Three months Ago

Estelle's footsteps echoed on the polished linoleum of the corridor as she paced evenly toward the Rebel Alliance Intel boardroom. She had been summoned from her quarters by a starchy, unsmiling messenger not ten minutes before and her heart had been thudding in her chest ever since. Not that to look at her one would know.

Estelle had all but completed her training with the Rebel Alliance. The few who knew her upon her initial arrival would hardly recognize the serious girl that now walked the hallway of Rebel Headquarters. The easy smile and friendly charm that had formerly identified her had been replaced by a reserved and oftentimes impenetrable politeness. She was not a person easy to get to know. She was not the person she had been nine months ago.

The boardroom itself was more impressive in name than in actuallity. The sliding doors drew open before her to reveal a sterile room centered with a large steel table. This was surrounded by approximately ten metal chairs, a white board with pointer and a holovid projector built into the ceiling directly overhead. It was obvious this was a room where the occupants did not linger idly or pass long hours sitting in banal conversation. It was hard and to the point, as were the conversations and deliberations which took place here. This was a room of business and decision making. A place where battles were planned, costs weighed and lives held in balance every bit as much as in the field.

Estelle was the first to arrive. She stood awkwardly for a moment, folding and unfolding her arms and shifting from one foot to the other. Then she took a seat, where she felt even more awkward sitting alone at such a large table.

She took to her feet once again and walked around the room looking at everything and nothing. She checked her chrono. She was a bit early.

The sliding doors swished open, and the rookie rebel Intel operative stood to attention.