“I’m so so sorry I’m late,” Peggy cried as she rushed into the inner war room, her eyes shining with excitement and tiredness. “I found this message on one of the private servers about some Council Warship but I wasn’t sure what it meant! I’ve had to leave it with Grus because I didn’t want to miss this briefing! I’ve not missed anything, have I?”

Her words flooded out of her mouth in an excited flood and I couldn’t help but smile.

She’d been working in the war rooms for not even a month and already, she had won people over. She’d managed to fit seamlessly into their operation and was already finding new information that helped Freo. She even said that only one person followed her to the bathroom now which was definitely an improvement.

Aquila seemed to have warmed up to her too. She’d almost smile at her the other day when she told her to get some sleep which didn’t sound like a lot but from her it really was.

“That’s alright, come take a seat. The briefing hasn’t started yet,” Aquila said, gesturing to the empty chair I’d left between myself and Andy.

Peggy almost skipped across the room and dropped into the chair, hopefully picking up my empty cup of coffee. Her shoulders slumped in disappointment as she peered into it, clearly hoping she’d be able to steal some.

Want a drink? Cas asked before I could.

I can get it myself, she thought back reluctantly.

Don’t be silly, I don’t mind. Urm, are you good to have coffee now? Cas asked, looking towards Cory.

Cory rubbed his chin as he thought.

You’re off the blood replacements, right? he asked after a pause.

Yeah! I’ve been off them for three days!

And you’ve not been experiencing any problems? No heart palpitations or dizziness?

I had some fairly minor episodes for the first day but none since, Peg sent back, a smile evident in her thoughts.

Have you had any other caffeine or stims today?

No, Orion offered me one of his horrible stim drinks but they smell like hot sewage. I couldn’t bring myself to drink it.

Cory cocked his head.

You should be good to have one cup but then no more stimulants for two days to see how your body reacts, okay? he thought.

Peggy nodded with a grin and started to get up.

I got it! Cas thought, jumping up before she could. Does anyone else want one?

That would be great actually, I thought to him.

Got it, he sent back with a grin.

Do we know what this meeting is about? Peggy asked.

I cocked my head slightly.

Not completely sure. Aquila said something about it being a big deal but I’m not really sure, I thought back.

I didn’t want to tell them the truth, just in case it didn’t pan out.

Aquila had said that this was big but she’d also said that it might change everything on Nova and might mean that we need to send the fighters down immediately. I wasn’t quite sure what she’d meant by that but she and Fornax had exchanged a look that felt important.

Cas leant between Peggy and me to place our drinks on the table before sitting down just as Aquila glanced at her watch and straightened up.

“Okay, everyone,” she said in a slightly raised tone that silenced the room immediately. “I’d appreciate your attention for a moment.”

My heart started to race immediately as I waited for the last few people to sit down so that she could continue.

“During our last mission, the Council broke the interplanetary treaty by reprogramming some warp gates. We reached out to them at the time to ask them to investigate the allegation and I’ve purposefully not reported their findings of the initial investigation,” Aquila announced.

Peggy reached out under the table and squeezed my hand. I laced my fingers through hers, clinging tightly to her.

I hadn’t even thought about the investigation or the fact that they’d reprogrammed the gates since then. My mind had been so consumed by everything else that had happened that I hadn’t had any time to think about it but now that she’d reminded me, worry shot through me.

It felt horrifically possible that the reason Aquila hadn’t told us about the findings of the initial investigation was because they were in the Council’s favour. My stomach sunk as I waited for her to continue.

“Following the initial investigation conducted by their engineers, Interplanetary Defence found that the Council had in fact overridden the gate commands and issued a preliminary report to myself as the person who made the report,” Aquila said before having to pause as a cheer went around the room.

I stayed silent, waiting for her to continue. Not a single member of my crew joined in the celebration. We knew that this couldn’t be it. The ID couldn’t have just found them guilty, there had to be something else. Some kind of excuse or reasoning for why they’d get away with it.

Aquila held up a hand, gesturing for everyone to fall quiet again.

“The next step in the process was a formal investigation of which the Council were… not cooperative. Luckily, this counted in our favour and we were able to submit even more evidence against them. That investigation concluded last week and in,” Aquila paused to check her watch again, “three minutes, Interplanetary Defence will be holding a conference to inform the universe of their verdict.”

“What does it mean?” I asked before anyone else could say anything. “If they find them guilty?”

Aquila’s gaze fell upon me and it felt like everyone was waiting on the response.

“It had never happened before,” she warned as a preface, “but the Council could be removed from power.”

Goosebumps erupted on my skin and whispers burnt through the room like wildfire.

I felt sick with worry and excitement. I knew it couldn’t happen, they’d never done it before, but there was still a possibility.

It’s not going to happen, is it? Peggy asked, her tone miserable.

I wanted to tell her it was going to happen. That we wouldn’t be let down by another institution that was meant to be supporting us but…

I’m not sure, Peg. Let’s just wait and see what happens, I thought back, squeezing her hand.

But, if it does… what does that mean for the base? Like, surely they won’t take this lightly if ID has found… something, Cas thought back.

They’ve planned for that. Kind of. If things go to shit, they’re going to send fighters down. I think Fornax has already started to prep some people, I thought.

Chal has too. The medBay are prepping for an influx, Cory added.

I nodded as a shiver tore through me.

Last mission, we’d lost Gem. We’d be involved in this mission too. We could lose someone else.

Cory, is Peg fit to fly? I asked, hoping he’d say no.

His face scrunched up as he thought about it.

Technically. But she still shouldn’t, Cory thought.

Hey! Peggy cried. I’m fine to fly! Chal said so! My weight is back to healthy and I have some of my stamina back. I’ve been going for a run and weight training every single day before my shift here!

I tried not to let my disappointment show on my face.

It’s not that I didn’t want her to come with, of course I did. I knew that she’d do wonderfully and she’d be able to help us and support the crew but… If she came with, she was at risk. She was at risk staying on Freo but it would be worse if she came with.

But he also said it was up to your Captain, didn’t he? Cory asked gently.

Yes, Peggy admitted reluctantly, turning her wide eyes to me.

I wanted to say no. I really did but I knew it was selfish.

Part of me wanted to be selfish. It screamed out for me to say no, claiming that we already lost enough and that leaving her here was the best option but it wasn’t right. I couldn’t expect others to follow my command if I wasn’t willing to do what I asked.

If something does happen, you can come with. But, you need to follow what I say exactly. Stick to the back and if it feels unsafe or if you even get a hint of anything suspicious, I want you to run immediately. Do you understand? I said, aware that I was being over the top.

When have I ever not followed your command? she thought with a smirk. Okay, I promise. I’ll do exactly what you say and run if I need to.

I nodded, my empty hand balling into a fist.

I needed to trust her, and I did, I just didn’t trust the Council or anyone else to keep us safe. But, if she were with me, I could hopefully protect her better than if she were left here alone. Andy would be here but he was so busy, I didn’t want to burden him with more things.

The screen in front of us lit up suddenly, sending a renewed wave of whispers through the room.

Cas’ hand found my fist.

Here we go.