Hiccup and the others were boarding The Night Fury and he looked down at Rex, Wolf and Gregor. Wished that Rex would join them and you wish he had more time to discuss the matter, but with the appearance of the First Order time was of the essence
"You sure I can't convince you in joining?" Hiccup asked.
"I'm sorry, sir, but my times past," said Rex.
"Hiccup!" Astrid's voice yelled.
They quickly rushed inside and made their way to the cockpit where they found a probe, who apparently had done quite a bit of damage to the controls. The moment it saw them it shot several lasers at them and they barely had time to dodge. It then zoomed out of the door heading no doubt to the cargo bay.
"After it!" Hiccup yelled.
The twins began to fire their blasters at it, but it dodged them and fired right back at them. Snotlout managed to push on into the ground before the blast actually hit them and it continued its route to the cargo bay.
However, once it got there it met Rex, who fired his pistol at it and it felt the ground with a large hall and its eye. Ragnar then bent down and looked at the probe.
"How long is that thing been watching us?" Fishlegs quivered.
"Long enough," said Ragnar.
"And what's worse is that it really damage the controls in the cockpit, I can't pilot the ship until I repair them and I could take some time," said Hiccup.
"Time we may not have," said Ragnar.
"The ship is too big to hide and if the First Order follows their routing protocols, which they always do, then they'll be sending out a recon party to find out what had happened to the probe," said Astrid.
"The plan's main population are Tusken Raiders, who should anything at site, and Jawas, who take apart anything not nailed down," said Ragnar. "So they may not get the signal straight away until they can sort through the other probes they probably sent."
"That depends how efficient their offices are," said Heather. "It may take them a few hours, but they will find us."
Hiccup looked at Astrid. "Astrid I'll need your help with the repairs."
"Right," said Astrid.
"Ragnar, you better try and keep the eye on things," said Hiccup.
"Got you," said Ragnar.
Inside the ship, Hiccup and Astrid were beginning their repairs on the console. The probe certainly did a first-rate job in disabling the ship and they had absolutely no idea how long it'll take to fix all the damage it caused.
"You're disappointed about, Rex aren't you?" Astrid asked.
"I just hope that he would come with us," said Hiccup.
"I know one person who seemed eager to leave and that's Ragnar," Astrid frowned. "Though I don't know why? Me I can understand the fact that he had to work for a living for junk dealer and want to see the stars, this is still his home world."
"Ragnar hasn't told you much about his past, has he?" Hiccup asked.
"No," said Astrid. "Did something bad happen here."
Hiccup looked over his shoulder to make sure that they were alone and then back to Astrid. "If I tell you must promise to keep this to yourself, it's a very sensitive subject for him."
"Okay," said Astrid.
"Before Ragnar was born, his mother was sold into slavery by the Hutta Cartel," said Hiccup.
"His mother was a slave?" Astrid gasped.
"And with child, which meant that they got two for the price of one," Hiccup grumbled. "Basically he was born a slave."
"Start to see why he would hate this world," said Astrid looking at the wasteland.
"Eventually their master lost them to abet and they were given to a junk dealer," Hiccup continued. "Eventually, me and my master showed up and he could see the potential in Ragnar. So not only did he gamble for the parts we needed he also gambled for Ragnar's freedom, he tried to gamble for his mother as well, but the junk dealer wouldn't have it."
"So his mother still a slave?"
"No, after we left the junk dealer went into hard times and sold her to a farmer, who then freed and married her," said Hiccup.
"If that is in the happily ever after I don't know what is," Astrid smiled. Then the smile faded when she saw the grim look on Hiccup's face. "Something else happened, didn't it?"
"I've already said too much," said Hiccup quietly. "Let's just say that this planet has a habit of taking people away from you."
Astrid just stared at him, not sure what to say what he meant by that.
Meanwhile, on the Star Destroyer, Agent Eret was still looking at Tatooine. He began to wonder why the Resistance would come to such a backwater planet, or he should say a dust ball of a planet.
"I come here?" he frowned.
"Sir, I believe that they came here looking for military aid," said an officer.
"What kind of aid could this planet give to the military?" Eret argued. "It has no strategic value, no standing army and no potential allies apart from the Hutts, but there too greedy to help anyone."
"Sir, I believe us by mentioned clones," said the officer.
"Clones? I find that is hard to believe as anything else, they were tossed aside after the Empire and why with a Jedi aligned with them, there's too much bad blood between them," said Eret.
"I'm just repeating what the spy said, sir," said the officer.
"Just continue monitoring the planet and have any the probe is checked in," said Eret.
"A few have gone down, sir, but we believe that the majority of them were shot down by the locals."
"Certainly the data they transmit before destruction, anything out of the ordinary we will investigate."
"Sir, are probe has sent an unusual image sir," said an officer on the control panel.
"Explain yourself," said Eret.
"It has sent image, but I don't quite understand it, sir," said the officer.
"Show me."
The officer pressed a few buttons and on the scream appeared the image of Rex and Eret recognise him as the clone instantly.
"Where was that probe located?" Eret asked.
"Area 2691," said the officer.
"Send a TIE Fighter to investigate and ready the ground vehicles," said Eret.
"Right away, sir," said the admiral.
Down on the planet, Ragnar had set out a few lookouts in case the First Order showed a presence. At the moment all was peaceful and Heather made her way over to him.
"So will you during Order 66?" she asked.
"I was in the temple," said Ragnar.
Heather stared at him. "How did you escape?"
"My master lay down her life just to give me chance to escape," said Ragnar sadly. "When the clones and Drago attacked the temple we only had a few seconds to react. Many Jedi intercepted the clones, but there are far too many. My master and myself made our way to the library, we knew we couldn't push them back and we could allow them to download anything from the archives."
"But if you were in the archives then you had to be in the thick of the battle," Heather frowned.
"I was, my master told me to where we keep the holograms and grab as many as I could, but when I entered she closed the door behind me trapping me inside and all I could do was hear her cries as I heard the sound of a lightsaber hissing."
"Drago killed your master and she save your life," said Heather looking at him.
"I was trapped in the hologram room, but I knew it was only a matter of time before they could hack the doors and get me. Fortunately, there was a way to escape through the vents and that's how I got out of the temple. I then met up with Senator Organa and that's when we met up with Hiccup, Valka and Master Yoda."
"Yoda?" Heather blinked.
"He is possibly the oldest Jedi alive and he was the former Grandmaster of the Order, he was wise and powerful and small and green," Ragnar chuckled. "There were times when me and Hiccup talk to him for advice, I can sure do with it now."
"I'm sure that you went Hiccup are doing everything you can to help," said Heather placing a hand on top of his.
Ragnar then stared at her green eyes and felt himself drawing closer to her and she too was moving towards him. They were only inches away from each other when Commander Gregor popped his head on top of the tank.
"We've got an incoming transmission," he said.
Ragnar and Heather quickly pushed away from one another, their faces turning bright pink. Fortunately Gregor did not seem to have noticed.
"We're coming," said Ragnar.
They made their way inside the tank with the others, minus Hiccup and Astrid who was still busy fixing The Night Fury. Wolf was already at the console with an image of Agent Eret looking down at him.
"I don't know what you mean, there are no Resistance here," said Wolf.
"Really, that's strange, because the tracking device we put on their ship was in your general area and one of our probes took an image of your face," said Eret.
"Correction, my face," said Rex as he moved into view. "Your probe attacked us and we had to defend ourselves."
Eret glared at him and then an officer appeared next to him and whispered something in his ear.
He then turned and looked at them. "Then you wouldn't mind explaining how the Resistance ship is parked right next to your tank, clone? Now, surrender them or be destroyed."
"If you think I betray my general, then you've got another thing coming," Rex glared. "And if it's a fight you want, I hope you brought a better class of soldiers and those Stormtroopers."
"They serve the Order well," said Eret. "And I have a great many of them."
"You're going to need all of them," said Rex and he cut the connection between him and Eret.
Snotlout just smirked. "I like these guys."
Then the tag began to shake.
The door slid open and Astrid appeared with a worried look on her face. "They've found us. Hiccup is busy holding off, but this far too many for him."
"Battle stations," said Rex.
Gregor then pulled a crate from the fire under the tank and they open it up to discover a large assortment of weapons.
Outside Hiccup had his lightsabers drawn and was deflecting the shots from the TIE Fighters above them. He then noticed the others are merging from the tank or them holding a large assortment of weapons.
"Glad you can join the party," said Hiccup. "Ragnar, Heather, we have to defend the ship. I need someone on the turret as well, Rex you think you and the others can hold them off?"
"Right away, sir," said Rex.
Astrid quickly made her way towards The Night Fury and Ragnar and Heather soon activated there lightsaber and assisted in defending the ship. Rex and the others got their weapons and began firing at the TIEs, but the fighter was far too agile.
"Try shortening your leads," said Rex, who was holding a rocket launcher. "You're wasting ammo."
"You're welcome the help!" Snotlout yelled as he continued by his heavy blaster at the TIEs.
"Why spoil all the fun? We have been shot out in years," said Gregor.
"Well, it happened to us every day" Fishlegs quivered.
"Why doesn't someone and the big gun?" Snotlout yelled.
"It's no good in this situation," said Rex.
"Kinda like you guys," Snotlout grumbled.
Rex just smirked and looked Gregor. "Do you want the shot?"
"Love to," said Gregor.
Rex then tossed in the rocket launcher and aimed it at one of the fighters there was flying overhead and pulled the trigger. The locket headed straight towards him the fighter and hid it square on causing a massive explosion.
"Gregor, you still got it," Rex smiled.
"It's in my blood," said Gregor pounding his chest.
It was at that point that Astrid finally managed to get the turret operational and fired it at another TIE, blasting it to pieces and the wreckage fell on top of another.
"Is that all of them," said Fishlegs asked.
"For now," said Hiccup.
"The general was right, if I was that agent I would send a ground force next," said Rex.
"Price they haven't bombarded us, they must have a cruiser in orbit," said Heather looking up at the sky.
"This world is still owned by the Hutts and I very much doubt they would appreciate the First Order from filing down the planet no matter what they claim," said Hiccup.
"Sounds like is a good thing that you chose this planet to hide on," said Ragnar looking at Rex.
"How the repairs doing?" Fishlegs asked looking at Hiccup.
"Almost done, but I don't know will be able to finish them in time," said Hiccup.
"Then we better get ready for another assault," said Rex.
Meanwhile up in the planet's orbit was the Star Destroy and Eret was looking down at the planet. He then heard the Admiral making his way towards him.
"We have the Resistance location, you're sure you still don't want to deal planetary bombardment?" he asked.
"No," said Eret as he placed his helmet on. "Ready the ground forces and stand ready just in case they leave the planet."
Ragnar was having his scope looking out over the does it trying to locate any First Order ground vehicles. He then sensed Rex next to him and turned to look at the old soldier.
"I see that you've got a Padawan, sir," said Rex looking at Heather.
"She is skilled, but she still got a lot to learn," said Ragnar.
"She's lucky that she's got you as a teacher," Rex smiled. "I can't help but notice that you two seem to be a lot closer than teacher and student."
Rex felt himself going hot under the collar. "You know as well as I do that and forbidden for romantic attachments."
"I know, for the way you look at her tell something different," said Rex. "She suddenly a smart girl as is Captain Astrid and she and the General seem to get along."
"First me now Hiccup, since when have you been such a romantic, Captain?" Ragnar asked.
Rex shrugged. "What can I say when you don't haven't got clankers to blast it into thing on other things."
"Captain Rex, you're one of the best soldier that I've seen and I know you're always aching for a fight, so why aren't you helping Hiccup?" Ragnar asked. "I have a feeling that you blame yourself what happened to the Jedi, despite the fact that you helped Hiccup escape. You blame yourself because you couldn't stop it from even happening and you think this is the only way you can redeem yourself."
"Did you sense or that?" Rex asked.
"Maybe a bit, but I can also see it in your eyes Captain," said Ragnar. "And speaking as both a Jedi and a healer, I'm telling you the best way to redeem yourself is to help Hiccup with the fight against the First Order."
"Things almost operational!" said Astrid as she emerged from the cargo bay. "We'll get the ship up and running in about five minutes."
"We can't just leave Rex, Wolf and Gregor here," said Heather.
"Don't worry about us," said Rex.
Suddenly they heard giant thundering noises approaching them.
"Wait, what's that?" Fishlegs asked nervously.
Wolf looked out into the distance. "Enemy contact, .24," said Wolf pointing.
They turned and saw three large figures approaching them in the distance. Heather grabbed her electrobinoculars and looked at the three figures in the distance.
When she got a closer look she saw they were massive tax with four large legs heading straight towards them. Their heads had cannons and laser is attached to them.
"We've got AT-ATs heading our way," said Heather.
"How many are they got?" Wolf asked.
"Looks like four," said Gregor looking through his electrobinoculars.
"Four? How they not falling over?" Wolf frowned.
"Have you seen the size of those things?" Gregor asked.
"AT-ATs are hard to deal with, they've got reinforced armour plating, heavy cannons and anit-personal blasters," said Astrid. "They do have one weak spot though and that's on the neck, but the way there face that impossible to hit. I've seen those things decimate entire platoons and we don't have the firepower to penetrate that armour."
"If The Night Fury was at least operational we could at least provide to mess aboard," said Hiccup as he emerged onto the cargo bay door.
"Should you be busy trying to fix the ship?" Snotlout yelled.
"You need every single hand you've got to deal with those things and if we lose the ship we're good as dead," said Hiccup.
"Can't use your lightsaber is to cut through that armour plating?" Astrid asked.
"We could, but they are a fair distance away by the time we would reach them they would be in range of firing on The Night Fury," said Hiccup.
"Okay, so what your plan?" Snotlout yelled.
"We need to distract them make them concentrate their fire on something else other than The Night Fury," said Hiccup as he looked at the AT-ET.
"The tank?" Astrid asked.
"It's crazy, but it might just work," said Rex.
"Hang on, what's stopping them from firing on The Night Fury?" Snotlout asked.
"Us," said Ragnar. "Heather and I can stay aboard the tank, I have a feeling that Agent Eret is on one of those AT-ATs and I don't think he could pass up the chance of shooting a Jedi or his Padawan."
"Meanwhile, I can sneak up on them while they're focused on you," said Hiccup. "Astrid you and Fishlegs continue with the repairs on The Night Fury and I can take the twins with me."
"What about me?" Snotlout asked.
"Oh, you get the interesting job," said Ragnar placing a hand on him. "You get to be with me and Heather while those tanks fire at us."
"Can I just help with the repairs?" Snotlout asked.
The simple answer that was no for a few minutes later Snotlout was on the AT-ET as it was making its way away from The Night Fury. Ragnar and Heather stood in front of the tank with their lightsabers drawn.
Rex was manning the gun, Wolf how the controls and Gregor was at the control console inside the tank.
"Wolf, turn 90," said Rex.
"Copy that," said Wolf and began to turn the tank around.
Inside the AT-AT, Eret was looking through the scope and saw the AT-ET heading away from The Night Fury at first he thought that the clones were running, but then he saw Ragnar and Heather flashing their lightsabers around.
"Do try to escape, concentrate fire upon that tank," Eret commanded.
The AT-AT pilot then turned the cannons towards the AT-ET, which was moving as fast as it could away from the AT-AT. Fortunately, they were still quite a fair bit and the lasers just missed them. Rex operated the gun and concentrate fire on them just to provoke them.
Meanwhile above the planet on the Star Destroyer, the admiral was on the bridge looking down at the officers.
"Has there been any word of Agent Eret?" the admiral asked.
"He's engaging the Resistance now, sir," said the officer.
"Admiral, we have an urgent transmission coming in," said the communication officer.
"Not now," said the admiral. "We're in the middle of an operation."
"Sir, the messages from the Emperor," the communication officer gulped. "We been ordered to immediately rendezvous with his shuttle."
The admiral just simply stood there in silence and sure on what to do.
Meanwhile, Hiccup and the twins were hiding behind a sand dune and watching everything in progress.
"So, what's the plan?" Tuffnut asked.
"We gonna blow something up?" Ruffnut asked excitedly.
"Not exactly, but how do you guys feel about taking control one of those tanks?" Hiccup asked.
"It must be our birthday," said Ruffnut looking teary-eyed.
"You do care," said Tuffnut.
"Let's move out," said Hiccup.
They then rushed towards the nearest AT-AT as fast as they could without detection. Fortunately, their plan seem to be working as the pilots were more focused on firing at the AT-ET then taking in their surroundings.
A good five minutes later and they finally reached the AT-AT, but it had to be a good twenty metres tall. It was impossible to climb without any climbing gear.
"So, how are we getting up there?" Tuffnut asked.
"Like this," said Hiccup and extended his two hands towards the twins.
Then before they realised it the twins found themselves being tossed up into the air and onto the back of the AT-AT and seconds later Hiccup, using the Force, jumped and landed next to them.
"That was awesome!" Ruffnut cried.
"Can we do it again?" Tuffnut asked.
"Focus, we've got a tank to steal," said Hiccup.
They soon made their way to the head and Hiccup activated his lightsabers and began to cut through the porthole.
The AT-AT were now practically on top of them they managed a few good shots onto the AT-ET, despite how fast they moved. Through the smoke Rex could see Hiccup cutting his way through into the AT-AT.
"Just like the old days," he smiled. "Gregor, Paul all unnecessary power into the cannon."
"You've got it, Captain," said Gregor as he fiddled with a few buttons.
Rex then aims the cannon at one of the AT-ATs, which was starting to turn towards them. He only got one shot to hit its vulnerable point and then he pulled the trigger. The blast hit square on the AT-AT's neck causing it to explode and toppled to the ground.
Eret slammed his fist on the control panel. "Contact Admiral Konstantine and order air support!"
Meanwhile on the AT-AT, Hiccup had finally managed to cut through and used the Force to lift the porthole into the air. The twins at once jumped inside and struck them with their electro-staffs.
"I've always wanted to pilot one of these things," said Ruffnut.
"Can we keep it?" Tuffnut asked.
"Somehow I doubt that this tank could fit into The Night Fury," said Hiccup. "Now take out that last AT-AT."
The twins then began to fire its lasers at the final AT-AT, much to Eret's surprise.
"Where's Konstantine with my air support!" Eret yelled.
The twins kept on firing doing massive damage to the AT-AT hull and eventually Eret knew that there was no way they could win this fight.
"Evacuate! To the speeders!" Eret yelled.
All of them then watch as the final AT-AT went down, but not before a speeder dislodged itself from its hull with Agent Eret aboard, one of the AT-AT pilots clinging onto dear life and the last one running after them.
The twins kept on firing the cannon at them as did Rex, but they were soon out of range.
Rex, Wolf and Gregor soon exited the AT-ET.
"Looks like we live to fight another day," Rex smiled.
"Don't we always?" Wolf asked.
"Well, we do when we've got a Jedi leading us," said Gregor looking from Ragnar and Hiccup, who emerged out of the AT-AT with the twins.
The three former soldiers then saluted at their generals, who simply nodded with acknowledgement.
Seconds later, The Night Fury lowered itself towards them with both Astrid and Fishlegs inside smiling.
Once they emerged on ground level Hiccup looked at Rex, who simply smiled at him. "Does your office still stand, sir?"
"I would consider it an honour," said Hiccup.
"As would we, general," said Rex.
They then soon entered into The Night Fury and left the system and found no trace of a Star Destroyer.
"There should be a Star Destroyer here," Astrid frowned as she looked at Hiccup. "This is either really good or really bad."
Hiccup remained silent, but couldn't help but agree with Astrid.
Meanwhile, in the deeps of space, Konstantine was at the hangar bay with a platoon of Stormtroopers and what is a shuttle entered into the hangar bay. Admiral Konstantine rushed his uniform as the hatch door opened.
However, instead of Drago merging from it, Ryker was walking down the ramp.
"My Lord," said Konstantine somewhat surprised. "I was expecting the Emperor himself. I wasn't expecting—"
"The Emperor has sent me in his place," said Ryker.
"Well, this unnecessary diversion may have compromised the success of Agent Eret's mission," said Konstantine. "We must return."
"I cannot for your struggles, I will succeed where you and Eret have failed," said Ryker as he walked down the hangar bay without even looking at the admiral.
Konstantine simply glared at him, but remained silent.
