explosive_artist | Hera's medbay

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Hera's medbay

Kanan ran ahead when they returned, once they got Fenn Rau in custody and handed off to Commander Sato's men. Sabine followed a little slower, both to give them some alone time to reunite and to give herself some time to calm her nerves. It was okay, they finished the mission, captured a valuable hostage, and didn't lose anyone else.

Then why did was a worm of doubt gnawing at her heart?

Once at the medbay, she chimed the door just to make sure she didn't walk in on anything she didn't want to see.

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"Hey, rumors can be good intelligence if you double check them."

"Well, not the ideal path there, but we got access to through the system." She forces a smile before turning serious again. "I wish I knew more when I suggested the system."

And got you shot down.

"We all agreed it was the move to make," Kanan says. "Part of your mission was to get intelligence, and that always has risks."

Speaking of rumors, or the lack thereof.

"You did well, Sabine."

Maybe if things had gone better, Hera would be talking a little about the importance of following orders. But that's not happening right now.

Her eyes turn to Kanan. "You both did."

Sabine takes a moment to beam at the praise.

"If it's alright, I'd like to have access to our 'guest'. I don't know if it's possible, but I'd like to see if I can change his mind about the Rebellion."

"I think that's going to take time, regardless of anything else. Losing . . . "

It's not like Sabine doesn't know this, but --

"Losing can be hard, for people who believed that would never be them."

"You'd know better how to handle him than any of us."

She takes a short, sharp breath, but her voice is steady as she continues. "And that's what I'll tell Sato."

"That's certainly true." She is going to have her work cut out for, given they are from different clans, and she and Kanan did beat them.

The thought brings a smile to her lips. They won, got pay back for them hurting Hera, and didn't kill anyone. A win all around...unless you were Fenn Rau.

"It would be nice if we didn't have to keep him locked up too long, but I wouldn't count on it. I'll try my best though."

"I have faith in you," Kanan says.

They both do, really. Faith, or trust -- it almost comes down to the same thing in the end.

(But not quite.)

"And we know we'll do what you can."

Which means, she's not expecting any stubborn Mandalorians to give in quickly, either.

She shrugs off the compliments, not because she doesn't believe them but because they make her feel awkward.

"It might be good to plan out some scenarios for future 'diplomatic' missions. Just in case we come across another situation like this. I don't think we should leave ourselves hanging open quite so much though."

"The problem with that -- not that I think we shouldn't do some more diplomatic planning -- but every situation is different. There's only so far a pre-drafted plan can go."

His expression twists for a moment, because some pieces of history he doesn't like to refer to, but --

"Even the the most experienced Jedi diplomats didn't know everything at the start of a mission. We work with what we have. All of us."

Hera stays quiet for a moment after Kanan speaks, her eyes flickering to the ceiling.

"What we didn't anticipate," she says at last, quietly, "is that our potential ally already worked for the Empire."

Sabine's eyes widen in surprise and then close in acceptance. Why hadn't she thought of that? Because she didn't want to think of Mandalorians willingly working with the Empire. Which was foolish of her as she knows all too well the reality.

"Which is a pretty obvious thing to consider, now that you mention it." She exhales and shakes her head ruefully before looking towards Kanan. "Did you get to any diplomatic lessons? Are there typical things to consider or is it just make it up as you go along?"

"The war got in the way of a lot of things," Kanan says, after a moment of silence.

"But I did have some classes, and got to see a few examples up close. What I remember the most is using the library to research different planetary cultures, which -- not really an option now. And . . . try not to react out of your emotions, and consider the perspective of the ones you're negotiating with. It aids in communication."

There's an echo of someone else's cadence in his last two sentences.

With a small smile, "Still more than I had."

One wouldn't really call Cham Syndulla a 'diplomat.'

Sabine eyes Hera subtly as she considers her next idea, for once thinking before talking.

"Do we have any senators we might reach out to for suggestions or tips? Or maybe Commander Sato might have some contacts?"

"It's not a bad idea," Kanan says, attention turning toward Hera, as well.

(His look is not subtle.)

"Well... there's Senator Organa."

After their last conversation, she supposes she's owed some advice in return.

"But we have to be careful about how we reach out to him."

"Definitely. We wouldn't want to endanger anyone we reach out to." Sabine paces a step or two before turning to face them again. "We also should include Ezra the next time diplomacy is the call." She holds up her hands as if expecting an argument. "He has a way of finding the right words or actions to reach out to people. It's like an instinct he has. We'd be foolish to not use it."

"And if you tell him I said that I will steal Chopper's extra power cells and stash them in your bunks for him to find."

"That's assuming Chopper will let you steal his stash."

They've all met Chopper, obviously.

"And . . . it's not a bad idea. I'm not saying he should take the lead any time soon, but his perspective would be interesting."

And Ezra could learn a few things. Maybe it would even give him a reason to be less impulsive all the time.

"Sounds like something that would be part of Jedi training, too," Hera says mildly.

"If the war got in the way then, we can try to do some things differently this time."

Sabine looks over at Kanan to see his reaction before turning back to Hera. She takes a steadying breath. Hera is likely not going to like this next part.

"There's one more thing. I know we've been a crew and that is changing now. I just...we're more formal and almost a military unit now. I need to be clear that I am not certain I can follow an order to leave you behind again. I wanted you to know and I understand this puts you in an awkward position as a captain, especially when we are working with a wing and with those who have not been part of our crew. If you need me to work another wing or not be in any wing you command, I understand."

"You do the best you can, Sabine," Kanan says, giving a quick look to Hera. "I made the same promise, once, to leave her behind. There may come a time when we need to, but -- that's always going to be a choice."

It's one Hera has to make every day, too. For so many more people.

Hera's eyes flicker, from Sabine to Kanan, and then back again.

"I can try to help you avoid it," she says, the words coming slowly. "But I can't promise you that you'll never have to leave someone behind, Sabine. Whether it's on my order, or a choice you face yourself. That's a part of war."

She takes another deep breath, straining slightly with it. "There's plenty I regret about this mission, but - I had to draw their fire to get you two out of there. You're a great pilot, but I was the one who could do that. I don't regret what I did there."

She breaths in again, more relaxed this time. She really wants to serve with Hera and Kanan, to continue to be part of the Ghost crew even if they've become part of the Phoenix squadron, but a commanding officer needed her unit to follow orders without question. Admitting she might not be able to follow orders would have given any commander clear rights to dismiss her, at worst, or keep her from active duty, at best.

"I do understand that, and I am working on accepting it. I do promise to not undermine your authority with the other pilots if I have a doubt about your orders. I....it was just hard...I'm not ready to lose you, Kanan, or any of us. I know we're at war, and the chance is always there, but I'm not going to help it to happen."

"You're not alone in feeling that way, Sabine," Kanan says.

"But I think we all know what we've pledged ourselves to, here. What cost we're prepared to bear."

And maybe a little more than that.

"It's not a decision anyone makes just once."

"Anyone we lose here won't be the first family we've lost to the Empire," Hera says quietly.

"Not for any of us."

A harsh truth but one she'll have to learn to live with.

"Doesn't mean I'm going to not do everything I can to keep it from happening again." She takes another breath. "But you're right."

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Hera's medbay

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