."

The Admiral nodded in approval, inwardly pleased that the staff officer was actually worth keeping around, and answered, "Indeed a prudent move… however, on to the matter at hand, so he had them then let them slip through his fingers?"

The subordinate tried to keep a smirk off his face as he continued, "Twice actually sir. Apparently he caught the Princess and the Federation delegation sent to meet her was able to rescue her off his own ship and get away."

The other senior officers started chatting among themselves and filling the room with soft hush of background conversation that such a daring act was even possible aboard an Imperial vessel, least long a command vessel.

Mason remained stoic, surprised just as much as his officers of such an occurrence happening, but wouldn't be appropriate to visibly react.

Marshall continued, "They tracked them down to a miner tibanna gas mining facility, but were able to escape again. Apparently they faced down Vega and…"

"And what?"

"Not only survived the encounter, but perhaps humiliate him… the leader of the Federation members got into a physical altercation with him and apparently won."

Mason put on a visibly surprised expression by such news. The other officers couldn't initially believe such a statement about the 'Fist of the Emperor'. No one outright defied Vega and only a few were not afraid of him to stand up to him in a professional manner.

The Admiral smirked and remarked, "I hope to meet this Federation operative…"

"I guess it all depends if Lord Vega can catch him first and route the Rebels."

Mason rolled his eyes and remarked, "Yes… if he can catch them. For all we know they've been invited to set up operations deep within Federation space out of reach of our advance."

One of the senior officers at the table pointed out, "If they have, they'd most likely burn through all their fuel to make it to the other side of the galaxy. A number of our forces had to be fueled up at the edge of our space before launching into this side of the galaxy.

"And I'm sure they'd find plenty of ways to refuel their hypermatter reactors in the field…" He took a deep breath and restated to his senior officers, "So the situation is that this Federation has grounded our operations to a halt, made contact with the Rebels and Lord Vega is out there as a wild card?"

"To sum it up in a word, yes."

Another squadron commander, a commodore with nearly jet black hair, interrupted, "I disagree sir. We still have ample forces to continue to press into Federation holdings."

A third squadron commander, a fairly young blonde officer that had more combat experience than his appearance would suggest, objected, "We are outpacing our supply lines." He looked to the admiral and continued, "Sir, we can sweep aside any force that we attack and leave everything in our way devastated, but we're being bogged down in securing our holdings. The local independent powers could swoop in for our spoils if we're not careful."

The second commander sharply retorted, "All the more reason to press now. If you're so concerned about holding their territory, why not just bypass their lines of defense and hit their home system. We force them to order a general surrender to all their forces and then we could secure the rest of their Federation at our leisure—their own military will patrol for us until we get forces there."

The blonde commander rolled his eyes and argued, "Do you think every planet in their organization would heed such an order? Their major planets could break away and join together to stand against us and there are thousands of their colonies that could supply them. It could cause them to scatter across this half of the galaxy like the Rebels. We'll be hunting them for decades."

Mason gently interrupted, "Gentlemen, gentlemen."

The commanders turned their attention to their commanding officer, deferring to him with subordinate nods of their heads.

"I thank you for your candor and your passion. You are testament to the professionalism of the service. I do have another idea to take into account our recent… setbacks. I'm going to cut them off at the knees."

The dark headed commodore asked, "Pardon Admiral?"

"Send out a priority message as follows: All Imperial units are to cease advancement into Federation space and consolidate their holdings."

The senior officers that were advocating that they slow down and consolidate the holdings looked pleased, but they became just as shocked when Thornesmith smiled and added, "I'm going to negotiate with them."

The entire command staff went utterly silent.

One brave commander asked, "I'm sorry sir, but… negotiate with them? Sir, our orders?"

"Our orders were to pacify this side of the galaxy so that they don't pose any kind of threat to the Empire and that is exactly what I intend to do. The Federation is very much like the former republic and is ruled by the humans here whether they wish to admit it or not; I intend to take advantage of the opportunity that it presents: eliminate the threats to us that are also their rivals. We could draw them into an alliance that we can manipulate in the future to have them formally join the empire."

"Would they go for such a proposition? We have invaded a number of their planets and repeatedly engaged their military forces."

"Politicians are easy to buy off, especially with what we have to offer. A few planets and a swath of space isn't going to make a difference when we'll open up the rest of the galaxy to them and all their neighbors crushed."

The command staff passed looks to one another, gauging nonverbally what the others were thinking.

Mason didn't wish for them to stew too long, especially if any of them tried to betray him, so he glanced to his head intelligence officer and asked, "Am I correct that there is an uneasy peace between them and the Klingons?"

The officer didn't need to look at his electronic pad to answer, "Yes sir. They've have been economic and military rivals for the last half of one of their centuries. As fantastic as it sounds, their war was stopped by a group of powerful non-corporal beings—practically gods. I've marked their star system in our charts in hopes to avoid their territory. If it wasn't for them, they would perhaps be in an all-out war right now."

The blonde haired commander advocating caution questioned, "Gods?"

"It may just be a cover story for each side to save face to their respective populations for them to have come to some kind of arrangement at the last moment before their main fleets engaged in their first engagement. We are still investigating the claims."

Mason nodded along, proud of his officer's sense of duty to find out the truth. He looked to the rest of his command staff and stated, "As I've ordered: we'll cease advancement into Federation space, consolidate our holdings and proceed to pacify the Klingons to secure our right flank and as a gesture as goodwill towards them. Hopefully, this will remove incentive for them to join together."

"What about the advancement against the Gorns? We're nearly at their homeworlds."

"Order them to cease as well. They're allies of the Federation and as they have spectacularly demonstrated with driving us out of the Geslok System, they're blood allies now and we've lost the main supply position to support such an invasion and carry out a pacification of their home systems and… we want to be nice with the Federation… for the time being," Thornesmith finished with a devious smile.

Chelsea every the dutiful secretary pointed out, "The Emperor may not approve of what you're doing."

He looked over his shoulder and answered, "The Emperor may have to accept it. As much as he likes to believe, he isn't absolute ruler yet. As much influence and back dealings and leverage he may have over senators, they could still cut him off at the knees. They still control the money, they control the industry and they still have the people to answer to if they want to be elected… and what the people demand is safety and security and if he does not give it to them… if he prevents us from giving it to them…"

What the Admiral was saying was nearly treasonous, but no less true. They answered to him, but the senate still gave them funding and paid them and they still had to be kept happy.

Thornesmith followed up, "Even the Emperor has his limits… now, find me a way to communicate with the Federation—their president directly. I do not trust any diplomat at the moment and make sure my orders are followed in Gorn space."

A series of 'ayes' answered the admiral.

Mason looked to one of his senior commanders and asked, "I can trust you to press our advantage with the Klingons?"

The dark haired commander that had pushed for advancement shouted out the loudest in confirmation.

Mason tightened his smile and stated, "Good, now… I have to talk to the Emperor."

Emperor's Palace
Coruscant

Nevel clenched his face as if he was a petulant child and demanded, "You're going to open up negotiations with the Federation? Why? You're supposed to be conquering them and the rest of that side of the galaxy."

Thornesmith patiently smiled and answered, "And that's exactly what I intend to do my Emperor. You have charged me with conquering the other half of the galaxy… not an impossible task, but a time consuming one where we've had unexpected setbacks along with some failures on Lord Vega's part."

The Emperor pursed his lips, displeased with hearing such news.

The High Admiral pressed his advantage, "It supports our stated policy that we're ending the alien threat to the Empire, by supporting another human government. It would be far easier to offer them membership with the Empire by buying off their politicians then to waste time and resources conquering a predominately human star nation."

"But we've sold the idea that the humans were simply a puppet government to the aliens—the Vulcans and Andorians—and we're 'liberating' them."

"Say the intelligence was wrong and scapegoat someone… say it was some alien senator—one sympathetic to the Rebellion attempting to undermine our government by making us look like bloodthirsty conquerors and turn people away from the Human First groups."

Nevel sighed, but reluctantly agreed, "The Human First groups have always been useful idiots… fine. Do what you think is best with the Federation, but we need this war to strengthen the New Order. Don't be making peace with everyone on the other side."

"Understood Emperor. We are continuing our push to conquer the Cardassians and Klingons which will keep the need for our military presence and hopefully be an additional bargaining chip with the Federation."

"Keep me informed Admiral," Nevel replied with a clipped tone before pressing a control to end the holonet image.

The brunette with a familiar face to Captain Benson and Nevel's secret partner stated in a cool tone, "I think there's more than he's letting on."

Nevel looked across the table at his partner in crime and answered, "I think so too… that's why I'm going there to see what is going on."

The beautiful young lady with pale skin and long dark hair slightly cocked her head to the side, clearly looking uncomfortable with the suggestion.

The Emperor slightly narrowed his gaze, picking up the expression and asked, "You don't think that's a good idea?

"Is that wise to leave Nora here? She's not the most… stable of people…"

Nevel sighed and relaxed back in his large seat. He drummed his fingers on the end of right armrest and asked, "And you think she would do something while I was gone? Push the senate in directions I don't want them to go… maybe push me out?"

"It's not beyond the realm of possibilities."

"I guess I'll have to take her with me… let the troops see their empress to boost their morale."

The young woman nodded her head and carefully asked, "So I'll stay here and remind the Senate to remain in line?"

"As you pointed out, it would be the prudent thing to do with her… instability." He snorted out and shook his head and added, "We wouldn't want to give those sympathetic to the Rebellion an opportunity to undermine us."

She nodded along in agreement and asked, "So, should I arrange for you transportation?"

"No, I'll leave at the end of the week."

The brunette knotted her brow and asked, "Why take so long?"

"Because I want to assemble a force large enough to remind any of my commanders that I am the Emperor."

The dark haired underling nodded her head and replied, "A prudent action in case Mason is actually setting up his own empire instead of expanding ours."

"My thoughts exactly."

He tapped another control on his desk and asked, "Get me the Imperial High Command."

As the Emperor got into a discussion with the Imperial Command, Megan Parker excused herself from the office to make plans of her own.

Presidential Residence
Paris, France
Earth, Sol System

The dark haired human woman of Indian descent in her later forties sat behind her presidential desk, feeling almost exhausted and it wasn't even eleven in the morning. The last few weeks had been the most stressful she had experienced in her life and she could swear she was seeing the first gray hairs in her dark locks. However, the recent news that was blasting almost twenty-four/seven on the news channels about the victories of Star Fleet after weeks of fighting retreats had given her and the rest of the Federation hope.

She was enjoying her moment of peace, but that was not to last as the door chimed to her office. She sighed and pressed a few fingertips to her temple before answering, "Yes."

The door opened and her trusted secretary entered followed the Secretary of Defense, Admiral Marcus and several other aids.

She didn't want to sound rude, but she couldn't help but sound it with a tiredness lacing her voice, "Yes Secretary, let me guess, more bad news on the front?"

"Actually Madam President, we have an interesting turn of events. Blunting two of their fleets has apparently it has gotten their attention. We have received a message directly from the Imperial Fleet addressed to you Madam President. They say they wish to speak to you about a cession of hostilities."

The President's furlong expression snapped to one in surprise that made her sit up straighter in her seat. "I'm sorry Mister Secretary, but did you just say they wish to negotiate?"

He politely nodded his head and answered, "Yes Madam President. Apparently they are quite eager to open those talks. They are waiting to open a channel to you as soon as you're available."

The granddaughter of a former Federation President was still reeling from the sudden turn of events. She tried gathering her wits and asked to buy herself a bit more time to process the news, "I thought we were too far out for real time communications?"

Admiral Marcus spoke up with a barely constrained sour tone, "Apparently they have some communication vessel deep behind the front that will be able to make it possible. They'll receive it through our subspace communications then send it to their command by whatever means they use to communicate."

The President sighed out, feeling a few years old just from the release of breath, "So not only do they have a strategic speed advantage over us, they can communicate with their field units than us?"

Marcus tightened his smile, not liking the disadvantage they faced, but professionally answered, "Yes Madam President, but the flexibility in training our starship commanders has been used quite effectively."

One of the President's aids spoke up with a borderline hysterical tone, "They've cut out a quarter of the Federation."

The Admiral gave a barely patient glance as he schooled him on the situation Star Fleet has been facing, "Our units have been outgunned, outnumbered, fighting against superior star drives that allowed the enemy to choose when and where to engage and mostly been the Second Fleet, a primarily non-combat fleet with the least experienced combat commanders and even then they were giving them a bloody fight until we moved up parts of the Home and Third Fleets."

Kannal held up her hand and cut off the argument before it got going, "Enough. Star Fleet has been going above and beyond the call of duty to defend us and they deserve nothing less than our utmost gratitude. Any discussion about what could or couldn't have been done is left to the historians for the next hundred years because right now I have to take advantage of their willingness to speak with us."

The room remained quiet for several moments, some thoroughly chided by her remarks and others quite pleased.

Kannal straightened up in her seat then looked to the minister. "Please set up a channel for me to speak with them."

"Yes Madam President."

The Minister of Defense handed a PADD to the Presidential aid and he aid walked to the communication console to activate the unit and followed the instructions.

The room grew silent for several minutes it took to send and receive an acknowledgement. Kannal sat poised, rallying her nerves and wits in what she knew would probably be the most important first impression in her life.

The view screen on the opposite side of the office activated and an older gentleman with a pepper of gray hair in a white military uniform appeared on the screen. He easily displayed the confidence of a military commander that was used to respect and winning.

He politely smiled, feeling confident, but amenable. "Hello, I am High Admiral Mason Thornesmith representing the Galactic Empire."

"Hello, I am President Qnorna Kannal of the United Federation of Planets."

Mason's smile grew larger and he answered, "Madam President, it is a pleasure to speak with you."

She wasn't entirely sure if he was being genuinely honest or just had a really good poker face, but that didn't distract her from being just as pleasant, "You as well Admiral. I've been informed that you wish to open a dialogue for the cession of hostilities between our two governments?"

"Yes I would Madam President due to recent developments and new information we have recently discovered."

Kannal refrained from pointing out that such a development was them finally being kicked in the teeth as she was a very good politician that was so good, she had major support from a majority of the other major political party. "What particularly new information has come to your attention to wish for a cease fire?"

"That the Federation isn't truly a threat to the Empire, but actually a potential ally and engaging in military operations against your star nation was a grave mistake on the part of my government."

Kannal refrained from being startled with the blunt assessment and barely passed a glance to the others in the room.

Marcus looked dubious, keeping a hand under his chin, but remained quiet.

"So your government has realized their mistake?"

"No, I have taken it upon my own to find a way to end this conflict and inform them of the change in circumstances. I do have the blessing of the Emperor to pursuit this avenue if it helps with the security of the Empire."

Marcus spoke up and asked with a hint of gruffness in his voice, "What made you come to this conclusion in wishing for a cease fire, specifically?"

The Imperial officer turned his attention to the grey and white dressed gentleman, instantly recognizing another spacer. "To whom am I speaking?"

Kannal motioned her head to Admiral Marcus and answered, "This is Fleet Admiral Marcus, Star Fleet's Commander-in-Chief."

Mason smiled and replied, "Ah, the commander that has made my forces bleed for every lightyear of space. I do salute your efforts as one soldier to another,"

The Star Fleet Admiral politely nodded, acknowledging the sign of respect.

Mason looked back to the President and continued, "In answering that question, I think it would be helpful to explain some recent history that has influenced the Empire's current policies."

He paused, waiting to see if there would be any objections for a brief history lesson. When none followed, he began, "I am not aware of how much you know about my star nation's recent history, but we concluded a galaxy spanning war just in the last few years, one that threatened the very foundation of our civilization. It was such a shock and we were on the precipice that our republic was forced to become an Empire and it made us paranoid, especially from non-human nations as the opposition side in the civil war was nearly exclusively led by non-human members of our former republic. Unfortunately, a certain amount of xenophobia has set in after the war."

He paused, allowing his audience to absorb the information. "Once the war was concluded, we reorganized and a number of non-human members were looked on with suspicion about whether or not there would be another rebellion, despite the Emperor's best efforts to squash such sentiment. However… when we found that other aggressive alien races on this side of the galaxy and humans apparently under their control, my government decided that a first strike was necessary to remove the threat and perhaps liberate our fellow humans."

Kannal carefully prodded, "And you realized your government error when you found out that the Federation doesn't enslave anyone? That we are joined together for our mutual benefit?"

"Yes, the same why our former republic was constituted and how the Empire still governs the same way, so we're naturally inclined to be on friendly terms with one another."

"It would have benefited us all if you would have just came to us diplomatically to determine such a case and avoid all this bloodshed."

Mason smiled an expression worthy any good politician and answered, "I am not here to discuss the wisdom of my government's actions. I am a soldier given a lawful order to defend my home and I have done my best to carry out such order… and wise enough to know how to adapt to the battlefield conditions."

Admiral Marcus quietly interrupted to prevent the president from digging her and the Federation into a hole, "So that is why you're waging aggressive war against our neighbors: the Cardassians, Klingons and the Gorn? Hit them before they hit you?"

"Yes as the Clone Wars started by the Seperatists building a secret army to blackmail the rest of the Republic to give into all their demands and a number of worlds were hit before we could prepare. We didn't want to be caught unaware again."

"The Gorn aren't an expansive star nation and wouldn't threaten you."

"Yes, I have recently become aware that the Gorn are your tentative allies, but the Klingons and Cardassians are not—especially the Klingons. Those powers are expansive alien empires that conqueror their neighbors—and would conqueror humans if given the opportunity, so for the security of the Empire, I will continue my government's objectives and must bring them to heel and eliminated their ability to wage war against my star nation."

Kannal reasserted herself into the conversation by asking, "And that would include outright annexing of their territory?"

"For the security of my people? Yes and I think it would go a long way in securing the same for your people. The removal of the threat of invasion from them certainly would be a positive development for you star nation."

Admiral Marcus maintained an impassive expression on his face to hide the fact that on one hand he would be quite glad to bring the Klingons to heel, but on the other, what kind of neighbors would this empire be towards them?

Kannal wrestled with the same dilemma as the Admiral about the pros and cons of the Empire annexing the Klingon Empire. The Federation owed nothing to the Klingons and in fact, had to spend a great deal of time, money and forces to blunt their advances in wanting to conqueror Federation space. They had murdered Federation citizens and taken hostages on several occasions along with boasting that they would conqueror half the galaxy.

"As practical as such a thing would be, the Federation strives to make peace with their neighbors without resulting in military operations whenever possible."

"And from my understanding of your geo-political situation, it hasn't been as effective as you've hoped. You're in a continuing struggle with the Klingons and I believe the Romulan Star Empire. However, that is best left to the politicians while I'm a soldier trying to carry out his orders… the spirit of his orders in this case."

Thornesmith let his words sink in for several moments before he pushed on, "Madam President, I have already ordered all my forces to cease advances within your territory—of course it may take time for the order to pass through to all my units as they are scattered across thousands of parsecs of space."

"I understand…" she answered with a nod of her head then finished with a diplomatic smile, "…as I hope you understand that our forces will continue to aggressively defend our space in the meantime."

"Yes… I expect nothing less from what I've seen so far with the valiant Star Fleet… unfortunately there may still be the lost of life during that time the orders filter through the rest of the fleet."

"Yes… I am willing to open formal negotiations with you, but we'll have many items to discuss for a formal piece, especially with annexed territory, the holding of Federation citizens and military personal. Of course, some discussion for reparations will be in order."

"So will we, but I'm not discouraged. I'm sure we'll be able to come to a formal armistice in a relatively short time then allow the diplomates to work out the details."

"We will inform you within the next day about representatives and a meeting place for such negotiations."

Thornesmith turned a charming smile on her and answered, "I look forward to your call Madam President. In the meantime, I will be making sure that my forces are observing a ceasefire and halting their advancement. Until we speak again Madam President."

The screen blinked and switched to the Federation seal.

The President slightly turned in her seat and looked to Admiral Marcus and the rest of the Ministry of Defense staff. "Gentleman… draw up plans on how to take advantage of this situation in case this is a ploy to lower our defenses. If we're able to counterattack, I want to be able to do so."

The Minister of Defense looked appalled and asked, "Are you not taking their offer seriously?"

"I don't know him Minister and don't know if his offer is genuine. It may be his way of us getting to lower our guard after our string of victories against them. He may have realized that he's over extended himself with us."

Marcus was quick to answer as he stood up, "Yes Madam President. My staff and I will begin drawing up plans immediately."

Kannal softly smile and answered, "Thank you Admiral."

The Admiral turned and the rest of the staff headed out the door minus the Minster of the Defense. He gave the President a weary gaze and clearly wanted to speak further on developments with the Empire.

USS Federation NCC-2100
Somewhere 'North' of the Capital Area

Vice Admiral Shay stared dumbfounded at the video screen as he sat behind his desk and processed the turn of events with Admiral Marcus's briefing.

Marcus gave him a sympathetic expression and finished up, "I know Steven, but that's how things have played out. The Empire is halting their advance and we've been ordered to cease all offensives against them."

Admiral Shay softly bit his tongue to hold back his initial response then answered in a more diplomatic approach, "We blunted their advance and cut off their main supply base for their advancement into the Gorn Confederation. This is the time to go on the offensive and press the advantage and perhaps push them out of Federation space."

"I agree with you on the strategic approach, but this is a political decision. The President doesn't see the point of pressing a military solution to the matter with their almost insurmountable advantage over us and them offering an olive branch."

"She's simply taking their word for it?"

"She's not being naïve though. Kannal wants us to maintain an alert status and draw up plans for an offensive if this is nothing but a trap and the negotiations fall through. We've been working on plans since I left the President's office."

Shay mentally patted the president. She may have been on the opposite side of him on the political spectrum, but she had always been a supporter of Star Fleet—though he knew the politicians had now wished for expanding the fleet when they had the chance instead of just a complete modernization of it at this moment—and putting the security of the Federation as her highest priority. However, there was a downside to the plan he felt necessary to voice, "That'll give them more time to prepare…"

"…it's give us more time to prepare, but there is a bright side to situation."

"That is sir?"

"They're hitting the Klingons and hitting them hard. They intend to annex a good chunk if not all of the Empire. They'd remove the threat of the Empire from us once and for all."

"And the president is fine with that?"

"She doesn't have a say in the matter as Thornesmith has made it quite clear that negotiations between us have nothing to do with his government's move towards the Klingons. I was there in the room when he made the case better than any other man or woman who had served on the Klingon border about how dangerous they are and the need to bring them to heel."

"But what kind of neighbors are we going to have if they do beat the Klingons? What happens when they think other aliens are a threat? What about my wife?"

"I don't understand."

"My wife is only half-human. The other half is Centaur. My youngest son is a quarter Centaur. My daughter is a quarter Centaur."

The Fleet Admiral nodded his head and attempted to answer his concerns in a fatherly tone, "I understand Steven. I have a daughter too—"

"But not an 'Alien' daughter."

Marcus raised a hand to try to calm him. "According to them, that wouldn't matter because she'd still be 'human'. What little intelligence reports we have, they have the same vast diversity of what could be considered baseline humans as we do, maybe even more so, so that's not the problem to them at the moment. They're concerned about truly alien governments being a threat to them as it was during their civil war."

"So are we dealing with a bunch of specists?"

"Actually, he brought up that there is an undercurrent of xenophobia within their Empire in the aftermath of their civil war, but it is something that they're trying to combat."

"Do you believe that?"

"I don't know yet."

Shay sighed and turned the conversation, "Okay, with what we do know, has the President considered the other political ramifications of making a deal with them? If they continue their push into this area of space while we sit idly by and tentatively ally with them, the other governments will turn on us. The rest of the Federation could decide to break away from human member planets and colonies."

"Look, I don't like this anymore than you do, but these decisions are being made by the politicians."

"Are they that shortsighted?"

"Perhaps, but we have our orders and we'll follow them… for the time being."

Shay remained silent on the point that perhaps Marcus would be coming up with contingency plans to prevent the politicians from selling the Federation out. "Aye sir, but what about Captain Benson?"

Admiral Marcus took a pensive moment then answered, "You pull him out anyway you can. We don't need them to have tangible proof that we were able to make contact with their internal opposition. It might disrupt any kind of future negotiations."

"And if they have found out about them? Do you think they'll just let it go that we contacted the rebels trying to overthrow their government? What if they decided that they're criminals for contacting them and want to have them tried? My daughter went with him."

Admiral Marcus took a deep breath then answered with command confidence, "I'm not going to hand your daughter over to them. That's what Admiral Fitzpatrick was for if we have to hand over a sacrificial lamb. We just need him and the others back."

Shay let out a slow breath then answered, "I'll send the order to our contacts and hopefully they'll be able to relay it to him."

"Good, just get them back safely. I'll speak to you when I have any news and contact me the moment we get them back."

"I will sir…"

"Marcus out."

The screen switched to a Federation seal between blinks of the eyes and Shay relaxed back in his seat. He took several breaths and contemplated his next moves in case any negotiations fell through. He turned the monitor back on and opened a channel to the bridge in the hopes of contacting his contacts to recall Freddie and the others.

On the other side of the monitor on Earth, Admiral Marcus relaxed in his seat and looked across his desk to one of his top operatives, Harrington.

The tall somewhat pale man answered in a distinctive British accent, "What if this is a problem? What if we do have to give him up?"

The veteran snorted out in disgust, "We'll find some other way because I'm not just giving up one of our former operatives to satisfy them and besides…" He turned in his seat and glanced out of the transparent aluminum window towards the San Francisco skyline with the Golden Gate Bridge prominent in the distance and finished in a grave voice, "…Shay would find some way, somehow to kill me if I did… I have no doubt about that…"

Harrington nodded his head, quite aware of Shay's exploits when he was an active member of Section 31.

Coresant's Sky
Brig
Rebel Alliance Deep Space Rendezvous

Beck was patiently sitting in the holding cell. He wasn't particularly happy, but he wasn't particularly worried either. He projected a sense of confidence that grated on a few of the people on the other side of the security door.

Shelby, Tori and Freddie stood directly in front of the door with the small window, observing the businessman along with Captain Burf, Sinjin and Dusty hanging back.

Shelby glared at the handsome businessman and sneered, "So you're the one that betrayed Tori to the Empire?"

Beck relaxed back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. "I didn't betray anyone. They figured out where Dusty did most of his business after identifying his ship and arrived just after they did. I had a simple choice to make: go along with them or they were just going to kill me and get someone else… then what would happen to the people of Cloud City… oh wait, I already know: they're under a military occupation for those that couldn't get away in time. A choice between millions of people and a handful of you… was it really that hard of a choice?"

The trio remained quiet at his justification for half a second before Shelby accused, "Wow, you'll say anything to wiggle out of responsibility."

Beck looked to Freddie and saw, as much as it pained the starship captain that he grudgingly agreed with the assessment.

"What responsibility? What loyalty do I have towards you and your rebellion? I'm just a businessman trying to get by in this Empire. You people seem to forget that you're the criminals."

The rebel commander mocked with a motion of her finger around the door. "Well, you can think about that while you rot in here,"

Burf took a step forward and asked, "What do you mean by rotting Commander?"

Shelby turned a surprised gaze to the ship's commander. He wasn't a particularly imposing fellow, perhaps even a little goofy even in his Republic Navy uniform that he continued to wear instead of the uniforms starting to be adopted by the rest of the Rebel fleet, but he was still the commanding officer of the ship and a superior officer. She politely smiled and answered, "Well, he'll staying as our prisoner."

"As our prisoner? For what crime? For how long?"

The Rebel commander knotted her brow and motioned a hand towards Beck, incredulously asking, "What crime? For what he did to Tori."

Burf glanced to Tori for a second then answered, "For following the laws of the Empire? For not being on our side? He's not a member of the Rebellion, so we have no authority over him. He's not a member of the Imperial military, so he's not a prisoner of war, so I will not illegally hold him. That is basically kidnapping. The only reason he truly is in that cell is that I haven't determined yet if he poses a threat to the operations of this ship."

Shelby tightened her smile and answered, "Respectfully, that's not your decision to make."

The afro-wearing captain sharply retorted, "As someone attempting to hold up the ideals of the Republic we're fighting for, it is my decision to make… and this is still my ship and you don't give orders to me on it."

Freddie held back a smirk, completely in agreement with the fellow ship captain. On a ship, the captain had the ultimate authority because he had the ultimate responsibility and any order by a superior officer still had to go through the captain.

Shelby looked to Tori, partly shocked and waiting to see if she would say anything. In her hesitation, the commander turned a glare towards Dusty and accused, "You put that idea in his head."

"What? I'm just reminded the Captain of his duty as an officer of the Republic Navy, something that he still clings to holding dear. You're the one acting in a criminal behavior."

Freddie interrupted with a grudging tone, "As much as I might feel a bit of resentment towards Mister Oliver for basically leading us into a trap… he was in a particularly tough situation of not just trying to stay alive, but his responsibility towards the people of Cloud City and… he's still a contact for the Federation."

Shelby was visibly sheathing at the Star Fleet captain for undermining her position with Tori. She just added the slight to the pile of concern for his influence with the princess.

Freddie looked back at her with a stern expression, not intimidated in the least by her demeanor.

Tori passed quick glances towards Freddie, Shelby and Burf and realized she was in a potential crossfire. She couldn't allow such division to foster in the Rebellion and not at this critical time where they needed an alliance between them and the Federation prosper.

The lovely princess turned a disarming smile to her friend and replied, "In light of Captain Burf's position and Captain Benson's need to maintain contact with the Federation, I think it would be best that Mister Oliver be released.

Shelby could understand the rationale and in a rational sense agree with it in light of the political ramifications, but she couldn't help to be furious with the situation. She tightened her smile and answered, "Setting aside what he did to you… We just can't let him go though. He might let the Empire know where we are just to get out of any retribution for failing to capture you."

Dusty took a step forward and offered, "I'll solve your problem. Once I'm ready to go, I'll take him with me and he'll be out of your hair."

Shelby turned a cold glare towards him and replied, "With how hostile you are to us, how do we know you won't sell us out for clemency?"

Dusty square his jaw, looking like he had been insulted by the accusation. "Use some common sense Commander. I will only depart when it is safe to do so for your fleet such as the next time you're prepared to jump to you next rendezvous point. We would leave and you would jump to parts unknown to us and you fail to consider something else."

"And what's that?"

"If you start considering everyone that doesn't support your rebellion as your enemy instead of potential allies, you're in a bigger mess than you thought."

The field commander bit her tongue, wanting to chew him out about him lecturing her how to run a rebellion.

Tori spoke up before things could become anymore tense, "Thank you Dusty."

Dusty returned with a slight nod and Burf walked over to the security cell and tapped the control for the door to open.

Beck stepped out of the cell, pleased with the change in his fortunes, but Burf quickly instructed him, "As long as you're on my ship, you will behavior yourself and not interfere with the operations of this vessel. If you do, you won't be going back in here, but simply out an airlock, is that understood?"

Beck tightened his smile, easily reading the perhaps less than intimidating young man and answered, "Yes captain. I won't be giving you or your crew any trouble."

Dusty nodded his head over his shoulder and suggested to Beck, "Come on before they change their mind."

The handsome businessman agreed with the sentiment and quickly followed the freighter captain out of the security area.

As he, Beck and Sinjin left, Shelby muttered to the others, "I really don't like that guy…"

Freddie asked with a raised eyebrow, "Why? Because he has a moral code that doesn't agree with you?"

Shelby narrowed her gaze on the starship captain and Freddie returned with an impassive expression.

Tori looped her arm with Freddie and suggested, "If there are no more interruptions, I'd hope we could have a proper dinner?"

Freddie returned the smile and replied, "I'd love that."

The Princess's smile grew and she pulled him along with her out of the room, leaving Shelby standing there nearly fuming.

In the hallway outside of the security center, Beck casually commented to his best independent contractor, "Thanks for having my back."

Dusty dryly answered, "You're welcome."

The long haired businessman wearily commented, "You don't exactly sound."

The freighter captain stopped and turned to face the slimmer young man. He cocked a smile and answered, "Beck, we've never cared for one another. You think I'm a self-righteous prick and I think you're a pretty boy asshole, but that doesn't mean they get to just toss you in a cell and throw away the key. Sometimes we have to make tough choices and you made one and I can respect you for that."

Beck nodded his head then turned the subject, "So what are your plans?"

"I'm going to take a once over of my ship to see if there are any repairs or maintenance needed to be done, reprogram my transponder and change some markings, get topped off with fuel then as soon as Burf gives me the clearance that it is safe, I'm getting out of here."

"Where do you plan on heading?"

"Probably somewhere in the outer rim and as far away from the Imperials as I can get, but I'm willing to drop you off someplace within reasonable range where you can get into contact with some of your business associates that are willing to hid you or help you run."

"You're too kind…"

"Beggars can't be choosers…" Dusty answered with a cocky smile then started back down the corridor.

Coresant's Sky
Medical Bay
Rebel Alliance Deep Space Rendezvous

Jade and Melanie waited patiently at one side of the medical ward as the medical droid was doing the final testing of Trina's prosthetic hand.

Trina looked down at her artificial hand as the medical droid tested the textile sensations in the fingertips with soft pin pricks on the fingertips. She frowned at feeling the sharp sensations just as well if she still had her real hand.

The droid turned away, satisfied with the test while the Starfighter pilot nearly made a face at it and rubbed over her fingertips to sooth the minor pain. She was amazed as she couldn't tell that it was an artificial hand. It made her briefly wonder if there was anything else was artificial about her if she didn't know any better. It was certainly a disconcerting thought.

Seeing that the examination was complete, Jade walked over to her and attempted to comfort the Starfighter pilot with a gentle bedside manner, "So how do you feel?"

Trina continued to rub her thumb over the pads of her fingertips and answered, "I feel fine. I can't tell that it isn't real."

"Hey, when we get back to Federation space, I should be able to get you a real one."

"We told you, cloning is highly regulated…"

"It's regulated in the Federation, but not at the expense to medically helping people. I should be able to fix you right up."

"You'd do that for me?"

Jade smirked and slightly nudged her arm, "You did try to save our lives. It's the least we could do for you."

Trina glanced away then down at her artificial hand and muttered, "I was actually failed miserably at it."

A voice called out by the entrance to the examination room, "It was brave thing to do. Going head to head with him. It takes a little bravery and a little craziness to do that."

The three ladies turned their attention towards the door to see Dusty propping himself up by the door frame.

Jade gave Dusty a curious gaze and remarked, "I'm surprised you're still here."

Dusty pushed off from the doorway frame and dropped his crossed arms to approach the group

"I have a few things to take care of before we go and besides, we can't just leave until they're ready to make their next jump and we don't risk their security."

Melanie cocked her head and slightly nodded, acknowledging the point.

Trina spotted the lightsaber hanging off Dusty's belt, noticing it for the first time. She glanced back up at him and asked, "So… you are a Jedi?"

"An ex-communicated Jedi. My beliefs are heretical to the Jedi order and they could only tolerate me for so long."

Trina cautiously questioned, "Heretical?"

"My interpretations simply didn't agree with Jedi orthodox. There are plenty of groups that worship the Force with their own beliefs that doesn't make the Sith if that's what you're thinking."

"What would those be?"

"There is no Dark Side of the Force; there is only the Force and it is up to the individual on how they behave. You decided whether to do good or evil."

The room was silent for a few moments then Trina looked to the other girls and asked, "Could you give us a few minutes to talk?"

Melanie's facial expression showed her hesitation, but she softly smile and relented to her friend's request. She headed out of the room and Jade fell into step behind her, pausing just long enough to patted Dusty on the upper arm and share a small smile.

Once the ladies had left the room, Dusty walked over and took a seat on a stool next to a desk across from the seat's left side. He casually asked with a smirk, "You want to talk about the bantha in the room?"

Trina knotted her brow and asked, "And what would that be?"

"That Vega isn't just a moniker for the great Sith Lord… he's your father?"

Trina stood up from the inclined seat and lazily started pacing about. She muttered, apparently trying to convince herself, "It's not true. He was trying to get into my head."

Dusty lazily lulled his head to the side and remarked, "He could be lying. He could just want you to join him so he could use you as a weapon and once Nevel is out of the way, he gets rid of you and takes over. Whatever the case may be whether he's lying or not about being your father, he's made the offer for you to join him to overthrow Nevel and rule the galaxy. That's something that can't be ignored."

"Ignored? What do you want me to do? Say yes to him the next time I see him?"

"No, you have to tell them what he offered you,"

Trina turned a sharp look to him and answered, "I can't tell them that."

Dusty deeply sighed then attempted to reasonably voice, "If they find out this from anywhere else, that he offered you that, they'll never trust you again. They can't afford to. Shelby was ready to blast me for thinking I was a Sith. What do you think they'll do to a potential traitor in their mists, especially one as powerful as you?"

Trina took a step forward and glared at him, sharply retorting, "How are they going to find out? Are you going to tell them?"

"The Force has a way of letting things happen. Someway, somehow they'll find out what he's done. They may put the pieces together as to why he wants you so bad. You should not underestimate the Force, you of all people trying to become a Jedi should understand that."

Trina pursed her lips and glanced down, feeling a little embarrassed being lectured to about the Force from a former Jedi Knight.

Dusty quickly followed up, "I would hope you have the decency to tell them. You deeply care about them—you went charging head to head with him in order to try to save Tori—and they clearly care about you. Does loyalty to them mean nothing to you?"

"They mean the world to me. That's why I want to be a Jedi: so that I can protect them. They say I can stop the Emperor, so… it's the Jedi way for me."

"So you don't even believe in the tenants of the faith?"

"I don't know. I'm see the results of it. I can feel it, but I don't know everything. Sikowitz didn't have time to teach me everything and Nug Nug… I was just starting to grasp some things, but others didn't make sense… why I couldn't question certain things. I had too many questions."

"I'll try to answer any other questions you have, but right now, the important thing is that you need to tell them and there is another reason to consider why you should."

"And what's that?"

"That Star Fleet captain, Benson… he's gunning for Vega now, so you might want to tell him that he's trying to kill your father."

"Why? Why would he want to do that? Everyone's afraid of Vega. No one in their right mind would want to face him."

"Because he tried to Force choke Jade—that pretty doctor that looked after you—and he's pissed about that. When you screw around with a man's woman, you're just asking for trouble."

Trina looked past Dusty to the door, knowing that Jade had already left, but couldn't help but feel her presence when the conversation turned to her. "I didn't realize they were together."

"They're not, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about her and he's out for blood. You can feel the Force is with him or maybe it's just the Lord, either way, your father has someone gunning for him that may actually succeed."

They fighter pilot deeply sighed, feeling the wait of the galaxy on her shoulders again. She looked up and saw in his eyes that he just might tell them the truth if she didn't. She didn't appreciate being strong armed into doing anything, but she realized that he had a point.

She pressed the call button and waited for a nurse or droid to appear. Several moments later, a medical droid rolled into the room and asked, "What can I do for you ma'am?"

"Would you please call Tori, Shelby and Melanie? It's very important I see them right now."

"Yes ma'am."

The droid turned and rolled out to carry out her request.

Author's Note: Well there are a few monkey wrenches for our brave heroes with Mason changing the rules of the game. The war certainly is going to shift and unfortunately, perhaps alliances and newly formed friendships.