There was a knock at the office door, and Tan'ya turned away from the window, waving a hand after a moment to open the door and see her guests in. M8-ID, her long serving protocol droid, led Admiral Hoves and General Seith inside.
...
"Gentlemen. Are we ready?"
Gon Seith nodded, though he didn't look happy about it, but Hoves looked completely at peace despite the risks of their plan. "Every ship is stocked, crewed, drilled and ready, Your Highness."
"And their communications?" Tan'ya asked. "Has anyone leaked the plan?"
"No, Your Highness. The men are only allowed to send written messages, which we review and delete any part that could give details to the enemy before sending them."
Tan'ya nodded, before looking at Gon. "And the smugglers?"
"As ready as they can be." He hesitated, then added. "It's too late to change our plans now, but maybe we can change your role in it? I'm worried about the risk to your safety."
Tan'ya considered the man, slightly annoyed that he still didn't see that there was really no other way. "I appreciate your concern, but who would you propose to replace me with?"
"Your Father would be able to-"
Tan'ya held up a hand to forestall him. "Father will be needed elsewhere, Colonel. He might be able to take on my role, but I can't take on his. I have been trusted with the security of Serenno and the Hydian, and Father has already approved of my plan. I understand that it's risky, but this is what we have to do."
"...I understand, Your Highness." Gon said, quietly.
"Now, if there's anything else?" Tan'ya asked, looking between him and Admiral Hoves.
"Just one thing, before I depart." Hoves answered, then took three wrapped cubes of stainer from his pocket.
Tan'ya took one for herself without hesitation, but when Hoves offered one to Gon, the older man hesitated.
"Something wrong?" Hoves asked.
"I'm not from Serenno." Gon answered.
"Yes, this is a great honor for you. Why do you hesitate?"
"I'm a Coruscanti." Gon tried to explain, looking to Tan'ya as if expecting her to understand, but finding her only watching the exchange curiously.
Hoves closed his hand, drawing the cube away. "Do you plan to return there?"
"Not me, no, but my first granddaughter was just born." Gon explained. "I want to know they'll be able to return."
"You stand with a foot in each world." Hoves said. "Know that I only offer this to you because of your granddaughter. Your daughter has married a man of Serenno, and your blood has mingled with ours. The future of you and your descendants is already here, with us. If you return to the Great Mouth it would be alone."
"Admiral Hoves," Tan'ya warned. "Though I agree the ritual is important, now is not the time for Gon to choose his family's future."
Hoves looked between her and him, before nodding once. He reached out, took Gon's hand, and dropped one of the cubes into it. "The time that you will have to choose is not now, but it is coming. Eventually you will have to eat this or throw it away, and then you will know what to do."
With a final bow to Tan'ya, Hoves left to depart on his mission, closing the door behind him. Gon pocketed the cube of stainer, looking after the man with a frown.
"These Serennoans are getting quite belligerent." He muttered.
"It was bound to happen, eventually." Tan'ya told him. "I understand that it puts you and the other Coruscanti in a difficult position."
"Yeah… difficult."
The reality is this was bound to happen sooner or later. The Serennoans hated and resented Coruscant, even more than most anyone in the Outer Rim. A decade ago they tolerated the Coruscanti presence on their world because they had a need for skills they did not yet possess. Now that time had passed and the Serennoans were increasingly ready to take on the roles they once depended on others for. Coruscant was still despised, but the Coruscanti who were here had a measure of good will built up, but there was a question being asked that had to be answered.
It was a question much bigger than Serenno. It was even bigger than the Alliance, and the coming war with the Trade Federation. Slowly but surely that question was going to reach every corner of the Galaxy, waiting on the tip of every tongue, and burning in the forefront of every mind. It was a question that couldn't be ignored, one that would tear this galaxy apart.
Are you on our side or not?
Tan'ya took a few more minutes to drain her cafstim, relishing the taste, before getting out her holocom and typing up a quick message. 'Fleet has been dispatched. Ready on our end.' She was just moments from leaving herself when the holocom rang. It was Hego's number, but despite that Tan'ya considered ignoring it. Everything was in place, all that they were waiting for was a casus beli. Did Hego want to change something now? Businessmen could be skittish…
She steeled herself, quickly checking to make sure her uniform and appearance were in order, before finally answering.
"Mister Damask, it's good to hear from you." She smiled. "But I am a little pressed for time."
"Then I will be brief." He assured her. "Reports have come to me that your father is planning an assault into the Ranroon Sector. I understand your role, but is a pitched battle with the fleet at Zygerria viable? I've invested quite a large amount into my part of this plan, and it seems to me to be quite the gamble."
Tan'ya hesitated for a moment. Part of her wanted to tell him that the military side of the plan was her and her father's business, but at the same time she did need to keep him reassured or all the whole thing would be pointless. No doubt he had his own advisors and informants speaking to him about the risks involved.
"You're right, it is a gamble, but a measured one. Holding the Trade Federation at the Salzin Tunnels would secure that entire front. The Zyggerian sector fleet would have a numerical advantage, but our own work with the smugglers has been going perfectly. They don't even realise how low their supply of vulture fuel rods, tibanna gas, and hypermatter really is. At this point, I suspect we have a better idea of the Sector Fleet's actual capabilities than Viceroy Grib Siv does. I understand the concern, Magister Damask, but I'm confident in this plan."
He considered her for a long moment, sucking on his long pipe. After undergoing a lengthy medical procedure, the damage to the Magister's lungs was repaired to the point he no longer needed the rebreather, but he'd taken to using his pipe as a prop instead. It was one of the few points against the man in Tan'ya's mind. What was he thinking, smoking after such a slow and expensive recovery? If she were in his shoes, she'd never breathe in so much as an engine fume ever again if she could help it.
"Very well." Damask said at last. "In the future, I would prefer you inform me before you gamble with my credits."
"Of course." Tan'ya agreed. "We will include you in the planning phase going forward."
He nodded once, appeased. "And what of the Jedi investigation? Any concern about the Coruscant Temple interfering?"
"Not a concern at present." Tan'ya replied. "They can only confirm what we already know, and Knight Prialla will be there to keep them honest."
"Very well. You seem to have everything firmly in hand." Damask tilted his head respectfully, before hanging up.
Tan'ya let out a breath of tension that she hadn't realised she was holding. With her allies placated, it was time for the real work to begin. She had a long trip ahead of her, traveling through some of the most remote and wild regions that remained in the Galaxy.