Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
So, Episode 8 will be a two chapter episode. Hope you're excited for it. Let's get to it.
Chapter 10- Planning
(June 24, 2024)
Calvin smirks as he continues to follow the Slave I, which is pursuing a Lambda class shuttle. The Lambda is reportedly carrying Doctor pershing, the Imperial scientists in the recording at the base on Nevarro, who they need for Din's plan to work. They had managed to track the shuttle carrying Pershing. Calvin is using his fighter's advanced systems to jam the shuttle's transmissions and its detection systems while Boba is firing on the shuttle, trying to slow the shuttle down so they can board.
"This chase has gone on long enough, Fett. Hit 'em with your ion cannons!" Calvin says.
"Copy that," Boba says, already having planned on doing so. He switches over to his ion cannons as he gets even closer. He carefully lines up the Lambda and fires his ion cannons, hitting the shuttle and shutting down its engines and other essential systems.
Boba slows down and maneuvers more closely in order to let Cara and Din board the shuttle while Calvin starts circling around them at a distance, watching for any possible other Imperial forces that might arrive.
Calvin continues to circle for about five minutes before he hears his commlink start up and he hears Cara's voice, "Colonel, we have the doctor and the shuttle in custody. We're going to need some time to get the power back on."
"Copy that. I'll keep patrolling until you've got the shuttle up and running," he says.
Calvin continues his circling, continually scanning the surroundings for any sign of Imperial forces. Thankfully, no other Imperial forces show up before Cara calls up again and says, "We've got the shuttle up and running again, Colonel. We're heading for the next target."
"Copy that. Programming the hyperdrive now," Calvin says as he and TR4 start programming the hyperdrive. Within a minute, the coordinates are set, and Calvin jumps to hyperspace after the shuttle and the Slave I.
(Later that day)
Cavlin carefully guides his SF-23 down towards the surface of the desert planet below. Calvin had found out, after contacting Axe Woves, learned that Bo-Katan, as well as Koska Reeves, were on this planet.
Calvin leads the way, Slave I and the shuttle following him. After flying past several factories and refineries, Calvin leads his fighter near a cantina, where he says a Gauntlet fighter parked. Slave I and the shuttle land near his fighter.
Calvin climbs out of the cockpit as Din and Boba walk out of the shuttle and Slave I respectively, and together, the three walk towards the cantina.
The three of them enter the cantina. A number of people go silent and stare at them. An expected reaction to seeing two Mandalorians and a man in ACUs walking in together.
They look around the cantina, and quickly find who they're looking for. Bo-Katan and Koska, sitting a table and drinking some spotchka. The three of them walk over towards their table. As they approach, Bo-Katan and Koska notice them and look at them.
"I need your help," Din says.
"Not all Mandalorians are bounty hunters. Some of us serve a higher purpose," Bo-Katan says.
"They took the child," Din says in response.
Bo-Katan's face changes slightly, growing a bit more serious, and she asks, "Who?"
"Moff Gideon," Din answers.
"You'll never find him," Bo-Katan says simply.
Boba turns to Din and Calvin right as Calvin is about to say something to Bo-Katan and says, "We don't need these two. Let's get out of here and see if we can't call some of your Terran friends, Adams."
Bo-Katan and Koska both turn to Boba at the sound of his voice, and Bo-Katan says in an iron tone, "You are not a Mandalorian."
"Never said I was," Boba replies.
"I didn't know sidekicks were allowed to talk," Koska says mockingly.
"Watch how you speak, Koska," Calvin says warningly.
Koska glances at him, recognizing if she classifies Boba as a sidekick that could also apply to Calvin. Not wanting to anger Calvin, she is about to give a half apology before Boba chuckles and says, "Well, if that isn't the Quacta calling the Stifling slimy."
Koska, now refocused on Boba, stands up and says angrily, "You'll be talking through the window of a bacta tank."
"All right, easy. Save it for the Imps," Bo-Katan says to try and defuse the situation.
"Listen, Bo-Katan, here's the deal. We have the coordinates for Moff Gideon's light cruiser. We can finally make your wish happen of confronting him, and you will help us take that cruiser. Getting hold of that cruiser could give us the intelligence, both from the Moff and the ship's systems, to track down the rest of his forces, especially his fleet. You help us take it, and your goal to have Mandalore returned to you will be much closer," Calvin laying out the situation plainly for Bo-Katan.
"You gotta be kidding me. Mandalore? The Empire ruined that planet, and what wasn't ruined got ruined in the battle when the Terrans took it. I'm still perplexed why the Terrans have held onto it," Boba says.
"You are a disgrace to your armor," Bo-Katan says with disgust.
"This armor belonged to my father," Boba replies.
"Don't you mean your donor?" Bo-Katan says mockingly.
"Careful, princess," Boba replies dangerously.
Both Bo-Katan and Koska stand. "You are a clone. I've heard your voice thousands of times," Bo-Katan says.
"Mine might be the last one you hear," Boba replies dangerously.
At those words, Koska growls and takes a swing at Boba. Boba blocks her blow and grabs her, throwing her to the side into a table. Boba then fires a grappling cable at her, which wraps around her wrist.
Having had enough of this, Calvin leaps around Boba and in between the two, igniting one of his lightsabers and swinging into the middle of the two, cutting the cable in the process. "Enough, both of you!" he shouts in full drill sergeant mode, a dangerous look on his face. Even Boba is not willing to try and defy Calvin, and both of them settle down.
Calvin then looks at Bo-Katan and says, "Are you going to help us or not?"
Bo-Katan looks at him for a moment before saying, "We will help you. In exchange, we will keep that ship for our own, and I would have you," directing her attention to Din, "reconsider joining our efforts. Mandalorians have been in exile from our home world for far too long."
"Fair enough," Din replies.
"One more thing. Gideon has a weapon that once belonged to me. It is an ancient weapon that can cut through anything," Bo-Katan says.
"Almost anything," Koska cuts in.
Bo-Katan nods in acknowledgement before looking at Din and saying, "It cannot cut through pure beskar. I will kill the Moff and retake what is rightfully mine. With the Darksaber restored to me, Mandalore will finally be within reach."
"Help me rescue the child and you can have whatever you want. He is my only priority," Din says.
The group makes their way out to the Lamba class shuttle to join the others to plan their assault, with Doctor Pershing with them too.
Calvin opens the planning session by bringing up a hologram of the target ship on the shuttle's holo-display. "This is Moff Gideon's Class 546 light cruiser, based on the Arquitens-class command cruiser. It carries at least half a dozen TIE fighters, and is armed with four quad turbolaser batteries and 8 laser cannons. In the days of the Empire it operated with a crew of several hundred, though we can expect a fraction of that about this particular ship. However…" Calvin explains the target.
"Your assessment is misplaced," Doctor Pershing pipes up.
"Oh, great. An objective opinion," Cara says.
"This isn't subterfuge. I assure you," Pershing replies.
"Let him speak," Bo-Katan says.
"There's a garrison of dark troopers on board. They're the ones who abducted the child," Pershing says.
"I saw them. They're third-generation models, correct? The ones that are purely droids?" Calvin asks for clarification.
"Correct," Pershing says.
"How many are there? I only saw four," Calvin says.
"Over 30," Pershing responds.
"Where are they bivouacked?" Fennec asks.
Pershing stands up and walks over to the display. As he manipulates the hologram to show a cargo bay within the ship, he says, "They're held in cold storage in this cargo bay. They draw too much power to be kept at ready."
"How long to power up?" Fennec asks.
"A few minutes, perhaps," Pershing says.
"Where is the child being held?" Din asks.
Perhsing manipulates the hologram again, shifting it over to another chamber in the ship. "This is the brig. He's being held here under armed guard," Pershing tells them.
"Very well. We split into three parties," Calvin says.
"I go alone," Din says.
"Fine. Here's the plan. First, Lambda shuttle issues a distress call. Next, we emergency land at the mouth of the fighter launch tube, cutting off any potential interceptors. I'll disembark with Koska, Fennec, Dune, and Bo-Katan. The ladies will head up these tandem decks in a penetration maneuver while I make my way through the upper decks to create a distraction and draw as much attention my way as I can, and we'll converge on the bridge together. Once we've drawn all the attention, you, Djarin, will slip through the shadows and get the kid, then join us at the bridge," Calvin says.
"Those dark troopers are gonna be a real skank in the scud pie," Cara says.
"I could hold off quite a few at once, but I'm not sure I could handle all of them at once," Calvin says. He then turns to Pershing and asks, "Since the bay is on the way to the brig, could he make it to the bay before the troopers deploy?"
"It's possible," Pershing says.
Fenenc takes Pershing's code cyclinder off it and hands it to Din. "Here. Take his code cylinder and seal off their holding bay. We'll handle the rest," she says.
"Alright. You all have your assignments. Let's make it so," Calvin says firmly.
Everyone separates to prepare to leave. Calvin heads into the cantina and pays off the owner to watch over his SF-23. Then, he boards the shuttle with the rest of the team except Boba, who will be flying the Slave I to help sell their distress call. Only a minute later, the shuttle takes off, followed by the Slave I. They climb up out of the planet's atmosphere, and once they're far away enough, make the jump to hyperspace, ready to finally confront Moff Gideon.
And, I'll end there. Hope you liked this chapter.
Next chapter should be up soon. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned.