I slumped back in my chair, my stomach churning. I hated the look of pure trust and hope that had been on both Sammy and Pavo’s faces. They were at so much risk, Pavo could be whisked away to a fucking training camp at any second, but still, they trusted us to get them out of there.

No, they trusted me.

That’s why Aquila had let me decide how much to tell them and hadn’t intervened at all. It was because all of the pressure for them was on me. They trusted me to be able to get them out and if we failed, it would be my fault. I knew that if they got taken there and we weren’t able to get them, it would be on me. Because of a mistake that I had made. Maybe I hadn’t noticed something in the data or hadn’t acted quickly enough.

It was just like when we were on the base all over again. I didn’t act quickly enough. I trusted that we’d be safe there, despite the danger, and because of that Peggy had been taken. If I had just acted quicker, if I had just been smarter, we would have all gotten away safely.

I wouldn’t let it happen again. I wouldn’t sit back and trust that other people could rescue the kids on the base. They were my responsibility, I knew what it was like to be there and I could do something about it.

My eyes met Andy’s and a plan started forming in my head. A list of questions, things that I needed to keep an eye on or to know before we acted.

Peggy, how are you feeling? I asked before saying anything.

I needed her to be feeling better, to be able to work again. It’s not that I didn’t trust Orion, of course I did, it’s just that I knew how good she was. How good they could be together. They wouldn’t let anything slip through the cracks.

Okay, she thought hesitantly. Why? Is everything okay in there?

She sounded nervous and I wanted to reassure her but my brain was moving too quickly.

Yeah… just working out a plan, I replied, already moving on to the next worry.

Anything you need us to do? Cory asked. I can come up from the medBay, I was just going to have a nap anyway.

Relief fluttered in my stomach. It felt like I’d barely spoken to Cory since the funeral. He’d thrown himself into his work in the medBay and had barely even sat down to rest. I understood. He was working so that he didn’t need to think and, although I was worried about him, I couldn’t really say anything. I was doing the same.

Would you want to come on a mission with us? I asked.

Yeah, are we going now? he replied without hesitation.

No, I sent back. Just planning for the future. We’re going to rescue the kids still on the base. We might need a ship doctor, they look pretty beaten up.

There was a pause and I waited worriedly for his reply.

Just tell me when and I’ll be there, he thought back grimly.

Okay. But I need you to get some rest. I trust you, you know that, but you’re going to be a part of this mission and I know that your reflexes are worse when you’ve not slept, I told him, knowing that he’d complain.

Aries, he thought weakly.

Cory, you know I have a point. I love you and I know why you’re doing this but you need to sleep. You can’t live on caffeine and pills forever.

There was a pause and I knew he was looking for an excuse.

Set up a bed in our room, Cory, Cas thought, his tone gentle yet firm.

Why not ask Chal for some sleeping tablets? The ones that stop you from dreaming? Peggy added softly.

There was another pause and I was tempted to say something but I knew I had to wait.

Okay, Cory thought finally, sounding dejected.

Take my bed, I told him. I’ll set up a cot for myself when we’re done here.

No, it’s fine, Cory objected weakly. I can set up a bed, I don’t mind.

Cory. That was all I needed to think.

There was another pause.

Thank you.

Relief washed through me and I looked down at the screen I was clutching in my hands. I wasn’t even sure how long it had been there or who had handed it to me but now I presume it was Andy. He knew I liked to make notes when I was working out a plan or thinking through lots of things.

Andy was watching me but Elliot and Aquila were talking. I’m not even sure what they were talking about but I knew that Andy was making sure he was available to answer any questions I had.

He was putting too much trust in me too and I wasn’t sure if I deserved it.

Okay. First issue was getting Peggy into the war room to stay on top of all the information coming from the base and to make sure that Freo don’t miss anything.

I wanted Orion too. Peggy couldn’t work constantly, she needed to sleep and so did he, even if he seemed to not appreciate it. Ideally, someone else too. The three of them could cover each day and night if they are careful about how many hours they were working.

A big team would be good but it also meant that things were more likely to be missed because of a lack of communication.

I looked up, meeting Andy’s gaze.

Aquila and Elliot fell quiet, as if knowing I was about to speak.

“Can Peggy start working in the war rooms to monitor what’s going on at the base?” I asked bluntly.

There was no point in hiding what I meant or beating around the bush.

I looked at Aquila, unsure if I felt hopeful or just worried.

“Is she ready to start working again?” she asked.

“She says she’s feeling alright. If Orion, her and potentially someone else can work together to monitor the base, it shouldn’t be too strenuous,” I said before quickly shooting a thought to Peggy.

Peg, would you be okay to start working in the war rooms gathering intel? You’d be in a team.

I didn’t need to be near her to know that her face lit up and she gasped.

Yes! If they trust me to, I’ll do it! she sent back without hesitation.

Aquila leant back, her lips pursed.

“She’ll have to be monitored,” she started. “The room is never empty so there will be people there keeping an eye on her. I want her to use a specific screen and all her keystrokes will be recorded. Will she agree to that?”

“Yes, of course.” I didn’t bother asking her, I knew she would.

“Okay,” Aquila agreed but I could tell she wasn’t completely happy with the idea.

“We should bring Grus into the team,” Elliot said.

“Oh, he would work fantastically with them!” Andy cried happily before looking at me. “You might remember him, he was on the base about three or four years ago.”

I wracked my memory but couldn’t remember anything so shook my head.

“I believe he was the person who picked you up from the orphanage when you first joined the Space Corps,” Andy prompted gently.

My mouth fell open.

“Wait, what’s he doing here?” I asked, shock racing through me.

Andy shook his head gently.

“The same as most people here, just trying to survive. But, of course, he has a pretty deep distrust of the Council and will be happy to help. He normally covers the late shift here so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

My head felt like it was spinning but I wasn’t sure why it threw me so much. Of course Andy had been sending people from Nova to Freo for some time, especially those who, for whatever reason, weren’t safe there. I think I just didn’t really realise.

“Okay, cool,” I said finally. “We’ll have Peggy, Grus and Orion keeping an eye on the base if they are happy to do it. Can they get Peg trained up on how to use everything? She’s really smart, it shouldn’t take her too long to learn her ways around it all.”

I glanced at Aquila a little worriedly but she was already nodding.

“I’m sure Orion will be happy to teach her. Then, what? What do you think we should do next?” she asked, her eyes calculating.

I felt like she was trying to work something out, she was seeing how I wanted to deal with the situation, working out if I was a good leader. It worried me but, looking back, she’d been doing it basically since I got to Freo. It made me want to live up to her expectations of me. I wanted to prove to her that I could do it.

I knew that she wouldn’t let me do anything too risky. She wasn’t like the Council, she wouldn’t let people die just to teach someone a lesson.

“I think, when we go down to the base to get Sammy and the other kids, my crew should lead the mission. Those kids are going to be scared. They’re being treated like shit and are losing faith in the Council. They’ll think this is just a trap but they know us, even if it is only a bit. They’ll trust us more,” I said, fear bubbling in my stomach.

Andy didn’t look happy with the suggestion but he nodded.

“Are your crew all up to flying and fighting again?” he asked, knowing that the answer was no but also that I needed to consider it.

“No, Peggy is still pretty weak and Cory probably is not at his best at the moment. I’ll speak to Cory and Chal, see if we can get a fit to fly plan sorted,” I decided, noting it down. “We know what we have to do. We’ll be ready for when we need to.”

“Okay, as long as you all pass the assessments in time and maintain it, I will accept that but with one caveat,” Andy said.

I nodded quickly, my mind already racing ahead to try and foresee what he could be thinking.

“I will also be there. The older kids know me, even if there aren’t many of them left. They will trust us more if I am there.”

Elliot’s brows furrowed.

“Well, you’re not going alone,” he said immediately.

Andy looked back at him.

“You can’t come too. The two of us and Aries’ crew all in one place? That’s asking for a firefight. The kids will be caught in the middle of it,” he said, covering Elliot’s hand with his.

Elliot gripped his hand tightly, his eyebrows drawing together even more.

“Fine. You’re bringing weapons then. Big ones. And I’ll lead the mission to the prison,” he said decisively. “That way they have high profile targets on both sites. We’ll get a few other veteran fighters too. Fornax, Trolis. Enough to make them both tempting to the Council.”

Aquila pursed her lips but I could tell that she know it was the best option.

“And,” she said, looking back at me, “what do you think is the best plan to get the kids from the base? Obviously, we have safe bases and ships around the galaxy, we can get them there no problem, but how do you propose we work out who to take?”

“Everyone who wants to leave should have the opportunity to,” I answered immediately. “I don’t want anyone left at the base unless they know the risks and they actively want to stay. I know it’s not safe for them but I don’t think any of the Draftees will want to stay and, if some of the volunteers want to stay, well then… they can.”

I hoped no one would choose to stay. Regardless of their status, it wasn’t safe and it never would be. Not whilst the Council are in charge.

“Okay,” Aquila mused. “I think we should call in your team and you can brief them.”