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CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
The stars stopped streaming, as Rex opened his eyes; he could always tell when they dropped out of hyperspace especially on a small craft. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.
Mokivj.
It took longer than calculated to get here with the historically unstable hyperspace lanes in this region. Rex's investigation into General Skywalker's visit, instigated by Cody, at General Kenobi's behest, confirmed this. Andor reset the navcom three times, making smaller jumps, before they finally arrived.
It was a tedious way to travel.
He moved to the cockpit; they had rotated keeping watch. Looking out of the transparisteel screen, he half expected to see other ships orbiting the planet but there were none.
"Any other visitors?"
"No. All clear."
"You sure?"
"Of course." Andor snapped. "I know how to scan."
Given the length of time that they had spent travelling there had been little or no conversation between them.
Rex had tried:
"How did you get into this?" Was his opening gambit.
"Draven."
"How long?"
"Long enough."
Although there was no request for Rex's point of view, he offered it anyway.
"I expected to be 'retired' for a long time."
"Perhaps, you should have been."
"Fulcrum contacted me."
Andor glared at him, "There are any number of Fulcrums."
An old clone and an ex – CIS fighter; it wasn't going to be easy.
.
Orbiting the planet, they scanned the surface; it took several rotations but finally they had covered the majority of Mokivj. The scans confirmed the results of Skywalker's actions years earlier. But something else had caught Rex's eye and it was simple Maths.
"I thought there were ten moons orbiting Mokivj?"
"There are." Andor was professional. He pulled up the star charts and both men examined the image.
"Definitely ten…."
"So why am I only seeing seven…and don't say it's my age." Finished Rex. They checked again to confirm what they saw.
"There was nothing to say the catastrophe caused the moons to collide into the planet." Andor had done his home work. "Is it even a possibility?"
"I'm not an Astrophysicist but I would have thought that there would have been more devastation making it impossible to even get near the planet."
"Hmm. It might be why there's problems with the Hyperspace lanes."
"Well, it's not up to us to solve; this is recon and report only."
Andor was still contemplating.
"Is this what the Empire's doing now, building ships big enough and strong enough to move a planetary object?" He paused, "We know they're diverting money to a large project and everything else seems to be sidelined."
"That's Saw Garrera talking." Observed Rex; he'd made contact with Saw shortly after the Ghost crew had found remains orbiting Geonosis. The Empire were building something big.
"He may be extreme but he has a point."
"He's a hot head, I knew him way back."
"If you say so."
"Its not necessarily a ship; it could be some kind of device that's fitted to a ship." Rex was thinking of the gravity well on the interdictor but they had destroyed that months ago.
Draven had been vague as to what they were looking for; they had to keep open minds.
Dismiss nothing. Check everything.
They prepared to land.
What was known as the Mokivj Catastrophe had been just that. A catastrophic attack on the planets eco system caused by the ignition of Cortosis underground and the nearer they got to the planet's surface, the more devastation they saw; rivulets of lava had flowed up from the magma, burning a livid scar on the landscape, destroying nearby fertile crop land. Crop land that had been cultivated by the population for food. The destruction of the Cortosis mine, eliminated the livelihood of the miners. This part of the planet was to all intents and purposes dead. But there was no evidence it had been hit by one of its own moons.
Rex checked over the environment scan results, finally he spoke.
"Air breathable, although I wouldn't like to sprint in it."
"Can you still sprint?"
Rex didn't take the bait, had it been Kanan or Zeb, that was different; they could give the banter, take it and enjoy it. It was their way of letting off steam.
"Gravity normal. Life signs minimal. Vegetation. Very little in the area we are going to, scrubland at best. The whole planet has still not recovered, it may never do so."
"It just illustrates what the Republic and Jedi were capable of."
Normally Rex would have defended his old General but in this case he couldn't.
"I'll take us as near to the old droid factory as possible."
Rex still felt that he was being watched; he couldn't see anyone or anything but it made him uneasy.
A soldier's sixth sense.
.
Andor was as good as his word and they landed, as near as they could, to the old factory; Rex was surprised to see it still standing relatively untouched; from afar it looked like an old castle. He had expected it to be a shell, a ruin, given the destruction they had seen.
They completed their checks, ensured the ship was protected against intruders and scanned the nearby landscape from the ground. Ground level gave you a different perspective. They had landed to the south of the factory; there was some scrubby vegetation with grass that would cut you to shreds, if you weren't wearing strong boots.
Using a map derived from the results of his investigation years ago, they headed towards the abandoned factory. Andor took the lead.
"Can you keep up?"
"Of course, Captain." Rex replied evenly, "and take you down, if you say anymore." He muttered under his breath. It was finally getting to him.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, not a word."
"I will leave you behind if you can't keep up with me."
"Yeah, like to see you try." Rex's further reply was equally low.
"What did you say."
"I said, I'll understand why."
Andor was silent.
They eventually came upon the dry riverbed described by Senator Amidala; it slowed their progress down considerably, as they had to pick their way around the boulders and stones. It also gave Rex the chance to do a further, more detailed scan of his surroundings, while Andor finished off the nest of scorpion-like bugs that had came up from under a large boulder on sensing fresh meat. Luckily they couldn't get through either of the men's boots.
"Andor, I've detected some low level energy readings."
"Where?"
"Straight ahead, supposedly in the factory area."
Both hyper alert and with nothing more to be said, they carefully and silently picked their way along the dry river bed; Rex was continually scanning.
If there was energy, there was likely to be inhabitants.
.
They climbed up and through the secret entrance into the factory; it was narrow and cramped but exactly where it was supposed to be, based on their data Rex. It's origins as a large manufacturing facility prior to being used by the Separatists was now evident.
There were no other defences down here; the Separatists, who Skywalker had fought years ago, had sealed what was called the east wing against intrusion from this direction, and whoever was occupying it now, Empire or not, had continued with that when they moved in.
They moved stealthily through the facility, both men used to urban warfare, you could say both had grown up with it. Large spaces had been left unused, with machinery and parts simply left where they stood, now covered in years of dust and ash. Rex continued to be surprised at what was left standing.
They slid past what Rex thought were the makeshift holding cells, that Skywalker had been kept in. They would have done the job but he couldn't see them keeping Skywalker locked up for long. Although there were no telltale lightsaber marks.
Finally they reached a larger room and Rex's scanning showed, in addition to the energy, heat readings indicating life forms but they did not match anything on his database. They were either shielded or unknown. Slipping backwards to the holding cells, they waited until the heat markers passed.
They moved on to the room, it was much like the others apart from five cylinders that occupied it.
Rex examined and scanned the cylinders.
Each was approximately six metres long and lying sideways on, with some kind of support system. Each had a central piece two meters long with an opening top and a metal cap on each end. Power cables and tubes, for liquid were wound neatly around and in between each cylinder. All were open, and you could see contoured body couches inside; they were emitting the energy readings.
They reminded Rex of the sleeping pods on Kamino, he shuddered.
"Cloning tanks?" Andor asked the expert.
"Not like anything I've seen and I've seen a lot."
"Got enough?"
"Think so. There doesn't appear to be any makers marks or anything else recognisable, as Arkanian or even Kaminoan, although that's unlikely."
"Spaarti?"
"Nope."
"Stasis pods or hibernation pods.' offered Rex. He'd seen them once on Kamino; they were going to be used to keep the ARC's in a state of suspended animation but that plan didn't end well.
"For who?"
"Could be anybody but I don't think they're Imperial."
This was getting complicated and it looked like there was some unknown player entering the game.
"Let's move." Andor was intent on getting as much information as possible and Rex was with him on this.
They followed the basic plans constructed from Rex's investigation and headed for the area designated the East Wing.
This large area was loaded with machinery and other large objects that these 'Unknown' persons could hide behind; Andor and Rex moved silently, carefully across the room. Both were veterans of urban warfare and knew these situations were dangerous to face.
The sound of electricity arcing first told them they were no longer alone, then alien voices, if you could call them that, confirmed it.
Their opponents, a species Rex did not recognise, had deep-set eyes, with angled brow ridges, wide shoulders, and a skull tapering to the back. They weren't speaking basic or any other language he knew.
"Can you understand what they're saying?" He asked.
"No and not Empire." Muttered Andor.
"Definitely not Empire." Agreed Rex.
Andor snorted, "I think that's the first thing we've both agreed on."
They came out of nowhere and were equipped with weapons Rex had never seen before; both he and Andor hit the floor, sliding to one of the large pieces of machinery, using it as cover, and backing up against it. It wouldn't last long.
"We need one of those." Declared Rex, nodding to the lightening arc emitted from one of the weapons the strange being held. The others he could identify as slugthrowers.
"Yes we do – second time we agree. Are we going for a record?" Said Andor, as he took aim at the one with the lightening gun; it was spot on. Rex got himself in position to retrieve the weapon that dropped from the aliens hands. He leapt low, just like a boloball keeper of the team, he used to follow; his arms stretched out but he didn't quite make it and weapon clattered to the floor. He landed and turned to face the alien that Andor had dropped, getting a better look at it but he still could not give its species a name. A little push with his feet and his hand closed around the weapon and an even closer look at the alien.
It's teeth weren't real he could see that from the jaw now lying open and slack but they weren't just replacement teeth. They had tiny attachments. He brought his scanner up to get a closer view of the head, all types of media including images. The helmet, had been disfigured on the right side, with some of the damage showing signs of age. He made sure that he obtained images of that, the marks may mean something.
"Rex! Get your butt back here."
Ooh! First name terms.
He scuttled back behind cover, dragging the weapon with him.
It felt alien.
Fek! There's no weapon I can't work out how to use.
The lightning weapons were difficult to aim, but could do serious damage to whoever or whatever they hit.
Rex and Andor backed out, running and finally reached the end of the wing but there didn't appear to be a way out and Rex was struggling with the lightening gun. He eventually sealed the door against the unknown species on the other side.
"This is kriffing hard to aim," he muttered, as he sent an arc of lightening up to the mesh covered windows but missed. It had been easier to hit the door rim and seal it.
It was a large room with a large conveyer belt, part of an assembly line. On the belt, in varying stages of construction, were two items the rebels were unable determine the use for. They obviously did not belong to the cylinders; there was no way they could fit in.
It appeared to be a project the 'Unknown's' had put a great deal of time and effort into and it was ongoing.
Rex scanned them - more intel.
They stood back to back and swept the rest of the room, in the corner was another door.
"That's new." Noted Rex. "It's not on the original plans."
"Let's take a look." Andor suggested, crossing the room, Rex followed.
The door was one of the old hinged type and not locked; Andor slowly pulled it open. He stopped dead. Rex came to his side.
Huddled together, on a long seat, were three young girls; they looked up, as the men appeared at the door, their red eyes blazing in their pale blue faces, fear etched into them.
"Children?" Rex whispered.
"Chiss." Returned Andor, both had recognised the features that were present on Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Emperor's favourite, and only non human Admiral in the Imperial Navy, they had to be the same race.
"Kidnapped?" Questioned Rex, thinking back to the dead alien and the pods; he slung his weapon across his back and took a step towards the three, Andor put an arm out to restrain him.
The two men stood, a moment of uncertainty, as the children huddled even closer together at Rex's movement. His immediate reaction was to try and save them from whatever evil had brought them here.
"Are the others Chiss?" Andor spoke his thoughts and levelled his blaster.
"Andor! You can't they're children."
"Potential enemy children."
"What?" Rex stepped nearer the children and faced Andor.
"We can't leave them here to let their superiors know."
"We could take them back to the Rebel Alliance?"
"For what? Interrogation as spies."
"For Intel."
"Since when did we take prisoners?" Andor lifted his blaster.
Rex watched the man as he took aim, then deftly stopped in front of the barrel, "Kriff Rex! They could recognise us."
"And report to whom? We know the Empire isn't involved in this, if we take the girls we might be able to find out who is."
"We hadn't got the resources to cope with them on the way back. "
"We improvise."
"Your friend Garrera isn't so squeamish about children."
"What?"
"Hadn't you heard?"
"What?" Rex's eyes narrowed.
"A School full of Imperial's children bombed."
"I don't believe you."
"Believe me; sometimes we don't have the luxury of your honour and integrity."
Andor aimed again and Rex moved to block him; Andor shoulder tackled him, pushing Rex back and on to the ground. Although his breath was knocked out of him, Rex pulled Andor off him, turned and pinned him to the floor, his weight and height his advantage.
"We don't have the Intel to make this decision." Huffed Rex.
"Both of us know that children can be, and are, used in war." Andor shot back.
"Perhaps we can change that."
"Rex….we don't have that luxury."
The blue skinned children watched.
The men were interrupted in their discussion by the sound of lightening arcs and slugs hitting the door. They were back on their feet taking cover, when the door came through followed by the 'unknown'.
Andor and Rex were behind a pushed over table; they were pinned down by the slugs hitting the table and the occasional electric shock from the lightening weapon, getting only the occasional blaster shot in but making it count.
Then - the silence was deafening.
They waited - nothing.
Rex peered above the table assuming the unknown aliens had retreated but no, he was faced with three large aliens prone on the floor. Both he and Andor rose slowly poised for any further attack but the 'unknowns' had apparently taken their own lives, frothy liquid was dribbling out of each mouth, eyes milky.
Andor checked them over to make sure while Rex checked on the young girls.
Too late.
They were together.
Rex felt Andor's hand on his shoulder, " Let's go Captain, they've set the room to blow. They really didn't want anyone knowing about this but they miscalculated on the explosive somehow. Don't know how long we've got."
They had just reached the outside when an explosion rocked the building and blew them off their feet. It had blocked the entrance and there was no way the two of them could get through.
.
Draven looked over the report or rather reports he had received; two unique points of view.
"Steer clear of the damn place. It's too much trouble."
"Might be useful for a Base, in the future but we can't fight the Empire on the one hand and these unknown species on the other."
The images and scans taken would prove useful, especially for their scientists. The details of the markings would be passed to the linguistic experts. They had any number of "intellectuals" serving mostly as grunts but they could now be utilised in their area of expertise.
As he thought, they had had their differences but still succeeded in getting a good amount of Intel.
He knew what his recommendation would be but the Rebel Alliance wouldn't be happy, if they even managed to agree on it.
.
When Rex got to hyperspace, he knew he should sleep but he would not be able to. He didn't think he would ever get the sight of those red eyed blue skinned children out of his head. He was back on the Phantom and in his armour; his comfort zone.
What he needed to do now was report in to his Commander but she was also his friend and he had never felt more blessed than over the last year. He had always known he was more than a commodity, more than a 'wet droid' but sometimes you needed that acknowledgement from others. Ahsoka and Skywalker had provided that, as had Ana; he didn't want to go there.
He checked in.
The hologram flickered on; Ahsoka was on a ship, in hyperspace.
"Ahsoka."
"Rex."
Both greetings were full of warmth.
"How did it go?"
"How do you think?"
"That bad?"
"Yes, that bad and I think we should stay out of this sector for the time being."
"That bad." Echoed Ahsoka, she knew when he was serious and when he was not; it had been one of the first things that Ahsoka had felt in him, when she tried to read him, his sense of humour next to his sense of honour. She could tell both had been tested on his mission.
"I'll report the details to you direct."
"Rex, I won't be there. Kanan, Ezra and I are going to Malachor."
Ahsoka waited for the expected reaction to this revelation; Rex knew as much about the Jedi as anyone.
"Once we drop out of hyperspace, we'll be going dark."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes."
"You don't have to go to Malachor alone, you know that."
Rex was again offering to cover her back just as in the past; she couldn't ask him to do that this time. She saw a different path for him. One that would surprise him.
"I could be there in two rotations."
"I'm not alone Rex."
He still wasn't satisfied.
"You know, I could have ordered you to take me along."
"You... don't exactly outrank me anymore."
"In my book, experience outranks everything."
Ahsoka hummed.
"Then I definitely outrank you."
There was one last look between them, as Rex accepted the logic on this occasion, "May the Force be with you."