NINE DAYS BEFORE

Galen was getting ready for his meeting with the Council. He'd rehearsed his speech in his head several times, and he decided that he was as ready as he could be, so he made an effort to try to relax his mind and let things run their own course. Whatever the outcome of the meeting would be, he and Cassian had already started to turn the gears on and there was no turning back.

And speaking of Cassian, Galen had been watching the captain attentively since the rescue mission on Eadu, and he'd concluded that he liked the man very much. He'd noticed the blossoming attraction between the rebel spy and Jyn, the exchange of longing looks and how the captain's demeanor softened every time he was around her. Galen found that he approved it, because he sensed that Cassian was man enough for his daughter, that he'd fight for her and protect her fiercely until his last breath. If the pair opened their eyes to their mutual feelings, then Galen knew that Jyn would be in excellent hands, and he hoped that the damned war would end so the young couple could have a chance at happiness together, like he'd had with Lyra. He'd lost the love of his life, but he would do everything in his power to pave the way for his daughter to be happy with Cassian in a galaxy free from the Empire.

And the first step had already been set in motion, even though that step, paradoxically, endangered Jyn's suitor terribly. It would be a miracle if Cassian survived. Therefore, in order to instill in the young man a strong instinct of self-preservation and a purpose to dodge death to the best of his capacity, he'd entrusted him with Jyn's future wellbeing. Talking with the spy, Galen had hinted at his and Jyn's mutual feelings and their need for each other. Galen hoped that that would be enough for the captain to put his emergent love for Jyn before his devotion to the cause. Or at least, to be able to reconcile both somehow.

Galen wanted Jyn to be as far from the fight and from danger as possible, but he'd stopped being a stupid idealist since the moment that bastard Krennic, whom he'd foolishly considered a true friend, had shown his true colors and from then on, the Empire had threatened and destroyed his family and twisted his career horribly. Galen knew that there were no guarantees that Jyn would be safe, but for as long as he kept breathing, he'd secure her survival. And that involved Captain Cassian Andor. No one would protect her with a greater devotion. Even if that implied sacrificing himself for her, of what Galen was absolutely sure. And if for pure luck, Cassian escaped alive the suicide mission against the Death Star, then perhaps happiness could be added to the mix, not just survival. The spark in Jyn's eyes every time the captain was around her spoke volumes.

Draven in person went to fetch him for the meeting with the Council. The general shot him a knowing look. They'd had a brief conversation just a couple days prior, in which Draven had revealed that he'd been aware of Galen's plan from the start and that he was supporting it clandestinely because he had sent an undercover agent who had confirmed the existence of the Death Star orbiting around Scarif. Draven admitted that he'd had Galen's quarters under surveillance and that he'd spied his designs for the flaw in the main reactor. A team of engineers under Bail Organa's orders were already working on deciphering them. The general had been straightforward and implacable as ever. If foul play was discovered, or if the scientist somehow was trying to screw the Rebellion over and lead it to a trap, Draven would make sure that Erso would think of death as a blessing he would be denied. Galen understood the terrible extent of that threat, because it implied that the cold man would target at any cost what Galen loved the most: Jyn.

Galen had stood his ground and held the hardened general's gaze unwaveringly.

They walked through the corridors in silence toward the conference room. The die was cast, one way or another.

Everybody turned to the door when Galen and his escort crossed the door to a room bathed in shadows, only lit by a display of screens and a round center console. He advanced to the place cleared for him in front of the console, scanning the occupants with a neutral and respectful stare. He was glad to see Bail Organa among the attendants. They'd met many years before, when he was still a naive fool who thought that he could work for improving people's lives. Bail and Breha had made a great impression on him, like the committed Alderaanian leaders they were. Organa nodded at him in greeting, with his lips stretched in a subtle smile. That friendly gesture instilled more courage in Galen. Beside Bail, Commander Mon Mothma presided the whole gathering with her reserved but ever-present air of natural authority.

She took the floor first. "This is Galen Erso, one of the most brilliant scientists in the galaxy, specialized in the properties of kyber as an energy generator. He alleges that the Empire kidnapped him fifteen years ago to force him to take part in a project to create a weapon of mass destruction. They call it the Death Star." Mothma paused and a choir of murmurs started to raise. Judging by the expressions on the faces of the councilors, it was easy to guess which of them were already aware of the news by their lack of a surprised reaction (they looked like level-headed and discreet people, most probably warned already about the counterattack plans Galen was concocting, and he suspected that Mothma herself, as well as Organa and Draven, were among the ones who had alerted those members of the council), and which of them had been left in the dark because they might pose a risk for the secrecy of the whole operation, if they were prone to panic.

Mothma lifted her arms and asked for silence, giving the floor to Galen. When the whole room was quiet again, he expounded his speech and shared everything about the Death Star and the way to destroy it. Such as he had anticipated, a few councilors panicked. Some of them denied the existence of the Death Star, branding Galen as a liar, and others began to talk about surrender and the futility to stand up to such a weapon, and no matter how much the councilors willing to fight back tried to make the terrified ones see reason. They reached no consensus and the ones in denial refused to trust the word of a traitor who worked for the Empire and was clearly trying to draw them all to a trap.

Mothma and Organa turned apologetic gazes at Galen, but there was a hint of acknowledgment and determination in them which soothed him. That look conveyed that they were in on his plan and weren't idle.

For appearance's sake it seemed, he was officially declared as a hostage of the Rebellion, what didn't come as a surprise or as anything different from what he had actually been (all his movements were being monitored anyway), and taken back to his quarters.

The feeling of disappointment was something he'd expected and it didn't change the course of things.

It was impossible to block the light of a star with a finger.

There was no way of stopping what was to come, something much bigger than whatever those understandably scared people might have imagined, but Galen wouldn't simply remain still and wait for the horror to be displayed throughout the galaxy. The horror he'd created.

The time to face his sins had arrived.