faith
Ordo bit down on his lower lip and glanced away from the console screen as the office door opened. A cleaning droid rolled in, the type of model without a visual feed. He looked back at the screen.
The feed showed an empty podium and a few reporters milling around in front of it. Ordo checked his chrono.
"One minute," Kal'buir said in his ear. Ordo could imagine him pacing the safehouse back on Coruscant even though this was the part of the mission where all his boys were out of dodge. Now was a time for waiting and for thinking.
"Signal's coming in strong," Mereel said. "How's the trigger finger, Ordo?"
Ordo stared at his chrono. "Haven't lost it."
"Here she comes."
The news camera widened to show the entire stage and a Theelin in dress robes was walking out onto stage, waving and greeting the crowd. When she stepped up to the podium, a hush came over the crowd, and she began speaking. Ordo's lips moved silently with hers as she began her speech. As we gather together ... as an unyielding force ... end this brutal war ... the crumbling Republic.
Ordo pressed the detonator.
He switched off the screen just as the news stream was terminated.
"Welcome to Black Talon, Ordo. How's it feel?" asked Mereel.
"To be a terrorist?" Ordo locked the door to the control room behind him and ran a hand over his hair, realizing for the first time that sweat coated his face. "Cold."
"She'll quit defunding the GAR."
Ordo shut his eyes. "I know."
"I'm sending you coordinates. Meet me there."
"Rhet."