Southern Cross by Windstar

"Daughter." His tone was one that cut through her objections, and one that any of her
subordinates would have instantly recognized.
"You can't continue to try and completely avoid politics. You are my daughter, Imperial Princess
Windstar, and it is your duty."
"Father, I am First Guardian, before all else. I don't have time for politics."
They both knew that for, if not a lie, then a half-truth. Before he could continue though, an
Imperial Marine Colonel entered and bowed. A data pad held in his hand.
"Emperor, my apology, but I have a message for the First Guardian."
The laughter left their eyes at that, and Emily stood swiftly and silently. Taking the offered pad
she nodded as he withdrew and pressed her thumb over the scanner, unscrambling the Class-One
message. It only took a moment to read what was written and then meet her father's eyes.
"I guess your attempts to get me to be more political will have to wait, Father. An unmanned
sensor platform just located the Bak'ra. They're seven Warp Jump's away. We'll meet them
halfway and draw them in."
There was an old pain in the blue eyes which watched her, but her father nodded. He'd known
what she had planned for some time now, and even if he did not like it, he knew she believed it
would give them the best chance at survival.
"May the Maker bless you in this, my Daughter."
"May the Maker bless us all, Father."
"What you have to do is make certain that the enemy sees what you want them to see. Then you
have a chance at getting them to take the bait and draw them right in. Then, oooohhhh, then
they're in trouble."
~ Katya
Chapter Eleven
Thuva watched the Gallor-Tal carefully. The system ahead of them was a simple looking one,
and sensors had not detected anything out of the ordinary, other than the object, which had
attracted their attention in the first place of course.
"What do you see, Thuva?"
"Lord, I see a Tiri Imperial Sensor Platform."
"Indeed, Thuva, and what does that tell you?"