“What’s the other part of the plan?” Cas asked, panic creeping into his voice.

From the corner of my eye, I could see both him and Andy looked between me and Aquila. I bit the inside of my lip, digging my teeth in deep and forcing myself to stay calm. I needed to at least look calm. I couldn’t have them knowing how worried I really was.

“We’re going to offer to trade Aries for Peggy,” Aquila said simply.

Objections tore through the room but I was frozen. Now that she’d said it, it felt too real. Fear wound itself around my heart and I fought to keep my chin held high.

“Quiet! We will not actually be trading Aries. Our plan is to convince Councillor Harvey that we want to and plan an ambush,” Aquila called over the noise.

“That won’t work. He’ll never let her go. They’ll outnumber us and win again,” Cas said, hysteria edging his words.

“We’ll have more fighters and Aries will not be unarmed,” she said gently.

“And what if both she and Peggy are killed in the ambush along with all of our fighters?” Andy asked, his voice taking on a strangely dangerous tone.

Aquila turned stiffly towards him.

“It’s a possibility. This plan is not without its risks but it will give us a chance to get Peggy back and to take out a large number of the Guardians and IA. The benefits outweigh the potential costs,” Aquila said firmly.

I could tell Andy’s mind was working furiously to find a hole in the plan.

“What would we offer the Council? Surely, they would not be willing to offer just a straight trade.”

Aquila nodded once.

“We will be offering them a temporary ceasefire and halt of the smear campaign. They believe that they wiped out the majority of our fighters and our resources during the attack on Nova, while the Council have begun struggling to overcome our assaults. They believe we both have something that the other wants and we will exploit that.” Her lips twitched upwards in a barely concealed smirk.

“It’s too dangerous! You know my dad won’t hesitate to kill you,” Cas insisted, clutching at my hand.

I turned finally, looking into his shining eyes.

I have to, Cas. It’s the only way to get Peggy back, I thought softly.

No. I can’t lose you. Please, he begged.

Heat rose behind my eyes and I looked away from him.

“Send me instead. He’ll want me more,” Cas said, his voice rough.

Aquila smiled sadly at him.

“I’m sorry. The plan is already in the works for Aries to go,” she said in a strangely sympathetic voice.

“She can’t! He’ll kill her immediately! Let him take me instead, please!” Cas insisted desperately.

I swallowed at the heartbreak in his voice as regret and fear pooled in my stomach.

“I’m sorry. The plan is for Aries to go. She is the Captain of your crew and the one who wrote the book. She’s more valuable to the Council right now.”

I stared at Aquila’s face, grateful that she was being so resolute but also I could see there was more to what she was saying. She was skirting around something.

Realisation hit me like a stun gun to the chest. Harvey didn’t want Cas. He must have told her that. What Harvey wanted more than anything was to win. He wouldn’t get that from Cas alone but if he had me, the Captain of Crew Seven Six One, he could prove to the universe that he was superior. I bet he’d lie to everyone and say that he’d defeated the rebels and captured me during a daring and dangerous fight.

That asshole would do everything in his power to get me and then he’d use me to torture Cas.

“Cas,” I said softly.

He fell silent in the middle of a passionate plea that I hadn’t even heard and stared deeply at me.

“You’ve already decided, haven’t you?” he asked, a tear slipping down his face.

I nodded.

You don’t have to. We can find another way to do this, he thought at me.

This is the only way we’ll get close to her, I sent back.

What if it doesn’t work?

I took a deep breath, stealing myself for what I was about to say.

I’m the Captain. I’ve made my decision, I thought with finality.

Cas stared at me for a moment before nodding and looking away.

I scanned his face, noting the tightness of his jaw and the deep crease between his eyebrows, and felt my shoulders slump. I hated doing that. It was the first time I’d used my position against him and it made me uncomfortable. It didn’t feel right but I knew I had to do it.

“She’s sixteen. We shouldn’t be sending a sixteen-year-old into a dangerous fight like this,” Andy muttered quietly. “We agreed that only eighteen-year-olds and older would go on violent missions.”

“It’s what we have to do. The Council won’t accept anything else and they won’t be expecting the number of fighters we’ll send,” Aquila replied.

I finally tore my eyes off Cas to look at Gem who was watching me silently. Tears flowed down her face but she met my gaze surely.

We’ll come with you. We’ll be on the closest ship to you, she promised.

I love you, I thought.

“Are you happy with this plan?” Andy asked, his tone soft despite his obvious unhappiness.

I turned back to look at him.

“Yes,” I said honestly.

He nodded curtly, accepting my answer but clearly unhappy with it.

“So, what’s the plan?” Gem asked.

“We’re still working on the details at the moment but we are going to organise a handover on an uninhabited planet. That way, Councillor Harvey will be able to claim he captured Captain Aries and it will seem more appealing to him. We will put out a call for our nearby interplanetary fighters to support us and we will show Harvey the true power of Freo,” Aquila said determinedly.

I took a steadying deep breath, allowing her words to feed the small burning hope in my chest.

“We will have ships waiting as near as possible and monitoring the area for IA and Guardian ships. Our ships are more advanced and our weapons are stronger. I believe we will be able to rescue both Aries and Peggy as well as taking down a significant number of their ships.”

“Our crew needs to be involved in the mission,” Cas said, sitting up straighter.

Aquila’s eyes flickered to me. I knew why. If something went wrong and the Council got me, they wouldn’t be able to stay back and let it happen. It was a risk having them there.

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” she said.

But then, if they weren’t there, they wouldn’t be able to help and they were all great gunners. They’d help the fight.

Selfishly, I wanted them there but I needed to have them with someone who wouldn’t let them do anything dangerous.

“I’d like them there, if possible. They’re three of the best gunners I know,” I added quietly.

Aquila’s gaze lingered on my face for a long time.

“Agreed. Fornax, they’ll be in your ship.”

“Awesome,” Fornax said with forced enthusiasm.

“Great. The meeting with Councillor Harvey is in four hours. After this, we’ll be able to start strategising. For now, Fornax, I want you to make sure the ships are fully operational and have as much firepower as possible.”