Chapter 1
Burst of laser fire streaked after the consular starship Tantive IV, which was racing for the planet Tatooine. The ship was fleeing from the Devastator, an immense Imperial Star Destroyer that was firing nearly all its turbolasers at the elusive ship. Both vessels had just entered Tatooine's orbit when the Devastator's lasers scored a direct hit on the Tantive IV's primary sensor array. The array exploded, and the blast overloaded the starboard shield projector-which caused another explosion, damaging the power generator system and triggering a chain reaction throughout the ship. With no starboard shield and no power to its engines, the Tantive IV was effectively crippled.
Inside the battered Tantive IV, the crew raced to extinguish fires as more blasts rocked the ship. Struggling to remain on their feet, Rebel crewmen and troops ran through a narrow white-walled passageway, taking little notice of the two robots and two-tailed fox that stumbled along with them. The droids were C-3PO, a gold-plated humanoid protocol droid, and his counterpart, R2-D2, an a stomach with a domed head and cylindrical body who moved on three legs.
The two-tailed fox was named Miles Prower, but everybody called him Tails for short. He served as a technician for the crew and was a smart lad.
"Did you hear that?" C-3PO said to R2-D2 as the Tantive IV's engines powered down. They've shut down the main reactor. We'll be destroyed for sure. This is madness!"
"Cool your jets, 3PO," Tails told him. "I thought for sure doubling the power of the shields would be enough to protect us until we reached Tatooine. Looks like the Empire is firing all they can to get those plans.
More Rebel troops ran into the main corridor as they followed the orders of Lieutenant Shuhei Hisagi.
"Blue squad, green squad, to the main entrance with me!" Shuhei ordered.
Tails and the two droids stepped aside into a shallow alcove to avoid being trampled. The Rebels took up defensive positions and aimed their weapons at a sealed hatch at the end of the corridor.
C-3PO said, "We're doomed!"
Tails rolled his eyes. "Would it kill you to show some enthusiasm, 3PO? They haven't taken us prisoner yet and you're declaring we're done for."
R2-D2 replied with a series of beeps and whistles.
"But Master Tails, I don't see how we can get out of this one. Talking our way out of it won't do us any good," C-3PO said. "They've got the Princess right where they want her."
Tails sighed. "Look, I'll admit we're in a tight situation. But we have to hope the Princess has a plan. She'd never give us this easily."
As they stood where they were, C-3PO, R2-D2 and Tails knew they had to prepare for the worst case scenario that if they were to be captured they protect all references to Leia Organa's identity and presence on board the Tantive IV.
The corridor was suddenly filled with the echoing sound of metallic latches, clanking and Moving around the ship's outer hull. Hearing the noise, C-3PO asked, "What's that?"
Tails had a serious look on his face and said, "Just stay close to me, guys."
R2-D2 beeped nervously. The astromech suspected that the Star Destroyer had used a tractor beam to draw the Tantive IV into the Destroyer's main hangar, and the clanking sounds were produced by a magnetic paralyzing pincer lock as it secured the captured ship. Indeed, that was exactly what had happened: The Tantive IV was now nestled in the Star Destroyer's underside hangar. Although the hangar remained exposed to space, the Tantive IV was trapped like a small fish in a sando aqua monster's belly.
Inside the Tantive IV's corridor, Tails and the droids braced themselves against the alcove wall as the Rebel troops kept their eyes on the sealed hatch.
"Be ready to fire when they break through the door," Shuhei instructed the troops.
Suddenly, sparks blazed at the hatch's frame as it was cut from the other side. Then the hatch exploded. Before the some cleared, a white-armored Imperial Stormtrooper stepped through the shattered hatch and fired his blaster rifle at the Rebels. The Stormtrooper was immediately cut down by a hail of return fire from the Rebels, but another Stormtrooper appeared from behind him, firing as he stepped over his predecessor. The second Stormtrooper also fell to the Rebels, but there were more where he came from, and they kept on coming.
The Stormtroopers were identical. Each wore a head-concealing white helmet that resembled a robotic face, with black polarized lenses for eyes and a grimacing vocoder for the mouth. Below the vocoder, jutting out from the helmet's chin, a grilled breathing filter was set between two artificial air-supply nozzles.
More Stormtroopers poured into the main corridor. From the alcove, Tails and the droids watched helplessly as several Rebel soldiers were shot down. The Rebels fought back, and the corridor was filled with deadly, crisscrossing projectiles. When a laser bolt slammed into the wall near Tails and the droids, R2-D2 responded with a loud electronic shriek.
"Easy, R2," Tails said, calming the droid down, as he patted him on the head. He saw a harrowing exit and gestured to the droids to follow him. "Come on. We should be safe over there."
Being quick, Tails ran through the barrage of lasers without being hit. R2-D2 and C-3PO followed and made it through.
Overwhelmed by the Stormtroopers, one of the soldiers cried, "There's too many of them!"
In truth, Shuhei knew they wouldn't be able to hold them back. Captain Antilles had instructed them to hold the Stormtroopers back as long as they could to buy the Princess time. Shuhei was ready to die doing it.
"Fall back!" Shuhei ordered his men. "Retreat!"
The soldiers did as Shuhei said as the surviving Rebels retreated hastily to the other parts of the Tantive IV. Shuhei stayed behind as he fired down as many Stormtroopers as he could.When several more appeared, he was eventually gunned down.
A squad of Stormtroopers secured the corridor, then instinctively moved away from the hatch as two tall, caped figures entered. They were both clad entirely in black. The only difference is one hid his face behind a mask while the other was a female with her face exposed.
The first figure walked past the Stormtroopers like a menacing shadow. His head was concealed by a helmet with a fierce-looking faceplate, distinguished by two recessed black oval visual sensors positioned above a triangular respirator. A life support system control panel was affixed to his Chest plate, and he carried with him the sound of his mechanical, labored breathing. Everything in his outward appearance suggested that the black-armored suit only barely contained the evil lurking within.
He was Darth Vader, the Sith Lord.
The woman was as tall as Vader that had braided scarlet hair and wore all black. She had blackgloves that extended all the way to her forearms. She had pointed tips on her fingers, indicating she had robotic arms and a few scars on the left half of her face.
Her name was Irene Belserion, a Sith Assassin.
However, they were not alone. Coming along with them was a young woman with loose magenta hair and lavender eyes and her attire were that of someone of royalty.
This woman was named Cornelia li Britannia, a Princess from the noble family where she hailed from the planet Britannia.
Darth Vader and Irene ignored the two Dead Stormtroopers near the exploded hatch and surveyed the fallen Rebels on the corridor floor.
Cornelia stared at the dead bodies of the Rebels and scoffed at them. "Fools! Did they really think they could get away with what they did on Scarif. And to think that wretched Alderaan Princess was involved in this as well."
"I always knew that Organa brat was somehow connected to the Rebellion," Irene said, coldly. "I admit she was very clever in covering her tracks. Well, we have her caught in the act. Only this time, she won't have Imperial protection now."
"The Princess has already sealed her fate the day she choose to oppose the Empire," Vader stated.
Stepping over the corpses, Darth Vader, Irene and Cornelia proceeded into the Tantive IV.
R2-D2 and Tails stood in a dimly illuminated sub hallway that linked the Tantive IV's port airlock to the escape pod access tunnel. They had Lost sight of C-3PO almost immediately after they'd made their hasty exit from the main corridor, and assumed the Golden droid had either gotten lost or found a good hiding place. The only reason R2-D2 and Tails had not yet attempted to find C-3PO was because they were called upon by Princess Leia Organa and her bodyguard, Commander Lucy Heartfilia.
"We're here, your Highness," Tails replied. "Do you have a plan? Because it looks like we don't have much time left before they find us."
R2-D2 and Tails stood before a young woman that had fair skin, dark brown hair and wore a loose-fitting white gown and travel boots. She was Princess Leia Organa.
Along with the Princess was her bodyguard who had Blonde hair, brown eyes and wore a dark cloak with a white shirt, dark pants and brown boots. Her name was Lucy Heartfilia.
Leia sighed. "You may not like what we have in Mind, Tails, but this part of the mission, you and R2 and 3PO will have to do without us."
Shocked by what he heard, Tails, "What do you mean, Princess?"
Lucy spoke. "What she means Tails is you and the droids have to complete the rest of the mission. It's obvious we can't escape. But you and the droids can.
"If I'm right, the Star Destroyer will detect for life-forms that get away on the escape pods. You can get pass them using the wrist watch you invented that should cloak your body from being detected."
Tails hesitated, feeling nervous. "Well… yeah… I could, but… I can't do this without you two. I've never had to be on my own with just R2 and 3PO."
Noticing that Tails was shaking with fear, Leia put her hands on his shoulder to calm him down. "Tails, look at me. I need you to be brave. I know you can do it. Besides, R2 will have your back. If you don't do this Tails, all will be lost and the mission was for nothing."
Knowing the brave group called Rogue One gave their lives for this mission, Tails had a determined look on his face and knew he couldn't afford to let anyone down.
"Alright, Princess. For you." Tails packed all the supplies he needed for the trip. "Whatever it takes, we'll complete the mission."
Leia smiled. "Thanks, Tails."
"Alright, step back, Tails," Lucy instructed as she and Tails stepped away as Leia stuck into R2 a disc from the plans they stole. She began to record a message.
After a minute or so, Leia recorded what she needed to as she and Lucy crept off to hide against the nearby wall.
"Go, Tails!" Lucy urged him. "And may the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you as well," Tails replied, winking at them as he gave a thumbs up.
Tails and R2-D2 walked down over where they heard C-3PO's voice.
"At last!" C-3PO said when he saw R2-D2 and Tails. "Where have you two been? They're headed in this direction. What are we going to do? They're probably send R2 and I to spice mines of Kessel smashed into who knows what and they'll probably turn master Tails into a fur coat.
Tails gave C-3PO an unpleasant look. "That's a very comforting thought, 3PO. Sometimes I wonder why I put up with you."
R2-D2 beeped, reminding Tails about their mission.
"Right," Tails replied. "Let's go, 3PO. We don't have time to explain. Just follow my lead."
As Tails and R2-D2 headed for the escape pod access tunnel, C-3PO followed and asked, "Wait a minute, where are we going?"
As the girls watched Tails and the droids leave, Lucy said, "I just hope they can deliver the plans to your father's Jedi friends or all is lost."
"They will," Leia assured. "I believe in them."
As Stormtroopers and captured Rebel troops marched by, Darth Vader stood in the consular ship's operations forum and wrapped his black-gloved fingers around the neck of the ship's commanding officer, Captain Raymus Antilles, as Irene and Cornelia watched on.
Vader was about to proceed with his interrogation when an Imperial officer rushed and announced, "The Death Star plans are not in the main computer."
Vader turned his visor to gaze at Captain Antilles. "Where are those transmissions you intercepted?" the Sith Lord asked as he lifted Antilles off the floor. "What have you done with those plans?"
Antilles gasped, "We intercepted no transmissions. Aaah… this is a consular ship. We're on a diplomatic mission."
"Is that so," Irene spoke. "Then explain to us, Captain, on why we saw your ship during the crisis on Scarif."
Antilles didn't answer as he gasped for air, barely able to speak.
"Your silence only makes you more guilty, Captain," Cornelia said. "For years, you and the people of Alderaan have played the Empire for fools. Well, now it ends here. You and the people of Alderaan will face severe punishment for this."
"Starting now," Vader finished, deciding the interrogation was over. There was a horrid snapping sound from Antilles neck, then his body went limp. Vader tossed the dead soldier against the wall, then turned to a Stormtrooper.
"Commander!" Vader ordered. "Tear this ship apart until you've found those plans and bring me the passengers! I want them alive!"
"And recheck the computers again!" Irene told the Stormtroopers. "If you can't find the plans in there, we might find some useful information that can be of use to us."
"As for the Rebels you captured, execute them," Cornelia demanded. "The Princess and her bodyguard are all we need."
The Stormtroopers marched off to search the ship.
Soon, a squad arrived at the adumbral port sub-hallway and moved quietly down its length. It didn't take long for a Stormtrooper to spot Lucy and the Princess. What gave them away was Leia's white gown.
"There they are!" a Stormtrooper as he raised his blaster rifle. "Set for stun!"
"Run, Leia!" Lucy shouted. Leia ran as Lucy raised her laser pistol and fired at two Stormtroopers. Before she could fire at the next Stormtrooper, he reacted quickly and stunned Lucy as she dropped to the floor.
They ran down the hall where Leia was as she took out a blaster, shooting down one Stormtrooper, only to be stunned by the next trooper that came.
"Arrest them while I inform, Lord Vader and Mistress Irene that we've caught the prisoners," the now leading Stormtrooper told the troops.
The sound of blaster fire from the sub hallway reached C-3PO as he followed Tails and R2-D2 through the adjoining escape pod access tunnel. C-3PO had thought they were heading for the next chamber, so he was surprised when he saw Tails open the hatch to an escape pod.
"Hey, we're not permitted in there," C-3PO said. "It's restricted."
"3PO, don't use this time to lecture," Tails told him. "Now get in the pod. I may not have a high rank, but since no one else is here, that leaves me in charge."
R2-D2 beeped back at the golden droid.
"You're quite a mouthful, R2!" C-3PO shot back. "And Master Tails, you know I only obey Captain Antilles and not to children."
"And yet I'm the one with an IQ of 300," Tails corrected him. "Look, the Princess gave us a mission. So unless you want to stay and get blown to smithereens, be my guest."
"A mission?" C-3PO asked, baffled. "What are you talking about? And for the last time, I am not getting in there!"
Yet another explosion rocked the ship, violently rattling C-3PO's metal joints.
"You still want to stay," Tails questioned, making a smirk at C-3PO.
Without further hesitation, the golden droid stumbled through the open hatch and into the pod. He said, "I'm going to regret this."
The hatch snapped shut behind the droids. Tails used the device on his wrist to put a cloaking shield all over his body as the pod's latches Blew away and the pod ejected from the Tantive IV. The pod's rocket engines propelled it out of the Star Destroyer's open hangar and into space.
The ejected pod did not go unnoticed by the Imperials. On board the Devastator, the chief pilot saw the pod's image streak across his main viewscreen. The chief pilot said, "There goes another one."
But the Devastator's captain had already checked his sensors and ordered, "Hold your fire. There's no life-forms. It must have short-circuited."
The escape pod continued to plummet away from the Star Destroyer. Inside the pod, C-3PO and Tails peered through the small circular window that was the vessel's single view port. Gazing back at the rapidly receding view of the Tantive IV within the Star Destroyer's main hangar, he commented, "That's funny, the damage doesn't look as bad from out here."
"Don't worry, Princess," Tails whispered to himself. I promise I won't let you down."
The orders Tails and R2-D2 were given were to look for two Jedi Knights who were presumed to be dead, but were actually alive.
Tails had never met a Jedi before. But he had heard stories about them from what Leia and Lucy told him. Half the people around the galaxy kept saying the Jedi were nothing but myths.
However, Tails believed in them and sure wished he was around to see them in their prime.
At that time, he wasn't born yet. Tails was only born 12 years after the Empire came to power and installed a military operation on his home planet, taking the planet's resources.
When the people resisted, the Empire executed the rebels there and even killed the innocent to prevent any future uprisings.
Leia and her father, Senator Bail Organa, happen to pass by on the planet to provide humanitarian aid and Leia heard a cry and found Tails, who was only a baby.
She couldn't find it in her heart to leave him and snuck him aboard her father's ship. Eventually her father found out and allowed her to look after him along with her best friend, Lucy.
Tails grew to be very dependable when he showed signs of high intelligence in mechanics and was quite a brilliant inventor for someone so young.
When he volunteered to join the Rebellion, they were against it because he was so young, but Tails proved so determined and despite being a child he had the brain of an adult. Knowing they couldn't stop Tails, they allowed him to join and was prepared for whatever the Empire had to throw at him.
The escape pod kept falling, all the way to the harsh surface of the planet below.