A planet under siege! Separatist forces
mercilessly batter the beautiful and
elegant world of Spagonia. Unable to
defend themselves any longer, the people
of Spagonia call upon the Shinobi for
assistance. Hoping to save lives and
prevent further destruction, Espio the Chameleon
and Shadow the Hedgehog plan a
daring ambush which can turn the tide in
the fight for this crucial star Zone…
Two skyscrapers stand opposite each other on the planet of Spagonia. Espio waits inside one with a squad of clones. He looks down at the streets below him before activating the commlink on his wrist "Shadow, how are you doing over there?". Shadow is inside the other skyscraper with his own squad of clones. Next to him was the clone Captain of the squad who was a purple Jerboa-wolf, he was wearing a brown stetson hat, has a holster for his two pistols and he had a single sharp fang sticking out of his mouth. "We're set. I've got some guys here that are anxious to get going" Shadow answered Espio. At Espio's tower Commander Armand entered through a lift, he was followed by a yellow thylacine. Armand walked up to Espio "We're back, General". Espio was looking out the window and saw an army of badniks with beetle tanks heading down the street towards the middle of the two skyscrapers "Good, the show's about to begin". Armand and the thylacine walked past him towards a group of clones who were readying cannons "How's it coming?" Armand asked. A cat stepped forward "We'll have this one back in business in no time, sir". Both squads were preparing to ambush the battalion of badniks. One of the clones watched them with his binoculars when they suddenly split into three groups "They're splitting up". Espio watched from the window "Something's gone wrong. Prepare all troops for-" "AH!".
He turned around and saw badniks flooding out of the lift killing the two troopers in front of it. Espio activated his lightsaber and gave the clones cover as they fell back "Abort the mission!". They tried going through to the opposite room, but it was also full of advancing badniks "Our positions been compromised!" a raccoon clone said. They started firing to hold the badniks back, but they were getting overwhelmed. Shadow saw this from his tower "Espio, what's going on?" "We're cut off. The droids are onto us!". Shadow changed his commlink frequency "Gunships, come in. Hawk, we need an evac in the south tower" "Roger that, sir, we're coming". The clone Captain looked confused "South tower? We're in the north tower, sir" "Not for long" Shadow extended his hand and used the Fore to blow open the door in front of him. "Fang, fire your cables" three clones stepped forward and used there blasters to launch cables that stuck to the south tower just above the window into Espio's floor. They all used their equipment to slide down the cables as the badniks on the ground shot up at them causing some of the troopers to fall to their deaths. They jumped through the window and Shadow immediately started cutting through badniks with his lightsaber. He ran into the next room and stood next to Espio "That way's clear" "How did you get over here?" Espio asked him as they both deflected baster bolts. "I improvised" they and the clones retreated into the lift.
It took them to the top floor, and they ran to an empty platform. Badniks began pouring out of another lift and the clones took cover before firing at them. The gunship then arrived piloted by Hawk who ironically was a badger. It landed on the platform and all the clones boarded as the two Shinobi covered them. A Swatbot led the badniks forward and a coyote clone saw him. He ran back out of the ship and as the badniks were distracted by the Shinobi, he ran forward and tore the Swatbot's head off. He ran back to the gunship followed by Shadow and Espio, they all jumped onto the ship which quickly took off. Inside, the coyote handed the head to Fang who examined it "Maybe this Swatbot will tells how they knew our plan".
At the Republic base in the command centre Espio, Shadow, Armand, Fang and Emerl were standing around a table. Fang placed the Swatbot head on it and plugged two cables into it. The head then projected a hologram of the towers they were in and it began to speak "The Republic Army is in the north and south towers, level 46". Fang leaned against the table "It doesn't make sense" the head suddenly started smoking before the projection cut out "Blast" Fang said annoyed. Shadow looked troubled "How could we have left ourselves so vulnerable to a security breach?". Espio pondered "I don't think we did" "Do you think someone infiltrated our defences?" Shadow asked. "Possibly. It would have to be someone cunning and resourceful enough to gain access to all our plans". Shadow wasn't convinced "That wouldn't explain how they got our intel" "Yes, you're right. They couldn't have done this alone. They'd have someone working with them". Armand looked to Espio "A spy, sir? But who would want to betray our troops to the Seppies?" "Excellent question, Commander. Perhaps it's time we made a visit behind enemy lines. I think we'll find our answers there". Armand nodded "We'll get right on it" "No, Commander. I need you here to find the security breach. But keep it confidential. The spy could be anyone. Let no one know of our mission".
"Yes, sir" Fang and Armand both said, Espio and Shadow both left the room. Armand and Fang were about to leave as well but the former heard a beeping. He turned to a rack of commlinks and saw that one of them was on. He looked to Fang who was at the door "Someone has been listening to everything we said". Fang looked out to the corridor and saw a clone in the shadows who quickly started running, he couldn't tell what he was. "Hey! Stop!" Fang yelled but the clone continued. Fang and Armand ran through the corridors after him "I'll follow him. You take the west corridor!" Armand said, "I'm on it". They both went different ways and kept running before meeting up with each other again in front of a door "He must've gone in the mess hall" Fang said as he opened the door. Inside were hundreds of clones sitting at the tables eating "We've got a problem" Armand said crossing his arms. Fang sighed "Yeah, the only people in here are brothers".
They headed back to the command centre "One of us? It can't be" Fang said in disbelief, "It's the only lead we have. We'll have to wait for his next move. Keep this to ourselves. I'll contact the Generals". He went over to a console but when he activated the commlink there wasn't an answer "I can't reach them. Whoever it is has blocked our communications. We're gonna have to find this guy ourselves". Fang pondered "Emerl, come over here and plug into the console". Emerl did so "What're doing?" Armand asked, "The guy got his message out somehow. We just have to find it" "What, do you think he just wrote a note?". Emerl beeped and displayed something on the screen "Does he have the traitor?" Armand asked. Fang examined the screen which showed the status of communications "Look, wavelength interference, weak frequencies. It been showing up every few days, then disappears. No wonder we didn't notice it". Emerl beeped again before displaying a map of the base with one spot on it beeping red, Armand examined it "It's only been coming off one terminal in the whole base. Maw's barracks. Only one of his men would have access to that terminal". Fang crossed his arms "Maw's not gonna like that" "No, he's not. But if one of his men is giving away our intel, we have to find him.
Shadow and Espio arrived at the Separatist HQ surprisingly not meeting any resistance along the way. "No guards, no barricades. You'd think they'd better protect their headquarters" Shadow said, "I don't think keeping us out was the intent". They entered the building before going inside a lift to take them to the higher levels. They made it to the top floor and walked out. There were stairs in front of them leading to a higher platform. A cloaked figure suddenly walked out from the corner of the room and stood in front of them. She removed her hood revealing her to be a red echidna who Espio didn't seem surprised to see "Lien-Da. And I thought this mission would be unpleasant". The echidna smirked as she removed her cloak revealing a black jacket and trousers underneath. "The pleasure's all mine, my dear Espio. I've missed you" she removes two lightsabers from her belt.
Inside the barracks Armand and Fang were talking to Maw the Thylacine who looked defensive "No. No way. My guys are the best. No way they're capable of something like this". "Something like what?" they turned and saw five clones enter the barracks "You called them here?" Maw asked. "Of course, we did. We're getting to the bottom of this" Fang said, Maw sighed "Look, let me have a few minutes with them first. This is gonna hit them hard. They trust each other, and if one of our own betrayed us". Armand walked past them "I don't think that's necessary. Take a seat, gentlemen" they all sat down on a group of crates. Armand stood in front of them "We have a turncoat in our midst, and we think it's one of you". The clones began looking at each other suspiciously. Fang walked up to one who was a walrus "What were you doing right after the mission?". The Walrus looked nervous "I uh… I don't know. I was doing what I always do after one" Fang crossed his arms "Like what?". "I'm sorry, sir. I'm just a little nervous. You're my CO" "The way I figure it, you tell the truth, you got nothing to be nervous about".
An ox behind him stood up "He is telling truth. He cleans his weapon after every mission. First thing, every time". Fang turned back to the walrus "Is that right?" "Yes, sir". Armand stepped forward "Did you go on the computer while you were in here?" "No, sir. I didn't even power it up. You can check". Fang and Armand looked at each other "Show me your weapon" the latter said. The walrus handed his blaster to him and Armand examined it "Yep, freshly scrubbed. Good man" he handed it back. Fang turned to the ox "Were you cleaning your weapon too?" "No, sir. I was hungry. I went back to the mess". Fang walked past him "Anyone with you?" the ox pointed to a squirrel sitting next to him "Sketch, sir". "We got to the mess at the same time, got our grub, and sat together". Fang nodded and was now standing in front of a chameleon, but Maw stepped forward "Captain, please just give a moment with them". The chameleon raised his hand "No, it's okay, sir. I have nothing to hide. I was in the infirmary. I got banged up by one of those pawns. A med droid was fixing me up". He put his left arm up showing a bandage "Cat's got all the records there, if you want to check". Fang and Armand nodded before going to the last clone, a beetle. Armand crosses his arms "So, Chopper, old boy, what's your alibi?" "I was in the mess hall" he replied not looking at them. "No, you weren't… I mean-" the squirrel clone said before immediately going silent. Armand turned to him "If you know something, kid, you should speak up. The squirrel reluctantly continued "Chopper came in a lot later, after everyone else".
Lien-Da activated her red lightsabers and the two Shinobi activated there's causing her to grin. She jumped up the stairs and looked down at them "My loyal informant let me know you were coming" "Well, then, we thank you for your hospitality" Espio said before Shadow charged forward. They started duelling as Espio entered the fight but with two lightsabers Lien-Da easily managed to keep up with them.
Chopper nervously looked between the others "Where were you before you went to the mess, Chopper?" Fang asked. "Nowhere. Walking around" "Son, you know we'll need a better answer than that". Chopper sighed "I was hiding at the south exit. I didn't want anyone to see me string these together" he took out a string with a line of Egg Pawn fingers "I just wanted something back. I guess I felt like they owed me one". The other clones glared at him "I always knew there was something deficient about you" the chameleon said scornfully. Maw walked up to Chopper "This isn't good, Chopper. Lying about where you were, taking forbidden items from a battlefield. If you can break these rules, your whole characters in question here". Chopper turned defensive and stood up "Wait, no. Hang on. I'm no spy" he looked to Fang and Armand. Maw shook his head "Chopper, we're all brothers. But how can we trust anything you say now?" "Wait, sir, I swear, I didn't-". Maw put his hand on his shoulder "It's okay. We'll get you a proper investigation. You don't have to say anything till the Shinobi come back and talk to you". Chopper angrily turned to him "Maybe you should talk, sir. Tell them where you went. I was at the south exit, remember? I saw you go in, sir. I saw you. Everyone else turned right towards the barracks and the mess. You turned left, toward the command centre. Where were you going, sir?". Maw backed away from him "Obviously, the kid feels cornered" he said nervously. Armand turned to him "Sergeant, what did you mean, 'till the Shinobi come back'? How did you know the Shinobi were gone?". Maw lowered his head "I really wish you hadn't noticed that, sir" he punched Armand in the face before pushing past Chopper and running out the barracks doors. "It's Maw? Maw's the traitor?" Fang said surprised as he and Armand chased after him.
The three Force users made their way up the stairs and ran into a library. Lien-Da used the Force to throw books at them but they were able to catch and throw them back. She ran out to the balcony of the building with both of them following "Give up, Lien-Da" Espio said. She chuckled "It's already too late. So hard to know whom to trust these days, isn't it?", Shadow looked to Espio "What's the plan, Master?". Espio stared at Lien-Da "Bringing us here was a mistake, my sweet. You've overestimated your abilities" "Really" she smirked before jumping right off the balcony. Shadow and Espio looked at each other in confusion before she suddenly rose back up on the head of a giant spider robot "Come and get me, boys". They looked behind her and saw dozens of Separatists ships landing and releasing badniks. "You didn't tell us you were bringing friends" Espio joked, "Poor Chameleon. You've been betrayed and we are about to take control of this world".
Fang and Armand were searching around the tanks at the base with the former looking at a tracker on his wrist "I've got someone by the gunships" "Lets go. He'll be trying to escape". They ran towards the gunships and behind one of them they saw a pile of grenades with one beeping. Fang's eyes opened wide "Move. Move!" they ran as the gunship blew up, but suddenly the same thing happened to the tanks and the weapons depot. They both watched "He's not trying escape" Fang said, "He knows all our moves before we make them". Two clones ran up to them "Sir, Maw ran into the command centre", Armand nodded "You stay here. Seal the perimeter" he and Fang then headed back into the base.
Shadow and Espio both jumped onto the spider robot and cut off it's two front legs causing it to fall. They jumped onto the head and the three of them fought during as it got closer to the ground. "Shadow!" Espio yelled and the two of them jumped off the spider and both grabbed onto two eggrobos that flew past and directed them to fly back to the base. Lien-Da jumped to the ground and watched them escape before turning to an egg pawn "Prepare to march on the city". She then turned to a Swatbot "Have General Tundra delay the Shinobi as long as possible. I will need time to execute my master's plan".
Armand and Fang entered the command centre blasters drawn "Pretend your Maw. What's in your head?" Armand asked. "My cover's blown, it's time to go, but I decide not to use a ship because it's to obvious" Fang notices a footprint on the hologram projector. He gives Armand a smirk before quickly glancing at the vent above the projector. Armand nods "The lockdown. He'll want to get around the lockdown" "Mabey he's going for the security system". Armand put his blaster on the table "Yeah, but he knows we'd expect him to do that. Go to the south exit. I'll stay here and make sure the power stays up" "Got it". Fang headed for the door but instead of going through it he closed the door and waited. Armand had his back to the table when he heard someone pick up his blaster. He smirked "Hey there, Maw. Gun's empty" he held out the power pack for the blaster. He turned around and saw Fang behind Maw with his pistol out. Fang looked at him coldly "You know what's funny, traitor? We knew you'd never take a chance at the exits while they were blocked". Maw put his arms up "You knew I was here?", Armand took his blaster back "Of course we knew. You think we wouldn't have a plan?" "I'm not the traitor. You are!". He punched Fang to the ground before tackling Armand to the ground. He quickly got back up and ran for the door, but Armand grabbed his leg and tried punching him in the face.
"All you do is just blindly follow orders! For what!?" he knocked Armand over and punched him in the face "At least I got something out of all this suffering!". Fang got behind him and dragged him off Armand by the throat "Yeah, I bet you sold out your brothers for some real shiny coin, huh?". Maw headbutted him and glared angrily at him "She offered me money, but she offered me something more important. Something you wouldn't understand. Freedom!". Armand ran forward and hit him over the head with his blaster knocking him out. "I think freedoms gonna have to wait, kid" Fang said as he lifted him up and restrained him.
They took him out through the corridors where Shadow and Espio appeared. They both looked surprised "Maw, it was you?" Espio said. "He gave us a bit of a chase, sir" Fang said, Shadow glared at the traitor "You couldn't be a greater disappointment. How could you do this to your brothers?". Maw scoffed "Only a Shinobi would ask that. It's you who've kept my brothers enslaved. We do your bidding. We serve at your whim. I just wanted something more". Fang looked at him "And all you had to do to get it was put the rest of us all at risk". Maw suddenly looked very sad "I… I love my brothers. You're just too blind to see it. I was striking a blow for all clones". Armand got in front of him "If you loved your brothers, you wouldn't have put them at risk. You betrayed every one of us. Take him to lockup" two clones stepped forward and seized Maw. Espio looked to Fang and Armand "Were you able to salvage anything from the weapons depot?", Fang shook his head "Maw pretty much scorched the whole thing. But we managed to save the heavy cannons". "That's good, because there are about a thousand badniks on their way here" Espio said. "The fight goes on, gentlemen" Shadow added.