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[jedi_interrupted]

Flying through hyperspace, Ahsoka meditates. Trying her best to accept the recent loses Gall Trayvis' betrayal causes and yet honor the memory of those taken; not to mention explore possibilities of rescue. Loses are part of any conflict but some can be made to be temporary and she owes it to her people to try.

Her thoughts are interrupted by a comm signal. Checking the codes, she sees it's the Spectre cell and so she calls over T4, her assistant droid, while pulling out the cloak. "Fulcrum protocols, Teefor."

"Very well, madame. Transferring voice control." T4 walks over to the holocomm projector and waits.

Turning back to the main controls of her ship, Ahsoka answers the call, her voice now distorted through the protocol droid's voice synthesizer, "This is Fulcrum."

Comments

[for_everyone]

Hera's resting her head in her hands as she waits for the comm to illuminate. The news from the others, with no leads on Kanan and no way to access the Imperial network, had drained her more than she had expected. She hadn't quite realized how much she'd had riding on them finding something.

She lifts her head quickly when the hooded image lights up her cabin.

"Fulcrum, this is Spectre-2."

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka pauses to center herself, to reach for serenity, as the fear she's felt when contacting any of her people as of late.

"Acknowledged, Spectre-2. I've seen the broadcast. Inspiring, if dangerous. It's message is spreading."

[for_everyone]

Hera takes a deep breath, in her own way trying to center herself. "The Empire seemed to think so. They've destroyed their main comm tower here on Lothal, and taken their entire data network down with it."

That's what's most relevant to the mission. But it's not really what she wants to say first. Hera leans forward toward the hologram, lowering her eyes as she speaks.

"But they captured Spectre-1 during the mission. He held them off to save us, and now we don't know where they're holding him."

[jedi_interrupted]

Unseen, Ahsoka closes her eyes in despair. For a moment, just a moment, she's back ten years ago when the devastation of Order 66 hit the Force.

"I'm sorry," she says through the droid.

[for_everyone]

Hera takes another breath, eyes still lowered, though they flick back up to the hologram after a moment.

"We all are. But there's still hope."

It hurts to say this, but --

"They'll be holding him for interrogation, and that gives us time to find him."

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka pauses again, to think and assess. She wishes she could charge in, saber blazing with clones at her back, but those days are gone. Now she has nothing. She's worked with less but now she has the cause to think of.

"We can't lose Ezra to the Empire. Not this soon after that broadcast. If he's caught, the Empire will use him to crush all you gained. All Kanan sacrificed for. Kanan knew the risks."

She hates the words as she says them but tactically, they are sound.

"I can't provide any resources. Not at this time."

[for_everyone]

The words flash through Hera like an electric jolt. Before she can speak, or really think on these words, she's shaking her head.

"I know, I'm not asking you to. But Ezr- butwe can't give up on Kanan, not while there's still a chance we can save him."

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka breaths out slowly, wishing she didn't have to say her next words.

"I understand, but you may have to. However you move forward, take time to look at all your resources and information. Don't go in without a plan and an escape."

[for_everyone]

In better days, Hera might have made a light comment about the going in always having a plan, but the getting out not as much.

But these are not better days.

"We'll have to find him, first. I've got some ideas, and I know the crew has others. We'll just have to see which bears fruit first."

[jedi_interrupted]

"No. I don't think that is wise. Kanan knew the risks, accepted them. I'm sorry, but you must focus on your next objective."

Staring at her hands, Ahsoka wonders how she got the be someone who could say these words, to advocate leaving someone behind.

[for_everyone]

"But Fulcrum, Kanan is our objective."

Hera straightens from the comm, taking a step away from it, stubbornly trying to push back against her own doubts. "We can still find him."

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka breathes out again, slowly, and closes her eyes.

"At what cost? You? Your unit? The overall mission? There's something else, Hera. I already told you the transmission Ezra was able to beam out has attracted attention, not just from civilians, but from the highest levels of the Empire."

[for_everyone]

That news should be cause for excitement, for an upswelling of interest, for an increased sense of resolve, because it succeeded, their plan . . .

"It was Kanan's plan."

All Hera can feel is a dull sense of resignation, a faint speck of hope offset by increasing worry.

"I guess it worked."

Unfortunately that doesn't mean anything good for their ability to find him quickly. Not with newly-awakened and interested Imperials at their back.

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka crosses her arms, giving herself a little hug.

Not without sympathy, she says, "Your mission was to be unseen, unnoticed, and now...."

[for_everyone]

There's a flare of rejection in Hera's chest, and even though she knows Ahsoka's words are true, still she says --

"Kanan wanted to inspire people. He wanted to give them hope."

If there's going to have be a legacy, if they're never going to see him again, let there at least be that acknowledgment.

Because Hera can see clear as day where this is going, now that she's letting herself think about it.

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka sighs again and uncrosses her arms, resolute.

"Well, he was successful," she says, her tone matter of fact before turning persuasive. "But if you are caught, if Ezra is caught, that hope will die. To protect your unit, to protect Ezra, you must stop your search for Kanan and go into hiding."

It is a suggestion, but her opinion is clear. Whether Hera decides to act on it is up to her now.

[for_everyone]

Hera doesn't speak. But she does listen.

At what cost. She'd told Kanan what had happened on Ryloth, after her father and his fighters brought down the Perilous. It had cost them everything. His followers were scattered, or killed. The Empire had come down on Ryloth like it never had before. And the Emperor lived. One crashed Star Destroyer - winning one round - it could easily mean nothing, if nothing sparked from it.

Kanan wouldn't want that. He sacrificed himself so that they wouldn't die for him. And if they went after him anyway - what did she want? What was she really gambling her crew's lives for? For Kanan. Or maybe, what she's been setting aside, ignoring for years.

I like to think if we did hit the worst-case scenario -- at least the kids would be able to get away.

Fulcrum's image disappears, as the comm flickers, and goes dark. Hera steps back, slipping down onto the bench against the wall of her cabin. Soon, she'll have to stand, to go to her crew, to explain her decision. But for now, she leans forward, resting her head in her hands.

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka sits quietly, her words sitting like ashes on her tongue. The silence lasts long enough T4 interrupts it with an inquiry.

"Mistress Tano?"

Shaken from her thoughts, Ahsoka turns and offers the droid a tight lipped smile before inspiration strikes. "T4, get me the Senator's aid. I want a meeting."

Things have to change and as far as Ahsoka is concerned, this will be the last time she has to give that advice.